newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Joe Biden nets unlikely defenders amid Tara Reade allegations

Allies are riding to Joe Biden ’ s defense in the wake of sexual assault allegations leveled against him by a former Senate staffer — and they aren ’ t all Democrats .
“ The Joe Biden I know , I ’ ve never seen anything [ or ] believed that he would do anything like this , ” Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) told Fox News Friday .
The former vice president and presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee has faced growing questions about allegations from Tara Reade , a former aide , that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Senate , said his former colleague should release his archives , held under seal at the University of Delaware , to dispel any doubts .
But the complaint Reade says she filed to the Congressional Personnel Office does not include an explicit accusation of sexual assault , AP reported Saturday .
“ I remember talking about him wanting me to serve drinks because he liked my legs and thought I was pretty and it made me uncomfortable , ” Reade told The Associated Press .
“ I know that I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assault ” in the complaint .
Reade has accused Biden of pressing her up against a wall and penetrating her with his fingers — an allegation he strenuously denied Friday .
In New Hampshire , one Biden supporter had to resign from the state legislature Saturday after he tried a graphic blame-the-victim defense .
“ Judging by the position of the female vagina , it is not easy for someone to put their finger into the vagina unless their is some Cooperation , ” first-term Democratic Representative Richard Komi posted in a now-deleted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calls for censure , and Komi resigned his seat Saturday morning , the New Hampshire Union-Leader reported .
Other Democrats stepped up with less inflammatory evidence of Biden ’ s innocence .
“ We certainly looked for any people who might have made allegations in the past , ” Bill Jeffress , the attorney who led the vice-presidential vetting effort for Barack Obama ’ s presidential campaign in 2008 , told Bloomberg News .
“ We presented everything we found to Obama and his team , ” Jeffress said .
“ That does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Republicans have cried foul , saying Biden and other Democrats were quick to pounce on sexual misconduct allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh .
Critics have pointed out that during the brutal Kavanaugh confirmation hearings , Biden said that if a woman comes forward with sexual harassment charges , she should be given the presumption that “ the essence of what she is talking about is real.
” As in the Kavanaugh controversy , a second Biden accuser has emerged .
Eva Murry , the niece of a former GOP Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Biden spoke lewdly to her at a political dinner in 1993 — when she was just 14 years old .
Biden “ turned to me and asked how old I was , ” Murry told the Law & Crime website Friday .
“ I replied with my age and he replied with the comment , ‘ Fourteen ?
You ’ re very well endowed for 14 !
’ ” Biden ’ s campaign declined to comment .
According to public reports from the time , Biden underwent sinus surgery days before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be confined to his home to recuperate .
Meanwhile , President Trump revealed his inner glee over Biden ’ s predicament with a pair of Saturday retweets .
Trump claimed to be “ sticking up ” for Biden in a Friday interview — because , he said , he has faced his own false accusations of sexual misconduct .
“ If Trump said Biden is guilty , that would open him up to the same accusations , ” Trump analyst Scott Adams said in a video linked by the president that called the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to torpedo the Democrat ’ s campaign .
“ He ’ s embracing Biden in the way Biden would least want to be embraced .
”

Allies are riding to Joe Biden’s defense in the wake of sexual assault allegations leveled against him by a former Senate staffer — and they aren’t all Democrats.
“The Joe Biden I know, I’ve never seen anything [or] believed that he would do anything like this,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News Friday.
The former vice president and presumptive 2020 Democratic nominee has faced growing questions about allegations from Tara Reade, a former aide, that Biden sexually assaulted her in 1993.
Graham, who served with Biden in the Senate, said his former colleague should release his archives, held under seal at the University of Delaware, to dispel any doubts.
But the complaint Reade says she filed to the Congressional Personnel Office does not include an explicit accusation of sexual assault, AP reported Saturday.
“I remember talking about him wanting me to serve drinks because he liked my legs and thought I was pretty and it made me uncomfortable,” Reade told The Associated Press. “I know that I was too scared to write about the sexual assault” in the complaint.
Reade has accused Biden of pressing her up against a wall and penetrating her with his fingers — an allegation he strenuously denied Friday.
In New Hampshire, one Biden supporter had to resign from the state legislature Saturday after he tried a graphic blame-the-victim defense.
“Judging by the position of the female vagina, it is not easy for someone to put their finger into the vagina unless their is some Cooperation,” first-term Democratic Representative Richard Komi posted in a now-deleted tweet Friday.
The post drew immediate calls for censure, and Komi resigned his seat Saturday morning, the New Hampshire Union-Leader reported.
Other Democrats stepped up with less inflammatory evidence of Biden’s innocence.
“We certainly looked for any people who might have made allegations in the past,” Bill Jeffress, the attorney who led the vice-presidential vetting effort for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008, told Bloomberg News.
“We presented everything we found to Obama and his team,” Jeffress said. “That does tell you that there was nothing serious.”
Republicans have cried foul, saying Biden and other Democrats were quick to pounce on sexual misconduct allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Critics have pointed out that during the brutal Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, Biden said that if a woman comes forward with sexual harassment charges, she should be given the presumption that “the essence of what she is talking about is real.”
As in the Kavanaugh controversy, a second Biden accuser has emerged.
Eva Murry, the niece of a former GOP Senate candidate who ran against Biden, says that Biden spoke lewdly to her at a political dinner in 1993 — when she was just 14 years old.
Biden “turned to me and asked how old I was,” Murry told the Law&Crime website Friday. “I replied with my age and he replied with the comment, ‘Fourteen? You’re very well endowed for 14!’”
Biden’s campaign declined to comment. According to public reports from the time, Biden underwent sinus surgery days before the event in question and was expected to be confined to his home to recuperate.
Meanwhile, President Trump revealed his inner glee over Biden’s predicament with a pair of Saturday retweets.
Trump claimed to be “sticking up” for Biden in a Friday interview — because, he said, he has faced his own false accusations of sexual misconduct.
“If Trump said Biden is guilty, that would open him up to the same accusations,” Trump analyst Scott Adams said in a video linked by the president that called the statement a “kill shot” meant to torpedo the Democrat’s campaign.
“He’s embracing Biden in the way Biden would least want to be embraced.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Stop destroying the environment or face deadlier pandemics, scientists warn

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Environmentalists and scientists issued dire warnings this week : Stop environmental destruction and the illegal wildlife trade now — or face another pandemic that could wipe out civilization .
On Monday , Professors Josef Settele , Sandra Díaz and Eduardo Brondizio , along with Dr. Peter Daszak , wrote an article for The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ( IPBES ) titled : “ COVID-19 Stimulus Measures Must Save Lives , Protect Livelihoods , and Safeguard Nature to Reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that “ Rampant deforestation , uncontrolled expansion of agriculture , intensive farming , mining and infrastructure development , as well as the exploitation of wild species have created a ‘ perfect storm ’ for the spillover of diseases from wildlife to people .
This often occurs in areas where communities live that are most vulnerable to infectious diseases.
” The scientists then pointed out that animal-to-human diseases that already exist , like Ebola , rabies or avian flu , already “ cause an estimated 700,000 deaths each year.
” Deaths in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if nature isn ’ t protected and animals aren ’ t isolated from humans , the next pandemic , they warn , will be worse .
“ Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently , spread more rapidly , have greater economic impact and kill more people if we are not extremely careful about the possible impacts of the choices we make today , ” the scientists write .
Peter Knights , the CEO of WildAid , a conservation organization that works to end illegal poaching and consumption of wild animals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Sixty percent of infectious diseases originate in animals and are transferred to humans … and the risks are increasing with deforestation and climate change .
When someone logs in a rainforest and builds roads into the wild , we come into contact with species we aren ’ t supposed to .
Humans then drive these animals into big cities and sell them at live markets , where the risks increase when you stress these animals or mix these species together.
” Some scientists believe the COVID-19 pandemic started in a wet market @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly jumping from humans via bats or perhaps pangolins , the world ’ s most trafficked animal .
“ The way these cross-species jump happened is by mixing species that wouldn ’ t mix in the wild ; they transmit diseases in close contact and under stress , ” said Knights , who has started a petition calling for the end of wildlife poaching .
“ The wildlife trade is associated with disease .
SARS [ allegedly ] came from bats via civets cats ; HIV was [ allegedly ] transferred to humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chimpanzees , and now COVID-19 is believed to come from bats , possibly transferred through pangolins.
” The recent decimation of the tourism industry has led to a huge uptick in poaching , which exacerbates the problem .
According to the New York Times : “ Heads of poaching gangs in Mozambique are planning to take advantage of reduced ranger patrols and the lack of tourists in Kruger National Park in neighboring South Africa.
” Meanwhile , CNBC reports : “ In Botswana , at least six rhinos have been poached since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northwest South Africa , at least nine rhinos have been killed since the virus lockdown.
” The killings affect multiple generations , as many of the rhino babies left behind either starve , are killed by other wild animals or end up in a rhino orphanage .
Even more poaching recruits are expected to sign up in the coming months .
“ African countries are in dire economic straits , ” Knights said .
“ There are a lot of unemployed people , and without tourists on safari or people working in lodges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re very concerned that is what is leading to the poaching spike.
” Knights and his team have been working non-stop with the governments of China and Vietnam — the largest procurers of illegally poached animals and animal parts — to try and stop this trade at the source .
“ There is a demand from China and Vietnam for these exotic animals as they have traditions of eating wild animals .
The size of their economies fuels a large trade , ” Knights said .
“ But the governments are much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were five years ago.
” In January , China imposed a ban on all farming and consumption of “ terrestrial wildlife of important ecological , scientific and social value , ” which is expected to be signed into law later this year .
After conservationists sent an open letter to Vietnam ’ s prime minister recommending action against the wildlife trade as a means of preventing future outbreaks of disease , that country — where wildlife restaurants have bats , civet cats , snakes , bear , monkeys and pangolins on the menu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imperiled animals to eat .
And recently , both China and Vietnam introduced airport detection systems that can help expose someone trying to smuggle in animal parts .
It ’ s already helped in efforts to curb the ivory trade : In early April , 11 large rhino horns were seized in Vietnam after a flight from Hong Kong was diverted from Ho Chi Minh city to Can Tho .
“ Many people in China [ and Vietnam ] find this illegal wildlife trade as abhorrent as everyone in the west , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broke out there was a tremendous uproar .
But in a country of 1.4 billion , you don ’ t need that many bad actors to have ( a huge impact ) .
” Paula Froelich is the founder and editor of the online travel magazine for women , A Broad Abroad .
Instagram @ pfro

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Environmentalists and scientists issued dire warnings this week: Stop environmental destruction and the illegal wildlife trade now — or face another pandemic that could wipe out civilization.
On Monday, Professors Josef Settele, Sandra Díaz and Eduardo Brondizio, along with Dr. Peter Daszak, wrote an article for The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) titled: “COVID-19 Stimulus Measures Must Save Lives, Protect Livelihoods, and Safeguard Nature to Reduce the Risk of Future Pandemics.”
The scientists warned that “Rampant deforestation, uncontrolled expansion of agriculture, intensive farming, mining and infrastructure development, as well as the exploitation of wild species have created a ‘perfect storm’ for the spillover of diseases from wildlife to people. This often occurs in areas where communities live that are most vulnerable to infectious diseases.”
The scientists then pointed out that animal-to-human diseases that already exist, like Ebola, rabies or avian flu, already “cause an estimated 700,000 deaths each year.” Deaths in 2020 will skyrocket due to COVID-19, but if nature isn’t protected and animals aren’t isolated from humans, the next pandemic, they warn, will be worse.
“Future pandemics are likely to happen more frequently, spread more rapidly, have greater economic impact and kill more people if we are not extremely careful about the possible impacts of the choices we make today,” the scientists write.
Peter Knights, the CEO of WildAid, a conservation organization that works to end illegal poaching and consumption of wild animals, agrees. He told the Post: “Sixty percent of infectious diseases originate in animals and are transferred to humans … and the risks are increasing with deforestation and climate change. When someone logs in a rainforest and builds roads into the wild, we come into contact with species we aren’t supposed to. Humans then drive these animals into big cities and sell them at live markets, where the risks increase when you stress these animals or mix these species together.”
Some scientists believe the COVID-19 pandemic started in a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, possibly jumping from humans via bats or perhaps pangolins, the world’s most trafficked animal.
“The way these cross-species jump happened is by mixing species that wouldn’t mix in the wild; they transmit diseases in close contact and under stress,” said Knights, who has started a petition calling for the end of wildlife poaching. “The wildlife trade is associated with disease. SARS [allegedly] came from bats via civets cats; HIV was [allegedly] transferred to humans via the bushmeat trade in monkeys and chimpanzees, and now COVID-19 is believed to come from bats, possibly transferred through pangolins.”
The recent decimation of the tourism industry has led to a huge uptick in poaching, which exacerbates the problem. According to the New York Times: “Heads of poaching gangs in Mozambique are planning to take advantage of reduced ranger patrols and the lack of tourists in Kruger National Park in neighboring South Africa.”
Meanwhile, CNBC reports: “In Botswana, at least six rhinos have been poached since the virus shut down tourism there … In northwest South Africa, at least nine rhinos have been killed since the virus lockdown.”
The killings affect multiple generations, as many of the rhino babies left behind either starve, are killed by other wild animals or end up in a rhino orphanage.
Even more poaching recruits are expected to sign up in the coming months.
“African countries are in dire economic straits,” Knights said. “There are a lot of unemployed people, and without tourists on safari or people working in lodges, you have less surveillance. We’re very concerned that is what is leading to the poaching spike.”
Knights and his team have been working non-stop with the governments of China and Vietnam — the largest procurers of illegally poached animals and animal parts — to try and stop this trade at the source.
“There is a demand from China and Vietnam for these exotic animals as they have traditions of eating wild animals. The size of their economies fuels a large trade,” Knights said. “But the governments are much more ready to act now than they were five years ago.”
In January, China imposed a ban on all farming and consumption of “terrestrial wildlife of important ecological, scientific and social value,” which is expected to be signed into law later this year.
After conservationists sent an open letter to Vietnam’s prime minister recommending action against the wildlife trade as a means of preventing future outbreaks of disease, that country — where wildlife restaurants have bats, civet cats, snakes, bear, monkeys and pangolins on the menu — is also looking to stop importing imperiled animals to eat.
And recently, both China and Vietnam introduced airport detection systems that can help expose someone trying to smuggle in animal parts. It’s already helped in efforts to curb the ivory trade: In early April, 11 large rhino horns were seized in Vietnam after a flight from Hong Kong was diverted from Ho Chi Minh city to Can Tho.
“Many people in China [and Vietnam] find this illegal wildlife trade as abhorrent as everyone in the west,” Knights said. “When the coronavirus broke out there was a tremendous uproar. But in a country of 1.4 billion, you don’t need that many bad actors to have (a huge impact).”
Paula Froelich is the founder and editor of the online travel magazine for women, A Broad Abroad. Instagram @pfro


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Palace insiders called Meghan Markle ‘Me-Gain’ and ‘Di Lite’

`` I ca n't help thinking that Meghan , as we must now ...

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Generations of royals, from Princess Diana to Meghan Markle, have filled the halls of Kensington Palace with their epic fights — and saucy habits, insiders reveal in a new book.
“You couldn’t hide anything from anyone,” one palace staffer told British author Tom Quinn, whose book, “Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle,” will be released later this month.
Princess Di’s staff had to point out her habit of nude sunbathing in her rooftop garden wasn’t as private as she thought.
She believed the area to be safe even from hovering helicopters, until her servants informed the princess many of the choppers had high-resolution binoculars.
But it was two construction workers who got up close and personal, when a barrier that would normally obscure the view was down as Diana was tanning one day.
Before she could cover up, the men simply bowed and turned away, prompting a footman to later note, “They may have just been builders, but they were gentlemen all the same.”
Diana and Prince Charles were also often heard engaging in noisy arguments from their Kensington Palace apartments, Quinn notes in the book, which he detailed in The Daily Mail.
“There is a myth that Charles and Diana were living happily in this beautiful palace, at least for their first few years together, but, actually, you could hear them rowing almost from the day they moved in,” the former communications staffer allegedly told Quinn.
Drama has also plagued the latest generation of royals.
Markle quickly earned herself unflattering nicknames from staff, who dubbed her “Me-Gain,” “the Duchess of Difficult,” “Di 2” and “Di Lite.”
Markle and Prince Harry have since moved on to a paparazzi-infested enclave of Malibu, with at least one prestigious Brit believing Markle is the brains behind their post-Megxit move.
“Whose decision was it, I wonder, to build a new life in North America? I can’t help thinking that Meghan, as we must now call her, played a leading role here,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s father Stanley said in a new report.
Another insider told the Royally Obsessed podcast last week they believe Markle plans to relaunch her lifestyle blog, The Tig, seen as a rival to Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.
Additional reporting by Jessica Bennett and Paula Froelich


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Decade rankings of top 10 faces in New York sports starting in 1950s

A tiny percentage of people ever become the face of ...

The Post’s Mike Vaccaro ranks the top 10 faces in New York sports in each decade from the 1950s to the 2010s.
1950s
1. Mickey Mantle; 2. Frank Gifford; 3. Willie Mays; 4. Jackie Robinson; 5. Yogi Berra; 6. Charley Conerly; 7. Andy Bathgate; 8. Casey Stengel; 9. Duke Snider; 10. Roy Campanella
Vac: No list of this decade would be legit without Willie, Mickey and the Duke — and Yogi and Campy each contributed three of the 11 MVPs awards in the ’50s for the three city teams. And no team in New York history was as beloved as the mid-’50s football Giants, repped by their two Glamor Boys, Giff and Chuckin’ Charley.)
1960s
1. Joe Namath; 2. Tom Seaver; 3. Walt Frazier; 4. Mickey Mantle; 5. Roger Maris; 6. Willis Reed; 7. Whitey Ford; 8. Y.A. Title; 9. Rod Gilbert; 10. Bill Bradley
Vac: The Jets, Mets and Knicks were all blessed with seminal acquisitions that sparked championships in Namath (Super Bowl III MVP), Seaver (’69 Cy Young) and Bradley (the most famous amateur basketball player in the world). Tittle was already an immortal when he came to town, but quickly became a stalwart at both Yankee Stadium and Toots Shor’s)
1970s
1. Reggie Jackson; 2. George Steinbrenner; 3. Julius Erving; 4. Tom Seaver; 5. Walt Frazier; 6. Thurman Munson; 7. Earl Monroe; 8. Secretariat; 9. Red Holzman; 10. Ron Guidry
Vac: The Yankees ruled baseball and back pages throughout the decade, so while they get 40 percent — they could’ve gotten more. Football in New York lay in state for the entirety of the ’70s, which is how Secretariat — born in Virginia, raised in Florida but confirmed a superstar in New York City — cracks the list. And may deserve to be higher.
1980s
1. Lawrence Taylor; 2. Dwight Gooden; 3. Don Mattingly; 4. Bill Parcells; 5. Bernard King; 6. Darryl Strawberry; 7. Chris Mullin; 8. Phil Simms; 9. Mike Bossy; 10. Keith Hernandez
Vac: Maybe the most star-studded decade of all, you’d better either be a champion (LT, Doc, Tuna, Straw, Simms, Bossy, Mex) or a ridiculously dominant force (Mattingly, Mullin, King) — and even that didn’t help such near-misses as Gary Carter, Bryan Trottier, Dave Winfield and Joe Klecko).
1990s
1. Derek Jeter; 2. Mark Messier; 3. Patrick Ewing; 4. Joe Torre; 5. Pat Riley; 6. Mariano Rivera; 7. Brian Leetch; 8. Mike Piazza; 9. Keyshawn Johnson; 10. Martin Brodeur
Vac: Of course, the ’90s was no slouch, either: Nine of the 10 are Hall of Famers, and the one outlier — Keyshawn — would absolutely merit inclusion as a first-ballot back-page Hall of Famer. How strong is this list? Brodeur might well be the greatest goalie of all time — and it’s impossible to make a case that he belongs higher than 10.
2000s
1. Eli Manning; 2. Alex Rodriguez; 3. Derek Jeter; 4. David Wright; 5. Mariano Rivera; 6. Mike Piazza; 7. Jason Kidd; 8. Tiki Barber; 9. Michael Strahan; 10. Roger Clemens
Vac: Half this list (Eli, A-Rod, Jeter, Rivera, Piazza) were good enough, long enough to appear in two different decades, and it’s hard to argue that any of them don’t belong. The fleeting nature of an athlete’s “face”-ness is underlined by the fact that Latrell Sprewell would’ve seemed a shoe-in, and so would Curtis Martin. Titles would’ve helped both.
2010s
1. Odell Beckham Jr.; 2. Eli Manning; 3. Jeremy Lin; 4. Carmelo Anthony; 5. Rex Ryan; 6. Henrik Lundqvist; 7. Alex Rodriguez; 8. Aaron Judge; 9. Matt Harvey; 10. Jacob deGrom
Vac: How great was Eli? No other athlete came this close to being No. 2 in two different decades. How spectacular was Linsanity? Enough that Lin is this high on the list for three amazing weeks, and it’s hard to argue.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Mets still searching for right position in field for J.D. Davis

The Mets were the accidental contenders of 2019 .
When they ...

Seventh in a series analyzing the New York Mets.
Brodie Van Wagenen’s tenure running the Mets has been mixed, at best, with the notable miss on the trade with Seattle that brought Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz to Queens in exchange for top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Justin Dunn.
But there have been successful moves, as well, and one of the best examples is the acquisition of J.D. Davis in a trade — which didn’t receive much attention at the time, but has paid dividends.
Still, after a solid first season with the Mets, it remains hard to know exactly where Davis fits into the team’s plans, since there’s no ideal position for him defensively.
He played in 79 games in left field and 31 at third base in 2019, but was used almost exclusively in left in the second half of the season. He never got comfortable at either spot and was frequently replaced late in games.
But his bat was better than expected, and Davis remained in the lineup throughout the year.
Before spring training was shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Davis was once again getting work at both spots, and he was working with infield coach Gary DiSarcina.
With an infield consisting of Pete Alonso at first, Robinson Cano at second, Jeff McNeil at third and Amed Rosario at shortstop, it’s easy to see why Davis could be pegged for the outfield.
But when Cano needs time off, which would likely be fairly regularly in an abbreviated season, McNeil could move to second and Davis to third.
As for left field, Davis could compete for time with Dom Smith, who is seen as a slightly better defender.
The other issue is the health of Yoenis Cespedes, who missed over a year rehabbing from surgery on both heels and multiple ankle fractures sustained during an encounter with a wild boar on his ranch.
There was uncertainty about Cespedes’ readiness for the start of the season prior to the league shutting down. The added time off could benefit the veteran slugger, but until he proves he’s able to perform, there will be questions.
“It’s the same situation as last year, where was I going to fit and everything, but it’s a good thing to have so much depth on the team,” Davis said during the spring. “If anything goes south or Cespedes comes back or whatever, then I’m back to whatever helps the team out, I guess. There’s nothing much I can control.”
Davis missed two weeks in spring training after jamming his left shoulder in February, but returned and reported no problems.
Once he was back, he also moved to right field after Michael Conforto went down with an oblique injury that may have impacted his availability for Opening Day if the schedule hadn’t been altered.
But Davis’ offense a year ago has forced the Mets to figure out how to get him into the lineup regularly, even if it’s not for an entire game.
Submit your Mets questions here to be answered in an upcoming Post mailbag
“I don’t know that you’re ever going to feel comfortable with him out there [in left field] late in big games, but you also don’t want to lose that weapon in your lineup,’’ one NL scout said of Davis, who appeared in just 31 games in the outfield in the minors before playing in just a handful of games there in Houston before joining the Mets.
“He still hasn’t played there much, so he’s not a lost cause in the outfield,’’ the scout said.
Of course, to make the lack of defense worthwhile, Davis also has to show that 2019 was no fluke offensively.
He entered last season with just 181 major league plate appearances, but hit well against both righties and lefties with the Mets and performed well at Citi Field. Davis’ production improved as the season went on. Only McNeil had a higher on-base percentage than Davis’ .369.
After coming up as a third baseman in the Houston organization, where Davis was blocked by Alex Bregman, the 27-year-old has made the most of his time with the Mets — but he still doesn’t have a full-time home.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Texas park ranger pushed into lake while trying to enforce social distance regulations

A Texas park ranger was pushed into a lake while trying to enforcing social distancing regulations in Austin .
The plunge was caught on camera at Lake Austin on Thursday , with the clip beginning as the ranger seemingly politely asks a group of parkgoers to disperse and keep six feet apart to help stop the spread of the coronavirus .
But then a shirtless man , identified by police as Brandon Hicks , 25 , can be seen running up and shoving the ranger , sending both into the water .
Hicks is then allegedly recorded jumping out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested and faces charges of attempted assault on a public servant , according to the local NBC affiliate .
“ Brandon ’ s intentional and reckless action could have caused the Ranger to strike his head on the dock as he was falling , and render himself unconscious in at least 3 feet of water where he could have drowned to death , ” the arrest affidavit said , according to the outlet .
The person who recorded the video told the outlet that they were happy the culprit was caught .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ really sweet and understanding before , ” the video-taker said .
The incident comes as officials across the country grapple with keeping crowds at bay as warming weather attracts residents in locked down states to public parks and beaches .
In New York City , cops flooded city parks to enforce social distancing rules across the city , with one resident complaining of “ Orwellian ” levels of surveillance .

A Texas park ranger was pushed into a lake while trying to enforcing social distancing regulations in Austin.
The plunge was caught on camera at Lake Austin on Thursday, with the clip beginning as the ranger seemingly politely asks a group of parkgoers to disperse and keep six feet apart to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.
But then a shirtless man, identified by police as Brandon Hicks, 25, can be seen running up and shoving the ranger, sending both into the water.
Hicks is then allegedly recorded jumping out and running off into the distance.
Hicks was arrested and faces charges of attempted assault on a public servant, according to the local NBC affiliate.
“Brandon’s intentional and reckless action could have caused the Ranger to strike his head on the dock as he was falling, and render himself unconscious in at least 3 feet of water where he could have drowned to death,” the arrest affidavit said, according to the outlet.
The person who recorded the video told the outlet that they were happy the culprit was caught.
“The park ranger was actually being really sweet and understanding before,” the video-taker said.
The incident comes as officials across the country grapple with keeping crowds at bay as warming weather attracts residents in locked-down states to public parks and beaches.
In New York City, cops flooded city parks to enforce social distancing rules across the city, with one resident complaining of “Orwellian” levels of surveillance.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Darren Criss and Wife Mia dress up to celebrate new Netflix show ‘Hollywood’

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 ) Darren Criss and his new wife , Mia Swier got dressed to the nines this week , not for a red carpet , but to go around Los Angeles taking photos in front of billboards of Criss ’ s new show “ Hollywood ” that is being streamed on Netflix .
As red carpets and premiers are no longer happening due to the coronavirus pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own hands and decided to have a premier of their own .
“ What , you didn ’ t think we ’ d have our own little premiere party , ” Criss captioned an Instagram post “ This is HOLLYWOOD , darling.
” Created and helmed by well-known director Ryan Murphy , “ Hollywood ” takes a look at Tinseltown post-World War II , and what it takes to achieve your dreams while maintaining a slightly historical view and shining a harsh light on race and inequality .
To give their premier the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wore a tuxedo while Mia wore an evening gown complete with gloves and fluffy boa .
The couple also wore facemasks in all photos and managed to maintain a safe distance from pedestrians going about their business .
The series is available to stream on Netflix on May 1st , and includes a star-studded cast featuring Jim Parsons , Patti LuPone , David Corenswet , Samara Weaving and many more .

Darren Criss and his wife Mia Swier got dressed to the nines this week, not for a red carpet, but to go around Los Angeles taking photos in front of billboards for Criss’ new Netflix show “Hollywood.”
As red carpets and premieres are no longer happening due to the coronavirus pandemic, the couple took matters into their own hands and decided to have a premiere of their own.
“What, you didn’t think we’d have our own little premiere party,” Criss captioned an Instagram post “This is HOLLYWOOD, darling.”
Created and helmed by well-known director Ryan Murphy, “Hollywood” takes a look at Tinseltown post-World War II, and what it takes to achieve your dreams while maintaining a slightly historical view and shining a harsh light on race and inequality.
To give their premiere the Hollywood glitz and glamour feeling, Criss wore a tuxedo, while Mia wore an evening gown complete with gloves and fluffy boa. The couple also wore face masks in all photos and managed to maintain a safe distance from pedestrians going about their business.
The was released on Netflix on May 1, and includes a star-studded cast featuring Jim Parsons, Patti LuPone, David Corenswet, Samara Weaving and many more.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--What Giants draft picks think about virtual minicamp reality

Names .
That is all they are right now .
Those names ...

You are coming off the high of getting taken in the 2020 NFL Draft. You are revved up, more than ready to head to your new destination, slip on the colors of your new team, get out on the grass and start showing your new coaches what they are getting.
Instead, there are these marching orders: Sit tight and log in.
“Of course, every rookie that’s coming in wants to get on the field and show what they can do,’’ said Chris Williamson, a cornerback from the University of Minnesota taken by the Giants in the seventh round. “Football is such a physical game, but it’s also a part of the mental makeup. Guys who are successful at the NFL level, it comes from the mental aspect of the game.’’
The mental aspect of the game is all these novice NFL players have right now, arriving into the league during this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. The Giants on Friday welcomed their draft picks and their undrafted free agents into a three-day rookie minicamp, with all the participants staying safe at home. The entire program, held remotely, put an extra burden on players accustomed to working together in groups, taking what they learned in the classroom and applying it to their roles on the field.
“Because of everything going on right now, I think this is the best option we have,’’ said TJ Brunson, a linebacker from South Carolina selected by the Giants in the seventh round. “I personally don’t have an issue with it. I’d rather be up there in person. If this is how we have to get our football in, then there’s no problem with that.’’
This unique scenario will benefit those who best adjust to a new way of teaching and learning. There is an online component to almost all current college curriculums, but this is not the normal way the NFL does business. Coaches well-versed in classroom instruction must now give power-point presentations. Players more comfortable with hands-on education must keep up in an isolated environment.
First-round pick Andrew Thomas will see for the first time the techniques offensive line coach Marc Colombo prefers. Second-round pick Xavier McKinney will get a look at the defensive scheme in the secondary.
Submit questions on your favorite New York teams to be answered in an upcoming mailbag
The advantage rests with those already primed for this. Cornerback Darnay Holmes, the Giants’ fourth-round pick, achieved his bachelor’s degree in African-American studies from UCLA in three years, becoming the first member of his family to graduate college. Remote learning might not be a daunting challenge to him.
“The school curriculum allowed me to implement a strict routine, a routine that allowed me not to sway away into different distractions,’’ Holmes said. “So, by me having this vivid vision, my energy was aligning to it right away. That’s definitely something that I implemented right when I got to UCLA. It was: I’m going to graduate in three years and then from there I’m going to figure out what I want to do. Right away I was a student, then after I graduated, it was like ‘OK, how can I pursue my athlete endeavor?’ And I’m here now being a New York Giant. I’m very excited.’’
Introduction and eventual mastery of the intricacies of his first NFL playbook is next on Holmes’ list of mental challenges.
“You have different tactics that you use to grasp concepts and grasp schemes and make sure that you understand those things,’’ he said. “I don’t memorize, I want to grasp it and understand so I’ll be able to tap into it no matter what the heat of the moment is. I’ll understand it, so I’ll be able to utilize it.’’
Williamson started two years at Florida before transferring and starting last season at Minnesota. He does not bemoan what he and the other rookies have to deal with at the start of their NFL journeys.
“I don’t think it puts anybody at a disadvantage,’’ Williamson said.
Brunson, a two-time team captain at South Carolina, is not so sure about that, but he is not interested in making any excuses.
“I think it’s a disadvantage for rookies not to see where they are going to be and be there in person,’’ he said. “We’re also expected to come in and pick up what’s going on and play fast. I think this will help us when we get there. Hopefully it’s before August. If we don’t get there until August, we’re supposed to hit the ground and be able to pick up everything that’s going on. I think this gives us a chance to really understand the calls and the defense and get out there and play fast.’’


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Pitfall to forecasting top 10 faces of New York sports right now

The best part about compiling a list like this at a time like this is the location: We are at the starting gate of the 2020s. We have a 10-furlong race to fill out the decade — to add to this list, to subtract from it, to update the standings, to finalize proper placement.
Think of it this way: If we’d done a similar exercise at the start of the ’50s, Mickey Mantle wouldn’t have been anywhere near that list, his pro career spanning just 89 games in Class-D ball at Independence, Mo., by then. In May 1960, Joe Willie Namath was a junior at Beaver Falls High School, and as summer beckoned in 1990, Derek Jeter was hitting .557 as a sophomore at Kalamazoo High.
Mantle, Namath and Jeter went on to rule those decades, and by the turn of the next decades were comfortably ensconced on their thrones. So yes, Aaron Judge and Peter Alonso, who sit 1-2 on our list at the dawn of the 2020s, may well trade those spots across the next 10 years, may hit close to a thousand homers between them if things break properly.
The two quarterbacks on our list, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, may well match Namath in the ’60s and Eli Manning in the ’00s, faces of our football teams who became champions and the faces for all of New York for those dominant decades. Maybe we’ll be amazed on Dec. 31, 2029, how low we ranked Kevin Durant. Maybe by then Jacob deGrom will be counting down the days until he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Or maybe there’s a freshman at Boys & Girls High who’ll be the answer to 50-plus years of Knicks’ prayers by then. Or a redshirt sophomore linebacker at LSU who will make all of us forget Lawrence Taylor. Or a mysterious trillionaire hedge-fund guy who will make the Mets baseball’s Team of the ’20s, tossing millions around like so much Halloween candy.
We don’t know. We can’t know. And that’s always the fun part of the journey, along with the can’t-miss names that fly across our radar every few years, then vanish just as quickly. If you’d been one of the 26,675 who’d chanted “Harvey’s better!” at Stephen Strasburg at Citi Field on the night of April 19, 2013, could you ever have imagined that Matt Harvey’s name would only be ninth on the list of faces of the 2010s?
Would it ever have occurred to you while you were watching Mark Gastineau dance in front of an army of fallen quarterbacks all across the first half of the ’80s that he wouldn’t appear anywhere on that list? Dwight Gooden was just 25 years old on Jan. 1, 1990, and threw a no-hitter six years later — and he might not make the ’90s list if we extended it to 50.
So we don’t know. We can’t know. Right now, much as we may like the names on this list, it is hard to believe they’ll stack up with the powerhouse names of the ’50s (the Mick! Giff! Willie! Jackie!) or the ’60s (Namath! Seaver! Tittle! Cap’n!) or the ’70s (Clyde! Boss! Pearl! Secretariat, 30 lengths ahead and pulling away!).
We’ll check back in 116 months. By then we’ll know. By then the ’20s will either have roared or yawned, by then we’ll have a complete accounting of who did what, and who owned the back page, and who crawled up the Canyon of Heroes — there will be a crawl or two up the Canyon of Heroes, right? — and who might make the list again in the ’30s.
Along with — who knows? — a future MVP born three days ago.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Woman killed in South Carolina alligator attack

A woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday at a South Carolina pond .
Cynthia Covert , 58 , @ @ @ @ @ on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m. , a beach and golf resort on the Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ Charleston County Sheriff ’ s Office and local reports .
A deputy witnessed the attack @ @ @ @ @ gator , NBC News reported .
An investigation is ongoing and the circumstances around the @ @ @ @ @ .
Alligator attacks in South Carolina are rare , according to the Charleston Post and @ @ @ @ @ fatal alligator attack came in 2016 , when a 90-year-old woman was killed .
Another @ @ @ @ @ mammoth reptile in 2018 , the paper said .

A woman was killed in an alligator attack Friday at a South Carolina pond.
Cynthia Covert, 58, died after encountering the gator on Kiawah Island around 5 p.m., a beach and golf resort on the Atlantic Coast, according to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and local reports.
A deputy witnessed the attack and shot and killed the gator, NBC News reported.
An investigation is ongoing and the circumstances around the attack were not immediately clear.
Alligator attacks in South Carolina are rare, according to the Charleston Post and Courrier.
The first documented fatal alligator attack came in 2016, when a 90-year-old woman was killed. Another woman was killed by the mammoth reptile in 2018, the paper said.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--North and South Koreas exchange gunfire at border days after Kim Jong Un resurfaces

Kim Jong Un is not only alive — he ’ s kicking .
Days after false rumors swirled that the North Korean dictator had died , his troops exchanged fire with South Korean soldiers close to the border Sunday , the South ’ s military said .
North Korean troops fired several rounds at a South Korean guard post inside the heavily fortified border .
South Korea blamed the North for instigating and fired two rounds in response after sounding a warning broadcast , the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a statement .
South Korea said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack , while the North hasn ’ t reported on the incident .
Kim made his first public appearance in 20 days on Friday to commemorate the completion of a fertilizer plant in Suncheon , South Pyongan Province , after he had been rumored to be seriously ill or dead .
Kim had completely disappeared from public life after leading a meeting of the ruling Workers ’ Party on April 11 regarding the coronavirus .
In an effort to reduce tensions at the heavily fortified border , two Koreas in 2018 began eliminating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the efforts stopped when Kim and President Donald Trump reached an impasse on nuclear negotiations with the North .

Kim Jong Un is not only alive — he’s kicking.
Days after false rumors swirled that the North Korean dictator had died, his troops exchanged fire with South Korean soldiers close to the border Sunday, the South’s military said.
North Korean troops fired several rounds at a South Korean guard post inside the heavily fortified border.
South Korea blamed the North for instigating and fired two rounds in response after sounding a warning broadcast, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said in a statement.
South Korea said it had not suffered any casualties in the attack, while the North hasn’t reported on the incident.
Kim made his first public appearance in 20 days on Friday to commemorate the completion of a fertilizer plant in Suncheon, South Pyongan Province, after he had been rumored to be seriously ill or dead.
Kim had completely disappeared from public life after leading a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party on April 11 regarding the coronavirus.
In an effort to reduce tensions at the heavily fortified border, two Koreas in 2018 began eliminating guard posts and removing mines. But the efforts stopped when Kim and President Donald Trump reached an impasse on nuclear negotiations with the North.
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--George W. Bush urges Americans to unite to fight the coronavirus

George W. Bush is calling for Americans to join together to face the “ shared threat ” of the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ his plea for unity in a video released on the Twitter account of The George @ @ @ @ @ Dallas .
“ Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of @ @ @ @ @ Bush said in the three-minute clip .
“ In the final analysis , we are @ @ @ @ @ are human beings , equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God .
@ @ @ @ @ ” Bush noted that he had seen America join to “ embrace unavoidable new duties @ @ @ @ @ , and sees that spirit still alive and well today .
“ In the days @ @ @ @ @ be especially important to care in practical ways for the elderly , the ill and @ @ @ @ @ said .

George W. Bush is calling for Americans to join together to face the “shared threat” of the coronavirus.
The former president made his plea for unity in a video released on the Twitter account of The George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.
“Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat,” Bush said in the three-minute clip.
“In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants. We are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together.”
Bush noted that he had seen America join to “embrace unavoidable new duties” after the 9/11 attacks, and sees that spirit still alive and well today.
“In the days to come, it will be especially important to care in practical ways for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--‘Sopranos’ star Joey Pantoliano suffers ‘severe’ head injury after being hit by car

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 ) “ Sopranos ” star and iconic character actor Joey Pantoliano was reportedly rushed to the hospital Friday with a severe head injury after being hit by a car while out on a walk .
But he was back home recovering a day later , his Instagram account confirmed .
Pantoliano had been strolling through his Connecticut neighborhood with family when he was struck by a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his wife , Nancy Sheppard , told TMZ .
The Emmy-winner , who played Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos , was sent flying backward , striking his head on an old wooden fence , she said .
Pantoliano had posted a video of a rainbow to his official Instagram account shortly before the incident , Sheppard told the gossip site .
“ Look at that rainbow !
How do you like that beauty ?
” Pantoliano says from behind the camera .
Pantoliano was back home offering a thumbs up while sporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head in photos posted to his account later Friday .
“ Joey is home recovering , ” the post read .
“ He has a severe head injury and some chest trauma .
He is going to be dark on social media for a couple days while recovering .
Thank you for all the well wishes and positive vibes .
Keep them coming !
We ’ ll be reading them to him to help him get better !

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“Sopranos” star and iconic character actor Joe Pantoliano was reportedly rushed to the hospital Friday with a severe head injury after being hit by a car while out on a walk.
But he was back home recovering a day later, his Instagram account confirmed.
Pantoliano had been strolling through his Connecticut neighborhood with family when he was struck by a Porsche that was t-boned by another vehicle, his wife, Nancy Sheppard, told TMZ.
The Emmy-winner, who played Ralph Cifaretto on “The Sopranos,” was sent flying backward, striking his head on an old wooden fence, she said.
Pantoliano had posted a video of a rainbow to his official Instagram account shortly before the incident, Sheppard told the gossip site.
“Look at that rainbow! How do you like that beauty?” Pantoliano says from behind the camera.
Pantoliano was back home offering a thumbs up while sporting a gash on the top of his head in photos posted to his account later Friday.
“Joey is home recovering,” the post read. “He has a severe head injury and some chest trauma.
“He is going to be dark on social media for a couple days while recovering. Thank you for all the well wishes and positive vibes. Keep them coming! We’ll be reading them to him to help him get better!”


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--FDNY orders ambulance workers to snitch on social-distancing scofflaws

The FDNY has ordered all EMTs and paramedics to report anything that violates New York state ’ s social-distancing mandate @ @ @ @ @ think this is a terrible idea .
“ There ’ s no better way to @ @ @ @ @ than to make EMS an arm of law enforcement , ” one veteran EMS worker @ @ @ @ @ that his name not be used .
“ You don ’ t want people to @ @ @ @ @ ’ re afraid that when EMS arrives , they ’ re going to call the @ @ @ @ @ added .
The edict comes two weeks after Mayor Bill de Blasio urged all New @ @ @ @ @ non-social-distancing neighbors by texting a photo of violators to 311 .
The mayor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ tattle-tale-line being flooded with penis photos and Hitler memes .

The FDNY has ordered all EMTs and paramedics to report anything that violates New York state’s social-distancing mandate — but some first responders think this is a terrible idea.
“There’s no better way to make the public distrust EMS than to make EMS an arm of law enforcement,” one veteran EMS worker told The Post, asking that his name not be used.
“You don’t want people to not call EMS because they’re afraid that when EMS arrives, they’re going to call the police,” the veteran added.
The edict comes two weeks after Mayor Bill de Blasio urged all New Yorkers to turn in their non-social-distancing neighbors by texting a photo of violators to 311.
The mayor’s snitch decry led to the tattle-tale-line being flooded with penis photos and Hitler memes.
The FDNY declined to comment on the edict, but said it would continue to protect city residents.
“Throughout the pandemic, all FDNY members have worked to flatten the curve, and our EMTs and Paramedics have done a remarkable job responding to an unprecedented number of medical emergencies – the most in the history of New York City,” an FDNY spokesman said. “The Department is continuing to work with partner agencies to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers during this pandemic.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Penny Hardaway: G-League recruiting ‘almost like tampering’

There was no NCAA Tournament this year because of the ...

Most college coaches have either taken a politically correct stance or anonymously bashed the G-League’s new foray into luring elite prospects to their developmental league.
Penny Hardaway has chosen neither path, saying it is “almost like tampering” for the G-League to be recruiting players for its “select team” who have already committed to or signed with colleges.
So far, three players – Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd and Daishen Nix – have signed with the G-League. Todd (Michigan) and Nix (UCLA) already had settled on schools. Green said he would’ve landed at Memphis had he not picked the G-League for a reported $500,000.
“I didn’t think the G-League was built — and I could be wrong — to go and recruit kids that want to go to college out of going to college,” Hardaway, the Memphis coach, said. “I thought they were going to be the organization that was going to be, if you want to go overseas or you absolutely did not want to play college 100 percent, that this would be the best situation for you before you go into the NBA.
“But taking guys out of their commitments [or] they’ve already signed and continuing to talk to their parents, it’s almost like tampering. I really don’t agree with that.”
G-League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim recently told The Post it wasn’t looking to sway kids from attending college. The intent is to offer them an avenue in America to make money right out of high school rather than having to go overseas. One way to combat this is the recent announcement by the NCAA that it will allow student-athletes to make money off their name, image and likeness, though those rules have yet to be defined or voted on.
“What the NCAA can do is what they’re doing now,” Hardaway said. “Moving in the right steps of allowing kids to make money on their own name and likeness. I’m in favor of the name, image and likeness rule. Because it kind of helps us, as college coaches, kind of fight the battle with the G-League and going overseas. It gives a kid a chance to make money [while playing college sports]. The college experience, to me, was the best experience of my career in sports.”
“It will affect how we recruit if the NCAA doesn’t do something about it,” he added. “If they don’t keep taking steps forward to help these kids make money, they’re going to take $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 for five months to play on a select team and just do basketball instead of having to go to class.
“[The NCAA] just [has] to take some desperate measures to make these kids understand that we want you to come to college.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--The winners and losers of college basketball’s offseason

The Post offers an early look at the 2020-21 college ...

There was no NCAA Tournament this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and far fewer coaching changes, which meant the silly season was all transfers, all the time. It’s been a busy couple of months since the college basketball season ended prematurely, full of player turnover and roster upheaval.
Though there are still changes to come, and uncertainty about when the cutoff date for players testing the NBA draft waters will be moved to with the draft likely being pushed back, below is a list of our winners and losers of this wild offseason so far:
Winners
Arizona State
Bobby Hurley has the makings of his best team yet in the desert, after beating out Michigan for top-10 prospect Josh Christopher and landing Ohio State transfer Luther Muhammad, a lockdown perimeter defender. As long as two of the three Sun Devils — Remy Martin, Romello White and Alonzo Verge — testing the draft waters return, and none of them are projected to be selected, Hurley may have a top-10 team.
Texas
If not for the pandemic, Shaka Smart may be out of a job. Instead, he stayed at Texas and landed a monster recruit, five-star forward Greg Brown who significantly adds to the Longhorns’ upside with no major defections expected.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders’ run to the 2019 title game was fueled by transfers, and they’re loading up again. Chris Beard and Co. picked two of the best players on the market in VCU forward Marcus Santos-Silva and Wichita State wing Jamarius Burton — two experienced and tough-minded upperclassmen that should fit seamlessly into Tech Tech’s grinding, defense-first style. The only question is, will this duo be able to play this coming year? Santos-Silva has work to do this summer to graduate while Burton would need a waiver.
Minnesota
No school has done better on the transfer market than the Golden Gophers, who have added versatile Western Michigan graduate transfer forward Brandon Johnson and sit-out 7-foot center Liam Robbins from Drake, an All-Missouri Valley second team selection and nephew of Minnesota associate head coach Ed Conroy.
Losers
Creighton
Most national pundits still consider Creighton a top-10 team despite the stinging loss of Ty-Shon Alexander to the NBA draft. They are wrong. This will be a costly loss, dropping Creighton to the 20-25 range. Alexander wasn’t just its leading scorer, he was the Big East program’s top defender, frequently impacting the game at both ends of the floor, freeing up point guard Marcus Zegarowski to guard a less potent option. The ceiling isn’t nearly as high without him.
Kentucky
The entire starting five made the jump to the NBA. That was somewhat expected. Unexpected, however, was John Calipari being unable to land a big man on the transfer market thus far — losing out on Purdue’s Matt Haarms to BYU, among others. The Wildcats did add two transfers: Creighton guard Davion Mintz and Rhode Island wing Jacob Toppin, neither of whom necessarily screams impact player. Kentucky is still looking to add to its top-ranked recruiting class, in the hunt for four-star prospect Frank Anselem and Wake Forest 7-foot transfer Olivier Sarr.
Georgetown
Omer Yurtseven is gone to the professional ranks, Mac McClung may follow — he’s testing the waters — and the Hoyas whiffed on their top and even secondary transfer targets, creating a bottom of the barrel Big East roster in Patrick Ewing’s fourth season. Consider this: Georgetown will return just two of its top eight scorers from a year ago, counting mid-season transfers James Akinjo and Josh LeBlanc.
Wichita State
The Shockers, an NCAA Tournament bubble team, lost a stunning six rotation players to the transfer portal, though one of them, forward Morris Udeze, did opt to return. Impact players Grant Sherfield (Nevada), Burton (Texas Tech) and Erik Stevenson (Washington), however, did not.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--FDNY firefighters rescue baby from four-alarm blaze in NYC

Cops were called to a Costco Wholesale warehouse in New ...

This baby caught a lucky break Saturday when firefighters carried him to safety after a four-alarm blaze in his Lenox Hill apartment.
The fire erupted around 12:54 p.m. in the basement and first floor of the five-story apartment building at 423 E. 70th Street, according to the FDNY.
Engine 39 and Ladder 13 responded, getting the fire under control at around 3:30 p.m., officials said.
Three minor injuries were reported, including one firefighter who was transported to New York Hospital.
A second patient was taken to NewYork Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in Manhattan, while the third declined medical attention.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The incident was one of two multiple-alarm fires the FDNY battled Saturday.
One person died in the Bronx later Saturday evening when a fire broke out in the third floor of a Wakefield nursing home.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--New Rochelle Costco calls cops to help control chaotic crowds

Cops were called to a Costco Wholesale warehouse in New Rochelle Saturday when a crowd of impatient shoppers got out of control .
Hundreds of shoppers who lined up outside the Costco wanted the doors open so they could begin shopping at 8 a.m. — but it took workers an extra half hour to open .
Furious shoppers began chanting and erupted into “ total chaos , ” as one shopper described it .
“ I thought I was going to get trampled by shoppers , and it seemed like they were giving food away the way the customers acted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under control , ” said a resident named Jose , who did not provide his last name .
Workers used wooden pallets to create lines and order — letting only a certain number of the restless shoppers in at a time , as required by orders from Gov .
Andrew Cuomo .
“ It got dangerous for a while , but then was brought under control , ” Jose said .
The Westchester city was an early hotbed for COVID-19 clusters — and three county residents have since filed a class-action lawsuit in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organization , claiming the agency covered up the coronavirus pandemic .

Cops were called to a Costco Wholesale warehouse in New Rochelle Saturday when a crowd of impatient shoppers got out of control.
Hundreds of shoppers who lined up outside the Costco wanted the doors open so they could begin shopping at 8 a.m. — but it took workers an extra half hour to open.
Furious shoppers began chanting and erupted into “total chaos,” as one shopper described it.
“I thought I was going to get trampled by shoppers, and it seemed like they were giving food away the way the customers acted, until cops and workers brought it under control,” said a resident named Jose, who did not provide his last name.
Workers used wooden pallets to create lines and order — letting only a certain number of the restless shoppers in at a time, as required by orders from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“It got dangerous for a while, but then was brought under control,” Jose said.
The Westchester city was an early hotbed for COVID-19 clusters — and three county residents have since filed a class-action lawsuit in nearby White Plains against the World Health Organization, claiming the agency covered up the coronavirus pandemic.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Alex Rodriguez uplifts Stony Brook University Hospital docs in Zoom happy hour

Not much can surprise the battle-hardened doctors of New York — but A-Rod crashing their Zoom happy hour certainly did .
Some two dozen surgeons from Stony Brook University Hospital in Suffolk County were shocked when the former Yankees slugger hopped on their call with words of encouragement for their frontline fight against the coronavirus pandemic .
“ You ’ re only going to go as far as your attitude .
Attitude will determine altitude , ” A-Rod said during the Zoom meeting Friday at 5 p.m. “ I wish everybody luck , and we ’ ll be better and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hang in there.
” Stony Brook surgeon Anish Shah , a Yankees fan who organized the weekly happy hours , said he reached out to Alex Rodriguez ’ s beer company , Presidente , and asked if the World Series champion and 14-time all-star would be game to speak to his colleagues .
“ To have A-Rod join to tell us how much our work means to him and everyone else out there — you can ’ t ask for something more more uplifting , ” Shah told The Post on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to come away from this pandemic better off because of it , and I think there is some truth to that .
We ’ re going to learn a lot and gain a lot from it , ” he added .
Shah was at Game 2 of the ALDS in 2009 with his buddies and fondly recalls watching A-Rod tie the game in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Minnesota Twins , a pivotal postseason moment in the Yankees ’ path to their 27th World Series .
Shah said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connect and keep spirits high as they pitch hit to help treat COVID-19 patients .
“ It ’ s a great way for us to keep in touch because we ’ re working different shifts in all different parts of the hospital , so we ’ re not together as much as we were before , ” Shah said .
“ We ’ re surgeons , and this is a respiratory disease , so as physically exhausting as this has been , there are lots of mental challenges as well .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but we ’ re all going out of our comfort zones to help.
” Both Shah and A-Rod preached positivity during the health crisis .
“ You ’ re going to see a more disciplined world , a world that ’ s more appreciative and more grateful , ” A-Rod said .
“ And I think I ’ ve noticed that people overall have been more generous more humble and I think that ’ s something this world welcomes for sure.
” Shah was already grateful for his colleagues and the collective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
“ Whenever we do something as part of a team , we can get through anything , ” Shah said .
“ Everyone has been so enthusiastic about helping out in as many ways possible and doing things to make sure we take care of these patients as best as we can to flatten the curve and overcome the pandemic , ” Shah added .
“ As hard as it ’ s been it ’ s been , it ’ s very rewarding , too .
”

Not much can surprise the battle-hardened doctors of New York — but A-Rod crashing their Zoom happy hour certainly did.
Some two dozen surgeons from Stony Brook University Hospital in Suffolk County were shocked when the former Yankees slugger hopped on their call with words of encouragement for their frontline fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
“You’re only going to go as far as your attitude. Attitude will determine altitude,” A-Rod said during the Zoom meeting Friday at 5 p.m. “I wish everybody luck, and we’ll be better and stronger when we come out of this. Hang in there.”
Stony Brook surgeon Anish Shah, a Yankees fan who organized the weekly happy hours, said he reached out to Alex Rodriguez’s beer company, Presidente, and asked if the World Series champion and 14-time all-star would be game to speak to his colleagues.
“To have A-Rod join to tell us how much our work means to him and everyone else out there — you can’t ask for something more more uplifting,” Shah told The Post on Saturday.
“He said we’re going to come away from this pandemic better off because of it, and I think there is some truth to that. We’re going to learn a lot and gain a lot from it,” he added.
Shah was at Game 2 of the ALDS in 2009 with his buddies and fondly recalls watching A-Rod tie the game in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Minnesota Twins, a pivotal postseason moment in the Yankees’ path to their 27th World Series.
Shah said the happy hours have helped the surgeons’ connect and keep spirits high as they pitch hit to help treat COVID-19 patients.
“It’s a great way for us to keep in touch because we’re working different shifts in all different parts of the hospital, so we’re not together as much as we were before,” Shah said.
“We’re surgeons, and this is a respiratory disease, so as physically exhausting as this has been, there are lots of mental challenges as well. We’re not used to working with medicine, but we’re all going out of our comfort zones to help.”
Both Shah and A-Rod preached positivity during the health crisis.
“You’re going to see a more disciplined world, a world that’s more appreciative and more grateful,” A-Rod said.
“And I think I’ve noticed that people overall have been more generous more humble and I think that’s something this world welcomes for sure.”
Shah was already grateful for his colleagues and the collective efforts of health care workers around the country.
“Whenever we do something as part of a team, we can get through anything,” Shah said.
“Everyone has been so enthusiastic about helping out in as many ways possible and doing things to make sure we take care of these patients as best as we can to flatten the curve and overcome the pandemic,” Shah added.
“As hard as it’s been it’s been, it’s very rewarding, too.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--One dead, another seriously inured in Bronx nursing home fire

Stop the presses , the left-wing media learned a lesson about ...

One person has died and another was left seriously injured Saturday after a fire tore through the third floor of a six-story nursing home in the Wakefield area of the Bronx, police and fire officials said.
The fire erupted around 5:45 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy Manor, terrifying the home’s elderly residents following coronavirus shelter-in-place orders, witnesses said.
Firefighters had the blaze under control about 25 minutes later.
A building manager who declined to give his name told The Post the man who died had started the fire accidentally when he lit up a cigarette.
“It was very scary — especially for the seniors. I got a call. I rushed over here from Yonkers,” said Mary, 66, whose elderly aunt and uncle live in the building.
“But when I arrived I couldn’t get in. I’m like, ‘He’s 89 and deaf. She’s 86 and blind. I need to see them. They’re my people.’ They were scared because they didn’t know what’s going on.”
The Fire Department said the incident was still under investigation.
“There was a fire in the apartment from someone smoking. A resident. He was smoking cigarettes and something caught fire,” the building manager said.
The residents were hunkering down in the building to protect themselves from the virus, which has proven particularly dangerous for older adults.
The manager said Our Lady of Mercy has not had a known coronavirus outbreak.
“They’re self-quarantine[ing] because they’re old. But not because there sick,” he said. “They’re staying inside and now this happens.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Media that branded Kavanaugh a rapist now a racket to protect Biden: Goodwin

Tara Reade ’ s 1993 complaint against Joe Biden , which she says ...

Stop the presses, the left-wing media learned a lesson about how to cover sexual allegations against politicians. Unfortunately, they learned the wrong lesson.
For weeks, Tara Reade’s charge that Joe Biden forcibly penetrated her in 1993 was too hot to handle. None of the #MeToo crusaders would go near it, lest they hurt Biden and help re-elect Donald Trump.
That’s not the behavior of journalists. That’s the behavior of a Praetorian Guard.
Then suddenly, the media blackout collapsed and is being replaced by an intense hunt for the long-ago truth. What changed?
Two things. First, the Biden protection racket drew a chorus of criticism over the obvious double standard in the way the same media and their Democratic masters trumpeted wild charges against Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation.
Nearly all the charges dealt with his high school and college years, none were supported by clear evidence, yet it was enough for the left to declare Kavanaugh a rapist. Politics doesn’t get any nastier.
The second cause for the turnabout was Biden’s Friday interview on MSNBC. It was the first time he personally addressed Reade’s charge and while he was strong in his absolute denial, he failed to put the issue to rest.
His past claims that all female accusers should be believed have come back to haunt him because, like Kavanaugh, he can’t meet the impossible burden of proving his innocence.
So a wild search is on for any evidence anywhere, especially a document, that would show Reade complained at the time, as if that would settle everything. Never mind that Reade’s story of the alleged assault changed and became more serious.
Still, the reversal in the media’s attitude is a form of justice in that Biden is now being held to the same standard as Kavanaugh. The only problem is that kind of justice is not just blind. It’s also stupid.
The Kavanaugh character assassination — for purely partisan purposes — was a travesty. It should never be repeated against any American for any reason.
Predictably, the New York Times editorial board has a spectacularly bad idea for solving the problem. It urges the Democratic National Committee to investigate the charges against Biden, with his campaign’s cooperation.
This is stop-the-world lunacy.
I’m no fan of Biden’s, but it’s not a solution to carve up his hide so Democrats and Republicans are equally scarred. The solution is that we end the politics of personal destruction that is turning public service into a nightmare.
By all means, let the media dig into Reade’s allegation to their hearts’ content. Whatever they find or don’t find, voters are free to consider.
But it makes zero sense for Biden to effectively put his campaign on ice, as the Times demands. Besides, the DNC is hardly a disinterested party and has zero credibility to judge Biden’s fitness.
Even if it tried, the quest for the perfect outcome to Reade’s charge would not solve a single problem in American life. It won’t end the pandemic, console the grieving, restart the economy or help the country face a searing set of challenges.
In fact, the quest likely won’t even settle the issue at hand because the claim is probably unresolvable. Unless Biden admits guilt or Reade withdraws her charge, voters will be left with the same choice they started with. It’s Biden or Trump, warts and all.
(Speaking of which, because the Times did not endorse Biden and hates Trump, I wonder if the aim of the paper’s push for an investigation is to drive Biden out of the race and replace him with one of its favorites, perhaps Sen. Elizabeth Warren. At any rate, letting the DNC pick the nominee would be telling primary voters to drop dead.)
Most important, voters already have lots of current information on which to base their November choice, and will get more in coming months.
Take China. The Communist Party’s deceit during the early days of the coronavirus is consistent with its aggressive expansionism in trade and military matters. It no longer hides its aim to replace America as the world’s leading superpower.
Americans of both parties have noticed. Recent polls find that two-thirds have an unfavorable view of that nation and don’t trust its Communist leadership.
Trump has confronted China more than any other president in the last 30 years over unfair trade practices and the theft of intellectual property. He believes the coronavirus accidentally escaped a Wuhan laboratory, instead of first appearing at a food market as China claims.
Trump’s record includes his criticism of the World Health Organization; he calls it a public relations agency for China and withheld American dollars.
Biden appears to be inching toward a tougher position, but earlier pooh-poohed fears of China’s expansionism and faulted Trump’s January suspension of flights from China as a sign of xenophobia. He is also reflexively supportive of international organizations like the World Health Organization.
Then there’s his son, Hunter Biden, and the fact that he had, and still may have, business ties to a government-owned investment fund in China that began when Joe Biden was vice president.
The biggest issue, of course, is the pandemic and Trump’s leadership in combating it.
While he calls himself a “wartime president,” the initial White House response was erratic, and still-rising death tallies and the frozen economy give Biden opportunities to score points.
But to do that, he must emerge from his basement isolation and eventually return to retail campaigning. Recall that he often stumbled in the primaries before getting hot at the right moment, then having the benefit of the shutdown.
How Biden will hold up under anything resembling normal campaign pressures, including attacks from Trump, are huge question marks hanging over him.
His answers will carry more weight with voters than inconclusive findings about something that might have happened 27 years ago. Especially in this tumultuous time, the candidate with the right solutions to today’s problems and the clearest vision for the future deserves to be president.
Speak of ingrates …
A statement from City Council Speaker Corey Johnson: “It is time for Samaritan’s Purse to leave New York City. This group, which is led by the notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham, came at a time when our city couldn’t in good conscience turn away any offer of help. That time has passed. Their continued presence here is an affront to our values of inclusion, and is painful for all New Yorkers who care deeply about the LGBTQ community.”
Apparently the values of certain New Yorkers do not include simple gratitude.
Shameful, clueless Cuomo
Arlene Mullin, whose letter about her mother’s death helped reveal the state’s fatal policy of forcing COVID-19 patients into nursing homes, sees Gov. Andrew Cuomo as cruelly insensitive. She writes: “In the middle of this terrible crisis, he is so shameless that he posts on his website a transcript where he talks about his dating eligibility.
“How arrogant and totally clueless he is about what is important.”


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--The Post ranks the top 10 faces in New York sports today

The best part about compiling a list like this at ...

A tiny percentage of people ever become the face of a franchise.
It is a title available to players, coaches and executives. It is a role earned through popularity and/or potential and/or longevity and/or achievement.
Decade after decade, the defining faces of New York sports have often included all-time legends. Sometimes, someone holds the distinction less than a season.
Even in the midst of New York’s eight-year title drought, its teams still boast some of sports’ most significant names.
Below are today’s top 10 faces in New York sports, as ranked by The Post’s sports department:
1. Aaron Judge
He isn’t just the biggest star on the most storied franchise in American sports. After Judge’s jaw-dropping 2017 Home Run Derby performance, commissioner Rob Manfred said he “can become the face of the game.” Potentially the next link in the near-unbreakable, century-long chain of Yankees icons, Judge, 27, combines Ruth’s and Mantle’s power with DiMaggio’s and Jeter’s grace, having turned the team back into a title contender while turning each of his at-bats into events. In late-May of 2017, with Judge on his way to a then-rookie record 52 home runs and a second-place MVP finish, Yankee Stadium unveiled an unprecedented seating section in right field dedicated to the ever-popular outfielder — who has led MLB jersey sales for three straight years — called “Judge’s Chambers.”
2. Pete Alonso
It felt as if the Mets might never again have a star so proudly represent the franchise as David Wright did. It took one season to shoot that theory down. With an all-time debut season, Alonso, 25, broke Judge’s rookie record with 53 home runs, while also winning the Home Run Derby and NL Rookie of the Year honors. With a mix of power, passion and affability, Alonso became an instant favorite of fans, coaches and the front office.
3. Jacob deGrom
The shortstop drafted in the ninth round out of Stetson was initially overshadowed by Matt Harvey and Noah Syndergaard. He was perceived to have a lower ceiling than Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz. Now, deGrom is building a case for the Hall of Fame. Already among the sport’s best starters, deGrom secured legendary status the past two seasons with back-to-back Cy Young Awards. In his 171 career starts, deGrom, who signed a $137.5 million contract extension last year, has allowed fewer than two runs more than any pitcher — in as many games — since 1908.
4. Saquon Barkley
“He was touched by the hand of God,” Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said after selecting the running back with the second-overall pick in 2018. The once-in-a-generation talent reached the Pro Bowl as the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and has amassed more than 3,400 yards from scrimmage and 23 touchdowns in two seasons. The chiseled, hard-working, wide-smiling back may have been more valuable in a different era, but Barkley remains a talent like few the league has ever seen.
5. James Dolan
It was just 15 months ago that Kristaps Porzingis was still the face of the franchise, an honor he could have held for another decade or so before forcing a trade. The Knicks then held hope Kevin Durant would join, but the team’s toxicity sent the former MVP and Kyrie Irving to Brooklyn’s smaller stage instead. So, the face of the Knicks remains the constant in a two-decade run as the worst team in the NBA, during which Dolan has overseen just two winning seasons since 2001, while failing to make the playoffs since 2013. In addition to being blamed for the team’s lack of success, the thin-skinned owner keeps himself in the spotlight with incidents like the ejection of beloved Knick Charles Oakley, a recent feud with Spike Lee and the banning of several fans from Madison Square Garden for criticizing Dolan, who is repeatedly showered with chants to sell the team.
6. Sam Darnold
More than five decades after their only Super Bowl, the Jets’ search for Joe Namath’s replacement continues. Darnold, whom the Jets traded up to take with the third-overall pick in 2018, was the highest-drafted quarterback the team has taken since landing Namath with the No. 1-overall pick in the 1965 AFL draft. Since becoming the youngest opening-day starting quarterback in NFL history (21 years, 97 days old), Darnold has had mixed results, going 11-15 in two seasons while also missing six games to injury/illness. Still, he represents hope for a fan base largely void of it.
7. Kevin Durant
Durant is so talented, so accomplished, so famous, that he joins this group before playing one second with the Nets. The 31-year-old, two-time Finals MVP left one of the greatest dynasties of all time to build his brand and elevate his legacy in New York. Barring any issues with his ruptured Achilles tendon, which kept him off the court this season, Durant is a lock to leap up the list soon.
8. Daniel Jones
After a generation with two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, the Giants opened a new era when the 22-year-old Jones displaced the 16-year veteran early last season. The heavily criticized, sixth-overall pick of the 2019 draft set several rookie records with the Giants, throwing for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, as the team finished 4-12.
9. Artemi Panarin
Henrik Lundqvist has been replaced in more than one way. After more than a decade with the now-backup goaltender proudly representing the Rangers, Panarin has taken the torch. The 28-year-old Russian became the highest-paid winger in the league after leaving Columbus to sign a seven-year, $81.5 million deal with the Rangers on July 1, and had a brilliant debut on Broadway, producing 32 goals and 63 assists to enter the Hart Trophy conversation.
10. Brian Cashman
During an era when the Steinbrenners have stepped back from the spotlight, Cashman is the Yankees’ front office constant public presence. Promoted in 1998 as the second-youngest general manager in history, Cashman, 52, has elevated into one of the most trusted executives in sports, constructing winners with homegrown talent and high-priced additions.


newyorkpost--2020-05-02--Coronavirus’ racially disparate impact is no surprise — pols ignored causes for years

Of the more than 3,500 people in the city who ...

In a display of the worst kind of political catch-up, Mayor Bill de Blasio last Sunday appointed his wife Chirlane as head of a coronavirus racial-inequality task force.
Six years into his tenure, de Blasio seeks to identify the “structural racism” that contributes to the health-care and health-outcomes disparities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as city data shows the virus hitting especially hard at New York’s black and Hispanic communities.
Thing is, this isn’t anything new: In particular, the conditions associated with much higher deaths from the bug, including obesity and hypertension, have long plagued blacks and Hispanics at elevated levels.
But: “The city and state have long been aware of these disparities” fumed Chris Norwood, head of the Bronx-based Health People — after all, treating “chronic disease is practically the entire Medicaid budget.”
Decades of national data show that African Americans are 20 percent are more likely to have asthma and 40 percent more likely to be hypertensive. And black women are three times more likely to have lupus.
Critics like Norwood say the state and city health departments know perfectly well the massive studies showing what works to reduce the toll of chronic disease — yet have been utterly indifferent for years.
Charmaine Ruddock, executive director of Bronx Health REACH, says the city has been slow to address many of the disconcerting perceptions in the black and Hispanic communities about their risk of getting COVID-19 and the precautionary measures needed.
City and state leaders know that health behaviors in these communities need to change, Ruddock also notes — but those leaders have never scaled up programs that could help do that.
Instead, state and city budgets have devoted resources to the needs of special interests. Yet de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo pretend to be blindsided by the higher death tolls in communities of color.
We don’t really need a new panel to examine the health-disparity issue. If anything, the pandemic has revealed to black and Hispanic New Yorkers the indifference of the local progressive leadership when it comes to the chronic diseases decimating their communities.
Maybe they’ll make them pay the price for that indifference once the pandemic recedes.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Brett Gardner is being robbed of making Yankees history

Noah Syndergaard isn ’ t the only star pitcher going shirtless around ...

Part 8 in a series analyzing the New York Yankees
Brett Gardner was in line not just to continue a remarkable run of durability and success in the latter stage of his career heading into 2020, the 36-year-old is also on the cusp of some significant career milestones before the regular season was pushed back indefinitely by the coronavirus pandemic.
If he plays in 11 games, Gardner would pass Alex Rodriguez for 17th overall in games played as a Yankee and he’s 37 away from moving past Graig Nettles.
But Gardner, the team’s oldest position player, hasn’t simply been compiling stats lately.
While other — younger — outfielders like Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Giancarlo Stanton, not to mention Jacoby Ellsbury, have had trouble staying on the field, Gardner is coming off a season in which he set career highs in homers, RBIs and OPS.
And with CC Sabathia’s retirement, Gardner became the longest-tenured Yankee.
Drafted in the third round of the amateur draft in 2005, Gardner made his MLB debut in 2008 and signed a new contract this offseason.
“It’s crazy, man, it really is,’’ he said this spring of his position as the Yankees’ elder statesman. “It’s hard to believe I’ve been here as long as I have. It’s not something I take lightly. It means a lot to me to still be here, and I’m very happy to have an opportunity to come back here and try and finish some unfinished business.’’
And he’s not looking too far ahead.
“At this point, I’m just kind of taking things one year at a time,’’ Gardner said this spring. “I’ve really always looked not too far into the future, obviously. The contract that I signed, the Yankees have a team option on me for next year. In a perfect world for me, I stay healthy and have a good season and they pick that option up and I come back and do it all over again.’’
He’s already become one of just five players drafted by the Yankees with at least 1,000 hits with the team, joining Thurman Munson, Don Mattingly, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada. Gardner and Jeter are the only two players in franchise history with more than 100 homers and 250 stolen bases as a Yankee.
And Gardner is one of only four players in the majors to play in at least 140 games in each of the last seven seasons, along with Brandon Crawford, Anthony Rizzo and Carlos Santana. Gardner and Mike Trout are the only two players with at least 80 runs scored in each season since 2013.
Last year, Gardner was the oldest player in MLB to make at least 100 outfield starts.
“His ability to stay on the field, especially at that position, is very valuable, especially with all the other injuries they’ve dealt with in the outfield the last couple of years,’’ said an AL scout. “I think a lot of us have been waiting for him to break down or slow down in his production, but it’s easy to see why they want him around. [Gardner] has found a way to thrive — and not just offensively. He’s still above-average in center.’’
Before spring training was shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gardner was again proving himself to be a key member of the outfield, as Judge was sidelined with a fractured rib and punctured lung and Stanton missed time with a strained calf. Ellsbury — a few weeks younger than Gardner — hasn’t played a game since 2017.
Gardner, meanwhile, has played at least 140 games every season since missing most of 2012 with an elbow injury.
Whatever becomes of the 2020 season, if it ever starts, Gardner will no doubt be relied upon heavily, with injury concerns surrounding most of the rest of the outfield regulars.


newyorkpost--2020-05-03--Women dressed as healthcare workers steal packages in Washington State

Two women , who were dressed up as healthcare workers , stole packages left outside homes in Washington State , @ @ @ @ @ pirates were spotted on surveillance footage approaching houses while wearing blue scrubs and lanyards with @ @ @ @ @ the women wore gloves as she grabbed a package , according to images released by @ @ @ @ @ Saturday .
Police said they don ’ t believe the women are real nurses .
@ @ @ @ @ fortunate to know only give their time , lives , and take the vitals of @ @ @ @ @ property ) , ” cops posted on Facebook .

What a couple of scrubs.
Two women, who were dressed up as healthcare workers, stole packages left outside homes in Washington State, police said.
The porch pirates were spotted on surveillance footage approaching houses while wearing blue scrubs and lanyards with ID badges.
One of the women wore gloves as she grabbed a package, according to images released by the Kennewick Police Department on Saturday.
Police said they don’t believe the women are real nurses.
“The nurses we are fortunate to know only give their time, lives, and take the vitals of their patients (not their property),” cops posted on Facebook.