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Ralph Neely, seen here durig his final season in 1977, is dead at 78 years old. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

Ralph Neely, a two-time All-Pro whom the Dallas Cowboys called "one of the first great offensive linemen in team history" died this week. He was 78 years old.

The Cowboys announced Neely's death on Wednesday. They did not release the cause of death.

Neely played 13 seasons in the NFL, all with the Cowboys from 1965-77. He was a full-time starter in Dallas from Day 1 after the Cowboys traded for his contractual rights following his Round 2 selection by the Baltimore Colts in 1965. He played his first five seasons at right tackle before transitioning to left tackle, where he protected Roger Staubach's blindside.

By the time he retired after the 1977 season, Neely had started in 168 of the 172 games he played. He made two Pro Bowls in addition to his three All-Pro honors and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-1960s team. He played in four Super Bowls, including Cowboys wins over the Miami Dolphins after the 1971 season and Denver Broncos after the 1977 season. The Super Bowl XII win over the Broncos was the final game of his career.

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Former Cowboys All-Pro Ralph Neely, who played on 70s Super Bowl teams, dies at 78 - Yahoo Sports

Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley (D, OR) blasted Teslas (TSLA) decision to open a showroom in Chinas controversial Xinjiang region, adding to growing criticism of the Austin-based companys actions.

Speaking to Yahoo Finance Live, Merkley said Teslas action gives cover to the Chinese government and its campaign against Muslim Uyghur minorities.

When a company decides to place its enterprise in the middle of this setting of genocide and slavery it is really doing something very unethical. It is basically saying these things don't matter, Merkley said. I think companies should steer very clear of having enterprises [in Xinjiang] even if they are not producing stuff.

As chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, Merkley has long been a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party. He co-sponsored the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in the Senate, banning U.S. imports from the region, unless companies can prove forced labor was not used to make them. Tesla opened its showroom in Xinjiang, just days after President Biden signed the bill into law.

Human Rights Watch has estimated that China has detained more than 1 million Uyghurs in a forced assimilation campaign aimed at cultural and ethnic cleansing. The Trump and Biden administrations have both strongly condemned Beijings actions, saying it amounts to "genocide and crimes against humanity."

It is not just an accusation by this administration. It is the result of a thorough effort by the State Department under the Trump administration, followed by a thorough review by this administration, Merkley said. We're talking about cultural genocide, but we're also talking about strategies to prevent the reproduction that is to prevent them from having children, separation of children from families for sterilizations. And we're talking about slavery, slavery of some million individuals.

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Ethnic Uyghur men take part in a protest against China, in front of the Caglayan Courthouse, in Istanbul, Turkey, January 4, 2022. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya

China has denied those accusations, dismissing them as lies "concocted by anti-China forces."

That has placed multinational companies operating in the region, in the political crosshairs. Last month, Intel (INTC) issued an apology on Chinese social networks after it sent local suppliers a letter saying it would no longer use labor and parts from Xinjiang to comply with the new import ban. Last week, Walmart (WMT) faced backlash after users on Weibo accused the company of removing Xinjiang products from the online shopping app for Sams Club. A company representative later denied those allegations, saying customers simply couldnt find the products "because of a misunderstanding" of the apps search function.

Marriott International (MAR), which counts China as its second largest market and operates a hotel in Urumqi under its brand Ramada International Hotels and Resorts, faced uproar when the firm's Marriott location in Prague refused to host a Uyghur conference in November, citing the need for "political neutrality."

Marriott International President Stephanie Linnartz told Yahoo Finance, the hotel chain needed to toe a delicate line between operating under individual country rules, while "staying true to our values."

"I wish there was one simple answer to your question, but in my view, and in our company's view, we need to navigate both simultaneously," Linnartz said.

Chinas human rights record is expected to be in focus, ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympic games next month, where the U.S., Canada, Australia, Great Britain, and Japan have all announced a diplomatic boycott.

The International Olympic Committee chose to keep the Olympics in China in Beijing, even as China engaged in one, accelerating the intensity of their devastation of the Uighur population, and stripped outright the political rights of the citizens of Hong Kong, violating the agreement that China had made with Hong Kong, Merkley said. It puts the athletes in the position of essentially helping put the glitz and glamour of the Olympics to cover up what China is doing... I applaud the Biden administration [for boycotting], I applaud the United Kingdom, I applaud Australia. But where's the rest of the free world? They need to join in dramatizing this so China knows it doesn't get a free pass.

Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita

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Tesla is 'giving cover to the Chinese government' by doing business in Xinjiang: senator - Yahoo Finance

U.S. Ryder Cup captain Steve Stricker revealed on Tuesday that he has spent the last several months in and out of a hospital battling a mysterious ailment.

Though it wasnt related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stricker told WisconsinGolfs Gary DAmato on Thursday that hes lucky to be alive.

Im down 25 pounds, he said, via WisconsinGolf. Im freshman in high school weight. I lost all my muscle. I look like an 85-year-old man, dude. My skin is hanging.

Stricker first withdrew from the QBE Shootout in November due to what the PGA Tour called a nagging, non-COVID-related virus.

Just days before that statement was put out, however, Stricker was actually discharged from a Wisconsin hospital and was still extremely sick.

Stricker told WisconsinGolf he started experiencing a sore throat in October, shortly after he helped lead the U.S. team to a Ryder Cup win the month before. His white blood cell count soared and he started dealing with inflammation around his heart. It then went in and out of rhythm for weeks.

Stricker said he first realized he was dealing with something serious after a hunting trip. That night after they got back, he said, the 54-year-olds temperature spiked and it felt like he was having an allergic reaction.

So, I went into the hospital about two weeks before Thanksgiving and they kept me in there, he said, via WisconsinGolf. Thats when the s*** hit the fan ... I was fighting something, but they couldnt find out what it was. My liver was going downhill. I got jaundice. I was yellow and peeing out Pepsi-colored pee.

Stricker was discharged 11 days later, just before Thanksgiving, but he ended up back in the hospital just three days later.

You dont know where this road is leading to, he said, via WisconsinGolf. I never thought that Im not getting out of there kind of thing. But I didnt eat for two weeks. I didnt have any energy or appetite to eat. I had a hard time just getting up and walking because of the heart. I took a few steps to the bathroom in my room and Id be out of breath."

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Doctors still arent positive what sent Stricker to the hospital, but hes working with a cardiologist to make sure the inflammation around his heart goes down and stays down.

He was discharged from the hospital a second time before the end of the year, and is now in Florida with his family. Stricker said he still cant eat any solid food and is on several medications.

My heart is in rhythm now, he said, via WisconsinGolf. It was jumping in and out of rhythm from Thanksgiving all the way to Christmas Eve. So, knock on wood. And Im on less medication. The inflammation number that they can find out with blood tests is saying that my inflammation is going down. And it must be, because Im feeling better. Im walking around a little bit. Im starting to be a little bit more active and building a tolerance a little bit better. So, things are definitely better.

Stricker, a 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, hasnt competed there since the 3M Open in July. He did compete multiple times on the PGA Tour Champions after that, most recently a T7 finish at the Constellation Furyk & Friends in October. He finished inside the top 10 in 11 of his 13 PGA Tour Champions appearances last season.

While he's started chipping again, it's still unknown when Stricker will make his return. A doctor told him its going to be about six months, at least.

Im on the shelf for a little while," Stricker said, via WisconsinGolf. "Im doing a little walking now, but not very much. Im just trying to get back on my feet a little bit more.

Steve Stricker has been in and out of the hospital in recent months dealing with heart inflammation. (David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Steve Stricker lucky to be alive after lengthy hospital stay with heart inflammation, illness - Yahoo Sports

Admit it. At one time or another, your favorite NFL team has made you mad enough to want to take it to court. While you cant yet sue a team for losing which is good news for Jacksonville there are multiple other avenues to bring your team to your vision of justice and now, one Giants/Jets fan is attempting exactly that.

Representing an as-yet-unidentified class of New York-based Jets and Giants fans, Abdiell Suero of New York City has filed a class-action lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the NFL, Giants, Jets and MetLife Stadium. His contention: the Giants and Jets, playing in New Jersey, are improperly and illegally benefitting from the use of New York in their team names. (Yahoo Sports has reached out to the attorney for Suero.)

Suero vs. NFL et. al. is a lawsuit with some interesting contentions about the connection between an NFL teams precise geographic location and its inherent value, and some dubious claims about the responsibility of teams to look out for their fans convenience. The suit asks for $6 billion yes, with a b in damages, which means its got about as much chance of success as the Jets do of getting to double-digit wins.

Still, buried deep in the lawsuit, theres a kernel of truth, and an opportunity for teams to better understand the needs of their most loyal if not necessarily most profitable fans. Lets break down some of the key paragraphs within:

23. Many NFL fans who attend Giants or Jets games for the first time are unaware that these teams play out-of-state.

Respectfully, the WELCOME TO NEW JERSEY roadside signs should have tipped them off.

24. Many NFL fans would not attend live games of the Giants or Jets if they were warned in advance that they play in the State of New Jersey.

You can just hear the AAAAOHHHH! from Tony Soprano and the Bada Bing crew at this line.

How do you feel about this lawsuit filed on your behalf, Giants and Jets fans? (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

26. The NFL engages in this practice with other popular franchises, including the Dallas Cowboys (who play in Arlington, TX), the Washington Football Team (who play in Landover, MD), and the San Francisco 49ers (who play in Santa Clara, CA).

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This is a fair point, though its not really the NFL engaging in the practice, its the teams themselves all of which, it should be noted, are farther away from their geographic namesake than MetLife Stadium is from New York.

34. It is therefore clear that Defendants have intentionally advertised and branded the Giants and Jets falsely, to increase their gross revenue and value of their franchises at the expense and to the detriment of Plaintiff and the class, the State and City of New York, and millions of NFL fans.

The NFL also calls its season-ending championship the Super Bowl when, in fact, many of the games have not been super at all. (Fair is fair: most of the Super Bowls involving the Giants and Jets have indeed been quite good.)

39. Plaintiff and the class of Giants and Jets fans must travel out of state to watch live Giants and Jets games, with roundtrip times taking an average of four hours or more on game day at a very high cost either by way of public transportation or motor vehicle.

Were not going to compare fandoms here, but Steelers fans have determined that its literally cheaper to buy plane tickets and hotel rooms for away games than tickets to Heinz Field. Its all in how badly you want it.

42. Car service after games from MetLife Stadium to New York City whether by Uber, Lyft or Taxi costs $125 or more Many drivers load their cars with multiple couples and groups so they can charge $400 or more per ride after a game.

A New Yorker skirting the rules to fleece someone out of a few bucks? Well, now Ive heard everything!

49. Public transportation from the City and State of New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey uses a haphazard system of subways, trains, and buses, together with extensive periods of walking and stairs to transport Plaintiff and the class of NFL Giants and Jets fans from the City and State of New York to East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the New York Giants and Jets play all home games.

This seems more of a New York/New Jersey infrastructure problem than an NFL problem.

51. The inconvenient out-of-state location of MetLife Stadium is further reflected by the fact that the percentage of empty seats at Giants and Jets games makes them among the least attended home games in the NFL over the past decade since MetLife Stadium was constructed.

Yeah, Im going to go way out on a limb here and say the fact that the Giants and Jets are collectively two of the worst teams in the NFL over the last decade has led to those empty seats. If the Giants were the No. 1 seed and the Jets werent constantly sawing off their own feet, you wouldnt be able to find a ticket.

60. Plaintiff and the class of Giants and Jets fans lost their connection with the teams when they relocated to New Jersey and maintain minimal sports identification with the Giants and Jets due to their stadium being located in New Jersey.

The Giants moved to New Jersey in 1976. No one under the age of 50 has meaningful memories of the Giants in New York.

The Jets moved to New Jersey in 1984. No one has meaningful memories of the Jets, period.

62. As Giants and Jets fans, Plaintiff and the class are insulted, ridiculed, harassed, tormented, and bullied by NFL fans around the United States due to the affiliation of the Giants and Jets with the State of New York rather than their true home, New Jersey.

Uh geographic location isnt why Jets and Giants fans are ridiculed. And really, at this point, its not harassment, its intervention. Were worried about you.

Sure, they seem happy, but would they be even happier in New York? (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)

63. Plaintiff and the class have suffered mental and emotional damages including depression, sadness, and anxiety, as well as limited and damaged eustress, self-esteem, escape, entertainment, group affiliation and family needs as a result of Defendants conduct.

If were going to start suing football teams based on the emotional distress they visit upon their fans, hoo boy, thats a Pandoras box that anyone outside of New England would happily throw open. I grew up an Atlanta Falcons fan, and I have two numbers and a dash that I would bring before the court with the expectation of an immediate multimillion-dollar verdict in my favor.

80. The Giants and/or Jets can relocate and build a new stadium next to Citi Field and the National Tennis Center in Queens, or other available property in the five boroughs of New York City, or the adjacent counties of Westchester or Nassau.

Seems simple enough. Im sure theres plenty of stadium-sized property in the five boroughs available for a reasonable price. Sure, youre going to pay $500 for a beer and hot dog to cover the move, but its a New York beer and hot dog!

83. Plaintiff is an American citizen and resident of the City and State of New York and fan of the NFL Giants and Jets.

Both the Giants and Jets? Isnt that illegal?

113. The Giants and Jets logos constitute false advertising as both incorporate the name and abbreviation of New York (NY) while both teams play in the State of New Jersey (NJ).

While were on the subject, the Green Bay Packers do not actually play in Green Bay! To be fair, though, it is very difficult to play football in a body of water with a mean depth of 65 feet, even for Aaron Rodgers.

115. Defendants trade under the New York and NY geographic location, name, and brand, deceiving Plaintiff and the class, together with millions of additional individuals and entities.

The court will also note that the rosters of the so-called Giants and Jets do not actually include any gargantuan god-men or high-tech aircraft, but are comprised entirely of plain old human beings.

117. Defendants website http://www.metlifestadium.com contains false advertising, including the following false statement: MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Jets and New York Football Giants, is the number one stadium in the world ... There are approximately 27 sports stadiums and arenas around the world that are larger than MetLife Stadium. The stadium does not have a dome or retractable roof, so spectators are uncomfortably hot or cold for most games, and the location in East Rutherford, New Jersey is hardly ideal. The transportation system to and from MetLife Stadium does not contain sufficient infrastructure. MetLife Stadium is clearly not the number one stadium in the world.

Also, New York is called the Big Apple, when in fact its not an apple at all! As a matter of fact, all the real apples within New York are normal-sized! Disappointing!

125. NFL fans are tricked into believing that the Giants and Jets play in the State of New York when in fact they play in the State of New Jersey.

This assumes that NFL fans even think about the Giants and Jets at all during the 8,757 or so hours each year that their team is not playing the Giants or Jets.

134. Plaintiff and the class demand $2 billion in compensatory damages and $4 billion in punitive damages

I mean, shoot your shot.

122. Plaintiff and the class demand that the Giants and Jets remove the New York and NY designation from their name and merchandise until they return to the State of New York.

This right here is the point. This is what the plaintiff ought to focus on, but not for the reasons outlined in the complaint.

The Giants and the Jets shouldnt be named after New York not because of their location, but because they dont deserve to be named after New York. Both teams have equal 22-58 records since 2017, worst in the NFL. Thats as bad as it gets! Call them the Jersey Giants and East Rutherford Jets until they earn the New York moniker back!

Now, lets get real. Its easy to clown on a lawsuit like this (fun, too) because of its hyperbolic claims. But the suit is a reflection of the constant fan discontent that lurks around the edges of every NFL team. Getting to a game any game, any team, any city is an expensive and time-consuming prospect, swallowing up hundreds of dollars and a dozen hours every time.

The Plaintiffs of the world just want to watch their beloved team play football. When their team decides to chase more profitable fans, it hurts. Whether the teams building flashier digs in the same general area (San Francisco and, soon, Washington) or pulling up stakes entirely and leaving the whole city behind (St. Louis, Oakland, San Diego), the end result rarely benefits, and always costs, the longtime fan. And when the Giants pull crap like the thanks for your support, heres one medium soda debacle from a few weeks back, it becomes impossible to have any sympathy for them.

Bottom line: if this case ever did make it to trial, the Giants and Jets better hope no season ticket holders are on the jury.

Sir. Flap your arms if you want the team to move to New York. (Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports)

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jaybusbee or contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com.

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Let's break down the lawsuit filed against the Giants and Jets over the usage of 'New York' - Yahoo Sports

Kyle Lowry was ejected on Wednesday night after he appeared to just return the ball to the referee. (AP/Jeff Chiu)

Miami Heat star Kyle Lowry was ejected early on Wednesday night after he appeared to just toss the ball back to the official after a foul.

Lowry, just before halftime of Miami's 115-109 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center, went to toss the ball back to referee Matt Kallio after teammate Duncan Robinson was called for a shooting foul.

Kallio, however, apparently thought Lowry was trying to do something else as he quickly ejected Lowry from the contest.

Lowry picked up a technical foul earlier in the period, which is what triggered the automatic ejection upon receiving his second.

Now if Lowry actually threw the ball at an official, thats grounds for an ejection. No question.

But Lowry gently tossed the ball toward the official in a dead-ball situation. And the ball actually hit the referee in his hands, which makes the call that much more questionable.

Heat coach Erik Spoelstra clearly didnt agree with the decision, either, as he quickly argued the call and was given a technical foul himself.

Either way, though, the damage was done. Lowry was out of the game.

Lowry finished his night with seven points and nine assists in 16 minutes.

Tyler Herro and Jusuf Nurkic got into a scuffle late on Wednesday night, and both were ejected with just less than one minute left.

Nurkic set a hard screen on Herro well above the 3-point line, which sent Herro to the ground, before cutting down toward the hoop. Herro, clearly upset, ran after Nurkic and shoved him in the back which set them both off. Nurkic tried to throw a punch before the two were separated, and both were eventually ejected from the contest.

Herro finished with 16 points off the bench for the Heat. Nurkic dropped 14 points and had 13 rebounds for the Blazers.

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Heat star Kyle Lowry ejected after tossing ball back to official in wild sequence - Yahoo Sports

Tennessee State Rep. Jeremy Faison (R) apologized on Tuesday, declaring that he "acted the fool" en route to being ejected from a high school basketball game.

The 45-year-old lawmaker attended a game on Tuesday between Providence Academy and Lakewood Christian Academy in Johnson City, Tennessee. Providence Academy livestreamed video of the game, which showed Faison arguing with a referee while walking on the court. He pointed at the official's face, then appeared to try to pull down the referee's pants unsuccessfully.

Video of the game has been removed from the school's Facebook feed, but was captured elsewhere on social media.

Faison was ejected from the gym.

After the game, he issued his apology on social media, while declaring: "I acted the fool tonight. I'm hoping to make it right."

"For years I thought how wrong it is when a parent loses their temper at a sporting event," Faison wrote. "Its not Christian and its not mature and its embarrassing to the child have always been my thoughts.

"Unfortunately, I acted the fool tonight and lost my temper on a ref. I was wanting him to fight me. Totally lost my junk and got booted from the from the gym. Ive never really lost my temper for all to see, but I did tonight and it was completely stupid of me. Emotions getting in the way of rational thoughts are never good. I hope to be able to find the ref and ask for his forgiveness. I was bad wrong."

Rep. Jeremy Faison, center, apologized for an incident at a high school basketball game. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, file)

The Tennessean reports that the incident prompted the referee to ask for police. According to the report, police ultimately weren't called. The reason why isn't clear. The official filed a report with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, which the Tennessean reports is standard procedure.

According to the TSSAA report acquired by the Tennesseean, Faison walked from the stands to the court after a scuffle on the court prompted the referee to whistle both teams for technical fouls. The referee told Faison to leave the gym, and he initially refused, per the report.

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"You can't tell me to leave the floor, this was your fault," Faison reportedly told the referee in response.

The referee declared that Faison then tried to pull his pants "down and off." Faison then left the gym "without further incident," per the report.

Faison hasn't publicly addressed the incident beyond his social media post. He's the Chairman of Tennessee's House Republican Caucus.

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Tennessee lawmaker Jeremy Faison says he 'acted the fool' after apparent attempt to pants a HS basketball ref - Yahoo Sports

The United States on Thursday will mark the one-year anniversary of Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building as Congress was certifying Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 election an attack that left multiple people dead, scores of police officers injured and a democracy shaken to its core.

The same Capitol building will be the backdrop for a series of solemn events commemorating the deadly insurrection. In the morning, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver remarks from the Capitols Statuary Hall. At noon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will make a statement and hold a moment of silence on the floor of the House chamber. Members of Congress, who were forced to evacuate the Capitol that day, will give testimonials in the afternoon. In the early evening, lawmakers will gather outside on the steps of the Capitol for a bicameral prayer vigil.

These events are intended as an observance of reflection, remembrance and recommitment, in a spirit of unity, patriotism and prayerfulness, Pelosi said in a statement released by her office.

Yet they come at a time when Americans are deeply divided over politics, the pandemic and, well, just about everything.

Trump supporters storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

According to a Yahoo News/YouGov poll released this week, three-quarters of Trump voters (75 percent) falsely believe the 2020 election was rigged and stolen from him. (Just 9 percent think Biden won fair and square down from 13 percent in January 2021.)

But perhaps more troubling is what Biden and Trump voters do agree on: According to the poll, 88 percent of the former and 89 percent of the latter say they are worried about the future of U.S. democracy. And a full 6 in 10 (60 percent) of the 1,537 U.S. adults Yahoo and YouGov polled believe an attack like the one that happened a year ago could happen again.

That fear is driven mostly by the false accusations of fraud being peddled by Trump. According to the survey, 75 percent of Trump voters believe his fabrication that there was enough fraud to influence the outcome of the 2020 election.

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The former president had planned to mark the anniversary with a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, where he was expected to assail the bipartisan select committee that Pelosi formed to investigate the siege. But Trump canceled the event, saying he would discuss topics related to the probe at a rally in Arizona later this month.

Then-President Donald Trump speaks at a rally near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. (Eric Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Five people died in connection with the Jan. 6 attack, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber, and a Capitol Police officer who died from a stroke one day after being pepper-sprayed during the riot. More than 140 other police officers were injured defending the Capitol; four have since taken their own lives.

According to the FBI, more than 725 people have been criminally charged in connection with the riot, which occurred after a rally during which Trump repeated false election fraud claims and told supporters they needed to fight like hell.

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In recent interviews, Trump has taken his Sharpie to that reality, calling his rally speech calming, the attack on the Capitol a protest and Bidens election as the real insurrection.

It was a protest, Trump told Fox News host Laura Ingraham last month. The insurrection took place on Nov. 3, which was Election Day. This was a protest, and a lot of innocent people are being hurt. A lot of innocent people are being injured.

The former presidents repeated attempts to whitewash one of the darkest days in American history appear to be working, at least among his faithful. According to the Yahoo News/YouGov poll, more than twice as many Trump voters now say the events of Jan. 6 were justified (23 percent) as said the same immediately after the siege itself (11 percent).

Trump also told Ingraham he has nothing to hide from the Jan. 6 committee, even as his lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court in an attempt to block the panel from obtaining a vast swath of White House documents relating to its investigation. (Federal judges have rejected Trumps claims of executive privilege.)

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The select committee has issued more than 100 subpoenas to people, businesses or entities, including for the phone records of former Trump officials and his associates. It has heard from nearly 300 witnesses and obtained over 30,000 pages of records to date.

This week, the committee said it would like to speak with former Vice President Mike Pence who resisted Trumps public pressure to upend Congresss certification of the election and Fox News host Sean Hannity, one of Trumps closest media allies, about his communications with the former president and ex-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

After the riot, Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 electoral vote. (Erin Schaff /Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

And it is planning a series of public hearings some potentially during primetime to determine whether the Jan. 6 attack was planned.

Appearing on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., the chairman of the committee, would not say whether the panel has uncovered evidence that the president and his allies were involved in planning the insurrection.

Let me say that what we have been able to ascertain is that we came perilously close to losing our democracy, he said.

Trump supporters at a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (John Minchillo/AP)

Trump supporters gather around a noose near the Capitol. (Shay Horse/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Capitol Police officers scuffle with demonstrators after they breach security fencing outside the Capitol. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Protesters clash with Capitol Police. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Trump supporters take over the steps of the Capitol. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol. (John Minchillo/AP)

A mob of Trump supporters storm the Capitol building. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

Rioters trying to enter the Capitol building clash with police. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Trump supporters trying to storm the Capitol clash with security forces. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images)

Rioters use a ladder to try to force their way into the Capitol building. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Riot police push back a crowd of Trump supporters. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

Police clash with Trump supporters who breached security and entered the Capitol building. (Mostafa Bassim/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Members evacuate the House chamber as rioters disrupt a joint session of Congress. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Jacob Chansley, center, and others confront Capitol Police outside the Senate chamber. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Capitol Police officers aim their guns as the mob tries to break into the House chamber. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas, in blue shirt, talks to one of the rioters. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., comforts Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa., while taking cover as protesters disrupt the joint session of Congress. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Lawmakers evacuate the floor as rioters try to break into the House chamber. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

People shelter in the House gallery as rioters try to break into the House chamber. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., and Ann Kuster, D-N.H., center, take cover in the House chamber. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Kevin Seefried carries a Confederate flag on the second floor of the Capitol. (Mike Theiler/Reuters)

Eric Gavelek Munchel and his mother, Lisa Marie Eisenhart, in the Senate chamber. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Christine Priola shows her phone to a fellow protester in the Senate chamber. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

A Trump supporter poses with a statue of President Gerald Ford in the Capitol Rotunda. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Chansley yells inside the Senate chamber. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Adam Johnson carries the lectern of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi through the Capitol. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Richard Barnett inside the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Capitol Police hold rioters at gunpoint near the House chamber. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while Trump supporters gather in front of the Capitol. (Leah Millis/Reuters)

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Jan. 6 anniversary: U.S. to mark 1 year since deadly Capitol riot with solemn remembrances - Yahoo News

Yahoo Sports Dan Wetzel and Pete Thamel, and Sports Illustrateds Pat Forde discuss Alabamas rematch with Georgia in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, and debate how Georgias ability to effectively get pressure on Heisman-winning QB Bryce Young could decide the All-SEC title game.

DAN WETZEL: We saw this game, what, a month ago? Almost a month ago?

PAT FORDE: Yeah, it'll be--

DAN WETZEL: Bama--

PAT FORDE: Yeah, like five weeks between.

DAN WETZEL: Five weeks. Bama 41, Georgia 24. Game was dominated by Bryce Young, 26 of 44, 421 passing yards, three TDs passing, a rushing TD. Stetson Bennett threw three TDs but had a big pick. And Saban is 24 and 1 against former assistants, which Kirby Smart is. Only Jimbo Fisher has beat him.

Thoughts going into this game. I mean, this is going to get broken down a million ways, but just what would you say the key is for-- what are you focused on going into this game here? Pat?

PAT FORDE: My focus is Georgia's ability to affect Bryce Young. I think that's going to be not everything, but a huge, huge thing. They had zero sacks of Young when they played in the SEC championship game. It's the only game all year Georgia did not record a sack. They had, I think, 42 of them on the season. And they lit up Michigan's quarterbacks. They've lit up every quarterback. They couldn't light up him, and that's partly due to the fact that Young is a superb athlete who could maneuver out of trouble a lot of times.

But it's also due to the fact that, while they blitzed some, they didn't throw a lot necessarily at him. I think they were more concerned about trying to bracket both wide receivers, Jameson Williams and John Metchie because they were concerned that their corners were the weak link. And they are the weak link, although Derion Kendrick played awfully well against Michigan.

Now you've only got one of those two wide receivers to deal with. So I think you can be a little bit more hell bent on getting to the quarterback up front. And so I would expect them to throw much more at Young in that respect. And Bryce Young was brilliant in that game. I mean, he was awesome. I got to see him do it again because that was, I thought, by far the best game I've seen him play.

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He was-- I mean, he was really good against New Mexico State and Southern Miss. And he was very good against Arkansas. I mean, he had a great season. But I also saw him struggle for 58 minutes against Auburn and struggle against LSU and struggle against Tennessee and, at times, struggle against Texas A&M.

And so if I'm Georgia, I'm saying, man, our defense is better than them. And our defense is better than it showed. And we're going to go out and show it. We're going to play physical and we are going to get after the quarterback. And then we'll see if they can possibly replicate that performance.

PETE THAMEL: I will say this. I did one of these-- I'm doing one of these stories for Yahoo later in the week where I talked to a bunch of coaches who played both teams and they break it down. And I'm going to attempt to go a little bit outside my comfort zone here because I thought the best point came from an SEC DC who watched the SEC championship and then the semis.

So Georgia runs what's called simulated pressures, right? And we've talked a little bit about these on the pod. They are basically if you rush somebody from like linebacker, for example, your defensive end drops into coverage, right? So you're not actually giving up a numeric advantage. You're just sort of taking one from-- you know, if you send in a rusher, you send somebody else out.

And this coach thought that they were tipping their hand defensively when they were going to run simulated pressures, which meant they were going to play zone. And he felt like the combination of the lack of pass rush, which Pat brought up, combined with pre-snap tipping through pre-snap motions, gave Bryce Young just a very clear picture of what to expect.

And what we saw from him in that game is he was very comfortable, and he knew exactly where to go. And the simulated pressures became predictable. And it gave Bryce Young a chance to pick apart the defense like he did. I mean, I think that chess match and how they figure out how to generate pressure becomes, you know, the focal point of the game we'll all be watching.

And then it's your guy Stetson Bennett, Dan, the law firm. Will Sully be able to hang in like he did against Michigan? I mean, he picked Michigan apart over the top, underneath, with his legs. He was dynamic. Does he transcend game manager? And can he hang in the pocket with Will Anderson barreling down on him and figure out a way to pull out a win?

DAN WETZEL: Big deal. They beat Michigan with those quick passes to the side. I just don't think-- I think Alabama is going to tackle in space better. And, you know, we'll see. But this is very much a coaching match-up. Like this is very much-- I mean, what does Stetson Bennett do? I guess we can move right to picking them.

But I mean, my thing with this is you go into the game, who's got the better quarterback? Alabama. Who's got the best player on the field? Will Anderson, Alabama. Who's got the best coach? Alabama. Who won the last time? Alabama. I keep trying to talk myself into Georgia and I try to-- and then who am I supposed to never pick against?

[LAUGHTER]

Alabama, right?

[LAUGHTER]

Continued here:

Pressure on Bryce Young might be the deciding factor in the CFP Championship Game | College Football Enquirer - Yahoo Sports

Tyson Fury, the WBC's heavyweight champion, had an idea on Thursday that he decided to share with the world on Twitter. He wants to fight UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing match using boxing rules, but with both of them wearing UFC gloves.

Not to be outdone, Ngannou, who has expressed an interest both in boxing and in fighting Fury and Deontay Wilder responded pretty quickly with his proposal: how about a UFC match using boxing gloves?

Are either of these potential bouts going to happen anytime soon? Probably not. Ngannou is set to fight Ciryl Gane on Jan. 22 as the main event at UFC 270, which is the final fight of his current UFC contract. Fury doesn't have a fight scheduled, but he's expected to face WBC mandatory title challenger Dillian Whyte in the future.

The two heavyweight champions exchanged a few more barbs on Thursday. Fury tried to tempt Ngannou with a big purse even if he gets knocked out, and also pointed out that it was originally Ngannou who called out him and Wilder for a fight.

Ngannou is ready to get a date on the calendar. He tweeted that once he's through with his Jan. 22 fight, he could devote all his time to beating Fury.

Honestly, who wouldn't want to see Fury and Ngannou fight it out in a phone booth?

Continue reading here:

Tyson Fury wants to fight 'beast' Francis Ngannou using boxing rules and UFC gloves - Yahoo Sports

As the season winds down, it's time to award some end of season awards. Yesterday, we took a look at the odds for offensive rookie of the year and offensive player of the year. Today, we're looking at the wide open race for coach of the year. Also we'll see if the defensive player of the year is locked up.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is a -400 favorite to win defensive player of the year. Other contenders include Micah Parsons at +350 and Aaron Donald at +800. Would you rather back Watt at his current price or take a chance on one of the other contenders?

Update: Once Micah Parsons entered COVID-protocol, T.J. Watt became a prohibitive -1400 favorite to win the award.

Frank: It's hard to find value in Watt, but after his four-sack game on Monday night I assume he's going to win. Parsons made a nice run at it, Aaron Donald is a living legend, but Watt has a real shot at Michael Strahan's season sack record and 17 games or not, that'll likely win him the award.

Greg: Im shocked that T.J. Watt is still on the board. Hes 1.5 sacks away from setting the single-season record and you can still bet him at the same price youd get for taking the moneyline on a nine-point NFL favorite. This is one of the biggest locks youll ever find at -400 or any other price. Im hammering Watt.

Pete: At his current -400 price, Watt still has borderline value. Parsons will win defensive rookie of the year, but I'm not sure he deserves defensive player of the year as well. Others like Donald and Myles Garrett remain awesome, but they didn't shine to the extent that Watt has. Watt is +180 to break Strahan's record Sunday.

Matt LaFleur and Zac Taylor are co-favorites to win coach of the year with +160 odds. Mike Vrabel is next atop the leaderboard with +350 odds. Which coach would you rather put your money on?

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Zac Taylor of the Bengals and Matt Lafleur of the Packers are co-favorites to win the coach of the year. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Frank: I'm buying the argument for Mike Vrabel. If he guides a flawed Tennessee Titans team to the No. 1 seed after losing Derrick Henry and playing without A.J. Brown and Julio Jones for long stretches, it's impressive. I don't know why Taylor should win over Vrabel if Tennessee clinches the top seed. I'd vote for LaFleur, because the job he has done in three years deserves some recognition, but I think Vrabel's odds look pretty good. When the Titans get the No. 1 seed, voters will take stock of their season and the job he has done.

Greg: This is a fascinating race. Im going to go ahead and disqualify Mike Vrabel. Yes, the Titans are going to be the top seed in the AFC, but theyve also enjoyed one of the easiest schedules this year and lost to the Jets and Texans. Thanks to a moment of weakness before training camp started, I have a big ticket on Zac Taylor at +5000. If he won the AFC North while all the other teams in the division were healthy, I think this award would easily be his after that signature win against the Chiefs. Matt LaFleur is intriguing because he locked up the top seed with two of his best defenders missing for the majority of the season. The question is, if you give Aaron Rodgers the MVP (currently -400), does that mean that he carried the team and LaFleur is less deserving of coach of the year? I give a slight edge to LaFleur.

Pete: A lot of the time, this award is simply a reflection of which team overachieved most during the season. While LaFleur and Vrabel have done terrific jobs, most of the football world expected their teams to be good prior to the season. They've both done a great job likely winning their respective conferences while navigating injuries to key players. However, Zac Taylor and the Bengals were supposed to finish last in the AFC North. They were 25-to-1 to win the division before the season. The oddsmakers had their over/under win total at 6.5 wins. Nobody has surpassed expectations to the extent that Taylor has. While his team might not be as dominant as Lafleur and Vrabel, he has overachieved more than those two. The crazy part is I'm not even convinced that Taylor is much more than an average coach, but his team's performance makes him a good bet for me.

Link:

Would you rather? Breaking down coach of the year odds - Yahoo Sports