#it lets jeremy have some legit dramatic moments

[honkifyourelonely]

haven’t listened to this song in years and just screamed along to every word in the car… like maybe did joe iconis kinda make history

[otomes-and-tears]

Wondering what your thoughts and opinions are on the rest of the jerk squad boys, especially Nate?

Know that asking me this was a mistake because I’m RABID for them. I’m FOAMING at the mouth and shaking just at being asked to ramble about my boys because I am plagued by thoughts of them that I’m absolutely going to unleash upon you now.

This is not going to be coherent at all. I apologise for that.

By the way— since I already talk about Shiloh way too much, he’s not going to have his little section here. If you want to see my rambles about him, please check my masterlist!

I’m probably going to talk about Jeremy separately because…. I actually haven’t finished his route. It’s the only one that’s left.

Since you asked about him first, Nate is one of my favourite boys. I have a special place in my heart for him because he kind of reminds me of my girlfriend, and I do think that his dynamic with JB is one of the most entertaining in the bunch. He’s always snapping back at her and it’s so fucking funny. Every time they’re out together I keep getting this mental image of JB being strapped in a baby leash with Nate trailing behind her like an exhausted parent.

Like Shiloh, he’s also a character that I think about a LOT, particularly about the way he handles (or does not handle) his emotions and his obsessive need to have control over everything around him.

I think it’s really telling that Nate continuously strives for perfection and frequently neglects his own emotional needs when he practically raised himself, admittedly saw the school as his home, and when we know for a fact that he was seen and treated as a mini-adult throughout his life.

Like, you cannot tell me he wasn’t praised endlessly as a child for being independent and self-sufficient and then when he grew older people were constantly exasperated that he was too independent and didn’t know when to ask for help when needed! Nate is probably endlessly confused as to why something that was touted as being such a good trait for a good portion of his life suddenly became a problem.

Anyways, I think it’s kind of tragic how he spent most of his life at that school and I legit teared up when they graduated. It’s also very sweet how despite being a perv and living to make him uncomfortable, JB is surprisingly respectful of his boundaries regarding physical touch and doesn’t push him to kiss or hug her. Yeah, she teases him about missing the perfect moment but she’s happy to let him decide when he’s ready to do all of that!

It’s also nice that she tries to support him, even if she isn’t exactly good at it. SHE’S TRYING HER BEST BC THEY LEGIT LIKE EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEY BOTH HAVE ISSUES!!

Regarding Everett… I didn’t expect to like his route as much as I did, but he has SO MUCH ANGST POTENTIAL.

Like, his whole relationship with Nate? The fact that he’s a momma’s boy?? HE WAS REJECTED BY PRAN In like, the WORST way possible??

It’s just, chef’s kiss. A whole lotta angst wrapped inside a tiny, hipster-shaped package. Pure perfection.

My only issue with his route is that the whole time, I felt like JB was getting in between him and Nate. This is my headcanon, but I feel like after high school, if JB and Everett don’t immediately have an explosive, dramatic breakup there are only two possible routes: either he leaves her for Nate or they add Nate into the mix.

I’m sorry, but no other alternatives compute for me, not after their conversation in the tunnel of love. That shit goes way past just a codependent friendship.

I think I’ve mentioned this once before but Bae is likely my second favorite jerksquad guy. I can’t really explain why his condescension is so funny to me, but it might be because my favorite parts of the game were the group meetings and Bae’s borderline paternalistic attitude towards the other characters (because he’s mAtURE and knows what’s best for them) and his sarcasm made for some really great dialogue and some of the funniest scenes in my opinion.

Just as a side note— I played xoxo blood droplets and Bae’s route made me realize how much potential he has to be a yandere in an au! And now that I’m thinking about this I NEED to write about it. Even if it’s just headcanons or something.

I love him in game. I’d probably throw hands with him three minutes into a conversation if he existed IRL. I sent my girlfriend screenshots of his sons of his scenes while I played and she said that I was a bit like him. It made me reevaluate my life LOL

Okay so, I’m going to be real with you: Pran is my least favorite of the boys. I’ll admit that when I played through his route last year I kept complaining about not having that much fun and not liking him a lot as a character. My view changed as I got to the end of the game:

Pran’s is still my least favorite route but he’s one of the most interesting guys to analyze.

In the end, even if it took me a bit to get into it, I still ended up enjoying it immensely anyway.

I think what made me dislike him at first was that, ironically, I think that Pran as a character works best in group scenes. He’s a contrarian and he’s very quiet most of the time, which makes his very occasional interjections some of the funniest moments in the meetings, but that’s also why I didn’t find his dates as fun LOL

I think that with the other characters I had a better time because how they played off JB during their dates, while with Pran it was funny to see JB trying so hard to engage with him or get a rise out of him just for him to barely react (and it makes the instances where she does manage to catch him off guard very rewarding) on the first few times, but it started to get old for me. There’s only so many times I can hear him say no, and that he doesn’t care before it gets annoying.

For me the highlight of his route was seeing Shiloh have a weird, one-sided beef with him. Shiloh pretends to like everyone but this is where he draws the line apparently 😭

Anyways, you might be wondering why I said he’s one of my favourites to analyse if I didn’t have much fun playing through his route. That’s mostly because of his backstory, which I genuinely find to be fascinating.

He’s basically a textbook example of avoidant attachment, which is due to the severe neglect he suffered as a child. Honestly, I could make a whole post about this alone if anyone is interested.

That coupled with having to adopt a mentality where nothing he ever did or said was ever right, because either his parents or grandparents would get upset, which led to him always being quiet or choosing the contrarian option, and you get a pretty fascinating character to think about. It’s interesting to examine his relationships through this lense: it makes complete sense that Pran has a difficult time engaging with JB and connecting to her emotional needs. The few relationships he has maintained exist out of necessity! And he tries so hard to push her away, in the same way he pushed everyone else away, but she just refuses to leave. Refuses to accept defeat. She’s fully determined to figure him out and make their weirdass relationship work and it’s something I admire JB for. That girl is a TROOPER.

[misskittysmagicportal]

The Dog Days Are Over

Nathan Young kinda fluff.  Safe for work other than a word or two.  Takes place a few years after the events of “Vegas Baby”

Nathan leaned with one elbow against the makeshift bar to the side of the dancefloor.  A look of minor drunken denial on his face and a self-filling champagne flute in his left hand. He watched as Louise and her new husband, the one and only Jeremy, saw only each other as they swayed to “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac. Had to admit his mum had never been as happy as she was at this moment.

You made your way through the guests to stand beside Nathan. The last time you saw each other was somewhere between the end of his ASBO and when he met Marnie. A twinge of jealousy ran through your body as you ordered a whiskey sour loud enough for him to hear.

“Nathan?” you feigned shock.

He raised his glass, “Fucking brilliant!  Was trying to figure out who I was gonna give the toss about tonight.”

You rolled your eyes but blushed at the same time, “Remains to be seen. I see you wore high tops to Lou’s wedding.”

Nathan tossed back the golden liquid and manifested more,“Figured tops and tails was a bit much.  Didn’t want to outshine the man Mum lives with. I know you fancy what I threw together right?” he slowly ran his hand over the length of a lithe body outfitted in a white dress shirt, a blue and green tartan vest and black skinny jeans.

The fire reached your ears as you followed his movement downwards, but then you remembered yourself.  “I honestly didn’t even know you could grow facial hair,” you retorted with a soft shrug. 

Without a second thought, Nathan snapped his fingers and it was gone.  Goatee, mustache, poof!  Clean shaven.  Your eyes wide with shock and disbelief.  “Better?” his eyebrow cocked. 

“How.. I thought you were immortal,” you mocked his accent playfully.

“C’mon why have just ONE A list power when you can have two?” he snapped his fingers again to regrow the mustache and beard.  “Magics aside, how’ve you been, love?”  His green eyes never left the couple on the dance floor.

“Well I finished my degree and I work for a book publisher now.  Shocking, I know.  People actually still read books despite Kindles and Nooks.  How about you?”  you matched his laissez faire position.  Your legs crossed at the ankles as you leaned back against the bar, the hem of your dress rode up in the process.  

This time Nathan turned to look directly in your eyes.  “Meat group in a prison cell.”

You glanced heavewards with slight confusion, “Oh bullshit!  You were there what? Two weeks tops before they deported you.”

“FINE!  Just a bit of a dessert,” he winked and swiveled his hips a bit. “Honing my magic tricks though.  Quite good at it now if you haven’t noticed.  Ten quid I can make that dress disappear,” he leaned in to whisper in your ear.

Your heart started to pound in your ear, but you faced him.  Your nose and his just a breadth away from one another.  “Like Marnie did?” 

Nathan grabbed his chest dramatically, “Low blow sweetheart.  Was thinking more like my cock inside you.”  He took one last swig of the champagne and slammed the glass down. He turned to you, grabbed your face and pulled you into an awkward and sloppy kiss.  His tongue pushing inside your mouth briefly before he broke away and staggered backwards.  Then Nathan hooked his thumbs through the sides of his vest, eyes ablaze with mischief  “Pardon me, but I have a speech to make.”

You were dizzy with excitement, the blood had rushed to areas that you were convinced others would notice.  Yet not one set of eyes were on you, only Nathan who now stood directly in the center of the room between Louise and Jeremy. They had somewhere between worry and terror in their eyes.  

Nathan’s hands were raised with palms outwards towards the guests. He swayed slightly before another snap of his fingers.  The room, the guests, even the music all halted.  The room became eerily quiet except the sounds of breathing.  Louise and Jeremy seemed rooted to their very spots.  You watched as a slow smirk spread across Nathan’s lips as he waved his hands a bit as if he was dismissing servants.  The crowd gasped as full glasses appeared suddenly in their hands out of nowhere.  Not just of liquor, but all together.  Where people weren’t holding them before.

“Dearly beloved!” Nathan slurred.  “You have all gathered here today to celebrate the union of my Mum and the guy she lives with.”  A pregnant pause.  “Now as you all may or may not know, Louise here.  My darling Mummy.  I do love you, you know.  You did put aside so much of your life to raise me.  I was, to put it so bluntly, a right little cunt.” 

You narrowed your eyes from the sidelines.  The blood pumped deafeningly in your ears as you held your face in your hands.  All eyes were transfixed on your ex lover as he continued whether they had a choice or not.

Nathan’s index finger swung around precariously in a circle.  “I mean you have told your mates here about Jezza’s little secret right?  All of your friends that showed up at my funeral.  The friends you told I was on Holidays in America when you heard I went to jail, right Louise?  You love me, in your own way I suppose.  Your little embarrassment.  Your grown adult embarrassment now.”

You gawked as Louise went to speak, to stop her son, but nothing could escape her lips.  You rushed forward and into the center of everything to take Nathan’s free hand in your own.  “There’s no reason to do this?  Not today.  Please?”  You plead with him as you pressed your hand to his cheek.  

Nathan leaned into it for just a moment, eyes closed and body relaxed.  Time stopped, everything stopped.  A spotlight on just you and he in the midst of hundreds of eyes.  You wrap your arms around each other in a hug, his hands with a mind of their own move over the curves of your backside in front of everyone.  His chin comes to rest on your head as you bury your face in his chest. 

 “Let’s go,’ you looked up at him as you clutched the lapel of his shirt.  “C’mon.  Fancy a shag?  For old time’s sake.  I’ll do that thing you like.”

Nathan cocked an eyebrow; his eyes bored into you.  “All fours?”

You nodded, finally realizing there was an actual bubble around the two of you out on the floor.  A legit cone of silence that blocked you and here from the now lively wedding all around.  As if a spell had been broken as long as the two of you were together.   

Nathan smiled wickedly and covered your mouth with his in a passionate kiss.  Tongue forcing inside of your mouth again as he squeezed your backside.  He started to grind his hips into yours, a slight erection inside of his pants.  

“I just have to do one more thing.”  

You sighed, smiling and pulled at your lip where he had just been.  “Ok” you were drunk with desire.  Ignorant of what was about to happen and the illusion he had constructed while you were in the bubble.

The silence was deafening once more as you gasped.  Now the world froze except for you and Nathan.  His arm tight around your waist.  The guests unmoving like mannequins, glossed eyes.

“It does make some part of me happy to know that dog is truly a woman's best friend,” his speech picked up where he had left off.  As if not one second had skipped between his admonishment of Louise and this very moment.  “And Louise darling, you certainly did pick a dog!”

Just like that, Nathan’s large hand grabbed yours and he snapped his fingers one more time.  To your utter disbelief Jeremy morphed into a Jack Russell terrier right in front of your eyes.  In pops across the crowd men turned one by one into various types of dogs.  Louise and the women all screamed in shock.

But you couldn’t even wrap your brain around what was happening as Nathan broke into a run as you trailed behind struggling to keep up in your heels.  His laughter maniacal but also catching and you couldn’t help but join in.

“I always hated fucking weddings”

[vagrantblvrd]

Concerning that post about gold cards, imagine Gavin actually being skilled enough and throwing them and just slitting someone's throat with them cause of course that's also a weapon cause fake ah crew is insane

!!! OKAY, SO.

Gavin knowing all the cool card tricks with the shuffling and sleight of hand and whatnot because it looks cool as hell, but also helps with the dexterity and thiefiness of his grubby little thief hands?

(Also, he does the coin tricks too with the rolling them over his knuckles and may or may not roll coins over his knuckles at Ryan after the infamous Coin Argument to be an asshole? Although, you know. Ryan can never prove it, because Gavin always has this set of special coins he keeps on his person at all times because distractions Hitman-style and the aforementioned thiefiness dexterity thing.

But Ryan knows, Gavin, okay. Knows that asshole would totally take one of his coins out and roll them over his knuckles at Ryan being all smug and passive-aggressive and Ryan’s not paranoid, dammit! >:((((((((( but everyone is like, “Uh-huh,” because wow, Ryan. WOW.)

Anyway.

Gavin knows there are a lot of distrustful people out there – hurtful, not being trusted – and when he sits down for these poker games with crew allies/enemies/whoever to make an impression he knows they’re going to want to check the cards are legit, right?

Expect him to be cheating or whatever because suspicious/paranoid and Gavin is like, :D at them and lets them check his gold playing cards over to their heart’s content.

Does some flashy shuffling and all that before he hands them over and again when whatever suspicious  person’s checked his cards over. Wink and a grin and some flashy shuffling/whatever and “Alright then?” before he deals the cards.

And then, friend, AND THEN.

Something goes wrong while they’re playing/discussing the particulars of a new deal or truce or whatever they’re there to do?

That One Asshole who went there with the intent to start a war with the Fakes makes their move, says something unforgivably insulting regarding the Fakes as a whole or refuses to compromise or whatever.

Their goons posturing, because hey look, they have guns and Gavin’s some smooth-talking idiot who clearly isn’t a threat, you know? Has to have the crew’s heavies with him everywhere he goes to protect him and so on because otherwise he’s nothing. (The usual.)

And Ryan or Michael or Jeremy who are leaning against the wall behind Gavin watching all this happen are just.

Watching.

Going off Gavin’s cues because he’s calling the shots here and Gavin hasn’t given them the sign to correct this asshole who’s mouthing off, right?

(Unless this is the scenario in which Gavin is there to rescue one or more of the others and is there alone, in which case he should be easy to deal with, shouldn’t he.)

Gavin looks up from his the cards he’s shuffling, and smiles, all bright and friendly and just taking these insults because this whole poker game/meeting is vital to the Fakes, right?

A deal/arrangement they need for whatever reason -for business reasons or for him to rescue the others, whichever.

He keeps right on smiling as he slips a card from the deck in his hands and holds it up for a moment. Looks at it, the way the light catches it just the tiniest bit differently from the other cards in his gold deck, heavier than the rest, edges sharper, and throws it with a flick of his wrist.

Follows that up with a couple more – shock and surprise around the table because that one asshole who’s been tearing him down has a fucking playing card in his throat. Not enough to kill him, probably, but it makes for a hell of a surprise and Gavin’s a bit outnumbered here isn’t he.

The table gets kicked over and all the dramatics of the chips and cards and drinks and whatever else going flying.

And just.

Lots of Drama and Action and Gavin Gav Slitty-ing things up.

Brushing lint and whatever else off himself when everything’s said and done and sighs as he looks around because he looses more sets of cards this way, you know?

Can’t be bothered to go around picking all the cards up, and anyway, the place is a mess. All that blood and such, and just not worth it in the end.

Also, what a way to make a statement, don’t you think? Gold playing cards scattered about and one lodged in that asshole’s throat and better things to do anyway. (Besides, he can afford it.)

And then, idk, Gavin looking at what other survivors there are and getting quick agreements to whatever  terms he may have at that point or going off to rescue his crew.

Whichever.

If he’s got one of the others with him who have never seen him use his murder cards before he’s just “Oh, didn’t I mention? I had those specially made,” regarding said murder cards.

Like.

The “normal” utterly ridiculous gold playing cards? But also a handful of murder cards that he keeps on his person and slips into the deck once some suspicious asshole has verified the cards are legit?

Lets them poke and prod the cards and when they give them back to him uses that sleight of hand to tuck those murder cards in with the regular ones. So used to handling them all he can keep track of the murder cards while he deals or whatever until he needs them. (And when he doesn’t he just slips them back out of the deck and up his sleeves or wherever he hides them like nothing’s amiss.)

AND.

You know the murder cards would be jokers or the ace or spades because he’s got all these one-liners to toss out with them?

All “joker’s wild,” and “i suppose that’s why they call it the death card” and other things I’m obviously not thinking of right now?

Just.

Utterly ridiculous and probably not practical/possible at all? AND YET. I am leaning so hard on handwavy-handwaving.

Because rule of cool, and stuff. (Also reasons. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

....I cannot help but think of Ryan being all :O and possibly “Oh, no, he’s hot,” the first time he witnesses Gavin put his murder cards to use?

And like.

“Dates” in which Ryan and Gavin go somewhere to throw knives/murder cards that is somehow not a euphemism, although eventually it turns into that and the whole crew Suffers whenever they mention that’s where they’re going and now I’ve turned this into Freewood, oops???

Also/or:

Prior to this Gavin pestering Ryan to teach him how to throw knives and somehow coming up with the idea of murder cards?

Like.

The guards will take his weapons/check him for them before letting him into some of these backroom poker games? But no one expects the murder cards. (When Gavin points that out someone’s “Is that a Monty Python reference?” because lol.)

Anyway.

Gavin has his murder cards made and no one else knows about them until Gavin’s forced to use them and Ryan is like :O  “Oh, no, that’s hot” and has to admit to himself he’s totally got FEELS for Gavin. (And while he can see why people would think it’s tied to the murder cards they’re just a lovely little bonus. Also the thing that made him realize why he’d be all *___________* at seeing Gavin with his murder cards.)

OR maybe they’ve been in a relationship since the whole knife throwing lessons and this is just unfair of Gavin because hot and Ryan would really like to try his hand at Gavin’s murder cards and everything sounds like a euphemism to me this morning, sorry. /o\)

[insanityclause]

Exactly two months to the day they closed their acclaimed run in London, the cast of Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” is stepping into the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway for the first look at their new surroundings. On Aug. 14, they will begin previews of the drama for a 17-week limited engagement of what is widely regarded as one of the Noble Prizewinning writer’s greatest works.

Directed by Jaime Lloyd, who has become one of the foremost interpreters of Pinter, this version is designed so that none of the actors ever leave the stage. The trio are all recognizable from their screen exploits — Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Cox are beloved characters from the Marvel universe as Thor’s trickster brother Loki and blind attorney Matt Murdock in “Daredevil,” respectively. And Zawe Ashton recently made a splash opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Netflix’s “Velvet Buzzsaw.”

Told backwards in chronology, the play tracks married couple Robert (Hiddleston) and Emma (Ashton) as their relationship unravels after Emma begins an affair with her husband’s best friend Jerry (Cox). But it also dives into the destruction of Emma and Jerry’s affair, as well as Robert and Jerry’s friendship. As with most Pinter, the characters are often sparse in their language in emotion, and words left unsaid often cut the deepest. A simple game of squash takes on much significance — the camaraderie, the competition, and ultimately what it means when they stop playing together.

The cast sat down with Variety to discuss squash and other games people play, with what Pinter means to them, and how their paths have crossed in the past, leading to this moment.

What does it mean to you to be here in New York, making your Broadway debut?

Zawe Ashton: It is a dream come true, actually. I’ve seen some of the best things I’ve ever seen in this very theater, including the show previous to us, “The Ferrymen.”

Tom Hiddleston: I first came to Broadway with my dad and my sisters when I was 17. It was my first time seeing the city and I remember going into Times Square and we went to see “Follies.” This was before I was even thinking about being an actor — or maybe in the back of my head I had decided. The first time I was in this theater I saw Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett doing “The Mountaintop.”

Charlie, you actually live out here, are you planning on showing them around? Charlie Cox: Oh, yes. There’s a few places I want to take them.

Ashton: [Laughs] How can you make that sound sinister?

Cox: I’m not sure the places I like will be what you’re imagining. I want to take them to Bubby’s. It’s a restaurant with a great all-American brunch.

What does “all-American” mean to Brits?

Cox: Fried chicken and waffles.

Hiddleston: And big portions.

Cox: And coffee that keeps being filled up. You have to put a napkin over it to stop them.

Hiddleston: Right. If you have a second coffee in the UK you have to pay for it.

Cox: It’s crazy. When I get my coffee, I need to put my milk and sugar and the proportions have to be right. When they fill your coffee up over here, the proportions are all off. Also, you feel like you’re on rocket fuel and you don’t know why.

Ashton: Anything else we need to experience?

Cox: Well, these two are too healthy but I’d love to introduce you to half-and-half. It’s one of the best inventions in the world. It’s cream and milk.

Hiddleston: I know about that. This isn’t, like, my first time in America.

Cox: Oh, and I’d love to introduce you to McDonald’s. [Laughs.]

Hiddleston: I’m really excited about the seasons. I’ve spent time in New York before but it’s only been for like two weeks at a time. To be here from summer into fall into winter…

Cox: Fall is an illusion in New York. You get a weekend in the 70s, and that’s it.

Ashton: No, but the colors and the trees! And Thanksgiving is going to be amazing!

How did you first become familiar with the work of Harold Pinter and specifically “Betrayal”?

Hiddleston: For my A-Level English literature, we did a play of Pinter’s called “The Homecoming.” What I found so interesting was “The Homecoming” was so spare and so precise and so grown-up. I remember my teacher encouraging us to think about this play as about power and sex and family, all in a very brutal way. That it’s a father and sons competing for supremacy. I remember thinking: “This is reading a bit too much into it, isn’t it?” But it isn’t. As a 17-year-old, I just didn’t realize there was a writer engaging so consciously at this level.

Then I read “Betrayal” at the Royal Academy of Dramatic arts as an exercise for a dramaturgy class. I read it in one sitting and I did think, at the age of 21, “This would be an amazing thing to do one day.”

Ashton: We did a couple months of scene study at drama school and I played Anna in “Old Times.” I was 19 and I loved it and we actually nailed the scene study. I mean, we were 19-year-olds, maybe it was terrible. But my head of year said to me: “If I had known how easy Pinter was going to be for you, I would have given you something else.”

Was it easy?

Ashton: No! It wasn’t easy! But what I think he identified that if you vibe with Pinter, you’re kind of a special breed of person. If you can lean into all the violence and brutality and also see the tenderness and experience the special viewpoint he has of human relationships, you have a friend for life.

And you vibed with him from the start? Ashton: 100%. And now I love him even more. Doing “Betrayal” is about having to invest in a love affair with these two men, but I also feel I’ve invested in a love affair with Pinter. I’ve wanted to read his poetry, I’ve wanted to think about him, I’ve wanted to read the books Joan Bakewell and Lady Antonia Fraser wrote about him. Just to try and piece together the man who I’ve never met. Charlie has.

You’ve met Pinter?

Cox: The first play I did in the West End was with Jaime Lloyd, “The Collection.” Harold was part of numerous rehearsals and came to see the play many times. I got some great Harold stories that I’m still dining out on! During that time, I read “Betrayal.” Harold died the following year. It’s funny, my wife and I live in Connecticut and when I was offered this play I walked into my local bookshop and it was sitting right there.

A year ago, you didn’t know you’d be doing “Betrayal” in London, let alone here.

Cox: Four weeks ago we didn’t know we’d be here! It all happened very fast. When we closed in London, we thought we were done.

My understanding is this all began last October, when Tom and Zawe did a reading from the play at the “Pinter at the Pinter” gala?

Ashton: It sprung from that gala and people thinking we were rehearsing it already. People kept coming up to me and asking if we were doing a full production. So at the gala I basically came up to Tom and said, “What are you doing in March 2019?” And you were like, “Uh, get away from me, crazy lady.”

Hiddleston: It was an interesting night because it was celebration of all his work as a gift to [his widow] Antonia Fraser and it was 10 years after he died. But it wasn’t a heavy night, it was a celebration. And people came back to do extracts. The production Jaime Lloyd directed of “The Homecoming” came back. Jeremy Irons came back to do “No Man’s Land.”

Wait, Jeremy Irons starred in the film version of “Betrayal.”  Were you intimidated to do a scene in front of him?

Hiddleston: Well, less intimidated because I played his son in “The Hollow Crown.” There were several “Betrayal” alumni. Sam West was there, who played Robert at the Donmar Warehouse. Kristin Scott Thomas, who has played Emma, was also there. There was something very generous about this company of great, established actors who had made a great impact with Pinter’s work saying to Zawe and myself, “If you’re not doing it, you should do it.”

Ashton: It was such a compliment.

Hiddleston: Then Antonia Fraser also said, “Would you like to do it?” And Jaime leaned across and said, “Let’s do it!” So it came together very fast. And Jaime’s first suggestion for Jerry was Charlie, but he said you couldn’t do it.

Cox: The show I was doing [“Daredevil”] was going to be scheduled for another season at the time. So they went out to find somebody else. Then my show got cancelled and I called my agent and said I would love to do a play. I didn’t hear for a bit and I finally got him on the phone and was about to say “I’ve been trying to call you!” — but in a very nice, English way. And before I could say anything he said, “How would you like to do ‘Betrayal’ with Zawe Ashton and Tom Hiddleston?” I paused and said, “I’d like that very much.”

Ashton: If “Daredevil” hadn’t been canceled you wouldn’t have been able to do it.

That has to take some of sting out of cancellation.

Cox: It did, yeah.

This play doesn’t work without the chemistry between the characters, even when they are constantly competing and  one-upping each other. Did you know each other prior to working together and was that chemistry pretty instant?

Cox: Tom and I knew each other. We were bouncing around L.A. at the same time early in our careers.

Hiddleston: The truth is, we first met bumping into each other auditions for the same films that neither of us would get. After like the fourth time, we said, “Let’s go get a burger.”

Ashton: We’d been intersecting for years. Weird things have happened: Tom and I sat next to each other years before at the theater. We did the gala but weirdly, we’d also done a reading a couple weeks before that. And then Charlie and I realized we had auditioned together years ago.

Cox: I’m almost sure it was you. I didn’t get it.

Ashton: I didn’t either. And it was definitely you.

Hiddleston: That’s how most actors know each, they audition for things they don’t get.

Ashton: This could be the most unpleasant experience; it could really be toxically bad. What has happened is it has been the most joyful experience ever. That’s not to say we’re not completely embedded in the raw pain of the play. But I think you realize when you get to a certain age that you don’t need it to bleed into your lives and you don’t need to carry it home. I don’t want to do that with Harold Pinter because you can and you will go mad.

Hiddleston: It’s one of those things, you can’t put your finger on why it works, but it works and it’s a great pleasure

Cox: That one-upmanship you talked about that’s in the text; if that were to manifest between us as actors, it would be awful.

Ashton: However….there was a squash game.

Cox: Let’s not talk about that.

Ashton: It did spill over into that game.

Cox: Look, it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about who’s fitter. And Tom is fitter than I am.

Hiddleston: It was very instructive, playing squash. Some of those scenes, the competition is in the subtext, the brutality to each other is underneath it while they’re being civil on the surface. After we played squash, those scenes played themselves.

Cox: I still have a buttock injury from that last game. I was desperately trying to reach a ball because I was so determined to keep up! We had one day where we had five solid sessions and then Zawe joined us for the spa.

Leaving behind these characters at the end of the day could be a challenge. Are you able to do that?

Cox: Sometimes I’ll be at the end of the day and I’ll be agitated in some way and then I remember; of course, I just got off stage.

Ashton: I’ve often said I’ve felt like a baby who needed to be burped. There’s so much repression in the play and people aren’t saying what they mean and you want to cry but you have to hold it in. Sometimes I want to cry for three days.

Hiddleston: My favorite actor of all time Paul Scofield said: “The emotions are real, but they aren’t mine.” Which I think sums it up. Actors investigate something real but the situation doesn’t belong to them. So I know consciously I’m not Robert, I know I haven’t been betrayed. But when I investigate his sadness, some aspect of that belongs to me. It sometimes leaves a shadow.

“Betrayal” has been performed in America before, obviously, but are you curious about how Broadway audiences will respond versus London audiences?

Cox: We get a lot of Americans in London. I don’t think it’s going to be radically different.

Ashton: I think it’s going to be radically different. I think there’s going to be some exciting new things having an American audience is going to illuminate. I think it’s going to be interesting.

“Betrayal” runs at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre through Dec. 8.

[maryxglz]

Exactly two months to the day they closed their acclaimed run in London, the cast of Harold Pinter’s “Betrayal” is stepping into the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway for the first look at their new surroundings. On Aug. 14, they will begin previews of the drama for a 17-week limited engagement of what is widely regarded as one of the Noble Prizewinning writer’s greatest works.

Directed by Jamie Lloyd, who has become one of the foremost interpreters of Pinter, this version is designed so that none of the actors ever leave the stage. The trio are all recognizable from their screen exploits — Tom Hiddleston and Charlie Cox are beloved characters from the Marvel universe as Thor’s trickster brother Loki and blind attorney Matt Murdock in “Daredevil,” respectively. And Zawe Ashton recently made a splash opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in Netflix’s “Velvet Buzzsaw.”

Told backwards in chronology, the play tracks married couple Robert (Hiddleston) and Emma (Ashton) as their relationship unravels after Emma begins an affair with her husband’s best friend Jerry (Cox). But it also dives into the destruction of Emma and Jerry’s affair, as well as Robert and Jerry’s friendship. As with most Pinter, the characters are often sparse in their language in emotion, and words left unsaid often cut the deepest. A simple game of squash takes on much significance — the camaraderie, the competition, and ultimately what it means when they stop playing together.

The cast sat down with Variety to discuss squash and other games people play, with what Pinter means to them, and how their paths have crossed in the past, leading to this moment.

What does it mean to you to be here in New York, making your Broadway debut?

Zawe Ashton: It is a dream come true, actually. I’ve seen some of the best things I’ve ever seen in this very theater, including the show previous to us, “The Ferryman.”

Tom Hiddleston: I first came to Broadway with my dad and my sisters when I was 17. It was my first time seeing the city and I remember going into Times Square and we went to see “Follies.” This was before I was even thinking about being an actor — or maybe in the back of my head I had decided. The first time I was in this theater I saw Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett doing “The Mountaintop.”

Charlie, you actually live out here, are you planning on showing them around? Charlie Cox: Oh, yes. There’s a few places I want to take them.

Ashton: [Laughs] How can you make that sound sinister?

Cox: I’m not sure the places I like will be what you’re imagining. I want to take them to Bubby’s. It’s a restaurant with a great all-American brunch.

What does “all-American” mean to Brits?

Cox: Fried chicken and waffles.

Hiddleston: And big portions.

Cox: And coffee that keeps being filled up. You have to put a napkin over it to stop them.

Hiddleston: Right. If you have a second coffee in the UK you have to pay for it.

Cox: It’s crazy. When I get my coffee, I need to put my milk and sugar and the proportions have to be right. When they fill your coffee up over here, the proportions are all off. Also, you feel like you’re on rocket fuel and you don’t know why.

Ashton: Anything else we need to experience?

Cox: Well, these two are too healthy but I’d love to introduce you to half-and-half. It’s one of the best inventions in the world. It’s cream and milk.

Hiddleston: I know about that. This isn’t, like, my first time in America.

Cox: Oh, and I’d love to introduce you to McDonald’s. [Laughs.]

Hiddleston: I’m really excited about the seasons. I’ve spent time in New York before but it’s only been for like two weeks at a time. To be here from summer into fall into winter…

Cox: Fall is an illusion in New York. You get a weekend in the 70s, and that’s it.

Ashton: No, but the colors and the trees! And Thanksgiving is going to be amazing!

How did you first become familiar with the work of Harold Pinter and specifically “Betrayal”?

Hiddleston: For my A-Level English literature, we did a play of Pinter’s called “The Homecoming.” What I found so interesting was “The Homecoming” was so spare and so precise and so grown-up. I remember my teacher encouraging us to think about this play as about power and sex and family, all in a very brutal way. That it’s a father and sons competing for supremacy. I remember thinking: “This is reading a bit too much into it, isn’t it?” But it isn’t. As a 17-year-old, I just didn’t realize there was a writer engaging so consciously at this level.

Then I read “Betrayal” at the Royal Academy of Dramatic arts as an exercise for a dramaturgy class. I read it in one sitting and I did think, at the age of 21, “This would be an amazing thing to do one day.”

Ashton: We did a couple months of scene study at drama school and I played Anna in “Old Times.” I was 19 and I loved it and we actually nailed the scene study. I mean, we were 19-year-olds, maybe it was terrible. But my head of year said to me: “If I had known how easy Pinter was going to be for you, I would have given you something else.”

Was it easy?

Ashton: No! It wasn’t easy! But what I think he identified that if you vibe with Pinter, you’re kind of a special breed of person. If you can lean into all the violence and brutality and also see the tenderness and experience the special viewpoint he has of human relationships, you have a friend for life.

And you vibed with him from the start?

Ashton: 100%. And now I love him even more. Doing “Betrayal” is about having to invest in a love affair with these two men, but I also feel I’ve invested in a love affair with Pinter. I’ve wanted to read his poetry, I’ve wanted to think about him, I’ve wanted to read the books Joan Bakewell and Lady Antonia Fraser wrote about him. Just to try and piece together the man who I’ve never met. Charlie has.

You’ve met Pinter?

Cox: The first play I did in the West End was with Jamie Lloyd, “The Lover/The Collection.” Harold was part of numerous rehearsals and came to see the play many times. I got some great Harold stories that I’m still dining out on! During that time, I read “Betrayal.” Harold died the following year. It’s funny, my wife and I live in Connecticut and when I was offered this play I walked into my local bookshop and it was sitting right there.

A year ago, you didn’t know you’d be doing “Betrayal” in London, let alone here.

Cox: Four weeks ago we didn’t know we’d be here! It all happened very fast. When we closed in London, we thought we were done.

My understanding is this all began last October, when Tom and Zawe did a reading from the play at the “Pinter at the Pinter” gala?

Ashton: It sprung from that gala and people thinking we were rehearsing it already. People kept coming up to me and asking if we were doing a full production. So at the gala I basically came up to Tom and said, “What are you doing in March 2019?” And you were like, “Uh, get away from me, crazy lady.”

Hiddleston: It was an interesting night because it was celebration of all his work as a gift to [his widow] Antonia Fraser and it was 10 years after he died. But it wasn’t a heavy night, it was a celebration. And people came back to do extracts. The production Jamie Lloyd directed of “The Homecoming” came back. Jeremy Irons came back to do “No Man’s Land.”

Wait, Jeremy Irons starred in the film version of “Betrayal.”  Were you intimidated to do a scene in front of him?

Hiddleston: Well, less intimidated because I played his son in “The Hollow Crown.” There were several “Betrayal” alumni. Sam West was there, who played Robert at the Donmar Warehouse. Kristin Scott Thomas, who has played Emma, was also there. There was something very generous about this company of great, established actors who had made a great impact with Pinter’s work saying to Zawe and myself, “If you’re not doing it, you should do it.”

Ashton: It was such a compliment.

Hiddleston: Then Antonia Fraser also said, “Would you like to do it?” And Jamie leaned across and said, “Let’s do it!” So it came together very fast. And Jamie’s first suggestion for Jerry was Charlie, but he said you couldn’t do it.

Cox: The show I was doing [“Daredevil”] was going to be scheduled for another season at the time. So they went out to find somebody else. Then my show got cancelled and I called my agent and said I would love to do a play. I didn’t hear for a bit and I finally got him on the phone and was about to say “I’ve been trying to call you!” — but in a very nice, English way. And before I could say anything he said, “How would you like to do ‘Betrayal’ with Zawe Ashton and Tom Hiddleston?” I paused and said, “I’d like that very much.”

Ashton: If “Daredevil” hadn’t been canceled you wouldn’t have been able to do it.

That has to take some of sting out of cancellation.

Cox: It did, yeah.

This play doesn’t work without the chemistry between the characters, even when they are constantly competing and  one-upping each other. Did you know each other prior to working together and was that chemistry pretty instant?

Cox: Tom and I knew each other. We were bouncing around L.A. at the same time early in our careers.

Hiddleston: The truth is, we first met bumping into each other auditions for the same films that neither of us would get. After like the fourth time, we said, “Let’s go get a burger.”

Ashton: We’d been intersecting for years. Weird things have happened: Tom and I sat next to each other years before at the theater. We did the gala but weirdly, we’d also done a reading a couple weeks before that. And then Charlie and I realized we had auditioned together years ago.

Cox: I’m almost sure it was you. I didn’t get it.

Ashton: I didn’t either. And it was definitely you.

Hiddleston: That’s how most actors know each, they audition for things they don’t get.

Ashton: This could be the most unpleasant experience; it could really be toxically bad. What has happened is it has been the most joyful experience ever. That’s not to say we’re not completely embedded in the raw pain of the play. But I think you realize when you get to a certain age that you don’t need it to bleed into your lives and you don’t need to carry it home. I don’t want to do that with Harold Pinter because you can and you will go mad.

Hiddleston: It’s one of those things, you can’t put your finger on why it works, but it works and it’s a great pleasure.

Cox: That one-upmanship you talked about that’s in the text; if that were to manifest between us as actors, it would be awful.

Ashton: However…there was a squash game.

Cox: Let’s not talk about that.

Ashton: It did spill over into that game.

Cox: Look, it’s not about who wins or loses, it’s about who’s fitter. And Tom is fitter than I am.

Hiddleston: It was very instructive, playing squash. Some of those scenes, the competition is in the subtext, the brutality to each other is underneath it while they’re being civil on the surface. After we played squash, those scenes played themselves.

Cox: I still have a buttock injury from that last game. I was desperately trying to reach a ball because I was so determined to keep up! We had one day where we had five solid sessions and then Zawe joined us for the spa.

Leaving behind these characters at the end of the day could be a challenge. Are you able to do that?

Cox: Sometimes I’ll be at the end of the day and I’ll be agitated in some way and then I remember; of course, I just got off stage.

Ashton: I’ve often said I’ve felt like a baby who needed to be burped. There’s so much repression in the play and people aren’t saying what they mean and you want to cry but you have to hold it in. Sometimes I want to cry for three days.

Hiddleston: My favorite actor of all time Paul Scofield said: “The emotions are real, but they aren’t mine.” Which I think sums it up. Actors investigate something real but the situation doesn’t belong to them. So I know consciously I’m not Robert, I know I haven’t been betrayed. But when I investigate his sadness, some aspect of that belongs to me. It sometimes leaves a shadow.

“Betrayal” has been performed in America before, obviously, but are you curious about how Broadway audiences will respond versus London audiences?

Cox: We get a lot of Americans in London. I don’t think it’s going to be radically different.

Ashton: I think it’s going to be radically different. I think there’s going to be some exciting new things having an American audience is going to illuminate. I think it’s going to be interesting.

“Betrayal” runs at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre through Dec. 8.

[auburnfamilynews]

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Talking some actual football

Somehow, someway, fall camp is here.

No, starting practice does not guarantee there will be football this fall but it does at least keep the dream alive. After what has been one of the strangest off-seasons of all time, it’s nice to have a little taste of normalcy. The season still hangs in the balance but for now we can at least imagine what this Auburn team could like look this season.

Usually with these depth chart projections, I try to give a snapshot of where I think things might stand right now. Without spring practice though it seems kind of silly to use that criteria. Instead, I am going to give my best shot at predicting the depth chart we will see come game 1. Also, unlike the cowardly coaching staffs around the country, I will not resort to the easy out of using `OR`s to keep everyone on the roster happy. Call your shot or shut off your laptop. That’s what my dad would always say.

Let’s go.

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback

#10 Bo Nix | 6’2” | 213 lbs | Sophomore

#14 Grant Loy | 6’5” | 230 lbs | Senior

#24 Cord Sandberg | 6’3” | 222 lbs | Sophomore

#15 Chayil Garnett | 6’1” | 216 lbs | Freshman

One of the biggest questions facing this Auburn football team in 2020 is whether or not Bo Nix has taken the next step. As a true freshman, Nix was thrown into the fire against one of the toughest schedules in America. He performed admirably but far from spectacularly. There were incredible moments where you could see the All-American potential and frustrating lows that had fans wondering if he was the right quarterback for the job.

He completed less than 50% of his passes in 3 of Auburn’s biggest games last fall. That can’t happen this season. He averaged 6.7 yards per attempt, one of the worst for quarterbacks under Gus Malzahn since Jeremy Johnson. That must improve this fall. He had only 3 games where he threw multiple TDs. He needs to double that number in 2020.

But there is also plenty of positives to build on. When Auburn needed him most, he often rose to the occasion. Nix seemed at his best when the Tigers upped the pace of play and took his handcuffs off. Even in losses against LSU and UGA, Auburn stormed back in large part due to Nix carving apart elite secondaries. It’s up to Chad Morris to find a way to harness all of Nix’s raw talent and elevate his play from “good for a true freshman” to “one of the best in the SEC”.

Running Back (4)

#21 Mark Antony-Richards | 6’1” | 208 lbs | rFreshman

#4 Tank Bigsby | 6’0” | 204 lbs | Freshman

#3 D.J. Williams | 5’10” | 216 lbs | Sophomore

#8 Shaun Shivers | 5’7” | 179 lbs | Junior

#22 Harold Joiner | 6’4” | 215 lbs | rSophomore

I am still clinging on to my early summer prediction of Mark-Antony Richards being Auburn’s RB1 in 2020 but my confidence has faded dramatically. Why? Well it has nothing to do with Richards who I still believe is immensely talented. It has more to do with Tank Bigsby. It’s hard to ignore the buzz building around the true freshman who has apparently impressed coaches and teammates alike with his attitude and work ethic since arriving on the Plains. I won’t be upset in the least if my Richards prediction is wrong because it likely means Bigsby has lived up to the hype.

However, entering fall camp, D.J. Williams is absolutely the man to beat. Having him at #3 doesn’t mean I think he’s bad. It means I think that highly of the ability of the two freshman listed ahead of him but it wouldn’t be a stunner if the rising sophomore held onto the top spot. He showed flashes in 2019 of his big play ability but he also failed to snatch the #1 spot from Boobee Whitlow when given the chance. I will add that if DJ Williams is Auburn’s 3rd best running back this fall that’s a testament to how quickly Carnell Williams has elevated the talent in that room.

Shaun Shivers and Harold Joiner are the veterans of the group and the biggest wildcards. Shivers will always be an Iron Bowl legend but I still don’t see him as an every down back. I am still not sure if Harold Joiner even is a running back. The Tigers seemed more apt to use him as a pass catcher than a ball carrier in 2019. We will see if that changes this fall. I’m ok with him making me look really dumb though with a breakout season.

Tight End (3)

#87 Brandon Frazier | 6’7” | 270 lbs | Freshman

#47 John Samuel Shenker | 6’3” | 241 lbs | Junior

#86 Luke Deal | 6’6” | 247 lbs | rFreshman

#85 Tyler Fromm | 6’5” | 237 lbs | rFreshman

#89 JJ Pegues | 6’2” | 300 lbs | Freshman

That’s right, calling my shot here folks. The tight end position is about to become MUCH more involved in Auburn’s passing attack and I think the man leading the charge will be a true freshman. Brandon Frazier was Chad Morris’s #1 TE target last cycle. He landed his pledge while head coach at Arkansas and then landed him again when named offensive coordinator at Auburn. You don’t work that hard for a kid to sit him on the bench. He’s a big man at 6’7” 270 lbs but is a legit vertical threat and has the ability to make plays after the catch. He might not start the season as the #1 guy but I wouldn’t be shocked if he’s a starter by season end.

Pegues is the biggest wildcard of the bunch. 6’2” 300 lbs is not something you usually see at tight end but you also rarely see 6’2” 300 lb kids with Pegues’s athletic ability. He more fits the mold of Malzahn’s preferred athlete at the 3-back and Gus seemed almost giddy about this kid on signing day. I expect the Tigers to draw up some specific packages to get him involved but not sure he sees regular time at tight end out the gate.

Wide Receiver (9/Split End)

#18 Seth Williams | 6’3” | 211 lbs | Junior

#9 Ze’Vian Capers | 6’4” | 194 lbs | Freshman

#81 J.J. Evans | 6’3” | 210 lbs | Freshman

The 9 spot has been a gateway to the NFL under Chad Morris. DeAndre Hopkins, Martavis Bryant, Mike Williams and Courtland Sutton all starred at this position for Morris. All four were NFL draft picks with Hopkins and Williams both going in the 1st. Might Seth be next?

The Tuscaloosa native emerged as Auburn’s most potent offensive weapon in 2019. Despite missing some time with a shoulder injury the rising junior caught 59 passes for 830 yards and 8 touchdowns. Williams excelled at winning 1 on 1 matchups and should get even more opportunities to eat under Chad Morris. What might matter most is whether or not Auburn can establish a #2 threat to take some of the pressure off Williams and give him more space to work in 2020.

With Zach Farrar transferring out and Matthew Hill moving to defense, I expect a pair of true freshman to see most of the work behind Williams at the 9. Capers has drawn some early comparisons to Williams and seems the likeliest of the freshman class to become the next dominant outside WR for the Tigers.

Evans was a big play receiver in high school and would give the Tigers some more speed at this spot ala Darius Slayton/Sammie Coates. He’s a big kid too at 6’3” 210 lbs so he’s got the frame to beat press coverage on the outside. I am excited about this freshman crop of wideouts and interested to see who can start to emerge as the next man up behind Seth.

Wide Receiver (5/Big Slot)

#11 Shedrick Jackson | 6’0” | 201 lbs | Junior

#17 Elijah Canion | 6’4” | 213lbs | Freshman

With Sal Cannella departure and Chad Morris’s arrival, I expect to see some changes at this WR spot moving forward. Under Malzahn, the 5 was initially the tight end before merging into some sort of tight end/wide receiver hybrid featuring bigger framed athletes who excelled as blockers. That could still be the case under Morris but he’s also used this position as the grooming ground for the next 9 man so don’t be surprised if someone like Ze’Vian Capers gets some work here this fall.

However, it’s pretty obvious Shedrick Jackson will be the man heading into the season. I am still high on Jackson’s potential and am hopeful the Tigers find more ways to use this kid to stretch defenses vertically. He excelled in high school at taking the top off of defenses. He’s shown he will put in the work as a blocker now it’s time to reward him with some deep balls.

Keep an eye on Canion. He was the lowest rated wideout of the bunch but might be the freakiest athlete. I also expect Auburn to cross train wide receivers more under Morris so don’t be surprised if you see Jackson and Canion get some action at the 9 as well.

Wide Receiver (3/Slot)

#12 Eli Stove | 6’0” | 191 lbs | Senior

#6 Ja’Varrius Johnson | 5’9” | 160 lbs | rFreshman

#23 Caylin Newton | 5’11” | 201 lbs | Junior

Ok so I am cheating a bit on this one. By adding a fourth WR on the depth chart, I can avoid the traffic jam at the 2 and list both Stove and Schwartz as starters.

Eli Stove had his most productive season last fall and will look to build on it with a strong senior campaign. To do that, Chad Morris needs to find a way to get him, Williams and Schwartz all on the field at the same time more often. Last season, Auburn’s three best WRs did not play double digit snaps together. That needs to change in 2020.

Johnson is a breakout player to watch. He’s got a similar skillset to Ryan Davis with possibly more explosiveness. 160 is pretty damn light though for SEC football but it doesn’t matter if no one can get their hands on you.

You know Newton is going to attempt at least one pass on some sort of trick play this fall. I am interested to see if he can find a way onto the field. My guess is his snaps will be limited this season but he will have a chance to see more regular playing time in 2021.

Wide Receiver (2/Flanker)

#1 Anthony Schwartz | 6’0” | 179 lbs | Junior

#5 Kobe Hudson | 6’1” | 196 lbs | Freshman

Malcolm Johnson Jr | 6’1” | 185 lbs | Freshman

The player that was likely the most excited to see Chad Morris arrive on the Plains was probably Anthony Schwartz. Injuries have slowed things but it’s also felt like Malzahn isn’t quite sure how to harness all of Schwartz’s speed. I expect Morris to use him like he did Sammie Watkins back in 2011. Lots of designed concepts to get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways from speed sweeps to deep shots to quick hitting concepts over the middle. For Auburn’s offense to reach its full potential the Tigers must find a way to truly establish Schwartz as one of the scariest offensive weapons in the SEC.

Behind him are two freshman. I have high hopes for Kobe Hudson but I suspect he’s a year away from being heavily involved in the offense. Malcolm Johnson Jr is supposed to be playing his senior year of high school this fall instead he will be playing an SEC only schedule. That’s a large jump for any kid.

Left Tackle

#68 Austin Troxell | 6’6” | 312 lbs | Junior

#65 Alec Jackson | 6’5” | 315 lbs | Junior

#77 Kilian Zierer | 6’7” | 294 lbs | Junior

#72 Prince Michael Sammons | 6’7” | 313 lbs | Senior

The biggest question mark at the position with the most question marks heading into fall camp is the left tackle position. Despite Auburn’s struggles to recruit highly rated prep offensive tackles, they have found a way to pretty consistently have an NFL calibre player at this key position each season. That doesn’t look so certain heading into the 2020 campaign.

There is no question Austin Troxell has SEC level talent. But three major knee injuries in six years is hard to ignore. If he’s truly 100% and can stay healthy all fall, I would expect him to be Auburn’s starting left tackle and to have a strong season. However, he will be facing some fierce competition this fall camp.

Kilian Zierer was my pick to be Auburn’s starting left tackle back in the fall but he too is recovering from a serious knee injury. Malzahn says he’s “almost” back to 100% which is good but given his little experience at the position along with most of his time on Auburn’s campus to date focused on rehab, I doubt he’s Auburn’s day 1 starter. He might emerge later in the fall.

That means former defensive lineman turned tackle, Alec Jackson, has a tremendous opportunity in the coming weeks to make a move up the depth chart. It also wouldn’t be unprecedented considering Auburn’s most recent starting left tackle. He worked at the position all last season so hopefully he enters camp more focused on elevating his game than learning the position. It will be fascinating to see how things play out at left tackle.

Left Guard

#71 Brandon Council | 6’4” | 325 lbs | Junior

#56 Tashawn Manning | 6’3” | 324 lbs | Junior

#62 Kameron Stutts | 6’4” | 325 lbs | rSophomore

It’s still early but there’s been a lot of positive buzz surrounding former Akron standout Brandon Council. The graduate transfer has two years of eligibility remaining and is likely the most versatile piece on Auburn’s offense line. He’s reportedly worked at guard to start his Auburn career but he’s played both center and tackle previously in his career. That flexibility makes it likely he starts somewhere on the offensive line. If Troxell and Zierer struggle to get their legs underneath them and Jackson proves not ready, don’t be surprised to see Council bump outside.

Behind him are two intriguing players. Tashawn Manning, like Alec Jackson, arrived on campus as a defensive lineman but has now transitioned to the offensive side of the ball. When Auburn’s 2nd team offensive line entered the games last fall, Manning manned the left guard position. The competition is stiff in the interior of Auburn’s offensive line but I expect Manning to be very involved. If he doesn’t earn a starting spot chances are good he will be the first guard off the bench after an injury.

There’s also Kameron Stutts who wasn’t a highly regarded recruit coming out of high school but a kid who I really feel like has a chance to develop into a solid player on Auburn’s offensive line. I would be surprised if he earns a starting gig this fall but we’ll see if he can make some noise in the coming weeks.

Center

#52 Nick Brahms | 6’3” | 299 lbs | Junior

#79 Kamaar Bell | 6’2” | 325 lbs | rFreshman

#57 Avery Jernigan | 6’3” | 306 lbs | Freshman

The one position that seems certain starting camp is the center position. After playing merry go round with Kaleb Kim the past two seasons, Brahms finds himself the lone returning starter and the likely leader of Auburn’s front five. He struggled as a freshman due in large part to so much strength lost after a gruesome leg injury but improved as a sophomore. Now it’s about taking the next step from “good enough to start” to “being one of the best centers in the league”.

Behind him are two kids that will likely be battling out to be Brahm’s incumbent in two years. Kamaar Bell was the last player to make it to campus in 2019 and took a redshirt without seeing any action. Now with a year of strength training under his belt, Bell looks poised to emerge as Auburn’s backup center this fall. He’s a powerful kid who will add some bulk to the interior of Auburn’s offensive line.

But Bell will face some stiff competition from one of the more underrated members of Auburn’s 2020 signing class. Avery Jernigan ain’t flashy but he loves hitting folks and has the skillset to be a really good player for the Tigers in the very near future. I am really intrigued to watch this position battle unfold over the coming years between Bell and Jernigan.

Right Guard

#58 Keiondre Jones | 6’3” | 335 lbs | rFreshman

#50 Jalil Irvin | 6’2” | 310 lbs | Sophomore

#54 Tate Johnson | 6’3” | 309 lbs | Freshman

Before a concussion sidelined him for the fall, Keiondre Jones was turning heads as a true freshman. That buzz returned during bowl practice and I think he’s the frontrunner to take over Mike Horton’s old spot.

But he’s far from a lock. Jalil Irvin was Auburn’s backup right guard last fall and probably enters the fall as the #1 guy. I thought Irvin’s future would be at center for the Tigers but Auburn slid him over to guard last spring and the results have been positive. Depending on what happens at right tackle these two could also see competition from Brodarious Hamm if Jack Bicknell decides to bump him back inside.

Right Tackle

#59 Brodarious Hamm | 6’5” | 330 lbs | Junior

#65 Brenden Coffey | 6’5” | 279 lbs | Junior

#76 Jeremiah Wright | 6’5” | 340 lbs | Freshman

Despite never having started for the Tigers, Brodarious Hamm is the name that keeps coming up when folks talk about offensive lineman with the highest ceilings. Hamm started his career at guard but slid outside last season and looks poised to be Jack Driscoll’s replacement this fall.

The biggest wildcard at offensive tackle this fall has to be Brenden Coffey. The JUCO signee looked destined to be a Tiger over the summer before Zierer’s commitment seemed to end any chance of it happening. Then when Jonathan Buskey’s academic status became uncertain, Auburn pushed for and eventually landed the big man. Coffey is a tremendous athlete who could also slide inside if needed. If he shows out this fall, it would give Auburn the flexibility to move Hamm back inside. I suspect though he starts his career off as the #2 guy

Looking at Auburn’s offensive skill players, it’s easy to see the incredible potential of this offense. But examining the offensive line quickly makes it hard to get too high on this offensive attack until the abundance of questions are answered up front. I think there’s talent on this OL but all of it is unproven. With no spring, a new offensive line coach and just a few weeks from kickoff, building and developing this new offensive line is this offense’s biggest challenge to reaching its ceiling.

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the defensive side of the ball where a number of super stars are gone but a ton of proven talent remains.

War Eagle!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2020/8/20/21267024/2020-depth-chart-offense-fall-camp-edition

[zalrb]

TVD 2x01 Review

1. How fitting to review 2x01 today with all of the Bonnie/Katherine discussion happening on my blog.

2. Also, this is totally unrelated but AMC has been marathoning Jurassic Park for like the past how many hours and I have it on mute right now while I do this review and can someone tell me why in the first Jurassic Park, the little blonde girl gets the flashlight and turns it on and attracts that dinosaur to the car? Like I never got it and it FRUSTRATES me. So am I missing something? OK back on point.

3. John doesn’t seem to be in too much pain considering his fingers are cut off.

4. I like how when Stefan comes to the Gilbert house and runs up the stairs to examine Jeremy, he and Elena cling to each other briefly. Details, man.

5. So I’m not a vampire? Dammit.” “Jeremy, don’t say that. Why would you want that?” “Did you hear about Anna? What happened to her tonight? She’s dead.” Likkle boy, your logic is ridiculous.I don’t know if it’s Steve’s acting or the writing is just being lazy with it but if the whole allure of vampirism for Jeremy is that he can shut off his emotions then I need to see him overwhelmed with emotions all the time, like he essentially needs to be an empath and not the supernatural kind but the kind of people who are highly sensitive to their own emotions and to the emotions of people around them and he just wants it to stop. OR the show has to emphasize that Jeremy is a, what, fifteen year old kid and his logic is of a fifteen year old kid.

6. Also I really love how agitated Stefan is but also very precise with Jeremy lile LISTEN TO ME, YOU WILL DIE IF YOU KEEP THIS UP, DO YOU HEAR ME? And he gives him a little smack like YO ARE YOU LISTENING THO? which isn’t the same thing as Damon threatening to make him unconscious and grabbing his arm since this was like PAY ATTENTION BECAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT AND I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR YOUR ANGSTY SHIT BECAUSE YOUR ANGSTY SHIT WILL KILL YOU. I find it very paternal. Especially since Stefan softens when Jeremy looks him in the eye and says he understands.

7. Damon figuring out that Katherine is back is SOOOO funny though because he is SO trash, like no honey, you weren’t kissing Elena, sorry.

8. I would’ve preferred if he slammed Katherine against the wall so hard that it cracked, they ARE vampires and Stefan is handy he couldve fixed it later. Details, man.

9. I like how Damon spent this time being all Katherine is omniscient, if she wants you dead there’s nothing you can do about it, we won’t figure out her plan oh but I can TOTALLY stake her.

10. Yes, Carol and Liz casually walk around the house talking about vampires and murder like there aren’t other people around. This is a mansion, there should be like 30 rooms you can go to to talk.

11. It’s cute how Stefan anticipates Elena’s needs, he threatens John because he knows she doesn’t want him in her life and she knows he threatened John to leave because she knows he can anticipate what she needs. Also their hug outside of the hospital is one of my favourites because she just needs to be comfortaed and hugging Stefan does that for her.

12. Ian needs to chill with the eyebrows for real.

13. Damon underestimated Grams and she was like boy please. Damon underestimates Bonnie and she’s like lol you tried. Why exactly is Damon so overly confident when he’s always proven wrong? DErs: It’s a defense mechanism to hide from his insecurity. Me: He needs a new one. Or get his shit together.

14. LOL the music surrounding Katherine makes me laugh because it’s so dramatic. Damon made his entrance killing like 5 people. Isobel had randoms walking in front of cars and forced a gay rodeo cowboy to have heterosexual sex. Katherine is just being trifling right now.

15. I always liked this Steferine scene in the Lockwood Mansion because Stefan is SO done, like he is just so over Katherine and her bullshit and he treats it like her bullshit instead of making it this OMG SHE’S DIABOLICAL and Nina and Paul play off each other really well so there’s also this tension but she is SO trifling and Stefan is just like omg I fucking HATE you

16. I also like that Katherine is the only one actually thirsty for Matt?

17. I also like the piano rendition of Breakeven.

18. “Why would you be surprised that I kissed you?” “That’s not a surprise, I’ surprised you thought I’d kiss you back” classic.

19. WHEN DOES JEREMY CUT HIS HAIR.

20. The alarm on his face as he drinks from the flask and Mason comes in is priceless though, one of the few actual teenage moments of TVD

21. Stefan legit has some pretty crazy exes though. Katherine stabs him because he said he hated her, Rebekah is Rebekah and Valerie made Caroline burn at his touch, like lmao, women fall DEEP for him man, Elena stormed into the cabin of a powerful old-ass witch? Lol.

22.Also find it super cute that Elena tends to his wound.

23. I like how Damon is like OOH LET’S FIGHT and Stefan is like I just got stabbed, I’m tired. Grow up, Damon.

24. Stefan’s speech to Damon about how he’s not going to let Katherine destroy the part of him finally willing to feel is mature and all but I need the show to stop acting like Damon didn’t feel before Elena because the problem has always been that Damon can’t control his fucking emotions and that leads to him killing people or hurting people. He spent 145 years loving one woman, clearly he felt. He slaughtered a house full of women in the 90s because Stefan said he kept failing and he was upset. He turned Vicki because he was sad. It’s Stefan who was willing to feel when he met Elena. Like they mixed up their own narrative. And it’s not like anyone can say that Damon developed a healthy love for Elena and that’s why it’s different than his obsession with Katherine because he didn’t! Same shit.

25. No idea why Katherine and Damon’s bickering suddenly reminds me of siblings, I think because I find them so petty with each other.

26. I really like Katherine’s bra though, I always like her lingerie, I’ll give her that. 

26. I love the way Katherine is looking at Damon now like, yo I just came for some D and now you wanna talk about feelings?

27. “There is something going on between us and you know it” can we appreciate the fact that Elena actually looks alarmed, like not even like he’s hitting a nerve, she’s looking at him like WHAT are you talking about?

28. I remember the first time I watched this I was like oh Damon that sucks, both women have been like “It’s always Stefan” in the same night basically one after the other, that’s rough, you’re an ass though and then he killed Jeremy and I said SEE YOU’RE AN ASS THOUGH. Then I watched it again and like, Original Katherine said it was always Stefan so you go to the woman you’ve transplanted your obsession onto and try to force yourself on her and she says it’s always Stefan so you enact violence on her by killing her brother.Stay classy.

29. The whole exchange between Stefan and Elena about Damon’s motivations still piss me off, it doesn’t matter, he killed her brother because he was upset, like that dialogue should’ve been used to ask questions about Jeremy and Elena being like so how does it work again, what did Isobel say? Do you think he’s going to be OK? Why hasn’t he woke up already?

30. Still super cute that Stefan kisses Elena’s shoulder.

31. The first actual stake-raising thing Katherine has done. (Killing Caroline).

Thanks for reading!

[madqueenalanna]

For Science, Of Course

Pairing: Jeremy Dooley/Reader Rating: E for sex Word count: 2,750 Summary: Jeremy accidentally hints that he has a big dick. You’re determined to figure out the truth. For science, of course. Read: HERE on AO3 or below the cut

Normally you liked to think of yourself as a pretty in-control person. Sure, you had your moments of hedonism like everyone else (and come on, sometimes self-love involves a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and a Netflix queue) but nothing really wild.

But you worked in an office seemingly staffed with the most beautiful people Austin had to offer, and it had been a few months at least since you’d gotten more than a friendly hug, and that was really wearing on you.

Jeremy was the first to notice your frustration. You were in the Stream Team’s little office doing some editing with Matt and Trevor when he finally asked. “Alright, what’s up? You doing okay? You’ve been on edge for like a week.”

“I miss that dick.”

Matt choked on his RedBull and Trevor sighed, putting his headphones back on. “Okay,” Jeremy said after a moment. “That’s a horrible thing to say to us, but okay.”

“Sorry to make it weird, but you asked me why I’m on edge, and the answer is that I’m no longer getting dicked down on the regular.”

“I have to go, uh, die somewhere else,” Matt said scrambling to leave the room. You and Jeremy watched him bolt, and when he was gone, Jeremy looked back at you.

“Must have been a pretty impressive dick.”

“Six and a half,” you said wistfully. Your boyfriend before this most recent one had been a full inch shorter.

“Is that all?” Jeremy said, surprised, and then seemed to realize how terrible that sounded and blushed.

“Jesus, Jeremy,” you laughed. “What’re you packing that six and a half inches is small? I mean, God!”

“Please shut up.” He shrunk into his seat.

“If you’ve been packing like eight, nine inches this whole time and have actively not been having sex with me, I’m gonna be so mad.”

“Oh, God, just stop.”

He sounded so wretched that you left him alone, and you kept it dropped until the minute you were in the Achievement Hunter office without him. “Guys, I have terrible news,” you said, throwing yourself on the couch with your arm over your eyes dramatically.

“Yeah?” said Michael, spinning his chair around to look at you. “What’s up?”

“Gavin, I’m sorry to tell you this, but Jeremy does in fact have a big dick.”

“Aw, no,” he said, dropping his head into his hands. None of you could resist the teasing after he spilled his dream about Jeremy’s huge penis, but it had gotten old a while ago. “I’d gotten over that! Why’d you tell me?”

“And more importantly, how do you know?” Ryan asked.

“Well,” you started, aware that this was absolutely the weirdest conversation you’d had in a while, “I happened to mention that I thought my ex had a pretty decently sized dick– six and a half, which you will recognize is above average– and Jeremy goes ‘oh, is that it?’ So, uh, I dunno.”

“Do you think he was kidding?” Ryan offered.

“He might’ve been, but he looked super embarrassed, like he hadn’t meant to say it. I made fun of him for a while and he just kept blushing. I think it was legit.”

“This is the worst day of my life,” Gavin moaned.

“You know,” Michael said, “you’re gonna have to get to the bottom of this. You’re gonna have to fuck Jeremy.”

“For science,” Ryan clarified, and you sighed.

“For science,” you agreed.

***

Science dictated that when your plan began the following Monday, you have to look good. Not just your usual casual-cute self, but downright smokin’. It was a hard line to walk: you wanted to look sexy, but work-appropriate, without letting absolutely everyone in the building know you were trying for seductive. On day one, you chose a short black skirt over tights and a very low-cut sleeveless blouse. It wasn’t exactly risqué, but you were a little mesmerized by the way your upper thighs and deep cleavage were visible in a very new way. You weren’t trying to be vain, you assured yourself as you paused in front of every mirror, but you were very curious what a straight-ish guy like Jeremy would do when he saw you.

The answer, as you found out, was drop his jaw completely to the floor. He pretended he didn’t, made some joke out of it, but you caught his eyes on you all day. It was a serious turn on to know that you could get Jeremy hot and bothered. You considered trying to hit that, just to see if he would say yes… but it wasn’t about your orgasms, it was science, and you had to play it right.

So you didn’t flirt. You were careful not to flaunt too hard; you couldn’t make it too blatant. Once or twice you would bend over just enough to show off your cleavage or your ass, but you tried not to be overt about it so that Jeremy wouldn’t catch on. And then, at the end of the day, you did nothing else at all. You finished your work, packed up, and went home.

And you did the same thing every day for the next two weeks. Some aspect of your daily wardrobe would be a touch less modest than usual, and you would show it off once or twice. You didn’t come on too strong, you didn’t flirt, you didn’t drop to your knees under the editor’s desk and go down on Jeremy until he was too breathless to even moan (although, fuck, by about day eight the temptation was strong). You waited and waited, more wound up by the minute, unsatisfied by your own hand, and finally, after fourteen work days, Jeremy cornered you on a Friday afternoon.

You were back in the Stream Team office, and Trevor and Matt had gone to lunch. You and Jeremy were finishing a build for the latest Minecraft and so waited a little longer than they did to break. “So,” Jeremy said in a would-be casual tone as you finally paused, “have you been dressing sexier on purpose?”

Score, you thought. “What do you mean?”

“I mean the shorter skirts, the tighter jeans, the lower-cut shirts.” Man, you hadn’t even been wearing tighter jeans, which mean that he was focusing on you even more than you expected. You swallowed hard, the ever-present coil of arousal tightening in your belly. “Do you seriously not know what you’re talking about?”

“No, I think I… I went out shopping with Lindsay, she talked me into a few cute things I might not normally wear, and now I have to wear them cause I spent money on them.” Lindsay would forgive the lie, you knew. It was for science, after all. “Why? Why have you been thinking about the tightness of my jeans?”

“Because to be honest, it’s really goddamn distracting. Last week you wore a short skirt and bent over and I actually stopped talking in the middle of a sentence because I just… forgot what I was gonna say. Matt was giving me shit for it. Did you not notice me staring?”

“No, I guess not,” you said with a shrug, as though it didn’t give you a thrill down to your toes to think about Jeremy staring at your ass. “How distracting was it?”

“Distracting enough that I had to run to the bathroom and deal with it.” It was harder to contain a shiver at that. Beyond the science, the thought of Jeremy working his cock thinking about you was really fucking hot. You could just about imagine it– it wasn’t like you’d never imagined it before– his brown eyes squeezed tight and his sweet mouth falling open, little moans and gasps escaping his throat, the muscles in his chest flexing as he rolled his hips into his hand… “And I don’t know how much longer I can keep working with you like this if I keep having to leave so I can deal with it.”

You set a hand on the curve of your hip, and you could see Jeremy trace the action, his eyes following the lines of your body hungrily. “Maybe you’ll have to get it all out of your system at once,” you said, letting yourself smile. “And would you look at that, I seem to have the next hour free.”

His pupils were blown wide and black, and he was almost panting. “Broom closet down the hall,” he said. “Wait there. I’ll follow in a minute.”

You flashed him a wink and obeyed, and after maybe a minute and a half in the dark closet he let himself in. “It doesn’t lock and we don’t have a lot of time,” he said, his voice thick with desire. “So we gotta hurry. I have a condom. Do you wanna fuck?”

You sucked in a sharp breath. “Jesus, do you have to say it like that?”

“Like what?”

“So… blunt.”

You could only see his vague outline in the darkness but you could tell he shrugged. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s just… it turns me on.”

He huffed. “God, I can’t fuckin’ take this. After the last three weeks I’m gonna explode. I need to fuck you right now. Skirt up, panties off, hands on the wall, let’s go.”

Good Lord, you didn’t expect sweet Jeremy to have this side in him, but you were very into it. You slid your thong down and kicked it off, hiked up your skirt, and rested your hands against the wall. Jeremy immediately pressed himself against you, and you could feel his hard, hot cock against your ass as he nibbled your neck. You couldn’t help but gasp and grind back against him.

“Gonna fuck you so good,” he murmured. His hands came around to tear your shirt open and luckily your bra clasped in the front, because he could easily undo it and roughly palm your breasts. The breath caught in your throat when he tweaked your nipple. You reached back to give his cock a few strokes and because somewhere in your mind past the haze of desire you still remembered this was an experiment, you estimated. Your best guess was eight inches. He might actually kill you. You thought you might be okay with that.

“Hurry up,” you whispered. You rolled your hips back against him again and with a groan he pulled away entirely. At first you were disappointed but then his hands shoved your thighs apart and he buried his face between your legs and you had to bite the inside of your cheek to stop yourself from screaming.

When you looked down, you saw his strong hands braced against your inner thighs, thumbs rubbing circles against the sensitive skin. He was sitting against the wall, eyes closed, tongue working in some magical pattern around your clit. Jeremy’s gorgeous face between your thighs was a dream come true (and a dream you’d had more than once) and you gave in, forgot the experiment and surrendered to lust.

“Sorry,” he panted against your thigh when he pulled away. You groaned in disappointment until he slid two fingers inside you and crooked them expertly. “Sorry, I know we don’t have time, but you looked good enough to eat, so…”

You flicked him in the temple, but then he scissored his fingers just slightly and you gasped. “Fuck, Jeremy, your hands are so incredible…”

“If I had more time I’d make you come on my tongue, and then my fingers, and then my cock. I’d fuck you every way I know how. But we don’t have time… just have to open you up, make sure you can take me.”

“I can take anything you can give me,” you breathed, and he laughed against your skin, fingers thrusting deep and steady.

“After six and a half, you need prep for eight and a quarter.” You whined your impatience, and with a few more strokes to your inner walls, he pulled away entirely and positioned himself behind you again. “You ready? You want this?”

“Y-yeah,” you moaned. “Fuck me, Jeremy.”

He swore and fumbled, and you heard the crunch of foil from a condom packet. In a few moments he was back behind you, guiding his cock inside you.

He was right, it hurt a bit. It had been a while, and he was right about the size… but, God, the size. The pain felt so good, and knowing how big he was only made you wetter, and you were practically dripping already. “Take it,” he groaned, sinking in to the hilt. “Oh, fuck, take it!”

“H-harder, Jeremy…” The pain was fading as you loosened around him, and that wouldn’t do. You wanted the sweet ache to remind you of how big he was. You pushed your hips back and he slapped your ass, a warning to let him control the pace. Only that felt good, so you did it again and he spanked you harder and you both moaned together.

The pace he set then was punishing. His hands kneaded your breasts roughly, or else would dip down to rub your clit, or he’d just simply grip your hips so hard he’d leave bruises later and pounded into you. You leaned against the wall with your forehead resting on your forearm and with one more pass over your clit, you came, clenching around him and whimpering. He sunk his teeth into the juncture of your neck and shoulder and came in a few more thrusts, shuddering.

It took you a few moments to catch your breath, and then he pulled out of you, turning you around gently so your back was against the wall. You knew you looked like a mess, bruises blossoming on your hips and shoulder, your shirt open and your skirt rucked up. He looked a little more composed but his expression was dazed, utterly sated. You pulled him in for a kiss, your first time kissing him. Maybe it was improper to fuck first, kiss later, but it felt natural. His mouth opened against yours, and you could taste yourself on his tongue, but that felt okay too. The scrape of his beard against your chin almost had you ready to go again.

“That was something,” he whispered when the kiss was broken. “I… Sorry I got rough, I didn’t mean to… I was just so goddamn turned on.”

“No, fuck, believe me, I…” You started redressing, clipping your bra back together and buttoning your shirt. He tucked himself back into his jeans. “I like it rough, in case it wasn’t…”

“It was good,” he said, and the simplistic finality of that made you laugh. He bent to pick something up off the floor– your thong. You held out a hand for it but he smiled, stuffed it in his pocket.

“Oh, no you don’t. These are mine now.”

“They won’t look as good on you as they do on me,” you warned, but secretly it was sexy, going back to work just-fucked without panties. Speaking of work… “We should go. This took longer than it should have.”

“Better than being done too quick, I guess.” You left the closet together, just as Miles was leaving the bathroom next door, red-faced.

He looked between you and Jeremy and you knew instantly your secret was out before you’d even had time to keep it. “Just so you know,” he said, his voice hoarse, “the walls between the closet and bathroom are pretty thin.” He hurried off and Jeremy flushed from his cheekbones down his neck.

“I guess we’ll have to find somewhere a little more private next time,” you managed, and that brought a grin to his face.

“My place, tonight?”

“You know, Jeremy, that sounds just wonderful. Right now, though, we have to go back to work.”

He sighed. “I know. C’mon.”

“Be with you in a sec. Go on ahead, I have to grab something out of the AH office.”

He shrugged, kissed you on the cheek, and went back to editing. You stuck your head inside the Achievement Hunter office and whistled to get the room’s attention.

“Just so you know,” you said, grinning, “eight and a quarter.”

It took them a second, but Gavin started whining when he realized, and Michael burst out in peals of laughter. Geoff looked between them all. “Did you– you did not. At work? Hey! Don’t fuck at work!”

You laughed, closed the door behind you, and went back to work.

[flauntpage]

Dwight Howard is (Quietly) Dominating Again

Dwight Howard's shoulders don't know how to retreat. Perhaps they are unaware of the fact that they're battling on behalf of his third team in three years, or are partly responsible for a fruitless post game, but these shoulders still sit atop a pair of impossibly muscular arms as one of the most effective physical characteristics basketball has ever known.

As I stand beside/below them on Madison Square Garden's sideline during a recent morning practice, it dawns on me that these shoulders should have come to mind when Howard's awkward tenure with the Atlanta Hawks came to a merciful conclusion. Or when he looked closer to China than All-Star Weekend during a dreadful six-turnover preseason opener against the Boston Celtics.

It's impossible to stand so close and believe other players have any chance in hell to corral missed shots while those shoulders occupy the same space. They were molded to plant flags in the paint. (Howard is the career leader among all active players in defensive and total rebound rate, and is currently pulling down 13.2 per game.) Today, they stand tall in the face of revolutionary, three-point-line-backed winds that threaten to wipe them out.

Even though the narrative surrounding Howard's decline—further accelerated by the decrepit trade package Charlotte used to acquire him—has somewhat less to do with his production and more to do with the friction he's stumbled upon with teammates and coaches in recent years, that wide frame, and all the good it can still do on a basketball court, isn't going anywhere. Howard doesn't need to dramatically evolve—what he can do is timeless.

"When we were in Orlando he was just, athletically...I mean really outside of Shaq, I don't think there's been another guy with that type of strength, quickness, explosiveness like he had," Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, says. Clifford, who worked with Howard when both were employed by the Magic, continues, "He's still, to me, very strong, very athletic—not like he was—but he's also much more seasoned. And I think the thing he's never gotten credit for is his intelligence on the floor."

Photo by Jeff Hanisch - USA TODAY Sports

I crouch next to Howard as he slides his feet from American Flag decorated Peak sneakers into a pair of Ugg house slippers that resemble two sheepskin-lined canoes. The cameras that once invaded his personal space in environments just like this one are gone. All he has to deal with is my lone digital recorder. He fiddles with his phone and slides a black Hornets knit hat (with a pom on top) over his head. I ask if and how his role right now is different than it was in the previous two stops.

"No doubt. I'm more involved in the offense," he says. "I have more opportunities to put in some good input within our defensive schemes...It's a totally different system, a totally different atmosphere, and I'm excited about our future here.

"Coach understands that I enjoy playing defense, and he's just allowed me to be who I am on defense within the defensive scheme that we have set as a team. So that's a little bit different than in the past."

Howard is 11 games into his 13th season. It's too early to say if his fit with the Hornets will be successful, but at 32 years old he's got the highest usage percentage he's had since he left Orlando. In some areas that's not so great, like, for example, on the block, where only three players in the entire league have posted up more, according to Synergy sports.

Howard's turnover rate on these possessions makes feeding him down low one of the riskier gambles in the league. Right now he's coughing it up 34.4 percent of the time, an outrageously high number that's 12.2 percent higher than Blake Griffin, who ranks second on that list among all players who've logged at least 50 post ups.

He's been a particularly demoralizing black hole. The second Howard puts the ball on the floor there's a good chance it'll fly out of bounds, get poked away by his own man, or ripped from his grasp by a help defender who knows Howard won't see him coming. The saving grace here is that much like a hot three-point shooter, being this careless with the ball is unsustainable throughout an 82-game season. And when Howard shoots without dribbling, his field goal percentage is an impressive 65.7 percent.

All in all, the increase of opportunity has made him happy. And a happy Howard is an engaged center who can still sway the tide on both ends of the court. His net rating has hovered around +10 for most of the season, and the Hornets look like a 62-win team when he's on the floor. (So far, they're a total trainwreck when he sits—but that also has to do with the fact that Howard usually shares the court with Kemba Walker, and they don't have a backup point guard or NIcolas Batum on their bench.)

Even though he isn't the cape-wearing superhero he once was, Howard still does little things that have value. He draws a ton of fouls, is one of the NBA's better rebounders, and peels defenders off teammates with terrific screens.

"Once these guys get an opportunity to get separation from their man, and get a chance to really look at the basket, it's lights out," Howard told VICE Sports. "I take pride in hitting those guys and making the defense have to work. Jeremy Lamb, Kemba, Malik, when Nic gets back, all these guys can come off pick-and-rolls and get easy shots. So I'm just trying to make sure that I hit their man, roll to the basket, put pressure on the rim, and now our shooters get opportunities to get their shots off."

A perfect example of that came on Tuesday night, when Knicks point guard Jarrett Jack was forced to chuck Howard's roll, freeing Malik Monk up in the weakside corner for an open three.

"I think it's one of the things he doesn't get enough credit for. He's always been a terrific screener," Clifford says. "He had a very good chemistry, both with Jameer Nelson in Orlando and also with Hedo Turkoglu, and I think that he's done the same thing here. He's on his way with both Kemba and Jeremy Lamb, and when Nic comes back it'll be a big part of his game too."

"He's such a great screener and he's such a forceful roller," Hornets forward Marvin Williams says. "You're gonna have to have one or two guys down there stopping him from getting a dunk, and that's where we come in."

Photo by Jeremy Brevard - USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, Howard has been the drop-coverage brick wall who forces long twos, deters shots at the rim, and makes life easier for his teammates as they swarm along the perimeter. According to Cleaning the Glass, Charlotte's opponent shot frequency at the rim is 8.9 percent lower when Howard is on the court, and their accuracy drops 11.0 percent. That is completely ridiculous.

"He's as good with coverages as almost any guy I've been around. He always was," Clifford says. "And that's why I think that we can be an elite team defensively once we get all our guys back and a little more coordinated."

Here he is letting Walker know Karl-Anthony Towns is about to set a screen. Charlotte's cagey point guard isn't caught off guard, and is able to duck under and recover for a decent contest, executing what Clifford wants him to do.

And in a slightly more complicated situation, watch in the opening second as Howard points to a spot on the floor, letting Dwayne Bacon know that Taj Gibson may set a drag screen for Jimmy Butler. The rookie leaps up to ice it and force Butler towards the sideline, away from the middle. Howard is then in good position to poke the ball away.

"He communicates," Hornets guard Jeremy Lamb tells VICE Sports. "He's a great rim protector, whether he blocks it or alters it. He makes them shoot tough shots and that's great to have. If my man gets by me I try not to swipe down, I try to keep my hands up because they have to shoot a tough shot over him."

There are moments where Howard is forgetful on the perimeter, almost daring bigs like Marc Gasol or Kristaps Porzingis to fire up an open three; an irrational disbelief of their ability to make him pay. Clifford also benched Howard at the end of Charlotte's loss in New York because the Knicks went small lineups and were giving his Hall of Fame center some trouble. But all in all his impact on that end has been positive.

And for what it's worth, Howard's teammates have yet to sour on his relentless jest.

"It's been all fun all the time," Hornets forward Marvin Williams says right before he tilts his head back to laugh. The two have known each other since they were 14. "Since he's been with us, I mean, anything that you've heard or read I've yet to see, me personally. And I bet everybody else in the locker room will say the same thing. He's literally all jokes all the time. He loves to joke with other people. He loves when the jokes on him. He's always laughing. He's legit like a fun dude to be around, man."

The sentiment is echoed by Lamb, who met Howard a while ago. Both are from Atlanta. "I knew he wasn't a horrible person like people try to portray...All the things that people say is totally false to me. He's a great teammate on and off the court. When he first got here he was helping the young guys, talking to them about positioning, just talking to them about different things to help them. I'm really happy to have him."

Success is a magic elixir for even the most grating locker room behavior. And even though the Hornets are 5-6 with a 19th-ranked point differential, they've competed in every game without Nicolas Batum (their second-most irreplaceable piece), while another starter, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, has missed six games. Michael Carter-Williams is finally back in the lineup and guys like Bacon, Monk, and Treveon Graham have been forced to fill holes they aren't ready for.

In other words, Charlotte's best days are likely ahead. In the meantime, Howard has already proven to be an immensely helpful contributor.

"We have an opportunity to be a top three team in the East," Howard says. "With the way we work, and the potential that we have, and the talent that we have, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll be a top three or four team in the East."

Dwight Howard is (Quietly) Dominating Again published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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Dwight Howard is (Quietly) Dominating Again

Dwight Howard’s shoulders don’t know how to retreat. Perhaps they are unaware of the fact that they’re battling on behalf of his third team in three years, or are partly responsible for a fruitless post game, but these shoulders still sit atop a pair of impossibly muscular arms as one of the most effective physical characteristics basketball has ever known.

As I stand beside/below them on Madison Square Garden’s sideline during a recent morning practice, it dawns on me that these shoulders should have come to mind when Howard’s awkward tenure with the Atlanta Hawks came to a merciful conclusion. Or when he looked closer to China than All-Star Weekend during a dreadful six-turnover preseason opener against the Boston Celtics.

It’s impossible to stand so close and believe other players have any chance in hell to corral missed shots while those shoulders occupy the same space. They were molded to plant flags in the paint. (Howard is the career leader among all active players in defensive and total rebound rate, and is currently pulling down 13.2 per game.) Today, they stand tall in the face of revolutionary, three-point-line-backed winds that threaten to wipe them out.

Even though the narrative surrounding Howard’s decline—further accelerated by the decrepit trade package Charlotte used to acquire him—has somewhat less to do with his production and more to do with the friction he’s stumbled upon with teammates and coaches in recent years, that wide frame, and all the good it can still do on a basketball court, isn’t going anywhere. Howard doesn’t need to dramatically evolve—what he can do is timeless.

“When we were in Orlando he was just, athletically…I mean really outside of Shaq, I don’t think there’s been another guy with that type of strength, quickness, explosiveness like he had,” Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, says. Clifford, who worked with Howard when both were employed by the Magic, continues, “He’s still, to me, very strong, very athletic—not like he was—but he’s also much more seasoned. And I think the thing he’s never gotten credit for is his intelligence on the floor.”

Photo by Jeff Hanisch – USA TODAY Sports

I crouch next to Howard as he slides his feet from American Flag decorated Peak sneakers into a pair of Ugg house slippers that resemble two sheepskin-lined canoes. The cameras that once invaded his personal space in environments just like this one are gone. All he has to deal with is my lone digital recorder. He fiddles with his phone and slides a black Hornets knit hat (with a pom on top) over his head. I ask if and how his role right now is different than it was in the previous two stops.

“No doubt. I’m more involved in the offense,” he says. “I have more opportunities to put in some good input within our defensive schemes…It’s a totally different system, a totally different atmosphere, and I’m excited about our future here.

“Coach understands that I enjoy playing defense, and he’s just allowed me to be who I am on defense within the defensive scheme that we have set as a team. So that’s a little bit different than in the past.”

Howard is 11 games into his 13th season. It’s too early to say if his fit with the Hornets will be successful, but at 32 years old he’s got the highest usage percentage he’s had since he left Orlando. In some areas that’s not so great, like, for example, on the block, where only three players in the entire league have posted up more, according to Synergy sports.

Howard’s turnover rate on these possessions makes feeding him down low one of the riskier gambles in the league. Right now he’s coughing it up 34.4 percent of the time, an outrageously high number that’s 12.2 percent higher than Blake Griffin, who ranks second on that list among all players who’ve logged at least 50 post ups.

He’s been a particularly demoralizing black hole. The second Howard puts the ball on the floor there’s a good chance it’ll fly out of bounds, get poked away by his own man, or ripped from his grasp by a help defender who knows Howard won’t see him coming. The saving grace here is that much like a hot three-point shooter, being this careless with the ball is unsustainable throughout an 82-game season. And when Howard shoots without dribbling, his field goal percentage is an impressive 65.7 percent.

All in all, the increase of opportunity has made him happy. And a happy Howard is an engaged center who can still sway the tide on both ends of the court. His net rating has hovered around +10 for most of the season, and the Hornets look like a 62-win team when he’s on the floor. (So far, they’re a total trainwreck when he sits—but that also has to do with the fact that Howard usually shares the court with Kemba Walker, and they don’t have a backup point guard or NIcolas Batum on their bench.)

Even though he isn’t the cape-wearing superhero he once was, Howard still does little things that have value. He draws a ton of fouls, is one of the NBA’s better rebounders, and peels defenders off teammates with terrific screens.

“Once these guys get an opportunity to get separation from their man, and get a chance to really look at the basket, it’s lights out,” Howard told VICE Sports. “I take pride in hitting those guys and making the defense have to work. Jeremy Lamb, Kemba, Malik, when Nic gets back, all these guys can come off pick-and-rolls and get easy shots. So I’m just trying to make sure that I hit their man, roll to the basket, put pressure on the rim, and now our shooters get opportunities to get their shots off.”

A perfect example of that came on Tuesday night, when Knicks point guard Jarrett Jack was forced to chuck Howard’s roll, freeing Malik Monk up in the weakside corner for an open three.

“I think it’s one of the things he doesn’t get enough credit for. He’s always been a terrific screener,” Clifford says. “He had a very good chemistry, both with Jameer Nelson in Orlando and also with Hedo Turkoglu, and I think that he’s done the same thing here. He’s on his way with both Kemba and Jeremy Lamb, and when Nic comes back it’ll be a big part of his game too.”

“He’s such a great screener and he’s such a forceful roller,” Hornets forward Marvin Williams says. “You’re gonna have to have one or two guys down there stopping him from getting a dunk, and that’s where we come in.”

Photo by Jeremy Brevard – USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, Howard has been the drop-coverage brick wall who forces long twos, deters shots at the rim, and makes life easier for his teammates as they swarm along the perimeter. According to Cleaning the Glass, Charlotte’s opponent shot frequency at the rim is 8.9 percent lower when Howard is on the court, and their accuracy drops 11.0 percent. That is completely ridiculous.

“He’s as good with coverages as almost any guy I’ve been around. He always was,” Clifford says. “And that’s why I think that we can be an elite team defensively once we get all our guys back and a little more coordinated.”

Here he is letting Walker know Karl-Anthony Towns is about to set a screen. Charlotte’s cagey point guard isn’t caught off guard, and is able to duck under and recover for a decent contest, executing what Clifford wants him to do.

And in a slightly more complicated situation, watch in the opening second as Howard points to a spot on the floor, letting Dwayne Bacon know that Taj Gibson may set a drag screen for Jimmy Butler. The rookie leaps up to ice it and force Butler towards the sideline, away from the middle. Howard is then in good position to poke the ball away.

“He communicates,” Hornets guard Jeremy Lamb tells VICE Sports. “He’s a great rim protector, whether he blocks it or alters it. He makes them shoot tough shots and that’s great to have. If my man gets by me I try not to swipe down, I try to keep my hands up because they have to shoot a tough shot over him.”

There are moments where Howard is forgetful on the perimeter, almost daring bigs like Marc Gasol or Kristaps Porzingis to fire up an open three; an irrational disbelief of their ability to make him pay. Clifford also benched Howard at the end of Charlotte’s loss in New York because the Knicks went small lineups and were giving his Hall of Fame center some trouble. But all in all his impact on that end has been positive.

And for what it’s worth, Howard’s teammates have yet to sour on his relentless jest.

“It’s been all fun all the time,” Hornets forward Marvin Williams says right before he tilts his head back to laugh. The two have known each other since they were 14. “Since he’s been with us, I mean, anything that you know you’ve heard or read I’ve yet to see, me personally. And I bet everybody else in the locker room will say the same thing. He’s literally all jokes all the time. He loves to joke with other people. He loves when the jokes on him. He’s always laughing. He’s legit like a fun dude to be around, man.”

The sentiment is echoed by Lamb, who met Howard a while ago. Both are from Atlanta. “I knew he wasn’t a horrible person like people try to portray…All the things that people say is totally false to me. He’s a great teammate on and off the court. When he first got here he was helping the young guys, talking to them about positioning, just talking to them about different things to help them. I’m really happy to have him.”

Success is a magic elixir for even the most grating locker room behavior. And even though the Hornets are 5-6 with a 19th-ranked point differential, they’ve competed in every game without Nicolas Batum (their second-most irreplaceable piece), while another starter, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, has missed six games. Michael Carter-Williams is finally back in the lineup and guys like Bacon, Monk, and Treveon Graham have been forced to fill holes they aren’t ready for.

In other words, Charlotte’s best days are likely ahead. In the meantime, Howard has already proven to be an immensely helpful contributor.

“We have an opportunity to be a top three team in the East,” Howard says. “With the way we work, and the potential that we have, and the talent that we have, there’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll be a top three or four team in the East.”

Dwight Howard is (Quietly) Dominating Again syndicated from http://ift.tt/2ug2Ns6

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Dwight Howard is (Quietly) Dominating Again

Dwight Howard's shoulders don't know how to retreat. Perhaps they are unaware of the fact that they're battling on behalf of his third team in three years, or are partly responsible for a fruitless post game, but these shoulders still sit atop a pair of impossibly muscular arms as one of the most effective physical characteristics basketball has ever known.

As I stand beside/below them on Madison Square Garden's sideline during a recent morning practice, it dawns on me that these shoulders should have come to mind when Howard's awkward tenure with the Atlanta Hawks came to a merciful conclusion. Or when he looked closer to China than All-Star Weekend during a dreadful six-turnover preseason opener against the Boston Celtics.

It's impossible to stand so close and believe other players have any chance in hell to corral missed shots while those shoulders occupy the same space. They were molded to plant flags in the paint. (Howard is the career leader among all active players in defensive and total rebound rate, and is currently pulling down 13.2 per game.) Today, they stand tall in the face of revolutionary, three-point-line-backed winds that threaten to wipe them out.

Even though the narrative surrounding Howard's decline—further accelerated by the decrepit trade package Charlotte used to acquire him—has somewhat less to do with his production and more to do with the friction he's stumbled upon with teammates and coaches in recent years, that wide frame, and all the good it can still do on a basketball court, isn't going anywhere. Howard doesn't need to dramatically evolve—what he can do is timeless.

"When we were in Orlando he was just, athletically...I mean really outside of Shaq, I don't think there's been another guy with that type of strength, quickness, explosiveness like he had," Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford, says. Clifford, who worked with Howard when both were employed by the Magic, continues, "He's still, to me, very strong, very athletic—not like he was—but he's also much more seasoned. And I think the thing he's never gotten credit for is his intelligence on the floor."

Photo by Jeff Hanisch - USA TODAY Sports

I crouch next to Howard as he slides his feet from American Flag decorated Peak sneakers into a pair of Ugg house slippers that resemble two sheepskin-lined canoes. The cameras that once invaded his personal space in environments just like this one are gone. All he has to deal with is my lone digital recorder. He fiddles with his phone and slides a black Hornets knit hat (with a pom on top) over his head. I ask if and how his role right now is different than it was in the previous two stops.

"No doubt. I'm more involved in the offense," he says. "I have more opportunities to put in some good input within our defensive schemes...It's a totally different system, a totally different atmosphere, and I'm excited about our future here.

"Coach understands that I enjoy playing defense, and he's just allowed me to be who I am on defense within the defensive scheme that we have set as a team. So that's a little bit different than in the past."

Howard is 11 games into his 13th season. It's too early to say if his fit with the Hornets will be successful, but at 32 years old he's got the highest usage percentage he's had since he left Orlando. In some areas that's not so great, like, for example, on the block, where only three players in the entire league have posted up more, according to Synergy sports.

Howard's turnover rate on these possessions makes feeding him down low one of the riskier gambles in the league. Right now he's coughing it up 34.4 percent of the time, an outrageously high number that's 12.2 percent higher than Blake Griffin, who ranks second on that list among all players who've logged at least 50 post ups.

He's been a particularly demoralizing black hole. The second Howard puts the ball on the floor there's a good chance it'll fly out of bounds, get poked away by his own man, or ripped from his grasp by a help defender who knows Howard won't see him coming. The saving grace here is that much like a hot three-point shooter, being this careless with the ball is unsustainable throughout an 82-game season. And when Howard shoots without dribbling, his field goal percentage is an impressive 65.7 percent.

All in all, the increase of opportunity has made him happy. And a happy Howard is an engaged center who can still sway the tide on both ends of the court. His net rating has hovered around +10 for most of the season, and the Hornets look like a 62-win team when he's on the floor. (So far, they're a total trainwreck when he sits—but that also has to do with the fact that Howard usually shares the court with Kemba Walker, and they don't have a backup point guard or NIcolas Batum on their bench.)

Even though he isn't the cape-wearing superhero he once was, Howard still does little things that have value. He draws a ton of fouls, is one of the NBA's better rebounders, and peels defenders off teammates with terrific screens.

"Once these guys get an opportunity to get separation from their man, and get a chance to really look at the basket, it's lights out," Howard told VICE Sports. "I take pride in hitting those guys and making the defense have to work. Jeremy Lamb, Kemba, Malik, when Nic gets back, all these guys can come off pick-and-rolls and get easy shots. So I'm just trying to make sure that I hit their man, roll to the basket, put pressure on the rim, and now our shooters get opportunities to get their shots off."

A perfect example of that came on Tuesday night, when Knicks point guard Jarrett Jack was forced to chuck Howard's roll, freeing Malik Monk up in the weakside corner for an open three.

"I think it's one of the things he doesn't get enough credit for. He's always been a terrific screener," Clifford says. "He had a very good chemistry, both with Jameer Nelson in Orlando and also with Hedo Turkoglu, and I think that he's done the same thing here. He's on his way with both Kemba and Jeremy Lamb, and when Nic comes back it'll be a big part of his game too."

"He's such a great screener and he's such a forceful roller," Hornets forward Marvin Williams says. "You're gonna have to have one or two guys down there stopping him from getting a dunk, and that's where we come in."

Photo by Jeremy Brevard - USA TODAY Sports

Defensively, Howard has been the drop-coverage brick wall who forces long twos, deters shots at the rim, and makes life easier for his teammates as they swarm along the perimeter. According to Cleaning the Glass, Charlotte's opponent shot frequency at the rim is 8.9 percent lower when Howard is on the court, and their accuracy drops 11.0 percent. That is completely ridiculous.

"He's as good with coverages as almost any guy I've been around. He always was," Clifford says. "And that's why I think that we can be an elite team defensively once we get all our guys back and a little more coordinated."

Here he is letting Walker know Karl-Anthony Towns is about to set a screen. Charlotte's cagey point guard isn't caught off guard, and is able to duck under and recover for a decent contest, executing what Clifford wants him to do.

And in a slightly more complicated situation, watch in the opening second as Howard points to a spot on the floor, letting Dwayne Bacon know that Taj Gibson may set a drag screen for Jimmy Butler. The rookie leaps up to ice it and force Butler towards the sideline, away from the middle. Howard is then in good position to poke the ball away.

"He communicates," Hornets guard Jeremy Lamb tells VICE Sports. "He's a great rim protector, whether he blocks it or alters it. He makes them shoot tough shots and that's great to have. If my man gets by me I try not to swipe down, I try to keep my hands up because they have to shoot a tough shot over him."

There are moments where Howard is forgetful on the perimeter, almost daring bigs like Marc Gasol or Kristaps Porzingis to fire up an open three; an irrational disbelief of their ability to make him pay. Clifford also benched Howard at the end of Charlotte's loss in New York because the Knicks went small lineups and were giving his Hall of Fame center some trouble. But all in all his impact on that end has been positive.

And for what it's worth, Howard's teammates have yet to sour on his relentless jest.

"It's been all fun all the time," Hornets forward Marvin Williams says right before he tilts his head back to laugh. The two have known each other since they were 14. "Since he's been with us, I mean, anything that you know you've heard or read I've yet to see, me personally. And I bet everybody else in the locker room will say the same thing. He's literally all jokes all the time. He loves to joke with other people. He loves when the jokes on him. He's always laughing. He's legit like a fun dude to be around, man."

The sentiment is echoed by Lamb, who met Howard a while ago. Both are from Atlanta. "I knew he wasn't a horrible person like people try to portray...All the things that people say is totally false to me. He's a great teammate on and off the court. When he first got here he was helping the young guys, talking to them about positioning, just talking to them about different things to help them. I'm really happy to have him."

Success is a magic elixir for even the most grating locker room behavior. And even though the Hornets are 5-6 with a 19th-ranked point differential, they've competed in every game without Nicolas Batum (their second-most irreplaceable piece), while another starter, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, has missed six games. Michael Carter-Williams is finally back in the lineup and guys like Bacon, Monk, and Treveon Graham have been forced to fill holes they aren't ready for.

In other words, Charlotte's best days are likely ahead. In the meantime, Howard has already proven to be an immensely helpful contributor.

"We have an opportunity to be a top three team in the East," Howard says. "With the way we work, and the potential that we have, and the talent that we have, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll be a top three or four team in the East."

Dwight Howard is (Quietly) Dominating Again published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv