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‘You don’t want to be cliché’: Speechwriter on the makings of a great New Year’s toast

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Neal Augenstein speaks to professional speech writer Eddie Rice about what makes a great toast. $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); if( typeof gtag === "function" ){ gtag('event', 'post_audio', { 'play': audio_filename, 'permalink': window.location.href }); } }); }); Clink, clink, clink — may we have your attention, please?While feasting and imbibing with fami...

Una breve historia del tradicional descenso de la bola en la víspera de Año Nuevo en Times Square

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

(CNN) — En el último día de cada año, se ha convertido en un ritual para grandes multitudes reunirse en el caos brillantemente iluminado de Times Square de Nueva York para dar la bienvenida a nuevos comienzos. A las 11:59 p.m., una bola deslumbrante desciende por un poste, mientras que los asistentes, y millones de personas sintonizando desde casa, cuentan hacia atrás desde 60.Al filo de la medianoche, la multitud estalla en una cacofonía de sonido, a menudo atrayendo a su ser querido por un beso ceremonial.Pero, ¿cómo comenzó esta celebración de Nochevieja y por qué conmemoramos la ocasión viendo una pelota descender por un poste?Inspiración náuticaLa bola de Times Square cayó por primera vez en 1904, y nació gracias a Jacob Starr, un inmigrante ucraniano y obrero metalúrgico, y al antiguo editor del New York Times Adolph Ochs. Este último había conseguido atraer a multitudes al rascacielos del periódico en Times Square con pirotecnia y fuegos artificiales para celebrar el añ...

Dominic Thiem survives qualifying and a brush with venomous snake at Brisbane International

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem had a brush with one of Australia’s most venomous snakes during a qualifying match at the Brisbane International on Saturday.The former world No.3 was a set down to 20-year-old Australian James McCabe in a first round qualifying match when fans courtside spotted the snake.Security personnel quickly arrived, but the umpire had to stop play as the snake slithered on to the court to the shock of the players and fans.“I really love animals, especially exotic ones,” Thiem said. “But they said it was a really poisonous snake and it was close to the ballkids, so it was a really dangerous situation.“It’s something that has never happened to me and is something I’ll definitely never forget.”The snake — identified as a 50 centimeter eastern brown snake and one of Australia’s most deadly reptiles —was soon safely removed allowing play to resume.But Thiem was not yet out of danger as he had to save three match points befor...

Michigan QB McCarthy focused on Rose Bowl, Wolverines’ title hopes, not his potential NFL future

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The biggest question surrounding J.J. McCarthy going into the Rose Bowl isn’t if this will be the junior quarterback’s final game in maize and blue.That one can wait a couple of weeks.The more immediate concern for the top-ranked Wolverines is making sure McCarthy is healthy after he struggled with a lingering ankle injury during the second half of the season.On Friday morning, the junior gave himself a clean bill of health as Michigan (13-0) continues preparations for its College Football Playoff semifinal game against No. 4 Alabama (12-1).“Everything is great in terms of ankles, knees, head, shoulders,” he said.Even though Michigan went unbeaten in the regular season for a second straight year, McCarthy and the Wolverines were not firing on all cylinders down the stretch.McCarthy had 137 yards on 37 carries and three touchdowns in his first nine games. In his past four, he has 9 yards on 20 carries and no TDs.The ankle injury also had an effect on Mc...

Netherlands and China win opening group stage matches at United Cup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — The Netherlands won the decisive mixed doubles match to clinch its opening United Cup group stage tie against Norway 2-1, while China swept the Czech Republic 3-0 on Saturday.Mixed teams from 18 countries are playing in Perth and Sydney in what doubles as a warmup for the Australian Open. The format is a men’s and women’s singles match and a mixed doubles.In Sydney, Arantxa Rus gave the Dutch an early lead with a 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory over Malene Helgø, before No.11 Casper Ruud leveled the tie for the Norwegians by beating Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-4. Dutch pair Demi Schuurs and Wesley Koolhof then won the decisive mixed doubles match against Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri 7-6(5), 7-5 to take the Group F tie. In the Group E match in Perth, China raced to a 2-0 lead after Zhang Zhizhen rallied to beat Jiri Lehecka 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 and Zheng Qinwen upset No. 7 Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. The Chinese pair then sealed a 3-0 cleansweep of tie by winning the mixed doubles. Former...

Cooper leads South Carolina against Florida A&M after 20-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

Florida A&M Rattlers (2-8) at South Carolina Gamecocks (11-1)Columbia, South Carolina; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Gamecocks -22.5; over/under is 130.5BOTTOM LINE: South Carolina hosts the Florida A&M Rattlers after Ta’Lon Cooper scored 20 points in South Carolina’s 70-43 win over the Elon Phoenix.The Gamecocks are 7-0 on their home court. South Carolina averages 73.9 points while outscoring opponents by 10.7 points per game.The Rattlers are 1-5 on the road. Florida A&M allows 82.5 points to opponents while being outscored by 17.1 points per game.South Carolina is shooting 44.7% from the field this season, 1.7 percentage points lower than the 46.4% Florida A&M allows to opponents. Florida A&M has shot at a 41.5% rate from the field this season, 1.2 percentage points above the 40.3% shooting opponents of South Carolina have averaged.TOP PERFORMERS: Meechie Johnson Jr. is shooting 36.9% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per ...

Idaho State and Montana square off in conference matchup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

Montana Grizzlies (7-5, 0-1 Big Sky) at Idaho State Bengals (4-8, 0-1 Big Sky)Pocatello, Idaho; Saturday, 6 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Grizzlies -5; over/under is 139BOTTOM LINE: Idaho State takes on Montana in a matchup of Big Sky teams.The Bengals are 3-1 on their home court. Idaho State has a 3-4 record in games decided by 10 or more points.The Grizzlies are 0-1 in Big Sky play. Montana ranks fourth in the Big Sky with 25.5 defensive rebounds per game led by Laolu Oke averaging 4.3.Idaho State makes 47.3% of its shots from the field this season, which is 4.5 percentage points higher than Montana has allowed to its opponents (42.8%). Montana scores 8.3 more points per game (75.1) than Idaho State allows (66.8).The Bengals and Grizzlies square off Saturday for the first time in Big Sky play this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Miguel Tomley averages 2.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Bengals, scoring 10.5 points while shooting 36.8% from beyond the arc. Brayden Parker is averaging ...

Western Kentucky takes home win streak into matchup with Abilene Christian

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

Abilene Christian Wildcats (5-7, 0-2 WAC) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (10-3)Bowling Green, Kentucky; Saturday, 3 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hilltoppers -5; over/under is 154BOTTOM LINE: Western Kentucky will try to keep its three-game home win streak intact when the Hilltoppers take on Abilene Christian.The Hilltoppers have gone 5-0 at home. Western Kentucky is sixth in the CUSA in team defense, allowing 72.8 points while holding opponents to 40.9% shooting.The Wildcats have gone 1-3 away from home. Abilene Christian is 2-4 in games decided by 10 or more points.Western Kentucky averages 79.9 points per game, 4.7 more points than the 75.2 Abilene Christian gives up. Abilene Christian averages 5.6 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.9 fewer makes per game than Western Kentucky gives up.TOP PERFORMERS: Don McHenry is shooting 46.1% and averaging 15.1 points for the Hilltoppers. Dontaie Allen is averaging 1.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Western Kentucky.Ali...

Manon leads Cornell against Colgate after 20-point game

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

Colgate Raiders (6-6) at Cornell Big Red (9-2)Ithaca, New York; Saturday, 4 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Big Red -4; over/under is 157.5BOTTOM LINE: Cornell hosts the Colgate Raiders after Chris Manon scored 20 points in Cornell’s 90-85 victory against the Robert Morris Colonials.The Big Red have gone 2-0 in home games. Cornell is eighth in the Ivy League in team defense, allowing 77.8 points while holding opponents to 44.9% shooting.The Raiders are 1-4 on the road. Colgate is third in the Patriot League scoring 69.7 points per game and is shooting 45.4%.Cornell scores 85.4 points, 18.9 more per game than the 66.5 Colgate allows. Colgate averages 69.7 points per game, 8.1 fewer points than the 77.8 Cornell gives up.TOP PERFORMERS: Guy Ragland Jr. is averaging 9.7 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Big Red.Braeden Smith is scoring 13.0 points per game and averaging 5.1 rebounds for the Raiders.LAST 10 GAMES: Big Red: 8-2, averaging 85.5 points, 37.3 rebounds, 18.5 assists, 8....

Massie leads Longwood against Dayton after 20-point performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:41:02 GMT

Longwood Lancers (12-2) at Dayton Flyers (9-2)Dayton, Ohio; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Flyers -12; over/under is 135.5BOTTOM LINE: Longwood plays the Dayton Flyers after Johnathan Massie scored 20 points in Longwood’s 79-70 loss to the North Carolina Central Eagles.The Flyers have gone 5-0 at home. Dayton averages 74.1 points and has outscored opponents by 8.8 points per game.The Lancers are 4-2 in road games. Longwood scores 79.1 points while outscoring opponents by 17.5 points per game.Dayton makes 47.7% of its shots from the field this season, which is 8.4 percentage points higher than Longwood has allowed to its opponents (39.3%). Longwood averages 5.9 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer made shots on average than the 7.0 per game Dayton gives up.TOP PERFORMERS: Kobe Elvis is averaging 11.2 points and 4.1 assists for the Flyers. Daron Holmes is averaging 16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds while shooting 54.5% over the last 10 games for Dayton.Michae...