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Ex-Bulls Guard Ben Gordon arrested at Chicago McDonalds

Ben Gordon, a former Bulls guard had yet another run-in with the law in the wee hours of Friday morning.

Former Chicago Bulls star Ben Gordon was arrested on allegations he beat up two security guards at a fast food outlet in Chicago early Friday morning.

Chicago police responded to a call of a disturbance at the fast food joint around 3:28 a.m., a CPD spokesperson said. CWB Chicago reported that it was the Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s.

Ben Gordon, 39, was being taken out of the restaurant when he punched a 29-year-old male security guard in the face and threw him to the ground, police said. It was not clear why he was being forced to leave.

He also pushed a second male security officer, 21, to the ground, according to CPD.

Ben Gordon Got Arrested Last Night At Rock n Roll McDonalds In Chicago https://t.co/4PB44e4lOc https://t.co/mNnC3zohxm

Both victims refused medical treatment, but Ben Gordon was charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery.

A source close to the investigation said that Gordon was no longer in custody, but did not have information about bail. The retired shooting guard, who played the last five seasons of his 10-year career with the Bulls, has a history of brushes with the law.

On Oct. 10, he was arrested at LaGuardia Airport after witnesses said he punched his 10-year-old son in the face as they got ready to board a flight to Chicago. 

A Mount Vernon, New York native, Gordon won an NCAA title with the University of Connecticut prior to his NBA career.

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Bears-Dolphins inactives: Rookie WR Velus Jones out with no listed injury

The Bears apparently are benching rookie wide receiver and return man Velus Jones today against the Dolphins.

Jones is inactive despite not appearing on the injury report this week. He had two runs for 33 yards and one catch for five yards against the Cowboys last week.

After a turbulent week in which they traded away linebacker Roquan Smith and acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool, the Bears have a challenging home game against the Dolphins today.

Claypool is active and will make his team debut, though Bears coaches have cautioned that his handle on the playbook is limited after arriving Wednesday morning. Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said Claypool will have a specific list of plays, and depending on how often the Bears call those, he could play 10-30 snaps.

Here are the Bears’ inactives:

WR Velus JonesOL Alex LeatherwoodOL Ja’Tyre CarterTE Jake TongesDB Lamar Jackson

The Bears started 2-1 but have dropped four of their last five games. They’re coming off a 49-29 blowout loss to the Cowboys.

Quarterback Justin Fields is on the best four-game run of his career. During that span, he has completed 64.1% of his passes, posted a 97.6 passer rating and put up a combined 251.3 yards passing and rushing per game.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, are fighting for a playoff spot at 5-3 and traded for pass rusher Bradley Chubb and running back Jeff Wilson to improve their chances. They had narrow victories over the Steelers and Lions the last two weeks.

After this game, the schedule lightens up for the Bears with a Week 10 home game against the Lions (1-6) and Falcons (4-4).

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Bears-Dolphins inactives: Rookie WR Velus Jones out with no listed injury

The Bears apparently are benching rookie wide receiver and return man Velus Jones today against the Dolphins.

Jones is inactive despite not appearing on the injury report this week. He had two runs for 33 yards and one catch for five yards against the Cowboys last week.

After a turbulent week in which they traded away linebacker Roquan Smith and acquired wide receiver Chase Claypool, the Bears have a challenging home game against the Dolphins today.

Claypool is active and will make his team debut, though Bears coaches have cautioned that his handle on the playbook is limited after arriving Wednesday morning. Wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said Claypool will have a specific list of plays, and depending on how often the Bears call those, he could play 10-30 snaps.

Here are the Bears’ inactives:

WR Velus JonesOL Alex LeatherwoodOL Ja’Tyre CarterTE Jake TongesDB Lamar Jackson

The Bears started 2-1 but have dropped four of their last five games. They’re coming off a 49-29 blowout loss to the Cowboys.

Quarterback Justin Fields is on the best four-game run of his career. During that span, he has completed 64.1% of his passes, posted a 97.6 passer rating and put up a combined 251.3 yards passing and rushing per game.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, are fighting for a playoff spot at 5-3 and traded for pass rusher Bradley Chubb and running back Jeff Wilson to improve their chances. They had narrow victories over the Steelers and Lions the last two weeks.

After this game, the schedule lightens up for the Bears with a Week 10 home game against the Lions (1-6) and Falcons (4-4).

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High school football: IHSA state football playoff scores

Class 8ASecond Round

(1) Lincoln-Way East 17, (17) Neuqua Valley 14

(8) Warren 41, (24) Andrew 7

(13) Maine South 42, (4) South Elgin 0

(5) Glenbard West 42, (12) Glenbrook South 0

(2) York 27, (18) Marist 21 (2OT)

(7) Palatine 47, (23) Minooka 14

(14) Lyons 24, (3) Plainfield North 13

(6) Loyola 49, (22) Edwardsville 21

Class 7ASecond Round

(1) Mount Carmel 24, (17) Downers Grove North 6

(24) Brother Rice 44, (8) Collinsville 15

(4) St. Charles North 25, (20) Hoffman Estates 9

(12) St. Rita 38, (5) Prospect 21

(18) Batavia 19, (2) Hersey 13 (2OT)

(7) Yorkville 34, (10) Moline 31 (4OT)

(3) Pekin 32, (19) Normal 31

(11) Lake Zurich 14, (6) Wheaton North 6

Class 6ASecond Round

(8) Notre Dame 17, (1) Wauconda 8

(4) St. Ignatius 49, (12) Grayslake Central 13

(2) Prairie Ridge 57, (7) Kaneland 22

(11) Harlem 24, (3) Grayslake North 20

(1) Lemont 38, (9) Quincy 24

(13) Kenwood 36, (5) Bremen 6

(7) Crete-Monee 35, (2) Simeon 12

(6) East St. Louis 40, (3) Normal West 0

Class 5ASecond Round

(1) Sycamore 43, (9) Carmel 0

(5) Sterling 50, (4) Goode 8

(2) Morgan Park 28, (7) Payton 0

(11) Nazareth 38, (3) Boylan 13

(1) Mahomet-Seymour 44, (8) Metamora 28

(4) Morris 56, (12) Centralia 0

(7) Mascoutah 49, (2) Highland 42

(3) Peoria 48, (6) Kankakee 21

Class 4ASecond Round

(1) Richmond-Burton 54, (8) UP-Bronzeville 6

(13) Providence 24, (5) Joliet Catholic 14

(7) Rochelle 34, (15) Johnsburg 22

(3) St. Francis 42, (6) Evergreen Park 0

(1) Carterville 22, (8) Coal City 0

(4) Rochester 42, (5) Breese Central 0

(2) Sacred Heart-Griffin 28, (10) Waterloo 16

(6) Murphysboro 20, (3) Macomb 16

Class 3ASecond Round

(1) Princeton 26, (8) Genoa-Kingston 2

(4) IC Catholic 42, (5) Stillman Valley 14

(2) Reed-Custer 24, (7) Pecatonica 6

(6) Byron 56, (3) Seneca 21

(1) Prairie Central 41, (9) Roxana 20

(4) Tolono Unity 35, (5) Mt. Carmel, Ill. 14

(15) Olympia 60, (7) St. Joseph-Ogden 28

(3) Williamsville 18, (6) Eureka 16

Class 2ASecond Round

(1) Maroa-Forsyth 42, (8) Farmington 12

(4) Rockridge 27, (12) Bloomington Central 18

(7) Knoxville 48, (2) Bismarck-Henning 29

(6) Tri-Valley 28, (3) Wilmington 21

(1) St. Teresa 59, (9) Athens 33

(4) Pana 68, (12) Fairfield 50

(2) Johnston City 28, (10) Arthur-Lovington 8

(14) Althoff 26, (6) Red Bud 14

Class 1ASecond Round

(1) Lena-Winslow 76, (8) Oneida 7

(4) Fulton 28, (12) Rockford Lutheran 0

(10) Forreston 44, (2) Hope Academy 16

(11) Dakota 30, (3) Ottawa Marquette 19

(1) Ridgeview-Lexington 56, (9) Salt Fork 20

(4) Tuscola 29, (5) Routt 26

(2) Camp Point Central 24, (7) Sesser-Valier 0

(3) Greenfield-Northwestern 26, (6) Cumberland 0

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High school football: IHSA state football playoff scores

Class 8ASecond Round

(1) Lincoln-Way East 17, (17) Neuqua Valley 14

(8) Warren 41, (24) Andrew 7

(13) Maine South 42, (4) South Elgin 0

(5) Glenbard West 42, (12) Glenbrook South 0

(2) York 27, (18) Marist 21 (2OT)

(7) Palatine 47, (23) Minooka 14

(14) Lyons 24, (3) Plainfield North 13

(6) Loyola 49, (22) Edwardsville 21

Class 7ASecond Round

(1) Mount Carmel 24, (17) Downers Grove North 6

(24) Brother Rice 44, (8) Collinsville 15

(4) St. Charles North 25, (20) Hoffman Estates 9

(12) St. Rita 38, (5) Prospect 21

(18) Batavia 19, (2) Hersey 13 (2OT)

(7) Yorkville 34, (10) Moline 31 (4OT)

(3) Pekin 32, (19) Normal 31

(11) Lake Zurich 14, (6) Wheaton North 6

Class 6ASecond Round

(8) Notre Dame 17, (1) Wauconda 8

(4) St. Ignatius 49, (12) Grayslake Central 13

(2) Prairie Ridge 57, (7) Kaneland 22

(11) Harlem 24, (3) Grayslake North 20

(1) Lemont 38, (9) Quincy 24

(13) Kenwood 36, (5) Bremen 6

(7) Crete-Monee 35, (2) Simeon 12

(6) East St. Louis 40, (3) Normal West 0

Class 5ASecond Round

(1) Sycamore 43, (9) Carmel 0

(5) Sterling 50, (4) Goode 8

(2) Morgan Park 28, (7) Payton 0

(11) Nazareth 38, (3) Boylan 13

(1) Mahomet-Seymour 44, (8) Metamora 28

(4) Morris 56, (12) Centralia 0

(7) Mascoutah 49, (2) Highland 42

(3) Peoria 48, (6) Kankakee 21

Class 4ASecond Round

(1) Richmond-Burton 54, (8) UP-Bronzeville 6

(13) Providence 24, (5) Joliet Catholic 14

(7) Rochelle 34, (15) Johnsburg 22

(3) St. Francis 42, (6) Evergreen Park 0

(1) Carterville 22, (8) Coal City 0

(4) Rochester 42, (5) Breese Central 0

(2) Sacred Heart-Griffin 28, (10) Waterloo 16

(6) Murphysboro 20, (3) Macomb 16

Class 3ASecond Round

(1) Princeton 26, (8) Genoa-Kingston 2

(4) IC Catholic 42, (5) Stillman Valley 14

(2) Reed-Custer 24, (7) Pecatonica 6

(6) Byron 56, (3) Seneca 21

(1) Prairie Central 41, (9) Roxana 20

(4) Tolono Unity 35, (5) Mt. Carmel, Ill. 14

(15) Olympia 60, (7) St. Joseph-Ogden 28

(3) Williamsville 18, (6) Eureka 16

Class 2ASecond Round

(1) Maroa-Forsyth 42, (8) Farmington 12

(4) Rockridge 27, (12) Bloomington Central 18

(7) Knoxville 48, (2) Bismarck-Henning 29

(6) Tri-Valley 28, (3) Wilmington 21

(1) St. Teresa 59, (9) Athens 33

(4) Pana 68, (12) Fairfield 50

(2) Johnston City 28, (10) Arthur-Lovington 8

(14) Althoff 26, (6) Red Bud 14

Class 1ASecond Round

(1) Lena-Winslow 76, (8) Oneida 7

(4) Fulton 28, (12) Rockford Lutheran 0

(10) Forreston 44, (2) Hope Academy 16

(11) Dakota 30, (3) Ottawa Marquette 19

(1) Ridgeview-Lexington 56, (9) Salt Fork 20

(4) Tuscola 29, (5) Routt 26

(2) Camp Point Central 24, (7) Sesser-Valier 0

(3) Greenfield-Northwestern 26, (6) Cumberland 0

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Notre Dame shockingly tuned the College Football Playoff upside downVincent Pariseon November 6, 2022 at 1:00 pm

College Football is always amazing but sometimes it has just an extra bit of flare. This week’s action was so interesting and created some major shakeups to what promises to be a very exciting College Football Playoff reveal on Tuesday. Notre Dame was a big part of it.

It is a bit surprising to hear that at this point too because of what has happened with them this season. They were not as good as some might have expected but they still are a decent team that deserves respect.

That became even more true on Saturday when they played a hand in helping turn the College Football Playoff field upside down. They defeated the Clemson Tigers by a final score of 35-18. It was one of the biggest upset victories of the season for any team.

Clemson was seen as a fraudulent elite team by a lot of people going into this game because they didn’t have the strongest schedule by any means. However, Notre Dame was not the game that anyone expected to see them humbled.

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish pulled off a huge upset over the Clemson Tigers.

Now, with this loss, Clemson is probably done with a very outside chance of making it to the College Football Playoff when it’s all said and done.

This wasn’t the only upset on the weekend either which is the only thing that could save them in the end. Georgia absolutely smoked Tennessee so they will fall out of the top four for sure after being ranked number one.

Alabama was also defeated by LSU so they have two losses. Those three teams (Alabama, Tennessee, and Clemson) now all need a lot of help from other teams in the nation.

Georgia is for sure going to be ranked number one, Michigan and Ohio State are going to be either two or three, and one of TCU or the losing Tennessee should be in the four-spot. The other will be five. Then, Alabama, Oregon, and Clemson could all bee in the 6-8 range.

The fact that Notre Dame helped turn this all upside down is amazing. They are getting to be a major spoiler in a year that didn’t go well for them. That is nice to know because we can be a little bit more confident in them making it to the Playoff in the coming years.

When this thing expands from four teams to 12, Notre Dame could be one of the at-large teams in almost every season if they play their cards right. Coming up with this huge win over Clemson surely will help people’s confidence in them.

They have no chance this year but Clemson might not anymore either and it’s all because of the Irish. Hopefully, they can now finish the year strong.

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Notre Dame shockingly tuned the College Football Playoff upside downVincent Pariseon November 6, 2022 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Blackhawks’ attendance shows big decrease, but not record lows

Entering the season, it seemed inevitable that the Blackhawks’ attendance at the United Center would drop significantly.

Declaring a full-scale rebuild, not to mention trading away many of their most popular players, isn’t a recipe for attracting large crowds, and Hawks management realized that. Revamped season-ticket memberships and price reductions on most seats could do only so much to counteract a lack of interest in the on-ice product.

But it was unclear exactly how much attendance would drop. Now, two weeks and seven games into the Hawks’ home schedule, that question mostly has been answered.

The Hawks are drawing their smallest crowds since 2007-08. The crowds are substantially smaller than they were even during the first half of last season, but they’re not quite as small as they were from 2003 to 2007.

The Hawks announced attendances of 18,753 against the Red Wings (the home opener); 14,892 against the Kraken; 12,859 against the Panthers; 13,685 against the Oilers; 14,149 against the Wild; 12,523 against the Islanders; and 16,658 against the Kings.

That’s an average of 14,788, which was 27th in the NHL — ahead of only the Jets, Sharks, Sabres, Devils and Coyotes — entering play Saturday. That’s down from 18,490 last season and from more than 21,000 — more than the United Center’s official seating capacity of 19,717 — each of the previous 12 seasons.

Five of the Hawks’ seven crowds so far have been smaller than their smallest last season (15,946 on Nov. 1, 2021, against the Senators). The game against the Islanders drew the Hawks’ lowest attendance since 12,444 on Dec. 5, 2007, against the Canucks.

But the attendance numbers aren’t approaching record-setting lows. The Hawks’ worst attendance in a season in recent history was 2006-07, when they averaged 12,727 fans. That ended a long run of season averages below 15,000. They drew fewer than 12,000 fans to 18 games that season and fewer than 10,000 to three games.

In 2007-08 — during which the Hawks’ bright future came into focus — they averaged 13,604 fans through their first 19 home games (including six games of fewer than 12,000 and one of fewer than 10,000) but 19,586 in their final 22.

The Hawks might manage not to dip below 12,000 this season. They anticipate a stretch of better crowds starting Nov. 20 against the Penguins — Marian Hossa’s jersey retirement night — and continuing through the holidays. Attendance figures generally improve leaguewide after football season ends, which also should help.

Ex-Hawk updates

Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome, motivated by not receiving qualifying offers from the Hawks this past summer, are thriving with the Red Wings and Capitals, respectively.

Entering play Saturday, Kubalik’s 12 points in 10 games trailed only Dylan Larkin for the Red Wings’ scoring lead, and Strome’s nine points in 12 games trailed only Alex Ovechkin for the Capitals’ lead.

Alex DeBrincat entered Saturday with nine points in 10 games for the Senators, although his 4.3% shooting percentage was well below his career average. Kirby Dach had seven points in 11 games for the Canadiens, putting him on pace for a career-best season.

The Lightning’s Brandon Hagel entered Saturday sporting the same stat line as Dach. After a slow start, Marc-Andre Fleury was named the NHL’s third star last week and entered Saturday with a 5-2-1 record and .888 save percentage for the Wild.

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Max Domi found his slot with the Chicago BlackhawksJames Mackeyon November 6, 2022 at 12:00 pm

It’s not lost on anyone in the state of Arizona the effect that current Chicago Blackhawks forward Max Domi had as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.

Since being a commoner on the ice for the Desert Dogs, Domi has seen time with the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Carolina Hurricanes. Those were all while struggling to find his spot on rosters flooded with talent.

Domi’s signing with the Chicago Blackhawks prior to this season saved his career and is giving him a shot to be a leader on a roster that needs severe help in the leadership category.

It’s all but written in stone that the Blackhawks are in a rebuilding phase. He is also on a much cheaper Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews who might be gone by the trade deadline. Domi’s veteran status is one that will shine through after those moves are potentially made.

Max Domi has fit in very well with the Chicago Blackhawks this season.

Domi currently sits second on the Blackhawks in power-play goals, contributing to the team’s sixth overall position in the NHL power-play percentage rankings.

Domi also ranks second in forwards with time on ice per game at 18:04 behind only Patrick Kane. His seven points (4-3-7) and 25.0 shooting percentage are important markers as well.

The Blackhawks’ reliability on Domi is playing an important part in the games they are winning and is giving him value in his NHL career.

Domi’s spot on the Kane line is providing him with the opportunity to play with one of the team’s top players and he is surrounded by guys who are able to help him produce.

Domi’s experience with the Canes in the playoffs provides a veteran for the future who when they do make playoff runs is able to be counted on.

Additionally, Domi has been a top-line guy in Arizona. That is another team in a similar position as the Blackhawks and flourished there throughout his time.

Extending Domi holds many positives for the Blackhawks, and shouldn’t be a surprise if the news breaks as the season progresses or even in the postseason.

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Max Domi found his slot with the Chicago BlackhawksJames Mackeyon November 6, 2022 at 12:00 pm Read More »

High school football: ‘Ascending’ Warren dominates Andrew to advance to 8A quarterfinals

Warren has had an odd season. There were two major moments: a win at Maine South and a loss at home to Lake Zurich.

The rest of the regular season consisted of seven blowout wins, which isn’t the best preparation for a long playoff run. The Blue Devils survived and advanced against Stevenson in the first round last week.

There was no messing around on Saturday in Tinley Park. The Blue Devils dominated from start to finish, beating Andrew 41-7 in a Class 8A second-round game.

“This is the best we’ve been all season,” Warren running back Charley Thompson said. “We are probably playing at our high point now. We had a bit of a lull in the middle of the year and since then everyone has connected and we are at the same level.”

Thompson had a monster game with 21 carries for 215 yards and three touchdowns.

Senior Cassius Callahan opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to put the Blue Devils ahead 27-0.

“In retrospect that Lake Zurich loss was probably the best thing that happened to us,” Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. “We’ve been ascending since that point.”

Warren quarterback Adam Behrens completed four passes for 60 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown pass to Taylen Curry.

Andrew’s score came on a one-yard touchdown run by Mike Barberi. The Thunderbolts (7-4) had one of their best seasons in recent history, winning a playoff game for the first time in 11 years.

Next up for Warren is a trip to Frankfort to face undefeated Lincoln-Way East in the quarterfinals.

“It’s going to be a heavyweight battle,” McNulty said. “We watched them play last night. They are good.

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High school football: Matt Vezza leads York past Marist in overtime thriller

Some quarterbacks put up bigger numbers than York’s Matt Vezza, but few make as many big plays.

With his feet and his arm, Vezza delivered Saturday afternoon as the No. 4 Dukes got past No. 10 Marist 27-21 in double overtime in Class 8A second-round action in Chicago.

Vezza ran 25 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning TD on the Dukes’ first offensive play in the second OT. He also was 9-of-14 passing for 108 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

One of the senior’s biggest plays didn’t make the stat sheet. The possession after Vezza found Luke Mallander for a 37-yard touchdown catch, York was pinned back at its own 3-yard line. Marist linebacker Duke White broke through the line and almost sacked Vezza in the end zone. But he avoided the safety and went down at the 1, saving what turned out to be two important points.

On the next play, Vezza found tight end Anthony Mancini for 38 yards and the Dukes were out of harm’s way.

“We put that [play] in later in the week,” Vezza said. “Anthony Mancini, he was ready for that one. Great catch, great run after the catch.”

Then in the second quarter, Vezza had a great run of his own: a 65-yarder that set up Kelly Watson’s 19-yard TD run on the next play for a 14-0 York lead.

Vezza was admittedly a little gassed at the end of his long run.

“It’s kind of a joke [on the team],” he said. “I’m really good through 40 yards and then I lose it.”

Marist tied the score at 14 with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter on Dermot Smyth’s 15-yard TD pass to Iowa recruit John Nestor. The Dukes were driving at the end of regulation, but Marist’s Jake Stefanos picked off Vezza on the last play of the fourth quarter. In overtime, there wasn’t much doubt whom York would pin its hopes on.

“He’s a warrior,” York coach Mike Fitzgerald said of Vezza. “You got a guy like that, you like your chances.”

Vezza scored from four yards out and Marist quarterback Dermot Smyth had a three-yard TD run on fourth down in the first OT. Marist lined up for a field goal on fourth down from the 3-yard line in the second overtime, but York’s Evan Grazzini and Matt Sutter weren’t fooled and dragged down kicker Kamil Kokot shy of the goal line. Vezza scored from 10 yards out on the next play for the game-winner.

“Going back, I would do the same thing,” Marist coach Ron Dawczak said. “Our kicker … is one of the fastest guys on the team. With the wind whipping as hard as it was, that’s not a guaranteed field goal anyways. So if I was gonna go out, I wanted to make sure I’d go out being aggressive. … They made a great play to stop it.”

Smyth, who moved to receiver last season to help the team before returning to quarterback as a senior, was almost the whole offense for Marist. He was 15-of-26 passing for 152 yards and two TDs with an interception and ran 21 times for 81 yards.

Meanwhile, York and Vezza go on to the quarterfinals. They’ll host Palatine next week, seeking to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2006 and the second time in program history.

“He’s a special kid,” Fitzgerald said of Vezza. “It’s a shame that no one’s offered the kid. That kid’s a winner, he runs a 4.48 40 at these camps. He has all the measurables, so hopefully people are starting to take notice.”

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