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California Disclosure Law Survey: Part One
By Ken Greene, Esq. Leasing News Advisor Emeritus

There is substantial controversy and at least one pending lawsuit filed against the Department of Financial Protection and Information (DFPI) regarding the California commercial disclosure laws and regulations (hereafter simply “the law”). There are ample criticism, insults, and outright flaunting of the law. Importantly, more than a few companies have ceased business in California altogether, or only make exempt transactions like true leases. My responses come from about 25 companies, mostly brokers, and a few lenders and banks. Some of it is interesting, so I thought I would share it with you. There is a lot of feedback, so this article will be in two parts.

These are the survey questions:

A. Are you familiar with the new California disclosure] laws?
B. Do you adhere to them?
C. Are they reasonable?
D. What problems have you had with them?
E. If you could make any changes, what would you change?
F. Are you a broker, a lender, or both?
G. Any other comments?

These are some of the results and responses:

Are you familiar with the new laws?

Almost everyone in the industry is (or should be) familiar with the new law. Unless your head has been in the sand this past year, it would be hard not to know about this. As expected, all of the responses were “yes”.

Do you adhere to them?

About 85% of the respondents said they comply with the new laws. At least one company that participated in the survey has stopped doing business in California because of the new law. One respondent answered “Yes, but [we] avoid them by brokering to banks or writing leases.”

Are they reasonable?

No surprise here, but less than half the respondents believe the new laws is reasonable. Comments (actual quotes) include:

“My opinion is they should let commercial lending alone. They are painting it with the same brush as real estate. So if I have a California deal that’s non-bank, I either do an FMV lease or TRAC lease on financed vehicles.”
“Continued piling of regulations is slowly killing CA and business access to money.”
“The idiot Glaser who concocted this stupidity did not realize that he just torpedoed every non-bank commercial lender in the state by giving his political donors (the banks) exemptions. Last time I checked ‘Lady Justitia represented equality’, not putting your thumbs down on one side.”
“No. I do not think they are reasonable. We have spent our career selling a payment, and now with the recent laws, if we choose to work with a lender that must provide this information, it just confuses the customer. Customers are not even aware that this information must be presented if the lender is not exempt. I have also seen the form that one of the lender sends out and it definitely is confusing to me.”
“No. I think that is costly to small businesses both for commercial finance brokers and for customers wishing to obtain financing. Lenders are tending not to lend in states like these which is bad for business on both sides of the fence.”
No. It creates an obstacle to doing business. Our transactions clearly outline the costs in real dollars, without surprises, unlike alternative lending. It unreasonably delays transactions and commerce and tries to makes apples to oranges, apples to apples when they are different fruits.

What problems have you had with them?

“I have not had any problems with the laws yet other than difficulty finding lenders that will lend in those states, which hurts my customers and my own business.”
“We spend inordinate amounts of money DEFENDING LAWSUITS containing the same ROTE ARGUMENTS ‘no disclosure compliance’ , so it is obvious that GLASER and his buddies never discussed ths with the JUDICIARY”
“Complexity”
“Don't understand the need for such regulation in commercial transactions.”
“Being a wholly owned subsidiary of a bank - we are already under the watchful eye of the federal government. Yet - since we do not take in deposits directly at our physical location - we are required to submit disclosures when giving terms on loans.”
“We have always disclosed the APR to our clients; the tedious part is lenders are requiring the disclosure document signed prior to releasing docs; it should all be one step together.”
“Banks and depository institutions don't have to do this. Brokers becoming banked owned seems like a way to get around telling the rate.”
“Delays any lease process. Disclosure creates more questions than it addresses.”
“Makes it more difficult to do non-bank deals.”
“Too many hurdles to jump through to get a CA lender's license which leaves us only working with bank charters or selling FMV leases which a lot of customers do not like. All this has done is hurt the small businesses we used to be able to help with competitive programs because we can no longer offer those programs to them. This is HURTING small businesses!”
We lost the only deal in which the disclosure statement was issued. The deal made complete economic sense for the challenged credit but [he] couldn’t come to grips with the APR disclosed. So, he knew the payment made sense and the transaction was an opportunity to re-establish his credit record, but seeing the APR, he couldn’t pull the trigger, to his detriment.

Ken Greene
Law Office of Kenneth Charles Greene
Tel: 818.575.9095
ken@kengreenelaw.com
www.kengreenelaw.com

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APR Programs Are Widely Available on the Internet
Search Annual Percentage Rate Programs

Today, the most popular calculator software is TValue, available online or software for your computer or smartphone: https://www.timevalue.com/tvalue-products

You can also purchase the calculator to put on your website by going to: https://www.timevalue.com/tcalc-financial-calculators

There are other financial portals and calculation tools, such as:
www.Bankrate.com
www.Kiplinger.com

Kabbage, OnDeck, plus Term Loan APR Calculator
https://www.nav.com/business-loan-calculators/merchant-cash-advance-apr-calculator/
(Upper left on site below, plus add below site to your website)

Source:
https://www.nav.com/business-loan-calculators/merchant-cash-advance-apr-calculator/

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Usury
Various Laws Subject to Disclosure

Definition: Usury is defined as the act of lending money at an unreasonably high interest rate; this rate is defined at the state level. Repayment of loans or capital leases (under Article 9) at a usurious rate makes repayment excessively difficult to impossible for borrowers. This is also called "loan sharking" or "predatory lending".

Usury has recently come back into legal conversations due to the emergence of payday loans and sub-prime lending as well as new state disclosure laws. These types of loans are aimed at those who are at greater risk of defaulting, those with lower incomes. However, usury is beginning to be applied in many states to capital leases that fail to be true leases under Article 2A and fall into Article 9.

The usury laws, predatory lending, and loan sharking rules use to apply more to local banks. Since the passing of a federal law stating that the state usury laws do not apply to banks that label themselves with the words "national", these banks have been able to offer loans above the state usury limit. These "national" banks are allowed to apply interest rates a number of points higher than the Federal Reserve Discount Rate. The Federal Reserve Discount Rate is the rate banks get when borrowing directly from the Federal Reserve Bank for short term funds.

There are a number of different lending tactics that are considered predatory lending or leasing. Some lessors dispute whether these are unethical, often citing that lessees have choices of who they get their capital leases from.

Below are the most common practices labeled "predatory".

Fees & lease rate. Common complaints on predatory lending and leasing involve fees incurred which are not included in the transaction.. Lessees may not know they have a no-fee lease or loan line of credit, or may not be able to get a no-fee capital lease or loan line of credit. Lessors may take advantage of this by offering a reasonable rate, but tacking on a fee. The capital leaselease or loan rate may appear attractive, but the fee is not considered in the transaction, if it were the rate would appear significantly higher. Many state disclosure laws require the disclosure.

Risk-based leasing: (This also applies to Equipment Finance and Business Loans). This is the practice of charging higher rates to the lessees or borrowers who are labeled as high-risk, meaning there is a higher risk that they will not be able to pay back the capital lease or loan and thus default. Creditors and Lessors argue they need the higher lease rates in order to offset the losses from those that default. Business groups, however, counter that the higher capital lease rates themselves make it more difficult for the individuals to pay back the lease, and the lessors are simply price-gouging.

Key Man Insurance: Lessors will push single premium key man insurance stating that the insurance will pay off the capital lease or loan if the owner passes away. The cost of the insurance is often added to the transaction, making it more appealing since it does not have to be paid in one lump sum. This actually makes the transaction more expensive, and compounds the interest of the insurance over the life of the capital lease.

It is difficult to understand the usury laws of most states but it is becoming imperative that commercial equipment leasing and finance companies check with legal counsel on the limits and requirements it the states that they operate, especially the states with new disclosure laws.

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Leasing and Finance Industry Help Wanted
Highly Trained Operation Staff/Work from Home
Excellent Compensation/Marketing Support

Getting Out of Your Own Head for Success
By Ken Lubin, ZRG Partners

In the pursuit of success, we often find ourselves trapped in our own thoughts, doubts, and fears. Over thinking, self-doubt, and negative self-talk can hinder our progress and prevent us from reaching our full potential. To break free from this cycle and unlock success, it's crucial to learn how to get out of your own head. Here are a few effective strategies that can help you shift your mindset, cultivate self-belief, and create a pathway to success.

Recognize the Power of Your Thoughts: The first step towards getting out of your own head is to become aware of the thoughts that occupy your mind. Understand that your thoughts shape your reality, and negative thinking can limit your potential. Start observing your thoughts without judgment and identify any recurring patterns of self-doubt or negativity. By recognizing the power of your thoughts, you can take control of them and steer them in a positive direction.
Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs: Limiting beliefs are deeply ingrained negative thoughts that hold you back from achieving success. They often stem from past experiences or external influences, and they create a fixed mindset that hinders growth. Identify your limiting beliefs and question their validity. Challenge them by gathering evidence of your capabilities and achievements. Replace these limiting beliefs with empowering ones that align with your goals and aspirations
Practice Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: Mindfulness is the practice of being fully present in the current moment. It helps you break free from over thinking and ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. Engaging in mindfulness exercises, such as meditation or deep breathing, can quiet your mind and reduce stress. By focusing on the present moment, you can enhance your clarity, improve decision-making, and increase your productivity.
Surround Yourself with Positive Influences: Your environment greatly influences your thoughts and mindset. Surround yourself with individuals who uplift and support you. Seek out mentors, coaches, or like-minded peers who inspire you to reach for greatness. Engaging in positive and constructive conversations can broaden your perspective and provide valuable insights. By surrounding yourself with positive influences, you can foster an optimistic mindset and propel yourself towards success
Take Action and Embrace Failure: Over thinking can lead to paralysis by analysis, preventing you from taking action. Success requires taking risks, making mistakes, and learning from failures. Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success rather than a reflection of your worth. Take consistent action towards your goals, and understand that setbacks are merely opportunities for growth. Each step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to success.
Celebrate Your Achievements: In the pursuit of success, it's essential to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements along the way. Recognize your progress, no matter how small, and give yourself credit for your efforts. Celebrating milestones boosts your self-confidence, reinforces a positive mindset, and motivates you to keep moving forward.

Getting out of your own head is a crucial step towards achieving success. By recognizing the power of your thoughts, challenging limiting beliefs, practicing mindfulness, surrounding yourself with positive influences, taking action, and celebrating your achievements, you can shift your mindset and unlock your true potential. Remember, success is within your reach once you break free from the confines of your own mind. Embrace the journey, trust in yourself, and let go of self-imposed limitations.

Ken Lubin
Managing Director
ZRG Partners, LLC
Americas I EMEA I Asia Pacific
C: 508-733-4789
https://www.linkedin.com/in/klubin/

"What is the Ultimate Hire? The Ultimate Hire is the professional that every business, team or leader needs in their organization. This is the high performance individual that always rises to the top, brings the team to the next level and can significantly add to the bottom line. The Ultimate Hire is the person that you can't afford to be without. Finding, Attracting, Hiring and Retaining these professionals is critical to the success of your business. We have identified these traits and can help you find these top professionals."

The Ultimate Hire Collection:
http://leasingnews.org/Conscious-Top%20Stories/ultimate.html

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Top Ten Leasing News Read by Readers
June 12 to June 16

(1) $330 Million Umpqua Bank Assisted Ponzi scheme
Reports San Francisco Chronicle
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_14.htm#umpqua

(2) Racism for Dummies
Placard
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_16.htm#placard

(3) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_16.htm#hireses

(4) New Hires/Promotions in the Leasing Business
and Related Industries
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_14.htm#hires

(5) CLFP Foundation Adds 19 New CLFPs – With Photos
Membership Reaches 1300 https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_12.htm#clfpp

(6) Everyone Who Remembers...
The Heart of Education - Placard
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_14.htm#everyone

(7) Quaker Oaks Removed Aunt Jemima
As It Is "Racist"
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_16.htm#quaker

(8) How Are You Going to Handle Full Disclosure
Transactions that Include Kickbacks?
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_16.htm#how

(9) Toyota claims solid-state EV battery tech
breakthrough could offer +900 miles driving range
https://electrek.co/2023/06/13/toyota-claims-solid-state-ev-battery-tech-breakthrough

(10) Changing Competition
Sales Makes it Happen by Scott Wheeler, CLFP
https://leasingnews.org/archives/Jun2023/06_14.htm#changing

Why I Subscribe to Leasing News
By Ralph Mango, Associate Editor, Leasing News

Long before I became Associate Editor, I was reading Leasing News as THE source for leasing industry goings on.

When I took over at Marlin as VP of the Broker business, I found the Leasing News to be valuable with regard to that segment…brokers, their lenders, search firms, legal, hirings, M&A, etc.

In more recent years, that value has emerged as a ‘go to’ given the increased state regulatory incursions into what had largely been unregulated enterprise; the seismic changes in work habits brought about by the pandemic; the unforeseen emergence of new industries such as CBD financing; the plethora of educational opportunities including the CFLP certifications for which Reid is to be commended.

Our stable of contributors is impressive not only in the content of their writings but their willingness to share the same with colleagues. The community there is strong.

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Home Sales Down 18.7% Year-Over-Year,
Hampered by Lagging Inventory

The latest RE/MAX National Housing Report for May 2023 revealed a seasonal, 20% increase in home sales over April, as well as an 8.7% uptick in new listings.

While sales are still down 18.7% from last May, solid demand amid tight inventory helped push the median sales price up by 3.2%, month over month, to $423,000.

Ahead of the peak home sales months of June and July, the report shows a slight increase of 0.4% in inventory month over month, with housing supply up by 9.7% compared to May 2022.

Full Article:
https://themreport.com/news/data/06-16-2023/inventory-remains-stale

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This Day in History

   1632 – The 2d Lord Baltimore was granted rights to the Chesapeake Bay area by the British crown.
    1675 - Abenaki, Massachusetts, Mohegan and Wampanoag Indians formed an anti-English front. Wampanoag warriors attacked livestock and looted farms.
    1682 - A major tornado ripped through southwestern Connecticut, passing through Stratford, Milford, and New Haven, and then into Long Island Sound.
    1782 - Congress approved the Great Seal of the United States and the eagle as its symbol. It was the fourth submission of several committees designated by the Continental Congress, the first committee having been appointed on July 4, 1776 after the signing of The Declaration of Independence.
    1819 - The 320-ton paddle-wheel steamship Savannah became the first steamship to cross the Atlantic. It arrived in Liverpool after a journey from Savannah, Georgia, of 27 days 11 hours.
    1840 – The US Patent Office granted patent #1647 for the telegraph to Samuel F. B. Morse.
    1856 - In San Francisco, Committee of Vigilance headquarters was fortified with sandbags to stop any attacks by troops sent by the Governor to quell the insurrection. Cannons are mounted on the roof to forestall bombardment.
    1858 - Birthday of Charles W. Chestnutt (d. 1932), Cleveland, OH. He is considered by many as the first noted black novelist in American Literature. His collections of short stories included “The Conjure Woman (1899)” and “The Wife of His Youth and other Stories of the Color Line” (1899). “The Colonel’s Dream” (1905) dealt with the struggles of the freed slave. His work has been compared to later writers such as William Faulkner, Richard Wright, and James Baldwin. http://www.eden.rutgers.edu/~c350445/witter1.html
    1863 - West Virginia became the 34th state. This date is observed as a holiday in West Virginia. Following the Wheeling Conventions of 1861, in which 50 northwestern counties of Virginia decided to break away from Virginia because its citizens were against slavery, the new state was admitted to the Union and was a key border state. West Virginia did not secede from the Union. It was the only state to form by seceding from a Confederate state and was one of two states formed during the Civil War (the other being Nevada, which separated from Utah Territory). Charleston is the capital of the Mountain State which boasts of having the most rugged terrain of any state east of the Mississippi. Throughout the forested hills of West Virginia, you’ll also find many cardinals (the state bird) and multitudes of the state flower, the big rhododendron.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/jun20.html
    1863 - First National Bank in Davenport (Iowa) was the first bank in the country to open under the National Banking and Currency Act. The Act was approved by Congress and established a system of national banks for banks, and created the United States National Banking System. They encouraged development of a national currency backed by bank holdings of U.S. Treasury securities and established the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as part of the Department of the Treasury and authorized the Comptroller to examine and regulate nationally chartered banks. The Act shaped today's national banking system and its support of a uniform U.S. banking policy.
    1867 - The first territory that was noncontiguous was annexed to the United States. Alaska was purchased from Russia for $7.2 million. General Lovell Harrison Rousseau, the first military governor of the territory, took formal possession of Alaska in October, 1867.
http://www.state.ak.us/?TTFUID=2545
    1885 - A band of Moravian missionaries landed on the shores of Alaska and founded the Bethel Mission. During the first year of their mission work among the Eskimos, winter temperatures outside their makeshift housing plummeted to 50 degrees below zero!
    1893 - Eugene Debs forms the American Railway Union (ARU).
In just a few months, the union leads an 18-day strike against the Great Northern Railroad, forcing management to reverse three wage cuts. The victory against a railroad with 2,500 miles of track and 9,000 employees was so remarkable, especially during a depression, that the union signs up 2,000 members a day. This sets the stage for Chicago's Pullman Strike of 1894, the first organized nationwide strike in US history.
    1893 - Spectators at her trial cheered when the “not guilty” verdict was read by the jury foreman in the murder trial of Lizzy Borden. Elizabeth Borden had been accused of and tried for the hacking to death of her father and stepmother in their Fall River, MA, home, Aug 4, 1892.
    1894 - Birthday of Dr. Lloyd A. Hall (d. 1971), Elgin, IL. African-American pioneer in food chemistry and food preservation. By the end of his career, Hall had amassed 59 US patents, and a number of his inventions were also patented in other countries. http://scienceu.fsu.edu/content/scienceyou/meetscience/hall.html
    1894 - During the summer of 1894, the Pullman Palace Car Company was embroiled in what proved to be one of the most bitter strikes in American history. The strike was a direct response to company Chief George Pullman and his hardball tactics, most notably his decision in the midst of the Depression of 1893 to preserve profits by slashing wages and hiking workers' rents. Though Pullman's cars didn't carry any mail, the scheme proved effective. In early July, the government banned the boycotts and swiftly shipped troops to Chicago. Fighting broke out shortly after the government forces hit the scene; by the time the militia left Chicago on July 20, the "war" between the troops and the strikers had left thirty-four men dead. But, the damage had already been done to the Pullman strikers: their ranks and clout had been depleted, and, when American Federation of Labor chief Samuel Gompers refused to lend them any substantial support, the rail workers were forced to capitulate to management. In the wake of the settlement, many of the strikers were barred from working in the rail industry.
    1895 - Caroline Willard Baldwin became the first woman to earn a PhD in Science from an American university, at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Caroline was born in San Francisco on June 30, 1869. She was the only child of Army vet and miner Alfred Baldwin, one of the pioneering members of Santa Cruz County in California, and Fannie Willard, who was noted for her intellectual pursuits. Caroline later became the first woman to receive a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Mechanics at the University of California in 1892.
    1898 - Having not known that a war was in progress and having no ammunition on the island, the Spanish commander of Guam surrendered to Captain Glass of the USS Charleston. The United States took control of the island in the 1898 Spanish-American War as part of the Treaty of Paris. It later became, and remains, a protectorate of the US.
    1901 - Charlotte Manye becomes the first native African to graduate from an American University. http://www.greatepicbooks.com/epics/march98.html
    1903 - Birthday of Glenna Collett Vare (d. 1989), New Haven, CT. American amateur golfer who dominated the sport in the 1920s, winning 59 of 60 consecutive matches. She won her last championship in 1935, defeating such teenagers as the immortal Patty Berg. An estimated 15,000 came to watch the Grande Dame of golf and those who competed for the fun of it since there were no money prizes for women in those days.
    1905 - Playwright Lillian Hellman (d. 1984) was born, New Orleans. American playwright/memoirist. Had lifelong relationship with mystery writer Dashiell Hammett until his death (1961). Among her plays that have entered the modern repertory are ''The Children's Hour,'' ''The Little Foxes'' and ''Watch on the Rhine.'' She was also one of the most successful motion-picture scenarists. Her life took a sharp turn in 1952 when the House Committee on Un-American Activities was investigating links between American leftists and the Communist Party in this country and abroad. She offered to testify about her own opinions and actions, but not about those of others. ''I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions,'' she wrote. For this, she risked imprisonment for contempt of Congress, was blacklisted and saw her income drop from $150,000 a year to virtually nothing. Not until ''Toys in the Attic'' appeared in 1960 did her financial straits end. Although she had participated with Communists in many causes, she was not a Communist. Throughout her life, Miss Hellman continued to raise her voice for such causes as civil rights and peace, and with others filed a suit that won a court ruling that the Nixon White House tapes were public property.
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/lhellman.htm
http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/hellman-today.html
    1905 - A young woman sued the New York Giants for $500 for injury suffered when a foul ball hit her at a game at the Polo Grounds. Judge Chester B. McLaughlin dismissed the suit, ruling that patrons attend baseball games at their own risk. That concept holds today and is a warning on every game ticket.
    1907 - First Portland, Oregon Rose festival.
    1909 – Birthday of naturalized American actor Errol Flynn (d. 1959) at Tasmania, Australia. Flynn was an overnight sensation in his first starring role soon after arriving in Hollywood, “Captain Blood” (1935). He followed with a succession of films over the next six years: “The Charge of the Light Brigade” (1936), “The Prince and the Pauper” (1937), “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938), “The Dawn Patrol” (1938), “Dodge City” (1939), “The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex” (1939) and “The Sea Hawk” (1940). In 1940, he was voted the 4th most popular star in the US according to Variety and the 7th most popular in Britain, and was at the zenith of his career. When Flynn became a naturalized American citizen on 15 August 1942, he also became eligible for the military draft, as the United States had entered World War II eight months earlier. Grateful to the country that had given him fame and wealth, he attempted to join the armed services but he had several health problems, his heart was enlarged, with a murmur, and he had already suffered at least one heart attack. Accordingly, he was classified 4-F. This created a public image problem for both Flynn and Warner Brothers as he was often criticized for his failure to enlist in the Armed Forces for war service as many other Hollywood actors of service age had, and yet while not apparently enlisting he continued to play war heroes in flag-waver productions such as “Dive Bomber” (1941), “Desperate Journey” (1942) and “Objective Burma” (1945).
    1910 - Singer and comedienne Fanny Brice made her debut in the Ziegfeld Follies. She received rave reviews from the Broadway critics.
    1911 - The National Association of Advancement of Colored People incorporates in New York City, NY
http://www.naacp.org/
    1912 - Trumpeter Lammar Wright, Sr. (d. 1973) was born in Texakana, Texas. He played with Benny Moten, Cab Calloway for 17 years. ”Benny Moten's band is now a solid New Orleans style group even though they are from Kansas City. The trumpeter Lammar Wright is now playing with a fast terminal vibrato. ‘18th Street Strut’ uses Oliver-style phrases.”
    1915 - The St. Louis Browns arrived in Detroit for a game against the Tigers without their uniforms. The Tigers lent the Browns spare uniforms and then beat them, 1-0.
    1916 - Inserted as a defensive replacement late in the game, Boston SS Everett Scott started a string of 1,307 consecutive games, all played at SS. He will complete the streak as a Yankee on May 6, 1925, a few days after the Major League debut of Lou Gehrig who broke Scott’s record on the way to 2,130.
    1917 - Birthday of guitarist/singer Jimmy Driftwood (d. 1998), Mountain View, AR.
http://www.billslater.com/driftwood.htm
    1920 - Trumpet player Paul Wesley ‘Doc’ Evans (d. 1977) birthday, Spring Valley, MN.
http://www.docevans.com/
    1920 - Race riots in Chicago, Illinois leave two dead and many wounded.
    1920 - Actor DeForest Kelley (d. 1999) born at Toccoa, Georgia. Perhaps best known for his role in “Star Trek” as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
    1921 - Miss Alice Robertson of Oklahoma became the first woman to preside in the US House of Representatives. Miss Robertson was President for half an hour.
http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=R000318
    1921 - Circle, MT, received 11.5 inches of rain in 24 hours, a record for the state. The town of Circle received a total of 16.79 inches of rain that month to establish a rainfall record for any town in Montana for any month of the year.
    1924 - Audie Murphy (d. 1971) was born in Kingston, TX. He became the most decorated American soldier of World War II, receiving every military combat award for valor available from the US Army, as well as French and Belgian awards for heroism. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor demonstrated at the age of 19 for single-handedly holding off an entire company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, then leading a successful counterattack while wounded and out of ammunition. He went on to make movies and write a book about his war experiences called “To Hell and Back.”
    1924 - Birthday of guitarist Chet Atkins (d. 2001), Luttrell, TN. American guitarist, vocalist and record producer who, along with Owen Bradley, created the smoother country music style known as the Nashville Sound, which expanded country's appeal to adult pop music fans as well. His trademark picking style and musicianship brought him admirers within and outside the country scene, both in the United States and internationally. Atkins produced records for The Browns, Hank Snow, Porter Wagoner, Norma Jean, Dolly Parton, Dottie West, Perry Como, Elvis, The Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Don Gibson, Jim Reeves, Jerry Reed, Skeeter Davis, Waylon Jennings and others. Among many honors, Atkins received 14 Grammy Awards as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, nine Country Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year awards, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
http://www.misterguitar.com/caas.html
    1928 – Birthday of American actor Martin Landau (d. 2017) in Brooklyn. American film and television actor. His career started in the 1950s, with early film appearances including a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” (1959). He played regular roles in the television series “Mission: Impossible” (for which he received several Emmy Award nominations) and “Space: 1999.”
    1928 - Birthday of alto sax/flutist Eric Dolphy (d. 1964), Los Angeles, Ca.
    1929 - Louis Armstrong and an all-black cast open in "Hot Chocolates," New York City.
    1931 - Birthday of Olympia Dukakis, stage and screen actor, Lowell, MA. Won Academy Award for best supporting actress for her work in “Moonstruck” (1987). She is a cousin to former Massachusetts governor Michael Dukakis.
    1936 - Billy Guy, baritone lead singer with the 1950's group The Coasters, was born Frank Phillips (d. 2002) in Texas. The Coasters, formed in 1955, had a series of hits with novelty songs written by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller. The group achieved widespread popularity with their first releases in 1956: "Down in Mexico" and "One Kiss Leads to Another." The Coasters' other hits included "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown" and "Poison Ivy." Many of the sax breaks on the Coasters' records are played by King Curtis.
    1940 - President Roosevelt strengthens his Cabinet by bringing in two prominent Republicans. Henry Stimson becomes Secretary for War and Frank Knox becomes Secretary for the Navy. Stimson is strongly against America's isolationist tradition and will be a champion of Lend-Lease.
    1942 - Brian Wilson, lead singer and main songwriter for the Beach Boys, was born in Inglewood, California. Wilson's songs - such as "Surfin' USA," "I Get Around" and "Help Me, Rhonda" - were all about being a teenager in California in the early 1960's - about surfing, driving and dating. The group turned to more grown up topics later in the decade, but the Beach Boys have survived mainly as a nostalgia act. In the mid-1960s, Wilson composed and produced “Pet Sounds,” considered one of the greatest albums of all time. The Beach Boys have sold more than 65 million records worldwide. Brian Wilson became a virtual recluse in 1970 when his neuroses and drug abuse got the better of him. He has since done the odd live show, and released a solo album in 1988. His honors include being inducted into the 1988 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and winning two Grammy Awards (2004 and 2011). In lists published by Rolling Stone, Wilson ranked 52 for the "100 Greatest Singers of All Time" in 2008 and 12 for the "100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time" in 2015. In 2012, music publication NME ranked Wilson number 8 in its "50 Greatest Producers Ever" list, elaborating "few consider quite how groundbreaking Brian Wilson's studio techniques were in the mid-60s.
http://www.brianwilson.com/
    1943 - Federal troops put down racial riot in Detroit in which 30 are dead.
http://www.ustrek.org/odyssey/semester2/022801/022801nickdetroit.html
    1944 - The Japanese fleet withdraws to refuel, believing that their aircraft have landed safely on Guam. US Task Force 58 (Admiral Mitscher) launches an air strike on the Japanese fleet in the late afternoon. The 216 American aircraft encounter 35 defending fighters and sink the carrier Hiyo. Two other Japanese aircraft carriers are damaged as are a battleship and a cruiser. US loses amount to 20 planes shot down and 72 crashing while attempting to land on their carriers in the dark. During the night, the Japanese fleet withdraws and is not pursued. The battle of the Philippine Sea ended with Japan losing almost all its remaining trained pilots and at least 4,000 seamen.
   1944 - Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher, commander of the U.S. Task Force 58, ordered all lights on his ships turned on to help guide his carrier-based pilots back from the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
    1944 - *O'BRIEN, WILLIAM J., Medal of Honor
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry, 27th Infantry Division. Place and date: At Saipan, Marianas Islands, 20 June through 7 July 1944. Entered service at: Troy, N.Y. Birth: Troy, N.Y. G.O. No.: 35, 9 May 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty at Saipan, Marianas Islands, from 20 June through 7 July 1944. When assault elements of his platoon were held up by intense enemy fire, Lt. Col. O'Brien ordered 3 tanks to precede the assault companies in an attempt to knock out the strongpoint. Due to direct enemy fire the tanks' turrets were closed, causing the tanks to lose direction and to fire into our own troops. Lt. Col. O'Brien, with complete disregard for his own safety, dashed into full view of the enemy and ran to the leader's tank, and pounded on the tank with his pistol butt to attract 2 of the tank's crew and, mounting the tank fully exposed to enemy fire, Lt. Col. O'Brien personally directed the assault until the enemy strongpoint had been liquidated. On 28 June 1944, while his platoon was attempting to take a bitterly defended high ridge in the vicinity of Donnay, Lt. Col. O'Brien arranged to capture the ridge by a double envelopment movement of 2 large combat battalions. He personally took control of the maneuver. Lt. Col. O'Brien crossed 1,200 yards of sniper-infested underbrush alone to arrive at a point where one of his platoons was being held up by the enemy. Leaving some men to contain the enemy, he personally led 4 men into a narrow ravine behind, and killed or drove off all the Japanese manning that strongpoint. In this action he captured five machineguns and one 77-mm. fieldpiece. Lt. Col. O'Brien then organized the 2 platoons for night defense and, against repeated counterattacks, directed them. Meanwhile he managed to hold ground. On 7 July 1944, his and another battalion were attacked by an overwhelming enemy force estimated at between 3,000 and 5,000 Japanese. With bloody hand-to-hand fighting in progress everywhere, their forward positions were finally overrun by the sheer weight of the enemy numbers. With many casualties and ammunition running low, Lt. Col. O'Brien refused to leave the front lines. Striding up and down the lines, he fired at the enemy with a pistol in each hand and his presence there bolstered the spirits of the men, encouraged them in their fight, and sustained them in their heroic stand. Even after he was seriously wounded, Lt. Col. O'Brien refused to be evacuated and after his pistol ammunition was exhausted, he manned a .50 caliber machinegun, mounted on a Jeep, and continued firing. When last seen alive, he was standing upright firing into the Jap hordes that were then enveloping him. Sometime later his body was found surrounded by enemy he had killed. His valor was consistent with the highest traditions of the service.
    1945 - Anne Murray, one of the most popular female singers in the world, was born in Springhill, Nova Scotia. In 1966, she became a member of the chorus of "Singalong Jubilee," a CBC-TV show from Halifax. Murray continued as a featured performer on the show until 1970, the year the success of her recording of "Snowbird" caused a dramatic increase in her popularity. It was the first disc by a Canadian female vocalist to earn a gold record in the US. During the 1970's, Murray developed into Canada's most popular female singer. And she began enjoying great success with pop and country audiences in the US and Britain. She began appearing frequently on "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" on CBS-TV. Her hits included "Talk It Over in the Morning," "What About Me" and "You Needed Me," a 1978 million-seller. In 1986, she opted for a new, more contemporary image, with the hit "Now and Forever," produced by David Foster.
    1945 - Abbott & Costello's "Who's on First" routine is first seen, in the film "The Naughty Nineties." The routine is now a regular feature in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
    1948 - President Harry S. Truman institutes a military draft with a proclamation calling for nearly 10 million men to register for military service within the next two months. Truman's action came during increasing Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union.
    1948 - “The Ed Sullivan Show” premiered on television. It was officially titled “Toast of the Town” until 1955. We all watched it, especially since we were living in the early 1950’s in Port Chester, NY, where he also lived. It was the longest-running variety show (through 1971) and the most popular for decades. Ed Sullivan, the host, signed all types of acts, both well-known and new, trying to have something to please everyone. Thousands of performers appeared, many making their television debut, such as Irving Berlin, Victor Borge, Hedy Lamarr, Walt Disney, Fred Astaire and Jane Powell. Two acts attracted the largest audience of the time: Elvis Presley and the Beatles.
    1949 - Birthday of Lionel Richie, Tuskegee, AL. Tenor sax, songwriter, the son of a retired U.S. Army captain and a teacher. The former lead singer of the Commodores had five No. 1 hits, including "Endless Love." That duet with Diana Ross sold more than 2 million copies and in 1981 topped Billboard's Hot 100 for nine weeks, longer than any other duet.
http://www.alamhof.org/richiel.htm
http://www.lionelrichie.com/
    1950 - Willie Mays graduated from high school and immediately signed with the New York Giants for a $6,000 bonus. The ‘Say Hey Kid’ would play most of his career for the Giants -- in both New York and San Francisco -- becoming a baseball legend. As his career came to a close, Mays was traded to the New York Mets. Mays, an all-star center fielder, considered one of the game’s greatest stars, and is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He lives on the San Francisco Peninsula.
    1950 - After stroking a RBI single in the third inning, Joe DiMaggio strikes again in the seventh with another run-scoring safety to collect his 2,000th career hit. The Yankee Clipper reaches the milestone in an 8-2 victory in Cleveland, the 1537th contest he has played in the major leagues.
    1952 – Actor John Goodman born at St. Louis, MO…”Roseanne” (1988–1997), for which he won a Best Actor Golden Globe Award in 1993. “Raising Arizona” (1987), “King Ralph” (1991), “Barton Fink” (1991), “The Big Lebowski” (1998), “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” (2000), and “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013). A prolific voice actor, he perhaps most notably provided the voice of Sully in “Monsters, Inc” (2001) and “Monsters University” (2013). Other prominent film performances include the lead role in “The Flintstones” (1994) and supporting roles in “The Artist” (2011), “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” (2011), “Argo” (2012), “Flight” (2012), “Trouble With The Curve” (2012), and “The Hangover Part III “(2013), among many others.
    1953 – Singer Cyndi Lauper is born in New York City. Her first single, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,'' sells more than 2 million copies and reaches No. 2 on Billboard's Hot 100. Two later releases, “Time After Time'' and “True Colors'' top the chart.
    1955 - Top Hits
“Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” - Perez Prado
“Rock Around the Clock” - Bill Haley & His Comets
“It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” - Somethin’ Smith & The Redheads
“Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young” - Faron Young
    1957 - A violent tornado, rated F5 on the Fujita scale, tore through Fargo, North Dakota. 10 people were killed and 103 injured. Over 1300 homes were damaged or destroyed.
    1960 - Floyd Patterson became the first boxer to regain the heavyweight championship when he knocked out Ingemar Johansson of Sweden at 1:51 of the fifth round. Patterson won the crown for the first time on November 30, 1956, defeating Archie Moore. Johansson scored a TKO over the champion on June 26, 1959. Johansson also lost a third fight on March 13, 1961.
    1960 - 17-year-old Annette Funicello entered the Billboard Pop chart with the Paul Anka-penned "Train of Love." The song would become the fourth of her five Top 40 hits, eventually reaching #36.
    1963 - The United States and the Soviet Union established a hot-line to serve as an emergency communications system between the two superpowers during the Cold War. While the system was tested, it was never used.
    1963 - Top Hits
“Sukiyaki” - Kyu Sakamoto
“You Can’t Sit Down” - The Dovells
“Blue on Blue” - Bobby Vinton
“Act Naturally” - Buck Owens
    1964 - A squall line producing large hail swept through central Illinois. A second squall line moved through during the early morning hours of the 21st, and a third one moved through shortly after dawn. The series of hailstorms caused $9 million damage. Hailstones as large as grapefruit caused heavy damage to trees, utility lines, crops and buildings. The thunderstorms also produced as much as five inches of rain in an eight hour period
    1965 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Mr. Tambourine Man," The Byrds.
    1966 - The U.S. Open golf tournament was broadcast from San Francisco, with something extra for the nation’s golf fans. It was the first time TV had beamed a golf event in color.
    1967 - Boxing champion Muhammad Ali is convicted of refusing induction into the American armed services. The conviction was later overturned by the Supreme Court.
    1967 - Birthday of actress Nicole Kidman, born Honolulu, Hawaii.
    1969 - The three day Newport Festival began in Northridge, California, featuring such performers as Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, and Ike and Tina Turner. Hendrix was paid $135,000, at the time the most ever paid to a rock performer for a single performance. Like the notorious Altamont Festival later in the year, there were violent gate-crashing incidents and a motorcycle gang had been hired for security.
http://www.jimi-hendrix.com/
    1970 - Beatles tune "The Long and Winding Road" began its second week on the pop music charts number one spot. It would be the last song released by The Beatles.
    1970 - Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" goes gold.
    1971 - Top Hits
“It’s Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move” - Carole King
“Rainy Days and Mondays” - Carpenters
“Treat Her Like a Lady” - Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
“When You’re Hot, You’re Hot” - Jerry Reed
    1972 - President Nixon recorded on tape information relating to the Jun 16 Watergate break-in. Sections of the tape were later erased, allegedly accidentally by secretary Rose Mary Woods. A panel of experts examined the tape to see if the 18-minute gap was intentional. Richard H. Bolt (d. 2002 at age 90), acoustic expert at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, later said that if it was an accident than it was committed at least 5 times in the 18 minutes.
   1972 - The Tallahatchie Bridge, made famous in Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe", collapsed into the Yazoo River. Although an article which appeared in the November, 1967 issue of Life magazine showed a picture of Bobbie walking across it, she later said that she didn't have any particular span in mind when she wrote the song. It's also worth noting that Chocktaw Ridge, which is also referred to in the song, is located a hundred miles away on the east side of the I-55, and not anywhere near the Tallahatchie River as it passes through Leflore County.
    1973 - American Bandstand airs its 20th anniversary special on ABC-TV, featuring Little Richard, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Three Dog Night, Johnny Mathis, Annette Funicello, and Cheech and Chong. It also features the first appearance of his many huge "all-star" rock jams.
    1975 - “Jaws” was released. With its tagline, “Don’t go in the water” and its ominous cello music, the Steven Spielberg-directed thriller shocked audiences. Adapted from a Peter Benchley bestseller,”Jaws” showed a great white shark preying on the beachgoers of a New England town. It won three Oscars—Best Editing, Best Sound and Best Original Score (by John Williams)—and was a blockbuster success.
    1977 - Former Nixon White House chief of staff H.R. Haldeman enters prison. His intimate role in the Watergate cover-up precipitated his resignation from government, subsequent to which he was tried on counts of perjury, conspiracy and obstruction of justice, found guilty and imprisoned for 18 months. Upon his release he returned to private life and was a successful businessman until his death from cancer in 1993.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/watergate/stories/halobit.htm
    1977 - No. 1 Billboard Pop Hit: "Got to Give It Up (Pt. 1)," Marvin Gaye.
    1979 - Top Hits
“Hot Stuff” - Donna Summer
“We are Family” - Sister Sledge
“Ring My Bell” - Anita Ward
“She Believes in Me” - Kenny Rogers
    1980 - "It's Still Rock & Roll" becomes Billy Joel's first #1 hit.
    1985 - Coach Rollie Massimino told reporters, "I just can’t leave Villanova," when he turned down a $2.1 million, ten years offer to coach basketball for the New Jersey Nets.
    1987 - Whitney Houston’s album, "Whitney," debuted on "Billboard" magazine’s album chart at number one. Houston became the first female to have an LP debut at the top. The singer, daughter of Cissy Houston and cousin of Dionne Warwick, began her singing career at age 11 with the New Hope Baptist Junior Choir in New Jersey. Houston first worked as a backup vocalist for Chaka Khan and Lou Rawls. She entered modeling in 1981, appearing in "Glamour" magazine and on the cover of "Seventeen". Whitney married soul singer, Bobby Brown, in the late 1980s. On February 11, 2012, Houston was found dead in her guest room at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The official coroner's report showed that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors.
    1987 - Top Hits
“Head to Toe” - Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” - Whitney Houston
“In Too Deep” - Genesis
“Forever and Ever, Amen” - Randy Travis
    1988 - A law to force the admission of women to private clubs was upheld unanimously by the Supreme Court. At issue was a New York City law requiring women to be admitted to large, private clubs that are said to play important roles in business and professional life. In New York, the University Club had already voted to admit women. By the end of August, the Union League Club, the Century Association, and the Friars Club in New York agreed to admit women. The Friars Club in California admitted its first female member in 1987. On June 18, the exclusive Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C.C. unassailably male for 110 years, voted by a large majority to accept women. It, too, had been threatened with legal action.
    1988 - Thirty-eight cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. Afternoon highs of 97 degrees at Flint, MI, and 104 degrees at Chicago, IL, equaled records for the month of June. Thunderstorms in North Dakota produced baseball size hail near Kief, and wind gusts to 100 mph near McGregor
    1993 - With a four-games-to-two victory over the Phoenix Suns in the National Basketball Association (NBA) finals, the Chicago Bulls earned their third straight NBA title. The Bulls became the first team to “three-peat” since 1966, when the Boston Celtics won their eighth in a row. In 1996, the Bulls won the NBA title for a fourth time, in 1997 for a fifth, and in 1998 for a sixth, for another three-in-a-row sweep.
    1994 - O.J. Simpson pleaded innocent to murdering his ex-wife and her friend.
    1994 - Geffen Records offered the estimated two million subscribers to the CompuServe computer bulletin board an opportunity to download a previously unreleased Aerosmith song, "Head First." The track was recorded during the band's sessions for the 1993 album "Get a Grip." It was one of the first times that subscribers to a bulletin board service could download an entire song over computer lines.
    1995 - Michael Jackson's "HIStory - Past, Present and Future: Book One" was released. The double CD, Jackson's first album since child molestation allegations two years earlier, debuted at number one on the Billboard chart. Initial sales in the US were strong but dropped off sharply in subsequent weeks. Canadian record stores reported only moderate sales. Jackson had to battle controversy over anti-Semitic lyrics in the song "They Don't Care About Us." He said he used the words to illustrate the evils of prejudice. Jackson promised to include a written explanation in albums already produced and not shipped and to re-record the song with new lyrics for future releases.
    1995 - A supercell thunderstorm dumped unusually large hail for New England in Connecticut. Baseball size hail fell at Vernon, Manchester, Deep River, and Old Saybrook. At Deep River, the large hail lasted for 20 minutes, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Some automobiles were totaled. In one historic building, 25 windows were broken, including a 100-year-old curved window.
    1995 - Legendary country duo George Jones and Tammy Wynette release reunion album "One."
    1997 - The tobacco industry agreed to a massive settlement in exchange for relief from mounting lawsuits and legal bills.
    1999 - Payne Stewart made a 15-foot par putt on the 18th hole at famous Pinehurst Resort & Country Club's No. 2 course in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The putt was just enough to win the U.S. Open by one stroke over Phil Mickelson. Stewart, one stroke behind with three holes to play – and apparently heading for a play-off round the next day - made a 25-foot putt for par to catch Mickelson, a 3-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to take the lead, and then his 24th putt of the day to win the championship. He tragically died in a plane crash October 25, later that year.
    2001 - Hitting his 38th homer of the season, Barry Bonds breaks the Major League mark established by Reggie Jackson (1969) and Mark McGwire (1998) for home runs hit before the All-Star game. The Giants' left fielder still has 17 games to add to the record.
    2002 - The U.S. Supreme Court declared that executing mentally retarded murderers was unconstitutionally cruel.
    2004 - On Father's Day with his dad present, Ken Griffey, Jr. nails a 6th inning fastball of Cardinal hurler Matt Morris over the right field wall at Busch Stadium for his 500th career home run. The Reds' center fielder becomes the 20th Major Leaguer and the sixth youngest (34) to reach the milestone.
    2004 - The 3000th time that Paul McCartney took to the stage as a professional musician. He had performed 2,535 concerts with the Quarrymen and the Beatles, 140 gigs with Wings and 325 solo shows.
    2006 - An album of jazz standards Diana Ross recorded more than 30 years earlier finally sees the light of day. "Blue" was intended as a companion to the hit 1972 soundtrack to "Lady Sings the Blues," in which Ross portrayed jazz legend Billie Holiday. However, Ross instead followed up the project with the pop album "Touch Me in the Morning," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. In its wake, "Blue" was shelved.
    2007 - Sammy Sosa of the Texas Rangers became the fifth Major Leaguer to hit 600 career home runs, joining Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, and Willie Mays.
    2008 - Jimmy Buffett announced that his Margaritaville Holdings has paired with New York gambling company Coastal Marina to buy the Trump Marina Hotel Casino for $316 million. His vast business empire also includes tequila, beer, frozen food, footwear, restaurants, a resort, a record label and a recording studio. In 2006, Rolling Stone magazine estimated Buffett's earnings at $44 million - the seventh-most of any musician.
    2012 – Oracle’s CEO Larry Ellison agreed to purchase 98% of the Hawaiian island of Lanai.
    2015 – The Washington Nationals’ Max Scherzer narrowly missed pitching a perfect game, settling for a 6-0 no-hitter over the Pirates. With two outs in the 9th, he hit pinch-hitter Jose Tabata with a 1-2 pitch after retiring the first 26 batters in order as Tabata appeared to lean his hip into the pitch. Scherzer got the next hitter on a fly ball to end the game.
    2015 - A rally calling for removal of the Confederate flag formed at the capitol building of South Carolina in response to a shooting earlier this week of nine African-Americans, in their church, by white supremacist Dylann Storm Roof.

NBA Finals Champions:
1993 - Chicago Bulls
2006 - Miami Heat

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