Pick-and-Pop: Parsons’ ‘progress,’ weekend notes, more – The Commercial Appeal

Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons was hard on himself after playing a back-to-back for the first time this season. Ronald Tillery/The Commercial Appeal

Dallas Mavericks' Seth Curry (30) defends as Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons (25) moves to the basket for a shot during the first half oin Dallas, Friday, March 3, 2017.(Photo: Tony Gutierrez/AP)

Some post-weekend Grizzlies thoughts:

Parsons Progress: Chandler Parsons played his first back-to-back of the season, and his second most individual-game minutes of the season against Dallas, with 9 points on 4-16 shooting in 44 minutes over both games and the same physical limitations weve seen all season.

Was simply playing the back-to-back a sign of progress, as it was touted, or a sign of the team trying to force some progress as the clock ticks toward the playoffs?

The storm and stress surrounding the Parsons question is getting a little tiresome. Its not about his now-dormant social media, his off-court adventures, how hard he works, how early he shows up or how late he stays at practice, or whether shutting down for the season would be theact of a coward, to choose his own word. This is not an issue of morality or machismo. Its a simple two-part question: 1. Is Parsons healthy enough to be on the court? The answer to that is apparently yes. 2. Is he healthy enough to help the team when hes there? So, far the answer to that is no, with no particular reason to believe that will change in the next few weeks. And yet context complicates.

One thing that props up an apparently indefinite patience with Parsons lack of progress is the battery of alternatives. Last week in this space, I worked through some lineup alternatives, which on the wing would mean James Ennis, Vince Carter, or Troy Daniels. None of them, at this stage, should be a starter on aplayoff team.

Theres a two-part opportunity cost to continuing to play Parsons despite his ineffectiveness: 1. That the team has consistently been worse with Parsons on the floor than with the players who would take his minutes, and the games now matter if the team cares about maximizing its playoff seeding. 2. If Parsons is still this player come mid-April, its hard to believe hell maintain this role in the playoffs, so the team is just delaying the process of settling on the lineup and rotation it will use in the postseason and getting that rotation some reps.

If were making this about the team, and not about Parsons, which is how the discussion should be centered, then theres this counter-argument in favor ofthe status quo: The alternatives arent much better than even the current Parsons. Carter and Daniels have each shot below 36 percent over their past 10 games, in a rotation role, and each has definite limitations at full health. Daniels isnt just squeezed by Parsons, but by Toney Douglas taking over a big chunk of back-up scoring guard minutes, a development that is lessabout Douglas individual production than abouthow his ball-handling has helped maximize Mike Conleys impact. Ennis has mostly been out of the rotation lately, but his own limitations are exposed when he gets heavy minutes.

The math for Parsons at this point: That the slim chance of him yet improving with playing time presents a greater path to post-season upside than the minor improvements to be found in benching him. No one with the Grizzlies is going to put it that plainly, but thats the calculation, and it could well be the right one.

A Two-Man Game Wed Love to See: In the playground of our dreams if not on an NBA court.

Other Weekend Notes: Both weekend losses are easy to rationalize individually: This Dallas Mavericks team, with Nerlens Noel, Seth Curry and Yogi Ferrell all in the lineup, is far better than the teams full-season record indicates, and even that record is good enough to be in the playoff hunt. A four-point loss on the road to that team is no disgrace. Neither is running out of gas on the second night of a road back-to-back against a relentless Rockets team.

The problem with that, as noted after last weekends road split: Acceptable isnt good enough if the Grizzlies still harbor hopes of moving up in the Western Conference playoff race. Record-wise, the NBAs three best teams are all in the West, and getting into the 4-5 game and avoiding those teams should be the goal. The Grizzlies cant play at the level theyve shown since the All-Star break and get there.

While the attention has been on Parsons, the biggest concern at the moment might be Marc Gasol. The Grizzlies can hope for secondary help, but this season has shown they cant depend on it. They need the Gasol-Mike Conley-Zach Randolph trio to carry them.

Gasol struggled defensively with younger, quicker centers in Dallas Noel and Houstons Clint Capella over the weekend and has been erratic on the offensive end for the past month. Hes topped 23 points in a game 20 times this season, but only once in the past month, and that in a home routagainst Phoenix, one of the NBAs very worst defenses.

Over the weekend, Gasol played 36 minutes in each half of a back-to-back. Setting aside his recovery from foot surgery, hes a 32-year-old center. Hes 17th in the NBA so far this season in total minutes. The only older players in the Top 20(and both just barely) are Carmelo Anthony and Lebron James. The only centers who have played more are Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert, ages 21 and 24, respectively. Gasol scoffs at such things, but is it unreasonable to wonder if hes worn down some?

Gasols three-point shooting percentages per month:

Regression to the mean? Slump? Random variance? Fatigue? All answers are possible. But for the Grizzlies to be good down the stretch and competitive in the playoffs, a return of All-NBA caliber Gasol is mandatory.

Elsewhere in the Playoff Race: The Grizzlies have been helped by Oklahoma Citys inability to win on the road. The Thunder went 0-3 on a long-weekend road trip and only the Indiana Pacers have been worse on the road among teams with winning records overall. This has helped the Grizzlies maintain a full game lead over the Thunder despite their own struggles, but the Thunder will play six of their next eight back at home.

The Clippers have been playing .500 ball for a while now, and the return of Chris Paul hasnt (yet) changed that. They have a tough one at home tonight against Boston before coming into Memphis for a big game on Thursday, on the second half of a road back-to-back.

The Jazz were my preseason pick to jump from the lottery to the Wests Top 4 and they seem to be strengthening their grip, building a three-game lead over the Grizzlies. But their schedule takes a much tougher turn after tonights home game against New Orleans. Standings as of today:

Game Minus Presentation?: So this happened over the weekend, and this reaction from Friend of Pick-and-Pop Tim Bontemps was common among full-time NBA media:

This would be a fun experiment for one game (and it happened in Memphis by accident for half a game last season), but I cant fully get behind the general idea. As a music nerd, I like the snippets Grizzlies DJs expertly sprinkle into game action (favorites: David Bowie, Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth). I like Mike Conleys Dad Jokes and Zach Randolphs Deep Thoughts. I like Bongo Lady and the Mike Conley Road Runner beep-beep, the ceremonial fourth quarter Whoomp! There It Is! and the occasional well-earned deployment of the Gap Band. This isnt just a Serious Sporting Event. Its a community party. There are elements of game presentation I dont like or, much more often, just dont care about, and I find it easy to tune those things out. No harm done.

All of that said, there is one aspect of game presentation Id march on the frontlines against: Can we please lower the volume on pre-game, in-arena music? I cant hear myself think, much less have a human conversation. I dont need to be engaged during the pregame shoot-around. I can fend for myself.

100 (Or So) Word Preview: The Grizzlies dont just need to start stringing together wins, they need to start playing better. But theres no upside tonight as the NBAs worst team, the Brooklyn Nets, make their lone FedExForum appearance of the season. The Grizzlies need to notch this win and to do so without strain or drama. A big win, as against Phoenix last week, wont really mean much. It just has to happen. If youre desperate for intrigue: Which center, Marc Gasol or Brooklyns Brook Lopez, makes more threes? If you want to worry: Best bet for being tonights Sam Dekker or Doug McDermott, the secondary wing scorer who has a career night? Keep an eye on Sean Kilpatrick.

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Pick-and-Pop: Parsons' 'progress,' weekend notes, more - The Commercial Appeal

Despite 2015 deficit, progress made in implementing reforms, Vatican says – Crux: Covering all things Catholic

ROME Although the Holy See reported a deficit of 12.4 million euros ($13.1 million) in 2015, significant progress has been made in the budgeting process and carrying out economic reform, the Vatican said.

Vatican City State, on the other hand, which has a separate budget, reported a surplus of 59.9 million euros ($63.4 million) largely due to continued revenue from cultural activities, especially those linked to the museums, a statement from the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy said March 4.

Established by Pope Francis in February 2014, the secretariat answers to the Council for the Economy and exercises authority over all economic and administrative activities within the Holy See and Vatican City State, including budgeting, financial planning, hiring, procurement and the preparation of detailed financial statements.

In its review of the 2015 budget, the economic secretariat said it informed the council that while new rules for transparency in budgeting and financial reporting are firmly underway, completion of the process and a full audit are a few more years away.

The 2015 annual accounts represent an important step for the economic reforms and along the journey toward new policies, which are progressing well, the secretariat said.

The secretariat also reported that, for the first time, the 2017 budget was presented to the economic council before the start of the new year.

Presenting the budget early for approval, it added, will allow further control on reviewing expenses, through the monitoring of actual performances against approved financial plans.

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Despite 2015 deficit, progress made in implementing reforms, Vatican says - Crux: Covering all things Catholic

Coalition forces make quick progress in Mosul; ISIS defeat expected soon – Washington Times

It was supposed to be a long hard slog, but top commanders within the U.S.-backed coalition battling the Islamic State now say Mosul, the terrorist groups last urban stronghold in Iraq, could be back under Baghdads control within weeks.

Iraqi military units, alongside Shiite militiamen and Kurdish peshmerga fighters, have spent the past four months in grueling urban combat against forces loyal to the Islamic State, also known as ISIS and ISIL, through the eastern half of Mosul.

With support from U.S. heavy artillery and air power, the Iraqi-led coalition capped the offensive late last month, seizing Mosuls main airport and a critical military base before setting its sights on the western side of Iraqs second-largest city.

Then came a flurry of fast-paced developments Monday as the coalitions suddenly closed in on a key provincial government complex in the Dawasa enclave of western Mosul, prompting a wave of optimistic projections from Iraqi commanders.

The Islamic States defenses are buckling under the pressure, said Iraqi Air Force Cmdr. Hamid Maliki. Given the speed and relative success of the Iraqi offensive, Mosul will likely fall to Iraqi forces within the next six weeks, Cmdr. Maliki told the Anadolu News Agency.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis would not offer a timeline for Mosuls recapture, but he did note that Iraqi forces had retaken over 1,500 square miles of territory from Islamic State control.

Iraqi forces had closed in on a key provincial government complex in the Dawasa enclave of western Mosul on Monday, with the Interior Ministrys Rapid Response units and Iraqi Federal Police taking the provincial police headquarters and court building, Reuters reported.

Iraqi forces also reportedly secured the second of five bridges spanning the Tigris River that connect eastern and western Mosul. Although all five bridges were destroyed by coalition airstrikes early in the campaign, maintaining control of those bridges on the citys western banks provides security for advancing Iraqi forces driving into Mosuls city center.

The western Mosul offensive had been delayed for several days because of inclement weather, which prevented American and coalition fighters and surveillance aircraft from providing support to ground forces. But the coalitions progress through the western half of Mosul has been relatively swift since operations began late last month.

Stiff resistance

Despite such progress, ground commanders still are confronting stiff resistance by Islamic State cells dug into western Mosuls bombed-out neighborhoods. Coalition fighters have been met with waves of suicide bombings, sniper and mortar fire and commercial drones armed with grenades and artillery shells. One Iraqi Federal Police unit was swarmed with six suicide car bombs as it moved through Dawasa toward the provincial government complex, Maj. Gen. Haider al-Maturi of the Federal Police Commandos Division told The Associated Press on Sunday.

In Dawasa, as well as Shuhada and Mansour neighborhoods in the citys southwest, Iraqi military and police are battling the Islamic State street by street, block by block. Iraqi forces are trying to clear nests of Islamic State snipers and mortar pits dug into civilian homes and buildings across western Mosul, Iraqi special forces Maj. Ali Talib told the AP.

Iraqi commanders are bracing for the most difficult fight of the campaign as coalition forces move toward the old city district of Mosul. The ancient city sector is home to the Mosuls Grand Nuri Mosque, where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi notoriously announced the groups caliphate after overrunning Mosul and most of northern Iraq in mid-2014. At the time, units of the regular Iraqi army broke and ran in the face of an advance from a much smaller Islamic State contingent.

Among the top concerns among U.S. and coalition commanders is the possible use of chemical weapons against advancing Iraqi troops.

Islamic State fighters reportedly deployed mustard gas against Iraqi forces and civilians in western Mosul last week, NBC News reported. Islamic State rockets laden with the chemical weapon were fired from the western Mosul, striking the Al-Zuhur and Al-Mishraq neighborhoods in the eastern portion of the city.

Officials from the International Committee of the Red Cross said 15 civilians had been treated for exposure to toxic chemical agents over the past week.

It was certainly [the result of] a toxic chemical agent, because their symptoms were absolutely clear. People had blisters, they vomited. They had irritation in the eyes and coughed, Iolanda Jaquemet, an ICRC spokeswoman, told NBC.

The World Health Organization issued a statement last week over the possible use of chemical weapons in Mosul, saying international aid groups and local health organizations have activated an emergency response plan to treat victims of chemical attacks.

WHO is extremely alarmed by the use of chemical weapons in Mosul, where innocent civilians are already facing unimaginable suffering as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to the statement, which noted that the use of such weapons is a clear violation of the international rules of war.

In September, American commanders suspected U.S. and Iraqi forces had been hit with a chemical strike. The attack, which took place near the main American military logistics hub at Qayyara airfield, was supposedly the first use of mustard gas against U.S. troops since World War I.

At the time, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford told Congress that U.S. forces had been the target of a mustard blister agent attack.

Initial tests of two mortar rounds that struck near U.S. positions in Qayyara, about 40 miles south of Mosul, showed evidence of a chemical agent akin to mustard gas, the Pentagon said at the time. However, subsequent tests for mustard gas agents on one of the two mortar rounds proved inconclusive.

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Coalition forces make quick progress in Mosul; ISIS defeat expected soon - Washington Times

Tribe’s fight with Texas continues, despite progress – San Angelo Standard Times

MARTY SCHLADEN, USA TODAY NETWORK 9:42 p.m. CT March 6, 2017

The Tiguas say the Attorney Generals Office must show that bingo is illegal under Texas law if it wants to stop the games at Speaking Rock Casino.(Photo: USA TODAY NETWORK)

AUSTIN Some progress was made last week in an epic lawsuit between the Texas Attorney Generals Office and El Pasos Tigua tribe, but the legal battle will continue.

The state agreed to file an amended complaint against the Tiguas, while the tribe and the AG agreed on procedures under which the state caninspect the tribes entertainment centers.

At issue is whether the Tiguas can continue to offerbingo gamesafter U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone last year ordered the tribe to stop offering electronic sweepstakes games.

More broadly, the Tiguas and the Alabama-Coushattas in East Texas believe they should be allowed to offerClass II gaming under the regulation of National Indian Gaming Commission.

The states case against the Tiguas was filed in 1999 and technically closed in May. But arguing that the tribe is continuing to violate the law by offering bingo, the attorney general has persisted, asking Cardone to allow its personnel to go into the Tigua entertainment centers to conduct inspections.

The Tiguas have countered that bingo is legal in Texas and that, as a sovereign tribe, it has the right to exclude state law enforcement from its premises.

Dolph Barnhouse, the tribes attorney, on Monday said that the Attorney Generals Office will file an amended complaint against the tribe, and the tribe wont contest the states request to file it in a case thats technically closed.

That doesnt mean (Cardone) has to grant it, Barnhouse said.

The Attorney Generals Office couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

Barnhouse said that progress also was made last week inregard to inspecting the tribes entertainment centers. The Attorney Generals Office has agreed to request an inspection under thefederal rules of civil procedure, Barnhouse said.

Those rules allow the Attorney Generals Office to ask to see records and inspect the entertainment centers, but they also allow the Tiguas to object to those requests.

They cant just say, I have a bad feeling about your place;let me see everything, Barnhouse said.

Barnhouse said its hard to tell how much longer the litigation will last.

The Alabama-Coushattas are embroiled in a separate case with the state over electronic bingo. If the federal courts rule that the tribe is allowed to offer Class II gaming under federal regulation, the litigation with the Tiguas seems likely to end.

Marty Schladen can be reached at 512-479-6606;mschladen@gannett.com; @martyschladen on Twitter.

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Tribe's fight with Texas continues, despite progress - San Angelo Standard Times

Ghost Recon: Wildlands Review In Progress – GameSpot

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At its core, Ghost Recon: Wildlands is about information gathering. The drug dealers and terrorists you kill are just obstacles between your special ops unit and whatever clues you uncover. Hacking an enemy's computer or interrogating a wanted lieutenant can reveal half a dozen more leads and you're given the freedom to decide which lead to pursue next. Wildlands' openness and the flexibility of choice has, so far, been one of its strengths. Moreover, the first 10 hours of my playthrough amply provided a diverse sampling of what the greater game promises. It took little time to knock out the first batch of objectives, sample the local vehicles, and get reacquainted with the series' style of tactical gameplay.

Wildlands marks Ghost Recon's first foray into an open world, where its Bolivian setting is a playground of both destruction and distraction. You can infiltrate a stronghold with the best of stealthy intentions but you have to be prepared to wreck havoc the moment you're spotted. And the path to every main quest destination is littered with potential detours, whether it be an optional piece of intel or a medal that gives you a bonus skill point.

Ghost Recon's wild lands are expansive enough that using a helicopter is a practical method of transportation, given that the rocky region you start at isn't especially off-road friendly. The best part of taking a helicopter is jumping out of it and surprising enemies from above, provided you've unlocked the Parachute skill. Think of Wildlands as a less cartoony take on the Just Cause series with the all-business seriousness one expects from a Tom Clancy game.

Given the pre-launch videos and trailers' emphases on wanton mayhem and nondescript missions with friends, it was pleasing to watch a couple scene-setting cinematics shortly after firing up Wildlands. Even with the open world setting, I'm hopeful that it retains the series' emphasis on narrative and goal-driven missions. The ultimate goal is to take out El Sueo, the leader of the Santa Blanca drug cartel that essentially runs Bolivia. Your CIA contact, Karen Bowman also has a vindictive score to settle as one of her friends in the DEA was kidnapped and tortured to death by Santa Blanca. While revenge is a valid enough reason to upend a narco-state in the Clancyverse, I suspect that Karen might have other motives.

Forming squads has been one of Wildlands' more intriguing features during these initial hours. In keeping with Ghost Recon's history of team foursomes, having a full squad made up of your friends is the ideal experience. So far, a team of four humans with at least a modicum of experience in tactical shooters is a powerhouse in Wildlands even though enemy headcounts adjust to scale with the size of your team. Players who already have a squad in mind might want to consider starting off the game at the highest difficulty. However, playing solo with a squad of three AI companions offers its own unique benefits. When coordinating a synchronized kill of three targets, the AI is reasonably efficient in moving to reach line of sight within seconds. And they're more durable than your friends when taking fire, which is immensely helpful if they're out in the open healing you. What is puzzling is that you can't have a mixed team of humans and AI. If you and a friend are playing a private session, you can't round off your team with two AI operatives. What's all the more amusing is that you can still hear the story-related banter between all four squadmates.

There's comfort in falling into a tactical routine with your buddies as you reach the perimeter of every enemy outpost. This infiltration cycle begins when you use your tiny drone to survey the stronghold and mark all visible enemies. The ability to track marked enemies through multiple walls feels like cheating, though it hasn't diminished the appeal of the many other Tom Clancy games that use this feature. The openness of Wildlands makes this feature all the more essential and helps your team decide on the best strategy. It remains to be seen whether Wildlands retains the same gadget appeal of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier later on in the game, though perhaps a drone is all the advanced tech you need in Bolivia.

In the 10 hours I've spent on the road to liberate Bolivia of El Sueo's rule, I've unlocked 20-percent of the map. As I've slowly made my way through the hit list of underlings, I've been curious about the risks of sticking to the critical path, and whether there's such as thing as being underleveled in Wildlands. That said, it's been easy to take brief detours to earn extra experience and skills, thanks to the added efficiency of my teammates, AI-controlled or otherwise. Whatever path my journey takes, I know it will involve more diversions to earn extra abilities, the takedowns of the boss' lieutenants, and the elimination of El Sueo himself, which I estimate will take an additional 30 to 40 hours. Stay tuned for our full review in the coming days.

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Ghost Recon: Wildlands Review In Progress - GameSpot

CCHS named ‘High Progress School’ – Moultrie Observer

MOULTRIE, Ga. The Georgia Department of Education recently released its list of Reward Schools.

These schools and districts are working against the odds to provide an excellent education for their students, state School Superintendent Richard Woods said. This is so much more than numbers or data. We are talking about changed lives for thousands of students. I cant overstate how proud I am of every teacher, administrator, and parent who worked to make that happen.

Colquitt County High School has earned the distinction of being named a High Progress school.

A High Progress School is a Title I school among the 10 percent of Title I schools in the state that is making the most progress in improving the performance of the all students group over three years on the statewide assessments, according to a press release from the Colquitt County School System. A school may not be classified as a High Progress School if it has been identified as a Priority or Focus School.

Colquitt County Schools Superintendent of Schools Doug Howell commented, Success does not happen without a concerted effort toward a common goal. Congratulations to the students, teachers, staff, and parents who have invested in the future.

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CCHS named 'High Progress School' - Moultrie Observer

Maryland’s Will Likely, unable to run at combine, pleased with progress of injured knee – Baltimore Sun

Former Maryland cornerback Will Likely looks around at some of the other participants at the NFL scouting combine and sees guys he played against in college or faced while growing up in Florida.

He admits it stings that he won't be competing with them Monday at Lucas Oil Stadium when the defensive backs get put through their on-field workouts, and that he can't show his speed and athleticism by running the 40-yard dash or doing the other testing.

However, given how far he already has come since his productive Terrapins career ended when he tore the ACL in his right knee while returning a punt Oct.15 against Minnesota, Likely isn't having too much trouble remaining patient.

"You have to run your own race, take it one day at a time and eventually you're going to be able to show what you can do," Likely said Sunday. "I'm way ahead of schedule. Just for me to get invited and just to be here, that's a blessing in itself. I don't take anything for granted."

Likely, the only Terp invited to the combine, will only do the bench press Monday as he continues his recovery from knee surgery. He expects to graduate to position drills on March 29 at Maryland's pro day. However, the past couple days have given Likely the opportunity to meet with teams and show them how much physical progress he has already made.

"I'm going to be back healthy, and whoever picks me will know what they're getting out of me," Likely said. " The coaches have been liking what they've heard and they like my film. That speaks for itself, but just getting to know those guys, just building a relationship with them, it's been pretty good."

Likely played 43 games at Maryland over parts of four seasons, registering 229 tackles, two sacks, seven interceptions and five forced fumbles. He established himself as a home-run threat with the ball in his hands, and one of the most dangerous return men in the country. He returned two interceptions, two kickoffs and four punts for touchdowns in his career and his 2,233 career kickoff return yards are the second most in Terps history.

At 5-foot-8, Likely understands he'll face skepticism in a league that covets big and long cornerbacks. However, he believes he has proven that he's a "competitor and a true playmaker." He also thinks his special teams prowess should help his draft status.

Likely said he has blocked out any talk about where he might be drafted, preferring to keep his focus on rehabbing his knee. He has been working in Phoenix with Brett Fischer, who runs a physical therapy and performance facility. About five months out from surgery, Likely is already running and doing other defensive back drills.

With his pro day 3 weeks away and the draft about eight weeks away, Likely is thrilled that he's in the position he's in.

"I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason," he said. "It's just a blessing that it happened at this point. Now, I know what it's like [to deal] with adversity. Once it's time to get ready to play on Sunday, I'll be past that and have a strong mindset. It will be full speed ahead."

Following Young's lead: Temple cornerback Nate Hairston hasn't needed to look very far to get motivation or advice as he goes through the scouting combine. Last year, his former teammate and close friend, Tavon Young, represented the Owls at the combine before he was drafted by the Ravens in the fourth round.

"Any time I needed something or had a question, that's like my best friend, that's like a brother to me," Hairston said Sunday. "I'm hitting him up [like] 'Hey, what about this or what about that?' And he'd always shoot me some advice all the time. That's like family to me. Him going through this process last year was a big help to me this year."

Hairston is a Frederick native who played high school football at Thomas Johnson High. Temple gave him his only scholarship offer and he transitioned from a wide receiver to a defensive back in time for his redshirt junior season. Now, like Young, he's on the cusp of making the NFL.

"Any time you see someone that you're that close to have that success, it's like, 'I can do it, too. I want to do it, too,'" Hairston said. "It definitely pushed us and made us chase the same dream."

End zone: Michigan pass rusher Taco Charlton said he would welcome going from one Harbaugh brother to the other. "I loved playing for Jim Harbaugh. I would love to play for John Harbaugh, just because I know how the other Coach Harbaugh was for us and he has that same passion for football." Texas A&M pass rusher Myles Garrett, the presumed first overall pick to the Cleveland Browns, ran a 4.64 40-yard dash Saturday. That was the fastest time among defensive linemen in the first on-field testing session. The majority of Ravens officials are expected to return to Baltimore late Monday following the conclusion of the defensive backs' workouts. The two-day free agent negotiation window, which precedes the market officially opening Thursday afternoon, begins Tuesday.

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Maryland's Will Likely, unable to run at combine, pleased with progress of injured knee - Baltimore Sun

Orioles notes: Castillo comfortable with progress he has made with new pitching staff – Baltimore Sun

Earlier this spring, new Orioles catcher Welington Castillo expressed how torn he was about leaving his team early to participate in the World Baseball Classic. He made a commitment to play for the Dominican Republic before he was unexpectedly non-tendered and became a free agent, so he didn't anticipate a spring training of having to get accustomed to a new team and pitching staff. Faced with a difficult decision, Castillo honored his word and committed to play in the WBC.

The result has been a crash course in catching and learning his staff. But as Castillo played in his final Grapefruit League game before joining the Dominican team, he said he believed he's seen as much pitching as he could in the six games he caught.

"Yeah, I got enough work with the pitchers, so I have a really good idea about what those guys have," Castillo said. "It would be better if I stayed here and spent more times with them, but I feel like I'm in good shape with them."

Castillo hit an RBI double in the Orioles 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at Ed Smith Stadium and is 5-for-15 (a .333 batting average) with three doubles this spring. But he realizes his emphasis must be on progressing defensively.

"It's a little sad to leave the camp with a new team and a new pitching staff, but I'm excited to go there and represent my country and play for the Dominican," Castillo said. "I'm going to do my best to do my work and get better. Everything I've learned here and what J.R. [catching coach John Russell] has been teaching me and telling me about my catching skills I'm going to continue to do well there, and just go out there and compete and have a good experience.

Showalter gets look at Smith up top: For the second time this spring, manager Buck Showalter used right fielder Seth Smith in the leadoff spot, and despite remaining hitless in Grapefruit League play, Smith showed his ability to get on base.

Smith isn't a prototypical leadoff man and he's only done it in the past when there has been no other clear option but his career .344 on-base percentage was one of the main reasons the Orioles acquired him in an offseason trade with the Seattle Mariners for right-hander Yovani Gallardo.

On Sunday, Smith went 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout. He is currently 0-for-9 in Grapefruit League play but has drawn three walks to go with three strikeouts.

"I don't care where he takes them those are good at-bats,"Showalter said. "Patient. Seth, I think he'll be a little later in the spring, just from looking at some of the background and watching him, I think he's a little bit more of a later-in-the-spring guy. But he's always going to be patient at the plate, regardless of where he hits in the order."

When Smith batted leadoff last Monday, he also reached base, drawing a walk in two plate apperances.

Left fielder Hyun Soo Kim has batted leadoff in most spring training games, with outfielder Joey Rickard also seeing time atop the order in Grapefruit League play.

Familiar looks: Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who played in his last game before leaving the club for the WBC on Sunday, will be back at Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday, although it will be in an opposing uniform.

The Dominican WBC team will play an exhibition game against the Orioles on Tuesday, so for the first time, Machado will be an Orioles opponent.

Machado will face Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman on Tuesday, and Machado joked that he didn't know much about Gausman.

"I'm going to have to look at the scouting reports to see what he throws," Machado said. "It's a little different when you're behind him. It will be fun, fun to come out here and play in front of the crowd in a different jersey across the way, as a visiting team instead of putting on the home uniform. It will be pretty interesting and fun."

Around the horn: LHP Zach Britton [side muscle stiffness] is scheduled to throw off a half mound Monday and then likely move to a full mound Wednesday before getting into Grapefruit League games. SS J.J. Hardy has resumed baseball activities, Showalter said. RHP Chris Tillman's bullpen session on Sunday went well, and he will likely next throw one more before throwing a live batting practice session. RHP Mychal Givens will likely make his final appearance before the WBC he is pitching for Team USA on Monday on the road against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland. The Orioles' minor league deal with RHP Steve Johnson, a St. Paul's product, became official. He will report to minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park.

eencina@baltsun.com

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Sun staff writer Jon Meoli contributed this report.

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Orioles notes: Castillo comfortable with progress he has made with new pitching staff - Baltimore Sun

Jay Gruden pleased with Josh Doctson’s progress – Washington Times

INDIANAPOLIS - While Redskins coaches and talent evaluators comb through this years draft prospects, theyve also received good reports that their top pick from last year, wide receiver Josh Doctson, is making strides in his recovery from injuries to both of his Achilles tendons.

Doctson, who was able to play in only two games last season, has been running drills on the field at Redskins Park as part of his workout routine for two weeks. Redskins coach Jay Gruden, who was frustrated about Doctons recovery throughout last season, said earlier this week at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis that hes confident Doctson has been making good progress toward recovery. Doctson was placed on injured reserve in Week 7 of last season.

Ill tell you what, Josh is really working hard man and thats half the battle. And we fully anticipate him being healthy, Gruden said. And thats obviously out of our control but he is going to have a major impact on this offense once he gets healthy. And thats the biggest thing for him, is can you be taking the strides necessary to get healthy, not overworking it but continuing to push himself, which I see him in the weight room all the time working hard.

With Doctson having been cleared by trainers to run on the field, Gruden said he was happy with how the second-year players rehab timeline seems to be going. Receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon are both about to enter free agency, so Doctson could become one of the teams top receiving options next season.

Yeah I think the progress is being made that we wanted to see, really. But obviously theres still a long way to go, Gruden said. You know, but I just wanted to make sure that hes not in a boot in February still.

While providing the update, Gruden also worked in a quip about Doctsons social media presence.

I think now were seeing him do some things on Snapchat. Heck, I follow him! No. I dont even know what that is, Gruden said. But its good to see him out there running football drills.

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Jay Gruden pleased with Josh Doctson's progress - Washington Times

Tribe encouraged by Brantley’s progress – MLB.com

Indians manager Terry Francona provides an update on the health of Michael Brantley, who missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury

"He's handling everything remarkably well. That's probably the best way we can say it," Francona said. "You can see he's in great shape. He's worked so hard that he's cut. He's worked so hard. We've just kind of got to let it play itself out and not try to rush it. Just give him the best chance to, like I say, when he gets back, to stay back. That's probably the biggest thing."

Brantley, who was limited to only 11 games last season due to right shoulder and biceps issues, will need to hit in a series of live BP rounds before he is cleared to play in Cactus League games, according to Francona. There is not, however, a firm date planned for the simulated sessions or Brantley's spring debut. The Indians do not want to place target dates on Brantley's return.

"That's by design," Francona said. "That's just not fair to him to ever do that. When the medical people feel like he's ready, we'll find a sim game for him, believe me."

Jackson nearing spring debut

Francona noted that outfielder Austin Jackson might be cleared to make his Cactus League debut for the Indians as early as Wednesday. The center fielder has spent the past few weeks going through a rehab program, following arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on June 15 of last season.

"We're looking forward to it," Francona said. "I think he's worked so hard and the timetable is maybe a little better than what was throught at the beginning, which is good, because then we can get a longer look. It'll let him get his feet under him, too, because it's been a while since he's played.

"I wouldn't be surprised if it's a hard evaluation, just because he hasn't played, it's Spring Training, he's coming off an injury. There's a lot of things to think about."

The Indians signed the 30-year-old Jackson to a Minor League contract with a spring invite on Jan. 25, adding him to the spring outfield competition. Due to the knee injury, Jackson was limited to only 54 games last year after serving as the Opening Day center fielder for the White Sox.

Jordan Bastian has covered the Indians for MLB.com since 2011, and previously covered the Blue Jays from 2006-10. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, follow him on Twitter @MLBastian and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Tribe encouraged by Brantley's progress - MLB.com

New Drone Footage Shows Off Progress at Apple Park in March … – Digital Trends

Why it matters to you

Apple Park opens in about a month, and the latest footage shows new progress being made.

Were still a ways away from seeing the Apple Park campus unveiled in its full glory (a month, to be exact), but the secretive tech empire is beginning to give us some serious sneak peeks. The latest comes in the form of drone footage that is as straightforward as it gets. Its an unadulterated look at the campus from the skies, and it goes through just about every angle there may be.

As per the video, theres work yet to be done on the highly-anticipated campus. The middle of the spaceship campus isnt quite completed, though other parts of the sprawling community seem to be coming together nicely. Theres a shot of the Steve Jobs Theatre, a look at the underground parking lot (which is still being built), as well as the solar panel roof and the greenery of the campus. Workers can be seen moving about, along with construction vehicles.

More:Apple Spaceship is now Apple Park, employees set to move in April

The video is simply shot, featuring no on-screen text commentary (unlike its last drone footage update in February) rather, the drone footage is a succinct birds eye view of Apple Park in extremely high quality. Its probably the closest that many of us will get to the campus for quite some time, so revel in its beauty, friends.

Apple has slowly revealed more and more details about its flagship campus, though some of those details have proven frustrating, as we reported last month. But hey, perfection takes time, and apparently, a lot of patience.

Steve was exhilarated, and inspired, by the California landscape, by its light and its expansiveness. It was his favorite setting for thought. Apple Park captures his spirit uncannily well, said Laurene Powell Jobs, the late CEOs widow, in a statement in February.He would have flourished, as the people of Apple surely will, on this luminously designed campus.

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New Drone Footage Shows Off Progress at Apple Park in March ... - Digital Trends

There might be actual progress on pace of play – SB Nation

Yesterday was a rare day because Rob Manfred actually said something new and interesting about pace of play. In an interview with Maury Brown of Forbes.com, Manfred said that he'd be open to exploring the idea of shortening commercial breaks as a way to help pace of play.

MLB currently has "commitments" that prevent that from happening now, but he's open to it in the future. This is the first time he's talked about adjusting something outside the game to help pace of play; in the past, he's discussed implementing pitch clocks and strike zone adjustments (among other things) to help speed up the action in baseball games.

This all seems unexpected, mostly because shortening commercial breaks isnt a bad idea. It wouldnt subtract a lot of time from a game, but even 30 seconds for each commercial break would shave off nearly 10 minutes per game, not counting for pitching changes. But Manfred finally clarified himself about pace of play, saying that it wasnt actually about making games shorter (though he seems to have almost entirely focused on that as of late). Its about making games more interesting. Games can be as lengthy as they are now, as long as theres more happening.

But thats where the trouble is. Manfred can make little changes, but theres no magic thing he can do to make it all work. Its going to take a lot of changes to get the result he wants, and putting a lot of changes together like that will just feel...forced.

Baseball has rules, but nothing in the game feels forced. Things feel organic, and thats how they should stay. Unfortunately, that doesnt seem to be what Manfred wants. He's concerned about baseball's lack of younger fans, and rightly so, and he sees this as the way to fix that problem. And not just that. He sees these pace-of-play changes as a way to make baseball better as a whole. He wants to modernize the game. Whether or not the game really, truly needs it, that's what he wants to do.

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There might be actual progress on pace of play - SB Nation

Jazz notes: Quin Snyder reluctant to give progress report on Dante … – Deseret News

Scott G Winterton,

Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) lays in a shot as the Jazz and the Nets play at Vivint Smart Home arena in Salt Lake City on Friday, March 3, 2017.

SALT LAKE CITY If you want to slightly annoy Quin Snyder, just ask him about Dante Exums progress.

The Utah Jazz coach has had about enough of this question probably for good reason and hes not afraid to let you know that.

Here we go again, Snyder bristled Friday morning when a reporter asked a question about the 21-year-old Aussie.

So what does Snyder like best about the fifth pick in the 2014 draft?

His progress, the Jazz coach said. If he has a bad game tonight, Ill still be pleased with his progress, because its just part of it (the process). We just analyze and analyze and analyze Dantes growth and development. Its OK, but it doesnt help him to see his game on a day-to-day basis. Its better for him (to analyze), Where is Dante today versus where he was in January? Thats the important thing to me.

Snyder added that he likes where Exum is headed even if hes had some bumps along his return from a major knee surgery that kept him out his entire second season. (By the way, he also said he'd always answer reporters questions, but he'd rather compare Exum to where he was a month ago rather than give daily updates.)

I feel like I need to educate people about how we feel about Dante, Snyder said, and that is we think the world of what he is doing and his competitiveness.

Snyder pointed out that hed rather young guys like Exum, Trey Lyles and Raul Neto all of whom have started but are now in reserve roles or rarely playing to focus more on how they can help the team instead of centering their efforts around personal progress.

These guys cannot worry about their progress and they can think about how they can help the team. Thats how they make their progress, Snyder said. Every time we break Dantes game down like we do a young tennis phenom I dont think thats the best way for him to look at his development. I think it distracts and it hurts him.

AND EXUM?: The third-year point guard appreciates how the Jazz have helped him this season even if hes been on a short leash at times after making mistakes in games.

Im going to kind of develop in my own way, my own time, Exum said. Definitely with the injury I had last year, it makes things kind of tougher, but (Snyder)'s been really patient in helping me and making sure Im feeling comfortable.

Exum is averaging 6.3 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 18.3 minutes this season. As a rookie, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.4 assists and 1.6 boards in 22.2 minutes.

INJURY LIST: The Jazz had a brief moment last week when all of their players were available, but that hasnt been the case since they returned from their post-All-Star-break road trip.

Shooting guard Rodney Hood missed his second game in a row Friday because of right knee soreness. Forward Joe Johnson joined him in the training room. The 15-year veteran sat out against Brooklyn, his former team, with left groin soreness.

EMAIL: jody@desnews.com

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Jazz notes: Quin Snyder reluctant to give progress report on Dante ... - Deseret News

Destiny Character Progress Won’t Carry Over to Destiny 2 – Geek

When Destiny was announced, Bungie stated that character progress would be carried forward to all sequels and expansions. This has been true for all of Destinys DLC so far. Unfortunately, it appears that not all character progress will carry over to Destiny 2.

Sequels represent the start of a new adventure for every player, with new worlds to explore, new stories to tell, new powers to acquire, new loot to earn, and much more, said Bungie in a blog post. This led us to a decision that would enable us to serve both the game and the players best interests: Destiny 1 power, possessions, and Eververse-related items and currency will not carry forward. They will, however, remain accessible to you in Destiny 1.

We know that, just like us, you have grown fond of the Guardians youve created, so we do plan to preserve your character personalization. We are going to recognize the dedication and passion youve shown for this world. Specifically, the class, race, gender, face, hair, and marking selections for all characters that have achieved Level 20 and completed the Black Garden story mission will carry forward. We also plan to award those veteran accounts with honors that reflect your Destiny 1 accomplishments.

We believe this is the best path forward. It allows us to introduce the major advancements and improvements that all of us expect from a sequel, ensuring it will be the best game we can create, unencumbered by the past. Were looking forward to sharing more details with you later this year for how we will honor your legacy in the future.

Powers, items, and currency will not carry forward to Destiny 2. The blog post wasnt clear on what power and possessions means. Were going to have to presume it is abilities, light levels, weapons, and armor. The way your character looks will carry forward, but only for players who have reached level 20 and finished the Black Garden mission.

Destinys final event will take place at the end of March. Bungie plans to hold a series of live stream showcases for The Age of Triumph to show everyone what it is all about. Dates for each of these events can be found at the bottom of the latest blog post.

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Destiny Character Progress Won't Carry Over to Destiny 2 - Geek

Arizona: Progress made to keep I-10 dust down near San Simon – Arizona Daily Star

On Monday, the second day of Interstate 10 closures at San Simon caused by blowing dust from a nearby farm, state inspectors and farm managers agreed that more aggressive measures would be taken the next day.

Specifically, three water trucks starting around 7 a.m. would be used to wet down a recently prepped 50-acre plot, instead of the two that proved insufficient at Davids Agrigold Farms on Monday. An additional and closer water source was also to be used.

Instead, the first truck didnt get going until 9:30 a.m., a half hour before the Tuesday I-10 closure started, and the second didnt start until 10:30 a.m.

The third truck never got going because there was no one to drive it and the extra water source was not able to be used due to lack of correct parts until 3 p.m., resulting in lag time to refill the trucks, according to an inspection report obtained by the Star.

Caroline Oppleman, a spokeswoman for the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, which conducted the inspections, said that all three days of closures including Tuesdays were avoidable.

David Turner, the farms owner, and two farm managers did not respond to requests for comment. Nicki Frank, of David Turner International, said the farm has no comment.

Asked if the farm had been meeting its commitments more consistently since Tuesday, Oppleman said it had. There have been no I-10 closures near San Simon due to dust since Tuesday.

An inspection report dated Wednesday stated the portion of the 50-acre plot nearest the interstate was heavily saturated after a microsprinkler system was set up the day before.

Oppleman said the microsprinkler system for the whole plot was installed a day ahead of schedule. A farm manager said it would be run through the weekend. ADEQ inspectors will also be on the property through the weekend.

Progress is being made, Oppleman said.

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Arizona: Progress made to keep I-10 dust down near San Simon - Arizona Daily Star

Syria Peace Talks End With Little Progress – Wall Street Journal (subscription)


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Syria Peace Talks End With Little Progress
Wall Street Journal (subscription)
BEIRUTThe latest round of Syrian peace talks ended Friday with no progress toward reaching a political solution to end the six-year war, but with plans to reconvene later this month for more negotiations. The week-long talks sponsored by the United ...
Warring Parties Trade Blame For No Progress At Syrian Peace TalksRadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
UN Syria envoy says talks have set agenda for progress on peaceNasdaq
Little progress at Syria peace talks, but fresh negotiations plannedeuronews

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Syria Peace Talks End With Little Progress - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Redskins, Gruden encouraged by Josh Doctson’s offseason progress – Washington Post

INDIANAPOLIS Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Doctson has made noticeable progress over the last month, and its been an encouraging sign for Redskins Coach Jay Gruden this offseason.

Doctson, the teams first-round pick in 2016, began running on the field in February and has posted videos on his Snapchat account over the last week. Its a significant step for the TCU product after playing just two games during his rookie season because Doctson injured both of his Achilles tendons last year.

[As pivotal offseason begins, Redskins foundation is shaking]

Josh is really working hard, man, and thats half the battle, Gruden said at the NFL Combine on Wednesday. We fully anticipate him being healthy. Thats obviously out of our control, but hes going to have a major impact on this offense once he gets healthy. And thats the biggest thing for him is can he take the strides necessary to get healthy, not overworking it, but continue to keep pushing himself, which I see him in the weight room all the time working hard. Hes working with [head strength & conditioning coach Chad Englehart], and hes working with [head athletic trainer Larry Hess]. Theyll get him right, and hell get himself right.

[Pierre Garcon: I havent heard anything from the Redskins]

The 22ndoverall pick had rehabbed to strengthen both Achilles tendons up until he was cleared to run by team doctors and trainers. At the Senior Bowl in January, Gruden said February would be an important month for Doctson and his progress this offseason. He uploaded videos last Wednesday and on Monday from Redskins Park catching passes on the field.

Doctson initially strained his right Achilles tendon during spring practices, and he was held out for the remainder of those practices and mandatory minicamp. He started training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Although he didnt participate in camp or any of Washingtons preseason games, the franchise decided to activate him off the physically unable to perform list and place him on the 53-man roster to start the season. He played in Washingtons first two games, gaining 66 yards on two receptions, but he was held out in Week 3 against the New York Giants because of the injury.

[Chill out, Redskins fans. The Scot McCloughan situation is perfectly normal.]

The Redskins werent able to specifically diagnose Doctsons injury, and he later dealt with pain in his left Achilles tendon. He was placed on injured reserve during Week 7.

I think the progress is being made that we want to see, really, but obviously theres still a long way to go, Gruden said. I just want to make sure that hes not in a boot in February still. Now, were seeing him do some things on Snapchat. Heck, I follow him. I dont even know what that is, but its good to see him out there doing some football drills.

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Redskins, Gruden encouraged by Josh Doctson's offseason progress - Washington Post

‘Destiny 2’ won’t let you transfer your character progress from ‘Destiny’ – Mashable


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'Destiny 2' won't let you transfer your character progress from 'Destiny'
Mashable
Say goodbye to all the gear and currency you've spent hours and hours (and hours) farming for in Destiny, because the sequel won't let you transfer any of it over. In a blog post today, Bungie announced that in order to make the second Destiny game ...
Destiny 2: Bungie Details What Character Progress Will and Won't Carry Over to SequelIGN
Destiny Character Progress Won't Carry Over to Destiny 2Geek
Destiny Character Progress Will Be Scrapped in the SequelPVP Live
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With recent changes, golf breaks from tradition to embrace progress – ESPN

The most important news in golf this week wasn't the joint USGA/R&A announcement of a proposal to modernize many of the game's stodgy rules. Or the PGA of America's decision to allow competitors to wear shorts during practice rounds for championship events. Or the PGA Tour and its fellow international circuits jumping into uncharted waters by holding a WGC event in Mexico for the first time.

No, the most important news wasn't any of this individually. It was all of this. It was the prevailing theme of progression in an industry that too often remains stuck in the past.

Examine any report on the state of the game and you'll find what sounds suspiciously like some doomsday scenario. Recreational rounds are decreasing annually, more courses are continuing to close, and Tiger Woods -- the player who single-handedly ushered golf from niche to mainstream over the past two decades -- is still dealing with injuries which have left his future in doubt.

Of course, the situation isn't that dire. Recreational golfers will still play, the large majority of courses will remain open and young, talented superstars will take Woods' place on that hierarchy. But if the caretakers of the game want it to flourish instead of simply endure, there needed to be change.

That's the biggest takeaway from all of these recent developments. Those charged with how the game functions and operates have finally started to embrace this concept.

None other than Gary Player tweeted his approval of the latest rules proposals by quoting Winston Churchill: "Change is the price of survival."

Many of the proposed changes have a common goal. Eliminate gray areas and allow common sense to prevail. That might sound like a no-brainer, but in a game often too steeped in tradition to move ahead, this should serve as a giant leap forward.

It's not just the proposed rulings, either, which in many cases will eliminate frivolous penalties for unintended violations. There will also be a new, shorter, more user-friendly handbook to guide players through these rules, one which will casually refer to them in the second person.

As Dustin Johnson learned at the 2016 U.S. Open, golf's rule book can be frustrating and intimidating. That's why the announcement that changes are coming is so welcome.

There's a lot to like about the plan to overhaul golf's rule book, but there will always be something to complain about. Our expert panelists react to the long-awaited announcement.

Dustin Johnson, who still doesn't understand why he was penalized a stroke at last year's U.S. Open, is glad to see a proposal to change the rule that threatened his first major victory.

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"Our two organizations came together with an objective to make the rules easier to understand and easier to apply for all golfers throughout the world," said Thomas Pagel, the USGA's senior director of rules and amateur status. "That's very important as part of this initiative, and as we looked at that, we didn't just look at the outcomes. We've also addressed the delivery of the rules and how the rules are written, presenting them now in a more modern form, using plain language and language that can be easily translated and understood."

If the actions of the USGA and R&A to guide the game into its next iteration aren't enough to inspire universal optimism about the future, then parallel maneuvers from other organizations should serve to help that idea.

The powers that be at golf's highest professional levels not only continue to spread the game internationally -- of the year's first three WGC tournaments, this week's event will be the first played outside the United States in more than a decade -- they also continue to produce creative ways to break away from the status quo.

One example is the upcoming Zurich Classic, an official event which will feature two-man teams. Meanwhile, the European Tour already has experimented with a unique match play-style shootout and has looked into the possibility of hosting a night tournament under lights.

By comparison, the PGA of America's decision to let players show a little leg during their summertime championships isn't exactly earth-shattering news, but it all plays into the same endgame: Remove some of the stodginess from the game and try to appeal more to the masses.

That's an important initiative, one which could help the game bridge the gap from simply enduring to flourishing. It's also the most important news of the past week. In a game that's been too resistant to change for too many years, progress is finally being made.

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With recent changes, golf breaks from tradition to embrace progress - ESPN