newyorkpost--2020-08-24--Ex-Seahawks rookie apologizes for trying to sneak woman into team hotel

One Seahawks rookie has suffered serious consequences for trying to ...

Kemah Siverand didn’t dress this one up: he’s sorry.
The undrafted rookie cornerback, cut by the Seattle Seahawks after he was caught on video trying to sneak a woman into the team hotel earlier this month, issued an apology on Monday.
“After taking time to reflect and really consider the seriousness of my actions, I have tried to find the appropriate words to apologize to all those affected by my poor decision and immaturity,” he shared in a statement on Twitter. “I’ve privately apologized to Coach Carroll, John Schneider, and the entire Seahawks organization.”
The 23-year-old had his guest dress in Seahawks gear to make her look like a player.
“I violated team rules, which would be unacceptable in normal times, but absolutely inexcusable due a pandemic,” he wrote. “I understand my lapse in judgement not only put myself at risk, but also put my teammates and organization at risk, thankfully no one else was affected by my actions. I want everyone to know that I am truly sorry, hold myself accountable, and am ready to move forward. I want to make sure this one mistake will not define me and I will continue training harder than ever to continue pursuing my dreams of playing in the National Football League.”
An Oklahoma State product, Siverand remains unsigned.


newyorkpost--2020-08-24--In New York, the protests should be about shootings by civilians

Photos from Kenosha , Wisconsin show the aftermath of violent protests ...

A pair of shootings of black men by cops in Wisconsin and Louisiana has enflamed anti-police protests across the nation. But here in the city, the problem isn’t trigger-happy cops but out-of-control gunplay by civilians.
Police in Louisiana fatally shot Trayford Pellerin as he tried to enter a convenience store Friday. Sunday in Kenosha, Wis., cops fired at Jacob Blake with his back turned as he got into his car. Blake was fighting for his life on Monday, his family said.
The incidents ignited violent protests in both places and also fueled demonstrations in other cities, like Portland, which have dragged on since the death of George Floyd. Yet in New York, protesters shouldn’t blast cops but demand more of them — and tougher action against crime.
After all, cops here rarely fire their weapons, compared to those elsewhere. And the city already passed reforms after Floyd’s death — measures that, in fact, go too far.
The “anti-chokehold” law, for instance, criminalizes a much broader range of contact with a suspect, pushing officers to hesitate before getting too involved. City Hall forced the NYPD to scrap its central anti-gun units and cut the department’s budget.
Meanwhile, 86 percent of Americans — 81 percent of blacks — want police to spend as much, if not more, time in their area, a Gallup poll found this month.
That’s understandable in New York: Just this past weekend, nearly four dozen people got shot, as the city marked its 12th straight week of surging gun violence, The Post reported Monday. Murders are up 30 percent over last year through Aug. 16; the number of people shot, 88 percent.
The crimes are appalling — just watch the video of the heartless murder of Bronx mother-of-three Priscilla Vazquez, 25, early Saturday morning.
New York City needs to fix what’s going wrong here, not answer for the problems of Wisconsin or Minnesota. And that means empowering the NYPD, not slapping it around. Undo the “reforms” that are driving this crisis.


newyorkpost--2020-08-24--Democrats are pretending the cities aren’t burning

The timing could not have been more inconvenient for Democrats ... .

The Democratic convention portrayed an America suffering from every possible sort of malady — except urban unrest.
Is the country going through a terrible pandemic? Yes. A punishing recession? Absolutely. Is our democratic system itself under threat? Of course. Is the planet about to be destroyed by inaction on climate change? Check. Are systemic racism, income inequality and corporate greed blighting our national life? Most definitely.
The Democrats put an accent on every disturbing development during the Trump years, but not on the disorder that has caused countless millions in property damage, killed and injured innocent people and contributed to rising lawlessness in cities around the country.
About that, they maintained a discreet silence.
Across four nights and eight hours of programming, no one mentioned it — not the community activists, not the mayors or governors, not the former presidents and first ladies, and emphatically not the party’s current nominees for president and vice president.
As far as the Democrats were concerned, recent events that have had a profound effect on urban communities — places almost uniformly governed by Democratic mayors — simply never happened.
The Biden campaign surely doesn’t want to risk a discouraging word about anyone marching under the banner of Black Lives Matter for fear of alienating African-American voters. Yet the convention’s portrayal of the protests seemed quite sincere.
The left’s narrative is that the George Floyd protests have, with very few exceptions, been peaceful and above reproach, and only haters could think otherwise. This abiding belief is impervious to all evidence to the contrary.
There have been riots in Minneapolis, New York City, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Seattle, among other cities. Just a couple of weeks ago, looters ransacked stores in Chicago, and violent nightly riots by radicals are now part of the urban identity of Portland, Ore.
You would think that Democrats would want, merely as a matter of political cover, to make some nod toward denouncing this violence and disassociating their cause from it. Even during a week when they were remembering the work of John Lewis, an inspiring and courageous devotee of nonviolence, they couldn’t bring themselves to do it.
Instead, their alternate reality reigned. Waving the bloody shirt of the clearing of Lafayette Park prior to a Trump photo-op in front of St. John’s Church, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared that “it was here that, just weeks ago, Americans donned face masks and safely and peacefully protested the death of George Floyd. But while we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting.”
The truthfulness of this statement depends on the mayor’s definition of “we” and of “peaceful,” since it’s a matter of record that protesters set a fire, including at the historic church, and threw projectiles at riot forces. (Peaceful protesters do the damndest things.)
In the wake of all the not-so-peaceful protests, cities have experienced spikes in shootings. This, too, would seem to demand some acknowledgement, even if only for political cover, but speakers blithely skipped over it.
Michelle Obama complained that “as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and a never-ending list of innocent people of color continue to be murdered, stating the simple fact that a black life matters is still met with derision from the nation’s highest office.”
Why not mention the innocent people of color murdered every day in disorder-ridden cities, and not by law enforcement? Don’t they count, too?
No, the Democratic Party prefers not to grapple with the uncomfortable truth that the riots have almost certainly materially harmed the lives of vulnerable people. It doesn’t want to admit the necessary work of cops patrolling dangerous urban neighborhoods and how, if this work is stymied, poor people suffer.
It considers itself the party of decency, as long as you don’t ask it to condemn mindless destruction and the shootings blighting our cities. It celebrates itself as the party of norms, except the ones necessary to law and order.
Twitter: @RichLowry


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Judge protects Epic Games’ Unreal Engine in legal battle with Apple

Epic Games won a partial victory in its legal battle with Apple when a federal judge barred the Silicon Valley titan from kneecapping the “ Fortnite ” maker ’ s trademark development tool .
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barred Apple from restricting access to the Unreal Engine — which powers three-dimensional graphics in many video games — in retaliation for Epic circumventing Apple ’ s App Store fees through its popular “ Fortnite ” game .
Apple had threatened to cut off Epic ’ s developer tools this Friday , a move that could cause “ significant damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to the gaming industry generally , ” Rogers said in her Monday ruling .
She noted that the engine is used by small and large game developers and in other industries such as film , architecture and medical training .
“ Epic Games and Apple are at liberty to litigate against each other , but their dispute should not create havoc to bystanders , ” Rogers wrote in the decision .
But Rogers refused to force Apple to let “ Fortnite ” back into the App Store after booting it roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sparked Epic ’ s lawsuit over Apple ’ s practice of taking a 30 percent cut of purchases made through iPhone apps .
Apple removed “ Fortnite ” — a popular battle game with millions of players — after Epic introduced a system to accept payments directly .
With respect to “ Fortnite , ” Rogers said Epic ’ s “ current predicament appears of its own making ” given that the company “ strategically chose to breach its agreements with Apple.
” “ Epic Games moves this Court to allow it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while it makes money on each purchase made on the same platform , ” Rogers wrote .
“ … Not even Epic Games gives away its products for free.
” Neither Epic nor Apple immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday morning .
The case is one of the highest-profile challenges yet to Apple ’ s steep commissions on in-app purchases , which Epic has called “ oppressive ” and anticompetitive .
Several other tech firms have sided with Epic , including Facebook , Spotify and Tinder owner Match Group .
Apple has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epic to bring “ Fortnite ” back to the App Store even though it broke Apple ’ s rules .

Epic Games won a partial victory in its legal battle with Apple when a federal judge barred the Silicon Valley titan from kneecapping the “Fortnite” maker’s trademark development tool.
US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers barred Apple from restricting access to the Unreal Engine — which powers three-dimensional graphics in many video games — in retaliation for Epic circumventing Apple’s App Store fees through its popular “Fortnite” game.
Apple had threatened to cut off Epic’s developer tools this Friday, a move that could cause “significant damage to both the Unreal Engine platform itself, and to the gaming industry generally,” Rogers said in her Monday ruling. She noted that the engine is used by small and large game developers and in other industries such as filmmaking, architecture and medical training.
“Epic Games and Apple are at liberty to litigate against each other, but their dispute should not create havoc to bystanders,” Rogers wrote in the decision.
Rogers refused, however, to force Apple to let “Fortnite” back into the App Store after booting it roughly two weeks ago — a decision that sparked Epic’s lawsuit over Apple’s practice of taking a 30-percent cut of purchases made through iPhone apps.
Apple removed “Fortnite,” a popular battle game with millions of players, after Epic introduced a system to accept payments for in-app purchases directly. The move to bypass Apple’s fees immediately sparked a closely watched tug-of-war between billionaire tech titans Tim Sweeney, founder and CEO of Epic and Apple’s longtime CEO Tim Cook.
The case is one of the highest-profile challenges yet to Apple’s steep commissions on in-app purchases, which Epic has called “oppressive” and anticompetitive. Several other tech firms have also blasted Apple’s fees as the unfair result of its market dominance, including Facebook, Spotify and Tinder owner Match Group.
But Rogers said Epic’s Fortnite “predicament appears of its own making” given that the company “strategically chose to breach its agreements with Apple.”
“Epic Games moves this court to allow it to access Apple’s platform for free while it makes money on each purchase made on the same platform,” Rogers wrote. “… Not even Epic Games gives away its products for free.”
Rogers’ ruling will be in effect until she decides whether to issue a more permanent preliminary injunction barring Apple from taking action against Epic while the lawsuit proceeds. A hearing on Epic’s request for a more preliminary injunction is set for Sept. 28.
Apple on Tuesday praised the judge for “recognizing that Epic’s problem is entirely self-inflicted.”
“We agree with Judge Rogers that ‘the sensible way to proceed’ is for Epic to comply with the App Store guidelines and continue to operate while the case proceeds,” the company said in a statement. “If Epic takes the steps the judge has recommended, we will gladly welcome Fortnite back onto iOS.”
Epic did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday morning.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Oxford COVID-19 vaccine may go before regulators this year: scientist

Pope Francis on Wednesday warned against giving the wealthy the ...

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Clinical trials for the Oxford coronavirus vaccine may provide enough safety and efficacy data for it to be given to regulators this year — but a scientist leading the trials insists that corners cannot be cut to speed up emergency use approval, according to reports.
Prof. Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, told BBC Radio 4 that they have to first “demonstrate a vaccine works and is safe, and then to go through the processes of regulators looking at that very carefully to make sure everything’s been done correctly.
“But it is also just possible that if the cases accrue rapidly in the clinical trials that we could have that data to put before regulators this year, and then there would be a process that they go through in order to make a full assessment of the data,” he said, according to Yahoo News.
The UK’s chief medical officer, Prof. Chris Whitty, has said a vaccine may not be ready until next winter, according to Yahoo News.
“I think that Chris Whitty is quite rightly being cautious, that it could take as long as that to first of all demonstrate a vaccine works and is safe,” Pollard said.
Asked about a time frame, he said: “That depends very much on the number of cases that occur in the weeks and months ahead.
“Even with 1,000 people, eventually you’ll have enough information to know whether or not a vaccine works, but that could take years,” Pollard said.
“So, having 20,000 people in our trials already means that that period of time will be shorter, but unfortunately I can’t quite predict the future about how many cases are going to occur,” he said.
Pollard’s comments come as the Trump administration is weighing a fast-track process that would allow AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine to be used in the US before November’s presidential election, according to a new report.
One plan under consideration would see the Food and Drug Administration issue an “emergency use authorization” for the British drugmaker’s vaccine candidate in October, the Financial Times reported Sunday, citing three people briefed on the plan.
AstraZeneca’s vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, is one of six candidates Team Trump is supporting through Operation Warp Speed — its initiative to deliver a safe and effective COVID-19 inoculation by early next year.
The authorization, known as an EUA, would be based on forthcoming results from a study involving 10,000 people in the UK — even though federal agencies have said a study of 30,000 people would be needed to win such an approval.
Pollard said he hoped that 50,000 people would be involved in the clinical trial for the Oxford vaccine candidate, Yahoo News reported.
He stressed, however, that the size of the trial “isn’t really the issue.”
“What you need is to have enough cases accruing during the time of observation in the trials,” Pollard said. “The size of the trial is critical, first of all for safety — so you want to have good evidence that, after a large number of people have been vaccinated, you’ve got good evidence or safety around the vaccine.
“And, secondly, you want to be able to show whether the vaccine works, and the size of the trial actually is determined largely by what the attack rate of the disease is in the study population,” he continued.
“And so, if you’ve got a very, very rare disease, you need an enormous trial size, in order to be able to show whether the vaccine works. But in a situation like that at the moment coronavirus, depending on which region or country you are in, the size of the trial could be smaller or bigger just depending on how many cases are happening in that community at the time.”
Pollard added: “There are a number of trials that we’re running from Oxford here in the UK, in Brazil, and also in South Africa, and the combined size of those three trials together is around about 20,000 people, and AstraZeneca are moving forwards in their trials in the US, hoping to start enrolling 30,000 people.
“So within the trials of the vaccine that was developed here at Oxford University, we’d expect to have perhaps 50,000 or more people in the trials in total,” he said.
Responding to reports the US is planning an EUA for the Oxford vaccine, Pollard said: “Emergency use authorizations are well established by regulators both in the United States and in Europe.
“In fact, you may be aware just this week, the FDA has granted emergency use authorization for plasma therapy.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--US, China announce commitment to phase one trade deal despite rising tensions

But White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said officials ...

The US and China voiced their commitment late Monday to carrying out their phase one trade deal, as tensions between the two global superpowers continue to escalate.
The update came from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who released a joint statement after taking part in a scheduled video call with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He.
During the call, according to their statement, the three addressed “steps that China has taken to effectuate structural changes” required by the trade deal, which would “ensure greater protection for intellectual property rights, remove impediments to American companies in the areas of financial services and agriculture, and eliminate forced technology transfer.”
They also “discussed the significant increases” in China’s purchasing of US products, “as well as future actions needed to implement the agreement.”
“Both sides see progress and are committed to taking the steps necessary to ensure the success of the agreement,” the statement concluded.
President Trump signed phase one of the deal with China in January, winding down a bitter trade war between the two countries that took place amid months of tense negotiations.
In the months since, the relationship has frayed as the Communist nation has faced a wave of international scrutiny for its lack of transparency at the onset of the coronavirus outbreak.
Liu released a statement on the meeting that was published by China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, in which he said both sides had “a constructive dialogue on strengthening bilateral coordination of macroeconomic policies and the implementation of the phase-one trade agreement.”
Over the weekend, Trump said he had canceled a meeting scheduled for Saturday on reviewing the trade deal, citing Beijing’s handling of the virus.
“I postponed talks with China,” Trump told reporters last Tuesday at a border event in Yuma, Arizona. “You know why? I don’t want to deal with them now. I don’t want to deal with them now. With what they did to this country and to the world, I don’t want to talk to China right now.”
Still, the administration’s top trade negotiators managed to sit down with their Chinese counterpart Monday to review the progress of the first phase of the deal.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows said at the time that despite the postponement of that meeting, top trade advisers would continue to engage with the Chinese Communist Party.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Jacob Blake seen struggling with officers before being shot, new video shows

New footage from a different angle has emerged of the moments before Jacob Blake , a black 29-year-old , was @ @ @ @ @ back by a white Wisconsin cop as he tried to get into his vehicle , @ @ @ @ @ The video captured Blake engaged in a struggle with at least two Kenosha police officers @ @ @ @ @ his gray SUV on Sunday , TMZ reported .
An officer appears to be trying @ @ @ @ @ manages to get up and walks to the driver ’ s side door , the @ @ @ @ @ taken from another vantage point showed an officer pump seven rounds into the apparently unarmed @ @ @ @ @ Blake was airlifted to a local hospital , where he underwent surgery , his family @ @ @ @ @ s shooting in front of his three young sons sparked violent protests after he ’ @ @ @ @ @ up a fight .
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the @ @ @ @ @

New footage from a different angle has emerged of the moments before Jacob Blake, a black 29-year-old, was shot multiple times in the back by a white Wisconsin cop as he tried to get into his vehicle, according to a report.
The video captured Blake engaged in a struggle with at least two Kenosha police officers on the right side of his gray SUV on Sunday, TMZ reported.
An officer appears to be trying to restrain him before he manages to get up and walks to the driver’s door, the clip shows.
Viral video taken from another vantage point shows an officer pump seven rounds into the apparently unarmed man’s back.
Blake was airlifted to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery, his family said Monday.
Blake’s shooting in front of his three young sons sparked violent protests after he’d reportedly just helped break up a fight.
The officers involved have been placed on administrative leave while the state Justice Department investigates.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Britney Spears’ house listed for a stripped-down $6.8 million

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Britney Spears lived in this paparazzi-proof Beverly Hills mansion from 2007 to 2012. Now the 7,500-square-foot villa has a reduced listing price — cut from $9 million to $6.8 million — according to TopTenRealEstateDeals.com. Take a tour here of the six-bedroom, seven-bathroom California estate, with a swimming pool, a home movie theater and a strut-worthy catwalk on the second floor.
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newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Ex-model claims Jeffrey Epstein ordered her pal to sleep with Prince Andrew

A former model who now runs a Los Angeles modeling agency claims her friend had sex with Prince Andrew on the order of Jeffrey Epstein , who said , “ It ’ s nice to have things on people , ” according to a new report .
Lisa Phillips , 42 , told The Sun that she first met the financier in 2000 after a Caribbean shoot when he invited her and another pal to his Little St. James Island , which was dubbed “ Pedophile Island.
” “ I found Jeffrey very charming and he seemed really nice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ England and he said , ‘ Oh , would you like to meet a prince ?
’ ” Phillips told the news outlet .
“ This man walked up and I recognized him as Prince Andrew .
He was very nice .
It was very brief , ” she added .
Phillips said she observed no inappropriate activity on the isle and that she wound up meeting Epstein during charity events , parties and Broadway plays over the years .
“ He always wanted to meet friends of mine .
He loved young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liked underage girls , ” she told The Sun .
In 2004 , Phillips said , her friend told her about the alleged encounter at Epstein ’ s Manhattan townhouse , the outlet reported .
“ She told me Jeffrey told her to go into a bedroom and have sex with Prince Andrew .
She said Andrew had sex with her and left the room .
I think she was confused by Jeffrey — manipulated by him .
She felt like she had to do it , ” she told The Sun .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so angry , so upset .
She thought they had a different relationship , ” Phillips added .
“ I had one last conversation with Jeffrey .
I said , ‘ My friend told me about you instructing her to have sex with Prince Andrew.
’ He said something like it wasn ’ t a big deal , that she was OK with it , ” she said .
“ I said .
‘ Nobody ’ s OK with that — why would you do that ?
’ He grinned and said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have things on people.
’ That wasn ’ t the first time he ’ d said that to me , ” Phillips continued .
“ He had a lot of cameras in the house and I used to ask him about it and he used to say the same thing , ” said Phillips , whose allegations are scheduled to be aired on British TV on Tuesday night .
The Sun reported that her pal , who was in her early 20s at the time , declined to comment .
“ My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crying , ” Phillips said .
There was no suggestion the royal knew of Epstein ’ s demand or was involved in any non-consensual sex , The Sun reported .
A source close to the prince responded to the latest allegations .
“ Unsourced , unverified , unsubstantiated claims , regurgitated on third-hand hearsay with no evidence — as an allegation it doesn ’ t bear any examination , ” the source said .
“ We look forward to seeing the evidence ” Andrew has come under increased scrutiny after the arrest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 58 , who is at the Brooklyn Detention Center awaiting trial after her July 2 arrest in New Hampshire .
The embattled duke has been accused of sleeping with Epstein ’ s “ sex slave ” Virginia Giuffre in New York , London and the Caribbean .
He has strongly denied the allegations .
Epstein committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell a year ago while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges .

A former model who now runs a Los Angeles modeling agency claims her friend had sex with Prince Andrew on the orders of Jeffrey Epstein, who said, “It’s nice to have things on people,” according to a new report.
Lisa Phillips, 42, told the Sun that she first met the financier in 2000 after a Caribbean shoot when he invited her and another pal to his Little St. James Island, which was dubbed “Pedophile Island.”
“I found Jeffrey very charming and he seemed really nice. I had mentioned I had lived in England and he said, ‘Oh, would you like to meet a prince?’” Phillips told the news outlet.
“This man walked up and I recognized him as Prince Andrew. He was very nice. It was very brief,” she added.
Phillips said she observed no inappropriate activity on the isle and that she wound up meeting Epstein during charity events, parties and Broadway plays over the years.
“He always wanted to meet friends of mine. He loved young women but none of us suspected he liked underage girls,” she told the Sun.
In 2004, Phillips said, her friend told her about the alleged encounter at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse, the outlet reported.
“She told me Jeffrey told her to go into a bedroom and have sex with Prince Andrew. She said Andrew had sex with her and left the room. I think she was confused by Jeffrey — manipulated by him. She felt like she had to do it,” she told the Sun.
“That’s why she was so angry, so upset. She thought they had a different relationship,” Phillips added.
“I had one last conversation with Jeffrey. I said, ‘My friend told me about you instructing her to have sex with Prince Andrew.’ He said something like it wasn’t a big deal, that she was OK with it,” she said.
“I said, ‘Nobody’s OK with that — why would you do that?’ He grinned and said, ‘Oh, it’s nice to have things on people.’ That wasn’t the first time he’d said that to me,” Phillips continued.
“He had a lot of cameras in the house and I used to ask him about it and he used to say the same thing,” said Phillips, whose allegations are scheduled to be aired on British TV on Tuesday night.
The Sun reported that her pal, who was in her early 20s at the time, declined to comment.
“My friend was very upset. She was crying,” Phillips said.
There was no suggestion the royal knew of Epstein’s demand or was involved in any non-consensual sex, the Sun reported.
A source close to the prince responded to the latest allegations.
“Unsourced, unverified, unsubstantiated claims, regurgitated on third-hand hearsay with no evidence — as an allegation it doesn’t bear any examination,” the source said. “We look forward to seeing the evidence.”
Andrew has come under increased scrutiny after the arrest of Epstein’s accused madam Ghislaine Maxwell, 58, who is at the Brooklyn Detention Center awaiting trial after her July 2 arrest in New Hampshire.
The embattled Duke of York has been accused of sleeping with Epstein’s “sex slave” Virginia Giuffre in New York, London and the Caribbean. He has strongly denied the allegations.
Epstein committed suicide in his Manhattan jail cell a year ago while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Buck Showalter joining MLB Network, effectively replacing Joe Girardi

MLB Network is adding Buck Showalter as an analyst , The Post has learned .
Showalter , 64 , will @ @ @ @ @ p.m. edition of “ MLB Tonight.
” In essence , Showalter is replacing Joe Girardi @ @ @ @ @ Girardi left MLBN to become the manager of the Phillies .
Showalter was reportedly the @ @ @ @ @ , with upper management split on the decision .
Showalter , who has managed the @ @ @ @ @ and Orioles , will give the dugout point of view .
Showalter will continue on @ @ @ @ @ the season has been shortened to 60 games , YES has limited the rotation of @ @ @ @ @ .
Showalter is expected to receive more time as the season deepens and during the @ @ @ @ @ For MLBN , Showalter will be part of some game coverage , including on stat-focused @ @ @ @ @ the trade deadline .

MLB Network is adding Buck Showalter as an analyst, The Post has learned.
Showalter, 64, will begin Tuesday on the 2 p.m. edition of “MLB Tonight.” In essence, Showalter is replacing Joe Girardi. In the offseason, Girardi left MLBN to become the manager of the Phillies.
Showalter was reportedly the second choice of the Phillies, with upper management split on the decision. Showalter, who has managed the Yankees, Rangers, Diamondbacks and Orioles, will give the dugout point of view.
Showalter will continue on the YES Network. Since the season has been shortened to 60 games, YES has limited the rotation of its deep roster of analysts. Showalter is expected to receive more time as the season deepens and during the Yankees’ playoff run.
For MLBN, Showalter will be part of some game coverage, including on stat-focused telecasts, as well as the trade deadline.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Jerry Falwell Jr. officially resigns as president of Liberty University amid alleged sex scandal

Jerry Falwell Jr. warned the pool boy his wife was ...

Jerry Falwell Jr. officially resigned as president of Liberty University late Monday over the alleged sex scandal involving him, his wife and a pool boy.
Officials at the ultra-conservative Virginia school had already announced his resignation earlier in the day — but Falwell denied it, insisting he was just on “indefinite leave.”
The university’s general counsel said Falwell initially agreed to resign, only to change his mind and tell his lawyers “to not tender the letter for immediate resignation” after media outlets announced it.
But as the scandal over his family’s sexcapades exploded Monday, both the embattled religious leader and the university confirmed to ABC News that he submitted his formal resignation letter to the school late Monday night.
“I was never called to be a pastor, my calling was to use my legal and business expertise to make Liberty University the evangelical version of Notre Dame,” Falwell told ABC News.
“Some of us are called to be preachers, that wasn’t mine. I was called to make Liberty University the greatest Christian university’s in the world and I couldn’t have done that as a preacher.”
The school’s acting president, Jerry Prevo, called for prayers “as we walk with the Lord through this stormy time of transition.”
The conservative leader had already been on indefinite leave overseeing Liberty after a photo surfaced showing him with his jeans unzipped and an arm around a woman who wasn’t his wife.
Falwell, the son of late famed televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., then revealed in a statement to the Washington Examiner on Sunday that he and wife Becki were allegedly being extorted by a former pool boy who had an affair with his spouse.
He claimed that he was not involved in the pair’s illicit romps but the former lover, Giancarlo Granda, claimed that not only was Falwell aware of his wife’s sexcapades, he enjoyed watching them.
In a statement to ABC, the university referred to “additional matters” that “made it clear that it would not be in the best interest of the University for him to return from leave and serve as President.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Connecticut school district to begin year online amid ‘serious’ COVID-19 outbreak

Public schools in Danbury , Connecticut will begin the year with remote learning amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases in the city , the superintendent announced Monday .
Superintendent Sal Pascarella informed the school community of the decision in a letter posted to the district ’ s Facebook page .
“ In order to safeguard the health and safety of our students and staff , I have decided to accept the recommendation of local health officials to start the school year this fall in Distance Learning for all students , ” Pascarella wrote .
Students begin online classes Sept. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decision on Oct. 1 on how to move forward from then .
The move comes after Deidre Gifford , the acting commissioner of Connecticut Department of Public Health , sounded the alarm over the city ’ s spike in virus cases .
“ This is a serious outbreak in Danbury and we really need an all hands on deck approach , ” Gifford said in a statement .
From Aug. 2 to 20 , the city recorded 178 new cases of the virus , compared to 40 over the previous two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on outdoor barbecues , travel and youth sports , which have been canceled over the uptick .

Public schools in Danbury, Connecticut will begin the year with remote learning amid a recent spike in coronavirus cases in the city, the superintendent announced Monday.
Superintendent Sal Pascarella informed the school community of the decision in a letter posted to the district’s Facebook page.
“In order to safeguard the health and safety of our students and staff, I have decided to accept the recommendation of local health officials to start the school year this fall in Distance Learning for all students,” Pascarella wrote.
Students begin online classes Sept. 8. Pascarella said he will make a decision on Oct. 1 on how to move forward from then.
The move comes after Deidre Gifford, the acting commissioner of Connecticut Department of Public Health, sounded the alarm over the city’s spike in virus cases.
“This is a serious outbreak in Danbury and we really need an all hands on deck approach,” Gifford said in a statement.
From Aug. 2 to 20, the city recorded 178 new cases of the virus, compared to 40 over the previous two weeks.
Health officials are blaming the outbreak on outdoor barbecues, travel and youth sports, which have been canceled over the uptick.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Le’Veon Bell has ‘no bar’ warning for Sam Darnold

Le ’ Veon Bell had just finished a two-minute answer to reporters praising quarterback Sam Darnold .
The Jets running back then got a gleam in his eye and said Darnold and the Jets have just one challenge when it comes to the QB .
“ We just have to make sure he stays healthy , man , ” Bell said , smiling .
“ I told him , ‘ No bars.
’ ” Bell could have been referencing COVID-19 concerns or , more likely , having some fun with Darnold , who contracted mononucleosis last year and missed three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darnold , Bell was raving about him .
“ Sam ’ s not really a rah-rah guy , ” Bell said .
“ He ’ s not really loud .
He ’ s not a yeller .
He ’ s real monotone .
He ’ s kind of calm .
Everybody goes about their way differently .
But the way he does it , you want to follow him .
You want to listen to him and work hard for him .
That ’ s the kind of player you want .
Sam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be fun.
” Bell says he sees a different Darnold in their second year together and Darnold ’ s third year in the NFL .
“ He ’ s taken great command of the huddle , ” he said .
“ I think that ’ s the biggest difference from Year 2 to 3 .
Not just for him , a lot of players , taking that step where you ’ re in the huddle and taking command of the huddle .
If guys are talking , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ and guys are listening.
” Tight end Chris Herndon was a little in awe when he found out he would be playing with Frank Gore .
Herndon went to Miami , where Gore is a Hurricanes legend .
“ It ’ s definitely a fanboy moment , ” Herndon said .
“ Once we picked him up , I was kind of star struck.
” Herndon , 24 , said he is watching how the 37-year-old takes care of himself .
“ Just watching how he works , watching how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about each day on the field and in the weight room , it definitely helps a lot , ” he said .
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer gave his evaluation of the kicking competition between Brett Maher and Sam Ficken so far through training camp .
“ Sam and Brett are doing a very nice job .
I see this coming down to the end here , ” Boyer said .
“ I think they both have been very productive , both have pretty solid percentages going into the season thus far .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I think that Sam did a solid job last year .
Brett definitely has experience .
I see these guys neck and neck .
They ’ ve both had good camps .
We ’ ll see who shakes out .
”

Le’Veon Bell had just finished a two-minute answer to reporters praising quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Jets running back then got a gleam in his eye and said Darnold and the Jets have just one challenge when it comes to the QB.
“We just have to make sure he stays healthy, man,” Bell said, smiling. “I told him, ‘No bars.’ ”
Bell could have been referencing COVID-19 concerns or, more likely, having some fun with Darnold, who contracted mononucleosis last year and missed three games.
When not poking fun at Darnold, Bell was raving about him.
“Sam’s not really a rah-rah guy,” Bell said. “He’s not really loud. He’s not a yeller. He’s real monotone. He’s kind of calm. Everybody goes about their way differently. But the way he does it, you want to follow him. You want to listen to him and work hard for him. That’s the kind of player you want. Sam looks amazing this year. It’s going to be fun.”
Bell says he sees a different Darnold in their second year together and Darnold’s third year in the NFL.
“He’s taken great command of the huddle,” he said. “I think that’s the biggest difference from Year 2 to 3. Not just for him, a lot of players, taking that step where you’re in the huddle and taking command of the huddle. If guys are talking, it’s, ‘Hey, hey, hey,’ and guys are listening.”
Tight end Chris Herndon was a little in awe when he found out he would be playing with Frank Gore. Herndon went to Miami, where Gore is a Hurricanes legend.
“It’s definitely a fanboy moment,” Herndon said. “Once we picked him up, I was kind of star struck.”
Herndon, 24, said he is watching how the 37-year-old takes care of himself.
“Just watching how he works, watching how he takes care of his body, goes about each day on the field and in the weight room, it definitely helps a lot,” he said.
Special teams coordinator Brant Boyer gave his evaluation of the kicking competition between Brett Maher and Sam Ficken so far through training camp.
“Sam and Brett are doing a very nice job. I see this coming down to the end here,” Boyer said. “I think they both have been very productive, both have pretty solid percentages going into the season thus far. They both have more than adequate legs. I think that Sam did a solid job last year. Brett definitely has experience. I see these guys neck and neck. They’ve both had good camps. We’ll see who shakes out.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Wisconsin city sees second night of unrest after police shooting of Jacob Blake

Protesters for the second consecutive night wreaked havoc in Kenosha , Wisconsin — setting fires to buildings and facing off with authorities over the police shooting of Jacob Blake .
In defiance of an 8 p.m. curfew , the crowd set ablaze a furniture store , a building that houses the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and cars at a local dealership , according to footage posted to social media .
Shelby Talcott , a reporter for The Daily Caller , posted a video to Twitter of the furniture store fully engulfed in flames .
Another video posted by The Daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars up in flames at a dealership for the second night in a row .
Earlier in the night protesters squared off with police in riot gear outside the Kenosha County Courthouse .
Footage posted online showed protesters chucking objects , including bottles , at police , who returned with tear gas .
The chaos comes as Blake , 29 , remains hospitalized after being shot several times in the back by an officer trying to stop him from getting into his car Sunday afternoon .
Blake ’ s family earlier Monday had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We will not excuse the actions of the Kenosha Police department , but his mother asks everyone to please remain peaceful , ” tweeted Blake ’ s cousin , Pauly .

Protesters for the second consecutive night wreaked havoc in Kenosha, Wisconsin — setting fires to buildings and facing off with authorities over the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
In defiance of an 8 p.m. curfew, the crowd set ablaze a furniture store, a building that houses the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and cars at a local dealership, according to footage posted to social media.
Shelby Talcott, a reporter for The Daily Caller, posted a video to Twitter of the furniture store fully engulfed in flames.
Another video posted by The Daily Caller’s Jorge Ventura shows several cars up in flames at a dealership for the second night in a row.
Earlier in the night protesters squared off with police in riot gear outside the Kenosha County Courthouse.
Footage posted online showed protesters chucking objects, including bottles, at police, who returned with tear gas.
The chaos comes as Blake, 29, remains hospitalized after being shot several times in the back by an officer trying to stop him from getting into his car Sunday afternoon.
Blake’s family earlier Monday had urged protesters to refrain from violence.
“We will not excuse the actions of the Kenosha Police department, but his mother asks everyone to please remain peaceful,” tweeted Blake’s cousin, Pauly.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Islanders may give red-hot Semyon Varlamov a night off

Maybe it ’ s simply the opponent .
I don ’ t know .
But what ...

Semyon Varlamov hadn’t registered a playoff shutout since 2009, but now he’s recorded two in the span of four days.
With 29 saves in a 4-0 rout of the Flyers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night, Varlamov collected his fourth career playoff shutout as he blanked the Islanders’ second straight opponent following another 4-0 win over the Capitals to close out their first-round series last week.
“We’re playing well defensively, of course I’m going to mention that,” Varlamov said on a Zoom call following the win. “The guys played unbelievable in front of me again, [Andy Greene] made some big saves in the first period so I appreciated that. It feels good to get back-to-back shutouts, but at this point it’s not about shutouts. It’s playoff hockey so for me the most important thing is to get the win and get ready for the next game.
“Of course I’m excited about it, I’m not going to lie, but it is what it is.”
Varlamov has been the Islanders’ starting goaltender since arriving in the Toronto bubble, but a heavy schedule for their second-round series may open a door for a change in net.
Coach Barry Trotz has been clear since the start of the postseason that he would make lineup decisions based on his assessment of each game, how a series is going and how each player is performing. But it’s safe to say that Varlamov, who’s started all 10 games the Islanders have played this postseason, has passed every evaluation.
However, with two sets of back-to-back games scheduled for the best-of-seven series, Trotz wouldn’t commit to sticking with Varlamov the whole way. There may be a situation where Trotz will opt to go with Thomas Greiss instead.
“I think what we want to do is take it one game at a time,” Trotz said on a Zoom call prior to Game 1. “I feel very blessed that we have two goaltenders who can jump in there if anything happens. We have back-to-back’s so those decisions may come into play as well.
“I feel comfortable with our goaltending just because I know both these goaltenders and their abilities. Sometimes you try to stay with the hot hand a little longer and that’s sort of what we did during the year, we split them up and then we’ve ridden guys for four or five games and then switched back. That gives me a comfort level that is undeniable with both those guys.”
Both goaltenders split the regular season relatively evenly, with Varlamov earning 39 starts compared to Greiss’ 28. But Trotz gave the postseason starting nod to Varlamov, who hasn’t given any reason to make a change after limiting teams to just two goals or fewer in eight of his 10 starts.
Trotz made some adjustments to the lineup Monday as fourth-line winger Cal Clutterbuck became available after taking a low hit in Game 4 of the opening series and missing Game 5 against the Capitals.
Clutterbuck was reinserted into the lineup in his usual fourth line role, while Leo Komarov was bumped back up to the third line. Ross Johnston remained in on the third line, while Michael Dal Colle was removed after making his postseason debut in Game 5 against Washington.
Derick Brassard was listed as a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
“I think everybody is prepared,” Trotz said. “It’s really simple, I think the players get all the credit for that because they prepare and they know if they get into the lineup they can contribute and they can be a positive influence on the outcome of a game.
“It’s a good feeling for sure. The players get all the credit for that, they’re preparing, they’re ready. There’s some guys that are mentally staying in even if they haven’t gotten a chance in a game. They’re ready.”
According to a team release, only 20 percent of Islanders’ season tickets remain available for the inaugural 2021-22 season at UBS Arena at Belmont Park.
The arena has sold more than one-third of its suite inventory in the last two weeks, while the organization has commitments from 10,000 season-ticket holders.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Mets will be ‘creative’ with rotation during daunting stretch

You get the sense that if they could , the Mets ...

The Mets’ battered rotation received a break with five straight days off — four of which were unscheduled.
With the team set to resume play Tuesday with a doubleheader against the Marlins beginning a stretch of nine games in six days, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen said Monday the rotation is “a little ‘to be determined’ at this point.”
Due to the extended break, which effectively started Thursday when the Mets were notified of the positive COVID tests before their series finale in Miami, Van Wagenen said manager Luis Rojas and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner would use Monday’s workout at Citi Field to determine the best course of action. Not only to give the Mets the best shot of winning, but also to try to keep arms healthy and avoid the injuries that have plagued the sport in this abbreviated season.
Regardless of what they come up with, Van Wagenen said the team will have to be “creative.”
“Call it openers, call it bulk-inning pitchers, I have a feeling we’re going to be going through a number of different scenarios, not only this week with the number of games we have, but also as we head toward the rest of the regular season,’’ the GM said. “Because we have to treat each game as much of a must-win game as possible and that’s gonna require us calling on people maybe we haven’t called on before or maybe people to perform roles they haven’t done before.”
That’s where struggling lefty Steven Matz comes in.
“He may well need to be a starter that we count on, but I know he’s gonna be a pitcher that we’re gonna want to count on,’’ Van Wagenen said. “That’s something that won’t change. Our expectations are that we’ll try to keep him stretched out as much as possible to fill either role.”
The rotation should get a boost with the return of Michael Wacha (right shoulder inflammation) and David Peterson (right shoulder fatigue), who could both come off the injured list and add much-needed depth. Van Wagenen didn’t rule out the possibility that both could be activated for the next time through the rotation.
“I don’t know if it’s what our expectations are, but we’re hopeful,” the GM said.
The Mets are scheduled to have three doubleheaders during a six-day stretch beginning Tuesday and Van Wagenen called the new seven-inning format “a necessity” to aid player safety.
“I think all of us that have spent any time in baseball like the tradition of the game and feel there’s some value in having some consistency from year-to-year and game-to-game,’’ he said. “At the same point, I think we all recognized this season was going to be bringing new challenges and we’d have to look at things in different ways. … Now, as we look at it from a personal standpoint, I think it’s a necessity. Trying to cover so many games in so few days, it’s a challenge for everybody.”
Asked if he’d be in favor of a postseason bubble to limit travel during the playoffs, Van Wagenen said “it’s too early to tell for me.”
“I defer to Major League Baseball with what the best solutions are there,’’ Van Wagenen said. “I’m sure there’s a variety of factors. I have hope and confidence we’re gonna be able to get through this season and hope the Mets are part of the postseason tournament.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--GOP makes compelling pitch to black voters during first night of RNC 2020

The first night of the Republican National Convention was , all ...

Black power has arrived. For the first time in modern memory, both of America’s major political parties are making an all-out push for the votes of African Americans.
Good for them, and good for our country.
The hunt for black votes is a given with Democrats, but the first night of the Republican convention showed that two teams are chasing the same prize this year. Count me as surprised at the GOP’s bold effort to woo members of a group that has long represented the Dems’ most loyal constituency.
The effort showcased an impressive list of black speakers in prominent roles vouching for President Trump and slamming Joe Biden and the Dems. Kim Klacik, a dynamic young Republican woman running for the late Elijah Cummings’ seat in Baltimore, set the tone by declaring: “The Democrats have controlled my city, Charm City, for over 50 years and they have run this beautiful place into the ground.
“Abandoned buildings, liquor stores on every corner, drug addicts and guns on the street — that is now the norm in many neighborhoods.”
Herschel Walker, the football great, added his personal experience after what he called a 37-year friendship with Trump. “I take it as a personal insult that people would think I would have a 37-year friendship with a racist. Growing up in the Deep South, I have seen racism up close. I know what it is. And it isn’t Donald Trump.”
Two later speakers were especially effective. Vernon Jones, a lifelong Democrat in the Georgia General Assembly, showed a wicked sense of humor, saying that when Trump “sought to earn the black vote, the Democratic Party leaders went crazy! Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer literally started wearing Kente cloth scarves around the Capitol!”
And Jones, in a riff about Dems’ attacks on police, said this: “Isn’t it ironic that the Democrat politicians never leave home without security to protect them at all times? Why don’t they forgo their security and replace them with social workers, since that’s what they want for us?”
Sen. Tim Scott, from South Carolina, provided a powerful finish by telling his life story. His grandfather had been forced to leave school in the third grade to pick cotton, but lived long enough to see Scott become the first black American elected to both the House and the Senate. “Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime,” he said.
Most people don’t know that historical breakthrough, but you can bet they would if Scott were a Democrat.
Of course, the GOP is not aiming for anything close to a majority of the black vote. That’s impossible for now because, election after election, Dem presidential candidates, no matter their names, get 90 percent of it.
Trump only got 8 percent four years ago and it would be something of an earthquake if he could double that, which could be enough to turn the election. It’s also possible that merely by competing for the vote, he could cut into some of the anti-Trump fervor and make moderate whites more comfortable voting for Trump.
But Dems are especially vulnerable this year because they have put so much effort into turning out urban voters. The party, seized by identity politics, is supporting Black Lives Matter, and Biden’s pick of Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate was part of an effort to bolster the turnout among both women and nonwhites.
One result is that Biden has refused to condemn the violence sweeping through the nation’s urban areas, at least in part because that would be tantamount to calling for the police to crack down. And that, in turn, would infuriate the Black Lives Matter movement, which is Marxist and anti-police.
That’s not a problem on the GOP side. Speaker after speaker, including black ones, applauded the police and condemned the violence.
Trump’s decision to try to compete is actually in keeping with his inaugural address. Then he talked of the “carnage” in much of America, including its cities, and focused on boosting the economy and creating jobs for the underclass.
He succeeded wildly. For much of last year, unemployment rates for black and Latino Americans hit record lows, and wage increases were often higher, percentage-wise, at the bottom and middle than at the top of the economic ladder.
In short, Trump has a record of creating jobs for nonwhite Americans that any Democrat would die for. And now he’s looking for their votes, a hunt complicated by the pandemic that has taken so many jobs.
The first night of the convention also focused on defending the president’s record combating COVID. Clearly stung by polls that shifted in Biden’s favor as the deaths mounted, the president has adopted a more serious, sympathetic tone while still pushing for the economy to open as quickly as possible.
Part of that effort involved a video showing Democratic governors — Gavin Newsome of California, Andrew Cuomo of New York and Phil Murphy of New Jersey — complimenting the president for helping them during the worst days of the pandemic.
We won’t know for some time how well the message is received, and much will depend on the remainder of the convention, especially how effective the president is with this Thursday acceptance speech.
Still, the first night was fast-paced, upbeat and rah-rah-rah. Sort of like the man in the Oval Office himself.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Gritty Islanders were relentless in Game 1 takedown of Flyers

The Islanders followed a gritty veteran defenseman to a series ...

Maybe it’s simply the opponent. I don’t know. But what I do know is that when Ross Johnston plays against the Rangers, which is when I see him most, the Islanders winger spends essentially every moment on the ice stalking Blueshirts while the game goes on around him.
But I know this as well. Johnston and his ilk were prime factors in the Islanders’ 4-0 Game 1 victory over the Flyers on a Monday night in Toronto where the team wearing white staked out its territory like junkyard dogs.
All in a good way.
Like on the shift early in the third period while the Islanders were protecting the 1-0 lead they’d gained on Andy Greene’s score at 6:06 of the first. The puck was put in deep. Philly defenseman Travis Sanheim went to retrieve it. Johnston went to retrieve Sanheim. The winger pinned the defenseman and the puck, linemate Leo Komarov swooped in to win the battle, he found J-G Pageau all alone in the slot, and lickety-split, it was 2-0 at 2:54.
That pretty much was that.
“These two guys bring their 110 percent every day, every night, every practice,” deadline acquisition Pageau said of Komarov, who had four goals and 14 points during the season and Johnston, who chipped in with three goals and one assist. “It’s fun playing with them and the whole group.
“I feel like we have a lot of character and it shows on the ice.”
The Islanders either have two third lines or two fourth lines, depending on the importance of identifying units in that manner. Do you think anyone on the Islanders — including the alternate third/fourth line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck — care a whit about that?
More to the point, do you think major domo Lou Lamoriello or head coach Barry Trotz loses a moment’s sleep trying to figure out the flow chart?
Here is the flow chart on the Island: Lock down the defensive zone, get the puck in deep, win as many of the 50-50 battles as possible, toss in more than a dollop of high-end talent clad in No. 13, and then back that up with more than capable goaltending.
What were the Islanders doing letting Robin Lehner escape last offseason? Why, the Islanders were making room for Semyon Varlamov. What else?
The first and third periods were pristine and the second belonged to Varlamov, who finished the match with a second straight whitewash and a shutout streak of 136:20, just 39 seconds shy of the franchise postseason mark established by Billy Smith in the first Stanley Cup year of 1980. Yes, you are correct. That is a mouthful.
This was one game. But the Islanders got to their game in a hurry just as they have maintained their game under the bubble. The Flyers did sweep the round-robin to get first seed in the East and they did survive the Canadiens in a tight six-game first round, but through 10 games, both Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier have failed to score while Kevin Hayes has gotten one.
The numbers don’t seem to matter to the Islanders, whose pack mentality has been reinforced through this sequestration in a foreign land. Players talk about it so often, each knows he sounds like a walking cliché. But cliché is born from truth.
“I think we’re playing the right way as much as possible and I think that leads to our success,” captain Anders Lee said. “Everyone is playing their roles, all those things that [reporters] probably get sick of hearing but that’s what makes our team successful and that’s the kind of mindset that we have.
“We take pride in every guy going out there playing for one another. It’s a mindset and kind of the culture we have in our room. We take care of one another and I think it shows on the ice. We want to be successful. We want to make a run. We’ve got to have everyone pulling on the rope.”
It does not diminish what the Islanders have done in Toronto to suggest that the pause of four-plus months aided the cause. It is extraordinarily difficult to grind the way Trotz’s team does through the 82-game marathon and then be fresh enough to grind through multiple rounds of the postseason.
But this was the pause that refreshed, while allowing deadline acquisitions Greene — who facially, but thank goodness not temperamentally, has come to resemble Dan Boyle — and Pageau to integrate themselves into the culture and the system.
Opportunity just keeps on knocking for the Islanders. People like Johnston, with a game-high 10 hits in 11:13, keep on knocking on their opponents.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Car crashes into outdoor dining area in NYC, injuring three

If Gerrit Cole can repeat his last outing on Tuesday ...

A car crashed into an outdoor dining setup on the Upper East Side Monday night, leaving one person hospitalized, authorities said.
The destruction outside Delizia 92 — an Italian restaurant at the corner of East 92nd Street and Second Avenue — occurred at about 9:30 p.m. after two vehicles collided, police said.
The impact from the collision between a Cadillac Escalade SUV and an Audi sedan sent one of the vehicles crashing into the dining area, cops said.
Several canopy tents were mangled and at least one wood-based barrier dividing the dining area from street traffic was overturned.
Authorities said the driver of the Audi suffered minor injuries and was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Previous 1 of 7 Next Advertisement The scene of a car accident where an SUV was struck by another car and careened into a streetside seating area on 92nd on the Upper East Side William Miller Henry Diaz, 50, whose SUV was struck by another car and careened into a streetside seating area William Miller Advertisement The SUV struck by another car William Miller Another car in the crash on 92nd Street William Miller Cops on the scene on 92nd Street William Miller Advertisement
The FDNY said two more people were treated at the scene. None of the injured were restaurant patrons, police said.


newyorkpost--2020-08-25--Gerrit Cole set for first start since expressing Yankees displeasure

Even members of the Wade and Estrada families would agree ...

If Gerrit Cole can repeat his last outing on Tuesday night against the Braves in Atlanta, Aaron Boone wouldn’t likely have a problem if his ace also voices displeasure about being lifted in the seventh inning.
Boone replaced Cole with lefty Zack Britton to face Tampa Bay’s left-handed-hitting Austin Meadows last Wednesday with a runner on first, two outs and the score tied 2-2.
“I was in good position to finish it,’’ said Cole, who allowed two runs, six hits, walked one, struck out 10 and was very animated in the dugout after being removed. “[Boone] made the move before he even got out there, so it didn’t really matter whatever I said to him on the mound. What I said in my glove I will leave it at that.’’
Britton retired Meadows, but gave up two runs in the eighth and suffered a left hamstring injury that landed him on the injured list — and the loss.
Boone will take a repeat of that outing against the NL East-leading Braves (16-12) when the Yankees (16-9) attempt to break a season-high three-game losing streak.
It will be their first game since last Thursday after the three-game Subway Series against the Mets at Citi Field scheduled for last weekend was postponed when two members of the Mets’ traveling party tested positive for the coronavirus. Monday was a scheduled off day.
“I thought Gerrit threw the ball incredibly well,’’ Boone said of Cole, whose 109 pitches were a season high. “I thought that was as dominant as we have seen him.’’
As for Cole being upset about leaving, that rolled off Boone’s shoulders.
“That’s the competitor in him,’’ Boone said. “He is an ace and he wants the ball.’’
In his first six starts as a Yankee, Cole is 4-0 with a 2.75 ERA and is 20-0 since his last loss, which was on May 22 of last year.
The Yankees have teamed up with Mayor Bill de Blasio for this week’s Get Tested Tuesday initiative, whereby the first 4,000 people who get tested Tuesday (Aug. 25) for COVID-19 at Health+Hospital sites at city public hospitals will receive Yankees gear.
Get tested and score some free Yankees stuff.
“Here’s something really interesting. It’s going to be a curveball. If you know me and the sport I love — baseball — you’re going to see baseball and testing come together here because a team that sometimes I’ve had some differences with because I grew up rooting for another team,” de Blasio, a noted Boston Red Sox fan, said at a Monday press conference.
“Well, today I’m a Yankees fan because they’re doing something great to help us fight COVID-19 and I really want to thank the entire Yankees organization for stepping up.”
Boone was joined by players Masahiro Tanaka, Aaron Hicks, Luke Voit and Gio Urshela in a videotaped public service announcement imploring people to wash their hands, socially distance, wear masks and stay home if they are sick, ending with Urshela saying, “Together we can beat the virus.”
“A great message from the Yankees, I want to thank everyone from the Yankees who participated in that video,” de Blasio said. “I have a line here from me that’s one of the cheesiest lines I’ve heard in a long time. It says here, ‘Because of the coronavirus, we are all on the same team.’
“So whether you’re a Mets fan, a Yankees fan or a fan of another team, get out there and get tested on Get Tested Tuesday.”
The Yankees placed lefty starter James Paxton and shortstop Gleyber Torres on the 10-day injured list Monday backdated to Aug. 21. Lefty reliever Luis Avilan (shoulder inflammation) is also expected to join the IL.
Paxton left his start on Thursday and was diagnosed with a strained left flexor. Torres was removed from the same game and diagnosed with left hamstring and quadriceps strains.
Aaron Judge is expected to return from the IL for Tuesday night’s game. That will account for one roster spot. What the Yankees do to fill Paxton’s and Avilan’s spots will depend on what they believe is needed.
Not counting Avilan, the Yankees had 14 pitchers on the roster Monday but only first baseman Mike Ford as a spare infielder since Tyler Wade and Thairo Estrada will be playing shortstop and second base, respectively, with DJ LeMahieu and Torres on the shelf.
There has been some buzz around highly regarded pitching prospects Deivi Garcia and Clarke Schmidt reaching the big leagues. They are at the alternate site in Scranton. Garcia is on the 40-man roster; Schmidt isn’t. Other pitchers on the 40-man roster are Albert Abreu, Luis Gil and Brooks Kriske.
Third baseman/left fielder Miguel Andujar could be recalled from the alternate site and the recently signed Jordy Mercer, a veteran shortstop, could be promoted from the site. One problem with that is Mercer isn’t on the 40-man roster.


newyorkpost--2020-08-24--First night of RNC 2020 was very effective, to media’s dismay

The first night of the Republican National Convention was , all in all , sensationally effective — and effective in ways that the mainstream media and its Twitter chatterers clearly found it impossible to understand .
America ’ s opinion leaders loathe Donald Trump so much that it remains a great puzzlement to them how he can retain the support of even 42 percent of the population , rather than , you know , zero .
The implicit theory they share is the “ deplorables ” theory — that anyone who wants Trump to be and remain president is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone too easily tempted by false promises and evil lies .
If they had ears to listen , they might be able to understand it better after tonight .
The message of Night One was twofold .
First , the case was that Trump has done many things to help individual people in extremis — working to release hostages , deregulating certain types of medical treatments , fighting entrenched interests , and leading a strong economy until COVID came along to kill it .
Twitterati laughed at the supposed awkwardness with which Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but what they missed was Trump ’ s good cheer as he talked to them .
These exchanges were actually less weird than the ones last week in which Biden talked to party activists over Zoom .
And second , the case was that Democrats are supporters of urban chaos and socialist policies that will make American lives less safe and will help immiserate the American middle class .
Nowhere was that clearer than in the joint speech of the St. Louis couple who were seen in a Twitter clip standing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brandishing a gun against a Black Lives Matter march .
They pointed out that the BLM people were undisturbed by the cops , while they found themselves under arrest .
Their message — this could happen to you , home owners — surely struck a chord with Americans who own guns as protection .
Stats tell us that 43 percent of all Americans live in a gun-owning household .
That ’ s a lot of people .
Trump ’ s hope for reelection is based on getting those people to turn out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to offset Democratic gains .
And the Democratic message — that cops are bad and rioters are good — plays right into Trump ’ s hands .
The Democrats also may have done Trump a favor in spending four days last week talking about America ’ s supposed grave sins — structural racism , polluting , and the like .
Speaker after speaker last night hammered them with tried-and-true Republican patriotism .
Most effective was Tim Scott , the only black Republican in the Senate , whose speech concluded with these words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to cross the street if a white person was coming .
He suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third grader to pick cotton , and never learned to read or write .
Yet he lived to see his grandson become the first African American to be elected to both the United States House and Senate .
Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime .
And that ’ s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.
” Nikki Haley , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ America isn ’ t perfect .
But the principles we hold dear are perfect .
If there ’ s one thing I ’ ve learned , it ’ s that even on our worst day , we are blessed to live in America….We seek a nation that rises together , not falls apart in anarchy and anger.
” If Trump can turn this election around , it will be because these ideas resonate with the Americans the media have lost the power to hear and to whom they no longer even attempt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both conventions : Necessity is the mother of invention , and necessity may have done both political parties a service .
As was the case with the Democrats last week , the pandemic-created need to substitute intimacy for scale broke the sclerotic mold in which the GOP ’ s quadrennial gatherings had been frozen for decades .
Speeches flowed quickly without the interruptions of a roaring crowd .
The filmed material didn ’ t seem like filler , as it did during conventional conclaves , which gave the parties an unalloyed opportunity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ways that make the electoral choices more comprehensible .
There was a wacky freshness to the Democratic confab .
Shockingly , given the Democratic advantage when it comes to A-list showbiz glitz , the GOP event was more efficiently produced and more authoritative .
But — and here ’ s the surprise — they really grabbed our attention .

The first night of the Republican National Convention was, all in all, sensationally effective — and effective in ways that the mainstream media and its Twitter chatterers clearly found it impossible to understand.
America’s opinion leaders loathe Donald Trump so much that it remains a great puzzlement to them how he can retain the support of even 42 percent of the population, rather than, you know, zero.
The implicit theory they share is the “deplorables” theory — that anyone who wants Trump to be and remain president is, at root, a bad person or someone too easily tempted by false promises and evil lies.
If they had ears to listen, they might be able to understand it better after tonight. The message of Night One was twofold.
First, the case was that Trump has done many things to help individual people in extremis — working to release hostages, deregulating certain types of medical treatments, fighting entrenched interests, and leading a strong economy until COVID came along to kill it.
Twitterati laughed at the supposed awkwardness with which Trump interacted with front-line COVID workers and hostages, but what they missed was Trump’s good cheer as he talked to them. These exchanges were actually less weird than the ones last week in which Joe Biden talked to party activists over Zoom.
And second, the case was that Democrats are supporters of urban chaos and socialist policies that will make American lives less safe and will help immiserate the American middle class.
Nowhere was that clearer than in the joint speech of the St. Louis couple who were seen in a Twitter clip standing in front of their house, brandishing guns against a Black Lives Matter march. They pointed out that the BLM people were undisturbed by the cops, while they found themselves under arrest.
Their message — this could happen to you, homeowners — surely struck a chord with Americans who own guns as protection. Stats tell us that 43 percent of all Americans live in a gun-owning household.
That’s a lot of people. Trump’s hope for re-election is based on getting those people to turn out in greater numbers than they did in 2016, to offset Democratic gains. And the Democratic message — that cops are bad and rioters are good — plays right into Trump’s hands.
The Democrats also may have done Trump a favor in spending four days last week talking about America’s supposed grave sins — structural racism, polluting, and the like. Speaker after speaker last night hammered them with tried-and-true Republican patriotism.
Most effective was Tim Scott, the only black Republican in the Senate, whose speech concluded with these words:
“Growing up, he had to cross the street if a white person was coming. He suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third-grader to pick cotton, and never learned to read or write. Yet he lived to see his grandson become the first African American to be elected to both the United States House and Senate. Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime. And that’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.”
Nikki Haley, child of Indian immigrants, elaborated: “America isn’t perfect. But the principles we hold dear are perfect. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that even on our worst day, we are blessed to live in America. … We seek a nation that rises together, not falls apart in anarchy and anger.”
If Trump can turn this election around, it will be because these ideas resonate with the Americans the media have lost the power to hear and to whom they no longer even attempt to speak.
One more point about both conventions: Necessity is the mother of invention, and necessity may have done both political parties a service.
As was the case with the Democrats last week, the pandemic-created need to substitute intimacy for scale broke the sclerotic mold in which the GOP’s quadrennial gatherings had been frozen for decades.
Speeches flowed quickly without the interruptions of a roaring crowd. The filmed material didn’t seem like filler, as it did during conventional conclaves, which gave the parties an unalloyed opportunity to craft the presentations of their messages in ways that make the electoral choices more comprehensible.
There was a wacky freshness to the Democratic confab. Shockingly, given the Democratic advantage when it comes to A-list showbiz glitz, the GOP event was more efficiently produced and more authoritative.
But — and here’s the surprise — they really grabbed our attention.


newyorkpost--2020-08-24--Evan Engram on verge of expensive Giants crossroad

Not at every position and certainly not where new head ...

Here is the one Evan Engram trade the Giants would be happy to make: Dump his injury problems and add his big contract.
The top of the tight-end market was shattered this month when the 49ers extended George Kittle (five years, $75 million) and the Chiefs extended Travis Kelce (four years, $57.5 million). Next move belongs to the Eagles with Zach Ertz, and then likely the Giants with Engram, whose team option for 2021 was exercised in May.
“I think it’s awesome for those guys. They’ve worked their butts off — very talented guys and leaders of their teams,” Engram said of Kelce and Kittle, who squared off in Super Bowl LIV.
“That’s kind of my motivation right now, to continue to get better with my talents and continue to push my team. I’m not going to worry about the numbers and the contracts. My focus is becoming a better leader, better teammate and better football player.”
The Giants have resisted inquiries to trade their 2017 first-round pick for two years, only to see him miss 13 games due to various injuries during that time. The long-term bet placed is that a fully healthy season results in monster numbers.
A third coaching staff in four years is drooling at scheming matchup nightmares. This time, it’s coordinator Jason Garrett’s offense, which previously featured future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten.
“It’s always a question of, ‘Can this guy reach his potential based on the way he’s working?’ ” coach Joe Judge said. “I think this guy [Engram] can. He has a high ceiling. A lot of guys have a lot of talent and aren’t as open to coaching. He listens to everything you say and tries to apply every technique as detailed as he can.”
Judge and Engram first met in January, when Engram was rehabbing in East Rutherford after foot surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury. Engram returned from training in Georgia during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic having added some “good weight,” without any conditioning issues sometimes caused by time spent in a walking boot.
“He has a large gas tank to keep pushing through the day,” Judge said. “I kind of just tell him, ‘Man, I love watching you practice. Let’s not disappoint me out there today.’ I turn his tape on and see him flying around. He’s a fun guy to watch play because he has a lot of ability, but he loves the game, too.”
Judge is going to like what he saw on display Monday: Breakaway speed after the catch, finishing blocks and a quick bounce-back from his one drop.
Engram is the key in elevating the Giants from a good offense to elite by keeping the box honest for Saquon Barkley and drawing coverage away from Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. And he is practicing like he knows it.
Maybe a little added intensity?
“Definitely myself, for sure,” Engram said. “Just getting out there with all of the new coaches and new offense, energy is very high. The urgency is high.”
The Giants signed free agent Levine Toilolo as a block-first tight end, but that doesn’t mean putting Engram in Bubble Wrap during certain situations with increased physicality.
“We’re not going to live in fear,” tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens said.
Engram’s salary jumps from $1.9 million in 2020 to $6 million in 2021. If he stays healthy and meets expectations, he should have the leverage to join the upper echelon of tight ends next offseason.
But he’s not looking forward to possibilities. Just like he’s not looking back at frustrations.
“I’m living in the now,” Engram said. “I just know I’m blessed to be healthy right now and to be back on the field with my guys. Each day is an opportunity to empty the tank. I’m not going to take that for granted.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-24--RNC 2020: Tim Scott says election is about ‘promise of America’

Congress ’ only black GOP senator , Tim Scott of South Carolina , praised President Trump for making “ tremendous progress ” in achieving equality for all Americans as he closed out Monday ’ s first night of the 2020 Republican National Convention .
The lawmaker , a close ally to Trump on Capitol Hill , drew from his own family history to offer an optimistic vision of the nation — as he bashed Joe Biden ’ s record and accused the Democratic nominee of taking black support for granted .
“ My grandfather ’ s 99th birthday would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to cross the street if a white person was coming .
He suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third grader to pick cotton , and never learned to read or write , ” said Scott .
“ Yet , he lived to see his grandson become the first African American to be elected to both the United States House and Senate .
“ Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime , ” Scott said .
“ And that ’ s why I believe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last .
“ We have work to do… but I believe in the goodness of America… the promise that all men , and all women , are created equal.
” In Trump ’ s first four years in office , “ we have made tremendous progress towards that promise , ” Scott said .
Scott , 54 , speaks frequently about being raised poor by a single mother , and has become an influential member of the GOP since arriving in Washington in 2011 .
He ’ s a major point-person for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and his name is frequently floated as someone on the list of prominent Republicans harboring 2024 presidential ambitions .
During Monday ’ s address , he blasted Biden ’ s over the 1994 crime bill that became one of the key contributors to mass incarceration .
He also brought up the former vice president ’ s now-infamous gaffe in May that black voters torn between voting for him and Trump “ ain ’ t black.
” “ When it comes to what Joe Biden says he ’ ll do… Look at his actions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at what he already did and did not do while he ’ s been in Washington for 47 years , ” Scott said .
“ Our side is working on policy — while Joe Biden ’ s radical Democrats are trying to permanently transform what it means to be an American.
” “ From a global pandemic , to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , 2020 has tested our nation in ways we haven ’ t seen for decades , ” Scott began .
“ But regardless of the challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote…To share stories of what makes our nation strong , and the lessons we have learned that can strengthen it further for our children and grandchildren.
” “ Because while this election is between Donald Trump and Joe Biden…it is not solely about Donald Trump and Joe Biden .
It ’ s about the promise of America .
It ’ s about you and me…our challenges and heartbreaks , hopes and dreams.
” Scott in June penned the Republican Party ’ s police reform bill , which included restricting the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and use-of-force incidents .
But Democrats blocked Scott ’ s JUSTICE Act , claiming it didn ’ t go far enough .
While Scott is a high-profile supporter of the president , he ’ s also unafraid to call him out — recently telling CNN that the president needed to take down an “ offensive ” tweet where on supporter could be heard yelling the phrase “ white power .
”

Congress’ only black GOP senator, Tim Scott of South Carolina, praised President Trump for making “tremendous progress” in achieving equality for all Americans as he closed out Monday’s first night of the 2020 Republican National Convention.
The lawmaker, a close ally to Trump on Capitol Hill, drew from his own family history to offer an optimistic vision of the nation — as he bashed Joe Biden’s record and accused the Democratic nominee of taking black support for granted.
“My grandfather’s 99th birthday would have been tomorrow. Growing up, he had to cross the street if a white person was coming. He suffered the indignity of being forced out of school as a third grader to pick cotton, and never learned to read or write,” said Scott.
“Yet, he lived to see his grandson become the first African American to be elected to both the United States House and Senate.
“Our family went from cotton to Congress in one lifetime,” Scott said. “And that’s why I believe the next American century can be better than the last.
“We have work to do… but I believe in the goodness of America… the promise that all men, and all women, are created equal.”
In Trump’s first four years in office, “we have made tremendous progress towards that promise,” Scott said.
Scott, 54, speaks frequently about being raised poor by a single mother, and has become an influential member of the GOP since arriving in Washington in 2011.
He’s a major point-person for the Trump administration on criminal justice reform and his name is frequently floated as someone on the list of prominent Republicans harboring 2024 presidential ambitions.
During Monday’s address, he blasted Biden’s over the 1994 crime bill that became one of the key contributors to mass incarceration.
He also brought up the former vice president’s now-infamous gaffe in May that black voters torn between voting for him and Trump “ain’t black.”
“When it comes to what Joe Biden says he’ll do… Look at his actions. Look at his policies. Look at what he already did and did not do while he’s been in Washington for 47 years,” Scott said.
“Our side is working on policy — while Joe Biden’s radical Democrats are trying to permanently transform what it means to be an American.”
“From a global pandemic, to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, 2020 has tested our nation in ways we haven’t seen for decades,” Scott began.
“But regardless of the challenges presented to us…every four years…Americans come together to vote…To share stories of what makes our nation strong, and the lessons we have learned that can strengthen it further for our children and grandchildren.”
“Because while this election is between Donald Trump and Joe Biden…it is not solely about Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It’s about the promise of America. It’s about you and me…our challenges and heartbreaks, hopes and dreams.”
Scott in June penned the Republican Party’s police reform bill, which included restricting the use of chokeholds and keeping information on no-knock raids and use-of-force incidents. But Democrats blocked Scott’s JUSTICE Act, claiming it didn’t go far enough.
While Scott is a high-profile supporter of the president, he’s also unafraid to call him out — recently telling CNN that the president needed to take down an “offensive” tweet where on supporter could be heard yelling the phrase “white power.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-27--UFC head Dana White gives no-holds barred endorsement of Trump at RNC

New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew , who made waves last ...

Ultimate Fighting Championship boss Dana White gave a no-holds-barred endorsement of President Trump Thursday night in remarks aired at the 2020 Republican National Convention on Thursday night.
“We need President Trump’s leadership now more than ever,” White, 51, boomed in a pre-recorded video.
The UFC boss KO’d lawmakers who support defunding police departments, raging that “it blows my mind how quickly some of the leadership in this country has forgotten the critical role first responders play in our society.”
“Come on, America! Defunding these vital positions is not the answer.”
While Trump has encountered friction with leading figures in other sports — sparring with the NFL over widespread social-justice protests during the National Anthem, and drawing regular criticism from NBA stars like LeBron James — he has found a reliable tag-team partner in White.
As the coronavirus put the US in a stranglehold and other professional sports shut down, White kept UFC running on Trump’s advice.
Though the fights ultimately were put on pause, Trump welcomed the sport back in May with a pre-taped message of congratulations.
“President Trump recognized that one of the small ways to instill a sense of normalcy in people’s lives was to bring back entertainment options,” White said Thursday.
“[Trump] went above and beyond to help all sports league involved… help stage life events in a pandemic.”
He urged American to votes, not only in the presidential elector, but for representatives at all levels of government.
“It is so important to vote and don’t think that your vote doesn’t matter,” he thundered.
White previously endorsed Trump in 2016, and the president in 2019 was a guest at UFC 244 at Madison Square Garden.


newyorkpost--2020-08-27--Dom Smith’s raw honesty led to powerful Mets moment: Sherman

Not the team considered the heir to Jackie Robinson ’ s Brooklyn Dodgers .
Not 24 hours before the whole sport actually celebrates Jackie Robinson Day .
Not 24 hours after their most prominent African-American player elevated the discussion around police brutality toward minorities with raw words and painful tears .
The Mets couldn ’ t play Thursday night — and they didn ’ t .
How they got there was , in part , classically Mets , as they were humiliated by not having control over their own internal feed in the Citi Field press conference room , leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But they also had a few moments of poignancy .
Seven night games were scheduled — which were not attached to doubleheaders that were created so the teams who protested and didn ’ t play on Wednesday , played twice on Thursday .
Six of the games were postponed while a will-they-or-won ’ t-they aura loomed over the Marlins and Mets .
Both teams dressed in their game uniforms .
Both stood by the dugout railings .
The Mets took the field led by their two African-American players , Smith and Billy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stepped in the batter ’ s box ( the Marlins wanted the symbolism of an African-Ameican player up ) .
A Black Lives Matter T-shirt was placed on home plate .
Michael Wacha never even threw a warm-up pitch .
Instead , the players removed their caps , bowed their heads and stood silently for 42 seconds — representing Robinson ’ s uniform number , an idea put forth by Marlins team leader Miguel Rojas .
Then the teams exited .
All the other major league games that were postponed ( it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with no one taking the field .
“ We showed tonight we ’ re not just gon na shut up and dribble , shut up and play ball , ” Smith said .
“ We ’ re gon na stand up for what we believe in.
” Smith , perhaps , more than anyone else in the game , served as a change agent .
Other leagues went first , other teams in the majors , too .
The Mets played on Wednesday night .
But in the postgame , Smith ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty called him .
Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins , citing the need to have empathy for people who lead different lives and endure different circumstances , said , “ I ’ m sure everyone saw Dom Smith last night .
If that doesn ’ t hit you differently , it should hit you differently .
We are all humans.
” Indeed , Smith humanized the issues .
You could have looked at him as an athlete or a black man .
But it was just as easy to imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wonder how we all would feel if our own relative was bearing his pain and soul publicly like this .
He put a crying face to the racial injustice .
“ It really touched all of us in the clubhouse to see how powerful his statement was , ” Michael Conforto said .
Conforto said the Mets met at 3 p.m. Thursday to decide how to handle this day .
Some time during the afternoon Brodie Van Wagenen was captured on an in-house video feed that went viral criticizing Rob Manfred for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game time , leave for an hour and then come back .
He would say in a later statement that he was mistaken and that was Jeff Wilpon ’ s idea .
So essentially , the commissioner is not a fool , my owner is — I guess this commissioner is going to be around longer than this selling owner .
Still , the leaked video brought not only pie-in-your-own-face slapstick to this day , but further confusion about what would occur .
Ultimately , the Marlins and Smith and his Mets teammates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in part with their silent , symbolic 42-second act of protest and defiance .
But also hope .
Smith talked about the past 24 hours being “ overwhelming ” as he felt a goodwill to defy the ill. “ We are in the right direction , ” Smith said flanked by Robinson Cano , Conforto and Dellin Betances , “ to make some serious , serious changes .
”

They couldn’t play.
Not the team considered the heir to Jackie Robinson’s Brooklyn Dodgers. Not 24 hours before the whole sport actually celebrates Jackie Robinson Day. Not 24 hours after their most prominent African-American player elevated the discussion around police brutality toward minorities with raw words and pained tears.
The Mets couldn’t play Thursday night — and they didn’t.
But it was how the Mets didn’t play that brought eloquence and elegance to a day that their general manager had veered toward familiar Mets’ pie-in-their-own-face slapstick. They took the field, but didn’t. They stood silently with the Marlins, yet made a loud noise.
Smith, who had cried in anguish Wednesday evening despondent that black men continue to be targeted by police in their own country, professed hope about a better tomorrow after seeing all that had occurred since Wednesday.
“We are in the right direction,” Smith said, “to make some serious, serious changes.”
We will see what change actually occurs. But by simply refusing to work — not playing — athletes initiated further discussion on social injustice.
Ten MLB games were postponed between Wednesday and Thursday as players used their forum to protest after the latest inexplicable episode, Jacob Blake being shot seven times in the back by a cop in Kenosha, Wis. Nine postponements came with a written statement. The Marlins and Mets went further.
There were three doubleheaders Thursday, the twin bills used to make up games lost to the boycotts of three games Wednesday. Six of the seven scheduled single games were postponed while mystery hung over what the Marlins and Mets would do. Though not made public, it had been decided by about 4 p.m. among the players not to play. But what else to do to take the baton from Smith and have further relevance and impact?
So when both teams stood by their dugout railings as the scheduled time for first pitch arrived, there was a what next vibe hovering. The Mets took the field led by their two African-American players, Smith and Billy Hamilton. Lewis Brinson stepped in the batter’s box (the Marlins wanted the symbolism of an African-Ameican player up). A Black Lives Matter T-shirt was draped on home plate. Michael Wacha never even threw a warm-up pitch. Instead, the players removed their caps, bowed their heads and stood silently for 42 seconds — representing Robinson’s uniform number, an idea put forth by Marlins team leader Miguel Rojas, but that he said was a collective within the organization.
The teams tipped their caps toward each other and exited from the most memorable event to date at Citi Field in 2020, one in which not one pitch or invective was delivered.
“We showed tonight we’re not just gonna shut up and dribble, shut up and play ball,” Smith said. “We’re gonna stand up for what we believe in.”
Smith, perhaps more than anyone else in the game, served as a change agent. Other leagues went first, other teams in the majors, too. The Mets played Wednesday night. But in the postgame, Smith’s anguished words and tears moved a sport. Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty called him. Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins, citing the need to have empathy for people who lead different lives and endure different circumstances, said, “I’m sure everyone saw Dom Smith last night. If that doesn’t hit you differently, it should hit you differently. We are all humans.”
Indeed, Smith humanized the issue. You could have looked at him as an athlete or a black man. But it was just as easy to imagine him as a son or sibling and wonder how we all would feel if our own relative was bearing his pain and soul publicly like this. Racial injustice was not an abstraction. It was Smith’s torment.
”It really touched all of us in the clubhouse to see how powerful his statement was,” Michael Conforto said.
The less powerful statement was put out by Brodie Van Wagenen. It came in response to him being caught on a hot mic criticizing commissioner Rob Manfred’s leadership for recommending the Mets take the field at gametime, leave for an hour and then come back. His statement about a video that went viral would claim he was mistaken and that this was Jeff Wilpon’s idea. So essentially, his story became the commissioner is not a fool, my owner is.
Van Wagenen did, in his press conference, own the mistake, noting “disappointment in myself” for detracting from his players and way more vital messaging. The Marlins and Mets put on their uniforms, never played and screamed in silence.
“This,” Smith said, “ is way bigger than baseball.”