Simone Biles is a lock for U.S. Olympic gymnastics team. Who will join her?

FORT WORTH, Texas — Let’s get this out of the way first: Simone Biles leads the competition. By a lot.

That Biles, the reigning world and Olympic champion and owner of many records and even more medals, would be in first place after the first night of competition at the U.S. gymnastics championships was a given before Friday’s meet began. She’s going to Tokyo, where she’s going to win many medals, most, if not all, of them gold.

Spectacular as Biles is, however, even she can’t win the team title on her own. So the intrigue at nationals, and at the Olympic trials at the end of the month, is to see which three women will be going with her. With three nights of competition still left, it’s too early to buy anyone plane tickets.

But Jordan Chiles and Suni Lee are starting to separate themselves.

Portland Trail Blazers part ways with coach Terry Stotts after nine seasons

After nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers and eight playoff appearances, Terry Stotts is out as head coach, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly until the news was announced by the team.

The Blazers, who were 42-30 this season and the No. 6 seed, were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in six games in their Western Conference first-round series.

Stotts was 402-318 with the Blazers and 22-40 in the playoffs. The Blazers made it to the conference finals once and the conference semifinals twice. Portland also lost in the first round five times.

Stotts often made the most of his roster in the regular season but had trouble breaking through in the playoffs in a deep Western Conference. Nine seasons with one team is a lifetime in the NBA, and the Blazers' front-office is searching for improvement while star guard Damian Lillard is still in his prime.

Stotts had one year remaining on his contract. He had the second-most wins behind Jack Ramsay and the fourth-highest winning percentage in franchise history.

Donald Trump Turned Into A Mocking Emoji On New York Daily News Cover

The New York Daily News responded to Donald Trump’s extended ban from Facebook with a new emoji of the ex-president.

The newspaper reimagined Trump as the crying face image on its Saturday cover.

“Faceblock,” read its headline, in the social media giant’s font.

Trump was initially booted from Facebook for inciting the deadly U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6. On Friday, the company announced the ban would be reassessed on its two-year anniversary, meaning Trump could be back online and free to again post his divisive rhetoric ahead of a possible 2024 presidential run.

“We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest, said Nick Clegg, Facebook’s Vice President of global affairs.

“If we determine that there is still a serious risk to public safety, we will extend the restriction for a set period of time and continue to re-evaluate until that risk has receded,” added Clegg, the former deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom.

Trump described the ruling as “abuse.”

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Donald Trump’s Extended Facebook Ban Gets The Treatment On Twitter

Twitter users taunted ex-President Donald Trump over the continuation of his ban from Facebook on Friday.

Trump will remain prohibited from posting on Facebook until at least the second anniversary of his booting for inciting the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the platform announced. It will then review the suspension.

Trump railed against the decision, calling it “abuse.”

At least he still has his “communications platform” to release his screeds.

But while some people suggested Trump should have been banned for longer (or even permanently axed from the website as he has been from Twitter), others rejoiced at the temporary reprieve from his divisive posts:

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Republicans Throw Relatives Under The Bus For Donald Trump In Damning CNN Bit

“Blood may be thicker than water, but apparently it’s not thicker than Kool-Aid.”

So said CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Friday as she showed just how prominent Republicans are more than happy to throw their relatives under the bus when it comes to proving their support for ex-President Donald Trump.

The “New Day” anchor examined how Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Republican National Committee chair Ronna McDaniel, Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have all put fealty to Trump over family.

“Even if he calls your wife ugly. Mocks your dad. Puts a target on your brother’s back or rips your uncle,” said Keilar. “In the age of Trump, truly, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.”

Watch the video here:

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Barack Obama Warns Of Republicans ‘Rigging The Game’

Barack Obama on Friday called out GOP voter suppression laws, suggesting companies have “a big responsibility” to at least speak out against them as some did when new restrictions were introduced in Georgia in March.

During a virtual Economic Club of Chicago event, the former president said Republican-sponsored bills being introduced nationwide — and GOP support of ex-president Donald Trump’s election lies — were the “kind of dangerous behavior that we’re going to have to push back on.”

It transcends policy, he said.

“It really has to do with the basic rules by which we all have agreed to keep this diverse, multiracial democracy functioning,” Obama added.

“Are we going to stick to those rules or are we going to start rigging the game in a way that breaks it?” he asked. “And that’s not going to be good for business, not to mention not good for our soul.”

Watch the full interview here:

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