Here are some trending topics for today, March 30.
Bruce Willis
In a statement posted on Willis’ Instagram page, the 67-year-old actor’s family said Willis was recently diagnosed with aphasia and that it is impacting his cognitive abilities.
“As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” read the statement signed by Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-wife Demi Moore, and his five children, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn. Read more info here:
Charles Sykes – invision linkable, Invision
Aphasia
In an effort to understand the sudden announcement, the disorder itself was trending highly nationwide.
You may have never heard of aphasia, but the brain disorder is “more common than Parkinson’s Disease, cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy,” and affects some 2 million Americans, according to the National Aphasia Association. In fact, about 180,000 people are diagnosed each year, the association said. Find out more here:
Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images
Parker, pictured performing in 2013 with The Wanted, died with his family and bandmates by his side, the band said.
Tom Parker
Tom Parker, a member of the British boy band The Wanted, has died less than two years after he announced his diagnosis of inoperable brain tumor. He was 33.
Parker’s wife, Kelsey Hardwick, and his bandmates confirmed his death in Instagram posts shared on Wednesday.
The singer “passed away peacefully at lunchtime today surrounded by his family and his band mates,” the Wanted wrote on Instagram. The band called Parker their “brother.” Find out more about the singer’s death here:
Sunday Alamba/AP
Ghana's players, including goalscorer Thomas Partey (center), celebrate qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in Abuja, Nigeria, on March 29.
World Cup qualifiers
Supporters in Nigeria broke onto the field at the final whistle as Ghana earned a spot at this year’s FIFA World Cup following a 1-1 draw with the Super Eagles.
After a goalless draw in the first leg, Thomas Partey’s away goal in Wednesday’s game was enough to see Ghana reach Qatar 2022 — the first African nation to do so.
Brazil is about to overtake the top spot in the FIFA rankings and Argentina hasn’t lost a single match in 1,000 days.
It’s clear the two South American soccer powers have more than just Neymar and Lionel Messi going for them as they head to the World Cup in Qatar hoping to end 20 years of European domination. Follow along here:
Severe weather
A powerful storm ripped through Springdale, Arkansas, early Wednesday as part of a dangerous system that’s continuing to threaten much of the Southeast with more severe weather, flash floods and potential tornadoes.
Seven people were injured, including two critically, when a possible tornado touched down at 4 a.m. in Springdale, a city in northwest Arkansas, Mayor Doug Sprouse said in a Facebook post. Read more here:
NCAA Final Four
This year’s Final Four is either unprecedented or pretty close.
For example, in one corner, North Carolina is making a record 21st appearance in the Final Four. Its semifinal opponent, Duke, is waiting with the sport’s winningest coach. Mike Krzyzewski surpassed 1,200 victories during this postseason run.
So the quartet of programs in this year’s Final Four is truly special. What you need to know here:
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Tony Avelar
COACH K’s FINALE: Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is making his 13th Final Four appearance to move into sole possession of first place (former UCLA coach John Wooden also had 12). Krzyzewski also has made more NCAA Tournament appearances (36) and won more NCAA Tournament games (101) than any other coach.
ON THE MARK: Mark Williams has blocked 16 shots in Duke’s first games, which matches the most by any Duke player in a single NCAA Tournament. Shane Battier had 16 in 2001 when Duke won the title. Williams also is shooting 80.6% from the floor, which puts him on pace to have the highest field-goal percentage in a single NCAA Tournament of any Duke player with at least 25 attempts. Williams’ accuracy has helped Duke shoot 53.8% in the tournament, the best field-goal percentage of anyone in the original 68-team field.
WATCH OUT FOR GRIFFIN: A.J. Griffin has been the barometer for Duke’s level of success against semifinal opponent North Carolina this season. He scored 27 points in Duke's 87-67 victory at North Carolina on Feb. 5 but had just five points in 34 minutes when the Blue Devils fell 94-81 to the Tar Heels at home a month later.
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Chris Szagola
FAMILIAR FINISH: This is North Carolina’s NCAA-leading 21st appearance in the Final Four. The Tar Heels also lead all schools with 130 victories in NCAA Tournament games.
SELECT COMPANY: North Carolina coach Hubert Davis is one of only two people to play and coach in the Final Four with the same school. Davis was on the 1991 North Carolina team that lost an NCAA semifinal to Kansas. The only other person to make a Final Four as a player and coach at the same school was Dick Harp, who played (1940) and coached (1957) NCAA runner-up teams with Kansas. Davis also was an assistant coach on Roy Williams’ staff when North Carolina reached an NCAA final in 2016 and won the title in 2017.
MANEK VS. DEVILS: Brady Manek scored at least 20 points in each of North Carolina’s previous two meetings with Duke this season. He had 21 points when the Tar Heels lost to Duke at home. He had 20 points and 11 rebounds when North Carolina won at Duke. Manek has scored 86 points in this NCAA Tournament, the most of any player.
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Charles Rex Arbogast
GETTING STINGY: The Jayhawks are allowing tournament foes to shoot just 34.1%. That’s the best NCAA Tournament field-goal percentage defense of any team in the original 68-team field.
MORE WINS THAN ANYONE: Kansas’ Midwest Region final triumph over Miami gave the Jayhawks 2,355 all-time victories. That enabled Kansas to take the Division I lead over Kentucky, a first-round loser that ended its season with 2,354 all-time wins.
UNDER 70: Kansas has held eight of its last nine opponents below 70 points. The Jayhawks are 24-0 this season when they allow fewer than 70 points. The only team to crack 70 points against Kansas during this tournament was Creighton, which lost 79-72 to the Jayhawks in the second round. Kansas’ semifinal opponent is Villanova, which has won nine straight but has reached the 70-point mark in just two of its last seven games.
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David J. Phillip
NO MOORE: Justin Moore leads Villanova in minutes per game (34.4), ranks second on the team in scoring (14.8), 3-pointers (80) and assists per game (2.3) and ranks third in rebounds per game (4.8). Villanova will have to play the Final Four without Moore, who tore his right Achilles tendon in a 50-44 South Region final victory over Houston.
SAMUELS’ SURGE: Jermaine Samuels has averaged 17.5 points in the tournament and has scored at least 15 points in each game. Samuels entered the tournament averaging just 10.4.
COLD BUT POISED: Villanova has shot 27.5% from 3-point range (14 of 51) over its last two games but still reached the Final Four. The Wildcats were 9 of 30 on 3-point attempts against Michigan and 5 of 21 against Houston. They’ve shot 30% or below from 3-point range in 13 games this season but have gone 9-4 in those contests.
