Entertainment
Miniature Poodle Named Sage Wins Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
NEW YORK — Sage decided on a final hurrah.
Sage, a miniature poodle, earned the top prize Tuesday night at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, which veteran handler Kaz Hosaka said would be his final appearance at the United States’ most renowned canine event. He intends to retire after 45 years of competing and winning two show dog championships.
Sage became the 11th Westminster winner for poodles of various sizes, trailing only wire fox terriers in that category. Spice won the prize with Hosaka in 2002, the last miniature poodle to do so.
“No words,” he stated in the ring to explain his reaction to Sage’s victory before adding a few: “So happy—exciting.”
AP – VOR News Image
Miniature Poodle Named Sage Wins Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
The inky-black poodle walked briskly and proudly around the ring, “gave a great performance for me,” Hosaka noted.
Sage defeated six other contestants to win best in the show. Mercedes, a German shepherd, finished second, and her manager, Kent Boyles, had previously shepherded a best-in-show winner.
Other dogs in the final round included Comet, a shih tzu who won the big American Kennel Club National Championship last year; Monty, a giant schnauzer who arrived at Westminster as the nation’s top-ranked dog and was a Westminster finalist last year; Louis, an Afghan hound; Micah, a black cocker spaniel; and Frankie, a colored bull terrier.
A protester with a poster urging people to “boycott breeders” attempted to enter the ring as Sage was walking around it, but security quickly stopped him. According to police and the animal rights organization PETA, three activists were arrested. Charges have not yet been determined.
In an event where all contestants are champions under the dog show’s point system, winning can come down to subtleties and a memorable performance at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open tennis competition.
The best-in-show judge, Rosalind Kramer described the final lineup as “excellent and glorious.”
Katie Bernardin, Monty’s handler and co-owner, says, “Just to be in the ring with everyone else is an honor.”
“We all love our dogs. “We’re doing our best,” she remarked in the ring following Monty’s semifinal victory. “A stallion” of a dog, he’s robust, powerful, and “very spirited,” said Bernardin of Chaplin, Connecticut.
AP – VOR News Image
Miniature Poodle Named Sage Wins Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Bernardin was so lively that she kept Monty stimulated by doing obedience and other canine sports while she was pregnant.
Dogs first compete against members of their breed. Then, the winner of each breed competes against others in its “group.” The seven group winners compete in the final round.
The best-in-show winner receives a trophy and a position in dog-world history but no monetary reward.
Other canines were popular with the crowd besides the victors. A lagotto Romagnolo named Harry made the stadium audience laugh by sitting up and demanding a treat from his handler, while a vizsla named Fletcher captivated fans by leaping up on its handler after completing a spin around the ring.
There were also large shouts for Sebastian, a frisky great Pyrenees, and Emilio, a Doberman pinscher.
Stache, a Sealyham terrier, was another dog who competed but did not make it to the finals. He won the National Dog event, televised on Thanksgiving, and took first place at a major terrier event in Pennsylvania last fall.
Stache features a rare breed considered endangered even in its home, Britain.
“They’re a little-known treasure,” said Stache’s co-owner, co-breeder, and handler, Margery Good of Cochranville, Pennsylvania, who has been breeding “Sealys” for 50 years. Originally evolved in Wales to hunt badgers and other burrowing wildlife, the terriers with a “fall” of hair over their eyes are brave but funny — Good calls them “silly hams.”
Westminster can seem like a study of canine contrasts. Walking around, a visitor could notice a Chihuahua staring out of a carrying bag at a stocky Neapolitan mastiff, a ring full of honey-colored golden retrievers next to a row of stark-black big schnauzers, and handlers with dogs much larger than themselves.
AP – VOR News Image
Miniature Poodle Named Sage Wins Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Shane Jichetti was one among them. Ralphie, the 175-pound (34-kg) great Dane she co-owns, outweighs her significantly. Showing such a large animal requires extensive skill, but “if you have a bond with your dog and just go with it, it works out,” she said.
Plus, despite his girth, Ralphie is “so chill,” according to Jichetti. He’s playful at home on New York’s Staten Island, but when it comes to the ring, he’s on point — just like his harlequin-pattern coat.
“He’s just an honest dog,” Jichetti remarked.
The Westminster show, which dates back to 1877, focuses on conventional purebred judging, which results in the best-in-show prize. However, over the last decade, the organization has expanded its agility and obedience events to include mixed-breed dogs.
This year’s agility competition saw its first non-purebred winner, a border collie-papillon mix named Nimble.
Kramer, the best in show judge, went on to thank “every dog, whether it’s a house dog or a show dog.”
“Because you make our lives whole.”
SOURCE – (AP)
(VOR News) – The “Merc with a Mouth” will return to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine this weekend, and his contribution to Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe extends beyond his R rating.
“Deadpool & Wolverine,” the third standalone feature film featuring Ryan Reynolds as the regenerative reprobate, is expected to gross between $160 million and $180 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office.
The movie has already surpassed the greatest number of ticket pre-sales in 2024, according to data provided by Fandango. It is anticipated that it will break numerous records during its opening weekend.
Most noteworthy among these accomplishments is the most successful premiere for an R-rated film in history, as well as the largest domestic opening of 2024.
Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” has achieved the highest opening of the year with a total of $154.2 million, as per the data provided by Comscore.
Additionally, the first “Deadpool” film has achieved the highest début for any R-rated feature film with a total of $132.4 million.
Mike Bowers, the president and CEO of Harkins Theatres, a theatre corporation located in Arizona, stated, “I am confident that this will be the largest R-rated film to ever be released if it is released.” Furthermore, it is already one of the most successful presale films in the annals of our company.
“Deadpool & Wolverine” was initially rated R because of its trailer.
It is also the 34th Deadpool & Wolverine film to be released under the Marvel Cinematic Universe banner. The two Deadpool films that preceded it, both of which were rated R, were produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox.
The reintroduction of the X-Men and Fantastic Four into the broader Marvel catalogue was the consequence of Disney’s acquisition of the corporation in 2019.
Similar to other Marvel Cinematic Universe films, “Deadpool & Wolverine” is benefiting from the enthusiasm of its audience.
Audiences are anxious to view the film during its opening weekend in order to prevent spoilers. Disney has maintained the confidentiality of the majority of the film’s content, and only a limited number of press screenings have been conducted prior to the film’s release.
Bowers anticipates that individuals will continue to return for additional viewings in the weeks following the film’s premiere.
He made the observation that “this is a film that there is so much happening, so many jokes and funny sequences that no one is going to be able to eat just one, you know, they’re going to be back.”
Ellis Jacob, the president and chief executive officer of Cineplex, the largest cinema theatre operator in Canada, echoed Bower’s viewpoint. Jacob asserted that “Deadpool & Wolverine” is replete with Easter eggs and that viewers will revisit the film to attempt to locate them all.
Furthermore, he stated that a substantial number of moviegoers are purchasing tickets for premium screenings, such as IMAX, Dolby, and ScreenX, which are more expensive.
Additionally, Marvel has collaborated with movie theatres to grant licenses for items such as collector popcorn tubs and drink containers, which the theatre operators anticipate will be in high demand.
Historically, concessions have been the most profitable revenue source for movie theatres, and the presence of limited-edition products can result in even greater sales of food and beverages.
” Deadpool & Wolverine” is an essential Marvel release.
Shawn Robbins, Deadpool & Wolverine the inventor and owner of Box Office Theory, announced that Disney had “slowed down the pace” and had scheduled fewer films in the series that has dominated the global box office for over a decade. Box Office Theory is also associated with Robbins.
He stated that Disney is making an effort to correct the course after a series of theatrical errors and poor box office performance, as well as a flood of streaming content that overwhelmed even the most devoted fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Robbins pointed out that “in the end, despite the fact that this is a Marvel movie, it may be viewed equally as a midsummer action comedy that stars personalities and brands that are loved by both die-hard fans and casual viewers.”
The fact that Reynolds and Jackman have both made a name for themselves in Deadpool & Wolverine popular culture and have maintained a cordial relationship through interviews and social media makes them an ideal pairing.
Likewise, there is genuine curiosity regarding the first R-rated film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and whether it will retain the qualities that made the first two Deadpool films and [Jackman’s 2017 Wolverine film] Logan so successful.
SOURCE: CNBC
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Turner Sports hopes to continue its long-standing relationship with the NBA.
On Monday, Warner Bros. Discovery informed the league that it will match Amazon Prime Video’s $1.8 billion annual bid. Turner has had an NBA package since 1984, and games have been broadcast on TNT since the network started in 1988.
“We studied the offers and accepted one of them. This will allow fans to continue to experience our unequaled coverage, including the greatest live game productions in the business and our legendary studio shows and talent, as we build on our proven 40-year commitment for many more years,” WBD stated. “We submitted our matching paperwork to the league today.” We are looking forward to the NBA completing our new contract.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
The NBA Board of Governors approved the league’s 11-year media rights deals with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video on Tuesday at its meeting in Las Vegas. WBD received all three contracts on Wednesday, beginning the five-day clock for deciding whether to match.
The new deals, for $76 billion, will begin with the 2025-26 season and entail a game being shown or streamed nationally every night during the second half of the season.
The Prime Video package would have offered games on Thursday night after it finished carrying NFL games. The other nights were Friday and Saturday.
TNT would air games on Thursday, with the other nights being streamed on Max.
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav warned at an RBC Investor Conference in November 2022 that Turner and WBD “don’t have to have the NBA.”
Warner Bros. Discovery and the league could not negotiate an agreement during their exclusive bargaining period, which ended in April. Zaslav and TNT Sports Chairman/CEO Luis Silberwasser have recently announced that they intend to match one of the agreements.
“During our four-decade collaboration with the NBA, we have consistently provided exceptional coverage for basketball fans. WBD stated that they behaved in good faith to offer strong proposals that were fair to both parties throughout exclusive and non-exclusive negotiations to maintain their long-standing collaboration. “Regrettably, the league notified us of its intention to accept other offers for the games in our current rights package, leaving us to proceed under the matching rights provision, which is an integral part of our current agreement and the rights we have paid for under it.”
NBC and WBD would alternate broadcasting one of the conference finals series. ESPN and ABC will continue to broadcast the league’s top package and will host conference finals and the NBA Finals each year.
According to people familiar with the negotiations, Amazon’s offer contained a mechanism for paying many years in advance into an escrow account, which many thought would be difficult to match. However, WBD has informed the league that it has the financial resources to do so.
“The Ringer’s” Bill Simmons originally mentioned the Amazon provision on “The Town” podcast.
People talked to the AP anonymously because they were not at liberty to discuss such serious topics.
Warner Bros. Discovery Informs NBA It Will Match Amazon Prime Video’s Offer To Carry Games
WBD pays $1.4 billion per season under the existing nine-year contract, which expires after next season.
WBD is making a large financial investment, but it is necessary. Without the NBA, it would have struggled to charge its present subscriber fees to cable and satellite companies.
Retaining the NBA would also ensure that the popular “Inside the NBA” show will continue. Charles Barkley was dismissive of WBD’s negotiation position and did not believe it would match. Barkley revealed at the end of this season that he planned to retire following the next season.
SOURCE – (AP)
Celebrity
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
BERLIN — An American man who made threats against Taylor Swift on social media was seized before her first concert in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, and will be held in custody until her gigs there end, authorities said Thursday.
swift | AP news Image
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
According to police, the accused stalker, a 34-year-old whose name has not been disclosed, had a ticket to Taylor’s concert at Gelsenkirchen’s Veltins-Arena on Wednesday. They stated that he was detained at event admission checks because an early assessment could not completely rule out a risk.
According to police, the man threatened Taylor and her partner on social media. They say he was detained after receiving tips from the event’s organizers.
The American superstar will perform in Gelsenkirchen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as part of her Eras tour. According to authorities, a local court has ordered that the suspected stalker be detained until Saturday.
They went on to say that Swift and the audience were always safe. The event drew approximately 60,000 people on Wednesday evening and went off without incident.
American Who Made Social Media Threats Against Taylor Swift Detained Ahead Of German Concert
Before the concerts, Gelsenkirchen temporarily renamed the town “Swiftkirchen” and honored the singer on a “Walk of Fame” dedicated to local luminaries.
Taylor has plans to perform in two more German cities after Gelsenkirchen: Hamburg and Munich.
SOURCE | AP
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