Disney, DeSantis legal fights ratchet up as company demands documents from Florida governor

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ORLANDO, Fla. -- The legal fights between Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up this week.

The Florida governor asked that the company's First Amendment lawsuit against him be tossed from federal court, and Disney demanded emails, texts and other communications from the governor's office in a separate state court lawsuit originally brought by DeSantis appointees of Walt Disney World's governing district.

The legal filings marked an escalation in the battle between the entertainment giant and DeSantis, a candidate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. The confrontation started last year when Disney publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, and DeSantis retaliated by taking over the governing district that provides municipal services for the 25,000-acre (10,117-hectare) Disney World theme park resort in Florida.

Disney has sued DeSantis in federal court, claiming the governor violated its free speech rights by punishing it for expressing opposition to the law.

On Thursday, DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, the governing district made up of DeSantis appointees, asked a federal judge to throw out Disney’s First Amendment lawsuit, calling it meritless and “a last-ditch effort to reinstate its corporate kingdom.”

“Although Disney has grabbed headlines by suing the Governor, Disney — like many litigants before it who have challenged Florida’s laws — has no basis for doing so,” DeSantis' motion said.

Meanwhile, the governing district now controlled by DeSantis appointees has sued Disney in state court. The suit is an attempt to void prior agreements, made before the DeSantis appointees took over, that shifted control over design and construction to Disney from the district and prohibited the district from using the likeness of Disney characters or other intellectual property without Disney's permission. Disney filed counterclaims that include asking a state court to declare the agreements valid and enforceable. The company amended those counterclaims on Thursday, saying the DeSantis-controlled district was in violation of the U.S. Constitution stipulations on contracts and due process.

Disney also sent a notice to DeSantis' office demanding internal communications, including text messages and emails, and documents regarding the district's comprehensive plan, the development agreements and the legislation that shifted control of the district to DeSantis. The notice said a subpoena would be issued requiring the governor's office to turn over the materials to Disney's attorneys by Oct. 27.

The Disney attorneys also sent notices of subpoenas to others, including similar special districts in Florida. Disney wants to show that the manner in which it gave public notice about the agreements which stripped the DeSantis allies of design and construction powers was consistent with what other districts do. The DeSantis allies are arguing that one of the reasons the agreements should be invalidated is they weren't properly publicized.

___

Follow Mike Schneider on X, formerly known as Twitter: @MikeSchneiderAP.

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October 01, 2023 at 03:04AM

U2 concert uses stunning visuals to open massive Sphere venue in Las Vegas

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LAS VEGAS -- It looked like a typical U2 outdoor concert: Two helicopters zoomed through the starlit sky before producing spotlights over a Las Vegas desert and frontman Bono, who kneeled to ground while singing the band's 2004 hit “Vertigo.”

This scene may seem customary, but the visuals were created by floor-to-ceiling graphics inside the immersive Sphere. It was one of the several impressive moments during U2’s “UV Achtung Baby” residency launch show at the high-tech, globe-shaped venue, which opened for the first time Friday night.

The legendary rock band, which has won 22 Grammys, performed for two hours inside the massive, state-of-the-art spherical venue with crystal-clear audio. Throughout the night, there were a plethora of attractive visuals — including kaleidoscope images, a burning flag and Las Vegas’ skyline, taking the more than 18,000 attendees on U2’s epic musical journey.

“What a fancy pad,” said Bono, who was accompanied onstage with guitarists The Edge and Adam Clayton along with drummer Bram van den Berg. He then stared at the high-resolution LED screen that projected a larger version of himself along with a few praying hands and bells.

Bono then paid homage to the late Elvis Presley, who was a Las Vegas entertainment staple. The band has rocked in the city as far back as 1987 when they filmed the music video for “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For” on the Strip during a tour in 1987.

“Look at all this stuff. … Elvis has definitely not left this building,” he continued. “It’s an Elvis chapel. It’s an Elvis cathedral. Tonight, the entry into this cathedral is a password: flirtation.”

U2 made their presence felt at the $2.3 billion Sphere, which stands 366-feet (111 meters) high and 516-feet (157 meters) wide. With the superb visual effects, the band’s 25-show residency opened with a splash performing a slew of hits including “Mysterious Ways,” “Zoo Station,” “All I Want is You," “Desire" and new single “Atomic City.”

On many occasions, the U2 band members were so large on screen that it felt like Bono intimately sang to audience on one side while The Edge strummed his guitar to others.

The crowd included many entertainers and athletes: Oprah, LeBron James, Matt Damon, Andre Agassi, Ava DuVernay, Josh Duhamel, Jason Bateman, Jon Hamm, Bryan Crankston, Aaron Paul, Oscar de la Hoya, Henrik Lundqvist, Flava Flav, Diplo, Dakota Fanning, Orlando Bloom and Mario Lopez.

After wrapping up The Beatles’ jam “Love Me Do,” Bono recognized Paul McCartney, who was in attendance, saying “Macca is in the house tonight.” He acknowledged Sphere owner James Dolan’s efforts for spearheading a venue that’s pushing forward the live concert audio landscape with 160,000 thousands of high-quality speakers and 260 million video pixels.

The Sphere is the brainchild of Dolan, the executive chair of Madison Square Garden and owner of the New York Knicks and Rangers. He sketched the first drawing of venue on a notebook paper.

“I’m thinking the that the Sphere may have come into existence because of Jim Dolan trying to solve the problem that The Beatles started when they played Shea Stadium,” he said. “Nobody could hear you. You couldn’t hear yourselves. Well, the Sphere’s here. … Can you hear us?”

Bono pointed into crowd and shouted out Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Jimmy Iovine - who took in the band’s spectacular show. At one point, Bono became emotional when he dedicated a song to the late Jimmy Buffett’s family who attended the concert too.

Afterwards, Bono spoke about performing on stage for the first time without drummer Larry Mullen Jr., who is recovering from back surgery. He acknowledged Dutch drummer Bram van den Berg’s birthday and and filling in for Mullen.

“I would like to introduce you to the only man who could stand, well, sit in his shoes,” said Bono, who walked toward Berg as some in the crowd began to sing “Happy Birthday.” He handed the microphone to Berg, who offered a few words.

“Let there be no mistake, there is only one Larry Mullen Jr,” Berg said.

As U2 wrapped up their show, a bright light shined from the ceiling and the massive screen began to fill with images of birds, insects and reptiles above a lake. The band closed its first Sphere concert with “Beautiful Day," which one three Grammys in 2001.

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October 01, 2023 at 02:49AM

Tupac Shakur timeline: Key events in rapper's murder investigation

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Nearly three decades after rapper Tupac Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas, an arrest has been made in the case.

The cold case saw a breakthrough in recent months, with police conducting a search of a house in the Las Vegas area on July 17. The evidence in the case was subsequently presented to a Clark County grand jury, leading to an indictment on Sept. 28.

Here's a look at the investigation into Tupac's death.

Tupac Shakur, Nov. 13, 1994.

Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Nov. 30, 1994

Two years before the shooting that would claim his life, Tupac is shot five times during a robbery at Quad Studios in Times Square. In an interview with Vibe magazine in April 1995, he intimates producer Sean Combs and rapper Christopher Wallace, known as the Notorious B.I.G., who were at the studio, were aware it was a setup.

Sept. 7, 1996

Tupac is shot in a drive-by after leaving a boxing match at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas strip. He was sitting in a black BMW sedan with Suge Knight, the head of his record label, when a white Cadillac pulled up alongside and a gunman opened fire, striking Tupac multiple times.

Sept. 13, 1996

Tupac dies from his injuries in the hospital at the age of 25.

A black BMW, riddled with bullet holes, is seen in a Las Vegas police impound lot. Rapper Tupac Shakur was shot while riding in the car driven by Death Row Records chairman Suge Knight, Sept. 8, 1996.

Lennox Mclendon/AP

The intersection of Harmon and Las Vegas Blvd., in Las Vegas, Sept. 8, 1996, where Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records Chairman Marion "Suge" Knight were stopped and transported to the University Medical Center-Trauma unit after being shot.

Jack Dempsey/AP

Nov. 10, 1996

A witness to the drive-by is killed. Yafeu Fula, aka Yaki Kadafi, is fatally shot at an apartment building in New Jersey. He was a member of Tupac's entourage and was seated in the car behind the rapper's when the shooting occurred, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time. "It just kind of adds to our frustration of this whole investigation," a homicide investigator for the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told the LA Times.

March 9, 1997

The Notorious B.I.G. is shot and killed in Los Angeles. That shooting, which is widely believed to have been connected to Tupac's murder, remains unsolved.

September 1997

Orlando Anderson, a Los Angeles gang member, files a lawsuit against Tupac's estate for alleged damages he suffered in a brawl with the rapper at the MGM Grand just hours before the deadly drive-by, the LA Times reported at the time.

Tupac's mother, Afeni Shakur, subsequently files a wrongful-death lawsuit against Anderson, alleging that he fatally shot her son, the LA Times reported.

May 29, 1998

Anderson is shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in Los Angeles County. He was never charged in Tupac's murder and had denied any involvement.

Memorials to Tupac Shakur stand near the intersection where he was fatally shot in Las Vegas, July 18, 2023.

KTNV

February 2018

Netflix begins airing "Unsolved: The Tupac and Biggie Murders," a limited series that chronicled investigations by two LAPD detectives into the killings of the rappers. The Tupac probe gained new momentum following the release of the series, the law enforcement official briefed on the investigation told ABC News.

April 2019

Duane Keith Davis, aka Keffe D, who has said he is one of two living eyewitnesses to the shooting, along with Knight, releases the book "Compton Street Legend." Detectives also re-engaged with the Tupac case following the release of the book, the official told ABC News.

July 17, 2023

Las Vegas police conduct a court-authorized search of Davis' residence in Henderson, Nevada, in connection with the Tupac homicide investigation. Among the items seized by investigators are computers, hard drives and magazine articles about Tupac and his death, the official said.

Sept. 28, 2023

Davis is indicted by a Clark County grand jury on one count of open murder with use of a deadly weapon with a gang enhancement, according to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson. He is the only living suspect in the homicide investigation, authorities said.

Booking photo of Duane Davis.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Sept. 29, 2023

Davis is arrested on the murder charge while on a walk near his home, a senior law enforcement official confirmed to ABC News.

ABC News' Josh Margolin and Alex Stone contributed to this report.

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September 30, 2023 at 10:48AM

Country star Dustin Lynch was at an impasse. The only way forward was to have ‘Killed the Cowboy’

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LOS ANGELES -- Ahead of his sixth studio album, “Killed the Cowboy,” Dustin Lynch sensed some inner conflict.

The 38-year-old country star had achieved many of his goals: He spent the last decade securing country radio hits, raking in billions of streams and touring with the likes of Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley and Kane Brown. He was inducted into the Grand Olde Opry by Reba McEntire. After all that, the question became, what next?

“I’m single, you know, at this point in my life, I’ve chased down a lot of dreams. But what’s the next level to unlock? You know, in my life, where do I want to be in five, 10, 20, 30 years?” he told The Associated Press. “Is that with somebody? Is it still being free and enjoying the adventure? So, there’s this ongoing battle that I have with myself daily (of) what’s the best version of me.”

The album's title, and the title track, stemmed from that idea. Does he kill the cowboy, or let him ride?

If there is a narrative thread throughout “Killed the Cowboy," it is a conversation about a life of domesticity and vulnerabilities that directly challenges any “bro country” labels that might plague a single guy in country music. There's drinking and dancing and lighthearted fun on the album, but he’s also letting his fans into his sense of interiority, exactly where he’s at, and sometimes, that’s wondering about settling down.

That also means his performances transform into opportunities to “lift the single guys and girls up that come out to shows and are putting themselves out there, you know, taking a chance,” he smiles, thinking of the audience members at similar stages of life. “I’m sure we have a lot of first dates."

But he's quick to add, "We have a lot of first dates that have now become married and have kids together that come through meet and greets. So, music brings people together. It’s healing."

The album maintains that energy, keeping it open-ended. Regardless of the listener's relationship status or existential questioning, there's something to find resonance in.

“Killed the Cowboy” manages that universality in surprising ways. There’s the sole collaboration, with 2023 breakout star Jelly Roll, “Chevrolet,” a reimagination of Dobie Gray’s 1973 hit “Drift Away”. The pair harmonize in the chorus: “She said, ‘Give me a six-pack, some Brooks & Dunn / If you want a country girl, you just found one, let’s slip away’ / Yeah, ‘In your Chevrolet.’”

There are songs co-penned by Lynch created solely to bottle the energy of a weekend night on Broadway in Nashville (the up-tempo, cowbell-heavy "Honky Tonk Heartbreaker”) and there are songs to fall in love with a Texas girl (the romantic slow burn of “George Strait Jr.,” full of delightful ’90s country easter eggs). And there are songs that mourn the path not traveled ("If I Stop Drinkin'" and “Blue Lights”).

“This is the most open and honest I’ve been with an album because it really is me discovering what’s next for me, my life, and honestly, a little bit of therapy,” Lynch says. “I’m still figuring out what the right move is for me, you know, am I being intentional enough and trying to find someone to do life with? Am I too guarded?”

Those questions aren’t exactly answered on “Killed the Cowboy,” and frankly, if they were, Lynch wouldn’t be honest to his audience. Life is a journey, and he sees value in spilling his guts on record — and having a good time while doing so.

“I think right now I’m comfortable just being in my own skin and knowing that I’m okay,” he says. “There’s a lot of the guys and girls out there like me and accepting that for what it is.”

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September 29, 2023 at 10:27PM

Loewe showcases high-waisted silhouettes in surrealistic Paris fashion display

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PARIS -- Flashes of intrigue greeted guests at Loewe’s meticulously designed space for Paris Fashion Week. Bright, other-worldly lighting brightened a dove-gray runway where gold modernist sculptures by American artist Lynda Benglis were scattered as if dropped by a fashion divinity, hinting at the merging of fashion and art.

The set mostly was a blank canvas upon which Jonathan Anderson put his latest designs, a collection that played with proportion and quirks.

Here are some Friday highlights from the Spring-Summer 2024 collections in Paris:

LOEWE LIFTS LIMITS ON WAISTLINES

The centerpiece of Anderson's collection was a bold and surreal high-waisted silhouette, with pants in hues of camel, grey, brown, and black occasionally touched by vivid splashes of red, bougainvillea, and tangerine.

The choice of a style especially prominent in menswear wasn’t just a nostalgic nod. By pushing the waistlines to extreme heights, Anderson threw away conventional proportions with his typical daring and breathed fresh life into the classics.

The models sometimes appeared as if the garments were consuming them. Hands disappeared into pockets below the high waists fully enveloping their torsos. Elsewhere, there were instances of pure sartorial poetry, such as a flowing brown gown that was part theater curtain, part ancient Greek goddess.

Loewe remains steadfast in pushing boundaries and redefining norms.

The collection also ventured into playful territory with unexpected details. Dresses seamlessly morphed into oversize handbags. Sparkly shoes added a touch of whimsy. Leather pieces, including sleek coats and chewed hems, showcased the Spanish heritage brand’s craftsmanship.

The presentation, despite its allure and thoughtful design, seemed to be a slight departure from the house's typical high energy. To longtime Loewe aficionados, the collection felt more subdued.

ORIGAMI MEETS POETRY AT ISSEY MIYAKE

The Issey Miyake show opened with a flourish. Dancers performed bold, contemporary movements around the venue as they interacted with hanging origami sculptures to the sound of avant-garde orchestra music. The suspended paper sculptures harking from elements in nature hinted at the design inspiration for the collection.

The garments fulfilled Miyake’s reputation for innovation. The standout square, origami-styled coats showcased a distinctive touch, a blend of tradition and forward-thinking design. As models strutted down the runway, what started as abstract pieces eventually transformed into more structured and formal attire.

A poetic sense of nature’s fleeting phenomena was present throughout. Designs featured blurred gradient prints reminiscent of overexposed camera film, while fabric twists suggested breezy motions and organic forms. Textural variety was prominent, with garments ranging from soft, stretch-infused woven pieces to those boasting a lighter, airier feel, thanks to special weaving techniques.

Overall, the show was not just a presentation of clothes but a holistic experience in which movement, music, and fashion converged to make a statement. It was a reminder that at its best, fashion is not just wearable but an art form.

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September 29, 2023 at 10:12PM

Analysis: Thriving NFL benefits most from Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce relationship

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On Football analyzes the biggest topics in the NFL from week to week. For more On Football analysis, head here.

The NFL didn’t need a popularity boost before Travis Kelce became enchanted with Taylor Swift.

They’ll gladly welcome millions of Swifties to watch this love story unfold.

The biggest news that came out of Week 3 wasn’t Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins lighting up the scoreboard against Denver with only the fourth 70-point performance in NFL history.

It wasn’t Arizona shocking Dallas, Houston upsetting Jacksonville or Matt Gay kicking four 50-yard field goals to help Indianapolis knock off Baltimore.

Instead, Swift stole the headlines by simply showing up at Arrowhead Stadium to watch Kelce and the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs destroy the woeful Chicago Bears. The pop star joined Donna Kelce in a suite and mesmerized the world with her high-fiving, glass-pounding, chest-bumping enthusiasm.

Swift then left the stadium with Kelce and accompanied the four-time All-Pro tight end to an after-party with his teammates.

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes was impressed.

“She was really cool. Good people,” Mahomes said.

Andy Reid joked that he played matchmaker.

“I set them up. She’s tremendous at everything she does. I haven’t got to meet her, but if she ends up with Travis, I’ll probably get to meet her,” Reid said.

Even Bill Belichick shared his thoughts on America’s newest power couple.

“Well, I would say that Travis Kelce’s had a lot of big catches in his career. This would be the biggest,” Belichick said in a radio interview on WEEI in Boston.

There’s no shaking off the Swift-Kelce buzz if the NFL’s grumpiest coach is dropping lines about their possible relationship.

Everything really has changed.

Kelce’s No. 87 jersey sales skyrocketed this week, spiking 400%. Television ratings for the Bears-Chiefs game soared despite the lopsided score. A total of 24.3 million viewers tuned in, making it the second-most watched game this season.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban took notice.

“Like literally, she impacts economies when she brings her tour to a city,” Cuban said on ESPN’s First Take. “She is literally the most popular artist on the planet right now, not even close. So what I’m going to tell ya, Taylor, if you are listening, sorry Travis, break up with him. I got a bunch of good looking, single guys that play for the Dallas Mavericks. I gotchu, I gotchu.”

Kelce responded on X, formerly known as Twitter, telling Cuban to sign him to a 10-day contract.

Kelce, who joked about paparazzi staking out his house, has had plenty of fun in the spotlight but he plans to keep things quiet going forward.

“What’s real is that it is my personal life. I want to respect both of our lives,” he told his brother, Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce, on the “ New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” podcast.

But, two is better than one. So, Swift is reportedly heading to MetLife Stadium to see Kelce and the Chiefs take on the Aaron Rodgers-less New York Jets on Sunday Night Football.

That’s another big win for the NFL since it’ll be difficult for the Jets to keep up with the high-flying Chiefs if Zach Wilson is still their quarterback. He should be since the team only signed Trevor Siemian this week. If the score gets out of control, expect the Swifties to stick with the NBC broadcast to see when the television cameras pan to the 12-time Grammy Award winner.

Betting sites are offering odds on how much face time Swift gets during the game, what color she will wear, which broadcaster says her name first, who she’ll sit with and much more.

Nobody reaps the benefit of this relationship more than the NFL, which already was doing just fine before Swift crashed the stadium and brought her 367 million followers on Instagram and X to the party.

The attention exceeds even the league’s wildest dreams.

___

AP NFL: https://ift.tt/XfZwqBs

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September 29, 2023 at 07:14PM

Second Republican presidential debate draws fewer viewers than first, with 9.5 million watching

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The second Republican presidential debate this week attracted fewer viewers than the first debate in August, with an estimated 9.5 million tuning into Wednesday night’s event

ByThe Associated Press

September 28, 2023, 7:04 PM

Republican presidential candidates participate in a Republican presidential primary debate hosted by FOX Business Network and Univision, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The Associated Press

NEW YORK -- The second Republican presidential debate this week attracted fewer viewers than the first debate in August, with an estimated 9.5 million tuning into Wednesday night's event.

The debate was the second in a row that the front-runner, former President Donald Trump, skipped to have the spotlight follow him instead of his distant rivals.

Viewership was down from the 12.8 million who tuned into August's debate, which marked the first time much of America heard from the other Republicans hoping to take on Trump.

The 9.5 million who watched Wednesday's two-hour debate, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, included those who watched on two Fox News channels, partner Univision and its streaming service, the Nielsen company said.

The television viewership figure is an estimate of how many people were watching the debate at any given minute. The debate was simulcast on Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.

The debate, moderated by Fox News Channel's Dana Perino, Fox Business Network's Stuart Varney and Univision’s Ilia Calderón, largely didn't include discussion of Trump, much like the first debate. But a few candidates, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, joined former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in being more critical of the former president.

Trump's first presidential debate in August 2015 drew 24 million viewers.

---

---

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September 29, 2023 at 07:24AM

Bank that handles Infowars money appears to be cutting ties with Alex Jones' company, lawyer says

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HARTFORD, Conn. -- A bank recently shut down the accounts of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' media company, citing unauthorized transactions — a move that caused panic at the business when its balances suddenly dropped from more than $2 million to zero, according to a lawyer for the company.

The action last week by Axos Bank also exposed worry and doubt at the company, Free Speech Systems, about being able to find another bank to handle its money.

Jones, a conservative provocateur whose Infowars program promotes fake theories about global conspiracies, UFOs and mind control, is seeking bankruptcy protection as he and his company owe $1.5 billion to relatives of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut.

The debt is the result of the families winning lawsuits against Jones for his calling the massacre that killed 26 people a hoax and his supporters threatening and harassing the victims’ families.

A lawyer for Free Speech Systems, Ray Battaglia, told a federal bankruptcy judge in Houston on Tuesday that Axos Bank had shut down the company's accounts on Aug. 21 “without notice or warning.”

Battaglia said he and a court-appointed overseer of Free Speech Systems’ finances were both out of the country when they received “frantic” messages about the company’s bank balances dropping to zero.

Bank officials, he said, didn't provide much information.

According to Battaglia, Axos claimed it had contacted Free Speech Systems in July about a transaction and the company did not respond, which Battaglia disputed. The bank also indicated there were unauthorized transactions, but didn't go into detail, he said. He said the bank informed Jones' company that it would be sending a cashier’s check for the total balance.

“So we’re perplexed,” Battaglia told the bankruptcy judge. “We have no answers for the court. They (the bank) have not provided us with any.”

Battaglia said the media company will have to seek another bank or take Axos to court “because we just don’t know who will bank us.” At the request of Jones’ lawyers, Axos did agree to reopen the company’s accounts for 30 days but it appears it will not extend the relationship beyond that, he said.

Spokespeople for Axos did not return email messages seeking comment Wednesday. An email sent to Infowars also went unanswered, as have previous messages.

Jones and Free Speech Systems make the bulk of their money from selling nutritional supplements, survival gear, books, clothing and other merchandise, which Jones hawks on his daily web and radio show.

According to the company’s most recent financial statement filed in bankruptcy court, it had more than $2.5 million in its Axos accounts at the end of August after bringing in more than $3 million in revenue during the month. The company paid out over $2 million in expenses and other costs, leaving a net cash flow of $1 million.

The bankruptcy judge, Christopher Lopez, will be deciding how much money Jones and Free Speech Systems will have to pay creditors, including the Sandy Hook families. Jones is appealing the court awards, citing free speech rights and missteps by judges.

In 2018, social media companies including Facebook, YouTube and Apple banned Jones from their platforms. It is not clear if Jones' views have anything to do with Axos Bank's actions.

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September 29, 2023 at 04:27AM

Publishers Weekly Best-Selling Books

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HARDCOVER FICTION

1. “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros (Red Tower)

2. “Holly” by Stephen King (Scribner)

3. “The Last Devil to Die” by Richard Osman (Viking/Dorman)

4. “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett (Harper)

5. “Vince Flynn: Code Red” by Kyle Mills (Atria)

6. “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver (Harper)

7. “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese (Grove)

8. “Wellness” by Nathan Hill (Knopf)

9. “Payback in Death” by J.D. Robb (St. Martin's Press)

10. “Tom Clancy: Weapons Grade” by Don Bentley (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

11. “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” by James McBride (Riverhead)

12. “Fall of Ruin and Wrath” by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Bramble)

13. “The River We Remember” by William Kent Krueger (Atria)

14. “Starter Villain” by John Scalzi (Tor)

15. “Bright Young Women” by Jessica Knoll (S&S/Rucci)

_____

HARDCOVER NON-FICTION

1. “The Democrat Party Hates America” by Mark R. Levin (Threshold)

2. “Elon Musk” by Walter Isaacson (Simon & Schuster)

3. “Skinnytaste Simple” by Homolka/Jones

4. “Build the Life You Want” by Brooks/Winfrey (Portfolio)

5. "Astor" by Cooper/Howe (Harper)

6. “All Hope is Found” by Sarah Jakes Roberts (Thomas Nelson)

7. “Social Justice Fallacies” by Thomas Sowell (Basic)

8. “Counting the Cost” by Jill Duggar (Gallery)

9. “The Garden Within” by Anita Phillips (Thomas Nelson)

10. “The Art of Home” by Shea McGee (Harper Horizon)

11. “Outlive” by Peter Attia (Harmony)

12. “Black AF History” by Michael Harriot (Dey Street)

13. “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin (Penguin Press)

14. “The Love Everybody Wants” by Madison Prewett Troutt (Waterbrook)

15. “The Josiah Manifesto” by Jonathan Cahn (Frontline)

_____

MASS MARKET BESTSELLERS

1. “The Boys from Biloxi” by John Grisham (Vintage)

2. “The Whittiers” by Danielle Steel (Dell)

3. “The Wish” by Nicholas Sparks (Grand Central Publishing)

4. “The Noise” by Patterson/Barker (Grand Central Publishing)

5. “Clive Cussler’s Hellburner” by Mike Maden (G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

6. “The Girl Who Survived” by Lisa Jackson (Zebra)

7. “Liar!” by Fern Michaels (Zebra)

8. “The Recovery Agent” by Janet Evanovich (Pocket)

9. “Shadow Dance” by Christine Feehan (Berkley)

10. “Duma Key” by Stephen King (Pocket)

11. “Vince Flynn: Oath of Loyalty” by Kyle Mills (Pocket)

12. “These Silent Woods” by Kimi Cunningham Grant (Minotaur)

13. “Total Control” by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing)

14. “No Plan B” by Child/Child (Dell)

15. “Weather the Storm” by Nora Roberts (Silhouette)

_____

TRADE PAPERBACK BESTSELLERS

1. “Things We Left Behind” by Lucy Score (Bloom)

2. “The Shadow Work Journal” by Keila Shaheen (Keila Shaheen)

3. “Murder in the Family” by Cara Hunter (William Morrow)

4. “23 1/2 Lies” by James Patterson (Grand Central Publishing)

5. “Too Late” by Colleen Hoover (Grand Central Publishing)

6. “The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic” by Breanne Randall (Alcove)

7. “Icebreaker” by Hannah Grace (Atria)

8. “It Starts with Us” by Colleen Hoover (Atria)

9. “Mad Honey” by Picoult/Boylan (Ballantine)

10. “Assistant to the Villain” by Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Red Tower)

11. “Twisted Love” by Ana Huang (Bloom)

12. “The Housemaid’s Secret” by Freida McFadden (Mobius)

13. “Dreamland” by Nicholas Sparks (Bantam Dell)

14. “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig (Penguin Books)

15. “The Coworker” by Freida McFadden (Poisoned Pen)

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September 29, 2023 at 04:12AM

Movie Review: Humans take a back seat in the stunning AI, sci-fi epic ‘The Creator’

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The artificial intelligence in Gareth Edwards’ “ The Creator,” a visually magnificent if by-the-books epic, is not the AI making headlines at the moment. This is AI in the classic sci-fi mold — the Roy Battys of “Blade Runner,” the Avas of “Ex Machina,” the ones whose sentience we question and debate endlessly. Will the machines kill us? Take our jobs? Or do something that the movies haven’t dreamed possible yet?

As the retired special forces guy cleaning up nuclear debris, Joshua (John David Washington), flatly tells a fellow worker when she posits that the AIs were indeed after their jobs: “They can have this one.”

Regardless, for now, artificial intelligence is more allegory for the other than aspiring screenwriters, filmmakers or trash collectors. And, for Edwards and his co-writer Chris Weitz, they might even have more capacity for humanity and goodness than humans, which is not exactly part of the ChatGPT conversation either, though that would be an interesting twist.

In the world of “The Creator” they’re welcomed by society at first as an unambiguous good — a helpful servant class that have the ability to make our human lives better. But as they so often do in sci-fi dystopias, they turned on us. Actually, more specifically, they turned on the U.S. when they dropped a nuclear weapon on downtown Los Angeles. Naturally, that means war.

Washington’s Joshua lost his family in the attack and when we meet him, he’s undercover in New Asia to try to find the creator of these advanced AIs, a shadowy, elusive figure they call Nimrata. Joshua got busy with other pursuits though. He fell in love with, married and is about to welcome a baby with his on-the-ground source Maya (Gemma Chan), taken from him in an unexpected raid by his peers — one of many truly sublime sequences in which a hovering death star-like aircraft called NOMAD scans the lush landscape with ominous blue lasers. Edwards, who had a complicated journey making “Rogue One,” does not deny himself the pleasure of riffing on “Star Wars” iconography.

Allison Janney’s hardened Colonel later attempts to recruit him for one last shot at finding Nimrata and the ultimate weapon he’s suspected of building, but a jaded Joshua demurs that he doesn’t care about going extinct: “I’ve got TV to watch.” Of course he eventually says yes and ends up travelling with a Very Special Child, a wide-eyed AI whom he names Alphie (Madeleine Yuna Voyles), who might be able to help him find what he’s looking for. Voyles is a captivating presence and undeniably compelling. Unfortunately, the script denies her the edge and nuance that would make her more believable as a person as well as a machine. Even Grogu is a little sassy sometimes.

But this is also a film where the visuals upstage the pretty predictable story and even the actors, including the likes of Washington and Ken Watanabe. The lush landscapes of Southeast Asia are stunningly photographed by Edwards and co-cinematographers Greig Fraser (“Dune”) and Oren Soffer, who shot on location in eight countries with an unusually low-cost camera for a Hollywood studio film (the Sony FX3, which goes for under $4,000).

Speaking of cost — “The Creator” was made for around $80 million and looks a thousand times better than movies (mainly of the superhero variety) that cost three times as much. This was part of Edwards’ design and could be revolutionary for filmmaking. In addition to using a camera any hobbyist could buy at a local store, instead of pre-determining the concept art and visual effects and forcing the actors to look at little silver balls or tracking markers, they added them in after the fact. It makes a huge difference.

“The Creator” is an original movie too, and even if it is a somewhat convoluted and silly mishmash of familiar tropes and sci-fi cliches, it still evokes the feeling of something fresh, something novel, something exciting to experience and behold — which is so much more than you can say about the vast majority of big budget movies these days. And it’s worth taking a chance on it at the cinemas.

“The Creator,” a 20th Century Studios release in theaters Friday, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for “strong language, some bloody images, violence.” Running time: 132 minutes. Three stars out of four.

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September 28, 2023 at 03:42AM

CFP puts off decisions on format tweaks with Pac-12 still in limbo, hears from potential TV partners

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The number of spots reserved for conference champions when the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams next year remained open for discussion Wednesday as administrators who manage the postseason wrapped up meetings that mostly focused on potential television partners.

The CFP management committee, which is composed of 10 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, gathered for a day-and-a-half at the Big Ten offices just outside of Chicago.

College Football Playoff Executive Director Bill Hancock said potentially tweaking the format that will go into effect next season to adjust the number of conference champions in the field of 12 was not discussed. The current model calls for the six highest-rated conference champs and six at-large selections to make up the field.

With conference realignment putting the future of the Pac-12 in doubt, Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey and others have indicated the number of league champions in the playoff could be dropped to five, with seven at-large bids.

“Until we know for sure how many conferences we will have, we can’t say for sure how many conference champions will be in the playoff,” Hancock said.

Ten members of the Pac-12 will be joining new power conferences next year. Oregon State and Washington State are the remaining Pac-12 members and have indicated they would like to continue the conference, but how that plays out remains to be seen.

“Until the Pac-12 resolves itself, I don't want to deal with the hypothetical,” Swarbrick said.

Among the possibilities being considered by the Pacific Northwest rivals is trying to operate as a two-team conference for a year.

Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy said in an open letter to university supporters on Wednesday that the collapse of the Pac-12 could cause athletic revenue to decline as much as 44%.

Hancock said the CFP managers did authorize starting the search process for four more championship sites. The championship sites are in place through the title game following the 2025 season.

Hancock said five potential media partners gave presentations to the group, and he added that other networks are also interested and could not attend. He declined to identify the media companies, but FOX Sports President Mark Silverman attended part of the meeting Wednesday.

“They were more strategic presentations,” Swarbrick said. “There was no numbers. It was all about, here’s how we approach the CFP, here’s why we’d be a good partner.”

ESPN owns the rights to the playoff through the 2025 season. Playoff expansion to 12 games creates more inventory over the next two years.

Hancock has said ESPN as the current rights holder will get the first crack at the new inventory, but other networks are interested and could get involved.

Beyond 2025, there are no College Football Playoff contracts in place, and the bidding for the media rights will be wide open.

As for deciding whether to adjust the 6-6 model to 5-7, Swarbrick said it is not an urgent matter.

“I know it’s of public interest, but there’s nobody in the room saying, ‘Hey, we got to have this discussion right now,’” he said.

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AP Sports Writer Jay Cohen in Rosemont, Illinois, contributed to this report.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at https://ift.tt/6gpYcSv

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September 28, 2023 at 03:27AM

The Phillies are again embracing 'Dancing On My Own' as their postseason party anthem

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PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper rushed to the field with his Phillies teammates Tuesday night, ready to kickstart another postseason clinching bash.

But Harper — and all the Phillies — needed to hear the song to really believe the playoff berth was real. Philadelphia had to play the anthem that shot to No. 1 on their 2022 postseason party playlist, only to get forced into a brief retirement.

When the opening chords of the piano-led lyrics were heard over the sound system moments after the team clinched a wild-card spot, Phillies fans erupted in joy. Quickly, the melody transitioned into the powerful chorus, and the sing-along, from the 30,000 fans at Citizens Bank Park down to the Phillies in their postseason sweatshirts jumping along on the infield kicked into overdrive.

“I’m in the corner, watching you kiss her (Philly roars into the, ‘oh oh ohs’) I’m right over here, why can’t you see me? (raise a drink, repeat the ‘ohs’). And I’m giving it my all, I’m not the guy you’re taking home (‘ooh ooh ooh’). I keep dancing on my own.”

Yes, “ Dancing on My Own,” a 2016 dance remix performed by a British reality show contestant improbably became the catchiest song of last season’s run to the World Series. And who doesn’t love a tune that is played on repeat? With the Phillies back in the playoffs, the song was dusted off and will get a second act in the 2023 postseason.

“You have to,” Harper said Tuesday night inside a booze-soaked clubhouse. “You play for the Phillies, that song is going to be here.”

How it got to Philly is a matter of some debate.

Garrett Stubbs — the backup catcher-slash-team DJ-slash- overalls fashionista — simply said the Calum Scott song was a “banger” that needed to be added to the postgame playlist. Yes, while the Phillies keep their feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars, they celebrate victories with Stubbs’ songs that are found under his name and “ Phils Win ” on Spotify.

(Current popular clubhouse faves curated by Stubbs include remixes of “Believe” and “Cold Heart” and “Love Tonight” by Shouse).

Former Red Sox catcher Kevin Plawecki said on a podcast last winter that “Dancing” was a staple in Boston’s clubhouse, and slugger Kyle Schwarber took the song with him when he signed with the Phillies.

No matter how the cover of a song originally performed by Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn landed in Philly, the song was an instant hit.

That was, until it slid down the clubhouse charts.

“Dancing” was last year’s rallying cry and — as some Phillies noted in spring training — a runner-up song after the Phillies fell to the Houston Astros in six games in the World Series.

It was time for a new jam.

“We're done dancing on our own,” Stubbs declared on a spring training hype video, “cause we're looking to dance on Broad Street.”

Then the Phillies got off to a sluggish start. They were only 26-32 on June 3, and it was around that time the Phillies realized they needed a key addition to the lineup. Another bat? Nah. A late-inning reliever? Nope.

The Phillies needed “Dancing.”

So they unretired the song in June, playing it first around the batting cages, and the clubhouse as the good vibes returned, and now, at Citizens Bank Park as the soundtrack of postseason victories.

Of course, the charming part is this — no one actually dances alone in the clubhouse. The Phillies usually stomp around and spray beer and belt out off-key lyrics in a clubhouse that more resembles a late-night dance club.

As they say after the final out, play the song!

“I think the memories created with the song on the run we had was real,” outfielder Nick Castellanos said after the clincher. “I also think the city being able to be in on the song was also real. To be able to clinch and put it back on and have the city get just as excited as us means it’s real. And real is beautiful.”

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September 28, 2023 at 02:20AM

At Jai Paul's kickoff show, an elusive pop phenomenon proves his stardom in a live arena

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LOS ANGELES -- He emerged in front of piercing, sunset-colored LED screens that flashed like strobe lights, percussion pulsing from the stage to the audience floor. In the crowd, it was felt first in our chests, then throughout our bodies. He opened with “Higher Res,” a malleable Big Boi cover, before launching into his few familiar hits. For an artist well known for over a decade, Jai Paul made this tour opener feel like the first time.

Because, in some ways, it was.

Before Jai Paul hit the stage at Los Angeles' Mayan Theater on Tuesday night, he'd only performed a handful of times, and never before this year. He's been celebrated for being the rare elusive musician, a trait that rarely translates to an energetic performance. Dressed in an oversized parka and sunglasses like an alternative universe Gallagher brother, Paul showed no restraint.

He was comfortable, stopping to either clap for his band or for the audience — or possibly for himself — after most tracks. His crowd, enraptured, rarely pulled out their phones to record. It was as if they'd all signed a secret social contract: This was a special evening, years in the works, and they should fully enjoy it. No distractions.

In certain circles, Paul's mythology is renowned. He is, in some ways, the last truly mysterious pop phenomenon of the pre-algorithmic streaming era.

It began with “BTSTU,” a track the British musician of Indian descent uploaded to MySpace sometime between 2007 and 2009 that took the digital blogsphere by storm. His sweet falsetto earned him a deal with the major indie label XL Records, and the nonsensical genre description of “psychedelic funk.” (As listeners would soon come to find out, it he was much more than that.) A bright snare, a sharp kick drum, a weird pop sensibility introduces the song — Paul had managed to make the music world pay attention with just one track, a feat nearly impossible to replicate in the modern digital era.

Drake and Beyoncé sampled it. The New York Times compared him to Prince. A moment was happening. Then came “Jasmine," soon to be sampled by Ed Sheeran, and the D’Angelo comparisons. DJs and producers everywhere were transfixed. He combined sounds with a sort of masterful idiosyncrasy.

Then the magic ran out, or so it seemed. A decade ago, in 2013, demos for what listeners assumed to be Paul's debut record leaked and he withdrew further, repudiating the collection of songs.

A decade later, he made his live debut at Coachella 2023, then performed two nights in London and New York. On Tuesday night in Los Angeles, he kicked off a new tour leg.

So, can an artist born of the internet come alive on stage? What could there be to bear witness to?

It turns out, quite a lot. His prescient electronic pop-R&B hybrid sound, with its sticky and innovative synths now familiar to anyone who has listened to a producer in the last 14 years, sounded every bit as formative as it did in the 2010 era. His melodies were liquid. And his falsetto did recall Prince, as the critics once said, particularly on the tracks “All Night” and “So Long.”

The set started an hour late and only lasted about that long (and some change), a dozen-plus tracks concluding with the one that started it all “BTSTU”, and the one that confirmed his greatness, “Str8 Outta Mumbai.”

Jai Paul was incubating in his time spent hidden behind computer screens, emerging fully formed — waiting for the right moment to share his talent with his fans in this particular live medium. And it was worth it.

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September 28, 2023 at 12:49AM

Bruce Springsteen postpones all 2023 tour dates until 2024 as he recovers from peptic ulcer disease

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LOS ANGELES -- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's 2023 tour will be postponed until 2024, citing doctor's advice.

The Boss, who last week celebrated his 74th birthday, is “steadily recovering” from peptic ulcer disease, a press release read. "Out of an abundance of caution,” the remainder of this year's tour has been pushed to next year.

Earlier this month, Springsteen announced that he would be postponing all of his September 2023 dates while he was treated for symptoms related to the disease, which causes ulcers to form in the stomach or small intestine that can cause heartburn, nausea and stomach pain.

Those postponed shows included stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Albany and Syracuse in New York, Pittsburgh, Washington, and shows in Connecticut and Ohio.

The newly postponed shows include Canadian dates and a West Coast run of Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Rescheduled concerts will be announced this week and will take place at the original venues.

Peptic ulcer disease can be dangerous, leading to bleeding and emergency situations such as perforation of the ulcer through the stomach. Typical treatment uses common drugs called proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, which can help heal the ulcers within four to six weeks. People who are treated “recover completely from peptic ulcer disease,” Dr. Lawrence Kosinski of the American Gastroenterological Association told AP.

“Thanks to all my friends and fans for your good wishes, encouragement, and support," Springsteen said in a short statement. "I’m on the mend and can’t wait to see you all next year.”

News of Springsteen's illness first emerged in May of this year, when he postponed three dates.

Springsteen's 2023 tour, his first in six years, kicked off on Feb. 1 in Tampa, Florida, before 20,000 fans who mostly stood through the 28-song arena show that included staples like “Born to Run,” “Glory Days,” “Rosalita,” “Promised Land” and “Backstreets.”

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September 28, 2023 at 12:17AM

Travis Kelce notes Taylor Swift's 'bold' appearance at Chiefs game but is mum about any relationship

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Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce calls Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs victory over the Chicago Bears “pretty bold” but wants to remain private about any relationship with the superstar singer

ByThe Associated Press

September 27, 2023, 12:17 PM

Taylor Swift, right, watches from a suite alongside Travis Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, inside Arrowhead Stadium during the first half of an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

The Associated Press

Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce calls Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Chiefs' victory over the Chicago Bears “pretty bold” but wants to remain private about any relationship with the superstar singer.

Speaking on his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce” that premiered Wednesday morning, Kelce discussed Swift’s well-publicized appearance in a suite at Arrowhead Stadium with his family during Sunday's 41-10 victory. The 12-time Grammy Award winner sat next to Kelce’s mom, Donna, and yelled during the game.

Kelce said it was “awesome” how everyone treated Swift in the suite and added that they all had great things to say about her.

“She looked amazing,” he added. “Everybody was talking about her and in a great light. And on top of that, you know, the day went perfect for Chiefs fans. Of course, we script it all, ladies and gentlemen.”

Kelce and Swift were seen leaving the stadium together after the game, with the two-time Super Bowl winner joking that they “slid off into the getaway car.”

Kelce acknowledged the widespread interest linking him with Swift, adding that he has seen paparazzi outside his home. Her appearance before and after the game spiked jersey sales for the All-Pro tight end, with sportswear and fan merchandise company Fanatics telling The Associated Press that his was one of the top five-selling NFL players Sunday.

“Sounds like the Swifties are also part of Chiefs Kingdom,” Kelce said.

Though both already are in the media spotlight, Kelce said he wanted to respect both of their personal lives and keep the discussion focused on .

“I know I brought all this attention to me, right?” he said. “You know, I enjoyed every second of it. ... I’m enjoying life and I sure as hell enjoyed this weekend. ... Moving forward, I think me talking about sports and saying all right, now, will have to be kind of where I keep it.”

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September 28, 2023 at 12:02AM

A Turkish film festival has been threatened by accusations of censorship

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Turkey’s oldest film festival has been thrown into turmoil after jury members resigned and filmmakers withdrew their work over accusations of censorship

ByThe Associated Press

September 27, 2023, 12:11 PM

ISTANBUL -- Turkey’s oldest film festival has been thrown into turmoil after jury members resigned and filmmakers withdrew their work from the competition over accusations of censorship.

The producers and directors of 27 entries at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival on Wednesday announced they were pulling out, days after 20 members of the festival jury quit over the organizers’ removal of a documentary.

“Kanun Hukmu,” or “The Decree,” focuses on a teacher and doctor dismissed from their jobs under the state of emergency imposed in Turkey following an attempted coup in 2016.

Festival director Ahmet Boyacioglu said the documentary had been removed from the national documentary film category because of ongoing legal proceedings against one of the people featured.

“For this reason, it has been decided to exclude the film from this year’s selection in order not to affect the judicial process and impartiality,” he said.

However, the film’s director, Nejla Demirci, said that was an “excuse” and “outright censorship.”

The festival, which has been run since 1963 in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, is a highlight of the Turkish cultural calendar. This year it is due to run from Oct. 7-14.

Demirci has received support from across the arts world in Turkey.

The Free Art Assembly, which represents artists across many fields, described the film’s exclusion as “an assault on artistic expression and creativity and a move to normalize censorship across artistic fields.”

The filmmakers who withdrew from the festival called for respect for the freedom of expression.

“We see it as a clear threat,” they said in a statement. “We think that it is unacceptable for festivals, which essentially belong to society, to submit to censorship.”

More than 130,000 people were fired from their jobs through emergency decrees following the July 2016 coup attempt. The authorities said they were linked to the group behind the coup, but critics have alleged a general crackdown against anyone viewed as opponents by the government.

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September 27, 2023 at 11:47PM

Sean McManus will retire in April after 27 years leading CBS Sports; David Berson named successor

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CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus has known for over a year when he planned to retire and who would be his successor.

On Tuesday, it was made official.

McManus will retire in April after 27 years in charge. His successor will be David Berson, who has been president of CBS Sports for over 10 years.

“The reaction has been very positive, so I feel good about everything,” McManus said. “We really don’t have any major rights negotiations coming up in in the next number of years. So, I think the timing is really good. And to be able to go out with a Super Bowl, March Madness, and The Masters is good timing for me and the division.”

McManus, who will turn 69 in February, said he discussed his future plans with his bosses at Paramount Global, which owns CBS, last year and that the transition timeline has been in place for over a year.

McManus, who joined CBS Sports as president in 1996, has had many achievements during his tenure, but the most significant remains reacquiring the NFL rights in 1998. CBS did not have games from 1994 through 1997, which led to a mass exodus of talent. Many went to Fox, which outbid CBS for the NFC package in 1993.

CBS will carry its 22nd Super Bowl on Feb. 11 from Las Vegas.

“I’ve been very proud of a lot of the negotiations we’ve done along with the partnerships and friendships that I’ve made, but I have to say when the team was able to bring the NFL back to CBS, that was a moment that is difficult to top. It is kind of a first among equals,” he said.

McManus has also kept the network's longstanding relationship with The Masters in tact. When CBS does next year's tournament, it will be the 68th straight year, making it the longest current relationship between a network and sporting event.

CBS also has the PGA Tour and PGA Championship through 2030 and the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament with Warner Discovery Sports (formerly Turner Sports) through 2032. In recent years it has added a portfolio of soccer programming, including the UEFA Champions League, as well as Big Ten . CBS is in its final year carrying the SEC Saturday afternoon game.

George Cheeks, president and chief executive officer of CBS, and chief content officer of news and sports at Paramount+ said in a statement: “Sean is a first-ballot, hall of fame executive who has masterfully managed all aspects of CBS Sports for 27 years and helped guide us through a transformative era in sports television."

Berson joined CBS Sports in 2011 and has been president since June 2013.

McManus was president of CBS News and CBS Sports from 2005 through 2011 before being named CBS Sports Chairman in February 2011.

The retirement of McManus will mark the end of a long relationship between his family and CBS. McManus father, the late Jim McKay, was with CBS from 1950-61 before going to ABC, where he was best known for being the host of ABC's “Wide World of Sports” as well as covering 12 Olympics.

“I knew when I was 7 years old that I wanted to go into sports television, and that’s because my dad took me to events and showed me what it was like,” he said. “To be part of that and understand what a great profession it is, I do owe him pretty much everything. And then the lessons he taught me on storytelling and how to comport yourself and the importance of integrity and honesty. Not a couple hours go by that I don’t think about something that he taught me or something that he told me about.”

CBS' announcement marks the second major change in less than a week atop a network sports division. Rick Cordella was named president of NBC Sports last Thursday. He will succeed Pete Bevacqua when he becomes Notre Dame's athletic director early next year.

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September 27, 2023 at 07:49AM

The top 10 audiobooks on Audible.com

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Nonfiction

1. Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, narrated by Jeremy Bobb and the author (Simon & Schuster Audio)

2. Counting the Cost by Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard - contributor and Craig Borlase - contributor, narrated by Jill Duggar (Simon & Schuster Audio)

3. Atomic Habits by James Clear, narrated by the author (Penguin Audio)

4. The Democrat Party Hates America by Mark R. Levin, narrated by Jeremy Lowell and the author (Simon & Schuster Audio)

5. Build the Life You Want by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey, narrated by the authors (Penguin Audio)

6. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, narrated by Richard Poe (HighBridge, a Division of Recorded Books)

7. Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann, narrated by Will Patton, Ann Marie Lee and Danny Campbell (Random House Audio)

8. Astor by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe, narrated by Anderson Cooper (HarperAudio)

9. Social Justice Fallacies by Thomas Sowell, narrated by Brad Sanders (Basic Books)

10. Outlive by Peter Attia, MD and Bill Gifford - contributor, narrated by Peter Attia, MD (Random House Audio)

Fiction

1. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, narrated by Meryl Streep (HarperAudio)

2. Starter Villain by John Scalzi, performed by Wil Wheaton (Audible Studios)

3. Holly by Stephen King, narrated by Justine Lupe and the author (Simon & Schuster Audio)

4. The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman, narrated by Fiona Shaw (Penguin Audio)

5. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, narrated by the author (Recorded Books)

6. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, narrated by Rebecca Soler and Teddy Hamilton (Recorded Books)

7. Still Hung Up on You by Liz Maverick, performed by Andrew Eiden and Luci Christian Bell (Audible Originals)

8. My Temptation by T L Swan, narrated by CJ Bloom and Marcio Catalano (Brilliance Audio)

9. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell, narrated by Kristin Atherton, Ayesha Antoine, Louise Brealey, Alix Dunmore, Elliot Fitzpatrick, Emilia Fox, Lisa Jewell, Thomas Judd, Kate MacDonald, Dominic Thorburn, Nicola Walker and Jenny Walser (Simon & Schuster Audio)

10. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, narrated by Miranda Raison, the author and Pandora Sykes (Random House Audio)

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September 27, 2023 at 04:04AM