Established 1879 | Columbus, Mississippi
CDISPATCH.COM
MONDAY PROFILE
After a stellar 2020, teenage West Point golf star’s rise continues
Emerson Blair joins ranks of young area golfers making their marks
BY THEO DEROSA
tderosa@cdispatch.com
R
ob Akins started coaching
Emerson Blair when she
was “a little teeny girl”
weighing barely 60 pounds.
But Akins, a PGA profes-
sional and golf instructor from
Collierville, Tennessee, could
tell one thing right away: The
10-year-old from West Point
showed a talent and dedication
that far exceeded her size.
“As a young girl, she had that
drive,” Akins said, “way more
drive than most of the time what
Columbus
offices, area
schools closed
today due to snow
Atmos limits service
techs to ‘emergency’
calls only
DISPATCH STAFF REPORT
Columbus and Lowndes County
administrative offices are closed to-
day due to winter weather, accord-
ing to officials for both entities.
The city’s police, fire and rescue
and public works departments will
work as scheduled. County gar-
bage service will not run today.
Clay County offices opened at 11
a.m. today. Starkville, Oktibbeha
County and West Point offices are
observing normal operating hours.
Snow this morning in the region
caused adjustments for area school
districts as well. Columbus Munic-
ipal School District is observing
an “all-virtual” day with students
learning online. Lowndes County
See SNOW, 3A
Former selectman
Bobo running for
mayor in West Point
Robinson retiring;
Incumbent selectmen all
qualify for re-election
BY ZACK PLAIR
zplair@cdispatch.com
WEST POINT —
The end of the first
week of qualifying
for city elections
brought a list of so-
far unchallenged se-
lectmen incumbents,
as well as a new can- Bobo
didate for mayor.
Rod Bobo, a State Farm insur-
See WEST POINT, 6A
INSIDE
Classifieds 6B
Comics 4B
Crossword 6B
Dear Abby 4B
Obituaries 5A
Opinions 4A
WEATHER
High 41 Low 26
Wintry mix
Full forecast on
page 3A.
141st Year, No. 258
you see in boys or girls that
age.”
Blair, now 14, has used that
drive to become Mississippi’s
No. 1 girls golfer. And after
a standout 2020, she has her
sights set even higher.
“I have a good feeling that in
the next year or two, you’ll see
her rise to the top of all the girls
in the U.S.,” Akins said.
Blair furthered that process
over the past year with five
tournament wins across the
Southeast.
She captured first-place
trophies at the College Tour X
Justice Schultz, Jayden Schultz and Landon Bowen build a snowman in the yard beside Annunciation Catholic Church in
Columbus Monday morning. Landon’s parents are Clay and Shannon Bowen. Jayden and Justice’s parents are Joseph and
Ana Schultz. The National Weather Service indicated snow accumulation in the area could exceed two inches by mid-day, but
temperatures are expected to rise to nearly 40 later today.
UNDER THE CAPITOL DOME
Analysis: Health care, education, incentives on 2021 agendas
BY EMILY WAGSTER PET TUS
The Associated Press
JACKSON — With the
Mississippi legislative ses-
sion just beginning, officials
are starting to reveal their
public policy wish lists, in-
FIVE QUESTIONS
1 In 2014 novel, “A Brief History
of Seven Killings” was the first
by a Jamaican writer to win what
British award?
2 What app includes the re-
al-time special effects feature
called Lenses?
3 What spicy, red pepper sauce
is traditionally in North African
cooking?
4 What two singers co-headlined
the On the Run concert tour in
2014?
5 Name one of the three Fox
News reporters who moderated
the first Republican Party presi-
dential debate in August 2015?
Answers, 6B
DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471
Monday | January 11, 2021
Pride of the South at her home
course, Old Waverly Golf Club;
the Mississippi Junior Amateur
Championship in Meridian; the
Mississippi Women’s Four-Ball
in Hattiesburg; the Emerald
Coast Indian Bayou Junior Clas-
sic in Destin, Florida; and the
Elite Invitational in Hilton Head,
South Carolina.
It’s nothing new for Blair,
who has been all over the coun-
try thanks to golf over the past
few years. She’s competed in
North Carolina, South Carolina,
New Jersey and even played
See BLAIR, 6A
SNOW DAY
cluding proposals to increase
teacher pay and improve the
availability of health care ser-
vices.
The Senate Democratic
Caucus chairman, Derrick
Simmons of Greenville, re-
peated last week what he and
LOCAL FOLKS
Blair Bell, of Starkville, is working on windows
for a historic building renovation downtown.
75 ¢ Newsstand | 40 ¢ Home Delivery
Emerson
Blair poses
with the
champion-
ship trophy
after winning
the 2020
Mississippi
Junior Ama-
teur Cham-
pionship
in July at
Northwood
Country
Club in
Meridian. It
was one of
five events
Blair won in
2020.
Photo courtesy of Sandi Blair
Courtesy Photo/Clay Bowen
many other Democrats have the 2010 health care overhaul
said for years — that Missis- signed by then-President
sippi should expand Medicaid Barack Obama, and Missis-
to cover tens of thousands of sippi is one of 12 states that
people who earn modest sala- have not chosen the option.
ries and don’t receive health The federal government
insurance through their jobs. pays most of the Medicaid
Expansion is optional under See ANALYSIS, 6A
PUBLIC MEETINGS
Today: Columbus Municipal
School District Board of Trust-
ees, 6 p.m. Brandon Central
Services
Jan. 15: Lowndes County
Board of Supervisors, 9 a.m.,
Courthouse, facebook.com/
LowndesCountyMississippi/
Jan. 19: Columbus City
Council, 5 p.m., Municipal
Complex, facebook.com/City-
ofColumbusMS/
Feb. 1: Lowndes County
Board of Supervisors, 9 a.m.
Courthouse, facebook.com/
LowndesCountyMississippi/
2A MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

President Trump remains

defiant amid calls to resign
Poll: 56 percent of Americans believe Trump should
be removed from office before his term ends
BY JILL COLVIN
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President
Donald Trump enters the last days
of his presidency isolated and
shunned by former allies and mem-
bers of his own party as he faces a
second impeachment and growing
calls for his resignation after his
supporters launched an assault
on the nation’s Capitol in an effort
to disrupt the peaceful transfer of
power.
Cut off from the social media
channels that have been the life-
blood of his presidency, Trump will
nonetheless try to go on offense in
his last 10 days, with no plans of re-
signing.
Instead, Trump is planning to
lash out against the companies that
have now denied him his Twitter
and Facebook bullhorns. And aides
hope he will spend his last days
trying to trumpet his policy accom-
plishments, beginning with a trip to
Alamo, Texas, on Tuesday to high-
light his administration’s efforts to
curb illegal immigration and bor-
der wall construction.
Trump’s decision to travel to Al-
amo — named after the San Anto-
nio mission where a small group of
Texans fighting for independence
against the Mexican government
were defeated after a 13-day siege
— served as a symbol of his defi-
ance as he faces the most volatile
end of any presidency in modern
history.
Trump has not taken any re-
sponsibility for his role in inciting
Wednesday’s violence amid a rebel-
lion from members of his own party
and ongoing efforts to remove him
from office. A second Republican
senator, Pat Toomey of Pennsylva-
nia, on Sunday called for Trump’s
resignation after Sen. Lisa Murkow-
ski of Alaska told the Anchorage
Daily News: “I want him out.”
It was a stunning reversal for a
man who had once been considered
the leading contender for his par-
ty’s nomination in 2024, and could
now be stripped of his ability to run
for a second term.
A new ABC News/Ipsos poll re-
leased Sunday found that over half
of Americans — 56 percent — be-
lieve that Trump should be removed
from office before his term ends.
And two-thirds of respondents —
67 percent — said he deserves a
“good amount” or a “great deal” of
blame for the rioting last week.
Trump had delivered a speech to
his supporters in which he repeat-
edly said the election was being sto-
len and urged them to “fight” before
they rushed the Capitol as lawmak-
ers were in the process of certify-
ing Biden’s wins. The violent crowd
forced its way inside, ransacked the
building and sent terrified staff and
lawmakers, including the vice pres-
ident, into hiding. Five, including a
Capitol police officer, died.

Capitol assault a more sinister attack than first appeared

‘What I saw in front of me was basically
home-grown fascism, out of control’
Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass.
BY JAY REEVES, LISA
MASCARO AND CALVIN
WOODWARD
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Un-
der battle flags bearing
Donald Trump’s name,
the Capitol’s attackers
pinned a bloodied police
officer in a doorway, his
twisted face and screams
captured on video. They
mortally wounded an-
other officer with a
blunt weapon and body-
slammed a third over a
railing into the crowd.
“Hang Mike Pence!”
the insurrectionists
chanted as they pressed
inside, beating police
with pipes. They demand-
ed House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi’s whereabouts, too.
They hunted any and all
lawmakers: “Where are
they?” Outside, make-
shift gallows stood, com-
plete with sturdy wooden
steps and the noose. Guns
and pipe bombs had been
stashed in the vicinity.
Only days later is the
extent of the danger
from one of the darkest
episodes in American
democracy coming into
focus. The sinister na-
ture of the assault has
become evident, betray-
ing the crowd as a force
determined to occupy
the inner sanctums of
Congress and run down
leaders — Trump’s vice
president and the Dem-
ocratic House speaker
among them.
This was not just a
collection of Trump sup-
porters with MAGA bling
caught up in a wave.
That revelation came
in real time to Rep. Jim
McGovern, D-Mass., who
briefly took over proceed-
ings in the House cham-
ber as the mob closed
in Wednesday and the
speaker, Rep. Nancy Pe-
losi, was spirited to safer
quarters moments before
everything went haywire.
“I saw this crowd of
people banging on that
glass screaming,” Mc-
Govern told The Asso-
ciated Press on Sunday.
“Looking at their faces,
it occurred to me, these
Trump exhorted his
partisans at the staging
aren’t protesters. These
are people who want to do
rally. “Let’s have trial by
combat,” implored his
harm.” lawyer, Rudy Giuliani,
“What I saw in front whose attempt to throw
of me,” he said, “was ba- out election results in
sically home-grown fas- trial by courtroom failed.
cism, out of control.” It’s time to “start taking
Pelosi said Sunday down names and kick-
“the evidence is that it ing ass,” said Republican
was a well-planned, orga- Rep. Mo Brooks of Ala-
nized group with leader- bama.
ship and guidance and di- Criminals pardoned
rection. And the direction by Trump, among them
was to go get people.” She Roger Stone and Michael
did not elaborate on that Flynn, came forward at
point in a “60 Minutes” in- rallies on the eve of the
terview on CBS. attack to tell the crowds
The scenes of rage, they were fighting a bat-
violence and agony are tle between good and evil
so vast that the whole and they were on the side
of it may still be beyond of good.
comprehension. But with
countless smartphone
videos emerging from
the scene, much of it from
gloating insurrectionists
themselves, and more
lawmakers recounting
the chaos that was around
them, contours of the up-
rising are increasingly
coming into relief.
The mob got explicit
marching orders from
Trump and still more en-
couragement from the
president’s men.
“Fight like hell,”

Explainer: Can social media companies boot Trump? Yes

BY KEVIN FREKING
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — So-
cial media companies de-
cided this past week they
had finally seen enough
from President Donald
Trump.
Facebook and Insta-
gram suspended Trump
at least until Inauguration
Day. Twitch and Snapchat
also disabled Trump’s ac-
counts. To top it all off,
Twitter ended a nearly
12-year run and shuttered
his account, severing an
instant line of communi-
cation to his 89 million
followers.
Conservatives are cry-
ing foul.
“Free Speech Is Un-
der Attack! Censorship
is happening like NEV-
ER before! Don’t let them
silence us. Sign up at
http://DONJR.COM to
stay connected!” his el-
dest son, Donald Trump
Jr., tweeted Friday.
Can Twitter and
Facebook legally take
such action?
The short answer is
yes.
As the Congressional
Research Service has ex-
plained in a report for fed-
eral lawmakers and their
staffs, lawsuits predicated
on a website’s decision
to remove content large-
ly fail. That’s because
the free speech protec-
tions set out in the First
Amendment generally ap-
ply only to when a person
is harmed by an action of
the government.
“The First Amend-
ment doesn’t apply to
private sector organiza-
tions. That’s not how this
works,” said Chris Krebs,
when asked Sunday
whether censorship by so-
cial media companies vi-
olated freedom of speech
protections.
Krebs oversaw election
cybersecurity efforts at
the Department of Home-
land Security until Trump
fired him when he disput-
ed election fraud claims.
Speaking on CBS’s “Face
the Nation” Sunday, he
explained that companies
enforce their own stan-
dards and policies for us-
ers.
That’s what happened
at Twitter on Friday.
What rationale did
Twitter take for its
actions?
The company said af-
ter reviewing Trump’s
account in the context of
the riot at the Capitol on
Wednesday, it was con-
cerned about two tweets
he sent Friday that Twit-
ter said could incite vio-
lence. They were:
■ “The 75,000,000
great American Patriots
who voted for me, AMER-
ICA FIRST, and MAKE
AMERICA GREAT
AGAIN, will have a GI-
ANT VOICE long into the
future. They will not be
disrespected or treated
unfairly in any way, shape
or form!!!”
■ “To all of those who
have asked, I will not be
going to the Inauguration
on January 20th.”
The first tweet, the
company said, was re-
ceived by some supporters
as further confirmation
that the Nov. 3 election
was not legitimate — but
in fact, the notion of wide-
spread voter fraud is a
baseless claim. The use of
the words “American Pa-
triots” to describe some
of his supporters was also
interpreted as support for
those committing violent
acts at the Capitol.
The company said the
second tweet could serve
as encouragement to
those considering violent
acts that the inauguration
ceremonies on Jan. 20
would be a “safe” target
since he would not be at-
tending.
“Our determination is
that the two Tweets above
are likely to inspire others
to replicate the violent
acts that took place on
January 6, 2021, and that
there are multiple indica-
tors that they are being
received and understood
as encouragement to do
so,” Twitter wrote.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 3A

A THOUSAND WORDS Winter storm coats

Southern states
with blanket of snow
NWS: As much as 6 inches of
snow reported in Southern Texas
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

A winter storm has brought snow to parts of the

U.S. South, moving into Alabama and Tennessee
on Monday after blowing across Texas, Louisiana
and Mississippi the day before. The blanket of
white falling across the region forced some school
and government office closures, and fostered
some play time for adults and children cooped up
in the pandemic.
As many as 6 inches of snow fell across parts
of southern Texas, the National Weather Service
in Houston reported Sunday night. The snow
contributed to slick roads and power outages, but
some families took time to enjoy the weather in ar-
eas like Austin and College Station.
The system moved into Louisiana and Missis-
sippi during the nighttime hours, with Louisiana
State Police warning people in an online video to
stay off the roads if possible.
By Monday morning, a light dusting covered
grassy and elevated surfaces across northern Al-
abama and southern Tennessee. About two dozen
Tess Vrbin/Dispatch Staff public school systems delayed classes or closed
Courtney Leveck, center, builds a snowman with her children, Lydia, 6, right, and Harlan, 2, left, in front of their in Alabama, and transportation officials reported
house on Critz Street in Starkville this morning. Lydia has seen a snowfall like today’s before, her mother said, wrecks in areas that received wintry precipitation
but Harlan has not. overnight.
Snow could spread into northwest Georgia,
forecasters said.
Snowfall totals of about 4 inches were expected
for areas between Center, Texas, and Natchitoches,

Trump pressured Georgia to ‘find

Louisiana, KSLA-TV reported. State government
offices in 29 parishes will be closed Monday — in-
cluding in Caddo Parish, where Shreveport is lo-
cated — according to The Advocate.

the fraud’ in earlier phone call
Trump lost to Biden in Georgia by 11,779 votes
BY BEN NADLER
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — While election
officials in Georgia were verifying
signatures on absentee ballot enve-
lopes in one metro-Atlanta county,
President Donald Trump pressed a
lead investigator to “find the fraud”
and said it would make the investi-
gator a national hero.
The December call, described
by a person familiar with it who
of the November election, which he
lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
It is one of at least three phone
calls, held over the course of a month
between early December and early
January, where Trump sought help
from high-level Georgia officials in
subverting the election — only to
be rebuffed each time. Trump lost
to Biden in Georgia by 11,779 votes.
The call to the investigator pre-
ceded Trump’s Jan. 2 call to Geor-
gia Secretary of State Brad Raffen-
The audit, which reviewed more
than 15,000 signatures, found no
cases of fraud. The Georgia Bureau
of Investigation helped conduct the
signature audit.
Trump and his allies have for
months made false claims about
Georgia’s signature verification
process for absentee ballots and
about the results of the November
election. Among other things, they
demanded an audit of the signature
matches.
The White House had no imme-
diate comment. The call was first
More than 100,000 customers in Texas and
over 50,000 customers in Louisiana were without
power early Monday morning, according to power-
outage.us, a utility tracking website.
Several school districts were closed, delayed or
scheduled for only virtual learning in Mississippi
and southern Arkansas, news outlets reported.
The National Weather Service in Jackson said 2
to 4 inches of snow were expected for areas includ-
ing Vicksburg and Yazoo City, with locally heavier
amounts possible.
Communities further south in Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi and Alabama missed the snow, but got
rain or sleet.

spoke on the condition of anonym-
ity in order to describe the sen-
sitive nature of the discussion, is
yet another link in the chain of the
extraordinary pressure campaign
waged by Trump on state officials
as he sought to overturn the results
sperger where he asked election
officials to “find” enough votes to
overturn Biden’s win in the state. It
occurred as election officials were
conducting an audit of signatures
on absentee ballot envelopes in
Cobb County.
reported Saturday by The Wash-
ington Post, which said it was with-
holding the name of the investiga-
tor, who did not respond to requests
for comment, because of the risk of
threats and harassment directed at
election officials.
Snow
Continued from Page 1A
and Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated school
districts are closed today.
Service technicians for Atmos Energy in the
Golden Triangle are being advised to limit their
driving and respond to emergency orders only
today, according to an email the company sent to
The Dispatch this morning.
This includes the cities of Starkville, Colum-

Longtime officer is named police chief in Greenwood
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GREENWOOD — A
longtime police officer
is moving up to become
chief in a Mississippi city.
Terrence Craft has
worked for the Green-
wood Police Department
for 17 years. He was pro-
moted last week from cap-
tain to chief, the Green-
wood Commonwealth
reported.
“This is a challenging
time for law enforcement.
I am more than ready to
embrace it,” Craft told
officials at a City Council
meeting Tuesday. “You’ll
find that my administra- and has guided the train-
tion will be one based on ing and certification pro-
respect, communication cess for police officers
and collaboration. I will and dispatchers. He has
lead by a team approach.” also helped with recruit-
Craft is “very profes- ing.
sional, very smart, very, His predecessor, Jody
very capable of doing Bradley, will remain as
this job,” Mayor Carolyn the department’s ex-
McAdams said. “I really
and truly think he has the
ecutive administrator.
The management role
opportunity to become includes overseeing the
one of the best chiefs budget and accreditation,
Greenwood has ever had.” ordering equipment and
Craft, 39, is a native issuing news releases, the
of nearby Itta Bena. He mayor said.
started with the Green- Bradley, 72, was ap-
wood Police Department pointed chief by the coun-
as a patrol officer, moved cil in late 2019 but is not
to the narcotics division a certified police officer.
bus, West Point, Macon, Brooksville, Shuqualak,
and Artesia, the email said.
Representatives with Columbus Light and Wa-
The role of executive ter, Starkville Utilities Department and 4-County
administrator does not Electric Power Association all told The Dispatch
require law enforcement they would observe normal operations today.
certification, McAdams However, CLW Director Todd Gale said the util-
said. ity’s office would close early, at 3 p.m., today and
Craft’s duties as chief reopen at 10 a.m. Tuesday to help employees avoid
will include managing icy conditions that could develop after sunset.
public safety operations
such as organizing pa-
trols, making assign-
ments to officers and han-
Cheap thrills.
dling their promotions, Go for a walk.
McAdams said.

AREA ARRESTS

Carter Cook Ellis Gann Jr. Martin McAlexander

The following arrests of cocaine.
were made by Lowndes n Mark
County Sheriff’s Office: Gann Jr.,
n Rodney Carter, 43, 34, was
was charged with pos- charged
session of a weapon by a with pos-
felon, possession, sale, or session of a
transfer of a stolen fire- weapon by a SOLUNAR TABLE
Merrigan Palmer Roland
The solunar period indicates

arm, seven counts of dis- felon. peak-feeding times for fish and game.
Mon. Tues.
obeying a traffic control n Xavier and possession of a con-
Major
Minor
—
7:15a
12:23a
8:16a
device, resisting arrest, Martin, 30, was charged trolled substance. Major 11:53a 12:53p
Minor 6:31p
no insurance, suspended with possession of a weap- n Zachary Palmer, 26,
5:30p
Courtesy of Mississippi Department
of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
driver’s license, careless on by a felon and posses- was charged with felony

driving, failure to yield to
blue lights, and speeding
10-20 mph over the limit.
n John Cook, 59, was
charged with felony ma-
licious mischief and do-
mestic violence.
n Sandra Ellis, 47, was
charged with possession
The Dispatch
sion of marijuana-more
leaving the scene with in-
than one ounce.
juries.
n Jacqueline McAlex-
ander, 26, was charged n Antwaan Roland, The Commercial Dispatch (USPS 142-320)
18, was charged with ag- Published daily except Saturday. Answers to common questions:
with felony leaving the Entered at the post office at Columbus, Mississippi.
scene with injuries. gravated assault with a Periodicals postage paid at Columbus, MS Phone: 662-328-2424
POSTMASTER, Send address changes to:
n Brooke Merrigan, weapon or other means to The Commercial Dispatch, P.O. Box 511, Columbus, MS 39703 Website: cdispatch.com/help
29, was charged with pos- produce death and shoot- Published by Commercial Dispatch Publishing Company Inc., Report a news tip: news@cdispatch.com
516 Main St., Columbus, MS 39703
session of stolen property ing into a dwelling house.
Opinion
4A MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021
PETER BIRNEY IMES Editor/Publisher
BIRNEY IMES III Editor/Publisher 1998-2018
BIRNEY IMES JR. Editor/Publisher 1947-2003

Dispatch
The
BIRNEY IMES SR. Editor/Publisher 1922-1947

ZACK PLAIR, Managing Editor

BETH PROFFITT Advertising Director
MICHAEL FLOYD Circulation/Production Manager
MARY ANN HARDY Controller

POSSUMHAW
Making the most of winter
“In this mild may start out as the two of them seemed to on in the winter as well. It
winter weather, blustering winds glide effortlessly. takes a diehard fisherman to
everything appears and chilling tem- In the early morning before venture out into cold winter
hopeful and pos- peratures, only daylight, gunshots can be air and frigid water for a day
sible. Leisure and to rise before the heard from the river. No doubt of fishing.
delight are wedded. week’s end. On the the duck hunters are out. To Winter can also draw us in-
Without leisure, warmer days filled me duck hunting in the cold ward to solitary activities like
there is no time to with sunshine a morning hours must be the reading, crafting. Some have
feel and to savor.” family down the worst of activities. How much taken to knitting, crocheting,
— Gunilla road can be seen more do I like slowly waking sewing, painting, drawing,
Norris, “Embracing walking almost to a hot cup of coffee inside journaling, crafting and send-
the Seasons” daily. Sometimes where the air stays toasty ing notecards, jigsaw puzzles,
Shannon Bardwell the youngest one warm. Each to his own. From letter writing, discovering a

W
e are now rides his bike and the pictures posted of a day’s fun online class, cooking new
officially the father carries a kill, duck hunters must find recipes, papercrafts including
in our third week of cane or a long stick, I’m sure their sport very rewarding. snowflakes, paper dolls, origa-
winter when north winds blow in case a threatening dog On occasion, the pictures mi, trying crossword puzzles,
and temperatures plummet. should appear; he could be reflect a bonding of father and solitaire card games, learning
Weather reports suggest there gently warded off. It’s good son and sometimes daughter. card tricks, watching old
may be a freeze, possibly even to get outside into the fresh Winter is also a time of movies, sorting family photos,
a snowflake or two. air and sunshine as much as deer hunting here in the Prai- learning the star constella-
Going outside requires possible. It goes a long way in rie. Some deer hunters creep food for the freezer.” Judging tions and planets, walking
a heavy coat, a cap, a scarf, lifting the spirits. into the woods early and oth- from the business of the deer or hiking new areas, taking
perhaps waterproof boots. We Another neighbor, parent ers go nearer the end of the cleaning, it’s been a good year photographs and videos with
are not as prepared for winter and daughter, took to bike day. These are the two best for the freezer. your phone and posting. The
as they are in the northern riding the rolling hills of our times for seeing deer moving. Then there’s fishing. possibilities are endless.
states. Our four seasons gravel road. This is no easy While we like to admire the Fishing is thought mainly as Email reaches Shannon
can sometimes happen all feat. I’ve tried it myself and it deer and not hunt them, Sam a spring to fall activity but Bardwell of Columbus at ms-
in a week’s time. The week was not to my liking. However, says, “The hunters are getting there’s a lot of fishing going deltachild@msn.com.

MISSISSIPPI VOICES CARTOONIST VIEW

Freedom to speak
and to listen
W
ho can say what
will happen next?
A friend noted
that this old saying is dead:
“I may not agree with what
you say, but I will defend
to the death your right to
say it.” Yep! Today, the only
people defending another’s
right to opine are those
who agree with the opin-
ion. Those who disagree
threaten, or actually censor Daniel L. Gardner
those with whom they
disagree.
These days we have many “authorities” telling
us what we can/can’t or should/shouldn’t say. The
First Amendment begins, “Congress shall make no
law….” Our founders did not want our government
to censor us, and issued no “special circumstances”
under which there are exceptions to the freedoms
in this Amendment.
Nevertheless, those who control content of
media can and do censor anyone for any reason.
Who are they to decide who can speak as well as
whom we can and cannot listen to? Books are being
banned. Why? Who decides? Who or what gives
them the authority to decide? Under the guise of
political correctness authorities are literally ban-
ning words and creating new words that align with
their own sentiments.
Someone might ask, “But, what if those words
are dangerous?” Shouting “fire” in a crowded the-
ater or inciting a riot is dangerous. But, so is call-
ing the truth a lie, or debating contentious ideas.
Words ARE dangerous! In 2020 people incited riots
and other acts of violence from the Spring to the
end of the year. And, 2021 hasn’t started off so well
either! But, the answer is not to shut up this person
or that group.
The answer is to listen to understand first, be-
fore replying. We don’t have to agree, but we should
strive to understand. Political rhetoric in America
has boiled over to the point that all sides are trying
to shut up all the other sides. That is an untenable
situation. How many of these sides are correct? Are
those empowered to censor content correct? Does
might make right? Does power corrupt?
Other nations do not allow freedom of speech,
even those nations that have “freedom of speech”
as one of their founding tenets. Americans used
to defend fellow citizens’ right to voice opinions,
and fought all those who wanted to shut down free
speech. Nowadays “safety” is the clarion call of the
masses! We will fight for safety from dangerous
speech! But, that safety has never kept anyone safe
from oppression or tyranny.
Oppressive centralized governments have
always suppressed speech in order to maintain
power and control over the masses. Our founders
fought a revolution to win our freedoms. Freedom
is neither free nor safe. Freedom for everyone
comes with its own risks. Life is full of risks. No
politician, political party, or government can elimi-
nate risk.
In these days of polarized and politicized rhet-
oric, we need to learn to listen critically. Needless
to say, there are a whole lot of lies and false rumors
circulating among us. Listening critically is the
first step toward distinguishing between truth and
error. Not only that, but critical listening is always
much safer than critical opining.
In coming days many will continue to opine
about and threaten those with whom they disagree.
Listen critically to all sides, follow the money,
and beware of those who seek power over others
through rational lies.
Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who
lives in Starkville. His e-mail address is PJandMe2@
gmail.com.
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
Open letter to Cindy Hyde-Smith
The following letter was sent to Cindy Hyde-
Smith at hydesmith.senate.gov on January 9. Since
then, I have learned (and find refreshing) that
the United States Postal Service is still the best
way to communicate with those who represent us.
We each have a voice. And I bet you have a stamp
somewhere.
Mississippi’s members of Congress who voted
“yes” in objection to the certification of Electoral
College votes are: Representatives Michael Guest,
Trent Kelly, Steven Palazzo and Senator Cindy
Hyde-Smith.
Cindy. I hope you will take the time to read my
words of outrage.
I have never voted necessarily Democratic or
Republican. I did not vote for you. I am alarmed and
ashamed of you. Instead of serving and represent-
ing Mississippi, MY STATE, instead of protecting
the United States, MY COUNTRY, your choice,
YOUR VOTE was reckless, at best.
Your duty was to count the Electoral College
votes submitted by the states, NOT try to over-
throw our government.
Mississippi is so much better than what you
apparently have in mind and have to offer. I can
suggest other opportunities for you.
Beth Hickel Imes
Columbus
Editor’s note: The letter-writer is mother to
Dispatch publisher Peter Imes.
Sees a double standard
While I don’t condone the rioting and violence
in DC. Where was the outrage from the left, when
there was looting, burning and destruction this
summer? I agree President Trump’s address to
those on the Mall didn’t help the situation. This
is the first “Trump” rally where a large number
of black helmet, knee and elbow clad people were
there. This is the dress of ANTIFA and BLM pro-
testers. The real question is, why did the mayor of
DC and the Capitol Police not have more personnel
on duty? I’m not a conspiracy theorist but some-
thing doesn’t pass the smell test. I thought the
National Guard had been called out. The pictures
shown on the media, the Guard were unarmed and
were wearing black vests for crowd control.
The mayor of DC let the rioters burn down a
church close to the capital in 2020, but then that
was God’s house. This week it was the people’s
house that got everyone’s attention. Oh, there will
be committee after committee called to get to the
bottom of this. Shame the same priority doesn’t
apply to the corruption of many of the politicians
in DC. But the people keep electing them, you can
put lipstick on them, but you still have a corrupt
politician.
No matter what President Trump does or says,
the left would not be satisfied. Now that the left has
power, let’s see how things are going to be. Higher
taxes, open borders, appeasement of China, 1st and
2nd amendments in jeopardy, freedom of religion
threatened and the “Green New Deal.” Need I go
on? These are only a few things the Biden adminis-
tration will bring. But it is what it is now, I just pray
it will not be as bad as has been predicted.
God Bless America!
Lee Roy Lollar
Columbus
Believes context matters when interpreting
tweet of local doctor
In response to Mr. Jabe Nicholson’s Sunday
letter concerning Dr. Cameron Huxford, Mr. Nich-
olson states that no one who knows Dr. Huxford
thinks for a moment he was supporting violence.
Dr. Huxford replied to someone else’s tweet that
stated the violence feels like terrorism by doubling
down support of the riot.
This reminds me of some of Donald Trump’s
speeches.
In one, he states: What you are seeing and what
you are reading is not what’s happening.
In another, he criticizes the media of broadcast-
ing fake news and saying that people should not
believe what they see or what they read.
I guess you could say it was almost four years
later, Jan 6, that we realized what he meant.
On another note, I don’t want to take anything
away from how bad the riots were, but thought this
was funny: One of the guys who was arrested for
being in Pelosi’s room told the arresting officer he
was looking for a restroom and the door was open,
so he just walked in.
For that, he has three federal counts against
him. Shouldn’t have any problem finding a re-
stroom during the term of his sentence.
James Hodges
Steens
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 5A

Vaccine rollout hits snag as health workers balk at shots

Employees expressing what experts say
are unfounded fears of side effects from
vaccines that were developed at record speed
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The desperately awaited vac-
cination drive against the coro-
navirus in the U.S. is running
into resistance from an unlikely
quarter: Surprising numbers of
health care workers who have
seen firsthand the death and
misery inflicted by COVID-19
are refusing shots.
It is happening in nursing
homes and, to a lesser degree,
in hospitals, with employees ex-
pressing what experts say are
unfounded fears of side effects
from vaccines that were devel-
oped at record speed. More than
three weeks into the campaign,
some places are seeing as much
as 80 percent of the staff holding
back.
“I don’t think anyone wants
to be a guinea pig,” said Dr.
Stephen Noble, a 42-year-old
cardiothoracic surgeon in Port-
land, Oregon, who is postponing
getting vaccinated. “At the end
of the day, as a man of science,
I just want to see what the data
show. And give me the full data.”
Alarmed by the phenomenon,
some administrators have dan-
gled everything from free break-
fasts at Waffle House to a raffle
for a car to get employees to roll
up their sleeves. Some states
have threatened to let other
people cut ahead of health care
workers in the line for shots.
“It’s far too low. It’s alarming-
ly low,” said Neil Pruitt, CEO of
PruittHealth, which runs about
100 long-term care homes in the
South, where fewer than 3 in 10
workers offered the vaccine so
far have accepted it.
Many medical facilities from
Florida to Washington state have
boasted of near-universal accep-
tance of the shots, and workers
have proudly plastered pictures
of themselves on social media re-
ceiving the vaccine. Elsewhere,
though, the drive has stumbled.
While the federal government
has released no data on how
many people offered the vac-
cines have taken them, glimps-
es of resistance have emerged
around the country.
In Illinois, a big divide has
opened at state-run veterans
homes between residents and
staff. The discrepancy was worst
at the veterans home in Mante-
no, where 90 percent of resi-
dents were vaccinated but only
18 percent of the staff members.
In rural Ashland, Alabama,
about 90 of some 200 workers at
Clay County Hospital have yet
to agree to get vaccinated, even
with the place so overrun with
COVID-19 patients that oxygen
is running low and beds have
been added to the intensive care
unit, divided by plastic sheeting.
The pushback comes amid
the most lethal phase in the out-
break yet, with the death toll at
more than 350,000, and it could
hinder the government’s effort
to vaccinate somewhere be-
tween 70 percent and 85 percent
of the U.S. population to achieve
“herd immunity.”
Administrators and public
health officials have expressed
hope that more health workers
will opt to be vaccinated as they
see their colleagues take the
shots without problems.
Oregon doctor Noble said he
will wait until April or May to get
the shots. He said it is vital for
public health authorities not to
overstate what they know about
the vaccines.

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In addition to her
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Lane of Kankakee, Illi-
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grandchildren.
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Services:
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How quickly do I need a second COVID vaccine shot?

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
How quickly do I need a
second COVID-19 vaccine
shot?
The first COVID-19 vac-
cines in the U.S. require
two doses a few weeks
apart.
People should get some
degree of protection with-
in two weeks of the first
shot, with the second shot
bringing about the vac-
cine’s full protection. For
the vaccine by Pfizer and
Germany’s BioNTech, the
second shot is supposed to
be after three weeks. For
Moderna, it’s four weeks.
But how closely those
guidelines should be fol-
lowed has been a point of
difference for the Unit-
ed States and the United
Kingdom, which has been
rolling out the Pfizer vac-
cine and one by Astrazene-
ca that requires two doses
given four weeks apart.
To get more first shots
into people and give them
at least some degree of pro-
tection, the UK says it’s OK
to delay the boosters for as
long as 12 weeks. But that
strategy has been nixed
in the U.S., where regula-
tors say there’s no science
backing the approach.
A major concern is that
it’s unknown how long the
partial protection from one
dose can last. “There is no
data to demonstrate that
protection after the first
dose is sustained after 21
days,” Pfizer said.
U.S. regulators agreed,
saying too few people in
the Pfizer and Moderna
vaccine studies missed
their scheduled boosters
to have enough data to
show the strategy might
work.
The timing of the shots
doesn’t have to be exact in
the U.S., though; the Cen-
ters for Disease Control
and Prevention says the
second shots can be given
up to four days earlier or
later.

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6A MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

Teachers help students make sense of violence at US Capitol

‘In almost every single one of my classes, the supporters of President Donald
Trump.
tice, the coronavirus pandemic
and the constraints of distance
of engagement and to push back
against the creeping sense that
students brought it up before I even could’ Approaches varied, with
some teachers deliberately
learning.
“In almost every single one
violence is the inevitable end to
Karley Reising, a social studies teacher at Robert E. Fitch political division.
holding off on historical com- of my classes, the students “This was one of the most
High School in Groton, Connecticut parisons with the events so brought it up before I even important days as a teacher,
BY MICHAEL MELIA aftermath of George Floyd’s fresh. Many trod cautiously in could,” said Karley Reising, a not even just a history teach-
AND CAROLYN THOMPSON light of varied political view- social studies teacher at Robert
killing. And a civics educator in er,” Michael Neagle said after
The Associated Press points in their classrooms and E. Fitch High School in Groton,
Connecticut urged her rattled wrapping up with his students
communities. Connecticut. “And especially
A teacher in Alabama pre- students to work toward mak- But educators universally my seniors were really strug- at Lowell High School in Massa-
sented photographs of the in- ing the country better. described efforts to hear out gling with what this meant chusetts the day after the siege.
surrection at the U.S. Capitol Social studies teachers na- students’ fears and concerns about the future of our country “We don’t want kids to tune out
without commentary and asked tionwide set aside lesson plans and instill a sense of history and in a way that was pretty heart- and just say, ‘Well, this is how it
students to write poems in re- this week to help young people even hopefulness in a school breaking.” is. Nobody gets along. Politics.’
flection. A Minnesota instruc- make sense of the scenes of the year shaped by the nation’s She and others said they That voter apathy is so danger-
tor fielded comparisons to the violent siege in Washington by reckoning over racial injus- tried to focus on the importance ous.”

Blair
Continued from Page 1A
in the American Junior
Golf Association Thun-
derbird Junior All-Star
tournament this June in
Phoenix, Arizona, where
she got to take a side trip
to the Grand Canyon.
“There are a lot of real-
ly great places that you go
with golf,” Blair said.
She even earned a
chance to play at Augusta
National Golf Club, the
annual home of the Mas-
ters Tournament, in the
2016 Drive, Chip and Putt
Championship when she
was 9 years old.
In the skills cham-
pionship, an event that
featured players from
7 to 15 years old from
across the country, Blair
won her age group of
7-to-9-year-old girls when
she competed in 2016.
Although the victory
earned her and her family
a trip to Sammamish,
Washington, to watch
that summer’s Women’s
PGA Championship,
being able to set foot on
the nation’s most famous
golf course was a prize in
and of itself.
“Considering it’s such
an exclusive place where
not many people get to
even go watch, to be able
to hit on their driving
range and putt on the
green — 18 — that was
really fun,” Blair said.
Coincidentally, the
hole she played in Au-
gusta was the same hole
number her family lives
next to at Old Waverly.
With her house just off
the 18th fairway at the
West Point course, Blair
has a chance to practice
or play at the facility
every day — weather
permitting — in order to
improve.
“Her hard work and
dedication have paid off
to allow her to do some
amazing things so far,”
Akins said.
And national orga-
nizations have begun
to notice. Junior Golf
Scoreboard ranks Blair
— a freshman who is
homeschooled through
an online program called
Enlightium Academy —
the No. 236 girls golfer in
the country and the No.
28 player in the Class of
2024. The AJGA slots her
in at No. 226 and No. 20,
respectively.
Blair said she wants
to pursue a college and
pro career in the sport
but isn’t thinking about
any schools yet. Per a
recent NCAA regulation,
colleges can’t contact
recruits until the end of
their sophomore year, and
Blair has no idea where
she’d like to go, anyway.
But soon enough,
she’ll join golfers like
LSU signee Cohen Trolio
and Vanderbilt commit
Wells Williams as the
latest star golfer to come
out of West Point. Blair
said she’s proud of that,
“especially in such a
small town where having
such good players coming
out of there and going to
great colleges is really
cool.”
Akins said he’s proud
to see how much Blair
has improved since her
father, Key Blair, called
him up four years ago
and told the coach about
his daughter. Since then,
Akins has worked with
Blair on her setup and her
swing, helping her slowly
erode the bad habits she
had and develop new
ones.
“Nobody’s born with a
natural golf swing,” Akins
said.
Still, Blair’s swing
has gotten a lot better.
She could already drive
the ball 150 to 160 yards
on average as a 9-year-
old and now routinely
reaches 240 to 250 yards,
she said.
And in the past five
years, she’s gone from the
tiny player who looked up
to the older kids around
her — although she still
does — to a budding star
whom today’s younger
golfers admire.
“There are definitely
players who look up to
me now, so it’s definitely
changed a little bit,” Blair
said.
For Akins, none of that
is a surprise as he watch-
es Blair’s young career
continue to grow.
“She’s come a long
ways,” he said.

Analysis
Continued from Page 1A
tab, and Democrats say
enrolling more people
would boost Mississippi’s
economy by supporting
hospitals and other health
care providers.
Expansion is a long-
shot, though, because Re-
publican Gov. Tate Reeves
and Republicans who
control the state House
and Senate have long said
that they believe it could
become a budget buster,
and they don’t want to put
more people on a govern-
ment program.
Republican Lt. Gov.
Delbert Hosemann has re-
leased more details about
his legislative agenda
than many others in the
Capitol, and a teacher pay
raise tops his list.
Hosemann also told
reporters last week that
he wants Mississippi to
revise the tax breaks and
other incentives it uses
to attract new business-
es. Hosemann said the
Senate will propose an
incentive program called
MFLEX — think, Missis-
sippi and flexible.
He said the state needs
to eliminate some rarely
used incentives and cre-
ate simpler rules that are
easy to understand.
“If you’re moving a com-
pany with 100 employees
to Mississippi, you can sit
at your desk and calculate
what the salaries are, how
much it’s going to cost you
and (get) an exact quote
of what your benefits will
be,” Hosemann said.
The MFLEX proposal
would require companies
that receive incentives
to provide health insur-
ance for their employees.
Those offering higher
salaries would get more
favorable treatment from
the state. And the com-
panies would be required
to file annual reports so
people could know wheth-
er the companies are ful-
filling the promises they
made to the state, Hose-
mann said.
Hosemann’s legisla-
tive wish list this year
also includes creating a
state tourism agency. He
wants to break tourism
promotion away from the
Mississippi Development
Authority, the agency that
pushes for job creation.
It’s unclear whether his
idea will get support from
House leaders or from
Reeves.
The governor has said
little about his own legis-
lative agenda. When he
released his state budget tendent of Education Car- would contact the local su-
proposals in November, ey Wright whether such perintendent.
Reeves did not include a indoctrination is happen- Although $3 million is
teacher pay raise, but he ing in Mississippi schools. a relatively small amount
said he would ask legisla- “Let me put it this of money in a $6 billion
tors to put $3 million into a way: That’s not in our state budget, Blount’s
“patriotic education fund.” standards to be taught,” questions show that the
“Across the country, Wright said. governor’s request will
young children have suf- Wright said if she were not be fulfilled without
fered from indoctrina- to receive a complaint scrutiny — and it might
tion in far-left socialist about such teaching, she not be fulfilled at all.
teachings that emphasize
America’s shortcom-
ings over the exception-
al achievements of this
country. Revisionist histo-
ry has aimed to tear down
American institutions,
and it is poisoning a gen-
eration,” Reeves’ budget
document said.
During a Senate Edu-
cation Committee hear-
ing last week, Democratic
Sen. David Blount of Jack-
son quoted that document
and asked state Superin-

West Point
Continued from Page 1A
ance agent with an office in Colum-
bus, is the only candidate to qualify
to run for mayor as of press time to-
day. The former Ward 1 selectman,
who served one term from 2009 to
2013, is vying to replace Robbie
Robinson, who decided not to run
for a third term.
The Dispatch attempted mul-
tiple times last week to contact
Bobo. He did not return calls or
messages.
Each incumbent selectman has
qualified to seek re-election — in-
cluding Leta Turner of Ward 1, Wil-
liam Binder of Ward 2, Ken Poole
of Ward 3, Keith McBrayer of Ward
4 and Jasper Pittman of Ward 5.
The qualifying deadline for this
year’s municipal election is Feb. 5.
Robinson was first elected may-
or in 2013 following 28 years as
Clay County chancery clerk. Af-
ter more than three decades as an
elected official, he said he feels it’s
time to retire.
“It’s been wonderful serving as
the mayor and chancery clerk,”
Robinson told The Dispatch.
“There are such wonderful people
in both the city and county, and I
wish them nothing but the best.”
Party primaries are April 6 with
runoffs set for April 27 if neces-
sary. The general election is June
8.
Sports
MISSISSIPPI STATE 60, OLE MISS 56
SPORTS LINE
662-241-5000 B
SECTION

THE DISPATCH n CDISPATCH.COM n MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021

Aliyah Matharu, MSU outlast Ole Miss in Starkville

BY BEN PORTNOY all-black, Cash-esque says ‘Start off with an
bportnoy@cdispatch.com uniform, that cut down easy shot, get your
an inspired effort from feel,’” she explained. “I
STARKVILLE — The in-state rival Ole Miss in came in and got fouled,
woman in black stepped
Sunday’s 60 -56 Bulldog got an easy and-1, and
to the top right corner of
victory. then from there I just
the 3-point arc at Hum-
Pacing an MSU of- found rhythm, found my
phrey Coliseum and
fense that looked out feel.”
banged home a 21-foot
of tune as it mustered After torching Ole
jumper as the shot clock
buzzer echoed through- a meager 25 percent Miss for a career-high 24
out the empty arena. shooting effort in the points a year ago in Ox-
Just a stone’s throw first quarter, Matharu ford, Matharu finished
down Highway 12 from was decisive, definite Sunday’s rumble with 16
where Johnny Cash was and dominant in the points on 5 of 8 shooting
held in the Starkville Bulldogs’ 14th-straight — good for her fifth dou-
City Jail following a win over a Rebels team ble-digit scoring output
performance at Mis- that hasn’t bested its of the season — and was
sissippi State 56 years neighbors to the South the lone Bulldog scorer
ago, it was sophomore since 2014. with more than two first Mississippi State athletics
guard Aliyah Matharu, “Coach (Nikki Mc- half field goals. Aliyah Matharu helped pace the Mississippi State offense with 16 points in the
donning MSU’s annual Cray-Penson) always See MSU, 3B Bulldogs’ 60-56 win over Ole Miss Sunday in Starkville.

Brees, COLLEGE FOOTBALL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Saints pull
away late No. 1 Alabama looking for 6th title
for 21-9
playoff win under Saban vs. Ohio St
over Bears
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW ORLEANS —
Drew Brees will get
to celebrate his 42nd
birthday by preparing
for a playoff game that
will also feature the one
active NFL quarterback
older than him.
Brees completed
28 of 39 passes for 265
yards, connecting with
Michael Thomas and
Latavius Murray for
touchdowns, and the
New Orleans Saints
defeated the Chicago
Bears 21-9 in an NFC
wild-card game Sunday.
The victory for the
Saints (13-4) and Brees,
who turns 42 on Fri-
day, sets up a division-
al-round meeting next
weekend in the Super-
dome with Tampa Bay
and 43-year-old QB Tom
Brady. The Saints won
See SAINTS, 3B

Lamar
winless no
more, leads SEC Portal Photo
The top-ranked Tide (12-0) are set to face No. 3 Ohio State (7-0) on Monday for the College Football Playoff championship in search of

Ravens to their sixth national title with Saban as coach.

20-13 win
over Titans
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
— Lamar Jackson final-
ly has his first postsea-
son victory — and on
the road, no less.
Combine that with
Baltimore smothering
2,000 -yard rusher Der-
rick Henry, and the Ra-
vens look playoff tough.
Jackson ran for 136
yards and a 48-yard
touchdown while throw-
ing for 179 more as the
Ravens rallied from 10
points down and beat
the Tennessee Titans
20 -13 Sunday in their
AFC wild-card game.
Baltimore also held
Tennessee to its fewest
points all season.
The Titans (11-6) had
the ball and a chance to
tie when Marcus Peters
intercepted Ryan Tan-
nehill’s pass intended
for Kalif Raymond with
1:50 left. After the turn-
over, the Ravens came
onto the field and start-
ed waving good-bye to
See TITANS, 3B
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MIAMI — Trying to figure
out which of Nick Saban’s Ala-
bama teams is best is akin to
picking Michelangelo’s great-
est work of art or Ernest Hem-
ingway’s best novel.
They are all excellent in
their own way.
The first to win a national
championship came in 2009
and is still the only Alabama
team to finish unbeaten under
Saban in 14 seasons of unprec-
edented dominance.
The 2011 national champi-
ons had maybe the greatest
defense of college football’s
modern era of high-powered
offenses. The current Crim-
son Tide team has one of the
most prolific and talented of-
fenses in the history of the
sport.
“Every team is different.
Every team has its own per-
sonality,” Saban said Sunday.
“But it’s hard to compare
teams.”
The top-ranked Tide (12-
0) are set to face No. 3 Ohio
State (7-0) on Monday for
the College Football Playoff
championship in search of
their sixth national title with
Saban as coach.
The final game of this tax-
ing and strange season played
through the coronavirus pan-
demic is on schedule to take
place at Hard Rock Stadium,
home of the NFL’s Miami Dol-
phins, as planned. Because of
COVID-19, which caused the
postponement or cancelation
of nearly 130 games, nothing
has been guaranteed this sea-
son. But Alabama arrived in
South Florida on Friday and
Ohio State got to town Satur-
day.
The usual day-be-
fore-the-championship -game
news conference with the
coaches was held Sunday
morning via Zoom. No shar-
ing of a stage, posing with
the trophy and staged hand-
shakes this year.
“It certainly has been a
strange road to get here,”
Ohio State coach Ryan Day
said.
The Buckeyes faced the
prospect of no fall football
at all when the Big Ten post-
poned in August, and then
they managed to get in only
six games before making the
playoff. Day acknowledged
earlier this week that Ohio
State was dealing with some
new COVID-19 cases.
There was even some con-
cern early in the week that the
game might have to be pushed
back.
If the Buckeyes do upset
Alabama to win their first
national title since 2014, they
will have played the fewest
games of any national cham-
pion since Minnesota finished
8-0 in 1941.
Alabama had only one
game postponed this sea-
son, though it was because of
COVID-19 issues with LSU.
Saban tested positive for the
virus — twice. The first time
it was deemed a false posi-
tive after further testing and
he was able to coach against
Georgia. The second time
he had to miss the Iron Bowl
against Auburn.
Otherwise the Tide dynas-
ty has rolled along as close to
business as usual as possible
considering the circumstanc-
es.
“Our team has shown a lot
of maturity and perseverance
throughout the season,” Sa-
ban said. “We told our play-
ers basically the team that
shows the maturity to be able
to handle disruptions is going
to have the best chance to be
successful in the end, and
consistency in performance is
always a key to success, and
that perseverance has shown
up in the way we’ve been able
to play with consistency.”
And consistently great
against an unusually difficult
schedule.
Because of the pandemic,
the Southeastern Conference
decided to play only league
games this season. Facing 11
SEC games and Notre Dame
in the playoff, the Crimson
Tide have had an average
margin of victory of 29 points.
Only one of their games was
decided by fewer than 15.
Alabama’s offense features
five All-Americans, includ-
ing Heisman Trophy winner
DeVonta Smith and two more
players (quarterback Mac
Jones and running back Najee
Harris) who finished in the
top five in Heisman voting.
“This is a great offense. It
is a complete offense,” Ohio
State defensive coordinator
Kerry Coombs said. “They
have great players, but they
also have a great scheme and
they understand how to attack
defenses. People have tried
numerous different things
against them, and they always
have an answer.”
Another championship
would give Saban seven over-
all, including a BCS title at
LSU in 2003, breaking a tie
for the most all time with Al-
abama’s other coaching great,
Paul Bryant. The Bear won
See ALABAMA, 3B
2B MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021
Same old Browns? Hardly. Cleveland drills Steelers 48-37
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PIT TSBURGH — So
much for the weight of
history. Or practicing. Or
having your head coach
on the sideline. Or your
emotional leader on the
field.
The Cleveland Browns
overcame all of it, disman-
tling the Pittsburgh Steel-
ers 48-37 in the wild-card
round Sunday night.
It’s the franchise’s first
postseason victory in
more than a quarter cen-
tury and earned Cleve-
land a trip to Kansas City
next Sunday to face the
defending Super Bowl
champion Chiefs.
Playing with first-year
head coach Kevin Stefans-
ki, Pro Bowl guard Joel
Bitonio and top corner-
back Denzel Ward back
in Cleveland after all test-
ed positive for COVID-19,
Cleveland (12-5) raced to
the biggest first half by a
road team in NFL playoff
history then held on.
“We believed,” quar-
terback Baker Mayfield
said. “People on the out-
side don’t matter to us.
English wins Kapalua in playoff for 1st victory in 7 years
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
KAPALUA, Hawaii —
Harris English was that
player who always wanted
the ball for the last shot.
His trouble the last cou-
ple of years was getting
off the bench and into the
game.
English completed
his turnaround from a
seven-year drought with
a victory that he felt was
long overdue, making a
6-foot birdie putt on the
first playoff hole against
Joaquin Niemann to win
the Sentry Tournament of
Champions.
He had the ball. And he
was clutch.
He ran off four birdies
in a five-hole stretch on
the back nine to catch
Niemann. Needing a bird-
ie on the 18th at Kapalua,
English hit a 3-iron so
pure from a downhill lie
NFL round up: Drop, ejection and penalties sink Bears in playoff loss
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS —
Early in their playoff
game against the Saints,
Bears wide receiver Javon
Wims raced into the end
zone behind defenders on
a trick play.
It turned out the joke
was on Chicago.
Wims let an accurate
throw drop right through
his arms and bounce of
his jersey number. The
blunder was the first of
several that took away
any chance the bumbling
Bears had to beat the
Saints in a 21-9 loss on
Sunday.
Seventh-seeded Chi-
cago (8-9), which needed
to play a clean game af-
ter backing into the NFC
playoffs with a .500 regu-
lar season, never had an-
other opportunity as good
as the first one in a con-
test that remained tight
for a while.
“When you have an
opportunity to make
some big plays, you have
to be able to make those
against a really good
team,” Chicago coach
Matt Nagy said. “We have
to be better.”
Trailing just 7-3 at half-
time, the Bears saw their
chances disappear during
Saints touchdown drives
that consumed more than
16 minutes combined in
New Orleans’ first two sec-
ond-half possessions.
Wims’ drop came af-
ter running back David
Montgomery took a shot-
gun snap from the wildcat
formation on first down at
the New Orleans 40 and
flipped it to quarterback
Mitchell Trubisky, who
launched a perfect deep
ball.
Nagy said the Bears
It’s on the inside and we
believed the whole time,
and that’s all that mat-
ters.”
Mayfield threw for
263 yards and three
touchdowns, including
a screen pass that Nick
Chubb turned into a 40-
yard score that halted
Pittsburgh’s momentum
after the Steelers had
pulled within 12. Kareem
Hunt added 48 yards and
two touchdowns on the
ground while Cleveland’s
defense forced five turn-
overs to hand the Steelers
(12-5) a staggering loss.
The victory was the
Browns’ first postseason
triumph of any kind since
beating New England
on New Year’s Day 1995
— three months before
Mayfield was born — and
their first playoff win on
the road since Dec. 28,
1969.
They did it despite
practicing just once over
the last two weeks and
having lost 17 straight at
Heinz Field. They did it
with efficiency and a little
bit of swagger. And they
did it with special teams
that it rolled out to 10 feet
for an eagle putt that he
narrowly missed, settling
for a 4-under 69 to force
extra holes.
In the playoff, he
lagged a long putt from
off the front of the green
to 6 feet for the winner
“When I was a kid,
I loved having the ball
when the clock’s run-
ning out in basketball,”
English said. “I love — I
love — the situations, and
I crave getting back into
that. I hadn’t had it in a
long time. ... You’ve got to
have confidence in your-
self.”
Niemann did his part
with a 9-under 64, match-
ing the low score of the
tournament, impressive
considering the blustery
wind finally showed up on
the Plantation Course for
the final day.
But he missed a 6-foot
had kept the trick play in
their pocket for several
weeks, setting it up by
running almost all of the
time out of that formation.
“It was a touchdown,”
Trubisky said. “You don’t
get many opportunities
like that to get your guy
wide open behind the
safety. I was excited it got
called, and it definitely
would have helped getting
on the board early.”
Chicago got nothing
out of that drive, failing to
cut into a 7-0 deficit after
the Saints had taken the
lead on Michael Thomas’
13-yard touchdown catch
in the first quarter. Tru-
bisky was knocked out
of bounds 2 yards short
of the marker as he tried
to avoid a hit on a fourth-
and-4 scramble from the
New Orleans 34.
The rest of the day was
just as rough.
The Bears failed to
convert their first nine
third downs — the Saints
went 11 of 17 — and were
outgained 385-140 before
a meaningless 99-yard
drive that ended with Jim-
my Graham catching a
touchdown pass with no
time left.
Graham appeared in no
mood to celebrate and ea-
ger to start the offseason,
getting up and trotting
straight into the tunnel to
the visitor’s locker room in
the Superdome.
Trubisky, who led the
Bears to three wins in
their last four games after
reclaiming the starting
job from Nick Foles in late
November, went 10 of 19
for 107 yards before the
final possession.
Montgomery, a 1,000-
yard rusher in the regular
season, managed only 31
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com
coordinator Mike Prief-
er — a Cleveland native
— filling in for Stefanski
and with offensive coor-
dinator Alex Van Pelt —
who played collegiately
at Pitt — taking over the
play-calling duties.
“We have a resilient
team,” Mayfield said.
“Defense played great in
the first half and we kind
of stalled out and let them
climb back in the game,
but that’s a great team
win right there — guys
stepping up all over the
board. I’m proud of these
guys.”
The Steelers (12-5)
certainly helped, ending
a season in which they
started 11-0 with a thud
that could reverberate for
years. Ben Roethlisberg-
er ended his comeback
season by throwing for
501 yards on an NFL-re-
cord 47 completions with
four touchdowns and four
interceptions.
The 48 points were the
most the Steelers have
given up in the playoffs,
surpassing the 45 they
gave up to Jacksonville in
the 2017 playoffs.
birdie putt on the 18th
that cost him. And on the
same hole in the playoff,
with a 30-yard advantage
off the tee, he tugged his
shot just enough that it
tumbled down the shag-
gy slope left of the 18th.
A full swing with a lob
wedge only got it up the
hill to the fringe, and his
birdie attempt from 15
feet was short.
“I had a perfect line the
second shot, I just mishit
it a little bit,” Niemann
said. “I got a little lucky
that it carried the hazard
and then it was not an
easy lie.”
Niemann started the
final round five shots be-
hind and would have been
happy at the start of the
day to be in a playoff. But
he couldn’t help but think
of the 18th. “I just look
back and I see those two
par 5s. I made par.”
yards on 12 carries.
“We were in third-and-
longs that weren’t very
manageable,” Trubisky
said. “We shot ourselves
in the foot a lot. It was just
sloppy.”
Chicago’s first points
came after Tashaun Gip-
son forced a fumble from
the Saints’ Taysom Hill
as he tried to throw and
defensive tackle John Jen-
kins caught it at the New
Orleans 24. Even then,
the Bears made a costly
mistake, settling for a field
goal after Cole Kmet was
called for unsportsman-
like conduct, turning a
third-and-5 into a third-
and-20 at the 24.
“The explanation that
was told to me was he
was throwing the ball to
the (Saints) player like it
was taunting,” Nagy said.
“Cole and our coaches on
staff said he was throwing
the ball to the ref. That
was a big play.”
Later, safety Eddie
Jackson jumped offside
when the Saints faced
a fourth-and-3 from the
Bears 13 in the third quar-
ter and feigned as if Hill
was going to take a shot-
gun snap. Saints coach
Sean Payton later said
there were no plans to
snap the ball.
“Those are things you
just can’t do,” Gipson said.
“We did uncharacteristic
things.”
Two plays later, Lata-
vius Murray scored on a
6-yard reception.
Receiver Anthony
Miller was ejected in the
third quarter for punch-
ing Saints safety C.J.
Gardner-Johnson after
a dispute. It was the sec-
ond time this season
Gardner-Johnson baited
Pittsburgh’s problems
started on the first play
from scrimmage when
center Maurkice Pounc-
ey’s snap sailed by Roeth-
lisberger all the way to
the end zone. Cleveland’s
Karl Joseph fell on it for a
touchdown. The miscues
were just starting. Ro-
ethlisberger threw three
first-half interceptions,
two of which led directly
to Browns scores.
By the time the Steel-
ers found their footing,
they were down 28-0.
Even when they did get it
going on a 1-yard touch-
down run by James Con-
ner with 1:44 to go in the
half, the Browns stormed
right back. Mayfield
capped a cathartic open-
ing half with a masterful
64-yard drive that ended
with a 7-yard toss to Aus-
tin Hooper that put Cleve-
land up 35-7 at the break.
Pittsburgh — much as
it did in its last playoff ap-
pearance three years ago,
an upset defeat at home
to Jacksonville — tried to
claw back in it. The Steel-
ers pulled within 35-23 at
the end of the third quar-
They finished at 25-un-
der 267. It was the second
straight year the tourna-
ment was decided by a
playoff.
English once was
among the rising Ameri-
can starts, winning a Na-
tionwide Tour event while
still an amateur and pick-
ing up two victories in
2013. But then he got into
a funk, and he fell so far
that he lost his full card
in 2019 and was No. 369
in the world. He played
so well from there that he
reached the Tour Champi-
onship, and it paid off in a
big way.
In a normal year, En-
glish wouldn’t be at Kapa-
lua for the winners-only
start to the year. Because
of the COVID-19 pandem-
ic that shut down the PGA
Tour for three months,
the field was expanded
to include anyone who
a Bears player into losing
control. Wims was ejected
from the Bears’ overtime
loss to the Saints in No-
vember and suspended
for two games for suck-
er-punching the garrulous
safety.
Chicago already was
playing without rookie
Darnell Mooney (ankle),
its second-leading receiv-
er.
“We spent time on
Wednesday morning as a
team literally showing and
explaining their particular
players’ actions in games
and teaching it,” Nagy
said. “Especially when
we’re low with numbers
at wide receiver, we’ve all
got to understand we have
to be stronger and can’t let
that happen.”
Another early playoff
exit adds to Seahawks
frustration
SEATTLE — For all
the success through the
years, there is an indisput-
able fact Russell Wilson,
Pete Carroll and the rest
of the Seattle Seahawks
more veteran players can’t
avoid.
Since the Seahawks
loss to New England in the
Super Bowl in February
2015, their playoff perfor-
mances have been com-
plete failures by their own
standards.
It’s now been six years
since Seattle won more
than one game in a sin-
gle postseason. The Se-
ahawks have failed to
advance beyond the divi-
sional round since that last
Super Bowl appearance
following the 2014 season.
No NFC championship
game appearances. No
chances at getting back to
playing for a title.
ter. Facing fourth-and-1 at
the Pittsburgh 46, Steel-
ers coach Mike Tomlin
opted to punt.
It didn’t work out. The
kick bounced into the
end zone for a touchback
and Mayfield calmly took
Cleveland 80 yards in six
plays. The sideline erupt-
ed as Chubb streaked into
the end zone.
So much for the Browns
being the Browns, a wink-
ing assessment Steel-
ers wide receiver JuJu
Smith-Schuster made
about Cleveland in the
middle of the week. Re-
gardless of the intent —
Smith-Schuster’s team-
mates insisted he was
kidding — Mayfield and
All-Pro defensive end
Myles Garrett took it to
heart.
Then, in front of a most-
ly empty stadium and a
national audience so ac-
customed to seeing them
stumble, the Browns took
out their frustration.
Injuries
Browns: All-Pro tackle
Jake Conklin was cleared
reached the Tour Cham-
pionship. Niemann also
didn’t win last year.
But the fact he made it
to the Tour Championship
speaks to his turnaround.
He did everything but
win last season, and then
he took care of that in the
first tournament of the
year. English now goes to
No. 17 in the world, a ca-
reer-best.
“It’s awesome to get
some validation,” English
said.
Justin Thomas stayed
in the mix one day after
he was heard uttering a
homophobic slur under
his breath after missing a
short putt. Thomas apolo-
gized, and did so again af-
ter a 66 left him one shot
out of the playoff.
He missed an 8-foot
birdie chance on the 16th,
and then three-putted
from long range on the
The latest abrupt play-
off exit may be the most
troubling following Sat-
urday’s 30-20 loss to the
Los Angeles Rams. After
getting outcoached and
outplayed by their divi-
sion foe, the Seahawks
are unexpectedly headed
into an important offsea-
son sooner than anyone
expected.
“Out of all the years
since we lost to New En-
gland, I thought that this
year was our best chance
in going,” Seattle line-
backer K.J. Wright said
on Sunday. “I truly felt like
we had all the pieces. We
had all the confidence in
the world to go back, and
12-4 that’s a really good
season. It’s just unfortu-
nate that yesterday was
just one of them days.”
It’s the second time in
three seasons the Sea-
hawks were ousted from
the postseason in the
wild-card round after los-
ing in the 2018 playoffs at
Dallas.
In the five playoff ap-
pearances since losing in
the Super Bowl, the Sea-
hawks have a 3-5 record.
Most franchises would
be thrilled to have that
many playoff appearanc-
es. But for the Seahawks,
it’s a continual run of what
they see as missed oppor-
tunity.
“We got to be better.
We got to find ways to
win these type of match-
ups,” Wilson said. “Frus-
tration? I mean, yeah, of
course I’m frustrated.”
In previous seasons,
there seemed to be an un-
derstanding or justifica-
tion for why playoff runs
fell short of reaching their
full potential.
A year ago, there was a
to play after being listed
as questionable with an
“illness” on Friday. His
return didn’t last long.
He exited in the first half
with a hamstring injury.
Guard Michael Dunn,
stepping in for Bitonio,
left in the fourth quarter
with a calf issue.
Steelers: Rookie line-
backer Alex Highsmith
and defensive back Mike
Hilton both sustained in-
juries in the second half
and did not return.
Up next
Browns: Will make
their first divisional-round
appearance since the
1994 playoffs when they
face the Chiefs.
Steelers: Head into
what will be a busy off-
season. Several high-pro-
file players, including
Smith-Schuster and
outside linebacker Bud
Dupree, will become free
agents. The 38-year-old
Roethlisberger will also
have to decide whether
he wants to return for an
18th season.
17th for bogey. A birdie
on the final hole wasn’t
enough.
Dustin Johnson, in his
first start since winning
the Masters on Nov. 15,
made an early run until
he lost a tee shot in the
native grass on No. 12
and made double bogey.
He shot 69 and tied for
11th, ending his streak of
seven consecutive top 10s
dating to the first week in
August.
Ryan Palmer, who
shared the 54-hole lead
with English, had an early
lead with an eagle on the
fifth hole. His hopes came
undone when his tee shot
on the par-3 11th turned
left with the wind into the
shin-high grass. It took
him two to get out and he
made double bogey. Palm-
er rallied with four birdies
on his last five holes but
shot 71 to finish two back.
feeling of optimism after
losing in the divisional
round at Green Bay when
Seattle was so depleted
by injuries at the key posi-
tion of running back that
Marshawn Lynch was
brought out of retirement
to carry the load.
That was not the case
in the aftermath of Sat-
urday. Optimism was
scarce. Left in its place
was confusion about what
happened and what the
path is going forward af-
ter Seattle mortgaged a
significant amount of its
future by acquiring Jamal
Adams and Carlos Dun-
lap to win this season.
“We got to make that
next step. I think this is
part of the process, to
figure out this offseason
along the way, and how
we can do that and do
whatever it takes,” Wilson
said. “So I’m looking for-
ward to starting 2021 with
a new season come next
fall. Unfortunately today
we didn’t get it done.”
The aftermath of the
loss to the Rams made
clear there are issues
about identity on the of-
fensive side for Seattle,
which seemed unfath-
omable at the start of the
season. Wilson was the
leading MVP candidate
throwing a record num-
ber of touchdowns to be-
gin the season as Seattle
started 5-0.
But the limitations of
that offense which grew
as the season progressed
were on full display in the
loss to the Rams. Seat-
tle’s’ 278 total yards were
a season worst, as was
Wilson’s 40.7% comple-
tion rate, the only time
all season he didn’t hit at
least 55% of his passes.
 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 3B

Titans
Continued from Page 1B
the Titans — drawing
a taunting penalty they
didn’t mind at all.
“We finished finally,”
Jackson said. “We final-
ly finished.”
Tannehill thought
Raymond was bumped
by Peters.
“It definitely looked
like it could’ve been
a flag and probably
should’ve been, but it
wasn’t thrown so here
we are,” Tannehill said.
The Ravens (12-5)
snapped a string of 21
straight games lost by
the franchise in either
the regular season or
playoffs when trailing
by 10 or more. They will
play either top-seeded
Kansas City or Buffa-
lo in a divisional game
set up by how Balti-
more stopped Henry for
the first time in three
games.
The All-Pro ran all
over the Ravens with 328
yards rushing combined
in the past two meet-
ings. With both Calais
Campbell and Brandon
Williams back on the
Baltimore D-line, Hen-
ry had his worst perfor-
mance this season with
18 carries for 40 yards.
“Our defense was
tired of hearing the
noise,” Jackson said.
“And they did what they
were supposed to do.”
Henry credited the
Ravens with being the
better team.
“This definitely is go-
ing to sting probably in
my mind for the rest of
this year until we suit
back up,” said Henry,
who missed two key
plays following an 7-yard
catch midway through
the third quarter after
losing a shoe.
Baltimore also
slowed a Tennessee
offense that tied for
fourth averaging 30.7
points a game and had
more offensive yards
per game during the
season than any team
but Kansas City. The
Ravens finished with a
401-209 yards edge in
total offense.
“This may be the
best win I’ve ever been
associated with ...,” said
Baltimore coach John
Harbaugh, who won a
Super Bowl eight years
ago and now has eight
road playoff victories,
surpassing the career
mark of Hall of Famer
Tom Landry and Tom
Coughlin. “It was a very
strong effort. Our tack-
ling was strong, all the
outside backers. That
kind of physicality. We
were able to hit him
with multiple helmets
and take him back.”
The Titans lost their
first home playoff game
in 12 years and now
have had three of their
past eight postseasons
ended on their own field
by Baltimore.

Saints
Continued from Page 1B
each regular season matchup
with the NFC South rival by
double digits.
“The minute that he signed
with the Bucs and came to the
division, you felt like that was
going to be a team to contend
with, that was going to be a
team that would have playoff
aspirations and beyond, just
like us,” Brees said of meeting
Brady in the playoffs for the
first time. “So, I guess it was
inevitable.”
Alvin Kamara rushed for
99 yards and added a 3-yard
touchdown run in the fourth
quarter after sitting out the reg-
ular-season finale and not prac-
ticing this past week because
of contracting COVID-19.
“I was fine, no real symp-
toms,” Kamara said of his ab-
sence. “I got a bye week. It’s
like, you have no choice but
to sit and recover and get your
body back right. I felt good.”
The Bears (8-9) put forth
a scrappy performance de-
fensively that prevented the
Saints from building more than
a one-touchdown lead until
Murray’s 6-yard catch-and-run
made it 14-3 late in the third
quarter.
That score resulted from a
big Bears mistake: Safety Ed-
die Jackson, lined up for an
apparent blitz, jumped offside
on fourth-and-3 from the Bears
13-yard line.
“It was basically a no-brain-
er freeze. We were just going to
take a delay (of game) and then
kick the field goal,” Payton
said. “It worked pretty well.”
Two plays later, Brees scram-
bled right and spotted Murray
waving for the ball. Brees sent
a short touch pass over onrush-
ing linebacker Khalil Mack,
and Murray sprinted straight
to the goal line, diving through
converging tacklers to reach
the end zone.
Brees’ first touchdown pass
in the opening quarter was
11-yards over the middle to
Thomas, back from a three-
game absence to help heal a
nagging ankle injury. The 2019
Offensive Player of the Year
missed nine games this season
and had not caught a touch-
down pass since December
2019.
“He had a few big plays for
us and he’s going to continue to
have more and more big plays,”
Payton said. “I’m glad that he
had that time to really stay off
his ankle. And I know it’s not
100% but, man, he’s going to be
significant for us in all of these
games.”
Thomas finished with five
catches for 73 yards and De-
onte Harris, back from a neck
injury, caught seven passes for
83 yards.
Tashaun Gipson set up Chi-
cago’s first points and might
have prevented a Saints score
on the same play. He got his
hand on the ball as Taysom Hill
attempted to throw deep. The
ball fluttered a few yards and
defensive lineman John Jen-
kins caught it, setting up Cairo
Santos’ 36-yard field goal to
make it 7-3.
But the Chicago offense
struggled against a defense
ranked fourth in the NFL.
Mitch Trubisky was 19 of 29
for 199 yards and one incon-
sequential TD pass to Jimmy
Graham as time expired. The
Bears were held to 48 yards
rushing.
“Making the playoffs is
great, but what we did today
has to be a lot better,” Tru-
bisky said. “Today wasn’t good
enough. And you look at a team
like the Saints that has been
there, done that on the coach-
ing side, player-wise. I think
that that’s a start for us to re-
alize, ‘You want to go ahead
and do damage in the playoffs,
you can see situationally, disci-
pline-wise, all that stuff, how
we’ve got to be better.’ ”
The Saints never previously
allowed fewer than 14 points in
a playoff game.
“Our defense played out-
standing,” Payton said. “We
tackled well in space. ... Ulti-
mately we forced them to be-
come one-dimensional, and
when you do that you’re going
to win a lot of games.”
Ejected
Bears starting receiver An-
thony Miller was ejected for
shoving Saints defensive back
C.J. Gardner-Johnson after a
failed third-down play early in
the second half. Gardner-John-
son also was flagged for un-
sportsmanlike conduct but not
ejected. That marked the sec-
ond time this season a Bears
player was thrown out for action
taken against Gardner-Johnson
after the whistle. During a reg-
ular-season meeting, Bears re-
ceiver Javon Wims was ejected
and suspended two games for
punching Gardner-Johnson.
Injuries
Bears: Reserve safety DeAn-
dre Houston-Carson was evalu-
ated for a concussion during the
second quarter. ... Defensive
back Sherrick McManus left
with a hamstring injury in the
first half.
Saints: Cornerback Patrick
Robinson and running back
Latavius Murray each were
checked for thigh injuries in the
second half.
Up next
Bears: Head into offseason
with uncertainty surrounding
the futures of general manag-
er Ryan Pace and head coach
Matt Nagy. The Bears have
reached the playoffs twice
since Pace took over in 2015,
both times under Nagy, who
was hired in 2018. Chicago
lost its playoff opener both
times.
Saints: Host Brady and the
Buccaneers in the divisional
round next Sunday night.

MSU
Continued from Page 1B

Coming out of the
halftime break, it was
Matharu’s 3-point-
er from the top right
corner of the arc that
splashed home and be-
gan a furious Bulldog
run. With the Ole Miss
defense shadingtoward
Matharu around the
3-point line with a fu-
rious mix of zone and
half-court traps, ju-
nior forward Jessika
Carter found a groove
reminiscent of her
25 -point, 15 -rebound
performance at Florida
Thursday. Finding easy
looks as she forced her-
self deeper and deeper
into the post, Carter
notched 11 of her 19
points over the game’s
final 20 minutes.
And though Carter
outperformed Matharu
on the scorer’s sheet,
Sunday was the latest
look at what MSU’s
bouncy 5 -foot-7 guard
can give the Bulldogs
on a night in which
sophomore sensation
Rickea Jackson man-
aged just nine points on
3 of 9 shooting.
Denigrated for her
defense during much
of last season by then-
head coach Vic Schae-
fer, she’s taken to new
head coach Nikki Mc-
Cray-Penson’s way of
working with eager-
ness. Sunday she kept
a suddenly competent
Rebels backcourt in
front of her, generally
avoiding the defensive
breakdowns that landed
her on the bench along-
side Schaefer a season
ago.
“I’ve challenged her
to be a defensive stop-
per for us, because
she’s one of the fastest
players in this league,”
McCray-Penson said
postgame. “And when
she sets her mind to
guarding the ball and
being disciplined on
the ball, I think she can
keep anybody in front of
her.”
Yet for the growing
improvements Matharu
continues to press to-
ward, it’s her dynamic
offensive arsenal and
lethal 3-point shooting
ability — 42.4 percent,
to be exact — that’s
seen her game evolve
into a nightly nightmare
for opposing defenses.
Over MSU’s final five
games a season ago, she
averaged 15.4 points
per game, including 15 -
and 17-point outbursts
against Kentucky and
South Carolina in the
Southeastern Con-
ference Tournament
semifinals and finals,
respectively. Sunday
marked the fourth time
this year she’s eclipsed
the 15 -point mark, while
she’s shot 40 percent or
better from the f loor in
seven of 10 games this rose to the occasion Donning the similar- it was the minute guard
winter as her minutes with a Cash-like lev- ly-toned colors of the that sent Ole Miss
have increased from 9.9 el of grit and ability. original ‘Man in Black,’ home in a pine box.
a season ago to over 20.
“It ’s definitely taken
me to another level,”
Matharu said of being
a more regular piece
of the 2020 -21 rotation.
“I’ve been working on
the little things — still
trying not to turn over
the ball as much and
focusing on my defense
as best I can — but of-
fense always comes to
me, so that ’s never re-
ally been a problem.”
In a game Mc-
Cray-Penson maligned
her squad for a lack
of energy and overall
maturity postgame,
Matharu brought a lev-
el-headedness amid the
Bulldogs’ near-fourth
quarter collapse. She
was calm, cool and col-
lected as she played out
the final four minutes
with four fouls.
A fter Ole Miss
guard Donnetta John-
son airballed the Reb-
els’ final look at a tie
with the clock ticking
under 10 seconds, it
was Matharu who was
twice fouled by a gag-
gle of opposing defend-
ers as she helped the
Bulldogs milk the final
seconds of Sunday’s af-
fair.
With in-state eyes
locked on the battle
in Starkville, Matharu

Alabama
Continued from Page 1B

six championships in 25 the side in the second age was to Fields.

years leading the Tide
from 1958-82.
The 69-year-old Sa-
ban is 169-23 at Ala-
bama, with no signs of
slowing down.
“One of the best foot-
ball coaches in the his-
tory of college football,”
Day said.
How is fields feeling?
The storyline of the
week for Ohio State is
how quarterback Justin
Fields was doing after
taking a brutal shot to
quarter of the Buckeyes’
semifinal victory over
Clemson. Fields missed
only one play against
the Tigers and ended up
throwing six touchdown
passes.
But it’s a story with
few details. Fields has
said he was feeling bet-
ter than expected the
day after the game and
he will be good to go
Monday night.
Day provides no inju-
ry updates for his play-
ers, so it is still unclear
exactly what the dam-
“Justin has had a
good week of practice,”
Day said. “He’s done a
really good job prepar-
ing, and I think that’s
the thing that he felt like
he did a good job going
into last game, was just
preparing at a high lev-
el, and he’s continued to
do that this week.”
This will likely be
Fields’ last game, as the
junior is expected to
be one of the first play-
ers selected in the NFL
draft in April.
4B MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com

No. 5 South Carolina women rally past No. 10 Kentucky

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Kentucky within 69-68. LeLe
Grissett answered with a base-
LEXINGTON, Ky. — De- line drive and Boston made a
stanni Henderson scored 22 layup before Zia Cooke sealed it
points and Aliyah Boston added with two free throws with 10.3
20, including 10 in the third quar- seconds remaining.
ter to put No. 5 South Carolina Boston also had 12 rebounds
ahead to stay as the Gamecocks and seven blocks, while Hender-
rallied for a 75-70 victory over No. son had eight boards. Laeticia
10 Kentucky on Sunday night. Amihere had 10 points off the
The Gamecocks trailed 41-32 bench for South Carolina.
at halftime and 54-46 late in the “When Aliyah Boston is able
third before closing the quarter to play Aliyah Boston-style of
with an 11-2 run, including five basketball, you see what she’s ca-
by Boston, for their first lead pable of doing, a near-triple-dou-
since the opening minutes. ble,” South Carolina coach Dawn
Rhyne Howard (32 points) hit Staley said of the sophomore for-
a jumper to briefly put Kentucky ward.
up 58-57. Boston and Hender-
Staley added, “We just found a
son then added four points each way to win, and at a really good
during an 12-2 spurt to open the time for our team.”
fourth that helped withstand First-place South Carolina (8-
Kentucky’s late rally. 1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference)
Chasity Patterson scored won its fifth in a row just days
eight consecutive points to get after postponing a game against
Georgia because of a positive
coronavirus test in the program.
Patterson and Dre’Una Ed-
wards had 12 points each for the
Wildcats (9-3, 2-2 SEC), who lost
their second consecutive game
in a four-game stretch against
top 15 opponents.
“Our margin for error is so
small,” Kentucky coach Kyra
Elzy said. “For 3 1/2 quarters
against South Carolina tonight,
against (Texas) A&M, we played
high-caliber basketball. Howev-
er, the small mental lapses cost
us and great teams expose you.
In order for us to take that next
level, we have to be able to play
40 minutes.”
Rhyne’s line
Howard missed all five
3-pointers attempted but offset
that with 13-of-25 shooting from
the field, 6-of-6 from the foul line,
seven rebounds and two steals
in 38 minutes. Her scoring total
was just a point shy of her season
high at Mississippi State on Jan.
3.
Poll implications
South Carolina will reinforce
its top five status with a hard-
fought victory. Kentucky may
drop out of the top 10 with a sec-
ond consecutive loss.
Big picture
South Carolina: The Game-
cocks controlled many statistical
categories, including rebounding
(46-31) and paint points (56-34),
which helped them stay close.
Boston then took charge on both
ends, driving for a layup just after
blocking a shot near midcourt.
Henderson was just as active,
allowing Carolina to seize the
tempo after playing Kentucky’s
pace for much of the night. The
Gamecocks won despite com-
mitting 18 turnovers leading to
22 Kentucky points.
Kentucky: The Wildcats’
active defense was an import-
ant first step against the SEC’s
top offense. They also shot de-
cently for much of the game
before going cold during a
late third-quarter stretch that
allowed South Carolina to go
ahead. Stopping Boston and
Henderson also proved prob-
lematic in the fourth.
“They definitely just out-
played us,” Howard said. “We
stopped playing defense. We
stopped playing Kentucky de-
fense like we did in the first
half. They just kept driving
it down our throats, and we
couldn’t stop it.”

Comics & Puzzles

DILBERT
Dear Abby
D
EAR ABBY:
A new single
pastor was
assigned to my
church. He asked
if I was single and
if I had kids. I told
him no, and we
began having an
affair.
For two
years, it was all
in secret. Then
ZITS I began noticing
that a single lady
from his previous
church would visit.
He told me she Dear Abby
was concerned
about him being
alone, so she was stopping by
on her way through.
Well, I now know she was
more than that. While he was
having his affair with me, he
was engaged to her. When I
confronted him, he denied it.
They got married in secret, and
GARFIELD he didn’t tell the church until af- remain unmarried.
terward. Everyone was shocked
because he talked so much
about being an open book and
being truthful. I was and still
am in shock. I love my church,
but I hate my pastor. Should I
leave? — HURTING IN SECRET
DEAR HURTING: I smell a
rat, and it’s coming from the
pulpit. Your pastor misrepre-
sented himself. have any retort that doesn’t
His affair with you sound rude? I have thought
was, to say the about saying, “I guess you
least, unethical know me better than I know
and should be myself,” but it sounds snarky.
discussed with — BEFUDDLED IN FLORIDA
the governing DEAR BEFUDDLED: If blow-
board of your ing off the questions no longer
church. You were works for you, try this: Smile
taken advantage at the person and say, “That
of. One of you would involve TWO willing peo-
should leave. ple, and I’m not receptive. But
DEAR ABBY: I thank you for the kind thought.”
endured an ardu- And then change the subject.
ous decade-long DEAR ABBY: I have been
marriage with having some emotional turmoil.
a subsequent I’m feeling depressed and
nasty divorce and hopeless. I know I need to tell
custody battle. my parents, but I’m too scared.
This was followed I’m afraid they will brush it off
by years of contentious child or blame me. It’s really affect-
rearing with my ex. With my ing my life. Please give me
children now grown, I am free some advice on how to break
to spend my money the way the news. — GIRL WITH A
I want and have absolute PROBLEM IN NORTH CAROLINA
freedom. I live alone, and DEAR GIRL: Many people
quite frankly, I love my life. I are experiencing feelings
am 100% sure that I want to similar to the ones you are. The
worst thing you can do is keep
When people ask me about them to yourself. Be brave.
getting remarried, I tell them Tell your parents about your
“never again,” and I mean it. depression and turmoil. If they
Yet, inevitably, people say, are disbelieving, confide in a
“You never know, you might get teacher or the parent of a close
married again someday.” Abby, friend so they can advise your
I DO know. It’s been more than parents on getting you profes-
20 years. sional help if it is necessary.
I used to get annoyed, but My thoughts are with you, and I
now I just blow it off. Do you hope you feel better soon.

Horoscopes
CANDORVILLE TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan.
11). The sun returning to your
natal place will either dissolve
the obstacle in your path or
give you the powerful mindset
to transcend it. The world sees
you surging with confidence,
though to you, it feels like a
supercharged sense of purpose.
With clarity and directness,
you’ll make things happen for
yourself and loved ones. Libra
and Scorpio adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 8, 30, 21,
14 and 17.
BABY BLUES ARIES (March 21-April 19).
While you shouldn’t be afraid to
invest in yourself, do try the free
BEETLE BAILEY
MALLARD FILLMORE
THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME FAMILY CIRCUS
By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek
Unscramble these Jumbles,
one letter to each square,
Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble
options first. There are many
excellent ones. Also, what has
worked for your friends? It’s a
good place to start and maybe
as far as you need to go.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20).
There are things you want to
turn down and things you want
to turn up. Unfortunately, one
dial is handling it all. Focus on
what to increase. One gesture
starts it.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21).
If you’re not obsessed with the
goal, it’s not quite good enough
for you. When you’re hooked
into a passion, the next three
weeks are incredibly productive.
CANCER (June 22-July 22).
The PR guru insists that there’s
no such thing as overexposure
and that most people are
hindered by obscurity. You could
test the theory, as you’ve lots
to show and tell people today.
Go wild!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Fear
is like that boiling pasta pot. If
you wait, it will build; it will boil
over; it will be a mess. Be deci-
sive, and act fast. Knock down
the heat before it becomes
uncontrollable.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).
Normally you would trust your
intuition, but what about when
you have a slew of conflicting
hunches? Gather all the infor-
mation. Keep track. Don’t act.
You can sort later.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).
Some chocolate is delicious not
despite its bitter qualities but
because of them. You can apply
it to your relationship sector,
which is made dear by sweet-
ness and made interesting by
sprinkles of past pain.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov.
21). When it comes to friends,
you’ll take quality over quantity
any day. In fact, the better a
friendship is, the more time you
want to give it, which is too hard
when there are dozens of peo-
ple trying to get your attention.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec.
21). Maybe you can’t balance
your time so well today, consid-
ering how much work there is
to be done. You can, however,
get clear on your priorities. And
at the end of the day, you’ll feel
satisfied with how you spent it.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19). There’s healing, and then
there’s acting like everything
is fine and hoping that no one
notices the pain. You’ve done
it both ways before, which is
why you can spot the difference
in others and help wherever
possible.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
18). You don’t have the an-
swers, but that’s not going to
stop you from trying. It’s better
to do something that might work
than to do nothing. One of these
times, you’ll crack the code.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March

to form four ordinary words. 20). Your generosity will make

change happen. It’s not just
VAWEE about money -- it’s more the
spirit you bring to the exchange.
People will feel you join them,
GEHED and together you’ll be more pow-
erful than you are alone.

CCNILI

NTCREH
Now arrange the circled letters
©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC to form the surprise answer, as
All Rights Reserved. suggested by the above cartoon.

Print the answer here:

(Answers tomorrow)
Jumbles: DOILY FLUID THORNY DRAGON
Saturday’s
Answer: He had the small dent in his wife’s car repaired
to keep her from — “FIND-DING” OUT
The Dispatch • www.cdispatch.com MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2021 5B
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later than January 22, COMPUTER AND IT TRAINING PRO- ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS OWN- DIRECTV - Every live football game,
2021. Call 205-662-4228 GRAM! Train ONLINE to get the skills to
if you have any questions. ERS! Are you protected in case of prop- every Sunday - anywhere - on your
become a Computer and Help Desk erty damage or if you have an interrup- favorite device. Restrictions apply. Call IVS
Professional now! Grants and tion in service due to a property event? - Call 1-855-978-3110
Scholarships available for certain pro- Business Owner Property insurance IS DISH NETWORK. $59.99 for 190
Sunday’s Cryptoquote:
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for details! 833-992-0228 (M-F 8am-
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Academy Offer Quality Healthcare $49/ MONTH! Call for your fee rate 877-628-3143
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Military discount, pet area, 4140 DENTAL INSURANCE from Physicians
pet friendly, and furnished Mutual Insurance Company. Coverage
corporate apts. Employment for 350 plus procedures. Real dental
24−HOUR PROFESSIONAL
GYM. ON SITE SECURITY. L. E. TUCKER & SON, INC. - CDL insurance - NOT just a discount plan. Do
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probationary period. 55 cents per mile health questions. Cash to help pay funer-

VIP thereafter. Late model conventional trac-

tors. Home weekly. Benefits package.
al and other final expenses.Call

Rentals
Physicians Life Insurance Company- 844-
Pearl, MS. 601-939-8088. 439-8447 or visit
www.tuckerandson.com www.Life55plus.info/ms
Apartments & Houses
For Sale Medical Supplies
1 Bedrooms
2 Bedroooms GENERAC Standby Generators pro- ATTENTION DIABETICS! Save money STATEWIDE RATES:
vide backup power during utility power
3 Bedrooms outages, so your home and family stay
on your diabetic supplies! Convenient
Up to 25 words...........$210
home shipping for monitors, test strips,
Furnished & Unfurnished safe and comfortable. Prepare now. Free insulin pumps, catheters and more! To 1 col. x 2 inch.............$525
7-year extended warranty ($695 value!). ACROSS
1, 2, & 3 Baths Request a free quote today! Call for addi-
learn more, call now! 877-368-0628
1 col. x 3 inch.............$785 1 Enterprise
Lease, Deposit VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Pills
tional terms and conditions. 1-844-316- SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% 1 col. x 4 inch...........$1050 science officer
& Credit Check 8630 6 Speculate
guaranteed. CALL NOW! 844-821-3242
viceinvestments.com 11 Des Moines
Home Improvement Call MS Press Services native
327-8555 ELIMINATE GUTTER CLEANING FOR-
Miscellaneous
12 Craze
DONATE YOUR CAR TO CHARITY.
Apts For Rent: Other
EVER! LeafFilter, the most advanced Receive maximum value of write off for 601-981-3060 13 Note from the
boss
debris-blocking gutter protection. your taxes. Running or not! All condi-
Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 14 Some golf
tions accepted. Free pickup. Call for
15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & clubs
details. 855-400-8263 Week of January 10, 2020
Military Discounts. Call 1-866-479-1028 15 Musk of Tesla
17 Tennis court
divider

Service Directory
18 Reject
22 Saudi native
23 Burr or Sunday’s answer
Hamilton DOWN business
27 Nearsighted 1 Pop’s daughter 24 Deceitful one
Promote your small business starting at only $25 Mr. 2 “The Raven” 25 Fix text
29 Slyly sarcastic writer 26 Depend
Air Cond & Heating General Services General Services Painting & Papering 30 Guarantee 3 Need to pay 28 Pizza herb
RAPID TEMP A & T TREE SERVICES SULLIVAN’S PAINT 32 Plane part 4 Happened 31 Corn unit
Heating & cooling. Bucket truck & stump SERVICE 33 Afternoon 5 Ring 34 Fourth-down
Home & RV. removal. Free est. Special Prices. social 6 Foreboding plays
Service & install. Serving Columbus Interior & Exterior Painting.
Free estimates. since 1987. Senior 662−435−6528 35 Pussy foot 7 Golf goal 35 Component
Call 602−736−4880. citizen disc. Call Alvin @ 38 Chow 8 Privy to 36 Region
242−0324/241−4447 39 Kitchen 9 Three squared 37 Frayed
"We’ll go out on a limb for Painting & Papering
Carpet & Flooring come-on 10 Sunrise site 40 Saloon vessel
COLEMAN you!"
QUALITY PAINTING. 41 Nary a soul 16 Outmoded 42 Lennon’s love
RENTALS Ext/Int Painting. 45 Second airing 18 Titled woman 43 Catch some
GRAVEL, $360 PER LOAD. Sheet Rock Hang, Finish &
Repair. Pressure Washing. 46 Open-sea
TOWNHOUSES & APARTMENTS
Local delivery, 14 yd truck. 19 Turkey z’s
1 BEDROOM Backhoe & Dozer work. Free Estimates. Ask for catches neighbor 44 Snaky shape
2 BEDROOMS
Mobile Home Pads & specials! Larry Webber, 47 Lively dance 20 Hangs low
Driveways. Concrete work. 662−242−4932.
3 BEDROOMS 662−497−1388 48 Train stations 21 Tended to, as
LEASE,
© The Dispatch

Lawn Care / Landscaping

DEPOSIT Clean in the New Year! WORK WANTED: Licensed
& Bonded. Carpentry, minor
AND 1 Room − $50
2 Room − $80 electrical, minor plumbing, JESSE & BEVERLY’S
CREDIT CHECK 3 Rooms − $110 insulation, painting, demo−
lition, gutters cleaned,
LAWN SERVICE
Fall Cleanup, Tree Cutting,
Carpet − Rugs − Cars
662-329-2323 DAVID’S CARPET & pressure washing, land− Landscaping, Sodding &
UPHOLSTERY scaping, cleanup work. Bush Hogging
CLEANING 662−242−3608. 662−356−6525
2411 HWY 45 N Call for more info! Are you a painter?
COLUMBUS, MS 662−722−1758
PLACE YOUR AD ONLINE ads.cdispatch.com Advertise here!

Buy. Sell. Discover. In the Classifieds section.

On the web: ads.cdispatch.com • Or call: 662-328-2424