newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Aaron Rodgers, Packers were too much for depleted 49ers

SANTA CLARA , Calif. — Aaron Rodgers took advantage of the undermanned San Francisco 49ers rather than sympathizing with the team that dominated his Green Bay Packers twice last season .
Rodgers threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns and the Packers overwhelmed the depleted 49ers 34-17 on Thursday night .
“ They ’ re a different team on paper for sure , ” Rodgers said .
“ They ’ ve had some tough injuries to some really key players , but no one ’ s feeling sorry for anybody in this league .
That ’ s the way it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us .
We ’ re dealing with injuries.
” Rodgers connected on deep shots to Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling , and a short toss to Marcedes Lewis in the first half to get the Packers ( 6-2 ) out to a 21-3 lead over the Niners ( 4-5 ) .
It was quite a reversal from the two meetings last season when San Francisco outscored Green Bay by a combined 50-0 in the first halves on the way to lopsided wins in the regular season and NFC title game .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part because the Niners were missing almost all their key pieces from the game because of injuries and a positive coronavirus test for receiver Kendrick Bourne that also sidelined three of his teammates for “ high risk ” contacts .
That left San Francisco without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo ( ankle ) , All-Pro tight end George Kittle ( foot ) , NFC title game star running back Raheem Mostert ( ankle ) , receivers Deebo Samuel ( hamstring ) and Brandon Aiyuk ( COVID-19 list ) , left tackle Trent Williams ( COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( knee ) , Dee Ford ( back ) and Richard Sherman ( calf ) .
“ We knew it was going to be a challenge , ” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said .
“ We knew at the start of the week it would be a challenge .
Losing those three guys yesterday would be a bigger challenge .
I still thought we could have a game .
… I know we could have done better.
” Rodgers and the Packers , who were missing three players on the COVID-19 list , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capped the opening drive with a 36-yard shot to Adams , who made an acrobatic catch over Emmanuel Moseley in the end zone for his league-leading eighth TD reception of the season .
Nick Mullens had an apparent TD throw to River Cracraft wiped out on replay for San Francisco and then threw an interception to Raven Greene after backup left tackle Justin Skule got beat for a pressure from Preston Smith .
That mistake led to Rodgers ’ 1-yard throw to Lewis and the Packers took control when Valdes-Scantling got behind the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first half .
“ I know they were missing some creatures on both sides of the ball , but that ’ s one of the better defenses I think that we ’ ve played despite missing some of those guys , ” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said .
“ On offense it ’ s always difficult going against Kyle and that staff.
” Rodgers added a second TD pass to Valdes-Scantling and the rout was on .
Adams finished with 10 catches for 173 yards , making him the first Packers player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Driver in 2006 .
“ We ’ re definitely in a groove right now , ” Adams said .
“ I don ’ t have much to say about it , I don ’ t want to sound conceited or nothing , sound bad , but obviously when you start getting in a rhythm like that , it does get a lot easier .
”

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Aaron Rodgers took advantage of the undermanned San Francisco 49ers rather than sympathizing with the team that dominated his Green Bay Packers twice last season.
Rodgers threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns and the Packers overwhelmed the depleted 49ers 34-17 on Thursday night.
“They’re a different team on paper for sure,” Rodgers said. “They’ve had some tough injuries to some really key players, but no one’s feeling sorry for anybody in this league. That’s the way it goes. Nobody’s feeling sorry for us. We’re dealing with injuries.”
Rodgers connected on deep shots to Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and a short toss to Marcedes Lewis in the first half to get the Packers (6-2) out to a 21-3 lead over the Niners (4-5).
It was quite a reversal from the two meetings last season when San Francisco outscored Green Bay by a combined 50-0 in the first halves on the way to lopsided wins in the regular season and NFC title game.
The rematch looked nothing like those games in part because the Niners were missing almost all their key pieces from the game because of injuries and a positive coronavirus test for receiver Kendrick Bourne that also sidelined three of his teammates for “high risk” contacts.
That left San Francisco without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), All-Pro tight end George Kittle (foot), NFC title game star running back Raheem Mostert (ankle), receivers Deebo Samuel (hamstring) and Brandon Aiyuk (COVID-19 list), left tackle Trent Williams (COVID-19 list) and key defenders Nick Bosa (knee), Dee Ford (back) and Richard Sherman (calf).
“We knew it was going to be a challenge,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We knew at the start of the week it would be a challenge. Losing those three guys yesterday would be a bigger challenge. I still thought we could have a game. … I know we could have done better.”
Rodgers and the Packers, who were missing three players on the COVID-19 list, took advantage of the opportunity.
Rodgers capped the opening drive with a 36-yard shot to Adams, who made an acrobatic catch over Emmanuel Moseley in the end zone for his league-leading eighth TD reception of the season.
Nick Mullens had an apparent TD throw to River Cracraft wiped out on replay for San Francisco and then threw an interception to Raven Greene after backup left tackle Justin Skule got beat for a pressure from Preston Smith.
That mistake led to Rodgers’ 1-yard throw to Lewis and the Packers took control when Valdes-Scantling got behind the defense for the 52-yard catch late in the first half.
“I know they were missing some creatures on both sides of the ball, but that’s one of the better defenses I think that we’ve played despite missing some of those guys,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “On offense it’s always difficult going against Kyle and that staff.”
Rodgers added a second TD pass to Valdes-Scantling and the rout was on.
Adams finished with 10 catches for 173 yards, making him the first Packers player with three 150-yard receiving games since Donald Driver in 2006.
“We’re definitely in a groove right now,” Adams said. “I don’t have much to say about it, I don’t want to sound conceited or nothing, sound bad, but obviously when you start getting in a rhythm like that, it does get a lot easier.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Twitter suspends Steve Bannon after he suggests beheading Fauci and Wray

A Twitter account for a podcast run by former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was permanently suspended by the social media company after he suggested beheading Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray .
Bannon , speaking on his “ War Room ” podcast , said Trump shouldn ’ t just fire Wray and Fauci , he should dismember the government officials “ as a warning to federal bureaucrats.
” “ I ’ d actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England , ” Bannon said in the bizarre rant .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats , you either get with the program or you ’ re gone , ” he added .
In an email , Twitter said they “ permanently ” suspended Bannon ’ s @ WarRoomPandemic account after Bannon ’ s rant .
“ The @ WarRoomPandemic account has been permanently suspended for violating the Twitter Rules , specifically our policy on the glorification of violence , ” a spokesperson for Twitter said in a statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was arrested by federal authorities in August and hit with fraud and money laundering charges for an alleged scheme to bilk donors of a “ We Build the Wall ” online fundraiser .
Bannon pleaded not guilty to those charges , which were brought in the Southern District of New York , and has claimed they are a “ fiasco ” by people who want to stop a border wall from being built .

A Twitter account for a podcast run by former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon was permanently suspended by the social media company after he suggested beheading Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Bannon, speaking on his “War Room” podcast, said President Trump shouldn’t just fire Wray and Fauci, he should dismember the government officials “as a warning to federal bureaucrats.”
“I’d actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England,” Bannon said in the bizarre rant.
“I’d put the heads on pikes. I’d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats, you either get with the program or you’re gone,” he added.
In an email, Twitter said it “permanently” suspended Bannon’s @WarRoomPandemic account after Bannon’s rant.
“The @WarRoomPandemic account has been permanently suspended for violating the Twitter Rules, specifically our policy on the glorification of violence,” a spokesperson for Twitter said in a statement.
Bannon is out on bail after he was arrested by federal authorities in August and hit with fraud and money laundering charges for an alleged scheme to bilk donors to a “We Build the Wall” online fundraiser.
Bannon pleaded not guilty to those charges, which were brought in the Southern District of New York, and has claimed they are a “fiasco” by people who want to stop a border wall from being built.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Armed man arrested amid alleged plot to attack Philly vote counting center

An armed man was arrested Thursday night outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center hosting a vote count after police received word of an alleged plot to attack the location , a new report said .
The bust came after police were tipped off about a group of people from Virginia driving to the convention center in a Hummer with a possible plan to strike , WPVI reported .
At about 10:50 p.m. a man inside a Vietnamese restaurant across the center was taken into custody .
Police recovered a weapon and located a Hummer .
It ’ s still unclear if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to the alleged attack plot .
Election workers inside the downtown convention center are actively tabulating mail-in ballots in the battleground state .
As of late Thursday night , President Trump led the state by about a razor-thin margin of 24,000 votes with 94 percent tabulated .
More mail-in ballots in Pittsburgh ’ s Allegheny County also need to be counted .
Trump ’ s campaign earlier Thursday tried unsuccessfully to halt Philadelphia ’ s vote over allegations that his supporters weren ’ t being allowed to monitor the tallying of mail-in @ @

An armed man was arrested Thursday night outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center hosting a vote count after police received word of an alleged plot to attack the location, a new report said.
The bust came after police were tipped off about a group of people from Virginia driving to the convention center in a Hummer with a possible plan to strike, WPVI reported.
At about 10:50 p.m. a man inside a Vietnamese restaurant across the center was taken into custody.
Police recovered a weapon and located a Hummer. It’s still unclear if the man arrested outside the center is connected to the alleged attack plot.
Election workers inside the downtown convention center are actively tabulating mail-in ballots in the battleground state.
As of late Thursday night, President Trump led the state by about a razor-thin margin of 24,000 votes with 94 percent tabulated.
More mail-in ballots in Pittsburgh’s Allegheny County also need to be counted.
Trump’s campaign earlier Thursday tried unsuccessfully to halt Philadelphia’s vote over allegations that his supporters weren’t being allowed to monitor the tallying of mail-in ballots.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--NBA moves step closer to Dec. 22 start date, 72-game season

So much for a Martin Luther King Day opener .
According ...

The 2020-21 NBA season is likely to tip off on Dec. 22 and include 72 games per team after the players’ union tentatively approved the league’s plan Thursday night.
The board of player representatives of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) agreed to the plan, adding in a statement, “Additional details remain to be negotiated and the NBPA is confident that the parties will reach agreement on these remaining issues relevant to the upcoming season.”
Under normal circumstances, NBA seasons are 82 games per team, but the 2020 calendar was altered dramatically because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Play was halted on March 11 after Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. The league moved into a bubble in late July at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando to finish an abbreviated regular season, and the Lakers beat the Heat in the NBA Finals, which ended Oct. 11.
According to ESPN, if and when the owners and players reach a full agreement on plans for the upcoming season, trades would be allowed to resume ahead of the Nov. 18 draft. Free agency reportedly would begin after the draft, with Dec. 1 the likely date for training camps to open.
The Dec. 22 start date would allow the league to put its traditional slate of Christmas Day games on national television.
The new season would finish before the Summer Olympics start in Tokyo on July 23.
The NBA and the NBPA reportedly must come to an agreement on escrow withholding of players’ salaries, as league revenues would take a severe hit should some or all of the 2020-21 season need to be played without fans in arenas.
Both the owners and the players have an extended deadline of Friday to opt out of the existing collective bargaining agreement that calls for a 50-50 split of basketball-related income. The amount that was split last season dropped $1.5 billion due to the pandemic, according to ESPN.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Fantasy football: You owe it to yourself to start Antonio Brown

The Lions won ’ t get any sympathy from the 49ers regarding ...

The wait is finally over. Whether you drafted and stashed him away eight weeks ago or you just spent the rest of your free-agent budget to acquire him this past week, Antonio Brown makes his return to the gridiron this weekend. Sunday night in prime-time to be specific.
But based on some of the chatter within the fantasy football industry, many are wondering whether or not it makes sense to start the much-maligned wideout when his Buccaneers face the Saints.
All that time waiting? All that energy spent wondering if you were making the right choice? You bet you’re starting him this week. A move this bold was not for the faint of heart, but you stood tall and made the decision. To chicken out now would betray that boldness and admit defeat.
If you don’t start him now against a Saints defense that has been carved up by Allen Robinson, D.J. Moore and Mike Williams in recent weeks, what are you waiting for?
Forget about anything Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arians says. Forget about snap counts or discussions that have taken place among the coaching staff. This is Tom Brady’s team, and what Tom wants, Tom gets.
He didn’t want Ronald Jones leading the backfield. The Bucs got him Leonard Fournette. He didn’t want to throw to O.J. Howard or Cameron Brate. The Bucs got him Rob Gronkowski. And say what you want about Mike Evans or Chris Godwin, but if Brady really wanted to throw to them, why was Scotty Miller a thing and why is Brown living in Brady’s house? Because what Tom wants, Tom gets.
Now, obviously, if you start just two wide receivers and you own DeAndre Hopkins and DK Metcalf, you’re not starting Brown. But if you have a third receiver spot or a flex spot, and your choices range in the Marvin Jones Jr., Justin Jefferson or Antonio Gibson realm, you had better have Brown in your starting lineup.
This is a defining moment in your fantasy season. Don’t second-guess your way out of being bold. Make the move you know you want to make.
Howard Bender is the VP of operations and head of content at Fantasy-Alarm.com Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Rangers’ quiet offseason did no harm to long-term roster building

The Rangers ’ 11-year streak of avoiding arbitration hearings lives on ... .

So the Rangers’ offseason business is essentially complete with Friday’s signing of Brendan Lemieux to a two-year deal for an annual cap hit of $1.55 million per that leaves them with enough remaining space so that potential bonus payments on entry-level contracts shouldn’t have a deleterious impact on the opening roster.
That is perhaps the most pertinent takeaway of this signing that took place on the cusp on the winger’s scheduled arbitration hearing. The Blueshirts avoided hearings with all four of their restricted free agents who had filed, with the combined average annual value of $13.275 million necessary to extend Lemieux, Ryan Strome, Tony DeAngelo and Alexandar Georgiev probably amounting to from $700,000-to-$1 million less than management had budgeted.
If the Blueshirts did not necessarily address their organizational lack of depth down the middle or their identity, which leans too far to the talent end of the meter at the expense of straight-line grit and toughness, this was an autumn in which the hierarchy of president John Davidson and general manager Jeff Gorton did no harm to the long-term building process.
Over a unique offseason, featuring a flat cap and industry-wide thrift in confronting the impact of the coronavirus, perhaps that is the most that could have been expected from the front office that also engineered the buyout of Henrik Lundqvist and the trade of Marc Staal in the three months since the team’s inglorious exit from the NHL’s bubble.
There was a limited trade market, if any, for DeAngelo; a limited market, if any, for Strome; a limited market, if any, for Pavel Buchnevich. Restructuring will have to wait for this team, which will go into 2020-21 with just about the same lineup that coach David Quinn sent onto the ice following the trade deadline.
The Post’s shadow roster of 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders — plus the dead space devoted to buyouts and transactions, plus the entry-level bonus charges — amounts to $78,228,133, leaving $3,271,867 of space.
Let’s review:
Goaltenders (2): Igor Shesterkin ($925,000); Georgiev ($2.245M).
Defensemen (6): Jacob Trouba ($8M); DeAngelo ($4.8M); Brendan Smith ($4.35M); Jack Johnson ($1.15M); Adam Fox ($925,000); Ryan Lindgren ($925,000).
Centers (4): Mika Zibanejad ($5.35M); Strome ($4.5M); Filip Chytil ($894,166); Kevin Rooney ($700,000).
Wingers (8): Artemi Panarin ($11,642,857); Chris Kreider ($6.5M); Buchnevich ($3.25M); Alexis Lafreniere ($925,000); Kaapo Kakko ($925,000); Lemieux ($1.55M); Brett Howden ($863,333); Julien Gauthier ($863,333).
The Blueshirts presumably will add another forward and defenseman to the mix. Keep in mind that, at least for the first half of the season, entry-level players would be charged the full amount of their respective cap charges that would include all potential bonuses.
But the team has the required amount of space to accommodate, say, K’Andre Miller, whose cap hit would be computed at $1.25 million (including $300,000 in bonuses), or maybe Tarmo Reunanen, whose hit would be $941,667 (including $132,500 in bonuses). Libor Hajek would come in at $863,333 and Yegor Rykov at $925,000.
Up front, Vitali Kravtsov and Morgan Barron are each carrying cap hits of $1.775 million, which includes $850,000 apiece in bonuses. It is unclear whether Kravtsov, who has had an excellent start to the KHL season, will be available to the Blueshirts at camp or whether he is committed to his Traktor Chelyabinsk club through the playoffs. The point, though, is that neither player would be kept off the team because of cap constraints.
The Rangers took care of some housekeeping items these past three months. They stood pretty much pat coming off a season in which their winning percentage improved from .476 to .564. They are not a complete team and the vision of what this will look like when it all comes together still seems a bit clouded.
But with offseason business all but coming to a close Friday, the autumn takeaway is that management did no harm whatsoever to the long-term building process.
That’s something.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Justice Alito orders Pennsylvania officials to set aside late-arriving ballots

WASHINGTON — Pennsylvania ’ s GOP have filed an emergency injunction with ...

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Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito on Friday ordered election officials across Pennsylvania to segregate mail-in ballots received after Election Day.
Alito temporarily granted a request by the Keystone State’s Republican Party, which said a court order was needed to ensure that all 67 election boards were complying with a directive from Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, the Washington Post reported.
Alito, the justice responsible for the region of the country that covers Pennsylvania, gave state officials until Saturday afternoon to respond, the paper said.
The development marked the latest twist in a legal battle over the counting of mail-in ballots in the crucial swing state.
Last month, the high court upheld a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to extend the deadline for ballots to arrive until three days past Election Day.
But Boockvar directed that any ballots that came in during that time be set aside because the state GOP was challenging the legality of including them in vote totals.
Last week, the US Supreme Court declined to expedite a hearing in the case.
In emergency court papers filed Friday, Republicans said that “a total of 25 Pennsylvania county boards of elections have not indicated whether they are segregating the late-arriving ballots.”
“If county election boards count and do not segregate late-arriving ballots, it could become impossible for this Court to repair election results tainted by illegally and untimely cast or mailed ballots,” the GOP added.
On Thursday, Boockvar told CNN that various counties had reported “from zero to…about 500 ballots received the day after Election Day.”
“So unless it is super close, I don’t see them making or breaking this [election] one way or another,” she added.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Chrishell Stause addresses ‘unfortunate rumors’ about her role in ‘DWTS’ partner’s split

Chrishell Stause is shooting down rumors that she ’ s had anything to do with her “ Dancing With the Stars ” partner Gleb Savchenko ’ s split from his wife Elena Samodanova .
“ I am so saddened about the news of Gleb and Elena ’ s split , ” Stause , 39 , wrote on Instagram Friday night .
“ It is unfortunate that this has caused rumors to swirl about my personal life .
Having gone through a public split myself , I would not wish this on anyone , ” she continued .
Stause ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” star Justin Hartley , filed for divorce in November 2019 after two years of marriage ; Stause claims that Hartley , 43 , made the split via text message .
“ As you can imagine , the countless hours of training , and dance rehearsals has created a strong supportive friendship , but nothing more , ” the “ Selling Sunset ” star added .
“ I wish nothing but the best for both Gleb and Elena during this unfortunate time.
” Samodanova , 36 , announced that she and Savchenko , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
The two married in 2006 and have two children , daughters Olivia and Zlata .
Page Six reported that Savchenko and Stause were “ the talk of the set ” during their eight weeks on “ Dancing With the Stars , ” but that they had a blowout fight at one point that left Stause too upset to do post-show press , with Savchenko sending her flowers afterward .

Chrishell Stause is shooting down rumors that she’s had anything to do with her “Dancing With the Stars” partner Gleb Savchenko’s split from his wife Elena Samodanova.
“I am so saddened about the news of Gleb and Elena’s split,” Stause, 39, wrote on Instagram Friday night. “It is unfortunate that this has caused rumors to swirl about my personal life. Having gone through a public split myself, I would not wish this on anyone,” she continued.
Stause’s estranged husband, “This Is Us” star Justin Hartley, filed for divorce in November 2019 after two years of marriage; Stause claims that Hartley, 43, made the split via text message.
“As you can imagine, the countless hours of training, and dance rehearsals has created a strong supportive friendship, but nothing more,” the “Selling Sunset” star added. “I wish nothing but the best for both Gleb and Elena during this unfortunate time.”
Samodanova, 36, announced that she and Savchenko, 37, were splitting via social media on Friday. The two married in 2006 and have two children, daughters Olivia and Zlata.
Page Six reported that Savchenko and Stause were “the talk of the set” during their eight weeks on “Dancing With the Stars,” but that they had a blowout fight at one point that left Stause too upset to do post-show press, with Savchenko sending her flowers afterward.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Mets should target these front office superstars

Sandy Alderson was blindsided the last time he took a ...

I’d say that Friday’s Mets news came right out of a script of “Billions,” featuring the Steve Cohen-inspired hedge-fund magnate Bobby Axelrod, except that it actually, eerily resembled the “Entourage” segment when Ari Gold took over his old agency by marching in with a paintball gun and splattering all whom he wanted gone.
Sandy Alderson, taking over his old team, surely passed on the paintball gun (and the in-person meetings, this being 2020) but made his point all the same, firing general manager Brodie Van Wagenen as well as associates Allard Baird, Jared Banner, Adam Guttridge and Omar Minaya a mere hour after Cohen closed on his purchase of the Mets. Wow.
So with an open canvas, the baseball operations Band-Aid ripped off just like that, team president Alderson’s mission stands as simple: Build a superstar front office for the long haul worthy of Cohen’s superstar owner status … while simultaneously pursuing superstar players for right now.
For this plum opportunity, the Mets should pursue the very best to lead them, just as the Dodgers hired Andrew Friedman, a revered executive from the work he did with the Rays, as their president of baseball operations in 2014 (three years after Guggenheim Baseball Management purchased the club, as opposed to Cohen’s approximately three minutes of ownership before blowing things up) and authorized him to build the industry’s deepest front office. The Mets should hire someone who already has proven the ability to build a perennially contending organization.
Let’s eliminate the Yankees’ Brian Cashman, the Braves’ Alex Anthopoulos and the Nationals’ Mike Rizzo, because it’s hard to envision their current employers allowing such a move to a market or division rival. Alderson’s protege, Billy Beane of the Athletics, might leave baseball operations altogether to work with the Red Sox ownership on European soccer, and the Cubs’ Theo Epstein, with just one year left on his contract, might leave baseball after next season. Former Astros executive Jeff Luhnow carries too much baggage from the sign-stealing scandal. That leaves these six targets, all of whom could require compensation since they are under contract:
Chris Antonetti, Cleveland Indians president
Small-market Cleveland has qualified for the playoffs five times in 11 years, with one World Series appearance, since Antonetti took over the team’s baseball operations.
Jon Daniels, Texas Rangers president
The Queens native has guided Texas to five postseason appearances, including two World Series appearances, since 2006.
Derek Falvey, Minnesota Twins president
Minnesota owns three postseason berths in four years of Falvey’s leadership.
John Mozeliak, St. Louis Cardinals president
The jewel franchise has registered eight playoff appearances, two National League pennants and a championship in Mozeliak’s 13 years of running things.
Erik Neander, Tampa Bay Rays president
You watched the World Series, right? Neander has run Tampa Bay’s baseball ops since 2017 and put together three straight 90-win teams in the American League East on tiny payrolls.
David Stearns, Milwaukee Brewers president
The Manhattan native and long-ago Mets employee has led little-engine-that-could Milwaukee to three straight postseason appearances.
As with Friedman and the Dodgers, anyone hired from this list would get the freedom to hire a general manager as well as other deputies. Alderson knows current Mets executive John Ricco, the Athletics’ Billy Owens and the Giants’ J.P. Ricciardi well. Former Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill and former Nationals advance scout Jim Cuthbert rank among the free agents worth considering to create front-office roster depth, if you will.
As he goes upon this search, Alderson and perhaps Ricco, who had reported directly to Jeff Wilpon since Van Wagenen’s ascension, will keep the lights on and ensure that Cohen’s Mets get right to work on their championship script.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--US hits record number of new COVID-19 cases for third day in a row

The US has tallied a record number of new daily coronavirus cases for a third day in a row , @ @ @ @ @ At least 122,365 new cases of the virus were reported on Friday , according to @ @ @ @ @ surpassing Thursday ’ s single-day record of 121,289 .
And Thursday ’ s tally had @ @ @ @ @ high of 107,000 new cases .
Texas , meanwhile , is poised to hit a @ @ @ @ @ of the virus , the network reported .
As of early Friday , there were @ @ @ @ @ Star State — the most of any in the nation .
Since the onset of @ @ @ @ @ has seen over 9.8 million cases of the bug .
Over 237,000 Americans have died @ @ @ @ @ record number of cases come as the White House coronavirus task force has not held @ @ @ @ @ 20 , NBC also reported .

The US has tallied a record number of new daily coronavirus cases for a third day in a row, a new report said.
At least 122,365 new cases of the virus were reported on Friday, according to an ongoing NBC count, surpassing Thursday’s single-day record of 121,289.
And Thursday’s tally had beat Wednesday’s record high of 107,000 new cases.
Texas, meanwhile, is poised to hit a staggering 1 million total cases of the virus, the network reported. As of early Friday, there were 993,065 cases in The Lone Star State — the most of any in the nation.
Since the onset of the pandemic, the US has seen over 9.8 million cases of the bug. Over 237,000 Americans have died from the illness.
The record number of cases come as the White House coronavirus task force has not held a formal meeting since Oct. 20, NBC also reported.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Joe Biden plans victory speech if win declared by 10 p.m.: report

The former Vice President and Democratic nominee is addressing the ...

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was preparing to declare himself president-elect in a Friday night speech in his hometown Wilmington, Del., but he switched up the plan after his campaign had already set up balloons and celebratory fireworks.
Fox News, citing a local law enforcement source in Wilmington, reported that Biden won’t claim victory unless major networks declare him winner by 10 pm.
That may or may not happen as absentee ballots cause delays in vote-counting after the Tuesday election.
The source told the news channel that if networks declare Biden winner by 10 pm, he and running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) will speak outdoors by 11:30 pm.
If the major networks do not declare a winner by 10 pm, Biden will appear alone indoors in the 11 pm hour. It’s unclear what he would say to reporters.
Biden pulled ahead of President Trump in crucial swing states Friday and leads in unofficial results in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania, which would give him a 306-232 Electoral College victory.
But the margins are thin across the battlegrounds and many ballots remain to be counted. The Associated Press and major networks have not declared a winner in the national election, though some smaller news outlets have projected a Biden win.
In Pennsylvania, Biden leads by 18,904 votes. As of Friday evening, he’s ahead by 36,835 in Arizona, 3,911 votes in Georgia and 22,657 votes in Nevada.
Trump warned Biden not to declare himself the winner, tweeting on Friday evening, “Joe Biden should not wrongfully claim the office of the President. I could make that claim also. Legal proceedings are just now beginning!”
As his campaign pursued litigation in swing states, the president claimed in a defiant Thursday night press conference that “if you count the legal votes, I easily win.”
Trump’s adviser and 2016 campaign manager Corey Lewandowski said in a Fox News appearance on Friday night that Trump has no plans to concede.
“I did speak to the president. He is ready to fight until every last legal vote is counted,” Lewandowski said.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Michigan judge: Claim of poll worker fraud in Trump lawsuit is ‘vague hearsay’

The Michigan attorney general pleaded with residents of the state ...

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A Michigan judge’s dismissal of a lawsuit filed by President Trump’s campaign was made public on Friday, saying a “vague and equivocal” sticky note was insufficient evidence of ballot-tampering by poll workers.
Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Diane Stephens also dismissed claims Thursday by an election challenger who said he was prevented from reviewing absentee ballots — without specifying “when, where or by whom.”
The suit filed Wednesday had demanded poll workers stop counting ballots as Joe Biden was leading by a thin margin in the Midwestern state, charging that poll workers were coerced into validating illegal ballots and that poll observers had been blocked from doing their jobs.
During a hearing Thursday, Trump’s lawyer presented an affidavit from a local election official who claimed a poll worker told her that she had been instructed to change the receipt date of a late mail-in ballot to reflect that it had been received by the Election Day deadline.
Wrote Stephens: “The assertion that Connarn was informed by an unknown individual what “other hired poll workers at her table” had been told is inadmissible hearsay within hearsay and plaintiffs have provided no hearsay exception for either level of hearsay that would warrant consideration of the evidence.”
“The note — which is vague and equivocal — is likewise hearsay,” she continued, referring to a photo of a sticky note submitted as evidence which read “entered receive date as 11/2/20 on 11/4/20.”
The judge also said a poll observer who claimed to have been “excluded” during the review process had provided no evidence of this.
“The complaint does not specify when, where, or by whom plaintiff was excluded. Nor does the complaint provide any details about why the alleged exclusion occurred,” Stephens wrote.
The case — brought by the election challenger and Trump’s re-election campaign against Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson — was thrown out Thursday when Stephens ruled it was moot since Biden had already carried the Wolverine State.
It was just one suit in a flurry of litigation as the president tries to invalidate vote counts in states that Biden is poised to win.
Stephens said the Trump campaign acted too late by filing their lawsuit at 4 p.m. on Wednesday when vote counting was already well underway and showed Joe Biden with a roughly 149,000 vote lead.
The state and its 16 electoral votes were called for the former veep on Wednesday afternoon. Trump carried Michigan by just 10,000 votes in 2016.
Welcoming the decision Friday, the office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the suit “meritless.”
“The Trump campaign’s lawsuit demonstrates either a failed attempt by plaintiffs to cobble together a legitimate claim, or their clear lack of understanding of Michigan’s election laws,” read the statement from press secretary Ryan Jarvi.
“The will of voters is what matters in this election, and their ballots in Michigan have been counted in a transparent, fair and accurate manner,” it continued.
A federal judge and a Georgia judge threw out similar suits in Philadelphia and Georgia on Thursday.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Mariah Carey celebrates Biden/Harris at virtual D-Nice party

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) She was spotted commenting in @ @ @ @ @ as the DJ spun several of her songs , including recently released “ Save the @ @ @ @ @ hit “ Vision of Love.
” Ex-Destiny ’ s Child member LeToya Luckett was also @ @ @ @ @ , who released her memoir last month , and Nice used the dance party to @ @ @ @ @ and Sen. Kamala Harris .

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Mariah Carey had a late-night celebration at D-Nice’s virtual hot spot Club Quarantine.
She was spotted commenting in the wee hours on Thursday as the DJ spun several of her songs, including recently released “Save the Day” and her 1990 hit “Vision of Love.”
Ex-Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett was also in the comments.
Carey, who released her memoir last month, and Nice used the dance party to show support for Joe Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Andrew Cuomo’s cynical ploy to kill minor New York parties just flopped

Kudos to the Conservative and Working Families parties for frustrating Gov .
Cuomo ’ s bid to kill them off .
The gov engineered an out-of-the-blue rewrite of state election law , making it far harder for minor parties to earn an automatic line on ballots for the next four years .
Cuomo has resented the WFP since it dumped him in 2018 in favor of the far-left-leaning Cynthia Nixon .
So he got the commission that was writing new campaign-finance rules to strike .
For decades , minor parties had to pull 50,000 votes on their line in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the following four years .
Now their candidate must get 2 percent of the state ’ s total presidential vote or 130,000 votes , whichever is higher .
But both parties did it — getting votes on their lines for Donald Trump and Joe Biden , respectively .
The gov only killed the Serve America Movement Party , which didn ’ t field a presidential candidate — and on principle didn ’ t endorse a major-party one .
( The SAMP is challenging Cuomo ’ s rules in federal court as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re not remotely fans of the WFP , and we ’ re overall sick of the games minor parties play in local politics .
But the right approach is to end cross-endorsements : Parties should run their own candidates , as the Greens and Libertarians do , and keep their ballot lines with the old 50,000-votes rule .
The current system encourages fake parties , and purely mercenary ones that exist mainly to sell their line to the highest bidder .
Cuomo plainly doesn ’ t have a problem with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WFP refused to “ stay bought.
” You might have better luck with a principled reform , governor .

Kudos to the Conservative and Working Families parties for frustrating Gov. Cuomo’s bid to kill them off.
The gov engineered an out-of-the-blue rewrite of state election law, making it far harder for minor parties to earn an automatic line on ballots for the next four years.
Cuomo has resented the WFP since it dumped him in 2018 in favor of the far-left-leaning Cynthia Nixon. So he got the commission that was writing new campaign-finance rules to strike. For decades, minor parties had to pull 50,000 votes on their line in a gubernatorial election to qualify for the ballot for the following four years. Now their candidate must get 2 percent of the state’s total presidential vote or 130,000 votes, whichever is higher.
But both parties did it — getting votes on their lines for Donald Trump and Joe Biden, respectively.
The gov only killed the Serve America Movement Party, which didn’t field a presidential candidate — and on principle didn’t endorse a major-party one. (The SAMP is challenging Cuomo’s rules in federal court as a First Amendment violation.)
Now, we’re not remotely fans of the WFP, and we’re overall sick of the games minor parties play in local politics. But the right approach is to end cross-endorsements: Parties should run their own candidates, as the Greens and Libertarians do, and keep their ballot lines with the old 50,000-votes rule.
The current system encourages fake parties, and purely mercenary ones that exist mainly to sell their line to the highest bidder.
Cuomo plainly doesn’t have a problem with that: His gripe was merely that the WFP refused to “stay bought.”
You might have better luck with a principled reform, governor.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Even at the UN, pandering on Palestine is slowly losing its luster

The UN General Assembly just approved seven ridiculous anti-Israel resolutions , but that ’ s same-old , same-old .
What ’ s new is that support dropped markedly .
The pander-on-Palestinians game is losing its luster , thanks in part to the Trump administration ’ s bold diplomacy .
So , yes , plenty of nations voted to condemn Israel for alleged nastiness in Gaza and the West Bank .
One resolution even referred to the Temple Mount only by its Muslim name , al-Haram al-Sharif — wishing away Judaism ’ s most sacred site .
But the 138 nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against and 16 abstaining ) is a notable drop from the 157 that supported the same basic thing last year .
Not huge progress , but it ’ s a step in the right direction .
Notably , Hungary , often accused of anti-Semitism , joined the opposition : It ’ s becoming a regular Israeli ally .
Meanwhile , other countries are joining Washington in admitting that Jerusalem is Israel ’ s capital — a key defiance of the stale conventions exploded by President Trump .
That Israel-bashing is no longer an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — slow progress , but steady .

The UN General Assembly just approved seven ridiculous anti-Israel resolutions, but that’s same-old, same-old. What’s new is that support dropped markedly.
The pander-on-Palestinians game is losing its luster, thanks in part to the Trump administration’s bold diplomacy.
So, yes, plenty of nations voted to condemn Israel for alleged nastiness in Gaza and the West Bank. One resolution even referred to the Temple Mount only by its Muslim name, al-Haram al-Sharif — wishing away Judaism’s most sacred site.
But the 138 nations that endorsed the drafts (vs. eight against and 16 abstaining) is a notable drop from the 157 that supported the same basic thing last year. Not huge progress, but it’s a step in the right direction.
Notably, Hungary, often accused of anti-Semitism, joined the opposition: It’s becoming a regular Israeli ally.
Meanwhile, other countries are joining Washington in admitting that Jerusalem is Israel’s capital — a key defiance of the stale conventions exploded by President Trump.
That Israel-bashing is no longer an easy appeal to global pieties is progress — slow progress, but steady.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Newlywed NYC couple drown on Caribbean honeymoon days after marriage

A newlywed Manhattan couple drowned on their Caribbean honeymoon last week — just four days after tying the knot , a new report said .
Muhammad Malik , 26 , a Big Apple corporate attorney , and his 29-year-old wife , Dr. Noor Shah , a surgeon in the city , died on Oct. 28 while honeymooning at a Turks and Caicos Islands resort , family members told Newsday .
“ This is a shock beyond belief .
And it ’ s a tragedy of different dimensions when you have to lay two children to rest in a joint funeral.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manhattan , had been swimming in chest-high waters at the resort near Como Parrot Cay when they were overcome by strong riptides , Maqbool Malik said .
The groom ’ s father condemned the resort for a lack of signs warning swimmers of the possibility of riptides .
“ They were truly in love with each other , ” said Maqbool Malik .
“ The kind of chemistry that we saw in those two human beings was amazingly fascinating .
They loved each other.
” The pair married in East Meadow on Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is planned for Sunday in New Jersey .
Their bodies are expected to arrive in New York the day before , the report said .
The groom had graduated from Cornell University and worked at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP in Manhattan .
His wife was a fourth-year surgical resident at NYU Langone Health .

A newlywed Manhattan couple drowned on their Caribbean honeymoon last week — just four days after tying the knot, a new report said.
Mohammad Malik, 35, a Big Apple corporate attorney, and his 29-year-old wife, Dr. Noor Shah, a surgical resident in the city, died on Oct. 28 while honeymooning at a Turks and Caicos Islands resort, family members told Newsday.
“It’s a devastating loss,” Malik’s father, Maqbool Malik, told the newspaper.
“This is a shock beyond belief. And it’s a tragedy of different dimensions when you have to lay two children to rest in a joint funeral.”
The couple, who lived in Manhattan, had been swimming in chest-high waters at the resort near Como Parrot Cay when they were overcome by strong riptides, Maqbool Malik said.
The groom’s father condemned the resort for a lack of signs warning swimmers of the possibility of riptides.
“They were truly in love with each other,” said Maqbool Malik.
“The kind of chemistry that we saw in those two human beings was amazingly fascinating. They loved each other.”
The pair married in East Meadow on Long Island.
A funeral for the couple is planned for Sunday in New Jersey.
Their bodies are expected to arrive in New York the day before, the report said.
The groom had graduated from Cornell University and worked at Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP in Manhattan. His wife was a fourth-year surgical resident at NYU Langone Health and graduated from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Rutgers University.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Cuomo blames de Blasio for defeats New York’s Democratic Party was asking for

Gov .
Cuomo is blaming Mayor de Blasio for Democratic losses all across the state , but for once he ’ s giving Hizzoner more credit than he deserves .
“ They ran de Blasio ’ s picture all over the state , ” said Cuomo on Alan Chartock ’ s WAMC radio show Thursday , parodying the GOP line : “ They ’ ll turn New York state into New York City , looting and crime and homelessness , law and order !
” Sure , de Blasio makes an excellent poster child for how not to run things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help , including from Cuomo himself .
Consider : The governor signed that blighted “ no bail ” bill into law and resisted even modest fixes to it despite months of warnings from progressives like Albany County DA David Soares .
Only after a series of repeat offenders walked , only to be re-arrested for violent crimes , did Cuomo and the Democratic-run Legislature tighten up the law at all .
And they still haven ’ t fixed the key problem — namely , that it doesn ’ t let judges require bail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were always going to recoil from the “ moderate ” suburban Democratic lawmakers who empowered the hopelessly soft-on-crime lefties to impose this madness .
Then the rioting in the name of Black Lives Matters , at the height of the pandemic , deepened the blowback : Too many people felt unsafe in their own neighborhoods , too many businesses got looted .
Another factor : the on-the-offensive socialists , symbolically led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez .
She has a huge fan base , in the city and across the nation — but radicalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suburbs , or in many NYC neighborhoods .
Killing the Amazon deal — with No .
2 state Senate Democrat , Mike Gianaris , doing the dirty work to back AOC ’ s rhetoric — also told voters that electing Democrats means saying no to economic opportunity .
AOC may pretend to speak for every minority New Yorker , but a whole lot of them would ’ ve liked some of those 25,000 jobs .
Heck , the governor himself basically invited a voter rebellion with his handling of the pandemic — not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly nursing-home order that he still pretends is a right-wing fiction .
Too many Democrats and moderates lost loved ones in homes that might have never had any coronavirus without the order Cuomo ’ s administration issued , simply to appease the hospital lobby .
This debacle isn ’ t on de Blasio : It was a New York Democratic team effort .

Gov. Cuomo is blaming Mayor de Blasio for Democratic losses all across the state, but for once he’s giving Hizzoner more credit than he deserves.
“They ran de Blasio’s picture all over the state,” said Cuomo on Alan Chartock’s WAMC radio show Thursday, parodying the GOP line: “They’ll turn New York state into New York City, looting and crime and homelessness, law and order!”
Sure, de Blasio makes an excellent poster child for how not to run things — but he had a lot of help, including from Cuomo himself.
Consider: The governor signed that blighted “no bail” bill into law and resisted even modest fixes to it despite months of warnings from progressives like Albany County DA David Soares.
Only after a series of repeat offenders walked, only to be re-arrested for violent crimes, did Cuomo and the Democratic-run Legislature tighten up the law at all. And they still haven’t fixed the key problem — namely, that it doesn’t let judges require bail for dangerous and/or chronic offenders.
Voters were always going to recoil from the “moderate” suburban Democratic lawmakers who empowered the hopelessly soft-on-crime lefties to impose this madness.
Then the rioting in the name of Black Lives Matters, at the height of the pandemic, deepened the blowback: Too many people felt unsafe in their own neighborhoods, too many businesses got looted.
Another factor: the on-the-offensive socialists, symbolically led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She has a huge fan base, in the city and across the nation — but radicalism doesn’t play well in the suburbs, or in many NYC neighborhoods.
Killing the Amazon deal — with No. 2 state Senate Democrat, Mike Gianaris, doing the dirty work to back AOC’s rhetoric — also told voters that electing Democrats means saying no to economic opportunity.
AOC may pretend to speak for every minority New Yorker, but a whole lot of them would’ve liked some of those 25,000 jobs.
Heck, the governor himself basically invited a voter rebellion with his handling of the pandemic — not just his heavy-handed lockdowns, but his deadly nursing-home order that he still pretends is a right-wing fiction. Too many Democrats and moderates lost loved ones in homes that might have never had any coronavirus without the order Cuomo’s administration issued, simply to appease the hospital lobby.
This debacle isn’t on de Blasio: It was a New York Democratic team effort.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--What the pollsters got so wrong with 2020 election

They blew it again .
After muffing it spectacularly in 2016 , ...

I find it remarkable that polling has been as accurate as it has been — but it got worse this week.
The RealClearPolitics average of recent polls showed Joe Biden with more than 51 percent of the popular vote and Donald Trump with 44 percent.
As this is written, Biden has 50 percent of the tabulated national popular vote, but Donald Trump has 48 percent. So, the 2 percentage-point Biden plurality is far lower than the polls’ 7.2-point Biden plurality.
The results in target states seem to have been off as well. The polls had Biden up 0.9 percent in Florida, far different from Trump’s 3.4 percent victory margin there.
In an opinion climate where mass media and corporate political correctness has many Americans unwilling to state their opinions, there may be something to say for unorthodox methods — and something to say against the more standard polling technique. There is, as my Washington Examiner colleague Byron York has argued, a hidden Trump vote. Most pollsters have not learned how to find it.
Donald Trump ran much better than almost everyone in the press and on Twitter expected.
Democrats don’t seem likely to pick up the Senate majority that they seemed almost assured of gaining as recently as Tuesday morning. In Iowa, Republican incumbent Joni Ernst, having trailed in polls for months, won by a 7 percent margin.
Democrats’ hopes for a Senate majority now rest on Georgia’s two Senate seats. It was uncertain whether incumbent David Perdue would fail to get 50 percent of the vote and therefore, under state law, have to face a runoff with Democrat Jon Ossoff on Jan. 5. There will definitely be a runoff for the state’s other seat between appointed incumbent Kelly Loeffler and Democrat Raphael Warnock.
Whatever the exact result, it seems unlikely that the Senate will go along with the plans backed enthusiastically by leftist Democrats to pack the Supreme Court or to confer statehood on the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Democrats have not done nearly as well as expected in House races. The Cook Political Report predicted that Democrats would increase their 232-seat majority in the House. Instead, they’ve lost multiple seats and have gained only two, both in North Carolina, thanks to a favorable court redistricting decision.
This was also a bad election for the theory that increasing percentages of nonwhites would assure Democrats of a permanent natural majority. But there never was any assurance that the Americans classified (beginning with the 1970 census) as Hispanics would overwhelmingly identify as Democrats, just as black Americans have for the last half-century; the contemporary and historic experiences of these groups are far different.
But Hispanic voters didn’t perform as expected, and neither did black voters. National exit polls showed Trump winning the votes of 32 percent of Latinos and 36 percent of Latino men; it also showed Trump winning 12 percent of black voters and 18 percent of black men.
The gender gap is apparently widening among Latino voters and black voters.
One more result worthy of notice: California’s overwhelmingly Democratic legislature put on the ballot a proposition repealing Proposition 209, passed in 1996, which banned racial discrimination by state and local governments, including in college and university admissions. Some legislators with many Asian constituents complained, but the assumption was that it would pass easily. Not so.
Current returns show this Proposition 16 rejected by a 56 percent to 44 percent margin. It is barely carrying Los Angeles County with 52 percent and the San Francisco Bay area with 53 percent, but is rejected by 64 percent in the rest of the state, where most California voters live.
Evidently something sticks in the craws of most Californians, like most Americans, when they are asked to authorize discriminating against their fellow citizens because of their race.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--What Florida can teach New York about handling COVID

Crowds packed into some Florida bars over the weekend after ...

TAMPA — Florida became one of the first states to brave a resumption of post-lockdown life way back in May, when Gov. Ron DeSantis first OK’d reopening. Having lived through it, I can tell you first-hand: It was a rocky start. But for all the early scoffing and I-told-you-so’s, DeSantis’ strategy has proven fairly successful.
Despite the recent surge in COVID cases nationally and throughout the world, Florida remains open and working — and with steadily dropping death rates. New York’s leaders may want to pay attention.
In July, two months after reopening, new cases in Florida skyrocketed. Within a seven-day period, the state broke its own record three times for most new cases in a single day.
The second of those record-setting days was the day before Disney World was set to reopen. But that didn’t stop the “Happiest Place on Earth” — and Disney’s first day back marked yet another record, with over 15,000 new cases. That boosted no one’s confidence in DeSantis’ plan.
Still, at the end of September, the governor unexpectedly signed an executive order ending all state restrictions and reopening restaurants and bars at full capacity. Guess what: Death rates declined further.
Indeed, the tide seems to have turned. Now one month into Phase 3 of reopening, Florida’s daily death rate continues to drop, and hospitalizations remain stable.
Why have states like, say, New York, which has enforced strict, prolonged lockdown restrictions, suffered more than twice the number of deaths per capita as Florida? Apparently, lockdowns and broad restrictions aren’t the right elixir for COVID-19.
From early on, DeSantis prioritized the at-risk population, triggering much criticism at the time. He famously excused partying college students, focusing resources instead on protecting the elderly and letting the young and healthy resume their lives.
Gov. Cuomo took almost the exact opposite approach. He focused on removing freedoms for the entire population, and rather than devote special attention and resources to protecting the elderly, he actually put those at nursing homes at greater risk, by forcing those homes to accept COVID-positive patients.
Florida has had about a quarter of the nursing-home fatalities as New York, despite the state’s larger population. And when that July surge in Florida hit, it hit mostly young people, making it less deadly than in New York.
Today, Floridians are living in the new normal, which hasn’t turned out to be as apocalyptic as some feared. Thanks to the governor’s emergency order requiring public schools to offer in-person classes by Aug. 31, parents and stir-crazy kids are managing fine.
In South Florida, which is more of a hot spot than my stomping ground, Tampa, some local mask mandates remain in place. Miami still has some relatively strict rules, having seen particularly high numbers within the past few weeks.
But each county is allowed to regulate itself, and people, by and large, make their own decisions about how to proceed safely.
The elderly and immunodeficient still take precautions. But grocery stores no longer have arrows to direct traffic. People selectively shake hands. And, yes, I’ve recently been to Disney World!
For a state known for its “Florida Man” craziness, it may be surprising that so many here are following the CDC’s mask and social-distancing guidelines without state enforcement. But folks know what’s best for them and what’s necessary to resume everyday life.
New Yorkers have longed for that kind of freedom for months. They’re desperate to hang out with friends and family, see a show, have their kids in school and, yes, party — as we Floridians have. They want businesses back up, at least to levels that will help them survive.
Indeed, they want their whole economy running well. And it is, relatively speaking: In September, Florida’s unemployment rate, 7.6 percent, was below the nation’s 7.9 percent average; New York’s, meanwhile, was at 9.7, with more than 14 percent joblessness in the city. No wonder New Yorkers are heading south.
Cuomo’s ever-changing rules, his cluster strategies and ethnicity-based restrictions, have only made matters worse. New Yorkers should demand their gov take a cue from Florida. We haven’t handled everything perfectly, and the crisis is far from over. But we are a heck of a lot closer to a livable “normal” and a healthy economy than New York.
Ashley Allen is an intern with The Post


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Nicki Minaj mulling ‘difficult decision’ of hiring nanny for newborn son

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Nicki Minaj revealed on Twitter Friday that @ @ @ @ @ hired a nanny for her newborn son with husband Kenneth Petty .
When one fan @ @ @ @ @ , should hire some help with the child , who arrived in September — because @ @ @ @ @ Minaj responded , “ Everyone tells me that .
Lol .
I rlly should get @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Last night I tried to tweet while I was feeding him , ” @ @ @ @ @ looked @ me & said ‘ absolutely TF NOT.
’ he wants his undivided attention @ @ @ @ @ welcomed their son in Los Angeles on September 30 , a year after Minaj announced @ @ @ @ @ from music to raise a family .
That turned out to be a not-entirely-accurate prediction @ @ @ @ @ released multiple songs since then , including one with hip-hop ’ s most famous snitch @ @ @ @ @ .

Just baby tingz.
Nicki Minaj revealed on Twitter Friday that she hasn’t yet hired a nanny for her newborn son with husband Kenneth Petty.
When one fan suggested that Minaj, 37, should hire some help with the child, who arrived in September — because her fans miss her — Minaj responded, “Everyone tells me that. Lol. I rlly should get one. Difficult decision tho.”
“Last night I tried to tweet while I was feeding him,” she added. “He looked @ me & said ‘absolutely TF NOT.’ he wants his undivided attention chile.”
Minaj and Petty welcomed their son in Los Angeles on September 30, a year after Minaj announced she was taking time off from music to raise a family. That turned out to be a not-entirely-accurate prediction, as the singer has released multiple songs since then, including one with hip-hop’s most famous snitch, Tekashi6ix9ine and Doja Cat.


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Alfred Morris got creative to stay ready for his Giants chance

If not for Giants trainer Justin Maher , Logan Ryan ’ s wife ...

Yes, he’s that same Alfred Morris.
The snarky Twitter jokes started when a “Monday Night Football” audience realized the short-handed Giants were not running an unfamiliar rookie with a common-enough name. They instead had dusted off Washington’s three-time 1,000-yard rusher and two-time Pro Bowler, who had one NFL carry in the previous 22 months.
Where had he disappeared to? Morris spent the offseason running the acres of his backyard and the streets near his temporary Texas home — and got creative without access to the home gym he left behind in Florida before the pandemic.
“I didn’t want to buy another weight set because I already have one, so I was using bags of mulch to put my weight bar on and do squats — or whatever I could find in my garage to makeshift a bench,” Morris told The Post. “It was hard — sometimes annoying — but I’ve come a long way. I feel like I’m still supposed to be doing this for whatever reason. It’s a love.”
Morris is expected to get more carries Sunday against his former team as the Giants adjust to life without Saquon Barkley (torn ACL) and Devonta Freeman (ankle). He is on the practice squad, but was protected against signing elsewhere this week in anticipation of being activated on game day.
Morris averaged 1,178 rushing yards per season from 2012-15, playing with pre-injury quarterback sensation Robert Griffin III in Washington.
“It was an exciting time,” Morris said. “We came up with an offense that teams didn’t have a lot of tape on, and week-to-week they still weren’t able to stop it that first year. I think it could’ve been a whole different story there if things went the way we thought they would.”
To go with fond memories, Morris has plenty of gear that could become collector’s items when Washington’s team-name change is official.
“I have helmets, shoulder pads, jerseys from different games from every team I’ve been on,” Morris said. “It’s hard to get rid of because I was part of their history and they are part of my history.”
Running back is a young man’s game, and Morris is about to turn 32.
“I’ve been at the top, I’ve been at the bottom and I’ve been out,” Morris said. “A starter, a backup, I’ve been cut, a Pro Bowler. I’ve had the full spectrum for a running back. I’m thankful for the journey so I can pour knowledge into these younger guys.”
Morris laughed off the idea that so many fans and media members thought he was retired until his workload against the Buccaneers. It was almost the case, between when he was cut by the Cardinals on Oct. 22, 2019 and when he signed with the Giants in late September.
“There were times me and my wife talked about just being done, honestly,” Morris said. “I would train and go home and be a dad. It’s really hard to work out by yourself, especially when you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Some days really got hard, like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But an opportunity came and I was ready for it. I just had a feeling someone would call.”
The Giants called on recommendation from offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who was Morris’ head coach with the Cowboys in 2016-17. Garrett knew Morris to be the type of team player who would take advantage of a first-year rule allowing veterans to sign to the practice squad.
“If the situation was different, I probably wouldn’t have,” Morris said. “Some of the situations I’ve been through prepared me to humble myself. Having history with Coach Garrett and knowing the offense learning curve was going to be very low, I felt it was a situation that was unique and hard to pass up.”
Morris’ eight carries were seven more than he had all of last season. His 28 rushing yards were 11 more than veteran Jonathan Stewart had with the Giants during the 2018 season, when he earned $3.125 million, but showed he was finished at age 31.
Morris is still going.
“When we brought him in for the tryout, I thought he moved well,” head coach Joe Judge said. “You could see he wasn’t too far away from being in game-shape. He’s practiced very hard for us. I’m pleased with how he’s able to perform and get in there and give us some production.”


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Media still in denial and other commentary

After 2016 , “ a healthy media might have learned from its mistakes , engaged in soul-searching and tried to gain some insights into the working-class coalition that Trump had assembled , ” but instead , this year they touted polls that were no more accurate , sighs Reason ’ s Robby Soave .
They primed the public for “ a blowout that never materialized.
” Not only were they wrong about Trump ’ s popularity ; they ’ re also “ unable to admit that a Democratic Party held hostage by liberal arts graduates who write their preferred pronouns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of touch with the working-class voters who traditionally vote blue.
” Most outlets all but refused to report anything that might ’ ve helped Trump , and “ as independent thinkers exit the mainstream media , groupthink and blind spots among the legacy press are likely to get worse.
” That result would be “ a travesty , and not an outcome anyone should want or root for.
” “ More than 20 Republican women are headed to the House , ” observes Yuichiro Kakutani at The Washington Free Beacon , including six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election night , ” in what New York ’ s Rep. Elise Stefanik , who spearheaded a push to recruit women candidates , called a “ smashing success ” — and a sign Democrats have no monopoly over women ’ s votes .
Indeed , it was women , notes Kakutani , who fueled “ a Republican offensive that chipped away at Democratic control of the House , ” winning six out of the seven flipped races .
These women , Stefanik argued , felt “ the party of Nancy Pelosi ” simply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of women.
” Democrats ’ failure to win the Senate sets up a victorious Joe Biden to be “ a weak , ineffectual president governing at the mercy of Mitch McConnell ’ s Machiavellian machinations , ” The Week ’ s Damon Linker points out .
Democrats drove voters away by promising “ a series of institutional changes that would entrench their power far into the future.
” Yet their platform turned out to be “ the most effective [ get-out-the-vote ] operation for the GOP imaginable.
” If Biden makes the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2022 midterm election will see a “ conservative backlash ” that renders his “ administration even more fully dead in the water.
” Much of the left may finally be realizing that half the country is not willing to submit to their “ giddy plans ” — and “ the sooner the Democrats learn to live with that fact , the better.
” From the right : Killing California Retailers California ’ s shoplifting reforms have been devastating retail businesses , The Wall Street Journal ’ s editors report .
After the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of property under $ 950 to a misdemeanor in 2014 , it triggered a kleptomania boom that crippled stores .
“ Police stopped apprehending shoplifters because it wasn ’ t worth their time , ” and public officials even nixed store-led initiatives , such as requiring shoplifters to take life skills classes to avoid a criminal complaint .
“ Silicon Valley gentry , ” who “ can insulate themselves from social disorder caused by progressive policies ” and unions , have no problem opposing harsher penalties .
“ As ever , the rich @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by progressive policies .
Everyone else can ’ t. ” At the Fordham Institute site , education expert Chester E. Finn Jr. wonders how Americans would feel if “ doctors , nurses , policemen , firemen and postal workers simply opted to stay home — and their unions defended them , ” because of the pandemic , as is the case with teachers .
“ Are schools essential or aren ’ t they ?
Are teachers essential workers or aren ’ t they ?
” Alas , public schools , like those in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives , have remained closed , because “ unions are obdurate.
” The closures are “ insane and irresponsible .
We know from a thousand sources that almost all kids are better off in school , both for purposes of academic learning and for all manner of ” and social- and emotional-learning benefits .
Sure , there are risks .
But the question is “ whether those risks are greater ” for kids and society “ than keeping schools closed .
”

Libertarian: Media Still in Denial
After 2016, “a healthy media might have learned from its mistakes, engaged in soul-searching and tried to gain some insights into the working-class coalition that Trump had assembled,” but instead, this year they touted polls that were no more accurate, sighs Reason’s Robby Soave. They primed the public for “a blowout that never materialized.” Not only were they wrong about Trump’s popularity; they’re also “unable to admit that a Democratic Party held hostage by liberal arts graduates who write their preferred pronouns on their name tags might be out of touch with the working-class voters who traditionally vote blue.” Most outlets all but refused to report anything that might’ve helped Trump, and “as independent thinkers exit the mainstream media, groupthink and blind spots among the legacy press are likely to get worse.” That result would be “a travesty, and not an outcome anyone should want or root for.”
Election desk: Women Fueled GOP Wins
“More than 20 Republican women are headed to the House,” observes Yuichiro Kakutani at The Washington Free Beacon, including six who flipped seats to the GOP on election night,” in what New York’s Rep. Elise Stefanik, who spearheaded a push to recruit women candidates, called a “smashing success” — and a sign Democrats have no monopoly over women’s votes. Indeed, it was women, notes Kakutani, who fueled “a Republican offensive that chipped away at Democratic control of the House,” winning six out of the seven flipped races. These women, Stefanik argued, felt “the party of Nancy Pelosi” simply does not “represent the vast majority of women.”
Iconoclast: The Left’s Self-Sabotage
Democrats’ failure to win the Senate sets up a victorious Joe Biden to be “a weak, ineffectual president governing at the mercy of Mitch McConnell’s Machiavellian machinations,” The Week’s Damon Linker points out. Democrats drove voters away by promising “a series of institutional changes that would entrench their power far into the future.” Yet their platform turned out to be “the most effective [get-out-the-vote] operation for the GOP imaginable.” If Biden makes the same mistake of overreach during his presidency, the 2022 midterm election will see a “conservative backlash” that renders his “administration even more fully dead in the water.” Much of the left may finally be realizing that half the country is not willing to submit to their “giddy plans” — and “the sooner the Democrats learn to live with that fact, the better.”
From the right: Killing California Retailers
California’s shoplifting reforms have been devastating retail businesses, The Wall Street Journal’s editors report. After the Golden State reduced criminal charges for theft of property under $950 to a misdemeanor in 2014, it triggered a kleptomania boom that crippled stores. “Police stopped apprehending shoplifters because it wasn’t worth their time,” and public officials even nixed store-led initiatives, such as requiring shoplifters to take life skills classes to avoid a criminal complaint. “Silicon Valley gentry,” who “can insulate themselves from social disorder caused by progressive policies” and unions, have no problem opposing harsher penalties. “As ever, the rich can insulate themselves from social disorder caused by progressive policies. Everyone else can’t.”
Education guru: School Closures Are ‘Insane’
At the Fordham Institute site, education expert Chester E. Finn Jr. wonders how Americans would feel if “doctors, nurses, policemen, firemen and postal workers simply opted to stay home — and their unions defended them,” because of the pandemic, as is the case with teachers. “Are schools essential or aren’t they? Are teachers essential workers or aren’t they?” Alas, public schools, like those in Montgomery County, Md., where Finn lives, have remained closed, because “unions are obdurate.” The closures are “insane and irresponsible. We know from a thousand sources that almost all kids are better off in school, both for purposes of academic learning and for all manner of” and social- and emotional-learning benefits. Sure, there are risks. But the question is “whether those risks are greater” for kids and society “than keeping schools closed.”
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Trump won record minority support — yet the left is calling it ‘racism’

In an ideal world, political parties would be about different approaches to governing. Yet too often in our nation’s history they’ve been about tribalism along regional, economic and, most divisively, racial lines.
Then came 2020: This Election Day, President Trump garnered the highest percentage of non-white votes for a Republican presidential candidate in 60 years. This movement toward balance should be celebrated by all, but not surprisingly, that is not what is happening.
Take MSNBC anchor Joy Reid, who claims that the election showed a “great amount of racism, anti-blackness and anti-wokeness.” Or The New York Times’ Charles Blow, who somehow sees this election as confirming the power of the “White Patriarchy.”
Writer Bree Newsome Bass conceded that some white voters had chosen Joe Biden but voted Republican down ballot to preserve “white rule.”
These people view everything through a racial lens. They’re convinced Trump is a racist and regard his broad support — half the country voted for him — as proof that the nation, as a whole, is likewise hopelessly racist.
A kind way to describe such reactions would be “unhinged.” Another way: terrified.
Between 2004 and 2016, black men and women gave between 88 percent and 95 percent of their votes to the Democratic candidate for president. This year, Trump won 18 percent of the vote among black men — a staggering number for a Republican.
To put that in visceral terms, of every six black men who voted, one voted for Trump.
He also made significant gains with Hispanic voters and even Muslim voters.
Trump has had significant accomplishments as president — halting the liberal, activist tilt of the courts, standing up to China, striking peace treaties that offer fresh hope in the Middle East peace, firing up the economy — but perhaps none is as important or has more far-reaching implications than his transformation of the GOP into a multiracial party. For all of his high principles and good hair, the last Republican candidate for president, Mitt Romney, could never have dreamed of such success among non-white voters.
So why are so many progressive and black intellectual elites so upset about the American political parties achieving so much more racial balance?
Some cynics might see it as simply sour grapes over the left’s loss of power and influence. Democrats assumed only they could speak for minorities, who it now turns out have their own ideas. But it also reflects a fundamental difference between how Americans view race and racism.
Over the past few decades, progressives have insisted racism is built into the system and the system must change (in progressive ways) to curb it — though it’s never been clear if they think it can ever be satisfactorily defeated. Those on the right, meanwhile, view racism as an issue of individuals holding irrational beliefs regarding minorities, which can be organically overcome.
In the 2020 election, we now see that millions of minority voters rejected the idea that their votes should be bound by identity politics, or as Joe Biden put it, that if you don’t vote Democratic, you ain’t black. That remark didn’t come out of nowhere. He was simply saying out loud what many on the left have long believed.
Fact is, Trump made the most direct appeal to non-white voters we’ve seen from a Republican in most of our lifetimes. And it worked.
This is also good news for America, and especially minorities. We now have a GOP that will be eager to maintain these gains, and a Democratic Party that can no longer take minority votes for granted.
And we can now stop believing the color of a person’s skin gives us certainty about their political affiliation — and that in and of itself strikes a blow at racism. It’s exciting: Individuals can be treated as individuals, rather than lumped into political boxes based on their racial group.
Some may find it ironic that it was Trump, of all people, who’s most responsible for this. But what matters is that the body politic has landed in a better, more equal and more promising place.
May our parties now be about politics, not racial division, and may every American feel free, regardless of skin color, to embrace the party of their choice.
David Marcus is The Federalist’s New York correspondent. Twitter: @BlueboxDave


newyorkpost--2020-11-06--Now that Johnny Depp is out, end the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series for good

Johnny Depp has been kicked out of “ Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 3.
” Good riddance !
But I ’ ve got a better idea .
Let ’ s end the no-good “ Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them ” series once and for all .
Amber Heard ’ s abuse allegations against 57-year-old Depp , who in recent days lost a libel case against the UK ’ s Sun newspaper for calling him a “ wife-beater , ” are troubling .
However , Depp ’ s departure isn ’ t going to change the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s like staring at a rotting , maggot-infested chuck roast and concluding , “ Maybe we should add some paprika.
” “ Fantastic Beasts , ” which stars Eddie Redmayne as a wizard and magical animal expert named Newt Scamander , was always a far-out idea .
It ’ s based on a short paperback guide to fake creatures J.K. Rowling wrote for charity during the salad days of Harry Potter .
The films , which sprouted up out of practically nothing , chronicle Newt ’ s adventures through London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tries to wrangle funny critters .
The worst part : In the background of his travels we witness the rise of a bigoted dark wizard named Gellert Grindelwald , played until today by Johnny Depp , who looks like a mix of Guy Fieri , Hitler and a bottle of Wite-Out .
It ’ s sad and hopeless .
The second one , “ Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them : The Crimes of Grindelwald ” ( Who writes these long titles ?
Stanley Kubrick ? )
was better than the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much .
They both pale in comparison to the wonderful Harry Potter saga .
Warner Bros. is not as shrewd as Disney when it comes to mining its catalog for every bankable angle .
Look at “ Star Wars ” : Nine core movies , two spinoff films , cartoon shows and an Emmy-winning TV series about a heretofore unknown character .
And audiences gobble it up .
We ’ re minutes away from “ Mace Windu : The Opera.
” WB would like to milk its multi-billion-dollar property Harry Potter for all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established the “ Wizarding World , ” a universe with the same rules as Hogwarts , but totally new characters and setups .
Outside of its successful theme parks , however , the plan is not working .
Both “ Fantastic Beasts ” films are the lowest earners in the 10-movie family .
Audiences still adore “ Star Wars ” without Luke , but they need Harry .
It does them no favors that the Newt films are bleak and aimless .
Harry had one job : vanquish Voldemort .
We read each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between good and evil at the end , with the lead-up all fun , mystery and satisfying coming-of-age scenarios .
“ Fantastic Beasts ” is faintly atmospheric sludge with blah characters and plots that amount to little more than , “ Get the animals back in the cage !
” Rowling , suffice it to say , is a much better author than screenwriter , and she should ’ ve delegated that duty to somebody else .
There are five planned movies , which is four too many .
For now , Depp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of his scenes will need to be reshot with the new actor , at great expense to the studio .
Fine .
But when the only buzz you get is about the messy personal life of one of your stars , you know it ’ s time to call it quits .
Let ’ s put these “ Fantastic Beasts ” down for good .

Johnny Depp has been kicked out of “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 3.” Good riddance! But I’ve got a better idea.
Let’s end the no-good “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them” series once and for all.
Amber Heard’s abuse allegations against 57-year-old Depp, who in recent days lost a libel case against the UK’s Sun newspaper for calling him a “wife-beater,” are troubling. However, Depp’s departure isn’t going to change the fact that this franchise is a misguided snooze. That’s like staring at a rotting, maggot-infested chuck roast and concluding, “Maybe we should add some paprika.”
“Fantastic Beasts,” which stars Eddie Redmayne as a wizard and magical animal expert named Newt Scamander, was always a far-out idea. It’s based on a short paperback guide to fake creatures J.K. Rowling wrote for charity during the salad days of Harry Potter.
The films, which sprouted up out of practically nothing, chronicle Newt’s adventures through London, New York and Paris as he tries to wrangle funny critters. The worst part: In the background of his travels we witness the rise of a bigoted dark wizard named Gellert Grindelwald, played until today by Johnny Depp, who looks like a mix of Guy Fieri, Hitler and a bottle of Wite-Out. It’s sad and hopeless.
The second one, “Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them: The Crimes of Grindelwald” (Who writes these long titles? Stanley Kubrick?) was better than the first, but that’s not saying much. They both pale in comparison to the wonderful Harry Potter saga.
Warner Bros. is not as shrewd as Disney when it comes to mining its catalog for every bankable angle. Look at “Star Wars”: Nine core movies, two spinoff films, cartoon shows and an Emmy-winning TV series about a heretofore unknown character. And audiences gobble it up. We’re minutes away from “Mace Windu: The Opera.”
WB would like to milk its multi-billion-dollar property Harry Potter for all its worth, too, and thus established the “Wizarding World,” a universe with the same rules as Hogwarts, but totally new characters and setups. Outside of its successful theme parks, however, the plan is not working. Both “Fantastic Beasts” films are the lowest earners in the 10-movie family. Audiences still adore “Star Wars” without Luke, but they need Harry.
It does them no favors that the Newt films are bleak and aimless. Harry had one job: vanquish Voldemort. We read each book knowing there will be a clash between good and evil at the end, with the lead-up all fun, mystery and satisfying coming-of-age scenarios. “Fantastic Beasts” is faintly atmospheric sludge with blah characters and plots that amount to little more than, “Get the animals back in the cage!” Rowling, suffice it to say, is a much better author than screenwriter, and she should’ve delegated that duty to somebody else.
There are five planned movies, which is four too many. For now, Depp is simply being recast, and presumably some of his scenes will need to be reshot with the new actor, at great expense to the studio. Fine. But when the only buzz you get is about the messy personal life of one of your stars, you know it’s time to call it quits. Let’s put these “Fantastic Beasts” down for good.


newyorkpost--2020-11-07--Clemson vs. Notre Dame prediction, line: Trust the Tigers

Jets fans began dreaming about 2021 shortly after watching their ...

The PAC-12’S return to action would be headline-worthy most weeks. So would a top-10 battle between Florida and Georgia. But even without the sport’s biggest star, no game holds more intrigue than top-ranked Clemson’s trip to No. 4 Notre Dame.
Ultimately, the matchup may be even more interesting without Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who will miss his second straight game due to COVID-19. Now, a 13th straight win for the Fighting Irish — and an inside track to a playoff spot — feels far more attainable.
“We’re 29-3 over the last 32 games,” Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said this week. “We’re not a team that’s easily overcome with the moment.”
If not by the moment, then by elite opponents.
The Irish, under Kelly, have lost all five games they have played against top-5 teams, including a 30-3 CFP semifinal loss to Clemson in 2018, when Lawrence threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns. The Tigers’ newest five-star freshman, quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei, could become a national star against the Irish, too, after throwing for 342 yards with three total touchdowns in his first career start.
Lawrence’s absence wasn’t the issue in the Tigers’ 34-28 win over Boston College. And it won’t be in South Bend, either, where the Tigers defense — which posted a second-half shutout against the Eagles last Saturday — will elevate its play to the competition. Don’t expect Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book to do the same.
In his biggest games last season, Book was intercepted twice against Georgia, then went 8 of 25 with 73 yards passing in a 31-point loss to Michigan. Before that, Book threw for just 160 yards with no touchdowns in the playoff loss to Clemson.
The Tigers (-5.5) still own the ACC. The Irish are only guests.
(Home team in CAPS)
INDIANA (+2.5) over Michigan
Such a spread typically would only make sense on the hardwood. Michigan is 19-1 all-time at Memorial Stadium. Indiana hasn’t beaten the Wolverines since 1987. The Hoosiers have lost 39 of the past 40 meetings with Michigan. The difference now is Indiana may have its best team in 40 years, while Michigan has just another underachieving Jim Harbaugh production.
Arizona State (+10.5) over USC
I’ll believe the Trojans are worthy of their latest round of preseason hype when I see it. A kickoff at 9 a.m. local time against the second-best team in the Pac-12 South could make for an unpredictable affair. The past two meetings have been decided by a total of eight points.
TEXAS (-6.5) over West Virginia
The Mountaineers have built the Big 12’s best defense upon the shoulder pads of some of the nation’s worst offenses. A stat correction is coming in the form of Sam Ehlinger and the Longhorns’ top-10 offense.
Florida (+3.5) over GEORGIA
The battle for SEC East supremacy pits one of the nation’s best passers against a former walk-on who was supposed to be Georgia’s fourth-string quarterback. While the Gators’ explosive offense (42 points per game) will do significant damage against a defense which just lost four starters, the Bulldogs remain stuck with Stetson Bennett, whose confidence is crashing after being intercepted five times in the past two games.
Houston (+13.5) over CINCINNATI
This is personal. This is about principle. After two impressive blowout wins over SMU and Memphis with the huge majority of bettors on their side, the Bearcats have attracted even more of the public this week. At some point soon, Cincy is going to roll a seven.
PENN STATE (-25) over Maryland
The Terrapins owned a rare spotlight by playing on a Friday night, taking the opportunity to present the best sides of QB Taulia Tagovailoa, fifth-year running back Jake Funk and friends. But after upsetting Minnesota by dominating perhaps the nation’s worst defense, Maryland — which lost its first road game by 40 to Northwestern — travels to play the Nittany Lions, who have won the past three meetings by a combined score of 163-6.
OKLAHOMA (-37.5) over Kansas
Remarkably, the Jayhawks haven’t lost to the Sooners by more than 38 points since 2016. Clearly, destruction is overdue for a defense giving up more than 46 points per game.
Oklahoma State (-12.5) over KANSAS STATE
The Wildcats responded to their shocking season-opening loss to Arkansas State by beating Oklahoma. Bouncing back from a surprising blowout loss to West Virginia won’t be as easy with true freshman Will Howard — who was intercepted three times last weekend — at quarterback, facing the ninth-ranked pass defense.
SOUTH CAROLINA (+10.5) over Texas A&M
Kellen Mond has already racked up three wins against the Gamecocks. Maybe an extra week of preparation will give supposed defensive specialist Will Muschamp enough time to formulate a sound game plan this time.
OHIO STATE (-38) over Rutgers
Greg Schiano’s first year back in Piscataway has already peaked. A return to Columbus will give the Buckeyes’ former defensive coordinator the chance to reminisce about how easy his job used to be. Ohio State has won each of its six meetings against Rutgers by at least 35 points.
Stanford (+10) over OREGON
After both teams were devastated by opt-outs and departures — the Ducks lost quarterback Justin Herbert (to the NFL’s Chargers), all five starting offensive linemen and three starters in the secondary — Stanford will shrink the talent gap by milking the clock, with one of the country’s best offensive lines.
Best bets: Clemson, Arizona State, Ohio State
This season (best pets): 65-50-1 (12-11-1)
2014-19 record: 772-756-13


newyorkpost--2020-11-07--Jets looking to find winning second-half offensive formula

If the NFL had a sense of humor , they would ...

The Jets actually were within striking distance at halftime in each of their past two games, both against likely AFC division winners. The second halves of both games, however, were disastrous for head coach Adam Gase and the Gang Green offense.
The Jets led by four points against the Bills in Week 7 at intermission, and they were within 12 points of the high-powered Chiefs last Sunday. They totaled just 67 second-half yards in the two games, however, to extend their winless half-season to 0-8.
“I feel like some teams have been playing us in the first half, and that’s how they play us in the second half, especially if it works,” quarterback Sam Darnold said after practice Friday in Florham Park. “We have to be ready to make halftime adjustments and go out in the second half and play better.”
Darnold has been nursing a sore right shoulder since taking a heavy hit against Buffalo. He missed two previous games in October with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder.
Since Gase handed off play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains, Darnold threw for just 253 combined yards in the Jets’ past two losses. His overall 65.9 quarterback rating ranks last in the NFL among quarterbacks who have made at least three starts.
The Jets actually scored the first 10 points two weeks ago against Buffalo, on a Sergio Castillo field goal in the first quarter and La’Mical Perine’s 5-yard touchdown run midway through the second.
But the Bills held Darnold and the Jets to just 4 total yards — the lowest total in a half in the NFL in 40 years — and negative-13 passing yards after halftime. The passing-yardage figure represented the fewest in a second half by a Jets team since at least 1991.
“The Buffalo game, that was glaring as far as what they did different,” Gase said before practice Friday. “How they played the first half, we saw a lot of zone, we saw not as much pressure. The second half, it was like a bombardment of pressures. It was multiple safeties, corners, linebackers.
“We got the full gamut of whatever they had on their call sheet. They brought it all in the second half. They were able to stop the run, which put us in third-and-long situations and kind of just put us in a poor position.”
The second half of last week’s expected loss to the defending Super Bowl champions was a tad better, with 63 total yards of offense after intermission against the Chiefs. The Jets had trailed 21-9 through two quarters, but they were outscored 14-0 after halftime.
“The Kansas City game was more they didn’t necessarily change what they were doing, they just started playing a lot tighter, more competitive on balls. They were stopping our run game, they were a lot more aggressive, they were winning on their one-on-one matchups,” Gase said. “They just played better than us in that second half.”
Gase and the Jets are looking to avoid the first 0-9 start in team history Monday night against the Patriots (2-5), who have lost four straight games. During their franchise-worst 1-15 season in 1996, the Jets lost their first eight games before winning in Week 9.