newyorkpost--2020-03-10--New ‘psychedelic medicine clinic’ offers ketamine therapy on Fifth Avenue

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Is cannabis so five minutes ago ?
At the same time Gwyneth Paltrow ’ s Goop set are microdosing mushrooms , a company called Mindbloom is opening a “ psychedelic medicine clinic ” on Fifth Avenue to offer clients “ guided ketamine therapy.
” The trippy sessions go for up to $ 250 , and the firm says that after a “ rigorous initial screening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — “ qualifying clients are prescribed a program of ketamine therapy administered via sublingual tablet or intramuscular injection .
Mindbloom ’ s friendly , expert team offers coaching on how to set intentions and cultivate a receptive , expansive mindset for the introspective journey ahead.
” ( Sounds like something out of a Michel Gondry movie . )
Apparently , “ each session lasts approximately one hour and takes place in a private , spa-like setting.
” MA press release announcing the NYC location explains that ketamine is the only psychedelic medicine that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The outfit , created by tech entrepreneur Dylan Beynon and overseen by Dr. Casey Paleos , says it ’ s planning locations in LA , San Diego , San Francisco and Austin .

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Is cannabis so five minutes ago?
At the same time Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop set are microdosing mushrooms, a company called Mindbloom is opening a “psychedelic medicine center” on Fifth Avenue to offer clients “guided ketamine therapy.”
The trippy sessions go for up to $250, and the firm says that after a “rigorous initial screening” — which includes a psychiatric evaluation — “qualifying clients are prescribed a program of ketamine therapy administered via sublingual tablet or intramuscular injection.
Mindbloom’s friendly, expert team offers coaching on how to set intentions and cultivate a receptive, expansive mindset for the introspective journey ahead.” (Sounds like something out of a Michel Gondry movie.) Apparently, “each session lasts approximately one hour and takes place in a private, spa-like setting.”
A press release announcing the NYC location explains that ketamine is the only psychedelic medicine that can legally be prescribed in the US. The outfit, created by tech entrepreneur Dylan Beynon and overseen by Dr. Casey Paleos, says it’s planning locations in LA, San Diego, San Francisco and Austin.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Cow poop bath is yet another coronavirus ‘cure’

Don ’ t have a cow ?
Fearing coronavirus , three men and one boy in Hiriyur , India , @ @ @ @ @ in a bath filled with cow poop .
“ The whole world is terrified of @ @ @ @ @ ” one of the men said .
“ If we all start taking cow dung @ @ @ @ @ immunity from the virus .
”

Don’t have a cow? Fearing coronavirus, three men and one boy in Hiriyur, India, were filmed taking a dip in a bath filled with cow poop. “The whole world is terrified of the deadly virus outbreak,” one of the men said. “If we all start taking cow dung bath, we will attain immunity from the virus.”
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newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Coronavirus can’t keep Ben Affleck from love

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) The 47-year-old is “ totally dating ” actress Ana de Armas after the pair was spotted in Cuba .
Affleck might be braving air travel but co-host Ian Mohr isn ’ t taking any chances ; he joins from his bathtub in Brooklyn .
Savannah Guthrie ’ s marriage is just fine despite what “ Today ” viewers think and Dolly Parton wants to pose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ben Affleck and Cuban beauty Ana de Armas have been spotted having flirty fun in Havana — sparking more romance rumors .
Onlookers told Page Six they saw the stars , who play husband and wife in the upcoming psychological thriller , “ Deep Water , ” shopping at the trendy T-shirt store Clandestina .
“ They were beaming .
I saw Ana grab Ben ’ s arm as they walked out together , they looked super happy — she ’ s absolutely stunning !
” an onlooker said .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pair were also overheard speaking Spanish together as Affleck is fluent in the language .
They ’ re believed to have arrived Wednesday on the island and dined at cozy eatery La Corte del Principe , posing for photos with the chef .
They were also seen at the Ivan Chef Justo restaurant .
We ’ re also told that Affleck , 47 , and de Arnas , 31 , went for dinner and art at FAC ( Fábrica de Arte Cubano ) on Thursday night , a former cooking oil factory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an art exhibit , and a restaurant .
Why Savannah Guthrie wasn ’ t wearing her wedding ring on ‘ Today ’ TV gossips went into DEFCON 5 last week after Savannah Guthrie appeared on the “ Today ” show for several days straight without her wedding ring .
We got calls and emails , and even spotted some blind items online , apparently about the anchor , predicting the imminent demise of her marriage to DC veteran Michael Feldman .
But Page Six can explosively reveal … she accidentally left the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upstate , and has since been reunited with the sparkler .
Said a source close to Guthrie , “ The other thing Savannah was missing last week was sleep after pulling an all-nighter on Super Tuesday and scoring the first interview with Joe Biden the next day !
” Beloved pair Guthrie and Feldman married in 2014 .
They have two kids .
Dolly Parton wants to pose for Playboy for her 75th birthday This septuagenarian isn ’ t satisfied with being a viral meme sensation .
When asked on Sunday ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what her “ retirement age ” will be , Dolly Parton made it clear she is not stepping out of the game .
“ Well , I don ’ t plan to retire .
I just turned 74 , [ and ] I plan to be on the cover of Playboy magazine , ” the legendary singer-songwriter told Aussie correspondent Tom Steinfort when he visited her in Nashville .
There is precedent for Parton ’ s Playboy pitch : The “ Jolene ” singer first graced the cover of Hugh Hefner ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1978 .
The cover featured the then-32-year-old superstar sporting serious cleavage in the signature Playboy bunny costume — ears , bow-tie , cuffs and all .
“ See , I did Playboy magazine years ago , ” the nine-time Grammy winner told Steinfort with a beaming smile .
“ I thought it ’ d be such a hoot if they go for it — I don ’ t know if they will — if I could be on the cover again when I ’ m 75.
” At the time , Parton was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cover of Playboy .
Note : The “ 9 to 5 ” star was not nude on the inside spread .
Catch up on all episodes of “ We Hear ” by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts .
New episodes come out every Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday .

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The 47-year-old is “totally dating” actress Ana de Armas after the pair was spotted in Cuba.
Affleck might be braving air travel but co-host Ian Mohr isn’t taking any chances; he joins from his bathtub in Brooklyn. Savannah Guthrie’s marriage is just fine despite what “Today” viewers think and Dolly Parton wants to pose for Playboy — again — at 75.
Here’s a closer look at today’s stories:
Ben Affleck spotted with co-star Ana de Armas in Cuba, ‘totally dating’
Ben Affleck and Cuban beauty Ana de Armas have been spotted having flirty fun in Havana — sparking more romance rumors.
Onlookers told Page Six they saw the stars, who play husband and wife in the upcoming psychological thriller, “Deep Water,” shopping at the trendy T-shirt store Clandestina.
“They were beaming. I saw Ana grab Ben’s arm as they walked out together, they looked super happy — she’s absolutely stunning!” an onlooker said. “I totally think they’re dating.”
The pair were also overheard speaking Spanish together as Affleck is fluent in the language.
They’re believed to have arrived Wednesday on the island and dined at cozy eatery La Corte del Principe, posing for photos with the chef. They were also seen at the Ivan Chef Justo restaurant.
We’re also told that Affleck, 47, and de Arnas, 31, went for dinner and art at FAC (Fábrica de Arte Cubano) on Thursday night, a former cooking oil factory which has been turned into a nightclub, an art exhibit, and a restaurant.
Why Savannah Guthrie wasn’t wearing her wedding ring on ‘Today’
TV gossips went into DEFCON 5 last week after Savannah Guthrie appeared on the “Today” show for several days straight without her wedding ring.
We got calls and emails, and even spotted some blind items online, apparently about the anchor, predicting the imminent demise of her marriage to DC veteran Michael Feldman. But Page Six can explosively reveal … she accidentally left the ring behind after spending a few days upstate, and has since been reunited with the sparkler.
Said a source close to Guthrie, “The other thing Savannah was missing last week was sleep after pulling an all-nighter on Super Tuesday and scoring the first interview with Joe Biden the next day!”
Beloved pair Guthrie and Feldman married in 2014. They have two kids.
Dolly Parton wants to pose for Playboy for her 75th birthday
This septuagenarian isn’t satisfied with being a viral meme sensation.
When asked on Sunday’s episode of “60 Minutes Australia” what her “retirement age” will be, Dolly Parton made it clear she is not stepping out of the game.
“Well, I don’t plan to retire. I just turned 74, [and] I plan to be on the cover of Playboy magazine,” the legendary singer-songwriter told Aussie correspondent Tom Steinfort when he visited her in Nashville.
There is precedent for Parton’s Playboy pitch: The “Jolene” singer first graced the cover of Hugh Hefner’s iconic men’s mag back in 1978. The cover featured the then-32-year-old superstar sporting serious cleavage in the signature Playboy bunny costume — ears, bow-tie, cuffs and all.
“See, I did Playboy magazine years ago,” the nine-time Grammy winner told Steinfort with a beaming smile. “I thought it’d be such a hoot if they go for it — I don’t know if they will — if I could be on the cover again when I’m 75.”
At the time, Parton was the first country star to appear on the cover of Playboy. Note: The “9 to 5” star was not nude on the inside spread.
Catch up on all episodes of “We Hear” by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes come out every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--‘Model prisoner’ Tekashi 6ix9ine set to be released in August

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine is scheduled to get out of federal prison in August after behaving like a “ model prisoner ” behind bars , a report said Monday .
The 23-year-old rapper-turned-government-witness — who is serving out his time in an unspecified private jail for safety reasons — has a release date of Aug. 2 , according to the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ months behind bars for his role in a racketeering conspiracy with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods .
After his arrest , Tekashi cooperated with prosecutors and testified against several members of the Bloods set .
The rapper , whose real name Daniel Hernandez , got credit for the 13 months he spent behind bars while awaiting sentencing .
One of his attorneys , Dawn Florio , told Complex : “ The reason why he ’ s getting released early is because he ’ s the perfect model prisoner.
” The Brooklyn-born rhymester had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plea on racketeering and other charges , but a deal he cut with federal authorities allowed a judge to impose whatever sentence he sought fit .
His lawyers had asked for time served .
They pleaded in January for their client to be allowed to serve out his sentence at home over security concerns .
Manhattan federal court judge Paul Engelmayer shot that request down , saying the sentence he ’ d imposed on Tekashi was meant to “ reflect the seriousness of his crimes.
” Once he ’ s out , Tekashi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community service and pay a $ 35,000 fine .

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Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine is scheduled to get out of federal prison in August after behaving like a “model prisoner” behind bars, a report said Monday.
The 23-year-old rapper-turned-government witness — who is serving his time in an unspecified private jail for safety reasons — has a release date of Aug. 2, according to the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.
He was sentenced in December to 24 months behind bars for his role in a racketeering conspiracy with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. After his arrest, Tekashi cooperated with prosecutors and testified against several members of the Bloods set.
The rapper, whose real name is Daniel Hernandez, got credit for the 13 months he spent behind bars while awaiting sentencing.
One of his attorneys, Dawn Florio, told Complex: “The reason why he’s getting released early is because he’s the perfect model prisoner.”
The Brooklyn-born rhymester had faced decades in prison following his guilty plea on racketeering and other charges, but a deal he cut with federal authorities allowed a judge to impose whatever sentence he saw fit.
His lawyers had asked for time served. They pleaded in January for their client to be allowed to serve out his sentence at home over security concerns.
Manhattan federal Judge Paul Engelmayer shot that request down, saying the sentence he’d imposed on Tekashi was meant to “reflect the seriousness of his crimes.”
Once he’s out, Tekashi will have to serve 300 hours of community service and pay a $35,000 fine.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Jacque Vaughn hints at where changes are coming for Nets

The Nets say they “ mutually parted ways ” with Kenny Atkinson ... .

The Nets flew west on Monday facing a road trip that offers a grueling schedule, but also a chance to settle into life with Jacque Vaughn.
The interim coach only had about 24 hours to put his own stamp on the Nets before they played their first game under him Sunday, a 110-107 win over the Bulls. But as the final 19 games of the season get underway starting Tuesday against the Lakers, Vaughn will try to put his fingerprints on the Nets in the wake of Kenny Atkinson’s firing.
“I challenged the staff to get a list of things that maybe they had been thinking about [doing],” Vaughn said Sunday. “We had discussed some of those things that we’ll continue to discuss going forward. I think you’ll see some changes. Some things will remain status quo. … Little tweaks that hopefully our players respond to.”
The changes that Vaughn began putting in place for Sunday’s game were not overly dramatic. Elevating DeAndre Jordan into the starting lineup over Jarrett Allen was the most noticeable one, but the Nets also switched more on picks defensively and Vaughn tried to add in a few new out-of-timeout plays.
Vaughn said he will also be adding in new defensive sets.
“We’ll start implementing defenses that, if you don’t have the communication, they won’t work,” he said.
A more immediate concern was figuring out the root of the Nets’ turnover problems after committing a season-high 29 on Sunday.
The opponents on their West Coast road trip won’t make things any easier. After Tuesday’s game against LeBron James and Anthony Davis, they play a back-to-back Thursday and Friday against the Warriors and Clippers, before wrapping up with a game Sunday against the Kings.
But the Nets saw the trip as a chance to “quiet out the outside noise,” Caris LeVert said, and focus on their new reality after a chaotic weekend.
“We’ll use this time to build our camaraderie, jell and learn JV [Vaughn] a little bit more, but also compete,” Jordan said. “We got some tough opponents, but [shoot], that’s the NBA. We gotta come out and play. We’ll see tough teams like this in the postseason, if that’s where we want to be. Down the line, we gotta be able to win road games.”
The Nets recalled Nic Claxton from G-League Long Island, where the rookie big man averaged 21.7 points and eight rebounds over the past three games.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Alex Rodriguez talks about buying Mets with Jimmy Fallon

Alex Rodriguez danced around a question about his reported interest in buying the Mets before leaving the door open .
Host Jimmy Fallon asked the former Yankees slugger and current Fox and ESPN baseball analyst on “ The Tonight Show ” Monday if it was “ true you are interested in buying the New York Mets.
” Rodriguez went on to opine about his love for New York City and being a Mets fan growing up before giving some insight .
“ I will say this , if the opportunity [ to buy the Mets ] came up I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
The Post reported in February that Rodriguez emerged as a potential suitor to buy the Mets and that he was “ kicking the tires ” on the idea after billionaire Steve Cohen walked away from his deal to purchase the team after issues apparently arose with the Wilpons over control of the club during the next five years .
Cohen was willing to pay $ 2.6 billion to buy 80 percent the Amazin ’ s .
If Rodriguez — who made around $ 450 million during his playing days — was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would need to put together an ownership group much like former Yankees teammate Derek Jeter did with the Marlins and Magic Johnson with the Dodgers .
Rodriguez , who flirted with playing for the Mets in 2000 , jokingly offered the opportunity to Fallon , a Yankees fan .
A-Rod ’ s fiancee Jennifer Lopez is also a known Yankees fan .
“ Maybe you can buy them with me , ” Rodriguez told Fallon .
“ I need a partner !
” The Wilpons plan to sell the Mets through an auction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investment banker Allen & Co .

Alex Rodriguez danced around a question about his reported interest in buying the Mets before leaving the door open.
Host Jimmy Fallon asked the former Yankees slugger and current Fox and ESPN baseball analyst on “The Tonight Show” Monday if it was “true you are interested in buying the New York Mets.” Rodriguez went on to opine about his love for New York City and being a Mets fan growing up before giving some insight.
“I will say this, if the opportunity [to buy the Mets] came up, I would certainly look at it,” A-Rod said.
The Post reported in February that Rodriguez emerged as a potential suitor to buy the Mets and that he was “kicking the tires” on the idea after billionaire Steve Cohen walked away from his deal to purchase the team after issues apparently arose with the Wilpons over control of the club during the next five years. Cohen was willing to pay $2.6 billion to buy 80 percent the Amazin’s.
If Rodriguez — who made around $450 million during his playing days — was going to buy the Mets, he would need to put together an ownership group much like former Yankees teammate Derek Jeter did with the Marlins and Magic Johnson with the Dodgers. Rodriguez, who flirted with playing for the Mets in 2000, jokingly offered the opportunity to Fallon, a Yankees fan. A-Rod’s fiancee, Jennifer Lopez, is also a known Yankees fan.
“Maybe you can buy them with me,” Rodriguez told Fallon. “I need a partner!”
The Wilpons plan to sell the Mets through an auction conducted by the team’s longtime investment banker Allen & Co.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Iowa girl miraculously regains vision after being blinded by flu

A 4-year-old Iowa girl who was blinded and nearly died after catching the flu has regained her eyesight , family members announced this week .
Jade DeLucia , who didn ’ t receive a flu shot this season , got sick late last year and eventually suffered a seizure and became unconscious .
She was diagnosed on Christmas Day with acute necrotizing encephalopathy , a known complication of viral infections , like the flu , which caused her brain to swell .
“ They said she had significant brain damage .
They said our child might not ever wake up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might not ever be the same , ” mom Amanda Phillips told CNN at the time .
On New Year ’ s Day , Jade woke up — but was unable to see .
About two months later , on Monday , relative Courtney Frey announced that Jade ’ s sight had returned .
But Jade was “ still showing signs of brain damage , ” Frey wrote .
“ She is not the great independent conversationalist who knows her numbers and letters , but we are continuing to believe and hope in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ She is full of love , giggles , and snuggles and is an incredible light .
We don ’ t take that for granted !
” Jade ’ s mom added to CNN : “ She ’ s doing awesome .
We ’ re excited no matter what .
”

A 4-year-old Iowa girl who was blinded and nearly died after catching the flu has regained her eyesight, family members announced this week.
Jade DeLucia, who didn’t receive a flu shot this season, got sick late last year and eventually suffered a seizure and became unconscious.
She was diagnosed on Christmas Day with acute necrotizing encephalopathy, a known complication of viral infections, like the flu, which caused her brain to swell.
“They said she had significant brain damage. They said our child might not ever wake up, and if she did, she might not ever be the same,” mom Amanda Phillips told CNN at the time.
On New Year’s Day, Jade woke up — but was unable to see.
About two months later, on Monday, relative Courtney Frey announced that Jade’s sight had returned.
“The miracles continue for her!!!,” Frey posted in a Facebook group called Jade’s Journey.
But Jade was “still showing signs of brain damage,” Frey wrote.
“She is not the great independent conversationalist who knows her numbers and letters, but we are continuing to believe and hope in her full recovery,” she wrote.
“She is full of love, giggles, and snuggles and is an incredible light. We don’t take that for granted!”
Jade’s mom added to CNN: “She’s doing awesome. We’re excited no matter what.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--St. John’s University asks students to vacate dorms amid coronavirus outbreak

St. John ’ s University asked students living in on-campus dorms to return to their homes and announced the school @ @ @ @ @ amid the coronavirus outbreak .
Effective Tuesday , the Queens school will hold classes exclusively @ @ @ @ @ University President Dr. Conrado “ Bobby ” Gempesaw wrote in an email to students Monday @ @ @ @ @ an abundance of caution … the University is suspending face-to-face instruction at all locations as @ @ @ @ @ our community healthy and assist with the containment of the spread of COVID-19 , ” @ @ @ @ @ live on campus will have until Wednesday to vacate their dorms , but those who @ @ @ @ @ will be allowed to stay in the residence halls , Gempesaw said .
Students had @ @ @ @ @ when the announcement was made .
St. John ’ s joins New York University , @ @ @ @ @ it was switching to remote classes beginning Wednesday to safeguard against the spread of coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ Fordham and Columbia have taken similar measures to protect their students and staff .

St. John’s University asked students living in on-campus dorms to return to their homes and announced the school will be suspending in-person classes amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Effective Tuesday, the Queens school will hold classes exclusively online until March 27, University President Dr. Conrado “Bobby” Gempesaw wrote in an email to students Monday night.
“Out of an abundance of caution … the University is suspending face-to-face instruction at all locations as an additional effort to keep our community healthy and assist with the containment of the spread of COVID-19,” Gempesaw wrote.
Students who live on campus will have until Wednesday to vacate their dorms, but those who can’t go home will be allowed to stay in the residence halls, Gempesaw said.
Students had just returned from Spring break when the announcement was made.
St. John’s joins New York University, which just hours earlier announced it was switching to remote classes beginning Wednesday to safeguard against the spread of coronavirus.
City schools such as Fordham and Columbia have taken similar measures to protect their students and staff.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers say he’ll die behind bars if sentenced to more than five years

The disgraced movie mogul is housed in the North Infirmary ...

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Harvey Weinstein’s legal team pleaded with the New York judge scheduled to sentence him Wednesday to give the convicted rapist just a five-year sentence, claiming he likely won’t survive behind bars for any longer than that.
Lawyers for the 67-year-old sexual abuser — who faces up to 29 years in jail — filed legal documents late Monday claiming a prison term longer than the mandatory minimum would essentially be “a de facto life sentence.”
“The grave reality is that Mr. Weinstein may not even outlive that term,” the attorneys wrote in a letter to New York Supreme Court Justice James Burke.
The lawyers also asked Burke to consider how their client’s life was “destroyed” and how he “lost everything” since the explosive 2017 New Yorker article by Ronan Farrow accusing him of sexual assault.
“Mr. Weinstein was constantly maligned by the media, having long since been convicted in the court of public opinion,” they wrote.
“His fall from grace has been historic, perhaps unmatched in the age of social media.”
They also want Burke to consider Weinstein’s otherwise clean record. And they tried to relitigate the case, deploying the same tactics used in court by writing that the disgraced producer’s victims “continued consensual relationships with Mr. Weinstein after the alleged assaults and contacted him for jobs, tickets, and professional advice.”
“The trial did not fairly portray who he is as a person,” they wrote.
“His life story, his accomplishments, and struggles are simply remarkable and should not be disregarded in total because of a jury’s verdict.”
They also cited Weinstein’s charitable work and his desire to spend time with his five children, including his six-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter with ex-wife Georgina Chapman, who are “the love of his life and continue to bring him constant joy.”
Weinstein is awaiting sentencing on Rikers Island after spending nearly two weeks at Bellevue Hospital, where he underwent a heart procedure last Wednesday.
The fallen movie mogul was convicted Feb. 24 of raping a hairstylist and forcibly performing oral sex on a former “Project Runway” production assistant.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Marcus Stroman fired up by improved changeup: ‘So many weapons’

Jeurys Familia is working on a new grip for his ...

Marcus Stroman can get fired up even over a simulated game.
As he stayed at Clover Park to get in his work, honoring the long-standing tradition of not providing too many sneak previews to division opponents — the Mets played their scheduled game at Jupiter against the Marlins — the right-hander took pride in particular in a couple of changeups that went for strikes against switch-hitter Jed Lowrie, batting from the left side.
“That’s my sixth pitch that I’ve had in my repertoire. It’s slowly growing to be a pretty good pitch,” Stroman said. “I feel like I have so many weapons. I feel like I can go to any pitch in any count. So it’s extremely gratifying when I’m able to get a swing through by a lefty. … It gives me a lot of confidence.”
According to MLB.com’s Baseball Savant website, Stroman threw his changeup 5.3 percent of the time last year, fourth most often after his sinker (36.3 percent), slider (30.9) and cutter (24.1). He also utilized a four-seam fastball (2.4) and curveball (1 percent).
Stroman threw four “innings” Monday, tossing nearly 70 pitches, he said, and allowing what may or may not have been a Ryan Cordell home run to left field (it was a close call).
“Felt great, felt great,” Stroman said. “Body feels good, arm feels good. … Pretty much right where I need to be.”
Luis Rojas watched the first two innings of the sim game before leaving for the Mets’ Grapefruit League game, and continues to be impressed with the right-hander.
“He doesn’t lack any confidence,’’ Rojas said. “He has a lot of energy.”
Rojas added Stroman was able to adjust throughout the outing with catcher Rene Rivera.
“They had a conversation ongoing between innings in the dugout about what his pitches were doing,’’ Rojas said. “It’s a good conversation to have.”
Both Stroman and Noah Syndergaard are expected to stay back in Port St. Lucie for sim games instead of traveling with the team to the West Coast of the state on Friday and Saturday.
Pete Alonso played again in Monday’s 1-1 tie and has started six games in seven days. Part of the workload was due to J.D. Davis being out with a jammed shoulder, but Rojas said Alonso wanted to be out there. The manager added Alonso has adjusted his daily routine after his first season in the majors.
“He’s learning new things,’’ Rojas said. “He’s always been an extra [hard] worker. Now it’s the first time coming in having played a 162-game [season] and he’s shaping his routine a little more. He’s taking less ground balls, less swings because he feels good right now. Less is more for him now.”
Walker Lockett got the start against the Marlins and tossed three scoreless innings. There’s no room for the right-hander in the rotation and he’s out of minor league options, meaning the Mets would have to put him on waivers to keep him.
“I recognize things,’’ Lockett said of his place in the competition for the rotation. “Any way I can help the team is what I want to do.”
And he’s aware of what his future might be.
“It’s in the back of my head,’’ Lockett said. “All I can do is perform and let the chips fall where they may.’’
Matt Adams, in his first game back after undergoing heart tests, went 0-for-3 as the DH. … Dellin Betances is scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring Wednesday after struggling with his velocity and command in his Saturday debut.
Seth Lugo made his spring debut, returning from a fractured pinky toe to toss a scoreless inning. The right-hander said the toe will likely remain fractured “for a while,’’ but it felt fine and didn’t affect him on the mound.
Rick Porcello takes the mound against the Astros at 1:05 p.m. on Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Fla.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Seton Hall’s Ramaro Gill cleans up with Big East awards

The biggest win of the year for St. John ’ s came ...

Romaro Gill’s transformation — from a forgotten reserve to key part of Big East regular-season tri-champion Seton Hall — reached a new high on Monday.
The 7-foot-2 big man from Jamaica was named the league’s Most Improved and Defensive Player of the Year, as voted on by Big East coaches. Gill, a junior college transfer, went from averaging 2.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game as a junior to 7.8 points, 5.6 rebounds and a whopping 3.2 blocks — third-most in the country — this season as a senior.
“He’s a tremendous person, and he’s really worked hard since he’s gotten here,” Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said. “It really shows a lot that he’s most improved — he really is — and he anchors our defense for us down low. … It’s amazing what happens when you have a great attitude and a great work ethic, which Ro [has].”
If St. John’s can get past eighth-seeded Georgetown on Wednesday night in the first round of the Big East Tournament, it looks as if it will be facing a stripped-down version of top-seeded Creighton on Thursday in the quarterfinals.
The Bluejays, ranked seventh nationally, may be without star point guard and All-Big East second-team selection Marcus Zegarowski, who suffered a right knee injury late in Saturday’s win over Seton Hall. Hours after coach Greg McDermott said on a conference call he had “no idea” if the sophomore will be available on Thursday, the school announced Zegarowski is doubtful for the quarterfinals.
Zegarowski, who is averaging 16.1 points and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 42.4 percent from 3-point range, underwent an MRI that revealed a meniscus injury. According to the Omaha World-Herald, Zegarowski didn’t take part in any drills in Monday’s workout and Creighton is preparing to play without him if need be. He had a noticeable limp in a video taken of practice.
St. John’s (16-15) pulled off its biggest win of the year in the second meeting between the teams, hammering Creighton, 91-71, on March 1 at Carnesecca Arena. Zegarowski struggled mightily that day, shooting 1 of 10 from the field.
With fears of coronavirus spreading, the Big East announced it is going ahead with its plans as scheduled to play its postseason tournament at Madison Square Garden from Wednesday through Saturday with fans in attendance.
“We have maintained a direct line of communication with the New York City Department of Health and Office of Emergency Management, who are not recommending the cancellation of large gatherings in New York City at this time,” the statement read.
Creighton forward Denzel Mahoney was named the league’s Sixth Man of the Year. The 6-foot-5 Mahoney, a Southeast Missouri State transfer, averaged 12.0 points and 3.1 rebounds per game during the regular season. Butler’s Kamar Baldwin, Georgetown’s Jagan Mosely and Providence’s Emmitt Holt shared the league’s Sportsmanship Award.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Rangers in talks to sign first-round pick K’Andre Miller

It seems as if the rest of New York is ...

The Rangers have engaged in dialogue with the representatives for Wisconsin sophomore defenseman K’Andre Miller, with the 22nd overall selection in the 2018 draft leaning toward leaving school and turning pro, The Post has been told.
Miller had a rocky season for the underachieving Badgers, who were ousted from the Big Ten Tournament with an opening-round sweep by Ohio State to finish the season a shocking 14-20-2 despite three NHL first-rounders — Miller; Alex Turcotte, fifth overall by Los Angeles in 2019; Cole Caufield, 15th overall by Montreal in 2019 — on the roster.
The 6-foot-4, 207-pound, 20-year-old also struggled for Team USA in the World Junior Tournament, but did improve on both sides of the puck over the season’s second half. Miller finished with 18 points (7-11) in 36 games after having recorded 22 points (5-17) in 26 games as a freshman.
The Blueshirts ideally would like to sign Miller to an entry level contract that would begin next season while getting the defenseman to Hartford on a PTO (Professional Try Out) agreement for the remainder of the current AHL season and potential playoffs.
Mika Zibanejad, who last week was named the NHL’s second star for February, on Monday was named the league’s first star of the first week of March, off his seven-goal output over three games that was capped by Thursday’s historic five-goal night against the Capitals.
No. 93 has recorded nine of the 17 goals scored by Rangers over the past five games since his left wing, Chris Kreider, left the lineup with a broken foot. Zibanejad has taken 22 shots on 39 attempts in the interim, but said that he has not altered his game since Phil Di Giuseppe moved into Kreider’s spot.
“You try not to change your game,” said Zibanejad, whose team opens a three-game trip in Dallas on Tuesday. “I know there’s been a lot of talk about [Kreider], and he’s a big, key player for our team and our line. He does so much when he’s out there.
“I’ve said this before, it’s hard to play with two new guys on a line, and the guys who have been playing with me and [Pavel Buchnevich] have done a good job. I don’t think the production from the team side or my side changes because of that.”
David Quinn admitted to considering affecting dramatic changes in line combinations, but is staying with the same units that opened Saturday’s game against the Devils. The coach utilized 13 different combinations in the third period of the 6-4 defeat, with Kaapo Kakko getting one turn with Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin.
But when asked whether any of the new combinations piqued his interest, Quinn said, “No … nothing in that game piqued my interest.”
The Blueshirts have reached a contract agreement with Michigan State senior free-agent center Patrick Khodorenko, who will report immediately to the Wolf Pack. The 6-foot, 200-pound, 21-year-old, born in Walnut Creek, Calif., recorded 33 points (16-17) this year and a sum of 120 points (54-66) in his four seasons with the Spartans.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Chinese President Xi Jinping makes first Wuhan visit since coronavirus outbreak

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made his first visit to Wuhan , the central Chinese city that has been hit hardest by the new virus epidemic .
State media reported Xi arrived in the morning in Wuhan , which is currently under lockdown along with several nearby cities .
Xi will inspect the epidemic prevention and control work and visit medical workers , community volunteers , patients and others on the front lines , state media said .
The battle to halt the coronavirus has brought sweeping new restrictions in Europe and the Middle East , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire country , Israel ordering all visitors quarantined just weeks before Passover and Easter , and Spain closing all schools in and around its capital .
“ Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries , the threat of a pandemic has become very real , ” said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus .
“ The great advantage we have is the decisions we all make as governments , businesses , communities , families and individuals can influence the trajectory of this epidemic.
” More than 113,000 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and more than 3,900 have died of the COVID-19 illness it causes .
Most of the cases are in China , but its proportion is shrinking as the caseload grows elsewhere .
More than 62,000 people have already recovered .
But Italy ’ s intensifying struggle to halt the virus ’ spread emerged as a cautionary tale .

BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday made his first visit to Wuhan, the central Chinese city that has been hit hardest by the new virus epidemic.
State media reported Xi arrived in the morning in Wuhan, which is currently under lockdown along with several nearby cities.
Xi will inspect the epidemic prevention and control work and visit medical workers, community volunteers, patients and others on the front lines, state media said.
The battle to halt the coronavirus has brought sweeping new restrictions in Europe and the Middle East, with Italy expanding a travel ban to the entire country, Israel ordering all visitors quarantined just weeks before Passover and Easter, and Spain closing all schools in and around its capital.
“Now that the virus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real,” said World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The great advantage we have is the decisions we all make as governments, businesses, communities, families and individuals can influence the trajectory of this epidemic.”
More than 113,000 people have been infected with the virus, and more than 3,900 have died of the COVID-19 illness it causes. Most of the cases are in China, but its proportion is shrinking as the caseload grows elsewhere. More than 62,000 people have already recovered. But Italy’s intensifying struggle to halt the virus’ spread emerged as a cautionary tale.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Eliot Spitzer one step closer to tying the knot with fianceé Roxana Girand

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Eliot Spitzer and fianceé Roxana Girand are one step closer to tying the knot , The Post has learned .
The lovebirds on Monday picked up their marriage license at the city clerk ’ s office , where the former “ Luv Guv ” cracked a joke about how his divorce from first wife Silda Wall made the pages of The Post , a source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the woman behind the counter , who said to them , ‘ you can verify your divorce dates , ' ” the source said .
“ [ Spitzer ] said : ‘ it was in 2014 .
It was in the New York Post . '
” “ The woman behind the counter , just did not get it at all , ” the source added .
Spitzer , 60 , who was dressed in a suit and blue tie , appeared in “ good spirits , ” the tipster added .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and president of real estate agency Sebastian Capital , kept it casual in a black shirt , matching puffer coat and gold sunglasses .
The pair , who have been engaged since at least September , flew under the radar at the marriage bureau , as they shelled out the $ 35 for their licence .
“ It didn ’ t seem like too many people , or anyone other than me , noticed that it was him , ” the source said .
Spitzer ’ s spokeswoman , Lisa Linden , confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office to “ pick up a marriage license for their future nuptials.
” They ’ ll have 60 days to walk down the aisle from the day their license is issued .
In the early stages of their relationship , a source told Page Six that “ [ Spitzer and Girand ] both love real estate , and they both love New York.
” The former New York governor ’ s marriage to Silda , his wife of 26 years , was torpedoed in part by the prostitution scandal that forced him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ divorced .
Spitzer ’ s divorce came after The Post exclusively revealed his affair with Democratic political consultant Lis Smith , who at the time was a spokeswoman for Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio .
Their relationship went kaput once Spitzer told her he was being extorted by former Russian escort Svetlana Travis Zakharova .
More recently , Smith was the senior adviser for ex-South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg ’ s presidential campaign .

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Eliot Spitzer and fianceé Roxana Girand are one step closer to tying the knot, The Post has learned.
The lovebirds on Monday picked up their marriage license at the city clerk’s office, where the former “Luv Guv” cracked a joke about how his divorce from first wife Silda Wall made the pages of The Post, a source said.
“They were talking with the woman behind the counter, who said to them, ‘you can verify your divorce dates,'” the source said.
“[Spitzer] said: ‘it was in 2014. It was in the New York Post.'”
“The woman behind the counter, just did not get it at all,” the source added.
Spitzer, 60, who was dressed in a suit and blue tie, appeared in “good spirits,” the tipster added.
Meanwhile, Girand, 48, the founder and president of real estate agency Sebastian Capital, kept it casual in a black shirt, matching puffer coat and gold sunglasses.
The pair, who have been engaged since at least September, flew under the radar at the marriage bureau, as they shelled out the $35 for their licence.
“It didn’t seem like too many people, or anyone other than me, noticed that it was him,” the source said.
Spitzer’s spokeswoman, Lisa Linden, confirmed the couple visited the clerk’s office to “pick up a marriage license for their future nuptials.” They’ll have 60 days to walk down the aisle from the day their license is issued.
In the early stages of their relationship, a source told Page Six that “[Spitzer and Girand] both love real estate, and they both love New York.”
The former New York governor’s marriage to Silda, his wife of 26 years, was torpedoed in part by the prostitution scandal that forced him to resign in 2008. Girand is also divorced.
Spitzer’s divorce came after The Post exclusively revealed his affair with Democratic political consultant Lis Smith, who at the time was a spokeswoman for Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio.
Their relationship went kaput once Spitzer told her he was being extorted by former Russian escort Svetlana Travis Zakharova.
More recently, Smith was the senior adviser for ex-South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s presidential campaign.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--How Yankees plan to ease Gary Sanchez back into the lineup

CLEARWATER , Fla. — If J.A .
Happ pitches as well in ...

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The earliest Gary Sanchez will return from his back problem will be Friday against the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
Out since Saturday with what the catcher described as tightness in his middle and lower back, Sanchez didn’t hit outside for the third straight day on Monday. Aaron Boone said Sanchez won’t play against the Blue Jays on Tuesday and won’t make the trip to Florida’s East Coast where the Yankees face the Marlins on Wednesday and Cardinals on Thursday.
“He’ll probably hit [Tuesday]. I decided to hold off [playing Tuesday] because we are going across the state the next two days and I didn’t want to rush him back into games,’’ Boone said before the Phillies beat the Yankees, 3-1, on Monday at Spectrum Field. “He will stay [in Tampa] and catch [Adam] Ottavino and maybe some other guys on Wednesday, get live [at-bats] on Thursday and the plan is to be in the lineup on Friday.’’
Ever since Sanchez’s back became an issue after catching back-to-back games last Thursday and Friday, Boone has said he wasn’t worried his No. 1 catcher had anything more than tightness. That didn’t change Monday.
“I’m not concerned. I feel like if we were playing [a real game] he would be playing [Monday],’’ Boone said.
As for who backs up Sanchez, Kyle Higashioka entered spring training as the overwhelming favorite and nothing has changed despite veterans Josh Thole, Erik Kratz and Chris Iannetta in camp on minor league deals and having a lot more big league experience than the 29-year-old Higashioka, who has appeared in 56 major league games.
Not only does Higashioka have the backing of the front office for his defense, he is on the 40-man roster.
“Higgy, who is on our roster, he has earned this spot, this opportunity,’’ Boone said of Higashioka, who is a career .164 hitter. “I and we have a lot of confidence in him. Somebody has to take that [job away]. He has put himself in a really good position.’’
Returning to the Yankees wasn’t an option for shortstop Didi Gregorius, who signed a one-year deal worth $14 million with the Phillies. His new team hopes he can have a bounce-back year following a fractured 2019 when he didn’t return from Tommy John surgery until June 7 and played in only 82 games.
“[The Yankees] gave me an opportunity to play every day and I turned into a better player,’’ said the 30-year-old Gregorius, who handled the task of replacing Derek Jeter without a hitch until elbow surgery following the 2018 postseason. In five seasons with the Yankees, Gregorius hit .269 with 97 homers and 360 RBIs, posted a .759 OPS in 660 games and provided Gold Glove-caliber defense.
The Yankees believed Gregorius could be replaced by Gleyber Torres moving from second to short, but in nine exhibition games Torres has committed four errors.
MLB and the Players Association are attempting to do what is best when it comes to the coronavirus.
“I think everybody is trying to work on both ends to come together to figure out the best way to go about this,’’ Yankees lefty J.A. Happ said Monday. “Potentially a scary thing. Other than that, as far as doing due diligence to try and figure out the best way to go about it I don’t have any other comment.’’
Joe Girardi and Boone chatted during the Phillies’ batting practice prior to Monday’s game.
“Good conversation, good to see Joe. It was nice catching up, talking about things in the game,’’ Boone said of the man he replaced as the Yankees’ manager following the 2017 season. “It’s good to see him in uniform.’’
Boone turned 47 on Monday and planned a celebration with family and friends on Clearwater Beach.
Before anybody gets lathered up about Aroldis Chapman’s fastball being clocked at 90 mph in the fifth inning of Monday’s game against the Phillies, relax. According to a scout in the stands, that reading was bogus. The scout said Chapman’s fastball was 93-96 mph in his second spring outing.
Clint Frazier wasn’t the only outfielder who had trouble with fly balls to left. Frazier lost Bryce Harper’s opposite-field fly ball in a glaring sun that was mixed with wind. The ball, catchable under normal conditions, dropped on the warning track for a third-inning double. “They call it the Sunshine State for a reason,’’ said Frazier, who drove in the Yankees’ only run of the game with a single.
Mike King entered camp a candidate for the fifth starter’s spot despite having pitched in just two big-league innings. The right-hander didn’t help himself Monday when he gave up two runs and four hits, one of which was a homer, and walked one in 2 ²/₃ innings. According to a scout, King’s velocity was 93-96 mph in the first inning, 90-92 in the second and 89-91 in the third.
Gerrit Cole makes his fourth start of the spring Tuesday against the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field. Following the game, the Yankees leave for two games on the East Coast with the Marlins and Cardinals.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Greg Schiano carries big regret into his Rutgers ‘second chance’

Greg Schiano ’ s eyes swiftly glanced all around the room , his ...

For his band name, Greg Schiano prefers “Second Chances” to “Unfinished Business.”
Schiano traveled through a wormhole in December and turned back time eight years to the end of his beginnings as a head coach. He brought home with him a band of more than a dozen coaches, trainers and administrators who once made Rutgers football prideful to New Jersey, relevant in New York City and pesky to national powers — but never fulfilled its championship goals.
“I left,” Schiano told The Post, “and I shouldn’t have left.”
Schiano, 53, is sitting in a black leather chair in the same (mostly empty) Hale Center corner office once filled with his memories. He is repurchasing a house he built in 2007. He is just back from a familiar coffee run to the QuickChek on River Road in Piscataway.
CEOs like Schiano — hands in marketing, budgeting, maintenance and all aspects of athletics, not just football — don’t deal in the wasted energy of hypotheticals.
But Schiano can’t resist here: If Rutgers was invited to leave the crumbling Big East for the Big Ten in January 2012 — instead of 10 months later — would he have turned down a five-year, $15 million contract from the NFL’s Buccaneers, as he did offers from college football titans Miami and Michigan?
“Yes,” Schiano said.
This answer is emphatic. Others, over the course of an hour-long conversation, are deliberate, marked by long pauses and thoughtful creases on his face.
“I ran from something, not to something,” he continued. “That wasn’t my dream to be the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I didn’t like the way the horizon looked for us here.”
The Schiano era (2001-11) produced bowl berths in six of the final seven years and an NFL pipeline anchored by Ray Rice and the McCourty twins, but he left behind what might have been his best team and best recruiting class.
In the time since, Schiano was fired after going 11-21 with the Buccaneers; spent two seasons as Ohio State’s defensive coordinator; landed a head-coaching job and lost it in one day to a Tennessee fan mob ill-informed about unsubstantiated hearsay he knew of Jerry Sandusky’s child sexual abuse at Penn State; resigned for family reasons as the New England Patriots defensive coordinator after two months; and sat out three football seasons.
In the time since, Rutgers is 35-56 and bowl-less since 2014. So, it’s not all picking up where he left off.
What Schiano built to last instead crumbled for many reasons, starting with the university’s refusal to give another coach the same power he wielded. Spring practice opens in two weeks and the depth chart has no cemented starters.
“The last eight years has been, ‘Get your dukes up,’ ” Schiano said. “Nothing surprises me anymore. Maybe that’s a bad place to be, but life teaches you. I feel like this isn’t a coincidence. But, man, did a lot of crazy stuff have to happen to get me back here.”
The Empire State Building was lit red Nov. 9, 2006, when Rutgers beat Louisville in a battle of unbeatens and climbed to No. 6 in the BCS rankings.
Thursday night games at Rutgers brought New York’s pro athletes across the bridges. A streak of 18 straight sellouts ended in 2009, after the stadium’s capacity was expanded from 41,500 to 52,454.
Rutgers’ average attendance in 2018 was 20,071, and eyeballed crowds looked smaller last season.
“Ultimately, you have to win,” Schiano said. “This is an event-driven area. When your games become events, it was a Who’s Who? on the sideline. It might take a while, but we will do that again.”
In Schiano’s first day back, Rutgers sold more new season tickets (excluding renewals) than it did the rest of 2019 combined, according to the athletic department. The number tripled over the next three months.
Six months before kickoff, there are midnight office huddles and Saturday morning staff meetings.
“I feel like I never left,” said recently returned Kevin MacConnell, who worked at Rutgers from 1986 until leaving for the Buccaneers with Schiano. “It’s 11 p.m. and he’s holding conversations with five of us, jumping back and forth, and I’m thinking, ‘Oh my god, this is the way it was. This is when we get our best stuff done.” ’
Except it almost never happened.
Rutgers fired Chris Ash in September, slow-walked its replacement search and tried to spin the narrative when scared off just before Thanksgiving by Schiano’s honest assessment of needs.
Then a crazy thing happened: Tortured fans united and bombarded the email accounts of university president Robert Barchi, athletics director Pat Hobbs, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and other VIPs, threatening to cut off allegiance and revenue — some six-figure donors — if Schiano wasn’t rehired.
“I am not sure that I will be able to maintain my enthusiasm,” wrote a 36-year season-ticket holder with a prominent position at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.
The Post obtained signed emails through an Open Public Records Act request:
“We are sick and tired of being the laughingstock of not only the Big Ten, but of all of college athletics.”
“We have been all-in for a long time, but today our confidence is shaken.”
“Fire Pat Hobbs. Hire Greg Schiano. Save Rutgers Football.”
Negotiations resumed.
Schiano signed a record eight-year, $32 million contract with pledges to upgrade facilities and $7.7 million (a 155 percent increase over 2019) to spend on assistant coaches. The Wyckoff, N.J., native vows this “incredible staff” will help Version 2.0 be more efficient, understanding and content.
“Part of my insecurity as a coach was I felt like I had to do everything,” Schiano said. “Some of the things I felt I had to do, quite frankly, I had to — or they wouldn’t have gotten done at the level we wanted. Maybe that’s because we had a 25-year-old doing a 35-year-old man’s job, but that’s what we could afford.
“I feel like we’re close to getting things into systems that will allow us to be not such a Greg-centric program.”
MacConnell, now Schiano’s chief of staff, helped prepare Rutgers’ first pitch for expansion to the Big Ten and ACC in the 1990s. It fell on deaf ears.
Schiano privately laid out his vision to join the Big Ten as early as 2002 and chirped in the ear of commissioner Jim Delaney when possible.
“Eight years, a lot has changed,” MacConnell said. “But I walked in the building today and video of the [2006] Louisville game was on. That is still my greatest night ever. If you had said this [reunion] to me a year ago, I would’ve said, ‘How is that remotely possible?’ It’s because we all trust him.”
Hobbs is fundraising at unprecedented levels to benefit other sports, but Schiano says a football-only field house with an indoor practice facility rolling onto its state-of-the-art grass outdoor complex is needed to recruit in the Big Ten. Estimated price tag: $150 million, at least half of which has to be privately fundraised, per his contract.
“It’s not a little thing we’re fixing to do,” Schiano said. “I only would have come back if I believed the same thing I believed when I took it the first time: We can be the very best. I know people think I’m cuckoo.”
It’s enough if the local high school players and coaches think he is sane. He already changed his pro-style offensive philosophy to incorporate elements of the spread and entice top quarterbacks.
“If we could recruit a top class at Rutgers back then, why can’t we do it now?” Schiano said. “I hope I don’t have to prove that we did then was real. We should be in that ballpark, and then go flying past it.”
New Jersey is the recruiting lifeline, but Rutgers has more scholarship players from New York — “the high school football in New York City has gotten so much better,” he says — than any other Power Five conference team.
“In that way, we already are New York’s team,” Schiano said. “I’m sure the people up north [Syracuse] won’t like that, but I don’t particularly care.”
College football’s 150th anniversary just passed with Rutgers — hosts of the first game — mired in irrelevancy.
“My goal hasn’t changed one bit. My purpose has changed a little bit with age,” Schiano said. “I want to get there, but I want to get there while we are building into people. I was so driven that it probably had an adverse effect on reaching that goal.”
But the climb is more challenging now with annual games against Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, right?
“I hear all the arguments,” Schiano said. “If you are from here, like I am, then it appeals to you. If you are not, it may not appeal to you.”
Those same fans who rallied for his hire carry accelerated expectations. Scrap the usual grace period — incremental improvements — given to a new coach.
This is Schiano’s 12th season at Rutgers. Or is it his first?
“We decided we were going to spend the rest of our careers here. Then things changed,” Schiano said. “That’s why I call it a ‘second chance’ to do my dream job. Usually, you don’t get that.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Front-runner in Queens borough president race Donovan Richards skips debate

Councilman Donovan Richards , the Queens Democratic Party machine-backed candidate for borough president , blew off a debate Monday night ahead of the March 24 special election to replace Melinda Katz , who vacated the post in January after being elected district attorney .
The event — sponsored by the Queens chapter of the NAACP , WNET MetroFocus , City & State and hosted by Queens College — was attended by nearly 300 people .
Four other candidates fielded questions that largely focused on policy : Councilman Costa Constantinides , former Councilman Elizabeth Crowley , retired NYPD sergeant Anthony Miranda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired Queens prosecutor James Quinn .
Some attendees question why Richards , who many consider the front-runner , skipped the event .
“ I was planning to vote for Donovan Richards but I ’ m not so sure anymore , ” one spectator grumbled .
A source close to the Richards campaign said the councilman couldn ’ t make it because he was hosting a conflicting event at the Guy Brewer Democratic club in St. Albans .
The March special election is non-partisan .
That means each candidate must run under his or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot , not under a political party — though parties can make endorsements .
Three candidates — Constantinides , Crowley and Miranda — said they are distributing petitions to run in a Democratic primary for borough president in June , no matter who wins the special election .
Richards previously won the backing of the Real Estate Board of New York , whose powerful wings were clipped last year after the Democratic-controlled state Legislature pushed through a tougher rent control law over its objections .
During a Feb. 4 Queens Chamber of Commerce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would gladly accept donations from the real estate industry when the previous speaker , Miranda , said he wouldn ’ t .
“ If Anthony won ’ t take real estate checks , ” Richards said , “ I surely will , if you ’ re in this room and want to cut a check .
”

Councilman Donovan Richards, the Queens Democratic Party machine-backed candidate for borough president, blew off a debate Monday night ahead of the March 24 special election to replace Melinda Katz, who vacated the post in January after being elected district attorney.
The event — sponsored by the Queens chapter of the NAACP, WNET MetroFocus, City & State and hosted by Queens College — was attended by nearly 300 people.
Four other candidates fielded questions that largely focused on policy: Councilman Costa Constantinides, former Councilman Elizabeth Crowley, retired NYPD sergeant Anthony Miranda of the National Latino Officers Association and retired Queens prosecutor James Quinn.
Some attendees question why Richards, who many consider the front-runner, skipped the event.
“I was planning to vote for Donovan Richards but I’m not so sure anymore,” one spectator grumbled.
A source close to the Richards campaign said the councilman couldn’t make it because he was hosting a conflicting event at the Guy Brewer Democratic club in St. Albans.
The March special election is non-partisan. That means each candidate must run under his or her own individual banner line on the ballot, not under a political party — though parties can make endorsements.
Three candidates — Constantinides, Crowley and Miranda — said they are distributing petitions to run in a Democratic primary for borough president in June, no matter who wins the special election.
Richards previously won the backing of the Real Estate Board of New York, whose powerful wings were clipped last year after the Democratic-controlled state Legislature pushed through a tougher rent control law over its objections.
During a Feb. 4 Queens Chamber of Commerce forum, Richards raised eyebrows when he said he would gladly accept donations from the real estate industry when the previous speaker, Miranda, said he wouldn’t.
“If Anthony won’t take real estate checks,” Richards said, “I surely will, if you’re in this room and want to cut a check.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-09--Corey Feldman’s documentary whiffs premiere over tech issues

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Corey Feldman ’ s documentary “ The Rape of Two Coreys ” premiered Monday to a host of technical issues .
Though strenuously hyped by Feldman , the premiere for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was hampered from the get-go , beset by an awkward interface and complaints on Twitter directed at Feldman himself .
( He was screening the film live in LA concurrently . )
For $ 20 , users were promised access to a live-stream of the film at 11 p.m. Monday , with a Q & A with Feldman to follow , and a second “ screening ” Tuesday afternoon .
But , right up to the minute of the premiere , the film ’ s hashtag was mostly populated by fans either begging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various error messages .
Eventually , Feldman tweeted that “ THE FILM IS STARTING 15 MIN LATE DUE 2 THE WEBSITE CRASHING !
WHICH IS ACTUALLLY A GOOD THING !
” That deadline also came and went , with fans angrily tweeting screenshots of their browsers displaying a broken link at Feldman and using the documentary ’ s hashtag , “ MYTRUTHDOC.
” Journalist Ashley Hume tweeted after the film blew its second deadline that the live screening had also paused , with Feldman onstage at the theater debating over whether to proceed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been hacked .
“ You ’ re seeing it for yourself how people don ’ t want this to happen , ” Rolling Stone writer Tim Chan quoted Feldman as saying in the theater .
Feldman arrived at The Wendy Williams Show last week with a security detail , claiming he was afraid for his life over the secrets the documentary would be revealing .
He financed the doc through crowdfunding website IndieGogo and shopped it at Sundance 2019 .

Corey Feldman’s documentary “The Rape of Two Coreys” premiered Monday to a host of technical issues.
Though strenuously hyped by Feldman, the premiere for the film — at least online — was hampered from the get-go, beset by an awkward interface and complaints on Twitter directed at Feldman himself. (He was screening the film live in LA concurrently.)
For $20, users were promised access to a livestream of the film at 11 p.m. Monday, with a Q&A with Feldman to follow, and a second “screening” Tuesday afternoon. But right up to the minute of the premiere, the film’s hashtag was mostly populated by fans either begging for or offering tech help with the various error messages.
Eventually, Feldman tweeted that “THE FILM IS STARTING 15 MIN LATE DUE 2 THE WEBSITE CRASHING! WHICH IS ACTUALLY A GOOD THING!”
That deadline also came and went, with fans angrily tweeting screenshots of their browsers displaying a broken link at Feldman and using the documentary’s hashtag, “MYTRUTHDOC.” Journalist Ashley Hume tweeted after the film blew its second deadline that the live screening had also paused, with Feldman onstage at the theater debating whether to proceed.
He eventually claimed that the website had been hacked.
“You’re seeing it for yourself how people don’t want this to happen,” Rolling Stone writer Tim Chan quoted Feldman as saying in the theater.
Feldman arrived at “The Wendy Williams Show” last week with a security detail, claiming he was afraid for his life over the secrets the documentary would be revealing. He financed the doc through crowdfunding website IndieGogo and shopped it at Sundance in 2019.


newyorkpost--2020-03-09--Once an afterthought, Obi Toppin turned Dayton into NCAA title threat

North Carolina is in danger of missing the postseason .
Kentucky ...

His mother, Roni Toppin, described the season as “unimaginable” and “mind-blowing.” Close friend and teammate Jalen Crutcher called it “crazy.” Dayton Daily News beat writer David Jablonski labeled it “unprecedented” for the Dayton Flyers to have such a player.
Even Obi Toppin, a National Player of the Year favorite originally from Brooklyn, can’t believe the turn his life has taken over the last few months.
“It doesn’t feel real at all,” the 22-year-old redshirt sophomore told The Post in a phone interview. “I sit back and sometimes think, ‘What is going on?’ ”
This Cinderella, rags-to-riches story is hard to fathom. Nobody could see this late bloomer, who grew 8 inches from his junior year of high school until freshman year of college, coming.
The most exciting player in college basketball, the leader of the third-ranked team in the country, a consensus top-five NBA draft pick, didn’t have a single scholarship offer coming out of Ossining High School in Westchester. His first season at Dayton, he could only practice, due to academic shortcomings.
Now, you can’t turn on ESPN without hearing about the selfless 6-foot-9, 220-pound dunking machine, the son of Obadiah Toppin Sr., a New York City streetball legend known as “Dunker’s Delight.” He has turned Dayton into a national championship contender and potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament if the Flyers can win this week’s Atlantic 10 Tournament in Brooklyn, leading the Flyers to a perfect league season and a 29-2 record, with the lone two setbacks in overtime to No. 1 Kansas and Colorado.
“He’s for real,” ESPN analyst Dick Vitale said.
There was buzz surrounding Toppin before the season began. In his first year on the court at Dayton last season, he became the first freshman to be the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and be voted a first-team selection since Lamar Odom in 1999. He averaged 14.4 points and 5.6 rebounds, then excelled at the Nike Skills Academy, outplaying the top returning college players in the country.
Dayton played in the prestigious Maui Invitational in November and the pro prospect everyone was talking about was Georgia freshman Anthony Edwards. The Bulldogs were Dayton’s opening-round opponent, and Toppin led an 80-61 rout, scoring 14 of his team’s first 16 points.
“We have the best player in the country,” Crutcher thought to himself. “I knew then.”
Dayton knocked off Virginia Tech in the second round and took Kansas to overtime. Toppin was named to the all-tournament team, averaging 22.3 points and 7.0 rebounds. It was the start of this hard-to-believe season in western Ohio.
Toppin is averaging team-highs of 20.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks, shooting a ridiculous 63.3 percent from the field and also knocking down 39 percent of his 3-point attempts. His star turn hasn’t changed his ball-moving ways. He’s averaging 2.2 assists, another factor in his NBA stock skyrocketing.
Teams love his athleticism, leaping prowess and team-first approach. Toppin reminds Vitale of former overall No. 1 pick Kenyon Martin and Vitale sees some attributes of Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen in him as well.
“No question, top five,” an NBA scout said. “Not even an issue. … All I know is from summer until now, he would be a top-10 pick in most drafts.”
Roni has heard from more than 100 people with connections to the NBA. Some have even contacted people she works with. But she tells them all the same thing: Wait until the season is over. It’s gotten so hectic she has changed the settings on her phone. Numbers not in her contact list go straight to voicemail.
“It’s off the charts,” said Roni, a special-education teacher.
This attention isn’t just new to the Toppin family, it’s a first for Dayton. ESPN brought its “College GameDay” show to campus over the weekend. The last Dayton player to be drafted in the first round was Jim Paxson in 1979 (12th overall). The team has never been higher than a fourth seed in the NCAA Tournament and Paxton was the school’s last All-American.
Roni laughed when asked if her son has become a celebrity. She is one, too. Fans will give her hugs and kisses, thanking her for allowing her son to attend the school. He has trouble getting around campus. He couldn’t even get to his car to get lunch last Saturday, his mother recalled.
“There’s never been a player like Obi at Dayton,” said Jablonski, the Dayton writer.
Toppin loved basketball at a young age because of his father, a streetball star who also played overseas. Along with his younger brother, Jacob, a freshman at Rhode Island, he would spend summer days watching his father on the city’s streetball circuit. The eldest Toppin would take them to open gyms.
Toppin watched his father dunk in those games and began to mimic him once he was old enough.
“He did some crazy ones,” Toppin recalled.
He and Crutcher now go by the nickname “Peanut Butter and Jam,” instead of jelly, due to their frequent alley-oops. Toppin landed the No. 1 highlight on ESPN’s Top 10 plays after his between-the-legs slam in a regular-season closing win over George Washington. An appearance in the NBA Slam Dunk contest could be in his future.
“He put on three dunks in transition during the game [I was at] that were just electrifying,” Vitale said.
In the first grade, the family moved from Brooklyn to Florida, before returning to Ossining following his sophomore year of high school. Toppin was growing at a crazy rate, and his knees hurt all the time. He didn’t play much his junior year of high school, but he finally shined as a senior, averaging 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Still, he had no real options by the end of that season. Junior college was the plan.
That plan changed in the summer, after Victor Monaros, who had played with Toppin’s father in college and overseas, came to watch him play at The Rucker in Harlem. Monaros was impressed by his raw ability and skill set. He thought prep school would help him. Roni, though, had already explored that avenue. She couldn’t afford it.
“Give me one week,” Manaros told her.
A week later, Manaros presented the family with an opportunity at Mount Zion Prep in Maryland that included a scholarship. Junior college was put on hold.
Less than a month after his arrival, Toppin was already seeing the benefits of the training he was now receiving. His body was getting pushed and it was responding. Facing stiffer competition added motivation. At his first official practice, he received his first scholarship offer, from Georgia.
One day, he called his mother and said, “I’m going to the NBA.”
“That’s why I am the player I am today,” Toppin said.
So excited by that Georgia offer, Toppin wanted to commit on the spot. He didn’t know more would be coming. Illinois, Mississippi State and Georgetown were among others to offer him a scholarship. Eventually, he settled on Dayton. On the way to the airport for his official visit, Toppin thought the school was in Florida. He knew so little about it. Soon, he realized it was in Ohio. There were Dayton fans on the plane, and they knew about him. He felt that same love during his visit, a connection to the school.
Despite all the accolades, the stunning dunks and the gaudy record, what stands out the most about Toppin is his character. The year he sat out he won the team’s Dr. George Rau Spirit Award, the first time it went to an inactive player. He was a superstar cheerleader, always trying to boost everyone around him, even in a dismal season that saw Dayton finish under .500 for the first time in 11 years. In the background of photos Jablonski took, he would always see Toppin jumping up and down after made baskets.
“I always like to see a smile on someone’s face,” he said.
“You want to be around guys like that,” Dayton coach Anthony Grant said. “It’s who Obi is. He’s all about team, he’s always been wired that way.”
As a kid, Roni called him “The Mayor.” Toppin wanted to be everyone’s friend. He would be in a stroller, waving to people as they passed.
When asked about his season, Toppin will acknowledge his teammates first every time. Without them, he repeated multiple times, his rise wouldn’t be possible. It’s more than talk. Toppin plays the part, always making the extra pass. Vitale noticed how teammates gravitated toward him in warm-ups.
“He’s addicting — people love to be around him,” Roni said.
When asked about the NBA, Toppin passed on the topic, preferring to focus on the season. Even last year, as he was thriving, he could never imagine being in this position. The NBA was always a dream, just like playing at the highest level of college basketball was, too. He never imagined it playing out this way. It feels like a fantasy, one he’s living out every day. Recently, he asked his mom, “Did you think I was going to be this good?”
A psychic could not have anticipated this.
Obi Toppin is dunking Dayton to a No. 1 seed. He’s going to be a high lottery pick. He could wind up the National Player of the Year.
He still can’t fathom how fast all of this has happened. Just yesterday, it seems like, he was getting ready to go to junior college.
“I came from the bottom,” Toppin said.


newyorkpost--2020-03-09--Healthy Brandon Nimmo provides Mets with dynamic option

PORT ST. LUCIE — Despite all the rumors , the Mets ...

JUPITER, Fla. — Coming off a season in which he was sidelined for months by a bulging disk in his neck that not only cost him time on the injured list, but also production at the plate throughout the first half, Brandon Nimmo is looking to get back to the form he showed in 2018.
“The biggest thing is consistency,’’ Nimmo said Monday after the Mets and Marlins tied, 1-1, at Roger Dean Stadium. “I want to try to be more consistent throughout the season with my approach with both my swings and my defense.”
He’s off to a promising start in 2020, even with the brief heart scare that forced him to undergo a series of cardiological exams that showed an irregular heartbeat.
Nimmo has already put that part of his spring out of his mind.
“I just missed six at-bats,’’ Nimmo said. “That’s all that happened with the heart issue. It was blown way out of proportion. But I expected that. The important thing is I feel good and I know I’m healthy.”
New Mets manager, Luis Rojas, had Nimmo hitting second in the lineup against Miami on Monday, behind Jeff McNeil. And though the two combined to go 0-for-6, Rojas believes the duo provides a good dynamic to set up the rest of the lineup.
“Those are guys featured to hit at the top of the lineup,’’ Rojas said of McNeil and Nimmo. “They have the ability to get on base, do different things and create some speed for guys who hit in the middle [of the order]. Those two guys profile to hit at the top of the lineup.”
If McNeil can build on the success he had during his breakout season a year ago and Nimmo approaches the production he’s shown when he’s healthy, it would go a long way toward giving the Mets the lineup depth Rojas is counting on in his first year at the helm.
“McNeil didn’t have his usual day, having an 0-for-3,’’ Rojas said. “They both have the ability to get on base and hit the ball really well. They take quality at-bats. That’s what we’re looking for.’’
Nimmo struggled for much of the first half of last season after feeling discomfort in his neck in April and then being shut down in May.
In his first 43 games last season, Nimmo had an OPS of just .667.
He didn’t play from May 21 until his return when rosters expanded on Sept. 1.
Finally healthy, Nimmo finished with a .995 OPS in his final 26 games.
“I know there’s gonna be peaks and valleys during the season, so I try to focus on the process,’’ Nimmo said. “If I feel good, I believe I can put together an entire year, but I have to do it.”
And whether that comes at the top of the lineup or somewhere else, Nimmo said he’ll be fine with it.
“I really don’t know where I’m gonna hit,’’ Nimmo said. “I can lead off and I’ve hit in the two-hole here early in the spring. I can also hit in the back of the order if that’s what they want. It doesn’t really matter to me.’’
He’s aware Rojas has choices to make in that department, as the rookie manager also pointed to Amed Rosario as a leadoff possibility.
“He has a few different options at the top of the lineup and it might depend on the matchup,’’ Nimmo said. “The manager has to take a lot of things into account. I do know that wherever I am in the lineup, I’m going to have the same approach: I want to get on base and have controlled aggression.”
The Mets and Rojas will see where that takes them.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--On coronavirus, President Trump needs to step up: Goodwin

President Trump keeps hitting bad notes when it comes to ...

During a 1983 strike on Metro-North commuter trains, many suburban riders ventured onto outer-borough subway lines to get to Manhattan. One of those riders, a man from Stamford, Conn., told the New York Times that he was unnerved by the obvious neglect.
“The subways are a little frightening to us,” he said as he struggled to stand upright on the Lexington Avenue line. “The graffiti makes you wonder just who is in charge down here anyway.”
That anecdote perfectly captured what most people expect from their government when they are unnerved: a sense that they are safe because someone is in charge. The graffiti signaled to the man from Stamford that he was on his own.
Consider another New York moment, just seven years later. With violent crime spiraling out of control, a famous Post front page made a desperate plea to Mayor David Dinkins: “Dave, Do Something!”
The words expressed a common sentiment — that City Hall was inert in the face of rising bloodshed. Action, not dithering, was required.
History is filled with examples of leaders who rose to meet crises of public confidence, and those who didn’t. Winston Churchill rallied the British people from what looked like certain defeat at the hands of Hitler, and Rudy Giuliani was the consummate leader for a terrified and grieving New York in the aftermath of 9/11.
The details of leadership are always important, but in the beginning, they matter less than the demonstration of an ironclad will. A “rally ’round the flag” moment is possible only when there is a leader to rally around.
Consider a contrary example. President George W. Bush was too slow to act when public opinion was turning against the Iraq War. Eventually, his 2007 troop surge worked, but the nation already had lost patience, and then came the 2008 financial crisis. The result was a Democratic rout in the elections, with Barack Obama winning the White House and Dems expanding their majorities in Congress.
Which brings us to President Trump. In a relatively short period of time, the coronavirus has exploded into a global threat and is presenting him with the most critical test of his presidency.
His response is improving, but still needs work.
Fighting with the shadows of a partisan impeachment and wary of a hostile media that has demonized him for three years, the president initially gave the impression of being a reluctant commander-in-chief in the war against the deadly disease.
Other than travel restrictions he wisely imposed on non-American citizens from China at the end of January, the president seemed to regard the issue as overblown. There were hints he saw the attacks from Democrats on the administration’s response and media criticism as a continuation by another name of the Russia, Russia, Russia and Ukraine efforts to bring him down.
His words and actions reflected those experiences — that it would be a no-win situation if he gave legitimacy to what he regarded as yet another effort to delegitimize his presidency.
And so he tweeted about the “good” news of “gasoline prices coming down!” and compared the relatively few deaths in the US from coronavirus to the many thousands from ordinary flu. “Think about that!” he wrote Monday.
All true, but off-key. The panic that is sweeping the globe and playing havoc with stock markets cannot be discounted just because the other side is trying to score political points. Fish gotta swim and career pols will use any tragedy to score points.
Against a backdrop of fights over toilet paper in supermarkets and stories about rationing and price-gouging of hand sanitizer, the president’s trip to Mar-a-Lago for golfing and a meeting with the president of Brazil last weekend was ill-timed.
It is not an imaginary problem when multiple states have issued declarations of emergency. By any measure, public fear and confusion are rising.
Schools are closing, sporting events are shutting out fans and presidential candidates Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders canceled political rallies. The term “social distancing” is heard everywhere, reflecting a consensus that it is wise to move away from others and toward isolation.
The panic is spreading faster than the disease, and is a force multiplier of the virus. Unless both are confronted, the damage in lives and confidence lost will be enormous. A collapsing stock market could actually create a recession, which would undo the president’s historic economic achievements.
Tuesday’s sharp bounce back on Wall Street was welcome, but the wild swings feed the sense of instability. The rally intensified after the president visited Senate Republicans and promised “very substantial relief” for the areas hardest hit. Earlier, he met with health industry executives.
He had appeared at a press briefing Monday to float a payroll tax cut and promised to help sick individuals recover lost pay and support airlines and cruise ship companies, which have been hit especially hard by the outbreaks.
Those appearances have been welcome signs that the president is getting personally engaged, but there is still more to do. The take-charge leadership and focus he demonstrated through better trade deals, tax cuts and deregulation has been lacking.
Again, history shows the way. FDR’s fireside radio chats are now regarded as brilliant moves that kept Americans calm during the Depression and World War II, and also helped to cement his relationship with voters.
Other presidents have used Oval Office addresses for similar purposes. Trump’s challenge is to find his way of calming the country and explaining the facts to head off the panic.
It is a moment when good policy is good politics. The high road is still open.
Nobody expects grand oratory, but every fair-minded person needs to know the president feels America’s pain.
Otherwise, Trump could lose the battle now and the war in November.
Hillary ‘Biden’ her time
Reader Barbara Polito offers her two cents on how Hillary Clinton could get back into the White House. She writes:
“I believe she will take the VP slot with Biden, and he will step down/fall down … within a year, and Hillary will become president.”
But stronger pick: Mrs. O
Reader Bob Mangi sees a different Dem scenario, this one involving Michelle Obama. He writes: “She’s the real V-2 secret weapon. I like her even less than I do Hillary, but she can beat Trump. Woman, black, progressive liberal, all the boxes are checked.”
He adds: “Don’t say anything, maybe the Dems won’t think of it.”
Why NYCHA is in such a big ‘fix’
Example #979 why New York is such a mess.
Fifteen long months after the city Housing Authority struck a deal with unionized maintenance workers to do weekend repairs, instead of just Monday to Friday, an arbitrator finally approved the deal. But now management says it may not be able to make the changes systemwide this year.
Help!


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Yonkers Raceway closes after horse trainer identified as NJ coronavirus death

The governor said victim is a man in his 60s ...

Yonkers Raceway was shut down Tuesday after a long-time harness racing trainer and fixture at the track died from the coronavirus, according to track officials and news reports.
The man, identified by sources close to the track as John Brennan, 69, of Bergen County, NJ, a trainer and harness racing veteran at the track who became the Garden State’s first coronavirus fatality
Gov. Phil Murphy announced his death Tuesday, but did not identify him by name.
Brennan’s death prompted MGM Resorts International, which owns the historic Yonkers racing track, to close the gates and ask employees who worked with Brennan to self-quarantine.
“We believe the last time he was on the property to be approximately eight days ago,” MGM said in a statement Tuesday. “We offer our condolences to his family during this difficult time.”
“As a result of this development, the racetrack will be shut down as of this afternoon, and we have asked employees who worked in the immediate area to self-quarantine,” the statement said.
“We will continue to coordinate with and follow the guidance of health officials and support them in their response and prevention efforts.”
Brennan’s family did not immediately return calls for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Man allegedly bites FDNY firefighter during Bronx brawl

A emotionally disturbed person bit a firefighter in the hand during a wild confrontation at a Bronx ladderhouse early Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ .
The man barged into Ladder 56 in Fordham Heights shortly after midnight , claiming @ @ @ @ @ him and begging for help , sources said .
Soon after , the suspect “ @ @ @ @ @ brawling with at least three of New York ’ s Bravest , the sources said @ @ @ @ @ he chomped on the hand of one of the firefighters , the sources and the @ @ @ @ @ was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital , where he was put on a cocktail of @ @ @ @ @ had any diseases .
The alleged assailant was identified by police as Maurice Lee .
@ @ @ @ @ charged with felony assault and harassment , cops said .

A emotionally disturbed person bit a firefighter in the hand during a wild confrontation at a Bronx ladderhouse early Tuesday, The Post has learned.
The man barged into Ladder 56 in Fordham Heights shortly after midnight, claiming someone was out to get him and begging for help, sources said.
Soon after, the suspect “went nuts” and began brawling with at least three of New York’s Bravest, the sources said.
During the melee, he chomped on the hand of one of the firefighters, the sources and the NYPD said.
The smokeater was taken to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was put on a cocktail of drugs in case the attacker had any diseases.
The alleged assailant was identified by police as Maurice Lee.
Lee, 37, was charged with felony assault and harassment, cops said.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Coronavirus-stricken EMS worker is first Staten Islander diagnosed

The EMS worker diagnosed with coronavirus is a Staten Island resident , making him the first from the borough to @ @ @ @ @ said Tuesday .
The troubling diagnosis , revealed Monday , means that each of the @ @ @ @ @ least one confirmed case of the potentially deadly disease .
As of Tuesday afternoon , @ @ @ @ @ in New York City , and 173 statewide — the highest in the nation .
@ @ @ @ @ out of Brooklyn but has not been publicly named — contracted the disease from his @ @ @ @ @ who fell ill herself after traveling to an affected country , officials said Tuesday .
@ @ @ @ @ member worked three tours in the last week , partnered with five fellow EMS members @ @ @ @ @ , ” the FDNY previously said in a statement .
All of the patients have @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
The stricken responder ’ s colleagues are self-quarantined , though all are asymptomatic @ @ @ @ @

The EMS worker diagnosed with coronavirus is a Staten Island resident, making him the first from the borough to contract the disease, sources said Tuesday.
The troubling diagnosis, revealed Monday, means that each of the five boroughs now has at least one confirmed case of the potentially deadly disease.
As of Tuesday afternoon, there were 36 confirmed cases in New York City, and 173 statewide — the highest in the nation.
The first-responder — who works out of Brooklyn but has not been publicly named — contracted the disease from his girlfriend, a flight attendant who fell ill herself after traveling to an affected country, officials said Tuesday.
“While asymptomatic, this member worked three tours in the last week, partnered with five fellow EMS members, and treated eleven patients,” the FDNY previously said in a statement.
All of the patients have been identified and contacted by authorities.
The stricken responder’s colleagues are self-quarantined, though all are asymptomatic, according to officials.


newyorkpost--2020-03-10--Hunter Biden using coronavirus to flake out of child support case deposition

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Hunter Biden is using the coronavirus outbreak to try to get out of a deposition in his child support case , Page Six has learned .
Biden , 50 , claims it ’ s “ unsafe ” for him to travel to Arkansas court — and that appearing as scheduled Wednesday could put his pregnant wife and soon-to-be born baby at risk for the flu-like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implemented both domestically and internationally , particularly on airlines , due to the coronavirus , ” his attorney , Brett Langdon , wrote in court documents filed Tuesday .
“ Setting aside personal endangerment , [ Biden ] reasonably believes that such travel unnecessarily exposes his wife and unborn child to this virus , ” Langdon continued .
California , where Biden lives , “ in particular , has been the site of numerous reported cases of exposure , ” the filing states .
The son of former Vice President Joe Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court as part of the case brought by Lunden Alexis Roberts , a former stripper with whom he has a 17-month-old .
Biden had previously asked the judge in the case , Holly Meyer , to postpone his deposition until April , after most of the key Democratic primaries are over , but she denied that request .
“ He needs to make himself available unless his hair is on fire , ” Meyer had said .
In Tuesday ’ s filing , Biden ’ s attorney also argued its risky for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ intense media scrutiny ” tied to his father , Joe Biden ’ s , run for the Democratic presidential nomination .
“ The tremendously elevated media scrutiny creates some physical risks and logistics difficulties with travel to Arkansas , ” Langdon wrote .
“ [ It ] invades the privacy of [ Biden ] and his 8 and a half month pregnant wife , threatens to complicate the Court ’ s ability to conduct a public hearing , creates a highly prejudicial environment from [ Biden ] , and can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mother ’ s interest in any way , ” the filing continues .
Last week , Roberts , 28 , asked the court to hold Biden in contempt last week for skipping the deadline to submit financial documents .
Biden is expecting his fifth child with 32-year-old Melissa Cohen Biden , whom he wed in May .
A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for March 13 .

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Hunter Biden is using the coronavirus outbreak to try to get out of a deposition in his child support case, Page Six has learned.
Biden, 50, claims it’s “unsafe” for him to travel to Arkansas court — and that appearing as scheduled Wednesday could put his pregnant wife and soon-to-be born baby at risk for the flu-like illness.
“Travel restrictions have been implemented both domestically and internationally, particularly on airlines, due to the coronavirus,” his attorney, Brett Langdon, wrote in court documents filed Tuesday.
“Setting aside personal endangerment, [Biden] reasonably believes that such travel unnecessarily exposes his wife and unborn child to this virus,” Langdon continued.
California, where Biden lives, “in particular, has been the site of numerous reported cases of exposure,” the filing states.
The son of former Vice President Joe Biden was set to appear in Independence County Circuit Court as part of the case brought by Lunden Alexis Roberts, a former stripper with whom he has a 17-month-old.
Biden had previously asked the judge in the case, Holly Meyer, to postpone his deposition until April, after most of the key Democratic primaries are over, but she denied that request.
“He needs to make himself available unless his hair is on fire,” Meyer had said.
In Tuesday’s filing, Biden’s attorney also argued its risky for his client to travel to Arkansas because of the “intense media scrutiny” tied to his father, Joe Biden’s, run for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“The tremendously elevated media scrutiny creates some physical risks and logistics difficulties with travel to Arkansas,” Langdon wrote.
“[It] invades the privacy of [Biden] and his 8 and a half month pregnant wife, threatens to complicate the Court’s ability to conduct a public hearing, creates a highly prejudicial environment from [Biden], and cannot be in the child’s or his mother’s interest in any way,” the filing continues.
Last week, Roberts, 28, asked the court to hold Biden in contempt last week for skipping the deadline to submit financial documents.
Biden is expecting his fifth child with 32-year-old Melissa Cohen Biden, whom he wed in May.
A pretrial hearing in the case is scheduled for March 13.
Additional reporting by Tamar Lapin