
America Olympic Committee (USOC) tried to offer some clarity to the Ryan Lochte alleged crime saga in Brazil today. And the gold medalist himself finally issued an acknowledgment of regret this albeit with more caveats than Jim Comey at an FBI hearing morning.
Jamaican superstar Usain Bolt did something no other Olympian has done in history yesterday evening, but all anyone is talking about is the ongoing Ryan Lochte saga. The second incident has converted into an epic embarrassment for the United States Of America and usa Olympic Committee.
‘ We apologize to our hosts in Rio and the social people of Brazil for this distracting ordeal into the midst of what should rightly be a celebration of excellence,’ the USOC said in a declaration. pelican pete slot machines ‘The behavior of those athletes is not acceptable, nor does it represent the values of Team USA or the conduct of the majority that is vast of members.’
Lochte also issued an apology, with clauses, this morning.
‘ I would like to apologize for my behavior final weekend, for maybe not being more careful and candid in how I described the events of that morning hours,’ Lochte said. ‘It’s traumatic to be out late with your friends in a foreign nation, having a language barrier, and also have a stranger point a weapon at you and demand money to let you leave, but whatever the behavior of anyone else that night, i will are even more responsible.’
After a night of partying, drinking, and admittedly being with ‘women,’ Lochte allegedly aggrandized, at the minimum, a tale to be robbed at gunpoint with three other Team USA Olympic swimmers.
Lochte said that both himself and teammates Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz, and Jimmy Feigen were the victims of a crime. Gas station surveillance video, apparently with some missing segments, backed up at least portions of the swimmers’ stories, but left many questions also.
But Brazil police produced proof that Lochte’s account ended up being riddled with half-truths and non-truths.
From video surveillance, it appeared the four swimmers stopped at a gas station between 5 and 6 am, where one vandalized a bathroom, most likely breaking a mirror. Station security guards stopped the swimmers after that, and brandished weapons at the intoxicated men whenever they did not comply and tried to take off.
After giving the guards the equivalent of about $53 for the damages, the four eventually departed.
Home Sweet Residence
After being pulled off a plane earlier into the Conger and Bentz are now back in the US week. The two, whom never previously said these were robbed, supplied testimony to police that backed the video evidence.
Lochte had previously traveled back again to the continuing States quickly after the event.
Feigen, on the other hand, reportedly did first lie about the robbery. He’s on his way home today, but only after paying Rio de Janeiro a $10,800 fine.
In Brazil, it’s common to avoid prosecution that is criminal minor offenses by offering a sum of money. ‘We will further review the matter, and any consequences that are potential the athletes, when we come back to the usa,’ the USOC explained.
The case against the three seems to have reached a conclusion, but fees could nevertheless be brought against Lochte. Falsifying reports or providing misleading statements carry prison sentences of up to six months in Brazil. That said, it is pretty universally agreed that nothing would make authorities extradited the Olympic champ back to the scene associated with the ‘crime’ for prosecution.
Meanwhile, Back at the Olympics…
Back in Rio, it was another night that is history-making Jamaican legend Usain Bolt.
For the third consecutive Summer Games, the 29-year-old is the silver medal champion in both the 100m and 200m. Tonight he is true of the elusive ‘triple-triple,’ when he’ll run the 4x100m relay in hopes of also winning that competition for the third straight time at the Olympics.
Of course, bettors in Nevada who put money on Bolt didn’t web much. Bovada listed Bolt at -225 within the 100m and a whopping -500 in the 200m.
Tonight, the team that is jamaican the favourite to win with a type of -400. USA is next at +300.
The women’s 4x100m relay will be perhaps even more exciting, as they too increase against the powerhouse that is jamaican. Jamaica is at -250 to the US at +175. The at the 2012 Olympics.
What the May that is future Hold
One of the primary criticisms of the Lochte incident has been exactly how much it has distracted from the significant achievements of other athletes. As Lochte himself stated at the conclusion of his lengthy Twitter apology:
‘. . . I am hoping we spend our time celebrating the fantastic stories and performances of the Games and look forward to celebrating future successes.’
For Lochte himself, his recommendation status happens to be in limbo, as brands no doubt gauge the fallout. However with major names like Speedo, Ralph Lauren for Polo, and Mutual of Omaha standing behind him as pre-Olympics sponsors, this drunken evening away could finally add up to the biggest ‘whoops’ of his job.
Alabama Lottery and Electronic Terminals Bill Fails in State Senate
Alabama could be the many state that is religious the country, which is why Governor Bentley’s wishes generate a lottery seem to have similar odds to winning the lottery. (Image: nbcnews.com)
Certainly one of just six states with out a lottery, Gov. Bentley thinks now is the right time for the Cotton State to start reaping the rewards of providing the games of chance. Bentley opines he is done every thing in their capacity to cut spending and reduce federal government, but says the state has a revenue problem.
‘It’s time we stop supporting other states’ budgets, and keep our cash in the home,’ Bentley said in a video release earlier this month. Bentley is in the centre of a very publicized scandal for allegedly having an affair with a top aide.
The governor called the legislature together in hopes of passing a measure to put a lottery referendum in the ballot this November.
Authored by State Senator Jim McClendon (R-District 11), Senate Bill 11 failed to even achieve a vote after the legislation was debated at size.
In addition to authorizing a state-run lottery with the chance of entering compacts for multi-state lotteries like Powerball, McClendon’s bill also would have permitted electronic lottery terminals similar to slots to be put at dog tracks along with other places.
‘Procedurally they (the Senate) killed the bill,’ McClendon told AL.com. The Senate voted 20-11 against a ‘cloture movement,’ a legislative procedure that would have called for a vote on SB11.
If at Very First You Don’t Succeed…
McClendon believes the Alabama lottery still has a possibility and that electronic gaming is keeping potential backers away. McClendon is also the supporter that is primary of, a proposal Bentley is endorsing.
SB3 is a much simpler bill that is five pages in length. It calls for the same lottery conditions as SB11, but omits electronic lottery terminals.
Revenues from the lottery would offer the state’s General Fund. Bentley claims Alabama currently cannot pay for the many services that are basic government must offer.
McClendon and State Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh (R-District 12) want give voters the choice to determine a lottery. Any passed lottery legislation would require the majority support of Alabama’s voters, as it would amend the state constitution.
‘ I do not think it is the state’s responsibility to oversee people’s actions,’ Marsh said this week on Alabama Public Radio. ‘People are going to spend their money doing exactly what they want to do, and if people enjoy gaming that’s their business.’
Steep Challenge
Situated within the heart of the Bible Belt, legalizing the lottery in Alabama faces a battle that is uphill.
Almost 90 percent of Alabamians identify as Christian. And Pew Research Center says 77 % of adults are ‘highly religious,’ the highest percentage into the entire united states of america.
Even if McClendon discovers the support among their colleagues, the same might not be true from the general public. That’s possibly why McClendon is considering amending the legislation to put up the public vote maybe not in November but during a unique election in December.
State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-District 20) opposes such maneuvers that are calculated. ‘this is a disservice and a disgrace and I am ashamed of this physical body,’ Coleman-Madison declared.
The legislature is back in session today, and the lottery is once more set to be scratched.
888-Rank Ditches Pursuit of William Hill
888 Chairman, Brian Mattingley and CEO Itai Freiberger. Freiberger said he was ‘disappointed’ that William Hill didn’t share the consortium’s vision. (Image: GamingIntelligence.com).
888 and Rank’s bold bid to acquire William Hill has collapsed following the giant that is bookmaking refusal to open negotiations.
The consortium, formed by 888 and Rank a month ago to propose the £3.4 billion bid, threw within the towel today, after William Hill made it clear it was not for the taking.
The consortium made two non-binding bids the other day, both of which were refused by the bookmaker as being too low and ‘opportunistic.’ It came simply months after William Hill’s CEO, James Henderson, had been ousted by the board following the disappointing results of its digital arm, leaving the company in a vulnerable position.
Itai Frieberger, 888 CEO, stated he had been ‘disappointed’ that the board of William Hill did not ‘share our vision’ of the combined businesses.
‘We think that there was compelling industrial logic for the combination of the highly complementary organizations, which in our view would have brought scale, diversification, and strong revenue and cost synergies, from which all investors could have benefitted,’ he said.
Caesars Settles Creditor Lawsuit
Caesars is one step closer to reorganization that is achieving its distressed operating unit CEOC, as mediation continues with its creditors. (Image: Caesars Entertainment Corp)
Caesars has convinced one of its junior creditors to drop litigation and consent to its bankruptcy reorganization plan, an indicator that this might be the start of the finish of the team’s protracted chapter 11 procedures.
Caesars is attempting to put its main operating unit, Caesars Entertainment working Co., through bankruptcy so as to restructure some $18 billion of its financial obligation. But it has been locked in disagreement with its holders that are second-lien the previous 18 months, many of whom are suing to keep the casino giant to guarantees of CEOC’s debts.
They will have additionally accused Caesars of fraudulently stripping the unit of its many valuable assets for the advantage of Caesars’ managing creditors, Apollo Global Management and TPG, making it with nothing but distressed assets and unpayable debts.
Transfer of Assets
A recent court-appointed examiner’s report, led by ex-Watergate prosecutor Richard Davis, agreed with that assessment. Sometime in 2012, he said, Apollo and TPG began a strategy of weakening CEOC, while strengthening Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CEC) and other subsidiaries when preparing for CEOC’s bankruptcy.
One group of junior creditors, led by Appaloosa Management and Oaktree Capital Group, say they have claims worth $12.6 billion, a sum that has the potential to deliver CEC into bankruptcy along having its subsidiary, CEOC.
In present months Caesars has tried to appease CEOC’s creditors with a more equitable reorganization plan; the one that would involve the reunification of its prized assets through the merger of CEC and another subsidiary, Caesars Acquisition Company. The merger will generate extra cash, new debt, and more equity for the 2nd lien noteholders.
Immense Progress
One such noteholder, Frederick Barton Danner, agreed to drop his lawsuit in a brand new York federal court this week and come on board with the plan that is new. Under the regards to the settlement, CEOC can pay Barton Danner’s appropriate fees and provide cash that is extra junior creditors whom are perhaps not currently suing Caesars somewhere else. In return, Barton Danner will support CEOC’s revised reorganization plan.
‘We’re optimistic that the settlement will be consummated with the effective reorganization of [CEOC],’ said Barton Danner’s attorney, Gordon Novod, who added the settlement marks a ‘new and significant progress in the pursuit of treatments.’
Having initially tried to break free with murder, Caesars is currently engaged in a process of mediation using its other second-tier creditors in an effort to discover a solution.
‘in my opinion the events are making progress towards a consensual resolution for the debtors’ cases and the associated litigation against the [Caesars] parties,’ wrote mediator Joseph Farnan Jr, this week, although he also noted that more time is needed.