#saban international logo

[slowlicious]

SABAN INTERNATIONAL LOGO SLOWED

👉Who Remembers This Logo After Your Favorite Cartoon?👈

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"INTERNATIONAL CHILDRENS DAY"

[luna-whiskers]

heres what weirds me out the most about Saban Moon and that article. Firstly, the logo in Saban Moon is the SAME logo DiC used and that is on the merch (thought I suppose that could be explained by Toei being in talks with both Ward’s company and DiC at the time?) but secondly - and I didn’t even know this until the saw the article - the name ‘Darian’ is creepily similar to ‘Darien’ which is what DiC used?? and I never thought Toei was involved in the dub names so what was THAT about?!

I just feel like there was so much going on “behind the scenes” with DiC and Toei (and now, throwing this whole Toon Makers jumbled mess into the pot) because SOMETHING had to make Toei unwilling to license Sailor Moon to a North American company for over 20 years after that.             

Oh man, I noticed the “Darian” thing too but then promptly forgot it in the face of the mind-boggling conclusion to the article. And yeah! On rewatching the infamous Saban Moon opening, it totally has the Dic Sailor Moon logo at the end. This article makes it sound like Dic is completely unrelated to the Toon Makers version and that the Dic dub came as a shock to the creators of this pitch, and yet we can see the connections right there! Honestly, this left me with more questions than answers.

With regards to Toei pulling licenses, that was post-Cloverway taking over the property. So Toei was apparently fine with licensing after Dic’s involvement. I still wonder how much of that was disapproval over the dub’s hack job and how much was about Toei’s dispute with Naoko Takeuchi making them pull out of all international markets.

And going back to the contents of the article, they make it sound like the hack job done on the dub was necessary to getting the anime to North American markets at all (and arguably, they may have been right) and were therefore done with Toei’s blessing to access the American toy market. So like, I know we all assume Toei disapproved of the changes made in the dub, particularly the Cousins, but the implication here is that it was done with Toei’s blessing.

[kaoarika]

Despite I know that many of the Saban anime edits/dubs they did in the 90s and early 2000s are kind of “uhm”, it’s a shame that their dubs (and I guess, the international dubs as well based on their edits) are kinda lost to time and not officially available (unless someone uploaded episodes in YT) because the ENG versions masters are in the Dis*ney vaults because when Saban bought back Power Rangers (and related tokusatsu properties they did), THAT’s the only thing they bought back ://

I feel ODDLY nostalgic for the LatAm dubs of Mon Colle Knights, Shinzo, and Tonde Buurin, despite.... yeah. And I’m sure as hell there are more anime stuff they brought (that I didn’t know were “anime”) that I used to watch in the early days I had Fox Kids on my cable system as a more “basic” channel, back before Digimon became a hit (and luckily, we had a more direct localization of it based in the JPN original source) and therefore put a more apt label to the anime they were airing at the time.

And, although I’m 50/50 in the dark of who did the edits, also throw the LatAm dub of the South Korean animated series (is ”aeni” the right word for it?)  “Track City”, lol.

(Related: Oddly enough, while I kinda knew Pucca was from South Korea, and I already was slightly suspicious that “There She Is!” was also from there the first time I watched it around 2004-06... it WAS “Track City” my first taste of Korean media that I ever saw, hahah. The MCs names being Korean made sense once you think about it -”Jini”, “Danbi”, iirc?-, I don’t remember a Korean logo... as I think it was already translated/edited into Spanish. I wonder if maybe this animated series and a few Kdramas (ie “Winter Sonata”) were the first few Korean things that were dubbed and aired in LatAm at the time before the wave hit stronger in the late 2000s?)

[rangercommand]

NEWS - It's Morphin Time Again - Power Rangers Beast Morphers Returns this Saturday

IT’S MORPHIN TIME – AGAIN!

THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS RESUMES WITH NEW EPISODES ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, ON NICKELODEON

The Morphinominal Storyline Brings New Action-Packed Power Rangers Adventures Beginning Saturday, September 14, at 8:00 a.m. (ET/PT)

BURBANK, Calif. – SEPT. 12, 2019 – Power Rangers fans can look forward to more action-packed fun as Hasbro and Nickelodeon announced that POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS, the latest television series from the iconic, long-standing Power Rangers franchise, returns with all-new episode premieres starting this Saturday, Sept. 14, at 8:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

The mid-season premieres with episode 9, “Silver Sacrifice”. When the main villain of POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS Evox’s new plan targets one of their own, the Rangers must band together to save them. New episodes will debut every Saturday at 8:00 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon in the U.S. Viewers can see the recently-released trailer here.

Launched in 2019, this season of POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS has the Rangers going all-out in tactical leather suits with ‘Beast Bot’ sidekicks and elevated battle footage with an all-new cast of heroes and villains. POWER RANGERS BEAST MORPHERS is produced by Allspark Pictures. To learn more, go to Nick.com.

ABOUT SABAN’S POWER RANGERS

Saban’s Power Rangers franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, Power Rangers quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running kids live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who “morph” into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets, translated into numerous languages and a favorite on many key international children’s programming blocks around the world. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World’s Best Play and Entertainment Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE, MAGIC: THE GATHERING and POWER RANGERS, as well as premier partner brands. Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 13 on the 2019 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past eight years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 40th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

# # #

NEWS – It’s Morphin Time Again – Power Rangers Beast Morphers Returns this Saturday was originally published on Ranger Command Power Hour

[dccollectors]

EAST AURORA, NEW YORK— Friendship is taking center stage on the Island of Sodor in 2017, and to kick off the year-long celebration, Fisher-Price is debuting an all-new lineup of Thomas & Friends MINIS inspired by some of pop culture’s most powerful friend squads. Building on the successful Thomas & Friends MINIS collections in 2015 and 2016, the line will be expanded with the addition of all-new mash-up MINIS featuring Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and brand-new MINIS of DC Super Friends. The line is part of Thomas & Friends yearlong “Set Friendship in Motion™” campaign that began this month.

Iconic 90s superheroes Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers venture to Sodor just in time for the March 2017 release of the new Saban’s Power Rangers live-action feature film. Thomas and his best pals will morph into 13 train mash-ups, including Thomas as Blue Ranger, Percy as Green Ranger, Rosie as Pink Ranger, Belle as Rita Repulsa, and more.

Additionally, this summer Thomas & Friends is taking on the pizza-loving and sewer-dwelling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with 9 all-new MINIS inspired by Nickelodeon’s crime-fighting turtles, including Thomas as Leonardo, James as Raphael, Percy as Donatello, Gordon as Michelangelo, Rosie as April O’Neill, and others.

Finally, in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Entertainment, Thomas & Friends has also expanded its collection of DCSuper Friends MINIS featuring Thomas & Friends characters taking on the personas of the world’s most powerful DC Super Heroes. The 24 new trains will find Hiro as Steel, Victor as Superboy, Rosie as Star Sapphire, Henry as Batman Beyond, and many more.

The Thomas & Friends™ mash-up MINIS are part of a line of small-scale, collectible Thomas & Friends engines. Since the line’s debut in 2015, more than 13 million Minis have been sold worldwide in over 20 countries. The new mash-up MINIS will be available as 4-packs retailing for $7.49 and 9-packs retailing for $15.99 in March 2017 in the U.S. and in select international markets.

“The new Thomas & Friends MINIS based on famous pop culture teams are a cool way of celebrating legendary, epic friendships,” said Mike Pisors, Director of Thomas & Friends Toy Global Brand Marketing. “We love that Thomas & Friends is a leader is showcasing positive friendship role models for young children, and we’re thrilled to combine the brand with other popular franchises such as the DC Super Friends and Power Rangers for kids to collect.”

The new train mash-ups join a lineup of existing DC Super Friends MINIS and a collection of SpongeBob SquarePants inspired trains. In addition to bringing MINIS to toy aisles, Fisher-Price is also planning to develop exciting online content around the lines.

The lineup of brand new mash-up MINIS hitting retail this month includes:

Saban’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers:

Blue Ranger/Thomas

Black Ranger/Hiro

Pink Ranger/Rosie

Goldar/Victor

Red Ranger/James

Green Ranger/Percy

Yellow Ranger/Emily

White Ranger/Stanley

Alpha 5/Diesel

Rita Repulsa/Belle

Finster/Salty

Putty Patroller/Gordon

Lord Zedd/D-10

DC Super Friends:

Nightwing/Toby

Swamp Thing/Gator

Superboy/ Victor

Batman/ Thomas

Black Lightning/ Dash

Star Sapphire/Rosie

Krypton Armor Superman/James

Batman Beyond/Henry

Booster Gold/Dash

Red Tornado/ Percy

Steel/Hiro

Black Hand/Stanley

Big Barda/Belle

Azrael/Gordon

Ice Batman/Edward

Boomerang/Diesel

D-Shot/D10

Bumblebee/Millie

Mr. Miracle/Sidney

Vixen/Emily

Mr. Freeze/Ferdinand

Clark Kent Superman/Salty

Armor Batman/Scruff

Arsenal/Skarloey

  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mash-Up MINIs will hit retail this summer. 

About Thomas & Friends™

Thomas the Tank Engine™ was created over 70 years ago by a British clergyman, the Rev W Awdry, as a storybook for his son. That story quickly grew to become the award-winning global brand franchise it is today, enjoyed by families in more than 150 territories and in over 40 languages across multiple touch-points and formats, including: 400+ original TV shows; 12 feature-length films; 14 websites in nine languages; apps; toys; consumer products; publishing; live attractions and much more. Thomas & Friends has scooped prestigious accolades including a Parent’s Choice Award, a Webby and a Licensing Award for Best Classic Licensed Property.  Based on NPD data, the property is currently ranked number 2 in the pre-school toys category in the US and number 3 worldwide. The famous and cheeky No.1 blue engine and his friends invite children to enter a world of imagination through the tracks of a train. Together, the children and engines embark on timeless adventures while experiencing valuable yet fun life lessons of discovery, friendship and cooperation. Thomas & Friends™ is viewable on more than 30 world-class broadcasters including PBS KIDS® in the US, Super RTL in Germany, CCTV in China and on Five’s Milkshake! and Nick Jr. in the UK. Downloadable episodes are available through iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. For more information about the wonderful world of Thomas & Friends please visit: www.thomasandfriends.com, www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends and for bonus material and exclusive content www.youtube.com/user/thomasandfriends. 

  About Fisher-Price

In 1931, Herman Fisher and Irving Price embarked on a journey to change the toy industry. Their goal: creating playthings that inspire a child’s development. More than 85 years later, Fisher-Price remains deeply rooted in the belief that play is the way children learn best.  To this day, understanding the importance of play in building a child’s skills is the fundamental principle, as the company strives to enrich the lives of families with young children around the globe. United by the passion for a child’s safe care and development at each age and stage, the people of Fisher-Price work tirelessly to bring families the best toys and baby products in the world. Some of the company’s best-known brands include Laugh & Learn®, Little People®, Power Wheels®, and Imaginext®, and it’s also a leading developer of character-based toys for children’s programming such as Thomas & Friends™, Blaze and the Monster Machines™ and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Fisher-Price is a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT). For more information, visit www.fisher-price.com (U.S.) and www.fisher-price.ca (Canada) or connect with Fisher-Price on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

  About Saban’s Power Rangers

Saban’s Power Rangers franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most-watched children’s television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running kids live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets, translated into numerous languages and a favorite on many key international children’s programming blocks around the world. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.

  About Warner Bros. Consumer Products

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.

   About DC Entertainment

DC Entertainment, home to iconic brands DC Comics (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash), Vertigo (Sandman, Fables) and MAD, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating its content across Warner Bros. Entertainment and Time Warner.  DC Entertainment works in concert with Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its stories and characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment and interactive games. Publishing thousands of comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Entertainment is one of the largest English-language publishers of comics in the world.

DC SUPER FRIENDS and all related characters and elements © & ™ DC Comics. (s17)

  About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

New Thomas the Train Minis Mashups! EAST AURORA, NEW YORK— Friendship is taking center stage on the Island of Sodor in 2017, and to kick off the year-long celebration, Fisher-Price is debuting an all-new lineup of Thomas & Friends MINIS inspired by some of pop culture’s most powerful friend squads.

[rickhorrow]

15 TO WATCH/5 SPORTS TECH/POWER OF SPORTS 5: RICK HORROW’S TOP SPORTS/BIZ/TECH/PHILANTHROPY ISSUES FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 6

with Jamie Swimmer & Jesse Leeds Grant

With the 2018 PGA Championship returning to St. Louis for the first time in 26 years, the event is expected to generate $102 million for Missouri’s economy, according to the PGA of America. That number is right in line with recent previous economic impacts of the PGA Championship: $100 million at Quail Hollow in Charlotte last year, $100 million at Baltusrol in New Jersey in 2016, and $102 million at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin in 2015. According to the National Golf Foundation, the total size of Missouri’s total golf economic impact in 2010 was $1.7 billion with a direct golf economy of $888.6 million. This includes supporting 21,000 jobs and $485.1 million in annual wage income. There are a total of 320 golf facilities in Missouri. And a study by TEConomy Partners found that golf is an $84 billion industry, up 22% in the last five years, and impacts nearly two million jobs while supporting $58.7 billion in annual wage income. After his WGC-Firestone win on Sunday, all eyes will be on Justin Thomas in St. Louis this week, as Thomas attempts to defend his PGA Championship title and join Tiger Woods as the only players to win back-to-back in stroke play. (A few eyeballs may be on Tiger, too.)

A number too big to keep under your hat. The PGA Championship begins this week at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, and PGA Senior Director of Merchandising and Licensing Mike Quirk believes that hat sales at the merchandise shop "could hit 100,000 over 10 days." Said Quirk, "I’d be lying if I didn’t say we’re hoping it will be the best PGA Championship ever." According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, crowds in the merchandise tent are "expected to be so large that 50 cash registers will be open on peak days." Measuring 360 feet by 130 feet, the space is a "sensory overload of colored golf apparel and unexpected merchandise, almost all of which is available only in the store." Slowly but surely, all of golf’s other Majors have emulated The Masters by providing exclusive merchandise on-site that’s not available on-line nor merchandised elsewhere. And in an age in which paperless tickets are becoming the norm, exclusive logoed merchandise will eventually be a sports fan’s only way of visually boasting “I was there.” Expect the pricing to keep pace.

WGC event marks PGA Tour's exit from Akron. The WGC-Bridgestone Invitational concluded on Sunday at Firestone Country Club, and according to the Akron Beacon-Journal, players "expressed sadness that Akron will no longer hold a PGA Tour tournament after hosting one for 65 years." Tiger Woods, who won the event eight times (but finished tied for 31st on Sunday), would "surely lobby the PGA Tour to return" to Firestone after the event heads to Memphis next year. But even Woods said that he "doesn’t know how feasible that is." Bridgestone has "committed to sponsor the Senior Players Championship for four years" at Firestone starting in July 2019. Even if the tour could find a sponsor after the four-year Senior Players run, many issues would need to be hammered out. Boosting tourism in the region, the Pro Football Hall of Fame game and enshrinement in nearby Canton was estimated to draw 700,000 people who “participated in related events" over the weekend; the WGC-Bridgestone was "expected to attract about 85,000.” The Hall of Fame induction ceremony itself drew a record 22,205 fans, encouraging numbers for the NFL as preseason matchups begin in earnest this week.

Elsewhere in Ohio, Buckeye players and fans await the fate of Head Coach Urban Meyer, following accusations that Meyer was aware of domestic violence claims made against assistant coach Zach Smith but took no action. Meyer was immediately placed on administrative leave by Ohio State University as it launched an investigation. Meanwhile, Ohio-based restaurant chain Bob Evans suspended the partnership it had just signed with Meyer, and removed all related content from its stores and website pending Ohio State’s investigation. The company last week had announced the new endorsement deal, "showcasing images of Meyer wearing a Bob Evans jacket and holding a branded coffee mug." On Thursday, the Buckeyes were ranked third in USA Today’s preseason Amway Coaches Poll – a fairly meaningless evaluation until play actually starts, but nonetheless the Buckeyes’ high ranking will place the program under even more scrutiny. Not expected to be affected: the school’s lucrative deals with Fanatics and Nike, worth $97 million and $252 million respectively.

Power of Sports, presented by Group1001, profiles college football teams and notable coaches’ efforts off the field to make a difference in the community. This month’s episode includes a one-on-one interview with University of Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban. In the interview, Saban discusses his philanthropic initiatives, including working with wife Terry as part of Nick’s Kids Foundation. Saban, who was inspired to lead the foundation based on his father’s example, says, “There’s not much that we do that can make us feel better than when we help someone else.” The organization supports local youth by promoting their education through juvenile delinquent centers, first-generation scholarships, community centers in church communities, and more. The episode also highlights University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s former head coach, Tom Osborne, and his TeamMates, a school-based mentoring program that supports kids by pairing mentors and mentees as they connect over the course of the academic year. Texas A&M, University of Oklahoma, Auburn, and University of Illinois are also featured. As college teams return to camp to prepare for the season ahead, it’s rewarding to be able to report uplifting stories in the midst of the usual scandals, controversies, and trash talk.

Vienna, a landlocked city not known for its beaches, turned into a huge beach party this past weekend as it hosted the A1 Major Vienna presented by Swatch. According to the Beach Major Series, the tournament was held on the iconic Danube Island in the middle of the city, where 8,000 fans packed into Red Bull Beach Arena to watch the action on the main stage and thousands more roamed the tournament grounds, partaking in the festivities. The spectacle was unlike anything American sports fans are accustomed to – the majority of the seats in Red Bull Beach Arena were free for fans, upbeat music was blasted in between each point, and each set was followed by a dance break. Most of the fans showed up to Danube Island in proper beach attire, basking in the sun and taking advantage of the water hoses that sprayed the masses in the stands to help keep cool. The $600,000 purse provided proper incentive for all competing teams, though the Austrian duos had the boost of a raucous home crowd. Norway’s Anders Mol and Christian Sørum had double reason to celebrate their superb A1 Major Vienna presented by Swatch victory – the gold medal lifted the Vikings to the top of the world rankings.

With the NFL preseason officially upon us following the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens kicking off the 2018 Hall of Fame Game in Canton, the league’s financial state remains sound. According to the Forbes, despite a few years of low ratings and problems with concussions and player safety, the NFL continues to boom from a financial perspective. Following the 2017 season, the combined values of all 32 NFL franchises amounted to an incredible $80.705 billion. That number alone is greater than the GDP of hundreds of countries – the NFL franchises together would rank 66th in the world in terms of nominal GDP, just behind Ethiopia and ahead of Kenya, Syria, and Guatemala. Franchise values keep rising too, as exemplified by former Pittsburgh Steelers investor David Tepper’s recent $2.2 billion purchase of the Carolina Panthers. While everything continues to look rosy from a financial perspective, the NFL is hoping to win back a chunk of its former fan base that left in recent years amid the ongoing anthem dilemma and player safety concerns, among other issues.

On the heels of the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize sports betting in all 50 states, the NBA has become the first major American sports league to sign an official gaming partner. According to SportsBusiness Journal, the NBA signed a multiyear sponsorship with MGM Resorts International, reportedly worth more than $25 million over three years. As the league’s official gaming partner, MGM will be given access to “official league data for use in betting,” though the NBA will still retain the rights to license its data to other gaming operations, which seems likely to happen. The deal also includes rights to the WNBA. The deal struck by Commissioner Adam Silver was done in a fashion to give the league flexibility going forward in the rapidly emerging and evolving space. “Rather than re-litigating the integrity fee, which is still being hotly discussed state by state, it was about finding an approach unique to us where we both feel we’re being fairly treated,” said Silver. For MGM, getting the NBA’s data was crucial. “I know the value of data,” said MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren. “To be able to have the official NBA data for sports bettors around the world is very valuable. I was willing to, and I’ve paid for that.” The gaming partner ice is broken – expect other American pro leagues to look very, very closely at similar deals.

The NBA’s free agency bonanza of 2016 feels like longer than two years ago when you consider the amount of money spent during the 2018 window. According to the Wall Street Journal, the annual salaries for NBA players have been a “reflection of something far more arbitrary” than pure talent over the past three years, with roll players and solid, non-superstar talents earning incredible and unprecedented sums of money. That care-free spending trend has calmed down as of late though, with the market cooling last year and remaining “chilly this year.” Last summer, the total amount spent by teams during free agency dropped to about $2.4 billion from over $3.5 billion and is now at roughly $1.7 billion this year. Players took smaller deals earlier in the summer as opposed to years past, trying to “grab whatever money was available before it disappeared.” In addition to the size of contracts decreasing over the past three years, teams have shown their desire to hedge their bets by inking players to shorter contracts. Whereas the average contract lasted 2.3 years back in 2016, the average length now sits at only 1.9 years.

10.The Pittsburgh Pirates, traditionally a team that focuses more on its bottom line than short-term success, shocked MLB by making two major moves before the trade deadline. According to TribLive.com, the Pirates acquired pitchers Chris Archer and Keone Kela in moves that “not only signaled their intention to compete for a playoff berth but a departure from their penny-pinching ways of seasons past.” Heading into the 2018 season, the Pirates had MLB’s fourth-smallest payroll, with a total payroll of $90,700,529, far below the Boston Red Sox’ $227,817,373 total payroll. Traditionally a team that looks to build for the future by investing in young prospects and trading away star players – just as they did in January when they shipped pitcher Gerrit Cole and outfielder Andrew McCutchen – this move has left “Pittsburgh buzzing about baseball on the final day of July.” Archer, the former Rays pitcher, was largely considered the “biggest star traded” before the deadline. Look for the Pirates to try and steal some thunder from the Steelers and Penguins come fall.

Oak View Group executives remain confident that Seattle’s push to land NBA and NHL teams will ultimately come down to the arena. According to the Seattle Times, KeyArena’s estimated $700 million in upgrades are meant to make the iconic venue a “top-third revenue producer for both the NHL and NBA.” The way that the arena is being renovated, with dedicated locker rooms for three teams, including the WNBA Storm, will add another 50,000 square feet to the arena, expanding the walls outward while preserving the existing roof. Construction is expected to being no later than early November so that the project can be completed by October, 2020 “in time for that year’s NHL season opener.” The seating capacity at KeyArena will be expanded for both sports expected to be played there, jumping several hundred up to 17,400 for NHL and 18,600 for NBA games. Seattle is a proven hoops town, so those 18,000+ seats shouldn’t be hard to sell out – in year one, anyway.

12.The NCAA Commission on College Basketball, chaired by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has recommended that new, regulated summer camps should replace a number of shoe brand-sponsored tournaments. According to JohnWallStreet, the Commission believes that these shoe-sponsored tournaments, mostly on the AAU circuit, have largely led to what has now become a full-blown scandal with FBI involvement across college hoops. By replacing some of these tournaments across the country, the new camps would hopefully mitigate some of the influence that such preeminent shoe companies as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour have over young players. The new regional summer camps would be run by USA Basketball and “supersede (in terms of talent/coaches attending) existing tournaments.” A vote will take place within the next 30 days based on the Commission of College Basketball’s final recommendations and, if approved, “the changes could be implemented in time for summer 2019.” The payola shoe, it appears, is no longer on the other foot.

13.Cristiano Ronaldo’s recent shocking move to Juventus is not only expected to pay dividends for the Italian giants, but for all Serie A clubs. According to The Sun, the Portuguese international’s arrival in Turin has prompted clubs around Italy to significantly raise ticket prices for home matches against the Old Lady. Some clubs have gone as far as raising prices by an astounding 600%. No other club has gone to the extreme that Parma has to capitalize on the Ronaldo craze. Tuttosport reported that the club, which declared bankruptcy in 2015 and has been forced to work its way up through the lower leagues of Italian soccer, “appears keen to take advantage” of its return to Serie A in conjunction with Ronaldo’s presence. The average price for a seat in the North End at Parma’s stadium costs merely $29.10, but those same seats are now being priced at $207.86 when Juventus comes to town. For perspective, an average season ticket for Parma last year was $220.

14.The Oakland A’s continue to struggle to find a new stadium location, facing opposition from local political groups everywhere they turn. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s current location of choice, Port of Oakland’s Howard Terminal near Jack London Square, is now being protested by a group identifying itself as “Project Oakland’s Shoreline Economy.” The anonymously-run group has posted a flyer outlining a list “of drawbacks to the proposed move, including severe tragic impact to nearby warehouses and neighborhoods and the hundreds of millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded infrastructure that will be needed.” This type of local opposition is very similar to what negated the A’s chances of building a ballpark next to Laney College near downtown Oakland, the team’s initial first choice. The club has tried to renovate its current home, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, to make it more fan-friendly, but a new stadium is still badly needed.

15.Since being given the green light to start MLS play in a few years, Nashville bid organizers still need to figure out their stadium situation. According to the Nashville Tennessean, under a deal proposed by Nashville Mayor David Briley, local club owners would be forced to pay the city $200,000 annually over 30 years “to lease land at the fairgrounds for a private mixed-use development next to a new stadium.” Financial terms for this deal were previously undisclosed. That $200,000 annually would eventually equate to at least $6 million over the deal’s lifetime – a significant cash windfall for the booming city. The club would still retain all of the parking revenue generated by MLS games, though the deal calls for the team to “split proceeds from non-soccer events at the stadium with the fairgrounds.” Further, Mayor Briley’s Communications Director Michael Cass confirmed that if the fairgrounds’ piece of revenue comes out to more than $200,000 in any given year then the “fairgrounds will get that larger amount instead of the base rent.” As lucrative as an MLS team is poised to be for local franchise owners, bringing a team to Nashville seems poised to provide a financial boost for the city as well.

Tech Top 5

Social fitness platform Strava has launched a new subscription model. The athlete’s social media site – which currently sees 25 activities uploaded every second and 15.3 million every week – is striving to offer much more than just being a platform to deliver the 3 billion kudos thrown around between riders and runners each year. The packages on offer are geared towards “Training,” “Analysis,” and “Safety” – though there’s nothing stopping you from opting in to all three, and Premium members will be able to continue enjoying the features they already have at the same price. “Summit Packs are designed to better tailor and personalize our features to members’ needs. Whether your goal is returning from injury or training for your first marathon, Summit Packs provide the performance tools you need along the way,” says James Quarles, CEO of Strava. The packages come under the umbrella title “Summit” services with charges from $3.25 a month.

Levy Restaurants, Miso Robotics, and the Dodgers have begun a soft launch of a robotic chef at Dodger Stadium. The AI-powered robot called Flippy will cook fried food such as chicken tenders, nuggets, and tater tots at the ballpark, bringing the technology into service after months of planning and development by the three entities. The robot uses a combination of cameras, AI, thermal scanners, and lasers to conduct kitchen tasks and is designed in part to shift human workers away from more dangerous, repetitive tasks such as working a deep fryer and into other roles. The robot is also aimed at improving fan wait times and creating more consistent food quality. Levy Restaurants’ E15 analytics subsidiary, which is leading the robotics project, intends to follow up the Dodger Stadium installation with another at Staples Center later this year. “As we get up and running in L.A. with this, I would anticipate the acceleration of this technology across the industry to really increase,” E15 President Jaime Faulkner said.

Bleacher Report Live reveals pricing and plans for Champions League coverage. Turner Sports has unveiled coverage plans and pricing details for its inaugural coverage of European soccer’s UEFA Champions League and Europa League, with the majority of games to be offered behind a pay wall on the company’s new B/R Live OTT platform. Starting with the UEFA Super Cup on August 15, Turner susbidiary TNT will carry just 46 Champions League matches, with all remaining fixtures to be shown on B/R Live. In addition, the streaming service will be the only place to watch almost every Europa League game, with the final of the second-tier competition being the only fixture available on TNT. With a subscription to the streaming service, you’ll have access to more than 340 live Champions League and Europa League games per season, including everything from the Group Stage through to the finals. B/R Live also streams select matches from the Scottish Premiership, Belgium Jupiler League, Polish Cup, and Swiss Cup.

Oakland A’s introduce innovative season ticket program. The Oakland A's will no longer offer season tickets in the traditional format and will introduce A's Access, a new membership program for the 2019 season, the club has announced. A's Access provides all members general admission access to every 2019 regular season home game, a reserved seat plan, and significant benefits that are exclusive to members. "To better meet the evolving needs of our fans, we are changing our approach to membership. This flexible model is designed to serve both fans who want a more traditional reserved seat plan and those who desire a more flexible and social experience," said A's COO Chris Giles. Access Members will receive 50% off concessions, 25% off merchandise, and parking benefits, as well as an allotment of seat upgrade credits for games not included in their reserved ticket plan. A's Access will also include a flexible new payment plan, a 12-month option that auto renews each year. Fans who purchase 2019 A's Access this season will have the first opportunity to purchase 2018 postseason tickets, including a "Pay As We Play" option.

Genius Sports plans expansion after acquisition by Apax Partners.  Apax Funds announced a definitive agreement to acquire Genius Sports Group, a global leader in sports data technology. The stake was acquired from founders, management, funds advised by Three Hills Capital Partners, and other minority shareholders. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2018. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in London, Genius Sports Group is a market leader in the high-growth sports data, sports media, and regulated sports betting sectors, specializing in the capture and distribution of real-time data. The company’s software is used by over 300 sporting bodies around the world to collect and distribute in-game statistics. It also offers a full suite of services to enable the likes of Major League Baseball, the English Premier League, and the PGA Tour to identify, combat, and prevent betting-related corruption. Through Betgenius, its sports betting division, the group’s technology is also used by over 150 licensed sportsbook operators in regulated markets around the world to maximize performance across their betting platforms, trading, and customer engagement systems.

Power of Sports 5

LeBron James opens school, offers free uniforms, meals, and bikes. LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools (APS) announced a partnership to design a new Akron public school, called the I PROMISE School. While committees of local leaders, educators, parents, and experts are currently forming that will determine many of the logistics of the new school, the proposed vision for the I PROMISE School is an expansion of APS curriculum with a STEM, hands-on, problem-based, learning focus infused with LJFF’s “We Are Family” philosophy. “This school is so important to me because our vision is to create a place for the kids in Akron who need it most – those that could fall through the cracks if we don’t do something,” James said in a statement prior to the opening of the school. “We’ve learned over the years what works and what motivates them, and now we can bring all of that together in one place along with the right resources and experts. If we get to them early enough, we can hopefully keep them on the right track to a bigger and brighter future for themselves and their families.” By 2022, the school will have about 1,000 students in first through eighth grades. President Trump, take note.

Derrick Rose launches college scholarship fund. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Derrick Rose announced he has started a college scholarship program, which will award more than $400,000 in tuition money. The Rose Scholars program will focus on students who are “civically minded and demonstrate a willingness to lead.” “I hope to provide students a path to college that was not previously available to them, I am proud to continue to help children pursue higher education as a means to better themselves and their communities,” said Rose. He added that one grand prize winner can win up to $200,000, and two other winners can win up to $20,000 each. The program is open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

Sidney Crosby donates $50,000 to Special Olympics. Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby donated $50,000 to Special Olympics Canada, just days before the beginning of the 2018 Summer Games in Antigonish. Crosby and fellow Cole Harbour native Nathan MacKinnon donated their 2015 IIHF World Championship earnings to the Cole Harbour Hockey Association as well. Crosby also donated another $50,000 last year to KidSport Nova Scotia to help get more kids off the sidelines and into the hockey game. Crosby has also made contributions to Halifax’s IWK Health Centre and Sport Nova Scotia. In honor of his on and off ice achievements, Crosby received the number one all-time athlete award by the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame.

Dodgers break ground on 50th Dreamfield. Fifteen years ago, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and its partners constructed the first Dodgers Dreamfield in an effort to increase baseball and softball access for young athletes in underserved communities throughout the Los Angeles area. Last week, the program came full circle with the groundbreaking ceremony for a milestone 50th Dreamfield at Algin Sutton Recreation Center, home of the very first Dreamfield in 2003. "In 2003, we made a promise to the city of Los Angeles that we would build these 50 fields, and today is really a celebration," said Nichol Whiteman, executive director of the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation. "It's really special to be able to provide these places, these positive recreational spaces, to children in underserved communities." The latest Dreamfield is a $300,000 baseball and softball playing field that is partially funded by donations from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the Tyler Development Corporation, the LA84 Foundation, and Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig. Since 2003, more than $10 million has been invested in the Dodgers Dreamfield program.

Austen Everett charity receives donation. Seattle-based Austen Everett Foundation has received $25,600 from Rain City Capital, a bridge money lender located in Kirkland, Washington, to further their work empowering kids fighting cancer through the strength and support of professional and collegiate athletic teams nationwide. The Austen Everett Foundation was founded in 2012 by Everett, a Seattle native who was diagnosed with cancer during her junior year at the University of Miami. As the goalkeeper for the Miami Hurricanes, she recognized the support her team provided during her most difficult times. That began her dream to provide that same empowerment to all kids fighting cancer. At Austen Everett Foundation events, kids with cancer are named honorary team captains and matched up with supportive sports teams. "Those values fought for in competition bloom effortlessly in those fighting for their lives," said Everett, who lost her fight to cancer in 2012. Since her passing, Everett's mother, June Leahy, has carried on the foundation.

[mystlnewsonline]

New Post has been published on https://www.stl.news/georgia-alabama-arrive-atlanta-home-away-home/62352/

Georgia and Alabama arrive in Atlanta, home away from home

ATLANTA /January 5, 2018 (AP)(STL.News) — The bus ride for No. 3 Georgia was about 75 minutes from its campus in Athens to the capital city. No. 4 Alabama spent less time than that in the air, flying from Tuscaloosa to what has become something of a home away from home for the Crimson Tide.

The Bulldogs and Tide made triumphant returns to Atlanta on Friday, both looking for their second victories of the season at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Southeastern Conference rivals play for the College Football Playoff national championship on Monday night.

Between the proximity of the schools and Georgia’s long national championship drought, the title game is looking like a tough ticket. The cheapest ones on the resale website StubHub as of Friday night were going for $1,400 each. The Bulldogs have not won a championship since 1980.

The last visit to Atlanta was a little more than a month ago for the Bulldogs. Georgia won the SEC championship game, avenging a loss to Auburn and wrapping up a playoff spot. The last time Alabama played here was the start of the 2017 season. The Tide beat Florida State in a much-anticipated opener of preseason No. 1 (Alabama) vs. No. 3 (Florida State).  Only the Tide lived up to its hype — as usual.

Alabama is making its third straight appearance in the four-year old College Football Playoff national championship game. Georgia has not been this close to a national title since the great Herschel Walker played his last game for the Bulldogs in the 1983 Sugar Bowl against Penn State. Georgia, which beat Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl to win the ’80 title, lost to the Nittany Lions in ’83.

Atlanta has been hosting the SEC championship game since 1994. Alabama has played in it nine times since then, Georgia six. But the city has never hosted a game that decided the national championship.

Both teams got the red carpet treatment. The Bulldogs were greeted at the team hotel by a few dozen fans.

Alabama flew into Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, welcomed on a 30-degree night by a drumlin and a few fans waving pompoms. Five buses with Alabama logos and National Championship decals whisked coach Nick Saban and the Tide away to their downtown hotel.

___

By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP College Football Writer, By Associated Press – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC (ZS)

___

[everettwilkinson]

Trump Administration Slays Palestinian Propaganda Claim: Israel Is Not the Cause of Mideast Turmoil

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s first National Security Strategy contradicts a major Palestinian propaganda talking point that claims the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root problem fueling violence across the Middle East.

The 56-page document outlines the Trump administration’s approach to international policy, with an introduction signed by Trump himself calling for an “America First” strategy.  The White House will be engaged in “enforcing our borders, building trade relationships based on fairness and reciprocity, and defending America’s sovereignty without apology,” reads Trump’s introductory remarks.

A section on the Middle East relates:

For generations the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been understood as the prime irritant preventing peace and prosperity in the region. Today, the threats from jihadist terrorist organizations and the threat from Iran are creating the realization that Israel is not the cause of the region’s problems. States have increasingly found common interests with Israel in confronting common threats.

This reframing of the conflict contradicts the longtime Palestinian propaganda claim that the so-called Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the center of driving regional turmoil.

The phraseology also seems to at odds with statements made earlier this month by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser. Speaking at the Saban Forum in Washington, Kushner suggested the so-called Israeli Palestinian conflict is at the center of driving regional instability.

This reporter responded at the time:

This singular focus dangerously lets Iran off the hook for being arguably the greatest threat to regional stability. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict further has nothing to do with the Iran-backed Houthi rebels destabilizing Yemen or targeting Saudi Arabia. It is not a significant factor in the Shiite-Sunni divide that has been at the heart of Mideast violence. It is a footnote to Islamic State designs to create a Caliphate and subjugate non-Muslims in the Middle East and worldwide.  The lack of a Palestinian state (the fault of the Palestinians alone for repeatedly rejecting statehood offers) is not driving the Syria civil war, nor is it behind Iran’s attempt to takeover Iraq, Lebanon and Syria.

Aaron Klein is Breitbart’s Jerusalem bureau chief and senior investigative reporter. He is a New York Times bestselling author and hosts the popular weekend talk radio program, Aaron Klein Investigative Radio. Follow him on Twitter @AaronKleinShow. Follow him on Facebook.

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from CapitalistHQ.com https://capitalisthq.com/trump-administration-slays-palestinian-propaganda-claim-israel-is-not-the-cause-of-mideast-turmoil/

[junker-town]

Nick Saban explains the most precious fuel of all: failures

If you, reader, have given up a questionable pick-like route and finished one second shy of spending an entire season at No. 1 in your own life, now’s the time to capitalize.

Wisdom from Nick Saban at SEC Media Days, when he was asked about how one self-assesses after blowing a lead in a National Championship:

Well, we really try to do it the same way because whether you win or lose, we're always trying to self-assess to see what we need to do to get better. I think when you lose, everybody's much more -- the mindset is much more I'm willing to change. I want to learn. I don't want to waste a failure. What could we have done better? Because everybody's hurt by the fact that they lost, especially the way we lost that particular game on the last play of the game, but it wasn't the last play. It's what led up to the last play. And I think our players realize that.

It takes a tremendous amount of accountability to be able to execute and sustain the execution for 60 minutes in the game. And we played against a really, really good team, which I think when you get in the playoffs, that should be what you expect. And we weren't able to finish the game like we needed to. And I think there's a lot of lessons to learn, and hopefully we won't waste a failure.

He didn't invent that phrase -- it appears it popped up around 2013 among people who write books about hacking your leadership skills -- but it was the first time most of his audience had heard it, and with the authority of five title rings.

It's a good word, as the folks in the front pews say. I wouldn't have pondered it at all if it hadn't come from Saban, partly because there's no doubt he knows an Alabama failure is the most potent, precious form of clean-burning energy yet discovered. I know he believes what he's saying here.

After the 2012 season, Alabama's weight room was done up with Texas A&M logos, to remind everyone of that loss to Johnny Manziel's Aggies. The thing is: Bama was the reigning national champ at the time. Not only must you never waste a failure, you must always be willing to scour for one. (So what failure would be fueling the Tide right now if Deshaun Watson hadn't finished that drive?)

(And not to keep picking on Butch Jones, but contrast this. Tennessee's head coach is still defending a decent, 9-4 season as a non-disappointment, while Saban stamps the word FAILURE on finishing one second shy of a wire-to-wire championship.)

More college football

Well, Houston Nutt sued Ole Miss and named Hugh Freeze a bunch, one day before Freeze's turn at SEC Media Days.

Why you shouldn't say FSU and Clemson remind you of SEC teams.

Most of the SEC's non-division rivalries are boring. Is the conference trying to stir the pots?

Bill C team of the day: Syracuse, which will again be fun and should be better, per the Dino Babers timeline.

The country's best-ish tight end seems likely to pick Ohio State, which isn't known for throwing to TEs.

A former Texas QB disputes the statement the school attributed to him upon his exit.

Notre Dame's idea for a series of international games is weird and lame.

Kevin Sumlin's cool with his boss announcing HOT SEAT status. Sumlin's cool with everything, tbh.

The LSU Stadium Break-in Rankings have been updated.

PREVIOUS: Who would've made the last four NCAA Footballcovers?

[harianpublik-blog]

Polri, Lekas Keluar dari Situasi Paling Kritis!

Polri, Lekas Keluar dari Situasi Paling Kritis!

Harianpublik.com – Oleh: Reza Indragiri Amriel *)

Dilatari niat tulus, selama ini, saya selalu mengusung tiga tema utama saban kali menyoroti institusi kepolisian. Pertama, pentingnya kepedulian pada sisi insani personel kepolisian. Kedua, situasi idaman berupa kemitraan antara masyarakat dan polisi. Ketiga, masukan apalagi kritik terhadap polisi tetap dibutuhkan, namun jangan sampai membuat para personelnya, utamanya yang bersentuhan langsung dengan masyarakat, mengalami demotivasi dan demoralisasi.

Semua muatan itu bisa ditakar lewat pernyataan-pernyataan maupun tulisan-tulisan saya di berbagai media dan forum diskusi publik.

Tapi film “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain” benar-benar bikin gempar. Kendati cuma berdurasi hanya beberapa menit, isi film itu diperburuk oleh penayangannya pada masa keramat bagi umat Islam. Tambahan lagi, film itu dipublikkan melalui akun media sosial resmi Polri, serta diperparah oleh penghargaan yang dianugerahkan kepadanya. Empat hal itu–isi, momen, pengunggah, dan trofi–menggumpal sedemikian sempurna, mempertaruhkan kepercayaan masyarakat sebagai amunisi andalan otoritas kepolisian.

Perpaduan empat hal pada film “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain”, seperti tersebut di atas, berpotensi kuat menimbulkan sejumlah dampak. Yaitu, kekecewaan, amarah, dan sakit hati masyarakat, khususnya komunitas muslim. Dan itu adalah respons yang sangat manusiawi. Terlebih ketika pada saat yang sama masyarakat secara sungguh-sungguh tengah berupaya memadamkan gelegak hati mereka pasca inkracht-nya putusan hakim terhadap terdakwa penista agama.

Dampak lain adalah, alih-alih menanam impresi serta ingatan positif masyarakat tentang profesionalisme dan civility personel kepolisian, film dimaksud justru menghadirkan risiko berupa merenggangnya relasi masyarakat dan polisi. Juga, tak bisa dipungkiri, ‘berhadap-hadapan’-nya dua representasi umat dalam film tersebut dapat berimbas suram terhadap harmoni dalam kebhinekaan sebagai narasi sentral yang sedang hangat di Tanah Air. Ringkasnya, gagal menjadi produk kreatif yang mendapat tempat di hati khalayak, film “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain” justru sangat mungkin berakibat kontraproduktif bagi institusi kepolisian sendiri.

Secara khusus, penghargaan yang diberikan kepada film “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain” menimbulkan pertanyaan tentang bagaimana sesungguhnya persepsi masa kini antara polisi dan komunitas agama tertentu. Pertanyaan semacam itu pula yang melatarbelakangi banyak riset tentang persepsi bahkan perlakuan antara polisi dan kelompok ras tertentu di Amerika Serikat. Simpulan kajian-kajian di negeri Paman Sam tersebut ternyata serupa satu sama lain, bahwa memang ada persepsi dan perlakuan diskriminatif. Polisi cenderung memandang negatif warga dari ras tertentu dan, demikian pula kebalikannya, ras tertentu cenderung menilai polisi secara lebih negatif dibandingkan dengan penilaian dari ras lain.

Tentu, apabila studi yang sama dilakukan di sini, saya berharap temuannya tidak akan semengerikan itu. Begitu juga, saya ingin menyingkirkan jauh-jauh purbasangka bahwa sentimen negatif itu pula yang mendasari keputusan juri untuk memenangkan “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain” sebagai juara pertama kategori film pendek Police Movie Festival ke-4. Sama halnya, saya ingin mengubur dalam-dalam rasa khawatir bahwa saat ini pada otoritas penegakan hukum tengah berkembang agenda untuk memomisikan komunitas tertentu sebagai pihak yang harus dijadikan sebagai sasaran utama dalam kerja partikular mereka.

Betapa pun masifnya reaksi negatif khalayak terhadap film “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain”, sebagai sebuah institusi, Polri tetap harus dijaga. Walaupun kepercayaan publik terhadap jajaran kepolisian bisa amat-sangat dipertaruhkan akibat film tersebut, korps Tribrata harus tetap terus didorong agar bisa menjadi sahabat terpercaya masyarakat. Membiarkan rasa percaya menguap tak bersisa hanya akan menciptakan situasi ideal bagi aksi-aksi kejahatan. Dalam situasi seperti itu, polisi dirugikan, meski tetap masyarakat sendirilah yang paling terkorbankan.

Memang, tidak adil bahkan sama sekali tidak realistis apabila masyarakat menjadi satu-satunya pihak yang diberikan ‘beban’ untuk mempertahankan kepercayaan mereka terhadap lembaga kepolisian. Institusi kepolisian juga harus melakukan sesuatu agar publik–selaku pihak yang terlukai–sudi untuk melakukan itu. Langkah konkret yang sudah sepatutnya diambil Polri adalah dimulai dengan meminta maaf kepada masyarakat luas, teristimewa kepada komunitas yang di dalam film “Kau adalah Aku yang Lain” telah digambarkan (difitnah) secara keji sebagai kaum penindas.

Polri juga sudah sepantasnya menarik kembali pengumuman tentang pemenang Police Movie Festival ke-4, sekaligus menyatakan pengumuman tersebut sebagai kekeliruan.

Seiring dengan itu, Divisi Profesi dan Pengamanan Polri semestinya terpanggil untuk melakukan penyelidikan secara serius dan tuntas terhadap lingkup internal kepolisian. Langkah ini semakin relevan karena poster-poster Police Movie Festival memuat logo Polri. Divisi Propam perlu bergegas menelisik unit dan individu di dalam organisasi Polri yang telah menjerumuskan institusi kepolisian ke situasi kritis yang kini sedang berlangsung.

Puncaknya, sebagai kompensasi atas kerusakan fatal berupa terkoyaknya amunisi utama polisi, adalah tak terelakkan: seluruh jajaran kepolisian dan masyarakat yang polisi layani patut menundukkan kepala serta mengkhidmatkan diri dalam doa yang selama ini berulang-ulang dipanjatkan oleh para pemuka agama sebagai tanda kecintaan pada bangsanya. Yaitu, agar Tuhan mengirimkan pemimpin yang melaksanakan perkara terbaik bagi diri mereka (baca: organisasi) sendiri serta bagi semesta orang di negeri ini.

Allahu a’lam.

*) Peserta Community Policing Development Program, Jepang

Sumber: Republika Sumber : Source link

[rangercommand]

News - SABAN’S POWER RANGERS UNVEILS 25TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN

SANTA MONICA, CA, October 4, 2017 – Saban Brands today announced the official 25th anniversary campaign for Saban’s Power Rangers, the iconic superhero franchise. To commemorate 25 powerful years, Saban’s Power Rangers’ anniversary campaign will be a multi-tiered program, titled, “You’ve Got the Power”, designed to encourage, enable and empower children and adults to unleash their inner superhero. Saban Brands will soon begin unveiling never-before seen content as well as partnerships, tours and interactive programs that embody the core pillars of the Power Rangers brand: friendship, inclusivity, diversity and teamwork – a powerful combination. Additionally, because “it’s morphin time,” Saban Brands will celebrate the brand’s anniversary date, August 28, 2018, in morphinominal fashion.

In addition to the reveal of the Power Rangers 25th anniversary logo, Saban Brands shared a sneak peek into the celebratory year, which will include, but not be limited to, the following:

A special 25th anniversary episode will air on Nickelodeon during the “Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel” season in Summer 2018.

A highly anticipated national live tour in partnership with Red Light Management and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) will be an epic, one-of-a-kind and interactive theatre production. More details, along with pre-sale tickets, will be announced in early October.

Power Rangers will soon be the first licensed property with an official interactive role playing game streaming live on Hyper RPG, an industry leading channel on Twitch, the world’s leading social video platform and community.

Interactive experiences with new, game-changing brand partners to create Power Rangers escape rooms and virtual reality centers as well as learning and physical development opportunities for kids and much more.

The unveiling of the “Top 25 for the 25th” collection which will feature must-have, official anniversary items for collectors of all ages from notable partners including toy partner Bandai, the chart-topping mobile game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars from nWay and record-breaking Power Rangers comics from BOOM! Studios, amongst others.

“At its premiere in 1993, the ‘Mighty Morphin Power Rangers’ resonated with people around the world, turning it into a global pop culture phenomenon,” said Janet Hsu, CEO at Saban Brands. “Since then, the Power Rangers TV series has continued to exemplify teamwork and inclusivity which is something we are extremely proud of and will be showcasing throughout our 25th anniversary year as we look to celebrate this historic milestone with fans of all ages.”

Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993, Power Rangers is one of the most-watched television programs in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running kids live-action series in television history. The series and subsequent movies, including 2017’s feature film with Lionsgate, follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. The TV show airs in 150 markets around the world and is translated into numerous languages. As a top ranked action brand for decades with more than 150 licensees globally, Saban Brands will work closely with its valued partners to honor this incredible landmark for the franchise.

Teaser campaigns will begin soon and the official celebration will kick off in January 2018 continuing through holiday 2018. For more information, please visit www.powerrangers.com and follow Power Rangers on http://rangernation.com/, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

###About Saban’s Power Rangers Saban’s Power Rangers franchise is the brainchild of Haim Saban, creator and producer of the original, “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” hit series that launched in 1993. Following its introduction, “Power Rangers” quickly became the most- watched television program in the United States and remains one of the top-rated and longest running kids live-action series in television history. The series follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. It is seen in more than 150 markets, translated into numerous languages and a favorite on many key international children’s programming blocks around the world. The feature film with Lionsgate premiered worldwide in March 2017 and the franchise will celebrate its 25th anniversary year in 2018. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.

About Saban Brands Formed in 2010 as an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) acquires and develops a word-class portfolio of properties in the entertainment and lifestyle sectors. SB applies a global 360-degree management approach to growing and monetizing its brands through content, media, marketing, distribution, licensing and retail to markets worldwide and consumers of all ages. Saban Brands Entertainment Group (SBEG) develops innovative branded content that resonates with consumers across all media platforms. SBEG’s growing entertainment portfolio of brands includes Power Rangers, Popples, Glitter Force, Cirque du Soleil Junior – Luna Petunia, La Banda and others in development. Saban Brands Lifestyle Group (SBLG) drives major expansion within the company’s diverse portfolio of fashion and lifestyle properties. SBLG’s portfolio currently includes Paul Frank, Macbeth, Mambo and Piping Hot. SB operates a global network of offices in Los Angeles, London and Sydney. For more information, visit www.sabanbrands.com.

Source: Newsarama and  Power Rangers Now

News – SABAN’S POWER RANGERS UNVEILS 25TH ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGN was originally published on Ranger Command Power Hour