Tommy Tomlinson
Tommy Tomlinson
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article May 17, 2013

Yesterday Is Gone

dicktrickle
Throughout his racing career, if Dick Trickle was known by the casual sports fan, it was because of his name. But every old NASCAR driver is a great story, and Trickle was no different, until his life came to a sad end on Thursday. More»
gus_johnson article May 14, 2013

Making the Call

Gus Johnson hollered his way back into our hearts this weekend, while in the booth for the FA Cup final between Wigan and Manchester City. He isn't perfect, but Johnson is the greatest announcer alive when you're not sure exactly what's going on. More»
derrickrose article May 10, 2013

Rose's Waiting Game

Derrick Rose could change the complexion of the Bulls-Heat series, but, to the dismay of many fans, the star guard still hasn't declared himself ready to play. Of course, only Rose can know, and we need to remember that he's only human too. More»
blog May 7, 2013

A Long Overdue Honor

In a much-anticipated move, former Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier was finally elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. While his numbers might not be as good as you remember, he's undoubtedly one of the best to ever play the game. More»
McCann_Gattis article May 7, 2013

Fredi's Choice

Evan Gattis may be the best story in baseball this year. But now that Brian McCann is back in the mix for the Atlanta Braves, the rookie catcher's role on the team is suddenly up in the air. What's a manager in a pennant race to do? More»
secchampionship article May 3, 2013

The SEC Cashes In

It's the same old story: A group of people in college sports are about to make a bunch of money, but that group doesn't include the athletes. The new SEC Network was announced on Thursday, and the SEC and ESPN will swim in even more cash. More»
Tim_Tebow article April 30, 2013

The Tebow Conundrum

Somehow Tim Tebow is still interesting to me, even as what he does on the field interests fewer and fewer NFL teams. Tebow has made it to that place only certain famous people reach: He's overrated and underrated at the same time. More»
lattimore1980x1100 article April 26, 2013

Lattimore's Luck (or Lack Thereof)

Marcus Lattimore, who had both legs rebuilt while at South Carolina, has been terribly unlucky. He has also had amazing good fortune. He is the perfect story for the NFL draft, which is three days of guesses and gambles. More»
toomersoaks article April 22, 2013

Lasting Memories at Toomer's Corner

To those on the outside, they're just trees. To those at Auburn, they hold lifetimes of memories. Auburn fans said goodbye to Toomer's Oaks with a final roll on Saturday before the poisoned trees are removed, and all you could see were the memories. More»
summerall1980x1100b article April 18, 2013

Summerall's Gift of Life

Nine years ago, a 13-year-old football player died of a brain aneurysm, and his family gave the gift of life to five people by donating his organs. One of those people was a 73-year-old former football player turned broadcaster, Pat Summerall. More»
boston_marathon_explosion article April 15, 2013

Instinctive Running

Marathon Monday -- Patriots' Day -- is the unofficial first day of spring in Boston. And at 4:09:43 on the race clock, it was a day of joy and achievement. If we could only freeze it there, before the explosion at 4:09:44. But we don't get to do that. More»
masters_tommy1980x1100 article April 11, 2013

Playing Augusta National

Augusta National may be one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world, but occasionally the everyday hacker gets a crack it -- including me, at 23 years old in 1987, in a round filled with memorable moments. More»
BowlingPhoto1 article April 9, 2013

High Rollers

Meet the Hawks from the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore. They've won the last two NCAA women's bowling titles, and three of the last five. They've finished first or second in every tournament this season. And they're just warming up. More»
Gorgui_Dieng article April 4, 2013

Louisville's Quiet Giant

Gorgui Dieng is the man who tidies things up on the Louisville Cardinals. After years of mastering his originally raw game, he's become not just an intimidating presence inside -- but an emotional leader during this emotionally taxing Final Four run. More»
blog March 31, 2013

From Horror Comes Inspiration

In the moments after Kevin Ware's horrifying leg injury, Louisville players did the natural human thing: They ran, and they cried. But Ware told them to 'win the game,' and from a terrible moment came some inspiration, which, eventually, led to some joy. More»
blog March 31, 2013

No One Can Lose

Indianapolis, we have a logistical problem - is it possible for Duke (with Ryan Kelly and Seth Curry) or Louisville (with Gorgui Dieng and Russ Smith) to lose? Sunday, we'll find out what happens the two face off with full, healthy squads. More»
blog March 29, 2013

Coach K and Tom Izzo: Frenemies

In college basketball, where so many coaches and players and schools are always looking to trade up, Tom Izzo and Mike Krzyzewski have decided to buy and hold. They can choose to stay, of course, because they win. More»
RussSmith article March 26, 2013

Transition Game

The guard who helped lead Louisville to the Sweet 16 once drove Rick Pitino crazy with his undisciplined style of play. But now that he has matured, Russ Smith is a joy to watch on the court -- goofy, excitable and really, really good. More»
blog March 24, 2013

Buzzrant

All I want to do for the rest of my life is cover Buzz Williams press conferences. Dissing everyone from journalists and bloggers to the NCAA, the Marquette coach was on fire after the Golden Eagles advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. More»
louisville_defense article March 23, 2013

The Great Defenders

By some measures, Louisville had the best defensive efficiency in the country. But numbers can't covey how terrifying Louisville's press is. Only in person can you grasp their "mother-in-law defense: constant pressure and harassment." More»
bradstevensbutler article March 21, 2013

Eyes on the Prize

For 365 days every year, one thing drives Butler coach Brad Stevens: the NCAA tournament. While the players hold steady with the 'one game at a time' cliche, everything Stevens does is meant to prepare the Bulldogs for March Madness. More»
blog March 20, 2013

Famous Faces Bracket: Round of 32

The Famous Faces bracket rolls on, as we whittle a field of 32 down to 16 in our tournament of notable people who went to NCAA tournament schools. Jerry Lawler vs. Magic Johnson? Bing Crosby vs. Gene Kelly? Yes, the stakes are high. More»
DennyHamlin article March 12, 2013

NASCAR's Outspoken Outlaw

Denny Hamlin may not be a household name, but he's now a hero to NASCAR fans two times over. First, he dared to criticize NASCAR's fancy new car. And second, after NASCAR fined him for his comments, he's refusing to pay. Time to FREE DENNY. More»
bubble_gum_prank article March 8, 2013

Passing the Time

"Tell me a funny story about baseball," my father-in-law said. Baseball is the funniest sport. But all I could think of, there in the moment, was the bubble-gum prank. It's the kind of thing grown men and women don't do outside of sports. More»
ultrasound_rolltide1980x1100b article February 28, 2013

The Future of Recruiting

Alabama and LSU are fighting over the same middle school football player. Why wait that long? If recruiting starts in the womb, college programs can dictate everything from nutrition to weightlifting from birth, effectively engineering the best team possible. More»
Jimmie_Johnson article February 26, 2013

Jimmie Johnson Finds His Groove

Jimmie Johnson has achieved greatness in NASCAR, and he has done it in a remarkable way: without putting any particular stamp of personality on his sport. But greatness is its own stamp. Johnson's style may be invisible -- but it's also very effective. More»
uptonbrothers article February 22, 2013

Keeping Up With the Uptons

It was a proud offseason for Manny and Yvonne Upton, as their sons both joined the Atlanta Braves. Nearly 100 sets of brothers have played in the big leagues, but B.J. and Justin have the rare opportunity to play side by side in their primes. More»
BobbyCox article February 19, 2013

Just Like Old Times

Bobby Cox is 71 and has been retired for three years. And though his Braves' legacy is secure -- 14 division titles in a row, five National League pennants, one World Series -- he continues to mentor the young Atlanta team this spring as if he never left. More»
danicastenhouse article February 15, 2013

Stuck In Neutral

With Daytona a week from Sunday, NASCAR enters the 2013 season facing an identity crisis. The sport has lost its character and its momentum, and the biggest story at Thursday's media was the Danica Patrick-Ricky Stenhouse relationship. More»
BillMurray article February 12, 2013

Super Fan

The race for best celebrity sports fan in America isn't close. Bill Murray is Secretariat at the Belmont. And the gap widens every year. His latest escapade included a riotous appearance at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. More»
robert_nkemdiche article February 7, 2013

Sign Here

National signing day is bizarre, uncomfortable, and a little creepy. So I think we should double down on this thing. What we really need is an NFL signing day: Let teams recruit players, pick a day for everybody to sign, and settle in for the drama. More»
hughfreeze article February 4, 2013

Pitch Perfect

Ole Miss hasn't won the SEC in 50 years, but it's starting to ruffle some feathers in the nation's most powerful conference. It all starts on the recruiting trail, where coach Hugh Freeze is selling kids on joining one of the best classes in the nation. More»
mickelson60 article January 31, 2013

A Brush With History

Golf is not designed for perfection, but on Thursday at the Phoenix Open, Phil Mickelson came so close to the lower limit. He may have just missed, but in a weird start to 2013 for sports, he at least helped make sports about sports again. More»
Obama_Football article January 28, 2013

The Most Dangerous Game

President Obama says that the violence in college and pro football should be addressed so "we won't have to examine our consciences quite as much." Now fans must decide -- what kind of game are we willing to live with so that lives won't be put at risk? More»
cleveland_browns_broncos article January 25, 2013

Non-Fantastic Four

There have been 94 Super Bowl slots open over the years, and with parity in the NFL, 28 franchises have played in at least one ... But four have never made it. We take a look at them here in order of their fans' accumulated pain. More»
more_manti_te_o article January 22, 2013

Lie To Me

The best-case scenario at this point is that Manti Te’o believed he had a loving girlfriend despite many strong clues that she did not exist. Which would make him delusional. Good thing nobody else involved with college football is delusional... More»
teo_1980x1100 article January 17, 2013

Say It Ain't Te'o

I’m not ready to believe Manti Te’o. Not yet. But for the next few minutes, let's say that Manti Te’o was the victim of a hoax. If you believe that, and you think about what it means, you can reduce it to a single image: a star football player, alone in his room at night, texting his love to a girlfriend he’s never met. More»
mccarronbcs article January 8, 2013

Untouchable

Notre Dame never stood a chance Monday night. Alabama blew out the Irish, claiming its third national title in four years. Some day, coach Nick Saban will appreciate it, but for now, he'll stay focused on maintaining his modern dynasty. More»
1980x1100_ALA_ND_CFB_game article January 7, 2013

Clash Of The Titans

In college football, there are two nations, and only two: Notre Dame and Alabama. Both teams carry the weight of cultures bigger than their sport and bigger than their universities, and Monday night they meet in Miami in pursuit of another national title. More»
barrettjones article January 4, 2013

End of the Line

Alabama center Barrett Jones has put together one of the most remarkable college football careers in history, both on and off the field. A third national championship in four years could help alleviate the bittersweet feeling of that career ending. More»
louisville_florida_sugar_bowl article January 3, 2013

Down And Out In the SEC

The Sugar Bowl was such a curbstomping that you had to wonder: Did everybody overrate the SEC this year? After all, look at the bowls! But maybe not: bowl games are always weird, and the Sugar Bowl is weirdest of all, especially for the SEC team. More»
orange_bowl_2013 article January 2, 2013

Lemon Bowl

Florida State and Northern Illinois played a football-like substance Tuesday night, bleeding into Wednesday morning. The final score was 31-10 FSU. It wasn’t that close. Neither was it that far apart. This game twisted space and time. More»
golson article January 1, 2013

Will To Win

Most of the credit for Notre Dame's undefeated season goes to the defense, and justifiably so. But it helps to have talent at the most important position in sports, and as a freshman starter, QB Everett Golson has once again answered the call. More»
blog December 29, 2012

My Top 10 Things of 2012

Now that I write sports for a living, I’ve talked a lot about my favorite sports moments of the year. So I left sports off this list. But the one common thread among all these things is, they moved me -- made me laugh or cry or think or sing along. Sometimes all at once. More»
1980x1100_SOE_Memories_Swamp article December 23, 2012

Feel the Power

One of the weird things about football press boxes is that they’re often glassed-in, the crowd muffled. But at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, when the Florida Gators played LSU, The Swamp moved. And at that moment, I believed in the power of sports. More»
nick_saban article December 21, 2012

Cleveland Calling

The rumor won’t die: anonymous reports keep linking Saban to the Cleveland Browns’ coaching job. But in Tuscaloosa, he has his own statue, made $5.3 million last year, and literally has someone to carry his water. Why would he leave all that? More»
bowl_draft1980x1100 article December 13, 2012

Time for a bowl draft

Let's face it, the way bowl games pick teams needs to be revamped. It's time for a draft, NBA-style -- the bowls will pick their teams on live TV, complete with Bloomin' Onion tossing and frozen envelope-draws, to get matchups like Florida vs. Stanford. More»
petrino article December 10, 2012

An Arranged Marriage

Bobby Petrino has left nothing but trouble in the wake of his coaching stops, but Western Kentucky decided to take its chances in the name of winning anyway. Make no mistake: This isn't about redemption. It's about winning football games. More»
uspw_6830718 article December 8, 2012

Johnny Heisman

Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, a.k.a. Johnny Football, is now a 20-year-old with a Heisman. He also became the first freshman ever to win the trophy, reminding us all that these college players may be big and strong, but they're still just kids. More»
notre_dame_ttt_14 article December 4, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 14: Our Lady of No. 1

The last True Top Ten until after the bowls features Notre Dame in the top spot again. Time to start compiling briefs in the case of Fighting Irish v. Crimson Tide, so read up on Brian Kelly's smirk and the odds of a brawl with Nick Saban at midfield. More»
157,290,802 article December 2, 2012

Shattered Dreams

Georgia stood toe-to-toe with Alabama for 60 minutes in Saturday's classic SEC championship and came close to a BCS bid. But the Bulldogs fell short, delivering an indescribable punch in the gut to head coach Mark Richt, players and fans. More»
uspw_6756806 article November 30, 2012

Taking His Swings

In their last meeting four years ago, Alabama gave Georgia a butt-whipping so profound that it altered the fortunes of both teams. Since then, Alabama is 54-7 with two national titles. Georgia hasn’t even sniffed one. Can Mark Richt change that? More»
blog November 27, 2012

Q&A: Inman Majors

In the first pages of Inman Majors‘ novel “Love’s Winning Plays,” a naked head coach’s toweling technique leads into a savvy bit about attacking the two-deep zone. Here's our conversation about the book, which is funny and smart about both football and life. More»
TTT_notre_dame article November 27, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 13: One For The Ages

Let’s just say it: This might be the best college football season of all time. Any of the teams in this week’s True Top Ten could beat any of the others. It's hard to remember a season with such balance at the top, but for now it's still Notre Dame at No. 1. More»
usc_notredame article November 21, 2012

No Love Lost

Bitter college football rivalries can make or break seasons, and nowhere is that truer this weekend than Los Angeles, where a disappointing USC team can achieve a nice consolation prize by ruining rival Notre Dame's run at perfection. More»
notre_dame_ttt article November 20, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 12: Who's No. 2?

Kansas State and Oregon, the top two teams, went down within 10 minutes of each other Saturday. Now seven teams have a shot at the national title. Everyone agrees on who’s No. 1. But who’s next? That’s what you come to the True Top Ten to find out. More»
dooley article November 19, 2012

Off Rocky Top

Derek Dooley's fate was finally sealed with an embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt. He had originally come along at a time when Tennessee was an emotional wreck, and, to be honest, nothing in particular suggested he would be the right guy for the job when he was hired. More»
oregon_stanford article November 18, 2012

Changing Channels

In one of the wildest nights in college football history, Kansas State and Oregon surrendered their pole positions in the national title race in the time it took to hit one button on the remote control -- and that was something we were doing a lot of. More»
manzielbama article November 15, 2012

Game Changers

The SEC owns the last six national titles, but this year it might not even have a team in the championship game. Why? Six teams, ranked 4-9 in the BCS, conducted a season-long playoff of sorts, knocking each other out in the process. More»
Kansas_State_TTT_week_11 article November 13, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 11: Wildcats Strike

Heading into last weekend, Kansas State was the unbeaten with the biggest cause for concern: the health of Collin Klein. But the star quarterback led his team past TCU, Texas A&M upset Alabama, and look who's back atop the True Top Ten. More»
manziel A&M article November 11, 2012

The Legend Grows

Texas has a lot of songwriters, and some budding Lyle Lovett is surely composing “The Ballad of Johnny Football,” because Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel took the Aggies into Tuscaloosa and stunned the top-ranked team in the country. More»
alabama graphic article November 8, 2012

'Nothing But A Winner'

Why Alabama? The Bear. Fourteen national titles (at least by their count). Under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide wins the same way it won under Bryant, and it does it with the weight of all that history and passion on its shoulders, every week. More»
alabama yeldon article November 6, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 10: High Tide

Alabama's schedule didn't stack up with the other top contenders through the first two months of the season. But after winning on the road against LSU, the Crimson Tide has finally earned the right to take hold of No. 1 in the True Top Ten. More»
barner article November 4, 2012

Vaporized

Every time you looked, Oregon was eating up big chunks of the Coliseum field with precision and speed. With Kenjon Barner leading the way, the explosive Ducks had a historic night vs. USC, moving them a step closer to the BCS title game. More»
kiffin article November 1, 2012

Broken Record

Lane Kiffin seems molded by destiny to be the coach at USC. The problem is, nobody really likes him, and his career record in the NFL and college is 36-30. Attention follows him, but the hyped Trojans have two losses and Oregon next. More»
kansas_state_ttt article October 30, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 9: Fighting Wildcats

Many of us thought this would be the week when the top four teams in the country would pair off against each other: Alabama at LSU, and USC at Oregon. But they're not in the top four anymore. They can thank K-State and Notre Dame for that. More»
georgia_florida article October 25, 2012

Dawgs' Best Friend

For a few hours, sports bring some clarity to life. My clarity comes Saturday. I want Georgia to dominate and Florida to get a flat tire on the way back to Gainesville. I want these things because years ago I chose a team. And this is our big game. More»
kstate_ttt article October 23, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 8: 'Cats Call

Kansas State can run, it can pass, it can stop the run and it can stop the pass. And although the Wildcats have five tough games left, they have the best shot of anybody at going undefeated. But that's just one reason they're No. 1 in this week's True Top Ten. More»
klein article October 21, 2012

Can't Touch This

As recently as two weeks ago, pretty much everybody thought Geno Smith had run away with the Heisman. But 'tis no longer. Now the top college quarterback in America is Kansas State's Collin Klein. Of course, he'll probably tell you otherwise. More»
verne article October 18, 2012

A Few Words Can Mean Everything

If you have watched a lot of sports over the past 40 years, Verne Lundquist has been a part of your life. He has put words, in the moment, to some of sports' most meaningful stories. He saw what just happened, same as you, and he can't believe it either. More»
kstate ttt article October 16, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 7: K-State Returns

Say it with me: It is hard … to win … on the road. Kansas State earned another solid victory away from home, while Alabama and Oregon have yet to earn the quality road wins necessary to rise to the peak of the True Top Ten. More»
arkansas article October 11, 2012

Dashed Dreams

Arkansas won last Saturday, and it's sad that it's news. After everything the Razorbacks had gone through in the offseason, they were hopeful of this year, with top-shelf talent, a good schedule and John-El. But hope is far from Fayetteville now. More»
florida article October 9, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 6: Florida Rule

Our college football True Top Ten doesn't measure talent or style; it measures the strength of the season a team has put together. And after a thrilling Week 6, a handful of résumés have risen to the top of the pile. But one in particular stands out. More»
gillislee_lsu article October 6, 2012

Gator Raid

This isn't the Florida we're used to seeing, with Tim Tebow and Chris Leak whipping the ball around. These Gators run and beat up your QB -- and they did both to LSU on Saturday. Believe it: UF has the best résumé in college football now. More»
sc article October 4, 2012

Oh, Ye of Little Faith

At 5-0 and ranked No. 6, South Carolina is having one of its best seasons ever. But as the Gamecocks begin a three-week gauntlet of top-10 teams, it's hard for their fans to believe. And considering the program's history, you can't blame them. More»
mannion article October 2, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 5: Beavers Rise

Oregon State has won three games in three different styles now, starting with a pair of strong road wins and then a victory over Wisconsin. There's no denying the Beavers are legit. But are they good enough for the True Top Ten? More»
blog September 26, 2012

Refamania!

The NFL owners and Roger Goodell don't seem in any hurry to end the lockout. In the meantime, if we're stuck with the replacements, here are some ref angles that the WWE uses all the time to build drama. Simple incompetence is just the beginning. More»
Kansas State article September 25, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 4: Road Warriors

Several teams (see above) posted impressive wins this week, but what really impresses the True Top Ten is multiple wins over good teams -- especially on the road (sorry to rain on your parade, Oregon). Here's who made the cut after Week 4. More»
Ohio State vs. UAB article September 23, 2012

Primal Fear

The drama of college football has many variations, and one of the best is when a big favorite at home is in danger of losing. You can feel the creeping terror in the stadium … just as it did in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday. More»
Devon Walker article September 20, 2012

Minus One

Life appears the same at Tulane. The football team still practices in the damp New Orleans mornings. Classes still meet throughout the week. Students still live among each other on campus. But it's not the same now. Devon Walker isn't there. More»
Florida Gators article September 18, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 3: Gator Raid

Not just any wins will get a team into our True Top Ten. No, no. Wins against legit opponents, Good Wins -- those are what get a team in our rankings. And after Week 3 of the college football season, it's clear which team deserves the top honor. More»
USC-Stanford article September 16, 2012

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Week 3 in college football was one of clarity. Good teams started playing legit opponents, and with the heightened competition, nearly every blemish was visible. Turns out some teams are uglier than we thought, but others are just breathtaking. More»
Notre Dame article September 13, 2012

Southern Comfort

Notre Dame was the last great independent, so it’s strange, and a little sad, to see the Irish joining the ACC, maneuvering to get better players and find shelter in case of hard times. But they still have a name, and they still have a big TV contract. More»
Matt Scott article September 11, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 2: RichRod Returns

The True Top Ten is not about which team will end up with the title, or which would hypothetically beat another. It's about which team is having the best season so far. And after Week 2 ... well, let's just say RichRod's newest team ain't half bad. More»
Georgia vs. Missouri article September 9, 2012

Don't Doubt 'Old-Man Football'

One of the great things about college football is the diversity of styles. Every team has a theory on which is better, or which is more advanced. Missouri had its own theories, but it found out the hard way that 'old-man football' can still dominate. More»
Tyrann Mathieu article September 6, 2012

Calling His Own Plays

Tyrann Mathieu has drawn up his own play. After LSU booted him from the football team, he has decided to stay on campus, work on his studies and try to improve himself as a human being. It says a lot about college football that this sounds crazy. More»
True Top Ten article September 4, 2012

True Top Ten, Week 1: Bama Reigns

The flaw of most college football polls is they tend to stick with the same old powers from the preseason. But to make it in our weekly rankings, you have to actually beat a quality opponent -- just like Bama, MSU and Clemson did this weekend. More»
T.J. Yeldon article September 2, 2012

'We Just Beat the Hell Out of You!'

Michigan was supposed to have the chops to stick with Alabama. But Bama’s 41-14 beatdown leaves college football fans no closer to answering the question they’ve been asking for the last six years: Can’t somebody stand up to the SEC's elite? More»
Notre Dame article August 31, 2012

Do the Irish Need More Fight?

Radio analyst Allen Pinkett paid for his words when he said Notre Dame football needs more 'criminals.' And rightly so. But while his advice was poorly crafted, his logic was sharp. More»
John L. Smith article August 30, 2012

One Chance to Get it Right

A black cloud hangs over Fayetteville, Arkansas, but the new leader of the Razorbacks only sees bright skies. John-EL, as his players call him, hopes to make things right again. But let's be real: No team has more riding on this season than Arkansas. More»
West Virginia article August 26, 2012

A Flair for the Dramatic

With all the drama, craziness and villainy packed into a single season, college football could easily pass for a soap opera, albeit a high-speed one. But this year figures to be especially intriguing. These are the top 10 storylines to watch. More»

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