newyorkpost--2020-07-12--‘Star Wars:The Empire Strikes Back’ tops box office for the first time since release

The Force is strong with this one .
For the first time since it ’ s 1980 release , “ Star Wars : The Empire Strikes Back ” is at the top of the box office due to its re-release at drive-in theatres that have sprung up all over the country .
Raking in a $ 175,000 at 483 locations , the film is expected to bring in a total of $ 400,000 to $ 500,000 by the end of the weekend , reports Deadline .
The Empire Strikes Back , which is considered to be the best Star Wars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Star Wars Saga and second in the original trilogy ; it stars Mark Hamil , Carrie Fisher , Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams .
The film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2010 .
The reissuing of the film , as well as several other classical or audience favorite , is a measure that many movie theaters are using to generate income as the coronavirus pandemic rages across the globe .
Other films now popular at pop-up drive-ins include “ Jaws , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park .
”

The Force is strong with this one.
For the first time since it’s 1980 release, “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” is at the top of the box office due to its re-release at drive-in theatres that have sprung up all over the country.
Raking in a $175,000 at 483 locations, the film is expected to bring in a total of $400,000 to $500,000 by the end of the weekend, reports Deadline.
The Empire Strikes Back, which is considered to be the best Star Wars film, is the fifth film in the Star Wars Saga and second in the original trilogy; it stars Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Billy Dee Williams.
The film was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the National Film Registry in 2010.
The reissuing of the film, as well as several other classical or audience favorite, is a measure that many movie theaters are using to generate income as the coronavirus pandemic rages across the globe.
Other films now popular at pop-up drive-ins include “Jaws,” “Ghostbusters” and “Jurassic Park.”
The Star Wars Saga globally has made $10.3 billion.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Katy Perry choses pal Jennifer Aniston to be future daughter’s godmother

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 ) Jennifer Aniston is a friend that ’ s always been there for Katy Perry .
The pregnant pop star has tapped her longtime pal to be her unborn daughter ’ s godmother , The Daily Mirror reported Saturday .
Perry , 35 , is just weeks away from giving birth to her first child with fiancé Orlando Bloom , 43 .
Aniston reportedly broke down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked her to step into the role .
“ She is pretty chuffed about it as well and cried when they asked her , ” a source told the tabloid .
The two have been friends for nearly a decade and have bonded even further during the coronavirus pandemic .
“ Katy and Jen are very close .
During lockdown they went for socially-distanced walks , and spent lots of time catching up , ” the source said .
Aniston ’ s already racked up years of experience as a godmother to Courteney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perry is in high spirits ahead of her delivery .
She ’ s showed off her baby bump in high-fashion ensembles on social media .
The “ Roar ” singer dished on her pregnancy while promoting her new album “ Smile ” on UK radio Friday , joking , “ I am waddling like a duck !
I ’ m breathing heavily , I ’ m a full-on mouth-breather .
”

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Jennifer Aniston is a friend that’s always been there for Katy Perry.
The pregnant pop star has tapped her longtime pal to be her unborn daughter’s godmother, The Daily Mirror reported Saturday.
Perry, 35, is just weeks away from giving birth to her first child with fiancé Orlando Bloom, 43.
Aniston reportedly broke down in tears of joy when the couple asked her to step into the role.
“She is pretty chuffed about it as well and cried when they asked her,” a source told the tabloid.
The two have been friends for nearly a decade and have bonded even further during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Katy and Jen are very close. During lockdown they went for socially-distanced walks, and spent lots of time catching up,” the source said.
Aniston’s already racked up years of experience as a godmother to Courteney Cox’s 16-year-old daughter Coco.
Perry is in high spirits ahead of her delivery. She’s showed off her baby bump in high-fashion ensembles on social media.
The “Roar” singer dished on her pregnancy while promoting her new album “Smile” on UK radio Friday, joking, “I am waddling like a duck! I’m breathing heavily, I’m a full-on mouth-breather.”
Reps for Perry and Aniston did not immediately return our request for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Kamaru Usman beats Jorge Masvidal to retain welterweight title at UFC 251

ABU DHABI , United Arab Emirates — Kamaru Usman retained his welterweight title with a smothering victory over short-notice challenger Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 on Sunday .
Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight title with a narrow split decision over Max Holloway , and Petr Yan won the vacant UFC bantamweight championship with a fifth-round stoppage victory over José Aldo on Yas Island , the UAE tourist destination turned into a secure bubble by the UFC during the coronavius pandemic .
Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas avenged her loss to Jéssica Andrade with a split-decision win in their rematch on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island.
” The mixed martial arts promotion will host four shows this month at the arena , with more expected in the upcoming months at its haven from the coronavirus .
Usman ( 17-1 ) earned his 16th straight MMA victory and defended his belt for the second time with a cerebral , technical performance against the 35-year-old Masvidal ( 35-14 ) , who gallantly accepted his first UFC title shot on six days ’ notice when Gilbert Burns tested positive for the coronavirus .
“ [ Masvidal ] is the biggest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Usman said .
“ I had to switch gears and prepare for him on six days ’ notice .
I know a lot was made of him taking the fight on short notice , but all these guys are preparing for one guy , and that ’ s me at the top of the mountain .
I had to make a mental shift .
I had a completely different game plan.
” Masvidal was eager for a knockout , and the former backyard brawler came out swinging in an exciting first round @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faded , Usman coolly took charge with wrestling takedowns , foot stomps and judicious strikes mixed with superior conditioning .
Two judges scored it 50-45 for Usman , and a third had it 49-46 .
Some fans might have booed Usman ’ s strategy , but there were no fans inside the temporary arena .
UFC 251 began well before dawn Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi to meet the time demands of the lucrative North American pay-per-view audience , and the sun rose as the card progressed .
Volkanovski ( 22-1 ) earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a razor-thin margin , winning 48-47 on two of the three cards when his leg kicks and takedowns earned the decision over Holloway ’ s overall striking game .
“ It was a tough fight , ” Volkanovski said .
“ He stood there and didn ’ t really take a backward step .
I couldn ’ t use the kicks as much as I liked .
I knew I had to win that last round .
It ’ s tough .
He ’ s a gamer .
We ’ re both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job done.
” The Australian champion won his belt last December with a virtuoso technical performance against Holloway ( 21-6 ) , who had reigned atop the division for the previous three years .
In the rematch , Holloway showed off another level of his superb striking skills while weathering dozens more leg kicks from Volkanovski , who relied largely on that strike to win the first bout .
Holloway largely controlled the first two rounds , but Volkanovski increased his output starting in the third round and added a few takedowns to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Three title belts were on the line on the same card for only the sixth time in UFC history , and Yan ( 15-1 ) claimed the first one by persevering for a beating of Aldo ( 28-7 ) , the former featherweight champion dethroned by Conor McGregor in 2015 .
Yan weathered an inspired start by Aldo , and eventually established his dominance with superior striking .
After Yan battered a bloody Aldo into a turtled position on the canvas in the fifth round , referee Leon Roberts allowed the fight to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before stopping it with 1:36 left .
“ I expected it to be a hard fight , ” Yan said through an interpreter .
“ That was our plan , to get him tired early on , and then in the third round , start attacking.
” Aldo has lost three straight fights and six of his last nine , but he caused problems for Yan early on until the younger Russian took over .
Namajunas ( 9-4 ) returned from a 14-month break since Andrade ( 20-8 ) claimed her title with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a body slam after Namajunas dominated the early fight .
Namajunas never allowed an opportunity for Andrade to finish her in the rematch , dominating the first two rounds with her slick striking and fluid movement .
Andrade rallied in the third and badly damaged Namajunas ’ nose and left eye , but Namajunas won 29-28 on two judges ’ scorecards .
“ I was just in the right state of mind , ” Namajunas said .
“ That ’ s everything .
Early on in the fight , I was doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the desperation button and started really unloading .
She caught me a couple of times , but I just stayed strong.
” If her nose heals up quickly , Namajunas could get the next title shot at Zhang Weili , who took the belt from Andrade late last year .
Brazilian flyweight Amanda Ribas kicked off the pay-per-view card with a first-round armbar submission victory over Paige VanZant .
Ribas ( 10-1 ) improved to 4-0 in the UFC with a swift dismantling of the popular VanZant ( 8-5 ) , whose UFC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her last six bouts .
Jiri Procházka wrapped up the non-PPV undercard with a spectacular knockout of former light heavyweight title contender Volkan Oezdemir in the opening minute of the second round .
Procházka ( 27-3-1 ) is a Czech veteran who has fought mostly in Japan for the past five years , and he was impressive in his hyped UFC debut .
Procházka lowered his hands , stuck out his chin and boldly dared Oezdemir to hit him in the first round , and he ended the fight with a head kick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swiss opponent unconscious .

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Kamaru Usman retained his welterweight title with a smothering victory over short-notice challenger Jorge Masvidal at UFC 251 on Sunday.
Alexander Volkanovski retained his featherweight title with a narrow split decision over Max Holloway, and Petr Yan won the vacant UFC bantamweight championship with a fifth-round stoppage victory over José Aldo on Yas Island, the UAE tourist destination turned into a secure bubble by the UFC during the coronavius pandemic.
Former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas avenged her loss to Jéssica Andrade with a split-decision win in their rematch on the UFC’s so-called “Fight Island.” The mixed martial arts promotion will host four shows this month at the arena, with more expected in the upcoming months at its haven from the coronavirus.
Usman (17-1) earned his 16th straight MMA victory and defended his belt for the second time with a cerebral, technical performance against the 35-year-old Masvidal (35-14), who gallantly accepted his first UFC title shot on six days’ notice when Gilbert Burns tested positive for the coronavirus.
“[Masvidal] is the biggest, baddest dude out there right now,” Usman said. “I had to switch gears and prepare for him on six days’ notice. I know a lot was made of him taking the fight on short notice, but all these guys are preparing for one guy, and that’s me at the top of the mountain. I had to make a mental shift. I had a completely different game plan.”
Masvidal was eager for a knockout, and the former backyard brawler came out swinging in an exciting first round. But while Masvidal’s wind faded, Usman coolly took charge with wrestling takedowns, foot stomps and judicious strikes mixed with superior conditioning.
Two judges scored it 50-45 for Usman, and a third had it 49-46.
Some fans might have booed Usman’s strategy, but there were no fans inside the temporary arena. UFC 251 began well before dawn Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi to meet the time demands of the lucrative North American pay-per-view audience, and the sun rose as the card progressed.
Volkanovski (22-1) earned his 19th consecutive MMA victory since 2013 by a razor-thin margin, winning 48-47 on two of the three cards when his leg kicks and takedowns earned the decision over Holloway’s overall striking game.
“It was a tough fight,” Volkanovski said. “He stood there and didn’t really take a backward step. I couldn’t use the kicks as much as I liked. I knew I had to win that last round. It’s tough. He’s a gamer. We’re both hard workers, but I got the job done.”
The Australian champion won his belt last December with a virtuoso technical performance against Holloway (21-6), who had reigned atop the division for the previous three years.
In the rematch, Holloway showed off another level of his superb striking skills while weathering dozens more leg kicks from Volkanovski, who relied largely on that strike to win the first bout. Holloway largely controlled the first two rounds, but Volkanovski increased his output starting in the third round and added a few takedowns to bolster his case with the judges.
Three title belts were on the line on the same card for only the sixth time in UFC history, and Yan (15-1) claimed the first one by persevering for a beating of Aldo (28-7), the former featherweight champion dethroned by Conor McGregor in 2015.
Yan weathered an inspired start by Aldo, and eventually established his dominance with superior striking. After Yan battered a bloody Aldo into a turtled position on the canvas in the fifth round, referee Leon Roberts allowed the fight to continue for an alarming amount of time before stopping it with 1:36 left.
“I expected it to be a hard fight,” Yan said through an interpreter. “That was our plan, to get him tired early on, and then in the third round, start attacking.”
Aldo has lost three straight fights and six of his last nine, but he caused problems for Yan early on until the younger Russian took over.
Namajunas (9-4) returned from a 14-month break since Andrade (20-8) claimed her title with an upset victory, surprising the champ with a body slam after Namajunas dominated the early fight.
Namajunas never allowed an opportunity for Andrade to finish her in the rematch, dominating the first two rounds with her slick striking and fluid movement. Andrade rallied in the third and badly damaged Namajunas’ nose and left eye, but Namajunas won 29-28 on two judges’ scorecards.
“I was just in the right state of mind,” Namajunas said. “That’s everything. Early on in the fight, I was doing great. Then I think she hit the desperation button and started really unloading. She caught me a couple of times, but I just stayed strong.”
If her nose heals up quickly, Namajunas could get the next title shot at Zhang Weili, who took the belt from Andrade late last year.
Brazilian flyweight Amanda Ribas kicked off the pay-per-view card with a first-round armbar submission victory over Paige VanZant. Ribas (10-1) improved to 4-0 in the UFC with a swift dismantling of the popular VanZant (8-5), whose UFC contract is up after four losses in her last six bouts.
Jiri Procházka wrapped up the non-PPV undercard with a spectacular knockout of former light heavyweight title contender Volkan Oezdemir in the opening minute of the second round.
Procházka (27-3-1) is a Czech veteran who has fought mostly in Japan for the past five years, and he was impressive in his hyped UFC debut. Procházka lowered his hands, stuck out his chin and boldly dared Oezdemir to hit him in the first round, and he ended the fight with a head kick followed by a punch that rendered his Swiss opponent unconscious.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Rodions Kurucs’ outside shooting could bring added Nets dimension

For long stretches over the past two seasons , the Nets ...

Rodions Kurucs said at last year’s All-Star weekend, when he participated in the Rising Stars Challenge, he has a better 3-point shot than Latvian countryman Kristaps Porzingis.
Kurucs will get to prove it as he’s ready to assume the starting power-forward slot, with multiple Nets injured or opting out of the NBA restart in Orlando.
The only threat to the 22-year-old’s job is newly signed Michael Beasley, whom, interestingly, has caught Kurucs’ eye previously. Kurucs watched a lot of Knicks contests because of Porzingis.
“He’s a great player,’’ Kurucs said Saturday of Beasley, following the Nets’ third practice. “I was watching him when he played in New York. When he was doing really great, I was watching him. He was one of my favorite players when he played with the Knicks back then.”
Beasley will miss the first five games to serve out his drug suspension, so Kurucs will be the starter by default. Kevin Durant decided not to play in the restart, Taurean Prince tested positive for COVID-19, Wilson Chandler backed out because of fear of infection and Nic Claxton just had shoulder surgery.
So here comes Kurucs, who gives the Nets another outside-shooting dimension. He’s been spotted also at center, giving them a chance to spread the court fully.
“I think we can do five-out with Rodie,’’ point guard Chris Chiozza said. “With him at the 5, it gives us the threat of him being able to shoot.’’
It’s been a rough season for Kurucs, a 2018 second-round pick who appeared in just 39 games. He dealt with allegations of domestic assault in September and inconsistent play that had the 6-foot-9, 228-pound big man demoted to the Long Island Nets. This came after starting 46 games last season on a playoff squad.
Kurucs said he has been told he will have to play some center.
“This opportunity’s great for me, but we still have new guys coming over,’’ Kurucs said.
Because of the limited gym space in the Disney bubble, some of the 22 teams are forced into practicing on makeshift courts set up in convention center ballrooms.
“I believe [this is] our third ballroom,’’ interim coach Jacque Vaughn after the team’s third practice. “We’ve rotated. I think overall they’re changing up the location to give a fair playing field for everyone. One of our assistant coaches, Bret Brielmaier, he’s keeping notes of the surroundings and which one he likes best. We’re enjoying it. It’s good to hear the ball bouncing again.’’
After the Nets’ summer splash last July, who figured the face of the franchise in Orlando would be Caris LeVert? And he’s acting that way with Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan at home.
“I think he just has that different swagger about himself,’’ Vaughn said. “He’s put in work individually on his game during this hiatus, I think you can sense it in the way his shoulders are in the way he’s carrying himself. He’s eye contact, his leadership, he would be a guy that initially has looked really good.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Steven Matz’s curveball keeps impressing at Mets camp

As the bidding continues in the sale of the Mets , ...

Steven Matz’s importance can’t be overstated.
Without Noah Syndergaard in the rotation, the southpaw is being asked to emerge. So far, he’s looked up to the task.
Matz continued to impress in spring training 2.0, delivering three shutout innings in an intrasquad game in which he allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three while throwing 45 pitches. Matz’s curveball is becoming a bigger part of his arsenal, and he’s throwing it at different speeds, creating deception.
“The velo difference in the ones that he’s throwing is really good,” manager Luis Rojas said of the velocity. “There are some things he can do off that curveball with his fastball, up in the zone or sneak one on. There are so many things he can do. Adding that weapon to the contrast of his pitches and repertoire of his pitches, it will be great for us and himself.”
Rojas credited pitching coach Jeremy Hefner for part of it, noting Matz and Hefner have had close communication throughout the first spring training and the layoff before this latest return.
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“I know Hef is really good at working on expanding repertoires and teaching details of release points,” Rojas said.
Arguably even more impressive was the work of his counterpart, Michael Wacha. Facing most of the Mets’ regulars, the newcomer threw 54 pitches over four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five, two coming against Michael Conforto.
Rojas said it is too early in this shortened camp to make evaluations on the back end of the roster. In fact, the decisions on the final players to make the 30-man roster could go until the last day of workouts. When asked what will be weighted more heavily, how a player looks during camp or his past experience, Rojas said: “It will be a balance of both.” Considering the Mets are playing just two exhibition games, next weekend against the Yankees, there won’t be a lot to go on otherwise.
“It should be a late, late call as far as getting real close to the season for that,” he said.
Rojas was hopeful they would start to get a better idea over the next week of where the roster stands. He did single out veterans such as Melky Cabrera, Matt Adams and Gordon Beckham.
“We know what they can do,” he said. “We’ve seen their recent history in the game, and they’re in great shape.”
The Mets remained tight-lipped about the status of Robinson Cano and Brad Brach. Brach has yet to arrive for workouts, and Cano was last seen in an intrasquad game on Monday. Rojas said he expects to see them “soon,” but declined to offer a timetable. … Dellin Betances retired all three batters he faced in Saturday’s intrasquad game. Jeff McNeil took Hunter Strickland deep for the game’s lone run.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Islanders still awaiting answers on wunderkind goalie Ilya Sorokin

The greater good was served .
A distasteful public dispute in ...

With a short window to sign any unsigned draft picks as the start of training camp Monday inches closer, there is still a question mark regarding Islanders goaltending prospect Ilya Sorokin.
“We only have to wait about four five days to get the answer,” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said on a Zoom call Saturday afternoon. “We just got the transition rules. We’ll certainly speak with representation, see where it takes us. At this point nothing is done.”
Part of the NHL and NHL Players Association’s recent agreement says unsigned draft picks cannot participate in the upcoming 24-team playoff tournament, but they can sign an entry-level deal and have this season count — which would enable them to become a restricted free agent quicker.
It is unclear if Sorokin will be able to join the Islanders for training camp 2.0 if he signs a contract in the next few days. As of Saturday night, seven NHL players had decided not to participate in Phase 3 training camp and Phase 4 — the start of games in hub cities — of the league’s restart plan.
Flames defenseman Travis Hamonic was the first to opt out, citing family reasons, and Canucks forward Sven Baertschi also opted out. Oilers defenseman Mike Green and Bruins defenseman Steven Kampfer informed their teams Saturday they wouldn’t be playing, and Stars defenseman Roman Polak will also not be playing, having signed in Europe.
In addition, Lamoriello said he wasn’t aware of any Islanders planning to opt out of the NHL’s return-to-play tournament, which would be a penalty-free decision per the new collective bargaining agreement. He also said he would be “surprised” if anybody did.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz said he hopes to let camp dictate all roster decisions, including who will be the starting goaltender against the Panthers in the best-of-five qualifying series beginning on Aug. 1.
“I don’t think I can make a bad decision,” Trotz said of his two netminders. “Both of them have had good success against the Panthers, both of them had identical-type years. From that standpoint, I’m just going to let it play out.
“They’re both preparing very diligently at this point. That’s one area I’m not worried about a whole lot right now.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie joins NBA players in #FreeWoj chorus

Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie joined a number of NBA players in the # FreeWoj chorus on Twitter after ESPN suspended league insider Adrian Wojnarowski for replying ‘ F–k you ’ in an email to Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-Mo. )
.
Dinwiddie , who won ’ t play in the NBA restart after testing positive for coronavirus , tweeted support for Wojnarowski early Sunday morning while having fun with Woj ’ s news-breaking rivalry with The Athletic ’ s Shams Charania by comparing it to a singers ’ beat battle .
# FreeWoj ( Black fist emoji ) but in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking @ ShamsCharania , ” Dinwiddie wrote .
The # FreeWoj hashtag trended as high as No .
3 on Twitter after news of Wojnarowski ’ s suspension broke late Saturday night .
Former Knicks center Enes Kanter , now with the Celtics , also chimed in by tweeting a GIF of Thanos ’ army assembling in the movie “ Avengers : Endgame ” and wrote : “ # NBATwitter finding out @ espn suspended Woj # freeWoj.
” Clippers guard Lou Williams simply tweeted , “ Aye # Freewoj man ( crying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anthony Tolliver also showed support .
Wojnarowski ’ s suspension stemmed from his profane response to an email from Sen. Hawley .
Hawley , who posted a screenshot of the exchange on Friday , had emailed a mass letter that was critical of NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league ’ s relationship with China .
Wojnarowski , who earlier got support from ESPN colleague Maria Taylor , apologized soon after .
It is unclear how long the 51-year-old Wojnarowski will be suspended for with the league gearing up to restart its season @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie joined a number of NBA players in the #FreeWoj chorus on Twitter after ESPN suspended league insider Adrian Wojnarowski for replying ‘F–k you’ in an email to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
Dinwiddie, who won’t play in the NBA restart after testing positive for coronavirus, tweeted support for Wojnarowski early Sunday morning while having fun with Woj’s news-breaking rivalry with The Athletic’s Shams Charania by comparing it to a singers’ beat battle.
#FreeWoj (Black fist emoji) but in the #Verzuz battle I’m taking @ShamsCharania,” Dinwiddie wrote.
The #FreeWoj hashtag trended as high as No. 3 on Twitter after news of Wojnarowski’s suspension broke late Saturday night. Former Knicks center Enes Kanter, now with the Celtics, also chimed in by tweeting a GIF of Thanos’ army assembling in the movie “Avengers: Endgame” and wrote: “#NBATwitter finding out @espn suspended Woj #freeWoj.” Clippers guard Lou Williams simply tweeted, “Aye #Freewoj man (crying face emojis).” Grizzlies forward Anthony Tolliver also showed support.
Wojnarowski’s suspension stemmed from his profane response to an email from Sen. Hawley. Hawley, who posted a screenshot of the exchange on Friday, had emailed a mass letter that was critical of NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s relationship with China. Wojnarowski, who earlier got support from ESPN colleague Maria Taylor, apologized soon after.
It is unclear how long the 51-year-old Wojnarowski will be suspended for with the league gearing up to restart its season at Disney World later this month.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--NYPD cop placed in headlock while trying to break up Bronx crowd, video shows

A pair of NYPD cops simply wanted to disperse a crowd gathered on a hot July night at a Bronx street corner .
But as this disturbing video shows , in an instant the two officers found themselves surrounded by angry , taunting bystanders .
And as the crowd cheered , a man they were trying to arrest put one of the two officers in a headlock — one of the very maneuvers they themselves will , under a new City Council bill , soon face misdemeanor charges for using .
“ F–k him up !
F–k him up !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawless encounter shouts as the suspect wraps his right arm around one of the cops ’ necks .
The dangerous grip lasts a chilling four seconds , video from the July 1 melee at Grand Concourse and Morris Avenue shows .
Then the captive cop falls to the ground .
At that point , the suspect breaks the headlock and runs off .
“ They smoked you , p—y !
” the man filming is then heard taunting .
“ You just got smoked , p—y !
” The video came to light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sergeants Benevolent Association .
The union used the video to vent its fury over a City Council bill now awaiting Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s signature that will make it a misdemeanor offense for cops to use any maneuver that restricts a suspect ’ s airflow by compressing the neck .
Sitting , kneeling or standing on a suspect ’ s chest or back in a manner compressing their breathing would face the same penalty — up to a year in jail .
“ COREY JOHNSON your STUPID law is about to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s time you both take your community input & grab these perps yourself , ” read the SBA tweet , posted with the video .
“ Putting a cop in a headlock could mean a death sentence if they lose control of their gun , ” an outraged law enforcement source told The Post in response to the video .
The cop who ’ d been put in a headlock that night suffered a gash to the head that required staples , sources said .
The NYPD knows who the “ headlocker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gang member who turned himself in a week later to the 46th Precinct , where the brawl happened , a law enforcement source said .
He has a long rap sheet , according to police sources .
He ’ s been arrested 11 times for charges including gang assault , criminal possession of a loaded firearm and robbery , amongst others .
With him at the precinct was his lawyer and a copy of the video , which the lawyer believed exonerated his client , as it also shows the cop lunging at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the source said .
But the video does not show what caused the cop to lunge — which was the suspect allegedly kicking down the street a body camera that had fallen off the uniform of one of the cops .
The suspect wound up released without charges pending further investigation by the Bronx DA ’ s office , sources said .
“ The NYPD was disappointed that the individual was not charged initially , ” an NYPD spokesperson said .
“ The violence against the police officer speaks for itself .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney regarding the case.
” Multiple law enforcement sources allege this account of what happened that night : The two cops — both of them Neighborhood Coordination Officers , tasked with tackling quality of life issues — were part of an NYPD initiative to discourage outdoor crowds , in hopes of minimizing the multiple people getting injured during individual shootings .
When the crowd hanging out at the Bronx intersection ignored their instruction to disperse , the cops began writing a summons for a double-parked car at the scene .
The car owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complaining , and insisting , “ Well , now that you wrote the summons , I can park here for hours and hours.
” Told that ’ s not how it works , the car owner became “ combative , ” sources said .
It was while the two were trying to handcuff the belligerent car owner that the crowd began taunting the officers .
“ He act gangsta because he got a badge and a gun , ” the man filming is heard saying on the video .
“ F–k outta here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bro.
” At some point , one of the cops ’ body cameras is knocked to the pavement , only to then be kicked away by the man whose confrontation with the pair allegedly ended in a headlock .
Despite police concern , de Blasio has stated he plans to sign the chokehold bill next week .
“ We ’ re going to do the retraining of officers to address the features of the law , ” de Blasio said at a Tuesday news conference .
“ And as with everything in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work hard to make it work.
” A City Hall rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Saturday .

A pair of NYPD cops simply wanted to disperse a crowd gathered on a hot July night at a Bronx street corner.
But as this disturbing video shows, in an instant the two officers found themselves surrounded by angry, taunting bystanders.
And as the crowd cheered, a man they were trying to arrest put one of the two officers in a headlock — one of the very maneuvers they themselves will, under a new City Council bill, soon face misdemeanor charges for using.
“F–k him up! F–k him up!” an unidentified man who filmed the lawless encounter shouts as the suspect wraps his right arm around one cop’s neck.
The dangerous grip lasts a chilling four seconds, video from the July 1 melee at Grand Concourse and Morris Avenue shows.
Then the captive cop falls to the ground. At that point, the suspect breaks the headlock and runs off.
“They smoked you, p—y!” the man filming is then heard taunting. “You just got smoked, p—y!”
The video came to light Saturday when it was tweeted by the Sergeants Benevolent Association.
The union used the video to vent its fury over a City Council bill awaiting Mayor Bill de Blasio’s signature that will make it a misdemeanor offense for cops to use any maneuver that restricts a suspect’s airflow by compressing the neck.
Sitting, kneeling or standing on a suspect’s chest or back in a manner compressing their breathing would face the same penalty — up to a year in jail.
“COREY JOHNSON your STUPID law is about to be signed by NYC STUPID Mayor it’s time you both take your community input & grab these perps yourself,” read the SBA tweet, posted with the video.
“Putting a cop in a headlock could mean a death sentence if they lose control of their gun,” an outraged law enforcement source told The Post in response to the video.
“A cop in a headlock can’t maintain weapons control.”
The cop who’d been put in a headlock that night suffered a gash to the head that required staples, sources said.
The NYPD knows who the “headlocker” is — he is a known gang member who turned himself in a week later to the 46th Precinct, where the brawl happened, a law enforcement source said.
He has a long rap sheet, according to police sources. He’s been arrested 11 times for charges including gang assault, criminal possession of a loaded firearm and robbery, among others.
With him at the precinct was his lawyer and a copy of the video, which the lawyer believed exonerated his client, as it also shows the cop lunging at the suspect before the grappling began, the source said.
But the video does not show what caused the cop to lunge — which was the suspect allegedly kicking down the street a body camera that had fallen off the uniform of one of the cops.
The suspect wound up released without charges pending further investigation by the Bronx DA’s Office, sources said.
“The NYPD was disappointed that the individual was not charged initially,” an NYPD spokesperson said.
“The violence against the police officer speaks for itself. We are now in discussions with the District Attorney regarding the case.”
Multiple law enforcement sources give this account of what happened that night:
The two cops — both of them neighborhood coordination officers, tasked with tackling quality-of-life issues — were part of an NYPD initiative to discourage outdoor crowds, in hopes of minimizing the multiple people getting injured during individual shootings.
When the crowd hanging out at the Bronx intersection ignored their instructions to disperse, the cops began writing a summons for a double-parked car at the scene.
The car owner then arrived and began complaining, and insisted, “Well, now that you wrote the summons, I can park here for hours and hours.”
Told that’s not how it works, the car owner became “combative,” sources said.
It was while the two were trying to handcuff the belligerent car owner that the crowd began taunting the officers.
“He act gangsta because he got a badge and a gun,” the man filming is heard saying on the video. “F–k outta here. Y’all n—-s is p—y, bro.”
At some point, one of the cops’ body cameras is knocked to the pavement, only to be kicked away by the man whose confrontation with the pair allegedly ended in a headlock.
Despite police concern, de Blasio has stated he plans to sign the chokehold bill next week.
“We’re going to do the retraining of officers to address the features of the law,” de Blasio said at a Tuesday news conference.
“And as with everything in life, we’re going to work hard to make it work.”
A City Hall rep did not immediately respond to a request for comment late Saturday.
Additional reporting by Vincent Barone and Laura Italiano


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--ESPN suspends Adrian Wojnarowski without pay for ‘F–k you’ email to Missouri senator

Woj ’ s F-bomb has led to an unpaid suspension , The Post has learned .
ESPN has scrapped NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski ’ s trip to Orlando this week to report from the NBA bubble , according to sources , after he responded to Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-Mo . )
with an email that read “ F–k you.
” Hawley had initiated the exchange by sending a mass letter criticizing NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league ’ s relationship with China .
ESPN declined comment , though their actions will likely become obvious this week when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The end point of Wojnarowski ’ s suspension , if that has been defined , is not yet known .
The site Outkick first reported that Wojnarowoski had been suspended .
For years now , Wojnarowski , first at Yahoo and now at ESPN , has been the top news breaker in the NBA .
His signature reporting of moves ahead of his competition have become known as “ Woj Bombs ” on Twitter .
On Friday , Hawley , 40 , posted a screenshot of Wojnarowski ’ s email , tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China or express support for law enforcement to @ espn .
It makes them real mad.
” “ I was disrespectful and I made a regrettable mistake , ” Wojnarowski said in a statement .
“ I ’ m sorry for the way I handled myself and I am reaching out immediately to Senator Hawley to apologize directly .
I also need to apologize to my ESPN colleagues because I know my actions were unacceptable and should not reflect on any of them.
” ESPN , meanwhile , described Wojnarowski ’ s email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inexcusable ” and said they would address it directly with Wojnarowski , but the specifics will remain “ internal.
” Some NBA players and ESPN personnel have come to Wojnarowski ’ s defense .
The Clippers ’ Lou Williams tweeted “ Aye # Freewoj man , ” adding two crying laughing emojis .
Williams ’ teammate , Patrick Beverly followed the tweet with , “ Till it ’ s backwards ” and two prayer emojis .
ESPN ’ s Maria Taylor tweeted her support of Wojnarowski earlier , saying she would always stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening at Disney World and games set to resume at the end of the month , the league has authorized messages that the players can wear instead of their names to support social justice .
Those include , “ Equality , ” “ Black Lives Matter , “ Vote ” and “ I Can ’ t Breathe.
” However , commentary on China is excluded from the list .
In October , the league dealt with the fallout of Rockets GM Daryl Morey ’ s tweet — “ Stand with Hong Kong.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events set to take place in the country .
In Hawley ’ s letter to Silver , the senator questioned why “ Free Hong Kong ” was not included for the jerseys , saying “ free expression appears to stop at the edge of your corporate sponsor sensibilities.
” Wojnarowski used his free expression to respond to Hawley — and now ESPN has benched him and taken away his paycheck .

Woj’s F-bomb has led to an unpaid suspension, The Post has learned.
ESPN has scrapped NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski’s trip to Orlando this week to report from the NBA bubble, according to sources, after he responded to Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) with an email that read “F–k you.”
Hawley had initiated the exchange by sending a mass letter criticizing NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s relationship with China.
ESPN declined comment, though their actions will likely become obvious this week when the ultra-prominent Wojnarowski is not on the air.
The Post first reported on Sunday that the suspension would last two weeks.
The site Outkick first reported that Wojnarowoski had been suspended.
For years now, Wojnarowski, first at Yahoo and now at ESPN, has been the top news breaker in the NBA. His signature reporting of moves ahead of his competition have become known as “Woj Bombs” on Twitter.
On Friday, Hawley, 40, posted a screenshot of Wojnarowski’s email, tweeting, “Don’t criticize #China or express support for law enforcement to @espn. It makes them real mad.”
Wojnarowski, 51, apologized soon after.
“I was disrespectful and I made a regrettable mistake,” Wojnarowski said in a statement. “I’m sorry for the way I handled myself and I am reaching out immediately to Senator Hawley to apologize directly. I also need to apologize to my ESPN colleagues because I know my actions were unacceptable and should not reflect on any of them.”
ESPN, meanwhile, described Wojnarowski’s email as “completely unacceptable,” “inexcusable” and said they would address it directly with Wojnarowski, but the specifics will remain “internal.”
Some NBA players and ESPN personnel have come to Wojnarowski’s defense. The Clippers’ Lou Williams tweeted “Aye #Freewoj man,” adding two crying laughing emojis. Williams’ teammate, Patrick Beverly followed the tweet with, “Till it’s backwards” and two prayer emojis.
ESPN’s Maria Taylor tweeted her support of Wojnarowski earlier, saying she would always stand with him.
With the NBA camps reopening at Disney World and games set to resume at the end of the month, the league has authorized messages that the players can wear instead of their names to support social justice. Those include, “Equality,” “Black Lives Matter, “Vote” and “I Can’t Breathe.”
However, commentary on China is excluded from the list. In October, the league dealt with the fallout of Rockets GM Daryl Morey’s tweet — “Stand with Hong Kong.” The Chinese government canceled NBA games and events set to take place in the country.
In Hawley’s letter to Silver, the senator questioned why “Free Hong Kong” was not included for the jerseys, saying “free expression appears to stop at the edge of your corporate sponsor sensibilities.”
Wojnarowski used his free expression to respond to Hawley — and now ESPN has benched him and taken away his paycheck.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--How Knicks’ World Wide Wes got his nickname from Jalen Rose

If ESPN maven Jalen Rose ran the Knicks , his top ...

Jalen Rose loved assigning nicknames to his former teammates. But the ESPN analyst feels he hit a home run years back when he assigned new Knicks executive William Wesley the moniker “World Wide Wes.’’
“It’s my favorite nickname I’ve tagged someone and was validated when Jay-Z and Drake used it in a song,” in 2013’s “Pound Cake/Paris Morton Music 2,’’ Rose told The Post. “I started calling him that and other people started to call him that and it became his nickname. He’s a mover and shaker.’’
Rose, who is from Michigan, ran across Wesley a lot because Detroit was one of Wesley’s bases.
“Wes was on the floor during ‘The Malice at the Palace’ trying to break it up,’’ Rose said.
Wesley never held an official title at Creative Artists Agency but ran Creative Artists Agency’s basketball department’s coaching division under Leon Rose, who is now Knicks president. Before that, Wesley reportedly recruited players for sneaker companies.
So how did the nickname come about?
“I’m sitting on a Delta flight and they’re holding a plane for somebody,’’ Rose said. “[Wesley] comes strolling on the plane, not rushing, talking on the phone, holding food. I’m like, ‘Really it’s like that.’ I’m laughing and started calling him that. He’s moving and shaking. He’s ‘WWW’ — like on the internet.”
Submit your Knicks questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
The recent addition of Steve Stoute as a branding consultant — along with Wesley — has the Knicks on the right track toward changing a battered image. Rose cited Stoute and Wesley being black as critical.
“There’s a culture and change going to take place in a lot of industries as we continue to pull back the onion in a lot of scenarios and realize the systemic racism in corporate America,’’ Rose said. “Steve Stoute and World Wide Wes are put in a category as so well established in industry, culture and respected for their intellect and connecting people to greatness.
“And the genius move they did was keeping Scott Perry [as GM]. It was the quiet move but the smart move, a basketball move. But I believe they will be able to attract talent and sell them on playing in New York City for the Knicks. … When you walk into that room, other than James Dolan and Leon, four out of the six will be black, and it’s going to say something to free agents.’’


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Virgin Mary statue vandalized with graffiti in NYC

A vandal spray-painted “ IDOL ” across the skirt of a Virgin Mary statue in Elmhurst , Queens , early @ @ @ @ @ The statue stands outside the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary on 92nd Street and was @ @ @ @ @ about 3 a.m. , according to police .
A masked suspect , who appeared to @ @ @ @ @ fled on foot .
Police are asking anyone with information on the crime to call @ @ @ @ @ Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS ( 8477 ) .

A vandal spray-painted “IDOL” across the skirt of a Virgin Mary statue in Elmhurst, Queens, early Friday, police said.
The statue stands outside the Cathedral Preparatory School and Seminary on 92nd Street and was tagged in black paint at about 3 a.m., according to police.
A masked suspect, who appeared to be a young woman, fled on foot.
Police are asking anyone with information on the crime to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Yankees don’t see Aaron Judge’s stiff neck as long-term problem

According to Zack Britton , the Yankees are considering piping in ...

Aaron Judge was removed from the starting lineup of Saturday’s simulated game at Yankee Stadium with a stiff neck.
“I don’t think it’s that big a deal,” Aaron Boone said following the game. “It just locked up on him when he woke up. He slept on it a little weird.”
Judge got treatment on it and Boone hopes Judge can play in Sunday’s sim game.
“I don’t expect it to be a long-term thing.”
He was replaced in right field by Tyler Wade.
Judge is coming back from a fractured rib that sidelined him in spring training, but he said he’d be ready for Opening Day of the upcoming 60-game season, which is scheduled for July 23 at Washington.
Masahiro Tanaka played catch in the outfield on Saturday at Yankee Stadium, as the right-hander continues to progress from the concussion he suffered last Saturday, when he was drilled in the head by a Giancarlo Stanton line drive that was clocked at 112 mph.
“We’re moving slowly with Masa, making sure he’s able to play catch a couple of times now,’’ Boone said. “He’s responded well to an elevated heart rate on the bike and elliptical and with his arm care work.”
Tanaka remains in the concussion protocol and the Yankees have not determined when he might pitch again or if he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season.
“Anytime we’re talking about a concussion, we make sure we’re moving slowly and smartly,’’ Boone said. “There’s no plan in place exactly when exactly things are gonna happen, but he is at least responding how we’d hoped.”
James Paxton said Tanaka’s improvement has been “amazing.”
“He seems great,’’ the left-hander said. “He seems completely normal. I think we got extremely lucky in that situation. It could have been way worse.”
Clarke Schmidt gave up a run in 2 ²/₃ innings in Saturday’s sim game and is looking forward to pitching at the Stadium in a regular season game — and at some point, in front of fans.
“I’m here to compete,’’ said Schmidt, one of the team’s top prospects. “I’ve always been a guy that performs with a chip on his shoulder. My attitude, I wouldn’t call it Napoleanic, but almost an underdog. That people doubt me, even if that may not be the case.”
Submit your Yankees questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
And while being on the mound at an empty ballpark was fine, Schmidt said he wants “to be able to pitch in a full Yankee Stadium. That’s always been one of my dreams. It’s one of the things I’m looking forward to whenever it’s safest.”
Paxton threw at the Stadium on Friday to stay on schedule, even though the simulated game was rained out. He threw 66 pitches in the equivalent of five innings.
Boone stood in the batter’s box with Paxton on the mound.
“I was standing in a lot, so he had a menacing hitter looking at him,’’ Boone said.
Paxton, who underwent back surgery in February, felt good and said he was working on his arm angle, which had been “a little low” in spring training 2.0.
“When I was hurt, I had pain going down my left leg, from my glut down to my calf,’’ Paxton said. “I don’t have that anymore. I’m feeling strong. The next step for me is finding velocity.”
He doesn’t think that will happen until he’s in a live game closer to Opening Day.
“It will be good to see when I’m in the mid-to-high 90s,’’ Paxton said. “That would show me I’m 100 percent back.”
He expects to have two more simulated games before the season starts.
Asked if he’d be ready for the season opener, Paxton said: “I’d better be… I’m gonna be as ready as I can possibly be.”
The Yankees toyed with the idea of a five-man infield last year and they did it again on Saturday with Zack Britton on the mound in what Boone called “The Zack Britton package.”
“We almost used it in a game last year,’’ Boone said.
Tyler Wade and Aaron Hicks are two outfielders who can shift to the infield to take advantage of Britton’s ability to induce ground balls. Hicks, though, missed much of last season.
“If the right matchup came along, we probably wouldn’t hesitate to go with it,’’ Boone said.
Boone addressed players in various groups on Saturday, instead of addressing the entire team at once to promote social distancing.
“I’m having conversations with a number of different groups, picking spots where I can do it in smaller groups when I would normally address the team as a whole,’’ Boone said. “I did that three or four different times [Saturday].”


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Route to roster balance very different in this fantasy baseball season

So , we meet again .
We ’ re still in uncharted territory , and ...

When thinking about your draft strategy for the 60-game MLB season, you should think of the words Mr. Miyagi imparted upon Daniel LaRusso in “The Karate Kid” when he said, “Lesson not just karate only. Lesson for whole life. Whole life have a balance, everything be better.”
Finding balance will be the key to a successful 2020 fantasy season. The strategies (and rankings) that worked for a 162-game schedule will not work for a 60-game slate. Adjustments must be made. Loading up on quality, well-rounded offensive players early and often is key, as pitchers (even the top-tier hurlers) pose greater risk.
So let’s talk about trying to balance your roster with a player like Trevor Story as a potential top-10 pick.
Story has hit .276 while averaging 32 homers, 92 RBIs, 89 runs, 19 stolen bases and a .871 OPS over the past three seasons — numbers worthy of being a top fantasy option despite striking out in 29.1 percent of his career at-bats.
There is another side to this Story, as he is one of the many Rockies who takes advantage of his environment. Though he is a .301 hitter with a .998 OPS in the friendly confines of Coors Field, he is a .250 hitter with a .756 OPS outside of Colorado.
This is concerning when it comes to the idea of balancing a roster, because 15 of Rockies’ 30 road games come against the Dodgers (six games), who had the top-ranked pitching staff last year; the A’s (two games), who had the sixth-best pitching staff last season; and the Diamondbacks (seven games), who added Madison Bumgarner to the 12th-best pitching staff of 2019.
Story also plays four games at AT&T Park in San Francisco, where he is a .254 hitter with .664 OPS in 32 games, and two home games against Houston, the third-best staff a year ago and a team he has hit .226 against in eight career games.
Story has a 10.88 average draft position, according to Fantasy Alarm, which makes him a late first-round pick. When you have a top-10 player hitting 50 points lower on the road, it becomes a risky investment over a shorter season.
This is not a knock on Story, as Roto Rage believes he would be a top-10 pick over a 162-game slate, in which he would have time to make up for the bad days or weeks. In a 60-game schedule, there is little room for error.
That’s why Roto Rage would rather invest in Washington’s Juan Soto (11.33 ADP) or Trea Turner (12.65), or Houston’s Alex Bregman (14.20).
If you fear Story is your last chance to grab a top shortstop, you’re wrong. It is a loaded position. Youngsters like Fernando Tatis Jr. (19.30) or Gleyber Torres (29.40) will be there a round or two later, and Bo Bichette (67.77) or Marcus Semien (86.77) will be available a few rounds after that. You can even wait until the mid-to-late rounds and find players like Carlos Correa (109.70), Amed Rosario (165.37) or Kevin Newman (211.19), who hit .308 while smacking 12 homers and stealing 16 bases last season.
If you’re afraid of losing Story’s power, you can make up for that in the late rounds with players like C.J. Cron (249.29) or Renato Nunez (255.68).
If you’re afraid of losing stolen bases, late-round speed can be found with Kolten Wong (228.11) or John Berti (253.16).
You can even find a little of everything (average, power, steals, runs) with a versatile player like Tommy Edman (144.25) in the middle rounds or a steady veteran like Shin-Soo Choo (229.12) much later.
This is not about drafting stars, it’s about drafting a balanced roster.
As Mr. Miyagi said, “Better learn balance. Balance is key. Balance good, karate good. Everything good. Balance bad, better pack up, go home. Understand?”
Here are some other players to avoid in the abbreviated MLB season:
No one should be desperate enough for stolen bases to draft Adalberto Mondesi at his current ADP (48.67). He is a one-trick pony who over his career has struck out in 29.6 percent of his at-bats. Despite having the second-most stolen bases in the majors last year, he is a career .249 hitter who offers little power, and his .291 on-base percentage was the 11th-worst in the league among players with 400 plate appearances (his 4.3 walk percentage was the 12th lowest, too). Avoid like the plague.
Paul Goldschmidt (66.84) finished last season with 34 homers, 97 RBIs and 97 runs scored, but he also had his lowest average (.260), on-base percentage (.346), slugging percentage (.346), OPS (.821) and swinging strike rate (11.1) since 2011, his rookie season. It also is safe to say the days of Goldschmidt reaching double-digit stolen bases are well behind him, after stealing just three bags in 2019 and seven in 2018.
Though Houston’s five-tool stud Kyle Tucker (186.70) and the Angels’ Jo Adell (233.41) were prospects expected to make an impact this season, it may be tough for them to get enough playing time to do anything of note in 60 games. They remain in play, however, if you’re in a dynasty league, as you should have your roster in good shape by the time they’re selected.
The Rangers’ Rougned Odor (228.97) is normally a great late-round source of power and speed, but his batting average in this kind of setting will kill any potential value he may have.
Fantasy middle infield rankings
Second base
1. Jonathan Villar, MIA
2. Keston Hiura, MIL
3. Ozzie Albies, ATL
4. Jose Altuve, HOU
5. Whit Merrifield, KC
6. Ketel Martie, ARI
7. Gleyber Torres, NYY
8. Jeff McNeil, NYM
9. Tommy Edman, STL
10. Kolten Wong, STL
11. Yoan Moncada, CWS
12. Eduardo Escobar, ARI
13. Mike Moustakas, CIN
14. Cavan Biggio, TOR
15. Cesar Hernandez, CLE
16. Max Muncy, LAD
17. DJ LeMahieu, NYY
18. Howie Kendrick, WAS
19. Kevin Newman, PIT
20. Starlin Castro, WAS
21. Brandon Lowe, TB
22. Luis Arraez, MIN
23. Garrett Hampson, COL
24. Tommy La Stella, LAA
25. Jonathan Schoop, DET
26. Gavin Lux, LAD
27. Chris Taylor, LAD
28. Ryan McMahon, COL
29. Nick Madrigal, CWS
30. Rougned Odor, TEX
Shortstop
1. Francisco Lindor, CLE
2. Trea Turner, WAS
3. Alex Bregman, HOU
4. Trevor Story, COL
5. Fernando Tatis Jr., SD
6. Gleyber Torres, NYY
7. Javier Baez, CHC
8. Xander Bogaerts, BOS
9. Ketel Marte, ARI
10. Jonathan Villar, MIA
11. Bo Bichette, TOR
12. Manny Machado, SD
13. Marcus Semien, OAK
14. Carlos Correa, HOU
15. Adalberto Mondesi, KC
16. Corey Seager, LAD
17. Eduardo Escobar, ARI
18. Tim Anderson, CWS
19. Amed Rosario, NYM
20. Jorge Polanco, MIN
21. Elvis Andrus, TEX
22. Gavin Lux, LAD
23. Jean Segura, PHI
24. Didi Gregorius, PHI
25. Garrett Hampson, COL
26. Scott Kingery, PHI
27. Paul DeJong, STL
28. Kevin Newman, PIT
29. John Berti, MIA
30. Dansby Swanson, ATL
Team Name of the week
Press Your Lux


newyorkpost--2020-07-11--Ghislaine Maxwell no ‘monster’, didn’t introduce Jeffrey Epstein to Prince Andrew: pal

She befriended girls by asking about their lives and taking ...

Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged right-hand woman is not the “cartoon caricature of a villain” portrayed in the media, her pal told the Daily Mail.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who faces charges for allegedly finding and grooming underage girls for the late Epstein, adopted pets in the year after Epstein’s suicide and is heartbroken that her friends have lost jobs due to their mere association with the accused “madam.”
“Ghislaine is no Cruella de Vil,” the friend told the tabloid. “She is being portrayed as this evil character and a cartoon-like villain but she is nothing like that. She is a real person and is determined to prove her innocence despite the fact that she has been characterized as some sort of monster.”
Many victims have accused Maxwell, 58, as acting as Epstein’s sinister fixer in the 1990s, procuring him young girls to sexually abuse and convincing them to travel to his properties across the world.
Friends of the British socialite, who is scheduled to appear in court via videoconferencing Tuesday, have jumped to her defense since her arrest in New Hampshire last week, the Mail reported.
Pals had claimed Maxwell hadn’t seen Epstein in 15 years; that she had adopted a cat and dog after his death last year; and that she wasn’t the one to introduce the billionaire child sex abuser to Prince Andrew, as was widely reported.
The two first met through socialite Lynn Forester de Rothschild, who made the introduction at a birthday party she threw in 1999 for her British billionaire husband, Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, in the Hamptons, the friend told the Mail.
“Ghislaine wasn’t at that party. Lynn introduced Andrew to Epstein,” the friend claimed. “It was all about the money with Andrew and Epstein. Just wait and see. There is a lot more to come out.”
The pal said Maxwell’s romantic relationship with Epstein ended in 2001. They last saw in each other at a party in 2005, when Maxwell had moved on to date Ted Waitt, the billionaire Gateway computer founder.
“The reality is that Ghislaine’s relationship with Epstein ended in 2001,” the friend told the Mail. “Starting in late 2002, early 2003, she was dating Ted and she loved him deeply. Epstein kept trying to woo her back but she wasn’t interested.”
Maxwell has been moved around from cell to cell while being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to protect her from inmate attacks, the friend said. She was also initially issued paper clothes to keep her from harming herself, though she has since been offered traditional prison garb.
The Oxford-educated Maxwell faces a six-count indictment of sex-trafficking minors and lying about the alleged crimes under oath. She faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Liberty aren’t complaining about reportedly gross WNBA bubble

The WNBA plans to begin its season on July 24 , ...

Despite reports of bed bugs, boxed lunches and mouse traps, nobody from the New York Liberty is complaining about conditions inside the bubble on the campus of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Unlike their NBA brethren who have complained about food and “Motel 6’’ accommodations at Disney World, the WNBA players are happy to have a season.
Forward Leaonna Odom said it’s like being back to college dormitories.
“It’s a lot like college as far as the environment of the bubble,’’ Odom said during a Zoom call Sunday as the WNBA gets ready to kick off its 22-game season on July 24. “We’re staying on the campus all around each other.”
Before arriving in the bubble five days ago, the WNBA announced seven players out of 137 tested positive for coronavirus from testing that was conducted between June 28 and July 5.
First-year coach Walt Hopkins said there were no complaints from his players. Deadspin reported two teams moved accommodations because of bed bugs.
“Honestly, I’ve seen there’s been that kind of stuff,’’ Hopkins said. “None of the players has said that stuff to me. I’m happy. I’m pretty low maintenance. I’ve lived in a lot of different places the last seven years. It’s a nice hotel. I’ve been to some of the villas. It’s beautiful. I know accommodations aren’t the same across the board, but I only what I’ve seen, and it’s actually been really nice.”
Kylee Shook just likes the campus convenience.
“I haven’t experienced any of that,’’ Shook said. “So far, my apartment is nice. It’s a little bigger than college so that’s nice. The practice schedule, normally you drive somewhere or fly somewhere, but it’s all in one area. That’s why it feels like college. You just walk to the gym and walk back to your room.’’
The Liberty, who finished 10-24 last season, earned the top pick of the draft and selected marquee shooting guard Sabrina Ionescu out of Oregon.
The downer is the anticipated backcourt of Ionescu and Asia Durr will be scrapped because the latter tested positive for coronavirus and will miss the season. Durr was the No. 2 pick of the 2019 draft.
Ionescu has called for team video chats for players to talk about non-basketball stuff. Only two players return from last season.
“Sabrina — everything’s easy and natural,’’ Hopkins said. “She’s really careful — she doesn’t want any preferential treatment. She doesn’t want anyone to think she shouldn’t have something we don’t have and be entitled. She’s just a quiet, team-first, hardworking person. She’s been a joy to coach. I joke a lot that she’s the biggest pain on the team.’’


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Chef Daniel Boulud’s ‘terrance’ thrives despite limited outdoor seating

When New York City officials announced it would be fast-tracking ...

Daniel Boulud reopened his five-star eatery on the Upper East Side last week — and nobody could complain that the atmosphere was stuffy.
The legendary chef was busy tending to 10 tables, generously spaced apart on the sidewalk in front of his Michelin-starred restaurant Daniel at 60 E. 65th St. in recognition of health and safety imperatives during the coronavirus pandemic.
No, French-born Boulud wasn’t delivering dishes on disposable plates with plastic ware, but the clinking of wine glasses were at times no match for the sound of taxis moving along Park Avenue a few steps away.
“It’s become a little bit of a journey,” Boulud told Side Dish. “It’s not fine dining at the highest level, but it is fine dining au casual, and customers appreciate it.”
Reservations for a seat on the planter-lined patch of sidewalk — dubbed “the terrace” — are now subject to the weather, and rainstorms on Friday and Saturday ended up putting a crimp in some patrons’ dinner plans.
Indeed, reservations have been one of the knottiest problems to untangle, both before and after Daniel’s outdoor reopening last Wednesday, according to Boulud.
At first, Boulud had planned a “no reservation” policy because “so much of outdoor dining depends on the weather.” But faced with a brisk clamor, he ultimately decided to take same-day reservations each afternoon between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., with a few tables reserved for walk-ins.
“People have more time to organize their lives now. We have pressure from guests who want to make reservations. It isn’t like they have to leave work anymore,” Boulud says.
One bright spot is that with more diners working from home, folks are coming for early bird seatings of 5 p.m., enabling Daniel to do three seatings a night per table instead of two.
“This is not restaurant Daniel, where you can spend three hours. There are limitations,” Boulud says. “We are here to provide a wonderful meal but if we have a little pressure for the table we hope they can respect that.”
So far, he adds, customers have been “understanding and flexible.”
He makes no bones about the fact that his outdoor Daniel version is a temporary — and less-than-profitable — arrangement while his 40 tables inside remain empty.
Diners have come from the neighborhood and across the park from on the Upper West Side, while others have driven in from Queens, Brooklyn, lower Manhattan and Westchester County.
Guests run the gamut, from families with babies (they are given a bib that says: “I’d Rather Eat at Daniel”) to upscale locals looking for an excuse to haul their Prada and Chanel out of the closet.
The menu, which includes $34 to $49 entrees, ranges from a $31 Provencale Nicoise salad to a $36 “Frenchie” burger and a $46 “line-caught” striped bass. That’s a far cry from indoor Daniel, where a four-course, prix-fixe menu costs $158 per person, which can double with wine pairings.
In a nod to diners’ requests, Boulud will be adding a three-course prix-fixe menu, beginning Tuesday, for Bastille Day. It will feature his famed bouillabaisse, Nicoise salad, dessert and a glass of rose for around $82.
The prix fixe menu will change weekly, and so will the price. Drink selections range from a $16 glass of Cala rose to a $395 bottle of Dom Perignon Brut 2006.
As to the future of fine dining, Boulud is cautiously optimistic.
“We have to be more affordable and approachable,” he says. “But people are missing the privilege of the [fine dining] experience and would like to see it come back. Fine dining will evolve but it will never die. People appreciate it too much — even in financially challenged times. Fine dining will be sensitive to that.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Nets in talks with ex-Knick Lance Thomas to join NBA restart roster

Jamal Crawford is the oldest player in the Orlando bubble ...

The shorthanded Nets are in talks to bring back Lance Thomas, The Post confirmed.
Decimated by injuries and coronavirus, the Nets have desperately been adding bodies. Thomas, who was born in Brooklyn, would be their fourth replacement player, and unless someone else tests positive for COVID-19, their last.
The Nets had reportedly been close to adding Justin Anderson from G-League Long Island. When asked if adding Thomas would signal that somebody already in the NBA bubble is now unavailable or that they’ve opted against Anderson, interim coach Jacque Vaughn demurred.
“That’s a good one,” Vaughn said. “First, I’m not going to mess with HIPAA violations for that first part of it. Then second piece is, I can’t comment on guys that we actually haven’t signed yet.
“Not being secretive on my part, just being open and honest with where we are. At the end of the day, we will have a roster, and we’re just kind of working through the process of getting there.”
SNY was the first to report the talks.
Like Thomas, not only are replacements Michael Beasley and Jamal Crawford ex-Knicks, they also haven’t played in the NBA this season.
“We’ll have a couple guys who a month ago — four months ago — weren’t playing competitive basketball in the NBA. We understood that going in,” Vaughn said. “We’ve liked those players at different stages … so this opportunity presented itself to get them around us and get them in the fold.”
Thomas spent the preseason with the Nets. He played four-plus seasons with the Knicks and was their co-captain in 2017-18, but got waived last offseason to clear cap space for their failed pursuit of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
The St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) product is said to be close with both Durant and Beasley. His pinned tweet is a 2018 birthday greeting to Beasley.
Tyler Johnson — whose arrival had been delayed due to a personal matter — is now at Disney and has entered his quarantine period. He can join the Nets once that has finished.
Vaughn kept the same lineup for a second day: Chris Chiozza, Caris LeVert, Joe Harris, Rodions Kurucs and Jarrett Allen. He praised LeVert’s leadership, and is pressing Allen to be more vocal on defense with DeAndre Jordan out.
With players having a list of approved messages they can put on the back of their jerseys, Harris said he requested “Equality” as his No. 1 option and “Vote” as his second choice.
The NBA has set up a hospitality area for the players. They were able to watch some of the UFC fights, while Harris said he hopes to get in some golf with Garrett Temple on Tuesday’s off day.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Bump stock maker seeks compensation from Las Vegas massacre victim fund

The maker of the now-banned gun accessory that worsened the Las Vegas massacre has filed a little-noticed court motion that threatens to wipe out a $ 1.1 million fund set aside for the victims ’ families , The Post has learned .
Slide Fire Solutions — the defunct manufacturer of the controversial “ bump stock ” device that converted Stephen Paddock ’ s guns into automatic weapons , helping him kill 58 people in 11 minutes — has filed a creditor ’ s claim against the dead gunman ’ s estate , court records show .
According to the claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court , Slide Fire wants Paddock ’ s estate to share the cost of any damages the company may be forced to pay from a class-action lawsuit brought against it in October 2017 that alleges its devices were partly responsible for the massacre .
The problem : Paddock ’ s surviving family members have allocated his $ 1.4 million estate to the families of his victims , with administrators hoping to distribute the money to them in October , around the third anniversary of the tragedy .
Paddock ’ s estate has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the outlook isn ’ t good for the victims ’ families , according to Alice Denton , a lawyer who is managing the unwinding of the estate .
Denying the claim could lead to an expensive legal battle with Slide Fire that would eat up the roughly $ 1.1 million the estate currently has on hand , Denton said .
Accepting it would likely force the estate to fork over every penny if Slide Fire loses the lawsuit , she added .
“ It defeats our entire purpose , ” Denton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have done in the last few years has been to preserve and protect this money for them .
Now with this creditor ’ s claim all our efforts are for naught.
” For his part , Eric Paddock , the gunman ’ s brother who has expressed sympathy for the plight of the victims ’ families , said they “ might get a pack of gum once this is done ” thanks to Slide Fire ’ s legal ploy .
But he said the matter is out of his hands .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he told The Post .
“ We ’ ve done what we can do.
” Two survivors of the October 2017 mass murder , the largest in modern US history , brought a federal class-action suit against Slide Fire that accuses the company of negligence , saying the extent of the carnage would not have been possible without the bump stock .
In its court filing last month , however , Slide Fire countered that Paddock ’ s estate should also have to pay up because he was the one who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the acts of Stephen Paddock , the class-action plaintiffs could not have suffered the alleged damages for which they seek monetary compensation , ” Slide Fire lawyer F. Thomas Edwards , wrote in the filing .
If Slide Fire loses the class-action suit , the company added , it wants a jury to “ allocate the proportionate share of responsibility ” between the company and Paddock ’ s estate .
A lawyer for the Vegas survivors called the move a page out of Slide Fire ’ s “ disturbing ” playbook to evade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Slide Fire has not taken an ounce of responsibility for anything that it has ever done , nor has it made any gesture , however small , to try to do right by the victims of this shooting , ” said Jonathan Lowy , chief counsel at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence .
“ Instead , they have fought tooth and nail against the victims in court , and this filing appears to be the latest chapter in that strategy.
” Even waiting to see how the case plays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s plans to distribute the funds in October , according to Denton .
She said she reached out to Slide Fire ’ s lawyers last month “ almost begging ” them to withdraw the claim .
“ Then we could proceed to distribute this fall and close the estate , and end a very tragic segment in the history of Las Vegas , ” she told The Post .
Edwards , the Slide Fire lawyer , did not return multiple calls from The Post .
Slide Fire founder Jeremiah Cottle invented the bump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire like fully automatic weapons .
The company started selling the device in 2010 , raking in more than $ 10 million in sales in its first year , according to court records .
But President Trump announced plans to ban bump stocks in February 2018 amid outrage over the massacre .
By April , Slide Fire revealed it would shut down its Web site and stop taking orders the following month .
Paddock killed himself in the Mandalay Bay hotel suite from which he had rained bullets down on a crowd of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have a will , so control of his estate went to his mother , who in March 2018 transferred the inheritance to the estates of the 58 dead .

The maker of the now-banned gun accessory that worsened the Las Vegas massacre has filed a little-noticed court motion that threatens to wipe out a $1.1 million fund set aside for the victims’ families, The Post has learned.
Slide Fire Solutions — the defunct manufacturer of the controversial “bump stock” device that converted Stephen Paddock’s guns into automatic weapons, helping him kill 58 people in 11 minutes — has filed a creditor’s claim against the dead gunman’s estate, court records show.
According to the claim, filed June 15 in Nevada state court, Slide Fire wants Paddock’s estate to share the cost of any damages the company may be forced to pay from a class-action lawsuit brought against it in October 2017 that alleges its devices were partly responsible for the massacre.
The problem: Paddock’s surviving family members have allocated his $1.4 million estate to the families of his victims, with administrators hoping to distribute the money to them in October, around the third anniversary of the tragedy.
Paddock’s estate has not yet decided how to handle the claim, but the outlook isn’t good for the victims’ families, according to Alice Denton, a lawyer who is managing the unwinding of the estate.
Denying the claim could lead to an expensive legal battle with Slide Fire that would eat up the roughly $1.1 million the estate currently has on hand, Denton said. Accepting it would likely force the estate to fork over every penny if Slide Fire loses the lawsuit, she added.
“It defeats our entire purpose,” Denton told The Post. “Everything that we have done in the last few years has been to preserve and protect this money for them. Now with this creditor’s claim all our efforts are for naught.”
For his part, Eric Paddock, the gunman’s brother who has expressed sympathy for the plight of the victims’ families, said they “might get a pack of gum once this is done” thanks to Slide Fire’s legal ploy. But he said the matter is out of his hands.
“The Paddock family is done with this,” he told The Post. “We’ve done what we can do.”
Two survivors of the October 2017 mass murder, the largest in modern US history, brought a federal class-action suit against Slide Fire that accuses the company of negligence, saying the extent of the carnage would not have been possible without the bump stock.
In its court filing last month, however, Slide Fire countered that Paddock’s estate should also have to pay up because he was the one who pulled the trigger. “But for the acts of Stephen Paddock, the class-action plaintiffs could not have suffered the alleged damages for which they seek monetary compensation,” Slide Fire lawyer F. Thomas Edwards, wrote in the filing.
If Slide Fire loses the class-action suit, the company added, it wants a jury to “allocate the proportionate share of responsibility” between the company and Paddock’s estate.
A lawyer for the Vegas survivors called the move a page out of Slide Fire’s “disturbing” playbook to evade accountability for its role in the massacre.
“Slide Fire has not taken an ounce of responsibility for anything that it has ever done, nor has it made any gesture, however small, to try to do right by the victims of this shooting,” said Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel at the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “Instead, they have fought tooth and nail against the victims in court, and this filing appears to be the latest chapter in that strategy.”
Even waiting to see how the case plays out could indefinitely delay the estate’s plans to distribute the funds in October, according to Denton. She said she reached out to Slide Fire’s lawyers last month “almost begging” them to withdraw the claim.
“Then we could proceed to distribute this fall and close the estate, and end a very tragic segment in the history of Las Vegas,” she told The Post.
Edwards, the Slide Fire lawyer, did not return multiple calls from The Post.
Slide Fire founder Jeremiah Cottle invented the bump stock, which enables regular rifles to fire like fully automatic weapons. The company started selling the device in 2010, raking in more than $10 million in sales in its first year, according to court records.
But President Trump announced plans to ban bump stocks in February 2018 amid outrage over the massacre. By April, Slide Fire revealed it would shut down its Web site and stop taking orders the following month.
Paddock killed himself in the Mandalay Bay hotel suite from which he had rained bullets down on a crowd of country music fans. He didn’t have a will, so control of his estate went to his mother, who in March 2018 transferred the inheritance to the estates of the 58 dead.
Additional reporting by Michael Kaplan


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Winona Ryder will testify Johnny Depp was ‘never abusive’ to her: report

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 ) Winona Ryder is expected to testify in a British court this week that Johnny Depp was “ never abusive ” during their relationship , a report said Sunday .
The Oscar-nominated actress will appear via video link in London ’ s High Court as part of her ex-boyfriend ’ s lawsuit against The Sun newspaper .
He is suing over a 2018 article that referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” — which he vehemently denies .
Ryder , 48 , is expected to say that the 57-year-old “ Pirates of the Caribbean ” star is an “ extremely caring guy , ” The Times UK reported .
His ex-wife , Amber Heard , has accused Depp of repeatedly assaulting her during their doomed relationship .
Heard , 34 , is also expected to take the stand next week as the key witness for the defense .
Lawyers for The Sun had tried to block Ryder and another of Depp ’ s exes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving evidence , according to The Times .
But Paradis , the mother of Depp ’ s two children , is also expected to testify on his behalf via video link .
The pair got together in the late 90s and separated in 2012 .
Depp and Ryder , who acted opposite each other in 1990 ’ s “ Edward Scissorhands , ” were one of Hollywood ’ s hottest couples in the early-90s .
He even got “ Winona Forever ” tattooed on his right arm — before amending the ink to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break up .
During the first four days of trial last week , Depp denied Heard ’ s claims he turned into a “ Dr .
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde ” monster who abused her when he drank and did drugs .
One of the allegations he refuted was that he hit Heard in 2013 for laughing at his infamous ink , insisting , “ I don ’ t recall any argument about any of my tattoos.
” The trial is expected to last three weeks total .

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Winona Ryder is expected to testify in a British court this week that Johnny Depp was “never abusive” during their relationship, a report said Sunday.
The Oscar-nominated actress will appear via video link in London’s High Court as part of her ex-boyfriend’s lawsuit against The Sun newspaper.
He is suing over a 2018 article that referred to him as a “wife beater” — which he vehemently denies.
Ryder, 48, is expected to say that the 57-year-old “Pirates of the Caribbean” star is an “extremely caring guy,” The Times UK reported.
His ex-wife, Amber Heard, has accused Depp of repeatedly assaulting her during their doomed relationship.
Heard, 34, is also expected to take the stand next week as the key witness for the defense.
Lawyers for The Sun had tried to block Ryder and another of Depp’s exes, French singer Vanessa Paradis, from giving evidence, according to The Times.
But Paradis, the mother of Depp’s two children, is also expected to testify on his behalf via video link. The pair got together in the late 90s and separated in 2012.
Depp and Ryder, who acted opposite each other in 1990’s “Edward Scissorhands,” were one of Hollywood’s hottest couples in the early-90s.
He even got “Winona Forever” tattooed on his right arm — before amending the ink to say “Wino Forever” following their break up.
During the first four days of trial last week, Depp denied Heard’s claims he turned into a “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” monster who abused her when he drank and did drugs.
One of the allegations he refuted was that he hit Heard in 2013 for laughing at his infamous ink, insisting, “I don’t recall any argument about any of my tattoos.”
The trial is expected to last three weeks total.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--CUNY planning for most classes to be online this fall amid coronavirus concerns

Some CUNY students seem to have mastered one online subject ...

The City University of New York is preparing to keep providing most classes online for the fall semester amid ongoing concerns about the coronavirus.
The CUNY Board of Trustees of Trustees approved a resolution last week alerting 275,000-degree seeking students and 6,700 professors at its 25 colleges and professional schools that there’s a strong likelihood that most classes will be virtual rather than in-person at their campus when classes resume in September.
“The University, through this resolution, is recognizing that by reducing the density of individuals on the University campuses and offering the option of classes and support services in a primarily online and remote format, the University can better ensure the continued health, safety and welfare of its students faculty and staff,” the statement said.
The plan would also “preserve the availability of its physical spaces for those academic programs and support services that require them,” the resolution said.
For example, lab courses that require hands-on activity would be among courses that could be offered in person.
The resolution said CUNY officials would prefer more in-person classes and noted that New York has made great strides in reducing COVID-19 infections and deaths.
But, it added, “Pending the introduction of effective long-term health solutions, the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency continues to be a concern in the State of New York and elsewhere throughout the United States, and in fact is showing recent signs of worsening as the number of new cases reported daily has reached record-setting levels.”
“The COVID-19 virus continues to pose a threat to the continuity of business and education …. The University’s highest priority in planning for the Fall 2020 semester is to protect the health and safety of students, faculty and staff while creating the conditions for our students to make progress in their academic programs.”
Gov. Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order back in March requiring all schools — including CUNY and SUNY institutions — to switch to virtual classes to help curb the spread of COVID-19.
Students and parents at some colleges have complained the online classes are inferior to in-person instruction and have demanded tuition refunds.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Lack of drama gives Mets reason to ‘believe’

The hurdles to a season remain significant , but it ’ s OK to recognize small victories while stressing the need to stay vigilant .
Spring training 2.0 reaches a midpoint Monday — which the Mets will denote by giving the players a day off from workouts — leaving a week and a half before the Braves arrive to hopefully commence this 60-game season .
The balance is fragile .
One COVID-19 outbreak in any camp could put the season in jeopardy .
Within the confines of the NL East , the Braves have already been enormously hit , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nick Markakis ’ subsequent decision to opt out from the season .
In Queens , there is at least the illusion of stability .
Robinson Cano and Brad Brach remain absent from camp for reasons unexplained , but Mets brass has stayed consistent in providing a bright outlook for what could be a baseball season .
Maybe the lack of skepticism is a unified message the Mets wish to convey , either at the organizational or clubhouse level .
Or it could be the Mets really believe this experiment has a chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot better than what I projected , ” manager Luis Rojas said Sunday .
“ I shared at the beginning that we had a lot of challenges , and I was really looking forward to seeing how the guys were going to adopt that .
They have done a tremendous job , so it ’ s going a lot better as far the guys adopting that routine , getting through the whole process of screening coming in and then getting on the field , in both dugouts , and also keeping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day and have fun like they are having in games .
I am really pleased with how it ’ s gone.
” The relative lack of drama has allowed the Mets to focus on their on-field developments , starting with Yoenis Cespedes ’ recovery and the expectation he will ready for opening day .
Jeff McNeil ’ s power display , Steven Matz ’ s curveball , Dellin Betances ’ improved velocity and even Jed Lowrie sightings have created buzz .
Submit your Mets questions here to be answered in an upcoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been the biggest story at Citi Field over these first 10 days of workouts .
Can the Mets get through the next 10 , which are scheduled to include exhibition games against the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday ?
“ I truly believe that here with the Mets they are doing their best and it truly feels like a safe environment , ” Marcus Stroman said .
“ I feel safe here .
I feel fine , but I truly believe this is a situation where you can ’ t think three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t think a week from now .
You truly have to be in the moment and take it day by day because there ’ s so many different factors that come up each day and you just have to process it like that.
” A start to the regular season would bring further challenges , from team flights to hotels and locales to which players might disperse after games .
The lack of a bubble setting , such as the NBA has implemented , means increased anxiety about an outbreak that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are the increasing coronavirus cases in spots such as Florida , California , Texas and Arizona that threaten the possibility of those states welcoming professional sports , even in empty ballparks .
Such a big-picture view is daunting , but also very much beyond the players ’ control .
The Mets , like other teams , will continue concentrating on a list of safety protocols that just might improve their chances of a season .
“ I can speak for what we ’ re doing here and it ’ s off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how cautious we are with what we ’ re doing here , ” Jake Marisnick said .
“ If every team is going about it the same way we are , I have pretty high confidence this season is going to complete.
” The Mets are halfway to the regular season .
It ’ s a small victory to celebrate , just not in a group .

The hurdles to a season remain significant, but it’s OK to recognize small victories while stressing the need to stay vigilant.
Spring training 2.0 reaches a midpoint Monday — which the Mets will denote by giving the players a day off from workouts — leaving a week and a half before the Braves arrive to hopefully commence this 60-game season.
The balance is fragile. One COVID-19 outbreak in any camp could put the season in jeopardy. Within the confines of the NL East, the Braves have already been enormously hit, with Freddie Freeman’s coronavirus symptoms and Nick Markakis’ subsequent decision to opt out from the season.
In Queens, there is at least the illusion of stability. Robinson Cano and Brad Brach remain absent from camp for reasons unexplained, but Mets brass has stayed consistent in providing a bright outlook for what could be a baseball season.
Maybe the lack of skepticism is a unified message the Mets wish to convey, either at the organizational or clubhouse level. Or it could be the Mets really believe this experiment has a chance to succeed.
“It definitely has gone a lot better than what I projected,” manager Luis Rojas said Sunday. “I shared at the beginning that we had a lot of challenges, and I was really looking forward to seeing how the guys were going to adopt that. They have done a tremendous job, so it’s going a lot better as far the guys adopting that routine, getting through the whole process of screening coming in and then getting on the field, in both dugouts, and also keeping the distancing and maintaining that health protocol throughout the day and have fun like they are having in games. I am really pleased with how it’s gone.”
The relative lack of drama has allowed the Mets to focus on their on-field developments, starting with Yoenis Cespedes’ recovery and the expectation he will ready for opening day. Jeff McNeil’s power display, Steven Matz’s curveball, Dellin Betances’ improved velocity and even Jed Lowrie sightings have created buzz.
Submit your Mets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
Which is to say baseball has been the biggest story at Citi Field over these first 10 days of workouts. Can the Mets get through the next 10, which are scheduled to include exhibition games against the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday?
“I truly believe that here with the Mets they are doing their best and it truly feels like a safe environment,” Marcus Stroman said. “I feel safe here. I feel fine, but I truly believe this is a situation where you can’t think three days down the road. You can’t think a week from now. You truly have to be in the moment and take it day by day because there’s so many different factors that come up each day and you just have to process it like that.”
A start to the regular season would bring further challenges, from team flights to hotels and locales to which players might disperse after games. The lack of a bubble setting, such as the NBA has implemented, means increased anxiety about an outbreak that would put the sport in peril. Then there are the increasing coronavirus cases in spots such as Florida, California, Texas and Arizona that threaten the possibility of those states welcoming professional sports, even in empty ballparks.
Such a big-picture view is daunting, but also very much beyond the players’ control. The Mets, like other teams, will continue concentrating on a list of safety protocols that just might improve their chances of a season.
“I can speak for what we’re doing here and it’s off the charts the in-depth, social distancing and how cautious we are with what we’re doing here,” Jake Marisnick said. “If every team is going about it the same way we are, I have pretty high confidence this season is going to complete.”
The Mets are halfway to the regular season. It’s a small victory to celebrate, just not in a group.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Yankees’ Gerrit Cole lauds Gary Sanchez as domination grows

Forgetting whatever other barnacle issues have latched themselves onto the ...

Gerrit Cole has just one outing left before finally making his Yankees debut on Opening Day against the Nationals in Washington on July 23.
And if his effectiveness in Sunday’s simulated game in The Bronx was any indication, Cole seems to be in top form.
The $324 million right-hander struck out nine in 5 ²/₃ shutout innings and allowed just four hits and a walk during an 84-pitch outing on a steamy afternoon at the Stadium.
He credited Gary Sanchez for keeping him in a good rhythm throughout the outing.
“It’s been nice to work with him the last couple times,’’ Cole said. “I thought we were on the same page a lot today. And the few times we weren’t, we discussed it between innings, which was helpful.”
Cole praised Sanchez’s work defensively, saying he “was sharp behind the plate, giving me nice targets, calling nice sequences. It’s helpful that he knows the other squad better than I do.”
Soon enough, Cole will face hitters from other teams, although whether that happens in his final tuneup of spring training 2.0 remains to be seen. He could pitch another simulated game or start one of the exhibition games prior to the season opener.
Aaron Boone said Cole was “crisper” Sunday than in his previous outing and expects the 29-year-old to go in another simulated game, so he’d have an extra day of rest heading into Opening Day — while also building up his pitch count. But the manager called the situation “fluid.”
Cole said he hasn’t thought about what he’d rather do.
But he isn’t simply showing off to his new teammates on the mound.
Cole arrived with a reputation as a student of pitching and he’s shared that with some of the Yankees’ young pitchers, including Mike King, who also pitched in Sunday’s sim game.
King said he was texting with Justin Dunn, a former Mets prospect who was traded to Seattle in the deal that brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets. Dunn asked King if he’d learned anything from Cole.
“We’re totally opposite pitchers in that he’s got that top of the zone fastball with ride, his slider is so electric and mine is a work in progress,’’ King said. “The biggest thing he said was, ‘Don’t throw it on flat ground because it’s a totally different angle.’ I’ve definitely seen some strides in [the pitch].”
But the Yankees didn’t sign Cole to be a pitching coach — and he looked like an ace Sunday.
“I still don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but hopefully we can recover well this week and build off this next turn and be ready to go,’’ Cole said.


newyorkpost--2020-07-12--Soaring disrespect for cops means big trouble for the most vulnerable New Yorkers

The dangerous grip lasts a chilling four seconds , video from ...

It happened on July 1, but the event captured on Page One of Sunday’s Post captures what’s going horribly wrong across the city right now: a lack of respect for the police, from people on the street, to politicians in their offices.
Two police officers have handcuffed a man and are putting him in their car. He’s resisting, flailing about, while onlookers taunt the police and film them from multiple angles. This is how impossible it is to enforce the laws these days.
As the scuffle continues, one man in the crowd steps right next to the action. The cop pushes him away, to keep him from interfering. Then, when the cop’s body camera falls to the ground, police say the man kicks it away.
The officer rushes the man, who proceeds to put the cop in a headlock. The crowd jeers and cheers; when the man lets go they encourage him to “get out of here” so he isn’t arrested.
What if the police officer had put the civilian in a headlock? If Mayor de Blasio still intends to sign an overreaching City Council bill, the police would be criminally liable not just for using headlocks, but for any action that constricts a civilian’s diaphragm. The mayor insists the NYPD can train officers to avoid such trouble — but any close physical struggle involves that risk. The message to police: Stay completely hands off. Don’t make arrests. And if an angry crowd interferes, step back.
This, when yet another bloody Saturday night saw at least 17 people shot over 24 hours — more than in the same entire week a year ago. And gunfire was far from the only sign of trouble: A Brooklyn drag-racing crash took three young lives — one boy was just 11 — around sunset.
And, as Karol Markowicz notes on the opposite page, cop aren’t the only public servants under attack. Even bus drivers and subway workers face truculent resistance, and sometimes violence, as they try to do their jobs.
Yet the NYPD is clearly under orders to hang back, as is clear from the scene around the vagrants’ encampment by City Hall. “Occupiers” at the supposed protest site attacked a Post reporter with a two-by-four on Sunday, demanding he stop filming them with his phone. Police refused to even take a report, despite the reporter’s offer of video evidence.
The main price for this widespread rise in disorder falls firmly on residents of the city’s poorest neighborhoods: As Sunday’s Post reported, violence is rising mainly in just a handful of precincts in Brooklyn and The Bronx. The law-abiding majorities in those areas don’t deserve this — but the politicians are afraid to stand up to the loud, unruly few.
And any police officer who tries to do right is acting at his or her own risk. No wonder retirements are skyrocketing.
What will it take for the mayor and City Council to stop frittering away two decades of gains in public safety?