sikiuart

[yngai]

SEPERATE WAYS (2023) INITIAL THOUGHTS - PART ONE :

while i think i set my expectations a little too high regarding this DLC & there are areas where i was left disappointed, aspects of the original story that begged for expansion which are either ignored or just as obtuse, i do enjoy the new additions & scenarios unique to her campaign ( resulting from it being given proper development time, when the original was always an afterthought, a quickfire rendition of the main scenario whose actual story is relegated to direct exposition from ada in between chapters + the attached guidebook offering context on her actions & allegiances ) . ada's characterization falls very much in line with how i've portrayed her . while capcom always delivers on engaging gameplay ( RE4R's combat is the franchise's best & ada's unique move-set sets this DLC apart ), characters & story can often take a backseat to the breakneck pacing of the action, to atmosphere & overall world, monster & sound design .

i wish this wasn't a consistent issue but having been a resident evil fan for at least half a decade now this is what i should've expected, there are some excellent moments hampered by wasted potential & while these are faults i am happy to see ada wong being given a chance to shine . separate ways was always setting up ada's own solo outing that was later backtracked & her narrative role reused for damnation, only somewhat realized with RE6 as ada's campaign carries the most story relevance as we learn the motivations & background of the game's villains, with ada confronting her own manufactured persona plastered onto another woman . this DLC feels like that promise fulfilled, ada unchained from her narrative dependance on leon as we relive the events of RE4R from her perspective . whereas for leon it's a horror, for ada it's just another day clocking in to work . everyone was left wanting for more & thinking ada robbed of her story relevance by luis, but even in the original her campaign is what cements her role in the narrative & it is the same here .

i don't tie my blog's canon exclusively to the remakes & as i've detailed here there will be a lot carried over from the original moving forward with my portrayal, especially in how resident evil 4 (2005) is a self-aware take on the american action movie, where ada plays & subverts the role of the femme fatale very plainly . this is something important to how i perceive & portray ada, because i think an issue regarding most analysis of her character is that despite her duplicitous, calculated nature, people take her & her words at face value . in this remake much like in her every appearance, there is a disconnect between her actions & the information she relies to other characters, it's what makes her interesting to me ( & why i've written her for as long as i've been a ressie fan ) . we've known since RE3 that ada wong is a cover, a mask worn by a woman that thrives on lies & deceit, & the weight of it, her existence in a world on the brink of self-destruction is what gives her life meaning .

separate ways (2023) doesn't truly pick up until after luis' death, sadly, i don't think her infection is given much proper development, but her relationship with luis going beyond one file & one cutscene is a welcome addition to her story & the interplay with luis' arc & theme of redemption adds a lot of context to ada's scenes in leon's campaign . the build up is a little middling but the payoff is worth it .

this isn't going to be an in-depth analysis post, i still need to gather my thoughts, think of this more as a rather long list of observations :

first off, i love that ada's introduction & approach to rescuing luis shows her undercover . this is the first time in the franchise we see ada, a spy, sneak into a situation not donning her signature raven black hair matching her usual red/black color scheme . while the leather gloves are a dead giveaway to eagle eyed viewers, it's a nice change of pace for a character we are told is a spy though we rarely see do proper espionage ( she is more akin to a gentleman thief ) . does make me wonder where she procured the outfit since the inhabitants of the castle are on high alert, & what she thinks of all the dead hitchhikers she walked past on her way down .

i also enjoy that ada humors luis by giving the chance to finish off his private dance number & that from her expression alone there's instant regret, an eye roll, placing a cigarette in his mouth to shut him up, later turning her head away to create distance as luis leans in, before her demeanor with him grows openly hostile as he continues testing her patience . i will say though, this scene does feel like it belongs later in the campaign, it makes little sense for ada's route throughout valdelobos to be castle -> village -> castle ( luis even mocks it, asking ada if she ever thought she'd come back to the castle later . seems like a cheeky nod from the developers hinting at the strangeness of the circling ), & it always felt like their cliffside chat was supposed to be their first meeting . in fact, this is hinted at by the code phrase used, one luis asks leon upon their introduction & later ada, stressed in the e-mails exchanged . which is absent here as i think originally the trouble luis got himself into that leon hears of in the prince charming radio call was getting recaptured . this is a writing decision made specifically for the DLC that, in my opinion, does conflict a little with the main scenario, but i can live with it .

i guess it's nice of ada to pick up a pack of cigarettes on the way to valdelobos, i just wish she smoked one or two in a cutscene, maybe they're not her brand .

some insights into ada's arms dealing background given from the descriptions of her springfield armory xd ( blacktail ac ), customed made for ada's personal use, she must know some excellent gunsmiths . interesting as well that her knife 'has meant the difference between life & death on more than a few missions', she is shown to be rather proficient with knives in later cutscenes too . really makes her expression when leon essentially mansplains the usefulness of knives in close quarters all the more understandable . she thinks it very funny, because she never initiated the fight with the intention to harm ( finger off the trigger, playful lilt to her voice, in the remake leon has openings ada doesn't exploit, leon is her distraction against los iluminados why would she harm him at all ) . in both renditions it's a part of her game to judge his training, how it has changed him & in the remake she does get caught off guard by how seriously leon takes the encounter, the build up of resentment of a six year old death & betrayal ( deserving, of course, a consequence for ada's actions in raccoon city that leaves little room for whatever lingering sentiment people misinterpret in their interactions ) only regaining her foothold when he tries to talk down to her . then she mocks what he's become .

after learning of ada's infection i first speculated it would coincide with her own capture by méndez's forces after rescuing leon at his home, sedated as in the original & injected with her own plaga instead of becoming a sacrifice . instead her infection happens first thing, resulting from a fairly surface level cut on her right arm that heals & vanishes ( along the damage to her sweater ) within minutes . while we are told that pesanta possess a unique form of plaga infection specific to her victims ( fitting with her name drawing from catalan folklore as a creature that causes breathing problems & nightmares by perching atop a person's chest ), plaga infections happen through the injection or forceful swallowing of a parasite into a host . in the remake the parasites survived incased in amber, preserved like the insects they are, in the original they became petrified & their spores infected miners hired by the salazar family, & now i guess an organic spike cutting someone slightly is enough for a parasite to start growing in your body . but hey, infection through a wound sustained on your forearm from a black-clad monster pursuing you throughout your mission, ada/jill parallels anyone ?

it's just a shame pesanta isn't a stalker enemy that irregularly pursues ada throughout the castle & village, an active threat that looms over the horizon . she is encountered three times, always alone ( sans illusions, which i suppose is a nice nod the hookman version of RE3.5 ) & the third time is the reimagined U3 boss fight, where ada is freed of her infection . this is told to us, & ada even comments on the usefulness of the information, in a file found in the display room, but it's almost kind of a copout as to end the infection plotline as soon as possible .

for leon it lingers until the very end, he goes to such great lengths to cure himself & ashley, ada vomits her parasite & brushes it off like it never happened, & it's such a shame because pesanta's ability to control her victims through waking nightmares would've been such a great chance to introduce some more horror to ada's journey, insight into her character by the nature her nightmares take, imagery & symbolism, maybe an even more overt series of hallucinations in the castle as a full on callback to RE3.5, something beyond her nightmares being a boss mechanic ( not asking for anything beyond a 5-10 minute sequence is a 3-4 hour long DLC ) . this is why i'm currently on the fence about retaining it as part of my canon, i guess until we see the story relevance of the blood sample wesker takes in their first encounter .

ada, to me, is a character that always struggles with her lingering humanity that gets in the way of her own selfish whims & her employers' desires . she finds herself getting invested & distracted by the people she comes across during her missions, by a moral line she is unwilling to cross no matter how beneficial it would be in the long run, which is bolstered here as she affirms luis' promise & need for redemption . while i won't bore you with the notion that her greatest flaw is that she cares too much or anything ( she doesn't ), it is an aspect of her character that makes her a more realized person but dampens her life of espionage . it's an operational failure, but not a personal one, something i would've loved to see reflected in her struggle against the plaga, her humanity succumbing to a power she can't truly comprehend . one that might be useful in her betrayal of wesker, a man who thinks himself as having surpassed humankind . a notion considered but ultimately discarded as she is self-assured enough to think she can stand against wesker on her own terms .

pleasantly surprised to see ada's glasses return in a superior form, one i'm definitely keeping, as the I.R.I.S. system is a gameplay feature & a fun little spy gadget that makes far too much sense as a tool in ada's arsenal . not just explaining her prowess with her grappling hook but scanning the environment for footprints & fingerprints, a gameplay feature i hope to see return in any prospective future instalment featuring ada . she is noted in a character blurb from the original RE2 to be an investigator, an information retrieval specialist, as both the g-virus & the dominant plaga are referred to as evidence that ada is tasked with collecting, rather than research material ( the former makes a lot more sense once you consider that ada's golgotha sample never resurfaces after RE2, while the g-virus itself does in dead aim, degeneration & RE6, it's always through other avenues, namely, HUNK's sample landing in the hands of umbrella europe's facilities in france, frederic downing escaping raccoon city with his own sample & carla radames extracting the lingering golgotha in sherry's system - the latter kept by ada for undisclosed purposes, the same file mentioning she has no desire being part of wesker's apocalyptic designs ) .

when i first played the demo for RE4R i immediately locked onto the game's present though underdeveloped stealth mechanics . i remember testing its limits seeing how far i could sneak into the village before initiating combat ( it wasn't very far ), & it set my mind ablaze with the possibility that separate ways would expand on its stealth system, making ada a more covert operative . while there's certainly opportunities for stealth, more than the base game, it would've been very neat to see the I.R.I.S. system implemented in such a way as to allow ada to scurry by undetected . enemy sightlines & alert levels, a ping system allowing you to see enemy movements behind walls, i'm just dreaming about an ada wong metal gear solid game .

does make me wonder though if this is just an ace in ada's deck that wesker is otherwise unaware of, as he could very easily tap into her eye to see her activities in real time, though i doubt it's in any way connected to any network ( los illuminados also has the facilities to interrupt any radio communication ) . ada keeps wesker updated to her progress via her radio & never removes the I.R.I.S. like she discards her sunglasses, i'm unsure yet if it is a contact lens or a permanent implant .

an incredibly goofy line but i think as ada's report unveils, ada isn't necessarily the most creative woman when it comes to word choice ( she leans too heavily on obvious metaphor & cliché even in her speech patterns ), i don't think this topples her equating umbrella's collapse with an umbrella folding & brining all of spencer's shadowy conspirators ( wesker included ) out into the light & their wretchedness into full view, their battle of light & darkness as they seek to erect a new umbrella, that's still my favorite ada wong-ism . i think her quips in this DLC make her out to be even more of a dweeb than ever before & believe me she thinks she is so clever .

very brief for an introductory monologue but i do like that RE4R's primary theme of change is carried over to ada's narrative through the lens of how raccoon city changed her, kind of been a long running aspect of my portrayal, the complete shift of the ada wong persona & the ideals of the woman underneath after a night that almost undid everything she was . this in tandem with the reputation garnered from her survival & the opportunities it presented her as a corporate spy is what molded ada into a much more efficient, smarter operative willing to reopen old wounds as to form scar tissue . her questioning wesker's designs with the amber here, as well as telling luis earlier she has yet to decide what to do with the amber, is also a very nice callback to death's door where ada's single thought following her discussion with wesker at the apple inn is the possibility of a g-virus outbreak on the scale of raccoon city ( 'if the t-virus did this, what would happen if the g-virus got out ?' ) .

she probably blessed whatever higher power she doesn't believe in that no such outbreak has ever occurred, a BSAA file on golgotha specifically states this fact & the disastrous consequences should one ever occur & as i've mentioned previously, her sample never amounted to much . this does tie into a point i will make once we reach the post credits scene, it's something that makes me very happy .

i don't think ada was ever fully prepared for raccoon city, even prior to the outbreak itself the darkness of the umbrella corporation was of an evil she had yet to encounter ( if you subscribe to her presence in arklay & stay in raccoon city up until the outbreak as i do, rather than being sent into RC on two separate occasions ) . while there was plenty of dread & deceit in her life, death & betrayal, petty crime & arms dealing that made her the perfect candidate to be a corporate spy on behalf of one of umbrella's rivals, the eugenics driven research into the t-virus which would eventually lead to the development of bioweapons for the us military was a revelation not easily stomached . she was in over her head with no out but to continue her mission until she found herself in a living nightmare with no real plan & no backup, a desperate woman donning lies trying & failing to manipulate her way to her mission's success . the desperation of her half-constructed lies that only a rookie like leon would believe ( & even he quickly formed doubts ) is what really cements RE2R as one of my favorite characterizations of ada, she lost control & paid for her failure with the life of her persona, only for that name to become her moniker once she managed to drag herself out of raccoon city's wreckage, one of the few survivors .

ada takes on a very cheeky matter-of-fact tone in this radio conversation, combined with the fact she must've already known about the kidnapping of ashley graham before going into valedobos, might be a hint towards ada herself having tipped off the us government towards ashley's location specifically to rile up the cult as a distraction ( 'couldn't have picked a worse time' ) . this does fall in line with a file from the original game, where the cult suggest a similar theory that i think ada's report on leon confirms outright, as she plans for his involvement in a starring role while she works in the background, mentioning how simple the structuring of the operation was prior to los iluminados capturing the us president's daughter . the kind of thing that tends to complicate matters, thanks krauser .

OH MY GOD HE SAID THE LINE !!!

[wrestlinghasmelike-blog]

NXT Takeover: Brooklyn/Summerslam Recap and Feelings- August 18th-19th, 2018

What a weekend for wrestling, huh? And what a fantastic one at that!

This weekend we got both Takeover: Brooklyn and SummerSlam events, and I think they both delivered so well. There were a couple things that weren’t great, but overall, I think both events were phenomenal. I’m gonna give a couple of brief comments on what I think should be mentioned, but if I missed something you wanted to know about, let me know!

Thanks for checking out this post! Please give it a like and a reblog, and as always, feel free to leave a comment or reply with how you thought the shows were! I’d love to hear from you. Thanks!

Let’s start with Takeover...

Wow, another fantastic NXT pay per view. I’ve been so behind on watching NXT, but I made sure to catch myself up with some of the storylines coming into this weekend. I think the ones I was most involved in were the Ricochet/Adam Cole and the Velveteen/EC3 stories. Those guys are so great at telling stories, ESPECIALLY VELVETEEN. I also thought those two matches were the best on the card! Granted, the whole card delivered, but these were the two that really took me away.

Undisputed Era def. Moustache Mountain to retain the titles

-this was a really fun match to watch. Kyle O'Reilly is so expressive; when that guy sells a bump, he fucking sells it. I’m really impressed with him and Roddy and what they can do. I think joining this team has really helped Roddy along in NXT. He wasn’t doing much after Drew got injured and Bobby Roode was called up, but now he’s one-half of the tag champs and living large.

Moustache Mountain are also phenomenal athletes. Tyler Bate is so young, buT SO GOOD RIGHT?! That guy is my age and he’s killing the game. I hope they get another chance to fight in the near future.

Shayna Baszler lost her title to Kairi Sane

In a rematch from the Mae Young Classic last year, Kairi and Shayna took each other to the limit in this emotional bout. Shayna has been wanting people to forget about her loss to Kairi last year, calling it a fluke, and saying that Kairi cannot do it again.

Surprisingly, Shayna was actually putting on a good match! She hasn’t really been the best in NXT, but it looks like she’s been putting in a lot of work on her ring skills and it shows. She was pretty okay when she first debuted in NXT, and she was leaps and bounds ahead of Ronda when she came to WWE, so there’s that.

Kairi is the only women’s champion in WWE that I care about right now...

Tomasso Ciampa def. Johnny Gargano in a Last Man Standing 

This was another great match, and these guys could tell a million stories and have a million matches and I bet you people wouldn’t get tired of it.

...except me.

I already am not a fan of Gargano. He’s just too over-hyped for me, and I don’t see why to be honest. The guy has some great in-ring ability and can really tell a story with his body, but something misses the mark for me. 

Tomasso, on the other hand, is one of the best characters WWE has right now. That guy is so hated and I love him for it. He’s the ultimate heel. I hope he has a long title run.

Overall...

Takeover was great. Whoever’s doing the booking and storyline work for these guys should be the one for Raw and Smackdown. Of course, there were a few misses, but really another great show in Brooklyn. 

SummerSlam

I think that this was the best pay per view of the year for the main brand. I also think this was the first weekend that I thought both shows were on par with each other. Usually, NXT out does the main brand by miles, but I thought they were shoulder to shoulder at least. There were a few matches that I didn’t care for at all. But again, this was the first double pay per view weekend that I thought one show didn’t outdo the other.

Both Tag Division Need Work

Both the B-Team and the Bludgeon Brothers defended and retained their titles at SummerSlam. I thought both matches were just mediocre and not worth being on the pay per view.

It’s always the same for the B Team; they get a lucky win and everyone goes nuts. It’s fun seeing these guys be goofy and being the underdogs, but can we see some real competition again?

The same goes for the Bludgeon Brothers. All we see is them just beat and barrage their opponents, and then the match is over? The New Day, while old and stale, should’ve won at SummerSlam. WWE needs to stop making the bigger guys this unstoppable force. It’s boring, and frankly, it’s unfair.

The Return of the Demon King

OK SO LIKE THIS MATCH WASN’T VERY LONG BUT HOLY FUCK HE’S BACK HE’S BACK

The Demon King returned to Brooklyn last night to take on Baron Corbin, and while the match was only like, 95 seconds (?), this was the right way to utilize the Demon. He needs to be this supernatural force that no one can take down, and that’s what he did on Sunday. 

And you can bet your ass that my ass was crying at his return. I almost snapped on my brother’s girlfriend for getting mad and making fun of me. Fam, don’t ever let anyone make you feel bad for getting emotional over something that you care about. You have a right to be excited or happy or sad for something you care about, it’s why you care about it, right?!

Becky Lynch SNAPPED

OH FUCKING FINALLY

Becky, Carmella, and Charlotte Flair all competed in a triple threat match for the Smackdown Women’s title, and everyone had a feeling going in that Charlotte would once again win the title. And she did. 

BUT THEN BECKY SNAPPED

Becky, after hugging and congratulating her once best friend, slapped her in the face and threw her around the ring and over one of the announce tables.

God, that was a good song. Play it on repeat for me.

Becky should’ve won the title this weekend, but this “heel turn” was almost as satisfying.

I really don’t want to talk about the Ronda match, but like I said earlier, Kairi is the only women’s champion in WWE right now...

...someone get that transphobic, racist woman away from that title please and thank you.

Samoa Joe could be my daddy??

Reviving their old TNA rivalries, Samoa Joe and AJ Styles put on a clinic on Sunday. This turned personal a few weeks ago when Joe brought AJ’s family into the mix, which is a feature that I love and hate. When it’s done right, I love it, but when it’s done out of context and too harshly, then I hate it. Joe did it right, and he incorporated it all throughout the match. 

HE CALLED HIMSELF DADDY AND I STARTED SWEATING

AJ retained the title in the end, but Joe walked away with a look in his eye that told me this story isn’t over. Thank god for a good Joe program.

Roman brings it home

We finally have the Universal Title back home, which means we can finally get some good storylines and matches again.

I was convinced that Braun would’ve cashed in his money in the bank contract, but he didn’t! I really don’t care who won, as long as it wasn’t Brock. 

There wasn’t much to say about this match, but at least Brock didn’t win.

Overall...

I really liked SummerSlam. I think it was the main brand’s best pay per view of the year so far. With only a few blunders (ronda winning and the tag matches) I really thought this was a great show! I’m excited to see what the fall term brings us in WWE. We have the demon king back, and the title is back home.

Thanks for reading! Please give this a reblog and spread it around! Thanks!

[news-mashable-yahoopartner-blog]

Patriots and NFL players post heartfelt tributes to retiring legend Rob Gronkowski

New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski has announced his retirement from the NFL, prompting heartfelt social media posts from his teammates, other players, and fans.

The star 29-year-old tight end heralded his decision on Sunday with a lengthy post on Instagram, marking the end of a sparkling nine-year career.

SEE ALSO: Colin Kaepernick's new 'Icon' jersey sells out in hours

"It all started at 20 years old on stage at the NFL draft when my dream came true, and now here I am about to turn 30 in a few months with a decision I feel is the biggest of my life so far. I will be retiring from the game of football today," he wrote.

"My life experiences over the last 9 years have been amazing both on and off the field," he added. "To all my current and past teammates, thank you for making each team every year special to be apart of. I will truly miss you guys."

View this post on Instagram

It all started at 20 years old on stage at the NFL draft when my dream came true, and now here I am about to turn 30 in a few months with a decision I feel is the biggest of my life so far. I will be retiring from the game of football today. I am so grateful for the opportunity that Mr. Kraft and Coach Belichick gave to me when drafting my silliness in 2010. My life experiences over the last 9 years have been amazing both on and off the field. The people I have meet, the relationships I have built, the championships I have been apart of, I just want to thank the whole New England Patriots organization for every opportunity I have been giving and learning the great values of life that I can apply to mine. Thank you to all of Pats Nation around the world for the incredible support since I have been apart of this 1st class organization. Thank you for everyone accepting who I am and the dedication I have put into my work to be the best player I could be. But now its time to move forward and move forward with a big smile knowing that the New England Patriots Organization, Pats Nation, and all my fans will be truly a big part of my heart for rest of my life. It was truly an incredible honor to play for such a great established organization and able to come in to continue and contribute to keep building success. To all my current and past teammates, thank you for making each team every year special to be apart of. I will truly miss you guys. Cheers to all who have been part of this journey, cheers to the past for the incredible memories, and a HUGE cheers to the uncertain of whats next.

A post shared by Rob Gronkowski (@gronk) on Mar 24, 2019 at 2:53pm PDT

Gronkowski thanked the Patriots, particularly owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick, both of whom posted their own statements on Twitter.

"Rob was a great, great teammate. His production spoke for itself, but his daily attitude, unmistakably positive energy wherever he went and toward whoever he touched will never be forgotten," read Belichick's statement.

Kraft called him "the most dominant player at his position for nearly a decade."

Statement from Bill Belichick on @RobGronkowski. pic.twitter.com/aSivcAkF3u

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) March 25, 2019

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady also took to Instagram with a tribute to his teammate, calling the last nine years playing together an "honor and privilege." 

"You accomplished so much and our team was almost unbeatable when you were on the field! Your fun-loving, inspiring, and positive energy made an impact on everybody you came into contact with!" he wrote.

"As great as a player you are, you are a better teammate and person. The NFL was a better place with you in it!"

View this post on Instagram

What an honor and privilege to play with you these past nine years @gronk! You accomplished so much and our team was almost unbeatable when you were on the field! Your fun-loving, inspiring, and positive energy made an impact on everybody you came into contact with! Not just that, but for as great as a player you are, you are a better teammate and person. The NFL was a better place with you in it! But I have no doubt you will be a success in anything you do!!! Love you pal!

A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on Mar 24, 2019 at 4:01pm PDT

Fellow Patriots such as wide receiver Julian Edelman, along with other NFL players and sports media, posted tributes on Twitter and Instagram — and some were cheekier than others.

The other goat 🐐 #gronk pic.twitter.com/FzCfT38BjR

— Julian Edelman (@Edelman11) March 24, 2019

View this post on Instagram

2010 Drafted together and now 9 years later 3x super bowl champs. Man I’ve appreciated you as a teammate and leader...fighting through everything. CONGRATS...Enjoy retirement.. #firstballot Dmac

A post shared by Jason+Devin McCourty (@mccourtytwins) on Mar 24, 2019 at 3:50pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

The best to ever do it. Congrats on a great career brotha and enjoy the next chapter!

A post shared by Rex Burkhead (@rbrex34) on Mar 24, 2019 at 4:29pm PDT

View this post on Instagram

Was an honor and privilege to play with you bro! You were a great player, great leader, great teammate and great person. Gonna miss playing with you on sundays but gonna miss you in the locker room even more. Enjoy retirement because you earned it my brotha! #GreatestTightend #FirstBallot

A post shared by Duron Harmon (@dharm21) on Mar 24, 2019 at 5:28pm PDT

Congrats on an incredible career @RobGronkowski. One of the best to ever do it. Best wishes on whatever comes next!

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) March 24, 2019

Congrats @RobGronkowski on a incredible career brotha! BEAST MODE!!!

— Chris Hogan (@ChrisHogan_15) March 25, 2019

Toast up !! @RobGronkowski 🐐#salute pic.twitter.com/f7kQl6qMOl

— Sony Michel (@Flyguy2stackz) March 24, 2019

@RobGronkowski congrats to one of the best to ever do it! So dope to see you go out on your time. Good luck on ur continued success brother! Ps u never gave me that fade back from the super bowl! 😂🤷🏾‍♂️

— Bruce Irvin (@BIrvin_WVU11) March 24, 2019

🐐 https://t.co/5ptEImqd0v

— Emmanuel Sanders (@ESanders_10) March 24, 2019

@RobGronkowski the utmost pleasure watching you dominate throughout your career. Thank you for paving the way and showing what it takes to be great!! #RESPECT

— Chief David Njoku (@David_Njoku80) March 24, 2019

An absolute honor to line up and compete against the greatest Tight End ever! Congratulations to a true professional on an amazing career! Luv #President pic.twitter.com/KK3InjvhnI

— Jamal Adams (@TheAdamsEra) March 25, 2019

Happy retirement big fella @RobGronkowski , one of the best ever TE’s

— Cris Carter (@criscarter80) March 24, 2019

thank youu for the amazing moments @RobGronkowski 🐐💯

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) March 24, 2019

And one more from the official NFL Twitter account, featuring the man himself.

WATCH: Colin Kaepernick's new 'Icon' jersey sells out in hours

[toldnews-blog]

New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/politics/back-in-the-super-bowl-tom-brady-and-the-patriots-cant-escape-donald-trump/

Back in the Super Bowl, Tom Brady and the Patriots can't escape Donald Trump

The New England Patriots have gone to the Super Bowl each year that Donald Trump has been president, and with his favorite team in the championship again this year, the president’s relationship with the Pats and star quarterback Tom Brady is back in focus.

Trump has repeatedly hailed the Patriots as “winners,” touted his friendly relationship with Brady, team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick and has even suggested as a candidate and president-elect that they supported his presidency. He has also dined with Kraft at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Florida.

Congratulations to Bob Kraft, Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the entire New England Patriots team on a great game and season. Will be a fantastic Super Bowl!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2019

Brady’s ‘MAGA’ moment

When asked about his relationship with Trump, Brady has largely been evasive, but amid ongoing speculation about Brady’s political leanings, fans have continued to tie the Patriots to Trump.

Donna Connor/WireImage via Getty Images, FILE

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady chats with Donald Trump at the WBC Lightweight Title Fight, June 25, 2005.

In Sept. 2015, Brady was spotted with a “Make America Great Again” hat in his locker. He was also known to have golfed with Trump before the business mogul became president.

During an 2015 interview on the Dennis and Callahan Interview Morning Show on Boston sports radio station WEEI, Brady confirmed that the hat was indeed from Trump.

“Now that he’s running for president he sent me a hat and he gave it to RKK weeks ago,” Brady said, calling the team owner by his initials. “So it found its way to my locker.”

“I’ve known [Trump] since 2002 when I judged one of his beauty pageants … so I’ve known him for a long time,” Brady added. “He always gives me a call and different types of motivational speeches at different times.”

Thank you to Tom Brady, Coach Ditka, Coach Bobby Knight and all of the many champions that have been so supportive!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 16, 2015

Last week, actor Daniel Radcliffe — most known for his film role as “Harry Potter” but also a notable NFL fan — told Variety that although he doesn’t think the Los Angeles Rams will defeat the Patriots at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta Sunday, he is rooting for the Rams “because the whole world is rooting against the Patriots, sorry.”

Asked if Brady should retire, Radcliffe said, “no,” but “he should just stop winning things.”

Then he cited Brady’s relationship to Trump:

“Take that MAGA hat of your locker! I feel like that was the moment where as a country, we were all like c’mon dude … you’re awesome, we’re behind you, don’t put that in there.”

Trump fuels the fire

Amid continued backlash from fans over the “MAGA” hat and a constant stream of questions about his politics, Trump put Brady and the Patriots back in the spotlight, announcing a day before the 2016 general election that Brady and Belichick are supporting his campaign for president while addressing thousands of supporters at a rally.

“Donald, I support you, you’re my friend and I voted for you,” Trump claimed that Brady told him.

Trump also read a letter he said he had received from Belichick, saying, “You’ve proved to be the ultimate competitor and fighter. Hopefully tomorrow’s election results will give the opportunity to make America great again.”

Although Brady did not confirm nor deny the claims at the time, his wife, super model Gisele Bundchen, denied the reports in an exchange on Instagram.

“Gisele I heard you and Tom were backing Trump! Is that true?” one user wrote.

“NO!” Bundchen responded.

Then, while speaking at a pre-inaugural dinner, the president-elect said that Brady and Kraft called to congratulate him for winning the election.

When asked on WEEI’s Kirk and Callahan show in January 2017, Brady did not deny that he called Trump, but appeared to downplay it, saying, “I have called him, yes, in the past. Sometimes he calls me. Sometimes I call him.”

“But, again, that’s been someone I’ve known. I always try to keep it in context because for 16 years you know someone before maybe he was in the position that he was in,” he added. “He’s been very supportive of me for a long time. It’s just a friendship. I have a lot of friends. I call a lot of people.”

A surprise no-show

During the 2017 Super Bowl, which took place two weeks into Trump’s presidency, fans compared the Patriots’ historic comeback against the Atlanta Falcons to Trump’s unexpected win against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election.

What an amazing comeback and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners. Wow!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2017

“What an amazing comeback and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners. Wow!” Trump tweeted at the time.

One day after the win, tight end Martellus Bennett told reporters that he would not participate in the traditional White House visit, where the Super Bowl LI champs were set to be honored by Trump.

Molly Riley/Pool via Bloomberg via Getty Images

President Donald Trump, center, displays a jersey while standing with Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, left, and Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots LP, right, at the White House in Washington, D.C., April 19, 2017.

“Basic reason for me is I don’t feel accepted in the White House. With the president having so many strong opinions and prejudices, I believe certain people might feel accepted there while others won’t,” Bennett said.

And after that, several other players including defensive end Chris Long, running back LeGarrette Blount, defensive tackle Alan Branch and linebacker Dont’a Hightower announced that they would also not attend, with some citing their opposition to Trump.

But everyone wanted to know: What about Brady?

After much speculation, the team’s star quarterback surprised many when he announced on April 19 — the day of the visit — that he would not be joining his teammates at the White House.

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images, FILE

Tom Brady of the New England Patriots holds up the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Feb. 5, 2017.

Brady cited “personal family matters” and Trump did not publicly comment on Brady’s absence.

“I am so happy and excited that our team is being honored at the White House today,” Brady said in a statement. “Our team has accomplished something very special that we are all proud of and will be for years to come. Thank you to the President for hosting this honorary celebration and for supporting our team for as long as I can remember. In light of some recent developments, I am unable to attend today’s ceremony, as I am attending to some personal family matters. Hopefully, if we accomplish the goal of winning a championship in the future years, we will back on the South Lawn again soon.”

It is not uncommon for players to skips visits to the White House — often citing scheduling issue. In 2015 Brady said that a “family commitment” prevented him from attending the ceremony held by then-President Barack Obama.

Trump’s feud with the NFL

Trump ignited a public war with the National Football League and some of the league’s biggest stars when he slammed black players like former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who routinely took a knee during the national anthem to protest institutionalized racism and police brutality. Trump also lambasted NFL owners for allowing the protests to continue and called on fans to boycott games.

The feud which has been ongoing for two years was sparked at a 2017 rally in Alabama, where Trump suggested that team owners should respond to players who protest and say, “Get that s– of a b—- off the field right now, he’s fired. He’s fired!”

When asked about Trump’s comment in Sept. 2017 during an interview on WEEI’s Kirk and Callahan show, Brady called Trump’s comments “divisive” and voiced support for players who protest.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Members of the New England Patriots kneel on the sidelines during the National Anthem before a game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Sept.24, 2017n in Foxboro, Mass.

“Yeah, I certainly disagree with what he said. I thought it was just divisive,” Brady said. “Like I said, I just want to support my teammates. I am never one to say, ‘Oh, that is wrong. That is right.’ I do believe in what I believe in. I believe in bringing people together and respect and love and trust. Those are the values that my parents instilled in me. That is how I try and live every day.”

After hosting the Patriots in 2017, Trump rescinded a White House invitation to last year’s Super Bowl champs, the Philadelphia Eagles, after several players announced that they planned to boycott the visit.

The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2018

Whoever wins the Super Bowl this year, a question that cannot be avoided is whether they plan to visit the White House.

[rhnuzlocke]

Episode 21

Scene 6:

[That night Ren is climbing into bed when she gets a notification on her nav. It is a text from an unknown number. Her pokemon are all settling down for the night as well. Akahata and Naihi are curled up together and Taraki has made himself a nest out of boughs by the foot of her bed. Ren makes herself a little more comfortable before investigating.]

Text: Hello Ren. This is Josh. I found your number in my back pocket so I figured it was ok to text u. Let me kno if it’s not. I just wanted to congratulate you on becoming champion. I watched it on TV with Hart n Brent. It was really amazing and kinda terrifying. Thanks for never using your full strength on me. And also for saving the world. I never thanked you for that right? And thanks for giving me your number. It was really nice of you.

[Ren chuckles a little at the awkwardness of the message, but she smiles from ear to ear as she types up a response.]

Ren: Thnx and ur welcome. I was sort of hoping you’d get up the nerve sooner so I could invite you to the championship.

Josh: Srry

Ren: Nbd. You’re not too late for my coronation ball though. Want to come? I’ll buy you a suit if you need one. I’m salaried now ;)

Josh: You’d use ur plus 1 on me??? But you have friends and stuff

Ren: I’m the champ. I can invite as many people as I want.

Josh: Right.

Ren: Hart and Brent can come too if they promise to behave.

Josh: I think that would be much for me, but thanks for offering.

Ren: Alright. But there is free food. Just something to consider.

[Ren waits for a bit, but there is no response so she types again.]

Ren: How are you doing? I take it you H&B escaped the law?

Josh: Yeah. We got an apartment in Lilycove. It’s a bit cramped with all the pokemon, but not bad. I need another job before I can get my own place.

Ren: Any ideas what you want to do?

Josh: You sort of inspired me to try being a serious trainer. I’ve always liked training and I might be good at it. Idk. Fang thinks we could.

Ren: You’re a really solid trainer. You should totally go for it. You could get your first 2-3 badges easy with just Fang and Shade.

Josh: I caught a mawile while you were fighting Groudon and she agreed to stick around, so that’s half a team to start.

Ren: That’s great! What’s her name?

Josh: Poppy.

Ren: Cute! Maybe I can meet her sometime. And it’d be nice to say hi to Fang and Shade when I don’t have to fight them. Anything else going on?

Josh: I called my sister. We’ve hardly spoken in years and then I couldn’t call when Magma went undercover. I’m going to visit her soon.

Ren: I hope that goes well. I’m glad you got back in touch. Hart and Brent aren’t your brothers, right?

Josh: No. I have 4 brothers but I don’t know where they are. We all got split up when they took us away from my parents.

Ren: I’m so sorry.

Josh: It was probably for the best. They’re all older and were already starting to act like him. Also it’s easier to get adopted that way. That’s why they split me and Hannah up in the end.

Ren: So did you get adopted?

Josh: No, just foster care.

Ren: Sorry. I don’t mean to pry.

Josh: It’s fine.

Ren: So what’s your sister like?

Josh: I don’t really know anymore. We were pretty close when we were young, but we never got to see each other after the orphanage. She used to call me all the time like it was her job to look after me even though she’s only a year older. We both had a hard time making friends, so we talked to each other as much as they let us. She used to collect stuff. Nothing valuable, just little things. And when we talked she would tell me about the stuff she found and sometimes I would send her a button or something in the mail. She’s really smart. She used to read to me every night at the orphanage so I wouldn’t have nightmares. Sometimes she did it over the phone too, but we both got in trouble so she stopped. She always asked if I was hungry or if they were letting me watch my cartoons. And she would help me come up with ways to get back at the other foster kids when they bullied me. She’s sort of the reason I made friends with Hart and Brent. But once I had them and she had her friends, we didn’t need each other as much. A lot of time passed and we drifted apart. I’m a little scared to meet her again. I don’t know what to say.

Ren: Just start by catching up. I’m sure you’ll find something in common. And you can tell her about all your crazy adventures if she’s not a snitch.

Josh: She’d never do that. She knows what it’s like. But I’m afraid she’ll blame herself for the things I’ve done.

Ren: You could tell her you’re buddies with the Champion and leave out the criminal activity.

Josh: Ur terrible. You’d probably deny it just to make me look like an asshole.

Ren: I’d totally back you up! Here, you can have some pics to prove it. [She sends over the portraits she had taken with her pokemon back in Mauville along with a link to Kata’s instagram.] Just don’t leak those to the press. Or maybe do. I look great.

[There is a long pause, probably while he looks at the photos and Ren decides she should probably dial back the flippancy a bit.]

Ren: On a more serious note, I don’t think you need to worry. You did do some shitty things, but you did a lot of good too. I might not be alive if it weren’t for you.

[There is another long pause and Ren starts to type more when she gets a response.]

Josh: Why are you so nice to me?

Ren: I want to be friends.

Josh: But why? You know about the bad stuff. And you’re Champion now. You could be friends with whoever you want.

Ren: Call it a hunch, but I think you may be a really decent person under there. You can’t deny we had some real bonding moments too. I’m invested now whether I want to be or not. And you’ve never done anything to hurt me. Just the opposite. Maybe I still feel a bit guilty for the shitty stuff I did. Idk. I just want to give this a shot.

Josh: Ok. [several seconds later] Thanks.

Ren: No problem.

Josh: Maybe you’ll be less scary as a friend.

Ren: I hope so but no promises!

Josh: Arceus. What did I just sign up for?