Latest news with #Showman
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Power Rankings: Top 10 drivers after Coca-Cola 600. Kyle Larson spins off top spot
Kyle Larson visited spin class and spun out. Twice. In Kyle's world, one bad day (and night) constitutes a slump. Generally, we're a forgiving bunch at the Rankings Ranch, and one bad Sunday doesn't normally have us grabbing the hook. But this "one bad Sunday" came with a glaring spotlight. Advertisement And it came during a weekend in which Billy the Kid — William Byron — was giving a master class in how to race an automobile at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Consider his dominance over the course of about 30 hours. Byron not only won Saturday's Xfinity Series race, he swept all three stages. Sunday night, he won all three stages again, but this time, there was a fourth stage, thanks to the 600 miles that make up the Coke 600. Late in Stage 4, his tires began to go night-night, allowing Ross "The Boss" Chastain to pass for the win. It was very similar to what happened to Willy B last month at Darlington. Advertisement Not that he'll care, but Byron's near-sweep at Charlotte did bump him to first place in our weekly power rankings. He'll surely sleep better knowing that. 1. William Byron A near Charlotte sweep has him atop our heap. 2. Christopher Bell He just doesn't have bad weeks. Sunday's eighth-place finish was about as bad as it gets. 3. Kyle Larson May ends soon and we turn to June. Bet he can't wait. 4. Ross Chastain Win a race, smash a watermelon, scoop up watermelon, eat some. Maybe not appetizing to some, but Ross likes it. That watermelon was getting ripe. 5. Joey Logano Won last year's race at Nashville. Might mean something, might not. 6. Chase Elliott Just filling his points basket. Ex-Hendrick champ Terry Labonte would be proud. 7. Ryan Blaney Mixes in too many crashes. Has four finishes of 35th or worse. 8. Denny Hamlin Got back in the mix Sunday before an unfulfilling pit stop. 9. Chase Briscoe Snuck out a third at Charlotte. Continues to run well most weeks. 10. Alex Bowman Came down to him or Tyler Reddick for 10th. It's the Showman. For now. Advertisement — Email Ken Willis at This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Kyle Larson spins from top of NASCAR Power Rankings. Who's No. 1 now?
India Gazette
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Gazette
Glenn Maxwell: A six-hitting, record-setting Aussie maverick peaking at World Cups
New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell retired from ODI cricket following a glittering 149-match career spanning over a decade as one of the format's most exhilarating performers, who could twist and turn games like a roller-coaster with each swing of the bat. The 36-year-old has lived a contrasting life as an international cricketer in eyes of many. So much talent, but yet patches of inconsistency. Exciting to watch, but yet frustrating at times. A match-winner, but yet someone who could lose it sometimes within an instant. If anything, Maxwell's career has taught fans never to measure his accomplishments on basis of sheer numbers and consistency, but on how much impact he managed to make when he truly took a moment and seized it. While 3,990 runs in 149 matches and 136 innings at an average of 33.81, with four centuries and 23 fifties and 77 wickets might look ordinary to some, there are some metrics and records that truly go under-the-radar. In these numbers lies a match-winner that Maxwell has truly been. Having batted at a variety of positions from one to eight, Maxwell's career never had to be about volume, but rather explosiveness. Its his eye catchy bat swing, audacious reverse ramps, sweeps and pulls that made Maxwell the 'Showman', which is also the rightful title of his autobiography. A bizzare, head-scratching first-ball duck or an explosive century that left fans wanting for more and trying to give their eyes and jaws some rest, Maxwell's batting was as they say in Gen Z slang: Absolute Cinema! -Entertainment over numbers! As per Wisden, he has scored the fifth more runs for Australia while batting at positions five or below and has had the best strike rate while going at it (123.36). All his four ODI centuries have come from position five or below, with one at number five, two at six (Yes! Including a double ton) and one at number seven. Only legendary Andrew Symonds (6) has more centuries in the same role, as per Wisden. Maxwell's striking power has been one of the most ridiculous parts of his game. Among batters with at least 1,000 ODI runs, he has the best strike rate ever for Australia (126.70). Only West Indies (WI) all-rounder Andre Russell (130.22), while playing almost 1/3rds less innings and matches than the Aussie (56 ODIs and 47 innings). The fact that Maxwell sustained his game for so long only adds to his legend. Among the players with atleast 150 ODI sixes, only 17 out of hundreds or thousands to have played the format, his six-hitting ability stands out. His sixes-to-innings ratio of 1.13 is only bettered by Indian opener Rohit Sharma (1.29). He is in the elite company of proper top-order stars like Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill and Jos Buttler as a true middle-order maverick. For him, it was not about delivering numbers, but how fast he could do it, as much as possible. -Reliable in Asia The all-rounder thrived in Asian conditions, a region frustrating for so many greats. Plenty of legends could never really figure out batting against spin in hot, humid, sticky weather on spinny dustbowls. But Maxwell delivered fine numbers in this region, with 1,533 runs in 46 matches, 44 innings at an average of 40.34, strike rate of over 131, with two centuries and nine fifties. Half of his tons have come in Asia. His iconic double ton against Afghanistan during 2023 World Cup while chasing 292 single-handedly battling cramps, back spasm and heat is all one needs to watch to get acquainted with how he unlocked the next level of his batting in Asia. -A World Cup hero for Australia Maxwell has been a two-time World Cup winner, in 2015 and 2019. When he wore the WC medal for the first time in 2015 at home, he carried along with it 324 runs in six innings he could be really proud of. They came with an average of 64.80 and strike rate of 182.02. Even other two top-scorers, David Warner and Steve Smith could not mix consistency with madness like this. Against Sri Lanka, he smashed a 51-ball ton from number five, then the second-fastest WC ton and fastest by an Aussie. Along with fifties against England and an up-and-coming Afghanistan, he delivered a quickfire 14-ball 23 versus India in semis, which battered them a little more. While he could deliver just 177 runs in 10 innings during the 2019 WC at an average of just 22.13 with best score of 46* against SL, his strike rate was still impressive at 150.00. During the 2023 WC in India, it is impossible not to mention his 201* in 128 balls against an inspired Afghanistan which took Aussies from 91/7 to a miraculous victory. The resillient in face of bodily pain, mental anguish and heat was such that several fans who loved themselves an underdog story of the 'Rise of Afghanistan' switched their allegiance to yellow colours just to see Maxi's meditative effort on the pitch pay off. Also in Delhi against Netherlands, he broke the record for fastest WC ton of Aiden Markram (49 balls), smashing it in 40 balls against Netherlands while coming in the 40th over! The all-rounder's record breaking ways met a fitting conclusion as winning runs from his bat guided Australia to their sixth title against a rampaging India, which suddenly looked so mortal and powerless in front of a packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Maxwell ended the tournament with 400 runs in nine innings at an average of 66.67, strike rate of above 150 with two centuries, ending as team's third-highest run-getter above accumulators like Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, who could not cross 400-mark. Three of his four ODI tons came in World Cup, highlighting his big tournament ability. He struck 43 sixes for Australia in the tournament history, highest from his country and third-best behind Chris Gayle (49) and Rohit Sharma (54). His strike rate of 160.32 in 25 innings is also the best in marquee tournament's history among batters with atleast five innings. He has scored 901 runs in 25 innings at an average of 47.42 with three centuries and two fifties. A middle-order impact-maker, among those with 20 WC innings atleast between number four to seven, Maxwell is the only one with a strike rate above 100 and average above 50! Maxwell's big knocks created impact, sealed wins as all his four tons and 17 out of his 23 fifties came in wins. Among players batting five or below, his four centuries in winning cause are joint-third best, behind Jos Buttler, Symonds and Tom Latham, and equal with AB de Villiers and MS Dhoni among others. -A gun spinner and fielder Maxwell took 77 wickets in his career at an average above 47, with best figures of 4/40 and four four-wicket hauls. These are fifth-highest wickets among tweakers in Australia, with Shane Warne (291), Adam Zampa (187), Brad Hogg (156) and Peter Taylor (97) having more. His four four-fers are only outdone by Warne (12+ one five wicket haul), Zampa (11+ one five wicket haul) and Hogg (three+ two five wicket hauls) among spinners. He is in elite company of four Aussies with over 3,000 runs and 75-plus wickets: Steve Waugh (7,569 runs and 195 wickets), Mark Waugh (8,500 runs and 85 wickets), Shane Watson (5,757 runs and 168 wickets) and Symonds (5,088 runs and 133 wickets). A gun fielder with 91 catches, the seventh-highest, he took 0.61 catches per game, the highest ratio among Aussies with 100 ODI caps. (ANI)
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
‘A hero': MARTA train operator ran to help shooting victims, still got passengers to the airport
Passengers who were on a MARTA train where a gunman shot two people are calling the train operator a hero. They say while there was panic and chaos on the train, she remained calm and raced toward the gunfire. 'There was a criminal on the train, but there was also a hero,' passenger Laura Showman told Channel 2's Tom Jones on Tuesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Showman says the operator of the train took control immediately after the shooting Sunday. 'She put herself in danger. She didn't know what was going on,' she said. Showman, her husband and two small children were here from Alabama to visit the Georgia Aquarium and took the train back to the airport. '(I) heard three gunshots and knew immediately what that was. It was very loud,' Showman recalled. The shots came from two cars away at the East Point station. Police say a gunman shot a man in the chest and a bullet grazed another passenger in the neck. Both are recovering. The shooter got away. Showman says the danger didn't stop the train's operator from running toward the gunfire. 'We don't know what just happened, but here comes somebody who is taking action and she's gonna go save the day. I was like, 'Wow,'' Showman said. She says the operator had her first aid kit and gloves and ran towards the victims. Showman says she was professional, efficient and unafraid. Once police and paramedics arrived, 'She got all of the passengers onto another train and then took over that train.' And she got them to the airport. Showman gave the operator a hug, saying it was for going above and beyond her job responsibilities to keep her passengers safe. 'I was impressed. I was really amazed and thankful,' she said. 'And I thought she's a hero today.' Jones connected Showman with MARTA so she could express how she felt about the operator's bravery. Jones asked to speak to the operator, but MARTA declined the invitation. Police continue their search for the gunman and say they have good leads. TRENDING STORIES: This metro Atlanta city is ranked No. 1 on new 'Best Places to Live in the U.S.' list 20 parks to close on Lake Lanier 'Cheers' star George Wendt dies [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Steam engines and sheepdogs thrill crowds at Shane's Castle rally
The sights and sounds of yesteryear transformed the grounds of Shane's Castle in County Antrim as its May Day Steam Rally celebrated its 25th were more than 800 exhibitors at the event on Sunday and Monday, with everything from vintage vehicles to birds of prey garnering Showman's engines, which used to power travelling fairgrounds, provided a focal point for many visitors at the it was not only big beasts generating interest, as a sheepdog display featuring ducks proved popular with people of various generations. Dogs and ducks "I do a demonstration with collie dogs, alongside ducks," James Prenty from Westport in County Mayo told BBC News NI on Monday."Ducks are easier to transport and get from A to B than sheep."They are proving popular with the crowds, there was a brilliant atmosphere and a great turn out on Sunday."I have a small pet farm as well and the children also love that." 'It takes me back' The sheepdog skills were appreciated by grandmother Rosemary Stewart from Moneymore in County Londonderry, who had brought her grandchildren to the rally."It takes me back to when I was younger seeing the sheepdogs, that is an art on its own," she added."I haven't been to this show for over 20 years, I thought I would bring the grandchildren down." 'It is nostalgic' Alana McKee, from Annalong in County Down, was also attending the rally, along with her children Caleb and Jude and their grandfather Cecil said the event was a hit with the boys and stirred memories of her own childhood."They are both having a great time and really enjoyed the Punch and Judy show," she said. "My Daddy and my Mummy would have brought me and my brother to the rally, when we were younger, it is nostalgic," she said. "As children we would have gone religiously."I love that they have kept a lot of the old traditions, as opposed to children being in front of screens." 'Steam engines are exciting and noisy' Ian Duff, who is director of the rally, said attendances this year had been "great", with people travelling from across the island of Ireland to attend."We have enthusiasts here from Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Dublin, Monaghan, we have got exhibitors across from Yorkshire in England and Fife in Scotland," he added."Generally we get somewhere between 15,000 and 20,000 people [attending] over the two days, and it looks like this year, we will probably top that."People like to see the steam engines, they are exciting, they are noisy when they are travelling about, that is probably one of the most popular exhibits and the rides are really popular with the whole said it was a "big coup" to have seven Showman's engines, which is "probably the largest number of Showman's engines ever put together in Ireland".He said the "painted, polished" engines were originally used in show grounds for travelling fun fairs and are ornate, with twisted brass and lights."They were travelling fairgrounds in the 1920s and 1930s and the Showman's engine towed the fair from place to place and then generated the power for the fair when it was on site." Kids beaming 'ear to ear' Revving up to the modern era, the Northern Ireland Land Rover Club gave visitors the chance to experience some off-road driving in the grounds of the president, Gordon McIlwaine, said the rally had been "absolutely brilliant"."It has been so busy and this good weather has brought everybody out," he said it has been "non-stop"."We had to close the barriers to allow the drivers to stop at midday for a cup of tea and a sandwich otherwise they would have kept on going all day."We were watching the kids climbing out of the vehicle when they get back to the finish and they were beaming from ear to ear."
