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Kenny Smith Throws Serious Shade At Michael Jordan & ’90s Bulls

By
Matt Peck
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kenny smith rockets beat michael jordan bulls

It’s one of the great unanswerable sports questions in history: if Michael Jordan hadn’t retired following the death of his father in 1993, would the Bulls have won 8 straight NBA championships?

Kenny “The Jet” Smith says no. He believes his Houston Rockets team led by Hakeem Olajuwon would’ve beaten the Bulls – with Jordan – had they made it to the 1994 or 1995 NBA Finals.

Smith, now an NBA analyst for TNT, spent some time chatting with Brandon Robinson of Scoop B Radio over the weekend.

Here’s what he had to say about the hypothetical matchup:

“Oh we would’ve beat them. And actually everyone forgets [Jordan] was playing the second year, he was wearing No. 45 and the team they lost to, the Orlando Magic, we swept them. We were that much better than them that year, [and] they lost to them.” – Kenny Smith

Who Takes It?

Smith’s right, at least about a few things. Bulls fans tend to forget that Jordan’s comeback happened late in the ’94-95 season, not the ’95-96 season that saw a record 72 wins and a Finals triumph over Seattle. In the 1995 playoffs, Jordan and the Bulls beat Charlotte in the opening round but fell to Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway’s Magic in the conference semifinals. Smith’s Rockets swept Orlando in the Finals for their second straight title.

As for a hypothetical matchup in ’94? That’s harder to judge. Without Jordan, Scottie Pippen led the Bulls all the way to a conference semifinals Game 7 against Patrick Ewing’s Knicks. New York won Game 7, beat the Pacers to win the East and fell to the Rockets in Game 7 of the Finals. If Jordan was there, it’s very possible – almost likely – the Bulls get past New York and Indiana to meet Houston in the Finals. But Smith advised NBA fans to check the stats from Bulls-Rockets games back in the Jordan era.

“They didn’t match up well with us during those years that they were actually winning championships…We were 8-2 against them during those years. We matched up well with them. We wouldn’t have been scared I tell you that much.” – Kenny Smith

Not Exactly

Here’s where Smith’s testimony gets fuzzy. What did he mean by “those years”? Yes, the Rockets did do well against the Bulls in the early ’90s. But his numbers are off. At no point during Smith’s tenure with Houston (’90-96) did they have an 8-2 stretch against the Bulls with or without Jordan. During the first threepeat years, the Rockets went 5-1 against Chicago but never made it out of the West to face them in the Finals. Then in four games during Jordan’s retirement from ’93-95, the Bulls and Rockets split 2-2.

In the ’95-96 season – Smith’s last with Houston – the Bulls went 2-0 against them, winning the games by a combined 25 points. So even if Houston somehow beat Seattle (who swept the Rockets in the semis) and Utah to reach the Finals, there’s no way they would’ve been favored over the 72-win Bulls.

Catch Smith’s full interview with Scoop B Radio below:

We’ll never know who would’ve come out on top in any of these hypothetical Bulls-Rockets Finals matchups from ’94-96. It’s a shame that arguably the two best teams of the decade never faced one another to decide who truly ruled that era of the NBA.

(Speaking from a slightly biased angle, I think we all can agree which team ruled the ’90s.)

Ian Happ Needs To Be Playing Everyday For The Cubs

By
Sean Sears
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Well, Ian Happ is making me look real dumb. Like really dumb. On the latest episode of the 312 podcast, which was recorded less than 24 hours after I write this, I said Ian Happ was not an elite prospect. I explained that he was a solid player, but did not have the superstar potential that other Cubs prospects have been labeled during the rebuild.

While that claim isn’t completely useless, it might as well be because Happ has continued to crush the ball – and do more than homer like I implied in the podcast.

Happ is currently slashing .357/.455/.786 with 2 home runs, 5 RBI, and 8 runs scored since being called up just 10 days ago. And with his switching-hitting power numbers, Happ profiles well directly behind Rizzo in the fourth or fifth spot in the lineup. Of course, this is a small sample size and Happ will eventually cool off, but right now the Cubs need him apart of the everyday lineup.

Perfect example was last night, as the Cubs began to mount a comeback against the Giants. After Javier Baez smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the 8th, Ian Happ came into the game as a pinch hitter and clubbed his first Major-League triple. Ben Zobrist would bring him home shortly after with two-run-dinger of his own, bringing the Cubs within two runs of tying the game. Of course, the Cubs did end up losing that game, but it was Happ that helped ignite the offense while flashing his astonishing bat speed.

And while the strike outs are obvious, Happ has gone down on strikes nine times so far, however he has shown patience at the plate – walking five times. On top of this, his fielding has been unorthodox and awkward looking in moments, but he is making all the plays necessary of a center fielder. If his defense can continue to improve, a reasonable request for a 22-year-old player as versatile as Happ, it’s easy to envision Maddon penciling in his name into the lineup for years to come.

Just look at that stroke, it’s a thing of beauty.

The difficult part about this scenario is that the only real opening on the Cubs roster is center field. With Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber manning the corner outfield spots, and with both Ben Zobrist and Javier Baez splitting time at second, the only way the Cubs can keep Happ in the everyday lineup is to play him over Albert Almora Jr. and Jon Jay.

Neither Jay or Almora have gasped the role of starter to start the season, but the argument could be made that Almora has not been given a fair shake at starting everyday. Part of that has to do with Almora’s struggles against right-handed pitchers, currently batting .200 with 11 strikeouts against rightys. Jay has looked great so far this season at the plate, slashing .321/.418/.410 through 37 games in his first season with the Cubs, however he has already costed the Cubs four runs according to Fangraphs’ defensive runs saved metric and provides almost no power at the plate.

If Happ keeps producing the type of offense he has in his first week with the Cubs, while showing he can do a competent job in center, there is no reason not to keep the 22-year-old out of the lineup for the remainder of the 2017 season. Even if it makes me look stupid.

A Lonely Few Keep Arguing To Beware The Bears Receiving Corps

By
Erik Lambert
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bears receiving corps

It’s easy enough to understand why most media outlets are panning the Chicago Bears receiving corps at the moment. In the space of two off-seasons they’ve lost every major proven asset in their passing game. Brandon Marshall and Martellus Bennett were traded. Alshon Jeffery left via free agency and Eddie Royal was cut. Granted, those moves were made with logical reasoning. Nonetheless it’s left things in a thick cloud of uncertainty.

Often when things just aren’t known, it’s automatically assumed they’re bad. Experts left and right proclaim that 2017 will be a low point for the Bears passing game. Will it though? Quietly GM Ryan Pace has reassembled the teams personnel. Though they have no stars at this point, there is plenty of youth, athleticism and speed.

In fact a number of sources haven’t been shy in their praise of what this group could potentially be.

Bears receiving corps success rests on health

Much of the anticipation centers around the two men at the top. Former first round pick Kevin White and surprising second-year standout Cameron Meredith. Both showed flashes of being really good football players in 2016. According to Pro Football Focus, White was excellent during his brief four-game stint before succumbing to a broken leg. Meredith posted 888 yards on 66 catches.

His progress is remarkable considering he was an undrafted free agent in 2015. Something new quarterback Mike Glennon wasted no time pointing out. Then there’s free agent addition Markus Wheaton. Considered a disappointment in Pittsburgh, he nonetheless had some really good performances. His stats showed steady progression before an injury sidelined him early last year as well. The speed he brings to the table is no joke.

As is often the case, the key to determining just how good this group can be is health. Injuries have really hampered Chicago the past two years at the position. With a stout offensive line and Jordan Howard running the football, the odds are favorable that they won’t have to worry about double coverage too often. This creates a prime atmosphere for guys to make big plays.

Talent isn’t really the question here. It’s health and progression. Pace felt strongly enough about this group to not overpay Jeffery to stay. Was it misguided? Most would love you to think so. Truth be told it won’t become clear for another four months or so. Until then it’s all estimation and guesswork. History proves that is rarely a wise venture.

Dream Job Alert: The “Cubs Network” Is Officially Coming

By
Sports Mockery
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Rumors have swirled for a while about the Chicago Cubs forming their own private cable network and it’s safe to say those rumors are no longer speculation. During a private tour with the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs President of Business Operations confirmed that the front office has taken drastic steps to make it a reality.

Crane Kenney told reporters that the third floor of the new plaza that was recently built represents “Cubs 3.0” which will be the content engine for the highly anticipated network.

The third floor, Kenney said, represents Cubs 3.0. Its future use remains a mystery, though it might provide staff space for the team’s network. Make no mistake, Kenney confirmed that the Cubs will create their own network in 2020, with a studio slated for the Mueller Building at 3721 N. Clark.

Kenney called the Cubs a future “content engine,” pointing to a video of Willson Contreras playing catch with a young fan in the stands during Friday’s rain delay that has garnered 1.9 million views on the Cubs’ Facebook page.

A potential relationship with Notre Dame, Kenney’s alma mater, would yield non-summer programming. And don’t forget Wrigley will host Northwestern football games beginning in 2020 and the Cubs are aiming to create an annual bowl game. Entertainment vehicles and revenue streams galore.

Image result for wrigley field plaza

The Cubs are expected to move on from Comcast after their TV contract is up in 2019. Kenney revealed that previously on the radio.

“2019 is our last year with Comcast, so we’ll move over and launch our own channel in 2020,” Kenney said on the “Mully & Hanley” morning show.

But wait… there’s more. Kenney also said that the fourth, fifth and six floors of the new plaza will be where employees for the network could land their dream job.

The fourth, fifth and sixth floors contain the kind of employee perks that would make you polish your resume. The baseball ops floor (no photographs, per a Kenney request) features a horseshoe-shaped furnishing with swivel chairs facing five TV screens — an ideal spot for Theo Epstein’s crew to watch road games.

The top floor was designed so Kenney can attract the best and the brightest to a front office that has been beefed up to around 400.

With Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight” playing in the background, Kenney pointed to a group of young employees: “I’m recruiting against Facebook, Twitter, YouTube … the 18-20 other content businesses in our city. How do we recruit these millennials who have a lot of options? You have to create a really cool work space.”

Could you imagine working there? Better polish your resume.

As exciting as “The Cubs Network” sounds, there are a lot of questions that will need to be answered.

Will this mean people will have to pay extra money to watch Cubs games, on top of their current cable package?

The answer to that is likely no if the Cubs can strike a deal with providers to make it part of their list of channels, but there’s no way to be sure of that now.

Does this mean Cubs content will run 24/7, on the “Cubs channel,” essentially giving fans 24/7 access to content from the team?

The answer to that is likely yes. You can expect the channel to share other investor interests like football games and concerts that take place at Wrigley Field as well.

Can I work for this company?

Seriously….

Coming in 2020.

Here’s How Dominant Kyle Long and Josh Sitton Were Together In 2016

By
Erik Lambert
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kyle long and josh sitton

One of the reasons the Chicago Bears likely felt so confident in literally replacing their entire quarterback roster was their offensive line. Collectively it allowed just 28 sacks in 2016. An impressive number considered they had to protect three different passes over the course of 16 games. By far the biggest reason for this success were guards Kyle Long and Josh Sitton.

It was considered a minor coup when Chicago was able to sign Sitton so late into free agency last year after the Green Bay Packers inexplicably cut him. It’s not every day a team can land a Pro Bowler like that. Most believed that move gave the Bears one of the best interior blocking trios in the NFL along with rookie center Cody Whitehair.

The only problem people ended up having with the situation? It didn’t last long enough.

Kyle Long and Josh Sitton were dominant together

Injuries were a persistent problem for the pair last year. Long missed eight games with a nasty ankle problem. Sitton missed four with various ailments as well. It was an all too brief showing of how good they could be together. According to Pro Football Focus, the possibilities are potentially great.

Allowing just one hit on the quarterback in six games? That is pretty impressive stuff right there. Especially considering both men were banged up for a good part of that stretch. Imagine how much better they might be if and when they can both get on the field healthy. Long is still rehabbing his surgically repaired ankle. He should be ready for the reason. Sitton by all accounts is a full go for training camp.

Experts believe good interior blocking is a big key to success for veteran quarterback Mike Glennon. If he wants to fulfill his dream to become a long-term NFL starter then having those two in front of him may be the key.

Joe Maddon’s Gifts For 1,000 Career Wins Fit Him Perfectly

By
Gus
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Before last night’s game against the San Francisco Giants, a brief ceremony was held to commemorate Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s 1,000th career win. Maddon reached the 1,000 win mark a week ago during a 9-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and hilariously showed up to his post game press conference with a very large glass of wine which he referred to as “big smooth.”

After the pre-game ceremony last night, it appears Maddon won’t run out of wine anytime soon.

Maddon was presented with a ridiculousy large bottle of what appears to be wine or champagne. Since I’m not really a fan of either beverage, I’ll just say it’s wine ok? The bottle was presented by a representative from Binny’s Beverage Depot which Maddon happens to be a spokesman for as well.

Maddon, a noted connoisseur of wine, uses wine instead of money when he is collecting fines from players for minor infractions throughout the course of the season. He also uses wine to celebrate his players when they reach certain milestones or just make great plays in the field (He gave Addison Russell a bottle last August for making a sparkling defensive play.)

The bottles he gives (and receives) pale in comparison to the bottle he got last night.

A (major) toast to the coach! Congrats on 1000 wins! 🍾🥂

A post shared by Binny's Beverage Depot (@binnysbev) on

In addition to this stupid big bottle of wine, Maddon was also presented with a pretty sweet watch from a company called Original Grain.

Cheers to that time Joe Maddon won 1,000 games! 🍾⌚️

A post shared by cubs (@cubs) on

The inscription on the front of the box reads,

“Presented to Joe Maddon/1,000th win as manager/Wrigley Field – May 16, 2017/Cubs 9 Reds 5”

I know I’m not the only one who is wondering just how long it will take Maddon to drink that entire bottle. I’d like to see him roll that bad boy into the Cubs infamous “party room” where the team congregates after each win to celebrate. I’d bet a good amount of money that the bottle probably weighs more than CJ Edwards so let’s try and keep it away from him to avoid any injuries moving forward.

Congrats on 1,000 wins, Joe.

Check Out The Celebrities Who Are Supporting David Ross’ Bid To Win It All On Dancing With The Stars

By
Gus
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The dance is finally over.

Last night, David Ross performed for one of the last times on Dancing With The Stars and fittingly danced to “Take Me Out To The Ballgame.” Well, it started out as “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” but quickly merged into Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock’s “It Takes Two.” Rossy must have felt comfortable dancing to popular 80’s song because he already knew all the words which he showed off during an interesting freestyle at this year’s Cubs Convention. Ross has had a magical run this season and has captured the hearts of fans across America. Even though America has fallen in love with Rossy’s dance skills, he appears to be a severe underdog to win the competition.

According to Goldderby.com, Ross has the worst odds to win the coveted “mirror ball” trophy that will be handed out on tonight’s final episode. Singer Normani Kordei is the runaway favorite to win with odds of 1/3, which translates to a 76%. Football player Rashad Jennings is next in line to win the trophy with 9/2 odds, or an 18% chance and at the very end, all the way back in the standings, is David Ross.

Last week, nobody predicted his shocking victory over Simone Biles but thanks to Cubs nation’s votes, Ross made it through. Last week, Ross had 100/1 odds of prevailing, but now he’s up to odds of 16/1, or a 6% chance of taking the Mirror Ball Trophy. I mean, it’s not like this is the first time Ross has faced insurmountable odds (Remember the whole 3-1 thing?)

Although Ross has the worst odds to win it all tonight, a ton of celebrities took to Twitter last night to throw their support behind Rossy.

Ross even got the support of some team pages as well (including his alma mater).

And of course Ross was getting the love from his former teammates.

In case you missed the performance you can check it out here.

A winner will be crowned on the two-and-a-half hour season 24 finale of Dancing with the Stars Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Let’s bring another trophy home Grandpa.

Turns Out This Free Agent Was Eyeing The Bears For Over a Year

By
Erik Lambert
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jaye howard bears

It seems the Jaye Howard Bears connection was always fated to happen. Early in 2016 it was felt by many that he was just the sort of defensive line addition GM Ryan Pace coveted. Young, tough, ascending and relatively cheap compared to the superstars. As it turns out the feeling was mutual. Even before free agency began Howard had his eye on Chicago as a top destination.

Howard confirmed this in his first major interview with the Chicago Sun-Times since signing with the team back in early May. The two sides apparently discussed a possible deal but as is often the case with the Bears, he wasn’t hearing the money numbers he wanted. In the end he chose to return to Kansas City on a short two-year deal for $12 million.

The Jaye Howard Bears story was fate it seems

He considered joining the Bears last year as a free agent, but the sides, he said, weren’t close to a deal.

“I was coming off a hell of a year,” the 6-3, 301-pounder said. “Everybody thought the price would be outrageous.”

One of the most coveted defensive players in the 2016 free-agent class, he eventually signed a two-year contract worth $12 million to stay in Kansas City. The Chiefs put him on injured reserve Dec. 1 after eight games and five starts. He said he wasn’t surprised, citing the business realities of the league.

“It’s funny how that works,” he said. “I wanted to be here last year. A year later, I’m here. The thing is, I’m just trying to stay here.”

Sometimes the NFL works out that way. Two sides come so close to deal, it stalls and they go their separate ways. Then through a twist of fate the player becomes available again and the team gets their second chance to sign him. Howard was one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league during the 2015 season. He was a top run defender who also produced a health 5.5 sacks. Nowhere near J.J. Watt levels but solid work.

Vic Fangio loves versatile players and Howard is very versatile when he’s healthy. He is not yet 100% recovered from the hip injury that ended his 2016 season. Nonetheless he’s another cheap addition who has a real chance of becoming a productive starter. A trio of him, Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks could be quite formidable up front. That no doubt is what the Bears are hoping for. He’s certainly motivated to prove he belongs.

The Rise Of Avisail Garcia

By
Emmet McClain
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It’s May 22nd and we are all waiting for Avi Garcia to revert to the norm that White Sox fans know him by: a 5-tool player that always showed spurts of greatness, but was never able to put it together for a prolonged period of time.

Last year seemed to be the end for Avi, as he put together yet another year of bad at-bats even though he was able to focus mainly on hitting as a DH. However, with the White Sox recently deciding to tear everything down and start from scratch, Avi received a final chance. It really was a no brainer for the White Sox when you think about it. If Avi sucked again, it would help position the team for a better pick in next years draft. If he broke out, it may mean that he has finally, after all these years, figured it out.

Shockingly, it seems as if the latter has happened.

Putting It All Together

So far this season, Garcia is leading the American League in batting average at .350. You read that correctly. On Saturday night against Seattle, he had his best performance of the season, as he went 4-5 with 2 home runs and 2 doubles.

Perhaps the most impressive stat about Avi this season is his WAR. In ’14 and ’15 his WAR was -0.4, and -1.0, respectively. ’15 was slightly better as he at least posted a positive WAR of 0.5. This year, through a little less than a third of the season, his WAR already stands at 1.8. That my friends, is downright shocking.

So What Has Changed?

Honestly nothing really when it comes to mechanics. He is actually walking less than he ever has, which normally would be a negative, but when he is hitting as well as he has, it does not really factor into play very much. The biggest thing he changed seems to be his mental approach. If you watch him at the plate, you can really see just how confident he looks as a hitter. Sure he has had a few games where he has gone 0-3 with 2 K’s, but he has not had a prolonged slump like White Sox fans are so used to seeing.

A few weeks back, Avi said in an interview how he is taking a different approach to games. He stated how each game, good or bad, it is about starting over, not thinking about what he has done already or what he needs to do in the future. Avi is focused on the now, and it is obviously working.

Another reason why Avi could finally be breaking out is his maturity. He is still just 25-years-old, but he has had MLB experience since 2014. For some, it really does take a little longer to tap into their potential. Avi could be the next example.

The biggest reason why Avi is having this much success early on is because there is literally zero pressure on him, or any of his teammates for that matter. They all know this is a rebuilding team. If they win, great. But if not, it really is not the worst thing in the world. Rick Renteria has been a breath of fresh air in the clubhouse, and he really seems to communicate well with everyone on the roster. If you watch the White Sox now, you will see a group of guys just playing a game and having fun. The majority of the players on the current roster will be gone in the next 2-3 years. Tim Anderson and Carlos Rodon are probably the only sure guarantees of staying. Avi Garcia is looking like a potential third lock. If he stays, he will be one of the leaders of a young White Sox squad.

Will He Ever Cool Off?

Unfortunately, yes. Every player goes through slumps, regardless of how good they are. Hell, look at the Cubs right now. Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber are both off to some pretty bad starts, but every baseball fan knows that they will eventually break out of it. They are just too good of players not to. It will be interesting to see how Avi handles the first extended slump this season. It will come, but if he really has come around, it will be much shorter than some of the ones we are accustomed to seeing from him.

Do The White Sox Trade Him While His Value Is At Its Highest?

This is going to become a popular topic as the trade deadline nears. I am standing firm on my answer to this question: Hard No. If Avi really has figured it all out and Rick Hahn flips him for prospects, it could come back to haunt the White Sox. Especially if those prospects never pan out. You don’t just trade a bat like Avi’s just to sell high because you can.

Now, he’s not going to be a .350 hitter for the rest of his career obviously, but if he has found a way to consistently hit .290, drive in 100+, and hit 25+ home runs, that is a player I do not move. Besides, the market for Avi right now is nonexistent at the moment. The biggest positions traded for at the deadline are almost always pitchers, both starters and bullpen pieces. Right now, Avi is looking like a player I would want the White Sox to trade FOR, not away. For now, Rick Hahn should, and probably will, keep his potential star outfielder.

MVP?

Right now, Avi is on pace for 130+ RBI’s and 30+ home runs. If he keeps his average where it is at now (unlikely), we are talking about a potential Triple Crown campaign. Talk about a comeback story. A player who was virtually on his way out of town comes back stronger than ever to take home an MVP award.

Even though the White Sox are mediocre at best this season and are going through a full fledged rebuild, the White Sox have not been this exciting since, hell… 2008? Changes are going to be coming fast on the South Side as prospects get called up throughout the year and more trades are eventually made. One constant will be Avi Garcia manning left field and crushing the baseball. The future of the White Sox may be 2-3 years away, but for Avi, it looks like the future is finally now.

Addison Russell and Albert Almora Post Back-to-Back Insane Plays

By
Erik Lambert
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addison russell and albert almora

Addison Russell and Albert Almora are two of the biggest reasons the Chicago Cubs have one of the best defenses in all of professional baseball. Their ability to field and rob batters of hits has been key to keeping this team afloat through its early season struggles. Never was that more apparent than on this crazy sequence against the San Francisco Giants.

Already trailed 1-0 after John Lackey surrendered a home run in the 1st inning, the Giants were looking to add more. On back-to-back at-bats they drilled the ball off Lackey for what looked like guaranteed hits. Unfortunately they forgot that Russell and Almora were on the field. Meanwhile the Wrigley faithful were treated to a couple defensive gems in the space of mere moments.

The pitching continues to be a big question mark for the Cubs but as long as their bats remain hot and the defense is at this level there’s no reason to think they can’t hang tough in the NL Central as the season plays out. Russell continues to evolve as a complete player while Almora is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.

Best to leave the questions of pitching to Theo Epstein and his crew. That’s what they get paid for. In the meantime the Cubs can stay focused on continuing to string together wins. However they do it doesn’t matter. If it takes highlight reel defense, so be it.

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