newyorkpost--2020-10-02--‘Not even close’: The next steps of Rangers rebuild

On Saturday , Marc Staal was traded to the Red Wings ...

The first overall pick is on his way, and even if Jeff Gorton wouldn’t confirm that the Rangers would be calling Alexis Lafreniere’s name when they make that selection a little bit after 7 p.m. Tuesday, you can make book it’ll be the 19-year-old winger from Rimouski, Quebec, greeting the general manager on the virtual stage.
All of the other kids in the organization will be a year older, stronger, more experienced and, hopefully, wiser when the Blueshirts reconvene at some point this winter. Barring trades, that would include Igor Shesterkin, Kaapo Kakko, Adam Fox, Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, Alexandar Georgiev, Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, Pavel Buchnevich, Tony DeAngelo, K’Andre Miller and, maybe, Vitali Kravtsov.
Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad are coming off career seasons, Jacob Trouba has had a year to adjust to New York, Chris Kreider is the team’s senior player, and there are prospects across the globe.
Trending is a big thing these days. Hashtag: The Rangers are trending in the right direction.
But, there’s a “but.” And though you might not have expected it, that “but” comes from John Davidson, the team president, who dealt in cold reality while accompanying his general manager on a Zoom call with the media on Friday.
“We’ve made good strides, but we’re not even close, yet,” Davidson said of his team, which improved from 26th to 18th in the overall standings and were evicted from the bubble in three straight by the Hurricanes in the qualifying round. “I think we have work to do. I’m being bluntly honest.
“I’ve gone through [reconstruction] twice as part of organizations in St. Louis and Columbus. It’s really hard to win. We’re going to get younger … and we’re thinking of the No. 1 pick. We’re still a young group, but that group has to go through the growing pains.
“We also do have some terrific players that are already there like Panarin, Zibanejad and Trouba, and the young players that have come a long way and others need growth,” he said. “I’ve always looked at these things trying to be as honest as possible.
“A lot of times, you take one, two, three steps forward, you take one back; two forward, one back; three forward, one back. I hope we don’t take any back, but the point is that we have to go through this process to try to learn how to win. It’s hard. And it takes experience.”
Temperature check: It took the Lightning 12 years to win the Stanley Cup after drafting Steven Stamkos first overall and 11 years after drafting Victor Hedman second overall.
And, following the Henrik Lundqvist buyout and Marc Staal trade, another core piece of the room is expected to depart with Jesper Fast pretty much out the door as an impending Oct. 9 unrestricted free agent.
Gorton talked around the Fast situation, but The Post has learned that there has not been a single conversation between the team and Kurt Overhardt, the winger’s agent, since extension talks broke down leading into the deadline. So, one wouldn’t expect an offer at this late date, especially since the Rangers are being careful to leave a bumper to protect them against entry level bonus charges against the cap.
The Rangers have holes in the middle and on the left side of the defense. And though the team has $23 million in space to deal with restricted free agents DeAngelo, Georgiev, Ryan Strome, Brendan Lemieux and Phil DiGiuseppe and to invest in the free agent market, attempting to immediately fill those vacancies by throwing money at them is not the most optimal plan.
If the perfect second-line center becomes available on the trade market — and that means a perfect combination of talent, disposition, age and contract — then, by all means, the Rangers should pursue that white whale.
Otherwise, though, it seems absurd not to give Chytil a shot at the assignment. The fact is, though it comprised a fairly small sample size of 136:30 of five-on-five play, Chytil and Panarin were on for 12 goals for and four against, while the Kreider-Chytil-Panarin trio that was generally together following a Rangers’ penalty kill, was on for seven goals scored and none against with a 26-7 shot advantage in 31:19 (Thanks Naturalstattrick.com).
If the Rangers intend to practice patience and go through the steps one by one, that’s where they should start.


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx lists LA home for $5.69M

This just-listed 10,300-square-foot home is big enough for you and your motley crew .
Nikki Sixx , the co-founder and bass player of metal band Mötley Crüe , is looking for someone else to take on this five-bedroom , six-bathroom Los Angeles-area spread .
Far from a song , the property , which Sixx listed on Thursday , asks $ 5.69 million .
Sixx has reportedly decided to leave LA to reside in Wyoming with his wife , Courtney and their daughter , Ruby .
( Sixx has four other children from two previous marriages . )
The ongoing coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new location where they felt safer .
Sixx , 61 , lived in Los Angeles for 40 years — and has said he ’ ll soon start writing a book .
The home , where two palm trees shade the entry , opens to a large foyer that branches off into several entertaining areas .
One of them , which lies straight ahead , is a living area with a fireplace that ’ s bordered by arched doorways with columns .
Another is a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows .
Listing images additionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kitchen with a breakfast dinette and a master suite — the latter of which has its own private living room with a fireplace .
Elsewhere inside , there ’ s a home office and a second-level theater with red walls and leopard-print carpeting .
Outdoor areas include lounging and dining areas , plus a pool with a spa .
Emil Hartoonian of the Agency has the listing .

This just-listed 10,300-square-foot home is big enough for you and your motley crew.
Nikki Sixx, the co-founder and bass player of metal band Mötley Crüe, is looking for someone else to take on this five-bedroom, six-bathroom Los Angeles-area spread. Far from a song, the property, which Sixx listed on Thursday, asks $5.69 million.
Sixx has reportedly decided to leave LA to reside in Wyoming with his wife, Courtney and their daughter, Ruby. (Sixx has four other children from two previous marriages.) The ongoing coronavirus pandemic made the family seek out a new location where they felt safer. Sixx, 61, lived in Los Angeles for 40 years — and has said he’ll soon start writing a book.
The home, where two palm trees shade the entry, opens to a large foyer that branches off into several entertaining areas. One of them, which lies straight ahead, is a living area with a fireplace that’s bordered by arched doorways with columns. Another is a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Listing images additionally show a wet bar, a spacious kitchen with a breakfast dinette and a master suite — the latter of which has its own private living room with a fireplace.
Elsewhere inside, there’s a home office and a second-level theater with red walls and leopard-print carpeting. Outdoor areas include lounging and dining areas, plus a pool with a spa.
Emil Hartoonian of the Agency has the listing.


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--Rays’ Kevin Kiermaier doubles down on bad blood with Yankees

After the Yankees suffered one of their ugliest losses of ...

Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said his team hasn’t forgotten about Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman buzzing Mike Brosseau’s head with a 101-mph fastball on Sept. 1 at Yankee Stadium, a pitch that continued the bad blood between the AL East rivals.
Before flying to San Diego on Friday following a workout at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., Kiermaier doubled down on the animosity between the clubs.
“With all the history we have had the last couple of years, it is what it is, I have said many times they don’t like us and we don’t like them,’’ Kiermaier said on a Zoom call. “It is going to continue to stay that way and it is going to be a very fun and energetic [series] and I know each team is going to try and put it to the opposition. I know that for a fact. It’s going to be two great teams playing against each other. I know our guys are real excited and ready to go and we plan to have the same thoughts when we get out West. Once again, we have forgot what went on, but moving forward we have to do everything in our power to be focused in order to win and that is what we plan on doing.’’
Game 1 of the best-of-five ALDS is Monday at Petco Park, and according to Kiermaier, it is another step in the Rays winning the organization’s first World Series title. The Rays won eight of 10 games against the Yankees during the regular season.
Asked about the Yankees having a higher profile than the Rays, Kiermaier didn’t shy away.
“We know we can play with anyone. We know we can beat anyone. They are a big market team, everyone knows the Yankees, huge payroll. We are here trying to play our game. We don’t get a whole lot of recognition but at the end of the day we win ballgames,’’ Kiermaier said. “We know we are darn good at that. We don’t plan on changing anything as far as that. We plan on racking up the ‘Ws.’ We got 11 more and that is what we plan on doing.’’
The Yankees and Rays are staying in the same hotel about 45 minutes north of San Diego. The housing arrangements were a product of negotiations between MLB and the union.
The Blue Jays and Rays were at the Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg for the AL wild-card series.
“Certainly going to cross paths,’’ Rays manager Kevin Cash said on a Zoom call Friday.
The Yankees plan to work out Saturday at Petco Park and do the same on Sunday. … Rosters have to be submitted to MLB by 10 a.m. Pacific time on Monday. Aaron Boone said Thursday there could be a couple of adjustments from the AL wild-card series roster for the Yankees. … Asked about Boone labeling the Rays the “big bad No. 1 seed” Wednesday night, Cash’s response was brief. “Sure, that is interesting,’’ Cash said.


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--Twitter says it will suspend users who ‘wish death’ after Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis

`` I 'm going to Walter Reed hospital .
I think I 'm doing ...

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Twitter says it will suspend users who tweet that they hope for President Trump’s death following his positive coronavirus diagnosis.
The social media platform told Motherboard it could dole out the suspensions under an “abusive behavior” rule that’s been in place since April.
“Content that wishes, hopes or expresses a desire for death, serious bodily harm or fatal disease against an individual is against our rules,” Twitter said in a statement to the outlet.
The anti-abuse policy explicitly bans tweets “hoping that someone dies as a result of a serious disease e.g., “I hope you get cancer and die.”
It’s not clear how often the rule will be enforced, as many have taken to Twitter to send ill wishes to the president since his and first lady Melania’s positive tests were announced early Friday morning.
Twitter told Motherboard it “won’t take enforcement action on every Tweet.”
“We’re prioritizing the removal of content when it has a clear call to action that could potentially cause real-world harm,” Twitter added.
Trump, 74, checked into the Walter Reed military hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Friday evening after he was administered experimental “polyclonal antibodies.”
He had been experiencing fatigue, according to his doctor, who has not confirmed reports that he was also suffering from a fever.
“I want to thank everybody for the tremendous support,” Trump said in a video message before he flew by helicopter to the hospital.
“I’m going to Walter Reed hospital,” he added. “I think I’m doing very well, but we’re going to make sure that things work out.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--Joe Biden ready to stand for whatever you want him to

Lost in the blinding gaslighting over President Trump ’ s remarks about white supremacists during this week ’ s presidential debate was the fact that Joe Biden proved again that he ’ s little more than a stand-in propped up by a compliant political press .
Biden was unable to answer even the most rudimentary queries about his beliefs , never mind specifics about policy .
Apologies to the Twitter expert class , but opposing Donald Trump is neither a moral doctrine nor a policy agenda .
There is plenty to dislike about the president , but you rarely have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on the other hand , says , “ I am the Democratic Party , ” and yet , after a half-century in American politics , we have virtually no idea what his presidency would look like .
Biden ’ s already put a lid on his past , and the press has obliged .
The same reporters who will comb over 15 years of Trump ’ s tax returns have shown zero curiosity in nearly 40 years of Senate papers Biden has buried somewhere in a University of Delaware basement .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single significant piece of legislation Biden sponsored in his 36 years in the Senate that he still supports , so maybe it doesn ’ t matter .
Thanks to the media , though , I know more about some flaky QAnon candidate in Georgia than I do about the presidential front-runner ’ s foreign-policy positions .
Or much else .
If Republicans were threatening to destroy the constitutional order by packing the courts and throwing out the legislative filibuster — one that Biden ’ s mentor Barack Obama once argued was an indispensable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be massive pressure on the head of the party to stake out a public position .
This , incidentally , isn ’ t a case of forcing Biden to answer for the ravings of some fringe activists — as the media is constantly demanding Republicans do .
No , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer continues to tell us that “ everything is on the table ” if Republicans confirm Amy Coney Barrett using the prescribed method provided by the Constitution .
Voters don ’ t even know if one of the candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American court system in retaliation .
I ’ m not sure there has ever been a comparable situation in post-war American politics .
Instead , we hear how Biden ’ s feckless opportunism is moderation .
Biden himself likes to drop a prefabricated line contending he was the one who beat Bernie Sanders , signaling to moderates that his candidacy prevailed over extremism .
Why would someone whose campaign stemmed the scourge of collectivism co-sign a 110-page Menshevik-Bolshevik Unity Pact ?
( I exaggerate only slightly . )
Maybe when Chris Wallace is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter , he will investigate .
In the past , when candidates made outlandish promises to their base during the primary , they would move back to the center .
There is no center anymore .
There is only Trump .
And because of the press ’ abdication of basic professionalism , Biden , the empty vessel , can concurrently hold any position that suits you .
It was Trump , for example , who brought up the Green New Deal during the first debate — the massive multitrillion-dollar attack on , yes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , your house and modernity in general .
Biden casually claimed that it is “ not my plan , ” though it says , quite unmistakably , in his “ Plan for Climate Change and Environmental Justice ” that the Green New Deal is the “ crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face.
” Instead of fact-checking Biden , the same Washington Post that once ran a headline that read “ Joe Biden embraces Green New Deal as he releases climate plan ” corrected Trump , asserting that “ Biden has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rinse and repeat on fracking and “ defunding the police.
” The media ’ s greatest coup in 2020 was turning months of widespread leftist violence into a debate over a few hundred far-right-wing Proud Boys .
Trump ’ s messy answer on the matter — in which , yes , he denounced “ white supremacists ” for the umpteenth time — made all the front pages .
Biden can label Antifa , the leftist movement responsible for the majority of violence , looting and arson over past few months , nothing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no blowback .
It was an interesting metaphor because Joe Biden in 2020 is just an idea — a suggestion imbued with an infinite number of possibilities .
Joe can be anything you want .
What will the reality look like ?
I don ’ t know .
You don ’ t know .
He doesn ’ t know , either .

Lost in the blinding gaslighting over President Trump’s remarks about white supremacists during this week’s presidential debate was the fact that Joe Biden proved again that he’s little more than a stand-in propped up by a compliant political press.
Biden was unable to answer even the most rudimentary queries about his beliefs, never mind specifics about policy. Apologies to the Twitter expert class, but opposing Donald Trump is neither a moral doctrine nor a policy agenda.
There is plenty to dislike about the president, but you rarely have to guess where he stands. Biden, on the other hand, says, “I am the Democratic Party,” and yet, after a half-century in American politics, we have virtually no idea what his presidency would look like.
Biden’s already put a lid on his past, and the press has obliged. The same reporters who will comb over 15 years of Trump’s tax returns have shown zero curiosity in nearly 40 years of Senate papers Biden has buried somewhere in a University of Delaware basement. Then again, there’s not a single significant piece of legislation Biden sponsored in his 36 years in the Senate that he still supports, so maybe it doesn’t matter.
Thanks to the media, though, I know more about some flaky QAnon candidate in Georgia than I do about the presidential front-runner’s foreign-policy positions. Or much else.
If Republicans were threatening to destroy the constitutional order by packing the courts and throwing out the legislative filibuster — one that Biden’s mentor Barack Obama once argued was an indispensable tool of a representative democracy — there would be massive pressure on the head of the party to stake out a public position.
This, incidentally, isn’t a case of forcing Biden to answer for the ravings of some fringe activists — as the media is constantly demanding Republicans do. No, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer continues to tell us that “everything is on the table” if Republicans confirm Amy Coney Barrett using the prescribed method provided by the Constitution. Voters don’t even know if one of the candidates will blow up the integrity of the American court system in retaliation. I’m not sure there has ever been a comparable situation in post-war American politics.
Instead, we hear how Biden’s feckless opportunism is moderation. Biden himself likes to drop a prefabricated line contending he was the one who beat Bernie Sanders, signaling to moderates that his candidacy prevailed over extremism. Why would someone whose campaign stemmed the scourge of collectivism co-sign a 110-page Menshevik-Bolshevik Unity Pact? (I exaggerate only slightly.)
Maybe when Chris Wallace is done digging into the vital right-wing militia matter, he will investigate.
In the past, when candidates made outlandish promises to their base during the primary, they would move back to the center. There is no center anymore. There is only Trump. And because of the press’ abdication of basic professionalism, Biden, the empty vessel, can concurrently hold any position that suits you.
It was Trump, for example, who brought up the Green New Deal during the first debate — the massive multitrillion-dollar attack on, yes, cars, airplanes, your food, your house and modernity in general. Biden casually claimed that it is “not my plan,” though it says, quite unmistakably, in his “Plan for Climate Change and Environmental Justice” that the Green New Deal is the “crucial framework for meeting the climate challenges we face.”
Instead of fact-checking Biden, the same Washington Post that once ran a headline that read “Joe Biden embraces Green New Deal as he releases climate plan” corrected Trump, asserting that “Biden has never supported the Green New Deal.”
Rinse and repeat on fracking and “defunding the police.”
The media’s greatest coup in 2020 was turning months of widespread leftist violence into a debate over a few hundred far-right-wing Proud Boys. Trump’s messy answer on the matter — in which, yes, he denounced “white supremacists” for the umpteenth time — made all the front pages. Biden can label Antifa, the leftist movement responsible for the majority of violence, looting and arson over past few months, nothing more than an “idea” and see no blowback.
It was an interesting metaphor because Joe Biden in 2020 is just an idea — a suggestion imbued with an infinite number of possibilities. Joe can be anything you want. What will the reality look like? I don’t know. You don’t know. He doesn’t know, either.
Twitter: @DavidHarsanyi


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--Crack down on the COVID-19 PPE price-gougers

A watchdog group accused Amazon of jacking up prices for ...

The nation has now passed 200,000 coronavirus deaths, and even President Trump himself has contracted COVID. It’s clearer than ever that we are struggling to protect ourselves from this deadly virus.
Yet most despicably, some people are trying to profit off this nightmare using an outrageous practice: price-gouging. They’re putting our recovery, and basic fairness, at risk.
The failure by many to act responsibly to protect themselves and others by, say, wearing masks and social-distancing has certainly fueled the extraordinary and climbing death rate. But the inability of officials to efficiently provide a sufficient supply of personal protective equipment over the past six months has created an opportunity for the unethical.
Some states have been doing their part to make PPE — including much-needed N95 masks — available by working closely with American PPE makers. Popular and trusted household names, like Honeywell, Ford and 3M, are among the leading manufacturers of the popular and effective respirators.
3M has over 40 manufacturing sites in the United States. Its Flemington, NJ, manufacturing plant churns out health-care tools; cleaning supplies are manufactured at an upstate New York location.
These products are vital for limiting the spread of this deadly sickness. In addition to stimulating the economies in areas surrounding these plants, major manufacturers, more than anything, are ensuring that front-line workers and first responders across the country are properly outfitted to lead us out of this public-health crisis and usher a return to “normal” as soon as reasonably possible.
Unfortunately, these vital efforts have been corrupted and undermined by unscrupulous merchants posing as legitimate middlemen seeking to take advantage of the PPE market and make a quick buck, even as states work desperately to secure supplies, especially for medical professionals and at-risk populations.
Some of the imposters attempt to appear legitimate by “borrowing” well-known brand names, such as Honeywell and 3M, to bolster their sale offerings, even when they have no official affiliation or access to these supplies. Others hide their lack of legitimacy behind slick Web sites and market jargon. Some land contracts via political allies.
Yet price-gouging and deceptive advertising should be considered treasonous in a pandemic. Already, many states have passed laws mandating that prices cannot increase by more than 10 percent during an emergency, and violations can result in fines of $10,000 or more.
Large manufacturing corporations have begun to sue fraudsters and those looking to cash in on the pandemic, working closely with local governments and prosecutors to put an end to this egregious conduct, amid a national and global emergency.
In New Jersey, officials are pressing charges against several middleman-companies and profiteers.
The state put a price-gouging law in place in March that prohibits excessive price increases during a declared state of emergency. The law defines an excessive jump as one where the price rises more than 10 percent.
Trenton has used the law to take legal action against several companies, including one unauthorized seller that it said was offering 3M masks at a price said to be 500 percent above list price. This company and many others are facing fines for their outrageous actions.
Officials nationwide should look to New Jersey and to the example of its attorney general, Gurbir Grewal, in ending price-gouging — and follow suit.
Yes, during normal times, the market should freely determine the price of goods. However, in times of emergency like this one, money should not be the single determinative factor that governs who lives and dies. States must step up, enforce the law and do their due diligence to protect citizens.
These modern-day pirates risk the welfare of our economy, and more important, they threaten the future well-being of our country.
Our government, at all levels, should declare to pandemic profiteers that there is zero tolerance for such predatory behavior — and predators will be held accountable and prosecuted.
Alberto R. Gonzales, a former US attorney general and counsel to the president, is dean and Doyle Rogers Distinguished Professor of Law at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tenn.


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--WWII veteran celebrates 100th birthday by seeing family for first time since COVID-19

They got ditched .
Furious Brooklyn parents claim the city defunded ...

Khristina Narizhnaya, Gabrielle Fonrouge

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
A Manhattan man celebrated his 100th birthday Friday — by seeing his family for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic struck the Big Apple.
World War II veteran Harold Schachner, who played double bass for the New York City Ballet once upon a time, never had the virus but was prohibited from seeing his relatives because of visitors’ restrictions on nursing homes, which have since been rescinded.
“This is the longest, Dad, I haven’t seen you in my life,” Schachner’s daughter, Susan Schultz, told her father as they shared their first embrace in about six months on the lawn of the New Jewish Home nursing facility on the Upper West Side.
“I’ve missed him a great deal. It’s amazing,” she later told The Post.
Schachner celebrated the big 100 with an on-site guitarist, cupcakes and a chocolate cake, which is his favorite, alongside his daughter, son-in-law, grandson and other relatives.
Schultz brought along some gifts for the celebration, including chocolate bars, New Yorker magazines and cards from family members.
Schachner was elated to finally see his family after such a long time apart and was just as happy to become a centenarian.
“I’m very happy to have reached that age and still be here,” Schachner, decked out in a gold hat, told The Post.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Harold Schachner celebrates his 100th birthday with his family including his daughter and grandson. Steven Hirsch Steven Hirsch Advertisement Steven Hirsch Advertisement
He spoke about his time as a First Class Signalman for the Navy during WWII and what it was like to fight in the Pacific.
“Being a musician gave me such a great sense of rhythm that no one could stump me,” Schachner said.
“I think the fact that I was a musician enabled me to beat the Morse Code so fast, no one could stump me. They sent me to Russia.”
He said being with his family was the perfect way to celebrate the milestone.
“Just being with my family, just being with them, as simple as that,” he said of his birthday joy.


newyorkpost--2020-10-02--New York City schools are open — but not yet all that functional

`` This isn ’ t a restaurant .
This isn ’ t a business .
This is ...

This is . . . school?
After two delays and coming dangerously close to running into October, New York City public schools finally opened for in-person learning this week. I admit I did not think they would.
My mistake came from believing what Mayor Bill de Blasio was saying about what we needed to do to get schools open. On Sept. 17, when announcing the second delay to in-person schooling, de Blasio said, “I’m announcing today, in addition to the 2,000 educators that we announced several days ago, we’re going to add 2,500 more; 2,000 originally, 2,500 more, grand total of 4,500 additional educators being added into our schools and classrooms immediately.”
So 4,500 new teachers in 12 days? That would be difficult for a competent administration to accomplish, never mind one that seems to have taken a prolonged nap since March. No way schools were opening if 4,500 new teachers had to be hired.
But then — poof: That was no longer the goal. And it shows.
On Thursday, Politico reported that de Blasio had “refused to say how many educators the city has hired to address the shortage.”
The mayor and his Department of Education had invented the world’s most convoluted plan to get schools open. We would split the classes into smaller groups, put kids on a staggered part-time schedule, hire different teachers to teach them on remote days, do the hokey-pokey and turn ourselves around and somehow call this schooling.
The result has been decidedly mixed. I’ve spoken to parents in all five boroughs with kids of varying ages. Some kids are in school two to three days a week and then have some live instruction from a separate teacher on the days they are home.
That’s the very best case scenario. But for the vast majority of parents I’ve spoken to, their kids are in school just one or two days a week and have little to no live instruction on their remote-learning days. My own sons have two to three days of in-person schooling and live instruction in “specials,” like art and music, on their remote days.
But it amounts to far too little live instruction, particularly when it comes to core subjects like math and writing. This is not schooling.
For people who stress equity in education, de Blasio and School Chancellor Richard Carranza are a little too proud of themselves for delivering a substandard product to New York schoolchildren.
“We did something that other cities around this country could only dream of, because we have fought back this pandemic so well for so long,” de Blasio bragged.
“This is a key moment in our rebirth. And a lot of people said it couldn’t be done. And it was tough, but we did it.”
Of course, that all depends on the definition of “it.” Enough parents think they did not actually do nearly enough that City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-SI) is leading a lawsuit against the Department of Education to reopen schools more broadly for in-person learning.
“In New York,” Borelli told me, “adequate public education is a state constitutional right. That doesn’t simply go away because of COVID or the ability of our mayor and chancellor to manage the school system. No other districts are seeing as many problems as ours, and the incompetence of the system is not a legal defense on this one.”
I desperately wanted schools to open because children need school — it’s an essential service, and the science overwhelmingly pointed toward it being a safer endeavor than opening other things. It made no sense, for example, to open bars and nail salons before schools.
Now that schools are open, I’m relieved and hopeful. I want them to stay open. I’m not complaining for the sake of it. I’m thrilled and proud that we are the only major American city to open schools. But that does not mean we are doing it well.
The problem is we came up with an insane, unworkable plan, instead of doing the most obvious thing: opening the schools for full-time, in-person education.
There’s nothing “safer” about spreading kids out across the city, whether in pods or child care or simply having play dates on their remote days instead of giving them full-time school.
New York has cleared Step 1: We opened schools. Now let’s open them the way they should be.
Twitter: @Karol


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Clemson vs. Virginia prediction, line: Cavaliers will cover big number

LAS VEGAS — After barely breaking a sweat in September , Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will finally get a chance to play in some serious games this month as the college football schedule begins to improve in quality .
The Tigers coasted in their only two games , outscoring Wake Forest and The Citadel by a combined 86-13 , as Lawrence completed 81 percent of his passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns .
Lawrence is the odds-on favorite to be the No .
1 pick in next year ’ s NFL Draft , and the Jets are the favorites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get to see Lawrence play four quarters this week ?
Clemson is a 28.5-point favorite over Virginia .
If that sounds familiar , it should .
In last year ’ s ACC title game , Clemson was a 30.5-point favorite over the Cavaliers and rolled to a 62-17 win .
Virginia , which returned 15 starters and has the talent to be an upper-tier ACC team , opened the season last week with a 38-20 victory over Duke .
Brennan Armstrong , a redshirt sophomore quarterback , lived up to his last name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touchdowns in his first career start .
Still , this is a mismatch , and resting starters is probably part of the game plan for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney .
With a much bigger test against Miami on deck , Clemson could be looking ahead .
Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall will fight to keep the score respectable .
Kyle Trask passed for 416 yards and six touchdowns as the Gators opened by dropping 51 points on Mississippi in an impressive offensive outburst that has inflated this line .
Trask is facing a tougher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coach Will Muschamp has covered two of the past three against the Gators , including a four-point loss at Gainesville in 2018 .
The Midshipmen scored three points in their first six quarters this season before rallying for a 27-24 win at Tulane on Sept. 19 .
Air Force will put a team on the field , but what it will look like is a mystery .
The Falcons had 40 players opt out when the Mountain West initially canceled the football season .
Some of those players could return , but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team in July .
Expect both teams to run the ball and the clock .
This line has dipped below seven at most books because of the Bulldogs ’ ragged debut .
Georgia , a 28-point favorite at Arkansas , trailed 7-5 at halftime before third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett came to the rescue and led three straight touchdown drives on the way to a 37-10 win .
Bennett might start this game , though USC transfer JT Daniels has been cleared to play after recovering from a knee injury .
Georgia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nix and the Tigers ’ young offensive line .

Want even more betting news? Sign up for VSiN's free daily newsletter. Listen Live to VSiN's sports betting shows.
LAS VEGAS — After barely breaking a sweat in September, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence will finally get a chance to play in some serious games this month as the college football schedule begins to improve in quality.
The Tigers coasted in their only two games, outscoring Wake Forest and The Citadel by a combined 86-13, as Lawrence completed 81 percent of his passes for 519 yards and four touchdowns. Lawrence is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next year’s NFL Draft, and the Jets are the favorites to hold that pick.
Will scouts get to see Lawrence play four quarters this week? Clemson is a 28.5-point favorite over Virginia. If that sounds familiar, it should. In last year’s ACC title game, Clemson was a 30.5-point favorite over the Cavaliers and rolled to a 62-17 win.
Virginia, which returned 15 starters and has the talent to be an upper-tier ACC team, opened the season last week with a 38-20 victory over Duke. Brennan Armstrong, a redshirt sophomore quarterback, lived up to his last name by passing for 269 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start.
Still, this is a mismatch, and resting starters is probably part of the game plan for Tigers coach Dabo Swinney. With a much bigger test against Miami on deck, Clemson could be looking ahead. Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall will fight to keep the score respectable.
The pick: Virginia +28.5.
South Carolina (+16.5) over FLORIDA
Kyle Trask passed for 416 yards and six touchdowns as the Gators opened by dropping 51 points on Mississippi in an impressive offensive outburst that has inflated this line. Trask is facing a tougher Gamecocks defense this week. South Carolina coach Will Muschamp has covered two of the past three against the Gators, including a four-point loss at Gainesville in 2018.
Navy-AIR FORCE Under 46.5
The Midshipmen scored three points in their first six quarters this season before rallying for a 27-24 win at Tulane on Sept. 19. Air Force will put a team on the field, but what it will look like is a mystery. The Falcons had 40 players opt out when the Mountain West initially canceled the football season. Some of those players could return, but not quarterback Donald Hammond, who left the team in July. Expect both teams to run the ball and the clock.
GEORGIA (-7.5) over Auburn
This line has dipped below seven at most books because of the Bulldogs’ ragged debut. Georgia, a 28-point favorite at Arkansas, trailed 7-5 at halftime before third-string quarterback Stetson Bennett came to the rescue and led three straight touchdown drives on the way to a 37-10 win. Bennett might start this game, though USC transfer JT Daniels has been cleared to play after recovering from a knee injury. Georgia’s defense will put pressure on QB Bo Nix and the Tigers’ young offensive line.
Last week: 3-0-1. Texas Tech (W), Louisville (P), Iowa State (W), Mississippi State (W).
2020 season: 7-2-1.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--When you buy a cloth mask here, a medical-grade mask will be sent to hospital in need

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store , from our partner StackCommerce .
NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
Doctors , nurses , and first responders across the country are struggling to get the medical-grade masks they need in order to protect themselves against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 .
For example , at a hospital in Minnesota , health care workers were forced to reuse their masks due to a lack of access to supplies .
With this problem at the forefront of its mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization ’ s main campaign , “ Get a Cloth Mask , Give a Medical Mask , ” works exactly like it sounds .
When you contribute to their campaign , you will receive a high-quality , washable non-medical mask designed by students at MIT .
In turn , Masks2Heroes will send an N95/KN95 mask to a hospital in need—that ’ s what we call a win-win situation .
One thing that makes Masks2Heroes stand out is the fact that the individuals behind the concept are in no way looking to make money—they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , meaning they plan to make $ 0 in profit .
During Phase 1 of their launch , Masks2Heroes , with the help of 3,000 backers , was able to deliver 10,000 masks to 20 in-need facilities .
With Phase 2 underway , Masks2Heroes has set the bar even higher , with a new goal to raise $ 1 million and distribute more than 100,000 masks !
Ready to get involved ?
If so , then you can score a 2-pack of the Masks2Heroes Mask with PM2.5 Filter for only $ 25.99 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ masks are crafted with an ultra-soft , double-layer fabric and an embedded nose wire for a snug yet breathable fit that you won ’ t mind wearing all day long .
Plus , you can even choose from four stylish colors : pink , red , black , orange , or a black and orange combo .

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store, from our partner StackCommerce. NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
Doctors, nurses, and first responders across the country are struggling to get the medical-grade masks they need in order to protect themselves against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. For example, at a hospital in Minnesota, health care workers were forced to reuse their masks due to a lack of access to supplies.
With this problem at the forefront of its mission, the organization Masks2Heroes was born.
The organization’s main campaign, “Get a Cloth Mask, Give a Medical Mask,” works exactly like it sounds. When you contribute to their campaign, you will receive a high-quality, washable non-medical mask designed by students at MIT. In turn, Masks2Heroes will send an N95/KN95 mask to a hospital in need—that’s what we call a win-win situation.
One thing that makes Masks2Heroes stand out is the fact that the individuals behind the concept are in no way looking to make money—they do all of their work at cost, meaning they plan to make $0 in profit.
During Phase 1 of their launch, Masks2Heroes, with the help of 3,000 backers, was able to deliver 10,000 masks to 20 in-need facilities. With Phase 2 underway, Masks2Heroes has set the bar even higher, with a new goal to raise $1 million and distribute more than 100,000 masks!
Ready to get involved? If so, then you can score a 2-pack of the Masks2Heroes Mask with PM2.5 Filter for only $25.99 (46% off). The non-medical masks are crafted with an ultra-soft, double-layer fabric and an embedded nose wire for a snug yet breathable fit that you won’t mind wearing all day long. Plus, you can even choose from four stylish colors: pink, red, black, orange, or a black and orange combo.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--How to become an early investor in AI robot revolutionizing the fast food industry

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store , from our partner StackCommerce .
NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
Don ’ t let reality TV fool you : Investing in an emerging company is not reserved for the stars of Shark Tank .
No matter how intimidating it may seem at first glance , the truth is that anyone can buy stock in the next innovative startup disrupting the market .
There are even investing platforms dedicated to early-stage startups that streamline the process for you , enabling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase stock options and potentially generate huge returns in the future , all with complete ease .
Consider SeedInvest , a leading crowdfunding platform that helps the everyday person back a company that could very well change the world one day .
Each featured startup is heavily vetted by SeedInvest ( they only accept about 1 % of startup applicants ) to ensure all companies showcased on the platform are worthy of your hard-earned cash .
And unlike typical startup investments , SeedInvest offers users minimum investments as low as $ 500 ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would normally expect to pay ) , making it accessible for many to get in on the action .
SeedInvest powers a number of interesting financial opportunities , such as Miso Robotics .
Its brainchild is Flippy , the world ’ s first autonomous robotic kitchen assistant that aims to revolutionize the fast food industry .
Quick Service Restaurants ( QSRs ) are facing skyrocketing real estate , labor and food costs , and Flippy right these wrongs by boosting profit margins upwards of 300 % .
How exactly ?
Flippy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AI robot that can flip burgers ( as the name suggests ) , as well as cook food on a grill or in a deep fryer .
Its 2.0 version , which is 50 % less expensive than its predecessor , enables it to work on several kitchen tasks at once .
Since its inception , it has cooked thousands of meals collaboratively alongside kitchen staff in fast food chains such as CaliBurger .
Miso Robotics is backed by an executive team and board with decades of experience in both robotics and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stacked resumes with professional backgrounds at Tesla , SpaceX , and Open Table .
The company ’ s pre-money valuation is now priced at $ 80 million .
And through SeedInvest , those interested can invest in the company to help their expansion plans come to fruition .
Intrigued ?
Those wanting to learn more about Miso Robotics or investors ready to get involved in its future growth can learn more about the opportunity here .

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store, from our partner StackCommerce. NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
Don’t let reality TV fool you: Investing in an emerging company is not reserved for the stars of Shark Tank. No matter how intimidating it may seem at first glance, the truth is that anyone can buy stock in the next innovative startup disrupting the market. There are even investing platforms dedicated to early-stage startups that streamline the process for you, enabling aspiring investors to find quality companies, purchase stock options and potentially generate huge returns in the future, all with complete ease.
Consider SeedInvest, a leading crowdfunding platform that helps the everyday person back a company that could very well change the world one day. Each featured startup is heavily vetted by SeedInvest (they only accept about 1% of startup applicants) to ensure all companies showcased on the platform are worthy of your hard-earned cash. And unlike typical startup investments, SeedInvest offers users minimum investments as low as $500 (or about 50 times lower than what you would normally expect to pay), making it accessible for many to get in on the action.
SeedInvest powers a number of interesting financial opportunities, such as Miso Robotics. Its brainchild is Flippy, the world’s first autonomous robotic kitchen assistant that aims to revolutionize the fast food industry. Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) are facing skyrocketing real estate, labor and food costs, and Flippy right these wrongs by boosting profit margins upwards of 300%. How exactly? Flippy is a patented, Department of Health-approved, AI robot that can flip burgers (as the name suggests), as well as cook food on a grill or in a deep fryer. Its 2.0 version, which is 50% less expensive than its predecessor, enables it to work on several kitchen tasks at once. Since its inception, it has cooked thousands of meals collaboratively alongside kitchen staff in fast food chains such as CaliBurger.
Miso Robotics is backed by an executive team and board with decades of experience in both robotics and the food industry. You’ll find stacked resumes with professional backgrounds at Tesla, SpaceX, and Open Table. The company’s pre-money valuation is now priced at $80 million. And through SeedInvest, those interested can invest in the company to help their expansion plans come to fruition.
Intrigued? Those wanting to learn more about Miso Robotics or investors ready to get involved in its future growth can learn more about the opportunity here.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Have some fun while you clean with these mopping slippers

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store , from our partner StackCommerce .
NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links .
If you started working from home this year , then you have likely noticed your house is a whole lot dirtier than it used to be .
Instead of just whipping up a quick dinner at home , your kitchen is now the location for breakfast , lunch , and sourdough starters .
If your kids are home more too , then your house is probably cluttered with toys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dirt from those outdoor activities you found on Pinterest .
And now any messes that are made stay right in front of your face until you take the time to clean them .
If you nodded your way through that whole paragraph , then you may enjoy a fun , exciting way to get your house in tip-top shape that the whole family can get in on .
Meet the Lazy Maid Quick-Mop Slippers .
Crafted from ultra-soft polyester with a built-in elastic lining , these colorful shoe covers are designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are on , you can walk , dance , and slide around your house , allowing the slippers to absorb any messes with total ease .
Plus , since they are designed for safe use on a variety of surfaces , you can dance the dirt off of tile , wood , and vinyl .
With these slippers , you can avoid the annoyance of heavy buckets of water and dripping mops .
Instead , you can have fun while you clean without having to stop , wipe , or kneel in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Lazy Maid slippers even attach to your existing mop head , making them an incredibly versatile addition to your cleaning arsenal .
Right now , you can score a 3-pack of Lazy Maid Quick-Mop Slippers for only $ 14.99—that ’ s 74 % off !
Want a few more ?
Then you can choose the 6-pack for only $ 24.99 ( 79 % off ) .

Discover the highlights of our NY Post Store, from our partner StackCommerce. NY Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links.
If you started working from home this year, then you have likely noticed your house is a whole lot dirtier than it used to be. Instead of just whipping up a quick dinner at home, your kitchen is now the location for breakfast, lunch, and sourdough starters. If your kids are home more too, then your house is probably cluttered with toys, books, and a thin layer of dirt from those outdoor activities you found on Pinterest. And now any messes that are made stay right in front of your face until you take the time to clean them.
If you nodded your way through that whole paragraph, then you may enjoy a fun, exciting way to get your house in tip-top shape that the whole family can get in on.
Meet the Lazy Maid Quick-Mop Slippers. Crafted from ultra-soft polyester with a built-in elastic lining, these colorful shoe covers are designed to slip onto your feet. Once they are on, you can walk, dance, and slide around your house, allowing the slippers to absorb any messes with total ease. Plus, since they are designed for safe use on a variety of surfaces, you can dance the dirt off of tile, wood, and vinyl.
With these slippers, you can avoid the annoyance of heavy buckets of water and dripping mops. Instead, you can have fun while you clean without having to stop, wipe, or kneel in order to get the thorough scrub you need. The Lazy Maid slippers even attach to your existing mop head, making them an incredibly versatile addition to your cleaning arsenal.
Right now, you can score a 3-pack of Lazy Maid Quick-Mop Slippers for only $14.99—that’s 74% off! Want a few more? Then you can choose the 6-pack for only $24.99 (79% off).


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Cleveland records 11 new COVID-19 cases after presidential debate

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic .
Cleveland officials are racing to contain a minor COVID-19 outbreak after 11 people in the city tested positive following the presidential debate on Tuesday .
The infections have so been traced to pre-debate setup crews , with the majority coming from out of state residents .
“ Any individuals who tested positive as part of the debate were contacted , interviewed when possible , issued isolation orders and provided guidance regarding their isolation period , ” the city said in a statement Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals who tested positive regarding their upcoming travel.
” The Cleveland Clinic , which co-hosted the debate , also released a statement assuring that none of the infected 11 had ever accessed the inside of the debate hall .
Anyone entering the hall was required to test negative for the virus , but both Trump and Biden had been placed on an honor system , with their respective campaigns responsible for testing , according to moderator Chris Wallace .
President Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump were positive for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After recording a video telling the country he was feeling fine , Trump was taken to Walter Reed medical center “ out of an abundance of caution ” that same day .
“ Going welI , I think !
Thank you to all .
LOVE !
!
!
, ” he tweeted late Friday evening .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
Cleveland officials are racing to contain a minor COVID-19 outbreak after 11 people in the city tested positive following the presidential debate on Tuesday.
The infections have so been traced to pre-debate setup crews, with the majority coming from out of state residents.
“Any individuals who tested positive as part of the debate were contacted, interviewed when possible, issued isolation orders and provided guidance regarding their isolation period,” the city said in a statement Friday. “There were also conversations with individuals who tested positive regarding their upcoming travel.”
The Cleveland Clinic, which co-hosted the debate, also released a statement assuring that none of the infected 11 had ever accessed the inside of the debate hall.
Anyone entering the hall was required to test negative for the virus, but both Trump and Biden had been placed on an honor system, with their respective campaigns responsible for testing, according to moderator Chris Wallace.
President Trump announced that he and First Lady Melania Trump were positive for the deadly virus in tweet early Friday morning. After recording a video telling the country he was feeling fine, Trump was taken to Walter Reed medical center “out of an abundance of caution” that same day.
“Going welI, I think! Thank you to all. LOVE!!!,” he tweeted late Friday evening.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Florida vs. South Carolina prediction, line: Bet on Gators, Kyle Trask

Before last season , Alabama never missed the College Football Playoff .
Before last season , Nick Saban had been in position to win for the eighth time in nine national championships .
Auburn ’ s legendary “ Kick Six ” had been the lone exception .
Then , Joe Burrow met Joe Brady , and LSU became an unstoppable juggernaut , beating Alabama for the first time in eight years .
That LSU team was another outlier .
Alabama would reclaim control of the SEC with Burrow , the Heisman Trophy winner , and the core of last season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the NFL .
Except another exception is lurking .
This year , Kyle Trask could do for Gainesville what Burrow did for Baton Rouge , and lead Florida to its first conference title since 2008 — not coincidentally , the last time the Gators beat the Crimson Tide .
Inserted as starter in the middle of last season , Trask was a revelation , leading the Gators to their best end-year ranking ( No .
6 ) in a decade .
With an offseason to prepare for his first full season as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior looks ready to make a Burrow-like leap after throwing for 416 yards and six touchdowns .
He completed 71.4 percent of his passes in No .
3 Florida ’ s season-opening win .
It was the most passing yards by a Gators quarterback in a conference game since 2001 .
It was the scariest sight the SEC — and Saban — could see .
The next FLORIDA ( -17.5 ) onslaught hits South Carolina on Saturday .
The Longhorns ’ first moderate test of the season ended with them allowing seven touchdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OT win at Texas Tech last week .
Rutgers once thought highly of Chris Ash , too .
The latest sign of 2020 chaos ?
Tennessee has the longest winning streak of any Power Five team .
But an eighth straight win won ’ t come easily for the Volunteers , who barely escaped South Carolina after converting 1 of 12 third downs .
The Aggies are 1-7 against top-10 teams since Jimbo Fisher took over .
In 2018 , Alabama easily won this matchup , 45-23 , Last year , the Tide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s different this time ?
Tua Tagovailoa is in the NFL .
The Tar Heels haven ’ t played in three weeks .
Allow their quarterback Sam Howell — who threw 38 touchdown passes last season — to remind you why he was a Heisman dark horse .
The Bearcats have found heavy support across sportsbooks for good reason .
But two weeks of preparation , and confidence from last year ’ s last-second loss , will make a Bulls betting slip more valuable .
Where art thou , Mason Rudolph ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21.5 points through two games .
Memphis ( -2.5 ) over SMU : COVID-19 concerns have kept the Tigers sidelined since Sept. 5 , but SMU isn ’ t ready for the significant jump in competition after opening against three intramural opponents .
The over ( 74.5 ) should be safe , with two star senior quarterbacks ( Memphis ’ Brady White , SMU ’ s Shane Buechele ) set to recreate last year ’ s 54-48 Memphis win .
Like I said last week , even Lincoln Riley can ’ t snap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freshman Spencer Rattler — who threw three interceptions and didn ’ t lead his team to any fourth-quarter points , while blowing a 21-point lead to Kansas State — into another Heisman winner .
Oklahoma followed last year ’ s upset against Kansas State with a one-point win over Iowa State , whose all-time sack leader ( JaQuan Bailey ) will keep Rattler uncomfortable .
The Bulldogs have won three straight in the Deep South ’ s Oldest Rivalry , but Kirby Smart has no clear-cut choice at quarterback after three years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s emerging star , Bo Nix , is a better option than any of the three quarterbacks who might lead Georgia ’ s unproven offense .
Pretend last season at LSU never happened .
You didn ’ t treat the 1998 Florida Marlins or 1999 Chicago Bulls like defending champions , did you ?
Still , reverting to their previous existence simply means the Tigers will be — at worst — one of the best 18 teams in the country , just like 14 of the previous 16 years .
The Golden Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve ever typed that with a straight face — showed they could stand toe-to-toe with a ranked opponent in a 16-7 loss to Oklahoma State .
After last year ’ s win , Tulsa already knows it can challenge the mistake-prone Knights , who have 27 penalties through two games .
The late start to the season offers the opportunity to take advantage of more overreactions than ever .
Mississippi State isn ’ t suddenly a superpower after dismantling LSU and Mike Leach still doesn ’ t have the defense to match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his teams at Washington State finished unranked in seven of the past eight years .
In the past two weeks , Trevor Lawrence has made nine in-game throws .
Travis Etienne has had eight carries .
Dabo Swinney ’ s stars are going to need to get some work in before the top-ranked team in the country faces No .
8 Miami next week .
Last year ’ s margin ( 62-17 ) in the ACC title win over Virginia isn ’ t out of reach .
Best bets : Iowa State , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bets ) : 26-16 ( 4-5 ) 2014-19 record : 772-756-13

Before last season, Alabama never missed the College Football Playoff. Before last season, Nick Saban had been in position to win for the eighth time in nine national championships. Auburn’s legendary “Kick Six” had been the lone exception.
Then, Joe Burrow met Joe Brady, and LSU became an unstoppable juggernaut, beating Alabama for the first time in eight years. That LSU team was another outlier. Alabama would reclaim control of the SEC with Burrow, the Heisman Trophy winner, and the core of last season’s national championship LSU team off to the NFL.
Except another exception is lurking.
This year, Kyle Trask could do for Gainesville what Burrow did for Baton Rouge, and lead Florida to its first conference title since 2008 — not coincidentally, the last time the Gators beat the Crimson Tide.
Inserted as starter in the middle of last season, Trask was a revelation, leading the Gators to their best end-year ranking (No. 6) in a decade. With an offseason to prepare for his first full season as a starter since high school, the senior looks ready to make a Burrow-like leap after throwing for 416 yards and six touchdowns. He completed 71.4 percent of his passes in No. 3 Florida’s season-opening win. It was the most passing yards by a Gators quarterback in a conference game since 2001. It was the scariest sight the SEC — and Saban — could see.
The next FLORIDA (-17.5) onslaught hits South Carolina on Saturday.
(Home team in CAPS.)
Tcu (+11.5) over TEXAS
The Longhorns’ first moderate test of the season ended with them allowing seven touchdowns and 447 total yards in a 63-56 OT win at Texas Tech last week. Rutgers once thought highly of Chris Ash, too.
Missouri (+11.5) over TENNESSEE
The latest sign of 2020 chaos? Tennessee has the longest winning streak of any Power Five team. But an eighth straight win won’t come easily for the Volunteers, who barely escaped South Carolina after converting 1 of 12 third downs.
Texas A&M (+17) over ALABAMA
The Aggies are 1-7 against top-10 teams since Jimbo Fisher took over. In 2018, Alabama easily won this matchup, 45-23, Last year, the Tide rolled to a 47-28 victory. What’s different this time? Tua Tagovailoa is in the NFL.
North Carolina (-13.5) over BOSTON COLLEGE
The Tar Heels haven’t played in three weeks. Allow their quarterback Sam Howell — who threw 38 touchdown passes last season — to remind you why he was a Heisman dark horse.
South Florida (+23) over CINCINNATI
The Bearcats have found heavy support across sportsbooks for good reason. But two weeks of preparation, and confidence from last year’s last-second loss, will make a Bulls betting slip more valuable.
KANSAS (+20.5) over Oklahoma State
Where art thou, Mason Rudolph? The once high-powered Cowboys offense is averaging 21.5 points through two games.
Memphis (-2.5) over SMU: COVID-19 concerns have kept the Tigers sidelined since Sept. 5, but SMU isn’t ready for the significant jump in competition after opening against three intramural opponents. The over (74.5) should be safe, with two star senior quarterbacks (Memphis’ Brady White, SMU’s Shane Buechele) set to recreate last year’s 54-48 Memphis win.
IOWA STATE (+7) over Oklahoma
Like I said last week, even Lincoln Riley can’t snap his fingers and immediately turn Sooners redshirt freshman Spencer Rattler — who threw three interceptions and didn’t lead his team to any fourth-quarter points, while blowing a 21-point lead to Kansas State — into another Heisman winner. Oklahoma followed last year’s upset against Kansas State with a one-point win over Iowa State, whose all-time sack leader (JaQuan Bailey) will keep Rattler uncomfortable.
Auburn (+6.5) over GEORGIA
The Bulldogs have won three straight in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, but Kirby Smart has no clear-cut choice at quarterback after three years of stability with Jake Fromm. Auburn’s emerging star, Bo Nix, is a better option than any of the three quarterbacks who might lead Georgia’s unproven offense.
Lsu (-20.5) over VANDERBILT
Pretend last season at LSU never happened. You didn’t treat the 1998 Florida Marlins or 1999 Chicago Bulls like defending champions, did you? Still, reverting to their previous existence simply means the Tigers will be — at worst — one of the best 18 teams in the country, just like 14 of the previous 16 years.
Tulsa (+22.5) over UCF
The Golden Hurricane — I’m not sure I’ve ever typed that with a straight face — showed they could stand toe-to-toe with a ranked opponent in a 16-7 loss to Oklahoma State. After last year’s win, Tulsa already knows it can challenge the mistake-prone Knights, who have 27 penalties through two games.
Arkansas (+17.5) over MISSISSIPPI STATE
The late start to the season offers the opportunity to take advantage of more overreactions than ever. Mississippi State isn’t suddenly a superpower after dismantling LSU and Mike Leach still doesn’t have the defense to match his aerial attack, just like when his teams at Washington State finished unranked in seven of the past eight years.
CLEMSON (-28) over Virginia
In the past two weeks, Trevor Lawrence has made nine in-game throws. Travis Etienne has had eight carries. Dabo Swinney’s stars are going to need to get some work in before the top-ranked team in the country faces No. 8 Miami next week. Last year’s margin (62-17) in the ACC title win over Virginia isn’t out of reach.
Best bets: Iowa State, Tulsa, Clemson
This season (Best bets): 26-16 (4-5)
2014-19 record: 772-756-13


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Gio Urshela’s defense wowing Yankees great Graig Nettles

The opponent in the American League Division Series had a ...

When you take the measure of a Yankees third baseman, the comparison is Graig Nettles.
So, when Gio Urshela possibly saved the Yankees’ postseason by turning a potential run-scoring base hit into a double play in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series Wednesday night in Cleveland, visions of Nettles surfaced as Urshela walked off the field with the Yankees down a run going into the ninth inning instead of trailing by more.
Reached by The Post in Knoxville, Tenn., on Friday, Nettles gushed about Urshela.
“He is pretty good, he is real good,’’ said Nettles, a two-time Gold Glove winner and six-time All-Star who played for the Yankees from 1973-83 and whose defense helped them win the 1978 World Series over the Dodgers. Nettles was a Yankees captain and coach. “You can tell he is a good athlete the way he carries himself. He makes the routine plays and makes a lot of spectacular plays. I haven’t seen him make a bad play yet.’’
Urshela may not win a foot race with other infielders, but his reactions with his hands and feet are well above average.
“[Crap] comes down on you quickly and you can tell he is a good athlete,’’ Nettles said of the soon-to-be 29-year-old Urshela’s quick reaction to ground balls. “He has good feet and gets himself in position to make the plays by moving his feet. He has good hands, obviously, but he has real nice feet.’’
In case you missed the double play, Urshela dove to his left to snare Carlos Santana’s ground ball with runners on first and second and one out. After making the stop, Urshela rolled onto his backside and fired a strike to second base to ignite an electric 5-4-3 double play that kept the Indians’ lead at 9-8 going into the ninth inning. To cap it off, Urshela singled and then scored the eventual game-winning run to help send the Yankees to the ALDS, which opens against their AL East nemeses, the Rays, in San Diego on Monday.
Urshela’s play got another former Yankees captain and infielder excited while he was watching in New Jersey.
“I usually don’t jump out of my seat for much, but that was ‘Wow’,’’ Willie Randolph told The Post. “That was unbelievable. He stretched to his left and pivoted his body onto his butt and into position to get off a decent throw.’’
When the Yankees shipped $25,000 to the Blue Jays for Urshela on Aug. 4, 2018, the deal was met with a yawn because, in 167 games for the Indians and Blue Jays from 2015-18, the right-handed hitter had batted .225 (105-for-466) with a .589 OPS.
Last year, Miguel Andujar’s right shoulder injury limited him to a dozen early-season games, which created an opportunity for Urshela, who has slammed the door shut on Andujar.
Urshela has played in 176 regular-season games with the Yankees and has batted .310 (184-for-593) with 27 homers, 104 RBIs and a .881 OPS. He credits big league hitting coach Marcus Thames and minor league hitting coach Phil Plantier for his becoming a productive hitter.
“I never saw him until he came to the big leagues, and he came along at the right time because that other kid [Andujar] was never going to be able to play third,’’ Nettles said.
Having a Gold Glove caliber third baseman who can move to his left helps the shortstop, according to Larry Bowa, who played in the big leagues for 16 seasons, a dozen with the Phillies, where he had Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, at third.
“It makes your job a lot easier because you can cheat more to your left,’’ said Bowa, who won one Gold Glove and was a five-time All-Star. “Mike would say to me, ‘I am going to play here because if they square one up down the line I am not going to catch it anyway. It helps a lot.’ ”


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Jimmy Butler: Heat still can ‘do something special’ vs. Lakers

Jimmy Butler promised a victory by his Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals .
What we got Friday night was another Lakers laugher — and nut-cutting time for the Heat .
Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the Lakers to a 124-114 win in Lake Buena Vista , Fla. And with shorthanded Miami playing without starters Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo , the Heat look to be on the verge of a sweep .
“ We ’ re never giving up .
We ’ re going to fight and we ’ re going to ride with this thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Butler said .
“ It ’ s not over .
We ’ re just down 0-2 , so we got to do something special .
We ’ re capable of it and I wouldn ’ t want to be in the trenches with any other guys except for the ones that we have.
” Butler had vowed beforehand that the Heat would win .
And he did his part , with 25 points , 13 assists and eight rebounds .
But Miami was too shorthanded .
Adebayo was out with neck and left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tear of his left foot during Wednesday ’ s 116-98 Game 1 loss .
Both were initially listed as doubtful , but both sat out .
Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra was coy about whether they ’ ll practice Saturday , or if they could play Sunday in Game 3 .
“ I had to play the role of not just head coach , but almost of a parent the last 24 hours , ” Spoelstra said .
“ These two guys are really amazing .
Like everybody in our locker room , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of brotherhood and responsibility .
They were both lobbying to play , and we ultimately had to take the decision out of their hands.
” The Heat , who long ago built their identity on teamwork and toughness , were bitterly disappointing on both counts .
Udonis Haslem , who has three championship rings from his 17 seasons in Miami , lit into his teammates with a profane rant during a third quarter timeout , railing about the non-effort .
But it proved a day late and a couple of defensive stops short @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could get no closer than 100-91 with 37.2 seconds left in the third , and again at 108-99 early in the fourth .
“ What he said ?
That we got to do it from the jump though , it shouldn ’ t take him telling us to do that , ” Butler said .
“ But I like the way that we responded to it .
But we got guys that when you tell them what it is , we normally respond .
So maybe he should just start the game off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , empty the tanks .
That ’ s what we ’ re going to have to do when we ’ re down two stars like Bam and Goran .
Everybody got to lock in , we got to be , you know , three places at once .
It ’ s so hard to do but we got guys that have to do it .
That ’ s what it ’ s going to take to beat this team .
That ’ s what he said , play harder .
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us to win a championship .
”

Jimmy Butler promised a victory by his Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. What we got Friday night was another Lakers laugher — and nut-cutting time for the Heat.
Anthony Davis and LeBron James led the Lakers to a 124-114 win in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. And with shorthanded Miami playing without starters Goran Dragic and Bam Adebayo, the Heat look to be on the verge of a sweep.
“We’re never giving up. We’re going to fight and we’re going to ride with this thing until the wheels fall off,” Butler said. “It’s not over. We’re just down 0-2, so we got to do something special. We’re capable of it and I wouldn’t want to be in the trenches with any other guys except for the ones that we have.”
Butler had vowed beforehand that the Heat would win. And he did his part, with 25 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds. But Miami was too shorthanded.
Adebayo was out with neck and left shoulder injuries. Dragic suffered a plantar tear of his left foot during Wednesday’s 116-98 Game 1 loss. Both were initially listed as doubtful, but both sat out. Miami head coach Erik Spoelstra was coy about whether they’ll practice Saturday, or if they could play Sunday in Game 3.
“I had to play the role of not just head coach, but almost of a parent the last 24 hours,” Spoelstra said. “These two guys are really amazing. Like everybody in our locker room, there’s a real special sense of brotherhood and responsibility. They were both lobbying to play, and we ultimately had to take the decision out of their hands.”
The Heat, who long ago built their identity on teamwork and toughness, were bitterly disappointing on both counts. Udonis Haslem, who has three championship rings from his 17 seasons in Miami, lit into his teammates with a profane rant during a third quarter timeout, railing about the non-effort.
But it proved a day late and a couple of defensive stops short. The Heat rallied, but they could get no closer than 100-91 with 37.2 seconds left in the third, and again at 108-99 early in the fourth.
“What he said? That we got to do it from the jump though, it shouldn’t take him telling us to do that,” Butler said. “But I like the way that we responded to it. But we got guys that when you tell them what it is, we normally respond. So maybe he should just start the game off cussing people out.
“Play harder, empty the tanks. That’s what we’re going to have to do when we’re down two stars like Bam and Goran. Everybody got to lock in, we got to be, you know, three places at once. It’s so hard to do but we got guys that have to do it. That’s what it’s going to take to beat this team. That’s what he said, play harder. That’s what it’s going to take for us to win a championship.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Spencer Dinwiddie knows Nets’ underdog days are over

As the Lakers prepared to play Game 2 of the ...

With the NBA Finals ongoing, the Nets, who are long since eliminated, know they haven’t won a thing yet. But that’s the goal.
“I don’t think anybody’s in the business of playing small, right? We understand the talent we have, we understand the expectations, we understand the championship-type of mentality,” Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie said on House of Highlights’ “Through the Wire” podcast.
“We also are realistic in the sense of, ‘Hey, everything’s a process, we don’t go out and make guarantees.’ But we want to put our best foot forward, and we believe in our talent and want to win. Obviously there’s no other reason to do this, to play this game, team up and all that stuff.”
That talent is about to get a boost, with Kevin Durant expected to debut after missing all of this season with a ruptured Achilles and Kyrie Irving saying he’s fully fit after shoulder surgery ended his 2019-20 campaign with just 20 appearances.
Knocked out in the first round of the past two playoffs — last year by the 76ers and in August by the Raptors — the Nets are a long way from being champions. But they acknowledge having Durant and Irving will make them targets and raise the bar.
Clearing that bar could require at least getting to where the Lakers and Heat are today, in the NBA Finals, or perhaps even winning the championship. And that’s a big difference from the plucky Nets that Kenny Atkinson coached and with which Dinwiddie broke in.
“Definitely, we understand there’s a difference between being an underdog, and we have a little bit of a target,” Dinwiddie said. “We can’t fully say we’re the champs or we have the team with the target or any of those things. But we do understand when KD and Kyrie are on the roster, immediately expectations on you are raised. So you have to meet those and hopefully exceed them.”
With those raised expectations, the Nets have become a win-now team. They sacrificed young All-Star D’Angelo Russell in July 2019 to create room for Durant and Irving. Dinwiddie personally helped recruit Irving and now finds himself constantly linked to trade rumors by fans on social media, despite averaging 20.6 points and a team-high 6.8 assists.
“It’s part of the business of the NBA,” Dinwiddie shrugged. “To feel forgotten about after averaging 20 points a game is an interesting experience. But it’s a lot better than feeling forgotten about and averaging four points a game. So you just roll with it and just try to plug in the best you can on the team that you’re on and figure it out day-by-day.”
In the case of plugging into a team with high-usage players like Durant, Irving and Caris LeVert, Dinwiddie likened his own game to an amoeba and implied he could adjust to fit with any high IQ teammates like these.
Dinwiddie also addressed his clear love of tweaking Knicks fans on social media, saying he’s not trolling so much as truth-telling.
“No, so it’s not really shots. Like, I tell the truth: Y’all just don’t like truth and it turns into this whole big [thing]. Hey look, if y’all are buns, y’all are buns,” Dinwiddie said jokingly, before shouting out former Nets teammate Theo Pinson, now on the other side of the East River with the rival Knicks.
“Y’all got my guy Theo Pinson. I know y’all bench is going to be lively and dancing and stuff. It’s gonna be phenomenal to see. Still going to get your heads cracked. It is what it is.”


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Fantasy football: Players to start, sit for NFL Week 4

This is the kind of scenario the Madman was afraid ...

The Post’s Drew Loftis evaluates all the relevant fantasy football news ahead of Week 4 of the 2020 NFL season.
Big Weeks
Jared Goff QB, Rams, vs. Giants (FanDuel $7,500/DraftKings $6,700)
The Giants’ defense has been surprisingly stingy, but they also have faced a rusty Steelers teams, the Bears with Mitchell Trubisky and a 49ers squad full of backups. Consider us more impressed with the rejuvenated Rams offense.
Justin Watson WR, Buccaneers, vs. Chargers (FD $4,600/DK $3,400)
Chris Godwin is out and Scotty Miller is dealing with hip and groin problems. And with Leonard Fournette out, it seems unlikely the Bucs can control the game on the ground with Ronald Jones II versus a strong Chargers defense. Someone has to be involved on offense other than Mike Evans.
Hunter Renfrow WR, Raiders, vs. Bills (FD $5,300/DK $4,600)
Likely with no Henry Ruggs II or Bryan Edwards, someone has to catch passes beside TE Darren Waller.
Dalton Schultz TE, Cowboys, vs. Browns (FD $4,900/DK $4,300)
We don’t expect the type of shootout the Cowboys have been involved in so far this season, which presumably would provide more Schultz targets. And the Browns are in the bottom three defending opposing fantasy tight ends this season.
Small Weaks
Cam Newton QB, Patriots, at Chiefs (FD $7,900/DK $6,400)
Sometimes you can just smell a stinker coming. Newton has performed above expectations, even if his passing numbers aren’t impressive. In a game when he likely will have to throw to keep up, we envision multiple interceptions.
Rex Burkhead RB, Patriots, at Chiefs (FD $5,600/DK $4,800)
He is coming off a huge three-TD week, but don’t chase the points. James White is expected back, with will directly cut into Burkhead’s use.
Myles Gaskin RB, Dolphins, vs. Seahawks (FD $5,400/DK $5,000)
As bad as the Seattle defense has been, they have done pretty well stuffing opposing runners. And it would be surprising is this game doesn’t turn into air warfare.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling WR, Packers (FD $5,400/DK $4,400)
If you want to use this deep-dive Packers receiver, you are doing so based solely on increased volume expectations — with Allen Lazard out and Davante Adams coming back from a hamstring issue. But in Pro Football Focus’ ratings of the top 90 WRs expected to start this week, MVS was 87th.
Fantasy Insanity’s Daily Duel
Drew Loftis and Jarad Wilk submit dueling rosters into a DFS contest:
Site: FanDuel
Slate: Sun. main (13 games)
Type: $5 tourney
Top Prize: $10K
Pot: $100K
Drew’s Crew
QB: Matthew Stafford (Det, vs. NO) $7,200
RB: Alvin Kamara (NO, at Det) $8,800
RB: Devin Singletary (Buf, at LV) $6,000
WR: Kenny Golladay (Det, vs. NO) $7,300
WR: Cooper Kupp (LAR, vs. NYG) $7,200
WR: Emmanuel Sanders (NO, at Det) $5,800
TE: Darren Waller (LV, vs. Buf) $6,700
Flex: Kenyan Drake (Ari, at Car) $7,000
DEF: Chiefs (KC, vs. NE)
Wilk’s Warriors
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Mia, vs. Sea) $7,100
RB: Darrell Henderson Jr. (LAR, vs. NYG) $6,400
RB: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (KC, vs. NE) $7,400
WR: Stefon Diggs (Buf, at LV ) $7,000
WR: DeVante Parker (Mia, vs. Sea) $6,500
WR: Tyler Lockett (Sea, at Mia) $7,500
TE: T.J. Hockenson (Det, vs. NO) $5,400
Flex: Alvin Kamara (NO, at Det) $8,800
DEF: Texans (Hou, vs. Min) $3,700
Season risked: $34
Winnings: Drew $75, Jarad $25


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Trump campaign manager tests positive for COVID-19

President Trump ’ s campaign manager , Bill Stepien , has reportedly contracted the coronavirus .
The 42-year-old is experiencing mild flu-like symptoms and tested positive Friday evening , Politico reported .
Stepien now becomes the fourth person on the White House ’ s debate prep team to test positive for the virus .
The others are Kellyanne Conway , who announced Friday night that she was infected , Hope Hicks , whose COVID-19-positive status was announced Thursday , and Trump himself , who remained Saturday morning at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda , Md .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential debate on Air Force One with Trump and Hicks .
He will continue to lead the campaign while working remotely under quarantine , according to Politico .
Trump ’ s doctor late Friday said in a statement that the president was doing “ very well ” and “ resting comfortably.
” “ Going well , I think !
” Trump added in a tweet just after 11:30 p.m. At least five of those infected around Trump had attended a tightly packed , mostly maskless Rose Garden ceremony for the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They are the first lady , two Republican senators who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee , the president of Notre Dame University — where Barrett taught and had attended college — and Conway .

President Trump’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, has reportedly contracted the coronavirus.
The 42-year-old is experiencing mild flu-like symptoms and tested positive Friday evening, Politico reported.
Stepien now becomes the fourth person on the White House’s debate prep team to test positive for the virus.
The others are Kellyanne Conway, who announced Friday night that she was infected, Hope Hicks, whose COVID-19-positive status was announced Thursday, and Trump himself, who remained Saturday morning at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.
Stepien had also reportedly traveled to the presidential debate on Air Force One with Trump and Hicks.
He will continue to lead the campaign while working remotely under quarantine, according to Politico.
Trump’s doctor late Friday said in a statement that the president was doing “very well” and “resting comfortably.”
“Going well, I think!” Trump added in a tweet just after 11:30 p.m.
At least five of those infected around Trump had attended a tightly packed, mostly maskless Rose Garden ceremony for the president’s Supreme Court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.
They are the first lady, two Republican senators who sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, the president of Notre Dame University — where Barrett taught and had attended college — and Conway.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Police questioning suspected shooter after Queens mom killed by random stray bullet at home

Cops were questioning a suspect Friday night in connection to the horrific , random death of a Queens mom who @ @ @ @ @ stray bullet pierced her bedroom wall this week , police sources said .
The suspect @ @ @ @ @ lives in the area of the Jackson Heights shooting , was brought to the 115th @ @ @ @ @ , sources said .
The victim , Bertha Arriaga , 43 , had been in @ @ @ @ @ ’ s apartment on 34th Avenue when she was hit in the neck at around @ @ @ @ @ to cops .
Arriaga ’ s 14-year-old son heard what happened and rushed into the @ @ @ @ @ dying .
Arriaga was pronounced dead at the scene .
Investigators believe the suspect may @ @ @ @ @ with another male prior to the shooting .

Cops were questioning a suspect Friday night in connection to the horrific, random death of a Queens mom who was fatally shot when a stray bullet pierced her bedroom window this week, police sources said.
The suspect, a 31-year-old man who lives in the area of the Jackson Heights shooting, was brought to the 115th precinct at around 8 p.m., sources said.
The victim, Bertha Arriaga, 43, had been in her room in the family’s apartment on 34th Avenue when she was hit in the neck at around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, according to cops.
Arriaga’s 14-year-old son heard what happened and rushed into the room to find his mother dying.
Arriaga was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the suspect may have been robbing a moped with another male prior to the shooting.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Joe Douglas must share in the blame for this Jets debacle

Is it now fair to wonder if the Jets might ...

The list of culprits in this Jets debacle is a long one.
You can start with head coach Adam Gase, if you like, and it now feels inevitable that he will pay with his job at some point. You can cast blame on owner Christopher Johnson, who picked or stuck with the decision-makers who got the Jets to this point. You can blame quarterback Sam Darnold for continuing to look like he is spinning his wheels and not progressing. You can blame former general manager Mike Maccagnan for being terrible at procuring talent. You can blame the players for playing dumb football.
All of that is fair.
Just don’t forget one person who has largely escaped blame this season, but deserves some — Joe Douglas. No one expected Douglas to work miracles when he was hired in June 2019. Douglas has a long-term rebuilding project on his hands. He got a scholarship year last season because he was hired after free agency and the draft. This year, the expectation was for moderate improvement to the roster, filling some of the holes on the team and putting together a respectable group.
The early returns have not been good.
Douglas’ rebuilt offensive line does not look better than the group that played in the second half of last season. On Thursday night, Darnold was sacked six times. The Broncos entered the game with four sacks in their first three games. Beyond the pass protection, there are no holes for the running backs. If you remove Darnold’s rushing yards, the Jets averaged 2.5 yards per carry Thursday.
Douglas took a calculated risk in free agency this year. He stayed away from the big-money players, choosing instead to shop for discounts to stock his offensive line. He signed George Fant, Greg Van Roten and Connor McGovern at discount prices. Douglas’ philosophy is one he took from his mentor, Ozzie Newsome, with the Ravens — “right player, right price.” It means rarely spending big. It is a sound strategy that creates cap-space flexibility in the future, but you had better get your player evaluations right. At the moment, it feels Douglas overestimated on the line, particularly with Van Roten and McGovern.
Then, you look at wide receiver. Douglas let Robby Anderson walk in free agency, which has really hurt Darnold and the offense. No one is confusing Anderson with Jerry Rice, but he is an effective receiver who rarely misses games. Anderson already has two 100-yard receiving games for the Panthers, who signed him to a reasonable two-year, $20 million contract. That is a deal the Jets should have matched. Instead, they signed Breshad Perriman on the cheap ($6.5 million) and they’ve gotten what they paid for, because Perriman has missed two games and most of a third. He has just five catches so far.
Another of Douglas’ free-agent signings who had an eventful night Thursday is cornerback Pierre Desir, whom the Jets signed for $3.75 million. Desir allowed two touchdowns and had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown. Despite those plays, Desir has been a liability in coverage so far.
These roster shortcomings have left the Jets with no margin for error. They need to play near-perfect football to win. If they commit too many penalties, as they did Thursday, they’re doomed. If they drop passes, they’re screwed. If they stall in the red zone, it will bite them in the butt.
No one is arguing that Gase is doing a good job. But anyone looking at this objectively can see he has been entered into a gun battle with a water pistol. Gase was asked Friday if this team has enough talent. He said he expects a lot of players back from injured reserve this week to help.
“And our guys, they have to do a good job of sticking together and blocking out any outside noise and getting better every day in practice,” Gase said. “I talked to all those guys today about [how] fracturing is not an option. We’re four games in, we’ve got to do a good job of putting our head down, going to work, correcting the mistakes, fixing the stuff that’s absolutely non-talent based and doing those things right first, and then your outcome is going to be different.”
Plenty of people have their fingerprints on this 0-4 start, from the players to ownership and everyone in between — including Douglas.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Michigan Supreme Court denies Gov. Whitmer’s emergency coronavirus powers

Michigan ’ s highest court confirmed in a landmark decision Friday that Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer had overstepped her authority @ @ @ @ @ declarations without ever getting the approval of state lawmakers .
In a narrow , 4-3 @ @ @ @ @ that Whitmer violated state law by not working with the legislature , The Detroit News @ @ @ @ @ leaves open many avenues for the governor and Legislature to work together to address this @ @ @ @ @ that this will take place , ” wrote Justice Stephen Markman .
Whitmer said that @ @ @ @ @ with the ruling and will find ways to keep her directives in effect through “ @ @ @ @ @ While the ruling limits the governor ’ s power it does leave intact the orders @ @ @ @ @ The Department of Health and Human Services .

Michigan’s highest court confirmed in a landmark decision Friday that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had overstepped her authority by repeatedly issuing emergency COVID-19 declarations without ever getting the approval of state lawmakers.
In a narrow, 4-3 vote, the court held that Whitmer violated state law by not working with the legislature, The Detroit News reported.
“Our decision leaves open many avenues for the governor and Legislature to work together to address this challenge, and we hope that this will take place,” wrote Justice Stephen Markman.
Whitmer said that she “vehemently” disagreed with the ruling and will find ways to keep her directives in effect through “alternative sources of authority.”
While the ruling limits the governor’s power it does leave intact the orders coming from agencies such as The Department of Health and Human Services.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Joe Judge not worried about losing Giants because ‘culture’ is strong

At full strength , the Giants ’ secondary was facing a tall ...

The Giants’ record is ugly and chances are it will get uglier. Joe Judge’s first season as head coach has not started out the way he had hoped. But he isn’t worried losses will lead to fracturing or players losing their belief in him or his coaching staff.
“We established the buy-in early in our culture and our process by the relationships we established with each individual,” Judge said on Friday over Zoom. “When they understand collectively as a staff the relationships we have with the team and the way they feed off each other, that helps you go through adversity.”
The schedule gets even tougher the next two weeks for the Giants (0-3), with games at the Rams and Cowboys. Big Blue will be major underdogs in both games. An 0-5 start is very realistic.
“Regardless of your record in this league, everyone is going through some kind of adversity in their own locker room right now,” Judge said. “We have our storm, everyone else has their own storm. It’s up to us to make sure that we just keep improving on a weekly basis. There’s a lot of football left to be played.”
That could be looked at as a positive or a negative.
Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey offered a “no comment” to the team’s reporters on Friday about facing Giants receiver Golden Tate. Ramsey, a three-time Pro Bowler, is the father of two of Tate’s young nieces and reportedly ended a long relationship with Tate’s sister while she was pregnant last summer. Last October, Tate told The Post: “I’m not happy at all with the disrespect that he’s shown towards my sister, and the things he’s done in the past, but I don’t really want to go too much into it.”
Ramsey had the final word on Twitter, writing: “We live in a society where ignorant people feel that they are owed an explanation of what goes on in our day-to-day lives … and why we make the decisions we make … we don’t have to answer to anyone but the man above. S–t is beyond overrated.”
The Giants didn’t make Tate available to reporters this week.
To make room on the active roster for safety Sean Chandler, who was signed off the practice squad, the Giants cut tight end Eric Tomlinson. He’s expected to remain with the organization on the practice squad.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--NYPD chases down, arrests suspected gunman after shots ring out

A pair of Manhattan cops sprang to action after hearing shots ring out in Hamilton Heights Friday afternoon , chasing @ @ @ @ @ turned out to have a long rap sheet .
Manny Paulino , 29 , a @ @ @ @ @ Play gang member , was arrested Friday and charged in connection with the shooting of @ @ @ @ @ The cops who busted him just happened to be passing by the scene , according @ @ @ @ @ , a sergeant and an officer , were driving down Broadway near West 143 Street @ @ @ @ @ they heard gunfire and saw Paulino allegedly fleeing east on the cross street .
The @ @ @ @ @ together , they chased down Paulino , who was arrested without incident and allegedly found @ @ @ @ @ , sources said .
He has been charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of @ @ @ @ @ 38 priors and was arrested while on parole for second-degree assault , according to sources @ @ @ @ @ shot in the hip , transported himself to St. Luke ’ s Hospital .

A pair of Manhattan cops sprang to action after hearing shots ring out in Hamilton Heights Friday afternoon, chasing down a suspected gunman who turned out to have a long rap sheet.
Manny Paulino, 29, a purported Dominicans Don’t Play gang member, was arrested Friday and charged in connection with the shooting of Kevin Bonilla, 25.
The cops who busted him just happened to be passing by the scene, according to sources.
The pair, a sergeant and an officer, were driving down Broadway near West 143 Street at around 2:55 p.m. when they heard gunfire and saw Paulino allegedly fleeing east on the cross street.
The officers called for backup; together, they chased down Paulino, who was arrested without incident and allegedly found to be carrying a gun, sources said.
He has been charged with attempted murder and criminal possession of a firearm.
Paulino has 38 priors and was arrested while on parole for second-degree assault, according to sources.
Bonilla, who was shot in the hip, transported himself to St. Luke’s Hospital.


newyorkpost--2020-10-03--Lakers take 2-0 NBA Finals lead over Heat thanks to Anthony Davis’ domination

Jimmy Butler promised a victory by his Heat in Game ...

LeBron James and Anthony Davis put on a show worthy of Shaq and Kobe. And they’re two wins away from joining them as a title-winning Lakers duo.
After watching the Lakers cruise to a 124-114 victory Friday night in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., over the outmanned Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, two more wins might not take that long.
James flirted with a triple-double (33 points, nine assists, nine boards). Davis followed up his 34 points from Game 1 on Wednesday with an even better encore. He had a 32 points on 15-of-20 shooting, and snatched 14 rebounds.
“Me and LeBron want to win no matter what it takes,” said Davis.
They became the first Lakers teammates to both top 30 in an NBA Finals game since 2002, when Shaquille O’Neal and the late Kobe Bryant dominated the Nets.
“The Kobe-Shaq duo was the most dominant duo that I’ve personally seen in my life, from a basketball perspective,” James said. “They were very dominant in what they did on the floor, on both sides of the floor. So to be in the conversation with those two guys, myself and Anthony — myself and AD, he’s going to kill me — is just very humbling.
“I grew up admiring Kobe. Obviously, a kid coming straight out of high school. Admired that as a kid when I was young, and obviously got the opportunity; and the force that Shaq played with. It’s very humbling that we can be even mentioned with those greats.”
Davis’ 66 points so far in the series are the third-most through a players’ first two NBA Finals games.
“[Davis’] mindset is he wants to be a champion. He’s extremely motivated to play at a high level, and you’re seeing it every time he steps on to the floor,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Obviously defensively, he’s a unicorn, in my opinion Defensive Player of the Year. But his shotmaking, the many ways he can hurt you offensively — you can just see his determination to win this championship on both sides of the ball.”
The Lakers are in that position because they tore apart Miami’s zone from the inside. And because the Heat played shorthanded without Bam Adebayo and Goran Dragic. And because they outlasted Jimmy Butler (25 points) and Kelly Olynyk (24 points).
The Lakers missed their first five 3-pointers, but still led 14-13 early. And when James finally broke through, it sparked an 8-1 run that put them up by eight.
The lead was still eight when James gave up his body to take a charge from Tyler Herro, forcing a second straight Heat turnover. On the other end, he bullied in on Andre Iguodala for a 37-25 lead 2:32 into the second quarter, and Danny Green’s 3-pointer made it 40-27.
The Lakers largely held Miami at arm’s length from there.
Davis beat a lollygagging Olynyk and Herro downcourt for a halfcourt lob, his three-point play padding the cushion to 64-49 with two minutes left in the half. Miami had no answers whatsoever for him.
Davis’ corner 3 over the outstretched arms of Jae Crowder gave him 22 points in his first 21 minutes and gave Los Angeles a 77-62 edge. James’ and-one padded it to 82-64, and Miami never got closer than nine the rest of the way.
Now, James has the first 2-0 Finals lead of his career, and the Lakers are closing in on another crown, one that they want to honor the Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in January, along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
“Those two guys [Bryant and O’Neal] are obviously special. They are a duo that’s special together. They are the best duo we’ve seen. Multiple championships. They both were so dominant,” Davis said. “They both had a competitive spirit with themselves to will their teams to win. I think me and Bron are the same way.
“We’re two guys who want to win no matter the circumstance. We both want to make sure that we do whatever it takes to help our team win.”