newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell hospitalized with coronavirus

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill tested positive for the coronavirus and is hospitalized , the team revealed on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ s symptoms have subsided and that the 55-year-old could be released this weekend .
The @ @ @ @ @ that Bidwill contracted COVID-19 while traveling and spending time on the East Coast .
The @ @ @ @ @ is hospitalized in Rhode Island .
The Cardinals said Bidwill hasn ’ t had any @ @ @ @ @ players or football staffers because he has been working remotely .
Earlier in the offseason @ @ @ @ @ $ 1 million donation to Arizona ’ s coronavirus relief fund .

Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill tested positive for the coronavirus and is hospitalized, the team revealed on Friday.
The Cardinals said Bidwill’s symptoms have subsided and that the 55-year-old could be released this weekend.
The club said it is believed that Bidwill contracted COVID-19 while traveling and spending time on the East Coast.
The Arizona Republic reported that Bidwill is hospitalized in Rhode Island.
The Cardinals said Bidwill hasn’t had any in-person contact with coaches, players or football staffers because he has been working remotely.
Earlier in the offseason, the Cardinals made a $1 million donation to Arizona’s coronavirus relief fund.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Pressure on Jets’ Sam Darnold, Adam Gase and Mekhi Becton

Fifth of a five-part series — a Jets trio of note .
There is plenty of pressure to go around the Jets in 2020 .
It has been 10 years since their last trip to the playoffs and five years since their last winning season .
Fans ran out of patience long ago .
With an additional team from each conference now making the playoffs , fans want a return to the postseason this year .
Is that realistic ?
We ’ ll find out .
But if the Jets have a fifth straight losing season , it will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on many members of the organization , here are the three that are under the most pressure in 2020 : Darnold is entering his third season with the Jets with plenty of questions still unanswered .
Between injuries , illness and a poor supporting cast , the variables around Darnold have made it hard to get a true read on what he is as a quarterback .
There are throws that convince you he is the long-term answer .
Those are sometimes followed by throws that make you question whether he ever will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be when he was drafted No .
3-overall in 2018 .
The Jets spent this offseason attempting to upgrade their offensive line and wide receiver group .
We ’ ll find out when the games start if they were successful .
GM Joe Douglas did not throw around big money on free agents , but did use his first two picks to give Darnold better protection ( tackle Mekhi Becton ) and a new target ( Denzel Mims ) .
The Jets are hopeful that Darnold will progress in his second season under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time .
It is too soon to call this season make or break for Darnold .
He will be here in 2021 .
But the Jets will have a decision to make on his contract after the season , when he is eligible for an extension for the first time .
Submit your Jets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag Patience no longer exists for NFL head coaches .
Just take a look at the Giants who have fired their last two coaches after two seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team together last year after a 1-7 start to go 6-2 in the second half of the season and finish 7-9 , the team ’ s best record since 2015 .
Still , there were issues .
Hired partly because of his offensive acumen , Gase oversaw an offense that finished last or near last in most categories .
He is unpopular with fans and is going to have to navigate a tricky situation with an unhappy Jamal Adams .
Many fans ask how many wins Gase needs to keep his job , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gase ’ s future will hinge not just on how many games the Jets win this year but also how Darnold develops .
If the quarterback does not show progress and the team has another losing year , Gase could be in trouble .
This one may not be fair , but it is the way it is .
There is always a microscope on you when you are a first-round pick .
Becton will be expected to come in and open holes for Le ’ Veon Bell and protect Darnold immediately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasons ever for rookies due to the lack of an offseason program and possibly having no preseason games .
It will be hard to expect Becton to play at a high level immediately in September if he does not get to even play a preseason game .
Despite that , the expectations are high .
Becton is expected to be the starter at left tackle , but the Jets may decide to move him to right and play George Fant at left tackle if they believe he is not ready to protect Darnold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 360-pound Becton was a mauler in college .
Now , we ’ ll see if he can do it in the NFL .
The Jets are counting on him to give their line a boost .

Fifth of a five-part series — a Jets trio of note.
There is plenty of pressure to go around the Jets in 2020. It has been 10 years since their last trip to the playoffs and five years since their last winning season.
Fans ran out of patience long ago. With an additional team from each conference now making the playoffs, fans want a return to the postseason this year. Is that realistic? We’ll find out. But if the Jets have a fifth straight losing season, it will be a disappointment.
While there is pressure on many members of the organization, here are the three that are under the most pressure in 2020:
Sam Darnold, quarterback
Darnold is entering his third season with the Jets with plenty of questions still unanswered. Between injuries, illness and a poor supporting cast, the variables around Darnold have made it hard to get a true read on what he is as a quarterback. There are throws that convince you he is the long-term answer. Those are sometimes followed by throws that make you question whether he ever will become what the Jets believed he could be when he was drafted No. 3-overall in 2018.
The Jets spent this offseason attempting to upgrade their offensive line and wide receiver group. We’ll find out when the games start if they were successful. GM Joe Douglas did not throw around big money on free agents, but did use his first two picks to give Darnold better protection (tackle Mekhi Becton) and a new target (Denzel Mims).
The Jets are hopeful that Darnold will progress in his second season under Adam Gase and can play 16 games for the first time. It is too soon to call this season make or break for Darnold. He will be here in 2021. But the Jets will have a decision to make on his contract after the season, when he is eligible for an extension for the first time.
Submit your Jets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
Adam Gase, head coach
Patience no longer exists for NFL head coaches. Just take a look at the Giants who have fired their last two coaches after two seasons each. Gase managed to keep the team together last year after a 1-7 start to go 6-2 in the second half of the season and finish 7-9, the team’s best record since 2015.
Still, there were issues. Hired partly because of his offensive acumen, Gase oversaw an offense that finished last or near last in most categories. He is unpopular with fans and is going to have to navigate a tricky situation with an unhappy Jamal Adams.
Many fans ask how many wins Gase needs to keep his job, but it is not that simple. Gase’s future will hinge not just on how many games the Jets win this year but also how Darnold develops. If the quarterback does not show progress and the team has another losing year, Gase could be in trouble.
Mekhi Becton, offensive tackle
This one may not be fair, but it is the way it is. There is always a microscope on you when you are a first-round pick. Becton will be expected to come in and open holes for Le’Veon Bell and protect Darnold immediately. This could be one of the hardest seasons ever for rookies due to the lack of an offseason program and possibly having no preseason games. It will be hard to expect Becton to play at a high level immediately in September if he does not get to even play a preseason game.
Despite that, the expectations are high. Becton is expected to be the starter at left tackle, but the Jets may decide to move him to right and play George Fant at left tackle if they believe he is not ready to protect Darnold’s blindside. The 6-foot-7, 360-pound Becton was a mauler in college. Now, we’ll see if he can do it in the NFL. The Jets are counting on him to give their line a boost.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Yankees pitchers are ahead of the hitters right now

Mike Trout being the best player on the field every game .
Gerrit Cole ’ s fascination with everything regarding pitching .
And just as big of a lock are pitchers being ahead of the hitters early in spring training .
Annually that is at the beginning of a six-week camp that opens in February and designed for pitchers to ease into the season .
However , at the start of spring training 2.0 , the Yankees arms are so far ahead of the hitters it appears Aaron Judge and friends are using bayonets to battle an opponent armed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cole is ahead of everybody .
I think that is what happens every year in spring training , ’ ’ left-handed hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman said of pitchers dominating hitters .
“ Some of the velocity prerequisites it takes to pitch in the big leagues now , the game is getting a little bit young and the guys are throwing harder .
Now when you have some 19- , 20- and 21-year-olds throwing 98 mph in their first live bullpen I think the pitchers are always going to have an advantage early.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who as a group are considered among the best in the game , have over the hitters is that during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown it was easier for pitchers to pitch than it was for hitters to find a big-league caliber pitcher to face .
Former college and high school teammates don ’ t throw 98 mph .
“ One of the advantages of facing our pitching is they run out All-Star after All-Star .
I think that will help us adjust pretty quickly for when competition starts , ’ ’ said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the Yankees ’ fourth outfielder and capable of playing all three positions .
Reliever Zack Britton has noticed the gap between pitchers and hitters that he believes will eventually close .
“ When you are at home it might be easier for a pitcher to simulate a game than it is for hitters , ’ ’ Britton said .
“ What you are trying to look at is to get your velocity up to somewhere respectable and guys right now are throwing just as hard as the regular season .
I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our guys .
It was expected that hitters would be a little bit behind but I definitely think as we progress toward Opening Day with the amount of live at-bats our hitters are getting and the velocity they are seeing I think guys will be ready .
We have a veteran lineup and guys know what they need to do and [ I ] think guys will be ready when the regular season starts.
’ ’ That ’ s July 23 against the Nationals ’ Max Scherzer , who is 118-47 with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,485 innings from 2013-19 .

Three outs an inning.
Mike Trout being the best player on the field every game.
Gerrit Cole’s fascination with everything regarding pitching.
And just as big of a lock are pitchers being ahead of the hitters early in spring training.
Annually that is at the beginning of a six-week camp that opens in February and designed for pitchers to ease into the season. However, at the start of spring training 2.0, the Yankees arms are so far ahead of the hitters it appears Aaron Judge and friends are using bayonets to battle an opponent armed with nuclear weapons.
“I think Gerrit Cole is ahead of everybody. I think that is what happens every year in spring training,’’ left-handed hitting outfielder Mike Tauchman said of pitchers dominating hitters. “Some of the velocity prerequisites it takes to pitch in the big leagues now, the game is getting a little bit young and the guys are throwing harder. Now when you have some 19-, 20- and 21-year-olds throwing 98 mph in their first live bullpen I think the pitchers are always going to have an advantage early.’’
Another edge the Yankees pitchers, who as a group are considered among the best in the game, have over the hitters is that during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown it was easier for pitchers to pitch than it was for hitters to find a big-league caliber pitcher to face. Former college and high school teammates don’t throw 98 mph.
“One of the advantages of facing our pitching is they run out All-Star after All-Star. I think that will help us adjust pretty quickly for when competition starts,’’ said the left-handed hitting Tauchman, who figures to be the Yankees’ fourth outfielder and capable of playing all three positions.
Reliever Zack Britton has noticed the gap between pitchers and hitters that he believes will eventually close.
“When you are at home it might be easier for a pitcher to simulate a game than it is for hitters,’’ Britton said. “What you are trying to look at is to get your velocity up to somewhere respectable and guys right now are throwing just as hard as the regular season. I have been pretty impressed with the velocity of our guys. It was expected that hitters would be a little bit behind but I definitely think as we progress toward Opening Day with the amount of live at-bats our hitters are getting and the velocity they are seeing I think guys will be ready. We have a veteran lineup and guys know what they need to do and [I] think guys will be ready when the regular season starts.’’
That’s July 23 against the Nationals’ Max Scherzer, who is 118-47 with a .2.82 ERA and has whiffed 1,863 in 1,485 innings from 2013-19.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Fay downgraded to tropical depression after making landfall in southern NYC

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 2 a.m. advisory that the storm has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph as it moves over southern New York .
Fay had closed beaches and flooded shore town streets after it made landfall Friday afternoon in New Jersey .
It weakened once it hit land and was expected to quickly become a post-tropical low , then dissipate on Sunday , forecasters said .
The forecast track put the depression over portions of eastern New York later Saturday , then moving into western New England and southeastern Canada .
The depression @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
A tropical storm warning that had been issued from East Rockaway , New York , to Watch Hill , Rhode Island was ended with the National Hurricane Center ’ s early morning update .
No watches or warnings were in effect for the depression .
Forecasters said Fay was expected to produce 1 to 3 inches of rain , with flash flooding possible in some areas .
Fay was the earliest sixth-named storm on record , according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach .
The previous record was Franklin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted .
Two named storms formed before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season .
None of this season ’ s previous five named storms strengthened into hurricanes .

MIAMI — Tropical Storm Fay weakened into a tropical depression early Saturday morning, forecasters said.
The National Hurricane Center in Miami said in its 2 a.m. advisory that the storm has maximum sustained winds of 35 mph as it moves over southern New York.
Fay had closed beaches and flooded shore town streets after it made landfall Friday afternoon in New Jersey. It weakened once it hit land and was expected to quickly become a post-tropical low, then dissipate on Sunday, forecasters said.
The forecast track put the depression over portions of eastern New York later Saturday, then moving into western New England and southeastern Canada. The depression was moving at 17 mph, forecasters said.
A tropical storm warning that had been issued from East Rockaway, New York, to Watch Hill, Rhode Island was ended with the National Hurricane Center’s early morning update. No watches or warnings were in effect for the depression.
Forecasters said Fay was expected to produce 1 to 3 inches of rain, with flash flooding possible in some areas.
Fay was the earliest sixth-named storm on record, according to Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach. The previous record was Franklin on July 22, 2005, Klotzbach tweeted.
Two named storms formed before the official June 1 start of the hurricane season. None of this season’s previous five named storms strengthened into hurricanes.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Teen shot dead outside Brooklyn hotel Friday evening

An 18-year-old was fatally shot at a Brooklyn hotel Friday evening , police said .
The victim was involved in @ @ @ @ @ who opened fire on him around 7:45 p.m. outside Hotel Sunborn near the corner of @ @ @ @ @ Street , according to police .
The teen was transported to Brookdale Hospital where he @ @ @ @ @ shooter fled the scene on foot .
The circumstances that led to the shooting were @ @ @ @ @ arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing .
The shooting comes on the @ @ @ @ @ gun violence in the city as it grapples with high unemployment rates during the coronavirus @ @

An 18-year-old was fatally shot at a Brooklyn hotel Friday evening, police said.
The victim was involved in a dispute with a gunman who opened fire on him around 7:45 p.m. outside Hotel Sunborn near the corner of New Jersey Avenue and Fulton Street, according to police.
The teen was transported to Brookdale Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The shooter fled the scene on foot. The circumstances that led to the shooting were not immediately clear.
No arrests have been made and an investigation is ongoing.
The shooting comes on the heels of an uptick in gun violence in the city as it grapples with high unemployment rates during the coronavirus pandemic.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--MLB 2020 coronavirus effect: No easy way to talk about it

Robinson Cano was not in Mets camp on Thursday .
No ...

Robinson Cano “was not on site here the last few days,” Brodie Van Wagenen said Friday, at a rainy Citi Field, and no one owes us more information than that. Cano deserves to have his privacy respected.
Yet in this age of coronavirus, how do we reconcile wishing the best for Cano, no matter what’s going on with him, and analyzing what an extended absence — or even merely a setback in preparation for the regular season — means for the Mets’ playoff chances?
It’s a ghoulish situation that Major League Baseball set up for itself — and that all of the major North American sports intend to follow, to be clear — that we find ourselves navigating. I mean, really, are Mets fans happy that Braves stud first baseman Freddie Freeman has coronavirus, which in turn spooked his teammate Nick Markakis into opting out? Are you good with the Nats losing face of the franchise Ryan Zimmerman to an opt-out because he has a newborn baby and a mother at high risk?
“I think we’re all sympathetic,” Van Wagenen said during a Zoom call with the media. “I’m sympathetic to anyone who gets sick or who contracts this virus. Personally, I’ve dealt with it in my own family and I’ve dealt with it with friends. And I know this population has dealt with tragedy in one degree of separation.”
(That’s a shout-out to Post photographer Anthony Causi, who died of COVID-19 in April. Thanks, Brodie. It’s not the same here at the ballpark without you, Anthony.)
Van Wagenen continued: “And so when we hear other people get the virus, the first instinct is, “I hope they’re OK. I hope their symptoms are minimized, and I hope that it doesn’t progress into something serious and potentially life-threatening. And then, beyond that, obviously as it relates to baseball, for any player, you never hope for illness or injury and you hope they can return quickly.”
Sure, you never hope for anything, but an oblique strain, for instance, isn’t contagious, and if general managers took truth serum, many would admit to not being heartbroken if a rival’s important player went down with a pedestrian ailment that didn’t threaten his career or especially his life. It’s OK, they’re human.
The cruel truth is that, one week into spring training 2.0, the Mets have made up ground on paper amidst their ultracompetitive division. In addition to Freeman’s illness and Markakis’ opt-out, veteran starting pitcher Felix Hernandez, who had appeared to win a job with Atlanta during spring training 1.0, also opted out. The defending champion Nats saw pitcher Joe Ross join Zimmerman on the opt-out list. Phillies third baseman Scott Kingery is very behind following a rough battle with his disease.
No Met has opted out, and Van Wagenen said, “We haven’t had any players express the potential of opting out.” No Mets player has declared himself as testing positive for coronavirus, although Van Wagenen said last week that one player on the club’s 40-man roster had done so; both Cano and reliever Brad Brach haven’t been around, with no explanation provided, and MLB announced Friday that 71 players tested positive to date, an average of 2.4 per team. A total of 28 teams have seen either a player or staff member test positive, MLB said.
Hence the tempered reaction. Do we contemplate whether Jeff McNeil would slide from third base to second, with J.D. Davis manning the hot corner, if Cano winds up out for a while? Do we address the bullpen’s compromised depth without Brach? We kind of have to if there’s actually going to be a season starting (for the Mets) on July 24, right?
“At this point, we’re a week in,” Van Wagenen said. “Two weeks is a long time in this environment to know what your club is going to look like by Opening Day. So we’re really trying to focus here. Not trying to handicap what’s going on with other clubs because I know, like us, things can change pretty quickly.”
Less than an hour later, the converted agent Van Wagenen’s former client Buster Posey opted out of 2020. It’s that kind of season. The only path to enjoying it on some level might be to keep talking things through, figuring it all out, together.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Trump confirms 2018 US cyberattack against Russia

President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed for the first time that the United States launched a cyberattack against the Russian Internet Research Agency in 2018 .
The IRA , a Russian company that deploys online trolls for influence operations , was blamed by U.S. officials for meddling in both the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 midterms .
Trump confirmed the attack during a two-part interview with Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen .
When asked whether the U.S. had launched an attack on the IRA , Trump responded “ correct.
” The Washington Post in 2019 reported on the attack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internet access , but Trump had not previously confirmed U.S. involvement .
The president went on to criticize former President Obama for not doing enough to address the interference ahead of the 2016 elections .
Obama “ knew before the election that Russia was playing around .
Or , he was told .
Whether or not it was so or not , who knows ?
And he said nothing , ” Trump said .
“ And the reason he said nothing was that he didn ’ t want to touch it because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because he read phony polls , ” he added .
“ So , he thought she was going to win .
And we had the silent majority that said , ‘ No , we like Trump.
’ ” Obama responded to the meddling after the fact , through sanctions on Russians and Russian agencies involved and the expulsion of dozens of diplomats from the country .
The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cyber campaign in 2016 to interfere in the presidential election and it believes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kremlin .
Robert Mueller ’ s Russia probe eventually led to Treasury Department sanctions in 2018 against the IRA , its financier , Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin , and nearly a dozen others for 2016 election interference .

President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed for the first time that the United States launched a cyberattack against the Russian Internet Research Agency in 2018.
The IRA, a Russian company that deploys online trolls for influence operations, was blamed by U.S. officials for meddling in both the 2016 presidential election and the 2018 midterms.
Trump confirmed the attack during a two-part interview with Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen. When asked whether the U.S. had launched an attack on the IRA, Trump responded “correct.”
The Washington Post in 2019 reported on the attack, which blocked the IRA’s internet access, but Trump had not previously confirmed U.S. involvement.
The president went on to criticize former President Obama for not doing enough to address the interference ahead of the 2016 elections.
Obama “knew before the election that Russia was playing around. Or, he was told. Whether or not it was so or not, who knows? And he said nothing,” Trump said.
“And the reason he said nothing was that he didn’t want to touch it because he thought [Hillary Clinton] was winning because he read phony polls,” he added. “So, he thought she was going to win. And we had the silent majority that said, ‘No, we like Trump.’”
Obama responded to the meddling after the fact, through sanctions on Russians and Russian agencies involved and the expulsion of dozens of diplomats from the country.
The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cyber campaign in 2016 to interfere in the presidential election and it believes the IRA works at the direction of the Kremlin.
Robert Mueller’s Russia probe eventually led to Treasury Department sanctions in 2018 against the IRA, its financier, Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, and nearly a dozen others for 2016 election interference.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Nets’ Rodions Kurucs will be relied on to help fill power forward hole

The Nets are becoming unrecognizable .
The already-depleted squad departed for ...

For the first time since March, the Nets finally had a full five-on-five practice Friday in Orlando. And despite months of rust, it actually went off better than even they expected.
“We spiralled [Friday] in a positive direction, built off [Thursday] where we got a semblance of being back on the floor,” interim coach Jacque Vaughn said via Zoom. “We were able to play five-on-five, get up and down a little. I was pleased with the effort and the conditioning level: An overall really good day in the gym.”
The coronavirus pandemic saw the NBA season suspended on March 11. After a week limited to individual workouts, and building back slowly with three-on-three Thursday in their first day out of quarantine in Disney, the Nets finally ramped up to a full workout.
“It just felt good to get some bump in. Guys were a little rusty, but not as rusty as we’d expect,” Garrett Temple said. “It just felt good to get down the court, play some five-on-five, get back to what we love doing.”
But now comes the work of trying to cobble together a cohesive team for this month’s NBA restart. And as far as this shorthanded team goes, power forward is going to be an issue. Again.
The position has been a problem for years. In Friday’s first full practice, Rodions Kurucs was the starting power forward. Granted, he was the only one, with Kevin Durant, Taurean Prince, Wilson Chandler and Nic Claxton all out due to injury or COVID-19.
The Nets did add Michael Beasley, but despite being allowed to scrimmage once he clears quarantine, he has to sit out the first five games due to a league suspension. Simply put, Kurucs has to play.
“Rodi is going to be really big for us because of absences that we have coming into the restart. His ability to offensive rebound, his ability to cause havoc on the defensive end, be a nuisance,” Temple said. “And then offensively, knock down open shots and be a great cutter.
“So we expect that from Rodi. We know he has it in him, and we’re going to need him for that. … That’s what we’re expecting from Rodi: His ability to do the little things, be that dog on the inside, get all the garbage points. I’m excited for the opportunity for him especially, and hopefully he takes advantage.”
Perhaps distracted by a pending assault case — pushed back to Nov. 24 — Kurucs has been streaky. He shot a scalding 46.3 percent from deep before the All-Star break, but didn’t hit a single 3 after it. In the team’s final games before the league shut down, the Latvian went 0-for-11 and did not play at all in four of those games.
“You know Rodi, the energy guy — he’s going to sacrifice his body and sacrifice the other team’s body for everybody’s sake,” Jarrett Allen said. “He’s going to go out there and play his hardest. He still has his 3-point shot. He’s still finding his rhythm there.
“I was working with him. They put us in the same group to get some shots up, so he’s definitely knowing what it’s like to be a 4 or 5.”
The Nets signed Donta Hall, but he will have to serve as Allen’s backup and DeAndre Jordan’s replacement. The 6-foot-9 rookie’s minutes at the four will be limited, making Kurucs’ vital.
“[We] really envision his role of running the floor for us, rebounding the basketball for us, guarding multiple positions for us, offensive rebounding,” Vaughn said. “His energy we’ll need to take advantage of.”
“He had a good practice, he’s done a good job of being in drills with wings and with bigs. … We’re trying to make him the best player he can be. So far he’s accepted that challenge and is willing to play any position for us.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Police seize rifle of St. Louis couple filmed waving guns at BLM protesters

St. Louis police officers reportedly seized a rifle from the husband-and-wife lawyers filmed waving firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters last month .
The officers served a warrant on Mark and Patricia McCloskey on Friday night , taking the rifle the husband was pictured aiming , the local NBC affiliate reported .
The officers were told by the couple that their attorney had the second gun , the pistol brandished by the wife , the report said .
The couple were filmed as they emerged barefoot from their lavish mansion in the Central West End neighborhood , each toting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street toward the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson .
Mark stood with the rifle on their Renaissance-style porch as Patricia aimed the gun at the passersby with her finger on the trigger .
The two have defended their actions by saying they felt their lives were at risk .
“ We were threatened with our lives , threatened with a house being burned down , my office building being burned down , even our dog ’ s life being threatened , Mark McCloskey told the station , KDSK .
“ It was about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he added .
Police have not announced any charges against the couple .

St. Louis police officers reportedly seized a rifle from the husband-and-wife lawyers filmed waving firearms at Black Lives Matter protesters last month.
The officers served a warrant on Mark and Patricia McCloskey on Friday night, taking the rifle the husband was pictured aiming, the local NBC affiliate reported.
The officers were told by the couple that their attorney had the second gun, the pistol brandished by the wife, the report said.
The couple were filmed as they emerged barefoot from their lavish mansion in the Central West End neighborhood, each toting a firearm as protesters marched down their private street toward the home of Mayor Lyda Krewson.
Mark stood with the rifle on their Renaissance-style porch as Patricia aimed the gun at the passersby with her finger on the trigger.
The two have defended their actions by saying they felt their lives were at risk.
“We were threatened with our lives, threatened with a house being burned down, my office building being burned down, even our dog’s life being threatened, Mark McCloskey told the station, KDSK.
“It was about as bad as it can get,” he added.
Police have not announced any charges against the couple.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Why many college football players want fall football season

Tyler Polley knew of Maurice Clarett the football player .
So ...

Dominoes began to fall this week.
The Ivy League canceled its fall football season on Wednesday. The Big Ten announced a conference-only schedule on Thursday and the Pac-12 did the same Friday. There have been reports the ACC could be next and the other power conferences — the SEC and Big 12 — will at least consider only playing conference games.
The college football season is very much in doubt as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to terrorize the country, positive cases skyrocketing in football hotbeds such as Florida, Texas, Arizona and California. Some believe a spring season is inevitable, the only option as voluntary workouts at schools such as Ohio State, Houston, Arizona, Boise State and North Carolina have been paused due to outbreaks.
The powers that be, though, aren’t the only ones in favor of finding a way to have a fall season. And neither are the fans. Many players — the ones who drive most, if not all, of the athletic department revenue for their respective schools, the ones who would be putting themselves and their families and friends at risk — want to have a fall season, too. The increasing rate of the virus hasn’t swayed the players The Post spoke with.
“I hope there’s a season,” West Virginia wide receiver Sean Ryan, a Temple transfer, told The Post. “Honestly, it saves a lot of lives. A lot of college kids come from poverty, a lot of poor living. It’s a struggle back home. We do this to [help] our family. Us not having the platform to do that, and not having the season, forces us to go back home. It puts us at risk.”
Ryan understands what the virus can do. The Brooklyn native out of Erasmus Hall High School lost his 55-year-old uncle, Carl Ryan, to COVID-19 and knows others who have dealt with it. But Ryan still wants to play. He has been on campus working out for a few weeks — with a mask on — and is comfortable with the precautions the school is taking. He gets tested weekly. His workout groups are small, just six players he lives and isolates with. He doesn’t think playing games would jeopardize his health, or that of anyone close to him.
“They’re taking the cautious steps that are necessary to get us back so we can have a season,” he said of West Virginia. “I know everything is done here genuinely and they do everything to look out for the players’ best interests.”
Rutgers wide receiver Aron Cruickshank, who played with Ryan at Erasmus Hall, echoed his high school teammate, praising the safety measures taken by the Scarlet Knights. He feels safe and comfortable on campus and working out in “very small” groups. He gets tested every week and has confidence he isn’t at risk.
“I know they wouldn’t put somebody with coronavirus on the field with us,” said Cruickshank, a Wisconsin transfer.
Unlike Ryan and Cruickshank, Tylik Bethea hasn’t been to campus yet for voluntary workouts. The date has been pushed back twice now by Delaware State, first from July 1 to July 13 and now to July 23. In the meantime, he’s been staying in shape on his own, waiting to rejoin his teammates, completing workouts given to him by the coaching staff. Bethea believes he will have a season, but it will be delayed and without fans. He would be comfortable playing if that’s the case.
“If all the athletes are cleared before the games, we should be good,” the Staten Island native and former Lincoln High School star said.
Bethea did raise some concerns. He doesn’t believe a full allotment of students would be a wise choice for his school. There are too many wild cards, students who aren’t taking the necessary precautions and getting tested on a regular basis, for him to be 100 percent comfortable. Before returning to campus, every player has been asked to get tested, and they will be tested again when they return. There will also be daily checkups and social distancing during meetings.
“I’m just concerned how they are going to manage us being around with the virus going on,” Bethea said.
Chris Chernak Jr., an offensive lineman at Stony Brook from Brooklyn, has similar concerns to Bethea’s. He hasn’t been back on campus yet, either. One of his close friends lost his father to the virus. He’s aware of how it can spread. And yet like so many others, Chernak wants to play despite the risks, and he understands why players are willing to do so. Of the four players The Post spoke with, they said all of their football-playing friends are hopeful of a fall season as well.
“They know what the game can do for them in the future,” Chernak said. “I just pray we have a season.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Steve Bannon claims scientists from Wuhan virus lab have ‘defected’ to the West

Steve Bannon claims scientists in the Wuhan lab eyed as a potential source for COVID-19 have “ defected ” and are working with US intelligence agencies .
President Trump ’ s former chief strategist , a virulent China opponent , told the Daily Mail — while providing no evidence — that researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology are cooperating with the West to build a case that the bug spread from a lab leak .
“ They are not talking to the media yet , but there are people out of the Wuhan lab and other labs that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over evidence of the culpability of the Chinese Communist Party , ” Bannon told the tabloid .
“ I think people are going to be shocked.
” Bannon , giving the interview from a yacht off America ’ s East Coast , said the defectors were also speaking with agencies in Europe and the UK .
“ People around these labs have been leaving China and Hong Kong since mid-February , ” he went on .
“ [ US intelligence ] along with MI5 and MI6 are trying to build a very thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long time .
It ’ s not like James Bond.
” Bannon was the center of a ridiculous stunt last month where he and Guo Wengui , an exiled Chinese billionaire , flew propeller planes carrying anti-Communist Party messaging .
The media executive went on to disparage the World Health Organization and the Chinese government for their alleged culpability in the crisis .
The Chinese government has dismissed claims the virus had stemmed from a lab leak , while the WHO has denied claims from President Trump that it has been China ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Bannon went on to call on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to back away from plans to allow the China-based Huawei to work in the UK ’ s new 5G network .
“ To me , Huawei should be shut down throughout the world in every country , and their assets liquidated , ” he aside .
“ I say to Boris Johnson — shut down Huawei , and keep calm and carry on .
”

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Steve Bannon claims scientists in the Wuhan lab eyed as a potential source for COVID-19 have “defected” and are working with US intelligence agencies.
President Trump’s former chief strategist, a virulent China opponent, told the Daily Mail — while providing no evidence — that researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology are cooperating with the West to build a case that the bug spread from a lab leak.
“They are not talking to the media yet, but there are people out of the Wuhan lab and other labs that have come to the West and are turning over evidence of the culpability of the Chinese Communist Party,” Bannon told the tabloid. “I think people are going to be shocked.”
Bannon, giving the interview from a yacht off America’s East Coast, said the defectors were also speaking with agencies in Europe and the UK.
“People around these labs have been leaving China and Hong Kong since mid-February,” he went on. “[US intelligence] along with MI5 and MI6 are trying to build a very thorough legal case, which may take a long time. It’s not like James Bond.”
Bannon was the center of a ridiculous stunt last month where he and Guo Wengui, an exiled Chinese billionaire, flew propeller planes carrying anti-Communist Party messaging.
The media executive went on to disparage the World Health Organization and the Chinese government for their alleged culpability in the crisis. The Chinese government has dismissed claims the virus had stemmed from a lab leak, while the WHO has denied claims from President Trump that it has been China’s “puppet” during the pandemic.
Bannon went on to call on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to back away from plans to allow the China-based Huawei to work in the UK’s new 5G network.
“To me, Huawei should be shut down throughout the world in every country, and their assets liquidated,” he aside. “I say to Boris Johnson — shut down Huawei, and keep calm and carry on.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Keith Hernandez sees shades of 1986 in possible Mets lineup

Mets decision-makers aren ’ t ready to say it , but Yoenis Cespedes ...

Close your eyes. It is easy to picture Jeff McNeil lining hits everywhere. It is easy to picture Pete Alonso feeling dangerous again at the plate, because he was dangerous 53 times last season.
But imagine, if you could, a motivated, menacing Yoenis Cespedes lurking behind McNeil and Alonso.
Yoenis Cespedes, Sphinx since February, sure can.
Opening Day, July 24 against the Braves at Citi Field?
“I know for sure now that I will be ready,” Cespedes said on a Zoom call.
Pain?
“Only when I wake up sometimes,” Cespedes said.
Left field?
“I feel like I’ll be able to play the outfield if that comes up,” Cespedes said.
Rust at the plate?
“It’s like riding a bike,” Cespedes said.
And it’s a contract year.
“I’m not out here to prove anything to anyone, I’m out here to prove something to myself,” Cespedes said, “that after three surgeries that I can come back and play the way that I know that I can.”
If he can, it wouldn’t be farfetched to imagine a McNeil-Alonso-Cespedes-Michael Conforto meat of the order … a Mets’ Boar Four.
“I think this lineup,” Keith Hernandez told The Post, “is right there with the ’86 bunch.”
Hernandez analyzed the following projected Mets lineup, including Robinson Cano, even though he is still not participating in spring training 2.0:
Brandon Nimmo, CF: “He has a good eye at the plate, he gets on base, he’s made big improvement against left-handers, he’s capable of stealing bases, and he brings a helluva lot of energy, which I love.”
Submit your Mets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
Jeff McNeil, 3B: “He’s impressed me very much, particularly with his knowledge of the strike zone. His focus reminds me a lot of Pete Rose. He does not give up an at-bat. I know he likes to hit the first pitch, which is fine, but maybe at times you want to give Nimmo a chance to steal, but he certainly can handle the bat, he can situational hit.”
Pete Alonso, 1B: “He really impressed me with his plate discipline last year. He stayed in the strike zone, he has a plan, and he sticks to it. I think Pete’s gonna be protected, I think that they’ll pitch him carefully, he has to stay within himself and not try to do too much and do what he did last year, don’t chase bad pitches, and if they want to give him the walk, take the walk.”
Yoenis Cespedes, DH: “He’s not old. And if he can’t run the bases full bore, then he doesn’t run the bases full-bore, he doesn’t take the extra base. He’s on a contract year, I think he’ll be focused. I think if he stays healthy, he’s going to have a very, very good year.”
Michael Conforto, RF: “He’s pulling more and hitting with more power and I think he fits into the middle of that lineup. He has to make improvements on breaking balls, slow breaking balls, offspeed pitches. Against left-handers, if you make a mistake you’ll pay.”
Wilson Ramos, C: “Professional hitter, good eye at the plate, he uses the whole field, will have occasional pop, but really I think he’s one of the best clutch hitters in this lineup. He’s a good RBI guy with two outs, too.”
Robinson Cano, 2B: “I don’t think he’s finished at all. I think he’s still got a fast bat. I think Robby’s gonna play around 90 percent of the games, and he could also DH.”
J.D. Davis, LF: “He’s very disciplined, he stays with his formula, and he knows what he doesn’t like and he knows what he likes. J.D.’s the kind of guy you can hit in the top of the order and can situational hit, he can hit the other way, he’s very good at going to the opposite field, he’s a line-drive hitter, he’s tough to strike out and he hit in the clutch last year.”
Amed Rosario, SS: “I don’t mind that he gets a little out of the strike zone, he has to be loosely-goose up there. But he uses the opposite field, he’s got pop, and he brings speed to the lineup. And if he’s red hot and Nimmo’s slumping, you can flip ’em like [ex-Cardinals] Ozzie Smith and Tommy Herr. He’s come so far as a hitter.”
Can’t you just hear the cardboard cutouts in the stands?
“It certainly could be the most formidable lineup in the league,” Hernandez said.
Yo gotta believe.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Insiders reveal what house arrest is like for Paul Manafort, Michael Avenatti, Mary Boone

Pandemic lockdown can feel like a prison , but it ’ s meant freedom for some high-profile criminals .
With the coronavirus crisis sweeping the country ’ s prison system — at a rate 5.5 times higher than that of the rest of the US population , according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University — these jailbirds have gone from life behind bars to house arrest .
Still , they are discovering their new normal is anything but .
Michael Cohen learned his lesson this week , when he was sent back to prison less than two months after his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump was released to home confinement on May 21 from Otisville federal prison upstate , where he was serving three years after pleading guilty to tax evasion , lying to Congress and campaign finance violations in 2018 .
Upon Cohen ’ s release , his lawyer , Jeffrey K. Levine , said of his home lock-up : “ It ’ s still his prison until his sentence is over.
” But after The Post published photos of Cohen dining out last week at Le Bilboquet , the 53-year-old was taken back into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s probably still in disbelief he ’ s back in Otisville , ” Levine told The Post .
“ The look in his eyes as he was being taken away [ haunts me ] .
” A friend said home re-entry wasn ’ t easy for Cohen .
“ It was disorienting going from solitary confinement [ because of COVID-19 restrictions ] to [ his old life ] , ” the friend told The Post .
“ This stuff is traumatic .
You have this elation that you ’ re home , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your jail sentence.
” Pastor Darrell Scott , a onetime close friend of Cohen , was less sympathetic .
“ It was dumb .
I know thugs in the hood who know to keep their heads down , ” Scott told The Post .
“ He ’ s his own worst enemy sometimes .
You won ’ t see Paul Manafort at a restaurant.
” Here ’ s how Manafort and others are handling house arrest .
CRIME : Trump ’ s campaign chairman was found guilty on eight counts in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pleaded guilty to two felonies .
SENTENCED TO : Seven-and-a-half years at FCI Loretto , a facility in Pennsylvania .
TIME SERVED : Manafort moved to home confinement on May 13 , 23 months into his sentence , after having been hospitalized for a cardiac event last year and the flu in February .
“ Being surrounded by family is a good thing for Paul , ” his attorney Todd Blanche told The Post .
While a source told The Post that some associates want nothing to do with Manafort , at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Roger Stone was to report to prison next week after being convicted of crimes related to the Mueller investigation , but Trump commuted his sentence Friday .
“ When you ’ re indicted , the government gives a list of people with whom you can have no contact , ” Stone said , adding he missed his pal .
Manafort was on his list , but now that may be moot .
CRIME : In September 2018 , the art dealer pleaded guilty to false income tax returns — reporting business losses when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some $ 3.7 million .
SENTENCED TO : Thirty months at the federal correctional institution in Danbury , Conn. TIME SERVED : She was released in June , about 13 months in , and is now at home on the East Side of Manhattan .
“ I feel extremely fortunate that I was able to go home early , ” the 68-year-old , who represented artists including Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat , told The Post .
“ [ Prison ] teaches you a lot of humility.
” Since release , she hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-flying old life — focusing on her relationship with her son , Max , who visits often .
“ He ’ s here all the time.
” She said that , after decades of a busy career , being at home is an unexpected blessing .
“ With the gallery , it [ took up ] so much time .
.
.
I love being in my home .
I ’ m on a new journey.
” CRIME : In February , the lawyer .
who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty of trying to extort $ 23.5 million from Nike .
He is also charged with embezzlement in California .
SENTENCED TO : Still awaiting sentencing , he faces 40-plus years in prison and had been detained at Tribeca ’ s Metropolitan Correctional Center .
TIME SERVED : Avenatti was temporarily released in April and is set to return Sept. 24 .
He is now living at the “ small one-bedroom ” apartment of a friend in Venice Beach , Calif. , according to lawyer Mariel Colon .
Avenatti sleeps on a couch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ankle monitor strapped to him at all times .
“ Anything is better than where he was , ” Colon said .
“ He ’ s scared to go back because of the risk of the virus .
”

Pandemic lockdown can feel like a prison, but it’s meant freedom for some high-profile criminals.
With the coronavirus crisis sweeping the country’s prison system — at a rate 5.5 times higher than that of the rest of the US population, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University — these jailbirds have gone from life behind bars to house arrest. Still, they are discovering their new normal is anything but.
Michael Cohen learned his lesson this week, when he was sent back to prison less than two months after his lucky release.
The former lawyer to Donald Trump was released to home confinement on May 21 from Otisville federal prison upstate, where he was serving three years after pleading guilty to tax evasion, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations in 2018.
Upon Cohen’s release, his lawyer, Jeffrey K. Levine, said of his home lock-up: “It’s still his prison until his sentence is over.”
But after The Post published photos of Cohen dining out last week at Le Bilboquet, the 53-year-old was taken back into custody.
“I think he’s probably still in disbelief he’s back in Otisville,” Levine told The Post. “The look in his eyes as he was being taken away [haunts me].”
A friend said home re-entry wasn’t easy for Cohen. “It was disorienting going from solitary confinement [because of COVID-19 restrictions] to [his old life],” the friend told The Post. “This stuff is traumatic. You have this elation that you’re home, but you have to deal with the aftermath of your jail sentence.”
Pastor Darrell Scott, a onetime close friend of Cohen, was less sympathetic. “It was dumb. I know thugs in the hood who know to keep their heads down,” Scott told The Post. “He’s his own worst enemy sometimes. You won’t see Paul Manafort at a restaurant.”
Here’s how Manafort and others are handling house arrest.
Paul Manafort
CRIME:
Trump’s campaign chairman was found guilty on eight counts in his tax and bank fraud trial, and pleaded guilty to two felonies.
SENTENCED TO:
Seven-and-a-half years at FCI Loretto, a facility in Pennsylvania.
TIME SERVED:
Manafort moved to home confinement on May 13, 23 months into his sentence, after having been hospitalized for a cardiac event last year and the flu in February.
“Being surrounded by family is a good thing for Paul,” his attorney Todd Blanche told The Post.
While a source told The Post that some associates want nothing to do with Manafort, at least one looks forward to seeing him. Roger Stone was to report to prison next week after being convicted of crimes related to the Mueller investigation, but Trump commuted his sentence Friday.
“When you’re indicted, the government gives a list of people with whom you can have no contact,” Stone said, adding he missed his pal. Manafort was on his list, but now that may be moot.
Mary Boone
CRIME:
In September 2018, the art dealer pleaded guilty to false income tax returns — reporting business losses when her eponymous gallery made a profit of some $3.7 million.
SENTENCED TO:
Thirty months at the federal correctional institution in Danbury, Conn.
TIME SERVED:
She was released in June, about 13 months in, and is now at home on the East Side of Manhattan. “I feel extremely fortunate that I was able to go home early,” the 68-year-old, who represented artists including Julian Schnabel and Jean-Michel Basquiat, told The Post. “[Prison] teaches you a lot of humility.”
Since release, she hasn’t spoken to anyone from her high-flying old life — focusing on her relationship with her son, Max, who visits often. “He’s here all the time.”
She said that, after decades of a busy career, being at home is an unexpected blessing. “With the gallery, it [took up] so much time . . . I love being in my home. I’m on a new journey.”
Michael Avenatti
CRIME:
In February, the lawyer. who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in her suits against President Trump, was found guilty of trying to extort $23.5 million from Nike. He is also charged with embezzlement in California.
SENTENCED TO:
Still awaiting sentencing, he faces 40-plus years in prison and had been detained at Tribeca’s Metropolitan Correctional Center.
TIME SERVED:
Avenatti was temporarily released in April and is set to return Sept. 24. He is now living at the “small one-bedroom” apartment of a friend in Venice Beach, Calif., according to lawyer Mariel Colon. Avenatti sleeps on a couch in the living room and has an ankle monitor strapped to him at all times.
“Anything is better than where he was,” Colon said. “He’s scared to go back because of the risk of the virus.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Scott Stringer drops the green eyeshades for his own spending dreams

The city comptroller ’ s job is to watch the budget , spot waste and protect taxpayer dollars .
Alas , Scott Stringer is more interested in adding costs and bloating the bottom line — all to promote his own political ambition .
Even as the pandemic ravages city revenues , New York ’ s supposed fiscal watchdog is pushing plans to boost hiring and outlays , though he ’ s careful not to mention costs or where funds would come from .
In an op-ed last week , he calls for the creation of a “ chief diversity officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plus one for each of the city ’ s roughly 70 agencies , to drive “ the representation of people of color and women across government ” and oversee the city ’ s minority- and women-owned business programs .
Yet anti-discrimination laws , the Offices of Citywide Equity and Inclusion and Equal Employment Opportunity , the Human Rights Commission and other safeguards already protect against bias .
Indeed , that the city has programs for minority- and women-owned businesses — with target levels of city contracts to be awarded to them — suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stringer ’ s CDOs even if they were affordable .
In any event , the comptroller doesn ’ t say a word about the city ’ s cost for such jobs .
( A guesstimate by the Independent Budget Office puts it at $ 11.5 million a year , when the city is facing multibillion-dollar deficits . )
Maybe that ’ s because he ’ s more interested in scoring political points , as he eyes a run for mayor next year , than doing his actual job .
Similarly , Stringer this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools .
Not all of its ideas are wrong or even prohibitive : He calls for masks , social distancing , limiting the size of groups and other measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus .
Yet many may entail significant costs , such as providing more staff in classrooms , a social worker , guidance counselor and full-time nurse in every school , more child-care options for parents and so on .
The price tag for all that : The city ’ s chief accountant maintains radio silence .
Let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long let his ambition for higher office — and his enduring need to appease the far left — take priority over doing his real duties .
To pander to climate-change warriors , he opposed desperately needed natural-gas supplies ( even though a shift to oil would worsen warming ) .
He ’ s offered disastrous housing proposals and called for defunding the NYPD , which would hurt minorities most .
When the City Council passed this year ’ s budget , he largely ignored its alarming fiscal recklessness and instead blasted it for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ black and brown ] New Yorkers who deserve and demand systemic change.
” How , exactly , does Stringer expect to convince voters he ’ d do a good job as mayor after failing so miserably as comptroller ?

The city comptroller’s job is to watch the budget, spot waste and protect taxpayer dollars. Alas, Scott Stringer is more interested in adding costs and bloating the bottom line — all to promote his own political ambition.
Even as the pandemic ravages city revenues, New York’s supposed fiscal watchdog is pushing plans to boost hiring and outlays, though he’s careful not to mention costs or where funds would come from.
In an op-ed last week, he calls for the creation of a “chief diversity officer,” reporting to the mayor, plus one for each of the city’s roughly 70 agencies, to drive “the representation of people of color and women across government” and oversee the city’s minority- and women-owned business programs.
Yet anti-discrimination laws, the Offices of Citywide Equity and Inclusion and Equal Employment Opportunity, the Human Rights Commission and other safeguards already protect against bias.
Indeed, that the city has programs for minority- and women-owned businesses — with target levels of city contracts to be awarded to them — suggests New York wouldn’t really need Stringer’s CDOs even if they were affordable.
In any event, the comptroller doesn’t say a word about the city’s cost for such jobs. (A guesstimate by the Independent Budget Office puts it at $11.5 million a year, when the city is facing multibillion-dollar deficits.) Maybe that’s because he’s more interested in scoring political points, as he eyes a run for mayor next year, than doing his actual job.
Similarly, Stringer this month dumped a plan for reopening city schools. Not all of its ideas are wrong or even prohibitive: He calls for masks, social distancing, limiting the size of groups and other measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Yet many may entail significant costs, such as providing more staff in classrooms, a social worker, guidance counselor and full-time nurse in every school, more child-care options for parents and so on. The price tag for all that: The city’s chief accountant maintains radio silence.
Let’s face it: Scott Stringer has long let his ambition for higher office — and his enduring need to appease the far left — take priority over doing his real duties. To pander to climate-change warriors, he opposed desperately needed natural-gas supplies (even though a shift to oil would worsen warming). He’s offered disastrous housing proposals and called for defunding the NYPD, which would hurt minorities most.
When the City Council passed this year’s budget, he largely ignored its alarming fiscal recklessness and instead blasted it for failing “to answer the calls of [black and brown] New Yorkers who deserve and demand systemic change.”
How, exactly, does Stringer expect to convince voters he’d do a good job as mayor after failing so miserably as comptroller?


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--It’s a lot harder to fire a bad NYC teacher than a bad cop

Cobbie Hill High School ousted six of its 34 teachers ...

Pot, meet kettle: Randi Weingarten, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, says police unions need to stop protecting their misbehaving members.
Yes, that Randi Weingarten, who as local United Federation of Teachers chief butted heads with Mayor Michael Bloomberg over his refusal to place ineffective and dangerous teachers back into classrooms. The union contract she championed wouldn’t let him fire them.
But in an interview with the Chief-Leader, a union-backed news service, Weingarten argued in favor of changing police-union-contract protections that make it hard to fire problematic and dangerous cops.
“You have people of color being treated in a discriminatory way and being brutalized by law enforcement. If you don’t, after [George] Floyd, recognize that there’s an issue, then you’re not seeing the experience of people of color,” she said.
In her decades as a union leader, Weingarten has never had any problem defending and protecting incompetent teachers — who most often worked in low-performing schools in predominately minority communities.
The city employs more than twice as many teachers as cops — 79,000 teachers versus 36,000 cops. And it’s a lot harder to fire a bad teacher than a bad cop: It typically takes years and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Instead, most bad teachers — the ineffective, the incompetent, even the outright abusive — get sent to “rubber rooms” where administrators hope they will resign or eventually retire. That is, when they’re not simply left to keep “teaching.”
Together with other unwanted educators, they form the Absent Teacher Reserve — whose members the UFT is constantly trying to get back into the classroom.
Weingarten’s UFT successor, Michael Mulgrew, has been pushing Mayor Bill de Blasio to accelerate the re-absorption of ATR misfits in classrooms over the objections of school administrators. And the mayor has rushed to comply.
At one point, de Blasio’s Department of Education basically paid schools to hire from the ranks of the ATR. Chancellor Richard Carranza even brags about the resulting “progress.”
Every union puts its members’ interests above the public’s. But some unions have a lot more success in that regard — with Weingarten’s members (in the city, at least) winning the prize for excessive privilege. It takes a lot of chutzpah for her to call on another union to give up protections more mild than what her own people enjoy.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--NYC ER doctor battled COVID-19 before taking her own life

A heroic New York City emergency room doctor was driven to suicide in the depths of the coronavirus crisis , her family says — and the relentless strain of modern medicine , which rewards perfection and disdains weakness , is to blame .
“ If the culture had been different , that thought would have never even occurred to her , which is why I need to change the culture , ” Jennifer Feist said of her sister , Dr. Lorna Breen .
“ We need to change it .
Like , as of today , ” she told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , killed herself April 26 , while medical director of the emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in Upper Manhattan , located in a low-income community that was especially hard hit by COVID-19 .
“ She had something that was a little bit different , and that was this optimism that her persistent efforts will save lives , ” colleague and friend Dr. Barbara Lock told The Times .
As coronavirus cases in New York began to multiply out of control this spring , leaving patients in her emergency room to be treated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be stored in an X-ray room , Breen turned to her Bible study group for comfort .
“ People I work with are so confused by all of the mixed messages and constantly changing instructions , ” she wrote them on March 14 .
A few days later Breen fell ill with the virus herself .
She quarantined at home — but felt guilty for the fever and exhaustion that kept her away from her work .
When she returned , she wrote a friend , she felt “ baffled and overwhelmed.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she texted her prayer group .
Studies in China , Canada and Italy have found that doctors treating coronavirus patients are increasingly afflicted with insomnia , anxiety and depression and insomnia , The Times noted .
NewYork-Presbyterian said that it has offered mental-health assistance to its staffers since late March .
But the stigma of asking for help was another burden .
“ Lorna kept saying , ‘ I think everybody knows I ’ m struggling , ’ ” Feist said .
“ She was so embarrassed.
” By mid-April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hospitalized in a psychiatric unit in Charlottesville , Virginia , near her family home for more than a week .
Only days after her release , as she stayed temporarily with her mother , Breen killed herself .
She did not leave a note .
Breen ’ s friend Anna Ochoa is haunted by her their final conversation .
“ ’ I couldn ’ t help anyone .
I couldn ’ t do anything , ' ” Ochoa remembers her repeating .
“ ‘ I just wanted to help people , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ”

A heroic New York City emergency room doctor was driven to suicide in the depths of the coronavirus crisis, her family says — and the relentless strain of modern medicine, which rewards perfection and disdains weakness, is to blame.
“If the culture had been different, that thought would have never even occurred to her, which is why I need to change the culture,” Jennifer Feist said of her sister, Dr. Lorna Breen.
“We need to change it. Like, as of today,” she told The New York Times.
Breen, 49, killed herself April 26, while medical director of the emergency department at NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital in Upper Manhattan, located in a low-income community that was especially hard hit by COVID-19.
“She had something that was a little bit different, and that was this optimism that her persistent efforts will save lives,” colleague and friend Dr. Barbara Lock told The Times.
As coronavirus cases in New York began to multiply out of control this spring, leaving patients in her emergency room to be treated in hallways and bodies of victims to be stored in an X-ray room, Breen turned to her Bible study group for comfort.
“People I work with are so confused by all of the mixed messages and constantly changing instructions,” she wrote them on March 14.
A few days later Breen fell ill with the virus herself. She quarantined at home — but felt guilty for the fever and exhaustion that kept her away from her work.
When she returned, she wrote a friend, she felt “baffled and overwhelmed.”
“I’m drowning right now,” she texted her prayer group.
Studies in China, Canada and Italy have found that doctors treating coronavirus patients are increasingly afflicted with insomnia, anxiety and depression and insomnia, The Times noted.
NewYork-Presbyterian said that it has offered mental-health assistance to its staffers since late March.
But the stigma of asking for help was another burden.
“Lorna kept saying, ‘I think everybody knows I’m struggling,’” Feist said. “She was so embarrassed.”
By mid-April, almost paralyzed by the strain, Breen was hospitalized in a psychiatric unit in Charlottesville, Virginia, near her family home for more than a week.
Only days after her release, as she stayed temporarily with her mother, Breen killed herself. She did not leave a note.
Breen’s friend Anna Ochoa is haunted by her their final conversation.
“’I couldn’t help anyone. I couldn’t do anything,'” Ochoa remembers her repeating. “‘I just wanted to help people, and I couldn’t do anything.’”


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Jamal Crawford is ready for Nets after ‘baffling’ NBA hiatus

At just five years younger than his interim coach , Jamal ...

Jamal Crawford is the oldest player in the Orlando bubble — so old he can remember Isiah Thomas running the Knicks.
At age 40, the new Nets signee will add leadership, versatility, shotmaking — and maybe some point-guard play. Remember, this depleted Nets squad is likely to start two-way man Chris Chiozza at point guard, when the restart begins July 31 versus the Magic.
The Nets are Crawford’s ninth team.
“The Knicks were one of my favorite places to play — just the energy of the New York fans in general is amazing,’’ Crawford told The Post in an email. “I’m sure with the Nets, that energy is amazing as well. The fans in that area are so passionate, and so knowledgeable.”
Orlando is a long way from Brooklyn and the gyms will be empty. But if Crawford lights up Disney World, the former Knicks combo guard could find his way onto the Nets’ roster next season — when Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie and Caris LeVert are back to vie for an NBA title.
“My wife changed my diet a few years ago, and that was huge,’’ Crawford said in explaining his longevity. “And I’m just staying in love with the game. I didn’t turn 40. I turned 20 twice.’’
COVID-19 research states Crawford could be at more risk than his younger mates. Following NBA rules, he is in the middle of a six-day quarantine in Orlando before he can be cleared for practice Wednesday.
“Obviously coming into it, you see the cases of COVID-19 spiking up in this area,’’ Crawford said. “But I felt comfortable after learning more about the bubble plan.’’
Following the Nets’ third practice Saturday, staged in a hotel ballroom, forward Rodions Kurucs said, “How old is he now, 40, 41? We’ll have to take care of him and make sure he’s good, he’s healthy, and then he’ll join us.”
Last time Crawford played an NBA game — his 1,326th — he piled up 51 points in the Suns’ 2018-19 season finale. But it didn’t get the three-time Sixth Man of the Year re-signed for this season until the Nets needed him as a replacement player with a roster in tatters.
“I have no idea what my role will be, but whatever it is, I will try to do it to the best of my ability,’’ Crawford said. “I’m just thankful to the Nets for the opportunity.’’
Signed as a free agent by Thomas, Crawford played for the Knicks in his young prime — from 2004-09 when the Nets were in New Jersey. Crawford averaged 17.6 points as a Knick.
“I’m actually super-excited because he’s the greatest sixth man of the NBA,’’ Kurucs said. “I’m definitely excited to share some experience with him, and he will share some experience with me.’’
Nets interim coach Jacque Vaughn made the observation Crawford was the prototype dual guard when it wasn’t cool to be. Now it is.
“Without a doubt, the versatility that used to be a negative,’’ Vaughn said. “The combo at the 1, 2 and the 3, 4, you were trying to figure out how to slot guys, and I think it’s more in line of the versatility to play different lineups and put guys in different positions on the floor and challenge the defense. So we’ll try and take advantage of that combo.’’
Crawford’s ability to handle the point could take pressure off Chiozza, the 5-foot-11 University of Florida product who now finds himself tentatively as starting point guard with Dinwiddie and Irving sidelined. The 24-year-old only entered the rotation in the final five games before the shutdown and appeared in 21 contests.
“He’s a veteran who has been in this league for as long as I can remember,’’ Chiozza said of Crawford. “Of course, I’m going to try to pick his brain as much as I can, basketball-related stuff, off the court, anything I can learn from him if I can better myself. I’ve heard he’s a really good mentor and a great guy. I’m looking forward to meeting him and having a conversation and just learn as much as I can in this time we’ve got together.”
Chiozza said he was with the starting unit in Friday’s scrimmages.
“Hopefully I’ll play the same way I was playing before the break — if not better,’’ he said.
During his unsigned stint, Crawford admitted it was “baffling to me.’’ Now Crawford has a real chance to be the same spark plug he was as a Knick.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Two men stabbed in wild NYC subway attack

Wild video has emerged of a bizarre stabbing on a Queens subway in which two men were attacked by a knife-wielding stranger , police said .
The partially caught on video brawl began on the 7 train when the suspect , Patrick Chambers , 46 , shouted at two elderly men sitting across from him , “ Why aren ’ t you home with your kids ?
” police said .
Chambers then pulled a blade , allegedly slashing and stabbing the men , who are both in their 70s .
The mayhem erupted about 7:25 a.m. on July 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Footage shows the bloody tussle after it began , with the victims on the floor of the train .
A woman can be heard shrieking in the background along with a man yelling , “ Get off the train !
” The apparent stabber , clad in a black baseball cap , gray tank top and slacks , appears to kick at the men on the floor before walking away to the other end of the subway car — only to return to one of the men , jabbing him at least once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Eventually the attacker leaves the train car and a conductor walks through .
One of the victims then holds up his bloodied arm for the camera .
Both attacker and victims wore face masks to protect against COVID-19 .
The victims were removed to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition .
The attack comes amid a wave of increasing violence , mostly shootings , across the city .
Chambers was arrested and charged with two counts of assault , two counts of menacing and criminal possession of a weapon , which cops recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Wild video has emerged of a bizarre stabbing on a Queens subway in which two men were attacked by a knife-wielding stranger, police said.
The partially caught on video brawl began on the 7 train when the suspect, Patrick Chambers, 46, shouted at two elderly men sitting across from him, “Why aren’t you home with your kids?” police said.
Chambers then pulled a blade, allegedly slashing and stabbing the men, who are both in their 70s. The mayhem erupted about 7:25 a.m. on July 5 as the train rolled through Sunnyside.
Footage shows the bloody tussle after it began, with the victims on the floor of the train. A woman can be heard shrieking in the background along with a man yelling, “Get off the train!”
The apparent stabber, clad in a black baseball cap, gray tank top and slacks, appears to kick at the men on the floor before walking away to the other end of the subway car — only to return to one of the men, jabbing him at least once with the knife, the clip shows.
Eventually the attacker leaves the train car and a conductor walks through. One of the victims then holds up his bloodied arm for the camera. Both attacker and victims wore face masks to protect against COVID-19.
The victims were removed to Elmhurst Hospital in stable condition. The attack comes amid a wave of increasing violence, mostly shootings, across the city.
Chambers was arrested and charged with two counts of assault, two counts of menacing and criminal possession of a weapon, which cops recovered from the suspect, police said.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Yankees can forget about being American League favorites

The Yankees were hit by the coronavirus again , as Aroldis ...

The Yankees are not the American League favorites.
Oh, the defending AL East champions might capture the junior circuit’s pennant. They certainly can. Yet if the first week of spring training 2.0 has taught us anything, it’s the folly of trying to anticipate a professional sports season defined and dominated by a pandemic.
We don’t know whether there actually will be a full season. We know already, however, that if the schedule opens as desired on July 23, there will be no favorites.
Manager Aaron Boone opened his Zoom news conference Saturday with the news that elite closer Aroldis Chapman has tested positive for the coronavirus. Chapman — who worked out with his teammates for a few days earlier in the week and met virtually with the media on Tuesday from Yankee Stadium’s press conference room — has “mild symptoms,” his manager said, and “will not be here for the foreseeable future.”
The COVID hits keep coming (and, to mix in some old-school injury news, Aaron Judge sat out Saturday’s intrasquad game with a stiff neck). As USA Today’s Gabe Lacques noted Saturday on Twitter, the Yankees became the 10th baseball team of which we know to see a player pass the intake screening upon arriving at camp, only to subsequently test positive. At least 14 players in such circumstances have tested positive. The Yankees completed their necessary contact tracing upon receiving the Chapman news, Boone said, and everyone was cleared by testing negative.
“This is something that … even moving forward, a positive test is going to come our way,” Boone said. “It’s about doing all the things that hopefully, as a whole, keep us safe and healthy but right now we feel like we’re doing a good job in here of managing.”
The Yankees now have three players out of commission with COVID-19, and two — Chapman and infielder DJ LeMahieu — played in last year’s All-Star game; pitcher Luis Cessa is the third. Zack Britton likely would get most of the save opportunities in Chapman’s absence, Boone said on Saturday, while Tyler Wade figures to serve as the primary fill-in for LeMahieu at second base. Wade is unproven, and though Britton is a former All-Star himself, his usage in the ninth inning would weaken Boone’s options in earlier frames.
(Yup, it remains ghoulish discussing the baseball consequences of players contracting a disease that has killed nearly 140,000 Americans in less than six months. Sorry.)
The Yankees hardly are alone in the baseball world when it comes to the difficulties of navigating this unprecedented time. Just on Saturday, the Astros canceled their workout after someone on their staff was exposed to the coronavirus, and Royals catcher Cam Gallagher discovered Saturday that he had tested positive despite feeling well enough to play in an intrasquad game Friday night.
“It’s kind of hard to say that … we expected to go through the whole season without anyone testing positive. I think that would be remarkable,” Aaron Hicks said. “It’s part of what’s going on right now. You can get the COVID at any time.”
With that in mind, sure, though the Yankees have registered more casualties on this front than their fellow AL powers in Tampa Bay, Minnesota or Houston — not to mention Masahiro Tanaka suffering a concussion — every team should assume it’ll receive its share of coronavirus bad news. It’s too prominent a condition, our country too uncommitted to thoroughly fighting it.
“We’ve spent a lot of months trying to get to this point and certainly understand what we were getting into when we came here,” Boone said, “and certainly understand that, hopefully on a small level … we’re going to have to deal with these things along the way,” Boone said.
I’m not sure anyone could fully understand what they were entering with these notions of holding sports seasons. We learn more with each day, and each day seemingly brings enormous developments. We need not see anything else, though, to know that the Yankees can forget about cruising through this 60-game sprint. It’s going to be a slog, quite possibly an unmanageable one, for everyone.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Let’s play Jello shot Jenga to ease our pandemic stress

A boozy breakthrough for handling pandemic stress is finally here : Jello shot Jenga .
Let ’ s all play !
Custom woodworker Brian Calteaux invented the variation on the Hasbro classic — and his handmade “ Little Tipsy Shot Tower ” is played the same way : Each player takes a block from a 54-block tower , then places the block on the top of the tower , as the construct gets shakier and shakier .
Calteaux ’ s 27-inch-tall contraption includes what he describes as 54 natural , sanded 7.5-inch blocks , with 15 spots to put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with lids ; and laminated rules and recipe card , according to the Minnesotan ’ s listing on Etsy , an online crafts market .
“ Perfect for backyard get-togethers , graduations , Ladies Nights Out , camping , wedding parties , reunions , bachelor/bachelorette parties , tailgating , etc .
It makes a great gift too !
” Calteaux boasts in his listing .
“ Add a few Jello shots and have fun !
” The price is $ 79 for the standard model ; the models with extra holes , naturally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 15 extra holes at a buck a pop .
And , of course , he even sells extra cups .
Folks are snapping up the gut-rot game faster than they can run to the liquor store .
They haven ’ t been able to get enough since Calteaux unveiled his creation last summer , according to a blog post on Crafty Morning .
The backlog of orders now stretches six weeks .
And almost two dozen Etsy customers had the contraption in their shopping carts at any given time Saturday .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A boozy breakthrough for handling pandemic stress is finally here: Jello shot Jenga. Let’s all play!
Custom woodworker Brian Calteaux invented the variation on the Hasbro classic — and his handmade “Little Tipsy Shot Tower” is played the same way: Each player takes a block from a 54-block tower, then places the block on the top of the tower, as the construct gets shakier and shakier.
Calteaux’s 27-inch-tall contraption includes what he describes as 54 natural, sanded 7.5-inch blocks, with 15 spots to put the jiggly hooch; 25 1-oz. cups with lids; and laminated rules and recipe card, according to the Minnesotan’s listing on Etsy, an online crafts market.
“Perfect for backyard get-togethers, graduations, Ladies Nights Out, camping, wedding parties, reunions, bachelor/bachelorette parties, tailgating, etc. It makes a great gift too!” Calteaux boasts in his listing.
“Add a few Jello shots and have fun!”
The price is $79 for the standard model; the models with extra holes, naturally, are more. Calteaux will add up to 15 extra holes at a buck a pop. And, of course, he even sells extra cups.
Folks are snapping up the gut-rot game faster than they can run to the liquor store. They haven’t been able to get enough since Calteaux unveiled his creation last summer, according to a blog post on Crafty Morning.
The backlog of orders now stretches six weeks. And almost two dozen Etsy customers had the contraption in their shopping carts at any given time Saturday.


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Former USA Gymnastics coach arrested for sexual lewdness with a minor

A former USA Gymnastics coach has been arrested for multiple counts of lewdness with a minor , according to Las Vegas police .
Terry Gray , 52 , was arrested Friday by sex crimes detectives , according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department .
Gray coached in Las Vegas from 2009 to 2015 and was suspended by USA Gymnastics in 2019 , the department said .
He coached on the women ’ s national team and at gyms in Southern California and Ohio , according to the Orange County Register .
The paper said he was suspended from gymnastics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gray was charged with 14 counts in Las Vegas stemming from alleged incidents at Brown ’ s Gymnastics in Las Vegas , according to the report .
The facility has produced top gymnasts .
There are at least three alleged victims , the paper said quoting a person familiar with the case .
Gray had once worked under Olympic team coach Mary Lee Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics , where he coached Alyssa Beckerman , an alternate on the 2000 Olympic team , according to the newspaper .
Las Vegas police urged anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s victims to call the department at 702-828-3421 .

A former USA Gymnastics coach has been arrested for multiple counts of lewdness with a minor, according to Las Vegas police.
Terry Gray, 52, was arrested Friday by sex crimes detectives, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Gray coached in Las Vegas from 2009 to 2015 and was suspended by USA Gymnastics in 2019, the department said.
He coached on the women’s national team and at gyms in Southern California and Ohio, according to the Orange County Register. The paper said he was suspended from gymnastics for sexual misconduct with a minor.
Gray was charged with 14 counts in Las Vegas stemming from alleged incidents at Brown’s Gymnastics in Las Vegas, according to the report. The facility has produced top gymnasts. There are at least three alleged victims, the paper said quoting a person familiar with the case.
Gray had once worked under Olympic team coach Mary Lee Tracy at Cincinnati Gymnastics, where he coached Alyssa Beckerman, an alternate on the 2000 Olympic team, according to the newspaper.
Las Vegas police urged anyone who may have been one of Gray’s victims to call the department at 702-828-3421.