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Deadspin | Big East commish Val Ackerman retiring after 13 years  Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman speaks during a Xavier University basketball preseason preview event at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.   Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman announced her retirement on Monday after 13 years as one of the most powerful women in college sports.  Ackerman, 66, is leaving her position on Aug. 31. A national search for her successor will commence immediately, the league said in a news release.  “It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said.  “… With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”  Ackerman was named the Big East’s fifth commissioner on June 26, 2013. She guided a period of transition after Butler, Creighton and Xavier joined seven existing members (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova) for the 2013-14 season. She also led the negotiations that brought Connecticut back to the league in 2020.   League members have won four men’s national championships since her arrival — more than any other conference: Villanova (2016, 2018) and UConn (2023, 2024).  “When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best,” said St. John’s president Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors.  “We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”  Ackerman has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Big #East #commish #Val #Ackerman #retiring #years

Deadspin | Big East commish Val Ackerman retiring after 13 years
Deadspin | Big East commish Val Ackerman retiring after 13 years  Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman speaks during a Xavier University basketball preseason preview event at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.   Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman announced her retirement on Monday after 13 years as one of the most powerful women in college sports.  Ackerman, 66, is leaving her position on Aug. 31. A national search for her successor will commence immediately, the league said in a news release.  “It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said.  “… With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”  Ackerman was named the Big East’s fifth commissioner on June 26, 2013. She guided a period of transition after Butler, Creighton and Xavier joined seven existing members (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova) for the 2013-14 season. She also led the negotiations that brought Connecticut back to the league in 2020.   League members have won four men’s national championships since her arrival — more than any other conference: Villanova (2016, 2018) and UConn (2023, 2024).  “When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best,” said St. John’s president Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors.  “We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”  Ackerman has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Big #East #commish #Val #Ackerman #retiring #yearsBig East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman speaks during a Xavier University basketball preseason preview event at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.

Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman announced her retirement on Monday after 13 years as one of the most powerful women in college sports.

Ackerman, 66, is leaving her position on Aug. 31. A national search for her successor will commence immediately, the league said in a news release.

“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said.

“… With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”


Ackerman was named the Big East’s fifth commissioner on June 26, 2013. She guided a period of transition after Butler, Creighton and Xavier joined seven existing members (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova) for the 2013-14 season. She also led the negotiations that brought Connecticut back to the league in 2020.

League members have won four men’s national championships since her arrival — more than any other conference: Villanova (2016, 2018) and UConn (2023, 2024).

“When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best,” said St. John’s president Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors.

“We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”

Ackerman has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Big #East #commish #Val #Ackerman #retiring #years

Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman speaks during a Xavier University basketball preseason preview event at the Cintas Center in Cincinnati on Monday, Oct. 2, 2023.

Big East Conference commissioner Val Ackerman announced her retirement on Monday after 13 years as one of the most powerful women in college sports.

Ackerman, 66, is leaving her position on Aug. 31. A national search for her successor will commence immediately, the league said in a news release.

“It’s been an extraordinary honor for me to serve as the Commissioner of one of the most prestigious and storied organizations in college sports,” Ackerman said.

“… With our long-term business deals securely in place and knowing we have strong, focused leadership on our campuses, I am confident that the future of the conference, and Big East basketball in particular, is very bright, and I believe the time is right for me to hand off the baton.”

Ackerman was named the Big East’s fifth commissioner on June 26, 2013. She guided a period of transition after Butler, Creighton and Xavier joined seven existing members (DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Villanova) for the 2013-14 season. She also led the negotiations that brought Connecticut back to the league in 2020.

League members have won four men’s national championships since her arrival — more than any other conference: Villanova (2016, 2018) and UConn (2023, 2024).

“When we re-founded the Big East in 2013 as a basketball-centric conference, our first task was to find a commissioner who could provide the strategic vision needed to position us as a basketball peer with the power football conferences and compete with the country’s best,” said St. John’s president Rev. Brian J. Shanley, chair of the Big East board of directors.

“We found that visionary leader in Val Ackerman. Val has leveraged our partnerships with FOX Sports and Madison Square Garden to create a platform that has produced five basketball national champions (four men’s and one’s women’s) in the past decade, and she has built a strong foundation for future success. She leaves big shoes to fill.”

Ackerman has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame and the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

–Field Level Media

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Deadspin | Report: Bulls narrowing search for top executive role <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/22121662.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/22121662.jpg" alt="NBA: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Dec 16, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; A detailed view of the Chicago Bulls logo on the shorts of Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (12) during the first half against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Chicago Bulls received permission to interview five candidates to be their new head of basketball operations, ESPN reported Monday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The Bulls plan to start meetings this week with Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd, Detroit Pistons senior vice president Dennis Lindsey, Atlanta Hawks senior VP Bryson Graham, Cleveland Cavaliers GM Mike Gansey and San Antonio Spurs assistant GM Dave Telep, per the report.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Chicago is also expected to interview agent Austin Brown, co-head of CAA’s basketball division, sources told ESPN.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-4"> <p>On April 6, the Bulls parted ways with executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley after six seasons and just one playoff appearance. </p> </section> <section id="section-5"> <p>Coming off a 31-51 campaign, the Bulls reportedly want to hire their new decision-maker prior to the May 10-17 NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>No matter who gets the job, head coach Billy Donovan’s job appears to be safe thanks to his public backing by Bulls chief executive and president Michael Reinsdorf.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>“If I interview someone and they’re not sold on Billy, they’re not sold on a Hall of Fame coach; they’re not sold on a person who’s won championships in college, who’s gone deep in the playoffs with Oklahoma City,” Reinsdorf said earlier this month. “… If Billy wants to be our coach and someone’s not interested in that, then they’re probably not the right candidate for us.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Report #Bulls #narrowing #search #top #executive #role

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Deadspin | Blue Jays score 8 runs in first in rout of Diamondbacks <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28767906.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28767906.jpg" alt="MLB: Toronto Blue Jays at Arizona Diamondbacks" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 19, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Kazuma Okamoto homered, doubled and drove in three runs, Nathan Lukes had three hits and three RBIs, and the Toronto Blue Jays used an eight-run first inning to cruise to a 10-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Sunday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Okamoto had a two-run double in the first and leadoff man Lukes had two hits in the frame, including a three-run double to cap the big inning off Ryne Nelson (1-2), who retired one of the 10 batters he faced.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Vladimir Guerrero had three hits and two RBIs to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and Ernie Clement had two doubles as the Jays broke a four-game losing streak while tying season highs for runs and hits.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Okamoto homered in the third, his third of the season and first since March 30. He was in a 2 for 28 skid until singling twice in Arizona’s 6-2 win Saturday.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Jorge Barrosa had a two-run homer and Adrian Del Castillo had two hits and an RBI-double for the D-Backs, who had won four in a row and 10 of 13.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>Barrosa replaced Corbin Carroll in the top of the fifth inning after Carroll left with low back tightness, the Diamondbacks said.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>Kevin Gausman (1-1) gave up two runs on seven hits in six innings, with four strikeouts and one walk.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>D-Backs first baseman Ildemaro Vargas had a single to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 15 games, a franchise record. He has an 18-game hitting streak dating to last September, the longest active streak in the majors.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Jays had seven straight hits to open the game off Nelson and led 2-0 after eight pitches, 5-0 after 20 pitches and 8-0 after 30 pitches when Lukes’s three-run double knocked out Nelson.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Guerrero had a two-run single, Eloy Jimenez singled in a run and Okamoto had a two-run double to give the Jays a 5-0 lead. After a walk and a strikeout, Lukes lined an opposite field double into the left-field corner.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Blue #Jays #score #runs #rout #Diamondbacks

Deadspin | Masyn Winn powers Cardinals past Astros for extra-innings win  Apr 19, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) hits a single against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   Masyn Winn, whose two-out single sparked a four-run uprising in the fifth inning, delivered a bases-clearing double in the top of the 10th that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 win over the host Houston Astros and a three-game interleague series sweep.  Winn plated Ivan Herrera, Jordan Walker and Ramon Urias by driving an 0-1 fastball from Houston left-hander Bryan King (0-1) into the left-field corner. Winn, a Houston-area native, finished 5-for-15 with seven RBIs in the series.  The Astros countered the Cardinals’ four-run fifth by scoring three runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Yordan Alvarez ignited the comeback with his third home run of the series and 10th of the season, a solo shot off JoJo Romero before Jose Altuve singled and Christian Walker worked a 10-pitch walk. Isaac Paredes followed by snapping an 0-for-20 skid with a two-run single to right-center off Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien (3-0) that tied the game at 4-4.  Houston seized a 1-0 lead in the third against Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore when Taylor Trammell produced his first career triple with one out in the frame. Trammell scored when Carlos Correa lifted a sacrifice fly to Victor Scott II in shallow center, with Scott short-hopping his throw home off the mound.  Liberatore allowed one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings.   Astros starter Mike Burrows retired the first 14 batters he faced and had a two-strike count on Winn before the bottom suddenly fell out beneath him in the fifth. Winn bounced a 2-2 slider into left for the Cardinals’ first hit before Nathan Church walked and Pedro Pages reached on an infield single to Paredes at third that loaded the bases.  Scott tied the game with a bases-loaded walk that plated Winn, and JJ Wetherholt delivered a two-run single to right that scored Church and Pages and chased Burrows. Herrera greeted reliever Steven Okert with a single that capped the four-run rally.  Burrows allowed four runs on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. All three starters for the Astros in the series surrendered four earned runs.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Masyn #Winn #powers #Cardinals #Astros #extrainnings #winApr 19, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) hits a single against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Masyn Winn, whose two-out single sparked a four-run uprising in the fifth inning, delivered a bases-clearing double in the top of the 10th that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 win over the host Houston Astros and a three-game interleague series sweep.

Winn plated Ivan Herrera, Jordan Walker and Ramon Urias by driving an 0-1 fastball from Houston left-hander Bryan King (0-1) into the left-field corner. Winn, a Houston-area native, finished 5-for-15 with seven RBIs in the series.

The Astros countered the Cardinals’ four-run fifth by scoring three runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Yordan Alvarez ignited the comeback with his third home run of the series and 10th of the season, a solo shot off JoJo Romero before Jose Altuve singled and Christian Walker worked a 10-pitch walk. Isaac Paredes followed by snapping an 0-for-20 skid with a two-run single to right-center off Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien (3-0) that tied the game at 4-4.

Houston seized a 1-0 lead in the third against Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore when Taylor Trammell produced his first career triple with one out in the frame. Trammell scored when Carlos Correa lifted a sacrifice fly to Victor Scott II in shallow center, with Scott short-hopping his throw home off the mound.


Liberatore allowed one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings.

Astros starter Mike Burrows retired the first 14 batters he faced and had a two-strike count on Winn before the bottom suddenly fell out beneath him in the fifth. Winn bounced a 2-2 slider into left for the Cardinals’ first hit before Nathan Church walked and Pedro Pages reached on an infield single to Paredes at third that loaded the bases.

Scott tied the game with a bases-loaded walk that plated Winn, and JJ Wetherholt delivered a two-run single to right that scored Church and Pages and chased Burrows. Herrera greeted reliever Steven Okert with a single that capped the four-run rally.

Burrows allowed four runs on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. All three starters for the Astros in the series surrendered four earned runs.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Masyn #Winn #powers #Cardinals #Astros #extrainnings #win">Deadspin | Masyn Winn powers Cardinals past Astros for extra-innings win  Apr 19, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (0) hits a single against the Houston Astros during the sixth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images   Masyn Winn, whose two-out single sparked a four-run uprising in the fifth inning, delivered a bases-clearing double in the top of the 10th that lifted the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 win over the host Houston Astros and a three-game interleague series sweep.  Winn plated Ivan Herrera, Jordan Walker and Ramon Urias by driving an 0-1 fastball from Houston left-hander Bryan King (0-1) into the left-field corner. Winn, a Houston-area native, finished 5-for-15 with seven RBIs in the series.  The Astros countered the Cardinals’ four-run fifth by scoring three runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth. Yordan Alvarez ignited the comeback with his third home run of the series and 10th of the season, a solo shot off JoJo Romero before Jose Altuve singled and Christian Walker worked a 10-pitch walk. Isaac Paredes followed by snapping an 0-for-20 skid with a two-run single to right-center off Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien (3-0) that tied the game at 4-4.  Houston seized a 1-0 lead in the third against Cardinals starter Matthew Liberatore when Taylor Trammell produced his first career triple with one out in the frame. Trammell scored when Carlos Correa lifted a sacrifice fly to Victor Scott II in shallow center, with Scott short-hopping his throw home off the mound.  Liberatore allowed one run on three hits and two walks with four strikeouts over six innings.   Astros starter Mike Burrows retired the first 14 batters he faced and had a two-strike count on Winn before the bottom suddenly fell out beneath him in the fifth. Winn bounced a 2-2 slider into left for the Cardinals’ first hit before Nathan Church walked and Pedro Pages reached on an infield single to Paredes at third that loaded the bases.  Scott tied the game with a bases-loaded walk that plated Winn, and JJ Wetherholt delivered a two-run single to right that scored Church and Pages and chased Burrows. Herrera greeted reliever Steven Okert with a single that capped the four-run rally.  Burrows allowed four runs on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. All three starters for the Astros in the series surrendered four earned runs.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Masyn #Winn #powers #Cardinals #Astros #extrainnings #win

The NBA Defensive Player of the Year award has been around since 1983, and in that time, ​no player has ever received 100 per cent of the ‌first-place votes for the award.

Victor Wembanyama is now the ​first.

The San Antonio Spurs superstar centre ⁠received 100 first-place votes out of a possible 100 to unanimously win the prestigious award, the NBA announced on Monday.

“I’m super, ‌super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ‌ever unanimous,” he said on NBC Sports ‌Network.

Wembanyama, ⁠a candidate for Most Valuable Player, led ⁠the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third straight season in becoming the youngest player to ever earn the award (22 ​years, 98 days).

The two-time ‌All-Star also averaged career highs in points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5) while chipping in a steal per game for a Spurs team that compiled the second-best ‌record in the league (62-20) and also ranked No. ​3 in the league in defensive rating.

Wembanyama secured 500 points in the voting and ⁠joined fellow Spur legend David Robinson in becoming the only two players since 1991-92 to win the award within ‌their first three seasons.

That continues a remarkable tradition: a league-high four different Spurs players have now won the award a combined five times: Alvin Robertson (1986), Robinson, Kawhi Leonard (2015, 2016) and Wembanyama.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren finished second in the voting with 239 ‌points (76 second-place votes), while the Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson finished ​third with 60 points (nine second-place votes). The Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert (41 points) and the Raptors’ Scottie ⁠Barnes (21 points) rounded out the top five.

“He changes the game ⁠so much,” Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter marveled Sunday after Wembanyama’s dominant effort in San ‌Antonio’s playoff-opening 111-98 victory over Portland. Wembanyama set a franchise record with 35 points in his playoff ​debut, adding two blocks on the defensive end for good measure.

Published on Apr 21, 2026

#Victor #Wembanyama #unanimously #named #NBA #Defensive #Player #Year">Victor Wembanyama unanimously named NBA Defensive Player of the Year  The NBA Defensive Player of the Year award has been around since 1983, and in that time, ​no player has ever received 100 per cent of the ‌first-place votes for the award.Victor Wembanyama is now the ​first.The San Antonio Spurs superstar centre ⁠received 100 first-place votes out of a possible 100 to unanimously win the prestigious award, the NBA announced on Monday.“I’m super, ‌super happy to win this award and actually super proud to be the first ‌ever unanimous,” he said on NBC Sports ‌Network.Wembanyama, ⁠a candidate for Most Valuable Player, led ⁠the league in blocks (3.1 per game) for the third straight season in becoming the youngest player to ever earn the award (22 ​years, 98 days).The two-time ‌All-Star also averaged career highs in points (25.0) and rebounds (11.5) while chipping in a steal per game for a Spurs team that compiled the second-best ‌record in the league (62-20) and also ranked No. ​3 in the league in defensive rating.Wembanyama secured 500 points in the voting and ⁠joined fellow Spur legend David Robinson in becoming the only two players since 1991-92 to win the award within ‌their first three seasons.That continues a remarkable tradition: a league-high four different Spurs players have now won the award a combined five times: Alvin Robertson (1986), Robinson, Kawhi Leonard (2015, 2016) and Wembanyama.The Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren finished second in the voting with 239 ‌points (76 second-place votes), while the Detroit Pistons’ Ausar Thompson finished ​third with 60 points (nine second-place votes). The Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert (41 points) and the Raptors’ Scottie ⁠Barnes (21 points) rounded out the top five.“He changes the game ⁠so much,” Trail Blazers coach Tiago Splitter marveled Sunday after Wembanyama’s dominant effort in San ‌Antonio’s playoff-opening 111-98 victory over Portland. Wembanyama set a franchise record with 35 points in his playoff ​debut, adding two blocks on the defensive end for good measure.Published on Apr 21, 2026  #Victor #Wembanyama #unanimously #named #NBA #Defensive #Player #Year

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