Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C-6PARtWjzqvUhpspAl6VuW3ArpVvONk7hek4OoKT89YPxjaaPHNN1rXK_QtJoS5OWBlxzVXXgOPD93j8CaRoXjd2VPvZftRnKGdaFnIypKp49yTx3ppNIN4LZo5wiCC867XUKxdWKY/s1600/Michael+Vick+helps+clean+up+Riley+Cooper's+mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess" border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C-6PARtWjzqvUhpspAl6VuW3ArpVvONk7hek4OoKT89YPxjaaPHNN1rXK_QtJoS5OWBlxzVXXgOPD93j8CaRoXjd2VPvZftRnKGdaFnIypKp49yTx3ppNIN4LZo5wiCC867XUKxdWKY/s400/Michael+Vick+helps+clean+up+Riley+Cooper's+mess.jpg" title="Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess" width="400" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess</td></tr> </tbody></table> <h2 style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://worldofnews360.blogspot.com/2013/08/michael-vick-helps-clean-up-riley.html">Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess</a></h2> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div> The Eagles quarterback forgave Cooper only hours after his public apology for using a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert in Philadelphia this June. Vick left no room for misinterpretation at a time when subtlety would have been seen as veiled anger:</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "As a team we understood because we all make mistakes in life and we all do and say things that maybe we do mean and maybe we don't mean," Vick said Wednesday. "But as a teammate I forgave him. We understand the magnitude of the situation. We understand a lot of people may be hurt and offended, but I know Riley Cooper. I know him as a man. I've been with him for the last three years and I know what type of person he is. That's what makes it easy, and at the same time, hard to understand. But easy to forgive him."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> What Cooper said can and still may create a huge rift in a locker room, and in the community. It may be "easy to forgive" for some, but certainly not for others. Vick's own brother, Marcus, took to Twitter to call for a bounty on Cooper's head, offering money to the first defender who lays him out in a game. Let's face it: A lot of people want to see that happen.</div> <div> Yet Michael Vick shushed his own brother, cautioning him against showing his own "ignorance." </div> </div> <div> <div> "I don't agree with what my brother is saying," he said. "Riley is still my teammate and he just stood in front of us and apologized for what he said. Somewhere deep down you've got to find some level of respect for that."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> At the end of another upsetting summer for the NFL, in which both players and coaches embarrassed themselves off the field, it's time to celebrate a redemption story. Michael Vick, once among the most despised athletes in sports after being convicted as part of a sick dogfighting ring, is now a mature leader of a major pro franchise. The name on the back of his jersey is no longer just a four-letter word.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Whether he can be a winning quarterback in Philadelphia is a debate for next month. The focus for now should be on how Vick served his punishment, sought out help from men like Tony Dungy, found a new start with a new team, and grew into a place where teammates look to him for guidance. Even a jobs program in a rough part of Cincinnati used Vick as a positive example for those who have made mistakes in their lives. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Nothing can undo the pain Vick inflicted on those dogs, but his personal growth since then is notable, bordering on remarkable.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Vick didn't show off when he won games in Philly, and he didn't sulk when Nick Foles took his starter's job last season. There have been no outbursts, no middle fingers thrust at fans. The only headlines Vick has made since his dogfighting conviction have been football headlines. And now this headline.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Nobody would have blamed Vick for being angry or silent on this issue. What Cooper said was disgusting and an affront to African-Americans (and others). Marcus Vick had a reaction that many would likely have. Michael Vick's reaction was nobler. It was based not in the heat of the moment but the health of the team in the long-term. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> And it was based in religion. A lot of fans and media don't like conflating religion and sports, but here it's relevant and important. Vick seems to have found a new strength in Christianity since coming out of jail, and that strength was reflected in his comments Wednesday. What Vick said was mirrored by the remarks made by another African-American on the team, Jason Avant. The wide receiver is deeply religious, and he reached out to Vick immediately when the quarterback joined the team three years ago.</div> </div> <div> <br /></div> </div>

Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess Michael Vick helps clean up Riley Cooper's mess The Eagles quarterback fo...

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Eagles' Riley Cooper apologizes for using racial slur

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCBNV1NOdwBIVITikbKJxkhKBmTV4LbF_KOIzySU6e4HRH5mvox77In8t8UuketOyCk-id-cblVS4YwJHJc7d2VUebEWearzRnMOgTfjk6YfQLxrsVbVnYf83F1OqJkqhjfhD9AjZvDg/s1600/Eagles+Cooper+Footbal_Cham.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eagles' Riley Cooper apologizes for using racial slur" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCBNV1NOdwBIVITikbKJxkhKBmTV4LbF_KOIzySU6e4HRH5mvox77In8t8UuketOyCk-id-cblVS4YwJHJc7d2VUebEWearzRnMOgTfjk6YfQLxrsVbVnYf83F1OqJkqhjfhD9AjZvDg/s400/Eagles+Cooper+Footbal_Cham.jpg" title="Eagles' Riley Cooper apologizes for using racial slur" width="400" /></a></div> <h2 style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://worldofnews360.blogspot.com/2013/08/eagles-riley-cooper-apologizes-for.html">Eagles' Riley Cooper apologizes for using racial slur</a></h2> <div> Saying he was "ashamed and disgusted" with himself, Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper apologized repeatedly for making a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert that was caught on video and led to him getting fined.</div> <div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The video of Cooper using the n-word surfaced Wednesday on the website CrossingBroad.com. Cooper issued a statement of apology then met with reporters outside the team's practice facility.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "This is the lowest of lows," Cooper said. "This is not the type of person I want to be portrayed as. This isn't the type of person I am. I'm extremely sorry."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Cooper said he was drinking when he directed the slur at an African-American security guard at the concert in June.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "That's no excuse for what I said. I don't use that term," he said. "I was raised better than that. I have a great mom and dad and they're disgusted with my actions."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Cooper said he was fined a significant amount of money by the Eagles.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "We are shocked and appalled by Riley Cooper's words," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. "This sort of behavior or attitude from anyone has no role in a civil society.  He has accepted responsibility for his words and his actions. He has been fined for this incident."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The league released the following statement: "The NFL stands for diversity and inclusion. Comments like this are wrong, offensive, and unacceptable."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> A fifth-round pick out of Florida, Cooper is entering his fourth season in the NFL. He has 46 catches and five touchdowns in three years with the Eagles.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Cooper had tentatively moved into a starting role after Jeremy Maclin tore his right ACL in practice last Saturday. Still, he's not guaranteed a roster spot in Chip Kelly's new offense.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "I'm willing to accept all consequences," Cooper said. "I know no one in Philadelphia is happy with me right now. I accept that. I hope they see the true me and accept my apology. I know it will take a while."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Cooper apologized to teammates after talking to the media.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "As a team we understood because we all make mistakes in life and we all do and say things that maybe we do mean and maybe we don't mean," Eagles quarterback Michael Vick said. "But as a teammate I forgave him. We understand the magnitude of the situation. We understand a lot of people may be hurt and offended, but I know Riley Cooper. I know him as a man. I've been with him for the last three years and I know what type of person he is. That's what makes it easy, and at the same time, hard to understand. But easy to forgive him."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> Vick also rebuked his brother, Marcus Vick, for profanity-laced tweets, including one offering a $1,000 bounty for any player who lays Cooper out in a game. Marcus Vick later deleted all the tweets.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "To address my brother's situation and what he's saying, I don't think it's really relevant," Vick said. "You can't allow yourself to be encumbered in what's going on. I don't agree with what my brother is saying. Riley is still my teammate and he just stood in front of us and apologized for what he said. Somewhere deep down you've got to find some level of respect for that. To people in the outside world who don't know how we're dealing with it, they're going to forge their own opinions, but my brother has to not show a certain level of ignorance himself."</div> </div> </div>

Eagles' Riley Cooper apologizes for using racial slur Saying he was "ashamed and disgusted" with himself, Eagles wide re...

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Ten greatest athletes in Atlanta sports history

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFrLiAfflidEGXbgJcVWbh0iEkEClrm7dVQmDyqymJO1R0LN2f5BubSYzBwzkWFa_n4i5-ZR64Lw-cuPZe70qOF9G56Wq486gRxNmxSz6jWZP_lLrnAjaMFTpa31lByjqavNeXdflFJw/s1600/Ten+greatest+athletes+in+Atlanta+sports+history.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFrLiAfflidEGXbgJcVWbh0iEkEClrm7dVQmDyqymJO1R0LN2f5BubSYzBwzkWFa_n4i5-ZR64Lw-cuPZe70qOF9G56Wq486gRxNmxSz6jWZP_lLrnAjaMFTpa31lByjqavNeXdflFJw/s400/Ten+greatest+athletes+in+Atlanta+sports+history.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <h1 class="headline" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://worldofnews360.blogspot.com/2013/07/ten-greatest-athletes-in-atlanta-sports.html">Ten greatest athletes in Atlanta sports history</a></h1> <div> <div> Perhaps overshadowed by being the birthplace of Coca-Cola and the headquarters of CNN, Atlanta is rarely thought of as a sports mecca. However, it should.</div> <div> Without any professional franchises in neighboring states, Atlanta served as the unofficial capital of sports in the Southeastern United States for many decades. Subsequently, fans have been given front-row seats to the careers of many legendary stars.</div> <div> To comb through the laundry list of deserving Atlanta athletes, those qualified to make the cut needed to have great careers while simultaneously being good ambassadors for their sport -- sorry, Michael Vick.</div> <div>  This list could easily be a top 50, but the line had to be drawn somewhere. The fact that Dale Murphy, Pete Maravich and Jessie Tuggle were unable to crack their way in underscores just how many truly transcendent athletes have come through Atlanta over the years.</div> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <h3 style="text-align: left;"> Ten greatest athletes in Atlanta sports history</h3> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div> In alphabetical order:</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b>Hank Aaron (Braves, 1966-1974)</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> The Braves currently play home games at 755 Hank Aaron Drive -- need I say more?</div> <div>  "Hammerin' Hank" is an icon in Atlanta and holds nearly every franchise record the Braves have. The true home run king of Major League Baseball played 21 of his 23 seasons with the Braves' franchise, but only nine of them came after the club's move to Atlanta in 1966. His MVP and World Series title came as a member of the Milwaukee Braves. Geographical semantics aside, Aaron hit 335 homers while playing in Atlanta, including recording-breaking No. 715. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b>Tom Glavine Braves (1987-2002, 2008)</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> With 305 career wins and two Cy Young Awards, Glavine was a Braves legend, even though he made the very misguided decision to sign with the hated New York Mets in 2003. Glavine returned to the fold to retire with Atlanta in 2008, and he has now been welcomed back as Chip Caray's part-time voice of reason during Sunday home games.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b>Evander Holyfield (44 wins, 10 losses, 29 TKO, 2 draws)</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> When discussing all-time great Atlanta athletes, it is always nice to be able to include one of the city's native sons. Holyfield grew up in Atlanta, and, in 1996, he was given the honor of representing the entire city by carrying the Olympic torch into the stadium for the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Games.</div> <div> Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield remains the only fighter in history to be named Heavyweight Champion of the World five times in his career.</div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> <b>Chipper Jones (Braves, 1993-2012)</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> On a list of Atlanta athletes, Chipper is one of the greatest. Certain players achieve such meteoric success that only one name is required. There is no mistaking Babe (Ruth), Mickey (Mantle) or Cal (Ripken Jr.) -- just as people are not going to confuse the Braves' legendary third baseman with another "Chipper." Chipper had a career .303 batting average while playing all of his 19 seasons in Atlanta.</div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> <b><a href="http://worldofnews360.blogspot.com/2013/07/ten-greatest-athletes-in-atlanta-sports.html">Ten greatest athletes in Atlanta sports history</a></b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> <b>Greg Maddux (Braves, 1993-2003)</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> Maddux earned four consecutive Cy Young Awards from 1992-1995. There have been Atlanta athletes more beloved, but maybe none more respected than Maddux. In an era where pitching devolved into a position of throwers, "The Professor" was every ounce the thinking-man's pitcher.</div> <div> With a Rolodex-like steel-trap of a mind for the tendencies of every hitter he faced, Maddux out-maneuvered batters with the deftness of a chess grandmaster. Even after his fastball velocity fell to just 83 mph in his final few seasons, Maddux could still get professional hitters out by being the same laser-sighted target-striker who earned 355 career victories.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b>Dikembe Mutombo (Hawks, 1996-2001)</b></div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div>  Mutombo earns his spot as much for what he has done off the court as for what he did on it. The four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and creator of the -- now banned -- post-block finger wag, is also the same man who donated $15 million of his own money to build a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mutombo has been mentioned by name in presidential speeches, while his foundation has been lauded for its humanitarian efforts around the world. Considering he also ranks No. 2 in NBA history in blocked shots (3,289), the basketball thing also worked out pretty well for "Mount Mutombo."</div> </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <strong id="yui_3_9_1_16_1374653160831_732" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.453125px;">Matt Ryan (Falcons, 2008-present)</strong></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.453125px;"><div> After the 2013 season, "Matty Ice" will hold nearly every Falcons record for passing. Despite playing in only five seasons, Ryan sits just 4,513 yards and 27 touchdowns behind Steve Bartkowski for the "Dirty Bird's" top spot.</div> <div> With No. 2 under center, the Falcons have turned into perennial Super Bowl contenders. However, Ryan's playoff record of 1-5 will need to change -- winning the first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history would certainly help.</div> <div> <b><br /></b></div> <div> <b>Deion Sanders (Falcons, 1989-1993; Braves, 1991-1994)</b></div> <div> <br /></div> <div>  Even though the lights of "Prime Time" went out after only five seasons with the Falcons, Deion's legend still looms large in the state of Georgia. Not only does Sanders have his No. 21 retired in the Falcons' Ring of Honor, but he also upped his Atlanta status by heading over to the diamond to play baseball for the Braves. Sanders stole 19 bases and hit .276 in 1992 while helping the Braves reach the World Series.</div> <div>  </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.453125px;"><b>John Smoltz (Braves, 1988-2008)</b></span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.453125px;"><br /></span></div> <div> Few players are as adored by their hometown fans as "Smoltzie" is in Atlanta. During his 20 years with the Braves, the future Hall of Famer helped win a World Series title (1995) and scooped up a CY Young Award for himself (1996). He retired as the only player in MLB history with 200-plus wins and 150-plus saves. Smoltz also has a budding "stand-up comedy" career, which can be heard from the press box on select TBS and Peachtree TV telecasts.</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <b>Dominique Wilkins (Hawks, 1982-1994)</b></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "The Human Highlight Film" gets lost in an era with Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan, yet Wilkins' mark of 24.83 points per game is only 0.67 points behind Kobe Bryant's career numbers.</div> <div>  His legacy will forever be tied to his dunking. Dominique won the NBA Dunk Contest in 1985 and 1990, and was a part of -- perhaps -- the greatest dunk-off in history when he went slam-for-slam with Jordan in 1988. We all know who really won that contest, had it not been held in Chicago.</div> <div> Anthony Schreiber is a freelance sportswriter. He has penned articles for a variety of online publications and magazines.</div> </span></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> </div>

Ten greatest athletes in Atlanta sports history Perhaps overshadowed by being the birthplace of Coca-Cola and the headquarters of CNN...

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Anthony Weiner, flanked by wife, apologizes for sending more lewd messages after resignation

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntr9WqsHA4KXcjZc8H9DM_kyiOewqVh34rI0SqAkFKJA6dRcWmclzcpt8a8bKei6Jjita39cHTTE79Ybv3x6h3nBNcqW36FNs2BUJ_hUJGibDtjNV7HHA5nma0z70TSJMDIiEdtOsPkM/s1600/imge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntr9WqsHA4KXcjZc8H9DM_kyiOewqVh34rI0SqAkFKJA6dRcWmclzcpt8a8bKei6Jjita39cHTTE79Ybv3x6h3nBNcqW36FNs2BUJ_hUJGibDtjNV7HHA5nma0z70TSJMDIiEdtOsPkM/s400/imge.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <h1 class="headline" id="yui_3_9_1_1_1374652693554_311" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 33px; margin: 0px; padding: 20px 0px 10px;"> <span style="font-size: 28px; line-height: 33px;"><a href="http://worldofnews360.blogspot.com/2013/07/anthony-weiner-flanked-by-wife.html">Anthony Weiner, flanked by wife, apologizes for sending more lewd messages after resignation</a></span></h1> <div> <br /></div> <div> <br /></div> <div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"> NEW YORK — Anthony Weiner confirmed Tuesday that he was behind a series of newly released explicit messages sent to a woman who was not his wife more than a year after a sexting scandal forced him out of Congress in 2011.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"> Flanked by his wife, longtime Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, Weiner acknowledged in a press conference Tuesday evening that he continued to send the messages even after he had resigned from Congress,. He said the issue was now "behind" him and that he was no longer in touch with any online paramours.</div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"> The generally press-shy Abedin surprised the room by reading a brief statement of support for her husband after Weiner's prepared comments. "Anthony has made some horrible mistakes, both before he resigned from Congress and after," Abedin said, appearing emotional. "But I do strongly believe that that's between us." Abedin added that she's forgiven him after much therapy and wants to move forward. "Our marriage, like many others, has had its ups and its downs."</div> <h3 style="text-align: left;"> <a href="http://worldofnews360.blogspot.com/2013/07/anthony-weiner-flanked-by-wife.html">Anthony Weiner, flanked by wife, apologizes for sending more lewd messages after resignation</a></h3> <div> <br /></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">In a statement to reporters Tuesday afternoon, the Democratic mayoral hopeful confirmed he sent the messages, some of which were sent under the name “Carlos Danger.” But Weiner did not address the issue of when the messages were sent until his press conference.</span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span></div> <div> <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.99305534362793px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div> Weiner resigned from Congress in June 2011 after he was busted sending explicit pictures and texts to several women. The former lawmaker largely stayed out of the public eye until earlier this year, when he announced he was exploring a last-minute bid to replace outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> The ex-lawmaker made his mayoral run official in May — with a video in which he asked the public for a "second chance."</div> <div> <br /></div> <div> "I made some big mistakes, and I know I let a lot of people down, but I also learned some tough lessons," Weiner declared at the time. "I'm running for mayor because I've been fighting for the middle class and those struggling to make it my entire life. And I hope I get a second chance."</div> </span></span></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> </div> </div>

Anthony Weiner, flanked by wife, apologizes for sending more lewd messages after resignation NEW YORK — Anthony Weiner confirmed ...

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