$2.
00 THE NATION’S NEWS
12.22.15
6 U.S. TROOPS KILLED IN SUICIDE BOMBING
Attack came senior Defense officials.
The meeting was targeted by a
during meeting motorcyclist carrying a bomb. In
addition to the servicemembers
near U.S. base killed, three were injured, accord-
ing to NATO command head-
quarters in Afghanistan. The
attack occurred outside a sprawl-
Gregg Zoroya
ing U.S. airbase in Bagram, 34
and Tom Vanden Brook
miles north of Kabul.
USA TODAY
Two senior Defense officials
who confirmed that all six dead
Six American servicemembers were Americans were not autho-
were killed Monday in a suicide rized to speak publicly. One offi-
bombing during a meeting near a cial confirmed the deaths, while
U.S. base north of Kabul. It was the second confirmed they were
the largest U.S. loss of life from an killed during a meeting.
attack this year, according to two “We’re deeply saddened by this
NEWSLINE
IN NEWS
YOU’LL BE WALKING IN
Gay men allowed
to donate blood
A WINTER SUMMERLAND
But there’s still a catch.
In the East, warmth
Sen. Graham
drops out of GOP
will melt records
this holiday week
presidential bid
IN MONEY
Number of homes KANSAS CITY
with broadband
falls significantly 56 38° AVG.
Those only using smart- MEMPHIS
phones to access Inter-
net at 13%, up from 8%. 72 50° AVG.
IN LIFE
DALLAS
Women 74 55° AVG.
power
new HOUSTON
‘Star
Wars’ 79 64° AVG.
movie
DAVID JAMES, LUCASFILM
QIJFAF-02005y(f)c
FORECAST AND AVERAGE HIGHS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY
Sources weather.com, National Weather Service
DOYLE RICE AND KARL GELLES, USA TODAY
©COPYRIGHT 2015 USA TODAY,
A division of Gannett Co., Inc.
Doyle Rice
USA SNAPSHOTS© USA TODAY
That other Forget the Yule Log on Christ-
mas Eve in the eastern U.S. unless
city of light you want to break into a sweat.
Record high temperatures
San Francisco is could soar into the 70s on Thurs-
glowing with day, shattering Christmas Eve
records in several cities, including
27
light art
installations
Boston (where the record high is
61), New York City (63), Philadel-
phia (64), Washington (69), Char-
lotte (71) and Atlanta (72).
“There is a high probability for
spanning 12
neighborhoods.
record-setting warmth up and
down the entire Eastern Sea-
board,” AccuWeather meteorolo-
gist Rob Englund said.
Highs Thursday will range
Note IlluminateSF Festival of Light from the 50s in Maine to the 70s
runs through Jan. 1 in the Mid-Atlantic and into the
Source IlluminateSF.com lower 80s in Southeastern spots.
TERRY BYRNE AND PAUL TRAP, USA TODAY Christmas Day should be about
Clinton to call for wider efforts to cure Alzheimer’s
Heidi M. Przybyla America’s top 10 that cannot be
cured, prevented or even slowed,
USA TODAY
the campaign told USA TODAY.
The Democratic front-runner
U.S. deaths from Alzheimer’s will propose spending $2 billion a
are exploding, and Hillary Clin- year in an attempt to cure the de-
ton wants to make it a major is- generative brain disease by 2025,
sue for the female and minority according to a campaign official
voters at a disproportionate risk who was not authorized to speak
of developing the disease. publicly before the
Tuesday, in her last campaign announcement.
speech before the Christmas holi- It’s the first time a presidential
day, Clinton plans to call for a candidate has made Alzheimer’s a
dramatic increase in federal major campaign issue, said Rob-
spending to find a cure for the ert Egge, executive director of the
only cause of death ranked in Alzheimer’s Impact Movement,
STATE-BY-STATE 4A AMERICA’S MARKETS 4B MARKETPLACE TODAY 4D
Uzbekistan
Turkmenistan
Tajikistan
Attack near
Bagram
Airfield
Kabul
Islamabad
Afghanistan
Iran Pakistan
200 miles
N single incident this year for the
USA TODAY
CHICAGO
44 32° AVG. 57 16° AVG.
CINCINNATI
NEW ORLEANS
81 63° AVG.
Santa’s angels in
tiny German town
IN NEWS
10 degrees cooler than Christmas
Eve in the Northeast and Mid-At-
lantic. The Southeast should stay
toasty on Christmas Day, with
highs in the 70s and 80s.
The temperature surge this
whose advocates lean on
all 2016 campaigns to
take up the issue. None
has offered specific plans.
“It makes this a national
conversation,” he said.
Clinton plans to make
her proposal at a cam-
paign stop in Fairfield,
Iowa. Monday, Clinton HillaryNATI HARNIK AP
Clinton
held a conference call
with researchers during which sees a research center at Massa-
she underscored the urgency of chusetts General Hospital.
raising the disease’s profile.
From 2000 to 2013, Alzheim- funding levels in 2016, yet it’s still
er’s deaths increased 71%, while less than half of what researchers
PUZZLES 4D SCREEN CHECK 5D
Lebron vs
Curry on
Friday
PHOTOS BY USA
TODAY SPORTS
loss,” said U.S. Brig. Gen. Wilson
Shoffner, deputy chief of staff for
NATO operations communica-
tion in Afghanistan.
In a separate incident in Kabul
on Sunday, an American woman
was shot and killed. Monday, the
State Department confirmed the
death of Lisa Akbari in the Af-
ghan capital but declined to pro-
vide further details.
The six troops killed Monday
India equal the largest loss of life in a
U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan.
On Oct. 2, six airmen died when
their C-130 cargo plane crashed
at Jalalabad. This year, 16 U.S.
CARIBOU
40 23° AVG.
NEW YORK
61 41° AVG.
WASHINGTON
66 45° AVG.
ATLANTA
76 53° AVG.
JACKSONVILLE
85 65° AVG.
People enjoy
unusually
warm
weather near
the National
Christmas
tree in
Washington
on Dec. 11.
YURI GRIPAS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES
week is from a high-pressure area
offshore, Weather.com meteorol-
ogist Matt Sitkowski said.
Parts of the South will see
thunderstorms and a chance of
tornadoes this week.
Farther west, winter storms
will continue. Snow will be plen-
tiful in the Cascades, Sierra and
northern Rockies, the National
Weather Service says.
heart disease fatalities
dropped 14%. “Alzheim-
er’s is the red-haired
stepchild among the top
diseases threatening the
aging and our health care
system,” said Rudolph
Tanzi, a neurology pro-
fessor who discovered
many of the genes leading
to Alzheimer’s. He over-
Congress significantly boosted
WEATHER 6A YOUR SAY 6A
TUESDAY
NBA
‘Leastern’
no longer
Cleveland, other
Eastern Conference
teams, have evened
score after years of
Western dominance
IN SPORTS
troops have died in combat, many
of them in aircraft crashes, ac-
cording to Pentagon announce-
ments.
The Taliban, which wages an
insurgency against the U.S.-
backed Afghan government,
claimed responsibility for Mon-
day’s bombing in an email to the
Associated Press. There are about
9,800 U.S. troops in Afghanistan,
part of a NATO force of 13,000.
Last week, the Pentagon an-
nounced that the security situa-
tion for the second half of 2015 in
Afghanistan “deteriorated with
an increase in effective insurgent
attacks.”
Trump
hasn’t
changed
politics
Billionaire’s rivals
continue to run
conventional races
Rick Hampson
@rickhampson
USA TODAY
One of the many paradoxes of
Donald Trump’s presidential can-
didacy is that it has dominated
politics without changing how
politics are practiced.
Despite Trump’s prominence,
his rivals are not aping his tactics.
They advertise on TV when they
can afford to.
They stay on
script. They
don’t use the
word “stupid” to
describe voters
in Iowa.
No one else
ridicules a wom-
an’s personal ap-
pearance, AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Donald Trump
denigrates the
service of a famous POW or cites
FDR’s wartime roundup of immi-
grants as a happy precedent.
No one else has dispensed so
readily with conventional virtues,
such as modesty (“I’m really, real-
ly smart”). And no one else has
been denounced by everyone
from Dick Cheney to J.K. Rowling
(who pronounced Trump worse
than Voldemort).
Trump has given voice to an
angry, alienated segment of GOP
voters that will not easily be pla-
cated, much less enticed to follow
the eventual nominee if Trump
founders.
How to assess his long-term
impact? No one knows how he’s
gotten this far, much less how
long he’ll go.
v STORY CONTINUES ON 8A
say they need every year. It’s an
investment, they say, that would
be recouped in the first three
years after discovery of a
treatment.
The alternative is about $1.1
trillion in costs for Medicare, Me-
dicaid and caretakers in 2050.
Clinton is looking for issues
that transcend generations and
draw in independent female vot-
ers. Though most of the afflicted
are older women, their primary
caretakers are younger . About
40% of caregivers have a house-
hold income of $50,000 or less.
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
VOICES
How I came to decide to buy a gun
Trevor Hughes
USA TODAY
After months of soul-search-
ing, I’ve decided to buy a
handgun.
It’s not a decision to which
I’ve come lightly. At least one co-
worker came near to tears as she
tried to dissuade me. But after a
horrendous year of violence
across the country, I’m left with
the undeniable feeling that I
ought to do something dif-
ferent. I’m no longer will-
ing to wait for the
government to protect
me all of the time. As
a former Vermonter
and Boy Scout, I just
can’t escape the feel-
ing that I need to take
more responsibility for
my own safety.
Here’s the thing: More
a pistol at
than almost anyone, I know Freddie Bear
the devastation handguns can
Sports in Tinley
cause. As a journalist who has Park, Ill. Gun sales are surg-
covered many mass shootings, ing across the country.
I’ve watched families ripped
apart by death. I’ve seen entire
communities shattered because rorist attack.
some jerk who couldn’t control I have no illusions that I’m go-
himself decided to take out his ing to be the proverbial good guy
anger on the world with a with a gun. Even worse, I know
weapon. the statistics that show I’m at
I also know I’m not the only risk, as a middle-age white man
one struggling with this deci- living in Colorado, of using the
sion. Gun shops across our gun to kill myself.
country are reporting a surge in I recognize that my decision
sales. It’s a sad fact that gun sales doesn’t make the best logical
go up after a shooting or a ter- sense. My head knows that. On
Air Force brings unlikely Christmas to Pacific
For these Kirk Spitzer
remote @kirkspitzer
USA TODAY
islanders,
holiday FAIS ISLAND, MICRONESIA “San-
is most ta One-One” was late, and the
chief of this tiny island in the west-
important ern Pacific was concerned:
day of the Would there be no Christmas
year this year? No toys or school
supplies?
“They are coming today? You
are sure?” Louis Mangtau asked.
But soon, the afternoon stillness
was broken by an Air Force C-130
cargo plane flying low over the
palm trees.
In its wake was a crate decorat-
ed in red-and-white Christmas
wrapping, floating gently to earth
on a military-green parachute.
Strong, young men wrestled the
bundle from the open field where
it landed to the nearby village
center.
There, amid broad smiles and
cheerful banter, Mangtau passed
out the contents: toy trucks and
soccer balls, rubber sandals and T-
shirts, fishhooks and fishing line
and all manner of daily necessities
This unavailable on remote islands in
year’s the Pacific.
Welcome to Operation Christ-
flights mas Drop, the longest running hu-
delivered manitarian airlift operation in the
roughly world.
40,000 Each Christmas for the past 64
years, the Air Force has been para-
pounds of chuting donated gifts and humani-
supplies tarian supplies to tiny islands
to 56 dotting this vast area of the west-
islands ern Pacific. The effort is supported
by hundreds of civilian volunteers
across 1.8 in Guam and Japan and U.S. air
million bases across the region.
square The operation is staged out of
miles of Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
This year’s flights took place over
ocean. eight days in early December.
“The islands they’re flying to are
the most remote islands on Earth,”
said Bruce Best, a communications
specialist at the University of
Guam who has helped organize
the program since the 1970s.
“They are the farthest away from
civilization, they have the least
amount of contact with the out-
side world. They don’t have water
or power. They don’t have phones.
Most of them don’t have airstrips
or ports. Christmas Drop is the
most important day of the year for
these people.”
This year, four Air Force C-130s
and one each from the Japan Air
Self Defense Force and the Royal
Australian Air Force conducted 22
flights. They dropped a total of 100
bundles on uncharted fields, nar-
row beaches and shallow reefs.
“It’s like taking off in South Da-
kota and flying all the way to Los
Angeles for an airdrop. (Then)
turn around and head all the way
back to South Dakota to land —
and there’s nothing in between,”
said Lt. Col. Andrew Campbell,
SCOTT OLSON,
the other hand, we humans are
GETTY IMAGES
emotional creatures, and this
A custom-
er shops for decision helps me feel better.
Perhaps there’s just some com-
fort in feeling like I’m taking ac-
tion, even if all the statistics tell
me I might actually just be mak-
ing the problem worse
But.
What else should I do? Our
politicians have demonstrated
they aren’t actually serious
about reducing gun violence in
America. I mean, although we
accept that car crashes kill about
30,000 people annually, at least
there’s a serious effort underway
to reduce that number.
At the same time, there does
appear to be an actual belief
around the world and in our
People look
through gifts,
above, from
an Operation
Christmas
Drop on Fais
Island.
A parachute with gifts and aid nears the drop zone.
Col. Douglas
DeLaMater,
right, com-
mander of
the 374th
Airlift Wing,
at the con-
trols of “San-
ta Two-One”
during an
Operation
Christmas
Drop flight to
the island of
Oroluk in the
Federated
States of
Micronesia.
who this year flew several Christ-
mas Drop missions, some of which
last nine hours or more.
The program doesn’t cost the
public much. All of the gifts are do-
nated, mostly by civic organiza-
tions, military personnel and
family members. Additional mon-
ey is raised through golf tourna-
ments, school car washes and
other private efforts.
The Air Force uses parachutes
JOE RAEDLE, GETTY IMAGES
Gary Mendoza and his son
Michael walk Dec. 7 around a
makeshift memorial to those
killed and injured in a shoot-
ing attack in San Bernardino,
Calif.
own country that Americans are
a soft target.
I’ve never fired a handgun. I
hope to God I never fire mine in
anger. The men and women we
pay to carry guns and protect us
rarely do it, and those that do of-
ten miss or accidentally shoot
their colleagues or innocent by-
standers during the confusion of
a gunbattle.
It’s those innocent bystanders
that have me worried. I’ve been
in Aurora, in Roseburg, in Kil-
that have outlived their military
usefulness but are still strong
enough to support bundles weigh-
ing up to 500 pounds.
“You can get the supplies ... for
Operation Christmas Drop at any
Home Depot or Lowe’s or any
hardware store and build these
bundles for about $20 apiece,” said
Col. Douglas DeLaMater, com-
mander of the 374th Airlift Wing,
based at Yokota Air Base, Japan.
NEWS 2A
leen. Time and time again, mass
murderers have targeted groups
that were unprepared to fight
back. Soft targets. What a terri-
ble phrase.
For me, like for many people
I’ve talked to, San Bernardino
was the tipping point. As some-
one who goes to lots of commu-
nity meetings and rallies, I’m all
too aware of how vulnerable we
are. A holiday party? Your co-
workers? (For me, it started with
movie theaters.) I’m not a fan of
waiting for the next attack from
a religious terrorist.
That’s got me thinking about
that famous quote from Teddy
Roosevelt: “Speak softly and car-
ry a big stick.”
You don’t have to use that
stick. In fact, plan on not using
it. But if my carrying a concealed
weapon — just like millions of
my responsible neighbors in this
country — deters someone from
attacking my friends and neigh-
bors, maybe that’s worth it. You
don’t see terror attacks in this
country on areas where there
are lots of armed men and wom-
en. Instead, it’s those soft targets
that get hit. Maybe it’s time we
made sure our enemies, both
foreign and domestic, under-
stand that we shoot back.
I’m starting to feel like a soft
target. I don’t like feeling like a
soft target. Once again, I’m left
with this idea that an armed so-
ciety ends up being a very polite
society — and one that’s highly
resistant to attack.
Hughes is a Denver-based corre-
spondent for USA TODAY who has
covered numerous mass shootings.
PHOTOS BY KIRK SPITZER FOR USA TODAY
Corrections & Clarifications
USA TODAY is committed
to accuracy. To reach us,
contact Standards Editor
Brent Jones at 800-872-
7073 or e-mail accu-
racy@usatoday.com.
Please indicate whether
you’re responding to
content online or in the
newspaper.
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USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 NEWS 3A

TINY GERMAN VILLAGE IS SANTA CENTRAL

FOR CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS LETTERS
Rachel Stern
and Nicholas Spencer
Special for USA TODAY

T
HIMMELPFORT, GERMANY
his tiny village 60
miles west of Berlin
has one long street,
iconic half-tim-
bered houses and a
very special post
office.
Here, 20 multi-
lingual “angels” spend months
answering hundreds of thousands
of letters that children from
around the world write to Santa
Claus in hopes he’ll grant their
Christmas wishes.
“It’s Santa’s magic,” says Deut-
sche Post spokeswoman Tina
Birke during a bustling afternoon
at the German postal service’s
special branch office. “The
children put so much
work into the letters
that it’s nice when
they receive an
answer.”
BERND SETTNIK, AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Himmelpfort
(Heaven’s Gate) A Santa Claus attends the opening of the Santa Claus post office in Himmelpfort, Germany, in November
has run Santa’s last year. Children can send their Christmas wish lists to Himmelpfort and receive a reply from Santa.
postal opera-
tion since 1984, Santa.” One and handcrafted wish lists,” says fé, the town’s year-round
when a couple of The letters can be heart- “angel” Konni Matzke, as she sat Christmas-themed bed-and-
German children wrenching, uplifting or fun- memor- at a table flipping through books breakfast next door, is decorated
addressed their ny. Some children ask for toys able of postal codes with fellow hel- as though it were December all
letters to Santa and and the latest electronic gadget. pers to properly address replies. year round, with a museum in the
sent them here. They Others ask for their sick parent to letter Santa and his helpers, mostly back representing Santa’s abode,
believed that as a result get better or a wish for a family came nearby residents dressed as an- from his bed to desk.
of the village’s name, Santa member. One memorable letter gels in flowing silky white gowns, Almost every day in the season,
must live here. SEAN GALLUP,
GETTY IMAGES
came from a boy who wanted his from a write handwritten responses in children and adults visit from
A local postwoman decided to A letter ad- little sister to grow teeth soon so boy who languages from English to Lithu- Berlin and surrounding towns.
answer them herself, and word dressed to that they could eat together. anian. These are stamped with a They pose for photos with Santa,
quickly spread that Himmelpfort Santa Claus “Santa’s response is a secret,” wanted special seasonal postmark of San- meet his “angels” and sometimes
was the place to reach Santa. lies among Birke says. “We want every child his little ta Claus surrounded by stars. send letters and packages in col-
Growing at a steady pace, the let- many others to be surprised.” Some children can’t wait until orful Christmas-themed boxes
ters exploded in number after the on a table at The children often illustrate sister to Christmas: By summer, the town from the functioning post office.
fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. the post of- their wishes with vibrant draw- grow had received 7,700 letters waiting Last week inside the post of-
Now the village of 500 resi- fice in Him- ings or color their lists with to be answered, Birke said. By its fice, a group of children gathered
dents receives more than melpfort. crayons. These letters often teeth official opening Nov. 10, it had al- around Father Christmas himself.
300,000 letters each year from 69 brighten the letter-writers’ days. soon so ready received 23,255 missives. A woman dressed like Frau
countries, including the U.S. In one, 9-year-old Leena Zer- The holiday spirit in Himmelp- Holle, a character from a popular
The official address: An den bock from Berlin drew a starry that they fort, whose founding dates back German fairy tale, greets the
Weihnachtsmann (To Santa sky with an angel hovering above could to 1299, is not just limited to the group of 4- and 5-year-olds.
Claus), Weihnachtspostfiliale a snowman and a deer. She post office, which sits at the end “Happiness for these children
(Santa’s Post Office Branch), wished for accessories for her toy eat of the main road, marked by a is shaking Santa’s hand, or to ask
16798 Himmelpfort, Deutschland horses. together. wooden elf holding a letter. him a question,” she says. “That’s
(Germany). But some make it “We’re delighted to read these The Weihnachtshaus (Christ- something they can’t get from a
here addressed simply “To letters with beautiful pictures mas House) Himmelpfort and ca- book or CD.”

IN BRIEF
TROOP INSPECTION UNDERWAY

NOEL CELIS, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Philippine President Benigno Aquino inspects troops Monday
during the Armed Forces of the Philippines 80th anniversary
celebration at Clark Air Base, Pampanga, south of Manila.

2011 FILE PHOTOS BY TOBY TALBOT, AP

SPAIN STRUGGLES TO FORM
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday announced it is lifting its ban on blood donation POST-ELECTION GOVERNMENT
by gay and bisexual men, but there are still restrictions in place.
Spain braced for weeks of po-
litical uncertainty Monday after
There’s a catch as ban ends voters ended decades of two-par-
ty dominance by electing a frag-
mented Parliament made up of
County Sheriff Joe Lombardo
said at a news conference Mon-
day. The Clark County Coroner’s
Office identified the person killed
as Jessica Valenzuela, 32, of
Buckeye, Ariz. — John Bacon

SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTER’S

for gay male blood donors multiple parties.
Prime Minister Mariano Ra-
joy’s ruling conservative Popular
FRIEND DENIED BAIL

The man accused of purchas-

Kim Painter
Special for USA TODAY
Gay and bisexual men in the
United States are no longer
barred from donating blood, un-
der a policy change announced
Monday by the Food and Drug
Administration, but there’s a big
catch: Men still cannot donate if
they have had sex with other men
in the previous 12 months.
While the new policy lifts a ban
in place for more than 30 years,
since the early days of the HIV
and AIDS epidemic, it effectively
stops sexually active gay men
from donating. But the change
puts the policy for gay and bisex-
ual men in line with other poten-
tial donors at increased risk for
HIV, such as recent transfusion
recipients, FDA officials said.
“The FDA’s responsibility is to
maintain a high level of blood
product safety for people whose
lives depend on it,” FDA acting
commissioner Stephen Ostroff
said in a statement. “We have tak-
en great care to ensure this policy
revision is backed by sound sci-
“While many gay and bisexual men
will be eligible to donate their blood
... countless more will continue to be
banned solely on the basis of their
sexual orientation and without
medical or scientific reasoning.”
National Gay Blood Drive
ence and continues to protect our
blood supply.”
The risk of getting HIV from a
blood transfusion in the United
States today is about 1 in 1.47 mil-
lion, FDA said.
An advocacy group called Na-
tional Gay Blood Drive said it
supported the decision, but said a
fairer policy would assess HIV
risks from sexual behavior in a
more individual way. That would
mean asking detailed questions
about anal and oral sex, rather
than considering all male-to-
male sexual contact equally risky,
spokesman Jay Franzone said.
“The revised policy is still dis-
criminatory,” the group said in a
statement. “While many gay and
bisexual men will be eligible to
donate their blood and help save
lives under this 12-month defer-
ral, countless more will continue
to be banned solely on the basis
of their sexual orientation and
without medical or scientific
reasoning.”
The FDA considered recent
studies and other data, as well as
the experiences of other coun-
tries, in making its decision, the
agency said. The United Kingdom
and Australia are among other
countries that require men to
wait to donate blood if they have
had sex with other men.
Anyone who has ever tested
positive for HIV, exchanged sex
for drugs or money, or injected il-
licit drugs is still barred from giv-
ing blood.
Party took the most seats — 123 —
in Sunday’s election, but it still
fell far short of the 176 majority
needed to govern alone. That
meant it will need to form a coali-
tion government with one of the
country’s other political parties.
It has no obvious partner for that.
Rajoy said Monday that he will
“try to form a stable government”
and insisted that his party was
“still the No. 1 force in Spain.”
— Kim Hjelmgaard
‘STOIC’ DRIVER IDENTIFIED IN
HORROR ON LAS VEGAS STRIP
The homeless woman accused
of deliberately driving onto a
packed sidewalk along the Las
Vegas Strip told police she was
stressed out by security guards
chasing her from parking lots in
which she had been trying to
sleep, a police report indicates.
Lakeisha Holloway, 24, will be
charged with murder with a
deadly weapon and other charges
related to the incident Sunday
evening that left one person dead
and dozens injured. “The videos
obviously show intention,” Clark
ing two of the guns used in the
San Bernardino shooting ram-
page will remain in custody as a
criminal case against him pro-
ceeds, a federal judge ruled
Monday.
U.S. District Magistrate Judge
David Bristow said a conspiracy
Marquez allegedly plotted with
one of the shooters was enough to
keep him in federal prison as his
case is heard.
Marquez, 24, is accused of plot-
ting at least two other assaults, in
2011 and 2012, with Sayed Farook
that were not carried out. Farook
and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, died
in a shootout with police follow-
ing the Dec. 2 attack that left 14
people dead and more than 20
wounded. — Kevin Johnson
ALSO ...
uChelsea Clinton announced
Monday on Twitter that she is
pregnant with her second child,
due next summer. The daughter
of Democratic presidential front-
runner Hillary Clinton already
has one child, 1-year old Charlotte
Clinton Mezvinsky.
4A NEWS
STATE-BY-STATE
News from across the USA
ALABAMA Elkmont: A solar
panel park large enough to power
50 homes a day is being built, The
Decatur Daily reported. PJ Kraft
Enterprises is developing the
$690,000 solar energy-producing
system on nearly an acre.
ALASKA Kenai: State officials
identified warmer lake temper-
atures as a possible contributing
factor to the die-off of hundreds
of Arctic grayling this summer,
The Peninsula Clarion reported.
ARIZONA Tucson: Two bighorn
sheep died in the Catalina Moun-
tains. The Arizona Daily Star
reported that one ewe died Dec. 9
from pneumonia. Another big-
horn found dead Dec. 14 was
killed by a mountain lion.
ARKANSAS Fayetteville: The
University of Arkansas Division
of Agriculture says nearly 1.3 mil-
lion acres of rice will be harvested
this year in the state, producing
about 160 bushels per acre. That’s
down from 1.5 million acres and a
record-tying 168 bushels per acre
in 2014. Wheat is likely to yield
13.44 million bushels — just more
than half of 2014’s 24.9 million
bushels.
CALIFORNIA Oakland: More
than 300 folks participated in the
Golden Gate Audubon Society’s
75th Christmas Bird Count, the
San Francisco Chronicle reported.
The East Bay bird census was
part of the national organization’s
bird count.
COLORADO Denver: Former
Subway sandwich pitchman
Jared Fogle will serve his prison
sentence at the Federal Correc-
tional Institution in Englewood,
KUSA-TV reported. Fogle was
sentenced to 15 years and eight
months in prison for possession
and distribution of child pornog-
raphy and having sex with un-
derage prostitutes.
CONNECTICUT Hartford: More
than 25,000 business and individ-
ual taxpayers are receiving letters
from state tax officials reminding
them of forgotten refunds. Tax-
payers have until March 1 to
claim more than $6.5 million.
DELAWARE Laurel: Police are
investigating two armed robber-
ies in the span of a month at the
same Dollar General Store on
Sussex Highway, The Daily Times
reported.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: The
Federal Transit Administration
ordered Metro to address a list of
more than 200 safety issues, The
Washington Post reported.
FLORIDA Miami: Mila Dago,
who texted her boyfriend, “Driv-
ing drunk woo” minutes before a
crash that killed her friend and
passenger, Irina Reinoso, was
sentenced to four years in prison
for DUI manslaughter, The Mi-
ami Herald reported.
GEORGIA Atlanta: Cardlytics, a
data analytics and digital ad-
vertising company, reserved
every seat at a movie theater to
take all 220 employees to see Star
Wars: The Force Awakens, The
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
reported.
HAWAII Honolulu: The Honolu-
lu Star-Advertiser reported that
Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
scientists are keeping tabs on an
“incandescent, fuming source” in
the Kilauea Volcano’s Puu Oo
crater’s east rim.
IDAHO Shelley: A high school
athletic director accused of push-
ing a female student up against a
locker and rubbing his body
against hers faces a misdemeanor
battery charge. KPVI-TV report-
ed that David Hadley pleaded not
guilty Dec. 4.
ILLINOIS Chicago: In 2012, a
state law took effect prohibiting
residents from throwing televi-
sions in the trash. “There are not
many places you can take your
TVs, and yet they are banned
HIGHLIGHT: TENNESSEE
McNativity? Pic of windows goes viral
Melanie Balakit
The Tennessean
NASHVILLE A photo of a Nativ-
ity scene at a Spring Hill, Tenn.,
McDonald’s has gone viral.
A Facebook photo of the
scene has been shared more
than 82,000 times since last
Monday. The photo shows a
Nativity scene painted on the
store’s windows, with the
phrases “His Name is Jesus”
and “Rejoice” painted on the
sides.
Amy Basel, who uploaded
the photo to Facebook, said she
was surprised it went viral.
“I thought, ‘What in the
world? On a McDonald’s, and
it’s Jesus? This is great!’” said
Basel, a Michigan native. “I was
super excited about it and I
took a picture.”
This is Basel’s caption of the
photo:
Drove by and did a double-
take. Growing up in the mitten,
you would NEVER see this. Ten-
nessee McDonald’s...you made
my day. “His name is Jesus.”
Posted by Amy Basel on Mon-
day, December 14, 2015
The Mitten is a nickname for
Michigan’s lower peninsula, Ba-
sel said.
The store’s owners have dec-
orated the windows for many
years.
“Although we respect all val-
ues and beliefs, our window dis-
from the landfills. So it’s a prob-
lem,” Jennifer Jarland, recycling
coordinator for Kane County,
told The Beacon-News.
INDIANA Hobart: Save the
Dunes, a conservation group,
purchased nearly 100 acres along
Lake Michigan and plans to do-
nate that land to the Indiana
Dunes National Lakeshore, The
Times of Northwest Indiana re-
ported.
IOWA Iowa City: Longtime
Prairie Lights bookstore employ-
ee Paul Ingram received an hon-
orary holiday bonus last week
from best-selling author James
Patterson, the Iowa City Press-
Citizen reported.
KANSAS Manhattan: Kansas
State University will spend
$6 million more than budgeted
for the renovation of its student
union, the Manhattan Mercury
reported. The Board of Regents
approved a request to increase
the project’s budget from
$25 million to $31 million.
KENTUCKY Florence: A Boone
County grand jury indicted a
22-year-old woman who allegedly
hit a family walking along a road-
side, killing twin toddlers and
their grandfather, The Kentucky
Enquirer reported.
LOUISIANA New Orleans: Lee
Circle will lose the statue of its
namesake after the City Council
voted 6-1 to remove four monu-
ments related to the Confederacy
from their prominent perches
around the city, The Times-Pica-
yune reported.
MAINE Augusta: State reg-
ulators said 2016 hunting and
fishing licenses are available
online or at more than 800
agents around the state.
MARYLAND Baltimore: An
environmental impact study says
replacing the 1873 Baltimore and
Potomac tunnel, which constricts
train traffic in the Northeast
corridor, could displace people in
dozens of homes and subject
hundreds to construction noise
pollution, The Sun reported.
MASSACHUSETTS West Yar-
mouth: The former ZooQuarium
may house the booty from the
Whydaha, a 300-year-old pirate
ship that sank off the coast of
Wellfleet in 1717 and was found
The front windows of a McDonald's in Spring Hill, Tenn.,
are painted with a Nativity scene.
plays during the Christmas
season have become something
of a local tradition,” said the
store’s owners and operators
Gina and Tony Wolfe in a
statement.
“As independent business
owners, for many years, we
have had the windows at our
restaurants painted with simi-
lar messages. This is a tradition
that my father started 40 years
ago. We are surprised and hap-
py that our windows have gar-
nered attention across the
country and are proud to be a
part of this community,” the
by underwater explorer Barry
Clifford. The Cape Cod Times
reported that Clifford signed an
offer to purchase the 12,000-
square-foot ZooQuarium build-
ing on Route 28.
MICHIGAN Algoma Township:
As many as 80 vehicles were
involved in a snowy chain-reac-
tion pileup on U.S. 131 north of
Grand Rapids last week, WZZM-
TV reported.
MINNESOTA Duluth: Duluth
Seaway Port Authority spokes-
woman Adele Yorde said the
oceangoing M/V Cornelia left the
port of Duluth last week. The
ship had been detained for six
weeks over allegations of envi-
ronmental violations.
MISSISSIPPI Biloxi: Mayor An-
drew Gilich wants the city to seek
more state tidelands money for
waterfront improvements. The
Sun Herald reported that Biloxi
sent in applications for projects
worth at least $12.75 million this
year.
MISSOURI Joplin: Missouri
Southern State University and
the Kansas City University of
Medicine and Biosciences ap-
proved a program that will
streamline medical education for
some students, The Joplin Globe
reported.
MONTANA Bozeman: Montana
dairy producers are worried after
the state Department of Live-
stock proposed increases on dairy
inspection fees. The proposal
would nearly double the charge
for milk producers and add a
minimum $725 fee per month for
processors, the Bozeman Daily
Chronicle reported.
NEBRASKA Scottsbluff: Police
investigated a burglary at one of
the department’s storage facil-
ities, the Scottsbluff Star-Herald
reported. Items reported stolen
include controlled substances,
firearms, knives and personal
items such as clothing, electron-
ics and cellphones.
NEVADA Las Vegas: A 21-year-
old man riding a motorcycle died
after he collided with a pickup at
an intersection.
NEW HAMPSHIRE Keene: Liber-
ty Utilities customers were
warned about the possibility of
gas odors and elevated carbon
monoxide levels in their homes
after a power problem at Liber-
ty’s plant, WMUR-TV reported.
NEW JERSEY Seacaucus: A
hazmat crew was called to a
Kohl’s store after some shoppers
became nauseous. Officials said at
least a dozen people were affect-
ed, WCBS-TV reported. Emer-
gency crews treated shoppers at
the scene.
NEW MEXICO Santa Fe: Mayor
SHELLEY MAYS, THE TENNESSEAN
Wolfes said.
The Wolfes own and operate
McDonald’s of Spring Hill, Co-
lumbia and Mount Pleasant.
“I just want God to be glori-
fied. ... He’s the one who wanted
this to go to viral,” said Basel,
who runs her own ministry,
Your Path His Plan.
Last month, some Christians
criticized a plain red Starbucks
cup for lacking Christmas im-
ages, and Tennessee pastors
printed signs with the phrase
“Christmas is all about Jesus”
with plans to distribute them
throughout the state.
Javier Gonzales announced that a
long-delayed goal of offering fast
Internet speed is moving ahead.
Gonzales said Santa Fe Fiber will
raise speeds to 1 gigabit per sec-
ond, or 1 billion bits per second,
for the city, The Santa Fe New
Mexican reported. Businesses in
Santa Fe typically receive no
more than 100 megabits per
second.
NEW YORK Canandaigua: A
longtime Star Wars fan who was
drawn to the Dark Side officially
changed his name last year to
Darth Vader, the Democrat and
Chronicle reported. For most of
his 43 years, he was known as
Eric Welch, but the former Ma-
rine said he wanted to split from
his past, which included eight
foster homes and 15 schools.
NORTH CAROLINA Durham: If
all goes as planned, when a police
officer heads to a crime scene,
makes a traffic stop or searches
someone next year, the officer
will turn on a body camera to
record what happens next. The
cameras haven’t been picked, but
many of the details have been
worked out, and Deputy Chief
Anthony Marsh expects them to
be in place next spring or sum-
mer, The News & Observer report-
ed.
NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck:
Organizers of ice fishing tourna-
ments were reminded that they
need to get a permit from the
state Game and Fish Department.
OHIO Cuyahoga Falls: Craig
Foreman, 39, wanted to make
sure he got a good seat to see the
latest Star Wars movie — so he
paid about $1,300 to book an
87-seat theater for a showing
Thursday night, the Akron Bea-
con Journal reported.
OKLAHOMA Tulsa: The field of
candidates running in a special
election to finish the remainder
of a former Tulsa County sheriff’s
term was trimmed to 10, the
Tulsa World reported.
OREGON Salem: A report from
the state Department of Environ-
mental Quality says residents
sent more garbage to landfills and
recycled less in 2014, the States-
man Journal reported.
PENNSYLVANIA Pittsburgh:
The Monongahela Incline, which
gives sightseers a panoramic view
of the city, reopened after being
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
closed for more than a week
because of an electrical problem.
RHODE ISLAND Providence:
University of Rhode Island re-
searchers were awarded a
$227,850 federal grant to study
the effects of climate change on
Atlantic fisheries. Jeremy Collie
at the URI Graduate School of
Oceanography leads the team.
SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia:
The Richland County Fire Mar-
shal’s office said combustible
materials put too close to a heater
touched off a fire that killed
George Johnson, 62, WLTX-TV
reported.
SOUTH DAKOTA Webster: Offi-
cials expect a high-voltage trans-
mission line to bring an economic
boost. The 90-acre lay-down yard
for the 162-mile transmission
line spanning from the Otter Tail
Power plant in Big Stone to El-
lendale, N.D., will be in the Web-
ster Industrial Park, the Aberdeen
American News reported.
TENNESSEE Elizabethton: Dep-
uty Jenna Markland, wounded in
the head and face after respon-
ding to a call of a drunken man
waving a gun, was released from a
hospital last week, the Eliza-
bethton Star reported. Kelly Pitts,
36, was charged with seven
counts of attempted murder.
TEXAS Austin: Texas Agriculture
Commissioner Sid Miller’s
Christmas gift to state officials
might have upset some farmers.
The Houston Chronicle reported
that the boxes of oranges he sent
as gifts to several officials were
from farmers in neighboring
Louisiana.
UTAH Salt Lake City: Federal
wildlife officials will use infrared
equipment to count the number
of wild burros before a roundup
next spring. The Bureau of Land
Management will use the equip-
ment to sense the animals’ body
heat because they tend to scatter
and blend into the landscape, the
Deseret News reported.
VERMONT Franklin County:
Franklin County lost four of its 11
pediatricians, leaving about 6,000
children without a doctor, the
Burlington Free Press reported.
VIRGINIA Roanoke County:
Police arrested two men and a
woman accused of pilfering
$3,000 worth of coffee from two
Krogers, the Richmond Times-
Dispatch reported.
WASHINGTON Moxee: Demand
from craft beer brewers led to an
11% increase in U.S. hop produc-
tion in 2015 compared with the
previous year. The U.S. Depart-
ment of Agriculture’s National
Agricultural Statistics Service
says production totaled 78.8 mil-
lion pounds. The state produced
59.4 million pounds, followed by
Oregon, which produced
10.6 million pounds, the Capital
Press reported.
WEST VIRGINIA Charleston:
Alpha Technologies, a technology
service company based in Put-
nam County, plans to build a
$5 million underground fiber-
optic loop through the commer-
cial centers of downtown
Charleston, Kanawha City and
South Charleston, the Gazette-
Mail reported.
WISCONSIN Madison: The
state unemployment rate has
fallen to its lowest level since
March 2001. Statewide unem-
ployment declined from 4.3% in
October to 4.2% in November,
The Post-Crescent reported.
WYOMING Laramie: South
Dakota State University adminis-
trator Laurie Nichols was named
as the University of Wyoming’s
next president. She will be the
first woman president of the
university.
Compiled by Tim Wendel, Nicole Gill
and Jonathan Briggs, with Carolyn
Cerbin, Linda Dono, Mike Gottschamer,
Ben Sheffler and Nichelle Smith. Design
by Mallory Redinger. Graphics by
Alejandro Gonzalez.
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 NEWS 5A

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6A NEWS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

YOUR SAY Tracking the nation’s conversation

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TOON TALK

After Democratic sparring,

anyone qualified to lead?
FACEBOOK LETTERS
FACEBOOK.COM/ LETTERS@USATODAY.COM
MONEY IN POLITICS
USATODAYOPINION
Percentage who say high cost I have watched the
Democratic presidential candi- of presidential campaigns GOP candidates. I
dates held their third debate discourages good candidates: watched all of the Demo-
Sunday in New Hampshire. cratic debate in New Hamp-
shire. What a contrast
There are no candidates on Democrats 68% between the two parties.
either the Republican or Demo- Listening to the Republican
cratic stage who are qualified to candidates is like listening to
be president. Unfortunately, we Republicans 62% fear-mongering children
RANDY BISH, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
have to pick one and continue attempting to talk about
what we’ve had for the past All issues with very little knowl-
seven years: failed leadership respondents 64% edge. The very best qualities
and policies that have put the
U.S. and the world in grave
Source Pew Research Center survey
conducted Aug. 27-Oct. 4 among 6,004
of all the Republican candi-
dates combined would not
Shkreli’s actions reveal
danger with no hope of being
safe.
Ralph J. Nichols
adults nationwide with a margin of error
of ±1.5 percentage points.
ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ, USA TODAY
equal the least of any Demo-
cratic candidate. The Demo-
crats spoke passionately,
larger Pharma issues
minimum wage should be a candidly and intelligently
state issue. If the states want to FACEBOOK unscrupulous and manipulative.
Hillary Clinton is already the from a reference of experi- FACEBOOK.COM/ They have Congress on their
Democratic nominee. Bernie raise it, no problem. ence and knowledge. USATODAYOPINION payroll, so little is likely to
Sanders, the outlandish socialist, Peter Stein Ed Breeding
change.
also already has a job: to make Las Cruces, N.M. Martin Shkreli resigned as CEO Paul Goff
Clinton not appear as extreme To those complaining about
of Turing Pharmaceuticals after
as she is. Martin O’Malley is Democrats wanting to make If Hillary Clinton is his recent arrest in connection This young man is willing to
there because they need more things free for the middle class:
than two candidates to make it What’s wrong with free stuff? the next president, with an alleged Ponzi scheme. force a family into bankruptcy or
she will be soft on terror and Shkreli made headlines earlier force them to let a family mem-
look like a real race. The GOP would put us in even
shift the blame to Donald this year after raising the price ber die. Are we surprised that he
Warren Johnson worse shape. They would give
Trump. of a life-saving drug 5,000%. is accused of breaking the law?
the free stuff to the top 1%.
Keshi Dayalu Parents: Character education
Most Republicans I know feel Albert Wiersch Ann Arbor, Mich. Sometimes the system works. is important. Teach your children
This guy was greedy and arro- to be ethical adults so we can
TWITTER gant. I hope the U.S. attorney rid the world of people like
@USATOPINION throws the book at him. Shkreli.
We asked what people Jack Climer Tyler James Austenfeld
Hillary Clinton won the de- Yes, Sanders is right. We are
thought of the latest Demo- bate by a mile! not the world’s police. This is
cratic presidential debate. Sadly, Shkreli’s behavior as a
@APGsMom just one reason international drug company CEO isn’t un- POLICING THE USA
I agree with Hillary Clinton terrorists have us on their ra- heard of for big pharmaceutical POLICING.USATODAY.COM
that Donald Trump is playing dar. companies. Cancer drugs that
Everyone on that stage during @Bernite4life
What has your experience
into fears after the shootings the Democratic debate was cost more than the median with law enforcement been?
in Paris and San Bernardino, an ideologue. income per year are becoming Share stories of police making
but I am still a supporter of Sanders represents me, my the rule. Drugs increase in price a difference in communities.
@Mikeyk9797
gun rights. children and their future. by double figures on an almost Submit videos, photos and
@cdthompson8875 @TerezAmato yearly basis. The drug Gleevec letters to letters@usato-
Nothing is free. The Demo- cost about $30,000 per year in day.com. You can also send
Bernie Sanders won on Black crats are the party of Robin For more of the conversa- 2001. Now its price has more
Lives Matter. He tied with Mar- comments on Twitter using
Hood and Santa Claus. tion, follow @USATOpinion than tripled. Has your salary #policingtheusa or call 540-
tin O’Malley on economy.
@BittmanSkip or #tellusatoday on Twitter. tripled? Drug companies are 739-2928.
@courtneymvrie

Have Your Say at letters@usatoday.com, facebook.com/usatodayopinion and @USATOpinion on Twitter. All comments are edited for length and clarity. Content submitted to USA
TO COMMENT TODAY may appear in print, digital or other forms. For letters, include name, address and phone number. Letters may be mailed to 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA, 22108.

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31.8
HOTTEST: 86° COLDEST: -3° Note: For contiguous
So far this season, Naples, Fla. Boulder, Wyo. 48 states through
T-storms Rain Snow Ice/mix
Syracuse, N.Y., Olympia
Seattle 4 p.m. ET yesterday
45 Bangor
has picked up only 44 Spokane
Bismarck 43
0.8 inch of Portland 31 Helena Miles City Duluth Marquette
Salem 47 34 32 33 33
snow, far below 48 30 Burlington Augusta

0.8 Boise Fargo Mpls.-St. Paul 47 Montpelier

42
its average of Bend
39 Billings
Rapid City 36 38 Grand Buffalo 41
Boston

31.8 inches. 38 Burns 36 53 56

So far Avg. 44 Pierre Sioux Falls
Milwaukee Rapids
Detroit
Albany
Hartford
Eureka 33 Idaho Falls Jackson 43 46 50 50
42 40 Cleveland 56
54 30 Hole Casper
Des Moines Madison
Lansing 55 Pittsburgh New York
On this date in 1983, 12 cities set Reno 26 37 North Platte 40 TODAY
Sacramento
53
Elko 48 48 60 61
record low December tempera- 64 41 Salt Lake City 48 Chicago
Harrisburg Philadelphia
Cheyenne Omaha Columbus
Carson City 39 45 59 63
tures, including 51 degrees 49 40 50 Kansas City Springfield 58 Washington Annapolis
San Francisco Indianapolis
below zero in Wisdom, Mont. Denver 56 51 Cincinnati
62 60
59 St. George Aspen Topeka 51 59
Fresno
Las Vegas
49 33 43 Charleston Richmond
62 58 Jefferson City St. Louis Louisville
66 65
58 Wichita 56 55 64
Knoxville
Dodge City
60 66 Raleigh
IN WHICH MONTH ARE Los Angeles
Palm Springs
Santa Fe 57 Memphis
Nashville Charlotte 69
THUNDERSTORMS LEAST 65 Flagstaff
43 Oklahoma Tulsa 72 67 Columbia
68 35 City 69
Albuquerque 65 72
LIKELY? San Diego
49 67 Little Rock Birmingham Atlanta Charleston
66
Phoenix
70 WEDNESDAY
Alaska 58
Lubbock Dallas 67 71 75
DECEMBER 68 74 Montgomery Savannah
El Paso Midland- Shreveport Jackson 71 74
Odessa Austin
65 75 75 Jacksonville
Fairbanks Hawaii 71 79 Mobile
Tallahassee
78
-6 Juneau
Honolulu San Antonio
Baton Rouge 72 73
New
Anchorage 36 83 79 Houston 75 Orleans
17 76 Tampa
73
Puerto Rico
82
Sources National Weather Service, San Juan
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AccuWeather Brownsville 85 83 Forecasts and

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Doyle Rice and Karl Gelles 79 graphics provided
by AccuWeather Inc.
@USATODAYWeather Below 10 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90s 100s 110+ ©2015

TOP TRAVEL CITIES Air quality index (AQI)

ATLANTA BALTIMORE BOSTON CHARLOTTE CHICAGO DALLAS DENVER DETROIT HONOLULU HOUSTON LAS VEGAS LOS ANGELES
A little Showers A few A little Partly Partly Mostly Partly Partly Mainly Partly Spotty
TUE rain TUE TUE showers TUE rain TUE sunny TUE sunny TUE cloudy TUE sunny TUE sunny TUE cloudy TUE sunny TUE showers
64/49
70/63 56/45 67/59 45/39 74/60 43/21 50/39 83/74 76/64 62/43 65/51
Rain Mostly A snow Partly Shower, Partly Partly
WED Rain WED WED P.M. rain WED Rain WED Rain WED WED WED Shower WED WED WED WED
66/61 sunny shower sunny t-storm sunny sunny
71/66 56/51 71/64 58/36 62/48
72/50 36/18 83/72 78/55 59/38 68/45
A little Shower Showers Cloudy, Sunny, Mostly Sun, Cloudy, Mostly Partly
THU THU THU P.M. rain THU THU THU THU THU THU Showers THU THU THU
rain 76/56 around cooler warm cloudy mild mist cloudy sunny
67/54 83/73
77/66 78/61 45/31 73/51 36/20 52/34 81/66 58/41 63/45
AQI Good AQI Good AQI Good AQI Moderate AQI Moderate AQI Good AQI Good AQI Moderate AQI Good AQI Good AQI Moderate AQI Good
MIAMI MPLS.-ST. PAUL NEW ORLEANS NEW YORK ORLANDO PHILADELPHIA PHOENIX SALT LAKE CITY SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO SEATTLE WASHINGTON
Mostly P.M. Mostly Partly A bit of Spotty
TUE Shower TUE cloudy TUE TUE Shower TUE TUE Shower TUE TUE TUE TUE Windy TUE P.M. rain TUE Fog
showers cloudy sunny snow showers
83/74 38/32 61/52 63/53 59/48 45/38 62/54
73/63 83/69 58/51 39/28 66/59
Shower Becom- Partly Partly A snow Partly Partly A little
WED Shower WED WED Rain WED WED WED Rain WED WED WED WED WED WED Rain
38/25 ing rainy sunny sunny shower sunny sunny rain
83/75 77/69 66/64 67/64
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A P.M. Mostly A little Showers Partly A snow Partly A little Rain,
THU THU cloudy THU THU THU THU Shower THU Shower THU THU THU THU THU Shower
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84/75 82/68 74/59 85/68 35/23 64/53 52/41 42/31
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Charleston, W.Va. 66/53r 69/65r Greenville, S.C. 64/58r 69/64r Montgomery, Ala. 71/63r 75/68r San Jose, Calif. 61/45sh 57/42pc Winston-Salem, N.C. 63/57r 70/64r Toronto 53/40c 52/50r
Cheyenne, Wyo. 40/21w 31/14pc Harrisburg, Pa. 59/46r 60/59r Myrtle Beach, S.C. 73/64r 76/67r Santa Fe, N.M. 43/29pc 41/19pc Worcester, Mass. 53/42sh 54/51r Tokyo 56/43pc 51/47r
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
OPINION
TODAY’S DEBATE OPIOIDS
Our view
Doctors help fuel America’s
deadliest drug problem
America’s deadliest drug prob-
lem grew even deadlier last year,
as fatal overdoses from opioids
hit a record 28,647, or 78 a day.
This epidemic is fueled as
much by well-meaning doctors as
it is by dope pushers. Overdoses
of popularly prescribed legal
painkillers, such as oxycodone
and hydrocodone, accounted for
more deaths than heroin, accord-
ing to numbers released Friday by
the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
Many doctors who are part of
the problem have shown little in-
clination to solve it. Shamefully,
some have balked at checking
with online state registries to find
out if patients are doctor-shop-
ping for multiple prescriptions.
At last, the CDC is taking a log-
ical step to prevent more people
from becoming addicted in the
first place. The agency has pro-
posed guidelines to change physi-
cians’ prescribing habits.
The guidelines suggest that for
acute short-term pain — which
gradually resolves as tissues heal,
such as after surgery or a sprain
— doctors prescribe the smallest
supply of drugs, for three days.
For chronic long-term pain, CDC
suggests physicians first look to
other drugs or physical therapy. If
they do prescribe opioids, they
should start with the lowest pos-
sible dosage and continue opioids
only if benefits outweigh risks.
Two recent studies demon-
Dan Becker and
James Gerstenzang
P
resident Obama’s crack-
down on greenhouse gas
emissions from cars and
power plants made the
U.S. a leader at the United Na-
tions climate summit.
Now, with the whole world
watching and 2015 smashing high
temperature records, he can give
real meaning to the promise Paris
offers without bumping into an
intractable Congress.
The president can accelerate
and expand efforts to slash emis-
sions of global warming pollut-
ants by the natural gas and oil
industries. He can improve refin-
ery efficiency. He can issue tough-
er efficiency standards for
energy-wasting home furnaces.
And the government must begin
to tackle industries such as ce-
ment manufacturing, which gets
little public attention but spews
vast amounts of carbon dioxide,
the gas primarily responsible for
climate change.
METHANE LEAKS
Methane is the most plentiful
greenhouse gas in the atmos-
phere, after carbon dioxide. It is
emitted in far smaller amounts
and disappears sooner, but mole-
cule for molecule it traps more
than 25 times as much heat as
CO2 over 100 years.
The Environmental Protection
Agency estimates that nearly
30% of U.S. methane emissions
come from oil production and the
production, transmission and dis-
tribution of natural gas. The
agency is preparing standards
that would limit methane leaks
from new drilling sites and pipe-
lines.
But what about currently oper-
ating sites? They are likely re-
sponsible for roughly 90% of the
oil and gas industries’ methane
emissions. The administration
must set standards that would re-
quire industry to plug these leaks.
The president used authority
granted by Congress in the Clean
Air Act to tackle pollution from
cars and power plants. Using that
same authority, the administra-
tion can crack down on oil refin-
ery emissions — one of the largest
industrial sources of greenhouse
gases after power plants.
Much electricity is wasted on
inefficient appliances. Some con-
sumers know to shop for those
with an “energy star” efficiency
rating. The government sets stan-
dards to prod manufacturers into
making improvements — for
those shopping for homes they
own and for renters whose appli-
ances are supplied by landlords.
Efficiency standards for dozens
of appliances have been the sub-
SCOURGE
Overdose deaths from
opioids, including heroin and
prescription painkillers, have
more than tripled since 2000.
28,647
30,000
20,000
8,407
10,000
0 ganizations that get money from
2000 2014
Source Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
KARL GELLES, USA TODAY
strate how much these guidelines
are needed. Opioid prescriptions
are dominated by general practi-
tioners and not by a small cadre
of high volume “pill mill” pre-
scribers once thought to be fuel-
ing this epidemic, according to a
study published this month by
Stanford University researchers.
Further, many general practi-
tioners do not understand basic
facts about how addictive opioids
are and how patients abuse them.
Nearly half of those surveyed by
researchers at the Johns Hopkins
Bloomberg School of Public
Health believed, incorrectly, that
a group of opioids made with
hard shells or other abuse deter-
rents were less addictive.
HOW OBAMA
CAN FOLLOW
PARIS DEAL
Use executive authority to double down on
reductions of carbon emissions in the U.S.
FRANCOIS GUILLOT FRANCOIS GUILLOT, AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Demonstrators rally in Paris on Dec. 12, when the agreement
on climate change was adopted.
ject of negotiations with foot-
dragging industry. For example,
according to Marianne DiMascio
of the Appliance Standards
Awareness Project, litigation and
other resistance have stalled the
adoption of meaningful new en-
ergy-saving rules for gas-fired
home furnaces since 1987.
This year, the Energy Depart-
ment proposed requiring new
units to convert 92% of their fu-
el’s energy into heat, a significant
improvement from the current
80% rate.
STUCK IN CEMENT
Manufacturing cement involves
burning fossil fuels to heat raw
materials to up to 2,700 degrees
Fahrenheit, giving off roughly a
ton of carbon dioxide for every
ton of cement emerging from the
kiln.
We must work to cut these
emissions and those from other
energy-intensive industries such
as metals production.
To be sure, these measures lack
the poetic appeal of solar panels
and wind turbines that cleanly
yield electricity from endlessly
renewable resources — them-
selves growing elements in the
fight against global warming.
Even so, using energy more effi-
ciently is the key workhorse as we
Such ignorance suggests that
influential guidance can’t come
fast enough. Yet critics have
slowed the guidelines by criticiz-
ing their content and the process
used to write them. In Washing-
ton, a delay often translates into a
slow death for excellent ideas
that anger powerful interests.
In this case, the guidelines
would cut into the bottom lines of
companies that have made bil-
lions of dollars selling opioid
painkillers. While the companies
have not been public critics, or-
them have led the charge, arguing
that the guidelines might block
access to needed medications.
One opponent, the American
Academy of Pain Management,
gets about $300,000, or 10% of its
revenue, from makers of opioids.
Several of the companies also sit
on its Corporate Council.
Opioid painkillers certainly are
indispensable to some patients,
such as those with terminal ill-
nesses. But these patients are not
the CDC’s focus.
For many others, prescription
opioids have become a gateway to
addiction, to heroin (which can
be cheaper than many of the legal
drugs) and even to death. Last
year, this category of drugs ri-
valed guns and auto accidents as
major killers of Americans. If the
CDC guidelines are defeated, the
winners will be the pushers of
opioids, legal and illegal alike.
wring greenhouse gases from the
economy.
After 2016, the next president
will need to defend, and follow
through on, the two major steps
Obama has set in motion: the
tough fuel efficiency standard
that will cut automotive carbon
pollution 40% while delivering a
new car fleet that averages 54.5
miles per gallon in 2025, and a
32% cut in power plant emis-
sions. Automakers are already
trying to weaken the new-car
standards, and coal and utility
forces have threatened to drown
the Clean Power Plan in a flood of
litigation.
The refusal of so many Repub-
lican presidential candidates and
members of Congress to even
recognize the problems posed by
global warming only underscores
the need for Obama to do as
much as possible in 2016.
To turn the tide against the
changing climate, he must act
boldly and leverage our leader-
ship as though the world depends
on it. Because it does.
Dan Becker directs the Safe Cli-
mate Campaign. James Gersten-
zang, who formerly covered the
environment and the White House
for the Los Angeles Times, is the
campaign’s editorial director.
Opposing view
Don’t tie the
hands of clinicians
Bob Twillman
Prescription drug abuse and
overdose is a tragic public
health crisis, as is inadequately
treated chronic pain. In ad-
dressing these two intertwined
crises, we must avoid amelio-
rating one problem while wors-
ening the other. Unfortunately,
CDC’s proposed opioid pre-
scribing guideline may not
reach that goal.
Clearly, prescribers need
guidance on safe and effective
opioid use. Our research has
found about four dozen profes-
sional society guidelines, and
now CDC wants to add to the
stack. CDC is compounding a
problem common to those
guidelines: using poor-quality
evidence to recommend how to
prescribe opioids without ade-
quately involving people who
treat pain every day.
Chief among our concerns
are two recommendations: a
three-day supply limit for
opioid prescriptions used to
treat acute pain, and a dose
limit for opioids used to treat
chronic pain. Other guidelines
we’ve reviewed do not set lim-
its on supplies or doses of
opioids, because evidence is
lacking and treating pain is too
complex for such simple hard-
and-fast rules. While reason-
A college degree doesn’t
keep people out of jail
Sorry, Bernie. You’re
wrong on two levels.
Glenn Harlan Reynolds
Go to college or go to jail?
That’s the choice that Democratic
presidential candidate Bernie
Sanders seems to think confronts
America’s youth.
The other day, Sanders
tweeted: “At the end of the day,
providing a path to go to college is
a helluva lot cheaper than putting
people on a path to jail.”
Sanders’ comments carried the
same elitist tinge that marked
John Kerry’s unfortunate re-
marks in 2006: “You know, edu-
cation, if you make the most of it,
and you study hard, and you do
your homework, and you make
an effort to be smart, uh, you, you
can do well. If you don’t, you get
stuck in Iraq.”
Kerry’s comment created a
firestorm of criticism — and, if I
recall correctly, some amusing
commentary from troops actually
in Iraq — because it both over-
stated the value of education and
cast unfair aspersions on soldiers
serving in Iraq.
Sanders’ remarks created a
similar backlash. They’re wrong
on two levels: First, going to col-
lege doesn’t necessarily keep you
out of jail; there are plenty of
criminals with college degrees.
Second, not going to college hard-
ly puts you “on a path to jail.”
It’s true, of course, that people
in jail are probably less likely to
have college degrees. But that’s
probably because the same things
that put them in jail — poor im-
pulse control, say, or an inability
to think long-term — also keep
them out of college. Sending peo-
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
GANNETT COMPANY
Robert Dickey
EDITOR IN CHIEF
David Callaway
EDITOR, EDITORIAL PAGE
Bill Sternberg
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Beryl Love
MANAGING EDITOR
Patty Michalski
NEWS 7A
able prescribing practices are
vital, these limits tie the hands
of clinicians whose patients
will suffer because they need
more medication to treat their
pain, and won’t be able to sub-
stitute alternative treatments.
We heartily support the
guideline’s recommendation to
maximize the benefits of non-
medication treatments. These
should always be part of a good
pain care plan. They can reduce
the need for opioids. But access
is a challenge. Insurance cover-
age for treatments — such as
physical therapy, counseling
and chiropractic care — often is
limited, while coverage for acu-
puncture, massage, biofeed-
back and yoga, all accepted by
the Departments of Defense
and Veterans Affairs as effec-
tive, can be hard to obtain. It is
unethical to recommend use of
treatments before ensuring
their accessibility.
Working together, patient
advocacy groups and pain and
addiction specialists can craft a
reasonable guideline that ad-
dresses all patients’ suffering —
if CDC provides the
opportunity.
Bob Twillman is executive di-
rector of the American Academy
of Pain Management, which re-
ceives a small part of its income
from opioid manufacturers.
ple with poor impulse control to
college probably won’t make
them better.
A cynic might suspect that Ber-
nie Sanders — who gets a lot of
support from people who work at
colleges and universities — is just
playing the old politician’s game
of making sure that plenty of
money goes to people and indus-
tries who support him.
But he’s probably just making a
classic mistake, one that created
the housing crisis: The govern-
ment decides to try to increase
the middle class by subsidizing
things that middle-class people
have. If middle-class people go to
college and own homes, then
surely if more people go to col-
lege and own homes, we’ll have
more middle-class people.
But homeownership and col-
lege aren’t causes of middle-class
status, they’re evidence of the
kinds of traits — self-discipline,
the ability to defer gratification,
etc. — that let you enter, and stay
in, the middle class. Subsidizing
the markers doesn’t produce the
traits; if anything, it undermines
them. (I would dub this rule
“Reynolds’ Law,” except that
someone else already did.)
So Bernie’s wrong. If fewer col-
lege-educated people are in jail,
it’s not because of anything col-
lege did to keep them out. If you
want fewer people in jail, you
need to encourage the traits that
form non-criminal personalities.
That’s a process that starts much,
much earlier than college.
Glenn Harlan Reynolds, a Uni-
versity of Tennessee law professor,
is the author of The New School:
How the Information Age Will
Save American Education from
Itself, and a member of USA TO-
DAY's Board of Contributors.
"USA TODAY hopes to serve as a
forum for better understanding
and unity to help make the USA
truly one nation."
Allen H. Neuharth,
Founder, Sept. 15, 1982
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER,
USA TODAY
John Zidich
GENERAL MANAGER
Susan Motiff
PRESIDENT, SPORTS MEDIA GROUP
David Morgan
CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER
Kevin Gentzel
PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS
Evan Ray

8A NEWS
v CONTINUED FROM 1A
When Jeb Bush spoke to a
Jewish group in Washington this
month, he said his father wasn’t
watching CSI anymore. “He’s now
watching Fox again, trying to fig-
ure out Donald Trump. That’s his
main goal in life,” Bush said.
“Hard for a guy like that to under-
stand the Trump phenomenon.”
It’s not just 41. John Geer, a
renowned Vanderbilt political
scientist, sounds as discombobu-
lated as a freshman in one of his
classes: “No one has a solid expla-
nation for this phenomenon, and
I am no different.’’
Any analysis of Trump’s suc-
cess comes with a Trump-size
caveat: In a large field, before a
primary ballot has been cast, he
has managed to attract only a plu-
rality of Republicans, as mea-
sured by polls. It’s not clear he
can expand that into 50-plus-one
in the primaries, let alone the
general election.
Above all, his campaign’s ulti-
mate impact “depends on how it
ends,’’ says Dan Schnur, who
worked on John McCain’s presi-
dential campaign and teaches
politics at the University of
Southern California. There are at
least four possibilities: Trump is
nominated; he loses and supports
the nominee; he loses and snipes
at the nominee from the side-
lines; he loses and runs as an in-
dependent or on a third-party
ticket (which he said last week he
would not do).
There’s one more possible out-
come, which is that no matter
what Trump does after the pri-
maries, his campaign will have so
alienated groups such as Hispan-
ics and women that it costs the
GOP the election.
Sal Russo, a founder of the Tea
Party Express movement who
worked in 1992 for independent
candidate Ross Perot, says that if
the GOP unites around another
candidate as its nominee, “then
none of the machinations of the
campaign will matter. All the pri-
mary opponents will be forgotten
and inconsequential to the gener-
al election.’’
Take 2008, he says. Hillary
Clinton, the unsuccessful candi-
date for the Democratic nomina-
tion, was not a factor in
November. Four years later, one-
time GOP primary polling leaders
such as Newt Gingrich, Herman
Cain and Michele Bachmann had
no impact on Mitt Romney’s race
against Barack Obama.
If Trump crashes, which has
seemed imminent for months, he
may be remembered only as a
cautionary tale, along with failed
demagogues such as Louisiana
populist Huey Long (“Every Man
a King”), Sen. Joseph McCarthy
(“Communists in the State De-
partment”) and George Wallace
(“not a dime’s worth of differ-
ence’’ between the Democrats
and Republicans).
Still, Trump’s success would
seem to make him an appealing
model. John F. Kennedy’s victory
in 1960 created a demand for tel-
egenic, charismatic young Demo-
crats. Flinty sincerity like Ronald
Reagan’s still makes Republicans
Graham
drops out
of race
Senator: Campaign
made a difference
Mary Troyan
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON Sen. Lindsey Gra-
ham is dropping out of the presi-
dential race, his campaign
announced Monday.
Graham, a South Carolina Re-
publican serving his third term,
addressed his supporters in a
video and an email.
“While we have run a cam-
paign that has made a real differ-
ence, I have concluded this is not
my time,” Graham said.
Graham’s focus on national se-
curity and fighting terrorism was
influential in the overall primary
debate, but he was not well-
known outside South Carolina or
the Senate.
He failed to poll above single
digits nationally or in the early
voting states.
In a statement on Sidewire, a
political news analysis app, Gra-
ham said, “While I am not pre-
pared to make an endorsement, I
will continue to speak out in sup-
port of candidates who share my
commitment to defeating ISIL
(the Islamic State) & solving our
TRUMP MIGHT NOT BE
EASILY EMULATED
Donald Trump speaks at a rally in front of the USS Wisconsin on Oct. 31 in Norfolk, Va.
swoon.
But just because Trump does it
doesn’t mean everyone can. Eliz-
abeth Wilner, vice president of
the Kantar Media consulting
firm, calls him “an incredible
anomaly.’’
What lesser mortal could suc-
cessfully emulate a candidate so
rich, so bombastic, so opportunis-
tic, so New York? Trump is a bil-
lionaire who claims
independence from special inter-
ests, and a network TV star and
best-selling author with peerless
name recognition. He has the
sharp elbows of a Manhattan real
estate developer and the PR savvy
of a veteran of America’s most
competitive news market.
In this sense, Trump is like
The Beatles or Frank Lloyd
Wright — an intuitive genius.
“You shouldn’t use him as an ex-
ample of anything that could be
replicated,’’ says Kip Cassino of
Borrell Associates, a media con-
sulting firm.
John Zogby, a pollster, says he
doesn’t believe Trump’s particu-
lar talents will dissuade others
from following his lead. “If we
keep going down this road, some-
one else will come along and say,
‘Trump had the right ideas. He
didn’t play it just right.’ ’’
Experts say Trump’s campaign
has featured innovations and in-
sights that could inform cam-
paigns in the future.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Every campaign pays it lip ser-
vice. But Trump has become the
ANDREW HARRER, BLOOMBERG
Sen. Lindsey Graham hasn’t
polled above single digits.
nation’s most difficult problems.”
Sen. John McCain of Arizona,
the 2008 Republican presidential
nominee and chairman of the
Senate Armed Services Commit-
tee, said, “Republicans lost our
most qualified, thoughtful, fear-
less and honest presidential
candidate.
“Despite the disadvantages he
faced in resources and debate op-
portunities, Lindsey’s message of
serious statesmanship and prob-
lem-solving in public affairs, his
forthright opposition to policies
and attitudes that would endan-
ger our country and reflect poorly
on our party, and his genuine de-
cency and humility won him
many new admirers,” McCain
said in a statement.
Graham stood out in the
crowded GOP field by promoting
his efforts at compromise with
Democrats on issues such as re-
ducing the federal debt and fixing
immigration laws.
“You shouldn’t
use (Trump) as an
example of
anything that
could be
replicated.”
Kip Cassino, Borrell Associates
king of Twitter, collecting 5 mil-
lion followers and counting. The
site is fast, free and perfect for the
middle-school put-downs at
which he excels. Zac Moffatt, co-
founder of Targeted Victory, a
digital media consulting firm that
works with Republicans, calls
Trump “a look into the future of
how public figures will behave
online.’’
FREE MEDIA
How ironic: The candidate who
could buy all the airtime he wants
hasn’t needed to. Every candidate
wants free media, but only
Trump has been consistently able
to get it, by making news and gen-
erating ratings. It’s all the more
impressive this year, given the
large field. Much of the coverage
is derogatory, but given the news
media are held in contempt by
Trump’s followers, “it just gives
him more juice,” says Tobe Ber-
kovitz of Boston University, who’s
worked on national campaigns.
VOTER ANGER
The most conservative Republi-
can voters have been angry for
years. Witness the Tea Party re-
Huntsman says he’s being
urged to consider a run
WASHINGTON Former Utah gov-
ernor Jon Huntsman, who un-
successfully sought the GOP
presidential nomination in 2012,
said he’s getting “a lot” of encour-
agement to launch another White
House bid from Republicans con-
cerned about the prospect of
Donald Trump as the 2016 GOP
nominee.
This time, to run as an inde-
pendent.
“I always want to help my
country where I can, but you
don’t want to embark on a suicide
mission,” he told Capital Down-
load. “I’m not ready for a third-
party run until we have a com-
plete collapse of the Republican
Party that I can still believe
in.”
That said, unease about
Trump and fractures over
the GOP’s direction are a
warning sign for the party, he
said.
A split in Republican ranks
that prompted any significant
third-party candidate almost
certainly would rebound to
the benefit of the Dem-
ocratic nominee.
Huntsman, 55, is
K1
SARA D. DAVIS, GETTY IMAGES
volt in 2010 and the results of the
midterm elections of 2014.
“There’s this persistent feeling
‘the party’s not paying attention
to me,’ ’’ says Terry Madonna, di-
rector of the Franklin & Marshall
College poll. A movement famous
for having no leader found one in
Trump, who has tapped discon-
tent with government dysfunc-
tion, economic stagnation and
demographic change.
HOT RHETORIC
Trump revolutionized what can
be said in a national political
campaign — denigrating the POW
heroism of John McCain and im-
plying a female debate questioner
was menstruating. Trump says
things that would end most cam-
paigns yet push his poll numbers
higher. “As far as his supporters
are concerned, there’s nothing he
can say that goes over the line,”
observes Aaron Kall, director of
debate at the University of Michi-
gan. “There is no line.’’
Campaigns have foundered on
far less, Madonna says. He’s re-
minded of a 2004 Democratic
candidate’s demise after his odd-
sounding cry on the night of the
Iowa primary: “All Howard Dean
did was scream!”
PLAIN LANGUAGE
Ted Cruz sounds as if he’s speak-
ing at a Harvard-Princeton de-
bate. Trump sounds as if he’s
talking to New York ironworkers.
When was the last time a national
campaign announced a major po-
sition, as Trump did when he
NOW PLAYING
AT USATODAY.COM
See the full interview with
Jon Huntsman.
co-chair with former Connecticut
senator Joe Lieberman of No La-
bels, a non-profit advocacy group
that seeks bipartisan cooperation
on big issues. The presidential bid
by the former two-term governor
never gained traction in 2012.
“People really are hungry for
change,” he said on USA TODAY’s
weekly video newsmaker series.
“They were last time, but it
hadn’t reached the 212-degree
boiling point. This time it has.
That’s why I think Donald Trump
— despite sometimes the over-
the-top rhetoric that would have
done in any other candidate in
earlier election cycles — probably
has some real legs.”
Former Utah
governor Jon
Huntsman
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
proposed barring Muslim immi-
gration, with a phrase like “until
we know what the hell is going
on.’’ Trump repeats his favorite
adjectives as if they were Scrip-
ture, notably “weak,” “fantastic”
and “great.”
OUTSIDER APPEAL
Everyone runs against Washing-
ton, including (especially) those
who’ve made careers there. But
Trump, who had never even run
for school committee, is the real
thing. He has made what was a
qualification for office — experi-
ence — a liability and inexperi-
ence an asset. If Trump wins the
nomination, he will have come
further from outside the main-
stream than anyone since utility
executive Wendell Willkie, the
GOP candidate in 1940.
SPONTANEITY AND CANDOR
To fans, Trump has been as re-
freshing as a thunderstorm on a
hot summer day. Voters tired of
scripted, traditional campaigning
delight in his willingness to say
whatever seems to come to mind.
The contrast with more conven-
tional campaigners, such as Jeb
Bush, has been devastating. In
such a stultifying milieu, says
Mitchell McKinney, who teaches
at the University of Missouri
School of Journalism, “even the
outlandish has its appeal.’’
A POLITICAL LEGACY
It’s possible Trump’s biggest im-
pact on politics is yet to come.
In recent years, Republicans
have succeeded in channeling the
party’s base, or conservative
wing, in support of relatively
moderate nominees such as
McCain and Romney. Now
loosed, the passions of that wing
may not be easily directed. Even
if Trump doesn’t get the nomina-
tion, those passions could lead to
the nomination of a candidate
sufficiently far to the right to en-
sure the election of a Democrat.
Or it could lead to a more fun-
damental schism, including a
third-party candidacy.
The GOP establishment faced
the 2016 election determined to
avoid the internal stresses that
weakened Romney in 2012, Mc-
Kinney says. Instead, Trump has
made them worse.
There’s a lesson here, Schnur
says: “When you unleash your
base, it’s unrealistic to think that
they’ll stop at your goals. … The
bases of both parties are capable
of wreaking the havoc Trump is
causing.’’ He cites the early suc-
cess of Bernie Sanders, a self-
avowed socialist, against the well-
financed, well-known Hillary
Clinton. “Just because a Sanders
can’t win this year doesn’t mean
one won’t in the future,’’ he says
— especially against a less formi-
dable centrist than Clinton.
The usual outcome when a
party’s id takes over and a candi-
date such as Barry Goldwater
(conservative Republican, 1964)
or George McGovern (liberal
Democrat, 1972) is nominated:
electoral disaster, followed by a
retreat to the center — not a con-
genial place for the likes of Don-
ald Trump.
Huntsman called Trump the
favorite to win the nomination:
“Once you capture that winning
narrative after three or four or a
half-dozen wins, then you’re off.
And there’s very little that can
stop what I refer to as the physics
of politics, that momentum.”
Though he said Trump could
well win the nomination, Hunts-
man isn’t convinced the business-
man could carry a general
election. He called Trump’s rhet-
oric “white-hot and really playing
on the emotions of fear.”
“If he’s able to transform that
into being a problem-solver ...
then who knows?” he said.
Huntsman didn’t sound cer-
tain about whom he would sup-
port in a contest between Trump
and Democrat Hillary Clinton.
“I’ll have to wait and see where
Donald Trump finds himself as
he gets toward the general elec-
tion if in fact he wins the nomina-
tion,” he said. So he’s undecided?
“Well, I’ll vote the Republican.
It’s too early to see who’s going to
win the nomination.”
Huntsman left the door open
to another presidential campaign
for himself down the road:
“Health and family permitting, at
some point that may be some-
thing that we’ll take a look at.”
JACK GRUBER, USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 SECTION B
Great day for deals
Dec. 26 often better
than Black Friday, 3B
ISTOCKPHOTO

THINKSTOCK

Energy grid will

be put to test
Internet of Things poses
power challenge, 5B

Recall violations cost BMW $40M

MONEYLINE

LYFT FILES TO RAISE $1B

Lyft, the ride-sharing service
locked in heated competition
with Uber, has filed to raise $1 bil- Failure to promptly fix As part of the deal, the compa- side-impact crash protection with
lion. The documents for the of- ny admitted to violating U.S. reg- 2014 and 2015 Mini Cooper vehi-
fering were filed in Delaware Mini Coopers at issue ulations requiring prompt report- cles. The agency said it noticed on
and obtained by Bloomberg ing of defects. October 2014 that a two-door
News. Lyft is competing aggres- The penalties revealed Monday hardtop version of the vehicle
sively with Uber in the fast-grow- Nathan Bomey
stem from the company’s failure didn’t meet protocol.
ing market for services that @NathanBomey
USA TODAY to tell vehicle owners promptly of “The company responded that
connect drivers with passengers, recalls and from its failure to fix a the vehicle was listed with an in-
replacing taxicabs. version of the Mini Cooper that correct weight and would pass
U.S. auto-safety regulators im- failed a side-impact crash test. the test if conducted at the prop-
posed a penalty of up to $40 mil- BMW makes the Mini brand. er weight rating, but agreed to
FITBIT SHARES CLIMB OFF lion on BMW North America for NHTSA will also impose an in- BMW
conduct a recall to correct the in-
‘EXPLODING’ SALES recall failures. The German auto- dependent safety consultant to The 2014-15 Mini Cooper correct weight rating on the vehi-
Shares of Fitbit jumped 4.9% to maker is the latest in a series of recommend changes to the auto- failed side-impact crash tests. cle’s tire information placard and
close at $29.10 Monday off posi- car companies that have violated maker’s recall compliance prac- to conduct a voluntary service
tive analyst comments about the federal safety rules. tices and monitor the company’s committed to further improving campaign, short of a recall, to add
fitness device maker’s holiday BMW agreed to the penalty in performance for two years. its recall processes to better serve additional side-impact protec-
sales. Pacific Crest Securities a National Highway Traffic Safety The penalties come amid a lit- its customers” and it “respects tion,” NHTSA said in a statement.
analyst Brad Erickson says Fitbit Administration consent order any of safety scandals in the auto the role of NHTSA and looks for- But in July 2015, NHTSA said a
sales have been “exploding” that involves an immediate industry. And amid pressure on ward to working with them to de- crash test showed that the vehicle
since Black Friday, reports $10 million fine, $10 million to automakers, the agency has faced velop solutions for the future.” still failed side-impact crash tests.
Marketwatch. Er- overhaul procedures and $20 public scrutiny for its own fail- NHTSA’s probe started with an It then discovered that the Ger-
ickson says million in deferred fines if the ures to catch certain defects. investigation into BMW’s failure man automaker had not fixed the
in-store company fails to make changes. BMW said in a statement it “is to meet regulatory standards on vehicles as it had promised.
checks have
shown a
“significant 80%
increase” in 70%
sales of the HOME BROADBAND USE
company’s 60% HAS PLATEAUED
fitness trackers
compared to a Percentage of adults who are 67%
month ago. CHRIS RATCLIFFE, home broadband users:
BLOOMBERG
40%

DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVG.

20%
4:00 p.m.
17,300 123.07 17,252 1%
17,250 0
17,200 2000 2005 2010 2015
Source Pew Research Center
17,150 KRIS KINKADE, USA TODAY

17,100
9:30 a.m.
17,050

MONDAY MARKETS
17,129
MORE HOMES
INDEX
Nasdaq composite
S&P 500
T- note, 10-year yield
CLOSE
4968.92
2021.15
2.19%
x 45.84
x 15.60
y
CHG

0.02
KICKING BROADBAND
Oil, light sweet crude
Euro (dollars per euro)
Yen per dollar
$34.74
$1.0926
121.04
x

y
SOURCES USA TODAY RESEARCH, MARKETWATCH.COM
uUSA MARKETS, 4B
0.01
x 0.0063
0.21 TO THE CURB
USA SNAPSHOTS©

Bigger heart IINGRAM PUBLISHING/GETTY IMAGES

than wallet
Cost is too high, poll homes have broadband connec-
tivity, down from 70% in 2013, ac-
That should raise some con-
cerns as many of those surveyed
“Though the changes we see
are significant statistically, we are
finds; more people cording to the new Home by Pew say that the lack of home not calling this a new trend — but
using phones instead Broadband report, out today
from the Pew Research Center.
broadband service would make it
harder to find a job, get health in-
an important pattern to watch,”
said John Horrigan, a senior re-
On the rise: those who connect formation or other data. Seven searcher at Pew Research Center.
Mike Snider
to the Net using only smart- out of 10 (69%) say that now, Concerns about the cost of
51%
would use/have
e/ha used a
@MikeSnider
USA TODAY

The percentage of U.S. homes

phones, now at 13%, up from 8%
two years ago. That boosts the to-
tal Americans with broadband via
compared to 56% in 2010. For the
report, Pew surveyed more than
6,000 Americans ages 18 or older
home broadband is greatest
among those who’d most likely
benefit from the advances of the
credit cardd to buyy a gift
g with high-speed broadband In- home and mobile connectivity at in September 2013 and in three
for significant
ifica other
ternet service has significantly 80%, compared to 78% in 2013. separate surveys in 2015. v STORY CONTINUES ON 2B
they couldn’t
uldn pay off
immediately.
edi fallen for the first time, as a grow- The main reason for not hav-
ing number of Americans are re- ing broadband? One-third (33%)
Source TransUnion/NerdWallet lying solely on mobile broadband said the monthly cost is too high
survey of 2,014 adults service via smartphones. while 10% said the cost of a com-
JAE YANG AND KARL GELLES, USA TODAY Overall, about 67% of U.S. puter is the biggest barrier.

HARD TO WRAP
Robots are taking over your portfolio
The Matt Krantz
ber, and it just opened the service ROBO-
EASY TO GIVE
early this year. Rival Betterment, ADVISER
online @mattkrantz
which offers a competing service,
services, USA TODAY
now has $3.2 billion in assets un- GROWTH
now der management, up 191% from Betterment,
Cars driving themselves. Ro- the start of the year. one of the
considered bots vacuuming your floors. Roboadvisers aren’t just for pioneers in the
main- What’s next? Robots managing Millennials starting out. Schwab’s “roboadviser”
stream, your money — and it’s already average roboadviser client age is industry, has
happening. 44, and 75% of Betterment’s cus- seen 2,000%
will pick
SAWS
The investing world was dis- tomers are older than 32. Ro- growth in the
stocks rupted big-time in 2015 with the boadviser customers have funds it man- CHAIN RTING
for you ages: STA T:
age of roboadvisers — online ser- $85,000 portfolios with Schwab A
95
179
at the vices that will pick stocks for you and $25,000 with Betterment, on January 2012
based on your personal financial average. And investors’ eagerness $16M $
push of goals and taste for risk. Just push to hand over investment manage-
a button a button and you have a broker- ment to an algorithm means January 2013
age account filled with a sound many more major banks and bro- $95M
portfolio of stocks. kerages will offer roboadvisers in January 2014 Give the Gift of STIHL.
Roboadvisers have been tried 2016, Naureen Hassan at Schwab $340M Skip the mall this holiday season and visit
before, but this year Charles says. “The technology is becom- your local STIHL Dealer for professional
Schwab made it mainstream. It’s ing mainstream,” she says. December 2015 All prices MSRP.
advice, product demonstrations and more. Available at participating
now as socially acceptable to use The robots aren’t done, Better- $3.2B Dealers. ©2015 STIHL
a computer to build your portfo- ment CEO Jon Stein says. Expect Source:
To find a Dealer, visit: STIHLdealers.com STNUSJ15-16442-129514-3
lio as it is to get a ride or even a more advice to be added to ro- Betterment.com
date. Schwab customers have $4.1 boadvisory firms, he says, such as
billion invested with the broker- retirement planning: “The 401(k)
age firm’s Intelligent Portfolios is the last bastion yet to be
offering, as of the end of Septem- brought to the modern age.”
 USA TODAY
2B MONEY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

KaloBios CEO Shkreli gets boot

amid securities fraud charges
Kevin McCoy
USA TODAY
Embattled businessman Mar-
tin Shkreli has been ousted as
CEO of KaloBios Pharma-
ceuticals, the company said Mon-
day, four days after federal
authorities accused him of securi-
ties fraud involving other firms he
controlled.
San Francisco-based KaloBios
said Shkreli was “terminated”
Thursday — the day federal pros-
ecutors and regulators accused
him of defrauding investors in
two hedge funds he operated and
siphoning funds from a separate
Shkreli also resigned from the
KaloBios board of directors, the
company said. Tony Chase, who
had been added to the board
when Shkreli’s Turing Pharma-
ceuticals gained control of Kalo-
Bios in November, also resigned,
the company said.
Shkreli separately resigned
from Turing’s board Friday.
The KaloBios ouster marks the
latest setback for the 32-year-old
health care industry entrepre-
CRAIG RUTTLE, AP
neur, who has drawn widespread
Martin Shkreli, 32, is free on criticism for imposing steep price
$5 million bond. hikes in the cost of drugs con-
trolled by his companies.
pharmaceutical firm to hide the The increases include a more
losses. than 5,000% jump in Turing’s
price for Daraprim — from $13.50
per pill to $750. The medication
is used to treat toxoplasmosis, a
parasitic disease that afflicts peo-
ple with compromised immune
systems, such as pregnant women
and individuals with AIDS.
However, the criminal and civil
charges against Shkreli are not
related to drug pricing.
Instead, federal prosecutors in
Brooklyn and the Securities and
Exchange Commission last week
alleged Shkreli illegally took stock
from Retrophin — a biotechnolo-
gy company he started in 2011
and was ousted from in 2014 — to
pay off unrelated business debts.
The debts allegedly were owed
to investors defrauded in two
now-defunct Shkreli hedge funds
that focused on health care in-
vestments: MSMB Capital and
MSMB Healthcare.
“I am confident I will prevail.
The charges against me are base-
less and without merit,” Shkreli,
who is free on $5 million bond,
tweeted Saturday. His Twitter ac-
count was hacked by an unknown
attacker Sunday. Shkreli tweeted
Monday that he had regained
control of the account. He also
told The Wall Street Journal he
believed that federal authorities
targeted him over the drug price
hikes and his in-your-face style
defending his decisions.

Fewer are using

home broadband
v CONTINUED FROM 1B

service, the researchers said. CORD-CUTTING HOMES

Among the benefits: accessing 24% of American adults report
government services, looking for they do not have cable or
jobs, getting news and learning satellite TV service at home.
new things that could enrich
their lives.
The biggest declines in broad- Receive
band adoption were among low- cable/
er- to middle-income homes, satellite TV
rural homes, minority homes — 76%
with African Americans seeing a Canceled
decline of 8% and Hispanics 6% service1
— and among parents of children 15%
younger than 18. 1 — Those who
Never
Increases in those relying on cancel services are
referred to as “cord subscribed
smartphones for broadband con- cutters” 9%
nectivity mirror the decline in
home broadband adoption, the Among those 24% without cable
researchers say. Smartphone- or satellite service at home,
only adults rose among low-in- percent citing these reasons:
come households (annual in- Too expensive
comes of $20,000 or less), rural
71% ELIZABETH WEISE, USA TODAY
adults, African Americans, His-
panics and parents with school- Can access content online Curbside offers delivery of items ordered at Target and several hundred stores nationwide.
age children, they found. or via antenna
64%

Beyond the advantages lost to
not having home broadband,
smartphone-dependent persons
face other challenges, the re-
Christmas shopping
Do not watch TV often
46%
Source Pew Research Center survey of

procrastinators can
searchers say. 2,001 respondents conducted
“There are limits to smart- June 10-July 12, 2015
phones as a sole Internet access GEORGE PETRAS, USA TODAY

device, as those users often run

get help at the ready

up against data caps,” Horrigan
said.
Low-income smartphone users
also are more likely to experience
interruptions of their service be-
cause of financial constraints, he
said.
“So smartphone-only users
tend to have less robust Internet
usage patterns than those who
have home broadband
subscriptions.”
Another finding: 15% of adults
are now cord cutters and have
dropped traditional pay-TV ser-
vice in favor of TV and movies
streamed online.
Overall, 24% of homes did not
have pay-TV service, Pew found.
These findings on cord cutting, as
well as those about the barriers to
getting and the disadvantages of
not having broadband, were
based on responses from 2,001
U.S. adults surveyed by Pew in
June 2015.
Nearly one in five young adults
(19% of those aged 18-29) have
cut pay-TV service, the survey
found, while another 16% have
never had pay TV.
Pew’s findings parallel those in
a recent Forrester research sur-
vey of 32,000 U.S. adults that
about one-fourth (24%) do not
have a pay-TV subscription. But
Forrester found that 6% were
cord cutters and 18% were cord
nevers.
Most cord cutters (71%) said
they did so because of the high
cost of pay-TV service, Pew says.
Two-thirds (64%) said they cut
the cord because they can get
their desired programming with
an over-air antenna, on the Inter-
net or on a streaming video
service.
Start-ups willing to go
extra mile for delivery
Elizabeth Weise
@eweise
USATODAY
COLMA , CALIF. As the clock ticks
down to Dec. 25, procrastinators
and those simply short of time
can turn to online retailers, in-
cluding some tech start-ups, that
provide nearly on-demand
service.
For last-minute deliveries,
“Amazon is the leader of the
pack,” said Greg Aimi, an e-com-
merce analyst with Gartner.
However, a small flotilla of
Chicago, Los Angeles and the San
Francisco Bay area.
“The cost of the service is
picked up by the retailer so it’s
free to consumers,” CEO Jaron
Waldman said.
For those who don’t have time
to stop by a store, there are sever-
al same-day options available.
Amazon Prime members have
access to Prime Now. This offers
free two-hour delivery in many
large urban areas and one-hour
delivery in most for $7.99. Prime
memberships cost $99 a year.
Courier delivery service Post-
mates originally was meant to de-
liver ready-to-eat food using
Uber-like independent contrac-
tor drivers.
At its start, about 90% of the
ble to place an order as late as
1 p.m. in some areas on Dec. 24
and have it arrive that day,” Deliv
CEO Daphne Carmeli said.
For those trying desperately to
get a gift to someone on their list
at the last minute, it’s possible to
order something from a retailer
near the would-be recipient and
have it delivered. However,
there’s no way to order directly
from Deliv, so it would take some
clicking around to find the right
gift at a store that offers the ser-
vice. And gift wrapping isn’t avail-
able, unless the store you’re
buying from already offers it.
Another last minute possibility
is Uber, which is offering quick
items in Chicago, San Francisco
and New York City in its Uber-

FTC says no to Staples’ start-ups stand at the ready to

come to consumers’ aid.
In a crowded Target parking
company’s deliveries were food,
but “once people use Postmates,
they start to see other ways we
RUSH program. The service of-
fers a curated list of gifts for each
city which can be ordered as late
revised Office Depot bid lot in Colma, just south
of San Francisco, San-
as Dec. 24 between 12
and 5 p.m.
dra Cunanan tried out And the day after Christmas? “It’s Also out there is In-
Nathan Bomey for office supplies. Curbside the week be- all about food. You have holiday stacart. Primarily a
“The FTC rejected the compa- fore Christmas. hangover. No one wants to cook.” one-hour grocery deliv-
@NathanBomey
USA TODAY ny’s offer without making a The service allows ery service available in
counteroffer,” Staples said in a users to order from April Conyers, Postmates director of communications 19 urban areas across
statement. hundreds of stores na- the USA, it delivers
The Federal Trade Commis- “The company is still willing to tionwide, then in two from Whole Foods,
sion has rejected Staples’ offer to continue negotiations with the hours or so drive to the store and can be used,” director of commu- Costco, Petco and many local
revise its FTC to reach a either pick up their purchases at nications April Conyers said. supermarkets.
$6.3 billion ac- settlement that a will-call desk inside or have Now, food makes up 70% of the However, as the holidays loom,
quisition of ri- addresses FTC them brought out to the curb. company’s deliveries. To capital- Instacart offers users quick-pick
val Office concerns.” “I’ve got a 4-year-old,” Cuna- ize on that, this year it launched a lists of local gifts and food items
Depot, casting The news nan said, gesturing to her son in holiday campaign featuring a dai- as well as an assortment of gifts
more doubt on comes two his car seat. Most stores have far ly, curated list of gifts. for pets. The company’s contract-
the comple- weeks after the too many enticing items at grab- People can use Postmates to worker drivers deliver from
tion of a merg- FTC filed an ad- bing level, she said. “If I set foot buy presents in other cities and 9 a.m. to midnight every day.
er of the two ministrative inside Target, I’ll come out with have a courier deliver them. Gift Truth be told, the number of
largest office complaint chal- something I don’t want.” wrapping isn’t available, unless people looking to buy and have
supply chains. lenging the deal. The experience went smoothly. the store itself offers it, Conyers presents delivered in the 11th
Staples said Regulators Within two minutes of pulling up said. hour before Christmas is still
Monday the say they are con- to the clearly-marked Curbside There are few truly down to pretty small. But it’s growing.
FTC had re- cerned that the loading zone in front of the Tar- the wire “buy, wrap, deliver” op- “And there are lot of compa-
jected its offer two companies get, an employee in Curbside’s tions available, Aimi said. Putting nies that are experimenting with
to sell $1.25 hold too much distinctive blue shirt came out, together that entire package “is a the idea,” said Sucharita Mulpu-
billion of con- sway over the checked Cunanan’s driver license very challenging thing,” Aimi ru, principal e-business strategist
tracts in what market for office against the receipt and handed said. “It’s just not in place yet.” for Forrester. “We’re not used to
it described as supplies sold di- over her bags. A behind-the-scenes option is it yet. But I could see how that
“an effort to rectly to bus- Cunanan, 38, was on her way Deliv. This service uses indepen- could completely shift the way we
create an ac- inesses. in less than five minutes. “That dent contractor drivers to pick up buy.”
LYNNE SLADKY, AP
ceptable reme- Staples shares went well,” she said. As she orders at retailers and deliver to So far, Postmates finds that as
dy” to con- Staples says it is willing to were up 1% stashed the bags under the seat customers. It pops up as an op- Christmas draws near, people
cerns the com- continue negotiations. Monday, closing where her son couldn’t see them, tion at participating stores when aren’t’ so much buying gifts as the
bined com- at $9.39 a share. she whispered, “it’s all toys.” the consumer shops on the retail- things that go with gifts. “It’s of-
pany would have too much Office Depot shares closed down Curbside is available in New er’s website. ten decorations or wrapping pa-
control of the commercial market 1.5% to $5.33. York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, “That flexibility makes it possi- per or batteries,” Conyers said.
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 MONEY 3B

PERSONAL FINANCE
TIME-SHARE TIPS
Before my wife

Q and I retired,
we bought into
three
time-shares. All three are

ON DEC. 26,
paid off, but we pay in
excess of $5,000 in
“maintenance fees” total
annually.

DEALS ARE ALL

In the past we have
either used the weeks or
converted them to points to
use for hotels or airline
tickets. However, our mode

ABOUT CLOTHES
of vacationing has
changed, and we would
now like to divest ourselves
of these properties.
We have been
approached by several
companies that claim they
can arrange a “transfer of
Expect a lot of 40% off signs as retailers
deed,” but they want us to clear out the old just in time for the new
pay thousands upfront.
What do you recommend Hadley Malcolm cording to ShopperTrak.
as the safest, surest and GO @hadleypdxdc
The steep discounts stem from
most economical way to NOW USA TODAY the need to get rid of seasonal ap-
get rid of these properties? parel with a short shelf life, the
If you’re same reason holiday decor or any
— EUGENE ZIELINSKI, in the market Black Friday may get all the holiday-themed products are on
RALEIGH-DURHAM, N.C. for some bling, hype, but deal-savvy shoppers clearance after Christmas. So
don’t wait know that Dec. 26 can feature Dec. 26 also is the time to stock
for after- even better bargains, especially if up on next year’s wrapping paper,
Robert Powell Christmas you’re in the market for a new garlands, ornaments and seasonal
Special for USA TODAY deals. wardrobe. dinnerware.
Apparel retailers tend to have “The more seasonal it is, the
JEWELRY
some of their best sales immedi- more they’re going to have to dis-
PRICES ON
ately after the holidays as they at- count it,” says Simeon Siegel,
CHRISTMAS
tempt to sell excess inventory and a retail analyst with fi-
EVE DROP
appeal to shoppers who are in nancial company
25%,
stores making returns. The post- Nomura. “Out-
nearly as good
A You and your wife should
contact each property’s
management and find out who
as the aver-
age 25.3%
Christmas sales likely will be even
heavier this year given retailers
erwear and
sweaters
are struggling to sell winter cloth- are going to
they recommend for resale, says discount on
ing thanks to unseasonably warm be more dis-
Jean-Luc Bourdon, a certified Thanksgiving.
weather in parts of the country, counted than
public accountant and principal says Oliver Chen, head of retail jeans.”
at BrightPath Wealth Planning equity research at financial ser- In addition to
Santa Barbara, Calif., and a mem-
ber of the AICPA’s Personal Fi-
SKIP IT vices firm Cowen Group. clothes, some au-
That means even more inven- dio equipment —
nancial Planning Executive What’s not tory to get rid of in order to make including lower-tier
Committee. “They may have worth rushing room for new products in the new headphones and
valuable insights,” he says. to stores for: year. Expect especially high dis- refurbished
Also note: Some properties toys and elec- counts at department stores, cameras —
have a right of first refusal, and tronics, which are among those struggling tend to
some properties can advertise which were the most, Chen says. be
your time share for sale. a better deal Apparel — especially gear for good
“Those things are good to online over teens — averages more than 40% buys
know,” Bourdon says. Thanksgiving off on Dec. 26, according to data after the
Bourdon also recommends weekend from coupon service RetailMe holidays,
looking at online marketplaces and Cyber Not. Designer clothing is an even according to
such as www.redweek.com and Monday. better deal at an average of 49% DealNews,
even eBay to get a sense of the Source
Adobe Marketing off. Data from Adobe Marketing which tracks the
market value of your time share. Cloud data
Cloud also show that apparel will best deals at on-
GETTY IMAGES/
ISTOCKPHOTO
“That helps establish a base- be more discounted online the line retailers. ILLUSTRATION
line and realistic expectations,” day after Christmas than on
he says. “Such sites may also be
your best option.”
Thanksgiving.
Even though the holiday gift-
“The more
giving season technically might be seasonal it is, the
Robert Powell is editor of Retirement
Weekly and contributes regularly to
over, the day after Christmas is more they’re
USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal still a top-10 sales day for retailers
and MarketWatch. Got questions about and the third-biggest day for holi- going to have to
money? Email rpowell@allthings
retirement.com.
day season traffic in stores, ac- discount it.”

10 biggest income tax changes to plan for in 2016

Dan Caplinger
The Motley Fool
Tax time is nearly upon us, and
2016 will bring some changes you
need to know about. By learning
about them before the new year,
you’ll be better able to take steps
that will leave you prepared both
this year and next. The 10 biggest
tax changes you should know
about going into 2016:
1. TAX DAY IS APRIL 18
The Washington, D.C., holiday of
Emancipation Day is on Friday,
April 15, 2016. Under federal law,
the tax deadline gets extended
when it falls on a holiday or
weekend, and so the tax deadline
for most taxpayers will be the fol-
lowing Monday, April 18. For
those states in New England that
celebrate Patriot’s Day, an even
later April 19 deadline will apply.
2. PENALTIES RELATED TO
OBAMACARE ARE GOING UP
AGAIN
The Affordable Care Act imposed
penalties for those not having
qualifying health care coverage.
Those penalties started at $95
per adult, or 1% of income above
the filing threshold, in 2014 but
rose to $285 per adult, or 2% of
income above the limit, in 2015.
For 2016, penalties will rise again,
hitting $695 per adult, or 2.5% of
income. A family maximum will
apply to the per-person amount,
but the $2,085 amount will be
substantially higher than the
$975 in 2015 and $285 in 2014.
3. TAX BRACKETS ARE RISING
SLIGHTLY
Most of the tax brackets that gov-
ern different classes of taxpayers
are adjusted for inflation. For
2016, these bracket amounts are
rising by roughly 0.4%.
4. STANDARD DEDUCTIONS
ARE GOING UP FOR HEAD
OF HOUSEHOLD FILERS
The low inflation rate kept stan-
dard deductions for most taxpay-
ers steady in 2016 from 2015
levels, including the single, mar-
ried filing jointly and married fil-
ing separately statuses. For those
who qualify as heads of house-
hold, the standard deduction will
rise $50 to $9,300 in 2016.
5. PERSONAL EXEMPTIONS
ARE RISING
The personal exemption that tax-
payers are entitled to take on
their tax returns will go up in val-
ue by $50 in 2016. That will give
GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
everyone an exemption amount
of $4,050.
6. CONTRIBUTION LIMITS ON
HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
ARE GOING UP
Health savings accounts let peo-
ple with high-deductible health
plans set money aside on a pre-
tax basis to cover the costs of
their health care. For 2016, the
contribution limit for individual
policies will remain at $3,350, but
the maximum contribution for
family policies will rise by $100 to
$6,750. A catch-up contribution
of $1,000 for those 55 or older
will continue to apply.
7. THE EARNED INCOME
CREDIT IS RISING
The maximum allowable Earned
Income Credit will go up modest-
Most people 9. THE ESTATE TAX EXEMPTION
put off tax IS HEADING UPWARD
planning to The lifetime exemption amount
the last min- for the gift and estate tax is tied to
ute, but by inflation, and it is slated to rise
knowing next year as well. The exemption
about these amount will rise to $5.45 million,
coming up $20,000 from 2015. The limit
changes applies to estates of those who
before they pass away in 2016.
take effect,
you can do 10. OTHER TAX PROVISIONS
more com- COULD CHANGE IF NOT
prehensive RENEWED
tax planning Nearly every year, lawmakers
that will wait until the last minute to re-
serve you new popular tax breaks, such as
better in charitable distribution from
2016 and IRAs, state sales tax deductions,
beyond. teachers’ write-offs for classroom
supplies and deductions for pri-
vate mortgage insurance. As of
early December, these provisions
hadn’t yet been renewed for 2015,
but typically, lawmakers renew
them retroactive to the beginning
of the year. The same is likely in
ly in 2016. For those with three or 2016 unless an extension pro-
more qualifying children, the vides for two years of relief rather
maximum credit will rise to than just one.
$6,269, up $27. Those with two
children will get a maximum MANY THINGS AREN’T
$5,572, which is up $24 from CHANGING
2015, and one-child families can Even though the 10 things listed
get up to $3,373, $14 more than above are changing, many other
last year. Those without children typical annual changes aren’t
get just a $3 bump and can claim happening.
up to $506 for 2016. Contribution limits to 401(k)
plans, IRAs and flexible spending
8. THE EXEMPTION FROM AMT arrangements are all staying the
IS HIGHER same in 2016 as they were in
The alternative minimum tax has 2015, reflecting the minimal
struck a growing number of tax- amount of inflation in the
payers, making the exemption economy.
amount more important than
ever. Single taxpayers will see The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY
their AMT exemptions go up content partner offering financial news,
analysis and commentary designed to
$300 in 2016 to $53,900, and help people take control of their fi-
joint filers will see a $500 boost nancial lives. Its content is produced
to $83,800. independently of USA TODAY.
 USA TODAY
4B MONEY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

AMERICA’S MARKETS ALL THE MARKET ACTION IN REAL TIME.

AMERICASMARKETS.USATODAY.COM

What to watch DID YOU KNOW?

Facts about America’s investors
How we’re performing
Investors better get used to wild stock swings
who use SigFig tracking services: USA’s portfolio allocation for tech stocks
cycle, says Sam Stovall, U.S. equi- Here’s how America’s individual investors are performing based
David Craig on data from SigFig online investment tracking service:
ty strategist at S&P Capital IQ.
@davidgcraig
USA TODAY In fact, volatility was already SOUTH
on the rise going into the Fed CONSERVATIVE BALANCED
CAROLINA Less than 30% equities 30%-50% equities
meeting. Nearly two out of every
Ever since the Federal Reserve three days this December, the 5-day avg.: -2.31 5-day avg.: -2.46
announced its long-awaited in- S&P 500 rose or fell 1% on a clos- 6-month avg.: -6.50 6-month avg.: -6.64
terest rate hike last week, things ing basis, Stovall says. That is Largest holding: AAPL Largest holding: AAPL
have gotten exciting on Wall double the fewer than 30% of all Most bought: AAPL Most bought: AAPL
Street, though not exactly the trading days in 2015 that have Most sold: AAPL Most sold: AAPL
kind of excitement most inves- had a 1% rise or fall. Among U.S. cities, Hilton
tors might prefer. If history is any guide, the MODERATE AGGRESSIVE
When the Fed announced swings in stock prices will get Head Island, S.C., has SigFig 51%-70% equities 71% or more in equities
Wednesday that it was raising even more jarring from here. users with the highest 5-day avg.: -2.32 5-day avg.: -2.93
rates for the first time in nearly a In the past 50 years, the num- median portfolio value 6 month avg.: -7.06 6-month avg.: -8.55
decade, investors initially cele- ber of up or down days of at least ($760K). That’s more than Largest holding: AAPL Largest holding: MSFT
brated, sending the Standard & 1% averaged 16.4 in the three twice as high as the next Most bought: AAPL Most bought: AAPL
Poor’s 500 index up 1.5%. months after am initial Fed rate Most sold: AAPL Most sold: AAPL
The party didn’t last long. The hike in a tightening cycle, vs. an wealthiest city on the list.
NOTE: INFORMATION PROVIDED BY SIGFIG IS STATISTICAL IN NATURE AND DOES POWERED BY SIGFIG
S&P fell 1.5% Thursday and an- average of 9.3 for the three NOT CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION OF ANY STRATEGY OR SECURITY. VISIT
POWERED BY SIGFIG SIGFIG.USATODAY.COM/DISCLOSE FOR ADDITIONAL DISCLOSURES AND INFORMATION.
other 1.8% Friday for its worst months leading up to the hike, ac-
two-day drop since August. cording to Stovall.
Investors might have to get Monday, at least, the white- More than half a million investors nationwide with total assets of $200 billion
used to those kinds of swings, be- knuckle ride scenario didn’t quite manage their investment portfolios online with SigFig investment tracking service.
cause volatility typically picks up play out. The benchmark S&P Data on this page are based on SigFig analysis.
after the start of a rate-tightening 500 index rose just 0.8%.

MAJOR INDEXES STORY STOCKS

4-WEEK TREND
DJIA DOW SPX S&P Fitbit
Sales were “exploding” for the fit- $35 $29.10
+123.07 JONES +15.60 500 ness tracking device maker since
Price: $29.10 Black Friday, according to Pacific
INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE STANDARD & POOR'S Chg: $1.37 Crest Securities analyst Brad Er- $25
CHANGE: +.7% CLOSE: 17,251.62 CHANGE: +.8% CLOSE: 2,021.15 % chg: 4.9% ickson, who says sales appear to
YTD: -571.45 PREV. CLOSE: 17,128.55 YTD: -37.75 PREV. CLOSE: 2,005.55 Day’s high/low: have soared since last month. Nov. 23 Dec. 21
YTD % CHG: -3.2% RANGE: 17,116.73-17,272.36 YTD % CHG: -1.8% RANGE: 2,005.93-2,022.81 $29.45/$28.02 4-WEEK TREND

COMP NASDAQ RUT RUSSELL Juniper Networks

The Federal Bureau of Investiga-
$35
$27.25
+45.84 COMPOSITE
+6.72 RUSSELL 2000 INDEX
Price: $27.25 tion is probing a breach of the
Chg: -$1.43 company’s software, fearing it may
CHANGE: +.9% CLOSE: 4,968.92 CHANGE: +.6% CLOSE: 1,127.74 % chg: -5.0% have allowed a foreign government $25
Nov. 23 Dec. 21
YTD: +232.87 PREV. CLOSE: 4,923.08 YTD: -76.95 PREV. CLOSE: 1,121.02 Day’s high/low: to access communications of the
YTD % CHG: +4.9% RANGE: 4,928.93-4,968.92 YTD % CHG: -6.4% RANGE: 1,120.61-1,130.39 $28.90/$27.01 U.S. government. 4-WEEK TREND
$10.15
S&P 500’S BIGGEST GAINERS/LOSERS YTD
China Customer $12
GAINERS Company (ticker symbol) Price $ Chg % Chg % Chg
Price: $10.15
Relations Center
The Chinese call center outsourc-
OneOK (OKE) 21.85 +2.92 +15.4 -56.1 Chg: $6.15 ing services provider sold 2.4 mil- $4
Shares soar on 2016 guidance. % chg: 153.8% lion shares in an initial public Nov. 23 Dec. 21
Day’s high/low: offering at $4 each.
Tenet Healthcare (THC) 30.59 +3.18 +11.6 -39.6 $10.70/$4.39
Rises on Aetna contract extension.
TOP 10 MUTUAL FUNDS INVESTING ASK MATT
Consol Energy (CNX) 7.97 +.59 +8.0 -76.4 Fund, ranked by size NAV Chg. 4wk 1 YTD 1
Vanguard 500Adml 186.29 +1.46 -3.1% +0.2%
Up another day since rating upgrade at Deutsche.

NRG Energy(NRG) 11.07 +.70 +6.8 -58.9

Vanguard TotStIAdm
Vanguard InstIdxI
Vanguard TotStIdx
50.20
184.45
50.19
+0.37
+1.45
+0.38
-3.2%
-3.1%
-3.2%
-0.8%
+0.2%
-0.9%
Auto parts seller
Positive note; tries to make up month’s loss. Vanguard InstPlus
Fidelity Contra
American Funds GrthAmA m
184.46
98.40
44.47
+1.45
+0.66
+0.30
-3.1%
-2.5%
-2.8%
+0.2%
+5.9%
+4.2%
losing steam
Southwestern Energy (SWN)
Climbs another day since oil export ban.
5.87 +.33 +6.0 -78.5 Vanguard TotIntl
American Funds IncAmerA x
14.34
20.03
+0.06
-0.43
-4.0%
-2.2%
-5.4%
-2.4%
among investors
American Funds CapIncBuA m 55.75 +0.21 -2.9% -4.0%
1 – CAPITAL GAINS AND DIVIDENDS REINVESTED
HCA Holdings (HCA)
About 6 million have signed up for Obamacare.
67.61 +3.14 +4.9 -7.9 Q: Can Pep Boys soup up
TOP 10 EXCHANGE TRADED FUNDS
ETF, ranked by volume Ticker Close Chg. % Chg %YTD
your returns?
Cabot Oil & Gas (COG) 16.24 +.75 +4.8 -45.2 SPDR S&P500 ETF Tr SPY 201.67 +1.65 +0.8% -1.9%
Positive note, up for fourth day from 2015 low. Mkt Vect Gold Miners GDX 13.76 +0.13 +0.9% -25.1%
Matt Krantz
iShs Emerg Mkts EEM 32.40 -0.25 -0.8% -17.5%
CS VelSh 3xLongNatGs UGAZ 1.63 +0.28 +20.7% -91.8% mkrantz@usatoday.com
Avago Technologies (AVGO) 145.80 +5.60 +4.0 +44.9 Barc iPath Vix ST VXX 20.76 -1.01 -4.6% -34.1% USA TODAY
Raised to top pick at RBC. SPDR Financial XLF 23.53 +0.23 +1.0% -4.9%
iShs China Large Cap FXI 35.77 -0.41 -1.1% -14.1%
CS VS InvVix STerm XIV 25.17 +1.07 +4.4% -19.2%
Tiffany (TIF) 74.48 +2.64 +3.7 -30.3 ProShs Ultra VIX ST UVXY 30.76 -3.19 -9.4% -75.5%
Share rating raised to buy at Jefferies. CS VS 2x Vix ShTm TVIX 6.73 -0.72 -9.7% -75.6%

Wynn Resorts (WYNN) 65.76 +2.36 +3.7 -55.8 INTEREST RATES MORTGAGE RATES A: Road rage is breaking out over
Insider buy encourages investors. Type Close 6 mo ago Type Close 6 mo ago
shares of auto supply seller Pep Boys
Prime lending 3.50% 3.25% 30 yr. fixed 3.84% 4.11% (PBY). But investors are best off staying
YTD
LOSERS Company (ticker symbol) Price $ Chg % Chg % Chg
Federal funds 0.37% 0.14% 15 yr. fixed 3.02% 3.16% out of the way on this one.
3 mo. T-bill 0.17% 0.01% 1 yr. ARM 2.76% 2.66%
5 yr. T-note 1.67% 1.57% 5/1 ARM 3.34% 3.13% The Philadelphia-based seller of car
Cimarex Energy (XEC) 86.18 -4.64 -5.1 -18.7 10 yr. T-note 2.19% 2.26% SOURCE: BANKRATE.COM maintenance and repair services said
Four consecutive losses finds 2015 bottom. Monday the buyout offer from Icahn En-
COMMODITIES terprises is better than the one received
Juniper Networks (JNPR) 27.25 -1.43 -5.0 +22.1 Commodities
Cattle (lb.)
Close
1.23
Prev.
1.20
Chg.
+0.03
% Chg.
+2.7%
% YTD
-25.5%
earlier from Bridgestone Americas.
Dips for third day on vulnerability disclosure. Corn (bushel) 3.72 3.75 -0.03 -0.7% -6.3% Icahn is offering $16.50 a share for the
Gold (troy oz.) 1,081.90 1,066.20 +15.70 +1.5% -8.6% company — topping the $15 a share offer
Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) 115.71 -5.57 -4.6 -22.3 Hogs, lean (lb.) .56 .57 -0.01 -0.3% -30.5%
from Bridgestone. Shares gained Monday
Natural Gas (Btu.) 1.91 1.77 +0.14 +8.2% -33.9%
Nears 2015 low in trailing sector. Oil, heating (gal.) 1.10 1.11 -0.01 -0.6% -40.4% as investors enjoyed the bidding war.
Oil, lt. swt. crude (bar.) 34.74 34.73 +0.01 unch. -34.8% But for investors who aren’t in Pep
Mosaic (MOS) 27.24 -1.30 -4.6 -40.3 Silver (troy oz.) 14.30 14.08 +0.22 +1.6% -8.1%
Hits 52-week low after rating downgrade. Soybeans (bushel) 8.91 8.92 -0.01 -0.1% -12.6% Boys stock already — it’s hard to see a
Wheat (bushel) 4.79 4.87 -0.08 -1.6% -18.8% reason why they would jump in now. The
Newfield Exploration (NFX) 30.41 -1.19 -3.8 +12.1 company is expected by analysts on aver-
Rating upgrades, shares go other way in weak sector. FOREIGN CURRENCIES age to post an adjusted loss of 11 cents a
Currency per dollar Close Prev. 6 mo. ago Yr. ago share in 2015 — well below the 26 cents a
British pound .6718 .6706 .6296 .6396
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) 522.01 -19.07 -3.5 -23.7 Canadian dollar 1.3961 1.3925 1.2262 1.1597 share profit in 2014, S&P Capital IQ says.
Probed for new outbreak of different E. coli strain. Chinese yuan 6.4803 6.4787 6.2103 6.2193 Profit is seen reaching just 18 cents a
Euro .9152 .9206 .8808 .8180
Japanese yen 121.04 121.25 122.65 119.51
share on an adjusted basis in 2016, which
Hess (HES) 47.44 -1.06 -2.2 -35.7 Mexican peso 17.2175 17.0417 15.3213 14.6034 is still 31% lower than where it was in
Weak sector overshadows buy rating. 2014.
FOREIGN MARKETS Analysts seem to think the battle over
Regeneron Pharm (REGN) 532.55 -11.68 -2.1 +29.8
Dips on brain infection rumor, which isn’t true. Country Close Prev. Change %Chg. YTD % Pep Boys already has generated maxi-
Frankfurt 10,497.77 10,608.19 -110.42 -1.0% +7.1% mum gains to investors. The stock is rat-
Hong Kong 21,791.68 21,755.56 +36.12 +0.2% -7.7%
CarMax Inc (KMX) 52.53 -.96 -1.8 -21.1 Japan (Nikkei) 18,916.02 18,986.80 -70.78 -0.4% +8.4% ed a “hold” by analysts on average, and
Earnings and revenue miss estimates. London 6,034.84 6,052.42 -17.58 -0.3% -8.1% there’s an average $16.50 a share 18-
Mexico City 43,160.61 42,936.63 +223.98 +0.5% unch.
month price target on the stock.
SOURCES: MORNINGSTAR, DOW JONES INDEXES, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ConocoPhillips (COP) 45.10 -.83 -1.8 -34.7 With shares trading higher than that
Hits December’s low in trailing sector. IN-DEPTH MARKETS COVERAGE already, it’s difficult to see much more
SOURCE: BLOOMBERG AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS USATODAY.COM/MONEY upside.

TEN EVENTS.
TEN CITIES.
ONE ELECTION.
One Nation gathers together the top innovators, experts,
celebrities and you to discuss the issues affecting our country,
so come election time you’ll be ready to vote.

onenation.usatoday.com
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 MONEY 5B

Whiskey bul-
lets were Yahoo choco-
a parting gift lates from
at Touch of the compa-
Modern holi- ny’s holiday
day party. party.

TECH HOLIDAY PARTIES BELIE

ANY TREPIDATION ABOUT ’16
What and showcase some of our listed
Jon Swartz products.”
bubble? @jswartz
Several were on display at the
USA TODAY
Tech Hotel Phoenix here — including
companies the $2,000 Silver Phantom, the
SAN FRANCISCO It faces possibly most-powerful BlueTooth speak-
are the biggest crisis in its 21-year er in the world, and a remote-
partying history, but for one night Yahoo controlled version of the Dark
celebrated as if it were the Roar- Knight car, Tumbler. A watch
like it’s ing Twenties. case, filled with pieces worth an
1999 The troubled Internet compa- estimated $500,000, was closely
ny marked the holidays with a guarded.
Great Gatsby-themed party to Guests at the mid-November
celebrate its 20th birthday here soiree were treated to filet mi-
earlier this month. In swanky, gnon beef jerky, vaporized marti-
spacious digs along the water, nis (“vaportini”), Tequila shot
revelers dressed as flap dancers cups made of salt and whiskey
enjoyed food, booze and a cover bullets that chill drinks.
band in a speakeasy motif, ac- Parties in Silicon Valley this
cording to a guest who attended. year are exultant, with barely a
Cost of the gala: About $2 million. tinge of trepidation that the good
PHOTOS BY JON SWARTZ, USA TODAY
The extravagance of some tech times may soon end.
companies during the holidays Watches valued at $500,000 were on display in a San Francisco Mobile advertising agency
and their decision to emulate the bar for the Touch of Modern holiday party. AppLovin, based in Palo Alto,
world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Calif., flew its nearly 100 employ-
Great Gatsby is brimming with claims the Gatsby-themed party flowing, and high-end hors ees to Las Vegas for a paid week-
irony. Jay Gatsby and his friends at Pier 48 — which he says cost d’oeuvres are on the menu. In- end of free spa sessions, shows
luxuriated in an opulent lifestyle $7 million — is indicative of prof- deed, tech companies typically (Britney Spears, David Copper-
shortly before the Great ligate spending by a company throw lavish parties as one of the field, Cirque Du Soleil) and other
Depression. that is being clobbered by Face- perks to retain employees and goodies, including a penthouse
Many in the tech industry are book and Google. recruit others. party suite at the MGM Grand.
bracing for what they fear could Two people knowledgeable “There has been a boom in
be a major correction. In fact, about the Yahoo party, who asked holiday parties across the board
many are partying like it’s 1999 — not to be named because they the past few years after many had The extravagance of some tech
coincidentally, the year before a were not authorized to speak on scaled back following the reces- companies during the holidays and
dot-com crash took out hundreds the matter, said it cost closer to sion,” says KT Thompson, area
of start-ups. $2 million and was intended as a director of catering in Chicago for their decision to emulate the world
High-flying Facebook hit on holiday celebration for all Yahoo Kimpton, the largest hotel bou- of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great
the same theme, with a 1920s-era employees. They said Yahoo tique company in the U.S. “It’s not Gatsby’ is brimming with irony.
casino room and golden palm chose to have one big event as just tech. It’s consulting, con-
trees, according to a report in part of a push to reduce its holi- struction and engineering.” Not every gathering was osten-
Business Insider. Google employ- day party budget by about 30% Many tech companies also host tatious. In Lower Manhattan this
ees celebrated at a James Bond- from a year ago. press parties in Silicon Valley, month, Intel party-goers were
themed party, replete with Aston One person drawing attention New York and all points in be- treated to carving stations and a
Martin outside, according to the at this year’s parties: Yahoo CEO tween. There, executives mix fully-stocked bar. Personal com-
Silicon Valley Business Journal. Mayer, under pressure to revamp with the fourth estate and infor- puters, laptops and tablets were
Facebook and Google did not the company’s corporate strategy, mally offer a barometer of the on display. One PC connected to a
reply to e-mail messages for com- and the very public face of the In- year and what’s to come. Larger, TV allowed attendees to play
ment. ternet company’s attempt at a more extravagant private holiday NBA 2K16. An Intel “goodie bag”
The parallel to the pre-bust turnaround. At Yahoo’s more parties for employees are held contained a mug with small cake
years hasn’t been lost on angry modest party held for reporters, separately. balls inside.
Yahoo shareholders such as Eric Mayer was one of the last to “After three years of working And in the spirit of the season,
Jackson, who scorched Mayer & leave. hard with our heads down, we de- LinkedIn held a silent auction of
Co. in a 99-page presentation to The threat of a bursting bubble cided to host our first press murals. All the proceeds are going
the company’s board of directors, hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm event,” says Jerry Hum, CEO of to San Francisco-based non-prof-
calling for the ouster of CEO Ma- of tech start-ups and behemoths, Touch of Modern, a shopping it MUST, Music in Schools Today.
rissa Mayer and a massive reorga- if their holiday parties are any in- website of unique, high-end
nization. In his presentation, he dication. Expensive wines are items. “It was time to celebrate Contributing: Eli Blumenthal

Internet of Things to put energy grid to test

Bill Loveless
@bill_loveless
Special for USA TODAY
Electric grids in
ENERGY the U.S. and other
countries face more
challenges than ever
when it comes to
providing power re-
liably and affordability.
Aging infrastructure, increas-
ing environmental requirements
and the influx of solar and other
forms of renewable energy all
make running an electric utility
smoothly increasingly difficult.
Add to that test the explosion of
data and the need to generate,
store and process it on a real-
time basis.
“Power reliability will matter
even more in future years as soci-
ety becomes increasingly digi-
tized,” writes Boston energy
consultant Peter Kelly-Detwiler
in a new white paper. “The last
decade has seen an astonishing
growth in production, storage
and consumption of data. And
yet, the global economy is about
to experience an acceleration in
this trend.”
All told, the number of digital
bits in circulation doubles every
two years and will increase from
4.4 zettabytes in 2013 to 44 zetta-
bytes in 2020, said Kelly-Detwil-
er, a principal with Northbridge
Energy Partners and a former ex-
ecutive with Constellation En-
The increasingly personalized Digital Age poses challenges to
the world’s power supply.
ergy.
Among the biggest contrib-
utors, of course, are smartphones,
flat-screen TVs, computer tablets
and other electronic devices,
many of which are being wrapped
as holiday gifts.
But driving the demand for da-
ta even more, Kelly-Detwiler said,
is the “Internet of Things,” in-
cluding so-called “machine-to-
machine” communications and a
growing network of ubiquitous
sensors.
“Today, there are some 200 bil-
lion ‘things’ in the world, with
about 20 billion of them current-
ly connected and communicat-
ing,” he said, citing one of many
BRIANAJACKSON, THINKSTOCK
research pieces he used in his re-
port. “This number is expected to
grow to 30 billion by 2020.”
Much of the data, especially
that involving business, must be
“mined and acted upon instanta-
neously,” requiring “bigger and
more powerful” data centers —
those enormous, window-less
structures that house computer
systems and associated gear — he
added.
As data centers proliferate, so
will the requirement for electric-
ity to store and process the infor-
mation. In fact, Kelly-Detwiler
said data centers represent one of
the fastest growing users of elec-
tricity in the world, accounting
for nearly 3% of the world’s con-
sumption of power. That’s an in-
crease of 100% over the past five
years.
In the U.S., data centers ac-
counted for about 91 billion kilo-
watt-hours of electricity demand
in 2013, an amount equal to the
output of about 34 power plants,
or twice the demand of all house-
holds in New York City.
That number is expected to in-
crease by more than 50%, to 140
billion kilowatt-hours — about
the output of 50 power plants —
by the end of the decade, he said.
While reliability is critical to
anyone using electricity, it is es-
pecially so for operations like da-
ta centers, whose continuous
operations are vital to banks, hos-
pitals, utilities and other busi-
nesses. A recent survey indicated
that shutdowns cost data centers
an average of $200,000 an hour,
with some reporting losses of as
much as $1 million an hour.
That said, a critical considera-
tion for chief information officers
and others responsible for keep-
ing the bits flowing will be the lo-
cation of new data centers and
the reliability of the grid in areas
under consideration for these
facilities.
Increasingly, Kelly-Detwiler
suggests, companies building the
data centers — such as Amazon,
Apple, Facebook and Google —
will look abroad to countries
where the grid is under less stress
and where abundant renewable
resources, like hydropower, make
it easier to comply with commit-
ments to lower-carbon emissions.
For the sake of full disclosure, I
should note Kelly-Detwiler pre-
pared the paper for a client of his
company’s called Verne Global,
which owns a data center in Ice-
land, one of the countries that he
singles out as an attractive loca-
tion for such facilities.
But Iceland isn’t the only op-
tion he discusses.
Denmark, Finland, Norway
and Sweden are all making big
pitches for data centers, with
their stable grids and ample
sources of renewable energy.
Facebook, for example, has in-
stalled a massive data center in
Sweden and plans a second one
there.
For the same reason, Quebec,
too, offers an attractive alterna-
tive to U.S. locations, he said.
That’s not to say data opera-
tions won’t be built in the U.S.
anymore. Kelly-Detwiler notes
some new ventures in the U.S., in-
cluding an announcement by
Amazon earlier this year that it
will install a large wind farm in
North Carolina to power its
cloud-computing services.
But overall, the outlook in the
U.S. is uncertain for companies
contemplating building such
facilities.
“At this point, with known
technologies, it appears that the
U.S. power grid will continue to
face challenges in offering reli-
able and uninterruptible power,”
Kelly-Detwiler said. “This has
real economic costs.”
Bill Loveless is a veteran energy jour-
nalist and television commentator in
Washington. He is a former host of the
TV program Platts Energy Week.
 6B MONEY

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SV1502-14-129320-1
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 E4 SECTION C
Super 25
champs
15-0 Bishop
Gorman (Las
Vegas) tops
the Super 25
rankings for
the second
consecutive
season, 7C
RUNNING BACK BIAGGIO ALI-WALSH BY GREG CAVA, BISHOP GORMAN HIGH SCHOOL

NO EXCUSES FOR BECKHAM

SPORTSLINE

FIRST WORD
EIGHT YEARS ARE
NOT ENOUGH FOR
ME. … THE PENALTY SHOULD
BE THAT THEY CAN NEVER
AGAIN FORM PART OF A
Giant’s cheap shot
SPORTS INSTITUTION.”
Javier Tebas, president of Spain’s
against Panthers
La Liga, on the FIFA suspensions was dangerous
handed down to FIFA President
Sepp Blatter and UEFA President
Michel Platini. Jarrett Bell
jbell@usatoday.com
USA TODAY Sports
MAGIC NUMBER

139
Teams that play 11-man football
that finished the high school
football season without a loss,
according to USA TODAY High
School Sports. Texas finished with
nine schools to lead all states,
followed by New York with eight
and Florida, New Jersey and
Illinois with seven each.
GREGORY FISHER, USA TODAY SPORTS
TWEET OF THE DAY
@ChickenMan3010
Don’t know which is
worse the tears in my eyes or
the goose bumps!!
Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, after
learning the Red Sox will retire his
No. 26 jersey number in May at
Fenway Park in Boston. He spent
11 seasons and made eight All-
Star teams with the Red Sox.
Boggs’ Twitter handle refers to a
Odell Beckham Jr.’s résumé in-
cludes one of the most remark-
able one-handed catches you’ll
ever see on a football field. It has
more than 2 million YouTube
views.
Now, unfortunately, the New
York Giants superstar has some-
thing else on videotape in a cate-
gory of its own.
You’d be hard-pressed to refer-
ence a cheap shot as egregious as
Beckham’s helmet-to-helmet as-
sault on Carolina Panthers cor-
nerback Josh Norman during
Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadi-
um in East Rutherford, N.J. The
play drew an official NFL rebuke
Monday in the form of a one-
game suspension.
Sure, there’s an appeal coming.
But there’s really no worthwhile
argument to justify Beckham’s
action. He deserves to sit.
The NFL did the right thing. A
former NFL defensive back, Mer-
ton Hanks, issued the punish-
ment. There was really no choice.
This was about as easy a prepack-
aged no-brainer (no pun intend-
ed) of a decision for a suspension
as you can imagine. (And just as
Concussion opens in theaters na-
BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS
tionwide this week.)
Odell Beckham Jr. steps over Josh Norman after making a fourth-quarter touchdown catch
Sunday. The NFL suspended Beckham for one game for his actions during the game.
v STORY CONTINUES ON 5C

‘Leastern’ no longer
nickname he earned during his
playing days by superstitiously
eating chicken before every
game.

Eastern Conference much improved
Jeff Zillgitt
@JeffZillgitt
USA TODAY Sports
Two years ago, ESPN NBA ana-
lyst Jeff Van Gundy called some
Eastern Conference games em-
barrassing, the conference so
dreadful it was difficult to stom-
ach matchups between its teams.
Van Gundy no longer is so
down on the East.
“The East is significantly bet-
ter,” said Van Gundy, who will be
on the call for the East-West
JOHNSON BY USA TODAY SPORTS
showdown between the Cleve-
land Cavaliers and Golden State
Warriors on Christmas.
The East is shedding its repu-
tation as the “Leastern Confer-
ence” that is inferior to the
powerhouse West.
The two best teams in the
league (Warriors, San Antonio
Spurs) are in the West, but there’s
no question the East is better and
more competitive than in the two
previous seasons.
“Of course I like it,” NBA Com-
missioner Adam Silver said Dec.1
on a Portland Trail Blazers tele-
cast. “It’s still early in the season,
so we’ll see. ... You have a lot of
competitive teams.”
The eye test and data prove the
points as coaching, rebuilding
plans, player development, roster
improvements and subtle talent
migration from West to East have
helped even the two conferences.
uThe record between the two
conferences entering Monday
was 79-79 this season compared
with 101-55 last season at the
same point and 91-43 in 2013-14
in the West’s favor. BOB DONNAN, USA TODAY SPORTS
uTen teams in the East are
LeBron James, right, and the
.500 or better compared with just Cavaliers visit Stephen Curry
v STORY CONTINUES ON 6C and the Warriors on Friday.

LAST WORD
“THAT (47-YARD) TOUCH-
Teammates dismiss
DOWN WAS A GROWN-MAN
RUN. HE’S SO PHYSICAL. HE’S
NOT A GUY YOU WANT TO
criticism of Cook HARD TO WRAP
TACKLE 18 TIMES A GAME.”
Cardinals quarterback Carson
Palmer on David Johnson, who
had 29 carries for 187 yards and
Michigan State players
view much-maligned
EASY TO GIVE
three touchdowns in the 40-17 quarterback as leader
victory against the Eagles.

Edited by Joe Rayos

Nicole Auerbach
@NicoleAuerbach
USA TODAY Sports
USA SNAPSHOTS©
EAST LANSING, MICH . No one’s MIKE CARTER, USA TODAY SPORTS

Home exactly sure the origin of the nar- Coach Mark Dantonio says of TRIM
Connor Cook, above, “I think STARTMERS
for Christmas rative that follows Michigan State
quarterback Connor Cook. he’s having his best year.” IN
AT: G

3
Current NBA
Maybe it started when he
wasn’t named a team captain this Taken together, a narrative
$
129 95
franchises that season. emerges. An outside perception is
have never
played on Perhaps it grew exponentially formed and reinforced. But to
Christmas Day: after video of his post-Big Ten those on the inside, none of that
STNUSJ165

Charlotte
Hornets,
championship game accidental
blow-by of Archie Griffin went
Memphis viral.
Grizzlies,
Minnesota Certainly, the flames have been
Timberwolvess fanned in recent weeks by critical
NFL scouts who were granted an-
onymity by various outlets to sug-
gest Cook enjoys being a celebrity
and doesn’t work hard enough at
Source NBA actual football or carries himself
ELLEN J. HORROW AND PAUL TRAP, USA TODAY in an off-putting way.
matters.
“He’s the quarterback,” Spar-
Give the Gift of STIHL.
tans offensive lineman Jack Con- Skip the mall this holiday season and visit
your local STIHL Dealer for professional
klin said. “People are going to All prices MSRP.
praise him. People are going to advice, product demonstrations and more. Available at participating
Dealers. ©2015 STIHL
try to tear him down. It’s just the To find a Dealer, visit: STIHLdealers.com SNTUSJ15-16542-121453-24
nature of the position. He’s the
leader of our team.
“You can’t say the right things
v STORY CONTINUES ON 4C

2C SPORTS
SOCCER
FIFA suspensions
won’t solve problem
Nate Scott
@aNateScott
USA TODAY Sports
ANALYSIS FIFA’s ethics com-
mittee handed down
a harsh punishment
Monday on the in-
ternational soccer
governing body’s president, Sepp
Blatter, and the European federa-
tion’s president, Michel Platini,
banning each man for eight years
because of a $2 million payment
by FIFA to Platini.
For people who follow soccer,
it could be seen as the exclama-
tion point to Blatter’s ousting, a
final move that gets him out of
soccer and makes it easier to
clean up the game.
It’s not that simple. It never is.
Here are five reasons this ban
doesn’t mean Blatter is done or
that international soccer will im-
mediately get to a better place.
BLATTER WILL APPEAL
From a procedural standpoint,
this is just getting started. Blatter
has made it clear he will appeal
the decision in the Court of Arbi-
tration for Sport. Platini will do
the same. They will say the pun-
ishment was politically motivat-
ed. (They aren’t wrong, by the
way, but more on that to come.)
“There might have been an ad-
ministrative error, but this was
nothing to do with the ethics,”
Blatter said. “This cannot be
proven. If it cannot be proven,
then it cannot be guilty.”
THE PEOPLE WHO BANNED
HIM AREN’T EXACTLY
PARAGONS OF VIRTUE
The FIFA ethics committee
sounds like a good thing, but this
was largely the same committee
that allowed this mess to happen
in the first place. Hans-Joachim
Eckert is on the committee, and
he’s the judge who took Michael
Garcia’s 2008 report on FIFA
ethics, summarized it (or
chopped it to bits), then present-
IN BRIEF
STEVE MITCHELL, USA TODAY SPORTS
Western Kentucky’s Brandon
Doughty had three TD passes.
WESTERN KENTUCKY BOWLS
PAST SOUTH FLORIDA
Brandon Doughty’s final foot-
ball game at Western Kentucky
perfectly epitomized his career
with the Hilltoppers, with a slow
start followed by a record-setting
finish. Doughty threw for 461
yards and three touchdowns and
Western Kentucky overcame an
early 14-point deficit to beat
South Florida 45-35 in the Miami
Beach Bowl on Monday in Miami.
Doughty finished the season with
5,055 yards for the Hilltoppers
(12-2), the 14th time in Football
Bowl Subdivision history that a
quarterback has reached the
5,000 mark. His six-year career at
the school — it took him three to
become the starter — ended with
these numbers: 1,023 comple-
tions, 12,855 yards and 111 touch-
downs. “It’s been a heck of a run,”
Doughty said just before hoisting
the bowl trophy. He was probably
even better than Willie Taggart
thought he would be when he
signed him in 2010. Taggart was
Doughty’s coach for his first game
and the opposing coach for his
last, and his Bulls (8-5) nearly
stole the show from Doughty
with two fourth-quarter touch-
downs that got them to 38-35.
But Anthony Wales’ second
touchdown of the day, a 42-yard
scamper with 5:05 left, helped
seal it for the Hilltoppers. Nicho-
las Norris hauled in touchdown
passes of 69 and 55 yards in the
third quarter for Western Ken-
tucky, and Jared Dangerfield
made a highlight-caliber 26-yard
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is investigating FIFA.
ed it to the world as evidence that
FIFA was doing a good job. Garcia
said it was a gross mischaracter-
ization of his report.
These are the guys who are in
charge of overseeing ethics, so the
fact that they pushed Blatter out
shouldn’t necessarily be seen as
them doing the right thing, just
that they’re pushing Blatter out.
THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE
FIFA’s modus operandi for years
has been, whenever it’s accused of
violating ethics and can’t just ig-
nore it, it finds a fall guy, pushes
him out, then keeps doing what it
was already doing.
It was a running joke that any-
time someone challenged Blatter
for the presidency and accused
him of ethics violations, that per-
son would be found guilty of eth-
ics violations and removed from
FIFA. It’s what happened to Mo-
hamed bin Hammam, who was
banned for life after attempting
to challenge Blatter for the FIFA
presidency in 2011.
When everyone is dirty, it’s all
about who has the most power.
Blatter and Platini don’t have the
power they once had, so it was
their turn on the chopping block.
TD catch over three defenders to
cap a 28-point third quarter for
the Hilltoppers. “Brandon is a
great quarterback,” Taggart said.
“Not only did he do it against us,
he did it against everybody.”
WOODSON TO RETIRE
Oakland Raiders safety Charles
Woodson is retiring after 18 sea-
sons. Woodson announced Mon-
day that he would end his career
after the final two games of this
season. Woodson says he realized
late last month that he couldn’t
play another season and wanted
to announce his decision before
playing his final home game
Thursday night against the San
Diego Chargers. Woodson is one
of the top defensive backs to play
the game. He is tied for fifth in
NFL history with 65 intercep-
tions and is still playing at a high
level at 39. He has five intercep-
tions and three fumble recoveries
this season, ranking second in the
NFL with eight takeaways. “I felt
it was only right that Raiders
fans, my fans, fans that have
watched me play for a long time,
I’d let them all know that this
Thursday night would be the last
time in the Coliseum I would be
able to run out there in front of
our fans at home,” Woodson said
at a news conference. He won
The Associated Press Defensive
Rookie of the Year award in 1998,
AP Defensive Player of the Year
in 2009 and is a three-time, first-
team all-pro selection.
SEATTLE HIRES FEMALE SCOUT
The Seattle Mariners hired
Amanda Hopkins as an area
scout, and the team says she is
believed to be the first woman
hired as a full-time scout by a ma-
jor league club since the 1950s.
The Mariners announced the
move Monday amid a flurry of
changes in their scouting depart-
ment. Hopkins, who will cover
Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico
and Utah, spent the last three
seasons working as an intern in
Seattle’s amateur scouting de-
partment and is a recent graduate
of the Major League Baseball de-
velopmental program. Hopkins
graduated in June from Central
Washington University, where
she played softball for the Wild-
cats. She is the daughter of Ron
MICHAEL REYNOLDS, EPA
FIFA NEEDS A SYSTEMIC
OVERHAUL
All this is a way of saying that FI-
FA is a many-headed snake, and
there will always be corruption
until a new regime is put in place.
This is an organization that has
operated a certain way for many,
many years, and, sadly, just by
pushing out the two most public
faces doesn’t mean it will all be
fixed. Someone else will step up,
someone who knows the inner
workings of FIFA. That’s not a
good thing.
CHANGE NEEDS TO COME
FROM THE OUTSIDE
It’s also why if change is ever go-
ing to happen, it has to come
from the outside.
That’s why soccer fans were so
grateful for U.S. Attorney General
Loretta Lynch, who has issued
dozens of indictments in an ever-
expanding probe into FIFA cor-
ruption.
Critics might say she is trying
to police the world. But if change
is ever going to come to FIFA, it
needs to come from the outside.
Otherwise there will be new
faces, but the organization will
never change.
Hopkins, a baseball scout for
more than 30 years who served as
scouting director in Texas and
Oakland. He worked for the Mari-
ners in 1988.
NORWEGIANS FINISH 1-2 IN
PARALLEL GIANT SLALOM
With Norwegian standouts Kje-
til Jansrud and Aksel Lund
Svindal taking the top two spots,
the new head-to-head event of
parallel giant slalom made a posi-
tive debut on the World Cup cir-
cuit at the Alta Badia resort on
Monday in La Villa, Italy. Taking
advantage of the seemingly faster
blue course, Jansrud beat Svindal
by 0.22 seconds in the final run of
about 20 seconds, then the team-
mates embraced in the finish
area. “No one knew what today
would be like, so we just attacked
and we ended up with a 100%
Norwegian final and with the
downhill team,” Svindal said.
“This was very unexpected — and
a lot of fun.” Andre Myhrer of
Sweden beat Dominik Schwaig-
er of Germany for third. Top-
seeded Marcel Hirscher was
eliminated in the first round by
Italy’s Riccardo Tonetti after
the Austrian skier failed to land a
jump correctly and plowed
through a gate on his second run.
Tonetti was the overall champion
of the second-tier Europa Cup
last season. Only the first round
in the 32-man tennis-like tourna-
ment featured two runs. From
Kjetil Jansrud, left, races Norwegian teammate Aksel Lund
Svindal in the final run of the men’s parallel giant slalom race
at the Alta Badia resort in La Villa, Italy.
E6
Sepp Blatter has been the president of FIFA since 1998.
Blatter blames
United States
for 8-year ban
A.J. Perez
@ajperezusat
USA TODAY Sports
Sepp Blatter blamed the Unit-
ed States for his eight-year ban
handed down Monday by FIFA
over ethics violations, a jab at a
federal investigation responsible
for several indictments of offi-
cials from soccer’s international
governing body.
“If we had awarded the World
Cup in 2022 to the USA, we
would not be here,” Swiss-born
Blatter said in Italian at a mean-
dering, nearly one-hour news
conference in Zurich.
Blatter was found guilty of vio-
lating FIFA’s ethics rules, allega-
tions that centered around a
$2 million payment Blatter ap-
proved for Frenchman Michel
Platini, a FIFA vice president
and head of the Union of Euro-
pean Football Associations. Pla-
tini, once the front-runner to
replace Blatter, also received an
eight-year suspension. Both had
already received provisional
bans.
“I told him that FIFA could
not pay him all the money now.
We will pay you part of it later
on,” Blatter said about the pay-
the Round of 16 on it was direct
elimination after only one run.
The made-for-TV event lasted
only 75 minutes and featured
constant action. The race was
held under artificial lights and a
crowd of about 10,000 spectators
showed up. American Olympic gi-
ant slalom champion Ted Ligety,
the second seed, was eliminated
in the first round by Cyprien
Richard of France. “I just had
trouble getting to the ground on
all the rolls,” Ligety said. “It’s all
about getting to the ground fast.
Guys like Aksel and Jansrud have
been very, very good GS skiers,
and these are like half GS turns.
It’s good for them.”
WILD GIVE SPURGEON
$20.75 MILLION EXTENSION
The Minnesota Wild signed de-
fenseman Jared Spurgeon to a
four-year, $20.75 million contract
extension that begins next sea-
son. The deal was announced
Monday before the Wild hosted
the Dallas Stars. “I think it’s a
fair-market-value contract,” gen-
eral manager Chuck Fletcher
said. “We were able to secure the
prime years of Jared’s career.”
The 26-year-old has four goals
and 12 assists with a +4 rating
in 31 games and a team-high
65 blocked shots this season.
Only defenseman Ryan Suter
has been on the ice more for Min-
nesota than Spurgeon, who
joined the Wild in 2010. Among
ANDREA SOLERO, EPA
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
PATRICK B. KRAEMER, EPA
ment in 2011 that coincided with
Platini’s decision not to chal-
lenge Blatter for president. “He
asked for the payment later on.
The debt existed.”
While Blatter has not been
charged with a crime, many of
his former FIFA colleagues are
under federal indictment for al-
leged bribery in the bidding for
World Cups.
On-point answers to report-
ers’ question were rare for Blat-
ter at the news conference held
at a Swiss building that once
housed FIFA’s headquarters.
Blatter, 79, has worked for the or-
ganization for four decades and
served as its president since
1998.
“I regret I am a punching ball
and for my organization I have
served with my heart and con-
science for 41 years,” Blatter said
during his opening statement.
“Specifically I regret for all the
team members working in
FIFA.”
Blatter said he should have
quit after the 2014 World Cup in
Brazil and vowed to fight his ban
in the courts.
“First of all, I was sad, but now
I’m not sad,” Blatter said when
asked for his reaction to the pun-
ishment. “I am combative.”
defensemen who have played at
least 300 games in the NHL since
then, Spurgeon’s 38 penalty min-
utes are the fewest. He has 117
points and a +18 rating in 326
games.
STEWART-LESS CONNECTICUT
ROUTS LSU WOMEN
Moriah Jefferson led Connecti-
cut with 17 points and the top-
ranked Huskies, playing without
two-time national player of the
year Breanna Stewart, routed
LSU 86-40 on Monday in Hart-
ford. Morgan Tuck and Katie
Lou Samuelson each scored 14
points and Gabby Wiliams
chipped in with 13 to help UConn
to its 46th consecutive win. Rina
Hill led LSU (6-6) with 10 points.
UConn (9-0) outscored LSU 35-6
off turnovers, 42-12 in the paint
and 24-2 on the fast break. The
Huskies put on a defensive clinic,
holding the Tigers to 16 baskets
on 54 shots (29.6%) and forcing
28 turnovers. Stewart sprained
right her right ankle in practice
last week and as a precaution did
not dress for the game.
STAFFORD TOSSES 3 TDS;
LIONS HOLD OFF SAINTS
Matthew Stafford passed for
254 yards and three touchdowns
and the Detroit Lions held off a
late surge by the New Orleans
Saints for a 35-27 road victory
Monday. Detroit (5-9) raced to a
28-3 lead, but Drew Brees threw
two touchdown passes — one
shortly after a Lions fumble — to
help New Orleans (5-9) pull to
28-20 with about 10 minutes re-
maining. Brees passed for 341
yards and three touchdowns, be-
coming the fourth NFL quarter-
back to surpass 60,000 yards in a
career while also eclipsing the
4,000-yard mark for the 10th
consecutive season. But New Or-
leans’ loss guaranteed consecu-
tive losing seasons for the first
time since Sean Payton became
coach in 2006. Golden Tate
caught two touchdown passes for
Detroit. The Lions’ last-ranked
running game accounted for 150
yards and two touchdowns
against New Orleans’ last-ranked
run defense.
From USA TODAY Sports staff and wire
reports
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
FUENTE AMONG GRADE-A HIRES
Campbell,
Richt also
good choices;
Illinois flubs
Dan Wolken
dwolken@usatoday.com
USA TODAY Sports
This did not turn into the wild
year of college football coaching
changes many predicted. Though
a number of attractive jobs were
open, there was surprisingly little
domino effect as Southern Cali-
fornia stayed in-house, Miami
(Fla.) hired an out-of-work coach
and Georgia hired an assistant.
For now, Brigham Young’s hir-
ing of Oregon State defensive co-
ordinator Kalani Sitake and
Georgia Southern taking Colora-
do State defensive coordinator
Tyson Summers bring the coach-
ing carousel largely to a halt. Bar-
ring a surprise post-bowl-game
firing or an NFL team hiring from
the college ranks, no more big
jobs will open this cycle.
How we ranked the hires in the
top six leagues, including the
American Athletic Conference,
where the pay scale has risen to
near Power Five levels.
A+
VIRGINIA TECH:
JUSTIN FUENTE
From the fit to the
way athletics director
Whit Babcock conducted the
search, this was arguably the
smoothest coaching transaction
of the year.
Not only did Babcock move
quickly and authoritatively to se-
cure his guy before other coach-
ing dominoes could fall, but he
also brokered a meeting between
Fuente and longtime defensive
coordinator Bud Foster before the
deal got done to gauge whether
they could work together. The
possibility of Fuente’s offense
producing the way it did at Mem-
phis, which won 19 games over
the last two seasons, combined
with Foster’s defense is a scary
thought for the rest of the Atlantic
Coast Conference.
A
MIAMI: MARK RICHT
If there are any reserva-
tions about this marriage,
it’s whether Richt’s calm-
ing persona and spiritual nature
will mesh with the culture Miami
fans and its former players want
to foster.
But Richt is an alum, which
counts for something, and you get
the sense he will be re-energized
by a change of scenery and the
challenge of proving Georgia
shouldn’t have fired him. Bottom
line: He is the best combination of
coach and recruiter Miami has
had in a long time, perhaps since
Jimmy Johnson.
IOWA STATE: MATT CAMPBELL
Maybe Campbell could have got-
ten what many would view as a
better job than Iowa State after
his success at Toledo. And Camp-
bell, 36, is definitely taking a risk
by jumping to a job where it’s his-
torically difficult to win.
But Ames is the kind of place
where Campbell’s personality and
approach, rooted in Midwestern
values, might work. Athletics di-
rector Jamie Pollard did an excel-
lent job of establishing a personal
connection with Campbell and
recruiting him to take the job be-
fore other schools could get
involved.
B+
VIRGINIA: BRONCO
MENDENHALL
Whether it was the lack
of a conference affili-
ation or the recruiting restrictions
at BYU, you could sense the last
couple of years that Mendenhall
might be willing to jump for the
right situation. After 11 mostly
successful seasons in Provo, Utah,
Mendenhall knew it was time for
a change.
Kudos to athletics director
Craig Littlepage for picking up on
that vibe and landing Menden-
hall, who has a 99-43 career rec-
ord, in a very under-the-radar
E2
Justin Fuente, coming off a sterling run at Memphis, appears to be the perfect fit at Virginia Tech.
Syracuse hopes new head coach Dino Babers brings some Bay-
lor magic its way.
search. It will be interesting to see
Bronco 2.0 in a new environment
without the roadblocks of BYU’s
very particular culture. Menden-
hall has been willing to evolve in
his offensive approach over the
years, and his defense has always
been hard-nosed and physical.
SYRACUSE: DINO BABERS
This is about as well as Syracuse
could have done. The Baylor of-
fensive system, which Babers
learned as an assistant from 2008
to 2011 under Art Briles, is start-
ing to put up big numbers in lots
of places and conferences and
now comes to the Atlantic Coast
Conference after an 18-9 run at
Bowling Green over the last two
seasons.
Babers, 54, waited a long time
to get his shot as a head coach in
2012 at Eastern Illinois. It has
been a quick rise since then to a
Power Five-level job, but this feels
like a very good move for a foot-
ball program that really lacked an
identity. It has one now.
TULANE: WILLIE FRITZ
This was a savvy hire by new ath-
letics director Troy Dannen, who
got the job a little more than a
week earlier.
Fritz will give Tulane a chance
in the American Athletic Confer-
ence because he is an offensive in-
novator and, at 55, has been
around the block a bit. He went
40-15 at Sam Houston State and
17-7 at Georgia Southern, which
was making the transition from
Football Championship Subdivi-
sion to Football Bowl Subdivision.
MEMPHIS: MIKE NORVELL
The former Arizona State offen-
sive coordinator checks every box
for continuing Memphis’ run of
success under Fuente.
Norvell, 34, has been a hot
name in recent years but wasn’t
brought up as much in this cycle
because Arizona State had a dis-
appointing season at 6-6. Still, his
up-tempo offense has been highly
productive, he’s a terrific recruiter
and he has ties to the region from
which Memphis recruits.
B
MISSOURI:
BARRY ODOM
The situation at Missouri
is unique at the moment.
The football team going on strike
in a protest tied to the bubbling
RICH BARNES, USA TODAY SPORTS
racial tensions on campus had re-
verberations in this search. Com-
bined with the idea of replacing
Gary Pinkel, who raised the bar at
Missouri to unrealistic heights, a
number of coaches didn’t want to
touch Missouri at the moment.
Given those factors, it was
smart to settle on Odom, 39, who
played at the school and did a ter-
rific job as defensive coordinator
last season.
MARYLAND: D.J. DURKIN
Pretty much everyone in the in-
dustry who has met Durkin, 37, is
impressed. Maryland might have
lucked into a really good hire.
But the coaching search was a
scattershot mess, and surely
Maryland fans didn’t envision fir-
ing Randy Edsall and ending up
with Michigan’s defensive coordi-
nator.
Maryland is a classic example
of a school that didn’t have a real-
istic view of itself going into the
process. No amount of Under Ar-
mour founder Kevin Plank’s mon-
ey was going to persuade a
high-profile coach to come to the
division where Urban Meyer, Jim
Harbaugh, Mark Dantonio and
James Franklin reside.
CENTRAL FLORIDA:
SCOTT FROST
It will be interesting to see wheth-
er Frost can successfully import
the Oregon system to Central
Florida the way former Baylor as-
sistants have done at Tulsa and
Bowling Green.
Frost, 40, was blessed with
Marcus Mariota in his first two
years as offensive coordinator,
and it’s a bit of a mystery how
much of that success you can as-
cribe to him as a play-caller. But
give UCF credit for knowing what
it wanted and securing a coach a
number of other schools wanted.
B-
GEORGIA:
KIRBY SMART
If being a former Nick
Saban assistant was an
automatic path to head coaching
success, Derek Dooley would still
be at Tennessee and Will Mus-
champ would still be at Florida.
Smart, who turns 40 this
month, waited patiently for a
head coaching gig and landed the
chance of a lifetime at his alma
mater. Maybe it will work out. But
it’s a big roll of the dice for Geor-
STEVE MITCHELL, USA TODAY SPORTS
Mark Richt is coaching at his
alma mater and might feel he
has something to prove.
gia, especially when it fired a suc-
cessful coach in Richt and didn’t
conduct a legitimate search, hon-
ing in on Smart from the get-go.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:
CLAY HELTON
Nothing against Helton, who
might do a good job, but USC’s
search was a joke and continued
the insular ways of the Trojans
athletics department. Given that
the last successful USC football
coach had no previous ties to the
school — that, of course, would be
Pete Carroll — you’d think this
time the USC brass would have
done whatever it took to get a
proven winner.
Helton is a good guy who did a
competent job as interim coach
this season and has no personal
baggage, which might be enough
to win at USC. But to win a na-
tional title? That seems like a
stretch for a guy who just six
years ago was the offensive coor-
dinator on Tommy West’s Mem-
phis staff that got fired.
RUTGERS: CHRIS ASH
The former Ohio State defensive
coordinator is accomplished,
well-regarded and organized, but
this is a tough job, especially for
someone without significant ties
to the region. If Ash and his staff
can tap into New Jersey’s under-
rated recruiting base, he has a
shot to win.
The other wild card is Rutgers’
famously inept administration.
Julie Hermann is out, which
should help, but new athletics di-
rector Patrick Hobbs, a former Se-
ton Hall law school dean, has
never worked in athletics in any
capacity.
MINNESOTA: TRACY CLAEYS
With no permanent athletics di-
rector in place, Minnesota took
the easiest and probably most
sensible path in promoting Claeys
to replace Jerry Kill, who retired
for health reasons. Claeys served
as acting head coach several times
over the years when Kill had to
miss games because of his epilep-
sy, so Minnesota kind of knows
what it’s getting.
This was a pure continuity hire,
but there are no guarantees he
will work out as well as Kill.
EAST CAROLINA:
SCOTTIE MONTGOMERY
This could turn out to be a very
good hire because Montgomery is
smart, well-regarded and has the
right kind of background — hav-
ing worked in the NFL and under
Duke’s David Cutcliffe — to be a
successful college head coach.
The question people have is
SPORTS 3C
MATT GENTRY, AP
EXPERTS DISCUSS
THE CAROUSEL
Dan Wolken and George
Schroeder of USA TODAY
Sports talk about the
coaching carousel, which
finally has stopped spin-
ning, on The Football Four
podcast. Find it at iTunes,
SoundCloud, Stitcher and
ncaaf.usatoday.com.
why get rid of a proven winner in
Ruffin McNeill, an ECU alum, to
hire a 37-year-old who was only
an offensive coordinator for two
seasons.
C
SOUTH CAROLINA:
WILL MUSCHAMP
Athletics director Ray
Tanner was in a difficult
spot. At one point, he thought he
had Houston’s Tom Herman
locked up. Then he was going to
hire Smart, but then the Georgia
job opened up. Still, Tanner had a
two-month head start on this
search after Steve Spurrier’s re-
tirement and ended up with a
Southeastern Conference retread.
In a division trending toward
defensive-minded hires, Tanner
should have gone for an offensive
guy such as Western Kentucky’s
Jeff Brohm or Arkansas State’s
Blake Anderson, but Muschamp’s
reputation carries a lot of weight
in SEC circles. We’ll see if he is
any better the second time
around.
BRIGHAM YOUNG:
KALANI SITAKE
The Cougars were working from a
limited pool because of school re-
quirements that the head coach
be an active member of the Mor-
mon faith. Navy’s Ken Niumatalo-
lo would have been a home run,
but once he turned BYU down,
the options were much less at-
tractive for athletics director Tom
Holmoe.
Sitake, a BYU alum, did a great
job as Utah’s defensive coordina-
tor between 2008 to 2014 before
going to Oregon State with Gary
Andersen last season. Whether
that translates into head coaching
success, particularly at a high-
profile job such as BYU, is unclear.
F
ILLINOIS: BILL CUBIT
The Illini administration
had an entire season to fig-
ure out what it wanted to
do with its coaching search. In-
stead it punted, elevating Cubit
from interim coach with a three-
year deal and leaving the big deci-
sions to its next president and
athletics director.
All this accomplished was kick-
ing the can down the road and
probably putting Illinois in an
even deeper hole for the next guy
to climb out of.
FOLLOW COLLEGES WITH
DAN WOLKEN
@DanWolken for news and analy-
sis on college football.
 USA TODAY
4C SPORTS E6 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

COLLEGES
TUESDAY’S BOWL GAMES

CHRIS NICOLL, USA TODAY SPORTS

Chuckie Keeton has 61 career touch-
down passes with 23 interceptions.
FAMOUS IDAHO POTATO BOWL
IN BOISE
Akron (7-5) vs. Utah State (6-6)
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET/ESPN.
Surface: Artificial.
Pregame.com line: Utah State by 6½.
Sagarin difference: Utah State by 7.79.
It isn’t quite a home game for the Aggies,
but they and their fans won’t have nearly
as far to travel. Though Utah State faced
Boise State at home this season, the blue
turf will be familiar to most of the play-
ers. But the Aggies dropped three of their
last four games, while the Zips enter on a
four-game winning streak. Utah State
followers hope to bid a triumphant fare-
well to QB Chuckie Keeton, who has
flashed amazing athletic ability but has
been hampered by injuries for much of
his career, including a big chunk of this
season. Akron hasn’t been bowling since
2005, so the Zips should be eager to
leave a good impression. They’re paced
by the backfield tandem of QB Thomas
Woodson and TB Conor Hundley, who
will be opposed by veteran Aggies LBs
Nick Vigil and Kyler Fackrell.

MIKE CARTER, USA TODAY SPORTS

“People are going to say what they’re going to say on Twitter, and it’s nothing I can control,” says Michigan State quarter-
back Connor Cook, who has a 34-4 record as a starter. “I’m not going to let it get to me.”
BILL STREICHER, USA TODAY SPORTS
P.J. Walker, left, and Tyler Matakev-
ich are key cogs for Temple.

BOCA RATON (FLA.) BOWL

No. 24 Temple (10-3) vs. Toledo (9-2)
Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Grass.
Pregame.com line: Temple by 2.
Sagarin difference: Toledo by 0.47.
It’s been a somewhat contradictory sea-
son for the Owls. They have played well
but have come up short in games that
might have been considered the biggest
in program history. Nevertheless, this is
Temple’s best overall campaign since its
last and only previous 10-win effort, in
1979. A victory against the Rockets, a
former opponent from Temple’s Mid-
American Conference days, would be
icing on the cake. Toledo might not be
quite as happy to be here, as the Rockets
lost their regular-season finale to West-
ern Michigan and missed out on a berth
in the MAC title game as a result. Add in
the fact that Rockets coach Matt Camp-
bell has moved on to Iowa State, and it
might be hard to gauge the team’s level
of interest. It should help, however, that
offensive coordinator Jason Candle has
assumed the reins and should still be on
the same page with senior QB Phillip Ely.
They face a daunting enough task
against the Owls defense, featuring LBs
Tyler Matakevich and Jarred Alwan. The
Temple attack is directed by QB P.J. Walk-
er, who has just enough scrambling abil-
ity to avoid trouble. He gets help from TB
Jahad Thomas, who will do his best to
steer clear of Rockets’ LB Chase Murdock.
Jeff Sagarin’s power ratings show the relative
strength of teams.
Linemen defend quarterback Cook
v CONTINUED FROM 1C
all the time. ... But Connor’s a great leader
and a good guy.”
And, yes, Cook is extremely confident.
He’s self-assured. His personality is a de-
parture from those of Kirk Cousins and
other former Michigan State quarterbacks.
But you’d be hard-pressed to find some-
one who would argue that any of that has
affected Cook or his team in a negative
way.
Despite not being named a captain —
which, again, his teammates say hasn’t
mattered — Cook has thrown for 2,921
yards and 24 touchdowns this season. He
is 34-4 as a starter, the winningest quarter-
back in Michigan State history. The Spar-
tans, Cotton Bowl-bound as the No. 3 seed
in the College Football Playoff, are two
wins away from a national championship
with Cook under center. And he’s healthy.
“This team is built on all sorts of lead-
ers,” Conklin said. “It’s hard and makes
Connor maybe not look the best when he’s
not voted captain, but that’s not the case.
We have so many leaders on this team, and
that’s why we’re in this position right now.”
Conklin shared a story he said showed
the real Connor Cook. After Cook was
named MVP of the Big Ten championship
game, he gave his trophy to the offensive
line, telling the group that Michigan State
would not have won the game without it.
The trophy sits in the offensive line meet-
ing room.
“You can’t say the
right things all the
time. ... But
Connor’s a great
leader and a good
guy.”
Michigan State offensive lineman Jack Conklin
on quarterback Connor Cook
“That goes to show his character right
there,” Conklin said. “He’s not a selfish guy
just trying to get trophies to put up at his
house. He’s about the team and about win-
ning a national championship for Michi-
gan State.”
Cook didn’t want to address any of these
topics when he met with the news media
last week. But he did want to again apolo-
gize for how the incident with Griffin
appeared.
“People are going to say what they’re go-
ing to say on Twitter, and it’s nothing I can
control,” Cook said. “I’m not going to let it
get to me.
“I’ve talked to Archie Griffin, and he was
cool with it. He knew I didn’t mean any-
thing by it. That’s all that matters. If any-
one else really says anything, I don’t really
care as long as Archie’s cool with it. I apol-
ogized to him and talked to him. That’s all
that matters.”
Said Spartans center Jack Allen: “He’s a
mentally tough guy, and he knows what to
shrug off. He knows what’s important and
what’s not important.”
What is important at this juncture is ac-
tual football — and preparing for a daunt-
ing test in No. 2 Alabama’s vaunted front
seven. Cook is healthier than he’s been
since injuring his shoulder a little over a
month ago. He has time to rest, time to get
treatment and time to prepare.
“What separates him in the pocket, he’s
got a great release. He’s big. He’s tall. He’s a
very confident player,” Michigan State
coach Mark Dantonio said. “He throws to
guys who are open, and he can fit the ball
in very, very tight windows, as we’ve seen
throughout the year.
“I think he’s having his best year as a
senior. He’s played on a big stage in big
games, and he’s been extremely
successful.”
The biggest stage is yet to come. And
Cook knows his performance likely will be
the determining factor in the Cotton Bowl.
“I’m comfortable with it,” Cook said.
“It’s no different than any other game. You
go out there and got to execute the pass
game, you’ve got to execute the run game.
There’s pressure in every single game. I’m
not looking at this game differently than
any other game.
“Every game’s important. Every game is
going to come down to the quarterback.”
Might as well give his critics something
to talk about.

College men’s basketball;
times p.m. Eastern
1. Michigan State
(12-0)
Points: 773 (29 first-place votes).
Previous ranking: 1. Upcoming
game: Tuesday vs. Oakland in
Auburn Hills, Mich. (ESPNU, 7).
2. Oklahoma (8-0)
Points: 718 (2). Previous rank-
ing: 3. Upcoming game: Tues-
day vs. Washington State in
Diamond Head Classic in Hono-
lulu (ESPNU, 11).
3. Kansas (9-1)
Points: 716. Previous ranking:
5. Upcoming game: Tuesday at
San Diego State (CBSSN, 11).
4. Maryland (10-1)
Points: 687. Previous ranking: 7.
Upcoming game: Sunday vs.
Marshall (BTN, 4).
5. Virginia (9-1)
Points: 646. Previous ranking:
9. Upcoming game: Tuesday vs.
California (ESPN2, 9).
6. Xavier (11-0)
Points: 603. Previous ranking:
10. Upcoming game: Tuesday at
Wake Forest.
7. North Carolina
(10-2)
Points: 520. Previous ranking:
11. Monday’s result: Beat Appa-
lachian State 94-70. Next game:
Monday vs. North Carolina-
Greensboro (ESPNU, 6).
8. Arizona (11-1)
Points: 517. Previous ranking:
12. Upcoming game: Tuesday
vs. Long Beach State (Pac-12, 9).
9. Iowa State (9-1)
Points: 506. Previous ranking:
2. Upcoming game: Tuesday at
No. 21 Cincinnati (ESPN2, 7).
10. Duke (9-2)
Points: 455. Previous ranking:
6. Upcoming game: Monday vs.
Elon (ESPNU, 8).
11. Kentucky (9-2)
Points: 441. Previous ranking:
4. Upcoming game: Saturday
vs. No. 15 Louisville (CBS, noon).
12. Butler (9-1)
Points: 410. Previous ranking:
18. Upcoming game: Tuesday
vs. Southern Utah (FS2, 8:30).
13. Purdue (11-1)
Points: 378. Previous ranking:
8. Upcoming game: Tuesday vs.
No. 25 Vanderbilt (BTN, 8).
14. Providence (12-1)
Points: 376. Previous ranking:
14 (Tie). Monday’s result: Beat
Massachusetts 90-66. Next
game: Dec. 31 at No. 12 Butler
(CBSSN, 2:30).
15. Louisville (9-1)
Points: 371. Previous ranking:
16 (Tie). Upcoming games: Tues-
day vs. Missouri-Kansas City,
Wednesday vs. Utah Valley
(ESPNU, 7), Saturday at No. 11
Kentucky (CBS, noon).
16. Miami (Fla.) (9-1)
Points: 323. Previous ranking:
19. Upcoming game: Tuesday at
La Salle (CBSSN, 5).
17. Villanova (8-2)
Points: 310. Previous ranking:
13. Upcoming game: Tuesday
vs. Delaware (FS1, 7).
18. West Virginia (10-1)
Points: 301. Previous ranking:
16 (Tie). Monday’s result: Beat
Eastern Kentucky 84-59. Next
game: Dec. 30 at Virginia Tech
(ESPNU, noon).
19. Texas A&M (9-2)
Points: 169. Previous ranking:
24. Upcoming game: Dec. 29 vs.
Cal Poly.
20. George
Washington (10-1)
Points: 159. Previous ranking:
22. Upcoming game: Tuesday
at DePaul (FS1, 9).
21. Cincinnati (10-2)
Points: 153. Previous ranking:
20. Upcoming game: Tuesday
vs. No. 9 Iowa State (ESPN2, 7).
22. Baylor (8-2)
Points: 122. Previous ranking:
14 (Tie). Upcoming game:
Wednesday vs. N.M. State.
23. South Carolina
(10-0)
Points: 77. Previous ranking:
25. Upcoming game: Tuesday
vs. St. John’s in Hall of Fame
Shootout in Uncasville, Conn.
(CBSSN, 9).
24. Gonzaga (9-3)
Points: 59. Previous ranking: 21.
Monday’s result: Beat Pepper-
dine 99-73. Next game:
Wednesday vs. Loyola-Mary-
mount.
25. Vanderbilt (7-3)
Points: 45. Previous ranking:
23. Upcoming game: Tuesday
at No. 13 Purdue (BTN, 8).
Dropped out: None
Others receiving votes: Connecticut (7-3) 38;
Utah (9-2) 35; Pittsburgh (9-1) 34; Colorado
(10-1) 31; UCLA (8-4)
22; Oregon (9-2) 18;
Notre Dame (7-3)
15; Dayton (8-2) 10;
Arkansas-Little Rock
(10-0) 8; California
(9-2) 8; Northern
Iowa (7-3) 5; Texas
(8-3) 5; Florida (7-3) 4; Indiana (9-3) 3; Iowa (8-3)
2; Monmouth (8-3) 2.
The USA TODAY Sports board of coaches is made
up of 32 coaches at Division I institutions. All are
members of the National Association of Basket-
ball Coaches.
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
NFL
WEEK 15 OVERREACTIONS
Playing Newton sensible
Eric Prisbell
@EricPrisbell
USA TODAY Sports
Week 15 of the NFL season was
dominated by reaction to New
York Giants wide receiver Odell
Beckham Jr.’s fiery on-field be-
havior during back-and-forth
confrontations with Carolina
Panthers cornerback Josh Nor-
man on Sunday.
But the weekend also featured
the improbable emergence of a
backup quarterback for the Hous-
ton Texans, a favorite rising in the
NFC East and three teams (the
Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Sea-
hawks and Pittsburgh Steelers)
continuing to gather strength for
potentially deep playoff runs.
Here’s push-back to overreac-
tions from Week 15:
1. Panthers coach Ron Rive-
ra has no choice but to rest
Cam Newton for the next two
weeks.
The Carolina fan base under-
standably holds its collective
breath each time a defender
closes in on the front-runner for
league MVP. But how to handle
the final two regular-season
games with his unbeaten team,
which has not secured home-field
advantage, is not a clear-cut sce-
nario for Rivera.
Resting star players gives Rive-
ra — he sat running back Jona-
than Stewart on Sunday — his
best possible lineup for the play-
offs. But does the move squander
a chance at history? Does it risk
losing the team’s rhythm and
edge? And what message does it
send to players? By playing stars
in the final two games — at the
Atlanta Falcons and against the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Rivera
would be telling them that finish-
ing unbeaten is important and
that the team could find a rar-
efied perch in history alongside
Giants back Beckham,
but not his outbursts
Lorenzo Reyes
@LorenzoGReyes
USA TODAY Sports
The New York Giants have
Odell Beckham Jr.’s back.
After digesting the second-year
wide receiver’s ugly display Sun-
day against the Carolina Pan-
thers, Giants players and coaches
didn’t approve of Beckham’s ac-
tions but did show unwavering
support for their star, who was
suspended for one game by the
NFL on Monday for multiple vio-
lations of safety-related playing
rules.
“I will not defend his actions
yesterday because they were
wrong, and this particular fran-
chise and organization does not
tolerate that,” Giants coach Tom
Coughlin said Monday during a
conference call. “So I will not do
that. But I will defend the young
man, the quality of the person. I
will defend him as long as I am
able.”
In a 38-35 loss to the Panthers,
Beckham frequently sparred with
Carolina cornerback Josh Nor-
Norman, referee deserve league scrutiny, too
v CONTINUED FROM 1C
It’s sad that any player, espe-
cially one who has generated
such buzz during his brief NFL
career for his immense skill,
would lower himself to the point
of intentionally targeting an op-
ponent’s head — especially in this
day and age with heightened
awareness about the conse-
quences of head injuries, re-
vamped safety rules and more
scrutiny than ever of the NFL
universe.
Yet Beckham, who had zero
catches at the time of the second-
half incident, still peeled back
and took a 10-yard running start,
as Hanks wrote in a letter to the
receiver, and launched himself
headfirst into Norman.
I’ve seen helmet-to-helmet
blows before, but typically they
occur in the context of an ultra-
fast game featuring athletes try-
ing to aggressively make a play.
E2
the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
2. Not pulling Beckham
from the game, at least for a
series, was the final straw for
Tom Coughlin.
First, the obvious: Shame on
the officials for not ejecting a
completely out-of-control player.
And if this is going to be the end
for Coughlin, barring an improb-
able run to the playoffs, he didn’t
need a poor response to Beck-
ham’s meltdown to seal his fate.
Fielding a Giants team with
one of its worst defenses in re-
cent history, squandering chances
to win in the waning seconds of at
least five games and clinching his
third consecutive non-winning
season are enough reasons the
distinguished Coughlin tenure,
highlighted by two magical Super
Bowl wins, could end. This cer-
tainly doesn’t look like a typical
Coughlin-coached team. It’s hard
to envision vintage Coughlin not
sitting Beckham (the coach ad-
mitted Monday that he needed
his best player to win the game).
But if this is the end for Coughlin,
it won’t be because he didn’t dis-
cipline his me-first receiver, who
was suspended for one game by
the NFL on Monday.
3. The Philadelphia Eagles
are done — really done — this
time.
Haven’t we learned anything
this season? Philadelphia plays in
the woeful NFC East. And while
the Washington Redskins (7-7)
are in the driver’s seat to win the
division, a scenario difficult to en-
vision at the season’s start, the
Eagles (6-8) can capture the divi-
sion with two more wins. The big-
gest reason for optimism: They
play two NFC East teams (the
Redskins and Giants) to close the
regular season.
The Eagles still look like a hot
mess on the field, and their use of
DeMarco Murray and abysmal
tackling are baffling. But it
“He wears his
emotions on his
sleeve.”
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, on Odell
Beckham Jr.
man, drawing three personal
fouls, including a non-football
play in which Beckham launched
himself with the crown of his hel-
met to strike Norman’s head.
The Giants and Coughlin faced
criticism for not removing Beck-
ham from the game after the first
signs of a problem.
“I don’t watch one player
throughout the course of the
game,” Coughlin said. “To be hon-
est with you, I wasn’t aware that
all of the personal fouls were all
directed at Odell. There were
three personal fouls, and there
was an offensive pass interfer-
ence, so I wasn’t aware of all of
that.
“There’s a young player that’s
being educated, that quite frankly
is an excellent football player, and
if we were going to have the
chance to win the game, I wanted
I’ve never seen one like that one.
Just dirty.
Beckham has now provided
classic examples of what to do
(make spectacular catches) and
what not to do (recklessly pursue
opponents without regard for the
well-being of a fellow player). Gi-
ants coach Tom Coughlin, while
vouching for Beckham’s dedica-
tion to his craft during his two
NFL seasons, told reporters
Monday what he told his team.
“I hope he learns exactly what
should be learned — that there is
no place in this game for these
personal battles,” Coughlin said
in a conference call. “That it is
team first, team last, team always,
and nothing stands above that.
And that he is responsible to his
team and to his franchise, to his
ownership, just as we all are. And
I’m hoping that’s what he learns.”
It’s sad that the conversation
now is about the bad blood be-
tween two players who likely will
Some have suggested Cam Newton should sit out the final two
games, but the Panthers haven’t secured home-field advantage.
shouldn’t surprise anyone if the
Eagles beat the Redskins, who are
1-5 on the road. And the Giants
have given away multiple games
in the fourth quarter this season.
Remember, it was just two weeks
ago that the Eagles inexplicably
beat the New England Patriots.
4. Move over Newton, Tom
Brady and Carson Palmer:
Russell Wilson should be the
MVP.
him to be out there. I’ll be honest
with you.”
Beckham and Norman were
engaged throughout the after-
noon, taking attention away from
a game that featured the unde-
feated Panthers and a Giants
team scraping to make the play-
offs. Norman sharply criticized
Beckham after the game, but Gi-
ants players have not wavered in
supporting their teammate.
“To the media, he cried a little
bit,” Giants quarterback Eli Man-
ning said of Norman. “I didn’t
think that was necessary.”
Added defensive end Jason
Pierre-Paul: “Norman moved his
head. Odell didn’t try to hit him
helmet to helmet intentionally.”
Coughlin said he addressed the
entire Giants squad with Beck-
ham present about keeping emo-
tions in check and being smarter.
He added that he suspected one
reason for Beckham’s actions was
because of frustration about the
team losing several tight games
this season.
The Giants (6-8) are alive in
the NFC East race with games at
the Minnesota Vikings (9-5) and
earn first-team all-pro honors
this season rather than the Pan-
thers being 14-0 or the drama of a
thrilling game. What a fine time
for this lesson.
The Giants (6-8) are clinging to
playoff hopes that hinge on win-
ning their final two games and
hoping for a miracle. Now they
won’t have their best player for
Sunday night’s road game against
the Minnesota Vikings.
And in a larger context, Nor-
man wasn’t without fault. He en-
gaged in the back-and-forth with
Beckham but apparently re-
strained himself enough as to not
go helmet-to-helmet. While
Beckham drew three penalties for
personal fouls, Norman received
two flags for his flagrant behavior.
He should draw admonishment
from the league, too, but in the
form of a fine.
And while we’re at it, referee
Terry McAulay deserves a repri-
mand, too. He allowed this situa-
BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS
In his last five games, Wilson
has amassed statistics — 19
touchdown passes and zero inter-
ceptions — usually seen only in
video games. His play is the pri-
mary reason the Seahawks are
well positioned to make another
run in the playoffs. And the quar-
terback is doing it without Mar-
shawn Lynch, tight end Jimmy
Graham and running back Thom-
as Rawls.
Giants coach Tom Coughlin, above, might not have Odell Beck-
ham Jr. available for Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
at home against the Philadelphia
Eagles (6-8). But losing Beckham
for a game — if the suspension
stands — would be a significant
blow.
Beckham leads the team in
catches (91), yards (1,396) and
touchdowns (13) and has been
the primary playmaker for an of-
fense that has struggled at times.
“There are qualities that Odell
Beckham brings to this football
team the likes of which I have
tion to get way out of hand. Some
officials might have ejected Beck-
ham on the spot after the helmet
job. But McAulay wouldn’t go be-
yond the penalties.
After the game, McAulay
served up a lame excuse that not-
ed how the league typically re-
views incidents that occur during
the game. Not good enough. Me-
mo to McAulay: During the game,
the referee is in charge. You can
make the call to send a player to
the showers.
Perhaps McAulay, or other
members of his crew, didn’t see
entirely what went on. But after
the dust-ups early in the game in-
volving two of the NFL’s best
players, they should have been on
high alert, watching for flare-ups.
Instead, another blown non-call.
Giants players could have done
more, too, to deal with Beckham
in the moment. Some of the Pan-
thers addressed Norman.
But what set Beckham off? The
SPORTS 5C
But let’s not forget the MVP
front-runner also can run, pass
and lead.
Newton might not always have
the gaudiest statistics, but he also
doesn’t have the most glamorous
group of pass catchers outside of
Greg Olsen, one of the league’s
best tight ends. Sunday, Newton
became the first quarterback in
history to throw for 300 yards
and five touchdowns and run for
100 yards in the same game. Oh,
by the way, Newton’s team is also
unbeaten. He deserves to be the
MVP.
5. The Dallas Cowboys have
found their backup quarter-
back in Kellen Moore, but
they were wrong to release
Brandon Weeden.
There’s a reason it took Moore
this long to see action in a regu-
lar-season game. Lacking optimal
size and arm strength, he threw
three interceptions in relief of
struggling Matt Cassel in Satur-
day’s loss to the New York Jets.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is
fluent in hyperbole, but he will
only say that Moore’s best attri-
bute is his knowledge of the of-
fense. No gushing about the
beauty of his throws, as he did
about Weeden, whom the Cow-
boys released last month.
Kudos to Weeden, who played
well Sunday in place of injured
quarterback T.J. Yates and helped
the Texans take control of the
AFC South with a win at the Indi-
anapolis Colts.
But the Cowboys chose to go
with Cassel, which was not an un-
popular decision at the time. At
least in Dallas, Weeden seemed
either unwilling or unable to take
enough chances downfield. It’s
likely that next year’s backup to
Tony Romo was never on the Dal-
las roster this season. We all
know that Jones has one eye on a
quarterback on the Cleveland
Browns.
BRAD PENNER, USA TODAY SPORTS
never seen,” Coughlin said. “He
has great energy. He has great en-
thusiasm. He gives great effort.
He does it literally every day that
he walks out on the field. He is an
emotional young man. He wears
his emotions on his sleeve.”
When asked how meaningful
Beckham’s loss would be for Sun-
day night’s game at Minnesota,
Coughlin was short: “You ask a
question that requires no an-
swer.”
most intriguing explanation is the
“smoking bat” theory. A Panthers
practice squad player reportedly
brought a black baseball bat to
the sideline during pregame
warm-ups and motioned toward
Beckham, who supposedly was
threatened by the gesture. It
wasn’t the first time the Panthers
have packed a black bat — of
course not on the field during the
game, mind you — as some sort of
symbol of their aggressiveness.
The Panthers denied Beckham
was taunted.
But if that’s what it takes to
throw Beckham off his game, he
must have really thin skin. Re-
gardless, that doesn’t excuse his
actions.
That, too, is one of the multiple
takeaways from a sad situation.
FOLLOW NFL COLUMNIST
JARRETT BELL
@JarrettBell for breaking news,
insight from the football world.

6C SPORTS
NASCAR
RETURN, RETIREMENT TOP STORIES
Two suspensions
also high on list
of ’15 happenings
Jeff Gluck
jgluck@usatoday.com
USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 NASCAR season was
quite eventful — but most of the
news happened off the track. So
while the on-track product didn’t
provide much to talk about (the
low-downforce package can’t get
here soon enough), there were
still plenty of headlines.
Now that the season has been
over for a couple weeks and the
hangovers from awards weekend
in Las Vegas have subsided, here
are the top 10 stories of the year
in order of magnitude:
Charter system
10
If this comes to fru-
ition, it’ll be one of the
top stories on the 2016 list. But
the proposed charter system for
race teams is still in the discus-
sion stage.
Should it happen, the fran-
chise-type format will be a game-
changer for team owners. They
will have more financial stability
and more say in what happens
with the sport. But it could make
it harder for new teams to enter
the Sprint Cup Series.
Daytona 500 qualify-
9
ing fiasco
Knockout qualifying has
been a great improvement to
NASCAR’s race weekends in the
last two years, with a notable ex-
ception: It didn’t work at restric-
tor-plate tracks.
Officials kept trying different
ways to make it happen, but it
was like putting a square tire on a
round wheel. That was no more
apparent than during Daytona
500 qualifying, which left some
drivers wrecked and fuming.
Fortunately, NASCAR imple-
mented a hybrid old/new qualify-
ing style for restrictor-plate
tracks in time for the May race at
Talladega Superspeedway.
Confederate flag
8
controversy
NASCAR waded into the
debate over the Confederate bat-
tle flag after South Carolina re-
moved it from the grounds of the
state Capitol following the
Charleston shooting in June. Bri-
an France denounced the flag as
offensive and divisive, and tracks
encouraged fans not to display it
at racetracks.
However, the move seemed to
backfire among fans. The number
of visible flags in the infield
Coach hires, player moves help East close gap
v CONTINUED FROM 1C
six teams at this point last season
and seven in the West this season.
uThree East teams had a posi-
tive net efficiency rating against
the West at this point last season;
nine have one this season.
“You can look at the number of
teams above .500. You’re seeing
more balance; you’re seeing bet-
ter teams. One metric you can al-
ways use is head-to-head
matchups,” said NBA TV analyst
Grant Hill, who has a keen eye on
the conference as a part-owner of
the Atlanta Hawks.
There’s a lot of basketball left,
but the season is one-third over
and teams are starting to reveal
exactly what they are. The East is
not a pushover.
Not all East teams are champi-
onship contenders, but the im-
proved play has led to a better,
more interesting league. Games
that were duds last season are
now compelling matchups with
implications in the standings.
And an apparent offshoot of a
more competitive league? Less
tanking. There are two teams
(Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles
Lakers) scurrying for the worst
record, with the playoffs realistic
for more teams.
Some improvement is rooted
in rebuilding efforts. Patience was
required, but front-office staffs
for those teams are drafting and
finding players who help in the
win column.
“You’re starting to see the
fruits of those rebuilds,” said
longtime basketball executive
Kyle Busch, left, came back from a broken right leg and left foot to win the Sprint Cup champi-
onship, while Jeff Gordon, right, said farewell to the sport he helped put on the national map.
campgrounds ballooned in an act
of defiance after NASCAR’s state-
ment.
Instead of just criticizing it,
NASCAR could have completely
banned the flag from track prop-
erty if the sanctioning body want-
ed to make a real impact. But that
might have hurt the tracks in the
wallet, so there was no real
change.
Rules packages
7
This was a new one: In
an attempt to find a better
aerodynamic racing package for
next season — an acknowledg-
ment the current one wasn’t good
enough — NASCAR experiment-
ed with two different packages
over four races this season.
The low-downforce package,
preferred by the drivers, put on
fantastic shows at Kentucky
Speedway and Darlington Race-
way. Seriously, it was great. Ev-
eryone was pumped.
Meanwhile, NASCAR’s pre-
ferred high-drag package totally
flopped at Indianapolis Motor
Speedway and Michigan Interna-
tional Speedway.
Thankfully, low downforce
won out and will be the standard
for all races (except restrictor-
plate events) starting next season.
EASTERN CONFERENCE IS BALANCING POWER
Wins between conferences through Sunday compared to previous
years’ same time period.
WEST VS. EAST
2015-16
79
2014-15
101
2013-14
91 43
USA TODAY Sports
Bobby Marks, an NBA front-of-
fice insider for Yahoo Sports’ The
Vertical. “You don’t have to do it
through the draft, either. You
don’t have to go through the lot-
tery every year to get it done.”
Silver has been adamant that
he wants all 30 teams well-man-
aged, and look at what’s happen-
ing with teams in the East.
“You want a 30-team league,”
Silver said on that telecast.
“That’s what commissioners want
— either with the ability to com-
pete or the ability to be on the
road to competing and have that
based on management and not al-
ways the market size. That’s what
we’re seeing in the new NBA.
“What does become important
is belief in a general manager, an
owner, a coach who can build a
positive environment, and that’s
what we want.”
Coaching has been an integral
Drivers council
6
Instead of speaking with
individual voices, drivers
were given the opportunity to
present their viewpoints to NAS-
CAR for the first time with an
elected drivers council.
The first meeting of the peer-
voted group was in May at Dover
International Speedway, and sev-
eral more meetings with top
brass were held throughout the
year.
This was a huge win for every-
one in the sport. Tony Stewart
called it one of the greatest things
he had experienced in his career.
NASCAR, once a dictatorship,
had been listening much more of-
ten through meetings with own-
ers and manufacturers; now the
drivers have a true platform to
get their opinions transformed
into policy.
Tony Stewart retire-
5
ment announcement
Though it will be a bigger
story in 2016, the official an-
nouncement that next season will
be Stewart’s last is significant.
NASCAR is losing a three-time
champion and a major personal-
ity with a large fan base, and that
will hurt.
Clint Bowyer will step into
79
55
part of the East’s improvement,
too: Scott Skiles with the Orlando
Magic, Stan Van Gundy with the
Detroit Pistons, Brad Stevens
with the Boston Celtics, Steve
Clifford with the Charlotte Hor-
nets and Frank Vogel with the In-
diana Pacers.
Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer
was the 2014-15 coach of the year,
Cleveland’s David Blatt probably
doesn’t get enough credit and
Erik Spoelstra’s value to the Mi-
ami Heat is well known to keen
observers.
In praise and indictment in
one sentence, an Eastern Confer-
ence executive told USA TODAY
Sports that with an important
game on the line, he would rather
player the Lakers than the Brett
Brown-coached Sixers.
“A lot of it is just really good
coaching,” Marks said. “Half the
battle is just really managing
E4
JASEN VINLOVE, USA TODAY SPORTS
Stewart’s No. 14 car in 2017, and
Stewart will still be around
through his role as co-owner of
Stewart-Haas Racing. That’s
good, because NASCAR is more
interesting when “Smoke” is
involved.
4
Matt Kenseth suspen-
sion for wrecking Joey
Logano
Kenseth’s blatant wreck of Lo-
gano at Martinsville Speedway —
retaliation for an incident at Kan-
sas Speedway — divided NASCAR
like few other issues in recent
years. And when NASCAR sus-
pended him for an unprecedent-
ed two races? It was explosive, to
say the least.
Opinions were heated on both
sides. Some thought Kenseth was
justified, some thought he dra-
matically crossed the line and
many were upset with NASCAR
for what they viewed as an incon-
sistent punishment.
Kurt Busch domestic
3
violence suspension
Few stories these days
make headlines outside of NAS-
CAR, but this one certainly did.
Thanks in part to wild accusa-
tions on both sides of the alleged
domestic violence incident be-
tween Busch and ex-girlfriend
The Hawks’ Mike Budenholzer, the reigning coach of the year,
is one of many difference-makers in the Eastern Conference.
egos. It’s not always on-court
development.”
Who has made executives and
coaches look good? Players.
Detroit’s Reggie Jackson and
Miami’s Goran Dragic were ac-
quired at last season’s trade dead-
line from West teams, and they
stayed in the East and had a full
training camp with their teams.
Other important West-to-East re-
locations: Arron Afflalo to the
New York Knicks; Nicolas Batum,
Jeremy Lin and Jeremy Lamb to
the Hornets; Marcus Morris to
the Pistons; Monta Ellis to the
Pacers; Gerald Green to the Heat.
“All those guys are playing at a
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
Patricia Driscoll, this case played
out very publicly.
It was also at the height of a
national conversation about do-
mestic violence that started with
incidents in the NFL. So when a
Delaware family court commis-
sioner ruled Busch probably com-
mitted the act, NASCAR did the
only thing it could: It suspended
him for the Daytona 500 and
beyond.
But when no charges were filed
against Busch, NASCAR did the
right thing again and reinstated
him after three races. Busch then
rallied to make the Chase for the
Sprint Cup, had a fantastic season
and put the past behind him. He
announced in August he was en-
gaged to Ashley Van Metre.
Jeff Gordon retire-
2 ment
Many people will argue
this should be the top story of the
year, and there’s certainly a case
to be made for that. Either way,
Gordon’s retirement was a sea-
son-long topic that only got more
discussion as he kept advancing
during the Chase, earning his fi-
nal win at Martinsville along the
way.
This wasn’t just any future Hall
of Fame driver retiring — even
though the four-time champion’s
stats are legendary in themselves.
No, this was about Gordon’s im-
pact on stock car racing and how
he helped transform NASCAR
from a regional sport to a nation-
al one.
He’ll still have a weekly TV
presence for the first half of next
season through his role as a Fox
Sports analyst, but that’s small
consolation for fans who now
have to find a new driver to root
for.
Kyle Busch’s remarkable
1 comeback
Gordon’s retirement would
have been No. 1 in almost any
other year, but nothing can beat
Kyle Busch’s storybook season.
The word “unbelievable” gets
thrown around a lot, but this tru-
ly was beyond belief. Busch broke
his right leg and left foot in a
crash the day before the Daytona
500, and there were many ques-
tions in the aftermath. Would he
race again? If so, when? Would he
be the same?
But he came back way ahead of
schedule (after learning how to
walk again!), somehow won a
race, then won three more in a
row, then improbably made the
top 30 in points.
All that would have been
enough to make for an incredible
story, except there was more. He
advanced through the rounds of
the Chase and won the final race
of the season to clinch his first ca-
reer title in the most difficult year
of his life.
JASON GETZ, USA TODAY SPORTS
high level,” Hill said. “They’re not
elite players, but they’re coming
to the East and making their
teams better.”
Some of have been sneaky
valuable: Richard Jefferson to the
Cavaliers and Cory Joseph to the
Toronto Raptors.
The dispersal of talent for sev-
eral reasons — the impact of the
collective bargaining agreement
is an important one — has led to
more parity and a better Eastern
Conference.
“Better players are going to the
East; there are better teams in
the East,” Hill said. “And you’re
starting to see that shift overall.”
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 E6 SPORTS 7C
FOR THE RECORD Vegas school
repeats title
NFL Minnesota 26 27 19 27 — 99 Third Period—5, Anaheim, Manson 2 (Va-
tanen, Getzlaf), 7:32. 6, N.Y. Islanders, J.Bai-
Loyola of Chicago 72, W. Illinois 67
Marquette 91, Chicago St. 74
Boston 34 26 32 21 — 113 ley 7 (Lee), 9:35. 7, N.Y. Islanders, Martin 4 Northwestern 103, Sacred Heart 67
All times ET 3-Point Goals—Minnesota 2-13 (Martin (Cizikas), 17:27 (en). Penalties—Perry, Ana Notre Dame 87, Youngstown St. 78
1-1, Wiggins 1-4, Muhammad 0-1, Towns (hooking), 3:09. Ohio 65, Ark.-Pine Bluff 58
AMERICAN CONFERENCE 0-1, Bjelica 0-1, Payne 0-1, Rubio 0-2, La- Shots on Goal—Anaheim 7-12-10—29. N.Y. S. Illinois 65, Saint Louis 52
East Vine 0-2), Boston 12-25 (Olynyk 3-3, Jere- Islanders 11-8-12—31. Toledo 95, NC A&T 62
W L T Pct PF PA
y-N. England
N.Y. Jets
12
9
2
5
0 .857
0 .643
435
344
269
272
bko 3-3, Crowder 2-4, Bradley 2-6, Young
1-1, Hunter 1-5, Turner 0-1, Thomas 0-2).
Fouled Out—Zeller. Rebounds—Minnesota
Power-play opportunities—Anaheim 0 of 1;
N.Y. Islanders 0 of 3.
Goalies—Anaheim, Andersen 5-8-4 (11
SOUTHWEST
Lamar 86, Texas Lutheran 69
Texas St. 92, Howard Payne 43
Bishop Gorman tops Super 25
Buffalo 6 8 0 .429 341 336 41 (Towns 16), Boston 59 (Crowder 10). As- shots-8 saves), J.Gibson (0:00 second, 19- Texas-Arlington 98, Sul Ross St. 40
Miami 5 9 0 .357 278 361 sists—Minnesota 20 (Rubio 8), Boston 34 18). N.Y. Islanders, Halak 10-6-3 (29-27).
(Thomas 12). Total Fouls—Minnesota 19, A—13,578 (15,795). T—16:53.
FAR WEST
South
W L T Pct PF PA Boston 22. Technicals—Miller, Minnesota
Akron 84, UC Santa Barbara 70
Jim Halley to seven points or fewer
Flyers 4, Blues 3 Colorado St. 89, SC-Upstate 61
Houston 7 7 0 .500 275 301 Coach Mitchell, Boston defensive three sec-
Gonzaga 99, Pepperdine 73 while outscoring oppo-
Indianapolis 6 8 0 .429 285 372 ond. A—18,624 (18,624). St. Louis 2 1 0 — 3 @jimhalley
Jacksonville 5 9 0 .357 343 380 Philadelphia 0 2 2 — 4
N. Dakota St. 67, Idaho St. 62
Portland 87, Loyola Marymount 60 USA TODAY Sports nents by an average of
Nets 105, Bulls 102
Tennessee 3 11 0 .214 269 359 First Period—1, St. Louis, Fabbri 6 (Jaskin), UC Irvine 63, Sam Houston St. 53 51-11.
North BROOKLYN 8:16. 2, St. Louis, Shattenkirk 5 (Tarasenko, TOURNAMENT With so few teams play-
W L T Pct PF PA Johnson 5-15 0-0 12, Young 8-15 0-0 16, Lo- Stastny), 14:51 (pp). Penalties—Paajarvi, StL
Global Sports Classic-Visitors
x-Cincinnati
Pittsburgh
11
9
3
5
0 .786
0 .643
378
378
243
287
pez 8-18 5-6 21, Jack 2-9 2-2 6, Bogdanovic
5-8 0-0 12, Bargnani 3-8 2-3 8, Sloan 3-7 0-0
(high-sticking), :11; Voracek, Phi (roughing),
14:03; Edmundson, StL (holding), 18:07; First Round Bishop Gorman (Las Ve- ing in the final week, there
Baltimore 4 10 0 .286 292 360 6, Reed 4-5 3-3 11, Ellington 5-9 0-0 13. To- Gudas, Phi (roughing), 18:07. Grand Canyon 78, Houston 69
Nebraska-Omaha 80, E. Illinois 68
gas) finished the season wasn’t a lot of movement in
Cleveland 3 11 0 .214 253 387 tals 43-94 12-14 105. Second Period—3, St. Louis, Paajarvi 2
West CHICAGO (Stastny), 9:11. 4, Philadelphia, Vande- Southern U. 68, NC Central 63 with its seventh consecu- the rankings.
W L T Pct PF PA Gibson 5-9 0-0 10, Mirotic 3-9 1-2 8, Gasol Velde 2 (Bellemare), 10:03 (sh). 5, Philadel- Women’s Basketball tive state title, 39th consec- De La Salle moved up
Denver 10 4 0 .714 308 259 8-16 4-6 20, Rose 3-11 1-2 8, Butler 11-20 phia, Simmonds 8 (Voracek, Gostisbehere), Monday’s Major Scores
Kansas City 9 5 0 .643 365 257 1-3 24, Noah 2-4 0-0 4, Hinrich 1-2 0-0 3, 12:13. Penalties—Giroux, Phi (hooking),
EAST utive win and, not from No. 4 to No. 3 with its
Oakland 6 8 0 .429 319 356 9:16; Lehtera, StL (high-sticking), 19:30.
San Diego 4 10 0 .286 280 348
McDermott 4-9 0-0 11, Portis 3-9 0-0 6,
Brooks 3-6 0-0 8. Totals 43-95 7-13 102. Third Period—6, Philadelphia, Simmonds 9 Buffalo 57, Niagara 48 coincidentally, second con- 28-21 defeat of then-No. 5
Canisius 68, Northeastern 57
NATIONAL CONFERENCE Brooklyn 29 29 27 20 — 105 (Voracek, Gostisbehere), :51 (pp). 7, Phila-
delphia, Medvedev 2 (White, VandeVelde), Dartmouth 60, Holy Cross 54 secutive finish atop the Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
East Chicago 22 33 23 24 — 102 16:47. Penalties—St. Louis bench, served by Drexel 62, Quinnipiac 49 USA TODAY Sports Super on Saturday in Sacramento
W L T Pct PF PA 3-Point Goals—Brooklyn 7-20 (Ellington Gomez (too many men), 4:34. Navy 64, Air Force 46
Washington 7 7 0 .500 316 332 3-5, Bogdanovic 2-4, Johnson 2-6, Sloan Shots on Goal—St. Louis 15-9-5—29. Phila- Notre Dame 91, Saint Joseph’s 55 25 high school football as Antoine Custer ran for
Philadelphia 6 8 0 .429 318 362 Penn 78, Wagner 50
N.Y. Giants 6 8 0 .429 373 358
0-1, Jack 0-2, Bargnani 0-2), Chicago 9-26
(McDermott 3-6, Brooks 2-4, Hinrich 1-2,
delphia 8-14-9—31.
Power-play opportunities—St. Louis 1 of 2; Stony Brook 71, LIU Brooklyn 54 rankings. 117 yards and two TDs.
Dallas 4 10 0 .286 246 324 Rose 1-3, Mirotic 1-4, Butler 1-6, Portis 0-1). Philadelphia 1 of 3. Syracuse 65, Jacksonville 49 The Gaels are the first Katy, Texas, moved up a
UConn 86, LSU 40
South Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Brooklyn Goalies—St. Louis, Allen 15-8-2 (31
team to repeat as Super 25 spot to No. 5 as Kyle Porter
W L T Pct PF PA 57 (Young 13), Chicago 54 (Gasol, Gibson shots-27 saves). Philadelphia, Mason 7-8-5 SOUTH
Arizona 79, Gardner-Webb 60
y-Carolina
Atlanta
14
7
0
7
0 1.000
0 .500
449
302
278
312
9). Assists—Brooklyn 26 (Jack 8), Chicago
32 (Noah 8). Total Fouls—Brooklyn 13, Chi-
(29-26).
A—19,676 (19,537). T—2:31. Baylor 77, James Madison 63 champion since De La Salle ran for three touchdowns
Tampa Bay 6 8 0 .429 311 353 cago 15. Technicals—Brooklyn defensive
Penguins 5, Blue Jackets 2
Clemson 67, UNC Asheville 49
Coastal Carolina 83, Wofford 69
(Concord, Calif.) won four Saturday in a 34-7 defeat of
New Orleans 5 9 0 .357 350 432 three second 2. A—21,825 (20,917).
North Columbus 1 0 1 — 2 ETSU 80, Austin Peay 76 consecutive Super 25 titles then-No. 14 Lake Travis
W L T Pct PF PA
Rockets 102, Hornets 95 Pittsburgh 0 4 1 — 5 Georgia St. 80, Stetson 72, OT
from 2000 to 2003. (Austin) in the 6A-II state
Mercer 46, Jacksonville St. 39
x-Green Bay 10 4 0 .714 347 265 CHARLOTTE First Period—1, Columbus, Wennberg 3 Mississippi St. 72, SMU 70 The Gaels did it by beat- championship game in
Minnesota 9 5 0 .643 296 272 Batum 3-11 3-4 9, Williams 2-9 6-6 12, Zell- (Tyutin, Saad), 5:41. Penalties—Malkin, Pit Morehead St. 112, Alabama A&M 69
Chicago
Detroit
5
5
9
9
0 .357
0 .357
289
302
352
363
er 5-9 0-0 10, Walker 3-10 6-6 14, Hairston
2-12 1-2 7, Lin 4-6 4-7 13, Kaminsky 4-8 2-3
(elbowing), 11:30; Cullen, Pit (slashing),
12:06.
Troy 100, SE Louisiana 90 ing one state champion in Houston.
UAB 61, Samford 41
West 12, Hawes 1-5 0-0 3, Lamb 3-9 3-3 10, Rob- Second Period—2, Pittsburgh, Malkin 16 VCU 73, William & Mary 47 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, Imhotep Charter (Phila-
erts 1-2 0-0 2, Daniels 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 29- (Perron, Daley), 3:06 (pp). 3, Pittsburgh, Kes-
y-Arizona
W L T Pct
12 2 0 .857
PF
445
PA
269 83 25-31 95. sel 10 (Wilson, Bonino), 4:24. 4, Pittsburgh,
Vanderbilt 64, UT Martin 61
Virginia Tech 47, Radford 40
N.J.); a state runner-up in delphia) jumped three
x-Seattle 9 5 0 .643 370 248 HOUSTON Kessel 11 (Bonino, Maatta), 16:00. 5, Pitts-
burgh, Warsofsky 1 (Kunitz, Perron), 19:15
W. Kentucky 64, Lipscomb 56 Bellevue, Wash.; and two spots to No. 10 with its im-
St. Louis 6 8 0 .429 241 294 Ariza 2-6 0-0 5, Capela 1-3 1-2 3, Howard West Virginia 75, Indiana 64
San Francisco 4 10 0 .286 202 339 4-5 1-3 9, Beverley 3-9 3-6 11, Harden 9-16 (pp). Penalties—Dubinsky, Clm, major
MIDWEST
teams that spent time in pressive win for the AAA
(fighting), :30; Fehr, Pit, major (fighting), :30;
Monday’s Game 16-19 36, Motiejunas 2-7 2-2 6, Terry 1-4
0-0 2, Brewer 0-3 0-0 0, Jones 7-11 3-5 17, Korpisalo, Clm, served by Clarkson (delay Akron 74, Youngstown St. 49 the Super 25 rankings, state championship Friday
Detroit 35, New Orleans 27 Ball St. 73, Evansville 53
Thursday, Dec. 24 Thornton 4-7 3-4 13. Totals 33-71 29-41 of game), 1:43; Jenner, Clm, served by
Clarkson, minor-major (tripping, fighting), Florida Gulf Coast 60, W. Michigan 42 Chandler, Ariz., and Bing- as Mike Waters ran for 201
102.
San Diego at Oakland, 8:25 p.m.
Charlotte 28 16 16 35 — 95 7:03; Wilson, Pit, major (fighting), 7:03; Illinois St. 57, Chicago St. 53
Indiana St. 70, Butler 63, OT
ham (South Jordan, Utah). yards and three touch-
Saturday, Dec. 26 Houston 27 18 24 33 — 102
Bourque, Clm (cross-checking), 18:00.
Kansas St. 84, W. Illinois 45 And they did it convinc- downs in a 40-3 defeat of
Washington at Philadelphia, 8:25 p.m. Third Period—6, Columbus, Jenner 13 (Jo-
Loyola of Chicago 88, DePaul 75
Sunday, Dec. 27 3-Point Goals—Charlotte 12-41 (Williams
2-5, Kaminsky 2-5, Walker 2-6, Hairston
hansen, Bodnarchuk), 5:23. 7, Pittsburgh,
Malkin 17 (Hornqvist, Cullen), 18:31 (en). Michigan St. 81, Detroit 42 ingly, holding seven teams Cathedral Prep (Erie).
Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m. Missouri 82, Texas St. 56
Cleveland at Kansas City, 1 p.m. 2-9, Hawes 1-2, Daniels 1-2, Lin 1-3, Lamb Penalties—Lovejoy, Pit (hooking), 10:29;
1-5, Roberts 0-1, Batum 0-3), Houston 7-28 Prout, Clm, served by Atkinson, double mi- N. Illinois 68, Bradley 64
New England at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m. Nebraska 79, Arkansas St. 71
Indianapolis at Miami, 1 p.m. (Beverley 2-4, Thornton 2-4, Harden 2-7, Ar- nor (cross-checking), 19:02.
iza 1-5, Jones 0-1, Brewer 0-2, Motiejunas Shots on Goal—Columbus 9-7-8—24. Pitts- Ohio St. 93, Virginia 73
San Francisco at Detroit, 1 p.m. Purdue 56, Maine 33
Dallas at Buffalo, 1 p.m. 0-2, Terry 0-3). Fouled Out—Zeller, Howard. burgh 12-10-13—35.
Rebounds—Charlotte 49 (Zeller 7), Hous- Power-play opportunities—Columbus 0 of S. Dakota St. 58, Bowling Green 45
Chicago at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. Xavier 62, Kennesaw St. 59
Carolina at Atlanta, 1 p.m. ton 61 (Howard 9). Assists—Charlotte 20 3; Pittsburgh 2 of 4.
Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 1 p.m. (Walker 6), Houston 18 (Harden 7). Total Goalies—Columbus, Korpisalo 1-3-0 (34 SOUTHWEST
Jacksonville at New Orleans, 4:05 p.m. Fouls—Charlotte 27, Houston 33. Techni- shots-30 saves). Pittsburgh, M.Murray 1- North Texas 62, Incarnate Word 55
St. Louis at Seattle, 4:25 p.m. cals—Batum, Charlotte Coach Clifford, 1-0 (24-22). Texas Southern 69, Rice 66, OT
Green Bay at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. Walker, Howard, Houston defensive three A—18,602 (18,387). T—2:35. Texas-Arlington 51, UTSA 47
N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 8:30 p.m. second. A—18,236 (18,023).
Capitals 2, Hurricanes 1 FAR WEST HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RANKINGS
Monday, Dec. 28 Arizona St. 68, Florida St. 56
Hawks 106, Trail Blazers 97 Washington 1 1 0 — 2 Boise St. 84, E. Washington 79
Cincinnati at Denver, 8:30 p.m. Carolina 0 0 1 — 1
PORTLAND Cornell 59, Cal St.-Fullerton 47
Aminu 3-8 0-0 7, Vonleh 2-3 1-1 5, Plumlee First Period—1, Washington, Latta 3 (Bura- Grand Canyon 69, N. Colorado 59 1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (15-0)
NBA 3-3 5-6 11, Frazier 5-15 2-3 12, Crabbe 8-18 kovsky, Orlov), 15:52. Penalties—Alzner, Montana St. 74, Carroll (Mont.) 34
Oregon St. 80, Cal Poly 43 Previous: 1. Result: Seven-time defending Division I state champion. The
2-5 19, Henderson 3-11 5-6 12, Leonard 2-7 Was (interference), 3:39.
1-1 5, Davis 4-4 0-0 8, Harkless 6-10 0-0 14, Second Period—2, Washington, Chimera 9 Santa Clara 76, Pacific 52 Gaels have won 39 consecutive games.
(Carlson, Beagle), 12:49. Penalties—E.Staal, UC Riverside 92, Seattle 70
All times ET Connaughton 0-0 0-0 0, Montero 2-2 0-0 4,
Wyoming 77, Colorado 68
Alexander 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 38-81 16-22 97. Car (holding), 5:50; Beagle, Was (tripping),
EASTERN CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
Atlantic Division ATLANTA 17:17; Skinner, Car (interference), 19:08.
Third Period—3, Carolina, Versteeg 5 (Liles,
2. Colquitt County, Moultrie, Ga. (15-0)
W L Pct GB Bazemore 4-10 2-2 12, Millsap 3-9 6-7 12, Gator Holiday Classic
E.Staal), 2:18. Penalties—Washington
Toronto 17 12 .586 — Horford 3-9 0-0 6, Teague 4-12 5-6 13, Kor-
bench, served by Ovechkin (too many
Championship Previous: 2. Result: Two-time defending AAAAAA champion. The Packers
ver 2-4 3-3 9, Splitter 3-4 2-2 8, Sefolosha Florida 79, NC State 72
Boston 15 13 .536 11⁄2
5-6 2-4 13, Schroder 7-10 1-2 18, Scott 5-9 men), 18:29. have won 30 consecutive games.
New York 14 15 .483 3
2-2 13, Patterson 1-3 0-0 2, Muscala 0-1 0-0 Shots on Goal—Washington 7-8-6—21. Third Place
Brooklyn 8 20 .286 81⁄2 Carolina 12-7-13—32. E. Kentucky 88, St. Francis (Pa.) 82
0. Totals 37-77 23-28 106.
Philadelphia 1 28 .034 16
Portland 17 26 15 39 — 97 Power-play opportunities—Washington 0 Tulane Classic 3. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (13-1)
Southeast Division Atlanta 26 29 22 29 — 106
of 2; Carolina 0 of 3. Championship
W L Pct GB Goalies—Washington, Grubauer 4-2-1 (32 Tulane 66, Saint Louis 58 Previous: 4. Result: Antoine Custer ran for 117 yards and two TDs in a 28-
Miami 16 10 .615 — 3-Point Goals—Portland 5-24 (Harkless shots-31 saves). Carolina, Ward 10-10-3 21 win Saturday vs. then-No. 5 Centennial (Corona) in the CIF Open Divi-
2-6, Aminu 1-2, Crabbe 1-5, Henderson (21-19).
Third Place
Atlanta 18 12 .600 — UNC-Greensboro 55, Cleveland St. 51 sion Bowl in Sacramento. De La Salle has won two consecutive state Open
Orlando 16 12 .571 1 1-6, Leonard 0-1, Frazier 0-4), Atlanta 9-29 A—13,228 (18,680). T—2:17.
Charlotte 15 12 .556 11⁄2 (Schroder 3-4, Korver 2-4, Bazemore 2-6, Division titles.
Predators 5, Canadiens 1
Washington 12 14 .462 4 Sefolosha 1-1, Scott 1-3, Muscala 0-1, Mill- BETTING LINE
Central Division sap 0-2, Patterson 0-2, Horford 0-2, Teague
0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Port-
Montreal
Nashville
0
1
0
1
1
3
—
—
1
5
4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)
W L Pct GB
Cleveland 18 7 .720 — land 55 (Plumlee 10), Atlanta 39 (Baze- First Period—1, Nashville, Weber 10 (Josi, Home team in CAPS Previous: 3. Result: Outscored opponents 339-145 this season.
more 7). Assists—Portland 24 (Frazier 7),
Indiana 16 11 .593 3
Atlanta 21 (Teague 8). Total Fouls—Port-
Jarnkrok), 8:40. Penalties—None. Pregame.com Line
Chicago 15 11 .577 31⁄2 Second Period—2, Nashville, Josi 9 (Weber, NBA
Detroit 16 12 .571 31⁄2 land 20, Atlanta 17. Technicals—Harkless,
Atlanta defensive three second. A—18,373
Forsberg), 8:22 (pp). Penalties—Salomaki,
Tuesday
5. Katy, Texas (16-0)
Milwaukee 11 18 .379 9 Nas (hooking), :29; Weise, Mon (holding),
(18,729). 7:23; Flynn, Mon (tripping), 15:52. Favorite Line O/U Underdog Previous: 6. Result: RB Kyle Porter ran for three touchdowns Saturday in a
WESTERN CONFERENCE Third Period—3, Nashville, R.Ellis 3 (Wilson, Memphis 91⁄2 (195) PHILADELPHIA 34-7 defeat of then-No. 14 Lake Travis (Austin) in the 6A-II state champi-
Southwest Division Spurs 106, Pacers 92 TORONTO 4 OFF Dallas
Ribeiro), 3:08. 4, Nashville, Jarnkrok 6 (Wil- onship game in Houston. It was the Tigers’ eighth state title.
W L Pct GB INDIANA son, Neal), 8:58. 5, Montreal, Galchenyuk 8 MIAMI 3 192 Detroit
San Antonio 24 5 .828 — (Pacioretty, Subban), 12:08 (pp). 6, Nash- DENVER OFF (OFF) LA Lakers
Dallas 15 12 .556 8
Allen 4-9 1-3 9, George 1-14 4-5 7, Mahinmi
4-6 1-2 9, G.Hill 6-13 0-0 15, Ellis 3-10 0-0 6, ville, Wilson 2 (Weber), 17:55 (en). Penal- COLLEGE BASKETBALL
6. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (14-1)
Memphis 15 14 .517 9 J.Hill 7-10 1-2 15, Stuckey 6-11 2-3 16, Miles ties—Emelin, Mon (holding), 1:05; Wilson,
Houston 15 14 .517 9 4-9 0-0 9, Budinger 2-5 0-0 4, Robinson III Nas (roughing), 5:33; Byron, Mon (cross- Tuesday Previous: 7. Result: Division I state champion.
New Orleans 8 19 .296 15 checking), 10:25; Ekholm, Nas (cross-check- Favorite Line Underdog
0-0 0-0 0, Young 1-2 0-0 2, S.Hill 0-1 0-0 0. Georgetown 10 CHARLOTTE
Northwest Division Totals 38-90 9-15 92. ing), 10:25; Jarnkrok, Nas (interference),
MISSISSIPPI 17 Troy 7. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (14-1)
W L Pct GB SAN ANTONIO 10:51; Salomaki, Nas (slashing), 20:00.
Shots on Goal—Montreal 14-9-13—36. Miami 131⁄2 LA SALLE
Oklahoma City 18 9 .667 — Leonard 10-19 3-3 24, Aldridge 4-11 2-2
Nashville 8-4-7—19. GEORGIA 4 Clemson Previous: 5. Result: Lost 28-21 Saturday to then-No. 4 De La Salle (Concord)
Utah 12 14 .462 51⁄2 10, Duncan 3-6 1-1 7, Parker 7-12 0-0 15, SETON HALL 14 South Florida
Denver 11 16 .407 7 Green 1-7 0-0 3, Mills 4-8 1-2 10, Diaw 7-9 Power-play opportunities—Montreal 1 of 3;
TULANE 91⁄2 Southern Miss in the CIF Open Division Bowl in Sacramento.
Minnesota 11 17 .393 71⁄2 0-0 14, Ginobili 3-6 0-0 7, West 3-5 1-1 7, Nashville 1 of 3.
Portland 11 19 .367 81⁄2 Goalies—Montreal, Tokarski 1-3-0 (14 DREXEL 5 Pennsylvania
Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Simmons 3-4 0-0 7, But- DAYTON 14 Miami (Ohio)
Pacific Division ler 0-1 0-0 0, Marjanovic 1-1 0-0 2. Totals shots-11 saves), Condon (3:08 third, 4-3).
Nashville, Rinne 14-9-6 (36-35). VA CMMNWEALTH 12 Buffalo 8. Male, Louisville (15-0)
W L Pct GB 46-89 8-9 106. INDIANA ST 51⁄2 Ball St
Golden State 26 1 .963 — Indiana 21 27 22 22 — 92 A—17,113 (17,113). T—2:32. Previous: 8. Result: 6A state champion.
MICHIGAN ST 11 Oakland
L.A. Clippers 16 12 .571 101⁄2 San Antonio 23 27 29 27 — 106 Stars 6, Wild 3 GEORGIA ST 41⁄2 M. Tennessee
Phoenix 12 18 .400 151⁄2 VILLANOVA 25 Delaware
Sacramento 11 17 .393 151⁄2 3-Point Goals—Indiana 7-19 (G.Hill 3-4,
Stuckey 2-4, George 1-5, Miles 1-5, Ellis 0-1),
Dallas
Minnesota
0
2
3
0
3
1
—
—
6
3 HOFSTRA 14 FAU 9. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale (13-1)
L.A. Lakers 4 23 .148 22 CINCINNATI 31⁄2 Iowa St
San Antonio 6-20 (Parker 1-1, Simmons 1-1, First Period—1, Minnesota, Spurgeon 5, Previous: 9. Result: Two-time defending 7A state champion.
Monday’s Games Ginobili 1-2, Mills 1-4, Green 1-5, Leonard OLD DOMINION 2 Rhode Island
Washington 113, Sacramento 99 4:57. 2, Minnesota, Coyle 7 (Fontaine, Nie- Fordham 6 BOS. COLLEGE
1-6, Diaw 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Re- derreiter), 8:16. Penalties—None. Xavier 7 WAKE FOREST
Boston 113, Minnesota 99
Orlando 107, New York 99
bounds—Indiana 53 (Mahinmi 11), San An-
tonio 49 (Aldridge 9). Assists—Indiana 21
Second Period—3, Dallas, Jo.Benn 1 (Spez- Cal Poly 91⁄2 UTSA 10. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (15-0)
Brooklyn 105, Chicago 102 za), 14:59. 4, Dallas, Fiddler 4 (Eaves, Goli- TEXAS TECH 4 UALR
(Ellis, George 6), San Antonio 27 (Leonard goski), 18:30 (pp). 5, Dallas, Seguin 19 Previous: 13. Result: Mike Waters ran for 201 yards and three TDs in a 40-3
Houston 102, Charlotte 95 5). Total Fouls—Indiana 15, San Antonio 14. WICHITA STATE 14 Nevada
Atlanta 106, Portland 97 (Sharp, Ja.Benn), 19:29. Penalties—Sharp, SOUTH ALABAMA 3 Rice defeat of Cathedral Prep (Erie) on Friday in the AAA state championship
Technicals—San Antonio defensive three
San Antonio 106, Indiana 92 second 2. A—18,418 (18,797).
Dal (roughing), 11:52; Granlund, Min W KENTUCKY 3 Detroit game in Hershey.
Phoenix at Utah (roughing), 11:52; Koivu, Min (interference), PURDUE 6 Vanderbilt
12:24; Spurgeon, Min (tripping), 16:32.
Oklahoma City at L.A. Clippers
Third Period—6, Dallas, Roussel 6 (Oduya),
South Carolina
VIRGINIA
13
12
ST. JOHN’S
California
11. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (13-1)
Tuesday’s Games
Memphis at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
NHL 3:41. 7, Minnesota, Niederreiter 7 (Coyle, ARIZONA 141⁄2 Long Beach St Previous: 10. Result: Pac-5 runner-up.
Fontaine), 10:26. 8, Dallas, Eakin 8, 18:07 George Washington 4 DEPAUL
Dallas at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. (en). 9, Dallas, Fiddler 5 (Seguin), 19:46 (en).
Detroit at Miami, 7:30 p.m. Kansas 61⁄2 SAN DIEGO ST
All times ET Penalties—None.
L.A. Lakers at Denver, 9 p.m. Shots on Goal—Dallas 11-15-8—34. Min-
New Mexico 5 Auburn 12. DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md. (11-1)
Wizards 113, Kings 99 EASTERN CONFERENCE nesota 11-10-14—35.
BYU 7 Harvard
Atlantic Division Oklahoma 14 Washington St Previous: 11. Result: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champion.
Power-play opportunities—Dallas 1 of 2; HAWAII PK N. Iowa
SACRAMENTO GP W L OT Pts GF GA Minnesota 0 of 0.
Casspi 3-7 2-2 9, Gay 6-17 4-5 16, Cousins Montreal 35 20 12 3 43 104 87 SMU OFF Kent St
Goalies—Dallas, Lehtonen (4 shots-2
8-22 5-7 22, Rondo 1-7 0-0 2, McLemore 3-6 Boston 32 19 9 4 42 104 83 saves), Niemi 14-5-2 (8:16 first, 31-30). Min-
Colorado 7 Penn St 13. Gilman, Baltimore (10-1)
2-2 9, Koufos 3-6 0-0 6, Collison 4-8 4-5 13, Detroit 33 17 9 7 41 86 85 nesota, Dubnyk 14-9-2 (32-28). NFL
Belinelli 6-12 0-0 15, Butler 2-3 0-0 4, Curry Florida 34 18 12 4 40 93 80 Previous: 12. Result: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association cham-
1-3 1-1 3. Totals 37-91 18-22 99. Ottawa 34 17 12 5 39 104 102
A—19,047 (17,954). T—2:41. Thursday
Tampa Bay 34 17 14 3 37 86 80 Favorite Line O/U Underdog pion.
WASHINGTON OAKLAND 51⁄2 47 San Diego
Buffalo 34 14 16 4 32 79 89
Oubre Jr. 2-4 2-2 8, Dudley 5-8 0-0 13, Gor-
tat 12-19 3-4 27, Wall 4-15 3-3 12, Temple Toronto 31 11 13 7 29 77 86 COLLEGES Saturday 14. Aquinas Institute, Rochester, N.Y. (13-0)
8-17 2-2 23, Humphries 4-7 4-4 15, Sessions Metropolitan Division Favorite Line O/U Underdog
7-13 1-2 15, Blair 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 42-83 15- GP W L OT Pts GF GA PHILADELPHIA 3 47 Washington
Washington 33 25 6 2 52 105 71 Men’s Basketball Previous: 15. Result: State AA champion.
17 113.
Sacramento 35 24 25 15 — 99 N.Y. Islndrs 35 19 11 5 43 96 82 Monday’s Major Scores Sunday
Favorite Line O/U Underdog
Washington 34 29 21 29 — 113 N.Y. Rangers 35
New Jersey 34
19
16
12 4 42 101 91
13 5 37 79 84
EAST MINNESOTA 6 44 NY Giants 15. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (14-0)
3-Point Goals—Sacramento 7-22 (Belinelli Boston U. 78, New Hampshire 74 TAMPA BAY 3 46 Chicago
Phladelpha 34 15 12 7 37 74 92 Holy Cross 76, Maine 75 Previous: 16. Result: 8A state champion.
3-8, McLemore 1-1, Cousins 1-3, Collison Carolina 7 471⁄2 ATLANTA
Pittsburgh 33 16 14 3 35 76 84 Providence 90, UMass 66
1-3, Casspi 1-3, Curry 0-1, Gay 0-3), Wash- BUFFALO 6 43 Dallas
Carolina 34 13 16 5 31 80 101 West Virginia 84, E. Kentucky 59
ington 14-24 (Temple 5-10, Humphries 3-3, NEW ORLEANS 3 OFF Jacksonville
Dudley 3-5, Oubre Jr. 2-2, Wall 1-3, Sessions
Columbus 36 13 20 3 29 88 112 SOUTH DETROIT 71⁄2 OFF San Francisco 16. Center Grove, Greenwood, Ind. (14-0)
0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Sac- WESTERN CONFERENCE E. Michigan 73, Coppin St. 62 KANSAS CITY 12 42 Cleveland
ramento 57 (Cousins, Rondo 8), Washing- Central Division Elon 86, UNC Asheville 81 MIAMI OFF OFF Indianapolis Previous: 17. Result: State 6A champion.
ton 44 (Gortat 16). Assists—Sacramento 24 GP W L OT Pts GF GA Florida St. 75, Charleston Southern 64 New England 31⁄2 46 NY JETS
(Rondo 9), Washington 31 (Wall 19). Total Dallas 34 25 7 2 52 120 88 Georgia Tech 75, SE Louisiana 62 TENNESSEE OFF OFF Houston
Fouls—Sacramento 16, Washington 19. Chicago 35 20 11 4 44 96 83 Jacksonville 68, Florida A&M 66 ARIZONA 41⁄2 491⁄2 Green Bay 17. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (13-0)
Technicals—Rondo, Sacramento defensive St. Louis 35 20 11 4 44 90 85 Jacksonville St. 79, N. Colorado 76 SEATTLE 13 401⁄2 St. Louis
three second, Gortat, Washington defen- Minnesota 32 17 9 6 40 89 79 Louisiana-Lafayette 79, New Orleans 69 Pittsburgh 10 47 BALTIMORE Previous: 19. Result: Two-time defending 3A state champion.
sive three second. A—15,124 (20,308). Nashville 34 17 11 6 40 90 86 North Carolina 94, Appalachian St. 70
Colorado 34 17 16 1 35 95 90 UT Martin 70, Alcorn St. 47 Monday
Magic 107, Knicks 99 Winnipeg 32 15 15 2 32 90 97 VMI 76, Gardner-Webb 75 Favorite Line O/U Underdog 18. Spanish Fort, Ala. (15-0)
William & Mary 78, High Point 75, OT DENVER 3 40 Cincinnati
ORLANDO Pacific Division Previous: 20. Result: 6A state champion.
Harris 7-14 3-3 20, Frye 3-5 0-0 7, Vucevic GP W L OT Pts GF GA MIDWEST
13-19 0-0 26, Payton 2-3 1-1 5, Fournier 6- Los Angeles 32 20 10 2 42 81 71
14 1-2 16, Smith 1-3 0-0 2, Nicholson 2-8
0-0 5, Oladipo 4-7 4-5 12, Gordon 0-1 0-0 0,
San Jose
Vancouver
33
35
16
12
15 2 34 88 91
14 9 33 89 102 SPORTS ON TV 19. Jenks, Okla (11-1)
Hezonja 5-8 0-0 11, Napier 1-4 0-0 3. Totals Arizona 32 15 15 2 32 87 102 Times Eastern. Programs live unless noted. Check local listings.
Calgary 33 15 16 2 32 87 112 Previous: 21. Result: Four-time defending 6A state champion.
44-86 9-11 107.
Edmonton 34 14 18 2 30 88 105
NEW YORK
Anthony 10-17 1-2 23, Porzingis 3-12 2-2 9,
Anaheim 32 12 15 5 29 60 82 COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Akron vs. Utah 20. Allen, Texas (14-1)
Lopez 6-6 0-0 12, Calderon 1-3 2-2 4, Affla- Monday’s Games State, in Boise (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.); Boca Raton Bowl, Temple vs. Tole-
lo 2-8 0-0 4, Galloway 3-7 3-3 10, Seraphin N.Y. Islanders 5, Anaheim 2 Previous: 22. Result: State 6A-I semifinalist.
1-2 0-0 2, Thomas 9-9 3-3 24, Williams 2-5 Philadelphia 4, St. Louis 3 do, in Boca Raton, Fla. (ESPN, 7 p.m.)
1-2 5, Vujacic 0-2 0-0 0, Grant 2-5 2-2 6. To- Pittsburgh 5, Columbus 2 COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL: Diamond Head Classic, Auburn vs.
tals 39-76 14-16 99. Washington 2, Carolina 1
New Mexico, at Honolulu (ESPNU, 2:30 p.m.); Troy at Mississippi 21. Miami Central (12-2)
Orlando 29 23 26 29 — 107 Nashville 5, Montreal 1
New York 21 25 27 26 — 99
Dallas 6, Minnesota 3 (SEC, 4 p.m.); Diamond Head Classic, Brigham Young vs. Harvard Previous: 23. Result: Four-time defending 6A champion.
3-Point Goals—Orlando 10-22 (Harris 3-6,
Toronto at Colorado (ESPNU, 4:30 p.m.); Miami (Fla.) at La Salle (CBS Sports Network,
Winnipeg at Edmonton
Fournier 3-6, Frye 1-1, Nicholson 1-2, Napi- Tuesday’s Games 5 p.m.); Kennesaw State at Indiana (Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.); 22. Xaverian Brothers, Westwood, Mass. (12-0)
er 1-2, Hezonja 1-4, Smith 0-1), New York St. Louis at Boston, 7 p.m. Clemson at Georgia (SEC, 6 p.m.); South Florida at Seton Hall (Fox
7-24 (Thomas 3-3, Anthony 2-3, Galloway Previous: 24. Result: Two-time defending Division I state champion.
1-4, Porzingis 1-6, Vujacic 0-1, Williams 0-2,
Anaheim at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m. Sports 2, 6:30 p.m.); Georgetown at Charlotte (CBS Sports Net-
New Jersey at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.
Calderon 0-2, Afflalo 0-3). Fouled Out— Vancouver at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m. work, 7 p.m.); Iowa State at Cincinnati (ESPN2, 7 p.m.); Michigan
None. Rebounds—Orlando 41 (Vucevic 9),
New York 42 (Lopez, Porzingis 8). Assists—
Ottawa at Florida, 7:30 p.m. State vs. Oakland, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (ESPNU, 7 p.m.); Dela- 23. Westfield, Chantilly, Va. (14-1)
Montreal at Minnesota, 8 p.m. ware at Villanova (Fox Sports 1, 7 p.m.); Vanderbilt at Purdue (Big
Orlando 19 (Napier 6), New York 21 (An- Chicago at Dallas, 8:30 p.m. Previous: 25. Result: 6A state champion.
thony 6). Total Fouls—Orlando 17, New Winnipeg at Calgary, 9 p.m. Ten Network, 8 p.m.); American at LSU (Big Ten Network, 8 p.m.);
York 14. A—19,812 (19,763). Toronto at Arizona, 9 p.m. Southern Utah at Butler (Fox Sports 2, 8:30 p.m.); St. John’s vs.
Celtics 113, Timberwolves 99 San Jose at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m. South Carolina, in Uncasville, Conn. (CBS Sports Network, 9 p.m.); 24. Trinity Christian, Jacksonville (14-0)
Islanders 5, Ducks 2 California at Virginia (ESPN2, 9 p.m.); Mercer at Ohio State
MINNESOTA Anaheim 1 0 1 — 2
Previous: Not ranked. Result: Three-time defending 3A state champion.
Prince 2-2 0-0 4, Dieng 6-12 0-2 12, Towns N.Y. Islanders 3 0 2 — 5 (ESPNU, 9 p.m.); George Washington at DePaul (Fox Sports 1,
8-14 9-9 25, Rubio 1-9 2-4 4, Wiggins 8-17
9-10 26, Miller 0-1 0-0 0, Muhammad 3-4 First Period—1, Anaheim, Hagelin 3 (Co- 9 p.m.); Diamond Head Classic, Oklahoma vs. Washington State 25. Lake Travis, Austin (15-1)
2-2 8, Payne 0-1 0-0 0, Martin 1-6 0-0 3, La- gliano), 6:52. 2, N.Y. Islanders, Clutterbuck 7 (ESPNU, 11 p.m.); Kansas at San Diego State (CBS Sports Network,
Vine 7-12 3-5 17, Rudez 0-0 0-0 0, Bjelica 0-1 (Hickey, Cizikas), 14:54. 3, N.Y. Islanders, Previous: 14. Result: Lost 34-7 Saturday to then-No. 6 Katy, Texas, in the
Hamonic 2 (Tavares, Strome), 19:00. 4, N.Y.
CBSSN); Diamond Head Classic, Northern Iowa vs. Hawaii (ESP- 6A-II state championship game in Houston.
0-0 0. Totals 36-79 25-32 99.
BOSTON Islanders, Nelson 12 (Tavares, Boychuk), NU, 1 a.m. Wednesday)
Crowder 8-13 0-3 18, Lee 5-11 3-4 13, Oly- 19:43. Penalties—Strait, NYI (holding), 8:25; COLLEGE WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Arkansas-Little Rock at Texas Dropped out: No. 19 Westlake, Austin.
Perry, Ana (tripping), 9:10; Manson, Ana,
nyk 7-10 2-4 19, Thomas 3-9 2-2 8, Bradley
major (fighting), 12:01; Martin, NYI, major A&M (SEC, 1 p.m.) The Super 25 Expert Rankings are compiled by USA TODAY Sports’ Jim Hal-
5-14 1-1 13, Zeller 7-10 0-0 14, Turner 2-4
0-0 4, Jerebko 4-7 1-2 12, Hunter 3-8 0-0 7, (fighting), 12:01. NBA: Dallas at Toronto (NBA TV, 7:30 p.m.) ley, based on results, tradition, quality of players and strength of schedule.
Young 1-1 0-0 3, Rozier 0-1 0-0 0, Mickey Second Period—None. Penalties—Getzlaf,
Ana (roughing), 9:32; Tavares, NYI (rough-
NHL: Montreal at Minnesota (NBC Sports Network, 8 p.m.); San For regional rankings, go to usatodayhss.com. These are the final rankings
1-1 0-0 2. Totals 46-89 9-16 113.
ing), 9:32; Getzlaf, Ana (slashing), 13:20. Jose at Los Angeles (CBS Sports Network, 10:30 p.m.) of the season.
8C SPORTS
OLYMPIC SPORTS
Gold’s sister set for nationals
Like Gracie, Carly
dreams big when
it comes to skating
Nick McCarvel
Special for USA TODAY Sports
Two blocks from the ocean in
Redondo Beach, Calif., a pair of
20-year-old twin sisters share a
bedroom each night. One has
made it her mission to capture
gold at the 2018 Olympics after
finishing a disappointing fourth
in Sochi nearly two years ago.
The other? She’s making her
debut at the U.S. figure skating
championships next month.
Long Gracie Gold’s biggest fan,
twin sister Carly will put blade to
ice on the national stage for the
first time in January in St. Paul at
the U.S. championships, stepping
out from the shadows as a spec-
tating sister and becoming a fel-
low competitor.
“Nationals has always been my
goal since I was 10 years old,”
Carly tells USA TODAY Sports in
a phone interview. “I would al-
ways have mixed feelings there:
I’m here to support Gracie, but
then I also had a little sadness.
Just sitting in the stands watch-
ing, that was pretty tough for me.”
Carly qualified for nationals
the tough way, too. She won a re-
gional event in October and last
month placed first in the Pacific
Coast Sectionals with renowned
coach Frank Carroll, who works
with both sisters, at her side.
“Carly is the kind of girl who
doesn’t expect anything. She goes
in trying to skate as well as she
can,” says Carroll, who has
coached Michelle Kwan and Evan
Lysacek to Olympic medals. “And
she couldn’t be more supportive
of her sister than she is. She’s
content with her situation in the
family with Gracie.”
It’s a jarring situation for twins
who call each other best friends.
Gracie is one of the best skaters
in the world and counts Taylor
Swift among her friends. Carly is
.L[ [OL .7: ZTHY[^H[JO MVY WLVWSL ^OV SV]L ZWVY[Z


Frank Carroll coaches the Gold twins: Carly, left, who will make her debut at the U.S. figure
skating championships next month, and Gracie, who skated in the 2014 Olympics.
introverted and artsy. Currently,
her hair is dyed a bright red, and
both sisters can name more dif-
ferences than similarities be-
tween them.
“I rarely get asked about how
we’re similar,” Gracie says. “We
have always been two peas in a
pod, but just different kind of
peas.”
And best friends who happen
to love the same thing unending-
ly: figure skating.
Both started skating at Jordan
Valley Ice Park in Springfield,
Mo., though Gracie was a year
ahead of Carly, consistent to her
go-getter, no-fear approach.
“Gracie always went ahead,
and Carly stayed back and was
the observant one,” says their
mother, Denise. “Gracie would
charge ahead in uncertain set-
tings.”
Uncertain, also, is how Carly’s
7\ZO [OL WHJL
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
“It’s my own personal fairy
tale that I’m living right now,”
says Carly, right, with her
twin as youngsters.
people would say to me, ‘I wish
Carly could find something that
she liked,’ ” Denise Gold recalls.
“She wanted to skate. She loved
to skate.
“With nationals, it’s nice to not
have to justify Carly’s skating. I’ve
GOLD FAMILY PHOTOS
always believed in her.”
The last time two siblings com-
peted against each other in sin-
gles in the U.S. championships
presence — as a skater — will im- this (nationals).” was in 2003, when Alissa Czisny
pact Gracie’s performance in One would think that there was 10th and sister Amber 20th.
St. Paul, where the 2014 U.S. would be fighting between Carly They’re also twins.
champion looks to steal her and Gracie, but it is rare. In their Gracie sees Carly first as her
new Redondo twin and then as a rival at nation-
“They communicate to Beach home they
chose to share a
als. She’s plotting all the extra
time they’ll get to spend together.
each other without room, turning a
second bedroom
“Nationals will be more relax-
ing with her there, at practices, at
speaking. ... They’re into a “giant warm-ups. We skate together ev-
always there walk-in closet,”
Carly says.
ery day,” she says. “Watching Car-
ly makes me really nervous for
supporting one “They commu-
nicate to each
her, it stresses me out. I won’t
have to watch her at nationals; I’ll
another.” other without
speaking; they
just look at her face and know the
results.”
Scott Brown, a choreographer for Gracie and Carly Gold are so very con- Olympic gold might be the
crown back from Ashley Wagner, nected,” says Scott Brown, a cho- dream of one twin, but nationals
the three-time winner and cur- reographer who works with both is just fine for the other.
rent titleholder. Golds. “They’re always there sup- “It’s my own personal fairy tale
“I don’t know how that will porting one another. Carly is al- that I’m living right now,” Carly
feel,” Carly says. “Gracie has been ways there for Gracie.” says.
skating remarkably this season. Carly is undeterred despite the And then she adds, “It will be
She’s been so solid in practice. I differences in their skating skills. really interesting if we skate one
think she will be in fighting form “When the girls were little, right after the other, right?”
/HWV%HDW<HVWHUGD\FRP

       
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 SECTION D

TAKE A WALK
ON THE
DARK SIDE
Gwendoline Christie
is the first female
villain in the ‘Star ALBERTO E.
RODRIGUEZ,
Wars’ universe 2D GETTY IMAGES,
FOR DISNEY

LIFELINE
He’s a busy guy,
but the focus
right now is on
‘The Danish Girl’
Andrea Mandell
@AndreaMandell
USA TODAY

LOS ANGELES
CINDY ORD, GETTY IMAGES

O
ne might expect
MAKING WAVES Eddie Redmayne
J.K. Rowling shot down haters to brag. Just a little.
on Twitter Tuesday after online After all, he won
backlash over the casting of the best-actor Oscar
black South African actress this year and already has racked
Noma Dumezweni as Hermione up Golden Globe, Screen Actors
Granger in the play ‘Harry Potter Guild and Critics’ Choice nomina-
and the Cursed Child,’ opening tions for his role as a transgender
in London next summer. “Canon: woman in the 1920s love story
brown eyes, frizzy hair and very The Danish Girl, in theaters na-
clever,” Rowling tweeted. “White tionwide Christmas Day. Pundits
skin was never specified. Rowling are wondering if he could be the
loves black Hermione.” first actor since Tom Hanks to
win back-to-back Academy
THEY SAID WHAT? Awards. (Hanks won for 1993’s
THE STARS’ BEST QUOTES Philadelphia and 1994’s Forrest
“I love her — how powerful she is. Gump.)
We’ll get lumped together now Redmayne also happens to be
because of it, but I think we would the new face of the Harry Potter
both feel the ability to say ‘yes’ franchise, having taken on the
or ‘no’ to things even if we weren’t role of Newt Scamander in Fan-
successful.” — Adele in ‘Time’ tastic Beasts and Where to Find
about her admiration for Taylor Them (now filming in London).
Swift and why she decided Still, he’s just so normal.
not to stream new album ‘25’ “Oh, good. Good!” says Red-
MOVIES mayne, 33, laughing. “I thought
you were about to say, ‘You’ve
changed.’ ”

OSCAR The actor is on a 24-hour

release from shooting Fantastic
Beasts, having flown in on a pri-
vate plane from the set for a

AGAIN 10-hour trip to The Danish Girl’s

U.S. premiere. “There was a bed
on the plane,” he says, a bit agog.
But after a walk down the red
SASCHA STEINBACH, GETTY IMAGES

HOW WAS YOUR DAY?

HAS carpet, he’ll whisk back to London
and hit the set an hour later. “He’s
incredible like that,” says his
Danish Girl director, Tom Hooper,
GOOD DAY
ASTRONAUTS
Matt Damon for everybody! On
Wednesday, astronauts on the
EYES ON who last directed him in Les
Misérables. “His head is not
being turned by his success,
and that’s rare.”
International Space Station will
receive a digital HD copy of ‘The
Martian’ and other Ridley Scott
films ‘Alien’ and ‘Prometheus.’
EDDIE That work ethic was evident on
The Danish Girl. In February,
Redmayne stood on the Dolby
Theatre stage, accepting his first
Oscar for portraying Stephen
Hawking in The Theory of Every-
thing. He recalls “the euphoria,
5 o’clock in the morning, the
morning after ... with a flipping
‘Danish Girl’ Oscar that almost didn’t look real
it was so shiny, going, ‘Ahhhh!’ ”
It woman A day later he was strapped to
Alicia Vikander’s a turn-of-the-century medical
vibrant performance table as Lili Elbe.
is garnering oodles “He came straight from the
of kudos 3D airport back on set,” Hooper says.
GILES KEYTE
“We’re chatting about what it’s
like to win an Oscar, five minutes
IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY goes past, I look at my watch, and
WHO’S CELEBRATING TODAY? then he’s like, ‘We should go back
to work.’ ”
DAN MACMEDAN, USA TODAY
v STORY CONTINUES ON 3D

OUR STAR WARS Birds of a Feather

GALACTIC CENTER
PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’
Diane Sawyer is 70. Ralph broke every major opening record
Fiennes is 53. Jordin Sparks
is 26.
at the box office this weekend
($238 million and counting) and
Compiled by Patrick Ryan likely isn’t done, as many fans
USA SNAPSHOTS© will head back to theaters
to watch it again.
All I want is it all
If you’re ready for your
second helping, visit us at
2/3 of life.usatoday.com for fun
Americans fan content.
own
smartphones, (WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS ONLINE)
yet a new one
tops
uSecond take: What you
80%
of holiday
pick up seeing ‘The Force
Awakens’ again
LUCASFILM
Swiss Singing Bird Automaton • Rare Three Bird Model
Original Working Condition • Circa 1890 • 71/2”w x 43/4”d x 101/4”h
wish lists. u10 burning questions X-wing
we have after seeing pilot Poe
the movie Dameron 888.821.0212
Source ecoATM survey Oct. 30-Nov. 2 u‘Star Wars’: Kylo Ren’s (Oscar Antiques • Fine Art • Jewelry Since 1912 rauantiques.com
of 1,000 adult consumers pop-culture ancestors Isaac)
TERRY BYRNE AND JANET LOEHRKE, USA TODAY

2D LIFE
MOVIES
CAPTAIN
PHASMA:
SO COOL
SHE RULES
IN ‘FORCE
AWAKENS’
Gwendoline Christie is the
franchise’s first female villain
Brian Truitt l USA TODAY
T
he Dark Side is a nice place to visit for
Gwendoline Christie.
The 6-foot-3 British actress gained
fans and fame as the warrior Brienne
of Tarth on HBO’s Game of Thrones. She has
parlayed that into supporting roles as rebel
leader Commander Lyme in this year’s The
Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2 and
as the armored Captain Phasma, one of the
coolest-looking antagonists in Star Wars:
The Force Awakens and the franchise’s first
major female villain.
“Every day is really fantastic. I feel like
all my Christmases have come at once,”
says Christie, 37.
“I’m a bit spoiled, really, because the last
three projects I’ve been really enthusiastic
about. I’ve been very lucky for a couple of
years now.”
Christie talks with USA TODAY about
her role in the hit new Star Wars film — with
a box office of $238 million and counting
since Thursday night — and her favorites
from the original movies.
Is Phasma a woman you’d
Qhang out with?
A (Laughs) To the best of my
knowledge, I’ve never hung
out with someone who’s con-
sciously been a member of the
Dark Side. There may be some
people who are part of the Dark
Side unconsciously I’ve hung out
with. And I haven’t hung out
MOVIES
Ferrell and Wahlberg:
Fathers know best?
Patrick Ryan
@PatRyanWrites
USA TODAY
NEW YORK Will Ferrell and Mark
Wahlberg are together again.
After playing ill-suited detec-
tives in 2010’s The Other Guys,
the funny guys are squaring off in
Daddy’s Home (in theaters
Christmas Day). Ferrell plays
strait-laced stepdad Brad (Fer-
rell), who feels territorial when
his kids’ real father, Dusty (Wahl-
berg), swoops in to parent and
try to win back ex-wife Sarah
(Linda Cardellini). As Ferrell puts
it, the movie is “an original take
on the family comedy and com-
ments on what’s becoming in-
creasingly more of the norm: the
idea of a blended family, with
stepparents being involved with
the actual biological parents and
co-parenting.”
They’re roles that Ferrell, 48,
and Wahlberg, 44, know well:
Each has kids of his own (Ferrell
has three sons; Wahlberg has two
daughters and two sons).
The actors catch up with
USA TODAY to share their own
parenting tips, how they survive
Christmas and what movie they’d
like to make together next:
How would you compare ‘Daddy’s
Q your own parenting styles
with those of Brad and Dusty?
Home’
Wahlberg: I’m more like Brad, actors
really. dish on
Ferrell: I would say my parenting
style is distant, at best. Keep the parenting,
kids away, bring them out for Santa and
birthdays and holidays. Other-
wise, I don’t got time. how to
What would your kids say
survive
Q is the most embarrassing
thing you do as a parent?
the
Wahlberg: Tell them how much
holidays
I love them in front of their
friends. Getting emotional?
That doesn’t go over well.
Ferrell: Yeah, doing all the things
you think they would love really
ALBERTO E. RODRIGUEZ, GETTY IMAGES, FOR DISNEY
embarrasses them. They’ll appre-
ciate it later.
How about ways that
Q you’ve earned “cool” points
with your kids?
Wahlberg: Taylor Swift and
One Direction (concerts) for
my daughters. Football games.
Basketball games. Professional
wrestlers showing up at the
house.
Ferrell: I was able to, through
a buddy who works at the FBI,
set up an actual counterfeit
station in our house to make
counterfeit money.
Wahlberg: That’s random.
LUCASFILM
Captain Phasma (Christie)
rocks the chrome helmet.
with anyone wearing armor in
front of me.
Is she an ambitious sort —
Q does she want to be
General Phasma?
A I put the costume on and
I realized that this armor is
quite something. It’s very high-
functioning, it’s very imposing
and it’s not malleable at all. I
thought, well, anybody who
wears that every day, it must
inform their character. Those
were some things that I took on
board as characteristics.
Phasma’s got a bit of a
Q Darth Vader swagger to her,
and like the old Sith Lord, there’s
a purpose in every step. She’s in
no hurry to get anywhere.
A People who believe they
have great power often take
their time.
Does Phasma’s chrome
Q helmet raise the overall
coolness of her vibe?
TODD PLITT, USA TODAY
Will Ferrell
Q What’s the worst
and Mark
parenting advice
you’ve ever gotten? Wahlberg
are together
Wahlberg: “Just give them
a little drink.” again as
Ferrell: “Let them figure it mismatched
dads in their
out themselves” — that never
goes well. Probably to have them new film,
sit way back in coach on a flight. Daddy’s
Home.
When (my friends) travel, their
kids always sit back there. I’m They were
like, “Don’t you sit next to your mismatched
kids?” And they’re like, “Nah,
they’re fine.”
detectives in
2010’s The
Wahlberg: It saves money.
Other Guys.
Ferrell: It does save money and
gives you some quiet time.
QWhat are some parenting
tips to survive Christmas?
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015
A It’s a pretty cool helmet, isn’t
it? (Executive producer)
Kathleen Kennedy asked me if I’d
ever Googled “female heroines”
and I hadn’t, and there came up a
list of images of very convention-
ally attractive women in figure-
hugging costumes and there
wasn’t a lot of diversity there. So
far, we have related to Captain
Phasma (through) her character
and her action. Her sexuality has
been incidental to the opinion
we’ve formed of her so far, and
that to me felt very progressive
and refreshing.
Did you gravitate toward
Q Vader and the Empire when
you first watched the ‘Star Wars’
movies?
A When I first saw (the original
1977 Star Wars), I think I
was about 6. ... I do remember
thinking about Princess Leia,
“Gosh, that’s not the sort of wom-
an I’ve seen before in films. ... I’d
like to be like that.” It has been
informing, being so captivated by
a female character who is very
driven, intelligent, smart, witty,
focused and determined — all
of those things certainly made
me realize this was an entirely
possible way to behave and quite
an attractive way as well. Plus, I
really, really liked her hair. I used
to approximate the hairstyle with
a pair of brown fake-fur earmuffs.
Q What have you learned
about yourself being
Phasma?
A I realized what happened
above the neck was as im-
portant as what happened below
the neck, and it encouraged me to
really investigate the physical
world of gesture. Truly, the way a
character stands says something
about them, the way they walk
tells another story, (and) the way
they move their hands illumi-
nates something about the char-
acter to an audience. I’ve never
had my focus put so distinctly
into those areas. More than that,
I found this to be a wonderful
experience because it’s really
shown me that people want to
see a greater representation of
their society in entertainment.
And I feel truly privileged to be
playing a small character who
I hope is part of a bigger move-
ment.
Ferrell: Believe it or not, I was
with all three of my boys at a Toys
‘R’ Us on Black Friday buying
Nerf guns. It wasn’t that bad.
Wahlberg: Have fun. Enjoy it.
Ferrell: Yeah, it doesn’t have to be
a big deal. Don’t give them every-
thing on their list. Make them
make their own toys. Go out in
the garage, give them a bunch of
plywood, hammer and nails.
QDo your kids still believe
in Santa?
Ferrell: The 5-year-old does, for
sure. The 8-year-old is teetering
on the brink.
Wahlberg: They haven’t told
him?
Ferrell: They haven’t. I’ve told the
11-year-old. It’s a weird tradition,
right? To tell the older kids to
keep the lie going?
Having starred in two
Q films together now, why
do you think you work so well
together?
Ferrell: Mark and I can just pick
up where we left off. We both
think the same things are funny,
in terms of how you approach a
character in a comedy.
Wahlberg: We both agree that
you’re very funny. We talk about
that all the time.
Ferrell: We both agree that I’m
really funny. I’ll be like, “Hey,
Mark, you know what we haven’t
talked about today? How funny
I am.” So that dynamic is so great
and so natural.
In ‘The Other Guys,’ you
Q played mismatched detec-
tives, and in ‘Daddy’s Home,’
mismatched dads. What kind of
duo would you like to be next?
Wahlberg: Anything to do
with hip-hop would be great.
A duo of rappers.
Ferrell: Who are actually super-
heroes in disguise.
Wahlberg: Super-mommas.
Ferrell: We’re women? Oh, OK.
Corrections & Clarifications
USA TODAY is committed to accuracy. To reach us,
contact Standards Editor Brent Jones at 800-872-
7073 or e-mail accuracy@usatoday.com. Please
indicate whether you’re responding to content
online or in the newspaper.
In a fashion report on cold-
weather fitness gear Dec. 15, a
website and price were listed
incorrectly. The AEO Vintage
Puffer Vest can be found at
ae.com at a sale price of $53.97.
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 LIFE 3D
MOVIES TELEVISION

Vikander Latest wave of crime

breaks feels like the real thing
Stories with Moira Demos. “It was a

out with Bill Keveney

USA TODAY

Crime does pay — at least on

too true
even for
wonderful opportunity to hold a
mirror up to the criminal justice
system because of the range of
experiences he had in it.”

‘Danish television.
The non-fiction, true-crime
genre is surging. Netflix last week
released the 10-episode Making a
Hollywood
make a big
splash on
Technological advances have
made it faster and cheaper to
research and produce stories,
and there are more outlets, such

Girl’ Murderer, which chronicles the

Andrea Mandell
@AndreaMandell
USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES Alicia Vikander is
in an unusual position this
awards season.
At the 2016 Golden Globes,
she’ll arrive double-nominated,
for best actress in The Danish
Girl (in theaters nation-
wide Christmas Day) and
again for her support-
ing role in spring’s
sci-fi critical favorite
Ex Machina, in
which she plays a
robot whose artifi-
cial intelligence al-
lows her to break
away from the man
who created her.
Those are just two
of the five films that
Vikander has appeared in
this year, which spanned
Guy Ritchie’s The Man From
U.N.C.L.E. and chef drama Burnt
to the World War I coming-of-age
story Testament of Youth. Which
means the Jessica Chastain com-
parisons have been rolling in.
“I’ve heard it a few times,” says
Vikander, 27, who also recently
has been nominated for Screen
Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice
awards. “I’m a Swedish actress,
and for me it’s just been such a
huge thing that I got a chance to
do English-speaking films.”
She remembers her first Gold-
en Globes three years ago, when
her Danish film A Royal Affair
was nominated for foreign film. “I
was running around with my
Danish director Nikolaj Arcel,
and I was just pointing, oh, my
God! For me, it was just a dream.
I didn’t really have a reference
that you could work abroad.”
story of a wrongfully convicted
Wisconsin man later sent to pris-
on for a different crime, and Dis-
the small
screen
as podcasts, social media and
streaming services, to present the
work, Ricciardi says.
Killing Fields, produced by
covery Channel launches Killing Emmy winner Tom Fontana and
Fields, a real-time look at a Loui- Oscar winner Barry Levinson, is
siana cold-case murder named for areas known
investigation, on Jan. 5 for the disposal of bodies.
(10 p.m. ET/PT). The initial entry looks at
They come on the the unsolved 1997 killing
heels of two mesmeriz- of Louisiana State Uni-
ing projects, HBO’s The versity student Eugenie
Jinx — which uncovered Boisfontaine, whose body
new evidence in the case was found in a Louisiana
of suspected killer Rob- bayou. The seven-episode
INSET BY FOCUS FEATURES;
DAN MACMEDAN, USA TODAY
ert Durst — and the first series features fly-on-
season of the Serial pod- the-wall access to the
Vikander’s vi- cast, which investigated reopened investigation,
brant, empathetic a 1999 murder and headed by retired detec-
performance is so helped pave the way for tive Rodie Sanchez, who
striking that it has a court decision that returns to work to fulfill a
incited debate over granted the man con- NETFLIX promise he made to the
whether she victed of the slaying the right to Steven victim’s mother that he would
should be regarded appeal. And in recent years, real- Avery’s find the killer.
as a supporting or life crime has been a staple of courtroom The real-time element carries
lead actress for newsmagazine shows such as saga in a risk: The case is still under in-
Oscar consideration. CBS’ 48 Hours, NBC’s Dateline Wisconsin vestigation, and Contis isn’t sure
“She’s terrific,” says and several cable networks, led by takes bizarre how it will be resolved. But “we’re
Danish Girl screenwriter the fast-growing Investigation twists and very satisfied” with the story, she
Lucinda Coxon. “It’s so Discovery and including TNT’s turns in says. “There have been unexpect-
great to watch a young female Cold Justice from Law & Order Netflix’s ed twists and turns that we never
character on film who is incredi- franchise creator Dick Wolf. Making a anticipated.”
Alicia Vikan- bly sympathetic and winning, but Real crimes have special reso- Murderer. Though the format appears to
der has had she’s not a victim. There are gains nance, says Discovery executive be enjoying a spike in interest,
a lot of roles and losses for her, and you mourn vice president Denise Contis. the mix of life-and-death stakes
this year. But the losses with her.” “They are unbelievable, dramatic and extreme behavior have long
it’s her turn Those who work with Vikan- stories that almost seem unreal. made it a popular genre.
as Gerda der regularly cite her dedication The fact that they are real “The law and justice beat has
Wegener in and precision. The daughter of a (makes) them more compelling.” in it a definition of humanity that
The Danish theater actress mother and psy- Netflix’s Murderer takes an in- is fascinating, (including) people
Girl that chiatrist father, she spent years depth look at the complicated, who you believe would be above
has critics studying ballet, “so she’s got this polarizing case of Steven Avery, the law but have perpetrated
talking now. rigorous side to her,” says direc- a Wisconsin man who is released some of the most heinous crimes.
tor Tom Hooper, noting the same from prison in 2003 after serving How does that happen?” says
rigor she has applied to becoming 18 years for a wrongful rape con- 48 Hours executive producer
fluent in English. viction only to be arrested again Susan Zirinsky, who adds that the
1 year, Hooper, who had hoped to cast and convicted of a woman’s bru- forensic-technology “explosion”
5 films a Danish actress for the role,
recalls the day Vikander turned
tal murder.
“Steven’s status was unique
heightens the drama. People are
drawn to depictions “of humanity
and the up. “She was so moving that I had and compelling,” says Laura Ric- at its most brilliant, at its most
tears in my eyes at the end of the ciardi, who directed Murderer flawed, at its most depraved.”
awards first take. And Eddie turned to
me and goes, ‘Well, there’s no
nods great surprise about who you’re
Advertisement

Vikander’s first big American just going to cast now, Hooper.’ ”

role was in Anna Karenina, but
it’s The Danish Girl, co-starring
Eddie Redmayne, that’s turning
her into one of the go-to young
actresses in Hollywood. She plays
Gerda Wegener, a portrait artist
in the 1920s who stands resolute-
ly by her husband, Einar (Red-
mayne), after he reveals that he
believes he was born in the wrong
gender and begins to dress as a
woman they call Lili.
Despite her confusion and loss,
Gerda refuses to leave Lili, who
undergoes one of the earliest
attempts at gender confirmation
surgery. Vikander calls Gerda a
woman “ahead of her time. Above
anything, I was amazed by what a
loving person she is. She can dare
to have this unconditional love
that she has for Lili.”
keep
Next, Vikander will star in The
Light Between Oceans with beau
Costa Rica Natural Paradise
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In The Danish Girl, Redmayne
plays Einar Wegener, a celebrated
landscape artist who hides a
longing to live as a woman. Alicia
Vikander, who plays his wife,
Gerda, remembers the power
of seeing Redmayne as Lili the
first time.
“I was looking for Eddie, and
then I see this gorgeous red-
headed woman just turning
around, and I was just quite
amazed,” she says. “Tom was like,
‘Yes! She was on set for about five
minutes without realizing that
was Eddie!’ ”
Redmayne shows great care
when speaking of Lili, a longtime
icon of the transgender commu-
nity. The film “has been the most
extraordinary education for me,”
he says. He hopes audiences turn
out to see what a unique love
story The Danish Girl is. “We
strive to have order amongst
fluidity (when) actually love is
the one thing that can’t be
defined in the way that perhaps
gender can’t either,” he says.
As for Oscar, experts say the
icy wilderness drama The Reve-
nant could give Redmayne a run
for his money. “Eddie is looking
like a sure thing for a second
consecutive Oscar nomination,”
says Fandango.com Oscar expert
Dave Karger. “But he’s got to
“We strive to have
order amongst fluidity
(when) actually love is
the one thing that can’t
be defined in the way
that perhaps gender
can’t either.”
Eddie Redmayne
contend with Leonardo DiCaprio,
who has never won before and
has to be considered the
front-runner.”
Let magic take care of the rest.
Tomorrow, it’s back to Fantastic
Beasts. “Whoosh!” says Red-
mayne, shooting off an imaginary
wand as he scoots down a hotel
hallway.
And then?
“You’ll have to ask my wife,” he
grins. “I’m like, ‘I’m going to take
months off!’ She’s like, ‘You
always say that.’ And then you get
sort of itchy feet.”
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4D LIFE USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

On Broadway, a ‘Fiddler’ that triumphantly sings

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF
Starring Danny Burstein
Broadway Theatre
NEW YORK When
THEATER
REVIEW Tevye the dairyman
ELYSA speaks to God in
GARDNER Bartlett Sher’s sub-
lime new revival of
Fiddler On the Roof, you grasp
every inch of the character’s
distance from heaven.
Through previous productions
of Fiddler, and the 1971 film adap-
tation, Tevye has become an out-
size figure, despite his humble
circumstances as a poor Jewish
man living in early-20th-century
Russia.
We picture him as a solid,
bearded fellow, gesticulating
broadly as he tells us of tradition,
fatherhood and faith, and the
various challenges they’ve
brought him.
Danny Burstein, the marvelous
actor who stars in this produc-
tion, has the beard and the bulk,
but his Tevye is distinctly nu-
anced. As he fields his limited op-
tions, and the sharp comments of
his loving wife, Golde (played
here by a robustly moving Jessica
Hecht), Tevye’s humanity is made
fully accessible. When his trials
demand expression on a larger
scale, Burstein delivers mightily.
eeee The performance anchors a kinetic, exhilarating dance rou-
production that, like Sher’s previ- tines (based on Jerome Robbins’
ous stagings of American classics original work) reinforce this
— from Rodgers and Hammer- resolve. We see the capacity for
stein’s South Pacific and The King joy that carries Tevye’s family
and I to Clifford Odets’ Golden and fellow villagers through
Boy and August Wilson’s Joe wrenching heartache, though
Turner’s Come and Gone — this production hardly plays
reveals both the timelessness down the latter.
and the contemporary pertinence As in the past, Sher explores
of the work. the difficulty of change, a major
His Fiddler arguably is even theme in Fiddler; cultural and
more revelatory, as the material generational conflicts and the
has always lent itself to certain perpetuating nature of intoler-
clichés closer to Broadway audi- ance are confronted unsparingly.
ences. The religion, culture and The buoyant Matchmaker is
history of Tevye’s community is restaged to more fully acknowl-
fundamental to their story; the edge the powerlessness young
trick is to capture that without women such as Tevye’s daughters
veering into caricature. faced in arranged marriages.
Sher does this with the support When the three eldest make their
of a seamless cast and an intu- own choices — near-impossible
itive, inventive design team that ones for the second, Hodel
includes several previous collabo- (a sterling-voiced Samantha
rators. Michael Yeargan’s lean, Massell) and the third, Chava (a
spacious sets and Donald Hold- gently gleaming Melanie Moore)
er’s alternately stark and warm — we feel the weight of their con-
lighting evoke the poverty and sequences.
close bonds in the village of Ana- And a framing device is used,
tevka as compellingly as they did briefly but memorably, to rein-
the majesty of Siam in King. force the topicality of the kind of
Catherine Zuber’s costumes, struggles faced in Anatevka.
sturdy and rich in earth tones, What this Fiddler shows us
suit a group of people for whom most powerfully, though, is the
vitality is a form of defiance. resilience of love. For all its
The director has an invaluable specific insights, it delivers that
JOAN MARCUS
new colleague in Israeli choreog- simple and universal message,
rapher Hofesh Shechter, whose Tevye (Danny Burstein) is a man of humility and tradition. thrillingly.

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- Pietro Aretino
USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015 LIFE 5D

SCREEN CHECK
Matthew McConaughey travels through
a wormhole to find a future in Interstellar.
MELINDA SUE GORDON, PARAMOUNT PICTURES/WARNER BROTHERS ENTERTAINMENT

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INTEREST IN ‘CASTLE’
All eyes are on The Man In
the High Castle. On Monday,
Amazon announced that the
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the most-streamed original
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Based on the book by Philip
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what would have happened
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World War II and controlled
parts of the United States.
All 10 episodes from the
first season are available
to stream, and the series
was picked up for a second
season last week.
amazon.com
DAVID BERG, AMAZON STUDIOS
Juliana Crain (Alexa Davalos) and Joe Blake’s (Luke Kleintank) America is a very different place.
Interstellar (2014)
Matthew McConaughey and Anne
Queen of the Earth Hathaway star as astronauts in search
Channel: Netflix of a new home for humanity in this
Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) stars in the visual-effects Oscar winner.
2015 psychological thriller now available
to stream on Netflix. Amazon originals
netflix.com Make the most of your holiday-week
airport time with Season 2 of Trans-
parent, the alternate-history tale The
Man in the High Castle or catching
up on Mozart in the Jungle before
Season 2 arrives Dec. 30.
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8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30
CRITIC’S NETWORK

CORNER ABC Fresh Off the Boat. The Muppets. (HD) The Year: 2015. Memorable moments from 2015. (N) (HD) Local news. Kimmel. (HD)
(HD)

CBS NCIS. A terror group holds a Marine NCIS: New Orleans. The team must Limitless. A retired FBI agent is Local news. Colbert. Sylvester
hostage. (HD) retrieve a stolen missile. (HD) murdered. (HD) Stallone. (HD)
Robert Bianco Fox The Simpsons. The Ice Age: A Mam- Taraji and Terrence’s White Hot Holidays. Local news and programming.
@BiancoRobert story of Bart’s life. moth Christmas. A music and variety holiday special. (HD)
USA TODAY
NBC Hollywood Game Night. Ray Romano Chicago Med. An influx of train crash Chicago Fire. Brett and Chili help a Local news. Fallon. Jennifer
and Cheryl Hines. (HD) victims arrive at Chicago Med. (HD) stabbing victim. (HD) Lawrence. (HD)
PBS Prohibition. Enforcing Prohibition creates problems. (HD) Frontline. (HD) Charlie Rose. (N) (HD)
CW The Flash. Joe faces a difficult decision. iZombie. (HD) Local programming.
ION Criminal Minds. (HD) Criminal Minds. (HD) Criminal Minds. (HD) Saving Hope. (HD)
Telemundo Celia. (N) Bajo el Mismo Cielo. (N) Señora Acero. (N) Al Rojo Vivo. Titulares y Más.
Univision Antes Muerta que Lichita. (N) Pasión y Poder. (N) Yo no creo en los hombres. Impacto Extra. Noticiero Uni.
CABLE
ICE AGE: A MAMMOTH A&E Married at First Sight. Married at First Sight. (N) Born This Way. (N) Born This Way.
CHRISTMAS ABC Family The Santa Clause. The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. (Starts 8:45) With Tim Allen, Martin Short. (2006) The 700 Club. (N) (HD)
FOX, 8:30 ET/PT AHC America: Facts. America: Facts. America: Facts. America: Facts. America: Facts. America: Facts. America: Facts. America: Facts.
As if to prove that any movie AMC A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa. The Muppet Movie. With Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton. (1979) A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa.
can support a holiday spinoff, Animal Planet Monsters Inside Me. Monsters Inside Me. (N) Monsters Inside Me. Monsters Inside Me.
Fox repeats this tale of Ice Age BBC America Doctor Who. Capt. Jack storms back. Doctor Who. Doctor Who. Doctor Who.
animals preparing for Christmas BET Martin. Martin. Martin. Martin. House of Payne. House of Payne. House of Payne. House of Payne.
and meeting Santa. Not to be Bravo The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. (N) Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce. (N) The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
unduly picky — we are dealing Cartoon King of the Hill. Bob’s Burgers. Bob’s Burgers. Cleveland Show. American Dad. American Dad. Family Guy. Family Guy.
with animated talking animals CMT Last Man Standing. Last Man Standing. A Christmas Story 2. Teenage Ralphie wrecks his dream car before Christmas. With Daniel Stern. (2012) I Love Kellie Pickler.
celebrating a holiday — but con- CNBC Shark Tank. Shark Tank. All-natural dog treats. Shark Tank. A modern-day slip business. Shark Tank.
sidering that the Ice Age ended CNN Anderson Cooper 360. (N) Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. CNN Tonight. (N) Anderson Cooper 360.
before Christ was born, Christ- Comedy Tosh.0. Tosh.0. Tosh.0. Tosh.0. Tosh.0. Tosh.0. Tosh.0. Tosh.0.
mas would seem to be an odd one Destination America Full Throttle Saloon. Full Throttle Saloon. Full Throttle Saloon. (N) Full Throttle Saloon.
for them to celebrate. Just saying. Discovery Moonshiners: Outlaw Cuts. (N) Moonshiners. (N) Moonshiners. Tim and Tickle reminisce. Moonshiners.
Disney Home Alone: The Holiday Heist. with Debi Mazar. (2012) Disney’s A Christmas Carol. (Starts 9:40) With Voices of Jim Carrey. (2009) K.C. Undercover.
DisXD Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs. Two More Eggs.
E! Coyote Ugly. With Piper Perabo, Adam Garcia. (1 hr. 40 mins.) (2000) Christina Milian Turned Up. E! News. (N)
Esquire Knife Fight. Knife Fight. Knife Fight. (N) Knife Fight. (N) Fool’s Gold. With Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson. (2008)
Fox News The O’Reilly Factor. (N) The Kelly File. (N) Hannity. (N) The O’Reilly Factor.
Food Chopped Junior. (N) Chopped. Four cooking duos compete. Chopped. (N) Chopped.
FX Star Trek Into Darkness. Capt. James Kirk hunts a one-man weapon of mass destruction. With Chris Pine. (2013) Star Trek Into Darkness. (2013)
FXX The Simpsons. The Simpsons. The Simpsons. The Simpsons. The Simpsons. The Simpsons. The Simpsons. The Simpsons.
GSN The Chase. Family Feud. Family Feud. Family Feud. Family Feud. Family Feud. Family Feud.
Hallmark Christmas Land. After inheriting a tree farm, a woman plans to sell it. (2 hrs.) (2015) Crown for Christmas. With Danica McKellar, Rupert Penry Jones. (2015)
HGTV Fixer Upper. Fixer Upper. An old Victorian. (N) House Hunters. Hunters Int’l. Fixer Upper.
History The Curse of Oak Island. The Curse of Oak Island. (N) Hunting Hitler. (N) Hunting Hitler.
H2 Jesus: The Lost 40 Days. Events in the lost gospels. The Ten Commandments. Different interpretations through time.
HLN Nancy Grace. (Season premiere) (N) Dr. Drew. (Season premiere) (N) Forensic Files. Forensic Files. Forensic Files. Forensic Files.
ID Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda. Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda. A Crime to Remember. (N) Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda.

IDA MAE ASTUTE, ABC

IFC That ’70s Show. That ’70s Show. That ’70s Show. That ’70s Show. That ’70s Show. That ’70s Show. Commando. with Rae Dawn Chong. (1985)
Lifetime 27 Dresses. With Katherine Heigl, James Marsden. (1 hr. 47 mins.) (2008) I Don’t Know How She Does It. (Starts 10:02) With Sarah Jessica Parker. (2011)
Robin Roberts takes us through the
good, the bad and the ugly of 2015. MSNBC All In with Chris Hayes. (N) The Rachel Maddow Show. (N) The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. All In with Chris Hayes.
MTV Catfish: The TV Show. Catfish: The TV Show. Catfish: The TV Show. Catfish: The TV Show.
THE YEAR: 2015 Nat. Geo. Life Below Zero. Life Below Zero. (N) Badlands, Texas. (N) Life Below Zero.
ABC, 9 ET/PT Nick Ho Ho Holiday. Game Shakers. Full House. Full House. Full House. Full House. Friends. Friends.
ABC heads into 2016 with a OWN If Loving You Is Wrong. If Loving You Is Wrong. If Loving You Is Wrong. Edward plans out something vicious. Loving You.
look back at 2015, led by Robin Oxygen Ghost. (From 7:10) With Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore. (2 hrs. 7 mins.) (1990) Sleeping with the Enemy. (Starts 9:50) With Julia Roberts. (1 hr. 39 mins.) (1991)
Roberts. We’re promised a Science How the Universe Works. How the Universe Works. Secret Space Escapes. (N) How the Universe Works.
“roller-coaster ride through Spike Cops. Cops. Cops. Cops. Cops. Cops. Cops. Cops.
everything the nation couldn’t Sundance The Italian Job. (From 6:30) (2003) The Fugitive. An innocent man must evade the law as he pursues a killer. With Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones. (1993)
stop talking about all year” — Syfy Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. (From 7:00) (2008) The Expanse. (N) The Expanse.
which means you’re almost TBS Big Bang Theory. Big Bang Theory. Big Bang Theory. Big Bang Theory. Big Bang Theory. Big Bang Theory. Conan.
certain to hear about some topic TCM Desk Set. With Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn. (1 hr. 43 mins.) (1957) My Favorite Wife. With Irene Dunne, Cary Grant. (1940) The Goodbye Girl.

you fervently wish people would TLC Jill & Jessa: Countdown to Counting On. Kate Plus 8. Kate takes Mady antiquing. 7 Little Johnstons. (N) Jill & Jessa: Countdown to Counting On.

stop talking about. TNT Four Christmases. With Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon. (2008) Four Christmases. With Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon. (2008)
Travel Bizarre Foods America. Bizarre Foods. (N) Booze Traveler. (N) Booze Traveler.
TruTV Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins. Adam Ruins.
TV Land The Facts of Life. Love/Raymond. Love/Raymond. Love/Raymond. Love/Raymond. The King of Queens. The King of Queens.
USA WWE SmackDown! New Day defends against the Lucha Dragons. (N) (Live) Chrisley Knows. Chrisley Knows. Modern Family. Modern Family.
VH1 Black Ink Crew: Chicago. Love & Hip Hop. Love & Hip Hop. Love Don’t Cost a Thing. (2003)
WE Law & Order. Law & Order. A star violinist is murdered. Law & Order. Law & Order.
Weather So You Think You’d Survive? Secrets of the Earth. Secrets of the Earth. Secrets of the Earth.
WGN America E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. A California boy befriends a homesick alien. With Henry Thomas. (1982) How I Met/Mother. How I Met/Mother. How I Met/Mother.
MOVIE NETWORKS
Cinemax A Walk Among the Tombstones. A PI hunts the men who murdered a drug lord’s The Knick. Thackery eschews Zinberg’s Carnal Wishes. The deepest, most
wife. With Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens. (1 hr. 54 mins.) (2014) advice. intimate carnal wishes come true. (2015)

Encore The Wedding Singer. A 1980s wedding crooner attempts to find Never Been Kissed. (Starts 9:40) A reporter poses as a high-school student. With 22 Jump Street.
true love. With Adam Sandler. (1 hr. 36 mins.) (1998) Drew Barrymore, David Arquette. (1 hr. 47 mins.) (1999) (2014)

FXM The Guilt Trip. (From 7:00) With Barbra The Bounty Hunter. A bounty hunter must track down his bail-jumping ex-wife. With FXM Presents. The Bounty Hunter.
Streisand, Seth Rogen. (2012) Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler. (1 hr. 51 mins.) (2010) (2010)

HBO The Maze Runner. Youths find themselves trapped inside a massive labyrinth. With REAL Sports with Bryant Gumbel. Bolshoi Babylon. The Bolshoi Theatre is
Dylan O’Brien, Kaya Scodelario. (1 hr. 53 mins.) (2014) (Season finale) (N) rocked by an acid attack scandal. (2015)

HMM The Christmas Choir. (From 7:00) With The Christmas Ornament. Kathy works toward a balance between the past and The Wishing Tree. With Jason Gedrick,
WARNER HOME VIDEO Jason Gedrick, Rhea Perlman. (2008) future. With Kellie Martin, Cameron Mathison. (1 hr. 23 mins.) (2013) Richard Harmon. (2012)
Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly show off Lifetime Movie Intervention. Cocaine and methadone Intervention. An Olympic hopeful uses Intervention. A man becomes addicted Intervention. Mark is addicted to
their moves in That’s Entertainment. abuse. crystal meth. to crack. painkillers; Kelly’s self-destructive path.

Showtime Need for Speed. (From 6:50) With Aaron Inside the NFL. Highlights and analysis Homeland. Time is running out. Inside the NFL. Highlights and analysis
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT/ Paul. (2 hrs. 10 mins.) (2014) from week fifteen. (N) from week fifteen.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT II Starz Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. (From 7:20) With Da Vinci’s Demons. Riario awaits Behind Enemy Lines. An American flight navigator is stranded in war-torn Bosnia.
TCM, 1:45 A.M. ET/10:45 P.M. PT Kevin James. (2015) judgment. With Owen Wilson, Gene Hackman. (1 hr. 46 mins.) (2001)
If you’re up late getting some TMC Scary Movie. A masked killer terrorizes and murders teens. Blood Out. A lawman goes under cover to solve his brother’s Pulp Fiction. With John Travolta, Samuel
early gift-wrapping out of the With Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans. (2000) murder. With Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. (2011) L. Jackson. (1994)
way, TCM has the perfect accom- SPORTS NETWORKS
paniment: these salutes to ESPN College Football: Marmot Boca Raton Bowl -- Toledo vs. Temple. (N) (Live) SportsCenter. (N) (Live)
MGM’s golden era (musicals only ESPN2 College Basketball. College Basketball: California at Virginia. (N) (Live) NFL Live.
in the first one, a mix of music ESPNU College Basketball. College Basketball: Mercer at Ohio State. (N) (Live) College Basketball.
and comedy in the second). Aside FS1 College Basketball: Delaware at Villanova. College Basketball: George Washington at DePaul. (N) (Live) Fox Sports Live. (N) (Live)
from living up to its title, the first Golf PGA Tour Golf: Final Round of the 2015 WGC Cadillac Championship. Golf Central Special.
Entertainment ranks as one of the MLB MLB Tonight. MLB Network Presents. MLB Network Presents. MLB Tonight.
most culturally influential movies NBA NBA Basketball: Dallas Mavericks at Toronto Raptors. (N) (Live) NBA Postgame. (N) NBA GameTime. (N) (Live) Beyond the Paint.
of the ’70s, reigniting interest in NBCSports NHL Hockey: Montreal Canadiens at Minnesota Wild. From the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. (N) NHL Hockey: San Jose Sharks at Los Angeles Kings. (N) (Live)

a dying genre and an aging group NFLN NFL Total Access. (N) (Live) The Timeline. The Timeline. NFL Total Access.

of movies and stars, encouraging MOVIES Eastern Time

may vary in some cities.
Ratings
TVY Children of all ages
FV Fantasy Violence
V Violence
film preservation and making COMPLETE LISTINGS TVY7 Children over 7
TVG All audience
S Sexual situations
L Coarse Language
(N) New episode.
cable outlets such as TCM TVLISTINGS.USATODAY.COM (HD) High-definition TVPG Parental guidance suggested D Suggestive dialogue
TV14 Inappropriate for under 14
possible. Customized to your location
where available.
TVMA Mature Audience
6D LIFE USA TODAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2015

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