Mainaklot

Rechercher dans ce blog

Saturday, December 31, 2022

Ukraine will ‘not forgive’ Russia for missile attacks: Zelenskyy - Al Jazeera English

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country will not forgive Russia and its aggression after Moscow fired 20 cruise missiles targeting Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv, on New Year’s Eve.

Russia on Saturday fired a barrage of missiles across Ukraine killing at least one person in the capital city in the second wave of attacks on the country in three days. On Friday, Russia carried out one of the largest air strikes since its invasion of Ukraine in February.

“Several waves of missile attacks on New Year’s Eve. Missiles against people … No one in the world will forgive you for this. Ukraine will not forgive,” Zelenskyy said on social media.

The explosions were reported throughout the country on New Year’s Eve on Saturday in attacks President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said showed Moscow was in league with the devil.

Zelenskyy, speaking in a video address, noted that Russia had also launched attacks at Easter and Christmas.

“They call themselves Christians … but they are for the devil. They are for him and with him,” he said.

The Ukrainian president in comments addressed to Russian speakers said President Vladimir Putin was destroying Russia’s future.

“No one will forgive you for terror. No one in the world will forgive you for this. Ukraine will not forgive,” he said, reiterating calls for allies to supply more anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least one person had been killed and 20 wounded after a series of explosions in the capital.

The mayor said one of those injured was a Japanese journalist who had been taken to hospital.

A hotel just south of Kyiv’s city centre was hit, and a residential building in another district was damaged, according to the city administration.

Russia has claimed it was targeting infrastructure but Ukrainian officials say the latest assault targeted civilians.

Al Jazeera’s Charles Stratford, reporting from Kyiv, described a scene where experts gathered evidence of shrapnel, a pool of blood could be seen, and a two-metre crater was left by a direct hit on a neighbourhood in the capital.

“It’s an indication that this campaign by Vladimir Putin, by the Russians, targeting energy infrastructure goes on. [But] there is no indication of the infrastructure of any importance in this neighbourhood. A very grim scene here on New Year’s Eve.”

After the attack, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for Russia to be deprived of its permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

“This time, Russia’s mass missile attack is deliberately targeting residential areas, not even our energy infrastructure,” Kuleba wrote on Twitter.

“War criminal Putin ‘celebrates’ New Year by killing people,” he said.

This time, Russia’s mass missile attack is deliberately targeting residential areas, not even our energy infrastructure. War criminal Putin “celebrates” New Year by killing people. Russia must be kicked out of its UN Security Council seat which it has always occupied illegally.

— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) December 31, 2022

Nationwide attacks

Other cities across Ukraine also came under fire. In the southern region of Mykolaiv, local governor Vitaliy Kim said on television that six people had been wounded.

In a separate post on Telegram, Kim said Russia had targeted civilians with the attacks, something Moscow has previously denied.

“According to today’s tendencies, the occupiers are striking, not just critical … in many cities [they are targeting] simply residential areas, hotels, garages, roads.”

In the western city of Khmelnytskyi, two people were wounded in a drone attack, Ukrainian presidential aide Kyrylo Tymoshenko said.

The official also reported an attack in the southern industrial powerhouse city of Zaporizhzhia, which Tymoshenko said had damaged residential buildings.

Ukraine’s defence ministry responded with a defiant message posted on Telegram.

“With each new missile attack on civilian infrastructure, more and more Ukrainians are convinced of the need to fight until the complete collapse of Putin’s regime,” he wrote.

Russia fighting to protect ‘motherland’

Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin said Russia would never give in to the West’s attempts to use Ukraine as a tool to destroy his country.

In a New Year’s video message broadcast on state TV, Putin said Russia was fighting in Ukraine to protect its “motherland” and to secure “true independence” for its people.

Earlier, Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said his country’s victory in Ukraine was “inevitable” in a New Year’s message to servicemen, as Moscow’s military campaign grinds through its 11th month.

“In the coming year, I want to wish everyone good health, fortitude, reliable and devoted comrades … Our victory, like the New Year, is inevitable,” Shoigu said in the video address released by the defence ministry.

Shoigu said in the outgoing year “we all faced serious trials” and that the New Year comes during a “difficult military-political situation”. Russian troops have suffered a string of setbacks on the ground during the past months, with the Kremlin in September announcing the mobilisation of 300,000 reservists to join the fighting.

Adblock test (Why?)


Ukraine will ‘not forgive’ Russia for missile attacks: Zelenskyy - Al Jazeera English
Read More
at December 31, 2022 No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: More

NFL Week 17 odds, how to watch, live streaming: Expert selections, best bets, teasers, survivor picks and more - CBS Sports

kirk-cousins-5-1400-us.jpg
USATSI

Happy last week of NFL regular-season betting! Well, it's not technically the last week of the regular season, but it is the last NFL Sunday where we won't have to guess whether teams will be resting their starters or not. Week 17 offers us some juicy matchups, as the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers battle for the NFC South, Aaron Rodgers gets his chance at revenge against the Minnesota Vikings and much more.

As we do every week, we've collected all of the best picks and gambling content from CBSSports.com and SportsLine and put them in one place, so you can get picks against the spread from our CBS Sports experts as well as additional feature content for each game, including plays from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff, survivor picks and more. Ready? Let's jump in.

All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.

Which picks can you make with confidence in Week 17? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine, as its incredible model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception.

Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Falcons -3, O/U 40

Featured Game | Atlanta Falcons vs. Arizona Cardinals
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

This is a weird one, as it won't be Colt McCoy or Trace McSorley under center for the Cardinals on Sunday. Instead, it will be David Blough. Before you make any picks or predictions, you'll want to see what the SportsLine Projection Model is saying.

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 158-113 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. Now, it has simulated Falcons vs. Cardinals 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Over, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in more than 50% of simulations. To see the pick, head on over to SportsLine. 

*Experts locked in picks before it was announced David Blough was starting at QB for the Cardinals*

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free) 
Open: Buccaneers -7, O/U 41.5

Featured Game | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

R.J. White has been SportsLine's No. 1 NFL against-the-spread expert over the last five years, going 445-378-24 against the spread to put him up more than 25 units on those picks at SportsLine. He has also delivered a 56.8% hit rate on his SuperContest picks over the last seven seasons. That run includes two finishes in the money, including finishing 18th out of 2,748 entries back in 2017.

This week, he's backing a team that has not lived up to expectations against one that's been hot: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3 vs. the Carolina Panthers. It's not the only spread he's high on this week, however. To check out R.J.'s Week 17 SuperContest picks, head on over to SportsLine. 

Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free) 
Open: Lions -6.5, O/U 48.5

Featured Game | Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Bears
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

Before you make any Week 17 NFL picks or NFL parlays, you need to see what SportsLine senior analyst Larry Hartstein has to say. A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, Hartstein combines a vast network of Vegas sources with an analytical approach he honed while working for Pro Football Focus. He entered the 2022 NFL season 427-344 all-time on NFL side picks (plus $3,764 for $100 players), including 394-330 against the spread. Hartstein went 68-50 ATS and 8-3 on money-line plays last season for a profit of $1,552.

Hartstein also is 28-19-1 on his best bets this season, including 22-13-1 the past 12 weeks. Now, Hartstein has locked in three confident Week 17 NFL best bets. If you successfully parlay his picks, you're looking at a payout of almost 6-1.

We can tell you Hartstein loves the Lions to cover against the Bears, but to check out the other ATS picks he's throwing into this Week 17 parlay, head on over to SportsLine. 

Cleveland Browns at Washington Commanders

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free) 
Open: Commanders -2, O/U 42.5

Featured Game | Washington Commanders vs. Cleveland Browns
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"It's been brutal sledding for the Browns offense since Deshaun Watson took over. Cleveland has yet to score multiple offensive touchdowns in a game he's started. It also had to play in horrendous conditions last week, faced an elite Ravens defense the week before that, and struggled against an elite Bengals team looking for revenge the week before that. The Commanders defense did not look great against Brock Purdy last week, and the Commanders don't have much of a home-field advantage, so this could finally be the breakout game for Watson."

That's from SportsLine NFL expert R.J. White, who suggests teasing the Browns up to +8 this week. To check out his other Week 17 teaser legs, head on over to SportsLine. 

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here) 
Open: Chiefs -10, O/U 44

Featured Game | Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"The Broncos are playing consecutive road games, and they are playing for nothing. Kansas City still has a chance at the top seed in the conference. The Broncos are also a mess right now after firing coach Nathaniel Hackett. I don't think they get the fired-coach boost here. The Chiefs will blow them out as Russell Wilson continues to struggle."

That's CBS Sports Senior NFL Writer Pete Prisco, who likes the Chiefs to cover the big number on Sunday. To read Prisco's breakdown of every game in Week 17, click here.

Indianapolis Colts at New York Giants

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here) 
Open: Giants -3, O/U 41.5

Featured Game | New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"The Colts' season is done, and they have moved onto their third starting quarterback of the season. Nick Foles historically owns the Giants (3-0), but he looked terrible against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, throwing for 143 yards and three interceptions. With Indy starting Foles at quarterback and not having Jonathan Taylor, I'm comfortable taking the Giants to cover the number.

"Daniel Jones looked pretty good against the Vikings last week. He completed over 71 percent of his passes for 334 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and is shifting the narrative on himself as a player. I'm also super intrigued by Isaiah Hodgins, a Giants wideout who could step up down this final stretch. He's caught three touchdowns over the last four games, and caught 8-of-11 targets for 89 yards and one touchdown last week against Minnesota. 

"Basically, the Giants just need to show up at home, and they clinch a playoff spot. The Colts defense isn't bad, but the Giants should win this game by more than six points."

CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani likes the Giants to take care of business this week at home, and cover the spread. To read his Week 17 column, click here.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Jaguars -5, O/U 44

Featured Game | Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

Before making any NFL picks, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say. The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 158-113 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season. 

Now, it has simulated Texans vs. Jaguars 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning Under, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in just over 50% of simulations. To check out the pick, head on over to SportsLine.

Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Dolphins -2.5, O/U 43.5

Featured Game | New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"I can't say this for sure, but I have to think that no one is more excited to see the month of December come to an end than the Dolphins and Patriots. These two teams are probably thrilled that this game is being played in January because they both had an ugly December. On the Patriots' end, their December ended with them losing two straight games in the most improbable fashion possible: In Week 15, they lost to Las Vegas because a Patriots player decided to lateral the ball to a Raiders player on the final play of the game. In Week 16, the Patriots were five yards away from beating the Bengals, but then Rhamondre Stevenson fumbled the ball away. 

"If the Patriots win either one of those games, they would be on the cusp of a playoff berth right now, but instead, their postseason hopes are done if they lose this week to Miami. The good news for the Patriots is that if there's one team you want to be facing right now, it's definitely the Dolphins, who are playing their worst football of the year. 

"If Tua can't play this week -- and I don't think he will -- that means that Teddy Bridgewater will get the start. Bridgewater has never faced a Bill Belichick defense before and for the most part, things don't usually go so well for quarterbacks who are facing Belichick for the first time.

"The Dolphins haven't won a road game since Week 9 and I don't think that streak is going to end this week."

CBS Sports' John Breech is on the Patriots to win this week. To read his Week 17 column and check out his best bets, click here. 

New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles 

Time: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Eagles -5.5, O/U 43.5

Featured Game | Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"The Saints have the worst scoring offense in the NFL since Week 9 (14.9 points per game). They've toughed out two wins in a row against lesser opponents, but now they get one of the best teams in the NFL on the road. The Eagles can clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a win here, and ultimately, that's what I think happens.

"It's not guaranteed Jalen Hurts will play this week, but to be honest with you, I'm not sure it matters. Gardner Minshew threw for 355 yards and two touchdowns against the Cowboys last week, and helped put up 34 points. He did also have two interceptions, but they weren't egregious throws. This team has enough talent to put up points with either Hurts or Minshew under center." 

CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani likes the Eagles to rebound at home on Sunday. To read his Week 17 column, click here.

New York Jets at Seattle Seahawks

Time: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free) 
Open: Seahawks -1.5, O/U 44

Featured Game | Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"Mike White is back as the Jets starter after missing the previous two weeks due to injury and his return couldn't come at a more critical time. New York is still in playoff contention, but a loss in Seattle would send them packing. With White under center, the offense has run infinitely smoother than it did with either Zach Wilson or Joe Flacco. White's offense averaged 21.7 points per game under his starts and posted 420.3 yards of offense per game, which was third-most in the NFL over that stretch. Meanwhile, the Jets defense is allowing just 18.8 points per game this year and is facing a Seahawks offense that crashed back down to earth over the last six weeks. Since Week 10, the Seahawks' points-per-game average ranks 19th in the NFL and they have failed to cover in each of those contests. In a must-win game and their best quarterback back under center, I'll lay less than a field goal with New York."

Tyler Sullivan is looking for the Jets to take flight with a playoff spot on the line. To read his Week 17 column, click here.

San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders

Time: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX), stream on fuboTV (try for free)
Open: Raiders -4.5, O/U 43

Featured Game | Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

If you're somehow still alive for Week 17 NFL survivor picks, you don't want to bow out now at the league's penultimate week. But with the best options already off the board, it would certainly be advantageous to have knockout pool help before making Week 17 NFL survivor pool picks. So, before you make your Week 17 NFL knockout picks, you need to see which team the SportsLine Projection Model is backing.

The model, which simulates every NFL game 10,000 times, is up well over $7,000 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception. The model enters Week 17 of the 2022 NFL season on an incredible 158-113 run on top-rated NFL picks that dates back to the 2017 season.

The model likes the 49ers to win their ninth-straight this week. If you've already used this team, don't worry. The model has other teams it's high on as well. To check them out, head on over to SportsLine. 

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers

Time: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Chargers -8.5, O/U 40.5

Featured Game | Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"The Rams are coming off an impressive victory against the Broncos, but this is a big step up in terms of competition. The Chargers have clinched a playoff spot, so their motivation is seeding for now. Even so, they need to show more on offense to prepare for the postseason. I think they do it here."

That's CBS Sports Senior NFL Writer Pete Prisco, who likes the Chargers to cover as favorites this week. To read Prisco's breakdown of every game in Week 17, click here.

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers

Time: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here) 
Open: Packers -2.5, O/U 44.5

Featured Game | Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

"I'm gonna take the Packers. I think the Packers are getting it going a little bit and the Vikings defense is still terrible. I mean, Daniel Jones did whatever he wanted to last week with little or no help on the outside, and so I think this is an opportunity for the Packers, at home, to score some points against the Vikings. I think the Vikings will score too, so I probably lean to the Over ... But I think Green Bay will cover this number and continue to push for a playoff (spot)."

That's Pete Prisco's take from the Pick Six Podcast, where he, R.J. White and Will Brinson broke down all the games from a gambling perspective and gave out best bets Thursday -- as they do every week. Give it a listen below and subscribe for great NFL content in your feed daily.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Time: Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC), stream on fuboTV (try for free) 
Open: Ravens -6.5, O/U 42

Featured Game | Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

Before you make any Steelers vs. Ravens picks or Week 17 NFL predictions, you need to see the NFL best bets and analysis from SportsLine expert Mike Tierney. A veteran sportswriter whose work appears periodically in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, Mike Tierney has covered the NFL for decades and reported from seven Super Bowls. He entered the 2022 NFL season 232-204-10 against-the-spread since the start of the 2018 season. In addition, he is an amazing 37-14-2 on his last 53 picks in games involving the Ravens, returning $2,150.

We can tell you he's leaning Over the total, but to check out his ATS pick for this primetime showdown, head on over to SportsLine.

Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals 

Time: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN), stream on fuboTV (try for free) 
Open: Bills -1.5, O/U 49

Featured Game | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills
Powered by Caesars Sportsbook

Analysis to come. 

Adblock test (Why?)


NFL Week 17 odds, how to watch, live streaming: Expert selections, best bets, teasers, survivor picks and more - CBS Sports
Read More
at December 31, 2022 No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: More

Highly immune evasive omicron XBB.1.5 variant is quickly becoming dominant in U.S. as it doubles weekly - CNBC

Gilnature | Istock | Getty Images

The Covid omicron XBB.1.5 variant is rapidly becoming dominant in the U.S. because it is highly immune evasive and appears more effective at binding to cells than related subvariants, scientists say.

XBB.1.5 now represents about 41% of new cases nationwide in the U.S., nearly doubling in prevalence over the past week, according to the data published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The subvariant more than doubled as a share of cases every week through Dec. 24. In the past week, it nearly doubled from 21.7% prevalence.

Scientists and public health officials have been closely monitoring the XBB subvariant family for months because the strains have many mutations that could render the Covid-19 vaccines, including the omicron boosters, less effective and cause even more breakthrough infections.

XBB was first identified in India in August. It quickly become dominant there, as well as in Singapore. It has since evolved into a family of subvariants including XBB.1 and XBB.1.5.

Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University, said XBB.1.5 is different from its family members because it has an additional mutation that makes it bind better to cells.

"The virus needs to bind tightly to cells to be more efficient at getting in and that could help the virus be a little bit more efficient at infecting people," Pekosz said.

Yunlong Richard Cao, a scientist and assistant professor at Peking University, published data on Twitter Tuesday that indicated XBB.1.5 not only evades protective antibodies as effectively as the XBB.1 variant, which was highly immune evasive, but also is better at binding to cells through a key receptor.

Scientists at Columbia University, in a study published earlier this month in the journal Cell, warned that the rise of subvariants such as XBB could "further compromise the efficacy of current COVID-19 vaccines and result in a surge of breakthrough infections as well as re-infections."

The XBB subvariants are also resistant to Evusheld, an antibody cocktail that many people with weak immune systems rely on for protection against Covid infection because they don't mount a strong response to the vaccines.

The scientists described the resistance of the XBB subvariants to antibodies from vaccination and infection as "alarming." The XBB subvariants were even more effective at dodging protection from the omicron boosters than the BQ subvariants, which are also highly immune evasive, the scientists found.

CNBC Health & Science

Read CNBC's latest global health coverage:

  • U.S. will require airline passengers traveling from China to test negative for Covid
  • U.S. records 100 million Covid cases but more than 200 million Americans have probably had it
  • Supreme Court extends Trump-era pandemic immigration rule to allow quicker deportations
  • Mask up again, says infectious disease expert: The tripledemic is hitting 'too fast and too furious'
  • Millions at risk of losing Medicaid in the spring under provision tucked inside $1.7 trillion federal spending bill
  • Walgreens and CVS are limiting the sale of kids' medicine
  • Omicron boosters are 84% effective at keeping seniors from being hospitalized with Covid, CDC says
  • Most nursing home residents haven't had omicron booster ahead of expected winter Covid wave
  • Growing obesity crisis in U.S. prompts CDC to expand body mass index charts for severely overweight kids
  • Biden administration makes at-home Covid tests available for free again this winter
  • Omicron BQ, XBB subvariants are a serious threat to boosters and knock out antibody treatments, study finds

Dr. David Ho, an author on the Columbia study, agreed with the other scientists that XBB.1.5 probably has a growth advantage because it binds better to cells than its XBB relatives. Ho also said XBB.1.5 is about as immune evasive as XBB and XBB.1, which were two of the subvariants most resistant to protective antibodies from infection and vaccination so far.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is leaving his role as White House chief medical advisor, has previously said that the XBB subvariants reduce the protection the boosters provide against infection "multifold."

"You could expect some protection, but not the optimal protection," Fauci told reporters during a White House briefing in November.

Fauci said he was encouraged by the case of Singapore, which had a major surge of infections from XBB but did not see hospitalizations rise at the same rate. Pekosz said XBB.1.5, in combination with holiday travel, could cause cases to rise in the U.S. But he said the boosters appear to be preventing severe disease.

"It does look like the vaccine, the bivalent booster is providing continued protection against hospitalization with these variants," Pekosz said. "It really emphasizes the need to get a booster particularly into vulnerable populations to provide continued protection from severe disease with these new variants."

Health officials in the U.S. have repeatedly called on the elderly in particular to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines and get treated with the antiviral Paxlovid if they have a breakthrough infection.

Adblock test (Why?)


Highly immune evasive omicron XBB.1.5 variant is quickly becoming dominant in U.S. as it doubles weekly - CNBC
Read More
at December 31, 2022 No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: More

Friday, December 30, 2022

'I had to do it to save everyone': Man breaks into school and shelters more than 20 people from blizzard - CNN

CNN  — 

As a deadly and historic blizzard barreled through Erie County, New York, last weekend, some residents found themselves in a dire scenario – stranded in howling snow with nowhere to go, their cars dwindling in gas supply with police unable to come to the rescue.

Among those trapped last Friday was Jay Withey, a mechanic in the town of Cheektowaga who had ventured out to help a trapped friend, but instead got caught in the snow himself. Over the course of the night, he would be turned away by several people he begged for help, eventually committing a final act of desperation to save himself and more than 20 others from the brutal storm.

His night began at 6 p.m. when he got a call from a friend who had become stuck in the quickly mounting snow.

“He said I’m the only person he knew that would come over so I figured I would go get him,” Withey said.

Buffalo family who became stranded in blizzard conditions spend holidays at firefighters' firehouse
Buffalo family who became stranded in blizzard conditions spend holidays at firefighters' firehouse
Buffalo Airport/Twitter

A family of six got stranded in a whiteout. Then came the real Christmas miracle

Withey drove toward his friend, weaving between abandoned vehicles that littered the road. Suddenly, he saw a young man named Mike walking in sneakers and wrapped in a light jacket. He told Mike to hop in the truck to escape the cold.

As he drove past snow drifts several feet tall, Withey said, his truck became stuck twice. The first time, he was able to shovel his way out, but the second time felt hopeless.

“I’m trying to dig myself out, but the snow is coming down just as fast as I’m shoveling,” he said. With his clothes soaking wet and only a quarter of a tank of fuel left, Withey started to grow concerned.

‘I’m fearing for my life’

Leaving Mike in the truck, he began knocking on the doors of houses lining the street to see if anyone would give them shelter.

Withey said he went to 10 households, offering each $500 to spend the night on their floor. All of them turned him away. “I plead with them, ‘Please, please can I sleep on the floor, I’m in fear for my life,’ and they say, ‘No I’m sorry’,” he said.

Feeling defeated, Withey tried to walk back to his truck, but became lost in the blustery wind and thick snow.

“My vision is getting foggy, my body is cramping up, and I’m fearing for my life,” he said.

Finally, he saw a light glint in the distance, the same blinking light he remembered parking his truck next to.

After marching back to the truck, Withey called the police but was told that due to the dangerous storm conditions, they couldn’t come to rescue him, he said. He also learned that the friend who had called him for help had been rescued by authorities.

With the gas running precariously low, Withey was concerned, but tired, so he tried to take a nap.

At around 11 p.m., he heard a knock at the car window and opened the door to find Mary, an elderly woman who said she had been stuck in her car since 4 p.m. and needed help. He told her to get in the truck, too.

‘I didn’t leave until I made sure everyone was okay’

By the next morning, Withey’s truck had run out of gas, leaving the trio to huddle in Mary’s van, which was also running low on fuel.

Eventually, Mary needed to use the bathroom. It was then that Withey, sensing she felt embarrassed, looked at his phone’s GPS and noticed that a school – EDGE Academy – was nearby, he said.

“I say, ‘I’m going to that school, and I’m going to break into that school, because I know they have heat and a bathroom,’” he said.

Using an extra set of brake pads, Withey smashed through a window of the school so he could open the front door and let Mike and Mary in, with the security alarm blaring.

Jay Withey was stranded in Cheektowaga, a town in Erie County, New York, in the middle of a historic and dangerous blizzard, and -- after looking for shelter in numerous homes and being turned away -- he broke into a nearby school and managed to rescue more than 20 people.
Jay Withey was stranded in Cheektowaga, a town in Erie County, New York, in the middle of a historic and dangerous blizzard, and -- after looking for shelter in numerous homes and being turned away -- he broke into a nearby school and managed to rescue more than 20 people.
Cheektowaga Police Department

“I walk outside in the immediate area and there are a lot of older people that are stranded in their cars,” Withey said. “One person had a dog, and I get them all into the school. At this point, I have about 10 people in the school.” He estimated their ages ranged between 20s and 70s.

With the group settled in the school, Withey scavenged for cereal and apples in the cafeteria, managed to turn off the alarm, and found mats in the gym for everyone to sleep on.

“Everyone is just so happy to be in the school and to be warm and have food,” he said.

On Christmas morning, Withey and the others were able to use snow blowers from the janitor’s closet to free their cars from the mounds of snow.

‘I had to do it to save everyone’

Withey, who describes himself as a religious man, said he views the whole ordeal as a blessing in disguise. If just one person had taken him up on his plea for shelter that night, he would not have saved all those people, he said.

One man who turned him away saw Withey snow blowing the cars and approached him in tears to apologize, saying he couldn’t sleep that night knowing he had denied Withey shelter.

Withey stayed at the school until 8 p.m. on Christmas. “I didn’t leave until I made sure everyone was okay,” he said, adding that they started a group chat to stay in touch.

Before he left, he made sure to leave a note apologizing for the break-in, which police found when they were eventually able to respond to the alarm Withey set off when he entered the school.

“To whomever it may concern, I’m terribly sorry about breaking the school window and for breaking in the kitchen,” it read. “Got stuck at 8 pm Friday and slept in my truck with two strangers, just trying not to die,” it continued. “There were 7 elderly people also stuck and out of fuel. I had to do it to save everyone and get them shelter and food and a bathroom.” He signed the letter, “Merry Christmas Jay.”

Cheektowaga Police were able to find Withey with the public’s help after sharing his note and surveillance camera images.

Police Chief Brian Gould told CNN that Withey was in a section of town that they were having a hard time getting to. The chief called Withey’s actions heroic and an example of the sense of community among people in the area.

“We were absolutely shocked to see that he had over 20 people in the school (and) two dogs,” he said.

“Not only a heroic action, but just an overall good person.” “He definitely saved some lives that day,” Gould said.

CNN’s Elizabeth Wolfe, Taylor Romine, Andy Rose and Paradise Afshar contributed to this report.

Adblock test (Why?)


'I had to do it to save everyone': Man breaks into school and shelters more than 20 people from blizzard - CNN
Read More
at December 30, 2022 No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: More

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dies at 82 - CNN

Sao Paulo, Brazil CNN  — 

Pelé, the Brazilian soccer legend who won three World Cups and became the sport’s first global icon, has died at the age of 82.

“Everything that we are, is thanks to you,” his daughter Kely Nascimento wrote in a post on Instagram, under an image of family members holding Pele’s hands. “We love you infinitely. Rest in peace.”

Pelé was admitted to a hospital in São Paulo in late November for a respiratory infection and for complications related to colon cancer. Last week, the hospital said his health had worsened as his cancer progressed. He died on Thursday from multiple organ failure due to the progression of colon cancer, according to a statement from Albert Einstein Hospital.

For more than 60 years, the name Pelé has been synonymous with soccer. He played in four World Cups and is the only player in history to win three, but his legacy stretched far beyond his trophy haul and remarkable goal-scoring record.

“I was born to play football, just like Beethoven was born to write music and Michelangelo was born to paint,” Pelé famously said.

Tributes have been pouring in for the soccer legend. Pelé’s first club, Santos FC, responded to the news on Twitter with the words “eternal” shared next to an image of a crown.

Brazilian footballer Neymar said Pelé “changed everything.” In a post on Instagram, he wrote: “He turned football into art, into entertainment. He gave a voice to the poor, to black people and especially: He gave visibility to Brazil. Football and Brazil have raised their status thanks to the King!” he added.

Pelé is carried off the field by fans after Brazil defeated Italy in the final of the 1970 World Cup.
Pelé is carried off the field by fans after Brazil defeated Italy in the final of the 1970 World Cup.
Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940. His parents named him after inventor Thomas Edison. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/may/13/sport.comment9" target="_blank" target="_blank">He got the nickname Pelé</a> when he was a young boy and had trouble pronouncing the name of his favorite player, a goalkeeper named Bilé who played with his father at a local club.
Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento on October 23, 1940. His parents named him after inventor Thomas Edison. He got the nickname Pelé when he was a young boy and had trouble pronouncing the name of his favorite player, a goalkeeper named Bilé who played with his father at a local club.
AFP/Getty Images
Pelé was just 16 years old when he made his debut for Brazil's national team. It was less than a year after he started playing professionally with Brazilian club Santos in 1956.
Pelé was just 16 years old when he made his debut for Brazil's national team. It was less than a year after he started playing professionally with Brazilian club Santos in 1956.
Pictorial Parade/Archive Photos/Getty Images
Pelé admires the Jules Rimet Trophy, the prize for winning the World Cup, circa 1958.
Pelé admires the Jules Rimet Trophy, the prize for winning the World Cup, circa 1958.
Popperfoto/Getty Images
Pelé scores Brazil's third goal during the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden. Brazil won 5-2 to claim its first-ever World Cup. "When we won the World Cup, everybody knew about Brazil," he told CNN's Don Riddell many years later. "I think this was the most important thing I gave to my country because we were well known after that World Cup." 
Pelé scores Brazil's third goal during the 1958 World Cup final against Sweden. Brazil won 5-2 to claim its first-ever World Cup. "When we won the World Cup, everybody knew about Brazil," he told CNN's Don Riddell many years later. "I think this was the most important thing I gave to my country because we were well known after that World Cup." 
AP
Pelé cries on Brazilian teammate Gilmar after winning the World Cup in 1958. In addition to scoring twice in the final, Pelé scored a hat trick in the semifinal win against France. He also scored the team's lone goal in the quarterfinal win over Wales.
Pelé cries on Brazilian teammate Gilmar after winning the World Cup in 1958. In addition to scoring twice in the final, Pelé scored a hat trick in the semifinal win against France. He also scored the team's lone goal in the quarterfinal win over Wales.
Keystone-France/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images
Pelé wears a sash after Santos became São Paulo state champions in 1961. Pelé played for the club from 1956-1974, scoring 618 goals and winning six Brazilian league titles. In 1962 and 1963, Santos won the Copa Libertadores, which is South America's premier club competition.
Pelé wears a sash after Santos became São Paulo state champions in 1961. Pelé played for the club from 1956-1974, scoring 618 goals and winning six Brazilian league titles. In 1962 and 1963, Santos won the Copa Libertadores, which is South America's premier club competition.
Popperfoto/Getty Images
Pelé sits behind the wheel of his car in 1961. He grew up poor in Bauru, Brazil, and honed his craft playing barefoot with improvised balls made of coconuts or balls of socks.
Pelé sits behind the wheel of his car in 1961. He grew up poor in Bauru, Brazil, and honed his craft playing barefoot with improvised balls made of coconuts or balls of socks.
Popperfoto/Getty Images
Pelé returned to the World Cup with Brazil in 1962 and starred in the team's opening win over Mexico. But he was injured in the second match against Czechoslovakia and would miss the rest of the tournament. Brazil still defended its crown.
Pelé returned to the World Cup with Brazil in 1962 and starred in the team's opening win over Mexico. But he was injured in the second match against Czechoslovakia and would miss the rest of the tournament. Brazil still defended its crown.
AP
Pelé sits on a ball during a break in training in 1963. The Brazilian national team was in London to play a match against England.
Pelé sits on a ball during a break in training in 1963. The Brazilian national team was in London to play a match against England.
John Pratt/Hulton Archive/Keystone/Getty Images
Pelé is seen with his parents, Dondinho and Celeste, in 1965. Dondinho was a soccer player himself and taught his son how to play.
Pelé is seen with his parents, Dondinho and Celeste, in 1965. Dondinho was a soccer player himself and taught his son how to play.
AP Photo
Pelé performs an overhead kick during a match in 1965. Dutch soccer star Johan Cruyff once said Pelé "was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic."
Pelé performs an overhead kick during a match in 1965. Dutch soccer star Johan Cruyff once said Pelé "was the only footballer who surpassed the boundaries of logic."
AP
A soapy Pelé shakes hands with US Sen. Robert F. Kennedy after a match in Rio de Janeiro in 1965.
A soapy Pelé shakes hands with US Sen. Robert F. Kennedy after a match in Rio de Janeiro in 1965.
Allsport/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Pelé and his first wife, Rosemeri, meet Pope Paul VI while visiting the Vatican in 1966. The newlywed couple had been honeymooning in Germany, Austria and Italy.
Pelé and his first wife, Rosemeri, meet Pope Paul VI while visiting the Vatican in 1966. The newlywed couple had been honeymooning in Germany, Austria and Italy.
AP
Pelé signs autographs for children in 1966. He played in the 1966 World Cup with Brazil but the team didn't advance out of the group stage that year.
Pelé signs autographs for children in 1966. He played in the 1966 World Cup with Brazil but the team didn't advance out of the group stage that year.
Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Pelé and his wife, Rosemeri, take their young daughter, Kely, out for a walk in 1967. It was their first child together. They would have three children in all before divorcing in 1978.
Pelé and his wife, Rosemeri, take their young daughter, Kely, out for a walk in 1967. It was their first child together. They would have three children in all before divorcing in 1978.
AP
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, award a trophy to Pelé after watching a match in Rio de Janeiro in 1968.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, award a trophy to Pelé after watching a match in Rio de Janeiro in 1968.
AP Photo
Pelé celebrates with fans after scoring his 1,000th career goal in 1969.
Pelé celebrates with fans after scoring his 1,000th career goal in 1969.
AP
Pelé relaxes by a hotel swimming pool while in Mexico for the 1970 World Cup.
Pelé relaxes by a hotel swimming pool while in Mexico for the 1970 World Cup.
Popperfoto/Getty Images
Pelé celebrates after scoring the first goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy. The Brazilians won 4-1. "Before the match, I told myself that Pelé was just flesh and bones like the rest of us," Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich said after the match. "Later, I realized I'd been wrong."
Pelé celebrates after scoring the first goal for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy. The Brazilians won 4-1. "Before the match, I told myself that Pelé was just flesh and bones like the rest of us," Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich said after the match. "Later, I realized I'd been wrong."
Colorsport/Shutterstock
Pelé celebrates with Jairzinho after winning the World Cup final in 1970. The Brazilians won all six matches at the tournament, and that team is considered by many to be one of the best of all time.
Pelé celebrates with Jairzinho after winning the World Cup final in 1970. The Brazilians won all six matches at the tournament, and that team is considered by many to be one of the best of all time.
Colorsport/Shutterstock
Pelé raises the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning the 1970 World Cup. Brazil was able to permanently keep that trophy for winning its third title, and a new World Cup trophy was introduced in 1974.
Pelé raises the Jules Rimet Trophy after winning the 1970 World Cup. Brazil was able to permanently keep that trophy for winning its third title, and a new World Cup trophy was introduced in 1974.
Horstmüller/ullstein bild/Getty Images
Pelé signs a soccer ball for US President Richard Nixon while visiting the White House with his wife, Rosemeri, in 1973. Pelé met several US presidents during his life. His celebrity status brought this famous quip from Ronald Reagan in 1986: "My name is Ronald Reagan, I'm the President of the United States of America. But you don't need to introduce yourself, because everyone knows who Pelé is."
Pelé signs a soccer ball for US President Richard Nixon while visiting the White House with his wife, Rosemeri, in 1973. Pelé met several US presidents during his life. His celebrity status brought this famous quip from Ronald Reagan in 1986: "My name is Ronald Reagan, I'm the President of the United States of America. But you don't need to introduce yourself, because everyone knows who Pelé is."
Everett/Shutterstock
Late-night television host Johnny Carson gets some pointers from Pelé in 1973.
Late-night television host Johnny Carson gets some pointers from Pelé in 1973.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Pelé waves to the crowd before making his debut with the New York Cosmos in 1975. He signed a $1.4 million a year contract with the Cosmos and made a big splash in the emerging league.
Pelé waves to the crowd before making his debut with the New York Cosmos in 1975. He signed a $1.4 million a year contract with the Cosmos and made a big splash in the emerging league.
Peter Robinson/EMPICS/Getty Images
American football star Joe Namath, left, exchanges balls with Pelé during a promotional event in New York in 1975.
American football star Joe Namath, left, exchanges balls with Pelé during a promotional event in New York in 1975.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
Cheerleaders wait to welcome Pelé onto the field during a Cosmos match in 1977.
Cheerleaders wait to welcome Pelé onto the field during a Cosmos match in 1977.
Peter Robinson/EMPICS/Getty Images
Pelé holds Brazilian and American flags after his final match in 1977. It was an exhibition at Giants Stadium between the Cosmos and his longtime Brazilian club, Santos. He played the first half for the Cosmos and the second half for Santos.
Pelé holds Brazilian and American flags after his final match in 1977. It was an exhibition at Giants Stadium between the Cosmos and his longtime Brazilian club, Santos. He played the first half for the Cosmos and the second half for Santos.
Peter Robinson/EMPICS/Getty Images
Pelé attends a party with actors Michael Caine, left, and Sylvester Stallone. The three starred together in the 1981 film "Escape to Victory."
Pelé attends a party with actors Michael Caine, left, and Sylvester Stallone. The three starred together in the 1981 film "Escape to Victory."
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Pelé poses for a photo in Rio de Janeiro in 1991.
Pelé poses for a photo in Rio de Janeiro in 1991.
Paulo Fridman/Corbis/Getty Images
Pelé embraces two Brazilian stars -- Ronaldo, left, and Roberto Carlos -- after they finished first and second, respectively, for the 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year Award.
Pelé embraces two Brazilian stars -- Ronaldo, left, and Roberto Carlos -- after they finished first and second, respectively, for the 1997 FIFA World Player of the Year Award.
Matthew Ashton/EMPICS/Getty Images
Pelé poses for a portrait in 2006. In his later years, Pelé was an outspoken political voice who championed the poor in Brazil. He served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for many years, promoting peace and support for vulnerable children.
Pelé poses for a portrait in 2006. In his later years, Pelé was an outspoken political voice who championed the poor in Brazil. He served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for many years, promoting peace and support for vulnerable children.
Tom Jenkins/Getty Images
Pelé and English soccer star David Beckham attend a gala benefit celebrating soccer in the United States in 2008.
Pelé and English soccer star David Beckham attend a gala benefit celebrating soccer in the United States in 2008.
Shawn Ehlers/WireImage/Getty Images
Pelé and Argentine soccer great <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/football/gallery/diego-maradona/index.html" target="_blank">Diego Maradona</a> pose for a photo together in 2016. The two shared FIFA's Player of the Century award in 2000. After Maradona's death in 2020, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CIBZkvFlwhU/" target="_blank" target="_blank">Pelé paid tribute to his "dear friend" on Instagram:</a> "One day, I hope, we will play soccer together in the sky."
Pelé and Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona pose for a photo together in 2016. The two shared FIFA's Player of the Century award in 2000. After Maradona's death in 2020, Pelé paid tribute to his "dear friend" on Instagram: "One day, I hope, we will play soccer together in the sky."
Patrick Kovarik/AFP/Getty Images
Pelé attends a charity match in Manchester, England, in 2016.
Pelé attends a charity match in Manchester, England, in 2016.
Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage/Getty Images
Pelé's life in pictures

Portuguese star forward Cristiano Ronaldo sent his condolences to Brazil in a post on Instagram, saying “a mere “goodbye” to the eternal King Pelé will never be enough to express the pain that currently engulfs the entire football world.”

Kylian Mbappé of Paris Saint-Germain said of Pelé’s death: “The king of football has left us but his legacy will never be forgotten.”

Former English soccer player Geoff Hurst wrote on Twitter of his memories of Pelé, calling the late star “without doubt the best footballer I ever played against (with Bobby Moore being the best footballer I ever played alongside). For me Pele remains the greatest of all time and I was proud to be on the the pitch with him. RIP Pele and thank you.”

Brazil’s incoming President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took to Twitter to pay his respects to Pelé, saying “few Brazilians took the name of our country as far as he did.”

“As different from Portuguese as the language was, foreigners from the four corners of the planet soon found a way to pronounce the magic word: ‘Pelé,’” Lula added.

A public wake will be held for Pelé on Monday at the Urbano Caldeira stadium, popularly known as Vila Belmiro and home to Santos football club, in Brazil’s São Paulo state, according to a Thursday statement from Santos FC.

At dawn Monday, Pele’s body will be moved from the Albert Einstein Hospital to the stadium. The soccer legend’s coffin will be placed in the center of the pitch.

The wake at Vila Belmiro will continue until Tuesday 10 a.m. local time (8 a.m. ET), after which a funeral procession will carry Pelé’s coffin through the streets of the city of Santos, including the street where Pelé’s 100-year-old mother, Celeste Arantes, lives.

The cortege will continue to Pelé’s final resting place, the Memorial Necrópole Ecumênica cemetery in Santos, where a private funeral, reserved for family members, will be held.

Dazzling ability

Pelé was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in Três Corações – an inland city roughly 155 miles northwest of Rio de Janeiro – in 1940, before his family moved to the city of Bauru in São Paulo.

The genesis of the nickname Pelé are unclear, even to the footballer. He once wrote in the British newspaper The Guardian that it likely started with school classmates teasing him for mangling the nickname of another player, Bilé. Whatever the origin, the moniker stuck.

Exactly how many goals Pelé scored during his career is unclear, and his Guinness World Records tally has come under scrutiny with many scored in unofficial matches.
Exactly how many goals Pelé scored during his career is unclear, and his Guinness World Records tally has come under scrutiny with many scored in unofficial matches.
Domicio Pinheiro/Agência Estado/AP

As a child, his first taste of soccer involved playing barefoot with socks and rags rolled up into a ball – a humble beginning that would grow into a long and fruitful career.

But when he first took up the game, his ambitions were modest.

“My dad was a good football player, he scored a lot of goals,” Pelé told CNN in 2015. “His name was Dondinho; I wanted to be like him.

“He was famous in Brazil, in Minas Gerais. He was my role model. I always wanted to be like him, but what happened, to this day, only God can explain.”

As a teenager, Pelé left home and began training with Santos, scoring his first goal for the club side before his 16th birthday. He would go on to score 619 times over 638 appearances for the club, but it is his feats in the iconic yellow jersey of Brazil for which he is best remembered.

The world first got a glimpse of Pelé’s dazzling ability in 1958, when he made his World Cup debut aged 17. He scored Brazil’s only goal in the country’s quarterfinal victory against Wales, then netted a hat-trick in the semifinal against France and two in the final against host Sweden.

Brazil players hold a banner showing support for former Brazil player Pele after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea on December 5.
Brazil players hold a banner showing support for former Brazil player Pele after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Brazil and South Korea on December 5.
Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images

“When Pelé scored the fifth goal in that final, I have to be honest and say I felt like applauding,” said Sweden’s Sigvard Parling.

For Pelé, the standout memory from the tournament was putting his country on the sporting map.

“When we won the World Cup, everybody knew about Brazil,” he told CNN’s Don Riddell in 2016. “I think this was the most important thing I gave to my country because we were well known after that World Cup.”

Another World Cup victory came in 1962, although an injury sidelined Pelé for the tournament’s later stages. Further injuries hampered his next campaign in 1966 as Brazil exited the competition after the group stage, but redemption came in 1970.

“Pelé was saying that we were going to win, and if Pelé was saying that, then we were going to win the World Cup,” Brazil’s co-captain Carlos Alberto said about the tournament.

That team – featuring the likes of Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostão, Rivellino, and, of course, Pelé – is regarded as one of the greatest ever assembled.

soccer-gods-illustration
Courtesy of Nate Kitch

11 World Cup greats — as you've never seen them before

In the final – a 4-1 victory against Italy – Brazil scored arguably the most famous World Cup goal of all time, a sweeping, length-of-the-pitch move involving nine of the team’s 10 outfield players.

It ended with Pelé teeing up Alberto, who drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net. Brazil’s mantra of jogo bonito (the beautiful game) has never been better encapsulated.

Pelé, who had considered retiring before the 1970 World Cup, scored a goal of his own in the final and a total of four over the course of the tournament.

“Before the match, I told myself that Pelé was just flesh and bones like the rest of us,” Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich said after his side’s defeat in the final. “Later, I realized I’d been wrong.”

The tournament capped Pelé’s World Cup career but not his time in the spotlight. In 1975, he signed a $1.67-million-a-year contract in the United States with the New York Cosmos.

One of the greatest players

With his larger-than-life personality and extraordinary dribbling skills – a trademark of his game – Pele’s helped the Cosmos win the North American Soccer League championship in 1977 before officially retiring from football.

The league, which attracted further big names like Giorgio Chinaglia and Franz Beckenbauer, wouldn’t last, ultimately folding in 1984. But around the world, Pelé’s influence endured.

He remained in the public eye through endorsement deals and as an outspoken political voice who championed the poor in Brazil. He served as a Goodwill UNICEF ambassador for many years, promoting peace and support for vulnerable children.

Health problems persisted for much of Pelé’s later life. He got around with the support of a walker – an item he was filmed shoving around with disdain in a documentary released last year – and in September 2021, he underwent surgery to remove a tumor from his right colon.

Paris Saint-Germain and France national football team forward Kylian Mbappe (R) and Brazilian football legend Pele take part in a meeting at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris on April 2, 2019.
Paris Saint-Germain and France national football team forward Kylian Mbappe (R) and Brazilian football legend Pele take part in a meeting at the Hotel Lutetia in Paris on April 2, 2019.
Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Pelé’s cancer treatment continued over the past year. He was hospitalized in Sao Paulo in November as the 2022 World Cup was being played in Qatar, prompting an outpouring of support from the global soccer community and beyond.

Debate will inevitably rage about whether Pelé is the greatest player of all time – whether it is possible to compare Pelé’s achievements to those of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi, who have rewritten soccer’s record books over the past 15 years, or to Diego Maradona, the late Argentinian star who captivated the footballing world in the 1980s and 90s.

In 2000, FIFA jointly named Maradona and Pelé as Player of the Century, but to some, the outright winner of the award should have been obvious.

“This debate about the player of the century is absurd,” said Zico, who represented Brazil in the decade after Pelé’s retirement. “There’s only one possible answer: Pelé. He’s the greatest player of all time, and by some distance, I might add.”

Before Christmas, Pele's daughter posted a moving photo with father in hospital.
Before Christmas, Pele's daughter posted a moving photo with father in hospital.
Kely Nascimento/Instagram

Exactly how many goals Pelé scored during his career is unclear, and his Guinness World Records tally has come under scrutiny with many scored in unofficial matches.

In March 2021, he congratulated Portugal’s Ronaldo for passing his “record of goals in official matches” – 767.

There is little doubt, however, that Pelé was, and always will be, football’s first global superstar.

“If I pass away one day, I am happy because I tried to do my best,” he told The Talks online magazine. “My sport allowed me to do so much because it’s the biggest sport in the world.”

CNN’s Jonny Hallam, Jennifer Deaton and Maija Ehlinger contributed to this report.

Adblock test (Why?)


Brazilian soccer legend Pelé dies at 82 - CNN
Read More
at December 29, 2022 No comments:
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: More
Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Lupus and other autoimmune diseases strike far more women than men. Now there's a clue why - CTV News

WASHINGTON - Women are far more likely than men to get autoimmune diseases, when an out-of-whack immune system attacks their own bodies -...

  • Post-secondary schools navigate fall return as Alberta lifts more COVID-19 measures - Global News
    As university and college students soak up the final weeks of summer in Alberta, many are already stressed. Marla Roth, a student at the U...
  • Jury calls for more police psychologists, mental health training following Steven Rigby inquest - Global News
    Steven Rigby’s family said they hope his death can improve the way police and health-care system treat mental health and addictions . Rig...
  • Six more weeks of winter, Manitoba’s furry forecaster says - Globalnews.ca
    Manitoba is looking at six more weeks of winter, at least according to a stuffed groundhog at Oak Hammock Marsh. “Manitoba Merv” saw his s...
  • Beranda

Qui êtes-vous ?

Maina Kolot
View my complete profile

Report Abuse

Archives du blog

  • February 2024 (2)
  • January 2024 (62)
  • December 2023 (81)
  • November 2023 (71)
  • October 2023 (80)
  • September 2023 (92)
  • August 2023 (118)
  • July 2023 (105)
  • June 2023 (97)
  • May 2023 (84)
  • April 2023 (82)
  • March 2023 (90)
  • February 2023 (100)
  • January 2023 (79)
  • December 2022 (84)
  • November 2022 (62)
  • October 2022 (92)
  • September 2022 (75)
  • August 2022 (93)
  • July 2022 (73)
  • June 2022 (87)
  • May 2022 (82)
  • April 2022 (104)
  • March 2022 (85)
  • February 2022 (83)
  • January 2022 (102)
  • December 2021 (113)
  • November 2021 (261)
  • October 2021 (291)
  • September 2021 (277)
  • August 2021 (271)
  • July 2021 (303)
  • June 2021 (339)
  • May 2021 (53)

Libellés

  • More
Powered by Blogger.