Latest news with #Alexander
Ottawa Citizen
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Alouettes aren't the same team without injured QB Davis Alexander
The Alouettes better hope Davis Alexander, their 26-year-old starting quarterback, is a quick healer. They're simply not the same team without him. Article content And unless Alexander recovers quickly from the hamstring injury he suffered June 19 at Edmonton, this team is in serious trouble. Article content Through one game, at least, McLeod Bethel-Thompson isn't the answer, despite everything he has accomplished in his career. As good and as accurate as the 36-year-old was in practice during the week, he was unable to duplicate any of that against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' swarming defence on Friday night. Article content Article content The Alouettes suffered their first loss of the season and were badly outplayed in this ugly 35-17 setback before 20,911 Hamilton Stadium spectators. Article content Article content Perhaps it was the effects of three successive road games catching up to Montreal? But, more than likely, it was the absence of Alexander that derailed a team that started the season with a 3-0 record. The Ticats, coming off a bye in the schedule, won for the first time in three games — and exposed the visitors in the process. Article content The Als, who entered this contest having scored a CFL-leading 105 points, failed to penetrate Hamilton's end zone for more than 55 minutes until completing an eight-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker. Article content Until that point, Montreal's scoring consisted of three Jose Maltos field goals and a Joseph Zema punt single. Bethel-Thompson and the Alouettes couldn't score a touchdown despite scrimmaging from the Hamilton 4 in the third quarter. Article content Article content There was no chemistry between Bethel-Thompson and his receivers. Tyson Philpot, who should have been counted on heavily because of the absence of injured Austin Mack, didn't make his first catch until just before halftime. Indeed, that was the first time Bethel-Thompson attempted a pass to him. Article content Spieker was Montreal's leading receiver, with six receptions for 57 yards. Tyler Snead also had six catches, producing 55 yards. Charleston Rambo, arguably the Als' most-dangerous deep threat, had five receptions for 49 yards, while Philpot had four catches for 41 yards. Article content Montreal's longest passing play was 17 yards — a feat accomplished three times, by Spieker, Snead and Philpot. Article content When the Alouettes decided Alexander was their quarterback of the future, they traded Cody Fajardo to Edmonton last winter for Bethel-Thompson, a two-time Grey Cup champion who has passed for more than 17,000 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career.
Montreal Gazette
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Alouettes aren't the same team without injured QB Davis Alexander
The Alouettes better hope Davis Alexander, their 26-year-old starting quarterback, is a quick healer. They're simply not the same team without him. And unless Alexander recovers quickly from the hamstring injury he suffered June 19 at Edmonton, this team is in serious trouble. Through one game, at least, McLeod Bethel-Thompson isn't the answer, despite everything he has accomplished in his career. As good and as accurate as the 36-year-old was in practice during the week, he was unable to duplicate any of that against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' swarming defence on Friday night. The Alouettes suffered their first loss of the season and were badly outplayed in this ugly 35-17 setback before 20,911 Hamilton Stadium spectators. Perhaps it was the effects of three successive road games catching up to Montreal? But, more than likely, it was the absence of Alexander that derailed a team that started the season with a 3-0 record. The Ticats, coming off a bye in the schedule, won for the first time in three games — and exposed the visitors in the process. The Als, who entered this contest having scored a CFL-leading 105 points, failed to penetrate Hamilton's end zone for more than 55 minutes until completing an eight-play, 64-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown pass to Cole Spieker. Until that point, Montreal's scoring consisted of three Jose Maltos field goals and a Joseph Zema punt single. Bethel-Thompson and the Alouettes couldn't score a touchdown despite scrimmaging from the Hamilton 4 in the third quarter. There was no chemistry between Bethel-Thompson and his receivers. Tyson Philpot, who should have been counted on heavily because of the absence of injured Austin Mack, didn't make his first catch until just before halftime. Indeed, that was the first time Bethel-Thompson attempted a pass to him. Spieker was Montreal's leading receiver, with six receptions for 57 yards. Tyler Snead also had six catches, producing 55 yards. Charleston Rambo, arguably the Als' most-dangerous deep threat, had five receptions for 49 yards, while Philpot had four catches for 41 yards. Montreal's longest passing play was 17 yards — a feat accomplished three times, by Spieker, Snead and Philpot. When the Alouettes decided Alexander was their quarterback of the future, they traded Cody Fajardo to Edmonton last winter for Bethel-Thompson, a two-time Grey Cup champion who has passed for more than 17,000 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career. Bethel-Thompson, making his first start for Montreal, completed 24 of 41 passes for 203 yards, but also proved to be his own worst enemy and was intercepted twice. Granted, he could be excused for one of the turnovers. A third quarter attempt deflected off rookie tailback Travis Theis and into the hands of rookie Canadian middle-linebacker Devin Veresuk. Veresuk, selected second overall in this year's Canadian college draft, returned the ball 36 yards for a touchdown. Incredibly, the Alouettes trailed only by eight points following Spieker's touchdown and a defensive stop. But with 2:27 remaining in the fourth quarter and Montreal scrimmaging from inside its 10, Bethel-Thompson fumbled Justin Lawrence's snap — one that was slightly off centre, but one he, nonetheless, got his hands on. The ball was recovered in the end zone by Hamilton's Julian Howsare, which put the game out of reach. For the first time this season, the play selection of head coach Jason Maas was bizarre to say the least. Although the Ticats had allowed a league-high average of 145.5 yards rushing, Maas called only 10 running plays — three each by Bethel-Thompson and short-yardage quarterback Caleb Evans. Sean Thomas-Erlington had two carries. Theis and Stevie Scott III each had one. Theis's one carry in the third quarter produced an 11-yard gain, yet he never was utilized again. It made no sense. 'We, as a team, didn't perform well enough to win a game in all three phases,' Maas said in Hamilton. 'It's not a one-person game. But I'm sure there's things (Bethel-Thompson) would like to execute better.' It was a contest that screamed for the Als' defence to make a play. And while they tried valiantly, they couldn't produce a game-defining moment. They did create a turnover on downs on Hamilton's opening possession. And the Ticats required three plays from the Montreal 1 before Kenny Lawler scored on a pass from Bo Levi Mitchell before halftime. Safety Marc-Antoine Dequoy had Montreal's only sack, while linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku forced and recovered a Jevoni Robinson fumble in the first quarter. But more was required. 'We gave up the two turnovers for touchdowns, which didn't help us on the scoreboard,' Maas said in Hamilton. 'Our defence wasn't on the field for those. We need to do a better job protecting the ball and not giving up those plays, allow our defence to play the way they're accustomed to playing.' The Alouettes were threatening to run away with the East Division, but now could be pressured for first place should the Redblacks win at home against Toronto on Sunday night, putting Ottawa only two points behind Montreal. This story was originally published June 28, 2025 at 12:14 AM.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals future message to son about NBA title
The post Shai Gilgeous-Alexander reveals future message to son about NBA title appeared first on ClutchPoints. NBA Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is eternally grateful for all it took for the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA title. A journey he looks forward to telling his baby son, Ares Alexander, one day. Advertisement On Tuesday, Alexander spoke movingly on ESPN about what the championship means to him as a father, per Hoops Hype. He credits Ares for helping him to evolve as a man. 'I barely slept last night cuz he was screaming in the crib,' he said. 'Ever since he's walked into my life, I view the world differently. I've viewed everything differently. Without him, I wouldn't be the man I am today. He'll understand that one day.' On Sunday, the Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers in Game 7 103-91 to win their first NBA championship as the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 1979, the then-Seattle SuperSonics won the title before becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008. The Thunder were carried to the title due to several factors. They finished with the best record in the NBA with a 68-14 record. Advertisement In the Finals, their defense forced the Pacers to turn the ball over numerous times. In turn, the Thunder outscored them 32-10 in points off turnovers in Game 7. The Thunder also had depth to their roster with Cason Wallace, Chet Holmgren, and Alex Caruso providing considerable performances. Guard Jalen Williams came through in Game 5 with 40 points to put the Thunder up 3-2 in the series. But they don't get there without Alexander. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the shining knight for the Thunder Alexander not only can tell his son they won, but he was named the NBA MVP. He led the league in scoring averaging 32.7 points per game, along with 6.4 assists, and 5.0 rebounds. Advertisement His son got to see Alexander win WCF MVP award after the Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games. In the Finals, Alexander averaged 30.3 points and 5.6 assists per game throughout the series. In Game 7, Alexander had a double double with 29 points and 12 assists. Related: Paul George makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander declaration after Thunder's title Related: Jalen Williams' Kobe Bryant shirt at championship parade is epic
National Geographic
19 hours ago
- Health
- National Geographic
Was Alexander the Great really poisoned? Science sheds new light on an age-old question.
The sick Alexander (Alessandro infermo), by Domenico Induno, 19th Century, oil on canvas. Alexander drinks from a cup to show his trust in the doctor who gave it to him and condemns Parmenione who told him he would be poisoned. This event was said to take place in 333 B.C., 10 years prior to Alexander's death. Photograph by Sergio Anelli / Mondadori Portfolio, Getty Images The young conqueror fell suddenly and fatally ill at an all-night feast. Now, a Stanford historian has found a potential culprit. In June 323 BCE, in the palace of King Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon, the most powerful man in the world died. Just 13 days earlier, Alexander the Great—the greatest conqueror the world had seen—had been drinking at one of his many all-night banquets when he suddenly cried out in pain. He was sent to bed suffering from abdominal pain and a fever, and over the following days his condition deteriorated. He suffered from weakness, thirst, possible convulsion, pain, partial paralysis and dozed in and out of consciousness. Towards the end he slipped into a death-like state and was unable to speak or move. For six days after his death, the body of Alexander the Great showed no signs of decomposition. To the ancient Greeks it was a sign that Alexander was more god than man. To everyone else, for more than 2,000 years, the cause of his death and his body's preservation has been a mystery. Despite numerous theories, and a great deal of speculation, the death of the 32-year-old Alexander has been one of history's greatest cold cases. Fragment from the "Alexander Mosaic" showing Alexander the Great in battle against Persian King Darius III. (From a Roman copy of a Hellenistic painting.) Photograph by Universal History Archive, Getty Images Even in antiquity people debated the cause of Alexander's death. Some thought it was caused by illness or infection, but throughout the ages, many historians from Pliny to Voltaire suspected foul play. The conspiracy to murder Alexander, wrote Diodorus, 'was suppressed by the power of Alexander's successors.' Those who suspected poisoning even claimed to know the toxin at work: Roman intellectual Pausanias (2nd century CE) wrote of the 'lethal power' of the River Styx and added that he had heard it said that water from the Styx 'was the poison that killed Alexander.' Others, including Plutarch a biographer of Alexander, even claimed that it was Alexander's former teacher, the philosopher Aristotle, who provided the fatal dose. Apparently, Aristotle feared the man that Alexander had become. (Whatever else happened Aristotle is undeniably innocent—he was in Athens at the time of Alexander's death). (How suspicion and intrigue eroded Alexander the Great's empire) It is here that history appears to bleed into mythology. To moderns, the River Styx is best known from legends about the underworld. According to numerous ancient myths, the souls (or shades) of the deceased have to cross the River Styx on their way to Hades. But the Styx was not only a portal to the underworld, it was also a real place. Based on ancient accounts and modern investigation, the Styx has been securely identified as the Mavroneri (Black Water), a tributary of the Karathis River that empties into the Corinthian Gulf. Why would people think that the waters of the Styx were poisonous and that this poison was used to assassinate Alexander the Great? In a new article, published in Geoheritage, Adrienne Mayor, a renowned research scholar in Classics and History of Science at Stanford, decided to investigate. Bulgaria's cultural capital Many people in antiquity recognized the noxious properties of the River Styx. Plato refers to the 'fearful powers' of the Styx, the geographer Strabo described it as 'deadly water,' and the natural historian Pliny said that 'drinking [the water] causes immediate death.' The waters of the Styx were even thought to corrode metals and ceramic containers. As late as the 1860, when famed German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt commented on the Styx, he remarked that the stream has an 'evil reputation' among the 'present inhabitants' of the region. Even in the twentieth century locals avoided drinking from the stream and complained that it corrupted clay vessels. Poisonous waters were well known in antiquity—one mentioned in the Bible was used as part of a truth trial for potentially adulterous women—but this fact alone does not explain the Styx's dark and persistent reputation. (Were Alexander the Great and Hephaestion more than friends?) Mayor, a historian of ancient science, wanted to understand how the mythology of the Styx's waters had developed. She told National Geographic that the project was years in the making. As someone who has specialized in unearthing the genuine natural knowledge embedded in ancient legends, the project was something of a natural fit. Fifteen years ago, in 2010, Antoinette Hayes, a pharmaceutical toxicologist, told Mayor about the possibility of a toxic crust that forms on limestone, and a recent report on the mass death of an elk herd after eating toxic lichen that piqued Mayor's imagination. Together with the assistance of geologists, chemists, toxicologists and other scientists, Mayor began to investigate the possibility that in antiquity the Styx harbored naturally occurring toxins. In the resulting article and her forthcoming book Mythopedia: A Brief Compendium of Natural History Lore, Mayor argues that the limestone-lined pools of the Styx are 'ideal for harboring two extremely lethal natural substances, both only recently discovered by science: calicheamicin and toxic lichen.' (Alexander the Great's warrior mother wielded unprecedented power) Calicheamicin from limestone Calicheamicin is a crusty deposit that precipitates out of limestone, particularly in places where water drips, pools, and evaporates. As Mayor notes in her article, 'These are the conditions described by ancient observers of the rock-ringed pool by the Styx/Mavroneri waterfall. The water that flows through limestone is charged with calcium carbonate, which deposits hardened caliche crusts on rock surfaces, moss, and lichen' It can also form crusts on metal or clay (which might explain the myths about corroding vessels). A number of organisms are known to colonize the surface of caliche. Some, like algae, are comparatively harmless. Others, like cyanobacteria, are 'neurotoxic, hepatotoxic, cytotoxic, and endotoxic at levels very dangerous to humans and animals.' In the 1980s a toxicologist collected a sample of caliche in Texas that led to the discovery of calicheamicin, a toxic substance that has been used to develop potent antibody-targeted chemotherapy but in its original form has a 'cellular lethality greater than that of ricin.' We cannot say for certain if it was present in antiquity at the limestone rimmed pool of the Styx. A great deal depends on the presence—in antiquity—of the proper nutrients and soil conditions for its growth. Depending on the dose, mortality from a substance like this would 'probably take days or weeks due to the toxic mechanisms of DNA destruction.' This process would ultimately have led to multiple organ failure. Because it dissolves in alcohol it would have been the perfect poison to slip into Alexander's drinking vessel at a banquet. (Alexander the Great had daddy issues) Oxalic acid from lichen Mayor also posits a second soil-based toxin that may have been collected from the limestone rock ledges and pools of the Styx. Many fungi, molds and lichens produce toxic mycotoxin. While the harmful effects of certain species of mushrooms have been well known for centuries, until relatively recently lichen were thought to be benign. A recent study noted by Mayor discovered that 'one in eight species of lichens contain…poisons [microcystins] that cause liver damage.' Because ancient people did not recognize lichen as distinct from host trees and rocks, they were not identifiable as a source of poisoning. If goats died at the River Styx, as the ancient geographer Pausanias says that they did, 'water,' writes Mayor, 'might be logically identified as the culprit, rather than the rocks on the banks.' The most common lichen forming fungi on limestone in this region, Mayor writes, are 'black meristematic aureobasidium-like and Penicillium-like species, which can be highly toxic when ingested by animals and humans.' The fact that lichenizing fungi produce a black patina on rocks recalls the use of the adjective 'black' in description of the Styx. These fungi also excrete toxic oxalic acid, which is highly corrosive. This, too, might explain the rumors that the waters of the Styx destroyed metal. Today, oxalic acid used to dissolve rust. The roots of a legend 'The results of ingesting [either of these] these substances,' Mayor says, 'would have been observed and remembered over generations.' Even if only a few animals and people died, the memory of the events would have added to the ancient lore surrounding a river already saturated with myths about the underworld. In the aftermath of Alexander the Great's death, says Mayor, 'I think it was reasonable for Alexander's companions to believe that he had been poisoned—many in his circle had motives and opportunities. And his detailed symptoms match those long associated with Styx water.' Mayor stressed that her study does not solve the debate over the death of Alexander the Great. For that, she noted, we need a time machine and a toxicological autopsy. The problem is ultimately unsolvable. Scientists could test the waters of the Styx/Mavroneri today for calicheamicin and lichen but their findings—whether positive or negative—would not tell us if these poisons were present in the stream in antiquity. What Mayor's study does explain is why people thought Alexander had ingested the waters of the Styx. Once members of his circle decided that Alexander had been poisoned, they identified the poison with the River Styx because, like Alexander, the River Styx was the stuff of legend. After the association was made, people began to narrate his death with this idea in mind.
CBS News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
NYC Pride March honors Stonewall Riots with 2025 theme, "Rise Up: Pride and Protest"
It's time for Pride in New York City, as the 2025 Pride March steps off this Sunday in Manhattan. Organizers say this year's theme honors the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall Riots and the inaugural Pride March that was held the following year. What is the NYC Pride theme for 2025? The 2025 theme is "Rise Up: Pride and Protest." The Stonewall Inn, now the site of the Stonewall National Monument on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village, is considered the birthplace of the gay rights movement. On June 28, 1969, when homosexual acts were still outlawed in New York City, police raided the bar -- a place of refuge for the gay community and frequent target of harassment. The raid set off six days of clashes between police and LGBTQ+ protesters, and the riots that followed spearheaded LGBTQ+ activism in the United States. "I think, especially at this time of year and in this sort of political climate, this is an opportunity for us to say what we want to say. 'Pride and Protest' is a callback, or a recall, to the heritage of the Pride Movement," Kazz Alexander, co-chair of NYC Pride, told CBS News New York. "It's OK to show up as you are, we're an inclusive space. So if folks feel free to protest, they can," he said. "It's a welcoming environment to say and think your perspective. We want everyone to be able to show up as their authentic selves." Alexander said, as a native New Yorker, the annual march is a demonstration of what the city is all about. "This weekend, we see the town sort of painted in rainbow, as it has been all month, but this is an opportunity to show, I think, the rest of the world what inclusion looks like. New York is a place that is, even if other folks don't want it to be, the most welcoming city, and I think this weekend and the Pride March is a reflection of that," he said. "So we welcome everybody to be themselves -- the rainbow isn't just about the queer movement, although that is very much the center of it, it's about fostering an inclusive space, and that needs to resonate everywhere." NYC Pride faces sponsorship challenges for 2025 Organizers say 20% of corporate sponsors dropped or scaled back their support this year, leaving the group with a $750,000 funding gap. "Our organization, just like many other organizations in the Pride Movement, have experienced some shortfalls with regard to our fundraising this year. But we're not federally funded, we're not funded by the state, so I think some of the federal executive orders have sort of scared some sponsors a bit," Alexander said. "We've had many sponsors double down and actually support us even further. So we're really looking for support from individual donors, from other foundations, who really believe that creating a safe space for everyone is important." Alexander said they had to limit some programming, but have been able to keep their Pride Fest street festival and Youth Pride event alive. "One of our most important events this weekend is our Youth Pride, which is, for many young people, their very first opportunity for them to celebrate their unique individuality. So we think it's important for us to continue to create those safe spaces, even if we don't have the funding sources that we've had before," he said. Combatting LGBTQ+ hate Vijah Ramjattan, executive director of New York City's Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, says, "There's no place for hate in New York City." "If you commit a crime, the police will be out there," he told CBS News New York. The latest available data from the NYPD show 11 LGBTQ+ hate crimes in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 16 in the same time period the year prior. Ramjattan said his office is working to educate and heal communities. "It will take all of us. Hate crimes cannot be solved or dismantled from the top, it has to be from the grassroots level," he said. "I also know that people in New York City want to know about each other. So the more we can create opportunities to speak to each other, get to know each about other, that's what we're focused on." He also spoke about the importance of reaching younger New Yorkers. "We know that if we want to stop hate crimes that adults do, we have to ensure that the youths who are going to be adults one day are educated about hate crimes and they understand the consequences of hate crimes," he said. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch are scheduled to speak about Pride security at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Watch their briefing live on CBS News New York, in the video player above.
