newyorkpost--2020-03-07--What life is like inside Milan amid Italy’s coronavirus epidemic

ORLANDO , Fla. — Somewhere in heaven , Arnold Palmer was lounging ...

Shireen Gorgin Botura, 30, and Matt Botura, 29, American students living in Italy for two years and working as English teachers, tell The Post’s Sara Dorn about the dramatic changes to daily life in Milan — and how some Italians refuse to change their social habits despite the warnings — amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Italians are no strangers to drama, but the coronavirus epidemic here — which has killed more than 230, infected nearly 6,000 and brought our dynamic city to a standstill — has shaken even the hardiest Italians to their cores.
Every aspect of daily life here in Milan has shifted since the virus hit two weeks ago.
On Friday, outside Milan’s main cathedral, the Duomo, there were more pigeons than people on the plaza. Chinatown was eerily silent. We haven’t seen a double-kiss greeting in days. When we ordered espresso at our local coffee shop Friday morning, we were told we could not drink it at the bar, as is customary, and to sit at a table, away from the workers.
We estimate about 50 percent of shops and restaurants across the city were closed as of Friday.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement American couple, Shireen and Matt Botura, living in Milan amid the coronavirus outbreak. Woman and her son, both wearing a respiratory mask, stroll along Via Montenapoleone, Milan's fashion district. Getty Images Advertisement A woman wearing a respiratory mask exits from the Palace of Justice in Milan. AFP via Getty Images Advertisement
Collectively, the reaction has been dramatic. But for some Italians, the epidemic is a reality they refuse to accept.
We are originally from Ohio, and moved here two years ago — in part, because we love the lifestyle that centers on social gatherings, family, food and friends.
But we’re worried some are putting their customs above safety. The Milanese are highly social people. Some would rather die than skip their morning espressos and after-work aperitivos.
A student of Matt’s told him she wants to contract the virus to build resilience in preparation for the next wave of the epidemic. Italians pride themselves on their grit.
We’ve seen many elderly people, who are at a higher risk of dying from the disease, continuing about their daily lives as normal.
Shireen had an odd experience Thursday morning — when a man walked up to her and appeared to deliberately cough in her face, then made a U-turn and walked the other way.
Another student told Matt the bars were bustling on Thursday night.
A hashtag, #milanononsiferma, which translates to “Milan Won’t Stop,” has gone viral in the past several days.
“WE ARE OPEN!!! Fear is the worst of evils. We want to reassure all travelers that we are open and super active. With due precautions, travel and discovery remain the most beautiful experiences that human beings can experience! We too shout loudly #milanononsiferma,” the Libeccio Bed and Breakfast Tweeted, along with a flexed bicep emoji.
It’s a shift from the panic that set in on Feb. 21, when news of 16 infections in the Lombardy region broke.
People rushed to the grocery stores, kept to themselves and stared skeptically at anyone who dared to sneeze or cough on public transportation.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Cleaning of Trenord trains at Milan Cadorna Station. Carlo Cozzoli/Shutterstock Deserted public transport in Milan. from video Advertisement
When a man coughed on our tram car, crowds literally ran. We ran too.
Our local market was nearly cleared of pasta (gasp!) when we visited on Feb. 23.
By then, confirmed cases had quadrupled. We felt stressed, uninformed and afraid.
We both teach English and business skills, and are in school. Shireen’s work has been closed for two weeks and next week, too, which obviously hurts us financially.
Matt’s school, the University of Milan, is cancelled until the 15th, and there are talks it could be shut down until April 3rd.
We tried to stay inside as much as we could the past two weeks. Shireen ventured out for the first time on Feb. 29 after six days in our apartment. Matt took a few trips to work and the post office. Shops must close at 6 p.m. under a business curfew, but restaurants and bars are the exception to the rule.
One of the most frustrating aspects of this experience is all that’s unknown.
We still have no idea how many people are infected here in Milan; the government is only releasing regional numbers and counts for some of the smaller towns outside the city.
Not only are we fearful for ourselves, but we have deep roots in two of the additional Top 4 infected countries.
We lived in Xian, China, from 2013-2015, and have friends there who were stuck inside for four weeks. The Chinese people are used to being controlled, and wouldn’t dare disobey government orders. If the government demands a quarantine, they won’t leave their homes.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Employee of a Gucci store wears a protective face mask, due to the coronavirus outbreak in Milan. EPA An hydraulics professor from Milan Polytechnic in an empty classroom teaching a lesson via webcam to comply with the new measures against the spread of coronavirus in Milan. LaPresse/Sipa USA Advertisement
In Italy, the government has a laissez-faire approach to daily life.
Shireen has elderly family members in Iran, where her dad emigrated from in the 1970s. It’s the third most-affected country with 4,747 cases and 124 deaths.
We hope to see her aunts and uncles again soon.
If anything, this experience has taught us that even the simplest pleasures in life — fresh air, human interaction and even going to work — are a gift.


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Arnold Palmer Invitational third round was a nightmare for all

ORLANDO , Fla. — Somewhere in heaven , Arnold Palmer was lounging on a sofa drinking a Ketel One on the rocks with a twist of lemon , his favorite cocktail , wearing a cardigan and a broad smile .
Palmer always loved tough and challenging conditions for his namesake tournament .
If you ’ re among the millions of amateur golfers who draw pleasure in watching the pros struggle , Saturday ’ s third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill was your day as much as it was the King ’ s .
Eight players posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Koepka , one of the world ’ s most dominant players the past few years .
The average score for the round was nearly 76 .
Only one player among the 69 in the field shot a round below par — Max Homa with a 2-under 70 .
For the first time at this event since 1980 , a round was played without a single player breaking 70 .
The leaders entered the day at 7-under .
Tyrrell Hatton , who shot 73 on Saturday , enters Sunday ’ s final round at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a big-time birdie on the 18th hole , only the third birdie on that hole for the day .
Hatton held the lead over Aussie Marc Leishman , who shot 72 and is 4-under , and 2018 API winner Rory McIlroy , who shot 74 and is 4-under .
Sung Kang , who held the 36-hole lead at 7-under , was in position to be at the top of the leaderboard , too , seemingly having survived the triple bogey he absorbed on No .
11 , where he rinsed two balls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a triple bogey on the 18th hole after ripping his tee shot out of bounds to free-fall to a 77 and just 1-under for the tournament .
Among those who are right in the tournament include Christiaan Bezuidenhout , the 25-year-old South African who ingested poison as a 2-year-old and damaged his nervous system .
Playing in only the third PGA Tour event of his career , he is 3-under after shooting 73 Saturday .
Also at 3-under are Danny Lee , Sungjae Im and Harris English .
Rickie Fowler , a fashion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Palmer , began the day with hopes of vaulting himself into position , but he could manage only a 77 to stand at 2-over .
“ This golf course is a good test without any wind and without much rough , ’ ’ Fowler said .
“ Obviously , we have got a decent amount of rough this week and the greens are definitely baked pretty good .
It ’ s just hard .
There ’ s no real other way of explaining it .
It ’ s hard .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home saying what they would do out here , but I wouldn ’ t wish it on any average or normal player to go try and play what we did out there .
’ ’

ORLANDO, Fla. — Somewhere in heaven on Saturday, Arnold Palmer was lounging on a sofa sipping a Ketel One on the rocks with a twist of lemon, wearing a cardigan and a broad smile.
Palmer always craved tough and challenging conditions for his namesake tournament.
If you’re among the millions of amateur golfers who draw pleasure in watching the pros struggle, Saturday’s third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill was your day as much as it was the King’s.
Eight players posted rounds in the 80s, including Brooks Koepka, one of the world’s most dominant players in the past few years.
The average score for the round was nearly four over par. Only one player among the 69 in the field shot a round below par — Max Homa with a 2-under 70.
For the first time at this event since 1980, a round was played without a single player breaking 70.
This was as scary for the players as it was ugly to watch for the viewers.
The leaders entered the day at 7-under. Tyrrell Hatton, who shot a 1-over 73 on Saturday, enters Sunday’s final round at 6-under with the solo lead, thanks to an electric birdie on the 18th hole, only the third birdie on that hole for the day.
“I don’t normally fist-pump on a Saturday,’’ Hatton said. “But I think I was more shocked that it went in the hole. Very relieved.’’
Hatton leads Aussie Marc Leishman, the 2017 API winner who shot 72 and is 4-under, and 2018 API winner Rory McIlroy, who shot 74 and is 4-under.
Among those who are right in the tournament include Christiaan Bezuidenhout, the 25-year-old South African who ingested poison as a 2-year-old and damaged his nervous system. Playing in only the third PGA Tour event of his career, he’s at 3-under after shooting 73 Saturday. Danny Lee, Sungjae Im and Harris English are also 3-under.
“I don’t think anyone enjoyed that today,’’ Hatton said. “It was extremely tough out there. You could be made to look pretty silly at times without hitting too bad a golf shot.’’
Leishman said when he added up his score in the scorer’s trailer he “did a double take.’’
“I added up to 72 and it felt like I shot a 65, not a 72,’’ he said.
“I think a lot of people are sitting at home saying what they would do out here, but I wouldn’t wish it on any average or normal player to go try and play what we did out there,’’ said Rickie Fowler, who wore a cardigan sweater in honor of Palmer and shot 77.
“This is probably as hard as I’ve seen this place play, which I enjoy,’’ Leishman said. “I think it’s how it should play. I love how tough it is.’’
Just as the King does.


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Dellin Betances’ Mets spring training debut is a mixed bag

PORT ST. LUCIE – Between the shoulder impingement and torn ...

PORT ST. LUCIE — Dellin Betances expects to be ready for Opening Day. So does his new manager, Luis Rojas.
If that’s going to happen, the right-hander has a lot of work to do over the next three weeks.
The right-hander made his spring training debut for the Mets on Saturday and struggled with his command and velocity, but Betances was encouraged because the physical issues that sidelined him for nearly all of 2019 were no longer a concern.
Betances hit just 90 mph with his fastball in his 24-pitch outing. He also walked two batters, threw a wild pitch and allowed three runs, two earned, in the Mets’ 5-0 loss to the Nationals at Clover Park.
“I felt good,’’ Betances said. “It was nice to finally be back out there. [You] get some more adrenaline than [throwing] on the back field. It was fine.”
Betances is coming off a nightmarish 2019 during which he was limited to one September outing. He was first sidelined by a shoulder impingement, which was followed by a strained lat. When Betances finally returned late in the regular season, he faced two batters in a game in Toronto. He struck out both batters, then tore his left Achilles while hopping off the mound after the final out.
The injuries were especially ill-timed for Betances, who hit free agency for the first time in the offseason. He ended up signing a one-year deal with a base salary of $7.5 million that includes incentives that could earn Betances $5.5 million more, depending on how much he pitches.
After pitching in a simulated game during the week, Betances said he was looking forward to getting into a spring training game.
“It like I’m graduating,’’ Betances said.
Betances got ahead of the first batter he faced, Trea Turner, but walked both Turner and Victor Robles before fanning Starlin Castro. Turner and Robles executed a double-steal before Ryan Zimmerman drove in both runners with a single up the middle.
“To be out there facing another team, I know it’s a big step for him,’’ Rojas said. “He started off pretty good. He threw two strikes and then went to his slider and kind of lost his touch a little bit.”
Despite the numbers, Betances is confident he’ll be ready for the regular season.
“My goal is Opening Day,’’ Betances said. “That’s been my goal since throwing my offseason preparation. I don’t think why it would change it now.”
He’ll need to show signs of improvement to get there, although Betances said the lack of velocity was not a concern.
“Not for me, just because I’m usually a slower starter than most,’’ Betances said. “I’ll try to continue to progress with that.”
It was almost exactly a year ago when Betances was topping out at 91 mph with the Yankees and he downplayed it at the time, explaining that it was often an issue early in the spring.
So he wasn’t surprised by the radar gun, given that his offseason was altered by the Achilles rehab.
“Building arm strength is something that I kind of know,’’ Betances said. “Obviously, I’m not where I need to be just yet.”
And he’s going on his past history to believe that he’ll get there. He expects to be ready to pitch again in a few days.
“I’ve just got to trust that everything is gonna be there,’’ Betances said. “Obviously, I didn’t pitch all of last year but [for] two outs. … I’ve just got to trust it’s there, continue to build, progress and just get out there as much as I can before the season.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Met museum pays fat salaries, bonuses despite losing millions

As the Metropolitan Museum of Art continued to bleed money , it doled out huge pay raises to top executives .
President Daniel Weiss got a 25 percent increase in 2018 to $ 955,473 , up from $ 760,291 the year before .
His total compensation , including a housing allowance , came to $ 1.2 million , according to the Met ’ s just-released tax filing .
Newly hired Museum Director Max Hollein , who only started working at the Fifth Avenue institution on Aug. 18 , 2018 , got a $ 250,000 bonus on top of his $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His total compensation for less than five months work came to $ 764,093 , the tax filing shows .
The Met paid Lauren Meserve , the chief investment officer , a $ 581,964 bonus on top of her $ 643,371 salary , for a total of $ 1.6 million .
The museum received $ 26.8 million in taxpayer cash from New York City last year .
The museum ended the 2019 fiscal year with a $ 1.9 million deficit , according to its latest annual report for the year ending June 30 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an improvement from the previous year ’ s disastrous deficit of $ 8.3 million .
Two years ago , the museum cut staff and offered buyouts in the face of a deficit that came to $ 10 million .
The museum ’ s financial crisis prompted it to start requiring out-of-town visitors to pay $ 25 to enter .
New Yorkers can still pay what they wish .
The Met ’ s financial crisis led to Director Thomas Campbell being forced out in 2017 .
He walked away with a $ 2.1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October sold for $ 5.6 million the Fifth Avenue apartment that served as Campbell ’ s residence , city records show .
It also sold off $ 6.1 million worth of art work .
The museum brought in an extra $ 7 million in admissions revenue last year , mostly due to the entry-fee policy change and “ a strong exhibition schedule , ” according to its annual report .
The number of visitors last year totaled 7 million .
A Met spokesman declined to comment on the salary increases and said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a balanced budget for the fiscal year.
” How the Metropolitan Museum spent some of its cash last year :

As the Metropolitan Museum of Art continued to bleed money, it doled out huge pay raises to top executives.
President Daniel Weiss got a 25 percent increase in 2018 to $955,473, up from $760,291 the year before. His total compensation, including a housing allowance, came to $1.2 million, according to the Met’s just-released tax filing.
Newly hired Museum Director Max Hollein, who only started working at the Fifth Avenue institution on Aug. 18, 2018, got a $250,000 bonus on top of his $401,317 salary and a housing allowance. His total compensation for less than five months work came to $764,093, the tax filing shows.
The Met paid Lauren Meserve, the chief investment officer, a $581,964 bonus on top of her $643,371 salary, for a total of $1.6 million.
The museum received $26.8 million in taxpayer cash from New York City last year.
The museum ended the 2019 fiscal year with a $1.9 million deficit, according to its latest annual report for the year ending June 30, 2019.
The report noted the loss was an improvement from the previous year’s disastrous deficit of $8.3 million. Two years ago, the museum cut staff and offered buyouts in the face of a deficit that came to $10 million.
The museum’s financial crisis prompted it to start requiring out-of-town visitors to pay $25 to enter. New Yorkers can still pay what they wish.
The Met’s financial crisis led to Director Thomas Campbell being forced out in 2017. He walked away with a $2.1 million golden parachute.
The museum in October sold for $5.6 million the Fifth Avenue apartment that served as Campbell’s residence, city records show. It also sold off $6.1 million worth of art work.
The museum brought in an extra $7 million in admissions revenue last year, mostly due to the entry-fee policy change and “a strong exhibition schedule,” according to its annual report. The number of visitors last year totaled 7 million.
A Met spokesman declined to comment on the salary increases and said the museum was “on target to have a balanced budget for the fiscal year.”
How the Metropolitan Museum spent some of its cash last year:
Salaries and benefits: $198 million
Art purchases: $88.9 million
Restaurant services and supplies: $27.5 million
Special exhibitions: $21 million
Catering Services: $3.3 million
Travel: $3.2 million
Grants: $2.8 million
Total compensation for top five highest paid executives:
Lauren Meserve, chief investment officer: $1.6 million
Daniel Weiss, president: $1.2 million
Max Hollein, director : $764,093
Justin Reed, investment officer: $575,497
Clyde Jones III, senior vice president of institutional advancement: $568,941
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art tax filing for year ending June 30, 2019


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Placido Domingo whistleblower was also a victim of sexual abuse in opera world

The whistleblower who sounded the alarm over Placido Domingo ’ s alleged serial sexual misconduct says his own rape by a male opera star sparked his bombshell revelations .
Samuel Schultz last week also accused the powerful union that represents the superstar Spanish tenor and other opera singers of helping Domingo hush up an internal probe that found he had engaged in sexual harassment and abuse involving dozens of women across the globe .
Schultz , 33 , vice president of the American Guild of Musical Artists , resigned in protest last week , accusing the union of trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Domingo in exchange for $ 500,000 from the tenor and a “ negotiated apology ” the singer later rescinded .
“ I knew that at this time , if I did not come forward , these predatory actions would continue , and affect other people ’ s lives , ” he said .
Domingo has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual abuse , and a spokesman for the union denied any wrongdoing .
“ Any allegation that this was a ‘ cover up ’ or ‘ sweetheart deal ’ is demonstrably false , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Egert in a statement to The Post .
“ The contemplated discipline was stringent and unprecedented — substantial fines , long-term suspension , and counseling as well as a meaningful apology .
These disciplinary measures were overwhelmingly approved by the 80 member AGMA Board after hearing the details of the report and considering all the facts and circumstances.
” Egert said the $ 500,000 payment was to be used by the guild to design “ a structural program ” to address sexual harassment and pay for the internal investigation .
In his resignation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sexual assault survivor myself , my conscience would not allow me to be a party to an agreement that allowed the Union to bury the details of Domingo ’ s decades-long abuse of female AGMA members.
” Schultz in 2018 accused countertenor David Daniels and his husband William Walters of drugging and raping him after an opera performance in Houston in 2010 while he was still a student .
The two were indicted on sexual assault charges last year .
Before reporting the alleged rape to the authorities , Schultz said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ submitted the report to the person who handles these situations , and there was radio silence , ” Schultz told The Post , adding that the union only took interest in his case after it hit the news a year later .
In 2019 , Schultz said he ran for a position on AGMA ’ s board in order to protect other union members in an industry that he says has long tolerated sexual harassment by some of its biggest stars .
“ There was a legitimate danger of destroying my career by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me , ” said Schultz in a message on his website .
“ Because of this , I have lived with the fear of exclusion and being silenced.
” But Egert said the union supported Schultz , providing him with counseling and referring him to two separate attorneys and paying his legal costs .
Domingo , 79 , was accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of power by 27 people , according to an internal legal probe conducted by AGMA , Schultz said .
Schultz was privy to union meetings where the probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Post .
He admitted that he leaked information about the probe and the board ’ s negotiations to The Associated Press last month , which first exposed the allegations against Domingo last year .
Domingo apologized to women who had accused him of sexual misconduct on Feb. 25 .
“ I accept full responsibility for my actions , ” he said .
But two days later , on Feb , 27 , he seemed to flip-flop when he said , “ My apology was sincere … but I know what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will deny it again .
I have never behaved aggressively toward anybody , nor have I ever done anything to obstruct or hurt the career of anybody.
” Amid the allegations , Domingo has seen his performances canceled around the world .
On Friday , Domingo and the Royal Opera House in London “ mutually agreed ” that he would cancel upcoming performances in Giuseppe Verdi ’ s “ Don Carlo ” in July .
Last month , Domingo resigned his position as general director of Los Angeles Opera , a company that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would not return to New York ’ s Metropolitan Opera .

The whistleblower who sounded the alarm over Placido Domingo’s alleged serial sexual misconduct says his own rape by a male opera star sparked his bombshell revelations.
Samuel Schultz last week also accused the powerful union that represents the superstar Spanish tenor and other opera singers of helping Domingo hush up an internal probe that found he had engaged in sexual harassment and abuse involving dozens of women across the globe.
Schultz, 33, vice president of the American Guild of Musical Artists, resigned in protest last week, accusing the union of trying to forge “a sweetheart deal” with Domingo in exchange for $500,000 from the tenor and a “negotiated apology” the singer later rescinded.
“I knew that at this time, if I did not come forward, these predatory actions would continue, and affect other people’s lives,” he said.
Domingo has repeatedly denied the allegations of sexual abuse, and a spokesman for the union denied any wrongdoing.
“Any allegation that this was a ‘cover up’ or ‘sweetheart deal’ is demonstrably false,” said AGMA National Executive Director Len Egert in a statement to The Post. “The contemplated discipline was stringent and unprecedented — substantial fines, long-term suspension, and counseling as well as a meaningful apology. These disciplinary measures were overwhelmingly approved by the 80 member AGMA Board after hearing the details of the report and considering all the facts and circumstances.”
Egert said the $500,000 payment was to be used by the guild to design “a structural program” to address sexual harassment and pay for the internal investigation.
In his resignation letter, Schultz said that “as a sexual assault survivor myself, my conscience would not allow me to be a party to an agreement that allowed the Union to bury the details of Domingo’s decades-long abuse of female AGMA members.”
Schultz in 2018 accused countertenor David Daniels and his husband William Walters of drugging and raping him after an opera performance in Houston in 2010 while he was still a student. The two were indicted on sexual assault charges last year.
Before reporting the alleged rape to the authorities, Schultz said he approached AGMA for help. “I submitted the report to the person who handles these situations, and there was radio silence,” Schultz told The Post, adding that the union only took interest in his case after it hit the news a year later.
In 2019, Schultz said he ran for a position on AGMA’s board in order to protect other union members in an industry that he says has long tolerated sexual harassment by some of its biggest stars.
“There was a legitimate danger of destroying my career by reporting someone else’s assault against me,” said Schultz in a message on his website. “Because of this, I have lived with the fear of exclusion and being silenced.”
But Egert said the union supported Schultz, providing him with counseling and referring him to two separate attorneys and paying his legal costs.
Domingo, 79, was accused of sexual misconduct and abuse of power by 27 people, according to an internal legal probe conducted by AGMA, Schultz said. Schultz was privy to union meetings where the probe’s findings were discussed, he told The Post. He admitted that he leaked information about the probe and the board’s negotiations to The Associated Press last month, which first exposed the allegations against Domingo last year.
Domingo apologized to women who had accused him of sexual misconduct on Feb. 25. “I accept full responsibility for my actions,” he said.
But two days later, on Feb, 27, he seemed to flip-flop when he said, “My apology was sincere … but I know what I haven’t done, and I will deny it again. I have never behaved aggressively toward anybody, nor have I ever done anything to obstruct or hurt the career of anybody.”
Amid the allegations, Domingo has seen his performances canceled around the world. On Friday, Domingo and the Royal Opera House in London “mutually agreed” that he would cancel upcoming performances in Giuseppe Verdi’s “Don Carlo” in July.
Last month, Domingo resigned his position as general director of Los Angeles Opera, a company that he helped found, and also said he would not return to New York’s Metropolitan Opera.


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--New York drivers are paying up to $900 a month to park their cars

Leon Rose , meet Kenny Atkinson .
The new Knicks president was ...

New York City has always been a headache for drivers, and some 6,100 street parking spots have vanished over the last year in favor of bike lanes, restaurant seating and ride-share drop-offs. That means more drivers than ever are circling around the block, and fighting for pricey reserved spaces.
That’s why Matt Rossi, a 23-year-old marketing analyst who lives in Murray Hill, has opted out — and instead parks his 2007 Jeep Liberty in White Plains.
“It’s planes, trains and automobiles to get to,” he said of the free lot next to his office, which is 30 miles from his apartment. “It’s an hour and a half door to door.”
But, hey — it’s free!
One Manhattan banker named Jonathan, who asked that his last name be withheld for privacy reasons, stores his collection of vintage cars in New Jersey and also keeps two cars in Manhattan garages, which costs him $800 a month total.
“I bought a $5,000 Mercedes SL 500 off of eBay for commuting, because all my cars get ruined in garages in the city,” he said. “They bash [the Mercedes] up but it doesn’t matter as much.”
And no matter how much money you have, you can’t just buy the building next door and turn it into a garage: Manhattan zoning laws prohibit new curb cutouts.
Having a legal pre-existing curb cut “adds at least 10 percent in value” to a property, estimates Compass real-estate agent Leonard Steinberg.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Max Tibett, 30, drives a Ford F-150 pickup truck and parks all over Manhattan. Stephen Yang Tibett totes his motorcycle in the back of his pickup truck. If he finds a really great parking spot, he'll just unload his bike and tool around town as needed. Stephen Yang Advertisement Tibett totes his motorcycle in the back of his pickup truck. If he finds a really great parking spot, he'll just unload his bike and tool around town as needed. Stephen Yang Advertisement
Here, car-owning New Yorkers reveal just what parking costs in the city today.
Shelby Fix feels like she’s losing years off her life parking her car on the streets of the Upper West Side.
“Alternate-side street parking gives me a lot of anxiety,” said the auto consultant.
She said the twice-weekly reshuffling, for street cleanings, is like a game. “Everyone has to double-park on the other side of the street, from 9 in the morning to 10:30 and sit in our car until the street cleaner comes. After it comes, there’s a rush to get back to the spot you were just in.”
Though the 27-year-old said she hasn’t been clocked for a violation in a year, she admitted of the past: “I’ve slept through alarms, and there have been times when I’ve been sick, so I just took the $65 fine.”
And now that some 400 spots have been eliminated to create a protected bike lane on Central Park West, Fix said her stress is higher than ever: “It’s unbelievable. I’ve sat in my car for an hour and a half looking for a spot.”
“When it comes to my vehicle, it’s a love-hate relationship,” said Max Tibett, who lives in Astoria.
He uses his Ford F-150 pickup for his job overseeing the installations of stone finishings in high-end apartments, and ends up lugging the materials to as many as three work sites on any given day.
He spends about $900 a month on parking among metered spots, short-term garage stays and a municipal lot by his home in Queens. It’s all covered by his employer, but his time and patience are pushed to the limit.
“Usually I’m circling for about a half-hour to get a spot,” Tibett added, “I’m always playing the meter game, and fighting with the meter maids.”
And even with an expense account, the 30-year-old admitted, “It’s torturous most weeks.”
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement Tricia Lee, 45, drives a BMW X6 and parks in a Downtown Brooklyn garage next to her apartment building. Stephen Yang Tricia decided to park in a garage after spending $600 a year fixing car damages caused by street parking. Stephen Yang Advertisement
So he often travels with a backup plan.
“I have brought my motorcycle in the back of my pickup truck,” Tibett said. If he finds a really great parking spot, he’ll just unload his bike and tool around town as needed.
“You can get places quickly and find a spot no matter where you go.”
For Tricia Lee, a spot in an Icon parking lot adjacent to her Downtown Brooklyn high-rise is priceless.
“Whether or not I have a coat, I’m fine. I come out of my apartment, I take two elevators, I get in my car and I’m gone,” said Lee.
A real-estate agent, she depends on her BMW X6 for work, as she regularly transports clients to showings.
Before, she lived in Clinton Hill and parked her previous car, a Range Rover, on the street. Now, Lee said, the garage costs make up for what she used to spend in frequent car washes, extra gas for circling around searching for a spot and damage from wear and tear.
“There were so many scratches and bumps,” she said of her old routine. “I spent $600 a year fixing the bumper so it wouldn’t look horrendous,”
A self-proclaimed car buff who loves to drive around and listen to podcasts like “Oprah’s SuperSoul” between appointments, Lee said she’s not just paying $455 a month for security and convenience, but also peace of mind.
“I don’t want to revolve my whole life around street cleaning and parking difficulty. It would consume my life,” she said. “It’s my sanity fee.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Why Kenny Atkinson and the Knicks may be a perfect match

Back when he was about 13 years old , native New ...

Leon Rose, meet Kenny Atkinson.
The new Knicks president was likely already plenty familiar with Atkinson, who was represented by Creative Artists Agency (where Rose was co-head of the basketball division before he took the Knicks job), but now the newly fired Nets coach may be viewed in a different light by Rose — as a potential coaching candidate.
Atkinson was lauded for his role in developing young Nets such as Spencer Dinwiddie, Caris LeVert and Joe Harris in four seasons in Brooklyn before getting fired in a Saturday-morning shocker. He wouldn’t have to look far to find another team in need of developing its young core, and the Knicks presumably will be looking for a new head coach this summer after interim coach Mike Miller finishes out the rest of a seventh straight season without a playoff appearance.
“A coach doesn’t like to see another coach lose his job, particularly — Kenny’s an outstanding coach,” said Miller, who took over for the fired David Fizdale in December. “I feel for him and I know he’s well-respected in the NBA.”
Rose’s list of coaching candidates is expected to include Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Thibodeau and perhaps even Mark Jackson. But the 52-year-old Atkinson, a Knicks assistant from 2008-2012, is another intriguing possibility.
“I don’t know much, but just following [Atkinson] throughout his time with the Nets, he did a great job of being a leader of that organization and spearheading the rebuild,” Knicks forward Julius Randle told The Post on Saturday after practice. “So I’m sure he’ll be highly coveted.”
Randle hasn’t played for Atkinson, but acknowledged his strong reputation across the NBA.
“It seems like he’s very well respected within players, within the league — players he coached and players he didn’t coach,” Randle said. “I know I respected him.”
What Atkinson was able to do with the Nets’ young players did not go unnoticed, especially for Randle, who saw his former Lakers teammate D’Angelo Russell thrive last season with the Nets and become an All-Star in the process.
“D-Lo, he had him and turned him into an incredible player,” Randle said. “D-Lo enjoyed his time with him, for sure.”
Atkinson made his mark while he was with the Knicks under head coach Mike D’Antoni. The Long Island native was largely credited with playing a key role in Linsanity in 2012, when Jeremy Lin exploded onto the scene.
While there may be other jobs that open up by the end of the season — the 76ers and Bulls among them — the Knicks could be intriguing to Atkinson. He would not have to move far and there is young talent for him to mold as he has done at his past stops.
The Nets were coming off a 21-61 season when they hired Atkinson in 2016. The Knicks are limping down the stretch of a 19-44 campaign, their seventh straight losing season. Atkinson, who was credited with building a strong culture in Brooklyn, could do the same for the Knicks with a second chance as head coach.
Atkinson’s work with point guards, as a former point guard himself, could be especially appealing. The Knicks have been on a seemingly never-ending search for their point guard of the future, with Frank Ntilikina (21) and Dennis Smith Jr. (22) on the roster behind veteran Elfrid Payton. Atkinson gushed about Ntilikina in November before he played against the Nets.
“He’s always given the Nets trouble,” Atkinson said. “He just has. His pressure defense, he’s changed games, he’s won games against us, almost single-handedly. So I know he’s on the scouting report. We understand the defensive presence he represents and then I think he’s getting more confidence offensively from what I’ve seen from watching film. So he’s a young player, a growing player, that’s starting to play well.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Queens hotel won’t issue refund to nonprofit for coronavirus event cancellation

A Queens hotel is refusing to refund money paid by a nonprofit for a medical conference that was scrapped at the last minute in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak , organizers told The Post .
Global Healthy Living Foundation said it made the difficult choice to call off a summit for this weekend because some of the 18 patients slated to attend had compromised immune systems .
The three-day meeting at the LaGuardia Airport Marriott in East Elmhurst was designed to have those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune conditions meet with experts .
A group representative wrote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those traveling in for this weekend ’ s meeting are coming from cities where there are known outbreaks and in the case of California and the cities of Los Angeles , already declared State of Emergencies .
As we do not want to alarm your management , we know it is in the best interests of all to simply cancel our event at this time.
” But the Marriott offered only a partial refund saying the group still had to pay 70 % of food and beverage costs totaling $ 6,521 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ room charges , but only if the group rebooked within 90 days , according to an email the group received from Joseph Slane , the director of sales and marketing .
Shilpa Venkatachalam , the associate director of patient centered research for the foundation , said she was taken aback by Marriott ’ s response given this was a vulnerable group of travelers .
“ I think now is the time for all of us to come together , work together , ensure that our communities are safe , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not cooperate with us on that.
” Slane said he couldn ’ t discuss the situation and referred questions to the hotel ’ s general manager , who did not return a request for comment .

A Queens hotel is refusing to refund money paid by a nonprofit for a medical conference that was scrapped at the last minute in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers told The Post.
Global Healthy Living Foundation said it made the difficult choice to call off a summit for this weekend because some of the 18 patients slated to attend had compromised immune systems.
The three-day meeting at the LaGuardia Airport Marriott in East Elmhurst was designed to have those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and other auto-immune conditions meet with experts.
A group representative wrote to the Marriott Thursday saying “Many of those traveling in for this weekend’s meeting are coming from cities where there are known outbreaks and in the case of California and the cities of Los Angeles, already declared State of Emergencies. As we do not want to alarm your management, we know it is in the best interests of all to simply cancel our event at this time.”
But the Marriott offered only a partial refund saying the group still had to pay 70% of food and beverage costs totaling $6,521 and it would waive the $6,253 in room charges, but only if the group rebooked within 90 days, according to an email the group received from Joseph Slane, the director of sales and marketing.
Shilpa Venkatachalam, the associate director of patient centered research for the foundation, said she was taken aback by Marriott’s response given this was a vulnerable group of travelers.
“I think now is the time for all of us to come together, work together, ensure that our communities are safe,” she said. “We were very surprised that Marriott did not cooperate with us on that.”
Slane said he couldn’t discuss the situation and referred questions to the hotel’s general manager, who did not return a request for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Manhattan hardware store hit with fine for coronavirus price hikes

The tornado season kicked off last Sunday and , just two ...

The Garment District hardware store that sells Purell hand sanitizer for nearly $80 a bottle was slapped with a city fine Saturday — because they’re now allegedly jacking up the price of face masks.
Investigators from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection visited the store a day after The Post revealed the store’s astronomical prices in the wake of the coronavirus epidemic.
But a worker insisted the shop is not gouging — and won’t drop prices.
“We’re gouging according to them,” the defiant general manager at Scheman & Grant Hardware at Eighth Avenue and 38th Street said.
The store, an Ace Hardware franchises, is selling 1200-milliliter bottles of Purell for $79.99.
Store owner Andrew Scheman claims that Ace Hardware was offering the same product online for $54.99, though it’s sold out and it is unclear whether that price was for one or two bottles.
“We have ZERO tolerance for anyone taking advantage of an epidemic to gouge prices,” Mayor de Blasio posted Saturday night, alongside a re-tweet of The Post’s story.
“Violations have already been issued to businesses and there will be consequences if this continues.”
The store’s outrageous pricing even caught the eye of Gov. Cuomo in Albany.
“We have reports of stores selling hand sanitizer for $80 a bottle,” he said during a coronavirus-update press conference in Albany Saturday, referencing The Post’s exclusive.
He warned that the State Police will be investigating price gouging reports and yanking licenses when warranted. “You will be caught,” he said.
Scheman & Grant Hardware was also offering jumbo-sized, 2-liter bottles of Purell for $109, but sold out on Friday.
Previous 1 of 6 Next Advertisement Various products in addition to masks are also being sold for high prices at the store. Robert Miller Various products in addition to masks are also being sold for high prices at the store. Robert Miller Advertisement Robert Miller Robert Miller Advertisement
Saturday’s city fine — up to $500 — was for selling packs of ten 3M respirator masks for $60.
The mask ten-packs go for only $22.97 on competitor Home Depot’s website. Scheman maintains that some vendors on Amazon are selling the same masks for more than $60.
Preying on people who are concerned for the health of themselves and their loved ones for a profit will not be tolerated,” DCWP Commissioner Lorelei Salas said.
Shoppers welcomed the sting.
“It’s crazy. They just keep raising the prices. I should go to Home Depot,” customer Mario Moe griped, even as he shopped. “Cuomo should do something about this. He runs the state. He should give them a fine.”
Cuomo told reporters Saturday that he had directed state and local police departments to investigate unfair price hikes, and established a toll-free hotline at 1-800-697-1220 where shoppers can reported suspect price gouging.
“I want businesses to be aware that you could lose your license for price gouging. This is serious. It’s not just price gouging, it’s price gouging in an emergency situation where you are being exploitive of the public,” Cuomo said at a press conference.
“Not only is it disrespectful, it’s also illegal, and you will be caught,” the governor said.
Store owner Andrew Schemen told The Post in an email Saturday night that he intends to fight the fine — in court, if necessary.
“My business is 100 years old; I have never been accused of anything like this,” he wrote, insisting that his prices are fair.
“My margin percentages are the same as they were before anyone had ever heard of coronavirus, so I have not changed my business model, and thus have not price-gouged” as defined by city statute, he wrote.
“There is absolutely price gouging going on but it is at the wholesale level of the supply chain.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--New Yorkers don’t need to worry about tornadoes, meteorologist says

New Yorkers have plenty to stress about — coronavirus , shrinking 401 ( k ) s , dwindling toilet-paper supply .
But tornadoes aren ’ t one of them .
The tornado season kicked off last Sunday and , just two days later , a pair of twisters tragically left two dozen dead and scores injured across middle Tennessee .
But a tornado that fierce has a snowball ’ s chance in hell of happening here , according to meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki of the National Weather Service .
“ It wouldn ’ t be a scene out of ‘ Twister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You ’ re not going to see the back of a taxi dangling off a skyscraper , that ’ s for sure.
” Tornadoes do touch down in the Northeast , but we don ’ t get nearly as many as the South and Midwest — and ours simply aren ’ t as intense because we have fewer air masses clashing overhead , according to Ciemnecki .
“ Right off the bat , ” he said , “ there ’ s just a whole lot more commotion in that area.
” Both Tennessee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather service ’ s Enhanced Fujita Scale , which ranks tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed .
One swirled up to 167 mph ; the other clocked in at 175 mph .
New York City has had only 15 tornadoes in the past 50 years — and the strongest skipped across Brooklyn in 2007 at wind speeds of up to 137 mph , which made it an EF2 .
The others were evenly split : seven EF0s , up to 85 mph , and seven EF1s , up to 109 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago in Queens , killed a woman when high winds brought a tree down on her car .
Flying glass and debris from the EF2 injured nine .
“ A 2 is a decent one for up here , ” Ciemnecki said .
In the past 50 years , 15 tornadoes have touched down in New York City — roughly one every three years .
By year and strength , with F0 the weakest and F5 the strongest :

New Yorkers have plenty to stress about — coronavirus, shrinking 401(k)s, dwindling toilet-paper supply. But tornadoes aren’t one of them.
The tornado season kicked off last Sunday and, just two days later, a pair of twisters tragically left two dozen dead and scores injured across middle Tennessee.
But a tornado that fierce has a snowball’s chance in hell of happening here, according to meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki of the National Weather Service.
“It wouldn’t be a scene out of ‘Twister,'” Ciemnecki said. “You’re not going to see the back of a taxi dangling off a skyscraper, that’s for sure.”
Tornadoes do touch down in the Northeast, but we don’t get nearly as many as the South and Midwest — and ours simply aren’t as intense because we have fewer air masses clashing overhead, according to Ciemnecki.
“Right off the bat,” he said, “there’s just a whole lot more commotion in that area.”
Both Tennessee twisters registered near the top of the weather service’s Enhanced Fujita Scale, which ranks tornadoes from EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed. One swirled up to 167 mph; the other clocked in at 175 mph.
New York City has had only 15 tornadoes in the past 50 years — and the strongest skipped across Brooklyn in 2007 at wind speeds of up to 137 mph, which made it an EF2. The others were evenly split: seven EF0s, up to 85 mph, and seven EF1s, up to 109 mph.
One EF1, a decade ago in Queens, killed a woman when high winds brought a tree down on her car. Flying glass and debris from the EF2 injured nine.
“A 2 is a decent one for up here,” Ciemnecki said.
Windy City
In the past 50 years, 15 tornadoes have touched down in New York City — roughly one every three years. By year and strength, with F0 the weakest and F5 the strongest:


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Elizabeth Warren weighs 2020 endorsement while looking ahead to 2024

Elizabeth Warren is keeping her cards close to the vest .
Days after dropping out of the 2020 Democratic primaries , the Massachusetts senator is weighing her options about who to endorse .
With the race now a contest between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden , Warren remains the last big-ticket former candidate to remain uncommitted .
People in the know say Warren — at a relatively youthful 70 — is already looking ahead to 2024 .
“ The long and short of it is she has not ruled out a future that involves running for president , ” one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She will be 74 in 2024 and that is a realistic variable .
She and the people around her are weighing it.
” Though many establishment Democrats spent months fretting that Sanders could sew up the nomination in a fractured race , Biden swiftly consolidated the support of his former rivals after a knockout showing in South Carolina and Super Tuesday .
Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg , Sen. Amy Klobuchar and ex-NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg all announced their support of Biden immediately after leaving the race .
Though Warren is generally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is significant bad blood between the two stemming from claims that Sanders told Warren in a private conversation that a woman could not win the 2020 election .
Sanders vehemently denied ever making the remark .
“ She wants to endorse , ” said the DC insider adding that a decision was definitely coming soon .
“ She does not want to fade out of this race .
”

Elizabeth Warren is keeping her cards close to the vest.
Days after dropping out of the 2020 Democratic primaries, the Massachusetts senator is weighing her options about who to endorse.
With the race now a contest between Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, Warren remains the last big-ticket former candidate to remain uncommitted.
People in the know say Warren — at a relatively youthful 70 — is already looking ahead to 2024.
“The long and short of it is she has not ruled out a future that involves running for president,” one Senate insider told The Post. “She will be 74 in 2024 and that is a realistic variable. She and the people around her are weighing it.”
Though many establishment Democrats spent months fretting that Sanders could sew up the nomination in a fractured race, Biden swiftly consolidated the support of his former rivals after a knockout showing in South Carolina and Super Tuesday. Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and ex-NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg all announced their support of Biden immediately after leaving the race.
Though Warren is generally closer to Sanders on policy, there is significant bad blood between the two stemming from claims that Sanders told Warren in a private conversation that a woman could not win the 2020 election. Sanders vehemently denied ever making the remark.
“She wants to endorse,” said the DC insider adding that a decision was definitely coming soon. “She does not want to fade out of this race.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Elizabeth Warren rejected by Native American voters on Super Tuesday

Among the most notable voters who abandoned Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Super Tuesday were Native Americans .
Warren spent decades claiming she was “ part Cherokee and part Delaware ” — even taking a disastrous DNA test to try to prove it .
She was ultimately forced to apologize and admit the claim was bogus , as President Trump mocked her as “ Pocahontas.
” “ I think that her claim and digging in her heels and the [ DNA test ] did hurt her , ” Simon Moya-Smith , a 36-year-old Native American activist , told The Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted for Bernie on Super Tuesday , and I didn ’ t vote for her.
” A look at how counties with high Native American populations voted suggests Warren ’ s past pretensions took a toll .
Oklahoma , the Super Tuesday state with the largest population of American Indian voters , went strongly for Joe Biden , giving him 38.7 % of the vote .
Bernie Sanders was second with 25.4 % while Michael Bloomberg took third with 13.9 % .
Warren came in fourth with 13.4 % .
But it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ native populations .
In Osage County — home to the Osage Indian reservation — Warren took 10 % of the vote .
Cherokee County , home of Warren ’ s “ brethren ” Cherokee Nation , she garnered 10.3 % of the vote .
A similar story played out in Utah , where Warren once again placed a dismal fourth with 15.5 % .
But in the state ’ s San Juan County — where 50 % of the population is Native American according to the U.S. census — Warren took just 8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a level of distrust , ” Moya-Smith said .
“ She didn ’ t address Indian country directly or native problems until she wanted to be president … It was just extremely disingenuous on its face .
”

Among the most notable voters who abandoned Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Super Tuesday were Native Americans.
Warren spent decades claiming she was “part Cherokee and part Delaware” — even taking a disastrous DNA test to try to prove it. She was ultimately forced to apologize and admit the claim was bogus, as President Trump mocked her as “Pocahontas.”
“I think that her claim and digging in her heels and the [DNA test] did hurt her,” Simon Moya-Smith, a 36-year-old Native American activist, told The Post. “That’s why I voted for Bernie on Super Tuesday, and I didn’t vote for her.”
A look at how counties with high Native American populations voted suggests Warren’s past pretensions took a toll.
Oklahoma, the Super Tuesday state with the largest population of American Indian voters, went strongly for Joe Biden, giving him 38.7% of the vote. Bernie Sanders was second with 25.4% while Michael Bloomberg took third with 13.9%. Warren came in fourth with 13.4%.
But it was worse for her in counties with large native populations. In Osage County — home to the Osage Indian reservation — Warren took 10% of the vote. Cherokee County, home of Warren’s “brethren” Cherokee Nation, she garnered 10.3% of the vote.
A similar story played out in Utah, where Warren once again placed a dismal fourth with 15.5%. But in the state’s San Juan County — where 50% of the population is Native American according to the U.S. census — Warren took just 8% of the vote.
“There was a level of distrust,” Moya-Smith said. “She didn’t address Indian country directly or native problems until she wanted to be president … It was just extremely disingenuous on its face.”


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--How notorious NYC hotel owner escaped Vietnam with suitcases full of gold

Amid the chaos of the fall of Saigon , no one noticed the young man dressed in rags making his way to the port , carrying suitcases .
He was , after all , one of many trying to flee the South Vietnamese capital as their communist neighbors to the north took over the city on April 30 , 1975 .
The secret of the suitcases — stuffed with $ 7 million in cash and gold — became a uniquely New York story : the money belonged to Truong Dinh Tran , a shipbuilder who ended up one of Manhattan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violent , drug-ridden Hotel Carter in Times Square was the filthiest in the city , three years running .
The man carrying the bags wasn ’ t Tran .
It was James Dau , who was “ adopted ” by Tran in 1960 , when he was just 11 .
By the time they fled Saigon , the 25-year-old had lived a life by Tran ’ s side .
Over the next four decades , Tran turned the money into a $ 100 million fortune that his 14 children and four wives have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died in 2012 without a will .
They each stand to inherit between $ 2.5 million and $ 3.3 million .
Dau was born to a Catholic Vietnamese family that escaped to the south part of the simmering nation in the 1950s , and first encountered Tran at a seminary , where Dau ’ s father worked as a cook .
The two men came from neighboring villages in the north and by 1960 , Dau ’ s father asked Tran to adopt his son to give the boy “ a better chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan Surrogate Court papers .
“ I then moved in with Mr. Tran and never lived with my natural parents again , ” Dau recalled in the legal filing .
Tran ’ s Vishipco Lines by 1975 owned 16 ships .
Tran paid for Dau ’ s private school , clothes , food and had maids to tend to the boy ’ s needs .
“ Occasionally , Mr. Tran took me to movies with him … and afterwards would explain to me the moral lessons embedded in each movie we watched , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave him a hefty position in Vishipco , “ watching over the funds of the company , ” and , when it came time for Dau to serve in the military , secured him a cushy gig as an air traffic controller .
Tran didn ’ t want to leave Saigon .
“ But when he started seeing people trampling on each other to scale the [ American ] embassy ’ s gate to force themselves inside , he realized that South Vietnam would collapse quickly into communist hands , ” Dau said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be ready .
They filled the suitcases with cash and gold .
“ He told me to dress in torn clothing and pretend I was deaf and dumb , which I did to avoid being robbed , ” Dau said .
Tran gave Dau a new name , to hide his Air Force service , and the pair set off for the port with one of Tran ’ s mistresses and her sister , passing crowds begging for a way out on Tran ’ s ship .
“ We left the port @ @ @ @ @ @ @ army arrived , ” Dau said .
“ I hid and guarded the two suitcases inside the exhaust of the ship , ” he continued .
They went to the Philippines , then Guam , then Arkansas , where the cash and gold was put in a bank .
Tran sent Dau back to Guam to oversee his ship , and moved on , buying hotels in Buffalo and New York .
Drugs and prostitutes were so rampant at Tran ’ s Kenmore Hotel on East 23rd Street , the FBI seized the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2007 , a prostitute was found murdered on the sixth floor of Hotel Carter , which sold for $ 190 million in 2014 .
Tran lived in his hotels , apparently rotating between the mothers of his kids and their offspring .
Dau last saw Tran during a 1982 New York visit , when , he says , he declined a request to stay and help with the business because “ his other children were there and I didn ’ t want to further burden him.
” Now whittled down by taxes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is awaiting a judge ’ s decision on whether to include Dau among Tran ’ s nearly two dozen heirs .
The rest of the family has already acknowledged Dau as a member of the extended clan who deserves his piece of the financial pie , according to court records .
Dau , now 70 , only needs a Manhattan Surrogate Court judge ’ s final approval .

Amid the chaos of the fall of Saigon, no one noticed the young man dressed in rags making his way to the port, carrying suitcases.
He was, after all, one of many trying to flee the South Vietnamese capital as their communist neighbors to the north took over the city on April 30, 1975.
The secret of the suitcases — stuffed with $7 million in cash and gold — became a uniquely New York story: the money belonged to Truong Dinh Tran, a shipbuilder who ended up one of Manhattan’s most notorious hoteliers, whose violent, drug-ridden Hotel Carter in Times Square was the filthiest in the city, three years running.
The man carrying the bags wasn’t Tran. It was James Dau, who was “adopted” by Tran in 1960, when he was just 11. By the time they fled Saigon, the 25-year-old had lived a life by Tran’s side.
Over the next four decades, Tran turned the money into a $100 million fortune that his 14 children and four wives have squabbled over for years since the 80-year-old died in 2012 without a will. They each stand to inherit between $2.5 million and $3.3 million.
Dau wants his fair share.
Dau was born to a Catholic Vietnamese family that escaped to the south part of the simmering nation in the 1950s, and first encountered Tran at a seminary, where Dau’s father worked as a cook.
The two men came from neighboring villages in the north and by 1960, Dau’s father asked Tran to adopt his son to give the boy “a better chance in life,” Dau explained in Manhattan Surrogate Court papers.
“I then moved in with Mr. Tran and never lived with my natural parents again,” Dau recalled in the legal filing.
Tran’s Vishipco Lines by 1975 owned 16 ships. Tran paid for Dau’s private school, clothes, food and had maids to tend to the boy’s needs.
“Occasionally, Mr. Tran took me to movies with him … and afterwards would explain to me the moral lessons embedded in each movie we watched,” Dau said.
Dau claims Tran gave him a hefty position in Vishipco, “watching over the funds of the company,” and, when it came time for Dau to serve in the military, secured him a cushy gig as an air traffic controller.
Tran didn’t want to leave Saigon. “But when he started seeing people trampling on each other to scale the [American] embassy’s gate to force themselves inside, he realized that South Vietnam would collapse quickly into communist hands,” Dau said in court papers.
Tran told Dau to be ready. They filled the suitcases with cash and gold.
“He told me to dress in torn clothing and pretend I was deaf and dumb, which I did to avoid being robbed,” Dau said.
Tran gave Dau a new name, to hide his Air Force service, and the pair set off for the port with one of Tran’s mistresses and her sister, passing crowds begging for a way out on Tran’s ship.
“We left the port in Saigon immediately before the North Vietnamese army arrived,” Dau said.
“I hid and guarded the two suitcases inside the exhaust of the ship,” he continued.
They went to the Philippines, then Guam, then Arkansas, where the cash and gold was put in a bank. Tran sent Dau back to Guam to oversee his ship, and moved on, buying hotels in Buffalo and New York.
Drugs and prostitutes were so rampant at Tran’s Kenmore Hotel on East 23rd Street, the FBI seized the 620-room building in 1994.
Back in 2007, a prostitute was found murdered on the sixth floor of Hotel Carter, which sold for $190 million in 2014. Tran lived in his hotels, apparently rotating between the mothers of his kids and their offspring.
Dau last saw Tran during a 1982 New York visit, when, he says, he declined a request to stay and help with the business because “his other children were there and I didn’t want to further burden him.”
Now whittled down by taxes to just $60 million, the estate is awaiting a judge’s decision on whether to include Dau among Tran’s nearly two dozen heirs.
The rest of the family has already acknowledged Dau as a member of the extended clan who deserves his piece of the financial pie, according to court records. Dau, now 70, only needs a Manhattan Surrogate Court judge’s final approval.


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Trump tries to get Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro on board with his Venezuela plans

President Trump is making the Venezuela crisis — and his goal of boxing China and Russia out of the Western @ @ @ @ @ items at an intimate dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Saturday night .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ to be the first fully free and democratic hemisphere in human history , ” a @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s part of the Trump Doctrine.
” First daughter Ivanka Trump @ @ @ @ @ both top White House advisers , are joining the two leaders at Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , Florida .
Bolsonaro will visit the US Southern Command in Miami Sunday , where @ @ @ @ @ Craig Faller are set to sign a defense-cooperation agreement .

President Trump is making the Venezuela crisis — and his goal of boxing China and Russia out of the Western hemisphere — his top agenda items at an intimate dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Saturday night.
“There is an opportunity for this to be the first fully free and democratic hemisphere in human history,” a senior administration official said Saturday. “It’s part of the Trump Doctrine.”
First daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, both top White House advisers, are joining the two leaders at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
Bolsonaro will visit the US Southern Command in Miami Sunday, where he and US Navy Admiral Craig Faller are set to sign a defense-cooperation agreement.


newyorkpost--2020-03-07--Mets’ Michael Wacha opens up: ‘A lot left to prove’

Carlos Beltran may have been “ the godfather ” of the Astros ’ ...

Mets free-agent addition Michael Wacha discusses the highs and lows of his pitching career, his personal expectations, overcoming a scapula injury and more in a Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What is your mentality on the mound?
A: Whenever I’m on the mound, not really much going through my head besides it’s kind of just mano-a-mano. It’s me versus you, and my mentality is I’m gonna beat you type of deal.
Q: Do you hate hitters?
A: Whenever I’m out there, yup.
Q: Is that important?
A: Yeah. I think you have to have that mentality, for sure.
Q: You were an All-Star in 2015. Do you believe you can be an All-Star again?
A: 100 percent, yeah. I plan on making a lot more in my career. I’m 28, I’m young, man. I’ve got a lot more years in me for sure.
Q: How would you describe your career so far?
A: Definitely some ups and downs. Still a lot left to prove though.
Q: What is it exactly you want to prove?
A: Just that I can get the job done up here at this level. That I can be one of the best in this league. That’s my mentality. I feel like whenever I’m out there, I’m one of the best in the league. Just prove to everybody … prove to myself, prove to my family that I can do it.
Q: So at one year and $3 million, you think the Mets got a steal?
A: That’s how I look at it, for sure.
Q: When you were a kid, what kind of career did you envision?
A: I never thought I’d be here (chuckle). I was undrafted out of high school [in Texarkana, Texas]. Didn’t really get recruited to many colleges out of high school either. Never thought about playing at the next level until after my freshman year in college [at Texas A&M]. Middle of my sophomore year these advisors, agents were, “Hey, we want to represent you. We think you’re gonna be a top pick in the draft.” I’m like, “Wait, what? Seriously? Me?” Being here right now, every single year is a plus, I’ll tell you that.
Q: Did being undrafted put a chip on your shoulder?
A: For sure. I think people telling me that, “You’re never gonna play in college,” to “You’ll never be successful in college,” to “You’ll never be in the big leagues,” I think all those people telling me that just kind of motivation for sure.
Q: What style of pitcher are you?
A: I’m gonna come right at you. I feel like there’s some pitchers that they’re nibbling on the corners trying to get you to chase or whatever, but I’ve always been one of those pitchers that tries to get my defense involved. I’m firing up in the strike zone. I’m trying to keep the pace moving. I hate slow games. I hate when pitchers are just piddling around on the mound. I like getting back on the rubber, and I like coming right at you — strike one, strike two and I might get you out right then. Whether it’s strikeout or groundout, I’m trying to keep my defense involved so they don’t fall asleep.
Q: Are you working on any specific pitch in camp?
A: Definitely just trying to refine my offspeed pitches. I feel like my fastball command is back where I need it to be.
Q: You’re friendly with Adam Wainwright. What did he tell you about that called third strike on Carlos Beltran in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS against the Mets to send the Cardinals to the World Series?
A: He doesn’t really boast about himself, like really ever. But what was funny was whenever I first got called up with the Cardinals, Beltran was on that team, and so my first couple of years up there, never saw any of those highlight films or anything. Like, before games they always do highlight videos of the past players, of the Cardinals winning World Series or winning the pennants and stuff, but they never showed that clip until after Beltran was off our team. And then they started showing that clip all the time. I’m like, “Jeez, I wonder why they weren’t showing it,” and then two and two put together, it’s like, “OK, it kind of makes sense.”
Q: How was Beltran as a teammate?
A: He was The Man. The way he carried himself was as professional as you could be. I remember just always looking and watching what he did in the clubhouse. He was early to the ballpark, one of the last to leave. He was in the cages, and such a great mentor for a lot of our rookies that were coming up, and for some of our young guys on how to carry yourself in the game and how to get prepared for games, and I think it paid huge dividends for a lot of ’em for sure.
Q: What was your reaction when you learned he was so involved in the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal?
A: Kind of caught me off-guard, the whole thing. I didn’t expect that stuff at all.
Q: What was the low point for you dealing with your scapula injury?
A: That thing was a little tricky because it popped up on me in ’14, and then it reoccurred in ’16. So at that point, whenever I was talking to doctors, they didn’t really know anything about it. They thought it was just gonna keep reoccurring. That definitely put some doubt into my head. It was pretty tough, thinking that I might have to be pitching with this. If the case is that it’s always gonna be there, then I wouldn’t be able to pitch ’cause it was that painful. But lucky enough, I was able to find a trainer [Sam Mulroy] down in Dallas to help me get my shoulder strong enough to see where my weaknesses were in the back of my shoulder, and so we knocked that out in 2016 and have not had a sniff of it since.
Q: You feared this could be the end of your career?
A: In 2016 for sure. One of the guys that we talked to was [former pitcher] Brandon McCarthy, he was the only person that we had found in the big leagues that had the same stress reaction, but it was like a stress fracture. We linked up with that same guy down in Dallas that helped him as well.
Q: The trainer cured you?
A: Yup, it was all weights.
Q: If you could test your skills against one batter in MLB history, who would it be?
A: [Ken] Griffey [Jr.].
Q: If you could pick the brain of one pitcher in MLB history, who would it be?
A: I was always a Randy Johnson fan, just big dude, just gnarly on the mound. I think it’d be pretty cool to see his mental side of the game.
Q: Ryan Zimmerman spoiled your no-hitter with two outs in the ninth in 2013.
A: I’ve never seen him run that fast down the line before (laugh). I painted a fastball down and away, and I’m like, “I’ve got it. This is it.” Bounces over my head just further enough away from my glove. Pete Kozma comes in, bare-hands it, throws it, pulls Matt Adams off the base just by a tad.
Q: You never pitched a no-hitter at any level?
A: In college, I had a perfect game going into the ninth, and a dropped third strike ended that one where my catcher threw it to right field. So that was a tough way to lose it. And then that game against the Nationals, and then I had a no-hitter into the ninth against the Pirates in 2018 as well. Three outs away, 0-2, [Colin] Moran, he just dug a changeup. Maybe if [Kolten] Wong was a little taller at second base, I think he mighta caught it, but just a little fella (laugh).
Q: Describe outdueling Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 of the 2013 NLCS, 1-0.
A: That was my rookie year, that 2013 postseason. I still don’t know if I exactly knew what I was doing at the time. I didn’t really care who was pitching on the other side, it was just me against those hitters at that point. It was a lot of fun for sure.
Q: Describe the series-end home run you allowed to Travis Ishikawa in Game 5 of the 2014 NLCS against the Giants.
A: That’s another painful memory. You’re crushing me right now (smile). I’m in here sweatin’ right now. I feel like I’ve experienced some of the highest highs in the postseason and obviously some of the lowest of lows — whenever you give up the walkoff to end the season. It just kind of makes you who you are as player and who you are as a person, and it’s all just how you respond to those types of things. I know that offseason I was very motivated. 2015 was the All-Star [season] the next year. It’s either you can lay down and pout about it, or else you can go out there and get better and take it upon yourself.
Q: Describe Game 6 of the 2013 World Series at Fenway, when you gave up six runs in 3 ²/₃ innings in a 6-1 loss.
A: That was a tough one there as well. It was a rowdy crowd up there, it was a clinching game for them, so they were bringing everything they got, and then, late in the season, sometimes you just kinda run out of gas.
Q: What is your best baseball moment?
A: It’s hard to beat your debut [May 30, 2013]. I think that was one of the most special nights, walking out there, first time pitching in a big stadium [Busch Stadium] like that. You feel like a gladiator in a coliseum type of deal with all the people, you’re just center stage. It was a good night, I pitched seven innings, one-run ball, a couple of hits [getting a no-decision in a 4-2 loss], and had all my family there and friends.
Q: Describe the 2015 All-Star Game.
A: I didn’t get to pitch in the All-Star Game. The Cardinals didn’t want me pitching there, they said they wanted me to save my innings. I think I had just pitched a few days before. It was in Cincinnati, the Home Run Derby was awesome, the parade to the ballpark, you got your own truck, you got screaming fans the whole way down, I’ll never forget that. The game was awesome. I remember talking with [Jacob] deGrom quite a bit there, just getting to pick his brain a little bit.
Q: What are your observations about deGrom as a teammate?
A: He’s a gamer. He’s that competitive guy that you need on the mound. He brings it every night. He’s obviously got electric stuff, but you see other guys in the league with electric stuff but still don’t do what he does.
Q: Do you think Noah Syndergaard can win a Cy Young?
A: I think those two will be battling it out — and I’d like to throw my name out there, too. Noah’s a helluva talent. He’s obviously got every tool in the book.
Q: You’ve known Marcus Stroman from 2011?
A: We played on the collegiate USA team. I remember telling my dad back then like, “Hey, this guy’s got the nastiest slider I’ve ever seen,” and sure enough, he’s in the big leagues punching out everybody with that thing.
Q: Describe Pete Alonso.
A: Baller.
Q: How have you done against him?
A: Not good (laugh). I gave up probably the farthest home run against him that I’ve ever given up. He put me in the third deck up there [Citi Field]. I think it’s still in the air. You could probably get up there and watch it land. It was a 3-1 changeup right down the middle.
Q: How many home runs can he hit in a season?
A: I’m not putting any ceiling on that dude because he will exceed those expectations for sure.
Q: Could he hit 60 home runs one day?
A: I believe so. And I think he’ll tell you the same thing.
Q: What kind of guy is he?
A: Great teammate. I remember talking to him on first base, ’cause I ended up getting a hit in that same game. He’s like, “Yeah, I’m just up there swinging like an angry gorilla” or something (laugh).
Q: Well, he’s called Polar Bear.
A: Yeah, I know. But he said, “I’m just taking gorilla hacks,” or something up there, and I was like, “That was definitely a gorilla hack.” He’s got a great mentality for this game, and he’s just an awesome human being.
Q: Jeff McNeil.
A: He’s an aggressive hitter. He’ll tell you straight to your face he’s gonna swing the bat. And you know that going into games, and it gets into the pitcher’s head knowing that this guy’s gonna be swinging the bat. Heckuva fielder, can play a lot of different positions, and one of the best hitters I’ve seen in this league.
Q: Michael Conforto.
A: Stud. He just carries himself the right way. He’s not really show-boatin’ or anything, just a quiet, level-headed dude that absolutely rakes.
Q: Ahmed Rosario.
A: High-energy guy, brings it every single game. Just looking forward to him turning a lot of double plays this year behind me. I’ve always been a contact pitcher, not really punch out too many guys, and so having those good defenders behind me I’m a big fan of.
Q: Who were your favorite pitchers growing up?
A: I grew up a Cubs fun, and I really liked watching Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.
Q: Who are athletes outside baseball you admire?
A: Here recently, I’ve really enjoyed watching Patrick Mahomes. The way he just carried himself at his age, and seems like no stage is too big for him.
Q: You were a Johnny Manziel fan.
A: Johnny Football. I feel like he was one of the first people where he had a camera on him at all times, no matter where he went. He could not act like a normal college student at all. People were judging every action that he did, but he was one of the greatest players that I’ve ever seen play.
Q: Your younger brother Lucas is a linebacker for the XFL Tampa Bay Vipers.
A: Luke’s about 6-2, 240 [pounds], can absolutely run. I wouldn’t want to get hit by him.
Q: You got engaged in late January. How did you propose to Sarah?
A: We were in Dallas, just kind of got her out there on a lunch date, a little picnic with the skyline view of Dallas, and ended up dropping to a knee out there. Had her surprised, she wasn’t really expecting it, so it was a good night.
Q: Describe your parents.
A: Just pushed me to be the best person I could be on and off the field. They were always driving me across the state, or across the country, to Florida, to South Carolina for these tournaments. Looking back, other parents definitely didn’t do that for their kids.
Q: What drives you?
A: Just trying to be the best me. I try to always represent myself and my family as best as I can. I know whenever I’m out there on the mound, it’s a direct reflection of who my family is and how they’ve raised me.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: [Derek] Jeter, Brett Favre, LeBron James.
Q: Why Jeter?
A: Had a 2 jersey, or whatever, a shirsey, back in the day. I was a shortstop, and always practiced the Jeter hop and throw from the hole.
Q: Why Favre?
A: I was born in Iowa. I was a Packers fan growing up, and he was the gunslinger, played so many games in a row through injury, didn’t matter how he felt, you knew that you could pencil him in there for whatever how many years straight — which was pretty crazy, especially in that sport.
Q: Why LeBron?
A: He’s just the best of his generation really in his sport.
Q: Favorite movie?
A: “Billy Madison.”
Q: Favorite actors?
A: Adam Sandler and Will Ferrell.
Q: Favorite actress?
A: Jennifer Lawrence.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: Blake Shelton.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Steak and potatoes.
Q: Coronavirus?
A: Wash your hands. If you’re sick, don’t be around other people. Just stay home.
Q: How did the Kobe Bryant tragedy affect you?
A: It was just heartbreaking. Just couldn’t imagine the pain that his family and his daughters are feeling. Just so tragic. I’m sure he was just protecting her [his 13-year-old daughter Gianna] all the way down, you just have images of that. And it’s just so sad.
Q: Are you looking forward to playing on the New York stage?
A: I’m excited about it. Just ready to get out there in front of those passionate fans, and just giving it everything I got and leaving it all on the field.


newyorkpost--2020-03-08--Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton takes baby steps in rehab

BRADENTON , Fla. — Aaron Judge had nothing but good intentions ...

BRADENTON, Fla. — According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Giancarlo Stanton was going to throw, hit off a tee and participate in flip tosses Saturday.
Stanton suffered a Grade 1 right-calf strain during a fielding drill on Feb. 26 and hasn’t played since. This past week, GM Brian Cashman said he didn’t think Stanton would be ready to play on Opening Day and explained sometime in April was more realistic.
The Yankees optioned RHP Nick Nelson to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and sent RHP Miguel Yajure to Double-A Trenton.
Jonathan Loaisiga opened camp with a strong chance to grab one of the 13 spots on the Yankees’ staff in either a conventional starter’s role or more of a hybrid reliever/starter.
“He continues to get ahead and attack with pitches,’’ Aaron Boone said of Loaisiga’s two-inning outing Saturday. “All in all, pretty good.’’
Loaisiga gave up two runs, two hits — the first hits and runs he has given up this spring — and struck out two in two innings in a 7-4 win over the Pirates. He has fanned 11 in seven innings in three games.
Help. The Yankees’ 7-4 win over the Pirates on Saturday took a ridiculous 3 hours, 42 minutes to complete. Rob Manfred has many ideas about changing the game he is in charge of and should put a time limit on exhibition games. One way would be to have teams schedule “B’’ games in the morning on a back field.
There was a time when the Yankees believed John Ryan Murphy would at least be their backup catcher. Nevertheless, they couldn’t pass up getting Aaron Hicks for Murphy from the Twins following the 2015 season. Since then, he has played for the Diamondbacks and the Braves.
Murphy helped his chances of grabbing the Pirates’ backup job with a towering two-run homer off Loaisiga in the second inning.
The Yankees have two games today. Masahiro Tanaka starts against the Braves at George M. Steinbrenner Field, and Clarke Schmidt faces the Orioles in Sarasota.


newyorkpost--2020-03-08--Mets’ Matt Adams set to practice again after cardiac testing scare

PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Adams said he was nervous when the Mets sent him back to New York to undergo cardiac testing last week .
“ It was probably the scariest week of my life , ’ ’ Adams said of the uncertainty before he was cleared to resume baseball activity .
“ It ’ s nice to be able to know I got a clean bill of health.
” The veteran slugger signed a minor league contract in January after winning a World Series with the Nationals last season .
He said there were no symptoms prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details of what the tests showed .
“ It was new to me , ’ ’ Adams said Saturday at Clover Park .
“ I feel healthy , ready to go .
I felt healthy before , too .
It ’ s just frustrating .
I ’ m glad I got that in my head that there ’ s nothing wrong so I can get back out there and do my thing.
” Adams , 31 , was 1-for-8 in three games before being shut down as he tries to make the Mets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sit out didn ’ t help his cause .
“ I just go out there and focus day-by-day , ’ ’ Adams said of his mentality .
“ If get ahead of myself , I ’ m not gon na be where I want .
I ’ m going to hit the ground running .
I ’ ve been having really good days since I ’ ve been back and cleared to go .
I can control what I can control and leave everything else up to the people who make the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It ’ s better to be safe than sorry , ’ ’ Adams said .
“ It ’ s frustrating to have missed a week .
I felt good coming into camp .
I felt nothing leading up to that.
” J.D .
Davis could return to the lineup Sunday , according to manager Luis Rojas .
He ’ s been out with a jammed shoulder suffered making a diving play at third base .
Rojas said he expects Davis to start in left Sunday .
Jeff McNeil , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park Saturday and should play Sunday .
The Mets made their second round of cuts Saturday , reassigning RHPs Ryley Gilliam and Adonis Uceta and LHP Kevin Smith to minor league camp .
There are 49 players left in major league camp .
Brandon Nimmo had two more hits , including his second double , and is now 10-for-23 in nine Grapefruit League games .
… Nimmo had a tough time in center dealing with the swirling winds .
He misplayed a pair of fly balls as questions remain if he can stick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adventurous fifth inning .
He gave up a leadoff homer to Emilio Bonifacio , then three straight singles to load the bases .
The right-hander followed that by retiring the next three batters without allowing another run .
Noah Syndergaard and Edwin Diaz are slated to throw against the Astros at 1:10 p.m. at Clover Park .
Justin Verlander will start for Houston .

PORT ST. LUCIE — Matt Adams said he was nervous when the Mets sent him back to New York to undergo cardiac testing last week.
“It was probably the scariest week of my life,’’ Adams said of the uncertainty before he was cleared to resume baseball activity. “It’s nice to be able to know I got a clean bill of health.”
The veteran slugger signed a minor league contract in January after winning a World Series with the Nationals last season. He said there were no symptoms prior to the testing and declined to disclose the details of what the tests showed.
“It was new to me,’’ Adams said Saturday at Clover Park. “I feel healthy, ready to go. I felt healthy before, too. It’s just frustrating. I’m glad I got that in my head that there’s nothing wrong so I can get back out there and do my thing.”
Adams, 31, was 1-for-8 in three games before being shut down as he tries to make the Mets’ roster. He understands being forced to sit out didn’t help his cause.
“I just go out there and focus day-by-day,’’ Adams said of his mentality. “If get ahead of myself, I’m not gonna be where I want. I’m going to hit the ground running. I’ve been having really good days since I’ve been back and cleared to go. I can control what I can control and leave everything else up to the people who make the decisions.”
He said he feels fortunate.
“It’s better to be safe than sorry,’’ Adams said. “It’s frustrating to have missed a week. I felt good coming into camp. I felt nothing leading up to that.”
J.D. Davis could return to the lineup Sunday, according to manager Luis Rojas. He’s been out with a jammed shoulder suffered making a diving play at third base. Rojas said he expects Davis to start in left Sunday.
Jeff McNeil, who was sick Friday, was back at the park Saturday and should play Sunday.
The Mets made their second round of cuts Saturday, reassigning RHPs Ryley Gilliam and Adonis Uceta and LHP Kevin Smith to minor league camp. There are 49 players left in major league camp.
Brandon Nimmo had two more hits, including his second double, and is now 10-for-23 in nine Grapefruit League games. … Nimmo had a tough time in center dealing with the swirling winds. He misplayed a pair of fly balls as questions remain if he can stick in center.
Jeurys Familia had an adventurous fifth inning. He gave up a leadoff homer to Emilio Bonifacio, then three straight singles to load the bases. The right-hander followed that by retiring the next three batters without allowing another run.
Noah Syndergaard and Edwin Diaz are slated to throw against the Astros at 1:10 p.m. at Clover Park. Justin Verlander will start for Houston.


newyorkpost--2020-03-08--How Jacob deGrom is giving hope to Yankees’ Luis Severino

TAMPA — When Luis Severino was told he needed Tommy John surgery , the first thing he did was Google pitchers who have had the procedure .
Mets ace Jacob deGrom ’ s name appeared , giving Severino hope he can make a complete recovery from his operation , which took place Feb. 27 .
“ DeGrom ’ s name popped up , ’ ’ Severino said at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday , his first public comments since undergoing the surgery .
“ And [ Stephen ] Strasburg , too , a lot of good pitchers came up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These guys did it , I can do it , too .
DeGrom has had a great career and Strasburg just won the MVP of the World Series.
’ ’ DeGrom has won two straight Cy Young awards .
Strasburg put together a great season and was dominant in October .
DeGrom and Strasburg both had their surgeries in 2010 .
Ten years later , both are at the top of their game .
Severino just turned 26 .
Strasburg , like deGrom , is 31 .
You look for hope and inspiration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life and the Yankees right-hander is doing just that .
“ I know it is going to be a long recovery , but at least I ’ m sure I am going to be good for next year to help my team , ’ ’ said Severino , who added he has no doubts he can be the terrific pitcher he was in 2017-18 when he posted a 33-14 record with a 3.18 ERA and struck out 450 batters over 384 ²/₃ innings .
“ The recovery is 12-14 months .
I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ready to pitch , but they always do like a month and a half extra as a precaution to be ready .
I ’ ll be good to come back.
’ ’ Losing Severino and now Aaron Judge ( stress fracture in the first right rib ) for an extended period of time — an injury Judge suffered last September , but was not diagnosed until Wednesday — has been a terrible 1-2 punch in the gut to the 2020 Yankees .
Giancarlo Stanton is out with a calf injury .
James Paxton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ injury-riddled 2019 season has morphed into 2020 and the Yankees had better start figuring out how to keep their stars on the field .
Catcher Gary Sanchez rested Saturday with a sore back and has not looked good behind the plate .
Judge went through a battery of tests before it was discovered he has that stress fracture .
Severino also went through several major tests before the extent of his injury was finally realized .
After two MRI exams and a CT scan during the offseason didn ’ t uncover a torn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nerve-conductor test , which was negative , and another CT scan , which also was negative .
However , a dye contrast MRI , otherwise known as a MRI arthrogram , discovered a partially torn UCL .
“ I ’ m frustrated because this is two years in a row getting hurt and not being able to help my team , ’ ’ Severino said .
Injured players who are frustrated is becoming all too common in the Yankees clubhouse .
“ We worked hard in the offseason and then we came here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something like this happens , a lot of things go through your mind , ’ ’ Severino said .
“ Like ‘ What did I do wrong in the offseason ?
What am I doing wrong in the past three years ?
’ It ’ s definitely frustrating.
’ ’ Severino said that he went for those MRIs in December and January .
“ When [ the pain ] first happened I felt discomfort , but it was going away the next day or the next two days , ’ ’ Severino said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York to do MRIs and they didn ’ t find anything .
At that time I wasn ’ t even worried about anything .
If I pitch , I ’ ve got four days to rest and I ’ ll be good .
The first time we did one MRI , the second time we did the MRI and the CT scan and they didn ’ t find nothing.
’ ’ “ Then the last time it happened , it wasn ’ t like that .
The pain didn ’ t go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
‘ ’ The news was crushing , but now Severino is moving forward mentally .
“ In your mind you are thinking about 100 things , ’ ’ Severino said .
“ At least now I know what I have.
’ ’ And he has the Jake deGrom success model as inspiration .

TAMPA — When Luis Severino was told he needed Tommy John surgery, the first thing he did was Google pitchers who have had the procedure.
Mets ace Jacob deGrom’s name appeared, giving Severino hope he can make a complete recovery from his operation, which took place Feb. 27.
“DeGrom’s name popped up,’’ Severino said at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, his first public comments since undergoing the surgery. “And [Stephen] Strasburg, too, a lot of good pitchers came up. That gave me more confidence. These guys did it, I can do it, too. DeGrom has had a great career and Strasburg just won the MVP of the World Series.’’
DeGrom has won two straight Cy Young awards. Strasburg put together a great season and was dominant in October. DeGrom and Strasburg both had their surgeries in 2010. Ten years later, both are at the top of their game. Severino just turned 26. Strasburg, like deGrom, is 31.
You look for hope and inspiration anywhere you can find it in this life and the Yankees right-hander is doing just that.
“I know it is going to be a long recovery, but at least I’m sure I am going to be good for next year to help my team,’’ said Severino, who added he has no doubts he can be the terrific pitcher he was in 2017-18 when he posted a 33-14 record with a 3.18 ERA and struck out 450 batters over 384 ²/₃ innings. “The recovery is 12-14 months. I think in 12 months I’ll be ready to pitch, but they always do like a month and a half extra as a precaution to be ready. I’ll be good to come back.’’
Losing Severino and now Aaron Judge (stress fracture in the first right rib) for an extended period of time — an injury Judge suffered last September, but was not diagnosed until Wednesday — has been a terrible 1-2 punch in the gut to the 2020 Yankees. Giancarlo Stanton is out with a calf injury. James Paxton is recovering from back surgery. The injury-riddled 2019 season has morphed into 2020 and the Yankees had better start figuring out how to keep their stars on the field.
Catcher Gary Sanchez rested Saturday with a sore back and has not looked good behind the plate.
Judge went through a battery of tests before it was discovered he has that stress fracture. Severino also went through several major tests before the extent of his injury was finally realized.
After two MRI exams and a CT scan during the offseason didn’t uncover a torn ulnar collateral ligament, Severino underwent a nerve-conductor test, which was negative, and another CT scan, which also was negative. However, a dye contrast MRI, otherwise known as a MRI arthrogram, discovered a partially torn UCL.
“I’m frustrated because this is two years in a row getting hurt and not being able to help my team,’’ Severino said.
Injured players who are frustrated is becoming all too common in the Yankees clubhouse.
“We worked hard in the offseason and then we came here to spring training to be ready and something like this happens, a lot of things go through your mind,’’ Severino said. “Like ‘What did I do wrong in the offseason? What am I doing wrong in the past three years?’ It’s definitely frustrating.’’
Severino said that he went for those MRIs in December and January.
“When [the pain] first happened I felt discomfort, but it was going away the next day or the next two days,’’ Severino said. “So I went twice to New York to do MRIs and they didn’t find anything. At that time I wasn’t even worried about anything. If I pitch, I’ve got four days to rest and I’ll be good. The first time we did one MRI, the second time we did the MRI and the CT scan and they didn’t find nothing.’’
“Then the last time it happened, it wasn’t like that. The pain didn’t go away. It was just sitting there. ‘’
The news was crushing, but now Severino is moving forward mentally.
“In your mind you are thinking about 100 things,’’ Severino said. “At least now I know what I have.’’
And he has the Jake deGrom success model as inspiration.


newyorkpost--2020-03-08--Italian leader orders lockdown of Venice and Milan as coronavirus spreads

Italy ’ s prime minister on Sunday ordered the complete lockdown of some 16 million people in the country ’ s coronavirus-plagued north — including the cities of Venice and Milan — in a draconian health measure expected to be approved by legislators later in the day .
The quarantine ordered by Guiseppe Conte effects ten million living in the Lombardy region another 6 million living in 14 provinces ; it bars anyone from entering or leaving except for “ undeferrable work needs or emergency situations ” until at least April 3 .
Anyone breaking the quarantine will face three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cinemas , theaters , dance schools , bingo halls and pubs will also be closed — but restaurants will stay open if they can provide seating that keeps a distance of one meter , or a little over a yard , between customers .
The measure , set to take effect immediately , would paralyze Italy ’ s industrial north , dealing a great financial blow to Europe ’ s third-largest economy .
The measure was due for a vote as Italy logged at least 5,883 infected patients and 3,594 deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the coronavirus : Mainland China , which has 80,695 infected and 3,097 deaths , and South Korea , which has 7,134 infected and 50 deaths .

Italy’s prime minister on Sunday ordered the complete lockdown of some 16 million people in the country’s coronavirus-plagued north — including the cities of Venice and Milan — in a draconian health measure expected to be approved by legislators later in the day.
The quarantine ordered by Giuseppe Conte effects ten million living in the Lombardy region another 6 million living in 14 provinces; it bars anyone from entering or leaving except for “undeferrable work needs or emergency situations” until at least April 3.
Anyone breaking the quarantine will face three months in jail, The Guardian reported.
Cinemas, theaters, dance schools, bingo halls and pubs will also be closed — but restaurants will stay open if they can provide seating that keeps a distance of one meter, or a little over a yard, between customers.
The measure, set to take effect immediately, would paralyze Italy’s industrial north, dealing a great financial blow to Europe’s third-largest economy.
The measure was due for a vote as Italy logged at least 5,883 infected patients and 233 deaths. Only two countries have been hit harder by the coronavirus: Mainland China, which has 80,695 infected and 3,097 deaths, and South Korea, which has 7,134 infected and 50 deaths.
With Post Wires