In 33 days, you will learn the identity of the Minnesota Vikings’ 1st-Round draft pick, assuming interim general manager Rob Brzezinski doesn’t trade out of the pick. And after free agency, in addition to the NFL Combine, the purple team has a few clear draft frontrunners.
Minnesota’s pick at No. 18 still points heavily toward defense in late April.
Minnesota will pick 18th on draft night — April 23rd — and all signs point to a defensive player that evening out of the gate.
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Four Names Rising to the Top of Minnesota’s Draft Board
Ranked in ascending order, these men are most likely to end up with the Vikings in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft (No. 1 = current draft frontrunner).
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) lines up during second-quarter action at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, Sep. 6, 2025. The standout defender worked the interior with strength and quickness, disrupting the opposing offense while anchoring Clemson’s defensive front in an early-season home contest. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images.
4. Peter Woods (DT) | Clemson
Woods ranks 21st on the current Consensus Big Board. He’s the top defensive tackle, according to the draft community, and within the last two weeks, the Vikings have said sayonara to Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, their two starting DTs from last season.
The clues hint toward an interior defensive lineman somewhat early in the draft. If that assumption is correct, the clearest path to minimize risk — the other highly-touted DT prospect is Florida’s Caleb Banks, who’s injured and carries a “boom or bust” draft reputation — is Woods.
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Think of it this way: if the Vikings stick-and-pick at No. 18 and they want a defensive tackle, Woods will probably become a Viking on April 23rd.
3. Emmanuel McNeill-Warren (S) | Toledo
This would likely be the “trade down” method. Some say the 2026 draft’s sweet spot is the 2nd and 3rd Rounds. There’s a world where Minnesota agrees to trade the 18th overall pick to a team like the Kansas City Chiefs or the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a couple of 3rd-Rounders.
Then, Brzezinski could pick McNeill-Warren from Toledo, nominate him as the long-term Harrison Smith replacement plan, and feast on two extra 3rd-Rounders.
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It’s worth noting that some fans will wince over a trade-back-then-draft-a-safety arrangement. That plan flopped in 2022 when former boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung and missed on Lewis Cine.
2. Avieon Terrell (CB) | Clemson
In the last 10 years, the Vikings have drafted these cornerbacks:
Mackensie Alexander
Mekhi Blackmon
Andrew Booth
Kris Boyd
Cameron Dantzler
Akayleb Evans
Jeff Gladney
Harrison Hand
Mike Hughes
Khyree Jackson
Two passed away. Others were not cut out for long-term sustainability in the NFL. And none secured a second contract with the Vikings, aside from Alexander, who returned for a one-year stint after venturing elsewhere.
Clemson Tigers cornerback Avieon Terrell (8) celebrates after a defensive play during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks, Nov. 29, 2025, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. The defensive back showed energy and confidence early as Clemson battled its in-state rival in a heated matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images.
Terrell ranks 22nd on the Consensus Big Board. LSU’s Mansoor Delane will probably be the first corner drafted, but after him, Terrell to Minnesota checks some boxes if the franchise is ready to dream big at cornerback after all the tragedies and failures.
Pro Football Focus‘s Max Chadwick mocked Terrell to Minnesota earlier this month and noted, “The Vikings have finished outside the top 15 of team PFF coverage grade in each of the past six seasons and need plenty of help in their secondary. Terrell’s 90.6 PFF overall grade over the past two seasons ranked fifth among Power Four cornerbacks.”
1. Dillon Thieneman (S) | Oregon
If you’re a human, and you’re publishing an NFL mock draft right now, a mysterious force overtakes your hand, guiding the mouse to Thieneman’s name at the Vikings’ No. 18 spot. Those are the rules; the galaxy demands it.
That’s how frequent and fervent the Thieneman buzz is for the Vikings right now — every mainstream mock draft connects him to the purple team.
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Thieneman fired up an NFL Combine for the ages, and he’s become a rapid riser, once on deck for Round 2 placement but now shoved into Round 1, usually at the Vikings’ spot. He ran a 4.35 forty in Indianapolis and nailed all the drills.
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman assists linebacker Bryce Boettcher during warmups at Oregon Pro Day, Mar. 17, 2026, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon. The defensive prospect moved through drills and preparation work as scouts observed closely ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft process. Mandatory Credit: Ben Lonergan-Imagn Images.
The Draft Network‘s Keith Sanchez on Thieneman to Minnesota: “This pick just seems to align perfectly. The Minnesota Vikings just saw safety Harrison Smith retire from the NFL, and now they have a hole at the position. Dillon Thieneman is coming off of one of the best NFL Combine performances in recent memory, which elevated his draft stock. Thieneman can come right in and fill a need defensively.”
No matter what Harrison Smith decides about retirement or a return, Minnesota could draft Thieneman in Round 1 and call it good.
It would be preposterous as of March 21st to suggest Thieneman is not the Vikings’ mock-draft darling. He’s everywhere.
Serge Gnabry bagged a brace and Harry Kane inched closer to the Bundesliga single-season goals record as Bayern Munich beat Union Berlin 4-0 at home on Saturday. Michael Olise also got on the scoresheet as Bundesliga leaders Bayern went 12 clear. Borussia Dortmund can return the gap to nine points with a win at home to Hamburg in Saturday’s late game. Kane’s second-half goal took him to 31 goals this campaign — the same number Union have scored all season — and 10 short of Robert Lewandowski’s mark from 2020-21, with seven games to play.
“It’s still possible, I just have to keep doing what I’m doing,” Kane told reporters about the record.
“All it takes is a hat-trick or a couple of braces in a row and then it’ll look a bit more likely.”
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Bayern now have 97 goals this season, four short of the best mark set in 1971-72, when Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Mueller helped the Bavarian giants tear through the Bundesliga.
Coach Vincent Kompany made five changes from the side which thumped Atalanta on Wednesday to set up a Champions League quarter-final clash with Real Madrid, but kept Kane front and centre.
Union had never beaten Bayern in 14 clashes and held out until the 41st minute, when Olise collected a punted Leon Goretzka pass and curled the ball into the top corner.
Gnabry made it two just before the break, knocking in a rebound at the far post.
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Kane pirouetted and curled in Bayern’s third just after the break, boosting his tally to 48 in 40 games in all competitions this season.
Gnabry was again in the right place to volley in with 67 minutes gone and add gloss to another big Bayern win.
Bayer Leverkusen’s top-four hopes took a hit with a 3-3 draw at rock-bottom Heidenheim after leading 2-0 at half-time and 3-2 with five minutes remaining.
The draw leaves Leverkusen sixth, four points behind RB Leipzig, Stuttgart and Hoffenheim, who are all level on 50 points. Stuttgart have a game in hand.
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“I’m speechless,” goalkeeper Mark Flekken told DAZN. “We talked at half-time about not getting complacent.”
Hoping to bounce back from Tuesday’s Champions League exit at Arsenal, first-half goals to Malik Tillmann and Patrik Schick had Leverkusen on course for a routine win.
Heidenheim fought back to level the match through a Hennes Behrens goal and a Marvin Pieringer penalty. Schick once again gave Leverkusen the lead with a header but Pieringer levelled things up from a corner with 85 minutes gone.
Justin Njinmah scored the only goal as Werder Bremen won 1-0 at Wolfsburg to push their hosts closer to a first ever Bundesliga relegation.
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Second-last with just one victory in the calendar year, 2009 German champions Wolfsburg could be six points from safety if St Pauli beat Freiburg on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Rhine Derby rivals Cologne and Borussia Moenchengladbach played out a 3-3 draw.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
WWE Superstar Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch recently took to social media to drop a massive teaser related to an upcoming announcement. The two shared a collaborative Instagram post.
Both Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch currently perform on Monday Night RAW. The Man is in a heated feud with AJ Lee, and they are expected to clash for the Women’s Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 42. Meanwhile, many reports suggest that Bron Breakker will return soon to set up a match against The Visionary at this year’s Show of Shows.
Thanks for the submission!
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On the Road to WrestleMania 42, the husband-wife duo has shared a massive teaser. Rollins and Lynch recently took to Instagram to share a collaborative post about an upcoming announcement, teasing that they are launching something major.
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Although they didn’t mention the details of this announcement, many fans believe it could be related to their coffee project with Dayglow Coffee, which Big Time Becks teased last month. They also confirmed that the reveal will happen on March 23, 2026.
“ANNOUNCEMENT INCOMING. 03.23.2026. From Us, With Love. R+C,” the post read.
Check out the Instagram post below:
WWE star Seth Rollins dropped a major retirement tease
The Visionary added that he still had a lot to give back to pro wrestling and was excited that he was a part of the Road to WWE WrestleMania 42.
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“I’m closer to the end of my career than the beginning, but I still feel like I have a lot to give. I’m excited to be able to do that as we march forward to WrestleMania,” Rollins said.
It remains to be seen what the Triple H-led creative team has planned for the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion at this year’s Show of Shows.
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Lerone Murphy called for a title shot after beating Aaron Pico (Getty)
Elsewhere on the UFC London card, Paddy Pimblett’s teammates Luke Riley and Shem Rock step out to represent Liverpool, Michael “Venom” Page and Sam Patterson meet in an all-British bout, and fan favourite Nathaniel Wood is in action.
The event will take place at the O2 Arena on Saturday 21 March. The prelims will begin at 5pm GMT (10am PT / 12pm CT / 1pm ET), with the main card following at 8pm GMT (1pm PT / 3pm CT / 4pm ET).
How can I watch it?
In the UK, the main card will air live on TNT Sports and is also accessible via Discovery+, EE TV, Virgin Media, Amazon Prime Video, and Sky Sports; beforehand, the early and regular prelims will stream live on UFC Fight Pass. In the US, Paramount+ will stream the action.
Hubert Davis’ future as the head coach at North Carolina is in doubt, sources told CBS Sports.
Davis did not have contact with his staff for nearly 24 hours from Friday morning into Saturday’s previously scheduled team meeting, a source said, adding to speculation and growing expectation that a massive change could be coming in Chapel Hill. If there is a reverse-course that allows Davis to stay on for a sixth season, it would be a surprise to a lot of people in and around the program.
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham added some clarity on Saturday morning, telling CBS Sports that no decision has been made on Davis’ future.
“Every year at the end of the season, it’s important to evaluate all facets of the program and look for ways to improve,” Cunningham texted. “The Chancellor, [incoming athletic director Steve Newmark] and I are doing that together now and will continue to have discussions over the coming days.”
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If a change is coming, it’s not expected before the end of the weekend. Davis is meeting with North Carolina brass on Saturday. The team had a regularly scheduled meeting on Saturday as well, which, per sources, was business as usual.
The potential impending change was catalyzed by the Tar Heels blowing a 19-point lead with 14 minutes remaining against No. 11 VCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The collapse was the largest by any team in the first round in the history of March Madness and was also a third straight loss to end UNC’s season.
The Tar Heels were without their best player — star freshman and projected top-10 pick Caleb Wilson — who missed the final nine games due to two separate hand and thumb injuries.
If a move is made, it would be an earthquake for college basketball. North Carolina is unequivocally considered one of the four best and most prestigious jobs in the sport alongside the likes of fellow blue bloods Duke, Kansas and Kentucky. In the eyes of some, the Tar Heels job sits at No. 1. A split with Davis would also signify profound move. For the first time in 74 years, the program would almost definitely go outside of the Carolina family to find its next men’s basketball coach.
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The lineage dates back to 1952, when Frank McGuire was brought on. McGuire won a national title in 1957 and stayed until 1961, when then-assistant Dean Smith was promoted and went on to build out one of the most impactful and legendary coaching careers in college sports history. From Smith to Bill Guthridge to Matt Doherty to Roy Williams to Davis, every men’s basketball coach at UNC has been linked from one tenure to another for seven-plus decades.
Davis, a 55-year-old UNC alum, was handed the blue blood job in 2021 after Roy Williams’ retirement at the conclusion of that season. Davis, who starred at UNC from 1988 to 1992, has been with the program since 2012. As a head coach, he has a 125-54 record (.698) and made the NCAA Tournament in four years. The one year he missed, in 2023, infamously came after the Tar Heels were the preseason No. 1 team, making UNC the only school to ever not make the Big Dance after being awarded a preseason No. 1 ranking.
🏀 How each UNC season under Hubert Davis has ended
Season
Finish
Result
Notes
2025-26
NCAA Tournament
First Round loss (vs. VCU)
Blew a 19-point lead in a historic collapse
2024-25
NCAA Tournament
First Round loss (vs. Ole Miss)
Advanced from the First Four, then fell in the Round of 64
2023-24
NCAA Tournament
Sweet 16 loss (vs. Alabama)
No. 1 seed and ACC regular-season champion
2022-23
No postseason
Missed NCAA Tournament
Declined an NIT bid after becoming the first preseason No. 1 to miss the field
2021-22
NCAA Tournament
National runner-up (lost to Kansas)
Beat Duke in the Final Four in Mike Krzyzewski’s final game
A primary group of boosters met late Friday afternoon with UNC stakeholders, a source said, to gain clarity on whether keeping Davis was feasible. The verdict: If Davis stays, the money for roster-buildilng next season would likely be flimsy. North Carolina has the No. 26 recruiting class in 2026, including the nation’s No. 8 player Dylan Mingo, who is committed but not signed. The Tar Heels last transfer cycle brought in four blue-chip talents to pair with Wilson out of the high school ranks, a big spend that did not deliver the expected return on investment at the end of the season.
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One source told CBS Sports that there is “no conceivable way to fund a roster through donor money, it can’t be raised to fund the team next year” under Davis because almost most of the boosters at UNC have “lost faith in the program.”
That source also stressed that North Carolina is seriously cash-strapped due to the humongous investments in football under Bill Belichick.
And yet, in that meeting Friday afternoon, the big money people did voice a critical piece to all of this: They believe they could rally the money to pay off Davis’ remaining years on his contract and would doubly band the base together to fund the buyout for whatever big-name coach can be brought in over the next couple of weeks if a change is made.
Mike Tyson set many world records throughout his boxing career but one former heavyweight world champion looks poised to break one of them upon his return.
When Roy Jones Jr ended a five-year hiatus to box UFC star Anthony Pettis, ‘Captain Hook’ broke Jack Johnson’s record as the former heavyweight world champion with the longest boxing career, having fought professionally for over 33 years (12,384 days).
Another veteran who made a return, and maintained his activity, is former WBC heavyweight king Oliver McCall, who has boxed three times since November 2024, registering two stoppage wins and a draw.
At present, McCall’s professional career, which began in November 1985 and currently extends to June 2025, consists of a total of 14,458 days – just 41 short of Tyson’s record.
However, in an interview with World Boxing News, Jimmy Adams of Country Box, the promotional outfit which has staged McCall’s recent fights, confirmed that ‘The Atomic Bull’ will return to the ring during 2026.
“He is fighting again. For real, Oliver called me personally to say he wants to go again, and I’m looking to get him a date soon on Country Box,”
Any fight from this point onwards will see McCall become the new record-holder as the former heavyweight world champion with the longest professional career. Yet, another professional outing from Tyson cannot be ruled out, with his exhibition against Floyd Mayweather poised to take place next month.
Mar 8, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) reacts after a three-point basket against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images
Washington Wizards point guard Trae Young is dealing with a right quadriceps contusion and lower back irritation, the team announced Saturday.
“Both injuries are being treated conservatively and will not require surgery at this time,” the team said in a press release. “Further updates will be provided as appropriate.”
Young, 27, reinjured his quadriceps in the third quarter of Washington’s 125-117 loss to the Golden State Warriors and did not appear in back-to-back losses to the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Wizards (16-53) take a 14-game losing streak into their Saturday game against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Acquired in a Jan. 9 trade with the Atlanta Hawks, Young made his Washington debut on March 5. It was the four-time All-Star’s first action since Dec. 27 due to a quadriceps contusion and an MCL sprain.
Young has averaged 15.2 points and 6.2 assists in five starts for the Wizards. He has been limited to 20.8 minutes per game, well below his career average of 34.1.
Since being drafted No. 5 overall in 2018, Young owns career averages of 25.1 points, 9.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds in 498 games (all starts) with the Hawks and Wizards.
In March Madness, it often comes down to the little things, but for UCF center John Bol, his blunder was not a little thing: he scored on his own basket.
In the first half of No. 7 UCLA’s 75-71 win over No. 10 UCF on Friday night at the Wells Fargo Center, Bol tapped a rebound into his own basket.
With just under two minutes left in the first half and the shot clock winding down, UCLA guard Donovan Dent shot a desperation 3-pointer. Bol, instead of corralling Dent’s miss and turning the other way, tapped the ball into his basket to increase UCLA’s lead to 35-21.
UCF Knights center John Bol (7) reacts against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 2026.(Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)
It was the beginning of a rough night for Bol, who went 0-5 from the free throw line with an unorthodox free-throw motion. The 7-foot-2 center scored two points on the night, contributing as many points to his own team as he did to the other team.
Bol’s own basket was not the only odd event during the game, as UCLA guard Skyy Clark also lost a tooth during the game.
UCF Knights guard Riley Kugel (2) and center John Bol (7) react in the first half of a first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 2026.(Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)
UCF made it close late, erasing a double-digit deficit from the first half, but was not able to cap off the comeback, adding more significance to Bol’s own basket.
Jordan Burks led UCF in the loss with 22 points and six rebounds. Jamichael Stillwell (10 points), Themus Fulks (10 points) and Riley Kugel (13 points) were the only other players to score in double figures in the loss.
UCF Knights center John Bol (7) reacts in the first half of a first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 20, 2026.(Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
Eric Dailey Jr. led the Bruins with 20 points and five rebounds, while Trent Perry and Xavier Booker each had 15 points in the win.
UCLA will play No. 2 seed UConn in the Round of 32 on Sunday at 8:45 p.m. ET.
Afterward, Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer called it his toughest March Madness moment.
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“Toughest one,” he told reporters after the 71-65 win. “Not close. Toughest moment, toughest game, toughest position I’ve ever been in in the tournament, no question about it.”
What channel is Duke vs TCU? Streaming, how to watch
The game is airing on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
Odds provided by BetMGM as of 1:15 p.m., Saturday.
Moneyline: Duke (-800); TCU (+550)
Cameron Boozer NBA draft stock, mock draft predictions
Boozer is widely projected as a top-3 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Here’s a look at where various mock drafts from major outlets have the Duke freshman going:
Is Cameron Boozer related to Carlos Boozer?
Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, Cayden (also a freshman for Duke) are the sons of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer.
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Before his 13-year career in the NBA, Carlos Boozer was a standout forward for the Blue Devils under Mike Krzyzewski from 1999-2002. A member of Duke’s 2001 national championship team, Carlos Boozer finished his three-year career with the Blue Devils with more than 1,500 points scored and started 93 of the 101 games in which he appeared.
Jamie Dixon coaching record: How long has Jamie Dixon coached TCU?
This is Dixon’s 10th season as TCU’s head coach. Dixon returned to his alma mater after after a 13-year run as head coach at Pitt.
Dixon is 199-137 with the Horned Frogs and has led TCU to five NCAA Tournament appearances.
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Has TCU ever reached Sweet 16?
TCU reached the Regional Final in 1968 but only 23 teams were in the NCAA Tournament that year. So the Horned Frogs have never won a Round of 32 game.
Detroit Tigers top prospect Max Clark had a very honest reaction after seeing a 102.4 mph fastball on the first pitch of the game.
Clark was the leadoff batter for the Tigers in their 8-7 loss to the Pirates in their Spring Breakout game and was up against top prospect Seth Hernandez. Hernandez’s first pitch was a 102.4 mph fastball above the zone, and it got Clark’s attention.
“What the f—,” Clark could be seen saying after the pitch went by him.
Detroit Tigers outfielder Max Clark (31) warms up before a prospects game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on March 20, 2026.(Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Clark, 21, ended up walking in the at-bat. Hernandez ended up inducing an inning-ending ground ball double play to conclude his lone inning of the game.
The game between the Tigers and Pirates was part of MLB’s Spring Breakout, which is an annual four-day event with exhibition games between the top prospects from all of MLB’s teams during spring training.
Max Clark (31) of the Detroit Tigers looks on after batting in the sixth inning during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on March 20, 2026.(Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Clark is the No. 2 overall prospect in the Tigers farm system, according to MLB.com. Last season at High-A and Double-A, Clark hit .271 with 14 home runs and 67 RBI, and could make his big league debut this season, where he will see a lot of high-octane heat like Hernandez’s.
Hernandez, 19, was drafted by the No. 6 overall pick by the Pirates in last year’s draft. Hernandez already has a legitimate four-pitch mix and will begin his season in rookie ball.
Seth Hernandez (25) of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches during a game between the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida, on March 20, 2026.(Julio Aguilar/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Pirates organization hopes that Hernandez, alongside top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler, will slot in behind National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes atop their rotation for years to come.
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