THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN CLEATS—Zach Charbonnet, left, sacks Westlake QB Jake Kaplinski for Oaks Christian Excessive’s soccer workforce on Nov. 3, 2017. Charbonnet, a Camarillo native, is a second-year NFL working again with the Seattle Seahawks. ROB VARELA/Acorn Newspapers

The NFL, America’s hottest professional sports activities league, kicks off a brand new soccer season this week.

Legends of Acorn nation are able to rumble, whereas the top coach of Southern California’s least standard workforce (the con artists previously often known as the San Diego Spanos Meat Muppets), Jim “Cheats in Khakis” Harbaugh, devises new methods to fish with dynamite.

It’s go time.

Alex Singleton, the most important mensch within the Conejo Valley, can be one of many NFL’s greatest linebackers. Singleton, a Thousand Oaks Excessive graduate, is a big advocate for Particular Olympics and runs camps for youths at his outdated stomping grounds. Singleton recorded a career-high 177 tackles final season, a Denver Broncos workforce report. He broke the Philadelphia Eagles’ single-season report for tackles with 137 stops in 2021.

The Los Angeles Rams not observe in Thousand Oaks—they practice in Woodland Hills—however native followers cheer for Rams tight finish Colby Parkinson. The Simi Valley man starred on the soccer area at Oaks Christian, and he signed a three-year contract with the Rams in March after toiling with the Seattle Seahawks in his first 4 professional seasons.

 

Drake London of Moorpark is primed for a breakout third season with the Atlanta Falcons. The huge receiver had 69 receptions for 902 yards and two touchdowns in 2023, and that was a quiet 12 months by London’s requirements. Barring accidents, Acorn Sports activities Island can be shocked if the Falcon doesn’t rack up at the very least 110 catches, 1,200 receiving yards, double-digit touchdowns and Professional Bowl honors.

Michael Pittman Jr. of Oaks Christian, a fifth-year professional for the Indianapolis Colts, had 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and 4 scores final season. He’s a Professional Bowl caliber huge receiver.

Camarillo’s Zach Charbonnet, who performed at Oaks Christian, is a second-year working again for the Seahawks. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry with zero fumbles on 108 carries, 462 yards and one landing as a 2023 rookie.

Darnay Holmes, who graduated from Calabasas after stints with Newbury Park and Oaks Christian, enters his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Holmes, a cornerback with two interceptions final fall, spent his first 4 seasons within the NFL with the New York Giants. The Giants play in New Jersey, not New York.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, who had 11 ½ sacks for the Giants final 12 months, is a third-year exterior linebacker from Oaks Christian.

Bryan Anger of Camarillo is a Professional Bowl and All-Professional punter for the Dallas Cowboys. The 35-year-old is in his thirteenth NFL season. He averaged a career-best 51.4 yards per punt final 12 months.

Patrick Mekari of Westlake is a sixth-year veteran offensive lineman with the Baltimore Ravens.

Michael Wilson, a Simi Valley native who prepped at Chaminade of West Hills, is a receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Receiver Andre Baccellia of Westlake is on the Cardinals’ observe squad.

Tremendous Bowl champion quarterback Ryan Griffin (Westlake native/Chaminade grad) is a first-year offensive assistant coach with the Chicago Bears.

Au revoir, Spanos Meat Muppets.

TUNE-IN NOW FOR GLOBAL LIVESTREAM PERFORMANCE HERE 

FIRST NEW MUSIC IN SEVEN YEARS “THE EMPTINESS MACHINE”: LISTEN HERE 

STAY TUNED FOR PREMIERE OF JOE HAHN-DIRECTED VIDEO IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING LIVESTREAM HERE 

LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, HAMBURG, LONDON, SEOUL & BOGOTA ARENA SHOWS ON SALE BEGINNING SATURDAY HERE

NEW ALBUM FROM ZERO ARRIVES NOVEMBER 15 PRE-ORDER HERE

LINKIN PARK—Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, alongside new members Emily Armstrong [of critically acclaimed band Dead Sara] as co-vocalist and Colin Brittain [songwriter/producer for G Flip, Illenium, One OK Rock] as drummer—share their first model new music in seven years. 

The long-lasting band shared a deluge of treats for followers: a brand new single (HERE) and video (premiering HERE at 4pm PT/7pm ET), for “The Vacancy Machine,” plus a world livestream efficiency (occurring now HERE and obtainable just for 24 hours), and the launch of 6 upcoming area exhibits in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul, and Bogota as a part of the From Zero World Tour. LP Underground fan membership unique pre-sales begin September 6 and basic on-sales September 7. Go to LinkinPark.com for more information.

These surprises herald the arrival of LINKIN PARK’s first album since 2017, FROM ZERO, on November 15. Pre-order/Pre-save HERE by way of Warner Data. 

Tomorrow, Friday September sixth, the band joins long-time pal and Apple Music host Zane Lowe for an in-depth candid dialog concerning the unimaginable legacy of Linkin Park, the 7-year lengthy journey to new music and their pleasure for the longer term. Followers can tune in at 6AM PT to observe the total interview HERE.  

With out expectations, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and Hahn quietly started assembly up once more in recent times. Moderately than “making an attempt to restart the band,” their intuition was to easily spend extra time collectively, and reconnect with the creativity and camaraderie that has been on the core of their friendship since school. Throughout this time, they invited numerous buddies and cohorts to affix them within the studio; among the many friends, they discovered a particular kinship with Armstong and Brittain. A pure chemistry drew these musicians again into its gravitational pull as they logged increasingly hours within the studio. It was the sound of lifelong musicians rediscovering the uncontainable power of a brand new starting as soon as once more. Over this season, FROM ZERO was born.

Concerning the new period, Shinoda said, “Earlier than LINKIN PARK, our first band identify was Xero. This album title refers to each this humble starting and the journey we’re at the moment enterprise. Sonically and emotionally, it’s about previous, current, and future—embracing our signature sound, however new and energetic. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our buddies, our household, and our followers. We’re pleased with what LINKIN PARK has develop into through the years, and excited concerning the journey forward.”

Proper out of the gate, “The Vacancy Machine” channels the DNA of LINKIN PARK, harnessing the band’s explosive power and retaining the hallmarks of their immediately identifiable and inimitable sound. A chameleonic and catchy anthem, Shinoda’s hypnotic melodies hand off to Armstrong’s blistering refrain, over distorted riffs and head-nodding drums. 

Shinoda elaborated, “The extra we labored with Emily and Colin, the extra we loved their world-class abilities, their firm, and the issues we created. We really feel actually empowered with this new lineup and the colourful and energized new music we’ve made collectively. We’re weaving collectively the sonic touchpoints we’ve been recognized for and nonetheless exploring new ones.”

Finally, with FROM ZERO, the band is trying to harness the purest power of their previous, current, and future. The brand new period has formally begun. 

FROM ZERO WORLD TOUR 2024

September 11, 2024 | Kia Discussion board – Los Angeles, CA

September 16, 2024 | Barclays Middle – New York, NY

September 22, 2024 | Barclays Enviornment – Hamburg, Germany

September 24, 2024 | The O2 – London, UK

September 28, 2024 | INSPIRE Enviornment – Seoul, South Korea

November 11, 2024 | Coliseo Medplus – Bogota, Colombia

FROM ZERO TRACKLIST

1. From Zero (Intro)
2. The Vacancy Machine
3. Minimize The Bridge
4. Heavy Is The Crown
5. Over Every Different
6. Casualty
7. Overflow
8. Two Confronted
9. Stained
10. IGYEIH
11. Good Issues Go

ABOUT LINKIN PARK: 

LINKIN PARK emerged as an modern musical drive and are one of many best-selling artists of the final twenty years. Their RIAA Diamond-certified full-length debut, Hybrid Idea, stands out because the “greatest promoting debut of the twenty first century,” whereas landmark sophomore album Meteora bowed at #1 on the Billboard Prime 200 earlier than going 8X-Platinum within the U.S. The band’s worldwide gross sales throughout the whole catalog eclipses 100 million, and amongst quite a few accolades and honors, they’ve garnered 2 GRAMMY® Awards, 5 American Music Awards, 4 MTV VMA Awards, 10 MTV Europe Music Awards and three World Music Awards. Promoting out stadiums worldwide, they’ve headlined the most important festivals globally and likewise stay the primary and solely Western rock band to play a five-stadium tour in China. 2017’s One Extra Mild marked their fifth #1 debut on the Billboard 200. In 2020, the band celebrated their groundbreaking debut album, Hybrid Idea, by releasing a complete twentieth anniversary version tremendous deluxe field set which options their RIAA Diamond-certified single “In The Finish.” In 2023, the band launched Meteora twentieth Anniversary Version, which topped the charts and featured the newly-uncovered tune “Misplaced.” The emotionally charged single was initially recorded throughout classes for his or her second studio album Meteora (2003), and shortly after its 2023 launch, “Misplaced” hit #1 at each Different and Rock radio. 2024 marked the discharge of their first best hits package deal Papercuts, that includes vault monitor “Pleasant Fireplace” that equally topped each the Different and Rock charts. LINKIN PARK have all the time prioritized charity and goodwill in an effort to make the world a greater place, serving to to boost thousands and thousands through the years for victims of pure disasters. In the present day, LINKIN PARK’s imprint on music and tradition continues to develop and enlarge.

Observe LINKIN PARK: 

Official Website | Fb | X | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Discord

For extra data, contact Warner Data Publicity:

Laura Swanson | [email protected]

Ceri Roberts | [email protected] 

For extra data on From Zero World Tour, contact Dwell Nation Concert events:

Monique Sowinski | [email protected] 

Valeska Thomas | [email protected] 

It’s official – Linkin Park are again and are releasing a brand new album, ‘From Zero’, on November 15.

Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix Farrell and Joe Hahn are joined by new members Emily Armstrong of Lifeless Sara as co-vocalist and Colin Brittain, a songwriter/producer for G Flip, Illenium and One OK Rock, as drummer.

New single ‘The Vacancy Machine’ is obtainable now – the band’s first new music in seven years.

Hear it under:

On this new period, Shinoda says, “Earlier than LINKIN PARK, our first band title was Xero. This album title refers to each this humble starting and the journey we’re at present enterprise. Sonically and emotionally, it’s about previous, current, and future—embracing our signature sound, however new and energetic. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our mates, our household, and our followers. We’re pleased with what LINKIN PARK has turn out to be over time, and excited in regards to the journey forward.”

Take a look on the album art work and full tracklisting under:

1. From Zero (Intro)
2. The Vacancy Machine
3. Reduce The Bridge
4. Heavy Is The Crown
5. Over Every Different
6. Casualty
7. Overflow
8. Two Confronted
9. Stained
10. IGYEIH
11. Good Issues Go

Plus, Linkin Park can be hitting the street later this month for a collection of headline dates on the ‘From Zero World Tour’. LP Underground fan membership unique pre-sales begin September 06 with normal on-sales from September 07.

Try the complete record of tour dates under:

SEPTEMBER

11 – Kia Discussion board – Los Angeles, CA
16 – Barclays Heart – New York, NY
22 – Barclays Area – Hamburg, Germany
24 – The O2 – London, UK
28 – INSPIRE Area – Seoul, South Korea

NOVEMBER

11 – Coliseo Medplus – Bogota, Colombia

The band performed a particular present tonight (September 05) in Los Angeles which was broadcast by way of livestream on the band’s official web site and was additionally proven on the massive screens in New York’s Instances Sq. and Shoreditch Excessive Avenue Station in London. Opening with ‘The Vacancy Machine’, Shinoda greeted the group by merely saying “It’s good to see you once more.”

Tonight’s present was the fruits of a number of weeks of teasing from the band as, on August 24, they posted a mysterious countdown clock of 100 hours main as much as an announcement, fuelling fan hypothesis that they have been about to make their reside return. Nevertheless, because the clock ran out, it as an alternative started counting ahead, because the band reposted the hyperlink on social media alongside the phrase ‘It’s solely a matter of time’.

Previous to this night, the band’s final reside look collectively was on the tribute live performance to the a lot missed Chester Bennington, ‘Linkin Park and Pals: Have fun Life in Honor of Chester Bennington’, which came about on the Hollywood Bowl in October 2017 and included particular visitor vocalists corresponding to Oli Sykes, Taka Moriuchi and M. Shadows.

Rumours of a reunion tour first started to flow into earlier this summer time with Billboard reporting that reserving company WME had been exploring attainable headline and pageant dates for 2025.

Linkin Park’s reputation has continued to develop over latest years because of their latest best hits assortment ‘Papercuts’ and the twentieth anniversary reissues of the albums ‘Hybrid Concept’ and ‘Meteora’, the latter of which additionally featured the one ‘Misplaced’ which went on to have big success on the US and UK rock charts.

Earlier this 12 months, in his Rock Sound 25 Icon interview, Mike Shinoda mirrored additional on that viewers development and persevering with legacy:

“To be in 2023 seeing model new, teenage artists and bands present up referencing and loving Linkin Park music is such a blessing. We’d have by no means guessed that we might be on this place. It’s loopy to suppose that a few of them can be on this place later, they’ll develop as much as be a band that any individual else references. That chain of affect and inspiration goes on. That’s a fantastic lineage. Separate from that, on the extra sensible or logical facet of issues, there’s the tip of the 12 months when all people will get quite a lot of their knowledge again, in addition to your Spotify Wrapped and stuff like that, extra deep dive wrap ups that you simply get from administration or your label or your writer and so forth. For a band that’s technically inactive, Linkin Park has been on an upswing within the final two years. That’s unbelievable. We obtained on one report for one DSP platform that we had gained a number of tens of hundreds of thousands of latest listeners. Wow. That’s thoughts blowing. These are folks that have by no means listened to Linkin Park and located us this 12 months. All I can do is be grateful. There’s virtually nothing else I can say about that. It’s simply surprising. What do I say? Thanks.”

You’ll be able to learn that full interview with Mike inside his cowl challenge of Rock Sound journal, obtainable right here.

Le rappeur Wealthy Homie Quan, de son vrai nom Dequantes Lamar, est mort aujourd’hui à l’âge de 34, dans sa demeure à Atlanta, sa ville natale. La trigger de son décès n’est pas encore confirmée. 

TMZ Hip Hop a confirmé la mort de l’artiste après que des rumeurs de son décès par overdose circulaient sur le internet. La famille du défunt a révélé à la plateforme être attristée par la nouvelle. 

Wealthy Homie Quan a décidé d’arrêter ses études et lance son premier single Keep Down en 2008. Il dévoile sa mixtape I Go In On Each Tune and Nonetheless Goin In en 2012 et half en tournée avec Trinidad James la même année. Il collabore avec Gucci Mane et lance Kind Of Approach qui a été un succès en 2013. Way of life, sortie en 2014 avec Younger Thug, est probablement son titre le plus mémorable de son répertoire. 

Crédit photograph: Ryan Lowry

Atlanta rapper Wealthy Homie Quan, who burst onto the hip-hop scene in 2013, died in Georgia, authorities mentioned.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner mentioned in a press release that Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital notified its personnel Thursday of the rapper’s demise.

He was 33, the workplace mentioned.

A trigger and method of demise was not launched. An post-mortem has been scheduled for Friday, the medical expert mentioned.

The artist, whose given title is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, scored a giant hit greater than a decade in the past with the music “Sort of Method.” He adopted it up in 2015 with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh).”

Rapper Boosie Badazz posted about his good friend’s demise on social media.

He mentioned the 2 had “GOOD ASS MEMORIES TOGETHER N THAT GO ALWAYS BRING A SMILE TO MY FACE. #restupquan.”

Boosie Badazz mentioned the 2 artists have been collaborating collectively earlier than Wealthy Homie Quan’s demise.

Wealthy Homie Quan’s household and his administration representatives couldn’t be reached for remark Thursday afternoon.

Mark Dantonio, the previous head soccer coach at Michigan State College, posted an image on X of him and Wealthy Homie Quan embracing after Dantonio’s workforce gained the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 2014.

“Sort of method” turned the squad’s celebratory anthem for the season. Gamers and coaches danced to the smash hit within the locker room following their 24-20 win over Stanford College.

“RIP ⁦@RichHomieQuan Particular Time, Particular Place with Particular Folks,” Dantonio wrote, ending the put up with an emoji of praying fingers.

That very same yr, Wealthy Homie Quan was named to rap publication XXL’s coveted inaugural Freshman Class, Selection reported. Others named by the journal embody Likelihood the Rapper, Ty Dolla $ign and Kevin Gates.

Throughout his profession, he was nominated for a number of BET and BET Hip Hop Awards together with finest new artist and other people’s champ award, Selection reported.

Wealthy Homie Quan additionally collaborated with different notable names within the trade reminiscent of 2 Chainz, Younger Thug, Gucci Mane and Trinidad James.

CORRECTION (Sept. 5, 2024, 6:12 p.m. ET): A earlier model of this text misstated Wealthy Homie Quan’s age. He was 33, not 34.

Wealthy Homie Quan, the Atlanta rapper who gained mainstream notoriety by means of the lure singles “Sort of Method” and “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” has died. He was 34.

Homie Quan, whose authorized identify is Dequantes Devontay Lamar, died at an Atlanta hospital, the Fulton County Medical Examiner confirmed to The Related Press. The health worker was knowledgeable of his demise Thursday; particulars weren’t instantly obtainable, with an post-mortem scheduled for Friday.

Quan was one of many greatest names in hip-hop within the mid-2010s. He launched a slew of mixtapes earlier than he broke by means of in 2013 with the infectious “Sort of Method.” The tune grew to become so successful that a number of different rappers jumped on the remix, together with Jeezy and Meek Mill. He maintained his momentum, showing on a YG observe with Jeezy and releasing the London on da Observe-produced tune “Life-style” by means of his Wealthy Gang rap collective that included Younger Thug and Birdman.

Quan adopted up with “Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh),” a tune produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz. It grew to become his highest charting solo single at No. 26 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 chart. He additionally featured on Lil Dicky’s viral “$ave Dat Cash.”

In 2018, Quan debuted his first and solely studio album “Wealthy as in Spirit,” which principally went with none options — aside from “Assume About It,” a single with Rick Ross.

Quan spoke with The Related Press in 2022 about returning to music after an abrupt hiatus. On the time, the rapper mentioned he was going by means of litigation with unbiased label T.I.G. (Assume It is a Recreation Report), however was ready to make a comeback.

Throughout that point, Quan ended up in a feud along with his outdated collaborator Younger Thug — who together with rapper Gunna — have been amongst a gaggle indicted on fees of conspiracy to violate Georgia’s RICO Act and in addition accused of participation in a prison road gang.

Quan mentioned there was no beef between him Younger Thug and was open to having a dialog with him if the chance introduced itself. He mentioned he hated to see Younger Thug locked up, including that rappers have been being focused by legislation enforcement.

“I wouldn’t say unfairly focused as a result of on the similar time, a few of these rappers are placing weapons in movies and, you understand, it’s like social media — it goes again to the social media factor,” he mentioned.

“I feel we exhibiting an excessive amount of, I feel they’re exhibiting an excessive amount of, you understand what I imply. Like that’s the distinction in my music, I’ma inform a narrative however I ain’t going to let you know how I did it,” he added. “It’s nonetheless Black artwork, however we’re undoubtedly being focused. In order that’s why I’m conscious of what I say in my music.”

___

Landrum reported from Los Angeles. Related Press author Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report from New York.

Jonathan Landrum Jr. And Andrew Dalton, The Related Press

Hvaldimir, a beloved whale believed to have escaped a previous life as a Russian spy, was discovered useless over the weekend in what animal rights organizations say had been unnatural circumstances.

The beluga — whose title combines the Norwegian phrase for whale (hval) and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first title — rose to worldwide prominence after he was found by fishermen off the coast of Norway in 2019 carrying a digicam harness that learn “Gear St. Petersburg.”

Theories about his mysterious previous sparked headlines and intrigue, nevertheless it was his pleasant demeanor that received him scores of admirers within the years that adopted.

Hvaldimir labored his method alongside the Norwegian coast, frequenting fish farms and actively looking for out human interplay within the course of. He was “very excited about individuals and responded at hand alerts,” in accordance with the nonprofit Marine Thoughts.

The light big, who measured some 13 toes lengthy and weighed about 2,000 kilos, even went viral a number of occasions: for retrieving a kayaker’s dropped GoPro digicam, enjoying fetch with a rugby ball and enjoying with an underwater drone.

However Hvaldimir’s encounters with individuals weren’t at all times optimistic. He bore scars from being hit by a number of boats, and consultants warned that he confronted decrease odds of survival as a “solitary sociable particular person.” Considerations grew when he was noticed final yr in Sweden, which has extra individuals and fewer fish than Norway.

Hvaldimir’s case impressed the work of not less than two nonprofits devoted to marine conservation and Hvaldimir’s safety particularly.

OneWhale, based in 2019, advocated for Hvaldimir’s safety from “tourism and different risks.” Different marine biologists, involved in regards to the affect of relocating the whale, fashioned Marine Thoughts, which tracked Hvaldimir’s actions but additionally focuses on elevating consciousness about marine species extra broadly. NPR has reached out to each organizations for remark.

With the permission of Norway’s authorities, OneWhale was actively working to relocate Hvaldimir to a wild beluga inhabitants within the Arctic, the place belugas are usually discovered. The group had just lately introduced plans to move him within the coming weeks.

However hopes for Hvaldimir’s security had been dashed on Saturday, when he was discovered useless in what OneWhale known as the “closely trafficked waters simply exterior of Stavanger, Norway.”

“This morning, after receiving a sighting report from an area, our staff arrived to search out Hvaldimir floating peacefully within the water,” Marine Thoughts introduced on Instagram. “It’s not [immediately] clear what precipitated his demise, a necropsy will probably be carried out to find out his early passing.”

Hvaldimir was believed to be between 14 and 15 years outdated when he died. The common lifespan for a beluga whale is upwards of 30.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute will conduct the necropsy — an post-mortem for animals — and launch the ends in “two or three weeks,” the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries stated in a assertion to Folks.

Within the meantime, theories and tributes are flooding social media.

Many questions stay about Hvaldimir’s life and demise

OneWhale stated in its announcement that it suspects Hvaldimir’s passing “was not a pure demise.”

In a collection of video messages later posted to Instagram, founder Regina Haug referenced “holes pouring with blood from his physique” and stated that out of a staff of marine biologists and veterinarians who had checked out photos of Hvaldimir’s accidents, “not certainly one of them imagine that Hvaldimir died of pure causes.”

“We acquired to go to Hvaldimir in the present day ourselves and see him and say goodbye, and there was no query that he was dying from one thing very unnatural and heartbreaking,” she stated tearfully, earlier than casting blame on those that labored to “block his transfer” and unfold misinformation in regards to the extent of his accidents.

Sebastian Strand, the founding father of Marine Thoughts, instructed AFP that there have been no seen accidents on Hvaldimir’s physique.

Strand additionally instructed the scuba diving publication Divernet that “we would favor to not speak about human rifts in a time of mourning Hvaldimir,” including that “individuals had completely different concepts of methods to greatest safeguard him.”

“For now, we work towards a remaining dignity of creating positive he’s saved effectively and examined so his demise won’t be a thriller,” he added.

Whereas authorities work to reply questions on Hvaldimir’s demise, it is doubtless a lot about his formative years will stay a thriller.

It’s extensively believed that he escaped captivity in Russian waters. Many, pointing to the label on his digicam harness and his responsiveness to people, imagine he was concerned in espionage.

The Russian navy has been identified to make use of marine mammals like whales and dolphins for intelligence functions (the U.S. has a historical past of comparable applications), although the Kremlin has by no means commented publicly on Hvaldimir.

Others theorize he was a lacking Russian remedy whale named Seymon, who lived in an enclosure and generally carried out for kids with disabilities.

What’s sure is that Hvaldimir’s playfulness and resilience each amused and impressed many. Environmental teams say his story shed a lightweight on the plight of beluga whales and, by extension, different marine species struggling to outlive.

Marine Thoughts credit Hvaldimir with touching tens of hundreds of lives over the past 5 years and bridging “the hole between people and wild animals in a method that few can.”

“His presence taught us in regards to the significance of ocean conservation, and in doing so, he additionally taught us extra about ourselves,” it added.

NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula’s US Open run began in tears.

Tasked with taking part in her longtime buddy Shelby Rogers within the first spherical, Pegula knew it might be emotional it doesn’t matter what occurred. Rogers had introduced that the match could be her closing one earlier than retiring, and after Pegula had secured the straight-sets win, the burden of the second appeared to hit.

“We grew up taking part in juniors collectively, grew up in the identical part, and it is actually loopy,” Pegula, the No. 6 seed, mentioned on the court docket at Arthur Ashe Stadium as she cried.

Pegula had beforehand advised reporters that she merely could not consider a few of her friends have been ending their careers. And, contemplating the success Pegula has had lately, it is sensible why she would suppose that. Whereas tennis is crammed with teenage prodigies and younger 20-somethings rising as superstars, Pegula did not advance to her first main quarterfinals till she was 26. She was 27 when she cracked the highest 20 for the primary time.

And now, at 30, Pegula is getting ready to her first Slam semifinal. Retirement is the very last thing on her thoughts. On Monday, with the help of the rowdy vacation crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium, Pegula defeated No. 18 seed Diana Shnaider 6-4, 6-2. After advancing to the seventh main quarterfinal of her profession, Pegula is hoping this would be the match through which she will take it one step additional, or extra.

“Effectively, I at all times say I simply have to win a match to get to the semis after which that’ll resolve all the things, proper?” Pegula mentioned throughout her on-court interview Monday when requested about what it might take to advance. “However I imply, it does not actually matter to me. I imply, each match is each match. I’ve at all times performed it like that. It simply so occurs to be quarterfinals. “However on the identical time, to have the ability to say I have been in that place many, many occasions is nice. So I simply should preserve placing myself there and preserve making an attempt to play my recreation. And it is one level at a time whenever you’re on the market.”

In fact, attending to Thursday’s semifinal will not be simple.

Pegula first should get by way of world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, the winner of 5 main titles, together with the 2022 US Open, on Wednesday. The 2 have met 9 occasions on tour, with Swiatek holding a 6-3 edge. However Pegula beat Swiatek within the 2023 Canadian Open semifinals — a match Pegula went on to win — so she is aware of it is potential. Daunting, however potential.

However that is nothing new for Pegula, who overcame a debilitating knee harm early in her profession after which underwent hip surgical procedure in 2016. She was sidelined from competitors for practically a 12 months and questioned if she needed to proceed. Her love for the game finally received over and she or he determined to maintain grinding.

When she returned to competitors, her rating was exterior of the highest 800. However she made her first WTA closing in 2018 and received her first title on the Citi Open in 2019. None of that stunned Rogers, who has at all times identified how good Pegula may very well be when taking part in her greatest.

“Gosh, I simply bear in mind she at all times had some very easy, pure energy, which is not any totally different now,” Rogers advised ESPN this week. “And he or she’s so relaxed when she’s on the court docket. I really feel tennis comes, I do not need to say pretty simple, however she makes it look simple, and that is at all times been the case.”

In 2021, Pegula reached her debut main quarterfinal on the Australian Open. And since then, she has change into a constant presence within the second week of Slams. Following a quarterfinal run on the 2022 French Open, she cracked the highest 10 for the primary time, and by no means left. With a profession excessive of No. 3, first achieved in 2022, Pegula is ranked No. 6 and will rise as excessive as No. 3 in New York. It doesn’t matter what occurs from right here on out, she would be the top-ranked American lady within the subsequent rankings as a result of Coco Gauff, the defending champion, was defeated Sunday within the fourth spherical.

However, regardless of her excessive rating, Pegula hasn’t fared as effectively at majors this 12 months as she has in current seasons. She was upset within the second spherical at each the Australian Open and Wimbledon — tournaments through which she had reached the quarters in 2023 — and was unable to play on the French Open, or any of the clay season, as a consequence of an undisclosed harm.

However which may have been a blessing in disguise.

Whereas a number of of her friends, together with Swiatek, have complained concerning the calls for of the grueling schedule, and others, corresponding to Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, have cited the addition of the Olympics and the a number of floor adjustments as a part of the rationale for his or her early exits, Pegula mentioned her harm absence has allowed her to be “extra contemporary” at this stage within the 12 months.

“Once I began on grass, I [had] had a few months off,” Pegula mentioned Saturday. “Additionally, I did not go to the Center East [in February due to a neck injury]. I feel in a bizarre method, it was virtually a superb factor trying again that I have been in a position to form of begin that a part of the 12 months fairly contemporary. Although it was lots going backwards and forwards with the Olympics and the floor adjustments and all that.”

For the reason that conclusion of the Olympics — her second look with Group USA — Pegula received the title on the Canadian Open and reached the ultimate at Cincinnati. Few arrived in New York with extra momentum.

And he or she’s lived as much as the pre-tournament hype. Two days after her win over Rogers, Pegula confronted one other American in Sofia Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion. Kenin had recorded a formidable victory over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the opening spherical, however was merely no match for Pegula. With the 7-6(4), 6-3 win, Pegula continued her undefeated streak (11-0) towards People in 2024. Within the third spherical, she breezed previous Jessica Bouzas, 6-3, 6-3.

Throughout Monday’s match towards Shnaider, a rising 20-year-old star who has received three titles this season, Pegula wanted simply 87 minutes to safe the victory. Pegula has but to drop a set all match.

She’s now received 13 of her previous 14 matches and, together with Emma Navarro, is considered one of two American ladies to achieve the quarterfinals. If Pegula have been to defeat Swiatek, she would change into the oldest American lady to make her first main semifinal. If she have been to lose, she would tie the file for many Slam quarterfinal appearances with out reaching the semifinals by a lady within the Open period. Evidently, there’s lots on the road.

However for Pegula, it doesn’t matter what occurs, it will not change her purpose to win a serious title. Whereas a few of her direct friends retire, she’s extra targeted than ever.

“It will be frickin’ superior if I received a Grand Slam,” Pegula mentioned earlier than the match began. “I positively enable myself to dream, I at all times have since I used to be a child. So I feel you must take your self to these moments … I’d love to have the ability to say that I achieved that, that is at all times my purpose going right into a Grand Slam.”

“Hvaldimir, the title given to the grownup male beluga whale found in Norwegian waters in mid-spring 2019, has, within the years since, grow to be the subject of worldwide hypothesis, elevated and infrequently heated debate, reached world viral stardom and above all, captured the hearts and minds of all who encounter him,” wrote Hugh Francis Anderson in Oceanographic’s cowl characteristic for Concern 13, titled This Is Hvaldimir.

“And whereas the origins of Hvaldimir stay unknown, claims that he was skilled as a spy by the Russian Navy have gripped public and media consideration; his title a portmanteau of the Russian title Vladimir and the Norwegian phrase for whale, hval (pronounced val),” continued Francis Anderson.  

Now, the well-known beluga whale was discovered lifeless within the southwest of Norway by a father and son who had been out fishing off Risavika Bay, based on Norwegian public broadcaster NRK.

“Hvaldimir was not only a beluga whale; he was a beacon of hope, an emblem of connection, and a reminder of the deep bond between people and the pure world,” learn a social media publish by Marine Thoughts, a nonprofit organisation that was monitoring the whale’s actions.

The beluga whale was first noticed off Norway’s northern coast in 2019, outfitted with a man-made harness which had the phrases ‘Tools St Petersburg’ on it. Because the whale appeared accustomed to people, adopted boats and even fetched a rugby ball tossed into the water, it was broadly speculated that Hvaldimir was a ‘spy whale’ which could have escaped an enclosure after being skilled by the Russian navy.

The Russian authorities by no means responded to the hypothesis.

After the whale was discovered lifeless, it was lifted out of the water with a crane and brought to a close-by harbour for examination on Monday.

“We’ve managed to retrieve his stays and put him in a cooled space, in preparation for a necropsy by the veterinary institute that may assist decide what actually occurred to him,” marine biologist Sebastian Strand advised NRK. A report on Hvaldimir’s demise is predicted “inside three weeks”, a spokeswoman for the Norwegian Veterinary Institute stated.