thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Keeler: Come on, Larry Scott. Come on, Pac-12. Admit it. It was always about the money.

Rule No .
1 : When a college president or athletic director says , explicitly , it ’ s not about the money , it ’ s about the dang money .
Oregon and Wisconsin nabbed $ 4 million apiece for the Pac-12 and Big Ten last winter for reaching the Rose Bowl .
The participants in the College Football Playoff ’ s semifinals each took home $ 6 million .
The Pac-12 collected $ 66 million from the 2019-20 CFP pot just for showing up .
The league reportedly raked in bowl revenue of $ 114 million during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mercury News ’ Jon Wilner , Fox and ESPN had already plopped down $ 276.4 million for the Pac-12 ’ s Tier 1 media rights across the 2020-21 school year , a payout of $ 23 million per institution .
Meanwhile , Boulder County is the new COVID capital of the Front Range .
The entire CU campus is effectively locked down , its undergrads barred from gatherings of any kind , let alone a football practice .
But go on , Larry Scott .
Preach , Michael Schill .
Preach , brother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with money , ” Schill , Oregon ’ s president , said on a media conference call Thursday celebrating the Pac-12 ’ s decision to play an abbreviated fall 2020 football slate .
“ It was never once mentioned as a consideration .
“ The amount of money that will be saved as a result of going back to play is tiny in comparison with the losses.
” Let ’ s see … $ 114 million , divided by 12 … so let ’ s ballpark it at roughly $ 9.5 million doled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just for having a league that ’ s eligible to participate in the postseason , even if nobody in that league sniffs a playoff berth .
For a bunch of smart guys , how dumb do they think we are ?
“ I think that the hypocrisy only tells you how important money is inside college athletics , ” former Buffs football standout and Olympian Jeremy Bloom countered .
“ Because there ’ s only one reason that universities would allow one group of students to stay on campus and the others not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they like that group more than the others , or that this group is better suited to fight the disease .
It ’ s that this group brings money for the conference , for the schools , for the whole system.
” Look , we get it .
We don ’ t respect it .
But we get it .
You can test for the virus like the pros now .
The SEC , Big 12 and ACC called your bluff and let the trolls take the wheel .
The Big Ten chickened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows .
You were already stuck on an island before the coronavirus rolled in , like a tsunami , and blew out what was left of the bridges .
But don ’ t con us , jack .
If money wasn ’ t mentioned as a consideration by the Pac-12 CEOs , that ’ s because it was already understood .
“ I have a high school kid ( at home ) who wants to be playing soccer right now , ” said CU professor Roger Pielke , founder of the Buffs ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parents ’ ( concerns ) .
College sports is a little 5-year window for these young adults .
But at the same time , it ’ s not on the parents .
It ’ s not on the players .
It ’ s on the universities that have created an institutional construct that COVID has completely revealed to be a hypocrisy .
“ … Embarrassing doesn ’ t even cover it .
It ’ s a fundamental betrayal of the purpose of the modern research university.
” Blasphemer !
This is America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few side effects stand between Brian Bosworth and speaking parts ?
“ My good friend ( and Big 12 commissioner ) Bob Bowlsby and others will say this is about opportunities , ” chuckled David Ridpath , a professor of sports management at Ohio University and a CSU alum .
“ This was purely a financial decision .
“ And any declaration that college sports is about amateurism , playing for the love of the game , certainly at the Division I level , is out the window .
It ’ s almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • CU Buffs , Pac-12 will play football season in the fall , school and conference announce Which is fine by Bloom , the Loveland native who famously took the NCAA to court after the organization declared him ineligible to continue playing football at CU because of his skiing sponsorship money .
“ I think amateurism as we know it is over , ” Bloom said .
“ I think that page has already been turned a little bit more every day … I think that ’ s great for college athletics .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ourselves .
The NCAA shouldn ’ t lie to us that they ’ re protecting this concept that doesn ’ t exist or , I think , should ( exist ) at all.
” If pushing the boat into the oncoming storm means the death of a myth , more power to Schill .
More power to the Buffs .
So long as that ’ s the only thing it kills .

Rule No. 1: When a college president or athletic director says, explicitly, it’s not about the money, it’s about the dang money.
Oregon and Wisconsin nabbed $4 million apiece for the Pac-12 and Big Ten last winter for reaching the Rose Bowl. The participants in the College Football Playoff’s semifinals each took home $6 million.
The Pac-12 collected $66 million from the 2019-20 CFP pot just for showing up. The league reportedly raked in bowl revenue of $114 million during the 2018-19 fiscal year.
According to the Mercury News’ Jon Wilner, Fox and ESPN had already plopped down $276.4 million for the Pac-12’s Tier 1 media rights across the 2020-21 school year, a payout of $23 million per institution.
Meanwhile, Boulder County is the new COVID capital of the Front Range. The entire CU campus is effectively locked down, its undergrads barred from gatherings of any kind, let alone a football practice.
But go on, Larry Scott. Preach, Michael Schill. Preach, brother.
“This has nothing to do with money,” Schill, Oregon’s president, said on a media conference call Thursday celebrating the Pac-12’s decision to play an abbreviated fall 2020 football slate. “It was never once mentioned as a consideration.
“The amount of money that will be saved as a result of going back to play is tiny in comparison with the losses.”
Let’s see … $114 million, divided by 12 … so let’s ballpark it at roughly $9.5 million doled out to the Buffs and their peers just for having a league that’s eligible to participate in the postseason, even if nobody in said league sniffs a playoff berth. For a bunch of smart guys, how dumb do they think we are?
“I think that the hypocrisy only tells you how important money is inside college athletics,” former Buffs football standout and Olympian Jeremy Bloom countered. “Because there’s only one reason that universities would allow one group of students to stay on campus and the others not to. It’s not because they like that group more than the others, or that this group is better suited to fight the disease. It’s that this group brings money for the conference, for the schools, for the whole system.”
Look, we get it. We don’t respect it. But we get it. You can test for the virus like the pros now. The SEC, Big 12 and ACC called your bluff and let the trolls take the wheel. The Big Ten chickened out. Wherever Butch goes, Sundance follows. You were already stuck on an island before the coronavirus rolled in, like a tsunami, and blew out what was left of the bridges.
But don’t con us, jack. If money wasn’t mentioned as a consideration by the Pac-12 CEOs, that’s because it was already understood.
“I have a high school kid (at home) who wants to be playing soccer right now,” said CU professor Roger Pielke, founder of the Buffs’ Sports Governance Center. “I get the parents’ (concerns). College sports is a little 5-year window for these young adults. But at the same time, it’s not on the parents. It’s not on the players. It’s on the universities that have created an institutional construct that COVID has completely revealed to be a hypocrisy.
“… Embarrassing doesn’t even cover it. It’s a fundamental betrayal of the purpose of the modern research university.”
Blasphemer! This is America! Are we going to let a few side effects stand between Brian Bosworth and speaking parts?
“My good friend (and Big 12 commissioner) Bob Bowlsby and others will say this is about opportunities,” chuckled David Ridpath, a professor of sports management at Ohio University and a CSU alum. “This was purely a financial decision.
“And any declaration that college sports is about amateurism, playing for the love of the game, certainly at the Division I level, is out the window. It’s almost ludicrous to argue those things anymore.”
Which is fine by Bloom, the Loveland native who famously took the NCAA to court after the organization declared him ineligible to continue playing football at CU because of his skiing sponsorship money.
“I think amateurism as we know it is over,” Bloom said. “I think that page has already been turned a little bit more every day … I think that’s great for college athletics.
“But we shouldn’t lie to ourselves. The NCAA shouldn’t lie to us that they’re protecting this concept that doesn’t exist or, I think, should (exist) at all.”
If pushing the boat into the oncoming storm means the death of a myth, more power to Schill. More power to the Buffs. So long as that’s the only thing it kills.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Grading the Week: LeBron James, Lakers lobbying officials may look shameless, but it’s hardly anythi

Grading the Week: LeBron James, Lakers lobbying officials may look shameless, but it’s hardly anything new

It wasn ’ t all that long ago that our heads were filled with Rocktober dreams .
It was July , the cardboard cutouts behind home plate seemed quaint , and the Colorado Rockies were 11-3 .
Fast forward two months later and we ’ re only a day away from saying goodbye to baseball in Colorado in 2020 .
There will be no “ R ” in October .
And , soon enough , there may not be a Nolan Arenado in Colorado .
Let ’ s get one thing out of the way right off the bat : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conference Finals series against the Los Angeles Lakers has been less than stellar .
One could even reasonably argue it ’ s been unfairly biased toward the Lakers and LeBron — especially during the final minutes of Game 4 .
But the outcry across the Front Range that the Lakers did something heinous by lobbying for a more favorable whistle for their star between Games 3 and 4 ?
Eh , maybe , but it ’ s hardly anything new .
Petitioning for calls between postseason games — usually after losses — has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
A couple of decades ago , Phil Jackson made an art form out of complaining to the media about the way his team was being officiated after a particularly galling loss .
And teams have been sending film to the league office highlighting missed or botched calls for as long as they ’ ve had video departments .
Heck , the Houston Rockets once audited an entire Game 7 call by call and sent the league a report detailing 81 potential missed calls and non-calls they claimed cost them a trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always advocate for their stars as long as human beings are the ones blowing the whistle .
It is neither dastardly nor nefarious , which is why Michael Malone suggested he ’ d do the same Thursday night .
A week ago , the Grading the Week staff gave oft-maligned Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles props for a clean performance in Week 1 .
One day later , quarterback Drew Lock was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury after taking a hellacious backside hit and his backup , Jeff Driskel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a 26-21 loss at Pittsburgh .
The lesson , as always : Don ’ t listen to us .
All told , the Broncos offensive line surrendered seven sacks , 12 knockdowns and five pressures on 52 drop-backs last Sunday , according to beat writer Ryan O ’ Halloran ’ s excellent game charting .
Rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson were each credited for giving up 1.5 sacks — although that number felt closer to 10,000 for Wilkinson to our untrained eyes .
• Down 3-1 again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refs : “ We put ourselves in this position ” • Keeler : How special is Jamal Murray ?
Just ask LeBron James , who ’ s got the bruises to prove it .
• Nuggets ’ Michael Malone will go through “ proper channels ” to address officiating , stealing Lakers ’ ploy • WATCH : Jamal Murray shows off his inner Jordan in Game 4 with acrobatic layup off the glass • Lakers hang on late in Game 4 , force Nuggets into third 3-1 deficit this postseason Now former Broncos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowler last season with Tampa Bay — is coming to town with a chip on his shoulder and a taste for revenge .
Another week , another entity opts to play football in defiance of the coronavirus .
Two weeks ago , it was Gov .
Jared Polis and CHSAA giving the go-ahead to Colorado high schoolers to hit the gridiron .
This week , Larry Scott and the Pac-12 CEOs decided they were back in the fall college football business ( emphasis on business ) .
That the latter happened on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering in groups couldn ’ t be more on brand — for all involved .

It wasn’t all that long ago that our heads were filled with Rocktober dreams.
It was July, the cardboard cutouts behind home plate seemed quaint, and the Colorado Rockies were 11-3.
Fast forward two months later and we’re only a day away from saying goodbye to baseball in Colorado in 2020. There will be no “R” in October. And, soon enough, there may not be a Nolan Arenado in Colorado.
LeBron James — C+
Let’s get one thing out of the way right off the bat:
The officiating during the Nuggets’ Western Conference Finals series against the Los Angeles Lakers has been less than stellar. One could even reasonably argue it’s been unfairly biased toward the Lakers and LeBron — especially during the final minutes of Game 4.
But the outcry across the Front Range that the Lakers did something heinous by lobbying for a more favorable whistle for their star between Games 3 and 4? Eh, maybe, but it’s hardly anything new.
Petitioning for calls between postseason games — usually after losses — has been standard practice in the NBA for years.
A couple of decades ago, Phil Jackson made an art form out of complaining to the media about the way his team was being officiated after a particularly galling loss. And teams have been sending film to the league office highlighting missed or botched calls for as long as they’ve had video departments.
Heck, the Houston Rockets once audited an entire Game 7 call by call and sent the league a report detailing 81 potential missed calls and non-calls they claimed cost them a trip to the NBA Finals.
Franchises will always advocate for their stars as long as human beings are the ones blowing the whistle.
It is neither dastardly nor nefarious, which is why Michael Malone suggested he’d do the same Thursday night.
Broncos O-line — D-
A week ago, the Grading the Week staff gave oft-maligned Broncos left tackle Garett Bolles props for a clean performance in Week 1.
One day later, quarterback Drew Lock was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury after taking a hellacious backside hit and his backup, Jeff Driskel, was under assault seemingly every snap in a 26-21 loss at Pittsburgh.
The lesson, as always: Don’t listen to us.
All told, the Broncos offensive line surrendered seven sacks, 12 knockdowns and five pressures on 52 drop-backs last Sunday, according to beat writer Ryan O’Halloran’s excellent game charting.
Rookie center Lloyd Cushenberry and right tackle Elijah Wilkinson were each credited for giving up 1.5 sacks — although that number felt closer to 10,000 for Wilkinson to our untrained eyes.
Now former Broncos outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett — a Pro Bowler last season with Tampa Bay — is coming to town with a chip on his shoulder and a taste for revenge.
Our prediction: Pain.
Pac-12 — B-
Another week, another entity opts to play football in defiance of the coronavirus.
Two weeks ago, it was Gov. Jared Polis and CHSAA giving the go-ahead to Colorado high schoolers to hit the gridiron. This week, Larry Scott and the Pac-12 CEOs decided they were back in the fall college football business (emphasis on business).
That the latter happened on the same day Boulder County prohibited students from gathering in groups couldn’t be more on brand — for all involved.


thedenverpost--2020-09-27--Friednash: To save our republic, heed George Washington and abandon this toxic two-party system

On the eve of the most important election of my lifetime , America continues to be ripped apart by hateful partisanship and petty political tribalism .
Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was correct in recently describing the Senate elections as a “ knife fight in an alley.
” That same metaphor describes the way our nation is governed too .
Politicians too often choose party over country , acrimony over unity , and posturing to win the next election cycle over doing the right thing .
And , as Americans and businesses struggle with the impact of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and much needed economic stimulus package .
In fact , Congress had essentially checked out and elected officials were heading home for the final stretch of the election until Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last week .
President Trump and Republican leadership decided to move forward with filling her vacancy before Americans had a chance to even mourn her death and celebrate her powerful legacy .
Why ?
Because stacking the court to overturn Roe v. Wade , the Affordable Care Act and its protections for pre-existing conditions , and potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Biden , is more important than waiting less than 40 days for the American public to weigh in on the vacancy through the presidential and U.S. Senate elections .
Nine months before the 2016 election , these same Republican leaders cheering for an appointment right now , blocked a vote for the Obama-led nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court .
They made sure the voters decided this issue because it was too close to the election .
Now they contort themselves in Machiavellian mind gymnastics to excuse the partisan double @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes to confirm the unnamed candidate before Justice Ginsburg was buried and before Trump even announced his selection .
Elected officials learn to fall in line or suffer the consequences .
The power grab is revolting , but not surprising .
Injected into the eleventh hour , this political gamble will dominate the news cycle over the coming weeks which is fine with Trump who wants to move the debate away from jobs and the economy , health care and the pandemic .
America ’ s duopoly party system bolstered by our shady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constitution does not mention political parties , George Washington , in his farewell address on September 19 , 1796 , warned us “ in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of the party.
” Washington feared that the two political factions led by Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton would tear the nation apart .
Two hundred twenty-four years later , his stirring words are chilling and prophetic .
Political parties “ may now and then answer popular ends , they are likely , in the course of time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , by which cunning , ambitious , and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government , destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion of its dangers.
” Washington was the only president in our nation ’ s history to not represent a political party and he sought to govern the entire country , not just those who represented his political views .
The majority of American voters are clearly tired of the knife fight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 41 % of Americans consider themselves independents compared to 26 % Republican and 31 % Democrats .
Colorado voter registration numbers are similar .
And , strikingly , Colorado has seen an unprecedented surge in voters registering as unaffiliated voters in the last four years .
According to a Hill-Harris poll , 60 % of independent voters didn ’ t watch either the Democratic or Republican convention .
Even those affiliated with parties are losing their interest as 30 % of Republicans and Democrats didn ’ t watch the conventions either .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters only have two real choices : Republican or Democratic candidates .
It is those voters who will ultimately decide the presidential election and virtually every major contested election throughout the country .
But when it comes to the sausage-making , these voters have virtually no representation or voice .
I often wonder when moderate and disenfranchised voters will finally find their voice , the necessary leadership , and the resources to create a movement to effectively push back against both parties ’ extreme elements .
The two-party machine brings tremendous financial power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard today to imagine independent voters getting elected without significant financial resources , a system that does away with political parties , or the creation of a major third political party .
Challenges aside , we the people better figure it out .
As Washington warned , the survival of our republic depends on it .
Doug Friednash is a Denver native , a partner with the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck and the former chief of staff for Gov .
John Hickenlooper .
To send a letter to the editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail .

George Washington warned us.
On the eve of the most important election of my lifetime, America continues to be ripped apart by hateful partisanship and petty political tribalism.
Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was correct in recently describing the Senate elections as a “knife fight in an alley.” That same metaphor describes the way our nation is governed too.
Politicians too often choose party over country, acrimony over unity, and posturing to win the next election cycle over doing the right thing.
And, as Americans and businesses struggle with the impact of the pandemic, Congress has failed to deliver a second and much needed economic stimulus package.
In fact, Congress had essentially checked out and elected officials were heading home for the final stretch of the election until Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died last week.
President Trump and Republican leadership decided to move forward with filling her vacancy before Americans had a chance to even mourn her death and celebrate her powerful legacy.
Why? Because stacking the court to overturn Roe v. Wade, the Affordable Care Act and its protections for pre-existing conditions, and potentially weighing in on the outcome of Trump v. Biden, is more important than waiting less than 40 days for the American public to weigh in on the vacancy through the presidential and U.S. Senate elections.
Nine months before the 2016 election, these same Republican leaders cheering for an appointment right now, blocked a vote for the Obama-led nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. They made sure the voters decided this issue because it was too close to the election. Now they contort themselves in Machiavellian mind gymnastics to excuse the partisan double standard.
Republicans indicated they have the votes to confirm the unnamed candidate before Justice Ginsburg was buried and before Trump even announced his selection. Elected officials learn to fall in line or suffer the consequences.
The power grab is revolting, but not surprising. Injected into the eleventh hour, this political gamble will dominate the news cycle over the coming weeks which is fine with Trump who wants to move the debate away from jobs and the economy, health care and the pandemic.
America’s duopoly party system bolstered by our shady campaign finance system is broken.
Our constitution does not mention political parties, George Washington, in his farewell address on September 19, 1796, warned us “in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of the party.” Washington feared that the two political factions led by Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton would tear the nation apart.
Two hundred twenty-four years later, his stirring words are chilling and prophetic. Political parties “may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion of its dangers.”
Washington was the only president in our nation’s history to not represent a political party and he sought to govern the entire country, not just those who represented his political views.
The majority of American voters are clearly tired of the knife fight.
According to the August Gallup poll, 41% of Americans consider themselves independents compared to 26% Republican and 31% Democrats. Colorado voter registration numbers are similar. And, strikingly, Colorado has seen an unprecedented surge in voters registering as unaffiliated voters in the last four years.
According to a Hill-Harris poll, 60% of independent voters didn’t watch either the Democratic or Republican convention. Even those affiliated with parties are losing their interest as 30% of Republicans and Democrats didn’t watch the conventions either.
In just a few weeks, independent voters only have two real choices: Republican or Democratic candidates. It is those voters who will ultimately decide the presidential election and virtually every major contested election throughout the country.
But when it comes to the sausage-making, these voters have virtually no representation or voice.
I often wonder when moderate and disenfranchised voters will finally find their voice, the necessary leadership, and the resources to create a movement to effectively push back against both parties’ extreme elements.
The two-party machine brings tremendous financial power to its candidates. That makes it hard today to imagine independent voters getting elected without significant financial resources, a system that does away with political parties, or the creation of a major third political party.
Challenges aside, we the people better figure it out. As Washington warned, the survival of our republic depends on it.
Doug Friednash is a Denver native, a partner with the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Schreck and the former chief of staff for Gov. John Hickenlooper.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit online or check out our guidelines for how to submit by email or mail.


thedenverpost--2020-09-27--How it happened: From law professor to high court in 4 years

WASHINGTON — Four years ago , Amy Coney Barrett was a little-known law professor in Indiana .
Within weeks , she is likely to be the newest associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court .
Barrett ’ s fast-track rise , set to drive the nation ’ s highest court to the right for a generation or longer , is the fulfillment of a decadeslong effort by conservatives to remake the federal bench that kicked into high gear after President Donald Trump was elected .
For Trump , whose 2016 victory was bolstered by white evangelicals ’ reluctant support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fill the seat vacated by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with a conservative , the latest nomination brings his first term full circle .
Even before Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s death , Trump was campaigning for reelection in 2020 on his record of confirming more than 200 federal judges during his first term , fulfilling a generational aim of conservative legal activists .
“ Today ’ s nomination is the capstone of a more than four-year process where the president seized upon the issue , stayed focused , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very talented people who he could put on the Supreme Court , ” said Leonard Leo , of the conservative Federalist Society .
The following account is based on information from five people familiar with the process and the president ’ s thinking who were not authorized to speak publicly about the details .
Within weeks of Trump ’ s victory in 2016 , incoming White House counsel Don McGahn , Leo and a handful of other attorneys set about drawing up lists of potential nominees for more than 100 federal judicial vacancies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court vacancy created by the death of Scalia , but they also dug deeper .
Barrett , then a law professor at Notre Dame , was not well known in political circles in Indiana and almost unheard of nationally .
But she found herself on the list of potential picks for the 7th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , in large part thanks to McGahn .
A fellow Notre Dame alum , McGahn knew Barrett from conservative legal circles , like Leo ’ s influential Federalist Society , and talked her up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faced a bruising nomination battle for the appellate seat in 2017 that caught the attention of Trump , who was impressed with her ability to keep her cool under critical questioning by Democratic senators , including a grilling by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California regarding her Catholic faith .
“ I think in your case , professor , when you read your speeches , the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you , ” Feinstein said .
“ And that ’ s of concern when you come to big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fought for , for years in this country.
” Barrett ’ s was the only confirmation hearing for an appellate judge that McGahn sat through in person on Capitol Hill , and the only investiture he attended when she took her seat on the 7th Circuit .
After Barrett was confirmed on a party-line vote , some White House lawyers made coffee mugs with the phrase : “ The dogma lives loudly within you.
” Months later , in the fall of 2017 , Trump set about updating his list of potential nominees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were presented to him in an Oval Office meeting with McGahn and Leo .
Among the names : Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh .
McGahn unveiled the list weeks later at a Federalist Society conference in Washington .
The following year , after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired , Barrett found herself on the short list , undergoing a White House vetting and a 25-minute interview with Trump .
But some conservatives were concerned about her sparse record , worried she ’ d end up like other potentially conservative justices who veered in a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into with Justice David Souter .
Still , Trump saw something he liked , and allies like Scalia ’ s widow , Maureen , and Fox News host Sean Hannity spoke highly of her .
Trump and McGahn set about elevating Barrett ’ s profile for the next opening on the high court –- with Trump telling some aides he was “ saving ” her for Ginsburg ’ s seat .
Meanwhile , Barrett was making a name for herself on the 7th Circuit on conservative hot-button issues .
She twice wanted decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full appeals court that had blocked laws enacted by abortion-rights opponents .
Oftentimes , the full panel comes to a different conclusion .
Last year , after a three-judge panel blocked an Indiana law that would make it harder for a minor to have an abortion without her parents being notified , Barrett voted to have the case reheard by the full court .
In a dissent in the 2019 gun-rights case of Kanter v. Barr , Barrett argued that a conviction for a nonviolent felony — in this case , mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone from owning a gun .
Barrett wrote a unanimous three-judge panel decision in 2019 making it easier for men alleged to have committed sexual assaults on campus to challenge the proceedings against them .
This summer , when Trump announced he wanted to update the Supreme Court list once again in hopes of motivating conservative voters , Barrett was on the top .
And that ’ s where she stayed .
Barrett , in some ways , was the standard by which Trump judged other women for the list , including Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Allison Rushing .
Their names made the list , but they weren ’ t threatening to bump Barrett from the top , the people said .
After Ginsburg ’ s death , Trump quickly turned his focus to Barrett and never truly looked elsewhere .
Conservative outside groups , aware of Trump ’ s interest in Barrett from the Kennedy replacement , were already on board , offering public statements of support even before Trump had made a final determination .
In the end , Barrett was the only candidate Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat .
And on Saturday evening , he formally announced his choice at a Rose Garden ceremony that included a military band and a display of American flags hanging between the columns of the White House colonnade .
“ Today it is my honor to nominate one of our nation ’ s most brilliant and gifted legal minds to the Supreme Court , ” Trump said of Barrett , calling her “ a woman of unapparelled achievement , towering intellect , sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution.
” Barrett , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she introduced herself to the country .
“ I am truly humbled by the prospect of serving on the Supreme Court , ” she said .

Zeke Miller, Colleen Long, Michael Balsamo

WASHINGTON — Four years ago, Amy Coney Barrett was a little-known law professor in Indiana. Within weeks, she is likely to be the newest associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.
Barrett’s fast-track rise, set to drive the nation’s highest court to the right for a generation or longer, is the fulfillment of a decadeslong effort by conservatives to remake the federal bench that kicked into high gear after President Donald Trump was elected. For Trump, whose 2016 victory was bolstered by white evangelicals’ reluctant support of his candidacy tied to his promise to fill the seat vacated by the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with a conservative, the latest nomination brings his first term full circle.
Even before Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death, Trump was campaigning for reelection in 2020 on his record of confirming more than 200 federal judges during his first term, fulfilling a generational aim of conservative legal activists.
“Today’s nomination is the capstone of a more than four-year process where the president seized upon the issue, stayed focused, and called attention to a small bench of very talented people who he could put on the Supreme Court,” said Leonard Leo, of the conservative Federalist Society.
The following account is based on information from five people familiar with the process and the president’s thinking who were not authorized to speak publicly about the details.
Within weeks of Trump’s victory in 2016, incoming White House counsel Don McGahn, Leo and a handful of other attorneys set about drawing up lists of potential nominees for more than 100 federal judicial vacancies. First among them was the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Scalia, but they also dug deeper.
Barrett, then a law professor at Notre Dame, was not well known in political circles in Indiana and almost unheard of nationally. But she found herself on the list of potential picks for the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in large part thanks to McGahn. A fellow Notre Dame alum, McGahn knew Barrett from conservative legal circles, like Leo’s influential Federalist Society, and talked her up to the Indiana congressional delegation.
Barrett faced a bruising nomination battle for the appellate seat in 2017 that caught the attention of Trump, who was impressed with her ability to keep her cool under critical questioning by Democratic senators, including a grilling by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California regarding her Catholic faith.
“I think in your case, professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you,” Feinstein said. “And that’s of concern when you come to big issues that large numbers of people have fought for, for years in this country.”
Barrett’s was the only confirmation hearing for an appellate judge that McGahn sat through in person on Capitol Hill, and the only investiture he attended when she took her seat on the 7th Circuit. After Barrett was confirmed on a party-line vote, some White House lawyers made coffee mugs with the phrase: “The dogma lives loudly within you.”
Months later, in the fall of 2017, Trump set about updating his list of potential nominees to the Supreme Court. Five names were presented to him in an Oval Office meeting with McGahn and Leo. Among the names: Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh. McGahn unveiled the list weeks later at a Federalist Society conference in Washington.
The following year, after Justice Anthony Kennedy retired, Barrett found herself on the short list, undergoing a White House vetting and a 25-minute interview with Trump.
But some conservatives were concerned about her sparse record, worried she’d end up like other potentially conservative justices who veered in a more moderate direction, a trap they fell into with Justice David Souter. Still, Trump saw something he liked, and allies like Scalia’s widow, Maureen, and Fox News host Sean Hannity spoke highly of her. Trump and McGahn set about elevating Barrett’s profile for the next opening on the high court –- with Trump telling some aides he was “saving” her for Ginsburg’s seat.
Meanwhile, Barrett was making a name for herself on the 7th Circuit on conservative hot-button issues. She twice wanted decisions to be thrown out and reheard by the full appeals court that had blocked laws enacted by abortion-rights opponents. Oftentimes, the full panel comes to a different conclusion.
Last year, after a three-judge panel blocked an Indiana law that would make it harder for a minor to have an abortion without her parents being notified, Barrett voted to have the case reheard by the full court.
In a dissent in the 2019 gun-rights case of Kanter v. Barr, Barrett argued that a conviction for a nonviolent felony — in this case, mail fraud — shouldn’t automatically disqualify someone from owning a gun.
Barrett wrote a unanimous three-judge panel decision in 2019 making it easier for men alleged to have committed sexual assaults on campus to challenge the proceedings against them.
This summer, when Trump announced he wanted to update the Supreme Court list once again in hopes of motivating conservative voters, Barrett was on the top. And that’s where she stayed.
Barrett, in some ways, was the standard by which Trump judged other women for the list, including Florida’s Barbara Lagoa and North Carolina’s Allison Rushing. Their names made the list, but they weren’t threatening to bump Barrett from the top, the people said.
After Ginsburg’s death, Trump quickly turned his focus to Barrett and never truly looked elsewhere.
Conservative outside groups, aware of Trump’s interest in Barrett from the Kennedy replacement, were already on board, offering public statements of support even before Trump had made a final determination.
In the end, Barrett was the only candidate Trump interviewed in person for Ginsburg’s seat. And on Saturday evening, he formally announced his choice at a Rose Garden ceremony that included a military band and a display of American flags hanging between the columns of the White House colonnade.
“Today it is my honor to nominate one of our nation’s most brilliant and gifted legal minds to the Supreme Court,” Trump said of Barrett, calling her “a woman of unapparelled achievement, towering intellect, sterling credentials and unyielding loyalty to the Constitution.”
Barrett, for her part, thanked the president as she introduced herself to the country. “I am truly humbled by the prospect of serving on the Supreme Court,” she said.


thedenverpost--2020-09-27--DJ LeMahieu batting title, Voit HR crown near as Yanks win

NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu is on the verge of a first in more than a century of Major League Baseball : the first player to win undisputed batting titles in both the American and National Leagues .
Luke Voit is about to become a more common name atop the leaderboards but part of an illustrious list , joining Babe Ruth , Lou Gehrig , Joe DiMaggio , Mickey Mantle , Roger Maris and Alex Rodriguez as New York Yankees to top the majors in home runs .
“ I ’ ve always admired the Babe , ” Voit said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest slump to beat the Miami Marlins 11-4 Saturday and solidify their hold on the AL ’ s No .
5 postseason seed .
“ It ’ s just awesome company .
That guy hit 700 home runs ( 714 to be exact ) .
That means I got to start hitting like 150 a year to catch up to him .
So that ’ s never going to happen.
” Voit hit his major league-leading 22nd homer .
José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox is second with 19 .
LeMahieu had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while raising his average to .359 .
He passed Washington ’ s Juan Soto ( .351 ) for the big league lead and opened a large margin over defending AL batting champion Tim Anderson of the White Sox , second in the AL at .337 .
“ This game ’ s been around for a long time , and I think anyone who ’ s watched knows just how special a player DJ LeMahieu ’ s been for us in these two years , ” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said .
LeMahieu won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .348 average for Colorado .
Ed Delahanty hit .410 for the Philadelphia Phillies to win the NL championship in 1899 ; he is credited by some researchers with the 1902 AL championship at .376 , while others accept Nap Lajoie as winning that title at .378 despite lacking the plate appearances required in more modern times .
“ Guys don ’ t win batting titles in both leagues because you win it in one league , they probably keep you , ” said Marlins manager Don Mattingly , the 1984 AL batting champion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a different game nowadays.
” A 32-year-old infielder in his second season with the Yankees , LeMahieu will become New York ’ s first batting champion since Bernie Williams in 1998 .
Voit hit a three-run drive against Nick Vincent in a seven-run sixth for a 10-3 lead .
He has made 38 consecutive starts , including 19 straight at first base , despite an injured foot .
“ I ’ ve been trying to transform myself into a better power hitter and this year was another stepping stone for me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve always been a guy , high school , college , minors .
I play through stuff .
I ’ m a grinder .
I want to be out there .
I want to help a team , especially when we were hurting earlier in the year and I had to do whatever it took to be out there .
So I was making sure I was getting plenty of treatment from all of our trainers and trying to stay on top of it so I could play through it and not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ García ( 3-2 ) allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and a walk .
Boone has not announced whether García or left-hander J.A .
Happ will follow Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka as his playoff starters .
Preparing for a first-round playoff series on the road , likely at Cleveland or Tampa Bay , the Yankees ( 33-26 ) are trying to hold off third-place Toronto ( 31-27 ) and keep the No .
5 seed .
New York ’ s season has flowed and drifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , following by a 5-15 slide , a 10-game winning streak and five losses in a six-game span coming in .
New York trailed 3-0 before Tyler Wade ’ s two-run homer in the fifth against Ryan Stanek , and Aaron Hicks had a two-run homer in the sixth against former Yankee Stephen Tarpley ( 2-2 ) for a 5-3 lead .
Wade ’ s homer off the second deck in right ended the Yankees ’ first five-game homerless streak since April 1-5 , 2014 .
They have scored nearly half their runs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 315 , according to the Elias Sports Bureau .
“ Any spark to get us going , especially with the last game coming up tomorrow and going to the playoffs , ” Wade said after his third homer this season .
Giancarlo Stanton was in a 1-for-21 slide with 12 strikeouts before his 113-mph RBI double to the left-center gap in the fifth that drove in Aaron Judge with the tying run .
“ I feel like we ’ re always one swing away , ” Voit said .
“ We just need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going.
” Wade bunted to move up two runners ahead of LeMahieu ’ s two-run double in the sixth , the first sacrifice for the Yankees since pitcher James Paxton had a pair on July 2 , 2019 .
Milwaukee , Cincinnati and Tampa Bay remain with no sacrifices this year .
Four regulars were rested by the Marlins , a day after they clinched their first playoff berth since 2003 : center fielder Starling Marté , left fielder Corey Dickerson , first baseman Jesús Aguilar and third baseman Brian Anderson .
Mattingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions Miami ( 30-29 ) was coming off an NL-worst 57-105 record last year , the first team to reach the playoffs a year after losing 100 games .
The accomplishment was even more remarkable given 18 Marlins were forced off the field because of a COVID-19 outbreak following the opening series in Philadelphia , causing an eight-day layoff .
Miami made 174 roster moves during the season , and just six players remained active from start to finish .
Marlins CEO Derek Jeter telephoned congratulations to Mattingly and baseball operations staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire front office .
LeMahieu ’ s error at second was New York ’ s 48th error in 59 games .
The Yankees entered with a .976 fielding percentage , their lowest since 1973 .
RHP Clarke Schmidt ( 0-0 , 7.71 ERA ) makes his first big league start and third appearance in the regular-season finale , RHP José Ureña ( 0-3 , 6.00 ERA ) starts for Miami .

NEW YORK — DJ LeMahieu is on the verge of a first in more than a century of Major League Baseball: the first player to win undisputed batting titles in both the American and National Leagues.
Luke Voit is about to become a more common name atop the leaderboards but part of an illustrious list, joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Alex Rodriguez as New York Yankees to top the majors in home runs.
“I’ve always admired the Babe,” Voit said after the Yankees woke up from their latest slump to beat the Miami Marlins 11-4 Saturday and solidify their hold on the AL’s No. 5 postseason seed. “It’s just awesome company. That guy hit 700 home runs (714 to be exact). That means I got to start hitting like 150 a year to catch up to him. So that’s never going to happen.”
Voit hit his major league-leading 22nd homer. José Abreu of the Chicago White Sox is second with 19.
LeMahieu had his fourth four-hit game and three RBIs while raising his average to .359. He passed Washington’s Juan Soto (.351) for the big league lead and opened a large margin over defending AL batting champion Tim Anderson of the White Sox, second in the AL at .337.
“This game’s been around for a long time, and I think anyone who’s watched knows just how special a player DJ LeMahieu’s been for us in these two years,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
LeMahieu won the 2016 NL batting title with a .348 average for Colorado. Ed Delahanty hit .410 for the Philadelphia Phillies to win the NL championship in 1899; he is credited by some researchers with the 1902 AL championship at .376, while others accept Nap Lajoie as winning that title at .378 despite lacking the plate appearances required in more modern times.
“Guys don’t win batting titles in both leagues because you win it in one league, they probably keep you,” said Marlins manager Don Mattingly, the 1984 AL batting champion with the Yankees. “It’s a different game nowadays.”
A 32-year-old infielder in his second season with the Yankees, LeMahieu will become New York’s first batting champion since Bernie Williams in 1998.
Voit hit a three-run drive against Nick Vincent in a seven-run sixth for a 10-3 lead. He has made 38 consecutive starts, including 19 straight at first base, despite an injured foot.
“I’ve been trying to transform myself into a better power hitter and this year was another stepping stone for me,” Voit said. “I’ve always been a guy, high school, college, minors. I play through stuff. I’m a grinder. I want to be out there. I want to help a team, especially when we were hurting earlier in the year and I had to do whatever it took to be out there. So I was making sure I was getting plenty of treatment from all of our trainers and trying to stay on top of it so I could play through it and not be like killing me.”
Yankees rookie Deivi García (3-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings with seven strikeouts and a walk. Boone has not announced whether García or left-hander J.A. Happ will follow Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka as his playoff starters.
Preparing for a first-round playoff series on the road, likely at Cleveland or Tampa Bay, the Yankees (33-26) are trying to hold off third-place Toronto (31-27) and keep the No. 5 seed. New York’s season has flowed and drifted like the tide: a 16-6 start, following by a 5-15 slide, a 10-game winning streak and five losses in a six-game span coming in.
New York trailed 3-0 before Tyler Wade’s two-run homer in the fifth against Ryan Stanek, and Aaron Hicks had a two-run homer in the sixth against former Yankee Stephen Tarpley (2-2) for a 5-3 lead.
Wade’s homer off the second deck in right ended the Yankees’ first five-game homerless streak since April 1-5, 2014. They have scored nearly half their runs via the long ball, 156 of 315, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
“Any spark to get us going, especially with the last game coming up tomorrow and going to the playoffs,” Wade said after his third homer this season.
Giancarlo Stanton was in a 1-for-21 slide with 12 strikeouts before his 113-mph RBI double to the left-center gap in the fifth that drove in Aaron Judge with the tying run.
“I feel like we’re always one swing away,” Voit said. “We just need to get that one to get us going.”
RARE EVENT
Wade bunted to move up two runners ahead of LeMahieu’s two-run double in the sixth, the first sacrifice for the Yankees since pitcher James Paxton had a pair on July 2, 2019. Milwaukee, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay remain with no sacrifices this year.
REST STOP
Four regulars were rested by the Marlins, a day after they clinched their first playoff berth since 2003: center fielder Starling Marté, left fielder Corey Dickerson, first baseman Jesús Aguilar and third baseman Brian Anderson. Mattingly let bench coach James Rowson make in-game decisions
Miami (30-29) was coming off an NL-worst 57-105 record last year, the first team to reach the playoffs a year after losing 100 games. The accomplishment was even more remarkable given 18 Marlins were forced off the field because of a COVID-19 outbreak following the opening series in Philadelphia, causing an eight-day layoff.
Miami made 174 roster moves during the season, and just six players remained active from start to finish. Marlins CEO Derek Jeter telephoned congratulations to Mattingly and baseball operations staff, and also sent an email to their entire front office.
SLOPPY
LeMahieu’s error at second was New York’s 48th error in 59 games. The Yankees entered with a .976 fielding percentage, their lowest since 1973.
UP NEXT
RHP Clarke Schmidt (0-0, 7.71 ERA) makes his first big league start and third appearance in the regular-season finale, RHP José Ureña (0-3, 6.00 ERA) starts for Miami.


thedenverpost--2020-09-27--Rockies catcher Tony Wolters’ goal is to get on base more in 2021

Rockies catcher Tony Wolters has earned the trust of his pitchers , and of manager Bud Black , for his game-calling skills and defense behind the plate .
Wolters , however , knows he needs to improve his offense .
He entered Saturday ’ s penultimate game of the season batting .214 with a .260 on-base percentage , with four doubles and no home runs in 98 at-bats .
His career OBP entering 2020 was .337 .
“ My goal this year was ( to get ) on base more and it just wasn ’ t there , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that spark for the team , where I get on base all of the time ; get on base for the guys at the top of the order.
” Wolters said he will focus on that during the offseason .
“ One thing I really need to focus on is just length in my swing where I can put the ball in play , pick better pitches to swing at , ” he said .
“ I need to be ( more ) on time and see the ball better.
” Gray as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social media chatter touting the idea of converting right-handed starter Jon Gray into a late-game reliever , or even a closer .
His fastball-slider combination might be effective in that role .
Black , however , still envisions Gray as a starting pitcher , even after Gray had a disappointing season , going 2-4 with a 6.69 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP before landing on the injured list Sept. 4 because of a strained right shoulder .
“ We ’ ve talked about that a little bit , too , ” Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving Gray into the bullpen .
“ But , again , it ’ s so hard to find quality starting pitching in this day and age .
I think Jon has the physical nature to be able to throw 200-plus innings , to make 32 , 33 , 34 starts in the regular season .
“ I think he has the weapons to get through a lineup and pitch into the sixth and seventh innings regularly .
Those guys are hard to come by.
” Ground control .
Rockies pitchers have had their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing they have done well is getting opposing hitters to pound the ball into the dirt .
Entering Saturday ’ s game , the Rockies led the majors with 726 groundballs induced and 65 double plays via groundballs .
Lefty Kyle Freeland , who starts Sunday ’ s season finale , is all for worm-burners .
“ I think I love them more than getting strikeouts , ” Freeland said .
“ It ’ s the old two-for-one special , and as the old saying goes from ‘ Bull Durham ’ : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more democratic.
’ You get more people involved .
That ’ s always stuck with me .
I love getting double-play groundballs.
” On Deck Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland ( 2-2 , 3.69 ) at Diamondbacks LHP Madison Bumgarner ( 0-4 , 7.36 ) 1:10 p.m. Sunday , Chase Field TV : AT & T SportsNet Radio : KOA 850 AM/94.1 AM It ’ s the final start of Freeland ’ s rebound season , in which he ’ s cut his ERA nearly in half from last year ’ s 6.73 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just get some more run support .
The Rockies have lost each of his past four starts , despite Freeland posting a 2.96 ERA and limiting opponents to a .202 batting average .
Freeland is 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in five career starts at Chase Field .
Bumgarner has been one of baseball ’ s biggest disappointments , but he ’ s coming off a decent start last Sunday against Houston .
His fastball velocity was up a tick , from 88.1 mph to 88.9 , and he notched a season-high seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not faced the Rockies this season , but he ’ s 16-8 with a 3.27 ERA in 35 career starts against them .
Bumgarner is 4-0 with a 3.89 ERA in his last six starts vs. Colorado .
Trending : Rockies shortstop Trevor Story entered Saturday ’ s game as a career .300 hitter ( 39-for-130 ) at Chase Field , with 11 home runs , six doubles , two triples and 24 RBIs .
His 11 home runs are the most for an opponent at Chase Field since Story ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : The Rockies have received little offense from their catchers .
They entered the final two games of the season batting a combined .211 ( 21st in the majors ) , with a .510 OPS ( 29th ) and just one home run ( 30th ) .

Rockies catcher Tony Wolters has earned the trust of his pitchers, and of manager Bud Black, for his game-calling skills and defense behind the plate.
Wolters, however, knows he needs to improve his offense. He entered Saturday’s penultimate game of the season batting .214 with a .260 on-base percentage, with four doubles and no home runs in 98 at-bats. His career OBP entering 2020 was .337.
“My goal this year was (to get) on base more and it just wasn’t there,” he said. “I want to be that spark for the team, where I get on base all of the time; get on base for the guys at the top of the order.”
Wolters said he will focus on that during the offseason.
“One thing I really need to focus on is just length in my swing where I can put the ball in play, pick better pitches to swing at,” he said. “I need to be (more) on time and see the ball better.”
Gray as closer? There’s been plenty of social media chatter touting the idea of converting right-handed starter Jon Gray into a late-game reliever, or even a closer. His fastball-slider combination might be effective in that role.
Black, however, still envisions Gray as a starting pitcher, even after Gray had a disappointing season, going 2-4 with a 6.69 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP before landing on the injured list Sept. 4 because of a strained right shoulder.
“We’ve talked about that a little bit, too,” Black said when asked about the possibility of moving Gray into the bullpen. “But, again, it’s so hard to find quality starting pitching in this day and age. I think Jon has the physical nature to be able to throw 200-plus innings, to make 32, 33, 34 starts in the regular season.
“I think he has the weapons to get through a lineup and pitch into the sixth and seventh innings regularly. Those guys are hard to come by.”
Ground control. Rockies pitchers have had their share of problems this season, but one thing they have done well is getting opposing hitters to pound the ball into the dirt. Entering Saturday’s game, the Rockies led the majors with 726 groundballs induced and 65 double plays via groundballs.
Lefty Kyle Freeland, who starts Sunday’s season finale, is all for worm-burners.
“I think I love them more than getting strikeouts,” Freeland said. “It’s the old two-for-one special, and as the old saying goes from ‘Bull Durham’: ‘Strikeouts are fascist, groundballs are more democratic.’ You get more people involved. That’s always stuck with me. I love getting double-play groundballs.”
On Deck
Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (2-2, 3.69) at Diamondbacks LHP Madison Bumgarner (0-4, 7.36)
1:10 p.m. Sunday, Chase Field
TV: AT&T SportsNet
Radio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 AM
It’s the final start of Freeland’s rebound season, in which he’s cut his ERA nearly in half from last year’s 6.73. Now, if only the lefty could just get some more run support. The Rockies have lost each of his past four starts, despite Freeland posting a 2.96 ERA and limiting opponents to a .202 batting average. Freeland is 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in five career starts at Chase Field. Bumgarner has been one of baseball’s biggest disappointments, but he’s coming off a decent start last Sunday against Houston. His fastball velocity was up a tick, from 88.1 mph to 88.9, and he notched a season-high seven strikeouts over five innings. The left-hander has not faced the Rockies this season, but he’s 16-8 with a 3.27 ERA in 35 career starts against them. Bumgarner is 4-0 with a 3.89 ERA in his last six starts vs. Colorado.
Trending: Rockies shortstop Trevor Story entered Saturday’s game as a career .300 hitter (39-for-130) at Chase Field, with 11 home runs, six doubles, two triples and 24 RBIs. His 11 home runs are the most for an opponent at Chase Field since Story’s rookie season in 2016.
At issue: The Rockies have received little offense from their catchers. They entered the final two games of the season batting a combined .211 (21st in the majors), with a .510 OPS (29th) and just one home run (30th).


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Joe Biden’s low-key campaign style worries some Democrats

WILMINGTON , Del .
— The final stretch of a presidential campaign is typically a nonstop mix of travel , caffeine and adrenaline .
But as the worst pandemic in a century bears down on the United States , Joe Biden is taking a lower key approach .
Since his Aug. 11 selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate , Biden has had 22 days where he either didn ’ t make public appearances , held only virtual fundraisers or ventured from his Delaware home solely for church , according to an Associated Press analysis of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Delaware during that period , including Friday when he went to Washington and paid respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
During the same time , President Donald Trump had 24 trips that took him to 17 different states , not counting a personal visit to New York to see his ailing brother in the hospital or weekend golf outings .
He was hitting Florida , Georgia , Virginia and the nation ’ s capital on Friday alone .
Biden ’ s aides insist his approach is intentional , showcasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at preventing the spread of the coronavirus and presenting a responsible contrast with Trump , who has resumed large-scale campaign rallies — sometimes over the objections of local officials .
Still , some Democrats say it ’ s critical that Biden infuse his campaign with more energy .
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said not traveling because of the pandemic was a “ pretty lame excuse.
” “ I thought he had his own plane , ” Hinojosa said .
“ He doesn ’ t have to sit with one space between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would.
” Hinojosa argued that Biden prioritizing visits to Texas and Arizona could boost Latino turnout and potentially reduce the pressure on him to sweep Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania — where he has focused much of his travel so far .
“ We are campaigning safely and effectively , and our message is reaching voters in battleground states and generating the enthusiasm and energy we need to beat Donald Trump , ” said Biden spokesman TJ Ducklo .
The race between Biden and Trump has been generally consistent for months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ most national polls and has an advantage , though narrower , in many of the battleground states that will decide the election .
But polls that showed competitive races or even Democratic advantages in traditionally Republican states proved to be false indicators for Democrats in 2016 .
Four years later , Biden faces persistent questions about whether his campaign is organizing and connecting with voters .
When he visited Charlotte , North Carolina , on Wednesday for a Black economic summit , Collette Alston , chairwoman of the local African American Caucus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day ’ s notice — when she saw it on TV .
Just 16 people attended the event and Alston warned that Biden wasn ’ t reaching locals she thinks he needs to — “ the people that are like , I don ’ t care , I really don ’ t want to vote.
” “ I do believe that he can win North Carolina , ” Alton said .
“ Can he win it based on what he ’ s doing right now ?
No .
That ’ s not the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s swing state visits often seem tailor-made for a television package : A small , socially distanced roundtable or town hall , always with fewer than 25 people ; occasionally a stop at a local business or a visit with first responders ; and then hours of back-to-back local media interviews .
Beyond traveling more , Biden is being urged by some Democrats to expand his message .
While he has given standalone speeches on issues like criminal justice reform , climate change and , last weekend , the Supreme Court vacancy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign stops .
When he appears before voters , he ’ s generally laser-focused on the virus and the Trump administration ’ s mismanaging of it .
David Axelrod , Barack Obama ’ s former strategist and adviser , said the Biden campaign is “ wise ” to concentrate on the pandemic because it ’ s an “ anchor around the President ’ s neck.
” But he said it would be a “ missed opportunity ” for Biden if he didn ’ t speak up more about the Supreme Court going forward @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on healthcare .
“ The future of the Affordable Care Act and particularly the future of protections for people with preexisting conditions is a very close issue , and it ’ s what drove Democrats to victory in 2018 , ” Axelrod said .
Biden ’ s aides say the relatively light schedule , small events and message discipline reflect the biggest issue still confronting most Americans today : the coronavirus pandemic .
Biden also has sought to offer a responsible contrast to Trump and his rallies , where thousands forgo masks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a mask-less rally and says this thing is overblown , Democrats are winning the COVID battle , ” said Jim Kessler , an executive vice president of the moderate Democratic group Third Way .
Biden maintains a vigorous schedule even when he ’ s not traveling , doing many events online .
His campaign has become a fundraising powerhouse through largely virtual events .
He raised a record $ 364 million in August that has allowed him to blanket the airwaves across the country and outspend Trump .
Still , Trump sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to argue that his packed schedule shows he ’ s outworking Biden .
The president seized on the Biden campaign ’ s announcement shortly before 9:30 a.m. Thursday that he wouldn ’ t have any public events for the day .
Biden spent the day preparing for his first debate against Trump next week .
“ Did you see he did a lid this morning again ?
” Trump said of Biden during a rally Thursday night at an airport hangar in Jacksonville , Florida .
“ A lid is when you put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be campaigning today .
So he does a lid all the time .
… I ’ m in Texas .
I ’ m in Ohio .
I ’ m in North Carolina , South Carolina .
I ’ m in Michigan .
I ’ m all over the place.
” Trump was attempting to back up that pledge with a flurry of Friday campaigning , starting with a rally for Latino supporters at his golf club in Doral , Florida where he spent the night after the Jacksonville event .
Trump also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Atlanta , then flying back to Washington for a roundtable at Trump International Hotel .
Instead of returning to the nearby White House , he then was heading to Newport News , Virginia , for an evening speech .
Biden so far hasn ’ t spent the night anywhere while campaigning , flying back to Delaware to sleep at home every night .
The cautious approach isn ’ t shared by Biden ’ s wife , Jill , who was in Washington with her husband on Friday morning but then flew to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Virginia the previous day .
She ’ s going to Iowa , another state her husband has yet to visit in recent months , on Saturday .
Hillary Scholten , a Democrat seeking an open House seat in Michigan , spent a morning last week touring a food bank in Grand Rapids , the state ’ s second-largest city , with Jill Biden .
She ’ s aware that Joe Biden may not follow suit .
“ People would want to see him here , ” Scholten said .
“ That being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Will Weissert, Alexandra Jaffe, Alan Fram

WILMINGTON, Del. — The final stretch of a presidential campaign is typically a nonstop mix of travel, caffeine and adrenaline. But as the worst pandemic in a century bears down on the United States, Joe Biden is taking a lower key approach.
Since his Aug. 11 selection of California Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate, Biden has had 22 days where he either didn’t make public appearances, held only virtual fundraisers or ventured from his Delaware home solely for church, according to an Associated Press analysis of his schedules. He made 12 visits outside of Delaware during that period, including Friday when he went to Washington and paid respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
During the same time, President Donald Trump had 24 trips that took him to 17 different states, not counting a personal visit to New York to see his ailing brother in the hospital or weekend golf outings. He was hitting Florida, Georgia, Virginia and the nation’s capital on Friday alone.
Biden’s aides insist his approach is intentional, showcasing his respect for public health guidelines aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus and presenting a responsible contrast with Trump, who has resumed large-scale campaign rallies — sometimes over the objections of local officials. Still, some Democrats say it’s critical that Biden infuse his campaign with more energy.
Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said not traveling because of the pandemic was a “pretty lame excuse.”
“I thought he had his own plane,” Hinojosa said. “He doesn’t have to sit with one space between another person on a commercial airline like I would.”
Hinojosa argued that Biden prioritizing visits to Texas and Arizona could boost Latino turnout and potentially reduce the pressure on him to sweep Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania — where he has focused much of his travel so far.
“We are campaigning safely and effectively, and our message is reaching voters in battleground states and generating the enthusiasm and energy we need to beat Donald Trump,” said Biden spokesman TJ Ducklo.
The race between Biden and Trump has been generally consistent for months. Biden has maintained a comfortable lead in most national polls and has an advantage, though narrower, in many of the battleground states that will decide the election.
But polls that showed competitive races or even Democratic advantages in traditionally Republican states proved to be false indicators for Democrats in 2016.
Four years later, Biden faces persistent questions about whether his campaign is organizing and connecting with voters. When he visited Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday for a Black economic summit, Collette Alston, chairwoman of the local African American Caucus, said she only found out with one day’s notice — when she saw it on TV.
Just 16 people attended the event and Alston warned that Biden wasn’t reaching locals she thinks he needs to — “the people that are like, I don’t care, I really don’t want to vote.”
“I do believe that he can win North Carolina,” Alton said. “Can he win it based on what he’s doing right now? No. That’s not the way to win it.”
Biden’s swing state visits often seem tailor-made for a television package: A small, socially distanced roundtable or town hall, always with fewer than 25 people; occasionally a stop at a local business or a visit with first responders; and then hours of back-to-back local media interviews.
Beyond traveling more, Biden is being urged by some Democrats to expand his message. While he has given standalone speeches on issues like criminal justice reform, climate change and, last weekend, the Supreme Court vacancy, Biden largely ignores those issues during his campaign stops. When he appears before voters, he’s generally laser-focused on the virus and the Trump administration’s mismanaging of it.
David Axelrod, Barack Obama’s former strategist and adviser, said the Biden campaign is “wise” to concentrate on the pandemic because it’s an “anchor around the President’s neck.” But he said it would be a “missed opportunity” for Biden if he didn’t speak up more about the Supreme Court going forward, especially the impact it could have on healthcare.
“The future of the Affordable Care Act and particularly the future of protections for people with preexisting conditions is a very close issue, and it’s what drove Democrats to victory in 2018,” Axelrod said.
Biden’s aides say the relatively light schedule, small events and message discipline reflect the biggest issue still confronting most Americans today: the coronavirus pandemic. Biden also has sought to offer a responsible contrast to Trump and his rallies, where thousands forgo masks.
“Every time Trump shows up and has a mask-less rally and says this thing is overblown, Democrats are winning the COVID battle,” said Jim Kessler, an executive vice president of the moderate Democratic group Third Way.
Biden maintains a vigorous schedule even when he’s not traveling, doing many events online. His campaign has become a fundraising powerhouse through largely virtual events. He raised a record $364 million in August that has allowed him to blanket the airwaves across the country and outspend Trump.
Still, Trump sees the contrast in travel as an opportunity to argue that his packed schedule shows he’s outworking Biden. The president seized on the Biden campaign’s announcement shortly before 9:30 a.m. Thursday that he wouldn’t have any public events for the day.
Biden spent the day preparing for his first debate against Trump next week.
“Did you see he did a lid this morning again?” Trump said of Biden during a rally Thursday night at an airport hangar in Jacksonville, Florida. “A lid is when you put out word you’re not going to be campaigning today. So he does a lid all the time. … I’m in Texas. I’m in Ohio. I’m in North Carolina, South Carolina. I’m in Michigan. I’m all over the place.”
Trump was attempting to back up that pledge with a flurry of Friday campaigning, starting with a rally for Latino supporters at his golf club in Doral, Florida where he spent the night after the Jacksonville event. Trump also was attending a Black economic empowerment event in Atlanta, then flying back to Washington for a roundtable at Trump International Hotel. Instead of returning to the nearby White House, he then was heading to Newport News, Virginia, for an evening speech.
Biden so far hasn’t spent the night anywhere while campaigning, flying back to Delaware to sleep at home every night. The cautious approach isn’t shared by Biden’s wife, Jill, who was in Washington with her husband on Friday morning but then flew to Maine, after making four campaign stops in Virginia the previous day. She’s going to Iowa, another state her husband has yet to visit in recent months, on Saturday.
Hillary Scholten, a Democrat seeking an open House seat in Michigan, spent a morning last week touring a food bank in Grand Rapids, the state’s second-largest city, with Jill Biden. She’s aware that Joe Biden may not follow suit.
“People would want to see him here,” Scholten said. “That being said, there is a global pandemic.”
___
Weissert and Fram reported from Washington.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--How Trump, Biden are preparing for first presidential debate

WASHINGTON — Ahead of the first debate-stage matchup between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden , each campaign is promising a stark contrast in policy , personality and preparation .
Trump has decided to skip any formal preparation .
And while Biden ’ s team believes the significance of the debate may be exaggerated , the Democratic nominee has been aggressively preparing to take on the president .
Biden ’ s campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer , a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel , playing the role of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct knowledge of the preparations granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy .
Bauer has not actually donned a Trump costume in line with Trump stand-ins from previous years , but he is representing his style and expected strategy .
“ I ’ m sure the president will throw everything he can at ( Biden ) .
My guess is that they ’ re preparing for that — bombarding him with insults and weird digressions , ” said Jay Carney , a former aide to Biden and President Barack Obama .
“ I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think it ’ s really important for President Trump , because the direction of this election has been pretty stable for a long time now , and he needs to shake it up as any candidate would who ’ s behind , ” Carney added .
“ The question is , can that work ?
” Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland , Ohio .
The 90-minute event moderated by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first of three scheduled presidential debates .
Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris , Biden ’ s running mate , will also debate in October .
For some , the debates represent the most important moments in the 2020 campaign ’ s closing days , a rare opportunity for millions of voters to compare the candidates ’ policies and personalities side-by-side on prime-time television .
Trump has been trailing Biden in the polls for the entire year , a reality that gives the president an urgent incentive to change the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he can .
Others , including those close to Biden ’ s campaign , do not expect the debates to fundamentally change the race no matter what happens , given voters ’ daily struggles with the pandemic and the economy .
They also point to high-profile debates in past elections thought to be game-changing moments at the time but that ultimately had little lasting effect .
Those with knowledge of Biden ’ s preparations suggest he will not take the fight to Trump if he can avoid it .
But on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attack when he discussed his strategy on MSNBC .
“ I ’ m prepared to go out and make my case as to why I think he ’ s failed and why I think the answers I have to proceed will help the American people , the American economy and make us safer internationally , ” Biden said , arguing that Trump won ’ t persuade voters with broadsides because “ the people know the president is a liar.
” He said he doesn ’ t expect Trump to articulate a detailed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He doesn ’ t know how to debate the facts , because he ’ s not that smart , ” Biden continued .
“ He doesn ’ t know that many facts .
He doesn ’ t know much about foreign policy .
He doesn ’ t know much about domestic policy .
He doesn ’ t know much about the detail.
” While Biden has said he will try to be a fact checker of sorts on stage , the Democrat is being advised to avoid direct confrontations and instead redirect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unity and issues that matter most to voters : the economy , health care and the pandemic .
“ Arguing over facts , litigating whether what he ’ s saying is accurate , that is not winning to Biden , ” said Jen Psaki , a former Obama aide who is close to Biden ’ s team .
“ This is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people .
His objective should be to speak directly to them , but not be pulled in by Trump .
That is hard.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparation , according to aides and allies who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations .
No set has been constructed and aides refused to say whether anyone is playing Biden .
Trump , instead , has maintained that the best preparation is doing his day job — particularly his frequent and often contentious interactions with reporters .
White House aides also scheduled an ABC town hall earlier this month to expose Trump to real voter questions for the first time in months in preparation for the second debate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump ’ s lack of formal preparation will lead him to fall into the same hubris trap as other incumbents in their first general election debate .
Obama , for example , famously struggled in his first matchup against Mitt Romney in 2012 .
But other Trump backers are confident that the president is ready to handle any tough questions or pushback from Biden .
“ The debates matter , ” said Lara Trump , a senior adviser to the campaign and the president ’ s daughter-in-law .
“ Donald Trump certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( in 2016 ) and I think this will be no different.
” Lara Trump also seemed to simultaneously raise and lower expectations for Biden .
“ Joe Biden spent a lot of time in his basement to study up .
He ’ s been in this game for 47 years .
I assume he ’ ll do okay , ” she said .
“ Quite frankly , the bar has been lowered so much for Joe Biden that if he stays awake for the whole thing it ’ s like maybe he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line with those of Trump ’ s allies who spent much of the year raising questions about Biden ’ s physical and mental strength , while in recent days trying to cast him as a strong and experienced debater facing a relative neophyte in Trump .
A former reality show star , the president is keenly aware of the power and pitfalls of live television .
Aides say he is acutely mindful of the power of “ moments ” to define how a debate is perceived and that he intends to make his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be seen how aggressively Trump attacks Biden .
He has warned apocalyptically about the consequences of a Biden victory and is never one to shy away from a fight .
He is also an avowed “ counterpuncher ” and will surely respond to any attacks by Biden in kind .
Terry McAuliffe , the former Virginia governor and onetime national Democratic chairman , said Biden must fashion a succinct , debate-stage version of his message since the spring : draw a straight line from Trump ’ s personal deficiencies to his handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the national reckoning on race and then explain why a Biden presidency would be different .
“ Trump ’ s just looking for a Hail Mary here , ” McAuliffe said .
“ He knows he ’ s in trouble .
”

WASHINGTON — Ahead of the first debate-stage matchup between President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger Joe Biden, each campaign is promising a stark contrast in policy, personality and preparation.
Trump has decided to skip any formal preparation. And while Biden’s team believes the significance of the debate may be exaggerated, the Democratic nominee has been aggressively preparing to take on the president.
Biden’s campaign has been holding mock debate sessions featuring Bob Bauer, a senior Biden adviser and former White House general counsel, playing the role of Trump, according to a person with direct knowledge of the preparations granted anonymity to discuss internal strategy. Bauer has not actually donned a Trump costume in line with Trump stand-ins from previous years, but he is representing his style and expected strategy.
“I’m sure the president will throw everything he can at (Biden). My guess is that they’re preparing for that — bombarding him with insults and weird digressions,” said Jay Carney, a former aide to Biden and President Barack Obama.
“I think it’s an important moment — I think it’s really important for President Trump, because the direction of this election has been pretty stable for a long time now, and he needs to shake it up as any candidate would who’s behind,” Carney added. “The question is, can that work?”
Trump and Biden are scheduled to meet on the debate stage for the first time Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. The 90-minute event moderated by Fox News host Chris Wallace is the first of three scheduled presidential debates. Vice President Mike Pence and California Sen. Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate, will also debate in October.
For some, the debates represent the most important moments in the 2020 campaign’s closing days, a rare opportunity for millions of voters to compare the candidates’ policies and personalities side-by-side on prime-time television. Trump has been trailing Biden in the polls for the entire year, a reality that gives the president an urgent incentive to change the direction of the contest on national television if he can.
Others, including those close to Biden’s campaign, do not expect the debates to fundamentally change the race no matter what happens, given voters’ daily struggles with the pandemic and the economy. They also point to high-profile debates in past elections thought to be game-changing moments at the time but that ultimately had little lasting effect.
Those with knowledge of Biden’s preparations suggest he will not take the fight to Trump if he can avoid it. But on Saturday, at least, he was on the attack when he discussed his strategy on MSNBC.
“I’m prepared to go out and make my case as to why I think he’s failed and why I think the answers I have to proceed will help the American people, the American economy and make us safer internationally,” Biden said, arguing that Trump won’t persuade voters with broadsides because “the people know the president is a liar.”
He said he doesn’t expect Trump to articulate a detailed vision for a second term.
“He doesn’t know how to debate the facts, because he’s not that smart,” Biden continued. “He doesn’t know that many facts. He doesn’t know much about foreign policy. He doesn’t know much about domestic policy. He doesn’t know much about the detail.”
While Biden has said he will try to be a fact checker of sorts on stage, the Democrat is being advised to avoid direct confrontations and instead redirect the conversation to more familiar campaign themes of unity and issues that matter most to voters: the economy, health care and the pandemic.
“Arguing over facts, litigating whether what he’s saying is accurate, that is not winning to Biden,” said Jen Psaki, a former Obama aide who is close to Biden’s team. “This is an opportunity to speak directly to the American people. His objective should be to speak directly to them, but not be pulled in by Trump. That is hard.”
Trump has not been doing any formal preparation, according to aides and allies who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.
No set has been constructed and aides refused to say whether anyone is playing Biden. Trump, instead, has maintained that the best preparation is doing his day job — particularly his frequent and often contentious interactions with reporters. White House aides also scheduled an ABC town hall earlier this month to expose Trump to real voter questions for the first time in months in preparation for the second debate.
Privately some aides and allies are worried that Trump’s lack of formal preparation will lead him to fall into the same hubris trap as other incumbents in their first general election debate. Obama, for example, famously struggled in his first matchup against Mitt Romney in 2012.
But other Trump backers are confident that the president is ready to handle any tough questions or pushback from Biden.
“The debates matter,” said Lara Trump, a senior adviser to the campaign and the president’s daughter-in-law. “Donald Trump certainly did a great job on the debates (in 2016) and I think this will be no different.”
Lara Trump also seemed to simultaneously raise and lower expectations for Biden.
“Joe Biden spent a lot of time in his basement to study up. He’s been in this game for 47 years. I assume he’ll do okay,” she said. “Quite frankly, the bar has been lowered so much for Joe Biden that if he stays awake for the whole thing it’s like maybe he won.”
The mixed messages were in line with those of Trump’s allies who spent much of the year raising questions about Biden’s physical and mental strength, while in recent days trying to cast him as a strong and experienced debater facing a relative neophyte in Trump.
A former reality show star, the president is keenly aware of the power and pitfalls of live television. Aides say he is acutely mindful of the power of “moments” to define how a debate is perceived and that he intends to make his share of them happen.
It remains to be seen how aggressively Trump attacks Biden. He has warned apocalyptically about the consequences of a Biden victory and is never one to shy away from a fight. He is also an avowed “counterpuncher” and will surely respond to any attacks by Biden in kind.
Terry McAuliffe, the former Virginia governor and onetime national Democratic chairman, said Biden must fashion a succinct, debate-stage version of his message since the spring: draw a straight line from Trump’s personal deficiencies to his handling of the pandemic, its economic fallout, the national reckoning on race and then explain why a Biden presidency would be different.
“Trump’s just looking for a Hail Mary here,” McAuliffe said. “He knows he’s in trouble.”


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Kiszla: At this point in storied NFL career, is old Tom Brady any better than Broncos journeyman Jef

Kiszla: At this point in storied NFL career, is old Tom Brady any better than Broncos journeyman Jeff Driskel?

The NFL is 100 years old .
So logic suggests Tom Brady vs. Jeff Driskel can not possibly be the most-lopsided quarterback mismatch in league history .
But it has to be a contender for that thorny crown .
Driskel , a 27-year-old Broncos journeyman who will take snaps in place of injured Drew Lock , is the proud owner of one NFL victory as a starting quarterback .
Brady — who moved on to Tampa after two decades of living with grumpy Bill Belichick , because wouldn ’ t you ?
— is seeking his 221st regular-season victory as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fingers .
Brady has six rings .
Brady wears UGGs and is married to a supermodel .
Driskel is a good teammate who ’ s slightly less flamboyant than a tax accountant .
“ As long as I can remember , I ’ ve watched ( Brady ) play .
He ’ s been playing for 20 years or whatever it ’ s been .
He ’ s been a constant in this league .
He ’ s been one of the best , if not the best , for a majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who deliberately shops for his words at Cliches Are Us .
“ As far as this week , I ’ m not going to watch any tape of the ( Tampa Bay ) offense .
We ’ re playing the Tampa Bay defense .
That ’ s who we ’ re game-planning for .
The first time I see ( Brady ) this week will be out there on Sunday , when we ’ re on the sidelines.
” The Buccaneers , who have produced only a single winning season during the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heavy six-point favorites to send Denver to an 0-3 start for the second time during Vic Fangio ’ s tenure as coach .
The odds seem to be stacked higher against Denver than the mountain of praise earned by Brady vs Driskel ’ s cup of coffee in eight pro starts .
“ I ’ ve played there a lot , being in the AFC all those years , traveling to Denver , playoff games in Denver .
It ’ s an electric atmosphere , ” said Brady , whose record in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t think we ’ re going to get quite that this coming Sunday , but it ’ s one of the great places in the NFL to play.
” Will the proud , the brave and the few 5,700 Broncomaniacs allowed in the stadium for the first time in these pandemic times throw up their hands in disgust and trickle toward the exits by halftime ?
Is there anything about this apparent mismatch that tilts in Driskel ’ s favor ?
Other than a change of color scheme in Brady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ He doesn ’ t look any different to me , to be honest with you.
” That 43-year-old wearing No .
12 for the Bucs ?
He ’ s not Tom Terrific anymore , at least not with any degree of certainty .
At this advanced stage of Brady ’ s career , he might well show flashes of the brilliance that ranks him alongside Joe Montana , John Elway and the greatest QBs ever to spin a football in the NFL .
But on any given Sunday , Brady also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very average Tom , Dick or Jeff Driskel .
Does anybody really think Belichick would ’ ve nudged Brady toward the door in New England if he still had championship capability ?
During his final 17 starts with the Pats last season , plus two appearances for Tampa Bay , Brady ’ s quarterback rating is a very pedestrian 85.7 .
You want to know just how average the QB formerly known as Tom Terrific has been for slightly more than a year ?
Coming off the Denver bench when a dinged shoulder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was forced into action last weekend against the Steelers without the benefit of any meaningful repetitions with the No .
1 offense before the team traveled to Pittsburgh .
In emergency duty , Driskle completed 18-of-34 attempts for 256 yards , two touchdowns and an interception .
His quarterback rating was 84.9 .
On any given Sunday in 2020 , Brady and Driskel are the same quarterback , if only because youth is on Driskel ’ s side and Father Time is undefeated .
That ’ s my theory , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until Brady conclusively proves he ’ s not in the same decline we saw from Peyton Manning late in his stint with the Broncos .
Remember ?
During the final season of his glorious career , Manning got benched by the Broncos because he stunk .
While PFM fumed from afar , a younger and spryer Brady came to Denver with the Patriots , who awoke with a spiffy 10-0 record on the morning of Nov. 29 , 2015 .
Tom Terrific and New England , however , left town with a 30-24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that engineered one of the more significant victories in the Broncos ’ run to Super Bowl 50 ?
Our old pal Brock Osweiler , who retired from the league in 2019 with a career record of 15-15 as a starting quarterback .
If Brock Lobster could beat Tom Terrific , Driskel certainly has a shot against tired Old Tom .

The NFL is 100 years old. So logic suggests Tom Brady vs. Jeff Driskel cannot possibly be the most-lopsided quarterback mismatch in league history. But it has to be a contender for that thorny crown.
Driskel, a 27-year-old Broncos journeyman who will take snaps in place of injured Drew Lock, is the proud owner of one NFL victory as a starting quarterback.
Brady — who moved on to Tampa after two decades of living with grumpy Bill Belichick, because wouldn’t you? — is seeking his 221st regular-season victory as a league icon.
Driskel has 10 fingers. Brady has six rings.
Brady wears UGGs and is married to a supermodel. Driskel is a good teammate who’s slightly less flamboyant than a tax accountant.
“As long as I can remember, I’ve watched (Brady) play. He’s been playing for 20 years or whatever it’s been. He’s been a constant in this league. He’s been one of the best, if not the best, for a majority of those years,” said Driskel, who deliberately shops for his words at Cliches Are Us.
“As far as this week, I’m not going to watch any tape of the (Tampa Bay) offense. We’re playing the Tampa Bay defense. That’s who we’re game-planning for. The first time I see (Brady) this week will be out there on Sunday, when we’re on the sidelines.”
The Buccaneers, who have produced only a single winning season during the past nine years, arrive in Colorado as heavy six-point favorites to send Denver to an 0-3 start for the second time during Vic Fangio’s tenure as coach. The odds seem to be stacked higher against Denver than the mountain of praise earned by Brady vs Driskel’s cup of coffee in eight pro starts.
“I’ve played there a lot, being in the AFC all those years, traveling to Denver, playoff games in Denver. It’s an electric atmosphere,” said Brady, whose record in our dusty old cowtown is 4-7. “I don’t think we’re going to get quite that this coming Sunday, but it’s one of the great places in the NFL to play.”
Will the proud, the brave and the few 5,700 Broncomaniacs allowed in the stadium for the first time in these pandemic times throw up their hands in disgust and trickle toward the exits by halftime?
Is there anything about this apparent mismatch that tilts in Driskel’s favor?
Well, I’m glad you asked.
Other than a change of color scheme in Brady’s new uniform, Fangio insists: “He doesn’t look any different to me, to be honest with you.”
Liar, liar. Pants on fire.
That 43-year-old wearing No. 12 for the Bucs? He’s not Tom Terrific anymore, at least not with any degree of certainty.
At this advanced stage of Brady’s career, he might well show flashes of the brilliance that ranks him alongside Joe Montana, John Elway and the greatest QBs ever to spin a football in the NFL.
But on any given Sunday, Brady also can bear an uncanny resemblance to a very average Tom, Dick or Jeff Driskel.
Does anybody really think Belichick would’ve nudged Brady toward the door in New England if he still had championship capability? During his final 17 starts with the Pats last season, plus two appearances for Tampa Bay, Brady’s quarterback rating is a very pedestrian 85.7.
You want to know just how average the QB formerly known as Tom Terrific has been for slightly more than a year?
Coming off the Denver bench when a dinged shoulder forced Lock to the sideline, Driskel was forced into action last weekend against the Steelers without the benefit of any meaningful repetitions with the No. 1 offense before the team traveled to Pittsburgh. In emergency duty, Driskle completed 18-of-34 attempts for 256 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. His quarterback rating was 84.9.
Very Brady-esque.
On any given Sunday in 2020, Brady and Driskel are the same quarterback, if only because youth is on Driskel’s side and Father Time is undefeated.
That’s my theory, and I’m sticking with it, at least until Brady conclusively proves he’s not in the same decline we saw from Peyton Manning late in his stint with the Broncos.
Remember? During the final season of his glorious career, Manning got benched by the Broncos because he stunk.
While PFM fumed from afar, a younger and spryer Brady came to Denver with the Patriots, who awoke with a spiffy 10-0 record on the morning of Nov. 29, 2015.
Tom Terrific and New England, however, left town with a 30-24 overtime loss.
Who was the quarterback that engineered one of the more significant victories in the Broncos’ run to Super Bowl 50?
Our old pal Brock Osweiler, who retired from the league in 2019 with a career record of 15-15 as a starting quarterback.
If Brock Lobster could beat Tom Terrific, Driskel certainly has a shot against tired Old Tom.


thedenverpost--2020-09-26--Nuggets vs. Lakers live blog: Real-time updates from Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals

Live updates , tweets , photos , analysis and more from the Nuggets game against the Los Angeles Lakers in @ @ @ @ @ , on Sept. 26 , 2020 .
Mobile users , if you can ’ t @ @ @ @ @ tap here .

Live updates, tweets, photos, analysis and more from the Nuggets game against the Los Angeles Lakers in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Sept. 26, 2020.
Mobile users, if you can’t see the live blog, tap here.