Egypt's Elneny earns praise after 'energetic performance' against Barcelona

Egypt and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has earned lavish praise following his impressive performance against Barcelona on Wednesday night despite seeing his team defeated 3-1 at the Camp Nou.
The 23-year-old scored an unstoppable right-footed curler that nestled into the top corner from the edge of the area, but that was just the icing on the cake after his show of dominance, composure and confidence in Arsenal's midfield.

"Elneny worked tirelessly to help shield the back four against Barca's vaunted attack and made a number of key interceptions, but still had enough energy to push forward in attack," an analysis on ESPN read after the game.

The international midfielder covered the most distance on the pitch, recording 12.85km during the 90 minutes, a whole kilometre more than second-placed Jordi Alba from Barcelona, who made 11.02km and was far ahead of any Arsenal player, with Bellerin coming far behind with 10.86km.

Skysports in its post match analysis also hailed his work rate, saying: "The Egyptian midfielder made his fourth start in 12 days against Barcelona, but he showed no signs of fatigue as he put in another energetic performance at the heart of the Arsenal midfield…[he] broke up play well and showed a good range of passing, holding his own against the trio of Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic."

This performance is not a surprise, as last year while playing at FC Basel, he was the player with the most distance covered at the end of the Champions League round 16 with 97km in eight games, four more than second-placed Nemanja Matic from Chelsea.

"He wasn’t playing and I was thinking, 'what was the point?' I liked Elneny because he was closing down all day," iconic former Arsenal striker Ian Wright told BT sport after the game.

"He played very well, his link-up play was very, very good. When he eventually got the chance, he was very calm and guided it into the top corner."

Now that he has proved his worth in Arsenal's midfield, he will be seeking to cement his place as a regular starter and hopes he could boost the Gunners in their quest for the league title, their last hope for silverware this season.


Source : english.ahram.org.eg

Browns Release Johnny Manziel After 2 Seasons

CLEVELAND (AP) — Johnny Football has been tossed aside.

Quarterback Johnny Manziel, the scrambling, Heisman Trophy-winning college star who hasn’t come close to matching his hype in the NFL, was released Friday by the Cleveland Browns following two turbulent and troubling seasons.

Manziel’s unceremonious exit — the team sent out a brief statement with a few stats and no comment — ends a drama-filled stay in Cleveland for the 23-year-old, who faces an uncertain future on and off the field. For the first time since he started throwing a football as a kid while growing up in Texas, Manziel isn’t a wanted player and he’s contending with possible criminal charges for a recent domestic incident in which his ex-girlfriend claimed he struck and threatened to kill her.

The Browns drafted Manziel in the first round in 2014, hoping he could not only be their long-term solution at quarterback but revive a sluggish franchise.

Instead, he was a two-year headache that wouldn’t go away.

Cleveland couldn’t handle any more lies, parties or distractions.

Manziel entered the NFL amid fanfare and with a party-boy reputation, which only grew thanks to nearly constant exposure on social media. While he was with the Browns hardly a week passed without there being a photo or video of Manziel, usually with a drink in his hand, out having a good time.

But he paid for all those late nights in bars and clubs as Manziel hasn’t developed the work ethic needed to succeed and he wound up spending more than 10 weeks following his rookie season in a Pennsylvania rehab facility specializing in alcohol and drug abuse.

The Browns supported him as long as they could, but his decision to skip the team’s season finale against Pittsburgh – he had a concussion at the time – for a trip to Las Vegas and a second domestic incident in three months was more than the team could tolerate and they dumped Manziel, who went 2-6 as a starter.

The Browns had been expected to waive Manziel on Wednesday, when free agency opened and the league began its new calendar year. The team, though, waited to see if they could find a team interested in making a trade, that way they wouldn’t have to pay Manziel the $2.1 million he’s still owed for the next two years.

But nobody wanted to give up anything for Manziel, who was in Vegas last weekend and has been spotted in nightclubs around Los Angeles the past few days.

Manziel played in 14 games for the Browns. He passed for 1,675 yards with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions.

And now that he’s no longer with the Browns, Manziel has other issues to handle.

On Feb. 25, Dallas police referred their domestic violence case against him to a grand jury, which will exam evidence against Manziel. His ex-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley, accused Manziel of striking her in the head during a night out on Jan. 30. Crowley told police Manziel hit her so hard, she temporarily lost hearing in one ear.

Manziel is also being investigated by the NFL, which could suspend him for his off-field behavior. He was cleared by the league in October following a similar incident with Crowley.

With Manziel gone, the Browns will take another swing at finding a franchise quarterback in this year’s draft or through a trade. They have the No. 2 overall pick, and it’s safe to assume they’ll be even more diligent in checking backgrounds on candidates after their failed experience with Manziel.

It all began with such promise.

As he sat backstage inside New York’s Radio City Music Hall on draft day, Manziel famously sent a text to a Browns assistant coach urging the team to take him so they could “wreck this league” together. Although other teams passed on the Texas A&M star, the Browns traded two picks to move up and take him with the No. 22 pick, a selection they would later regret.

There were disturbing signs before he got to his first training camp as Manziel was photographed floating on an inflatable swan while swigging champagne.

The Browns had concerns, but there was no denying his impact on Cleveland’s die-hard fans, still waiting for a Super Bowl appearance. The quickly scooped up tickets and cleared off store clothing racks of his No. 2 jerseys during the early stages of “Manzielmania.”

He started his rookie season as Josh McCown’s backup and barely got on the field before getting his first extended action in Cleveland’s 12th game. Manziel ran for a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Buffalo, celebrating by rubbing his fingers together and flashing his signature “money” salute, a gesture he later ditched after being taunted with it by opponents.

Manziel’s first career start couldn’t have gone worse. He threw two interceptions and was sacked three times in a 30-0 loss to Cincinnati. The following week he sustained a hamstring injury that ended his season, and Manziel was suspended by coach Mike Pettine for the finale when he failed to show up for the team’s walk-through.

Following his rookie season, Manziel said he regretted not taking his job more seriously and vowed to come back better. In January, he entered a treatment center to get help for an unspecified addiction. He left after 73 days, and there was hope Manziel had exorcised demons.

The Browns stood by Manziel. Pettine named him starter in Week 9, and Manziel showed promise against Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. Manziel, though, was demoted to third string after a video surfaced of him partying during the team’s bye week.

Manziel returned to the starting lineup when McCown broke his collarbone and led the Browns to a win over San Francisco. He made two more starts, but sustained a concussion on Dec. 27 at Kansas City.

Manziel wasn’t required to be at Cleveland’s finale, but he skipped a required medical checkup and the team wasn’t sure of his whereabouts amid reports he was in Vegas, hitting the clubs while wearing a disguise.

The alarming events involving Crowley in Texas, including police using a helicopter to locate Manziel, who indicated he might harm himself, were the final straw for the Browns.

Source : chicago.cbslocal.com

'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan Under Investigation For Possible Animal Cruelty

Cesar Millan, the self-described “Dog Whisperer,” is under investigation for possible animal cruelty following a controversial encounter that was filmed for his TV show between a “pig-killing” dog and a pig.

According to KNBC, sheriff’s deputies and investigators with the LA County Animal Control visited Millan’s Dog Psychology Center in Santa Clarita on Thursday evening. Millan was not there at the time and authorities have yet to make contact with the TV host, TMZ reported.

The investigation was sparked by a recently-broadcast “Cesar 911” segment in which the self-taught dog behaviorist introduced a dog named Simon to a group of pigs.

Simon had killed his owner’s two pet pigs, but Millan thought exposure to the animals in a “new environment” would help train the dog to see pigs in a more “positive” light.

“If I can give him a positive memory with them, it will be a great foundation that will translate into better behavior with all animals,” Millan said.

Once the host took Simon off his leash, however, the dog lunged at one of the pigs and bit off a chunk of its ear. Simon then charged at the group of pigs “again and again … biting and tearing at the cowering animals,” The Dodo reported.



The segment (shown in the YouTube video above) provoked a firestorm of controversy on social media, with animal welfare advocates criticizing Millan for employing not just dangerous, but also illegal, training methods. A petition calling for Millan to be banned from all television appearances has garnered almost 10,000 signatures to date.

Nat Geo WILD, which aired Millan's show, issued a statement defending the host’s tactics.

“Cesar Millan has dedicated his life to helping dogs and to showing how even the most difficult ‘problem dog’ can be rescued and rehabilitated,” said a channel representative, per KNBC.

The network, which pulled the original clip of the encounter from YouTube, added:

    Cesar has created a safe and controlled environment at his Dog Psychology Center … to rehabilitate some of the most extreme -- or ‘red zone’ -- cases of dog aggression, such as Simon’s.

    It is important to clarify that Cesar took precautions, such as putting Simon on a long lead to assess his behavior, before making initial corrections and removing the leash. The pig that was nipped by Simon was tended to immediately afterward, healed quickly and showed no lasting signs of distress. As [a different clip of the encounter] reveals, Cesar and his animal pack effectively helped Simon to overcome his aggressive behavior toward other animals; as a result, Simon did not have to be separated from his owner or euthanized.

Source : huffingtonpost.com

Louis van Gaal Snaps at Reporter over Rio Ferdinand's Manchester United Comments

Louis van Gaal took exception to a reporter raising Rio Ferdinand's damning remarks on Manchester United after their 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Thursday, a result that leaves the Red Devils staring at the Europa League exit door.

Van Gaal admitted his players "could not cope" with Liverpool on the night but reacted angrily when the former United centre-back's comments were put to him, per MailOnline's Daniel Sandford:

"Is it important what Rio Ferdinand is saying, is that important to you? You don't give your opinion and then you give Rio Ferdinand's opinion—that is very strong of you."

Ferdinand was scathing in his assessment of United's performance on BT Sport, and he suggested the players that Van Gaal has let go in his Old Trafford tenure might be better than those currently in the squad, per the Daily Mail's Dominic King.

Source : bleacherreport.com

Austin 'Chumlee' Russell from Pawn Stars arrested as part of sex assault investigation

Austin "Chumlee" Russell, star of the reality TV show Pawn Stars, has reportedly been arrested for drug and gun possession.

Las Vegas police searched the 33-year-old's home in connection with a sexual assault case in which he is the suspect, TMZ reports.

Police allegedly found a firearm and numerous narcotics, including methamphetamine and marijuana.

Police handout shows Austin 'Chumlee' Russell in a booking photo after his arrest for possession of a firearm and numerous narcotics including methamphetamine and marijuana during a sexual assault investigation raid at his home on 9 March, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada

According to the report, Mr Russell was taken into custody and booked for drug and weapon possession.

The sexual assault case is still under investigation.

Pawn Stars, which premiered in 2009, follows the daily business of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas.

Source : independent.co.uk

Maria Menounos' BF puts a ring on it!

was 19 years in the making, but Maria Menounos’ guy, Keven Undergaro, finally dropped to one knee and proposed yesterday — live on Howard Stern’s radio show. So romantic!

“Oh my god, it’s crazy,” the Medford homegal and E! channel star told the Track yesterday. “I met him when I was 19, isn’t that crazy? But I knew he was the one the instant I met him.”

Keven, who sealed the deal with a stunning 3-carat diamond, told us it was the first time he pulled off a surprise for Maria in all their years together.

“I mean, Maria’s a reporter. I can’t get anything by Maria!” he said.

The couple was introduced by Maria’s cousin, Anthony, who went to high school with Keven.

“He told me Keven was a head writer for MTV and he was coming back to Boston to make a movie and I should go work with him,” Maria said. “We hit it off instantly. I was infatuated. I thought ‘He’s the one. I’m gonna make him fall in love with me.’”

Keven recalled their early days together, how they “came from nothing,” and were listening to “The Howard Stern Show” “on a twin mattress in a basement in Medford.”

“I told her, ‘One day you will be on that show, and you will be a star.’ And here you are, and here we are, and it’s like, why not make it official now?”

Maria, like a good Boston girl, replied, “Are you (bleeping) kidding me right now? Is this a joke?”

“My jaw was on the ground,” she told us. “I felt like I was on drugs or something, in an alternate universe.”

Undergaro said he had help planning the surprise from Stern and his wife, Beth, who helped him design the ring along with jeweler-to-the-stars Jean Dousset. The center-cut diamond is set in a halo with 220 accent diamonds and one small topaz on the bottom, which is Keven’s birthstone.

Keven said his mother joked that the ring wasn’t big enough “for Hollywood” but Maria pronounced it “perfect.”

The couple plans to tie the knot next year but they’re trying for a baby now.

“We’re definitely going to work on that tonight after dinner!” Maria laughed.

Although it took 19 years, Maria said the timing of Keven’s proposal was right on. They have both settled into their careers. Maria’s the host of “E! News” and Sirius XM’s “Conversations With Maria Menounos” and she has written the best-selling “The EveryGirl’s” guides.

In addition to piloting Maria’s career, Keven created the couple’s online network, AfterBuzzTV, and will launch his wacky late-night talk show, “The Tomorrow Show,” on it next week.

And if you want to check out the ring, Maria will be in Boston this weekend to promote her latest book, “The EveryGirl’s Guide to Cooking.”

“The cookbook is for every girl who wants to take control of her diet,” she said. “My 40-pound weight loss came after I started cooking for myself. The recipes are simple and fast with just a few ingredients and instructions. There’s lots of pictures and tricks. My mom and I did this together, so it’s a labor of love. I’m really, really proud of it.”

Maria will be signing books and taking pictures at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Barnes & Noble in the Prudential Center. Then on Sunday, she will be hosting a Beauty Brunch featuring food, drink, fashion demos and swag at Gaslight at Market Street in Lynnfield. Go to mariabrunch.eventbrite.com for tickets and info.

Source : bostonherald.com

Five people killed in mass shooting in Wilkinsburg

 
A woman reacts at the scene of a mass shooting in Wilkinsburg late Wednesday in which five people were killed and at least two critically wounded.

Five people — four women and one man — were killed and three others wounded late Wednesday night when gunmen opened fire on a backyard party in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County police said.

The shooting occurred on Hazel Way between two homes on Franklin Avenue.

Lt. Andrew Schurman said at least two shooters were being sought, based on gun casings found at the scene. He said the gunmen started shooting just before 11 p.m. and then fled on foot. Police were still searching for suspects this morning.

Four people died at the scene, Lt. Schurman said, and another victim died later at UPMC Mercy. Two men are in critical condition and another woman is in stable condition this morning.

Shot were fired from an alley to the rear of 1304 Franklin Ave., police said. Those at the party tried to run into the house when one of the gunmen fired at the back porch. The four individuals who died at the scene were on the porch, Lt. Schurman said.

Distraught family members gathered at the scene, with some causing scuffles as they tried to gain access. One woman sat on the ground crying. "They just want to kill everybody," she said.

Neighbors said they were awakened by gunshots and screaming around 11 p.m.

James Boyd, 70, who has lived on Midland Street, three houses from the shooting, for 24 years, said he heard the gunshots. "It went on for almost a minute," he said. "I thought it was maybe the pipes bursting. But then we realized it was gunshots. We've had trouble in this neighborhood before but never this close to home. I've never seen anything like this before."

A woman who lives on street said she was walking home from the East Busway when she heard about 26 gunshots. "This street is always quiet, there's nothing but kids on this street," said Kayla, 20. "To see that, it's new, and it's probably shocking to everyone else up here. I'm shaking."

George C. Spencer Sr., president of the Greater Pittsburgh-area Mad Dads, and Donald Giddens, a street patrol director for the group, came to the scene to comfort grieving friends and family members. They said this was the worst shooting incident they had seen since the local chapter was founded in 2006.

"We do take proactive steps to try and curtail some of this madness," Mr. Giddens said. "We have to do something."

Source : post-gazette.com

Donald Trump shouts ‘I love you’ to supporter Paul O’Neill

    Donald Trump has been endorsed by Yankees great Paul O'Neill (back-left).


Donald Trump picked up a surprise Yankees endorsement Tuesday night in Jupiter, Fla.
The Republican front-runner gave a shoutout to Paul O’Neill, the former Yankees
outfielder and four-time World Series champion in pinstripes — after Trump’s victories in the Michigan and Mississippi primaries on Tuesday night.

O’Neill was in the audience for Trump’s victorious press conference when Trump spotted him.

“I love you,” the candidate said to O’Neill after learning he had the former Yankees endorsement.

This must not have been good news for rival candidate John Kasich, who probably would have liked his fellow Ohioan’s support.

O’Neill, who played nine season for the Bombers and makes his home in Columbus, Ohio, also spent eight seasons with the Reds, winning a World Series with Cincinnati in 1990.



Source : nypost.com

Massive fire engulfs Chicago flea market

Emergency crews are responding to a four-alarm fire at a flea market in Chicago’s West Humbolt Park neighborhood. People are believed to be trapped inside the building, and at least one person has been rescued, according to the Chicago Fire Department.

Officials say that people are trapped in the northwest of the building, according to Chicago Fire Media. In addition to firefighting crews, ambulances could be seen arriving at the blaze.

Cars fell through the building’s roof deck when it collapsed. The thickest plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the hole left by the collapse.

The building is home to Buyers Flea Market. A sign that on the building claimed the flea market is "Chicagoland's largest" could be seen being engulfed by flames, according to NBC Chicago.
No injuries have been reported so far.


source : rt.com

Naked woman dancing on top of truck causes Texas-sized traffic jam

    This woman caused a two-hour traffic jam during morning rush hour.

“Sorry I was late for work... a naked dancing woman caused a traffic jam” is now officially a valid excuse for employees throughout the US city of Houston, Texas, after that actual incident occurred during Monday morning rush hour.
The unnamed Lady Godiva, who apparently is “mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore”, threw away her clothes, climbed on top of an 18-wheel truck, and gave the world a show they usually only see on mud flaps.

The cause of her unusual behavior is unknown and she was taken to a nearby medical center after the incident without being charged.

After two minor hit-and-run incidents, the woman walked along Highway 290, blocking cars as she disrobed, and mounted the roof of a semi-truck's cab, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

The woman danced on the roof for two hours while police talked her down.

One YouTube witness is heard saying “she’s spittin’ a lot of truth right now” while capturing her shouting “black power” and “f*ck the p*igs”.

The naked dancer attracted a crowd who enjoyed her antics, but police needed help from a fire brigade truck to get her down from her precarious perch.

The compassionate handling of the situation likely stems from the collective empathy for anyone stuck in traffic.

Perhaps this story could be the sequel to the Michael Douglas film Falling Down.



Source : rt.com

AC/DC postpone gigs after singer Brian Johnson warned he risks going deaf.

Rock band AC/DC have been forced to postpone a series of gigs after frontman Brian Johnson was warned he risks going deaf.

Doctors have told the Back In Black singer from Gateshead to "stop performing immediately" or face total hearing loss.

AC/DC, whose hits include Thunderstruck and Highway To Hell, are due to perform the first concert at London's Olympic Stadium on June 4.

    AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson performing at the Carling Hammersmith Apollo in west London

It is understood organisers expect the gig to ahead after the band said their US dates were being rearranged to later this year, with a guest vocalist likely to feature.

The band are also due to play at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on June 9.

A statement on the group's website said: "AC/DC are forced to reschedule the 10 upcoming dates on the US leg of their Rock or Bust world tour.

"AC/DC's lead singer, Brian Johnson, has been advised by doctors to stop touring immediately or risk total hearing loss."

Johnson, 68, has been lead singer with AC/DC since 1980 following the death of former frontman Bon Scott.

The postponement of gigs is the latest in a series of setbacks for the band.

Former drummer Phil Rudd pleaded guilty last year to charges of drug possession and making threats to kill. He was sentenced to eight months of home detention.

Meanwhile, in 2014 it was announced that founding member and guitarist Malcolm Young was suffering from dementia and would not be returning to the band.

source : dailymail.co.uk

International Women's Day 2016 Google Doodle: #OneDayIWill video shows women around the world's inspirational hopes for the future

March 8 marks International Women's Day, when the plight and achievements of women around the world are celebrated.

This year, the theme is "Planet 50-50 by 2030", an independent campaign that aims to put gender equality at the centre of global sustainability plans.

To celebrate International Women's Day, Google has made a video entitled #OneDayIWill, which plays on its search homepage in the usual Doodle spot.

Opening with a pair of girls in San Francisco saying "one day we will play in the Major League", the video sees women and girls from 13 different cities around the world completing the sentence "one day I will...".

The video, made by Lydia Nichols, Helen Leroux and Liat Ben-Rafael, features notable figures, including anthropologist Jane Goodall – who says she wants to discuss the environment with Pope Francis – and Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by the Talbian for her campaigning for girls' education in Pakistan. Malala and fellow activist Muzoon Almellehan say: "One day we will see every girl in school."

Writing on their YouTube channel, the makers of the video say: "Over the years, Doodles have marked the achievements of women in science, civil rights, journalism, sports, arts, technology and beyond. But for our 2016 International Women’s Day Doodle, we wanted to celebrate the next generation of Doodle-worthy women—the engineers, educators, leaders, movers and shakers of tomorrow.


source: independent.co.uk

What Time Do 'The Division' Servers Go Live?

Ubisoft's The Division is almost upon us, marking the developer’s second major release of this late winter/ early spring season. This is an MMO, however, with all of the technical challenges that come with it. If you happen to have snagged an early physical copy for either Xbox One or PS4, servers are already live, and you can play now. If you’ve got a digital copy on PS4 or Xbox One, it will unlock at 12:01 AM in your time zone. If you’ve got a digital copy on PC, it will be available at 12:01 AM Eastern Time. A Ubi employee goes over it in this forum post.

Hopefully, The Division’s two well-attended betas have adequately prepared Ubisoft for the release day rush, and we’ll get a smooth launch on a technical level. MMOs are somewhat notorious for connection/server trouble at launch, but gamers are less and less tolerant of that sort of thing, particularly after a whole lot of high-profile disasters in recent years. I’d expect some jitters, but nothing serious: the betas were remarkably stable for the number of players Ubisoft was reporting.

After that, we get to see what Ubisoft has to offer inside this still nascent genre. If the Beta was any indication, there will be plenty to do in those first couple days, and recent data mining lists 26 missions each meant to take around 30 minutes to complete. I rend to burn through that sort of content pretty quickly, but the real test of a game like this is how well it can continue that initial burst of momentum over a period of weeks, months and years. We already have an idea of the roadmap ahead, but I worry about the variety in the gameplay. I’d call it solid: nothing too interesting, far from a failure. Mechanics like this open up a lot of opportunity for strategy, so Ubisoft can give this game a chance to shine with some interesting squad-based challenges.

Of course, I’d be happy to just spend my days in the strangely addictive Dark Zone. We’ll see how it all goes tomorrow.


Source : .forbes.com