Volume 78, No. 172B ©SS 2019 CONTINGENCY EDITION SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019 stripes.com Free to Deployed Areas Flouting Misguided endeavour warnings, Officials say US built corrupt, dysfunctional Afghan government N. Korea

BY CRAIG WHITLOCK The Washington Post holds test George W. Bush, Barack Obama BY KIM GAMEL and Donald Trump all promised Stars and Stripes the same thing: The U.S. would not pursue “nation-building” in SEOUL, South Korea — North Afghanistan. Korea conducted the second test Yet nation-building is exactly in a week at a long-range rocket what the U.S. has tried to do in Af- site, state-run media said Satur- ghanistan — on a colossal scale. day, despite U.S. warnings that According to interviews con- such activity threatens to close ducted by a government watch- the door on nuclear talks. dog, since 2001, Washington has The announcement occurred spent more on nation-building in days after Afghanistan than in any country the U.S led ever, allocating $133 billion for a U.N. Secu- reconstruction, aid programs and rity Council the Afghan security forces. meeting to Adjusted for inflation, that is express con- more than the U.S. spent in West- cern about ern Europe with the Marshall the resump- Plan after World War II. tion of ten- Instead of bringing stability sions with and peace, the U.S. inadvertently the North. built a corrupt, dysfunctional Af- “Another ghan government that remains crucial test Kim dependent on U.S. military power was suc- for its survival, according to con- cessfully fidential interviews with diplo- conducted at the Sohae Satellite mats, military officials and aid Launching Ground from 22:41 workers. to 22:48” on Friday, the Korean Those interviewed said Wash- Central News Agency reported, ington foolishly tried to reinvent citing the Academy of Defense Afghanistan in its own image by Science. imposing a centralized democ- “The research successes being racy and a free-market economy registered by us … will be applied on an ancient, tribal society that to further bolstering up the reli- was unsuited for either. able strategic nuclear deterrent Then, they said, Congress and of the Democratic People’s Re- the White House made matters public of Korea,” it added, using worse by drenching the destitute the North’s official name. country with far more money The news agency didn’t provide than it could possibly absorb. The more details, but the tests have flood crested when Obama esca- raised fears that the commu- lated the number of U.S. troops in nist state might be preparing to the war zone to 100,000. launch an intercontinental ballis- By some measures, life in Af- tic missile, which President Don- ghanistan has improved mark- ald Trump’s administration has edly since 2001. Infant mortality signaled would cross a red line. rates have dropped. The number TAMMY K. HINELINE/U.S Marine Corps North Korea has given the of children in school has soared. U.S. an end-of-year deadline The size of the Afghan economy U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Curtis Dewyea overlooks the Kajaki Dam, about 100 miles north of Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2013. The U.S. military’s attempts to rebuild the dam’s aging to offer concessions that would has nearly quintupled. salvage nuclear negotiations, hydroelectric power station ultimately went nowhere, with generals eventually drawing up a SEE CORRUPT ON PAGE 4 temporary plan to buy giant, diesel-fueled generators to supply electricity to Kandaharis. SEE WARNINGS ON PAGE 6

MILITARY MILITARY MUSIC Veterans commemorate DOD: National Guard New albums highlight how 75th anniversary of troops at border are ex-One Direction members the Battle of the Bulge eligible for GI Bill have gone their own ways Page 6 Page 6 Page 13

Browns RB Chubb keeps focus on wins, not rushing title » NFL, Back page PAGE 2 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES China welcomes deal, blames trade war on US Military rates Switzerland (Franc) ...... 0.9824 Euro costs (Dec. 16) ...... $1.1463 Thailand (Baht) ...... 30.22 Dollar buys (Dec. 16) ...... €0.8724 Turkey (New Lira) ...... 5.8087 British pound (Dec. 16) ...... $1.37 (Military exchange rates are those BY KEN MORITSUGU ness to compromise to resolve the under which the U.S. will reduce Japanese yen (Dec. 16) ...... 106.00 available to customers at military banking South Korean won (Dec. 16) ...... 1,143.00 Associated Press more fundamental differences tariffs and China will buy more Commercial rates facilities in the country of issuance for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the between them. Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3770 U.S. farm products. Chinese of- Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For British pound $ ...... 1.3330 BEIJING — China put a posi- “It at least stabilizes the situ- nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., ficials said the nine-chapter Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3174 purchasing British pounds in Germany), tive face Saturday on a first-step ation and lays a foundation for China (Yuan) ...... 6.9729 text, which includes intellectual check with your local military banking trade agreement that dials down Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.7001 the next round of trade talks or facility. Commercial rates are interbank property, technology transfer, Egypt (Pound) ...... 16.1225 a trade war it blames the U.S. for rates provided for reference when buying canceling additional tariffs in the Euro ...... $1.1154/0.8966 financial services and dispute currency. All figures are foreign currencies starting. future,“ said Tu Xinquan, a pro- Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7968 settlement, has to undergo legal Hungary (Forint) ...... 295.51 to one dollar, except for the British pound, Chinese experts and news fessor at the University of Inter- which is represented in dollars-to-pound, and translation review before it Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.4822 media joined government offi- national Business and Economics Japan (Yen) ...... 109.30 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) cials in saying the deal would re- in Beijing. “I cannot predict what can be signed. Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3033 INTEREST RATES China portrayed the agreement Norway (Krone) ...... 9.0464 duce uncertainty for companies, achievement can be made during Philippines (Peso) ...... 50.65 Prime rate ...... 4.75 at least in the short term. They the future talks.” as in line with the opening up of Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.83 Discount rate ...... 2.25 its economy and the deepening of Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7504 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.55 remained cautious, saying both The two countries announced Singapore (Dollar) ...... 1.3532 3-month bill ...... 1.52 sides will have to show a willing- a “Phase 1” agreement Friday its economic reforms. South Korea (Won) ...... 1175.23 30-year bond ...... 2.25 WEATHER OUTLOOK SUNDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST SUNDAY IN EUROPE MONDAY IN THE PACIFIC

Misawa 42/30 Kabul 46/28 Seoul 47/33 Baghdad 63/47 Kandahar 55/32 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 48/34 45/30 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 43/39 40/34 55/40 Iwakuni 52/44 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 73/70 Brussels 46/36 Guam 66/59 47/41 Ramstein 57/46 83/80 Lajes, 48/43 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 81/59 75/68 57/54 52/46 47/36 Aviano/ Vicenza 46/30

Naples 57/47 Okinawa Morón 73/70 59/52 Sigonella Rota 61/46 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 83/73 59/50 63/59 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.

T O D A Y IN STRIPES American Roundup ...... 15 Comics ...... 14 Crossword ...... 14 Music ...... 12-13 Opinion ...... 16 Sports ...... 17-24 Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 3 MILITARY

‘It’s a labor of love’

Santa, soldiers bring joy to beleaguered village in Alaska

BY MARK THIESSEN Associated Press NAPAKIAK, Alaska — A school employ- ee wearing a traditional pink Alaska Native smock called a kuspuk breezed through the hubbub in the cafeteria adorned with murals of purely Alaska scenes, zigzag- ging through children clutching presents and past uniformed soldiers wearing Santa caps. “Napakiak is happy today,” she pro- claimed to principal Sally Benedict. That’s a rare emotion of late for the 300 /AP or so residents of this western Alaska com- PHOTOS BY MARK THIESSEN munity. “We’re falling into the Kuskokwim Clockwise from top: Santa Claus arrives River,” Benedict explains, because of ero- in Napakiak, Alaska, on an Alaska sion that is forcing everyone to move their National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk town farther inland. helicopter earlier this month. Adam Black But for one day this month, the Alaska has his photo taken with Santa Claus. National Guard gave folks a reason to smile, Alaska National Guard Staff Sgt. Joseph thanks to its “Operation Santa Claus“ pro- Sallaffie hands a gift bag to Corban Jimmy gram, which featured the jolly old elf him- while Marlene Black looks on. self distributing gifts to the children. “This lightens the load,” said Benedict, “We love this, we truly love coming here,” years. It’s a dilemma seen in numerous needs to move the school, but local officials a former Detroit educator who arrived last said Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, the adjutant Alaska communities affected by a warming say finding money for a new school has summer. “This is sunshine for us. It’s a general of the Alaska National Guard who climate that is thawing permafrost — per- been challenging. brightening of our day.” found himself topping ice cream sundaes manently frozen soil — and compromising River erosion also threatened Napak- Now in its 63rd year, Operation Santa with cherries for the revelers in Napakiak. river banks, according to Brian Brettsch- iak’s firehouse and city garage, so those Claus has become a rarity among National “This is a proud tradition.” neider, an associate climate researcher at structures were moved in July. Guard units. Defense officials have shut The Guard isn’t the only Santa’s helper the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Inter- The village also has applied for permits down the program everywhere but Alaska, in the nation’s largest state. national Arctic Research Center. to relocate the boat harbor, which was de- where the mission survives because the The Salvation Army is celebrating its “You see this at a number of rivers in stroyed by storms in May. The five-year state is so large and some communities are 50th year of helping the Guard, collect- western Alaska where the bank stability is plan, Benedict said, is to move everyone to so remote. ing gifts, book bags and other items to be so much less than it used to be because the the other side of an air strip. The program started in 1956 when the distributed. Major corporate sponsors like warming temperatures are allowing the But at least for one day, the residents residents of St. Mary’s, Alaska, had no Costco and Walmart contribute to the pro- banks to just crumble away with even typi- of Napakiak didn’t have to worry about money to buy children Christmas presents gram, and Rich Owens for years has pro- cal river flows,” he said. the erosion creeping ever closer to their after flooding severely impacted hunting vided the ice cream from his Tastee Freez This year alone, Napakiak’s erosion has homes, and instead could focus on the and fishing. Since then, Guard members restaurant in Anchorage. been responsible for more than 100 feet of smiles or even smudges of chocolate from try to visit at least two rural communities a “It’s a labor of love,” said John Bracken- lost shoreline. the ice cream sundaes on their children’s year, delivering Christmas gifts and other bury, the Alaska divisional commander of In September, the village school’s 10 fuel faces. needed supplies. The Salvation Army. tanks were relocated by barge across the Marcus Billy thought he received a bas- They’ve been to remote burgs with Climate change is a contributing factor river to the nearby town of Bethel after ketball, but he became a little confused names like Koyukuk, Savoonga, Illiamna, in the erosion caused by the Kuskokwim, being threatened by aggressive riverbank when he saw it was lime green and not Kwethluk and Tuntuliak. The visit to Napa- a 700 mile-long river that becomes an ice erosion. orange. It was only when all the wrapping kiak involved two aircraft: a 400-mile trip highway for travelers in the winter. It has Erosion also threatens the school, which paper was off that he was sure. When asked in a small airplane from Anchorage, then a been an ongoing problem in Napakiak, but sits less than 200 feet feet from the river. if he was happy with that, he said, “Yeah!” five-minute helicopter ride to the village. the pace has accelerated in the past few The Lower Kuskokwim School District before running off to play. PAGE 4•STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 WAR ON TERRORISM

This is an abridged version of Corrupt: the Washington Post report. For a full version of this story and others in the Post’s special package on Afghanistan, visit: Centralized stripes.com/news/middle-east — only some empty streets and power seen sewer pipes. Despite efforts to revive the project, he said, it “fell apart” after he left in 2010. Kandahar, the country’s sec- as problem ond-largest city, suffered from a scarcity of electricity. U.S. military commanders believed FROM FRONT PAGE if they could generate a reliable flow of power, grateful Kanda- But so many nation-building haris would support the Afghan projects backfired that even some government. foreign-aid advocates questioned To do that, the U.S. military whether Afghanistan might wanted to rebuild an aging hydro- have been better off without any electric power station at the Kaja- U.S. help at all, according to the ki Dam, about 100 miles north of documents. Kandahar. However, the Taliban Much of the money, they said, ended up in the pockets of over- controlled the area surrounding priced contractors or corrupt the dam, as well as some trans- Afghan officials. U.S.-financed mission lines. Repair crews need- schools, clinics and roads fell into ed armed convoys or helicopters disrepair, if they were built at all. to access the site. In 2008, as reports of fraud and Some experts argued that it excessive spending piled up, Con- made no sense to finance a giant gress created a watchdog agency LORENZO TUGNOLI/For The Washington Post construction project in enemy to follow the money. territory. They noted that the Af- Rohollah Noori in 2015 is seen in the refrigeration area of the Kandahar ice cream company he ghans lacked the technical exper- The Office of the Special In- manages. The lack of electricity proved a challenge for his business. spector General for Afghani- tise to maintain it in the long run. It would take years to complete stan Reconstruction, or SIGAR, it quickly became apparent that “In hindsight the worst deci- course,” Obama said. launched a special $11 mil- the project, and with the clock people who would make up the sion was to centralize power,” In fact, a cornerstone of ticking on their counterinsurgen- lion project — titled “Lessons Afghan ruling class were too set an unnamed European Union of- Obama’s counterinsurgency cy strategy, the generals wanted Learned” — in 2014 to diagnose in their ways to change. ficial said in a Lessons Learned strategy was to build the Afghan to supply electricity to the Kan- policy failures in Afghanistan. “These people went to the com- interview. government at breakneck speed daharis right away. So they drew Agency staffers interviewed munist school,” Finn said. A com- U.S. leaders had a potential Af- — with unprecedented sums from up a temporary plan to buy giant more than 600 people with first- mon Afghan fear, he recalled, was ghan ruler in mind. Hamid Kar- the U.S. treasury. hand experience in the war. “if you allow capitalism, these zai, a tribal leader from southern Gen. David Petraeus and other diesel-fueled generators that In one of the interviews ob- private companies would come in Afghanistan, belonged to the U.S. commanders were bet- could start humming in a matter tained by The Post, Robert Finn, and make profit.” country’s largest ethnic group, ting the Afghan people would of months, not years. who served as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan was run by com- the Pashtuns. He spoke polished turn against the Taliban if they “Petraeus got the power back Afghanistan from 2002 to 2003, munists from 1978 until 1992. English and was a CIA asset. felt Karzai’s government could on in Iraq and wanted to do the said Bush administration officials When it came to economics, At first, the new system of gov- protect them and deliver basic same in Afghanistan,” the un- dismissed his early warnings that others said the United States ernment led by Karzai seemed to services. named former ambassador told they needed to do far more to sta- should have applied more com- work. In 2004, after serving as in- There were two big hurdles. government interviewers. “But bilize Afghanistan. mon sense. terim leader, Karzai was elected First, Obama had given the in Iraq, it made more sense; they “This is a systemic problem of Donors insisted that a large president in Afghanistan’s first Pentagon just 18 months to turn had oil, engineers, and indigenous our government,” he said. “We portion of aid be spent on educa- national democratic election. the tide of the war before he capacity; it was doable.” can’t think beyond the next elec- tion, even though Afghanistan He built a personal rapport with wanted to start bringing troops Last year USAID determined tion. When we went to Afghani- had few jobs for graduates. Bush; the two leaders chatted fre- home. that the Afghan public utility stan everybody was talking about A Special Forces officer told quently by videoconference. Second, across much of Af- for Kandahar was not commer- a year or two, and I said to them government interviewers that But relations gradually soured. ghanistan, there was hardly any cially viable and may never be that we would be lucky if we were local Afghans made clear “they Karzai grew outspoken and criti- government presence to begin able to operate without foreign out of here in 20 years.” didn’t really want schools. They cized the U.S. military for a surge with. And where there was, it was subsidies. No nation needed more build- said they wanted their kids out of airstrikes and night raids that often corrupt and hated by the One of the most mismanaged ing than Afghanistan. Desper- herding goats.” inflicted civilian casualties and locals. pots of money was the Command- ately poor, it had been consumed Policies that could have helped alienated much of the population. As a result, the Obama admin- ers’ Emergency Response Pro- by war since 1979, when it was Afghanistan, such as price con- U.S. officials chafed as Karzai cut istration ordered the military, the gram, or CERP, which allowed invaded by another superpower, trols and government subsidies, deals with warlords and doled out State Department, USAID and military commanders to bypass the Soviet Union. were not considered by U.S. of- governorships as political spoils. their contractors to build up the normal contracting rules and Most Afghans were illiterate. ficials who saw them as incom- In 2009, Karzai won reelection, Afghan government as quickly as spend up to $1 million on infra- The country’s ousted rulers, the patible with capitalism, said narrowly avoiding a runoff thanks possible. structure projects. But most cost Taliban, a movement of religious Barnett Rubin, a former adviser to a massive ballot-box stuffing “Petraeus was hell-bent on less than $50,000 each. zealots, had banned many hall- to the United Nations and State campaign. Many U.S. officials throwing money at the problem,” Commanders told government marks of modern civilization, Department. pressed for an independent inves- an unidentified U.S. military of- interviewers that they were under including television, musical in- Afghanistan surely needed a tigation. Karzai, in turn, privately ficer said. “When Petraeus was so much pressure to spend that struments and equal rights for better system of government. accused the Obama administra- around, all that mattered was women. they blindly copied CERP paper- Riven by feuding tribes and im- tion of plotting to oust him. spending. He wanted to put Af- work from past projects, knowing The Bush administration tried placable warlords, the country In the end, U.S. officials swal- ghans to work.” that it was unlikely anyone would to get the United Nations, NATO had a volatile history of coups, as- lowed their objections. After all, In a Lessons Learned inter- bother to inspect it afterward. and other countries to take sassinations and civil wars. they had put Karzai in charge. view, Petraeus said the U.S. mili- U.S. officials said they could charge of humanitarian aid and The Bush administration per- A few weeks after Karzai’s tary had no choice given Obama’s reconstruction. The United States suaded the Afghans to adopt a reelection, Obama announced order to start reversing the surge never tell whether nation-build- agreed to help train a new Afghan made-in-America solution — a he would send 30,000 more U.S. in 2011. ing was actually helping win the army but pushed to keep it small, constitutional democracy under troops as part of a new strategy to Amid the haste to spend, U.S. war. because the Pentagon and State a president elected by popular defeat the Taliban and bolster the agencies wasted large sums of In eastern Afghanistan, one Department did not want to bear vote. Afghan state. money on ghost projects that gung-ho Army brigade promised the long-term costs. Under the new constitution, In a December 2009 speech at never took shape. to build 50 schools — but unwit- Eventually, however, the Bush the Afghan president wielded far the U.S. Military Academy at West The U.S. government signed $8 tingly ended up helping the Tal- administration recognized it had greater authority than the other Point, Obama told Americans million in contracts to build an iban, according to an officer in a duty to help Afghanistan build two branches of government this would not mean a drawn-out industrial park for 48 businesses the brigade. a new economy from scratch. — the parliament and judiciary extension of the nation-building near Kandahar. Tim Graczews- “There weren’t enough teach- Although Afghanistan had scant — and also got to appoint all the campaign. ki, a Navy Reserve officer who ers to fill them, so buildings experience with free markets, provincial governors. “Some call for a more dramatic oversaw economic development languished,” the unnamed U.S. the United States pressured the The U.S.-designed system con- and open-ended escalation of our projects in southern Afghanistan military officer told govern- Afghans to adopt American-style flicted with Afghan tradition, war effort, one that would com- from 2009 to 2010, told govern- ment interviewers, “and some of capitalism. typified by a mix of decentralized mit us to a nation-building proj- ment interviewers that the 37- them even became bomb-making Yet several U.S. officials said power and tribal customs. ect of up to a decade. I reject this acre site included no buildings factories.” Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 5 WAR/MILITARY Mattis defends Afghan rebuilding efforts

BY DAN LAMOTHE disease. to questions about investigative Congress that the military com- Mattis said the reports in The The Washington Post Mattis, who oversaw the war as reporting by The Washington ponent of the U.S. strategy in Af- Post have prompted the families the four-star commander of U.S. Post that outlines mistakes made ghanistan was sound and that by of fallen service members and WASHINGTON — Former Central Command from 2010 to in the war. The series, called “The “steadfastly executing our strat- some veterans to reached out. defense secretary Jim Mattis 2013, said that violence in Af- Afghanistan Papers,” includes egy we will win in Afghanistan.” “You can imagine what it’s like defended American efforts to re- ghanistan is “so heartbreaking previously In March 2013, he testified for the families, and I have heard build Afghanistan as part of the that it can blind you to the prog- unpublished that it was “obviously a combina- from them,” he said. “The emails 18-year-old U.S. war there, say- ress,” and he acknowledged that interviews tion of progress and violence” on are coming in.” ing Friday that “we had to try to the United States made a strate- and memos the ground, but that the Afghan Mattis said he assured them do something in nation-building, gic mistake by not paying enough in which se- forces were “proving themselves that U.S. officials, including for- as much as some people condemn attention to the country as the ad- nior officials capable.” mer secretary of state Hillary it, and we probably weren’t that ministration of George W. Bush privately “I think we may have to look at Clinton and Ryan Crocker, a for- good at it.” launched the war in Iraq in 2003. expressed how we’re measuring them since mer U.S. ambassador to Afghani- Mattis described the progress “That we didn’t do things right, misgivings they’re measuring themselves that has been made in Afghani- I mean, I’m an example of it,” about the against the enemy and they’re stan, “were not papering over any stan since the U.S. military in- Mattis said, recalling that as a campaign, proving themselves there,” Mat- of this.” “I salute” the investigative re- vaded after the September 2001 one-star general, he was pulled even as they Mattis tis said. terrorist attacks. Speaking to out of Afghanistan in the spring publicly By 2015, the United States was porting, he said, but that it is “not journalists at The Washington of 2002, promoted and told to pre- touted its progress. dispatching its own Special Op- really news” because mistakes Post, he cited an increase in the pare for war in Iraq. As a general, Mattis was erations troops to stave off secu- made in the Afghanistan war number of Afghan women who “I was dumbfounded,” he among those who frequently rity disasters in the south and had have been reported on by jour- are educated, the development said. “But we took our eye off of spoke about the progress he saw stopped a planned withdrawal as nalists for years. of Afghan diplomats and the in- there.” in Afghanistan. scores of Afghan soldiers were “I don’t know why it’s such a oculation of civilians against The comments came in response In 2010, Mattis testified before killed each month. revelation,” he said. Insider attack kills Afghan militiamen

BY TAMEEM AKHGAR sway over half the country. Associated Press Insider attacks have been steady throughout the 18-year KABUL, Afghanistan — At conflict, with U.S. and NATO least one member of an Afghan troops most often targeted. But militia opened fire on his fellow when Afghan security forces are militiamen early Saturday, kill- targeted, the casualty rate is often ing nine, in what the country’s in- much higher. terior ministry called an insider In July, two U.S. service mem- attack, an Afghan official said. bers were killed by an Afghan ALTAF QADRI/AP The Taliban, however, claimed soldier in the southern Kandahar the attack was actually a coor- Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah announced a temporary truce in a battle over ballots, province. The shooter was wound- dinated insurgent assault on the agreeing to allow a recount Sunday in provinces where his supporters had stopped the process . ed and arrested. In September, checkpoint where the shooting three U.S. military personnel took place, killing over two dozen militiamen, according to Taliban were wounded when a member Recount of Afghan ballots approved spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid. of the Afghan Civil Order Police There was no immediate ex- fired on a military convoy, also in planation for the discrepancy, Kandahar. Associated Press said he won’t accept any election results based on valid ballots. but the Taliban often exaggerate Last Saturday, U.S. peace envoy result until all fake ballots are The Sept. 28 election has been Zalmay Khalilzad began several KABUL, Afghanistan — Af- their claims. removed. mired in controversy. Rivals days of meetings with Taliban ghanistan presidential candidate Details were sketchy and in- The Afghan Election Com- Ghani and Abdullah, are the top vestigators were still looking into representatives in Qatar, where Abdullah Abdullah announced mission tried to launch a ballot candidates. the insurgents maintain a politi- Friday he has agreed to allow a the attack in central Ghazni prov- recount in November but Abdul- It wasn’t immediately clear if ince’s Karabagh district, said De- cal office. ballot recount in provinces where lah halted the attempt, saying Abdullah would send any of his fense Ministry spokesman Fawad It was his first such direct con- his supporters had stopped the he wouldn’t let his observers observers to take part in the re- Aman. The number of attackers tact between the envoy and the process for almost a month. participate. count process. was also not immediately clear. militant group since President Abdullah, who serves as the Afghanistan’s election and A date to announce preliminary Afghan militias operate in re- Donald Trump halted negotia- country’s chief executive in a election complaint commissions election results was still not clear mote regions and are under the tions three months ago after a fragile national unity government had repeatedly requested that on Friday but if no candidate ob- command of the country’s Na- particularly deadly wave of Tal- with President Ashraf Ghani, ad- Abdullah’s supporters allow the tains more than 50% of the vote, tional Security Forces, which suf- iban attacks, including a Kabul dressed the media following a ballot recount process to move a second round of voting will be fers near daily Taliban attacks. suicide bombing that killed an conference with supporters. He forward and promised to release held. The Taliban now control or hold American soldier. Bill calls for minority WWI troops to be considered for Medal of Honor

BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY rican American, Asian Ameri- the French government, for ac- University in Parkville, Mo., has sidered for the Medal of Honor. Stars and Stripes can, Hispanic American, Jewish tions that occurred between identified World War I service After a similar review that American and Native American April 6, 1917, and Nov. 11, 1918. records that the service secretar- took 12 years, former President WASHINGTON — The Penta- veterans of the war. The NDAA, The review would also determine ies can use to determine whether Barack Obama in 2014 awarded gon would review the records of which directs defense policy and whether the Defense Department they should be reviewed further the Medal of Honor to 24 veter- minority troops who served in spending plans, has support from has records for minority veterans to be considered for the Medal Of ans from World War II, the Ko- World War I to determine whether Senate leadership and President who had been recommended for a Honor, according to the NDAA rean War and the Vietnam War they deserve the Medal of Honor Donald Trump so passage is Medal of Honor during that time conference report. who had been overlooked due to under legislation approved by the expected. period. The review must be finished House last week. The review would look at minor- The Valor Medals Review Task within five years of the NDAA be- their race or religion. Only three A provision in the 2020 Na- ity veterans who were awarded Force, a project by the World War coming law, and the secretaries veterans were alive to receive the tional Defense Authorization Act the Distinguished Service Cross, I Centennial Commission and the must submit a recommendation medal from the president. calls on the service secretaries the Navy Cross, or the Croix de George S. Robb Centre for the to the president for the veterans [email protected] to reexamine the records of Af- Guerre with Palm awarded by Study of the Great War at Park that they believe should be con- Twitter: @caitlinmkenney PAGE 6 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 MILITARY 75th anniversary Troops at border of famous WWII eligible for benefits

BY STEVE BEYNON battle is marked Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — The Pen- tagon has approved GI Bill eligi- BY KARIN ZEITVOGEL PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ABRAMS/Stars and Stripes bility for National Guard troops Stars and Stripes stationed at the U.S.-Mexico Captains Jake Lazebnik, left, and Blake Ritchey of the 101st BASTOGNE, Belgium — border. Airborne Division pose with a young Belgian on the streets of Defense Secretary Mark Esper American and Belgian flags flew Bastogne, Belgium, on Saturday . The Screaming Eagles, along with side-by-side Saturday in com- wrote in a memo Thursday that other service members were in town to mark the 75th anniversary National Guard troops perform- memoration of U.S. soldiers who of the World War II Battle of the Bulge. fought 75 years ago in the six- ing active service responding to week Battle of the Bulge, a vic- a national emergency declaration tory that thwarted the last major by the president can accrue GI German offensive on the Western Bill benefits, unlike most other Front during World War II. domestic service, which does not Several dozen veterans who entitle guard members to federal fought in the campaign were Dressed in World War II-style benefits. in Belgium for the anniversary garb , Curtis Rhymer visits Until now, guard troops de- event, along with a new genera- Bastogne Barracks in Bastogne, ployed to the southern border tion of service members keep- Belgium. weren’t accruing GI Bill benefits ing alive the memory of the role and there has been confusion Americans played in ending Nazi the Germans “Nuts!” when they on the ground and in Washing- tyranny. asked him to surrender. ton about whether responding to On a road leading into the cen- “God truly blessed America domestic emergencies entitles ter of Bastogne from the barracks with the veterans who fought troops to those benefits. that housed Allied forces during in the Battle of the Bulge,” said Under the new guidance, troops the war, Jack Lazebnik and Blake House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, will accrue GI Bill benefits for Ritchey, both captains in the who participated in the tradition- time deployed on the border since 101st Airborne Division, which al throwing of nuts from the town President Donald Trump’s emer- fought to defend Bastogne, were hall balcony in honor of McAu- gency declaration on Feb. 15. The besieged by photo seekers that liffe’s famous retort. longer they are on active duty, the included service members from The battle began north of Bas- more valuable their GI Bill ben- Belgium and Germany. togne on Dec. 16, 1944, during a efits become. “I’m from the 326th Engineer bitterly cold winter, and lasted A soldier talks to Battle of the Bulge veterans before a ceremony Trump declared a national marking the 75th anniversary of the bloody World War II battle. Battalion and we had a crucial until Jan. 25, 1945. emergency on the southern bor- More than 30 veterans turned up for the event. role in holding a small part of Between 63,222 and 98,000 der on Feb. 15 to allocate money the perimeter in the southwest of Germans were killed, missing, for his proposed border wall and several relatives who fought in American George Abramshe, Bastogne,” Ritchey said. wounded or captured during the expand other security efforts to the battle. “The Americans had who lives near Ramstein Air “He, as an infantryman,” he campaign, while around 19,000 combat illegal immigration. something like 17 miles between Base in Germany, has attended said, pointing to Lazebnik, “they Americans were killed. It was Thousands of National Guard positions. The main units were Battle of the Bulge commemora- were on the eastern and northern the largest and bloodiest single troops have been mobilized for sides. For us to be able to go to pulled back to Paris for R&R. You tions since the 1970s and has seen battle fought by the United States the southern border mission, the some of those spots has been in- had fresh units on the front who’d them grow from small parades to in WWII. bulk of them from the Texas Na- credible. The significance of the never seen combat.” large multi-day events. Launched in eastern Belgium tional Guard, according to mili- battle 75 years ago isn’t lost on Small American units delaying “A lot of Americans don’t real- by German forces who hoped to tary records. us.” retake the port of Antwerp after the German advance long enough ize that this still goes on after 75 Some troops said they have A bipartisan U.S. congressio- driving a wedge between U.S. to allow Patton to get to Bastogne years,” Abramshe said. “But it’s spent months and even up to a nal delegation and other dignitar- and British forces, the offensive and help McAuliffe’s besieged really emotional that Europeans year on the border. ies laid wreaths at monuments caught U.S. forces convinced the forces. still thank us for liberating them. to Gen. George Patton, who led war was almost over by surprise. Although the offensive was “”It’s important that (today’s In all cases, guard members the 3rd Army as it broke through “Everybody was like, ‘Hey, broken in late December, fighting soldiers) see it firsthand and un- are leaving their civilian employ- German lines around Bastogne, we’re going home for Christmas,’ ” continued for another month until derstand how important it was ers for a sizable amount of time and Brig. Gen. Anthony McAu- said Curtis Rhymer, dressed as the Germans had been pushed then and still is today.” — sometimes taking a pay cut to serve. liffe, commander of U.S. forces a staff sergeant from the 30th back east of the positions they [email protected] in the city, who famously told Infantry Division and who had held before the offensive started. Twitter: @stripeszeit Esper approved up to 5,500 service members to continue op- erations along the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal year 2020, which started Sept. 30. Warnings: North Korea still seeking sanctions relief, security guarantees More than 2,000 of the troops at the border are National Guard FROM FRONT PAGE States to offer sanctions relief and between Trump and leader Kim Trump administration is “pre- members. which have stalled after reaching security guarantees in exchange Jong Un in February in Vietnam. pared to be flexible” and take Esper said the secretaries of a high point with a series of sum- for limited disarmament steps al- Trump has dismissed most of concrete, parallel steps toward an the Army and Air Force will en- mits last year. ready taken. those because the North stopped agreement. sure guard troops serving on the A senior diplomat also has said Washington has insisted it will short of lifting its self-imposed North Korea was not appeased border mission will have a record that it’s up to the United States to maintain economic pressure until moratorium on nuclear and long- by the signal of flexibility, calling proving their eligibility for fed- decide what “Christmas present” the North abandons its nuclear range missile tests. However, Craft’s comments and a “hostile eral benefits. it wants to receive. weap-ons program. the president has shown increas- provocation.” To qualify for post-9/11 GI Bill Trump and North Korean lead- Experts have said the first test ing frustration as the activity Friday’s test at Sohae came as benefits, troops must complete er Kim Jong Un agreed on a vague at Sohae, which occurred on Dec. continued. the North’s ruling Workers’ Party 90 days of active duty. Typical promise to “work towards the de- 7, was likely a rocket engine that On Wednesday, the U.S. am- is preparing to hold a plenary National Guard service is not nuclearization of the Korean Pen- could be used in a long-range bassador to the United Nations session of its central committee, considered active duty, with most insula” during their first summit missile. called the missile tests “deeply which could signal plans for Kim guard members banking on their in June 2018 in Singapore. The North also has conduct- counterproductive.” Jong Un to announce a major deployments overseas to cover a But the two sides have been un- ed 13 short-range missile tests “These actions also risk closing policy shift in his traditional New lot of the living costs while going able to bridge the wide gap over since May as tensions rise with the door on this opportunity to Year’s Eve address. to school. what that means. the breakdown of diplomatic ef- find a better way for the future,” [email protected] [email protected] North Korea wants the United forts following a second summit she said, while stressing that the Twitter: @kimgamel Twitter: @StevenBeynon Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 7 NATION Justices to rule on Trump’s financial records

Associated Press tan district attorney can obtain eight years at every step, but the records have not been in requiring President Richard Nixon to of Trump’s tax returns as part of an ongo- turned over pending a final court ruling. turn over White House tapes to the Wa- WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ing criminal investigation. Now it will be up to a court that includes tergate special prosecutor and in allow- said Friday it will hear President Donald The subpoenas are separate from the on- two Trump appointees, Justices Neil Gor- ing a sexual harassment lawsuit against Trump’s pleas to keep his tax, bank and going impeachment proceedings against such and Brett Kavanaugh, to decide in a President Bill Clinton to go forward. In financial records private, a major confron- Trump, headed for a vote in the full House case with significant implications regard- those cases, three Nixon appointees and tation between the president and Congress this week. Indeed, it’s almost certain the ing a president’s power to refuse a formal two Clinton appointees, respectively, voted that also could affect the 2020 presidential court won’t hear the cases until after a Sen- request from Congress. against the president who chose them for campaign. ate trial over whether to remove Trump Trump attorney Jay Sekulow released the high court. A fourth Nixon appointee, Arguments will take place in late March, has ended. a statement saying: “We are pleased that William Rehnquist, sat out the tapes case and the justices are poised to issue deci- Trump sued to prevent banks and ac- the Supreme Court granted review of the because he had worked closely as a Justice sions in June as Trump is campaigning for counting firms from complying with President’s three pending cases. These Department official with some of the Wa- a second term. Rulings against the presi- subpoenas for his records from three com- cases raise significant constitutional is- tergate conspirators whose upcoming trial dent could result in the quick release of mittees of the House of Representatives sues. We look forward to presenting our spurred the subpoena for the Oval Office personal financial information that Trump and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus written and oral arguments.“ recordings. has sought strenuously to keep private. The Vance Jr. In two earlier cases over presidential In none of the cases are the subpoenas court also will decide whether the Manhat- In three separate cases, he has so far lost power, the justices acted unanimously directed at Trump himself. Democrats threaten to boycott next debate

Associated Press didates used Twitter to post simi- lar sentiments. WASHINGTON — All seven UNITE HERE Local 11 says it Democratic presidential candi- represents 150 cooks, dishwash- dates who qualified for this week’s ers, cashiers, and servers work- debate threatened Friday to skip ing on the Loyola Marymount the event if an ongoing labor dis- pute forces them to cross picket campus. It says it has been in lines on the campus hosting it. negotiations with a food service The Democratic National Com- company since March for a col- mittee said it is trying to come up lective bargaining agreement with an “acceptable resolution” without reaching a resolution, to the situation so the debate can and “workers and students began proceed. picketing on campus in Novem- A labor union called UNITE ber to voice their concern for a HERE Local 11 says it will picket fair agreement. The company as Loyola Marymount University abruptly canceled scheduled con- hosts Thursday’s sixth Demo- tract negotiations last week.” cratic debate of the cycle, and “We had hoped that workers JOHN L. MONE/AP Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth would have a contract with wages Warren and Vermont Sen. Ber- and affordable health insurance Rapper turned political candidate, Brad “Scarface” Jordan, left, visits with voter Michele Lemon and her before the debate. Instead, work- son outside of an early voting location in Houston, Texas, on Tuesday. nie Sanders responded by tweet- ing they wouldn’t participate if ers will be picketing when the that meant crossing it. Former candidates come to campus,” Rapper in runoff for council seat Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Susan Minato, co-president of Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, UNITE HERE Local 11, said in Ind. , Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobu- the statement. Associated Press table,” Jordan said Tuesday, referring to chronic char, environmental activist Tom DNC communications director poverty and crime that afflicts his neighborhood. Steyer and businessman Andrew Xochitl Hinojosa said both the HOUSTON — As a member of Houston’s pioneer- With more than 200,000 residents, District D Yang followed suit. DNC and the university found out ing rap group The Geto Boys, Brad Jordan co-wrote stretches into the south and southeast sides of Hous- “The DNC should find a solu- about the issue earlier Friday, but the early 1990s hip-hop anthem “Mind Playing ton. 2017 data compiled by the current city council tion that lives up to our party’s expressed support for the union Tricks on Me.” member, Dwight Boykins, says African Americans commitment to fight for working and the candidates’ boycott, stat- Now, the rapper better known as Scarface is work- make up 53% percent of the district. Thirty percent people. I will not cross the union’s ing that DNC Chairman “Tom ing to ensure Houston voters that no, their minds are of the population earns less than $25,000 a year, and picket line even if it means miss- Perez would absolutely not cross not playing tricks on them: He is running for City although that figure has risen over the past two de- ing the debate,” Warren tweeted. a picket line and would never ex- Council, and he’s a serious candidate. cades, it’s still a plurality. Sanders tweeted, “I will not pect our candidates to either.” Jordan, 49, says he knows his celebrity carried While campaigning, voters ask him what he plans be crossing their picket line,” “We are working with all stake- him into a run-off election which was slated for Sat- to do if he’s elected, but many can’t help them- while Biden tweeted: “We’ve got holders to find an acceptable urday. But he’s hoping he can persuade the voters selves and ask to take a smartphone photo with him. to stand together with @UNITE- resolution that meets their needs who got him there to turn out again so he can repre- Though his name recognition is his chief asset in his HERE11 for affordable health and is consistent with our values sent the council’s District D. mostly African American district, Jordan insists care and fair wages. A job is and will enable us to proceed as “You can sit back and point out the problems or that his Scarface persona is part of his past, not his about more than just a paycheck. scheduled with the debate,” she you can address them and bring solutions to the future. It’s about dignity.” The other can- said in a statement. Sanders retracts endorsement in US House race after backlash

Associated Press today said he is rejecting all endorsements had originally said the host was “a voice the human race to get along peaceably and for his campaign and I retract my endorse- that we desperately need in Congress.” fruitfully.” WASHINGTON — Sen. Bernie Sanders ment,” Sanders, a Democratic presidential After Sanders went public with his en- Uygur also came under fire for using retracted his endorsement for online news candidate, said in a tweet. dorsement, however, he faced backlash personality Cenk Uygur in a California the N-word on his show multiple times; he The Vermont senator endorsed Uygur from progressives online who pointed to acknowledged this week that “The Young congressional race on Friday after com- the day before in the special election to Uygur’s past controversial comments and Turks” had a policy of using the N-word ing under fire from supporters for backing replace former California Rep. Katie questioned why Sanders was backing him. someone who had made demeaning and Hill. Uygur is facing off against at least In one characteristic blog post, from when quoting racists as a means of mock- controversial comments about women, nine other candidates, four of whom are 2000, Uygur wrote that “obviously, the ing them but stopped after complaints. Muslims and African Americans. Democrats. Uygur’s online news and com- genes of women are flawed. They are Before Sanders retracted his support, “I hear my supporters who were frustrat- mentary show, “The Young Turks,” has a poorly designed creatures who do not want Uygur announced he would not accept any ed and understand their concerns. Cenk strong progressive following, and Sanders to have sex nearly as often as needed for endorsements. PAGE 8 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 NATION 13-year-old Plan to capture arrested in death of NY mustangs draws college girl Associated Press NEW YORK — A 13-year- old boy was arrested Friday in fire in Congress the stabbing death of a Barnard College freshman who was ap- proached in a park by as many BY SCOTT SONNER groups in the West that say it as three youths as she ventured Associated Press could lead to the extinction of the from her New York City campus free-roaming animals. on the eve of final exams. RENO, Nev. — Two House “It’s a sweeping betrayal of The arrest of such a young sus- committee chairmen are trying America’s wild herds by the pect added another tragic element to put the brakes on money for a nation’s largest animal welfare to the slaying of Tessa Majors, 18, new Trump administration pro- groups,” said Suzanne Roy, ex- a case that has troubled city and posal to accelerate the capture ecutive director of the American campus leaders. of 130,000 wild horses across the Wild Horse Campaign. The boy was arrested on charg- West over the next 10 years. Backers include the National es including felony murder, City Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., whose Cattlemen’s Beef Association and SCOTT SONNER/AP Corporation Counsel James E. high-desert state is home to about Johnson said in a statement. The American Farm Bureau Federa- Two House committee chairmen are trying to stop a new White half the mustangs, also is among teen appeared Friday in fam- tion, which have pushed for the House proposal of the capture of 130,000 wild horses across the the bipartisan group of lawmak- ily court and is due back in court slaughter of excess horses that West over the next 10 years. ers sounding alarms about the compete for forage with livestock Tuesday. At Friday’s hearing, Detective provision in an Interior Depart- grazing on U.S. lands. proved $6 million. legislation to be funded by the Vincent Signoretti testified that ment spending bill being readied The animal welfare groups said House Interior Chairman Raul spending panels. for final congressional action. the 13-year-old boy said his two they’re willing to accept the ac- Grijalva, D-Ariz., and House Ju- “Fundamental changes to ex- They say it could result in the friends grabbed Majors, put her in celerated roundups in some over- diciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, isting law should not be done in a chokehold and robbed her, The “most sweeping changes” in fed- populated areas to stave off the D-N.Y., sent the letter last week spending bills without hearings, New York Times reported. The eral protections for mustangs and possibility Congress might oth- to a House-Senate panel of appro- testimony, evidence and due detective testified that the teen burros since President Richard erwise resort to dropping current priation conferees considering a consideration by the authorizing said he did not stab Majors — the Nixon signed them into law near- prohibitions on the use of federal compromise version. committees tasked with these re- boy watched his friend slash her ly a half-century ago. money for slaughter. The “untested pilot project ... sponsibilities,” they wrote. with a knife and saw feathers fly- The proposal to speed round- The Bureau of Land Manage- would triple the number of horse Other Westerners signing the ing out from her coat’s stuffing. ups is based on a comprehensive ment estimates there are 88,000 and burros in holding and could letter include Reps. Deb Haa- Majors was walking in Man- package of proposals offered in animals on U.S. rangeland in 10 cost taxpayers billions,” they hattan’s Morningside Park just land, D-N.M. , chair of the Inte- April by an unprecedented coali- western states and nearly 47,000 said. It also “opens the door to before 7 p.m. Wednesday when rior subcommittee on national tion of livestock industry interests in government holding pens and surgical sterilization procedures” she was confronted and stabbed and animal welfare advocates, in- pastures. The agency contends — something the government has parks, forests and public lands, during a struggle, Chief of Detec- cluding the American Society for the range can sustain only 27,000 never attempted on free-roaming Joe Neguse, D-Colo., and Cali- tives Rodney Harrison said. the Prevention of Cruelty to Ani- but critics say there’s no scientific horses and is staunchly opposed fornia Democrats Grace Napoli- She staggered up the stairway mals and Humane Society of the basis for that conclusion. by mustang protection groups. tano and Tony Cardenas. Two to a nearby street, where she was United States. The version of the bill approved They said the appropriation Republicans signed on — David spotted by a campus security It’s been condemned by the by the Senate includes $35 mil- committees are short-circuiting Schweikert of Arizona and Matt guard who called 911, Harrison largest mustang protection lion for the effort. The House ap- the normal process used to write Gaetz of Florida. said. Majors died at a hospital. Los Angeles police officer charged with fondling corpse

Associated Press a report of a woman having died at a home he turned it back on, the person said be- tive League, the union that usually pro- on Oct. 20. Rojas is accused of touching the cause the devices have two-minute buffer- vides legal counsel for its members, said it LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles police woman’s breast while he was alone in the ing periods to capture what happens right won’t defend Rojas. officer who allegedly fondled a dead wom- room with the corpse, the DA’s office said. before they are activated. an’s breast was charged Thursday with a “We hope that District Attorney Jackie Police officials conducting a random The Los Angeles Times first reported Lacey charging Mr. Rojas for his vile al- felony, authorities said. inspection of the officer’s body camera the incident. leged crime will bring some solace to the David Rojas, 27, was charged with hav- videos found the incriminating footage, ac- Rojas was released from jail on a $20,000 deceased woman’s family during their ing sexual contact with human remains cording to a person briefed on the incident. bond Thursday, according to a Los Angeles without authority, according to a state- The person wasn’t authorized to publicly County Sheriff’s Department inmate loca- time of grieving,” the union’s board said ment from the Los Angeles County district discuss the case and spoke to The Associ- tor website. in a statement. “His alleged behavior is attorney’s office. He could face up to three ated Press on condition of anonymity. It was not immediately clear whether abhorrent and an affront to every law en- years in state prison if convicted. The officer had disabled the body cam- Rojas had an attorney who could speak on forcement professional working for the Rojas and his partner had responded to era but the act was caught on video when his behalf. The Los Angeles Police Protec- LAPD.” Roman Catholic dioceses spar over Archbishop Fulton Sheen sainthood

BY DAVID CRARY emony in Peoria on Dec. 21. Sheen was Rochester’s bishop found no wrongdoing by Sheen. tion, the Rochester diocese told Associated Press However, from 1966 to 1969, and the dio- Kruse complained that the The Associated Press on Thurs- the Vatican cese there sought the delay “to Rochester diocese is now sug- day, “This is absolutely a false In an unusual public spat, the recently took allow for further review of his gesting there are other cases that statement and lacks an appre- Roman Catholic diocese of Peo- the rare step role in priests’ assignments.” merit investigation, without pro- ciation for our diocese’s genuine ria, Ill., is accusing the Rochester, of indefi- A top official of the Peoria dio- viding details about them. concern for Archbishop Sheen’s N.Y. , diocese of trying to “sabo- nitely post- cese, Monsignor James Kruse, The Rochester Diocese’s state- cause.” tage” the beatification of Arch- poning the says those concerns focus on as- ment about “an undisclosed ‘two The statement noted that the bishop Fulton Sheen. ceremony at signments of priests in Rochester or more’ cases is both unjust and a decision to delay the beatification Sheen, who before his death in the request who were accused of sexual mis- regretful smear of Sheen,” Kruse was made by the Vatican, not by 1979 was famous for his radio and Sheen of the Roch- conduct. In a lengthy statement wrote. “This was not really an act the Rochester diocese. TV preaching, had been sched- ester dio- published last week, Kruse said of caution, but appears to simply The Vatican hasn’t com- uled to be beatified — the last cese, which said more time was the Peoria diocese thoroughly in- be another act of sabotage.” mented on the delay of Sheen’s step before sainthood — in a cer- needed for further investigations. vestigated two of those cases and Responding to Kruse’s accusa- beatification. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 9 NATION Gig work on rise and for many, it’s a way of life

BY LORRAINE MIRABELLA gig job, according to management The Baltimore Sun consulting firm McKinsey & Co. They develop websites, deliver BALTIMORE — By day, groceries, drive people to work Leah Needham buys groceries and school, often setting their to deliver to customers in White own terms for workload, schedule Marsh and Middle River. But in and, sometimes, pay. More than the evenings, the shopper for on- half do so to supplement income line grocery service Shipt trades from another job, while about 12 in her green T-shirt for a pair of million to 13 million count their KARL MERTON FERRON, THE BALTIMORE SUN/AP ballroom dance shoes and heads gigs as their primary source of Deborah Dent sits in her car in November outside Sinai Hospital. Dent uses the vehicle for ride sharing to her next gig. In a Glen Burnie income. to supplement her income. studio, she pursues her passion, Some forecasts project as many teaching couples how to dance as half of all U.S. workers could it launched in the Baltimore area to continue to be able to work as desk jobs where you have to go the tango, foxtrot and bachata. be freelancers within the next de- last year in March. independent drivers. into an office. (Starting a busi- The 30-year-old Hampden res- cade, many of them by choice. A “It’s a really interesting gig,” The ability to work on her own ness) has been more about life- ident has always patched together 2016 McKinsey study found near- she said. “I love the physical ac- schedule is making all the differ- style and flexibility than money.” jobs. She earns a living without ly three-quarters of American tivity of it, just constantly being ence in retirement for Deborah It’s been challenging amid a a steady paycheck or employer- gig workers could have found a up and moving and trying to get Dent. Dent, 68, of Millersville, proliferation of websites offering provided medical insurance. The traditional job but chose gig work things. It’s like playing super- retired in 2013 as a telephone as- freelance gigs that have drawn economy has improved since she instead. It’s an easier path thanks market sweepstakes, but you get sistant at Baltimore Washington competitors from around the graduated from college eight to the growth of digital platforms paid.” Medical Center in Glen Burnie, world and, in some cases, sup- years ago, but still she dismisses — think Uber — linking workers Gig work also offers flexibility A couple of years later she heard pressed prices. thoughts of working for someone and employers and workplace for students and people caring for about Uber and signed up. Driv- “Our type of work is generally else. shifts away from desk-bound, children or elderly parents. It can ing people to and from work, well paid, but we find ourselves “I’ve thought about it … but nine-to-five jobs. be a gradual exit from the labor school, doctors, the airport and competing on gig economy sites it’s a trade-off with freedom and For years now, younger workers force for the semi-retired, Lund other destinations gives Dent a with people from other countries flexibility,” she said. “You can lit- have been accustomed to moving said. way to stay active, meet people that have lower costs of living. erally bend and manipulate your from job to job and even career to But the lack of benefits and less and take vacations without hav- They’re able to offer rates below schedule and your time to get career. “This generation is taking stable income can be daunting, ing to dip into her retirement what we can charge,” Henry where you want to be financial- it one step further. … ‘Why not go she said, making it harder, for in- savings. said. ly. … I can pursue what I really try and do it myself and build my stance, to qualify for a mortgage Most mornings, she heads out One freelance platform, Up- love to do, which is dancing, and own business?’ ” said Susan Lund, or other loans. in her Toyota Corolla around 4:30 work, hosts 375,000 freelancers have another income to make that a McKinsey partner and expert And some argue the gig trend a.m., takes a break in the middle and 475,000 hiring employers at happen.” on global labor markets. Digital will be bad for workers in the long of the day, then sometimes takes any given time, a third of them Needham is among the work- platforms have “opened the door run. passengers in the evenings. Once Fortune 500 companies. Upwork ers fueling what’s known as the to a lot of people who don’t have Labor leaders have stepped up she earns $100, she turns off the said it specializes in matching gig economy — increasingly a a particularly unique set of skills way of life in the Baltimore area to earn money in this way. It has criticism recently of ride-sharing Uber app for the day. She typi- professionals to businesses seek- and nationally. Gig workers are lowered the barriers to entry to companies such as Uber, Lyft and cally earns up to $600 a week, ing specialized talent. independent contractors paid anyone to try.” Via. Critics argue those models spending about $150 on gas and Jobs are as varied as game and by the job, or gig. They say they Needham said juggling life as trap drivers in low-wage, no-ben- weekly car detailing. software developer, audio pro- want flexible hours and a chance a ballroom dance teacher and efit jobs and compete with and “This is so that I can live my ducer, animator, technical and to be their own boss. Many want Shipt shopper “fits my lifestyle threaten public transit. The AFL- life to the fullest, and do what I grant writer, marketing and pub- supplemental income or a stron- right now.” Teaching dance by CIO argues in a recent report that want to do,” said Dent, who has lic relations specialist, and me- ger resume. Some employers rely appointment contributes about ride service companies misclas- traveled to Miami, Paris and chanical, electrical and chemical on gig workers, while others turn 70% of her income, with personal sify employees as independent Amsterdam and plans a cruise to engineer. Employers who post to such freelancers for hard-to- shopping making up the rest. She contractors and artificially drive Jamaica. “I didn’t retire to be a jobs are promised qualified pro- fill or specialized jobs. buys her own health insurance down costs by passing mainte- couch potato.” posals within 24 hours, enabling More than a quarter of work- — a big expense, she said, but nance and insurance expenses to It’s a good time to be a gig them to compare bids and check ing-age Americans earn money she has adjusted her workload to drivers. worker because employers ap- reviews and prior work before through some sort of freelance or cover it. She took on Shipt when “Because someone is a part- pear willing to hire as needed for connecting for interviews. time worker does not mean they particular jobs and to give start- “These are not people who can’t be an employee,” said Larry ups a chance, said Owen Henry, think of themselves as gig work- Willis, president of the AFL- who started a fledgling technol- ers. They think of themselves as CIO’s transportation trades de- ogy consulting company from his professionals, with years of expe- partment. “There are a lot of jobs home in Baltimore’s Mount Ver- rience,“ said Shoshana Deutsch- where people work part-time but non neighborhood. kron, Upwork’s vice president the law affords them the protec- For now, it’s a side business of communication and brand. tions of still being an employee … and he and a business partner “These are people choosing to Many (workers) are barely mak- have kept full-time day jobs. But work this way. They used to have ing ends meet, and once they back on lunch breaks, in the evenings traditional jobs and realized they out expenses, they’re not making and on weekends they turn their could have a different lifestyle.” minimum wage.” attention to Blue Heron Digital, The share of people find- The labor union wants more building websites, fixing email ing work online is growing fast, states to follow the lead of Cali- programs and recommending Deutschkron said. As of last year, fornia. A law based on a 2018 Cal- digital strategies for small busi- 64% of freelancers found work ifornia Supreme Court decision nesses and nonprofits. In less online, a 22% jump from the pre- will require businesses to classify than a year, the startup has at- vious year, she said. more workers as employees, not tracted more than 10 clients that Employer postings, too, have independent contractors, making have signed contracts ranging grown as businesses find “they them eligible for overtime pay, from $600 to $1,000. can’t get all the skills they need sick leave and other benefits. The “For us it was as much about by hiring in traditional methods,”

ULYSSES MUNOZ, THE BALTIMORE SUN/AP measure, to take effect next year, being dissatisfied with the way she said. “Businesses that are is already being challenged in we were working in our day jobs,” trying to be competitive … are Leah Needham gives a private dance lesson to Vince McClenny in a court, including by a truckers as- said Henry, 31. “We like our jobs, realizing they have to be more Glen Burnie, Md., dance studio last month. sociation that wants its members but they are still very standard innovative.” PAGE 10 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 NATION Lawmakers want ex-Ky. governor’s pardons reviewed

BY BRUCE SCHREINER day at the Kentucky Capitol. “It AND DYLAN LOVAN seems to me it was completely Associated Press inappropriate.” Cameron, the incoming Repub- FRANKFORT, Ky. — Outrage lican state attorney general, did over a spree of pardons by for- not address the pardons or a po- mer Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin tential investigation in a written spread to the state capitol Friday statement Friday but said he be- as lawmakers called on federal lieves “the pardon power should and state prosecutors to investi- be used sparingly and only after gate the orders, including one for great deliberation with due re- a convicted killer whose family gard to public safety.” MEGAN KIEFER, DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS/AP raised campaign money for the McGarvey said special atten- governor. Police on Thursday take suspects from the Save Greens cannabis dispensary into custody for operating tion should be given to the pardon without a state license in Los Angeles. The state has mounted raids against illegal marijuana retailers. Bevin, who lost to Democrat issued to Patrick Brian Baker, Andy Beshear last month in a who was sentenced to 19 years on close race, has issued more than convictions 400 pardons since the Nov. 5 elec- of reckless State mounts largest crackdown tion, according to the Kentucky homicide Secretary of State’s office. and other The fallout from Bevin’s par- crimes in a on illegal marijuana shops in LA don-granting binge widened as fatal 2014 the Republican Senate President home break- called for a federal investiga- in in Knox BY MICHAEL R. BLOOD unlicensed shops from Tuesday state, putting not only the ongo- tion and Democratic lawmakers County. Associated Press through Thursday. They seized ing vitality of the legal industry at called on Attorney General-elect Prosecutors $8.8 million in cannabis products, risk but also the health and well- Daniel Cameron to appoint a spe- say Baker LOS ANGELES — California confiscated nearly 10,000 illegal being of Californians,” Kiloh said cial prosecutor or a bipartisan and another regulators mounted dozens of vape pens and $129,000 in cash, in a statement. team to investigate some of the Bevin man posed raids against illegal marijuana the bureau said. California kicked off broad ex-governor’s pardons. Cameron as police to gain entry to Donald retailers in Los Angeles last The crackdown was praised legal sales on Jan. 1, 2018. But week, the largest crackdown to takes office next week. Mills’ home and Mills was shot in by the United Cannabis Business the illegal market has continued date against the city’s thriving Senate President Robert Stivers front of his wife. Association, a Los Angeles-based a bustling business, in part be- black market, officials announced condemned Bevin’s actions as “a “We all highly suspect that industry group that has been urg- cause consumers can avoid steep travesty and perversion of jus- Friday. there was money involvement to ing the state to do more to shut tax rates by buying in unlicensed tice” and called on the U.S. attor- The state has been under down rogue operators. get his pardon,” Mills’ sister, Me- dispensaries. ney in Kentucky to investigate. linda Mills said. “He (Bevin) got pressure from California’s legal “For a long time we have been But there’s a trade-off for sav- “Gov. Bevin’s pardons show campaign money. He didn’t come industry to do more to stop the un- playing a game of whack-a-mole, ing a buck. Illegal products have what is a shocking lack of judg- free of charge.” derground pot economy, which in targeting and shutting down a ment and potentially an abuse Baker’s family raised $21,500 Los Angeles and other cities often small handful of illegal shops at not met strict state testing stan- of our system of justice,“ Senate at a political fundraiser last year operates in plain sight. According a time, only to have them reopen dards and could be tainted by Minority Floor Leader Morgan for Bevin and Baker’s brother to some estimates, roughly 75% days later in the same location mold, pesticides, heavy metals McGarvey told reporters. and sister-in-law also gave $4,000 of sales in the state remain under or down the street,” said Jerred — even human waste. Bevin’s pardons also drew a to Bevin’s campaign on the day of the table, snatching profits from Kiloh, who heads the group. The state’s top cannabis regula- rebuke Friday from the state’s the fundraiser, the Courier-Jour- legal storefronts. He called the raids “the type tor, Lori Ajax, signaled that more most powerful Republican, U.S. nal reported. Investigators from the state of systematic action required” to was to come. “We look forward to Senate Majority Leader Mitch Several of Bevin’s pardons were Bureau of Cannabis Control and combat the vast illegal market. working with local jurisdictions McConnell. granted to people from wealthy the Department of Consumer “Every day, illegal operators are and law enforcement as we con- “Honestly, I don’t approve,” families, State Rep. Chris Harris Affairs’ Cannabis Enforcement distributing products that are not tinue to shut down unlicensed op- McConnell told reporters Fri- said. Unit served search warrants at 24 tested, taxed or tracked by the erators,” she said. As California thins forests to limit devastating fire risk, some resist

BY MATTHEW BROWN burns to keep undergrowth and shrub “It’s a chink in the armor,” said Ed Orre, State’s long dry season removing moisture AND CHRISTINA LARSON lands in check. division chief with Cal Fire, the state’s fire- from plants and soils, said Park Williams, Associated Press State lawmakers committed more than fighting and fire prevention agency. “If that a climate scientist at Columbia University. $200 million annually to fire prevention property catches fire, then you get a chain- “I see the recent wildfires as a tidal wave SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS, Calif. efforts and Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to reaction, domino effect... It compromises — it’s going to be very hard to stop that,” — Buzzing chainsaws are interrupted by spend even more. the effectiveness of the entire project.” Williams said. the frequent crash of breaking branches as Yet officials say efforts to make areas Climate change and decades of lax land Rapid residential development in recent crews fell towering trees and clear tangled such as this road corridor in Northern Cali- management practices put the U.S. West decades boosted populations in high-risk brush in the densely forested Santa Cruz fornia more fire safe are undercut by prop- on a collision course with out-of-control areas. Almost 2 million homes are in flam- Mountains south of San Francisco. erty owners who refuse to let fire crews wildfires, and authorities are now rushing mable areas, said Jennifer Balch, a fire ex- Their goal: To protect communities such as Redwood Estates, where giant red- work on their property. Offered the choice to limit the potential damage from blazes pert at the University of Colorado. woods loom over the houses of tech work- between clearing vegetation-choked areas that threaten year-round. Some common but non-native plants ers who live in the wooded community just or retaining greenery that acts as a shield Since 1970, the amount of land burned — including eucalyptus trees, cheatgrass 20 miles from the heart of Silicon Valley. against the din of the nearby highway, a each year in California has increased five- and pernicious shrubs such as French and With California’s increasingly warm, dry small minority opted for privacy over safe- fold. Across the 11 western states, acreage Scotch broom — burn more readily than and overgrown landscape, wildfire has be- ty or said they’d do the work themselves. burned annually has doubled since 1984. native species. come a perpetual danger. That means patches of low-lying shrubs Over the past three years, fires have killed Although it’s not feasible to manually Among the most important tools the and some thickets of trees will remain 149 people and destroyed almost 25,000 thin all the forests and shrub land in Cali- state has against fires is to mimic their ef- when the job wraps up next year. As a re- homes across the state. fornia, targeted efforts to remove flam- fects: thinning trees and brush by hand to sult, future fires will retain potential av- California is now nearly 3 degrees warm- mable vegetation in areas of high human reduce the amount of vegetation that would enues to spread into residential areas and er than in 1990 due to climate change, with activity can effectively reduce the chance become fuel in a fire, and using controlled threaten people and property. hotter temperatures during the Golden of major fires. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 11 NATION Fla. city mum on demands by cyberattackers

Associated Press cuss who might have been re- sponsible or any ransom amount TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A Florida city confirmed Friday demanded against the city. The that hackers seeking to extort city said it has restored some money were responsible for crip- services, including email, phone pling its computer systems earlier services and utility online bill in the week but officials have yet payments. to decide whether they will pay a Ransomware infections FRANCISCO KJOLSETH, THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE/AP reported $1 million ransom. reached epidemic dimensions If they do opt to fork over the this year, and security research- Jayson Dlugas, left, and Braeden Adamson drop beer bottles into a glass recycler in North Salt Lake, money, they may have to dip into ers are concerned ransomware Utah, on Friday . Pensacola city coffers; the city could also disrupt next year’s of about 52,000 in Florida’s Pan- U.S. presidential elections. handle — whose annual budget According to a new report re- Beer tossed after Utah law change is roughly $245 million — is not leased by the cybersecurity firm insured for such an attack. Emsisoft, more than 948 U.S. Obtaining it in the future is government agencies, educa- Associated Press Utah had long prohibited grocery and conve- “something that our risk manag- tional institutions and health care nience stores from selling beer stronger than 4% er will certainly be looking into,” Utah liquor authorities have thrown away thou- providers were hit in an unprece- said city spokeswoman Kaycee sands of gallons of drinkable beer after state law alcohol by volume. Everything else was sold at state dented barrage at a potential cost Lagarde. changed to allow higher-alcohol brews. liquor stores. of more than $7.5 billion. Lagarde confirmed that ran- The Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Con- The law effective Oct. 31 increased that limit to New Jersey’s largest hospital somware was behind the attack trol disposed of beer worth almost $18,000 on Fri- 5%. Because the state-owned stores can’t stock system and the city of New Or- day, the The Salt Lake Tribune reported. anything available on the open market, officials that brought down the city’s com- puter network last weekend, less leans are among the most recent Authorities say they were legally required to discounted beers between 4% and 5% before Hal- U.S. ransomware victims. dump the beer from state-owned liquor stores be- loween, then threw away everything that was left. than a day after a Saudi aviation student killed three U.S. sailors Hackensack Meridian Health, cause a new law allowed those beers to be sold in Workers disposed of the 275 cases of bottles and which operates 17 hospitals and private stores instead. cans at a recycling facility. and wounded eight other people at a nearby naval air station. other facilities, said Friday that it The FBI has said the attacks paid an undisclosed amount to re- were not connected. gain control over systems disrupt- The cybersecurity blog Bleep- ed a week ago — and that it had Man who slapped reporter’s rear charged ingComputer reported earlier insurance for such emergencies. this week that a group behind In New Orleans, investigators Associated Press Bridge Run was reprehensible The video clip had been viewed a ransomware strain known as discovered ransomware as they and completely unacceptable,” more than 11 million times on Maze claimed responsibility for looked into a suspected cyberat- SAVANNAH, Ga. — A Georgia the Savannah television station Twitter as of Friday. the attack and was demanding $1 tack that led to a shutdown of city man who was videotaped slap- said in a statement Friday eve- “You violated, objectified, and million from the city. computers on Friday. City offi- ping a female reporter’s rear on ning. “No one should ever be embarrassed me,” Bozarjian In emails exchanged with cials said they had not received live TV was arrested Friday on disrespected in this manner. The wrote recently on Twitter. “No the website, the Maze hackers a ransom demand, however, and a misdemeanor charge of sexual safety and protection of our em- woman should EVER have to put claimed they had stolen docu- it was initially unclear whether battery. ployees is WSAV-TV’s highest up with this at work or anywhere!! ments from the city but didn’t the attack did any damage to the Savannah police spokeswoman say whether they had given Pen- priority.” Do better.” city’s system. Bianca Johnson in Savannah con- sacola officials a deadline to pay Jail records showed Callaway She told police the man had In May, a cyberattack hobbled firmed that Thomas Callaway, 43, for them or if they had threatened was booked Friday afternoon. His slapped and then grabbed her Baltimore’s computer network of Statesboro was charged in con- to release the documents if they attorney, Joseph Turner, declined buttocks. and cost the city more than $18 nection with the incident that oc- to comment in an email late Fri- Callaway stepped forward ear- didn’t pay. BleepingComputer curred while WSAV-TV reporter editor Lawrence Abrams said million to repair. City officials re- day to The Associated Press. lier last week as the man who fused to pay demands for $76,000 Alex Bozarjian was broadcasting Video from Bozarjian’s live slapped Bozarjian. He went to the the Maze operators had authenti- in bitcoin. live as runners streamed past broadcast Saturday posted on- TV station to give an on-camera cated their identity with proof of During the summer, two Flor- her on a prominent bridge in the line showed one of the passing apology the station aired Tuesday a different hack and by posting coastal city. runners appearing to swat her evening. snippets of email exchanges with ida cities — Riviera Beach and “The conduct displayed toward from behind. The video shows the “It was an awful act and an his blog on a dark-web payment Lake City — paid hackers more Alex Bozarjian during her live stunned woman stop talking for a awful mistake,” Callaway said at site. than $1 million combined after coverage of Saturday’s Savannah moment and stare as if shocked. the time. City officials declined to dis- being targeted. Opponents warn of staff exodus as US breaks up pubic lands bureau

Associated Press 15%, which Bernhardt said was “not con- ished goal of Western state politicians who mits for oil and gas drilling, mining and sistent with what I’ve seen.” cite the preponderance of public lands in ranching, manages outdoor recreation and LAS VEGAS — Opponents of the Trump Speaking at a Las Vegas conference on their part of the country and their lack of enforces environmental protections. administration’s plan to break up the Wash- Colorado River water supplies, Bernhardt access to decision-makers. Bernhardt has called for about 300 po- ington, D.C., headquarters of the country’s said he did not immediately have firmer The deadline for most staffers to notify sitions to be switched from Washington to public lands bureau are warning of a brain figures, however. the land bureau, which is overseen by the other offices in 11 Western states, includ- drain, saying many staffers who are being “A year from now … you’re going to find Interior Department, whether they intend- ing Nevada, Arizona and Utah. About 25 reassigned are opting to quit rather than out that it worked really well,“ Bernhardt ed to move was Thursday. But the bureau will be going to the new headquarters in move out West. told reporters. had not yet compiled a count for how many Grand Junction, Colo. “What we’re going U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt The Trump administration says the plan staffers had so far agreed to relocate, to see here is an incredible group of peo- defended the move Friday. Opponents will save taxpayers millions of dollars, lead spokesman Derrick Henry said. ple,“ Bernhardt said, citing the quality of have projected that the number of Bureau to better, faster decisions and trim a “top The bureau oversees about 388,000 resumes the bureau was getting for jobs of Land Management staffers agreeing to heavy” office in Washington. Moving the square miles of public lands, the vast ma- opening in Grand Junction. “Some people move from headquarters could be as low as bureau out of Washington is a long-cher- jority of it in the U.S. West. It issues per- will come. Some won’t come.” PAGE 12 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 MUSIC Capturing magic in 4 days John Hiatt looks back on his career with no thoughts of retiring

BY DAVID BAUDER Waters,” his 15th album, Associated Press was an acoustic disc ohn Hiatt wrote recorded in a Tennes- his fi rst song at age see home studio and set 11, and knew right him on a DIY course he J away that’s what he follows today. Besides the wanted to do. It’s not his title cut, it includes “Only job; it’s who he is. He’s 67 the Song Survives,” now. which is the title for his With all that time put latest project, a big box in, it’s amusing that the set that collects 15 of his two albums that are ar- albums on vinyl and was guably the cornerstones released Dec. 6. of his career — 1987’s Four days. The lesson? “Bring the Family” and “Let’s play and capture 2000’s “Crossing Muddy the magic,” he said. Waters” — were both re- “That’s kind of the ap- corded in only four days. proach I’ve used ever “Bring the Family,” his since. I don’t think I’ve eighth album, was made ever spent more than in Los Angeles’ Ocean a couple of weeks on a Way Studio with Ry record.” Cooder, Nick Lowe and He has a daughter, Jim Keltner, and lifted Lilly, who’s making her Hiatt beyond clubs where own way in the business he’d been performing for (“she’s kind of scary one or two dozen people. good, in my humble It contains “Thing Called opinion”) and is looking Love,” the song Bonnie ahead to new music with Raitt later made a hit, Cooder. But he recently and the standard “Have sat down with The As- a Little Faith in Me.” sociated Press to take a “Crossing Muddy look back.

AP: When I was pitched this way” (about a singer at the tail project, I wondered if this wasn’t end of a career) makes someone some sort of retirement thing. wonder about the cost of doing it Hiatt: I’m not resting on my for so long. The beauty, of course, the won- laurels. They’re too shaky. RICHARD DREW/AP Is retirement something derful thing about it, is playing. you’ve ever given thought to? B.B. King, I think he said, you Singer-songwriter John Hiatt promotes his box set “Only the Song Survives” on Oct. 11 in New York. Not really. Slowing down, don’t pay us for the two hours we yeah. Being at home more with play, you pay us for the other 22. ... They come a little slower now, like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, Waters.’ It kind of got my atten- my wife after 33 years of mar- That’s the rub of being a trouba- and I assume it’s because I’m who continue to push barriers as tion in terms of where I might be dour. It’s the travel that kills you, older. they get older? headed as a singer-songwriter. I riage and most of them spent and breaks hearts and destroys Is it because of high stan- My goodness, yes. It’s hope for think that set the tone. I had been apart. We just realized that over relationships and gets you into dards? us all. Van Morrison’s making playing with a rock band, rockin’ the last few years, in fact. And all sorts of ancillary trouble, po- I don’t know about that! My great records. He’s singing bet- pretty hard through the 1990s, I have slowed down from more tentially, especially when you’re standards have always been ter than ever. The list goes on. and I had these songs, they were than 120 shows a year to between young. At the end of the day, this pretty lax. Tom Petty used to call There are so many artists who acoustic stuff, and I thought I 60 and 75. So I’m home more. It is my life. This is what I signed songwriting, ‘getting one in the get a second, third and fourth should record it close to how I was great in one respect; it was up to do. boat,’ like you’re fi shing: We got wind as they age. created it. like dating again. In another How is songwriting differ- another one in the boat, boys. I What would you say charac- How would you like your body respect, it was like, ‘who the hell ent now from when you were feel that way about a song. Any terizes the work that’s in this of work to be remembered? are you?’ So we had to learn how younger? way I can get one into the boat, box set? A kid from the Midwest who to spend more time together. I’ve gone through so many pe- I’m happy. Starting in 2000, I kind of had tried to tell it straight. What else Your song “Robber’s High- riods where the fl ow of it changes Are you inspired by colleagues a rebirth with ‘Crossing Muddy can you do?

‘ Let’s play and capture the magic. That’s kind of the approach I’ve used ever since. I don’t think I’ve ever spent more than a couple of weeks on a record. ’ John Hiatt Singer-songwriter Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 13 MUSIC

Former 1D members release new albums with strikingly different results Liam Payne Harry Styles LP1 (Capitol) Fine Line (Columbia) One Direction fans have Arriving just in time to mess up reason to rejoice this holiday everyone’s best-of-the-year music lists is season: They get not just one, Harry Styles’ sophomore album, “Fine but two full albums from for- Line.” The former One Direction mem- mer members — Liam Payne ber richly deserves a spot on yours. and Harry Styles. Unfortu- The 12-track album continues Styles’ nately for one of them, the tour through his musical infl uences reception will be frosty. — his salute to rock royalty — and yet Payne’s 17-track “LP1” also shows signs that he’s coming up never really gets off the with his own sound. “Shine, step into ground, a collection of the light,” he sings. It is advice he is also monotonous club songs that taking. often sound like warmed- The men of One Direction are each over Jus- taking their own direction, but Styles’ tin Beiber proves the most rejects. ambitious (Take It doesn’t notes, Liam Payne). help that He’s co-written every some of song and also adds the offer- guitar, dulcimer and ings are supplies backing more than vocals. Styles has reunited two years with producers Jeff Bhasker, Tyler old. Johnson and Kid Harpoon, who helped The fi rst tune — “Stack It mold his sound on his fi rst album. And Up” with A Boogie Wit da the singles released so far — the psyche- Hoodie — is the best, and delic foot-stomper “Watermelon Sugar,” then the album falls off a the soaring, soulful “Lights Up” and the cliff into a swamp of skitter- blissful poppy “Adore You” — are all ing drums, synth and libidi- different and great. nous lyrics (“Flippin’ that There’s also the Queen-ish “Treat body/Go head, I’ll go tails”). People with Kindness,” which is a It breaks no new sonic cheerful, funky slice of ’70s, with hand- ground and has a faintly claps, tambourine and Styles trading musty whiff. (Weirdly, Payne verses with a choir. (“All together now!” fi nally stops grinding for a he asks.) The most challenging song is weepy original Christmas “She,” which has a Lennon-McCartney song at the very end.) vibe, grinding guitar and crazy keys. There’s a good reason for Lyrically, it’s a cousin to “Eleanor the fi rst tune being good — Rigby.” it’s co-written by Ed Sheeran Sometimes, the album feels like a and Payne doesn’t try to game of Guess the Infl uence. “Canyon disguise its origins, mimick- Moon”? Bob Dylan. “Golden”? Beach ing Sheeran vocal tics and Boys, right? “She”? A bit of Santana. But fl ow. For a fi rst album, Payne Styles’ references are lighter this time surprisingly doesn’t show than on his debut. He’s less aping his he- up: He had a hand co-writing roes than just using some of their colors. only four songs and fails to There are call-backs to his fi rst do anything interesting with album. That had the song “Kiwi” and his voice. the new one has more luscious fruits While Styles is off making — strawberries, cherry and that water- fascinating, intriguing music, melon. The song “Falling” once again Payne is clearly phoning in fi nds Styles alone in bed with wander- his debut from the club. He ing hands, where he was unhappily on sounds happiest on “Both “From the Dining Table” from 2017. Ways,” when he boasts about Love — mostly its absence — is the his girlfriend’s bisexuality. lyrical bedrock, with Styles showing his “I don’t discriminate/Bring lonely, brokenhearted side. “Don’t call it back to my place/Yeah she me ‘baby’ again,” he asks an ex in one like it both ways.” song. “Don’t call him ‘baby,’ ” he asks in The album reaches another. “Cherry” seems to be about his ludicrous heights on “Strip French former fl ame. “I just miss your That Down,” a two-year-old accent,” he sings, and the songs ends embarrassment that credits with a woman’s voice cooing in French. no fewer than 15 writers, in- (The title may be a joke on “cherie.”) cluding Sheeran, Quavo and “I’m well aware I write too many songs even Shaggy, since they’ve about you,” he writes in the piano-driv- lifted so much of his 19-year- en ballad “Falling.” old hit “It Wasn’t Me.” The moody, string-based “Fine Line” “You know I used to be ends the album, another song about the in 1D (Now I’m out free)” push-pull of former fl ames and broken Payne sings on it. things. But it concludes with hope: The sound of freedom “We’ll be alright.” If he keeps making never sounded so banal. Tim Walker music like this, we all will be. — Mark Kennedy — Mark Kennedy Associated Press Harry Styles looks stylish during a photo shoot to promote his new album, “Fine Line.” Associated Press PAGE 14 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 CROSSWORD AND COMICS NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD

GUNSTON STREET RESULTS FOR ABOVE PUZZLE

“Gunston Street” is drawn by Basil Zaviski. Email him at [email protected], and visit gunstonstreet.com. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES• PAGE 15 AMERICAN ROUNDUP Man used his car to impersonate officer

FORT MYERS — A FL Florida man was ac- cused of impersonating a law enforcement officer by install- ing lights and a siren in his 2009 Bentley and attempting to pull over at least one driver. Christopher Ted Duluk, 30, was arrested and charged with falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer, Lee County Sheriff’s offi- cials said in a Facebook post . The Bentley also had a yellow Florida state license plate with LED police-style lights, the agen- cy said. In addition, the car had a “speed measurement device” that is similar to what is com- monly used by law enforcement officers. The car also had police- style antennas. Tigers injure woman during sanctuary event

LOS ANGELES — A CA California woman suf- fered non-life-threatening inju- ries when she was caught in the midst of two roughhousing ti- gers at an animal sanctuary she founded. The Los Angeles Times report- ed Patty Perry suffered head lac- erations and puncture wounds on her neck at the Wildlife Environ- mental Conservation Inc. sanctu- ary in Moorpark. Perry’s friend, Michael Brad- bury, said the tigers were playing with Perry inside a cage when a GREG EANS, THE (OWENSBORO, KY.) MESSENGER-INQUIRER/AP Bengal tiger wrapped its paws around her legs and she fell, and then the second tiger jumped on Poor Boy Fishermen her. Joseph Clary, from left, Danny Shock and Jeff Shock take the afternoon to fish and grill hot dogs on the Ohio River at Peter B. English Park Vandals hit 2 churches in Owensboro, Ky. The three, along with another friend, call themselves the ‘Poor Boy Fishermen’ and spend almost every day, and some on the same street nights, fishing. “The only time we don’t fish is when it rains,” Clary said.

EASTVIEW — Con- deaths. THE CENSUS police said the man ”is clearly not KY gregants entered two One of the fires occurred in a wearing shorts and can be seen Kentucky churches to find their home where a woman was sleep- crouching down near a backyard ing and the other took place in a The number of years a man’s body spent in his wife’s freezer in houses of God in disarray, with Salt Lake City before being discovered. Authorities were inves- grill.” home while a family was inside. items missing or destroyed. tigating how Paul Edward Mathers, 69, died, and whether the Bibles, church records and 10 woman may have had any help putting the body into the deep Woman sentenced to jail numerous sacred items like New museum to show freezer located in a utility room, the Deseret News reported. He for wedding injury scam crosses were stolen from the off lunar meteorites was found Nov. 22, after police conducting a welfare check found his wife Jeanne Needham Cumberland Presbyte- Sourone-Mathers, 75, dead inside her apartment of natural causes. rian Church and the Smith Cha- LOS ANGELES — A BETHEL — From an CA Southern California pel United Methodist Church in outsider’s perspec- Eastview. ME woman who tried to bilk the wed- tive, a museum that houses the Animal Rescue League said in a police in New Hampshire said. Parishioners found a wrench ding-planning website The Knot five largest lunar meteorites may statement that the prognosis for Police in Manchester said a in the pulpit of the 150-year-old out of $20,000 by claiming she be as difficult to find as a space Shiloh is day-to-day. The 2-year- wallet was taken out of a fitness Methodist church. It appeared to had to cancel her reception after rock in a field. have been used to damage a wide old Weimaraner breed dog was club in Manchester on Nov. 18. It tripping on her wedding dress The Maine Mineral & Gem stabbed multiple times in the had multiple credit cards. Soon array of items, including a piano, was sentenced to five years in jail, Museum that opened last week is neck . Medical costs are expected after the theft, the victim learned paintings, stained glass windows authorities said . located a bit off the beaten path, to exceed $10,000. of numerous charges made at and more. Several holes had been Vermyttya Miller filed a claim in the town of Bethel in western The Palm Beach Post reported various stores at the Mall of New beaten into a wall. saying she had severely hurt her- Maine. the dog’s owner found her room- Hampshire in Manchester. self after tripping on her wedding Ex-firefighter sentenced The museum displays more mate walking around her Delray than 100 gemstones, 2,000 miner- Beach home naked on Monday. Police in search of dress. for setting 2 fires als and 250 meteorites. The dog was yelping in pain and a Miller provided medical re- Most of the meteorites on dis- large amount of blood was on the a pant-less prowler ports and The Knot cut her a MUNHILL — A judge play are from asteroids, but some bedroom floor. check, officials said. CLAYTON — Police PA sentenced a former vol- are known to have fallen from the Shiloh is being treated for cuts But about two months later, in North Carolina said unteer firefighter who told inves- moon. One of them weighs more near his trachea, anemia result- NC Miller emailed The Knot’s in- they’re searching for a “some- tigators he set two fires because than 120 pounds. Some are also ing from blood loss and irregular surer to report that the check times half-naked man” who’s he was bored. from Mars. heart rhythm. had been stolen, and supplied a been lurking in driveways . The judge sentenced Ryan Delray police arrested Adam Vallejo Police Department crime The Raleigh News & Observer Laubham, 20, to 18 to 36 Mizrach, 33, on Monday. report. Donations sought for reported that the man sometimes months behind bars and 7 years The suspicious insurer referred dog stabbed in the neck wears no pants. He has been seen probation. 2 men spent $11K using the claim to the state, which Laubham’s attorney had asked in a neighborhood in the town of investigated. the court for house arrest so his DELRAY BEACH— Do- stolen credit cards Clayton. Investigators also found that client could continue treatment FL nations are being raised Clayton police said in a Face- and his education. However, the to help with the medical costs of a MANCHESTER book post that the man has been Miller had falsified the medical judge insisted on incarceration dog that police said was stabbed NH — Two men rang up seen “walking directly across reports of her supposed injury, because the December 2018 fires by its owner’s roommate. more than $11,000 in purchases driveways near front doors.” In the agency said. in Munhill could have resulted in Officials at the Peggy Adams at a mall on stolen credit cards, some security camera footage, From wire reports PAGE 16 •STARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Recipients’ stances sully Nobel distinction Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations BY ISHAAN THAROOR militants. She did not utter the word “Ro- selling Norwegian novelist Karl Ove The Washington Post hingya” — a deliberate omission, because Knausgaard told The New York Times in EDITORIAL authorities in Myanmar refuse to accept an email. Terry Leonard, Editor n 2012, the world’s most famous im- even the existence of this minority group, Handke himself has angrily rejected [email protected] prisoned Nobel laureate gave an rendering them effectively stateless, and criticisms and questions about his views acceptance speech more than two de- cast its communities as interlopers from on the Balkan wars, describing them in a Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor cades after winning the prize. Aung [email protected] I Bangladesh. It’s a far cry from the com- news conference last week as “ignorant” San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s lonely champion mitment to freedom and democracy that and part of a “calligraphy of” excrement. Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content of democracy, had been released from 15 won her the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. But that hardly assuages those enraged [email protected] years of house arrest in 2010 as her coun- Last year, the Norwegian Nobel Commit- try’s military regime embarked on reforms by the message that his winning the Nobel Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation tee even had to rebuff calls to strip Suu Kyi sends. “When the academy announced its [email protected] and the slow opening up of a former pariah of her award for her at least tacit support state. “The prize we were working for was decision on October 10, there was shock for ethnic cleansing. Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital a free, secure and just society where our and bafflement,” wrote the Intercept’s Another cloud of controversy hangs over [email protected] people might be able to realize their full Peter Maass. “Although the academy has the Nobel Foundation and the Swedish potential,” Suu Kyi told a rapturous crowd refused to explain itself in any coherent Academy, which administers the prizes for by Oslo’s City Hall. “The honor lay in our way, it has become clear that its appoint- BUREAU STAFF literature. On Tuesday, the Swedish king endeavor. History had given us the oppor- ed-for-life members either agree with formally presented Austrian writer Peter Europe/Mideast tunity to give our best for a cause in which Handke’s political views or don’t believe Handke with the 2019 Nobel Prize for Lit- Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief we believed.” that the denial of genocide is a sufficiently [email protected] erature, which includes a check for almost +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 If that moment represented a kind of important matter to stand in the way of re- apogee for Suu Kyi as a global icon, last $1 million. But protests surrounded the ceiving a Nobel Prize.” Pacific week marked a nadir. On Wednesday, ceremony. Handke is known for his admi- “There are entire generations that were Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief ration of former Serbian leader Slobodan Suu Kyi took the stand as Myanmar’s top never able to achieve their full potential [email protected] Milosevic and has written works that down- civilian leader before a hearing on war because they were expelled from their jobs +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 play the role that Serbian forces played in crimes at the International Court of Jus- and driven out of their homes in an ethnic- the massacres of Bosnian Muslims during Washington tice in The Hague. She is the first national cleansing campaign led by Milosevic,” the Balkan wars of the 1990s. No mat- Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief leader to appear directly before the court Mehmet Kraja, president of the Kosovo [email protected] while genocide in Myanmar is still alleg- ter the rulings of international courts, he (+1)(202)886-0033 Academy of Arts and Sciences, wrote in edly unfolding. Close to a million Rohingya has disputed that the 1995 slaughter of Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News 8,000 Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica was The Washington Post in October. “Justice [email protected] Muslims fled a bloody military crackdown was never delivered to them, for there is no in western Myanmar to squalid camps in genocide. As a result, an unprecedented number justice that can ever remedy such loss. But CIRCULATION Bangladesh, where their plight seems to be for Handke, none of this mattered.” receding from global view. Rights groups of governments formally boycotted his Outside the venue on Tuesday, Adnan Mideast warn of further persecution and pogroms ceremony. Two members of an external Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager Mahmutovic, a protest organizer and pro- to come. committee set up to oversee the Swedish [email protected] fessor at Stockholm University, decried [email protected] “The former democracy icon and Nobel Academy quit this month in the aftermath Handke’s refusal to accept what the his- DSN (314)583-9111 laureate had maintained an expressionless of the furor surrounding Handke’s selec- demeanor in court the previous day, as the tion. “The choice of 2019 laureate was torical consensus and the international Europe legal community already have. “Let us Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager tiny West African nation of Gambia spent not just a choice about a body of work, it [email protected] hours detailing stories of systematic rape, has also been interpreted, both inside the call things by their right names,” Mahmu- [email protected] murder and other brutality targeting the academy and outside, as a defense of the tovic said, according to Maass. “… There is +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar,” stance that literature is above ‘politics,’ ” something called a crime against human- Pacific my colleagues reported. one of them, journalist Gun-Britt Sund- ity. There is something called genocide.” Mari Mori, [email protected] Then she spoke. Suu Kyi said her coun- ström said to Dagens Nyheter. “That is not That’s a message countless other activ- +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 try was simply “dealing with an internal my ideology.” ists would want Suu Kyi to hear, too. armed conflict, started by coordinated For others, it is. “I can’t think of a more Ishaan Tharoor writes about foreign affairs for CONTACT US and comprehensive attacks” by Islamist obvious Nobel laureate than him,” best- The Washington Post. Washington tel: (+1)202.886.0003 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 Reader letters Allies more worried about US is no laughing matter [email protected] BY JAMES GIBNEY influence and power with a rising China. approach to foreign policy, declaring that Additional contacts Bloomberg News The Trump administration has paid lip “putting America First means proudly as- stripes.com/contactus service to the idea of growing great power sociating with nations that share our prin- OMBUDSMAN hat viral video of the leaders of competition, and to the need to offer an ciples and are willing to defend them.” Canada, France and the U.K. alternative to China in Africa and Latin That raises at least two questions: Who Ernie Gates laughing about their U.S. counter- America. Yet as the survey notes, “Across are these nations, and what are these Tpart at this month’s NATO summit many of the Latin American as well as principles? The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow was vivid yet anecdotal evidence of what Middle East and North African countries In a speech titled, “Trump Administra- of news and information, reporting any attempts by the the rest of the world thinks of President surveyed, more name the U.S. as a top tion Diplomacy: The Untold Story,” one military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s Donald Trump. Now comes some hard independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns threat than say the same of China.” Equal- example Pompeo offered was getting other data showing America’s declining global and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- ly disturbing is that in Nigeria, Kenya and nations to join the U.S. in a statement re- ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman reputation. South Africa — democracies that are also jecting a right to abortion. Consider the welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted Not only is the perception of the U.S. as by email at [email protected], or by phone at sub-Saharan Africa’s three biggest econo- other signatories: Bahrain, Belarus, Bra- 202.886.0003. a top ally fading, according to a new sur- mies — the share of respondents who re- zil, Democratic Republic of the Congo, vey of 18 countries from the Pew Research gard China as their country’s most reliable Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Iraq, Center, but more people see the U.S. as Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- “posing the greatest threat” to them in the ally is about as high as those who choose Libya, Mali, Nigeria, Poland, Russia, Saudi days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday future. Even America’s closest neighbors the U.S. In emerging markets more broad- Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates and through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and ly, “China’s economic influence is seen Yemen. Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals are losing faith in their U.S. alliance. postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send In Canada, the percentage of those who in similar or even slightly more positive Of these countries, Freedom House address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, terms” than that of the U.S. ranks only three as “free,” while four are APO AP 96301-5002. see the U.S. as its top ally has fallen from This newspaper is authorized by the Department of 54% in 2007 to 46% in 2019; over the same It’s possible, of course, to justify these “partly free.” The other 11 are “not free,” Defense for members of the military services overseas. findings by saying it’s better to be feared including three (Saudi Arabia, Sudan However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, period, the percentage of those who see the and are not to be considered as the official views of, or U.S. as the top threat has risen from 16% than loved. You might even argue that the and Libya) that have the worst aggregate endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, to 20%. (Keep in mind that the 2007 read- growing U.S. isolation in the United Na- scores for political rights and civil liber- Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- tions is a sign of America’s commitment ties. If this is what the U.S. sees as “the nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote ing, near the end of George W. Bush’s ca- locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. lamitous presidency, already represented to its principles. (In 2018, the U.S. voted trajectory for nations all across the world,” The appearance of advertising in this publication does one of the lowest rates of global confidence against a higher proportion of General As- as Pompeo put it, then maybe those world not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. and approval.) In Mexico, the percentage sembly resolutions than any other nation; leaders were laughing this month because Products or services advertised shall be made available for of those who see the U.S. as Mexico’s top its global average voting coincidence was the end state Trump has in mind is too hor- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, 31%, below the 10-year average of 36%.) rible to contemplate. religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical ally fell from 35% to 27%; the percentage handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor who see the U.S. as the top threat has risen That’s certainly how Trump sees it. As James Gibney writes editorials on international of the purchaser, user or patron. from 35% to a poll-topping 56%. he has repeatedly said, “We’re respected affairs for Bloomberg Opinion. Previously an The results also suggest that the U.S. is like we haven’t been respected in a long editor at the Atlantic, The New York Times, © Stars and Stripes 2019 Smithsonian, Foreign Policy and The New losing ground in perhaps its most impor- time.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has Republic, he was also in the U.S. Foreign Service stripes.com tant diplomatic challenge: the contest for doggedly defended his boss’ in-your-face from 1989 to 1997 in India, Japan and Washington. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 17 SCOREBOARD

Sports College basketball Pro football Friday’s men’s scores NFL injury report Renfrow (rib). QUESTIONABLE: WR Mar- Greg Olsen (concussion). DOUBTFUL: T on AFN cell Ateman (ribs), T Trenton Brown Garrett McGhin (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: SOUTH NEW YORK — The National Football (pectoral), S Erik Harris (hamstring), RB LB Mario Addison (chest). Kennesaw St. 85, Gardner-Webb 61 League injury report, as provided by the Josh Jacobs (shoulder), LB Marquel Lee TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at DETROIT Wofford 112, North Greenville 66 league (OUT - definitely will not play; (toe), LB Kyle Wilber (ankle), CB Daryl LIONS — BUCCANEERS: OUT: DT Beau Al- MIDWEST DNP - did not practice; LIMITED - limited Worley (neck). len (ankle), WR Mike Evans (hamstring), Go to the American Forces Creighton 89, Texas Rio Grande Valley 58 participation in practice; FULL - full par- LOS ANGELES RAMS at DALLAS COW- LB Anthony Nelson (hamstring). DOUBT- Indiana 96, Nebraska 90, OT ticipation in practice): BOYS — RAMS: OUT: TE Gerald Everett FUL: T Donovan Smith (ankle, knee). Network website for the most S. Dakota St. 68, Nebraska-Kearney 53 Sunday (knee). DOUBTFUL: T Rob Havenstein QUESTIONABLE: G Alex Cappa (elbow), FAR WEST (knee). OUT: LB Leighton QB Jameis Winston (right thumb, knee). up-to-date TV schedules. Colorado 56, Colorado St. 48 ATLANTA FALCONS at SAN FRANCISCO COWBOYS: E. Washington 146, Multnomah Bible 89 49ERS — FALCONS: OUT: DE Allen Bailey Vander Esch (neck). QUESTIONABLE: WR LIONS: OUT: G Joe Dahl (back, knee), LB myafn.net Loyola Marymount 79, Prairie View 76 (not injury related), G James Carpenter Ventell Bryant (knee), LB Sean Lee (pec- Jarrad Davis (ankle, knee), DT A’Shawn Portland 77, Evergreen St. 55 (concussion), T Ty Sambrailo (ham- toral, thigh). Robinson (shoulder), QB Matthew Staf- string). QUESTIONABLE: CB Isaiah Oli- MIAMI DOLPHINS at NEW YORK GI- ford (hip, back), T Rick Wagner (knee). ver (shoulder). 49ERS: OUT: DE Dee Ford ANTS — DOLPHINS: OUT: DT Gerald Wil- QUESTIONABLE: DT John Atkins (illness), College hockey Men’s schedule (quadricep, hamstring), DT D.J. Jones lis (hip). DOUBTFUL: RB Chandler Cox LB Christian Jones (shoulder), RB Bo Sunday’s games (ankle), CB Richard Sherman (ham- (shoulder). QUESTIONABLE: WR DeVante Scarbrough (ribs). EAST string), S Jaquiski Tartt (ribs), DT Jul- Parker (concussion), WR Albert Wilson BUFFALO BILLS at PITTSBURGH STEEL- Friday’s scores CCSU at Boston College lian Taylor (elbow), CB K’Waun Williams (concussion). GIANTS: OUT: TE Rhett Elli- ERS — BILLS: OUT: T Ty Nsekhe (ankle). Quinnipiac at Maine (concussion). son (concussion), TE Evan Engram (foot), QUESTIONABLE: G Jon Feliciano (illness), EAST Coppin St. at UMBC CHICAGO BEARS at GREEN BAY PACK- QB Daniel Jones (ankle), G Kevin Zeitler DT Corey Liuget (knee). STEELERS: OUT: American International 3, Niagara 1 Tennessee St. at Fordham ERS — BEARS: OUT: TE Ben Braunecker (ankle, wrist). TE Vance McDonald (concussion), WR Union 3, Merrimack 2 SOUTH (concussion), WR Taylor Gabriel (concus- MINNESOTA VIKINGS at LOS ANGELES JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee). QUESTION- MIDWEST Goucher at William & Mary sion), T Bobby Massie (ankle), LB Danny CHARGERS — VIKINGS: OUT: S Jayron Ke- ABLE: RB James Conner (shoulder). Penn St. 4, Notre Dame 2 Gardner-Webb at Virginia Tech Trevathan (elbow). QUESTIONABLE: DT arse (toe), RB Alexander Mattison (an- Monday Clarkson 2, Michigan Tech 2, OT (tie) Sacred Heart at UCF Roy Robertson-Harris (foot), WR Javon kle). QUESTIONABLE: WR Olabisi Johnson INDIANAPOLIS COLTS at NEW OR- Ala. Huntsville 2, Ferris St. 2, OT (tie) Illinois St. at N. Kentucky Wims (knee). PACKERS: QUESTIONABLE: (quadricep), CB Xavier Rhodes (ankle). LEANS SAINTS — COLTS: DNP: T Le’Raven Bowling Green 2, Lake Superior St. 0 Milligan at ETSU TE Jimmy Graham (wrist, groin), CB Kev- CHARGERS: QUESTIONABLE: LB Uchenna Clark (not injury related), CB Kenny Minnesota St. 5, N. Michigan 2 NC State at UNC-Greensboro in King (shoulder). Nwosu (ankle). Moore (ankle). LIMITED: CB Pierre De- Drexel at South Florida CLEVELAND BROWNS at ARIZONA NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at CINCIN- sir (groin), WR T.Y. Hilton (calf). SAINTS: St. Cloud St. 4, Omaha 1 Wofford at North Carolina WEST Troy at Chattanooga CARDINALS — BROWNS: OUT: S Eric Mur- NATI BENGALS — PATRIOTS: QUESTION- DNP: LB Kiko Alonso (quadricep), S Vonn Denver 3, Colorado College 0 Longwood at Stetson ray (knee), DE Olivier Vernon (knee). ABLE: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (knee), DT Bell (knee), G Andrus Peat (forearm), CB South Carolina at Clemson QUESTIONABLE: T Christopher Hubbard Byron Cowart (concussion), WR Julian Patrick Robinson (calf). LIMITED: T Ter- Missouri St. at VCU (knee), C J.C. Tretter (knee). CARDI- Edelman (knee, shoulder), C Ted Kar- ron Armstead (ankle), C Will Clapp (el- MIDWEST NALS: QUESTIONABLE: WR Andy Isabella ras (knee), CB Jason McCourty (groin), bow), DE Cameron Jordan (abdomen), Deals Texas Rio Grande Valley at Omaha (shoulder), CB Kevin Peterson (shoul- WR Mohamed Sanu (ankle), DT Danny LB A.J. Klein (knee), RB Zach Line (knee). Concord (WV) at Akron der), G Justin Pugh (back), LB Joe Walker Shelton (shoulder). BENGALS: OUT: WR FULL: QB Drew Brees (right elbow), TE Norfolk St. at Loyola of Chicago (ribs). A.J. Green (ankle), DT Renell Wren (hip). Jared Cook (concussion). Friday’s transactions MVSU at Miami (Ohio) DENVER BRONCOS at KANSAS CITY QUESTIONABLE: CB Darqueze Dennard Purdue at Nebraska CHIEFS — BRONCOS: OUT: DE Adam Got- (illness). NFL calendar BASEBALL SIU-Edwardsville at Northwestern sis (knee), T Ja’Wuan James (knee), G PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at WASHING- American League Cleveland St. at Bowling Green Ronald Leary (concussion), DE DeMar- TON REDSKINS — EAGLES: OUT: T Lane Jan. 4-5 — Wild-card playoffs. BOSTON RED SOX — Agreed to terms S. Illinois at Missouri cus Walker (ankle), WR Juwann Winfree Johnson (ankle). QUESTIONABLE: WR Jan. 11—12 — Divisional playoffs. with SS Jose Peraza on a one-year con- Georgia Southern at Bradley (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: TE Noah Nelson Agholor (knee), DE Derek Barnett Jan. 19 — AFC, NFC championship tract. Ohio St. at Minnesota Fant (hip, foot), DE Dre’Mont Jones (an- (ankle), CB Ronald Darby (hip flexor), RB games. DETROIT TIGERS — Agreed to terms SE Missouri at Youngstown St. kle), LB Joseph Jones (back). CHIEFS: Jordan Howard (shoulder). REDSKINS: Jan. 26 — Pro Bowl. with C Austin Romine on a one-year con- SOUTHWEST OUT: CB Morris Claiborne (shoulder), CB OUT: WR Trey Quinn (concussion), WR — Super Bowl, Miami Gardens, Oklahoma St. at Houston Feb. 2 tract. Rashad Fenton (hamstring). QUESTION- Paul Richardson (hamstring). QUESTION- Fla. HOUSTON ASTROS — Agreed to terms Texas of the Permian Basin at UTSA Wiley at Sam Houston St. ABLE: DE Frank Clark (illness, shoulder), ABLE: CB Quinton Dunbar (hamstring), Feb. 24-March 2 — NFL scouting com- with RHP Lance McCullers Jr. on a one- RB Damien Williams (rib, illness). CB Fabian Moreau (hamstring), S Mon- bine, Indianapolis. year contract. Bethany (KS) at Texas State Texas A&M-CC at Texas A&M HOUSTON TEXANS at TENNESSEE TI- tae Nicholson (ankle), CB Josh Norman Feb. 25 — First day for clubs to desig- KANSAS CITY ROYALS — Agreed to TANS — TEXANS: QUESTIONABLE: WR (illness), G Brandon Scherff (elbow, nate franchise or transition players. terms with RHP Jesse Hahn to a one-year FAR WEST UC Riverside at Washington St. Will Fuller (hamstring), RB Taiwan Jones shoulder). March 10 — Deadline for clubs to des- contract. CS Northridge at Pacific (hamstring), LB Brennan Scarlett (achil- SEATTLE SEAHAWKS at CARO- ignate franchise or transition players be- LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Signed 3B An- Long Beach St. at Southern Cal les, shoulder). TITANS: OUT: LB Daren LINA PANTHERS — SEAHAWKS: OUT: fore 4 p.m. EDT thony Rendon to a 7 year contract. Samford at Hawaii Bates (shoulder), WR Adam Humphries LB Mychal Kendricks (hamstring), RB March 18 — Free agency, trading peri- TEXAS RANGERS — Signed RHP Jordan (ankle), CB Adoree’ Jackson (foot). QUES- Rashaad Penny (knee). QUESTIONABLE: ods begin, 4 p.m. EDT Lyles to a two-year contract and LHP Jef- Friday’s women’s scores TIONABLE: RB Derrick Henry (hamstring), DE Ezekiel Ansah (neck), DE Jadeveon March 29-April 1 — Annual league frey Springs to a one-year contract. S Kenny Vaccaro (concussion). Clowney (illness, core), CB Shaquill Grif- meeting, Palm Beach, Fla. National League EAST JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at OAK- fin (hamstring), TE Luke Willson (ham- April 17 — Deadline for restricted free ATLANTA BRAVES — Signed INF Char- Dartmouth 62, Mass.-Lowell 51 — OUT: WR D.J. string). OUT: LB Marquis agents to sign offer sheets. lie Culbertson to a minor league con- LAND RAIDERS JAGUARS: PANTHERS: Maine 61, Green Bay 60 Chark (ankle). RAIDERS: OUT: WR Hunter Haynes (knee), T Greg Little (ankle), TE April 23-25 — NFL Draft, Las Vegas. tract. Manhattan 86, Army 56 MILWAUKE BREWERS — Agreed to SOUTH terms with LHP Brett Anderson on a one- Louisiana Tech 92, SE Louisiana 78 year contract. MIDWEST College football NEW YORK METS — Agreed to terms Purdue Fort Wayne 67, Evansville 64 with RHP Michael Wacha on a one-year FAR WEST contract. Designated RHP Chris Mazza Cal St.-Fullerton 97, Cal Baptist 91 Bowl schedule ma (12-1) Saturday, Jan. 18 for assignment. Fiesta Bowl East-West Shrine Classic PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES — Agreed to Women’s schedule Friday, Dec. 20 Glendale, Ariz. At St. Petersburg, Fla. terms with SS Didi Gregorius on a one- Bahamas Bowl CFP Semifinal, Ohio State (13-0) vs. East vs. West year contract. Sunday’s games Nassau Clemson (13-0) NFLPA Collegiate Bowl FOOTBALL EAST Buffalo (7-5) vs. Charlotte (7-5) Monday, Dec. 30 At Pasadena, Calif. National Football League Morgan St. at UMBC Frisco (Texas) Bowl SERVPRO First Responder Bowl American vs. National ARIZONA CARDINALS — Released LB Green Bay at Marist Utah State (7-5) vs. Kent State (6-6) Dallas Saturday, Jan. 25 Terrell Suggs. Robert Morris at Rhode Island Saturday, Dec. 21 Western Kentucky (8-4) vs. Western Senior Bowl MIAMI DOLPHINS — Claimed CB Tae Oakland at St. Bonaventure Celebration Bowl Michigan (7-5) At Mobile, Ala. Hayes off waivers from Jacksonville. Stony Brook at Wagner At Atlanta North vs. South Marshall at Rutgers Music City Bowl Placed DT Gerald Willis on IR. Signed WR NC A&T (8-3) vs. Alcorn State (9-3) Nashville, Tenn. Sunday, Jan. 26 DeVante Parker to a contract extension Texas State at Dartmouth Siena at UMass New Mexico Bowl Mississippi State (6-6) vs. Louisville (7-5) Hula Bowl through 2023. Albuquerque Redbox Bowl At Honolulu NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS — Released Boston College at Boston U. St. Francis (Pa.) at Duquesne Central Michigan (8-5) vs. San Diego Santa Clara, Calif. East vs. West K Josh Gable from the practice squad. State (9-3) Illinois (6-6) vs. California (7-5) NEW YORK GIANTS — Waived-injured Norfolk St. at West Virginia SOUTH Cure Bowl Orange Bowl NCAA FCS playoffs CB Janoris Jenkins. Orlando, Fla. Miami Gardens, Fla. Placed LB Elon at NC State WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Louisville at Kentucky Liberty (7-5) vs. Georgia Southern (7-5) Florida (10-2) vs. Virginia (9-4) Quarterfinals Ryan Kerrigan on IR. Signed TE Caleb Wil- Idaho at South Florida Boca Raton (Fla.) Bowl Tuesday, Dec. 31 Friday, Dec. 13 son from Arizona’s practice squad. Tulsa at Stetson SMU (10-2) vs. FAU (10-3) Belk Bowl James Madison 17, N. Iowa 0 HOCKEY Old Dominion at VCU Camellia Bowl Charlotte, N.C. Montana State 24, Austin Peay 10 National Hockey League Troy at Chattanooga Montgomery, Ala. Kentucky (7-5) vs. Virginia Tech (8-4) Weber State 17, Montana 10 ARIZONA COYOTES — Recalled F American U. at Radford FIU (6-6) vs. Arkansas State (7-5) Sun Bowl Saturday, Dec. 14 Brayden Burke from Tucson (AHL). St. John’s at Florida St. Las Vegas Bowl El Paso, Texas Illinois State (10-4) at North Dakota CALGARY FLAMES — Assigned F Mat- UNC-Asheville at Wofford Boise State (12-1) vs. Washington (7-5) Florida State (6-6) vs. Arizona State (7-5) State (13-0) thew Phillips to Stockton (AHL). ETSU at Georgia Tech New Orleans Bowl Liberty Bowl Semifinals DETROIT RED WINGS — Recalled D CCSU at FAU UAB (9-4) vs. Appalachian State (12-1) Memphis, Tenn. Madison Bowey from Grand Rapids Saturday, Dec. 21 Clemson at Mercer Monday, Dec. 23 Kansas State (8-4) vs. Navy (9-2) Illinois State-North Dakota State win- (AHL). Purdue at South Carolina Gasparilla Bowl Arizona Bowl NEW JERSEY DEVILS — Assigned D Furman at Georgia ner vs. Montana State (11-3) At Tampa, Fla. Tucson, Ariz. James Madison (13-1) vs. Weber State Colton White to Binghamton (AHL). Acti- FIU at Jacksonville UCF (9-3) vs. Marshall (8-4) Fisk at Tennessee St. Wyoming (7-5) vs. Georgia State (7-5) (11-3) vated C Nico Hischier from IR. Tuesday, Dec. 24 Alamo Bowl Recalled D Niko W. Kentucky at Samford Championship ST. LOUIS BLUES — Hawaii Bowl San Antonio Mikkola from San Antonio (AHL). As- Delaware at Gardner-Webb Saturday, Jan. 11 Honolulu Texas (7-5) vs. Utah (11-2) At Toyota Stadium signed F Austin Poganski to San Anto- North Carolina at Alabama BYU (7-5) vs. Hawaii (9-5) nio. UAB at Alcorn St. Wednesday, Jan. 1 Frisco, Texas Bethune-Cookman at Auburn Thursday, Dec. 26 Citrus Bowl Semifinal winners SOCCER Independence Bowl National Professional Soccer League Delaware St. at Longwood Orlando, Fla. South Alabama at Southern Miss. Shreveport, La. Michigan (9-3) vs. Alabama (10-2) NEW YORK COSMOS — Announced the Miami (6-6) vs. Louisiana Tech (9-3) NCAA Division II playoffs franchise is leaving the NPSL to join the E. Kentucky at Vanderbilt Outback Bowl MIDWEST Quick Lane Bowl Tampa, Fla. Semifinals National Independent Soccer Associa- Detroit tion. Morehead St. at Michigan St. Minnesota (10-2) vs. Auburn (9-3) Saturday, Dec. 14 High Point at Butler Pittsburgh (7-5) vs. Eastern Michigan Rose Bowl West Florida (11-2) at Slippery Rock COLLEGE (6-6) UIC at Valparaiso Pasadena, Calif. (13-0) BIG TEN CONFERENCE — Signed co- Friday, Dec. 27 Wright St. at Iowa St. Oregon (11-2) vs. Wisconsin (10-3) Minnesota State (13-0) at Ferris State ordinator of officials for the Collegiate Youngstown St. at Indiana Military Bowl Officiating Consortium Bill Carollo to a Sugar Bowl (12-0) Montana at South Dakota Annapolis, Md. New Orleans five-year contract extension. UC Davis at Minnesota North Carolina (6-6) vs. Temple (8-4) Championship Georgia (11-2) vs. Baylor (11-2) Saturday, Dec. 21 MEMPHIS — Named Ryan Silverfield Mayville State at N. Dakota St. Pinstripe Bowl Thursday, Jan. 2 football coach. Saint Mary’s (Cal) at Kansas New York At McKinney, Texas Birmingham (Ala.) Bowl Semifinal winners MISSOURI — Named D.J. Smith assis- Murray St. at S. Illinois Wake Forest (8-4) vs. Michigan State Cincinnati (10-3) vs. Boston College (6-6) tant defensive football coach. Evansville at Illinois (6-6) Gator Bowl NEBRASKA — Suspended men’s bas- IUPUI at N. Iowa Texas Bowl Jacksonville, Fla. NCAA Division III playoffs ketball G Jervay Green indefinitely for Cleveland St. at Omaha Houston Indiana (8-4) vs. Tennessee (7-5) violating team rules. Missouri at Missouri St. Oklahoma State (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-5) Friday, Jan. 3 Semifinals SOUTHWEST Holiday Bowl Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Saturday, Dec. 14 Houston Baptist at Texas Tech San Diego Boise North Central (Ill.) (12-1) at Muhlen- Houston at Texas A&M Iowa (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (8-4) berg (13-0) Northwestern St. at Arkansas Ohio (6-6) vs. Nevada (7-5) Pro baseball Cheez-It Bowl Saturday, Jan. 4 Saint John’s (Minn.) (12-1) at Wiscon- Prairie View at Rice sin-Whitewater (12-1) Ohio at TCU Phoenix Armed Forces Bowl Air Force (10-2) vs. Washington State Fort Worth, Texas Championship MLB calendar Sam Houston St. at Oklahoma Friday, Dec. 20 LSU-Shreveport at Stephen F. Austin (6-6) Southern Miss (7-5) vs. Tulane (6-6) Saturday, Dec. 28 Monday, Jan. 6 At Shenandoah, Texas Jan. 10 — Salary arbitration figures Central Baptist College at Cent. Arkansas Semifinal winners FAR WEST Camping World Bowl Lendingtree Bowl exchanged. N. Colorado at Wyoming Orlando, Fla. Mobile, Ala. Jan. 21 — Baseball Writers’ Associa- Boise St. at E. Washington Notre Dame (10-2) vs. Iowa State (7-5) Miami (Ohio) (8-5) vs. Louisiana-La- NAIA playoffs tion of America Hall of Fame voting re- Pacific at UCLA Cotton Bowl Classic fayette (10-3) sults announced. Washington at San Diego Arlington, Texas Monday, Jan. 13 Championship Portland St. at Portland Penn State (10-2) vs. Memphis (12-1) College Football Championship Saturday, Dec. 21 Feb. 3-21 — Salary arbitration hear- Hope International at Hawaii Peach Bowl New Orleans At Ruston, La. ings, Phoenix.Feb. 4-6 — Owners meet- UC Irvine at Washington St. Atlanta Peach Bowl winner vs. Fiesta Bowl Morningside (13-0) vs. Marian (Ind.) ings, Orlando, Florida. Ohio St. at Stanford CFP Semifinal, LSU (13-0) vs. Oklaho- winner (12-0) PAGE 18 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 SPORTS BRIEFS/GOLF Briefl y Dolphins’ Parker gets big contract

Associated Press  Organizers of the Alpine World Cup canceled a men’s sla- MIAMI — With a breakout sea- lom at Val d’Isere, France, on son, receiver DeVante Parker has Saturday due to strong winds and become a big part of the Miami rescheduled it for one day later. Dolphins’ rebuilding plan, and The International Ski Federa- now he’s under contract through tion already switched the racing 2023. schedule to try to race the slalom Parker signed a deal that could in the worst of the weather which be worth up to $40 million, in- was forecast for Saturday. cluding incentives and bonuses, his agent said Friday. An $8 mil- lion signing bonus is part of more WADA under fire after than $20 million guaranteed, Russian doping decision agent Jimmy Gould said. Criticism of the World Anti- Parker had signed a $10 mil- Doping Agency’s sanctions lion, two-year contract in March, against Russia mushroomed Fri- and the fifth-year veteran has day with a rebuke from the U.S. rewarded the Dolphins’ faith Olympic and Paralympic Com- with 882 yards receiving and six mittee coming on the heels of the touchdowns, both career highs, outraged resignation of a member on 55 catches. of the WADA athlete committee. ANDY BROWNBILL/AP Going into this season, Parker The USOPC and British Para- was widely considered an injury- International team player Byeong Hun An of South Korea leans on his putter after missing a putt on lympian Victoria Aggar each ex- prone first-round bust. But he has the 18th green that would have won a foursome match Saturday during the President’s Cup at Royal pressed their disagreement with become the best offensive player Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. Byeong and partner Joaquin Niemann halved the match. WADA’s decision not to issue a for Brian Flores, Parker’s third blanket ban on the Russians in head coach in Miami. wake of evidence that govern- “DeVante wants to be part of ment officials doctored data that what Brian Flores is building,” was supposed to be used to pros- Gould said. “He loves the organi- International team heads ecute cases stemming from the zation and he loves the coaches, country’s long-running doping and this is where he’s dedicated.“ scandal. The Dolphins are 3-10 in Flores’ Aggar, a Paralympic rower, first season. The 6-foot-3 Parker announced her resignation from has provided many of the high- WADA’s athlete committee, say- into final day up 2 points lights for an inconsistent offense ing “I simply can no longer be thanks to his knack for out-leap- part of an organization that plac- ing defenders to make catches. es politics over principle.” In other NFL news: Hours later at its quarterly BY DOUG FERGUSON too close to Reed while cursing  Scoreboard The New Orleans Saints meeting, the USOPC board de- Associated Press him. say former Pro Bowl lineback- Kessler Karrain, who is also bated the wisdom of sanctions MELBOURNE, Australia er Vaughan Jonson, who was a that called for innocent athletes Reed’s brother-in-law, will not be member of the club’s vaunted — The International team has Presidents Cup on his bag for the final session. to be able to compete as neutrals the lead going into the final day “Dome Patrol” linebacker corps, at next year’s Olympics, even At Royal Melbourne Golf Club Reed said in a statement he re- has died at age 57. of the Presidents Cup for the first Melbourne, Australia spects the tour’s decision and that though determining who really time in 16 years, and it has a trio Saturday Johnson played in 120 regu- is innocent has been made more Yardage: 7,047; Par: 71 everyone was focused on winning lar season games with 98 starts of rookies to thank for that. INTERNATIONAL 10, UNITED STATES 8 the cup. difficult because of the data Marc Leishman and unbeaten Fourballs for the Saints from 1986 to 1993, manipulation. International 2½, United States 1½ It was the second straight week when he had 664 tackles, 12 rookie Abraham Ancer staged a Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas, of scrutiny for the Reed camp, remarkable rally Saturday after- United States, def. Haotong Li and Marc sacks, four interceptions and five Hurt Cespedes agrees Leishman, International, 3 and 2. following his rules violation of fumble recoveries. noon in foursomes, going from Abraham Ancer and Sungjae Im, Inter- scooping sand out of the way in 5 down with eight holes to play national, def. Xander Schauffele and Pat- Johnson was selected to the to pay cut in settlement rick Cantlay, United States, 3 and 2. the Bahamas that led to a two- to earn a most unlikely halve C.T. Pan and Hideki Matsuyama, In- Pro Bowl from 1989-92 and was shot penalty. NEW YORK — Yoenis Ces- against Justin Thomas and Rick- ternational, def. Patrick Reed and Webb inducted into the Saints Hall of Simpson, United States, 5 and 3. There was plenty of drama Sat- pedes’ salary for 2019 was cut in ie Fowler. Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar, United Fame in 2000. urday, and all that did was set the half and his pay for 2020 reduced Byeong Hun An and Joaquin States, halved with Byeong Hun An and Adam Scott, International. stage for 12 singles matches. as part of a settlement of a griev- Niemann never led in the final Foursomes Goggia leads Italian 1-2 ance between the injured out- match and scratched out another United States 3, International 1 Woods put himself out first Gary Woodland and Dustin Johnson, against Abraham Ancer, who got in women’s super-G fielder and the New York Mets. half-point against Matt Kuchar United States, def. Adam Scott and Louis Cespedes agreed to a $110 mil- and Tony Finau. Oosthuizen, International, 2 and 1. his first taste of a big stage when ST. MORITZ, Switerland — By Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas, he was grouped with Woods at lion, four-year contract in Decem- That gave the Internationals a United States, halved with Abraham An- the smallest margin, Sofia Goggia ber 2016 but hasn’t played since 10-8 lead going into Sunday sin- cer and Marc Leishman, International. the World Golf Championship in won a World Cup super-G race on Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele, Mexico City in February. July 20, 2018. The outfielder had gles, and a real chance to win the United States, def. Sungjae Im and Cam- Saturday and Mikaela Shiffrin surgery to remove bone calcifica- Presidents Cup for only the sec- eron Smith, International, 2 and 1. Reed, a target of the fans all was third to extend her overall Tony Finau and Matt Kuchar, United week, will play C.T. Pan in the tion from his right heel on Aug. 2, ond time in its 25-year history. States, halved with Joaquin Niemann standings lead. 2018, and his left that Oct. 26. “We’ve given ourselves ... a and Byeong Hun An, International. third match. The International Goggia was just 0.01 second Mets general manager Brodie great shot to win the session to- team needs six points from the 12 faster than her Italian teammate Van Wagenen, Cespedes’ former morrow and win this cup,” said matches to claim the cup for the Federico Brignone on a sunny, agent, said in late May the out- Adam Scott, who has been part of excited about that,” Els said. first time in 21 years. windswept course fielder sustained multiple right one tie and seven straight losses. It looked as though it could have Reed and Webb Simpson lost Shiffrin was only 0.13 behind ankle fractures in an accident at “I think we’ve got to be pretty been even larger, when the Inter- matches each of the first two days. Goggia for her sixth podium fin- Cespedes’ ranch in Port St. Lucie, happy about that. Come out to- nationals built a 9-5 lead after the Woods sent them out again Satur- ish in eight World Cup races so Fla., where the club’s spring morrow, leave it all on the golf morning session. day morning, and they delivered far as she seeks a fourth straight training complex is located. course.” The Americans finally showed a dud by making only one birdie overall title. New York withheld part of Ces- Nothing inspired the Interna- some fight, even with captain in fourballs and losing, 5 and 3, to It was the second time Shif- pedes’ salary, alleging he was tionals more than to watch the Tiger Woods sitting out for both Hideki Matsuyama and Pan. frin has trailed an Italian 1-2. It hurt during an activity prohibited final two teams on the course sessions. And the caddie of Pat- Even more curious was Woods, also happened two weeks ago by his contract’s guarantee lan- scratch out a half-point despite rick Reed might have shown too who won matches each of the first in a giant slalom in Killington, guage. The players’ association never leading at any point in the much fight. He confirmed in a two days with Thomas, benching Vermont, where Marta Bassino filed a grievance, and the sides match. statement to the Barstool Sports himself in the morning and the edged Brignone for victory. settled on an amended contract “For us to scratch and scramble podcast “Foul Play” that he afternoon, and saying it was best In other skiing news: before the case was argued. for one point, the guys were very shoved a spectator who he felt got for his team. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 19 NHL/COLLEGE BASKETBALL NHL roundup Pacioretty, Knights top Stars in OT

Associated Press DALLAS — The Vegas Golden Knights went on the offensive in OT, and the aggressive approach quickly paid off. Max Pacioretty scored on a backhander just 51 seconds into overtime and the Knights beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Friday night. Vegas coach Gerard Gallant put Pacioretty, the team’s scoring leader, and Mark Stone on the ice to start the overtime. “In the D-zone I worry about BETHANY BAKER, FORT COLLINS COLORADOAN/AP it,” Gallant said. “But in the offen- sive zone, no. They are two good Colorado State’s John Tonje, left, is defended by No. 24 Colorado’s hockey players and I want to get D’Shawn Schwartz on Friday in Fort Collins, Colo. The Buffaloes held them out there. We tried some- on to beat the Rams 56-48 after blowing a 16-point lead. thing better and it worked.” Dallas’ Jamie Benn had tied it with 5:11 remaining in the third No. 24 Colorado fends period. He worked a give-and- go, passing from behind the net to Tyler Seguin, then skating into the slot to deflect Seguin’s return pass past goalie Malcolm off Colorado St. rally Subban. Taylor Fedun put the Stars ahead 1-0 in the first period. The Golden Knights took a 2-1 lead in Gatling’s season-high 20 help Buffaloes survive the second on goals by William Karlsson and newcomer Chan- BY PAT GRAHAM half and scored just 12 points. dler Stephenson. Associated Press Then again, the Buffaloes knew “You could see the difference they would respond. when we were playing as a unit FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The “We didn’t expect to see that big of five,” Pacioretty said, “making touch on Shane Gatling’s jumper (of run),” Wright said. “We just sure we make life hard on (Dal- finally returned. had to hang our hats on defense.” las’) forwards on the blue lines. BRANDON WADE/AP Bye-bye shooting slump. Colorado did, too. The Rams We deserved, I felt, to come out Gatling scored a season-high were 2-for-22 from three-point Vegas Golden Knights forward Max Pacioretty, left, is congratulated with a win.” 20 points to help No. 24 Colorado range in a contest they never led. by forward Mark Stone after scoring the game-winning goal in Subban made 28 saves for his hold off Colorado State 56-48 on “There’s some eye-popping overtime on Friday against the Stars in Dallas. Vegas won 3-2. first win in three career games Friday night after squandering a numbers that come off the (stat against Dallas. 16-point lead. sheet) that say we probably didn’t Ben Bishop stopped 28 shots for Scoreboard He couldn’t have picked a bet- deserve to win that,” Colorado Dallas, which had won three in a ter time to break out of his funk as coach Tad Boyle said. “The real- row and 10 of 11 home games. standout player McKinley Wright ity is we did because we defended Fedun, a defenseman activated IV struggled with his shot. Eastern Conference Thursday’s games at a very, very high level.” because John Klingberg was a Tampa Bay 3, Boston 2 “To have somebody step up That blown lead, though, didn’t late scratch because of a family Atlantic Division Buffalo 4, Nashville 3 that’s in a slump all year and who GP W L OT Pts GF GA N.Y. Islanders 3, Florida 1 exactly sit well with Boyle. illness, skated backward across Boston 33 20 7 6 46 111 84 Pittsburgh 1, Columbus 0, OT hasn’t played his best all year “We have a veteran team that’s Buffalo 33 16 11 6 38 105 100 Detroit 5, Winnipeg 2 the top of the slot and sent a wrist Montreal 32 15 11 6 36 104 105 and hasn’t made shots all year, not playing like a veteran team,” shot over Subban at 15:14 of the Tampa Bay 30 16 11 3 35 108 95 St. Louis 4, Vegas 2 to come up and make big-time he said. Florida 31 15 11 5 35 107 104 Minnesota 6, Edmonton 5 first. Fedun had been a healthy Toronto 33 15 14 4 34 106 108 Calgary 4, Toronto 2 shots like that is huge for us,” said Wright didn’t have his best scratch in all six games since Nov. Ottawa 32 13 17 2 28 86 100 Arizona 5, Chicago 2 Wright, who had eight rebounds night for the Buffaloes, who will Detroit 33 8 22 3 19 72 131 Los Angeles 2, Anaheim 1 26. Metropolitan Division Vancouver 1, Carolina 0, OT and three assists on a night when more than likely fall out of the Fedun was informed about an Washington 33 23 5 5 51 120 95 N.Y. Rangers 6, San Jose 3 he was 1-for-11 from the floor. rankings after a loss to Northern N.Y. Islanders 30 21 7 2 44 89 70 Friday’s games “That just shows how many weap- hour before the puck dropped Carolina 32 19 11 2 40 103 86 Vegas 3, Dallas 2, OT Iowa earlier in the week. But the that he would be playing. Pittsburgh 32 18 10 4 40 105 85 Colorado 3, New Jersey 1 ons we have. Every night is not Philadelphia 31 17 9 5 39 97 88 bench stepped up behind Gatling “It doesn’t matter what’s hap- N.Y. Rangers 31 16 12 3 35 100 97 Saturday’s games going to be my night. Every night and Lucas Siewert (12 points). Columbus 31 12 14 5 29 76 94 Buffalo at N.Y. Islanders is not going to be Tyler’s night. pening behind the scenes in New Jersey 31 9 17 5 23 75 114 Columbus at Ottawa Carvacho had nine points and there,” Fedun said. “You got to N.Y. Rangers at Anaheim I’m proud of him, man.” 10 rebounds for the Rams. Carolina at Calgary All that extra time in the gym perform and that’s what mat- Western Conference Dallas at Nashville “We were there at the end,” ters. However you go about doing Central Division Toronto at Edmonton did wonders for Gatling. Rams coach Niko Medved said. that, you got to find a way to get GP W L OT Pts GF GA Philadelphia at Minnesota “I’ve been waiting for this day “We couldn’t get over the hump.” Colorado 32 21 8 3 45 117 86 Los Angeles at Pittsburgh it done.” St. Louis 33 19 8 6 44 98 90 Detroit at Montreal to come,” he said. The opening half was anything Winnipeg 32 19 11 2 40 94 88 Washington at Tampa Bay Fedun’s second goal this season Dallas 33 18 11 4 40 86 79 Leading 33-17 with 16:41 re- but pretty for Colorado State, was the only one of 16 shots on Minnesota 32 15 12 5 35 98 106 Boston at Florida maining, the Buffaloes (8-2) which missed all 10 attempts Nashville 30 14 11 5 33 101 97 Chicago at St. Louis Subban in the first period. Chicago 32 12 14 6 30 86 103 New Jersey at Arizona couldn’t close out a cold-shooting from three-point land. Although “Malcolm was huge in the Pacific Division Vancouver at San Jose Rams team that suddenly found the Buffaloes led 27-12 at the Arizona 34 19 11 4 42 96 82 Sunday’s games first,” Gallant said. “He had a lot Edmonton 34 18 12 4 40 105 105 Philadelphia at Winnipeg their touch. Colorado State tied break, it could’ve been more if not of good scoring chances against Calgary 34 18 12 4 40 95 100 Minnesota at Chicago the game at 39 with 7:18 left. for their 12 turnovers. Vegas 35 17 13 5 39 103 100 so he was the difference in the Los Angeles at Detroit Moments later, Gatling had a The message at the half for the Vancouver 32 16 12 4 36 105 95 Vancouver at Vegas first, for sure.” San Jose 34 15 17 2 32 92 120 bucket to put the Buffaloes ahead Rams was simple. Anaheim 32 13 15 4 30 83 94 Monday’s games In six games since being traded Los Angeles 33 13 18 2 28 82 104 Ottawa at Florida for good. “We were told to keep working,” from Washington, Fedun has two Note: Two points for a win, one point Nashville at N.Y. Rangers Gatling also was originally cred- said Isaiah Stevens, who finished for overtime loss. Top three teams in Washington at Columbus goals and an assist while playing each division and two wild cards per Colorado at St. Louis ited with blocking a shot on Nico with 10 points. “Just keep looking nearly three minutes more per conference advance to playoffs. Edmonton at Dallas Carvacho down the stretch. That for shots. We started feeling it.” game for Dallas. caught even him by surprise. Dallas is 1-0-1 since interim “I had a block? Oh,” Gatling Big picture coach Rick Bowness took over Western Conference standings Devils. They are 0-6-1 over their said. “Well, whoever blocked it, it Colorado: A win’s a win, right? after head coach Jim Montgom- with its eighth win in nine games. last seven games. was a big play.” No style points, correct? The Buf- ery was fired. The Avalanche’s only loss in that New Jersey pulled forward The officials changed it to Tyler faloes weren’t at their offensive Avalanche 3, Devils 1: Nathan stretch came in overtime, giving Taylor Hall from the lineup just Bey. best, but the defense picked up MacKinnon had a goal and an as- them a nine-game points streak. before the game for precaution- Bottom line: Someone got a the slack. Colorado leads the all- sist to reach 50 points this season Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri ary reasons, the team said. Hall piece of it. time series 91-38. and lead host Colorado past New Nichushkin also scored and Pavel has been the subject of trade ru- The Rams (7-6) rebounded Colorado State: Looked like it Jersey. Francouz had 37 saves for Colora- mors of late and was not held out from a sluggish start in which might be a blowout. The Rams re- Colorado moved back atop the do. Mirco Mueller scored for the due to injury. they shot 17.9% during the first gained their composure. PAGE 20 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 NBA Scoreboard

George, Leonard prove hard to stop Eastern Conference Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 20 7 .741 — Boston 17 7 .708 1½ Clippers stars combine for Toronto 16 8 .667 2½ Brooklyn 13 11 .542 5½ New York 6 20 .231 13½ 88 points against T-Wolves Southeast Division Miami 18 7 .720 — Orlando 11 14 .440 7 BY JOE ZIEMER Charlotte 12 16 .429 7½ Washington 7 16 .304 10 Associated Press Atlanta 6 20 .231 12½ Central Division MINNEAPOLIS — It’s hard to stop Paul Milwaukee 23 3 .885 — Indiana 17 9 .654 6 George. It’s hard to stop Kawhi Leonard. It’s Detroit 10 15 .400 12½ really hard to stop both at the same time. Chicago 9 18 .333 14½ George and Leonard showed what the Los Cleveland 6 19 .240 16½ Angeles Clippers had in mind when they Western Conference teamed up the superstar duo Friday night. Southwest Division George scored 46 points, Kawhi Leonard had W L Pct GB Dallas 17 7 .708 — 42 and the Clippers held on to beat the Min- Houston 17 8 .680 ½ nesota Timberwolves 124-117 for their fourth San Antonio 9 15 .375 8 Memphis 8 17 .320 9½ consecutive victory. New Orleans 6 20 .231 12 “It’s special, two guys offensively,” George Northwest Division Denver 15 8 .652 — said. “The thing about it is, we’re dishing, Utah 15 11 .577 1½ finding each other, feeding each other. And Oklahoma City 11 13 .458 4½ Minnesota 10 15 .400 6 then when we have moments to be aggressive, Portland 10 16 .385 6½ we’re looking to get aggressive, attack, look Pacific Division L.A. Lakers 23 3 .885 — for our shots. It’s great when both guys can L.A. Clippers 20 7 .741 3½ get it going.” Phoenix 11 13 .458 11 Sacramento 11 14 .440 11½ Leonard and George became the first set of Golden State 5 22 .185 18½ teammates in Clippers history to each score Thursday’s games Philadelphia 115, Boston 109 40 points. It was the 21st time in NBA history Cleveland 117, San Antonio 109, OT it has happened. The last time it was done, it Dallas 122, Detroit 111 Denver 114, Portland 99 also involved George. He and Russell West- Friday’s games brook did it for Oklahoma City last season. Houston 130, Orlando 107 L.A. Lakers 113, Miami 110 Leonard and George’s previous high this Philadelphia 116, New Orleans 109 season came Dec. 1, when they combined for Indiana 110, Atlanta 100 Charlotte 83, Chicago 73 65 points against Washington. CRAIG LASSIG/AP Milwaukee 127, Memphis 114 “It’s great that we can have somebody else Utah 114, Golden State 106 L.A. Clippers 124, Minnesota 117 out there to help scoring the ball, making the Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard goes up for a shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves on New York 103, Sacramento 101 game easier for myself,” Leonard said. “We’re Friday in Minneapolis. Leonard had 42 points in Los Angeles’ 124-117 victory. Saturday’s games San Antonio vs. Phoenix at Mexico City still trying to build our chemistry out there.” Brooklyn at Toronto Leonard and George set the tone early, play was basically for those two guys. And L.A. Clippers at Chicago Karl-Anthony Towns had 39 points and 12 Washington at Memphis rebounds for Minnesota, which lost its sev- combining to score the first 23 points for a they came up big.” Cleveland at Milwaukee Clippers team playing without Lou Williams, The Timberwolves took a 51-50 lead in the Miami at Dallas enth in a row. Towns had 14 points, including Detroit at Houston a four-point play, in a 22-6 fourth-quarter run who sat out with a calf injury. In his absence, second quarter with a 15-2 run, capped by a Oklahoma City at Denver Sunday’s games that trimmed a 21-point Los Angeles lead to George and Leonard accounted for 54 of Los Towns three-pointer. Leonard responded with Orlando at New Orleans five. Angeles’ 65 first-half points. They became seven consecutive points to give the Clippers Charlotte at Indiana L.A. Lakers at Atlanta Andrew Wiggins added 34 points for the the first duo to each score 35 or more points the lead for good. Philadelphia at Brooklyn Timberwolves. His basket with 1:04 left cut through the first three quarters of a game in George started the third quarter with a 7- New York at Denver Sacramento at Golden State the Clippers’ lead to 119-115. Minnesota didn’t the past 20 seasons, according to ESPN Stats 0 run of his own. He scored 16 in the third, Monday’s games get closer than four the rest of the way. and Info. when Los Angeles took control by outscoring Washington at Detroit Cleveland at Toronto “Disappointed from the loss, but we fought Leonard made a career-high 19 free throws. Minnesota 37-23. Chicago at Oklahoma City back,” Wiggins said. “We were down big. Dug He was 19-for-19 from the line. “Forty-six and forty-two, they make it very Dallas at Milwaukee Miami at Memphis ourselves a hole. We fought back, though. We “That was great,” Clippers coach Doc Riv- tough on you,” Minnesota coach Ryan Saun- San Antonio at Houston went out swinging.” ers said. “We knew without Lou tonight, every ders said. Portland at Phoenix Roundup Lakers deal Heat first home loss of season

Associated Press Rockets 130, Magic 107: James from the floor, but the Bulls were even Harden scored 54 points, hitting 10 of 15 worse at 30% in a sloppy game between MIAMI — Anthony Davis scored 33 three-pointers and 19 of 31 shots overall, in sub-.500 teams. points, LeBron James had 28 while com- Houston’s win over host Orlando. Pacers 110, Hawks 100: Malcolm ing within a rebound of a triple-double and Harden scored 50 or more for the fifth Brogdon had 19 points and 12 assists, the Los Angeles Lakers held off the Miami time this season and the fourth time in Domantas Sabonis had 12 points and 14 re- Heat 113-110 on Friday night. the last seven games. He also had seven bounds, and Indiana beat host Atlanta. James had 12 assists and nine rebounds assists, five rebounds and two steals in 36 The Pacers improved to 5-2 this month and Davis grabbed 10 rebounds for the minutes. and 17-9 overall. They are eight games Lakers. They improved to 23-3 and extend- 76ers 116, Pelicans 109: Tobias Har- over .500 for the first time this season. ed the second-longest road winning streak ris scored 31 points, Ben Simmons had Bucks 127, Grizzlies 114: At Mem- in franchise history to 13 games. 24 points and 11 assists, and Philadelphia phis, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 17 of They also dealt Miami its first home loss survived a late scare and beat visiting New his 37 points in the fourth quarter to help of the season, after an 11-0 start. Orleans. Milwaukee pull away for its 17th straight The Lakers outrebounded Miami 50-34, Joel Embiid finished with 24 points and victory. and the last of those was the biggest. Ken- 11 rebounds in Philadelphia’s fifth straight The 17-game winning streak is the sec- tavious Caldwell-Pope missed a free throw victory. It was also the 14th consecutive ond-longest in franchise history, trailing with 8 seconds left to keep the Heat within home victory for the 76ers, the franchise’s only a 20-game run in the 1970-71 season. two, but Miami couldn’t get the rebound. longest streak to start a season since win- Jazz 114, Warriors 106: Bojan Bogda- Caldwell-Pope went back to the line with ning 22 straight home games in their NBA novic hit eight three-pointers and scored 4.2 seconds left, made one of two again and championship season in 1966-67. 32 points and Donovan Mitchell added the Lakers’ lead was pushed to three. Hornets 83, Bulls 73: Devonte’ Gra- 28 points in host Utah’s win over Golden Jimmy Butler took the last shot for ham scored 16 points, Miles Bridges and State. Miami, a three-pointer with about a sec- P.J. Washington each had 13 and visiting Knicks 103, Kings 101: Elfrid Pay- ond left. It hit the rim and bounced off. The Charlotte bounced back after squandering ton had seven of his 16 points in the fourth LYNNE SLADKY/AP Heat argued that he was fouled to no avail, an early 15-point lead, beating Chicago for quarter, Marcus Morris scored off an of- and the Lakers survived in James’ lone its third straight win. fensive rebound with 9.1 seconds left and Heat guard Kendrick Nunn, left, dunks on trip this season to the city where he won It was the lowest offensive output of the visiting New York rallied from 16 down to Lakers center JaVale McGee on Friday in championships in 2012 and 2013. season for both teams. Charlotte shot 38% beat Sacramento. Miami. Los Angeles won 113-110. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 21 NFL Grounded: Work ethic pays dividends for Chubb

FROM BACK PAGE same quiet guy, hasn’t said a word “It will mean a lot to me only about it,” Bitonio said. “You hear because how hard I worked and it guys say all I want is the team to paid off for me,” he said this week win, all I want is team success as the Browns (6-7) prepared to and I’m willing to bet Nick truly play the Cardinals (3-9-1). “That’s does want just team success and really the biggest thing for me is he wouldn’t trade wins and every- just when I work hard, it shows thing for yards and touchdowns and I get the results that I want.” and it’s a credit to him, man. Hard work. They should stitch “You get a team of 53 Nick that onto the back of Chubb’s Chubbs, you’re going to be doing brown jersey, along with a blue something right.” collar. Chubb, whose breakaway speed Since the day he arrived in has surprised defensive backs, leads the league with 253 car- Cleveland, the second-round pick ries. However, it’s not has impressed coaches shocking that he insists and teammates with his he feels “fresh” despite relentless drive and a ‘ That’s the workload. His 5.06- selflessness that seems really the yards per carry average out of place in a sport is also tops, and Chubb’s where individual suc- biggest 98.5 yards per game are cess is celebrated. thing for the most by a Browns Chubb doesn’t just me is just player since Hall of shun the spotlight. He when I Famer Jim Brown, con- hides from it. sidered by many to be During a game this work hard, the greatest back in pro PHOTOS BY ELISE AMENDOLA/AP season against the it shows football history. Miami Dolphins, Chubb He’s also the first Patriots wide receiver N’Keal Harry reaches for the pylon after catching a pass against the Kansas City wore a microphone for and I get Browns back to gain Chiefs during the second half on Dec. 8 in Foxborough, Mass. The play was not ruled a touchdown. NFL films, which cap- the results 1,000 yards from scrim- tured a moment that de- that I mage in his first two scribes him perfectly. seasons, one of the As he sat on the side- want. ’ few feats Brown didn’t line after a touchdown accomplish. run, Chubb was ap- Nick Chubb Browns RB Chubb sees it as a proached by star wide team award. Brady, Pats try to get receiver Odell Beckham “We’re all in this together,” he Jr., who said to his teammate, “I said. “I’m just happy to be able to wanna score a touchdown.” do it for the Cleveland Browns and Not missing a beat, Chubb re- to be a apart of this journey that plied, “I wanna win.” I’m on. I’m happy I have every- That’s Chubb in a nutshell. A one here with me going through it very hard nutshell. offense back on track with me. Everybody plays a part. Chubb’s guarded, almost defi- The blocking, the guys block on Associated Press ant attitude could be off-putting the outside, the receivers, the O- to those who don’t know him. But FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Tom line — just everyone. It is not just Brady says he is still having fun Browns left guard Joel Bitonio me.” playing football, even in the midst said that while Chubb may be on Chubb’s public persona hasn’t of one of the most challenging the brink of stardom, he remains changed, but he may be feeling a seasons of his career. the same humble 23-year-old who little like a superhero. “I love it,” he said on Fri- isn’t worried about any stat than Last week on Instagram, Chubb day, though he balked at saying the final score. posted a message for Browns whether he likes it as much as he Others can keep track of his fans. used to. yards and records, Chubb is “I’m whatever Cleveland needs The defending Super Bowl counting only his reps on the me to be,” he wrote. champions head into Sunday’s squat rack. He’s aware the rush- What did he mean? game against Cincinnati in a pro- ing title is within reach, but he’s “That’s just a Batman quote. not making it a priority. I like Batman,” he said. “That’s longed slump, losing two in a row “I work out with him every pretty much it. Don’t look too and three of their last five games. Wednesday morning and, just the deep into it.” Since the start of Week 9, they are 30th in the NFL with an average of 17.6 points per game; only the Bengals and Jaguars are worse. Brady said the Patriots (10-3), who can clinch a playoff berth with a win Sunday, are making Patriots quarterback Tom Brady lands on the turf after being sacked progress. by Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones during the second half. “Guys are working really hard and that’s been great to see and vent yourself every week. ... It’s “We’ve got to maximize our po- that’s what we’ve got to keep always a little bit of a challenge, tential, and I don’t know what our doing,” he said. “Things just don’t but football season is not sup- potential is,” Brady said. “If we do kind of happen magically, so posed to be easy.” it well one time, it’s how well can we’re working pretty hard at it.” The Patriots lost to the Houston we do it consistently? I think part It’s not uncommon for the Pa- Texans two weeks ago and Kan- of it’s just consistently we haven’t triots to have struggles during the sas City last week, just the ninth done a great job, and I think that regular season. They had a simi- time since 2003 that they have when you’re not consistent, it just lar slump last year in December lost back-to-back games. They leads to other issues. Trying to be but went on to win their sixth have not lost three straight in that consistent and dependable is what Super Bowl since 2001. span. a great offense is all about, and “Every year, it’s a little bit dif- Never in Brady’s career has when you have really great play- ferent. The challenges are differ- the offense struggled so much. It making ability, all those things ent,” Brady said. “You just can’t is 17th this season in third-down make it very hard to defend.” DAVID RICHARD/AP rely on, ‘Oh, well. We’ll just do conversion percentage (37.4%) New England is one game in Head coach Freddie Kitchens, right, often hears fans at home calling exactly what we used to do,’ or, and scoring on 48% of trips inside front of Buffalo in the AFC East. for running back Nick Chubb, left, to get the ball when Cleveland ‘We’ll do exactly what we did last the 20-yard line, which ranks The Bills come to Gillette Stadi- faces a pivotal situation or need a big play. week.’ You have to kind of rein- 27th in the league. um next weekend. PAGE 22 • S TARS AND STRIPES• Sunday, December 15, 2019 NFL Top draft picks Murray, Mayfield ready for duel

BY DAVID BRANDT Associated Press TEMPE, Ariz. — Baker May- field has the moxie and machis- mo while Kyler Murray prefers to keep things low-key. The two will always be linked by their similar back stories, sim- ilar skill sets and a similar career path, but it’s hard to find a pair of NFL quarterbacks with more op- posite personalities. “Obviously,” Murray said with a grin. “We’re a little different.” CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP Even so, the two friends are Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky looks for a receiver in total agreement that there’s against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 5 in Chicago. a little something extra on the line when Mayfield’s Cleveland /AP Browns travel to face Murray’s RON SCHWANE Arizona Cardinals this weekend. Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield, above, was a teammate of Confidence growing “This is real bragging rights Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray’s at Oklahoma. being in the same quarterback room for a few years and just Mayfield left for the NFL and grew up in Texas. razzing each other back and made it back-to-back Heismans Mayfield’s thrown for 3,109 for Bears’ Trubisky forth,” Mayfield said. for the Sooners. yards, 15 touchdowns and 16 in- “Yeah,” Murray said laughing Murray said he learned a lot terceptions this season while Associated Press in his quarterback with the wins after he heard about Mayfield’s from Mayfield and even made a Murray has 3,060 yards, 16 touch- over the New York Giants, Detroit comment. “For sure.” good-natured crack that the les- downs and nine interceptions. LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Con- Lions and last week over the Dal- The former University of Okla- sons included “what not to do.” Both have the ability to extend fidence has placed Mitchell las Cowboys. homa teammates — who are the “To the public, obviously, he’s plays with their feet, though Mur- Trubisky and the Chicago Bears two most recent No. 1 overall kind of a rebellious guy,” Murray offense in a far better situation “Whenever we go out there, ray has been more productive we know exactly what we’re sup- draft picks and Heisman Tro- said. “But he’s a great dude. I look on the ground this season, lead- than at midseason. Or even the phy winners — will have differ- forward to playing against him.” beginning of the season. posed to do each and every play,” ing the Cardinals with 448 yards said Miller who has 24 receptions ent team stakes on Sunday. The Both franchises have staked rushing and four touchdowns. They have to hope it’s enough Browns (6-7) need a win to stay for 313 yards and a touchdown in a large portion of their near Currently, the biggest differ- for them to compete with the in the playoff race while the Car- future to the pair of young the last four games. “Mitch’s con- ence between the two quarter- Green Bay Packers on Sunday dinals (3-9-1) are simply trying to quarterbacks. fidence is through the roof right backs is the Browns are winning at Lambeau Field. If not, the re- gain momentum in their rebuild. It can be argued that the now. And so we’re just taking ad- a few games. Cleveland has won mainder of their season will lack But the individual matchup is Browns’ willingness to draft vantage of that.” much meaning. also intriguing. Mayfield with the top pick in 2018 four of its last five to keep its play- Trubisky is riding high during Coach Matt Nagy cited some The mutual respect between helped open the door for Murray. off hopes alive. a three-game winning streak and changes made in the attack as Murray and Mayfield is obvi- Mayfield is a little smaller than Arizona has lost six straight. no longer feels he’s operating an part of the improvement, without ous. They became close after the typical NFL quarterback at Murray is trying to help the Car- offense mired at the bottom of the wanting to get too detailed. spending two seasons together at 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds and Mur- dinals climb out of their rut while NFL rankings — even if that’s “Probably maybe a little just Oklahoma in 2016 and 2017 when ray is a more extreme example fixing his own problems — he had where the Bears are. because we were searching, we Mayfield was the starter. Murray at 5-10 and 207 pounds. Mayfield three interceptions during the “I just feel like we have a new- were really searching for many red-shirted the first season and transferred from Texas Tech to Cardinals’ 23-17 loss to the Steel- found identity of what we want to different reasons,” Nagy said. “I was a backup in ’17 when May- Oklahoma during his college ca- ers last week. do, and everybody is really locked told you we’re problem solvers, field won his Heisman. reer while Murray moved from AP sports writer Tom Withers in Berea, into what they have to do within we’re looking for solutions. And Murray started in 2018 after Texas A&M to the Sooners. Both Ohio, contributed to this story. their job description on the of- we feel like we may have found fense,” Trubisky said Wednesday some things, whatever that is at Halas Hall. “We’ve just got to and we’ll kind of just go with that go out there and play hard and without getting into schemes.” play hungry and come ready to During a stretch of four wins in play and execute what we’ve got five games it’s been a total turn- to do.” around after a four-game losing Trubisky described the offense streak. as moving freer than in the early To Trubisky and the offense, portion of the schedule, especial- the opening loss to Green Bay ly the season-opening 10-3 loss to now seems so long ago. He com- the Packers. He’s at a bit of a loss pleted 26 of 45 for 228 yards and to describe why the whole offense an interception while absorbing is no longer pressing. five sacks in that game. “ You have a bunch of people, in- cluding myself, that care so much “There’s been a lot of growth and you don’t know what’s going for us all, and I think the big- wrong that you tend to press a gest thing that you (media) would little bit when things are going agree with, I believe in, is that wrong,” he said. “But you’ve just we’ve all grown and become men- got to trust the process and trust tally stronger, a lot stronger from the plan and what we’re doing then,” Nagy said. “That’s where here and continue to get better.” we’ve kind of figured out who we Trubisky has completed 77 of think we are and now we’ll get to 110 passes (70%) for 860 yards, put it to the test again here against seven touchdowns, four inter- Green Bay.” ceptions and has a passer rat- Injuries played a role to a small ing of 99.1 in the three straight extent in their earlier demise, victories. “I just feel like we’re kind of ROSS D. FRANKLIN/AP Wide receiver Anthony Miller in a rhythm now,“ Trubisky said. has seen the confidence growing “We’re a different team.” Kyler Murray tries to elude the grasp of Steelers linebacker Vince Williams on Sunday. Sunday, December 15, 2019 •STARS AND STRIPES•PAGE 23 NFL WEEK 15 TELEVISED GAMES MARQUEE MATCHUP Houston Texans (8-5)

Chicago Bears (7-6) at Tennessee Titans (8-5) Buffalo Bills (9-4) at Green Bay Packers (10-3) AFN-Sports2, 7 p.m. Sunday Central European Time at Pittsburgh Steelers (8-5) AFN-Sports AFN-Sports 7 p.m. Sunday CET 2:20 a.m. Monday CET SERIES RECORD: Titans lead 18-16. passed for 292 yards and a TD and rushed for 44 Series: Packers lead 97-94-6. LAST MEETING: Texans beat Titans 34-17, Nov. yards and two TDs last week in 38-24 loss to Broncos. Series: Steelers lead 14-8. Last meeting: Packers beat Bears 10-3, 26, 2018. ... Running back Carlos Hyde had a team-high 73 rush- Last meeting: Steelers beat Bills 27-20, Sept. 5, 2019. Dec. 11, 2016. TEXANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (9), RUSH (7), PASS ing yards last week and needs just 74 yards for his first Notes: Packers have won six of past seven Notes: Steelers have won past six meet- meetings. ... Bears quarterback Mitchell (10). career 1,000-yard rushing season. ... Wide receiver ings. ... Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is 4-0 Trubisky passed for three TDs and rushed TEXANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (25), RUSH (18), DeAndre Hopkins had seven catches for a season-high against Bills. ... Bills quarterback Josh for another in 31-24 Week 14 victory over PASS (27) 120 yards and a TD last week. ... Tight end Darren Allen passed for 146 yards and a TD last Cowboys. ... Rookie runnning back David TITANS OFFENSE: OVERALL (18), RUSH (8), Fells is tied for the NFL lead among tight ends with week in 24-17 loss to Ravens. He has 16 Montgomery rushed for 86 yards last rushing TDs since entering league in 2018, week. ... Tight end J.P. Holtz had a career- PASS (21). seven receiving TDs this season. ... Linebacker Zach the most among quarterbacks. ... Running high 56 receiving yards against Cowboys. TITANS DEFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (10), Cunningham tied a career high with 16 tackles and back Devin Singletary led team with 118 ... Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski led team PASS (25). had two forced fumbles last week. ... Titans quarter- scrimmage yards (89 rushing, 29 receiv- with a career-high 10 tackles last week. STREAKS, STATS AND back Ryan Tannehill completed 21 of 27 passes for ing) last week. ... Linebacker Tremaine ... Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers Edmunds had eight tackles and his first passed for 286 yards and three TDs in NOTES: Titans have 391 yards and three TDs last week in 42-21 rout of interception of the season last week. ... last home meeting. ... Running back Aaron won two of past three Raiders. ... Running back Derrick Henry rushed for 103 Steelers rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges Jones had 192 scrimmage yards (134 meetings. ... Texans yards and two TDs last week. He is tied for the NFL completed 16 of 19 passes for 152 yards rushing, 58 receiving) and a rushing TD in coach Bill O’Brien is lead with 13 rushing TDs and ranks second with and a TD and rushed for 34 yards last Week 14. ... Linebackers Preston Smith week in 23-17 victory over Cardinals. ... and Za’Darius Smith are only teammates 7-3 against Titans. ... 1,243 rushing yards, both career highs. ... Rookie Wide receiver Diontae Johnson led team with 10 or more sacks in 2019. ... Line- Texans quarterback wide receiver A.J. Brown had five catches for a ca- with six catches for 60 yards and a TD last backer Blake Martinez had a team-high 10 Deshaun Watson reer-high 153 yards and two TDs last week, the week. He leads all AFC rookies with 42 tackles last week. most receiving yards by a rookie in a single game receptions this season. this season. ... Cornerback Logan Ryan led team with nine tackles last week. He is tied for the NFL lead with 17 pass deflections this season.

Los Angeles Rams (8-5) Indianapolis Colts (6-7) at Dallas Cowboys (6-7) at New Orleans Saints (10-3) AFN-Sports AFN-Sports 10:25 p.m. Sunday CET 2:15 a.m. Tuesday CET Series: Cowboys lead 13-12. Series: Saints lead 7-5. Last meeting: Rams beat Cowboys 35-30, Last meeting: Saints beat Colts 27-21, Oct. 1, 2017. Oct. 25, 2015. Notes: Cowboys have won three of past Notes: Saints have won past two meet- four. ... Rams quarterback Jared Goff ings. ... Saints are plus-11 in takeaways/ passed for 293 yards and two TDs last giveaways category this season. ... Colts week in 28-12 victory over Seahawks. Houston Texans quarterback Jacoby Brissett passed for ... Running back Todd Gurley had 113 wide receiver 251 yards and two TDs last week in 38-35 scrimmage yards (79 rushing, 34 receiving) DeAndre Carter loss to Buccaneers. ... Wide receiver T.Y. and a rushing TD last week. He needs DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP Hilton had four catches for 150 yards and 111 scrimmage yards for fifth consecu- two TDs in last meeting. ... Wide reciever tive 1,000-yard season. ... Tight end Tyler Marcus Johnson had three catches for a Higbee had seven catches for a career-high career-high 105 yards and a TD in Week 116 receiving yards last week. ... Cowboys 14. ... Saints quarterback Drew Brees quarterback Dak Prescott had 334 passing passed for 349 yards and five TDs last yards and a TD last week in 31-24 loss to week in 48-46 loss to 49ers. He needs Bears. It was his sixth 300-yard game this three TDs to surpass Peyton Manning season. ... Wide receiver Michael Gallup (539) for the most in NFL history. ... Wide had six receptions for 109 yards in Week receiver Michael Thomas had 11 catches 14, his fourth career 100-yard game. ... for 134 yards and a TD last week. He has Linebacker Jaylon Smith had eight tackles. Game capsules compiled from NFLcommunications.com seven games with 10 or more catches, tied for the most in a single season in history. EXPANDED STANDINGS ALSO ON AFN American Conference National Conference East East Denver Broncos (5-8) at Kansas City W L T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Div W L T Pct PF PA Home Away AFC NFC Div Chiefs (9-4), AFN-Atlantic, New England 10 3 0 .769 338 168 5-1-0 5-2-0 6-3-0 4-0-0 4-0-0 Dallas 6 7 0 .462 334 267 3-3-0 3-4-0 1-3-0 5-4-0 4-0-0 7 p.m. Sunday CET Buffalo 9 4 0 .692 274 212 4-3-0 5-1-0 6-3-0 3-1-0 3-1-0 Philadelphia 6 7 0 .462 297 301 4-3-0 2-4-0 2-2-0 4-5-0 2-1-0 N.Y. Jets 5 9 0 .357 247 343 4-3-0 1-6-0 2-8-0 3-1-0 1-4-0 Washington 3 10 0 .231 188 310 1-5-0 2-5-0 1-3-0 2-7-0 0-3-0 Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9) at Oakland Miami 3 10 0 .231 221 399 2-5-0 1-5-0 2-8-0 1-2-0 1-4-0 N.Y. Giants 2 11 0 .154 247 362 1-5-0 1-6-0 0-3-0 2-8-0 1-3-0 Raiders (6-7), AFN-Atlantic, South South 10 p.m. Sunday CET Houston 8 5 0 .615 317 309 5-2-0 3-3-0 7-3-0 1-2-0 3-1-0 y-New Orleans 10 3 0 .769 344 296 5-2-0 5-1-0 2-0-0 8-3-0 4-1-0 Tennessee 8 5 0 .615 318 255 4-2-0 4-3-0 6-4-0 2-1-0 2-2-0 Tampa Bay 6 7 0 .462 378 381 2-4-0 4-3-0 2-1-0 4-6-0 2-3-0 Minnesota Vikings (9-4) at Los Angeles Indianapolis 6 7 0 .462 296 295 4-3-0 2-4-0 5-6-0 1-1-0 3-2-0 Carolina 5 8 0 .385 300 360 2-4-0 3-4-0 3-0-0 2-8-0 1-4-0 Chargers (5-8), AFN-Sports2, Jacksonville 4 9 0 .308 230 337 2-5-0 2-4-0 4-6-0 0-3-0 1-4-0 Atlanta 4 9 0 .308 300 343 2-5-0 2-4-0 0-3-0 4-6-0 3-2-0 North North 10 p.m. Sunday CET y-Baltimore 12 2 0 .857 472 257 6-1-0 6-1-0 8-2-0 4-0-0 3-1-0 Green Bay 10 3 0 .769 309 270 6-1-0 4-2-0 3-1-0 7-2-0 3-0-0 Pittsburgh 8 5 0 .615 259 242 5-2-0 3-3-0 6-3-0 2-2-0 3-2-0 Minnesota 9 4 0 .692 339 249 6-0-0 3-4-0 2-1-0 7-3-0 2-2-0 Cleveland 6 7 0 .462 273 291 4-3-0 2-4-0 6-4-0 0-3-0 3-1-0 Chicago 7 6 0 .538 243 232 4-3-0 3-3-0 1-2-0 6-4-0 3-1-0 REST OF THE SCHEDULE Cincinnati 1 12 0 .077 198 325 1-5-0 0-7-0 1-8-0 0-4-0 0-5-0 Detroit 3 9 1 .269 287 335 2-4-0 1-5-1 1-2-0 2-7-1 0-5-0 West West Tampa Bay (6-7) at Detroit (3-9-1) y-Kansas City 9 4 0 .692 371 281 3-3-0 6-1-0 7-3-0 2-1-0 4-0-0 San Francisco 11 2 0 .846 397 229 5-1-0 6-1-0 3-1-0 8-1-0 3-1-0 Miami (3-10) at N.Y. Giants (2-11) Oakland 6 7 0 .462 258 366 5-2-0 1-5-0 4-5-0 2-2-0 2-2-0 Seattle 10 3 0 .769 341 321 4-2-0 6-1-0 3-1-0 7-2-0 3-1-0 Seattle (10-3) at Carolina (5-8) Denver 5 8 0 .385 236 261 3-3-0 2-5-0 5-5-0 0-3-0 2-2-0 L.A. Rams 8 5 0 .615 311 262 4-3-0 4-2-0 2-2-0 6-3-0 2-2-0 New England (10-3) at Cincinnati (1-12) Philadelphia (6-7) at Washington (3-10) L.A. Chargers 5 8 0 .385 289 251 2-4-0 3-4-0 3-7-0 2-1-0 0-4-0 Arizona 3 9 1 .269 272 374 1-5-1 2-4-0 1-2-0 2-7-1 0-4-0 Cleveland (6-7) at Arizona (3-9-1) x-clinched playoff spot; y-clinched division Atlanta (4-9) at San Francisco (11-2) S TARS AND STRIPES Sunday, December 15, 2019 Double trouble George, Leonard both top 40 points SPORTS in Clippers’ victory » NBA, Page 20

NFL Grounded Browns’ Chubb chases wins, not rushing title

BY TOM WITHERS working, second-year Associated Press back from Georgia who heads into Sun- CLEVELAND day’s game against he chant began almost as Arizona with 1,281 a pleading cry and has yards — 38 more grown into something of than Tennessee’s Ta commandment during Derrick Henry Browns home games this season. and 61 more than It goes, “Chubb! Chubb! Carolina’s Christian Chubb!” McCaffrey. It slowly builds and reaches a If he can hold off crescendo whenever Cleveland’s those two and finish the offense faces a pivotal situation or season on top, Chubb will be the needs a big play. Before the ball first Browns player to lead the is snapped, Browns fans make it NFL in rushing since 1968, when clear to first-year coach Freddie Hall of Famer Leroy Kelly gained Kitchens, who is also handling 1,239 yards in 14 games. play-calling duties, by screaming True to his nose-down, no- what they want him to do with the frills style, Chubb, who finished ball. with 996 yards last season, said Give it to Nick Chubb. winning the rushing title belt “Yeah, I hear it,” the unassum- wouldn’t be anything special. To ing running back said, flashing Chubb, it would represent the an easy smile. “It gets me hyped. sweat and blood he’s put into his It gets me excited.” craft during grueling, year-round It gets him yardage and no weight-room workouts. back in the NFL has gained more this season than Chubb, the hard- SEE GROUNDED ON PAGE 21

Inside: Top draft picks go head to head, Page 22 Trubisky’s confi dence growing, Page 22 Pats try to get offense on track, Page 21

PHOTOS BY DAVID RICHARD/AP Above: Browns running back Nick Chubb leads the league in rushing this season with 1,281 yards. Left: Chubb’s work ethic and team-first mentality has made him a favorite with Cleveland fans.

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