Carla Trivino|Palm Beach Daily News

Long considered a safe haven from the outside world, Palm Beach has not been spared by the coronavirus. As the health pandemic continues to wreak havoc on several industries around the globe, the island's shopping districts have not been immune to the virus' consequences.

While most island businesses depend on the high seasons earnings, the mandatory closure of non-essential businesses in early March put a hamper on the town's most profitable month. Many of them tried tofocuson e-commerce or virtual experiences, but for those not having anonline presence, sales suffered.Ahandful refused to close.

"Spring was a wash of a season and we figured that out quickly," Beth Buccini, owner of women's clothing shop Kirna Zabete, said. "Business is completely down."

Buccini quickly adapted her business by offering curbside pickup and virtual styling services during the pandemic. She also refocused her store's merchandise by creating her own collectionto reflect her clients' new lifestyle (i.e. fewer ball gowns and more cashmere sweaters).

While many survived, the mandatory closure, loss of revenue, continued expenses such as rent and the added cost of operating once allowed to re-open proved disastrous, forcing some businesses to make their temporary closure permanent.

We heard there are 23 vacancies on Worth Avenue and six at The Royal Poinciana Plaza, said Francis Scire, a senior vice president and head of leasing, marketing and brand management at OConnor Capital Partners.

Scire has more than 25 years of experience in the retail real estate business, where his large focus is the luxury market. He also spearheaded The Royal Poinciana Plazas leasing during its 2017 reopening as the vice president of leasing at WS Development, where he also focused on merchandising and redevelopment. His current firm has commercial space available for rent on Royal Palm Way and The Esplanade.

Since March, hes watched the real estate market boom with Northeastern clients looking to buy or rent in Palm Beach during the pandemic. With it, he said, came an uptick in office space.

People buying these residences want to have an outpost for their offices, Scire said.

Given the recentdemand in office space, he said, The Esplanades second-floor vacant spaces may be transformed into offices. But the same demand has not translated into retail space.

A recent walk through the islands shopping districts tallied more than 25stores available for lease. Since March, 70 local business tax receipts, formerly known as occupational licenses, did not file for renewal, according to the towns Clerk Office.

"We had to close,it was very slow with pandemic and everything," Silvia Ispas, owner of Olivia Preckel, said. The Via Amore store did not file for a license renewal, but that does not mean she will not be operating nextseason. When her lease ended a month after the mandatory closures, she decided to wait to reapply.

"Iknow there's like 20 available spaces on the island, so I'm waiting to see if there's a better space for me, but in November."

The towns Supervisor of Business Tax Receipts Debby Moody suspects other business owners may be following Ispas' lead.

Theyre opting to not pay the tax and reapply when they reopen again. When we get back to normalcy, well see an influx of licenses, Moody said.

Some businesses relocated, such as Sharis Place, which moved across the street from its former location to 334 Worth Ave, Charlotte Kellogg, whichmoved to 228 Worth Ave., and Woody Michleb Beauty Salon, which joined forces and relocated to Donna Kelly Blush Brow Blowdry at The Esplanade. Others such as Milou of Palm Beach closed permanently.

Permanent closures did not discriminate. Luxury conglomerate Neiman Marcus is closing its Worth Avenue store Sept. 12. Thenewly openedshop Lili Bermudas handcrafted perfumes lasted less than one season on the island. And decades-long family-owned businessRapunzels Closetcloses permanently Sept. 30.

Other stores closing permanently this year includeThe Grand Tour, Joey Wolffer, LaunchPad,COMO Home & Design, Mystique of Palm Beach, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo, Socapri and Brooks Brothers.

Some stores saw the pandemic as a sign to close while things were good.

Such was the case with Lili Bermuda, the town's only perfumery that opened last December.Perfumer and owner Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstonewas an investment banker and accountant whose financial skills helped build her company and expand to Palm Beach. Her Bermuda store was subsidizing much of the expansion, but when the pandemic affected all her locations, she had to close her shop.

The Federal Reserves regular survey of its nationwide business contacts shed light on the struggle some industries are facing. The August 2020"Beige Book" report showed that while vehicle sales, tourism and retail had been boosting consumer spending, many districts noted a slowing pace of growth in these areas, and total spending was still far below pre-pandemic levels. A bright spot, the report said, was the growth in residential construction and residential real estate sales, but commercial construction was down widely, and commercial real estate remained in contraction.

During the pandemic, many of the retailers' struggle was with their landlords who wouldn't budge on rent or compromise with tenants.

"I'm hoping the landlords owning vacancies on Worth Avenue are as open as we are to creating opportunitiesfor new tenants," Scire said.

Laurel Baker, chief executive officerof the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, concurred. She believes the town and landlords can work together to open new businesses and help them stay open.

"Its sad," Baker said when she heard news of Rapunzel's Closet closing. "South County Road has enough empty storefronts. Worth Avenue is even worse. And its our hope that the town will work with the landlords across the board to accommodate people that want to start a business and have been thrown off by the pandemic.

By this time of year, most stores that relocated within the island are in their new locations and new businesses are usually set up or in the process of opening, but experts have noticed a rather sluggish start. But it doesn't mean there isn't movement.

According to the town's clerk office records, 37 businesseshave filed for a business tax receipt since March 20. Among them are Worth Avenues latest additions such aswomens clothing store Ala von Auersperg at 312 Worth Ave., private spa Palm Beach Facials at 205 Worth Ave.and womens clothing shop Valentina Kova, which moved from The Royal Poinciana Plaza to 243 Worth Ave. Also,FeragamoUSA Inc. was recently approved for a new tenant,Faidra Hanna & Co., at 210 Worth Ave. during the Aug. 27 Architectural Commission meeting.

"Palm Beach is considered a safe place, a haven," Scire said."Weve seen a bounce back in sales for luxury tenants. Its not as strong as it was prior to COVID but its significant. I think it will take some time and I'm hopeful for the upcoming season."

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What is the future of Palm Beach retail? Stores close during the pandemic - Palm Beach Daily News

By the time you read this, the NFL regular season will have begun. But were not here to talk about that game. Were here for all things Dallas Cowboys.

2020 NFL Predictions Captain Comeback: NFL Analysis by Scott KacsmarThis is a deep dive into the whole league. Worth your time to read the whole thing, but here's a quote about the Cowboys that is encouraging.

But The Clapper is gone, replaced by Mike McCarthy, who won 61.8 percent of his games in Green Bay before things soured. As last year in Green Bay showed, not all of the problems were on McCarthys offense growing stale. A year away from the game and some self-evaluation should serve him well. Hes retained Kellen Moore as the offensive coordinator, a move thats been widely praised in Dallas.

Oh, and how about this?

SUPER BOWL LV

Kansas City 30, Dallas 24

Wipe that smile off Jerry Jones face as the Chiefs come through to give us a repeat champion for the first time since the 2003-04 Patriots.

TL;DR version: Get used to your new football overlords from Kansas City, but dont discount Dak Prescott spoiling things.

Cowboys season preview: Question marks, must-watch games and a record prediction Jon Machota, The AthleticAnother detailed look ahead for the Cowboys.

Whats new? Almost the entire coaching staff has changed. Mike McCarthy became the franchises ninth head coach after he was hired in January. While McCarthy retained offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, tight ends coach Doug Nussmeier (now coaching quarterbacks) and defensive line assistant Leon Lett, the rest of the staff is all new. McCarthy is leaning on several veteran coaches in key areas, most notably defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, special teams coordinator John Fassel and offensive line coach Joe Philbin.

The biggest changes are taking place on defense. The 4-3 front that generated the majority of pass rush under previous defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli has been replaced by a more multiple look under Nolan. Training camp practices revealed edge rushers standing up and dropping into coverage in some 3-4 looks as well as showcasing their pass-rushing ability in three-point stances in 4-3 looks. The back end is less predictable as well. The goal is to keep opposing quarterbacks guessing more often, increasing the number of turnovers. The biggest loss on that side of the ball was No. 1 cornerback Byron Jones signing a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Miami Dolphins in March. The biggest additions have been veteran edge rushers Aldon Smith and Everson Griffen. They are replacing Robert Quinn, who led the team in sacks (11.5) in 2019 and signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Chicago Bears in March.

The special teams are expected to be improved under Fassel, who is widely regarded as one of the NFLs best special teams coaches. Greg Zuerlein, a 2017 Pro Bowler, takes over as the teams new kicker. Rookie wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is expected to handle punt-return duties. Second-year running back Tony Pollard is expected to handle kickoff returns.

NFL Kickoff: Which Teams Will Make the 2020 Playoffs? - Mauricio Rodriguez, Inside the Star

The only reason we look at predictions like this is to fuel our optimism and confirm our priors, right? Enjoy.

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys

It wont be easy for the Cowboys to win the division with a new coaching staff under this years conditions, but the talent on offense should be enough to overcome the adversities that come with adapting to a new regime.

Dak Prescott will lead one of the best offenses in the NFL. CeeDee Lamb has been great in training camp as he transitions from college to the pros at a very fast pace. Last year, the Cowboys offense was among the leagues best on Kellen Moores debut season, and now that Jason Garrett is out and Mike McCarthy is in, the main issue in Dallas has been resolved.

2020 NFL Predictions Matt Hollerans Sports BlogMore a graphic/table post from one of our FPWs personal blog, but worth a read. He has Dallas as the #2 seed in the NFC, and Aldon Smith as the comeback player of the year, but this is by far the most satisfying line in the whole post.

Biggest Disappointment Philadelphia Eagles

Predicting every NFL teams record in 2020 | by David Howman | Sep, 2020 | David Howman on MediumIt's a day for our FPWs to be doing some good stuff in their side gigs.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys 124

Philadelphia Eagles 88

Washington Football Team 610

New York Giants 412

The NFC East hasnt had a back-to-back division champ since the 20032004 seasons, and that isnt about to change. Mike McCarthy proves to be exactly what the Cowboys needed, jumping out to a 50 start and securing the top seed in the NFC.

Washington Football Team. Still cracks me up.

Writers Blocks: Learning To Embrace The Hype - David Helman, DallasCowboys.comIt just doesn't feel like a news roundup without something from always entertaining Helman. Here are three things he is thinking about the team.

It would be silly to project yardage totals for every player on the team, but I think CeeDee Lamb will improve on the numbers Randall Cobb posted last year. So, for the record, I'm calling for the rookie to catch more than 55 passes for more than 828 yards and more than three touchdowns. Seems doable.

I want to officially put it into writing that I'm buying all the Blake Jarwin stock I can afford. I know it's going to be easier said than done because of how much talent is on this offense. But I think Jarwin is capable of catching 50 balls. More importantly, I think he's capable of averaging 12-14 yards per reception. Oh, and put me down for 7-10 touchdowns. I just have a feeling.

It's probably not a good thing if Dak Prescott finishes second in the league in passing again, because it'd likely mean that the Cowboys aren't playing with a lot of leads. So I'm guessing he's not going to flirt with 5,000 yards again, like he did in 2019. That said, I do believe we're going to see the best seasons of Prescott's career. I'm looking for efficiency, good decision making and at least 35 total touchdowns rushing and passing. Most importantly, I'm looking for that performance to translate to more wins. Because all the stats in the world won't mean anything without a playoff appearance.

A big year for Ezekiel Elliott among bold predictions for the Cowboys | Patrick Conn,wfaa.comThis is something that keeps cropping up, but just doesn't get as much play as it probably should. The expected high-powered offense for Dallas is going to feature a productive running game.

Ezekiel Elliott goes for over 1,800 yards from scrimmage

The talk all offseason in Dallas has been about the ascension of the passing game. There is a good reason for that. After all, the pass attack led by Dak Prescott was the most impactful area for the Cowboys last season and now they sport the addition of rookie top pick CeeDee Lamb at wide receiver and the expected emergence of Blake Jarwin at tight end.

The Cowboys also return two 1,000-yard pass catchers in Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. All eyes will be on Prescott and the pass catchers this year. That bodes well for former All-Pro and two-time rushing champion running back Ezekiel Elliott.

With NFL defenses no doubt putting in more concerted efforts to slow down the passing game, Elliott is likely to get some favorable looks this upcoming year.

Execs Unfiltered: On what all 32 teams should worry about entering the season Mike Sando, The AthleticPessimism! Get your hot, fresh pessimism here!

Dallas Cowboys

The worry: The Cowboys peaked in July.

I liked them a lot more in July than I do in September. The reason would be number one, since then, (Patrick) Mahomes and (Deshaun) Watson get paid, and (Dak) Prescott does not. Gerald McCoy gets hurt again. We dont know if Randy Gregory is back (he is eligible to return Oct. 25). They do have Everson Griffen. Sean Lee gets hurt again. Amari Cooper is already missing practice. Before all that, (Travis) Frederick retires at center. Now you throw out Lael Collins for four weeks. Who starts at right tackle? Cam Erving? You can go turn on some Chiefs film from last year and see if you are willing to back that horse. He is a liability.

Cowboys Say Amari, Awuzie & Xavier 'Full Capacity' For Rams - Mike Fisher, SI Cowboys MavenOh, yeah, there is preparation underway for a game Sunday night. Heres some key injury stuff.

"They've had a good weekend of rehab," head coach Mike McCarthy said on Wednesday. "I know the strength-and-conditioning (staff) and the trainers feel good.

"So we'll watch their workload (Wednesday) and obviously evaluate them again in the morning."

"They'' are safety Xavier Woods and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who did dress for practice on Wednesday. Woods (groin) and Awuzie (knee) have been limited for the better part of training camp. Meanwhile, cornerback Jourdan Lewis continues to be sidelined with an ankle injury.

Jaylon Smith, Dallas least understood Cowboy, is ready for his next step Mike Pieliucci, The AthleticThis is a deep dive into the talented but sometimes controversial linebacker. Whatever you think of him, you will learn something from this. And this final point from the article says a lot about him.

Jaylon Smith knows what he wants his future to look like.

Its one he has no plan for at least not yet. Yes, there are the football goals, and the financial goals, and the business goals, but all of them stand in service to a larger conceit. When he tries to envision his life in five years, then in 10, only one thought shines through. I want to be happy, he says.

Hes still shaping that idea into something more solid, more tangible. Maybe he winds up there in the next few years, with a Lombardi Trophy in hand as confetti rains down, his reconstructed leg planted at footballs pinnacle after it once led him to his personal nadir. Perhaps its after that, when the game is behind him, with MEI a global enterprise and a conglomerate in his name. It could be as simple as fatherhood and building a family. Or what about something else altogether, a heretofore undiscovered passion that hell stumble onto and sponge up when the time is right? Im not the guy that has all the answers, he says, but Im a guy that wants to search and learn.

Forbes - Cowboys again most valuable NFL team, at $5.7 billion - ESPN via Associated PressIt has become a perennial story.

Forbes estimates the Dallas Cowboys are the NFL's most valuable franchise at $5.7 billion, the 14th consecutive year they've held that distinction.

According to the magazine, Jerry Jones' team is also the most valuable franchise in the world.

And a little note of interest to some of you.

We offer a variety of shows on the BTB podcast network and drop two episodes every single day for you as things are always happening in the world of the Dallas Cowboys.

BTB Podcast Schedule

We also offer daily episodes of The Ocho where we give you that days latest headlines so that you always stay caught up. The BTB podcast network is available on all major podcast avenues.

You can find your preferred platform right here. Make sure to subscribe, rate the feed, and leave a review! Our latest episode is available in the feed down below.

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Dallas Cowboys news: Last minute predictions, forecasts are rolling in - Blogging The Boys

It hasnt taken long for Xavier Su'a-Filo to assert himself at right guard.

After primarily lining up at left guard in his career, the seventh-year veteran is the presumptive starter at right guard for the Cincinnati Bengals. Su'a-Filo played some right guard in Houston and Dallas, but he spent most of his time at left guard. In Cincinnati, hes penciled in on the right side.

Good. When I was in Dallas, especially in training camp, I played a lot of right guard for Zack Martin early on the last couple of years. So, Ive gotten real comfortable there with it, Su'a-Filo said. A lot of reps.

Cincinnati Bengals guard Xavier Su'a-Filo (72) waits between plays during training camp at the Paul Brown Stadium practice field in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020.(Photo: Sam Greene)

Su'a-Filo was signed over the offseason to replace last years starter John Miller. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound lineman viewed the Bengals as a good fit for him on the field. He was mainly a reserve interior lineman as a member of the Cowboys.

It was an opportunity really for me. To come in (and) be a part of a unit that has a lot of talent. And I know last year was last year and its a new year and its a new opportunity come in and compete and win in this division, Su'a-Filo said.

For the past two years, Su'a-Filo was part of a Cowboys O-line group that was one of the best in the NFL. Dallas had three perennial Pro Bowlers on its offensive line. In Cincinnati, he joins a much-maligned group upfront with zero former Pro Bowlers. Andy Dalton and Ryan Finley were sacked a combined 48 times last season and the unit struggled to consistently create holes in the run game. However, Su'a-Filo senses some untapped potential.

I just think it's untapped and we have to find it. There's a lot of guys like Mike coming into the second year, there's a lot of big jumps first to second year, Su'a-Filo said. But just for me, coming in as a veteran to kind of really help this group, and having guys like Trey (Hopkins), Bobby (Hart) has played a lot of football, to just kind of have that experience. For me, I think we can go as far as we want. We've just got to work, and we've got to be willing to do it as a unit.

Su'a-Filo has already provided tutelage for some of the younger linemen. Hes given the other starting guard, Michael Jordan, some O-line insight. The second-year left guard praised Su'a-Filo for what hes already brought to the offensive line.

Xavier Su'a-Filo brings a lot of competitiveness and hes a leader as well. For me personally, Ive always had those things in the room. (As a rookie) I had John Jerry and I had Andre Smith, Jordan said. Those guys helped me out a lot. Just have another guy like those two, it just adds on to it.

The question will soon become, can Su'a-Filo add to the offensive line on game days?

Cincinnatis O-line features two new projected starters in left tackle Jonah Williams and Su'a-Filo at right guard. With two new starters joining Jordan, Hopkins and presumably Hart upfront, the Bengals are banking on the unit developing continuity. The Bengals can ill-afford rookie quarterback Joe Burrow routinely running for his life in the backfield and another slow start in the run game. Su'a-Filo and the rest of the offensive line understand that.

Everything starts up front with the offensive line, Su'a-Filo. We have to protect. We have to do our job.

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Bengals guard Xavier Su'a-Filo: 'Everything starts up front with the offensive line' - The Cincinnati Enquirer

If anyone can do a remake well, its Disney. The House of Mouses newest addition to its live-action remake canon is Mulan, which hits select theaters and Disney+ on Friday. But, much like the recent adaptation of The Lion King, expect major changes to the much-beloved story.

After continuously pushing the release date back for months due to the pandemic, Mulan is finally available to stream this weekend. The 1998 animated version is a classic and a fan favorite, but viewers should anticipate a more realistic story from the new film, as 2020s Mulan follows its original source material (the ancient Chinese folk story called The Ballad of Mulan) much more closely. Though the 1998 version is based on this same legend, it pulls many Westernized additions out of thin air, like Mulans pint-sized dragon sidekick Mushu and love interest Shang.

While you might not be able to picture the story without these elements, they ultimately make for a more historically accurate film. You might even be surprised to find that the historical Mulan is even more badass than the Disney Princess youve come to love.

Who was the original Mulan?

Although there are many different stories about Mulan beyond the Ballad of Mulan, the original poem tells the tale of the brave female warrior known as Mulan, who was a soldier in China during the Northern and Southern dynasties period (between 420 and 589 CE). Much like in the animated movie, she disguised herself as a man and joined the army so that her father, a sickly veteran conscripted a second time by imperial decree, wouldn't be killed in combat.

That said, there are sizable differences between the '98 movie and the ancient poem. In the ballad, Mulan fought against Rouran invaders instead of the Huns, a historical inaccuracy that the new film takes care to correct. The original Disney film also collapses the historical timeline. In the Ballad of Mulan, Mulan served twelve years in the army, culminating in an offer from the Emperor to take a government post. Mulan declined the offer, then retired to her village in the province of Hunan. After spending over a decade posing as a man, she finally revealed her true identity to her brothers in arms, who were shocked.

Is the story true?

Was Mulan a real person, or simply a character in an ancestral story? Debate remains ongoing. Tour company China Highlights confirmed that a real war happened between the Northern Wei state and a Mongolic state called Rouran, based on Chinese historical documents. Plus, Smithsonian Magazine reported that scientists found physical evidence suggesting that female warriors once rode across what is now Mongolia.

When it comes to Chinese folklore, The Ballad of Mulan is unusual in that it contains no supernatural elements, suggesting that the story may be nonfiction. However, scholars generally disagree that Mulan existed. The story was passed down orally, leaving room for error and providing no historical evidence to prove Mulans existence. Regardless, the original poem has inspired countless film and stage adaptations throughout the 20th century.

Disney

How does the live action version differ from the animated movie?

In the live-action remake of Mulan, the familiar storyline remains intact, but many details have been changed. In addition to axing a few characters like Mushu, Grandmother Fa, and Li Shang, iconic scenes like Mulan cutting her hair and climbing up the pole to retrieve the arrow during training do not appear in the new film. Although none of the actors will break out into song like the 1998 movie, viewers can expect to hear familiar melodies.

There are a number of songs that are iconic for the movie and tell a great version of the story and they are very helpful to us in how were putting the movie together, producer Jason Reed told Collider. It gets a little easier in animation to keep the tension and the reality in place and still have people break into song and sing to camera. We made the decision that we wanted to keep the worldeven though its a fantasymore grounded and more realistic, so those emotions really played and the threat is very real so we are using music in a slightly different way.

Why is the new movie following The Ballad of Mulan rather than the earlier Disney version?

Although it might be hard to envision Mulan without some of its most beloved components, the filmmakers felt that the changes were necessary to tell a more culturally accurate story. Their goal was to faithfully adhere to the legend, not to keep each and every piece of a Disneyfied classic intact. Its worth noting that Mulan will be released globally, with Disney targeting the large Chinese moviegoing market in particular; as a result, the creators felt it was important to keep their Chinese audiences in mind. Many decisions about adhering to the ballad were made in an effort to create a more real and relatable story, as well as to respect Chinese culture.

One important omission was Mushu, Mulans wise-cracking sidekick, who hit the cutting room floor due to the fact that many Chinese viewers disliked his character.

This kind of miniature dragon trivialized their culture, USC professor Stanley Rosen told The Hollywood Reporter.

Though Mulan did not have a surname in the original ballad, Hua Mulan eventually became her most commonly known name. According to Vulture, the 98 movie renamed her to Fa Mulana Cantonese rendering more closely related to the Fa Mu Lan of Chinese-American Maxine Hong Kingstons memoir, The Woman Warrior. Some viewed the animated Mulan as a Western appropriation due to her Anglicized name. In the remake, Mulan once again comes from the Hua family.

"We had a lot of conversations about it ... [We wanted] to tell this story in a way that is more real, more relatable, where we don't have the benefit of the joke to hide behind things that might be uncomfortable and we don't break into song to tell us the subtext, Reed told The Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, director Niki Caro took several research trips to China before filming began, where she spoke with historians and brushed up on the original story.

"I certainly wasn't aware of how deeply important it is to Mainland Chinese all children were taught it," Caro said. "[Mulan] is so meaningful that many places I went, people would say, 'Well, she comes from my village.' It was wonderful to feel that profound connection but also terrifying."

The new version of Mulan might be different from the animated classic that we all know and love, but in an age when cultural appropriation has at long last come under the microscope, Disneys efforts to honor Mulans authentic story are long overdue--and resonating with audiences. Glamour even reported that journalists are calling it Disneys best-ever live-action remake. Not so sure? Stream Friday to judge for yourself.

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The Real Story of Hua Mulan Is More Impressive Than Any Disney Version - Esquire.com

Maybin will bring solid leadership to the Cubs (Rah Mehta - USA Today Sports)

Coming into the 2020 MLB trade deadline, the Cubs had some basic needs that they wanted to fill. The first of those needs was to acquire a bat who has a decent average against left-handed pitchers. They did that by acquiring Jose Martinez from Tampa Bay before Sunday's game against the Reds. However, they didn't stop there, as the Cubs continued to address that need along with their second need to acquire a left-handed relief pitcher.

With just 45 minutes remaining until the trade deadline, we were starting to wonder whether the Cubs would be making any more significant deals. Not only did they pull some magic off, but they did so by giving up next to nothing in acquiring LHP Andrew Chafin from Arizona, LHP Josh Osich from Boston, and then picked up a very reliable bat in outfielder Cameron Maybin from Detroit.

Theo knew what his team's needs were coming in and did what he needed to do to not only improve this group but did so without jeopardizing the team's future. In total, the Cubs dealt away just one prospect immediately with the rest to be named later.

All season long, the Cubs were in desperate need of lefty relievers, especially after Brad Weick went down with an injury. That left Kyle Ryan as the lone southpaw in the pen. Picking up both Osich and Chafin will immediately help solve that problem as both are lefty pitchers that neutralize left-handed bats. The moves may not be flashy, but when the Cubs gave up next to nothing to get them done, the organization can live with it.

The 31-year-old Osich was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations. Osich will be added to the 40-man roster and will be taking the place of Hernan Perez, who is now designated for assignment. Osich, who turns 32 on Thursday, has gone 1-1 with a 5.74 ERA (10 ER/15.2 IP) in 13 appearances, all but one in relief, with the Red Sox this season.

He has limited left-handed batters to a .191 batting average last season, to a .231 mark this season, and held them to a .211 mark for his career. Osich saw half of his earned runs occur in one outing this season and has otherwise posted a 3.21 ERA (5 ER/14.0 IP) in his remaining 12 outings.

For his career, Osich is 11-6 with 40 holds and a 4.95 ERA (112 ER/403.2 IP) in 230 career major league appearances, all but one as a starter, in all or part of six seasons with the San Francisco Giants (2015-18), Chicago White Sox (2019) and Red Sox (2020). Prez, 29, has batted .167 (1-for-6) in three

games with the Cubs this season and may elect to return to South Bend should he clear waivers.

The first lefty the Cubs acquired before the deadline was left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin and cash considerations from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In exchange, once again, the Cubs didn't have to give much up as another player to be named later, and cash was sent Arizona's way. I was a little surprised by the Cubs decision here as they elected to designate Ian Miller for assignment to open a space for Chafin.

The 30-year-old has spent his entire career with Arizona, going 10-12 with a 3.68 ERA (111 ER/271.2 IP) in 337 career major league relief appearances. He exceeded 70 outings in each of the last three campaigns, including a career-best 77 appearances over the previous two years. Chafin has limited left-handed batters in a .230 batting average, .307 on-base percentage, .310 slugging percentage, and .617 OPS in his career.

Chafin may be added to the 40-man roster, is currently on the 10-day injured list due to a left finger sprain. Chafin had gone 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA (6 ER/6.2 IP) in 11 outings before being sidelined, striking out 10 batters in 6.2 innings pitched. His ERA is vastly inflated due to a pair of rough outings before hitting the IL; otherwise, he has thrown well this season. Chicago is hopeful to have him back in the next week or so.

The speedy Miller was an early season favorite to land the final roster spot out of camp but didn't make the team, ending up in South Bend. He appeared in one game with Chicago this season and was used as a pinch runner.

The final deal of the day for Chicago came in the closing minutes as the Tigers agreed to trade Cameron Maybin to the Cubs in exchange for shortstop prospect Zach Short. Maybin was rumored to be in the Cubs discussions for a while now will add an excellent veteran presence and the ability to hit left-handers to this team.

Maybin may only be a .256 hitter for his career, but has registered 169 doubles, 33 triples, 72 home runs, 349 RBI, and 183 stolen bases across 14 seasons with eight major league clubs. He has a .324 on-base percentage and a .377 slugging percentage, good for a career .701 OPS.

Looking at this season, and you will see him hitting just .244, but he can hit against lefties. That was the reason for this deal. Add in the versatility of him playing all three outfield spots, and you can see why the deal made sense and could work out in the Cubs favor.

Of the four trades the Cubs pulled off this season, this was the only one where a player was sent the other way in the form of a prospect already. The Cubs initially selected short in the 17th round of the 2016 Draft out of Sacred Heart University. He's listed as the Cubs No. 21 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Short has a long way to develop with the bat, but many felt like he was the best defensive middle infielder in the system this year.

The Tigers won't have any film on him this season, so they are banking on what he did last year in the minors. Cubs fans shouldn't be upset at this deal, considering they have Javy Baez and Nico Hoerner in the bigs right now with Ed Howard and others lined up for the future.

Maybin has yet to report to the club but reportedly driving straight to Pittsburgh. According to Jed Hoyer, the defensively gifted Albert Almora will be heading to the South Bend Alternative site today as Maybin will be taking his place on the roster.

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Cubs bolster team with new additions at trade deadline - CubsHQ

Tina Harbuck|The Destin Log

From cancellations to additions, the 2020 Destin Fishing Rodeo is making some changes.

Theone thing, however, that will not change isthere will be a fishing tournament the month of October in Destin on the docks behind AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar.

But in the meantime, here are five changes concerning this year's 72nd annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.

More: PHOTOS: Big winners at the 2019 Destin Fishing Rodeo

One - The Meet Miss Destin event slated for Sept. 17 at The Inn on Destin Harbor has been canceled.

"The facility is lovely but with having as many people as we expect at the event, we felt like it was not going to be conducive to social distancing," said Helen Donaldson, executive director of the Destin Fishing Rodeo.

More: MISS DESTIN 2020: Im not scared to touch a fish

Plus the event is a food-based event as well as a chance to get to meet Miss Destin 2020, Lauren Adams.

"People would not be able to wear their mask because they would be eating," Donaldson said.

So the plan is to do an event in the spring before the Miss Destin pageant, that will showcase The Inn as well as Miss Destin Lauren Adams.

"We just want to make sure we can celebrate her reignas Miss Destin," Donaldson said.

Two - The Kid's Wagon Boat Paradeand Reel Local Rodeo Kickoff Party are both still onas planned for Sept. 25th at AJ's.

"AJ's is doing thiswonderful event (the wagon boat parade)to celebrate theRodeo. It's been a good tradition and they want to continue that," Donaldson said.

More: PHOTOS: Destin Fishing Rodeo 11th annual Kids Wagon Boat Parade

The 12th annual Kid's Wagon Boat Parade will roll at 6 p.m. on Sept. 25.

Following the wagon parade is the kickoff party on the docks, a family-fun gathering and cookout outside at AJ's.

Three - There will be no Captain's Meeting on Sept. 25.

Donaldson said the meeting, which is usually held indoors at AJ's, isn't going to take place due to social distancing requirements.

Captains will be able to pick up their buckets, filled with goodies,at the Rodeo merchandise trailerduring the kickoff party on Sept. 25. After that, their buckets can be picked up at the trailerthroughout the month of October.

Four - The annual Destin 5KRodeo Run set for Oct. 4 has been canceled.

For the past couple of years, the run had fielded more than 150 runners, which is not conducive to social distancing.

So during this pandemic, the run has been canceled for 2020.

More: 2019 - Locals shine in Rodeo Run

Five - The Rodeo will be adding triggerfish to their lineup of eligible fish to catch.

After an announcement from the NOAA Fisheries last weekthat triggerfish would be opening back up in state and federal waters starting Sept. 1 and going through Oct. 25, the Rodeo decided to add triggerfish to the leaderboard.

More: 2018 - Triggerfish almost made it in the Rodeo

"We did not take away anything ... we just addedtriggerfish to the five major divisions - Charter, Private, Party Boat, 25 and under charter and 25 and under private." Donaldson said.

There will be a first and second place in each division as well as a triggerfish on the daily board.

"Wewere very fortunate that our sponsors all came through for the awards for that," she said.

The last time the Destin Fishing Rodeo was able to have triggerfish in the lineup was 2013.

However, triggerfish will not be open the entire month, it will last about 85 percent of the month.

"And we're going to take advantage of being able to catch a big old triggerfish," Donaldson said.

Original post:
5 things to know about the 2020 Destin Fishing Rodeo and surrounding events - Destin Log

The 2020 Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading will be different from the 27 before it: All events will be virtual. But two things wont change: We have a terrific lineup of authors talking about a range of books to appeal to almost every reader. And its all free.

Video interviews with more than 40 writers will be available starting Nov. 12 at festivalofreading.com. Youll be able to buy the featured books through the website.

For three days, Nov. 12-14, there will be a live event each day; other interviews and panels will be recorded in advance. The Nov. 13 live event will feature PolitiFact staffers answering your election questions; other live events will be announced soon.

If you have questions youd like to ask any of these authors, please send them with the subject line Festival author question to cbancroft@tampabay.com. Well ask them while recording the virtual interviews.

Two of the hottest names in literary fiction will be part of the 2020 festival. Colson Whitehead won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction (his second) for The Nickel Boys, his quietly stunning novel based on the disturbing history of the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna.

Maggie OFarrells acclaimed new novel Hamnet immerses readers in 16th century England for the rich and heartbreaking story of William Shakespeares son.

The iconic crime fiction writer James Lee Burke will make his first festival appearance to talk about A Private Cathedral, an enthralling gothic mystery. Its his 40th book and 23rd novel about Louisiana detective Dave Robicheaux.

One of the bestselling, and busiest, crime fiction writers around, Michael Connelly, returns to the festival with his latest book, The Law of Innocence, featuring Lincoln Lawyer Mickey Haller and his half brother, detective Harry Bosch.

Another prolific and accomplished mystery writer, Walter Mosley, makes his first appearance. Known for his Easy Rawlins series and many other books, hell be talking about his new short story collection, The Awkward Black Man.

Two bestselling novelists with St. Petersburg roots will talk about their popular Facebook Live show, Friends and Fiction, and their latest books. Mary Kay Andrews (a.k.a. Queen of the Beach Reads) delivers her signature mix of mystery, romance and wit in Hello, Summer, about a suddenly jobless journalist. The new book from Kristin Harmel, The Book of Lost Names, is gripping historical fiction about a young woman whose knack for forgery saves hundreds of Jewish children during World War II.

Essayist (Sunshine State) and fiction writer Sarah Gerard, a Clearwater native, will talk about her darkly satirical new novel, True Love.

Elizabeth Wetmore takes an unflinching approach to the reverberations of the rape of a teenager in a small Texas town in her debut novel, Valentine.

Theater fans will know the work of novelist Gregory Maguire, who has two new publications to talk about. One is the 25th anniversary edition of his book Wicked, source of the smash Broadway musical; the other is his new novel, A Wild Winter Swan, based on a Hans Christian Andersen story.

Speaking of childrens stories, two popular childrens authors will present their latest books. Brad Meltzer is a bestselling thriller writer, but his kids book series, Ordinary People Change the World, is close to his heart. Hell talk about the latest additions, I Am Anne Frank and I Am Benjamin Franklin.

Two-time National Book Award finalist Eliot Schrefer brings his new book, The Popper Penguin Rescue, a sweet sequel to a childrens classic, Mr. Poppers Penguins, published in 1938.

As always, the festival will feature lots of top-notch crime fiction authors. Teaming up (virtually) for their annual Bourbon and Books panel will be Ace Atkins, with The Revelators, his new Quinn Colson book, and Lisa Unger, whose latest psychological thriller is the twisty Confessions on the 7:45.

Florida favorite Tim Dorsey will be on hand to talk about the latest wacky adventures of Serge Storms in Naked Came the Florida Man. Sterling Watson will discuss his compelling historical mystery, The Committee, set in Gainesville in the 1950s.

There will also be several panel discussions by the 15 contributors to the anthology Tampa Bay Noir (which I edited and wrote a story for). In addition to Atkins, Connelly, Dorsey, Gerard, Schrefer, Unger and Watson, the contributors include Karen Brown, Luis Castillo, Ladee Hubbard, Danny Lopez, Gale Massey, Yuly Restrepo Garces and Lori Roy.

If you need even more noir, Les Standiford (director of Eckerd Colleges Writers in Paradise conference) will be on hand with Miami Noir: The Classics, an anthology collecting stories by Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Elmore Leonard, Zora Neale Hurston and more.

James W. Hall has based many of his mysteries in South Florida, and fans will be glad to hear his series character Thorn is back to take on some very bad guys in Bad Axe.

Odessa author James Swain will join the festival with Bad News Travels, his third thriller about FBI agent Beth Daniels and retired detective Jon Lancaster, who discover sinister truths behind her fathers suicide.

St. Petersburgs own Cheryl Hollon, known for her Webb Glass Shop books, will introduce her new Paint & Shine series with Still Knife Painting.

Memoirs, some in essay form and one illustrated, will give readers a personal look at writers lives. Laura Lippman is known for her mystery fiction, but her new book, My Life as a Villainess, is a witty and poignant collection of personal essays.

Rick Bragg is one of the masters of Southern storytelling, and hes bound to dish some up when he talks about Where I Come From: Stories From the Deep South, a collection of his columns from Southern Living and Garden & Gun.

Eleanor Crewes The Times I Knew I Was Gay combines charming illustrations and text in a warmly funny graphic memoir.

Former Tampa Bay Times staffer Katherine Snow Smith offers humor and insight in her essays in Rules for the Southern Rule-Breaker.

If youre a fan of nonfiction, the festival has authors for you. Ariel Sabar will be discussing his book Veritas, the fascinating true tale of a Harvard biblical scholar, an ancient artifact and a Florida con man.

Neal Karlens biography This Thing Called Life: Princes Odyssey, On and Off the Record draws from his multiple in-depth interviews with the musical superstar.

Just out in paperback is a 2018 book of some local interest 12: The Inside Story of Tom Bradys Fight for Redemption. Authors Casey Sherman and Dave Wedge will tell us all about it.

Festival favorite Roy Peter Clark will entertain fans with a talk about his latest book, Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice From Aristotle to Zinnser. He will also team up with University of South Florida St. Petersburg historian Raymond Arsenault to discuss The Changing South of Gene Patterson: Journalism and Civil Rights 1960-1968, a collection of columns by the late editor of the then-St. Petersburg Times.

It wouldnt be a festival without a bunch of Florida books. Former Tampa Bay Times staffer Craig Pittmans nonfiction Cat Tale: The Wild, Weird Battle to Save the Florida Panther reveals an amazing story with a happy ending, at least for now.

Kent Russell took a walk from the Florida-Alabama border to his childhood home in Coconut Grove, and hell talk about the resulting book, In the Land of Good Living: A Journey to the Heart of Florida.

Naturalist Susan Cerulean weaves together her experiences studying and protecting wild shorebirds on Floridas coast and caring for her father while he has dementia in her memoir I Have Been Assigned the Single Bird.

USFSP historian Gary Mormino will talk about his biography of a Florida governor who led the state into the modern age, yet held shockingly racist ideas, in Millard Fillmore Caldwell: Governing on the Wrong Side of History.

In From Saloons to Steak Houses: A History of Tampa, USF special collections librarian Andrew Huse tells the citys history through its restaurants, bars, social clubs, theaters and more.

For updates, check the festival website or follow it on Facebook.

More:
Authors for virtually every reader at the Times Festival of Reading - Tampa Bay Times

Now the revised entry for racism has finally arrived, included in the online update Merriam-Webster published yesterday. As promised, the entry underscores some nuances, though the revision is not a complete rewrite. As before, the first definition given relates to personal belief and attitudes. But the revised second definitionthe systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another; specifically: white supremacybetter highlights what Mitchum was looking for. Additionally, the entry is now enriched by illustrative quotations from such writers as Angela Y. Davis, bell hooks, Mariana Calvo, and Imani Perry, and the activist Bree Newsome.

When Mitchums appeal to Merriam-Webster attracted news coverage in June, many commentators portrayed the story in broad strokes as the dictionary gets woke. Depending on ones political perspective, that might be seen as either a laudable step in the path to progressive enlightenment or as a capitulation to the forces of political correctness. But a closer look at how Merriam-Websters definition of racism has evolved over time reveals a much more complex narrative.

Racism and racist are surprisingly recent additions to the English lexicon. You wont find those words in the writings of Frederick Douglass, Harriet Beecher Stowe, or Abraham Lincoln. While the Oxford English Dictionary currently dates racism in English to 1903 and racist to 1919, the terms were still rarely used in the early decades of the 20th century. The pioneering civil-rights activist and journalist Ida B. Wells, for instance, instead used phrases like race hatred and race prejudice in her memoir, Crusade for Justice, which she began writing in 1928 but left unfinished when she died three years later.

When Merriam-Webster published the second edition of its unabridged New International Dictionary, in 1934, racism was nowhere to be found. The editors did include another, related term, which was more popular at the time: racialism, defined as racial characteristics, tendencies, prejudices, or the like; spec., race hatred. But racism was not yet on the radar of the lexicographers diligently at work at Merriam-Websters Springfield, Massachusetts, office.

Read: The dictionary definition of racism has to change

That all changed thanks to a perceptive observation by one member of the editorial staff named Rose Frances Egan. Egan, a graduate of Syracuse and Columbia who studied the history of aesthetics, came on board as an assistant editor for the second edition of the New International Dictionary. She was also tasked with writing entries for Websters Dictionary of Synonyms, which she worked on for several years before its first edition was published in 1942.

A handwritten slip tucked away in Merriam-Websters archive tells the story. (Before the advent of email, interoffice communication among the editors in Springfield would typically be carried out by exchanging notes on pink slips of paper, still known affectionately as the pinks.) This particular slip, dated November 1, 1938, was written by Egan, who asked a fellow editor, John P. Bethel, about the status of the word racism. Has this term been entered in the Addenda? Egan asked Bethel. I wanted to use it in a ds. and found that it is not in W. 34.

John Morse, a former president and publisher at Merriam-Webster, guided me through the obscure in-house notations on the slip with the eagerness of an Egyptologist deciphering the Rosetta Stone. Egan knew that there was no racism entry in the 1934 Websters New International but was inquiring whether it was slated for future printings as part of the Addenda, the section in the front of the dictionary for new words that came to the editors attention too late for inclusion in the main text. When Egan said she wanted to use it in a ds., that was short for discriminated synonym, the term of art for the items considered in the entries of the Dictionary of Synonyms that Egan was hard at work drafting. Any word used in a secondary work like the synonym dictionary, according to Merriam-Webster policy, should also be found in the flagship unabridged dictionary.

Read more:
The Evolution of Racism - The Atlantic

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Wednesday morning was a little weird.

It started off like most of my other weekdays of late alarm at 6:45 a.m. for my wife Katie to get up and get ready for work, me brewing some coffee for her morning commute (none for me; Ive never warmed to the smell or taste), watering the plants out in the front yard, and then hopping on Twitter to see whats happening in the sports world.

And thats when the weirdness happened. Thats when I got the tweet from the NBA Communications account detailing the days practice and media availability schedules for the teams in the bubble. And thats when it once again hit me like a ton of bricks:

The Jazzs season was over.

I could hardly fathom it. I mean, obviously, I knew it like seemingly everyone else in Utah who hasnt sworn off the NBA for being too political, Id watched their Game 7 defeat to Denver the night before. Id written two versions of a story during the fourth quarter (one for a win, one for a loss) on account of the game turning out to be close; Id switched back and forth between three Zoom links afterward to do postgame/exit interviews with Quin Snyder, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley, Joe Ingles, Jordan Clarkson, Royce ONeale

And yet, it was the Jazzs absence from that Wednesday morning NBA tweet that brought it home.

There was a feeling of emptiness not dissimilar from what Jazz fans were probably feeling that day in the aftermath of their favorite teams unexpectedly early exit, though it originated from a different place as obsessed as fans are with the Jazz, the fact that covering the team is my job arguably makes me perhaps even more consumed by them.

Look at it from this perspective: My job is literally to spend every day looking up stats, researching trends, (theoretically) going to practices and shootarounds, interviewing coaches and players, watching games (and taking copious notes and tracking three different statistical compilations while doing so), interviewing coaches and players again, and then trying to put it all together in a way that makes sense to the average reader.

Back when things were normal, the average fan going to a game at the Viv would be in their seat from tipoff at 7:10 until the final horn around 9:25; covering the team necessitated that I get to the arena at 5 p.m. and usually didnt leave until around midnight. And then the next day, I was either going to practice at ZBBC, or getting on a plane and flying to Detroit or Memphis or Oklahoma City or San Antonio for the next couple of games.

And so, while I am not a fan of the team like you are, the team is nevertheless an unfathomably huge part of my life. So yeah, Im bummed the season is over, too.

In the meantime, there will be stories to write about all the offseason machinations, though that will just beget more weirdness, considering there will be no daily draft workouts at ZBBC, no picking the brain of the now-departed Walt Perrin on the latest batch of prospects, no trying to decipher if one of the young men who came in that day will be the next to don a ballcap with a Jazz logo on it when draft night comes.

All of which is to say, like you, I cant wait for the Jazz to be back on the schedule again.

Heres the problem with that this whole COVID-19 thing not only wrecked the conventional season, but the conventional offseason, too. For starters, after the season is over, the team will typically hold an hours-long day of exit interviews, with the likes of Dennis Lindsey and Justin Zanik giving a broad overview of what happened and whats to come, followed by every player getting a turn on the dais.

This year, the Jazz PR staff followed the league protocol and gave us that aforementioned lineup following the Game 7 loss, as everyone would be scattering to their own corner of the world the following day. Suffice it to say, most players dont want to think big picture or talk about their offseason plan literally minutes after a gut-wrenching elimination. At least Lindsey and Zanik are on the books for mid-next week.

Meanwhile, the loss of games, the loss of revenue from not having fans in seats, et cetera means that the collective bargaining agreement has been thrown into chaos, as has next seasons salary cap. And with the cap unsettled, the draft and free agency are unsettled, too. And the start of next season, for that matter.

Obviously, this is all in flux right now. Stay tuned.

One last bit of bubble Donovan

To that end, his postgame interview following Game 7 featured yet one more powerful, poignant moment. As he was fighting back tears over the loss and the end of the season, he was asked to sum up the bubble experience. And he apologized for not beginning his postgame remarks with some kind of reflection or comment dedicated to the cause, before quickly putting his own hurt in perspective.

The NBA did an incredible job, is doing an incredible job, of allowing us to finish up the season and giving us exposure to get our message out. That being said, the pain thats on my face right now and the way I feel, I can only imagine whats going through these victims families, he said. And I know Im probably going to go back to cry again over this s---, but I just want to come out and say it and say, Look man, this is a game; people lost their family members to police brutality and racism and s---, and I can only imagine [what theyre going through]. So I want to say that I can only imagine that. I just want to get that out there because the way that Im feeling is nothing compared to that.

A bit of reading to catch up on this Labor Day Weekend

Hey, were all busy people with lots of important things going on in our lives. So maybe you missed a good Jazz story in the Trib over the past few days. If so, here are a few worth a second effort:

Though the series obviously didnt end the way that the Jazz or their fans wanted, youve got to admit, the back-and-forth duel between Donovan and the Nuggets Jamal Murray was fun to watch. My coverage partner Andy Larsen broke down just what a historic matchup it was.

And hey, if youve been so into the Jazz that you find yourself having used up your full allotment of seven free monthly articles, I would highly recommend becoming a Tribune subscriber or supporter. You not only get unlimited articles, but youre helping to fund quality local journalism, whether it coverage of the Jazz, college sports, local government, the coronavirus pandemic, social justice issues, the ongoing scandals emanating from the University of Utah police department you name it. Along those lines, The Trib is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so if you like the work we do and want to help it continue, please consider making a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation.

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Weekly Run: Feeling as blue as the Jazz's jerseys (not the red or purple or white or yellow ones) - Salt Lake Tribune

Dustin Kent|The News Herald

Holmes County finished with its second straight losing season in 2019, finishing 5-6. Among those defeats were close, competitive losses at the hands of Freeport, Chipley, and Sneads, and Blue Devils coach Jeff Lee hopes a more experienced squad will be able to the tables in those close contests and get back on the winning track.

"Playing those close games, that's what we've worked on," Lee said. "One play here and there, we're not 5-6, we're 8-3 or 7-4, and two wins in those games makes a huge difference. We're hoping we've closed the gap on those things. We hope those things will go our way this year."

The Blue Devils return a large portion of last year's core featuring starting quarterback Colby Jones, their top two rushers Jeremy Martinez and Ethan Marsh, four returning starters on the offensive line, and four of their top six tacklers from a year ago.

That extra experience is particularly useful for Holmes County on the offensive line where tackles Tyson Shores and AndrewSwartz, guard Brock Bowen, and center Dakota Thomas return along with tight end Waylon King.

"That was a struggle for us last year. We had no starters up front last year coming into the season," Lee said. "Those guys now, we've got eight of them that are playing that I can rotate in and feel comfrortable playing. They got a lot of reps last year and now, fastforward to this year,hopefully it pays off."

Having so many players familiar with Lee's system and terminology is especially helpful given the abbreviated off-season due to the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled spring football practice for teams throughout the state.

"We do a nine-day installation on offense/defense,three days and then repeat it three times," Lee said. "When you get to that ninth day, you want to have your base offense and defense in. Last year, we struggled getting that in.

"When we got to day nine (this year), we felt like we can play a game with our terminology and knowledge. Now going out and playing a game is a different deal, but that's how we felt. We feel like we're ahead of the game right now based on kids having that experience last year."

Jones comes into this season as the clear-cut No. 1 guy at quarterback after splitting time with Kalen Evans in 2019.

Lee said the junior signal-caller has made impressive strides since last year that will make it possible for the Blue Devils to be a little more aggressive offensively this season.

"Colby is having a heck of an off-season. That kid has grown tremendously," Lee said. "He has developed more as a leader, he understands the offense, he wants to win, he's very competitive, and he's made a big improvement in his game.

"Last year it was a different thing. We had a bunch of young ones and we were trying to use every bit of that 40-second (play) clock to our advantage to stay in games. Now we've picked up several guys that did not play last year that are athletic and very fast, so we've gotten better not just with Colby throwing it but adding those guys who can stretch the field a little better.

"We'll establish what it takes, run or pass, to win a game, but we feel confident in our ability to go out and throw to win. That's been a big positive for us in the preseason."

Among those additions are Vernon transfer receiver Riley Edwards and basketball player BB Richards, both of whom Lee said have picked things up quickly and will be able to make plays for the Blue Devils on the outside.

While the run game will still be the centerpiece of Holmes County's offense, Lee said he believes this group can be among the more balanced attacks he's had.

"We have the capability of throwing it. We feel confident in throwing it," he said. "The run will be a big part of our game. But if we had to (throw) last year, we would have a hard time coming from behind in a situation where we could'nt have more than two receivers out. Now we can put four guys out there. Picking up those guys has helped."

Defensively, Holmes County returns starters at linebacker in Martinez, safety in Nathan Wilkerson, cornerback in Marsh, and defensive end in King, with linebackers John Miller, Aidan Mulins, Chandler Majors, and Cody Pate also bringing back a lot ofexperience.

It's on the that side of the ball where Lee said improvement was needed most after the Blue Devils allowed over 26 points per game last season in their six losses.

"Defense is the key for us," he said. "We have to prevent the big play on defense. Preventing the big play is what keeps us in the game. On offense, I feel like we've got some weapons to make it even better than last year, but if we do not allow the big play, I think we've got a shot at everyone on the schedule."

Holmes County opens the regular season Friday on the road against Freeport. The Blue Devils stay on the road in Week 2 against Sneads before making their home debut Sept. 18 against Graceville.

Read more here:
Blue Devils trying to turn the tables in '20 - The News Herald