Home

Good Actors Save Zach Braff’s A Good Person

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

Actor turned writer/director Zach Braff must’ve gleaned some nuggets of wisdom after directing shows like Shrinking and Ted Lasso because in his latest effort, A Good Person, he’s managed to align his brand of hipster wisdom and weepy psychology into something engaging and, dare we say, genuine? Dealing with themes such as grief, addiction and redemption, Braff’s third writing and directorial effort utilizes tropes he’s used in his other films: an indie pop music soundtrack, navel-gazing characters, and teary confessions. This time, he doesn’t stumble into silly scenarios (like characters screaming into an “infinite abyss” to unburden themselves in the mysteriously beloved Garden State), or basically anything from 2014’s Wish I Were Here– a self-indulgent mess that put Braff in hot water due to its problematic Kickstarter campaign.Braff’s syrupy earnestness is still on display here, and it still grates a bit, but this time the characters feel like they’re speaking for themselves, no...

Reddick survives late restarts to earn NASCAR victory COTA

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Tyler Reddick scored his first victory with new team 23XI Racing by holding on over multiple late restarts to win in triple overtime Sunday at Circuit of the Americas, the first road course race on this year’s NASCAR schedule. Reddick’s victory was the first of the year for Toyota and his first since joining the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. It was Reddick’s third career Cup Series, all on road courses; Reddick won a year ago at Road America and on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in his final season with Richard Childress Racing. This one might have been the most nerve wracking.Reddick had to hold the front through the elevated, switchback left hand turn that saw the field bunch up and smash each other time after time on the restarts. The race had eight cautions for 17 laps and went to three overtimes and seven laps past the scheduled distance. “This whole 23XI team has been working so hard all winter long to ...

NHRA Arizona Nationals Results

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

SundayAt Wild Horse Pass Motorsports ParkChandler, Ariz.Final ResultsTOP FUEL1. Justin Ashley; 2. Shawn Langdon; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Leah Pruett; 5. Mike Salinas; 6. Austin Prock; 7. Doug Kalitta; 8. Brittany Force; 9. Antron Brown; 10. Krista Baldwin; 11. Tony Schumacher; 12. Clay Millican; 13. Josh Hart; 14. Rob Passey; 15. Jim Maroney; 16. Buddy Hull.FUNNY CAR1. Robert Hight; 2. Ron Capps; 3. Alexis DeJoria; 4. Chad Green; 5. Bob Tasca III; 6. Tim Wilkerson; 7. Matt Hagan; 8. Blake Alexander; 9. J.R. Todd; 10. Terry Haddock; 11. Paul Lee; 12. John Force; 13. Bobby Bode; 14. Alex Laughlin; 15. Jim Campbell; 16. Cruz Pedregon.PRO STOCK1. Camrie Caruso; 2. Bo Butner; 3. Matt Hartford; 4. Kyle Koretsky; 5. Fernando Cuadra Jr.; 6. Greg Anderson; 7. Aaron Stanfield; 8. Cristian Cuadra; 9. Dallas Glenn; 10. Erica Enders; 11. Jerry Tucker; 12. Chris McGaha; 13. Mason McGaha; 14. Alan Prusiensky; 15. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 16. Deric Kramer.Final RoundTOP FUELJustin Ashley, 3.705 seconds, 32...

Freeway crash kills 6 youths thrown from car in Tennessee

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

PLEASANT VIEW, Tenn. (AP) — A car crash killed six young people, including a 1-year-old infant, after they were ejected from their vehicle early Sunday on a freeway in middle Tennessee, authorities said. Two adults were injured, one of them critically.Emergency crews found a car upside down with extensive damage when they responded at about 2 a.m. to the crash site in Robertson County, said Brent Dyer, chief of the county’s emergency management services office.First responders found six females ranging in age from 1 to 18 who had been thrown from the car and could not be resuscitated, Dyer said in a news release. A woman was hospitalized in critical condition after apparently being ejected from the car, officials said. A man suffered minor injuries, officials said,A second vehicle whose driver was not hurt was found near the damaged car, officials said. Those who were killed and injured were not immediately identified. It was not immediately clear if they were related.The cras...

Top prospect Volpe, 21, wins Yankees’ starting shortstop job

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.Now, the 21-year-old is getting the chance to be the Yankees’ opening day shortstop Thursday against the San Francisco Giants.The team announced after a 6-2 spring training win over Toronto on Sunday that Volpe had won the spot.New York manager Aaron Boone called the kid into his office to deliver the news.“My heart was beating pretty hard,” said Volpe, rated one of baseball’s best prospects. “Incredible. I’m just so excited. It’s hard for me to even put into words.”Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also present.Volpe was able to share the news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees’ dugout and said it is something he will never forget.“It was pretty emotional,” Volpe said. “It was just an unbelievable moment to share with them.”Volpe, who grew up a Y...

Virginia Tech, Ohio State seek Final Four berth

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

SEATTLE (AP) — Once the brackets were released, a showcase featuring two of the biggest powerhouse names in women’s college basketball seemed inevitable. And then Virginia Tech and Ohio State went and kicked aside the nostalgic hopes of a possible UConn and Tennessee showdown with a Final Four berth on the line. Instead, it will be the top-seeded Hokies (30-4) and the No. 3 seed Buckeyes (28-7) meeting Monday night in the Seattle 3 Regional final and the last spot in Dallas on the line. And it’ll provide another fresh face to the Final Four landscape. Ohio State hasn’t reached a Final Four since 1993, its only appearance in school history. Virginia Tech had never even reached the Elite Eight before Saturday night’s win over Tennessee. “I think that’s the beauty because these kids have dreamed — they didn’t dream of playing for Tennessee or UConn. They dreamed of getting to the Elite Eight, the Final Four, and now they’re accomplishing those goals,” Virginia Tech coach Kenny Brooks s...

Bulls spoil LeBron’s return with 118-108 win over Lakers

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James scored 19 points off the bench in his return from a monthlong injury absence, but Zach LaVine scored 32 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 118-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.DeMar DeRozan added 17 points for the Bulls, who easily overcame James’ return for their seventh win in nine games. LaVine hit 11 of his first 14 shots to lead an offensive effort that snapped the Lakers’ three-game winning streak despite the return of the NBA’s career scoring leader.James sat out 13 games with right foot soreness, missing four weeks during the Lakers’ run at a playoff berth. The team provided few updates on his recovery, and his return came with little advance warning.“I felt confident in the workouts that I had this week,” James said. “And the day after the workouts, when I woke up, stepped out down off the bed, I could possibly play today. And after my workout early before the game today, I knew I could play.”For on...

Twitter: parts of its source code leaked online

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Some parts of Twitter’s source code — the fundamental computer code on which the social network runs — were leaked online, the social media company said in a legal filing on Sunday.According to the legal document, filed with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, Twitter had asked GitHub, an internet hosting service for software development, to take down the code where it was posted. The platform complied and said the content had been disabled, according to the filing. Twitter also asked the court to identify the alleged infringer or infringers who posted Twitter’s source code on systems operated by GitHub without Twitter’s authorization. Twitter noted in the filing that the postings infringe copyrights held by Twitter.The leak creates more challenges for billionaire Elon Musk, who bought Twitter last October for $44 billion and has had massive layoffs since then. The news was first reported by the New York Times. Source

Fans pack Camp Nou to watch Pique’s Kings League

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Organizers said more than 92,000 fans at Camp Nou stadium watched the “final four” of the new seven-a-side Kings League soccer competition created by former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.Tickets started at 10 euros ($10.8) at Europe’s largest soccer stadium, which can seat 99,000. Barcelona president Joan Laporta agreed in January to let the Kings League use his club’s stadium shortly after Piqué launched his new venture.El Barrio beat Aniquiladores 3-0 in Sunday’s final.The Kings League’s regular season games were held on artificial turf in a small indoor venue near Barcelona’s port. All games were shown for free on the Internet.The competition features former Spanish league players who make special appearances to play as “ringers” for teams. They recently included former Barcelona and Brazil star Ronaldinho.The semifinals and final were played back-to-back on a reduced field.The league said that another two million viewers watched ...

Toms claims Galleri for 2nd Champions win of the season

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:11:16 GMT

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — David Toms fired a 7-under 65 Sunday for a four-stroke, wire-to-wire win at The Galleri Classic to become the first two-time winner on the PGA Tour Champions this season.Toms closed out his second win in three starts and fourth Champions victory with an eight-birdie, one-bogey performance at Mission Hills Country Club to claim the $330,000 winner’s share.Steven Alker of New Zealand used a round of five birdies — four on the back nine — to finish alone in second after a closing 67.Retief Goosen had a final-round 65 and tied Paul Stankowski (66) for third at 11 under. Vijay Singh (68), Padraig Harrington (68), Miguel Angel Jiménez (68), Steve Stricker (69) and Mario Tiziani (67) were at 10 under.Toms added the Galleri title to his win at the Cologuard Classic earlier this month for his first multiple-win season on the over-50 tour since joining in 2017. The win vaulted him into first place in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.“I’ve just enjoyed playin...