With less than a week to go in the 2020-21 NBA season, there is still plenty of drama when it comes to playoff seeding and the new play-in tournament. With a number of tight races for seeding, each game means a lot and each night there will be teams with a chance to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Only seven teams have clinched playoff spots (a top-6 seed) so far, with Philadelphia, Brooklyn, and Milwaukee in the East and Utah, Phoenix, Los Angeles (Clippers), and Denver in the West. On Tuesday, there are four teams that can clinch playoff spots (and one that can be eliminated from the playoffs) depending on the various outcomes of Tuesday’s NBA action. In the East, the top 6 seeds could all be locked in on Tuesday, with the only drama being seeding within that range. In the West, a fifth team can lock themselves in with a win and some help.
Atlanta Hawks: Clinch a playoff spot with a Celtics LOSS and a Knicks WIN.
Miami Heat: Clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over Boston.
New York Knicks: Clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Lakers and a Celtics LOSS.
Dallas Mavericks: Clinch a playoff spot with a WIN over the Grizzlies and a Lakers LOSS.
Basically, if the Heat and Knicks win, the East playoff picture is known and the Celtics get locked into the play-in, add in a Dallas win to that formula and you have 11 of the 12 playoff positions taken, with seeding to be determined and the 6-seed in the West still a battle between Portland and the Lakers.
Other things that can be finalized on Tuesday include:
Philadelphia 76ers: Clinch the 1-seed in the East with a WIN over Indiana OR losses by both Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
Sacramento Kings: Eliminated from the play-in with a LOSS to the Thunder.
Beyond those battles, there are other very important games happening for seeding battles, starting with the East.
Nets loss to Chicago and a Bucks win over Orlando would bring Milwaukee into the 2-seed by virtue of their tiebreaker with Brooklyn.
Knicks loss would put them in a tie with the Hawks for the 4-seed, which they would still hold onto with their own tiebreaker.
Knicks loss and a Miami win would create a three-way tie for 4th, with Atlanta taking the 4-seed in such a scenario by way of being the division leader (thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Heat).
Knicks win and a Miami win would keep New York a full game ahead for the 4 and move Atlanta and Miami into a tie for 5th, with Atlanta holding the tiebreaker.
Hornets loss and a Pacers win would move those two into a tie for 8th, with Charlotte holding the tiebreaker.
Indiana loss would move them back into a tie with Washington for 9th, with the Wizards owning the tiebreaker.
In the West,
Clippers loss and a Nuggets win would bring them into a tie for the 3-seed, with Denver owning the tiebreaker.
Dallas loss would move them into a tie with Portland for the 5-seed, with the Blazers owning the tiebreaker.
Warriors loss and a Grizzlies win would move Memphis back in front of the Warriors by a half game for the 8-seed
It’s been less than a week since Resident Evil Village hit shelves and already it’s looking like it could be one of the year’s best-selling titles as well as the best-selling Resident Evil game. In a press release published by Capcom earlier today, the developer revealed over 3 million units of the game were sold in the first four days of release. These impressive numbers make it the fastest-selling Resident Evil title since 2012’s Resident Evil 6 — which sold over 4.5 million copies in just two days — and push the series past 100 million units sold.
While it might seem a stretch to claim Village is on track to be the best-selling game in the series when confronted with Resident Evil 6‘s staggering initial sales, it’s important to note that Resident Evil 6‘s poor reviews led to a decrease in purchases, and ultimately the game capped with a, albeit still impressive, 7.7 million copies sold. According to Capcom’s sales records, this puts Resident Evil 6 behind Resident Evil 5 (7.8 million units sold), Resident Evil 2 remake (7.8 million units sold), and Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (8.5 million units sold).
Single barrel bourbon whiskeys are special buys. Their appeal is in how distinct and unique they are, even from other expressions made by the same brand. Which makes it incredibly hard to judge single barrels against one another. Generally speaking, two bottles from two different barrels from the same distiller can vary — sometimes quite widely. So you can imagine how tough it is to get a handle on a certain brand’s output.
All of which made this the hardest blindranking I’ve ever done. All eight bottles showed something different that helped them stand out, which meant I really dug a lot of these. But I found myself liking them for massively different reasons — which made them damn near impossible to rank. In the end, the distance between sixth and fifth places or even second and first places was razor-thin.
I also had a ringer thrown in. Technically, I’m drinking seven single barrel bourbons and one Tennessee whiskey single barrel. The reasoning behind this is twofold. First, all Tennessee whiskey is bourbon (but not all bourbon is Tennessee whiskey). Tennessee bourbon that goes through the Lincoln County Process — filtering through sugar maple charcoal — becomes Tennessee whiskey. The second reason is that I wanted to see if I could blindly pick out the Tennessee whiskey from the pack of refined single barrel bourbons. As in: would the extra filtration be noticeable when competing against expressions this refined?
Right from the top, I can see from the dark hue of this bourbon that it’s one) crafty and two) likely Texan. It’s dark and stormy in the glass, with a nose that leads off with rich butterscotch that’s almost a toffee. There’s a mild pine board dryness that leads towards very creamy vanilla and eggnog spice depth. The sip gets creamier when you go back to the nose and take a second sip and a sweet (almost honeyed) tobacco chew takes over.
Taste 2:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This opens with a buttered cornbread that leads into a lot of fruit. There’s a cherry cream soda vibe (hello, Jim Beam) that runs through the whole sip, while notes of mildly spicy apple pie dripping with sweet caramel sauce come to play.
A touch of peach comes in on the second round of nosing and sipping and a soft, almost moist, leather enters the fold.
Taste 3:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
Okay, this is deeply interesting. Mild marzipan nuttiness leads towards a rush of barky Christmas spices. The sip turns towards blackberries, cinnamon bark, and old leather-bound library books. The mustiness never overwhelms as the very silky body of this sip creates a big, warming tobacco buzz on the end that really lingers.
Taste 4:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
There’s a rush of toffee with a spicy tobacco counterpoint that leads towards a maply candy vibe. That maple candy holds as a rich and creamy vanilla ice cream — think thick and malted — counterpoints an old cedar bark feel next to a spicy tobacco chewiness on the end, all of which leads back to that maple.
Taste 5:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is lighter but not thinner. There’s a mix of almost old cherries next to dry leather and a sticky firewood sap. There’s a light and sweet kettle caramel corn touch with a hint of vanilla and spicy toffee-covered apples. But it’s really the fruit that shines the most in this dram: Cherry, banana, maybe even peach and pear.
This has to be the Jack Daniel’s. That fruitiness stands out so brightly.
Taste 6:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is so different than the last sip that it’s jarring — in a good way. There’s a big note of holiday spices with a rich and creamy vanilla backbone next to soft leather and a touch of old cellar beams. There’s a whisper of vanilla pound cake next to wet apple tobacco. The taste then veers towards savory herbs with a nod towards rosemary stems and … maybe tarragon and … I want to say dill?
Those aren’t digs! I like those qualities.
Taste 7:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This is very light in every way. The taste is quintessential caramel/vanilla/apple with hints of eggnog spices and a mild oakiness. There’s a honey tobacco vibe that drives the sweetness and chewiness of the sip with a slight minerality, cherry note, and wet leather essence.
Taste 8:
Zach Johnston
Tasting Notes:
This starts off with a maple/cinnamon vibe that leads towards pear tobacco in an old leather pouch with matchsticks nearby. There’s a nuttiness to the body of this sip that feels like walnuts in vanilla ice cream with hints of cinnamon and nutmeg.
After the second and third nose and sips, an orange oil brightness comes into play alongside all that spicy tobacco chew.
Part 2: The Ranking
Zach Johnston
8. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage (Barrel No. 912) — Taste 7
This is Heaven Hill’s hand-selected single barrel Evan Williams expression. The juice is from a single barrel, labeled with its distillation year, proofed just above 43 proof, and bottled as is.
Bottom Line:
This was a great sip but from the first nose, I knew this was more a mixing bourbon than a sipping one. The sip only confirmed that. This is definitely going to be my cocktail base for a while and it’ll be great!
7. Jim Beam Single Barrel (Barrel No. JB0009) — Taste 2
This is an interesting whiskey. Each bottling is pulled from single barrels that hit just the right spot of taste, texture, and drinkability according to the master distillers at Beam. That means this juice is pulled from less than one percent of all barrels in Beam’s warehouses, making this a very special bottle at a bafflingly affordable price.
Bottom Line:
I was pretty sure this was Jim Beam thanks to that cornbread/cherry vibe. And hey, I was right. For the price and feel of this one, it’s more a great cocktail base than a sipper for me. Hence its low ranking.
That being said, this is a great entry-point single barrel for anyone looking to get into the game.
6. Four Roses Single Barrel (Barrel No. 66-2G) — Taste 8
Four Rose’s standard single barrel expression is an interesting one. This is their “number one” recipe, meaning it’s a high-rye (35 percent) mash bill that’s fermented with a yeast that highlights “delicate fruit.” The juice is then bottled at 100 proof, meaning you’re getting a good sense of that single barrel in every bottle.
Bottom Line:
I really struggled with where to put this one. It felt like a pure classic bourbon in every way. Still, nothing really reached out and grabbed me. Now, that could be because I tasted this last, and palate fatigue was setting in.
What can I say? This was really, really good … classic bourbon.
This single barrel expression from Hye, Texas’ Garrison Brothers is all about highlighting the craft distillery’s grain-to-glass process. The juice is made from a mash of 74 percent local white corn, 15 percent estate-grown soft red winter wheat, and eleven percent Canadian malted barley. That spirit is then rested for three to five years, or until it’s just right to be proofed and bottled.
Bottom Line:
I’m not a huge fan of butterscotch. This started with that note but it quickly faded towards more nuanced caramel and toffee and that’s what drew me in. It was hard not to love this bourbon. It was super easy to drink for how dark and strong it is.
Again though, I think I’d like this more in a cocktail than on its own thanks to that very clear high-alcohol vibe. And that’s why it’s a little lower on my list today.
4. Baker’s 7 Year Minimum Single Barrel (Barrel No. 000502651) — Taste 6
This is a newish release from Beam’s high-end line. It’s also the first single barrel release from Baker’s, which intends to phase out its small-batch expressions in favor of this bottle. The juice comes from hand-selected barrels from specific spots in the Beam warehouses, with whiskey that’s at least seven years old. In this case, we’re talking an eight-year-and-seven-month-old barrel.
Bottom Line:
This switched from first to third to sixth to second before it ended up here. That savory herbal note really helps this dram shine. It’s interesting, engaging, and really helps this sip feel like something special.
That all being said, there still wasn’t that “wow” factor at play. It was more a vibe of “well, this is really good and cool tasting. So… what’s next?”
3. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select (Barrel No. 20-01177) — Taste 5
This Jack bottle was first introduced in 1997. The barrel is hand-selected from the upper floors of Jack’s vast rickhouses. The whisky is bottled at a slightly higher proof to allow the nuance of the juice to shine.
Bottom Line:
First, I have to pat myself on the back a little for being able to call out the bottle of JD. Second, this is really f*cking delicious and easy to drink. All that fruit adds an extra dimension to the vanilla/tobacco/spice matrix of the rest of these.
The only reason this isn’t a little higher on the list is that it’s a little bit thin. Not watery or listless, but it’s missing the extra depth that keeps your full attention.
Jimmy Russell hand selects eight to nine-year-old barrels from his warehouses for their individual taste and quality. Those barrels are then cut down ever-so-slightly to 101 proof and bottled with their barrel number and warehouse location.
Bottom Line:
This was a real, “Ah-ha!” moment. There’s a beautiful silken quality to this sip that draws you in and holds you tight. It feels iconic. It tastes classic. You feel that age and craft in each nose and sip. It builds. It crescendos. And it sticks with you like a sweet memory of a summer day years ago.
This was the first sip on the list where I thought, “Oh, I can just drink this from now on.”
1. Michter’s Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Yrs. Old (Barrel No. 20D223) — Taste 4
This expression from Michter’s is a ten-year-old single barrel drop that hits the highest marks when talking about what bourbon is and can be. The juice is now contract-distilled according to Master Distiller Pam Heilmann and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson’s precise instructions and watchful eyes (though, they’re distilling their own juice now in Kentucky).
Bottom Line:
Apply all that gushing I just did for Wild Turkey to this. This is just bourbon in every sense of the word. It’s also amazingly accessible to drink, with rounded edges and silken texture.
Where this sip stood out was the deep feeling of understanding this dram brings. After that first and second nose and sip, you get this sense of ease and familiarity. It’s kind of like this thought runs through your mind, “Oh, I get it now. This is what everyone is talking about when they talk about how much they love bourbon. This is how this spirit tastes.” But it’s also elevated.
It’s like how your imagination improves things. This is the imagination-improved memory of a first bourbon sip. It sort of transcends and illuminates at the same time while being just so goddamn drinkable without ice or water or anything.
All that you need to enjoy this bourbon is your palate, thoughts, and a place in this world to sit and enjoy it all.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Zach Johnston
I’m not going to lie. It felt like I’d taken the biggest chaw of Kodiak, dipped for about an hour, and was left buzzing for another hour after sipping these eight single barrel whiskeys. The spicy, woody buzzing from those bourbonslingered.
That being said, it’s pretty clear that not all single barrels are created equal. Price aside, there’s a reason some of the most lauded and beloved bottles are so lauded and beloved. That Michter’s just couldn’t be denied. The Wild Turkey was one of those sips that you can carry with you for the rest of your life. But man they were good. Hell, the Garrison Brothers is probably the one I’m thinking about the most after the tasting, and that was only top five.
I have to say that the Baker’s Single Barrel remains the most interesting sip of the day. But, “interesting” doesn’t mean the “best.” That’s true for me anyway. Maybe it won’t be for you. Try these yourself and find your own transcendent dram of single barrel bourbon that speaks to you.
As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.
The Biden administration has put a focus back on science, and for most Americans, it’s a welcome return.
An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released on Monday found he has a 63% approval rating, bolstered primarily by his response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seventy-one percent of Americans, including 47% of Republicans, approve of how he has handled the pandemic.
The Biden administration has made huge efforts to communicate about the virus in a transparent, science-driven way, and made Herculean efforts to make the vaccine available to all adults. Whereas Trump chose to downplay the pandemic and spread misinformation.
Biden hopes to strengthen his administration’s commitment to science even further through the help of a new 46-person federal scientific integrity task force. The task force includes members from more than two dozen government agencies.
The task force was created after a January 27 memo from Biden requiring “evidence-based policy-making.”
The task force’s primary focus is to find areas where partisanship has interfered with science over the last 12 years. It also looks to bolster the government’s credibility in matters of science after the previous administration’s hostile research that conflicted with its agenda.
The Trump administration was against the promotion of climate change research, notably scrubbing mentions of it from various Environmental Protection Agency websites.
And let’s not forget about “Sharpiegate.”
via Wikimedia Commons
“What we have seen in the last administration is that the suppression of science, the reassignment of scientists, the distortion of scientific information around climate change was not only destructive but counterproductive and really problematic,” Jane Lubchenco, the deputy director for climate and environment at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, told the Los Angeles Times.
“There’s little doubt that the American death toll from Covid-19 was far higher than it needed to be and that the administration’s early unwillingness to take the issue seriously to listen to and act on the advice of experts and to communicate clearly contributed substantially to that death toll,” Naomi Oreskes, a Harvard University historian who has written extensively on the politicization of science, told The Los Angeles Times.
“This is such a hopeful moment,” says Rachel Cleetus, policy director of the Climate and Energy program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Scientific American. “We’ve seen this administration hit the ground running from day one. They have signaled very clearly a return to science-based policymaking and a commitment to center equity and justice in their policy missions.”
The Biden administration’s commitment to science shows that its primary goal is to create effective policy. It’s also an important step in stopping Americans’ eroding faith in government.
In 1970, 70% of Americans trusted the government a “great deal” or a “fair amount” when it came to domestic decision-making. In September 2020, it had declined to just 41%.
By bolstering the government’s commitment to science, the Biden administration has an opportunity to enhance its credibility. Sure, that is of course good for the Biden administration. But it’s arguably even better for American democracy in the long term. The government has a big hand in protecting the safety and economic well-being of all Americans. Improving the public’s faith in the institution an important step in creating an even more stable, free, and prosperous society.
After years of demands and delays, we’re less than two months away from Natasha Romanoff’s solo debut in Marvel’s Black Widow, and despite fans knowing how Natasha’s story ultimately ends, we’ve still got a lot of questions. While a lot of them revolve around Natasha herself (who are her parents, what’s up with her and Bruce, and what did happen in Budapest, for starters), there’s a lot of curiosity around the film’s supporting characters as well, particularly Taskmaster.
For those unfamiliar with Taskmaster, well, you’re in for a treat. Created in 1980, Taskmaster — real name Tony Masters — is a signature Marvel villain with ties to Captain America, Ant-Man, Spider-Man, and now, Black Widow. He also has served as a trainer for several Marvel characters, heroes, and villains alike, conditioning everyone from Crossbones to Spider-Woman. So, what makes him such a qualified tutor? Taskmaster possesses enhanced photographic reflexes that allow him to mimic any fighting style by simply watching it, making him a formidable foe for the many brawlers on the MCU roster. In the trailers for Black Widow alone, we see Taskmaster mimicking moves from Captain America, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, and, of course, Black Widow.
MARVEL
Now, while Tony Masters might be the established Taskmaster, based on the displayed skillset and the cast of Black Widow, it seems probable that Taskmaster is someone quite a bit closer to Natasha and the rest of the Avengers. After a lot of speculation — and a couple of potential social media blunders — there is one name fans keep coming back to when it comes to who is underneath the signature skeleton mask: Rick Mason.
Rick Mason, played by O-T Fegbenle, has — at the very least — been heavily implied to be Taskmaster. According to Fegbenle, Rick is “a finder for people who aren’t so affiliated with armies,” and has methods to get anyone anything they need — something he does frequently for his Natasha. As Taskmaster is generally an unaffiliated mercenary who just so happens to serve bad guys the bulk of the time, Rick’s backstory makes him a very possible candidate. He also has known Natasha for quite some time, and therefore would have some level of access to the Avengers that would make picking up on their fighting styles a bit easier. Last but not least, Fegbenle has posted and deleted pictures of himself with the hashtag #taskmaster or #TM to social media on two separate occasions and is the only character being heavily promoted with associated costumes or powers.
Of course, there is a possibility Rick is a red herring, in which case it makes both Melina and Yelena — two of Natasha’s closest allies — likely culprits, though their presence in battle with Taskmaster comes into conflict with the theories. However, in the comics, Melina does turn on Natasha after growing jealous over the public’s fawning over her while she operates in the shadows. We also see Yelena undergoing what looks like brain surgery in the Black Widow trailer, which seldom bodes well for a character.
Another option, perhaps unlikely but interesting, is that Taskmaster is a clone of Natasha herself, which would explain their intimate knowledge of how the Avengers fight. Regardless of who is in the suit, we’re excited that all our questions will be answered in less than two months.
Black Widow hits theaters and will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting July 9.
Mayans M.C. (FX, 10:00pm) — This biker drama’s been riding within a darker third gear with club members wrestling with various personal and professional demons this season. In the season finale, there’s a whole lot of dark stuff to consider: will poor Coco get out of cultland? Will Emily realize that Miguel, you know, tried to kill her? And perhaps most importantly, will E.Z. actually leave Santo Padre and the club behind to follow his nurse lady? Look out for a familiar face to return as well, all while the snake starts eating its own tail, and Bishop wants to become the king of the warring biker clubs.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Episode 3 (Disney+ series) — You might prefer to think of this show as the Star Wars franchise’s version of D.C.’s Suicide Squad, but fear no Leto-Joker intrusion. Instead, this The Clone Wars spinoff follows the conclusion of its flagship series that recently wound down on Disney+. Dave Filoni is executive producing, and the show focuses on a mercenary squad of sorts that’s made up of (as the title indicates) “the Bad Batch” or Clone Force 99. These elite soldiers stand apart from standard clones due to their unique physical capabilities like super strength, super eyesight, and so on.
Money, Explained (Netflix limited series) — Dig into this series about our collective weakness with the almighty dollar and how credit card and student loan companies are exploiting all of our tendencies. It’s often a taboo subject, but this series doesn’t shy away with the tough-love talk.
Cruel Summer (Freeform, 9:00pm) — The County Fair presents high drama, of course, as Jeanette and Kate cross paths with very opposite goals in mind.
Black-ish (ABC, 9:00pm) — Dre realizes that his relationships with Mom and Dad have morphed following their marriages, and spilled secrets are a key factor.
Mixed-ish (ABC, 9:30pm) — Paul uses his white privilege to try and score points with Denise, and a chocolate-bar sale at school is moving right along.
Prodigal Son (FOX 9:00pm) — Malcolm gets carried away while attempting to track down a serial killer, and the U.S. Marshals are not pleased with him.
Supergirl (CW, 9:00pm) — Everyone’s trying to bring Supergirl home from the Phantom Zone while being plagued by worst-fear visions run amuck.
Chad (TBS, 10:30pm) — SNL veteran Nasim Pedrad takes on the title role, that of a 14-year-old boy, and this week, Chad’s on a crusade to score some LeBron sneakers.
The Late Show With Stephen Colbert — Michelle Obama
Jimmy Kimmel Live — Heidi Klum, Mike Epps, Madness
The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon — Joel McHale, Thalía
The Late Late Show With James Corden — Martin Freeman, Rag’n’Bone Man
Late Night With Seth Meyers — Amy Adams, Stacey Abrams, Ashe
While stopping by Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night, Ewan McGregor finally confirmed a Noel Gallagher anecdote that everyone just assumed was a tall tale from the Oasis rocker. As Gallagher tells it, he gave McGregor “lightsaber lessons” shortly after the actor was cast as a young Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. When asked by Kimmel if the story is true, McGregor admits that he did exchange lightsaber blows with his old friend, but he wouldn’t exactly call it training. Via THR:
“Well, it was Noel Gallagher’s 30th birthday party and he lived quite close to me in London, north London,” McGregor began, laughing. “And I was at his party and then there was a lightsaber fight in his garden very early the next day in the morning. But I don’t remember too much instruction. I don’t remember any lessons being given by Noel. It was just more of a battle in the garden.”
As for who won, McGregor was completely honest about the festivities. “I would be surprised if either of us could remember that.” Of course, Kimmel’s questioning wasn’t completely random. McGregor is currently pulling double duty filming the new Obi-Wan Kenobi series for Disney+ and promoting Halston, his upcoming limited series for Netflix that stars McGregor as the late, openly gay fashion icon who famously lost his once glamorous clothing line in a sale to J.C. Penney.
In fact, the actor was recently filming the Kenobi series on May the 4th, a major holiday for Star Wars fans, and he teased Kimmel that he got to shoot a scene with a “someone very special in my life” who he’s never worked with before. But unlike the Gallagher tale, McGregor wasn’t offering any confirmations despite Kimmel trying his best.
The late Kobe Bryant will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday by none other than Michael Jordan. It is hardly the first time that Jordan has honored Bryant since his passing last year — he spoke at the memorial service for Bryant at Staples Center — but any opportunity for Jordan to speak publicly, particularly about a person he considered a little brother, will draw eyeballs.
Ahead of the ceremony, Jordan spoke to Jackie MacMullan of ESPN about the last time he spoke with Bryant prior to the tragic helicopter crash that took his life. Specifically, Jordan revealed the texts the pair exchanged on Dec. 8, 2019, which started with a brief discussion about his recently-launched tequila company and ended with Coach Kobe making a cameo.
“This tequila is awesome,” Kobe texted, referring to Jordan’s Cincoro Tequila, a bottle of which was sent to Bryant at the launch.
“Thank you, my brother,” Jordan responded.
“Yes, sir. Family good?” Kobe replied.
“All good. Yours?”
“All good.”
Jordan smiled, then decided to have a little fun. “He was really into coaching Gigi,” MJ explains, “so I hit him up about that.”
“Happy holidays,” Jordan texted back, “and hope to catch up soon. Coach Kobe??!”
“I added that little crying/laughing emoji,” Jordan chuckles.
“Ah, back at you, man,” Kobe wrote. “Hey, coach, I’m sitting on the bench right now, and we’re blowing this team out. 45-8.”
Beyond the fact that this story is great because we learned that Michael Jordan is an emoji person, any story about the bond that Bryant shared with his daughter Gianna, who among those who passed away in the accident, is heartwarming. Hopefully Jordan has a few more up his sleeve and we get to hear them this weekend.
Humans and gorillas may look and live quite differently, but we share a whopping 98% of the same genes. Of all mammals on Earth, only the bonobo chimpanzee is closer to humans in terms of genetic makeup.
A viral video of an interaction with a gorilla mom at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston has people marveling at the maternal similarities we share with the primates. The video shows Emmelina Austin kneeling in front of the glass barrier of the gorilla enclosure, holding her sleeping 5-week-old son, Canyon. The gorilla mom, Kiki, who gave birth to her own son, Pablo, via c-section in October, comes and sits right up close to Austin, gazing at the newborn and gently touching the glass as if she wants to touch the baby.
The video, shared by Emmelina’s husband Michael Austin, shows Kiki sitting close to Canyon for nearly five minutes. At one point, she moves her body out of the way as if to show off her own baby, who is standing behind her. It’s almost like you can hear her saying, “Enjoy this sleepy newborn phase while it lasts. Soon he’ll be running around like my little rascal here.”
“Her face was just so in love,” Austin told News Center Maine. “She was showing her baby my baby.”
“I was just in awe,” she said. “Trying to pet his face through the glass, and trying to hold his hand … just the most beautiful thing. You could see the emotion in her eyes.”
The whole video is just incredibly sweet.
Mother shares unique maternal bond with gorilla (FULL VIDEO)
Of course, the sweetness of the interaction is colored by the controversy of keeping primates in captivity. Some people feel that keeping any animals in captivity is wrong and have ethical issues with zoos in general. However, the reality is often not so simple. For one, interactions like this one can lead people to care more about gorillas in the wild, as people see up close how connected we are.
Many animals that are kept in captivity are unable to safely be released into the wild, and observing and studying animals in zoos can help scientists learn how to improve the lives of their counterparts in the wild. In addition, focused breeding programs in some zoos have led to the successful reintroduction of endangered species to the wild and increased numbers that were dwindling close to extinction. As Dr. Robin Gannert, president and CEO of the American Human Association, wrote, “Blunt and sweeping indictments of zoos and aquariums fail to account for how ethical institutions enrich and ultimately protect the lives of animals, both in human care and in the wild. Responsible zoos and aquariums exist to facilitate and promote the conservation of animals.” Zoos also work in concert with conservation groups such as the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, which is one of the most well-known gorilla advocacy organizations in the world.
Franklin Park Zoo announced in March that a new $8.1 million gorilla habitat will be unveiled this summer, giving the zoo’s six gorillas a 360,000 cubic foot space to enjoy. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered in the wild, and cooperative, inter-zoo programs like the Gorilla Species Survival Plan (SSP) help ensure the survival of endangered species in zoos and aquariums as well as support conservation efforts in the wild.
“We are thrilled to open the new outdoor gorilla exhibit, which will be an enriching experience not just for the gorillas, but for our guests as well,” said John Linehan, Zoo New England President and CEO in a statement. “We want to reach people through their hearts to build empathy for wildlife and habitats. As you observe the tender moments between a gorilla mom and her baby, or gorilla siblings playing together, you develop a better understanding of the family dynamics and social structure of these animals. Through this opportunity, guests can also better understand the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem health.”
However people feel about animals in zoos, this interaction between Kiki and baby Canyon should prompt all of us to do more to protect these magnificent creatures.
Martin is, to this day, one of the most beloved sitcoms of all-time, and fans of the show, particularly those in Detroit, are in for a treat this week. On Tuesday, the Pistons announced a new collaboration with Martin Lawrence on a clothing line inspired by Martin that features T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, and shorts with images from the show and the iconic Martin font that will be released this Friday, May 14.
Clark Williams/Detroit Pistons
Clark Williams/Detroit PistonsClark Williams/Detroit PistonsClark Williams/Detroit Pistons
Both Lawrence and the team offered statements on why the collaboration came together and the deep-seeded connection between the comedy legend, the city of Detroit (where the show was based), and the Pistons organization.
“Detroit has always shown me so much love and always shows up for me,” said Lawrence. “From stand-up tours to fans on the street Detroit has felt like home. It’s an honor to be part of something that means so much to me to this many years later.”
“With the city of Detroit as the show’s backdrop, Martin became must-watch TV in the 90’s,” said Mike Zavodsky, Chief Business Officer of the Detroit Pistons. “Martin’s love for the Pistons in the show translated into passion for the team – the fact that he has a ring from the 2004 team is proof of that. We’re thrilled to partner with Martin to introduce a merchandise line that pays homage to both Martin and the show’s Detroit roots.”
It is immediately one of the best collaborations between a team and celebrity in the NBA, and when the line drops on May 14 at the Pistons Shop it will be sure to move quickly.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
