newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Mets’ Seth Lugo-to-rotation plan is risky business

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow .
Unless you ’ re the New York Mets , who could tie themselves into mental knots over the ordering , today , of a vanilla ice cream cone .
Wednesday night ended well for the Peter Griffin of the baseball world , as Michael Conforto ’ s two-run , ninth-inning homer cleaned up the mess left behind by some truly dumbfounding decision-making and gave the Mets their third straight win , 5-3 over the Marlins at Marlins Park .
Yet even though they reached their destination , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into question whether they ’ re capable of finding the finish line of the playoffs and beyond .
When Jacob deGrom deGrominates , as the reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner did for six innings Wednesday , departing with a 2-0 lead and not showing residue of the neck injury that scratched from his previous start , you must win that game if you ’ re the Mets .
Because your other starting pitchers — including Seth Lugo , who will return to his desired perch for Thursday night ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because you ’ re 12-14 in a 60-game season .
Yet the Mets deprived deGrom of a win , declining to use their best reliever Lugo to close it out even though their other top bullpen guys Jeurys Familia , Dellin Betances and Edwin Diaz showed wear and/or tear , in the interest of granting Lugo ’ s wish to return to the starting rotation .
Suddenly , the Mets ’ stellar relief corps feels considerably less stellar , and their starting rotation only possibly better .
What a time to yank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We have really good guys there that can definitely come in those scenarios , ” said Luis Rojas , who obviously doesn ’ t make a decision this significant on his own .
“ They ’ ve done it in the past .
… Today we blew a save opportunity there , but Diaz did a good job coming right back and showing what he can do .
“ We trust our ’ pen .
We trust the guys that we have there.
” In Game 25 of a 162-game season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Perhaps .
Remember that Lugo owns a 4.06 career ERA in 168 ¹/₃ innings pitched as a starter and 2.53 in 188 ²/₃ innings as a reliever .
Yet maybe he has learned enough the past few years to translate his bullpen excellence to the start of the games .
And the bullpen does contain a bevy of guys with impressive résumés .
In Game 25 of a 60-game season , when you factor in the time it ’ ll take Lugo to stretch out and the doubts surrounding guys like Diaz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Familia ( performance since last year ) , it sure feels like a risk that doesn ’ t justify the reward — all the more so for a team now 12-14 .
More to the point , even if you think this move makes sense , don ’ t you punt on it for a few more days to give yourself your best chance at not losing a deGrom start , giving the demoted Steven Matz another chance to fix himself against the lousy Marlins ?
When I asked Rojas whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mets were willing to lose this game for their perceived greater gain of Lugo becoming a starter , the manager said , “ It ’ s really tough to not have a piece like Lugo in the pen .
We trust the guys we have in our pen.
” He declared his dedication after Familia allowed a run in the seventh while recording just one out , Justin Wilson rescuing him from more trouble .
After Betances , pitching in his second straight game , loaded the bases and then , following a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hit Eddy Alvarez to force home a run , making it a 3-2 Mets lead .
And after Diaz , also pitching for the second consecutive night , walked home Logan Forsythe to knot the game at 3-3 and hand deGrom approximately his 600th career no-decision when he allows zero runs .
Diaz did close out his own win/blown save with a three-strikeout ninth .
His talent is not in doubt .
“ I feel like I ’ m ready , ” he said , as he likely reassumes the top closer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Buckle up for what feels like a bumpy ride .
Or , just a typical day in Mets Land .

A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.
Unless you’re the New York Mets, who could tie themselves into mental knots over the ordering, today, of a vanilla ice cream cone.
Wednesday night ended well for the Peter Griffin of the baseball world, as Michael Conforto’s two-run, ninth-inning homer cleaned up the mess left behind by some truly dumbfounding decision-making and gave the Mets their third straight win, 5-3 over the Marlins at Marlins Park. Yet even though they reached their destination, the Mets’ journey there only called further into question whether they’re capable of finding the finish line of the playoffs and beyond.
When Jacob deGrom deGrominates, as the reigning two-time National League Cy Young Award winner did for six innings Wednesday, departing with a 2-0 lead and not showing residue of the neck injury that scratched from his previous start, you must win that game if you’re the Mets. Because your other starting pitchers — including Seth Lugo, who will return to his desired perch for Thursday night’s series finale — are nowhere as reliable. Because you’re 12-14 in a 60-game season.
Yet the Mets deprived deGrom of a win, declining to use their best reliever Lugo to close it out even though their other top bullpen guys Jeurys Familia, Dellin Betances and Edwin Diaz showed wear and/or tear, in the interest of granting Lugo’s wish to return to the starting rotation.
Suddenly, the Mets’ stellar relief corps feels considerably less stellar, and their starting rotation only possibly better. What a time to yank the rug from under their collective feet.
“We have really good guys there that can definitely come in those scenarios,” said Luis Rojas, who obviously doesn’t make a decision this significant on his own. “They’ve done it in the past. … Today we blew a save opportunity there, but Diaz did a good job coming right back and showing what he can do.
“We trust our ’pen. We trust the guys that we have there.”
In Game 25 of a 162-game season, perhaps you can justify this maneuver. Perhaps. Remember that Lugo owns a 4.06 career ERA in 168 ¹/₃ innings pitched as a starter and 2.53 in 188 ²/₃ innings as a reliever. Yet maybe he has learned enough the past few years to translate his bullpen excellence to the start of the games. And the bullpen does contain a bevy of guys with impressive résumés.
In Game 25 of a 60-game season, when you factor in the time it’ll take Lugo to stretch out and the doubts surrounding guys like Diaz (jitters), Betances (durability) and Familia (performance since last year), it sure feels like a risk that doesn’t justify the reward — all the more so for a team now 12-14. More to the point, even if you think this move makes sense, don’t you punt on it for a few more days to give yourself your best chance at not losing a deGrom start, giving the demoted Steven Matz another chance to fix himself against the lousy Marlins?
When I asked Rojas whether it was fair to contend that the Mets were willing to lose this game for their perceived greater gain of Lugo becoming a starter, the manager said, “It’s really tough to not have a piece like Lugo in the pen. We trust the guys we have in our pen.”
He declared his dedication after Familia allowed a run in the seventh while recording just one out, Justin Wilson rescuing him from more trouble. After Betances, pitching in his second straight game, loaded the bases and then, following a mound visit by pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, hit Eddy Alvarez to force home a run, making it a 3-2 Mets lead. And after Diaz, also pitching for the second consecutive night, walked home Logan Forsythe to knot the game at 3-3 and hand deGrom approximately his 600th career no-decision when he allows zero runs.
Diaz did close out his own win/blown save with a three-strikeout ninth. His talent is not in doubt.
“I feel like I’m ready,” he said, as he likely reassumes the top closer’s spot.
Are you ready? Buckle up for what feels like a bumpy ride. Or, just a typical day in Mets Land.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Jets linebacker Patrick Onwuasor dominates at practice

Patrick Onwuasor was all over the field Wednesday .
The linebacker picked off a pass from backup quarterback David Fales and caused a strip sack of Fales on a blitz .
Onwuasor could be a versatile piece of Gregg Williams ’ defense .
Down on the corners The Jets are very thin at cornerback .
It ’ s hard to figure out who is going to emerge from that group .
Pierre Desir ( hamstring ) remains sidelined .
Bless Austin , Arthur Maulet , Nate Hairston and Quincy Wilson are getting a lot of practice reps .
Someone is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Stefon Diggs in Week 1 .
Frank Gore showed tremendous burst during the goal-line period .
Gore fired through a hole and found his way to the end zone .
The 37-year-old looks spry .
Backup OL Conor McDermott went down in practice with a knee injury that appeared serious .
He was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Wednesday afternoon .
Rookie WR Denzel Mims ( hamstring ) , rookie OL Cameron Clark ( shoulder ) , DL Bronson Kaufusi ( hamstring ) , CB Pierre Desir ( hamstring ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LB James Burgess ( back ) and rookie DL Jabari Zuniga ( quad ) all missed practice .

Highlights from Wednesday’s Jets practice.
On’ the move
Patrick Onwuasor was all over the field Wednesday. The linebacker picked off a pass from backup quarterback David Fales and caused a strip sack of Fales on a blitz. Onwuasor could be a versatile piece of Gregg Williams’ defense.
Down on the corners
The Jets are very thin at cornerback. It’s hard to figure out who is going to emerge from that group. Pierre Desir (hamstring) remains sidelined. Bless Austin, Arthur Maulet, Nate Hairston and Quincy Wilson are getting a lot of practice reps. Someone is going to have to cover the Bills’ Stefon Diggs in Week 1.
Caught my eye
Frank Gore showed tremendous burst during the goal-line period. Gore fired through a hole and found his way to the end zone. The 37-year-old looks spry.
Medical report
Backup OL Conor McDermott went down in practice with a knee injury that appeared serious. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI exam Wednesday afternoon. Rookie WR Denzel Mims (hamstring), rookie OL Cameron Clark (shoulder), DL Bronson Kaufusi (hamstring), CB Pierre Desir (hamstring), CB Brian Poole (dehydration), LB James Burgess (back) and rookie DL Jabari Zuniga (quad) all missed practice.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Gerrit Cole upset at early hook as Yankees fall again to Rays

Gerrit Cole had more problems than giving up two early home runs and Aaron Boone hooking him earlier than the ace would have liked .
Working against the Rays on Wednesday night in front of a lineup that is missing Aaron Judge , Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu , Cole pitched well enough to win .
Yet , Cole was sabotaged by a lineup that couldn ’ t figure out six Rays pitchers and a killer fielding error by Zack Britton in the eighth inning that led to a 4-2 loss at Yankee Stadium .
It was the Yankees ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rays , who moved within one-half game of the AL East leaders .
They will try to avoid dropping three straight to the Rays on Thursday afternoon .
“ It ’ s more so on the offense than anything , ’ ’ Brett Gardner said after the Yankees went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position , managed four hits and struck out 14 times .
“ It ’ s up to us to solve Tampa ’ s pitching and give him a little more run support.
’ ’ Adding to the frustrating night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his left thigh after giving up an RBI single to Willy Adames in the eighth and grimacing as he walked off the mound .
Boone said Britton was being examined after the game .
As for Cole , he didn ’ t hide his displeasure about being lifted with two outs in the seventh and the score tied , 2-2 .
“ I was in good position to finish it , ’ ’ said Cole , who allowed two runs , six hits , walked one , struck out 10 and was very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the move before he even got out there so it didn ’ t really matter whatever I said to him on the mound .
What I said in my glove I will leave it at that.
’ ’ Cole gave up solo homers to Ji-Man Choi in the second and Mike Zunino in the third .
Luke Voit ’ s homer in the third off Tyler Glasnow and Gio Urshela ’ s sacrifice fly in the sixth tied the score , 2-2 .
Britton replaced Cole and recorded the final out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mess thanks to him not fielding Voit ’ s toss at the bag that ignited a two-run Rays rally that was the difference .
Despite the Yankees ’ woes at the plate , they had a chance in the ninth thanks to Chaz Roe walking Gleyber Torres and Gary Sanchez to start the inning .
Gardner , who had three hits in his previous 25 at-bats , failed to advance the runners with a fly ball to center .
With Mike Tauchman ready to hit , Rays manager Kevin Cash summoned lefty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dusting off Miguel Andujar to hit for Tauchman and Andujar whiffed .
So did Thairo Estrada to end it .
Boone thought about letting the left-handed swinging Tauchman face Beeks but opted for the right-handed hitting Andujar , who has very limited experience pinch-hitting .
“ I felt that was our shot there and felt like if Miggy could have put a charge in one there .
So there was consideration of staying with [ Tauchman ] , but ultimately the matchup called for Miggy , ’ ’ Boone said .
Boone said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything to him when removed from a game this year .
And knowing Cole ’ s competitive juices , it won ’ t be the last time the pitcher gets agitated because he knows the responsibility that comes with a $ 324 million contract to be the Yankees ’ ace .
“ I thought Gerrit threw the ball incredibly well , ’ ’ Boone said of the right-hander , whose 109 pitches were a season high .
“ I thought that was as dominant as we have seen him.
’ ’ As for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flowed off Boone ’ s shoulders .
“ That ’ s the competitor in him , ’ ’ Boone said .
“ He is an ace and he wants the ball.
’ ’ And a few more runs wouldn ’ t hurt , either .

Gerrit Cole had more problems than giving up two early home runs and Aaron Boone hooking him earlier than the ace would have liked.
Working against the Rays on Wednesday night in front of a lineup that is missing Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and DJ LeMahieu, Cole pitched well enough to win.
Yet, Cole was sabotaged by a lineup that couldn’t figure out six Rays pitchers and a killer fielding error by Zack Britton in the eighth inning that led to a 4-2 loss at Yankee Stadium.
It was the Yankees’ fifth loss in six games to the Rays, who moved within one-half game of the AL East leaders. They will try to avoid dropping three straight to the Rays on Thursday afternoon.
“It’s more so on the offense than anything,’’ Brett Gardner said after the Yankees went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, managed four hits and struck out 14 times. “It’s up to us to solve Tampa’s pitching and give him a little more run support.’’
Adding to the frustrating night was Britton reaching for the back of his left thigh after giving up an RBI single to Willy Adames in the eighth and grimacing as he walked off the mound. Boone said Britton was being examined after the game.
As for Cole, he didn’t hide his displeasure about being lifted with two outs in the seventh and the score tied, 2-2.
“I was in good position to finish it,’’ said Cole, who allowed two runs, six hits, walked one, struck out 10 and was very animated in the dugout. “He made the move before he even got out there so it didn’t really matter whatever I said to him on the mound. What I said in my glove I will leave it at that.’’
Cole gave up solo homers to Ji-Man Choi in the second and Mike Zunino in the third. Luke Voit’s homer in the third off Tyler Glasnow and Gio Urshela’s sacrifice fly in the sixth tied the score, 2-2.
Britton replaced Cole and recorded the final out of the seventh, but the eighth was a mess thanks to him not fielding Voit’s toss at the bag that ignited a two-run Rays rally that was the difference.
Despite the Yankees’ woes at the plate, they had a chance in the ninth thanks to Chaz Roe walking Gleyber Torres and Gary Sanchez to start the inning. Gardner, who had three hits in his previous 25 at-bats, failed to advance the runners with a fly ball to center.
With Mike Tauchman ready to hit, Rays manager Kevin Cash summoned lefty Jalen Beeks. That led to Boone dusting off Miguel Andujar to hit for Tauchman and Andujar whiffed. So did Thairo Estrada to end it.
Boone thought about letting the left-handed swinging Tauchman face Beeks but opted for the right-handed hitting Andujar, who has very limited experience pinch-hitting.
“I felt that was our shot there and felt like if Miggy could have put a charge in one there. So there was consideration of staying with [Tauchman], but ultimately the matchup called for Miggy,’’ Boone said.
Boone said it was the first time Cole said anything to him when removed from a game this year. And knowing Cole’s competitive juices, it won’t be the last time the pitcher gets agitated because he knows the responsibility that comes with a $324 million contract to be the Yankees’ ace.
Boone didn’t let Cole’s disappointment tarnish a strong outing.
“I thought Gerrit threw the ball incredibly well,’’ Boone said of the right-hander, whose 109 pitches were a season high. “I thought that was as dominant as we have seen him.’’
As for Cole being upset about leaving, that flowed off Boone’s shoulders.
“That’s the competitor in him,’’ Boone said. “He is an ace and he wants the ball.’’
And a few more runs wouldn’t hurt, either.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny poisoned, aide says

Russian opposition party leader and vocal Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny is believed to have been poisoned Wednesday night , @ @ @ @ @ fell ill on a flight back to Moscow and his condition devolved at the hospital @ @ @ @ @ and in intensive care , according to a tweet from his press secretary , Kira @ @ @ @ @ that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into the tea , ” Yarmysh wrote in @ @ @ @ @ the only thing that he drank in the morning .
Doctors say the toxin was @ @ @ @ @ liquid.
” Navalny was also hospitalized in July 2019 after getting sick at a detention @ @ @ @ @ time for calling an unsanctioned protest .
Hospital staff attributed Navalny ’ s ailments to @ @ @ @ @ Navalny ’ s physician for several years , Anastasiya Vasilyeva , had said his patient @ @ @ @ @ dozens of prior arrests , and in October , the Kremlin classified his nonprofit , @ @ @ @ @ , as a foreign agent , The Daily Beast reported .

Russian opposition party leader and vocal Vladimir Putin critic Alexei Navalny is believed to have been poisoned Wednesday night, his spokeswoman said.
Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow and his condition devolved at the hospital, where he is unconscious and in intensive care, according to a tweet from his press secretary, Kira Yarmysh.
“We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed into the tea,” Yarmysh wrote in Russian.
“It was the only thing that he drank in the morning. Doctors say the toxin was absorbed faster through the hot liquid.”
Navalny was also hospitalized in July 2019 after getting sick at a detention facility where he was serving time for calling an unsanctioned protest.
Hospital staff attributed Navalny’s ailments to an allergic reaction, but Navalny’s physician for several years, Anastasiya Vasilyeva, had said his patient was poisoned.
Navalny has dozens of prior arrests, and in October, the Kremlin classified his nonprofit, the Foundation for Fighting Corruption, as a foreign agent, The Daily Beast reported.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Gerrit Cole’s fit of rage is just what Yankees need

Gerrit Cole had more problems than giving up two early ...

You pay for the arm, sure. You damn sure pay for the fastball, which ticked to 99 a couple of times, and for the filthy breaking stuff, and for the swagger he carries himself with. You pay for the poise Gerrit Cole provides every time he steps on the mound, and for the fact by all accounts he’s a hell of a teammate.
All of that comes with your $324 million.
But what you also get is the fury of a crazed competitor, one that an hour later still burned, still filled him with anger. Maybe that’s what you pay for most of all. And as wonderful as that was to see Wednesday night, at the end of a muggy August night, it will be even more useful, more beneficial, when the air is colder and the stakes higher.
“I wanted to finish the game,” Cole said, choosing his words carefully, knowing that to match the rage he was still feeling with the proper words from the thesaurus would be to say things he would want to take back later. Eventually. “The body of work over the course of the day and the course of the game speaks for itself.”
The Yankees lost to the Rays again, 4-2, further proof that the tarpons of Tampa aren’t merely a stone in the Yankees’ shoe but among a small cadre of clubs (alongside the Athletics and the Twins) capable of impeding the Yankees during the American League portion of October’s postseason tournament.
But Cole was Cole, which is about as simple and as perfect a description befitting any pitcher in the sport right now. He made one bad pitch — a 2-and-1 change that Ji-Man Choi made disappear in the second inning — and was brilliant the rest of the way. Even the other run he surrendered, a homer to Mike Zunino in the third, was the product of his willingness to throw his fastball aggressively in the zone, daring hitters to take their best shot.
Sometimes, they do.
Mostly, they don’t. Mostly, across this season, and really across the last three seasons, Gerrit Cole has the capacity to make major league hitters look like they belong in the Cape Cod League. And when he’s feeling his best, he doesn’t want to hand the ball over to anyone: not to Aaron Boone, not to Mariano Rivera, not to Christy Mathewson.
Except here came Boone with two outs in the seventh. It tells you something about Cole that, sitting on 99 pitches through six, he’d demanded the chance to pitch the seventh. Boone was smart enough to say, “Go ahead.”
And Boone was also smart enough — once he decided he favored a Zack Britton-Austin Meadows matchup with a man on and two out in a 2-2 game — to make the call for the bullpen just as he hopped out of the dugout. This preempted whatever debate might’ve ensued on the mound if he’d made it that far.
It also was not with good humor. Cole was hacked off. And he wasn’t shy about letting the world know, screaming into his mitt, stalking back to the dugout, muttering, fuming, still unhappy as he walked the length of the dugout and disappeared for a bit in the tunnel, still unhappy when Britton struck Meadows out to end the inning and he clapped at the railing.
And still displeased when he spoke after the game.
“Whatever I said to him in my glove,” Cole said, “I’ll leave it at that.”
Boone, not surprisingly, loves that part of his pitcher, the furnace that percolates in his soul. This is why the Yankees targeted him, why they recruited him, why they wined him and dined him and paid him what they did. The arm was the lure. The heart closed the deal.
“That’s just the competitor in him,” Boone said later on, recognizing that Cole probably wasn’t going to offer him a postgame beer and happy talk. “He’s an ace. He wants the ball.”
He wound up throwing 109 pitches, a number that in 2020 almost looks like a typo. In a short season, with its start-and-stop-and-restart rhythm, managers have been more careful with their pitchers than ever. Luis Rojas looked like he was ready to bubble-wrap Jacob deGrom by hand after six innings and 91 pitches down in Miami Wednesday night, and that isn’t outlier behavior.
If Boone had let Cole finish the seventh, odds are he would’ve made a pitch for the eighth, too. “I wanted to finish the game,” he said, and there is no reason to believe he was saying that just to say it. His eyes still roiled, his words still boiled. In August, mind you. In August.
This is why you write the check.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--‘This is Us’ star Chrissy Metz and composer Hal Rosenfeld have split

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) It ’ s over between @ @ @ @ @ , Page Six has learned .
There had been speculation over the winter that the @ @ @ @ @ ” actress had broken up with the composer .
Now we ’ re told that @ @ @ @ @ on the market and ready to date again .
She and composer Rosenfeld had reportedly @ @ @ @ @ , and appeared on a red carpet together for the first time at the Golden @ @ @ @ @ was married to journalist Martyn Eaden until 2015 , after which she dated cameraman Josh @ @ @ @ @ Metz didn ’ t get back to our request for comment .

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It’s over between Chrissy Metz and Hal Rosenfeld, Page Six has learned.
There had been speculation over the winter that the beloved “This Is Us” actress had broken up with the composer. Now we’re told that Metz is in indeed back on the market and ready to date again.
She and composer Rosenfeld had reportedly been dating since late 2018, and appeared on a red carpet together for the first time at the Golden Globes in 2019.
She was married to journalist Martyn Eaden until 2015, after which she dated cameraman Josh Stancil.
A rep for Metz didn’t get back to our request for comment.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--‘The Chicks’ sing national anthem at DNC in first major performance under new name

The artists formally known as the Dixie Chicks gave their first nationwide performance as “ The Chicks ” on Thursday @ @ @ @ @ at the Democratic convention .
The country trio sung a powerful cappella rendition of The @ @ @ @ @ the start of the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention where Joe @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s nomination .
The 13-time Grammy-winning band changed their name in June under @ @ @ @ @ “ Dixie ” which refers to the Maison-Dixon line which separated the free and slave-owning @ @ @ @ @ a nationwide conversation on race after the death of George Floyd , critics said the @ @ @ @ @ Members Natalie Maines , Emily Strayer , Martie Maguire said they picked “ that stupid @ @ @ @ @ claimed in an interview with Variety that they had wanted to change it for years @

The artists formally known as the Dixie Chicks gave their first nationwide performance as The Chicks on Thursday, singing the National Anthem at the Democratic convention.
The country trio sung a powerful cappella rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner via tape at the start of the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention where Joe Biden will formally accept the party’s nomination.
The 13-time Grammy-winning band changed their name in June under political pressure, dropping the “Dixie” which refers to the Maison-Dixon line which separated the free and slave-owning southern states.
Spurned by a nationwide conversation on race after the death of George Floyd, critics said the band name was offensive.
Members Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire said they picked “that stupid name” as teenagers and claimed in an interview with Variety that they had wanted to change it for years.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Comic Big Jay Oakerson reveals details about comedy club brawl

Last week Page Six revealed that veteran New York comic Big Jay Oakerson was dragged off a 5-foot-high stage by a furious audience member .
Now Oakerson has revealed more details about the incident — this time from his vantage point onstage at the Philly-area comedy club Soul Joel ’ s .
Club owner Joel Richardson told us the attacker was set off when the audience cheered as his sister — who had been heckling — was kicked out .
But Oakerson said on his SiriusXM show “ The Bonfire ” that there was more of a lead-up to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d got into a discussion with the woman after she ’ d yelled that everyone in the audience was racist .
He said the lady first claimed that she was pregnant with a black child , then said that , in fact , she had aborted the child .
Oakerson said he joked , “ Miss , you ’ re so concerned about racism , but you ’ re the only one who ’ s confessed to murdering a black person.
” Oakerson said the remark “ broke her.
” “ She started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said , adding that she then stunningly “ slugs her mom ” — who joined her at the show — “ in the chest.
” He said that while security was distracted by the woman , her brother attacked him .

Last week Page Six revealed that veteran New York comic Big Jay Oakerson was dragged off a 5-foot-high stage by a furious audience member.
Now Oakerson has revealed more details about the incident — this time from his vantage point onstage at the Philly-area comedy club Soul Joel’s. Club owner Joel Richardson told us the attacker was set off when the audience cheered as his sister — who had been heckling — was kicked out.
But Oakerson said on his SiriusXM show “The Bonfire” that there was more of a lead-up to the violence.
The comic said he’d got into a discussion with the woman after she’d yelled that everyone in the audience was racist. He said the lady first claimed that she was pregnant with a black child, then said that, in fact, she had aborted the child. Oakerson said he joked, “Miss, you’re so concerned about racism, but you’re the only one who’s confessed to murdering a black person.”
Oakerson said the remark “broke her.” “She started screaming at the top of her lungs,” he said, adding that she then stunningly “slugs her mom” — who joined her at the show — “in the chest.”
He said that while security was distracted by the woman, her brother attacked him.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Kanye West makes whirlwind pit stop in New York for new record

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 ) Kanye West was in New York Thursday — for the proverbial New York minute — after Page Six exclusively reported earlier today that the rapper planned to visit the Big Apple .
Sources told us the Yeezy CEO arrived at Teterboro Airport in Teaneck , NJ , at around 6 p.m. on Thursday .
He was greeted by a small group of fans .
From @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a recording studio , where he was seen wearing a blue bomber jacket — airbrushed with portraits of his children — a red shirt , black sunglasses and green and yellow pants .
The “ Closed on Sunday ” rapper , 43 , was also wearing a black face mask .
While en route , West pulled over on the West Side Highway to switch vehicles .
A separate source previously told us that West is likely in New York to put the final touches on his upcoming tenth studio album , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sources told us that he didn ’ t stay long , and within hours was headed through the Lincoln Tunnel back to the Garden State to catch another flight .
West ’ s wife Kim Kardashian , 39 , declined to participate in the whirlwind trip ; she stayed in Los Angeles with their four children : North , 7 , Saint , 4 , Chicago , 2 , and Psalm , 1 .

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Kanye West was in New York Thursday — for the proverbial New York minute — after Page Six exclusively reported hours earlier that the rapper planned to visit the Big Apple.
Sources told us the Yeezy CEO arrived at Teterboro Airport in Teaneck, NJ, around 6 p.m. on Thursday. He was greeted by a small group of fans.
From the airport, he went straight to an art gallery in Chelsea, where he was seen wearing a blue bomber jacket — airbrushed with portraits of his children — a red shirt, black sunglasses and green and yellow pants. The “Closed on Sunday” rapper, 43, was also wearing a black face mask.
While en route, West pulled over on the West Side Highway to switch vehicles.
However, sources told us that he didn’t stay long, and within hours was headed through the Lincoln Tunnel back to the Garden State to catch another flight.
West’s wife Kim Kardashian, 39, didn’t participate in the whirlwind trip; she stayed in Los Angeles with their four children: North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Judge removes DA from rape case against reality TV surgeon, girlfriend

SANTA ANA , Calif. — The Orange County District Attorney ’ s Office has been removed from handling the criminal case against a reality TV doctor and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping several women .
The judge on Thursday took the rare step of determining that local prosecutors must be disqualified after noting that District Attorney Todd Spitzer has accused his predecessor of “ manufacturing ” the case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley , the Orange County Register reported .
Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones noted that Spitzer referred to the case as a “ travesty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apologized to the couple .
“ I have serious questions about the district attorney ’ s office ability to proceed on this case , ” the judge said .
“ I think they are hopelessly conflicted.
” Spitzer had tried to drop the case , which was brought by former DA Tony Rackauckas .
There was insufficient evidence for prosecution , Spitzer said .
The judge on Thursday ordered that the case be turned over to the California Attorney General ’ s Office , and directed local prosecutors to turn over to state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputy District Attorney Rick Zimmer told the judge that the DA ’ s office remains “ steadfast in its belief the evidence is insufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
” As a result , the prosecutor said , the office has an “ irreconcilable conflict ” that means they can not ethically take the case to trial .
Attorney Philip Cohen , who is representing Robicheaux , repeatedly argued against the removal of local prosecutors .
“ The district attorney ’ s office has said there is not probable cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Cohen told the judge .
Robicheaux , who previously appeared on a Bravo TV show called “ Online Dating Rituals of the American Male , ” was charged along with Riley in 2018 .
At the time , authorities said the pair plied their victims with drugs and sexually assaulted them when they were incapable of resisting .
Robicheaux and Riley have pleaded not guilty .

SANTA ANA, Calif. — The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has been removed from handling the criminal case against a reality TV doctor and his girlfriend accused of drugging and raping several women.
The judge on Thursday took the rare step of determining that local prosecutors must be disqualified after noting that District Attorney Todd Spitzer has accused his predecessor of “manufacturing” the case against Dr. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley, the Orange County Register reported.
Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones noted that Spitzer referred to the case as a “travesty,” and that the DA has apologized to the couple.
“I have serious questions about the district attorney’s office ability to proceed on this case,” the judge said. “I think they are hopelessly conflicted.”
Spitzer had tried to drop the case, which was brought by former DA Tony Rackauckas. There was insufficient evidence for prosecution, Spitzer said.
The judge on Thursday ordered that the case be turned over to the California Attorney General’s Office, and directed local prosecutors to turn over to state prosecutors the evidence they have collected.
Deputy District Attorney Rick Zimmer told the judge that the DA’s office remains “steadfast in its belief the evidence is insufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.” As a result, the prosecutor said, the office has an “irreconcilable conflict” that means they cannot ethically take the case to trial.
Attorney Philip Cohen, who is representing Robicheaux, repeatedly argued against the removal of local prosecutors.
“The district attorney’s office has said there is not probable cause to proceed on this case, period,” Cohen told the judge.
Robicheaux, who previously appeared on a Bravo TV show called “Online Dating Rituals of the American Male,” was charged along with Riley in 2018. At the time, authorities said the pair plied their victims with drugs and sexually assaulted them when they were incapable of resisting. Robicheaux and Riley have pleaded not guilty.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--NBA Draft Lottery 2020: Timberwolves win the first overall pick

The streak continues as the Knicks not only failed to ...

And the first pick goes to… the Minnesota Timberwolves!
The T-Wolves came away from Thursday’s NBA Draft Lottery with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Who will be selected with the top pick in 2020 is no sure thing. Any one of several prospects could lay claim to the No. 1 Draft pick title: LaMelo Ball — the youngest son of basketball firebrand father LaVar — short-lived Memphis freshman James Wiseman, and Georgia guard Anthony Edwards, among them.
The New York Knicks, owners of three picks in the top 38, will start their Draft at No. 8 overall.
Rounding out the top five are the Warriors, Hornets, Bulls and Cavaliers.
The Warriors, Cavaliers and Timberwolves had the best odds of pulling the top pick, each having a 14% chance of winning. The Knicks had a 9% chance.
FULL 2020 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY RESULTS
1. Minnesota Timberwolves
2. Golden State Warriors
3. Charlotte Hornets
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Atlanta Hawks
7. Detroit Pistons
8. New York Knicks
9. Washington Wizards
10. Phoenix Suns
11. San Antonio Spurs
12. Sacramento Kings
13. New Orleans Pelicans
14. Boston Celtics


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies’ On VOD, A Daring Documentary That Li

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies’ On VOD, A Daring Documentary That Literally Reveals All

It may not be the first point of discussion in your garden variety film history class , but nudity in film has existed just about as long as film has .
Skin : A History of Nudity in the Movies , now streaming on VOD , takes us back to the very first time flesh was shown on film and continues the journey all the way up to the contemporary use of nudity on screens both big and small .
With the help of critics , actors , scholars , and beyond , Skin tells quite the story – but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tour through a century of sexy screen time ?
SKIN : A HISTORY OF NUDITY IN THE MOVIES : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT ?
The Gist : From Danny Wolf comes Skin : A History of Nudity in the Movies , a 2+ hour documentary chronicling the evolution of the naked body on screen .
Featuring interviews from critics , experts , directors , producers , and screen icons like Malcolm McDowell , Pam Grier , Mamie Van Doren , Sylvia Miles , Linda Blair , and tons more , Skin utilizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film ’ s very inception to tell the story of nudity on film .
We start at the very beginning – yes , allllll the way back to 1887 , when bare bodies first began to make their way onto screens seen by the public .
Lots of time is spent walking us through what kind of nudity was acceptable , how it was utilized in silent films and eventually in talkies starting in the late 1920s , and how the Hays Code eventually forced everyone to cover up ( well , almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Over the course of the film ’ s two hours , we take deep dives into decades and particular years of significance , offering us a glimpse into what was seen as acceptable , what was condemned as taboo , and how things began to change .
Unfiltered interviews with some of the pioneers of film nudity help to paint very vivid pictures of what it was like way back when folks might have gasped if you told them there would be breasts on screen .
The film explores the innovations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game-changing actions of Marilyn Monroe , and the rise of erotic thrillers in the ’ 80s and ’ 90s until it finally arrives at the widespread nudity on both film and TV today .
And Skin doesn ’ t just spend time on the simple notion of nudity , either ; some of the film ’ s most compelling sequences discuss the imbalance between male and female nudity and how the score is only recently beginning to even , the use of rape on screen , and the way employing intimacy coordinators on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With all its content and plethora of interviews , Skin : A History of Nudity probably could have thrived with the miniseries treatment as well , but this two hour trip through nakedness and how the birthday suit has forever impacted film , culture , and everything else in between does more than an adequate job .
What Movies Will It Remind You Of ?
: If you ’ re a fan of any of the dozens of documentaries about Hollywood , film , and everything in between – even the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be right up your alley .
It doesn ’ t reinvent its classic documentary formula , and it doesn ’ t need to .
Performance Worth Watching : Skin is a documentary , so there aren ’ t any particular “ performances ” to write home about , unless you want to round up your favorite clips from the movies referenced .
If we ’ re talking about all-star interviewees , however , the quirky Mamie Van Doren should win every award .
I was STUNNED to discover she was in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certainly some standout interview moments with many of the film ’ s subjects , but I couldn ’ t get one very famous Marilyn Monroe quote referenced out of my head .
When asked about nude photos of her in an old calendar , she responded “ It ’ s not true that I had nothing on .
I had the radio on.
” Sex and Skin : I mean , that ’ s the whole point , isn ’ t it ?
Skin : A History of Nudity in the Movies features @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1800s , so if you ’ re here for the naughty bits , you certainly won ’ t be disappointed ( though with any luck , you ’ ll also emerge from your viewing a little more educated than you were when it began ) .
Our Take : While things could easily feel tedious and slip into the salacious , Skin : A History of Nudity in the Movies manages to balance its more lighthearted , smirking sequences with genuinely intriguing and important social and political commentary .
It doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exciting , but it doesn ’ t necessarily need to .
We get all the information we might hope for and then some , plus some wonderfully unfiltered interviews with icons from both on-screen and off .
The introduction of each new subject is exciting ; whether it ’ s an old film star reminiscing about the way things used to be or a contemporary critic breaking down the way things are today , the information and anecdotes shared are endlessly interesting .
What Skin does particularly well is seamlessly integrate crucial conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nudity , as well as explain the way things have changed .
Whether that ’ s examining the gender disparity in on-screen nudity , or discussing the way rape has been used in film , or diving into the exploitation or pornography side of things , Skin covers most of the bases out there .
There ’ s a standout segment about # MeToo and how working conditions have shifted , as well as the depiction of nudity on screen , and an intimacy coordinator also shares the importance of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things right .
It ’ s fascinating to learn about on-screen nudity in a contemporary context versus what was acceptable only a few decades ago ; many of the performers from the ’ 60s , ’ 70s , and beyond simply dealt with the discomfort of stripping down in front of a fully-staffed set and an often pushy ( and occasionally creepy ! )
director .
Seeing this change is important , and it ’ s what makes Skin work so well .
If you ’ re looking for a groundbreaking piece of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it .
But for those who love the tried-and-true documentary format of talking heads and archival footage , Skin will check every single one of your boxes ( and then some ) .
Our Call : STREAM IT .
Even with its 2+ hour runtime , Skin : A History of Nudity in the Movies is consistently engaging and , well , titillating .
With the help of a colorful cast of interviewees – scholars , actors , industry bigwigs , and beyond – Skin delivers a documentary that doesn ’ t just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains its political , social , and artistic significance over decades .
Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes .
Follow her on Twitter : @ jadebudowski .
Where to stream Skin : A History of Nudity in the Movies on VOD

Where to Stream: Skin: A History of Nudity In The Movies
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It may not be the first point of discussion in your garden variety film history class, but nudity in film has existed just about as long as film has. Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies, now streaming on VOD, takes us back to the very first time flesh was shown on film and continues the journey all the way up to the contemporary use of nudity on screens both big and small. With the help of critics, actors, scholars, and beyond, Skin tells quite the story – but is it more than just a titillating tour through a century of sexy screen time?
SKIN: A HISTORY OF NUDITY IN THE MOVIES: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: From Danny Wolf comes Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies, a 2+ hour documentary chronicling the evolution of the naked body on screen. Featuring interviews from critics, experts, directors, producers, and screen icons like Malcolm McDowell, Pam Grier, Mamie Van Doren, Sylvia Miles, Linda Blair, and tons more, Skin utilizes clever commentary and clips dating back to film’s very inception to tell the story of nudity on film. We start at the very beginning – yes, allllll the way back to 1887, when bare bodies first began to make their way onto screens seen by the public. Lots of time is spent walking us through what kind of nudity was acceptable, how it was utilized in silent films and eventually in talkies starting in the late 1920s, and how the Hays Code eventually forced everyone to cover up (well, almost everyone, and not for very long).
Over the course of the film’s two hours, we take deep dives into decades and particular years of significance, offering us a glimpse into what was seen as acceptable, what was condemned as taboo, and how things began to change. Unfiltered interviews with some of the pioneers of film nudity help to paint very vivid pictures of what it was like way back when folks might have gasped if you told them there would be breasts on screen. The film explores the innovations of the silent film era, the game-changing actions of Marilyn Monroe, and the rise of erotic thrillers in the ’80s and ’90s until it finally arrives at the widespread nudity on both film and TV today. And Skin doesn’t just spend time on the simple notion of nudity, either; some of the film’s most compelling sequences discuss the imbalance between male and female nudity and how the score is only recently beginning to even, the use of rape on screen, and the way employing intimacy coordinators on set has improved working conditions for performers. With all its content and plethora of interviews, Skin: A History of Nudity probably could have thrived with the miniseries treatment as well, but this two hour trip through nakedness and how the birthday suit has forever impacted film, culture, and everything else in between does more than an adequate job.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: If you’re a fan of any of the dozens of documentaries about Hollywood, film, and everything in between – even the recent The Movies miniseries on CNN – Skin will be right up your alley. It doesn’t reinvent its classic documentary formula, and it doesn’t need to.
Performance Worth Watching: Skin is a documentary, so there aren’t any particular “performances” to write home about, unless you want to round up your favorite clips from the movies referenced. If we’re talking about all-star interviewees, however, the quirky Mamie Van Doren should win every award. I was STUNNED to discover she was in her 80s!
Memorable Dialogue: There are certainly some standout interview moments with many of the film’s subjects, but I couldn’t get one very famous Marilyn Monroe quote referenced out of my head. When asked about nude photos of her in an old calendar, she responded “It’s not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on.”
Sex and Skin: I mean, that’s the whole point, isn’t it? Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies features sexy clips dating back to the late 1800s, so if you’re here for the naughty bits, you certainly won’t be disappointed (though with any luck, you’ll also emerge from your viewing a little more educated than you were when it began).
Our Take: While things could easily feel tedious and slip into the salacious, Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies manages to balance its more lighthearted, smirking sequences with genuinely intriguing and important social and political commentary. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel or do anything particularly exciting, but it doesn’t necessarily need to. We get all the information we might hope for and then some, plus some wonderfully unfiltered interviews with icons from both on-screen and off. The introduction of each new subject is exciting; whether it’s an old film star reminiscing about the way things used to be or a contemporary critic breaking down the way things are today, the information and anecdotes shared are endlessly interesting.
What Skin does particularly well is seamlessly integrate crucial conversations about protecting the people who are participating in the nudity, as well as explain the way things have changed. Whether that’s examining the gender disparity in on-screen nudity, or discussing the way rape has been used in film, or diving into the exploitation or pornography side of things, Skin covers most of the bases out there. There’s a standout segment about #MeToo and how working conditions have shifted, as well as the depiction of nudity on screen, and an intimacy coordinator also shares the importance of their job when it comes to doing these things right. It’s fascinating to learn about on-screen nudity in a contemporary context versus what was acceptable only a few decades ago; many of the performers from the ’60s, ’70s, and beyond simply dealt with the discomfort of stripping down in front of a fully-staffed set and an often pushy (and occasionally creepy!) director. Seeing this change is important, and it’s what makes Skin work so well.
If you’re looking for a groundbreaking piece of documentary work, this isn’t it. But for those who love the tried-and-true documentary format of talking heads and archival footage, Skin will check every single one of your boxes (and then some).
Our Call: STREAM IT. Even with its 2+ hour runtime, Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies is consistently engaging and, well, titillating. With the help of a colorful cast of interviewees – scholars, actors, industry bigwigs, and beyond – Skin delivers a documentary that doesn’t just showcase nakedness on screen, but compellingly explains its political, social, and artistic significance over decades.
Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines and harboring dad-aged celebrity crushes. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.
Where to stream Skin: A History of Nudity in the Movies on VOD


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Army searching for missing Fort Hood soldier Elder Fernandes

Another Fort Hood soldier has gone missing .
The Army on Thursday asked the public ’ s help in locating Sgt .
Elder Fernandes of the troubled Killeen , Texas , military base .
Fernandes , 23 , hasn ’ t been seen or heard from since Monday afternoon , Aug. 17 , when his Staff Sergeant dropped him off at his residence , according to the Killeen Police Department .
“ We are seeking your help in locating Sgt .
Elder Fernandes , ” the Army ’ s 1st Cavalry Division tweeted Thursday .
“ Please contact the Fort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army CID at 254-287-2722 , if you have any information on his whereabouts.
” His family reported him missing Wednesday , police said .
He was last seen wearing black Army shorts and a T-shirt with red athletic shoes , the department said .
Army officials are currently investigating Fort Hood for having the highest cases of soldier murders and assaults among its installments .
At least five soldiers have been found dead around the base this year , including Vanessa Guillen , 20 , who was killed and mutilated by fellow soldier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy visited the base earlier this month , where he pledged to investigate and address the “ root causes ” of the deaths and attacks .
“ I ’ ve met over the last 24 hours with soldiers of every echelon…and told them that were are sending down an independent group of investigators to understand the root causes associated with the rise of felonies , violent acts , to better understand why this is happening in this installation , ” McCarthy said at the time .

Another Fort Hood soldier has gone missing.
The Army on Thursday asked the public’s help in locating Sgt. Elder Fernandes of the troubled Killeen, Texas, military base.
Fernandes, 23, hasn’t been seen or heard from since Monday afternoon, Aug. 17, when his Staff Sergeant dropped him off at his residence, according to the Killeen Police Department.
“We are seeking your help in locating Sgt. Elder Fernandes,” the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division tweeted Thursday. “Please contact the Fort Hood Military Police at 254-288-1170 or US Army CID at 254-287-2722, if you have any information on his whereabouts.”
His family reported him missing Wednesday, police said.
He was last seen wearing black Army shorts and a T-shirt with red athletic shoes, the department said.
Army officials are currently investigating Fort Hood for having the highest cases of soldier murders and assaults among its installments.
At least five soldiers have been found dead around the base this year, including Vanessa Guillen, 20, who was killed and mutilated by fellow soldier Aaron Robinson before he took his own life.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy visited the base earlier this month, where he pledged to investigate and address the “root causes” of the deaths and attacks.
“I’ve met over the last 24 hours with soldiers of every echelon…and told them that were are sending down an independent group of investigators to understand the root causes associated with the rise of felonies, violent acts, to better understand why this is happening in this installation,” McCarthy said at the time.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Knicks fall to No. 8 pick in 2020 NBA Draft as lottery misery continues

The streak continues as the Knicks not only failed to move up but they dropped from No .
6 to 8 in Thursday ’ s lottery .
The Knicks haven ’ t moved up since 1985 when they won the first Patrick Ewing lottery .
It means the chances of drafting LaMelo Ball will be extremely tough unless he falls and the Knicks trade up .
They are more likely to trade down in an equitable draft .
The Timberwolves won the lottery , earning the No .
1 pick .
The Knicks picked eighth in 2017 and selected Frank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance of landing the eighth pick after being seeded sixth .
Without a Draft Combine , the NCAA or conference tournaments , scouts admit the task is harder and some feel the draft could be more of a crapshoot than ever before .
It ’ s considered a weak draft with no consensus top 3 , though it ’ s heavy in point guards beyond Ball .
The Knicks top priority has been drafting a scoring point guard but there ’ s been no recent mandate .
Cole Anthony , Tyrese Haliburton , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis are among the top lead guards who could be available at 8 .
There was not as much lottery transparency as prior years because of COVID-19 .
The room usually contains reps from all 14 teams .
None were on hand this year to limit travel and social-distancing issues .
In addition , the normal amount of select journalists inside was much lower .
This year the total was just one — from ESPN , which has a huge contract to broadcast the games .
James Dolan ’ s Rangers got lucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a 12.5-percent chance of winning , but the Knicks couldn ’ t follow suit .
Ball still is regarded as a polarizing talent after playing just 12 games in the Australian League after being in Lithuania briefly as a 16-year-old .
He probably hasn ’ t had the proper high-end coaching – unless you count former Jets tight end , Lavar Ball , his controversial father .
The 6-foot-7 playmaker can thread the needle with great vision but he ’ s been a poor 3-point shooter — not unlike his brother Lonzo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Australia .
The draft is Oct. 16 but reportedly free agency may be pushed back a couple of weeks after that .
In fact , Adam Silver said on the lottery telecast the Dec. 1 tentative season opener is “ feeling a little bit early to me.
” Silver said he ’ d look for a push back to ensure fans in the arenas .

Rookie president Leon Rose couldn’t reverse his team’s lousy lottery streak Thursday. The Knicks not only failed to move up but they dropped two spots from sixth to eighth for the Oct. 16 NBA draft.
The Knicks haven’t moved up since 1985 when they won the first lottery, selecting Patrick Ewing. It means the chances of drafting electric point guard LaMelo Ball will be extremely tough unless he falls or the Knicks trade up. They are more likely to trade down in what is considered an equitable draft.
The Timberwolves won the virtual lottery, earning the No. 1 pick, and could take Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards because they have an All-Star point guard in D’Angelo Russell. The Warriors select second and are open to trading down for a more established player. The problem for the Knicks is they probably don’t have that kind of ready-made asset as they are more stocked with futures.
The Knicks picked eighth in 2017 and selected Frank Ntilikina. They had a 20 percent chance of landing the eighth pick after being seeded sixth with only a 9 percent chance of getting the first pick.
On the bright side, 13 of the league’s 24 All-Stars this season were picked eighth or later. Two of those were Jazz studs, Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert — both picks of Walter Perrin, the Knicks’ new assistant GM of college scouting. Another was Jimmy Butler, whom head coach Tom Thibodeau molded.
It’s considered a weak draft with no consensus top three, though it’s heavy in point guards beyond Ball. The Knicks’ top priority has been drafting a scoring point guard, but there’s been no recent mandate.
Cole Anthony, Tyrese Haliburton, Killian Hayes, Tyrese Maxey and Kira Lewis are among the top lead guards who could be available at No. 8.
Anthony, the Manhattan product whose father is Greg Anthony, is not highly regarded in the mock drafts, with a few even positioning him just outside the lottery.
The Knicks appear concerned about Haliburton’s explosiveness and body. One NBA scout said, “I’m a big fan. I thought he really knew how to play. He has great height for position and exceptional length, however he is very, very, thin.”
While a point guard is preferred, the Knicks also would enjoy a sharpshooting forward, and New Yorker Obi Toppin, out of small-school Dayton, fits that bill. Toppin probably won’t slide to No. 8, however.
Rose said recently two studs “stand out,’’ but opinions vary widely on the rest of the draft. That could be the climate to move back and pick up an extra asset. The Knicks also have the 27th and 38th picks.
Rose, who was not made available for comment after the lottery, wore a special bracelet given to him by a Garden of Dreams participant — a 16-year-old high-schooler from Jersey City who has brain cancer. A poster of Bruce Springsteen could be seen in the background of Rose’s Zoom shot.
Without a draft combine, the NCAA or conference tournaments, scouts admit the task is harder and some feel the draft could be more of a crapshoot than ever.
There was not as much lottery transparency as in prior years because of COVID-19. The room usually contains reps from all 14 teams. None were on hand this year to limit travel and social distancing issues.
In addition, the normal amount of select journalists inside the room was heavily reduced. This year there was just one — from ESPN, which has a huge contract to broadcast the games.
James Dolan’s Rangers got lucky last week, winning the NHL lottery with a 12.5 percent chance of winning, but the Knicks couldn’t follow suit.
Missing on Ball could be a blessing in disguise. He is regarded as a polarizing talent who played just 12 games in the Australian League after being in Lithuania briefly as a 16-year-old. The 6-foot-7 playmaker can thread the needle with great court vision, but he’s been a poor 3-point shooter — not unlike his brother Lonzo — and his defensive intensity was a disaster in Australia.
The draft remains scheduled for mid-October, but reportedly free agency may be pushed back by a couple of weeks. In fact, commissioner Adam Silver said on the lottery telecast Thursday night that the tentative Dec. 1 date for the season opener is “feeling a little bit early to me.”
Silver said he’d look to push the opening date back in an effort to ensure fans in the arenas.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Tiger Woods off to solid start at Northern Trust after neck alarm

Tiger Woods had better watch his back — Charlie Woods ...

NORTON, Mass. — Tiger Woods got off to a hot start Thursday before even hitting his first shot.
The images of Woods on the practice range rubbing his upper back with a towel and placing a cold bottle of water on the back of his neck were alarming for someone who has endured four back surgeries. He said last month at the Memorial that he has days when his back doesn’t feel right.
This wasn’t one of them.
Woods had some heating oils applied to his upper back before teeing off in The Northern Trust, and they were a little spicy. He was rubbing off the excess and trying to cool it down with the water.
Once he got on the TPC Boston, it took him a little more time to heat up.
Woods didn’t make a birdie until a two-putt on the par-5 18th hole as he made the turn, and then he ran off four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the front nine for a 3-under 68. That left him four shots out of the lead held by Harris English, Kevin Streelman, Cameron Davis and Russell Henley.
“My lower back is used to it,” Woods said about the hot oils. “We do it all the time just so I can get loose. I decided to put some up on my neck, and it’s not as tolerant as my lower back, so it gets awfully hot. It’s common in pretty much every other sport, and especially hockey. Those guys put some pretty hot stuff on their legs, but you become accustomed to it.
“My lower back is pretty immune to it,” he said. “But my neck is not.”
His 68 was his lowest start since his last victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan, though it’s a small sample size. Woods has played only five times since then. Having played only twice since the PGA Tour resumed in June, he has slipped to No. 49 in the FedEx Cup with a goal of being among the top 30 after two weeks so he can reach the Tour Championship.
Woods went back to his old putter — slightly shorter than the one he used at Harding Park in the PGA Championship two weeks ago — and didn’t have any good looks at birdie until he reached the par-5 18th in two.
On the front nine, which played about a half-stroke easier, he had more chances and converted most of them. He made birdie on both par 3s, from 15 feet on No. 3 and from 6 feet below the cup on No. 8.
“Whenever I gave myself a look, I made them,” he said.
Both bogeys were set up by poor tee shots, one that hit a tree right of the 13th fairway and left him no shot at the green, and the other on his final hole at No. 9 when he went from the right rough to the shaggy collar of a bunker some 25 yards short of the green.
Still, he made enough birdies over his last 10 holes to get going in the right direction.
“Coming to a golf course I know helps,” said Woods, who has one victory and two runner-up finishes at the TPC Boston.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--John Legend, Chrissy Teigen selling massive Beverly Hills mansion for $24M

`` Honestly , I expected it to be big , but this was ...

John Legend wants you to buy all of his house.
The musician and his wife, former model Chrissy Teigen, listed their Beverly Hills home for $23.95 million after finding out they’re expecting baby No. 3.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the listing.
The couple, who already have 4-year-old daughter Luna and 2-year-old son Miles, bought the 8,500-square-foot property for $14.1 million in 2016. (Its famous former occupant? No less than the singer Rihanna.) And they had plans to stay there indefinitely — until they found out Teigen was pregnant, an announcement the pair made via Legend’s new “Wild” music video on Aug. 13.
Though the palatial pad has seven bedrooms, it simply isn’t enough for the family of five plus Teigen’s mother, Vilailuck, who lives with them.
The pregnancy likely came as a shock to them as well, considering Teigen, 34, revealed in 2018 that she and Legend only had one embryo left from IVF treatments, and that one became Miles. Even until recently, the dynamic duo was still completing renovations on the home for the family, with Legend telling the Journal they just redid the master closets (both massive).
They enlisted longtime interior designer Don Stewart to reimagine the contemporary house. “We like modern with still some edge to it and some warmth and some coziness,” Legend, 41, said of changing up the bright white elements and glassy finishes they inherited at the time of purchase.
Previous 1 of 13 Next Advertisement Tour the beautifully renovated home, which Legend and Teigen put up for sale after living there for four years. Anthony Barcelo Anthony Barcelo Advertisement Anthony Barcelo Anthony Barcelo Anthony Barcelo Advertisement Anthony Barcelo Anthony Barcelo Anthony Barcelo Advertisement Anthony Barcelo Advertisement
To do that, Stewart suggested teak wood detailing and a hand-carved ceiling. “It was something we would never have thought to do ourselves, but Chrissy’s mother is from Southeast Asia, so we try to find ways to work her heritage into our houses,” Legend said.
Other updates included completely overhauling the kitchen and adding professional-grade appliances for Teigen, a published cookbook author and home goods designer. “We like the kitchen to be part of life, so it’s not cordoned off from the rest of the house,” said Legend. The result was a kitchen with three ovens and two stovetops along with an indoor and outdoor grill.
The pair’s laid-back style can be found throughout the house, with vintage pieces seamlessly mixed in with modern furniture and accented with brass and bronze finishes. Oversize plush seating is in nearly every room, making it perfect for family living.
The dramatic entry, high ceilings and enormous outdoor patio make it ideal for entertaining. Legend’s grand piano holds pride of place in the center of the oversize living room. The property also has a movie theater and a gym.
Marshall Peck of Douglas Elliman has the listing.
While the Legend-Teigen family have been holed up (with help) in the Beverly Hills home, located just above Los Angeles’ famed Sunset Boulevard, during the coronavirus pandemic, they usually split their time between California and New York City.
They recently bought a unit to expand their already spacious Nolita penthouse.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Lawmakers demand answers from Con Ed, PSEG on Hurricane Isaias outages

ALBANY — State lawmakers grilled the utility company heads from Con Edison and PSEG Long Island Thursday , demanding answers about why Tropical Storm Isaias left more than one million New Yorkers without power for well over a week .
Isaias ripped through the Empire State on Aug. 4 — impacting a combined 1.3 million customers in the Hudson Valley , on Long Island and in New York City , according to records kept by the Public Service Commission which regulates New York ’ s utility companies .
“ Throughout this period , some utilities provided inaccurate information , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan .
This was more than inconvenience .
It was completely unacceptable and a public health and safety concern , ” PSC Chairman John Rhodes told lawmakers .
He said his commission ’ s now two-week-long investigation has exposed service failures from Con Ed , PSEG and Central Hudson resulted in individuals experiencing multiple days with no electricity or internet service , and thousands were out of power as many as ten days after the storm .
The PSC said the trio is being investigated for poor response communication , response efforts and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to fix downed lines and reestablish connection in a timely fashion .
Meanwhile , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday plans to introduce legislation that would make it easier for the PSC to revoke a utility companies ’ license should they prove a repeated pattern of service delivery failure .
However , outraged lawmakers argued it ’ s too little , too late .
Assemblyman Bobby Carroll ( D-Brooklyn ) was so fed up he asked his peers to let him cut the question line — explaining he is getting married this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what point the PSC actually revoke a company ’ s license .
Rhodes replied : “ It ’ s laid out in a statute and it would basically… a demonstrated inability to deliver for New Yorkers based on repeated failures.
” “ Haven ’ t they already demonstrated that ?
I mean , they continue to get rate hikes , they continue to have the exact same problems over and over again why would we continue to keep doing this same dance if every year or other year we have this exact same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to last summer ’ s days-long blackouts that plagued the five boroughs and forced lawmakers to hold hearings on Con Ed ’ s response — which the PSC was investigating at the time .
“ That ’ s why it ’ s on the table , ” Rhodes replied .
That investigation has yet to conclude but is “ nearly finalized , ” according to a PSC spokesman .
“ I ’ m just concerned about a storm coming in next week or the week after , ” state Sen. James Gaughran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reliving days of his office ’ s phone lines were inundated with panicked constituents in the storm ’ s aftermath .
PSEG chief operating officer and president Dan Eichorn admitted during his own testimony that poor communication and general system inundation resulted in an overall slowed system .
The company has also agreed to give up roughly $ 8 to $ 10 million to customers seeking reimbursements for spoiled food and medicine , forfeiting funds from company incentive programs — or bonuses .

ALBANY — State lawmakers grilled the utility company heads from Con Edison and PSEG Long Island Thursday, demanding answers about why Tropical Storm Isaias left more than one million New Yorkers without power for well over a week.
Isaias ripped through the Empire State on Aug. 4 — impacting a combined 1.3 million customers in the Hudson Valley, on Long Island and in New York City, according to records kept by the Public Service Commission which regulates New York’s utility companies.
“Throughout this period, some utilities provided inaccurate information, making it challenging for families and businesses to plan. This was more than inconvenience. It was completely unacceptable and a public health and safety concern,” PSC Chairman John Rhodes told lawmakers.
He said his commission’s now two-week-long investigation has exposed service failures from Con Ed, PSEG and Central Hudson resulted in individuals experiencing multiple days with no electricity or internet service, and thousands were out of power as many as ten days after the storm.
The PSC said the trio is being investigated for poor response communication, response efforts and insufficient crew deployed which crippled companies’ ability to fix downed lines and reestablish connection in a timely fashion.
Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday plans to introduce legislation that would make it easier for the PSC to revoke a utility companies’ license should they prove a repeated pattern of service delivery failure.
However, outraged lawmakers argued it’s too little, too late.
Assemblyman Bobby Carroll (D-Brooklyn) was so fed up he asked his peers to let him cut the question line — explaining he is getting married this weekend — and asked Chairman Rhodes at what point the PSC actually revoke a company’s license.
Rhodes replied: “It’s laid out in a statute and it would basically… a demonstrated inability to deliver for New Yorkers based on repeated failures.”
Carroll cut in.
“Haven’t they already demonstrated that? I mean, they continue to get rate hikes, they continue to have the exact same problems over and over again why would we continue to keep doing this same dance if every year or other year we have this exact same hearing?” he seethed, referring back to last summer’s days-long blackouts that plagued the five boroughs and forced lawmakers to hold hearings on Con Ed’s response — which the PSC was investigating at the time.
“That’s why it’s on the table,” Rhodes replied.
That investigation has yet to conclude but is “nearly finalized,” according to a PSC spokesman.
“I’m just concerned about a storm coming in next week or the week after,” state Sen. James Gaughran (D-Suffolk) added, concerned about reliving days of his office’s phone lines were inundated with panicked constituents in the storm’s aftermath.
PSEG chief operating officer and president Dan Eichorn admitted during his own testimony that poor communication and general system inundation resulted in an overall slowed system.
The company has also agreed to give up roughly $8 to $10 million to customers seeking reimbursements for spoiled food and medicine, forfeiting funds from company incentive programs — or bonuses.
Con Ed and Central Hudson agreed to make similar payments.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Kanye West rejected from Wisconsin ballot over late registration

Kanye West ’ s bid to appear on Wisconsin ’ s presidential ballot has fallen short .
The state ’ s Elections Commission reportedly ruled Thursday the rapper failed to file by the Aug. 4 deadline of 5 p.m .
The six-member bipartisan ruling body rejected an argument by West ’ s lawyer , Michael Curran , that West actually had until a second before 5:01 p.m. to file , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported .
“ I regret it ’ s the case , ” Commissioner Dean Knudson , a former GOP state lawmaker said at the hearing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ timely.
” Despite the additional time argument by West ’ s lawyer , Michael Curran , he admitted it was unclear exactly when his client ’ s nomination papers were handed in .
The challenge against West , an independent candidate running under the “ Birthday Party , ” was lodged by Wisconsin ’ s Democratic Party .
Jeffrey Mandell , an attorney for the state Democratic Party , said news video and other witnesses from Aug. 4 proved West ’ s team filed late .
“ The papers were late , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they can not be allowed.
” The billionaire sneaker mogul , who launched his campaign on July 4 , was also booted from the Illinois presidential ballot , and he dropped his New Jersey bid after a legal challenge .

Kanye West’s bid to appear on Wisconsin’s presidential ballot has fallen short.
The state’s Elections Commission reportedly ruled Thursday the rapper failed to file by the Aug. 4 deadline of 5 p.m.
The six-member bipartisan ruling body rejected an argument by West’s lawyer, Michael Curran, that West actually had until a second before 5:01 p.m. to file, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
“I regret it’s the case,”Commissioner Dean Knudson, a former GOP state lawmaker said at the hearing. “I do not feel they filed timely.”
Despite the additional time argument by West’s lawyer, Michael Curran, he admitted it was unclear exactly when his client’s nomination papers were handed in.
Ironically, West’s breakout 2005 album was titled “Late Registration.”
The challenge against West, an independent candidate running under the “Birthday Party,” was lodged by Wisconsin’s Democratic Party.
Jeffrey Mandell, an attorney for the state Democratic Party, said news video and other witnesses from Aug. 4 proved West’s team filed late.
“The papers were late,” Mandell said. “Under Wisconsin law, they cannot be allowed.”
The billionaire sneaker mogul, who launched his campaign on July 4, was also booted from the Illinois presidential ballot, and he dropped his New Jersey bid after a legal challenge.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--James Paxton in danger of joining long list of injured Yankees

The bad news started for the Yankees early Thursday and ...

James Paxton could be the latest Yankees pitcher headed to the injured list.
If so, he’ll have plenty of company.
The left-hander underwent an MRI following his start in Thursday’s 10-5 loss to Tampa Bay in The Bronx after, in Aaron Boone’s words, he “felt discomfort in his forearm [and] elbow his last couple of pitches.”
The manager added he hoped to get good news, but that’s been in rare supply for the Yankees when it comes to injuries.
Just in one day, they saw Paxton get tested for an arm issue and Gleyber Torres come out of the game with a tight left hamstring that Boone said didn’t seem serious.
With the infield in during the third inning, Torres rocketed a ball to short that was knocked down by Willy Adames. Torres stumbled on his way to first and was removed from the game before the fourth and was replaced by Thairo Estrada.
And all that came after they placed Zack Britton on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring suffered during Wednesday’s loss to Tampa Bay.
Boone said, “it seemed like it tightened up and he felt it on the last couple of pitches.”
The loss of Britton leaves the Yankees shorthanded in the bullpen again, just days after the return of closer Aroldis Chapman following his recovery from COVID-19.
All the injuries come after the organization revamped its strength and conditioning program in the offseason, when they dismissed director of strength and conditioning Matt Krause and hired Eric Cressey as director of player health and performance.
Asked if the injury woes continuing despite the resources poured into the area during the offseason was perplexing, general manager Brian Cashman replied in a text message: “Player care will always be a focus and our intent is to provide the best efforts towards that always while recognizing this is a sport where injuries due occur regardless.’’
Britton joined Aaron Judge (right calf), Giancarlo Stanton (left hamstring) and Kyle Higashioka (right oblique) on the IL, as well as DJ LeMahieu, who suffered a sprained left thumb on an awkward swing.
Tommy Kahnle and Luis Severino are also out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Adam Ottavino seemed stunned by the barrage of bad health.
“I don’t know,’’ the right-hander said. “I’m not an expert on it. I feel like you’ve got to take yourself. We know we have a deep team. I think we’ll be all right ’til everybody gets back.”
Luke Voit said, “it’s part of the game. It’s crazy it’s happening again, but we’re gonna fight through it.”
Before the game, Boone reiterated the challenges of trying to keep players healthy in this unique season that featured a short spring training 2.0 before starting the abbreviated regular season in late July.
“It was a quicker ramp up into the intensity of a major league environment,’’ Boone said. “That’s why, going back to the start of all this, we were mindful of the 60 games and the urgency, but also trying to be mindful of players’ health and build up as best as possible. … You try to strike that balance and assess where guys are all the time.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Gov. Andrew Cuomo extends eviction moratorium for commercial tenants

ALBANY — Gov .
Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order Thursday expanding a coronavirus-related emergency moratorium on evictions and foreclosures of commercial properties until Sept. 20 .
The move gives business owners heavily impacted by state-ordered closures associated with COVID-19 more another month to meet their rental obligations .
“ While we have made great progress in keeping New York ’ s infection rate low , this pandemic is not over and as we continue to fight the virus , we are continuing to protect New York businesses and residential tenants who face financial hardship due to COVID , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s moratorium on commercial evictions to ensure business owners across New York will not be forced to close as a result of the pandemic.
” It ’ s an extension from an original March 20 eviction moratorium impacting commercial and residential renters , although Cuomo recently signed another bill allowing tenants some protections if they can prove they ’ ve been negatively impacted by the coronavirus .
But commercial tenants are feeling the crush — and have been for five months .
A recent survey by the NYC Hospitality Alliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant owners couldn ’ t pay their full July rent .
Nearly 40 percent said they wouldn ’ t be able to pay at all .
Meanwhile , New York City ’ s July unemployment rate remained flat compared to June at nearly 20 percent .
Statewide that figure rests at 13 percent — a 1 percent increase from the prior month .

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order Thursday expanding a coronavirus-related emergency moratorium on evictions and foreclosures of commercial properties until Sept. 20.
The move gives business owners heavily impacted by state-ordered closures associated with COVID-19 more another month to meet their rental obligations.
“While we have made great progress in keeping New York’s infection rate low, this pandemic is not over and as we continue to fight the virus, we are continuing to protect New York businesses and residential tenants who face financial hardship due to COVID,” Cuomo said.
“I am extending the state’s moratorium on commercial evictions to ensure business owners across New York will not be forced to close as a result of the pandemic.”
It’s an extension from an original March 20 eviction moratorium impacting commercial and residential renters, although Cuomo recently signed another bill allowing tenants some protections if they can prove they’ve been negatively impacted by the coronavirus.
But commercial tenants are feeling the crush — and have been for five months.
A recent survey by the NYC Hospitality Alliance found over 80 percent of bar and restaurant owners couldn’t pay their full July rent.
Nearly 40 percent said they wouldn’t be able to pay at all.
Meanwhile, New York City’s July unemployment rate remained flat compared to June at nearly 20 percent.
Statewide, that figure grew slightly to 15.9 percent — a small increase from the prior month’s 15.6 percent rate, according to data from the state Department of Labor.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Thom Brennaman’s slur was wrong but so is selective justice

On YES last Friday , David Cone said it as a ...

Who’d a thunk it? In our exchanges, he’d never even cussed. Can’t say the same for myself.
I know Fox and Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman long enough to be shocked that he’d speak a slur for homosexuals — the F-word — even when he thought he was off the air, let alone while attached to a microphone.
I don’t know if he’ll receive the career death penalty, given that he was more likely trying to sound like a wise guy rather than a hate monger. Sometimes “Some of my best friends are …” makes for legitimate mitigation.
But we can rationalize anything. Bottom line: Brennaman should never have been inclined to speak such a slur.
But I do know that even after Jay-Z wrote, recorded, performed and sold rap songs in which he trashed gays — and rapped far worse, including a steady reference to black men as the N-word and the vulgar sexual objectifications of women — Roger Goodell’s NFL embraced him as its Minister of Social Justice.
Thus we do know that justice is selective, seldom reflecting the genuine, blindfolded kind.
Philadelphia’s former mayor, Michael Nutter, a black man, demanded the Eagles fire white receiver Riley Cooper for using the N-word, but had no problem with the Phillies signing Delmon Young after he attacked a bearded man because he thought he was Jewish.
In the meantime, Charlotte Hornets’ first-season radio play-by-play man John Focke has been indefinitely suspended for tweeting on the fly from his kitchen table while watching a Utah-Denver game.
Hitting “send” without looking, he referenced the Nuggets as the plural of the N-word while quickly banging out “Jazz-Nuggets,” a no-look message for the real-time reading edification of very few.
Focke explained his was a careless cell phone mistake. And as the Charlotte Observer’s Scott Fowler wrote, “Look down at your own screen. The ‘u’ is next to the ‘i,’ the ‘t’ is next to the ‘r.’ ”
Still, as CBS’ venerable Verne Lundquist has preached, the most dangerous word in our language has become “SEND.”
Beyond that, for what logical reason would Focke have typed and sent such? Was he trying put an early end to his career or did he make a negligent technological error?
This week I returned an email to a reader named “Puggy,” later to see that I referenced him as “Piggy.”
As a matter of common sense, the suspension of Focke makes none, like ESPN’s firing of tennis analyst Doug Adler for complimenting Venus Willliams’ “guerilla” tactics, as if he suddenly and for no reason called her a gorilla.
If the Hornets believe Focke’s intentionally used that word, he must be fired as a racist — even if others in and associated with the NBA regularly use it.
If it was what it sensibly appears to be — modern technology turned on its creator like Frankenstein’s monster — Focke must be forgiven, his career unstained by a speed-typing accident.
Only the unreasonable and illogical would be left to believe otherwise, that out of the blue, Focke, a freshly hired NBA radio man, decided to call the Nuggets a group racial slur. By the way, who suspended or fired the Rev. Jesse Jackson for calling NYC “Hymie Town”?
Critics swing and miss by slamming Tatis’ slam
Know what I’m going to buy you for your birthday? Something we all could use: a standing eight count. You know, enough time to clear your head to determine whether you should continue or stop having your brains scrambled.
Monday, the Padres’ Fernando Tatis committed an unfamiliar sin. With his team up on Texas, 10-3 in the eighth, he hit a grand slam against Juan Nicasio on a 3-0 count.
Among lesser options, he chose to swing. Being an old, white, grumpy, get-off-my-lawn sports columnist, I was supposed to join players and media in being appalled. What seemed a reasonable time for Tatis to be swinging, apparently violated an unwritten code of conduct.
MLB players, managers and media don’t seem to have a problem with The Game’s chronic self-ruin by the absence of proven winning fundamentals — the bunt, hitting the other way to defeat shifts, the removal of home-plate posing that often result in off-the-wall “home run” singles and optional running to first base even in World Series games.
But what Tatis did was inexcusable?
You want appalling? Wednesday on SNY’s Mets-Marlins slog-a-thon, the Mets up 1-0 early, New York’s hustling but often self-deluded lefty “slugger” Brandon Nimmo worked a 2-0 count — against a shift toward first base. That’s right, the shift was on even for a happy-to-hit-the-ball sprayer.
With the third base side of the infield abandoned, a bunt or a slap in that direction would at least be worth a single. But Nimmo didn’t even give it a shot. He struck out, looking. Now that’s appalling.
But what would surely stoke the incredulity of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez didn’t provoke a word.
Wednesday night one could choose between Rays-Yankees on YES — 4-2, Rays; 12 total hits, 26 strikeouts nine pitchers in 3:15 — and Mets-Marlins — 5-3, Mets; a total of 20 strikeouts against 10 pitchers in 3:15.
Both games and telecasts had much in common: They were desultory, new-standard home-run-or-strikeouts drags with half-inning breaks dominated by commercials for vulnerable fools in their early 20s to bet on MLB games.
All two-strike pitches were attacked with vicious, damn-the-circumstances swings. Exhibit A: Rays catcher Mike Zunino hit a home run — and struck out in his other three at-bats.
On YES, Michael Kay again emphasized launch angles, exit velocities and home run distances as new baseball essentials.
Kay also lamented the injury to DJ LeMahieu, the best Yankees’ hitter. Currently batting .411, he’s tough to defend as he hits to all fields. But perhaps lost on Kay & Co., he doesn’t register on exit velo, launch angle and HR distance charts. He’s good, but no Gary Sanchez!
Tuesday, the Cubs beat the Cardinals, 6-3; nine pitchers, 26 strikeouts, 13 walks. The 8 ½-inning game ran 4:09. Thursday’s 10-5, 3:25 Rays win over the Yanks included 12 pitchers. Sanctuary!
But the week’s big story was shame on Fernando Tatis for doing dirt to The Game.
Leagues, networks pay attention: NHL gets a pass
With TV and marketing strategists still mindlessly rewarding the biggest me-first artists as the preferred representatives of sports — women’s sports, too, as per Megan Rapinoe — the NHL can’t seem to help itself. It remains a team-first sport.
When the Islanders’ Mathew Barzal first-timed a shot past Capitals goalie Braden Holtby on Tuesday, on MSG a TV camera couldn’t help but show Barzal immediately point toward defenseman Nick Leddy, who’d fed him the puck.
Barzal then could be seen to holler, “What a bleepin’ pass, baby!”


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--It was only matter of time before coronavirus hit New York sports

There could be a double meaning when the 2020 World ...

This hits home now. We always knew that was a possibility, if not a certainty. As the coronavirus made its merry way around Major League Baseball, infiltrating random teams and picking off games like a sniper — the Marlins, the Cardinals, the Reds — New York could hold its breath, then exhale, then say:
At least it’s not the Yankees.
At least it’s not the Mets.
Only now, it is the Mets. It is New York. And because the virus seems to have a sinister sense of irony, it strikes home on the eve of the first Subway Series of the season. Two known members of the Mets tested positive — one player, one staffer — and so Thursday’s game in Miami was postponed. Friday’s Subway Series lid-lifter was postponed, too.
It is almost certain the rest of the weekend will follow suit, because the new buzz phrase of baseball — of all sports — is this:
“An abundance of caution.”
This has been an ever-evolving part of the MLB protocol. During summer camp, players who tested positive were sent to quarantine but the practices marched on. DJ LeMahieu missed all of the summer restart for the Yankees. Aroldis Chapman has only this week returned from his bout with the virus. A few Mets tested positive in summer, quarantined, recovered, reported for duty. No games were lost.
Just before the Yankees’ Opening Day game with the Nationals in Washington on July 23, Nationals star Juan Soto tested positive. Now, it seems almost certain that Soto’s case was a false positive, but nobody knew that on opening night. And while some, notably Nats manager Dave Martinez, were visibly shaken by the news, there was never any serious thought given to canceling the game.
It wasn’t until a week later, when multiple Marlins started testing positive in Philadelphia, and the games were allowed to go on, and the numbers swelled to absurd proportions — 18 players before it was over — that MLB completely altered its approach to this. The next week, a couple of Cardinals did, too, and they went dark for more than two weeks.
All the while, New York has been spared, the only seasonal interruption an indirect one when the Yankees were supposed to visit Philadelphia after the Marlins’ outbreak. All along, baseball has done everything possible to combat the COVID-19 scourge considering it is not conducting its business in a bubble. The NBA and the NHL have both returned round after round of spotless tests because of that setup. The NFL, in its latest round of testing, had a positive rate of 0.006, helped along by a series of proactive measures that have helped make the daily football workday as bubble-like as possible.
Baseball never had a serious way to make any of this happen. There are too many players, and too few facilities. The likely bubble spots in March — Florida, Texas, Arizona — have evolved into hot spots in the summer. There is talk the playoffs might seek bubble-type refuge, and the more teams are affected, the greater the likelihood that will happen.
That’s all down the line, though.
For now, what was already going to be a surreal Subway Series — free of fans, free of atmosphere, free of any and all off-field energy — is now almost certainly to be switched, in its entirety, to a trio of doubleheaders next weekend, when the second half of the Subway Series is scheduled for Yankee Stadium.
And that, truthfully, is a best-case scenario.
Because if we’ve learned anything from this season, it is that it’s impossible to predict how any of this will shake out, in much the same way the most enigmatic of all COVID-19 puzzles is this: why some get it, why some don’t. The Phillies shared the field with the Marlins during that initial outbreak back in July, yet none of their players tested positive.
“It’s difficult,” Aaron Boone said Thursday, called back into the Yankees’ Zoom room for a second time after the news about the Mets was made public, looking ever bit as somber as the moment called for. “We know what we signed up for.”
So did baseball. And so does baseball. This has been a firewalk, quite literally, from the beginning, from before the beginning, from the moment the Nats suspected Soto had the virus and played on anyway, through the ever-evolving protocols that try to keep the train on the tracks.
In the end, there is only so much the sport can control. Marcus Stroman, on the day last week when he opted out of the season, cited the Mets’ trip to Miami as one of his concerns. Stroman lives in South Florida but it’s one thing to settle in at home there, another to travel there on business. He couldn’t have been the only one on the team — or in the sport — who harbored such worries.
And who will continue to do so.
For now we await what’s to become of the Mets, what’s to become of their season. Time was, a baseball team’s chief concern was combatting the kind of miserable stretch the Yankees have experienced, one that continued Thursday with Gleyber Torres and James Paxton both winding up in MRI tubes. That was then.
Now, baseball cities wait for the virus, lurking like a sniper on a rooftop, to visit them. This time it was New York. This time, it’s home.


newyorkpost--2020-08-20--Xavier McKinney sees Nick Saban-like approach in Joe Judge rules

There is much we do not know about Joe Judge , ...

With so much attention paid to the pages Joe Judge is borrowing from Bill Belichick in his initial Giants practices, it’s easy to forget the first-time head coach worked under another all-time great, too.
Unless you are Xavier McKinney, who is fresh out of Nick Saban’s program at Alabama. Though Judge coached for Saban (2009-11) long before McKinney arrived in Tuscaloosa as a four-star recruit, developed into an All-American and became a second-round NFL draft pick, Giants training camp still feels like a familiar continuation.
“When [Judge] discussed some of his rules and how he wanted things to be handled and how we wanted us to be as a team, it was almost like a mirror version of how it was at ’Bama for me,” McKinney said. “As far as that, it was an easy adjustment for me. I have already been in this type of system.”
NFL speed is kicked up a notch, especially during a Judge-led practice with little idle time and no wasted reps by using multiple fields. But, given his comfort level within a tight ship, it’s no surprise the rookie safety McKinney keeps flashing as a much-needed playmaker.
There was a leaping interception on a blitz: “Once I go through all those progressions, that’s when I can kind of attack,” he said. “I felt the quarterback looking my way. I felt something behind me and it was almost like a reaction play. I used my instincts and tried to make a play for us on the goal line.”
And there was a diving near-interception of a deflected pass, though close calls and pass breakups are not good enough in McKinney’s mind: “No, never satisfied,” he said. “That’s my biggest thing right now. I know what I’m capable of. A lot of the time I go back and watch my film, and when we watch film as a team, I always study what I did wrong and what I can do better.”
Safety wasn’t atop the Giants’ weaknesses entering the draft because Jabrill Peppers — a key piece in the Odell Beckham Jr. trade — returned alongside Julian Love. Peppers’ season-ending, five-game injury absence created an opportunity for Love to rapidly improve as a rookie, allowing the Giants to pass over the position in free agency.
But McKinney, 22, was expected to be selected long before pick No. 36, so the Giants took value over need at pass-rusher and strengthened sub packages with a three-safety rotation. They want to be a “loud defense,” and Peppers could be freed to play closer to the line of scrimmage if McKinney can patrol center field.
“He has a lot of natural ability,” defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson said. “We’re going to really push him hard to make sure he continues to grow and becomes one of those communicators for us. The safety position is one that kind of sits back, sees it all and talks down to what’s beneath them. We’re certainly going to ask that of him.”
The Giants are asking a lot of a lot of young players: Fifty of the 81 players in camp are age 24 or younger. So far, the response to Judge’s tactics has been a collective “yes sir.”
“I think as a team we love it, to be honest,” McKinney said. “Everybody loves discipline, especially here. Right now, when we go out there, we focus on what we need to focus on, which is becoming a better team, getting better as individuals. Everybody on the team likes Coach Judge. I think we’re good on that.”