Jarace Walker with the flush
One way Chris Drury could solve his Rangers problems is to invite retired MSG Networks Analyst Joe Micheletti for a no-holds-barred one-on-one candid chat.
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22 minutes ago
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Connie Francis' dalliance with country music and Nashville remembered after her death at 87
Legendary pop balladeer Connie Francis has died, according to a July 17 Facebook announcement by Ron Roberts, president of her music Label, Concetta Records. She was 87. She was renowned for tear-jerking ballads including "Who's Sorry Now?" and "Don't Break the Heart that Loves You," plus eventual pop standards including "Lipstick on Your Collar," "Stupid Cupid" and "Vacation." No cause of death was listed. Did Connie Francis have Nashville ties? Like many pop stars of that era, her style was favored by then-Decca Records Nashville chief and iconic country music producer Owen Bradley. Therefore, she often recorded at his "Quonset Hut" Studio on Music Row. Specifically, in 1961 and 1964, the eventual seller of more than 200 million records worldwide made significant contributions to the music scene in Music City. In the same week of Aug. 1961, Francis recorded "Connie Francis Sings 'Never on Sunday' (and other title songs from motion pictures)" and "Connie Francis Sings Folk Song Favorites." Three years later, she returned and worked with Hank Williams, Jr. on the album "Connie Francis & Hank Williams, Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites." Why was Connie Francis a fan of working in Music City? Before returning in August, Francis first paired with Bradley in January of 1961. Back then, Bradley was five years into working in Nashville and developing his smoother, pop-aimed and string-laden "Nashville Sound." Songs like 1960's "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" and "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" saw Francis sample sounds akin to the emerging Music City innovation. Francis famously commissioned her Brooklyn-based songwriting team, Howard Greenfield and Jack Keller, to write "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," which aimed to mimic the type of country hits that worked for performers such as Patsy Cline and Connie Smith. This led both of those pop hits to the No. 1 position on the Country & Western and all-genre Hot 100 charts, respectively. Months later, Francis found herself at the Quonset Hut surrounded by Nashville session musicians led by arranger and composer Cliff Parman, with backing vocalists Millie Kirkham and The Jordanaires also present. Those recordings resulted in two tracks, "Let The Rest Of The World Go By" and "Someone Else's Boy." Foreign-language versions of those songs became massive hits overseas, especially in Germany. In favor of working with Bradley and crew, Francis spent eight more years returning to Nashville for recordings. Why did Connie Francis pair with Hank Williams, Jr.? A decade after the death of his Country Music Hall of Fame-inducted father, Hank Williams, Jr. debuted as an artist in 1964. His path would intersect with Connie Francis in the same year. Hank Jr.'s calling card back then was directly tied to his iconic father, who unexpectedly died on Jan. 1, 1953. The album "Hank Williams Jr. Sings the Songs of Hank Williams" was a top-20 country charter. It's follow-up, the soundtrack to the MGM-released Hank Williams biopic "Your Cheatin' Heart," was a gold-selling crossover hit. Owen Bradley was behind the boards on May 11-13, 1964, when Francis and Hank Jr. recorded 14 country standards. 12 of those were released as "Connie Francis and Hank Williams Jr. Sing Great Country Favorites." "Connie's very versatile singing brings the skilled nuance of the urban song to bear upon this material. On the other hand, Hank sings in the traditional country fashion," wrote studio drummer Paul Ackerman. "Theirs was a natural collaboration in any sense other than that of corporate logic: Francis was MGM Records' biggest star, Williams, the son of their biggest country money maker, was probably their newest signing. It must have been hoped that glory would be reflected on both sides," added independent European record re-release company Bear Family Records in a press release. Francis' influence impacts Nashville's global expansion Outside of the country world, Francis' Nashville-recorded albums were globally successful. Francis recorded nearly a dozen albums of her takes on global "favorites" between 1960 and 1964, including Jewish, German, Irish and more. Regularly recording in other languages was a skill mimicked by other Nashville favorites including Wanda Jackson, Brenda Lee, Pat Boone and Johnny Cash. Eventually, Francis expanded her work to cover songs in 15 languages. Although not always fluent in them, she sang them phonetically. In a 1961 television interview, she stated that she was fluent in Spanish and Italian, but always had a translator nearby to ensure her translated lyrics and, especially, her pronunciation were accurate. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Connie Francis' dalliance with 'Nashville sound' and Hank Williams Jr.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
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Downy Rinse Fights Impossible Football Odors and Deepens Its Commitment to Youth Sports Through New Partnership with NFL FLAG
Downy Rinse Becomes The Official Laundry Partner of NFL FLAG, Reaching 765,000 Youth Athletes Across 2,000 Leagues Nationwide CINCINNATI, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Downy Rinse, the odor-fighting fabric rinse from Procter & Gamble, today announced a new partnership with NFL FLAG, the NFL's official youth flag football league for ages 5-17 which is operated by RCX Sports. Downy is stepping into the game with a commitment to rinse out stubborn uniform odors and residues in just one wash - taking the stress out of laundry so that parents can enjoy the moments that matter most. The partnership will kick off at the NFL FLAG Championships on July 17, 2025, and extend across NFL FLAG league play and Regional Tournaments all year long. Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, played by over 20 million people across 100 countries. The sport will be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games which is a historic moment for the flag football community, and the League, along with the 32 NFL Clubs, are investing in the development and growth of flag football as a global game. Recognizing that passion for sports can lead to some serious odors, Downy Rinse has joined forces with NFL FLAG to ensure that the next generation of football stars and their families can focus on the game, not their sweaty gear. The unique Downy Rinse formula penetrates deep into fabrics to help remove tough, set-in odors that detergent can't reach. It is safe on all washable fabrics including workout clothes and athleisure, and leaves clothing fresher, softer, and brighter versus detergent alone. "We are thrilled to partner with NFL FLAG to help football families solve one of the top laundry issues: malodor," said Redge Abueva, Vice President of NA Fabric Enhancers at Procter & Gamble. "This partnership goes beyond just fresh jerseys; it's about empowering young athletes with the confidence to perform their best, and supporting the families behind them with a product that is going to be a game changer in their everyday laundry routine. We recognize that parents are on cleaning duty for junior athletes, battling their not-so-fresh uniforms as the undisputed laundry experts in their households. Downy Rinse exists to lighten their load. No more rewashing, soaking, and pre-treating - we're proud to deliver a product that keeps its promise." "We're delighted Downy is partnering with NFL FLAG this season, showcasing the brand's ongoing investment in the sport," said Vice President of Flag Football at the NFL Stephanie Kwok. "As a league, we are committed to growing flag football at all levels across the world ahead of the sport's inclusion in the LA28 Olympic Games. This exciting partnership furthers our efforts, and promises an unforgettable celebration of our flag athletes everywhere." Through this new partnership, Downy Rinse will be integrated into the full NFL FLAG ecosystem with a strong presence across events, digital, social media, and experiences nationwide. This includes a care tag in the jerseys themselves, widespread distribution of Downy Rinse samples, as well as family-friendly experiences at the NFL FLAG Championships and marquee Regional Tournaments. "Downy Rinse's commitment to supporting athletes and their families both on and off the field makes them a strong and authentic addition to the NFL FLAG community," said Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports. "Together, we'll continue to grow and celebrate the game across regional and national tournaments while connecting with millions of families through the power of this sport. From helping kids perform their best on the field to helping parents keep their gear fresh at home, Downy Rinse is a win for everyone." The partnership builds on Downy Rinse's broader NFL campaign, championing athletes of all ages and their families by providing fresh, stress-free laundry solutions for active lifestyles. Downy Rinse is available at retailers nationwide. Try for as low as $5. Visit for more information. About RCX SportsRCX Sports is the leader in youth sports experiences, operating and partnering with leagues, events, and brands to engage and empower the next generation of athletes. As the official youth sports operator for the NFL, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS, MLB, and USTA, RCX is the only multi-sport organization trusted by pro leagues and governing bodies to represent them. RCX Sports delivers officially licensed uniforms, comprehensive resources, and full support, empowering league operators to create the best youth sports experiences in their communities. Committed to making youth sports accessible and inclusive, RCX Sports creates opportunities for all athletes to play and benefit from the transformative power of sports. For more information, visit About P&GP&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at About NFL FLAGNFL FLAG is an NFL-licensed property of more than 2,000 locally operated leagues and over 765,000 youth athletes across all 50 states. NFL FLAG is a fun and accessible non-contact program available for girls and boys ages 5-17. Players benefit by being physically active through non-contact, continuous action while learning the fundamentals of football as well as lessons in teamwork and sportsmanship. RCX Sports is the official operator of NFL FLAG. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE RCX Sports Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
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Angel Reese's Sky earn depressing distinction that no WNBA team wants
Between 2013 and 2023, the Chicago Sky reached the WNBA playoffs nine times and played in the WNBA Finals twice -- a stretch that included the franchise's first championship win in 2021. The Sky have never lacked talent; players like Candace Parker, Sylvia Fowles, Kahleah Copper, Courtney Vandersloot and Elena Delle Donne have represented the Sky first at Allstate Arena, then at Wintrust Arena. But the Sky is falling behind the times. Even with a blossoming new superstar in Angel Reese to count on, a new player poll has come down on hard on Chicago -- which is regarded as the WNBA's worst-run of its 13 franchises. MORE: Shaquille O'Neal continues to be massive fanboy of Chicago Sky's Angel Reese The results of an anonymous player poll conducted by The Athletic left little doubt, with more than 40 percent of respondents saying that the Sky's outdated facilities and organizational instability -- Chicago has hired four head coaches in three seasons -- has contributed to a perception that it is lagging behind the rest of The W. Despite Reese's brilliance in 2025, the Sky enter the All-Star break off the back of an 86-49 home loss to the Atlanta Dream. Chicago's 7-14 record is the third-worst in the WNBA, even though Reese is pacing the league in rebounds (265) and rebounds per game (12.6) while doubling her assists from 1.9 to 3.8 per game. Fortunately for Reese and her teammates, the Sky in 2024 announced plans to build a new $38 million practice facility in Bedford Park. However, the "Sky Town" complex will not be ready until April 2026, following an alteration to the original building plans -- meaning it will take a little longer for Reese and company to begin seeing the benefits of this investment. MORE WNBA NEWS: Sky's Angel Reese admits to challenge of new role: "Suck it up and keep hooping" Caitlin Clark's coach identifies biggest reason Fever star can't stay healthy Angel Reese beats Caitlin Clark in this shocking 3-point stat Nneka Ogwumike climbs historic list with big night before All-Star break Sun's Saniya Rivers opens up on viral incident during Fever showdown
