usatoday--2020-09-27--LeBron James credits coach Frank Vogel for Lakers being 'great' this season

The moment could have called for Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel to bask in glory .
And why not ?
In his first season as the team ’ s head coach , Vogel guided the Lakers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 10 years after dispatching the Denver Nuggets in five games in the Western Conference Finals .
After championship aspirations faltered with the Indiana Pacers ( 2011-2016 ) and a rebuilding project never materialized with the Orlando Magic ( 2016-18 ) , Vogel has proven he is one of the league ’ s elite coaches .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LeBron James , Anthony Davis and their supporting cast strongly credited him for putting them in a position to succeed .
“ He ’ s been great .
He ’ s been unbelievable .
It ’ s been a crazy obstacle course for our franchise this whole year , ” James said .
“ He 's been able to manage it the whole time.
” James ’ words surely pleased Vogel .
Certainly his actions have .
And yet , Vogel handled this praise the same way he has coached : by deflecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means everything to me .
But honestly , I 'm here to just do the job , ” Vogel said about James ’ praise .
“ I have no ego in this .
I just want to play my part and create a plan , put guys in position to be tied together and tie the strings together .
He 's been invaluable in terms of earning that buy-in .
His support of me has meant everything for our group .
To me , that 's the greatest sign of a leader , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the greatest sign a coach reflects his record is the respect he garners from his players .
And in Vogel ’ s case , his job description went beyond drawing up the right play and managing the correct rotations .
The Lakers did not consider Vogel their first choice to replace Luke Walton .
They had interviewed Tyronn Lue and Monty Williams beforehand .
James did not consider Vogel his first choice , either .
James played for Lue in Cleveland and they won an NBA title together ( 2016 ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ add veteran coaches on his staff in Jason Kidd and Lionell Hollins without any insecurity that either person could undermine him .
While Vogel had the luxury of inheriting James and Anthony Davis , he also had the pressure to win them over .
Same deal with the Lakers ’ newly assembled roster that included nine new players to enter training camp .
All NBA head coaches handle these dynamics .
Nothing unique .
What is unique ?
The circumstances Vogel managed .
The Lakers had a disrupted training camp in China while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general manager Daryl Morey offending the country ’ s government for tweeting support for the Hong Kong protestors .
The Lakers were in the middle of their season when Kobe Bryant , his 13-year-old daughter ( Gianna ) and seven others died in a helicopter crash .
Less than two months later , the NBA halted the season because of the coronavirus outbreak .
Nearly 4 1/2 months later , the NBA resumed the season at a Disney campus that entailed lengthy time away from family and games being played without fans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ anchor , and our coaching staff has been right behind him , ” James said of Vogel .
“ I ca n't say anything more than that .
Just happy to be on the floor to kind of be his coach on the floor and just command to my teammates the same message that he 's given to me and be an extension of his mind .
It 's been great.
” How did Vogel handle those unique challenges ?
Simple .
He followed the message he preached to his players before training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players the biggest opponents will be themselves and so they simply have to live in the moment .
So he poured his enthusiasm into his work .
Though he gave detailed scouting reports , he remained flexible with changing schemes and lineups .
He has rewarded performing players with playing time , while encouraging struggling performers with tips on how to return to the lineup .
Though he offered empathy to coaches , players and staff members following Bryant ’ s passing , Vogel delicately stayed behind the scenes so that staff members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel more empowered to speak .
During the season hiatus , Vogel stayed busy with formalizing player workout plans and endless game prep while also encouraging his players to enjoy rare free time with their family .
“ He 's done a great job with all of us .
He shoots it straight to us , ” Davis said .
“ He wants to win .
We want to win .
So he comes to me and LeBron with a lot of questions and ideas .
We give him our opinion on certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He comes in and puts the game plan together .
He spends hours and hours of watching film and breaking down games and breaking schemes down to try to figure out what 's the best solution for us , what 's the best recipe for us to be successful , and he puts the right players on the floor at the right time.
” Not only did Vogel help the Lakers ( 52-19 ) finish with the Western Conference ’ s best record .
They finished with the league ’ s third best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures points allowed per 100 possessions .
Though they ranked 11th in total offense ( 113.4 ) , they ranked first in shooting percentage ( 48 % ) and 10th in assists ( 25.4 ) .
And in the playoffs ?
The Lakers dispatched all of their opponents in five games for various reasons .
Vogel adjusted lineups to counter Portland ’ s backcourt , Houston ’ s small-ball combinations and Denver ’ s frontcourt .
He maximized James ’ workload without burning him out .
He pushed Davis to increase his aggressiveness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rotations without losing players ’ respect .
“ He ’ s done a great job considering how tough it is .
Night in and night out , he has the hardest job in this organization , ” Lakers guard Danny Green said .
“ He has a lot on his plate .
But he ’ s figured it out and he ’ s given us a chance every night to be special .
We have some work to do .
But he and the coaching staff have done an unbelievable job of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and finding minutes for a team that has a lot of depth.
” Perhaps this should have surprised no one .
Vogel helped the Pacers finish in the top 10 in defense every season , including in 2011-12 ( ninth ) , 2012-13 ( second ) , 2013-14 ( second ) , 2014-15 ( fourth ) and 2015-16 ( seventh ) .
Those Pacers teams challenged James when he played with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals ( seven games in 2013 , six in 2014 ) .
“ He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to watch more film than anybody .
He ’ s going to do more scouting , ” Lakers guard Alex Caruso said .
“ He ’ s kind of a nerd for the game of basketball .
He looks up stats .
He looks up different ways that guys are effective .
He looks up different ways that teams play well .
He tries to do his best to work with the rest of coaches to come up with good game plans .
When you have the basketball minds in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you ’ re going to have success.
” After struggling to have success in Orlando , however , it became uncertain when Vogel would get another chance .
He impressed the Lakers enough during his job interview .
Nearly a year later , they realized Vogel made a good first impression by backing up his sales pitch with substance .
“ I was always hopeful that I would get another opportunity .
I remained confident in my belief in myself .
But you know this career achievement is so far away from where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Vogel said .
“ I 'm just trying to play my part .
Give our guys a plan , make sure that everybody is playing together .
This run is about LeBron James and Anthony Davis and all the guys that bought into starring in their roles .
And it ’ s about the Lakers family who is used to being in this position , used to being in the Finals and used to winning championships .
It 's been a long time for them and it 's been a difficult number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So it 's really just all about them.
” Vogel ’ s players respectfully disagree .
Thankfully for the Lakers , they at least are on the same page as their head coach on what it takes to win games .

LeBron James credits coach Frank Vogel for Lakers being 'great' this season
Show Caption Hide Caption LeBron James on Lakers reaching NBA Finals: 'The job is not done' SportsPulse: The Los Angeles Lakers are headed back to the NBA Finals after knocking off the Nuggets in Game 5, but LeBron James is not ready to celebrate anything yet. USA TODAY
The moment could have called for Los Angeles Lakers coach Frank Vogel to bask in glory. And why not?
In his first season as the team’s head coach, Vogel guided the Lakers to their first NBA Finals appearance in 10 years after dispatching the Denver Nuggets in five games in the Western Conference Finals.
After championship aspirations faltered with the Indiana Pacers (2011-2016) and a rebuilding project never materialized with the Orlando Magic (2016-18), Vogel has proven he is one of the league’s elite coaches. And he impressed the Lakers so much that LeBron James, Anthony Davis and their supporting cast strongly credited him for putting them in a position to succeed.
“He’s been great. He’s been unbelievable. It’s been a crazy obstacle course for our franchise this whole year,” James said. “He's been able to manage it the whole time.”
James’ words surely pleased Vogel. Certainly his actions have. And yet, Vogel handled this praise the same way he has coached: by deflecting attention and empowering others.
“It means everything to me. But honestly, I'm here to just do the job,” Vogel said about James’ praise. “I have no ego in this. I just want to play my part and create a plan, put guys in position to be tied together and tie the strings together. He's been invaluable in terms of earning that buy-in. His support of me has meant everything for our group. To me, that's the greatest sign of a leader, is one that supports the coach.”
But the greatest sign a coach reflects his record is the respect he garners from his players. And in Vogel’s case, his job description went beyond drawing up the right play and managing the correct rotations.
The Lakers did not consider Vogel their first choice to replace Luke Walton. They had interviewed Tyronn Lue and Monty Williams beforehand. James did not consider Vogel his first choice, either. James played for Lue in Cleveland and they won an NBA title together (2016).
Vogel accepted the Lakers’ wishes to add veteran coaches on his staff in Jason Kidd and Lionell Hollins without any insecurity that either person could undermine him. While Vogel had the luxury of inheriting James and Anthony Davis, he also had the pressure to win them over. Same deal with the Lakers’ newly assembled roster that included nine new players to enter training camp.
All NBA head coaches handle these dynamics. Nothing unique. What is unique? The circumstances Vogel managed.
The Lakers had a disrupted training camp in China while the NBA navigated the fallout with Rockets general manager Daryl Morey offending the country’s government for tweeting support for the Hong Kong protestors. The Lakers were in the middle of their season when Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter (Gianna) and seven others died in a helicopter crash. Less than two months later, the NBA halted the season because of the coronavirus outbreak. Nearly 4 1/2 months later, the NBA resumed the season at a Disney campus that entailed lengthy time away from family and games being played without fans.
“He's just always been the anchor, and our coaching staff has been right behind him,” James said of Vogel. “I can't say anything more than that. Just happy to be on the floor to kind of be his coach on the floor and just command to my teammates the same message that he's given to me and be an extension of his mind. It's been great.”
How did Vogel handle those unique challenges? Simple. He followed the message he preached to his players before training camp.
Then, Vogel told his players the biggest opponents will be themselves and so they simply have to live in the moment. So he poured his enthusiasm into his work.
Though he gave detailed scouting reports, he remained flexible with changing schemes and lineups. He has rewarded performing players with playing time, while encouraging struggling performers with tips on how to return to the lineup. Though he offered empathy to coaches, players and staff members following Bryant’s passing, Vogel delicately stayed behind the scenes so that staff members and players that knew Bryant more could feel more empowered to speak. During the season hiatus, Vogel stayed busy with formalizing player workout plans and endless game prep while also encouraging his players to enjoy rare free time with their family.
“He's done a great job with all of us. He shoots it straight to us,” Davis said. “He wants to win. We want to win. So he comes to me and LeBron with a lot of questions and ideas. We give him our opinion on certain things, but we trust him. He comes in and puts the game plan together. He spends hours and hours of watching film and breaking down games and breaking schemes down to try to figure out what's the best solution for us, what's the best recipe for us to be successful, and he puts the right players on the floor at the right time.”
Not only did Vogel help the Lakers (52-19) finish with the Western Conference’s best record. They finished with the league’s third best defensive rating (106.1), which measures points allowed per 100 possessions. Though they ranked 11th in total offense (113.4), they ranked first in shooting percentage (48%) and 10th in assists (25.4).
And in the playoffs? The Lakers dispatched all of their opponents in five games for various reasons. Vogel adjusted lineups to counter Portland’s backcourt, Houston’s small-ball combinations and Denver’s frontcourt. He maximized James’ workload without burning him out. He pushed Davis to increase his aggressiveness without offending him. He juggled various rotations without losing players’ respect.
“He’s done a great job considering how tough it is. Night in and night out, he has the hardest job in this organization,” Lakers guard Danny Green said. “He has a lot on his plate. But he’s figured it out and he’s given us a chance every night to be special. We have some work to do. But he and the coaching staff have done an unbelievable job of getting guys rhythm, keeping them in rhythm and finding minutes for a team that has a lot of depth.”
Perhaps this should have surprised no one. Vogel helped the Pacers finish in the top 10 in defense every season, including in 2011-12 (ninth), 2012-13 (second), 2013-14 (second), 2014-15 (fourth) and 2015-16 (seventh). Those Pacers teams challenged James when he played with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals (seven games in 2013, six in 2014).
“He’s going to prepare. He’s going to watch more film than anybody. He’s going to do more scouting,” Lakers guard Alex Caruso said. “He’s kind of a nerd for the game of basketball. He looks up stats. He looks up different ways that guys are effective. He looks up different ways that teams play well. He tries to do his best to work with the rest of coaches to come up with good game plans. When you have the basketball minds in our locker room and our coaching staff, you’re going to have success.”
After struggling to have success in Orlando, however, it became uncertain when Vogel would get another chance. He impressed the Lakers enough during his job interview. Nearly a year later, they realized Vogel made a good first impression by backing up his sales pitch with substance.
“I was always hopeful that I would get another opportunity. I remained confident in my belief in myself. But you know this career achievement is so far away from where I'm at mentally right now,” Vogel said. “I'm just trying to play my part. Give our guys a plan, make sure that everybody is playing together. This run is about LeBron James and Anthony Davis and all the guys that bought into starring in their roles. And it’s about the Lakers family who is used to being in this position, used to being in the Finals and used to winning championships. It's been a long time for them and it's been a difficult number of years out of the playoffs. So it's really just all about them.”
Vogel’s players respectfully disagree. Thankfully for the Lakers, they at least are on the same page as their head coach on what it takes to win games.
Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


usatoday--2020-09-25--Ruth Bader Ginsburg's longtime trainer honors her with push-ups at Capitol ceremony

Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's longtime trainer honors her with push-ups at Capitol ceremony Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was well known @ @ @ @ @ , working out even as she battled cancer .

Ruth Bader Ginsburg's longtime trainer pays tribute with push-ups
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was well known for her rigorous exercise routine, working out even as she battled cancer.
Associated Press, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-25--8-year-old choreographs his own ballet

8-year-old choreographs his own ballet

Maximus Turner didn ’ t let another military move cancel his plans to dance .
Instead he choreographed a ballet @ @ @ @ @ sister .

8-year-old choreographs his own ballet
Maximus Turner didn’t let another military move cancel his plans to dance. Instead he choreographed a ballet recital for himself and his sister.
Militarykind, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-24--5 easy tips for budgeting with unpredictable income

Freelancing can be unpredictable .
Make sure your budget is covered .

Finance tips: 5 ways to budget unpredictable income
Freelancing can be unpredictable. Make sure your budget is covered.
ProblemSolved, USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-27--Poll: Majority of Michigan, Wisconsin voters say don't fill RBG Supreme Court seat before election

A new NBC News/Marist poll shows the majority of likely voters in Michigan and Wisconsin say that the U.S. Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be filled by the winner of the 2020 presidential election .
Fifty-six percent of likely Wisconsin voters and 54 % of likely Michigan voters say that the winner of the November election should determine who picks the nominee .
Thirty-seven percent of likely Wisconsin voters and 35 % of likely Michigan voters think President Donald Trump should fill the seat immediately .
And 7 % of likely Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters think that Trump should fill the seat no matter the presidential election results .
This poll was conducted before Saturday , when Trump announced his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett , a federal circuit judge , as his Supreme Court pick .
Former Vice President Joe Biden is leading Trump in both the battleground states , with 52 % of likely Michigan voters and 54 % of likely Wisconsin voters naming Biden as their pick in the November election , while Trump has the support of 44 % of likely voters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points , while the poll of likely Wisconsin voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 points .
Biden is also leading Trump in nearly every issue , except on the economy and crime .
In Michigan , where Biden and Trump are tied at 45 % on who would be better at dealing with crime , Trump leads Biden by seven percentage points when it comes to the economy .
Forty-nine percent say that Trump would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while only 42 % said Biden would .
More : Almost 2 in 3 Americans say economy is worse than a year ago today , survey says In Wisconsin , Biden also leads in every issue except the economy .
On that topic , they are tied , with each named by 46 % of likely voters as the one better equipped to handle the economy .
Despite Trump ’ s core message of `` Law and Order , '' Biden holds a small lead over Trump in Wisconsin when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Forty-seven percent of likely voters trust Biden more on crime , while 44 % of likely voters say Trump would be better at handling it .
In both well-sought-after states , Biden was heavily seen as the better candidate to handle the coronavirus and race relations .
Fifty-four percent of likely Wisconsin voters say Biden would be better equipped to deal with the coronavirus , compared to 34 % who say Trump would be better at handling it .
With a slightly smaller lead , 53 % of likely Michigan voters said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that said that of Trump .
Amid the protests against police brutality , 57 % of likely Wisconsin voters and 55 % of likely Michigan voters say Biden would do a better job of handling race-relations in the country better , while 34 % in Wisconsin 31 % in Michigan say that of Trump .

Poll: Majority of Michigan, Wisconsin voters say don't fill RBG Supreme Court seat before election
Show Caption Hide Caption Americans reflect on Ginsburg at Supreme Court Americans voiced their views about the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman appointed to the high court, as her body lay in repose outside the Supreme Court. (Sept. 24) AP
A new NBC News/Marist poll shows the majority of likely voters in Michigan and Wisconsin say that the U.S. Supreme Court seat left vacant by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg should be filled by the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Fifty-six percent of likely Wisconsin voters and 54% of likely Michigan voters say that the winner of the November election should determine who picks the nominee.
Thirty-seven percent of likely Wisconsin voters and 35% of likely Michigan voters think President Donald Trump should fill the seat immediately. And 7% of likely Wisconsin voters and 5% of likely Michigan voters think that Trump should fill the seat no matter the presidential election results.
This poll was conducted before Saturday, when Trump announced his nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, a federal circuit judge, as his Supreme Court pick.
More: Six conservative justices? 10 ways the Supreme Court could change
Former Vice President Joe Biden is leading Trump in both the battleground states, with 52% of likely Michigan voters and 54% of likely Wisconsin voters naming Biden as their pick in the November election, while Trump has the support of 44% of likely voters in both states.
The poll of likely Michigan voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points, while the poll of likely Wisconsin voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 points.
Biden is also leading Trump in nearly every issue, except on the economy and crime.
In Michigan, where Biden and Trump are tied at 45% on who would be better at dealing with crime, Trump leads Biden by seven percentage points when it comes to the economy. Forty-nine percent say that Trump would be better at handling the economy, while only 42% said Biden would.
More: Almost 2 in 3 Americans say economy is worse than a year ago today, survey says
In Wisconsin, Biden also leads in every issue except the economy. On that topic, they are tied, with each named by 46% of likely voters as the one better equipped to handle the economy.
Despite Trump’s core message of "Law and Order," Biden holds a small lead over Trump in Wisconsin when it comes to who would be better at handling crime. Forty-seven percent of likely voters trust Biden more on crime, while 44% of likely voters say Trump would be better at handling it.
In both well-sought-after states, Biden was heavily seen as the better candidate to handle the coronavirus and race relations.
More: US coronavirus map: Tracking the outbreak
Fifty-four percent of likely Wisconsin voters say Biden would be better equipped to deal with the coronavirus, compared to 34% who say Trump would be better at handling it. With a slightly smaller lead, 53% of likely Michigan voters said that of Biden versus the 36% that said that of Trump.
Amid the protests against police brutality, 57% of likely Wisconsin voters and 55% of likely Michigan voters say Biden would do a better job of handling race-relations in the country better, while 34% in Wisconsin 31% in Michigan say that of Trump.


usatoday--2020-09-27--Biden calls out Trump's Supreme Court pick as a direct attack on the Affordable Care Act

Biden calls out Trump 's Supreme Court pick as a direct attack on the Affordable Care Act Biden calls President @ @ @ @ @ a threat to the ACA , says the Senate should wait until after the election @ @ @ @

Biden calls Barrett a threat to the Affordable Care Act
Biden calls President Trump's Supreme Court nominee a threat to the ACA, says the Senate should wait until after the election before holding hearings.
Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-27--Dwayne Johnson backs Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, his first presidential endorsement

Remember when The Rock was “ seriously considering ” running for president in 2020 ?
Dwyane Johnson announced Sunday in a new five-minute video shared on his YouTube channel that he ’ s endorsing the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , the first time he ’ s ever publicly endorsed a candidate for the highest office .
“ Look , I ’ ve got friends in all parties , but the one thing we can always agree on is the conversation and the dialogue , and where that conversation lands is always the most critical part , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which he has a virtual conversation with Biden and Harris .
`` I have been a lucky guy over the years , in my life and my career to have been part of and participated in some real defining moments , and I 've never publicly endorsed a presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate in my life , over my career .
… You guys are both obviously experienced to lead.
” ' A real kick in the gut ' : Dwayne Johnson , his wife and two young kids test positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Dwayne 'The Rock ' Johnson rips front gate off by himself to get to work on time The 48-year-old star of “ Jumanji ” and the “ Fast and Furious ” franchise , who has described himself as an independent , went on to praise Biden , 77 , for his “ great compassion and heart and drive , but also soul ” and called Harris , 55 , “ smart , tough.
” He asked Biden and Harris how they intend to earn the respect of the American people , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say we 're going to do .
By keeping our word .
By leveling with the American people .
By taking responsibility .
When we fail , acknowledge it , '' said Biden , promising an administration that `` is going to look like America . ''
`` Truth sometimes can be really difficult to hear , and for that reason , people sometimes do n't speak it , '' Harris added .
`` People are grieving the loss of life , the loss of jobs , the loss of certainty , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get through this , we 're going to have to be honest about what healing will require . ''
Johnson joins a list of Hollywood celebs who ’ ve officially backed Biden and Harris , including Cardi B , Barbra Streisand , John Legend , Julia Louis-Dreyfus , Kerry Washington and Billie Eilish .
The Rock initially expressed interest in the White House when his name was floated for 2020 “ and there was this kind of groundswell , ” the star told USA TODAY in December 2017 .
`` The consideration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amount of people who would like to see this happen , '' Johnson told USA TODAY , noting his interest is “ to serve the people , and create a better environment for them.
” '' Politics is not my business . ''
His reasoning for considering a run was simple : `` To serve the people , and create a better environment for them . ''
At the time , he declined to say whether he 'd go on the Republican or Democratic ticket .
`` You ’ re pushing it — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' he said .
One thing was for sure , he joked : `` Kevin Hart is going to be my court jester , '' he said , referencing his frequent co-star .
`` I ’ m bringing that back . ''

Dwayne Johnson backs Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, his first presidential endorsement
Show Caption Hide Caption 'The Rock' for president? Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson did not rule out the idea of a presidential run when asked about it. Listen to his comments to USA TODAY. USA TODAY
Remember when The Rock was “seriously considering” running for president in 2020?
Dwyane Johnson announced Sunday in a new five-minute video shared on his YouTube channel that he’s endorsing the Democratic ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the first time he’s ever publicly endorsed a candidate for the highest office.
“Look, I’ve got friends in all parties, but the one thing we can always agree on is the conversation and the dialogue, and where that conversation lands is always the most critical part,” Johnson says in the video, in which he has a virtual conversation with Biden and Harris.
"I have been a lucky guy over the years, in my life and my career to have been part of and participated in some real defining moments, and I've never publicly endorsed a presidential candidate or vice presidential candidate in my life, over my career. … You guys are both obviously experienced to lead.”
'A real kick in the gut': Dwayne Johnson, his wife and two young kids test positive for COVID-19
'Not my finest hour': Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson rips front gate off by himself to get to work on time
The 48-year-old star of “Jumanji” and the “Fast and Furious” franchise, who has described himself as an independent, went on to praise Biden, 77, for his “great compassion and heart and drive, but also soul” and called Harris, 55, “smart, tough.”
He asked Biden and Harris how they intend to earn the respect of the American people, if elected.
"By doing what we say we're going to do. By keeping our word. By leveling with the American people. By taking responsibility. When we fail, acknowledge it," said Biden, promising an administration that "is going to look like America."
"Truth sometimes can be really difficult to hear, and for that reason, people sometimes don't speak it," Harris added. "People are grieving the loss of life, the loss of jobs, the loss of certainty, the loss of normalcy. And to heal and get through this, we're going to have to be honest about what healing will require."
Johnson joins a list of Hollywood celebs who’ve officially backed Biden and Harris, including Cardi B, Barbra Streisand, John Legend, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kerry Washington and Billie Eilish.
The Rock initially expressed interest in the White House when his name was floated for 2020 “and there was this kind of groundswell,” the star told USA TODAY in December 2017.
"The consideration comes at the desire from a large amount of people who would like to see this happen," Johnson told USA TODAY, noting his interest is “to serve the people, and create a better environment for them.”
"Politics is not my business."
His reasoning for considering a run was simple: "To serve the people, and create a better environment for them." At the time, he declined to say whether he'd go on the Republican or Democratic ticket. "You’re pushing it — right now, I'm an independent," he said.
One thing was for sure, he joked: "Kevin Hart is going to be my court jester," he said, referencing his frequent co-star. "I’m bringing that back."
Contributing: Bryan Alexander


usatoday--2020-09-27--'I beat the socialist': Biden tacks to the center in fight with Trump over Rust Belt moderates

WASHINGTON – Joe Biden rankled some progressives this month when he boasted of his primary victory over Sen. Bernie Sanders while responding to President Donald Trump 's efforts to paint him as a left-wing radical .
`` I beat the socialist , '' Biden said without mentioning Sanders by name during a campaign stop in Manitowoc , Wisconsin .
`` Do I look like a socialist ?
Look at my career .
My whole career .
I am not a socialist . ''
Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile scolded the Democratic presidential nominee on Twitter for a comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's divisive narrative . ''
`` Play to your strengths , '' she advised Biden .
But Biden is betting that emphasizing centrist credentials will help him win over swing voters in Rust Belt states such as Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania , including some who backed Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016 .
Trump won all three states by whisker-thin margins : a combined 77,744 votes out of 13,940,912 cast , or about half a percentage point .
Without Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania , Trump would have lost in the Electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and suburban voters who backed Trump four years ago had cast ballots for the ticket that Biden shared in 2008 and 2012 with Barack Obama .
In 2008 , with the stock market collapsing at the height of the financial crisis , Obama won over suburban swing voters with a pledge to fix the economy and restore jobs .
But some of those voters gravitated toward Trump in 2016 based on his pledge to get tougher on trade and fight for their economic interests .
For Biden , distancing himself from socialism could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are wary of too much government interference in the economy .
At the same time , the former vice president is also channeling Sanders ' populist economic rhetoric to try to slice into some of Trump 's support with working-class voters .
His message : The wealthy real estate developer is no friend of blue-collar voters .
“ I ’ ve dealt with guys like Donald Trump my whole life – guys from the neighborhood where I come from who would look down on us because we didn ’ t have a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t go to college , ” Biden said in a factory during his trip to Manitowoc , Wisconsin .
“ Guys who think they ’ re better than you . ''
Biden touted his working-class upbringing in Scranton , Pennsylvania , casting the 2020 presidential race as a contest between `` Scranton and Wall Street . ''
He argued that Trump 's tax cuts benefited Wall Street and big corporations without lifting up the middle class .
Biden has also accused Trump of botching the response to the coronavirus pandemic , saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the economy .
`` Now some 30 million Americans are out of unemployment , '' Biden said , adding that Trump wants to give another `` gigantic multimillion-dollar tax cut '' to the very wealthy .
`` Whose hide does it come out of ?
It comes out of your hide .
`` The simple truth is that Donald Trump ran for office saying he would represent the forgotten man and woman in this country .
And then once he got in office , he forgot us .
Not only did he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he never really respected us very much . ''
Biden went on to talk of graduating from a state school – the University of Delaware in 1965 – not an Ivy League college like recent presidents , including Trump .
`` I say it 's about time that a state school president sat in the Oval Office , '' Biden said .
Biden has maintained a lead over Trump in the three key Rust Belt battleground states , Pennsylvania , Michigan and Wisconsin .
The FiveThirtyEight average of polls has Biden ahead by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points in Michigan and 6 points in Wisconsin .
Trump has tried to make a play in another Midwest state – Minnesota – but polling there shows Biden ahead by an even greater margin .
For Clinton in 2016 , the loss of white suburban voters was n't the only reason for her defeat in Rust Belt states .
A lack of enthusiasm among Black voters , who lean overwhelmingly Democratic , helped to account for her losses in Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania .
As Biden tries to put together a winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first debate between Biden and Trump in Cleveland Tuesday will give the Democratic candidate another opportunity to push back on the president 's efforts to cast him as a captive of the radical left .
First Trump-Biden debate : Supreme Court , coronavirus , race among the topics for the Cleveland debate One risk for Biden is that the effort to distance himself from the socialist label and his emphasis on centrist themes will dampen enthusiasm among progressives , especially younger voters who embraced Sanders during the primary .
But Jeff Weaver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his 2016 presidential run , said anger at Trump was helping to unify different segments of the Democratic Party .
`` Donald Trump is the P.T .
Barnum of modern American politics and it 's important to expose what is really at issue of this campaign , which is the future progress of working people in this country and marginalized communities , '' Weaver said .
Weaver said two issues will help drive progressive support for Biden in November : the hunger to beat `` the most destructive president in modern American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues such as raising the minimum wage , increasing family leave pay and dealing with climate change .
There 's `` 100 % '' more enthusiasm around Biden among the left than Clinton four years ago , said Weaver , who founded the pro-Biden Super PAC America 's Progressive Promise .
Sanders goes to bat for Biden If Sanders was annoyed by Biden referring to him as `` the socialist , '' he did n't show it during a speech Thursday at George Washington University not far from the White House .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting '' Biden , though he focused much of his speech criticizing Trump 's refusal to say , when asked by a reporter , whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose .
His remarks kicked off Sanders ' new role in the campaign – not touting progressive causes like universal health care or the Green New Deal on behalf of Biden , but framing the race as a `` struggle to preserve American democracy . ''
Four years ago , tens of thousands of Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pivoted from the Vermont senator during the presidential primary and cast a ballot in the general election for a real estate mogul who championed capitalist ideals .
They liked Trump ’ s call for a rebirth in American manufacturing , his willingness to confront unfair trade practices by other countries , his blunt takedown of Washington ’ s power structure – themes Sanders pounded as well .
More : Joe Biden endorsed , Trump excoriated by nearly 500 retired top military , national security officials And they didn ’ t particularly care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April , around the time Sanders ended his 2020 presidential bid , indicated Biden may lose fewer of the progressive icon 's supporters than Clinton did.The survey of 638 voters who backed Sanders in primaries or caucuses this year found that 4 % plan to vote for Trump – down from the 12 % who voted for Trump over Clinton , according to a 2017 Cooperative Congressional Election study .
The Suffolk poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points .
Charles Franklin , director of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Biden is doing a better job than Clinton did of keeping Democrats and left-leaning independents in the fold .
Franklin said Trump is `` the great unifier for Democrats this year .
A gift that keeps giving to the other party . ''
Riots .
Radicalism .
Corruption : Trump and Biden supporters turn to apocalyptic themes in campaign ad wars .
More : Trump declines to commit to peaceful transfer of power , McConnell promises 'orderly transition' The Marquette polls showed that a greater percentage of Sanders voters ( 79 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or left-leaning independents view Biden favorably in 2020 compared to Clinton ( 71 % ) in 2016 , Franklin said .
Todd Belt , professor and political management program director at George Washington University , said he does n't believe Biden risks alienating progressive voters by pushing back at the socialism tag .
He said analyses suggest the Sanders ' wing of the party is `` pretty solidly '' behind Biden '' They 've made peace with the fact that he is the nominee and they do n't intend to repeat a division @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Belt said .
Where do Americans stand on election issues ?
Let them tell you how they feel about this policy

Ledyard King and Joey Garrison, USA TODAY

'I beat the socialist': Biden tacks to the center in fight with Trump over Rust Belt moderates
Show Caption Hide Caption More Republicans publicly support Biden for president Prominent Republicans have publicly endorsed or shown support for Joe Biden instead of their party's incumbent, Donald Trump. USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – Joe Biden rankled some progressives this month when he boasted of his primary victory over Sen. Bernie Sanders while responding to President Donald Trump's efforts to paint him as a left-wing radical.
"I beat the socialist," Biden said without mentioning Sanders by name during a campaign stop in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. "Do I look like a socialist? Look at my career. My whole career. I am not a socialist."
Former Democratic National Committee chair Donna Brazile scolded the Democratic presidential nominee on Twitter for a comment she said was "playing into Trump's divisive narrative."
"Play to your strengths," she advised Biden.
But Biden is betting that emphasizing centrist credentials will help him win over swing voters in Rust Belt states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, including some who backed Trump over Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Trump won all three states by whisker-thin margins: a combined 77,744 votes out of 13,940,912 cast, or about half a percentage point. Without Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Trump would have lost in the Electoral College.
Amy Coney Barrett: 10 ways Trump's pick could change the Supreme Court
Some of the white working-class and suburban voters who backed Trump four years ago had cast ballots for the ticket that Biden shared in 2008 and 2012 with Barack Obama.
In 2008, with the stock market collapsing at the height of the financial crisis, Obama won over suburban swing voters with a pledge to fix the economy and restore jobs. But some of those voters gravitated toward Trump in 2016 based on his pledge to get tougher on trade and fight for their economic interests.
For Biden, distancing himself from socialism could help him win over suburban voters who are wary of too much government interference in the economy.
At the same time, the former vice president is also channeling Sanders' populist economic rhetoric to try to slice into some of Trump's support with working-class voters.
His message: The wealthy real estate developer is no friend of blue-collar voters.
Scranton vs. Wall Street
“I’ve dealt with guys like Donald Trump my whole life – guys from the neighborhood where I come from who would look down on us because we didn’t have a lot of money or your parents didn’t go to college,” Biden said in a factory during his trip to Manitowoc, Wisconsin. “Guys who think they’re better than you."
Biden touted his working-class upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania, casting the 2020 presidential race as a contest between "Scranton and Wall Street." He argued that Trump's tax cuts benefited Wall Street and big corporations without lifting up the middle class. Biden has also accused Trump of botching the response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that it cost lives while also exacerbating disruptions to the economy.
"Now some 30 million Americans are out of unemployment," Biden said, adding that Trump wants to give another "gigantic multimillion-dollar tax cut" to the very wealthy. "Whose hide does it come out of? It comes out of your hide.
"The simple truth is that Donald Trump ran for office saying he would represent the forgotten man and woman in this country. And then once he got in office, he forgot us. Not only did he forget them, the truth is that he never really respected us very much."
Biden went on to talk of graduating from a state school – the University of Delaware in 1965 – not an Ivy League college like recent presidents, including Trump.
"I say it's about time that a state school president sat in the Oval Office," Biden said.
Biden has maintained a lead over Trump in the three key Rust Belt battleground states, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. The FiveThirtyEight average of polls has Biden ahead by 5 percentage points in Pennsylvania, 7 points in Michigan and 6 points in Wisconsin. Trump has tried to make a play in another Midwest state – Minnesota – but polling there shows Biden ahead by an even greater margin.
For Clinton in 2016, the loss of white suburban voters wasn't the only reason for her defeat in Rust Belt states. A lack of enthusiasm among Black voters, who lean overwhelmingly Democratic, helped to account for her losses in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
As Biden tries to put together a winning coalition for those key states, the first debate between Biden and Trump in Cleveland Tuesday will give the Democratic candidate another opportunity to push back on the president's efforts to cast him as a captive of the radical left.
First Trump-Biden debate: Supreme Court, coronavirus, race among the topics for the Cleveland debate
One risk for Biden is that the effort to distance himself from the socialist label and his emphasis on centrist themes will dampen enthusiasm among progressives, especially younger voters who embraced Sanders during the primary.
But Jeff Weaver, who served as Sanders' campaign manager during his 2016 presidential run, said anger at Trump was helping to unify different segments of the Democratic Party.
"Donald Trump is the P.T. Barnum of modern American politics and it's important to expose what is really at issue of this campaign, which is the future progress of working people in this country and marginalized communities," Weaver said.
Weaver said two issues will help drive progressive support for Biden in November: the hunger to beat "the most destructive president in modern American history" and Biden's support for issues such as raising the minimum wage, increasing family leave pay and dealing with climate change.
There's "100%" more enthusiasm around Biden among the left than Clinton four years ago, said Weaver, who founded the pro-Biden Super PAC America's Progressive Promise.
Sanders goes to bat for Biden
If Sanders was annoyed by Biden referring to him as "the socialist," he didn't show it during a speech Thursday at George Washington University not far from the White House.
The Vermont senator said he is "strongly supporting" Biden, though he focused much of his speech criticizing Trump's refusal to say, when asked by a reporter, whether he would commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he were to lose.
His remarks kicked off Sanders' new role in the campaign – not touting progressive causes like universal health care or the Green New Deal on behalf of Biden, but framing the race as a "struggle to preserve American democracy."
Four years ago, tens of thousands of Sanders voters – about 1 in 8 – pivoted from the Vermont senator during the presidential primary and cast a ballot in the general election for a real estate mogul who championed capitalist ideals.
They liked Trump’s call for a rebirth in American manufacturing, his willingness to confront unfair trade practices by other countries, his blunt takedown of Washington’s power structure – themes Sanders pounded as well.
More: Joe Biden endorsed, Trump excoriated by nearly 500 retired top military, national security officials
And they didn’t particularly care for Clinton.
A USA TODAY/Suffolk University survey in April, around the time Sanders ended his 2020 presidential bid, indicated Biden may lose fewer of the progressive icon's supporters than Clinton did.The survey of 638 voters who backed Sanders in primaries or caucuses this year found that 4% plan to vote for Trump – down from the 12% who voted for Trump over Clinton, according to a 2017 Cooperative Congressional Election study. The Suffolk poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School poll in Wisconsin, said Biden is doing a better job than Clinton did of keeping Democrats and left-leaning independents in the fold.
Franklin said Trump is "the great unifier for Democrats this year. A gift that keeps giving to the other party."
Riots. Radicalism. Corruption: Trump and Biden supporters turn to apocalyptic themes in campaign ad wars.
More: Trump declines to commit to peaceful transfer of power, McConnell promises 'orderly transition'
The Marquette polls showed that a greater percentage of Sanders voters (79%) in Wisconsin who identify as Democrats or left-leaning independents view Biden favorably in 2020 compared to Clinton (71%) in 2016, Franklin said.
Todd Belt, professor and political management program director at George Washington University, said he doesn't believe Biden risks alienating progressive voters by pushing back at the socialism tag. He said analyses suggest the Sanders' wing of the party is "pretty solidly" behind Biden
"They've made peace with the fact that he is the nominee and they don't intend to repeat a division of the party that happened in 2016," Belt said.
Contributing: Associated Press


usatoday--2020-09-28--NFL Week 3 winners, losers: Seahawks' Russell Wilson makes MVP case; Bears' Mitchell Trubisky flops

There were some big road wins , some struggles with extra points and even a starting quarterback being benched – perhaps for the long haul – but Week 3 in the NFL is almost in the books .
There 's still a huge matchup , and a potential AFC championship game preview , set for Monday night between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens .
But even though the season is young , some clear narratives and hierarchies of contenders are starting to take hold .
And players like Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and Josh Allen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make their arguments for individual awards .
Here are the winners and losers from Week 3 in the NFL .
The New Orleans Saints ' pass rush is solid , entering Sunday having generated six sacks .
The Packers , in their 37-30 victory in New Orleans , completely set the tempo and fended off the Saints ' front , allowing just one sack of Aaron Rodgerswhile affording him ample time to pass .
Rodgers managed to exploit a hard count that drew the Saints offsides multiple times .
And even though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the running game , Green Bay had steady production and froze the defense on play-action passing .
And that all started up front .
At one point Sunday , he had 10 touchdowns on the seasonwith just 12 combined incompletions .
He would misfire on some more passes later , but by the time the Seahawks had topped the Dallas Cowboys 38-31 in a thrilling game , Wilson set an NFL record with the most touchdown passes through a team 's first three games in a season : 14 .
Wilson finished Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His line so far this season is a crisp 76.7 % completion rate for 925 yards , the 14 scores and just one interception .
More importantly , the Seahawks are 3-0 , have huge victories against Dallas and the New England Patriots in back-to-back weeks and look like one of the best teams in the NFC .
After the season-opening disappointment against the Saints , which was a sloppy , penalty-ridden game , the Buccaneers have cleaned their play up drastically .
They 're now 2-1 after taking down a Denver Broncos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , top receiver and edge rusher .
The Buccaneers sacked the Broncos six times and the defense has clamped down on red zone trips , allowing Denver and the Carolina Panthers to convert just three of six trips inside the 20 into touchdowns over the last two weeks .
But the offense 's new pieces clicking in an efficient performance Sunday is what should have Bucs fans happiest .
Brady completed 25 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three scores , and Tampa converted half of its 16 third-down tries .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaker than the rest of the slate , so the Buccaneers will have to show they can do this against tougher competition before proving the Brady experiment is a success .
To be sure , this was almost a near disaster after the Buffalo Bills blew a 25-point lead and faced a deficit late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams .
The biggest blame for that , however , should go to Buffalo 's defense , which allowed far too many big plays .
Buffalo ended up winning , 35-32 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allowed quarterback Josh Allen to find tight end Tyler Kroft for the game-winning score .
Allen ( 319 total yards , five total touchdowns ) has blossomed into a matchup nightmare in his third season given his dual-threat ability .
And Daboll , Buffalo 's offensive coordinator , deserves a ton of credit for building a scheme that suits his passer 's talents .
One year after the Bills were tied for 23rd in the league in scoring ( 19.6 points per game ) , Buffalo entered Sunday tied for sixth ( 29 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half slowdown is a concern the team needs to address , but Buffalo looks like a real threat in the AFC .
And if this continues , Daboll , who has worked under Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Alabama coach Nick Saban during his career , is likely to be a hot candidate for head coaching vacancies this offseason .
Let 's be clear : Not having star running back Saquon Barkley ( torn anterior cruciate ligament ) is a massive blow to the second-year New York Giants quarterback .
But Jones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depleted San Francisco 49ers team , showed that his future as a reliable franchise quarterback is in serious doubt .
Jones completed just 17 of 32 attempts for 179 yards with no touchdowns and one interception .
Jones missed open targets , failed to sustain drives and , perhaps most damning , simply could not make plays when the Giants needed him to step up .
And at times , it almost looked like Jones was having a tough time seeing the field well .
During the two-minute drill at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down 13-6 , Jones telegraphed a pass that was intercepted by San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner in Giants territory .
It led to a Niners field goal that extended their lead to 10 .
Then , in the second half , the Giants had just four drives and could never get in a rhythm .
For fans of crisp , well-executed football , overtime in the 23-23 tie between the Eagles and Bengals was about as bad as it gets .
There were six possessions after regulation , excluding the one-play series at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cincinnati ran out the clock .
All six resulted in punts , three for each team .
The average length of each drive spanned 4.2 plays .
The combined net yardage of those six drives : 36 .
The Eagles had the chance to attempt a 59-yard , game-winning field goal by Jake Elliott – who made a 61-yard game-winner in September 2017 .
But an inexcusable false start by guard Matt Pryor pushed it back to a 64-yard attempt .
Rather than give it a go , with just 19 seconds left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having any timeouts , Pederson opted for a delay of game penalty and punted the ball away to play for a tie .
Oddly , the Eagles actually gained ground in the NFC East since the other teams in the division lost , so Philadelphia is n't a complete loser .
But the struggles of quarterback Carson Wentz , offensive line issues and general poor play should be very alarming .
This may be the last we 've seen of Trubisky as the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears .
Trubisky ( 13 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one interception ) was benched in favor of Nick Foles midway through the third quarter in a wild , 30-26 come-from-behind victory against the Atlanta Falcons .
In relief , Foles was much better , moving the offense with more efficiency and tempo .
He completed 16 of 29 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns with one pick that was n't necessarily his fault .
He helped the Bears erase a 16-point deficit and made the offense look far more capable than it did under Trubisky .
The Bears already declined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season , so there 's a very good chance Trubisky has thrown his last pass for the franchise .
Speaking of that Falcons loss , this could just the latest sign that Atlanta may need to blow it all up in order to compete again in the NFC South .
For the second time in as many weeks , the Falcons lost a game in which they held a lead of at least 15 points in the fourth quarter .
This time , it was to the Bears .
In fact , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time since 2016 that Atlanta has lost a game when leading by at least 16 points , including postseason games .
No other squad has more than two such losses in that stretch .
The Falcons suffer from discipline issues , lapses of concentration , a lack of situational awareness and an absence of finishing ability – all of which are signs of poor coaching .
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Join our Facebook Group , The Ruling Off the Field , to engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football fans and our NFL insiders .
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NFL Week 3 winners, losers: Seahawks' Russell Wilson makes MVP case; Bears' Mitchell Trubisky flops
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Week 3 overreactions: Bears are frauds, Falcons are comical, and Packers are class of NFC SportsPulse: Week 3 had so much action we provide a jumbo sized version of overreactions this week. Mackenzie Salmon reacts to all the biggest storylines from a wild Sunday in the NFL. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
There were some big road wins, some struggles with extra points and even a starting quarterback being benched – perhaps for the long haul – but Week 3 in the NFL is almost in the books.
There's still a huge matchup, and a potential AFC championship game preview, set for Monday night between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens. But even though the season is young, some clear narratives and hierarchies of contenders are starting to take hold.
And players like Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills are starting to make their arguments for individual awards.
Here are the winners and losers from Week 3 in the NFL.
WINNERS
Packers' offensive line
The New Orleans Saints' pass rush is solid, entering Sunday having generated six sacks. The Packers, in their 37-30 victory in New Orleans, completely set the tempo and fended off the Saints' front,allowing just one sack of Aaron Rodgerswhile affording him ample time to pass.
Rodgers managed to exploit a hard count that drew the Saints offsides multiple times. And even though the Packers didn't get huge numbers in the running game, Green Bay had steady production and froze the defense on play-action passing. And that all started up front.
Aaron Rodgers and the #Packers offense featured a play action-heavy attack, using play action on 52% of dropbacks, his highest PA rate in a game over the last five seasons (previous high: 42%).
Rodgers on Play Action
➤ 13/17, 160 yards, 3 TD (+8.3% CPOE)#GBvsNO | #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/3TrVy1Vezu — Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 28, 2020
Russell Wilson's MVP case
At one point Sunday, he had 10 touchdowns on the seasonwith just 12 combined incompletions. He would misfire on some more passes later, but by the time the Seahawks had topped the Dallas Cowboys 38-31 in a thrilling game, Wilson set an NFL record with the most touchdown passes through a team's first three games in a season: 14.
Wilson finished Sunday with 315 yards and five touchdowns. His line so far this season is a crisp 76.7% completion rate for 925 yards, the 14 scores and just one interception. More importantly, the Seahawks are 3-0, have huge victories against Dallas and the New England Patriots in back-to-back weeks and look like one of the best teams in the NFC.
Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After the season-opening disappointment against the Saints, which was a sloppy, penalty-ridden game, the Buccaneers have cleaned their play up drastically. They're now 2-1 after taking down a Denver Broncos squad that was missing its starting quarterback, top receiver and edge rusher.
The Buccaneers sacked the Broncos six times and the defense has clamped down on red zone trips, allowing Denver and the Carolina Panthers to convert just three of six trips inside the 20 into touchdowns over the last two weeks. But the offense's new pieces clicking in an efficient performance Sunday is what should have Bucs fans happiest. Brady completed 25 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three scores, and Tampa converted half of its 16 third-down tries. The last two opponents have been a little weaker than the rest of the slate, so the Buccaneers will have to show they can do this against tougher competition before proving the Brady experiment is a success.
Brian Daboll
To be sure, this was almost a near disaster after the Buffalo Bills blew a 25-point lead and faced a deficit late in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Rams. The biggest blame for that, however, should go to Buffalo's defense, which allowed far too many big plays. Buffalo ended up winning, 35-32, after a controversial pass interference call allowed quarterback Josh Allen to find tight end Tyler Kroft for the game-winning score. Allen (319 total yards, five total touchdowns) has blossomed into a matchup nightmare in his third season given his dual-threat ability. And Daboll, Buffalo's offensive coordinator, deserves a ton of credit for building a scheme that suits his passer's talents.
One year after the Bills were tied for 23rd in the league in scoring (19.6 points per game), Buffalo entered Sunday tied for sixth (29 points per game). The second half slowdown is a concern the team needs to address, but Buffalo looks like a real threat in the AFC. And if this continues, Daboll, who has worked under Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Alabama coach Nick Saban during his career, is likely to be a hot candidate for head coaching vacancies this offseason.
LOSERS
Daniel Jones
Let's be clear: Not having star running back Saquon Barkley (torn anterior cruciate ligament) is a massive blow to the second-year New York Giants quarterback. But Jones, in a 36-9 loss against a severely depleted San Francisco 49ers team, showed that his future as a reliable franchise quarterback is in serious doubt. Jones completed just 17 of 32 attempts for 179 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Jones missed open targets, failed to sustain drives and, perhaps most damning, simply could not make plays when the Giants needed him to step up. And at times, it almost looked like Jones was having a tough time seeing the field well. During the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, with the Giants down 13-6, Jones telegraphed a pass that was intercepted by San Francisco linebacker Fred Warner in Giants territory. It led to a Niners field goal that extended their lead to 10. Then, in the second half, the Giants had just four drives and could never get in a rhythm.
Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals' play in OT
For fans of crisp, well-executed football, overtime in the 23-23 tie between the Eagles and Bengals was about as bad as it gets. There were six possessions after regulation, excluding the one-play series at the end of the game in which Cincinnati ran out the clock. All six resulted in punts, three for each team. The average length of each drive spanned 4.2 plays. The combined net yardage of those six drives: 36.
The Eagles had the chance to attempt a 59-yard, game-winning field goal by Jake Elliott – who made a 61-yard game-winner in September 2017. But an inexcusable false start by guard Matt Pryor pushed it back to a 64-yard attempt. Rather than give it a go, with just 19 seconds left in the game and the Bengals not having any timeouts, Pederson opted for a delay of game penalty and punted the ball away to play for a tie. Oddly, the Eagles actually gained ground in the NFC East since the other teams in the division lost, so Philadelphia isn't a complete loser. But the struggles of quarterback Carson Wentz, offensive line issues and general poor play should be very alarming.
Mitchell Trubisky
This may be the last we've seen of Trubisky as the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Trubisky (13 of 22 for 128 with one touchdown and one interception) was benched in favor of Nick Foles midway through the third quarter in a wild, 30-26 come-from-behind victory against the Atlanta Falcons.
In relief, Foles was much better, moving the offense with more efficiency and tempo. He completed 16 of 29 passes for 188 yards and three touchdowns with one pick that wasn't necessarily his fault. He helped the Bears erase a 16-point deficit and made the offense look far more capable than it did under Trubisky. The Bears, who announced Monday that Foles would take over as the starter, already declined Trubisky's fifth-year option for the 2021 season, so there's a very good chance the quarterback has thrown his last pass for the franchise.
Falcons
Speaking of that Falcons loss, this could just the latest sign that Atlanta may need to blow it all up in order to compete again in the NFC South. For the second time in as many weeks, the Falcons lost a game in which they held a lead of at least 15 points in the fourth quarter. This time, it was to the Bears.
The Falcons are the first team in NFL history to lose twice in one season while holding a 15+ point lead in the 4th quarter. H/T @EliasSports
They've done so in back-to-back weeks. pic.twitter.com/kgf7vPctww — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 27, 2020
In fact, according to Elias, this is the fifth time since 2016 that Atlanta has lost a game when leading by at least 16 points, including postseason games. No other squad has more than two such losses in that stretch. The Falcons suffer from discipline issues, lapses of concentration, a lack of situational awareness and an absence of finishing ability – all of which are signs of poor coaching.
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usatoday--2020-09-28--Michigan cherry farmers could lose jobs, livelihoods amid tough competition from overseas

They ’ re a treasured old-time sight in Michigan — cherries and the miles of orchards where they flourish Up North .
Michigan is the nation ’ s top producer of tart cherries , for great pies and jams ; and ranked fourth for sweet cherries , sold in city markets nationwide and at rural roadside stands along Lake Michigan .
Michigan 's cherry juice has a big following as a health food and sport supplement , with fans at retirement centers and in the locker rooms of the Detroit Red Wings , Green Bay Packers and other pro teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a new market for Michigan cherries : Voters .
A campaign ad for U.S .
Senator Gary Peters features a bearded Michigan farmer , speaking out on why the state ’ s cherry growers are up against a threat worse than the much-feared hail , ravaging insects and labor shortages that have long given cherry farmers sleepless nights .
Now they have a fresh nightmare : Ultra-cheap cherries from Turkey .
It 's a gripe familiar to countless Michiganders who 've lost jobs to imported just-about-everything-else .
In Peters ' ad , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for helping his industry battle the cheap imports .
“ Sen .
Peters was the one guy that showed up from the very beginning , ” Veliquette narrates , over scenes of farmers on tractors and cherries glowing red on trees , then bouncing down conveyor chutes .
“ He came to the factory , he listened to the growers , he listened to the processors.
” The 60-second ad also has Peters talking , briefly making the growers ’ case against “ unfair prices.
” Veliquette ’ s dried tart cherries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meijer , Spartan stores and other markets under the name Shoreline Fruit .
His grievance may at first seem unrelated to the woes of Americans displaced from manufacturing .
But it 's a refrain that goes back decades in Michigan , where hundreds of thousands of auto , steel and other jobs have been lost to low-cost imports .
Aside from cherries , Veliquette says that Peters cares about the little guy — “ the small towns , the small problems , ” the ad says , because he cares about anyone whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Veliquette on a deck , scanning cherry orchards from his acreage in Grand Traverse County , which happens to be a stronghold of Republicans .
Peters ' cherry spot has been broadcast statewide since early August .
It surely was seen by GOP strategists .
It might have helped nudge Vice President Mike Pence into making a surprise visit in late August to Traverse City , the heart of Michigan ’ s cherry country .
To a crowd of 400 spirited supporters at Cherry Capital Airport , Pence touted the Trump administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deals while repeatedly plugging Peters ’ Republican opponent , Army veteran and business executive John James .
More : In one of the more nastier races , John James and Sen. Gary Peters offer different styles As much as Peters is identified as a champion of cherry farmers , concern for this traditional industry in Michigan is bipartisan .
Farmers on both sides of the political divide are struggling .
And most any long-time visitor to northern Michigan would regret seeing the state 's serene hillsides of cherry orchards , floating above Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything else .
In Michigan ’ s generally conservative orchard country , not a few cherry growers and processors line up behind President Donald Trump and James .
Of course , Veliquette , the star in the TV ads , is a big Peters booster .
Sitting at a picnic table early this month , rimmed with a horizon of his fruit trees , while his son Axel , 9 , built tiny cabins with sticks , Veliquette said the imported cherries and their juice concentrate could destroy his livelihood and the jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , just as surely as other Michiganders lost jobs to Chinese tools and housewares , Japanese steel and Mexican auto parts .
Peters has `` done more for us than anyone , '' says Veliquette , although he cites support that also came from another Democrat — Debbie Stabenow , Michigan ’ s other U.S. senator and former chair of the powerful Senate Agriculture Committee — as well as from Michigan 's Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives .
More : Many suburban women in Michigan have message for Trump : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , after years of complaining , and after Veliquette and other growers spent $ 2 million in legal fees last year pursuing their case against cheap imports , and after Peters was captured on film at the White House telling Trump that Michigan ’ s cherry farmers need protection from unfair trade — with Trump agreeing enthusiastically — the growers got nowhere .
They were stymied by an adverse ruling of the U.S. International Trade Commission early this year , which forced Veliquette to say in the ad not that the growers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s got our back.
” Not even Peters leading a bipartisan effort could influence the trade commission ruling .
All that leaves Veliquette and other growers saying the future of Michigan 's cherry belt is in the hands of consumers .
He implores : Read labels ; check for country of origin ; ask store managers and even restaurants , `` Are these cherries from the USA ? ''
“ I ’ m talking about all kinds of cherries .
I ’ m a tart cherry grower , but you should ask about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once you stop asking , the big companies will just start buying the cheapest cherries they can get , ” he said .
A short drive from Veliquette ’ s picnic table are the two roadside stores of King Orchards , separated by a few miles in the gorgeous area between Lake Michigan and Torch Lake , south of Charlevoix and north of Elk Rapids .
The stores are stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables galore , all locally grown , although even after cherry season ended in mid-August a recent visitor could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : pies , jams , dried cherries , chilled juice concentrate , cherry salsa , pie filling and more .
The struggle with cheap imports has turned neighbor against neighbor , co-owner John King said .
Like a new truck for $ 10K “ Some of our competitors right here in this county sell cherries from Turkey and Poland .
The big fight is with dried cherries .
They ’ re dumping them in at 20 % of our cost , ” he said .
The price difference seems shocking , almost unbelievable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showroom would be like buying a loaded , full-sized import pickup for $ 10,000 .
Evidence shows that Turkey ’ s government is heavily subsidizing its cherry industry , said Julie Gordon , president of the Cherry Marketing Institute , based in DeWitt near Lansing .
The trade group has about 500 growers of tart and sweet cherries , many of whom grow both .
After filing a lawsuit last year , pushing for tariff protection , the tart growers at first had the upper hand .
Four growers in Michigan , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a petition requesting import duties that would have amounted to more than $ 5 a pound on dried cherries , which Turkish exporters had been selling for less than $ 1 a pound , according to industry trade journals .
Their lawsuit triggered an investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce , which found more than two dozen subsidy programs available to Turkish tart cherry producers , including export subsidies for dried cherries , incentives for farmers to plant fruit tree saplings , and one government hand-out providing 50 % of the capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to documents obtained by the Free Press .
The evidence seemed compelling .
And , sure enough , a year ago the U.S. cherry growers gained a favorable ruling from staff analysts at the all-powerful U.S. International Trade Commission .
Unfortunately , the good news didn ’ t last .
In January of this year , the agency ’ s panel of commissioners reversed the staff ’ s ruling , voting to do nothing , deciding that imported cherries were doing no harm to the domestic industry , Gordon said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the numbers that importers gave them , and not our U.S. numbers , ” Gordon said .
An appeal would end up before the same commissioners .
“ We invested over $ 2 million in that case and to appeal it , we just don ’ t have that kind of money , ” she said .
Peters , in news coverage at the time , called the ruling “ a wrong decision ( because ) they were basically using data from the Turks , which made no sense . ''
He reacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ start collecting official government data from the American cherry industry , which would carry at least as much weight as the Turkish data given to the commissioners .
The Commerce Department agreed to start doing that as of July 1 , according to Peters ' Washington office .
In a statement that Peters ' staff sent to the Free Press , Peters said : “ I ’ m pleased we were successful in pushing the International Trade Commission to start tracking Turkish cherry imports more accurately .
.
.
.
As we work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will keep fighting to create a level playing field to protect our cherry growers in Michigan . ''
Based on past elections , Peters ' Senate opponent has an edge in cherry country , where roadside signs tell drivers to vote Republican in November because “ Socialism = Slavery.
” But Michigan 's first-term senator has credibility with Gordon .
“ I think his commercial did so well because he ’ s been an advocate for our industry for quite a while , ” she said .
Michigan 's Republican House members have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Still , Peters was the only member of Congress to testify in person at the Trade Commission ’ s hearing , while other Michigan politicians submitted letters of support , said Elizabeth Drake , a partner in a Washington , D.C. , law firm that argued the cherry growers ' trade case .
Stabenow submitted a letter of support , and there was a joint bipartisan letter from Michigan House members , Drake said .
Of big help to the cherry industry over the years have been several Republican Congressmen from northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Huizenga and John Moolenaar , said Ben LaCross , co-owner of LaCross Farms , a family firm northwest of Traverse City .
LaCross is prominent with the Michigan Cherry Committee , a product promotion group .
As much as Peters has become identified as a champion of cherry farmers , and as well as his campaign staff turned that into an appealing television ad , concern for this treasured traditional industry in Michigan is clearly bipartisan .
Even fudgies and snowbirds whose only tie to northern Michigan is as a place for recreation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the rolling hills of orchard country leading to the blue waters of Lake Michigan , and wanting nothing more than to have nothing about it change .
Many Michigan farmers raise a style of tart cherry called Montmorency , which isn ’ t grown in Turkey .
Michigan growers say Montmorency cherries , named after a valley in France , not after the county in northern Michigan , are the only type that can make health claims , not Turkey ’ s different style .
Among those claims ?
That Montmorency cherry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's just too tart to drink straight , speeds recovery from workouts , promotes deeper sleep , boosts the immune system , eases gout symptoms and improves memory in people with mild dementia -- although more research is needed to confirm the claims , according to the Medical News Today website .
As good as all that sounds , Turkey ’ s tart cherries and cherry juice are so cheap that they could ultimately flood U.S. markets , pushing Michigan growers to switch , not fight .
Many could change to growing sweet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wunsch is doing on his family ’ s farm that goes back more than a century .
At almost the northern tip of Old Mission Peninsula , which runs for 19 miles up the picturesque center of Grand Traverse Bay , Wunsch , 33 , sat outside a 19th-Century farmhouse where his great-grandparents once lived and said he 'd looked hard at the future .
“ We used to be the biggest tart cherry producer on Old Mission .
Because of market conditions ( Turkish competition ) , we ’ ve removed most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them with apples and sweet cherries , ” Wunsch said .
Peaches , too .
Just a day after the Free Press visited , Peters made a surprise visit on his Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glimotorcycle to the Wunsch farm , where 20 growers had gathered .
After they talked , the host sent Peters and his staff on their way with a bag of Wunsch Farms ' peaches .
A day earlier , Wunsch told a reporter that farmers who depend on tart cherries are being loyal to `` an industry that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Being on the ropes is a sadly familiar status for many kinds of American farms , the most publicized losers being small dairy farms that are disappearing like stars at dawn .
What 's less known is that Michigan 's cherry farms are almost as perishable .
Eight miles north of Elk Rapids , with views of Lake Michigan from bluffs on U.S.-31 , is Good Nature Farm .
Andrew Kamp , 28 , recently inherited the 227 acres of orchards after his father , worn down by stress , died last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The property is for sale .
“ His debt on the farm was just too much .
It just wasn ’ t feasible to keep things going , ” Kamp said .
Already , weeds are chest high around the cherry trees and the farmyard is deserted , while Kamp works as a welder .
“ Definitely .
The cherry market is 90 % of the reason I ’ m selling , ” Kamp said .
Short of selling out , one survival tactic for cherry farmers is finding a market niche , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising American cherries without government aid .
One niche has been to grow organic cherries .
Yet , even there , American producers are being stung by imports .
An investigation in next month 's “ Consumer Reports ” magazine , checking years of data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture , says many samples of Turkish cherries labeled “ U.S.D.A .
certified organic ” actually contained pesticides .
The magazine , in a carefully worded sentence perhaps intended to dodge a potential lawsuit , concludes : “ In recent years , questions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organic label on Turkish imports.
” But a lawyer for the Cherry Marketing Institute near Lansing did n't pull any punches .
The U.S. grants the “ organic ” label to Turkish producers merely upon payment of a licensing fee , she said .
And a Free Press check of online sellers found that numerous cherry juice products carry the green USDA organic logo , but merely say they 're packaged in the U.S. , failing to say where the fruit came from .
More : Little Bohemia in Traverse City announces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frankfort , Cheryl Kobernik co-owns 40-acre North Star Organics , where she and her husband raise what are truly organic cherries , as verified regularly by inspectors from the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program .
Her cherries are ideal for consumers willing to pay for premium products and even do some picking themselves .
By shunning pesticides , Kobernik loses 5 to 15 % of each crop to insects , she said .
And this year , bad weather made her crop so scanty , she did n't bother to hire mechanical `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on opening day of her U-pick season , July 22 , `` we had 1,000 people come through , '' Kobernik said .
So , North Star will survive this year 's meager harvest , and it will survive attacks of the spotted wing drosophila , a fruit fly from Southeast Asia that began infesting Michigan 's cherry trees in 2010 .
Besides the U-pick crowd , Kobernik does a big business online , resulting in steady demand .
In fact , she said , `` We ca n't produce enough . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and not just those growing cherries .
If Americans would check labels and spend 5-10 % more to buy U.S.-grown food , `` we 'd save a lot of our smaller farms , '' she said , speaking as a steering committee member of the non-profit Wyoming-based Rural American 2020 .
`` I firmly believe in rural America .
Cherries are wonderful .
But the industry is so stressful .
There 's more and more bankruptcies , '' Kobernik said .
As far as Turkish cherries and other imports go , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding our government 's decision . ''

Michigan cherry farmers could lose jobs, livelihoods amid tough competition from overseas
Show Caption Hide Caption Michigan's cherry farms struggle with cheap imports Cherry farming is a charming tradition in northern Michigan. But lately, it has turned political as they are fighting competition with imported cherries. Detroit Free Press
They’re a treasured old-time sight in Michigan — cherries and the miles of orchards where they flourish Up North.
Michigan is the nation’s top producer of tart cherries, for great pies and jams; and ranked fourth for sweet cherries, sold in city markets nationwide and at rural roadside stands along Lake Michigan.
Michigan's cherry juice has a big following as a health food and sport supplement, with fans at retirement centers and in the locker rooms of the Detroit Red Wings, Green Bay Packers and other pro teams.
But this season, there’s a new market for Michigan cherries: Voters.
A campaign ad for U.S. Senator Gary Peters features a bearded Michigan farmer, speaking out on why the state’s cherry growers are up against a threat worse than the much-feared hail, ravaging insects and labor shortages that have long given cherry farmers sleepless nights.
Now they have a fresh nightmare: Ultra-cheap cherries from Turkey. It's a gripe familiar to countless Michiganders who've lost jobs to imported just-about-everything-else.
In Peters' ad, cherry grower Nels Veliquette praises the senator for helping his industry battle the cheap imports.
“Sen. Peters was the one guy that showed up from the very beginning,” Veliquette narrates, over scenes of farmers on tractors and cherries glowing red on trees, then bouncing down conveyor chutes. “He came to the factory, he listened to the growers, he listened to the processors.”
The 60-second ad also has Peters talking, briefly making the growers’ case against “unfair prices.”
Veliquette’s dried tart cherries, plump and chewy, are sold at Meijer, Spartan stores and other markets under the name Shoreline Fruit. His grievance may at first seem unrelated to the woes of Americans displaced from manufacturing. But it's a refrain that goes back decades in Michigan, where hundreds of thousands of auto, steel and other jobs have been lost to low-cost imports.
Aside from cherries, Veliquette says that Peters cares about the little guy — “the small towns, the small problems,” the ad says, because he cares about anyone whose job might disappear. The ad shows Veliquette on a deck, scanning cherry orchards from his acreage in Grand Traverse County, which happens to be a stronghold of Republicans.
Peters' cherry spot has been broadcast statewide since early August. It surely was seen by GOP strategists.
It might have helped nudge Vice President Mike Pence into making a surprise visit in late August to Traverse City, the heart of Michigan’s cherry country. To a crowd of 400 spirited supporters at Cherry Capital Airport, Pence touted the Trump administration’s support for jobs and better trade deals while repeatedly plugging Peters’ Republican opponent, Army veteran and business executive John James.
More: In one of the more nastier races, John James and Sen. Gary Peters offer different styles
As much as Peters is identified as a champion of cherry farmers, concern for this traditional industry in Michigan is bipartisan. Farmers on both sides of the political divide are struggling. And most any long-time visitor to northern Michigan would regret seeing the state's serene hillsides of cherry orchards, floating above Lake Michigan's blue waters, turn into anything else.
In Michigan’s generally conservative orchard country, not a few cherry growers and processors line up behind President Donald Trump and James.
Of course, Veliquette, the star in the TV ads, is a big Peters booster. Sitting at a picnic table early this month, rimmed with a horizon of his fruit trees, while his son Axel, 9, built tiny cabins with sticks, Veliquette said the imported cherries and their juice concentrate could destroy his livelihood and the jobs of countless Michigan picking and processing workers, just as surely as other Michiganders lost jobs to Chinese tools and housewares, Japanese steel and Mexican auto parts.
Peters has "done more for us than anyone," says Veliquette, although he cites support that also came from another Democrat — Debbie Stabenow, Michigan’s other U.S. senator and former chair of the powerful Senate Agriculture Committee — as well as from Michigan's Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
More: Many suburban women in Michigan have message for Trump: We want security, not chaos
Yet now, after years of complaining, and after Veliquette and other growers spent $2 million in legal fees last year pursuing their case against cheap imports, and after Peters was captured on film at the White House telling Trump that Michigan’s cherry farmers need protection from unfair trade — with Trump agreeing enthusiastically — the growers got nowhere.
They were stymied by an adverse ruling of the U.S. International Trade Commission early this year, which forced Veliquette to say in the ad not that the growers won, only that “Gary’s got our back.” Not even Peters leading a bipartisan effort could influence the trade commission ruling.
All that leaves Veliquette and other growers saying the future of Michigan's cherry belt is in the hands of consumers. He implores: Read labels; check for country of origin; ask store managers and even restaurants, "Are these cherries from the USA?"
“I’m talking about all kinds of cherries. I’m a tart cherry grower, but you should ask about all the cherries you buy. Because once you stop asking, the big companies will just start buying the cheapest cherries they can get,” he said.
A short drive from Veliquette’s picnic table are the two roadside stores of King Orchards, separated by a few miles in the gorgeous area between Lake Michigan and Torch Lake, south of Charlevoix and north of Elk Rapids.
The stores are stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables galore, all locally grown, although even after cherry season ended in mid-August a recent visitor couldn't miss King Orchard's cherry-centric inventory: pies, jams, dried cherries, chilled juice concentrate, cherry salsa, pie filling and more.
The struggle with cheap imports has turned neighbor against neighbor, co-owner John King said.
Like a new truck for $10K
“Some of our competitors right here in this county sell cherries from Turkey and Poland. The big fight is with dried cherries. They’re dumping them in at 20% of our cost,” he said.
The price difference seems shocking, almost unbelievable. That same gap in a car showroom would be like buying a loaded, full-sized import pickup for $10,000.
Evidence shows that Turkey’s government is heavily subsidizing its cherry industry, said Julie Gordon, president of the Cherry Marketing Institute, based in DeWitt near Lansing. The trade group has about 500 growers of tart and sweet cherries, many of whom grow both.
After filing a lawsuit last year, pushing for tariff protection, the tart growers at first had the upper hand. Four growers in Michigan, including Veliquette and one in Utah, filed a petition requesting import duties that would have amounted to more than $5 a pound on dried cherries, which Turkish exporters had been selling for less than $1 a pound, according to industry trade journals.
Their lawsuit triggered an investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which found more than two dozen subsidy programs available to Turkish tart cherry producers, including export subsidies for dried cherries, incentives for farmers to plant fruit tree saplings, and one government hand-out providing 50% of the capital cost of new cherry processing facilities, according to documents obtained by the Free Press.
The evidence seemed compelling. And, sure enough, a year ago the U.S. cherry growers gained a favorable ruling from staff analysts at the all-powerful U.S. International Trade Commission. Unfortunately, the good news didn’t last. In January of this year, the agency’s panel of commissioners reversed the staff’s ruling, voting to do nothing, deciding that imported cherries were doing no harm to the domestic industry, Gordon said.
“The case was turned because they used the numbers that importers gave them, and not our U.S. numbers,” Gordon said.
An appeal would end up before the same commissioners.
“We invested over $2 million in that case and to appeal it, we just don’t have that kind of money,” she said.
Peters, in news coverage at the time, called the ruling “a wrong decision (because) they were basically using data from the Turks, which made no sense." He reacted by asking the U.S. Commerce Department to start collecting official government data from the American cherry industry, which would carry at least as much weight as the Turkish data given to the commissioners. The Commerce Department agreed to start doing that as of July 1, according to Peters' Washington office.
In a statement that Peters' staff sent to the Free Press, Peters said: “I’m pleased we were successful in pushing the International Trade Commission to start tracking Turkish cherry imports more accurately. . . . As we work to hold foreign competitors accountable, I will keep fighting to create a level playing field to protect our cherry growers in Michigan."
Based on past elections, Peters' Senate opponent has an edge in cherry country, where roadside signs tell drivers to vote Republican in November because “Socialism = Slavery.” But Michigan's first-term senator has credibility with Gordon.
“I think his commercial did so well because he’s been an advocate for our industry for quite a while,” she said. Michigan's Republican House members have been good supporters too, Gordon added.
Still, Peters was the only member of Congress to testify in person at the Trade Commission’s hearing, while other Michigan politicians submitted letters of support, said Elizabeth Drake, a partner in a Washington, D.C., law firm that argued the cherry growers' trade case. Stabenow submitted a letter of support, and there was a joint bipartisan letter from Michigan House members, Drake said.
Of big help to the cherry industry over the years have been several Republican Congressmen from northern Michigan — Reps. Jack Bergman, Bill Huizenga and John Moolenaar, said Ben LaCross, co-owner of LaCross Farms, a family firm northwest of Traverse City. LaCross is prominent with the Michigan Cherry Committee, a product promotion group.
As much as Peters has become identified as a champion of cherry farmers, and as well as his campaign staff turned that into an appealing television ad, concern for this treasured traditional industry in Michigan is clearly bipartisan. Even fudgies and snowbirds whose only tie to northern Michigan is as a place for recreation and relaxation can find themselves looking doe-eyed at the rolling hills of orchard country leading to the blue waters of Lake Michigan, and wanting nothing more than to have nothing about it change.
Juice, to your health
Many Michigan farmers raise a style of tart cherry called Montmorency, which isn’t grown in Turkey. Michigan growers say Montmorency cherries, named after a valley in France, not after the county in northern Michigan, are the only type that can make health claims, not Turkey’s different style.
Among those claims? That Montmorency cherry juice, consumed with water because it's just too tart to drink straight, speeds recovery from workouts, promotes deeper sleep, boosts the immune system, eases gout symptoms and improves memory in people with mild dementia -- although more research is needed to confirm the claims, according to the Medical News Today website.
As good as all that sounds, Turkey’s tart cherries and cherry juice are so cheap that they could ultimately flood U.S. markets, pushing Michigan growers to switch, not fight. Many could change to growing sweet cherries and other crops, as Isaiah Wunsch is doing on his family’s farm that goes back more than a century.
At almost the northern tip of Old Mission Peninsula, which runs for 19 miles up the picturesque center of Grand Traverse Bay, Wunsch, 33, sat outside a 19th-Century farmhouse where his great-grandparents once lived and said he'd looked hard at the future.
“We used to be the biggest tart cherry producer on Old Mission. Because of market conditions (Turkish competition), we’ve removed most of our tart cherry orchards and replaced them with apples and sweet cherries,” Wunsch said. Peaches, too.
Just a day after the Free Press visited, Peters made a surprise visit on his Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glimotorcycle to the Wunsch farm, where 20 growers had gathered. After they talked, the host sent Peters and his staff on their way with a bag of Wunsch Farms' peaches.
A day earlier, Wunsch told a reporter that farmers who depend on tart cherries are being loyal to "an industry that’s kind of on the ropes." Being on the ropes is a sadly familiar status for many kinds of American farms, the most publicized losers being small dairy farms that are disappearing like stars at dawn. What's less known is that Michigan's cherry farms are almost as perishable.
Eight miles north of Elk Rapids, with views of Lake Michigan from bluffs on U.S.-31, is Good Nature Farm. Andrew Kamp, 28, recently inherited the 227 acres of orchards after his father, worn down by stress, died last year at 63, Kamp said. The property is for sale.
“His debt on the farm was just too much. It just wasn’t feasible to keep things going,” Kamp said.
Already, weeds are chest high around the cherry trees and the farmyard is deserted, while Kamp works as a welder.
So, did Turkish cherries play a role?
“Definitely. The cherry market is 90% of the reason I’m selling,” Kamp said.
Short of selling out, one survival tactic for cherry farmers is finding a market niche, one that supports the higher cost of raising American cherries without government aid. One niche has been to grow organic cherries.
Yet, even there, American producers are being stung by imports. An investigation in next month's “Consumer Reports” magazine, checking years of data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, says many samples of Turkish cherries labeled “U.S.D.A. certified organic” actually contained pesticides. The magazine, in a carefully worded sentence perhaps intended to dodge a potential lawsuit, concludes: “In recent years, questions have been raised about the integrity of the organic label on Turkish imports.”
But a lawyer for the Cherry Marketing Institute near Lansing didn't pull any punches. The U.S. grants the “organic” label to Turkish producers merely upon payment of a licensing fee, she said. And a Free Press check of online sellers found that numerous cherry juice products carry the green USDA organic logo, but merely say they're packaged in the U.S., failing to say where the fruit came from.
More: 2020 National Cherry Festival in Traverse City canceled over coronavirus concerns
More: Little Bohemia in Traverse City announces permanent closure in wake of COVID-19
In Frankfort, Cheryl Kobernik co-owns 40-acre North Star Organics, where she and her husband raise what are truly organic cherries, as verified regularly by inspectors from the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. Her cherries are ideal for consumers willing to pay for premium products and even do some picking themselves.
By shunning pesticides, Kobernik loses 5 to 15% of each crop to insects, she said. And this year, bad weather made her crop so scanty, she didn't bother to hire mechanical "shakers" for harvesting. Still, on opening day of her U-pick season, July 22, "we had 1,000 people come through," Kobernik said. So, North Star will survive this year's meager harvest, and it will survive attacks of the spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly from Southeast Asia that began infesting Michigan's cherry trees in 2010.
Besides the U-pick crowd, Kobernik does a big business online, resulting in steady demand. In fact, she said, "We can't produce enough."
But she's worried about other farmers, and not just those growing cherries. If Americans would check labels and spend 5-10% more to buy U.S.-grown food, "we'd save a lot of our smaller farms," she said, speaking as a steering committee member of the non-profit Wyoming-based Rural American 2020.
"I firmly believe in rural America. Cherries are wonderful. But the industry is so stressful. There's more and more bankruptcies," Kobernik said.
As far as Turkish cherries and other imports go, she said, "I'm just not understanding our government's decision."
Contact: blaitner@freepress.com.