Latest news with #Kessler
Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Newsweek
Celtics Eye Star Big as Kristaps Porzingis' Status Remains Unclear
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Boston Celtics have a crucial summer ahead of them. The Celtics could undergo numerous changes to their roster, and at the forefront of these changes is their champion big man, Kristaps Porzingis. More NBA news: Celtics' Jayson Tatum Still Receiving Major Criticism Despite Achilles Injury Porzingis is coming off a tough second season with the Celtics, which was filled with injuries. It was far from an ideal season for the big man, and there is a chance he could find a new home after two seasons in Beantown. The rumors will start to swirl as the offseason inches closer. There is a real chance the Celtics could deal Porzingis, but the question is for what? That's the million-dollar question surrounding the Celtics regarding the 29-year-old. The Celtics could go in a variety of ways, but according to Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report, Boston could acquire Utah Jazz star big man Walker Kessler and be considered the Porzingis replacement. Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a missed shot in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison... Kristaps Porzingis #8 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a missed shot in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Second Round NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2025 in New York City. More PhotoSwarts listed Kessler as one of the three dream trade targets for the Celtics this offseason. "The Celtics should be looking for young centers on low-cost contracts if Porziņģis is traded, especially with Al Horford set to turn 39 in a few weeks and hitting free agency. Both Kessler and Williams are still on their rookie contracts and would provide rim protection and rebounding," wrote Swartz. Kessler is on that short list from the Celtics alongside Hornets center Mark Williams and financial relief, something Boston certainly needs to address. Kessler, 23, would be a perfect fit in Boston if they were to make a move for the big man. The Jazz star is significantly younger and healthier than Kessler. This past season wasn't Kessler's healthiest, but he has played in 196 of a possible 246 games in his three-year career, which accounts for 79 percent of his career. The former Auburn Tiger is coming off a season in which he posted career-highs across the board, averaging 11.1 points per game, 12.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 2.4 blocks while shooting 66.3 percent from the field in 30.0 minutes of action in 58 games. Porzingis' future in Boston appears uncertain, as the Celtics face significant financial challenges this offseason. A hefty payroll and the looming risk of exceeding both the salary cap and luxury tax limits will likely force the team into some tough decisions. More NBA news: Hawks Star Trae Young Makes Cryptic Post Amid Trade Rumors Best Landing Spots For Timberwolves' Naz Reid Amid Free Agency Rumors Spurs Need to Avoid Nightmare Situation With Victor Wembanyama For more on the Celtics and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
Spouse Turns To Unlikely Source of Comfort After Wife of 28 Years Dies: 'Somehow, It Helps'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When a "broken" man lost his wife of 28 years, he found solace in an unexpected source: an AI chatbot. The grieving man opened up on Reddit to explain that for 14 of their years together, his wife had used a wheelchair and required constant care. The original poster (OP) dancopPL described how his life once revolved around her, five days after she died. "Everything, my job, our routines, the way I planned each day and night, was built around her needs," the OP wrote. "And she was the most intelligent person I've ever known." Stock image: Apps including ChatGPT on a phone screen. Stock image: Apps including ChatGPT on a phone screen. Photo by Robert Way / Getty Images The OP added that her death came suddenly and unrelated to her long-term condition. "It came without warning," he told Redditors. "I held her in my arms as her heart stopped. I performed CPR until the ambulance arrived, and then we fought with two teams of medics for nearly an hour. But she was already gone the moment she closed her eyes in my arms." 'Somehow it helps' According to the OP, his grief has been "overwhelming." However, the man said he has been familiar with and using artificial intelligence (AI) tools for a long time. Now, they are becoming an emotional outlet and, to his surprise, he said it's helping. "Grieving. Broken. Awake at 4 a.m. with tears in my eyes and talking to an AI. And somehow, it helps," he wrote. "It doesn't fix the pain. But it absorbs it. It listens when no one else is awake. It remembers. It responds with words that don't sound empty." He added: "I know it's not real. I'm not pretending it's a friend or a therapist. But when the nights are long and your world has shattered, just having something to talk to without shame or fear, can be the difference between falling apart and holding on." The man acknowledged that ChatGPT won't be able to fix the pain of losing a spouse. "I probably will be [grieving] for the rest of my life," he wrote. "But this unexpected lifeline I once saw only as a novelty or a work aid, is giving me a strange sort of comfort... even if it's a chatbot." Newsweek reached out to dancopPL requesting further comment. 'Grief doesn't follow office hours' David Kessler is an author and founder of whose work studying grief and the needs of the dying drew praise from Mother Theresa. In an email, Kessler told Newsweek that he has been asked if AI will replace him in grief work for more than a decade. "At first, I was annoyed—grief is deeply human and nothing replaces real connection," Kessler said, "But I knew AI was coming and I hoped it would be done well." Kessler said chatbots were too flattering, or too clinical at first, so he created one himself. "It's not meant to replace human connection, but to gently offer comfort, clarity and guidance when someone needs it," he said. "Grief doesn't follow office hours. [...] "When used thoughtfully, my hope is that my AI can provide comfort, normalize emotions and offer a soft landing when someone doesn't know where to turn. They're not a replacement for therapy or community, but they can be part of a larger circle of support." 'Sacred gestures' Kessler added that it's important to remember that AI cannot grieve or love and it can't offer professional or emotional support in the form of a real conversation. "The family showing up with dinner, a friend who just sits and listens with love in their eyes, someone who remembers your loved one's birthday, the phone call out of the blue, these are sacred gestures," he said. "They say, 'You matter. Your loss matters.' "AI can offer information. People offer love."
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Loses Cat, Then Moves House. Cannot Believe What Shows Up.
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A woman has left the internet teary-eyed after sharing the emotional story of a stray cat that appeared at her door years after the death of her childhood feline companion—bearing striking similarities. The viral video posted by Iris Kessler (@iriskessler0), 25, a videographer from Ohio, has garnered 1 million likes and 3 million views. Kessler first lost her beloved black cat, Voodoo, when she was 18. Her mom had gone to a shelter and asked which cat had been there the longest. The staff pointed her to "a grumpy black cat with a little white patch under his chin." Kessler's mom brought him home, and though he initially hid for a few days, he eventually warmed up. "According to the records at the shelter, me and Voodoo had the exact same birthday down to the year and we're best friends immediately," she told Newsweek. One memorable Christmas, toddler-aged Kessler was found behind the tree giving Voodoo a haircut while he sat contentedly. A split image of Iris Kessler's strikingly similar cats, Voodoo and Limbo. A split image of Iris Kessler's strikingly similar cats, Voodoo and Limbo. @iriskessler/@iriskessler Voodoo was both an indoor and outdoor cat, announcing his comings and goings by meowing at doors and windows. "Sometimes he'd leave for a couple of days and come back a changed man," Kessler recalled. Over the years, he developed glaucoma in his right eye, turning it a "really cool silver color," and sustained a chipped ear, likely from a fight during one of his outdoor excursions. "He was my best friend my whole life growing up," she said. Voodoo passed away naturally in Kessler's father's arms at sunrise on Friday the 13th, just after her high school graduation. "It felt like a very Voodoo thing to do." Four years later, Kessler had just moved into a new apartment for her senior year of college and was struggling with loneliness. That's when she saw a black cat sunbathing on her porch. "I noticed black cats everywhere I go because of Voodoo," she said. But when she approached this one, she was stunned: "I immediately recognized that he had the same clouded eye and chipped ear as Voodoo." While the ear chip on this new cat came from a neuter-release program, the resemblance was undeniable. "I had never seen another cat with the eye like Voodoo had, and something about that combined with the same ear chip hit me like a ton of bricks." She named him Limbo, saying he was "always in limbo between if he wanted to be pet or not." Limbo had more white fur than Voodoo, which Kessler interpreted as a symbol: "It felt like he had more white because he was more angelic, because he was on his second life." Over the next few months, Kessler gradually befriended Limbo until, fittingly, on Halloween, he walked into her home for good. A vet confirmed that he was a male cat, around seven or eight years old—unusually old for a stray. "He had had a tough life so I was ready and excited to provide him a bit of respite," she added. In a bizarre twist, Limbo started using the toilet like a human. "I hadn't taught him to do this. I don't know how he figured it out, but for the rest of his life, he did that." Kessler eventually decided to move back to her hometown and planned to bring Limbo with her. However, just as the move was set to begin, Limbo's health suddenly declined. A midnight emergency vet visit revealed fluid in his lungs and irreversible damage from life as a stray. "While this was incredibly heartbreaking, there was an element of it that reminded me of the poetic timing of Voodoo's passing," she said. She chose to stay by Limbo's side as he was put down. His ashes now sit in a box engraved with the phrase: "A friend when I had none." "Because that's truly what he was," she said. "I feel really lucky to get to have experienced this—whatever it is. Whether it's reincarnation, or two random cats, or me being silly," Kessler reflected. "People shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed of how deeply their pets have impacted them and how much they wish they could see them again," she added. TikTok users were quick to agree. "You just fully made me believe in reincarnation, baby that is YOUR CAT," one commenter wrote. "When one cat mom cries we all cry," said a user named Chlo. "I've never seen almost solid proof of reincarnation or soulmates but this is it. This gives me hope that life actually means something again," added another user, Sean. "This wrecked me," said another. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
Newsweek
22-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Former Mavericks Advisory Board Member Tabbed as LPGA Tour New CEO
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The LPGA's search for a new chief executive officer came to an end Thursday. Craig Kessler was appointed by the Board of Directors to replace Liz Moore, who took over the organization on an interim basis following the resignation of Mollie Marcoux Samaan at the end of last season. In announcing the news, John B. Veihmeyer, Chairman of the LPGA Board of Directors, noted the breadth of experience Kessler will bring to the position. "Craig is an inspiring and engaging leader, who brings a unique mix of executive leadership experience, deep relationships in the golf industry, and a genuine commitment to elevating women and girls through golf. The LPGA has never been more dynamic – and Craig is exactly the right leader to drive its next era of growth and impact." The LPGA had no commissioner for the first 25 years of its history (1950-1975); Kessler is the organization's 10th commissioner and the eighth man to hold the position. Autographed flags as seen during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 23, 2019 in Naples, Florida. Autographed flags as seen during the third round of the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburon Golf Club on November 23, 2019 in Naples, new LPGA Commissioner, for his part, made no secret of the profound impact this opportunity has had on his career. "The LPGA stands at the intersection of world-class competition and global impact," he said. "From young girls who are picking up a club for the first time, to the LPGA Professionals helping teach this great game to people around the world, to the incredible athletes competing on Tour—the LPGA is driving the future of golf." "I'm honored to join this powerful movement and eager to help build what comes next—together." Craig Kessler brings a wealth of golf and business experience to his new role. He comes directly from two years as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the PGA of America, where he did an outstanding job overseeing the organization's complex operations and charitable foundation. Other highlights of Kessler's resume include serving as COO of the well-known sports and entertainment company Topgolf, his work with the National Golf Foundation and on the Dallas Mavericks Advisory Board. His development in the business world includes serving as CEO of Buff City Soap, which grew from 100 to 260 stores during Kessler's one-year, eight-month tenure. Kessler holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and a Masters of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School. More Golf: Rory McIlroy Follows Bryson DeCambeau's Footsteps Making History
22-05-2025
- Business
Craig Kessler selected next LPGA commissioner and sees explosive potential
The LPGA has selected Craig Kessler as its next commissioner, turning to the PGA of America's chief operating officer to help the 75-year-old league better capitalize on the growth in women's sports. Kessler, 39, is the 10th commissioner in LPGA history, replacing Mollie Marcoux Samaan, who stepped away after three-and-a-half years in January. He formally takes over on July 15. 'I don't think this is one of those opportunities where we start with 100 days of listening. It's time to explode out of the gates,' Kessler said. He said the main goal could be to create a culture where anyone looking at the LPGA would say, 'I have to be part of that.' Kessler, a Georgetown graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School, had been with the PGA of America for just over two years and was a candidate to become the CEO until the organization wanted a golf professional in the role and hired Derek Sprague. 'We set out to find a transformational leader with a deep appreciation for the LPGA's legacy and a clear vision of what's possible for our future,' said John Veihmeyer, the chairman of KPMG who chairs the LPGA's board of directors. 'Craig is an inspiring and engaging leader, who brings a unique mix of executive leadership experience, deep relationships in the golf industry, and a genuine commitment to elevating women and girls through golf.' Prior to his two years at the PGA of America, Kessler was CEO of Buff City Soap when it expanded from 100 to 260 stores, and he was COO of Topgolf. He also spent six years as an operating partner in private equity, first with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and later with Providence Equity. 'This isn't just about leading a sports organization. It's about redefining what's possible,' Kessler said. 'This role is deeply personal to me, not just as a professional opportunity but as a chance to make a difference in the world and create new opportunities for others.' Liz Moore, the chief legal and technology officer, will stay in her role as interim commissioner until July 15. The LPGA celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, and has operated independently from the PGA Tour. The total prize fund this year is approaching $130 million as women are getting more corporate support. Women's sports across the landscape has seen a spike in money and interest, though the LPGA has lagged behind in getting attention despite story lines like Nelly Korda winning five straight tournaments last year and Lydia Ko winning the Olympic gold medal to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame, followed by her victory in the Women's British Open.
