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The idea they’re ‘indoctrinating’ is false’: GOP candidate stands up for teachers at debate

Over the past few years, there’s been a concern among some conservatives that specific topics, such as LGBTQ awareness and critical race theory, are too prevalent in classrooms. These concerns have inspired various legislative actions, such as book bans and restrictions on discussing LGBTQ topics in schools.

Unfortunately, this debate has also resulted in a hostile work environment for some teachers and administrators, and clashes at school board meetings have been commonplace. In extreme situations, educators have been accused of grooming children into becoming LGBTQ.

Critics of the conservative scorched-earth approach to education believe that it’s nothing more than a manufactured moral panic used by politicians to garner support on issues that hit close to home for parents. A disturbing aspect of the education backlash is that it often targets teachers who already have a tough job.


North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum stood up to GOP rank-and-file at the presidential debate on Wednesday, August 23, by claiming that the idea that teachers are indoctrinating children across the nation is “false.” For many, it was a welcome course correction from the Republican narrative.

A moderator asked Burgum if too much is being made about the issue of transgender children playing sports in schools, and he used the question to discuss the topic of indoctrination.

“But I do think when we start talking about education—and we think that we’re going to have a federal government one size fits all—we’re just completely losing track of the fact that education differs by state. Some school districts are doing a fantastic job, some less so,” Burgum said.

“But the idea that every school district and every teacher is somehow indoctrinating people is just false,” he continued. “Teachers in this country, the vast majority of them care about those kids. They’re working in low-paying jobs, and they’re fighting for those kids and their families.”

Burgum also reframed the argument from social issues to what’s most important, children being taught the fundamentals in schools.

“There’s a lot of crazy woke things happening in schools, but we’ve got to get these kids reading. If a child can’t read by third grade, they’re four times less likely to graduate high school. So we need to make sure we bring in reading remediation all over this country,” Burgum said.

“We need transparency in the classroom because parents should never have to wonder what’s being said or taught to their children in the classroom,” she continued. “Parents need to be deciding which schools their kids go to because they know best, and let’s put vocational classes back into the high schools. Let’s teach our kids to build things again.”

It’s crucial for parents to have a voice in what’s happening in the classroom. But when politicians turn the focus in education from teaching kids the fundamentals to a hyper-focus on the culture war, that’s when the system is bound to fail. Burgum did a commendable job in the debate, reframing the discussion from the culture wars to what matters most: children learning about the three Rs and supporting their teachers.

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Millennial mom asks her own mom about raising a kid in the 80s and is mortified

Raising kids is tough no matter what generation you fall into, but it’s hard to deny that there was something much simpler about the childrearing days of yesteryear, before the internet offered a million and one ways that parents could be—and probably are—doing it all very, very wrong.

Taylor Wolfe, a millennial mom, exemplifies this as she asks her own mother a series of rapid-fire questions about raising her during the 80s and the stark contrast in attitudes becomes blatantly apparent.

First off, Wolfe can’t comprehend how her mom survived without being able to Google everything. (Not even a parent, but I feel this.)


“What did we have to Google?” her mom asks while shaking her head incredulously.

“Everything! For starters, poop!” Wolfe says. “Cause you have to know if the color is an okay color, if it’s healthy!”

“I was a nursing mom, so if the poop came out green, it was because I ate broccoli,” her mom responds.

…Okay, fair point. But what about handy gadgets like baby monitors? How did Wolfe’s mom keep her kid alive without one?

“I was the monitor, going in and feeling you,” she says.

@thedailytay My anxiety would have hated the 80s. Or maybe loved it? IDK! #fyp #millennialsontiktok #parenttok #momsoftiktok #comedyvid ♬ original sound – TaylorWolfe

Could it really be that easy? It was for Wolfe’s mom, apparently. Rather than relying on technology, she simply felt her child and adjusted accordingly.

“If you were hot, you slept in a diaper. If you were cold, you had a blanket around you.” Done and done.

Wolfe then got into more existential questions, asking her mom if she ever felt the stress of “only having 18 summers” with her child, and how to make the most of it.

Without missing a beat, Wolfe’s mother says, “It’s summer, I still have you.”

Going by Wolfe’s mom, the 80s seems like a time with much less pressure. From feeding her kids McDonald’s fries guilt-free to being spared the judgment of internet trolls, she just sort of did the thing without worrying so much if she was doing it correctly.

That’s nearly impossible in today’s world, as many viewers commented.

“Google just gives us too much information and it scares us,” one person quipped.

Another seconded, “I swear social media has made me wayyyy more of an anxious mom.”

Even a professional noted: “As someone who has worked in pediatrics since the 80s, the parents are way more anxious now.”

I don’t think anyone truly wants to go back in time, per se. But many of us are yearning to bring more of this bygone mindset into the modern day. And the big takeaway here: No matter how many improvements we make to life, if the cost is our mental state, then perhaps it’s time to swing the pendulum back a bit.

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Video of Chris Farley voicing ‘Shrek’ shows how different the movies would have been

The “Shrek” movies are the most popular of the DreamWorks Animation films, with “Shrek 2” being the studio’s top-grossing movie of all time.

But what we now think of as the iconic Scottish ogre played by Mike Myers was almost completely different. After Nicolas Cage passed up the role, Chris Farley was cast to play Shrek. In fact, according to Uproxx, Shrek writers Terry Rossio and Ted Elliot had originally based Shrek and Donkey’s relationship on Farley and David Spade’s relationship in “Tommy Boy,” so the larger-than-life comedian was a natural choice.

Sadly, Farley passed away in the middle of film production in 1997 after recording around 85 percent of his lines. He would eventually be replaced by fellow SNL star Mike Myers.


The two men approached the role of Shrek quite differently. As Farley’s brother later explained to Yahoo, “Originally the Shrek character was a little bit more like Chris, like a humble, bumbling innocent guy.” Myers’ Shrek, on the other hand, was a bit older, more jaded and…well, quite obviously Scottish.

Hearing how Farley played Shrek is a fascinating example of how two different actors can interpret characters in different ways. Despite Myers’ Shrek being beloved and familiar, it’s clear from the footage of Farley’s recordings leaked in 2015 that his Shrek would have been great, too. Definitely different, but great.

Watch:

People had lots of feelings about hearing Farley as Shrek and what he brought to the role, as well as the loss of his extraordinary talent:

“Chris Farley’s Shrek sounds more chill than the original. yes, he has layers in his personality to protect himself from the world and has the same struggles with Myers’ Shrek but their difference is how they cope with it. Farley’s Shrek copes by being motivated by his parent’s love and he sounds more disappointed because the world doesn’t love him. Myers’ Shrek on the other hand copes by shutting himself from the world isolating himself since he never found anyone who would actually love him for who he is, so the revelation is more cathartic because it shows his frustration with the world and tearing down a ‘layer’ from donkey.” – @TauGeneration

“This scene is so heartwarming. Farley’s Shrek is like a more emotionally aware ogre whereas Myers’ is so emotionally stilted he doesn’t even KNOW how he feels half the time. Farley’s knows exactly what he wants, but accepts that he doesn’t deserve it bc of how he was raised, and how the world treated him.” – @DAMIENDMILLS

“I think this really demonstrates just how much of an animated character comes from the voice actor, Chris’ Shrek may have the same core (I want to be left be to my own devices) but his take is so different! The whole parrents issue is really interesting, because we never do get to see how Shrek became the angry grump he is, and it a really unique take. I still like Myers, but I do wonder what just how different Farley’s Shrek would have been.” – @kennymartin5976

“In addition to the fact that Farley passed away during the making of this film, what also makes me sad is hearing his performance. They picked a great scene from the movie that had humor, but also showed more depth in Shrek’s character, and if you listen to Farley’s voice he’s hitting those emotions perfectly. I think this clip shows us a glimpse of Farley being able to hit those dramatic notes in addition to being the clown. Who knows, maybe he could’ve gone on to do some more serious movies, or sort of dramedy roles, and he might have been great in them. It’s sad we’ll never be able to see that. RIP Chris Farley, we miss you.” – @yoshim616

Check out a back-to-back comparison of clips from the movie and the original recordings:

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‘WhiteFlag’ is a free app attempting to fill the gaps in mental health. Here’s how it works.

Not everyone can afford regular therapy or even require therapy consistently, but that doesn’t mean those same people don’t need help at times. Life happens. In the moment, you could be struggling with depression that stems from going through a divorce or the loss of a loved one or beloved pet. Your normally manageable anxiety could be feeling like it’s suddenly a freight train barreling towards you after moving to a new city.

These are moments where you might feel like having a little unbiased extra support could be helpful—and that’s where a free app called WhiteFlag could come in. WhiteFlag is an app that connects users who have struggled with similar things. In the mental health field, this is called peer support.

The person lending the support is typically someone who previously experienced the same thing as the person seeking help. It’s an invaluable tool used in multiple mental health settings, and this app has just put it at everyone’s fingertips.


Tiffany Jenkins runs the vlog Juggling the Jenkins and she brought more eyes to the app after posting about using it to her millions of followers. She explains to her followers in a video how the app works, which honestly could be used as an advertisement with how much she praised the app.

“When you first go in and download the app, you put in all the things that you’re struggling with. And then, you raise your white flag when you’re struggling,” Jenkins explains. “And you’re matched by compatibility with other people who’ve been through something similar. Not therapists who are getting paid to listen. They’re anonymous people who understand your struggle and who are willing to talk to you.”

After Jenkins’ quick rundown of how the app works, it’s easy to see how this could be a lifeline for people who are having a difficult time. You can find out more about the app through her video below and on the WhiteFlag website here.

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Stephen Strasburg Is Retiring, But Will Reportedly Continue Collecting Checks Through 2029

Stephen Strasburg is calling it a career after more than a decade with the Washington Nationals, one in which he has had incredible highs and more than his fair share of injury issues. Since winning World Series MVP honors in 2019, a year in which he racked up an 18-6 record across 209 innings pitched, Strasburg has been on the mound just five times for 30.2 innings of work.

As his arm issues have continued to keep him off of the mound, the former No. 1 overall pick, who set the baseball world ablaze in his first ever start, has decided to retire. While he won’t be pitching anymore, he will still be compensated quite well by the Nationals, as he’s in the fourth year of a 7-year, $245 million deal he signed after that World Series performance. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Strasburg’s deal with the Nationals was completely uninsured and fully guaranteed, meaning he will still collect all of the money he’s still owed through 2026, plus some deferment checks the Nationals used to stretch out the cost of his contract through 2029.

If there were ever any doubt that Scott Boras is the best to ever do it as a baseball player agent, let this be Exhibit A in his Agent Hall of Fame case. Now, Strasburg would certainly prefer to be playing the game he loves and be healthy, and I want to be clear that I don’t think he’s retiring simply to collect checks. That said, it’s a great bit of agent work to get your client who has had past arm issues a fully guaranteed deal to ensure that should something happen down the road and he does have to retire, he doesn’t have to forego any money to make the decision that’s best for his health.

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2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup Group H Preview

Usually international tournaments don’t have two teams with a real shot at winning a gold medal in the same group. Fortunately for basketball fans, Group H at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup provides exactly that, as two international juggernauts sit at the top of the group. France enters the tournament this year as the No. 5 team in the world and the defending bronze medalists in the tournament. Canada comes in at No. 15, but with a number of NBA players on the roster, the team has every reason to believe it will outperform its ranking and compete gold.

On the outside looking in of that top-2 are Latvia, which enter the tournament without the services of star big man Kristaps Porzingis, and Lebanon. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where either team is able to knock off the French or the Canadians, but international play is weird, because all it takes is one off night for everything to change.

Here are the odds to win the group entering the tournament (via DraftKings).

Canada -110
France -110
Latvia +2000
Lebanon +15000

Today, we’re look through the most prominent players, the schedule, and the games to watch in Group H.

Players to Watch

R.J. Barrett (Canada): With Jamal Murray and Andrew Wiggins missing the tournament, Barrett’s role on the Canadian team is incredibly important. Canada has a no-doubt No. 1 option (see below!) and a number of very good NBA players, but Barrett is the guy who could help push them over the top with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. The Canadians already have sky high aspirations at the World Cup, and Barrett being the best version of himself would make them even more attainable.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada): One of the two players who earned an All-NBA First Team nod last season and are playing this summer, Gilgeous-Alexander very well might be the best player in the entire tournament. His international exploits are not nearly as well-known as those of Luka Doncic, as this will mark his first major international tournament with his home country. Murray missing out means the ball will be in his hands even more, and it seems a safe bet to say he’ll deliver.

Evan Fournier (France): Things could be going better for Fournier with his NBA career, but he’s continued to be a menace for the French when he suits up for his country. It came in a narrow loss, but Fournier dropped 29 points on Australia, and his ability to provide an offensive spark is part of what has made the team so good over the years. He and Nando De Colo are a veteran, battle tested backcourt that should give France a shot against anyone.

Rudy Gobert (France): The French frontcourt could look very different next year, as Victor Wembanyama has made clear he wants to play in the Olympics and Joel Embiid is eligible to join the team as it goes for a gold medal in Paris. Gobert, meanwhile, has been a constant for France as it has constantly put forth impressive showings over the years. He’s an experienced, decorated international player and someone whose size and physicality could very easily give opposing teams trouble.

Davis Bertans (Latvia): It is hard to imagine a scenario where Canada and France aren’t moving on in the group. The most likely way that scenario comes to fruition involves Bertans getting scorching hot in a game against either of them, the Latvians knocking them off, and taking care of business against Lebanon. With Kristaps Porzingis out, the Thunder forward will take on even more responsibility in trying to get them out of the group.

Schedule/TV Info (all times EST)

Aug. 25
Latvia vs. Lebanon, 5:00 a.m., ESPN+
Canada vs. France, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 27
Lebanon vs. Canada, 5:30 a.m., ESPN+
France vs. Latvia, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 29
Lebanon vs. France, 5:30 a.m., ESPN+
Canada vs. Latvia, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+

Game to Watch

Canada vs. France: This is not just the best game in the group. It’s very possible the showdown between the Canadians and the French is the best game in the entire tournament, as the two teams are legitimate candidates to win a gold medal behind rosters with an abundance of NBA talent. It tips off at a very reasonable time for those of us in the States, and there’s even a chance that this ends up being a preview of the gold medal game a little farther down the road. This one is going to be fun.

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2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup Group H Preview

Usually international tournaments don’t have two teams with a real shot at winning a gold medal in the same group. Fortunately for basketball fans, Group H at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup provides exactly that, as two international juggernauts sit at the top of the group. France enters the tournament this year as the No. 5 team in the world and the defending bronze medalists in the tournament. Canada comes in at No. 15, but with a number of NBA players on the roster, the team has every reason to believe it will outperform its ranking and compete gold.

On the outside looking in of that top-2 are Latvia, which enter the tournament without the services of star big man Kristaps Porzingis, and Lebanon. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where either team is able to knock off the French or the Canadians, but international play is weird, because all it takes is one off night for everything to change.

Here are the odds to win the group entering the tournament (via DraftKings).

Canada -110
France -110
Latvia +2000
Lebanon +15000

Today, we’re look through the most prominent players, the schedule, and the games to watch in Group H.

Players to Watch

R.J. Barrett (Canada): With Jamal Murray and Andrew Wiggins missing the tournament, Barrett’s role on the Canadian team is incredibly important. Canada has a no-doubt No. 1 option (see below!) and a number of very good NBA players, but Barrett is the guy who could help push them over the top with the ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor. The Canadians already have sky high aspirations at the World Cup, and Barrett being the best version of himself would make them even more attainable.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada): One of the two players who earned an All-NBA First Team nod last season and are playing this summer, Gilgeous-Alexander very well might be the best player in the entire tournament. His international exploits are not nearly as well-known as those of Luka Doncic, as this will mark his first major international tournament with his home country. Murray missing out means the ball will be in his hands even more, and it seems a safe bet to say he’ll deliver.

Evan Fournier (France): Things could be going better for Fournier with his NBA career, but he’s continued to be a menace for the French when he suits up for his country. It came in a narrow loss, but Fournier dropped 29 points on Australia, and his ability to provide an offensive spark is part of what has made the team so good over the years. He and Nando De Colo are a veteran, battle tested backcourt that should give France a shot against anyone.

Rudy Gobert (France): The French frontcourt could look very different next year, as Victor Wembanyama has made clear he wants to play in the Olympics and Joel Embiid is eligible to join the team as it goes for a gold medal in Paris. Gobert, meanwhile, has been a constant for France as it has constantly put forth impressive showings over the years. He’s an experienced, decorated international player and someone whose size and physicality could very easily give opposing teams trouble.

Davis Bertans (Latvia): It is hard to imagine a scenario where Canada and France aren’t moving on in the group. The most likely way that scenario comes to fruition involves Bertans getting scorching hot in a game against either of them, the Latvians knocking them off, and taking care of business against Lebanon. With Kristaps Porzingis out, the Thunder forward will take on even more responsibility in trying to get them out of the group.

Schedule/TV Info (all times EST)

Aug. 25
Latvia vs. Lebanon, 5:00 a.m., ESPN+
Canada vs. France, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 27
Lebanon vs. Canada, 5:30 a.m., ESPN+
France vs. Latvia, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 29
Lebanon vs. France, 5:30 a.m., ESPN+
Canada vs. Latvia, 9:30 a.m., ESPN+

Game to Watch

Canada vs. France: This is not just the best game in the group. It’s very possible the showdown between the Canadians and the French is the best game in the entire tournament, as the two teams are legitimate candidates to win a gold medal behind rosters with an abundance of NBA talent. It tips off at a very reasonable time for those of us in the States, and there’s even a chance that this ends up being a preview of the gold medal game a little farther down the road. This one is going to be fun.

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2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup Group D Preview

The 2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup will get underway this Friday, August 25, with games being played in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia for this year’s event. As is the case at most every international basketball event, Team USA is the heavy favorite at -125 to win it all, but the Americans finished seventh at the 2019 World Cup (where Spain beat Argentina in the finals) and are bringing a young team without much of any international experience, meaning the outcome of this year’s tournament is far from a certainty.

As such, a number of teams have hopes of making a run at the World Cup crown, while plenty of others are looking to take a stride forward with the best result in their country’s recent basketball history. In Group D, there are a pair of European sides led by NBA big men looking to make a solid run in the tournament as Lithuania, led by Jonas Valanciunas, and Montenegro, led by Nikola Vucevic, are the favorites to reach the second group round. They are joined by Egypt and Mexico to round out the group, who are longer shots to come out of the group (odds via DraftKings).

Lithuania -250
Montenegro +300
Mexico +900
Egypt +4000

Here we’ll look at the players to watch, full schedule for the group, and biggest game from Group D.

Players to Watch

Ehab Amin (Egypt): The Egyptian squad doesn’t feature any household names here stateside, but Amin (listed some places as Ehab Saleh) was their scoring leader in 11 qualifying game appearances, averaging 14.5 points per game in the African qualifiers. In the fronctourt, it’s Amr Abdelhalim who is their most potent scoring threat, as he scored 42 in their final qualifier game, a 97-77 loss to South Sudan.

Rokas Jokubaitis (Lithuania): While Lithuania’s national team is known for its big men (in current form and historically), Jokubaitis leads the way in the backcourt. The 22-year-old point guard plays his club ball for Barcelona and is their best table setter, averaging seven assists per game in his two qualifier appearances and notching 10 points and seven assists in their warmup against Finland. If Lithuania is going to make a deep run in the tournament, they will need some backcourt play to match their frontcourt strength and Jokubaitis is the most likely one to deliver on that.

Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania): Lithuania, when at full strength, can deploy one of the best big man duos in the world with Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis, but with the Kings star sitting out of the World Cup, it’s the Pelicans center that takes center stage. Valanciunas averaged 14.5 points in his two qualifier appearances and had 21 points and 16 boards in tune-up action against Finland. He is a physical presence in the paint that will be difficult to handle for a lot of smaller teams, and in a tournament missing some of the biggest (literally) stars, that makes Lithuania a tough out.

Pako Cruz (Mexico): On a Mexico squad that can light it up from three (38 percent from deep in the FIBA Americas qualifiers), Cruz leads the way. He knocked down 46.3 percent of his threes on 8.4 attempts per game for Mexico in eight qualifier appearances, averaging 17 points per game to lead the team. If Mexico is going to emerge from a group filled with skilled big men, they’re going to need to get hot from deep and Cruz represents their most dangerous shooter.

Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro): The headliner for Montenegro is Vucevic, as the former All-Star who now plays in Chicago will lead the way in their quest for a berth in the second group stage (and potentially beyond). Vucevic will get to return to leading man status after having to take a tertiary role with the Bulls alongside Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, and it should be fun to see him get to operate in all of his preferred spots. It also could be a rejuvenating experience for him before what the Bulls hope to be a bounce back season in 2023-24.

Schedule/TV Info (all times EST)

Aug. 25
Mexico vs. Montenegro, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Egypt vs. Lithuania, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 27
Montenegro vs. Egypt, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Lithuania vs. Mexico, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 29
Egypt vs. Mexico, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Montenegro vs. Lithuania, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+

Game to Watch

Montenegro vs. Lithuania: The game that should decide the group based on pre-tournament expectations is also the final game of the group schedule on August 29. It will be a terrific matchup in the paint between Vucevic and Valanciunas that will be of intrigue to NBA fans, and should one of these teams have stumbled in an earlier game against Egypt or Mexico there could be even more on the line.

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2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup Group D Preview

The 2023 FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup will get underway this Friday, August 25, with games being played in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia for this year’s event. As is the case at most every international basketball event, Team USA is the heavy favorite at -125 to win it all, but the Americans finished seventh at the 2019 World Cup (where Spain beat Argentina in the finals) and are bringing a young team without much of any international experience, meaning the outcome of this year’s tournament is far from a certainty.

As such, a number of teams have hopes of making a run at the World Cup crown, while plenty of others are looking to take a stride forward with the best result in their country’s recent basketball history. In Group D, there are a pair of European sides led by NBA big men looking to make a solid run in the tournament as Lithuania, led by Jonas Valanciunas, and Montenegro, led by Nikola Vucevic, are the favorites to reach the second group round. They are joined by Egypt and Mexico to round out the group, who are longer shots to come out of the group (odds via DraftKings).

Lithuania -250
Montenegro +300
Mexico +900
Egypt +4000

Here we’ll look at the players to watch, full schedule for the group, and biggest game from Group D.

Players to Watch

Ehab Amin (Egypt): The Egyptian squad doesn’t feature any household names here stateside, but Amin (listed some places as Ehab Saleh) was their scoring leader in 11 qualifying game appearances, averaging 14.5 points per game in the African qualifiers. In the fronctourt, it’s Amr Abdelhalim who is their most potent scoring threat, as he scored 42 in their final qualifier game, a 97-77 loss to South Sudan.

Rokas Jokubaitis (Lithuania): While Lithuania’s national team is known for its big men (in current form and historically), Jokubaitis leads the way in the backcourt. The 22-year-old point guard plays his club ball for Barcelona and is their best table setter, averaging seven assists per game in his two qualifier appearances and notching 10 points and seven assists in their warmup against Finland. If Lithuania is going to make a deep run in the tournament, they will need some backcourt play to match their frontcourt strength and Jokubaitis is the most likely one to deliver on that.

Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania): Lithuania, when at full strength, can deploy one of the best big man duos in the world with Valanciunas and Domantas Sabonis, but with the Kings star sitting out of the World Cup, it’s the Pelicans center that takes center stage. Valanciunas averaged 14.5 points in his two qualifier appearances and had 21 points and 16 boards in tune-up action against Finland. He is a physical presence in the paint that will be difficult to handle for a lot of smaller teams, and in a tournament missing some of the biggest (literally) stars, that makes Lithuania a tough out.

Pako Cruz (Mexico): On a Mexico squad that can light it up from three (38 percent from deep in the FIBA Americas qualifiers), Cruz leads the way. He knocked down 46.3 percent of his threes on 8.4 attempts per game for Mexico in eight qualifier appearances, averaging 17 points per game to lead the team. If Mexico is going to emerge from a group filled with skilled big men, they’re going to need to get hot from deep and Cruz represents their most dangerous shooter.

Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro): The headliner for Montenegro is Vucevic, as the former All-Star who now plays in Chicago will lead the way in their quest for a berth in the second group stage (and potentially beyond). Vucevic will get to return to leading man status after having to take a tertiary role with the Bulls alongside Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan, and it should be fun to see him get to operate in all of his preferred spots. It also could be a rejuvenating experience for him before what the Bulls hope to be a bounce back season in 2023-24.

Schedule/TV Info (all times EST)

Aug. 25
Mexico vs. Montenegro, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Egypt vs. Lithuania, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 27
Montenegro vs. Egypt, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Lithuania vs. Mexico, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+

Aug. 29
Egypt vs. Mexico, 4:30 a.m., ESPN+
Montenegro vs. Lithuania, 8:30 a.m., ESPN+

Game to Watch

Montenegro vs. Lithuania: The game that should decide the group based on pre-tournament expectations is also the final game of the group schedule on August 29. It will be a terrific matchup in the paint between Vucevic and Valanciunas that will be of intrigue to NBA fans, and should one of these teams have stumbled in an earlier game against Egypt or Mexico there could be even more on the line.

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All Of Starbucks New Fall Drinks, Ranked From Least Essential To ‘Must-Order’

When I ranked Starbucks’ full summer drinks lineup last week, I knew it was late, but I wasn’t under the impression that just one week later Starbucks would drop its fall drinks lineup. I thought for sure that Starbucks would at least wait until September (summer is still rolling!) before trying to force-feed us pumpkin spice. I mean c’mon, temperatures across the country are still sitting between 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit — spicy autumnal flavors don’t taste right while you’re still wearing swim shorts, bikini tops, and cranking up the AC.

Well, season be damned, I’m determined to not be late this time — which is why I tried all four of Starbucks’ new fall drinks, including the legendary Pumpkin Spice Latte, as well as the Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew, and the brand new Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte, and the Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso, all on drop day. Beginning today, you can roll up to a Starbucks nationwide and grab any of these fall-flavored treats. But how many of them are actually worth the pull-up?

We’re going to break it down in this in-depth review and ranking of each flavor. Happy Halloween and we hope you have a great Thanksgiving (see how f*cking weird this is — IT’S TOO EARLY!). Anyway, let’s dive in.

4. Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew

Starbucks Fall
Dane Rivera

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

Cinnamon and nutmeg dominate the flavor here with a soft silky mouthfeel and mild roasted coffee notes on the backend. Truly, it was hard to name even one of these drinks the least essential, they’re all pretty solid, but if I had to pick (which I do) it’s this one.

Is it possible that Starbucks’ fall drinks lineup is its strongest? I think so. When the bottom tastes this good it’s a testament to the quality of Starbucks’ pumpkin spice sauce.

The Bottom Line:

If your go-to drink is already a cold brew coffee, definitely give this drink a taste, it has a nice cinnamon-forward and that familiar silky cold brew texture.

3. Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso

Starbucks Fall
Dane Rivera

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

Buttery and toasty with some tart green apple notes, a hint of sweetness, and a rich and creamy body. The Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is a brand new drink in the Starbucks lineup and I think it’s a great addition that reflects the season, without tasting like something you’re used to.

It’s the only drink on the fall menu that doesn’t rely on pumpkin so if you have no love for pumpkin spice but still want something that captures the vibe of the fall season, this is your drink.

The Bottom Line:

Tart, fruity, rich, and creamy, the Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso is tailor-made for people who aren’t interested in pumpkin spice but still want a fruity finish to their iced espresso.

2. Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte

Starbucks Fall
Dane Rivera

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

A soft and creamy body makes way for a mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, allspice and vanilla with a hint of earthy black tea bitterness. It tastes like autumn in a cup. The Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte is another brand-new drink in the Starbucks lineup and I was very very close to giving this drink the top spot.

The only reason I didn’t was because I feel like this drink is just a bit too sweet and creamy so much so that I would consider adding a shot of espresso in here to balance things out. Without a doubt, that hack would make this drink my number one pick, but I didn’t feel it was fair to hack a drink and name it number one, so it’ll have to live in second place.

The Bottom Line:

Add a shot of espresso and you’ll deepen the flavor and complexity of this drink, making it the best Starbucks Fall menu drink, hands down. With the stock recipe, it’s very good but a bit too sweet for me to say it’s the best.

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte

Starbucks Fall
Dane Rivera

Tasting Notes & Thoughts

The Pumpkin Spice Latte tastes like pumpkin pie in a glass (or in this case, paper cup). It has a perfect balance of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice flavors that start sweet and end spicy. The espresso helps to balance out the sweetness and add bold roasted coffee bitterness. The strength of this drink is its balance, it’s never too sweet, too spicy, or too bitter.

Does it feel incredibly lame to name it the best drink on Starbucks’ fall menu? Yes, but I think it just might be Starbucks’ best drink, period. The drink is available hot as well as iced, so if you feel weird drinking a Pumpkin Spice Latte when it’s still f*cking 85 degrees in the dog days of summer, get it iced!

The Bottom Line:

There is a reason pumpkin spice-flavored drinks are even a thing, and this is that reason. Starbucks kicked off the trend and they’re still the best to do it.

Find your nearest Starbucks here.