newyorkpost--2020-07-21--DJ LeMahieu playing Opening Day is suddenly looking real

For nine of their 11 years at the new Yankee ...

DJ LeMahieu played in his second exhibition game of spring training 2.0 on Monday night and will get plenty of at-bats Tuesday in simulated games against Yankee hurlers.
Is it enough for the second baseman to be ready for Thursday’s Opening Day in Washington after reporting late to the Yankees’ camp due to COVID-19?
“I think it is a possibility and if not Opening Day, the first couple of days,’’ LeMahieu said following a 2-2 tie with the Phillies at Yankee Stadium in which he played five innings in the field and went 0-for-3. “We will see. I will push for Opening Day. A lot of things go into the decision.’’
Aaron Boone wants to see how LeMahieu’s body bounces back Tuesday before committing the All-Star to being on the 30-man roster Thursday.
“I think it’s a possibility,’’ Boone said of LeMahieu being ready for Opening Day. “But we will see.’’
Major League rosters have to be submitted by noon Thursday, but listening to Boone gush about Mike Ford’s hitting ability it will be a shock if the left-handed hitting first baseman isn’t among the 30 Yankees on the Opening Day roster.
“I think some people miss how good of an offensive player he is,’’ Boone said of Ford, who tied Monday night’s game 2-2 with a ninth-inning homer. “He controls the zone and has power. I think he is a really good middle of the order major league hitter. That is how I view him, I think he is that good. For us it is a left-handed look, obviously. We are right-handed heavy. He is going to see some time because he is a lefty bat that can split up our righties a little bit.’’
When James Paxton mentioned Monday night that he wasn’t quite getting the extension he needed when facing hitters, the immediate reaction was to wonder whether it was something physical, considering that he had back surgery in February.
“I feel like I am having a hard time getting the full extension out front, but it is very close. I just need to put a little more time in and get that ironed out,’’ said Paxton, who is scheduled to start the Yankees’ second game of the regular season on Saturday in Washington against the Nationals.
Asked if something physical was the reason the 6-foot-4 lefty he wasn’t getting full extension, Paxton said it wasn’t.
“My body feels great, it’s just about finding that rhythm again and finding those patterns that I want to find on the mound,’’ said the 31-year-old Paxton, who has been on the injured list eight times since 2014. “My body feels really good, I feel like I am 100 percent.’’
With right-handed starter Masahiro Tanaka doubtful to pitch in the first five games of the season due to a concussion he suffered on July 4, the Yankees can’t afford an injury to another starter and certainly not their No. 2 guy behind ace Gerrit Cole.
Tanaka is scheduled to throw to live hitters on Tuesday for the first time since getting hit in the head by a Giancarlo Stanton liner on Independence Day.
“If that goes good he would have another simulated game or intrasquad game potentially five days out,’’ Boone said.
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As for Paxton, the manager was impressed.
“Five innings, 84 pitches and held his stuff well,’’ Boone said of Paxton, who faced Clint Frazier and Miguel Andujar. “I think he is still expecting more because he expects a lot of himself but overall I thought he threw the ball really well.’’
With Paxton scheduled to face the Phillies at home on July 30, Boone didn’t want their hitters to get a look at the lefty in a game that didn’t count. Hence, the simulated game.
“He is one of those guys who is pretty comfortable doing it this way,’’ Boone said. “If we were playing them later it wouldn’t have been such a big deal. It is so early in the season and he was on board with it.’’
Deivi Garcia’s first taste of Yankee Stadium Monday night against the Phillies didn’t turn out great, but the 21-year-old right-hander said it will never escape his memory.
“Having the opportunity to pitch here at Yankee Stadium is definitely an experience that I will never forget,’’ Garcia said. “The level of competition here is what I like.’’
In 1 ²/₃ innings Garcia allowed two runs (one earned), four hits, walked one and committed a throwing error that led to the unearned run.
“I wanted to be more aggressive and tonight I struggled,’’ Garcia said. “That is the mindset I had and what I wanted to do. At the same time you learn from every outing.’’
Garcia was a long shot to be part of the 30-man roster and with no minor league season he will likely join the taxi squad and work out in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
The first and third exhibition games of spring training 2.0 weren’t easy for Gio Urshela. He got hit by a batted ball in the groin Saturday at Citi Field during batting practice and Monday night he appeared to foul a ball off his right hand in the second inning against Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez.
Andujar pinch-hit in the sixth inning and remained in the game at first base.
It is not a secret that Didi Gregorius was well liked by his Yankees teammates, but the river of Yankees who flowed toward the Phillies’ shortstop late Monday afternoon while he was on the field watching the Yankees take batting practice was impressive.
Fist bumps, handshakes and hugs were exchanged with the masked Gregorius by former teammates and Yankees staff members.
“Didi is one of those guys who brings a smile to your face,’’ said Aaron Boone, who was impressed the way Gregorius bounced back from a dismal start as Derek Jeter’s replacement. “That could have easily buried a lesser person or player. It almost made him better. He was an important part of some really good teams.’’
The Yankees will work out at the Stadium on Tuesday and travel Wednesday to Washington where they will work out at Nationals Park.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Michael Cohen sues AG William Barr after being sent back to prison

Michael Cohen is suing Attorney General William Barr , claiming he was thrown back in prison because he refused to put the kibosh on his tell-all book about President Trump .
Cohen — who was sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion , bank fraud , and lying to Congress — was released in May after one year due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus inside Otisville prison .
But Cohen was locked up again on July 9 after the former Trump fixer was caught by a Post photographer chowing down at a Manhattan restaurant .
Federal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his home confinement — and threw him into solitary confinement back at Otisville .
But Cohen , 53 , claims in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan Monday that he was locked up because he refused to cancel plans to publish a behind-the-scenes book that would make Trump out to be “ a cheat , a liar , a con man , a racist , ” the suit said .
“ While on furlough , Mr. Cohen repeatedly made public his intention to publish his book about President Trump soon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 2 , 2020 , he tweeted that he was putting the finishing touches on what promised to be a tell-all book about his experience with Mr. Trump.
” “ Just one week later , on July 9 , 2020 , US Probation Officers , working on behalf of the ( Bureau of Prisons ) , presented Mr. Cohen with an unconstitutional demand : As a condition of his release — a release BOP already had determined was necessary to protect Mr. Cohen ’ s health — he had to agree to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any media of any sort , including via a book.
” Cohen said “ he did not refuse , ” but sought clarification on the prohibitions .
“ The probation officers told Mr. Cohen that they would run those requests ‘ up the chain ’ to higher-ups at BOP , ” the suit said .
“ Instead , Mr. Cohen was remanded to FCI Otisville , where he remains in solitary confinement today.
” The 21-page lawsuit , which names Barr and two federal prison officials , also claims that Cohen ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the deadly pandemic behind bars .
Cohen is asking for the court to release him back into home confinement and reimbursement for legal fees .

Michael Cohen is suing Attorney General William Barr, claiming he was thrown back in prison because he refused to put the kibosh on his tell-all book about President Trump.
Cohen — who was sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion, bank fraud, and lying to Congress — was released in May after one year due to concerns over the spread of coronavirus inside Otisville prison.
But Cohen was locked up again on July 9 after the former Trump fixer was caught by a Post photographer chowing down at a Manhattan restaurant.
Federal officials said he violated the terms of his home confinement — and threw him into solitary confinement back at Otisville.
But Cohen, 53, claims in the lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan Monday that he was locked up because he refused to cancel plans to publish a behind-the-scenes book that would make Trump out to be “a cheat, a liar, a con man, a racist,” the suit said.
“While on furlough, Mr. Cohen repeatedly made public his intention to publish his book about President Trump soon,” the claim says.
“On July 2, 2020, he tweeted that he was putting the finishing touches on what promised to be a tell-all book about his experience with Mr. Trump.”
“Just one week later, on July 9, 2020, US Probation Officers, working on behalf of the (Bureau of Prisons), presented Mr. Cohen with an unconstitutional demand: As a condition of his release — a release BOP already had determined was necessary to protect Mr. Cohen’s health — he had to agree to a complete bar on speaking to or through any media of any sort, including via a book.”
Cohen said “he did not refuse,” but sought clarification on the prohibitions.
“The probation officers told Mr. Cohen that they would run those requests ‘up the chain’ to higher-ups at BOP,” the suit said. “Instead, Mr. Cohen was remanded to FCI Otisville, where he remains in solitary confinement today.”
The 21-page lawsuit, which names Barr and two federal prison officials, also claims that Cohen’s health is now at risk because of the spread of the deadly pandemic behind bars.
Cohen is asking for the court to release him back into home confinement and reimbursement for legal fees.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Planned Parenthood removing Margaret Sanger’s name from NYC clinic

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York on Tuesday said it ’ ll ditch the name of Margaret Sanger — one of the founders of the national organization — from its Lower Manhattan clinic over her “ harmful connections to the eugenics movement.
” The group is also talking to New York City leaders about scrapping Sanger ’ s name from a street sign that ’ s hung near its Bleecker Street offices for more than 20 years .
Planned Parenthood dates its beginnings to 1916 , when public health nurse Sanger , her sister and a friend opened America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Long viewed as a feminist hero for her pioneering views on women ’ s right to choose , Sanger also supported eugenics — a discredited movement to promote selective breeding that often targeted people of color and the disabled .
“ The removal of Margaret Sanger ’ s name from our building is both a necessary and overdue step to reckon with our legacy and acknowledge Planned Parenthood ’ s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color , ” Karen Seltzer , the chair of Planned Parenthood of New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Margaret Sanger ’ s concerns and advocacy for reproductive health have been clearly documented , but so too has her racist legacy.
” The Planned Parenthood founder ’ s troubling embrace of eugenics — which was later practiced by the Nazis — has come into focus in recent years .
In 2016 , the national organization issued a fact sheet saying that while it denounced some of Sanger ’ s beliefs , it defended her as well-intentioned for trying to make birth control widely accessible .
Still , officials with the national group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name from the clinic .
It will now be known as the Manhattan Health Center .
“ Planned Parenthood , like many other organizations that have existed for a century or more , is reckoning with our history , and working to address historical inequities to better serve patients and our mission , ” said Melanie Roussell Newman , a spokesperson for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America .
The move comes amid a nationwide reckoning over the ties of some revered historical figures to racism .
Last month , Princeton University announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school because of his views on segregation .

Planned Parenthood of Greater New York on Tuesday said it’ll ditch the name of Margaret Sanger — one of the founders of the national organization — from its Lower Manhattan clinic over her “harmful connections to the eugenics movement.”
The group is also talking to New York City leaders about scrapping Sanger’s name from a street sign that’s hung near its Bleecker Street offices for more than 20 years.
Planned Parenthood dates its beginnings to 1916, when public health nurse Sanger, her sister and a friend opened America’s first birth control clinic in Brooklyn.
Long viewed as a feminist hero for her pioneering views on women’s right to choose, Sanger also supported eugenics — a discredited movement to promote selective breeding that often targeted people of color and the disabled.
“The removal of Margaret Sanger’s name from our building is both a necessary and overdue step to reckon with our legacy and acknowledge Planned Parenthood’s contributions to historical reproductive harm within communities of color,” Karen Seltzer, the chair of Planned Parenthood of New York, said in a statement.
“Margaret Sanger’s concerns and advocacy for reproductive health have been clearly documented, but so too has her racist legacy.”
The Planned Parenthood founder’s troubling embrace of eugenics — which was later practiced by the Nazis — has come into focus in recent years.
In 2016, the national organization issued a fact sheet saying that while it denounced some of Sanger’s beliefs, it defended her as well-intentioned for trying to make birth control widely accessible.
Still, officials with the national group said they supported stripping Sanger’s name from the clinic. It will now be known as the Manhattan Health Center.
“Planned Parenthood, like many other organizations that have existed for a century or more, is reckoning with our history, and working to address historical inequities to better serve patients and our mission,” said Melanie Roussell Newman, a spokesperson for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
The move comes amid a nationwide reckoning over the ties of some revered historical figures to racism.
Last month, Princeton University announced it would remove the name of President Woodrow Wilson from its public policy school because of his views on segregation.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin to host virtual fund-raiser for Joe Biden

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens @ @ @ @ @ to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin @ @ @ @ @ for Biden on Aug. 6 , moderated by TEDWomen editorial director Pat Mitchell .
The @ @ @ @ @ followers , states : “ Jane and Lily have made their legendary mark on film @ @ @ @ @ globally , while being widely admired for their advocacy work off-camera .
We are so @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign.
” Fonda was arrested five times last year while @ @ @ @ @ .
Tickets for the campaign rally go for $ 100 to $ 10,000 .

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It’s “Grace and Frankie” for Joe Biden.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin are hosting a virtual fund-raiser for Biden on Aug. 6, moderated by TEDWomen editorial director Pat Mitchell.
The invitation, sent to Democratic followers, states: “Jane and Lily have made their legendary mark on film screens in the US and globally, while being widely admired for their advocacy work off-camera. We are so grateful for their endorsement of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign.”
Fonda was arrested five times last year while protesting with climate change activists. Tickets for the campaign rally go for $100 to $10,000.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Blogger Danielle Bernstein slammed for allegedly stealing mask designs

Danielle Bernstein , the founder and face of blog WeWoreWhat , is getting slammed online for allegedly copying a mask design featuring a chain .
Influential fashion blog Diet Prada claims Bernstein asked for samples of the linen masks with a metal chain made by By Second Wind , which has a patent pending .
Diet Prada wrote : “ Bernstein solicited masks from Latina-owned company , then knocked them off … she appears to have lifted it directly from @ bysecondwind … On June 29 , Danielle reached out to the brand via DM and hustled some free masks.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ own line of masks “ and they ’ re nearly identical.
” But , after criticism of Bernstein posting photos of herself sans mask , Diet Prada wrote : “ After her carefree summer gallivanting around the Hamptons , Danielle is finally wearing a mask.
” Bernstein responded : “ I designed and ordered these masks over two months ago , before I knew what By Second Wind was … the chain and construction are completely different.
” By Second Wind founder Karen Perez said , “ I was really excited she liked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks after the pandemic .
I literally put my blood sweat and tears into it … she reached out to me to support me , why didn ’ t she tell me she was working on the same thing ?
She used the same kind of chain and the same fabric , and colors as me , that really upset me .
When I saw her masks I was heartbroken … I am fed up , for me — as a woman and a minority … I have to stand up for myself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she stands up for minorities , but she ’ s ripping us off , thinking we only have a tiny voice .
”

Danielle Bernstein, the founder and face of blog WeWoreWhat, is getting slammed online for allegedly copying a mask design featuring a chain.
Influential fashion blog Diet Prada claims Bernstein asked for samples of the linen masks with a metal chain made by By Second Wind, which has a patent pending. Diet Prada wrote: “Bernstein solicited masks from Latina-owned company, then knocked them off … she appears to have lifted it directly from @bysecondwind … On June 29, Danielle reached out to the brand via DM and hustled some free masks.” Now, WeWoreWhat has launched its own line of masks “and they’re nearly identical.”
But, after criticism of Bernstein posting photos of herself sans mask, Diet Prada wrote: “After her carefree summer gallivanting around the Hamptons, Danielle is finally wearing a mask.” Bernstein responded: “I designed and ordered these masks over two months ago, before I knew what By Second Wind was … the chain and construction are completely different.”
By Second Wind founder Karen Perez said, “I was really excited she liked our masks, I started it two weeks after the pandemic. I literally put my blood sweat and tears into it … she reached out to me to support me, why didn’t she tell me she was working on the same thing? She used the same kind of chain and the same fabric, and colors as me, that really upset me. When I saw her masks I was heartbroken … I am fed up, for me — as a woman and a minority … I have to stand up for myself. She’s a phony, she stands up for minorities, but she’s ripping us off, thinking we only have a tiny voice.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Masahiro Tanaka won’t be on Yankees’ Opening Day roster

Just minutes after the Yankees opened spring training 2.0 in ...

Masahiro Tanaka will not be on the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, but he may not be far behind.
Though the veteran right-hander took a key step forward Tuesday, facing live hitters for the first time since getting a line drive to the head and suffering a concussion on July 4, he still won’t be ready in time for his first turn through the rotation. If all goes as planned, Tanaka will face hitters again on Sunday in Scranton and could be ready to come off the injured list and rejoin the Yankees rotation by July 31.
In the meantime, manager Aaron Boone announced Tuesday that Michael King has made the team and could be in line to pitch Sunday in a bullpen game against the Nationals to fill Tanaka’s spot.
Gerrit Cole and James Paxton will start the first two games of the season, and J.A. Happ will go Monday against the Phillies. Cole could come back on regular rest to pitch again Tuesday — especially in light of the Yankees optioning Jordan Montgomery to the alternate training site, with another starter not needed until Wednesday’s home opener.
Tanaka threw 20 pitches Tuesday at Yankee Stadium and is expected to throw 35-40 on Sunday, building him back up after the scary line drive from Giancarlo Stanton disrupted his spring training 2.0.
“It actually kind of crossed my mind for the very first pitch, but after I threw that, it was back to business, back to normal,” Tanaka said through an interpreter.
Tanaka said he did not consider using an L screen Tuesday because he would never have one in a real game.
“I thought he was strong,” Boone said. “Fastball had life to it. I thought the stuff was pretty good and I thought it was just an important step getting back out there and facing hitters. … I was really encouraged by what I saw.”
The 24-year-old King, meanwhile, earned the chance to start the season on the Yankees’ 30-man roster with his performance in spring training 2.0.
“He came into summer camp from a make-the-club standpoint — he really needed to show something and I feel like he more than did that,” Boone said. “He has a chance to really impact our club this year.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Bret Easton Ellis, Irvine Welsh join forces for tabloid-focused TV satire

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Scottish author Irvine Welsh is teaming with @ @ @ @ @ satirical drama TV series about America ’ s tabloid press culture .
Under the working @ @ @ @ @ ” the show will chronicle a weekly publication , Deadline reported , “ where political @ @ @ @ @ are left firmly at the door.
” The show will be produced by the UK @ @ @ @ @ .
Producer Shelley Hammond said this was the first time “ American Psycho ” author @ @ @ @ @ ” writer Welsh have collaborated , “ We always knew we would require writers who @ @ @ @ @ and go way further than most would dare … with the support to allow creative @ @ @ @ @ spectacular things will happen .
”

Scottish author Irvine Welsh is teaming with Bret Easton Ellis on a satirical drama TV series about America’s tabloid press culture.
Under the working title “American Tabloid,” the show will chronicle a weekly publication, Deadline reported, “where political correctness, morals and ethics are left firmly at the door.” The show will be produced by the UK’s Burning Wheel Productions.
Producer Shelley Hammond said this was the first time “American Psycho” author Easton Ellis and “Trainspotting” writer Welsh have collaborated, “We always knew we would require writers who don’t hold back and go way further than most would dare … with the support to allow creative freedom, we are confident spectacular things will happen.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--‘DC’s Stargirl’ Star Jake Austin Walker Breaks Down Brainwave Jr.’s Heroic Sacrifice

Spoilers for DC ’ s Stargirl Season 1 , Episode 10 , “ Brainwave Jr. ” past this point !
Seriously !
Have you dried your tears yet ?
Because that ’ s a series wrap on Jake Austin Walker , a.k.a .
Henry Jr. , a.k.a .
Brainwave Jr. on this week ’ s episode of DC ’ s Stargirl .
After spending the past two episodes explore his new powers , his relationship to his father ( Christopher James Baker ) , and whether he ’ d fall on the side of the Young Justice Society of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Henry ultimately sacrificed his own life to save the lives of Courtney Whitmore ( Brec Bassinger ) and her super-friends .
And in case you weren ’ t 100 % convinced Henry is dead , because of course this is a comic book show , Walker confirmed his passing to Decider .
“ Sadly , as far as I know , Henry ’ s under those rocks , big time , ” Walker said .
“ There ’ s no Ito dragging him out , or anything like that .
Henry is under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period on the future of Brainwave Jr. on the show , it also ends the fractious relationship between Henry and his ex-girlfriend Yolanda Montex ( Yvette Monreal ) , the potential family relationship between Henry and Courtney , and of course marks a major turning point for the JSA .
On the latter note , now that they ’ ve seen ISA member Brainwave kill his own son — and confess to killing his wife , as well — they know how huge and deadly the stakes are .
To discuss all this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last day on set , what it was like playing Henry , whether Yolanda and Henry could have ever repaired their relationship , and what it was like filming that heart-rending final scene in the tunnel : Decider : I ’ ve got to ask this one first , because of course it ’ s a comic book show… Is Henry actually dead at the end of the episode ?
Jake Austin Walker : As far as I know .
As far as Jake the actor knows , Henry is under that gravel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a comic book world and a comic fan , I absolutely could see how Henry could back .
But that ’ s more wishful thinking .
I have no confirmation .
I have absolutely no idea .
I am at peace with Henry ’ s arc , though .
I think the show and the writers and everyone gave him such a phenomenal arc as a character .
For me , it was literally one of the coolest characters I ’ ve ever played in my entire life .
Sadly , as far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under those rocks , big time .
There ’ s no Ito dragging him out , or anything like that .
Henry is under there .
I ’ m pretty sure that tunnel ’ s just going to be blocked off for ISA now .
You start in the first episode with him almost being a generic high school bully — to , by Episode 10 , we ’ re getting choked up , crying over losing him .
How much of that did you know going in , and how much did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first 10 episodes ?
Oh , goodness .
So when I auditioned , it was a pretty — all things considered , in comparison to most auditions — it was a pretty quick process .
There was a first audition , a month went by , different audition , was about to sign onto the role .
The only thing was , they wouldn ’ t disclose any information .
They wouldn ’ t tell me who the character was , anything .
So I was kind of on the fence .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Geoff Johns , which is already like , “ Holy crap.
” I ’ m a huge comic fan .
He ’ s like , “ Can you please come to the office ?
Let ’ s just chat .
Let ’ s talk about the character and stuff.
” I was like , “ Yeah , duh .
Of course dude .
I ’ ll chat with you , are you kidding ?
” So I get there , and that ’ s when he basically broke down everything for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told me the arc .
I didn ’ t go into it like a situation , it ’ s not like script ten showed up and I ’ m like , “ What the hell , I ’ m dying ?
” None of that .
I knew all about that going in .
But I did not know how Henry got there .
I knew eventually , Geoff saying , “ You ’ re going to help the JSA.
” And then he ’ s like , “ You fight your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and all that .
I didn ’ t know about my relationship to Shiv .
I didn ’ t know my relationship to Yolanda .
I didn ’ t know I was related to Starman .
I didn ’ t know any of that .
So I basically just went in and did the regular process of journaling and trying to figure him out .
I was very lucky , too , because Geoff was always a phone call away .
He was always willing to sit down at crazy hours of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you about your character or whatever .
Also , Christopher James Baker , who plays my father , plays Brainwave , is just phenomenal .
Any question I ever had with him , about what was maybe Henry ’ s , what was our upbringing ?
What did we do together ?
What did we not do together ?
Stuff like that .
It all built this beautiful character towards the process of it .
Especially when 7-10 starts picking up , and it really starts driving Henry ’ s arc .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had also just come off a very emotional point in my life , so I think it all kind of ran into each other .
It really paid off .
I ’ d never worked with CGI or anything before , so all that freaked me out a little bit .
But yeah , that was basically the process .
I was just so lucky , because sometimes on these shows you don ’ t have these opportunities .
But I could reach out to Geoff or my cast-mates or anybody at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and build the world , so I was luckier than most .
Those final scenes in the tunnels where it ’ s Henry versus his dad , and then him turning back , talking to Yolanda , apologizing to Courtney… So many emotions are going on at the same time , in the middle of all this action and CGI .
What was it like filming that sequence , in particular ?
That was really crazy .
Obviously it ’ s all post-production magic .
We would do the scene sometimes where Chris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our lines , and we ’ d all act as if we ’ re doing it telepathically to try to capture raw emotion .
Which was crazy , and kind of hilarious .
And then we ’ d do a little mix and match , you know what I mean ?
One thing I love so much about it , and I ’ m glad you brought this point up too , is what ’ s really beautiful about that scene , and this is what I ’ ve loved hearing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bawling and being really heartbroken while you have a girl in a super-suit , all these people in super-suits and using these magical powers .
But it ’ s not taking away from how grounded the scene in the moment is .
That ’ s what was so important to that entire scene .
We spent a whole day on this scene .
We really made sure we could capture every essence .
And then , our director Andi [ Armaganian ] was absolutely amazing .
She was so willing to come up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be best .
We were really trying to find the sweet spot for that scene .
Again , I can ’ t state enough how open they were to actor choices , and just really letting us lock in how important this was .
This episode was really like father/son time .
This was the most Chris and I got to really really interact with each other , and have these scenes .
It ’ s just so heartbreaking .
Because we shot the first scene in the hospital , when he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot that , with that beautiful scene , and then literally the next day , we shot where he kills me .
So it was just a full range of emotions .
Chris and I were hanging out basically morning to night , just really making sure we nailed all that .
But again , it was so funny : it was always characters first , special effects second .
That ’ s how they ran that set .
It was always like we wanted to make sure we could get the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One of the big relationships was Yolanda and Henry… Clearly there ’ s not really anything going forward with them at this point , and when I talked to Yvette Monreal she seemed pretty certain that leaking the nudes was such a big deal that Yolanda would never forgive Henry .
What ’ s your take on it , from your perspective from your character , if he had survived ?
Would there have been a future for them ?
It ’ s weird .
I don ’ t necessarily think there would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re together again .
But I think there could have been a friendship .
I kind of look at the relationship as something like : you can have an ex- that you have no hard feelings for .
You want to see them get married , you want to see them have a happy life , you know what I mean ?
I think that ’ s what it would have fallen into , had it continued .
I think it would have fallen into a situation where they would have made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that .
I ’ m optimistic enough .
My thing , too , is what I love about the ending in particular with Henry and Yolanda , is we ’ re not justifying what he did .
We ’ re not forgiving him for what he did .
We ’ re just allowing him to be better .
… We didn ’ t justify slut shaming , or being a misogynistic jerk in those first few scenes .
We didn ’ t justify any of that .
… He ’ s basically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to say it ’ s okay .
I just want you to know I am sorry.
” So I think that was what was so beautiful about that moment .
Yeah , optimistically , I ’ d like to think : would they get back together ?
I think that ’ s asking for too much .
But I think they would have definitely found a friendship after it , for sure .
Before I let you go , this is maybe a sad question to end on , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like ?
Oh man , it was actually amazing .
My last day on set , everyone was there .
Everyone came out .
The entire cast , even though some people weren ’ t in the scenes .
Everyone showed up .
It was a really beautiful send-off .
There were definitely tears and hugs .
It ’ s a comic world .
As of right now , I have no idea if Henry would ever come back , or what he would come back for , or anything .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m a comic fan .
I know that deaths are always in quotes .
I would love to work with the cast again .
This rarely happens , but this cast is basically like family , I ’ m with them all the time .
My last day was beautiful .
Everyone was there .
We had this type of cast read where , even if we ’ d worked 12 hours together , we ’ d go ride out onto the town right after .
We went and got drinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such an amazing set to be on .
I know everyone expects to hear that , blah blah blah , but it really was .
We just had such amazing people on that set .
The crew and everyone , they were just so great .
It felt like saying bye to family .
It was definitely really sad .
And then knowing that you ’ re not coming back — now , having the time with the character , I ’ m at peace with it .
I really am .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was crazy .
Well , like you said , this is set on Earth 2 .
There ’ s still Earth 1 , the Arrow-verse on The CW , so maybe there ’ s another Henry out there somewhere .
This interview has been edited for clarity and length .
DC ’ s Stargirl airs Mondays on DC Universe and Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW .

Spoilers for DC’s Stargirl Season 1, Episode 10, “Brainwave Jr.” past this point! Seriously!
Have you dried your tears yet? Because that’s a series wrap on Jake Austin Walker, a.k.a. Henry Jr., a.k.a. Brainwave Jr. on this week’s episode of DC’s Stargirl. After spending the past two episodes explore his new powers, his relationship to his father (Christopher James Baker), and whether he’d fall on the side of the Young Justice Society of America or the Injustice Society of America, Henry ultimately sacrificed his own life to save the lives of Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger) and her super-friends.
And in case you weren’t 100% convinced Henry is dead, because of course this is a comic book show, Walker confirmed his passing to Decider.
“Sadly, as far as I know, Henry’s under those rocks, big time,” Walker said. “There’s no Ito dragging him out, or anything like that. Henry is under there.”
That not only puts a period on the future of Brainwave Jr. on the show, it also ends the fractious relationship between Henry and his ex-girlfriend Yolanda Montex (Yvette Monreal), the potential family relationship between Henry and Courtney, and of course marks a major turning point for the JSA. On the latter note, now that they’ve seen ISA member Brainwave kill his own son — and confess to killing his wife, as well — they know how huge and deadly the stakes are.
To discuss all this, we talked to Walker about his last day on set, what it was like playing Henry, whether Yolanda and Henry could have ever repaired their relationship, and what it was like filming that heart-rending final scene in the tunnel:
Decider: I’ve got to ask this one first, because of course it’s a comic book show… Is Henry actually dead at the end of the episode?
Jake Austin Walker: As far as I know. As far as Jake the actor knows, Henry is under that gravel. Yeah. You said, as a comic book world and a comic fan, I absolutely could see how Henry could back. But that’s more wishful thinking. I have no confirmation. I have absolutely no idea.
I am at peace with Henry’s arc, though. I think the show and the writers and everyone gave him such a phenomenal arc as a character. For me, it was literally one of the coolest characters I’ve ever played in my entire life. Sadly, as far as I know, Henry’s under those rocks, big time. There’s no Ito dragging him out, or anything like that. Henry is under there. I’m pretty sure that tunnel’s just going to be blocked off for ISA now.
You start in the first episode with him almost being a generic high school bully — to, by Episode 10, we’re getting choked up, crying over losing him. How much of that did you know going in, and how much did you layer in your performance throughout the first 10 episodes?
Oh, goodness. So when I auditioned, it was a pretty — all things considered, in comparison to most auditions — it was a pretty quick process. There was a first audition, a month went by, different audition, was about to sign onto the role. The only thing was, they wouldn’t disclose any information. They wouldn’t tell me who the character was, anything. So I was kind of on the fence. And then one day I get a call from Geoff Johns, which is already like, “Holy crap.” I’m a huge comic fan. He’s like, “Can you please come to the office? Let’s just chat. Let’s talk about the character and stuff.” I was like, “Yeah, duh. Of course dude. I’ll chat with you, are you kidding?”
So I get there, and that’s when he basically broke down everything for me. What’s interesting is, he told me the arc. I didn’t go into it like a situation, it’s not like script ten showed up and I’m like, “What the hell, I’m dying?” None of that. I knew all about that going in. But I did not know how Henry got there. I knew eventually, Geoff saying, “You’re going to help the JSA.” And then he’s like, “You fight your dad, and your dad kills you.” and all that. I didn’t know about my relationship to Shiv. I didn’t know my relationship to Yolanda. I didn’t know I was related to Starman. I didn’t know any of that.
So I basically just went in and did the regular process of journaling and trying to figure him out. I was very lucky, too, because Geoff was always a phone call away. He was always willing to sit down at crazy hours of the night, and just talk to you about your character or whatever. Also, Christopher James Baker, who plays my father, plays Brainwave, is just phenomenal. Any question I ever had with him, about what was maybe Henry’s, what was our upbringing? What did we do together? What did we not do together? Stuff like that. It all built this beautiful character towards the process of it. Especially when 7-10 starts picking up, and it really starts driving Henry’s arc.
It was a lot, man. I had also just come off a very emotional point in my life, so I think it all kind of ran into each other. It really paid off. I’d never worked with CGI or anything before, so all that freaked me out a little bit. But yeah, that was basically the process. I was just so lucky, because sometimes on these shows you don’t have these opportunities. But I could reach out to Geoff or my cast-mates or anybody at any time to really help build this character and build the world, so I was luckier than most.
Those final scenes in the tunnels where it’s Henry versus his dad, and then him turning back, talking to Yolanda, apologizing to Courtney… So many emotions are going on at the same time, in the middle of all this action and CGI. What was it like filming that sequence, in particular?
That was really crazy. Obviously it’s all post-production magic. We would do the scene sometimes where Chris and I wouldn’t say any of our lines, and we’d all act as if we’re doing it telepathically to try to capture raw emotion. Which was crazy, and kind of hilarious. And then we’d do a little mix and match, you know what I mean?
One thing I love so much about it, and I’m glad you brought this point up too, is what’s really beautiful about that scene, and this is what I’ve loved hearing from the fans, is that people are bawling and being really heartbroken while you have a girl in a super-suit, all these people in super-suits and using these magical powers. But it’s not taking away from how grounded the scene in the moment is. That’s what was so important to that entire scene. We spent a whole day on this scene. We really made sure we could capture every essence. And then, our director Andi [Armaganian] was absolutely amazing. She was so willing to come up and let us do whatever we thought could be best. We were really trying to find the sweet spot for that scene.
Again, I can’t state enough how open they were to actor choices, and just really letting us lock in how important this was. This episode was really like father/son time. This was the most Chris and I got to really really interact with each other, and have these scenes. It’s just so heartbreaking. Because we shot the first scene in the hospital, when he comes out of a coma. We shot that, with that beautiful scene, and then literally the next day, we shot where he kills me. So it was just a full range of emotions.
Chris and I were hanging out basically morning to night, just really making sure we nailed all that. But again, it was so funny: it was always characters first, special effects second. That’s how they ran that set. It was always like we wanted to make sure we could get the story, was always the most important.
One of the big relationships was Yolanda and Henry… Clearly there’s not really anything going forward with them at this point, and when I talked to Yvette Monreal she seemed pretty certain that leaking the nudes was such a big deal that Yolanda would never forgive Henry. What’s your take on it, from your perspective from your character, if he had survived? Would there have been a future for them?
It’s weird. I don’t necessarily think there would have been a future to where they’re together again. But I think there could have been a friendship. I kind of look at the relationship as something like: you can have an ex- that you have no hard feelings for. You want to see them get married, you want to see them have a happy life, you know what I mean? I think that’s what it would have fallen into, had it continued. I think it would have fallen into a situation where they would have made amends. I really would like to think that. I’m optimistic enough.
My thing, too, is what I love about the ending in particular with Henry and Yolanda, is we’re not justifying what he did. We’re not forgiving him for what he did. We’re just allowing him to be better. … We didn’t justify slut shaming, or being a misogynistic jerk in those first few scenes. We didn’t justify any of that. … He’s basically saying, “Look. You don’t have to say it’s okay. I just want you to know I am sorry.” So I think that was what was so beautiful about that moment.
Yeah, optimistically, I’d like to think: would they get back together? I think that’s asking for too much. But I think they would have definitely found a friendship after it, for sure.
Before I let you go, this is maybe a sad question to end on, but what was your last day on set like?
Oh man, it was actually amazing. My last day on set, everyone was there. Everyone came out. The entire cast, even though some people weren’t in the scenes. Everyone showed up. It was a really beautiful send-off. There were definitely tears and hugs. It’s a comic world. As of right now, I have no idea if Henry would ever come back, or what he would come back for, or anything. But it is a comic book world, and I’m a comic fan. I know that deaths are always in quotes. I would love to work with the cast again.
This rarely happens, but this cast is basically like family, I’m with them all the time. My last day was beautiful. Everyone was there. We had this type of cast read where, even if we’d worked 12 hours together, we’d go ride out onto the town right after. We went and got drinks and everything after. It was honestly such an amazing set to be on. I know everyone expects to hear that, blah blah blah, but it really was. We just had such amazing people on that set. The crew and everyone, they were just so great. It felt like saying bye to family. It was definitely really sad. And then knowing that you’re not coming back — now, having the time with the character, I’m at peace with it. I really am. But knowing in those moments, it definitely was crazy.
Well, like you said, this is set on Earth 2. There’s still Earth 1, the Arrow-verse on The CW, so maybe there’s another Henry out there somewhere.
Hey man, fingers crossed. That’d be crazy.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
DC’s Stargirl airs Mondays on DC Universe and Tuesdays at 8/7c on The CW.
Where to watch DC's Stargirl


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Venice gondola tours restrict capacity due to ‘overweight’ tourists

Maybe they should cut down on the pasta .
Venice gondola tours are reducing capacity on their boats because of too many overweight tourists , the Guardian reported Tuesday .
The smaller boats running through the city ’ s charming canals have reduced capacity from six to five people .
While the larger boats used to cross the Grand Canal have dropped its maximum from 14 to 12 passengers , Venice ’ s gondoliers association told the outlet .
“ It ’ s true that compared to 10 or 15 years ago , tourists weigh a bit more , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ Unlike in a lift , where there ’ s a message that says ‘ only six people or a maximum weight ’ , we don ’ t have scales to weigh people , and so we reduced the number of passengers.
” Heavier loads can lead to more water spilling into the boat .
And the smaller gondolas were initially made for only five passengers , anyway , with the sixth sitting in a section without any padding , Balbi said .
Raoul Roveratto , the president of the association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describing the gravity of the situation with the Italian daily La Republica .
“ Tourists are now overweight .
From some countries , bombs load [ on to the boats ] , ” Roveratto reportedly told the outlet .
“ And when [ the boat ] is fully loaded , the hull sinks and water enters .
Advancing with over half a tonne of meat on board is dangerous.
” The capacity limits came with another policy that allows children of gondoliers to take over their parent ’ s licenses without having to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign language studies , according to the Guardian .
Offspring now can obtain a license by more simply demonstrating they can row a gondola and have had at least four years ’ experience operating the family ’ s boat , according to G The gig is almost exclusively passed down through gondolier families .
The police further ensures the position stays within the industry ’ s current families .
There are currently 433 gondoliers and 180 substitute gondoliers .
Substitutes are allowed work on behalf of a gondolier who owns their own operating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a tradition , ” Balbi said .
“ Who better than a gondolier can know the trade of a gondolier ?
… it would be a like a pizza maker who isn ’ t from Naples .
”

Maybe they should cut down on the pasta.
Venice gondola tours are reducing capacity on their boats because of too many overweight tourists, the Guardian reported Tuesday.
The smaller boats running through the city’s charming canals have reduced capacity from six to five people. While the larger boats used to cross the Grand Canal have dropped its maximum from 14 to 12 passengers, Venice’s gondoliers association told the outlet.
“It’s true that compared to 10 or 15 years ago, tourists weigh a bit more,” Andrea Balbi, president of the association said. “Unlike in a lift, where there’s a message that says ‘only six people or a maximum weight’, we don’t have scales to weigh people, and so we reduced the number of passengers.”
Heavier loads can lead to more water spilling into the boat. And the smaller gondolas were initially made for only five passengers, anyway, with the sixth sitting in a section without any padding, Balbi said.
Raoul Roveratto, the president of the association of substitute gondoliers, was blunter in describing the gravity of the situation with the Italian daily La Republica.
“Tourists are now overweight. From some countries, bombs load [on to the boats],” Roveratto reportedly told the outlet. “And when [the boat] is fully loaded, the hull sinks and water enters. Advancing with over half a tonne of meat on board is dangerous.”
The capacity limits came with another policy that allows children of gondoliers to take over their parent’s licenses without having to pass an arduous exam involving history and foreign language studies, according to the Guardian.
Offspring now can obtain a license by more simply demonstrating they can row a gondola and have had at least four years’ experience operating the family’s boat, according to G
The gig is almost exclusively passed down through gondolier families. The police further ensure the position stays within the industry’s current families.
There are currently 433 gondoliers and 180 substitute gondoliers. Substitutes are allowed to work on behalf of a gondolier who owns their own operating license.
“It is about continuing a tradition,” Balbi said. “Who better than a gondolier can know the trade of a gondolier? … it would be like a pizza maker who isn’t from Naples.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--More than a dozen shot near Chicago funeral home, report says

More than a dozen people were shot in a burst of gunfire near a Chicago funeral home Tuesday , with @ @ @ @ @ hospitals , according to reports .
Authorities have so far been unable to determine the @ @ @ @ @ , in addition to those rushed to area hospitals , multiple people fled the scene @ @ @ @ @ before 8 p.m. , CBS affiliate WBBM-TV reported .
Brad Edwards , a reporter for @ @ @ @ @ five to 10 victims at 79th Street and Carpenter Street in Chicago ’ s Auburn @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
Edwards later updated the post , noting that there was “ likely @ @ @ @ @ ” The shooting comes as the Windy City continues to be plagued by a rash @ @ @ @ @ 25 people were shot in on Monday , four of them fatally .
That followed @ @ @ @ @ shooting victims and 12 people killed by gunfire .

Fourteen people were shot and wounded in a barrage of gunfire at a Chicago funeral Tuesday, with police now combing the neighborhood for suspects.
At least 60 shell casings were recovered from the scene at 79th Street and Carpenter Street in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood, where the exchange of gunfire erupted shortly before 7:30 p.m., police said.
First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter said the shooting started when a black car drove by the funeral and opened fire on mourners, several of whom returned fire.
“At which time the vehicle midway down the block crashed and came to a halt,” Carter told reporters.
“The occupants of the vehicle then exited in multiple directions and fled. We currently have a person of interest being interviewed by our detective in the area.”
“There are 14 victims being treated at five area hospitals,” he said. “Conditions are unknown at this time.”
Police did not release details of the funeral and said the investigation is ongoing.
“Currently the detectives will be conducting a canvass for the rest of this evening and early tomorrow,” Carter said. “We are hoping that the community, if you have any video or anybody that knows anything, will help detectives in their canvass and offer any information that will help solve this crime.”
Carter said there had been a Chicago police car at the funeral “as a precaution.”
The shooting comes as the Windy City continues to be plagued by a rash of gunplay.
Police said 25 people were shot on Monday, four of them fatally. That followed a weekend that saw 63 shooting victims and 12 people killed by gunfire.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Jacob deGrom feeling the Mets pressure in shortened season

Jacob deGrom knows a repeat of last season won ’ t be good enough .
Not with a 60-game schedule .
He can ’ t afford to get off to a slow start again .
“ I don ’ t like giving up runs and I lost some sleep over some starts [ from early last year ] , ” he said on Tuesday , referring to a three-start stretch when he allowed 14 earned runs in 13 innings and suffered three straight losses .
“ Definitely in a 60-game [ season ] , you ’ re going to feel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only get so many times out there and you feel like you need to be on your game every time.
” DeGrom had enough time to rebound and win his second straight Cy Young Award .
This year , that obviously won ’ t be the case .
There was brief concern that deGrom wouldn ’ t be able to start the Mets ’ shortened season against the Braves on time , when back tightness limited him to one inning in an intrasquad game .
He rebounded quickly , throwing 60 pitches on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pitch the franchise ’ s opener for the second straight year .
DeGrom estimated he would be limited to 85-95 pitches on Friday , though it will also depend on how he ’ s feeling .
Most importantly , the back issue seems to be gone .
“ I would say it ’ s totally in the past , ” he said .
“ The other day felt really good .
… Everything ’ s in line.
” The 32-year-old right-hander will be vying to be the first pitcher to win three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Johnson won four straight from 1999-2002 .
It ’ s one of his goals , to win another Cy Young , and it is on his mind , since he ’ s been asked about it already multiple times .
A stellar season is needed from him .
The support behind him in the rotation isn ’ t as strong as in years past , with Zack Wheeler now pitching for the Phillies and Noah Syndergaard out for the season following Tommy John surgery .
That , along with a 60-game season , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his outings , even if deGrom has always treated his starts with utmost importance .
“ I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out there and perform , ” he said .
“ Like I ’ ve said , I ’ ve lost a lot of sleep over some games , dwelling on them , thinking what I could ’ ve done different .
It ’ s just kind of the way I approach things .
I ’ ve kind of put pressure on myself to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that doesn ’ t happen , I ’ m pretty disappointed with that .
Having that mindset throughout my career has kind of helped me to this point.
” There really is nothing that could prepare him for this season , though .
It will be unlike any other .
There won ’ t be fans in the seats , at least at the outset , and the roar from the crowd will be artificial .
He will throw his first pitch that counts in the third week of July .
But when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his mindset will be the same : Retire everyone who steps to the plate .
Mets legend David Wright and Howie Rose will be on the Amazin ’ But True podcast Thursday .

Jacob deGrom knows a repeat of last season won’t be good enough. Not with a 60-game schedule. He can’t afford to get off to a slow start again.
“I don’t like giving up runs and I lost some sleep over some starts [from early last year],” he said on Tuesday, referring to a three-start stretch when he allowed 14 earned runs in 13 innings and suffered three straight losses. “Definitely in a 60-game [season], you’re going to feel a little bit more pressure. You only get so many times out there and you feel like you need to be on your game every time.”
DeGrom had enough time to rebound and win his second straight Cy Young Award. This year, that obviously won’t be the case. There was brief concern that deGrom wouldn’t be able to start the Mets’ shortened season against the Braves on time, when back tightness limited him to one inning in an intrasquad game. He rebounded quickly, throwing 60 pitches on Sunday in a simulated game and expects to pitch the franchise’s opener for the second straight year. DeGrom estimated he would be limited to 85-95 pitches on Friday, though it will also depend on how he’s feeling. Most importantly, the back issue seems to be gone.
“I would say it’s totally in the past,” he said. “The other day felt really good. … Everything’s in line.”
The 32-year-old right-hander will be vying to be the first pitcher to win three straight NL Cy Young awards since Randy Johnson won four straight from 1999-2002. It’s one of his goals, to win another Cy Young, and it is on his mind, since he’s been asked about it already multiple times.
A stellar season is needed from him. The support behind him in the rotation isn’t as strong as in years past, with Zack Wheeler now pitching for the Phillies and Noah Syndergaard out for the season following Tommy John surgery. That, along with a 60-game season, only increases the importance of each one of his outings, even if deGrom has always treated his starts with utmost importance.
“I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself to go out there and perform,” he said. “Like I’ve said, I’ve lost a lot of sleep over some games, dwelling on them, thinking what I could’ve done different. It’s just kind of the way I approach things. I’ve kind of put pressure on myself to go out there and perform. When that doesn’t happen, I’m pretty disappointed with that. Having that mindset throughout my career has kind of helped me to this point.”
There really is nothing that could prepare him for this season, though. It will be unlike any other. There won’t be fans in the seats, at least at the outset, and the roar from the crowd will be artificial.
He will throw his first pitch that counts in the third week of July. But when he toes the rubber late Friday afternoon, his mindset will be the same: Retire everyone who steps to the plate.
Mets legend David Wright and Howie Rose will be on the Amazin’ But True podcast Thursday.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Roy Den Hollander’s divorce fueled women-hating crusade, ex’s lawyer claims

The man who allegedly gunned down a New Jersey judge ’ s ...

Priscilla DeGregory, Kevin Sheehan, Aaron Feis

“Anti-feminist” lawyer Roy Den Hollander’s split from his Russian bride nearly 20 years ago helped trigger a women-hating tailspin that culminated in his murderous rampage at a female federal judge’s home, according to court documents and his ex-wife’s divorce lawyer.
“In my opinion, he was already a controlling, misogynistic, sexist, delusional and disturbed individual before his marriage failed,” lawyer Nicholas J. Mundy told The Post on Tuesday. “But my success helping this poor girl thwart his subsequent attempts to control and destroy her in the divorce and immigration context really aided in pushing him over the edge.”
For Den Hollander, 72 and dying of melanoma, that meltdown came Sunday afternoon, when he appeared at the North Brunswick, NJ, home of Judge Esther Salas disguised as a Federal Express deliveryman and shot dead her 20-year-old son while critically wounding her attorney husband.
By Monday, he was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot in a wooded area of New York’s Catskills, ending what was documented in a rambling online manifesto as a decades-long hatred of women.
It was also on full display in a conspiracy-laden 2008 lawsuit Den Hollander filed against the federal government detailing his brief, turbulent union with his Russian wife, Alina Shipilina. The suit was dismissed later that year, records show.
The doomed couple met while Den Hollander was working in Moscow for corporate investigation agency Kroll Associates, and they wed in Krasnodar, Russia, in March 2000, according to Den Hollander’s filing.
Shipilina secured a temporary US visa, and by July, the newlyweds were living in New York City, papers say.
But within a matter of months, Den Hollander had amassed a litany of alleged grievances against his new wife, including that she had used him for a green card and falsely claimed to the police that he was abusive, according to his filing.
By December 2000, the couple had reached a divorce settlement without trial, court documents show.
Underpinning Den Hollander’s federal case — filed on Valentine’s Day 2008 — was an intricate claim that the abuse allegation was concocted to let Shipilina stay in the country under the Violence Against Women Act, which he called a feminist ploy to take advantage of men.
“As the law created by feminist lobbying now stands, alien females prone to criminal pursuits can become permanent residents and eventually U.S. citizens by simply saying their American husbands abused them, and it will not matter that these females are lying, committed crimes of moral turpitude … or used fraud and perjury to gain entry into the U.S. and to stay here,” wrote Den Hollander in one rambling passage.
“In practice and intent, the Violence Against Women Act … create a process by which the Constitutional rights of American men who take or consider taking foreign wives are violated in order to rectify the feminists inability to make American men love them.”
Citing privacy concerns, Mundy declined to discuss details of the marriage between Den Hollander and Shipilina, who declined comment when reached at her Queens home Tuesday.
But his takeaway from his dealings with Den Hollander said it all.
“He really had a terrible hatred for all women — particularly women in power like judges — and he was hellbent on trying to exact revenge on anybody that he thought crossed him,” said Mundy. “He would threaten and say disparaging things about the judges in legal papers and in letters to the court. He didn’t shy away from being unprofessional and speaking his mind in that manner.”
Finding him “very dangerous and creepy,” as well as “unfit to practice law,” Mundy filed a disciplinary complaint against Den Hollander in 2003.
But Den Hollander kept on practicing law to his final months, firing off years’ worth of far-fetched discrimination lawsuits targeting everything from clubs’ ladies’ nights and Columbia University’s women’s studies program to the military’s men-only draft.
That latter case landed in front of Salas, with whom Den Hollander developed a fixation documented in his online screeds.
He alternately described Salas as “hot” and expressed a desire to date her, and bashed her as “a lazy and incompetent Latina judge appointed by Obama.”
As his cancer progressed, Den Hollander ultimately withdrew from the still-ongoing case.
But his preoccupation with Salas continued, and on Sunday he brought his hatred to her doorstep, fatally shooting her son, Daniel, and wounding her husband, Mark Anderl, 63.
Salas, in the home’s basement at the time, was unharmed.
On Monday, Den Hollander was found dead in a wooded area of Rockland, NY, next to a gun believed to have been used in the attack and a package or envelope addressed to Salas.
“Never in my wildest imagination would I believe that anybody that I would encounter in real life would be capable of doing something like that,” said Mundy. “But in 25 years of practice, if I had to choose one person that I came across that might be capable of such heinous acts, it would be him.
“He was basically a deranged lunatic hiding in plain sight, cloaked by his suit, tie and law degree.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--NYC is now the worst place to do business, retailers say

US retailers continued their swift recovery from the coronavirus crisis ...

New York City’s progress fighting the coronavirus is doing little to help retailers, who say business in the city that never sleeps has become worse than anywhere else in the country.
National retailers — from Shake Shack, Applebee’s, and cap seller Lids — say their Big Apple stores are bouncing back more slowly than even neighboring states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which were also hard hit by the coronavirus.
The problem, sources say, is Manhattan, which used to be teeming with tourists and commuters — who have largely stayed away since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March. Wealthy Manhattanites also have more resources and flexibility to escape, indefinitely, to greener pastures, like the Hamptons, experts say.
The city’s ghost-town vibe has Shake Shack, which runs 162 restaurants in 20 states, reporting that its Big Apple stores will “take a longer period of time to fully recover than other parts of the country.”
The burger chain made the statement on July 7 as it reported that NYC same-store sales for the week of July 1 had fallen 58 percent compared to a year earlier — the steepest decline among all its regions. Sales in the chain’s Northeast and Southeast stores, by contrast, fell just 24 percent and 32 percent, respectively.
While Shake Shack didn’t mention Manhattan specifically, Zane Tankel, who owns 35 Applebee’s in the New York metro area, told The Post he’s reopened 18 restaurants in neighboring regions, including Brooklyn and Queens. But he sees no point in reopening his two Manhattan stores — not even for curbside pickup.
“I drive around the city all the time and it was an easy determination to see that there’s not enough traffic to open those restaurants,” said Tankel, CEO of Apple Metro. Prior to the pandemic, the Manhattan Applebee’s, located at 205 W. 50th St. and at 234 W. 42nd St., were his most productive locations — representing $25 million in revenues.
Macy’s, whose Manhattan flagship occupies over 1 million square feet of retail space, is also concerned. Asked how its NYC stores, which reopened on June 22, are performing compared to the rest of the country, a spokeswoman said it’s too soon to tell while also noting that “continued work-from-home trends mean fewer commuters coming into the city,” and that international and domestic tourism “remains low.”
Starbucks also appears affected, said Mark Kalinowski, restaurant analyst and founder of Kalinowski Equity Research, who pointed to the Seattle coffee seller’s June statement that just 5 percent of its company-operated US stores remained completely closed, even for takeout.
The bulk of the closed stores, Starbucks said, “are primarily located in the New York City metro area.”
“It’s not normal to see Central Park and Times Square empty,” Kalinowski explained.
Lawrence Berger, chairman of sports cap company Lids, said he’s been floored by the drop in business at the chain’s two best-performing New York stores — 1501 Broadway and 2 Times Square — since they reopened on June 22.
Foot traffic at those stores has been down 85 percent from a year ago — compared with a 20 percent average decline at Lids’ 900 other stores that have reopened across the country, said Berger, a partner of Ames Watson, which bought the 1,200-store chain last year.
Customer traffic at Lids stores in neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania, meanwhile, has actually increased 30 percent from a year ago, Berger added. And they all reopened at the same time.
“We expected New York City to be like the rest of the country when we reopened our stores here, but it’s a complete outlier,” Berger said. “There is no way to make money. It’s not an economically viable situation.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Artemi Panarin’s season worthy of Rangers’ fifth Hart Trophy award

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Did you know that the Presidents’ Trophy-winning 1993-94 Rangers did not have a player in the top five of the Hart Trophy balloting? Adam Graves, eighth, and Mike Richter, 10th, were the only two Blueshirts to receive a vote for the MVP award captured by Detroit’s Sergei Fedorov.
Or that, in the 12 seasons from 2007-08 through 2018-19, the Rangers had just three players receive so much as a single vote in the balloting? They were Henrik Lundqvist, who placed third in 2011-12, 14th in 2010-11, 17th in 2015-16, and 23rd in both 2009-10 and 2012-13; Marian Gaborik, who was 16th in 2011-12 and 17th in 2009-10; and Rick Nash, seventh in 2014-15.
But this is 2019-20 — yes, still — and the Blueshirts not only have an MVP vote-getter, they have a finalist. His name, of course, is Artemi Panarin, who was the accelerant in his team’s development and escalation into a legit playoff contender a year or two ahead of the ETA.
“I’m really surprised, to be honest with you,” Panarin said through interpreter Nick Bobrov of his status revealed Tuesday as a finalist alongside Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl and Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon. “Even after the season was paused, I never even thought I would be nominated for anything.
“It’s very important for me and very surprising for me, but it’s much more important for my relatives and my loved ones.”
The ballots are in, cast by selected PHWA members by June 15. There are all sorts of numbers, traditional, peripheral and even esoteric, that can be cited as good-faith evidence to support a vote for any of the three players, who are also finalists for the NHLPA Ted Lindsay Award for the league’s most outstanding player as voted by his peers.
For instance, Panarin: 32 goals, 63 assists and 95 points in 69 games, good for fourth in the Art Ross scoring race. Plus-36, second-best in the NHL. An NHL-best 66.37 percent goal share at five-on-five and league-leading 70.72 percent goal share overall for players with at least 1,000 minutes.
The Russian Rockette led the league in even-strength points and assists. He was on for 128 of the 233 goals scored by the Rangers, or 54.9 percent. Those are the numbers, or some of them. But Panarin, of course, was more than numbers.
The 28-year-old brought an easy sense of excellence to the room along with a captivating personality. He elevated his teammates, even if by osmosis. Elite players thrive around their peers. Mika Zibanejad’s ascent did not occur merely by happenstance.
Draisaitl led the league in scoring with 110 points (43-67), 13 better than runner-up Connor McDavid, with whom Draisaitl played 53 percent of the time at five-on-five. MacKinnon finished fifth in the Art Ross race with 93 points (38-55).
But MacKinnon’s Avalanche finished second in the West, two points behind St. Louis, and Draisaitl’s Oilers were well in hand of a playoff spot, fifth in the West when the season broke, while Panarin’s Rangers were sniffing for a spot but on the outside looking in and were 18th-overall by winning percentage.
You can argue that a team’s record should have no bearing on the award, that the Hart should go to the “best player,” as if there is an accepted, objective, metric measure of that. But a team’s success has always mattered in Hart balloting.
Only four players in NHL history have won the award from non-playoff teams, Mario Lemieux was the last in 1987-88, joined by the Rangers’ Andy Bathgate in 1958-59, Chicago goaltender Al Rollins in 1953-54 (12-47-7 with a 3.21 GAA for a team that finished in last place, 37 points out of fifth place and 43 points out of the playoffs) and Brooklyn Americans defenseman Tom Anderson in 1941-42.
So, did Panarin get demerits for the Rangers’ failure to place in the traditional top 16, or did he earn support because of his significance in his team’s improvement from lottery fodder to contention? The Blueshirts weren’t in the playoffs at the time of the voting but might have even won the Cup by the time the winner is announced.
A Ranger has won the Hart four times, the fewest number of any Original Six club. Mark Messier won it in 1991-92, Bathgate in 1958-59, goaltender Chuck Rayner in 1949-50 and center Buddy O’Connor in 1947-48.
Panarin, who has a chance to make it five, spent part of Monday’s off-day with former Ranger Alex Kovalev. No. 27, a pilot, took Panarin for a spin in his plane.
“[Alex] is definitely a great pilot, but I brought a parachute just in case,” Panarin said. “Thank God I didn’t need it.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Jets, Giants await answers on coronavirus testing for rookies

Jets rookies were scheduled to report for training camp on Tuesday and get their first COVID-19 tests , but the team delayed the report date .
The Jets are seeking more clarity on the testing policy that was agreed to by the NFL and its players on Monday before they begin to administer the tests .
The rookies are in New Jersey and waiting to begin their NFL careers .
Players must test negative twice before they are permitted in the team ’ s training center .
Testing could begin as early as Wednesday , if the Jets feel like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing protocols agreed to Monday afternoon .
Quarterbacks and injured players are scheduled to report Thursday with the full team reporting next Tuesday .
The NFL and players are still negotiating how training camp will be structured , but it is likely there will be an acclimation period of a few weeks before players are on the field and in pads .
The situation is similar — if slightly more complicated — for the Giants .
Rookies , quarterbacks and injured veterans are scheduled to report Thursday but even that plan is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed-upon COVID-19 testing procedures .
The rookies have been told to stay put at home and not travel to New Jersey , league sources told The Post .
The Giants have only signed one of their 10 draft picks , though agreements are in place with certain late-round picks pending a physical , per sources .
Those physicals — scheduled to be spread over the course of the weekend — can not happen until camp opens .
There is no deal in place yet with first-round pick Andrew Thomas , though the expectation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soon in line with the rookie wage scale , with the start of camp increasing the sense of urgency .
The Giants ’ previous two first-round picks , Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones , both signed on the eve of camp .
The Jets have eight of their nine draft picks signed with only third-round pick Ashtyn Davis yet to sign his deal .

Jets rookies were scheduled to report for training camp on Tuesday and get their first COVID-19 tests, but the team delayed the report date.
The Jets are seeking more clarity on the testing policy that was agreed to by the NFL and its players on Monday before they begin to administer the tests. The rookies are in New Jersey and waiting to begin their NFL careers.
Players must test negative twice before they are permitted in the team’s training center. Testing could begin as early as Wednesday, if the Jets feel like they have a full understanding of the testing protocols agreed to Monday afternoon.
Quarterbacks and injured players are scheduled to report Thursday with the full team reporting next Tuesday. The NFL and players are still negotiating how training camp will be structured, but it is likely there will be an acclimation period of a few weeks before players are on the field and in pads.
The situation is similar — if slightly more complicated — for the Giants. Rookies, quarterbacks and injured veterans are scheduled to report Thursday but even that plan is on hold until there is more clarity regarding agreed-upon COVID-19 testing procedures. The rookies have been told to stay put at home and not travel to New Jersey, league sources told The Post.
The Giants have only signed one of their 10 draft picks, though agreements are in place with certain late-round picks pending a physical, per sources. Those physicals — scheduled to be spread over the course of the weekend — cannot happen until camp opens.
There is no deal in place yet with first-round pick Andrew Thomas, though the expectation is it will come together quickly and soon in line with the rookie wage scale, with the start of camp increasing the sense of urgency. The Giants’ previous two first-round picks, Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, both signed on the eve of camp.
The Jets have eight of their nine draft picks signed with only third-round pick Ashtyn Davis yet to sign his deal.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Erica Mena and Safaree Samuels have begun teasing their OnlyFans content

Erica Mena and Safaree Samuels ’ promotional blitz for their new OnlyFans accounts has begun .
“ Be a fly on our wall , ” Mena tweeted Monday evening , “ My husband joins me on my OnlyFans.
” For $ 50 , subscribers on the popular fan site can treat themselves to a video of the pair , per The Shade Room , “ [ involving ] nudity and some tongue kissing.
” But Mena , 32 , has a gift for eye-grabbing copy , at least .
Screengrabs from her OnlyFans account posted by TSR show the de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emojis , with the saucy description , “ Satisfying my husband for the first time ever on here !
Unlock this red light special to see it all go down.
” Samuels , meanwhile , tweeted a vaguely suggestive clip of himself in the shower Monday with a link to his own account .
The 38-year-old ’ s call to action , though , could use some workshopping — it ’ s a fairly anodyne “ Click the link to see the rest !
” Samuels and Mena met with some pushback when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site in May .
Samuels was moved by fellow rapper Khia ’ s disses to respond that he ’ d made “ 6 figures in two weeks ” on the site , according to the UK ’ s Metro .
The London-based OnlyFans has steadily become more geared towards “ adult-oriented ” content since its 2016 launch .
Increasingly , it has become a life raft for sex workers and adult film stars who took a hit during the pandemic , and has accordingly seen more exposure as of late .
Beyoncé shouted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Megan Thee Stallion ’ s “ Savage , ” and Blac Chyna has an account — where she reportedly has foot fetish videos up for sale — as does “ Real Housewives of New York ” star Dorinda Medley .
The pair welcomed a daughter in February , and they ’ ve been far more intent on protecting her privacy than their own , giving only scant glimpses of the baby to the public since then .
They also have yet to reveal her name .

You’ve gotta respect the hustle.
Erica Mena and Safaree Samuels’ promotional blitz for their new OnlyFans accounts has begun. “Be a fly on our wall,” Mena tweeted Monday evening, “My husband joins me on my OnlyFans.” For $50, subscribers on the popular fan site can treat themselves to a video of the pair, per The Shade Room, “[involving] nudity and some tongue kissing.”
But Mena, 32, has a gift for eye-grabbing copy, at least. Screengrabs from her OnlyFans account posted by TSR show the de rigeur red light, tongue and devil emojis, with the saucy description, “Satisfying my husband for the first time ever on here! Unlock this red light special to see it all go down.”
Samuels, meanwhile, tweeted a vaguely suggestive clip of himself in the shower Monday with a link to his own account. The 38-year-old’s call to action, though, could use some workshopping — it’s a fairly anodyne “Click the link to see the rest!”
Samuels and Mena met with some pushback when they revealed they’d joined the site in May. Samuels was moved by fellow rapper Khia’s disses to respond that he’d made “6 figures in two weeks” on the site, according to the UK’s Metro.
The London-based OnlyFans has steadily become more geared towards “adult-oriented” content since its 2016 launch. Increasingly, it has become a life raft for sex workers and adult film stars who took a hit during the pandemic, and has accordingly seen more exposure as of late. Beyoncé shouted out the site in the recent remix of Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage,” and Blac Chyna has an account — where she reportedly has foot fetish videos up for sale — as does “Real Housewives of New York” star Dorinda Medley.
The pair welcomed a daughter in February, and they’ve been far more intent on protecting her privacy than their own, giving only scant glimpses of the baby to the public since then. They also have yet to reveal her name.


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--House passes $740B bill that would scrap Confederate names from military bases

The Democratic-led House on Tuesday passed a sprawling $ 740 billion funding bill with a provision requiring the names of Confederate soldiers and leaders be stripped from military bases .
The National Defense Authorization Act was passed with a bipartisan majority of 295 to 125 .
The bill also includes a 3 percent pay raise for US troops .
It will now move to the Republican-controlled Senate for negotiations .
Earlier on Tuesday , President Trump threatened to veto the bill if it requires the Defense Department to remove Confederate names from military bases .
“ Section 2829 is part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the history of the Nation those who do not meet an ever-shifting standard of conduct , ” the White House said in a statement deploring a “ left-wing cultural revolution.
” Names and statues of men who owned slaves or fought on the pro-slavery side of the Civil War have been targeted in the nationwide protests against police brutality and racism sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd .
The Senate will be debating its own version of the NDAA this week .
It also includes a plan to change the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Benning , which honor men who fought against US troops 155 years ago .
The White House is also objecting to provisions in the House bill that would curtail the use of funds in the war in Afghanistan and add controls on deploying National Guard troops to the states .
Some state and local leaders have objected to the troops being recently deployed amid the protests .
A Pentagon spokesman said he expected Congress , which has passed the NDAA for 59 straight years , and the White House , would work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the importance of the NDAA , and we ’ re confident … the NDAA will be signed and implemented on time so that we can have a budget for our forces , ” he said .

The Democratic-led House on Tuesday passed a sprawling $740 billion funding bill with a provision requiring the names of Confederate soldiers and leaders be stripped from military bases.
The National Defense Authorization Act was passed with a bipartisan majority of 295 to 125. The bill also includes a 3 percent pay raise for US troops.
It will now move to the Republican-controlled Senate for negotiations.
Earlier on Tuesday, President Trump threatened to veto the bill if it requires the Defense Department to remove Confederate names from military bases.
“Section 2829 is part of a sustained effort to erase from the history of the Nation those who do not meet an ever-shifting standard of conduct,” the White House said in a statement deploring a “left-wing cultural revolution.”
Names and statues of men who owned slaves or fought on the pro-slavery side of the Civil War have been targeted in the nationwide protests against police brutality and racism sparked by the May 25 death of George Floyd.
The Senate will be debating its own version of the NDAA this week. It also includes a plan to change the names of bases like Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, which honor men who fought against US troops 155 years ago.
The White House is also objecting to provisions in the House bill that would curtail the use of funds in the war in Afghanistan and add controls on deploying National Guard troops to the states.
Some state and local leaders have objected to the troops being recently deployed amid the protests.
A Pentagon spokesman said he expected Congress, which has passed the NDAA for 59 straight years, and the White House, would work out their differences.
“They understand the importance of the NDAA, and we’re confident … the NDAA will be signed and implemented on time so that we can have a budget for our forces,” he said.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Aaron Judge’s message after ‘cruel’ Yankees moment still resonates

They say that somewhere in the world there is someone ...

In the quiet visiting clubhouse at Minute Maid Park last October, just minutes after the Yankees saw their season end in crushing fashion against the Astros in the ALCS, manager Aaron Boone addressed the team, then opened up the floor.
Aaron Judge spoke up to deliver a message that is still on his mind nine months later, with the Yankees on the verge of a long-awaited Opening Day.
“Kind of just spoke to the team and said, ‘Hey guys, don’t forget this feeling. Don’t forget this emptiness,’ ” Judge said Tuesday before a final spring training 2.0 workout at Yankee Stadium.
“You don’t know what to say. You really don’t have anything to say. All I could say to the guys is, ‘Remember this feeling. Remember this silence, this emptiness and just use it as fuel. Don’t use it to mope about it, linger about it. Use it as fuel going into this next season to take care of business.’ ”
That journey will begin Thursday in Washington, when Gerrit Cole and the Yankees open a 60-game sprint with a showdown against Max Scherzer and the Nationals.
It was the Nationals who were awaiting the winner of the Yankees and Astros last October, before the Yankees lost in a Game 6 walk-off homer by Jose Altuve. After Judge encouraged his teammates to embrace the hurt, an offseason that was anything but normal ensued — filled with revelations about the Astros’ sign-stealing program and the chaos that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through it all, the feelings from the night of Oct. 19 lingered.
“The cruel ending of it all, I do remember Judgie, in his way, in a strong way, saying that to us,” Boone said. “I think that just added to the sting, how real that moment was. I always feel like falling down does add another log to the fire. Certainly that was the case. I feel like in spring training and now in summer camp, I’m witnessing that fire burning strongly with these guys.”
For Judge, it kept burning through a fractured rib and a collapsed lung that were discovered in early March, which would have sidelined him for the originally scheduled Opening Day. In spring training 2.0, he had to fight off a stiff neck but has bounced back just fine, with three home runs in two exhibition games.
Judge said Tuesday his rib is “not an issue” and his neck has “cleared up.”
“I’m ready to go,” the right fielder said. “I’d always like to see more live at-bats before the season, take a couple more practice tests. That never hurts anybody. But I think we’re all ready for Thursday to get here and feeling good physically and mentally.”
With the injuries past him and the season about to begin, Judge relived the painful night of Game 6 in Houston and the emotional roller coaster that was the ninth inning — starting with DJ LeMahieu’s two-run home run that tied the game at 4-4. Judge was on deck, “thinking we’re going to win the whole World Series,” only for Altuve to win it with a walk-off homer off Aroldis Chapman in the bottom of the ninth.
After talking to the team that night, Judge told reporters the season was “a failure.” Thursday, the Yankees will finally get a chance to begin anew, with that last game still fresh in their minds.
“I’m still thinking a lot about how last year ended,” Judge said. “That’s still stuck with me. Still motivation for me to make sure that doesn’t happen again. But I think the boys are ready and we’re ready to get rolling.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Charles Oakley’s Knicks answer: Snag Tom Thibodeau, get talent

While five of the Knicks ’ 11 coaching candidates are in ...

Charles Oakley has a good inkling whom the next Knicks coach will be.
Knowing Knicks president Leon Rose is Tom Thibodeau’s former agent and that the two grew close, Oakley knows how the business works.
Oakley believes the six-week, 11-candidate search will prove to have been much ado about nothing.
“There it is then,’’ Oakley told The Post. “They already know then. You know what I’m saying. That [relationship] goes a long way.’’
Indeed sources close to the situation believe Thibodeau’s ties with Rose will be the ultimate factor in him landing the job. However, Kenny Atkinson and Jason Kidd have given Rose a lot to ponder.
The Post confirmed Atkinson had a second interview with the Knicks on Monday.
Oakley is in Las Vegas doing Tuesday’s Pay-for-View broadcast of the “5 Tournament,’’ which features six NBA alumni teams, including the Knicks. It’s largely a betting event in lieu of NBA games and is sponsored by BetOnline.ag. The Knicks’ five-man club includes DerMarr Johnson, Qyntel Woods and Mardy Collins of the Isiah Thomas era.
Before Thomas, the Knicks were a 1990s powerhouse, with Oakley and Thibodeau on the same side. Oakley would like the Thibodeau selection because it delves into the glorious past, but the former Knicks power forward knows a new head coach is only the start for a downtrodden franchise that has been out of the playoffs seven straight seasons.
“I don’t know if you bring back Knicks basketball and the good quality,’’ Oakley said. “Having a face from the past could do great things, but a face from the past and not having a winning situation, you don’t want to see that.
“Hopefully, whoever the coach is could turn it around because the fans don’t want to see a face from the past as much as they want to see wins and a competitive team. It ain’t going to happen overnight. They might not be a top-20 team this year. There’s a lot here to be done.”
Oakley’s well-documented feud with owner James Dolan still hasn’t reached a conclusion. The Knicks legend is never hesitant to point the finger at ownership as partly a cause of the Knicks’ lack of stability. Whomever is next will be the eighth head coach in nine years.
“It ain’t just the coach you bring in,’’ Oakley said. “It has to start from upstairs, then the next level below. You got to get a commitment from everybody around. When you make a commitment that means we’ll take two, three years to build a team. You got to go through phases. You don’t have a superstar on your team now. And there’s talk they’re going to get a superstar overnight. It don’t work like that. You have nothing to trade to get someone right now. You can’t trade no one to get something.’’
Oakley played under Thibodeau for two seasons with the Knicks from 1996-98 when Thibodeau was Jeff Van Gundy’s top assistant. Thibodeau went on to become a winning head coach with Chicago and Minnesota, owning a 352-246 record.
If Thibodeau is hired, the .589 winning percentage would be the highest of any head coach hired the past two seasons.
“Detailed guy, knew his craft,’’ Oakley said. “He did what a coach is supposed to do, tell guys when they’re not doing stuff right or correct and show them. With a lot of teams now, some coaches don’t voice their opinions. He was an assistant coach who knew what he was doing. It’s what you put in is what you get out.’’
As for Atkinson, Oakley said, he “did a great job in Brooklyn so we don’t know why he got fired.’’
Oakley also touted Kidd as a solid candidate.
“He made the playoffs every year with Milwaukee and the Nets,’’ Oakley said. “Something had to be right.”
Either choice would be OK with Oak.
“It’s a start but everyone has to be on the same page,” Oakley said. “If you hire a head coach, you can’t still have everyone else still goes separate ways. You have a president now and you get a coach and a staff. They’re be going in the right direction. But you got to realize they still don’t have a playoff-caliber team. You can do only so much in one year.”


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Ukrainian President Zelensky promotes animal rights to end hostage situation

Whether Yoenis Cespedes has the mobility to play left field ...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s promotion of a 2005 animal rights documentary starring Joaquin Phoenix led to the end of a dangerous hostage situation on a bus in northwest Ukraine on Tuesday.
Maksym Kryvosh, 44, an animal rights activist and ex-con armed with guns and explosives, allegedly seized the small bus on Tuesday — only to release the 10 hostages remaining onboard and turn himself over to authorities after the president made the intervention.
The Russian-born suspect was detained following a more than 12-hour standoff shortly after Zelensky posted a brief video in compliance with one of his demands, saying, “Everyone should watch the 2005 film ‘Earthlings.’”
The bizarre six-second promotional video was posted to the president’s Facebook page, AP News reported.
Kryvosh allegedly called police himself at 9:25 a.m. local time after commandeering the vehicle and introducing himself as Maksym Plokhoy, which translates as “Maksym the Bad One,” Deputy Interior Minister Anton Gerashchenko said, according to NBC News.
Kryvosh is an animal rights activist who helped protect stray dogs, Ukrainian media reported.
Ukraine’s Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said Kryvosh was “an unstable man who painted his vision of the world and invented a revenge for it.”
“He had his own vision of justice and the value of human life,” Avakov added.
Zelensky later praised law enforcement officers for saving the hostages, who were freed unharmed.
“Human life is the most important value,” he said on Facebook. “Now families can finally hug their relatives who spent the entire day on the bus in anguish.”
The bus seizure in Lutsk forced police to seal off the center of the city, which is about 250 miles west of the capital, Kiev.
Kryvosh at one point allegedly threw explosives out of the bus’s window, though no one was hurt. He also allegedly fired several shots at a police drone.
Kryvosh is an ex-convict who has reportedly been convicted twice on charges that include robbery, fraud and illegal arms handling and spent 10 years in prison.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-07-21--Here’s a rare chance to live on a coveted secret street in NYC

When Natalie Weiss talks about her childhood on Pomander Walk , ...

You could even forget you’re in New York.
An apartment on Manhattan’s Pomander Walk — a secret lane that’s off the city’s standard street grid — has just hit the market.
The quaint Upper West Side enclave, tucked away between Broadway and West End Avenue and West 94th and 95th streets, is lined with just 27 Tudor-style homes and about 60 housing units total. Homes go up for sale about once a year or every two years and are typically snatched up quickly, while rental units, which rarely become available, find tenants in just a few days.
The two-bedroom, one-bathroom pad is listed for $2,750 per month via listings site StreetEasy. Pomander Walk is the whimsical invention of developer Thomas Healy, who, inspired by a London-based romantic comedy play that bears the same name, built the stretch in 1922.
That’s shockingly affordable for a Pomander Walk apartment, and for Manhattan at large: Even as rents have dropped thanks to the coronavirus pandemic causing New Yorkers to flee to less-dense suburbs and vacation homes, the median asking rent in the borough for the second quarter of 2020 is $3,300.
“There’s really nothing to compare it to,” said Natalie Weiss, a real estate broker who grew up on “the Walk” and has brokered the trades of more than 11 properties there.
“When I was growing up, people had been there for decades,” Weiss told The Post in 2016. “There was not a lot of transience.” Over the last 20 years, though, she added, Pomander Walk has seen the arrival of younger buyers and families. “But still, it’s close-knit.”
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The for-rent apartment at 265 W. 94th St. #2 covers 500 square feet, according to StreetEasy, and boasts a washer/dryer, a dishwasher and hardwood floors. There is a live-in super.
Nathaniel Ben-Meir of GP Properties has this listing.