John

John L. Burton, the proudly liberal and pro-labor lawmaker who shaped California politics and policy over six decades on topics as varied as welfare, foster care, auto emissions, guns and foie gras, has died. He was 92.

With his brother, Rep. Phillip Burton, and college buddy, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Burton was integral to the organization that dominated Democratic politics in San Francisco and the state starting in the 1960s.

Burton was elected to the Assembly in 1964 and Congress a decade later. Laid low by cocaine addiction, he did not seek reelection in 1982. But he returned to Sacramento after getting clean and became the Capitol’s most powerful legislator as Senate president pro tem from 1998 until term limits forced him to retire in 2004.

“I think government’s there to help the people who can’t help themselves. And there’s a lot of people that can’t help themselves,” Burton said, describing his view of a politician’s job in an oral history interview by Open California.

Burton’s death was confirmed in a statement released by his family on Sunday.

“He cared a lot,” said Kimiko Burton, his daughter. “He always instilled in me that we fight for the underdog. There are literally millions of people whose lives he helped over the years who have no idea who he is.”

An L.A. Times writer described Brown, always dapper and cool, as a piece of living art. In contrast, Burton was performance art — rumpled, often rude, too fidgety to sit in long policy meetings. Some people sprinkle conversation with profanities. Burton doused his sentences with expletives, usually F-bombs.

John Burton with then-California Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris and Sen. Dianne Feinstein in 2011.

(Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)

He was quick to yell but could also be charming. He bought pies from a fruit stand off Interstate 80 between San Francisco and Sacramento and delivered them as apologies to targets of his rants. An aide once gave him a T-shirt with the phrase: “I yell because I care.”

Unlike most politicians, who dress to the nines, Burton wore ties reluctantly and showed up at meetings with governors wearing guayaberas, rarely with his hair in place. When cameras weren’t around, he drove through San Francisco delivering blankets to homeless people.

One of Burton’s many intensely loyal aides was Angie Tate, whom he hired to be his political fundraiser in 1998 knowing she was pregnant with twins. After she gave birth three months early and tried to return to work, Burton insisted that she take a year off, fully paid. She worked with him for the rest of his days.

In later years, he created John Burton Advocates for Youth, a nonprofit group to mentor foster youth and seek policy changes. One such bill extended services for foster youth until age 21, rather than the previous cutoff of 18.

“I don’t think there is a person who has done more for foster kids than John Burton,” said Miles Cooley, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney who was in foster care when he was a child and sits on the board of Burton’s foundation. “He wasn’t speaking truth to power. He was yelling it.”

From his early days in public life, Burton, a lawyer and Army veteran, advocated for greater civil rights, opposed the death penalty, and was an antiwar activist, protesting U.S. involvement in Vietnam in October 1963, when the U.S. had fewer than 17,000 troops there.

As state Senate leader four decades later, Burton joined folk singer Joan Baez at a protest of President George W. Bush’s impending invasion of Iraq. As California Democratic Party chair from 2009 to 2017, he presided as the party changed its platform to oppose capital punishment.

“John Burton was liberal when it was popular to be liberal and he was liberal when it was not popular. I always admired that,” said former state Sen. Jim Brulte, a Republican who tangled with Burton in the Legislature and later when they chaired their respective political parties.

A party chair’s job is to win elections. That requires money. In 2008, the year before Burton took over the state Democratic Party, the California Republican and Democratic parties raised and spent roughly equal sums. By 2016, his final campaign as chair, the Democrats were outspending the Republicans $36.2 million to $17.7 million.

He promoted a ballot measure in 2010 that allows the Legislature to pass the annual budget by a simple majority rather than the previous two-thirds supermajority, allowing the Democrats to pass a legislative session’s most important measure — the budget — without Republican votes, further marginalizing the GOP in Sacramento.

When Burton stepped down from the California Democratic Party in 2017, Democrats held all statewide offices and had supermajorities in both houses of the 120-seat Legislature.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), then-Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and state Treasurer Fiona Ma were among the politicians, most of them women, who joined Burton on the convention stage in 2017 for his farewell as party chair. Former state Sen. Martha Escutia serenaded him with a rendition of “Bésame Mucho.”

“John is the chief architect of the Democrats’ dominance in California,” Pelosi said at the time.

Burton paid tribute to the people who had helped him, saying, “You’re only as good as your staff,” and closed by exhorting party loyalists to raise their middle fingers and give a Burton-like cheer to then-President Trump.

Although Burton was a partisan, his closest friend in the Senate was Ross Johnson of Fullerton, who was Senate Republican leader. Sharing a quirky love of song, the unlikely duet interrupted a Senate floor session with a rendition of “Big Rock Candy Mountain.”

They also shared a distrust of authority and collaborated to curb law enforcement’s ability to seize individuals’ assets without a trial. Burton and Johnson shaped campaign finance law with a ballot measure permitting political parties to accept unlimited donations, enhancing parties’ power. As a sweetener for voters, the measure required rapid disclosure of contributions.

John Lowell Burton, born in Cincinnati in 1932, was the youngest of three brothers. After his father completed medical school in Chicago, the family relocated to San Francisco, where Dr. Burton cared for patients whether they could pay or not.

Burton lettered in basketball at San Francisco State College and kept a clipping of a newspaper box score showing he scored 20 points against a University of San Francisco team that included young Bill Russell, one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He met Brown at San Francisco State and they became lifelong friends. A bartender in his younger days, Burton was arrested for bookmaking in 1962, but was cleared.

Burton credited his oldest brother, Phillip, with pushing him to enter politics. A dominant political figure, Rep. Phil Burton might have become House speaker if he had not died in 1983 at the age of 56.

The Burton brothers reflected a dichotomy in California politics, rising from the left while Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan ascended from the right, against the swirl of the Bay Area’s brand of radical politics. John Burton and Brown won their Assembly seats in 1964, the same year that voters approved a ballot measure backed by the real estate industry giving property owners the right to refuse to sell to people of color. Courts later overturned it.

The Burton-Brown organization spawned a who’s who of leaders, including two San Francisco mayors — George Moscone, who was a high school friend, and Brown, the most powerful Assembly speaker in California history. Burton was a friend of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s father, a state appellate court justice, and watched young Gavin’s high school sports games. Brown gave Newsom his start in politics with an appointment.

Barbara Boxer worked for John Burton during his time in Congress, before succeeding him in 1982 and winning a U.S. Senate seat a decade later. When Boxer retired in 2016, Brown helped promote Boxer’s successor, Kamala Harris.

Pelosi is most consequential of all. Phillip Burton’s widow, Sala Burton, succeeded him in Congress. As she was dying of cancer, Sala Burton told John that she wanted Pelosi to succeed her, and he used all his connections to help Pelosi win the congressional seat in 1987.

Outgoing California Democratic Party Chairman John Burton at the California Democratic State Convention in 2017.

(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

In November 1978, Burton declined an invitation from Rep. Leo Ryan, a Democrat from San Mateo, to accompany him to Guyana to investigate the People’s Temple cult, once a force in San Francisco politics. On Nov. 18, as Ryan’s plane was about to depart with cult defectors, one of cult leader Jim Jones’ followers assassinated the congressman. Jones led a murder-suicide resulting in more than 900 deaths.

On Nov. 27, 1978, with the city convulsed by the Jonestown cataclysm, Dan White, a former San Francisco supervisor, sneaked into City Hall and assassinated Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.

Burton fell hard in the months and years after, drinking heavily, huffing nitrous oxide and freebasing cocaine. He missed congressional votes, and aides feared he would be found dead. In 1982, he checked into a rehab facility in Arizona and did not seek reelection.

Back in San Francisco, he built a law practice, stayed clean and returned to politics, winning a special election for an open Assembly seat in 1988. He reunited with Speaker Brown and became his close ally.

Burton’s eclectic circle of friends included national political figures, Hollywood glitterati, football coach John Madden, North Beach topless dancer Carol Doda and, from his bartending days, Alice Kleupfer, a cocktail waitress.

In this small world, Kleupfer’s son James Rogan won an Assembly seat from the Burbank area as a Republican in 1994, was elected to Congress in 1996, and helped lead the impeachment of President Clinton. Politics aside, Burton and Rogan shared a connection through Kleupfer.

That friendship mattered on May 30, 1996, when Republicans, holding a short-lived 41-39 seat advantage in the Assembly, rushed to approve tough-on-crime bills. One bill would have made it a crime for pregnant women to abuse drugs, a response to accounts of babies born addicted to cocaine. The GOP-led Assembly seemed certain to pass it when Burton stood to speak.

Though not a commanding orator, Burton spoke from the heart about how cocaine “takes total control of your life,” and how he spent days freebasing in hotel rooms, refusing maid service because he didn’t want anyone to see him.

“It took me, somebody who at least has got a fair set of brains sometimes, who comes from a background that is not deprived, who at the time I was doing it — and I’m not proud to say — was a member of the House of Representatives, and it took me two years to get off this drug, which is the most insidious drug you can imagine,” Burton said.

Floor speeches rarely change minds. But after Burton pleaded with Republicans not to “turn these young women into criminals,” Rogan, then-Speaker Curt Pringle and a few other Republicans withheld their votes. With the bill pending, Republicans conferred behind closed doors and quietly dropped the bill.

“It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t scripted. It was pure John Burton,” said Rogan, who went on to become a Superior Court judge in Orange County. Burton was the only Democrat who had the relationships and gravitas to derail the bill.

For most of his time in office, Burton served under Republican governors. He butted heads with them and on occasion won them over.

When young Assemblyman Burton sought to decriminalize marijuana, Reagan, implying that Burton was a nut, quipped that the San Franciscan was the one man in Sacramento who had the most to fear from the squirrels that populate Capitol Park. Burton answered by calling reporters to the park and trying to feed squirrels a copy of some Reagan-backed legislation.

“There’s some benefit to people thinking you’re nuts,” Burton said in an interview.

Though he was a relatively junior legislator, Burton took a lead role in Reagan’s 1971 welfare overhaul, pushing for annual cost-of-living adjustments for welfare recipients, something he fought to protect over the years.

He disparaged Gov. Pete Wilson, a Marine Corps veteran, for his efforts to limit welfare by calling him “the little Marine.” Burton had a “wicked sense of humor and a “colorful” way of expressing it” but was “a straight shooter,” Wilson said.

“With respect to legislative leaders, as Democrats, I would say that the combination of John Burton and Willie Brown negotiating budget and policy solutions during a time of crisis in the Reagan Cabinet Room was some of the finest policy and political talent California has ever seen,” Wilson said.

Voters elected Burton to the state Senate in 1996, and senators elected him Senate president pro tem in 1998, the year Gray Davis was elected governor, the first Democrat to hold that office after 16 years of Republicans. The relationship was strained.

In appearance, temperament and approach, they were opposites, and they clashed. Davis was a centrist who tried to be tightfisted. Burton, often dismissive of Davis, tried to pull him to the left. When it suited their interests, however, Davis signed legislation that Burton advocated, and Burton carried administration legislation.

“It ain’t brain surgery,” Burton said in 2021 of the art of turning a bill into a law. But few legislators could handle a lawmaking scalpel like Burton.

As Senate leader, he shepherded legislation to buy the last large stands of old-growth redwoods, increase public employee pensions, restrict guns and expand the right to sue, including for victims of sexual harassment. He was the target of such a suit in 2008. It was settled a few months later.

Burton routinely blocked legislation that increased the length of prison sentences but was a favorite of the California Correctional Peace Officers Assn., which represents prison guards. He was, after all, pro-labor.

In 2002, Burton carried legislation ratifying the prison officers’ contract negotiated by the Davis administration granting officers a raise of roughly 35% over five years, and boosting their pensions. Later that year the union, run by the fedora-wearing Don Novey, celebrated Burton’s 70th birthday by donating $70,000 to his campaign account.

Often, Burton sought no credit for what he helped others accomplish, as Fran Pavley discovered. In 2001, her first year in the Assembly, Pavley, an Agoura Hills Democrat, proposed far-reaching climate change legislation to authorize the California Air Resources Board to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle tailpipes.

Lobbyists for automakers shifted into overdrive, airing ads warning California that AB 1058 would dictate what cars people could own. The oil industry, drive-time talk radio hosts, and even Cal Worthington and his dog Spot piled on. AB 1058 looked like roadkill.

Burton’s solution: Hijack another bill and insert the contents of Pavley’s bill into it. With that bit of legerdemain, AB 1058 died, AB 1493 was born, and the auto industry’s campaign crashed.

Burton didn’t attend the ceremony when Davis signed the bill. Nor did he accompany Pavley a decade later when President Obama held a Rose Garden ceremony embracing the California concept in nationwide fuel-efficiency standards.

Pavley said she had never seen a politician work so hard for a bill for no credit, ”and I haven’t seen it since.”

Burton took special interest in certain issues. He was, for example, appalled at the force-feeding of ducks and geese to enlarge their livers to produce foie gras. In one of his final bills, he battled restaurant owners and agricultural interests to ban the practice. It passed the Senate by one vote.

In a letter urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign the bill against the wishes of some chefs, he included Burtonesque doggerel: “Save Donald Duck. F— Wolfgang Puck.”

Schwarzenegger signed the bill and sent Burton a photo of himself and Burton in the governor’s office looking at the bottom of the governor’s shoe with a note: “I got duck liver on my shoe!” In the background of the photo, there’s an image of Reagan, smiling with his head tilted back as if he’s having a good laugh.

Burton, who was divorced twice, is survived by his daughter, attorney Kimiko Burton, and two grandchildren.

Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

Morain is a former Times staff writer.

Emmerdale’s latest episode revealed what really happened to Mackenzie Boyd, and soon he was plotting his escape from John Sugden’s clutches – but a sad fate could be sealed

The fallout to the big Emmerdale twist around Mack Boyd’s fate aired on Monday, as we finally got some answers.

Not only did fans find out what really happened to Mack, weeks on from John Sugden appearing to kill him, but we also learned where he was now. John even confessed all of his crimes, at least most of them, to Mack as the guilt became too much.

As Mack questioned his fate, it seemed as though John planned to keep him alive and he was even considering freeing him. That was until Mack made a bid for freedom and wound John up, with the latter hinting he no longer had a reason to keep him alive.

As the episode began, it was the first time seeing Mack after Friday’s shocking cliffhanger. The soap had led fans to believe that John had murdered Mack, just like he did Nate Robinson, when he shot him with an arrow and then attacked him with a rock around two weeks ago.

READ MORE: Emmerdale’s Mack Boyd alive as he’s held captive by evil John – but will he survive?READ MORE: ‘The end of Emmerdale and Coronation Street – or are we one step away from saving the soaps?

As Mack regained consciousness, he found out he had been kept in an underground bunker, sedated, for over a week. Mack panicked and began asking about his loved ones, but John revealed no one was worried and no one was looking for him.

Asked why he didn’t kill him in the woods, John claimed he “wasn’t a monster” and didn’t kill people – leading to Mack pointing out Nate was dead because of him. We also learned that the giant rock wasn’t slammed over Mack’s head after all, and instead the villain used it to break Mack’s ankle to stop him from fleeing – as if the arrow to the chest wasn’t enough to do that.

As Mack fretted over his predicament and wondered how long he was going to be there for, John claimed they had some “difficult decisions” to make. He seemed to hint murder was not the plan though, as he was “a good man who did good things”.

He explained Nate’s death, confirming he suffered a reaction to the medication he was given and it killed him. He then proceeded to tell Mack everything, wanting to be free of his guilt.

From the incidents with Jacob Gallagher and Cain Dingle to framing Ella Forster, John literally told Mack all of the things he had done. That said it wasn’t clear if he’d mentioned the truth about Aidan Moore or the slurry leak on the farm, or Anthony Fox’s burial.

It was in this moment that Mack feigned being a friend to John, with his plan for the killer and his bid for freedom clear. He told him it must feel good to let it all out, before telling him he “wasn’t alone” anymore.

John was grateful, as Mack defended the crimes he’d just let slip about before smiling at him. He told him: “I was wrong about you John, Aaron is lucky to have someone that loves him as much as you do.”

He also claimed he was just jealous before when they’d clashed, before he added that he had no reason to go back to the village so it was safe for John to let him go. John actually looked as though he was considering this, especially later on after a comment by Aaron about him helping people.

But while John was gone, Mack, who had just promised his captor he wouldn’t spill the beans about anything, was shown trying to escape. As John returned, Mack tried to hit him over the head with a wooden post only for it not to reach, thanks to his chains.

John fumed at him, making it clear he’d made a big mistake and his word “meant nothing”. With that Mack’s sad fate appeared to be revealed as John chillingly told him his word “was the only thing keeping him alive”. Now that his word means nothing, does this mean John will kill him?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Emmerdale have shared a first look at next week’s episodes after a huge twist that confirmed John Sugden’s victim Mackenzie Boyd was still alive on the ITV soap

A new Emmerdale clip reveals the fallout to the bombshell that Mackenzie Boyd is still alive on the ITV soap. He appeared to be murdered by John Sugden weeks ago, but he lived to tell the tale.

Now a new teaser has revealed what happens next, and a damning confession from Mack leaves his captor in visible unrest. The clip starts with a confused Mack waking up in a makeshift bed in an underground bunker.

Fans had seen John make his way to this hidden room on Friday, buried under the woodland ground. After days of fans suspecting the area he kept disappearing to was covering up a body, it turned out it was in fact a secret door.

This door led John down into his hidden room, where Mack was laying. The clip for next week reveals the moment Mack wakes up, and slowly begins to remember what happened to him.

READ MORE: Emmerdale’s Mack Boyd alive as he’s held captive by evil John – but will he survive?READ MORE: Coronation Street fans fear DNA bombshell as Tia’s link to Betsy ‘exposed’

Initially crying out in pain and appearing confused, he looks around and sees the IV drip attached to him and also realises he’s chained up. Mack begins to call out for help as he sees someone approach.

It’s John that emerges from the shadows though, with a look of fear etched across Mack’s face as he realises what’s going on. He sees flashbacks of the attack and realises he’s in danger.

But as he screams out for help not realising where he is and that no one will hear him, John approaches and tells him to save his energy and calm down. As Mack pleads for answers on where he is, John says he is “somewhere safe”.

But it’s so clear that Mack has remembered everything, and he soon issues a damning comment that leaves John nervous. Mack blurts out: “You tried to kill me, just like you killed Nate.”

John stares with unease, clearly realising Mack has remembered what he figured out and knowing he’s now in a predicament. But what will John do next and can Mack get away?

All will be revealed with plenty more scenes to come next week. John isn’t likely going to just let Mack leave surely, as he knows too much.

But the fact he’s kept him alive when he could easily have killed him means the chances of him silencing him for good could be small. Fans will see more from the pair next week, as the walls finally begin to close in on John.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Only John Williams could have put me in the orbit of one of history’s most famous basketball players. Kobe Bryant, like so many others, was a huge fan of Williams’ music; he befriended and sought out the composer for career advice and, when he made his post-athletic pivot to filmmaking, hired Williams to compose a short score.

And because I cover film music for a living, I was able to interview Bryant — along with Williams and Disney animation legend Glen Keane — for The Times in the spring of 2017. I even got to meet Bryant in person, backstage at the Hollywood Bowl, when he rehearsed his narration of “Dear Basketball” at an all-Williams concert. It was an obscenely hot day, and I waited outside Bryant’s dressing room while they finished drying his sweat-soaked shirt with a hair dryer before he came out and cheerfully shook my hand.

I gave Bryant and “Dear Basketball” a fair amount of real estate in my new book, “John Williams: A Composer’s Life,” not because of his fame or athletic prowess, but because I feel that his short film inspired one of Williams’ most beautiful works of the last decade, and also because there was something poetic and moving about the whole affair, and about saying goodbye to the thing you love the most — especially as the film became a kind of eulogy for Bryant after his untimely death in 2020.

[The below excerpt is from Tim Greiving’s “John Williams: A Composer’s Life,” out Sept. 2. Greiving is a frequent contributor to The Times.]

Tim Greiving

(Laura Hinely)

Kobe Bryant, the 18-time NBA All-Star, was an unexpected admirer of John’s music: as a boy, Bryant would tie a towel around his neck and run around to the theme of Superman; as a player, he used the Imperial March to hype himself up before games; and as a father, he would rock his infant daughters to sleep on his chest listening to Hedwig’s Theme. The six-foot-six athlete from Philly could hardly have been less like John, but he recognized mastery when he heard it. “I asked myself a question,” Bryant said: “What makes a John Williams piece timeless? How is he using each instrument? How is he using the space between them? How is he building momentum, and then how is he taking it away to build it again?” As a basketball player, Bryant said he was “essentially conducting a game,” “so I just wanted to talk to him about how he composed music and try to find something similar that I can then use to help my game as a leader and winning championships.”

Bryant first contacted John for counsel just before the 2008 NBA season. “The first thing I told Kobe was, I’d never seen a basketball game,” John confessed. “High school, college, professional, or television. And of course he laughed.” “But once I had told him my reason for reaching out to him,” Bryant said, “he saw the connection immediately…If we look in our same industry and we just look at things from that funnel, then you wind up essentially recycling information. So sometimes you look outside of that discipline to have a new point of view, a new perspective on it. [John] was digging it.”

They continued to see each other over the years, with Bryant often visiting John backstage after shows at the Hollywood Bowl. When Bryant retired from basketball in 2016, he turned his attention to entertainment. He wrote a sentimental open letter, “Dear Basketball,” as a retirement announcement, and one of his first post-game projects was turning that text into a short film. He wanted it crafted by undisputed masters of their fields, so he commissioned Disney animation veteran Glen Keane— who designed and animated Ariel in The Little Mermaid, among other achievements— and he asked John to write the score. The first thing John said to Bryant was, “I do classical pieces, and it’s all by hand,” almost as a warning. Bryant answered: “The piece will be hand-animated by Glen Keane, who is you in the animation space. I want it to have the human touch. I don’t want it to be poppy, I don’t want it to be hip-hoppy. I want timeless, classical music.”

Somehow, these three disparate artists—with two decades between each of them—hit it off. Keane was an avid fan of Lost in Space growing up in the 1960s, and when he told John how much he loved the music, John was completely embarrassed. “But it’s wonderful, John!” Keane said. “It held the promise of wonder and excitement and fun and quirky and scary and dangerous, and it was all in this one score. And John— the roots of your entire career are in that score.” Keane asked if he could play some of the old music. John said, “No, please don’t!” “No, I really gotta play it for you,” Keane insisted. “So I did.” The unlikely trio sat around a table in Keane’s office “and we just talked,” said Bryant. “John talked about how [the letter] made him feel, Glen how it makes him feel, and we all centered on the same thing, which is why I wrote it in the first place: the beauty of finding what it is that you love to do, and then finding the beauty of knowing that you will not be able to do that forever. Once they saw the nature of the piece, there was really nothing else to discuss.”

(Oxford University Press )

Keane illustrated the five-minute film with graphite on paper, depicting the arc of Bryant’s letter— from young Kobe tossing rolled-up tube socks, to NBA glory, to retiring at 37. John was equally inspired by Bryant’s childlike enthusiasm and Keane’s artisanal process. “The drawings have great fluidity and, in the best sense of the word, great simplicity,” John said. “They really are gorgeous, not only to look at, but rhythmically they’re fabulous.” Keane always animated while listening to music, and for this story it was selections from Empire of the Sun. John used that score as a reference point, but initially he wrote something that was too big, “and he went back and he rewrote it for something that was more understated,” said Keane, “in a similar way that Kobe’s delivery, his narration, is very personal, uninflected, not trying to sell anything. More like revealing. Kobe’s got a very quiet voice, and that also had a big impact in how we animated.”

John took a short break from The Last Jedi and spent two weeks in March 2017 to write and record this short piece—a gift for Bryant. When the towering baller arrived at the Sony scoring stage, John said: “I hope that you like what I’ve written.” Bryant just looked at John and said, “I feel pretty confident that it’s going to be just fine.” When Bryant heard John’s piece for the very first time, emanating from a symphony orchestra, “Oh my God,” he said. “I almost lost my mind. As soon as his hands went up and then the music started, I almost yelled out loud— but I had to remember that the red light was on and we’re recording… It was the most unreal experience I could ever have.” Bryant looked over “and just put his head on my shoulder,” said Keane, “like, ‘I can’t believe it.’ It was so beautiful. Then when it was done, John turned to us and said, ‘I promise it’s going to get better.’”

It was one of the simplest, yet most inspired pieces John wrote during this decade: a brief journey taken by a humble, hummable tune that bottled a young boy’s guileless dreams and aspiration for greatness and glory. His hymnal theme begins as a gentle woodwind duet, which is passed to strings and then accelerates into soaring triumph to accompany Bryant’s heyday. Then it grows small again, a lonely keyboard wandering a broken chord as Bryant’s voiceover admits that his body can only play for so long. John’s knack for noble flying music closes the loop, with heraldic horns and rolling timpani connecting Bryant’s story to his music for American heroism— concluding with a bittersweet reprise of the theme on piano and an uplifting coda as the credits roll. Like the letter itself, the score is part valentine, part elegy—and John put his heart into it. He premiered it at the Hollywood Bowl in September, and Bryant surprised the audience by joining John onstage to narrate. The short film won an Oscar in March 2018—and then very shortly afterward, it became a poignant eulogy for Bryant when he died, age 41, in a helicopter crash on a foggy Sunday morning in Calabasas that also killed his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. John’s wistful, symphonic poem suddenly took on a new shade. “It is elegiac, but it isn’t weepy,” John said of the film when he first scored it, never imagining the sudden tragic fate of his young friend.

It strikes its own manner of saluting the man and the game and the accomplishments with a lot of modesty, I think. It’s very touching, and in the end that may be its highest achievement, that it’s able to praise this man the way it does, without a lot of false vanity or hubris that could easily have spilled into it. That’s my take on it in any case.

Countryfile star John Craven is a well-known face on TV, but the presenter is notoriously private about his personal life

Countryfile presenter John Craven has remained a television favourite for more than five decades since landing his breakthrough role hosting Newsround in 1972, the BBC’s dedicated children’s news programme.

Armed with his warming approach and natural passion for broadcasting, John has built a remarkable television career, including his stint presenting Countryfile from 1989.

Away from the cameras, John retreats to his Oxfordshire home, where he’s resided for many years. The broadcaster shares his life there with wife Marilyn, and the pair have been together for more than half a century.

The dedicated television personality is also a proud dad to two daughters and a loving grandfather to their offspring, reports the Express.

The duo are believed to have first crossed paths before 1970 whilst John was stationed at the BBC in Newcastle upon Tyne, with Marilyn working as a production secretary on Look North.

The couple have cultivated a solid relationship and deliberately keep their family life away from the public.

During a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, John expressed his satisfaction with his present career path and dismissed any desire for celebrity events, declaring bluntly: “I have no need. My career isn’t faltering.”

Looking back on his enduring marriage to Marilyn, the broadcasting stalwart disclosed his formula for marital longevity.

He told the publication: “It helped that she worked in TV. She knew how it was.”

John continued: “We hadn’t been together that long when I was asked to move to Bristol and I wasn’t sure if she would say yes, but she did, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

“She keeps me grounded. She’s been my rock. Without being too soppy, she was always there for me, which is the main thing in my business because it can be precarious.”

Born in 1940, John, 85, originates from Leeds, Yorkshire and, after departing school at sixteen, began an apprenticeship at the Yorkshire Copperworks where his passion for journalism blossomed when he started writing for the company publication.

He was then catapulted to fame on Newsround during the 1970s, but at 85 years old, he displays no indication of slowing down and has previously mentioned that whilst he assumed he would have retired by now, he doesn’t wish to abandon doing what he adores just yet.

John voiced his concerns about being labelled a legend on BBC’s The One Show, declaring: “I don’t really like being called a legend because, yeah, I’m getting on a bit, but I still feel quite useful.”

When questioned by the host why he remains so popular with audiences, John responded: “I think it’s because I’m regarded as almost a friend.

“To this day, people come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for being part of my childhood. Thanks for telling me what was happening in the world‘.”

The broadcaster, who recently celebrated 35 years presenting the documentary series, had previously revealed his desire to have his ashes scattered at his beloved Yorkshire spot, reports the Express.

He admitted: “Still one of my favourite places in the world is Wharfedale and Otley Chevin, where I used to cycle with my mates.

“I love the coast too, especially Whitby, though we had family holidays in Bridlington because I suspect it was a bit cheaper.

“I’d like to come home and have my ashes scattered in Yorkshire, maybe on the top of Otley Chevin,” he revealed to The Yorkshire Post back in 2019.

Countryfile is available for viewing on BBC One and iPlayer

Fans don’t have long before it’s released on the platform

Netflix has given fans their first glimpse at a new series penned by the creator of John Wick – and fans don’t have long to wait.

Following on from the success of the Keanu Reeves-fronted franchise, Derek Kolstad has now turned his pen to the first-ever adaptation of the award-winning video game series, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.

The action movie architect served as the head writer on Netflix’s upcoming animated series, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch which stars Liev Schreiber (The Perfect Couple) as the voice of black ops agent Sam Fisher. Meanwhile Kirby Howell-Baptiste (The Sandman) takes on the role of Zinnia McKenna.

The first Splinter Cell game released in 2002 with the latest dropping in 2013. Eager fans have speculated that the upcoming adaptation is set after the events of 2005’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory.

READ MORE: Netflix’s ‘female John Wick’ thriller with 91% score that’s better than Keanu Reeves spin-offREAD MORE: Netflix fans ‘cancel all plans’ over eight part thriller perfect for Harlan Coben fans

Netflix shared the first official trailer for the series yesterday (August 22). The 70-second clip teases plenty of action to come, and gave fans a proper look at Schreiber’s take on the legendary character as he takes on a mission that’s “personal”.

According to the brief synopsis for the upcoming series: “Legendary agent Sam Fisher is drawn back into the field when a wounded young operative seeks out his help.” It is slated for release on October 14, meaning fans have a few more weeks to wait.

One excited fan penned: “So it’s actually real. Feels like I’ve been waiting for this forever. Now all we need are some remaster/remake/sequel games. Would love to see remakes of the first two or three games.”

“The last Splinter Cell game was Blacklist released in 2013. How time flies… But I’m glad Sam Fisher is back, at least in animation,” said a second franchise fan. Meanwhile a third added: “It’s the adaptation we didn’t know we needed but now we need it.”

One John Wick fan quipped: “From the writer of the John Wick Franchise. Say less,” as another shared their surprise at Schreiber’s Sam.

“Didn’t expect Liev Schreiber to play a decent Sam Fisher!” they started. “Def not Michael Ironside but imo it’s better than what we got in Blacklist. Here’s to hoping this show succeeds so Ubisoft will give us another damn game already!”

Splinter Cell: Deathwatch releases on Netflix on October 14

WASHINGTON — The FBI on Friday searched the Maryland home and Washington office of former Trump administration national security advisor John Bolton as part of a criminal investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information, a person familiar with the matter said.

Bolton, who emerged as an outspoken critic of President Trump after being fired in 2019 and fought with the first Trump administration over a scathing book he wrote documenting his time in the White House, was not in custody Friday and has not been charged with any crimes, said the person who was not authorized to discuss the investigation by name and spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

The searches, seemingly the most significant public step the Justice Department has taken against a perceived enemy of the president, are likely to elicit fresh concerns that the Trump administration is using its law enforcement powers to target the Republican’s foes. They come as the Trump administration has moved to examine the activities of other critics, including by authorizing a grand jury investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe that dogged Trump for much of his first term, and as FBI and Justice Department leaders signal their loyalty to the president.

Speaking to reporters during an unscheduled visit to the White House Historical Assn., Trump said he had seen news coverage of Friday’s searches and expected to be briefed about it by the Justice Department but also insisted he didn’t “want to know about it.”

“I could know about it. I could be the one starting it. I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer. But I feel that it’s better this way,” Trump said.

Bolton had said in interviews this year that he was mindful that he could be scrutinized, telling the AP in January shortly before Trump took office, “Anybody who ever disagrees with Trump has to worry about retribution. It’s a pretty long list.”

An FBI search like the one at Bolton’s properties requires authorization from a federal magistrate judge. It wasn’t immediately clear what information authorities submitted to demonstrate that they had probable cause of a crime, though the Justice Department years ago launched an investigation into whether Bolton improperly disclosed classified information in a book manuscript he had written. The inquiry was later closed.

Vice President JD Vance denied in an NBC News interview on Friday that Bolton was being targeted because of his criticism of Trump. “If there’s no crime here, we’re not going to prosecute it. If there is a crime here, of course, Ambassador Bolton will get his day in court. That’s how it should be.”

Bolton was in his office building at the time

Bolton was not home for the search of his home, but after it started, he was spotted Friday morning standing in the lobby of the Washington building where he keeps an office and talking to two people with “FBI” visible on their vests. He left a few minutes later and appeared to have gone upstairs in the building. Agents were seen taking bags into the office building through a back entrance.

Messages left with a spokesperson for Bolton were not immediately returned, and a lawyer who has represented Bolton had no immediate comment.

The Justice Department had no comment, but leaders appeared to cryptically refer to the searches in a series of social media posts Friday morning.

FBI Director Kash Patel, who included Bolton on a list of “members of the Executive Branch Deep State” in a 2023 book he wrote, posted on X: “NO ONE is above the law… @FBI agents on mission.” Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi shared his post, adding: “America’s safety isn’t negotiable. Justice will be pursued. Always.”

The Justice Department is separately conducting mortgage fraud investigations into Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California and New York Atty. Gen. Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud lawsuit against Trump and his company, and ex-Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces an investigation from an independent watchdog office. Schiff and James have vigorously denied any wrongdoing through their lawyers.

The Bolton searches also unfolded against the backdrop of a 2022 search for classified documents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., an action that produced since-dismissed criminal charges but remains the source of outrage for the president and supporters who insist he was unjustly targeted despite the retrieval of top-secret records.

Patel said in a Fox Business Channel interview this week that the Mar-a-Lago search represented a “total weaponization and politicization” of the bureau, and Trump himself referenced it on Friday, telling reporters: “I guess his house was raided today, but my house was raided, also.”

Trump and Bolton have been at odds for years

Bolton served as Trump’s third national security advisor for 17 months and clashed with him over Iran, Afghanistan and North Korea.

He faced scrutiny during the first Trump administration over a book he wrote about his time in government that officials argued disclosed classified information. To make its case, the Justice Department in 2020 submitted sworn statements from senior White House officials, including then-National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone, asserting that Bolton’s manuscript included classified information that could harm national security if exposed.

Bolton’s lawyers have said he moved forward with the book after a White House National Security Council official, with whom Bolton had worked for months, said the manuscript no longer contained classified information.

The Biden administration Justice Department in 2021 abandoned its lawsuit and dropped a separate grand jury investigation, with Bolton’s lawyer calling the effort to block the book “politically motivated” and illegitimate.

Bolton’s harshly critical book, “The Room Where It Happened,” portrayed Trump as grossly ill-informed about foreign policy and said he “saw conspiracies behind rocks, and remained stunningly uninformed on how to run the White House, let alone the huge federal government.”

Trump responded by slamming Bolton as a “crazy” warmonger who would have led the country into “World War Six.”

Bolton served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush and also held positions in President Reagan’s administration. He considered running for president in 2012 and 2016.

Trump, on his first day back in office this year, revoked the security clearances of more than four dozen former intelligence officials, including Bolton. Bolton was also among a group of former Trump officials whose security details were canceled by Trump earlier this year.

In 2022, an Iranian operative was charged in a plot to kill Bolton in presumed retaliation for a 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed the country’s most powerful general.

The handling of classified information by top government officials has been a politically loaded topic in recent years. Besides Trump, the Justice Department also investigated whether then-President Biden, a Democrat, mishandled classified information after serving as vice president in the Obama administration, and the FBI also recovered what it said were classified documents from the home of former Trump Vice President Mike Pence. Neither man was charged.

Tucker writes for the Associated Press . AP writers Michelle L. Price, Jill Colvin, Nathan Ellgren, Lindsay Whitehurst, Alanna Durkin Richer and Byron Tau contributed to this report.

When it comes to athletes who deserve to be welcomed on a red carpet walk each time they show up for classes, the name of John Michael Flint of Bishop Diego High comes to mind.

He’s 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, was the league player of the year in volleyball, has a 38-inch vertical leap that allows him to dunk a basketball or kill a volleyball at the blink of an eye, and starts for the football team at receiver and safety. He’s also an A student and the backup quarterback.

“We’re talking to him about doing some kicking,” football coach Tom Crawford said. “He can pretty much do anything you ask. He’s the complete student-athlete.”

He’s going to be a captain for the football team and also helps out with campus ministry.

“He’s mature beyond most high school kids’ years in terms of decisions he makes and how he relates to coaches and peers,” Crawford said. “I just like him because he has a great, quiet confidence and poise about him.”

He’s expected to also play basketball this coming season after not playing last season.

So get ready for the year of John Michael Flint showing the way at Bishop Diego.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States has searched the home of John Bolton, a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump who later became a frequent critic.

News outlets reported on Friday that the raid was part of a national security probe into Bolton’s handling of classified information. Police cars were observed stationed outside Bolton’s home in the Washington, DC, suburb of Bethesda, Maryland.

“NO ONE is above the law,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post on Friday that did not explicitly refer to Bolton but noted that FBI agents were “on mission”.

Trump, meanwhile, denied having any knowledge of the raid on Bolton’s home.

“No, I don’t know about it. I saw it on television this morning,” Trump told reporters, before adding: “I’m not a fan of John Bolton. He’s a real sort of a lowlife.”

But the raid on Bolton’s home comes as the Trump administration steps up threats and probes against rivals and critics.

Bolton served as a hawkish foreign policy adviser during several Republican administrations, including Trump’s first term in office. He was also considered a strong advocate for the US invasion of Iraq during the administration of former President George W Bush.

Nowadays, however, he often appears on US news shows to criticise Trump and his policies. In his memoir, The Room Where It Happened, Bolton also offered a scathing assessment of his time in the Trump White House.

“He couldn’t tell the difference between his personal interests and the country’s interests,” Bolton wrote of Trump.

Trump, meanwhile, has criticised Bolton for his aggressive foreign policy stance. On Friday, he described Bolton as a menacing presence in meetings with foreign leaders.

“He really doesn’t talk. He’s quiet,” Trump said. “I’d walk into a room with him with a foreign country, and the foreign country would give me everything because they’d say, oh no, they’re going to get blown up because John Bolton’s there.”

The news agency Reuters reported that a spokesperson for the FBI had confirmed “court-authorised activity” on Friday in the area around Bolton’s home.

The Associated Press noted that Bolton was also seen on Friday in the lobby of a building where he works in Washington, DC. He was observed speaking with two people who had the label “FBI” on their vests.

The news agency said agents were then spotted taking bags into the building through the rear entrance.

This is not the first action the Trump administration has taken against Bolton. Trump cancelled Bolton’s security clearance in January, on his first day back in the White House.

Then, several days later, Trump revoked the security detail assigned to protect Bolton.

“I am disappointed but not surprised,” Bolton said at the time. For his part, Trump called Bolton a “very dumb person” and questioned why the former adviser would need government protection for the rest of his life.

This month, in an interview with ABC News, Bolton accused Trump of lashing out at his political rivals and leveraging the power of the government for punishment: “I think it is a retribution presidency.”

But on Friday, Trump repeatedly denied knowledge of the raid and credited his Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, with making such decisions.

“I tell Pam and I tell the group, I don’t want to know about this. You have to do what you have to do. I don’t want to know about it. It’s not necessary,” Trump said. “I could know about it. I could be the one starting it. I’m actually the chief law enforcement officer. But I feel it’s better this way.”

He added that he expected to be briefed on the raid later in the day. He also took some swipes at Bolton.

“He’s not a smart guy. He could be a very unpatriotic guy. We’re going to find out,” Trump said.

Under Trump, the Department of Justice has also unveiled probes into a number of Trump critics, including Democratic Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, who brought a civil fraud lawsuit against the president and his company, the Trump Organization.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Jack Smith, who led two federal investigations into Trump, faces a probe from the Office of the Special Counsel, based on Republican allegations that his inquiries amounted to illegal political activity under the Hatch Act.

‘Eye-catching’ was how Gray described Mulligan when he arrived in the summer, and the 22-year-old has only continued to win over the fans with his performances.

He tops the charts when it comes to successful dribbles, and ranks highly for touches in the opposition box and duels won.

What that boils down to is a box-to-box midfielder who not only gets stuck in, but drives forward and gets Hibs into the right areas of the pitch.

“Looks like a brilliant signing,” said Hibs’ fan David when BBC Sport Scotland asked for opinions on Mulligan’s arrival. “A very versatile player who can play in multiple positions, so it will be very interesting to see how he settles in.”

“Brilliant signing,” added Alex. “Good young Scottish talent with good experience at a young age. He will thrive at Hibs.”

Thrive is the word. Although he was rested from the starting XI against Livingston at the weekend, he came on in the 82nd minute to score the second goal – an absolute screamer from outside the box that rattled in off a post.

Having been moved between midfield and right wing-back during his time at Dundee, it’s unsurprising that goals never featured heavily in his previous stats.

But he seems to have added that dimension to his game, having been allowed by Gray to roam forward in attack, which continues to excel in his nascent days at Easter Road.

In his prime, John Wall was a rocket, a supremely talented point guard whose speed, explosiveness and star power made him the first pick in the NBA draft, a five-time All-Star and a fan favorite of the Washington Wizards, the team for which he delivered nearly all his heroics and highlight reels.

At the end, Wall was in uniform and running the court — that in itself a sight to see — but the uniform was the Clippers and his game had been reduced to eye-blink spurts of greatness.

The Clippers visited Washington’s Capital One Arena on Dec. 10, 2022, Wall in the midst of a 34-game slog that would be his last in the NBA. Wizards fans cheered his introduction and the 90-second tribute video that Wall was too emotional to even watch.

When the Clippers were off to a disastrous second-quarter start, Wall answered with six consecutive points, the last two swishing on his step-back 13-foot jumper. He spun toward the crowd, pointed both index fingers toward the court, and shouted, “Still my city!”

Wall was so overcome by the cheering crowd that he started walking to the wrong bench. “I kind of flashed back and forgot like, I’m in a different jersey,” he said. “Just being in that moment and electrifying the crowd, that’s what I’ve been doing for a lot of years in my career when I was here.”

Wall announced his retirement on Tuesday, although most fans probably figured he had retired already. His Clippers stint ended Jan. 13, 2022, and he never played again. His slide began in 2020 when Washington did the unfathomable, trading the most popular Wizard since Wes Unseld to the Houston Rockets for Russell Westbrook.

Wall had suffered a succession of leg injuries and he would suffer some more. The loss of his signature speed, coupled with the death of his mother, sent Wall into a depression that eventually had him contemplating suicide.

“For me, it all happened really fast,” he wrote in a first-person Players Tribune story. “In the span of three years, I went from being on top of the world to losing damn near everything I ever cared about.

“In 2017, I’m jumping up on the announcer’s table in D.C. after forcing Game 7 against Boston, and I’m the king of the city. I’m getting a max extension, thinking I’m a Wizard for life. A year later, I tore my Achilles and lost the only sanctuary I’ve ever known — the game of basketball. I ended up with such a bad infection from the surgeries that I nearly had to have my foot amputated. A year later, I lost my best friend in the whole world, my mom, to breast cancer.

“My best friend is gone. I can’t play the game I love. Everybody just got their hand out. Nobody is checking on me for me. It’s always coming with something attached. Who’s there to hold me down now? What’s the point of being here?”

Never mind that the Rockets gave him $172 million over four years, and that he gave them only 40 games in 2020-2021 in return. The next season, he agreed to the Rockets’ request that he not play, that he sit out and become a glorified assistant coach while the team tanked.

Wall agreed to forfeit a slice of his salary — his career earnings were $276 million — to get a fresh start with the Clippers, but it was soon clear he had little to offer, averaging 11.3 points and shooting 40.3%.

“That’s the most frustrating part because people think, ‘Oh, he got the money, he’s set for life, he don’t care,’” Wall recently told the Washington Post. “No, I would give up all the money to play basketball and never deal with none of those injuries. I didn’t play the game of basketball for money. I played the game of basketball because I love it,”

It took him two more years to reconcile that he was through, and his retirement announcement Tuesday was timed with another that he will join Prime Video for its studio show in its inaugural season broadcasting the NBA in 2025-2026.

Prime Video will broadcast 67 regular-season games, the play-in tournament and some playoff games. Wall called the G League Winter Showcase in January, which led to appearances on NBA TV. Now he’ll join the “NBA on Prime” team along with Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Dwyane Wade, Blake Griffin, Udonis Haslem and Candace Parker.

For Wall, it will be an opportunity to revisit his prime, sharing the basketball knowledge he accumulated through a difficult upbringing in North Carolina, an All-American one-and-done season at Kentucky and an 11-year NBA career in which he averaged 18.7 points and 8.9 assists a game.

“If you never really had the opportunity to sit down and talk to me, you won’t really understand how much I love basketball, where my basketball mind is at, where my IQ is,” Wall said. “I can basically tell you the best player in the country — from girls to boys, high school, to the players that’s in college, to the people that’s at the NBA and WNBA.”

Emmerdale’s Mackenzie Boyd flees for his life in a new preview ahead of Thursday’s episode of the ITV soap, after he discovers killer John Sugden’s dark secrets

It’s the moment Emmerdale fans have been trying to unravel for months, as Mackenzie Boyd’s mystery flashforward is finally explained. With that, Mack is left in grave danger it seems as he flees into the woods for his life, running from killer John Sugden.

Amid reports the character is set to be killed off, actor Lawrence Robb has finally addressed the mystery clip that aired in December, ahead of the scene finally airing in full on Thursday. In the initial clip he was shown running through the woods as if he was being chased, or was running towards something.

Fans have spent months speculating over what it could be linked to, even more so after Lawrence teased “life-changing” scenes a few months back. Thursday’s episode will see Mack’s run through the woods play out in real-time, and now new details have been confirmed about the tense twist.

It’s now been confirmed that it follows the moment Mack finally uncovers killer John’s dark secrets. Wednesday’s dramatic cliffhanger saw the moment Mack found a scrap book containing photos of John and his army pals.

READ MORE: Emmerdale reveals what clue Mack finds about John that exposes ITV soap killerREAD MORE: Is Mack leaving Emmerdale, does he die and who is Ben? John Sugden twist explained

One of the photos exposed his secret friendship with newcomer Ben, the removal man who collected Nate Robinson’s belongings months earlier claiming Nate has ordered his services. But the photo on Wednesday made Mack, who had met Ben that same day, seemingly realise that there was a chance John was linked to Nate’s murder.

After all, Nate had not ordered the removal service given he was already dead so chances are, it was his killer. Finding out that Ben and John are close, it seemed to hit him that John was hiding something, and that he could well have been the killer after all.

Now a first look for Thursday has teased the dramatic and tense fallout of this moment, as John realises Mack is onto him. It’s been teased Mack faces a battle for survival in that he runs for his life – but will John catch up with him?

We know John will go to any means necessary to cover his tracks, and now that Mack may know the truth it puts him in serious peril. A picture for Thursday shows the moment Mack races through the woods, seemingly running away from John.

Spoilers tease his life depends on him getting away, with a trailer hinting that a chase ensues. In the trailer already released, he faces a terrifying moment with killer John but his fate remains unclear.

But can Mack escape and will John be exposed? Actor Lawrence addressed the big moment, and discussed fans finally getting to see the flashforward scene he filmed last year.

He shared: “Last New Year we saw a handful of flashbacks and the one of Mack running has not been seen in an episode yet…. We actually filmed that flashback last October and we finally will be seeing it within the show. In the original flashback the audience members didn’t know why Mackenzie was running.

“Was he chasing someone or was he running away from someone or something? At last all will be revealed. The flashback scene was filmed last October and at the time we didn’t know when it was going to play out within 2025 – so just in case there could be a future issue with hair continuity – as potentially I could have grown a mullet by the end of the year – we decided to stick a beanie hat on Mack.

“But this choice didn’t help with the heat as this time we were filming this episode in the height of summer. And for all the filming I had to have this beanie on. So I was very, very warm. But I’m excited for the audience to finally see it unfold and how it fits into Mack’s storyline.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Wall, the No 1 NBA draft pick in 2010, is best known for his spectacular point guard play with the Washington Wizards.

Five-time All-Star and former top overall draft pick John Wall announced his retirement from the NBA on Tuesday.

Wall, who will turn 35 on September 6, last played in the league with the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2022-23 season. Knee injuries have limited him to just 147 games since the start of the 2017-18 season.

“Every jersey I’ve worn meant more than wins and stats,” Wall said in a video posted on social media. “It represented something bigger.”

Wall began the first of his nine seasons with Washington after being selected by the Wizards with the top overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft out of Kentucky. He averaged 19.0 points, 9.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 573 career games (561 starts) with Washington.

“One of our franchise all-time greats. The definition of an era. A lasting legacy. A forever Wizard. Congratulations on your retirement,” the team wrote on social media.

Wall, who did not play in 2019-20, was involved in a blockbuster trade with the Houston Rockets on December 2, 2020, that saw Russell Westbrook sent to Washington. The Wizards sent Wall and a first-round pick in the 2023 NBA draft to the Rockets for Westbrook and a lottery-protected first-round pick in the same 2023 draft.

Wall played one season in Houston (2020-21), sat out the 2021-22 season with an injury and came back to compete in 34 games with the Clippers in 2022-23.

Emmerdale spoilers have revealed the moment removal man Ben makes a jaw-dropping admission to the police about Nate Robinson’s presumed killer Owen amid John Sugden’s lies

New Emmerdale character Ben makes his return to the ITV soap next week leaving Nate Robinson’s loved ones reeling. Fans may recall the character was the removal man who came to collect Nate’s belongings from his wife Tracy Robinson, prior to Nate’s death being announced.

At the time Nate was believed to have moved away and cut off his family, sending removal guy Ben to get his things for him. Now knowing that Nate was murdered, it became apparent to the police that it could not have been Nate who did this, and was likely his killer.

It comes after Nate’s murderer John Sugden successfully framed a patient called Owen for the crime, leaving him to die after an apparent overdose all so he could make it look like Owen was the killer. Next week Ben shows up in the village leaving Tracy stunned, with her and Nate’s loved ones keen to finally see whether or not Owen killed Nate.

READ MORE: Coronation Street’s Kit ‘rumbles Costello’s secret’ as mystery caller ‘sealed’READ MORE: Emmerdale first look as Aaron and Robert kiss after emotional confession

When an update sees the detective tell Nate’s father Cain Dingle that there’s been some new evidence, the arrival of Ben sparks more intrigue. Now a new preview has revealed the moment Ben is in the shop with Tracy and Cain, as well as Mackenzie Boyd.

The detective on Nate’s case is called there and approaches Ben asking him where he’s been and why he hasn’t come forward. He claims he’s been away and hadn’t heard about Nate’s murder.

It then comes out that Tracy has showed Ben a photo of Nate, and Ben is able to confirm it was not him that booked the service or who he met with to hand over the items. The police are keen for Ben to identity whoever it was, believing this will give away who killed Nate.

As they open up a file, the show him a picture of Owen. Immediately Ben claims that Owen is the guy he met with and who asked for Nate’s belongings, posing as Nate.

With that it appears to confirm to the police and Tracy, and the others, that Owen had Nate’s stuff removed, and that this likely means he killed Nate. But as a viewer, we know full well that this just isn’t adding up, and there has to be something about newcomer Ben.

If Ben literally met the person who wanted Nate’s belongings, with him now claiming this was Owen, then he would know it was actually John or someone else. Given John had Nate’s belongings and he burned them, and he organised the pick-up in the first place, Ben would know it wasn’t Owen, the man in the photo.

Owen did not kill Nate, fact, and he wasn’t even in the village until months later. By the time Owen was on the scene, Ben had been and gone and Nate’s death was exposed. So it can’t have been Owen and we, the viewer, know that it wasn’t as we saw the flashbacks proving John did it, and then we saw him burn the items too.

So very clearly here Ben is lying to the police, but why? Unless of course Ben never actually saw anyone, John or not. But that said John wouldn’t have known Owen back then to set him up, so there’s just no way Ben has seen Owen, and therefore his identification to the police is false.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

Third in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Madden Williams, St. John Bosco receiver.

If blockers are a quarterback’s best friends, what are receivers?

“It’s our job to make the quarterback look good,” St. John Bosco’s Madden Williams said.

Few teams in Southern California start the 2025 season with a better collection of receivers than the Braves.

It begins with the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Williams, a Texas A&M commit who caught 13 touchdown passes as a junior. Then there’s Oklahoma commit Daniel Odom, San Jose State commit Carson Clark, super sophomores Darren Tubbs and Landon Perkins and two highly regarded freshmen.

“Not only is it our best group but deepest,” coach Jason Negro said.

In 2019, St. John Bosco had Logan Loya, Kris Hutson and Beaux Collins at the receiver positions. They ended up at UCLA, Washington State and Clemson, respectively.

Now sophomore quarterback Koa Malau’ulu will be the beneficiary of an electric receiver group that will force defenses to pick their poison. Double team one and you’ll get burned by another.

“Whomever they try to double, the others will go off,” Williams said.

As a freshman last season, Malau’ulu looked for Williams to deliver big plays. And that’s what he did, reinforcing the quarterback’s confidence in him.

“I would say what makes him great is that he has no weakness,” Malau’ulu said. “He’s a go-getter. Whenever we can go get extra work, he’s there. He’ll get any ball in his vicinity. He’s fast, strong and physical — everything you want in a receiver.”

Williams trusts his hands and uses fundamental techniques to make plays. His length gives him an advantage over smaller defenders. And once the ball is near him, his hands find a way to catch it like a magnet attracted to metal.

“Hands are the strongest pieces of my game,” he said. “You make sure you look the ball in. A lot of people are too worried what they’re going to do after a catch. One-hand catches are cool, but only do it when you have to do it.”

As for dealing with defensive backs who are aggressive and strong, Williams said, “The strategy is making sure you don’t let them touch you. That’s what we work, on releases and not let the defensive backs redirect. We know the route we’re running. We have to make sure they do not take us off the route we have. Sometimes they guess right, but most of the time I don’t think they can — at least against me.”

The individual duel between receiver and defensive back is like a football version of cat-and-mouse.

“It’s always you and the defensive back,” Williams said. “You’re on an island and it’s who’s better at the end of the day.”

Defensive coordinator Chris King has called Williams “unguardable.” Williams responded with seven catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns against Sierra Canyon last season.

“He’s got such great route running ability, knows leverage and understands coverages,” Negro said. “He’s super savvy and his football IQ is off the charts.”

Williams also played on the basketball team even though he was a reserve. He said the practices were helpful developing the skills needed for football.

In the end, Williams follows a motto that he hopes will carry him forward in sports and in life.

“What happens in the dark will always be brought to light,” he said. “I’m going to be grinding in the dark and when it’s time to shine in the light, I will play the best.”

Friday: Servite tight end Luke Sorensen.

Receivers to watch

Demare Dezeurn, Palisades, 5-11, 175, Jr. One of the fastest in California should dominate in City Section

Troy Foster, Huntington Beach, 6-2, 205, Sr.: Colorado State commit caught 15 touchdowns

Quentin Hale, L.A. Cathedral, 6-3, 175, Jr.: Caught 14 TDs as a sophomore

Chris Henry Jr., Mater Dei, 6-6, 200, Sr.: Ohio State commit is finally healthy and ready to put on show

Trent Mosley, Santa Margarita, 5-11, 170, Sr.: USC commit is big-play weapon and tough to stop

Daniel Odom, St. John Bosco, 6-3, 190, Sr.: Oklahoma commit has size to be a top player

Vance Spafford, Mission Viejo, 5-11, 175, Sr.: Miami commit has tremendous speed and great hands

Madden Williams, St. John Bosco, 6-2, 190, Sr.: Physicality, strength, instincts make him big-time target

Kayden Dixon-Wyatt, Mater Dei, 6-3, 180, Sr.: Ohio State commit delivers one big catch after another

Luc Weaver, Sherman Oaks Dame, 6-3, 195, Sr.: USC commit has improved speed, work ethic, aggressiveness

BBC/Shine TV

Upheld complaints

JOHN TERRY was the epitome of Chelsea’s golden era under Roman Abramovich.

The most successful captain in the club’s history now thinks the Blues are ready to challenge under new ownership.

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For all the chopping and changing at Stamford Bridge, Terry — who mentors players in the academy — can see a bright future after a summer of success.

Eight months ago, boss Enzo Maresca was shooting down suggestions of a title challenge.

Six months ago, the fans were chanting angrily towards their manager that they wanted “their Chelsea back”.

Since then, Todd Boehly’s Blues have claimed a Champions League place, won the Conference League and the Club World Cup.

And JT – who has exclusively revealed he’s made a decision about his own future in the game – does not think Maresca will talk down their title hopes any more.

The Chelsea legend, 44, told SunSport: “I really liked the honesty from the manager because the message is clear to the players. We’re not there yet.

“If you’re the manager now coming into that dressing room and you’re going, ‘We’ve got a chance this year’, the players will think we’ve got a chance. This year I think his message will be different.

“He was spot on because we were young, it was a little bit up and down last year. At the moment, we’re clearly building and moving in the right direction.

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“I’m not sitting here saying I want to wait five years to win another Premier League. We’ve got to go into it 100 per cent with the mindset of going, ‘Yes, we have to try to win the league this year’.

“Without a shadow of a doubt. But there’s other big competitions as well.

“You fight right to the end until it’s not possible. The Premier League was done last season, Liverpool were very good last year and rightly the winners. We have to compete for that again.”

Key to success will be whether or not the fledgling leaders within Maresca’s squad can find another level.

Reece James, 25, was called out by his manager last season for not doing enough as a captain but has stepped up since.

Centre-back Levi Colwill looked to be following in Terry’s footsteps at the back before his cruel ACL injury last week.

And Chelsea’s 15-time trophy-winning former skipper has long been impressed by Enzo Fernandez.

But James staying fit and leading on the pitch will be vital after missing months at a time with hamstring, knee and thigh problems.

Chelsea’s transfer deals

IN

• Joao Pedro – from Brighton – £60m
• Jamie Gittens – from Dortmund – £52m
• Jorell Hato – from Ajax – £37m
• Liam Delap – from Ipswich – £30m
• Estevao – from Palmeiras – £29m
• Dario Essugo – from Sporting Lisbon – £18.5m
• Kendry Paez – from Independiente – £17.5m
• Mamadou Sarr – from Strasbourg – £12.5m

TOTAL – £256.5m

OUT

• Noni Madueke – to Arsenal – £52m
• Joao Felix – to Al-Nassr – £44m
• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – to Everton – £28m
• Djordje Petrovic – to Bournemouth – £25m
• Lesley Ugochukwu – to Burnley – £25m
• Bashir Humphreys – to Burnley – £15m
• Mathis Amougou – to Strasbourg – £12.5m
• Kepa Arrizabalaga – to Arsenal – £5m
• Marcus Bettinelli – to Man City – £5m

TOTAL – £183.5m

TRANSFER NEWS LIVE

Terry added: “For Reece, concentrate on staying fit and having a fully-fit season for him is the most important thing. He can make such a difference.

“We’ve seen the quality. When Reece is at it, he is the world’s best right-back.

“When you’ve picked up a couple of injuries like Reece has had, it’s difficult to really feel like you belong.

“So when you start demanding from people around you, when you’re the one not playing, that’s also very difficult.

“When you’re in the starting line-up week in, week out, it’s easy to command and run the dressing room — and the standards of the football club.”

Terry made more than 500 appearances as captain and says boss Jose Mourinho always demanded his skipper be robust and a regular.

JT said: “You need to be robust. You need to understand that you can push through little injuries, niggles, and you can kind of come out the other side of it.

“You need to manage your body throughout the week and all of that.”

As well as mentoring players in the Under-18s and U21s, Terry stops in to catch up and offer support to players such as James and Colwill.

He even spoke to the pair of defenders before this interview.

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Terry added: “We talk generally about football and some situations — but it’s super relaxed.

“Out of pure respect, I don’t get too involved because I fully respect the  manager and his role.

“I would never want to say something that goes against what he’s saying to those players.

“But the boys know I’m always there if they need me.

“Not just the defenders but the ones that have just arrived. Always here to help. That’s my role as someone who has been at Chelsea for so long and the club means the world to me.”

And that is the clubman role he wants some of his academy predecessors to take up.

Terry said: “You’ve got Reece and there’s a few other boys that really live and breathe Chelsea.

“But the boys that come in and really buy into the club, this is where the importance of Reece, Levi and the academy graduates really play an important role.

“This is how we do it. This is what we do at Chelsea. We win football trophies and we win cups on a regular basis.

“All the top clubs have that. Man United have that, Liverpool have that, Arsenal. Spurs not so much . . . 

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“But all the big football clubs have that — they find a way to win.

“So in terms of where we were last year . . . a little bit inexperienced. Thiago Silva left and all of that. But the team managed to find a way to win.”

Terry also believes recent successes will be transformative for the Blues.

While the Conference League would have been scoffed at during Terry’s era had it existed, now it is viewed as a stepping stone within the camp.

He said: “It gives you belief, back when we won our first one, the 2004-05 Carling Cup at Cardiff, it gives you belief that it can be done within the squad.

“When you’re a young group, it ripples throughout the whole squad of players.”

If this group can match what Terry and his team-mates did after that Carling Cup win 20 years ago, the Blues will be in for one hell of a ride once more.

John Terry is an investor in and ambassador for LEBOM —  the low-stakes football betting app where It’s You vs Your Mates. 18+ BeGambleAware

Some inside jokes can be funny. Others not so much.

John Mateer seems to have fallen into the second category: The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback is now on defense regarding NCAA policy about student-athletes and sports betting.

Screenshots of Venmo transactions the QB made in 2022 began circulating Monday on social media. They appear to show that Mateer, then a Washington State freshman, wrote “sports gambling” to describe two separate payments to the same individual. The amounts were undisclosed.

One of those descriptions included in “UCLA vs USC” in parentheses. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 48-45 on Nov. 19, 2022, the day before both Venmo payments were allegedly made.

Current NCAA rules prohibit student-athletes from engaging in sports betting at any level, although a proposal is being considered that would permit gambling on professional sports only.

Mateer released a statement Tuesday indicating that he had written those words in jest.

“The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends.

“I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches, and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in any sports gambling.”

Oklahoma Athletics said in a statement that its student-athletes receive ongoing education on matters related to sports gambling and that it uses a service that provides comprehensive monitoring of sports gambling activities.

“OU takes any allegations of gambling seriously and works closely with the NCAA in any situations of concern,” the department said. “OU Athletics is unaware of any NCAA investigation and has no reason to believe there is one pending.”

Mateer played three seasons at Washington State, including the past two as the Cougars’ starting quarterback, before transferring to Oklahoma this offseason.

Emmerdale has a massive week of episodes lined up next week as revealed in new spoilers, with a possible death, a double exit teased and hints of a reunion for Robron

It’s a big week next week Emmerdale fans, with spoilers teasing some huge twists and turns you do not want to miss. There’s a Robron update that will no doubt send fans of Aaron Dingle and Robert Sugden into meltdown.

There’s a double exit hint too, as well as possible murder given the recent rumours about a certain Mackenzie Boyd. One married couple look set to be torn apart, before fate may decide on things for them.

It comes amid reports Mack will be killed off, making him the next victim of killer John Sugden. Also next week there’s the reopening of a murder case, awkward romance drama and villain Ray is causing drama.

READ MORE: Emmerdale Cain and Mack flashforwards ‘finally explained’ as character killed offREAD MORE: Emmerdale’s Mackenzie Boyd ‘to be killed off’ in harrowing scenes already filmed

There’s also concern for Moira Dingle and Vinny Dingle faces turmoil. Let’s kick off with one of the biggest twists of the week ahead, and something some fans have been manifesting for months.

Robron could well reunite as an affair is teased for exes Aaron and Robert. Amid Aaron’s marriage to Robert’s villainous brother John, the pair give into temptation once more weeks on from their kiss.

Robert is in utter turmoil, struggling to cope with recent events. As things escalate further and his mental health spirals, he’s truly in a dark place – not helped by twisted John.

John is still intent on getting rid of his brother, and next week he cruelly manages to drive a wedge between Robert and their sister Victoria over her young son Harry. Tearing apart their bond, John leaves Robert more alone than ever at a time where he needs all the support he can get.

Luckily for him Aaron comes to the rescue, walking into the house to check on him only to find him trashing his room and he quickly intervenes. As for Victoria, she’s been manipulated over the events with Harry the days before now, with John exaggerating what happened and it truly turns her against her brother.

Robert’s in total despair by the time Aaron arrives, with John having made Robert very aware he’s now lost both his sister and his ex. It seems Aaron thinks otherwise though as he sits Robert down and gets him to open up.

Aaron is in shock to see just how broken Robert is having never seen him like this before, and he does his best to support him as Robert claims he’s lost everything. It’s then that Aaron can’t hold it in anymore and he blurts out his true, unresolved feelings, admitting this is why he’s been distancing himself and pushing Robert away.

One thing leads to another though as they give into passion and end up in bed together. But it’s teased John and Victoria could walk in on the pair as they head back to the house to check in on Robert – so what will they find?

Later in the week there’s heartbreak when guilty Aaron tells him it was a one-off and a mistake. Robert thinks wrongly though, believing he and Aaron are about to reunite and that he’s been picked over John – only to find out Aaron feels otherwise. Robert insists they are destined to be together, but this only heightens Aaron’s turmoil.

And this is where the plot intertwines with John’s killer storyline, with Nate Robinson’s murder case reopened. By the end of the week there could be another victim, but more on that later on. For now, John is rattled after hearing there’s been a development.

So when Aaron, equally rattled, suggests they move away for a fresh start it seems a double exit could loom. Aaron needs to get away from Robert, and John wants away from the village as his guilt over Nate threatens to tear him apart.

It’s an inconsistency in Owen’s suicide note, the note John made to frame Owen for the murder, that leads to the police investigation being reopened. John is all over the place but decides to jump on the exit plan with Aaron, leaving the latter’s mum Chas Dingle devastated to hear they might be moving away.

John takes some holiday leave and they make plans to take some time away – but when John makes a chilling phone call what is it about? As the police look into the new evidence, the fresh questions about the murder leave Nate’s loved ones in turmoil all over again.

Suddenly the man who came to collect Nate’s belongings from his house months ago as part of an ordered removal service shows up, and when Tracy shows him a photo of her murdered husband he admits he’s never seen him before, confirming it wasn’t Nate. But there’s a twist when he identifies the man who contacted him as being Owen.

This leaves Nate’s loved ones sure Owen is the killer, and Robert starts to believe he may have been wrong after suspecting John was the true murderer. But the plot is turned on its head when Mackenzie finds a clue about a mystery something, linked to John, so what has he found?

Given reports state Mack exposes John and ends up being killed as a result, this could well be the end of the character this coming week. It comes as he falls out big time with wife Charity Dingle amid her offering to be a surrogate for her granddaughter Sarah Sugden.

With a pregnancy confirmed, things turn sour when Charity becomes distant and distracted. Mack is drowning his sorrows in the pub and after being taunted by Ross Barton, he admits it’s been three years since he and Charity sadly lost their baby and he claims she hasn’t remembered.

The pair end up rowing, and he blurts out his issues about the surrogacy. Charity ends up kicking her husband out so is it over for the pair? Mack is also upset after Aaron confesses to him what’s happened with Robert, but could he end up letting slip to John?

Mack’s sister Moira Dingle is in for more heartbreak next week too, when the deal she and new farmer Celia have been working on has fallen through. But is Joe Tate to blame after he vows to sabotage once more?

Moira fears this is the end of her farming days, and soon Celia urges her to sell up – so is Celia up to no good? Villain Ray manipulates teen Dylan Penders next week, after dragging April Windsor into his dodgy deals.

With a job search not working out, he’s left tempted to work for Ray once more but he lies about it to April. Elsewhere, Kammy Hadiq and Belle Dingle agree to another lunch date.

Finally next week, Gabby Thomas urges Vinny Dingle to report Kammy to the police – but what has happened? Vinny’s tormented by his guilt, clearly hiding something about newcomer Mike – and soon the police come knocking wanting to know more about a man named Graham… so what will he say?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .

MasterChef is returning tonight with hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode as its presenters, despite the pair being recently fired from the BBC One series following an investigation

MasterChef fans are furious that former hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode are included in tonight’s episode of the BBC programme. The duo were recently axed from the series for different reasons after Wallace was initially under investigation over complaints made about his behaviour.

Wallace was axed from the series after law firm Lewis Silkin upheld 45 out of 85 complaints against him of inappropriate behaviour. While the 60-year-old has admitted to using inappropriate language at times, he denies the more serious allegations. Meanwhile, co-host Torode did not have his contract renewed with Banijay UK, who make MasterChef, after he was alleged to have used racist language amid an investigation into his former co-star’s behaviour.

He claimed he had no memory of making the comment and denies it ever happened. It comes after reports Gregg Wallace is trying to ‘earn a living’ after MasterChef exit amid ‘battle every day’.

READ MORE: Gregg Wallace and John Torode’s distance on first MasterChef episode since double axeREAD MORE: MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace ‘ruins’ chance of redemption after ‘slipping at first hurdle’

While the duo have been axed from the programme, they are still featuring in tonight’s episode of MasterChef, much to the disappointment of fans.

They rushed to social media to express their anger as they threatened to boycott the series for showing the two hosts on our screens this evening.

One user said on X/Twitter: “The decision to screen MasterChef tonight is unforgivable. There was no need to show this next series on BBC when they could’ve just streamed it on iPlayer and people who wanted to watch it would still have been able to. We will switch BBC off.”

“I hope no one watches #MasterChef #BBC,” said one user along with an angry face emoji. One added: “ou shouldn’t be showing it either. Poor decision Mr Davie. I think your days are numbered.”

Another fan was convinced: “#MasterChef will contain some type of message this evening or it would have been pulled.”