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CEO killer suspect: golden boy who soured on US health system
Donald Trump Jr’s friends worried about ‘social climbing’ new girlfriend: reportMr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian. The King and the Prime Minister have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter following the former US president’s death on Sunday aged 100. In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public serviceGophers’ blowout of Morgan State underscores U’s weak nonconference slate
Chasing those childhood summer feels? From reinvigorated motels to bush cabins laced with luxury, here are some of our favourite nostalgia-inducing spots across the state. MOTEL MAGIC Sunnymead Hotel, Aireys Inlet Why If the bright-yellow Billy Buttons and kangaroo paw plantings swaying in the breeze don’t win you over, the sunshine-shaded rooms of this retro motel in Aireys Inlet, an hour-and-45-minute drive from Melbourne, will. This 20-room motel is also home to a boutique day spa (with an ochre-toned steam room, communal bathhouse and treatment menu); a restaurant, Santara, which serves up “sunny hour” $12 cocktails and chicken-salted crispy oyster mushrooms from Friday through Tuesday; and a pool that’s studded with loungers and yellow umbrellas. Plan in advance and order a continental “breakfast bag” featuring local sourdough, butter, jam and juices. In the cooler months, a fire pit blazes. Rooms from $150. See sunnymeadhotel.com.au Nearby Pick up a new beach read at Great Escape Books . Sandy Gully Beach is a 10-minute walk away. A 30-minute drive up the road, farming social enterprise and cafe Common Ground Project offers pastries and scenic vistas; the hub of Lorne – with its beach and eateries – is 25 minutes in the other direction. Holbrook Motel, Holbrook Why The ideal stopover for Melbourne-Sydney road trips, the recently renovated Holbrook Motel is a small-town gem. Just 40 minutes north of the Victorian border, 18 meticulously refreshed (and generously sized) rooms are anchored by king beds, blue-tiled showers with shampoo scented with native botanicals, and a patio overlooking a central pool. Your undercover parking spot features a bucket with a squeegee: a thoughtful addition that makes clearing the bugs collected on the Hume that little bit easier. Rooms – including one accessible – from $130. See holbrookmotel.com.au Nearby Famous for its 90-metre landbound submarine, HMAS Otway, Holbrook is also home to two ripper second-hand bookstores and the National Pottery Museum . Order locally reared steak at the Holbrook Hotel , just down the road. Soak in the view from the Yambla View “Wambariga” Lookout. River Drive Motel, Tarwin Lower Credit: Nicky Cawood Why This five-room boutique motel in Tarwin Lower, on the way to Wilsons Prom, packs a punch for its size. The one-acre property enjoys gardens shaded by established trees, big hooded barbecues and the quintessential summer song of string tennis games. It’s all about the family here, so grab a cruiser (and helmet) or a game from the garden shed and head down to the beach, or settle in and cook up with the full kitchen and minibar. It’s all style in the rooms, with angular timber detailing, dark shades of blue and green (and bubblegum pink retro bathroom tiles), and eclectic modern art on the walls. Rooms from $320. See riverdrivemotel.com.au Nearby Swim at Walkerville South Beach. Grab dinner at the Riverview Pub . Pick up produce at Flock, Stock & Basil ’s Saturday farmgate shop. Cast a line from one of Tarwin’s many wooden fishing platforms along the Tarwin River Boardwalk. Pick up a one-of-a-kind handmade mug at Valley Plains Pottery . PUB LIFE The Victoria, Rutherglen Credit: By George Photography Why Transformed over two years by a Corowa local and her husband, this 1894 pub in Rutherglen – a three-hour drive from Melbourne – is now a decadent High Country hotel with a fire-inspired restaurant turning out venison tartare and flame-licked scotch fillet. Generous rooms (including eight more by mid-2025) sport king-size beds, brass fixtures, sitting areas and – in some – soaking tubs. History oozes from the original double-hung windows, bounces between walls covered with custom pony-patterned wallpaper, and echoes beneath the heritage-listed four-metre ceilings. Sit out on the guest-only verandah, wrapped with a replica of the original wrought iron balustrade, and you’ll be transported to yesteryear. Rooms from $245. See victoriahotelrutherglen.com.au Nearby Experience Rutherglen’s wine bounty at female-owned Stanton & Killeen . Explore the heritage facades now home to a candle shop, eateries (including Grace. ) and boutiques. Pick up an e-bike from Rutherglen Radler and cycle around to see them all. Portarlington Grand Hotel, Portarlington Why This 18-room beachside hotel an hour-and-45-minute drive from Melbourne has been a part of Portarlington since 1888, once a resting place for weary travellers – whether visiting by ship or horsedrawn buggy. Now a boutique hotel, it features sumptuous wood-toned interiors, custom Australian-made furniture and dramatic carpet fashioned with William Morris art. Grand Bay rooms enjoy harbour views from private balconies, but all have generous bathrooms and minibars stocked with Geelong-based Love Tea and Sideroads coffee. Indulge in bowls of Portarlington mussels and play giant Jenga on the lawn (which was once a drive-through bottleshop). Rooms – including two accessible – from $255. See portarlingtongrandhotel.com.au Nearby Jump on a Portarlington Mussel Tours boat for a seafood journey or visit in January for the annual mussel festival. Grab potato and broccolini pizza at Staple Eatery . Visit the historic Portarlington flour mill. Bunyip Hotel Cavendish, Cavendish Why Currently hosting guests from Thursday through Sunday, this country hotel a 31⁄2-hour drive west of Melbourne is a powerhouse of good food and regional hospitality. The head chef shears sheep on his days off and the hotel celebrates produce – from flowers to eggs to cured meats – from hyper-local suppliers. (The owners’ other business recycles plastic farm refuse, such as bale wraps and discarded drip lines, so they walk the regional talk.) Three rooms share communal bathrooms, which feature vintage meat safes as cabinetry, and an 11am checkout. Add an affordable five-course dinner onto your stay: it’s well worth it. Rooms from $120. bunyiphotelcavendish.com Nearby Wander Settlers Walk to go (way) back in time, or skip rocks along the Wannon River. Buy stamps, fishing bait and a coffee at Bridge Cafe . Time your visit to co-ordinate with local festivals in April (Red Gum Festival) and November (Fleece & Flower Show). CAMPING OUT Bright Discovery Park, Bright Why Wake up to birdsong and spot roaming wild deer at this family-run caravan park on the banks of the Ovens River in Bright, a 31⁄2-hour drive north-east of Melbourne. Newly built cabins enjoy rain shower heads, four-burner gas cooking, gas fireplaces and personal patios (perfect for a game of Sequence). Kids bounce off the kanga pad in the gated playground or ride on bikes beneath snow gums, but you’ll feel like a kid with a game of tennis or a song around the brick-and-steel campfire. The owners planted garden beds stocked with rosemary, mint, oregano and lettuces; take what you need to elevate your dinner. Campsites from $34. Cabins – including one accessible – from $153. See discoveryholidayparks.com.au Nearby Buy locally made cheese at The Peak Artisan Cheesemakers . Wander alongside baby emus at Red Stag Deer & Emu Farm . Pick up gems at the monthly Bright Farmers Market. Soak in the view from Sullivans Lookout. Anywhere, Parks Victoria Credit: Tourism Victoria Why Grab the tent and pack the ute: from December 30 until June 30, 2025, travellers can enjoy free access to 131 normally paid campsites across the state with Parks Victoria. That includes dog-friendly camping at designated sites at Banksia Bluff campground, beach-access camping at Blanket Bay, and camping closer to the inner city, including at picturesque Lake Eildon. Further afield, top spots to take advantage of include hike-camping in Alpine National Park (for experienced, self-sufficient campers – and even those with horses through the Bogong High Plains) and Tidal Bluff, a 484-site-strong campground at Wilsons Prom. Bookings are essential to manage demand and access. Some campsites have access to hot showers and shelters, but many do not; research and plan accordingly. See parks.vic.gov.au The writer travelled as a guest of some properties; other travel was self-funded.ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.
Singapore was the most actively traded cash market in Asean and among the Asia-Pacific developed markets. Therese Soh SINGAPORE - The Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) total securities market turnover value rose 51 per cent year on year (yoy) to $30.2 billion in November, based on the bourse operator’s monthly market statistics report released on Dec 9. This represented a 12 per cent rise from October’s $26.9 billion. November’s total market volume stood at 28.1 billion shares, up 12 per cent compared with 25.2 billion shares in the same month in the previous year, but down 10.9 per cent month on month from October’s 31.6 billion shares. Notably, the securities daily average value rose to $1.4 billion, up 51 per cent yoy from $952 million, and 17.3 per cent month on month from $1.2 billion in October. “Singapore was the most actively traded cash market in Asean and among the Asia-Pacific developed markets, with robust activity across all client segments in index stocks and real estate investment trusts (Reits) amid interest-rate expectations and following the US elections,” SGX said. The Straits Times Index, Singapore’s stock benchmark, emerged as Asean’s top performer. It led the region’s markets with a 17-year high for three consecutive days, advancing 5.1 per cent to 3,739.29 points in November from 3,558.88 in the month before. Its performance was fuelled by a rally of banking stocks amid strong quarterly results, the bourse operator said. It added that the turnover was further lifted by the addition of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding to the MSCI Singapore Index. SGX welcomed the secondary listing of Hong Kong-based electronics company PC Partner Group on its mainboard alongside two new listings on its Catalist board – karaoke operator Goodwill Entertainment and commercial interior decoration and engineering company Attika Group. November’s derivatives volume advanced 17 per cent on the year to 26.1 million contracts from 22.4 million across equities, foreign exchange (FX) and commodities. Equity index futures traded volume rose 17 per cent on the year to 14.5 million contracts, driven by a 34 per cent yoy rise in the volume of SGX FTSE China A50 Index Futures – the world’s most liquid international futures for Chinese equities. On the FX front, the total FX futures traded volume reached an all-time high of 6.1 million contracts, climbing 50 per cent yoy from 4.1 million. SGX KRW/USD FX Futures volume grew 40 per cent on the month to 550,895 lots, clocking a single-day record of 76,444 lots on Nov 13. On the commodities front, November welcomed the addition of the SGX Iron Ore 62 per cent contract into the Dow Jones Commodity Index from January 2025. “This marked a milestone for Asia’s first global commodity, reflecting the growing importance and recognition of iron ore in the international commodities market,” noted SGX. The traded volume of futures and options on SGX Sicom rubber – the global pricing benchmark for natural rubber – rose 30 per cent on the year, while the petrochemicals derivative volume climbed 52 per cent on the year. RHB’s call In a Dec 9 report, RHB maintained its “neutral” call on SGX as November’s securities turnover and derivatives trading volume tracked estimates. RHB analyst Shekhar Jaiswal said that his investment thesis remained unchanged. The boost to SGX’s securities turnover – a result of rising investor interest in Singapore equities alongside active trading in index stocks, especially banks and Reits – was “in line with expectations”. “Although the derivatives data was soft month on month, we expect markets to remain volatile for a few months and support strong derivative volumes,” he added, with the market anticipating the impact of US President-elect Donald Trump’s policies on economic growth, interest rates and geopolitics. THE BUSINESS TIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowSpecial teams miscues prove costly for Bears in overtime loss to Vikings
Good food, beautiful lakes and bush hiking: Nine highlights of MallacootaAP News Summary at 2:01 p.m. ESTOn paper, Luigi Mangione had it all: wealth, intellect, athleticism, good looks. But the child of a prominent Maryland family may have spurned it all in a spasm of violence, in a killing that has mesmerized Americans. The 26-year-old was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of Brian Thompson, a health insurance chief executive and father of two who was gunned down in Manhattan last week by someone who, evidence suggests, has endured his own debilitating health crises and grew angry with the privatized US medical system. The cold-blooded killing has laid bare the deep frustration many Americans feel toward the country's labyrinthine health care system: while many have condemned the shooting, others have praised Mangione as a hero. It has also prompted considerable interest in how a young engineer with an Ivy League education could have gone off the rails to commit murder. News of his capture at a Pennsylvania McDonald's triggered an explosion of online activity, with Mangione quickly amassing new followers on social media as citizen sleuths and US media tried to understand who he is. As Americans have looked for clues about a political ideology or potential motive, a photo on his X account (formerly Twitter) includes an X-ray of an apparently injured spine. Mangione lived in Hawaii in 2022 and, according to his former roommate R.J. Martin, suffered from back pain, and was hoping to strengthen his back. After a surfing lesson, Mangione was "in bed for about a week" because of the pain, Martin told CNN. Earlier this year, Martin said, Mangione confirmed he'd had back surgery and sent him photos of the X-rays. Police said the suspect carried a hand-written manifesto of grievances in which he slammed America's "most expensive health care system in the world." "He was writing a lot about his disdain for corporate America and in particular the health care industry," New York police chief detective Joseph Kenny told ABC. According to CNN, a document recovered when Mangione was arrested included the phrase "these parasites had it coming." Meanwhile, memes and jokes proliferated, many riffing on his first name and comparing him to the "Mario Bros." video game character Luigi. Many expressed at least partial sympathy, having had their own harrowing experiences with the US health care system. "Godspeed. Please know that we all hear you," wrote one user on Facebook. Mangione hails from the Baltimore area. His wealthy Italian-American family owns local businesses, including the Hayfields Country Club, according to local outlet the Baltimore Banner, and cousin Nino Mangione is a Maryland state delegate. A standout student, Luigi graduated at the top of his high school class in 2016. A former student who knew Mangione at the elite Gilman School told AFP the suspect struck him as "a normal guy, nice kid." "There was nothing about him that was off, at least from my perception," the person said. Mangione attended the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, where he completed both a bachelor's and master's degree in computer science by 2020, according to a university spokesperson. While at Penn, Mangione co-led a group of 60 undergraduates who collaborated on video game projects, as noted in a now-deleted university webpage. On Instagram Mangione shared snapshots of his travels, and shirtless images of himself flaunting a six-pack. X users have scoured Mangione's posts for potential motives. His header photo includes an X-ray of a spine with bolts attached. Finding a political ideology that fits neatly onto the right-left divide has proved elusive, though he had written a review of Ted Kaczynski's manifesto on online site Goodreads, calling it "prescient." Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, carried out multiple bombings in the United States from 1978 to 1995, in a campaign he said was aimed at halting the advance of modern society and technology. Mangione has also linked approvingly to posts criticizing secularism as a harmful consequence of Christianity's decline, and retweeted posts on the impact mobile phones and social media have on mental health. ia/abo-mlm/nroAP Trending SummaryBrief at 6:41 p.m. EST
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Darren Rizzi would be an unconventional choice to take over the New Orleans Saints' head coaching job on a permanent basis. That doesn't mean it can't happen. The Saints (4-7) had been on a seven-game skid when Rizzi, the club's special teams coordinator, was promoted. They've since won two straight, and as the club entered its Week 12 bye, prominent players were already discussing their desire to continue improving Rizzi's resume. “He’s definitely had an impact on our football team,” quarterback Derek Carr said after New Orleans' 35-14 victory over Cleveland last weekend. “We want to keep winning so that maybe he gets a chance to be the coach here for a long time. “That’s what we want as players,” Carr continued. "Hopefully, we can continue to have success, keep winning and give him that opportunity.” Before the Saints' demoralizing defeat at Carolina precipitated the firing of third-year coach Dennis Allen , Rizzi had never been a head coach at the NFL or major college level. The north New Jersey native and former Rhode Island tight end got his first head coaching job at Division II New Haven in 1999. He also coached his alma mater in 2008 before moving to the NFL with Miami in 2009 as a special teams assistant. By 2010, he was the Dolphins' special teams coordinator and added the title of associate head coach in 2017 before ex-Saints coach Sean Payton lured him to New Orleans in 2019. A common thread shared by Payton and Rizzi is that both worked under Bill Parcells. Parcells — known best for winning two Super Bowls as coach of the New York Giants — was coaching the Dallas Cowboys when Payton was his offensive coordinator. Rizzi, who grew up a Giants fan during the Parcells era, got to know his childhood idol during his first couple years in Miami, where Parcells executive vice president of football operations. Since his promotion, Rizzi has spoken to both Payton and Parcells. And he has begun to employ motivational techniques reminiscent of Payton, who left New Orleans in 2022 as the franchise leader in wins (152 in the regular season and nine in the postseason — including New Orleans' lone Super Bowl triumph). Payton as a big believer of symbolic imagery and motivational props, from baseball bats distributed before contests that were expected to be especially physical to gas cans left in the lockers of aging veterans whose performance was key to the club's success. Rizzi, who describes himself as a “blue collar” guy, has his own spin on such things. He began his tenure by asking players to accept individual responsibility for the metaphorical hole the team had dug itself and asked them all to embrace the idea of filling it up — one shovelful at a time. He even has brought a shovel — as well as a hammer, tape measure, level and other construction tools — to team meetings to help make his points. Saints tight end Taysom Hill, who also plays on special teams, has gotten to know Rizzi well during a half-decade of working together. Hill doesn't sound surprised to see Rizzi's combination of work ethic, enthusiasm and personal touch resonating across the entire team now. He also made a lot of changes , from weekly schedule adjustments to reconfiguring players' lockers by position. “He has a really good pulse on what we need collectively as a team to get ready for a football game," said Hill, who scored three touchdowns and accounted for 248 yards as a runner, receiver, passer and returner against Cleveland. “Guys have responded to that.” Because Rizzi's first victory came over the first-place Atlanta Falcons , and because the Falcons lost again last week, the Saints now trail Atlanta by just two games with six to play. Suddenly, the idea of the Saints playing meaningful football down the stretch is not so far-fetched. “We’re starting to get our swag back, and that makes me happy,” Rizzi said. ”We’re going to have some downtime now to kind of press the reset button again and see if we can make a push here." When the Saints return to action at home against the Los Angeles Rams on Dec 1, they'll do so with a level of momentum and positivity that seemed to steadily drain out of the club between their first loss of the season in Week 3 through the six straight setbacks that followed. While Saints players have tended to blame themselves for Allen's demise, they've been quick to credit Rizzi for the turnaround. “He’s pointed us and steered the ship in the right direction,” Carr said. “Hopefully, we can just keep executing at a high level for him, because we love him.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
How the world has changed since Jimmy Carter was born in 1924
Canadian men win RAN Sevens tournament, qualify for World Rugby Challenger Series
