newyorkpost--2020-01-29--Ariana Grande, Camila Cabello and Jennifer Garner have this $2M necklace in common

Jennifer Aniston 's SAG Awards 2020 dress leaves little to the imagination

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend — no matter her age or the occasion.
It’s no surprise that celebrities love to glitter on the red carpet, often modeling jewels worth millions of dollars. But although it’s rare to see more than one star sporting the same piece, a certain $2 million Le Vian diamond collar has popped up several times since Ariana Grande first wore it to the MTV Video Awards in 2016.
In October 2019, Jennifer Garner showed up in the same 65-carat necklace at a glitzy gala — and most recently, Camila Cabello paired the piece with her sexy Atelier Versace dress at Sunday night’s Grammys.
While both Cabello and Garner let the necklace — which features seven rows of graduated diamonds — take center stage by wearing black looks, Grande channeled Marilyn Monroe in a pink strapless gown and white fur stole.
“This necklace is a modern-day classic that offers glamorous Hollywood wonder for the 21st century woman,” a rep for Le Vian said in a statement. “Each diamond is hinged using sophisticated construction techniques designed to move with the wearer and become part of the woman who wears it.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--ESPN ax-throwing trip may have saved Rex Ryan, ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ crew

MIAMI — While ESPN is the stalking horse in the ...

MIAMI — Entering this season, there was an industry buzz that ESPN might blow up its “Sunday NFL Countdown” show at the end of the year.
Host Sam Ponder, as well as analysts Matt Hasselbeck and Rex Ryan all entered the season on expiring contracts.
However, over the summer, the executives in charge of the show had Ponder, Hasselbeck, Ryan, Tedy Bruschi and Randy Moss travel to Charlotte for a chemistry building trip that featured ax throwing. The executives think this has been a difference-maker.
Now … wait for it … it appears no one is receiving the ax.
Ryan is closing in on a new contract, ESPN vice president of production Seth Markman told The Post. Meanwhile, ESPN wants to keep Ponder and Hasselbeck in their roles.
After replacing Charles Woodson with Bruschi for this season, ESPN hopes to agree to new deals with Ponder and Hasselbeck.
While Markman wouldn’t address it, Hasselbeck likely is going to have to accept a paycut. When Hasselbeck joined ESPN, the network was bidding against an NFL team, which drove Hasselbeck’s price up. His exact salary is unknown, but it is at least $2-plus million per year.
As for Ponder, Markman feels as if she has gone to another level this season. She initially struggled in replacing Chris Berman, which was also around the time Tom Jackson, Cris Carter, Mike Ditka, Trent Dilfer and Keyshawn Johnson all left the show.
“We’ve made too many changes,” Markman said. “Last year, I think we made a really positive change with Tedy.”
Besides Bruschi, Markman felt the show improved because of the team-building experience in which Ryan, Hasselbeck, Moss, Bruschi and top producers went ax throwing in Charlotte. The next day, the on-air folks added zip-lining and white-water rafting. During the changes, Markman said he asked the new folks to act like they knew each other well.
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“I can take the blame for it, but, for years, I would be like, ‘We need you guys to have good chemistry,’ ” Markman said. “That is such a weird thing to say to people.”
But ESPN did not provide the space to create it, like it did in Charlotte with the axes.
“I can literally point back to that and say that it is one of the best things we’ve done,” Markman said.
Ratings are up eight percent to 1.3 million per show so after splitting some wood, Markman wants to keep everything together. Ryan is already in.
On the way up: As a 10-year-old growing up in Shelton, Conn., Dan Orlovsky wrote in a notebook that he wanted to work for ESPN.
Now, he is there — and on the rise. In his two years at ESPN, he has gone from a 12-year backup quarterback who ran out of the back of the end zone to a guy who you could see joining the Dick Vitales, Kirk Herbstreits and Jay Bilases of the Bristol world. They all had good coaching/playing careers, but became stars on TV.
“The goal is a moving target,” Orlovsky said. “I want to be important here in what is important to them. I love live games so I don’t think I ever want to leave the booth. Love it. I think the ultimate goal is being able to do ‘Monday Night Football’ or preeminent NFL game every week or a preeminent college football game every week, being in the booth and being in the moment. And then being well-respected when you say things.”
Orlovsky is well on his way.
Fox plan: When you watch the Super Bowl, Fox Sports’ executive producer Brad Zager’s fingerprints will be all over it.
Zager first rose to prominence by becoming Vin Scully’s Dodger producer at just 25. After nearly a decade there, he went to Japan and built a new sports network for Fox Sports. Now, at just 41, he is going to oversee his first Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl for a network is a culmination of a year’s worth of preparation. Fox will have new graphics and a fly cam that will sail from inside to outside the stadium.
“It will have a very cinematic feel, hopefully,” Zager said.
What is the overall goal for Sunday’s broadcast?
“Our goal is when people turn on the Super Bowl, they know it is not a regular-season game,” Zager said. “The NFL is already probably the best produced sports television on a consistent level. It is only network level. When you watch the Super Bowl, you have to figure out ways to elevate even more and make sure that people know it is not just any other game.”
For more on Super Bowl 2020, listen to the latest episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--Accused killer, Brooklyn philanthropist had sexual relationship

Cops responding to a call crashed their cruiser into the ...

The 33-year-old man accused of murdering a beloved Brooklyn philanthropist had a sexual relationship with the man known to locals as “the Santa Claus of the block,” a high-ranking source told The Post.
Dondre Richardson — a registered sex offender who was on parole since being released from prison early 2019 — allegedly stabbed L. Antonio Litman to death and burned down Litman’s Brooklyn brownstone last week, according to cops.
Richardson, who lives in a homeless shelter on Wards Island, has been arrested 17 times on a range of charges, including robbery, assault on a correction officer and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, authorities said.
Richardson sodomized a woman in East Harlem in 2006. He pleaded guilty to criminal sexual act and was sentenced to 14 years in prison, according to authorities. He was released Jan. 15, 2019, records show.
Richardson now faces charges of murder and arson.
Litman was found in the lobby of the Adelphi Street building, which housed his charity Virginia’s House of Hope, when smoke eaters responded to the fire at 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 20, authorities said.
The 55-year-old was stabbed multiple times and died before the fire was started, according to sources.
Cops declared his death a homicide the next day.
Richardson was hospitalized until Wednesday afternoon, according to police, who said he has not yet been arraigned.


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--George’s Restaurant, beloved Brooklyn diner, wrecked after cop car crashes into window

Cops responding to a call crashed their cruiser into the window of a decades-old Brooklyn diner , according to witnesses and police .
The car rammed into the storefront of George ’ s Restaurant located on 753 Coney Island Ave. off of Cortelyou Road in Ditmas Park on Tuesday morning , police said .
One of the officers in the vehicle was taken to Maimonides Medical Center with minor back injuries , police said .
It was not immediately clear what call they were responding to .
Owners Michael Papazaharias and Peter Montauredes said the restaurant was closed for business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel lucky that no one was injured .
“ Luckily the three people sitting [ at the first table ] left five minutes prior to the accident .
Good timing , ” Papazaharias told The Post .
“ They definitely would have had serious injuries , ” he added .
“ The tables flew six feet and the glass came all the way to the back of the store.
” The diner has been a neighborhood staple since 1956 .
“ We were laughing but we should also be crying .
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work , he said .
“ We ’ re looking forward to re-open again , ” he said .

Craig McCarthy, Julia Marsh, Anabel Sosa

Cops responding to a call crashed their cruiser into the window of a decades-old Brooklyn diner, according to witnesses and police.
The car rammed into the storefront of George’s Restaurant located on 753 Coney Island Ave. off of Cortelyou Road in Ditmas Park on Tuesday morning, police said.
One of the officers in the vehicle was taken to Maimonides Medical Center with minor back injuries, police said.
It was not immediately clear what call they were responding to.
Owners Michael Papazaharias and Peter Montauredes said the restaurant was closed for business while repairs were underway –– but they feel lucky that no one was injured.
“Luckily the three people sitting [at the first table] left five minutes prior to the accident. Good timing,” Papazaharias told The Post.
“They definitely would have had serious injuries,” he added. “The tables flew six feet and the glass came all the way to the back of the store.”
The diner has been a neighborhood staple since 1956.
“We were laughing but we should also be crying. This is an important business. This is our work, he said. “We’re looking forward to re-open again,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--New Yorkers should prepare for paper bag shortage when plastic bag ban hits

SAN FRANCISCO — A new cafe culture is brewing in ...

Paper or plastic? New York shoppers may soon find themselves juggling their groceries home.
A paper bag shortage is expected to hit the Empire State hard when Albany’s plastic bag ban goes into effect March 1, The Post has learned.
Retailers are allowed to offer paper sacks for five cents a pop at checkout — but they’re already having trouble stocking the gear due to a nationwide shortfall.
It’s a problem manufacturers say could last up to five years because there simply aren’t enough factories to meet the booming demand, as efforts to reduce environmentally unfriendly plastic bags increase.
“It’s a major issue,” Phil Rozenski, a spokesman for Novolex, one of several major bag manufacturers in North America told The Post.
“It’s so large that there are outages in the Midwest in trying to get supply to retailers.”
New York store owners say they’re working on short-term fixes, including stocking up on more pricey, reusable bags — but are bracing for backlash from customers when the ban hits.
The owner of two Key Food stores in the Bronx, Sal Bonavita, placed orders at the beginning of the year for both paper bags — which he has not offered for years — and reusable bags, but has not received them yet.
“I’m hoping to get some paper bags before March but I know I won’t have enough,” he said.
The grocer told his cashiers this week to warn customers to bring reusable bags in the future. There are also signs in his stores about the new law, but most of his customers are immigrants and he worries they may not be getting the message.
“I expect my customers to be surprised by this in March and our checkout time is going to soar,” Bonavita said.
The 30 Gristedes and D’Agostino grocery stores in the city ordered paper bags in December but have only received one case per store so far — which is “surprising,” owner, John Catsimatidis told The Post.
“Our supplier took the order but also warned us that there is a shortage of paper bags,” Catsimatidis said, “I assume that it’s an excuse for them to raise the prices now,” he guffawed.
The 16-store chain Morton Williams won’t offer paper bags because they are too expensive — at 13 cents a pop compared with 2.5 cents for plastic, owner Avi Kaner told The Post.
They’re also too difficult to procure, since “The [bag] industry is controlled by a handful of players,” Kaner said.
Most sturdy paper sacks with separate handles — like those offered at Trader’s Joe and Whole Foods — are already spoken for by some of the largest chains and not available to independent retailers, industry sources told The Post.
Those retailers locked into multi-year contracts with their suppliers in anticipation of the ban, sources said.
Kaner instead placed a “sizeable” order for sturdy reusable bags that Morton Williams currently sells for 99 cents. He also ordered other totes made from cotton and polyester that he hopes to offer for about 15 cents to 20 cents, or about his cost.
Still, Kaner is expecting his city-dwelling customers to be frustrated by the chain’s bag options.
“A lot of people don’t carry around reusable bags when they are commuting,” he pointed out. “It’s not like the suburbs where you have the bags in your car.”
It’s not just New York that’s suffering as other states and cities implement their own legislation aimed at plastic bags, including California, Oregon, Maine, Chicago, Albuquerque and others.
Portland, Oregon, based Fred Meyer stores — owned by Kroger — ran out of paper bags with handles in December, blaming the outage on a “supplier shortage” according to local reports.
Massachusetts-based Big Y supermarkets have also had difficulty keeping up with its paper bag demands, sources told The Post. The 77-store chain voluntarily switched to paper bags late last year. It did not return calls for comment.
Mom’s Organic Market of Virginia recently posted a sign in its stores for customers to bring their reusable bags as it was experiencing a “temporary” shortage of paper bags due to “plastic bags bans going into effect” across the country.
Walmart stores in Beaufort, South Carolina, ran out of paper bags just days after the county’s plastic bag ban went into effect in November 2018, according to reports.
But the New York state legislature only held its first hearing on the matter on Monday — almost a year after its law was passed.
The Empire State ban goes farther than any other in the country in that it does not allow retailers to offer thicker reusable plastic bags — and it requires them to collect a 5-cent tax for paper bags.
Novolex’s Rozenski was among scores of industry experts who attended the hearing to alert lawmakers about the problem.
Novolex estimates that New York will require 4 billion bags — or 52% of all the production capacity in North America to comply with the new law.
Put another way, New York will have a shortfall of about three billion bags which could last up to five years until new factories are built, according to Novolex. There are currently 16 manufacturing facilities in the US and Canada.
“The New York law needs four or five factories that don’t exist today,” Rozenski said.
The plastic bag ban exempts certain uses including take out orders at restaurants, garment and garbage bags, as well as newspaper bags.
The New York agency charged with implementing the ban, the Department of Environmental Conservation, is weighing the public comments submitted at the hearing as it finalizes the regulation.
“We hope the regulation is at least delayed,” said Bonavita, the owner of the Key Food stores.


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--Bartenders are panicking about the end of Dry January

The hardest part about most New Year ’ s resolutions is getting ...

Brace yourself, bartenders. Dry January — the monthlong booze detox popular with resolution-minded New Yorkers — ends this weekend, and things are about to get sloppy.
Dry January began as a public health initiative in the UK around 2014, in an effort to get drinkers to set healthy habits for themselves heading into the new year. It’s since caught on across the pond — and it’s pretty clear to bartenders, says Maggie Dale, who slings drinks at the Wren in Noho.
“Everyone is doing Dry January,” the 31-year-old tells The Post. Even she is on a health kick this month: “I usually drink a lot of wine and cocktails, but I’ve been switching to gin martinis, to try to cut out sugar.”
But for those who set more extreme goals — such as cutting out booze altogether for 31 days — all that urge-suppression can come with consequences.
“Watching people drink margaritas when you’re drinking water is not fun,” says Dry Januarian Louise Cooney, a 27-year-old Irish transplant who moved from Dublin to NoMad three months ago. Although she’s glad she’s given Dry January a shot — she’s lost weight, her skin looks better and she’s even made it to the Met — she can’t deny that she’s excited for it to end. “I’ll definitely have a margarita,” she says.
From a bartender’s perspective, Dry January “is almost like Catholicism with Lent,” says Kenneth McCoy, who runs the whiskey bar Ward III in Tribeca and the Rum House in Times Square. “If you give up candy for a month and then you go back to it, you’re probably going to binge chocolate … People can’t wait to get back into the drink.”
The nightmarish revelry of Feb. 1, McCoy says, will be “the same thing as New Year’s” — especially since it’s on a Saturday this year.
“People think, ‘I gotta get out there and tie one on,’ ” says the barkeep. But he thinks that a lot of people fail to realize that “your tolerance is going to be a lot different after a month.”
This weekend, he predicts lots of shots orders (“I’m sure we’ll have a run on Patron and Casamigos”) and is girding himself for the worst — everything from “fights” to people “sleeping on the floor under the bar.”
“It’s going to be a busy Saturday,” he adds, wearily.
Marshall Minaya, a bartender at midtown spot Valerie, is planning on an influx too.
“Everyone gets prepared,” he says. “Business starts picking up after January because all the New Year’s resolutions fall off.”
The cocktail mixologist has a sneaky trick up his sleeve, though: He plans on pushing drinks with low alcohol content.
“My advice is take it slow,” he says. “When you’re getting back into it, look for something on the low-ABV [alcohol by volume] side, like a sherry or amaro base … You won’t get the same hit as a Negroni or Manhattan right off the bat.”
McCoy has similar words of advice for his clients.
“If you’re drinking Manhattans, you should be drinking two glasses of water per cocktail,” says McCoy, who plans to keep the H2O flowing.
One thing’s for sure: Neither barman will hesitate to cut people off if things get out of hand.
“The other night, we had two people fall asleep at the bar. I took their gin and tonics away and told them to find the door,” says Minaya. “They were on vacation, so maybe they decided to break their Dry January early and had a little too much fun.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--Bloomberg’s unlawful run and other commentary

“ Michael Bloomberg isn ’ t actually running for president , ” argues The Federalist ’ s Christopher Bedford .
Sure , he has hired 1,000 staffers and spent $ 250 million on ads .
But he has said he will spend $ 2 billion “ for any campaign to defeat Trump , ” even if he loses the nomination .
“ This magnanimity in defeat doesn ’ t seem to square with Michael Bloomberg , cut-throat capitalist billionaire , ” notes Bedford , “ So why declare ?
” Bloomberg “ gets a lot more for his money as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a donor or even as the operator of a super PAC.
” After all , “ there are limits to what a donor can give a campaign , and $ 2 billion is way out of the question.
” And campaigns have  “ access to the best rates the market has to offer ” for ads , while super PACs pay top dollar .
“ He doesn ’ t like the man voters put in the White House , so he ’ s going to spend billions of dollars to undo it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws in the process .
Administration officials told Ian Bremmer , reporting for Time , that they consider President Trump ’ s Middle East peace plan “ an opening bid , ” and Bremmer notes it won ’ t “ lead to peace in the coming weeks or months or maybe ever.
” But he still thinks “ it might open a process that will reduce tension in the region.
” In a “ startling turnabout ” for an administration that “ moved the US embassy to Jerusalem , ” Trump “ has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State of Palestine with a capital on the outskirts of East Jerusalem.
” It is America ’ s “ most pro-Israel proposal ever , ” but “ more geopolitical honesty might change the game.
” Indeed , “ Arab-Israeli normalization is only a matter of time , and the Palestinians are at risk of missing that train ” if they don ’ t respond with “ a constructive counteroffer.
” From the left : Nominating Bernie Is ‘ Insane ’ With Bernie Sanders leading in Iowa and New Hampshire , New York magazine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk for Democrats : “ Sanders is an extremely , perhaps uniquely , risky nominee ” ; choosing him “ would be insane.
” Sanders has proudly put his collection of “ unpopular program specifics in the unpopular packaging of ‘ socialism , ’ ” giving Republicans an “ almost insultingly easy way ” to brand him too “ radical ” for America .
A “ majority of the public ” thinks the economy is doing well under President Trump — so Sanders ’ “ radical economic agenda ” would “ play directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of not upsetting the apple cart .
Indeed , “ political science has generally found that , all things being equal , the electorate tends to punish ideologically extreme candidates.
” From the right : The Hillary Show Carries On At some point , “ one or more of Hillary Clinton ’ s many handlers , advisers or consultants ” must have told her to laugh more — forgetting , snarks National Review ’ s Kyle Smith , that she is “ sour , dour and without a humorous molecule in her body.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Clinton “ presents as an inveterate scold ” but acts like “ Arthur Fleck in a pantsuit.
” Worse , she blames “ all the forces ” President Trump “ unleashed ” for her 2016 election loss .
In fact , “ she got as far as she did solely because of her husband ’ s success , ” but she ’ ll never give up on her “ aggrievement and entitlement.
” At Commentary , Wilfred C. Reilly debunks several racially inflammatory and distorted takes on crime trends .
Center-left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whites attacking blacks and other people of color for trivial reasons , while a substantial cottage industry on the far right focuses on sensational depictions of black crime , ” he notes .
In reality , though , most crime isn ’ t interracial : In 2018 , Justice Department stats show , “ blacks made up only 15 percent of those who criminally attacked whites in the United States , ” and whites were just 11 percent of those who attacked blacks .
It ’ s most obvious in homicide stats : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that roughly 85 percent of murders of whites and an astonishing 91 to 95 percent of murders of blacks are intra-racial ” — that is , a same-race crime .
Bottom line : “ There is no current or upcoming race war .
”

Eye on 2020: Bloomy’s Unlawful Run
“Michael Bloomberg isn’t actually running for president,” argues The Federalist’s Christopher Bedford. Sure, he has hired 1,000 staffers and spent $250 million on ads. But he has said he will spend $2 billion “for any campaign to defeat Trump,” even if he loses the nomination. “This magnanimity in defeat doesn’t seem to square with Michael Bloomberg, cut-throat capitalist billionaire,” notes Bedford, “So why declare?” Bloomberg “gets a lot more for his money as a candidate than he ever could as a donor or even as the operator of a super PAC.” After all, “there are limits to what a donor can give a campaign, and $2 billion is way out of the question.” And campaigns have “access to the best rates the market has to offer” for ads, while super PACs pay top dollar. “He doesn’t like the man voters put in the White House, so he’s going to spend billions of dollars to undo it” — and “skirt” campaign-finance laws in the process.
Foreign desk: Don’s Game-Changing Peace Plan
Administration officials told Ian Bremmer, reporting for Time, that they consider President Trump’s Middle East peace plan “an opening bid,” and Bremmer notes it won’t “lead to peace in the coming weeks or months or maybe ever.” But he still thinks “it might open a process that will reduce tension in the region.” In a “startling turnabout” for an administration that “moved the US embassy to Jerusalem,” Trump “has declared support for an independent, sovereign State of Palestine with a capital on the outskirts of East Jerusalem.” It is America’s “most pro-Israel proposal ever,” but “more geopolitical honesty might change the game.” Indeed, “Arab-Israeli normalization is only a matter of time, and the Palestinians are at risk of missing that train” if they don’t respond with “a constructive counteroffer.”
From the left: Nominating Bernie Is ‘Insane’
With Bernie Sanders leading in Iowa and New Hampshire, New York magazine’s Jonathan Chait has some straight talk for Democrats: “Sanders is an extremely, perhaps uniquely, risky nominee”; choosing him “would be insane.” Sanders has proudly put his collection of “unpopular program specifics in the unpopular packaging of ‘socialism,’ ” giving Republicans an “almost insultingly easy way” to brand him too “radical” for America. A “majority of the public” thinks the economy is doing well under President Trump — so Sanders’ “radical economic agenda” would “play directly into the president’s message” of not upsetting the apple cart. Indeed, “political science has generally found that, all things being equal, the electorate tends to punish ideologically extreme candidates.”
From the right: The Hillary Show Carries On
At some point, “one or more of Hillary Clinton’s many handlers, advisers or consultants” must have told her to laugh more — forgetting, snarks National Review’s Kyle Smith, that she is “sour, dour and without a humorous molecule in her body.” In the new documentary “Hillary,” Clinton “presents as an inveterate scold” but acts like “Arthur Fleck in a pantsuit.” Worse, she blames “all the forces” President Trump “unleashed” for her 2016 election loss. In fact, “she got as far as she did solely because of her husband’s success,” but she’ll never give up on her “aggrievement and entitlement.”
Crime beat: There’s No Race War Coming
At Commentary, Wilfred C. Reilly debunks several racially inflammatory and distorted takes on crime trends. Center-left media play up stories of “tough whites attacking blacks and other people of color for trivial reasons, while a substantial cottage industry on the far right focuses on sensational depictions of black crime,” he notes. In reality, though, most crime isn’t interracial: In 2018, Justice Department stats show, “blacks made up only 15 percent of those who criminally attacked whites in the United States,” and whites were just 11 percent of those who attacked blacks. It’s most obvious in homicide stats: “Figures from every recent year indicate that roughly 85 percent of murders of whites and an astonishing 91 to 95 percent of murders of blacks are intra-racial” — that is, a same-race crime. Bottom line: “There is no current or upcoming race war.”
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--More than 30M customers’ data for sale on dark web after Wawa data breach

The Wawa convenience store chain says a data breach may ...

Payment and credit card information from more than 30 million Wawa customers was posted for sale Monday via the dark web forum Joker’s Stash, a website used by cybercriminals for fraud, according to several reports.
The compromised card data listing was shared under a thread titled “BIGBADABOOM-III,” and it was noted as “the most biggest (sic) breach for the last 5 years” in a screenshot captured by cybercrime research firm Gemini Advisory.
Wawa was not named in the listing, but Gemini Advisory and other publications have linked the sale attempt to the American convenience store and gas station chain’s breach. In a press release from Dec. 19, Wawa announced it had discovered malware that may have affected more than 850 stores and included payment records from March 4 and Dec. 12, 2019.
Wawa issued a statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the reported illegal sale. However, it has not been confirmed whether the Joker’s Stash post is legitimate or connected to the chain.
“We have alerted our payment card processor, payment card brands, and card issuers to heighten fraud monitoring activities to help further protect any customer information,” officials at Wawa wrote. “We continue to work closely with federal law enforcement in connection with their ongoing investigation to determine the scope of the disclosure of Wawa-specific customer payment card data.”
Wawa officials urged affected customers to remain vigilant in their transaction monitoring and report any fraudulent charges to authorities.
After discovering the malware in its system on Dec. 10, the breach was contained by Dec. 12, according to Wawa. The company stressed that payment records have not been at risk since.
“We also remain confident that only payment card information was involved, and that no debit card PIN numbers, credit card CVV2 numbers or other personal information were involved,” the statement continued for clarification. “This incident did not impact ATM transactions.”
Although limited information was obtained through the hack, Andrei Barysevich of Gemini Advisory told Fortune that cybercriminals are still willing to pay for credit and debit card numbers. The median price for this info is $17 per card, according to Barysevich.
The cards could still be used at stores using older swipe technology.
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as nine million Americans get their identities stolen each year. Moreover, a study from The Motley Fool reports that credit card fraud tripled between 2014 and 2018.


newyorkpost--2020-01-29--Cops gave more tickets to cyclists than truck drivers in 2019

New York City traffic fatalities are up this year for ...

People riding bicycles received more moving violations than truck drivers in 2019, officials said Wednesday.
NYPD officers issued more than 35,000 tickets to cyclists last year — at least 400 more moving violations than they gave truck drivers.
This statistic came despite the fact that trucks were involved in 43 of the year’s 220 pedestrian and cyclist deaths; and just one person was killed by a person riding a bike.
And the number of trucks are increasing. NYPD Transportation Chief William Morris lamented the large presence of trucks on city streets while speaking to the city council’s transportation committee.
“I’m New York City born-and-bred, and I never remember all these trucks when I was younger here,” he told council members on Wednesday.
Trucks make up 10 percent of New York City traffic, but were involved in 21.5 percent of last year’s traffic deaths, Morris said.
He added that cops doled out 34,600 moving violations to trucks, compared to “north of” 35,000 to cyclists.
His comments came as council members pressed city officials on how they planned to respond to 2019’s uptick in traffic deaths — the first such increase since Mayor Bill de Blasio took office six years ago.
Among the politicians’ concerns: the growth of Amazon and other online delivery businesses, the persistence of trucks longer than 53-feet on streets where they are not legally permitted and the general lack of special safety features like protective side-guards and motion sensors.
“It is unacceptable that trucks operating in our city, and across our nation, do not have advanced safety features … that can warn drivers if there is someone on the side or back of their vehicle,” Transportation Committee Chair Ydanis Rodriguez said.
Cyclists account for less than 2 percent of city commuters, according to census data. Bike advocates have cried foul in the past over NYPD ticketing cyclists in the aftermath of bike deaths.
“We know that cyclists make up a small fraction of the total number of vehicles on our streets. There are about ten-times as many trucks on our streets as bikes,” Transportation Alternatives spokesman Joe Cutrufo told The Post.
“This seems like a real misalignment. If NYPD wants to enforce the laws more equitably, they should follow the data,” Cutrufo said.
“Two-ton trucks are clearly more likely to cause damage than a person riding a 40-pound bike.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--‘Donut’ touch this sweet-toothed opossum’s snack

This opossum runs on Dunkin ’ .
Watch this adorable critter happily snack on a doughnut in the home of @ @ @ @ @ .
The opossum is known for always swiping treats .
See the hilarious moment she @ @ @ @ @ chocolate-covered doughnut underneath a blanket .

This opossum runs on Dunkin’. Watch this adorable critter happily snack on a doughnut in the home of Texas-based wildlife rehabilitator Christi Whitus. The opossum is known for always swiping treats. See the hilarious moment she gets caught red-handed enjoying a chocolate-covered doughnut underneath a blanket.
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newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Novak Djokovic rolls past hurting Roger Federer to reach Australian Open final

MELBOURNE , Australia ( AP ) — Sofia Kenin never flinched .
Not when ...

MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic was wondering, right along with everyone else, what sort of shape Roger Federer would be in for their Australian Open semifinal.
So Djokovic was watching closely.
At age 38, despite dealing with a painful groin muscle and coming off a draining five-setter, Federer came out just fine, it seemed, and soon was up 4-1 and love-40, holding a trio of break chances as Djokovic served.
Didn’t last. Federer couldn’t sustain that level. Djokovic didn’t let him.
Casting aside a bit of a poor start during the rivals’ 50th meeting, Djokovic stretched his Grand Slam winning streak against Federer to six in a row with a 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-3 victory Thursday night that earned the defending champion a record eighth trip to the final at Melbourne Park.
“Well, it could have definitely gone a different way, if he used those break points. He started off really well. I was pretty nervous at the beginning,” said Djokovic, who now leads their head-to-head series 27-23, including 11-6 at majors.
“I just want to say respect to Roger for coming out tonight. He was obviously hurt,” Djokovic said. “Wasn’t at his best.”
The No. 2-seeded Djokovic will try to collect a record-extending eighth Australian Open title in Sunday’s final against No. 5 Dominic Thiem or No. 7 Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic also can claim a 17th major trophy overall to move closer to Federer’s record of 20.
In the women’s final Saturday, it’ll be two-time major champion Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain against 21-year-old Sofia Kenin of the United States. It’s Kenin’s debut in a Grand Slam title match.


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Grizzlies’ Ja Morant rips ‘cold’ Madison Square Garden showers

You can add faulty Madison Square Garden showers to the list of disastrous things that occurred during the Knicks ’ ugly 127-106 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night .
After the game , Grizzlies ’ star guard Ja Morant complained about having to take a cold shower with no water pressure .
“ This is beyond me , ” Morant told reporters after the game .
“ I ’ ve taken cold showers before , but at least I had water pressure .
“ ( I ’ m ) gon na go to the hotel and take another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fixing the showers — after the complaints were lodged , according to ForbesSports .
This came on the heels of a disastrous night for the Knicks in which Elfrid Payton , Marcus Morris and Jae Crowder were ejected in a fracas in the closing seconds .
The issues started after Crowder made a steal with 48 seconds and went to the right corner to shoot a 3-pointer and was shoved by Payton , causing both benches to clear .
As the unsportsmanlike scene unfolded , the angry Garden fans chanted “ Sell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as owner James Dolan left his seat .
To make matters worse , Morris had to apologize for an insensitive comment he used in ripping Jae Crowder for what many consider his bush-league action .
“ I think dude is just , he plays the game a different way .
A lot of female tendencies on the court , ” Morris said .
“ Flopping , throwing his head back the entire game .
It ’ s a man ’ s game and you just get tired of it at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an apology .
“ I apologize for using the term “ female tendencies ” I have the upmost respect for women and everything they mean to us , ” he tweeted .
“ It was a Heat of the moment response and I never intended for any Women to feel as though in anyway I ’ m disrespecting them .
Again I apologize ( for ) my comments .
”

You can add faulty Madison Square Garden showers to the list of disastrous things that occurred during the Knicks’ ugly 127-106 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night.
After the game, Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant complained about having to take a cold shower with no water pressure.
“This is beyond me,” Morant told reporters after the game. “I’ve taken cold showers before, but at least I had water pressure.
“(I’m) gonna go to the hotel and take another shower.”
The Knicks did end up fixing the showers — after the complaints were lodged, according to Forbes.
This came on the heels of a disastrous night for the Knicks in which Elfrid Payton, Marcus Morris and Jae Crowder were ejected in a fracas in the closing seconds. The issues started after Crowder made a steal with 48 seconds and went to the right corner to shoot a 3-pointer and was shoved by Payton, causing both benches to clear. As the unsportsmanlike scene unfolded, the angry Garden fans chanted “Sell the team’’ for about 20 seconds as owner James Dolan left his seat.
To make matters worse, Morris had to apologize for an insensitive comment he used in ripping Jae Crowder for what many consider his bush-league action.
“I think dude is just, he plays the game a different way. A lot of female tendencies on the court,” Morris said. “Flopping, throwing his head back the entire game. It’s a man’s game and you just get tired of it at the end of the day.”
Morris later tweeted out an apology.
“I apologize for using the term ‘female tendencies’ I have the upmost respect for women and everything they mean to us,” he tweeted. “It was a Heat of the moment response and I never intended for any Women to feel as though in anyway I’m disrespecting them. Again I apologize (for) my comments.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Super Bowl 2020: The 49ers are already partying?

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 ) The Super Bowl ( and J.Lo ’ s half-time show ) isn ’ t until Sunday , but the San Francisco 49ers are already celebrating .
Justin Bieber has a lot to say about his “ Yummy ” life and Brian May — yes , the Queen rockstar — is selling sports bras .
San Francisco 49ers party all night in Miami ahead of Super @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , who are facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIV , were spotted partying at Mokai Lounge in Miami Beach on Monday night .
A rep confirmed the 49ers were at the club .
“ There was a bottle service girl holding up a sign that said ’ 49ers ’ and they ordered a lot of Dom Pérignon [ champagne ] , ” a clubgoer exclusively told Page Six , estimating that the athletes ordered more than 20 bottles .
However , a source told us “ none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the bottles were for the players ’ guests .
Justin Bieber worried he couldn ’ t be faithful to wife Hailey Baldwin The Biebs is head-over-heels in love with wife Hailey Baldwin , who inspired his latest single , “ Yummy.
” Still , the pop star was admittedly shaken by the idea of settling down and questioned if he could be a faithful husband .
During his Monday appearance on “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show , ” the singer , 25 , explained why he was so nervous when popping the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I felt like in the past , we had talked about it , you know , me asking the question and I felt like she would say yes .
So , I wasn ’ t really nervous about the saying ‘ yes.
’ ” He continued , “ I think I was more nervous about , ‘ am I going to make this commitment ?
Am I able to make this commitment as a man and be able to honor what I say ?
’ Queen legend Brian May is now designing sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a range of women ’ s underwear online , flogging $ 46 sports bras decorated with colored guitars .
A line of matching guitar-printed leggings for those inspired by the 72-year-old ’ s smash hit “ Fat Bottomed Girls ” was also available , but is currently sold out .
The blurb says the “ bright , bold ” undies highlight May ’ s “ consummate artistic talents.
” A burglar bashed his way into Billy Joel ’ s Long Island abode and vandalized a dozen of his beloved motorcycles , police sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crook shattered a glass door leading to the “ Glass Houses ” singer ’ s garage and caused “ considerable damage ” to the motorbikes sometime between 3:30 pm Saturday and 8:15 am Monday , according to Nassau County police sources .
The Piano Man ’ s office was also vandalized during the incident — but the baddie stole nothing from the Centre Island pad , according to cops .
Catch up on all episodes of “ We Hear ” by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts , Spotify or wherever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come out every Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday .

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The Super Bowl (and J.Lo’s half-time show) isn’t until Sunday, but the San Francisco 49ers are already celebrating.
Justin Bieber has a lot to say about his “Yummy” life and Brian May — yes, the Queen rockstar — is selling sports bras.
Here’s a closer look at today’s stories:
San Francisco 49ers party all night in Miami ahead of Super Bowl 2020
Several players from the NFL team, who are facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs at Super Bowl LIV, were spotted partying at Mokai Lounge in Miami Beach on Monday night. A rep confirmed the 49ers were at the club.
“There was a bottle service girl holding up a sign that said ’49ers’ and they ordered a lot of Dom Pérignon [champagne],” a clubgoer exclusively told Page Six, estimating that the athletes ordered more than 20 bottles.
However, a source told us “none of the players were drinking.” He said the bottles were for the players’ guests.
Justin Bieber worried he couldn’t be faithful to wife Hailey Baldwin
The Biebs is head-over-heels in love with wife Hailey Baldwin, who inspired his latest single, “Yummy.” Still, the pop star was admittedly shaken by the idea of settling down and questioned if he could be a faithful husband.
During his Monday appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” the singer, 25, explained why he was so nervous when popping the question, telling the host, “I felt like in the past, we had talked about it, you know, me asking the question and I felt like she would say yes. So, I wasn’t really nervous about the saying ‘yes.’”
He continued, “I think I was more nervous about, ‘am I going to make this commitment? Am I able to make this commitment as a man and be able to honor what I say?’
Queen legend Brian May is now designing sports bras
Queen rocker Brian May has launched a range of women’s underwear online, flogging $46 sports bras decorated with colored guitars.
A line of matching guitar-printed leggings for those inspired by the 72-year-old’s smash hit “Fat Bottomed Girls” was also available, but is currently sold out.
The blurb says the “bright, bold” undies highlight May’s “consummate artistic talents.”
Billy Joel’s Long Island estate broken into, 12 motorcycles vandalized
A burglar bashed his way into Billy Joel’s Long Island abode and vandalized a dozen of his beloved motorcycles, police sources said Wednesday.
During the smash-and-trash, the crook shattered a glass door leading to the “Glass Houses” singer’s garage and caused “considerable damage” to the motorbikes sometime between 3:30 pm Saturday and 8:15 am Monday, according to Nassau County police sources.
Joel played a concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
The Piano Man’s office was also vandalized during the incident — but the baddie stole nothing from the Centre Island pad, according to cops.
Catch up on all episodes of “We Hear” by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes come out every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Saquon Barkley gives first impressions of Giants new coaches

While staying quiet since topping 1,000 rushing yards in the final game of his second season , Saquon Barkley kept a close eye on the Giants ’ busy start to the NFL offseason .
It started with the surprise hiring of Judge as head coach .
“ I first called him on the phone and we had a great conversation , ” Barkley told The Post on Radio Row for Super Bowl 2020 , where he promoted Old Spice ’ s Ultra Smooth product line .
“ Then I got to meet him in person and I love what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Even though we are in January , you can see that look in his eye that he wishes it was August already and we ’ re going out to the field .
Really excited about the hire.
” Barkley ’ s excitement extends to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and his run-first philosophy .
Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing twice and went to three Pro Bowls in the past four seasons .
Garrett called plays for the Cowboys from 2007-12 before focusing exclusively on head-coach duties .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , but I definitely will catch up with him , ” Barkley said .
“ But I played against [ Garrett ] for two years .
I know how he likes to use his running backs .
There ’ s only so much Zeke can tell me that I haven ’ t seen with my own eyes .
“ Zeke had a lot of success , but it wasn ’ t only Zeke .
It was multiple players — all the tight ends and wide receivers , Dak [ Prescott ] had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We can fit that mold with the talent we have.
” Sign up here for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call The cast of Daniel Jones , Barkley , Sterling Shepard , Golden Tate and Evan Engram all could be back next season .
That offensive core didn ’ t take a single snap together last season because of a rash of injuries .
But Manning will not be around , retiring last week after a 16-year career .
“ It ’ s sad , ” Barkley said of no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the season everyone had their speculations .
I made sure I got a signed blue jersey before it was done.
” Barkley was not among dozens of past and present Manning teammates at the ceremony because he had an unbreakable personal conflict .
“ I would ’ ve loved to be there , ” Barkley said .
“ I ’ m happy for him .
He gave the game 16 years , did a tremendous job and I ’ m glad to see him walk away on his own terms — and as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bowl 2020 , listen to the latest episode of the “ Blue Rush ” podcast :

MIAMI — Enter Joe Judge, exit Eli Manning.
While staying quiet since topping 1,000 rushing yards in the final game of his second season, Saquon Barkley kept a close eye on the Giants’ busy start to the NFL offseason. It started with the surprise hiring of Judge as head coach.
“I first called him on the phone and we had a great conversation,” Barkley told The Post on Radio Row for Super Bowl 2020, where he promoted Old Spice’s Ultra Smooth product line.
“Then I got to meet him in person and I love what I see so far,” Barkley said. “Even though we are in January, you can see that look in his eye that he wishes it was August already and we’re going out to the field. Really excited about the hire.”
Barkley’s excitement extends to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and his run-first philosophy.
Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott led the NFL in rushing twice and went to three Pro Bowls in the past four seasons. Garrett called plays for the Cowboys from 2007-12 before focusing exclusively on head-coach duties.
“I haven’t called Zeke about him, but I definitely will catch up with him,” Barkley said. “But I played against [Garrett] for two years. I know how he likes to use his running backs. There’s only so much Zeke can tell me that I haven’t seen with my own eyes.
“Zeke had a lot of success, but it wasn’t only Zeke. It was multiple players — all the tight ends and wide receivers, Dak [Prescott] had a great year and career so far. We can fit that mold with the talent we have.”
Sign up here for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call
The cast of Daniel Jones, Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Evan Engram all could be back next season. That offensive core didn’t take a single snap together last season because of a rash of injuries.
But Manning will not be around, retiring last week after a 16-year career.
“It’s sad,” Barkley said of no longer playing with Manning. “Throughout the season everyone had their speculations. I made sure I got a signed blue jersey before it was done.”
Barkley was not among dozens of past and present Manning teammates at the ceremony because he had an unbreakable personal conflict.
“I would’ve loved to be there,” Barkley said. “I’m happy for him. He gave the game 16 years, did a tremendous job and I’m glad to see him walk away on his own terms — and as a Giant.”
For more on Super Bowl 2020, listen to the latest episode of the “Blue Rush” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Knicks’ fan favorite Frank Ntilikina sits out with sore groin

The tension had been boiling all night between Marcus Morris ...

The Garden chanted “We want Frank!” Interim coach Mike Miller never obliged, because, it turned out, he could not.
Miller said he found out late that Frank Ntilikina was unavailable for the Knicks’ 127-106 loss to the Grizzlies on Wednesday night because his groin flared up again.
“Frank was very much a part of the game plan,” Miller said. “I found out when I was on the bench that he was unavailable due to his groin could not loosen up. He was a big part of the game plan.”
Instead, Miller went to Dennis Smith Jr. as his first point guard off the bench for the second night in a row. Ntilikina never played, though the Knicks could have used his defense as Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant dazzled with 18 points and 10 assists.
Ntilikina missed back-to-back games earlier this month because of a sore groin, but had played seven games since, including three minutes off the bench Tuesday in Charlotte. It was a groin injury that derailed his season last year, forcing him to miss 32 of the final 34 games.
“He felt this a couple days ago,” Miller said. “It’s been something he’s working through. This month, Frank’s been durable. We’ve had 16 games in 28 days. It’s basically playing every other day and a couple of stretches. … I think he’s held up pretty well. He was having trouble, as I was told, getting loose.”
Smith had not played in two straight games before being the primary backup to Elfrid Payton in each of the past two games. He had also recently missed 13 straight games due to an oblique strain.
The sudden change in Smith’s playing time comes just over a week away from the Feb. 6 NBA trade deadline, when he could be on the move again. Smith finished Wednesday’s game with eight points, four turnovers, four assists and two rebounds in 13 minutes.
“We have a lot of guys we can go with,” Miller said. “They’ve all done a great job. We know they want to play. We know they need playing time. But they’ve been professional coming in every day, working. When they’re called on, they go play. Dennis has been good. He’s been professional. He’s been getting himself ready.”
The NBA’s official “Last Two Minute Report’’ stated the referees made the “correct call” in wiping out Marcus Morris’ 3-point basket and potential four-point play and charging him with an offensive foul late in Tuesday’s 97-92 loss in Charlotte.
Whether it’s former coach David Fizdale or Miller, second-year guard Allonzo Trier has been out of the rotation virtually all season — playing in just 20 games, mostly in garbage time.
Asked what has changed since Trier’s successful rookie campaign, Miller said, “We have a good number of guards — a lot of options. He’s had some opportunities. It just hasn’t been real consistent.”
Trier did not play in Wednesday’s loss.
For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Kobe Bryant’s 60-point finale left Lakers’ ex-assistant in ‘tears’

Dan Pangrazio lay on the court , his elbow bleeding badly ...

Paul Pressey can still feel the electricity in the building that night. The excitement every time the ball found Kobe Bryant’s hands. The raucous reactions to every made basket.
The final game of Bryant’s legendary career was the Lakers’ regular-season finale at the tail end of a dismal 17-win season. There was a different atmosphere inside Staples Center that night, like there would be a title presentation after the come-from-behind win over the Jazz.
“To see those balloons and all that confetti coming out of the ceiling [at the end of the game], you felt like it was a championship game,” recalled Pressey, an assistant coach with the Lakers for Bryant’s final two seasons. “All the smiling and grinning, giving each other high-fives, it was an emotional time. There’s no other feeling you can imagine when you see that, not knowing that a few years later a tragic thing would happen to such a beautiful life.”
On Sunday, Bryant died at the age of 41, killed in a helicopter accident alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. Pressey, now a special assistant to St. John’s head coach Mike Anderson, got the news from his son, Phil, who is playing professionally in Madrid.
Soon, all the memories from his two years as a Lakers assistant coach came rushing back. At the top of the list was that last game, when Bryant exploded for 60 points at the age of 37. He sank the game-winning jumper with 31.0 seconds left and added two free throws to reach 60 for the fifth time in his storied career, rallying the Lakers from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit.
“I was in tears, I was crying for him [on the bench],” said Pressey, 61, who played in the NBA for more than a decade with the Spurs, Warriors and Bucks. “I was in awe, to see him do that at his age with the injuries he had in the past. Every shot, you were rooting for him. You were just so amazed he was still doing it at such a high level. … In his mind, in his heart, it was his final championship game, and he played that way.”
What stood out the most on that night, though, was how badly everyone wanted Bryant to go out in such memorable fashion. The Lakers had a young team that included four rookies and three second-year players. It wasn’t a memorable season. They lost 65 games. But that night, everyone was on the same page — everyone determined to make it a game that would be part of Bryant’s legacy.
“They deferred to him on every play,” Pressey said. “They set screens for him. They made sure he got the ball. When they rebounded the ball, they were looking for him to get the ball. They were saying, ‘This is your night.’ To see his teammates do that for him, it made it more special for him, because when the game was over with, you could see his teammates jumping for joy like, ‘Wow, he’s still got it.’ ”
There were so many other fond memories Pressey had of Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and the league’s fourth all-time leading scorer. There was his pregame ritual, when he would palm an extra-large basketball in team meetings. He would have this steely focus before games that was always the same, Pressey remembered. When they first met, Pressey was prepared to pick Bryant’s brain, but it worked the other way around. Bryant wanted to know what it was like to play in the NBA in Pressey’s day, back in the 1980’s.
One practice, in particular, stood out. The Lakers were scrimmaging, and Bryant didn’t like the effort level of his teammates. He didn’t yell or scream. He didn’t belittle them. At one point, Bryant stopped the scrimmage, rhetorically asking the other Lakers if that was all they had. Another time, he questioned their defensive effort.
“He was not talking trash, he was talking to these guys to motivate them, that, ‘You got to be better than what you are now,’ ” Pressey recalled. “He was always very direct, always talking on and off the court.”
Pressey hasn’t coached in the NBA since leaving the Lakers following the 2016 season. After two years away from the game, he joined Anderson, his college teammate at Tulsa, at St. John’s. Three events from his over three decades in the league stand out. When he was drafted by the Bucks in the first round in 1982, when he won an NBA title as an assistant coach with the Spurs in 1999 and the two years coaching Kobe Bryant.
“I was truly, truly blessed to experience my time with Kobe,” Pressey said. “At the end of the day, he set an example for all of us — do all you can while you can. That’s what Kobe stood for.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Ravens’ Mark Ingram: Giants RB coach will help Saquon Barkley

MIAMI — He is going to love him .
And he is going to help him .
That is the word from Ravens running back Mark Ingram , who calls Burton Burns the best position coach he has ever had .
The two worked side-by-side at Alabama and now Burns is entrusted by new Giants head coach Joe Judge to take Saquon Barkley to another level in his ascension .
“ Saquon is elite , and I think he ’ s going to be trying to add value to Saquon , ” Ingram told The Post on Wednesday from Radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obviously Saquon is special , and I think Coach Burns will give him tools that will help him be even more special.
” It is a fascinating hire for Judge .
Burns is 67 years old , and this is his first NFL gig .
He spent 11 years coaching running backs at Alabama for Nick Saban — with three of those years coinciding with Judge ’ s time in Tuscaloosa as a special teams assistant .
During his time on campus , Burns in 2009 helped Ingram win the first Heisman Trophy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helped Derrick Henry win the award .
Burns also played a part in developing Kenyan Drake , Alvin Kamara , Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy , all NFL running backs .
In 2018 , Barkley rushed for 1,307 yards and was named the NFL ’ s Offensive Rookie of the Year .
He missed three games this past season with a high ankle sprain yet finished with 1,003 rushing yards .
His total touchdowns dropped from 15 his first year to eight in 2019 .
And now , Burns gets to augment Barkley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call “ Man , he ’ s just getting a coach who loves his players , who was very knowledgeable about the game of football , who understands the running back position , understands running backs ’ eyes and knows how to teach running backs how to be an elite running back , ” Ingram said .
“ He ’ s a great coach , great father figure and an asset to any organization because of the person he is.
” For the past two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve as Alabama ’ s assistant athletic director for football .
Saban called Burns “ a crucial part of our success over the past 11 years.
” The bond with Barkley is already forming .
“ I texted him , but then I was walking into lunch and he was sitting there , ” Barkley told The Post .
“ We sat down to have an introduction for two minutes and we ended up sitting there for an hour talking about ball .
He knows it .
He ’ s been through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running backs , and he sees a lot of similarities in me .
The thing is he wasn ’ t harping on the good things I can do .
He was harping on what I can improve on , which is right up my alley .
Definitely exciting to have him as part of our team.
” For more on Super Bowl 2020 , listen to the latest episode of the “ Blue Rush ” podcast :

MIAMI — He is going to love him.
And he is going to help him.
That is the word from Ravens running back Mark Ingram, who calls Burton Burns the best position coach he has ever had. The two worked side-by-side at Alabama and now Burns is entrusted by new Giants head coach Joe Judge to take Saquon Barkley to another level in his ascension.
“Saquon is elite, and I think he’s going to be trying to add value to Saquon,” Ingram told The Post on Wednesday from Radio Row for Super Bowl 2020. “Obviously Saquon is special, and I think Coach Burns will give him tools that will help him be even more special.”
It is a fascinating hire for Judge. Burns is 67 years old, and this is his first NFL gig. He spent 11 years coaching running backs at Alabama for Nick Saban — with three of those years coinciding with Judge’s time in Tuscaloosa as a special teams assistant.
During his time on campus, Burns in 2009 helped Ingram win the first Heisman Trophy in school history and six years later helped Derrick Henry win the award. Burns also played a part in developing Kenyan Drake, Alvin Kamara, Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy, all NFL running backs.
In 2018, Barkley rushed for 1,307 yards and was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. He missed three games this past season with a high ankle sprain yet finished with 1,003 rushing yards. His total touchdowns dropped from 15 his first year to eight in 2019.
And now, Burns gets to augment Barkley’s development.
Sign up here for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call
“Man, he’s just getting a coach who loves his players, who was very knowledgeable about the game of football, who understands the running back position, understands running backs’ eyes and knows how to teach running backs how to be an elite running back,” Ingram said. “He’s a great coach, great father figure and an asset to any organization because of the person he is.”
For the past two years, Burns left his coaching spot to serve as Alabama’s assistant athletic director for football. Saban called Burns “a crucial part of our success over the past 11 years.”
The bond with Barkley is already forming.
“I texted him, but then I was walking into lunch and he was sitting there,” Barkley told The Post. “We sat down to have an introduction for two minutes and we ended up sitting there for an hour talking about ball. He knows it. He’s been through it all with a lot of special running backs, and he sees a lot of similarities in me. The thing is he wasn’t harping on the good things I can do. He was harping on what I can improve on, which is right up my alley. Definitely exciting to have him as part of our team.”
For more on Super Bowl 2020, listen to the latest episode of the “Blue Rush” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Knicks and the fans reach their breaking point

The Knicks looked lethargic for 47 minutes Wednesday night at the Garden , ready to concede what would be a one-sided 127-106 loss to the red-hot Grizzlies .
Then Memphis forward Jae Crowder pulled a bush-league move and the Knicks finally showed the kind of fight that would have been nice to see earlier .
Let ’ s be clear .
The Knicks should pay any fine and offer reimbursement for any loss of income that guard Elfrid Payton might receive for shoving Crowder in the final seconds of Wednesday night ’ s game .
He deserved the retaliation .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ steal second with an eight-run lead in the ninth .
It was unprofessional .
The Grizzlies were leading by 18 points when Crowder stole an inbound pass and raced to the corner to attempt a 3-pointer … with 48 seconds left .
An incensed Payton ran over and gave Crowder a hard shove that sent him sprawling near fans seated along the sideline .
In an instant , there was pushing and shoving with players and coaches on the court .
Crowder was ejected along with Payton and Marcus Morris of the Knicks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead of cheering Payton or booing the opposition , fans started chanting , “ Sell the team !
Sell the team !
” You can ’ t blame them .
The final seconds of excitement couldn ’ t make up for the lackluster performance they had seen , especially in the second half when the home team was outscored 68-54 .
Perhaps part of the fans ’ frustration was knowing the Knicks don ’ t have a young talent like Ja Morant , Memphis ’ rookie point guard who is already proving worthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2019 draft behind Zion Williamson .
Morant , 20 , impressed during his Garden debut , recording 18 points and 10 assists .
It was a silky effort that showcased his overall game .
He was on the receiving and assisting end of several lob dunks and shot 7 of 13 from the field .
His impact on the game was evident by his plus-42 stat line in 28 minutes of action .
Maybe that was part of the Knicks ’ frustration in the near brawl , knowing that they were one pick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of RJ Barrett , the third-overall selection .
Morant entered the game averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.1 assists on the season .
He also stood his ground in the middle of skirmish , defending his teammates .
“ I felt like it was just us competing , ” Morant said of near brawl .
“ It ’ s over with .
We got the win ; on to the next.
” It ’ s easy to say that when you ’ ve won 11 of your last 13 games like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the season .
In contrast to the Knicks , Memphis is a young team on the rise with a player like Morant to build around .
Like many other NBA players , Morant was shaken by Kobe Bryant ’ s death , but is inspired by his legacy and hoping to do similar things in his NBA career .
“ I ’ ve got his autographed jersey , ” Morant said .
“ I ’ m pretty sure every kid had a moment when you ’ re shooting something into a trash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
’ I grew up watching a lot of Kobe .
I felt like he was invincible.
” Morant played like he was invincible against the Knicks , who were outscored 58-48 in the paint and committed 16 turnovers .
“ We had some shots that didn ’ t go down and you have to play through those and keep finding ways to get stops , ” Knicks interim coach Mike Miller said .
“ We didn ’ t get enough stops.
” The Knicks couldn ’ t stop Morant , the engine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that frustrated the Knicks , who again frustrated their fans , who offered their own solution : “ Sell the team.
” For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy , listen to the latest episode of the “ Big Apple Buckets ” podcast :

The Knicks looked lethargic for 47 minutes Wednesday night at the Garden, ready to concede what would be a one-sided 127-106 loss to the red-hot Grizzlies. Then Memphis forward Jae Crowder pulled a bush-league move and the Knicks finally showed the kind of fight that would have been nice to see earlier.
Let’s be clear. The Knicks should pay any fine and offer reimbursement for any loss of income that guard Elfrid Payton might receive for shoving Crowder in the final seconds of Wednesday night’s game. He deserved the retaliation. It was the equivalent of trying to steal second with an eight-run lead in the ninth. It was unprofessional.
The Grizzlies were leading by 18 points when Crowder stole an inbound pass and raced to the corner to attempt a 3-pointer … with 48 seconds left. An incensed Payton ran over and gave Crowder a hard shove that sent him sprawling near fans seated along the sideline. In an instant, there was pushing and shoving with players and coaches on the court. Crowder was ejected along with Payton and Marcus Morris of the Knicks.
The crowd reaction was telling. Instead of cheering Payton or booing the opposition, fans started chanting, “Sell the team! Sell the team!”
You can’t blame them. The final seconds of excitement couldn’t make up for the lackluster performance they had seen, especially in the second half when the home team was outscored 68-54.
Perhaps part of the fans’ frustration was knowing the Knicks don’t have a young talent like Ja Morant, Memphis’ rookie point guard who is already proving worthy of being selected second overall in the 2019 draft behind Zion Williamson.
Morant, 20, impressed during his Garden debut, recording 18 points and 10 assists. It was a silky effort that showcased his overall game. He was on the receiving and assisting end of several lob dunks and shot 7 of 13 from the field. His impact on the game was evident by his plus-42 stat line in 28 minutes of action.
Maybe that was part of the Knicks’ frustration in the near brawl, knowing that they were one pick away from getting a talent like Morant instead of RJ Barrett, the third-overall selection. Morant entered the game averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.1 assists on the season. He also stood his ground in the middle of skirmish, defending his teammates.
“I felt like it was just us competing,” Morant said of near brawl. “It’s over with. We got the win; on to the next.”
It’s easy to say that when you’ve won 11 of your last 13 games like the Grizzlies, who are now 24-24 on the season. In contrast to the Knicks, Memphis is a young team on the rise with a player like Morant to build around.
Like many other NBA players, Morant was shaken by Kobe Bryant’s death, but is inspired by his legacy and hoping to do similar things in his NBA career.
“I’ve got his autographed jersey,” Morant said. “I’m pretty sure every kid had a moment when you’re shooting something into a trash can and you yell, ‘Kobe!’ I grew up watching a lot of Kobe. I felt like he was invincible.”
Morant played like he was invincible against the Knicks, who were outscored 58-48 in the paint and committed 16 turnovers.
“We had some shots that didn’t go down and you have to play through those and keep finding ways to get stops,” Knicks interim coach Mike Miller said. “We didn’t get enough stops.”
The Knicks couldn’t stop Morant, the engine of the Memphis offense. Eventually, that frustrated the Knicks, who again frustrated their fans, who offered their own solution: “Sell the team.”
For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--It’s pick-your-poison when it comes to Chiefs’ wide receivers

That ’ ll be a dilemma for the 49ers defense when San Francisco faces Kansas City in Super Bowl 2020 Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium .
Which Chiefs receiver is going to hurt the 49ers most ?
And when ?
The magic and beauty ( and danger ) of the prolific Chiefs receiving corps is that they really don ’ t have one true No .
1 target among the wideouts .
They ’ re all damn good — especially with their Mahomie , superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes , throwing them the ball .
All of the Kansas City receivers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kills .
So , come Sunday with the Lombardi Trophy at stake , who is going to be the receiver Mahomes targets for the 49ers kill shot ?
Will it be Sammy Watkins , who had 52 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns this season ?
Will it be Tyreek Hill , who had 58 catches for 86 yards and seven TDs ?
Will it be DeMarcus Robinson , who had 32 catches for 449 yards and four TDs ?
Or rookie Mecole Hardman , who had 26 catches for 538 yards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six TDs ?
None put up numbers that translate into Pro Bowl votes , but you know what ?
The receivers who posted the gaudy numbers played in the Pro Bowl that no one watched last week , and these guys are playing in the Super Bowl this week — in large part because they set aside their egos and were not obsessed with stats over wins .
“ This is why we wake up every day , ’ ’ Watkins said Wednesday .
“ This is why we get up at 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we play through injuries .
This is why we sacrifice so much with our families .
To get here … man , I don ’ t think people realize what it takes .
It takes a lot of heartache , a lot of pain , a lot of suffering .
“ But these are the moments that you dream about .
These are the moments that you wake up thinking about.
’ ’ Watkins and Co. — when combined with Mahomes — make the Kansas City offense appear unstoppable , which is why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chiefs than the 49ers .
“ We have everything , ’ ’ Watkins said .
“ When we ’ re executing and we ’ re on our game — like we ’ ve been all season — in the most humble way , I don ’ t think this offense can be stopped.
’ ’ A key to their success : No No .
1 receiver in the room and no divas screaming , “ Give me the damn ball.
’ ’ “ All of us understand that there ’ s only one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team , ’ ’ Watkins said .
“ We ’ re showing that you can have seven or eight superstars and we all can have fun and enjoy each other and be unselfish.
’ ’ Sign up here for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call Hardman said none of the receivers “ try to be Superman , ’ ’ adding , “ We ’ re happy with what we get , we ’ re happy to be winning and be a part of this team .
Nobody is trying to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dilemma facing Chiefs coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy , too .
“ I feel sorry for Coach Reid and the OC , man , ’ ’ Watkins said .
“ Every day , they ’ ve got to come to work and be like , ‘ How are we going to get Sammy the ball ?
How are we going to get Tyreek the ball ?
And Mecole and D-Rob , too ?
’ ’ ’ The thing Hill loves most about the Chiefs receiving corps ?
“ We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YAC — drunk off of yards after catch , ’ ’ he said .
To get the best breakdown of the Kansas City receiving corps , The Post went to the player who leads the team in receiving with 97 catches for 1,229 yards and five TDs , tight end Travis Kelce .
Kelce on Watkins : “ Sammy the Bull .
We call him the ‘ Bull ’ for a reason — he ’ s a physical runner , big dude , fast , very strong in his routes and he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelce on Hill : “ Tyreek ’ s got the whole package .
But he ’ s most dangerous when he has the ball.
’ ’ Kelce on Hardman : “ We call him ‘ The Jet.
’ It ’ s cool to see him progress throughout his rookie year .
He ’ s helped this team out unbelievably in special teams and being another receiver to make a play for us when we need it .
It was a blessing that we got him in the draft.
’ ’ Kelce on Robinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a glue guy that doesn ’ t get enough credit .
D-Rob does wonders in the passing game and the run game .
You ’ re talking about a guy that gets after his opponent , has a fearless mentality to go and attack .
We ’ re not the same team without a guy like that .
’ ’

MIAMI — Pick your poison.
That’ll be a dilemma for the 49ers defense when San Francisco faces Kansas City in Super Bowl 2020 Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Which Chiefs receiver is going to hurt the 49ers most? And when?
The magic and beauty (and danger) of the prolific Chiefs receiving corps is that they really don’t have one true No. 1 target among the wideouts. They’re all damn good — especially with their Mahomie, superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, throwing them the ball.
All of the Kansas City receivers are dangerous to opposing defenses because speed kills.
So, come Sunday with the Lombardi Trophy at stake, who is going to be the receiver Mahomes targets for the 49ers kill shot?
Will it be Sammy Watkins, who had 52 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns this season?
Will it be Tyreek Hill, who had 58 catches for 86 yards and seven TDs?
Will it be DeMarcus Robinson, who had 32 catches for 449 yards and four TDs?
Or rookie Mecole Hardman, who had 26 catches for 538 yards, an aggressive 20.7-yards-per catch average and six TDs?
None put up numbers that translate into Pro Bowl votes, but you know what? The receivers who posted the gaudy numbers played in the Pro Bowl that no one watched last week, and these guys are playing in the Super Bowl this week — in large part because they set aside their egos and were not obsessed with stats over wins.
“This is why we wake up every day,’’ Watkins said Wednesday. “This is why we get up at 5 in the morning. This is why we play through injuries. This is why we sacrifice so much with our families. To get here … man, I don’t think people realize what it takes. It takes a lot of heartache, a lot of pain, a lot of suffering.
“But these are the moments that you dream about. These are the moments that you wake up thinking about.’’
Watkins and Co. — when combined with Mahomes — make the Kansas City offense appear unstoppable, which is why more bettors’ dollars are on the Chiefs than the 49ers.
“We have everything,’’ Watkins said. “When we’re executing and we’re on our game — like we’ve been all season — in the most humble way, I don’t think this offense can be stopped.’’
A key to their success: No No. 1 receiver in the room and no divas screaming, “Give me the damn ball.’’
“All of us understand that there’s only one ball and seven freaking superstars on this team,’’ Watkins said. “We’re showing that you can have seven or eight superstars and we all can have fun and enjoy each other and be unselfish.’’
Sign up here for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call
Hardman said none of the receivers “try to be Superman,’’ adding, “We’re happy with what we get, we’re happy to be winning and be a part of this team. Nobody is trying to have an ego.’’
Pick your poison.
This is a dilemma facing Chiefs coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, too.
“I feel sorry for Coach Reid and the OC, man,’’ Watkins said. “Every day, they’ve got to come to work and be like, ‘How are we going to get Sammy the ball? How are we going to get Tyreek the ball? And Mecole and D-Rob, too?’ ’’
The thing Hill loves most about the Chiefs receiving corps?
“We have receivers that can get drunk off the YAC — drunk off of yards after catch,’’ he said.
To get the best breakdown of the Kansas City receiving corps, The Post went to the player who leads the team in receiving with 97 catches for 1,229 yards and five TDs, tight end Travis Kelce.
Kelce on Watkins: “Sammy the Bull. We call him the ‘Bull’ for a reason — he’s a physical runner, big dude, fast, very strong in his routes and he’s always got a plan.’’
Kelce on Hill: “Tyreek’s got the whole package. But he’s most dangerous when he has the ball.’’
Kelce on Hardman: “We call him ‘The Jet.’ It’s cool to see him progress throughout his rookie year. He’s helped this team out unbelievably in special teams and being another receiver to make a play for us when we need it. It was a blessing that we got him in the draft.’’
Kelce on Robinson: “You want to talk about a glue guy that doesn’t get enough credit. D-Rob does wonders in the passing game and the run game. You’re talking about a guy that gets after his opponent, has a fearless mentality to go and attack. We’re not the same team without a guy like that.’’
Pick your poison.


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--What Eli Manning’s ex-backup had to say about retired QB

MIAMI — The logical response to a slight increase in ...

MIAMI — “Great.’’
That is how Sage Rosenfels described how Eli Manning treated backup quarterbacks.
Rosenfels spent 12 years in the NFL and made only 12 starts during that time. He was on the roster of five teams and moved from team to team seven times. He spent the 2010 season — “exactly 365 days as a New York football Giant,’’ he recalled — serving as Manning’s understudy. Rosenfels got in 12 games and did not throw a pass.
“He was great to everybody,’’ Rosenfels told The Post on Wednesday from Super Bowl LIV Radio Row. “You never really hear anybody say anything bad about him. It’s not to protect him. Even though he was the superstar of the team, he didn’t act that way. He treated the backups with a lot of respect.’’
Manning experienced a stark role reversal, backing up rookie Daniel Jones this past season. Rosenfels was not surprised to hear Manning embraced the role, even if he did not enjoy it
“It’s a different deal to be in that supportive role,’’ said Rosenfels, who still keeps in contact with Manning. “One thing you learn as a backup is there’s a lot of times it’s be seen and not heard. Starting quarterback is both seen and heard. That was an unusual situation for Eli. I knew he’d be extremely supportive. I think Eli knew the end has been coming the last couple of years. When he was in that spot, he wasn’t going to be the upset, woe-is-me type of guy. He’s always been a team guy his whole life and I was not surprised he was that way in this situation.’’
Reid stumps for Bieniemy
Count Chiefs head coach Andy Reid as one of those perplexed that offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has not yet been hired as a head coach — despite several openings this offseason.
“I’m Eric Bieniemy’s biggest fan,’’ Reid said Wednesday. “I think he’d be a great head coach. I thought he was going to have an opportunity this year and it didn’t work out for him. But when I talk about leaders of men, you’re not going to find a finer one than Eric.
“He knows the right buttons to push, he’s got a great offensive mind and he organizes everything, he’s the one that’s calling the plays in to the quarterback. He’s phenomenal. I really don’t think he needs to work on anything to become a head coach. He’s ready to go. He just needs that opportunity.’’
No hangover for Chiefs
Reid praised his players for rebounding this year and taking the next step after losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship game last year.
“We came up short last year,’’ Reid said. “Everyone took that responsibility to heart. I talked to the team about it after the game when we were still whole — before the offseason. Guys got a taste of getting to the championship game and losing and that’s not a good feeling. But they did something about it and attacked the offseason. I’m proud of them for taking that approach.’’
Mahomes recalls Mets BP
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was asked Wednesday about his fondest memories of his father, Pat, when he was pitching in the major leagues. He brought up the Mets, for whom his dad pitched from 1999 to 2000.
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“My favorite memories were shagging batting practice and taking BP with some of the guys,’’ he said. “When he was with the Mets, I remember taking BP with [former Mets pitcher] Mike Hampton and shagging fly balls.’’
Coleman limited in practice
49ers RB Tevin Coleman was limited in Wednesday’s practice. Coleman was forced out of the NFC Championship game with a dislocated shoulder.
“We’ll see how the week goes how much the pain tolerance is for his shoulder,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said.
Shanahan sounded optimistic that Coleman will be able to play Sunday.
For more on Super Bowl 2020, listen to the latest episode of the “Blue Rush” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--NFL pushing for 17-game season in CBA negotiations

MIAMI — The logical response to a slight increase in concussions and lower-body injuries in the NFL in 2019 doesn ’ t seem to be playing more football .
But the NFL reportedly continues pushing for a 17th game to be added to the regular season — and for the preseason to be shortened given it is more difficult to sell those games to television partners — in negotiations for the new collective bargaining agreement .
The current deal is set to expire in 2021 .
NFL Players Association leaders will gather here Thursday to discuss the latest proposal and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue shares in return for further risk to their bodies .
“ We ’ ve been having incredibly productive dialogue , ” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said at Super Bowl LIV .
“ I think we ’ ve addressed difficult issues that face our league going forward .
Everyone in the negotiation has worked to try to find solutions.
” Goodell said the NFL has made more than 50 rule changes related to safety in the last 15 years and soon will be introducing six new helmet models with the latest in safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the game safer and made it better , ” Goodell said , “ and we believe we can reconstruct the season that is smart for the future of the game.
” There still is no timetable for resolution in the Patriots ’ latest cheating allegation , stemming from the video crew caught taping the Bengals sideline in December .
The Patriots , who could be facing a fine and loss of draft picks , admitted wrongdoing and the NFL possesses the film evidence , but it ’ s not an open-and-shut case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call “ Our responsibility is to be extremely thorough , ” Goodell said .
“ We have a responsibility to 31 other clubs , our partners and the fans to understand all of what happened .
Our team has been on it .
It has not been that lengthy of a time .
We have obviously put the focus on it , but we are going to get it right.
” Bad news for any players and fans who share the opinion the NFL would be better off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t thought about retiring .
It ’ s not on my agenda , ” Goodell said .
“ We have too much to do.
” Goodell , 60 , was promoted to the job from within the NFL in 2006 .
“ I believe that consistent leadership in some fashion is critical for the league , ” Goodell said .
“ Succession will be an important part of it.
” — Toronto : “ It ’ s certainly a great city for an NFL team .
A stadium that is up to NFL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requirement.
” — London : “ A timeline has not been set .
Can we do this competitively for all 32 teams , not just the team , if there was one , in London ?
” The NFL held a moment of silence for late NBA star Kobe Bryant before Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday and is planning to honor Bryant and late Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Doleman in some form Sunday .
Goodell called Bryant a “ special person ” and said : “ I ’ m proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way the fans responded .
”

MIAMI — The logical response to a slight increase in concussions and lower-body injuries in the NFL in 2019 doesn’t seem to be playing more football.
But the NFL reportedly continues pushing for a 17th game to be added to the regular season — and for the preseason to be shortened given it is more difficult to sell those games to television partners — in negotiations for the new collective bargaining agreement. The current deal is set to expire in 2021.
NFL Players Association leaders will gather here Thursday to discuss the latest proposal and whether it meets their demands for increased revenue shares in return for further risk to their bodies.
“We’ve been having incredibly productive dialogue,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said at Super Bowl LIV. “I think we’ve addressed difficult issues that face our league going forward. Everyone in the negotiation has worked to try to find solutions.”
Goodell said the NFL has made more than 50 rule changes related to safety in the last 15 years and soon will be introducing six new helmet models with the latest in safety innovation.
“We believe we have made the game safer and made it better,” Goodell said, “and we believe we can reconstruct the season that is smart for the future of the game.”
There still is no timetable for resolution in the Patriots’ latest cheating allegation, stemming from the video crew caught taping the Bengals sideline in December. The Patriots, who could be facing a fine and loss of draft picks, admitted wrongdoing and the NFL possesses the film evidence, but it’s not an open-and-shut case.
Sign up here for our exclusive Super Bowl 2020 Preview conference call
“Our responsibility is to be extremely thorough,” Goodell said. “We have a responsibility to 31 other clubs, our partners and the fans to understand all of what happened. Our team has been on it. It has not been that lengthy of a time. We have obviously put the focus on it, but we are going to get it right.”
Bad news for any players and fans who share the opinion the NFL would be better off without Goodell.
“I haven’t thought about retiring. It’s not on my agenda,” Goodell said. “We have too much to do.”
Goodell, 60, was promoted to the job from within the NFL in 2006.
“I believe that consistent leadership in some fashion is critical for the league,” Goodell said. “Succession will be an important part of it.”
Goodell fielded questions about putting permanent franchises in:
— Toronto: “It’s certainly a great city for an NFL team. A stadium that is up to NFL standards is going to be a certain requirement.”
— London: “A timeline has not been set. Can we do this competitively for all 32 teams, not just the team, if there was one, in London?”
The NFL held a moment of silence for late NBA star Kobe Bryant before Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday and is planning to honor Bryant and late Pro Football Hall of Famer Chris Doleman in some form Sunday.
Goodell called Bryant a “special person” and said: “I’m proud of the way our league responded and the way the fans responded.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Rangers’ prospect pool is filled with tantalizing talent

So much can happen between now and the Feb. 24 ...

The point of the rebuild was to stockpile assets, and that is exactly what the Rangers have done.
Far more than just what’s in the minors at AHL Hartford, the Blueshirts have players in the organization spread all over the world — from college hockey to juniors to the Swedish and Finnish leagues. Some are more important than others, obviously, but all have contributed to a farm system that is coloring how the front office is approaching the Feb. 24 trade deadline.
There will still be three goalies for Thursday’s practice when the big club emerges from its nine-day break that encompassed the All-Star game and the bye week. It’s going to continue being difficult for coach David Quinn to juggle playing (and practice) time for Henrik Lundqvist, Alex Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin, who went back to play two games for the Wolf Pack during the break and continued his excellence — three goals allowed on 62 shots while collecting two wins — before being recalled Wednesday.
But the Rangers also have Adam Huska, the UConn product and seventh-round pick — and you know how goalies from the seventh round have worked out for this club, right? Tyler Wall is also in the system, a sixth-rounder who is currently one of the best goalies in college at UMass-Lowell.
Is having five highly touted goalies a bad thing? No, not at all.
There is also a ton of depth on defense, which makes it palatable to think of the possibility of trading Tony DeAngelo, a pending restricted free agent who is lining up a huge payday with all the points he is accumulating (12 goals and 25 assists through 48 games, good for seventh among NHL defensemen). The club has already seen the NHL potential in Libor Hajek, who is trying to regain his form with the Wolf Pack following a knee injury that derailed his season on Dec. 5.
Yet almost every week there is another report of how well Nils Lundkvist is doing in the Swedish league, now with 22 points in 30 games as a 19-year-old. The first-round pick (No. 28 overall in 2018) could very well contend for a roster spot on the right side if he decides to come over next season. Matthew Robertson, the 2019 second-round pick (No. 49 overall) had himself a nice first training camp this fall, but suffered a knee injury before heading back to his junior team in Edmonton of the WHL — where he is excelling yet again.
Tarmo Reunanen also had a nice camp, but went back to his native Finland where the fourth-round pick is playing well for Lukko in that country’s top league. Yegor Rykov, a big piece of the trade that sent Michael Grabner to the Devils in 2018, is assimilating to North America with AHL Hartford and could very well be with the Rangers by the end of this season.
And arguably the most exciting defensive prospect is K’Andre Miller, who maybe didn’t have the best World Juniors tournament for Team USA — that turnover to Alexis Lafreniere against Canada is still haunting — but is one of the best players in college hockey at Wisconsin. The 2018 first-rounder (No. 22 overall) might have vied for a roster spot this season if he didn’t choose to go back to school for his sophomore year. The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder could very well be on the opening-night roster in October.
Up-front, Morgan Barron is making a name for himself with his terrific Cornell team, as the 6-foot-3, 210-pound center could be a second coming of Brian Boyle. Then there is the terrifically talented Vitali Kravtsov trying to clear up his reputation after his departure to Russia and his subsequent return. And who knows what will become of Lias Andersson, as the No. 7-overall pick now is officially on loan to HC71 in Sweden.
Where do all these players fit in the Rangers’ future? They don’t. But gathering an abundance of talent always was the goal of this rebuild, and sometime soon, the Rangers will try to turn it into a winning team.
For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-30--Jae Crowder-ESPN analyst get in Twitter spat after Knicks’ fiasco

Jae Crowder didn ’ t just draw the ire of the Knicks for his controversial late steal , he caught the attention of ESPN analyst Tim Legler .
Legler , who played in the NBA for 12 seasons before retiring in 2000 , said Wednesday night it was a bush-league move for Crowder to steal the ball with 18 seconds left in the Knicks ’ 127-106 blowout loss to the Grizzlies at the Garden .
Crowder stole the ball after a lazy backcourt pass from Julius Randle and dribbled the ball to the right corner for a 3-pointer which he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him in the chest .
Crowder got up off the floor and went after Payton and a mini-fracas ensued with Randle , Marcus Morris , and Damyean Dotson trying to get after Grizzlies players .
“ My take on the hostilities tonight bw @ nyknicks and @ memgrizz .
What the hell was @ CJC9BOSS thinking ?
Seriously , ” Legler tweeted .
“ And if someone says “ play til the final buzzer ” then I know they have never played at any level .
18 point lead ?
:50 left ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
” “ Aye Tim with all due respect I only play one way and thats hard til the buzzer sounds , ” Crowder tweeted in all caps .
“ Im sorry if it disgusts you .
I know Knicks are your team but U should tell them to play harder and less talking !
” Legler pushed back at the talk that he is a Knicks fan .
“ People making me laugh as if I care about @ nyknicks .
Zero allegiance , ” he tweeted .
“ Never played there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the air EVER ( laughing emoji ) it wouldn ’ t matter who the team or player is… the other team is going to respond.
” Legler also said this broke the NBA ’ s unwritten rule of how teams should act in games that are clearly decided .
“ I DO NOT believe there is such a thing as “ running up the score ” in high major college or professional basketball , ” he tweeted .
“ I HATE when teams take a shot clock violation late in a game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided .
It ’ s actually more humiliating .
“ But this is different .
NBA teams respect end of game culture .
I wouldn ’ t care at all if they steal the ball once it ’ s advanced .
That ’ s not what we are talking about .
The reaction here is typical fan bias .
Love it if it ’ s us… take him out if it ’ s them .
I get it.
” For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy , listen to the latest episode of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ :

Jae Crowder didn’t just draw the ire of the Knicks for his controversial late steal, he caught the attention of ESPN analyst Tim Legler.
Legler, who played in the NBA for 12 seasons before retiring in 2000, said Wednesday night it was a bush-league move for Crowder to steal the ball and attempt a 3-pointer with 48 seconds left in the Knicks’ 127-106 blowout loss to the Grizzlies at the Garden.
Crowder stole the ball after a lazy backcourt pass from Julius Randle and dribbled the ball to the right corner for a 3-pointer, which he missed as an incensed Elfrid Payton pushed him in the chest. Crowder got up off the floor and went after Payton and a mini-fracas ensued with Randle, Marcus Morris and Damyean Dotson trying to get after Grizzlies players.
“My take on the hostilities tonight bw @nyknicks and @memgrizz. What the hell was @CJC9BOSS thinking? Seriously,” Legler tweeted. “And if someone says ‘play til the final buzzer’ then I know they have never played at any level. 18 point lead? :50 left? Stealing the inbounds? Shooting a 3?”
This drew a sarcastic response from Crowder.
“Aye Tim with all due respect I only play one way and thats hard til the buzzer sounds,” Crowder tweeted in all caps. “Im sorry if it disgusts you. I know Knicks are your team but U should tell them to play harder and less talking!”
Legler pushed back at the talk that he is a Knicks fan.
“People making me laugh as if I care about @nyknicks. Zero allegiance,” he tweeted. “Never played there. Don’t talk about them on the air EVER (laughing emoji) it wouldn’t matter who the team or player is… the other team is going to respond.”
Legler also said this broke the NBA’s unwritten rule on how teams should act in games that are clearly decided.
“I DO NOT believe there is such a thing as ‘running up the score’ in high major college or professional basketball,” he tweeted. “I HATE when teams take a shot clock violation late in a game to avoid scoring when the outcome is decided. It’s actually more humiliating.
“But this is different. NBA teams respect end of game culture. I wouldn’t care at all if they steal the ball once it’s advanced. That’s not what we are talking about. The reaction here is typical fan bias. Love it if it’s us… take him out if it’s them. I get it.”
For more on the Kobe Bryant tragedy, listen to the latest episode of the “Big Apple Buckets” podcast: