J12 watch as the appointed chronograph. Set against a backdrop of luxury megadeals with sporting events, the Boat Race is a relative minnow. What did Chanel see in it? “I am sure it’s perceived as unexpected,” says Frédéric Grangié, the president of Chanel watches and fine jewellery, of the long-term partnership. “I had been thinking for […]
J12 watch as the appointed chronograph. Set against a backdrop of luxury megadeals with sporting events, the Boat Race is a relative minnow. What did Chanel see in it? “I am sure it’s perceived as unexpected,” says Frédéric Grangié, the president of Chanel watches and fine jewellery, of the long-term partnership. “I had been thinking for years about timekeeping and synchronicity and how you express that.”
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His first meeting with executives from The Boat Race, the company that organises the contest, was auspicious: it took place on 10 June, the same date as the first men’s race almost 200 years ago. The 2025 race will coincide with 100 years of Chanel’s presence in the UK, and 25 years since the J12 watch was released.
A keen back-country skier, but not a rower, Grangié believes the Boat Race is “culturally extraordinarily important”. He sees in the near-perfect moment of calibration when individual rowers perform in sync, known as “swing”, a neat parallel for the beat of the J12’s Calibre 12.1 automatic movement. (The watch takes its name from 12m J Class racing yachts.) “What’s amazing is that the race itself is a perfect illustration of what it takes to make some of the greatest watches in the world: the collective pursuit of excellence, and the engine itself.”
Then there is founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s love of nautical sports. “She was all about freedom of movement,” says Grangié, citing her 1921 creation of a sport department. Given that Chanel spent a lot of time in London in the 1920s while conducting a love affair with the Duke of Westminster, Grangié thinks “for sure she knew about the race”.
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But why should anyone – let alone a Frenchman – still care about a 20-minute collegiate rowing fixture? Perhaps the oddity of the Boat Race is dictated by the sport itself. Paradoxically, this most physically demanding of activities is also a profoundly mental exercise. The front-loaded Boat Race, in particular, requires rowing at full pelt while enduring acute pain. “Your legs hurt, your lungs are burning. It’s a mental challenge: how do you keep going?” says Oxford women’s president Annie Anezakis.
Mental fortitude is inculcated by seven months of pitch-black 5am starts and 8,000kcal diets fuelling 12 mud-slathered training sessions a week, in below-freezing and skin-soaking conditions. After five hours of daily training, athletes hit the library. Anezakis, for instance, has a pharmacology master’s and is studying graduate-entry medicine; her Cambridge counterpart Lucy Havard, who is ineligible to race but is part of the squad, is a qualified doctor studying for a history PhD.
Effective eights must subordinate individual strength to the collective’s propulsive rhythm. “It’s the ultimate team sport,” says Oxford men’s president Tom Mackintosh, an Olympic gold medallist for New Zealand’s men’s eight and the reigning world bronze medallist in the single scull. This is his first Boat Race. “You’ve got to get eight or nine people doing the exact same thing, in a high-pressure environment, for between – at an Olympic level – five to seven minutes, and the Boat Race, for about 15 minutes. Total cohesion is a skill.” It also brings rewards: a 2009 study of 12 rowers from the Oxford squad found that teammates who exercised together were able to tolerate twice as much pain as when they trained alone.
“There’s a real intensity to a race when it’s just you and one other crew. It feels like it’s life or death,” says Cambridge men’s president Luca Ferraro, who has won two out of three of his Boat Race campaigns. “People identify as dark or light blue, there is no in‑between,” agrees Anezakis. Winning means everything, says Ferraro: “Crossing the line with eight of your best friends, it’s complete ecstasy.”
But it’s the mundane moments that create lasting relationships. When asked about their favourite Boat Race memories, not one rower mentions race day. “So much of it is just the process,” says Ferraro. “You have to enjoy doing physically challenging sessions on the rowing machine, then having a meal when you feel cooked; everyone else feels cooked. You enjoy that feeling together.” Sarah Winckless, the two-time British world champion who rowed in three Boat Races for Cambridge and will umpire 2025’s men’s race, cherishes a car journey back from training. “I had just been selected for the boat, and ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’ came on the radio,” she says. “You can imagine the bad singing. But I was so happy!”
Are rowers made of stronger stuff? Mark de Rond, a Cambridge University professor and anthropologist, thinks so. De Rond studies subcultures by immersing himself in distinct social groups, including spending seven hours a day for 199 days with the Cambridge male crew training for the 2007 race. “They are people who would be unhappy with anything that’s not as perfect as they can make it, in any aspect of their life. That’s why rowers are great students. They turn up to class before anyone else,” he laughs.
What does it take to win? “When Hugh Laurie lost the Boat Race in 1980, he said something like ‘the Boat Race is won as soon as one of the crews decide they can no longer win’. On race day, the crews will be roughly on par physiologically,” says de Rond. “What’s going to differentiate them in large part is how headstrong they are.” Laurie also had a theory on why the “exquisite” pleasure of winning a rowing race remains unequalled: “You’re facing backwards, so you’re looking at the person you’re beating.” When you put it that way, who wouldn’t want to be involved?
The Boat Race 2025 is on 13 April; theboatrace.org
Milner gets Brighton extension for 24th season with a Premier League record in sight
Associated Press BRIGHTON, England (AP) — James Milner will get another chance to become the player with the most appearances in the Premier League era. The 39-year-old midfielder, who is 15 appearances short of Gareth Barry’s record (653), has signed a one-year contract extension with Brighton. Milner sustained a serious knee injury that limited him […]
BRIGHTON, England (AP) — James Milner will get another chance to become the player with the most appearances in the Premier League era.
The 39-year-old midfielder, who is 15 appearances short of Gareth Barry’s record (653), has signed a one-year contract extension with Brighton.
Milner sustained a serious knee injury that limited him to just four league games last season. He made his 638th appearance on the last day of the season, coming off the bench in a 4-1 victory over Tottenham.
“Last season he wasn’t able to help the team on the pitch as much as he would have liked, but around the squad his experience is invaluable, especially for the younger players,” Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler said in the team’s announcement Friday.
“He’s a great guy to have in our environment, who is always there for me and the team,” said Hurzeler, who is seven years younger than Milner. “I’m looking forward to working with him again.”
Milner, who will turn 40 in January, made his debut at age 16 for Leeds in November 2002.
He’s entering his record-extending 24th season overall and third at Brighton — he made 15 league appearances in the 2023-24 season — after eight years at Liverpool. Milner has also played for Manchester City, Aston Villa and Newcastle.
Milner made 61 international appearances for England from 2009-16.
Williamsport — Marshall, Parker & Weber, an estate planning and elder law firm founded by Jeff Marshall, widely recognized as the “Father of Elder Law,” celebrated its 45th anniversary with area professionals on May 22 at its 29th Annual Professional Update. The 29th Annual Professional Update featured “The Year in Review” by Principal Matthew […]
Williamsport — Marshall, Parker & Weber, an estate planning and elder law firm founded by Jeff Marshall, widely recognized as the “Father of Elder Law,” celebrated its 45th anniversary with area professionals on May 22 at its 29th Annual Professional Update.
The 29th Annual Professional Update featured “The Year in Review” by Principal Matthew J. Parker, where Parker reviewed what has changed in the past year regarding seniors and a look at what lies ahead for the law and regulations. The second session was a panel comprised of Nathan Grenoble, Grenoble Funeral Homes; Loni Kline, senior VP for college relations and chief philanthropy officer at Pennsylvania College of Technology; and Principal Tammy A. Weber, addressing “End of Life Planning for Clients.”
The three panelists focused on planning for one’s intentions at death, drawing unique correlations between funeral, philanthropy and Medicaid planning. Cathy Sikorski, Esquire gave the keynote presentation, “Can We Talk?” Sikorski, an elder law attorney, author and caregiver, gave a humorous but meaningful take on the benefits of professional collaboration.
“We’ve been at the forefront of elder law for over four decades, and we know how essential it is to stay up to date with the ever-changing landscape,” said Parker. “This year’s Professional Update highlighted the latest legal developments, trends, and strategies to help professionals better serve their clients.”
MPW also provides no-cost information to the community through its monthly series Open-Door Sessions. These free, in-person sessions provide community members with the chance to ask estate planning and elder law questions directly to Marshall, Parker & Weber’s Certified Elder Law Attorneys, offering expert guidance on issues that can often be overwhelming.
“At MPW, we believe that no one should have to navigate these topics alone. That’s why we’ve opened our doors to both the community and the professionals who serve them,” said Weber. “As the field of Elder Law continues to evolve, we want to ensure that people have the support they need to make informed decisions. These Open-Door Sessions are our way of giving back, as we’ve always done.”
Police say they have recovered writings in a car used by suspect in shooting of Minnesota lawmakers
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Police have recovered writings that mentioned the names of multiple lawmakers and other officials in the fake police car they believe a suspect used in the shooting of two legislators in Minnesota. Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said that the writings that were recovered identified many lawmakers and other […]
BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. — Police have recovered writings that mentioned the names of multiple lawmakers and other officials in the fake police car they believe a suspect used in the shooting of two legislators in Minnesota.
Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said that the writings that were recovered identified many lawmakers and other officials. The writings were discovered when officers searched a phony police car they believe the suspect used.
Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her spouse were shot and killed early Saturday in their Brooklyn Park home. A second state lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, were shot multiple times in Champlin. Officials say both Hortman and Hoffman were mentioned in the suspect’s writings.
“When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state. We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary,” said Bruley.
Authorities were actively searching for a suspect in the hours following the shootings.
Gov. Tim Walz said Hortman and Hoffman were deliberately targeted.
“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence,” Walz said at a press conference Saturday. “Those responsible for this will be held accountable.”
Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota. Hoffman and his wife have one daughter. He represents a district north of Minneapolis.
At the time of her death, Hortman was the top Democratic leader in the state Legislature. She was also a former House speaker. She was first elected in 2004. She and her husband had two children.
Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that authorities were actively searching for a suspect.
Autopsies will be done to determine extent of injuries, but Hortman and her spouse died from gunshot wounds, Evans said. A “shelter in place” order was in effect early Saturday.
Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said the suspect was posing as a law enforcement officer.
“Suspect exploited the trust of our uniforms, what our uniforms are meant to represent. That betrayal is deeply disturbing to those of us who wear the badge with honor and responsibility,” he said.
Police Chief Mark Bruley said the suspect fled out of the back of Hortman’s house after an exchange of gunfire with police.
The suspect was dressed like a uniformed officer and operating a vehicle that “looked exactly like an SUV squad car. It was equipped with lights, emergency lights and looked exactly like a police vehicle,” Bruley said.
President Donald Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI would join in the investigation.
“Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”
Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack “evil” and said she was “heartbroken beyond words” by the killings of Hortman and her husband, Mark.
“With the law enforcement response ongoing and details still emerging, I will simply ask all Minnesotans to please lift up in prayer the victims of this horrific attack, as well as the law enforcement personnel still working to apprehend the perpetrator,” Demuth said in a statement.
The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated during a time of deep political divisions.
GIFFORDS, the national gun violence prevention organization led by former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, released the following statement.
“My family and I know the horror of a targeted shooting all too well,” Giffords said. “An attack against lawmakers is an attack on American democracy itself. Leaders must speak out and condemn the fomenting violent extremism that threatens everything this country stands for.”
Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 by a gunman who killed six people and injured 12 others. She stepped down from Congress in January 2012 to focus on her recovery.
Livvy Dunne rocks unreal Paul Skenes LSU-Pirates combo jersey at College World Series
Livvy Dunne has been all over the place lately cheering on boyfriend and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes rocking amazing fits, but this time she went to cheer on his former college team the LSU Tigers in the College World Series in an unreal jersey. Dunne, 22, recently posted how she misses LSU Gymnastics by […]
Livvy Dunne has been all over the place lately cheering on boyfriend and Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes rocking amazing fits, but this time she went to cheer on his former college team the LSU Tigers in the College World Series in an unreal jersey.
Dunne, 22, recently posted how she misses LSU Gymnastics by showing off an insane double-backflip maneuver. While her final season ended in disappointment due to a knee injury, she’s now spending her time with all kinds events not just Skenes’ games. She did the “Riders Up” call for the Kentucky Oaks while in competing pink dresses with sister Julz Dunne, and then did the full splits on the runway for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s event in Miami, Florida.
RELATED: Livvy Dunne goes full ‘Jersey Shore’ in leopard-print top, jean skirt back home
Dunne at a Skenes game. / @livvydunne/Instagram
Dunne has been on several of Skenes road trips of late, and even joked about the brutal MLB travel schedule in a TikTok video.
Livvy Dunne/TikTok
RELATED: Livvy Dunne gives 6-foot-6 Paul Skenes most inaccurate boyfriend nickname
She took a break from Skenes but went to another baseball game: LSU in the College World Series for Saturday’s matchup with the Arkansas Razorbacks — and she did so in style. Check out her Skenes LSU jersey in the front and Pirates in the back. She wrote, “party in the front business in the back .”
Livvy Dunne/Instagram
She also has the U.S. flag on it for patriotism. Skenes was an Air Force cadet and has a strong connection to the military.
What an awesome tribute and a way to root on Skenes’ former college team — a team he helped win the CWS in 2023.
SCOTT CLAUSE / USA TODAY NETWORK
— Enjoy free dish of rich and fabulous players with The Athlete Lifestyle on SI —
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No Kings protest State College | State College News
Americans across the country took to their city streets Saturday to participate in the “No Kings” and “Kick Out the Clowns” protests — State College was no different. The No Kings Day of Defiance is an effort to reject authoritarianism and “show the world what democracy really looks like,” according to its website. Kick Out […]
Americans across the country took to their city streets Saturday to participate in the “No Kings” and “Kick Out the Clowns” protests — State College was no different.
The No Kings Day of Defiance is an effort to reject authoritarianism and “show the world what democracy really looks like,” according to its website. Kick Out the Clowns reflects “the absurdity of the MAGA regime and the clowns who lead it,” according to the Women’s March, which spearheaded the nationwide effort. Both protests countered President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington D.C.
The “No Kings” protest began at 1 p.m. in front of the Allen Street Gates, drawing hundreds of community members and children of all ages. American, Pride, Palestinian and Ukrainian flags flew as protesters held signs reading, “It’s so bad, even introverts are here,” “No kings, no dictators since 1776” and “Fight for truth today.”
Protestors yelled chants like “Hey, hey, ho, ho, billionaires have got to go,” “This is what democracy looks like” and “This is not normal.”
One protester, Kimberly Wilsoncroft, said she wanted to use her voice when and where she could.
“I always like coming out to protest when I can,” Wilsoncroft, a graduate student at Slippery Rock University, said. “It’s just nice to feel that hope.”
She said it’s important for people to use their First Amendment rights as they’re currently “under attack.”
Community members stand in front of the Allen Street Gates during the No Kings protest on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in State College, Pa.
Alexandra Antoniono
“Students are being bagged off the street for writing things in their college newspapers,” said Wilsoncroft, referring to Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained by ICE after co-writing an op-ed for Tufts Daily.
Luke Dubec said it’s troubling for him to see the state of the country under the current president.
“I feel like the tyranny is being treated as the new normal, and I don’t want that to continue,” Dubec, a graduate student studying psychology, said. “I’m glad that, across all 50 states, everyone is making clear that this is not normal and it’s not okay.”
Dubec said he also attended the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 and was met with discouragement then, as well as on Saturday. Still, he said it’s important for people to participate in them.
“I think that it’s important for people to realize that this kind of peaceful protest is what democracy is all about, and what our freedom of speech is all about,” Dubec said.
During the protest, organizers would walk around the crowd chanting and allow attendees to take the megaphone for a moment and share sentiments with the crowd.
Immediately following, the Kick Out the Clowns protest started in the same place at 2 p.m. A speaker discussed the current war between Ukraine and Russia while sharing stories, playing music and educating the crowd.
Benjamin Kelsey, from Knoxville, Tennessee, was visiting State College over the weekend and decided to come out to the protests.
Kelsey said people have “a breaking point” when it comes to funding cuts to essential government services.
“We have a kid, and we have nieces and nephews, friends and family and everybody that needs protection,” Kelsey said.
Community members sit on a wall overlooking the No Kings protest at the Allen Street Gates on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in State College, Pa.
Alexandra Antoniono
Kelsey said he hopes the series of national protests today can show how deeply unpopular what’s going on truly is and that people aren’t just going to sit by idly and watch what happens.
Lauren, who preferred to go by her first name only, shared this sentiment, saying the county’s marginalized communities, single mothers and those with disabilities are struggling, and “it’s not okay.”
“We should be protecting our people, not making it so hard to live,” Lauren said.
Community member Brianna Woomer said she is currently pregnant and has a daughter at home as well, and that being a woman in this country now is a “joke.”
“I want a world and a country where my daughters can grow up the way they should,” Woomer said.
During the protest Lauren held a sign with a Mark Twain quote: “It is curious that physical courage should be so common and moral courage so rare.”
“We never have a lot of moral courage… There’s so many people out there that are hurting and they just turn and look the other way,” Lauren said. “We should all be united and love each other. I was hoping this would remind people that moral courage is just as important as physical courage.”
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