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Sowei 2025-01-12
From revisiting the political scandal that sparked a cultural reckoning in Canberra to a rich-lister’s unravelling, there were no shortage of court battles being waged — or defended — by the top end of town in 2024. We revisit some of the cases that dominated headlines and left us shocked, perplexed, and — at times — even entertained. Brittany Higgins defended a defamation action launched by Senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: Composite image/Holly Thompson Villain or victim? Reynolds v Higgins It was a story of an alleged rape in the halls of Parliament House and a covert political cover-up, and like all “fairytales”, it needed a villain. That was how WA Senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett began the five-week-long trial in her defamation suit against former staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, the most high-profile case to go before WA’s civil courts in 2024. The former defence minister sued Higgins over social media posts accusing her of mishandling the former staffer’s alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019 — a claim that was later aired by the media and created a storm that led to Reynolds’ political demise. Loading Higgins fiercely defended the action on the basis her posts were true, but opted against taking the stand at the eleventh hour amid concerns for her health. The trial, which the pair mortgaged and sold their homes to pursue, pored over the events of 2019 in excruciating detail, dragged in high-profile figures — from former prime minister Scott Morrison to broadcaster Peta Credlin — and threw private texts into the public arena we imagine the parties would have preferred to remain private.Airport to shut down in Nigeria amid christmas travel plans, details of location emergesThe United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month's election: It will release a Betty White stamp. The beloved actor known for roles in "The Golden Girls," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Boston Legal" and others will be on a 2025 Forever stamp, USPS announced this past week. White died in late December 2021, less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn't announced a release date for the stamp. Betty White speaks Sept. 17, 2018, at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Phil McCarten, Invision “An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston. “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.” People are also reading... Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston's photo. Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack "I'd love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK," Stephanos posted on Facebook. USPS wants stamp prices to rise 5 times over the next 3 years Regardless of personal politics, self-proclaimed supporters of Republican President-elect Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris reacted with delight on social media. "Betty White was my hero, all of my life! I actually had a doll when I was a little girl I named Betty White," one Trump supporter posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Something to make this awful week a little better: We’re getting a Betty White stamp,” a pro-Harris X account posted. White combined a wholesome image with a flare for bawdy jokes. Her television career began in the early 1950s and exploded as she aged. “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party," Seth Meyers posted on Twitter after her death. "A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.” Photos: Remembering Betty White (1922-2021) Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White, who love to play games, continue a two year gin rummy battle in which she's ahead by a cumulative 6,000 points in Westchester, N.Y. on April 29, 1965. They do it professionally on TV. He's the master of ceremonies on "Password," and she makes frequent guest appearances on game shows. They play games to relax at home. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Bob Wands Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White admire magnolia blossoms on the lawn of their country home in Westchester, N.Y. on May 14, 1965. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Bob Wands Actress Betty White in 1965. (AP Photo) Anonymous Betty White shares a moment backstage at the 28th annual Emmy Awards with Ted Knight after they each won an Emmy for their supporting roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." On the series Miss White played Sue Ann Nivens while Knight played newscaster Ted Baxter. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) Reed Saxon LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17, 1976: (L-R) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" co-stars - Ed Asner, Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore and Ted Knight - all won awards at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Shubert Theatre on May 17, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by TVA/PictureGroup/Invision for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images) TVA/PictureGroup Actress Betty White with Ted Knight at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 13, 1981. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen) Randy Rasmussen Betty White and Anson Williams don't seem to faze Buckeye, a St. Bernard, during an awards ceremony during which Williams was honored by the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a friend and lover of animals. Ms. White presented a humanitarian plaque to Williams at the event, which was held in Hollywood, California, Friday, May 1, 1982. (AP Photo/Marc Karody) Marc Karody Actress Betty White with actor John Hillerman arriving at Emmy Awards, Sept. 22, 1985 in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/LIU) LIU Actresses Betty White Ludden, left, and Mary Tyler Moore, right, smile at each other in Los Angeles, Friday, June 22, 1985 during Annual Meeting of Morris Animal Foundation, at which Ludden announced her retirement as President of the animal health group, held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Nick Ut These four veteran actresses from the television series "The Golden Girls" shown during a break in taping Dec. 25, 1985 in Hollywood. From left are, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Nick Ut Actress Betty White poses in Los Angeles, Ca. in June, 1986. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) REED SAXON Betty White stands backstage at the NBC TV Bob Hope "I Love Lucy" special on Sept. 16, 1989. (AP Photo/Djansezian) Djansezian Michael J. Fox and Betty White, winners of Emmys for best actor and actress in a comedy series, stand backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1986 after receiving their honors. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) Douglas C. Pizac Comedienne Betty White places her hand on the star that was presented posthumously to her husband, Allen Ludden, during ceremonies inducting him into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Thursday, March 31, 1988. Ludden was honored with the 1,868th star of the famed walkway — between those of White and Tyrone Power. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Nick Ut Estelle Getty, who plays Sophia, poses with her new husband, who plays Max, and the other "Golden Girls" after taping of episode on Friday, night, Nov. 5,1988 in Hollywood. Left to right are Rue McCLanahan (Blanche), Getty, Gilford, Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Betty White. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin) Ira Mark Gostin Former cast members of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, sans Mary Tyler Moore, are reunited for the Museum of Television and Radio's 9th annual Television Festival in Los Angeles Saturday, March 21, 1992. From left are Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Ed Asner. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii) Craig Fujii Actress Betty White, left, writer/producer David E. Kelley, actress Bridget Fonda, and actor Oliver Platt pose at the premiere of their movie "Lake Placid," Wednesday night, July 14, 1999, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) MARK J. TERRILL Betty White, from "Golden Girls," and Mr. T, Lawrence Tureaud, from "The A Team," pose for photographers at NBC's 75th Anniversary Party, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) RENE MACURA Actors Betty White, left, Georgia Engel, second left, Gavin MacLeod, center, Valerie Harper, second right, and John Amos pose for photographers during arrivals at CBS's 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) LOUIS LANZANO Actress Betty White laughs as an African eagle roosts overhead at the Los Angeles Zoo Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Los Angeles, where White was honored as Ambassador to the Animals by the city for her decades of dedication to the humane treatment of animals. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) NICK UT Betty White poses for photographers on the red carpet before Comedy Central's "Roast of William Shatner," Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) RENE MACURA Betty White arrives at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Mark J. Terrill Beatrice Arthur, left, Betty White, center, and Rue McClanahan, of the Golden Girls, arrive at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Matt Sayles Actor Henry Winkler, center, is seen Beatrice Arthur, right, and Betty White at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Matt Sayles In this Nov. 24, 2009 file photo, actress Betty White poses for a portrait following her appearance on the television talk show "In the House," in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Chris Pizzello Actress Betty White poses for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Matt Sayles Actress Betty White is seen on stage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Matt Sayles Betty White, a cast member in "You Again," poses with fans holding Betty White masks at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Chris Pizzello Actress Betty White wears a U.S. Forest Ranger hat after being named an Honorary Forest Ranger by the US Forest Service, at the Kennedy Center in Washington Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. White has stated in numerous interviews that her first ambition as a young girl was "to become a forest ranger, but they didn't allow women to do that back then". (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Cliff Owen Betty White, left, Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson arrive at the MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, Calif., on Sunday, June 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Matt Sayles Betty White, left, Kristen Bell, center, and Jamie Lee Curtis, cast members in "You Again," pose together at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Chris Pizzello Betty White, left, accepts the Life Achievement Award from Sandra Bullock at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Mark J. Terrill From left, actresses Betty White, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves pose for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Matt Sayles Alec Baldwin, left, and Betty White are seen on stage at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Mark J. Terrill Betty White attends a book signing for her book 'If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)' at Barnes & Noble in New York, Friday, May 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) Charles Sykes Actress Betty White attends a press conference prior to the taping of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl" on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci) Vince Bucci Actress Betty White arrives on a white pony as she is honored at a Friars Club Roast sponsored by Godiva, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Marion Curtis) Marion Curtis Betty White, at left, attends her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussauds on Monday, June 4, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Katy Winn/Invision/AP) Katy Winn From left, Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Shuck, Actress Betty White and The 2012 American Hero Dog Gabe pose during 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Invision/AP) Ryan Miller Betty White and Cloris Leachman onstage at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the JW Marriott on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP) Todd Williamson Ellen DeGeneres, left, presents Betty White with the award for favorite TV icon at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Chris Pizzello Betty White, left, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Looking on from right are Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Chris Pizzello Stay up-to-date on what's happeningp777



TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Luke Kromenhoek threw for 209 yards and tossed three touchdown passes as Florida State halted a six-game losing streak and routed Charleston Southern 41-7 on Saturday. Kromenhoek completed 13 of 20 passes in his first college start, including a 71-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas, as the Seminoles (2-9) won for the first time since Sept. 21. The true freshman also connected with Amaree Williams for a 4-yard TD and Hykeem Williams for a 10-yard TD. Florida State had the nation’s lowest scoring offense at 13.3 points. The Seminoles hadn’t scored more than 21 points or surpassed the 300-yard mark in 2024. But Florida State overwhelmed FCS Charleston Southern (1-11), accumulating 415 offensive yards. Kaleb Jackson completed 22 of 32 passes for 218 yards, including a 7-yard touchdown pass to Landon Sauers, and an interception for the Buccaneers. The takeaway Charleston Southern: While the Buccaneers found some success through the air, they couldn’t sustain drives and managed just 57 rushing yards on 29 carries. Florida State: The Seminoles picked up a season-best 176 rushing yards, scoring 17 points in the second quarter and 14 points in the third quarter to take control. Up next Charleston Southern’s season is over. Florida State plays host to Florida on Nov. 30. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football . Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://apnews.com/cfbtop25Commentary: New legislators face significant choices with funding shortfall

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Luke Littler’s stunning Players Championship run ended in final thriller as Luke Humphries sets major Ally Pally marker(Source: Nasdaq) The S&P 500 and the Dow fell on Monday in holiday-thinned trading after a stopgap government funding bill averted a U.S. government shutdown and investors braced for a slower pace of rate cuts from the Federal Reserve next year. After a solid run since the November presidential election, Wall Street’s rally hit a bump this month, especially after the U.S. Federal Reserve forecast just two 25-basis-point rate reductions for 2025 – down from its September view of four cuts – and raised its annual inflation outlook. A cooler-than-expected inflation report on Friday helped U.S. stocks recoup some losses. However, overall market sentiment was still cautious, said Thierry Wizman, strategist at Macquarie. Money markets expect roughly two 25-bps reductions in 2025, which would bring the benchmark rate to a range of 3.75% to 4.0%, from about a 3.50% to 3.75% range two weeks ago. “It’s a Monday with very few catalysts to drive (broad market) sentiment, and we’re going to have low volume, likely volatile trading as we work our way out of this year,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist, B Riley Wealth. Trading volumes are expected to thin, with U.S. stock markets closing early on Tuesday and shut for Christmas on Wednesday. The United States Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday, minutes after the funding’s expiration, which could have disrupted everything from law enforcement to national parks ahead of the busy Christmas travel season. At 11:07 a.m. the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) fell 247.19 points, or 0.58%, to 42,593.07 and the S&P 500 (.SPX) lost 5.47 points, or 0.09%, to 5,925.38. The Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), opens new tab gained 52.79 points, or 0.27%, to 19,625.38, buoyed by gains in chipmakers and megacap stocks. Nvidia (NVDA.O), added 1.6% and Meta Platforms (META.O), rose 1.4%. Apple’s (AAPL.O), market capitalization stood at $3.84 trillion as the world’s most valuable company inched closer to the $4 trillion milestone. Markets are also entering a historically strong period for U.S. stocks. Since 1969, the last five trading days of the year, combined with the first two of the following year, have yielded an average S&P 500 gain of 1.3% – a period known as the “Santa Claus Rally”, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. Qualcomm’s (QCOM.O), shares rose 1.7% after a jury found its central processors are properly licensed under an agreement with UK-based Arm Holdings . Shares of Arm, which has vowed to seek a fresh trial, fell about 5%. Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab fell 3.3% after the U.S. consumer finance watchdog accused the retail giant and workforce payments company Branch Messenger of forcing more than a million delivery drivers into using accounts that cost them more than $10 million in junk fees. Eli Lilly (LLY.N), gained 1.7% after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the drugmaker’s weight-loss treatment, Zepbound, for obstructive sleep apnea. Shares of sleep apnea device makers ResMed (RMD.N), and Inspire Medical (INSP.N), fell about 4% each. Declining issues outnumbered advancers by a 2.56-to-1 ratio on the NYSE, and by a 1.91-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted two new 52-week highs and 11 new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 35 new highs and 86 new lows. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Medha Singh and Purvi Agarwal in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai)

President-elect Donald Trump Sunday evening sent a tribute to the Carter family in the wake of Jimmy Carter's death at 100 years old. Trump said in a statement on X: "I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude. "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers." The kind words juxtapose Trump and Carter's political divides over the years. Carter's administration was seen by Trump and his conservative supporters as a time of American decline. Carter claimed that Trump's campaign had "tapped a waiting reservoir... of racism" during the 2016 election. Carter's opinion of Trump seemed to changed in 2017 when he told a New York Times reporter the media treated then-president Trump worse than any other president. Many family members, acquaintances, and fellow politicians expressed their condolences for the longest-serving president in US history.CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jonathon Brooks doesn’t know how he’ll feel once Sunday comes, once his long-awaited debut for the Carolina Panthers is here. Same goes for Jonathon’s brother, Jordon. Same goes for his mother, Jennifer Donovan, too. The same probably is true for the throngs of people in Hallettsville, Texas, who’ve been reading all the injury news and calling anyone and everyone they know in Charlotte to get the latest update on their hometown hero. There’s one person who the family has been wondering about, specifically, though. He’s been the subject of the question Jennifer, Jordon and Jonathon have asked more and more lately, as the Panthers’ contest with the Kansas City Chiefs at 1 p.m. Sunday in Bank of America Stadium approaches. What would Dad think? “It’s funny because Jordon and I, we say that a lot, too,” Donovan told The Charlotte Observer over the phone earlier this week. “We just really wonder what Skip would be saying. How would he be reacting?” “Honestly, I don’t know,” Jordon began. He then laughed. “I mean, well, I do know.” James “Skip” Brooks would be happy, the son said. “And I can only imagine how happy he’d be.” When Jonathon Brooks makes his NFL debut Sunday, he’ll be playing for a lot of people. The second-round draft pick, who has missed the first chunk of his rookie season recovering from an ACL tear he suffered Nov. 11 of last year, will be playing for his friends. He’ll be playing for his teammates. He’ll be playing for his mother, who helped raise her shy kid from a small southern Texas town who has a gift for finding the open field. He’ll be playing for his brother, who he used to ride bikes with and jump on trampolines with and played living room football with until the end zone couches couldn’t take anymore. He’ll also be playing for his father, who fueled his football dream, who died in 2022 but who Brooks is convinced has been watching over him since. “I feel like I play for a bigger reason,” Jonathon said. “I play for God, my family.” As he always has. Even when it wasn’t easy. The 3 touchdowns the Brooks family won’t forget Ask about Jonathon, and there are three trips to the end zone that stick out in the Brooks family’s collective memory. It’s not hard to see why. The first came when Jonathon was a freshman at Hallettsville High. Jordon, then a senior, remembers it well. It was the seventh week of the 2017 football season, and Jonathon, who’d been tearing it up at the JV level, had gotten called up to varsity. The offense was less than 5 yards away from the end zone. For years, Jordon had seen what others hadn’t. That’s what happens when you’re two of nine grandchildren, part of a big family that featured three uncles and five aunts on Dad’s side and three uncles on Mom’s. It’s also what happens when you’re the son of Skip. Skip Brooks was born and raised in Shiner, Texas, a slightly bigger town than neighboring Hallettsville that is known for its Shiner Bock beer. He was a football player back in the day and used to tease his kids that he was a great running back, too — that they’re lucky they didn’t have video to show how elusive he was. Skip loved his boys and loved pushing them in their shared passion for football. He coached them at times when they were running around in the community’s youth leagues. Jordon acknowledges that “I know he’s my brother and all” but “the way he could see the field was insane at a young age.” And that’s why when coach called a handoff-counter-right on that Friday night in the fall of 2017, Jordon knew what would happen: a touchdown. With no planned celebration, Jonathon just sprinted to his brother, who’d already jogged to his position as a blocker on the PAT team, and jumped up and celebrated with a shoulder bump. A newspaper photographer captured it mid-air; that’s one of Jennifer’s favorite pictures in her scrapbook, she said. “I almost wish they were closer in age and could have more time playing together because it was just really a lot of fun,” Jennifer said. “Everybody in town was super excited.” The second memorable touchdown came four years later, while Jonathon was at Texas. A lot had happened in those four years. He’d go on long road trips with his father and brother — from San Antonio to Florida to California — to play football and get people to see him play. As a sophomore, Jonathon was offered a scholarship to Texas. As a senior, he lived up to that billing, putting up stats that made eyes across the country pop: 3,530 yards and 62 touchdowns on 350 carries. Who is this guy, and where is Hallettsville? That second special touchdown came late in the fourth quarter in a game against Rice. The Longhorns were on the good side of a blowout. Brooks took a handoff from the shotgun, ran left and sliced through the defense for a 17-yard score. That score was the only one he got in the 2021 season, when he backed up Bijan Robinson, now with the Atlanta Falcons. It was also the only collegiate touchdown his father saw. Skip Brooks passed away March 28, 2022, during a spring practice of Jonathon’s sophomore year. Kidney disease ran in the family, and he was on and off dialysis for years. A few months after restarting dialysis in December 2021, he underwent surgery, and complications from that surgery formed a blood clot, which ultimately killed him. The loss of Skip was an incalculable one for a Shiner community who adored him and a devastating one for the family who loved him. That leads us to the third touchdown — and to the many more thereafter. Jonathon and Jordon, a few weeks after the death of their father, each got tattoos on their forearms that read the date March 28, 2022 in roman numerals with “Dad” emblazoned over it. Every time Jonathon stomps into paydirt now — and every time he will in the future — the shy, small-town Texas kid taps his forearm, as if he’s ringing Skip’s heavenly doorbell, and points to the sky. ‘To finally live out his dream’ You’re probably familiar with Jonathon Brooks from here. After waiting two seasons to be the premier back at Texas — behind talents Roschon Johnson and Robinson — he broke out like everyone figured he would as a redshirt sophomore. In 11 games that 2023 season, he finished with 1,139 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing, enough to solidify him as one of the best running backs in the country. That 11th game, against TCU, Brooks tore his right ACL. That meant no NFL scouting combine. No Senior Bowl appearances. But that didn’t stunt Brooks’ NFL stock. The Panthers selected Brooks in the second round of this year’s draft, making him the first running back taken off the board. And despite reports of his timeline being ready by training camp — that it was a complete tear, making the recovery process potentially less complicated — the Panthers’ brass made it clear that they were content taking their time with Brooks. That time almost came two weeks ago, when Brooks was activated to the 53-man roster. But on Sunday, that time will finally come: Panthers coach Dave Canales said that he “fully expects” Brooks to make his debut against the Chiefs — and it’s possible to expect him to get more touches than he otherwise might, with typical third-down back Miles Sanders still nursing an ankle injury from Week 10. It might not be a lot of touches, of course. Panther running backs not-named Chuba Hubbard have only earned 42 rushes through 10 games. But the most memorable moments for Jonathon haven’t come in the biggest seasons, after all. They’ve come in the smaller moments. They’ve all involved his family, too: as a freshman in high school celebrating with his older brother; as a freshman at Texas scoring the last touchdown Skip saw; as a player now, every time he hits the end zone and points to his father. To Brooks, family is everything. And everyone can tell. “It would be amazing,” Ja’Tavion Sanders said Monday. The jovial rookie tight end said this when he was asked how he might feel when Jonathon — his Texas Longhorn teammate and next-door locker buddy who considers himself an honorary member of the Brooks family — finally makes his NFL debut. He said it in earshot of Brooks, who could only smile and shake his head as Sanders bragged on him. “All the trials and tribulations, and then him putting all the work in just to get back to this point and to ultimately have his debut, to finally live out his dream that he’s worked so hard for, I’ll be so excited,” Sanders continued. “Hopefully I’m in when he gets that first carry so I’m blocking for him.” Jonathon’s mother feels the same. Jordon does as well. They, too, have thought about Skip a lot — whether that be while walking their two golden doodles, Nala and Nova, or while Jordon chips away at getting his commercial driver’s license. Skip, after all, was an 18-wheel truck driver and carried lumber and pipes across the country while always finding ways to prioritize one of his joys: watching his sons play football. As Sunday approaches, the question gets louder: How would Dad feel? “I wonder that,” Jennifer said. “Because he was kind of an introvert. He didn’t show a whole lot. Didn’t say a whole lot, sometimes even. But I do want to believe that he would have some tears. I do. Just proud. Just feeling really happy that his child has done this. And he pushed it and wanted it so bad for him. I think he would probably have some tears. He might wipe them real quick so nobody sees. But I think he would be feeling quite a lot.” Skip would have every right to. He has every right to. As does his son. ©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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