newyorkpost--2020-01-11--LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. turning heads but late grandfather always on his mind

Well , we might as well start the fun immediately , don ’ t ...

The reflex hammer struck the right knee.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Then, the left knee.
Touch. Tap. Tap.
There was no response. Darryl Stingley was placed on a stretcher. The Patriots receiver never walked again.
Derek Stingley Jr. learned what football was at its worst by the time he was in kindergarten, watching the highlight of the vicious hit on his grandfather.
“Every time I go on the field, I think about him and my dad,” LSU’s star cornerback said before the Tigers’ playoff semifinal win over Oklahoma. “Injuries are part of the game. But thinking like that, playing scared, that’s not the way to play.”
On Monday, the freshman phenom learns what football is at its best, when the Baton Rouge, La., native attempts to bring LSU its first national championship in 12 years, facing Clemson at Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The boy who idolized former LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, and initially committed to the local power at 14, became a consensus First Team All-American in his first college season, leading the SEC with six interceptions and ranking second nationally in passes defended (21), while serving as top-ranked LSU’s primary punt returner.
“If there was an adjustment, it was from the time we broke the huddle to the time he was covering the receiver,” coach Ed Orgeron said of Stingley’s transition from high school. “He is one of the best cornerbacks I have seen.”
It was shortly after Darryl told his son, Derek Sr., that his speedy grandson (then 5 years old) was going to be “special” that New England’s former first-round pick died in 2007.
Darryl was 26 and coming off his best of five NFL seasons, when Raiders safety Jack Tatum delivered the devastating blow to the head of the defenseless receiver in a 1978 preseason game. Darryl broke two vertebrae, and spent the final three decades of his life as a quadriplegic, always considering the injury a “freak accident.” He encouraged his son to follow his sports dream.
Derek Sr. became a two-sport star, spending three years’ in the Phillies farm system and a decade as a defensive back — primarily in the Arena Football League — who enjoyed a three-day stint on the Jets’ practice squad during his lone brush with the NFL.
As a longtime Arena League coach, Derek Sr. brought his prepubescent son into team meetings and film sessions, allowing the gifted child to participate in drills. As a personal coach, Derek Sr. helped his son develop into an extraordinarily athletic cornerback, who played varsity in eighth grade and became the top-ranked recruit in the country.
At LSU, Derek Sr. regularly attends his son’s practices.
“I never had a player ready to play like Derek Stingley Jr., and I think a his father had a lot to do with it,” Orgeron said last week. “In fact, I know he did. I’m very good friends with his father. I have a lot of respect for his father. He’s an excellent coach, an excellent dad. He and Derek have a really unique relationship.”
Derek Jr. was part of the team before his college career officially began. After graduating high school early and enrolling at LSU, Stingley worked with the team prior to the Fiesta Bowl last season. In his first practice, the 17-year-old picked off Joe Burrow, the quarterback who soon would claim the Heisman Trophy.
“Derek is as humble a guy as I’ve seen. No. 1 recruit, sometimes they come in and they’re all cocky and loud, and Derek didn’t say a word for three months,” Burrow said. “At practice, I would go out of my way to throw Derek’s way to see if he was as good as everyone said he was. I can tell you, yes, he is. Yes, he is.”
He is better than he believed. It is better than he imagined.
“It’s crazy because, like, last year, I’m watching these people on TV, and now I’m lining up right across from them,” Derek Jr. said. “Like the coolest thing about it to me is whenever I go line up on the opposite side, seeing all the coaches that I see on TV all the time, and they’re right there by me.
“I didn’t think it would be like this. I figured I’d do alright, but not the way I’m doing right now. I never would have thought that things would end up this way.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Lebron James leads Anthony Davis-less Lakers by Mavericks

Kristaps Porzingis ’ other knee is now causing him to miss ...

DALLAS — LeBron James drove for easy layups or quick passes to open shooters at the 3-point line early in another meeting with Dallas phenom Luka Doncic.
The 20-year-old Mavericks star played the last few minutes of the first half with a jersey he ripped into a V-neck look on a frustrating night against the player he admired growing up.
James had 35 points and 16 rebounds, Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 26 points starting in place of injured star Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers went up big early in a 129-114 victory over the Mavericks on Friday night.
The four-time MVP scored or assisted on seven of the first nine LA baskets to help build a 22-point lead in the first half, while Doncic missed five free throws while ending up a team-worst minus-24 in scoring margin before halftime.
Hence, the torn jersey.
“I played really bad,” said Doncic, the 2019 Rookie of the Year. “I felt like I don’t know how to play basketball. It wasn’t me. I gotta get better. A lot.”
James was 14 of 25 from the field to help the Lakers shoot 53 percent, and his 16 rebounds were a season high in LA’s seventh consecutive win.
“It’s not about how many you can win in a row,” James said. “It’s just how you continue to get better every individual game and I thought we did that here.”
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle was as flummoxed as his young star, getting ejected after his second technical early in the fourth quarter when he exploded over the Lakers getting to challenge an out-of-bounds call after he thought the Mavericks had thrown the ball in.
Doncic, who had played James just about even while the Lakers took two of first three in the season series, had 25 points and 10 rebounds. But Dallas trailed by double digits for all but the first five-plus minutes.
“Those are emotions and feelings that are about winning and losing,” Carlisle said. “I get it. He’s going through a lot this year. He’s going through a lot of different situations.”
Davis missed the first game of a road back-to-back after taking a nasty fall in a 117-87 win over the Knicks in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. An MRI exam showed no major concerns, although Davis was extremely sore.
Kuzma filled in just fine in his second start, scoring 11 points in the first quarter after totaling just 13 in the first three meetings with Dallas. He ended up 9 of 22 from the field, 2 of 8 from long range.
“It’s not any extra motivation,” said Kuzma, whose previous season high was 25. “I’m just confident, especially when I know, being I’m a rhythm player, when my minutes are high, just trying to be myself.”
Both leading men — James and Doncic — were without their star sidekicks for the final regular-season meeting as both fell short of a triple-double after both had one in the previous meeting in Dallas. They had seven assists apiece.
Mavericks forward Kristaps Porzingis has already been ruled out for the final two games of a six-game homestand because of a sore right knee. It’s not the knee the 7-foot-3 Latvian injured in his final game for the Knicks almost two years ago.
The Mavericks got within 91-81 late in the third quarter when Doncic found Tim Hardaway, who scored 22 points, for a 3-pointer. It was the closest Dallas had been since 19-9 midway through the first.
Dallas never did get the deficit back to single digits, and James hit a 3 to open the fourth quarter to push the lead back to 16.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Lamar Jackson has Randall Cunningham ‘living through’ him

BALTIMORE — No one had seen anything like him , no one had seen a quarterback like him , this lanky dual threat who could beat you with a rocket arm and jets for legs .
Sports Illustrated hailed him on the cover of its 1989 NFL preview as The Ultimate Weapon .
In smaller print : “ Philadelphia ’ s Randall Cunningham : The Quarterback for the ’ 90s.
” Come Saturday night , The Quarterback for the ’ 90s will be just like the rest of us , watching Lamar Jackson take his breath away the way he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a different day .
“ No , ” Cunningham said from Las Vegas , “ it ’ s more than fun .
It ’ s like you don ’ t want commercials on .
Just get rid of all the commercials and let ’ s just watch this young man.
” This young man who has captured imaginations everywhere will try to get the Ravens past the Titans to the AFC Championship game with an arm that wasn ’ t supposed to be able to throw 36 touchdowns against only six interceptions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough for a 66.1 completion percentage , with ankle-breaking legs that gashed defenses for 1,206 yards and seven more TDs .
“ This is only Year 2 for him ?
The kid ’ s breaking all the records , he ’ s the most exciting player in the history of the game as a quarterback , ” Cunningham said .
“ I could [ only ] imagine what his viewership is like with him and the team .
It ’ s got to be off the charts.
” It was on the sideline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harbaugh crouched down in front of the bench where Jackson was sitting and told him : “ You changed the game , man … you know how many little kids in this country are going to be wearing number ‘ 8 ’ playing quarterback for the next 20 years ?
” Cunningham : “ I would say that , but history repeats itself .
We all have to go back and remember that there was a man in Chicago named Bobby Douglass who ran the ball .
I was able to eclipse his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eclipsed my rushing record and now Lamar Jackson has eclipsed all the records.
” Cunningham finished his 16-year career with 207 touchdown passes and 4,928 rushing yards and 35 TDs .
Vick finished his 13-year career with 133 TD passes and 6,109 rushing yards and 36 TDs .
“ To me it ’ s hard to compare the two , because as soon as you look at Michael Vick , the first thing you want to do is say , ‘ He can ’ t throw.
’ That guy had one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NFL , ” Cunningham said .
“ But the difference with Lamar is they have really built that offense around all the talent .
Michael was making things happen on his own .
They didn ’ t have to make rushing plays for him , he was gon na do it on his own .
“ They tried to do that with me , where they had designed running plays .
I didn ’ t want designed running plays .
Don ’ t have blockers in front of me , I just want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take off — that ’ s Lamar .
Lamar has designed running plays , but he ’ ll take off .
Michael , he used to take off .
He ’ d drop back and run a sweep on his own , ’ cause he would read the defense and he knew that he could outrun the D-line or linebackers and the safeties.
” Life is safer in the pocket for quarterbacks , but some worry Jackson is vulnerable to unnecessary hits when he spots daylight .
Does Cunningham worry ?
“ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cunningham said .
“ He ’ s not worried about that , he ’ s smart .
I just went and watched his highlight reel the other day , and it was like plays where he would run and he ’ d make people look crazy .
So it ’ s like this awareness you have to have of him ’ cause you don ’ t know what he ’ s gon na do , so it ’ s not like he can run up and just blast Lamar .
Oh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He has very , very good instincts.
” Cunningham , 56 , is now a pastor at Remnant Ministries .
“ There ’ s what ’ s called in church an anointing on that team , on him , on the coaching staff , ” Cunningham said .
“ You could just tell that God is doing special work for them like He did with us in Minnesota back in 1998.
” Cunningham threw 34 TD passes against 10 INTs that year in a season that ended 60 minutes short of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kinda like living through him right now , ” Cunningham said of Jackson .
“ If I was playing today , I would want that same feeling that he gets and that team gets ’ cause it reminds me of the Minnesota Vikings in the year that we were dominating , or in Philadelphia.
” There is no feeling like it .
“ The feeling that he has now is the feeling that I had when they were putting that on Sports Illustrated , ” Cunningham said .
“ It ’ s kinda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the limit , and there is no second-guessing .
The hype around you , you can ’ t get caught up into it .
You got ta remain humble , thankful , and it ’ s kinda like just keep on going .
And don ’ t think that it ’ s ever gon na end , you just got ta keep on playing .
And the way they play together and the way they gel together , it ’ s simply amazing.
” “ I ’ d just tell him keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Don ’ t sit around worrying about anything , don ’ t worry about victories , just keep having fun , doing what he ’ s doing because there ’ s a power behind him that ’ s bigger than anything anybody knows .
“ I know what it ’ s like having a coach that believes in you , a head coach like Buddy Ryan believed in me .
Having a team that believes in you , all of his teammates , they love him , they love each other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so you got something special that you got ta seize the moment .
But there ’ s no time to worry or be anxious for anything , just go have fun.
” If only we could get rid of all the commercials .

BALTIMORE — No one had seen anything like him, no one had seen a quarterback like him, this lanky dual threat who could beat you with a rocket arm and jets for legs. Sports Illustrated hailed him on the cover of its 1989 NFL preview as The Ultimate Weapon. In smaller print: “Philadelphia’s Randall Cunningham: The Quarterback for the ’90s.”
Come Saturday night, The Quarterback for the ’90s will be just like the rest of us, watching Lamar Jackson take his breath away the way he took everybody’s breath away in a different day.
“No,” Cunningham said from Las Vegas, “it’s more than fun. It’s like you don’t want commercials on. Just get rid of all the commercials and let’s just watch this young man.”
This young man who has captured imaginations everywhere will try to get the Ravens past the Titans to the AFC Championship game with an arm that wasn’t supposed to be able to throw 36 touchdowns against only six interceptions, wasn’t supposed to be efficient enough for a 66.1 completion percentage, with ankle-breaking legs that gashed defenses for 1,206 yards and seven more TDs.
“This is only Year 2 for him? The kid’s breaking all the records, he’s the most exciting player in the history of the game as a quarterback,” Cunningham said. “I could [only] imagine what his viewership is like with him and the team. It’s got to be off the charts.”
It was on the sideline in Cincinnati when Ravens head coach John Harbaugh crouched down in front of the bench where Jackson was sitting and told him: “You changed the game, man … you know how many little kids in this country are going to be wearing number ‘8’ playing quarterback for the next 20 years?”
Cunningham: “I would say that, but history repeats itself. We all have to go back and remember that there was a man in Chicago named Bobby Douglass who ran the ball. I was able to eclipse his rushing record, and then Michael Vick eclipsed my rushing record and now Lamar Jackson has eclipsed all the records.”
Cunningham finished his 16-year career with 207 touchdown passes and 4,928 rushing yards and 35 TDs. Vick finished his 13-year career with 133 TD passes and 6,109 rushing yards and 36 TDs.
“To me it’s hard to compare the two, because as soon as you look at Michael Vick, the first thing you want to do is say, ‘He can’t throw.’ That guy had one of the strongest arms in the history of the NFL,” Cunningham said. “But the difference with Lamar is they have really built that offense around all the talent. Michael was making things happen on his own. They didn’t have to make rushing plays for him, he was gonna do it on his own.
“They tried to do that with me, where they had designed running plays. I didn’t want designed running plays. Don’t have blockers in front of me, I just want to take off when I want to take off — that’s Lamar. Lamar has designed running plays, but he’ll take off. Michael, he used to take off. He’d drop back and run a sweep on his own, ’cause he would read the defense and he knew that he could outrun the D-line or linebackers and the safeties.”
Life is safer in the pocket for quarterbacks, but some worry Jackson is vulnerable to unnecessary hits when he spots daylight. Does Cunningham worry?
“No. Because he’s not scared,” Cunningham said. “He’s not worried about that, he’s smart. I just went and watched his highlight reel the other day, and it was like plays where he would run and he’d make people look crazy. So it’s like this awareness you have to have of him ’cause you don’t know what he’s gonna do, so it’s not like he can run up and just blast Lamar. Oh no. That kid’s smart. He has very, very good instincts.”
Cunningham, 56, is now a pastor at Remnant Ministries.
“There’s what’s called in church an anointing on that team, on him, on the coaching staff,” Cunningham said. “You could just tell that God is doing special work for them like He did with us in Minnesota back in 1998.”
Cunningham threw 34 TD passes against 10 INTs that year in a season that ended 60 minutes short of a Super Bowl.
“I’m kinda like living through him right now,” Cunningham said of Jackson. “If I was playing today, I would want that same feeling that he gets and that team gets ’cause it reminds me of the Minnesota Vikings in the year that we were dominating, or in Philadelphia.”
There is no feeling like it.
“The feeling that he has now is the feeling that I had when they were putting that on Sports Illustrated,” Cunningham said. “It’s kinda like you know that the sky’s the limit, and there is no second-guessing. The hype around you, you can’t get caught up into it. You gotta remain humble, thankful, and it’s kinda like just keep on going. And don’t think that it’s ever gonna end, you just gotta keep on playing. And the way they play together and the way they gel together, it’s simply amazing.”
His advice for Lamar Jackson?
“I’d just tell him keep having fun,” Cunningham said. “Don’t sit around worrying about anything, don’t worry about victories, just keep having fun, doing what he’s doing because there’s a power behind him that’s bigger than anything anybody knows.
“I know what it’s like having a coach that believes in you, a head coach like Buddy Ryan believed in me. Having a team that believes in you, all of his teammates, they love him, they love each other, the city, they love their team, so you got something special that you gotta seize the moment. But there’s no time to worry or be anxious for anything, just go have fun.”
If only we could get rid of all the commercials.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--The Hall of Fame coach keeping an eye on Vikings’ Mike Zimmer

SANTA CLARA , Calif. — Six days ago , Bill Parcells was in a quandary .
As he watched the Vikings and Saints play in the NFC wild-card playoff game , the Hall of Fame coach didn ’ t know which team to root for .
Both head coaches — Mike Zimmer of the Vikings and Sean Payton of the Saints — are former assistants of his and both still are very close to him .
So , Parcells ’ emotions were in overdrive watching the Vikings overcome the Saints , 26-20 , in overtime .
On Saturday , Parcells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the No .
6-seeded Vikings play the favored 49ers , the No .
1 overall seed in the NFC , in the divisional playoff round at Levi ’ s Stadium , Parcells can be all in on Zimmer .
The former Giants , Patriots , Jets and Cowboys coach has been preoccupied these days by a 3-year-old filly he owns named “ She Throws Heat , ’ ’ which pays homage to his lifelong love affair with baseball .
His horse will run her first race Sunday at Gulfstream Park .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parcells said .
“ It ’ s just like with football players : You never know ’ til you put them in the gate what will happen.
’ ’ As invested as the 78-year-old Parcells is in the horse game , though , he ’ s still passionate about the NFL , especially when it involves his former players and coaches .
Zimmer , a tough-minded man who doesn ’ t get flustered , was Parcells ’ defensive coordinator with Dallas from 2003-06 .
Parcells adores him for his work ethic and toughness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mentor of his .
Parcells , as he does with a lot of his former coaches , speaks to Zimmer the day after every game .
On schedule , they spoke after Zimmer ’ s Vikings advanced past the Saints .
“ I texted Mike Sunday night and I said , ‘ Congratulations , but let ’ s get to work .
You got a game in six days , ’ ’ ’ Parcells said .
“ He knows that.
’ ’ Parcells watched Vikings-Saints from his Jupiter , Fla. , home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s difficult for me , because I do have a very , very strong feeling about both of those guys , ’ ’ he said .
“ You don ’ t want anybody to lose .
But I couldn ’ t wait for that game the other day , because I wanted to see how it unfolded .
I was watching the game with my grandson , and I told him , ‘ Minnesota ’ s going to watch the fake here , ’ and sure enough New Orleans ran a fake punt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ As he does with many of his former players and coaches , Parcells takes pride in whatever he was able to impart while they were together , and he ’ s big on staying in touch .
Once known as a gruff intimidator in his coaching days , Parcells has softened with age .
Zimmer ’ s success in Minnesota brings a smile to his face .
“ All you have to do is look at what Minnesota was like before he got there , ’ ’ Parcells said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Parcells won ’ t say it , but he sees some of himself in Zimmer .
“ He ’ s very tough on the players , but he ’ s very fair , ’ ’ Parcells said .
“ They like him .
But don ’ t confuse that with being a players ’ coach .
He ’ s not like that .
He ’ s got a job to do and it ’ s , ‘ We ’ re going to do it ; get your ass in gear.
’ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what ’ s good .
He doesn ’ t evade the truth .
He ’ s very straightforward with them .
I think that ’ s why they respond well to him.
’ ’ Parcells , with those words , perfectly encapsulated some of his strengths as a head coach .
He won two Super Bowls doing what he did and went to the Hall of Fame after that .
Maybe Zimmer throws heat Saturday and beats the 49ers to get to the NFC Championship , then gets the Vikings to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Vikings are 0-4 in Super Bowls .
If they win it this year , they ’ ll erect a statue of Zimmer in Minnesota , frozen forever in time — and the unforgiving Minnesota winter weather .
Super Bowl LIV will be played in Miami Gardens , Fla. , about a two-hour drive south of where Parcells lives .
You can bet if Zimmer has his Vikings there , the old coach won ’ t have any conflicts .
If he ’ s not at Hard Rock Stadium in the flesh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set in Jupiter , just like he was for the Vikings-Saints game with his grandson sitting next to him on the couch , predicting plays and pulling for his protégé .

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Six days ago, Bill Parcells was in a quandary.
As he watched the Vikings and Saints play in the NFC wild-card playoff game, the Hall of Fame coach didn’t know which team to root for. Both head coaches — Mike Zimmer of the Vikings and Sean Payton of the Saints — are former assistants of his and both still are very close to him.
So, Parcells’ emotions were in overdrive watching the Vikings overcome the Saints, 26-20, in overtime.
On Saturday, Parcells will face no such dilemma. As the No. 6-seeded Vikings play the favored 49ers, the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, in the divisional playoff round at Levi’s Stadium, Parcells can be all in on Zimmer.
The former Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys coach has been preoccupied these days by a 3-year-old filly he owns named “She Throws Heat,’’ which pays homage to his lifelong love affair with baseball.
His horse will run her first race Sunday at Gulfstream Park.
“This is her maiden race,’’ Parcells said. “It’s just like with football players: You never know ’til you put them in the gate what will happen.’’
As invested as the 78-year-old Parcells is in the horse game, though, he’s still passionate about the NFL, especially when it involves his former players and coaches.
Zimmer, a tough-minded man who doesn’t get flustered, was Parcells’ defensive coordinator with Dallas from 2003-06. Parcells adores him for his work ethic and toughness and quietly takes great pleasure in being a mentor of his.
Parcells, as he does with a lot of his former coaches, speaks to Zimmer the day after every game. On schedule, they spoke after Zimmer’s Vikings advanced past the Saints.
“I texted Mike Sunday night and I said, ‘Congratulations, but let’s get to work. You got a game in six days,’ ’’ Parcells said. “He knows that.’’
Parcells watched Vikings-Saints from his Jupiter, Fla., home with conflicted emotions.
“It’s difficult for me, because I do have a very, very strong feeling about both of those guys,’’ he said. “You don’t want anybody to lose. But I couldn’t wait for that game the other day, because I wanted to see how it unfolded. I was watching the game with my grandson, and I told him, ‘Minnesota’s going to watch the fake here,’ and sure enough New Orleans ran a fake punt — 10 seconds after I said it.’’
As he does with many of his former players and coaches, Parcells takes pride in whatever he was able to impart while they were together, and he’s big on staying in touch. Once known as a gruff intimidator in his coaching days, Parcells has softened with age.
Zimmer’s success in Minnesota brings a smile to his face.
“All you have to do is look at what Minnesota was like before he got there,’’ Parcells said. “He’s made them relevant.’’
Parcells won’t say it, but he sees some of himself in Zimmer.
“He’s very tough on the players, but he’s very fair,’’ Parcells said. “They like him. But don’t confuse that with being a players’ coach. He’s not like that. He’s got a job to do and it’s, ‘We’re going to do it; get your ass in gear.’ But he’s very fair. That’s what’s good. He doesn’t evade the truth. He’s very straightforward with them. I think that’s why they respond well to him.’’
Parcells, with those words, perfectly encapsulated some of his strengths as a head coach. He won two Super Bowls doing what he did and went to the Hall of Fame after that.
Maybe Zimmer throws heat Saturday and beats the 49ers to get to the NFC Championship, then gets the Vikings to the Super Bowl and wins it.
The Vikings are 0-4 in Super Bowls. If they win it this year, they’ll erect a statue of Zimmer in Minnesota, frozen forever in time — and the unforgiving Minnesota winter weather.
Super Bowl LIV will be played in Miami Gardens, Fla., about a two-hour drive south of where Parcells lives. You can bet if Zimmer has his Vikings there, the old coach won’t have any conflicts.
If he’s not at Hard Rock Stadium in the flesh, Parcells will be glued to his television set in Jupiter, just like he was for the Vikings-Saints game with his grandson sitting next to him on the couch, predicting plays and pulling for his protégé.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--How Henrik Lundqvist is handling Rangers’ ‘unusual situation’

Suddenly , it seems , there ’ s a whole lot for the essentially ...

So it will be Henrik Lundqvist in nets, Alexandar Georgiev on the bench and Igor Shesterkin in street clothes in the Rangers’ latest installment of three-goaltender monte Saturday night in St. Louis.
“It’s an unusual situation right now,” said Lundqvist, who has started just one of the previous six games and six of the team’s 17 matches since Dec. 5. “But you can only control so much. You don’t want to put too much thinking into this.
“When you get the opportunity to play, you want to do your best. It’s quite a challenge.”
The Rangers have not laid out a plan to or for their goaltenders. Coach David Quinn, in the unenviable position of trying to make three-into-two come out whole, again said Friday that he is approaching this “day by day.” So are the goaltenders. That includes Lundqvist, who has gone 5-5-2 with a .914 save percentage and 2.74 goals against average since Nov. 20.
“It’s a different situation, but it’s been the same as far as being told when we’re going to play,” said Lundqvist, who backed up on Tuesday and Thursday while Shesterkin stopped 75 of 81 shots to record victories in each of his first two NHL contests. “We haven’t been given a long-term plan.
“I feel pretty good. I’ve been working hard in practice. I’m just going to try to do my best.”
The Rangers, who held pro-scouting meetings this week, are prepared to go both ways as the Feb. 24 trade deadline approaches.
“Sometimes these things can change in a [flash]. We have to be ready for both sides,” club president John Davidson said. “It sounds generic, but it is. You’re in the hunt, a week later you’re out of the hunt, a week later you’re in the hunt …
“The vision I have is whatever we do, we’re dealing with the business of hockey and the business of big picture trying to become a championship team. That’s where our decisions will lie.
“That could be a number of different things, too. Sometimes a playoff race is healthy for your club even if you don’t get in because they’re like playoff games, so that’s what we’re in the middle of.”
Perhaps Quinn will hear from Larry David about benching Ryan Strome for a stretch during the first period of Thursday’s 6-3 Garden victory over the Devils. Maybe the coach will be forced to walk behind the bench in St. Louis wearing a sandwich board proclaiming, “I bench people, even our second-leading scorer.”
Strome sat from 8:06 to 16:59 of the first period following a woefully deficient wave at Pavel Zacha in the defensive faceoff circle immediately before Kevin Rooney scored a shorthanded goal off Zacha’s rebound. Brett Howden filled in for Strome on the first power-play unit while Filip Chytil took a couple of spins in Strome’s even-strength spot between Artemi Panarin and Jesper Fast.
Asked if the benching was meant to send a message, Quinn’s answer was sharp and direct.
“Yes … [and the message was] that’s unacceptable,” the coach said. “He knows it.
“He’s had a hell of a year, and I think responsibility comes with being in the situation he’s in now. More is expected of you when you play in that role and are as productive as he is. And he knows that.”
True, that, for after the game Strome told The Post: “It’s about accountability. I have to be accountable. That kind of a play, it can’t happen. I understand.”
Strome, who had two assists in the match, has 41 points (12-29), second on the club to Artemi Panarin’s 61.
Ryan Lindgren, who did not play in the third period of Thursday’s match after blocking a shot in the first, did not skate at practice and is questionable for Saturday’s match.
If Lindgren, who absorbed a pounding by Nazem Kadri in a first-period fight on Tuesday and did not play in the final two periods of that one, is unable to go against the Blues, either Brendan Smith will shift back to defense or Libor Hajek, sidelined since Dec. 5 with a knee injury, will get the call.
For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Joaquin Phoenix, Martin Sheen arrested at Jane Fonda climate change protest

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen were the latest stars to be arrested at Jane Fonda ’ s weekly Washington environmental protests , known as “ Fire Drill Fridays.
” The actors joined Fonda and a throng of other protesters Friday and marched up the steps of the capitol .
They were arrested when they refused to disperse after cops ordered them to do so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who won a best actor Golden Globe for his role in “ Joker , ” addressed the crowd and the protest , urging people to be mindful of what they buy .
“ The meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change , ” he said .
“ There is something that you can do today , right now and tomorrow by making your choice about what you consume , ” he added .
Fonda told the crowd : “ the climate crisis makes our nation and all nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have showed up to the protests , including Sally Field , who was hauled away in plastic handcuffs last month .

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Actors Joaquin Phoenix and Martin Sheen were the latest stars to be arrested at Jane Fonda’s weekly Washington environmental protests, known as “Fire Drill Fridays.”
The actors joined Fonda and a throng of other protesters Friday and marched up the steps of the capitol. They were arrested when they refused to disperse after cops ordered them to do so, NBC News reported.
Phoenix, who won a best actor Golden Globe for his role in “Joker,” addressed the crowd and the protest, urging people to be mindful of what they buy.
“The meat and dairy industry is the third leading cause of climate change,” he said.
“There is something that you can do today, right now and tomorrow by making your choice about what you consume,” he added.
Fonda told the crowd: “the climate crisis makes our nation and all nations less secure.”
A number of stars have showed up to the protests, including Sally Field, who was hauled away in plastic handcuffs last month.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Man busted for killing elderly woman claimed ‘his pants fell’ before alleged sex assault

The man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a 92-year-old woman in Queens claimed to cops that he ’ d been trying to help the old woman — but then he lost his balance , his belt broke , his pants fell down and his genitals accidentally came in contact with hers , it was revealed in court Friday .
The suspect , 21-year-old Reeaz Khan , told detectives that he found the woman , Maria Fuertes , on the ground near Liberty Avenue and 127th Street in Richmond Hill at about midnight on Monday and tried to help her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
Khan told detectives , “ He fell down , his belt broke , his pants fell down and his penis fell near her vagina , ” the prosecutor , Joseph Grasso , said in court .
At that point , something came over him , Khan claimed .
“ Defendant then stated that he did lift up her skirt and he tried to put his penis inside of her , ” the prosecutor added .
Sources previously said Khan admitted to suffering “ uncontrollable urges , ” and said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on them .
Fuertes lay half-dressed in 32-degree weather for two hours before she was found , conscious but “ incoherent , ” at around 2 a.m. , according to the criminal complaint .
She suffered a broken spine , rib fractures and bruising on her chest and neck , among other injuries , according to court papers .
Prosecutors noted investigators have collected significant surveillance footage that places Khan at the scene and traces him back to his house .
He was ordered held without bond and is due back in court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked the judge that he be placed in protective custody while he is behind bars .
Khan allegedly followed Fuertes from Liberty Avenue onto 127th Street , where he came up behind her , threw her to the ground and attacked and sexually assaulted her , police said .
“ There was some sort of physical contact between the two … causing both of them to fall to the ground , where they landed behind a parked car , ” Deputy Chief of Detective Bureau Queens South Joseph Kenny said earlier Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victim was found “ with her clothes pulled above her waist and near death , ” called the slaying “ a senseless , brutal act of violence .
”

The man accused of sexually assaulting and killing a 92-year-old woman in Queens claimed to cops that he’d been trying to help the old woman — but then he lost his balance, his belt broke, his pants fell down and his genitals accidentally came in contact with hers, it was revealed in court Friday.
The suspect, 21-year-old Reeaz Khan, told detectives that he found the woman, Maria Fuertes, on the ground near Liberty Avenue and 127th Street in Richmond Hill at about midnight on Monday and tried to help her, a prosecutor said at his arraignment on Friday.
Khan told detectives, “He fell down, his belt broke, his pants fell down and his penis fell near her vagina,” the prosecutor, Joseph Grasso, said in court.
At that point, something came over him, Khan claimed.
“Defendant then stated that he did lift up her skirt and he tried to put his penis inside of her,” the prosecutor added.
Sources previously said Khan admitted to suffering “uncontrollable urges,” and said that this was the first time he acted on them.
Fuertes lay half-dressed in 32-degree weather for two hours before she was found, conscious but “incoherent,” at around 2 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.
She suffered a broken spine, rib fractures and bruising on her chest and neck, among other injuries, according to court papers.
Prosecutors noted investigators have collected significant surveillance footage that places Khan at the scene and traces him back to his house.
He was ordered held without bond and is due back in court on Jan. 15.
His defense attorney asked the judge that he be placed in protective custody while he is behind bars.
Khan allegedly followed Fuertes from Liberty Avenue onto 127th Street, where he came up behind her, threw her to the ground and attacked and sexually assaulted her, police said.
“There was some sort of physical contact between the two … causing both of them to fall to the ground, where they landed behind a parked car,” Deputy Chief of Detective Bureau Queens South Joseph Kenny said earlier Friday.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, noting the victim was found “with her clothes pulled above her waist and near death,” called the slaying “a senseless, brutal act of violence.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Joe Judge won over Giants like he did HS teammates: ‘Rare breed’

Joe Judge received five years of security and a promise ...

LANSDALE, Pa. — The rest of the country asked who, but here, they already knew.
They once asked that question, too, when he was just a kid from Doylestown who arrived at Lansdale Catholic as a freshman. By the time he left for Mississippi State, he was one of their own.
Now, to many in a much larger fan base, he is just a special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach from the Patriots who has arrived as the new 38-year-old head coach of the Giants.
But back where Joe Judge first made his name, his old football team is already convinced.
“They will know who he is,” said Steve Mocey, Judge’s former wide receiver at Lansdale Catholic.
Here, in Lansdale, Pa., he’s Joe Judge the quarterback, the confident yet humble kid who stepped into a pressure situation and thrived. He had goals and visions back then of being the best, and still does. But the makeup of the man they know has not changed. Judge is part of their “rare breed,” the term for the school’s blue-collar, underdog football culture created by their longtime coach whom Judge kept channeling in his interview with the Giants.
“Ultimately, you internalize that, right?” Mocey said. “He knew he could unlock that same underdog in everybody he coached.”
Judge was not originally supposed to be part of the rare breed. He was set to go to powerhouse St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, like his dad and brother had done before him.
But in 1996, a freshman quarterback battle ensued between Judge and another kid destined for the NFL sidelines — Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski — according to ESPN. Stefanski won out and Judge changed course, leaving for smaller Lansdale Catholic instead.
Judge truly arrived as a junior. The two starting quarterbacks over the previous four years had been the son and grandson of longtime coach Jim Algeo. His son, John Algeo, went on to play at Cornell, and his grandson, Mike deMarteleire, was another prolific passer and won back-to-back league titles.
Most expected there to be a dropoff in 1998, and at first, there was. A senior quarterback started Lansdale Catholic’s season under center, but after the Crusaders got blown out in Week 1, Judge replaced him the following week. He calmly led a game-winning, two-minute drive on that sweltering Saturday afternoon, the first of seven straight wins to capture a third straight league title.
“We had a bunch of Lansdale grunts and we had Joe Judge,” said Chip Panico, a senior lineman on the 1998 squad.
Judge wasn’t from Lansdale, but by the end of that season, he was no longer an outsider. He threw for 1,953 yards and nine touchdowns that year with his big arm, but impressed his teammates more with the way he led.
“Everybody gravitated to Joe,” said Greg Gaffney, a sophomore running back on the team. “Not only somebody who leads by example, but was vocal as well and could reach everybody on a certain level.”
In the huddle, Judge was calm and in command, a step ahead of everyone else. He would often call a play and tell Gaffney he would hit him on a swing pass because he was going to be open. Sure enough, he was.
The wins didn’t come as easily in Judge’s senior season, but the work didn’t stop. He always took his receivers on the field before practice and threw to them until their hands were ripping up.
“He was never satisfied,” Mocey said.
Off the field, Judge was high-maintenance. He needed his hair cut just about every two weeks, so Mocey — the wide receiver who became known as the team barber once somebody figured out he could give a fade — obliged and delivered his signature “LC [Lansdale Catholic] Fade.” The look Judge is sporting in his senior yearbook photo?
“That’s the LC Fade!” Mocey said with a laugh when he saw the photo.
Mocey estimated he had given Judge at least 100 haircuts. The only thing he got in return from Judge was a ride home from practice.
They all thought Judge was just being a nice friend whenever he offered to drive the guys around in his Chrysler Cirrus. But the other shoe would always eventually drop, like when they would arrive at Pat’s or Geno’s in Philadelphia and he would ask, “OK, who’s buying my steak?” Sometimes they got a cheesesteak at Pat’s, then walked across the street to wolf down another one at Geno’s, and Judge would get away with paying for neither.
“He has a way of doing certain things that would probably piss other people off,” Gaffney said. “But when he did it, it was funny.”
Judge and his friends worked part-time jobs in the offseason delivering auto parts to make some extra money, even if none of it went toward his own cheesesteaks.
In school, he was smart, if not a goofball. He would crack up his friends in class by walking around in the hallway until their teacher had to poke her head out and yell, “Joey Judge, you get back here!”
But when it came to football, he was all business.
Judge’s friends and teammates always knew what they were getting from Judge — even if his nickname of “Franky Valley,” listed in his senior yearbook, remains a mystery. They figure there must be some old joke behind it.
But beyond making them laugh, Judge has endeared himself to them by being the same man at 38 as he was at 16.
“I never saw someone commit so much,” said Frank Panariello, one of Judge’s closest friends, who was in his wedding along with Gaffney. “That’s why I think for the Giants organization, if he treats them like family, they’re set. He 110 percent is there for his family, he’ll be there for that team and they’ll push through. He’s just that guy that works.”
Judge hasn’t forgotten his past, either. In the midst of the Patriots preparation for their playoff game against the Titans and Judge being named as a candidate in the coaching carousel, John Algeo sent Judge a text message wishing him a happy birthday and good luck. A few hours later, Judge replied, first sending condolences about Algeo’s mom, Mickey, who had passed away in November. Judge also asked John to give his best to Jim Algeo, the longtime coach whom Judge hoped to see as soon as things calmed down. That brought a big smile to Jim Algeo in his hospital bed.
It came back again Tuesday, when news broke that Judge had gotten the Giants job. Judge told John how much he had mentioned his dad during interviews.
“It’s not surprising, but it’s humbling,” John Algeo said.
After high school, Judge went on to play at Mississippi State, then coached and learned more under Nick Saban and Bill Belichick. But the “rare breed” mentality ingrained in him at Lansdale Catholic has never seemed to leave him.
“We didn’t care how big or how fast or how strong the other team was, my grandpa would always say, ‘Just put the ball down and we’ll play,’ ” said deMarteleire, Jim Algeo’s grandson.
That’s the environment in which Judge gained the respect of a community. Now, New York awaits.
“He didn’t ask anybody to do anything that he wasn’t willing to do himself,” Mocey said. “When you have somebody like that, the guys on the team would run through a wall for him.”
For more on the Giants, listen to the latest episode of the “Blue Rush” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--MIT admits it made ‘significant mistakes’ by taking Jeffrey Epstein donations

Several top MIT officials have admitted they “ made significant mistakes of judgment ” by taking $ 850,000 in donations from Jeffrey Epstein in a relationship that was “ more extensive and lasted longer than has been publicly reported , ” an internal report said .
MIT asked the law firm Goodwin Proctor to conduct the internal “ fact-finding ” review , which was released Friday , to “ understand the origins , nature and extent of Jeffrey Epstein ’ s ties to MIT and learn from them , ” President L. Rafael Reif said in an email to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reif “ was not involved ” and “ had little knowledge ” of MIT ’ s acceptance of the gifts from a convicted sex offender .
Goodwin Proctor ’ s findings also show that Epstein , who staffers called “ Voldermort , ” made 10 donations to MIT totaling $ 850,000 between 2002 and 2017 .
All but $ 100,000 of it was donated after the pedophile ’ s 2008 conviction .
Post-conviction donations were solicited by Professor Seth Lloyd and Media Lab Director Joichi Ito , who resigned in September after news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal .
Lloyd also received a personal gift of $ 60,000 from Epstein that was not recorded by MIT or included in the $ 850,000 total .
MIT ’ s executive committee wrote in a statement members were particularly disturbed by the extent of Lloyd ’ s interactions with Epstein ; they asked Reif to weigh potential “ disciplinary measures.
” Epstein had also claimed to have coordinated millions of dollars in MIT donations made by others , including Bill Gates and Leon Black — but the report found no evidence to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not find any evidence that the money donated by Gates or Black actually was Epstein ’ s money — that is , there is no evidence that Gates and Black acted to ‘ launder ’ Epstein ’ s money , ” the report said .
The report did find that R. Gregory Morgan , former MIT vice president and general counsel , Jeffrey Newton , former vice president for resource development , and Israel Ruiz , executive vice president and treasurer , approved Epstein ’ s 2013 donation and essentially created an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Epstein donations .
“ The revelations that MIT had a donor relationship with Jeffrey Epstein , a convicted sex offender , have deeply shaken the MIT community , ” MIT ’ s executive committee wrote in its statement reacting to the findings of the report .
Epstein also reportedly made nine visits to the MIT campus .
“ The Committee is disappointed by the errors in judgment in accepting donations from Epstein and in keeping them secret , ” the report said .
In exchange for his high donations , MIT once gifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
MIT said it will donate $ 850,000 to a charity that benefits survivors of sexual abuse .
MIT is not the only school to receive scrutiny for its relationship with the convicted pedophile .
Harvard accepted $ 8.9M from the pedophile financier — and the billionaire once gave $ 50K to Stanford University .
A Brown University fundraising director that previously worked at MIT was placed on leave amid claims he helped cover up Epstein ’ s connections to MIT — but he later claimed he followed all fundraising rules .

Several top MIT officials have admitted they “made significant mistakes of judgment” by taking $850,000 in donations from Jeffrey Epstein in a relationship that was “more extensive and lasted longer than has been publicly reported,” an internal report said.
MIT asked the law firm Goodwin Proctor to conduct the internal “fact-finding” review, which was released Friday, to “understand the origins, nature and extent of Jeffrey Epstein’s ties to MIT and learn from them,” President L. Rafael Reif said in an email to the MIT community.
The report found that Reif “was not involved” and “had little knowledge” of MIT’s acceptance of the gifts from a convicted sex offender.
Goodwin Proctor’s findings also show that Epstein, who staffers called “Voldermort,” made 10 donations to MIT totaling $850,000 between 2002 and 2017. All but $100,000 of it was donated after the pedophile’s 2008 conviction.
Post-conviction donations were solicited by Professor Seth Lloyd and Media Lab Director Joichi Ito, who resigned in September after news broke in August about the MIT donation scandal.
Lloyd also received a personal gift of $60,000 from Epstein that was not recorded by MIT or included in the $850,000 total.
MIT’s executive committee wrote in a statement members were particularly disturbed by the extent of Lloyd’s interactions with Epstein; they asked Reif to weigh potential “disciplinary measures.”
Epstein had also claimed to have coordinated millions of dollars in MIT donations made by others, including Bill Gates and Leon Black — but the report found no evidence to support Epstein’s claim.
“We did not find any evidence that the money donated by Gates or Black actually was Epstein’s money — that is, there is no evidence that Gates and Black acted to ‘launder’ Epstein’s money,” the report said.
The report did find that R. Gregory Morgan, former MIT vice president and general counsel, Jeffrey Newton, former vice president for resource development, and Israel Ruiz, executive vice president and treasurer, approved Epstein’s 2013 donation and essentially created an “informal framework” to accept future Epstein donations.
“The revelations that MIT had a donor relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, have deeply shaken the MIT community,” MIT’s executive committee wrote in its statement reacting to the findings of the report.
Epstein also reportedly made nine visits to the MIT campus.
“The Committee is disappointed by the errors in judgment in accepting donations from Epstein and in keeping them secret,” the report said.
In exchange for his high donations, MIT once gifted Epstein with a grapefruit-sized, 3-D-printed marble.
MIT said it will donate $850,000 to a charity that benefits survivors of sexual abuse.
MIT is not the only school to receive scrutiny for its relationship with the convicted pedophile. Harvard accepted $8.9M from the pedophile financier — and the billionaire once gave $50K to Stanford University.
A Brown University fundraising director that previously worked at MIT was placed on leave amid claims he helped cover up Epstein’s connections to MIT — but he later claimed he followed all fundraising rules.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Bourbon Street trip glimpse into LSU’s unique title-game edge

“ This town is naturally LSU .
It runs deep here .
But ...

NEW ORLEANS — There are certain cities, it’s almost impossible to walk their streets without a song involuntarily slipping in and out of your heart, if not your ears. A busy Saturday night back home isn’t complete without a few notes of “New York, New York” drifting into your consciousness. Try a night out in Chicago without hearing “My Kinda Town” somewhere in the distant reaches of your mind.
Here — specifically the French Quarter, specifically Bourbon Street, specifically three days before the college football championship — that song has to be “The House of the Rising Sun.”
It is 12:05 p.m. at the Old Absinthe House, and you are squeezed close to the bar, and the talk is football, LSU football, and the garments are all purple and gold — sweatshirts, windbreakers, shorts, golf shirts, baseball hats. It is a warm day, mostly gray, 72 degrees, but the sun is fighting for equal time, too, even if the rain will win out some later.
It is perfect for a little day drinking.
Perfect to talk about the Tigers.
“But only,” Michael LaRoque says, “if it’s the right Tigers.
Inside the Old Absinthe House, there is no mistaking which are the right Tigers. LaRoque, who is nursing a Planters Punch (dark rum, sour, 151 rum, orange, grenadine), has an angry-looking yellow bayou bengal snarling on the front of his chest, “GEAUX!” stenciled above its head, “TIGERS!” beneath its jaw.
“There’s gonna be some records broken this weekend,” he says. “And I don’t mean on the football field.”
That draws some roars from his buddies, some of them easing into the day with pint glasses of Abita Amber, others opting for more explicit specialties of the house — Mother’s Milk, Sazerac, the perfectly arrogant World’s Best Gin and Tonic. Every few minutes, on the street, folks break into snippets of the fight song — “Hold that Tiger! Hold that Tiger!” and inside, the barflies yell “GO TIGERS!” as a good backup band would.
The Clemson folks aren’t coming, en masse, until later Friday, which is when they will alter the city’s color palette a little, from all-purple to splotches of orange and blue. The LSU fans in the Old Absinthe know the other Tigers fans won’t be bashful about showing their faces and their colors, and performing one of the great bowl-week rituals of all, using $2 bills with an orange-paw stamp to flood the cash registers of local bars and oyster houses.
“All I know,” Mike LaRoque says, “is good luck keeping up.”
New Orleans has hosted 10 Super Bowls, and is up again in 2024. It has hosted five Final Fours (next up: 2022). The idea, of course, if for these mammoth games to be decided in neutral sites.
In the history of the Super Bowl, only the 1984 49ers (playing at Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, 40 miles away) have ever had anything close to a home-field advantage. CCNY won its ill-fated 1950 NCAA title at Madison Square Garden, UCLA won twice at the L.A. Sports Arena, and Kansas won in 1988 in Kansas City.
But since the BCS was founded in 1998 (and replaced by the four-team playoff in 2015), New Orleans’ Superdome has hosted the title game five times, including Monday night.
LSU has appeared in four of them. Twice — in 2004 and 2008 — the Tigers won, and their two opponents, Oklahoma and Ohio State, never had a chance. Not in the Dome on game night, not in the Quarter in the days leading up. Only Alabama has figured out the LSU-New Orleans formula, winning 21-0 in January 2012 (after losing 9-6 in overtime during the regular season).
“No matter where you looked during the two games I was involved with, there were crowds wherever you turned,” said Kansas coach Les Miles, who led LSU to the 2007-08 title and the disappointment in 2011-12. “I mean, New Orleans is just a great place for fans to have a good time. It’s just usually a little more fun for LSU.”
The teams are allotted 20,000 tickets apiece in the 74,000-seat Superdome, meaning there are a good 34,000 up for grabs. And, as the old real-estate mantra goes: location, location, location. It isn’t just that LSU’s campus sits a mere 81 miles west along I-10. Long before the Saints came along, LSU was New Orleans’ team, it was Louisiana’s Team.
It was Huey Long’s team, for goodness sake; as the Kingfish lay dying at the Louisiana state capitol in Baton Rouge on Sept. 10, 1935, felled by an assassin’s bullet, legend has his last words as these: “I wonder what’s going to happen to my poor boys at LSU.”
So plan on 50,000 or so pulling for the LSU Tigers on Monday night inside the dome, and for that 2-to-1 ratio to be replicated on the outside, too. There will be a massive three-day tailgate set up just outside the dome — it’s official so it’s (wink-wink) neutral — and also at favored saloons all across the city.
Such as the Old Absinthe House, corner of Bourbon and Bienville, where on Monday starting at 1 p.m., six hours before kickoff, they will cordon off the bar, three adjacent floors and two balconies above the bar for a massive tailgate and watch party and … well, just fair warning: If you come, leave every thread of orange you own back in your hotel. And good luck keeping up.


newyorkpost--2020-01-10--Kevin Durant’s friend doesn’t rule out star’s return this season

The Nets finally snapped their slumps .
Their come-from-behind , 117-113 win ...

Kevin Durant’s progress has been as closely guarded as the nuclear codes. But just one day after Kenny Atkinson said the Nets star was “progressing fantastically,” Rich Kleiman, Durant’s manager, business partner and friend, wouldn’t rule out a return this season.
Kleiman — Durant’s longtime pal and partner in Thirty-Five Ventures — replied with a succinct “Yes” when asked on ESPN Radio if he thought the star could return to his former level of dominance. When asked Friday if Durant could make that comeback this season, his answer left the door hanging wide open.
“I don’t know,” Kleiman said before the Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 117-113 win over the Heat at Barclays Center. “I’m not planning on it. Honestly, this is one of those things as a fan I would’ve thought the same thing, that there was this calendar in front of us and we were all having these powwows. He’s just attacking his rehab like he attacks everything else. I can see how intense he is about his recovery and his rehab, and I don’t want to disturb that.
“And it’s truly been day-to-day, because there’s no expectation on him from anybody, there’s been no pressure on him from anybody, there’s no expectation on himself. He’s just truly taking it day-to-day. And I think after what happened and all the pressure around the summer and the situation, he should take it day-to-day and he should just work.”
That’s hardly a guarantee of a Willis Reed moment this season. But after steadfast radio silence regarding Durant’s recovery from Achilles surgery performed in June, the past few days can only be seen as good news.
The decimated Nets, who came into Friday having lost a season-high seven straight games, are starving for auspicious signs of getting a 100 percent Durant, whenever that is.
In September, Nets general manager Sean Marks said the “expectation” was that Durant wouldn’t play this entire season. And though Atkinson said Thursday “I don’t think there’s been any thought [of Durant playing],” the fact the forward looked spry in an on-court workout bodes well.
“Talking to him, talking to the performance team, came in and watched him yesterday do his exercises. You guys can probably see he’s moving a lot better, moving a lot more,” Atkinson said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself and get people mad at me for giving you more than that.”
When Durant ruptured his Achilles during the NBA Finals, he flew to New York and had surgery performed on June 12 by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery. O’Malley not only operated on Durant’s foot years earlier, but also is the Nets’ orthopedic specialist.
Sources told The Post two months ago that Durant’s rehab has gone swimmingly, and NetsDaily reported recently that the rupture was “high on his Achilles where the blood circulation is good and healing is more rapid and complete.”
That bodes well for the Nets, who have had nothing but bad injury news.
Caris LeVert just recently came back from a thumb injury that cost him seven weeks. And Kyrie Irving missed his 26th straight game on Friday, trying to come back from a shoulder impingement.
Teaming up with Irving is a big reason Durant came to Brooklyn.
“The two of them are friends, the two of them wanted to play together and the two of them shared information that they had, and that was proprietary to them,” Kleiman said. “They spoke about that together, because there’s a certain connection, a bond the two of them as basketball players can understand.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-10--Packers’ Aaron Jones on beating odds despite being overlooked

Packers do-everything running back Aaron Jones huddles with Steve Serby before Sunday ’ s playoff game against the Seahawks .
Q : What drives you ?
A : I want to be the greatest running back to ever play this game .
The game ’ s been around for 100 years , and to go down as one of the best running backs ever , that would be an honor in my book .
My family supports me , and they want it just as bad as I want it also drives me .
Q : Why do you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before the NFL ?
A : Being where I ’ m from , starting off in high school , you don ’ t get a lot of recruiters coming down to El Paso just because the state ’ s so big , and El Paso generally doesn ’ t have all those athletes like the Dallas area or the Houston area .
You could go to those areas and see 100 kids here , 100 kids there , but you come to El Paso , you see four , maybe five .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you don ’ t get a lot of TV time , or things like that .
… But I love that role , the underdog mentality .
It adds more of a chip to the mountain on my shoulder .
Q : And you still carry that chip to this day ?
A : Oh , yes , sir .
Always .
Athletes say they don ’ t read things , but they do .
It ’ s been going on since I got in the league that I ’ m injury-prone or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different things .
I use those things as positive motivation — “ All right , I ’ m gon na go out here and show these guys that that wasn ’ t me , that I can do this.
” Q : What makes you elite in your mind ?
A : I think that I ’ m versatile .
I can catch the ball out of the backfield , I can run , I can block as well , and I think I have the home-run threat ability when I touch the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe your on-field mentality ?
A : Like a junkyard dog , I would say .
I won ’ t say anything , I ’ ll be quiet , I just play the game , and as soon as somebody says something to me , like it turns up another level up .
Q : How do you feel about being one of the most underpaid backs in the league ?
You should be in line for a huge contract after the season you ’ ve had .
A : I hope so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think about it , but I knew I was one of the lower-paid guys .
But I ’ m just honestly blessed with the opportunity .
There ’ s so many guys that wish they could be in my position just playing football at this level , so I know that it ’ ll eventually come — just stay patient , stay the course and continue to do my job and work hard , and God ’ s got me and everything will play out the way it ’ s supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backs drafted ahead of you in 2017 .
Do you still follow their careers ?
A : I pretty much follow all the running backs in the NFL .
For the most part , I do .
Q : Why do you do that ?
A : First off , to see how I measure up against all the other running backs and things like that , and just to measure myself to just show that I should have been drafted before .
Just added motivation .
Q : You still feel slept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
A : Yeah , I think that ’ s one of ’ em .
Also , All-Pro — I didn ’ t get a single vote for running back ; I got , I think , three for flex .
But that ’ s OK — I plan on playing somewhere else later on in February in the Super Bowl , so … it all works out .
God doesn ’ t make mistakes , so … Q : What is Aaron Rodgers like in the huddle ?
A : He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can go from smiling , to locked in to — well , he ’ s always locked in — but he can go from smiling to giving us like a little pep talk or even giving us details on certain plays .
If everybody ’ s on the same page , even if it ’ s against a dirty look or something , as long as you ’ re all on the same page , you can ’ t be wrong .
Q : How would you sum up Coach Matt LaFleur ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun , but then he knows how to be serious , he knows how to command a room , and he knows how to get guys to buy in .
He ’ s a great teacher and a great leader .
Q : How do you know Patrick Mahomes ?
A : We have the same agent ( Leigh Steinberg ) .
We played against each other in college .
All through the draft process , we trained at the same facility — he was throwing to me for the Combine ; I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Combine .
Q : What was it about Emmitt Smith ’ s running style that you liked growing up ?
A : He has a never-quit mentality .
He wasn ’ t the biggest , he wasn ’ t the strongest , but he could catch the ball , he could run the ball , he always found a way to get it done .
Q : Did you guys in training camp see yourselves as a Super Bowl championship team ?
A : I said that at radio row last year at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you like best about this team ?
A : We have that junkyard dog mentality .
Like , we don ’ t blink when adversity hits us .
We stick as one , and we find a way to get it done .
We ’ ve been in a lot of one-possession games , and I feel like that ’ s the difference from last year to this year .
This year , we ’ re finishing those drives on the last possessions and making it count .
Q : When are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In April .
Q : Fatherhood doesn ’ t scare you ?
A : Oh , no , sir , I ’ m excited .
I ’ m excited !
It ’ s a boy , you get to keep the name going .
It ’ s like I feel like I ’ m gon na be a kid again .
I feel like it ’ s gon na make me a better man all around , on the football field and off the football field .
Q : Why your parents ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ heroes — they ’ re so strong .
Everything that I strive to be for is what they are , just the sacrifices they made , not only for me , but my family and for the country ( Alvin Jones Sr. is a retired Army Command sergeant major , and his wife , Vurgess , served 27 years in the Army before retiring as a sergeant major ) .
The way they keep family first , and the way that they raised me and my brother .
Q : Did you ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your childhood Super Bowl dream ?
A : I have in my dream , actually , and the first person I saw running to was my mom and dad , so that was pretty cool .

Packers do-everything running back Aaron Jones huddles with Steve Serby before Sunday’s playoff game against the Seahawks.
Q: What drives you?
A: I want to be the greatest running back to ever play this game. The game’s been around for 100 years, and to go down as one of the best running backs ever, that would be an honor in my book. My family supports me, and they want it just as bad as I want it also drives me.
Q: Why do you think you’ve been slept on even before the NFL?
A: Being where I’m from, starting off in high school, you don’t get a lot of recruiters coming down to El Paso just because the state’s so big, and El Paso generally doesn’t have all those athletes like the Dallas area or the Houston area. You could go to those areas and see 100 kids here, 100 kids there, but you come to El Paso, you see four, maybe five. You’re at a small school where you don’t get a lot of TV time, or things like that. … But I love that role, the underdog mentality. It adds more of a chip to the mountain on my shoulder.
Q: And you still carry that chip to this day?
A: Oh, yes, sir. Always. Athletes say they don’t read things, but they do. It’s been going on since I got in the league that I’m injury-prone or I couldn’t pass-protect, just different things. I use those things as positive motivation — “All right, I’m gonna go out here and show these guys that that wasn’t me, that I can do this.”
Q: What makes you elite in your mind?
A: I think that I’m versatile. I can catch the ball out of the backfield, I can run, I can block as well, and I think I have the home-run threat ability when I touch the ball.
Q: How would you describe your on-field mentality?
A: Like a junkyard dog, I would say. I won’t say anything, I’ll be quiet, I just play the game, and as soon as somebody says something to me, like it turns up another level up.
Q: How do you feel about being one of the most underpaid backs in the league? You should be in line for a huge contract after the season you’ve had.
A: I hope so (laugh). I didn’t think about it, but I knew I was one of the lower-paid guys. But I’m just honestly blessed with the opportunity. There’s so many guys that wish they could be in my position just playing football at this level, so I know that it’ll eventually come — just stay patient, stay the course and continue to do my job and work hard, and God’s got me and everything will play out the way it’s supposed to.
Q: There were 18 running backs drafted ahead of you in 2017. Do you still follow their careers?
A: I pretty much follow all the running backs in the NFL. For the most part, I do.
Q: Why do you do that?
A: First off, to see how I measure up against all the other running backs and things like that, and just to measure myself to just show that I should have been drafted before. Just added motivation.
Q: You still feel slept on because of the Pro Bowl snub?
A: Yeah, I think that’s one of ’em. Also, All-Pro — I didn’t get a single vote for running back; I got, I think, three for flex. But that’s OK — I plan on playing somewhere else later on in February in the Super Bowl, so … it all works out. God doesn’t make mistakes, so …
Q: What is Aaron Rodgers like in the huddle?
A: He has different modes in the huddle. He can go from smiling, to locked in to — well, he’s always locked in — but he can go from smiling to giving us like a little pep talk or even giving us details on certain plays. If everybody’s on the same page, even if it’s against a dirty look or something, as long as you’re all on the same page, you can’t be wrong.
Q: How would you sum up Coach Matt LaFleur?
A: He knows how to have fun, but then he knows how to be serious, he knows how to command a room, and he knows how to get guys to buy in. He’s a great teacher and a great leader.
Q: How do you know Patrick Mahomes?
A: We have the same agent (Leigh Steinberg). We played against each other in college. All through the draft process, we trained at the same facility — he was throwing to me for the Combine; I was helping him get ready for the Combine.
Q: What was it about Emmitt Smith’s running style that you liked growing up?
A: He has a never-quit mentality. He wasn’t the biggest, he wasn’t the strongest, but he could catch the ball, he could run the ball, he always found a way to get it done.
Q: Did you guys in training camp see yourselves as a Super Bowl championship team?
A: I said that at radio row last year at the Super Bowl.
Q: What do you like best about this team?
A: We have that junkyard dog mentality. Like, we don’t blink when adversity hits us. We stick as one, and we find a way to get it done. We’ve been in a lot of one-possession games, and I feel like that’s the difference from last year to this year. This year, we’re finishing those drives on the last possessions and making it count.
Q: When are you expecting a child?
A: In April.
Q: Boy or girl?
A: Boy.
Q: Fatherhood doesn’t scare you?
A: Oh, no, sir, I’m excited. I’m excited! It’s a boy, you get to keep the name going. It’s like I feel like I’m gonna be a kid again. I feel like it’s gonna make me a better man all around, on the football field and off the football field.
Q: Four dinner guests?
A: Martin Luther King, LeBron, my parents.
Q: Why your parents?
A: They’re honestly my heroes — they’re so strong. Everything that I strive to be for is what they are, just the sacrifices they made, not only for me, but my family and for the country (Alvin Jones Sr. is a retired Army Command sergeant major, and his wife, Vurgess, served 27 years in the Army before retiring as a sergeant major). The way they keep family first, and the way that they raised me and my brother.
Q: Did you ever picture yourself holding the Lombardi Trophy in your childhood Super Bowl dream?
A: I have in my dream, actually, and the first person I saw running to was my mom and dad, so that was pretty cool.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “The Sixth Man” and “Glory Road.”
Q: Favorite actors?
A: Will Smith and Denzel Washington.
Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?
A: Drake.
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Curry chicken.


newyorkpost--2020-01-10--Iran admits it ‘unintentionally’ shot down Ukrainian jetliner

Iran has admitted that it “ unintentionally ” shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed outside Tehran Airport early Wednesday , killing all 176 people on board .
The government blamed “ human error ” for the crash of the Boeing 737 in a statement late Friday .
But Iran is still not taking full responsibility .
The tweeted statement by Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed American “ adventurism ” is also to blame .
“ Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster , ” Zarif tweeted .
“ Our profound regrets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the families of the victims , and to other affected nations.
” Iran had denied for several days that the plane had been struck by a missile , despite officials in the US , UK , Canada and Australia saying that the most likely explanation was that it was hit by a Russian-made Tor M-1 surface-to-air missile fired by Iran .
The doomed plane burst into flames and crashed moments after takeoff .
It was carrying 82 Iranians , 63 Canadians , 11 Ukrainians , 10 Swedes , four Afghans , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Iran has admitted that it “unintentionally” shot down the Ukrainian jetliner that crashed outside Tehran Airport early Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.
The government blamed “human error” for the crash of the Boeing 737 in a statement late Friday.
But Iran is still not taking full responsibility.
The tweeted statement by Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed American “adventurism” is also to blame.
“Human error at time of crisis caused by US adventurism led to disaster,” Zarif tweeted.
“Our profound regrets, apologies and condolences to our people, to the families of the victims, and to other affected nations.”
Iran had denied for several days that the plane had been struck by a missile, despite officials in the US, UK, Canada and Australia saying that the most likely explanation was that it was hit by a Russian-made Tor M-1 surface-to-air missile fired by Iran.
The doomed plane burst into flames and crashed moments after takeoff.
It was carrying 82 Iranians, 63 Canadians, 11 Ukrainians, 10 Swedes, four Afghans, three Germans and three British nationals, officials said.
With Post Wires


newyorkpost--2020-01-10--De Blasio pours foamy beer after helping save historic Neir’s Tavern

Mayor Bill de Blasio played bartender to jubilant patrons of Neir ’ s Tavern in Queens Friday night after helping to save the historic pub from losing its lease — and wound up taking some good-natured ribbing on his beer-tapping skills .
“ Too much foam !
Too much foam !
” one happy patron chided .
Hizzoner and local officials stepped in at the last minute Friday to negotiate with the 190-year-old watering hole ’ s landlord and stave off a massive rent hike that would have shuttered the joint and put owner Loycent Gordon out of work .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was once frequented by Fred Trump , the president ’ s father , and often caught the eye of auteurs .
Brett Ratner shot scenes there for his 2011 “ Tower Heist ” with Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy .
It also provided the setting for memorable bar scenes from the 1990 mob classic “ Goodfellas.
” “ I got ta tell you , when I heard what [ happened ] with Neir ’ s … I said this just can not happen ; we can not lose this bar , ” de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t lose this part of our history .
“ We can ’ t lose this part of our community.
” The thirsty crowd at one of the city ’ s oldest bars at various points erupted in victorious chants for the owner — “ Loy !
” — and to push for the preservation of the space through the city ’ s Landmark Preservation Commission .
De Blasio and Tom Grech , the president and CEO of Queens Chamber of Commerce , said they met with the property owners , Ken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chamber after news broke and came to a “ handshake agreement ” to keep the pub in business .
“ We spent two hours at the chamber of commerce today , ” Grech said .
“ I locked the door and I said we ’ re not going to leave until we have a deal.
” De Blasio eventually manned the bar , pouring out a few celebratory beers — including one that drew the “ too much foam ” disdain from an attendee .
A sloppy pour couldn ’ t sour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the officials left to applause .
“ This wouldn ’ t have happened without the mayor stepping in , without the landlord working with us , ” said Gordon .
“ It wouldn ’ t have happened without you really coming out and supporting .
It ’ s a community effort .
”

He’s no AOC.
Mayor Bill de Blasio played bartender to jubilant patrons of Neir’s Tavern in Queens Friday night after helping to save the historic pub from losing its lease — and wound up taking some good-natured ribbing on his beer-tapping skills.
“Too much foam! Too much foam!” one happy patron chided.
Hizzoner and local officials stepped in at the last minute Friday to negotiate with the 190-year-old watering hole’s landlord and stave off a massive rent hike that would have shuttered the joint and put owner Loycent Gordon out of work.
The dark, tin-ceiling, Woodhaven haunt was once frequented by Fred Trump, the president’s father, and often caught the eye of auteurs.
Brett Ratner shot scenes there for his 2011 “Tower Heist” with Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy.
It also provided the setting for memorable bar scenes from the 1990 mob classic “Goodfellas.”
“I gotta tell you, when I heard what [happened] with Neir’s … I said this just cannot happen; we cannot lose this bar,” de Blasio told the crowd. “We can’t lose this part of our history. “We can’t lose this part of our community.”
The thirsty crowd at one of the city’s oldest bars at various points erupted in victorious chants for the owner — “Loy!” — and to push for the preservation of the space through the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission.
“Landmark! Landmark!” they yelled.
Previous 1 of 6 Next Advertisement Neir's Tavern William C. Lopez Mayor Bill de Blasio and Neir's Tavern owner Loycent Gordon Robert Stridiron Advertisement William C. Lopez William C. Lopez Advertisement
De Blasio and Tom Grech, the president and CEO of Queens Chamber of Commerce, said they met with the property owners, Ken and Henry Shi, Friday afternoon at the chamber after news broke and came to a “handshake agreement” to keep the pub in business.
“We spent two hours at the chamber of commerce today,” Grech said. “I locked the door and I said we’re not going to leave until we have a deal.”
De Blasio eventually manned the bar, pouring out a few celebratory beers — including one that drew the “too much foam” disdain from an attendee.
A sloppy pour couldn’t sour the good news, though, and the officials left to applause.
“This wouldn’t have happened without the mayor stepping in, without the landlord working with us,” said Gordon. “It wouldn’t have happened without you really coming out and supporting. It’s a community effort.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Gov. Cuomo calls for more stringent oversight of dodgy doctors

New York ’ s often slow and secretive process for disciplining bad doctors could become more transparent under reforms proposed by Gov .
Cuomo as part of his State of the State agenda .
Cuomo on Friday called for the state health commissioner to have more power to suspend a doctor ’ s license if there is a risk to the public and to acknowledge when the state Office for Professional Medical Conduct is investigating a doctor .
The governor also wants to disclose when a doctor has been issued a warning for a “ minor and technical violation.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full OPMC investigation in 2018 took an average 307 days because of due process procedural rights , “ which impede and greatly lengthen the progress ” of the probes .
The Post reported last year that authorities in New York and New Jersey can take months to act against physicians who have been disciplined in one state but not the other , allowing them to keep practicing .
Cuomo also proposed having doctors periodically renew their medical licenses or lose them .
“ These sweeping proposals will help ensure patients have access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions about their healthcare and give state health regulators more tools to investigate and penalize providers for dangerous , unethical or illegal behavior , ” Cuomo said in a statement .
Dr. Arthur Fougner , the head of the Medical Society of the State of New York , told members in a message that he planned to meet with state officials Monday to learn more about the proposed changes .

New York’s often slow and secretive process for disciplining bad doctors could become more transparent under reforms proposed by Gov. Cuomo as part of his State of the State agenda.
Cuomo on Friday called for the state health commissioner to have more power to suspend a doctor’s license if there is a risk to the public and to acknowledge when the state Office for Professional Medical Conduct is investigating a doctor.
The governor also wants to disclose when a doctor has been issued a warning for a “minor and technical violation.”
Cuomo’s office noted that a full OPMC investigation in 2018 took an average 307 days because of due process procedural rights, “which impede and greatly lengthen the progress” of the probes.
The Post reported last year that authorities in New York and New Jersey can take months to act against physicians who have been disciplined in one state but not the other, allowing them to keep practicing.
Cuomo also proposed having doctors periodically renew their medical licenses or lose them.
“These sweeping proposals will help ensure patients have access to critical information they need to make informed decisions about their healthcare and give state health regulators more tools to investigate and penalize providers for dangerous, unethical or illegal behavior,” Cuomo said in a statement.
Dr. Arthur Fougner, the head of the Medical Society of the State of New York, told members in a message that he planned to meet with state officials Monday to learn more about the proposed changes.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Julius Randle set for return as Knicks are getting whole again

The Pelicans have gained hope in such youngsters as Zion ...

It’s not like the Knicks were winning regularly before Julius Randle and Marcus Morris each missed multiple games this week.
But an already undermanned roster has looked even more depleted without its two leading scorers as the team’s latest losing streak was extended to five games.
Randle is expected back in the starting lineup Sunday against Jimmy Butler and the Heat at the Garden after he missed two games following a death in the family. Morris has been listed as questionable — he missed the past three games with a neck injury and an illness.
“We’re looking forward to getting everybody healthy and everybody back together,” interim coach Mike Miller said after practice Saturday in Tarrytown. “Through the course of 82 games, things come up with injuries and different things, and you have to work your way through it. Our big thing is we have to keep focus on, ‘Can we get a little bit better every day? Can we keep seeing the things that we’re growing?’
“But we have to get better in all areas. You can’t just say we’re gonna pick up their scoring, that’s not how it works. Because those guys add a lot of other things to our team, too. We’ve talked about the Jimmy Butler effect with Miami, but those guys have a similar effect for us, too. They do a lot of things. So I think when you’re missing two guys that score a lot, you have to be better in other areas.”
Miller specified the defensive end as an area in need of improvement after the Pelicans shot 47.4 percent (18-for-38) from 3-point range in Friday’s 123-111 win over the 10-29 Knicks, who hit just 5-for-27 (18.5 percent) from long distance.
“Not having those guys out there, you see how much we really rely on them as far as our offensive and defensive assignments,” forward Taj Gibson said of Randle and Morris. “We’re kind of banged-up, nicked-up right now, especially coming off the [Western] trip. Trying to get guys back in the swing of things. Hopefully we can move forward.”
Morris, a pending free agent and likely trade chip ahead of the Feb. 7 trade deadline, has averaged a team-best 19.1 points per game this season, with Randle a shade behind him at 18.5.
Gibson registered his best offensive output of the season Friday against New Orleans, with a team-high 19 points in 26 minutes on 8-for-8 shooting from the floor. RJ Barrett scored 16 (5-for-15), and Elfrid Payton and Reggie Bullock netted 15 apiece.
“When you come into the season, you want to have all your guys available. It would mean a lot,” Payton said of Randle’s and Morris’ pending returns. “We are missing those guys offensively and defensively. So, we’re looking forward to that.
“It’s been tough, but I think guys are getting a chance to get some more minutes. Next man up. We have to figure it out. It’s forcing us to be in a couple different lineups that we’re not really used to, but I think guys are trying.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--WPIX cameraman claims he was fired over false racism accusations from Muslim anchor

The US is warning Iraq that it will pay big ...

A WPIX cameraman was fired after a Muslim anchorwoman and other station staffers falsely accused him of racism and Islamaphobia, he claims in an explosive lawsuit.
“I feel heartbroken and morally and professionally violated,” Ken Evseroff, 52, told The Post.
In October 2018 Narmeen Choudhury, who had worked with Evseroff in the field as a reporter when not filling in on the anchor desk, first complained to the station’s human resources department about Evseroff.
The Queens-born Choudhury, 38, a Muslim Bangladeshi-American and mother of two who has worked at WPIX since 2011, claimed the white Evseroff made “rude, racist and/or sexist comments” during nearly every assignment they worked together, according to HR documents.
But the cameraman wasn’t canned until last fall. On Sept. 11, 2019, the 18th anniversary of the World Trade Center attacks, Evseroff shared a widely-distributed meme on Facebook about Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s controversial description of the terror attack as “some people did something,” according to the lawsuit.
The meme featured the words “‘Never Forget’ – You said” over a picture of the burning Twin Towers, juxtaposed with a snap of Omar in a hijab and the phrase, “I am the proof – You have forgotten.”
Another WPIX colleague alerted the station to the post. Evseroff claimed it was just a news story he was sharing, and he “had no opinion about it,” according to HR records.
But the station deemed the Facebook post a violation of the company’s social media policy, saying it gave WPIX owner Tribune Media a black eye because it could be “perceived” as racist.
“I love my job. I am good at my job. I love telling stories to change lives. I was honest, upfront, and open as sharing the meme as a news story. I told the truth and when they didn’t like my truth they invented their own,” Evseroff, who worked for WPIX since 1997, told The Post.
He believes his troubles began with Choudhury and that her “false” HR complaints the year before were the “predicate” for his firing, according to court papers.
The Channel 11 journalist alleged Evseroff made “rude remarks” about “black people and poor people” and the neighborhoods the pair reported from, according to the documents.
“I never said anything racist or sexist to [Choudhury] or online,” Evseroff claimed in an interview.
Choudhury and a WPIX general manager declined to comment.
The anchorwoman also mentioned that Evseroff was developing a video game. In the game, Choudhury allegedly claimed, the game player is a shooter who resembles Evseroff and targets characters who look like Muslims and people “in the financial industry.” She said this would “fit … [her] husband’s background,” according to the HR records. Evseroff denies his game characters have such traits.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Evseroff's "Angry Brokers" video game. YouTube Evseroff's "Angry Brokers" video game. YouTube Advertisement Evseroff's "Angry Brokers" video game. YouTube Advertisement
The station’s investigation found no one echoed the anchor’s complaints at the time, according to the Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit filed against the station by the cameraman Saturday.
But HR records show in the year after Choudhury’s gripes, two other female coworkers came forward with “similar” complaints, and Evseroff was warned to “keep your comments to yourself.” The cameraman claims none of his other colleagues complained.
While WPIX fired Evseroff for sharing content “on his own time, from his own computer, and from his own home,” according to his legal filing, the station failed to fire a Latino reporter who tweeted a message of “threatened violence against President Trump.”
The station’s treatment of the two men showed a “clear disparity,” said Evseroff’s attorney, Andrew Laufer.
The cameraman was never given the company’s social media policy, the lawyer said, adding there is “no basis” for bias complaints against his client. Evseroff seeks unspecified damages in his lawsuit, which accuses the station of slander.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--US warns Iraq that cash crunch is coming if troops get booted

“ If there ’ s any hostility , that they do anything we think ...

The US is warning Iraq that it will pay big time if Baghdad boots out American troops.
State Department officials took aim at Iraq’s central bank account at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City, promising a cash crunch if US forces are sent home, the Wall Street Journal reported. Many nations maintain government accounts at the New York Fed.
Any move by the Trump administration to turn off the money tap could jolt the already shaky Iraqi economy.
Earlier this week, Iraq voted overwhelmingly for a nonbinding resolution calling for a US withdrawal. The vote, which was backed by the Prime Minister, came in response to the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
“Whenever you have any amicable divorce, you still have the worry about the children, pets, furniture and plants, some of which are sentimental,” one Iraqi politician told the Journal.


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Warm weather brings weekend respite to NYC

Spencer Dinwiddie comes into Sunday ’ s game against Atlanta off one ...

It’s beginning to look a lot like … summer?
The thermometer in Central Park reached a record 68 degrees Saturday, smashing a 25-year-old record of 63 degrees and sending surprised New Yorkers outside to bask in the winter reprieve.
A group of West Villagers chased the sun in Central Park in an outing more fitting for a beach in their native California than a New York City January.
“That’s one of the best parts of moving to New York — you get above 60 and people are flocking outside, playing music in the streets. It’s crazy,” said Ari Reisman, 32.
Los Angeles weather had nothing on New York Saturday — it was colder in Tinseltown than the Big Apple, thanks to a mass of warm weather that moved up from the south.
Reisman and four friends laid out a picnic and broke out their sunglasses for a sun session amid the browned grass and bare trees.
Two from the crew peeled off their shirts in a bid to soak in some rare rays.
“It’s good for Vitamin D and Vitamin V — vanity, hello,” said Aaron Albert, 27, spoken like a true Californian.
Their friends back in the Sunshine State aren’t so tough, Albert said.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Saturday's warm weather made for good row boating in the Central Park lake. Robert Miller A mini labradoodle named Sophia takes a nap Saturday morning. Robert Miller Advertisement Robert Miller Advertisement
“In this weather, you go to LA, and everyone is in parkas. It looks like we’re in the middle of Siberia. But you come here in 60-degree weather, and everyone is in a Speedo,” he said.
Temps may match or break a record again on Sunday as the thermometer reaches for 66 degrees, said Brett Rossio, an Accuweather meteorologist. That was the balmy record set in 2017.
Rossio said Sunday will start out windy, and there could be a thunderstorm as a front moves through. But by the afternoon, the sun will return and the record temp could fall.
The air will cool slightly on Monday, topping out around 50 degrees, but unseasonably warm weather will continue through the early part of the week.
Overnight Thursday, Rossio said, temperatures will drop back down to the 20s. Friday’s high will be in the 30s. Otherwise known as “winter.”
Additional reporting by Robert Miller


newyorkpost--2020-01-11--Nets’ plan for Spencer Dinwiddie in extra-crowded backcourt

Two months after going down with a shoulder impingement — ...

Spencer Dinwiddie comes into Sunday’s game against Atlanta off one of the best games of his career. And with Caris LeVert rounding back into form and Kyrie Irving nearing a return to the court, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson intimated he’s looking at ways of closing games with that trio.
“I guess. I don’t know what he said, so I can’t go against what he said,” Dinwiddie said. “We talked about it, and we’re going to figure it out.
“Yeah. We’re going to stay aggressive. I’m going to do what they ask me to do when Kyrie gets back, whatever that means, still starting or coming off the bench. It’s all part of it. As long as we get wins and try to do the best of our ability so we can try to hold the fort.”
Dinwiddie had 26 points, a career-high 14 assists, four boards and just two turnovers against Miami.
“He’s been really good all year. He went through a stretch where he struggled a bit and got back on track,” Atkinson said. “With your quarterback, the guy that’s running your team, you have a lot of discussions. With Spencer, he’s trying to find that perfect balance between getting his teammates involved but still being aggressive.
“So he’s really trying to find that. At the end of the day, I’d rather have him be aggressive. Had a good talk with him the other day. We need him to be aggressive. I think that’s helped us keep afloat, helped us keep our head above water when we were playing well. We need him, it’s just that clear.”
LeVert has steadily seen his minutes increase since returning. He logged 15:43 in his comeback on Jan. 4, then after sitting out the next game, played 22:29 and then 23:43 against Miami.
“Obviously his minutes are up enough now we can play him at the end of the game,” Atkinson said. “So we’re a much-improved team when he’s out there. I can’t wait until he gets his normal run — we’ll be even better.”
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot had 10 points, three boards and an assist in 21 minutes off the bench against Miami. As a two-way, he’s limited to just 45 days with the Nets, and he’s getting close to that limit.
The Nets are in a stretch where they’ll play seven playoff teams in eight games. Atlanta is the lone exception, with the Hawks an NBA-worst 8-31 and having dropped three in a row.