BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The NHL said Tuesday it is investigating allegations Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters directed racial slurs toward Akim Aliu when he and the Nigerian-born player were in the minors a decade ago.

The NHL called the alleged behavior repugnant and unacceptable. The league added it will have no further comment until it looks into what happened more thoroughly.

Aliu tweeted Monday that Peters dropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didnt like my choice of music. Aliu said he rebelled against him, and Peters responded by asking Chicago Blackhawks executives John McDonough and Stan Bowman to send Aliu to a lower minor league level.

The tweet did not name Peters specifically, but referred to a protege of fired Toronto coach Mike Babcocks who is now in Calgary. Babcock has been a mentor to Peters since Babcock coached him in college.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving said the team is investigating the allegations Aliu raised during Calgarys overtime loss at Pittsburgh. Peters was not made available following Monday nights game.

I havent had the chance to sit down with Bill or our people internally to talk about this and get to the bottom of it, Treliving said. We take these matters very, very seriously.

The Blackhawks issued a statement saying nothing had previously been brought to their attention regarding Peters and Aliu before Monday. The team added it had no affect on any player personnel decisions involving Aliu.

Email and voice messages left with Aliu have not been returned to The Associated Press. The Flames were scheduled to practice Tuesday in Buffalo, where they close a four-game road trip Wednesday night.

The timing of the allegations come with the Flames slumping. Theyre 1-5-2 in their past eight a year after Calgary won a franchise-record 50 games in Peters first season as coach.

Peters was hired by Calgary after spending four seasons coaching the Carolina Hurricanes. The 54-year-old made the jump to Rockford after leading the Western Hockey League Spokane Chiefs to a Memorial Cup championship in 2008.

Aliu played under Peters during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. He was demoted to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL during the 2009-10 season. Aliu, who was born in Africa but raised in Ukraine and Canada, later played seven NHL games over two seasons with Calgary. The 30-year-old Aliu has had a transient career since being selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2007 draft.

Hes not playing this season after appearing in 14 games with Orlando of the East Coast Hockey League last year. The Solar Bears were Alius 11th team over a six-year span, which included stops in Russia, Sweden and Slovakia.

Alius tweet were prompted after reports surfaced of how poorly Babcock dealt with his players in Toronto. Forward Mitch Marner confirmed that during his rookie season Babcock asked him to rank Maple Leafs players in order of hardest to least-hardest working. Babcock then shared Marners list with numerous players.

UPDATE:

1:15 p.m.

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving says coach Bill Peters remains on the staff but wasnt certain whether hed be behind the bench for the next game.

The team and the NHL are both investigating an allegation the Peters directed racial slurs at a player 10 years ago when the two were in the minors. Akim Aliu, a Nigerian-born player, says Peters dropped the N bomb several times in a dressing room during his rookie year.

Peters has not commented on the allegation. Treliving apologized for not having many definitive answers at practice in Buffalo on Tuesday, a day before the Flames play the Sabres.

Peters was not at the arena while his players were on the ice. The GM says he had stayed at the teams hotel. Flames associate coach Geoff Ward oversaw practice, which included a brief huddle with the players at center ice.

Treliving understands the seriousness of the allegations and called them repugnant if true, while adding its his responsibility to find out exactly what happened.

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How the Penguins have become one of NHLs best defensive teams - NBCSports.com

Surprise, surprise, Major League Baseball's off-season is off to yet another dull start.

It has been almost a month since the Nationals were crowned World Series champions and almost nothing has happened since then. There have been a handful of moves -- reliever Will Smith to the Braves and catcher Yasmani Grandal to the White Sox -- but most of the elite free agents are still looking for a home.

Toronto's priorities remain the same as they were at the end of the regular season. Right-hander Chase Anderson was brought in through a minor trade and the Jays have made some small changes to their 40-man roster, but the major additions have yet to surface.

In the NBA and NHL, deals can't seem to get done fast enough. MLB is a completely different story with every team tripping over itself to give an appearance of being patient and disciplined. It's not a great look for the league, but it's one that is likely to change in the coming weeks with the annual Winter Meetings right around the corner.

The Jays havent done anything consequence, but there's still a lot to talk about when it comes to this team's off-season. With that, it's time to open the weekly mailbag. As always, questions can be submitted to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com or by reaching out on Twitter to @GregorChisholm. Please make sure to include your first name and hometown.

The following questions have been edited for length and grammar:

Is a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. likely to increase his average and power numbers by much, or are rookie season stats usually a decent guide?-- John, Northern Ireland

The Blue Jays haven't seen the best of Guerrero quite yet. His rookie season was solid enough, but still a bit of a disappointment considering the lofty expectations he faced at the beginning of the year. A slash line of .272/.339/.433 certainly wasnt terrible, but there's every reason to believe this is a guy who will post better numbers in the future. The biggest obstacle for Guerrero, outside of fatiguing down the stretch, was not getting enough loft on the ball. He hit far too many balls on the ground last year but some changes to his swing could help remedy that. Guerrero still has as much upside as anyone in baseball and he's someone I would bet on to have a much better year in 2020.

1. The Jays have clear needs in the rotation and have the fewest dollars allocated to the 2020 payroll. Wouldn't it make sense going after big-name starter right now in free agency? Guys like Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Zack Wheeler. Next year's class isn't as great as this year and we're one-to-two seasons away from competing. Spend the money now to get that "ace". 2. Would Didi Gregorius, be a good fit for the Jays? Let Didi play short, Bo over to 2, Biggio to play 1st? Worried about Biggios defence.-- Josh, Prince Albert, Sask.

The first question references a strategy I proposed earlier this month. Toronto currently has a projected payroll of approximately $65 million for next season, including arbitration and pre-arbitration players. In 2021, there is just $18.7 million on the books. There is a unique opportunity for ownership to flex its financial muscle by frontloading deals to sign prime free agents, before the rest of the young core starts making a lot of money. That said, it doesn't appear to be an approach the Blue Jays are taking this off-season.

As for the second question, Gregorius would fit on just about any roster, but the priority must be pitching and outside of a first baseman/designated hitter, possibly an outfielder, there likely won't be a lot of changes on the position player front. There are legitimate questions about Toronto's defence up the middle but Bichette has displayed a lot of progression there and I wouldn't rule out a similar trajectory for Biggio. Both guys deserve more time to secure their spot on the field.

The Jays have several players with low BA, low OBA, and 20 HR power (Derek Fisher, Brandon Drury, Billy McKinney, Teoscar Hernandez, Rowdy Tellez, Danny Jansen, Randal Grichuk). Do you think any of these players will break out to an average OBA of .330 or above?-- Bill, Wetaskiwin, Alberta

The name that sticks out to me is Jansen and he's another player I think will be much better next season. In Jansen's final year with Triple-A Buffalo, he posted a .275/.390/.473 slash line with an OPS of .863. His first stint in the majors was equally impressive with an OPS+ of 115. Jansen struggled with the bat this year, but he can easily be forgiven considering his demands behind the plate. Now that he's more settled, Jansen, who has never been afraid to work the count, should take a big step forward in 2020. Hernandez is another possibility because he finished 2019 with a .325 wOBA despite a terrible start to the year. The others on this list? Probably not so much.

I am a Dutch Blue Jays fan and follow your columns as much as possible. I understand that they are in the rebuild but cannot follow the strategy. They were already weak in the rotation and then they trade Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez instead of extending them. Then you get a Fisher back and now they are considering trading Gurriel and/or one of the talented young catchers ... Jays seem more like a trading house than a club in rebuild mode. How do you see this? Do you think the front office is acting well? -- Gert, Netherlands

To be honest, I think most of the trade talk surrounding Toronto's position players has been overblown. Did the Jays listen when other teams came calling? Yes. Did they potentially throw out a couple names in broad discussions during their search for pitching? Sure, but it doesn't mean any of it is likely to happen. As mentioned before in this space, the Jays need to get creative this winter to fill the holes on their pitching staff. That inevitably leads to some uncomfortable questions about which members of the young core they would be willing to trade to make it happen, but that's not the top priority. The goal is to make a couple of significant adds through free agency, not to part with in-house assets. Judge the front office for the moves it will eventually makes, but don't read too much into these early reports. It still seems improbable to me that Gurriel, Jansen and others will be moved this winter.

When is something going to happen?-- Henry, Clarington, Ontario

Fair question. The consensus is that the market is moving a bit quicker than it has the last couple of years, but it's still a far cry from the way things operated 5-10 years ago. Super agent Scott Boras holds most of the cards this winter because he represents most of the top free agents. At some point, he's going to have to start clearing the board to manage his workload. Gerrit Cole seems unlikely to sign before the New Year, but others such as Strasburg and Anthony Rendon are candidates to get new deals before -- or during -- the winter meetings. Once those guys start going off the board, the mid-tier market, where Toronto is shopping, should see some movement as well.

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Your MLB wild card proposal was a good idea but ... BEFORE ANY OF THESE CHANGES, LETS MAKE THE DIVISIONAL SERIES A BEST 4 OUT OF 7 RATHER THAN 3 OUT OF 5. THEN YOU CAN DO ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE PLAYOFF FORMAT.-- Wayne, Toronto

First off, why are you yelling? Second, I completely agree. Wayne is referring to a proposal I made in Monday's blog, which would see the addition of two wild card teams in each league. Changing the division series to a best-of-seven format, is another idea I can get behind because it's a truer test to determine the better team. But the biggest issue of all, in my mind, continues to be the lack of a balanced schedule. It's not fair that teams in the AL East are competing for the same wild card as teams in a weak Central Division. Having a wild card spot for each second-place team would ease those concerns a bit, but eventually MLB needs to find a way to even out the schedule for all teams in the AL and NL.

See the original post here:
Mailbag: Have the Blue Jays already seen the best of Guerrero? - Toronto Star

Advantages of Second Story Modular Additions

If you are building a second story modular addition, you are most likely doing it to create more living space rather than a separate living unit. The general contractor will turn your one-story into a two-story by removing the roof from your home and immediately setting the new modular second story with its own built-in roof on top.

The speed of modular construction is a tremendous benefit when building a second story addition, since the addition can be set in place within hours after the roof is removed from your existing home. Once the modular addition is in place, the inside of your home is protected from a sudden storm. A site builder cannot realistically protect your home as quickly. Another advantage is that the second story can be finished faster. This means your family can use the upstairs more quickly, even if it must wait to enjoy the downstairs until the remodeling is completed.

There are two conditions that must be met before you can build a second story modular addition. First, the exterior dimensions of the existing home must be compatible with one of the modular manufacturers production sizes. If your home is too wide, a modular will not easily work. If your home has multiple bump-outs, a modular might work, but it may be impractical and expensive. A home can be up to 3-feet narrower than a module, however, and adding a wider second floor can create an attractive, cantilevered garrison colonial look.

The second condition is having an existing home and foundation that are structurally capable of carrying the additional weight, which is substantial. You will need to hire a structural engineer to make this determination. He may give you specific instructions on fortifying the structure or the foundation, which might be unacceptable or too expensive. If you decide to carry out his instructions, the GC will complete them as part of his remodeling. Before the engineer completes his final written report, he will need to see plans of exactly what you are building and receive detailed information from the manufacturer.

When designing an addition, you must decide where the stairs to the second floor will be located. You must also determine a location for a chase from the basement to the second floor to carry the electrical wires, HVAC supply and return ducts or pipes, and plumbing pipes for second-floor bathrooms. If the GC is connecting to a forced-air system in the basement, the chase must be larger, since the ducts will take up more space than hot-water lines.

The design of the second story elevation must be coordinated with the first-story elevation. The window locations on the second story should be arranged in a pleasing fashion. This decision should be made early in the design process, since the location of the interior partition walls on the second story must be coordinated with the window locations (you cannot put a wall in the middle of a window). In addition, the window style and sizes should be matched as closely as possible to the existing home.

The exterior elevation of all four sides of the finished home must take into consideration any first-story bump-outs or structures. For example, the location of an existing bay window, porch, sunroom, portico, recessed entry, or garage can pose special design challenges. The second story must be planned so that it does not affect either the function or aesthetic appeal of these structures. In some cases, it might be necessary to remove a part of the bump-out or attached structure, such as a garage roof, before installing the second story. If the modular second story will be cantilevered, the overhang can pose additional problems with a first-floor bump-out, such as a bay window.

The exterior siding on the second story must fit with the siding on the first story. Otherwise, the siding on the first story will have to be replaced. If you currently have wood siding, you might need to repaint or restain it to create a color match. Similar coordination issues arise for shutters and other exterior trim details.

If you have a chimney on your existing one-story home, you will need to make it taller to reach above the roof of the second floor. In addition, all trees overhanging the first story will need to be removed.

The actual removal of the existing roof as well as any other materials you are replacing in your existing home, such as the siding or windows, will be a task unto itself. The cost of disposing of these materials will be appreciable.

Most importantly, when you are done building your second story modular addition, it will almost feel like you have just built a brand new home.

For more information about building second story modular additions, see Building a Modular Additionin my book The Modular Home.

More:
Second Story Modular Additions Are Fast & Affordable to build.

The end of the year always brings a stampede of new restaurants and bars in Las Vegas, hustling to open before a new year begins. December brings 12 highly anticipated openings, including new restaurants from David Chang and Michael Mina, a second location for Lotus of Siam, a chocolate cafe, a beer garden off the Strip, a new look for Emeril Lagasses steakhouse, and more. Heres a look at 12 of the most-anticipated openings coming in December.

Location: Palazzo

The Players: David Chang

Projected Opening: December

David Chang, the chef behind Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas along with the Netflix series Ugly Delicious and more than a dozen restaurants spanning from New York to Los Angeles, plans to open a second restaurant in Las Vegas. Majordmo Meat & Fish, a restaurant that brings the DNA of his LA location thats fresh off a James Beard Foundation semi-finalist nomination for Restaurant of the Year, opens before New Years Eve at the Palazzo. Already Chang plans a smoked prime rib cart, Korean barbecue, and an off-shoot restaurant called Tastys serving sliders.

All Coverage of Majordmo Meat & Fish [ELV]

Location: MGM Grand

The Players: Michael Mina ad Ayesha Curry

Projected Opening: December

Michael Mina replaces Pub 1842 with an ode to smoke-infused dishes, a collaboration with Family Food Fight host Ayesha Curry. Wood-fired dishes meant for what Curry calls the adventurous eater to the one who doesnt stray from classics include smoked St. Louis cut pork ribs, a dish diners can spice with smokey mama sauce, Vietnamese lemongrass with Saigon streusel and Korean sesame-gochujang with toasted black sesame seeds; a shellfish platter heaped with charcoal-grilled oysters, shrimp, lobster, and crab are served hot and steamed table side with lemon grass tea; a cornbread from Curry served with Thai red curry butter; and more.

All Coverage of International Smoke [ELV]

Location: Bellagio

Projected Opening: New Years Eve

The Mayfair Supper Club, the Bellagios newest restaurant, plans to open in time for New Years Eve. The restaurant, which finds inspiration in supper clubs in London, combines dinner and a show in an evolving production that changes throughout the night. A menu of contemporary takes on American classics accompanies live entertainment performances nightly and a view of the Bellagio Fountains.

All Coverage of The Mayfair [ELV]

Location: Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

Projected Opening: Before New Years Eve

The James Bond-inspired Vesper Bar, one of three cocktail venues to debut at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas when it opened back in 2010, closed in October for a major remodel of the 24-hour lounge located a few steps from the hotel lobby. Additions include new carpet, furniture, and bar top, plus a refreshed face of the bar.

All Coverage of Vesper Bar [ELV]

Location: Venetian

The Players: Emeril Lagasse

Projected Opening: Late December

Emeril Lagasses Delmonico Steakhouse celebrated 20 years at the Venetian back in May, and now the classic restaurant with a New Orleans twist plans to spruce up. The steakhouse along Restaurant Row at the Venetian closes to renovate, planning to reopen in mid- to late December. Delmonico filed paperwork to upgrade its main dining room, the Kitchen Table space, and main facade, filing for $743,000 in estimated construction work alone.

All Coverage of Delmonico Steakhouse [ELV]

Location: Ellis Island

Projected Opening: December 6

Ellis Island, the casino loved by locals and those who like a good deal on beer and barbecue, plans to finally debut The Front Yard, more than a year and a half after it originally estimated. The two-story outdoor dining, drinking, and entertainment venue plans to have a brewpub atmosphere, bar games, regular live entertainment, and views of the Las Vegas Strip. The space features room for 300 along Koval Avenue with decor such as wood fixtures, exposed steel, and low lighting, as well as interactive bar games such as cornhole, shuffleboard and beer pong. The second floor plans to feature an atrium view. Ellis Island Brewery will be incorporated in the design of The Front Yard with a window so patrons can see the copper tanks and brewing process from inside. Patrons will be able to taste some of the spirits Ellis Island plans to distill as well. A seasonally rotating stock of beers from the brewery as well as a full cocktail and wine menu will also be available at the bar.

All Coverage of The Front Yard [ELV]

Location: Venetian

Projected Opening: Early December

San Francisco-based Dandelion Chocolate and its single-origin bean-to-bar chocolates brings a chocolate cafe and retail shop inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. Dandelion Chocolate only uses cacao sourced from countries near the equator and sugar from Brazil. Each bar includes a story about the source of the cacao beans and the year they were harvested. Beans hail from farms in Belize, Vietnam, Ecuador, Tanzania, Madagascar, Costa Rica, Sierra Leone, Honduras, and more. Aside from a collection of single-origin 70-plus percent cacao bars for sale, the cafe plans to feature house-made pastries, hot chocolate, coffee drinks, confections, and gifts. That hot chocolate comes in three varieties: thick and rich European drinking chocolate, an American riff on house hot chocolate with marshmallows made in house, and Mission hot chocolate with its spicy kick.

All Coverage of Dandelion Chocolate [ELV]

Location: Commercial Center

Projected Opening: December 2

Fans of Saipin Chutimas northern Thai cuisine may soon be able to return to the original location in the Commercial Center. Lotus of Siam plans to reopen the restaurant more than two years after it closed following the collapse of its rain-soaked roof on East Sahara Avenue. Some of the new touches to the space include carpets, wallpaper, a waiting area for customers at the front, and a shuttle between the two restaurants.

All Coverage of Lotus of Siam [ELV]

Location: Mirage

Projected Opening: December 23

Fresh off opening Diablos Cantina at the Luxor last December, MGM Resorts plans to expand the Mexican restaurants footprint with a second location at the Mirage. Diablos takes over the LVB Burgers & Bar space at the resort. Diablos Cantina plans to be open for lunch and dinner with a menu of guacamole styles that can go from mild to spicy, as well as tostadas with chorizo bean pure, shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, crema fresca, pickled onions, and cotija cheese with the choice of shredded beef or chicken or a platter of three tacos with choice of carne asada with marinated steak, abodo-marinated chicken thigh, or carnitas with slow-roasted pork served in corn tortillas topped with onion and cilantro. Other options include Mexican corn, a churro funnel cake, and, of course, margaritas, including the Vixen with blanco tequila, fresh-squeezed lime juice, hibiscus, and mint.

All Coverage of Diablos Cantina [ELV]

Location: The Linq Promenade

Projected Opening: December 4

Sprinkles Cupcakes & Ice Cream, the cupcake and ice cream emporium, already closed at The Linq Promenade with Icebar, a new project created by Noel Bowman of Minus5 Ice Experience, taking over the space next to the promenades fountain, filled with a frozen landscape and sporting a new feature, dynamic projection mapping. The decor features blue and green elements and signs on the exterior, as well as a 1,000-square-foot covered patio facing the promenades fountain. A warm space with a warm bar and lobby sits at the front entrance. The icy confines fill 1,200 square feet and feature more than 100 tons of hand-carved ice maintained at 32 degrees Fahrenheit by a refrigeration system. Visitors slip on parkas or faux fur coats before entering the ice lounge, which features immersive ice sculptures and educational features. Customers ages 21 and older can order from chilled cocktails, such as The Ice Man, frozen mojito, and fros, all served in glasses made entirely of ice. The attraction is also family friendly, offering icy mocktails.

All Coverage of Icebar [ELV]

Location: Shanghai Plaza

Projected Opening: Before New Years Eve

Cult-favorite Pepper Lunch confirms its sizzle-it-your-way dining experience is headed to Las Vegas, creating the third U.S. expansion for the Japan-based international chain. The restaurant heads to Chinatowns Shanghai Plaza on Spring Mountain Road with a menu of sizzling plates of beef, hamburger steak, chicken, pork tonkatsu, tofu, salmon, and Black Angus rib-eye, plus appetizers including calamari, shrimp, oyster, gyoza, and croquette potatoes.

All Coverage of Pepper Lunch [ELV]

Location: Shanghai Plaza

Projected Opening: Before New Years Eve

The Taiwanese 85C Bakery Cafe was founded in 2004, rapidly expending to more than 1,000 global outlets and debuting its first U.S. branch in Irvine, California, in 2008. Built on the philosophy of serving premium coffee, bread, and cake at affordable prices, the name is inspired by the best temperature to keep a coffees flavor. On the menu, sweet and savory breads, cream puffs, and egg tarts, slices of cakes, plus hot and cold coffees, teas, and boba drinks.

All Coverage of 85C Bakery Cafe [ELV]

Keeping Track of All the Restaurants and Bars Headed to Chinatown [ELV]

The Biggest Restaurant and Bar Openings in 2019 [ELV]

Disclosure: David Chang is producing shows for Hulu in partnership with Vox Media Studios, part of Eaters parent company, Vox Media. No Eater staff member is involved in the production of those shows, and this does not impact coverage on Eater.

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The biggest restaurant and bar openings in Las Vegas this December - Eater Vegas

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The Broncos played perhaps their worst game of the year on Sunday, falling to the Bills by a score of 20-3 in Week 12 at Buffalo. Their defense was run all over and their offense could not move the ball with effectiveness or efficiency.

Things seem to be falling apart with the current construct of this roster. Injuries, bad free-agent additions, bad draft picks and just plain old bad luck have put this Broncos team in no better shape than they were under the last coaching staff.

I like thinking about the future of this team. The main reason is because the present for the Broncos is pretty rough and Im hoping for better days in 2020 and beyond.

I also like contemplating life and sports when driving around with the top down on my old Jeep TJ even if its a little cold! The following is a result of those trips during the week.

Buckle up, lets take a ride through my thoughts.

***

Top-Five Twist

If the draft were to be today, the Broncos would have a top-five pick. That may change as we have more than a few weeks left of the regular season, but with a 3-8 record, a lot of fans are turning their attention to the 2020 NFL Draft. This is a great draft class at three different positions offensive tackle, wide receiver and quarterback.

The good news for the Broncos is that they have a big need at each one of those positions. The talent of this class lines up with some of the Broncos biggest needs. However, that is not the way they may go with their premium first-round pick.

There is some early buzz that the Broncos would go with a twist in the first round and select Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.

Taking a cornerback is a direction that many fans will not want them to go. Most Broncos fans I talk to in person or on social media want nothing more than an upgrade at the left tackle position, while others want them to find a true franchise quarterback.

Going with a tall, physical corner like Okudah would mean the team is likely moving on from veteran corner Chris Harris Jr. I like the idea of trying to keep Harris around with a contract that makes him a Bronco for Life, but that is more wishful thinking than it is reality. The draft is after free agency, so we should have clarity on which direction the Broncos go in the first round at some point in mid-March.

***

Passers Remorse?

I couldnt help but think about what might have been all last week as the team prepared to face the Bills. Josh Allen is their starting quarterback and he was a player the Broncos spent a lot of time scouting before the 2018 NFL Draft.

Instead of taking Allen with the No. 5 overall pick, the Broncos chose to go in a different direction and chose linebacker Bradley Chubb instead. Chubb is a fine player and has the makings of a superstar pass-rusher in this league, but Allen is showing signs of being a real franchise quarterback.

DMac, Johnny Hart and I went to Laramie for Allens pro day before the 2018 NFL Draft. We had more people from The Fan at Allens pro day than the Broncos did, as only Gary Kubiak and one other scout were in attendance. Allen put on a great pro day, showing off his big arm, athleticism and touch throwing downfield. His performance wasnt enough to sway the Broncos, even though they coached him at the Senior Bowl that year and even went to a bowl game to scout him in person.

I wonder what it would have been like in year two of Allen starting for the Broncos. He is far from a finished product, but Allen has shown improvement in his game. Last year as a rookie, Allen was mostly a one-read guy who would take off to run at the first sign of trouble. This year, as we saw on Sunday against the Broncos, Allen will stay with his reads and can run as a last resort. The Bills do a good job of designing running plays for Allen, and hes seriously underrated as a scrambling quarterback.

The sky is the limit for Allen and Bills fans are over the moon they have a young quarterback who has led them to eight wins so far this year. Meanwhile, the Broncos still dont have a solid quarterback situation. Joe Flacco bombed as the starter, Brandon Allen has not been good and Drew Lock has yet to play. More on that in the next section!

***

No More Excuses

Its past time to see Drew Lock as the starting quarterback for the Broncos. Ive been quick to let Brandon Allen have his moment, even though there was a large portion of the fan base who wanted Lock in immediately after he began practicing again in an effort to be activated from the Injured Reserve list. That support for Allen, and patience for Lock, came to an end on Sunday.

Allen played bad football against the Bills and didnt even pass for 100 yards in Week 12. Hes done what he can as the starter and it is clear that Allen is nothing more than a spot starter or decent backup quarterback. Lock has a higher level of physical talent and I want to see him as the starter on Sunday against the Chargers.

We should find out Monday whether or not the Broncos plan to activate Lock. Fangio is going to have his press conference around noon and I hope he just says that Lock is going to be active and the team will see how he does during the week of practice. In fact, I would love it if Fangio just came out and said that Lock was their starter and they were going to give him a five-game audition to see whether or not he could be the quarterback of the future.

There is little chance I get my full wish. However, it is the best move for the Broncos to get Lock in there as the starter this week.

***

Who Watches The Watchmen?

I was excited when the news came out about HBO doing a series on the 1980s graphic novel The Watchmen. Simply put, The Watchmen is one of the greatest comic books stories ever told. Writer Alan Moore basically deconstructed the superhero genre in The Watchmen, and his story was one of the most gritty and realistic stories of what life would be like if superheroes existed in our reality.

After the first episode of The Watchmen, I was incredibly disappointed. Im not going to spoil the series here, but there were things about this universe that didnt make sense based on where we left these characters 30 years ago in the timeline. The second episode wasnt much better and I considered taking it off of my schedule of recorded shows on my DVR.

Im glad I gave the series another chance because the third and fourth episodes of The Watchmen were absolutely fantastic. I now find myself carving out time to watch the show live on Sunday nights even if that means I miss a bit of Sunday Night Football. Yes, blasphemy I know, but I watch every game twice each week anyway and my Sunday nights are usually late ones as I stay up to write and to further study football.

So, who out there watches this show? Do you like the direction of the series so far? Did you read the comic books (even the new Doomsday Clock comics)? Hit me up on social media to let me know if youre a big nerd like me!

Visit link:
Mile High Monday: A top-five pick, passing on Josh Allen and more - 104.3 The Fan

Factoring in their expectations, the Philadelphia 76ers season hasnt exactly gone par for the course.

It hasnt all been bad; At 11-5, just two games back of the Milwaukee Bucks for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, the team is about where most expected them to be. That gap could be even smaller, had Joel Embiid not missed time to suspension and injury.

While they may not have played as efficiently as last season, Embiid and Ben Simmons have done their part to ensure success in Philadelphia, while offseason additions Al Horford and Josh Richardson have proved steady, production-wise, and versatile on the court. Tobias Harris, after some early struggles, has started to come around as well, as hes averaged 21.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 51.6 percent from three in the teams last five games.

Barring serious injury, Philadelphia should continue to play among the best in the East.

Only, among wasnt exactly what they had in mind. The 2019-20 season was supposed to betheir year, the season the 76ers took control of the East in their quest to the NBA mountain top.

With their jumbo-sized roster, the defense was supposed to be airtight. Embiid was to come in better, faster and stronger, Simmons an expanded shooter. Tobias Harris was meant to look more like the star he was with the Los Angeles Clippers, rather than the role player he became upon his trade to Philadelphia, while the acquisitions of Horford and Richardson was managements way of doubling down on a roster they thought would be the best in the conference, if not the NBA.

But even the best-laid plans dont often go as planned, and to keep it frank, Philadelphia has only proven good where they thought they would be great.

Philadelphia just hasnt improved that much from a season ago. The team is on pace to win 53 games, just two better than their record a season ago. They rank just 13th in the NBA in offensive rating, 8th in defensive. Their net rating of 5.1 is good for eighth in the league, but is just fifth in the East.

Again,good but notgreat.

Following a hot 5-0 start, the team has limped to a near .500, 6-5 record since. And some big breaks have kept that record from looking worse; a Furkan Korkmaz buzzer-beater lifted them over an undermanned Portland Trail Blazers team: it took a 17-point comeback to beat the New York Knicks athome: a last-minute choke job by the Cleveland Cavaliers let them squeak out a win.

Of course, some things have gone against them. The Denver Nuggets barely beat them on a flukey buzzer-beater by Nikola Jokic. But, at the same time, the 76ers choked away a 19-point fourth-quarter lead.

So, is it time to panic? Probably not, but the results so far have left a lot to be desired.

The fit has been clunky, but the prevailing thought has been that, ultimately, talent would win out and everything would work out in the end. But, and heres a thought, what if it doesnt?

Embiid nor Simmons has taken much of a step from last season, despite summer gossip of the contrary. And, even worse, the two have continued to show that they arent a great fit together; both need to dominate the ball and require maximum spacing obviously, neither of them help the other much in this respect to be the best version of themselves.

The two are a dynamic duo on defense, but the clash on offense has kept themselves, and the team, from reaching their respective ceilings.

Now, to be fair, there have been plenty of great-but-clunky fits that just made it work. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade come to mind, as they faced similar issues when they joined forces back in 2010. The Miami HEAT overcame those issues by building the right roster around them. Philadelphia, in earnest, has tried their best to do the same, it just hasnt worked out as they hoped.

Lets start with Harris, who, given his offensive profile,should be a great fit for what the 76ers want to do. Only 27, Harris has proven a capable and reliable offensive threat throughout his career and has never had much trouble spacing the floor. He isnt particularly good on defense, but the team has the personnel to cover that up.

And yet, Harris has struggled to carve out his own space. The career 36.2 percent three-point shooter has yet to display that type of dominance in Philadelphia last season, Harris shot just 32.7 percent, a number that has dipped to 29.4 in 2019. Its proven a major issue, given that the 76ers two best players arent exactly fantastic shooters themselves.

Beyond that, Harris just hasnt had much impact; Philadelphia is only 1.1 points better when hes on the floor. Again, on paper, Harris should be a near-perfect fit. But, for reasons that arent entirely clear, hes just hasnt produced the way the team knows he can (or the way they paid him to).

As for Horford, another high-priced acquisition, its been more of the same.

Without getting too much into his Boston Celtics tenure, Horford was brought in to add some versatility to the offense and further fortify what was expected to be an elite defense. So far, hes been fine; his percentages have taken a hit, but Horfords scoring, rebound and assist numbers remained largely the same compared to his time in Boston.

The issue with Horford, really, has been that hes presented another awkward fit on the court, as he and Embiid have experienced their fair share of growing pains.

The two of them share a plus-1.9 net rating when they share the court together, which is positive but nowhere near as dominant as they nor the team envisioned. And, at 33-years-old, the issues with Horford may only get worse as his body breaks down and his mobility starts to fade.

Hes given the team good minutes, and has looked even better at the center spot when Embiid is on the bench, but you dont give as much money as the team gave Horford to play on a situational basis. Theres plenty of time left in the season for the two to mesh together but, if they cant manage to find common ground, the team may begin to regret their pact with the forward.

The poor play and awkward fit from Harris and Horford has stood in stark contrast to Josh Richardson, who has played some exceptional basketball this season. And, while many of his counting stats have regressed, that has more to do with his lesser role with the 76ers compared to what he saw with the HEAT.

At 11.7 points per 100 possessions, hes Philadelphias second-best in terms of net rating. Hes done exactly what the team has asked of him and should prove vital to their success for the rest of the season and postseason, but he can only do so much.

Another reason Philadelphia hasnt looked as dominant as many thought they would is completely out of their control. Relative to expectations, their Eastern Conference competition has proved better than expected.

The Toronto Raptors, thanks in part to the continued ascension of Pascal Siakam, have maintained their position near the top of the conference. The Celtics, despite the loss of Horford and Kyrie Irving, among others, have surged with Kemba Walker as their guide.

The HEAT arent exactly the most well-rounded roster in the NBA, but theyve played some extraordinary team basketball while Milwaukee, despite their offseason losses, has looked fantastic behind reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo as well.

The 76ers opted to change the formula this summer, as they jettisoned Butler, J.J. Redick from the roster. It hasnt backfired, per se, but the loss of those players has been clearly felt, while the team hasnt seen the boost they and many others thought they would from their big-name, fairly expensive acquisitions.

Now is no time to panic; the season is young and theres still plenty of time to turn things around. But, if they continue along this path and the team cant or doesnt improve, the 76ers may have some hard truths to face.

Read the rest here:
Are the Philadelphia 76ers in Trouble? - Basketball Insiders

It started with Kobe Bryant hoisting his fifth championship trophy, and it ends with LeBron James leading the Lakers back into contention. At least the bookends have been enjoyable for the Lakers.

When it comes to picking the all-decade team for the storied franchise, there is a temptation to just list the five players who carried the Lakers to title No. 16 in seven games over Boston. In 10 years, things have never been so good for the Lakers as they were that June 2010. That, however, would undermine the complex work that was done over the course of a mostly lost decade of strain and frustration the signings and trades that backfired, the long-awaited draft picks turned into young stars who were traded before they could reach their potential.

This was not a decade like the 60s, where the Lakers dominated but just came up painfully short. Or the 70s, when they finally broke through. Or the 80s, when they dominated. Or the 90s, when they patiently waited. Or the...

More here:
The 2010s: Kobe Bryant leads the Lakers' team of an unfamiliar decade - The Athletic

In the midst of the big U.S.-China trade talks/tariff wars that are ongoing, it is worth noting some much smaller trade talks that have been taking place between New Zealand and China. The basic story is that New Zealand and China signed a trade deal in 2008, and have just now completed an "upgrade" to that deal. There are some differences in the nature of the U.S.-China talks and the New Zealand-China talks, but nevertheless, there may be some lessons to draw from the New Zealand-China situation.

The first thing to mention is that both sides consider the original deal to be a success. Here's how New Zealanddescribed it:

The New Zealand-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been a success story. Since the FTA came into force in 2008, two-way trade (exports and imports of goods and services) has more than tripled from $9 billion to over $32 billion, and the FTA has been a catalyst for trade and economic cooperation between our countries.

Like most economists, I am skeptical that we can learn much from bilateral trade balances, but nevertheless, take a look at the evolution of theNew Zealand-China trade balanceafter the agreement was signed, after which New Zealand's deficit turned into a surplus:

So what are New Zealand and China selling to each other?

In the March 2019 year, the top exports to China were milk powder, butter, and cheese, reaching $4.5 billion and accounting for one-quarter of New Zealands exports to China.

Logs and wood were the second-largest export, worth $3.1 billion.

Travel was also a significant contributor to New Zealands overall surplus with China, worth $3.0 billion. Spending by holidaymakers and international students made up most of this.

...

In the March 2019 year, imports from China were valued at $13.1 billion. Top imports were electrical machinery and equipment (such as mobile phones), mechanical machinery and equipment (such as portable computers), and textiles and textile articles (such as clothing).

The upgrade to the FTA is not revolutionary, but rather just adds a bit of liberalization and updates a few provisions:

Trade rules and business practices have evolved significantly over the past decade. It is against this backdrop that New Zealand and China agreed in November 2016 to launch negotiations to upgrade the New Zealand-China FTA; to ensure the Agreement continues to reflect the modern realities of our dynamic trading relationship. Nine rounds of negotiations were held over three years in both New Zealand and Beijing. New Zealand and China announced the conclusion of the FTA upgrade negotiations on 4 November 2019 on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.

The upgrade will make the New Zealand-China FTA Chinas most modern and highest quality FTA.

Here are afew examplesof the new additions:

New Zealand has secured tariff elimination, over a 10 year implementation period, on 12 wood and paper products.

...

Further operational improvements cover procedures for handling perishable goods (introducing expedited six-hour clearance times, release of such goods outside normal business hours and appropriate storage) as well as an extension of the scope of advance rulings in the existing free trade agreement.

...

new chapters have been added on competition policy, e-commerce, government procurement and environment and trade.

...

The improvements include new market access in several service sectors, including:

The New Zealand-China FTA was a much simpler negotiation than the one the United States is currently conducting. New Zealand was mainly pushing for basic liberalization, rather than the wholesale changes to the structure of the Chinese economy that the Trump administration is said to be asking for (although the "phase one" deal being talked about now is pretty limited). This made the negotiation much easier. New Zealand had a handful of products and services it wanted to sell more of to the Chinese, and it was able to achieve that.

Despite these differences, I'm struck by the fact that an industrialized country was able to make a trade deal with China and was happy with the outcome, and thenwithout the use of tariffs!was able to open up the text and negotiate further liberalization. In my view, some key lessons here are that it is important to be realistic about what can be achieved, and to be willing to give something in return.

This article by Simon Lester first appeared at the Cato Institute.

Image: Reuters.

Read the original:
Don't Look Now: China and New Zealand Just Signed A Historic Trade Deal - The National Interest Online

Denmark

BOYS

Coach: ChristianAtkinson, second season.

Last years results:Finished sixth at county championship

Key returners: T.J.Flores, Danie Eberbach, C.J. Woodruff

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Junior T.J.Flores headlines the Danes returners this season, as Flores narrowly missed atop-10 finish last season at the Class 5A-4A state meet, finishing 11thwith a 2:01.78. Denmarks boys swim and dive team will look to continue growingin its second year as a program. The Danes finished seventh last season in theForsyth County Championships.

GIRLS

Coach: ChristianAtkinson, second season.

Last years results:Finished seventh at county championship

Key returners: SarahClark, Samantha Kenney, Shelby Mauldin, Hanna McNamara

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Denmarksgirls swim and dive team enters the 2019-20 season with its relay team intact,which includes sophomores Hanna McNamara and Samantha Kenney, junior ShelbyMauldin and senior Sarah Clark. The Danes 400 free relay team finished 14h atlast seasons Class 5A-4A state meet. McNamara also finished 15th inthe 200 IM with a 2:19.91.

Forsyth Central

BOYS

Coach: Asheley Bell,sixth season

Last years results:Finished fourth at county championship.

Key returners:Thomas Eaton, Guenter Kryzon, Brendan OSullivan, Thomas Shefchunas

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: SeniorThomas Eaton returns after a strong showing at the Class 7A-6A state meet,posting a fifth-place finish in the 100 fly (51:23) and placing seventh in the200 IM (1:54.52). Eaton will again anchor the Bulldogs relay team, one thatalso brings back Guenter Kryzon, Brendan OSullivan and Thomas Shefchunas.

GIRLS

Coach: Asheley Bell,sixth season

Last years results:Finished third at county championship

Key returners: KateEaton, Riley Byers, Amanda Cesario, Katie Semler, Gabi Somoza

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: ForsythCentrals girls swim and dive team appears to be in good shape entering thisseason, as the Bulldogs bring back a bulk of their state qualifiers from lastyear. Central finished in the top 20 of seven events at the state meet, led bya 14th-place finish in the 400 free relay by sophomore Kate Eatonand seniors Riley Byers, Amanda Cesario, Katie Semler.

Lambert

BOYS

Coach: Kerry Langley,eighth season

Last years results:Finished fifth at Class 7A-6A state meet, first at county championships.

Key returners:Daniel Gallagher

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Lambertsboys swim and dive team has its work cut out after graduating four highlydecorated seniors in Mikhail Johnston, Seth Maschmeier, Alexander Reyman andLleyton Smith. The Longhorns return plenty of potential, though, namely seniorDaniel Gallagher, who finished second in the 200 IM (1:49.28) last season atthe Class 7A-6A state meet. He also had a fifth-place finish in the 100 back(50.12) and swam on the seventh-place 200 free and second-place 200 free relayteams.

GIRLS

Coach: Kerry Langley,eighth season

Last years results:Finished 14th at Class 7A-6A state meet, second at countychampionships.

Key returners: LilyBlank, Sarah Blackstone, Kyleigh Huston, Lauren Martin

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: SouthForsyth broke Lamberts nine-year winning streak at the Forsyth CountyChampionships last year, but the Longhorns bounced back with a 14th-placefinish at the Class 7A-6A meet, led by senior Lauren Martins third-placefinish in the 100 breast (1:05.52) and seventh-place finish in the 200 IM (2:10.45).Lambert also returns sophomore Kyleigh Huston, who finished eighth in one-meterdiving (209.85) as a freshman.

North Forsyth

BOYS

Coach: Tyler Martin,third season

Last years results:Finished 13th at Class 7A-6A state meet.

Key returners: AlexGonzalez, Logan Cornelison

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Senior AlexGonzalez finished sixth in the 200 free and 100 backstroke at last seasonsClass 6A-7A state meet and looks to finish on the podium this year. JuniorLogan Cornelison also hopes to take the next step after placing 16thin the 50 free and 20th in the 100 free.

GIRLS

Coach: Tyler Martin,third season

Last years results:Finished 22nd at Class 7A-6A state meet.

Key returners:Hailey Galbraith, Maryann Story

Key additions: AbigailHutcheson

Outlook: NorthForsyth has state champion Hailey Galbraith as the cornerstone of its programfor the next two seasons, which is good news for a Raiders squad that welcomesfreshman Abigail Hutcheson this season. North Forsyth coach Tyler Martin saidHutcheson will provide a boost in the 50 and 100 free, as well as the 100 fly.Galbraith won the 50 free at the Class 7A-6A state meet and was runner-up inthe 100 fly. She set county records in both events at the Forsyth County meet.The Raiders also bring back senior Maryann Story, who finished 24thin the 500 free.

Pinecrest

BOYS

Coach: Denise Jordan

Last years results:Finished sixth at county championship; Placed 26th at Class 5A-1Astate meet.

Key returners:Anthony Birozes, Mason Carter, Brendan Spillane, Henry Borgerding, Diego Perez

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Pinecrestmight have its best team in school history this year, as five Paladins havealready qualified for this years Class 5A-1A state meet. The 400 free relayteam swam a school-record 3.26.45 at last years Class 5A-1A state meet,finishing seventh in the event. Senior Anthony Birozes helped qualify thatteam, as well as the 50 and 100 free, where he placed seventh and 11th,respectively.

GIRLS

Coach: Denise Jordan

Last years results:Finished seventh at county championship

Key returners: CharlotteAdams, Maria Birozes, Sarah Meersman, Mercedes Persichetti

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Pinecrestwill return its entire 200 medley relay team, which set a school record at theClass 5A-1A state meet with a 2.05.94. Pinecrest coach Denise Jordan saidMercedes Persichetti will also try to qualify in the 50 and 100 free this year.

South Forsyth

BOYS

Coach: Katherine Bergdahl, second season

Last years results: Finished second at county championship;

Key returners: Barrett Breeze, Ben Isakbayev, Riley James,Jake Taulbee, Sreenivas Yellayi

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: South Forsyth returns its entire 200 medley relayteam from a year ago, which placed 13th at the Class 7A-6A statemeet. Seniors Jake Taulbee and Barrett Breeze also showed promise in the 200free, where they finished 15th and 17th, respectively, atthe state meet. Taulbee had a sixth-place finish in the 500 free. South coachKatherine Bergdahl said the swim and dive team added 35 newcomers this season.

GIRLS

Coach: Katherine Bergdahl, second season

Last years results: Won county championship; Placed thirdat Class 7A-6A state meet.

Key returners: Emilie Flynn, Jordan Edwards, Katie Herman,Emery Betzer, Jenny Chung, Sarah Davis

Key additions: N/A

Outlook: Two of South Forsyths top swimmers, Caroline Perryand Mary-Kate Wichalonis, have graduated, but the War Eagles return a wealth oftalent this year. Seniors Emery Betzer and Emilie Flynn placed at last yearsClass 7A-6A state meet, with both competing on Souths fifth-place 400 freerelay team. Junior Jordan Edwards returns after a placing fifth in a couple ofindividual events, including the 100 butterfly and 100 breast. South coachKatherine Bergdahl said the swim and dive team added 35 newcomers this season.

West Forsyth

BOYS

Coach: ClaytonTillery, eighth season

Last years results:Finished third at county championship; Placed 11th at Class 7A-6Astate meet.

Key returners: JackAikins, Brett Sasser, Griffin Egolf, Conor Hubbard, Owen Holland

Key additions: GrantShimer

Outlook: A couple ofthe best sprinters in the state will lead West Forsyth this season juniorsJack Aikins and Brett Sasser. Aikins brought home a state championship in the50 free last year, while Sasser finished a few spots behind at No. 6 in theClass 7A-6A state meet. Over the summer, Aikins secured a spot in the 2020Olympic Trials. Wests 200 free relay team, which features Aikins, Sasser,Griffin Egolf and Owen Holland, will also look to take the next step thisseason after finishing third last year at the state meet.

GIRLS

Coach: ClaytonTillery, eighth season

Last years results:Finished fourth at county championship; Placed 23rd at Class 7A-6Astate meet.

Key returners: KaylaGonanin, Nana Vanderwall, June Phang

Key additions: EmilyKate Martin, Catalina Infante, Michelle Cummo

Outlook: Junior JunePhang will bolster West Forsyths girls swim and dive team, as will sophomoreNanna Van der wall and senior Kayla Gonanin. Phang finished second in thebreaststroke and managed a 12th-place finish in the 100 fly at lastyears state meet. The Wolverines also had a strong showing in the 200 medleyrelay but must replace Lucy Ballard, who has since graduated.

See the original post:
2019-20 SWIM AND DIVE PREVIEW: Team-by-team capsules - Forsyth County News Online

SEE IT: Massive Christmas light display takes shape in Pittsville Salisbury Daily Times

Curtis Davis says his goal is just to brighten people's holidays.

His "Winter Wonderland on Morris Road," alight and figurine display withabout $8,000 invested,now covering nearly every inch of his front lawn in Pittsville, Maryland,mightdo the trick.

With everything from luminous Star Warsfigures andinflatableMinions, to an 11-foot Santa atop an elephant, characters from "Frozen" and hundreds of other additions, the 39-year-old's display isskating into itssecond year.

Eyes get lost winding through the intricacies of the layout.

A holiday light and figurine display covers the yard of Curtis Davis, 39, in Pittsville, Maryland, on Nov. 13, 2019. This is the second year of his mega display, and the Pittsville native wants to continue the tradition for years to come.(Photo: Kelly Powers)

"Last year, I had about 500 people come out," Davis said, as his nieces walked ahead of him down the path lined with red candy canes and white lights."This year, I wanted to go biggerso I upgraded my electric to handle the load. The yard is full now."

When not spending his weeknights at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, sterilizing tools ahead of surgeries, the Pittsville native has planned this year's layout for his childhood homefor months.

Davis even bought some of the pieces for this year's display the day after last Christmas.

A holiday light and figurine display covers the yard of Curtis Davis, 39, in Pittsville, Maryland, on Nov. 13, 2019. This is the second year of his mega display, and the Pittsville native wants to continue the tradition for years to come.(Photo: Kelly Powers)

"By July,really started thinking about it," Davis said, with the breath of hislaugh hanging in the cold night air. "Kind of walking out here in the yard, talking to myself, waving my hands in the air, visualizing, moving things around.

"People probably thought I was a little crazy."

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But he isn't the first in the neighborhood to set out on this mission.

Davis said another home in the town hosted a walk-through display for over 20 years called "Christmas on Parker Place," but in 2017 the couple had announced the end of that tradition.

"That's like one of my, I guess you could say, childhood fondest memories of the little setup," Davis said, looking over at thevintage plastic Santa sleigh from the former yard display.

(From left) Hailey, Curtis and Paytlyn Davis pose in front of the front-yard holiday display in Pittsville, Maryland, on Nov. 13, 2019. Curtis, 39, is the girls' uncle, and he looks forward to keeping the tradition alive.(Photo: Kelly Powers)

"I knew the number of people that came to Parker Place was high and made it a yearly tradition," he continued. "Looking over their Facebook page seeing the comments, made me realized how much people enjoyed the display. So I decided I wantedto carry it on."

He plans to do just that each weekend leading up to Christmas Day, with the first dayset for Saturday, Nov. 16.

His nieces, Hailey and Paytlyn, agreed its never too early to get festive once November starts.

Davis said over 35,000 people have "viewed" his Facebook post for the opening weekend.

Davis grew up in the house he now owns, nearly taken overcurrently by holiday decorations, and was raised for the most part by his grandparents after losing his mother to cancer at 2 years old.

A holiday light and figurine display covers the yard of Curtis Davis, 39, in Pittsville, Maryland, on Nov. 13, 2019. This is the second year of his mega display, and the Pittsville native wants to continue the tradition for years to come.(Photo: Kelly Powers)

He said his family has been nothing but supportive since he took on the project last year, and he can't wait for his nieces and nephews to grow old enough to help him out with the setup.

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The bachelor wants his display to expand next year, witha few ideas already up his sleeve. Davis said he plans to continue the tradition annually.

A holiday light and figurine display covers the yard of Curtis Davis, 39, in Pittsville, Maryland, on Nov. 13, 2019. This is the second year of his mega display, and the Pittsville native wants to continue the tradition for years to come.(Photo: Kelly Powers)

"It doesnt matter if you're 1 or 100. We all have that kid inside of us that enjoyslights and brings back memories," Davis said."I stand at the entrance of the display each night its operational and welcome everybody, offer them a candy cane, and tell them 'All I ask is you enjoy it.'

"To see each person's facial expressionsays it all makes me realize I nailed it."

As for safety, the speed on Morris Road near his home is 40 mph, but Davis said the county is expected to place temporary pedestrian traffic signs near the area. Davis also saidthe Sheriff's Office has said its willing to make extra patrols on the evenings he's running.

Hailey (right) and Paytlyn Davis, 11 and 9 respectively, take in the sights of their uncle Curtis' display in Pittsville, Maryland, on Nov. 13, 2019.(Photo: Kelly Powers)

"That's my biggest concern with all of this,as it grows," he said. "Some people just don't want to pay attention."

For those who may have caught his display already, Davis has made many additions: from the entire back half of the display, to a set schedule for Santa's appearance, a station to write and send letters to the North Poll, as well as an official Toys for Totsdrop-off site.

"Try to enjoy the details," Davis said.

His niece Hailey still thinks he could go bigger.

"Could haveSanta's sleigh on top of it," the 11-year-old said smiling, pointing toward the roof.

Where: "Winter Wonderland on Morris Road,"6515 Morris Rd Pittsville, MD 21850

Schedule:

11/16 5:30-10 p.m.

11/17 5:30-9p.m.

11/22 5:30-10p.m

11/23 5:30-9p.m.

11/30 5:30-10p.m.

12/1 5:30-9p.m.

12/6 6-10p.m.(Santa 6-8:30 p.m.)

12/7 6-10p.m.(Santa 6-8:30 p.m.)

12/8 5:30-9p.m.

12/13 5:30-10p.m.

12/14 5:30-10p.m.

12/15 5:30-10p.m.

12/20 6-10p.m.(Santa 6-8:30 p.m.)

12/21 6-10 p.m. (Santa 6-8:30 p.m.)

12/22 5:30-9p.m.

12/23 5:30-9p.m.

12/24 5:30-9p.m.

Read or Share this story: https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/maryland/2019/11/15/pittsville-christmas-lights-winter-wonderland-morris-road/4192057002/

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Massive Christmas lights display in Pittsville has Star Wars figures, Minions and more - Delmarva Now