Exam Code: PAL-I Practice exam 2023 by Killexams.com team
Professional Agile Leadership (PAL-I)
Scrum Professional certification
Killexams : Scrum Professional certification - BingNews https://killexams.com/pass4sure/exam-detail/PAL-I Search results Killexams : Scrum Professional certification - BingNews https://killexams.com/pass4sure/exam-detail/PAL-I https://killexams.com/exam_list/Scrum Killexams : Scrum Master

We are looking for a Scrum Master with a minimum of 5 years’ experience as an Agile Project Manager or Scrum Master within an Agile environment.
A Certified Scrum Master (PSM or CSM) preferred.
Must have solid experience and understanding of the Scrum principles; Proven experience within a Product Driven and Custom Development environment. Experience in he automotive industry is beneficial.

Hybrid work model – will be required to travel to the office at least 3 times a week.

Desired Skills:

  • Certified Scrum Master (PSM or CSM)
  • Scrum Principles
  • Automotive Industry Beneficial
  • Agile Environment
  • Product Driven and Custom Development Environment

Learn more/Apply for this position

Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0600 en-US text/html https://it-online.co.za/2023/02/10/scrum-master-165/
Killexams : PMP vs CompTIA Project+: Not one size fits all

Professionals across the board, in IT and other departments, are managing more projects than ever before, and having project management skills helps them to streamline processes and ensure they’re crossing all the T's and dotting all the I's. But for someone whose primary role is not project management, some of the better-known project management certifications may go above and beyond what is needed to do the job.

If you work in IT and manage small- to medium-sized projects, CompTIA Project+ may be a good way for you to prove to employers that you have the project management skills needed for your job.

Which project management certification is right for me?

It can be hard to decide which project management certification is right for you. The good news is, project management certifications seem to fall into two categories: those designed for full-time project managers and those designed for people in other jobs who are also responsible for some project management.

PMP, and other project management certifications like Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) or PRINCE2 Practitioner, are methodology/framework-specific certifications intended for more advanced project management professionals who oversee large projects. If you are a full-time project manager, PMP might be right for you.

However, if your primary role is in IT but you also manage projects, CompTIA Project+ can help you understand project management concepts without investing the time and money that major project management certifications require. It is ideal for professionals who manage smaller, less complex projects as part of their other job duties but still need foundational project management skills.

CompTIA Project+ is more versatile than other certifications because it covers essential project management concepts beyond the scope of just one methodology or framework. However, it does provide a high-level introduction to agile as part of one of the objectives. Still, if you would like to focus on, say, Scrum specifically, you would want to take Scrum Alliance’s Certified Scrum Master certification.

Let’s take a closer look at the fundamental differences of PMP and CompTIA Project+.

Why get a project management certification?

Getting a project management certification validates your project management skills and adds value to your resume. You will be able to prove to employers that you bring in-demand and valuable skills to the table, opening yourself up to more job opportunities.

According to Lightcast, there were more than 600 000 job postings by US employers for project managers in 2022, and 3.9 million postings seeking candidates with project management skills. Getting certified can also help you advance your career and earn more money. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for IT project managers in the United States is $94 500 – 107% higher than the median national wage for all occupations.

Earning CompTIA Project+ means that you will have the knowledge and skills required to do the following:

  • Manage the project life cycle;
  • Ensure appropriate communication;
  • Manage resources and stakeholders; and
  • Maintain project documentation.

Both CompTIA Project+ and PMP require extensive preparation, and rightly so. Employees who invest in career development and learning are valued by their organisation. A project management certification validates your desire and tenacity towards developing and honing your personal and professional skills.

But if you aren’t a full-time project manager – or aren’t one yet – CompTIA Project+ might be the right project management certification for you. It can even be a steppingstone for moving into a full-time project manager role or getting PMP or a more advanced certification in the future.

How to study for CompTIA Project+

When you’re ready to begin studying, check out CompTIA’s line of learning products, developed exclusively for the CompTIA certification candidate. No other content library covers all of the exam objectives for all certifications. The Official CompTIA Project+ Study Guide can help you prepare for your CompTIA certification exam with confidence. And CompTIA CertMaster Practice for Project+ will provide you the confidence you need to pass your exam.

When you purchase a CompTIA Project+ bundle that includes both the CompTIA CertMaster Practice and the Official CompTIA Project+ Study Guide, you’ll get a seamless integrated experience to help provide you confidence as you go into your exam.

You now have everything you need to learn the material and ensure you are prepared for your exam and your career.

Learn the skills you need with CompTIA CertMaster Learn. Sign up today for a free trial today!

Sun, 12 Feb 2023 19:07:00 -0600 en text/html https://www.itweb.co.za/content/dgp45MaBDwGqX9l8
Killexams : Angelos talks about lease, litigation, longevity of contracts, payroll liftoff and more

SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles chairman and CEO John Angelos granted a rare and lengthy interview with beat writers this morning next to the bullpen area on the back fields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

The session lasted 37 minutes and covered courses such as payroll, the work toward a new stadium lease, how Angelos, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde are here “for the long haul," how there's no intention of changing principal ownership, how the Orioles “are always going to be in Baltimore,” the conclusion of his family’s litigation, and a promise to share the financials with the media in spring training.

The workout became secondary.

The scrum was unplanned and just evolved. Angelos and wife Margaret Valentine were visiting the complex when approached by reporters. This was the fourth time that he spoke with a group of Baltimore media members since Elias’ introductory presser in November 2018.

Angelos declined a five-year extension on the current stadium lease that expires Dec. 31. He expressed confidence that a new and substantial deal will get done over the summer.

“I have no doubt that we’ll relatively rapidly move toward the renewal of the private-public partnership for the long term,” he said. “I would be very disappointed if I’m not able to work with the governor (Wes Moore) and his team, who, as you know, he just appointed new board members on Friday, a new chairman (Craig Thompson) to make that happen in the next six months. Sooner?

“I’d love to have that as an All-Star break gift for everybody, really, in the community. … That’s always been one of the things I committed to and I have no intention of not seeing it happen.”

Angelos disagreed that a new lease agreement has taken a long time and noted how renewing a 30-year-old document is a minor sidelight to the community development of economic potential, a public-private partnership. The lease, he said, is a “very narrow part,” especially with plans for a commercial real estate development on the site. The vision of a live, work, play 365, as it’s promoted, “a huge step forward for the next iteration of Camden Yards.”

“I don’t think it’s taken long,” he said. “I think it’s been a great 30 years where we’ve driven 75 million people, and the Ravens have generated another 20 million. When you get 100 million visitors out of a 30-year relationship, I don’t know if that’s taken too long. I think you should be deliberate and thoughtful.”

Among the other highlights, some of which I’ve edited for length:

On the family’s legal situation being resolved:
“I think those things are distractions and it’s unfortunate whenever they arise, but all good things going forward now and I’m really confident what Mike and Brandon are doing, what the management team’s doing, and I think those things are as they should be in the rear view mirror and receding.”

On Elias’ contract length:
“This an entertainment and community activity. It’s sports, it’s media, it’s supposed to be fun and a distraction. A lot of companies don’t talk about their human resources issues and their employment contracts. I will tell you guys this: “I’m here for the long haul, Mike is here for the long haul, Brandon is here for the long haul. We are all fully vested. We’re not going anywhere and nobody’s a short-timer, nobody is expiring in a year or two years or anything like that.

“I hope you guys respect that, it’s just not great policy for me to talk about people’s personnel relationships, but we’re all here under contract long term.”

On when we can expect liftoff for payroll:
“We committed, as you guys know, in 2018-19 to a full rebuild, not have a foot in every camp, take the best baseball advice, and we committed to that and we’ve done it. I don’t think we’re rebuilding anymore, to Mike’s thought. I’m glad we were in a full rebuild because it was what was recommended and was the right thing. It was also, we were fortunate that as the world hit a pandemic, we were stripped down to that full. I mean, that was just good luck, really, in that sense to not have a lot of payroll. Teams that had a lot of payroll were relying on live attendance to pay for that were in a much worse situation. We were much better situated, just lucky, really.

“Was the intention to not invest during the rebuild? No. We continue to invest. As you guys know, we didn’t spend money on international free agents, and we spent the maximum every year of the rebuild and we’re going to keep doing that. If we could spend more, we would. It’s capped by the league rules. We’ve obviously invested and signed, not only drafted, but signed, all or substantially all of our players in the domestic draft, which is what we ought to be doing. We’ve invested in facilities in the Dominican and here, and I anticipate we’re going to invest more this year, next year. You see all the technology here that I don’t begin to understand, but these guys say is an important part of it, and we’ve invested in that. We’re just laying in foundational dollars for all of those things – international, domestic, technology, facilities. This facility is going to be invested it. The minor league, we’re thinking about some interesting things to renew this facility, the stadium.

“Now payroll, I think there’s a range there that Mike and his team have to determine. Do I have a role in that? Really, only to make sure that their recommendations are being properly funded. We’re probably not going to have, nor is any other middle or small market team, the payroll of the Mets and Dodgers, or even the Red Sox, or certainly the Yankees. But that’s not an Oriole thing. It’s a small, middle market team in this economic system. This is not football, this is not basketball. In a lot of respects it would be great if it were. You see in other leagues where Oklahoma City can spend at the same level as the New York Knicks playing at Madison Square Garden.

“We’re not there yet in baseball, but we’re going to make all these capital investments and stay the course and we’ll see where the payroll goes. You guys know the numbers better than I do. You’ve got examples like Tampa, you’ve got examples like Cleveland, you’ve got examples like Milwaukee, and they’re all different payrolls. That’s for others to determine. If you’re asking me if we have the resources, we absolutely have the resources and we plan to keep moving the payroll up, but we’ve got to keep making these long-term capital investments. We do think they’re working, we do think the full rebuild was the right thing and is working, and we’re going to keep investing in that.

“We’re not only where we are today, but over the next five or eight years, we could keep this going and I think we can keep it going. Not just a five-year cycle, hopefully a self-sustaining more than five, eight, 10 year. That’s the goal and I think with the people we’ve recruited and brought in on the baseball group and in the business group … That’s another thing. We have a very small staff and we’re going to keep building that.

“More good times ahead and definitely more investment.”

On what it says about the club’s aim when Rays and Brewers never won a World Series and Cleveland hasn’t since 1948:
“Well, we’re aiming for sustained success. I think what you see in a place like Tampa, they have had sustained success. That’s a great testament to Stuart Sternberg’s leadership, his partnership group. And he’s had different presidents of baseball ops, different GMs over time, and they’ve stayed relevant and important and competitive in a very difficult environment. Obviously, with a new ballpark, it would seem they would only do better and probably their payrolls go up. But I am encouraged that Tampa has done what they’ve done. That’s a great thing to aspire to. I would be disappointed if we’re not the next Tampa, which means being sustainably competitive and relevant.

“We’re fortunate to have a great venue right now. They don’t have that. Hopefully they will. But I’d like to be thought of as competent and capable and professional, as I think all of us view an organization like Tampa. That’s an aspiration and I think we’re going to get there.”

On whether payroll would model Tampa Bay’s:
“No, I didn’t say that. I don’t expect payroll to model any particular team. I’m just giving you guys a range of small, middle market teams. So, could payroll be double or triple what it is, or could it be over $100 million? Yeah. We’re not there yet.

"We have a very young team that's overachieved and overperformed because of the great work of our baseball folks. It's not my job to predict payroll. My job is to make sure that the community partnerships are sustained, and I think all of that comes after that. First, I have to do the concerts, then we have to do the PPP. We’ve got the legislation passed initially but there’s more to do there. And we’ve got to perform as these guys are performing on the field, meaning Brandon and Mike and the players. But it’s not for me to sit back and project payroll. … You’re asking me to look three, four, five years ahead. All of those scenarios are possible.

“I’m definitely not saying it must be lower than something arbitrary.”

On whether the team will stay in Angelos family hands:
“There is absolutely no plan to change the partnership group or to change the managing partnership structure that we have. To the extent that other people would say, ‘Hey, I like what they’re doing in Baltimore, I like that Camden Yards is going to be part of a renewed public-public partnership with the city and the state and I want to be part of that.’ Well, sure. Why wouldn’t you?

“The partners that my family, my father put together 30 years ago - many, not all, some have transitioned out – but it’s been a tremendous amount of continuity. But you want to have a next generation of people coming in, too, and you want them to be excited. It would be nice if we could attract strategic people who care about Baltimore, who care about the way we’re doing this now, who care about the example Camden Yards set, and want to be a part of it. Not necessary or a requisite, but we’re open to it. But there is no plan to change or transition out of what we have today.”

On whether majority ownership is what he’s most focused on:
“Everybody that’s in is welcome to stay in another 30 years, and I think we’re proud of that, that we’ve had continuity. We’ve had partners like Pam Shriver, like Barry Levinson and others who aren’t as well known. … My only comment about that is, certainly if somebody approached, just like a media publication that you guys are part of, if somebody came in and said, ‘I really like what you’re doing and I want to be part of that,’ particularly if they had a synergy, if they were involved in, say, media or entertainment or music or real estate development, you name it, why wouldn’t you have that conversation?

“I wouldn’t say we’re focused on any one thing, but I would say there’s not a plan to change the principal ownership or the managing partnership structure that we have, and there would really be no reason to that I can think of, and I wouldn’t want to do that. I think we want to see this through, take this public-private partnership to a whole other place, and that’s what we owe to the people that created Camden Yards. We didn’t create it. I hope we’ve been good stewards of the facility.

“My job’s not here. There’s other people who do this. My job is to, how do we make that 365 live, work, play? How do we make this thing a catalyst for, speak aspirationally about what Baltimore and Maryland and this Orioles/Ravens city and state partnership can be? … I’m not critical to it. We’re all dispensable. But I think I can play an important role in it and try to move it forward faster, and hopefully effectively.”

On whether Angelos still intends to share club's financials with media?
“I knew we’d be here in Florida, so there’s no warehouse to take you to. … When I say ‘let’s open the books,’ and I would share with you guys an overview, which I intend to do and I intend to do that while we’re here in spring training. I am going to do what I said I would do within our conversation. I’m going to sit down with you, and all of you … Can I show you the date that Mike Elias’ contract expires? No, but your editors and your publisher and your executives don’t do that your employment contracts, either. That’s just a standard that isn’t applicable in any business, and I can’t be held to that standard. But I can hold myself to a much higher standard than I think we have in the past and I think what you’re asking you’d like to have.

“I’m not going to be able to pull out the payrolls and show you everything financially, but I can provide you a full picture for the business, I can provide you certainly a picture for what our objectives are on the field. But really, I want you to understand, at least my view, whether you agree with it or not, on the context of our vision off the field and in our community. I think if you don’t have that part of it, you’re not going to understand where I’m coming from or where the organization’s trying to go, and I want you to understand that. So, if it means sitting down and putting up on a white board, ‘This is the club, this is how it all fits together and where we’re trying to go,’ I’ll do that.

“I said we were going to rebuild the team and we’d do it a certain way, and Mike and Brandon, they’ve done that. There’s no question they’ve done that, right? We went from bottom of the league to top on (research and development), on talent in the minor leagues. We obviously had a 31-game turnaround. Now, we all know this year could, who knows what will happen this year? That’s fine. But we’ve done what we’ve done. I said we would bring in major music concerts, and we did that.

“When I say something, like I’m going to sit down with you guys, explain the business from my perspective, I’m going to do it. I’m not going to say it and walk away from it. I couldn’t do it the next day, but here we are, and maybe we’ll just substitute that building for the warehouse. More to come on that.”

On MASN airing only four exhibition games:
“There are networks that do greater numbers than we do. ... Spring training games, it is a business decision, a judgement call. It doesn’t mean, by the way, that I know the way we do it today is right. … Spring training games are relatively low-rated games, they’re very low-rated games. Most of them are in the afternoons on weekdays. The only professional sport that’s really still doing anything on afternoons and weekdays is probably horse racing. It’s a tough putt. It doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t do it, but it’s hard to make it pay.

“Now, the counter argument is, spending is the cost of doing business and it will help promote the teams, it will help promote the game. That’s a reasonable argument. We’ve historically made the decision to focus on fewer games in the spring and pour more of our production into the course of the season.

“We will, I hope, do more games. When you have two baseball teams, right there you do over 300 live events, and we do 600 live pre- and post-game shows. That’s at or near the first or second or third RSN in the country and has been for 15 years. … Should that come at the expense of spring training? I don’t know. It’s certainly a valid question and criticism.”

On whether the MASN dispute can be solvable after the latest hearing in March over distribution of money, maybe in the next month or two:
“I think it’s resolvable today, tomorrow - I’m oversimplifying — separate and apart from that appellate track. My goal, as you might be totally surprised to hear, is to never be around any litigation again. You don’t need litigation to solve problems, you just need good partners. We can sort that out and solve it very quickly. Before that, after that, to your point, yeah, I think that’s all possible.”

On how the Orioles could use the $600 million from the state for stadium improvements:
“The things you see around the league, amenities, improved seating areas, possibly injection into the live, work, play, but it’s probably needed for the two venues. Audio-video systems. We’ve had two scoreboards, two audio-visual systems, in the history of Camden Yards. … You will have to do these things. So there will be things like that and then there will be kind of nice-to-haves that are also contemplated in say X-hundred million dollars of that. But, no, we’re not down to that specific level.”

Sun, 19 Feb 2023 06:38:00 -0600 Roch Kubatko en-us text/html https://www.masnsports.com/blog/angelos
Killexams : Venner: Premiership-quality rehabilitation saved my career

THE ‘practised hands’ of Jersey Reds’ backroom team is what Toby Venner believes rescued his career after a 51-week injury lay-off.

The former Gloucester and Bristol scrum-half was nearly forced to bring down the curtain on his burgeoning career after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in his knee and going under the surgeon’s knife last spring.

But that did not stop Harvey Biljon taking a punt and signing the 25-year-old, who is looking to make up for lost time after his debut as a replacement in the 47-7 hammering of Hartpury last week.

‘When I joined we understood the challenge ahead and the support staff have been phenomenal the whole way through,’ said Venner.

‘An ACL is a serious knee injury, a tough one that’s taken 51 weeks owing to the way it happened and the approach we took at surgery.

‘But the support staff have been through a few of those so they’re practised hands, and it’s a real classy set-up on the Island built for rehabbing people very well, and getting them back on the pitch.

‘It’s a testament to the system at Reds that I’m back playing, and the work they’re doing is just fabulous, I was as impatient as anyone would be but the support makes it so much easier.’

It has been a difficult time for Venner, but Reds’ strength and conditioning team, as well as the culture laid out by the coaches to keep injured players involved with the playing squad as much as possible, has been pivotal through the mental and physical struggles.

‘Part of the programme for rehab at Jersey is integrating you into training a month before you’re clear to play, you get in fairly early and it gives you a good chance to understand the team, the calls and everything like that,’ he added.

‘The system they’ve got works really well, a number of the lads have been through it, it’s tried and tested, and it works. It’s been really good from my point of view, and it shows on the pitch how good other lads have returned from these injuries.’

In a twist of irony, Venner’s debut came in the same fixture, and at the same ground, as his last, for Hartpury against Jersey 363 days before. On that day, 12 months ago, he was on the losing side as Reds won the league clash 40-31.

‘My old stomping ground is Hartpury where I’ve had two stints so I’m familiar with the set-up there, and it’s gone full circle. My last game was 51 weeks ago for Hartpury against Jersey. It’s a weird old world that it’s my first game back but it’s really good to see a lot of familiar faces as well.

‘There is a real gulf in the two sides and their approaches. Reds have quite an incredible set-up in terms of Championship standards, leaps and bounds ahead of others and really pushing into Premiership standards.

‘I’ve been lucky to have a few experiences at Prem clubs Gloucester and Bristol, and I can easily say that Jersey is right up there in terms of the standards of coaching, support staff, all of it is top class. That’s clear whether you’re playing or rehabbing. But it comes after years of development and hard work, and I just feel very lucky to gain the benefits of it.

‘Fifty-one weeks since I last played so I had a fair few cobwebs, to say the least, but it’s been a long time coming so it’s good to get the debut done.

‘It felt hectic on the field. Doing it in training is tough, but it’s another thing in a game, it feels like chaos, but I’m sure it will get better the more minutes I get.

‘Apart from being rusty, I don’t feel it’s slowed me down. I feel in a really good place and that’s a nod to how it’s been dealt with in rehab, and how I’ve been integrated back into training. It’s been as professional as anyone could expect so it’s a nod to them and I feel in a good place.’

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Sat, 18 Feb 2023 01:32:00 -0600 en-GB text/html https://jerseyeveningpost.com/sport/2023/02/18/venner-premiership-quality-rehabilitation-saved-my-career/
Killexams : Kyrie Irving Q&A: Life with Luka Doncic and a narrative ‘run amok’ at NBA All-Star weekend Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks speaks during media availability as part of 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah. © Alex Goodlett/Getty Images North America/TNS Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks speaks during media availability as part of 2023 NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

SALT LAKE CITY — Kyrie Irving won All-Star media day … at least in terms of the biggest draw.

Wearing a black hoodie and black sunglasses, the Dallas Mavericks’ new trade superstar fielded questions from more than 100 reporters, camera operators and media personalities on Saturday afternoon after the Western Conference All-Stars participated in a mock practice at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center arena.

That beat the scrum around Eastern Conference captain Giannis Antetokounmpo.

And former Nets teammate turned Phoenix Suns blockbuster trade arrival Kevin Durant.

And two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.

And even new Mavericks partner Luka Doncic, who always commands the most Spanish-language and international attention.

Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison stood to the side of Irving’s podium set-up during the interview session and at one point looked at this reporter, widened his eyes and mouthed: “So many people.”

Such is the norm for one of the NBA’s most intriguing, talented, controversial and polarizing superstars.

Below are some of the highlights from Irving’s final interview before the All-Star Game on Sunday — from his thoughts about playing with Doncic and the Mavericks to abruptly requesting a trade out of Brooklyn to what career he might’ve pursued if not for professional basketball.

Irving’s answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

— Q: You’ve played with several All-Stars at different stops in your career. Is it hard to mix stars on a team? It seems like you and Luka are still trying to learn how to play with each other.

— Irving: It’s a fresh trade, so it’s going to be a figuring-out process. I wouldn’t call it trouble. I just — you know, we’ve dealt with some ups and downs throughout live games, and that’s our only way we can really grow.

I wish we could have training camp together where you guys don’t see some of our mistakes, but we’re living it out in front of you guys. So for me I just have to prepare to be an incredible teammate, of course, but also be selfless enough to change my approach game to game. I have to be flexible and adaptable.

— Q: Do you have any regrets that you leave back in Brooklyn?

— Irving: No regrets. I had a plan in place where I wanted to stay in Brooklyn long term, be a Net. It was a dream come true for me. Obviously, I wish things could have worked out for the best of all of us in terms of winning a championship and etching our names into the history of the NBA. Those are big aspirations.

It sounds easier said than done. But I had an incredible four years. I’m grateful to all the people I met throughout the whole entire organization.

But I have no regrets. Went through a lot of personal battles myself, had a unique journey. Now I get to speak on it truthfully and know that I’ve grown as a person, grown as a player. Now I can move forward and reflect on the rearview when it’s time, but move forward with Dallas and the teammates I have now. So I’m grateful.

— Q: With the All-Star team draft happening about an hour before tipoff Sunday and operating like a pick-up game, have you ever played pick-up and not been picked first? What are your memories of playing in situations like that growing up?

— Irving: Yeah, was I ever not picked first? Of course, of course. There was a time where I definitely wasn’t sure who I was going to be as a player. I think what clicked for me was just the inner confidence, the inner knowing that my work will carry me forward.

All the pickup games that I played in New Jersey made me who I am today. I played against all generations, all walks of life. Not just in New Jersey, but I spent a large part of my time playing in New Jersey. That really gave me that chip on my shoulder that I have now, that ability to play with anybody and everybody, and then also compete at a very high level with kind of the crowd being on your side or against you. I’m used to that East Coast ruggedness, playing outside and just going after it.

Hoop is most important. We just get our respect that way on the East Coast, and we take pride in that. So I’m grateful I got to be a part of that.

— Q: Load management has been such a prominent Topic of debate this NBA season — how do you feel about the potential need to cut back on the number of games in a season or that players can sit out for rest.

— Irving: I don’t know who created the term “load management” or guys sitting out games or this narrative that continues to play on about star players or guys not being available. I don’t know who started the narrative, but it’s completely run amok.

I think it’s dehumanized some of us in terms of just the way we prepare ourselves day-to-day. This is a 24/7 job. We have cameras on us all the time. It’s a high-level, combative sport. It’s very aggressive.

Nobody knows how anyone else’s body heals. The only person that knows is the person that is hurt or injured. We try our best to tell you guys what is going on, but you have doctors online telling everybody that he needs to be back in two weeks. You’ve got this person over here saying that he is not really hurt. He doesn’t want to play.

So I think the narratives have run amok. But us as players, we really take pride in preparing ourselves at a very high level and performing not only for our families, but for the fans that support us. We’re nothing without our fans.

I just think the narrative needs to change in terms of load management. Eighty-two games is a long season. I’m not saying we can’t do it. We’re in 2023. We have all the technology necessary. We have to use it wisely, and we have to be very communicative about what the plan is for everybody individually.

Everybody’s body is different. So you may see somebody heal in two weeks, but it may take someone else a month and a half to heal. It’s just different. That’s all. Appreciate the question.

— Q: If you could have any other career, what would it be?

— Irving: If I could have any other career? Shoot, I would probably be one of those people that does hotel reviews, travels around the world and does a whole bunch of reviews on what I think about the five-star treatment that I got or the four-star treatment.

I’m obviously joking, but that would be a great career. Just to record YouTube videos all day and just say how I feel about the experience. You know, I have so many interests outside the game, but I think that is probably a story for another day.

— Q: What have been your early impressions of playing with Luka Doncic?

— Irving: I can say this about Luka — he scored the ball extremely well. He gets everybody involved very easily, and he plays at his own pace, as we’ve said it over the last few years. But his IQ is something that I’m really looking forward to learning more about, and just picking his brain. He’s 23 years old. He’s seen a lot, but he still has more room to grow and more room to improve. He’s as great as he is now, but just imagine what he’s going to look like in three years, playing with some high-level guys.

— Q: How legitimate are the Mavericks’ championship hopes this season?

— Irving: I feel very strongly about our ambitions to winning a championship. I can sit up and say we’re going to win one and put it out there, but we have all these great players in the way, and that’s the beauty of this game, that’s the beauty of this sport, that’s the beauty of this profession. I’m grateful that I’m in the Western Conference now because they say this is the best conference, loaded with guys, loaded with talent. I want to walk up that mountain. I want to climb up that mountain, and this is what I want for my career because winning at the West at this point, with all these great young guys that are coming in — of course the Eastern Conference is competitive. I would love to stay there, too. But being in the Western Conference is a challenge I needed.

— Q: As an offensive superstar, how you try to break down a defense?

— Irving: The first thing I’m looking at when I’m going against a defensive opponent is just their feet placement, body positioning, hands — where they’re playing their hands on my body — and then also their momentum, their strength. How are they pushing me on my hops or on my shoulders or on my feet? Are they getting me off my spot? Have I gotten to my spot I want to be at? So all these questions go down in a mental breakdown when someone’s in front of me, and then I make a quick decision. So it’s a 0.2, 0.1 decision, go left, go right, shoot or dribble. Really simple.

©2023 The Dallas Morning News. Visit dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 12:17:00 -0600 en-US text/html https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/kyrie-irving-q-a-life-with-luka-doncic-and-a-narrative-run-amok-at-nba-all-star-weekend/ar-AA17FbZQ
Killexams : Six Nations 2023: Wales head coach Warren Gatland confident England game will go ahead

By Gareth GriffithsBBC Sport Wales

Welsh rugby crisis: Boss Gatland supports Wales players, but not a strike against England
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 25 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and Radio 5 Sports Extra, the BBC Sport website & app; live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app. Highlights and analysis, Scrum V Six Nations, BBC Two Wales, Sunday, 26 February

Head coach Warren Gatland says he remains confident Wales' Six Nations match against England will go ahead next Saturday.

That is despite a potential strike by Wales players, which Alun Wyn Jones said was a real threat but was the "last option".

Players are in dispute with Welsh rugby bosses over contracts, with a deadline of Wednesday set to resolve the issues.

"I expect the game's going to be played," said Gatland.

"I've seen these sort of things happen in the past and I'm confident the game will go ahead.

"The boys have been great in training. I've just got to put all that sort of stuff aside and make sure we focus on the game."

Should the England match not go ahead, Welsh rugby would miss out on close to £10m of income from the fixture.

Gatland says he supports Wales' players in their long-term disagreement but would not back a strike for the England game.

The contract chaos involves numerous players - estimates are between 70 and 100 - whose current deals expire at the end of this season and have not yet received offers from their regional teams.

A new six-year financial agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and Wales' four regions - Dragons, Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets - has not yet been signed off after months of discussion, and the clock is ticking.

The regions are braced for financial cuts but no playing budgets have been finalised for next season, so no contracts can be formally offered.

Malcolm Wall, chair of the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) which negotiates on the future of the Welsh professional game, said this week: "The cold facts are that the WRU and clubs have been paying salaries that their businesses cannot afford. There is no room for manoeuvre when it comes to the budget available for player contracts."

WRU acting chief executive Nigel Walker met with Wales squad members this week and discussions will continue with the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA).

Professional rugby players in Wales just want 'job security', says Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate.

"It's been a few challenging weeks," added Gatland.

"Sometimes that focuses the mind and gives you resolve to focus on the job.

"That is preparing the team the best way we can for next week.

"There's no doubt there must be some stress on people in terms of the future and what's happening at the regions.

"They haven't been able to offer contracts and the uncertainty about the agreement and all that's created.

"It puts stress on a lot of people involved. Not just the players, but people involved with the union and regions also."

'Lock them in a room to sort things out'

Gatland says issues are resolved quicker in his native New Zealand.

"I come from a country when you're in a bit of a crisis, you get everyone in a room and sort it out within 24 hours," added Gatland.

"The strength of New Zealand has always been the ability to change and change quickly.

"I don't know why you can't just lock yourselves in a room for 48 or 72 hours and come out with a solution.

"Everyone's got to compromise. You've got successful, intelligent business people who need to come and find a solution quickly.

"I don't know why things have gone on for so long but we're seeing the result of it now because negotiations have been ongoing for too long.

"Probably the hamstring of Welsh rugby is that change is like a slow train trying to go somewhere. To effect change in Wales is time consuming."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland in conversation with Alun Wyn Jones in training
Wales head coach Warren Gatland in conversation with Alun Wyn Jones in training

The WRU has found itself in crisis over the past few weeks, with a sexism scandal unearthed by a BBC Wales investigates programme which has resulted in chief executive Steve Phillips resigning and an independent taskforce looking into the culture of the organisation.

"Many have been critical of the union over governance, but they've already been to the clubs once and asked for recommendations and change and they didn't get that voted through," added Gatland.

"Everyone within the game needs to take responsibility, not just the union who have had a kicking over the last few weeks.

"We've got to take away our parochialism and self-interest. I've always been a big advocate of this. Let's make the best decisions for the game.

"Sometimes that means decisions that affect us and we don't get the deals we want. You have to accept that because hopefully it's the best decision for the game.

"If that means it's not in the best interest of the national team, but it's in the best interest of Wales, those are the sort of things we should be doing."

'60-cap rule not fit for purpose'

It is understood the players want three main things by Wednesday. A place at PRB meetings, the removal of the contentious 60-cap selection rule in Wales and a rethink over the contracts on offer because of the fixed-variable elements accounting for 20% of salaries.

The 60-cap rule applies to a player plying his trade outside the country who cannot be picked unless he has made at least that number of Test appearances.

Gatland has questioned whether the policy remains fit for purpose after it was introduced in 2017, when he was in his first stint as head coach.

"It was fit for purpose when it was introduced," added Gatland.

"Ironically it got called Gatland's Law. My argument at the time was look at Australia where it's 30 games and I thought that was appropriate.

"The regions wanted 70, we ended up with 60, but I'm not sure it's fit for purpose at the moment. So there's an opportunity under the current situation to potentially get rid of it."

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Sat, 18 Feb 2023 08:02:00 -0600 en-GB text/html https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/64684360
Killexams : Ireland rugby star reveals she suffered brain haemorrhage in training aged just 26

Ireland scrum-half Kathryn Dane is taking time out to recover from the brain haemorrhage she suffered at training just before Christmas, and she has received huge support from the rugby community

Kathryn Dane suffered the terrifying brain haemorrhage just before Christmas

Female Irish rugby player Kathryn Dane has disclosed on social media that she suffered a terrifying brain haemorrhage at training.

Scrum-half Dane was working out in the IRFU High Performance Gym at Abbotstown last November when she fell ill. The men's international medical team were on hand to provide immediate treatment before she was transported to hospital.

She took to social media to reveal what exactly happened during the frightening ordeal. "Three months ago I suffered a brain haemorrhage at Ireland training," the 26-year-old posted.

"I hope to make a full recovery and return to work and rugby, but it will take some time."

Dane made her journey towards professional rugby after the choosing the sport over hockey and football as a teenager - in which she represented Northern Ireland at under-age levels.

The Fermanagh player, who also works as a physiotherapist in Dublin, made her debut for the national side at the 2019 Six Nations after impressing for Ulster and Old Belvedere. Dane has since blossomed into an integral part of the Ireland team over the past four years, earning 29 caps for her country.

But she is now on indefinite leave from the IRFU and is gutted to be spending time on the sidelines as she recovers. "Luckily the IRFU medical team were close at hand to respond immediately and get me the care I needed," Dane added. "Thank you to the IRFU, Connolly and Beaumont Hospitals, Rugby Players Ireland and my family and friends for the love and support. For now I will be Ireland's biggest fan."

The scrum-half is set for an extended spell on the sidelines (

Image:

ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Irish Rugby took to Twitter to wish Dane the best with her recovery and hope to see her back in a green jersey soon. "We're all behind you as you make your way back to full health, we hope to see you back in a green jersey again soon!," they wrote.

This was followed by several more well wishes for the rugby star, as Leinster star Jenny Murphy hailed: "So proud of this Great Dane. She has handled this with such strength, honesty, and humour."

Ireland and Ulster ace Ian Madigan said: "Speedy recovery Kathryn," while Republic of Ireland football international Katie McCabe wrote: "Wishing you all the best in your recovery." And ex-Ireland and Leinster hooker Sean Cronin said on Twitter: "Hope you’re on the mend Kathryn, all the best with recovery, Sean."

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Fri, 17 Feb 2023 00:49:00 -0600 en text/html https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/ireland-women-brain-haemorrhage-dane-29242984
Killexams : Sean Payton will use “rugby scrum” play until NFL changes rule

Coinciding with Sean Payton’s first year as the head coach of the Saints, the NFL changed the rules to allow a runner to be pushed by a teammate. As Payton commences his first year as head coach of the Broncos, some teams finally have embraced the rule as a device for strategic advantage.

Payton, who finished his one-year stint with Fox during Super Bowl LVII, told Fox rules analyst Dean Blandino that Payton will make regular use of the ability to shove a runner from behind, until the rule is changed.

“I think the league is going to look at this, and I’d be shocked if they don’t make a change,’’ Blandino said in an item posted on The33rdTeam.com.

“I was talking to Sean Payton during Sunday’s game, and he said we’re going to do this every time next season if they don’t take it out,’’ Blandino added. “It amounts to a rugby scrum. The NFL wants to showcase the athleticism and skill of our athletes. This is just not a skillful play. This is just a tactic that is not an aesthetically pleasing play, and I think the Competition Committee is going to take a look at it.’’

Previously, pushing the runner happened spontaneously, in the open field. It’s not part of play design, with the Eagles perfecting the tactic. It was rarely called.

And so the rule might go back to what it was in 2005 and previously. The best compromise could be to outline pushing a runner only while inside the tackle box. Presumably, no one would be able to design a play that incorporates deliberate shoving outside the tackles.

Surely, however, someone would try.

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 18:56:00 -0600 en-US text/html https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2023/02/16/sean-payton-will-use-rugby-scrum-play-until-nfl-changes-rule/
Killexams : England turn to referees for help with ‘reckless’ scrum

England's forwards coach Richard Cockerill says the team has sought advice from referees on their “reckless” scrum.

Steve Borthwick's side looked to officials as after discovering they won just 85 per cent of their own scrums last year, which was the worst of any tier one nation.

Cockerill said feedback from leading referees, including Wayne Barnes, suggested their scrum was “ill-disciplined and a bit reckless”.

“We’ve taken lots of input from the officials because that has not been as good a relationship as we would have liked and we have worked on fixing it,” he said.

“The boys have worked hard. We have got a good pack of forwards, we have got some good personnel, and it is just keeping them honest and working them harder than we probably did previously.”

England, who are sixth in the world rankings, have won all 11 of own their scrums so far this Six Nations but not everything has been positive for the team.

They lost to Scotland in round one and, despite beating Italy in the second round, are facing criticism for their attacking play.

Wales are next in the tournament for England if the game goes ahead. The fixture have been put in doubt amid reports Wales players could threaten to strike due to ongoing contract disputes with the Wales Rugby Union.

If the game goes ahead as planned, Cockerill expects the Welsh team to come out fighting.

“I think if anything it will probably galvanise them because they have their issues,” Cockerill said.

“I don’t really understand what the politics of it is, but from my experience, any hardship with a playing group generally brings them tighter together.

Thu, 16 Feb 2023 00:51:00 -0600 en text/html https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/england-scrum-six-nations-wales-b2283652.html
Killexams : Conor Murray ready to answer Ireland’s call once again even after stressful week away from the pitch

WHEN Conor Murray sat down with journalists on Tuesday, his triumphant return to the Ireland starting XV was the Topic of conversation.

Within a couple of hours the ebbs and flows of a professional rugby career became a little less important when his father Gerry suffered serious head injuries when the keen cyclist was hit by a truck.

During the captain's run on Friday

2

During the captain's run on Friday
Speaking to the media on Tuesday

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Speaking to the media on Tuesday

Naturally, the scrum-half went home to Limerick to be with his dad and the rest of his family.

Remarkably, he will don the No  9 shirt against France today, having taken part in the Captain’s Run yesterday.

With Jamison Gibson-Park (hamstring) still sidelined, Andy Farrell would not have wanted to have been without the experienced Munster man.

Equally, the Ireland coach would have known he had no right to have requested his presence at the Aviva Stadium given the circumstances.

But Murray spared Farrell any crisis of conscience by declaring himself fit to face the side he made his Ireland debut against back in 2011.

Speaking prior to his dad’s accident, Murray talked about his journey from being the upstart who helped end Peter Stringer’s international career to being confident that there is still plenty more rugby left in him.

Recalling his first cap, given to him by Declan Kidney in a 2011 World Cup warm-up game in Bordeaux, he said: “For me I was just trying to take it all in.

"I remember the carnival atmosphere down in Bordeaux and the buzz of getting your first cap and coming on.

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“I took a high ball at one stage over Paulie O’Connell and that just settled me into the game.

“I know we lost it but it was a class experience getting your first cap and you always remember that.

“In terms of the squad, I was just loving being there and getting a few caps early.

"I wasn’t thinking about the drama surrounding the No  9 shirt at the time, I was just a young fella enjoying my rugby.”

When Johnny Sexton later dislodged Ronan O’Gara, the pair formed a formidable half-back partnership which was the starting point for any selection.

GROWING DOUBTS

Although aged 37, and poised to retire after the World Cup, Sexton remains the undisputed top dog at out-half.

Murray gets prematurely aged by association.

He is four years Sexton’s junior and, yet, has been more frequently written out of this team’s script.

When Gibson-Park was ruled out of the Six Nations opener in Cardiff, a commonly voiced fear was that Ireland would now lack the quick ball upon which they thrive.

Down largely to the tactics of both Joe Schmidt with Ireland and Johann van Graan at Munster, Murray had been pigeon-holed as little more than a box-kicker.

Murray said: “I’d be lying if I didn’t say it has annoyed me.

“I look at the game and the way we play it and the way I play it.

“Like, it’s just a game-plan thing, we don’t actually kick that much at times anymore at, certainly, Munster.

“It’s a strength when we do go to it and it’s a good territory tactic and the boys chasing it are brilliant, so it’s part of the game.

“Whatever chat goes on outside of my group, it really doesn’t affect me.

"I’m probably too old to allow that kind of stuff to affect me. That’s all outside noise really.

“I know myself that I’m absolutely well capable of playing in a team with front-foot football, with tempo and with other coaches who are driving the standards that were there.”

It is a point backed up by Sexton himself despite the manner in which he and Gibson-Park have translated their Leinster understanding to the Test arena.

Sexton said: “Not too long ago people thought he was the best scrum-half that we’ve ever had.

“And there was certainly no doubt internally that anything would drop off with him.

“I was delighted for him to come in and show his class once again.

“He’s been pushed hard down at Munster by Craig Casey and he’s risen to that, he’s come into camp, he has trained really well and he was ready to play when called upon.

“So you’d expect nothing different from a top professional.”

The extent of his challenge at Munster was underlined last month for the Champions Cup game against Northampton.

Not only was Casey selected ahead of him in the team but Paddy Patterson got the nod among the replacements.

It was viewed as a changing of the guard, much like Murray’s Test debut 11½ years ago when his assured performance went some way to the long-serving Stringer not making the World Cup squad.

Murray shrugged: “I suppose getting injured in November, then getting rehab for five or six weeks and the boys having gone well, you kind of have to accept it as much as you possibly can.

“It’s frustrating but you are preparing as hard as you can, you are training as hard as you can to be in a position.

“There’s no point in moping around and giving out and then, when or if you do get a chance, you’re probably not ready to go.

“It’s about keeping the faith in yourself.

“When something like that happens, external stuff can go mental, whereas internally, the chats you have with the coaches can be a completely different reason. So there was no stress really.”

SUDDEN CHANCE

Nevertheless, Murray realises that, such is the competition, any chance you get has to be taken or there might not be another.

It explains why there were more nerves ahead of his 101st Ireland appearance last week than his first.

He said: “We went to the Captain’s Run the day before the game and ‘Jamo’ was a little bit tight so you are kind of heightening your awareness then.

“You wake up the next morning and you are kind of waiting for coach, for Andy, to catch your eye. I was trying to fish him out.

"He came up to me early in the morning and said, ‘Yeah, you’re ready to go’.

“Johnny spoke about being nervous before the game and that was one of the most nervous games I have had in a long time.

“The first is all new to you. You are just taking it in.

"Now you know what can go wrong and what you need to do to play well and stuff. It was a big occasion going away to Wales.

“We hadn’t won there in ten years and we were speaking about that.

“It’s not a game that you should win but there’s a lot of people tipping you.

“There was just a lot of stuff going on and you really wanted to take your chance and you want things to go well.

"The way we started that game from a team perspective was brilliant and personally it just settled you into the game.”

Focusing his mind might, understandably, be a little tougher today but the fact he is there at all is a solid start.

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 19:11:00 -0600 en-ie text/html https://www.thesun.ie/sport/rugby-union/10207960/conor-murray-irelands-call-week/
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