newyorkpost--2020-11-29--Strange Jets benching leaves Sam Darnold with makeshift O-line

Sam Darnold with weapons looked an awful lot like Sam ...

The Jets had all of their starting wide receivers together with Sam Darnold for the first time but could not get their starting offensive line out there.
The Jets had a backup at left guard and a third-string right tackle starting in the 20-3 loss to the Dolphins.
The biggest surprise was left guard Alex Lewis being declared inactive. Lewis was not injured, and it appears he was sat down as a disciplinary measure.
“It was a team decision to make him inactive. It’s non-injury related,” Jets coach Adam Gase said.
When asked if it was disciplinary, Gase said: “We’re going to handle everything internally.”
Lewis was listed as questionable on Friday after being limited in practice for a non-injury reason.
Pat Elflein, who the Jets just claimed from the Vikings, started in place of Lewis. Elflein first practiced with the Jets on Wednesday. Conor McDermott started at right tackle in place of George Fant, who missed the game with ankle and knee injuries. Backup Chuma Edoga was also inactive with a sprained ankle.
This was the Jets’ sixth different starting offensive line this season.
“It’s tough,” right guard Greg Van Roten said. “You want to play the same five guys all year because that’s how you get in a rhythm. That’s how you stay consistent. It means you’re healthy. When you’re playing guys that you just signed, it’s tough.”
Van Roten said the players just found out on Saturday that Lewis would not be starting.
Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki did not think much of how the Jets played defense against them, especially WR DeVante Parker, who had eight catches for 119 yards.
“DeVante today, how many times are you going to play in man coverage?” Gesicki said. “Like, why are you doing that? Play Cover 2 or something else because DeVante is, he’s going to run, he’s going to get on the guy’s hip, the ball’s going to be back-shoulder, he’s going to catch it, and he’s not going to say anything when he celebrates. … So DeVante is going to have his eight for [119], and we’re just going to go about our day.”
The Jets were outscored, 44-3, in their two meetings with the Dolphins this year. The Jets have now lost six of their last seven meetings with the Dolphins. … LB Blake Cashman left the game with a hamstring injury, an issue that has plagued him for most of the year.


newyorkpost--2020-11-29--Six inmates killed, 35 injured in Sri Lankan prison riot

Six inmates were killed and 35 injured as guards opened fire during a Sri Lankan prison riot on Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ created “ unrest ” and tried to take control of Mahara prison , located about @ @ @ @ @ ’ s capital of Colombo , according to police spokesman Ajith Rohana .
Rohana said @ @ @ @ @ a prison riot ” with inmates also trying to escape .
Guards attempting to control @ @ @ @ @ , said Rohana .
Two guards were also critically injured in the riot .
Mahara @ @ @ @ @ Lankan prisons in recent weeks to experience pandemic-related unrest as COVID-19 cases surge in the @ @ @ @ @ in five prisons in the country have tested positive for coronavirus , and at least @ @ @ @ @ illness .
Roughly 50 prison guards have tested positive for the bug .
Sri Lankan @ @ @ @ @ more than 26,000 inmates packed into facilities with a capacity of 10,000 .

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At least eight inmates were killed and more than 50 injured when guards opened fire to control a riot in a Sri Lankan prison, officials said.
The unrest broke out Sunday over inmates infected with COVID-19 being transferred from other facilities to the prison in Mahara, on the outskirts of the capital, Colombo.
Prisoners have held protests in recent weeks at several facilities to demand more COVID-19 testing and separate isolation facilities for sick inmates.
Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said “the unrest situation turned into a prison riot,” with inmates on Sunday attempting to take over the prison and hundreds trying to break out.
The detainees “reportedly destroyed most of the property, including offices inside the prison,” Rohana said.
Hundreds of additional police came to provide reinforcement for the guards and strengthen the security at the prison.
“A majority of prisoners injured in the Mahara jail clashes were in critical condition,” Ragoma Hospital director Shelton Perera said.
Prisons in the nation face severe crowding issues with more than 26,000 inmates sent to facilities with a capacity of 10,000.
The country has also experienced a rise in COVID-19 cases in the last month after two small clusters were detected near the capital and its suburbs.
Sri Lanka has reported at least 22,900 cases, including 109 fatalities, since the pandemic began, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-11-29--Joe Judge’s culture of togetherness is saving Giants

The easy thing for Colt McCoy to do would have ...

First-place teams come in all shapes and sizes.
The Giants won ugly against the Bengals on Sunday, and call them Shrek if you like.
They lost Daniel Jones to a hamstring injury in the third quarter, and special teams was a disaster, and The Fighting Joe Judges, 19-17 winners, do not have to apologize for a three-game winning streak or not having beaten a team with a winning record or for being in first place in the NFC Least.
Winning Ugly has never felt so beautiful.
The danger was always that using his legs could one day be a curse as well as a blessing, and one day arrived for Daniel Jones and the Giants early in the third quarter of a 10-10 game.
One minute, he was galloping for 7 yards, driving the Giants toward the end zone, and the next minute he was on his butt deep in Bengals territory clutching his right leg.
And the next minute, he was sprawled out in the medical tent being examined by the trainers.
He returned limping for the next series.
He lasted two plays before Colt McCoy — a fairer fight now against Brandon Allen, especially with the way Jones had been connecting with Evan Engram — was summoned for his 2020 debut.
Joe Judge needed heroes, and we have learned that he doesn’t care who you are or where you come from as he builds his Together Blue culture.
He found plenty of them.
Everyone has a job to do.
If you get a uniform on game day, just do your job (sound familiar)?
“I love this group of guys, they’re a lot of fun to coach,” Judge said. “They come to work every day, they’re tough physically and mentally, they’re very resilient, and they’ve got the right mindset.”
These 4-7 Giants do not dominate or scare anyone, and that’s never what this season was going to be about.
Joe Judge promised blue-collar Giants who would represent the people of this area and make them proud.
As of this moment, Mission Accomplished, even though you will never get Joe Judge taking any bows for first place right now.
His Giants never stop punching, and when they are knocked down, they get back up. And they get back up angry.
“Call us what you want to call us, we’re a bunch of underdogs, man, a bunch of guys who were written off in our careers,” Logan Ryan said, “and that’s what Joe wants. Joe wants guys with a chip on their shoulder. Joe wants guys who are tough.
“We’re building a culture here where, if you work hard in practice, you work hard day-to-day, you get an opportunity. When you get that opportunity, it’s your job to make the most of it. … I’m proud of this blue-collar chip-on-our shoulder that we have. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
McCoy’s job was not to lose the game, and never mind that he overthrew a wide-open Dion Lewis on what would have been a 21-yard TD and 20-10 lead, he did his job (31 passing yards, 0 turnovers).
He had plenty of company.
“We play together,” Engram said.
There was Wayne Gallman (24-94-1 TD), given up on by the previous coaching staff, in the end zone for the fifth consecutive game, running angry again behind Dave DeGuglielmo’s offensive line.
There was Niko Lalos, activated from the practice squad, an undrafted kid from Dartmouth with a dream, making a diving interception off a Darnay Holmes deflection.
“To be honest with you, we’re not surprised, he was around the ball, we see that every day in practice,” Judge said. “Practice execution becomes game reality.”
There was the indispensable Ryan, signed right before the season, recovering a fumble with 4:12 left as Lalos was grabbing onto Drew Sample’s right hand.
There was Graham Gano, kicking into a net in his hotel room following a bout with COVID-19 that had him with fever and temporarily without a sense of taste, released at the end of July by the Panthers after missing all of 2019 with a leg injury, extending his streak of field goals made from 20 to 24.
“We never flinched,” Engram said.
And finally, after Holmes had been flagged for a suspect pass interference in the end zone on Tee Higgins and the Bengals closed to 19-17, after a Cam Fleming holding penalty forced a three-and-out, was rookie Cam Brown, who plays for friends and loved ones he has lost in his life, making a game-saving tackle at midfield on Alex Erickson.
There was 10-year-journeyman Jabaal Sheard, signed Oct. 20 off the Jaguars practice squad, playing 24 snaps because Kyler Fackrell had been sidelined, strip-sacking Allen, and there was Leonard Williams, discarded by the Jets, recording his sixth sack earlier and recovering the fumble, game over.
First place.
“Listen,” Joe Judge said. “We start looking past what we have to do to get ready, this conversation’s gonna be something of the past.”
You be the Judge: His team sure is listening, and for now, the conversation is something of the present, and how sweet it is.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Miami VIPs intent on partying like it’s Art Basel, without Art Basel

Art Basel may be officially canceled because of the coronavirus , but the 1-percenters are determined to have their annual Miami bacchanal regardless , Page Six is told — despite the fears of the locals .
Even though organizers of the famed December art festival have pulled the plug , there ’ s still a swirl of happenings around town , including sister event Design Miami .
Fresh from her $ 100 million-plus divorce , socialite Libbie Mugrabi seems to be taking the opportunity to supplant Aby Rosen — whose annual bash was once the glitziest — as the reigning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She plans to throw a dinner “ with only A-listers and artists ” at the Faena Hotel , telling the New York Times , “ It ’ ll be like 50 people max ” and that everybody will be tested for COVID-19 .
“ They can wear a mask if somebody wants , ” she said .
“ I won ’ t wear one , but other people can.
” On Sunday , Alan Faena hosted a preview at his swanky hotel for an installation entitled “ Dreaming With Lions.
” A rep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors and masks were required .
“ There were remarks by Alan and refreshments served , but not a party following.
” Other events on the social calendar include David Einhorn ’ s $ 750 charity dinner at David Grutman ’ s Papi Steak , and Nicky Jam ’ s concert at Bardot in Wynwood for 50 people , who will be COVID tested on-site .
Hotels are packed , we hear , and one resident told us : “ It ’ s like people in Florida don ’ t believe COVID exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Another Miami source told us , “ All that people want is to feel that Miami is safe and that this is being taken seriously.
” Design Miami ’ s Craig Robins told the Times , “ I understand some are saying , ‘ Oh my God , this will be a disaster to do this kind of thing.
’ It ’ s the opposite .
It ’ s not about a bunch of people flying in from around the world .
It ’ s about a bunch of people spending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they feel are within boundaries that are responsible .
”

Art Basel may be officially canceled because of the coronavirus, but the 1-percenters are determined to have their annual Miami bacchanal regardless, Page Six is told — despite the fears of the locals.
Even though organizers of the famed December art festival have pulled the plug, there’s still a swirl of happenings around town, including sister event Design Miami.
Fresh from her $100 million-plus divorce, socialite Libbie Mugrabi seems to be taking the opportunity to supplant Aby Rosen — whose annual bash was once the glitziest — as the reigning head hedonist of the art world. She plans to throw a dinner “with only A-listers and artists” at the Faena Hotel, telling the New York Times, “It’ll be like 50 people max” and that everybody will be tested for COVID-19. “They can wear a mask if somebody wants,” she said. “I won’t wear one, but other people can.”
On Sunday, Alan Faena hosted a preview at his swanky hotel for an installation entitled “Dreaming With Lions.” A rep told us it was socially distanced, outdoors and masks were required. “There were remarks by Alan and refreshments served, but not a party following.”
Other events on the social calendar include David Einhorn’s $750 charity dinner at David Grutman’s Papi Steak, and Nicky Jam’s concert at Bardot in Wynwood for 50 people, who will be COVID tested on-site. Hotels are packed, we hear, and one resident told us: “It’s like people in Florida don’t believe COVID exists. It’s the craziest thing.”
Another Miami source told us, “All that people want is to feel that Miami is safe and that this is being taken seriously.” Design Miami’s Craig Robins told the Times, “I understand some are saying, ‘Oh my God, this will be a disaster to do this kind of thing.’ It’s the opposite. It’s not about a bunch of people flying in from around the world. It’s about a bunch of people spending the season in South Florida and doing things that they feel are within boundaries that are responsible.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Nets’ Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving plan will finally be on display

Even if the Nets don ’ t get James Harden , it sounds ...

The Nets start arguably the most highly anticipated — and clearly the strangest — training camp in their history Tuesday.
With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the mix, championship aspirations in mind, and the specter of COVID-19 staring them in the face, the Nets will return to HSS Training Center to begin preparing for the Dec. 22 season opener.
The returns of Durant and Irving from injury — Durant’s torn Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, and Irving’s season-ending shoulder surgery — are expected to make the Nets a contender for the NBA Finals. Putting aside any potential to trade for James Harden, the Nets are bringing a solid roster to camp Tuesday.
“When you’re the part of some rumors out there, you take heed and just look how far the Nets organization has come,” said GM Sean Marks, who inherited the NBA’s worst team four seasons ago and is handing rookie coach Steve Nash a legitimate contender.
“We’re obviously excited to get the team that we have, to be honest, out on the floor, and I think not only with Kevin and Ky and Caris [LeVert] and Jarrett Allen, you work your way through the roster. For those guys having the opportunity to get out there and wear the black-and-white, that’s the most important thing.”
Irving hasn’t worn the black-and-white since Feb. 1, his Nets debut campaign cut short after just 20 games. Durant hasn’t played a second for Brooklyn, or at all since rupturing his Achilles on June 10, 2019.
It’ll be 540 days since Durant last played a competitive game; but he and about half the roster congregated in LA for pickup games this month. Now, after working out in Bergen County, they’re finally set to re-enter HSS en masse for individual workouts starting Tuesday, and full team workouts Sunday.
“They’ve been back in our gym now for a couple days. And being around, the feedback from our performance team and how they’ve looked, their preparing has been terrific,” Marks said. “They’re hungry. It goes back to what these guys set out to accomplish a year ago when they said ‘I want to come to Brooklyn. I want to be a part of this. I want to build something sustainable and do something special.’
“They’re putting themselves in a great place to succeed. … It’s been nothing short of remarkable to watch Kevin’s development and the way he’s attacked his rehabilitation over the course of the last year. We’re all champing at the bit and very excited to see him out here, see the entire group out there.”
The group includes stalwarts such as LeVert, Allen, Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie, the latter of whom has been linked in trade rumors for Harden. It also includes newcomers Landry Shamet, Bruce Brown, Tyler Johnson and Elie Okobo, who filled out the camp roster Monday.
“How does the fit work?” Marks asked rhetorically. “That’s where Steve comes into play.”
Nash — with the help of former mentor Mike D’Antoni, now his assistant — will have to figure out how to blend them all together under the pressure of great expectations.
They’ll also be laboring under the shadow of COVID-19, literally as well as figuratively.
It’s unclear when or if fans will return to Barclays Center for games this season, or how many of the Nets’ road games will be played before crowds. But the starkest reminder of the pandemic will come as the players, coaches and staff regroup at HSS Training Center, right across 39th Street in the form of a mobile morgue.
With coronavirus having killed more than 34,000 in the city, about 650 of them are still being stored in white refrigeration trucks in the parking lot across the street from HSS Training Center, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Nets can see it not only entering the glass-fronted building, but from the court as they practice — a reminder of how different this year has been and this season will be.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Defiant NYC bar in COVID-19 hotspot closes for TV spot as people bang on door for drinks

In the eyes of another career backup quarterback , Colt McCoy ...

The Staten Island bar owner who has defied COVID-19 restrictions kept his business’ doors locked on Monday so he could appear in an interview on the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show from his establishment.
Even as the owner closed shop, desperate would-be customers banged on the door, demanding drinks.
One couple drove from New Jersey to support Mac’s Public House, which is in a virus danger zone and has been ordered closed to indoor service — but they were forced to leave thirsty.
“I want to give you money!” Robyn Harrington shouted at the closed door. “We just want to give the bar some money and business,” said the 39-year-old, who came down with her boyfriend.
“What if I slide money under the door?” she asked her boyfriend. “Wonder if there is a secret code to get in.”
The owners, Keith McAlarney and Danny Presti, came by around 6:30 p.m. to meet with their attorneys — ahead of a segment for the Fox News show that was set to film inside.
During that time, two people knocked on the door, and McAlarney opened to tell them, “We’re closed today,” explaining it was because of the scheduled interview with Carlson.
“We appreciate your support and we’ll do what we can,” he said.
The owners have told The Post they are refusing to heed state and city restrictions, which went into effect Wednesday.
So far, the bar has been slapped with thousands of dollars in fines and a shutdown order from the state Department of Health, not to mention having its state liquor license yanked.
But the bar still opened as usual Saturday and was initially opened on Sunday — until taxi sheriffs came by, prompting one of the proprietors to lock the door and say he was closed.
Several people walking past the watering hole throughout Monday peeked in the windows to see if it was open.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement A skeleton "customer" inside Mac's Public House in Staten Island Elizabeth Rosner Elizabeth Rosner Advertisement
One of them, FDNY firefighter Anthony Picozzi, came by to inquire about hosting a “boys night” at the bar.
“I mean I can’t speak for the FDNY [but] I’d like to organize a boys night here — anything we can do to help the bar,” he said, adding that the restrictions were “ridiculous.”
Loyal customer Walter Matuza, 29, who said he’s been gulping beers at the bar over the last three days, was also turned away.
Still, Matuza, who is blind, said he “loves” the establishment and “what they are standing for.”
“I’m a person with a disability and I have my routines … We live in a free society and people should make a living,” he said.
At around 5:45 p.m. Monday, a friend of the owners briefly allowed journalists, including a Post reporter, inside the establishment.
During that time, he said an irate woman called and yelled, “I can’t wait until you get sick and die of COVID, all you a–holes” at him over the phone.
Additional reporting by Kevin Sheehan


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Clint Frazier aiming to ‘hold it down’ for Yankees in left field

Clint Frazier ’ s solid 2020 season has changed the narrative around ...

Promises to players aren’t made by smart GMs and managers in December.
However, it would be naïve to think that, whenever the 2021 season tips off, Clint Frazier won’t be entrusted with the biggest role of his up-and-down big-league career.
That would be the 26-year-old right-handed hitter getting a lot of playing time in left field and occasionally spelling Aaron Judge in right.
While 2020 provided a lot of difficult ways to evaluate individual performances, the COVID-19 season wasn’t a 20-game schedule. Nor was it a 162-game gig. Sixty games, which is what the season was, is roughly equivalent to April and May in normal times.
Yet, what Frazier did in 39 games after being dropped from the big-league roster to the alternate site after two games, to make room for needed relievers, certainly reinforced what the Yankees believed he was ever since getting him from the Indians in the July 2016 deal that sent reliever Andrew Miller to Cleveland.
In the first 10 games after being recalled from the alternate site in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Frazier hit .344 (11-for-32) with three homers, 11 RBIs and posted a 1.182 OPS. Frazier finished the season hitting .267 (35-for-131) with eight homers, 26 RBIs and a .905 OPS.
Frazier appeared in four of the Yankees’ seven postseason games (two starts) and went 2-for-7 with a homer and RBI.
Now comes the harder part for Frazier: produce and stick in the big leagues.
When spring training opens, Frazier will be coming off a winter with a changed mindset.
“It’s a little different because I feel really good about my position going forward. At the end of the day, left field has been a few different people’s position the last few years,’’ Frazier said on YES’ “Hot Stove” program Monday night. “One week, it was [Brett Gardner], one week it was [Mike] Tauchman, one week it was me, and it was supposed to be [Giancarlo] Stanton when he [was acquired]. There are a lot of people who haven’t held it down, and I am hoping I am going to be able to hold it down. Obviously, Gardy played it 10-plus years, but I am talking recently. He played more in the playoffs than I did, and it was all based on performance. I know performance does matter. I am going to have to go into spring training and have a good spring training and, obviously, have a good season to continue to secure those reps.’’
Additionally, Frazier improved defensively in right and left field and was a finalist for an AL Gold Glove.
Asked what stood out for him in the 2020 season, Frazier went right for the defensive improvement.
“I would say the defense because of where it went from the year before,’’ Frazier said. “The defense was surprising to a lot of people, which was cool to see.’’
Frazier’s emergence as a player who has earned a chance at increased playing time doesn’t mean Aaron Boone will use him every game. Tauchman returns for his third season in The Bronx, and Gardner is a candidate to re-sign as a free agent. The left-handed hitting outfielders would provide Boone the opportunity to use one of them to take a tough right-hander off Frazier’s plate.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--‘Kinky Boots’ star J. Harrison Ghee selling virtual makeup lesson for charity

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Who better to shake New @ @ @ @ @ quagmire before the Zoom Christmas parties begin than Broadway ’ s go-to drag expert ?
@ @ @ @ @ virtual makeup lesson from “ Kinky Boots ” star J. Harrison Ghee is among the @ @ @ @ @ the Sing for Hope charity .
Apparently he ’ ll “ reveal his makeup secrets @ @ @ @ @ entertaining one-hour group or individual lesson.
” You can also pay for “ a Broadway @ @ @ @ @ ] open your Zoom event with a dazzling song performance.
” Renée Fleming and Tituss @ @ @ @ @ offering a private Zoom meeting for $ 10,000 .

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Who better to shake New Yorkers out of their quarantine quagmire before the Zoom Christmas parties begin than Broadway’s go-to drag expert?
We’re told a virtual makeup lesson from “Kinky Boots” star J. Harrison Ghee is among the experiences for sale to benefit the Sing for Hope charity.
Apparently he’ll “reveal his makeup secrets … in [an] entertaining one-hour group or individual lesson.”
You can also pay for “a Broadway or opera star [to] open your Zoom event with a dazzling song performance.”
Renée Fleming and Tituss Burgess are among the celebs offering a private Zoom meeting for $10,000.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Colt McCoy has the traits Giants need to fill Daniel Jones void

The Giants could breathe easier Monday knowing their starting quarterback ...

In the eyes of another career backup quarterback, Colt McCoy checks the two most important boxes for the position.
“I’ve always felt that being able to come on the field and fill in for somebody, you need to make good decisions and have some mobility,” Matt Cavanaugh told The Post. “Colt has both of those qualities.”
McCoy will start Sunday for the Giants against the Seahawks unless Daniel Jones makes a miraculously fast recovery from a hamstring strain. Cavanaugh, whose 13-year playing career included a Super Bowl ring on the bench with the 1990 Giants, has spent more time around McCoy than any other NFL coach, including four seasons as Washington’s quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator.
So, what would Cavanaugh emphasize in an offense geared toward the 34-year-old McCoy?
“I’m not going to say they have to change anything in their game plan,” Cavanaugh said. “He has very good mobility for a guy who is as strong as he is. Don’t sleep on his arm strength.
“The Giants want to run the ball. I would use him in the play-action game. He’s very good at the play-fake. As witnessed Sunday, he can convert some third downs for you because he knows how to read a coverage.”
The in-season improvement of the Giants offense coincides with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett dialing up more run-pass-options (RPOs) for Jones, who is the team’s leading rusher with 403 yards. The impact of the injury decreases if McCoy can keep defenses honest with his legs.
“He did that for us in Washington,” Cavanaugh said. “Alex Smith was running some RPOs coming out of the Kansas City offense and we incorporated a lot of what he was doing into our offense. Colt was backing him up and got a lot of that experience, too. He can absolutely do the RPO game.”
A hallmark of Joe Judge’s coaching staff is tweaking schemes to fit different players. Case in point: More power and fewer outside-zone runs with Wayne Gallman than with Saquon Barkley.
But Garrett called a RPO and a bootleg run for McCoy in fourth-quarter ball-security mode against the Bengals.
“Jason called our offense off the same play sheet the same way and Colt executed it,” Judge said. “Colt has a history of running the ball. You can put the ball in his hand and put him on the edge and let him run around and throw the ball, or sit him in the pocket. There is not much we have to change in the offense. Colt is very good as far as adapting to different things.”
McCoy was 1-3 as a fill-in starter in 2014 and 0-3 since then. All but seven of his 28 career starts came as a rookie and second-year player under then-Browns head coaches Eric Mangini and Pat Shurmur.
Washington still had playoff hopes when McCoy replaced the injured Alex Smith in 2018, but those crumbled when McCoy broke his right fibula just above the ankle. A grueling recovery included three surgeries.
“There were some mishaps along the way,” Cavanaugh said. “I saw every day the frustration of, ‘Cav, it just doesn’t feel right. I’m doing all the rehab and it’s not right.’ It took a long time, to the point where he tried to come back early and couldn’t quite do it.
“He battled his a– off and never stopped believing in himself. I never doubted his toughness, but to watch it happen and see him recover, it puts a stamp on everything I ever thought about how committed he is to helping his team win.”
Judge cites Giants practices where McCoy leading the scout-team creates fits for the starting defense. That was his reputation in Washington, too. Can he do the same to one of the NFL’s worst defenses against the Seahawks?
“He’s looking at his role as, ‘You call me a backup, but I know I can play and I want to help this team,’ ” Cavanaugh said. “If Daniel comes back this week, Colt is still a great guy to have around. If Daniel doesn’t play, Colt will play well and the Giants will be glad they got him.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--St. John’s survives roller-coaster performance to nip Boston College

St. John ’ s hasn ’ t been forced to pause its season yet ...

At its best, Mike Anderson’s relentless uptempo style of play is known as “40 minutes of hell.” This was more like a roller coaster.
Fortunately for St. John’s, it survived. But not by much. A 20-point second-half lead got trimmed to one in the final minute. Large stretches of strong play nearly went to waste.
Ultimately, though, the Johnnies survived dogged Boston College in the Mohegan Sun bubble in Uncasville, Conn., improving to 3-0 on the strength of a 97-93 victory.
Up 13 with 2:39 left, St. John’s nearly came undone, committing four turnovers, watching three key players foul out, and allowing Boston College to reel off 12 of the game’s next 13 points in the span of 2:09. But Greg Williams Jr. hit three clutch free throws in the final 43 seconds and Julian Champagnie, in his season debut after missing the first two games with an ankle injury, put an exclamation point on a huge performance with a potential game-saving block of a Wynston Tabbs 3-pointer in the final seconds.
“I’m glad we had this guy right next to me in this particular game,” Anderson said in his postgame Zoom, a nod to Champagnie sitting to his right.
John McGriff iced it with a free throw on the other end, and the Red Storm beat its first high-major opponent of the season. A one-point favorite, Boston College had entered coming off a quality win over Rhode Island and a strong showing against Big East-favorite Villanova.
There was so much to like, until the final minutes. St. John’s significantly raised its level of play against an improved opponent.
Champagnie, a sophomore from Brooklyn, showed no rust coming off the bench, scoring a career-high 29 points and adding 10 rebounds. He showed a soft touch from the perimeter, hitting a pair of 3-pointers, and was aggressive attacking the rim. When Boston College went on a 14-0 run midway through the second half, it was Champagnie who answered with four straight points.
“We’re trying to bring this guy [along] slowly, but slow isn’t a word for him,” Anderson said. “Before Julian went down with an injury, you could see he really improved over the summer in a lot of different aspects of how to play. [His performance] doesn’t surprise me. It was needed.”
Freshman point guard Posh Alexander was again a two-way factor, with 18 points, five assists and four rebounds and Williams added 17 points and six assists, while senior guard Rasheem Dunn (concussion) missed his second straight game.
Three different Johnnies had at least five assists, nine different players scored and they owned the paint, 52-38, while setting the tempo and turning 19 turnovers into 25 points.
St. John’s was in control most of the way after a shaky start, building a 12-point lead at halftime and went up 20 early in the second half. Everything was going right — almost too right. It didn’t stay that way. The lead nearly evaporated. St. John’s couldn’t avoid mistakes, started to play conservatively and stopped attacking. In the end, though, the Red Storm found a way. Champagnie made the game-sealing play.
“Pleased with a lot of areas, but there’s a lot of cleaning up we got to do,” Anderson said. “We got better tonight, though.”
Already, St. John’s had found a way to pull out a couple of close games. It rallied from four points down in the final 17.6 seconds to knock off St. Peter’s and it managed to hold onto a late lead on Monday. Despite a very different-looking roster that includes a new point guard, the Johnnies have managed to play well early on in the clutch.
“For us to be in a couple games like this already,” Anderson said, “that says a little bit more about our basketball team.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Mets tendering Steve Matz would be the right move

As the Mets look to remake the organization , it sounds ...

For just a moment, forget the Steven Matz who, over five years ago now, enjoyed the best debut in Flushing since the Beatles played Shea Stadium in 1965.
Forever, forget the Matz who lost his way, his job and his job security during the brutal, COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Instead, look at Matz’s 2016 through 2019 campaigns. Run the numbers and you get a guy who averaged a 4.17 ERA over 128 ¹/₃ innings for the length of a presidential term.
You get a pitcher worth about $5 million for the 2021 New York Mets.
On Wednesday’s tender deadline for all baseball players not under contract and not eligible for free agency, the Mets must make the call whether to retain Matz, their homegrown left-hander, for next season. As per the collectively bargained rules, they must offer him no less than 80 percent of his most recent salary, which was $5 million (he actually earned about $1.85 million over the 60 games), or else turn him into a free agent.
It appears the Mets will tender Matz, who can be a service-time free agent after next season, rather than set him free. And that will be the right call.
Yes, yes, Matz did post a horrific 9.68 ERA in nine games (six starts, three relief appearances) last season, getting demoted out of the starting rotation and spending time on the injured list with left shoulder discomfort. It was a disaster, one that will block Matz from upward financial mobility and could result in a “pre-tender” deal being finished on Wednesday rather than the two sides moving toward a potential arbitration hearing to determine the 29-year-old’s salary.
It was a disaster, but it was just a two-month disaster. Even the worst celebrity marriages last longer than two months. It’s not enough of a sample size to justify giving up on a guy who had established himself as useful and valuable despite not matching the initial highs of his magical 2015 rookie season featuring his 3-hit, 4-RBI, 7 ²/₃-innings, 2-runs big-league debut (and co-starring his exuberant grandpa).
Beyond Steve Cohen’s vast wealth, which creates room for error where it didn’t previously exist with this organization, Matz displayed enough flashes of hope amid his dumpster fire of a campaign. Most notably, his average sinker velocity of 94.5 ranked as his highest since that 2015 season (94.9).
That extra velocity might have been part of the problem, as the Mets’ ageless pitching guru Phil Regan recently opined to Newsday. Yet you’d rather manage that problem than the opposite. Furthermore, Matz’s 2020 spin rates, as per Baseball Savant, were not dramatically off from prior seasons and in some cases were higher.
Throw in the Mets’ lack of starting pitching depth, even as they engage with free agents like Trevor Bauer and Jake Odorizzi, and you have another reason to bring back Matz, whose commitment to community service makes him a good citizen as well.
If 2020 proves to be the trend rather than an aberration for Matz? Then you just release him or, if that’ll be too awkward, throw him on the injured list with an ailment of his choosing. You dip into that Cohen stash come the trade deadline and find more reinforcements.
If Matz simply rediscovers his 2019 form, though, then the Mets will have themselves a guy who will keep his club in games and who knows the terrain and the expectations that come with it for a reasonable price. If the team’s upgraded analytics help Matz move closer to that 2015 peak? Then he’ll become a bargain.
This is far from the most exciting call the Mets will make this winter. It’s the next one on the docket, however, and roster depth will be essential if they want to climb right back into relevance. It’s an easy call for a guy who won’t necessarily present an easy return on investment. And thanks to the Mets’ new status in the baseball world, it’s a call you can make without worrying about the fiscal consequences of those odds turning against them.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker attend maskless birthday bash in Atlanta

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) COVID-19 forced “ The Real Housewives of Atlanta ” to suspend production last month .
But that didn ’ t stop cast member Kandi Burruss and husband Todd Tucker from attending a packed , maskless 22nd birthday bash on Saturday .
The couple showed up to Atlanta ’ s Republic Lounge for a costume bash for Lil Wayne ’ s daughter , Reginae Carter , dressed as Lil ’ Kim and Diddy .
Burruss posted a video from the soiree in which she seemingly acknowledges that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She says , “ Lord , we ain ’ t supposed to be outside .
Only in Atlanta !
” Variety reported in November that “ Housewives ” had to stop filming for two weeks after a member of the production team tested positive for COVID-19 .
A rep for Bravo and Burruss didn ’ t comment on her attending the party .
Meanwhile , Carter ’ s famous dad was also at the party , gushing over his daughter .
He said he was “ 14 , 15 when I had this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me how to be a man and everything about life .
This is the motherf - - king most ultimate blessing in the world .
”

COVID-19 forced “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” to suspend production last month.
But that didn’t stop cast member Kandi Burruss and husband Todd Tucker from attending a packed, maskless 22nd birthday bash on Sunday. The couple showed up to Atlanta’s Republic Lounge for a costume bash for Lil Wayne’s daughter, Reginae Carter, dressed as Lil’ Kim and Diddy.
Burruss posted a video from the soiree in which she seemingly acknowledges that the party is a potential superspreader event. She says, “Lord, we ain’t supposed to be outside. Only in Atlanta!”
Variety reported in November that “Housewives” had to stop filming for two weeks after a member of the production team tested positive for COVID-19. A rep for Bravo and Burruss didn’t comment on her attending the party.
Meanwhile, Carter’s famous dad was also at the party, gushing over his daughter. He said he was “14, 15 when I had this beautiful person right here … She taught me how to be a man and everything about life. This is the motherf - - king most ultimate blessing in the world.”
Reps for the Carters didn’t comment.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Father, two young children killed by suspected drunk driver in California

A father and two of his children were killed by a suspected drunk driver in California last Friday after leaving a family member ’ s house .
Tavea Tarlton , 31 , was driving his four children in a Toyota Camry from his mother ’ s home when their car was struck at an intersection by a man driving a Ford Mustang at about 11:45 p.m. in San Bernardino , KTLA reported .
The driver of the Mustang , 23-year-old Brandon Jaquez-Perez , is accused of blowing a red light before striking the family , the report said , citing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s vehicle in flames .
The father , who witnesses could not pull from the vehicle , died at the scene .
His four children , ranging from ages 2 to 8 , were rescued from the burning car .
But the two youngest — a 2-year-old boy named Farroe and a 4-year-old girl named Eliza — died at the hospital .
“ It just hurts … knowing that you ’ re not going to be able to hug them , not going to be able to kiss them anymore , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told the news outlet .
“ I know even though they might not be here physically , but spiritually , they still are , ” McClenton said .
Tarlton ’ s two other children , Dallas and Khamyil , remain hospitalized , according to a GoFundMe page set for the family .
Jaquez-Perez was charged with suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter .

A father and two of his children were killed by a suspected drunk driver in California last Friday after leaving a family member’s house.
Tavea Tarlton, 31, was driving his four children in a Toyota Camry from his mother’s home when their car was struck at an intersection by a man driving a Ford Mustang at about 11:45 p.m. in San Bernardino, KTLA reported.
The driver of the Mustang, 23-year-old Brandon Jaquez-Perez, is accused of blowing a red light before striking the family, the report said, citing police.
The impact left Tarlton’s vehicle in flames. The father, who witnesses could not pull from the vehicle, died at the scene.
His four children, ranging from ages 2 to 8, were rescued from the burning car. But the two youngest — a 2-year-old boy named Farroe and a 4-year-old girl named Eliza — died at the hospital.
“It just hurts … knowing that you’re not going to be able to hug them, not going to be able to kiss them anymore,” the children’s cousin, Kiya McClenton, told the news outlet.
“I know even though they might not be here physically, but spiritually, they still are,” McClenton said.
Tarlton’s two other children, Dallas and Khamyil, remain hospitalized, according to a GoFundMe page set for the family.
Jaquez-Perez was charged with suspicion of DUI and gross vehicular manslaughter.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Democrats’ supermajority in the state Senate is terrible news for NY’s economy

As if a second COVID wave weren ’ t enough , New York ’ s prospects for economic recovery will face new headwinds — from Albany .
When most of a record 1.9 million mail-in ballots were finally counted last week , it was clear the state Senate ’ s existing 40-member Democratic majority would grow by at least two seats , giving them their first-ever two-thirds supermajority , enough to override the governor ’ s vetoes .
Combined with their long-standing supermajority in the Assembly , Democrats now are positioned to have the final word on the response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic recession .
Spending , now running far ahead of even optimistic revenue projections , must adjust to reflect reality — but reality doesn ’ t factor into the rising Albany worldview .
On average , the incoming class of legislators are more inclined to tax , spend and regulate the already heavily taxed , high-spending , over-regulated state .
Even before the pandemic , Senate and Assembly Democrats had introduced a slew of tax-hike proposals aimed at both individuals and corporations , including further increases in the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Other proposals included a revived stock-transfer tax , higher property taxes on non-primary “ pied-à-terre ” homes valued at $ 5 million or more and an unprecedented , constitutionally dubious “ Billionaire Mark to Market ” wealth tax .
So far , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo has resisted the call for tax hikes , pointing out that high earners could respond by simply moving away .
But he ’ s also warned that if federal aid doesn ’ t materialize soon , he ’ ll resort to a combination of spending cuts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor has claimed the Democrats ’ new Senate supermajority “ doesn ’ t really make a difference ” — but he knows better .
History shows that when legislators are in a position to neutralize gubernatorial vetoes , it makes a huge difference .
For example , during GOP Gov .
George Pataki ’ s third and final term , hundreds of his line-item budget vetoes were overridden by an alliance of Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans .
And after bankrolling Democratic candidates , the most powerful lobbying force in the Capitol will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vested interest in blocking cuts and contracting reforms .
Topping the list , as always , will be New York State United Teachers ( NYSUT ) , which provided much of the funding and logistical counterbalance to a $ 5 million independent-expenditure campaign , backed by Ronald Lauder , linking the Senate Democrats ’ criminal-justice agenda to Gotham ’ s crime wave and the “ defund police ” movement .
Breaking with the rest of public-sector organized labor , police unions also spent heavily on campaigns targeting the most vulnerable of Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those efforts initially appeared to have yielded fruit for the GOP , based on election night results showing that Republicans had big enough leads to flip four Democratic-held seats on Long Island and Westchester , and another in Brooklyn .
But early Republican victory declarations failed to reckon with the impact of a new state law that vastly expanded mail-in balloting .
As the absentee ballots were counted in the two weeks following Election Day , GOP Senate candidates saw their leads dwindle and disappear .
Still , the Democrats ’ record legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ ll have the will or the discipline to unite behind a common agenda .
Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins aren ’ t nearly as entrenched or powerful as their recent predecessors .
The governor , meanwhile , continues to wield considerable executive power .
How will Cuomo deal with this new reality ?
Rather than fight any pitched budget-cutting battles that he might lose , he could bend further left .
His options will become clearer after the Jan. 5 Georgia runoffs decide whether Republicans hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean less federal money and a more immediate fiscal crisis in New York .
Immediate fiscal challenges aside , there is no understating the longer-term significance of New York ’ s new legislative supermajorities .
For the first time in the federal Voting Rights Act era , Democrats will completely control the decennial redrawing of New York ’ s congressional and legislative district lines — inevitably moving New York state further along the path to a New York City-style political monoculture .
When a blue wave flipped New York ’ s Senate two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Manhattan made a prediction that increasingly looks clairvoyant .
“ We ’ re going to be testing the limits of progressive possibilities , ” he said .
“ I hope we look a lot more like California .
”

Beware Dems’ new Albany supermajorities
As if a second COVID wave weren’t enough, New York’s prospects for economic recovery will face new headwinds — from Albany.
When most of a record 1.9 million mail-in ballots were finally counted last week, it was clear the state Senate’s existing 40-member Democratic majority would grow by at least two seats, giving them their first-ever two-thirds supermajority, enough to override the governor’s vetoes.
Combined with their long-standing supermajority in the Assembly, Democrats now are positioned to have the final word on the response to enormous state and local budget gaps created by the pandemic recession.
Spending, now running far ahead of even optimistic revenue projections, must adjust to reflect reality — but reality doesn’t factor into the rising Albany worldview. On average, the incoming class of legislators are more inclined to tax, spend and regulate the already heavily taxed, high-spending, over-regulated state.
Even before the pandemic, Senate and Assembly Democrats had introduced a slew of tax-hike proposals aimed at both individuals and corporations, including further increases in the state’s already-high “millionaire tax” rate. Other proposals included a revived stock-transfer tax, higher property taxes on non-primary “pied-à-terre” homes valued at $5 million or more and an unprecedented, constitutionally dubious “Billionaire Mark to Market” wealth tax.
So far, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has resisted the call for tax hikes, pointing out that high earners could respond by simply moving away. But he’s also warned that if federal aid doesn’t materialize soon, he’ll resort to a combination of spending cuts, borrowing — and tax increases.
The governor has claimed the Democrats’ new Senate supermajority “doesn’t really make a difference” — but he knows better. History shows that when legislators are in a position to neutralize gubernatorial vetoes, it makes a huge difference.
For example, during GOP Gov. George Pataki’s third and final term, hundreds of his line-item budget vetoes were overridden by an alliance of Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans.
And after bankrolling Democratic candidates, the most powerful lobbying force in the Capitol will be the labor unions, which have a vested interest in blocking cuts and contracting reforms.
Topping the list, as always, will be New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), which provided much of the funding and logistical counterbalance to a $5 million independent-expenditure campaign, backed by Ronald Lauder, linking the Senate Democrats’ criminal-justice agenda to Gotham’s crime wave and the “defund police” movement. Breaking with the rest of public-sector organized labor, police unions also spent heavily on campaigns targeting the most vulnerable of Long Island’s first-term Senate Democrats.
Those efforts initially appeared to have yielded fruit for the GOP, based on election night results showing that Republicans had big enough leads to flip four Democratic-held seats on Long Island and Westchester, and another in Brooklyn.
But early Republican victory declarations failed to reckon with the impact of a new state law that vastly expanded mail-in balloting. As the absentee ballots were counted in the two weeks following Election Day, GOP Senate candidates saw their leads dwindle and disappear.
Still, the Democrats’ record legislative numbers don’t necessarily mean that they’ll have the will or the discipline to unite behind a common agenda. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins aren’t nearly as entrenched or powerful as their recent predecessors. The governor, meanwhile, continues to wield considerable executive power.
How will Cuomo deal with this new reality? Rather than fight any pitched budget-cutting battles that he might lose, he could bend further left. His options will become clearer after the Jan. 5 Georgia runoffs decide whether Republicans hold their US Senate majority, which would mean less federal money and a more immediate fiscal crisis in New York.
Immediate fiscal challenges aside, there is no understating the longer-term significance of New York’s new legislative supermajorities. For the first time in the federal Voting Rights Act era, Democrats will completely control the decennial redrawing of New York’s congressional and legislative district lines — inevitably moving New York state further along the path to a New York City-style political monoculture.
When a blue wave flipped New York’s Senate two years ago, state Sen. Brad Hoylman of Manhattan made a prediction that increasingly looks clairvoyant. “We’re going to be testing the limits of progressive possibilities,” he said. “I hope we look a lot more like California.”
Brace yourself, New Yorkers.
Adapted from City Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Tom Thibodeau hasn’t seen anything like this Knicks task

The only drawback in drafting 6-foot-9 Obi Toppin last week ...

The first time Tom Thibodeau opened a debut training camp was 10 years ago, and he knew exactly what he would be walking into on Sept. 27, 2010, at the Berto Center in Deerfield, Ill.
Waiting for him inside that gymnasium was Derrick Rose, 21, who across the next six months would blossom into the NBA’s Most Valuable Player. So was Joakim Noah, 24, on the verge of starting a five-year stretch in which he would average a double-double and be one of the NBA’s best defenders. So was Luol Deng, 24, already a five-year veteran and a reliable scorer.
“This is a good team,” Thibodeau said on the eve of training camp — oddly, Thibodeau was allowed, encouraged even, to express public thoughts in free-speech Chicago — “and I think we all know we have the capacity to get much better if we can learn to work together.”
The second time Tom Thibodeau opened a debut training camp was six years later, and he knew exactly what he would be walking into on Sept. 26, 2016, at the Mayo Clinic Square Training Facility in Minneapolis.
Waiting for him inside that gymnasium was Karl-Anthony Towns, 21, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year who was about to become a top-10 player. So was Andrew Wiggins, also 21, who’d won the same award the year before. So was Zach LaVine, himself only 21, on the verge of becoming one of the league’s most explosive offensive weapons, good enough to be traded for Jimmy Butler.
“I think any coach would be excited to have those kinds of pieces to work with,” Thibodeau said on the eve of training camp — oddly, Thibodeau was allowed, encouraged even, to express public thoughts in free-speech Minnesota — “and I can’t wait to get to work with these guys, see what we can become.”
Thibodeau’s third debut training camp will be Tuesday, and we must take it on faith that he knows exactly what he will be walking into at the Knicks’ practice facility in Westchester County because since he last uttered a public word during September minicamps. He has either been subjected to an absurd Knicks gag order or had his voice box surgically removed.
So we can really only presume what he thinks about the players who will be awaiting him inside his gymnasium in Tarrytown.
We can assume he is excited about having the chance to coach Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley from the very start of their careers; we can guess he accepts as a genuine challenge maximizing the tantalizing skills of RJ Barrett and Mitchell Robinson; we can suppose he will accept the puzzles of Kevin Knox and Frank Ntilikina, trying to will them to acceptable professional standards; we can imagine he will lean heavily on Julius Randle (19.5 points, 9.7 rebounds per game last season), the Knicks’ lone veteran with any kind of professional pedigree.
Thibodeau surely understands that the challenge that awaits him here is far different than the ones greeting him in Chicago — which he elevated from 41 to 62 wins in one year — and in Minnesota — 29 to 47 in two — and that he must have a far more patient approach than he’s ever had before. Surely he convinced Leon Rose that he’s capable of that.
And that’s good. Because right now it is Thibodeau who is, by far, the most accomplished Knick, and that is never a good sign for a basketball team. Great coaches become great because there is more relevant greatness in the room, excellent players who can turn abstract X’s and O’s into wondrous and wonderful basketball art on the floor. The Knicks are a long way away from art, although in recent years they have resembled some of the stuff Jackson Pollock might’ve tossed aside as rough drafts.
Still, he is a start. He is a building block. It is on him to preach professionalism and craft the seedlings of promise here, on him to infuse the kids with a sense of belonging and the older guys with a sense of purpose. Gifted coaches can carry the day in high school, and they can create “systems” that succeed each year in college. In the NBA, by definition, they must be silent partners in a team’s success. The Knicks don’t have Derrick Rose on their roster, don’t have Karl-Anthony Towns, not now, not yet.
For now, they have a coach who is also, for better or worse, their star attraction. It is on him to start the process where he can slowly fade to the background, pull the strings from afar, where the focus can be on the guys on the court. Someday, perhaps. Just not this day. Not now. Not yet.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Newly-leaked documents reveal how China bungled COVID-19’s early days

A trove of newly-leaked documents detail how China bungled its handling of the pandemic ’ s early days — including lowballing COVID-19 data and taking weeks to diagnose new cases , according to a report on Monday .
The 117 pages of internal docs obtained by CNN outline how health officials in Hubei , where the virus was first detected , were hampered by chronic underfunding , leading to gaps in staffing and testing equipment .
“ It was clear they did make mistakes — and not just mistakes that happen when you ’ re dealing with a novel virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they handled it , ” Yanzhong Huang , a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations , told the outlet .
The papers , from the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention , reveal inconsistencies between what officials knew at the start of the outbreak and what they publicly reported , the report said .
Chinese officials “ seemed actually to minimize the impact of the epidemic at any moment in time , ” including by not including the number of suspected cases in its total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University .
A report from Hubei marked “ internal document , please keep confidential ” shows how local health officials on Feb. 10 reported 5,918 new coronavirus cases — while the publicly reported number was just 2,478 , according to CNN .
“ China had an image to protect internationally , and lower-ranking officials had a clear incentive to under-report — or to show their superiors that they were under-reporting — to outside eyes , ” said Andrew Mertha , director of the China Studies Program at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials did improve the system and fired top health officials in Hubei who would have been responsible for the reporting , the outlet reported .
The documents also reveal how it took an average of 23.2 days to diagnose cases in the first months of the outbreak , causing the government to use outdated figures to determine how to respond to the unfolding crisis .
“ You ’ re looking at data that ’ s three weeks old and trying to make a decision for today , ” said Dr. Amesh Adalja , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The report notes that the system improved by March 7 , with over 80 percent of the new confirmed cases diagnosed being recorded in the system that same day .
Also , the papers show how Hubei was hit with a previously-undisclosed outbreak of influenza in December , potentially complicating the work of officials on the lookout for new viruses .
The files show that health officials didn ’ t realize the magnitude of the outbreak or that it would evolve into a global crisis .
“ They had a massive run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmed , ” said Dali Yang of the Council of Foreign Relations .

A trove of newly leaked documents detail how China bungled its handling of the pandemic’s early days — including lowballing COVID-19 data and taking weeks to diagnose new cases, according to a report Monday.
The 117 pages of internal docs obtained by CNN outline how health officials in Hubei, where the virus was first detected, were hampered by chronic underfunding, leading to gaps in staffing and testing equipment.
“It was clear they did make mistakes — and not just mistakes that happen when you’re dealing with a novel virus — also bureaucratic and politically motivated errors in how they handled it,” Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, told the outlet.
The papers, from the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, reveal inconsistencies between what officials knew at the start of the outbreak and what they publicly reported, the report said.
Chinese officials “seemed actually to minimize the impact of the epidemic at any moment in time,” including by not including the number of suspected cases in its total at first, said William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University.
A report from Hubei marked “Internal document, please keep confidential” shows how local health officials on Feb. 10 reported 5,918 new coronavirus cases — while the publicly reported number was just 2,478, according to CNN.
“China had an image to protect internationally, and lower-ranking officials had a clear incentive to under-report — or to show their superiors that they were under-reporting — to outside eyes,” said Andrew Mertha, director of the China Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University.
By mid-February, officials did improve the system and fired top health officials in Hubei who would have been responsible for the reporting, the outlet reported.
The documents also reveal how it took an average of 23.2 days to diagnose cases in the first months of the outbreak, causing the government to use outdated figures to determine how to respond to the unfolding crisis.
“You’re looking at data that’s three weeks old and trying to make a decision for today,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.
The report notes that the system improved by March 7, with over 80 percent of the new confirmed cases diagnosed being recorded in the system that same day.
Also, the papers show how Hubei was hit with a previously undisclosed outbreak of influenza in December, potentially complicating the work of officials on the lookout for new viruses.
The files show that health officials didn’t realize the magnitude of the outbreak or that it would evolve into a global crisis.
“They had a massive run on the medical system. They were overwhelmed,” said Dali Yang of the Council of Foreign Relations.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Cindy Adams remembers David Dinkins

Cindy Adams remembers David Dinkins

Saturday NYC officials officially said farewell to former Mayor David Dinkins , 93 .
On his 90th birthday , he whispered to me : “ They began partying for me three years ago , just to make sure.
” David and I were close .
We survived a trunkload of lives together .
In the ’ 80s , as city clerk handling marriage licenses , he ’ d drive around this town we loved and tell me he enlisted in the Marines in high school when he weighed 120 .
His goal then ?
“ I ’ ll bust my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” His goal now ?
“ I just want once to play a judge on ‘ Law & Order.
’ ” His outlet ?
Tennis .
Even on icy winter mornings .
The twinkle ?
“ I look so good in shorts.
” Me , his repeat date at the US Open .
Jan. 1 , 1990 .
“ I ’ ll never ever forget this first day in office .
It was the coldest 24 hours ever in the history of mankind.
” In ’ 93 , beaten by Giuliani for mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said : “ OK .
Providing I don ’ t have to look at anything about Rudy.
” That year , drinking beer at the annual Inner Circle roast : “ People made their choice — and now they must be punished.
” Returning from visiting Gov .
Mario Cuomo in Albany , his helicopter ran out of gas .
’ 95 , we flew to Chicago .
Major Dem hooley .
He ’ d packed trunks .
Dandy David always praised the tailor who custom-made his suits .
Mid-flight , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clothes .
I said : “ I bet your shorts are color-coded to your watchband.
” My suitcase went lost .
His luggage arrived perfectly .
Five days he ’ d say he couldn ’ t be seen with me in the wrinkles I arrived in .
David called a local friend with my size and asked for a donation .
It arrived that day — same morning we flew home .
Director Regina King ’ s “ One Night in Miami ” is about a 1964 fictionalized meeting .
Muhammad Ali , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ X discussing black men being successful during the civil rights movement .
Leslie Odom Jr. , playing Cooke , says : “ I ’ m thinking someone ’ s better for this than I .
Me spending so much time carving out a place for myself with everyone wanting to make the next Will Smith , Wesley Snipes , Denzel .
Scary .
At my start I ’ m thinking , ‘ What if I ’ m not a great Sam Cooke ?
’ ” Obviously , he is .
It opens Christmas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , done that “ The Way Back.
” Came out in March .
Its theatrical run got trimmed by COVID .
Ben Affleck as an alcoholic basketball coach says : “ I ’ m not from Laurence Olivier ’ s outside-in , inside-out school of acting .
Creating a face to show being upset doesn ’ t work .
I need similar feelings to take hold of how characters feel .
Performance , most important thing in the movie , carries everything .
When I started , I took anything to advance myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what engages me .
Mediocre ’ s not interesting .
I don ’ t want to be bored .
I want something I ’ m proud to show my kids if I could ever get my kids to watch my movies .
I showed them one for 10 minutes .
They said , ‘ Looks like it ’ s made in the ’ 90s.
’ I said , ‘ Because it was made in the ’ 90s.
’ In ‘ Mallrats ’ they made fun of my ’ 90s suits .
I now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just finished playing Ridley Scott ’ s Middle Ages eccentric royal character .
He shoots with multiple cameras .
Everyone on camera at the same time .
I loved it .
Lately acting ’ s more exciting to me than ever .
Maybe I ’ m a late bloomer.
” After the bitter 1800 election , incumbent Adams ducked the swearing-in of Jefferson , who began the traditional march from Capitol to White House .
1828 : the Andrew Jackson-John Quincy Adams rematch .
Like his father , Adams split before Jackson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who assumed the presidency after Lincoln ’ s assassination ?
He was “ too busy ” to attend Grant ’ s subsequent swearing-in .
We hear President Trump will attend Biden ’ s big day .
And how ’ s newie Biden whose leg is now in a boot ?
With lefties already attacking his Cabinet picks , Joe himself mightn ’ t even show .
Only in the USA , kids , only in the USA .

Saturday NYC officials officially said farewell to former Mayor David Dinkins, 93. On his 90th birthday, he whispered to me: “They began partying for me three years ago, just to make sure.”
David and I were close. We survived a trunkload of lives together. In the ’80s, as city clerk handling marriage licenses, he’d drive around this town we loved and tell me he enlisted in the Marines in high school when he weighed 120.
His goal then? “I’ll bust my ass on a campaign to be mayor.” His goal now? “I just want once to play a judge on ‘Law & Order.’ ”
His outlet? Tennis. Even on icy winter mornings. The twinkle? “I look so good in shorts.” Me, his repeat date at the US Open.
Jan. 1, 1990. “I’ll never ever forget this first day in office. It was the coldest 24 hours ever in the history of mankind.” In ’93, beaten by Giuliani for mayor, we were at Le Cirque. He said: “OK. Providing I don’t have to look at anything about Rudy.” That year, drinking beer at the annual Inner Circle roast: “People made their choice — and now they must be punished.”
Returning from visiting Gov. Mario Cuomo in Albany, his helicopter ran out of gas.
’95, we flew to Chicago. Major Dem hooley. He’d packed trunks. Dandy David always praised the tailor who custom-made his suits. Mid-flight, he came out of the can in changed clothes. I said: “I bet your shorts are color-coded to your watchband.”
My suitcase went lost. His luggage arrived perfectly. Five days he’d say he couldn’t be seen with me in the wrinkles I arrived in.
David called a local friend with my size and asked for a donation. It arrived that day — same morning we flew home.
I loved David Dinkins.
‘Miami’ nice
Director Regina King’s “One Night in Miami” is about a 1964 fictionalized meeting. Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X discussing black men being successful during the civil rights movement.
Leslie Odom Jr., playing Cooke, says: “I’m thinking someone’s better for this than I. Me spending so much time carving out a place for myself with everyone wanting to make the next Will Smith, Wesley Snipes, Denzel. Scary. At my start I’m thinking, ‘What if I’m not a great Sam Cooke?’ ”
Obviously, he is. It opens Christmas Day.
He’s Ben there, done that
“The Way Back.” Came out in March. Its theatrical run got trimmed by COVID.
Ben Affleck as an alcoholic basketball coach says: “I’m not from Laurence Olivier’s outside-in, inside-out school of acting. Creating a face to show being upset doesn’t work. I need similar feelings to take hold of how characters feel. Performance, most important thing in the movie, carries everything. When I started, I took anything to advance myself. Now, it’s only what engages me. Mediocre’s not interesting. I don’t want to be bored. I want something I’m proud to show my kids if I could ever get my kids to watch my movies. I showed them one for 10 minutes. They said, ‘Looks like it’s made in the ’90s.’ I said, ‘Because it was made in the ’90s.’ In ‘Mallrats’ they made fun of my ’90s suits. I now want what generates the most passion. I just finished playing Ridley Scott’s Middle Ages eccentric royal character. He shoots with multiple cameras. Everyone on camera at the same time. I loved it. Lately acting’s more exciting to me than ever. Maybe I’m a late bloomer.”
Meh, just skip it
After the bitter 1800 election, incumbent Adams ducked the swearing-in of Jefferson, who began the traditional march from Capitol to White House. 1828: the Andrew Jackson-John Quincy Adams rematch. Like his father, Adams split before Jackson took the oath. And Andrew Johnson who assumed the presidency after Lincoln’s assassination? He was “too busy” to attend Grant’s subsequent swearing-in.
We hear President Trump will attend Biden’s big day. And how’s newie Biden whose leg is now in a boot? With lefties already attacking his Cabinet picks, Joe himself mightn’t even show.
Only in the USA, kids, only in the USA.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Is NYC’s Department of Education trying to sabotage Catholic schools?

Zero point two percent : That ’ s the rate at which people ...

Last week, Justice Wayne Ozzi of the state Supreme Court delivered a clear message to the New York City Department of Education: When it comes to health and safety, and not least COVID-19 testing services from the city, New York state law insists that children in public and nonpublic schools be treated equally — period.
It’s peculiar that the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of New York would need to go to court to vindicate this basic legal principle, especially in the middle of a public-health emergency. It’s more peculiar still that the city decided to appeal almost as soon as Justice Ozzi dismissed all of the DOE’s arguments and ruled in favor of nonpublic schools.
That means that despite our clear legal victory, the DOE got to temporarily suspend Ozzi’s order to “immediately provide . . . all New York City nonpublic schools with COVID-19 testing resources and services in the same manner and to the same extent as [city authorities] have been providing those health and welfare services to public schools.”
Do Mayor de Blasio and his schools chancellor, Richard Carranza, really believe that children in nonpublic schools deserve inferior measures to protect their health? Apparently.
Sadly, this isn’t the first time the city has gone out of its way to treat nonpublic school kids as second class. The federal CARES Act granted emergency relief to help all schools with COVID-related costs, including personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, remote-learning technology and even salaries. Yet the city went to court to prohibit our religious and independent schools from receiving their proportionate share. As a result, our schools will see very little of that emergency relief, the bulk of which will go to government schools.
Catholic educators in the archdiocese worked diligently from March through August to develop a comprehensive plan to reopen our schools for in-person learning. Our brave, committed administrators and teachers are giving these students just what they need during this pandemic: the continuation of in-person instruction in a safe environment.
I wouldn’t want to believe that some in city government would see our success as a threat and are thus doing whatever they can to thwart us. But it’s hard to avoid that impression after what the DOE has put us through.
Catholic schools have rigorously obeyed the health and safety guidelines put forth by city and state. We would never do anything to jeopardize the health of our kids.
Back in March, when the seriousness of the coronavirus became apparent, we closed our schools even before the city decided to close public schools. If there were any indication that our kids would be put in harm’s way, we wouldn’t need to wait for someone to order us to shutter; we’d do so of our own accord — immediately.
But our schools are committed to staying open. The positivity rate in our schools falls well below the 3 percent threshold: It’s actually a minuscule 0.0046 percent. We’ve demonstrated that we can operate safely, and we will continue to do so.
The mayor has been on the news lately, saying (rightly) that the key to reopening schools is testing and more testing. That’s great to hear. Why, then, are he and Carranza so dead-set against following state law, now backed by a court order, requiring public and nonpublic kids to receive the same testing resources?
Our court case and Judge Ozzi’s order dealt with schools in “yellow” zones. Now that the virus is spreading, and more parts of the city are entering orange and potentially red zones, will we see additional draconian steps taken by the DOE that will put more of our kids at risk?
Hizzoner famously ran for office decrying the “two New Yorks.” He pledged to treat all New Yorkers equally. Well, he is the mayor of all schoolchildren in Gotham, as well, and he should tell Carranza to stop treating public and nonpublic school children differently.
COVID-19 doesn’t discriminate among children in our community based on the schools they attend. The DOE shouldn’t discriminate, either.
Michael Deegan is the superintendent of schools for the Archdiocese of New York.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Amusement parks may be worst victims of Cuomo’s arbitrary pandemic rules

Even as New York restaurants , gyms , barbershops and bowling alleys got to reopen with various restrictions , amusement parks have been left out in the cold .
They ’ ve given up hope for the year , since the season ends in October — but they ’ re begging for action in advance of March , when the new season begins .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo didn ’ t include outdoor amusement parks in his reopening scheme , though several owners submitted plans for social distancing and added sanitization .
Long Island ’ s Adventureland had updated its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again by July , when most other states had already reopened parks .
But rules for reopening even iconic New York sites like Coney Island ’ s Wonder Wheel and Luna Park never came , and owners now fear they ’ ll be sidelined for a second straight year .
At best , a March reopening will make it over 18 months since these businesses — many small and family-owned — have had any income .
Luna Park alone employs 1,200 workers , some of whom have already moved out to find work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own Luna Park , have watched museums , ski resorts and movie theaters reopen .
Why can ’ t their open-air attractions ?
In September , six park owners wrote an open letter to Cuomo asking for answers .
Three months later : silence .
This rank injustice again shows the arbitrariness of the state ’ s pandemic rules .
Why can New Yorkers sit in a movie theater but not on the Wonder Wheel ?
At the least , the gov owes these people an explanation .

Even as New York restaurants, gyms, barbershops and bowling alleys got to reopen with various restrictions, amusement parks have been left out in the cold. They’ve given up hope for the year, since the season ends in October — but they’re begging for action in advance of March, when the new season begins.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn’t include outdoor amusement parks in his reopening scheme, though several owners submitted plans for social distancing and added sanitization.
Long Island’s Adventureland had updated its protocols and was prepared to welcome guests again by July, when most other states had already reopened parks. But rules for reopening even iconic New York sites like Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel and Luna Park never came, and owners now fear they’ll be sidelined for a second straight year.
At best, a March reopening will make it over 18 months since these businesses — many small and family-owned — have had any income. Luna Park alone employs 1,200 workers, some of whom have already moved out to find work.
Families like the Zamperlas, who own Luna Park, have watched museums, ski resorts and movie theaters reopen. Why can’t their open-air attractions?
In September, six park owners wrote an open letter to Cuomo asking for answers. Three months later: silence.
This rank injustice again shows the arbitrariness of the state’s pandemic rules. Why can New Yorkers sit in a movie theater but not on the Wonder Wheel? At the least, the gov owes these people an explanation.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Trump’s ‘fraud’ charges run real risk of costing GOP Senate runoffs in Georgia

‘ If voters believe the game is rigged , why should they bother playing ?
’ President Trump and his supporters have reason to be sore about how they ’ ve been treated .
But their anger about the hypocrisy of their opponents and hard feelings about the way Joe Biden won shouldn ’ t encourage them to give up .
That ’ s the danger of promoting the belief that the 2020 election was “ fixed ” : It could mean letting Democrats win the two all-important Georgia Senate runoff races , giving the left undivided control .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerns about mail-in ballots are worthy of investigation .
But the conspiracy theories being floated about software flipping millions of votes from Trump to Biden could be the best thing that ever happened to the Democrats : Republicans concluding their votes don ’ t matter .
A lot of Republicans sound like sore losers now .
But you could have said the same thing about Democrats after Trump won in 2016 .
Democrats not only refused to accept the legitimacy of Trump ’ s 2016 win , they spent the four years that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsely claiming it was the product of Russian intervention .
They relentlessly promoted a “ collusion ” theory that turned out to be utter bunk .
The media didn ’ t even bother to pretend to be fair or objective in their coverage of the administration — or in their willingness to protect Biden from scrutiny at every step .
And liberal social-media oligarchs censored those , like reporters for this paper , who investigated Dem scandals .
All this means the 2020 election wasn ’ t an entirely fair fight .
Still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatigue clearly cost the president the election .
Pretending that he really “ won ” isn ’ t going to help anyone , least of all the GOP .
Many of the president ’ s followers are drawing dark lessons from his accusations .
If you think — as Trump keeps telling us — that elections are rigged , why bother voting ?
That ’ s the conclusion some on the right are coming to about the Georgia Senate runoffs .
Some Trump voters intend to boycott the runoffs .
They ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue — of being insufficiently zealous in supporting efforts to overturn the election results .
‘ This is in spite of the fact that they were pressured into calling for the resignation of Georgia ’ s Trump-supporting Republican secretary of state , who oversaw the voting and who is wrongly accused of being complicit in Biden allegedly stealing the state .
That ’ s one of the problems with conspiracies .
Anyone who doesn ’ t accept all of the theory ’ s assumptions is regarded as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters now think this way , the blame belongs to Trump , because he has taught his followers to believe that the only way he could lose would be by massive fraud .
The consequences of this craziness are potentially enormous .
If Loeffler and Perdue are defeated , Democrats will win control of the Senate .
Then there will be nothing to stop them from ending the filibuster , allowing Biden to pack the Supreme Court , passing a dangerously radical Green New Deal — and granting statehood to the District of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thus creating potentially four more Democratic senators .
Perhaps some people think Trump losing is the end of the world .
But for the rest of us — who will have to live in an America made unrecognizable by legislation backed by the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her socialist Squad — there is something still worth a fight .
Given that the two Democrats running in Georgia are left-wingers , it would be a scandal if they skate to victory because Republicans don ’ t turn out .
The president has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Perdue , but he has to do more than just show up in Georgia .
He may spend the rest of his life claiming he was cheated , but he has to make it clear to his fans that their votes do matter — something that was made obvious by the many down-ballot victories scored by the GOP .
Whether or not Trump is serious about running again in 2024 , he owes it to the people who voted for him — and the country — to do everything in his power to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic takeover of the Senate .
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS.org .

‘If voters believe the game is rigged, why should they bother playing?’
President Trump and his supporters have reason to be sore about how they’ve been treated. But their anger about the hypocrisy of their opponents and hard feelings about the way Joe Biden won shouldn’t encourage them to give up.
That’s the danger of promoting the belief that the 2020 election was “fixed”: It could mean letting Democrats win the two all-important Georgia Senate runoff races, giving the left undivided control.
There were plenty of irregularities, and legitimate concerns about mail-in ballots are worthy of investigation. But the conspiracy theories being floated about software flipping millions of votes from Trump to Biden could be the best thing that ever happened to the Democrats: Republicans concluding their votes don’t matter.
A lot of Republicans sound like sore losers now. But you could have said the same thing about Democrats after Trump won in 2016. Democrats not only refused to accept the legitimacy of Trump’s 2016 win, they spent the four years that followed trying to discredit the results by falsely claiming it was the product of Russian intervention. They relentlessly promoted a “collusion” theory that turned out to be utter bunk.
The media didn’t even bother to pretend to be fair or objective in their coverage of the administration — or in their willingness to protect Biden from scrutiny at every step. And liberal social-media oligarchs censored those, like reporters for this paper, who investigated Dem scandals.
All this means the 2020 election wasn’t an entirely fair fight. Still, the novel-coronavirus pandemic and general Trump fatigue clearly cost the president the election. Pretending that he really “won” isn’t going to help anyone, least of all the GOP.
Many of the president’s followers are drawing dark lessons from his accusations. If you think — as Trump keeps telling us — that elections are rigged, why bother voting?
That’s the conclusion some on the right are coming to about the Georgia Senate runoffs. Some Trump voters intend to boycott the runoffs. They’re accusing the two GOP candidates — Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue — of being insufficiently zealous in supporting efforts to overturn the election results. ‘
This is in spite of the fact that they were pressured into calling for the resignation of Georgia’s Trump-supporting Republican secretary of state, who oversaw the voting and who is wrongly accused of being complicit in Biden allegedly stealing the state.
That’s one of the problems with conspiracies. Anyone who doesn’t accept all of the theory’s assumptions is regarded as part of the conspiracy. If some GOP voters now think this way, the blame belongs to Trump, because he has taught his followers to believe that the only way he could lose would be by massive fraud.
The consequences of this craziness are potentially enormous. If Loeffler and Perdue are defeated, Democrats will win control of the Senate. Then there will be nothing to stop them from ending the filibuster, allowing Biden to pack the Supreme Court, passing a dangerously radical Green New Deal — and granting statehood to the District of Columbia and maybe even Puerto Rico, thus creating potentially four more Democratic senators.
Perhaps some people think Trump losing is the end of the world. But for the rest of us — who will have to live in an America made unrecognizable by legislation backed by the likes of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her socialist Squad — there is something still worth a fight.
Given that the two Democrats running in Georgia are left-wingers, it would be a scandal if they skate to victory because Republicans don’t turn out.
The president has said he will campaign for Loeffler and Perdue, but he has to do more than just show up in Georgia. He may spend the rest of his life claiming he was cheated, but he has to make it clear to his fans that their votes do matter — something that was made obvious by the many down-ballot victories scored by the GOP.
Whether or not Trump is serious about running again in 2024, he owes it to the people who voted for him — and the country — to do everything in his power to end the conspiracy mongering and stop a Democratic takeover of the Senate.
Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS.org.
Twitter: @JonathanS_Tobin


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Jets sticking with Sam Darnold in his likely final stand

And to think : There actually were some Jets fans who ...

Jets quarterback Sam Darnold struggled in his return Sunday, but don’t expect a change at the position this season.
On Monday, coach Adam Gase backed Darnold, who threw two interceptions against the Dolphins in his first game back from a shoulder injury.
“I think Sam is the starter, and we need Sam to play as many snaps as possible,” Gase said. “I think we’re just going to keep working to get better every week, and I think he will. I think he’s very competitive and he wants to do well and he’s looking forward to this next game.”
It is fair to question whether the Jets are better off playing backup Joe Flacco. The Jets offense played better in the last two games Flacco started. Flacco threw five touchdown passes combined against the Patriots and Chargers. Sunday was the fourth straight start for Darnold without a touchdown pass. His last touchdown throw came on Sept. 27 against the Colts in Week 3. He has three touchdown passes all year.
“When I look at, kind of when you go back and watch the game, it’s easy to point at the quarterback all the time,” Gase said. “To me it’s, one, Sam needs to play. I want him to play, I want him to be out there. I feel like it wasn’t all on him every drive. Were there some mistakes made? Yes. But it wasn’t every drive was his fault. I mean we don’t pull out offensive linemen because they get beat one time or two or three or five times. We don’t pull out receivers when they drop the ball. Guys have got to stay in there and play, that’s football.”
It has been a disappointing season all around for the 0-11 Jets, but Darnold may be the biggest disappointment of all. There were high expectations for Darnold in his third season, but he has failed to live up to them. Some of that is on Darnold. Some of that is on Gase. Some of that is on the offensive line and wide receivers surrounding him.
Now, it feels like these are the final five games of Darnold’s Jets career. If the Jets wind up with the No. 1 pick, they are expected to draft Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and trade Darnold. If they pick No. 2, then they face a decision of whether to trade Darnold and draft Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields or stick with Darnold.
Darnold was asked if he feels like he is auditioning for his job in 2021.
“No,” Darnold said. “Every single day I need to come in with a worker’s mentality and making sure I’m doing everything I need to do every single day to put this team and this offense, in particular, in a good position to score touchdowns and win a football game. That’s all I’m focused on.”
As the calendar turns to December, it feels like any hope for Darnold turning things around this season is gone. Gase still believes Darnold can show something in the final five games.
“I think there can definitely be improvement,” Gase said. “I think there was some things that he can fix very quickly. I think we all forget that he hadn’t played in a few weeks, getting out there with a couple new guys. Our timing was good on some things, not as good on others. We’ve still got to build that trust, keep building that trust. I know there are some plays where he definitely wishes he could go back and have a redo, but that’s not how it works. There were a few other decisions that when we get cleaned up, we might have a different outcome.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--De Blasio’s school-reopening rules make some sense — but took painfully long time

Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s latest turnaround on school closures seems a plus — but the chaos has left many parents frustrated , furious and downright dizzy .
After abruptly closing schools Nov. 19 because the citywide positivity rate hit 3 percent , de Blasio is abandoning that metric .
Now , he aims to keep schools open regardless of what happens citywide .
He ’ ll test 20 percent of in-school students weekly and close buildings on a school-by-school basis .
His plan for reopening now looks much like what Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and City Council Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It starts next Monday , Dec. 7 , as preschoolers and K-5 students go back .
Three days later , special-ed kids at all grade levels attending District 75 schools return .
De Blasio has no timeline yet for bringing back middle and high schoolers , but he told CNN ’ s Alisyn Camerota it ’ s unlikely before January .
At least those older kids are better suited to remote learning .
Better : He says he sees lower grades returning to the classroom full time , five-days-a-week , soon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents another chance to switch from full remote to in-person learning .
Williams is ( quite rightly ) not satisfied , saying the city can ’ t wait for the mayor “ to come to the right conclusions at the wrong moments in time.
” Students , parents , teachers and principals all deserve city leadership better than this .

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s latest turnaround on school closures seems a plus — but the chaos has left many parents frustrated, furious and downright dizzy.
After abruptly closing schools Nov. 19 because the citywide positivity rate hit 3 percent, de Blasio is abandoning that metric. Now, he aims to keep schools open regardless of what happens citywide. He’ll test 20 percent of in-school students weekly and close buildings on a school-by-school basis.
His plan for reopening now looks much like what Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and City Council Education Committee Chairman Mark Treyger proposed weeks ago. It starts next Monday, Dec. 7, as preschoolers and K-5 students go back. Three days later, special-ed kids at all grade levels attending District 75 schools return.
De Blasio has no timeline yet for bringing back middle and high schoolers, but he told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota it’s unlikely before January. At least those older kids are better suited to remote learning.
Better: He says he sees lower grades returning to the classroom full time, five-days-a-week, soon. And he’s talking about offering parents another chance to switch from full remote to in-person learning.
Williams is (quite rightly) not satisfied, saying the city can’t wait for the mayor “to come to the right conclusions at the wrong moments in time.”
Students, parents, teachers and principals all deserve city leadership better than this.


newyorkpost--2020-11-30--Scott Atlas resigns as Trump COVID-19 adviser

Dr. Scott Atlas , President Trump ’ s controversial special adviser on the coronavirus pandemic , resigned on Monday , according to a report .
Atlas was serving on the White House coronavirus task force on a 130-day Special Government Employee detail , and his role was set to expire this week .
In his resignation letter obtained by Fox News , Atlas said he worked hard to “ save the lives and help Americans through this pandemic ” and that he “ always relied on the latest science and evidence , without any political consideration or influence.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in August , is a known proponent of herd immunity in the fight against the coronavirus – a stance at odds with that of most health experts .
He was also criticized during his tenure for saying that lockdowns are “ extremely harmful ” to Americans , and came under fire earlier this month over a tweet that called for Michigan residents to “ rise up ” against public health measures in the state .
Atlas was later forced to clarify that he didn ’ t mean to “ threaten or incite violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very good at Twitter.
” In his letter , Atlas touted the Trump administration ’ s work , including on “ Operation Warp Speed , ” the effort to rapidly mobilize the distribution of coronavirus vaccines and treatments .
He closed out by wishing the best to president-elect Joe Biden ’ s incoming team .
“ With the emerging treatments and vaccines , I remain highly optimistic that America will thrive once again and overcome the adversity of the pandemic and all that it has entailed , ” he wrote .

Dr. Scott Atlas, President Trump’s controversial special adviser on the coronavirus pandemic, resigned on Monday, according to a report.
Atlas was serving on the White House coronavirus task force on a 130-day Special Government Employee detail, and his role was set to expire this week.
In his resignation letter obtained by Fox News, Atlas said he worked hard to “save the lives and help Americans through this pandemic” and that he “always relied on the latest science and evidence, without any political consideration or influence.”
The radiologist, who joined the task force in August, is a known proponent of herd immunity in the fight against the coronavirus – a stance at odds with that of most health experts.
He was also criticized during his tenure for saying that lockdowns are “extremely harmful” to Americans, and came under fire earlier this month over a tweet that called for Michigan residents to “rise up” against public health measures in the state.
Atlas was later forced to clarify that he didn’t mean to “threaten or incite violence” but rather is just “not very good at Twitter.”
In his letter, Atlas touted the Trump administration’s work, including on “Operation Warp Speed,” the effort to rapidly mobilize the distribution of coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
He closed out by wishing the best to president-elect Joe Biden’s incoming team.
“With the emerging treatments and vaccines, I remain highly optimistic that America will thrive once again and overcome the adversity of the pandemic and all that it has entailed,” he wrote.