newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Newspaper apologizes for ‘horrific’ ad that claims ‘Islam’ was going to bomb Nashville

A Tennessee newspaper is investigating how a “ horrific ” full-page , paid advertisement from a religious group that predicts a nuclear terror attack in Nashville next month ended up being published on Sunday .
In the ad that appeared in The Tennessean , a Gannett-owned newspaper in Nashville , the group Future For America claims President Trump “ is the final president of the USA.
” It begins by claiming that a nuclear device will be detonated in the city and that the attack will be carried out by unspecific interests of “ Islam.
” Future For America also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ editions of the paper stating its intention to warn Nashville residents about the cataclysmic event “ so that they may be able to make a decision intelligently.
” In a non-bylined article Sunday , The Tennessean described the religious group as “ fringe , ” saying its ad was immediately pulled and that an investigation has been launched .
“ Two ads ran this week in the Tennessean that clearly violate our advertising standards , ” Kevin Gentzel , president of marketing solutions and chief revenue officer for Gannett , said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message and apologize to our readers .
We are immediately investigating to determine how this could have happened , ” he added .
The paper ’ s local sales chief also issued an apology .
“ The advertisement that was placed within the Tennessean is not what we condone or stand for within our advertising department guidelines and procedures , ” Ryan Kedzierski said , The Tennessean reported .
“ This advertisement should not have been published within The Tennessean and we are sincerely sorry that this mistake took place .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertisement was able to get through and we are reviewing internally why and how this occurred and we will be taking actions immediately to correct , ” he continued .
“ No words or actions can describe how sorry we are to the community for the advertisements that were published .
We will be utilizing the advertising dollars that went toward the full-page ad placements and donating those funds to the American Muslim Advisory Council.
” Michael Anastasi , the paper ’ s vice president and editor , said earlier Sunday that “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal processes , which call for careful scrutiny of our advertising content.
” Noting that that news and sales divisions operate independently , Anastasi added : “ The ad is horrific and is utterly indefensible in all circumstances .
It is wrong , period , and should have never been published .
“ It has hurt members of our community and our own employees and that saddens me beyond belief .
It is inconsistent with everything The Tennessean as an institution stands and has stood for and with the journalism we have produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a spokesman for the Council on Islamic-American Relations , said in a statement that while the group appreciates that the “ Islamophobic ” ad was pulled and a probe has been launched , “ we would urge The Tennessean to also implement updated policies and staff training to ensure that this type of hate incident does not occur in the future .
CAIR is willing to offer that training.
” It was not immediately known how much the group paid for the ads .
According to its website , the group ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prophecies whose fulfillment “ is no longer future for it is taking place before our eyes.
” A message left by The Associated Press with the Arkansas-based Future for America wasn ’ t immediately returned .

A Tennessee newspaper is investigating how a “horrific” full-page, paid advertisement from a religious group that predicts a nuclear terror attack in Nashville next month ended up being published on Sunday.
In the ad that appeared in The Tennessean, a Gannett-owned newspaper in Nashville, the group Future For America claims President Trump “is the final president of the USA.”
It begins by claiming that a nuclear device will be detonated in the city and that the attack will be carried out by unspecified interests of “Islam.”
Future For America also ran an ad in Wednesday’s editions of the paper stating its intention to warn Nashville residents about the cataclysmic event “so that they may be able to make a decision intelligently.”
In a non-bylined article Sunday, The Tennessean described the religious group as “fringe,” saying its ad was immediately pulled and that an investigation has been launched.
“Two ads ran this week in the Tennessean that clearly violate our advertising standards,” Kevin Gentzel, president of marketing solutions and chief revenue officer for Gannett, said in a tweet.
“We strongly condemn the message and apologize to our readers. We are immediately investigating to determine how this could have happened,” he added.
The paper’s local sales chief also issued an apology.
“The advertisement that was placed within the Tennessean is not what we condone or stand for within our advertising department guidelines and procedures,” Ryan Kedzierski said, The Tennessean reported.
“This advertisement should not have been published within The Tennessean and we are sincerely sorry that this mistake took place. We are extremely apologetic to the community that the advertisement was able to get through and we are reviewing internally why and how this occurred and we will be taking actions immediately to correct,” he continued.
“No words or actions can describe how sorry we are to the community for the advertisements that were published. We will be utilizing the advertising dollars that went toward the full-page ad placements and donating those funds to the American Muslim Advisory Council.”
Michael Anastasi, the paper’s vice president and editor, said earlier Sunday that “clearly there was a breakdown in the normal processes, which call for careful scrutiny of our advertising content.”
Noting that the news and sales divisions operate independently, Anastasi added: “The ad is horrific and is utterly indefensible in all circumstances. It is wrong, period, and should have never been published.
“It has hurt members of our community and our own employees and that saddens me beyond belief. It is inconsistent with everything The Tennessean as an institution stands and has stood for and with the journalism we have produced,” he said.
Ibrahim Hooper, a spokesman for the Council on Islamic-American Relations, said in a statement that while the group appreciates that the “Islamophobic” ad was pulled and a probe has been launched, “we would urge The Tennessean to also implement updated policies and staff training to ensure that this type of hate incident does not occur in the future. CAIR is willing to offer that training.”
It was not immediately known how much the group paid for the ads.
According to its website, the group’s ministry warns of so-called end-of-the-world Bible prophecies whose fulfillment “is no longer future for it is taking place before our eyes.”
A message left by the Associated Press with the Arkansas-based Future For America wasn’t immediately returned.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Baby thinks her name is ‘Alexa’ thanks to Amazon Echo

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What do you do when your baby thinks her name is Alexa? A mom in Douglas, Isle of Man, posted a funny video of her 11-month-old daughter, Emily, responding to “Alexa” — Amazon’s virtual assistant — instead of her own name. The parents bought an Amazon Echo device when their child was 5 months old and have been using it ever since.
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newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Rayshard Brooks’ funeral to be held at church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached

A public viewing is planned Monday for Rayshard Brooks — who was killed in a confrontation with Atlanta police – and the 27-year-old ’ s family and friends will honor his life in a funeral service Tuesday , according to a report .
The viewing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church , where the Rev .
Martin Luther King Jr. served as a co-pastor from 1960 until his assassination in 1968 , according to CNN .
“ Ebenezer is a parish for all people , a sanctuary for those who suffer , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior pastor of Ebenezer , WSB-TV reported .
“ Rayshard was not a member of our church but he , and his loved ones , are a part of our family .
We seek to embrace them , comfort them and walk beside them in the days ahead , ” he added .
Tuesday ’ s private service will be held at 1 p.m. at the church , where King ’ s daughter , the Rev .
Bernice A .
King , will speak .
Warnock will provide the eulogy .
Atlanta media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the funeral arrangements , according to Brooks ’ family attorney Chris Stewart .
Gospel singers Smokie Norful , Tamela Mann and Kurt Carr are expected to perform at the funeral service , CNN reported .
Brooks was fatally shot by an Atlanta police officer who had responded to a Wendy ’ s following reports that he was asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane .
Garrett Rolfe , who has been fired from the force , is charged with felony murder , five counts of aggravated assault , one count of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counts of violation of oath in Brooks ’ death .
His former partner , Devin Brosnan , faces charges of aggravated assault and three counts of violation of oath .

A public viewing is planned Monday for Rayshard Brooks — who was killed in a confrontation with Atlanta police – and the 27-year-old’s family and friends will honor his life in a funeral service Tuesday, according to a report.
The viewing will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. served as a co-pastor from 1960 until his assassination in 1968, according to CNN.
“Ebenezer is a parish for all people, a sanctuary for those who suffer,” said the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer, WSB-TV reported.
“Rayshard was not a member of our church but he, and his loved ones, are a part of our family. We seek to embrace them, comfort them and walk beside them in the days ahead,” he added.
Tuesday’s private service will be held at 1 p.m. at the church, where King’s daughter, the Rev. Bernice A. King, will speak. Warnock will provide the eulogy.
Atlanta media mogul Tyler Perry has offered to pay for the funeral arrangements, according to Brooks’ family attorney Chris Stewart.
Gospel singers Smokie Norful, Tamela Mann and Kurt Carr are expected to perform at the funeral service, CNN reported.
Brooks was fatally shot by an Atlanta police officer who had responded to a Wendy’s following reports that he was asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane.
Garrett Rolfe, who has been fired from the force, is charged with felony murder, five counts of aggravated assault, one count of first-degree criminal damage to property and four counts of violation of oath in Brooks’ death.
His former partner, Devin Brosnan, faces charges of aggravated assault and three counts of violation of oath.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--North Carolina block party shooting leaves 2 dead, 7 injured

At least two people were killed and seven others wounded in a shooting that erupted during a block party in Charlotte , North Carolina , early Monday — and five others were struck by cars as they tried to flee from the gunfire , according to reports .
Police responded to a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle shortly after midnight on Beatties Foard Road and Lasalle Street , where hundreds had gathered for the impromptu party , WBTV reported .
As soon as the cops arrived , bullets began flying .
Nine people were shot and two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings told reporters , adding that there was evidence of multiple shooters .
Five or six of the dozen people rushed to local hospitals have life-threatening injuries , officials said .
No arrests have been made and a motive for the bloodshed was not immediately available .
Witnesses said people had gathered to celebrate Juneteenth along Beatties Ford Road all weekend during peaceful celebrations , WBTV reported .
Some people told the news outlet that they saw drivers speeding and performing risky maneuvers in the street , but police have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
WBTV reporter Anne Marie Hagerty tweeted that the family of a victim told her “ they are devastated to lose a loved daughter/niece , right after Father ’ s Day , in this senseless violence.
” She added : “ They say they just buried a sister in January and this is too much.
” Just an hour earlier , Charlotte police said they found a man who ’ d been shot and killed in a common area in an apartment complex on Varsity Lane .
Authorities haven ’ t released any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a motive in the homicide .
On Saturday night , at least nine people were wounded when gunfire erupted at an outdoor party in Syracuse , including a 17-year-old boy who was left in critical condition after he was shot in the head .

Two people were killed and seven others wounded when at least 100 rounds were fired during a Juneteenth block party in Charlotte, North Carolina, early Monday – and five others were struck by cars as they tried to flee the mayhem, officials said.
The gunfire erupted after police responded to a call of a pedestrian struck by a car shortly after midnight on Beatties Foard Road and Lasalle Street, where hundreds had gathered for the impromptu party, WBTV reported.
As soon as cops arrived, bullets began flying. Nine people were shot and two of them have died, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Deputy Chief Johnny Jennings told reporters, adding that there was evidence of multiple shooters.
Three of the wounded victims were fighting for their life, the Charlotte Observer reported.
“It was a very, very chaotic scene,” Deputy Chief Gerald Smith said at a press conference, adding that no witnesses had come forward yet.
“Four hundred people in one spot, we have not one witness,” he lamented.
No police officers fired their weapons in the incident, which started shortly after midnight.
“A short time later, they located a female victim with an apparent gunshot wound, lying in the roadway on Beatties Ford Road. The victim was pronounced deceased on the scene by Medic,” police said.
No arrests have been made and a motive for the bloodshed was not yet known, Smith said.
Police said there was evidence that “several different caliber weapons” were fired simultaneously, indicating more than one person opened fire.
Jennings described the event as a multi-day “impromptu block party” for Juneteenth – the commemoration of the official end of slavery in the US — that began Friday.
WBTV reporter Anne Marie Hagerty tweeted that the family of a victim told her “they are devastated to lose a loved daughter/niece, right after Father’s Day, in this senseless violence.”
She added: “They say they just buried a sister in January and this is too much.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles reacted on Twitter to the “senseless acts of violence.”
“What should have been a joyous celebration of freedom, became a moment where people lost their lives and many others suffered serious injuries,” Lyles wrote.
“While I do feel that we have made progress on violent crime, we still have more work to do. This type of tragedy cannot continue to happen in our city. … Violence only leads to more suffering and pain,” she said.
“To those families who lost loved ones this morning, I am grieving with you. And to all of those with injuries, I hope you recover quickly. I also want to thank the first responders who were on the scene and cared for those who were injured,” the mayor added.
Just an hour before the incident, Charlotte police said they found a man who’d been shot and killed in a common area in an apartment complex on Varsity Lane.
Authorities haven’t released any details about the victim, any suspects or a motive in the homicide.
On Saturday night, at least nine people were wounded when gunfire erupted at an outdoor party in Syracuse, including a 17-year-old boy who was left in critical condition after he was shot in the head.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Amazon Big Style Sale: What is it and what happened to Prime Day?

After months of being cooped up inside waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to pass , states are slowly opening up once again .
But for most regions , nonessential retail is still a far way off — which means shopping trips feel like a distant memory .
For those who consider bargain shopping a sport , there ’ s finally a way to satiate that desire for deals .
Amazon has postponed its 2020 Prime Day deal extravaganza , but the e-commerce giant is having an extra special summer sale for fashionistas looking for their fix .
Details from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what we know so far about the secretive Big Style Sale .
When does the Big Style Sale begin and how long will it last ?
Amazon ’ s Big Style Sale starts June 22 but it ’ s not for one day only .
CNBC reports it could last anywhere from seven to 10 days and it ’ s being touted as the “ Biggest Sale in the Sky.
” What is Amazon ’ s Big Style Sale , anyway ?
The retail industry has been hit hard by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sale to help jump-start business for select brands .
According to CNBC , Amazon sent a memo out to invited brands that reads : “ We are having the Biggest Summer Sale event to drive excitement and jump-start sales .
To drive customer engagement , we are asking for your participation.
” A spokesperson tells CNBC that the sale “ will include seasonally relevant deals from both established and smaller fashion brands.
” It ’ s unclear if deals will be available for all or just Prime members .
What kind of deals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brands have been asked by Amazon to offer at least a 30 % off discount for items .
However , DealNews.com reports Amazon may offer up to 50 % off its own labels , which include basics haven Amazon Essentials , Core 10 for leggings lovers , Goodthreads for timeless attire , workwear shop Lark & Ro , loungewear from Daily Ritual and more .
So what brands/products are included ?
Amazon is reportedly still finalizing details for the sale , but the deals are slated to include categories such as shoes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , swimwear , pants , handbags and jewelry for women , men and kids .
Rumored designer brands include Calvin Klein , Frame denim , Fila , Rag & Bone , Theory , Vince and Y-3 .
DealNews predicts that brands like Champion , Hanes , Adidas , American Apparel , Under Armour and Levi ’ s will be part of the sale , too .
Is Prime Day still happening this year ?
Amazon usually hosts its annual Prime Day , a two-day event filled with deals and flash sales , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postpone the event until September due to the coronavirus .
How does the Big Style Sale compare to Prime Day ?
While Prime Day is known for offering big savings up to as much as 50 percent off — and even more in some cases — how the Big Style Sale stacks up is still unknown , but reports say it will only include markdowns up to 30 percent off on some brands .
It ’ s also just limited to apparel and clothing , unlike Prime Day which typically has deals in @ @ @ @ @

After months of being cooped up inside waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to pass, states are slowly opening up once again. But for most regions, nonessential retail is still a far way off — which means shopping trips feel like a distant memory.
For those who consider bargain shopping a sport, there’s finally a way to satiate that desire for deals.
Amazon has postponed its 2020 Prime Day deal extravaganza, but the e-commerce giant is having an extra special summer sale for fashionistas looking for their fix.
Details from the company have been sparse, but here’s what we know so far about the secretive Big Style Sale.
When does the Big Style Sale begin and how long will it last?
Amazon’s Big Style Sale starts June 22 but it’s not for one day only. CNBC reports it could last anywhere from seven to 10 days and it’s being touted as the “Biggest Sale in the Sky.”
What is Amazon’s Big Style Sale, anyway?
The retail industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus, so Amazon is having the sale to help jump-start business for select brands. According to CNBC, Amazon sent a memo out to invited brands that reads: “We are having the Biggest Summer Sale event to drive excitement and jump-start sales. To drive customer engagement, we are asking for your participation.”
A spokesperson tells CNBC that the sale “will include seasonally relevant deals from both established and smaller fashion brands.”
It’s unclear if deals will be available for all or just Prime members.
What kind of deals are they offering?
CNBC reports participating brands have been asked by Amazon to offer at least a 30% off discount for items. However, DealNews.com reports Amazon may offer up to 50% off its own labels, which include basics haven Amazon Essentials, Core 10 for leggings lovers, Goodthreads for timeless attire, workwear shop Lark & Ro, loungewear from Daily Ritual and more.
So what brands/products are included?
Amazon is reportedly still finalizing details for the sale, but the deals are slated to include categories such as shoes, dresses, coats and jackets, shirts, swimwear, pants, handbags and jewelry for women, men and kids. Rumored designer brands include Calvin Klein, Frame denim, Fila, Rag & Bone, Theory, Vince and Y-3.
DealNews predicts that brands like Champion, Hanes, Adidas, American Apparel, Under Armour and Levi’s will be part of the sale, too.
Is Prime Day still happening this year?
Amazon usually hosts its annual Prime Day, a two-day event filled with deals and flash sales, in mid-July. However, it will likely postpone the event until September due to the coronavirus.
How does the Big Style Sale compare to Prime Day?
While Prime Day is known for offering big savings up to as much as 50 percent off — and even more in some cases — how the Big Style Sale stacks up is still unknown, but reports say it will only include markdowns up to 30 percent off on some brands. It’s also just limited to apparel and clothing, unlike Prime Day which typically has deals in just about every category.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--For second straight night, shooting reported in cop-free Seattle protest zone

At least one person was shot on Sunday night inside Seattle ’ s autonomous protest zone , where demonstrators have settled during the civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers .
The Seattle Police Department said in a tweet at 11:26 p.m. that one person had suffered a gunshot wound while inside the area and that a second shooting may have taken place .
“ Police investigating reported shooting inside CHOP zone , ” the department wrote .
“ One person at HMC with gun shot wound.
” The “ CHOP zone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organized Protest zone , which was originally created as a space for nonviolent demonstration but has devolved into violence for a second straight night .
On Saturday , a 19-year-old man was killed after a shooting took place inside the zone .
Officers responding to the shooting said they had trouble getting to the scene because they were “ were met by a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access to the victims.
” Seattle Police last week said that they would only enter the zone for “ significant life-safety issues .
”

At least one person was shot on Sunday night inside Seattle’s autonomous protest zone, where demonstrators have settled during the civil unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers.
The Seattle Police Department said in a tweet at 11:26 p.m. that one person had suffered a gunshot wound while inside the area and that a second shooting may have taken place.
“Police investigating reported shooting inside CHOP zone,” the department wrote. “One person at HMC with gun shot wound.”
The “CHOP zone” refers to the so-called Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, which was originally created as a space for nonviolent demonstration but has descended into violence for a second straight night.
On Saturday, a 19-year-old man was killed after a shooting took place inside the zone.
Officers responding to the shooting said they had trouble getting to the scene because they “were met by a violent crowd that prevented officers safe access to the victims.”
Seattle police last week said they would only enter the zone for “significant life-safety issues.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Sheriff’s office, DA employees allegedly destroy ‘BLM’ sign in California

Two public employees in Ventura County , California — one who works with the Sheriff ’ s Office and another formally employed by the district attorney — were caught on camera destroying a Black Lives Matter sign , officials said .
Darrin Stone , an employee of the Ventura County Sheriff ’ s Office since 2005 , could be seen on surveillance video twice as he uses a knife to shred a sign placed on a fence in Thousand Oaks , according to a report in the Thousand Oaks Acorn .
“ I ’ m deeply disappointed that one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of illegal activity , ” Sheriff Bill Ayub said in a statement .
Stone , 60 , took a knife to the sign on June 13 and June 19 .
He was placed on administrative leave by the sheriff ’ s office due to the incident .
Craig Anderson , an investigative assistant at the Ventura County district attorney ’ s office , was also caught on the camera defacing the sign , the report said .
Anderson , 59 , has resigned from the district attorney ’ s office , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
A third suspect , 58-year-old Jeffrey Moore , spray-painted the sign on June 11 , but was found easily because his company name and phone number were “ prominently displayed on his vehicle , ” cops said .
The 19-year-old college student who hung the sign , Maxwell Meyers , put up the camera in case anyone attempted to destroy the tarp with the letters “ BLM ” festooned across it .
When the image of Stone was posted on social media , a sheriff ’ s deputy recognized him right @ @

Two public employees in Ventura County, California — one who works with the Sheriff’s Office and another formerly employed by the district attorney — were caught on camera destroying a Black Lives Matter sign, officials said.
Darrin Stone, an employee of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office since 2005, could be seen on surveillance video twice as he uses a knife to shred a sign placed on a fence in Thousand Oaks, according to a report in the Thousand Oaks Acorn.
“I’m deeply disappointed that one of our employees involved himself in this type of illegal activity,” Sheriff Bill Ayub said in a statement.
Stone, 60, took a knife to the sign on June 13 and June 19. He was placed on administrative leave by the sheriff’s office due to the incident.
Craig Anderson, an investigative assistant at the Ventura County district attorney’s office, was also caught on the camera defacing the sign, the report said.
Anderson, 59, has resigned from the district attorney’s office, but it was not clear when exactly that took place.
A third suspect, 58-year-old Jeffrey Moore, spray-painted the sign on June 11, but was found easily because his company name and phone number were “prominently displayed on his vehicle,” cops said.
The 19-year-old college student who hung the sign, Maxwell Meyers, put up the camera in case anyone attempted to destroy the tarp with the letters “BLM” festooned across it.
When the image of Stone was posted on social media, a sheriff’s deputy recognized him right away.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--WHO reports largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases

GENEVA — The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count , at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours .
The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the U.S. next at 36,617 .
Over 15,400 came in in India .
Experts said rising case counts can reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing as well as broader infection .
Overall in the pandemic , WHO reported 8,708,008 cases — 183,020 in the last 24 hours — with 461,715 deaths worldwide , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas .
In Spain , officials ended a national state of emergency after three months of lockdown , allowing its 47 million residents to freely travel around the country for the first time since March 14 .
The country also dropped a 14-day quarantine for visitors from Britain and the 26 European countries that allow visa-free travel .
But there was only a trickle of travelers at Madrid-Barajas Airport , which on a normal June day would be bustling .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to justify our journey to see our family and friends , this was something that we were really looking forward to , ” Pedro Delgado , 23 , said after arriving from Spain ’ s Canary Islands .
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to take maximum precautions : “ The virus can return and it can hit us again in a second wave , and we have to do whatever we can to avoid that at all cost.
” At a campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma , Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , but the “ bad part ” is that it found more cases .
“ When you do testing to that extent , you ’ re going to find more people , you ’ re going to find more cases , ” Trump said .
“ So I said to my people , ‘ Slow the testing down , please.
’ ″ White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on CNN that Trump was being “ tongue-in-cheek ” and made the comment in a “ light mood.
” Democratic rival Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting politics ahead of the safety and economic well-being of the American people.
” The U.S. has the world ’ s highest number of reported infections , over 2.2 million , and the highest death toll , at about 120,000 , according to Johns Hopkins .
Health officials say robust testing is vital for tracking outbreaks and keeping the virus in check .

GENEVA — The World Health Organization on Sunday reported the largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases by its count, at more than 183,000 new cases in the latest 24 hours.
The UN health agency said Brazil led the way with 54,771 cases tallied and the US was next at 36,617. Over 15,400 came in in India.
Experts said rising case counts can reflect multiple factors including more widespread testing as well as broader infection.
Overall in the pandemic, WHO reported 8,708,008 cases — 183,020 in the last 24 hours — with 461,715 deaths worldwide, with a daily increase of 4,743.
More than two-thirds of those new deaths were reported in the Americas.
In Spain, officials ended a national state of emergency after three months of lockdown, allowing its 47 million residents to freely travel around the country for the first time since March 14. The country also dropped a 14-day quarantine for visitors from Britain and the 26 European countries that allow visa-free travel.
But there was only a trickle of travelers at Madrid-Barajas Airport, which on a normal June day would be bustling.
“This freedom that we now have, not having to justify our journey to see our family and friends, this was something that we were really looking forward to,” Pedro Delgado, 23, said after arriving from Spain’s Canary Islands.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged people to take maximum precautions: “The virus can return and it can hit us again in a second wave, and we have to do whatever we can to avoid that at all cost.”
At a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, President Trump said Saturday the US has tested 25 million people, but the “bad part” is that it found more cases.
“When you do testing to that extent, you’re going to find more people, you’re going to find more cases,” Trump said. “So I said to my people, ‘Slow the testing down, please.’″
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said on CNN that Trump was being “tongue-in-cheek” and made the comment in a “light mood.”
Democratic rival Joe Biden’s campaign accused Trump of “putting politics ahead of the safety and economic well-being of the American people.”
The US has the world’s highest number of reported infections, over 2.2 million, and the highest death toll, at about 120,000, according to Johns Hopkins University. Health officials say robust testing is vital for tracking outbreaks and keeping the virus in check.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Trump says AOC should challenge Chuck Schumer for Senate seat: ‘She would win!’

President Trump predicted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would win in a primary election against Chuck Schumer for his long-standing New York @ @ @ @ @ made the comments on Twitter in response to a recent story published by the Washington @ @ @ @ @ prospect of a potential Ocasio-Cortez-Schumer showdown in 2022 .
“ Actually , that would be @ @ @ @ @ she would win !
” the president quote tweeted along with the story .
The @ @ @ @ @ cited a recent tweet from David Sirota , a senior adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ broached the idea of the race .
“ Just going to say something out loud @ @ @ @ @ The fastest way to speed up the process of changing the corrupt , do-nothing , @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party is for @ AOC to defeat @ ChuckSchumer in a Democratic primary in @ @ @ @ @ .

President Trump predicted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would win in a primary election against Chuck Schumer for his long-held New York Senate seat.
The president made the comments on Twitter in response to a recent story published by the Washington Times about liberals raising the prospect of a potential Ocasio-Cortez-vs.-Schumer showdown in 2022.
“Actually, that would be a big improvement – and she would win!” the president quote tweeted along with the story.
The Washington Times story from Sunday cited a recent tweet from David Sirota, a senior adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, that broached the idea of the race.
“Just going to say something out loud that should be obvious: The fastest way to speed up the process of changing the corrupt, do-nothing, status-quo-protecting culture of the national Democratic Party is for @AOC to defeat @ChuckSchumer in a Democratic primary in 2022,” Sirota wrote.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--How MLB teams are developing prospects with baseball on hold

What ’ s it like to be a minor leaguer without minor ...

The trend, in the rapidly evolving world of professional baseball, has been to nudge hitters away from honing their craft on a tee. To use pitching machines instead.
A pandemic, it turns out, can moderate a trend rather efficiently.
“One of the players reached out and said, ‘Can I hit off a tee?’ We said, ‘Yeah, dude!’ ” Kevin Reese, the Yankees’ senior director of player development, said recently in a telephone interview. “ ‘Ted Williams used to pick up pebbles and hit them with a broomstick. That may be all we have access to, but if it helps you work on your hand-eye coordination, awesome.’ ”
As the present of Major League Baseball hinges tenuously on not only the path of the coronavirus but also the ability of players and owners to hammer out an agreement, its future also takes a beating. The sport’s lifeblood, its minor league players, sit at home like the rest of us, their professional maturation short-circuited. Teams spend far more than they once did on resources, from equipment to personnel, for their uncut gems. With development complexes closed, many of those resources are collecting dust and taking pay cuts.
“This is the research and development side of the organization,” said Jim Duquette, the former Mets general manager and Orioles vice president of baseball operations who now broadcasts on MLB Network Radio. “It’s one of the most important aspects of the organization, and every year is precious.
“As we know there’s a very short timeline in an athlete’s career when you can take advantage of their peak season. You take one out, you miss one season of live game action, it impacts guys.”
It falls upon folks like Reese and his Mets equivalent Jared Banner (the club’s executive director of player development) to minimize that impact. To develop without the benefit of a minor league season, which very likely won’t happen even if the major league campaign takes flight, or having constant eyes on the assets.
“Despite the lack of baseball currently, we don’t believe in making excuses,” Banner wrote in an email. “There is always a way to improve, and it’s our responsibility to be innovative and provide our players with safe ways to do so until we can get back on the field again.”
In the past couple of weeks, the Yankees and Mets released 45 and 39 minor league players, respectively, a most unfortunate nod to the cost-cutting that many owners, even the large-market ones, have executed. For those who survived the purge, the challenge to get better while not being part of a team remains.
The Mets have utilized Zoom conference calls with their development staff and young players as well as one-on-one discussions to review and log activity, Banner wrote. Reese said the Yankees have produced videos for their charges, some of the “pump-up” variety and others instructive and reinforcing like showing a hitter a past at-bat in which he laid off a tough pitch and followed by stroking a friendlier offering for a double.
“We’re doing whatever we can to make players more aware of what they need to work on,” Reese said. “Hitting, strength and conditioning, mental — each of those departments have broken into groups. We have our Double-A hitting coach [Ken Joyce] working with our Double-A-ish hitters.”
The mention of minor-league levels prompts the question: Does a lost 2020 for the youngsters simply push everyone back a season? The player set to play at Double-A this year and Triple-A next year will instead do the former in 2021 and the latter in 2022? It needn’t be that simple or penurious, Reese said, explaining, “I think we’ve gotten better at scouting, better at evaluating the players that we have. It’s a little bit less ‘Graduate level by level.’
“It’s not just, ‘Hey this guy hit .300.’ It’s, ‘What was the quality of each of his at-bats?’ There’s a better chance to figure that stuff out.”
Furthermore, if circumstances do allow a major league season to take place, there will likely be expanded rosters in addition to reopened development complexes for the younger guys.
“Let’s say the rosters are at 35,” Duquette said. “Do you in some cases take a kid that you don’t feel is quite ready, but keep him around the major league team and get him involved in intra-squad [games], put him on the roster and activate his service time? You might be willing to give him exposure in doubleheaders on the pitching side, ‘Let’s throw him out there,’ even though in a normal year you wouldn’t. You might see cases like that.
“I think you’ll see development cycles speed up with some of these players moving forward because of the year that we missed.”
We also might see less turnover on both ends of the age spectrum. Veteran major leaguers near the end, having received less pay than expected and not enjoying a full campaign, could opt to return for 2021. Some prominent high school seniors, recognizing the reduced rounds and funds in this year’s amateur draft, opted out of this past week’s amateur draft, committed to colleges and hoping the coast clears down the road. Latin American amateurs and Asian professionals, reading the tea leaves from the shattered economy, could wait a year before shopping themselves.
Currently, teams and players do the best they can. That some players can do better than others depending on their socioeconomic status — whether their parents can afford a batting cage or the aforementioned pitching machine in their home, for instance — further underlines the concerns this creates at the industry’s foundation.
The only saving grace: Every club is equally handcuffed.
“It would be one thing if only one organization was behind the 8-ball,” Reese said. Whichever team can best solve this unexpected conundrum will reap the development dividends down the line.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Group of young children drown trying to save friend who fell into Chinese river

BEIJING — Eight children drowned in a river in southwestern China after one fell in and the others jumped in @ @ @ @ @ said Monday .
The children , described as elementary-school age , had gone to play @ @ @ @ @ the Fu River , according to state broadcaster CCTV .
Their bodies were recovered by @ @ @ @ @ from Mixin , a town near Sichuan province on the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis @ @ @ @ @ details were immediately available .
Heavy rain had been forecast for the area , but @ @ @ @ @ if the weather was a factor .

BEIJING — Eight children drowned in a river in southwestern China after one fell in and the others jumped in to help, state media said Monday.
The children, described as elementary-school age, had gone to play at a beach Sunday on the Fu River, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Their bodies were recovered by Monday morning.
They came from Mixin, a town near Sichuan province on the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis of Chongqing. No further details were immediately available.
Heavy rain had been forecast for the area, but it wasn’t clear if the weather was a factor.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Minor leaguers reflect on the ‘longest spring training of all time’

What ’ s it like to be a minor leaguer without minor leagues ?
While the coronavirus has shut down all levels of North American professional baseball , the major league players possess far more hope of competing this year than do their lower-level counterparts .
The Post spoke with two minor leaguers — one pitcher , one position player — both of whom signed out of the 2019 draft and approached 2020 as their first full professional season … until the pandemic hit .
Here are their stories : The pitcher : Montana Semmel , a Yankees right-hander chosen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Based in his native Stamford , Conn. , Semmel has seen friends lose grandparents to coronavirus and has helped raise money to combat it .
He nevertheless has focused as well as one can on his job .
“ I ’ m just trying to stay in shape , ” he said .
“ I ’ m throwing every day .
There ’ s not much you can really do because we ’ re all still locked up , up here .
The gyms are closed .
It ’ s hard for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility .
It ’ s been rough.
” Most of his mound sessions take place at his alma mater , Westhill High School .
At the direction of the Yankees , the 18-year-old throws two mound sessions a week and plays catch the other days .
His primary point of contact is former Yankees pitcher Preston Claiborne , who was supposed to work as the pitching coach for one of the Yankees ’ two Gulf Coast League entries at the Rookie level .
There is chatter of an extended camp in the fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet as Semmel noted , “ We don ’ t know about Wave 2 [ of COVID ] .
It ’ s just all rumors for now.
” The position player : John Rave , a Royals center fielder selected in the fifth round last year .
In Bloomington , Ill. , where he attended high school , the 22-year-old Rave , who played at nearby Illinois State , has found places locally to get in his work .
He takes batting practice four times a week and works out with gym equipment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m treating it like the longest spring training of all time , ” he said .
He also participates in two Zoom meetings per week arranged by the Royals , one large gathering of every player in the club ’ s system — in which Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore often addresses the group — and one smaller get-together of position players where they chat with coaches or coordinators .
Among the big names who have spoken to them at these meetings , Rave said , are current Royals Whit Merrifield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hudson and Shane Victorino , and Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson , a former A ’ s teammate of Royals minor league hitting coach Andy LaRoche .
The hope is that , if and when Major League Baseball reopens , young guys like Rave can at least go to the Royals ’ complex in Arizona and work together .
Said Rave : “ I ’ d love to get out there .
”

What’s it like to be a minor leaguer without minor leagues?
While the coronavirus has shut down all levels of North American professional baseball, the major league players possess far more hope of competing this year than do their lower-level counterparts.
The Post spoke with two minor leaguers — one pitcher, one position player — both of whom signed out of the 2019 draft and approached 2020 as their first full professional season … until the pandemic hit. Here are their stories:
The pitcher: Montana Semmel, a Yankees right-hander chosen in the 36th round last year.
Based in his native Stamford, Conn., Semmel has seen friends lose grandparents to coronavirus and has helped raise money to combat it. He nevertheless has focused as well as one can on his job.
“I’m just trying to stay in shape,” he said. “I’m throwing every day. There’s not much you can really do because we’re all still locked up, up here. The gyms are closed. It’s hard for me to try to get into a baseball facility. It’s been rough.”
Most of his mound sessions take place at his alma mater, Westhill High School. At the direction of the Yankees, the 18-year-old throws two mound sessions a week and plays catch the other days. His primary point of contact is former Yankees pitcher Preston Claiborne, who was supposed to work as the pitching coach for one of the Yankees’ two Gulf Coast League entries at the Rookie level.
There is chatter of an extended camp in the fall to make up for lost time. Yet as Semmel noted, “We don’t know about Wave 2 [of COVID]. It’s just all rumors for now.”
The position player: John Rave, a Royals center fielder selected in the fifth round last year.
In Bloomington, Ill., where he attended high school, the 22-year-old Rave, who played at nearby Illinois State, has found places locally to get in his work. He takes batting practice four times a week and works out with gym equipment four times a week.
“I’m treating it like the longest spring training of all time,” he said.
He also participates in two Zoom meetings per week arranged by the Royals, one large gathering of every player in the club’s system — in which Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore often addresses the group — and one smaller get-together of position players where they chat with coaches or coordinators. Among the big names who have spoken to them at these meetings, Rave said, are current Royals Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier, retired All-Stars Tim Hudson and Shane Victorino, and Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson, a former A’s teammate of Royals minor league hitting coach Andy LaRoche.
The hope is that, if and when Major League Baseball reopens, young guys like Rave can at least go to the Royals’ complex in Arizona and work together. Said Rave: “I’d love to get out there.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Noose found inside NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace’s garage

A noose was found Sunday inside the Talladega Superspeedway garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace — the circuit ’ s only full-time black driver who led the charge to ban Confederate flags at racing events .
NASCAR said they launched an investigation into the incident at the Alabama racetrack , where Sunday ’ s planned Geico 500 was postponed until Monday due to inclement weather .
“ We are angry and outraged and can not state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act , ” NASCAR said in a statement .
“ As we have stated unequivocally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in NASCAR and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.
” Two weeks ago , Wallace successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and properties .
The 26-year-old driver addressed Sunday ’ s incident in a statement posted to Twitter : “ Today ’ s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This will not break me , I will not give in nor will I back down .
I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in .
”

A noose was found Sunday inside the Talladega Superspeedway garage stall of NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace — the circuit’s only full-time black driver who led the charge to ban Confederate flags at racing events.
NASCAR said they launched an investigation into the incident at the Alabama racetrack, where Sunday’s planned Geico 500 was postponed until Monday due to inclement weather.
“We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” NASCAR said in a statement.
“As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”
Two weeks ago, Wallace successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and properties.
The 26-year-old driver addressed Sunday’s incident in a statement posted to Twitter: “Today’s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism,” he said.
“This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Giants, Jets face increased QB urgency with cap window closing

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As soon as the clock expired on the NFL draft, the race against time sped up on the Jets and Giants.
The clichéd patient approach to rebuilding — “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” Giants general manager Dave Gettleman often says — is at odds with the reality tied to Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones: Both franchises face mounting pressure to win soon and not waste the salary-cap flexibility afforded by quarterbacks playing on their four-year rookie contract.
“Having a good, cheap quarterback is the biggest advantage in the sport,” said Zack Moore, author of “Caponomics: How NFL Champions Are Built and Dynasties Are Destroyed,” analyzing the salary cap. “This concept is why the Chiefs and Ravens are the biggest Super Bowl favorites.”
The Jets’ situation is more urgent than the Giants’ because Darnold is entering his third season and is eligible for a contract extension for the first time in 2021. But Jones enters his second season following in Darnold’s footsteps — introduced to a new head coach and new playbook, risking a setback on some of the strides he made as a rookie.
“There’s a feeling of necessity to get a lot of veteran [extensions] done during that time,” former Packers vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt said. “In those first three years, load up on core players so you can balance and flatten out your spending and have it all set up when you are going to renegotiate the quarterback’s bonus-heavy deal.”
Since the rookie wage scale was implemented in 2011, the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams, Eagles and Chiefs reached the Super Bowl before handing out mega money to their signal-callers. In each case — whether a superb defense, a trusted backup quarterback or extra offensive firepower — redirected spending allowed another area of the roster to flourish.
GMs with a margin for error were emboldened to take more draft risks or stretch to secure a missing piece.
“You can make more mistakes,” ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said. “When you decide to pay the quarterback, you have to answer the question: Is this guy good enough to overcome the three or four other guys who allow him to play better that we will not be able to sign because of the money we have allocated to the quarterback?”
An NFL player’s first four years of salary are predetermined based on draft slot. The No. 3 pick (Darnold) or No. 6 pick (Jones) gets the same contract regardless of position — no fair-market value weighted toward quarterbacks.
Extensions cannot be negotiated until after three seasons, and first-rounders are subject to a fifth-year team option, so it’s really a five-year advantage (not four) for drafting a rookie quarterback, right?
“There are some myths there,” former Redskins and Texans GM Charley Casserly said. “It’s not a five-year window unless this guy is an All-Pro as a rookie. And you might never see the [cheap] fifth year.”
Russell Wilson, Jared Goff and Carson Wentz all counted $8 million or less against the cap during Super Bowl seasons but each will count at least $31 million in 2021, after signing big extensions before Year 5 to be kept out of free agency. Patrick Mahomes could become the NFL’s first $40 million per year on his looming extension.
What happens when quarterbacks begin chewing up disproportionate chunks of cap space? The pursuit of a championship becomes more difficult because teams lack depth, as recently spelled out by Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones on the drawn-out negotiations with Dak Prescott.
The 26 Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks of the salary-cap era (since 1994) have accounted for an average of 6.83 percent of their team’s space, according to OverTheCap.com.
Only all-time greats Steve Young, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Tom Brady accounted for more than 10 percent. Eighteen quarterbacks count for more than 7 percent ($13.8 million) of their team’s cap space in 2020 — Darnold counts 4.2 percent ($8.3 million) and Jones counts 3 percent ($5.9 million).
Eli ate 11.7 percent of the Giants’ cap during the 2011 championship season but he was surrounded by eight bargain starters on their rookie contracts.
“If your general manager drafts well, you have your culture in place and you are not revolving doors at head coach, you can still win a Super Bowl with a quarterback who has been paid,” Orlovsky said.
“But he has to be a top-five guy. He has to transcend everything. That’s the greatest challenge when these organizations make their decision because a lot of the guys are good and you can say, ‘He deserves his money.’ ”
It is no wonder the Jets and Giants operated this offseason with their prized assets in mind.
The Jets added four new offensive line starters and two new receivers, using their top two draft picks on one of each. The Giants prioritized fixing the offensive line by adding three draft picks and a free agent (two new starters) for Jones after Manning’s final years were lost to inadequate protection.
“They had an objective to get the offensive line better over everything else,” Casserly said. “I think that was the right thing to do.”
NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said the Giants would’ve been wiser to invest $16 million to $18 million in offensive playmakers with fewer question marks rather than on defensive tackle Leonard Williams’ franchise-tag salary.
“Where are the resources around Jones?” Baldinger said. “I don’t think they are taking advantage of it.”
Fourteen other teams have quarterbacks on rookie contracts in 2020, so it’s not like the Jets and Giants are alone in their blueprint.
The Rams emerged this offseason as a cautionary tale for the importance of gaining an accurate assessment within the first four seasons. They traded away premium draft capital to make a Super Bowl run behind two-time Pro Bowler Goff, who regressed in his first year of a four-year, $134 million extension.
Suddenly, the cap dictated goodbyes to stars Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks and Cory Littleton, with limited resources to quickly restock.
“It’s almost like the amount they are paying these quarterbacks is so far out of whack right now that you really can’t put together a very good team around him,” Baldinger said. “We are at the crescendo, I think.
“Who is going to be the guy who has seen this — maybe it’s Bill Belichick — and says, ‘Wait, do I really want to pay this guy $25 million? Can we win if I go with a couple younger guys and fortify the ranks with better players around him?’ ”
Before the rookie wage scale, negotiations between first-round picks, especially quarterbacks, and teams were testy. They started with demands to be paid higher than everyone drafted in a lower spot as well as the previous year’s pick in the same spot. Holdouts, like Philip Rivers in 2004 and JaMarcus Russell in 2007, were more common.
“He’s your highest-paid player and he’s not ready to play,” Casserly said, “and you have a bad team.”
The wage scale eliminated those problems but sped up rebuilds and introduced a new issue.
“If you line up who the best quarterbacks are and who the highest paid are, they aren’t equal,” Casserly said. “In the old days, once you got to the extension part of it, they all fell in line. The agent negotiates off the franchise tag and you have to make your guy the highest-paid quarterback. Does he deserve to be? No. But you have no alternative.”
The Jets’ and Giants’ long-term hope is for Darnold and Jones to develop into a stud who justifies his huge salary-cap hit by hiding a team’s flaws — like Wilson, Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees. Plan B is to catch lightning in a bottle like the Falcons and 49ers, who reached the Super Bowl after paying second-tier quarterbacks Matt Ryan and Jimmy Garoppolo, respectively.
In the short term, it’s win now — or rue wasting a built-in advantage.
“If I have less allocated there, I don’t have to buy the generic brand here,” Orlovsky said. “All these teams right now, rightfully so, are chasing what’s been successful in the NFL recently.”
A look at some recent QBs whose teams have been among the NFL’s best while on rookie contracts:
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers | 2nd round, 2011
Went to Super Bowl on a four-year, $5.1 million contract. Signed a six-year, $114 million extension but exercised opt-out clause with four years remaining.
Russell Wilson, Seahawks | 3rd round, 2012
Went to two Super Bowls (won one) on a four-year, $2.9 million contract. Signed through 2023, at which time his career on-field earnings will surpass $231 million.
Jared Goff, Rams | 1st round, 2016
Went to Super Bowl on a four-year, $27.9 million contract. Signed a four-year, $134 million extension.
Carson Wentz, Eagles | 1st round, 2016
Played at MVP level until season-ending injury (during Super Bowl-winning 2018) on a four-year, $26.6 million contract. Signed a four-year, $128 million extension.
Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs | 1st round, 2017
Won 2018 NFL MVP and Super Bowl LIV MVP honors on a four-year, $16.4 million contract. Could soon receive the NFL’s first $200 million extension.
Lamar Jackson, Ravens | 1st round, 2018
Won 2019 NFL MVP and is 19-3 as a starter on a four-year, $9.4 million contract. Not eligible for an extension until after the 2020 season.


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Meet funnyman Conor Moore: ‘The Frank Caliendo of golf’

Even when he was toiling in anonymity pedaling cell phone service plans over the phone just three years ago in his homeland of Ireland — a world far , far away from the modicum of fame he ’ s since achieved — Conor Moore always lived life figuring everyone needs a good laugh .
In these times , dominated by the COVID-19 crisis where bad news seems to be the only news we hear , Moore knows we need humor now more than ever .
“ There ’ s a lot of doom and gloom out there , so this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 minutes of a bit of fun , ’ ’ Moore told The Post recently by phone .
“ We need it more now than ever.
’ ’ “ It ’ ’ is the humor Moore is delivering every Tuesday as host of “ The Conor Moore Show , ” which airs on the Golf Channel ’ s “ Golfpass ’ ’ option on Tuesdays .
Though Moore took up golf only a year and a half ago and is a 15 handicap , he ’ s fast becoming a name in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sport .
He ’ s become so good at his craft that the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy laugh at his mere presence because they ’ re among the top stars in the game he impersonates spot-on .
Moore got his start doing impersonations on a lark , posting a video a few years ago of some soccer stars in Ireland .
That prompted his father , who was the captain of the local golf club in Ireland , to ask him to do some gigs at the club , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I thought , ‘ No one does golf , ’ so I tried it in 2018 , ’ ’ Moore said .
Tens of millions of views on social media platforms later and now Moore is doing commercials with McIlroy and Woods and has his own show on the Golf Channel .
“ When I met Rory at the Golf Channel , he just looked at me and started laughing at me , ’ ’ Moore recalled .
“ All the golfers have been very cool and very welcoming me into the golf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any hostility yet .
They ’ ve all been brilliant .
They all just enjoy it .
“ I know I ’ m making fun of them in a way , because I am an impersonator and picking off their inflections .
But the idea is that I ’ d like to think that everybody watching it gets to laugh — even those who are being impersonated .
So far so good anyway.
’ ’ Moore ’ s first episode featured a faux Zoom call with Moore playing the roles of Woods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DeChambeau , Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia talking about the Netflix hit “ Tiger King.
’ ’ Moore said he had initial difficulty perfecting the Woods impersonations .
“ When I met him the first time , we just walked into the studio set where we were shooting the ad for Bridgestone and he was so cool , ’ ’ Moore recalled .
“ He was asking me about different impersonations and then he just said , ‘ All right , do me .
I want to hear you do it to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honest with you and tell you whether it ’ s good.
’ “ I looked at him and said [ with his Tiger voice ] , ‘ Well , the conditions were really tough out there .
I thought I putted well.
’ When I said , ‘ putted well , ’ he just started laughing and said , ‘ God dammit it dude , you sound just like me.
’ ’ ’ We all seek affirmation in what we do .
In Moore ’ s business , affirmation is the ultimate validation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of that when he reached out to Frank Caliendo , who ’ s become iconic for his NFL head coach impersonations of John Madden , Jon Gruden and many others .
“ When I first did a video for the Golf Channel two years ago at the Masters , people were saying , ‘ This guy is the Frank Caliendo of golf , ’ ’ ’ Moore recalled .
“ I haven ’ t really been doing impersonations for that long , and I only knew the guys in Ireland .
I hadn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so I didn ’ t know Frank Caliendo .
Then I Googled him and was like , ‘ Wow , this guy is good.
’ “ We ’ ve gotten to know each other via Twitter so far and I said , ‘ I ’ d love to get you on the show , ’ and he said , ‘ Absolutely , let ’ s do it.
’ I ’ m thinking John Madden giving Ian Poulter tips .
Might be funny.
’ ’ Moore had Caliendo on one of his recent shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ What makes Conor interesting is he ’ s doing impressions that nobody ’ s really done or mastered before , ’ ’ Caliendo told The Post .
“ He ’ s got this niche in golf .
Conor creates a subtlety to it and the interaction between people with scenarios and sketches .
I think he nails them really well .
He ’ s got the funny content .
“ Like with Tiger Woods , when you find those catchphrases and say the things people say over and over , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some things that people see and have heard before .
That ’ s what gets you to laugh.
’ ’ And , when the subject an impersonator is lampooning laughs , that ’ s the ultimate compliment to the likes of Moore and Caliendo .
“ It actually is validation if the person likes it , because then you almost get ownership of it , ’ ’ Caliendo said .
“ Conor doing that with Tiger and doing the commercial and the bit , he ’ s the guy who ’ s known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else who is doing Tiger is kind of doing a Conor Moore impression .
“ He has such a great niche that he can build off of , and you can see that he ’ s trying to do some different things like [ actor ] Matthew McConaughey , which is really good .
But it ’ s funny how people won ’ t pay attention to that stuff as much as they will to his golf stuff , because he ’ s got that brand .
“ It ’ s happened to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times .
I like to do other things , but the sports stuff pays the bills .
You spend the first part of your career trying to get known at some level and the second part fighting to be something other than what you ’ re known for.
’ ’ Moore , at the moment , is perfectly happy being typecast as the golf guy , delivering laughs one golfer at a time .
“ It ’ s a lot of fun , a good 15 minutes , ’ ’ he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good 15 minutes , can ’ t we ?

Even when he was toiling in anonymity pedaling cell phone service plans over the phone just three years ago in his homeland of Ireland — a world far, far away from the modicum of fame he’s since achieved — Conor Moore always lived life figuring everyone needs a good laugh.
In these times, dominated by the COVID-19 crisis where bad news seems to be the only news we hear, Moore knows we need humor now more than ever.
“There’s a lot of doom and gloom out there, so this may be an opportunity to give people 15 minutes of a bit of fun,’’ Moore told The Post recently by phone. “We need it more now than ever.’’
“It’’ is the humor Moore is delivering every Tuesday as host of “The Conor Moore Show,” which airs on the Golf Channel’s “Golfpass’’ option on Tuesdays.
Though Moore took up golf only a year and a half ago and is a 15 handicap, he’s fast becoming a name in the golf world as the preeminent impersonator in the sport. He’s become so good at his craft that the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy laugh at his mere presence because they’re among the top stars in the game he impersonates spot-on.
Moore got his start doing impersonations on a lark, posting a video a few years ago of some soccer stars in Ireland. That prompted his father, who was the captain of the local golf club in Ireland, to ask him to do some gigs at the club, suggesting that he impersonate golfers.
“I thought, ‘No one does golf,’ so I tried it in 2018,’’ Moore said.
Tens of millions of views on social media platforms later and now Moore is doing commercials with McIlroy and Woods and has his own show on the Golf Channel.
“When I met Rory at the Golf Channel, he just looked at me and started laughing at me,’’ Moore recalled. “All the golfers have been very cool and very welcoming me into the golf game. I haven’t had any hostility yet. They’ve all been brilliant. They all just enjoy it.
“I know I’m making fun of them in a way, because I am an impersonator and picking off their inflections. But the idea is that I’d like to think that everybody watching it gets to laugh — even those who are being impersonated. So far so good anyway.’’
Moore’s first episode featured a faux Zoom call with Moore playing the roles of Woods, Ian Poulter, Matt Kuchar, Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson and Sergio Garcia talking about the Netflix hit “Tiger King.’’
Moore said he had initial difficulty perfecting the Woods impersonations.
“When I met him the first time, we just walked into the studio set where we were shooting the ad for Bridgestone and he was so cool,’’ Moore recalled. “He was asking me about different impersonations and then he just said, ‘All right, do me. I want to hear you do it to my face, and I’ll be honest with you and tell you whether it’s good.’
“I looked at him and said [with his Tiger voice], ‘Well, the conditions were really tough out there. I thought I putted well.’ When I said, ‘putted well,’ he just started laughing and said, ‘God dammit it dude, you sound just like me.’ ’’
We all seek affirmation in what we do. In Moore’s business, affirmation is the ultimate validation, and he got a significant bit of that when he reached out to Frank Caliendo, who’s become iconic for his NFL head coach impersonations of John Madden, Jon Gruden and many others.
“When I first did a video for the Golf Channel two years ago at the Masters, people were saying, ‘This guy is the Frank Caliendo of golf,’ ’’ Moore recalled. “I haven’t really been doing impersonations for that long, and I only knew the guys in Ireland. I hadn’t been watching football here, so I didn’t know Frank Caliendo. Then I Googled him and was like, ‘Wow, this guy is good.’
“We’ve gotten to know each other via Twitter so far and I said, ‘I’d love to get you on the show,’ and he said, ‘Absolutely, let’s do it.’ I’m thinking John Madden giving Ian Poulter tips. Might be funny.’’
Moore had Caliendo on one of his recent shows and it was, indeed, funny.
“What makes Conor interesting is he’s doing impressions that nobody’s really done or mastered before,’’ Caliendo told The Post. “He’s got this niche in golf. Conor creates a subtlety to it and the interaction between people with scenarios and sketches. I think he nails them really well. He’s got the funny content.
“Like with Tiger Woods, when you find those catchphrases and say the things people say over and over, that’s a key. You unlock some things that people see and have heard before. That’s what gets you to laugh.’’
And, when the subject an impersonator is lampooning laughs, that’s the ultimate compliment to the likes of Moore and Caliendo.
“It actually is validation if the person likes it, because then you almost get ownership of it,’’ Caliendo said. “Conor doing that with Tiger and doing the commercial and the bit, he’s the guy who’s known for doing Tiger. So, anybody else who is doing Tiger is kind of doing a Conor Moore impression.
“He has such a great niche that he can build off of, and you can see that he’s trying to do some different things like [actor] Matthew McConaughey, which is really good. But it’s funny how people won’t pay attention to that stuff as much as they will to his golf stuff, because he’s got that brand.
“It’s happened to me with sports stuff quite a few times. I like to do other things, but the sports stuff pays the bills. You spend the first part of your career trying to get known at some level and the second part fighting to be something other than what you’re known for.’’
Moore, at the moment, is perfectly happy being typecast as the golf guy, delivering laughs one golfer at a time.
“It’s a lot of fun, a good 15 minutes,’’ he said.
Right now, we can all use a good 15 minutes, can’t we?


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--President Trump’s children wish him a happy Father’s Day on social media

President Trump ’ s children took to social media on Sunday to wish their dad a happy Father ’ s Day .
Trump ’ s three eldest kids , whose mother is his first wife Ivana Trump , as well as Tiffany , the president ’ s daughter from his second marriage to Marla Maples , posted heartwarming messages and family photos to commemorate the occasion .
“ Happy Father ’ s Day to my dad and to all the devoted and loving father ’ s out there !
Today is for you !
, ” tweeted Ivanka Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her dad in a ski suit , holding her as a baby on a snowy slope .
She also posted a tribute to her husband , Jared Kushner , dad to their three kids , writing : “ Grateful for all the sweet memories and excited to make so many more !
Happy Father ’ s Day Jared !
” Donald Trump Jr. , 42 , who has five kids of his own , went with a series of pictures to celebrate the holiday , including one of him and his dad in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Day to all the dads that out there that take the time to do it right !
Anyone can be a father it takes time and work to be a dad .
# fathersday , ” he wrote in the caption to the Instagram slideshow .
Eric Trump , 36 , a dad of two , posted a black and white photo of him and his older siblings posing on a staircase with their parents .
“ Happy Father ’ s Day Dad .
We are all so proud of you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ realdonaldtrump , ” he wrote .
Recent Georgetown Law School graduate , Tiffany Trump , 26 , also posted a series of photos , including two snaps showing her talking to her dad in the Oval Office and one of him holding her as a baby .
“ Happy Father ’ s Day Dad !
@ realdonaldtrump , ” she wrote .
“ I love you and I ’ m so grateful for you !
Thank you for your constant love , guidance and for always believing in me !
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barron , with First Lady Melania Trump .
Melania posted a Father ’ s Day message , too , writing on Twitter : “ Today we celebrate all fathers for their love , dedication & wisdom to help guide our youth to help them succeed & grow .
Happy # FathersDay !
”

President Trump’s children took to social media on Sunday to wish their dad a happy Father’s Day.
Trump’s three eldest kids, whose mother is his first wife Ivana Trump, as well as Tiffany, the president’s daughter from his second marriage to Marla Maples, posted heartwarming messages and family photos to commemorate the occasion.
“Happy Father’s Day to my dad and to all the devoted and loving father’s out there! Today is for you!,” tweeted Ivanka Trump, 38, along with a photo of her dad in a ski suit, holding her as a baby on a snowy slope.
She also posted a tribute to her husband, Jared Kushner, dad to their three kids, writing: “Grateful for all the sweet memories and excited to make so many more! Happy Father’s Day Jared!”
Donald Trump Jr., 42, who has five kids of his own, went with a series of pictures to celebrate the holiday, including one of him and his dad in the Oval Office.
“Happy Father’s Day to all the dads that out there that take the time to do it right! Anyone can be a father it takes time and work to be a dad. #fathersday,” he wrote in the caption to the Instagram slideshow.
Eric Trump, 36, a dad of two, posted a black and white photo of him and his older siblings posing on a staircase with their parents.
“Happy Father’s Day Dad. We are all so proud of you and we love you very much!@realdonaldtrump,” he wrote.
Recent Georgetown Law School graduate, Tiffany Trump, 26, also posted a series of photos, including two snaps showing her talking to her dad in the Oval Office and one of him holding her as a baby.
“Happy Father’s Day Dad! @realdonaldtrump,” she wrote. “I love you and I’m so grateful for you! Thank you for your constant love, guidance and for always believing in me!”
The president also has a 14-year-old son, Barron, with First Lady Melania Trump.
Melania posted a Father’s Day message, too, writing on Twitter: “Today we celebrate all fathers for their love, dedication & wisdom to help guide our youth to help them succeed & grow. Happy #FathersDay!”


newyorkpost--2020-06-21--TLC’s ‘sMothered’ recap: Cranking up family showdowns

TLC ’ s hit reality show “ sMothered , ” co-produced by The Post , follows several pairs of mothers and daughters whose bonds stretch the bounds of “ normal.
” Whether it ’ s getting cosmetic surgery together to taking joint showers to crashing dates , these duos do it all .
Season 2 has followed three pairs returning from Season 1 , plus three new pairs , as tensions heat up .
Let ’ s dive into the fifth episode of the season , “ The Truth Hurts.
” All season long , Chicago-based mother Kathy , 61 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been planning to have Cristina and her family move into her mom ’ s house while Cristina ’ s house is remodeled .
This episode , they drop the bomb on Cristina ’ s sister , Carly , who also lives with their mom and is not happy to hear about suddenly getting new roommates .
Carly gets along well with her mom and her sister when they ’ re apart , she says , but when they ’ re together , they turn into “ wackjobs.
” Carly ’ s afraid they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and with good reason — they already spied on one of her dates in Season 1 .
But after dancing around the topic , she finally reveals to the camera why she ’ s really worried : She has a secret beau , and she doesn ’ t want them to know .
“ I have a boyfriend , and they don ’ t know about it — they are going to ruin it , ” she says .
“ They ’ ll put so much pressure on the relationship , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Floridians Mary , 55 , and Brittani , 19 , go out to dinner with Frank , Mary ’ s sort-of husband .
( As the first episode of Season 2 explained , they had a ceremony , but Mary tore up the marriage license when she found out that Frank cheated on her at his bachelor party . )
Brittani doesn ’ t know the whole story of what Frank did to Mary , but she knows enough to dislike him and think he ’ s not good enough for her mom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both to a restaurant without telling them that the other will be there , in hopes that they can bond and settle their differences .
Naturally , this backfires .
After Brittani grills Frank about what , exactly , went down at that bachelor party , she says to her mom , “ You ’ re still in a relationship with a man that committed adultery … I don ’ t understand why you love a man who did that to you.
” The episode ends with Brittani leaving the restaurant .
Mary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frank .
Las Vegas-based Sunhe , 52 , and Angelica , 32 , have clashed for two seasons now over Angelica ’ s relationship with her boyfriend , Jason .
Sunhe doesn ’ t think he ’ s prioritizing Angelica enough since he ’ s still entangled in not one but two previous relationships .
He ’ s separated from his wife — although they are not officially divorced — and he still has his ex-girlfriend ’ s belongings in his garage and pays her phone bill .
This episode , he fixes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Angelica and Sunhe with signed divorce papers , and he sorts through his ex-girlfriend ’ s things .
The problem ?
Angelica helps him , only to fume that his ex provided a detailed list of exactly how to sort through her stuff and send it to her .
“ It is absolutely ridiculous that she ’ s asking for these items , ” says a fed-up Angelica .
“ Why does she think she ’ s entitled to give Jason a list of what she wants ?
She can come over here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t see what the issue is since he ’ s getting rid of his ex ’ s things like everyone wanted .
But both Sunhe and Angelica say that he isn ’ t prioritizing Angelica ’ s feelings about catering to his ex .
So , even though he tried to show Angelica that he ’ s serious about her , both mother and daughter are not impressed .
Florida-based Laurie , 59 , and Sarah , 25 , have a mellow episode after a heated argument last week .
The issue ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants Sarah to marry her live-in boyfriend , Miguel , sooner rather than later so that Laurie can be part of the wedding .
It ’ s not an unreasonable request — but Miguel was not willing to hear her out or budge , and he made it clear he ’ s not ready to propose to Sarah , yet .
This week , Laurie muses about whether he ’ s the right guy for Sarah , and mother and daughter bond over Laurie ’ s collection of Sarah ’ s baby teeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next to my bed , so that I can look at them any time I want , ” says Laurie , pulling out a container full of human teeth .
Uh … right .
Both mother and daughter seem to think this is endearing — and not the habit of , say , a serial killer — and they describe the teeth as smelling like “ a newborn baby .
”

TLC’s hit reality show “sMothered,” co-produced by The Post, follows several pairs of mothers and daughters whose bonds stretch the bounds of “normal.”
Whether it’s getting cosmetic surgery together to taking joint showers to crashing dates, these duos do it all.
Season 2 has followed three pairs returning from Season 1, plus three new pairs, as tensions heat up.
Let’s dive into the fifth episode of the season, “The Truth Hurts.”
Spoilers ahead!
Kathy and Cristina
All season long, Chicago-based mother Kathy, 61, and Cristina, 35, have been planning to have Cristina and her family move into her mom’s house while Cristina’s house is remodeled. This episode, they drop the bomb on Cristina’s sister, Carly, who also lives with their mom and is not happy to hear about suddenly getting new roommates. Carly gets along well with her mom and her sister when they’re apart, she says, but when they’re together, they turn into “wackjobs.”
Carly’s afraid they’ll snoop into her personal life, and with good reason — they already spied on one of her dates in Season 1. But after dancing around the topic, she finally reveals to the camera why she’s really worried: She has a secret beau, and she doesn’t want them to know.
“I have a boyfriend, and they don’t know about it — they are going to ruin it,” she says. “They’ll put so much pressure on the relationship, that they’ll make him run.”
Mary and Brittani
Floridians Mary, 55, and Brittani, 19, go out to dinner with Frank, Mary’s sort-of husband. (As the first episode of Season 2 explained, they had a ceremony, but Mary tore up the marriage license when she found out that Frank cheated on her at his bachelor party.)
Brittani doesn’t know the whole story of what Frank did to Mary, but she knows enough to dislike him and think he’s not good enough for her mom. Mary surprises them by inviting them both to a restaurant without telling them that the other will be there, in hopes that they can bond and settle their differences. Naturally, this backfires.
After Brittani grills Frank about what, exactly, went down at that bachelor party, she says to her mom, “You’re still in a relationship with a man that committed adultery … I don’t understand why you love a man who did that to you.”
The episode ends with Brittani leaving the restaurant. Mary goes after her, ditching a disgruntled Frank.
Sunhe and Angelica
Las Vegas-based Sunhe, 52, and Angelica, 32, have clashed for two seasons now over Angelica’s relationship with her boyfriend, Jason. Sunhe doesn’t think he’s prioritizing Angelica enough since he’s still entangled in not one but two previous relationships. He’s separated from his wife — although they are not officially divorced — and he still has his ex-girlfriend’s belongings in his garage and pays her phone bill.
This episode, he fixes both of those things: He presents Angelica and Sunhe with signed divorce papers, and he sorts through his ex-girlfriend’s things. The problem? Angelica helps him, only to fume that his ex provided a detailed list of exactly how to sort through her stuff and send it to her.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that she’s asking for these items,” says a fed-up Angelica. “Why does she think she’s entitled to give Jason a list of what she wants? She can come over here her damn self.”
Jason doesn’t see what the issue is since he’s getting rid of his ex’s things like everyone wanted. But both Sunhe and Angelica say that he isn’t prioritizing Angelica’s feelings about catering to his ex. So, even though he tried to show Angelica that he’s serious about her, both mother and daughter are not impressed.
“I’m still watching you,” Sunhe tells him.
Laurie and Sarah
Florida-based Laurie, 59, and Sarah, 25, have a mellow episode after a heated argument last week. The issue? Laurie has health issues, and she wants Sarah to marry her live-in boyfriend, Miguel, sooner rather than later so that Laurie can be part of the wedding. It’s not an unreasonable request — but Miguel was not willing to hear her out or budge, and he made it clear he’s not ready to propose to Sarah, yet. This week, Laurie muses about whether he’s the right guy for Sarah, and mother and daughter bond over Laurie’s collection of Sarah’s baby teeth.
“They sit in a drawer next to my bed, so that I can look at them any time I want,” says Laurie, pulling out a container full of human teeth. Uh … right.
Both mother and daughter seem to think this is endearing — and not the habit of, say, a serial killer — and they describe the teeth as smelling like “a newborn baby.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Rutgers’ Greg Schiano mum on whether college football should play

Another college football powerhouse has been hit hard by the ...

Greg Schiano declined to offer his opinion. He also couldn’t answer whether the powers that be in college football are doing the right thing by trying to have a season amid the continued havoc the novel coronavirus pandemic is creating in this country.
“I don’t know? You just put everything on permanent hold?” the Rutgers’ football coach said on a video call with reporters. “Those are all questions that are above my knowledge and I’m trying to get knowledge on this.
“You try to gather as much information as you can, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
As schools across the country have tried to take the first step to playing in the fall by bringing players back to campus for voluntary workouts in recent weeks, positive cases have arisen at several prominent programs that have cast doubt on the ability to start the season on time, or play it in the fall at all. Clemson had 28 positive tests for the virus. Texas had 13 players test positive. At least 30 LSU players were placed in quarantine, either for positive tests or being in contact with someone who had one, according to Sports Illustrated. Kansas State paused workouts for 14 days following 14 positive tests and Houston halted its workouts for the time being as well. On Monday, Iowa announced nine positive tests of 40 student athletes, coaches and staff members in the past week.
Rutgers, which began workouts on June 15, has had two positive tests so far, with three others in quarantine as a precaution for coming into contact with one of the positive cases.
“You cannot reduce risk to zero,” Schiano said. “How can you prepare for a season and eliminate as much risk as you can? You have to grow understanding of the big three: social distancing, a mask and washing our hands.”
Formal workouts are allowed to begin in July, after the NCAA Division I Council approved the Football Oversight’s Committee’s plan on Thursday. That allows teams to start holding meetings and walk-throughs on July 24 and preseason practices no earlier than Aug. 7.
Schiano made it clear repeatedly the workouts Rutgers has been holding are voluntary, and there are some players who have opted not to return to school. Players, coaches and staff members have been tested three times. One of the two players who tested positive never made it back to campus since his positive test was a result of the mail-order test Rutgers sent out to players. The other player passed his first test and received a positive test the second time.
Schiano wouldn’t let his opinions be known about what he believes the NCAA should do, other than to say that he feels comfortable enough to be holding workouts and having players on campus. That could obviously change. Right now, there are far more questions than answers.
“What I have told my team is this: Right now, we are told we are going to have a season that opens that weekend of the 5th [of September] and we are going to prepare for that date,” he said. “And if that date changes, we will pivot and make another plan. I think until there is some real substantive medical science, that we come up with a vaccine or with a treatment plan that really limits the death from this virus, I think we are all going to be trying to figure it out as we go.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Bubba Wallace addresses NASCAR noose incident in powerful speech

TALLADEGA , Ala. — Ryan Blaney held onto the lead after a restart with two laps to go Monday , earning his second straight win at Talladega Superspeedway on a day that began with NASCAR drivers throwing their support behind Bubba Wallace and him address fans afterward .
The racing was overshadowed by an extraordinary act of solidarity with NASCAR ’ s only Black driver .
Dozens of drivers pushed Wallace ’ s car to the front of the field before Monday ’ s race as FBI agents tried to find out who left a noose in his garage stall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after finishing 14th and spending time in the top five , slapping hands with a group of mostly African-American fans , many wearing shirts with messages supporting Black Live Matters .
” I ’ m proud to stand where I ’ m at .
… This sport is changing , ” Wallace said .
“ The deal that happened [ Saturday ] I wanted to show whoever it was , you are not going to take away my smile.
” The stock car series was left reeling and angered by the racist act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it banned the Confederate flag on its properties at Wallace ’ s urging .
It has vowed to permanently bar the person responsible , but the investigation was in its early stages .
The 26-year-old Wallace was surrounded by all 39 other drivers in the moments before the race and they were joined by their crews in a march down pit road as they pushed his No .
43 to the front of the line .
Wallace climbed out of his car and wept .
It was a stirring move to support Wallace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the South where Confederate flags have flown for decades and were seen outside the superspeedway all weekend long by fans opposed to NASCAR ’ s ban .
“ Been tough , been hell , ” Wallace said after the race .
“ I wouldn ’ t say hell , just been hectic — carrying this weight , carrying this burden .
I wouldn ’ t say burden either .
I ’ m proud to stand where I ’ m at and carry a new face.
” Standing alongside Wallace for the national anthem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fame driver known as “ The King.
” Wallace drives for Petty , who issued a scathing rebuke after the noose was found that called for the “ sick person ” to be expelled from NASCAR forever — a move NASCAR President Steve Phelps insisted would happen should they be caught .
The race began with Martin Truex Jr. on the pole , and Tyler Reddick won the first stage , which ended in a weather caution that lasted 58-plus minutes .
The crowd had dwindled significantly from Sunday , when up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — only the second race with fans since NASCAR returned from the pandemic-forced shutdown .
Workers painted “ # IStandWithBubbaWallace ” on the infield grass before the race and Confederate flags were nowhere to be seen inside the sprawling facility that can hold 80,000-plus and usually sees dozens of RVs lined up across the infield .
Blaney nipped Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the finish line for his fourth win and first since Talladega in October , albeit this time before a mostly empty venue .
It was a race marked by support for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Talladega , though there was mayhem behind Blaney on the final lap and he also pushed Erik Jones into the wall near the finish .
“ Just trying to block , block the best we could , ” said Blaney , one of Wallace ’ s best friends .
“ Block the top , block the bottom … just beating and banging to the line .
” Wallace , who started 24th , was up to third when he ran out of gas and slid back in the pack before surging again after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I know I should have won that damn race , but ran out of gas , ” Wallace said .
“ Just the stars didn ’ t align for us completely , but all in all we won today .
The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to witness in my life .
From all the supporters from drivers from crew members and everyone here , the bad-ass fan base — thank you guys for coming out here — it ’ s truly incredible and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this sport .
Like I said before , got a long way to go , but we ’ ll keep on trucking .
”

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Ryan Blaney held onto the lead after a restart with two laps to go Monday, earning his second straight win at Talladega Superspeedway on a day that began with NASCAR drivers throwing their support behind Bubba Wallace and him address fans afterward.
The racing was overshadowed by an extraordinary act of solidarity with NASCAR’s only Black driver. Dozens of drivers pushed Wallace’s car to the front of the field before Monday’s race as FBI agents tried to find out who left a noose in his garage stall over the weekend.
He was emotional after finishing 14th and spending time in the top five, slapping hands with a group of mostly African-American fans, many wearing shirts with messages supporting Black Live Matters.
”I’m proud to stand where I’m at. … This sport is changing,” Wallace said. “The deal that happened [Saturday] I wanted to show whoever it was, you are not going to take away my smile.”
The stock car series was left reeling and angered by the racist act that came less than two weeks after it banned the Confederate flag on its properties at Wallace’s urging. It has vowed to permanently bar the person responsible, but the investigation was in its early stages.
The 26-year-old Wallace was surrounded by all 39 other drivers in the moments before the race and they were joined by their crews in a march down pit road as they pushed his No. 43 to the front of the line. Wallace climbed out of his car and wept.
It was a stirring move to support Wallace at a track in the heart of the South where Confederate flags have flown for decades and were seen outside the superspeedway all weekend long by fans opposed to NASCAR’s ban.
“Been tough, been hell,” Wallace said after the race. “I wouldn’t say hell, just been hectic — carrying this weight, carrying this burden. I wouldn’t say burden either. I’m proud to stand where I’m at and carry a new face.”
Standing alongside Wallace for the national anthem was Richard Petty, the 82-year-old Hall of Fame driver known as “The King.” Wallace drives for Petty, who issued a scathing rebuke after the noose was found that called for the “sick person” to be expelled from NASCAR forever — a move NASCAR President Steve Phelps insisted would happen should they be caught.
The race began with Martin Truex Jr. on the pole, and Tyler Reddick won the first stage, which ended in a weather caution that lasted 58-plus minutes.
The crowd had dwindled significantly from Sunday, when up to 5,000 fans were allowed into Talladega — only the second race with fans since NASCAR returned from the pandemic-forced shutdown. Workers painted “#IStandWithBubbaWallace” on the infield grass before the race and Confederate flags were nowhere to be seen inside the sprawling facility that can hold 80,000-plus and usually sees dozens of RVs lined up across the infield.
Blaney nipped Ricky Stenhouse Jr. at the finish line for his fourth win and first since Talladega in October, albeit this time before a mostly empty venue. It was a race marked by support for Wallace instead of another Big One at Talladega, though there was mayhem behind Blaney on the final lap and he also pushed Erik Jones into the wall near the finish.
“Just trying to block, block the best we could,” said Blaney, one of Wallace’s best friends. “Block the top, block the bottom … just beating and banging to the line. ”
Wallace, who started 24th, was up to third when he ran out of gas and slid back in the pack before surging again after getting gas during a late caution.
“I know I should have won that damn race, but ran out of gas,” Wallace said. “Just the stars didn’t align for us completely, but all in all we won today. The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to witness in my life. From all the supporters from drivers from crew members and everyone here, the bad-ass fan base — thank you guys for coming out here — it’s truly incredible and I’m proud to be part of this sport. Like I said before, got a long way to go, but we’ll keep on trucking.”


newyorkpost--2020-06-22--Ex-Google exec Eric Schmidt back ‘on’ with junior girlfriend

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Still-married former Google big Eric Schmidt has been spending time with his on-again-off-again gal pal , Alexandra Duisberg , again .
The pair were rumored to be engaged last July : We exclusively reported the 30-something blonde was spotted wearing a pink sapphire ring , estimated to be 10 carats and worth millions .
A source close to the couple at the time insisted it was “ a friendship ring.
” Page Six reported the pair split by August , but we ’ re told they began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ stayed together in Miami for part of the quarantine , ” said a source .
“ But Eric has still been traveling with work related to COVID things .
He ’ s been very active with a lot of causes.
” While we hear that Duisberg has been telling friends that they ’ ll be spending the summer together , another source told us there are “ no plans.
” Schmidt , 65 , is still married to his wife of 40 years , Wendy , and has no plans to divorce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Alexandra wants a baby and wants Eric to divorce Wendy , but neither is happening , ” said a source .
Schmidt ’ s been linked to p.r .
exec Marcy Simon , journalist Kate Bohner , pianist Cho-San Nguyen and socialite Ulla Parker in the past .

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Still-married former Google big Eric Schmidt has been spending time with his on-again-off-again gal pal, Alexandra Duisberg, again.
The pair were rumored to be engaged last July: We exclusively reported the 30-something blonde was spotted wearing a pink sapphire ring, estimated to be 10 carats and worth millions. A source close to the couple at the time insisted it was “a friendship ring.”
Page Six reported the pair split by August, but we’re told they began spending more time together in January and “stayed together in Miami for part of the quarantine,” said a source. “But Eric has still been traveling with work related to COVID things. He’s been very active with a lot of causes.”
While we hear that Duisberg has been telling friends that they’ll be spending the summer together, another source told us there are “no plans.”
Schmidt, 65, is still married to his wife of 40 years, Wendy, and has no plans to divorce. They reportedly have an open marriage.
“Alexandra wants a baby and wants Eric to divorce Wendy, but neither is happening,” said a source.
Schmidt’s been linked to PR exec Marcy Simon, journalist Kate Bohner, pianist Cho-San Nguyen and socialite Ulla Parker in the past.