newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Nets respond to Spencer Dinwiddie’s call for arena staff aid

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SAN FRANCISCO — With the coronavirus grinding sports, including the NBA, to a halt, there will be more than just players missing checks, but also support staff and arena workers.
With Mavericks owner Mark Cuban leading the way by saying he will make sure his hourly employees are paid through the end of the month, many are calling for other teams to follow suit.
“Gotta take care of the non salary arena staff etc,” Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie wrote Thursday morning on Twitter.
The NBA suspended the season late Wednesday night to try to protect players, personnel and fans from the COVID-19 pandemic. While the players will be missing game checks, there are many more people involved that make far less and will be even more impacted.
“There’s going to be hourly employees that aren’t working,” Cuban said on ESPN. “And so, we talked again this morning with our folks at the AAC [American Airlines Center] and getting the numbers. For the next four Mavs games we have a program where — the next four would-have-been Mavs games — we’ll pay our employees, our hourly employees, as if they worked.
“When some of the things were coming up that we might not play games — this was yesterday — I reached out to the folks at the arena and our folks at the Mavs to find out what it would cost to support, financially support, people who aren’t going to be able to come to work.
“You know, they get paid by the hour, and this was their source of income … We’ve already started the process of having a program in place. I don’t have any details to give, but it’s certainly something that’s important to me.”
In a press conference Thursday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said New York City is concerned about people’s loss of livelihood, especially if businesses will be cutting back or shutting down in the coming days. He added the state ban on gatherings over 500 people — NBA games, for example — could last for months.
Some have called for NBA players to kick in and help defray the lost income by the people who work their games; after all, they are millionaires. Kevin Love donated $100,000 to Cavaliers arena and support staff affected by the suspension, according to The Athletic. But Dinwiddie pointed out that there are billionaires who sign their checks — and those of the hourly workers.
“I understand the fixation on the M word referenced above. Believe me, I do,” Dinwiddie tweeted. “But you do know there’s a B word that’s literally 1000x more powerful…”
Nets owner Joe Tsai responded to Dinwiddie’s tweet late Thursday night and appears ready to help.
“Hear hear @SDinwiddie_25 we’re working on a plan!,” wrote Tsai, an e-commerce billionaire.
The Nets have nine home games left on the regular-season schedule.
With the Nets flying back from California on Thursday as the NBA Board of Governors deliberated on the league’s next course of action, Dinwiddie vouched for Tsai’s altruism.
“He’s definitely a world class individual,” Dinwiddie tweeted, followed up by another clarifying his point.
“No I’m advocating that everybody should pitch in to help everybody else. It’s about the human race. Highlighting any single demographic does a disservice to the cause as a whole. I was simply reminding you that there is a class that sits on top of the ecosystem. It ain’t us…”


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Pregnant Guatemalan teen dies after fall from US-Mexico border wall

A 19-year-old pregnant Guatemalan woman died after she fell trying to climb the US-Mexico border wall on Saturday , authorities said .
Mirian Stephany Girón Luna , who was believed to be eight months pregnant , was with her partner when she plunged 19 feet from a portion of the wall near El Paso , Texas , American and Guatemalan authorities said .
Girón and her baby were pronounced dead shortly after at a nearby hospital .
The would-be mother suffered a cerebral hemorrhage , a pelvis fracture , and liver and kidney lacerations .
Human smugglers had dropped off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have been the baby ’ s father , at the border before she attempted to climb it , according to US Customs and Border Protection .
The chief of CBP ’ s El Paso sector , Gloria Chaves , said the agency is working in tandem with Mexican authorities “ to find those responsible for placing these lives in danger.
” Girón ’ s partner is in CBP custody , according to Tekandi Paniagua Flores , the Guatemalan consul in Del Rio , Texas .
The man “ said that if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high , he would not have done it , ” Paniagua said .

A 19-year-old pregnant Guatemalan woman died after she fell trying to climb the US-Mexico border wall on Saturday, authorities said.
Mirian Stephany Girón Luna, who was believed to be eight months pregnant, was with her partner when she plunged 19 feet from a portion of the wall near El Paso, Texas, American and Guatemalan authorities said.
Girón and her baby were pronounced dead shortly after at a nearby hospital. The would-be mother suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, a pelvis fracture, and liver and kidney lacerations.
Human smugglers had dropped off Girón and partner, who is believed to have been the baby’s father, at the border before she attempted to climb it, according to US Customs and Border Protection.
The chief of CBP’s El Paso sector, Gloria Chaves, said the agency is working in tandem with Mexican authorities “to find those responsible for placing these lives in danger.”
Girón’s partner is in CBP custody, according to Tekandi Paniagua Flores, the Guatemalan consul in Del Rio, Texas.
The man “said that if he had known that the risks were this high, he would not have done it,” Paniagua said.
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Brooklyn College student tests positive for coronavirus

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A student at Brooklyn College has tested positive for the coronavirus , the school said on Thursday night .
The woman was in the hospital recovering from the illness and the college — which is part of the City University of New York — will close on Friday to clean the campus , according to a statement from their president .
“ Our thoughts are with her for a full and speedy recovery , ” said the president , Michelle J. Anderson .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and visitors should NOT come to any of the College ’ s buildings.
” The patient was last on campus on Tuesday , March 3 , but the spread of the virus appears to be low risk because she was asymptomatic at the time , the school said .
Earlier this week , a student who attends classes at CUNYs John Jay College in Manhattan tested positive for coronavirus .
On Wednesday , the CUNY and SUNY systems said they will cancel all in-person classes beginning next week and institute remote learning @ @ @ @ @

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A student at Brooklyn College has tested positive for the coronavirus, the school said on Thursday night.
The woman was in the hospital recovering from the illness and the college — which is part of the City University of New York — will close on Friday to clean the campus, according to a statement from their president.
“Our thoughts are with her for a full and speedy recovery,” said the president, Michelle J. Anderson.
“All students, staff, faculty, and visitors should NOT come to any of the College’s buildings.”
The patient was last on campus on Tuesday, March 3, but the spread of the virus appears to be low risk because she was asymptomatic at the time, the school said.
Earlier this week, a student who attends classes at CUNYs John Jay College in Manhattan tested positive for coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the CUNY and SUNY systems said they will cancel all in-person classes beginning next week and institute remote learning due to coronavirus fears.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Top Rank postpones boxing events at MSG Theater because of coronavirus

The NBA ’ s hiatus will be at least 30 days , commissioner ...

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Two upcoming boxing events scheduled for the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Top Rank, the promoter of the two bouts, made the announcement late Thursday.
Newark native Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KOs) was to defend his WBO featherweight title against Miguel Marriaga (29-3, 25 KOs) of Colombia on Saturday, while Michael Conlan (13-0, 7 KOs) of Ireland was set to face Belmar Preciado (20-2, 13 KOs) of Columbia in Conlan’s annual St. Patrick’s Day appearance on Tuesday.
The postponement came after Top Rank had announced during a press conference earlier in the day that it would go through with the bouts without spectators and media present.
“After close consultation with the New York State Athletic Commission it has been determined that Saturday’s and Tuesday’s events cannot proceed in light of the ongoing Coronavirus crisis,” said a statement from Top Rank. “Top Rank will work with the Commission to reschedule the events as soon as it is safe for all involved.
“The health and safety of the fighters and their team, and everyone involved in the promotion of these events, necessitated taking this step.”
Had the boxing matches continued, it would have been one of the few sporting events still operating in the midst of the pandemic. The Stevenson fight was to be televised live on ESPN, while Conlan’s bout was scheduled to be shown on ESPN+.
Stevenson and Conlan were expected to draw large crowds. Stevenson is a local product, while Conlan was to be fighting at the Garden Theater on St. Patrick’s Day for the fourth time. Both are former Olympians. Full refunds for tickets purchased for Saturday and Tuesday will be available at the point of purchase.
Conlan was ready to fight in an empty arena if necessary.
“I’m ready to rock,” he said earlier Thursday. “It really doesn’t matter who is there and who’s not there. I’m a fighter and I’m ready to fight. I have to adapt to a new scenery and focus on what will be a dominant performance.”
Top Rank said it is consulting with its venue partners and will make a determination on the status of future events.
“We thank everyone for their understanding,” the Top Rank statement read, “and we will with our broadcast/venue partners and state and local officials decide when the time is right to return.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Yankees staying cautious after avoiding Zack Britton scare

Zack Britton reported to camp a day after he suffered a significant scare by taking an Erik Kratz comebacker to his right wrist .
Tests revealed it was only a bruise , and the Yankees left-handed reliever said he underwent treatment on Thursday and would have been on line to pitch in Saturday ’ s game .
“ In the game , I think you ’ re more on guard for [ a comebacker ] , ” Britton said .
“ I normally put [ a protective ] L-screen out there and I didn ’ t yesterday , so it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re just not ready for it when you ’ re facing your own guys and , I don ’ t want to say going through the motions , but to an extent .
I definitely wasn ’ t ready for it .
But I got lucky.
” Even though the X-rays and CT scan didn ’ t show a break or a fracture of Britton ’ s right wrist , the Yankees scheduled those additional tests .
“ I talked to him [ Wednesday night ] and seemed obviously relieved , ’ ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished spring training with a 6-3 win over the Nationals at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Thursday .
“ Obviously the X-rays and CT scan were negative so that is good , but we want to make sure we explore and talk to everyone that should be spoken to on the matter.
’ ’ According to Boone , Carlos Mendoza texted Gary Sanchez and the catcher informed the bench coach his condition had improved .
“ I know he is feeling a lot better , ’ ’ Boone said of Sanchez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday .
“ Hopefully , that is encouraging and he is scheduled to see the doctor [ Friday ] .
” Right-hander David Hale didn ’ t hurt his chances of being in the bullpen mix whenever the regular season starts by throwing three scoreless innings and allowing one hit and not walking a batter .
Tyler Wade hit the ball hard twice on Wednesday against the Marlins in Jupiter , Fla. , but left without a hit .
Thursday , the left-handed hitting Wade doubled and homered .
The homer was off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s chances of making the team out of spring training depended on how the Yankees ’ 26-man roster was going to be shaped .
The Yankees like Ford ’ s left-handed bat for a team that is top-heavy from the right side .
But Ford finished the shortened spring by hitting .194 ( 6-for-29 ) .
Clint Frazier needed an injury to an outfielder in order to make the Opening Day roster and he got two when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge went down .
Frazier took advantage of the opportunity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — which it won ’ t — Frazier would have had a starting job thanks to hitting .304 ( 7-for-23 ) .

Zack Britton reported to camp a day after he suffered a significant scare by taking an Erik Kratz comebacker to his right wrist. Tests revealed it was only a bruise, and the Yankees left-handed reliever said he underwent treatment on Thursday and would have been in line to pitch in Saturday’s game.
“In the game, I think you’re more on guard for [a comebacker],” Britton said. “I normally put [a protective] L-screen out there and I didn’t yesterday, so it was kind of karma. You’re just not ready for it when you’re facing your own guys and, I don’t want to say going through the motions, but to an extent. I definitely wasn’t ready for it. But I got lucky.”
Even though the X-rays and CT scan didn’t show a break or a fracture of Britton’s right wrist, the Yankees scheduled those additional tests.
“I talked to him [Wednesday night] and seemed obviously relieved,’’ manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees finished spring training with a 6-3 win over the Nationals at Ballpark of the Palm Beaches on Thursday.
“Obviously the X-rays and CT scan were negative so that is good, but we want to make sure we explore and talk to everyone that should be spoken to on the matter.’’
According to Boone, Carlos Mendoza texted Gary Sanchez and the catcher informed the bench coach his condition had improved.
“I know he is feeling a lot better,’’ Boone said of Sanchez, who tested positive for the flu on Tuesday. “Hopefully, that is encouraging and he is scheduled to see the doctor [Friday].”
Right-hander David Hale didn’t hurt his chances of being in the bullpen mix whenever the regular season starts by throwing three scoreless innings and allowing one hit and not walking a batter.
Tyler Wade hit the ball hard twice on Wednesday against the Marlins in Jupiter, Fla., but left without a hit. Thursday, the left-handed hitting Wade doubled and homered. The homer was off Nationals lefty Sean Doolittle.
Mike Ford’s chances of making the team out of spring training depended on how the Yankees’ 26-man roster was going to be shaped. The Yankees like Ford’s left-handed bat for a team that is top-heavy from the right side. But Ford finished the shortened spring by hitting .194 (6-for-29).
Clint Frazier needed an injury to an outfielder in order to make the Opening Day roster and he got two when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge went down. Frazier took advantage of the opportunity, and had Opening Day been March 26 — which it won’t — Frazier would have had a starting job thanks to hitting .304 (7-for-23).


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Alleged pervert neurosurgeon accused victim of being in mob

A former Park Avenue neurosurgeon who ran an anti-aging clinic ...

The neurosurgeon on trial for sexually assaulting a patient was caught on tape bizarrely accusing his victim of being part of the “mafia” when she tried to get him to admit to the assault, a recording played in court shows.
“Someone told me you work for the mob so I don’t know if that’s true but I gotta get off right now ok?” doctor Eric Braverman said on the recording.
“They say you work for the Italian mafia in Atlantic City and your whole family’s been working in the mob for three generations. I gotta deal with that later. Right now, that’s what people say, that you’re mafia. I don’t know what to say, I’ll call you back, ok?” Braverman said before the line went dead.
He’s facing forcible touching and sexual abuse charges for allegedly molesting a woman in her 20s during a massage at his private Park Avenue office in the Flatiron District in July 2017.
Captain Steven Green from the NYPD’s Special Victims Unit later testified in court Friday the recording was part of a ploy to get the doctor to admit his wrongdoing.
“Only one person has to consent to being recorded” in New York state, Green testified.
In the call, Braverman made a few creepy comments to the victim but didn’t admit to the assault.
“You didn’t do the test, you kept the checks and I never saw you again. I thought we were gonna go out,” Braverman said at the start of the call.
His victim, attempting to steer the conversation back to the 2017 assault, said she wanted to talk about “what happened” in his office.
“It kind of just made me uncomfortable,” the victim is heard saying on the line.
“You signed off that you were my girlfriend,” Braverman answered, adding “I don’t think anything happened.”
The victim, now 27, testified Thursday that she met Braverman at a real estate networking event and went to see him after he promised a holistic cure for her eczema.
“He started massaging my upper back and his hand caressed lower unto my butt and then he actually inserted his fingers into me,” the victim testified.
On Friday when her testimony continued, she said she “gasped” and was “shocked” when she felt the doctor assaulting her.
“I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I needed to leave immediately. He said ‘well I’m a doctor’. I didn’t feel comfortable at all,” the woman said.
Around the time Braverman was arrested in Oct. 2017, cops executed a search warrant at his office and found an attorney already present in his office, Green testified Friday.
Investigators were there to seize the victim’s medical records and surveillance footage from the doctor’s office but they came up empty handed.
Barverman’s defense attorney, Donald Vogelman, has repeatedly said the allegations against his client are baseless and he’ll soon be vindicated.
During opening arguments on Thursday, he said the woman was free to leave the office at any time, yet remained there for the three hours following the alleged assault.
“[Witnesses] will testify she didn’t scream and she didn’t run out. They will say she was happy when she left,” Vogelman told jurors.
He unsuccessfully tried to get the trial delayed after three jurors called out over coronavirus concerns but the judge denied his request, saying “what will be, will be.”
The trial is slated to continue Monday.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Second newborn baby tests positive for coronavirus

Another newborn has tested positive for the coronavirus Friday , marking what appears to be the second such case as @ @ @ @ @ London infant ’ s mother was rushed to a local hospital days before giving birth @ @ @ @ @ pneumonia , The Sun reported Friday .
Her coronavirus test came back positive only after @ @ @ @ @ her baby was tested minutes later .
They are being treated at separate hospitals as @ @ @ @ @ the baby contracted the illness while in the womb or after birth , the outlet @ @ @ @ @ February , another infected mother in China gave birth to a baby who was also @ @ @ @ @ the BBC reported at the time .
And a very young child , an 18-month-old @ @ @ @ @ has also tested positive for the virus after both parents had tested positive , according @ @ @ @ @ There have been more than 137,000 cases reported worldwide along with more than 5,000 related @ @

Another newborn has tested positive for the coronavirus Friday, marking what appears to be the second such case as the pandemic worsens.
The London infant’s mother was rushed to a local hospital days before giving birth over fears she had contracted pneumonia, The Sun reported Friday.
Her coronavirus test came back positive only after she had given birth; her baby was tested minutes later.
They are being treated at separate hospitals as health care professionals investigate whether the baby contracted the illness while in the womb or after birth, the outlet said.
Back in early February, another infected mother in China gave birth to a baby who was also confirmed to be infected, the BBC reported at the time.
And a very young child, an 18-month-old boy in Hong Kong, has also tested positive for the virus after both parents had tested positive, according to a report Thursday.
There have been more than 137,000 cases reported worldwide along with more than 5,000 related deaths.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--AMC and Regal movie theaters cut seating capacity over coronavirus

Despite the massive amounts of TV and movie-watching about to ...

And … cut!
Movie theater chains are cutting back on the number of seats they’ll fill, the same day President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic.
Regal and AMC both announced plans to cut seating capacity by 50% on Friday as both chains make moves to encourage “social distancing,” which can largely prevent the spread of the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The moves come as plenty of movies face stalled production, delays or cancellation as the world struggle to maintain the deadly virus.
AMC said it will not surpass more than 250 people in individual theaters, USA Today reported.
“AMC is proactively taking action to cut in half the number of tickets that we will make available at all our U.S. theaters,” CEO Adam Aron told The Hollywood Reporter. “With this action, we are facilitating the ‘social distance’ between guests who still want to see movies on a big screen.”
The chain, which says it will also practice “enhanced” cleaning procedures, will operate at half capacity from March 14 until April 30.
Regal will “have reduced auditorium capacity by 50% and are complying, where applicable, with state mandates on social gathering limits,” per THR.
Cinemark will reduce capacity in California only, according to the report, and Alamo Drafthouse will have “buffer” seats between each guest that will be “unavailable for other guests to purchase.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Peter Weber denies mom played a part in ‘Bachelor’ breakup

`` There have been communications through his attorneys , but we have ...

Peter Weber is denying his mother Barbara played a part in his breakup with Madison Prewett days after the finale.
The 28-year-old “Bachelor” star revealed he and Prewett “mutually decided to not pursue our relationship any further” Thursday, detailing his love for the 23-year-old Alabama native in an emotional Instagram post.
The reality star initially proposed to fellow finalist Hannah Ann Sluss, 23, during the show’s finale. It was later revealed the pair called off their engagement amid Weber’s lingering feelings for Prewett, who had previously broken up with him. His family — Barbara, in particular — made it clear she was on Team Sluss.
On his way to the gym on Friday, Weber denied his mother played a significant role in his split from Prewett, saying, “This is stuff between Madi and I solely 100 percent. People have their opinions but it should just be two of us and it’s just mutual respect and love.”
Previous 1 of 7 Next Advertisement Peter Weber @LionsShareNews @LionsShareNews Advertisement @LionsShareNews @LionsShareNews @LionsShareNews Advertisement
He went on to say he loves the idea of his mother getting her own reality show, after her much talked about appearance during the “After the Rose” taping.
The pilot also said he was unaware that Madison was recently spotted with Selena Gomez.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--‘Vikings’ star Clive Standen dishes on ‘Council of Dads’

When Clive Standen — who ’ s best known for playing tough-guy warrior Rollo on “ Vikings ” — read the script for his new NBC drama “ Council of Dads , ” he cried .
“ I ’ m a father of 3 , similar ages [ 17 , 13 and 9 ] to the kids in the show , ” Standen , 39 , tells the Post .
“ At the time when I read the script , my best friend was fighting cancer himself .
And I just started crying .
I rang my agent and my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished the script and I said ‘ I want to take this meeting.
’ I just had to do this.
” Premiering March 24 ( 10 p.m. ) , the show , which was filmed in Savannah , Ga. , follows the multi-ethnic family of Scott Perry ( Tom Everett Scott ) a man with terminal cancer .
Afraid of leaving his five children without a father figure , he recruits his friends to act as a “ council of Dads ” after he ’ s gone , to be there for them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Sarah Wayne Callies ) .
Standen , who was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in England , says he lobbied to play Scott .
“ Council ” s husband-and-wife creators Joan Rater and Tony Phelan — both “ Grey ’ s Anatomy ” alums — wanted him to play Scott ’ s best friend , Anthony Lavelle .
“ I was kind of pitching to them to play the dad .
And they were like , ‘ You know he dies in the first episode.
’ I was scared of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had cancer , because I was doing that in my own life .
I just thought , ‘ I can ’ t be him.
’ They said to me , ‘ This is why you need to play this role.
’ I was scared .
I think any time as an actor you ’ re scared to play a role , it ’ s a good reason to take on the challenge.
” Standen says his friend is now in remission and on the mend .
“ This all ended up perfectly — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the role .
It was time to not take another action role , ” he says , referring to his roles on NBC ’ s “ Taken ” ( 2017-2018 ) where Standen played a younger version of Bryan Mills , the role Liam Neeson made famous in big-screen blockbusters .
“ It was time to do something that was about a family , that somehow touched and moved some people .
If there ’ s anything to take away from ‘ Council of Dads , ’ it ’ s about love , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So Standen signed on to star as Anthony , Scott ’ s childhood friend , a tattooed chef with a glamorous life .
If that character profile sounds familiar , the writers intended it that way .
“ Anthony was based on Anthony Bourdain .
Our showrunners are both big fans of his work and documentaries , ” says Standen .
“ They came up to me and said , ‘ We ’ d just like a little bit of that swagger of his.
’ ” Swagger is the only quality that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There ’ s a possibility that Standen could reprise that role one last time , as the History epic gears up for its final stretch .
Rollo hasn ’ t been seen onscreen in many episodes , but the character is still alive .
When asked if he could make one last return before the series finale ( which doesn ’ t have an air date yet ) , Standen plays coy .
“ I ’ m not allowed to say…but Rollo never dies .
Can ’ t kill Rollo .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ original cast members that can hold their hand up and go , ‘ I ’ m still alive !
Still out there somewhere in the world !
’ I can say that this [ ‘ Vikings ’ ] spinoff ‘ Valhalla ’ that Netflix is doing with the same crew and the same tea is going to be quite exciting .
Who knows…maybe a character might appear in that show .
”

When Clive Standen — who’s best known for playing tough-guy warrior Rollo on “Vikings” — read the script for his new NBC drama “Council of Dads,” he cried.
“I’m a father of 3, similar ages [17, 13 and 9] to the kids in the show,” Standen, 39, tells the Post. “At the time when I read the script, my best friend was fighting cancer himself. And I just started crying. I rang my agent and my manager, I hadn’t even finished the script and I said ‘I want to take this meeting.’ I just had to do this.”
Premiering March 24 (10 p.m.), the show, which was filmed in Savannah, Ga., follows the multi-ethnic family of Scott Perry (Tom Everett Scott) a man with terminal cancer. Afraid of leaving his five children without a father figure, he recruits his friends to act as a “council of Dads” after he’s gone, to be there for them and to help his widow, Robin (Sarah Wayne Callies).
Standen, who was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in England, says he lobbied to play Scott. “Council”s husband-and-wife creators Joan Rater and Tony Phelan — both “Grey’s Anatomy” alums — wanted him to play Scott’s best friend, Anthony Lavelle.
“I was kind of pitching to them to play the dad. And they were like, ‘You know he dies in the first episode.’ I was scared of playing the friend of the guy who had cancer, because I was doing that in my own life. I just thought, ‘I can’t be him.’ They said to me, ‘This is why you need to play this role.’ I was scared. I think any time as an actor you’re scared to play a role, it’s a good reason to take on the challenge.”
Standen says his friend is now in remission and on the mend.
“This all ended up perfectly — but that’s why I took the role. It was time to not take another action role,” he says, referring to his roles on NBC’s “Taken” (2017-2018) where Standen played a younger version of Bryan Mills, the role Liam Neeson made famous in big-screen blockbusters.
“It was time to do something that was about a family, that somehow touched and moved some people. If there’s anything to take away from ‘Council of Dads,’ it’s about love, joy, and who shows up.”
So Standen signed on to star as Anthony, Scott’s childhood friend, a tattooed chef with a glamorous life. If that character profile sounds familiar, the writers intended it that way.
“Anthony was based on Anthony Bourdain. Our showrunners are both big fans of his work and documentaries,” says Standen. “They came up to me and said, ‘We’d just like a little bit of that swagger of his.’”
Swagger is the only quality that the affable Anthony shares with Viking warrior Rollo. There’s a possibility that Standen could reprise that role one last time, as the History epic gears up for its final stretch. Rollo hasn’t been seen onscreen in many episodes, but the character is still alive. When asked if he could make one last return before the series finale (which doesn’t have an air date yet), Standen plays coy.
“I’m not allowed to say…but Rollo never dies. Can’t kill Rollo. I think I am one of the only original cast members that can hold their hand up and go, ‘I’m still alive! Still out there somewhere in the world!’ I can say that this [‘Vikings’] spinoff ‘Valhalla’ that Netflix is doing with the same crew and the same team is going to be quite exciting. Who knows…maybe a character might appear in that show.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Second guest at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago tests positive for coronavirus

A top aide to the Brazilian president who came in ...

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WASHINGTON — A second person who could have had contact with President Trump last weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus, according to a new report.
The infected person was not identified, but was an attendee at the weekend’s Trump Victory fundraiser lunch at the president’s Palm Beach, Fla. resort on Sunday, when the president delivered remarks, according to the Washington Post report published Friday.
The latest case means the president, aged 73, was near two people in two days who have since tested positive for the virus.
On Saturday evening, Trump was photographed standing next a Brazilian official who has since been diagnosed with COVID-19.
The president has remained bullish about his prospects of becoming infected with the deadly virus and only on Friday did he accept he would “likely” get tested soon.
Attendees of the lunch, run by the Trump Victory committee which raises funds for the president’s re-election bid, were notified in an email from party officials that was obtained by The Post.
A party official said it was unclear if the lunch guest had COVID-19 over the weekend but guests were being notified out of an abundance of caution.
“Attendees had no direct interaction with the president at this event,” the official said, according to the report.
The health crisis has so far killed 41 people in the US and infected another 1,629 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Bill Gates steps down from Microsoft board

Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates , who made the company one of the world ’ s most valuable technology firms @ @ @ @ @ board on Friday to focus on philanthropic works related to global health , education and @ @ @ @ @ and his wife , Melinda , run one of the world ’ s largest charities @ @ @ @ @ which has billions in assets and funds global health programs to combat disease and poverty @ @ @ @ @ executive role at Microsoft in 2008 and remained as chairman of the board till 2014 @ @ @ @ @ has been a board member .
“ It ’ s been a tremendous honor and @ @ @ @ @ and learned from Bill over the years , ” Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said @ @ @ @ @ Gates from Microsoft Board , it will now consist of 12 members , the company @ @ @ @ @ down from the board of Warren Buffett ’ s Berkshire Hathaway Inc , where he @ @ @ @ @

Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, who made the company one of the world’s most valuable technology firms, stepped down from the board on Friday to focus on philanthropic works related to global health, education and climate change.
The billionaire and his wife, Melinda, run one of the world’s largest charities, the Gates Foundation, which has billions in assets and funds global health programs to combat disease and poverty.
Gates quit his full-time executive role at Microsoft in 2008 and remained as chairman of the board till 2014. Since then, he has been a board member.
“It’s been a tremendous honor and privilege to have worked with and learned from Bill over the years,” Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said.
With the departure of Gates from Microsoft Board, it will now consist of 12 members, the company said.
Gates also stepped down from the board of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc, where he has served since 2004.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Prince Andrew reportedly now cooperating with Jeffrey Epstein investigators

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Prince Andrew ’ s lawyers have been in contact with prosecutors investigating sex offender Jeffrey Epstein since the new year , a new report claims .
The royal has been under intense pressure to aid an investigation into the late billionaire — and had reportedly failed to respond to requests to help US officials .
However , a spokesman for Geoffrey Berman , the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York — who is leading the inquiry into Epstein ’ s sex trafficking — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ there has been communication between both legal teams ” .
The revelation contradicts Berman ’ s previous comments in January that the Queen ’ s son had offered “ zero cooperation.
” The New York Times later quoted “ three people familiar with the investigation ” as saying Andrew had failed to respond to calls .
Berman ’ s spokesperson told The Telegraph : “ There have been communications through his attorneys , but we have been informed that he is not willing to submit to an interview.
” Sources close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angry and bewildered ” by the suggestion he had refused to co-operate .
Last week , Berman , whose reappointment may hinge on the outcome of November ’ s presidential election , yet again claimed that Andrew had “ completely shut the door ” on the investigation .
“ Contrary to Prince Andrew ’ s very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein ’ s co-conspirators , an offer that was conveyed via press release , Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation and our office is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the wake of the backlash over his car-crash BBC interview last November , Andrew announced that he was “ willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations if required.
” He then stood down from public life .
One of Epstein ’ s victims , Virginia Roberts Giuffre , claims she was forced to sleep with Andrew three times , including once when she was trafficked to London by Epstein aged 17 in 2001 .
Andrew has vehemently denied the claims and said he had no recollection of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to comment to the Telegraph ; Page Six could not reach Berman ’ s office for comment .

Prince Andrew’s lawyers have been in contact with prosecutors investigating sex offender Jeffrey Epstein since the new year, a new report claims.
The royal has been under intense pressure to aid an investigation into the late billionaire — and had reportedly failed to respond to requests to help US officials.
However, a spokesman for Geoffrey Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York — who is leading the inquiry into Epstein’s sex trafficking — confirmed to the UK’s Telegraph that “there has been communication between both legal teams”.
The revelation contradicts Berman’s previous comments in January that the Queen’s son had offered “zero cooperation.” The New York Times later quoted “three people familiar with the investigation” as saying Andrew had failed to respond to calls.
Berman’s spokesperson told The Telegraph: “There have been communications through his attorneys, but we have been informed that he is not willing to submit to an interview.” Sources close to Andrew had described him as “angry and bewildered” by the suggestion he had refused to co-operate.
Last week, Berman, whose reappointment may hinge on the outcome of November’s presidential election, yet again claimed that Andrew had “completely shut the door” on the investigation.
“Contrary to Prince Andrew’s very public offer to cooperate with our investigation into Epstein’s co-conspirators, an offer that was conveyed via press release, Prince Andrew has now completely shut the door on voluntary cooperation and our office is considering its options,” he said.
In the wake of the backlash over his car-crash BBC interview last November, Andrew announced that he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations if required.” He then stood down from public life.
One of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, claims she was forced to sleep with Andrew three times, including once when she was trafficked to London by Epstein aged 17 in 2001. Andrew has vehemently denied the claims and said he had no recollection of ever meeting her.
His lawyers declined to comment to the Telegraph; Page Six could not reach Berman’s office for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Two JPMorgan employees in NYC have coronavirus

JPMorgan Chase said on Friday two employees at its headquarters in Midtown New York City have contracted the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ the workers have been at home receiving treatment since earlier this week .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ this time , ” Marchiony said by email .
The bank has asked employees who @ @ @ @ @ the individuals to work from home for two weeks .
JPMorgan Chase said it is @ @ @ @ @ work spaces in addition to the normal cleaning measures .
The bank already made headlines @ @ @ @ @ Dimon underwent emergency heart surgery .
Dimon has since been released from the hospital and @ @ @ @ @ to the company .
Shares of JPMorgan rose nearly 18 percent , or $ 15.81 @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday .

JPMorgan Chase said on Friday two employees at its headquarters in Midtown New York City have contracted the coronavirus.
Company spokesman Brian Marchiony said the workers have been at home receiving treatment since earlier this week.
“They are both doing well at this time,” Marchiony said by email. The bank has asked employees who came into close contact with the individuals to work from home for two weeks.
JPMorgan Chase said it is deep cleaning both employees’ work spaces in addition to the normal cleaning measures.
The bank already made headlines last week when CEO Jamie Dimon underwent emergency heart surgery. Dimon has since been released from the hospital and is doing well, according to the company.
Shares of JPMorgan rose nearly 18 percent, or $15.81, to $103.91, on Thursday.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Manhattan correction officers convicted for illegal search scheme

In three of the five strip searches , the officers then ...

Five female correction officers who worked in a lower Manhattan jail were convicted on Friday of running a scheme to illegally search visitors and of covering up the invasive probes, authorities said.
Leslie-Ann Absalom, a former captain at the Manhattan Detention Complex, was found guilty in the conspiracy along with Daphne Farmer, Jennifer George, Lisette Rodriguez and Alifa Waiters, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said in a statement.
The group of correction officers “cornered” at least five female visitors at the lockup in 2018 and tore off their clothes and underwear to find contraband that was being smuggled into the jail, prosecutors charged.
During one of the searches, George, Waiters, Farmer and Rodriguez tackled the victim to the floor before making her remove her pants and underwear, prosecutors said during their trial.
“The officers grabbed her arms, put a hand around her throat and started choking her,” Assistant District Attorney Daniel Passeser said during opening statements.
The officers then “reached inside her underwear” and found marijuana and Xanax, but falsely claimed in paperwork that they found the drugs when they dropped out of the visitor’s waistband.
The group also falsified two other reports, prosecutors said.
“It is my hope that today’s convictions serve as a warning — regardless of whether the perpetrator is an inmate or an officer, illegal behavior in Manhattan’s jails will not be tolerated,” Vance said in a statement.
The women were convicted of conspiracy and a number of other charges, including unlawful imprisonment, Vance said in a statement.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Hideous rainbow house in Florida infuriates neighbors

Not all rainbows are a welcome sight in Florida neighborhood .
A half-a-million-dollar house in an upscale Naples community has been haphazardly smeared with a multicolored paint job after a father and son butted heads over the property .
And locals aren ’ t beaming about it .
Dennis Liebman sued his son and co-owner Jeffrey Liebman to divide the house and force a sale after he missed three mortgage payments .
They battled it out in court until a judge finally ordered Jeffrey to cooperate with the sale in July .
That ’ s when things turned ugly — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s orders and wouldn ’ t allow real estate agents to conduct any showings .
Then he went on a rainbow rampage .
Neighbors told the Naples Daily News they started seeing Jeffrey spray-painting the 2,517-square-foot house at located at 6913 Il Regalo Circle in splashes of bright hues : red , orange , yellow , pink and purple .
Everything was eventually covered , from the facade to the windows to the mailbox — and even a palm tree on the lawn .
The house is part of an intimate lakefront @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 40 homes .
The late-night painting bouts and their results shocked neighbors and drew attention from code enforcement officials , local police and the media .
“ I ’ m most mad about the tree , ” across-the-street-neighbor Amber Chamber told the local paper .
“ I don ’ t know how you fix that.
” But the nightmare might soon be over .
On Feb. 27 , Judge Lauren Brodie approved an order for sale for $ 225,000 — basically just the value of the lot .
It was previously valued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comes after magistrate Brandon Bytnar told the judge that Jeffrey had “ absolutely destroyed the property.
” The listing agent , Christina Falzarano Bajraktarevic , agreed .
She testified that it would cost $ 300,000 to repair the home and even believed the damage was so bad it could be a tear-down job .
“ The buyer could demolish it and rebuild it , ” she said .
Jeffrey , who represented himself , objected to the judge ’ s reduced sale price , saying it was too low , especially after some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bajraktarevic then shared details about the interior damage , which includes holes in the walls and ripped-out cabinets .
The rainbow paint job will likely mean a new roof , landscaping and windows .
The judge didn ’ t take Jeffrey ’ s side , and the house is now expected to close around April 1 .
The buyer refused to comment to local papers .
Meanwhile , Jeffrey is due back in court next month for unrelated drug charges .

Not all rainbows are a welcome sight in Florida neighborhood.
A half-a-million-dollar house in an upscale Naples community has been haphazardly smeared with a multicolored paint job after a father and son butted heads over the property. And locals aren’t beaming about it.
Dennis Liebman sued his son and co-owner Jeffrey Liebman to divide the house and force a sale after he missed three mortgage payments. They battled it out in court until a judge finally ordered Jeffrey to cooperate with the sale in July. That’s when things turned ugly — and colorful.
Jeffrey refused the judge’s orders and wouldn’t allow real estate agents to conduct any showings. Then he went on a rainbow rampage. Neighbors told the Naples Daily News they started seeing Jeffrey spray-painting the 2,517-square-foot house at located at 6913 Il Regalo Circle in splashes of bright hues: red, orange, yellow, pink and purple. Everything was eventually covered, from the facade to the windows to the mailbox — and even a palm tree on the lawn.
The house is part of an intimate lakefront community called Il Regalo that has less than 40 homes. The late-night painting bouts and their results shocked neighbors and drew attention from code enforcement officials, local police and the media.
“I’m most mad about the tree,” across-the-street-neighbor Amber Chamber told the local paper. “I don’t know how you fix that.”
But the nightmare might soon be over. On Feb. 27, Judge Lauren Brodie approved an order for sale for $225,000 — basically just the value of the lot. It was previously valued at $528,623. The lower valuation comes after magistrate Brandon Bytnar told the judge that Jeffrey had “absolutely destroyed the property.”
The listing agent, Christina Falzarano Bajraktarevic, agreed. She testified that it would cost $300,000 to repair the home and even believed the damage was so bad it could be a tear-down job. “The buyer could demolish it and rebuild it,” she said.
Jeffrey, who represented himself, objected to the judge’s reduced sale price, saying it was too low, especially after some upgrades he made to the home. Bajraktarevic then shared details about the interior damage, which includes holes in the walls and ripped-out cabinets. The rainbow paint job will likely mean a new roof, landscaping and windows.
The judge didn’t take Jeffrey’s side, and the house is now expected to close around April 1. The buyer refused to comment to local papers.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey is due back in court next month for unrelated drug charges.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Ohio health officials believe 100K in state have coronavirus

The head of New York City ’ s correction officers ’ union Friday ...

The coronavirus forecast in Ohio is grim.
More than 100,000 people are believed to be infected with the coronavirus in the state — about one percent of its population, health officials in the state said Friday.
“This is certainly an unprecedented time … we’ve never seen a situation exactly like this,” said Dr. Amy Acton, director of the State Health Department, at a news conference Thursday.
There are currently five confirmed cases in the state, but officials believe that number will double every six days after the lastest patient became Ohio’s second person to have contracted the virus from community spread.
“Whenever you know of two people that have it due to community spread, then you can assume that 1% of your population has it,” a Health Department press secretary told a local ABC affiliate.
Gov. Mike DeWine and Acton are advising Ohioans to state home and are pushing to increase the state’s limited testing capacity.
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The two signed an executive order banning the gathering of 100 or more people in a single room or event space an attempt to combat further spread.
“This is a work in progress,” DeWine tweeted Friday. “ We are working as fast as we can to put the support systems into place that need to be there.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Eva Amurri gives birth to third child with soon-to-be ex-husband Kyle Martino

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 ) Eva Amurri and Kyle Martino have welcomed their third child together — amid their divorce .
Baby boy Mateo Antoni Martino was born Friday afternoon , Amurri , 34 , announced in a weekly newsletter for her lifestyle website Happily Eva After .
“ He arrived safely & sweetly at home , March 13th at 3:58pm , weighing 7 lbs 11 oz and 21 inches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ Our hearts are so full !
Thank you for the well wishes , and I look forward to sharing more soon !
” Ahead of the birth , Amurri — who is already mom to 5-year-old daughter named Marlowe Mae and a 3-year-old son named Major James —announced that she ’ d planned a home birth with a midwife .
She also admitted that she was unsure how co-parenting a newborn in the middle of her divorce from Martino , 39 , was going to work .
“ We will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with anything else we are experiencing in the co-parenting realm , I will be sharing my thoughts and advice as I get more experience and feel I have something valuable to share , ” she wrote in a newsletter .
“ Beyond that , I really don ’ t feel able to comment on something I ’ ve never done !
” Amurri , the daughter of Susan Sarandon , announced she was expecting a baby in September 2019 and announced her split from Martino just two months later .
“ Our family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” they announced in a joint statement after eight years of marriage .
“ After a lot of thoughtful consideration , and work on our relationship , we have made the difficult decision to lovingly part ways as a couple.
” Later that week , Amurri posted that the former soccer player was moving out of their house .
She wrote , “ It really doesn ’ t matter how good of friends you are and how ‘ right ’ the decision is — there are moments in the process of a divorce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soul and very scary as a newly single mom of almost 3 kids.
” By December , she had updated her website bio to “ single mom .
”

Eva Amurri and Kyle Martino have welcomed their third child together — amid their divorce.
Baby boy Mateo Antoni Martino was born Friday afternoon, Amurri, 34, announced in a weekly newsletter for her lifestyle website Happily Eva After.
“He arrived safely & sweetly at home, March 13th at 3:58pm, weighing 7 lbs 11 oz and 21 inches long,” she wrote, adding, “Our hearts are so full! Thank you for the well wishes, and I look forward to sharing more soon!”
Ahead of the birth, Amurri — who is already mom to 5-year-old daughter named Marlowe Mae and a 3-year-old son named Major James —announced that she’d planned a home birth with a midwife.
She also admitted that she was unsure how co-parenting a newborn in the middle of her divorce from Martino, 39, was going to work.
“We will be learning as we go, and like with anything else we are experiencing in the co-parenting realm, I will be sharing my thoughts and advice as I get more experience and feel I have something valuable to share,” she wrote in a newsletter. “Beyond that, I really don’t feel able to comment on something I’ve never done!”
Amurri, the daughter of Susan Sarandon, announced she was expecting a baby in September 2019 and announced her split from Martino just two months later.
“Our family is starting down a new path,” they announced in a joint statement after eight years of marriage. “After a lot of thoughtful consideration, and work on our relationship, we have made the difficult decision to lovingly part ways as a couple.”
Later that week, Amurri posted that the former soccer player was moving out of their house.
She wrote, “It really doesn’t matter how good of friends you are and how ‘right’ the decision is — there are moments in the process of a divorce that are just absolutely brutal for the soul and very scary as a newly single mom of almost 3 kids.” By December, she had updated her website bio to “single mom.”
Congratulation to the co-parents.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--NYC corrections union says inmate visits should stop over coronavirus

The head of New York City ’ s correction officers ’ union Friday called for a temporary halt on all inmate visitations until the city gets a “ better grip ” on the coronavirus pandemic bringing the Big Apple to a standstill .
“ All we need is one inmate , ” Elias Husamudeen , president of the Correction Officers ’ Benevolent Association , told The Post .
“ It ’ s no secret that jail is a very contained environment , ” Husamudeen said .
“ The reality is we have an environment where we don ’ t need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do to reduce the probability until we get a handle on [ the coronavirus outbreak ] , why not do it ?
“ No amount of masks or hand sanitizers can reverse the exposure of the virus to this very dense population.
” As of Friday afternoon , there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in the city jails .
Currently , visitors are given a questionnaire asking them their current condition or if they are running a fever , according to Husamudeen .
But the union head , who said city jails @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is reluctant to just go on people ’ s word — especially after an inflected JetBlue passenger rode a flight out of JFK without saying a word until the plane landed in Florida .
Their concerns have been brought to both the mayor ’ s office and the city ’ s Department of Correction , but “ they are all dragging their feet , ” Husamudeen said .
“ We think City Hall is being irresponsible by not shutting down the visitations until we get a better grip on things , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said he would “ ask agency heads to look at it.
” “ I think it ’ s a fair concern were looking at a lot of different pieces right now I haven ’ t seen their full statement , ” de Blasio said at a press conference .
The union ’ s anxiousness over its members ’ well-being wasn ’ t the only criticism raised about the city ’ s response to prevent the spread of the virus through city jails .
The Legal Aid Society said Friday that it has received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do not have access to soap , hand sanitizer or a way to disinfect their living quarters .
Tina Luongo , Legal Aid ’ s attorney-in-charge of its criminal-defense practice , said putting the cost of cleaning products on inmates “ is both callous and reckless.
” “ Public-health authorities are unanimous : We must clean communal areas with disinfectants , and thoroughly and frequently wash our hands with soap and water to slow transmission of this virus , ” Luongo said .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The head of New York City’s correction officers’ union Friday called for a temporary halt on all inmate visitations until the city gets a “better grip” on the coronavirus pandemic bringing the Big Apple to a standstill.
“All we need is one inmate,” Elias Husamudeen, president of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, told The Post.
“It’s no secret that jail is a very contained environment,” Husamudeen said. “The reality is we have an environment where we don’t need one case, and anything we can do to reduce the probability until we get a handle on [the coronavirus outbreak], why not do it?
“No amount of masks or hand sanitizers can reverse the exposure of the virus to this very dense population.”
As of Friday afternoon, there have been no confirmed coronavirus cases in the city jails.
Currently, visitors are given a questionnaire asking them their current condition or if they are running a fever, according to Husamudeen.
But the union head, who said city jails open their doors to hundreds a day, is reluctant to just go on people’s word — especially after an inflected JetBlue passenger rode a flight out of JFK without saying a word until the plane landed in Florida.
Their concerns have been brought to both the mayor’s office and the city’s Department of Correction, but “they are all dragging their feet,” Husamudeen said.
“We think City Hall is being irresponsible by not shutting down the visitations until we get a better grip on things,” Husamudeen said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would “ask agency heads to look at it.”
“I think it’s a fair concern were looking at a lot of different pieces right now I haven’t seen their full statement,” de Blasio said at a press conference.
A spokesman for the city DOC said jail began screening visitors for coronavirus-like symptoms on Thursday but did not say what that screening process entailed.
“We are in close contact with the Board of Correction, the Department of Health and the Office of Emergency Management to ensure the health and safety of everyone who works at, lives on, or visits Rikers Island and other city jail facilities,” said DOC spokesman Peter Thorne.
The union’s anxiousness over its members’ well-being wasn’t the only criticism raised about the city’s response to prevent the spread of the virus through city jails.
The Legal Aid Society said Friday that it has received a number of complaints from inmates that they do not have access to soap, hand sanitizer or a way to disinfect their living quarters.
Tina Luongo, Legal Aid’s attorney-in-charge of its criminal-defense practice, said putting the cost of cleaning products on inmates “is both callous and reckless.”
“Public-health authorities are unanimous: We must clean communal areas with disinfectants, and thoroughly and frequently wash our hands with soap and water to slow transmission of this virus,” Luongo said.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Saks Fifth Avenue takes an extra 20% off clearance for weekend sale

Saks Fifth Avenue is bringing in the weekend with another major sale .
During the event , it is offering @ @ @ @ @ a variety of sale styles .
The weekend-long event features top brands , like Theory @ @ @ @ @ Givenchy .
And there are large discounts on dresses , coats , and more must-have @ @ @ @ @ a Tanya Taylor jumpsuit or make a statement with some trendy Fendi 49MM round sunglasses @ @ @ @ @ stylish Emporio Armani suit listed at 60 % off .
We ’ ve pulled together @ @ @ @ @ .
So take a look at these stylish finds and make the most of these @ @ @

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for dad, then Saks Fifth Avenue is here to help. For a limited time, the retailer is taking up to 70% off a...


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--Scientists believe they’ve made a huge breakthrough in coronavirus vaccine effort

“ According to our estimates , we are hopeful that in April ...

A team of Canadian scientists has successfully isolated and grown copies of the coronavirus — bringing the world a step closer to finding a vaccine to fight the deadly illness.
Researchers from the Sunnybrook Research Institute, the University of Toronto, and McMaster University were able to isolate and replicate the virus in a lab using samples taken from two Canadian patients.
The lab-grown copies will now be able to help scientists study the pathogen to develop better diagnostic testing, treatments, vaccines, and gain a better understanding of its biology, the team said in a statement.
“Now that we have isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus [the agent responsible for COVID-19], we can share this with other researchers and continue this teamwork,” Dr. Arinjay Banerjee, NSERC post-doctoral fellow at McMaster University, said.
“The more viruses that are made available in this way, the more we can learn, collaborate and share.”
“We need key tools to develop solutions to this pandemic,” Dr. Samira Mubareka, microbiologist and infectious diseases physician at Sunnybrook, added.
“While the immediate response is crucial, longer-term solutions come from essential research into this novel virus.”
Meanwhile, eight institutes in China are working on five approaches to inoculations in an effort to combat COVID-19. Chinese officials say it could result in a vaccine ready for emergency situations and clinical trials next month.
The outbreak has infected more than 137,000 people in at least 117 countries and regions as of Friday evening — and caused more than 5,000 deaths.


newyorkpost--2020-03-13--A hospital-bed shortage looms amid coronavirus and other commentary

America doesn ’ t have enough hospital beds to handle COVID-19 patients , warns Eric Boehm at Reason .
And it ’ s thanks to needless red tape : state “ certificate of need ” laws that force hospitals to get government ’ s OK before adding services , beds and even “ long-term acute-care services ” — just what coronavirus patients may need to recover .
No wonder America has fewer beds per capita than other developed nations .
The regs “ help politically powerful hospital chains limit regional competition , ” but the shortages they create could “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeffrey Singer , a medical doctor , urges lawmakers to suspend these laws during the COVID-19 outbreak .
But removing them permanently , says Boehm , should be a “ no-brainer , ” so that the market can “ adequately prepare for future pandemics.
” The coronavirus has been a “ total game-changer , ” writes Melissa Chen at the Spectator USA .
As it has spread “ perniciously , causing 4,716 deaths worldwide and radically transforming life , ” it has also begun to change behavior .
Humans ’ “ Behavioral Immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” tendencies , act as our “ first line of defense against potentially devastating pathogens.
” The system influences how we “ approach the world and each other , our dating habits ” and even political attitudes .
“ Pathogen cues ” can increase xenophobia and ethnocentrism .
“ Coupled with the economic recession , the complete retooling of working life and the impending referendum on our health-care system and gig economy , the effect of the novel coronavirus on shaping our cultural psychology and politics shouldn ’ t be ignored.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China spent 730 million yuan ( $ 104 million ) on a “ state-of-the-art early-warning system ” for disease epidemics — which , South China Morning Post ’ s Guo Rui laments , completely missed the coronavirus .
Why ?
The government knew about the outbreak “ as early as Jan. 7 ” but forbade doctors from “ disclosing any information to the public without permission , ” and Chinese experts falsely “ reported no evidence of human transmission of the virus ” — exactly “ what the leaders wanted to hear.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention , which is supposed to regulate the system , doesn ’ t “ report to the central government directly ” or “ issue public warnings.
” As one expert puts it , the system ’ s failure “ exemplifies ” a lot of what ’ s wrong with China today .
Economic beat : No , Fed ’ s Not Bailing Out Banks After the Federal Reserve on Thursday “ announced a $ 1.5 trillion liquidity provision to the interbank lending market , ” sighs National Review ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left , ” including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , “ immediately balked at what they saw as the government giving handouts to banks instead of hard-working Americans.
” Actually , the Fed is doing what it usually does when “ markets are volatile ” : “ lending banks cash overnight in order to ensure that the financial system remains healthy.
” The money is generally repaid quickly .
Yet when AOC claimed the funds could ’ ve gone to cover “ all student loan debt , ” she apparently thought the agency is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sorry , Congresswoman : The Fed ’ s intervention is “ a boon to the US financial system ” — and “ far from a handout.
” Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer “ rediscovered an age-old truth ” this year , snarks Bradley A. Smith at City Journal : “ Money can ’ t buy love.
” Nor did it help Hillary Clinton in 2016 or other wannabes , like Jeb Bush , Linda McMahon and Steve Forbes .
“ Money can help a campaign ’ s message get heard , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ like what they hear.
” Still , fears of candidates “ buying ” elections “ continue to drive ” campaign-finance laws .
Just last year , the House passed “ a variety of restrictions on paid political speech.
” Sure , “ ‘ getting money out of politics ’ makes for a good bumper sticker , but the policies it leads to actually give more power and influence to the wealthy , not less.
” Policymakers should just “ get out of the way and let voters speak .
”

Health watch: A Hospital-Bed Shortage Looms
America doesn’t have enough hospital beds to handle COVID-19 patients, warns Eric Boehm at Reason. And it’s thanks to needless red tape: state “certificate of need” laws that force hospitals to get government’s OK before adding services, beds and even “long-term acute-care services” — just what coronavirus patients may need to recover. No wonder America has fewer beds per capita than other developed nations. The regs “help politically powerful hospital chains limit regional competition,” but the shortages they create could “prove disastrous.” Cato Institute senior fellow Jeffrey Singer, a medical doctor, urges lawmakers to suspend these laws during the COVID-19 outbreak. But removing them permanently, says Boehm, should be a “no-brainer,” so that the market can “adequately prepare for future pandemics.”
Culture beat: COVID-19 Will Reshape Our Psyche
The coronavirus has been a “total game-changer,” writes Melissa Chen at the Spectator USA. As it has spread “perniciously, causing 4,716 deaths worldwide and radically transforming life,” it has also begun to change behavior. Humans’ “Behavioral Immune System,” which guides “disease-avoidance” tendencies, act as our “first line of defense against potentially devastating pathogens.” The system influences how we “approach the world and each other, our dating habits” and even political attitudes. “Pathogen cues” can increase xenophobia and ethnocentrism. “Coupled with the economic recession, the complete retooling of working life and the impending referendum on our health-care system and gig economy, the effect of the novel coronavirus on shaping our cultural psychology and politics shouldn’t be ignored.”
Foreign Desk: China’s Failed Warning System
In response to the 2002 SARS outbreak, China spent 730 million yuan ($104 million) on a “state-of-the-art early-warning system” for disease epidemics — which, South China Morning Post’s Guo Rui laments, completely missed the coronavirus. Why? The government knew about the outbreak “as early as Jan. 7” but forbade doctors from “disclosing any information to the public without permission,” and Chinese experts falsely “reported no evidence of human transmission of the virus” — exactly “what the leaders wanted to hear.” Meanwhile, China’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which is supposed to regulate the system, doesn’t “report to the central government directly” or “issue public warnings.” As one expert puts it, the system’s failure “exemplifies” a lot of what’s wrong with China today.
Economic beat: No, Fed’s Not Bailing Out Banks
After the Federal Reserve on Thursday “announced a $1.5 trillion liquidity provision to the interbank lending market,” sighs National Review’s Daniel Tenreiro, “observers on the left,” including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “immediately balked at what they saw as the government giving handouts to banks instead of hard-working Americans.” Actually, the Fed is doing what it usually does when “markets are volatile”: “lending banks cash overnight in order to ensure that the financial system remains healthy.” The money is generally repaid quickly. Yet when AOC claimed the funds could’ve gone to cover “all student loan debt,” she apparently thought the agency is “cutting a check to financial institutions.” Sorry, Congresswoman: The Fed’s intervention is “a boon to the US financial system” — and “far from a handout.”
Free-speech watch: Money Can’t Buy Elections
Michael Bloomberg and Tom Steyer “rediscovered an age-old truth” this year, snarks Bradley A. Smith at City Journal: “Money can’t buy love.” Nor did it help Hillary Clinton in 2016 or other wannabes, like Jeb Bush, Linda McMahon and Steve Forbes. “Money can help a campaign’s message get heard, but it doesn’t mean” listeners will “like what they hear.” Still, fears of candidates “buying” elections “continue to drive” campaign-finance laws. Just last year, the House passed “a variety of restrictions on paid political speech.” Sure, “ ‘getting money out of politics’ makes for a good bumper sticker, but the policies it leads to actually give more power and influence to the wealthy, not less.” Policymakers should just “get out of the way and let voters speak.”
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board


newyorkpost--2020-03-14--Coronavirus to delay Domingo German’s return to Yankees

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TAMPA — Domestic-violence offender Domingo German signed off on a punishment that , he assumed , would get him back in action for more than half of the 2020 season .
In reality , though , the Yankees ’ right-hander only committed to the number of games he would miss , not the number for which he would be available .
And the extreme likelihood of Major League Baseball ’ s 162-game season being shortened by the coronavirus pandemic also would delay German @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suspension in the amount of games , ” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of German during a conference call Friday .
“ It doesn ’ t start until the schedule starts .
The suspension is in games , so the bottom line is , until those games come off the board , that ’ s how long his suspension is going to last.
” German agreed to an 81-game suspension that included 18 games served last fall .
Had this season progressed normally , the right-hander would have been eligible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Yankees ’ 64th game , a home contest against the Rays .
To this point , MLB has announced only a two-week delay of action , and Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said Friday in a conference call that the current plan calls for those two weeks of games to be made up on the back end of the schedule .
Nevertheless , virtually no one believes that the postponement will be limited to two weeks .
Games will have to be canceled and the schedule curtailed .
Which in turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cashman said that Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez , who had been diagnosed with the flu on Tuesday , is “ improved.
” Sanchez also had been dealing with an ailing back .
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said , in the same conference call , that George M. Steinbrenner Field , which will continue to host the entire Yankees team for informal workouts , had been cleaned exhaustively twice in the past week with a “ bleach-type spray ” to reduce the likelihood of a coronavirus case there .

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TAMPA — Domestic-violence offender Domingo German signed off on a punishment that, he assumed, would get him back in action for more than half of the 2020 season.
In reality, though, the Yankees’ right-hander only committed to the number of games he would miss, not the number for which he would be available. And the extreme likelihood of Major League Baseball’s 162-game season being shortened by the coronavirus pandemic also would delay German’s return.
“He has a suspension in the amount of games,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of German during a conference call Friday. “It doesn’t start until the schedule starts. The suspension is in games, so the bottom line is, until those games come off the board, that’s how long his suspension is going to last.”
German agreed to an 81-game suspension that included 18 games served last fall. Had this season progressed normally, the right-hander would have been eligible to return to game action on June 5, the Yankees’ 64th game, a home contest against the Rays.
To this point, MLB has announced only a two-week delay of action, and Red Sox president Sam Kennedy said Friday in a conference call that the current plan calls for those two weeks of games to be made up on the back end of the schedule. Nevertheless, virtually no one believes that the postponement will be limited to two weeks. Games will have to be canceled and the schedule curtailed. Which in turn will further curtail German’s campaign.
Cashman said that Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, who had been diagnosed with the flu on Tuesday, is “improved.” Sanchez also had been dealing with an ailing back.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said, in the same conference call, that George M. Steinbrenner Field, which will continue to host the entire Yankees team for informal workouts, had been cleaned exhaustively twice in the past week with a “bleach-type spray” to reduce the likelihood of a coronavirus case there.


newyorkpost--2020-03-14--Mike Piazza knows sports’ healing power after a crisis

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PORT ST. LUCIE — When Mike Piazza hit his iconic two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 3-2 win over the Braves on Sept. 21 , 2001 in the first major league game played in New York following the murderous 9/11 attacks , there was a brief feeling of joy in the darkest of times .
After 10 days of being put on hold , the game went on again , and fans and players had an escape from what had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the midst of another holding pattern because of the coronavirus pandemic .
This is not the same situation , of course , but once again the game is on hold .
Camps have been shuttered and some players are going home , with no certainty as to when the season will begin .
Piazza , now 51 , represents an athlete having to put his talents on hold and then bursting back on the scene in the most exciting of ways .
His home run that night created a lasting memory for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This is completely different circumstances and the situation is tough to compare in so many ways , ’ ’ Piazza told The Post late Thursday night , “ but on the professional side , the athletic side , separating yourself from the issue , which is bigger than baseball , as an athlete you have to try to maintain some sort of schedule of maintenance or preparation because you don ’ t know when you ’ ll be called back.
’ ’ That is the key .
That is not an easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when their internal clock tells them it ’ s time to play .
At this point in spring training , games have a much different feel than the first two weeks .
Cuts have been made .
Lineups are more certain .
It ’ s time to go .
Now it has stopped .
Players were geared up to start the season during the last week of March .
This is the fine-tuning part of spring training .
For fans , all spring training games are the same : sunshine and a relaxed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this part of spring training is much different .
If you are a pitcher , get your pitch-count up .
If you are a hitter , get your swing perfected .
Look at Jacob deGrom ’ s last outing .
He was Opening Day-sharp against the Cardinals .
“ At this part of spring training , guys are starting to come into form .
Obviously deGrom threw well the other day , he was lights out , ’ ’ Piazza told me .
“ Look , it ’ s just a matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this point it would make sense for everyone to break camp and go home.
’ ’ Piazza Drive is quiet at Clover Park .
Players have to figure out , like Piazza did , a way to be at their best when the regular season lights come on again .
The Hall of Fame catcher sees the bigger picture .
The importance of family , his love of baseball , which was inspired by his father , Vince .
That ’ s why I thought back to his Cooperstown induction speech in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a day that forever changed our lives , ’ ’ Piazza said that day .
“ To witness the darkest evil of the human heart and how it tore many loved ones from their families will forever be burned in my soul .
But from tragedy and sorrow came bravery , love , compassion , character and , eventually , healing .
“ Many of you give me praise for the two-run home run on the first game back on Sept. 21 to push us ahead of the rival Braves .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firefighters , first responders , who knew they were going to die , but went forward anyway.
” Those words seem even more important today as we value the dedication of researchers , doctors , nurses , paramedics , all who are on the front lines of this pandemic .
The true heroes are not wearing baseball uniforms .
“ Not to get too political , ’ ’ Piazza said , “ but people are polarized and in their tribal corners .
Now is a time that we need to come together .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ team .
One fortunate aspect of 9/11 was to see the love afterwards and it really is a shame that a crisis has to happen for us to see that .
’ ’

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PORT ST. LUCIE — When Mike Piazza hit his iconic two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 3-2 win over the Braves on Sept. 21, 2001 in the first major league game played in New York following the murderous 9/11 attacks, there was a brief feeling of joy in the darkest of times.
After 10 days of being put on hold, the game went on again, and fans and players had an escape from what had happened that terrible day.
Baseball is in the midst of another holding pattern because of the coronavirus pandemic. This is not the same situation, of course, but once again the game is on hold. Camps have been shuttered and some players are going home, with no certainty as to when the season will begin.
Piazza, now 51, represents an athlete having to put his talents on hold and then bursting back on the scene in the most exciting of ways. His home run that night created a lasting memory for many people. He offered hope.
“This is completely different circumstances and the situation is tough to compare in so many ways,’’ Piazza told The Post late Thursday night, “but on the professional side, the athletic side, separating yourself from the issue, which is bigger than baseball, as an athlete you have to try to maintain some sort of schedule of maintenance or preparation because you don’t know when you’ll be called back.’’
That is the key. That is not an easy thing to do for any athlete especially when their internal clock tells them it’s time to play. At this point in spring training, games have a much different feel than the first two weeks. Cuts have been made. Lineups are more certain. It’s time to go.
Now it has stopped.
Players were geared up to start the season during the last week of March. This is the fine-tuning part of spring training. For fans, all spring training games are the same: sunshine and a relaxed day at the ballpark.
For players, this part of spring training is much different.
If you are a pitcher, get your pitch-count up. If you are a hitter, get your swing perfected. Look at Jacob deGrom’s last outing. He was Opening Day-sharp against the Cardinals.
“At this part of spring training, guys are starting to come into form. Obviously deGrom threw well the other day, he was lights out,’’ Piazza told me. “Look, it’s just a matter of trust. It seems like at this point it would make sense for everyone to break camp and go home.’’
Piazza Drive is quiet at Clover Park. Players have to figure out, like Piazza did, a way to be at their best when the regular season lights come on again.
The Hall of Fame catcher sees the bigger picture. The importance of family, his love of baseball, which was inspired by his father, Vince. That’s why I thought back to his Cooperstown induction speech in 2016.
“Sept. 11, 2001 is a day that forever changed our lives,’’ Piazza said that day. “To witness the darkest evil of the human heart and how it tore many loved ones from their families will forever be burned in my soul. But from tragedy and sorrow came bravery, love, compassion, character and, eventually, healing.
“Many of you give me praise for the two-run home run on the first game back on Sept. 21 to push us ahead of the rival Braves. But the true praise belongs to police, firefighters, first responders, who knew they were going to die, but went forward anyway.”
Those words seem even more important today as we value the dedication of researchers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, all who are on the front lines of this pandemic. The true heroes are not wearing baseball uniforms.
“Not to get too political,’’ Piazza said, “but people are polarized and in their tribal corners. Now is a time that we need to come together. We’re all on the same team. One fortunate aspect of 9/11 was to see the love afterwards and it really is a shame that a crisis has to happen for us to see that.’’


newyorkpost--2020-03-14--Yankees’ show of unity provides morale boost in these dark days

TAMPA — Now that remote learning and remote working have become as commonplace as a pharmacy sold out of Purell , it shouldn ’ t surprise you that we have hit another coronavirus-inspired phenomenon in short time , courtesy of these Yankees : When Zack Britton departed George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday with the news that he and his teammates had voted unanimously to stay right here and continue training together , you needed only to check social media to view the happiness , despite the darkness of the day , of many fans .
Maybe this team unity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given how little we know at this juncture , no one can guarantee that even a single Major League Baseball game will take place , despite the current status of only the regular-season schedule ’ s first two weeks being postponed .
Yet the world will take whatever pick-me-up it can get right now .
And the notion of a professional sports team opting to stay together when it can disperse without issue , no matter your personal feelings toward that sports team , registered .
“ As we move forward , our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to provide support for players that choose to be here , with informal abilities to allow them to get some work in at various times during the day , ” Brian Cashman said on a conference call .
The Yankees ’ longtime general manager added that he will remain in town , as will manager Aaron Boone , his coaches and the club ’ s training and conditioning staffs , and the players will continue to receive meal money and an allowance for their housing .
What this means in letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around us .
Boone , also on the conference call , mentioned the batting cage , the weight room , the bullpen and the trainer ’ s room as the four primary locations of action .
The expectation as of now doesn ’ t call for daily intrasquad games or anything so formal .
In spirit , though , it means something good .
Camaraderie and culture do count for something in the grind of a baseball season , even one shorter than 162 games .
And the idea of the players leaning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this highly unnerving time , spending time together in the clubhouse , sounds pretty fruitful .
And then you get the potential medical benefits based on the incomplete information we have on COVID-19 : A few dozen players not getting on airplanes is good .
Those guys staying in Florida , where the weather has been warm and the coronavirus count relatively low , appears to be good .
Boone described his communication with his players as : “ We ’ re kind of remaining in the athletic position , too , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to accomodate and assist , make wise advice to these guys as best we can .
We ’ re keeping it fluid , keeping it conversational and realizing that this is something that ’ s clearly bigger than baseball .
So just wanting to really do our part and have those conversations with our guys.
” With President Trump declaring a national emergency on Friday , you didn ’ t anticipate much inspiration from the athletic world .
Yet there were NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks and Zion Williamson of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers at their home arenas , following the lead set by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban .
Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy said on Friday : “ We ’ re going to do what we can ” for part-time employees at Fenway Park .
Here ’ s hoping that plenty other owners and players pick up on this terrific trend .
Far be it from us to cast judgment on any baseball team , like the Cardinals , that opted to close camp and head their separate ways , as long as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevertheless , the Yankees , by not going anywhere , managed to pick up a remote victory .
Even if it won ’ t count in the standings , it has to count for something among our collective morale , right ?

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TAMPA — Now that remote learning and remote working have become as commonplace as a pharmacy sold out of Purell, it shouldn’t surprise you that we have hit another coronavirus-inspired phenomenon in short time, courtesy of these Yankees:
Remote cheering.
When Zack Britton departed George M. Steinbrenner Field on Friday with the news that he and his teammates had voted unanimously to stay right here and continue training together, you needed only to check social media to view the happiness, despite the darkness of the day, of many fans.
Maybe this team unity won’t last. Shoot, given how little we know at this juncture, no one can guarantee that even a single Major League Baseball game will take place, despite the current status of only the regular-season schedule’s first two weeks being postponed. Yet the world will take whatever pick-me-up it can get right now. And the notion of a professional sports team opting to stay together when it can disperse without issue, no matter your personal feelings toward that sports team, registered.
“As we move forward, our facility will be available, and we will continue to provide support for players that choose to be here, with informal abilities to allow them to get some work in at various times during the day,” Brian Cashman said on a conference call. The Yankees’ longtime general manager added that he will remain in town, as will manager Aaron Boone, his coaches and the club’s training and conditioning staffs, and the players will continue to receive meal money and an allowance for their housing.
What this means in letter remains as cloudy as everything else occurring around us. Boone, also on the conference call, mentioned the batting cage, the weight room, the bullpen and the trainer’s room as the four primary locations of action. The expectation as of now doesn’t call for daily intrasquad games or anything so formal.
In spirit, though, it means something good. Camaraderie and culture do count for something in the grind of a baseball season, even one shorter than 162 games. And the idea of the players leaning on each other and their superiors during this highly unnerving time, spending time together in the clubhouse, sounds pretty fruitful. And then you get the potential medical benefits based on the incomplete information we have on COVID-19: A few dozen players not getting on airplanes is good. Those guys staying in Florida, where the weather has been warm and the coronavirus count relatively low, appears to be good.
Boone described his communication with his players as: “We’re kind of remaining in the athletic position, too, at all times. Real-time information, trying to accomodate and assist, make wise advice to these guys as best we can. We’re keeping it fluid, keeping it conversational and realizing that this is something that’s clearly bigger than baseball. So just wanting to really do our part and have those conversations with our guys.”
With President Trump declaring a national emergency on Friday, you didn’t anticipate much inspiration from the athletic world. Yet there were NBA stars Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks and Zion Williamson of the Pelicans pledging financial support for the hourly workers at their home arenas, following the lead set by Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Red Sox team president Sam Kennedy said on Friday: “We’re going to do what we can” for part-time employees at Fenway Park. Here’s hoping that plenty other owners and players pick up on this terrific trend.
Far be it from us to cast judgment on any baseball team, like the Cardinals, that opted to close camp and head their separate ways, as long as they stay in shape on their own. Nevertheless, the Yankees, by not going anywhere, managed to pick up a remote victory. Even if it won’t count in the standings, it has to count for something among our collective morale, right?


newyorkpost--2020-03-14--The Masters used one word that comforted the golf world

First was the NBA .
Then came MLS and the NHL ... .

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The first domino fell at about 10 p.m. Thursday when PGA Tour announced it was canceling the final three rounds of The Players Championship and the next three tournaments over concern about the spread of coronavirus.
Twelve hours later, at about 10 a.m. Friday, the mother-lode domino tumbled when Augusta National Golf Club ended its silence over the global concern about the coronavirus and announced it was postponing the 2020 Masters until a date yet to be determined.
“Postponed is a comforting word,’’ Xander Schauffele said Friday. “Canceled is another. As long as it says postponed, I think the players will find hope in that word and just wait for go time.’’
Schauffele’s take was spot on. Not only can players find hope in this, but also sports and golf fans, too. And hope is something that seems to be in shorter supply than those coronavirus test kits.
The fact that, at least as of now, the plan is for the Masters to play on at some point gives us all something to look forward to — the same way we’ll all anticipate the beginning of baseball season, whenever that comes.
The most unsettling element to this crisis is how open-ended it is, with undefined answers to when we can find our way back to normalcy. Because nothing is normal now, and doesn’t figure to be until further notice.
There had been speculation, after the PGA Tour canceled the next three tournaments leading up to the Masters, that the Masters would be played as scheduled, but without spectators — or “patrons’’ as they call them.
But with virtually every sports league and organization in America, including the PGA Tour, shutting down, there was pressure on the powers at Augusta National to follow.
With the PGA Tour schedule pretty packed throughout the spring and summer, and with a Ryder Cup scheduled to be played in late September, the speculation is the Masters would be played in October.
Also to be considered is the fact Augusta National closes annually after Memorial Day weekend in late May and doesn’t reopen until October.
As players milled in and out of TPC Sawgrass on Friday to clean out their lockers and head home, the theme regarding the Masters was consistent. There was perspective as well as sorrow the event won’t take place as scheduled.
“I think there’s bigger problems in the world right now than whether we play the Masters or not,’’ Jon Rahm said.
“I’m bummed,’’ Justin Thomas said. “Selfishly I want to play, but this is way, way beyond that. That’s my favorite tournament of the year, so I obviously have hopes that we’ll get to play it, and whenever we do, we do. I don’t care if it’s 25 degrees and nobody is there, I’m going to go play it with a chance to win the Masters.’’
Kevin Na said the suspension of golf “still hasn’t sunk in yet.’’
“I think everybody’s health is more important than just one event,’’ he said. “I know this is The Players and it’s a big deal, but I think they made the right call. The world is not coming to an end, but it’s a little reality check. Golf is not that big of a deal when you look around at what’s going on in the world.’’
Billy Horschel called Friday “a sad day in the sports world.’’
“When we have situations like this, everyone can rely on sports to sort of take their mind off the tragedy at hand or the situation at hand in the world, and right now we don’t have that,’’ he said.
“There’s a lot of crazy things going on on social media — you know, [like] the world is going to end,’’ Tony Finau said. “Obviously, we feel like that at this point in the golf community with the Masters being postponed. But I’m happy that it didn’t say it was canceled. So, hopefully we play in the future.’’
That, of course, is everyone’s hope.


newyorkpost--2020-03-14--This Mets’ offseason just gets crazier and crazier

TAMPA — After Carlos Beltran denied to The Post last ...

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PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets spent Friday in limbo, waiting to find out the next steps they would take after spring training was shuttered around the league.
The work stoppage caused by the coronavirus pandemic will no doubt throw every team into turmoil, and it’s just the latest part of an especially chaotic offseason for the Mets.
The uncertainty began on Oct. 3, when the Mets fired manager Mickey Callaway.
That kicked off a month-long search for a new manager, which ended on Nov. 1, when they hired Carlos Beltran.
The excitement of that move lasted less than two weeks before Beltran’s name surfaced in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that, until the past few days, figured to dominate much of the regular season.
Beltran denied involvement to The Post’s Joel Sherman, however, and he remained the Mets’ manager.
With Beltran still at the helm, the Wilpons entered into an agreement in December to sell 80 percent of the franchise for $2.6 billion to hedge-fund billionaire Steve Cohen, briefly leading to the notion that the team would get an influx of cash, resulting in an eventual increase in payroll.
Then came the revelation by The Post that in May of last year, Yoenis Cespedes suffered multiple fractures to his right ankle when he fell after being startled by a wild boar on his Port St. Lucie ranch.
The accident resulted in Cespedes agreeing to a significant pay cut of approximately $30 million for both last year and this one — with the opportunity to earn back roughly half of that amount by playing extensively in 2020.
He had been limited to simulated games before the Grapefruit League season was shut down Thursday.
The Cespedes news was followed by MLB singling out Beltran in its official report regarding the Astros’ 2017 scandal.
The Mets and Beltran ultimately decided to part ways, leaving the team without a manager yet again, this time with less than a month to go before pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. Houston manager A.J. Hinch and Boston manager Alex Cora were also fired for their roles in the scandal.
After Beltran’s departure, the Mets soon landed on Luis Rojas to replace him. The 38-year-old served as the team’s quality control coach last season and had worked his way up through the organization’s minor league system.
In the meantime, the potential sale of the team to Cohen fell through, keeping the Wilpons in charge indefinitely.
As for Rojas, the young manager is well-respected for his work in the game, but was still thrust into a tough situation, given his hiring came so close to spring training.
Rojas seemed to be growing more comfortable in the role when the coronavirus crisis began encroaching on the sports world, first with clubhouses being closed to non-essential personnel and then with the closing down of spring training a day after the NBA season was suspended after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
Even that touched the Mets, because Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell, son of Mets director of player relations and community engagement Donovan Mitchell Sr., also tested positive. The Jazz played the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on March 4, and Mitchell Sr. attended the game. He tested negative for the virus, the Mets said Friday night.
Mitchell Sr. returned to Florida the following day and had been regularly at work at the Mets’ spring training complex through Wednesday. No other team employees were scheduled for tests as of Thursday.
Whenever MLB returns to action, Rojas and the Mets figure to have even more to figure out, but this time, they will have plenty of company.


newyorkpost--2020-03-14--Nets reportedly to be tested for the coronavirus

SAN FRANCISCO — With the coronavirus grinding sports , including the ...

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Now that the NBA has suspended its season because of the coronavirus pandemic — and after two Jazz players already have tested positive — the Nets reportedly will get tested on Saturday.
The Nets’ DeAndre Jordan told WFAN’s Maggie Gray he believes all of the team will be tested for COVID-19.
The Nets had no official comment.
“We can’t disclose who may or may not be tested [or when], and would need a reason to test … if there was contact with someone who had it or if they had symptoms,” a source said.
The NBA season was suspended indefinitely late Wednesday, and the Nets spent Thursday flying back home from California.
The league held full meetings of the board of governors Wednesday and Thursday. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has also had discussions with Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, and Thunder guard Chris Paul, president of the players’ union, regarding how to proceed.
Teams have been advised that players can work out individually, but there are to be no group workouts for now.
Some have questioned the seeming availability to test kits for NBA players while the pandemic is spreading and test kits are in short supply. But in an act of charity that transcends borders or politics, Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is kicking in to help.
Nets owner Joe Tsai co-founded Alibaba with Jack Ma, and on Friday, the Alibaba Foundation and Jack Ma Foundation announced they have already sourced and readied for shipment 500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks to be donated to the United States.
“Thank you Jack Ma for an extraordinary act of humanity. @AlibabaGroup,” Tsai tweeted Friday morning.
“Drawing from my own country’s experience, speedy and accurate testing and adequate personal protective equipment for medical professionals are most effective in preventing the spread of the virus,” Ma said in a statement on Twitter. “We hope that our donation can help Americans fight the pandemic!
“This crisis presents a huge challenge to all humankind in a globalized world. The pandemic we face today can no longer be resolved by any individual country. Rather, we need to combat the virus by working hand-in-hand. At this moment, we can’t beat this virus unless we eliminate boundaries to resources and share our know-how and hard-earned lessons.”