newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Teresa Giudice finally believes rumors that Joe cheated on her

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 ) 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 ) After denying cheating buzz for years , the “ RHONJ ” star , 47 finally revealed to her co-stars that she believes he was unfaithful in a preview of Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show .
“ Listen , he had a separate cell phone with one girl , ” Teresa confessed , adding that she “ found it ” and asked Joe , 47 , about it .
“ It was his ex-girlfriend ’ s sister , ” she said .
“ He said she was going through her divorce , helping her trying to sell her house .
Like , I quit my job .
Gia was three and I was like , ‘ What am I gon na do ?
’ I shoulda left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t because he denied it to me , I believed him.
” She concluded of their marriage , “ I have a lot of resentment .
I feel like I didn ’ t deserve that .
Cause I was , like , the perfect , perfect f–king wife.
” “ I ’ m just saying , sometimes you ’ re blind .
It took a long time , and it ’ s still really hard for me to admit , but I owe it to myself to open my eyes to it.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share four daughters : Gia , 19 , Gabriella , 16 , Milania , 15 , and Audriana , 11 .
They split in 2019 as Joe returned to Italy to await a decision his deportation case .
He was sentenced to be deported after he served a 41-month sentence for bankruptcy fraud , conspiracy to commit mail fraud , wire fraud and failing to pay taxes .
Teresa also served time for fraud , spending less than a year behind bars .
Their marriage was plagued with infidelity rumors , despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was any adultery the contract would be voided .
Now , she may be looking for a nice Jewish boy .

Teresa Giudice‘s eyes are finally opening to Joe Giudice‘s rumored affairs.
After denying cheating buzz for years, the “RHONJ” star, 47 finally revealed to her co-stars that she believes he was unfaithful in a preview of Wednesday night’s episode of the Bravo show.
“Listen, he had a separate cell phone with one girl,” Teresa confessed, adding that she “found it” and asked Joe, 47, about it.
“It was his ex-girlfriend’s sister,” she said. “He said she was going through her divorce, helping her trying to sell her house. Like, I quit my job. Gia was three and I was like, ‘What am I gonna do?’ I shoulda left then, right? I didn’t because he denied it to me, I believed him.”
She concluded of their marriage, “I have a lot of resentment. I feel like I didn’t deserve that. Cause I was, like, the perfect, perfect f–king wife.”
“I’m just saying, sometimes you’re blind. It took a long time, and it’s still really hard for me to admit, but I owe it to myself to open my eyes to it.”
Joe and Teresa married in 1999 and share four daughters: Gia, 19, Gabriella, 16, Milania, 15, and Audriana, 11. They split in 2019 as Joe returned to Italy to await a decision his deportation case.
He was sentenced to be deported after he served a 41-month sentence for bankruptcy fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and failing to pay taxes. Teresa also served time for fraud, spending less than a year behind bars.
Their marriage was plagued with infidelity rumors, despite the couple signing a prenup stating if there was any adultery the contract would be voided.
Now, she may be looking for a nice Jewish boy.


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Diamond Princess crew member speaks out as experts question coronavirus quarantine

A “ scared ” crew member aboard the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise has spoken out — claiming staffers aren ’ t being quarantined the same way as passengers and are getting sick .
Sonali Thakkar , 24 , told CNN she fears the virus may be spreading among the 1,000-person crew on the ship — which is currently docked in Japan — because workers are still serving cabin-bound passengers and interacting with each other .
“ There are many places where we all are together , not separated from each other , ” Thakkar told the outlet .
“ Especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hall and eat together , the place where it can spread very fast.
” Thakkar said she and a colleague have now come down with a fever and a cough , and she has finally been isolated in her cabin in recent days .
Workers are “ really scared and tense , ” and many still haven ’ t even been tested for the coronavirus , she said .
“ We just want every crew member to be tested and separated from the rest of the people who are infected .
Because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus or how fast it is spreading , ” she said .
The fears come after 39 additional cases of the coronavirus were identified on the ship Tuesday , bringing the total to 174 .
Passengers and workers diagnosed with the illness have been taken off the ship to local hospitals , but the incubation period can last more than a week , and only 439 of the 3,600 people on board have been tested so far , according to the New York Times .
Princess Cruises , which operates the vessel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine , ” USA Today reported .
But experts are questioning whether the on-board quarantine is really effective .
“ The most vulnerable people on that ship are the crew because my understanding is they ’ re not isolated in the same way that passengers are .
They ’ re coming into contact with dirty dishes , ” said Gisele Norris , a doctor of public health at Aon National Healthcare .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health at Hofstra University , said that another issue with the ship quarantine is that it relies on passengers and workers to follow the rules , even as they ’ re freaking out .
“ You ’ re relying a lot on peoples ’ ability to follow instructions , and not go mad about the situation , ” Santella told The Post .
“ It can be tricky in this situation.
” He said the best way for the cruise to maintain order is to provide real-time updates about the outbreak on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rely on the internet then there ’ s something wrong , ” Santella said .
“ They should be getting that information.
” Dr. Nancy Messonnier with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that they ’ re “ working closely with the [ Japanese ] embassy and figuring out what the next steps are ” for US passengers .
She confirmed that there are “ definitely ” Americans among the passengers who tested positive for the coronavirus , but was unable to say how many had been infected .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 — has killed at least 1,100 people and infected over 45,000 worldwide .

A “scared” crew member aboard the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise has spoken out — claiming staffers aren’t being quarantined the same way as passengers and are getting sick.
Sonali Thakkar, 24, told CNN she fears the virus may be spreading among the 1,000-person crew on the ship — which is currently docked in Japan — because workers are still serving cabin-bound passengers and interacting with each other.
“There are many places where we all are together, not separated from each other,” Thakkar told the outlet. “Especially when we sit in the same mess hall and eat together, the place where it can spread very fast.”
Thakkar said she and a colleague have now come down with a fever and a cough, and she has finally been isolated in her cabin in recent days.
Workers are “really scared and tense,” she said.
“We just want every crew member to be tested and separated from the rest of the people who are infected. Because we don’t know who is carrying the virus or how fast it is spreading,” she said.
The fears come after 39 additional cases of the coronavirus were identified on the ship Tuesday, bringing the total to 174.
Passengers and workers diagnosed with the illness have been taken off the ship to local hospitals, but the incubation period can last more than a week, and only 439 of the 3,600 people on board have been tested so far, according to the New York Times.
Princess Cruises, which operates the vessel, insisted in a statement that “it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine,” USA Today reported.
It said in a statement on its site that crew members who have been cleared after an initial health screening “are fulfilling their duties as required” and that tests are ongoing.
But experts are questioning whether the on-board quarantine is really effective.
“The most vulnerable people on that ship are the crew because my understanding is they’re not isolated in the same way that passengers are. They’re coming into contact with dirty dishes,” said Gisele Norris, a doctor of public health at Aon National Healthcare.
Anthony Santella, an associate professor of Public Health at Hofstra University, said that another issue with the ship quarantine is that it relies on passengers and workers to follow the rules, even as they’re freaking out.
“You’re relying a lot on peoples’ ability to follow instructions, and not go mad about the situation,” Santella told The Post. “It can be tricky in this situation.”
He said the best way for the cruise to maintain order is to provide real-time updates about the outbreak on the vessel.
“If people have to rely on the internet then there’s something wrong,” Santella said. “They should be getting that information.”
Dr. Nancy Messonnier with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that they’re “working closely with the [Japanese] embassy and figuring out what the next steps are” for US passengers.
She confirmed that there are “definitely” Americans among the passengers who tested positive for the coronavirus, but was unable to say how many had been infected.
The deadly virus — also known as COVID-19 — has killed at least 1,100 people and infected over 45,000 worldwide.


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--AG William Barr to testify before Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee

Attorney General William Barr has agreed to testify before the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee at the end of March after rebuffing requests to appear before the panel for the past year .
The deal came as Democrats , including Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler , of Manhattan , had raised alarm this week over Barr ’ s interceding in the sentencing recommendation for former Trump political operative Roger Stone , who was convicted by special prosecutors in Washington , DC , last year and was facing up to nine years behind bars .
“ We are writing to confirm your agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 31 , 2020 , ” Nadler and the 22 other Democratic members of the panel said in a letter to Barr on Wednesday .
The panel said Democrats had “ numerous concerns regarding his leadership of the Department of Justice and the President ’ s improper influence over the Department.
” Barr was initially requested to appear to answer questions about former special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s probe in Russian election meddling .
But the Democrats will now have the opportunity to grill him on more recent matters , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including his willingness to have the Justice Department examine evidence gathered by Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Ukraine .
The former New York City mayor claims to have extensive evidence of corruption by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter over the younger Biden ’ s job as a highly paid member of the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings .
Democrats have also raised questions about the removal of ex-DC US Attorney Jessie Liu , who had been nominated to serve as the Treasury Department ’ s undersecretary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pulled the nomination .
Liu oversaw the prosecutions of Stone , Trump ’ s deputy campaign chair Rick Gates and Trump ’ s former national security adviser Michael Flynn .
While concentrating on those three issues , they said they planned to grill Barr about other matters as well .
“ Since President Trump took office , we have repeatedly warned you and your predecessors that the misuse of our criminal justice system for political purposes is both dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable to the House Judiciary Committee , ” the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General , you have engaged in a pattern of conduct in legal matters relating to the President that raises significant concerns for this Committee , ” they added .
On Tuesday , four federal prosecutors in Stone ’ s criminal trial abruptly withdrew from the case after Justice Department brass called the feds ’ initial sentencing recommendation of up to nine years behind bars overly harsh .
Justice said it wanted a shorter prison sentence for Stone than the seven to nine years recommended by the feds hours after Trump called it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific recommendation , leaving it up to the sentencing judge .
The president had taken to Twitter to call out prosecutors over their proposed sentence for Stone , the self-proclaimed political “ dirty trickster ” who was found guilty on charges stemming from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
“ This is a horrible and very unfair situation .
The real crimes were on the other side , as nothing happens to them .
Can not allow this miscarriage of justice !
” the president tweeted early Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in federal court in DC before Judge Amy Berman Jackson — an appointee of former President Obama — after a jury found him guilty of seven counts of lying to Congress , obstruction and witness tampering .
Trump said later Tuesday he did not interfere in the case — although he insisted he had “ an absolute right ” to if he wanted .

Attorney General William Barr has agreed to testify before the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee at the end of March after rebuffing requests to appear before the panel for the past year.
The deal came as Democrats, including Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, of Manhattan, had raised alarm this week over Barr’s interceding in the sentencing recommendation for former Trump political operative Roger Stone, who was convicted by special prosecutors in Washington, DC, last year and was facing up to nine years behind bars.
“We are writing to confirm your agreement to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31, 2020,” Nadler and the 22 other Democratic members of the panel said in a letter to Barr on Wednesday.
The panel said Democrats had “numerous concerns regarding his leadership of the Department of Justice and the President’s improper influence over the Department.”
Barr was initially requested to appear to answer questions about former special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe in Russian election meddling.
But the Democrats will now have the opportunity to grill him on more recent matters, including the Stone case and other issues, including his willingness to have the Justice Department examine evidence gathered by Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Ukraine.
The former New York City mayor claims to have extensive evidence of corruption by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter over the younger Biden’s job as a highly paid member of the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings.
Democrats have also raised questions about the removal of ex-DC US Attorney Jessie Liu, who had been nominated to serve as the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial crimes before Trump pulled the nomination.
Liu oversaw the prosecutions of Stone, Trump’s deputy campaign chair Rick Gates and Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn.
While concentrating on those three issues, they said they planned to grill Barr about other matters as well.
“Since President Trump took office, we have repeatedly warned you and your predecessors that the misuse of our criminal justice system for political purposes is both dangerous to our democracy and unacceptable to the House Judiciary Committee,” the Democrats wrote.
“In your tenure as Attorney General, you have engaged in a pattern of conduct in legal matters relating to the President that raises significant concerns for this Committee,” they added.
On Tuesday, four federal prosecutors in Stone’s criminal trial abruptly withdrew from the case after Justice Department brass called the feds’ initial sentencing recommendation of up to nine years behind bars overly harsh.
Justice said it wanted a shorter prison sentence for Stone than the seven to nine years recommended by the feds hours after Trump called it unfair, but did not offer a specific recommendation, leaving it up to the sentencing judge.
The president had taken to Twitter to call out prosecutors over their proposed sentence for Stone, the self-proclaimed political “dirty trickster” who was found guilty on charges stemming from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!” the president tweeted early Tuesday.
Stone faces a Feb. 20 sentencing in federal court in DC before Judge Amy Berman Jackson — an appointee of former President Obama — after a jury found him guilty of seven counts of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering.
Trump said later Tuesday he did not interfere in the case — although he insisted he had “an absolute right” to if he wanted.


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Late bus rider hits driver in face with padlock for leaving him behind

They have each other ’ s backs , and now they have our ...

A ticked-off bus rider clocked a transit worker in the face with a padlock after being left at a Brooklyn bus stop, cops said Wednesday.
In video released by the NYPD, the unidentified man can be seen running to the B15 bus stop near Linden Boulevard and banging on the door of a bus as it pulls away around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The man throws up his hands in frustration, video shows, and he then ran to the bus’s next stop, where he assaulted the driver, police said.
Security footage shot inside the bus shows the man burst on board and start swinging. He hit a male transit employee in the face with a padlock, cops said.
The 65-year-old driver was treated for a cut above his left eye and taken to Brookdale Hospital, where he was listed as stable, officials said.
“There’s something very wrong with our city when transit workers are violently attacked like this on a regular basis,” said Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano. “Anyone who says we don’t need more police in the bus and subway system is clueless – or just doesn’t care about working men and women being victimized.”
Additional reporting by David Meyer


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Twin brothers graduate in same FDNY EMT class

They have each other ’ s backs , and now they have our backs .
A pair of twin brothers graduated in the same EMT class on Wednesday .
Brothers Luis and Anthony Sanchez walked across the stage at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York around 10 a.m. along with 152 other Probationary Emergency Medical Technicians and 14 EMS captains on Wednesday .
“ Having my twin brother with me throughout the Academy definitely made it easier .
We studied together , kept each other motivated , and pushed each other throughout the entire process .
This job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honored to be here , ” says Luis Sanchez in an Instagram post by the FDNY .
The Brooklyn-bred duo grew up in Bushwick but now live together in Bay Ridge .
“ We went through everything together .
We studied together , we pushed each other to do everything together , we motivated each other , ” Luis told reporters at Wednesday ’ s graduation .
“ We practice on each other at home still , ” Anthony chimed in .
“ We ’ re like , if this happens , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in cardiac arrest , how do I approach it ?
We ’ re better prepared.
” Both brothers are assigned to separate station houses in Upper Manhattan , but reassured reporters that they will “ see each other around.
” Meanwhile , grad Kevin Rehrer , 32 , became an EMT because he was saved from drowning by one at age 5 .
“ I was at my uncle ’ s house , and I was swimming and had fallen in and everyone had their backs to me .
When [ my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face down in the pool , ” he told reporters .
“ My uncle pulled me out , my dad gave me CPR and resuscitated me .
I was in complete cardiac arrest .
“ All I remember was waking up in the ambulance .
I remember this guy , it was almost like an angel .
And he was standing over me and he said , ‘ Oh , Kevin , there you are , there you are , ’ and I was like , ‘ Oh I ’ m really tired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well don ’ t fall asleep.
’ And he gave me this bear , it was a panda bear .
And I still have that panda bear to this day .
“ I think about that , the impact that this man had on not only my life but my family ’ s life , ” he said .
“ I wan na be able to do that every day for someone .
Every day.
” Rehrer will be working at Station 20 in the Bronx , a short walk from where he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training at the EMS Academy and cover all aspects of the job , according to the fire department .

They have each other’s backs, and now they have our backs.
A pair of twin brothers graduated in the same EMT class on Wednesday.
Brothers Luis and Anthony Sanchez walked across the stage at the Christian Cultural Center in East New York around 10 a.m. along with 152 other Probationary Emergency Medical Technicians and 14 EMS captains on Wednesday.
“Having my twin brother with me throughout the Academy definitely made it easier. We studied together, kept each other motivated, and pushed each other throughout the entire process. This job is already so fulfilling and I am honored to be here,” says Luis Sanchez in an Instagram post by the FDNY.
The Brooklyn-bred duo grew up in Bushwick but now live together in Bay Ridge.
“We went through everything together. We studied together, we pushed each other to do everything together, we motivated each other,” Luis told reporters at Wednesday’s graduation.
“We practice on each other at home still,” Anthony chimed in. “We’re like, if this happens, what do we do. If you’re in cardiac arrest, how do I approach it? We’re better prepared.”
Both brothers are assigned to separate station houses in Upper Manhattan, but reassured reporters that they will “see each other around.”
Meanwhile, grad Kevin Rehrer, 32, became an EMT because he was saved from drowning by one at age 5.
Previous 1 of 5 Next Advertisement Kevin Rehrer, left, and his father, Air Force Tech Sgt. Craig Rehrer, at Wednesday's graduation. Gregory P. Mango FDNY EMT graduates Gregory P. Mango Advertisement Luis Sanchez, left, and his twin Anthony during graduation Gregory P. Mango Advertisement
“I was at my uncle’s house, and I was swimming and had fallen in and everyone had their backs to me. When [my dad] turned around, I was face down in the pool,” he told reporters. “My uncle pulled me out, my dad gave me CPR and resuscitated me. I was in complete cardiac arrest.
“All I remember was waking up in the ambulance. I remember this guy, it was almost like an angel. And he was standing over me and he said, ‘Oh, Kevin, there you are, there you are,’ and I was like, ‘Oh I’m really tired,’ and he said, ‘Well don’t fall asleep.’ And he gave me this bear, it was a panda bear. And I still have that panda bear to this day.
“I think about that, the impact that this man had on not only my life but my family’s life,” he said. “I wanna be able to do that every day for someone. Every day.”
Rehrer will be working at Station 20 in the Bronx, a short walk from where he lives.
EMTs endure 13 weeks of training at the EMS Academy and cover all aspects of the job, according to the fire department.


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Gerrit Cole’s first Yankees pitches leave big impression

TAMPA — It took about a decade longer than they would have liked , but Gerrit Cole finally threw his first pitches as a Yankee on Wednesday , as the team got a look at the $ 324-million pitcher when he arrived to spring training and threw his side session in pinstripes .
And while the bullpen session wasn ’ t anything out of the ordinary , Aaron Boone was still impressed with his new top pitcher .
“ His attention to detail is special , ’ ’ the manager said .
“ It was a good first day for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Boone and other staff members after the session , which is what stood out most to his new manager .
“ To get to have a conversation with him and to see him confirming all those things we saw from him this winter when we got to meet with him [ was good ] , ’ ’ Boone said .
“ How specific he is about everything he ’ s doing and just that understanding of every pitch he makes , what he ’ s doing , what it needs to look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ It ’ s that mindset that attracted the Yankees to Cole , both when they drafted him out of high school in 2008 and when they inked him to the nine-year deal this offseason in the richest contract ever for a pitcher .
“ He ’ s arguably the game ’ s best pitcher , so we ’ re adding a bona fide ace to what we already feel like is a really good rotation , ’ ’ Boone said .
Cole is set to meet the media on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a team that reached the ALCS a year ago , and lost to a Houston team led by Cole .
“ We feel like he ’ s that anchor at the top , ’ ’ Boone said .
“ When you have an ace , it ’ s not only about the greatness they provide on that day , but it ’ s also that they eat up a lot of innings .
It has that trickle-down effect and will make our great bullpen even better .
I ’ m excited to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is place he wants to be and feels like it ’ s a little bit of destiny , him finally getting here.
” Gary Sanchez caught Cole ’ s bullpen , which featured just fastballs and changeups , but the catcher also is looking forward to seeing what ’ s to come .
“ We just added one of the best pitchers in the game to our team , ’ ’ Sanchez said through an interpreter .
“ We had a really good rotation .
That ’ s what I believe .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gerrit Cole .
It ’ s great .
If you look up what he has done the last couple of years , he has been incredibly impressive .
To add someone like that now to our team , it just gets better.
” Sanchez said he ’ ll enjoy catching him more than hitting against the right-hander .
“ Facing a guy like him who throws hard , you have to look for a pitch and not miss that one pitch , ’ ’ Sanchez said .
“ You only get one chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You don ’ t have a lot of time to put the ball in play .
All the pitches he has , trying not to miss the one that you get , that ’ s what makes him very hard to hit .
”

TAMPA — It took about a decade longer than they would have liked, but Gerrit Cole finally threw his first pitches as a Yankee on Wednesday, as the team got a look at the $324-million pitcher when he arrived to spring training and threw his side session in pinstripes.
And while the bullpen session wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, Aaron Boone was still impressed with his new top pitcher.
“His attention to detail is special,’’ the manager said. “It was a good first day for him.”
Cole had a lengthy chat with Boone and other staff members after the session, which is what stood out most to his new manager.
“To get to have a conversation with him and to see him confirming all those things we saw from him this winter when we got to meet with him [was good],’’ Boone said. “How specific he is about everything he’s doing and just that understanding of every pitch he makes, what he’s doing, what it needs to look like and his mechanics involved with it.’’
It’s that mindset that attracted the Yankees to Cole, both when they drafted him out of high school in 2008 and when they inked him to the nine-year deal this offseason in the richest contract ever for a pitcher.
“He’s arguably the game’s best pitcher, so we’re adding a bona fide ace to what we already feel like is a really good rotation,’’ Boone said.
Cole is set to meet the media on Thursday. He was the key offseason move for a team that reached the ALCS a year ago, and lost to a Houston team led by Cole.
“We feel like he’s that anchor at the top,’’ Boone said. “When you have an ace, it’s not only about the greatness they provide on that day, but it’s also that they eat up a lot of innings. It has that trickle-down effect and will make our great bullpen even better. I’m excited to have him come here. I know this is place he wants to be and feels like it’s a little bit of destiny, him finally getting here.”
Gary Sanchez caught Cole’s bullpen, which featured just fastballs and changeups, but the catcher also is looking forward to seeing what’s to come.
“We just added one of the best pitchers in the game to our team,’’ Sanchez said through an interpreter. “We had a really good rotation. That’s what I believe. And now we had the opportunity to add Gerrit Cole. It’s great. If you look up what he has done the last couple of years, he has been incredibly impressive. To add someone like that now to our team, it just gets better.”
Sanchez said he’ll enjoy catching him more than hitting against the right-hander.
“Facing a guy like him who throws hard, you have to look for a pitch and not miss that one pitch,’’ Sanchez said. “You only get one chance. So it’s tough. You don’t have a lot of time to put the ball in play. All the pitches he has, trying not to miss the one that you get, that’s what makes him very hard to hit.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Padres change spring training hat after swastika comparison

The San Diego Padres scrapped their newly designed hats on the eve of spring training after appalled fans on social media compared it to a swastika .
The hat , created by MLB and the New Era headwear company for spring training , featured the Padres ’ mascot swinging over an interlocking “ S ” and “ D ” — the team ’ s main logo .
The mishmash cut off the top of the “ S , ” leading some to say it resembled the emblem most commonly associated with Nazis .
In a statement Tuesday , the Padres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brown caps , featuring a gold interlocking “ S ” and “ D ” , for the majority of spring training .
The team , according to the San Diego Union-Tribune , made no mention of the swastika-looking logo , instead attributing the decision to fans who had an “ overwhelmingly positive response ” to the regular-season caps , which were introduced this offseason as part of a logo redesign .
According to the Union-Tribune , the team will wear the controversial caps at least once during spring training , because they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ caps of spring training and regular-season batting practice .
The hat was still listed for sale on MLB ’ s website on Wednesday .

The San Diego Padres scrapped their newly designed hats on the eve of spring training after appalled fans on social media compared it to a swastika.
The hat, created by MLB and the New Era headwear company for spring training, featured the Padres’ mascot swinging over an interlocking “S” and “D” — the team’s main logo.
The mishmash cut off the top of the “S,” leading some to say it resembled the emblem most commonly associated with Nazis.
In a statement Tuesday, the Padres said they would instead wear their regular-season brown caps, featuring a gold interlocking “S” and “D”, for the majority of spring training.
The team, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, made no mention of the swastika-looking logo, instead attributing the decision to fans who had an “overwhelmingly positive response” to the regular-season caps, which were introduced this offseason as part of a logo redesign.
According to the Union-Tribune, the team will wear the controversial caps at least once during spring training, because they were sold to fans as the official on-field caps of spring training and regular-season batting practice. The hat was still listed for sale on MLB’s website on Wednesday.


newyorkpost--2020-02-12--Trump says Roger Stone prosecutors ‘ought to go back to school’

All four federal prosecutors in Roger Stone ’ s criminal trial abruptly ...

WASHINGTON — President Trump praised the Justice Department on Wednesday for overruling prosecutors who sought up to nine years in prison for his former aide Roger Stone.
Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he’s unconcerned after four federal prosecutors quit in protest when the Justice Department reversed their request for Stone to spend seven to nine years in prison.
“I’m not concerned about anything. They ought to go back to school and learn because I’ll tell you what: the way they treated people, nobody should be treated like that,” Trump said of the special prosecutors, who had been part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Trump, who declined to say if he will pardon Stone, made the remarks after a morning tweet musing: “Rogue prosecutors maybe? The Swamp!”
Trump contrasted the original sentencing request for Stone with the two months in jail for former Senate Intelligence Committee staffer James Wolfe in December 2018. Wolfe was sentenced for lying to the FBI after leaking to reporters including his mistress, a New York Times reporter.
“He got sentenced to two months for leaking classified information at the highest level,” Trump said.
The Justice Department on Tuesday afternoon filed an updated request for “far less” time in prison for Stone, 67, who was convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering as a result of his claims about trying to contact WikiLeaks in 2016. The witness whose dog Stone allegedly threatened has said he did not feel at risk.
Authorities changed course on the Stone sentencing request after Trump tweeted early Tuesday: “This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!”
Democrats on Wednesday accused Trump of abusing his power when he commented on the case prior to Stone’s sentencing. Trump denied that he applied pressure on the Justice Department, but praised the pivot.
“I want to thank the Justice Department for seeing this horrible thing — and I didn’t speak to him by the way just so you understand — they saw the horribleness of a nine year sentence for doing nothing,” Trump said.
“You have murderers and drug addicts it’ll get nine years. Nine years for doing something that nobody even can define what he did. Someone said he put out a tweet, and the tweet, you base it on that. We have killers, we have murders all over the place, nothing happens. And then they put a man in jail and destroy his life, his family, his wife, his children.”
The president complained that his political adversaries who committed alleged misconduct during the Mueller probe have not faced criminal charges.
“Nine years in jail, it’s a disgrace and in the meantime [former FBI Director James] Comey walks around making book deals,” Trump said. “Where’s Comey? What’s happening to [former FBI Deputy Director] Andrew McCabe? … [former FBI officials] Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, what’s happening to them?”


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--‘Demon’ fire performer extinguishes 6,300-degree blaze — with his tongue

This guy is playing with fire — literally .
Doug “ Demon ” Thompson spends his days burning up his @ @ @ @ @ of Hell ” — a family fire performance troupe that ’ s so sizzling , @ @ @ @ @ hair right off .
Always fascinated by the element , Thompson , an Alberta , @ @ @ @ @ taught himself how to light his body on fire without feeling pain .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ feel my flesh or a part of me getting physically burnt , ” he devilishly @ @ @ @ @ s almost that it doesn ’ t even exist.
” With a little bit of @ @ @ @ @ lot of bravery , see him break the world record for “ hottest flame extinguished @ @ @ @ @ Warning : Things get so hot in this episode of “ Extraordinary People , ” @ @ @ @ @ to cool down after watching it .

This guy is playing with fire — literally. Doug “Demon” Thompson spends his days burning up his body in the “Circus of Hell” — a family fire performance troupe that’s so sizzling, it’ll singe your hair right off. Always fascinated by the element, Thompson, an Alberta, Canada, resident, eventually taught himself how to light his body on fire without feeling pain. “If I don’t actually feel my flesh or a part of me getting physically burnt,” he devilishly shares, “it’s almost that it doesn’t even exist.”
With a little bit of protective coating and a whole lot of bravery, see him break the world record for “hottest flame extinguished on the human tongue.” Warning: Things get so hot in this episode of “Extraordinary People,” you may need some ice to cool down after watching it.
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newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Dwyane Wade goes from athlete to advocate

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 ) Former NBA star Dwyane Wade introduces his transgender daughter to the world .
Constance Wu still hasn ’ t seen “ Hustlers.
” And why one couple ’ s engagement has Backstreet Boys fans up in arms .
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are “ so proud ” to introduce his 12-year-old daughter , Zaya Wade , to the rest of the world .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Zaya coming out as transgender , Union posted a video on social media of Wade and Zaya discussing the importance of “ being true ” to oneself .
“ Meet Zaya , ” Union , 47 , captioned the clip Tuesday .
“ She ’ s compassionate , loving , whip smart and we are so proud of her .
It ’ s Ok to listen to , love & respect your children exactly as they are .
Love and light good people.
” In the video , Zaya says , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to yourself .
What ’ s the point of being on this Earth if you ’ re going to try to be someone you ’ re not .
It ’ s like you ’ re not even living as yourself , which is the dumbest concept to me.
” Constance Wu says she ’ s never seen ‘ Hustlers ’ Constance Wu still hasn ’ t seen “ Hustlers , ” despite starring in the hit film .
“ I still haven ’ t seen it , ” she confessed on “ Live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , Wu , 37 , made it clear that “ Hustlers ” isn ’ t the only one of her films that she hasn ’ t seen .
The actress said after watching 2018 ’ s “ Crazy Rich Asians , ” for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination , she then “ stopped watching anything.
” “ I didn ’ t watch my talk show appearances or ‘ Fresh Off the Boat ’ or ‘ Hustlers ’ just ’ cause I thought , you know , ‘ I want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be self-critical and think too much , dwell too much on the past , ” she added .
Couple involved in Backstreet Boys proposal on ‘ Good Morning America ’ has already been engaged A young New York couple melted hearts on “ Good Morning America ” on Tuesday morning , when Adam Diamond proposed to Priscilla Consolo as the weepy climax to a Backsteet Boys performance .
But we hear that the special moment may have been slightly less warm and fuzzy as it seemed .
“ One small problem : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years , ” said a tipster .
A rep for the Backstreet Boys didn ’ t get back to us , nor did Consolo .
Diamond couldn ’ t be reached .
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 .

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Former NBA star Dwyane Wade introduces his transgender daughter to the world.
Constance Wu still hasn’t seen “Hustlers.” And why one couple’s engagement has Backstreet Boys fans up in arms.
Here’s a closer look at today’s stories:
Gabrielle Union introduces Zaya, Dwyane Wade’s transgender daughter
Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are “so proud” to introduce his 12-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, to the rest of the world.
On the same day that Wade opened up about Zaya coming out as transgender, Union posted a video on social media of Wade and Zaya discussing the importance of “being true” to oneself.
“Meet Zaya,” Union, 47, captioned the clip Tuesday. “She’s compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people.”
In the video, Zaya says, “I would say, just be true to yourself. What’s the point of being on this Earth if you’re going to try to be someone you’re not. It’s like you’re not even living as yourself, which is the dumbest concept to me.”
Constance Wu says she’s never seen ‘Hustlers’
Constance Wu still hasn’t seen “Hustlers,” despite starring in the hit film.
“I still haven’t seen it,” she confessed on “Live with Kelly and Ryan” on Wednesday.
However, Wu, 37, made it clear that “Hustlers” isn’t the only one of her films that she hasn’t seen.
The actress said after watching 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asians,” for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination, she then “stopped watching anything.”
“I didn’t watch my talk show appearances or ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ or ‘Hustlers’ just ’cause I thought, you know, ‘I want to focus on the present’ and not be self-critical and think too much, dwell too much on the past,” she added.
Couple involved in Backstreet Boys proposal on ‘Good Morning America’ has already been engaged
Quit playing games!
A young New York couple melted hearts on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday morning, when Adam Diamond proposed to Priscilla Consolo as the weepy climax to a Backsteet Boys performance.
But we hear that the special moment may have been slightly less warm and fuzzy as it seemed.
“One small problem: the two have been engaged for over two years,” said a tipster.
A rep for the Backstreet Boys didn’t get back to us, nor did Consolo. Diamond couldn’t be reached.
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--2020-02-13--Mike Francesa destroys Knicks, James Dolan for latest debacle

The Knicks attempted to put out another firestorm on Tuesday , ...

Mike Francesa ripped the Knicks for their latest debacle regarding Steve Stoute, the team’s new branding consultant who got himself and the team in trouble for saying they would be moving on from interim coach Mike Miller in the offseason.
“How much more of a laughingstock can this franchise become?” Francesa said on his half-hour WFAN radio show on Wednesday. “I mean, how can you have someone come out and act like he’s going to run the franchise? Who decided, who gave this guy in any way put a thought in his head that he could come out and make the kind of statements he made about the franchise?
“To the point where he basically fired the head coach. On national television,” Francesa said with a sarcastic laugh.
In the Tuesday ESPN interview, Stoute said “there had to be a change in [firing team president Steve Mills]. That change will bring a new coach and new coaches that are going to help develop these younger players.”
Stoute didn’t stop there, adding: “Having a coach like that who has the magnitude and gravitas so that the media would love to talk to him and believe him, I think that’s super important.”
Francesa, who complimented Miller for getting a Knicks team that is going nowhere to play better, said owner James Dolan should have fired his newly minted image consultant for those comments.
“If I was Dolan, I would have fired this guy,” a fired-up Francesa said. “I would have ripped his contract and told him to hit the street so fast, he wouldn’t know what hit him. Where was the famous Dolan temper there? He should have been the first guy to go. You let this guy [stay], this guy clearly speaking out of school.
“[Do] you want a guy around that’s going to make those kind of statements? Who thinks he first of all tells you how important he is to the franchise?
“How much worse can it get? How much more dysfunctional can it get? How much more embarrassing can it get?”
Hours after the Stoute interview went viral, the Knicks released a statement saying that Stoute “does not speak on behalf of New York Knicks personnel and basketball operations.”
Miller took the high road on Wednesday when asked about Stoute’s comments, saying the two had a “private conversation” and that he didn’t need to be put at ease regarding his job status.
The Knicks hired Stoute soon after Dolan kicked out a teenage fan who was yelling for him to sell the team toward the end of their ugly, fight-filled home loss to the Grizzlies on Jan. 29. The next day, the embattled owner called the fan’s mother, who said the two had a “pleasant and respectful conversation.”
Francesa also said Dolan should worry less about bullying young fans and that he should have given Stoute the boot, instead of a weak, team-issued statement.
“You can go bully some [young] kid because he says you should sell the team,” Francesa said, “but that’s your answer to this guy? When he embarrasses your organization from coast to coast on national television.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Islanders’ Casey Cizikas will be out 3-4 weeks with leg injury

Casey Cizikas will miss the next three to four weeks after suffering a laceration on his left leg , the @ @ @ @ @ veteran center sustained the injury in the first period of Tuesday ’ s 5-3 win @ @ @ @ @ Center when he collided with Philadelphia defenseman Ivan Provarov and took a blade to the @ @ @ @ @ couldn ’ t put any weight on his left leg .
Islanders ’ medical staff @ @ @ @ @ and straight to the locker room and did not return .
The Islanders subsequently recalled @ @ @ @ @ .
Bardreau , 26 , made his NHL debut Oct. 10 and recorded his first @ @ @ @ @ the Flyers .

Casey Cizikas will miss the next three to four weeks after suffering a laceration on his left leg, the Islanders announced Wednesday.
The veteran center sustained the injury in the first period of Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Flyers at Barclays Center when he collided with Philadelphia defenseman Ivan Provarov and took a blade to the leg. The 28-year-old Cizikas couldn’t put any weight on his left leg. Islanders’ medical staff helped him off the ice and straight to the locker room and did not return.
The Islanders subsequently recalled Cole Bardreau from AHL Bridgeport. Bardreau, 26, made his NHL debut Oct. 10 and recorded his first NHL point Oct. 27 against the Flyers.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Yankees happy with how Miguel Andujar is viewing potential new role

TAMPA — Domingo German could not be found among the ...

TAMPA — Yankees manager Aaron Boone has been impressed with Miguel Andujar’s attitude about possibly being used as a utility player — playing first base and left field, in addition to third base.
“His openness to do it is one of the things that we liked,’’ Boone said. “When we first broached the subject with him, he was excited about it and even told us he had started to do some things on his own. I feel like he has the athletic ability to do it. To be able to move around and hopefully add to his versatility. And with the quality and the depth of our roster, it could be something that’s important not only for him, but potentially for us, too.’’
And Boone said he isn’t concerned about Gleyber Torres going from second base back to shortstop.
“He’s kind of handled everything that’s been thrown his way and then some,’’ Boone said. “I think the only thing he has left now to do is show that he’s capable of being an everyday shortstop for an entire season. We know he can handle it, but now it’s just going and doing the routine all the time. I’m confident he’ll take that next step.”
Boone said he hasn’t decided how often he’ll use Giancarlo Stanton, who is coming off a season in which he was sidetracked by injuries, in the outfield.
“I’m confident he’s healthy,’’ Boone said. “I’m not sure yet on what that’ll look like in games.”
Boone said he’d factor in matchups and who needs a day off, but added Stanton will play a “fair amount” of games at designated hitter.
“We have a lot of people to put in the field,’’ Boone said. “But, certainly, we feel good about him playing the outfield and feel like he’ll be healthy enough to do that on a regular basis if we needed him.”
Though left-hander Jordan Montgomery figures to enter spring training the leading candidate to become the fifth starter in James Paxton’s absence, Boone wouldn’t rule out some of their other young pitchers, including Deivi Garcia and Mike King, as well as more established starters, such as Luis Cessa and Jonathan Loaisiga.
“A lot of guys that we’ve added to our 40-man [roster] that we’ve been excited about for several years [will be considered],’’ Boone said. “And it wouldn’t be farfetched to at some point see one or more of those guys impact our rotation, our bullpen, whatever it may be. But I guess my point is, we feel like we have a lot of good options and we’re a ways away from making that decision.”
Boone also said Paxton’s recovery from back surgery is going well.
Luis Severino’s 2019 season was severely impacted by shoulder and lat injuries in 2019, as he made just three regular-season starts.
“For me, this is a key year,” Severino said. “The main thing for me this year is being healthy all the way to the playoffs and World Series.”
RHP Tony Zych was signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. The 29-year-old underwent thoracic outlet surgery in 2018 and has not pitched professionally since 2017. He appeared in 70 games from 2015-17.
Starting with Thursday’s first official workout and continuing for a week, Steinbrenner Field will be open for fans to watch the Yankees practice in the main stadium. Gates will open at 10 a.m., and the stadium will be open until the end of the workout. There will be no charge.
For all home spring training games, gates will open at Steinbrenner Field two hours prior to the scheduled first pitch. The Yankees’ spring schedule opens Feb. 22 against the Blue Jays at Steinbrenner Field at 1:05 p.m.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Couples date without seeing each other in wild new Netflix show ‘Love Is Blind’

Imagine getting engaged to someone without seeing their face .
That ’ s the premise behind Netflix ’ s wild new reality series , “ Love Is Blind.
” Out Thursday , the show follows singles as they spend hours in “ pods ” chatting through a wall , unable to look at each other .
“ I kind of viewed it as an opportunity of a lifetime , ” one of them , 24-year-old Mark Cuevas , tells The Post .
“ I kept saying , ‘ Why not ?
’ ” Singles who fail to forge a connection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But those attracted to the person on the other side of the wall go on to propose .
Only then do they meet their new partners , and test their relationship in the real world .
It ’ s part “ The Bachelor , ” part “ Married at First Sight , ” and part Stanford Prison Experiment , but for dating .
Cuevas , a fitness instructor in Atlanta , where the show was filmed , says his family and friends were skeptical but ultimately supportive when he told them he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billed as an “ experiment ” to see what happens when physical appearance isn ’ t a factor in dating .
He says he told his mother , “ Mom , I don ’ t know every detail .
I just know that I have a really good feeling about this .
I need y ’ all to trust me.
” Spoiler alert : Lauren Speed , a 32-year-old content creator also based in Atlanta , is the first to get engaged .
By the end of the first episode , she accepts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ How many hours did Cameron and I talk before we got engaged ?
It felt like a million even though it was a short amount of time , ” she tells The Post .
“ I believe it was a little under two weeks total .
.
.
There were no TVs , no outside communications with our friends and families .
So all that we had to focus on was each other.
” Speed ’ s family and friends were just as cynical as Cuevas ’ were , but later supported her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ Love Is Blind ” setup steered conversations toward what she calls “ all the deep stuff ” pretty quickly .
“ I feel like dating nowadays is all about the swipe left , swipe right , ” she says .
“ People aren ’ t themselves right out the front gate .
So I really enjoyed on our first date , we jumped into , ‘ What are your political views ?
What ’ s your family life ?
What motivates you to get up in the morning ?
’ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look sometimes that we overlook the stuff that ’ s really important to us.
” Cuevas and Speed say they weren ’ t too concerned about whether they ’ d still be attracted to someone once they met face-to-face .
“ Of course I want someone to look good , and I want to be attracted to them , but is that the main priority for me ?
No , ” Speed says .
“ I want someone who ’ s going to love me and respect me and treat me right , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexy .
I feel like attraction can grow.
” You ’ ll have to watch “ Love Is Blind ” to see Cuevas ’ journey — no spoilers here .
But he says the experience changed his outlook on dating .
“ I think a lot of folks had a lot of voices in their heads when they ’ re starting to date somebody , ” he says .
“ Or they look for their family ’ s opinions like , ‘ Do you think they ’ re cute ?
’ And that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of times , too many people let too many voices in .
I got to really look into myself and what I wanted , and [ the show ] allowed me to do that.
” “ Love Is Blind , ” hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey , airs its first five episodes Thursday , followed by four more Feb. 20 and a finale on Feb. 27 .

Imagine getting engaged to someone without seeing their face. That’s the premise behind Netflix’s wild new reality series, “Love Is Blind.”
Out Thursday, the show follows singles as they spend hours in “pods” chatting through a wall, unable to look at each other.
“I kind of viewed it as an opportunity of a lifetime,” one of them, 24-year-old Mark Cuevas, tells The Post. “I kept saying, ‘Why not?’ ”
Singles who fail to forge a connection leave the show, and several do. But those attracted to the person on the other side of the wall go on to propose. Only then do they meet their new partners, and test their relationship in the real world.
It’s part “The Bachelor,” part “Married at First Sight,” and part Stanford Prison Experiment, but for dating.
Cuevas, a fitness instructor in Atlanta, where the show was filmed, says his family and friends were skeptical but ultimately supportive when he told them he planned to go on the show, billed as an “experiment” to see what happens when physical appearance isn’t a factor in dating.
He says he told his mother, “Mom, I don’t know every detail. I just know that I have a really good feeling about this. I need y’all to trust me.”
Spoiler alert: Lauren Speed, a 32-year-old content creator also based in Atlanta, is the first to get engaged. By the end of the first episode, she accepts Cameron Hamilton’s proposal.
“How many hours did Cameron and I talk before we got engaged? It felt like a million even though it was a short amount of time,” she tells The Post. “I believe it was a little under two weeks total . . . There were no TVs, no outside communications with our friends and families. So all that we had to focus on was each other.”
Speed’s family and friends were just as cynical as Cuevas’ were, but later supported her decision. She says she liked how the “Love Is Blind” setup steered conversations toward what she calls “all the deep stuff” pretty quickly.
“I feel like dating nowadays is all about the swipe left, swipe right,” she says. “People aren’t themselves right out the front gate. So I really enjoyed on our first date, we jumped into, ‘What are your political views? What’s your family life? What motivates you to get up in the morning?’ We get so mesmerized by the way people look sometimes that we overlook the stuff that’s really important to us.”
Cuevas and Speed say they weren’t too concerned about whether they’d still be attracted to someone once they met face-to-face.
“Of course I want someone to look good, and I want to be attracted to them, but is that the main priority for me? No,” Speed says. “I want someone who’s going to love me and respect me and treat me right, other than someone who’s just sexy. I feel like attraction can grow.”
You’ll have to watch “Love Is Blind” to see Cuevas’ journey — no spoilers here. But he says the experience changed his outlook on dating.
“I think a lot of folks had a lot of voices in their heads when they’re starting to date somebody,” he says. “Or they look for their family’s opinions like, ‘Do you think they’re cute?’ And that’s OK — but a lot of times, too many people let too many voices in. I got to really look into myself and what I wanted, and [the show] allowed me to do that.”
“Love Is Blind,” hosted by Nick and Vanessa Lachey, airs its first five episodes Thursday, followed by four more Feb. 20 and a finale on Feb. 27.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Mets’ Drew Smith on comeback trail from Tommy John surgery

PORT ST. LUCIE — Drew Smith was projected last year around this time to be part of the Mets ’ bullpen , but a torn elbow ligament changed that plan .
Now , 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery , the fireballing reliever is hoping he can emerge as an early-season option for the club .
Smith has begun throwing from the mound in his comeback attempt from the surgery , which he underwent last March 12 .
The full rehab usually takes 13-14 months .
“ Last year just seeing the team and watching it on TV , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Wednesday .
“ You know you are a part of the team , but being hurt it ’ s just like you feel you ’ re not and mentally it kind of gets to you , but you stick to your rehab process , go about your business and know that you will get back to the point you were at before , and that is what I have been doing.
” Smith was acquired by the Mets in the 2017 trade that sent Lucas Duda to the Rays .
The right-hander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 and pitched to a 3.54 ERA .
“ He was a great asset in our bullpen a couple of years back , ” said new manager Luis Rojas , who managed Smith at Double-A Binghamton .
Shortstop Luis Guillorme sustained a cut near his left eye after he was hit by a throw from minor league coach Luis Rivera .
Though bloodied , Guillorme was cleared to take batting practice , according to Rojas .

PORT ST. LUCIE — Drew Smith was projected last year around this time to be part of the Mets’ bullpen, but a torn elbow ligament changed that plan.
Now, 11 months removed from Tommy John surgery, the fireballing reliever is hoping he can emerge as an early-season option for the club.
Smith has begun throwing from the mound in his comeback attempt from the surgery, which he underwent last March 12. The full rehab usually takes 13-14 months.
“Last year just seeing the team and watching it on TV, that was really difficult,” Smith said Wednesday. “You know you are a part of the team, but being hurt it’s just like you feel you’re not and mentally it kind of gets to you, but you stick to your rehab process, go about your business and know that you will get back to the point you were at before, and that is what I have been doing.”
Smith was acquired by the Mets in the 2017 trade that sent Lucas Duda to the Rays. The right-hander appeared in 27 games for the Mets in 2018 and pitched to a 3.54 ERA.
“He was a great asset in our bullpen a couple of years back,” said new manager Luis Rojas, who managed Smith at Double-A Binghamton.
Shortstop Luis Guillorme sustained a cut near his left eye after he was hit by a throw from minor league coach Luis Rivera. Though bloodied, Guillorme was cleared to take batting practice, according to Rojas.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--What Yankees are doing to make Gary Sanchez a better defender

TAMPA — Aaron Boone said he believes Gary Sanchez ’ s defense behind the plate has gotten better , but there continues to be work to be done .
“ There ’ s still a lot of meat on that bone , ’ ’ the Yankees ’ manager said Wednesday .
Sanchez is working with new catching coordinator Tanner Swanson .
“ He ’ s improved , I feel like , a lot over the last couple of years , and we feel like with Tanner coming in and the work they ’ ve already begun , like there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ’ Boone said .
“ I ’ m confident we ’ ll see the results as the season unfolds.
” Sanchez ’ s defense has been a topic of conversation since he ’ s been in the majors .
He said Wednesday , when pitchers and catchers reported to camp , that he and Swanson have worked on getting his right knee lower so that he can receive pitches in that position .
“ It ’ s a little hard , because this is something new that you have to adjust to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interpreter .
“ I think we ’ ve have about a week since we started working together , and I can tell you that now I feel much better than Day 1 .
It ’ s a learning process and any time you try something new , you need time to make that adjustment.
” Sanchez was bothered by lower-body injuries last season that limited him to 106 games , though he hit a career-high 34 homers .
This offseason , Sanchez said he focused on becoming more flexible , and that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and conditioning staff that was brought in after the roster was ravaged by injuries in 2019 .
“ I ’ ve been working together with the new staff for about a week now and we ’ ve got to keep doing that and see how it pays off as the season is here , ’ ’ Sanchez said .

TAMPA — Aaron Boone said he believes Gary Sanchez’s defense behind the plate has gotten better, but there continues to be work to be done.
“There’s still a lot of meat on that bone,’’ the Yankees’ manager said Wednesday.
Sanchez is working with new catching coordinator Tanner Swanson.
“He’s improved, I feel like, a lot over the last couple of years, and we feel like with Tanner coming in and the work they’ve already begun, like there’s more there to be had,’’ Boone said. “I’m confident we’ll see the results as the season unfolds.”
Sanchez’s defense has been a topic of conversation since he’s been in the majors. He said Wednesday, when pitchers and catchers reported to camp, that he and Swanson have worked on getting his right knee lower so that he can receive pitches in that position.
“It’s a little hard, because this is something new that you have to adjust to,’’ Sanchez said through an interpreter. “I think we’ve have about a week since we started working together, and I can tell you that now I feel much better than Day 1. It’s a learning process and any time you try something new, you need time to make that adjustment.”
Sanchez was bothered by lower-body injuries last season that limited him to 106 games, though he hit a career-high 34 homers.
This offseason, Sanchez said he focused on becoming more flexible, and that will continue with the Yankees’ new training and conditioning staff that was brought in after the roster was ravaged by injuries in 2019.
“I’ve been working together with the new staff for about a week now and we’ve got to keep doing that and see how it pays off as the season is here,’’ Sanchez said.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Mets’ Luis Rojas: Dominic Smith already making strides in left

PORT ST. LUCIE — Dominic Smith , who reported early to camp , is showing positive signs in left field , according to new Mets manager Luis Rojas .
Last season , Rojas served as the outfield coach and worked closely with Smith , a converted first baseman .
“ Dom ’ s got great defensive ability and I think he did a good job in the offseason , ” Rojas said Wednesday .
“ We talked about him working , movement and agility , and I saw him taking good steps off the bat [ Wednesday ] and being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like him to keep that versatility and keep throwing more in the outfield like he ’ s been doing.
” Rojas said he arrived at 5:30 a.m. for the first official day of drills for pitchers and catchers .
A workout fanatic , Rojas was in the weight room to start his day , then spoke to the pitchers and catchers before they took the field .
“ That is probably the most fun , ” Rojas said .
“ Getting here and having the guys in one room , and being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and talk to them about what we ’ re going to be able to do out there , and then going out there and executing .
”

PORT ST. LUCIE — Dominic Smith, who reported early to camp, is showing positive signs in left field, according to new Mets manager Luis Rojas. Last season, Rojas served as the outfield coach and worked closely with Smith, a converted first baseman.
“Dom’s got great defensive ability and I think he did a good job in the offseason,” Rojas said Wednesday. “We talked about him working, movement and agility, and I saw him taking good steps off the bat [Wednesday] and being efficient in some routes there. I would like him to keep that versatility and keep throwing more in the outfield like he’s been doing.”
Rojas said he arrived at 5:30 a.m. for the first official day of drills for pitchers and catchers. A workout fanatic, Rojas was in the weight room to start his day, then spoke to the pitchers and catchers before they took the field.
“That is probably the most fun,” Rojas said. “Getting here and having the guys in one room, and being able to talk to them, communicate, and talk to them about what we’re going to be able to do out there, and then going out there and executing.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Men appear to be more vulnerable to coronavirus: report

Scientists believe that males could be more vulnerable to the coronavirus because they may have a weaker immune response to the disease , according to a column by The Financial Times .
The virus has killed roughly 1,300 people and infected over 48,000 worldwide as of Thursday .
Another case was discovered in San Diego Calif. on Wednesday , bringing the total U.S. infected to 14 .
Roughly two-thirds of 99 infected patients admitted to a Wuhan hospital last month were men , science writer Anjana Ahuja wrote , citing a Lancet medical study published on Jan. 30 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ahuja wrote .
“ A picture is emerging of 2019-nCoV [ now COVID-19 ] as a novel pathogen that disproportionately affects older men , particularly those with existing illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
” She said possible reasons for the differences between men and women could be smoking , a variation of hospital treatment and hormonal differences which could impact males ’ immune system response .
Females are prone to autoimmune diseases , which causes parts of their immune system to become stronger to compensate , resulting in a possible stronger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FT. Women routinely outlive men by six to eight years and are more likely to reach their first birthday , according to the World Health Organization [ WHO ] .
Stanley Perlman , an immunologist at the University of Iowa and his colleagues suggested that hormones , including Estrogen , could be a possible defense against the virus .
Perlman studied how SARS — a disease often compared with coronavirus — impacts male and female mice .
He concluded that male mice were affected in greater number , while adding that his study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to FT. Two studies on SARS and MERS [ Middle East respiratory syndrome ] patients found that males had a higher death rate for both diseases .
One study showed that out of 1,800 Sars patients — men had a 9 percent higher date rate .
A 2019 study of 229 Mers patients showed found that males had a six percent higher death rate over females , FT reported .
“ Some scientists are now convinced that these sex differences in clinical data reflect a genuine male vulnerability to coronavirus , rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ahuja said .
“ The observations add to growing evidence that immunologically speaking , men are the weaker sex .
”

Scientists believe that males could be more vulnerable to the coronavirus because they may have a weaker immune response to the disease, according to a column by The Financial Times.
The virus has killed roughly 1,300 people and infected over 48,000 worldwide as of Thursday. Another case was discovered in San Diego Calif. on Wednesday, bringing the total U.S. infected to 14.
Roughly two-thirds of 99 infected patients admitted to a Wuhan hospital last month were men, science writer Anjana Ahuja wrote, citing a Lancet medical study published on Jan. 30.
“It is an eye-catching discrepancy,” Ahuja wrote. “A picture is emerging of 2019-nCoV [now COVID-19] as a novel pathogen that disproportionately affects older men, particularly those with existing illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.”
She said possible reasons for the differences between men and women could be smoking, a variation of hospital treatment and hormonal differences which could impact males’ immune system response.
Females are prone to autoimmune diseases, which causes parts of their immune system to become stronger to compensate, resulting in a possible stronger response to the coronavirus, according to FT. Women routinely outlive men by six to eight years and are more likely to reach their first birthday, according to the World Health Organization [WHO].
Stanley Perlman, an immunologist at the University of Iowa and his colleagues suggested that hormones, including Estrogen, could be a possible defense against the virus.
Perlman studied how SARS — a disease often compared with coronavirus — impacts male and female mice. He concluded that male mice were affected in greater number, while adding that his study was consistent across coronaviruses as well, according to FT.
Two studies on SARS and MERS [Middle East respiratory syndrome] patients found that males had a higher death rate for both diseases.
One study showed that out of 1,800 Sars patients — men had a 9 percent higher date rate. A 2019 study of 229 Mers patients showed found that males had a six percent higher death rate over females, FT reported.
“Some scientists are now convinced that these sex differences in clinical data reflect a genuine male vulnerability to coronavirus, rather than a bias in exposure,” Ahuja said. “The observations add to growing evidence that immunologically speaking, men are the weaker sex.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--China ousts top officials of province where coronavirus outbreak originated

BEIJING — China on Thursday replaced its top officials in the central province of Hubei and its capital , Wuhan , the epicenter of a viral coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 45,000 people worldwide .
Former Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong succeeds Jiang Chaoliang as the ruling Communist Party ’ s chief in the beleaguered province , the Xinhua state news agency reported , while Wang Zhonglin will take over from Ma Guoqiang as the party secretary in Wuhan .
The high-level appointments follow the sacking earlier this week of two leaders of the provincial health commission .
State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others were expelled from the party for transgressions related to the epidemic .
The public has widely criticized local officials for their handling of the outbreak of a new form of coronavirus .
The virus first surfaced December in Hubei ’ s capital , Wuhan , and has since spread to more than two dozen countries .
Many countries have implemented travel restrictions on recent visitors to China , which has more than 99 % of the world ’ s reported infections .
In Vietnam , official media reported that a commune of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was put in lockdown due to a cluster of cases there .
The online newspaper VN Express cited a senior official of Vinh Phuc province as reporting an increase in cases in Son Loi commune .
Vietnam has confirmed 16 cases of the diseases , most of them in the province .
In an unprecedented measure to contain the disease , recently dubbed COVID-19 , the Chinese government has placed the hardest-hit cities — home to more than 60 million — under lockdown .
Japan ’ s Health Ministry announced Thursday that 44 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the port of Yokohama , near Tokyo , have tested positive for COVID-19 .
The ship has 218 infections among its 3,700 passengers and crew .
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters five of the patients who were already sent to hospitals for isolation and treatment of COVID-19 have severe symptoms and are on artificial respirators or under intensive care .
Another cruise ship , the Westerdam , finally anchored Thursday off Cambodia after being turned away by several Asian and Pacific governments .
No cases of the viral illness have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew members , according to the operator Holland America Line .
Thailand refused to allow the Westerdam to dock this week after it had already been turned away by the Philippines , Taiwan , Japan and Guam over virus concerns .
The Westerdam began its cruise in Singapore last month and its last stop before it was refused further landings was in Hong Kong , where 50 cases of the viral disease have been confirmed .

BEIJING — China on Thursday replaced its top officials in the central province of Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, the epicenter of a viral coronavirus outbreak that has infected more than 45,000 people worldwide.
Former Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong succeeds Jiang Chaoliang as the ruling Communist Party’s chief in the beleaguered province, the Xinhua state news agency reported, while Wang Zhonglin will take over from Ma Guoqiang as the party secretary in Wuhan.
The high-level appointments follow the sacking earlier this week of two leaders of the provincial health commission. State media also reported that a slew of others were expelled from the party for transgressions related to the epidemic.
The public has widely criticized local officials for their handling of the outbreak of a new form of coronavirus. The virus first surfaced December in Hubei’s capital, Wuhan, and has since spread to more than two dozen countries.
Many countries have implemented travel restrictions on recent visitors to China, which has more than 99% of the world’s reported infections.
In Vietnam, official media reported that a commune of 10,000 residents northwest of the capital Hanoi was put in lockdown due to a cluster of cases there.
The online newspaper VN Express cited a senior official of Vinh Phuc province as reporting an increase in cases in Son Loi commune. Vietnam has confirmed 16 cases of the diseases, most of them in the province.
In an unprecedented measure to contain the disease, recently dubbed COVID-19, the Chinese government has placed the hardest-hit cities — home to more than 60 million — under lockdown.
Japan’s Health Ministry announced Thursday that 44 more people on a cruise ship quarantined in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, have tested positive for COVID-19. The ship has 218 infections among its 3,700 passengers and crew.
Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters five of the patients who were already sent to hospitals for isolation and treatment of COVID-19 have severe symptoms and are on artificial respirators or under intensive care.
Another cruise ship, the Westerdam, finally anchored Thursday off Cambodia after being turned away by several Asian and Pacific governments. No cases of the viral illness have been confirmed among its 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members, according to the operator Holland America Line.
Thailand refused to allow the Westerdam to dock this week after it had already been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and Guam over virus concerns.
The Westerdam began its cruise in Singapore last month and its last stop before it was refused further landings was in Hong Kong, where 50 cases of the viral disease have been confirmed.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--LeBron James and Anthony Davis propel Lakers to OT win

DENVER — LeBron James wasn ’ t about to coast into the All-Star break , and neither was Anthony Davis .
“ I could tell they were locked in pregame .
LeBron had his jersey with like 80 minutes to go before the game , ” guard Alex Caruso said after the Los Angeles Lakers ’ 120-116 overtime triumph in Denver on Wednesday night .
James posted his 12th triple-double of the season , tied with Luka Doncic for the NBA lead , and Davis scored seven of his 33 points in overtime as the Western Conference leaders took a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second-place Denver into the All-Star break .
“ I was trying to be laser sharp , laser focused as I could , ” James said .
“ I know the break was coming , but I wasn ’ t going to take this opportunity for granted .
I wanted to play extremely well tonight for our ballclub , and I wanted us to play extremely well going into the break on a high note .
And our team , we responded very well.
” The Nuggets were the hottest team in the league @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including short-handed stunners at Milwaukee and Utah .
So , James , who had 32 points , 14 assists and 12 rebounds , saw this as playoff prep .
“ Every opportunity we get to play in a close game against a tough opponent , it ’ s a learning experience for all of us , ” he said .
“ It prepares us for a postseason game where it ’ s going to be back and forth , back and forth .
I thought tonight was a playoff atmosphere for both teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
2 in the Western Conference , jockeying for position .
We were just trying to make plays whatever it takes .
And A.D. was there knocking down big 3s and getting a block and getting some stops , the jump ball , as well .
It was big time.
” In addition to his 33 points , Davis tied up All-Star Nikola Jokic for a key jump ball late in regulation when the officials had to waive off the basket by Denver ’ s big man after he muscled the ball away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jokic has 22 points and 11 rebounds for Denver , which saw its four-game winning streak snapped .
Dwight Howard added 14 points for the Lakers , who improved their NBA-best road record to 23-5 .
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 33 points , but Jokic was in foul trouble late and made some crucial blunders in the extra period , including a turnover on a bad pass with 19 seconds left after he passed up an open 3-pointer with Denver down 119-116 .
The back-and-forth game went to overtime tied at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the iron and bounced away at the buzzer .
Gary Harris ’ 3-pointer tied it at 116 with 3:06 remaining in overtime , but the Nuggets suddenly went cold , especially Jokic , who missed three shots and bypassed a wide-open 3 with 20 seconds left and the Nuggets down 119-116 .
He followed with a bad pass right into the arms of Kentavious Cadlwell-Pope .
“ It was a close game .
We just didn ’ t execute in the last minutes , ” Jokic said .
“ I made a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad .
So , I need to be better with my decision-making .
I think I just need to look to shoot a little bit more .
”

DENVER — LeBron James wasn’t about to coast into the All-Star break, and neither was Anthony Davis.
“I could tell they were locked in pregame. LeBron had his jersey with like 80 minutes to go before the game,” guard Alex Caruso said after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 120-116 overtime triumph in Denver on Wednesday night.
James posted his 12th triple-double of the season, tied with Luka Doncic for the NBA lead, and Davis scored seven of his 33 points in overtime as the Western Conference leaders took a 41-12 record and a four-game lead over second-place Denver into the All-Star break.
“I was trying to be laser sharp, laser focused as I could,” James said. “I know the break was coming, but I wasn’t going to take this opportunity for granted. I wanted to play extremely well tonight for our ballclub, and I wanted us to play extremely well going into the break on a high note. And our team, we responded very well.”
The Nuggets were the hottest team in the league, having won six of seven, including short-handed stunners at Milwaukee and Utah.
So, James, who had 32 points, 14 assists and 12 rebounds, saw this as playoff prep.
“Every opportunity we get to play in a close game against a tough opponent, it’s a learning experience for all of us,” he said. “It prepares us for a postseason game where it’s going to be back and forth, back and forth. I thought tonight was a playoff atmosphere for both teams, being No. 1 and No. 2 in the Western Conference, jockeying for position. We were just trying to make plays whatever it takes. And A.D. was there knocking down big 3s and getting a block and getting some stops, the jump ball, as well. It was big time.”
In addition to his 33 points, Davis tied up All-Star Nikola Jokic for a key jump ball late in regulation when the officials had to waive off the basket by Denver’s big man after he muscled the ball away from Davis and into the basket.
Jokic has 22 points and 11 rebounds for Denver, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped.
Dwight Howard added 14 points for the Lakers, who improved their NBA-best road record to 23-5.
Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 33 points, but Jokic was in foul trouble late and made some crucial blunders in the extra period, including a turnover on a bad pass with 19 seconds left after he passed up an open 3-pointer with Denver down 119-116.
The back-and-forth game went to overtime tied at 111 when James’ fadeaway 15-footer hit the iron and bounced away at the buzzer.
Gary Harris’ 3-pointer tied it at 116 with 3:06 remaining in overtime, but the Nuggets suddenly went cold, especially Jokic, who missed three shots and bypassed a wide-open 3 with 20 seconds left and the Nuggets down 119-116. He followed with a bad pass right into the arms of Kentavious Cadlwell-Pope.
“It was a close game. We just didn’t execute in the last minutes,” Jokic said. “I made a lot of terrible mistakes. Every decision was bad. So, I need to be better with my decision-making. I think I just need to look to shoot a little bit more.”


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis lead Mavericks past Kings

DALLAS — Before heading to the All-Star game to play with his basketball idol , Luka Doncic returned from injury to test a pairing that ’ s a lot more important to the Dallas Mavericks sensation .
The 20-year-old Slovenian and fellow Euro star Kristaps Porzingis will want to keep this up after the break .
Doncic had 33 points and 12 rebounds after missing seven games with a sprained right ankle while Porzingis chipped in 27 points with 13 boards , leading the Mavericks to a 130-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night .
An All-Star starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team in his second season , Doncic added eight assists in the NBA triple-double leader ’ s final game before going to All-Star weekend in Chicago , where he also plans to play in the rising stars game .
Porzingis will be waiting when he gets back after thriving like rarely before in their first season together , and after the 7-foot-3 Latvian recorded a career-best three consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds with Doncic out .
“ It ’ s just getting better and better , ” Doncic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s good when we both have those nights.
” Buddy Hield scored 22 points and De ’ Aaron Fox added 16 for the Kings , who fell behind for good in the second quarter and were never closer than 11 points in the second half .
“ For some reason , we didn ’ t feel the need to try to play much defense tonight , ” coach Luke Walton said .
“ We couldn ’ t stop their top guys and when we did , it just didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and desire that it takes to win , especially on the road , in this league.
” Doncic didn ’ t need long to find a groove , scoring 17 points in the first half with eight rebounds and five assists , including a no-look pass in transition to Maxi Kleber for a dunk .
Porzingis , who had five assists and three blocks , was 11 of 16 from the field with an emphatic dunk in transition that pushed the Dallas lead past 20 for the first time at 89-68 late in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the communication and the eye contact between them throughout the game offensively was fantastic , ” coach Rick Carlisle said .
“ KP mixed rolls , pops .
Luka was driving , stepping back .
And they were playing great off each other .
That ’ s a great thing to see , particularly headed into the break.
” It ’ s the second time Doncic has missed games with a sprained right ankle .
He was out four games in December after getting hurt early in a loss to Miami , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last month .
“ It was a quiet 33 .
It really was , ” Carlisle said .
“ He really kept everyone involved and picked his spots and was very efficient with his field goal attempts .
That ’ s the sign of a great player that can do that.
” Kent Bazemore scored 15 points and hit a 3-pointer that briefly put the Kings ahead in the second quarter after they trailed by 12 less than nine minutes into the game .

DALLAS — Before heading to the All-Star game to play with his basketball idol, Luka Doncic returned from injury to test a pairing that’s a lot more important to the Dallas Mavericks sensation.
The 20-year-old Slovenian and fellow Euro star Kristaps Porzingis will want to keep this up after the break.
Doncic had 33 points and 12 rebounds after missing seven games with a sprained right ankle while Porzingis chipped in 27 points with 13 boards, leading the Mavericks to a 130-111 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night.
An All-Star starter set to play for LeBron James’ team in his second season, Doncic added eight assists in the NBA triple-double leader’s final game before going to All-Star weekend in Chicago, where he also plans to play in the rising stars game.
Porzingis will be waiting when he gets back after thriving like rarely before in their first season together, and after the 7-foot-3 Latvian recorded a career-best three consecutive games with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds with Doncic out.
“It’s just getting better and better,” Doncic said of the pair playing together. “It’s good when we both have those nights.”
Buddy Hield scored 22 points and De’Aaron Fox added 16 for the Kings, who fell behind for good in the second quarter and were never closer than 11 points in the second half.
“For some reason, we didn’t feel the need to try to play much defense tonight,” coach Luke Walton said. “We couldn’t stop their top guys and when we did, it just didn’t feel like we had the passion and desire that it takes to win, especially on the road, in this league.”
Doncic didn’t need long to find a groove, scoring 17 points in the first half with eight rebounds and five assists, including a no-look pass in transition to Maxi Kleber for a dunk.
Porzingis, who had five assists and three blocks, was 11 of 16 from the field with an emphatic dunk in transition that pushed the Dallas lead past 20 for the first time at 89-68 late in the third quarter.
“The playmaking and the communication and the eye contact between them throughout the game offensively was fantastic,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “KP mixed rolls, pops. Luka was driving, stepping back. And they were playing great off each other. That’s a great thing to see, particularly headed into the break.”
It’s the second time Doncic has missed games with a sprained right ankle. He was out four games in December after getting hurt early in a loss to Miami, then re-injured the ankle in practice late last month.
“It was a quiet 33. It really was,” Carlisle said. “He really kept everyone involved and picked his spots and was very efficient with his field goal attempts. That’s the sign of a great player that can do that.”
Kent Bazemore scored 15 points and hit a 3-pointer that briefly put the Kings ahead in the second quarter after they trailed by 12 less than nine minutes into the game.


newyorkpost--2020-02-13--Bloomberg once blamed end of ‘redlining’ for 2008 economic collapse

WASHINGTON — At the height of the 2008 economic collapse , then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the elimination of a discriminatory housing practice known as “ redlining ” was responsible for instigating the meltdown .
“ It all started back when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone , ” Bloomberg , now a Democratic presidential candidate , said at a forum that was hosted by Georgetown University in September 2008 .
“ Redlining , if you remember , was the term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said , ‘ People in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not going to be able to pay off their mortgages , tell your salesmen don ’ t go into those areas.
’ ” He continued : “ And then Congress got involved — local elected officials , as well — and said , ‘ Oh that ’ s not fair , these people should be able to get credit.
’ And once you started pushing in that direction , banks started making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house wasn ’ t as good as you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who built a media and financial services empire before turning to electoral politics , was correct that the financial crisis was triggered in part by banks extending loans to borrowers who were ill-suited to repay them .
But by attributing the meltdown to the elimination of redlining , a practice used by banks to discriminate against minority borrowers , Bloomberg appears to be blaming policies intended to bring equality to the housing market .
The term redlining comes from the “ red lines ” those in the financial industry would draw on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit , frequently based on race .
“ It ’ s been well documented that the 2008 crash was caused by unethical , predatory lending that deliberately targeted communities of color , ” said Debra Gore-Mann , president and CEO of the Greenlining Institute , a nonprofit that works for racial and economic justice .
“ People of color were sold trick loans with exploding interest rates designed to push them into foreclosure .
Our communities of color and low-income communities were the victims of the crash , not the cause.
” Campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacked predatory lending ” as mayor and , if elected president , has a plan to “ help a million more Black families buy a house , and counteract the effects of redlining and the subprime mortgage crisis.
” The campaign also pointed to efforts by Bloomberg ’ s private philanthropy to help other cities craft policies that will help reduce evictions .
He promised in a January speech to do a version of the very thing he criticized in 2008 : Ask lenders to update their credit-scoring models , “ because millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a credit score which is needed to get a mortgage.
” After this story was published , Loeser added : “ He ’ s saying that something bad – the financial crisis – followed something good , which is the fight against redlining that he was part of as Mayor.
” Bloomberg ’ s 2008 remarks stand in contrast with the decadeslong positions some of his rivals have held .
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s work as a professor and attorney has been devoted to the study of bankruptcy and the disastrous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of families .
As a young Delaware senator , Joe Biden held hearings on unfair lending practices and sponsored legislation to ban discrimination in lending and crackdown on industry figures who did .
The remarks are the latest instance of past comments by Bloomberg that have resurfaced in recent days that make him appear racially insensitive .
On Tuesday , an audio recording ricocheted around social media of the then-mayor defending his police department ’ s use of the controversial “ stop-and-frisk ” tactic during a 2015 appearance at the Aspen Institute .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ police officers made it a routine practice to stop and search multitudes of mostly black and Hispanic men to see if they were carrying weapons .
Although he has since apologized for his support for the policy , in the recording Bloomberg said that “ 95 % ” of murders and murder victims are young male minorities and that “ you can just take the description , Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops.
” To combat crime , he said , “ put a lot of cops where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhoods.
” Bloomberg ’ s resurfaced comments about redlining come as he ’ s in the midst of a two-day tour of the South that in part is focused on building relationships with black voters who are the backbone of the Democratic Party .
On Thursday , he plans to launch “ Mike for Black America ” Speaking to reporters in Tennessee on Wednesday , he refused to directly apologize for the 2015 comments .
In response to repeated questions , he said , “ I don ’ t think those words reflect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the nation.
” “ I apologized for the practice and the pain that it caused , ” he said Wednesday .
“ It was five years ago .
And , you know , it ’ s just not the way that I think , and it doesn ’ t reflect what I do every day.
” Introducing Bloomberg at an event in Chattanooga , Tennessee , Dr. Elenora Woods , president of the city ’ s NAACP chapter , said he would be a tireless fighter for economic justice for black Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism looks like .
I know what it looks like , and that ’ s not Mike Bloomberg , ” she said .

WASHINGTON — At the height of the 2008 economic collapse, then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the elimination of a discriminatory housing practice known as “redlining” was responsible for instigating the meltdown.
“It all started back when there was a lot of pressure on banks to make loans to everyone,” Bloomberg, now a Democratic presidential candidate, said at a forum that was hosted by Georgetown University in September 2008. “Redlining, if you remember, was the term where banks took whole neighborhoods and said, ‘People in these neighborhoods are poor, they’re not going to be able to pay off their mortgages, tell your salesmen don’t go into those areas.’”
He continued: “And then Congress got involved — local elected officials, as well — and said, ‘Oh that’s not fair, these people should be able to get credit.’ And once you started pushing in that direction, banks started making more and more loans where the credit of the person buying the house wasn’t as good as you would like.”
Bloomberg, a billionaire who built a media and financial services empire before turning to electoral politics, was correct that the financial crisis was triggered in part by banks extending loans to borrowers who were ill-suited to repay them. But by attributing the meltdown to the elimination of redlining, a practice used by banks to discriminate against minority borrowers, Bloomberg appears to be blaming policies intended to bring equality to the housing market.
The term redlining comes from the “red lines” those in the financial industry would draw on a map to denote areas deemed ineligible for credit, frequently based on race.
“It’s been well documented that the 2008 crash was caused by unethical, predatory lending that deliberately targeted communities of color,” said Debra Gore-Mann, president and CEO of the Greenlining Institute, a nonprofit that works for racial and economic justice. “People of color were sold trick loans with exploding interest rates designed to push them into foreclosure. Our communities of color and low-income communities were the victims of the crash, not the cause.”
Campaign spokesman Stu Loeser said that Bloomberg “attacked predatory lending” as mayor and, if elected president, has a plan to “help a million more Black families buy a house, and counteract the effects of redlining and the subprime mortgage crisis.”
The campaign also pointed to efforts by Bloomberg’s private philanthropy to help other cities craft policies that will help reduce evictions. He promised in a January speech to do a version of the very thing he criticized in 2008: Ask lenders to update their credit-scoring models, “because millions of black households don’t have a credit score which is needed to get a mortgage.”
After this story was published, Loeser added: “He’s saying that something bad – the financial crisis – followed something good, which is the fight against redlining that he was part of as Mayor.”
Bloomberg’s 2008 remarks stand in contrast with the decadeslong positions some of his rivals have held.
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s work as a professor and attorney has been devoted to the study of bankruptcy and the disastrous impact it has on the financial well-being of families. As a young Delaware senator, Joe Biden held hearings on unfair lending practices and sponsored legislation to ban discrimination in lending and crackdown on industry figures who did.
The remarks are the latest instance of past comments by Bloomberg that have resurfaced in recent days that make him appear racially insensitive.
On Tuesday, an audio recording ricocheted around social media of the then-mayor defending his police department’s use of the controversial “stop-and-frisk” tactic during a 2015 appearance at the Aspen Institute.
Under the program, New York City police officers made it a routine practice to stop and search multitudes of mostly black and Hispanic men to see if they were carrying weapons.
Although he has since apologized for his support for the policy, in the recording Bloomberg said that “95%” of murders and murder victims are young male minorities and that “you can just take the description, Xerox it and pass it out to all the cops.” To combat crime, he said, “put a lot of cops where the crime is, which means in minority neighborhoods.”
Bloomberg’s resurfaced comments about redlining come as he’s in the midst of a two-day tour of the South that in part is focused on building relationships with black voters who are the backbone of the Democratic Party. On Thursday, he plans to launch “Mike for Black America”
Speaking to reporters in Tennessee on Wednesday, he refused to directly apologize for the 2015 comments. In response to repeated questions, he said, “I don’t think those words reflect how I led the most diverse city in the nation.”
“I apologized for the practice and the pain that it caused,” he said Wednesday. “It was five years ago. And, you know, it’s just not the way that I think, and it doesn’t reflect what I do every day.”
Introducing Bloomberg at an event in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dr. Elenora Woods, president of the city’s NAACP chapter, said he would be a tireless fighter for economic justice for black Americans.
“Look, I know what racism looks like. I know what it looks like, and that’s not Mike Bloomberg,” she said.