(S (S (BASENP (NNP Howard)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VP (VBN defended) (BASENP (DT the) (NNS rumors))) (COMMA ,) (S (VP (VBG saying) (SBAR (IN that) (S (BASENP (DT some) (NN rise)) (VP (MD would) (VP (VB be) (QT (DQL `) (ADJP (JJ unavoidable)) (DQR '))))))))))) (PERIOD .))