By STEFAN SZYMANSKI <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-maradonas-hand-of-god-goal-is-priceless-and-unforgettable-193760">The Conversation</a>

Football has “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLsFSsHnoxM">The Catch</a>,” baseball has “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrI7dVj90zs">The Shot Heard ‘Round the World</a>,” and basketball has “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zd62MxKXp8">The Block</a>.”

For soccer, it is Diego Maradona’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq0P03i4L-w">Hand of God</a>” – a sporting moment captured in time, the mere mention of which can conjure up strong emotions among supporters.

Such is its legacy, that some 36 years after bouncing into the back of the net, the soccer ball involved is set to be <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/13/football/diego-maradona-ball-auction-spt-intl">sold at auction on Nov. 16, 2022</a>, at an expected price of up to US$3.3 million.

So why does this goal, which should not even have been a goal, carry so much significance? As an <a href="https://www.kines.umich.edu/directory/stefan-szymanski">economist who studies sport</a>,
 I’ve long believed that you have to grasp the cultural significance to 
understand the financial dimension of sports. This goal was one of 
soccer’s most iconic events for a number of reasons.

The goal in question was scored by Argentinian great Maradona against
 England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup. It was the second 
half, no goals had been scored, and Argentina’s team was passing the 
ball around the edge of the England penalty box.

England midfielder Steve Hodge tried to clear the ball but only 
succeeded in kicking high above the goalkeeper. Normally one would 
expect the goalkeeper to catch it, especially against the 5-foot-5-inch 
Maradona. But somehow the ball ended up in the back of the net.

At first, it seemed that Maradona had headed the ball, but replays 
clearly showed him steering the ball with his clenched fist. This was 
three decades before the use of <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/news/1293321">video assistant referee</a>,
 or VAR, in soccer. There was no way to review. The referee’s vision was
 blocked, and he looked to the linesman for guidance – but the linesman 
saw nothing wrong, and the goal was allowed to stand.

Speaking after the game, Maradona told reporters that the goal was 
scored “un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de 
Dios,” or in the English translation, “a little with the head of 
Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” The phrase stuck, and with 
it the legend of the goal.

The Argentina team of 1986 was not a great team. Rather, it was an 
average team combined with the greatest player in the world at the time,
 and many would say the <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/diego-maradona-greatest-player-time-23086411">most talented footballer ever to grace a pitch</a>.

England were probably a better team if you took Maradona out of the game. So that is what <a href="https://www.givemesport.com/1807805-diego-maradona-viral-video-of-england-fouling-him-in-hand-of-god-game-is-eyeopening">England’s defenders tried to do</a>:
 shut him out by fair means or foul. England’s plan was to make it the 
responsibility of almost every player on the field to track him and try 
to stop him from advancing. They tried, but it was impossible.

Four minutes after the first goal, Maradona took the ball and at 
lightning pace skipped past three defenders and the England goalkeeper 
to score again. The goal was voted “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da_CDPRG2j0">the goal of the [20th] century</a>” in a 2002 FIFA poll.

Argentina would go on to win the final in what is still known as “Maradona’s World Cup.”

3. No, it’s all about Argentina’s revenge!

There was no escaping <a href="https://theconversation.com/maradona-why-the-english-cant-let-go-of-the-hand-of-god-and-latin-americans-love-it-151011">the political context</a> of the game – or the goal. In 1982, <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-the-falklands-conflict">Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands</a>,
 or Las Malvinas – the name you use determines your allegiance – a 
British overseas territory some 300 miles off the Argentinian coast.

The islands had been occupied by the British since 1833, and former 
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher cemented her image as “The Iron Lady” 
by <a href="https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/sovereignty-since-the-ceasefire-the-falklands-40-years-on/#:%7E:text=The%20Falkland%20Islands%20has%20a,which%20calls%20them%20Las%20Malvinas.">sending a military task force 8,000 miles</a>
 across the Atlantic to recapture the islands. The U.K. claimed its 
primary motivation was respecting the self-determination of the 
islanders, but <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc041686576e854f22e81a85c95c7951">valuable fishing rights</a> and a seat at the table in the administration of the Antarctic were also at stake. Among the neutrals, there was <a href="https://press.un.org/en/2015/gaspd580.doc.htm">considerable sympathy for the Argentine cause</a> in what seemed like an anachronistic act of colonial imperialism by the British.

The humiliation for Argentinian generals likely <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/falklands-defeat-ended-generals-plan-for-30-year-junta-mqddljchzx3">hastened the end of the military dictatorship</a>
 and the restoration of democracy in Argentina. But it bred resentment 
against the English – Argentinians believe in their heart that Las 
Malvinas belong to them, not to Britain – and that colored the build-up 
to the 1986 game, as <a href="https://hir.harvard.edu/from-defending-islands-to-defending-the-soccer-pitch-history-of-the-1986-england-argentina-world-cup/#:%7E:text=In%20his%20memoir%2C%20Yo%20Soy,%2C%20the%20survivors.%E2%80%9D%20Maradona's%20memoir">Maradona later recalled</a> in his memoir “Yo Soy El Diego,” or “I Am The Diego:”

“Somehow we blamed the English players for everything that had 
happened, for everything that the Argentinian people had suffered … we 
were defending our flag, the dead kids, the survivors.”

4. OK, it’s because Diego Maradona really is the GOAT

Few players have stamped their presence on a World Cup quite like 
Maradona. His performance in the England game stands as a memorial to 
his greatness, and the phrase “Hand of God” neatly puts his name in the 
same sentence as divinity. It wasn’t a one-off – the entire tournament 
became a showground for his outrageous skill – and he fittingly raised 
the trophy at the end.

But Maradona – who died in 2020 at age 60 – was also a troubled genius. A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/sports/soccer/diego-maradona-dead.html">child of the slums of Buenos Aires</a>,
 he never lost the anxiety that he would not receive his due. He became 
addicted to drugs – potentially as a result of all the painkillers he 
needed to keep playing in an era in which defenders were prone to 
bone-crunching tackles – and <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/26/how-cocaine-fame-and-the-mafia-destroyed-diego-maradona/">struggled with cocaine</a>.

He was frequently <a href="https://www.dailybreeze.com/2014/08/11/argentine-soccer-player-diego-maradona-slaps-reporters-face-outside-theater/">abusive toward the media</a>, was <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/diego-maradona-accused-violence-partner-25124560">accused of assaulting one girlfriend</a>, and he was alleged to have <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/26/how-cocaine-fame-and-the-mafia-destroyed-diego-maradona/">close connections to the mafia</a>.

But for most soccer enthusiasts, none of this really detracts from his greatness as a player.

There are simply some players – a very small number indeed – whose 
story transcends right and wrong and whose acts are forever remembered 
like the heroes of ancient Greek epics. Maradona is one such player. 
Like Achilles or Odysseus, his name will live on, remembered in the 
“Hand of God” goal.

Stefan Szymanski is a Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-ccNkksrfls"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEFAN SZYMANSKI <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-maradonas-hand-of-god-goal-is-priceless-and-unforgettable-193760">The Conversation</a>Football has “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLsFSsHnoxM">The Catch</a>,” baseball has “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrI7dVj90zs">The Shot Heard ‘Round the World</a>,” and basketball has “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zd62MxKXp8">The Block</a>.” For soccer, it is Diego Maradona’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq0P03i4L-w">Hand of God</a>” – a sporting moment captured in time, the mere mention of which can conjure up strong emotions among supporters.Such is its legacy, that some 36 years after bouncing into the back of the net, the soccer ball involved is set to be <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/13/football/diego-maradona-ball-auction-spt-intl">sold at auction on Nov. 16, 2022</a>, at an expected price of up to US$3.3 million.So why does this goal, which should not even have been a goal, carry so much significance? As an <a href="https://www.kines.umich.edu/directory/stefan-szymanski">economist who studies sport</a>,
 I’ve long believed that you have to grasp the cultural significance to 
understand the financial dimension of sports. This goal was one of 
soccer’s most iconic events for a number of reasons.<h2>1. It’s about the controversy</h2>The goal in question was scored by Argentinian great Maradona against
 England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup. It was the second 
half, no goals had been scored, and Argentina’s team was passing the 
ball around the edge of the England penalty box.England midfielder Steve Hodge tried to clear the ball but only 
succeeded in kicking high above the goalkeeper. Normally one would 
expect the goalkeeper to catch it, especially against the 5-foot-5-inch 
Maradona. But somehow the ball ended up in the back of the net.At first, it seemed that Maradona had headed the ball, but replays 
clearly showed him steering the ball with his clenched fist. This was 
three decades before the use of <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/news/1293321">video assistant referee</a>,
 or VAR, in soccer. There was no way to review. The referee’s vision was
 blocked, and he looked to the linesman for guidance – but the linesman 
saw nothing wrong, and the goal was allowed to stand.Speaking after the game, Maradona told reporters that the goal was 
scored “un poco con la cabeza de Maradona y otro poco con la mano de 
Dios,” or in the English translation, “a little with the head of 
Maradona and a little with the hand of God.” The phrase stuck, and with 
it the legend of the goal.<h2>2. It’s really about that second goal</h2>The Argentina team of 1986 was not a great team. Rather, it was an 
average team combined with the greatest player in the world at the time,
 and many would say the <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/diego-maradona-greatest-player-time-23086411">most talented footballer ever to grace a pitch</a>. <figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wVho3I0NtU"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>England were probably a better team if you took Maradona out of the game. So that is what <a href="https://www.givemesport.com/1807805-diego-maradona-viral-video-of-england-fouling-him-in-hand-of-god-game-is-eyeopening">England’s defenders tried to do</a>:
 shut him out by fair means or foul. England’s plan was to make it the 
responsibility of almost every player on the field to track him and try 
to stop him from advancing. They tried, but it was impossible.Four minutes after the first goal, Maradona took the ball and at 
lightning pace skipped past three defenders and the England goalkeeper 
to score again. The goal was voted “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da_CDPRG2j0">the goal of the [20th] century</a>” in a 2002 FIFA poll.Argentina would go on to win the final in what is still known as “Maradona’s World Cup.”<h2>3. No, it’s all about Argentina’s revenge!</h2>There was no escaping <a href="https://theconversation.com/maradona-why-the-english-cant-let-go-of-the-hand-of-god-and-latin-americans-love-it-151011">the political context</a> of the game – or the goal. In 1982, <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-the-falklands-conflict">Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands</a>,
 or Las Malvinas – the name you use determines your allegiance – a 
British overseas territory some 300 miles off the Argentinian coast.The islands had been occupied by the British since 1833, and former 
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher cemented her image as “The Iron Lady” 
by <a href="https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/sovereignty-since-the-ceasefire-the-falklands-40-years-on/#:%7E:text=The%20Falkland%20Islands%20has%20a,which%20calls%20them%20Las%20Malvinas.">sending a military task force 8,000 miles</a>
 across the Atlantic to recapture the islands. The U.K. claimed its 
primary motivation was respecting the self-determination of the 
islanders, but <a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc041686576e854f22e81a85c95c7951">valuable fishing rights</a> and a seat at the table in the administration of the Antarctic were also at stake. Among the neutrals, there was <a href="https://press.un.org/en/2015/gaspd580.doc.htm">considerable sympathy for the Argentine cause</a> in what seemed like an anachronistic act of colonial imperialism by the British.The humiliation for Argentinian generals likely <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/falklands-defeat-ended-generals-plan-for-30-year-junta-mqddljchzx3">hastened the end of the military dictatorship</a>
 and the restoration of democracy in Argentina. But it bred resentment 
against the English – Argentinians believe in their heart that Las 
Malvinas belong to them, not to Britain – and that colored the build-up 
to the 1986 game, as <a href="https://hir.harvard.edu/from-defending-islands-to-defending-the-soccer-pitch-history-of-the-1986-england-argentina-world-cup/#:%7E:text=In%20his%20memoir%2C%20Yo%20Soy,%2C%20the%20survivors.%E2%80%9D%20Maradona's%20memoir">Maradona later recalled</a> in his memoir “Yo Soy El Diego,” or “I Am The Diego:”“Somehow we blamed the English players for everything that had 
happened, for everything that the Argentinian people had suffered … we 
were defending our flag, the dead kids, the survivors.”<h2>4. OK, it’s because Diego Maradona really is the GOAT</h2>Few players have stamped their presence on a World Cup quite like 
Maradona. His performance in the England game stands as a memorial to 
his greatness, and the phrase “Hand of God” neatly puts his name in the 
same sentence as divinity. It wasn’t a one-off – the entire tournament 
became a showground for his outrageous skill – and he fittingly raised 
the trophy at the end.But Maradona – who died in 2020 at age 60 – was also a troubled genius. A <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/25/sports/soccer/diego-maradona-dead.html">child of the slums of Buenos Aires</a>,
 he never lost the anxiety that he would not receive his due. He became 
addicted to drugs – potentially as a result of all the painkillers he 
needed to keep playing in an era in which defenders were prone to 
bone-crunching tackles – and <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/26/how-cocaine-fame-and-the-mafia-destroyed-diego-maradona/">struggled with cocaine</a>. He was frequently <a href="https://www.dailybreeze.com/2014/08/11/argentine-soccer-player-diego-maradona-slaps-reporters-face-outside-theater/">abusive toward the media</a>, was <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/diego-maradona-accused-violence-partner-25124560">accused of assaulting one girlfriend</a>, and he was alleged to have <a href="https://nypost.com/2019/09/26/how-cocaine-fame-and-the-mafia-destroyed-diego-maradona/">close connections to the mafia</a>.But for most soccer enthusiasts, none of this really detracts from his greatness as a player.There are simply some players – a very small number indeed – whose 
story transcends right and wrong and whose acts are forever remembered 
like the heroes of ancient Greek epics. Maradona is one such player. 
Like Achilles or Odysseus, his name will live on, remembered in the 
“Hand of God” goal.Stefan Szymanski is a Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan
 <div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/193760/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

🎥 Why Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal is priceless – and unforgettable

ROCHESTER,
 N.Y. (AP) — The National Toy Hall of Fame's new honorees include an 
object dating to ancient times, a line of muscle-bound action figures 
and an iconic art set whose medium is colorful pegs. The hall on 
Thursday announced the top, Masters of the Universe and Lite-Brite as 
this year's inductees.

The trio was chosen from a field of 12 
finalists that also included bingo, Breyer Horses, Catan, Nerf, the 
piñata, Phase 10, Pound Puppies, Rack-O and Spirograph.

The Toy 
Hall of Fame inducts a new class of toys each year in a ceremony at The 
Strong museum in Rochester, where the hall is housed.

The top 
earned a place by being a childhood staple of cultures in Asia, Europe, 
the Americas, and Australia, according to the hall, which noted that 
ancient Greek pottery shows people playing with the twirling objects 
more than 2,000 years ago.

“The top is one of the oldest toys and 
an integral part of many cultures, where it developed independently as a
 plaything,” Chief Curator Christopher Bensch said in a news release. 
“With more than 5,000 years of history behind it, it’s about time that 
the top spun its way into the National Toy Hall of Fame!”

The hall recognizes toys that have inspired creativity and endured over time.

Hasbro’s
 Lite-Brite has maintained its popularity for more than 50 years, after 
being introduced 1966. Marketed in 1968 as a “magic light box,” the toy 
encourages kids to create glowing pictures by pushing colorful pegs into
 an illuminated black background.

Masters of the Universe grew in 
popularity in the 1980s, when the cartoon series “He-Man and the Masters
 of the Universe” allowed Mattel to introduce new characters and toys to
 the line, hall of fame experts said. A 2021 Netflix series underscored 
the franchise’s staying power.

“The team at Mattel understood that
 kids spend lots of time in fantasy play and like the opportunity to 
project themselves into the role of the hero,” curator Michelle 
Parnett-Dwyer said. “Masters of the Universe characters had the 
strength, weapons, and power to defeat the villain—and give kids 
confidence.”

The new inductees will be displayed alongside past 
honorees that range from everyday objects like the stick and cardboard 
box to technologic entries like Nintendo's Game Boy. American Girl 
Dolls, Risk and sand were inducted last year.

Anyone can nominate a toy. A panel of experts votes in the winners.

The
 Strong museum also houses the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian 
Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the 
American Journal of Play.

ROCHESTER,
 N.Y. (AP) — The National Toy Hall of Fame's new honorees include an 
object dating to ancient times, a line of muscle-bound action figures 
and an iconic art set whose medium is colorful pegs. The hall on 
Thursday announced the top, Masters of the Universe and Lite-Brite as 
this year's inductees.The trio was chosen from a field of 12 
finalists that also included bingo, Breyer Horses, Catan, Nerf, the 
piñata, Phase 10, Pound Puppies, Rack-O and Spirograph.The Toy 
Hall of Fame inducts a new class of toys each year in a ceremony at The 
Strong museum in Rochester, where the hall is housed.The top 
earned a place by being a childhood staple of cultures in Asia, Europe, 
the Americas, and Australia, according to the hall, which noted that 
ancient Greek pottery shows people playing with the twirling objects 
more than 2,000 years ago.“The top is one of the oldest toys and 
an integral part of many cultures, where it developed independently as a
 plaything,” Chief Curator Christopher Bensch said in a news release. 
“With more than 5,000 years of history behind it, it’s about time that 
the top spun its way into the National Toy Hall of Fame!”The hall recognizes toys that have inspired creativity and endured over time.Hasbro’s
 Lite-Brite has maintained its popularity for more than 50 years, after 
being introduced 1966. Marketed in 1968 as a “magic light box,” the toy 
encourages kids to create glowing pictures by pushing colorful pegs into
 an illuminated black background.Masters of the Universe grew in 
popularity in the 1980s, when the cartoon series “He-Man and the Masters
 of the Universe” allowed Mattel to introduce new characters and toys to
 the line, hall of fame experts said. A 2021 Netflix series underscored 
the franchise’s staying power.“The team at Mattel understood that
 kids spend lots of time in fantasy play and like the opportunity to 
project themselves into the role of the hero,” curator Michelle 
Parnett-Dwyer said. “Masters of the Universe characters had the 
strength, weapons, and power to defeat the villain—and give kids 
confidence.”The new inductees will be displayed alongside past 
honorees that range from everyday objects like the stick and cardboard 
box to technologic entries like Nintendo's Game Boy. American Girl 
Dolls, Risk and sand were inducted last year.Anyone can nominate a toy. A panel of experts votes in the winners.The
 Strong museum also houses the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian 
Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the 
American Journal of Play.

Top, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe in toy hall of fame

Fox's NFL pregame show is going international for the first time in 13 years for the annual Veterans Day show.

This
 week's “Fox NFL Sunday” will originate from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
 The last time the pregame crew went outside the United States was 2009,
 when the show was at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.

“It is our 
favorite show of the year and one of the cool things I hear from people,
 even this week, is that viewers also tell me it is their favorite 
show,” said “Fox NFL Sunday” host Curt Menefee. “It means a lot to the 
people. One of the things I remember from when we did 2009 was that it 
meant so much to the troops there because I think they feel forgotten 
when they're on the other side of the world.”

The show — which 
also includes Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson
 and Jay Glazer — has originated from service academies two of the past 
three years. It was at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, 
last year and U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, in 2019.

The
 two-hour program, which will begin at 11 a.m. EST, will spotlight the 
75th anniversary of the Air Force featuring General Charles Q. Brown Jr.
 It will include features on Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry and former 
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Chad Hennings.

Landry, who passed 
away in 2000, flew B-17 Bomber missions during World War II before his 
playing and coaching career. Hennings graduated from the Air Force 
Academy and was drafted in the 11th round by the Cowboys in 1988, 
eventually being a part of three Super Bowl teams during a nine-year 
career.

Glen Powell of “Top Gun: Maverick” will narrate the show's opening at the top of the first and second hours.

Qatar is eight hours ahead of New York, meaning the show will take place during the evening.

The
 program will serve as an unofficial kickoff to Fox's coverage of the 
FIFA Men's World Cup, which begins Nov. 20. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter 
and lead FOX analyst Alexi Lalas will make appearances.

“From a 
company standpoint, having everybody kind of together is big,” said Fox 
Sports EVP Bill Wanger. “I don’t think there’s anything that as a group 
we’re more proud of.”

Fox has the doubleheader on Sunday, with the featured game of the Dallas Cowboys at the Green Bay Packers.

Associated PressFox's NFL pregame show is going international for the first time in 13 years for the annual Veterans Day show.This
 week's “Fox NFL Sunday” will originate from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
 The last time the pregame crew went outside the United States was 2009,
 when the show was at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan.“It is our 
favorite show of the year and one of the cool things I hear from people,
 even this week, is that viewers also tell me it is their favorite 
show,” said “Fox NFL Sunday” host Curt Menefee. “It means a lot to the 
people. One of the things I remember from when we did 2009 was that it 
meant so much to the troops there because I think they feel forgotten 
when they're on the other side of the world.”The show — which 
also includes Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Johnson
 and Jay Glazer — has originated from service academies two of the past 
three years. It was at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, 
last year and U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, in 2019.The
 two-hour program, which will begin at 11 a.m. EST, will spotlight the 
75th anniversary of the Air Force featuring General Charles Q. Brown Jr.
 It will include features on Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry and former 
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Chad Hennings.Landry, who passed 
away in 2000, flew B-17 Bomber missions during World War II before his 
playing and coaching career. Hennings graduated from the Air Force 
Academy and was drafted in the 11th round by the Cowboys in 1988, 
eventually being a part of three Super Bowl teams during a nine-year 
career.Glen Powell of “Top Gun: Maverick” will narrate the show's opening at the top of the first and second hours.Qatar is eight hours ahead of New York, meaning the show will take place during the evening.The
 program will serve as an unofficial kickoff to Fox's coverage of the 
FIFA Men's World Cup, which begins Nov. 20. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter 
and lead FOX analyst Alexi Lalas will make appearances.“From a 
company standpoint, having everybody kind of together is big,” said Fox 
Sports EVP Bill Wanger. “I don’t think there’s anything that as a group 
we’re more proud of.”Fox has the doubleheader on Sunday, with the featured game of the Dallas Cowboys at the Green Bay Packers.

Fox's NFL pregame will do Veterans Day show from Qatar

The Barton County Historical Society would like to show its appreciation for veterans on Friday, Nov. 11.

For Veterans Day, the museum, located at 85 US 281 Highway on the southern edge of Great Bend, will be offering free admission to veterans during business hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659971080044.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Barton County Historical Society would like to show its appreciation for veterans on Friday, Nov. 11.For Veterans Day, the museum, located at 85 US 281 Highway on the southern edge of Great Bend, will be offering free admission to veterans during business hours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Barton Co. Historical Society offering free admission to veterans Friday

ABILENE - After a multi-year absence, the Heart of American Band is back!

Sponsored by the Arts Council of Dickinson County, the 32nd Heart of America Band concert is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 20 in the auditorium of Abilene High School, 1400 N. Cedar Street. The concert is open to the public at no charge.

The Heart of America Band is comprised of 70 musicians whose experience spans decades, including professors, instructors, and students.

"All are playing for the love of music and to share with the community. You'll no doubt hear familiar tunes ranging from pop music, patriotic music, movie tunes, and classic hits," the Arts Council of Dickinson County noted in a news release.

The performance will be the band's first since 2019.

By SALINA POSTABILENE - After a multi-year absence, the Heart of American Band is back!Sponsored by the Arts Council of Dickinson County, the 32nd Heart of America Band concert is scheduled for 3 p.m. Nov. 20 in the auditorium of Abilene High School, 1400 N. Cedar Street. The concert is open to the public at no charge.The Heart of America Band is comprised of 70 musicians whose experience spans decades, including professors, instructors, and students."All are playing for the love of music and to share with the community. You'll no doubt hear familiar tunes ranging from pop music, patriotic music, movie tunes, and classic hits," the Arts Council of Dickinson County noted in a news release.The performance will be the band's first since 2019.

Heart of America Band returns, to perform in Abilene

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Luke Combs was crowned entertainer of the year at Wednesday's&nbsp;<a href="https://cmaawards.com/">Country Music Association Awards,</a>&nbsp;the second year in a row that he's taken home the night's top honor.

“I want to thank country music for making my dreams come true,” Combs said, dedicating the award to his wife and newborn child. His win came after a performance-packed three hour show that honored country icons and new voices.

“Country is sounding more country than it has in a long time tonight,” Combs said. He also won album of the year for “Growin' Up.”

The show opened with Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire playing tribute to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/loretta-lynn-dies-5f1545e60e37e482faa42cbb25ae61e8">late country queen Loretta Lynn</a>.

The superstar trio performed a medley of Lynn’s hits including “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter” as images of Lynn were projected behind them and audience members sang along.

Rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, who like Lynn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jerry-lee-lewis-dead-165d562af27b23da9d6d11fc480541e8">died last month,</a>&nbsp;was honored with a fiery tribute by Elle King and the Black Keys.

Alan Jackson accepted&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/">the lifetime achievement award</a>, recounting how a movie about Hank Williams inspired him to move to Nashville when he was flat broke. He teared up during his speech, ending it by telling the audience, “I’m still living that honky tonk dream, y’all.”

Brothers Osborne won vocal duo of the year and Old Dominion won the trophy for vocal group.

Chris Stapleton won male vocalist of the year, his sixth win in the category. Bryan, Combs, Eric Church and Morgan Wallen were also nominated.

“All the guys in this category deserve this award,” Stapleton said.

He dedicated the honor to his 12-year-old daughter, who’s birthday was Wednesday.

Emerging country superstar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-louisiana-country-cb5688167eb365bddb32165c7c4678a6">Lainey Wilson was the leading nominee</a>&nbsp;with six nods, taking home trophies for new artist and female vocalist.

Jordan Davis' “Buy Dirt” won song of the year. The song featured CMA Awards host Luke Bryan, who Davis called to the stage to hug.

Bryan co-hosted the show at Bridgestone Arena along with NFL great Peyton Manning.

Joining country's biggest stars for the evening were Katy Perry and actors Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon, who are playing Tammy Wynette and George Jones in an upcoming Showtime limited series and presented Combs the night's top honor.

Perry took the stage and performed “Where We Started” with Thomas Rhett during the show.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Luke Combs was crowned entertainer of the year at Wednesday's&nbsp;<a href="https://cmaawards.com/">Country Music Association Awards,</a>&nbsp;the second year in a row that he's taken home the night's top honor.“I want to thank country music for making my dreams come true,” Combs said, dedicating the award to his wife and newborn child. His win came after a performance-packed three hour show that honored country icons and new voices.“Country is sounding more country than it has in a long time tonight,” Combs said. He also won album of the year for “Growin' Up.”The show opened with Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire playing tribute to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/loretta-lynn-dies-5f1545e60e37e482faa42cbb25ae61e8">late country queen Loretta Lynn</a>.The superstar trio performed a medley of Lynn’s hits including “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’” and “Coal Miner’s Daughter” as images of Lynn were projected behind them and audience members sang along.Rock pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, who like Lynn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jerry-lee-lewis-dead-165d562af27b23da9d6d11fc480541e8">died last month,</a>&nbsp;was honored with a fiery tribute by Elle King and the Black Keys.Alan Jackson accepted&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/">the lifetime achievement award</a>, recounting how a movie about Hank Williams inspired him to move to Nashville when he was flat broke. He teared up during his speech, ending it by telling the audience, “I’m still living that honky tonk dream, y’all.”Brothers Osborne won vocal duo of the year and Old Dominion won the trophy for vocal group.Chris Stapleton won male vocalist of the year, his sixth win in the category. Bryan, Combs, Eric Church and Morgan Wallen were also nominated.“All the guys in this category deserve this award,” Stapleton said.He dedicated the honor to his 12-year-old daughter, who’s birthday was Wednesday.Emerging country superstar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-louisiana-country-cb5688167eb365bddb32165c7c4678a6">Lainey Wilson was the leading nominee</a>&nbsp;with six nods, taking home trophies for new artist and female vocalist.Jordan Davis' “Buy Dirt” won song of the year. The song featured CMA Awards host Luke Bryan, who Davis called to the stage to hug.Bryan co-hosted the show at Bridgestone Arena along with NFL great Peyton Manning.Joining country's biggest stars for the evening were Katy Perry and actors Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon, who are playing Tammy Wynette and George Jones in an upcoming Showtime limited series and presented Combs the night's top honor.Perry took the stage and performed “Where We Started” with Thomas Rhett during the show.

Luke Combs tops CMA Awards; Loretta Lynn, Lewis honored

NEW YORK (AP) — Snoop Dogg is getting a big-screen biopic.

Universal
 Pictures announced Wednesday that the studio is developing a film about
 Snoop Dogg's life to be produced by the 51-year-old rapper. The film 
will be written by Joe Robert Cole, who co-wrote the two “Black Panther”
 films, and directed by Allen Hughes, the filmmaker of “Menace II 
Society.”

“I waited a long time to put this project together 
because I wanted to choose the right director, the perfect writer, and 
the greatest movie company I could partner with that could understand 
the legacy that I’m trying to portray on screen, and the memory I’m 
trying to leave behind," Snoop said in a statement. "It was the perfect 
marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.”

Universal 
previously turned the story of rap group N.W.A. into the hit 2015 film 
“Straight Outta Compton" and also released the acclaimed Eminem biopic 
“8 Mile” in 2002. Cole said the studio “has proven they can guide a 
movie like this to something special.”

Donna Langley, chairman of 
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, said she met with Snoop shortly 
after he acquired Death Row Records. His acquisition was announced just 
days before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-50-cent-kendrick-lamar-eminem-152c957ecffac7f8f85709ac47ba3d92">Snoop performed in the Super Bowl halftime show</a> in February with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar.

Snoop
 Dogg broke through in the early ‘90s as part of the West Coast rap 
scene as a collaborator of Dr. Dre’s. He's sold more than 35 million 
albums worldwide in his three-decade career. He'll produce the film 
along with Sara Ramaker and Hughes.

NEW YORK (AP) — Snoop Dogg is getting a big-screen biopic.Universal
 Pictures announced Wednesday that the studio is developing a film about
 Snoop Dogg's life to be produced by the 51-year-old rapper. The film 
will be written by Joe Robert Cole, who co-wrote the two “Black Panther”
 films, and directed by Allen Hughes, the filmmaker of “Menace II 
Society.”“I waited a long time to put this project together 
because I wanted to choose the right director, the perfect writer, and 
the greatest movie company I could partner with that could understand 
the legacy that I’m trying to portray on screen, and the memory I’m 
trying to leave behind," Snoop said in a statement. "It was the perfect 
marriage. It was holy matrimony, not holy macaroni.”Universal 
previously turned the story of rap group N.W.A. into the hit 2015 film 
“Straight Outta Compton" and also released the acclaimed Eminem biopic 
“8 Mile” in 2002. Cole said the studio “has proven they can guide a 
movie like this to something special.”Donna Langley, chairman of 
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, said she met with Snoop shortly 
after he acquired Death Row Records. His acquisition was announced just 
days before <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-50-cent-kendrick-lamar-eminem-152c957ecffac7f8f85709ac47ba3d92">Snoop performed in the Super Bowl halftime show</a> in February with Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar.Snoop
 Dogg broke through in the early ‘90s as part of the West Coast rap 
scene as a collaborator of Dr. Dre’s. He's sold more than 35 million 
albums worldwide in his three-decade career. He'll produce the film 
along with Sara Ramaker and Hughes.

Snoop Dogg biopic is in development with Universal Pictures

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar on Wednesday unveiled a 6,000-cabin fan 
village in an isolated lot near its airports, an offering for housing 
toward the lower end of what's available for the upcoming World Cup just
 days away from starting.

As journalists toured the cabins, desert
 winds kicked up sand at the 3.1 square-kilometer (1.1 square-mile) 
site, which housed a metro station, a bus stop, and a planned temporary 
restaurant and convenience store. The area could in theory hold as many 
as 12,000 people if booked at capacity, officials said.

Artificial
 green grass coveredare the walkways outside, with common areas filled 
with large bean-bag style chairs under a gray sky Wednesday. Competing 
nations' flags flapped in the strong desert wind, a large screen also 
present at the site for fans to watch matches. Workers milled about the 
site, checking on its final touches.

The brightly colored cabins, 
each with thin walls, are designed to hold one or two people with twin 
beds, a nightstand, a small table and chair, air conditioning, a toilet 
and a shower inside.

Each will go for around $200 a night — $270 
with board — as the tournament goes on. Some 60% of the cabins are 
already booked for the tournament, said Omar al-Jaber, the head of 
accommodation at Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for 
the tournament.

There will be other rooms offered at $80 a night 
farther out than this site near Doha International Airport and Hamad 
International Airport, both of which will be seeing flights at all hours
 during the tournament. Planes rumbled overhead during the visit 
Wednesday.

Those staying at the Fan Village can expect a 40-minute commute to stadium sites.

“Most
 of the fan(s) they prefer if it’s not a hotel, they prefer the 
apartment and villa,” al-Jaber said, noting those options are managed by
 French hospitality company Accor. However, those wanting budget 
accommodation will come to this site and the other for cheaper options, 
he said.

In the lead-up to the tournament, concerns about hotel 
room space and high prices for the rooms available have trailed Qatar, 
which lacks hotel capacity for all teams, workers, volunteers and fans 
at the World Cup. So Doha has created <a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-soccer-sports-international-world-cup-be7873252ed55295ad0d75c83b8fcbd8">camping and cabin sites, hiring cruise ships, and encouraging fans to stay in neighboring countries and fly in for games.</a>

Qatar has estimated it will have 130,000 rooms per day for the tournament.

Already, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-health-travel-1fadb56a4ffb7b45837f7c26f168a436">nearby Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has planned for an influx of World Cup fans</a> who want to stay there where their money may go further.

“Now,
 the shuttle flights option, it’s one of the options for the people who 
stay already in our neighbor countries and ... they would like to just 
to spend a day for to attend the match,” al-Jaber said. “So this is a 
good option for them in a state of their case.”

He added: “If they
 would like to come and stay, they are more than welcome, of course, and
 there is a many, many options for them."

There are still multiple
 options available for fans in Qatar available to rent, ranging from 
hotels, cruise ship rooms, traditional dhow sailing vessels and tents, 
the fan village, porta cabins and caravans. al-Jaber said.

“We 
have enough accommodation and people still they can come and enjoy the 
tournament and of course they can choose what they are looking for from 
the accommodation," he said.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar on Wednesday unveiled a 6,000-cabin fan 
village in an isolated lot near its airports, an offering for housing 
toward the lower end of what's available for the upcoming World Cup just
 days away from starting.As journalists toured the cabins, desert
 winds kicked up sand at the 3.1 square-kilometer (1.1 square-mile) 
site, which housed a metro station, a bus stop, and a planned temporary 
restaurant and convenience store. The area could in theory hold as many 
as 12,000 people if booked at capacity, officials said.Artificial
 green grass coveredare the walkways outside, with common areas filled 
with large bean-bag style chairs under a gray sky Wednesday. Competing 
nations' flags flapped in the strong desert wind, a large screen also 
present at the site for fans to watch matches. Workers milled about the 
site, checking on its final touches.The brightly colored cabins, 
each with thin walls, are designed to hold one or two people with twin 
beds, a nightstand, a small table and chair, air conditioning, a toilet 
and a shower inside.Each will go for around $200 a night — $270 
with board — as the tournament goes on. Some 60% of the cabins are 
already booked for the tournament, said Omar al-Jaber, the head of 
accommodation at Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for 
the tournament.There will be other rooms offered at $80 a night 
farther out than this site near Doha International Airport and Hamad 
International Airport, both of which will be seeing flights at all hours
 during the tournament. Planes rumbled overhead during the visit 
Wednesday.Those staying at the Fan Village can expect a 40-minute commute to stadium sites.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666968926967.jpeg" alt="AP Photo/Darko Bandic" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo/Darko Bandic</figcaption>
 </figure>“Most
 of the fan(s) they prefer if it’s not a hotel, they prefer the 
apartment and villa,” al-Jaber said, noting those options are managed by
 French hospitality company Accor. However, those wanting budget 
accommodation will come to this site and the other for cheaper options, 
he said.In the lead-up to the tournament, concerns about hotel 
room space and high prices for the rooms available have trailed Qatar, 
which lacks hotel capacity for all teams, workers, volunteers and fans 
at the World Cup. So Doha has created <a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-soccer-sports-international-world-cup-be7873252ed55295ad0d75c83b8fcbd8">camping and cabin sites, hiring cruise ships, and encouraging fans to stay in neighboring countries and fly in for games.</a>Qatar has estimated it will have 130,000 rooms per day for the tournament.Already, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-soccer-sports-health-travel-1fadb56a4ffb7b45837f7c26f168a436">nearby Dubai in the United Arab Emirates has planned for an influx of World Cup fans</a> who want to stay there where their money may go further.“Now,
 the shuttle flights option, it’s one of the options for the people who 
stay already in our neighbor countries and ... they would like to just 
to spend a day for to attend the match,” al-Jaber said. “So this is a 
good option for them in a state of their case.”He added: “If they
 would like to come and stay, they are more than welcome, of course, and
 there is a many, many options for them."There are still multiple
 options available for fans in Qatar available to rent, ranging from 
hotels, cruise ship rooms, traditional dhow sailing vessels and tents, 
the fan village, porta cabins and caravans. al-Jaber said.“We 
have enough accommodation and people still they can come and enjoy the 
tournament and of course they can choose what they are looking for from 
the accommodation," he said.

Qatar unveils 6,000-cabin World Cup fan village near airport

In a Securities and Exchange Commissioner filing Wednesday, Gannett Co. Inc. said <a href="https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2022/maribel-perez-wadsworth-is-leaving-gannett/">Maribel Perez Wadsworth</a>, president of Gannett Media, has announced her intention to resign from the company.

Gannett is the owner of the USA Today Network. Its predecessor company, Gatehouse, formerly owned the Hays Daily News before selling it and several other properties to Cherryroad Media.

In Kansas, Gannett still operates newspapers in Hutchinson, Salina and Topeka.

Gannett, which still operates more than 200 newspapers across the country, recently announced it had lost $54 million in the second quarter — <a href="https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2022/gannett-announces-new-cuts-including-mandatory-unpaid-leave-and-buyouts/">a result that led to the severe cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, mandatory furloughs and suspension of 401(k) contributions.</a>

Hays PostIn a Securities and Exchange Commissioner filing Wednesday, Gannett Co. Inc. said <a href="https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2022/maribel-perez-wadsworth-is-leaving-gannett/">Maribel Perez Wadsworth</a>, president of Gannett Media, has announced her intention to resign from the company.Gannett is the owner of the USA Today Network. Its predecessor company, Gatehouse, formerly owned the Hays Daily News before selling it and several other properties to Cherryroad Media.In Kansas, Gannett still operates newspapers in Hutchinson, Salina and Topeka.Gannett, which still operates more than 200 newspapers across the country, recently announced it had lost $54 million in the second quarter — <a href="https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2022/gannett-announces-new-cuts-including-mandatory-unpaid-leave-and-buyouts/">a result that led to the severe cost-cutting measures, including layoffs, mandatory furloughs and suspension of 401(k) contributions.</a>

Gannett Media president announces resignation

By JAKE COYLE Associated Press

Made in the wake of tragedy, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z3QKkl1WyM">“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”</a>
 reverberates with the agony of loss, piercing the usually less 
consequential superhero realm. Like someone going through the stages of 
grief, Ryan Coogler’s movie is at turns mournful and rootless, full of 
rage and blessed with clarity. In the fantastical Marvel Cinematic 
Universe where mortality is almost always a plaything, wrestling with 
the genuine article, in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-race-and-ethnicity-ca-state-wire-entertainment-sc-state-wire-5f4352111fdead278da3651b44d311b8">the death of T’Challa star Chadwick Boseman</a>, makes for an unusually uncertain, soul-searching kind of blockbuster-scale entertainment.

It’s
 a fine line, of course, between paying tribute and trading on it. I did
 cringe a little when the Marvel logo unspooled with images of Boseman 
within the letters: Eulogy as branding. That “Black Panther,” a cultural
 phenomenon and a box-office smash, would get a sequel, at all, was 
momentarily in doubt after Boseman’s unexpected death from colon cancer 
in 2020. Radically reworked by Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole, 
“Wakanda Forever” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-movies-covid-6852dcc0e6cc687a42a45907cff1bfac">pushed ahead in hopes of honoring both Boseman and the rich Afrocentric world of the landmark original.</a> In its admirably muddled way, it succeeds in both.

Part of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-film-reviews-north-america-ap-top-news-ryan-coogler-90ba27dfd7ed46a98092857ab92dda27">the profound appeal of Coogler’s first “Black Panther”</a>
 resided in its deft channeling of the real world into mythology. It fed
 centuries of colonialism and exploitation into a big-screen spectacle 
of identity and resistance. In an invented African nation, Coogler 
conjured both a fanciful could-have-been history and emotional right-now
 reality.

“Wakanda Forever,” which opens in theaters Thursday, 
expands on that, weaving in a Latin American perspective with a similar 
degree of cultural specificity in the introduction of the Aztec-inspired
 antagonist Namor (Tenoch Huerta), king of the ancient underwater world 
of Talokan. At the same time, Boseman’s death is poignantly filtered 
into the story from the start, beginning with off-screen death throes.

“Time
 is running out,” we hear whispered while the screen is still black. 
Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s tech-wiz sister, is frantically 
trying to craft something in her AI lab to save her brother. But in a 
moment, their mother, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), informs her: “Your
 brother is with the ancestors.” He’s laid to rest in a glorious, 
celebratory procession, carried through a multi-tiered channel of 
white-clad, singing-and-dancing Wakandans. It’s as stunning as anything 
Coogler has shot.

After this prologue, “Wakanda Forever” shifts to
 a year later. “Black Panther” took some of the spy-thriller shape of a 
Bond movie, and the sequel carries that on in a new geopolitical 
context. At the United Nations, the United States and France are 
pressuring for access to vibranium, the rare metal that Wakanda has 
built its empire on. Soon after, a U.S. military expedition discovers 
vibranium at the bottom of the ocean. But just as they’re celebrating, a
 mysterious tribe of blue underwater people, led by Namor, a 
pointy-eared monarch in green short-shorts with wings on his ankles, 
ruthlessly wipe out the entire expedition.

You can feel “Wakanda 
Forever” searching for a way forward in these early scenes. After such 
an anguished beginning, how much care can we summon for the whereabouts 
of magical ores? And more blue people? “Avatar,” you might think, has 
already laid claim to them. What steadies the film is Bassett. Her 
awesome presence leads “Wakanda Forever” through grief with a staunch 
defense of Wakanda that rebalances the newly king-less kingdom. She 
carries on.

What follows is a globe-trotting plot that draws the 
film away from perhaps its greatest asset in Wakanda but uncovers new 
places of latent power among historically exploited people. Shuri and 
Okoye (Danai Gurira), the Dora Milaje general, travel to Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, to seek the student (Dominique Thorne) who created a 
vibranium detector. In the Washington D.C. area, Wakanda’s friendly CIA 
officer (Martin Freeman) experiences new scrutiny from his boss, played 
by an unannounced comic actress familiar to Beltway politics.

But,
 mostly, a series of exchanges draw Wakanda and Talokan closer. Are they
 friends and foes? They are, at least, a captivating tweak to the 
mythology of Atlantis. Talokan, dark and watery, is no Wakanda, though, 
and there’s less hint this time of a larger society. Still, Huerta 
brings a magnetism to Namor. In many ways, he’s a corollary to Michael 
B. Jordan’s Killmonger, a non-villain whose fury is in many ways 
justified. His anger appeals to the still-grieving Shuri who finds 
herself ready, after T’Challa’s death, to “burn the world.”

As in 
the first “Black Panther,” the question again hangs in the balance of 
whether, in a pain-ridden and prejudiced world, rage is the answer. This
 time, it applies to another powerful civilization, too. "Wakanda 
Forever,” where the role of Black Panther is passed down, is in more 
ways than one about the transfer of power.

Wakanda and Talokan are
 brought together a little haphazardly in conflict, as Namor pressures 
the African nation to join his brewing surface war. “Wakanda Forever” 
proceeds as a murky, middle-act film that may ultimately serve as a 
bridge to future “Black Panther” chapters. But along the way, there are 
countless marvels that Coogler conjures with returning magic-workers 
like production designer Hannah Beachler and costume designer Ruth E. 
Carter. How the Talokan are flung into the air by whales. The fierce 
friendliness of Gurira’s performance. Lupita Nyong’o is unfortunately 
less central here, but every time her Nakia (who has been laying low in 
Haiti) is present, she graces the film.

“Wakanda Forever” is 
overlong, a little unwieldy and somewhat mystifyingly steers toward a 
climax on a barge in the middle of the Atlantic. But Coogler's fluid 
command of mixing intimacy with spectacle remains gripping. He extends 
the rich detail and non-binary complexity that distinguished “Black 
Panther” in sometimes awkward but often thrilling ways. “Wakanda 
Forever," grappling in the aftermath of loss, ultimately seeks something
 rare in the battle-ready superhero landscape: Peace.

"Black 
Panther: Wakanda Forever,” a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG-13 by 
the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of strong 
violence, action and some language. Running time: 161 minutes. Three 
stars out of four.

By JAKE COYLE Associated PressMade in the wake of tragedy, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Z3QKkl1WyM">“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”</a>
 reverberates with the agony of loss, piercing the usually less 
consequential superhero realm. Like someone going through the stages of 
grief, Ryan Coogler’s movie is at turns mournful and rootless, full of 
rage and blessed with clarity. In the fantastical Marvel Cinematic 
Universe where mortality is almost always a plaything, wrestling with 
the genuine article, in <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sports-race-and-ethnicity-ca-state-wire-entertainment-sc-state-wire-5f4352111fdead278da3651b44d311b8">the death of T’Challa star Chadwick Boseman</a>, makes for an unusually uncertain, soul-searching kind of blockbuster-scale entertainment.It’s
 a fine line, of course, between paying tribute and trading on it. I did
 cringe a little when the Marvel logo unspooled with images of Boseman 
within the letters: Eulogy as branding. That “Black Panther,” a cultural
 phenomenon and a box-office smash, would get a sequel, at all, was 
momentarily in doubt after Boseman’s unexpected death from colon cancer 
in 2020. Radically reworked by Coogler and co-writer Joe Robert Cole, 
“Wakanda Forever” <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-health-movies-covid-6852dcc0e6cc687a42a45907cff1bfac">pushed ahead in hopes of honoring both Boseman and the rich Afrocentric world of the landmark original.</a> In its admirably muddled way, it succeeds in both.Part of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-film-reviews-north-america-ap-top-news-ryan-coogler-90ba27dfd7ed46a98092857ab92dda27">the profound appeal of Coogler’s first “Black Panther”</a>
 resided in its deft channeling of the real world into mythology. It fed
 centuries of colonialism and exploitation into a big-screen spectacle 
of identity and resistance. In an invented African nation, Coogler 
conjured both a fanciful could-have-been history and emotional right-now
 reality.“Wakanda Forever,” which opens in theaters Thursday, 
expands on that, weaving in a Latin American perspective with a similar 
degree of cultural specificity in the introduction of the Aztec-inspired
 antagonist Namor (Tenoch Huerta), king of the ancient underwater world 
of Talokan. At the same time, Boseman’s death is poignantly filtered 
into the story from the start, beginning with off-screen death throes.“Time
 is running out,” we hear whispered while the screen is still black. 
Shuri (Letitia Wright), T’Challa’s tech-wiz sister, is frantically 
trying to craft something in her AI lab to save her brother. But in a 
moment, their mother, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), informs her: “Your
 brother is with the ancestors.” He’s laid to rest in a glorious, 
celebratory procession, carried through a multi-tiered channel of 
white-clad, singing-and-dancing Wakandans. It’s as stunning as anything 
Coogler has shot.After this prologue, “Wakanda Forever” shifts to
 a year later. “Black Panther” took some of the spy-thriller shape of a 
Bond movie, and the sequel carries that on in a new geopolitical 
context. At the United Nations, the United States and France are 
pressuring for access to vibranium, the rare metal that Wakanda has 
built its empire on. Soon after, a U.S. military expedition discovers 
vibranium at the bottom of the ocean. But just as they’re celebrating, a
 mysterious tribe of blue underwater people, led by Namor, a 
pointy-eared monarch in green short-shorts with wings on his ankles, 
ruthlessly wipe out the entire expedition.You can feel “Wakanda 
Forever” searching for a way forward in these early scenes. After such 
an anguished beginning, how much care can we summon for the whereabouts 
of magical ores? And more blue people? “Avatar,” you might think, has 
already laid claim to them. What steadies the film is Bassett. Her 
awesome presence leads “Wakanda Forever” through grief with a staunch 
defense of Wakanda that rebalances the newly king-less kingdom. She 
carries on.What follows is a globe-trotting plot that draws the 
film away from perhaps its greatest asset in Wakanda but uncovers new 
places of latent power among historically exploited people. Shuri and 
Okoye (Danai Gurira), the Dora Milaje general, travel to Cambridge, 
Massachusetts, to seek the student (Dominique Thorne) who created a 
vibranium detector. In the Washington D.C. area, Wakanda’s friendly CIA 
officer (Martin Freeman) experiences new scrutiny from his boss, played 
by an unannounced comic actress familiar to Beltway politics.But,
 mostly, a series of exchanges draw Wakanda and Talokan closer. Are they
 friends and foes? They are, at least, a captivating tweak to the 
mythology of Atlantis. Talokan, dark and watery, is no Wakanda, though, 
and there’s less hint this time of a larger society. Still, Huerta 
brings a magnetism to Namor. In many ways, he’s a corollary to Michael 
B. Jordan’s Killmonger, a non-villain whose fury is in many ways 
justified. His anger appeals to the still-grieving Shuri who finds 
herself ready, after T’Challa’s death, to “burn the world.”As in 
the first “Black Panther,” the question again hangs in the balance of 
whether, in a pain-ridden and prejudiced world, rage is the answer. This
 time, it applies to another powerful civilization, too. "Wakanda 
Forever,” where the role of Black Panther is passed down, is in more 
ways than one about the transfer of power.Wakanda and Talokan are
 brought together a little haphazardly in conflict, as Namor pressures 
the African nation to join his brewing surface war. “Wakanda Forever” 
proceeds as a murky, middle-act film that may ultimately serve as a 
bridge to future “Black Panther” chapters. But along the way, there are 
countless marvels that Coogler conjures with returning magic-workers 
like production designer Hannah Beachler and costume designer Ruth E. 
Carter. How the Talokan are flung into the air by whales. The fierce 
friendliness of Gurira’s performance. Lupita Nyong’o is unfortunately 
less central here, but every time her Nakia (who has been laying low in 
Haiti) is present, she graces the film.“Wakanda Forever” is 
overlong, a little unwieldy and somewhat mystifyingly steers toward a 
climax on a barge in the middle of the Atlantic. But Coogler's fluid 
command of mixing intimacy with spectacle remains gripping. He extends 
the rich detail and non-binary complexity that distinguished “Black 
Panther” in sometimes awkward but often thrilling ways. “Wakanda 
Forever," grappling in the aftermath of loss, ultimately seeks something
 rare in the battle-ready superhero landscape: Peace."Black 
Panther: Wakanda Forever,” a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG-13 by 
the Motion Picture Association of America for sequences of strong 
violence, action and some language. Running time: 161 minutes. Three 
stars out of four.

Review: In 'Wakanda Forever,' an empire mourns and rebuilds

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Houston Astros' six-game victory over the 
Philadelphia Phillies finished as the second least-watched World Series 
on television.

The six games averaged 11,784,000 on Fox, down 1.3%
 from the 11,940,000 for the Atlanta Braves' six-game win over the 
Astros last year and ahead of only the 9,946,000 for the Los Angeles 
Dodgers' six-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020.

Houston’s
 3-1 win in Game 6 on Saturday night was seen by 12,549,000 viewers on 
Fox, down 11% from 14,140,000 Atlanta’s 7-0 victory over the Astros in 
last year’s finale, played on a Tuesday night. Including Fox Deportes 
and streaming, this year's Game 6 was viewed by 12,871,000.

Game 6
 was played opposite several college football games, including 
Alabama-LSU on ESPN, Clemson-Notre Dame on NBC and Florida State-Miami 
on ABC.

The Series finished with a 6.1 Nielsen rating and 17 
share. The rating was the second-lowest behind the 5.2 for 2020, which 
had a 12 share. This year's share marked a 1% increase from last year.

Including Fox Deportes and streaming, this year's Series averaged 12,023,000 viewers.

Viewers peaked at 51,560,000 for Game 7 of the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds.

Totals declined with the rise of cable television and then of streaming services, giving viewers more choices.

The Series had a 25.0 rating and a 52 share in Philadelphia and a 24.0/55 in Houston.

The
 rating is the percentage of television households tuned in to a 
broadcast. The share is the percentage viewing a telecast among those 
households with TVs on at the time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667851581822.jpeg" alt="Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, foreground, a prolific Texas gambler, and the Houston Astros players gather before a victory parade for the Houston Astros' World Series baseball championship Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David Phillip)" />
 <figcaption>Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, foreground, a prolific Texas gambler, and the Houston Astros players gather before a victory parade for the Houston Astros' World Series baseball championship Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David Phillip)</figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Houston Astros' six-game victory over the 
Philadelphia Phillies finished as the second least-watched World Series 
on television.The six games averaged 11,784,000 on Fox, down 1.3%
 from the 11,940,000 for the Atlanta Braves' six-game win over the 
Astros last year and ahead of only the 9,946,000 for the Los Angeles 
Dodgers' six-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020.Houston’s
 3-1 win in Game 6 on Saturday night was seen by 12,549,000 viewers on 
Fox, down 11% from 14,140,000 Atlanta’s 7-0 victory over the Astros in 
last year’s finale, played on a Tuesday night. Including Fox Deportes 
and streaming, this year's Game 6 was viewed by 12,871,000.Game 6
 was played opposite several college football games, including 
Alabama-LSU on ESPN, Clemson-Notre Dame on NBC and Florida State-Miami 
on ABC.The Series finished with a 6.1 Nielsen rating and 17 
share. The rating was the second-lowest behind the 5.2 for 2020, which 
had a 12 share. This year's share marked a 1% increase from last year.Including Fox Deportes and streaming, this year's Series averaged 12,023,000 viewers.Viewers peaked at 51,560,000 for Game 7 of the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds.Totals declined with the rise of cable television and then of streaming services, giving viewers more choices.The Series had a 25.0 rating and a 52 share in Philadelphia and a 24.0/55 in Houston.The
 rating is the percentage of television households tuned in to a 
broadcast. The share is the percentage viewing a telecast among those 
households with TVs on at the time.

This year's World Series is 2nd-least watched on TV

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.

The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.

The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.

The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.

The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.

The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.

The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.

“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.

Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.

“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."

Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.

The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.

The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667933043117.jpeg" alt="AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes" />
 <figcaption>AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes</figcaption>
 </figure>DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone who bought a Powerball ticket in 
Southern California has won a record $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot 
after more than three months without anyone hitting the top prize.The
 winning numbers drawn Tuesday morning at the Florida Lottery draw 
studio in Tallahassee were: white balls 10, 33, 41, 47 and 56, and the 
red Powerball was 10.The jackpot ticket was sold at Joe’s Service
 Center in Altadena, an unincorporated community in the foothills 
northeast of Los Angeles. A voicemail left for Joe’s Service Center was 
not immediately returned.The jackpot was by far the largest 
lottery prize ever won, topping the previous record $1.586 billion prize
 won by three Powerball ticketholders in 2016. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-d074aec16d0f17eba2cc51c814faa99e">Only four previous jackpots</a>
 have topped $1 billion, but none of those are close to the current 
prize, which started at $20 million back on Aug. 6 and over three 
winless months has grown massive. No one has won the jackpot since Aug. 
3.The jackpot was initially reported as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-today-what-to-know-75a57b3d83a5c5d1e0264c55261671cf">an estimated $1.9 billion</a> on Monday, but the prize was increased to $2.04 billion Tuesday morning after updated calculations.The
 Multi-State Lottery Association said Monday night’s scheduled drawing 
was delayed by nearly 10 hours until Tuesday because a participating 
lottery had issues processing sales.The problems in holding a 
drawing Monday night were blamed on one participating lottery's 
inability to process its sales data. After the lottery, which wasn't 
identified, completed its pre-draw procedures, the drawing was able to 
go ahead.“Protecting the integrity of the draw is of upmost 
importance, and we were able to do that during this historic drawing 
with the cooperation of all participating lotteries,” said Drew Svitko, 
the chairman of the Powerball Product Group and executive director of 
the Pennsylvania Lottery.Terry Rich, a former director of the 
Iowa Lottery who also served on the Powerball board, said the delay was 
likely due to a two-part verification system of ticket sales that makes 
use of an outside vendor to ensure all is in order before the game's 
numbers are drawn.“Each state must verify through a dual process 
that all of the sales and dollars match before the Multi-State Lottery 
Association can do the draw," said Rich, who headed the Iowa Lottery for
 10 years and was president of the North American Lottery Association. 
“This is a state-by-state procedure, which separates the whole process 
and has been very effective."Rich said state lotteries deal with 
similar problems several times a year but the delays usually don't 
attract much attention because the potential jackpots are far less than 
was up for grabs this week.The winning numbers and recorded video of the drawing were posted to the Powerball's YouTube channel.The $2.04 billion prize is for a <a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">winner who chooses an annuity</a>, paid annually over 29 years. Nearly all winners instead opt for cash, which was valued at $997.6 million.The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.The game is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Powerball ticket sold in California snags record $2.04B win

On this week's Tiger Talk, Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock speaks with Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown about the latest in FHSU Football.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQzqDVejB8E"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On this week's Tiger Talk, Voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock speaks with Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown about the latest in FHSU Football.

🎥🏈 Watch This Week's Tiger Talk

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

A desire to learn a new photography technique has led to a gallery exhibition for Salinan Tanner Colvin.

Weecha, a blend of photography and videography opened today in The Gallery at Kansas Wesleyan University.

The exhibition features Wichita War Dancer, a member of the Tohono O’dham and Ponca nations who has been performing the war dance for several years. Wichita War Dancer has traveled across the world, performing and educating groups about his culture and its history. In 2021, he earned a world championship honor for his war dance performance.

A public exhibition reception is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2 and will include a performance by Wichita War Dancer at 6:30 p.m. in Fitzpatrick Auditorium.

Colvin, a 2011 graduate of Kansas Wesleyan, said the exhibition evolved from his desire to learn a new photography technique: shutter drag.

Colvin explained that shutter drag both freezes and blurs motion.

"So he started out and I opened the shutter. A flash went off and then he had 20 to 30 seconds to move around. Once he moved around, that's where you get the kind of blurry motion I call 'watercolor.'"

After finding a YouTube video on how to use shutter drag, Colvin began looking into who he might know who danced, leaning more toward traditional dance, such as ballet. Colvin said he happened to stumble across Wichita War Dancer on a Kansas photography Facebook group and contacted him about being the subject of a photo shoot using shutter drag. The two exchanged several emails and phone calls and Wichita War Dancer agreed to the photo shoot.

The two met at Salina's Stiefel Theatre in early 2020 and Colvin spent approximately six hours making photos while Wichita War Dancer danced.

Colvin said he was quite pleased with how the photographs turned out.

"The name of the show,&nbsp;Weecha, is a Native American term that means 'to be proud of significant accomplishment,'" Colvin said. "This is my first show since college, so this space is a little different to me. Usually my stuff is very 'shoot it and get it done' journalism."

While the two were busy with the photo shoot, they talked about what would happen next with the photos.

"I had wanted to do some smaller prints to show off his regalia, because in these bigger ones, you don't really get to see what he is wearing. A lot of it is homemade," Colvin said.

From there came the idea of also including a video of Wichita War Dancer dancing.

"I figured that if people can't be here on Dec. 2 to see him dance, they might not get the motion and emotion that he has in this dance, so that's where the video came into play," Colvin said.

The video, which Colvin recorded himself, includes a short interview with Wichita War Dancer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667913736466.jpeg" alt="A photo of Wichita War Dancer.&nbsp;Photos courtesy Tanner Colvin&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A photo of Wichita War Dancer.&nbsp;Photos courtesy Tanner Colvin&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostA desire to learn a new photography technique has led to a gallery exhibition for Salinan Tanner Colvin.Weecha, a blend of photography and videography opened today in The Gallery at Kansas Wesleyan University.The exhibition features Wichita War Dancer, a member of the Tohono O’dham and Ponca nations who has been performing the war dance for several years. Wichita War Dancer has traveled across the world, performing and educating groups about his culture and its history. In 2021, he earned a world championship honor for his war dance performance.A public exhibition reception is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Dec. 2 and will include a performance by Wichita War Dancer at 6:30 p.m. in Fitzpatrick Auditorium.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667843765863.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Colvin, a 2011 graduate of Kansas Wesleyan, said the exhibition evolved from his desire to learn a new photography technique: shutter drag.Colvin explained that shutter drag both freezes and blurs motion.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667843794770.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"So he started out and I opened the shutter. A flash went off and then he had 20 to 30 seconds to move around. Once he moved around, that's where you get the kind of blurry motion I call 'watercolor.'"After finding a YouTube video on how to use shutter drag, Colvin began looking into who he might know who danced, leaning more toward traditional dance, such as ballet. Colvin said he happened to stumble across Wichita War Dancer on a Kansas photography Facebook group and contacted him about being the subject of a photo shoot using shutter drag. The two exchanged several emails and phone calls and Wichita War Dancer agreed to the photo shoot.The two met at Salina's Stiefel Theatre in early 2020 and Colvin spent approximately six hours making photos while Wichita War Dancer danced.Colvin said he was quite pleased with how the photographs turned out."The name of the show,&nbsp;Weecha, is a Native American term that means 'to be proud of significant accomplishment,'" Colvin said. "This is my first show since college, so this space is a little different to me. Usually my stuff is very 'shoot it and get it done' journalism."While the two were busy with the photo shoot, they talked about what would happen next with the photos."I had wanted to do some smaller prints to show off his regalia, because in these bigger ones, you don't really get to see what he is wearing. A lot of it is homemade," Colvin said.From there came the idea of also including a video of Wichita War Dancer dancing."I figured that if people can't be here on Dec. 2 to see him dance, they might not get the motion and emotion that he has in this dance, so that's where the video came into play," Colvin said.The video, which Colvin recorded himself, includes a short interview with Wichita War Dancer.

Colvin exhibition, 'Weecha,' at KWU features Wichita War Dancer

Calling all monster truck lovers! Start your new year off with a bang at Tony’s Pizza Events Center!

The Monster Truck Nitro Tour will be invading Tony’s Pizza Events Center for one night only: Jan. 7, with one monster show at 7:30 p.m.

Don’t miss your chance to see the monster trucks up close, meet the drivers and even take a ride in a real monster truck at the pre-event Pit Party.

VIP tickets in the first four rows are $38.50 and include entrance to the Pit Party. Other reserved seating starts at $18.50 for kids, $23.50 for adults. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center box office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/">tonyspizzaeventscenter.com</a>.

Tony's Pizza Events CenterCalling all monster truck lovers! Start your new year off with a bang at Tony’s Pizza Events Center!The Monster Truck Nitro Tour will be invading Tony’s Pizza Events Center for one night only: Jan. 7, with one monster show at 7:30 p.m.Don’t miss your chance to see the monster trucks up close, meet the drivers and even take a ride in a real monster truck at the pre-event Pit Party.VIP tickets in the first four rows are $38.50 and include entrance to the Pit Party. Other reserved seating starts at $18.50 for kids, $23.50 for adults. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for discounts.Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center box office or online at&nbsp;<a href="http://tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/">tonyspizzaeventscenter.com</a>.

Monster trucks coming to Tony's Pizza Events Center in January

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

Three years ago, Great Bend city staff determined a 10% charge should be assigned to all caterers on their food and alcohol receipts for events at the Great Bend Events Center. The practice was not well enforced, although the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) notified caterers and organizations that the 10% rule would be strictly enforced in 2023. As a way to make the Events Center self-sufficient, Great Bend City Council member Kevyn Soupiset agreed rates needed to go up, but suggested the room rental fees to increase rather than charging a 10% fee to caterers and vendors. "We have to look at this from an operational standpoint and a business," said Soupiset. "We can't lose money on it. I think our fees are way under market value, especially for the ballrooms. Adding this 10-percent fee I think muddies it up and leaves open room for less than straightforward accounting from the vendors." Great Bend charges $1,000 a day to use the big ballroom. The Convention Center in Hays charges $2,500 for wedding-type events and is smaller than the Events Center ballroom. Camp Aldrich, northeast of Great Bend, charges $1,100 per day Friday through Sunday. St. Patrick's Parish gym rents for $1,509.

CVB Director Christina Hayes estimated up to eight non-profit organizations use the Events Center for their annual fundraisers including Sunflower Diversified Services, Family Crisis Center and Central Kansas CASA. Jennifer Gregg, executive director of the local CASA, told the council Monday night an additional fee would put a significant dent in their fundraiser. "For CASA, our annual auction provides 87-percent of our operating budget," said Gregg. "It is the primary source of income that keeps our doors open and allows us to serve our community in need. This 10-percent fee being charged to vendors and caterers is a significant amount of money that will in turn, be passed on to the person hosting the party."

Gregg added last year's catering receipts would have required a 10% fee of approximately $2,200.

The Events Center receives revenue in two ways. One, room rental fees. Two, by the 1% of the transient guest tax, which is generated by overnight stays in hotels. To make it less confusing and to not have to rely on vendors to accurately pay 10% of their receipts, the city council was in favor of setting increased room rental fees plus raising set-up and clean-up day fees.

Great Bend currently allows for a free set-up day, the day before your event. The Events Center rental also provides a free clean-up day, the day after the event. Any additional days of use beyond that costs $100 per day. With a new fee structure for all of the city’s services coming to a vote in December, the city council voted to table the measure and vote on the increased Events Center fees at that time.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643392805588.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostThree years ago, Great Bend city staff determined a 10% charge should be assigned to all caterers on their food and alcohol receipts for events at the Great Bend Events Center. The practice was not well enforced, although the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) notified caterers and organizations that the 10% rule would be strictly enforced in 2023. As a way to make the Events Center self-sufficient, Great Bend City Council member Kevyn Soupiset agreed rates needed to go up, but suggested the room rental fees to increase rather than charging a 10% fee to caterers and vendors. "We have to look at this from an operational standpoint and a business," said Soupiset. "We can't lose money on it. I think our fees are way under market value, especially for the ballrooms. Adding this 10-percent fee I think muddies it up and leaves open room for less than straightforward accounting from the vendors." Great Bend charges $1,000 a day to use the big ballroom. The Convention Center in Hays charges $2,500 for wedding-type events and is smaller than the Events Center ballroom. Camp Aldrich, northeast of Great Bend, charges $1,100 per day Friday through Sunday. St. Patrick's Parish gym rents for $1,509.CVB Director Christina Hayes estimated up to eight non-profit organizations use the Events Center for their annual fundraisers including Sunflower Diversified Services, Family Crisis Center and Central Kansas CASA. Jennifer Gregg, executive director of the local CASA, told the council Monday night an additional fee would put a significant dent in their fundraiser. "For CASA, our annual auction provides 87-percent of our operating budget," said Gregg. "It is the primary source of income that keeps our doors open and allows us to serve our community in need. This 10-percent fee being charged to vendors and caterers is a significant amount of money that will in turn, be passed on to the person hosting the party."Gregg added last year's catering receipts would have required a 10% fee of approximately $2,200.The Events Center receives revenue in two ways. One, room rental fees. Two, by the 1% of the transient guest tax, which is generated by overnight stays in hotels. To make it less confusing and to not have to rely on vendors to accurately pay 10% of their receipts, the city council was in favor of setting increased room rental fees plus raising set-up and clean-up day fees.Great Bend currently allows for a free set-up day, the day before your event. The Events Center rental also provides a free clean-up day, the day after the event. Any additional days of use beyond that costs $100 per day. With a new fee structure for all of the city’s services coming to a vote in December, the city council voted to table the measure and vote on the increased Events Center fees at that time.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

To make it profitable, Great Bend in favor of raising Events Center fees

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Evans may have put down Captain America's shield but he's got a new badge of honor: he's been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.

<a href="https://people.com/movies/chris-evans-people-sexiest-man-alive-2022/">People's selection was announced</a>&nbsp;Monday night on Stephen Colbert's late night show and on the magazine's website. Evans, who for nearly a decade played Captain America in Marvel's sprawling superhero films, takes the baton from another Avenger,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-rudd-people-sexiest-man-alive-7557d2833294f6c14bdb65dcbbd84906">Paul Rudd</a>.

“My mom will be so happy,” he told the magazine for its cover story, which hits newsstands on Friday. “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”

He also knows that he's likely to be teased by close friends. “Really this will just be a point of bullying,” he joked in an interview. “It’s ripe for harassment.”

Among those likely to heckle him are co-stars and previous Sexiest Man Alive winners like Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth. (Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel films, was the first Avenger to win People's annual honor, which was first handed out to Mel Gibson in 1985.)

Associated PressLOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris Evans may have put down Captain America's shield but he's got a new badge of honor: he's been named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive.<a href="https://people.com/movies/chris-evans-people-sexiest-man-alive-2022/">People's selection was announced</a>&nbsp;Monday night on Stephen Colbert's late night show and on the magazine's website. Evans, who for nearly a decade played Captain America in Marvel's sprawling superhero films, takes the baton from another Avenger,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/paul-rudd-people-sexiest-man-alive-7557d2833294f6c14bdb65dcbbd84906">Paul Rudd</a>.“My mom will be so happy,” he told the magazine for its cover story, which hits newsstands on Friday. “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”He also knows that he's likely to be teased by close friends. “Really this will just be a point of bullying,” he joked in an interview. “It’s ripe for harassment.”Among those likely to heckle him are co-stars and previous Sexiest Man Alive winners like Rudd, Ryan Reynolds and Chris Hemsworth. (Hemsworth, who plays Thor in the Marvel films, was the first Avenger to win People's annual honor, which was first handed out to Mel Gibson in 1985.)Other past honorees include John Legend, Dwayne Johnson, Idris Elba, Adam Levine, Richard Gere, Channing Tatum and David Beckham.People interviewed Evans, 41, at a Georgia farmhouse, where the actor talked about finding a better work-life balance. “The most enjoyable aspect of my career right now is feeling secure enough to take my foot off the gas,” he said.Evans' first film role came in 2000's “The New Comers” and he played superhero Johnny Storm in two “Fantastic Four” films released in 2005 and 2007. But he gained widespread fame in 2011 with the release of “Captain America: The First Avenger."Since then, he's played the wholesome superhero in 10 Marvel films, laying down his shield after saving the universe in “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019.Evans has become a highly bankable star, voicing the Buzz Lightyear character in Pixar's “Lightyear” film and playing a sadistic assassin trying to kill Reynolds in Nextflix's “The Gray Man” — both released this year.The actor told People he's thinking about marriage and having a family, saying, “That’s absolutely something I want.”He said he didn't expect to talk publicly much about his private life though. “Some things you want just for you, or just for my family and my friends.”The Boston native also continues his involvement with the civic engagement site A Starting Point, which he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-democracy-entertainment-politics-elections-e8bebd3de410f34b60dd0c362f1c992f">co-founded in 2020</a>.As Evans charts the next part of his life and career, he fully expects People's honor will be a milestone.“It’s something that as I become old and saggy I can look back on and say ‘I remember then…’” Evans said. “I’m lucky to be in the discussion in any capacity.”