1 hr. ago
Dynasty Fine Wines Group has issued another profit warning, saying its earnings for the first half of the year are set to fall sharply as weak demand in China's wine market hits sales.
In a stock-exchange filing yesterday (19 August), Dynasty said it expects to record an unaudited consolidated profit of HK$0.4m (US$50,999) to HK$1.2m for the six months to 30 June, down 85-95% from HK$8.2m a year earlier.
The Hong Kong-listed company said the earnings decline was "primarily" due to a reduction in gross profit following a "significant decrease in sales revenue" due to "weak demand" for wine in China.
Dynasty added that higher other income, including the write-off of long-aged payables, and lower administrative expenses had "partially offset the impact of revenue decline on profit" in the period.
The warning marks another setback for the Chinese wine producer, which in March flagged a sharp drop in profit for its 2025 financial year.
#dynasty #wine #warning #decline
In a stock-exchange filing yesterday (19 August), Dynasty said it expects to record an unaudited consolidated profit of HK$0.4m (US$50,999) to HK$1.2m for the six months to 30 June, down 85-95% from HK$8.2m a year earlier.
The Hong Kong-listed company said the earnings decline was "primarily" due to a reduction in gross profit following a "significant decrease in sales revenue" due to "weak demand" for wine in China.
Dynasty added that higher other income, including the write-off of long-aged payables, and lower administrative expenses had "partially offset the impact of revenue decline on profit" in the period.
The warning marks another setback for the Chinese wine producer, which in March flagged a sharp drop in profit for its 2025 financial year.
#dynasty #wine #warning #decline
1 hr. ago
Strategic Beverage Services has acquired the US operations of BevZero, a move the company said create the nation's "largest" dealcoholisation service provider.
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Strategic Beverage Services, based in Santa Rosa in California, said the purchase will broaden its operating capacity and its footprint across clients that span wineries, distilleries, cider producers and functional beverage companies.
Patrick Morgan, the company's chief operating officer told Just Drinks, the transaction includes all of BevZero's US ******* ets, including three spinning cone vacuum distillation columns, along with related tanks and other equipment.
He said the company has bought the US franchise rights from BevZero International, which is now focusing on expanding its services in Europe.
#Services #transaction #santa
The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Strategic Beverage Services, based in Santa Rosa in California, said the purchase will broaden its operating capacity and its footprint across clients that span wineries, distilleries, cider producers and functional beverage companies.
Patrick Morgan, the company's chief operating officer told Just Drinks, the transaction includes all of BevZero's US ******* ets, including three spinning cone vacuum distillation columns, along with related tanks and other equipment.
He said the company has bought the US franchise rights from BevZero International, which is now focusing on expanding its services in Europe.
#Services #transaction #santa
7 hours ago
Consuming a sugary drink a day may significantly raise the risk of developing stomach cancer, according to new research from Mass General Brigham.
After accounting for other risk factors, the researchers found that one or more sugary drinks per day was linked to nearly triple the risk of gastric cancer compared with fewer than one serving per month.
Roughly two-thirds (63%) of U.S. adults report consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once a day, CDC data states.
Beer, Wine Or Liquor? Massive Study Reveals Which Was Linked To Lower Death Risk
While earlier studies linked sugary drinks to higher rates of liver, breast and colorectal malignancies, their specific impact on gastric tissue remained unclear until now.
#sugary #brigham
After accounting for other risk factors, the researchers found that one or more sugary drinks per day was linked to nearly triple the risk of gastric cancer compared with fewer than one serving per month.
Roughly two-thirds (63%) of U.S. adults report consuming sugar-sweetened beverages at least once a day, CDC data states.
Beer, Wine Or Liquor? Massive Study Reveals Which Was Linked To Lower Death Risk
While earlier studies linked sugary drinks to higher rates of liver, breast and colorectal malignancies, their specific impact on gastric tissue remained unclear until now.
#sugary #brigham
11 hours ago
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (RRGB) is undergoing a turnaround, with strong technical momentum and a recent Trend Seeker "Buy" signal.
RRGB has surged nearly 60% over the past year and recently hit a 2-year high.
Shares maintain a 100% "Buy" technical opinion from Barchart.
Analyst sentiment is bullish with multiple "Strong Buy" ratings and price targets up to $14.50, suggesting further upside potential.
Valued at $200 million, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (RRGB) is a full-service casual dining restaurant chain that serves an ******* orted range of burgers. It offers burgers, various appetizers, salads, soups, seafood, and other entrees as well as desserts, milkshakes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, ******* tails, wine, and beers.
#rrgb
RRGB has surged nearly 60% over the past year and recently hit a 2-year high.
Shares maintain a 100% "Buy" technical opinion from Barchart.
Analyst sentiment is bullish with multiple "Strong Buy" ratings and price targets up to $14.50, suggesting further upside potential.
Valued at $200 million, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (RRGB) is a full-service casual dining restaurant chain that serves an ******* orted range of burgers. It offers burgers, various appetizers, salads, soups, seafood, and other entrees as well as desserts, milkshakes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic specialty drinks, ******* tails, wine, and beers.
#rrgb
2 days ago
Patricia Heaton has revealed the moment that led her to go sober, explaining it left her "mortified".
The Everybody Loves Raymond alum's daily wine habit turned into problematic drinking during a period of her life when her usual routine had been disrupted.
"My children had left home and I wasn't working. The things that had always anchored me - my family and my work - were gone," Patricia, 68, told Woman's World magazine. "I started thinking, 'What am I supposed to do today?'"
The actress, whose sitcom credits also include The Middle, recalled how her drinking habits slowly escalated.
"A glass of wine while cooking became wine with dinner, wine while cleaning up and wine while watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!," she explained. "One night I realised I had almost finished an entire bottle by myself."
At that point, Patricia said, she knew something had shifted in her attitude to drinking, and she turned to religion in hopes of finding an answer.
#drinking
The Everybody Loves Raymond alum's daily wine habit turned into problematic drinking during a period of her life when her usual routine had been disrupted.
"My children had left home and I wasn't working. The things that had always anchored me - my family and my work - were gone," Patricia, 68, told Woman's World magazine. "I started thinking, 'What am I supposed to do today?'"
The actress, whose sitcom credits also include The Middle, recalled how her drinking habits slowly escalated.
"A glass of wine while cooking became wine with dinner, wine while cleaning up and wine while watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!," she explained. "One night I realised I had almost finished an entire bottle by myself."
At that point, Patricia said, she knew something had shifted in her attitude to drinking, and she turned to religion in hopes of finding an answer.
#drinking
2 days ago
The most unique ballpark innovation in Major League Baseball this season was conceived through something many millions of people do every day: Doomscrolling on Instagram
Last October, Malcolm Rogel, the Seattle Mariners' vice president of fan experience, started seeing videos of Florence, Italy's historic buchetta del vino — wine windows carved out of holes in the wall that originated in the 16th and 17th century. Knock on an ancient set of tiny, non-descript wooden doors during operating hours, and get sold a libation in one of the most unique ways possible. Rogel texted Megan Murray, the district manager at Sodexo Live, which operates concessions at the Mariners' T-Mobile Park, and asked if this concept could be replicated at the stadium.
Over the cold, rainy offseason, Rogel and Murray went to work on bringing this idea to life. Rogel's father-in-law built a wooden door in the shape of home plate. His close friend's son welded a door knocker in the shape of the Mariners' classic trident logo. Murray toured the ballpark with Seattle's liquor control board to get approval for the concept and the location of the door, which opens up to sinks and closets in the back and counter ***** e with enough room for up to seven staffers to safely work within the location's tight confines.
On opening day, the Mariners' Sea-cret Door was born as a speakeasy selling one specialty ***** tail per game, with the concept spread strictly through social media influencers and word of mouth. There's been no team advertising and no mention of the door on radio or TV broadcasts all season — the door's location purposefully kept secret to create a sort of scavenger hunt for fans searching for it at the park.
While it took until the seventh inning of the first game for the drink special to sell out its roughly 100 orders, now the offering is bought up within the first hour or so, with a full queue forming in about 12-15 minutes. Yet Rogel and Murray decided early on that the door wouldn't be open every game, and would probably only operate during about 30 of the team's 81 home games. And when the door isn't open, the M's bolt a storage bin in front of the wall to preserve its location and identity.
#Mariners #concept
Last October, Malcolm Rogel, the Seattle Mariners' vice president of fan experience, started seeing videos of Florence, Italy's historic buchetta del vino — wine windows carved out of holes in the wall that originated in the 16th and 17th century. Knock on an ancient set of tiny, non-descript wooden doors during operating hours, and get sold a libation in one of the most unique ways possible. Rogel texted Megan Murray, the district manager at Sodexo Live, which operates concessions at the Mariners' T-Mobile Park, and asked if this concept could be replicated at the stadium.
Over the cold, rainy offseason, Rogel and Murray went to work on bringing this idea to life. Rogel's father-in-law built a wooden door in the shape of home plate. His close friend's son welded a door knocker in the shape of the Mariners' classic trident logo. Murray toured the ballpark with Seattle's liquor control board to get approval for the concept and the location of the door, which opens up to sinks and closets in the back and counter ***** e with enough room for up to seven staffers to safely work within the location's tight confines.
On opening day, the Mariners' Sea-cret Door was born as a speakeasy selling one specialty ***** tail per game, with the concept spread strictly through social media influencers and word of mouth. There's been no team advertising and no mention of the door on radio or TV broadcasts all season — the door's location purposefully kept secret to create a sort of scavenger hunt for fans searching for it at the park.
While it took until the seventh inning of the first game for the drink special to sell out its roughly 100 orders, now the offering is bought up within the first hour or so, with a full queue forming in about 12-15 minutes. Yet Rogel and Murray decided early on that the door wouldn't be open every game, and would probably only operate during about 30 of the team's 81 home games. And when the door isn't open, the M's bolt a storage bin in front of the wall to preserve its location and identity.
#Mariners #concept
3 days ago
In case you missed the news of the day, the ***** ociated Press preseason college football poll was released on Monday, and Ohio State took the No. 1 spot to pair like a fine wine, to go along with landing as the top-ranked team in the US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll.
And while that's all good and fine, the real news is that by appearing in the AP preseason poll, the Buckeyes extended a pretty outlandish record streak of appearing in the preseason poll for 38 consecutive seasons. That means many of you reading this weren't even alive the last time Ohio State wasn't a part of the AP poll when first released ahead of actual games being played.
In fact, by doing the math, the last time the Buckeyes weren't a part of the AP preseason poll was 1988. That was the first year under new head coach John Cooper, and it was a struggle. The Buckeyes finished the year with a 4-6-1 overall record (2-5-1 Big Ten).
Other teams with notable streaks behind Ohio State are Oklahoma (26 years), Georgia (24 years), and Alabama (18 years). Clemson's streak of 14 straight years came to an end with the Tigers being outside the preseason AP Top 25 this year.
Of course, being included in the poll during the preseason doesn't mean much if the team doesn't perform on the field, but it still speaks to the reputation and staying power of arguably the best college football program of all time.
#year
And while that's all good and fine, the real news is that by appearing in the AP preseason poll, the Buckeyes extended a pretty outlandish record streak of appearing in the preseason poll for 38 consecutive seasons. That means many of you reading this weren't even alive the last time Ohio State wasn't a part of the AP poll when first released ahead of actual games being played.
In fact, by doing the math, the last time the Buckeyes weren't a part of the AP preseason poll was 1988. That was the first year under new head coach John Cooper, and it was a struggle. The Buckeyes finished the year with a 4-6-1 overall record (2-5-1 Big Ten).
Other teams with notable streaks behind Ohio State are Oklahoma (26 years), Georgia (24 years), and Alabama (18 years). Clemson's streak of 14 straight years came to an end with the Tigers being outside the preseason AP Top 25 this year.
Of course, being included in the poll during the preseason doesn't mean much if the team doesn't perform on the field, but it still speaks to the reputation and staying power of arguably the best college football program of all time.
#year
3 days ago
In August 2024, a woman wrote to Rebel Creamery to complain about her husband.
She had sent him to the store for Van Leeuwen ice cream and he came home with Rebel. "Your product was placed right next to Van Leeuwen and looked the same," she wrote. "I nearly did the same thing when I shopped! Later, my friend shared the same experience on the other side of the country!"
Two years later, that message turned up in a federal courtroom in Brooklyn, in a ruling that ordered Rebel to hand over $23.785 million and redesign its pints. On Friday, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Utah.
Van Leeuwen ice cream as seen during the Food Network's New York City Wine & Food Festival in 2024.
A screenshot of a picture of a Rebel icream pint on rebelcreamery.com.
#same #wrote #cream #august
She had sent him to the store for Van Leeuwen ice cream and he came home with Rebel. "Your product was placed right next to Van Leeuwen and looked the same," she wrote. "I nearly did the same thing when I shopped! Later, my friend shared the same experience on the other side of the country!"
Two years later, that message turned up in a federal courtroom in Brooklyn, in a ruling that ordered Rebel to hand over $23.785 million and redesign its pints. On Friday, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Utah.
Van Leeuwen ice cream as seen during the Food Network's New York City Wine & Food Festival in 2024.
A screenshot of a picture of a Rebel icream pint on rebelcreamery.com.
#same #wrote #cream #august
4 days ago
LINCOLN, Calif. (AP) — One thing Anne Smull, a retired feedstore owner, was looking forward to on Election Day was voting for the man who currently represents her in Congress, conservative Rep. Kevin Kiley. Now she can't.
That's because California Democrats sliced Kiley's district six ways as payback for Republican redistricting in Texas and elsewhere. The chunk of the district that Smull, who identifies as a conservative, lives in is now grafted onto an overwhelmingly Democratic seat based in the state's wine country.
During a recent lunch at a cafe in Lincoln, a onetime agricultural town that has morphed into a bedroom community on the edge of Sacramento's exurban sprawl, Smull was heartbroken to hear she can no longer vote for Kiley.
"He believes in the same things I do," Smull said. "It feels sneaky and underhanded."
Democratic voters in several other states know how Smull feels.
#kiley #democratic #district #anne
That's because California Democrats sliced Kiley's district six ways as payback for Republican redistricting in Texas and elsewhere. The chunk of the district that Smull, who identifies as a conservative, lives in is now grafted onto an overwhelmingly Democratic seat based in the state's wine country.
During a recent lunch at a cafe in Lincoln, a onetime agricultural town that has morphed into a bedroom community on the edge of Sacramento's exurban sprawl, Smull was heartbroken to hear she can no longer vote for Kiley.
"He believes in the same things I do," Smull said. "It feels sneaky and underhanded."
Democratic voters in several other states know how Smull feels.
#kiley #democratic #district #anne
5 days ago
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker's WNBA careers were intertwined with so many great moments.
Now they are forever bonded, enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class Saturday night. They were joined by the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, Chamique Holdsclaw, NBA player Amar'e Stoudemire, longtime NBA official Joey Crawford, NBA coaches Doc Rivers and Mike D'Antoni, and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.
Delle Donne turned her speech into a love letter to the game of basketball with all the ups and downs she faced in her career. But she always kept life in perspective, thanks to her older sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf.
"She never played in front of thousands of people, never had a standing ovation. never been interviewed after a big win. Yet I've never met anyone stronger," Delle Donne said, choking up. "Thank you all for keeping me going."
Delle Donne won MVP awards in 2015 and 2019, the second of which came when she led the Washington Mystics to their lone WNBA championship. Delle Donne became the first player in league history to shoot more than 50% from the field, 40% from behind the 3-point line and 90% from the free-throw line.
#line
Now they are forever bonded, enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class Saturday night. They were joined by the 1996 U.S. Olympic women's basketball team, Chamique Holdsclaw, NBA player Amar'e Stoudemire, longtime NBA official Joey Crawford, NBA coaches Doc Rivers and Mike D'Antoni, and Gonzaga coach Mark Few.
Delle Donne turned her speech into a love letter to the game of basketball with all the ups and downs she faced in her career. But she always kept life in perspective, thanks to her older sister Lizzie, who is blind and deaf.
"She never played in front of thousands of people, never had a standing ovation. never been interviewed after a big win. Yet I've never met anyone stronger," Delle Donne said, choking up. "Thank you all for keeping me going."
Delle Donne won MVP awards in 2015 and 2019, the second of which came when she led the Washington Mystics to their lone WNBA championship. Delle Donne became the first player in league history to shoot more than 50% from the field, 40% from behind the 3-point line and 90% from the free-throw line.
#line
5 days ago
Once a destination for some of the world's most selective luxury shoppers, an iconic retailer is facing one of the biggest turning points in its nearly two-century history.
Years of financial losses and mounting challenges have put the business under serious pressure, with its owner warning that it could not survive much longer without new investment.
Now, after months of uncertainty, the retailer's future is once again hanging in the balance.
Founded in 1831, Harvey Nichols is a British luxury department store chain known for its upscale designer fashion, beauty products, fine wines, and gourmet food. The company operated 12 stores worldwide.
Harvey Nichols' financial challenges intensified this year, prompting its owner, Hong Kong luxury goods businessman ***** son Poon, to put the retailer up for sale in June 2026.
#founded
Years of financial losses and mounting challenges have put the business under serious pressure, with its owner warning that it could not survive much longer without new investment.
Now, after months of uncertainty, the retailer's future is once again hanging in the balance.
Founded in 1831, Harvey Nichols is a British luxury department store chain known for its upscale designer fashion, beauty products, fine wines, and gourmet food. The company operated 12 stores worldwide.
Harvey Nichols' financial challenges intensified this year, prompting its owner, Hong Kong luxury goods businessman ***** son Poon, to put the retailer up for sale in June 2026.
#founded
5 days ago
LeBron James may still be really good at basketball, but the 41-year-old has a well-documented affinity for golf.
The newest Philadelphia 76er has committed to the sport in his leisure time away from hoops. So much that he's now dropped a YouTube channel dedicated to the craft of his hobby.
He released his first vlog-style video on Aug. 15 featuring himself and former teammates from the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 championship team as they gathered to celebrate their 10-year reunion at Cabot Highlands Resort's Castle Stuart Links in Scotland.
James' 96-minute video is a day-in-the-life vlog that includes banter amongst former teammates, friendly competition and memorable moments captured on camera. Former teammates who appeared at the golf retreat included Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson.
Together they laughed and reminisced on their ******* le run while enjoying wine. The group played in a 3-on-3 team setting.
#youtube
The newest Philadelphia 76er has committed to the sport in his leisure time away from hoops. So much that he's now dropped a YouTube channel dedicated to the craft of his hobby.
He released his first vlog-style video on Aug. 15 featuring himself and former teammates from the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 championship team as they gathered to celebrate their 10-year reunion at Cabot Highlands Resort's Castle Stuart Links in Scotland.
James' 96-minute video is a day-in-the-life vlog that includes banter amongst former teammates, friendly competition and memorable moments captured on camera. Former teammates who appeared at the golf retreat included Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, J.R. Smith, Channing Frye and Richard Jefferson.
Together they laughed and reminisced on their ******* le run while enjoying wine. The group played in a 3-on-3 team setting.
#youtube
5 days ago
Amy Winehouse's father has been hit with a nearly £1 million bill after losing a bitter court battle against two of his late daughter's closest friends. Mitch Winehouse was ordered to make interim payments totaling £963,851—about $1.3 million—to Naomi Parry and Catriona Gourlay after a High Court judge tore into the case he brought over the sale of the singer's belongings.
According to the BBC, the dispute centered on 141 items auctioned in the United States between 2021 and 2023, including Winehouse's clothes, handbags, earrings, makeup, ballet slippers and a dress she wore on her final tour in 2011. Mitch claimed Parry, Amy's former stylist, and Gourlay had no right to sell the items and accused them of "deliberately" hiding the sales from him. The women denied wrongdoing, saying the items either belonged to them or had been given to them by Winehouse.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
The court wasn't buying Mitch's version. Judge Sarah Clarke KC tossed his case earlier this year, finding that he "knew all along" that the women planned to sell the memorabilia.
The trial had heard allegations that Parry and Gourlay took advantage of Mitch's forgetfulness and pocketed more than $1.4 million from the auctions, but Clarke rejected the claim that they had deliberately concealed the sales.
#winehouse #clarke
According to the BBC, the dispute centered on 141 items auctioned in the United States between 2021 and 2023, including Winehouse's clothes, handbags, earrings, makeup, ballet slippers and a dress she wore on her final tour in 2011. Mitch claimed Parry, Amy's former stylist, and Gourlay had no right to sell the items and accused them of "deliberately" hiding the sales from him. The women denied wrongdoing, saying the items either belonged to them or had been given to them by Winehouse.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
The court wasn't buying Mitch's version. Judge Sarah Clarke KC tossed his case earlier this year, finding that he "knew all along" that the women planned to sell the memorabilia.
The trial had heard allegations that Parry and Gourlay took advantage of Mitch's forgetfulness and pocketed more than $1.4 million from the auctions, but Clarke rejected the claim that they had deliberately concealed the sales.
#winehouse #clarke
5 days ago
Brad Pitt considers himself an "optimist," but at one point in his life, the actor contemplated taking his life.
The two-time Academy Award winner expounded on his past grief in a new Esquire cover story, published Monday (August 10). Although Pitt didn't name where his period of depression stemmed from, the actor has been in a lengthy legal battle with his ex-wife, actress Angelina Jolie in the years since their 2019 divorce after five years of marriage.
While their children, both biological and adopted, have petitioned to drop 'Pitt' as their surname, Pitt has filed to obtain records of Jolie's income between 2017 to 2021. The conflict regards the sale of Jolie's stake in their French winery company Château Miraval, which the ex-spouses co-owned from 2008 to 2021. Since 2022, Pitt, 62, has been in a relationship with jewelry entrepreneur Ines de Ramon, 33.
Pitt told Esquire that he was "never suicidal in any way" and that thoughts about taking his life were not in his "makeup."
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
#esquire #actor #academy
The two-time Academy Award winner expounded on his past grief in a new Esquire cover story, published Monday (August 10). Although Pitt didn't name where his period of depression stemmed from, the actor has been in a lengthy legal battle with his ex-wife, actress Angelina Jolie in the years since their 2019 divorce after five years of marriage.
While their children, both biological and adopted, have petitioned to drop 'Pitt' as their surname, Pitt has filed to obtain records of Jolie's income between 2017 to 2021. The conflict regards the sale of Jolie's stake in their French winery company Château Miraval, which the ex-spouses co-owned from 2008 to 2021. Since 2022, Pitt, 62, has been in a relationship with jewelry entrepreneur Ines de Ramon, 33.
Pitt told Esquire that he was "never suicidal in any way" and that thoughts about taking his life were not in his "makeup."
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.
#esquire #actor #academy
5 days ago
"Follow along as LeBron brings his friends and fans along for the journey as golf takes him to some of the world's greatest courses," the description on the page's first video reads. "Come for the game, stay for the great local food, wine, and a whole lot of laughs along the way." The first video features 96 minutes of footage of the reunion of the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers and their summer golf trip to Scotland. Featuring J.R. Smith, Kevin Love, Richard Jefferson and others, the trip celebrated the 10th anniversary of Cleveland's only NBA ******* le, when the Cavs rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the defending champion Golden State Warriors.
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Follow along as LeBron brings his friends and fans …
#along
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Follow along as LeBron brings his friends and fans …
#along
8 days ago
Not every Hollywood love story begins on a movie set or red carpet. These famous stars found lasting relationships with partners who built their lives outside the spotlight, proving that sometimes the strongest connections happen far from the celebrity world. Here are 14 couples whose enduring romances show that true love doesn't require two famous names.
TRF / MEGA
Known for her iconic role as Miranda Hobbes, Cynthia Nixon found love beyond the Hollywood bubble. Her marriage to a non-celebrity partner showcases her advocacy for LGBT rights and the authenticity she brings to every aspect of her life. The couple's bond is a reminder that genuine connection isn't reserved for the famous. Nixon has been married to Christine Marinoni, an LGBTQ rights activist, since 2012, as reported by Parade.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner turned heads with his blockbuster charm, but it was his relationship with a non-celebrity that truly captured his heart. Known for keeping his private life low-key, Lautner's partnership proves that a simple, grounded connection can win out over all the Hollywood glitz. Lautner and Taylor Dome tied the knot on Nov. 11, 2022, at Epoch Estate Wines outside Paso Robles, California, per Parade.
#hollywood #famous #celebrity #lautner
TRF / MEGA
Known for her iconic role as Miranda Hobbes, Cynthia Nixon found love beyond the Hollywood bubble. Her marriage to a non-celebrity partner showcases her advocacy for LGBT rights and the authenticity she brings to every aspect of her life. The couple's bond is a reminder that genuine connection isn't reserved for the famous. Nixon has been married to Christine Marinoni, an LGBTQ rights activist, since 2012, as reported by Parade.
Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / MEGA
Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner turned heads with his blockbuster charm, but it was his relationship with a non-celebrity that truly captured his heart. Known for keeping his private life low-key, Lautner's partnership proves that a simple, grounded connection can win out over all the Hollywood glitz. Lautner and Taylor Dome tied the knot on Nov. 11, 2022, at Epoch Estate Wines outside Paso Robles, California, per Parade.
#hollywood #famous #celebrity #lautner
8 days ago
By Kanishka Singh
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Powerful storms moved through the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday, leaving at least two people dead and nearly a million without power, officials said.
Here are some details:
• A 4-year-old child died after a tree fell on his home in Geneva Township in Indiana, Jennings County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Cody Low said.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said one person died after flooding obstructed first responders from reaching the individual in Roseville.
#singh #powerful
Aug 11 (Reuters) - Powerful storms moved through the U.S. Midwest on Tuesday, leaving at least two people dead and nearly a million without power, officials said.
Here are some details:
• A 4-year-old child died after a tree fell on his home in Geneva Township in Indiana, Jennings County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Cody Low said.
• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said one person died after flooding obstructed first responders from reaching the individual in Roseville.
#singh #powerful
8 days ago
Remember when Christmas Day used to be about family and gifts? A piping hot cocoa to start the day with a glass of wine to finish it. Gifts, family, food, fun. Do you also remember when sports on Christmas Day used to be minimal? Now, one in four Americans surround their Christmas Day planning around sports. Specifically the NBA and the NFL. Talk about a lump of coal for ol' Kris Kringle.
Since 2021, the NFL has staged at least two regular-season games every Christmas. The games began airing on traditional broadcast networks such as FOX and CBS, but have since shifted mainly to Netflix. This year, the NFL is presenting three games on the annual holiday that has long been dominated by the NBA. That has led to observers questioning whether the NBA should shift away from the holiday it has long claimed as its own. In reality, any shift would be a giant mistake.
Let's start with viewership.
Last year, ESPN/ABC's five-game slate of NBA action drew an average of 5.5 million viewers. The top stars were prominently featured. Start with the Knicks out East, mix in Steph Curry and defending league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and wrap things up with Nikola Jokic out West. From noon until well after midnight, NBA basketball was live on television. What we all have come to expect annually.
The NBA has had five games every Christmas since 2008, and viewership overall has been relatively consistent, averaging around 4.5 million to upwards of 6.3 million viewers, with most years falling in the 5.5 million range.
#start #gifts
Since 2021, the NFL has staged at least two regular-season games every Christmas. The games began airing on traditional broadcast networks such as FOX and CBS, but have since shifted mainly to Netflix. This year, the NFL is presenting three games on the annual holiday that has long been dominated by the NBA. That has led to observers questioning whether the NBA should shift away from the holiday it has long claimed as its own. In reality, any shift would be a giant mistake.
Let's start with viewership.
Last year, ESPN/ABC's five-game slate of NBA action drew an average of 5.5 million viewers. The top stars were prominently featured. Start with the Knicks out East, mix in Steph Curry and defending league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and wrap things up with Nikola Jokic out West. From noon until well after midnight, NBA basketball was live on television. What we all have come to expect annually.
The NBA has had five games every Christmas since 2008, and viewership overall has been relatively consistent, averaging around 4.5 million to upwards of 6.3 million viewers, with most years falling in the 5.5 million range.
#start #gifts
8 days ago
Roughly a thousand spectators cheered as teens Kylie Ritchie of Connecticut and Bridget Kavan of Nebraska ran from platform to platform, swinging on monkey bars and a rope, heaving weights and clambering up a wall in an American Ninja Warrior-like competition.
Among the onlookers was President Donald Trump, who watched the semi-finals and finals of the Patriot Games on Aug. 11. He later presented the two winners — a boy and a girl — with two golden trophies and $125,000 in scholarship prize money each.
Joining Trump inside the sprawling Spire Academy athletic facility located just outside Geneva in Northeast Ohio's wine country were Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
Speaking in a mid-event interview, Trump said the athletes were doing "fantastically well" and that he was looking forward to watching the finals.
"This has been as exciting as everything; I didn't know what to expect," Trump said of the Patriot Games.
#House #platform #ritchie
Among the onlookers was President Donald Trump, who watched the semi-finals and finals of the Patriot Games on Aug. 11. He later presented the two winners — a boy and a girl — with two golden trophies and $125,000 in scholarship prize money each.
Joining Trump inside the sprawling Spire Academy athletic facility located just outside Geneva in Northeast Ohio's wine country were Ohio Republican Sen. Bernie Moreno, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
Speaking in a mid-event interview, Trump said the athletes were doing "fantastically well" and that he was looking forward to watching the finals.
"This has been as exciting as everything; I didn't know what to expect," Trump said of the Patriot Games.
#House #platform #ritchie
9 days ago
FIRST ON FOX: A Senate Republican leading the charge on investigating Dr. Anthony Fauci's old government phone told Fox News Digital that the revelation that the former COVID-czar was concerned that vaccines could cause miscarriages was "just the tip of the iceberg."
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., in an interview with Fox News Digital, alleged that the first tranche of texts from Fauci's old government iPhone was a clear sign that the man who became the face of the nation's COVID-19 response said one thing privately while taking a different message to the public.
"We tell pregnant women don't even have a glass of wine and yet we coerce them, convince them, sometimes mandated them, to get an experimental gene therapy as early as the first trimester," Johnson said. "This is truly sick."
Fauci's Hhs Iphone Turned Over To Senate Investigators As Contempt Vote Looms
Former NIH Director Anthony Fauci listens during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Fauci declined to answer questions, ****** erting his Fifth Amendment right.
#johnson #former #government
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., in an interview with Fox News Digital, alleged that the first tranche of texts from Fauci's old government iPhone was a clear sign that the man who became the face of the nation's COVID-19 response said one thing privately while taking a different message to the public.
"We tell pregnant women don't even have a glass of wine and yet we coerce them, convince them, sometimes mandated them, to get an experimental gene therapy as early as the first trimester," Johnson said. "This is truly sick."
Fauci's Hhs Iphone Turned Over To Senate Investigators As Contempt Vote Looms
Former NIH Director Anthony Fauci listens during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on July 29, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Fauci declined to answer questions, ****** erting his Fifth Amendment right.
#johnson #former #government
9 days ago
Kurt Russell went on a trip down memory lane at the beginning of the week, delighting fans with a decade-old photo from the archives.
The Hollywood star rarely posts on social media, but via his GoGi Wines account, he shared a picture of himself with super short hair — taken while he was filming Deepwater Horizon — to look back at the brand's very first vintage wine.
In the picture, Kurt stood next to a collection of wine bottles looking deep in thought, while sporting a short hairdo spiked up with gel, and a moustache.
Kurt Russell with super short hair back in 2016 (Instagram)
The hairstyle was for the role of Jimmy Harrell in Mark Wahlberg's 2016 biographical disaster film. The look contrasted sharply with Kurt's usual rugged long hair, which he has sported for years.
#short
The Hollywood star rarely posts on social media, but via his GoGi Wines account, he shared a picture of himself with super short hair — taken while he was filming Deepwater Horizon — to look back at the brand's very first vintage wine.
In the picture, Kurt stood next to a collection of wine bottles looking deep in thought, while sporting a short hairdo spiked up with gel, and a moustache.
Kurt Russell with super short hair back in 2016 (Instagram)
The hairstyle was for the role of Jimmy Harrell in Mark Wahlberg's 2016 biographical disaster film. The look contrasted sharply with Kurt's usual rugged long hair, which he has sported for years.
#short
9 days ago
Have you ever wondered what Newark's top quarterback would look like throwing to William Penn's best wide receiver? What about Laurel's best linemen blocking for Brandywine's best running back?
Here's your chance to put together your dream Delaware high school football team.
Our new game is designed in the mold of the popular 82-0 and 17-0 fantasy games. Spin to receive a school and pick a player from that school for one of 14 roster spots.
Once your team is filled you will receive a score from 0 wins (good luck next season) to 13 wins (congrats on the all-time great season). You can then share your squad on social media or refresh to draft again.
A few notes to keep in mind:
#best
Here's your chance to put together your dream Delaware high school football team.
Our new game is designed in the mold of the popular 82-0 and 17-0 fantasy games. Spin to receive a school and pick a player from that school for one of 14 roster spots.
Once your team is filled you will receive a score from 0 wins (good luck next season) to 13 wins (congrats on the all-time great season). You can then share your squad on social media or refresh to draft again.
A few notes to keep in mind:
#best
10 days ago
Brad Pitt is drinking again in moderation after spending seven years completely sober.
The Oscar-winning actor and producer, 62, spoke about his relationship with alcohol in a new interview published Monday.
"No, I got—I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon," Pitt told Esquire. "In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities."
He added that he can "have a few" glasses of wine, saying, "But I can't have a lot. I have to be professional about it."
Pitt first cut out drinking in 2016 following his highly publicized split from Angelina Jolie, with whom he shares children Maddox, 24, Zahara, 21, Pax, 22, Shiloh, 20, Knox, 18, and Vivienne, 18.
#Monday
The Oscar-winning actor and producer, 62, spoke about his relationship with alcohol in a new interview published Monday.
"No, I got—I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon," Pitt told Esquire. "In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities."
He added that he can "have a few" glasses of wine, saying, "But I can't have a lot. I have to be professional about it."
Pitt first cut out drinking in 2016 following his highly publicized split from Angelina Jolie, with whom he shares children Maddox, 24, Zahara, 21, Pax, 22, Shiloh, 20, Knox, 18, and Vivienne, 18.
#Monday
10 days ago
Brad Pitt is opening up about his ever-changing relationship with alcohol.
"I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon," the movie star, 62, told Esquire in an interview published Monday, August 10. "In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities."
The interviewer stated, "You can have a glass of wine," to which Pitt explained he still needs to be careful: "Yeah. Well . . . I can have a few. But I can't have a lot. I have to be professional about it."
The two-time Oscar winner first talked about his sobriety in a May 2017 interview with GQ magazine, about eight months after then-wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from him in September 2016.
MEGA
#esquire #august #yeah
"I was sober for seven years. And then I got back off the wagon," the movie star, 62, told Esquire in an interview published Monday, August 10. "In a more restrained manner. I got overconfident a couple times, went, Yep, nope, not good for me. Not in big quantities."
The interviewer stated, "You can have a glass of wine," to which Pitt explained he still needs to be careful: "Yeah. Well . . . I can have a few. But I can't have a lot. I have to be professional about it."
The two-time Oscar winner first talked about his sobriety in a May 2017 interview with GQ magazine, about eight months after then-wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from him in September 2016.
MEGA
#esquire #august #yeah
10 days ago
Tom Sandoval's ex, Victoria Lee Robinson, has sparked fresh online chatter after stepping out with a famous face. A recent group outing was enough to get people wondering whether she had already moved on. The timing only added to the speculation, given how publicly her split from the former Vanderpump Rules star has unfolded. But the story behind the photo is apparently far less romantic than some fans ******* umed.
Victoria and Criss Angel were photographed together at a California winery earlier this week, according to TMZ. The image quickly sparked dating speculation online, but sources connected to the pair said there is "nothing romantic" between them.
The sources said Victoria and Criss share the same friend group and have never spent time together one-on-one. They have reportedly only been around each other in group settings.Victoria is also not looking to date right now, according to the outlet. Sources said she is taking time to heal following the end of her relationship with Tom.
That breakup has remained in the spotlight for months. Tom and Victoria first sparked split rumors in May after they unfollowed each other on Instagram. Their relationship later deteriorated publicly amid competing allegations and court filings.
A judge kept Tom's temporary restraining order in place in July while the case continued. Victoria also sought protection from Tom, but her request for a temporary order was denied pending further hearings.
#split
Victoria and Criss Angel were photographed together at a California winery earlier this week, according to TMZ. The image quickly sparked dating speculation online, but sources connected to the pair said there is "nothing romantic" between them.
The sources said Victoria and Criss share the same friend group and have never spent time together one-on-one. They have reportedly only been around each other in group settings.Victoria is also not looking to date right now, according to the outlet. Sources said she is taking time to heal following the end of her relationship with Tom.
That breakup has remained in the spotlight for months. Tom and Victoria first sparked split rumors in May after they unfollowed each other on Instagram. Their relationship later deteriorated publicly amid competing allegations and court filings.
A judge kept Tom's temporary restraining order in place in July while the case continued. Victoria also sought protection from Tom, but her request for a temporary order was denied pending further hearings.
#split
11 days ago
King Charles and Queen Camilla have regularly appeared to be the perfect couple, and that even extends to the fact that the pair have sweet pet names for one another.
However, while many of us might be content with calling our significant other names like 'darling', 'sweetie' or a shortened version of their own name, the monarch and his love have more unique monikers.
Since the early days of their courtship, Charles has called Camilla 'Gladys', while Camilla has called her husband 'Fred'. The names are believed to have derived from The Goon Show, a radio show broadcast on the BBC that ran between 1951 and 1960.
Fred is a character who in the show manages to disappear right from underneath his mother's nose, while Gladys was known for her constantly changing voice and for responding to many questions by saying: "Yes, darling!"
Princess Diana previously said that Charles had previously purchased Camilla a bracelet with the initials of the characters entwined within it. Speaking to biographer Andrew Morton, she claimed: "I walked into this man's office one day and I said, 'Ooh, what's in that parcel?' And he said 'Oh, you shouldn't look at that.
#camilla #charles #show
However, while many of us might be content with calling our significant other names like 'darling', 'sweetie' or a shortened version of their own name, the monarch and his love have more unique monikers.
Since the early days of their courtship, Charles has called Camilla 'Gladys', while Camilla has called her husband 'Fred'. The names are believed to have derived from The Goon Show, a radio show broadcast on the BBC that ran between 1951 and 1960.
Fred is a character who in the show manages to disappear right from underneath his mother's nose, while Gladys was known for her constantly changing voice and for responding to many questions by saying: "Yes, darling!"
Princess Diana previously said that Charles had previously purchased Camilla a bracelet with the initials of the characters entwined within it. Speaking to biographer Andrew Morton, she claimed: "I walked into this man's office one day and I said, 'Ooh, what's in that parcel?' And he said 'Oh, you shouldn't look at that.
#camilla #charles #show
14 days ago
Bloomin' Brands raised its full-year earnings guidance Wednesday after higher menu prices pushed second-quarter profit above ***** yst expectations. The owner of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar reported net income of $31.3 million, or 36 cents a share, for the quarter ended June 28, up from $25.4 million, or 30 cents a share, a year earlier.
Adjusted earnings per share came in at 39 cents. ***** ysts had expected 29 cents, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Total revenue rose 1.3% to $1.02 billion. ***** ysts had projected $1.00 billion.
U.S. comparable restaurant sales grew 2.3% in the quarter. Bonefish Grill posted the strongest gain among the company's chains, with an 8.1% increase. Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Fleming's each rose more than 1%. The company said revenue growth was driven by higher comparable restaurant sales, partially offset by net restaurant closures.
Higher menu prices lifted the per-guest tab, which the company said was the key driver of improved margins during the period. Spending on the Outback turnaround plan also declined during the period, contributing to lower general and administrative costs and a wider operating margin.
#cents #Share #restaurant
Adjusted earnings per share came in at 39 cents. ***** ysts had expected 29 cents, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Total revenue rose 1.3% to $1.02 billion. ***** ysts had projected $1.00 billion.
U.S. comparable restaurant sales grew 2.3% in the quarter. Bonefish Grill posted the strongest gain among the company's chains, with an 8.1% increase. Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Fleming's each rose more than 1%. The company said revenue growth was driven by higher comparable restaurant sales, partially offset by net restaurant closures.
Higher menu prices lifted the per-guest tab, which the company said was the key driver of improved margins during the period. Spending on the Outback turnaround plan also declined during the period, contributing to lower general and administrative costs and a wider operating margin.
#cents #Share #restaurant
14 days ago
Bloomin' Brands (NASDAQ:BLMN) shares surged around 20% in pre-market trading after the restaurant operator reported second-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and raised its earnings guidance for the full year.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.39 per share, outperforming the ***** yst consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.10. Revenue increased 1.3% year over year to $1.02 billion, exceeding market expectations of $1.0 billion.
Bloomin' Brands recorded U.S. comparable restaurant sales growth of 2.3% during the quarter.
Bonefish Grill led the group's performance with comparable sales growth of 8.1%, followed by Carrabba's Italian Grill at 1.7%, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 1.6% and Outback Steakhouse at 1.4%.
Following the stronger-than-expected quarter, Bloomin' Brands increased its adjusted earnings guidance for fiscal 2026.
#bloomin #year #grill #market
The company posted adjusted earnings of $0.39 per share, outperforming the ***** yst consensus estimate of $0.29 by $0.10. Revenue increased 1.3% year over year to $1.02 billion, exceeding market expectations of $1.0 billion.
Bloomin' Brands recorded U.S. comparable restaurant sales growth of 2.3% during the quarter.
Bonefish Grill led the group's performance with comparable sales growth of 8.1%, followed by Carrabba's Italian Grill at 1.7%, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 1.6% and Outback Steakhouse at 1.4%.
Following the stronger-than-expected quarter, Bloomin' Brands increased its adjusted earnings guidance for fiscal 2026.
#bloomin #year #grill #market
14 days ago
Our ****** ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Cannabis is having a moment. Americans now reach for weed daily more often than they reach for a drink, and THC seltzers sit on shelves at Total Wine and Target like they belong there. RYTHM, the Nasdaq-listed holding company behind a stack of those brands, just had a very nice quarter on the bet that the shelf ****** e is permanent. Congress has other ideas.
RYTHM surged 23% Tuesday after a strong second-quarter print and a possible federal reprieve on the hemp-derived THC ban set to take effect in November. The company posted $1.2 million in net income on $23 million in revenue, up 73% from the prior quarter. The stock is up about 56% over the last 6 months.
The consumer has spoken, and the consumer wants easy access to THC. Daily cannabis use now outpaces daily drinking, per new federal survey data. Many lawmakers, especially Republicans, think they know better.
Let's do some clarity: THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, which remains federally illegal in the U.S., though the DEA just wrapped hearings weighing whether to move recreational cannabis from the most restrictive Schedule I to the far less restrictive Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized THC derived from "hemp," a category Congress invented in statute with no grounding in chemistry. That let products like THC seltzers and gummies flourish in bodegas and grocery stores near you. It's effectively the same product as state-legal dispensary weed with a different retail channel.
#quarter #seltzers
Cannabis is having a moment. Americans now reach for weed daily more often than they reach for a drink, and THC seltzers sit on shelves at Total Wine and Target like they belong there. RYTHM, the Nasdaq-listed holding company behind a stack of those brands, just had a very nice quarter on the bet that the shelf ****** e is permanent. Congress has other ideas.
RYTHM surged 23% Tuesday after a strong second-quarter print and a possible federal reprieve on the hemp-derived THC ban set to take effect in November. The company posted $1.2 million in net income on $23 million in revenue, up 73% from the prior quarter. The stock is up about 56% over the last 6 months.
The consumer has spoken, and the consumer wants easy access to THC. Daily cannabis use now outpaces daily drinking, per new federal survey data. Many lawmakers, especially Republicans, think they know better.
Let's do some clarity: THC is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, which remains federally illegal in the U.S., though the DEA just wrapped hearings weighing whether to move recreational cannabis from the most restrictive Schedule I to the far less restrictive Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized THC derived from "hemp," a category Congress invented in statute with no grounding in chemistry. That let products like THC seltzers and gummies flourish in bodegas and grocery stores near you. It's effectively the same product as state-legal dispensary weed with a different retail channel.
#quarter #seltzers
15 days ago
Here is everything Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'o To'o said after Day 7 of training camp, including what it is going to take for Houston to win the Super Bowl, how he takes care of his body and his thoughts on the Texans adding Pro Bowl defensive end Jadeveon Clowney.
Question: On what he did during the offseason to prepare for Training Camp
Henry To'oTo'o: "It was a lot. It was a whole lot. I feel like I spent a lot of time with Azeez [Al-Shaair]. I do every offseason. I was here most of the time, spending time with this training staff, with [Head Strength and Conditioning ******* istant Coach] Mike Eubanks, spending time with them and then just working on footwork stuff here with Azeez. Azeez and I spent a lot of time together this offseason. Then obviously going back home, working with my coach, Coach [Mark] Wine. It was like my term, 'It takes a village to raise a child.' It was a whole village that I put into this offseason, knowing what kind of year it is for me personally, but for the team collectively. I want to be the best player that I can be for this team. I try to use all the resources that I have available to be able to make that happen to be the best I can be."
Q: On what this year means to him personally
To'oTo'o: "I want to win. I've answered this before. Obviously, it's my fourth year. We all are contract this, contract that. Yeah, that sounds good and all, but I just want to win. I want to make this team the first team in this organization to make it to the Super Bowl and to win the Super Bowl. I want to be a winner. No matter what it looks like, I want to win the play, win the down and then obviously win the game, every game that I go out. But I think my main goal, it means to me, is just to win. I want to win. I don't like losing. I just want to win."
#bowl #offseason
Question: On what he did during the offseason to prepare for Training Camp
Henry To'oTo'o: "It was a lot. It was a whole lot. I feel like I spent a lot of time with Azeez [Al-Shaair]. I do every offseason. I was here most of the time, spending time with this training staff, with [Head Strength and Conditioning ******* istant Coach] Mike Eubanks, spending time with them and then just working on footwork stuff here with Azeez. Azeez and I spent a lot of time together this offseason. Then obviously going back home, working with my coach, Coach [Mark] Wine. It was like my term, 'It takes a village to raise a child.' It was a whole village that I put into this offseason, knowing what kind of year it is for me personally, but for the team collectively. I want to be the best player that I can be for this team. I try to use all the resources that I have available to be able to make that happen to be the best I can be."
Q: On what this year means to him personally
To'oTo'o: "I want to win. I've answered this before. Obviously, it's my fourth year. We all are contract this, contract that. Yeah, that sounds good and all, but I just want to win. I want to make this team the first team in this organization to make it to the Super Bowl and to win the Super Bowl. I want to be a winner. No matter what it looks like, I want to win the play, win the down and then obviously win the game, every game that I go out. But I think my main goal, it means to me, is just to win. I want to win. I don't like losing. I just want to win."
#bowl #offseason
