newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Trump says ‘great’ Mideast peace plan coming before Netanyahu visit

President Trump says his administration ’ s Mideast peace plan will be released in days .
Trump told reporters Thursday on Air Force One that the proposal would be released before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House on Tuesday .
“ Probably we ’ ll release it a little bit prior to that , ” Trump said .
“ I ’ d love to be able to do that deal .
They say that ’ s the hardest of all deals , ” Trump said .
“ It ’ s a great plan .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said he had spoken with Palestinian leaders “ briefly ” and that “ we will speak to them in a period of time.
” Trump will announce the plan during the second week of his Senate impeachment trial , drawing attention from an event that ’ s seen many empty seats in both the Senate chamber and spectator gallery .
Details of the plan were not immediately clear .
Trump confirmed the plan would be released shortly after tweeting , “ Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ release was delayed by political instability in Israel .
At one point , the plan reportedly called for the nation of Jordan to give land to Palestinians in exchange for land from Saudi Arabia .
Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner took a leading role in the peace talks .
Jason Greenblatt , Trump ’ s top Middle East peace envoy , announced his resignation in September ahead of the plan ’ s release .
Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz will join Netanyahu at the White House .
The men face off in an election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third in less than a year .
“ I was surprised that both of them came off the campaign trail , ” Trump said .
“ We have both candidates coming — unheard of .
”

President Trump says his administration’s Mideast peace plan will be released in days.
Trump told reporters Thursday on Air Force One that the proposal would be released before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House on Tuesday.
“Probably we’ll release it a little bit prior to that,” Trump said.
“I’d love to be able to do that deal. They say that’s the hardest of all deals,” Trump said. “It’s a great plan. It’s a plan that really would work.”
Trump said he had spoken with Palestinian leaders “briefly” and that “we will speak to them in a period of time.”
Trump will announce the plan during the second week of his Senate impeachment trial, drawing attention from an event that’s seen many empty seats in both the Senate chamber and spectator gallery.
Details of the plan were not immediately clear. Trump confirmed the plan would be released shortly after tweeting, “Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative.”
The plan’s release was delayed by political instability in Israel. At one point, the plan reportedly called for the nation of Jordan to give land to Palestinians in exchange for land from Saudi Arabia.
Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner took a leading role in the peace talks. Jason Greenblatt, Trump’s top Middle East peace envoy, announced his resignation in September ahead of the plan’s release.
Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz will join Netanyahu at the White House. The men face off in an election March 2, the country’s third in less than a year.
“I was surprised that both of them came off the campaign trail,” Trump said. “We have both candidates coming — unheard of.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Fabolous recalls dissing, subsequently apologizing to Beyoncé and Solange

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Fabolous revealed in a “ Breakfast Club ” interview taped Thursday that he once ruffled Beyoncé ’ s feathers by mentioning her and sister Solange in a tune called “ For the Money.
” ( Featuring Nicki Minaj ! )
“ It was on a mixtape , and I said , ‘ If you could have Beyoncé , would you take Solange ?
, ” he recalled , adding that he meant the line to be “ punchy and metaphoric.
” But , “ I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And then Beyoncé showed me [ by ] saying something like that could personally hurt her .
And I said , ‘ You know what ?
I get it .
And when I see Solange , I will apologize to her.
’ I did see her at Soho House one day .
This was years ago .
So I thought , ‘ Let me beeline to Solange and apologize .
And she was stiff … she said , ‘ What ’ s up ?
’ I say , ‘ I didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do take responsibility for saying that and I apologize.
’ ” He said he ’ d figured it was all on “ the mixtape level ” that was “ never going to reach Solange and Beyoncé ’ s ears .
”

Fabolous revealed in a “Breakfast Club” interview taped Thursday that he once ruffled Beyoncé’s feathers by mentioning her and sister Solange in a tune called “For the Money.” (Featuring Nicki Minaj!)
“It was on a mixtape, and I said, ‘If you could have Beyoncé, would you take Solange?,” he recalled, adding that he meant the line to be “punchy and metaphoric.”
But, “I didn’t see the deeper side of it. And then Beyoncé showed me [by] saying something like that could personally hurt her. And I said, ‘You know what? I get it. And when I see Solange, I will apologize to her.’ I did see her at Soho House one day. This was years ago. So I thought, ‘Let me beeline to Solange and apologize. And she was stiff … she said, ‘What’s up?’ I say, ‘I didn’t mean any malice, and I do take responsibility for saying that and I apologize.’”
He said he’d figured it was all on “the mixtape level” that was “never going to reach Solange and Beyoncé’s ears.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Mike Florio suggests 49ers should ‘send a message’ to Patrick Mahomes

KANSAS CITY , Mo .
— Big Red is back in the ...

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio made controversial comments Wednesday while laying out a scenario for stopping Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl 2020.
“I wanna be careful here because I’m not suggesting that [the 49ers] try to knock [Mahomes] out of the game,” Florio qualified on PFT Live.
“But at a certain point, you trade the risk of 15 yards, if you can send a message — and football is still a physical, violent game — if you can hit him, even if it’s close to the sideline, even if he’s maybe started into his slide? When the championship is riding on it, I think it’s a different analysis.”
The 24-year old reigning MVP had eight carries for 53 yards in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, including a sensational, 27-yard touchdown run where he evaded multiple tackles from Titans’ defenders. He picked up seven carries for 53 yards against the Texans during the Chiefs’ come-from-behind victory in the Divisional round.
“If somebody had blown up Patrick Mahomes inside the five [yard line]? Okay, it goes from the four [yard line] to the two [yard line]. Big deal!” Florio said. “So again, I’m not saying that that should be part of the deliberate effort, but the Super Bowl is riding on it and if this guy’s just going to think that he can just run through the defense without any physical consequence, they need to dispel him of that notion the first time he tries.”
Florio’s message was received poorly by fans on social media, in light of the measures the league has taken of late to better ensure player safety. His comments are even more striking when taking into account Mahomes’ injury history. In Week 7, the Chiefs quarterback suffered a frightening knee dislocation against the Broncos which, at the time, looked like it could have been season-ending.
“Quarterbacks who become runners become running backs,” Florio wrote on Thursday. “They surrender all quarterback protections. Which means that they can be hit the same way a running back can be hit. … For any quarterback who doesn’t like that, there’s an easy solution: Don’t run the ball.”
The Chiefs will play the 49ers on Feb. 2 in Super Bowl LIV in Miami.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Get ready to hear a lot more about comedian Yassir Lester

You ’ ll be seeing and hearing a lot of Yassir Lester in the next few months ( and beyond ) .
The writer/comedian/performer makes his animated debut Feb. 16 on Fox ’ s comedy “ Duncanville ” — opposite Amy Poehler , Ty Burrell and Rashida Jones — and returns in mid-March as Yassir X on Don Cheadle ’ s Showtime comedy “ Black Monday.
” ( He also writes for the series , about a funky Wall Street trading firm in the days leading up to the October 1987 stock market crash . )
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not tired , but at the same time , you work to get to a certain level and once you ’ re there you don ’ t let your foot off the gas until you retire , ” says Lester , 35 , whose bursting resume includes writing for “ Girls ” and “ Mrs .
Fletcher ” ( HBO ) , “ The Carmichael Show ” ( NBC ) and “ Detroiters ” ( Comedy Central ) .
He ’ s also co-starred with Adam Pally and Leighton Meester on Fox ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a busy stand-up career .
“ It ’ s a bit of a high-wire act , ” he says .
“ I take two jobs at once ; I was doing ‘ Duncanville ’ and ‘ Black Monday ’ at the same time and had to leave early or show up late to ‘ Black Monday ’ while I was doing my voice for ‘ Duncanville.
’ And after that I hopped onto something else .
“ When I was writing for ‘ Girls ’ I was also writing for ‘ The Carmichael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for ‘ Girls ’ and afternoons for ‘ Carmichael , ' ” he says .
“ If I wake up one day when I ’ m 50 and I ’ m weirdly paralyzed , I ’ ll know why.
” “ Duncanville , ” co-created by Poehler , centers around a teen named Duncan ( voiced by Poehler ) who lives a fairly normal suburban life with his mother ( Poehler again ) , ponytailed father ( Burrell ) and two sisters ( Riki Lindhome , Joy Osmanski ) .
He has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his pals : get-rich-quick schemer Yangzi ( Lester ) , slacker Wolf ( Zach Cherry ) and class clown Bex ( Betsy Sodaro ) .
Rashida Jones ( “ Angie Tribeca ” ) plays Duncan ’ s crush , Mia .
“ Yangzi is the hustler of the group , for better or worse , the one always looking for an opportunity to make money , ” says Lester .
“ He can get his friends into concerts because he ’ s doing like 12 Instagram sponsorships for some weird energy drink or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He ’ s designed to look like me — he even wears my glasses and my outfits.
” Lester says that working with “ Duncanville ” co-creator Mike Scully helped him land the role .
“ The moment this show was even an idea , he asked me to audition , ” he says .
“ He sent me an email and was like , ‘ What was that weird character with the weird voice you used to do in the ‘ Carmichael ’ writers ’ room ?
Can you do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few times into a recorder , and that ’ s it .
I got the role .
I ’ m just acting like that guy behind you in the grocery store .
“ This was the first time I met Amy [ Poehler ] , ” he says .
“ You know that anticipation when you meet people you admire , that they ’ re not going to be a cool as you think they are ?
Amy absolutely lived up to all my expectations and Rashida [ Jones ] is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shout-out to everyone , ” he says “ This is the most incredible cast.
” Lester says Season 2 of “ Black Monday , ” premiering March 15 , will find all the main characters , including Yassir X , continuing their journeys in very different directions .
“ We can explore a little more , ” he says .
“ Yassir and Wayne [ Horatio Sanz ] are kind of the dirty dynamic duo of the show and they get into an entirely different subplot in Season 2 .
You ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the plotline of the show .
You ’ ll also see Mo ’ s [ Cheadle ] return and the way that Blair [ Andrew Rannells ] goes from being a sweet boy to who he becomes in Season 2 .
“ The show is such a weird balance of comedy , drama and action — even more so this season .
”

You’ll be seeing and hearing a lot of Yassir Lester in the next few months (and beyond).
The writer/comedian/performer makes his animated debut Feb. 16 on Fox’s comedy “Duncanville” — opposite Amy Poehler, Ty Burrell and Rashida Jones — and returns in mid-March as Yassir X on Don Cheadle’s Showtime comedy “Black Monday.” (He also writes for the series, about a funky Wall Street trading firm in the days leading up to the October 1987 stock market crash.)
“I’m not going to say I’m not tired, but at the same time, you work to get to a certain level and once you’re there you don’t let your foot off the gas until you retire,” says Lester, 35, whose bursting resume includes writing for “Girls” and “Mrs. Fletcher” (HBO), “The Carmichael Show” (NBC) and “Detroiters” (Comedy Central). He’s also co-starred with Adam Pally and Leighton Meester on Fox’s “Making History” and has a busy stand-up career.
“It’s a bit of a high-wire act,” he says. “I take two jobs at once; I was doing ‘Duncanville’ and ‘Black Monday’ at the same time and had to leave early or show up late to ‘Black Monday’ while I was doing my voice for ‘Duncanville.’ And after that I hopped onto something else.
“When I was writing for ‘Girls’ I was also writing for ‘The Carmichael Show,’ so it was mornings for ‘Girls’ and afternoons for ‘Carmichael,'” he says. “If I wake up one day when I’m 50 and I’m weirdly paralyzed, I’ll know why.”
“Duncanville,” co-created by Poehler, centers around a teen named Duncan (voiced by Poehler) who lives a fairly normal suburban life with his mother (Poehler again), ponytailed father (Burrell) and two sisters (Riki Lindhome, Joy Osmanski). He has a vivid imagination, aided and abetted by his pals: get-rich-quick schemer Yangzi (Lester), slacker Wolf (Zach Cherry) and class clown Bex (Betsy Sodaro). Rashida Jones (“Angie Tribeca”) plays Duncan’s crush, Mia.
“Yangzi is the hustler of the group, for better or worse, the one always looking for an opportunity to make money,” says Lester. “He can get his friends into concerts because he’s doing like 12 Instagram sponsorships for some weird energy drink or something, and he wears gold chains. He’s designed to look like me — he even wears my glasses and my outfits.”
Lester says that working with “Duncanville” co-creator Mike Scully helped him land the role.
“The moment this show was even an idea, he asked me to audition,” he says. “He sent me an email and was like, ‘What was that weird character with the weird voice you used to do in the ‘Carmichael’ writers’ room? Can you do that voice?’ So I did that a few times into a recorder, and that’s it. I got the role. I’m just acting like that guy behind you in the grocery store.
“This was the first time I met Amy [Poehler],” he says. “You know that anticipation when you meet people you admire, that they’re not going to be a cool as you think they are? Amy absolutely lived up to all my expectations and Rashida [Jones] is so funny.
“I’m giving a shout-out to everyone,” he says “This is the most incredible cast.”
Lester says Season 2 of “Black Monday,” premiering March 15, will find all the main characters, including Yassir X, continuing their journeys in very different directions.
“We can explore a little more,” he says. “Yassir and Wayne [Horatio Sanz] are kind of the dirty dynamic duo of the show and they get into an entirely different subplot in Season 2. You’ll see how they effect one another and the plotline of the show. You’ll also see Mo’s [Cheadle] return and the way that Blair [Andrew Rannells] goes from being a sweet boy to who he becomes in Season 2.
“The show is such a weird balance of comedy, drama and action — even more so this season.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Corey Johnson rips DOE over discipline woes at Queens school

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson demanded Thursday that Department of Education boss Richard Carranza take action at a troubled Queens school after a spate of ugly incidents and parent complaints in recent weeks .
“ No student should be subjected to harassment or violence at their school , ” he said .
“ I urge the chancellor and DOE to immediately address the issue.
” MS 158 Marie Curie in Bayside became embroiled in controversy after the videotaped beating of a student in the cafeteria earlier this month and a classroom sexual assault in December .
Both culprits were eventually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but were never suspended .
Carranza hastily left a meeting last week over safety issues in the area — which is District 26 — after angry parents demanded to be heard .
“ I urge the chancellor and DOE to immediately address this issue – sit down with the parent leaders , sit down with the members of the community and education council , ” Johnson said .
A long list of local lawmakers have called for action from the DOE to address safety concerns .
“ I stand with them , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is terrible .
This should have been rectified already .
It is a completely unacceptable situation .
I totally understand the outrage of the families and parents.
” The DOE has pledged to route more resources to Marie Curie and Superintendent Danielle Giunta met with fuming parents earlier this week .
But DOE critics argue that softened discipline and plunging suspensions have compromised classroom order across the system .
A circular blame game has emerged in the wake of MS 158 ’ s woes , with the UFT and Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorder and the principals union pointing back at the DOE .

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson demanded Thursday that Department of Education boss Richard Carranza take action at a troubled Queens school after a spate of ugly incidents and parent complaints in recent weeks.
“No student should be subjected to harassment or violence at their school,” he said. “I urge the chancellor and DOE to immediately address the issue.”
MS 158 Marie Curie in Bayside became embroiled in controversy after the videotaped beating of a student in the cafeteria earlier this month and a classroom sexual assault in December. Both culprits were eventually arrested after parents called the cops, but were never suspended.
Carranza hastily left a meeting last week over safety issues in the area — which is District 26 — after angry parents demanded to be heard.
“I urge the chancellor and DOE to immediately address this issue – sit down with the parent leaders, sit down with the members of the community and education council,” Johnson said.
A long list of local lawmakers have called for action from the DOE to address safety concerns.
“I stand with them,” Johnson said. “This is appalling. It is terrible. This should have been rectified already. It is a completely unacceptable situation. I totally understand the outrage of the families and parents.”
The DOE has pledged to route more resources to Marie Curie and Superintendent Danielle Giunta met with fuming parents earlier this week.
But DOE critics argue that softened discipline and plunging suspensions have compromised classroom order across the system.
A circular blame game has emerged in the wake of MS 158’s woes, with the UFT and Department of Education chastising school administrators for the classroom disorder and the principals union pointing back at the DOE.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Weinstein lawyer asks Annabella Sciorra why she didn’t call De Niro, Stallone for help

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Annabella Sciorra testified Thursday that Harvey Weinstein once knocked on her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil and a videocassette — prompting a defense lawyer to ask why she didn ’ t seek help from Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone .
Sciorra told jurors at Weinstein ’ s sex assault trial that the incident occurred while she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France to promote the Weinstein-produced movie “ Cop Land , ” in which she played a supporting role .
“ I opened the door very early one morning at about 5 a.m. , because when you ’ re in Cannes promoting something , you have to do a lot of press and there are sometimes very early calls , ” Sciorra , 59 , testified for the prosecution in Manhattan Supreme Court .
“ And when I opened the door , the defendant was in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other.
” Sciorra — who claims that Weinstein , 67 , raped her in the winter of 1993-94 — said she “ got very scared ” and “ backed into the room and pressed all the call buttons that were there.
” “ It was a fancy hotel so [ there was ] room service , valet service … concierge , ” she said .
“ People came and he left.
” Later , during cross-examination , lead Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno asked Sciorra why she didn ’ t reach out to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ Cop Land.
” “ You were there with Sylvester Stallone ?
” Rotunno asked .
“ I don ’ t know where Sylvester Stallone was staying .
He could have been at his own house , ” Sciorra said .
Rotunno then called Stallone and De Niro “ heavyweights ” in the movie industry .
“ Did you go to them and say get this guy away from me ?
” she asked .
“ I never saw anybody until I was walking on the red carpet with Sly , ” @ @ @

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Annabella Sciorra testified Thursday that Harvey Weinstein once knocked on her hotel room door in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil and a videocassette — prompting a defense lawyer to ask why she didn’t seek help from Robert De Niro and Sylvester Stallone.
Sciorra told jurors at Weinstein’s sex assault trial that the incident occurred while she was attending the 1997 Cannes Film Festival in France to promote the Weinstein-produced movie “Cop Land,” in which she played a supporting role.
“I opened the door very early one morning at about 5 a.m., because when you’re in Cannes promoting something, you have to do a lot of press and there are sometimes very early calls,” Sciorra, 59, testified for the prosecution in Manhattan Supreme Court.
“And when I opened the door, the defendant was in his underwear with a bottle of baby oil in one hand and a videotape in the other.”
Sciorra — who claims that Weinstein, 67, raped her in the winter of 1993-94 — said she “got very scared” and “backed into the room and pressed all the call buttons that were there.”
“It was a fancy hotel so [there was] room service, valet service … concierge,” she said.
“People came and he left.”
Later, during cross-examination, lead Weinstein lawyer Donna Rotunno asked Sciorra why she didn’t reach out to some of the movie tough guys who starred in “Cop Land.”
“You were there with Sylvester Stallone?” Rotunno asked.
“I don’t know where Sylvester Stallone was staying. He could have been at his own house,” Sciorra said.
Rotunno then called Stallone and De Niro “heavyweights” in the movie industry.
“Did you go to them and say, ‘Get this guy away from me’?” she asked.
“I never saw anybody until I was walking on the red carpet with Sly,” Sciorra replied.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Antonio Brown was ‘high’, ‘trying to fight’ during recent dispute: 911 caller

New details have emerged in the latest Antonio Brown saga .
Brown , who police issued an arrest warrant for on Wednesday , reportedly assaulted a moving driver on Tuesday and threw rocks at the man ’ s truck over a payment dispute .
In a 911 call obtained Thursday by TMZ Sports , the driver claims Brown initially refused to pay the $ 4,000 drop-off fee for a package ( which he later paid ) , and was under the influence of drugs during the ordeal .
“ The guy is high , he smoked , he threatened me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police on the call .
“ He ’ s trying to fight , he throws stones at my truck.
” The man also told dispatchers that Brown later refused to pay an additional $ 800 to the man for the damage , and forcibly took his keys for the truck , using his access to “ destroy ” its contents ( some of which did not belong to him ) .
According to the call , the driver also suffered an injured shoulder from Brown , ripping his shirt in the process .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone in the incident and his trainer , former Bengals receiver Glenn Holt , was arrested for his involvement in the incident .
Holt has already been charged with felony burglary with assault or battery .
The arrest warrant issued warned police officers about Brown , who has a checkered criminal history and is “ known to carry ” a firearm .
“ Brown had a firearm stolen out of Dade County in 2018 , ” the warrant said .
“ Officers should use caution when approaching Brown , as he is known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The former Pittsburgh Steelers star reportedly dodged police when officers attempted to question him about the incident , heading into his house and ignoring requests to speak with them .
Brown was also accused of multiple occasions of sexual assault and rape by his former trainer Britney Taylor , who filed a civil lawsuit in September .
The incidents allegedly occurred in 2017 and 2018 .

New details have emerged in the latest Antonio Brown saga.
Brown, who police issued an arrest warrant for on Wednesday, allegedly assaulted a moving driver on Tuesday and threw rocks at the man’s truck over a payment dispute. In a 911 call obtained Thursday by TMZ Sports, the driver claims Brown initially refused to pay the $4,000 drop-off fee for a package (which he later paid), and was under the influence of drugs during the ordeal.
“The guy is high, he smoked, he threatened me,” the man tells Broward County Police on the call. “He’s trying to fight, he throws stones at my truck.”
The man also told dispatchers that Brown later refused to pay an additional $800 to the man for the damage, and forcibly took his keys for the truck, using his access to “destroy” its contents (some of which did not belong to him). According to the call, the driver also suffered an injured shoulder from Brown, ripping his shirt in the process.
Brown, 31, allegedly did not act alone in the incident, and his trainer, former Bengals receiver Glenn Holt, was arrested for his involvement. Holt has already been charged with felony burglary with assault or battery.
The arrest warrant issued warned police officers about Brown, who has a checkered criminal history and is “known to carry” a firearm.
“Brown had a firearm stolen out of Dade County in 2018,” the warrant said. “Officers should use caution when approaching Brown, as he is known for being confrontational when dealing with police.”
The former Pittsburgh Steelers star reportedly dodged police when officers attempted to question him about the incident, heading into his house and ignoring requests to speak with them.
Brown was also accused of multiple instances of sexual assault and rape by his former trainer Britney Taylor, who filed a civil lawsuit in September. The incidents allegedly occurred in 2017 and 2018.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Cowboys’ Ezekiel Elliott, Jaylon Smith: It will be weird without Jason Garrett

The Cowboys haven ’ t been without Jason Garrett on their coaching staff in some capacity since 2007 .
And now the organization will have to compete against their former head coach , who was recently hired as offensive coordinator of the Giants , in their very first season without him .
“ It ’ s going to be weird , because you ’ re so used to Jason , and one thing I loved about Jason , he ’ s the ultimate consistent [ person ] , ” linebacker Jaylon Smith said Wednesday at Pro Bowl practice , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Never high , never low , just [ clapping ] — that ’ s him .
He always stayed true to himself .
I respect him for that .
I learned a lot from Jason , looking forward to what ’ s next.
” Smith , a 2019 All-Pro linebacker , wasn ’ t the only Cowboy with high praise for Garrett , who was replaced by former Packers coach Mike McCarthy .
Star running back Ezekiel Elliott chimed in on saying goodbye to his first NFL coach .
“ I think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not used to , ” Elliott said , according to the paper .
“ But change is hard , but sometimes good .
Sometimes you need change .
We ’ ll see what we have going for us.
” Time will tell if Garrett can get the same kind of production out of Saquon Barkley that he got from Elliott .
Newly hired head coach Joe Judge seemed to have high hopes for what Garrett can bring to the Giants ’ run game .
“ The first thing we want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ball , ” Judge said Wednesday at the Senior Bowl .
“ He ’ s [ run the ball ] successfully in Dallas throughout his career .
Jason brings with him a lot of experience in a lot of systems .
We want to create a player-friendly system that creates multiples within game plans .
”

The Cowboys haven’t been without Jason Garrett on their coaching staff in some capacity since 2007.
And now the organization will have to compete against their former head coach, who was recently hired as offensive coordinator of the Giants, in their very first season without him.
“It’s going to be weird, because you’re so used to Jason, and one thing I loved about Jason, he’s the ultimate consistent [person],” linebacker Jaylon Smith said Wednesday at Pro Bowl practice, according to the Dallas Morning News. “Never high, never low, just [clapping] — that’s him. He always stayed true to himself. I respect him for that. I learned a lot from Jason, looking forward to what’s next.”
Smith, a 2019 All-Pro linebacker, wasn’t the only Cowboy with high praise for Garrett, who was replaced by former Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Star running back Ezekiel Elliott chimed in on saying goodbye to his first NFL coach.
“I think it will be weird, something that I’m not used to,” Elliott said, according to the paper. “But change is hard, but sometimes good. Sometimes you need change. We’ll see what we have going for us.”
Time will tell if Garrett can get the same kind of production out of Saquon Barkley that he got from Elliott. Newly hired head coach Joe Judge seemed to have high hopes for what Garrett can bring to the Giants’ run game.
“The first thing we want to be able to do is run the ball,” Judge said Wednesday at the Senior Bowl. “He’s [run the ball] successfully in Dallas throughout his career. Jason brings with him a lot of experience in a lot of systems. We want to create a player-friendly system that creates multiples within game plans.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Wendy Williams addresses ‘fartgate’ on talk show

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Wendy Williams was recently accused of passing gas during the “ Hot Topics ” segment of her talk show , a moment now known as “ fartgate.
” On Thursday ’ s episode , Williams , 55 , opened up about the accusation , claiming she ’ s “ never farted on this show.
” “ As a matter of fact , I barely fart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets released several different ways and mine is belching , because all I do is talk , ” she added .
Williams played the clip in question , where she leans to the side in her chair and a sound similar to a fart can be heard .
“ Let me tell you something right now , okay , ” she continued .
“ I don ’ t lean over like this to release a fart , I ’ m lean over like this because it ’ s comfortable .
If I sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s heavy on my spine .
I don ’ t have the back .
I ’ m not trying to get the back .
I like to release my hips and lean , you know what I ’ m saying ?
… I ’ ve been doing this for 11 years on this show !
” Williams went on to joke about the awkward moment , saying she would ’ ve laughed if she actually broke wind on-camera .
“ You know a girl like me would have been laughing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ By the sound of that fart , I would have had to go change my costume !
I would have left a mark in the seat .
I wouldn ’ t even save the costume , I would have throw it away .
It ’ d probably be soiled beyond soiled-tivity.
” Stagehand John Anderson revealed that the sound actually came from the crew prepping for a segment with scientist and author Dr. Kate Biberdorf .
“ We were filling up a fish tank backstage and we didn ’ t have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The air was just coming out and it was sputtering like someone was farting .
Okay ?
So that ’ s what it was .
It wasn ’ t Wendy !
” “ Fartgate ” comes one day after Williams and her ex-husband Kevin Hunter finalized their divorce .

Wendy Williams was recently accused of passing gas during the “Hot Topics” segment of her talk show, a moment now known as “fartgate.”
On Thursday’s episode, Williams, 55, opened up about the accusation, claiming she’s “never farted on this show.”
“As a matter of fact, I barely fart, you know why? Because gas gets released several different ways and mine is belching, because all I do is talk,” she added.
Williams played the clip in question, where she leans to the side in her chair and a sound similar to a fart can be heard.
“Let me tell you something right now, okay,” she continued. “I don’t lean over like this to release a fart, I’m lean over like this because it’s comfortable. If I sit [straight up] all the time, it’s heavy on my spine. I don’t have the back. I’m not trying to get the back. I like to release my hips and lean, you know what I’m saying? … I’ve been doing this for 11 years on this show!”
Williams went on to joke about the awkward moment, saying she would’ve laughed if she actually broke wind on-camera.
“You know a girl like me would have been laughing at that,” she said. “By the sound of that fart, I would have had to go change my costume! I would have left a mark in the seat. I wouldn’t even save the costume, I would have throw it away. It’d probably be soiled beyond soiled-tivity.”
Stagehand John Anderson revealed that the sound actually came from the crew prepping for a segment with scientist and author Dr. Kate Biberdorf.
“We were filling up a fish tank backstage and we didn’t have the proper hose,” Anderson said. “The air was just coming out and it was sputtering like someone was farting. Okay? So that’s what it was. It wasn’t Wendy!”
“Fartgate” comes one day after Williams and her ex-husband Kevin Hunter finalized their divorce.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Sarah Jessica Parker reveals if she is team Mr. Big or team Aidan

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Sarah Jessica Parker finally reveals her true feelings about Carrie Bradshaw ’ s choice in men .
Her “ Sex and the City ” character famously dated Aidan ( John Corbett ) during Season 3 when she cheated on him with her on-again-off-again love interest John Preston , a.k.a .
Mr. Big ( Chris Noth ) .
Bradshaw ultimately married Big , but kissed Aiden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the second film .
“ As you can imagine , this puts me in a terrible position , ” Parker said when she was asked which guy she would ’ ve chosen for Carrie on “ The Bradshaw Boys ” podcast , where she was invited to speak about her new wine , Invivo X .
“ There is a very quick and simple answer .
You have to be Team Big…I guess , only because you can ’ t tell a story that long and not in the most conventional way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And I love Chris Noth so much , and it felt wonderfully and skillfully written by Michael Patrick [ King ] .
” However , the 54-year-old actress still thinks any girl would be lucky to have Aidan .
“ I love John Corbett so much and I loved Aidan .
I loved his Aidan , ” she said .
“ The best of both worlds is in fact having your cake and eating it too .
So I feel like I got both teams.
” She added conclusively , “ Ultimately , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but it was a delight to mess around before she arrived at that .
”

Sarah Jessica Parker finally reveals her true feelings about Carrie Bradshaw’s choice in men.
Her “Sex and the City” character famously dated Aidan (John Corbett) during Season 3 when she cheated on him with her on-again-off-again love interest John Preston, a.k.a. Mr. Big (Chris Noth). Bradshaw ultimately married Big, but kissed Aiden after a chance meeting in Abu Dhabi in the second film.
“As you can imagine, this puts me in a terrible position,” Parker said when she was asked which guy she would’ve chosen for Carrie on “The Bradshaw Boys” podcast, where she was invited to speak about her new wine, Invivo X. “There is a very quick and simple answer. You have to be Team Big…I guess, only because you can’t tell a story that long and not in the most conventional way kind of root for that ending. And I love Chris Noth so much, and it felt wonderfully and skillfully written by Michael Patrick [King].”
However, the 54-year-old actress still thinks any girl would be lucky to have Aidan.
“I love John Corbett so much and I loved Aidan. I loved his Aidan,” she said. “The best of both worlds is in fact having your cake and eating it too. So I feel like I got both teams.”
She added conclusively, “Ultimately, Carrie should have ended up with Big, but it was a delight to mess around before she arrived at that.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Neil Diamond ‘visibly moved’ by Broadway bio musical

It ’ s been a week since the death , at 88 , of ...

Neil Diamond attended a very private run-through of a Broadway-bound musical about his life last week — and was spotted humming along to his songs. The show, as yet untitled, is now on track to hit New York in August 2021 after an out-of-town tryout.
Broadway’s been inundated with bio musicals about pop icons, from Tina Turner to Cher, Carole King to Donna Summer. “Ain’t Too Proud,” the musical about the Temptations, is grossing nearly $2 million a week.
But the Diamond show may stand out because of its writer — Anthony McCarten, who’s up for an Oscar for his movie “The Two Popes.” McCarten also wrote “The Theory of Everything” (about Stephen Hawking), “Darkest Hour” (about Winston Churchill’s early days as prime minister) and the Queen movie, “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
McCarten is no stranger to theater. He wrote 12 plays before becoming one of the hottest screenwriters in Hollywood.
A huge Diamond fan, the New Zealand native spent some time with the singer last year soaking up the details of his life. The musical charts his rise from poverty in Brooklyn to international stardom. Sources say it doesn’t shy away from the 79-year-old singer’s personal problems, including issues with his two failed marriages and struggles with depression. It also deals with Diamond’s time at the Brill Building, where he wrote “I’m a Believer,” which went gold after just two days and topped the charts for seven weeks.
The score features several other Diamond classics: “I Am . . . I Said,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” “Song Sung Blue,” “America” and more.
“The hardest part of developing the show is that the catalog is so big and fantastic,” says a production source. “Ten No. 1 hits — how do we include them all? But you can bet audiences will hear ‘Sweet Caroline.’ ”
Ba, ba, ba!
Diamond retired from touring two years ago after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I saw what I believe was his last public performance in June 2018 at the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and was in sensational form onstage.
Diamond was “visibly moved” at last week’s run-through, says a source. And he was delighted by Will Swenson, who played him. Swenson’s Broadway credits include “Hair,” “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” and “Waitress.”
Michael Mayer, a Tony winner for “Spring Awakening,” is directing the show. Ken Davenport and Bob Gaudio are producing. Gaudio knows a thing or two about bio musicals: “Jersey Boys,” based on Gaudio’s old band, the Four Seasons, ran 12 years on Broadway and grossed more than $2 billion worldwide before working its way to off-Broadway, where it’s still running,
Between McCarten and Gaudio, Diamond should be in good hands.
All of Broadway will come together Feb. 3 for the Jerry Herman tribute at the Lunt-Fontanne. Produced by Michael Feinstein, the lineup of performers includes Sutton Foster, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth and Marilyn Maye. Harvey Fierstein is speaking, and I know he’s got great stories about working with Herman, who died Dec. 26, on “La Cage aux Folles.”
Here’s my favorite: At the first public performance of “La Cage” at Boston’s Colonial Theatre, Gene Barry forgot some of Herman’s lyrics to “Song on the Sand.”
“A fellow with a concertina sang,” Barry crooned, “what was the song? It’s strange what we recall, and odd what we forget. I heard — ”
Then he froze.
George Hearn took his hand and sang the lyric: “La da da da da da da . . . ”
“Len Berman and Michael Riedel in the Morning” airs weekdays on WOR Radio 710.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Lawmakers want city-controlled transit in wake of Byford’s exit

Some lawmakers are calling for a city takeover of the state-run MTA ’ s subway and bus services in the wake of popular transit chief Andy Byford ’ s resignation Thursday .
“ It is a really bad day for the people of New York City and 7 million people who take subways and buses every single day , ” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson , who called the departure “ devastating.
” Johnson claims municipal transit control — which he proposed in a 100-page document last spring — could have prevented the departure of the 54-year-old British railwayman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ reduced ” his power .
“ Los Angeles , the mayor has municipal control ; The mayor of Chicago has municipal control .
The mayor of Boston has municipal control , ” Johnson said .
“ Mayors have municipal control of mass transit [ because it ’ s ] one of the things that affect the most number of people every single day in their cities , ” he said .
“ It makes no sense for the City Council and the mayor of the city of New York have next to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done.
” Assemblyman Bobby Carroll ( D-Brooklyn ) said he will introduce legislation to do just that on Friday .
“ Andy ’ s resignation today shows we need to have one clear leader to fix or buses and subways and that leader should be based in the city of New York , ” Carroll said .
Carroll said Byford had “ about 200 masters ” in his role at New York City Transit .
“ When you ’ ve got a governor , a mayor , senators , Assembly persons , City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , that ’ s insanity , ” he said .
Several other lawmakers also mourned Byford ’ s loss Thursday .
“ At its best , democracy can give you Andy Byford .
At its worst , power-hoarding can take him away , ” tweeted Council Member Brad Lander ( D-Brooklyn ) .
State Sen. Leroy Comrie ( D-Queens ) said in a statement to The Post that he was “ disappointed but not surprised that Andy decided to leave.
” “ It is a shame that we are losing one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , and I think it sends a sad message to anyone out there who is interested in working to improve our state , ” he said .

Some lawmakers are calling for a city takeover of the state-run MTA’s subway and bus services in the wake of popular transit chief Andy Byford’s resignation Thursday.
“It is a really bad day for the people of New York City and 7 million people who take subways and buses every single day,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, who called the departure “devastating.”
Johnson claims municipal transit control — which he proposed in a 100-page document last spring — could have prevented the departure of the 54-year-old British railwayman, who left after an Albany-dictated reshuffle “reduced” his power.
“Los Angeles, the mayor has municipal control; The mayor of Chicago has municipal control. The mayor of Boston has municipal control,” Johnson said.
“Mayors have municipal control of mass transit [because it’s] one of the things that affect the most number of people every single day in their cities,” he said. “It makes no sense for the City Council and the mayor of the city of New York have next to zero say in how these things get done.”
Assemblyman Bobby Carroll (D-Brooklyn) said he will introduce legislation to do just that on Friday.
“Andy’s resignation today shows we need to have one clear leader to fix or buses and subways and that leader should be based in the city of New York,” Carroll said.
Carroll said Byford had “about 200 masters” in his role at New York City Transit.
“When you’ve got a governor, a mayor, senators, Assembly persons, City Council members all telling you what to do, that’s insanity,” he said.
Several other lawmakers also mourned Byford’s loss Thursday.
“At its best, democracy can give you Andy Byford. At its worst, power-hoarding can take him away,” tweeted Council Member Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn).
State Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens) said in a statement to The Post that he was “disappointed but not surprised that Andy decided to leave.”
“It is a shame that we are losing one of the most talented transit professionals in the world, and I think it sends a sad message to anyone out there who is interested in working to improve our state,” he said.
Additional reporting by Bernadette Hogan and Carl Campanile


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--What the cast of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ season 12 look like out of drag

The cast of "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 12 has officially been announced, meaning 13 new queens will be rocking the runway and, subsequently, de-dragging backstage. Catch a sneak peak at what this year's crop look like once they hang up the wigs.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Denise Richards’ alleged affair and more ‘Housewives’ news

On this week ’ s episode of “ Housewives Hangover , ” Page Six dives into that weird moment on @ @ @ @ @ ” where Williams reads a text from Nene Leakes that implies she is leaving “ @ @ @ @ @ ” Plus , Erika Jayne is lighting up the Broadway stage and her “ RHOBH @ @ @ @ @ New York City to support her — all except for Denise Richards , who is @ @ @ @ @ affair with Brandi Glanville .
Find out who else made the list with your host @ @ @ @ @ editorial director , Maggie Coughlan .

On this week’s episode of “Housewives Hangover,” Page Six dives into that weird moment on “The Wendy Williams Show” where Williams reads a text from Nene Leakes that implies she is leaving “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Plus, Erika Jayne is lighting up the Broadway stage and her “RHOBH” cast mates were in New York City to support her — all except for Denise Richards, who is dealing with accusations of an affair with Brandi Glanville. Find out who else made the list with your host, Page Six.com’s editorial director, Maggie Coughlan.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Early release of Michelle Carter outrages family of victim Conrad Roy

Michelle Carter -- the Massachusetts woman convicted of pushing her ...

The early release on Thursday of “suicide text” convict Michelle Carter has outraged the family of Conrad Roy — the teen boyfriend she’d repeatedly encouraged to kill himself.
“It sure is a tough day,” Roy’s grandfather, Conrad Roy Sr., told E! News.
“I’m disgusted with the whole system,” he said Thursday, after Carter, now 23, was sprung from Bristol County House of Correction in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
Carter had been sentenced to 15 months prison for involuntary manslaughter, but was released from jail three months early due to her good behavior behind bars, officials said. She will now serve five years probation.
“You would think that the judge gave her a sentence that was easy enough for her, but to then let her out on good behavior … it is very difficult,” the grandfather said.
“This doesn’t work for me. If you ask me, she is not a good person. The sentence was too lenient; 15 months is nothing to a lifetime with my grandson.”
Carter had been a “model inmate,” Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson told reporters of her early release.
She had no disciplinary issues, enjoyed gardening on the prison property and had earned time off from her sentence by participating in classes and programs and working in the jail kitchen, officials said.
Roy was just 18 when he killed himself by filling his pickup truck with toxic exhaust fumes.
Carter, then 17, had goaded him to kill himself for days, sending texts such as, “Just do it, babe,” and “You said you were gonna do it like I don’t get why you aren’t” and “I thought you really wanted to die but apparently you don’t.”
When he had second thoughts and crawled out of the truck as it filled with fumes, she stayed on the phone with him, urging, “get back in,” according to trial testimony.
Both teens had suffered from depression. Some trial testimony pointed to Carter urging Roy’s suicide in a twisted bid to get sympathy and attention for herself.
“July 12, 2014, our lives were forever changed, and the world lost a beautiful soul,” the family wrote in a statement printed by NBCNews.com.
“Michelle Carter is the reason for that. She was the only person who could have saved him. She didn’t, in fact she was on the line with him as he was dying, moaning in pain, gasping for last breaths. Who could do that?
“She did, and we’ll never really know why,” the statement said.
The family said they remain heartened by news 10 days prior that the Supreme Court would not hear Carter’s appeal of her felony conviction, leaving the conviction to stand.
Carter’s appeal had claimed that her texts were constitutionally protected free speech, and that words alone were not enough to hold someone responsible for another person’s suicide.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Grammy predictions: Who will win big in 2020 — and who should win

The Grammys nearly forgot Taylor Swift existed with her snubs .

Other than the performances, it’s all about the Big Four categories — Album, Record and Song of the Year, plus Best New Artist — at the 2020 Grammy Awards on Sunday.
Lizzo and Billie Eilish are the only artists who are nominated for all four awards, and there’s a good chance that, between the two, they could sweep the Grammys.
Here’s who we think should win — and who will win — on music’s big night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Album of the Year
“i, i” Bon Iver
“Norman F - - king Rockwell,” Lana Del Rey
“When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” Billie Eilish
“Thank U, Next,” Ariana Grande
“I Used to Know Her,” H.E.R.
“7,” Lil Nas X
“Cuz I Love You (Deluxe),” Lizzo
“Father of the Bride,” Vampire Weekend
I’m still wondering how in the world Lil Nas X got nominated for a 19-minute album that was barely even an EP. So you can rule the “Old Town Road” rapper out here. Ditto for H.E.R., the enigmatic R&B artist who surprisingly scored her second consecutive Album of the Year nomination, and Grande, whose “Thank U, Next” peaked too early. Both Bon Iver and Lana Del Rey delivered strong sets worthy of their nominations, but neither feels like Album of the Year. Vampire Weekend, though, has a real shot for its ambitious double album, if the band corners the rock vote and favorites Eilish and Lizzo split the pop vote.
Should win: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” Only 17 when her debut album was released, Eilish created a haunting otherworld with the cohesive artistic vision of someone far beyond her years. Sounding unlike anything else, it was easily the best LP of 2019.
Will win: “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” If the Lizzo train doesn’t keep chugging all the way to a sweep.
Record of The Year
“Hey, Ma,” Bon Iver
“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish
“7 Rings,” Ariana Grande
“Hard Place,” H.E.R.
“Talk,” Khalid
“Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus
“Truth Hurts,” Lizzo
“Sunflower,” Post Malone & Swae Lee
“Hey, Ma” and “Hard Place” are records that most people probably haven’t heard, and while “7 Rings,” “Talk” and “Sunflower” were hits, they are hardly award-worthy achievements. “Old Town Road” owned 2019, bridging the gap between country and rap, and if Nashville, Tenn., gets behind it, that record-setting smash could take the prize. But this will probably come down to a diva showdown between Eilish and Lizzo.
Should win: “Bad Guy.” Eilish puts a spell on you with that goth-pop groove.
Will win: “Truth Hurts.” Lizzo has all the momentum right now and the song, which was two years old when the world finally caught on to it, will be rewarded for the power of persistence.
Song of the Year
“Always Remember Us This Way,” Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
“Bad Guy,” Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“Bring My Flowers Now,” Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
“Hard Place,” Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“Lover,” Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
“Norman F - - king Rockwell,” Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
“Someone You Loved,” Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi)
“Truth Hurts,” Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo)
Let’s start with the songs that don’t have a prayer: “Always Remember Us This Way,” “Hard Place” and “Norman F - - king Rockwell.” “Someone You Loved” is the kind of classic piano ballad that Grammy loves, but “Bring My Flowers Now” and “Lover” are better bets because they will lasso the country vote. Plus, Swift is the only one who wrote her song all by her lonesome, and although her “Lover” album failed to get any other major nods, you can never count T-Swizzle out. There has been some controversy over the “Truth Hurts” writing credits, so that will hurt its chances here.
Should win: “Bring My Flowers Now.” Comeback country queen Tucker, who has never won a Grammy, deserves her flowers now for this poignant ballad.
Will win: “Bad Guy.” Eilish and her brother Finneas, who co-wrote the song, will have matching gramophones to bring home to Mom and Dad.
Best New Artist
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosalía
Tank and the Bangas
Yola
It’s a win for Black Pumas, Yola and Tank and the Bangas that they’re even in the mix with the rest of this group, so they’ll be happy just to be there on Sunday. In any other year, Lil Nas X, singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers and Spanish sensation Rosalía might have decent odds at joining the Best New Artist club. But there’s no way that anyone other than Eilish or Lizzo is getting this.
Should win: Eilish. This feels like the beginning of a long, exciting career in which she has already started to change the very idea of what a young female pop star can be.
Will win: Lizzo. It’s a close call with Eilish, but although Lizzo isn’t exactly “new,” having been in the game for years already, this feels like her moment.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Coach suddenly folds up ginormous Manhattan store

Luxury leather goods merchant Coach has abruptly shuttered its three-level boutique at Madison Avenue and East 57th Street — the latest blow to the fabled but troubled shopping district , which continues to hemorrhage some of its most celebrated stores .
The 6,000 square-foot Coach emporium at 595 Madison Ave. had been at the prime corner for more than thirty years .
Coach spokesperson Andrea Shaw Resnick said the closing “ was always part of our planning when we opened our Coach House store at 685 Fifth Ave. ” That was in 2016 .
The shutdown leaves all of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Building vacant .
Vornado declined to comment .
The 57th Street corridor between Park and Sixth avenues as well as the blocks immediately north and south have been rocked by one retail wipeout after another in the past 18 months .
The huge Z Chemists high-end pharmacy at 40 W. 57th St. went dark a few weeks ago .
The block between Fifth and Sixth avenues — the longest in Midtown — now has as many vacant stores as occupied ones .
Fifth Avenue south of 57th has large , empty spaces that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gap , Ralph Lauren Polo , Tommy Hilfiger , Massimo Dutti , Stuart Weitzman , Lululemon and Topshop .
But the biggest , looming loss to the lux area is bankrupt Barneys on Madison at East 61st Street , which will shut down for good in a few weeks .
In a new report this week , commercial brokerage CBRE said the Manhattan “ market continues to make the difficult adjustment to the new realities of the retail business.
” The data found that retail leasing “ decelerated modestly in the latter half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drop in asking rents of 8.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 in Manhattan ’ s 16 most important retail corridors .
“ This decline was more substantial than the prior quarter and marked the ninth consecutive quarter ” that retail rents fell in the city , said CBRE research director Nicole LaRusso .
But the damage is most severe in Manhattan ’ s most celebrated , central shopping district , despite a few bright spots such as the arrival of luxury perfume shop Amaffi at 40 E. 57th St. and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ E. 57th .
Demolition and construction make things look worse .
Tiffany recently moved into the former Niketown store at the Trump Organization ’ s 6 E. 57th St. for a three-year renovation — a solution only made possible because Nike no longer had any use for the 65,000 square-foot space .

Luxury leather goods merchant Coach has abruptly shuttered its three-level boutique at Madison Avenue and East 57th Street — the latest blow to the fabled but troubled shopping district, which continues to hemorrhage some of its most celebrated stores.
The 6,000 square-foot Coach emporium at 595 Madison Ave. had been at the prime corner for more than thirty years. Coach spokesperson Andrea Shaw Resnick said the closing “was always part of our planning when we opened our Coach House store at 685 Fifth Ave.” That was in 2016.
The shutdown leaves all of the Vornado-owned retail space at the landmarked Fuller Building vacant. Vornado declined to comment.
The 57th Street corridor between Park and Sixth avenues as well as the blocks immediately north and south have been rocked by one retail wipeout after another in the past 18 months.
The huge Z Chemists high-end pharmacy at 40 W. 57th St. went dark a few weeks ago. The block between Fifth and Sixth avenues — the longest in Midtown — now has as many vacant stores as occupied ones.
Fifth Avenue south of 57th has large, empty spaces that were home to Henri Bendel, The Gap, Ralph Lauren Polo, Tommy Hilfiger, Massimo Dutti, Stuart Weitzman, Lululemon and Topshop.
But the biggest, looming loss to the lux area is bankrupt Barneys on Madison at East 61st Street, which will shut down for good in a few weeks.
In a new report this week, commercial brokerage CBRE said the Manhattan “market continues to make the difficult adjustment to the new realities of the retail business.”
The data found that retail leasing “decelerated modestly in the latter half of 2019.” Lack of demand caused a drop in asking rents of 8.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019 in Manhattan’s 16 most important retail corridors.
“This decline was more substantial than the prior quarter and marked the ninth consecutive quarter” that retail rents fell in the city, said CBRE research director Nicole LaRusso.
But the damage is most severe in Manhattan’s most celebrated, central shopping district, despite a few bright spots such as the arrival of luxury perfume shop Amaffi at 40 E. 57th St. and David Yurman’s move to 5 E. 57th.
Demolition and construction make things look worse. Tiffany recently moved into the former Niketown store at the Trump Organization’s 6 E. 57th St. for a three-year renovation — a solution only made possible because Nike no longer had any use for the 65,000 square-foot space.


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--Hillary’s hate is Bernie’s boon and other commentary

From the left : Hillary ’ s Hate Is Bernie ’ s Boon “ Hillary Clinton is no fan of Bernie Sanders , ” as her claim that “ nobody likes him ” confirms , snarks CNN ’ s Chris Cillizza .
Yet that ’ s “ good news ” for the Vermont socialist .
After all , the central premise of his campaign is that “ the powerful have been sitting comfortably for way too long , and it ’ s time to shake things up ” — and that ’ s “ the core of why people support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with her “ friendliness with Wall Street ” and “ well-heeled donors , ” epitomizes the “ elite establishment , ” and her attack will only confirm that the Dem establishment not only “ doesn ’ t like ” Sanders — but fears him .
Sanders should send her a “ thank you note.
” “ The excuses have started early for the Democrats , ” notes The Federalist ’ s David Marcus : “ Nine months out from election day , ” they “ are laying the groundwork to call a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have they done for the entirety of the first term.
” At the impeachment trial , Rep. Adam Schiff argued that senators can ’ t let voters decide President Trump ’ s fate because “ we can not be assured that the vote will be fairly won.
” Yet back in 2016 , “ when there was no chance Hillary Clinton could lose , ” the question was “ whether angry Trump voters , ” or Trump himself , would accept the election ’ s outcome .
Trump won , of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sanctity of our election results.
” What gives ?
Democrats are “ deranged.
” From the right : Pete ’ s Puffed-Up Military Service At National Review , veteran Kyle Smith points out that many people join the military out of patriotism or because it ’ s “ the best available job.
” Pete Buttigieg , however , apparently joined “ because he thought it would add a great line to his résumé when he ran for president.
” Buttigieg , who spent a “ brief sojourn in the Navy , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skipping out on “ pre-commission training ” and time in a service academy .
In his memoir , Buttigieg cites John Kerry — who , Smith notes , “ turned on his brothers in arms when the political winds turned that way ” — as a role model .
Most absurd : Buttigieg also “ bragged ” about the number of “ routine ” motor-vehicle trips he made , a “ phony statistic ” the military doesn ’ t even keep records of .
That ’ s “ apple-polishing , résumé-buffing , box-checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Just like his whole career.
” Mark Hemingway at RealClearPolitics wonders how many times Rep. Adam Schiff has to “ mislead the public ” before “ the press stops cutting him ” slack ?
This week , Politico “ felt the need to contextualize its own scoop ” on Schiff ’ s mischaracterization of impeachment evidence with the “ Republicans pounce ” trope — suggesting that the problem isn ’ t Schiff ’ s “ blunder ” or possible attempt “ to mislead ” but that GOPers might use it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schiff has “ racked up a record of distortions and untruths that in a less partisan era would have utterly undermined his credibility.
” Yet that hasn ’ t “ dented ” the media ’ s “ deference ” to him .
The double standard , where Republicans “ pounce ” and “ Democrats never screw up , ” was on display before Trump .
But the president “ does seem like a special case.
” The New York Times ’ 1619 Project is riddled with “ serious inaccuracies , ” charges eminent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project ’ s goal — to reframe American history through the lens of slavery and racial subjugation — readers should expect “ nothing less ” than a “ scrupulous regard ” for accuracy .
Yet the project falsely asserts , for example , that protecting slavery was one of the major motivations for the American Revolution .
That ’ s “ as inaccurate ” as the idea that “ the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery.
” It also wrongly claims Abraham Lincoln ’ s support for emancipation was contingent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact , Lincoln called colonization “ hideous & barbarous humbug.
” Nor does the Times ’ response to historians ’ criticisms cut it , relying on inapt factual tidbits , “ foreshortened ” quotations and moving goalposts .
Bottom line : “ No effort to educate the public ” to “ advance social justice can afford to dispense with a respect for basic facts .
”

From the left: Hillary’s Hate Is Bernie’s Boon
“Hillary Clinton is no fan of Bernie Sanders,” as her claim that “nobody likes him” confirms, snarks CNN’s Chris Cillizza. Yet that’s “good news” for the Vermont socialist. After all, the central premise of his campaign is that “the powerful have been sitting comfortably for way too long, and it’s time to shake things up” — and that’s “the core of why people support him.” For those supporters, Clinton, with her “friendliness with Wall Street” and “well-heeled donors,” epitomizes the “elite establishment,” and her attack will only confirm that the Dem establishment not only “doesn’t like” Sanders — but fears him. Sanders should send her a “thank you note.”
Eye on 2020: Dems Already Making Excuses
“The excuses have started early for the Democrats,” notes The Federalist’s David Marcus: “Nine months out from election day,” they “are laying the groundwork to call a Trump second term illegitimate, just as have they done for the entirety of the first term.” At the impeachment trial, Rep. Adam Schiff argued that senators can’t let voters decide President Trump’s fate because “we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won.” Yet back in 2016, “when there was no chance Hillary Clinton could lose,” the question was “whether angry Trump voters,” or Trump himself, would accept the election’s outcome. Trump won, of course, and Dems are now fretting “about the sanctity of our election results.” What gives? Democrats are “deranged.”
From the right: Pete’s Puffed-Up Military Service
At National Review, veteran Kyle Smith points out that many people join the military out of patriotism or because it’s “the best available job.” Pete Buttigieg, however, apparently joined “because he thought it would add a great line to his résumé when he ran for president.” Buttigieg, who spent a “brief sojourn in the Navy,” got a “direct commission,” skipping out on “pre-commission training” and time in a service academy. In his memoir, Buttigieg cites John Kerry — who, Smith notes, “turned on his brothers in arms when the political winds turned that way” — as a role model. Most absurd: Buttigieg also “bragged” about the number of “routine” motor-vehicle trips he made, a “phony statistic” the military doesn’t even keep records of. That’s “apple-polishing, résumé-buffing, box-checking, attention-seeking vaporware,” Smith concludes. “Just like his whole career.”
Media watch: Schiff-ting the Blame
Mark Hemingway at RealClearPolitics wonders how many times Rep. Adam Schiff has to “mislead the public” before “the press stops cutting him” slack? This week, Politico “felt the need to contextualize its own scoop” on Schiff’s mischaracterization of impeachment evidence with the “Republicans pounce” trope — suggesting that the problem isn’t Schiff’s “blunder” or possible attempt “to mislead” but that GOPers might use it to slam Dems. For three years, Schiff has “racked up a record of distortions and untruths that in a less partisan era would have utterly undermined his credibility.” Yet that hasn’t “dented” the media’s “deference” to him. The double standard, where Republicans “pounce” and “Democrats never screw up,” was on display before Trump. But the president “does seem like a special case.”
Historian: Times’ 1619 Whoopsies
The New York Times’ 1619 Project is riddled with “serious inaccuracies,” charges eminent Princeton historian Sean Wilentz. Given the project’s goal — to reframe American history through the lens of slavery and racial subjugation — readers should expect “nothing less” than a “scrupulous regard” for accuracy. Yet the project falsely asserts, for example, that protecting slavery was one of the major motivations for the American Revolution. That’s “as inaccurate” as the idea that “the Civil War had nothing to do with slavery.” It also wrongly claims Abraham Lincoln’s support for emancipation was contingent on sending African-Americans to African colonies. In fact, Lincoln called colonization “hideous & barbarous humbug.” Nor does the Times’ response to historians’ criticisms cut it, relying on inapt factual tidbits, “foreshortened” quotations and moving goalposts. Bottom line: “No effort to educate the public” to “advance social justice can afford to dispense with a respect for basic facts.”
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board


newyorkpost--2020-01-23--A New York teen creates petition to move Super Bowl to Saturday

A New York teen has gotten over 20,000 people to sign a petition to move the Super Bowl to Saturday because having it on a Sunday isn ’ t practical for football fans .
Frankie Ruggeri told CNN that staying up late on a Sunday to watch the game makes it hard for people to get up for school and work on Monday .
The 16-year-old believes that the switch would be better not just for the viewers , but for the NFL as well .
He argues in his Change.org petition that having the Super Bowl on a Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views and more travelers to the actual game .
Ruggeri came up with the idea when discussing the playoffs with his family over dinner , and when he gets his mind on something , he sticks to it .
“ He has a lot of passion in his heart , ” his dad , Frank Ruggeri told CNN .
After doing research on statistics to make his argument stronger , Ruggeri learned some interesting facts .
A 2019 survey found that more than 17 million US employees actively planned on skipping work the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , professional football games have always been on Sundays , but Ruggeri is hoping NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will change that .
The Ruggeri family will be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday , Feb. 2 from their home .
Neither of Frankie ’ s teams — Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams — are playing , but he will be staying up to watch it .
He ’ s rooting for the San Francisco 49ers .
When CNN asked what his reaction was to the amount of signatures on his petition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like if the Rams won the Super Bowl pretty much .
”

A New York teen has gotten over 20,000 people to sign a petition to move the Super Bowl to Saturday because having it on a Sunday isn’t practical for football fans.
Frankie Ruggeri told CNN that staying up late on a Sunday to watch the game makes it hard for people to get up for school and work on Monday.
The 16-year-old believes that the switch would be better not just for the viewers, but for the NFL as well.
He argues in his Change.org petition that having the Super Bowl on a Saturday will bring more money, more television views and more travelers to the actual game.
Ruggeri came up with the idea when discussing the playoffs with his family over dinner, and when he gets his mind on something, he sticks to it.
“He has a lot of passion in his heart,” his dad, Frank Ruggeri told CNN.
After doing research on statistics to make his argument stronger, Ruggeri learned some interesting facts.
A 2019 survey found that more than 17 million US employees actively planned on skipping work the day after Super Bowl LIII.
Historically, professional football games have always been on Sundays, but Ruggeri is hoping NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will change that.
The Ruggeri family will be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 2 from their home. Neither of Frankie’s teams — Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams — are playing, but he will be staying up to watch it. He’s rooting for the San Francisco 49ers.
When CNN asked what his reaction was to the amount of signatures on his petition, he responded, “It’s like if the Rams won the Super Bowl pretty much.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Drumming duck will have you ‘quacking’ up

This duck is giving Ringo a run for his money .
Watch as Ben Afquack adorably beats on a snare @ @ @ @ @ , Minnesota , home .
His owner , Derek Johnson , can ’ t help @ @ @ @ @ lil ’ guy kicks his feet when he ’ s lifted off the ground .
@ @ @ @ @ was nearby , he simply picked the duck up and held him over the instrument @ @ @ @ @ cutest drum solo of all time .

This duck is giving Ringo a run for his money. Watch as Ben Afquack adorably beats on a snare drum in his St. Paul, Minnesota, home. His owner, Derek Johnson, can’t help but laugh every time the lil’ guy kicks his feet when he’s lifted off the ground. When Johnson noticed his drum was nearby, he simply picked the duck up and held him over the instrument for what may be the cutest drum solo of all time.
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newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Coco Gauff beats defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka

MELBOURNE , Australia — Down to what sure felt like her ...

MELBOURNE, Australia — Playing nothing like what her age or her ranking would suggest, Coco Gauff steadily made her way to her latest Grand Slam upset, eliminating defending champion Naomi Osaka in the Australian Open’s third round 6-3, 6-4 on Friday.
The 15-year-old American became the youngest player to beat a top-five opponent in a women’s tour-level match since Jennifer Capriati did it at 15 in 1991.
Gauff pulled this off with some big serving, consistent groundstrokes and by letting Osaka largely be her own undoing.
Osaka made 30 unforced errors, Gauff merely 17. This was a rematch of a third-round match at the U.S. Open last September, which Osaka won in straight sets.
But Gauff’s game is growing so quickly.
Osaka, for her part, made her own rapid ascent to the top of tennis, claiming the trophies at the U.S. Open in 2018 and Australian Open in 2019 to rise to No. 1 in the WTA rankings. She is only 22 herself.
Seems old by comparison, of course.
There were the occasional signs that Gauff is not a fully formed player — or person — just yet. For example, leading by a set and a break, serving at 1-0, 40-15, Gauff double-faulted twice in one game to get broken for the first time. It was a rare lapse, though — and one to be expected at this stage of her life and career.
One reminder of just how young Gauff is: Most of the entrants in the junior Australian Open are older than she is.
And another: She doesn’t have an official driver’s license quite yet, still practicing behind the wheel with a learner’s permit.
Still, she plays far beyond her years. Her composure, on and off the court, is remarkable.
That all helped Gauff, who defeated Venus Williams in the first round, become the first American in 30 years to reach at least the third round in each of her first three major appearances.
Two matches earlier, 23-time major winner Serena Williams was beaten in three sets by Wang Qiang.
Friday was also the last match of Caroline Wozniacki’s career. Wozniacki heads to retirement after the 2018 champion lost her third-round match 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 to Ons Jabeur at Melbourne Arena.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Zion Williamson responds to the weight criticisms: ‘A blessing’

NEW ORLEANS — So much for a steep learning curve ... .

Zion Williamson isn’t about to start stressing about NBA pundits and critics who say he needs to lose some weight if he wants to have a long, productive NBA career.
In a podcast interview with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Williamson said he has heard critiques of his conditioning his entire life.
“There’s really no comparison to me. I try to add every level to my game,” said Williamson, who had an impressive NBA debut for the Pelicans in their Wednesday night loss to the Spurs. “My body is just built different. Some people try to look at it as a weakness, but I look at it as a blessing.
“People aren’t used to guarding this kind of size and I’m able to add a little finesse to my game so it has flavor and I’m a playmaker so I can create for my teammates and when I have to finish I’m gonna finish.”
ESPN analysts Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson caught some heat on social media for criticizing the weight of Williamson, who missed the season’s first 44 games due to meniscus surgery in October. The network also flashed a graphic of Williamson’s weight during the game.
It wasn’t the first time this year Williamson’s weight was a subject of concern. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said Nike, who signed the rookie sensation, was concerned about his physical condition, according to a Bleacher Report story in October.
Whether the criticism the ESPN voices received for the comments were fair or not, Van Gundy did have some praise for Williamson after the game.
“I love (his) vision and the passing,” Van Gundy said on Scott Van Pelt’s “SportsCenter” show. “The quickness of the second jump. The jump shot, I don’t know. I haven’t seen him enough to know exactly what he is as a player.”
Williamson, who exploded for 17 consecutive points in New Orleans’ 121-117 defeat, finished with 22 points with seven rebounds and three assists.
“It was nice to experience those emotions,” Williamson said after the game. “I was happy to be out there and be able to run out there again, but what was going through my mind was just, ‘Be calm.’”
Fans wanted to see more, but coach Alvin Gentry said he couldn’t heed their chants of “We want Zion!,” during the final five minutes of a the loss.
“The medical people said that was it,” Gentry said, alluding to precautionary restrictions placed on Williamson’s playing time in the early days of his return to action.
“Me, personally, I don’t want any restrictions,” Williamson said. “But I’m not a doctor or a trainer, so I’ve just got to listen to them.”
— with AP


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Brian Cashman sees J.A. Happ as leader in Yankees rotation race

Brian Cashman said the Yankees had “ concerns ” about the Astros ...

After the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole in December, there was much speculation J.A. Happ may be headed elsewhere in a trade, but GM Brian Cashman indicated Thursday the left-hander would stick around.
“I’m extremely confident [in the Yankees’ rotation], especially the top four,’’ Cashman said Thursday on YES Network’s “Yankees Hot Stove.” “Obviously, I do think Happ is gonna be better for us than he was in the first half last year.”
Cashman pointed to Happ’s improvement in the second half and said he was looking forward to seeing what he could do in 2020. Happ gave up five runs in 27 ¹/₃ innings in his final five regular-season appearances — four starts. But he didn’t make any starts in the postseason.
Happ tossed 161 ¹/₃ innings last year with a 4.91 ERA, the second-highest of his career. He also allowed 34 home runs, tied for the sixth-most in the game. And while he was hurt by Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch, Happ still allowed 16 homers on the road.
The 37-year-old Happ is set to make $17 million this season, and if he throws 165 innings or makes 27 starts, he’ll make another $17 million in 2021, so shipping him elsewhere would help the Yankees offset some of the investment they made in Cole.
The Yankees still have the option of adding prospects to a deal in order to get another team to take on more of Happ’s salary, especially in the wake of the nine-year, $324 million deal they handed Cole in December.
Happ would slot in behind Cole, Luis Severino, James Paxton and Masahiro Tanaka, as the Yankees won’t have Domingo German to open the season following German’s suspension for violating MLB’s domestic-violence policy. German will be out until May.
They have some potential starting depth with Jordan Montgomery healthy after coming back from Tommy John surgery, as well as Jonathan Loaisiga and minor leaguers Deivi Garcia and Mike King.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--What Tom Brady’s weekly interviewer has learned about legendary QB

Robert Kraft had three words on the Patriots ’ plans to ...

Westwood One reporter Jim Gray talks to The Post’s Justin Terranova about his weekly interviews with Tom Brady and what they have taught him as the Patriots legend prepares for free agency. Gray and Brady speak each week of the NFL season and the final one this season will air during Super Bowl LIV.
Q: What have you learned about him in nine years of interviews?
A: Meticulous, prepared, very responsive, on time, humble, he’s unbelievable really. He never says, “Don’t ask me anything.” If he doesn’t want to answer the question then that’s how he will respond to it, but there are no preconditions. He wrote me a handwritten note 10 years ago now before we started this. It said, “I look forward to doing the show. You’ll get the same effort out of me on Monday nights that I give my teammates on Sunday afternoons.” And that has been the case, he’s never missed a show.
Q: How have you approached the questions about his free-agency future?
A: He doesn’t know. When he doesn’t know I am not sure how any of us can know. How many times can you ask the same question? As it evolves he will let us know. It’s not like he’s hiding something. I’ve asked him and he’s committed several times on the air to us that he’s playing next season. There’s not much he can be involved with outside the Patriots till March 18.
Q: You had the first one-on-one interview with him after the Wells Report was released. What do you remember about the Deflategate interview?
A: That whole [Salem State] gymnasium was filled. That wasn’t supposed to be what that was. It became his first comments on it. I just remember him being comfortable and saying that nothing was going to take away from the joy of the moment he experienced with his teammates in winning the Super Bowl. Well, I mean we went through all of it in the time he was suspended. He still did the radio show, I spoke to him every week. It was a very difficult circumstance. It was Tom Brady versus the National Football League. Tom Brady versus the most powerful sports institution in our country.
Q: What are the challenges that come with interviewing him?
A: He’s the greatest quarterback in the history of the National Football League, so any information that I can glean from him for the public advances all of us. Because where else are we getting that opportunity, besides his local radio show? He’s not doing a TV show every week. He’s not accessible to anybody else really. The fact that he does it and communicates with the fans and shares his views and bring us inside [is important]. He’s taught me a tremendous amount about personnel and circumstances, the institution.
Q: You’ve been reporting at a number of momentous sporting events throughout your career. How do you put that into perspective?
A: I am proud of it. There are places I could have done better, instances where I couldn’t have. I am at peace with it. It’s been a lot of things that were very unforeseen and I happened to be there. It wasn’t some grand plan to be there when a man bit another man’s ear lobe [Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield]; I didn’t know Ron Artest was going to run into the stands [Malice at the Palace]; I didn’t know the bomb was going to go off at the park [1996 Olympics].


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Five pressing Mets questions Luis Rojas will have to answer

As Chili Davis monitored the latest Mets managerial search from ...

Here are five questions new Mets manager Luis Rojas will face at his introductory press conference on Friday:
1. Is Edwin Diaz the closer, and what is the plan to get him right? Diaz flopped in his first season with the Mets, but team officials aren’t ready to give up on him.
2. How will Rojas’ relationship with Robinson Cano affect his handling of the second baseman? Cano has reached the point in his career when he might benefit from multiple days off a week to keep him fresh. Will Rojas — whose tight relationship with Cano certainly didn’t hurt his chances of landing the job — be prepared to make decisions that might ruffle the former All-Star?
3. What’s the plan for the rotation? The Mets have six starters — Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Marcus Stroman, Steven Matz, Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha — for five spots. What gives?
4. Does Syndergaard get a personal catcher? The right-hander didn’t mesh with Wilson Ramos, leading to controversy late last season.
5. Is there a plan for left field? The Mets will enter spring training with J.D. Davis, Dominic Smith and potentially Yoenis Cespedes as options to play left field. If Cespedes is healthy, where do the others fit?


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--The challenge facing Daniel Jones now that Eli Manning is gone

Daniel Jones can ’ t be anyone other than Daniel Jones .
It is unfair to ask him to be Eli Manning .
Except that is who he was drafted to be .
The Giants drafted him to be The Next Eli Manning .
There will never be another Eli Manning , a living anachronism in a Twitter-Instagram world gone mad , a Hall of Fame quarterback and Hall of Fame gentleman revered universally over the course of his 16-year career by teammates and coaches and everyone whose life he touched in and around 1925 Giants Way .
Jones was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 NFL Draft not only because he has the dual-threat skills required in today ’ s NFL , but because it was determined by GM Dave Gettleman that he had the makeup required to try to live up to the hopes and prayers of Giants fans everywhere that he will be The Next Eli Manning .
Unless you are made of the right stuff , it can be a suffocating , debilitating burden that can make a man collapse under the weight of such great expectations .
The late HOF-bound former Giants GM @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phil Simms .
Brown , like Jones , came from Duke .
He was easy to root for , a tall , bright , handsome kid from Westfield , N.J. “ Battling the ghost of Phil Simms , ” Brown said once .
“ It ’ s always going to be there whether I like it or not .
He ’ s been a tremendous help for me in my career thus far , but I think the quicker that New York can put him to rest and allow me to play my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be not only for me , but for the team.
” Brown lost the battle with the ghost of Phil Simms .
“ Just win , baby , ” was the advice Simms gave the kid , but Brown was not up to it .
He looked the part , but couldn ’ t play the part .
He threw 40 touchdowns against 49 interceptions in 57 games as a Giant .
Gettleman didn ’ t draft Sam Darnold or Josh Allen to be The Next Eli Manning , mostly because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and thought he could rebuild and win at the same time with a 37-year-old Manning behind an inferior offensive line , and thought wrong .
Now Jones will enter his sophomore season with Joe Judge as his new head coach and Jason Garrett as his new offensive coordinator .
Manning had the luxury of one head coach — Tom Coughlin — for his first 12 seasons .
Jones checked all the boxes as a rookie , save for the fumblitis box .
He had the benefit of sharing the quarterback room with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Football Giants franchise quarterback goes about his business .
The day after Jones was drafted , I asked him : When your career begins , you ’ ll be following a legend .
How do you feel about that ?
“ I think with an opportunity like that , it ’ s important to be confident in who you are and not to try to be someone else through that , not to change .
… I certainly look forward to learning from Eli , I think there ’ ll be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m also gon na be who I am and be confident in that.
” Jones is comfortable in his own skin .
That ’ s a huge plus .
You can ’ t try to be someone you are not .
On the field , he is more fiery than Manning .
Off it , he comes off as a Manning clone .
Eli Manning wasn ’ t really Eli Manning until his fourth season .
But he wasn ’ t following Eli Manning .
He was following Kerry Collins , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowl XXXV ( Ravens 34 , Giants 7 ) , and Kurt Warner , who at that time was brought in to be the veteran caretaker quarterback .
Manning started seven games as a rookie .
Jones started 12 , missing two with a high ankle sprain .
He won ’ t start 210 consecutive games the way Manning did , because it is highly unlikely that anyone will .
Fairly or unfairly , Gettleman drafted Daniel Jones for the very reason that former GM Ernie Accorsi traded with the Chargers for Manning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Duke , ” the football named for the late HOF Giants patriarch Wellington Mara , was placed in Daniel Jones ’ hands last September , earlier than anyone , Manning included , could have or should have imagined .
The idea was for Jones to have a chance to hit the ground running in 2020 .
Maybe one day Daniel Jones will warm the hearts of Giants fans by beating the quarterback who follows Aaron Rodgers in an NFC Championship game at an arctic Lambeau Field .
Maybe some day he will stand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Championship game .
Maybe some day he will engineer game-winning drives against the quarterback who follows Tom Brady and hoist a pair of Lombardi Trophies .
Good luck , kid .
That ’ s the mandate for The Next Eli Manning , and that ’ s you .

Daniel Jones can’t be anyone other than Daniel Jones. It is unfair to ask him to be Eli Manning.
Except that is who he was drafted to be.
The Giants drafted him to be The Next Eli Manning.
There will never be another Eli Manning, a living anachronism in a Twitter-Instagram world gone mad, a Hall of Fame quarterback and Hall of Fame gentleman revered universally over the course of his 16-year career by teammates and coaches and everyone whose life he touched in and around 1925 Giants Way.
Jones was drafted with the sixth pick of the 2019 NFL Draft not only because he has the dual-threat skills required in today’s NFL, but because it was determined by GM Dave Gettleman that he had the makeup required to try to live up to the hopes and prayers of Giants fans everywhere that he will be The Next Eli Manning.
Unless you are made of the right stuff, it can be a suffocating, debilitating burden that can make a man collapse under the weight of such great expectations.
The late HOF-bound former Giants GM George Young took Dave Brown to follow Phil Simms. Brown, like Jones, came from Duke. He was easy to root for, a tall, bright, handsome kid from Westfield, N.J.
“Battling the ghost of Phil Simms,” Brown said once. “It’s always going to be there whether I like it or not. He’s been a tremendous help for me in my career thus far, but I think the quicker that New York can put him to rest and allow me to play my style of football, the easier it will be not only for me, but for the team.”
Brown lost the battle with the ghost of Phil Simms. “Just win, baby,” was the advice Simms gave the kid, but Brown was not up to it. He looked the part, but couldn’t play the part. He threw 40 touchdowns against 49 interceptions in 57 games as a Giant.
Gettleman didn’t draft Sam Darnold or Josh Allen to be The Next Eli Manning, mostly because he fell head over heels for Saquon Barkley, and thought he could rebuild and win at the same time with a 37-year-old Manning behind an inferior offensive line, and thought wrong.
Now Jones will enter his sophomore season with Joe Judge as his new head coach and Jason Garrett as his new offensive coordinator. Manning had the luxury of one head coach — Tom Coughlin — for his first 12 seasons.
Jones checked all the boxes as a rookie, save for the fumblitis box. He had the benefit of sharing the quarterback room with Manning, and observing how a New York Football Giants franchise quarterback goes about his business.
The day after Jones was drafted, I asked him: When your career begins, you’ll be following a legend. How do you feel about that?
“I think with an opportunity like that, it’s important to be confident in who you are and not to try to be someone else through that, not to change. … I certainly look forward to learning from Eli, I think there’ll be a whole lot to learn there, but I’m also gonna be who I am and be confident in that.”
Jones is comfortable in his own skin. That’s a huge plus. You can’t try to be someone you are not. On the field, he is more fiery than Manning. Off it, he comes off as a Manning clone.
Eli Manning wasn’t really Eli Manning until his fourth season. But he wasn’t following Eli Manning. He was following Kerry Collins, who did take the Giants to Super Bowl XXXV (Ravens 34, Giants 7), and Kurt Warner, who at that time was brought in to be the veteran caretaker quarterback.
Manning started seven games as a rookie. Jones started 12, missing two with a high ankle sprain. He won’t start 210 consecutive games the way Manning did, because it is highly unlikely that anyone will.
Fairly or unfairly, Gettleman drafted Daniel Jones for the very reason that former GM Ernie Accorsi traded with the Chargers for Manning: to win championships.
“The Duke,” the football named for the late HOF Giants patriarch Wellington Mara, was placed in Daniel Jones’ hands last September, earlier than anyone, Manning included, could have or should have imagined. The idea was for Jones to have a chance to hit the ground running in 2020.
Maybe one day Daniel Jones will warm the hearts of Giants fans by beating the quarterback who follows Aaron Rodgers in an NFC Championship game at an arctic Lambeau Field. Maybe some day he will stand up to a beating in another NFC Championship game. Maybe some day he will engineer game-winning drives against the quarterback who follows Tom Brady and hoist a pair of Lombardi Trophies.
Good luck, kid. That’s the mandate for The Next Eli Manning, and that’s you.