usatoday--2020-09-28--Chrissy Teigen says she feels 'really good' after being hospitalized amid 'scary' pregnancy

Chrissy Teigen reassured fans she and her unborn son are OK after she was hospitalized Sunday for issues with bleeding related to her third pregnancy .
The model , TV personality and cookbook author , 34 , shared a myriad of updates to her social media accounts , filling in her more than 31 million Instagram followers in on why she was in the hospital .
`` In the simplest of terms , my placenta is really , really weak .
I feel really , really good , the baby is so healthy , growing stronger than Luna or Miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and husband John Legend 's 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son .
`` He 's so strong , '' she added of the baby .
`` I 'm just so excited for him because he 's so wonderful and just the strongest little dude .
I ca n't wait for him . ''
More : Chrissy Teigen on explaining 'traumatic situations ' to her kids , 'scary ' harassment with John Legend Teigen has been on `` super serious '' bedrest for the last few weeks after confirming last month that she and Legend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says now she 's `` about halfway through pregnancy '' ) .
Over the past month or so , Teigen has been `` always , always bleeding , '' she explained , reassuring fans she and her doctors are `` on it '' and `` trying everything . ''
She previously shared that having a weak placenta led to both Luna and Miles being induced early and that the situation has caused her pregnancy to be labeled “ high risk . ''
`` It 's so weird , because I feel really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'm usually at my happiest pregnant .
Mood-wise , I feel happier than I do not pregnant .
That 's why its so hard for me to come to terms with . ''
`` Basically , he 's the strongest , coolest dude in the ( expletive ) -iest house , '' she joked .
Legend , 41 , made a cameo in his wife 's Instagram story videos Sunday night , making the `` Cravings '' cookbook author a `` bedside sandwich '' complete with mayonnaise , mustard , lettuce , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The frustrating part of being in the hospital , Teigen said , is that there is n't much to be done right now , other than to rest .
`` All we 're doing now is trying to make sure ( the baby has ) got a lot of food around him and that I 'm resting as much as possible , '' she said .
`` I 'm in that weird in between time of it being really dangerous to try anything .
If I can make it through the next few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it through the next few weeks , then we can go from there .
...
But we have to get through this first .
So yeah , it is scary , but in the way that there 's just really nothing to do . ''
Previously : ' I had really changed : ' Chrissy Teigen talks postpartum depression and hints at more babies

Chrissy Teigen says she feels 'really good' after being hospitalized amid 'scary' pregnancy
Show Caption Hide Caption Chrissy Teigen hospitalized for bleeding related to her pregnancy Chrissy Teigen has been on bedrest for weeks after announcing her pregnancy. USA TODAY
Chrissy Teigen reassured fans she and her unborn son are OK after she was hospitalized Sunday for issues with bleeding related to her third pregnancy.
The model, TV personality and cookbook author, 34, shared a myriad of updates to her social media accounts, filling in her more than 31 million Instagram followers in on why she was in the hospital.
"In the simplest of terms, my placenta is really, really weak. I feel really, really good, the baby is so healthy, growing stronger than Luna or Miles," she said, referencing her and husband John Legend's 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.
"He's so strong," she added of the baby. "I'm just so excited for him because he's so wonderful and just the strongest little dude. I can't wait for him."
More: Chrissy Teigen on explaining 'traumatic situations' to her kids, 'scary' harassment with John Legend
Teigen has been on "super serious" bedrest for the last few weeks after confirming last month that she and Legend were expecting baby No. 3 (she says now she's "about halfway through pregnancy").
Over the past month or so, Teigen has been "always, always bleeding," she explained, reassuring fans she and her doctors are "on it" and "trying everything." She previously shared that having a weak placenta led to both Luna and Miles being induced early and that the situation has caused her pregnancy to be labeled “high risk."
"It's so weird, because I feel really good," Teigen said. "I'm usually at my happiest pregnant. Mood-wise, I feel happier than I do not pregnant. That's why its so hard for me to come to terms with."
"Basically, he's the strongest, coolest dude in the (expletive)-iest house," she joked.
Legend, 41, made a cameo in his wife's Instagram story videos Sunday night, making the "Cravings" cookbook author a "bedside sandwich" complete with mayonnaise, mustard, lettuce, ham, cheese and potato chips.
The frustrating part of being in the hospital, Teigen said, is that there isn't much to be done right now, other than to rest.
"All we're doing now is trying to make sure (the baby has) got a lot of food around him and that I'm resting as much as possible," she said. "I'm in that weird in between time of it being really dangerous to try anything. If I can make it through the next few weeks, if the boy can make it through the next few weeks, then we can go from there. ... But we have to get through this first. So yeah, it is scary, but in the way that there's just really nothing to do."
Previously: 'I had really changed:' Chrissy Teigen talks postpartum depression and hints at more babies


usatoday--2020-09-28--Rams vent about 'wrong call' on fourth-quarter penalty that cost them vs. Bills

The Los Angeles Rams lost to the Buffalo Bills 35-32 on Sunday , and a penalty late in the four quarter was hard for players to not to single out afterward .
With 25 seconds left in the game at Bills Stadium , cornerback Darious Williams was called for a fourth-down pass interference penalty that ultimately set up the Bills ' go-ahead , game-winning touchdown .
`` It was the wrong call , '' Rams safety John Johnson III told reporters , per ESPN , after the game .
`` We ca n't narrow it down to that one play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a PI . ''
On the play , the Bills were already positioned on the Rams ' 13-yard line but had drawn fourth-and-8 .
Bills quarterback Josh Allen attempted the pass to receiver Gabriel Davis before the penalty was called on Williams .
The call gave Buffalo a fresh set of downs at the 3-yard line .
Allen then completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Kroft with 10 seconds remaining .
THE TAKEAWAYS:32 things we learned from Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season Rams receiver Robert Woods said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ penalty .
`` Obviously , they made the call , it is what it is , you got to keep playing and finish the game , '' Woods said .
`` Being out there , he 's playing defensive back , he 's playing hands-on , he 's checking him , and as he gets into his route , the receiver initiates the contact and the quarterback is literally just throwing the ball in the area , and it was n't even a catchable ball . ''
The Rams overcame a 28-3 deficit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and took the lead with 4:30 left .
`` There 's a million calls in the game , and it 's unfortunate that one like that can go make it , essentially , if they do n't call it , the game is over , '' said Los Angeles QB Jared Goff .
`` But there 's calls that went our way that game and there 's calls that went their way that game , and unfortunately , that one was at the end of the game like that . ''

Rams vent about 'wrong call' on fourth-quarter penalty that cost them vs. Bills
Show Caption Hide Caption NFL Week 3 overreactions: Bears are frauds, Falcons are comical, and Packers are class of NFC SportsPulse: Week 3 had so much action we provide a jumbo sized version of overreactions this week. Mackenzie Salmon reacts to all the biggest storylines from a wild Sunday in the NFL. SportsPulse, USA TODAY
The Los Angeles Rams lost to the Buffalo Bills 35-32 on Sunday, and a penalty late in the fourth quarter was hard for players to not to single out afterward.
With 25 seconds left in the game at Bills Stadium, cornerback Darious Williams was called for a fourth-down pass interference penalty that ultimately set up the Bills' go-ahead, game-winning touchdown.
"It was the wrong call," Rams safety John Johnson III told reporters, per ESPN, after the game. "We can't narrow it down to that one play, but I don't think it was a PI."
On the play, the Bills were already positioned on the Rams' 13-yard line but had drawn fourth-and-8. Bills quarterback Josh Allen attempted the pass to receiver Gabriel Davis before the penalty was called on Williams. The call gave Buffalo a fresh set of downs at the 3-yard line. Allen then completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tyler Kroft with 10 seconds remaining.
THE TAKEAWAYS: 32 things we learned from Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season
WEEK 3 WINNERS, LOSERS: Seahawks' Russell Wilson makes MVP case; Bears' Mitchell Trubisky flops
Rams receiver Robert Woods said it was "obviously not" a penalty.
"Obviously, they made the call, it is what it is, you got to keep playing and finish the game," Woods said. "Being out there, he's playing defensive back, he's playing hands-on, he's checking him, and as he gets into his route, the receiver initiates the contact and the quarterback is literally just throwing the ball in the area, and it wasn't even a catchable ball."
The Rams overcame a 28-3 deficit with 8:05 remaining in the third quarter and took the lead with 4:30 left.
"There's a million calls in the game, and it's unfortunate that one like that can go make it, essentially, if they don't call it, the game is over," said Los Angeles QB Jared Goff. "But there's calls that went our way that game and there's calls that went their way that game, and unfortunately, that one was at the end of the game like that."


usatoday--2020-09-28--Bill Murray's golf apparel lawyer responds to Doobie Brothers' legal rebuff, 'ugly' shirts comment

Because it 's 2020 , Bill Murray and the Doobie Brothers are in a legal feud over golf apparel .
It 's so heated that `` ugly '' golfer shirt comments are being hurled .
But ugly shirts could ultimately save the day .
The drama started when the Doobie Brothers ' lawyers stated that Murray ’ s company , William Murray Golf , has been using the band 's classic song `` Listen to the Music '' without compensation On Wednesday , Doobie Brothers ’ lawyer Peter Paterno sent a humorous legal warning to William Murray Golf about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fine song .
I know you agree because you keep using it in ads for your Zero Hucks Given golf shirts , ” Paterno wrote in the letter first obtained by The Hollywood Reporter .
`` However , given that you haven ’ t paid to use it , maybe you should change the company name to ‘ Zero Bucks Given . '
`` Bill Murray talks : Late-night NYC joy riding in Sofia Coppola 's new film 'On the Rocks' Paterno claimed , without specifying , that Murray 's company was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying .
`` It seems like the only person who uses our clients ’ music without permission more than you do is Donald Trump , '' he wrote .
He was just getting warmed up with the zingers , bringing up Murray 's `` Garfield '' animated cat movies , a source of profound professional regret with the movie icon .
`` This is the part where I ’ m supposed to cite the United States Copyright Act , excoriate you for not complying with some subparagraph that I ’ m too lazy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eternal damnation for doing so .
But you already learned that with those Garfield movies .
And you already know you can ’ t use music in ads without paying for it , ” Paterno wrote , setting up his killer punch .
`` We ’ d almost be OK with it if the shirts weren ’ t so damn ugly .
But it is what it is , '' he wrote .
Then he adapted Murray 's line from Carl in `` Caddyshack '' against Murray : `` So in the immortal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revoir Golfer .
Et payez ! '
`` Murray 's legal team did n't let the `` ugly '' shirt comments go unchallenged .
Lawyer Alexander Yoffe posted his retort , written on a Friday no less , on the official Twitter page of William Murray Golf .
It was game on .
`` First , I would like to compliment you on finding levity in the law at a time when the world and this country certainly could use a laugh , '' he wrote , before riffing on Doobie Brothers tunes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirm that both our firm , and the good folks at William Murray Golf , are indeed fans of the Doobie Brothers ’ music , which is why we appreciate your firm ’ s choice of ‘ Takin ’ It to the Streets , ’ rather than to the courts , which are already overburdened 'Minute by Minute ' with real problems . ''
Then Yoffe delved into the real pain point , Paterno ’ s `` disconcerting '' disparaging comments about the `` fashionableness '' of the clothing line .
`` Especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of William Murray polos , shorts and pants , '' Yoffe wrote .
Then it was like , chill out Doobie Brothers .
`` In the immortal words of Mr. Murray - the more relaxed you are , the better you are at everything … so let ’ s pour one up and unwind with a listen of the recently-released ‘ Quadio ’ box set and plan to cross paths at a Doobie Brothers ’ 50th anniversary show in 2021 when some level of normalcy resumes , '' Yoffe wrote .
`` As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classic song in question , 'What the people need is a way to make them smile ' — which both Bill and the Doobies have been doing for decades , as world-class entertainers . ''
In a move that will surely get the Nobel Committee murmuring , the attorney ended with a peace offering .
Paterno and the Doobie Brothers could pick the `` least offensive '' shirts in the William Murray collection .
`` We will happily upgrade your wardrobes and hopefully win each of you over as new fans of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ what this fool believes , ' '' he wrote .
That final line might be a misdemeanor over-pun , but well done .
We wait for the next step .

Bill Murray's golf apparel lawyer responds to Doobie Brothers' legal rebuff, 'ugly' shirts comment
Because it's 2020, Bill Murray and the Doobie Brothers are in a legal feud over golf apparel.
It's so heated that "ugly" golfer shirt comments are being hurled. But ugly shirts could ultimately save the day.
The drama started when the Doobie Brothers' lawyers stated that Murray’s company, William Murray Golf, has been using the band's classic song "Listen to the Music" without compensation
On Wednesday, Doobie Brothers’ lawyer Peter Paterno sent a humorous legal warning to William Murray Golf about the offending commercials. "It’s a fine song. I know you agree because you keep using it in ads for your Zero Hucks Given golf shirts,” Paterno wrote in the letter first obtained by The Hollywood Reporter.
"However, given that you haven’t paid to use it, maybe you should change the company name to ‘Zero Bucks Given.' "
Bill Murray talks: Late-night NYC joy riding in Sofia Coppola's new film 'On the Rocks'
Paterno claimed, without specifying, that Murray's company was using other songs by his clients without paying. "It seems like the only person who uses our clients’ music without permission more than you do is Donald Trump," he wrote.
He was just getting warmed up with the zingers, bringing up Murray's "Garfield" animated cat movies, a source of profound professional regret with the movie icon.
"This is the part where I’m supposed to cite the United States Copyright Act, excoriate you for not complying with some subparagraph that I’m too lazy to look up and threaten you with eternal damnation for doing so. But you already learned that with those Garfield movies. And you already know you can’t use music in ads without paying for it,” Paterno wrote, setting up his killer punch.
"We’d almost be OK with it if the shirts weren’t so damn ugly. But it is what it is," he wrote.
Then he adapted Murray's line from Carl in "Caddyshack" against Murray: "So in the immortal words of Jean Paul Sartre, 'Au revoir Golfer. Et payez!' "
Murray's legal team didn't let the "ugly" shirt comments go unchallenged.
Lawyer Alexander Yoffe posted his retort, written on a Friday no less, on the official Twitter page of William Murray Golf. It was game on.
Bill Murray receives a legal demand from the Doobie Brothers. And it’s everything you’d want it to be... pic.twitter.com/R1L99yZSBj — Eriq Gardner (@eriqgardner) September 24, 2020
"First, I would like to compliment you on finding levity in the law at a time when the world and this country certainly could use a laugh," he wrote, before riffing on Doobie Brothers tunes. "We would also like to confirm that both our firm, and the good folks at William Murray Golf, are indeed fans of the Doobie Brothers’ music, which is why we appreciate your firm’s choice of ‘Takin’ It to the Streets,’ rather than to the courts, which are already overburdened 'Minute by Minute' with real problems."
In the immortal words of the @TheDoobieBros—"What the people need is a way to make them smile."
William Murray Golf's attorney @AlexYoffe's response to Doobie Brothers' attorney Peter Paterno, re: "Listen To The Music".#BillMurray #WilliamMurray #DoobieBrothers pic.twitter.com/rIxmM8wzDV — William Murray Golf (@WMurrayGolf) September 25, 2020
Then Yoffe delved into the real pain point, Paterno’s "disconcerting" disparaging comments about the "fashionableness" of the clothing line.
"Especially considering 75% of my wardrobe consists of William Murray polos, shorts and pants," Yoffe wrote.
Then it was like, chill out Doobie Brothers.
"In the immortal words of Mr. Murray - the more relaxed you are, the better you are at everything … so let’s pour one up and unwind with a listen of the recently-released ‘Quadio’ box set and plan to cross paths at a Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary show in 2021 when some level of normalcy resumes," Yoffe wrote.
"As your client so aptly stated in this classic song in question, 'What the people need is a way to make them smile' — which both Bill and the Doobies have been doing for decades, as world-class entertainers."
In a move that will surely get the Nobel Committee murmuring, the attorney ended with a peace offering. Paterno and the Doobie Brothers could pick the "least offensive" shirts in the William Murray collection. "We will happily upgrade your wardrobes and hopefully win each of you over as new fans of the brand. At least that’s ‘what this fool believes,'" he wrote.
That final line might be a misdemeanor over-pun, but well done.
We wait for the next step.


usatoday--2020-09-28--What will it take for Celtics to advance past the Eastern Conference Finals?

After the Miami Heat eliminated the Celtics with a 125-113 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday , Boston coach Brad Stevens confirmed the obvious .
The Heat are “ the best team in the East and deserve to be representing the East in the way that they have played.
” But after appearing in three Eastern Conference Finals in the past four years , what are the Celtics to reach the NBA Finals ?
“ My regrets would be the outcomes , right ?
But my regret is not what we put in , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not how we prepared or worked or how hard our guys worked or how committed they were to playing and staying together.
” The Heat relied on a resurgent superstar ( Jimmy Butler ) , an emerging All-Star ( Bam Adebayo ) , steady veterans ( Goran Dragic , Andre Iguodala ) , a rising rookie ( Tyler Herro ) and an elite head coach ( Erik Spoelstra ) .
SUPERSTAR EMERGING : The 'heart and soul ' of the Heat , Bam Adebayo is impressing TIP OF THE CAP : LeBron James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'great ' this season But the Celtics had the pieces too .
They had a rising All-Star ( Jayson Tatum ) , a versatile forward ( Jaylen Brown ) , a veteran point guard ( Kemba Walker ) , a shooting and defensive asset ( Marcus Smart ) and an elite head coach ( Stevens ) .
And yet the Celtics spent most of this series imploding .
In Game 1 , the Celtics squandered a 14-point , fourth-quarter lead in an overtime loss , and in Game 2 , the Heat came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fourth quarter of a Game 5 victory , then coughed up a six-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 6 .
“ Just have to learn how to grow , ” Walker said .
“ We ’ re going to have to figure out how to do those things down the stretch .
We got time .
At some point , we ’ re all going to look back at this and just learn .
It ’ s all learning experiences.
” In the NBA , though , there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and monitoring whether a championship window has closed .
The Celtics lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018 mostly because the Cleveland Cavaliers had LeBron James , Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love .
Boston lost in last year ’ s semifinals to Milwaukee partly because of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Irving ’ s poor fit with the Celtics ’ young roster .
This season , the Celtics had hoped to further develop their young roster ( Tatum , Brown , Smart ) while blending in a point guard who would better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ My first year , there were n't too many expectations , ” said Tatum , whom the Celtics selected No .
3 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft .
“ We were young .
People did n't know what to expect .
A couple guys were hurt .
This year we had a lot of expectations.
” After making his first All-Star appearance , Tatum mixed in doses of brilliant and head-scratching moments .
He averaged 26.5 points in the series , but he shot only 42.2 from the field and 26.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's not easy .
It 's tough , ” Tatum said .
“ But if you want those expectations and you want to be that guy that 's capable of doing those things , you got to go through some tough things , some up and downs , some stuff I can learn from .
I feel I can learn a lot moving forward from this season , this series .
I 'll grow from it.
” Though the Celtics enjoyed continuity in their coaching staff and young core , they lacked stability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12 games during the season restart after spraining his right ankle .
Hayward only shot a combined 39.8 percent in four games of the series .
Boston valued Walker ’ s positive attitude and hustle , but he never fully recovered from a left knee injury he suffered in January .
“ It doesn ’ t matter , to be honest , at this point , ” Walker said about his knee .
“ Anything I tell you will be an excuse .
I was fine .
I was able to be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room flare-up in a Game 2 loss , with Stevens saying , “ We had one minor dust-up ; that 's pretty good for a calendar year with a group.
” Throughout the series , though , Stevens lamented that the Heat played more physical than the Celtics .
“ I thought our guys tried to play physical , ” Stevens said .
“ I thought our guys tried to do that , but I think that ultimately it 's more of a credit to them.
” The stakes might become even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected to add more pieces around Antetokounmpo so he becomes enticed to sign a super-max contract .
The Heat and Toronto Raptors will still have their core roster .
The Brooklyn Nets will a field a healthy Irving and Kevin Durant .
“ The league is going to be better .
A lot of key guys were hurt this year .
But I ca n't really answer that question , ” Tatum said .
“ I do n't know who is going to be on our team next year .
But I believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were capable .
We had more than enough to get the job done .
We just let a couple slip away .
Got to give credit to them .
They played great .
But I really loved and enjoyed playing on this team.
” Nonetheless , that leaves the Celtics with plenty of work next season to ensure they can extend their championship window .

What will it take for Celtics to advance past the Eastern Conference Finals?
Show Caption Hide Caption How the Miami Heat went from 'dark horses' to the NBA Finals SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Mackenzie Salmon looks at how Miami returned to relevancy and constructed the most dangerous team in the bubble. USA TODAY
After the Miami Heat eliminated the Celtics with a 125-113 win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday, Boston coach Brad Stevens confirmed the obvious. The Heat are “the best team in the East and deserve to be representing the East in the way that they have played.”
But after appearing in three Eastern Conference Finals in the past four years, what are the Celtics to reach the NBA Finals?
“My regrets would be the outcomes, right? But my regret is not what we put in,” Stevens said. “My regret is not how we prepared or worked or how hard our guys worked or how committed they were to playing and staying together.”
The Heat relied on a resurgent superstar (Jimmy Butler), an emerging All-Star (Bam Adebayo), steady veterans (Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala), a rising rookie (Tyler Herro) and an elite head coach (Erik Spoelstra).
SUPERSTAR EMERGING: The 'heart and soul' of the Heat, Bam Adebayo is impressing
TIP OF THE CAP: LeBron James credits coach Frank Vogel for Lakers being 'great' this season
But the Celtics had the pieces too. They had a rising All-Star (Jayson Tatum), a versatile forward (Jaylen Brown), a veteran point guard (Kemba Walker), a shooting and defensive asset (Marcus Smart) and an elite head coach (Stevens).
And yet the Celtics spent most of this series imploding.
In Game 1, the Celtics squandered a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead in an overtime loss, and in Game 2, the Heat came back from 17 down. Boston controlled the fourth quarter of a Game 5 victory, then coughed up a six-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 6.
“Just have to learn how to grow,” Walker said. “We’re going to have to figure out how to do those things down the stretch. We got time. At some point, we’re all going to look back at this and just learn. It’s all learning experiences.”
In the NBA, though, there is a thin line between staying patient with development and monitoring whether a championship window has closed. The Celtics lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2017 and 2018 mostly because the Cleveland Cavaliers had LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Boston lost in last year’s semifinals to Milwaukee partly because of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Irving’s poor fit with the Celtics’ young roster. This season, the Celtics had hoped to further develop their young roster (Tatum, Brown, Smart) while blending in a point guard who would better fit their style (Walker).
“My first year, there weren't too many expectations,” said Tatum, whom the Celtics selected No. 3 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. “We were young. People didn't know what to expect. A couple guys were hurt. This year we had a lot of expectations.”
After making his first All-Star appearance, Tatum mixed in doses of brilliant and head-scratching moments. He averaged 26.5 points in the series, but he shot only 42.2 from the field and 26.4 percent from three-point range.
“It's not easy. It's tough,” Tatum said. “But if you want those expectations and you want to be that guy that's capable of doing those things, you got to go through some tough things, some up and downs, some stuff I can learn from. I feel I can learn a lot moving forward from this season, this series. I'll grow from it.”
Though the Celtics enjoyed continuity in their coaching staff and young core, they lacked stability elsewhere. Boston forward Gordon Hayward missed 12 games during the season restart after spraining his right ankle. Hayward only shot a combined 39.8 percent in four games of the series. Boston valued Walker’s positive attitude and hustle, but he never fully recovered from a left knee injury he suffered in January.
“It doesn’t matter, to be honest, at this point,” Walker said about his knee. “Anything I tell you will be an excuse. I was fine. I was able to be on that court.”
Boston overcame a locker room flare-up in a Game 2 loss, with Stevens saying, “We had one minor dust-up; that's pretty good for a calendar year with a group.” Throughout the series, though, Stevens lamented that the Heat played more physical than the Celtics.
“I thought our guys tried to play physical,” Stevens said. “I thought our guys tried to do that, but I think that ultimately it's more of a credit to them.”
The stakes might become even more difficult next season. The Bucks are expected to add more pieces around Antetokounmpo so he becomes enticed to sign a super-max contract. The Heat and Toronto Raptors will still have their core roster. The Brooklyn Nets will a field a healthy Irving and Kevin Durant.
“The league is going to be better. A lot of key guys were hurt this year. But I can't really answer that question,” Tatum said. “I don't know who is going to be on our team next year. But I believe in this group. I think we were capable. We had more than enough to get the job done. We just let a couple slip away. Got to give credit to them. They played great. But I really loved and enjoyed playing on this team.”
Nonetheless, that leaves the Celtics with plenty of work next season to ensure they can extend their championship window.
Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.


usatoday--2020-09-28--South Carolina city budgets $50K for diversity training after backlash over official's posts

GREENVILLE , S.C. — A South Carolina city will spend $ 50,000 toward diversity and inclusion training and initiatives following upheaval in the community over social media posts shared by a local official earlier this summer .
The city council of Mauldin unanimously approved the funding at its meeting this week , with $ 25,000 to go toward council training and initiatives `` related to diversity and inclusion '' and another $ 25,000 to go toward staff training `` related to civility , diversity , and inclusion . ''
The money was part of $ 1.6 million in surplus funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this past fiscal year , said Councilman Michael Reynolds , who introduced the measure as the chairman of the council 's Finance Committee .
Mauldin has had a summer of protests and calls for Councilman Dale Black to resign after he shared several posts on social media , including one that equated Black organizations to the Confederate flag .
The city approved a resolution in July directed at developing diversity-related training and initiatives in the wake of this situation and with this move Mauldin now has a funding mechanism for those efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not return calls from The Greenville News seeking comment for this story , but Councilman Reynolds told The News the idea is to ensure a healthier public dialogue .
“ What transpired was offensive , it was hurtful and that can often times cause a misunderstanding , '' Reynolds said .
He said with this move he wanted to make sure the city had funding available “ so we don ’ t have to sit on the issue longer than we should . ''
“ I think it ’ s important because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first , '' Reynolds said .
`` It ’ s much more my intent to listen to people .
I think especially when you ’ re dealing with race issues . ''
The allocation of funding for diversity training was viewed as a positive step by some members of the community that have been critical of the city 's reaction to Black 's social media posts so far .
Robert Simpson , Rodney Neely and Samuel Neely , who are all part of a group Mauldin religious leaders that have called for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they viewed the city 's funding allocation this week as a positive step .
“ I think that was a real positive move , gesture for this city , '' said Rodney Neely , who pressed the city last month to make more progress on diversity and race-related initiatives in the city .
“ They ’ re showing effort , '' he said .
“ That means they care about how we feel , that ’ s what ’ s important . ''
Simpson , who spoke at the meeting this week , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his post on council , said afterward that he too felt the city 's funding for diversity training was a `` great start . ''
“ When you add diversity training , that means you want to change , you want to make it right , '' Simpson said .
`` I think that piece will help the city of Mauldin really come together because they are showing effort . ''

South Carolina city budgets $50K for diversity training after backlash over official's posts
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A South Carolina city will spend $50,000 toward diversity and inclusion training and initiatives following upheaval in the community over social media posts shared by a local official earlier this summer.
The city council of Mauldin unanimously approved the funding at its meeting this week, with $25,000 to go toward council training and initiatives "related to diversity and inclusion" and another $25,000 to go toward staff training "related to civility, diversity, and inclusion."
The money was part of $1.6 million in surplus funds the city had available following the conclusion of this past fiscal year, said Councilman Michael Reynolds, who introduced the measure as the chairman of the council's Finance Committee.
Mauldin has had a summer of protests and calls for Councilman Dale Black to resign after he shared several posts on social media, including one that equated Black organizations to the Confederate flag. The city approved a resolution in July directed at developing diversity-related training and initiatives in the wake of this situation and with this move Mauldin now has a funding mechanism for those efforts.
Councilman Black and Mayor Terry Merritt did not return calls from The Greenville News seeking comment for this story, but Councilman Reynolds told The News the idea is to ensure a healthier public dialogue.
“What transpired was offensive, it was hurtful and that can often times cause a misunderstanding," Reynolds said.
He said with this move he wanted to make sure the city had funding available “so we don’t have to sit on the issue longer than we should."
“I think it’s important because we can be so harmful without listening first," Reynolds said. "It’s much more my intent to listen to people. I think especially when you’re dealing with race issues."
The allocation of funding for diversity training was viewed as a positive step by some members of the community that have been critical of the city's reaction to Black's social media posts so far.
Robert Simpson, Rodney Neely and Samuel Neely, who are all part of a group Mauldin religious leaders that have called for more action from the city, each said they viewed the city's funding allocation this week as a positive step.
“I think that was a real positive move, gesture for this city," said Rodney Neely, who pressed the city last month to make more progress on diversity and race-related initiatives in the city.
“They’re showing effort," he said. “That means they care about how we feel, that’s what’s important."
Simpson, who spoke at the meeting this week, continuing to urge Black to resign from his post on council, said afterward that he too felt the city's funding for diversity training was a "great start."
“When you add diversity training, that means you want to change, you want to make it right," Simpson said. "I think that piece will help the city of Mauldin really come together because they are showing effort."
Follow Gabe Cavallaro on Twitter @gabe_cavallaro.


usatoday--2020-09-28--A drone carrying a human kidney flew over the Las Vegas desert. Experts say it's the future of organ

A drone carrying a human kidney flew over the Las Vegas desert. Experts say it's the future of organ transportation.

Drones are used today for a variety of tasks – delivering small express packages , assisting in search and rescue operations , capturing stunning aerial views views , to name just a few .
Get ready to add one more to the growing list : human organ transit .
Researchers at MissionGO , a provider of unmanned aviation solutions , and the Nevada Donor Network , an organ procurement organization , announced last week two successful test flights carrying a human organ and tissue via drones in Las Vegas .
The first flight on Sept. 17 transported research corneas from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a half miles away .
On the same day , a second flight delivered research kidneys 10 miles , from an airport to a location outside of a small town in the Las Vegas desert .
It marked the longest organ delivery flight in drone history , surpassing the distance of a historic April 2019 flight , when the MissionGO team transported a kidney from the University of Maryland campus to its medical center in Baltimore and successfully transplanted it into a patient .
Although the Las Vegas kidney was for research purposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and after the flight concluded there were no changes to the tissue architecture and cell viability .
“ These flights are an exciting step forward , ” said Anthony Pucciarella , MissionGO president .
Organs are normally transported via commercial aircrafts , but the coronavirus pandemic has drastically reduced the number of flights available .
Both United Airlines and American Airlines have slashed the number of their September flights nearly in half , while Southwest Airlines has cut 25 % .
Dr. Matthew Cooper , director of kidney and pancreas transplantation at Medstar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United Network for Organ Sharing ( UNOS ) , says organs are discarded if no flights are available to transport them before they become nonviable .
A kidney can survive outside the body for 36 to 48 hours after it 's been recovered , according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration .
Throwing away organs : US discards thousands of donated kidneys each year as patients die on waitlist , study says Why volunteer for a vaccine clinical trial ?
: Duty , love and a willingness to experiment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( drones ) being pretty revolutionary in breaking down one of the obstacles to increasing the number of organs utilized and decreasing discards , ” said Cooper , who is also on the National Kidney Foundation board of directors .
A study published August 2019 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found the United States discards about 3,500 kidneys per year .
Meanwhile , nearly 100,000 Americans are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant , and about 12 people die each day , according to the National Kidney Foundation .
Utilizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreasing the time an organ is outside the body and improving chances of function after transplant .
Hours of traffic in a metropolitan area could be reduced to minutes via drone .
Cooper said unmanned aircrafts not only could save the lives of recipients but also surgeons , who have died in plane or helicopter crashes on their way to retrieve an organ .
In 2007 , a transplant team of six University of Michigan Health System employees died after their jet crashed into Lake Michigan .
More : Walmart launches on-demand drone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time before drones deliver your next order There were some limitations to the recent Las Vegas test drone .
Ryan Henderson , lead UAS pilot for MissionGO , said the aircraft could only hold about 22 pounds , limiting the amount of ice the team would usually pack for a commercial flight .
However , Henderson said researchers are exploring larger aircrafts to transport heavier cargo to include more ice , multiple organs or medical devices for organ preservation .
Sister company , MediGO , is also working to include GPS software that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the organ from the hospital 's operating room to the transplant center , according to the company 's general manager Chetan Paydenkar .
While Joe Ferreira , CEO and President of the Nevada Donor Program , says hundreds of flights are still needed to test the reliability and safety of drone delivery , he ’ s optimistic the technology could be the future of organ transportation .
“ Our ecosystem is a complex one … there ’ s a number of things you have to prove to be able to ensure that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ferreira said .
“ We ’ re in the beginning stages of providing this mode of transport on behalf of the heroic donors and their courageous families.
” Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics , Innovation and Competition in Healthcare .
The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input .

Drone carries human kidney over Las Vegas desert in what could be the future of organ transportation
Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this article misstated the April 2019 drone flight course and destination, from the Living Legacy Foundation to the University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore.
Drones are used today for a variety of tasks – delivering small express packages, assisting in search and rescue operations and capturing stunning aerial views, to name just a few.
Get ready to add one more to the growing list: human organ transit.
Researchers at MissionGO, a provider of unmanned aviation solutions, and the Nevada Donor Network, an organ procurement organization, announced last week two successful test flights carrying a human organ and tissue via drones in Las Vegas.
The first flight on Sept. 17 transported research corneas from one hospital to another about 2½ miles away. On the same day, a second flight delivered research kidneys 10 miles, from an airport to a location outside a small town in the Las Vegas desert.
It marked the longest organ delivery flight in drone history, surpassing the distance of a historic April 2019 flight, when staff now with the MissionGO team transported a kidney from the Living Legacy Foundation in west Baltimore to the University of Maryland Medical Center downtown.
Although the Las Vegas kidney was for research purposes only, scientists who took biopsies before and after the flight concluded there were no changes to the tissue architecture and cell viability.
“These flights are an exciting step forward,” said Anthony Pucciarella, MissionGO president.
Organs are usually transported via commercial aircraft, but the coronavirus pandemic has drastically reduced the number of flights available. United Airlines and American Airlines have slashed the number of their September flights nearly in half, and Southwest Airlines has cut 25%.
Dr. Matthew Cooper, director of kidney and pancreas transplantation at Medstar Georgetown Transplant Institute and vice president of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), says organs are discarded if no flights are available to transport them before they become nonviable.
A kidney can survive outside the body for 36 to 48 hours after it has been recovered, according to the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.
Throwing away organs: US discards thousands of donated kidneys each year as patients die on waitlist, study says
Why volunteer for a vaccine clinical trial? Duty, love and a willingness to experiment, participants say
“You can think about (drones) being pretty revolutionary in breaking down one of the obstacles to increasing the number of organs utilized and decreasing discards,” said Cooper, who is also on the National Kidney Foundation board of directors.
A study published in August 2019 in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found the United States discards about 3,500 kidneys a year. Meanwhile, nearly 100,000 Americans are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, and about 12 people die each day, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
Drones also could shorten transportation time, decreasing the time an organ is outside the body and improving chances of function after transplant. Hours of traffic in a metropolitan area could be reduced to minutes via drone.
Cooper said unmanned aircraft not only could save the lives of recipients but also surgeons, who have died in plane or helicopter crashes on their way to retrieve an organ. In 2007, a transplant team of six University of Michigan Health System employees died after their jet crashed into Lake Michigan.
More: Walmart launches on-demand drone delivery pilot. But it might take time before drones deliver your next order
More: Drone lands in outfield at Wrigley Field, causing delay
There were some limitations to the recent Las Vegas test drone. Ryan Henderson, lead UAS pilot for MissionGO, said the aircraft could hold only about 22 pounds, limiting the amount of ice the team would usually pack for a commercial flight.
But Henderson said researchers are exploring larger aircraft to transport heavier cargo to include more ice, multiple organs and medical devices for organ preservation.
Sister company MediGO also is working to include GPS software that monitors the quality of the trip and the organ from the hospital's operating room to the transplant center, according to the company's general manager, Chetan Paydenkar.
Joe Ferreira, CEO and president of the Nevada Donor Network, says hundreds of flights are still needed to test the reliability and safety of drone delivery, but he’s optimistic the technology could be the future of organ transportation.
“Our ecosystem is a complex one. … There’s a number of things you have to prove to be able to ensure that it’s safe, effective and reliable,” Ferreira said. “We’re in the beginning stages of providing this mode of transport on behalf of the heroic donors and their courageous families.”
Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.


usatoday--2020-09-28--If Trump announces a preelection COVID vaccine, who'd believe him — or go and get one?

What kind of person would lie to a nation desperate for a vaccine that could save hundreds of thousands of lives and return our daily life to something resembling normal ?
The kind of person who , with his drive to wipe out health coverage and consumer protections for tens of millions , has been toying with cancer patients for years .
Last week , President Donald Trump issued “ Executive Order on An America-First Healthcare Plan , ” which proclaims “ a steadfast commitment ” to protecting Americans with preexisting conditions .
In reality , it ’ s nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Nicholas Bagley , a professor at the University of Michigan Law School .
At best , it ’ s a “ pinky promise '' to protect people with preexisting conditions , tweeted Larry Levitt , executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation .
It was inevitable that this latest attempt to issue a “ healthcare plan ” would result in a pinky-promise joke .
It ’ s a joke because the real threats to Americans with preexisting conditions are from Trump and his party .
They are what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing ACA and its safeguards If Trump and Republicans just did nothing , cancer patients , parents of medically fragile children and hundreds of thousands of Americans seeking help with opioid addiction would not have to worry about their insurance being ripped out from under them .
After a Republican majority in both houses of Congress failed in 2017 to repeal the vast bulk of the Affordable Care Act , the historic 2010 law that ended discrimination against people with health conditions , the president has never stopped trying to erase the ACA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved short-term plans that can refuse to cover preexisting conditions and is backing a lawsuit that would void the entire law on a literal technicality .
The lawsuit , brought by Republican attorneys general from 18 states , could allow insurers to deny coverage to up to 133 million Americanswith medical conditions or raise their rates to unaffordable levels .
Among them could be the more than 7 million who have tested positive for COVID-19 .
An additional 21 million could lose their health insurance , including 12 million who get coverage through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all 165 million Americans on private insurance would again face caps on expensive lifesaving treatments , plunging most of the country back into the days when you had to choose between your health and bankruptcy .
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives Trump a chance to hustle a new , extremely conservative justice onto the Supreme Court before this case is heard .
Confirming Amy Coney Barrett would greatly increase the likelihood of a devastating ruling that would gut the ACA and shatter our system of delivering health care .
And it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst pandemic of this century .
Of course , Trump would like you to forget that whole pandemic part of the story .
That ’ s why he rarely wears a mask , why he has taken $ 300 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention budget to spend on a propaganda ad blitz to “ defeat despair , ” according to Politico , and why he ’ s rushing toward a vaccine that his administration suspiciously insisted public health officials be ready to announce in late October or early November @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcement looks to be the most predictable “ October surprise ” in the history of presidential campaigns .
And it ’ s so transparently cynical that the public is already expressing massive skepticism .
Only 26 % of Americans in a recent poll said they trust Trump ’ s comments about a COVID-19 vaccine .
A majority , 52 % , said they don ’ t .
COVID-19 vaccine : Ensuring public 's trust in COVID-19 vaccine is critical part of pandemic fight And scientists seem to be even more worried than the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ fears have intensified that political meddling could see a vaccine approved for emergency use without sufficient evidence that it works.
” A desperate political gambit could destroy the integrity of a process that requires overwhelming public buy-in to have any hopes of being effective .
And the president ’ s investment in a vaccine as a cure-all for Americans ’ health and his campaign ignores the science saying that even after a vaccine is introduced , it will be a long while before we get back to anything resembling `` normalcy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to COVID-19 mirrors his assault on preexisting condition protections .
Just as he could save preexisting conditions protections by simply dropping his assault on them , he could be touting an exciting medical innovation that ’ s likely to be even more effective than any new vaccine — masks .
CDC Director Robert Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that a “ face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine , because the immunogenicity may be 70 % .
And if I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is not going to protect me .
This face mask will.
” Redfield was then forced to walk back these comments because they conform to reality but not Trump ’ s con on COVID-19 .
We know how to contain this virus while we wait for an effective vaccine , as Dr. Anthony Fauci tried to explain to Sen. Rand Paul , R-Ky. — masks , social distancing , socialize outdoors more than indoors , avoid crowds and wash hands .
Trump has not in any serious way advocated any of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for mocking those key principles .
And his continued rush to reopen without any national testing or tracing plan helped America continue to lead the world in total COVID-19 cases and deaths .
Harvard Medical deans : Push for COVID-19 vaccine must put health above politics Trump spent his career blowing things he inherited , leading businesses into bankruptcy and making a show of how he fired people .
This turned out to be an excellent predictor of how he ’ d lead us into the 27 straight weeks of the worst job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best predictor of how he ’ d blow his response to this pandemic is the ease with which he has toyed with the health care of those who need it most .
The president should not be the one to announce any vaccine , especially one that ’ s rushed to come out before election season is over .
And all decent Republicans should say so .
If they don ’ t , they are helping him wage germ warfare on the American people .
Jason Sattler , a writer based in Ann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of USA TODAY ’ s Board of Contributors and host of `` The GOTMFV Show '' podcast .
Follow him on Twitter : @ LOLGOP

If Trump announces a preelection COVID vaccine, who'd believe him — or go and get one? A desperate political gambit by Trump could destroy the integrity of a process that requires overwhelming public buy-in for any hope to be effective.
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: How Herd Immunity works, why you still need to wear a mask Without masks and a vaccine, we could reach Herd Immunity from COVID-19, but deaths would skyrocket. We break down the science of it. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
What kind of person would lie to a nation desperate for a vaccine that could save hundreds of thousands of lives and return our daily life to something resembling normal? The kind of person who, with his drive to wipe out health coverage and consumer protections for tens of millions, has been toying with cancer patients for years.
Last week, President Donald Trump issued “Executive Order on An America-First Healthcare Plan,” which proclaims “a steadfast commitment” to protecting Americans with preexisting conditions. In reality, it’s nothing more than “government propaganda,” says Nicholas Bagley, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School. At best, it’s a “pinky promise" to protect people with preexisting conditions, tweeted Larry Levitt, executive vice president for health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
It was inevitable that this latest attempt to issue a “healthcare plan” would result in a pinky-promise joke. It’s a joke because the real threats to Americans with preexisting conditions are from Trump and his party. They are what Americans need protection from.
Bent on killing ACA and its safeguards
If Trump and Republicans just did nothing, cancer patients, parents of medically fragile children and hundreds of thousands of Americans seeking help with opioid addiction would not have to worry about their insurance being ripped out from under them.
After a Republican majority in both houses of Congress failed in 2017 to repeal the vast bulk of the Affordable Care Act, the historic 2010 law that ended discrimination against people with health conditions, the president has never stopped trying to erase the ACA’s protections. His administration has approved short-term plans that can refuse to cover preexisting conditions and is backing a lawsuit that would void the entire law on a literal technicality.
The lawsuit, brought by Republican attorneys general from 18 states, could allow insurers to deny coverage to up to 133 million Americans with medical conditions or raise their rates to unaffordable levels.
Among them could be the more than 7 million who have tested positive for COVID-19. An additional 21 million could lose their health insurance, including 12 million who get coverage through the law's Medicaid expansion. And all 165 million Americans on private insurance would again face caps on expensive lifesaving treatments, plunging most of the country back into the days when you had to choose between your health and bankruptcy.
The death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg gives Trump a chance to hustle a new, extremely conservative justice onto the Supreme Court before this case is heard. Confirming Amy Coney Barrett would greatly increase the likelihood of a devastating ruling that would gut the ACA and shatter our system of delivering health care. And it would happen in the middle of the worst pandemic of this century.
Of course, Trump would like you to forget that whole pandemic part of the story.
That’s why he rarely wears a mask, why he has taken $300 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention budget to spend on a propaganda ad blitz to “defeat despair,” according to Politico, and why he’s rushing toward a vaccine that his administration suspiciously insisted public health officials be ready to announce in late October or early November.
Trump’s lust for this announcement looks to be the most predictable “October surprise” in the history of presidential campaigns. And it’s so transparently cynical that the public is already expressing massive skepticism. Only 26% of Americans in a recent poll said they trust Trump’s comments about a COVID-19 vaccine. A majority, 52%, said they don’t.
COVID-19 vaccine: Ensuring public's trust in COVID-19 vaccine is critical part of pandemic fight
And scientists seem to be even more worried than the public. Last week, Nature reported that “fears have intensified that political meddling could see a vaccine approved for emergency use without sufficient evidence that it works.”
A desperate political gambit could destroy the integrity of a process that requires overwhelming public buy-in to have any hopes of being effective. And the president’s investment in a vaccine as a cure-all for Americans’ health and his campaign ignores the science saying that even after a vaccine is introduced, it will be a long while before we get back to anything resembling "normalcy."
Exciting innovation called masks
Trump’s miracle cure approach to COVID-19 mirrors his assault on preexisting condition protections. Just as he could save preexisting conditions protections by simply dropping his assault on them, he could be touting an exciting medical innovation that’s likely to be even more effective than any new vaccine — masks.
CDC Director Robert Redfield told the Senate Appropriations Committee that a “face mask is more guaranteed to protect me against COVID than when I take a COVID vaccine, because the immunogenicity may be 70%. And if I don't get an immune response, the vaccine is not going to protect me. This face mask will.”
Redfield was then forced to walk back these comments because they conform to reality but not Trump’s con on COVID-19.
We know how to contain this virus while we wait for an effective vaccine, as Dr. Anthony Fauci tried to explain to Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. — masks, social distancing, socialize outdoors more than indoors, avoid crowds and wash hands.
Trump has not in any serious way advocated any of these things. His rallies are mass advertisements for mocking those key principles. And his continued rush to reopen without any national testing or tracing plan helped America continue to lead the world in total COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Harvard Medical deans: Push for COVID-19 vaccine must put health above politics
Trump spent his career blowing things he inherited, leading businesses into bankruptcy and making a show of how he fired people. This turned out to be an excellent predictor of how he’d lead us into the 27 straight weeks of the worst job losses in American history.
But the best predictor of how he’d blow his response to this pandemic is the ease with which he has toyed with the health care of those who need it most.
The president should not be the one to announce any vaccine, especially one that’s rushed to come out before election season is over. And all decent Republicans should say so. If they don’t, they are helping him wage germ warfare on the American people.
Jason Sattler, a writer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors and host of "The GOTMFV Show" podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @LOLGOP


usatoday--2020-09-28--Federal judge halts USPS move to dismantle mail-sorting machines, remove mailboxes

A federal judge halted the U.S .
Postal Service 's move to dismantle mail-sorting machines , remove mailboxes and slice employee overtime across the United States .
Last month , New Jersey joined New York City and state and three other jurisdictions ' lawsuit claiming the Trump administration was trying to undermine the fall election .
`` A federal judge just issued an order in our case halting the Trump Administration 's efforts to interfere with mail delivery in advance of the election , '' New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a tweet on Sunday .
`` We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court a day after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy promised Congress that delivering election mail on time this fall would be his `` No .
1 priority . ''
Trump income taxes : Top seven revelations from New York Times report The Trump administration previously said it ’ s simply trying to reform a deeply-indebted agency with longstanding financial problems .
But Democrats say the actions taken by DeJoy , an ally of President Donald Trump and a major Republican donor , are a blatant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose results may be decided through the mailbox rather than the ballot box .
The complaint was also joined by Hawaii and the city and county of San Francisco .
It claims that the service 's changes are illegal , harmful and violated the U.S. Constitution by interfering with state 's authority to set their own election rules .
DeJoy backtracked and said he would suspend some of the changes he originally ordered follow national outcry that focused on the threat of the election and a delivery slowdown for essentials like prescription drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can to handle and deliver election mail in a manner consistent with the proven processes and procedures that we have relied upon for years , '' DeJoy said last month .
Since then , the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $ 25 billion measure to fund the Postal Service , but it is considered unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate .
The lawsuit claims the Postal Service was required to hold a public hearing on the overhaul before the Postal Regulatory Commission .
The agency 's recent decisions abdicate its duties and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicine , Grewal said in his statement .
“ Americans will vote by mail in record numbers this November and the Postal Service ’ s dramatic changes threaten to disenfranchise voters by disrupting mail service , '' New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal previously said .
`` We will continue working with other state Attorneys General to protect the election and voter rights . ''
More : Trump says he still ca n't share returns after report he paid only $ 750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017 America 's missing kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of students have n't shown up

Federal judge halts USPS move to dismantle mail-sorting machines, remove mailboxes
Show Caption Hide Caption New York taxi drivers 'Honk for USPS' during nationwide rallies Demonstrators gathered on the steps of the US Postal Service building in Manhattan to voice their opposition to operational changes that critics say delay mail delivery. Storyful
A federal judge halted the U.S. Postal Service's move to dismantle mail-sorting machines, remove mailboxes and slice employee overtime across the United States.
Last month, New Jersey joined New York City and state and three other jurisdictions' lawsuit claiming the Trump administration was trying to undermine the fall election.
"A federal judge just issued an order in our case halting the Trump Administration's efforts to interfere with mail delivery in advance of the election," New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said in a tweet Sunday. "We will have a free and fair election."
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court a day after Postmaster General Louis DeJoy promised Congress that delivering election mail on time this fall would be his "No. 1 priority."
Trump income taxes: Top seven revelations from New York Times report
The Trump administration previously said it’s simply trying to reform a deeply indebted agency with longstanding financial problems.
But Democrats say the actions taken by DeJoy, an ally of President Donald Trump and a major Republican donor, are a blatant attempt to interfere with a mid-pandemic election whose results may be decided through the mailbox rather than the ballot box.
The complaint was also joined by Hawaii and the city and county of San Francisco. It claims that the service's changes are illegal, harmful and violate the U.S. Constitution by interfering with states' authority to set their own election rules.
DeJoy backtracked and said he would suspend some of the changes he originally ordered following national outcry that focused on the threat of the election and a delivery slowdown for essentials like prescription drugs.
"We will do everything we can to handle and deliver election mail in a manner consistent with the proven processes and procedures that we have relied upon for years," DeJoy said last month.
Since then, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $25 billion measure to fund the Postal Service, but it is considered unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
The lawsuit claims the Postal Service was required to hold a public hearing on the overhaul before the Postal Regulatory Commission. The agency's recent decisions abdicate its duties and could hurt vulnerable citizens who get mail-delivered medicine, Grewal said in his statement.
“Americans will vote by mail in record numbers this November and the Postal Service’s dramatic changes threaten to disenfranchise voters by disrupting mail service," Grewal previously said. "We will continue working with other state attorneys general to protect the election and voter rights."
Follow reporter Kristie Cattafi on Twitter: @KristieCattafi
More: Trump says he still can't share returns after report he paid only $750 in income taxes in 2016 and 2017
America's missing kids: Amid COVID and online school, thousands of students haven't shown up


usatoday--2020-09-28--Details of President Trump's tax returns have been revealed by reports from New York Times

Details of President Trump 's tax returns have been revealed by reports from New York Times President Trump paid little @ @ @ @ @ in recent years , according to the first series of New York Times stories on @ @ @ @

President Trump's tax return details revealed in New York Times series
President Trump paid little to no federal income taxes in recent years, according to the first series of New York Times stories on his tax returns.
USA TODAY


usatoday--2020-09-28--Wide open spaces, no cases: This Oregon county has dodged COVID-19 completely

The John Day River courses through Wheeler County as the sun sets near Mitchell , Oregon .
Wheeler County covers more than 1,700 square miles in north-central Oregon and has a population of about 1,300 people .
It is one of nine counties in the United States that has yet to record a coronavirus case .
ANDY NELSON/THE REGISTER-GUARD Wheeler County , located in north-central Oregon with rugged rim-rocked hills and canyons , is one of only six nationwide without a COVID-19 case .
Wheeler County , in north-central Oregon , is the kind of place people conjure up when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ranchers work the land and drive the economy in the rim-rocked hills and canyons .
Geological wonders attract visitors longing for wide-open spaces .
And in Oregon , it is an anomaly : The county has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 and is one of only six in the United States remaining at zero cases .
Matt Davis doesn ’ t think Wheeler County has done anything fundamentally different than any other Oregon county in keeping its COVID-19 case count at zero .
But the county ’ s emergency management coordinator said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a big place with a small population of people who care deeply about their neighbors .
And , he admits , they ’ ve been a little lucky , too .
He 's seen a sense of individual responsibility among residents who not only continue to take the threat seriously but also have pride in not having any known coronavirus cases more than six months after Gov .
Kate Brown 's March 23 stay-at-home order .
“ It ’ s a privilege to be where we are in this disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than ours to take the credit for whatever is happening , ” said Dr. Robert Boss , the Wheeler County Public Health administrator , referring to the faith that 's also a part of the county 's character .
County health officials say their prayers , and those of the community , so far have been answered .
“ It 's amazing to me how many people pray everyday in gratitude for freedom from this plague , ” said Karen Woods , Wheeler County Public Health program coordinator .
The six counties without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sparsely populated .
They include Loving County , Texas , with 169 inhabitants , the smallest population county in the contiguous United States , and King County , Texas , with 286 people , the second smallest .
Social distancing before it was cool Wheeler County is officially designated frontier by the U.S. Department of Agriculture .
Its 1,300 inhabitants are spread over 1,700 square miles .
Towns are distant and people spend a lot of time outside .
A drive of more than an hour to the store is common .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that was saying people in Eastern Oregon have been social distancing since long before it was cool , ” said Dima Anglin , a seventh-generation cattle rancher at Wilson Ranches in Wheeler County and a senior at Oregon State University .
Early in the pandemic , local officials informed residents about the seriousness of the virus and got them to take action to prevent its spread .
Like many places , there were skeptics who did n't think quarantining was necessary .
But Dr. Boss , and other health care officials , spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the threat the coronavirus posed , especially to the many longtime elderly residents .
`` The level of trust between the community and the health systems in Wheeler County is exceptional , and they 've worked hard to build that , '' said Dr. Melissa Sutton , a senior health adviser with the Oregon Health Authority .
`` They have long fostered a community spirit that reinforces the idea of looking out for one another . ''
On a recent visit , Sutton said she was struck by the high level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among residents , who know someone could contract the virus despite their best efforts .
Neighboring Gilliam County has seven cases while Grant County has had eight — the second- and third-lowest county COVID-19 case counts in the state .
But Jefferson and Morrow counties , with 505 cases and 484 cases , respectively , also border Wheeler County .
The remaining two neighboring counties , Crook and Wasco , have recorded 60 and 233 cases , respectively .
The median age in Wheeler County is 58 years old .
More than two-thirds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting them in the vulnerable category .
Fossil , the Wheeler County seat , has a population of about 450 .
For Mayor Carol MacInnes , that number is more than a statistic — it 's longtime neighbors and friends .
“ During the first shutdown , so many people were afraid .
They didn ’ t know how to navigate , '' MacInnes said .
In response , MacInnes personally called its more than 300 households to explain the situation and asked if they needed any support .
`` We said we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ save lives , ” MacInnes said .
A mask-making group that produced more than 1,000 masks was organized by Davis , the emergency management coordinator .
Two local restaurants got funding to provide free meals , and the city told residents 60 and older to sign up for meal delivery because they didn ’ t want them to take any risks by coming out of their houses .
The Fossil Mercantile coordinated deliveries of groceries to residents to limit exposure .
Mercantile owner Joe McNeill implemented a mask policy at his store a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
He continues making deliveries to people who don ’ t want to come into the store .
“ I wanted to be prepared if it did come here , ” McNeill said .
“ I did n't want to be part of the problem and spreading it around to everybody else .
I want to at least be able to show that as a business we 're doing our part to wear masks and be safe.
” The Mercantile 's mask policy also protects his employees who are working around tourists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , McNeill said .
Regular coronavirus testing done by the county has resulted in 200 people being tested , with another round slated for more than 30 people in late September , said Boss , the public health administrator .
Most of the county tests have been administered to essential workers , including first responders , grocery workers and teachers .
If a county resident tests positive in a different jurisdiction , they would be counted as a Wheeler County case .
While the number of tests conducted in each county is important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closely at positivity rates from testing as a gauge of transmission and adequate testing .
The positivity rate can help determine what steps need to be taken to deal with any localized increases .
A rate of less than 5 % in a community is the target .
Wheeler County stands at zero percent while its neighbors to the west , Jefferson County and Wasco County , reported 20 % and 18 % , respectively , for the week ending Sept. 19 .
In normal times , tourists are welcomed with open arms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views , dig fossils , play in rivers and hunt in forest and fields .
The revenue they bring into the county economy is important and has been growing .
The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument brings in more than 200,000 visitors a year to Wheeler County and neighboring Grant County .
But the county website asked visitors to consider postponing visits or only coming it it is essential .
“ We appreciate your desire to visit our beautiful county , and we look forward to hosting you as soon as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the website says .
In the first week of the statewide shutdown an influx of visitors made it clear people were going to continue showing up .
The monument closed its indoor exhibits but allowed access to its three units , including the Painted Hills , named one of Travel Oregon ’ s Seven Wonders .
During the hot summer months , campsites were full along the John Day River .
Motorcyclists cruised the county 's scenic roads .
The county worked to implement protocols including wearing masks and distributing hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have interaction , Davis said .
The Mercantile has seen an uptick in sales driven in part by visitor numbers , and local residents have adjusted .
“ It worries the heck out of me when a bunch of bikers come in or a bunch of tourists come in and go to the store , ” said 84-year-old Fossil resident Marvin Mabe as he made his way home after getting groceries .
“ I ’ ll look around and see what aisle I want to go down.
” For teachers and students in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in-person classes started in late August .
All of the school ’ s 49 K-12 students wear a face covering and work to keep their physical distance , but otherwise it looks like any other school day .
Kids play on the playground , work on class projects and prep for school pictures .
“ We 're very fortunate that the kids are here .
The energy is here , and the kids are excited to be back .
The parents are over the moon for them to be back , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I just wish all the schools in the state would be as fortunate as we are here.
” The students do a fairly good job of keeping on their masks and keeping appropriate social distance , Johnson said , and teachers work to keep them on track .
The school district normally hosts international students in its school dorm , but the program was put on hold this year because of the coronavirus .
Sixth-grader Katie Newton has attended Spray since she started school .
Small class sizes are the norm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newton is glad to be back in school in a combined class of fourth , fifth and sixth graders that has seven students .
Mask wearing is not so hard and is worth the effort , she said .
“ We actually get to go to school and , you know , we get to play outside and actually get to interact and stuff , ” Newton said .
Whether Wheeler County continues to be without a positive coronavirus test is impossible to predict .
And there is a bit of pressure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going .
“ It might be slightly different here than other places , ” Davis said .
“ Not only do we have that responsibility that we don ’ t want to be that person , but we know full well that if we are that person then everyone will know.
” Contact photographer Andy Nelson at anelson @ registerguard.com , and follow him on Twitter @ apnelsonphotos and Instagram @ apnelsonphotos .

Wheeler County, located in north-central Oregon with rugged rim-rocked hills and canyons, is one of only six nationwide without a COVID-19 case.
Wheeler County, in north-central Oregon, is the kind of place people conjure up when they think of the American West.
Ranchers work the land and drive the economy in the rim-rocked hills and canyons. Geological wonders attract visitors longing for wide-open spaces.
And in Oregon, it is an anomaly: The county has no confirmed cases of COVID-19 and is one of only six in the United States remaining at zero cases.
Matt Davis doesn’t think Wheeler County has done anything fundamentally different than any other Oregon county in keeping its COVID-19 case count at zero. But the county’s emergency management coordinator said the county has some built-in advantages: It’s a big place with a small population of people who care deeply about their neighbors. And, he admits, they’ve been a little lucky, too.
Tweet Facebook Email Email this story Share Share this story Dr. Robert Boss, Wheeler County Public Health administrator It’s a privilege to be where we are in this disease, and it’s in hands bigger than ours to take the credit for whatever is happening. Quote icon
He's seen a sense of individual responsibility among residents who not only continue to take the threat seriously but also have pride in not having any known coronavirus cases more than six months after Gov. Kate Brown's March 23 stay-at-home order.
“It’s a privilege to be where we are in this disease, and it’s in hands bigger than ours to take the credit for whatever is happening,” said Dr. Robert Boss, the Wheeler County Public Health administrator, referring to the faith that's also a part of the county's character.
County health officials say their prayers, and those of the community, so far have been answered.
“It's amazing to me how many people pray everyday in gratitude for freedom from this plague,” said Karen Woods, Wheeler County Public Health program coordinator.
The six counties without coronavirus cases are all isolated rural areas and sparsely populated. They include Loving County, Texas, with 169 inhabitants, the smallest population county in the contiguous United States, and King County, Texas, with 286 people, the second smallest.
Social distancing before it was cool
Wheeler County is officially designated frontier by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Its 1,300 inhabitants are spread over 1,700 square miles. Towns are distant and people spend a lot of time outside. A drive of more than an hour to the store is common.
“I saw this post on Facebook that was saying people in Eastern Oregon have been social distancing since long before it was cool,” said Dima Anglin, a seventh-generation cattle rancher at Wilson Ranches in Wheeler County and a senior at Oregon State University.
From left, Wheeler County Public Health and Asher Community Heath Center liaison Joan Field, Wheeler County Public Health Administrator Dr. Robert Boss, Wheeler County Public Health Program Coordinator Karen Woods and Wheeler County Public Health Nurse Sharen Milligan. | Dima Anglin, a seventh-generation cattle rancher. From left, Wheeler County Public Health and Asher Community Heath Center liaison Joan Field, Wheeler County Public Health Administrator Dr. Robert Boss, Wheeler County Public Health Program Coordinator Karen Woods and Wheeler County Public Health Nurse Sharen Milligan. | Dima Anglin, a seventh-generation cattle rancher. From left, Wheeler County Public Health and Asher Community Heath Center liaison Joan Field, Wheeler County Public Health Administrator Dr. Robert Boss, Wheeler County Public Health Program Coordinator Karen Woods and Wheeler County Public Health Nurse Sharen Milligan. | Dima Anglin, a seventh-generation cattle rancher. Andy Nelson/The Register-Guard
Early in the pandemic, local officials informed residents about the seriousness of the virus and got them to take action to prevent its spread. Like many places, there were skeptics who didn't think quarantining was necessary. But Dr. Boss, and other health care officials, spoke with authority to people, convincing them of the threat the coronavirus posed, especially to the many longtime elderly residents.
"The level of trust between the community and the health systems in Wheeler County is exceptional, and they've worked hard to build that," said Dr. Melissa Sutton, a senior health adviser with the Oregon Health Authority. "They have long fostered a community spirit that reinforces the idea of looking out for one another."
On a recent visit, Sutton said she was struck by the high level of compliance with wearing masks and social distancing among residents, who know someone could contract the virus despite their best efforts.
Neighboring Gilliam County has seven cases while Grant County has had eight — the second- and third-lowest county COVID-19 case counts in the state. But Jefferson and Morrow counties, with 505 cases and 484 cases, respectively, also border Wheeler County. The remaining two neighboring counties, Crook and Wasco, have recorded 60 and 233 cases, respectively.
COVID-19 rates by county per 100K for week of Sept. 13, 2020
The community mobilizes
The median age in Wheeler County is 58 years old. More than two-thirds of residents are older than 65, putting them in the vulnerable category.
Fossil, the Wheeler County seat, has a population of about 450. For Mayor Carol MacInnes, that number is more than a statistic — it's longtime neighbors and friends.
“During the first shutdown, so many people were afraid. They didn’t know how to navigate," MacInnes said.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
In response, MacInnes personally called its more than 300 households to explain the situation and asked if they needed any support.
"We said we’re going to stay home and save lives,” MacInnes said.
A mask-making group that produced more than 1,000 masks was organized by Davis, the emergency management coordinator. Two local restaurants got funding to provide free meals, and the city told residents 60 and older to sign up for meal delivery because they didn’t want them to take any risks by coming out of their houses. The Fossil Mercantile coordinated deliveries of groceries to residents to limit exposure.
Mercantile owner Joe McNeill implemented a mask policy at his store a month before any such call from the state. He continues making deliveries to people who don’t want to come into the store.
“I wanted to be prepared if it did come here,” McNeill said. “I didn't want to be part of the problem and spreading it around to everybody else. I want to at least be able to show that as a business we're doing our part to wear masks and be safe.”
Coco Davis smiles behind her mask at Cassie Mortimore she bags groceries for Carolyn Mortimore at the Fossil Mercantile in Fossil, Oregon, Sept. 4, 2020. Andy Nelson, The Register-Guard file
The Mercantile's mask policy also protects his employees who are working around tourists and other visitors from outside the community, McNeill said.
Regular coronavirus testing done by the county has resulted in 200 people being tested, with another round slated for more than 30 people in late September, said Boss, the public health administrator.
Most of the county tests have been administered to essential workers, including first responders, grocery workers and teachers. If a county resident tests positive in a different jurisdiction, they would be counted as a Wheeler County case.
While the number of tests conducted in each county is important, the Oregon Health Authority looks more closely at positivity rates from testing as a gauge of transmission and adequate testing. The positivity rate can help determine what steps need to be taken to deal with any localized increases.
A rate of less than 5% in a community is the target. Wheeler County stands at zero percent while its neighbors to the west, Jefferson County and Wasco County, reported 20% and 18%, respectively, for the week ending Sept. 19.
Community precautions
In normal times, tourists are welcomed with open arms. They come to see the sweeping views, dig fossils, play in rivers and hunt in forest and fields.
The revenue they bring into the county economy is important and has been growing. The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument brings in more than 200,000 visitors a year to Wheeler County and neighboring Grant County.
But the county website asked visitors to consider postponing visits or only coming it it is essential.
“We appreciate your desire to visit our beautiful county, and we look forward to hosting you as soon as the current public health emergency has passed,” the website says.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
In the first week of the statewide shutdown an influx of visitors made it clear people were going to continue showing up. The monument closed its indoor exhibits but allowed access to its three units, including the Painted Hills, named one of Travel Oregon’s Seven Wonders. During the hot summer months, campsites were full along the John Day River. Motorcyclists cruised the county's scenic roads.
The county worked to implement protocols including wearing masks and distributing hand sanitizer in the places where locals and visitors have interaction, Davis said.
The Mercantile has seen an uptick in sales driven in part by visitor numbers, and local residents have adjusted.
“It worries the heck out of me when a bunch of bikers come in or a bunch of tourists come in and go to the store,” said 84-year-old Fossil resident Marvin Mabe as he made his way home after getting groceries. “I’ll look around and see what aisle I want to go down.”
In-person classes
Students in the combined class of fourth, fifth and sixth graders at Spray School wait for their turn to take school pictures on Sept. 2, 2020, in Spray, Oregon. The 49 students in grades K-12 are attending in-person classes as are kids in the other two districts in in Wheeler County. Andy Nelson, The Register-Guard
For teachers and students in Spray, 32 miles east of Fossil, in-person classes started in late August. All of the school’s 49 K-12 students wear a face covering and work to keep their physical distance, but otherwise it looks like any other school day. Kids play on the playground, work on class projects and prep for school pictures.
“We're very fortunate that the kids are here. The energy is here, and the kids are excited to be back. The parents are over the moon for them to be back,” said Spray School District Superintendent Larry Johnson. “I just wish all the schools in the state would be as fortunate as we are here.”
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The students do a fairly good job of keeping on their masks and keeping appropriate social distance, Johnson said, and teachers work to keep them on track. The school district normally hosts international students in its school dorm, but the program was put on hold this year because of the coronavirus.
Sixth-grader Katie Newton has attended Spray since she started school. Small class sizes are the norm for the schools in Wheeler County.
Newton is glad to be back in school in a combined class of fourth, fifth and sixth graders that has seven students. Mask wearing is not so hard and is worth the effort, she said.
“We actually get to go to school and, you know, we get to play outside and actually get to interact and stuff,” Newton said.
Whether Wheeler County continues to be without a positive coronavirus test is impossible to predict. And there is a bit of pressure in this tight-knit area to keep the string going.
“It might be slightly different here than other places,” Davis said. “Not only do we have that responsibility that we don’t want to be that person, but we know full well that if we are that person then everyone will know.”
Contact photographer Andy Nelson at anelson@registerguard.com, and follow him on Twitter @apnelsonphotos and Instagram @apnelsonphotos.


usatoday--2020-09-28--Doc Rivers is out as Los Angeles Clippers coach after disappointing playoffs

Falling short of expectations and coming up two rounds shy of playing in the NBA Finals , Doc Rivers is out as coach of Los Angeles Clippers .
Rivers confirmed his departure in a tweet to Clippers fans on Monday afternoon .
“ While I was able to accomplish most of my goals , I won ’ t be able to see them through , ” Rivers wrote .
“ Though it was a disappointing ending to our season , you are right there and I know what this team is capable of accomplishing with your support.
” The team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rivers ' departure as a `` mutual decision '' between Rivers and team chairman Steve Ballmer .
`` I am immeasurably grateful to Doc for his commitment and contributions to the Clippers and the city of Los Angeles , ” Ballmer said in a statement .
“ I am also extremely confident in our front office and our players .
We will find the right coach to lead us forward and help us reach our ultimate goals .
We will begin the search and interview process immediately . ''
The Clippers had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Western Conference semifinals and were on track to face the Lakers in the conference finals .
However , the Nuggets won the final three games of the series and ended the Clippers ’ season .
It was a significant failure for a team that had championship aspirations after signing two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in free agency and trading for All-Star Paul George last offseason .
“ We did n't meet ( expectations ) , ” Rivers said following the Game 7 loss to Denver .
“ That 's the bottom line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'll take any blame for it .
But we did n't meet our expectations , clearly , because if we had , in my opinion , we 'd still be playing.
” The series loss was also part of another troubling playoff debacle for Rivers in the playoffs .
With Orlando , Boston and the Clippers , his teams have blown three 3-1 series leads and three 3-2 series leads in the playoffs .
Chemistry issues plagued the Clippers during the regular season and playoffs , and Leonard indicated the Clippers did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Clippers were 49-23 in the Western Conference this season and finished second in the West , 3½ games behind the Lakers .
Rivers , who was the NBA ’ s coach of the year in 1999-2000 , was 356-208 in this seven seasons with Los Angeles .
His Clippers teams made the playoffs six times but never made it out of the second round .

Doc Rivers is out as Los Angeles Clippers coach after disappointing playoffs
Falling short of expectations and coming up two rounds shy of playing in the NBA Finals, Doc Rivers is out as coach of Los Angeles Clippers.
Rivers confirmed his departure in a tweet to Clippers fans on Monday afternoon.
“While I was able to accomplish most of my goals, I won’t be able to see them through,” Rivers wrote. “Though it was a disappointing ending to our season, you are right there and I know what this team is capable of accomplishing with your support.”
The team released a statement later Monday that framed Rivers' departure as a "mutual decision" between Rivers and team chairman Steve Ballmer.
"I am immeasurably grateful to Doc for his commitment and contributions to the Clippers and the city of Los Angeles,” Ballmer said in a statement. “I am also extremely confident in our front office and our players. We will find the right coach to lead us forward and help us reach our ultimate goals. We will begin the search and interview process immediately."
The Clippers had a 3-1 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals and were on track to face the Lakers in the conference finals. However, the Nuggets won the final three games of the series and ended the Clippers’ season.
It was a significant failure for a team that had championship aspirations after signing two-time Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard in free agency and trading for All-Star Paul George last offseason.
“We didn't meet (expectations),” Rivers said following the Game 7 loss to Denver. “That's the bottom line. I'm the coach, and I'll take any blame for it. But we didn't meet our expectations, clearly, because if we had, in my opinion, we'd still be playing.”
The series loss was also part of another troubling playoff debacle for Rivers in the playoffs. With Orlando, Boston and the Clippers, his teams have blown three 3-1 series leads and three 3-2 series leads in the playoffs.
Chemistry issues plagued the Clippers during the regular season and playoffs, and Leonard indicated the Clippers didn't play smart basketball against the Nuggets.
The Clippers were 49-23 in the Western Conference this season and finished second in the West, 3½ games behind the Lakers.
Rivers, who was the NBA’s coach of the year in 1999-2000, was 356-208 in this seven seasons with Los Angeles. His Clippers teams made the playoffs six times but never made it out of the second round.