The scoreboard stays?except when U2 arrive at Cowboys Stadium. After a week of threats and much gnashing of teeth, the Dallas Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones, has got his way. As usual.
His 71-foot high, 60-yard wide HD videoboard suspended over the centre of the pitch will not have to be lifted at the new Cowboys Stadium even though a rookie punter from the Tennessee Titans drilled it with a punt last week that caused the referees to be dumbfounded, Titans' coach Jeff Fisher to throw out a challenge flag and the NFL competition committee to come up with a first-ever "scoreboard ground rule".
Initially, the league said it would demand Jones lift the videoboard, which Jones had ordered placed at 90 feet above the field so it would be easily visible for his highest paying customers in luxury boxes. Jones claimed it would cost US$2 million (Dh7.3m) to permanently move it and that he had no intention of doing so, especially because he had asked the league for height clearance before it was installed and then had the board installed five feet higher than their recommendation of 85 feet above the field.
The league vice-president, Ray Anderson, initially said: "Competitive issues and integrity of the games is the primary focus". Then Jones reminded him that the $2m was coming out of the league's hide and not his if they demanded he move it. Jones also reminded the NFL he had legal clearance to put the videoboard at that height from them and was not paying to move it except on October 12, when he had already agreed to have it hydraulically lifted to make room for the rock band's U2's 100-foot high stage.
Other than that, he said, the videoboard stays and punters had better get used to it because the 60-yard wide monstrosity was a selling point to some of his highest paying suite holders. Move it and how long would it be before someone's lawyers were moving to sue the Cowboys?
"How high is high if somebody just wants to sit there and kick straight up," Jones said after the initial flap, insinuating AJ Trapasso had purposely hit the bottom of the scoreboard by launching a punt at the videoboard instead of downfield in a pre-season game after he and first-string punter Craig Hentrich both hit it in pre-game warm-ups.
"I must have hit it 14 times," Hentrich later claimed.
"In a competitive game situation it's not a factor," Jones argued, suggesting the idea is to punt the ball down the field not into the bottom of the videoboard.
The NFL finally ruled on Friday it would not have to be moved "for now" and that if a punt hit the scoreboard the down would be replayed and the time put back on the clock.
The league also said if the game officials missed it because they are not charged with following the flight of a punt once it is kicked, a coach could challenge and it would be checked by replay.
"Replay was not intended for these types of things," Fisher complained. "I don't want to be forced to use a challenge opportunity for that."
So the season will begin with inquiring minds anxiously awaiting December 13, when the San Diego Chargers come to Dallas to play a game that could easily have play-off implications.
With them will come Mike Scifres, a man who lofts his punts so high it is emphasised in his biography in the team's media guide.
Might he hit it time after time, turning the game into a mockery?
Nobody knows but if he does, it won't just be for Bono that Jerry Jones uses those hydraulics to lift his prize possession.
It will be to save face for the NFL.
rborges@thenational.ae
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
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Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
If you go
The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.
The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).
When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.
Company%20Profile
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The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
MORE ON TURKEY'S SYRIA OFFENCE
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Fixtures (6pm UAE unless stated)
Saturday Bournemouth v Leicester City, Chelsea v Manchester City (8.30pm), Huddersfield v Tottenham Hotspur (3.30pm), Manchester United v Crystal Palace, Stoke City v Southampton, West Bromwich Albion v Watford, West Ham United v Swansea City
Sunday Arsenal v Brighton (3pm), Everton v Burnley (5.15pm), Newcastle United v Liverpool (6.30pm)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded