Turkey will not bow to US sanctions over S-400: Vice president

Turkey will never bow to US sanctions over its agreement to purchase Russian S-400 defence systems, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said on Sunday in reference to a deal that has strained ties between the NATO allies.

Washington has said the S-400s could compromise the capabilities of its F-35 fighter jets – for which it has a separate deal with Turkey – and warned of possible US sanctions if Ankara pushed on with the Russian deal.

Ankara has said the S-400s and F-35s would not impact each other and that it will not abandon the former.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster Kanal 7, Oktay said US concerns on the issue were not reasonable and added that Turkey would not back down.

Oktay’s comments come after Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan warned Friday that the Pentagon will halt manufacturing support for the F-35 in Turkey if Ankara buys a Russian missile defence system.

“If Turkey decides that the S-400 is a decision they want to go forward with, then we have to move work out of Turkey,” he said.

Shanahan noted that he had met with delegations from US aerospace manufacturers Lockheed Martin and United Technologies to discuss options if Turkey refuses to forego the S-400.

As a member of NATO, Turkey is taking part in the production of the fighter jet for use by members of the treaty, and has plans to buy 100 of the jets itself.

A number of Turkish manufacturers are making parts and equipment for the F-35, including internally carried Stand-off Missiles, airframe assemblies and wiring, leaving the NATO program partially dependent on them.

Washington has placed a freeze on the joint manufacturing operations with Turkey, and has suggested that Turkey might be able to obtain a US missile defense system if it forgoes the one on offer from Moscow.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has insisted he will buy the Russian system.

SOURCE:
News agencies

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Drag Syndrome defies your expectations of drag queens

‘They bloody love us’

The kings and queens of Drag Syndrome have star power — and Down syndrome

by Heather Dockray

“Baby, I am never afraid of anything,” Justin Bond, otherwise known as “King Justin Bond,” tells me over the phone.

Bond is on a train, traveling from London to Brighton for an upcoming performance. It’s one of the multiple drag shows he has scheduled for that month. Over the din of the train’s engine, Bond shouts words of encouragement to his fellow drag queens and kings on the train. He is confident, insisting he doesn’t have any pre-show jitters.

In fact, nothing seems to deter Bond, at least not publicly: not the elaborate configuration of his painted-on facial hair (“I love the make-up!” Bond says), not his upcoming performance, which involves elaborate choreography (“I always rock it and smash it”), and most importantly, not the fact that he has Down syndrome.

“Baby, I love it all,” Bond says of performing.

Bond belongs to a wildly popular formerly underground troupe of British drag queens and kings with Down Syndrome, known as “Drag Syndrome.” Since the group’s first performance close to a year ago, Drag Syndrome has since exploded in popularity, with performances all throughout the United Kingdom and Northern Europe and an American tour in the works, the group’s creative director Daniel Vais told Mashable.

“We now have invites [to perform] from around the world,” Vais says.

Daniel Vais is the artistic director of Culture Device, a London-based experimental performance and dance company that works with artists who have Down syndrome and operates Drag Syndrome. The company has put on everything from ballets to fashion shoots.

Drag Syndrome, for its part, was born from another performance. In December 2017, Vais brought one of his Culture Device performers to watch a show in London that included drag queens. Vais, noting the performer’s enthusiasm for the show, asked her and the rest of the artists in Culture Device if they would be interested in performing drag some day. They jumped at the idea, Vais says.

Lady Francesca

Nikolay Nikolov

Miss Horrora Shebang

Nikolay Nikolov

Miss Gaia Callas

Nikolay Nikolov

King Justin Bond

Nikolay Nikolov

“All of them got really excited,” Vais says. “So we started researching drag. The history of drag. The styles of drag. We looked at drag queens from all around the world. By the time we met the next time, they knew everything about the history of drag.” And they were ready to give it a try.

For the performers, this decision to try drag was a particularly bold move. Performing drag — or performing anything in front of a real audience — takes an enormous amount of courage. Think about the last time you had to present some PowerPoint in a meeting or deliver a toast at a wedding. Chances are, you hated it.

In drag, the stakes are even higher, as is the degree of emotional vulnerability. People who defy gender norms in any way face discrimination, even in 2019. Hate crimes against queer people rose in England and Wales by around 50 percent in two years to 10,015 in 2016/17. Transphobic incidents more than doubled to 1,510 incidents. Just because Queer Eye is explosively popular and people tweet “love is love” during Pride Week doesn’t mean that queer people and drag performers are safe from violence or stigma.

Couple that stigma with the concept itself – people with Down syndrome performing drag – which is already an inherently radical act. People with Down syndrome aren’t expected to have a sexuality, Vais explains, forget a queer sexuality or a genderqueer presentation. People with intellectual disabilities aren’t supposed to be performers or artists or anything but “cute.”

“I like showing off who I am.” – Gaia Callas

Nikolay Nikolov

“This is what I do. I was born to dance.” – Lady Francesca

Nikolay Nikolov

“You can’t be shy. You can’t be nervous. Don’t hide in the shadows. Come to us.” – Horrora Shebang

Nikolay Nikolov

Vais says this is something the performers often talk to him about. “They tell me, ‘People see us as childish. They don’t even think that we can actually watch porn if we want. They don’t see us as people with desire. But we have the dreams and aspirations of anybody else.’”

When Vais booked Drag Syndrome’s first event, he was aware of those obstacles. That’s why he conducted the group’s first performance as a trial run, without any plans for future performances. He wasn’t sure how the audience would react. He didn’t know if people would be able to “connect to it.” Most importantly, Vais didn’t know if his own performers would even like performing.

He took a gamble, and he won.

“This is revolutionary. This is history happening here.”

“The event fully sold out,” Vais says. “And while we were performing it, the audience came up to me and said, ‘This is revolutionary. This is history happening here. The artists that performed it did such a good job.’ The audience realized we were doing something out of this world. This was not just people with Down syndrome dressing up. This is proper, proper drag. It was so new to them.”

Vais says that during this first performance, the audience was shocked by their professionalism. “Suddenly in front of them is an amazing drag queen with Down syndrome performing like a master. [The audience] thought [the people with Down syndrome] were all very cute and very angelic. Suddenly, it becomes so fierce. You have this drag queen going on stage saying ‘Good evening, bitches.’ And it’s an amazing drag queen. And she controls the crowd.”

After their first blow-out event, Vais and Drag Syndrome decided to perform again.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that audiences are so moved by the Drag Syndrome performers. Drag is already a loud, interactive, transgressive, crowd-driven art form. Add a population who is not socially expected to perform drag and that ups the performance value.

Bond understands his power. Since childhood, Bond had always wanted to perform something like drag and knew he had the skill to do it. But the opportunities for people like him were practically non-existent prior to Drag Syndrome. Bond wasn’t even sure something like this was possible for him until he started watching RuPaul and until he met Vais.

“I realized I could become a drag king,” Bond says.

As Vais repeatedly stresses, however, the people in Drag Syndrome are so much more than their disability. Above all, they’re killing it because they’re incredible performers.

“When my artists are dancing on the dance floor it’s like Rihanna came, Vais says. “This is not a social experiment. It’s not an after-school club. This is proper avant-garde art.”

Bond feels similarly. Down Syndrome is a part of his life, he admits, but it’s not the key element of his performance. He kills it on stage because he’s just that good of a performer, not out of some compensatory pity from the audience.

“Watch out,” Bond warns future audiences, who he believes may underestimate him. “Justin Bond is coming to town.”

Story by

Heather Dockray
Videos and stills by

Nikolay Nikolov
Edited by

Nandita Raghuram
Special thanks to

Daniel Vais and Drag Syndrome

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Kim Jong Un oversees multiple missile tests: state media

North Korea conducted a “strike drill” for multiple launchers, firing tactical guided weapons into the East Sea in a military exercise supervised by leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday, the country’s state media reported on Sunday.

The purpose of the drill was to test performance of “large-calibre long-range multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons by defence units”, the Korean Central News Agency said.

Giving orders on Saturday for the test firing, Kim stressed the need to “increase the combat ability to defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance” of North Korea in the face of threats and invasions, the report said.

Photographs released by KCNA showed the tactical guided weapons fired could be short-range, ground-to-ground ballistic missiles, according to Kim Dong-Yub, a military expert at the Korean Kyungnam University’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

Why did Pyongyang fire new missiles? (24:25)

While such a missile launch would be in violation of UN Security Council resolutions, at least it would not involve long-range ballistic missiles that have been seen as a threat to the United States.

“What was sobering for me was that unexpectedly, there was a photo of a short-range, ground-to-ground ballistic missile, otherwise known as the North’s version of Iskander,” said IFES’s Kim, referring to a Russian ballistic missile system.

The new, solid fuel ballistic missiles were able to fly as far as 500 kilometres, putting the entire Korean Peninsula within range, and were capable of neutralising the advanced US anti-missile defence system (THAAD) deployed in South Korea, the military analyst said.

The South Korean defence ministry, however, put the range of weapons fired on Saturday at between 70km to 240km.

Analysts interpreted the latest weapons test as an attempt to exert pressure on Washington.

The United States and North Korea have been at loggerheads since the collapse of a Trump-Kim summit in February, when the two sides clashed over sanctions and the extent of Pyongyang’s concessions on its atomic arsenal.

But despite the latest sabre-rattling from Pyongyang, Trump insisted that a breakthrough was possible.

“Kim Jong Un fully realizes the great economic potential of North Korea, & will do nothing to interfere or end it,” Trump tweeted.

“He also knows that I am with him & does not want to break his promise to me. Deal will happen!”

The US leader did not elaborate on Kim’s promise.

The North Korean drill comes just days before US special representative Stephen Biegun is to visit Japan and South Korea for talks on Pyongyang’s nuclear arsenal.

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Canelo Alvarez Beats Daniel Jacobs via Unanimous Decision to Unify Titles

Canelo Alvarez, left, of Mexico, fights Daniel Jacobs in a middleweight title boxing match Saturday, May 4, 2019, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

John Locher/Associated Press

Saul “Canelo” Alvarez put on a show on Saturday night in front of a friendly Cinco de Mayo weekend crowd, defeating Daniel Jacobs by a narrow unanimous decision in a world middleweight title unification bout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Ring‘s Ryan Songalia has the cards:

Ryan Songalia @ryansongalia

Canelo Alvarez defeats Daniel Jacobs by unanimous decision in Las Vegas. Scores were 115-113×2, 116-112, a unanimous decision. Alvarez retains the middleweight championship, annexes Jacobs’ IBF belt as well. Scores were fair #CaneloJacobs

Mike Coppinger @MikeCoppinger

Another close round but Canelo shades it. Landed big right uppercut at bell, a punch that should work well for him with taller opponent leaning in. All even. #CaneloJacobs

Alvarez dominated the first half of the fight. His impeccable movement and timing frustrated Jacobs, who had a hard time landing cleanly, or at all. In the second half of the bout, Jacobs’ physicality and stamina came into play. He was able to swarm Alvarez at times and find openings that were simply unavailable earlier on, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the lost ground early on.

SportingNews.com’s Andreas Hale complimented Alvarez’s ability to make fighters miss:

Andreas Hale @AndreasHale

What Canelo does better than just about any fighter is be economical but find a way to land the cleaner punches while avoiding anything significant. It’s a unique skill but one that has him convince judges that he wins all the close rounds.

CompuBox provided the final punch stats:

CompuBox @CompuBox

Final Punch Stats for #CaneloJacobs: https://t.co/ENSSoo4ds2

This was the second fight for Alvarez as part of his massive contract with sports streaming service DAZN, the richest in sports history.

With the win, Alvarez now holds the WBA, WBC and IBF world middleweight titles. The only major title he’s missing at 160 pounds is the WBO strap, which belongs to Demetrius Andrade.

It was clear from the start how much respect the two fighters had for each other’s ability. Jacobs, taller and with a longer reach, looked to stay behind his jab and keep out of Canelo’s range.

Jacobs has seen alot of rounds in his long career, and Alvarez targeted the body early on, but his best punch at the start was a straight right over the top of Jacobs’ jab.

Fox Sports’ Mike Coppinger felt a power punch helped him take the third:

Lance Pugmire @latimespugmire

Canelo answering all that Jacobs is throwing at him. Body work is superb, and Canelo showing off head movement. 50-45 Canelo

Alvarez has grown into a true all-around fighter in his prime. Rather than his offense, it was his sublime defensive work that impressed throughout the night. Alvarez kept the head and body on a swivel, with Jacobs looking like a guy getting shut out on a game of Whack-a-Mole. All he had to do was pop up from a difficult angle, and Jacobs was wide open for a power shot.

The Los Angeles Times‘ Lance Pugmire felt Alvarez was dominating by the end of the fifth:

Errol Spence @ErrolSpenceJr

Canelo winning easily to me tho

Jacobs has rare gifts of his own, as he’s one of the few fighters able to switch stances comfortably. He trotted out the southpaw look here and there, and he landed a few good shots from that stance. However, it seemed to do little to dissuade Alvarez from his gameplan, calmly walking down Jacobs and countering off the jab.

Welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr. felt Alvarez was in control:

CompuBox @CompuBox

Through 8 Rounds:
Canelo — 110/284 (39%)
Jacobs — 76/387 (20%)

#CaneloJacobs @DAZN_USA

CompuBox showed a wide disparity in punches landed and percentage landed:

Jacobs looked better once he finally started letting his hands go. The eighth could have gone either way, and Jacobs landed one of the best punches of the night in the ninth, snapping Alvarez’s head back with a left hook. The movement and timing Alvarez had in the middle rounds had eroded, seemingly due to fatigue, and Jacobs had a much better time of stringing together punches.

Eventually though, Jacobs ran out of gas, and wasn’t able to close out the fight in the way he would’ve needed to to sway the judges or get the knockdown. Alvarez struggled at times, but he had most of the answers.

For the 32-year-old Jacobs, it’s another night of disappointment on the big stage. He came close to beating Gennady Golovkin in 2017, and this shot against Alvarez likely represented his last chance at getting a signature win. Had he fought Alvarez a couple of years ago, he may have been able to pull this one out, but his best years are behind him.

Alvarez, 28, looks every bit like a fighter taking full advantage of his glory days. He’s beaten Triple G and now Jacobs, two of his toughest tests. A trilogy fight with Golovkin would be welcome, or he could go after Andrade and unify the middleweight division.

Another option is going back up to 168 pounds. He ran roughshod over Rocky Fielding in a super middleweight title bout in December. That’s life for a complete boxer in the best years of his life. He can go anywhere, and do anything.

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James Harden Drops 41 as Rockets Earn Game 3 OT Win vs. Kevin Durant, Warriors

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 4: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 4, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images

James Harden posted 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists as the Houston Rockets earned a 126-121 overtime win versus the visiting Golden State Warriors in Game 3 of their NBA Western Conference second-round playoff series.

Harden scored seven of the Rockets’ last nine overtime points, including a running floater in the lane with 26.1 seconds left:

Houston Rockets @HoustonRockets

HARDEN. CALLED. GAME. https://t.co/aLjcX2YtuH

Rockets guard Eric Gordon added 30 points on 11-of-20 shooting.

Kevin Durant scored a game-high 46 points for the Warriors, who lead the best-of-seven matchup 2-1. KD is now averaging 39.4 points in his last seven playoff games.

Draymond Green added 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Warriors Are Unbeatable When Green Brings A-Game

Green finds himself in a select group of players who can significantly impact the game without scoring thanks to his rebounding, passing and defensive skills.

When Green is scoring, though, the Warriors are nearly impossible to beat.

The San Francisco Chronicle and Warriors PR provided Golden State’s record when Green earns a triple-double:

Sporting Green @SportingGreenSF

Draymond Green has triple double vs. the Rockets tonight in Game 3 of the Western Conference Playoffs.

#warriors #NBAPlayoffs https://t.co/YmlyrTw9Kl

Warriors PR @WarriorsPR

Draymond Green has his sixth career playoff triple-double (second this postseason) with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The Warriors are 27-0 when Green records a triple-double (22-0 regular season, 5-0 postseason).

Granted, that number is now 27-1, but that’s still pretty good.

The seven-year veteran made a significant scoring impact Saturday, perhaps never more so when he hit this clutch three-pointer to close the third:

Golden State Warriors @warriors

Yes Dray!

#NBAonABC https://t.co/ZUt30XrWXM

That bucket regained some momentum for the Warriors, who fell behind by double digits in the third before cutting the lead to seven entering the fourth.

Green also showed off his deft passing, most notably when he found Durant on a backdoor cut:

Golden State Warriors @warriors

KD

#NBAonABC https://t.co/XcXAttZkTb

The former Michigan State star routinely dominates on the boards and set a franchise mark on Saturday:

Warriors PR @WarriorsPR

With six rebounds tonight, Draymond Green has recorded his 1,000th career postseason rebound, the first player in Warriors history to reach that mark.

On defense, Green is the Warriors’ quarterback, as evidenced by his communication:

NBA @NBA

Draymond Green is mic’d up for Game 3! #StrengthInNumbers #NBAPlayoffs

: #NBAonABC https://t.co/taRlp2F0wo

Drew Shiller of Warriors Outsider summarized all facets of Green’s play perfectly:

Drew Shiller @DrewShiller

Draymond Green is a complete monster. He’s unbelievable

The Warriors may have fallen short, but Green and Durant were the reasons the Warriors were able to stay close. Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry combined to shoot just 13-of-39, and the bench scored just seven points and collectively had a minus-20.

Chances are the Splash Brothers will shoot better and the bench will contribute more going forward. If those two things happen and Green continues his torrid pace, then the Rockets will face a significant uphill climb to win this series.

Green is destroying the Rockets in the playoffs, averaging 16.0 points on 65.9 percent shooting, 10.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists. He’s a significant problem for Houston and all teams, and that won’t change moving forward.

What’s Next?

Houston will host Golden State for Game 4 on Monday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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Lonzo Ball, LeBron James Talk Zion Williamson, Magic Johnson, on HBO’s The Shop

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK- APRIL 2: LeBron James #23 and Lonzo Ball #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2, 2019 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jeff Haynes/Getty Images

When Magic Johnson called an impromptu press conference and said no one knew he was resigning as Lakers president of basketball operations, that was apparently the truth.

Not that LeBron James appreciated the move.

James opened up on Johnson’s decision to step down and expressed his displeasure with the timing Saturday during an airing of HBO’s The Shop.

UNINTERRUPTED @uninterrupted

So this is how @KingJames & @ZO2_ found out about Magic stepping down #TheShopHBO https://t.co/vdv5vOnqcd

“Get the f–k out of my face, you’re bulls–tting,” James said of his initial reaction when told of Johnson’s resignation.

James said he then went to the Lakers locker room to double-check that Johnson stepped down, at which point he encountered teammate Lonzo Ball, who was also featured on the episode.

“[Lonzo] is on the floor and he looks up at me and says ‘Yo, you see this s–t?’” James said. “We was like ‘Damn, right now?’ It was literally 70 minutes on the clock—they’re getting ready for a game, and you decide to do this right here, right now? I feel like there’s a time and place for things, and I believe you knew you were going to make that decision. So why would you do it here, do it now?

“So it was weird for him to be like ‘I’m outta here.’ Not even have no ‘hey Bron, kiss my ass, I’m outta here.’ I would have been OK with that…it wasn’t even that.”

Ball, meanwhile, had a lengthy spotlight to discuss his recent falling out with Alan Foster, who Lonzo says stole more than $1.5 million. The Lakers point guard said the birth of his daughter changed his outlook and made him want to take more ownership over his life.

“When I bought my mom and dad a house, he had a room,” Ball said of Foster. “The way I feel about it is different—that’s why I covered up the BBB on my arm. When I saw that, I saw him. When we looked at his transactions, the s–t didn’t start happening until my mom got sick. Because she took care of all the money s–t. That s–t hurt me. I don’t even know what I would do if I saw him.”

Ball also delved into his relationship with is father, LaVar, saying media perception is different from the father he sees behind the scenes.

“I can tell him anything,” Lonzo said of LaVar. “That’s the first time I called him and he literally shut up…I would say that. That was the first time I was like ‘You need to listen.’”

In the non-negative realm, James was highly complimentary of Duke’s Zion Williamson, who is regarded as the surefire No. 1 overall pick.

HBO @HBO

“Every possession, it seemed like he could make a difference on the outcome of the game.” – @KingJames on @ZionW32. #TheShopHBO: @uninterrupted https://t.co/OELUWhZMDz

“I’ve watched him a lot over the last year,” James said. “I was with everybody with him coming out of high school—I was like all this competition he’s playing against, these little short-ass white kids he’s dunking on every single time, can he play? Can he play ball? The one thing I noticed with his one thing at Duke was his energy was infectious. Every possession it seemed like he could make a difference on the outcome of the game.”

James added he “absolutely” thinks Williamson was correct to declare for the draft. Williamson has drawn regular comparisons to James for his incredible dunking ability relative to his massive psyche.

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Kentucky Derby Winner Overturned

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

“Maximum Security wins the 145th Kentucky Derby” https://t.co/o1OIAk5VH2
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED. #KentuckyDerby https://t.co/HyoZ0XG1nO
Stephen Favetti @stephenfavetti

#KentuckyDerby Stewards to Maximum Security for running a little too far right https://t.co/X5ll4zsoBI
Shan’t-Man @JasonKirkSBN

A good day for those who….got the horses in the back https://t.co/AshkyNAByp
Wells P @Wells_P

Rockets watching the Kentucky Derby seeing that you can contest losses and possibly get the win. https://t.co/DBsLgl4JuG
ZeroParkThirty @ZeroPark30

“Um yes I’d like to speak to the manager.” #KentuckyDerby https://t.co/R6Ayk7BBHY
hoopstah @hooperstarium

More like Country Crock !#KentuckyDerby https://t.co/vvMHGyXEHU
Sally Martin @itssallymartin

Kentucky Derby without spoilers https://t.co/3sTtWaXxV0
Mike Goldfarb @MikeGoldFool

“Maximum Security is the winner” https://t.co/YOleZJNjvF
Jimmy Cwick @jimmycwick

The Winner of the #KentuckyDerby is Maximum Security!! https://t.co/hwT8HQyrZ1
Natalie Louise @natalouise

Me @ the officiating in the Kentucky Derby Finals #KentuckyDerby2019 https://t.co/jVLzvca0ML
Patrick Kenney @MahoneyKenney

@KentuckyDerby Maximum Security in the Winner’s Circle https://t.co/LuCtbFCKJc
Eric Rosenthal @ericsports

Live look at the Kentucky Derby https://t.co/aXLte5kww6
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds

The NFL says it’s a catch.
New Orleans Saints @Saints
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

As we sit and wait for these horse folks to figure out the Kentucky Derby… Good time to remember that this wasn’t reviewed at all https://t.co/vu915266Pd
nick @nick_pants

Kentucky Derby (2019) https://t.co/5wLkWUGkNU
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

how could they miss pass interference like that?! @Saints
Lana Berry @Lana

upon review it seems that all the horses are very pretty and did a good job
Louis Bien @louisbien

Just give em both oats imo. They’re good horses.
Yahoo Sports @YahooSports

The referees of Rockets/Warriors when the #KentuckyDerby ends in controversy right before their game starts https://t.co/4o5YH9ZObU
David Gardner @byDavidGardner

The Rockets are sending a letter to the Stewards about Maximum Security
Chris Vernon @ChrisVernonShow

HORSE CONTROVERSY!
Grant Goldberg @GrantGoldberg

Where’s Steve Javie?
Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS

Only one way to settle this: JOCKEY FIST FIGHT!
Alex Warneke, afternoon bruncher @alexwarneke

Settle this race with The Game of Games https://t.co/ZKL8DzVBS7
SportsNation @SportsNation

When the Kentucky Derby review takes 10 times longer than the actual race. https://t.co/60MfnBUPtl
NBC Sports @NBCSports

HISTORIC.

Country House wins the Kentucky Derby at 65-1 odds after Maximum Security was disqualified. Presented by @Longines. https://t.co/KQsOOe5YIp https://t.co/BNyNRBuR11

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Kentucky Derby Winner Overturned

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

“Maximum Security wins the 145th Kentucky Derby” https://t.co/o1OIAk5VH2
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

WHAT. JUST. HAPPENED. #KentuckyDerby https://t.co/HyoZ0XG1nO
Stephen Favetti @stephenfavetti

#KentuckyDerby Stewards to Maximum Security for running a little too far right https://t.co/X5ll4zsoBI
Shan’t-Man @JasonKirkSBN

A good day for those who….got the horses in the back https://t.co/AshkyNAByp
Wells P @Wells_P

Rockets watching the Kentucky Derby seeing that you can contest losses and possibly get the win. https://t.co/DBsLgl4JuG
ZeroParkThirty @ZeroPark30

“Um yes I’d like to speak to the manager.” #KentuckyDerby https://t.co/R6Ayk7BBHY
hoopstah @hooperstarium

More like Country Crock !#KentuckyDerby https://t.co/vvMHGyXEHU
Sally Martin @itssallymartin

Kentucky Derby without spoilers https://t.co/3sTtWaXxV0
Mike Goldfarb @MikeGoldFool

“Maximum Security is the winner” https://t.co/YOleZJNjvF
Jimmy Cwick @jimmycwick

The Winner of the #KentuckyDerby is Maximum Security!! https://t.co/hwT8HQyrZ1
Natalie Louise @natalouise

Me @ the officiating in the Kentucky Derby Finals #KentuckyDerby2019 https://t.co/jVLzvca0ML
Patrick Kenney @MahoneyKenney

@KentuckyDerby Maximum Security in the Winner’s Circle https://t.co/LuCtbFCKJc
Eric Rosenthal @ericsports

Live look at the Kentucky Derby https://t.co/aXLte5kww6
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds

The NFL says it’s a catch.
New Orleans Saints @Saints
Pat McAfee @PatMcAfeeShow

As we sit and wait for these horse folks to figure out the Kentucky Derby… Good time to remember that this wasn’t reviewed at all https://t.co/vu915266Pd
nick @nick_pants

Kentucky Derby (2019) https://t.co/5wLkWUGkNU
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach

how could they miss pass interference like that?! @Saints
Lana Berry @Lana

upon review it seems that all the horses are very pretty and did a good job
Louis Bien @louisbien

Just give em both oats imo. They’re good horses.
Yahoo Sports @YahooSports

The referees of Rockets/Warriors when the #KentuckyDerby ends in controversy right before their game starts https://t.co/4o5YH9ZObU
David Gardner @byDavidGardner

The Rockets are sending a letter to the Stewards about Maximum Security
Chris Vernon @ChrisVernonShow

HORSE CONTROVERSY!
Grant Goldberg @GrantGoldberg

Where’s Steve Javie?
Gary Parrish @GaryParrishCBS

Only one way to settle this: JOCKEY FIST FIGHT!
Alex Warneke, afternoon bruncher @alexwarneke

Settle this race with The Game of Games https://t.co/ZKL8DzVBS7
SportsNation @SportsNation

When the Kentucky Derby review takes 10 times longer than the actual race. https://t.co/60MfnBUPtl
NBC Sports @NBCSports

HISTORIC.

Country House wins the Kentucky Derby at 65-1 odds after Maximum Security was disqualified. Presented by @Longines. https://t.co/KQsOOe5YIp https://t.co/BNyNRBuR11

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Country House Wins 2019 Kentucky Derby After Maximum Security Controversial DQ

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - MAY 04: Country House #20, ridden by jockey Flavien Prat, War of Will #1, ridden by jockey Tyler Gaffalione , Maximum Security #7, ridden by jockey Luis Saez and Code of Honor #13, ridden by jockey John Velazquez fight for position in the final turn during the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 04, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

After Maximum Security was ruled the unofficial winner of the 145th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Saturday, an objection led to a disqualification and rendered Country House the victor.

Maximum Security held off Country House to cross the finish line first, but it was determined that Maximum Security interfered with other horses—specifically War of Will—and a change was made:

At The Races @AtTheRaces

Wow! Result overturned! Following an objection after interference caused by Maximum Security, Country House is the @KentuckyDerby winner! #KyDerby https://t.co/XgeZrHZxgC

NBC Sports @NBCSports

An explanation of the historic inquiry ruling that disqualified Maximum Security, making Country House the @KentuckyDerby winner. https://t.co/YZqqn4ucbJ

Saturday marked the first time in Kentucky Derby history that a winner has been taken off the board due to an inquiry, and it benefited the Bill Mott-trained and Flavien Prat-ridden Country House:

NBC Sports @NBCSports

For the first time in the history of the #KYDerby, the horse that crossed the line first has been disqualified.

Here is the reaction after Country House was crowned the @KentuckyDerby winner. https://t.co/jmGO8Vm2iC

Here is the full order of finish following the controversial decision to take Maximum Security off the board, along with payouts for the top three finishers in 65-1 shot Country House, followed by Code of Honor and Tacitus:

Finish: Horse; Jockey; Trainer (Payout)

1 (DQ). Maximum Security; Luis Saez; Jason Servis

2. Country House; Flavien Prat; William I. Mott ($1.86 million)

3. Code of Honor; John R. Velazquez; Claude R. McGaughey III ($600,000)

4. Tacitus; Jose L. Ortiz; William I. Mott ($300,000)

5. Improbable; Irad Ortiz Jr.; Bob Baffert ($150,000)

6. Game Winner; Joel Rosario; Bob Baffert ($90,000)

7. Master Fencer; Julien R. Leparoux; Tsunoda K

8. War of Will; Tyler Gaffalione; Mark E. Casse

9. Plus Que Parfait; Ricardo Santana Jr.; Brendan P. Walsh

10. Win Win Win; Julian Pimentel; Michael J. Trombetta

11. Cutting Humor; Mike E. Smith; Todd A. Pletcher

12. By My Standards; Gabriel Saez; W. Bret Calhoun

13. Vekoma; Javier Castellano; George Weaver

14. Bodexpress; Chris Landeros; Gustavo Delgado

15. Tax; Junior Alvarado; Danny Gargan

16. Roadster; Florent Geroux; Bob Baffert

17. Long Range Toddy; Jon Kenton Court; Steven M. Asmussen

18. Spinoff; Manuel Franco; Todd A. Pletcher

19. Gray Magician; Drayden Van Dyke; Peter Miller

Kentucky Derby Betting Payouts (Win, Place, Show)

Country House ($132.40, $56.60, $24.60)

Code of Honor (N/A, $15.20, $9.80)

Tacitus (N/A, N/A, $5.60)

Exacta (20-13): $3,009.60

Trifecta (20-13-8): $5,737.65

Superfecta (20-13-8-5): $51,400.10

B/R Betting provided the following look at how Maximum Security bettors reacted when it was announced that he had been disqualified:

B/R Betting @br_betting

The scene at Churchill Downs when Maximum Security was disqualified

Unreal. https://t.co/bNnm2u4DlR

There were differing views on the decision to disqualify Maximum Security, especially since his move off the rail didn’t appear to impact Country House much.

WFAN’s Brian Monzo felt that Maximum Security proving to be the better horse down the stretch should have come into play:

Brian Monzo @BMonzoRadio

Country House did have the entire stretch to pass him, and he didn’t. Has to be considered.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay also disagreed with the decision:

Jim Irsay @JimIrsay

The Derby. WOW. Maximum Security was robbed!

Former MLB catcher and current NYRA horse racing analyst Paul Lo Duca believed it was important to overturn the result in interest of fairness and consistency, however:

Paul Lo Duca @paulloduca16

Any other race Maximum Security gets taken down. We will see….

Even so, the decision was unprecedented, and it prevented Maximum Security trainer Jason Servis and jockey Luis Saez from their first Kentucky Derby wins, respectively.

While Mott was undoubtedly happy to win the Kentucky Derby for the first time in his illustrious career, he admitted that he would have preferred a clean finish:

Danonymous Man @DanonymousMan

Wow. Mott’s reaction. https://t.co/z7RfepeR0R

The 2019 Kentucky Derby was thrown for a loop in the days leading up to the event this week when Omaha Beach was scratched due to an entrapped epiglottis. The Richard Mandella-trained horse had been the favorite and the top candidate to beat out Bob Baffert’s triumvirate of superstar horses in Game Winner, Roadster and Improbable.

Omaha Beach beat Improbable and Game Winner in the Arkansas Derby and Rebel Stakes, respectively, which made for a great potential storyline with Mandella looking for his first Triple Crown race win and Baffert looking for his 16th.

With Omaha Beach having to bow out, the door was open for a different horse to steal the headlines, and that is precisely what happened.

By virtue of Country House’s win, Baffert fell short of tying Ben Jones for the most Kentucky Derby wins of all time with six.

Baffert also won’t have the opportunity this year to become the first trainer in history to win the Triple Crown three times. Instead, Mott will go for his first Triple Crown and the first non-Baffert Triple Crown in horse racing since Laz Barrera won it behind Affirmed in 1978.

There have been two Triple Crown winners in the past four years with Baffert leading American Pharoah in 2015 and then Justify last year. If Country House manages to seal the deal with wins in the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, it will mark the first back-to-back Triple Crown winners since Seattle Slew and Affirmed in 1977 and 1978.

It bears watching heading toward the Preakness whether all three of Baffert’s horses will remain in the mix—and if it is possible for Omaha Beach to return to action. Should that happen, the road to a Triple Crown will be that much tougher for Country House.

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Kid’s fake passport assignment leads to an instantly iconic one-liner

By Alison Foreman2019-05-04 22:33:31 UTC

Once more for the people in the back: I am small and beautiful.

In a photo posted to Twitter on Friday, Zarina Muhammad shared her younger brother’s fake passport, the result of a class exercise — presumably intended to teach kids about international travel — and years of unbridled, tiny-human pride.

It’s a basic, little worksheet, complete with fake paper stamps, a passport number (12345, of course), fill-in blanks for gender and age, and lastly, an area for a physical description.

For most, that last section would prompt hair/eye color, height, and skin tone descriptors. You know, the kinds of things one would be asked about by airport security.

For this ray of sunshine, it resulted in the instantly iconic sentence: “I am small and beautiful.”

Self-confidence mastery with just a sprinkle of “i’m baby” meaninglessness, “I am small and beautiful” is the only view of one’s self worth having.

Print it on t-shirts. Get it up on billboards. Carve it into my tombstone. It’s time to spread the word, “I am small and beautiful.”

Now, next question.

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