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The Memphis Grizzlies are back, and these young cubs have their first set of playoff scars on them. Its going to be interesting to see how they respond this season, especially given the roster shakeup that occurred over the offseason. All things considered, are they going to keep humming and continuing growing? Or will growing pains ensue?

Lets get it with another roundtable.

Participants: myself (@PAKA_FLOCKA), Joe Mullinax (@JoeMullinax), Jordan Peterson (@JordanP_901), Parish Sharkey (@DaOne_PShark), and Justin Lewis (@J_Timberfake_)

GBB Site Manager Joe Mullinax: They win almost 50 games (47 or 48) and are in the hunt for the 5 seed more than the 7 seed. That would mean being very solidly in the PLAYOFF mix, not the PLAY-IN. That would be quite the accomplishment given what Memphis did with the roster, specifically moving on from Jonas Valanciunas - arguably their best player over the last two seasons. But if Ja makes an All-Star leap, and Jaren legitimately is in the Most Improved mix...this could very well happen.

GBB Associate Editor Parker Fleming: If everything tracks with the wish list Ja Morants All-Star berth, the Jaren Jackson Jr. Most Improved campaign, the added dosage of Desmond Bane and DeAnthony Melton, and a Brandon Clarke bounce-back season then this team could be in the conversation for the 5th seed. Given the fascinating situations in the West with the Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson injuries and the coaching changes of Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups, the Grizzlies continuity could allow them to sneak through any potential pains from their foes.

GBB Staff Writer Jordan Peterson: The best-case scenario for the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2021-2022 season is a Western Conference 5 or 6 seed. I cannot imagine a world in which the Grizz overcome the Lakers, Clippers, Jazz and Warriors, but I can imagine the Grizzlies contending with the Mavericks, Trailblazers and Nuggets. To avoid the play-in tournament would be the best-case scenario, but I hope I am proven to be too conservative about the Grizzlies' ceiling.

Host of The Starting 5 Parish Sharkey: Top 5 seed. With continued growth from Ja this team is ready for the next step

GBB Senior Staff Writer Justin Lewis: Best case scenario is that Jaren stays healthy and he becomes the monster we think he can be and the Grizz win their first division title in franchise history.

GBB Site Manager Joe Mullinax: There is a lot of room for variance with this Grizzlies team. While I believe it is more likely the best-case scenario listed above happens than this, its important to acknowledge that this Memphis team could potentially take a step back. No one will mistake me for a Jonas Valanciunas super fan, but his contributions to the offense especially when things got stuck in the mud were pretty valuable. With that gone, who will save the Grizzlies when that same adversity strikes? If they dont figure it out (and also deal with some injury concerns), falling out of the play-in entirely is also possible.

GBB Associate Editor Parker Fleming: Obviously health-aside, the worst-case scenario would be falling out of the play-in while 1-2 of Sacramento, Minnesota, and New Orleans pass them. If that results from stagnation and the lack of more veteran guidance, itll create some looming questions going into the offseason.

GBB Staff Writer Jordan Peterson: I can best characterize the worst-case scenario as falling below an 8-seed in the regular season. While Memphis is a small market, the fanbase has grown to expect some post-season action. This Grizz team will have a lot of questions surrounding it if it isn't able to chart a path of improvement with the roster in which it has currently invested.

Host of The Starting 5 Parish Sharkey: Lottery, but I dont see this happening at all.

GBB Senior Staff Writer Justin Lewis: Jaren never finds his form, BC continues to struggle and Bane has a sophomore slump. That mix of disaster leads the Grizz to miss the play in all together.

GBB Site Manager Joe Mullinax: The inbetween of best and worst case. The Grizzlies will be in the 7-8-9 seed mix, competing with the likes of the Clippers, the Trail Blazers, the Pelicans, and others in the bottom half of the conference standings (assuming the Lakers/Warriors/Nuggets/Jazz/Suns/Mavericks are the top six, not necessarily in that order). Assuming health, the Grizzlies are too good to fall too far back. But they did theoretically weaken themselves on offense, at least on an individual basis, when trading Valanciunas. Will Steven Adams abilities defensively offset that some? Yes - as will Jaren Jackson Jr. being healthy. So Memphis will be better, and at this stage of the rebuild thats all we can ask for.

GBB Associate Editor Parker Fleming: The Grizzlies are likely to be the 7th seed this season, but will fight for the 6th seed up to the final hour of the regular season. Id have Phoenix, Los Angeles, Utah, and Denver in the top-4. However, theres a lot of variance in that 5-10 range, and the Grizzlies finishing at the top of the play-in would still be a good measure of growth.

GBB Staff Writer Jordan Peterson: The most realistic scenario is that the Grizzlies are in the play-in tournament. This prediction is no knock to the effort the Grizzlies have put in to amass a roster of talent and health. This prediction is an acknowledgement that the Western Conference may get shaken up here-and-there, but there are consistently 5 teams who feel impossible to catch. From there, the Grizzlies usually compete with 2-3 additional tough matchups.

Host of The Starting 5 Parish Sharkey: 6-10 range. Still a young team and will have growing pains with no added veteran with a dash mentality (i.e. PJ Tucker like).

GBB Senior Staff Writer Justin Lewis: I personally believe a 6 six seed is realistic for Memphis. Ja is a man on a mission and hes about to take over the league. Jaren will find his form and the depth will show throughout the season.

GBB Site Manager Joe Mullinax: Morant must be an All-Star and Jaren must make a MIP-esque leap. Their now undisputed two best players have to be superstar (Morant) and star (Jackson Jr.) level players. The Grizzlies have a very solid rotation, but this league is all about key plays made by your big-time players. Thats Ja and Jaren in Memphis.

GBB Associate Editor Parker Fleming: If Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. take the expected leaps this season, they should be in the mix for the 6th seed. Dillon Brooks health and play could be the deciding factor. Hes going to slot in as a good 3rd option for this team, but hes the clear-cut perimeter stopper for them here. Theyre going to need him to escape the play-in and get a top-6 seed, as their defensive warrior and their spiritual leader, especially considering the loaded perimeter talent in the Western Conference.

GBB Staff Writer Jordan Peterson: To avoid the play-in tournament and achieve a Top-6 seed, the Grizzlies will have to maintain depth and know when to abandon poor rotations. That is a delicate balance because some part of the regular season should serve as laboratory for determining what works and what doesnt. But knowing when to leverage whom will allow the Grizzlies to earn some key wins against key teams when it matters.

Host of The Starting 5 Parish Sharkey: JJJ will have to stay healthy and continue on his upward trend.

GBB Senior Staff Writer Justin Lewis: It really has to be a perfect storm. Bane has to up his scoring with his new opportunity and obviously its going to heavily rely on Jarens progression which is trending up.

GBB Site Manager Joe Mullinax: Wolves and Kings? Wow...anyway, I would have them in the play-in positioning tier. Its hard to see them passing the Lakers/Warriors/Nuggets/Suns/Jazz/Mavericks. From there there are the Trail Blazers, the Clippers, and Memphis for me. Those three teams are the ones that could, in theory, jump up to the top six or so.

GBB Associate Editor Parker Fleming: I have them in the tier with the Mavericks, Warriors, Clippers, and Blazers. With all the things I said about the expected leaps, the continuity they have will make up for any mishaps that young teams without many veterans typically experience. With the Grizzlies next man up mentality, I think theyre ready to fill in for the losses of Jonas Valanciunas and Grayson Allen. Also, Taylor Jenkins is one of the most underrated coaches in the league. Theyre going to be fine this year.

GBB Staff Writer Jordan Peterson: I predict the Grizzlies will be in the tier with the Mavericks, Warriors, Clippers and Blazers fighting to avoid the play-in tournament. I know the Grizzlies have improved, so my prediction hinges on a couple of other teams stagnation.

Host of The Starting 5 Parish Sharkey: Fighting for 5th and 6th seed. They were in that tier last year without JJJ but lost to teams like the Pistons and Magic down the stretch while not closing out games against the Nuggets and Mavs. That made the difference between 5th and 9th.

GBB Senior Staff Writer Justin Lewis: Well, I dont think the Clippers are in that tier but the Grizz 100% belong in the 5-6 seed tier.

For more Grizzlies talk, subscribe to the Grizzly Bear Blues podcast network on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and IHeart. Follow Grizzly Bear Blues on Twitter and Instagram.

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GBB Roundtable: Memphis Grizzlies season scenarios and expectations - Grizzly Bear Blues

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When I was a kid, Superman was my favorite comic book hero. I never imagined Id see a picture published by DC Comics in which he kisses another man, but that was then and this is now: Jon Kent, the son of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, is officially bisexual. Mondays announcement of the news was timed to coincide with National Coming Out Day.

Dean Cain, who starred as Superman on television in the 1990s, pointed out that this is nothing new: Robin was already bisexual, the new Captain America is gay, and his Supergirl daughter in his TV series was gay.

Of course, targeting children and youth with the message of LGBTQ normalization is nothing new, either. Last June, the Walt Disney Company unveiled the Rainbow Disney Collection featuring T-shirts, Mickey Mouse ears, mugs, and even baby apparel adorned with rainbows. Three years ago, Cartoon Network featured a same-sex wedding proposal on the animated series Steven Universe.

Earlier this year, the Nickelodeon series Blues Clues and You! unveiled a song teaching children the alphabet while promoting LGBTQ advocacy. The series also released a Pride parade video narrated by an animated version of drag performer and activist Nina West. Kelloggs introduced LGBTQ-themed cereal for Pride Month; the childrens cartoon Rugrats now features a lesbian single mom.

And a new California law requires retailers to have gender neutral toy sections. A critic warned that the legislation will impose a de-gendered ideology and viewpoint on retailers.

Some problems have obvious solutions. For example, when nearly ninety rattlesnakes set up a den beneath a California womans home, she called a reptile rescue team to remove them.

Other problems are more intractable. For instance, capybaras are swarming a wealthy gated community in Argentina. They are the worlds largest rodent, reaching 140 pounds in size. They are destroying lawns, attacking pets, and colliding with people. No one is quite sure what to do.

Several asteroids larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza will approach our planet in coming months; fortunately, none are on a collision course with us. However, a meteor may have exploded over New Hampshire last Sunday, causing a prolonged boom that shook homes. And a small plane crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, killing two people and demolishing a home newlyweds had just finished remodeling.

When we face intractable problems, we can ignore them, worry about them, or try to solve them ourselves. Or, as with the California woman whose home was infested by snakes, we can seek help from those who can do what we cannot.

Yesterday we discussed Satans temptation strategies and the importance of seeking Gods power over our Enemy each day. Today, lets focus on a very practical way to do so.

Seth Small kicked the game-winning field goal for Texas A&M last Saturday in their upset win over No. 1 Alabama. However, he told reporters after the game that this did not top his list of best moments: It was probably the third-best moment of my life, right after I accepted Jesus into my heart as my true Lord and Savior, and then after getting married to my wife this summer.

Before his kick, Seth said, I was just repeating Psalm 23:1 to myself all night, which is The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not be in want. That kind of comforted me.

According to Gallup senior scientist Frank Newport, 55 percent of Americans say they trust themselves, while only 37 percent trust the legislative branch. Author and speaker Jordan Peterson is enormously popular in large part because he calls us to take accountability for our lives, friends, families, and community through what one reviewer calls heroic responsibility and self-sacrifice.

By contrast, when the greatest example of heroic responsibility and self-sacrifice in history faced his wilderness temptations, he responded to each by quoting Gods word (Matthew 4:110). When Peter faced skeptics of the Pentecost miracle, he quoted the prophet Joel to the crowd (Acts 2:1421). When he faced critics of his ministry with Cornelius, he quoted what the Lord had revealed to him about the Gentiles (Acts 11:118).

God has a word for you every time you face temptation and trials. This is why memorizing Scripture is so important, as this discipline gives the Spirit tools he can use in our minds and hearts. And it is why turning to God as soon as we face difficulty is so vital. His Spirit will empower us, lead us, and use us to the degree that we are willing to be empowered, led, and used.

Heroic responsibility and self-sacrifice may well be required in defeating our spiritual enemy, but their ultimate source is in the One who said, In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Those of us who believe in biblical morality are becoming more countercultural with each year that passes. From comic books to toys to TV, movies, and social media, unbiblical messages surround us all day, every day.

The good news is that we can look up for the strength to look around. We can choose the vertical in confronting the horizontal. We can find in heaven the resources we need to live authentically and victoriously on earth.

In this sense, William Shatner got it exactly wrong yesterday. After making history as the oldest person ever to go into space, the ninety-year-old actor was ecstatic upon his Blue Origin flights return to earth, telling Jeff Bezos: Everybody in the world needs to do this. . . . Im so filled with emotion about what just happened. I just, its extraordinary, extraordinary. I hope I never recover from this.

Shatner was especially impressed with the atmosphere through which he traveled: This air which is keeping us alive. Its thinner than your skin. Its a sliver. Its immeasurably small. Speaking of the sky into which he traveled, he said, Fifty miles and . . . youre in death. Then, referring to our fallen planet that lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19; cf. 2 Corinthians 4:4), he said, This is life.

Where will you point to for life today?

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A bisexual Superman and William Shatner's return from space - Denison Forum

Every October I binge watch scary movies. Id never describe myself as a horror movie fan, but you can bet that when the autumn colors are in full bloom and pumpkins begin popping up around the neighborhood, Im watching Silver Bullet, The Shining, The Exorcist, and maybe even some hokey slasher films like Friday the 13th. I dont remember when this tradition started, or why.

A perennial favorite is Scream and its three sequels (and an MTV series that ran between 2015 and 2019 that was actually pretty good).

Now, when the original movies dropped in the late 1990s, I thought they were dreadful. (It was hard to get past the killer walking around in a cape in broad daylight.) I dont feel this way today, which is why I fully intend to go see the latest installment: Scream 5, which is slated for a January release. The trailer for the newest film just dropped, and it will give horror fans goosebumps.

The movie looks amazing and appears to feature many of the same characters, plot elements, and themes as its predecessors. This is encouraging, because the themes found in the original films tell an important story about good and evil, strength and weakness.

A few nights ago I once again found myself watching the Scream movies into the wee hours and noticed a theme I hadnt noticed before. Two themes, actually: self-empowerment and the toxicity of victimhood. The killers in these movies . SPOILER ALERT

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. Billy Loomis, Debbie Salt, Roman Bridger, and Jill Roberts all suffer from what wed today call a victim mentality. The world took something from them, and they plan to extract their due in returnby slicing and dicing innocent people.

Throughout the films we see characters toy with a question: who is to blame for the carnage we witness on screen? What made the killers what they are and do what they do? During the big reveal in Scream, Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell), the hero of the films, raises this issue with Loomis and his annoying, drooling accomplice, Stu Macher (Matthew Lillard).

Sidney Prescott: You sick f***s. You've seen one too many movies!

Billy Loomis: Now Sid, don't you blame the movies. Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative!

The topic comes up again in Scream 2 when Sarah Michelle Gellars character, Cici, challenges the idea that a murder in a movie theater was the result of a horror movie that depicted the Woodsboro slayings.

Film Teacher: You could say that what happened in that theatre was a direct result of the movie itself.

Cici: That is so Moral Majority. You can't blame real life violence on entertainment.

Film Class Guy #1: Yes you can. Don't you ever watch the news?

Film Class Guy #2: Hello? The murderer was wearing a ghost mask just like in the movie. It's directly responsible.

Cici : No, it's not. Movies are not responsible for our actions.

Its a surprisingly philosophical question for a horror movie: who is responsible for our actions (in this case, murder)? To what extent are people who were not involved culpable for an act? The second film doesnt quite give us the answer to these questions. Not until Scream 3 do we get to see in no uncertain terms who is to blame.

In this film, we hear the sad story of killer number three. Roman Bridger, the director of the latest Stab movie (fictional movies based on the fictional slayings), was abandoned by his mother, Maureen Prescott (ne Roberts)Sidneys mother. After tracking Mrs. Prescott down, Bridger was told by his mother that she wanted nothing to do with him. She had a new life, and her old life was history. In retaliation, we learn, Bridger got Billy Loomis (the killer in Scream) to kill Maureen Prescott by revealing that she was having an affair with Billys father, precipitating the subsequent carnage.

This plot might sound like a bad soap opera, but thats not the point. The point is that Bridger believes he is a victim and blames Sidney Prescott for his pain.

Bridger: Youre going to pay for the life you stole from me, Sid. For the mother, and the family, and the stardom, and g***ammit for having everything that should have been mine!

Sidney: Oh, why dont you get on with it and stop your whining. Ive heard all of this s**t before. Do you know why you kill Roman? Do you? Because you choose to. There is no one else to blame!

Because you choose to.

The idea that people are responsible for their actions is hardly novel. Yet its one that today is falling out of fashion, as people increasingly seek to blame external forces for their circumstances.

This is why Dr. Jordan B. Peterson, the best-selling author of 12 Rules for Life, makes it clear the most important rule for life is a simple one: take control of your life.

This is something Sidney has clearly learned, and the antagonists of the films have not.

In Scream 4, Sidney, now a successful self-help author promoting a book, confesses that for years she blamed others for her pain and saw herself as a victim.

That was unacceptable to me, she tells a small bookstore crowd. So I sat down and began to write a new role that would be my own. A role for a woman who leaves the walls of fear behind and steps outside of darkness.

Its a clear message of self-empowerment. This is not to deny that Sidney was wronged. She was. Her mother was murdered. Then her best friend. And her boyfriend tried to kill her (the first of several people to attempt this). But she refuses to let these things define her, which is the key to empowerment.

Adversity can create resilience, and trauma often inspires personal growth, writes Stanford University psychologist Kelly McGonigal.

Sidneys publicist takes a different view of things. Encouraged by a new rash of slayings in Woodsboro, she tells Sidney her book sales will go through the roof if she can just play her role: the victim.

Sidney, accept your situation. Youre a victim, for life. Embrace it. Use it, the publicist says.

Sidney is incredulous. Did you read my book?

She fires the publicist, who moments later receives her comeuppance: an ill-fated end in a dark parking garage at the hands of a masked killer.

The next time you watch the Scream movies, keep an eye out for how the charactersheroes and killers alikeconfront adversity and approach personal responsibility. In addition to a high body count, youll find a lesson in how self-reliance empowers and how victimhood consumes.

We dont know for certain if Scream 5 will maintain this message of personal empowerment, but judging from the trailer, its a pretty safe bet.

At one point in the trailer, Dewey (David Arquette) tells Sidney its happening again.

Three attacks so far, Dewey tells her. Do you have a gun?

Im Sidney Prescott, she responds. Of course I have a gun.

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The Hidden Message of the Scream Movies: Victimhood Is Toxic - Foundation for Economic Education

More than 2,000 young Americans gathered over the weekend in Houston to meet prominent conservatives and hear speeches and Q&As about media, politics, and conservatism.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican and former U.S. Navy SEAL who represents part of Houston, organized the event. On hand were Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro, podcaster Dave Rubin, former Fox News and NBC anchor Megyn Kelly, bestselling author Dr. Jordan Peterson, and several other conservative leaders.

BOXING FANS CHEER TRUMP AT GUEST COMMENTATOR GIG

Youre here because you think conservatism is a better path forward for America, Crenshaw, who descended theatrically from the ceiling in a crowd-pleasing reprise of the campaign ad that showed him jumping out of a helicopter. Youd be right. But I didnt bring you here to rally on and on about how great we are. This isnt a rally I brought you here so that you might have a better understanding of what it means to partake from the rich, conservative, traditions.

Crenshaw held a Q&A with anti-human trafficking activists Jaco Booyens and Courtney Litvak. In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Litvak, herself a survivor, to the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.

Rubin discussed Californias gubernatorial recall election coming up Tuesday and his journey from far-left to center-right commentary. Kelly answered questions about media bias and offered advice about how to foster a burgeoning journalism career.

Weve seen a complete collapse of the journalistic system," Kelly said before urging those in attendance to never settle for less, to stop complaining, and to be excellent in every job they do.

After lunch and a performance by Texas country music stars the Josh Abbott Band, the afternoon session included a speech by Tony Robbins, the motivational speaker of Netflixs I Am Not Your Guru fame.

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Elisha Krauss, Antonia Okafor, Benji Backer, and Morgan Zegers spoke on a panel called Youth Outreach and Activism, specifically targeted to their Generation Z audience. Black Rifle Coffee Company founders Mat Best, Jarred Taylor, and Evan Hafer also spoke on entrepreneurship and conservatism.

Story continues

Although the event felt like a rally with its thumping intro music and bright, colorful lights, Crenshaw said its purpose was to grow the conservative movement, not just get people charged up.

Washington Examiner Videos

Tags: News, Dan Crenshaw, Ben Shapiro, Megyn Kelly, Conservatism

Original Author: Nicole Russell

Original Location: Dan Crenshaw's youth summit draws big crowd of young conservatives

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Dan Crenshaw's youth summit draws big crowd of young conservatives - Yahoo News

September 15, 2021 (GREENSBORO, N.C.) Charlotte Hornets President of Basketball Operations & General Manager Mitch Kupchak announced today that the Greensboro Swarm has named Jordan Surenkamp head coach. Surenkamp becomes the third head coach in franchise history.

Surenkamp has been elevated to lead the Swarm after completing his third season with the Hornets his second as the Head Video Coordinator. He joined the organization prior to the 2018 season as an Assistant Video Coordinator.

Development is a key pillar of our organization and of building a sustainable program, Kupchak said. Jordan is well versed in the importance of our player development program and well prepared to lead the Greensboro Swarm in pursuit of this goal. We are excited about the synergy he will bring to Greensboro given his time under Head Coach James Borrego.

Im very appreciative of the opportunity to lead the Greensboro Swarm, said Surenkamp. The time spent helping develop our younger players in Charlotte and learning from Coach Borrego and his staff has prepared me for this opportunity. Im grateful for the trust the Hornets organization, Swarm organization, Mitch Kupchak, Buzz Peterson, Larry Jordan and Coach James Borrego have put in me, and Im excited to get to work with the Swarm.

Before joining the Hornets, Surenkamp kicked off his career in professional basketball with the Brooklyn Nets (2017-18). His tenure with the Nets included head video coordinator duties for their NBA G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

Im excited to see what Jordan is able to accomplish with the Swarm in this role, said Borrego. He has been a valued part of my staff in Charlotte, and I am impressed by his work ethic and competitive nature.His passion for helping young players get better will be contagious as he builds a strong culture in Greensboro. I look forward to keeping a strong connection between his staff and mine as we continue building our organization and developing our players.

Surenkamp has a wealth of collegiate experience after spending four seasons at the University of South Alabama under head coach Matthew Graves. From 2015-17 he was the director of basketball operations, a role he was promoted to after spending two seasons (2013-15) as a graduate assistant. Surenkamp earned a masters degree in communication from South Alabama in 2015.

A native of Indianapolis, Surenkamp graduated from Wabash College with a degree in speech communication and rhetoric. He was also a member of the mens basketball program where he earned four letters and appeared in 74 career games.

The 2021-22 NBA G League season will be the Swarns 5th Anniversary celebration, presented by Blue Ridge Companies. The season-long campaign will focus on recognizing the organizations community partners through 5 Months of Giving philanthropic events, in-game entertainment, and social and digital media campaigns. Specific details surrounding the 5th Anniversary activations will be announced in the weeks leading up to the season.

Season Ticket Memberships and Mini Plans are on sale now. Starting as low as $5 per game, each membership includes some of the best benefits in the NBA G League. For more information, visit gsoswarm.com or call 336-907-3600.

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Jordan Surenkamp Named Head Coach of The Greensboro Swarm - Brooklynnets.com