newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Wuhan’s COVID-19 cases may have been ten times higher, China’s CDC says

When a coach is directly asked about a player ’ s future , ...

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Almost 500,000 residents in Wuhan, where the coronavirus pandemic originated, may have been infected with the deadly bug — nearly 10 times the recorded tally, according to the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
A study by the agency used a sample of 34,000 people in the central China metropolis of some 1 million residents and other cities in Hubei province, as well as Beijing, Shanghai and several other provinces to estimate the infection rates, CNN reported.
About 4.4 percent of those tested in Wuhan — which had reported a total of 50,354 confirmed cases, according to the city’s Municipal Health Commission — were found to have specific antibodies that can fight the virus.
The study sought to estimate the scope of previous infections in a population by testing blood serum samples from a pool of people for antibodies.
It was conducted in April — a month after China “contained the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic” — and the results were released Monday, according to CNN.
The prevalence rate outside of Wuhan is markedly lower, the study showed. In other cities in Hubei, the province that includes the capital city, only 0.44 percent of residents studied were found to have the antibodies.
Outside Hubei, antibodies were only detected in two people among the more than 12,000 surveyed.
Yanzhong Huang, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, said the study underscores underreporting in infections at the height of the outbreak in Wuhan — partly due to chaos and a failure to include asymptomatic cases.
Huang said the much lower rates in other Chinese cities suggest “Chinese containment efforts were indeed speedy and effective, especially compared to cities like New York.”
The Chinese CDC highlighted the country’s victory in containing the virus when releasing the results Monday.
“The results of the study show that our country’s population has a low infection rate. It indicates that China has succeeded in controlling the epidemic with Wuhan as the main battlefield, and effectively controlled the large-scale spread of the epidemic,” it said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Joe Judge’s  unprompted Daniel Jones praise is telling

When a coach is directly asked about a player ’ s future , he sometimes feels no choice but to dance around the truth with lip service .
Take what 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said about quarterback Jimmy Garappolo as an example of creating wiggle room : “ I do believe Jimmy ’ s going to be our quarterback next year.
” That ’ s different than Giants coach Joe Judge ’ s unprompted vote of confidence for quarterback Daniel Jones , which was voluntarily slipped into an answer to a question Monday about offensive line penalties .
Judge pointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as reasons he is a “ key piece ” to the future .
“ You always want to know about ‘ Is Daniel our guy ?
Are we going forward with Daniel ?
’ The answer is absolutely , ” Judge said .
“ What gives us that confidence is even in games like [ Sunday ] where it didn ’ t come out perfectly … you watch the tape and you see that guy in there operating , executing , understanding the pressure — and not just standing in there with courage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and taking a hit , but understanding how to take the hit and deliver an accurate pass and move the sticks down the field .
”

When a coach is directly asked about a player’s future, he sometimes feels no choice but to dance around the truth with lip service. Take what 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said about quarterback Jimmy Garappolo as an example of creating wiggle room: “I do believe Jimmy’s going to be our quarterback next year.”
That’s different than Giants coach Joe Judge’s unprompted vote of confidence for quarterback Daniel Jones, which was voluntarily slipped into an answer to a question Monday about offensive line penalties. Judge pointed to Jones’ ball security and decision-making as reasons he is a “key piece” to the future.
“You always want to know about ‘Is Daniel our guy? Are we going forward with Daniel?’ The answer is absolutely,” Judge said.
“What gives us that confidence is even in games like [Sunday] where it didn’t come out perfectly … you watch the tape and you see that guy in there operating, executing, understanding the pressure — and not just standing in there with courage like he’s done all along and taking a hit, but understanding how to take the hit and deliver an accurate pass and move the sticks down the field.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Couple travels without daughter after being kicked off flight when she wouldn’t wear a mask

A sheriff ’ s deputy in Virginia was fired over social media ...

A couple whose plans to visit the Big Apple were dashed when they were kicked off a United Airlines flight because their 2-year-old daughter refused to wear a face mask later ditched the kid and vacationed in Florida, according to a report.
Earlier this month, Eliz Orban posted a viral video of the family’s travels as they were set to fly from Denver to Newark Liberty International Airport on a trip to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.
Instead, they were booted off the flight over the coronavirus precaution.
“We just got kicked off the flight because our 2-year-old would not put on a mask, and we tried,” a teary Orban said in the clip about the visibly upset Edeline.
The couple eventually decided to head to the Sunshine State instead — flying on Delta and leaving the toddler at home, Insider reported.
“It’s hard to comprehend the past couple of days, and all I’ve been doing is praying that God would speak through us, use this story, and give us strength to keep going despite all the evil we have encountered,” Orban wrote on Instagram on Dec. 16.
The 26-year-old health coach shared a photo at Denver International Airport by the Delta departures terminal.
“It breaks our heart that we couldn’t bring our daughter, we tried calling the airlines and couldn’t get a straight answer from anyone and we could honestly just not go through again what we went through on Friday,” she continued.
“Our daughter is in the best hands at home, and as hard as it is that she’s not here — knowing how much love she is surrounded by gives us so much peace. We couldn’t bear to take her through what we went through again,” Orban wrote.
“I still feel humiliated, traumatised, and triggered by what happened. But the amount of messages I have gotten by people being on our side and experiencing similar situations has truly been overwhelmingly beautiful,” she added.
Previous 1 of 9 Next Advertisement Eliz Orban and her husband traveling without their daughter later in December Instagram Orban and her husband were kicked off a New Jersey-bound United Airlines flight earlier in December after their 2-year-old daughter refused to wear a face mask. Instagram Advertisement Orban’s daughter Instagram Orban’s daughter Instagram Orban’s husband and daughter while getting kicked off the flight Instagram Advertisement Orban’s husband and daughter while getting kicked off the flight Instagram Advertisement
Orban also said they sat in Delta’s “boujiest first class” because another social media user offered to pay for their flight to Palm Beach after the incident.
“I balled my eyes out. And here we are,” she wrote, adding: “And for all the people calling us morons for traveling in a pandemic, please slide to the next picture posted BY @united and remember there are hundreds of thousands of people flying every single day- but if it makes you happy to single us out, then whatever floats your boat.”
In the Dec. 11 video, Orban said United had barred them from flying “forever.”
But an airline rep told Insider that was not the case and that their tickets were refunded.
“The health and safety of our employees and customers is our highest priority, which is why we have a multi-layered set of policies, including mandating that everyone onboard two and older wears a mask,” United told Insider in a statement.
“These procedures are not only backed by guidance from the CDC and our partners at the Cleveland Clinic, but they’re also consistent across every major airline,” it added.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Kayaker pulls off mind-blowing stunts

Kayaker pulls off mind-blowing stunts

The sport of kayaking is “ rapid ” -ly changing .
Check out Bennett Smith ’ s high-flying stunts in @ @ @ @ @ The Tennessee-based outdoorsman , 24 , is a member of the US freestyle kayaking team @

The sport of kayaking is "rapid"-ly changing. Check out Bennett Smith's high-flying stunts in this jaw-dropping montage video. The Tennessee-based outdoorsman, 24, is a member of the US freestyle kayaking team.
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newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Virginia sheriff’s deputy fired over ‘disturbing’ posts on Parler

A sheriff ’ s deputy in Virginia was fired over social media posts on the website Parler that authorities have called “ disturbing.
” The sheriff ’ s office in Prince William County announced the firing on Saturday after the deputy , Aaron Hoffman , allegedly made a series of posts on the site .
“ I find them very despicable , and that ’ s why I took the action that I took , ” Prince William Sheriff Glendell Hill told The Washington Post about the comments .
“ I certainly don ’ t approve of that , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against our policy.
” A statement from the sheriff ’ s office said they were notified about the “ disturbing comments ” on Friday .
One of the posts made on Hoffman ’ s account advocated violence against Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for allowing the dismissal of a case seeking to overturn presidential election results .
In another post about vaccinations , the deputy allegedly threatened violence once again .
“ I will kill anyone that touches my children without my consent , ” the post read .
“ Not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed he did not make the comments and deactivated his account .
“ I did not make those posts , ” Hoffman told the paper .
“ I ’ m trying to figure out who did.
” Hoffman said he is not a threat to the public and was disturbed by the posts as well .
He added that he was contacting an attorney about the situation .

A sheriff’s deputy in Virginia was fired over social media posts on the website Parler that authorities have called “disturbing.”
The sheriff’s office in Prince William County announced the firing on Saturday after the deputy, Aaron Hoffman, allegedly made a series of posts on the site.
“I find them very despicable, and that’s why I took the action that I took,” county Sheriff Glendell Hill told the Washington Post about the comments.
“I certainly don’t approve of that, and, of course, it’s against our policy.”
A statement from the sheriff’s office said it was notified about the “disturbing comments” on Friday.
One of the posts made on Hoffman’s account advocated violence against Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts for allowing the dismissal of a case seeking to overturn presidential election results.
In another post about vaccinations, the deputy allegedly threatened violence once again.
“I will kill anyone that touches my children without my consent,” the post read. “Not a threat, but a promise.”
Hoffman claimed he did not make the comments and deactivated his account.
“I did not make those posts,” Hoffman told the paper. “I’m trying to figure out who did.”
Hoffman said he is not a threat to the public and was disturbed by the posts as well. He added that he was contacting an attorney about the situation.
With Post wires


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--NFL Power Rankings for Week 17: A lot can change

Seven spots remain available in the NFL ’ s expanded 14-team postseason field entering the final Sunday of the season , including one division title in each conference .
The top six teams are unchanged in The Post ’ s weekly NFL Power Rankings , but there still could be some jockeying entering Week 17 with so many playoff positions and seeds to be determined .
The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through K.C.
, as the defending champions have locked up the top seed and its corresponding first-round bye .
Patrick Mahomes and the No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 425.7 yards per game ) posted a season-low 17 points in Sunday ’ s win vs. Atlanta .
Next : Sunday vs. L.A. Chargers The Packers ’ blowout win Sunday night over Tennessee didn ’ t sew up the NFC bye ; they still need a Week 17 win or a loss by Seattle to seal home-field advantage in the playoffs .
Has Aaron Rodgers done enough ( 44 TDs , five INTs ) to win his third career league MVP award ?
Next : Sunday at Chicago Josh Allen and the Bills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first AFC East title since 1995 by pasting their longtime divisional tormentors — Bill Belichick and New England — on Monday night .
Buffalo holds the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh , so it can earn the coveted No .
2 seed ( thus , avoiding the Chiefs until the AFC Championship game ) with a Week 17 win or a Steelers loss .
Next : Sunday vs. Miami The Seahawks are NFC West champs for the first time since 2016 — and for the fifth time in Pete Carroll ’ s 11 years as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a win this week and losses by the Packers and the Saints to grab the No .
1 seed in the NFC .
Next : Sunday at San Francisco Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers halted their three-game skid with a stirring second-half comeback over Indianapolis to don their first AFC North crown since 2017 .
They likely will be the No .
3 seed in the AFC , but would move up a notch with a win and a Buffalo loss .
Next : Sunday at Cleveland Drew Brees and the NFC South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a shot to jump the Packers for the NFC ’ s top seed , needing a win over the Panthers , plus a Seahawks win and a Green Bay loss to take a three-way tiebreaker .
Next : Sunday at Carolina Bruce Arians doesn ’ t plan to rest Tom Brady or other starters this week despite a clinched wild-card berth .
One more win would seal the No .
5 seed in the NFC , meaning the Bucs would play the winner of the NFC East — hence , a team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first round of the playoffs .
Next : Sunday vs. Atlanta Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are peaking at the right time , securing their fourth straight win Sunday over the Giants to put themselves in a win-and-in situation in Week 17 .
They also would make the playoffs for the third straight year if either the Browns or the Colts lose this week .
Next : Sunday at Cincinnati The Titans looked like they wanted no part of snowy Lambeau Field on Sunday night , but they still can clinch their first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win or a Colts loss — or a wild card with a loss by the Ravens or Dolphins .
Next : Sunday at Houston A COVID-depleted loss to a one-win Jets team was fitting for the Browns , jeopardizing their potential first playoff berth since 2002 .
Cleveland still can clinch a spot with a win over the Steelers or an unlikely Colts loss to dead-last Jacksonville .
Another clinching scenario for the Browns is a Titans loss with wins by the Ravens , Colts and Dolphins .
Next : Sunday vs. Pittsburgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past three weeks , the Giants miraculously have a chance to host a home playoff game as NFC East champions with a win over the Cowboys and a loss by Washington .
Stranger things have happened , but not many .
Next : Sunday vs. Dallas Win or lose this week , the Jets are locked in as the No .
2-overall pick in the 2021 draft .
They may as well try to add to the misery of Belichick ’ s first losing season since his initial year with the Patriots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Sunday at New England

Seven spots remain available in the NFL’s expanded 14-team postseason field entering the final Sunday of the season, including one division title in each conference.
The top six teams are unchanged in The Post’s weekly NFL Power Rankings, but there still could be some jockeying entering Week 17 with so many playoff positions and seeds to be determined.
1. Kansas City Chiefs, 14-1 (Last week: 1)
The road to the Super Bowl in the AFC goes through K.C., as the defending champions have locked up the top seed and its corresponding first-round bye. Patrick Mahomes and the No. 1-ranked offense in the league (425.7 yards per game) posted a season-low 17 points in Sunday’s win vs. Atlanta. Next: Sunday vs. L.A. Chargers
2. Green Bay Packers, 12-3 (2)
The Packers’ blowout win Sunday night over Tennessee didn’t sew up the NFC bye; they still need a Week 17 win or a loss by Seattle to seal home-field advantage in the playoffs. Has Aaron Rodgers done enough (44 TDs, five INTs) to win his third career league MVP award? Next: Sunday at Chicago
3. Buffalo Bills, 12-3 (3)
Josh Allen and the Bills put an exclamation point on their already-clinched first AFC East title since 1995 by pasting their longtime divisional tormentors — Bill Belichick and New England — on Monday night. Buffalo holds the tiebreaker over Pittsburgh, so it can earn the coveted No. 2 seed (thus, avoiding the Chiefs until the AFC Championship game) with a Week 17 win or a Steelers loss. Next: Sunday vs. Miami
4. Seattle Seahawks, 11-4 (4)
The Seahawks are NFC West champs for the first time since 2016 — and for the fifth time in Pete Carroll’s 11 years as their head coach. They still need a win this week and losses by the Packers and the Saints to grab the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Next: Sunday at San Francisco
Russell Wilson AP
5. Pittsburgh Steelers, 12-3 (5)
Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers halted their three-game skid with a stirring second-half comeback over Indianapolis to don their first AFC North crown since 2017. They likely will be the No. 3 seed in the AFC, but would move up a notch with a win and a Buffalo loss. Next: Sunday at Cleveland
6. New Orleans Saints, 11-4 (6)
Drew Brees and the NFC South winners (four straight seasons) still have a shot to jump the Packers for the NFC’s top seed, needing a win over the Panthers, plus a Seahawks win and a Green Bay loss to take a three-way tiebreaker. Next: Sunday at Carolina
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 10-5 (10)
Bruce Arians doesn’t plan to rest Tom Brady or other starters this week despite a clinched wild-card berth. One more win would seal the No. 5 seed in the NFC, meaning the Bucs would play the winner of the NFC East — hence, a team with a losing record — in the first round of the playoffs. Next: Sunday vs. Atlanta
8. Baltimore Ravens, 10-5 (11)
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are peaking at the right time, securing their fourth straight win Sunday over the Giants to put themselves in a win-and-in situation in Week 17. They also would make the playoffs for the third straight year if either the Browns or the Colts lose this week. Next: Sunday at Cincinnati
9. Tennessee Titans, 10-5 (8)
The Titans looked like they wanted no part of snowy Lambeau Field on Sunday night, but they still can clinch their first AFC South title since 2008 with a win or a Colts loss — or a wild card with a loss by the Ravens or Dolphins. Next: Sunday at Houston
Lamar Jackson Getty Images
10. Cleveland Browns, 10-5 (7)
A COVID-depleted loss to a one-win Jets team was fitting for the Browns, jeopardizing their potential first playoff berth since 2002. Cleveland still can clinch a spot with a win over the Steelers or an unlikely Colts loss to dead-last Jacksonville. Another clinching scenario for the Browns is a Titans loss with wins by the Ravens, Colts and Dolphins. Next: Sunday vs. Pittsburgh
11. Miami Dolphins, 10-5 (13)
12. Indianapolis Colts, 10-5 (9)
13. Los Angeles Rams, 9-6 (12)
14. Chicago Bears, 8-7 (16)
15. Arizona Cardinals, 8-7 (14)
16. Las Vegas Raiders, 7-8 (15)
17. Washington Football Team, 6-9 (17)
18. Minnesota Vikings, 6-9 (18)
19. Dallas Cowboys, 6-9 (21)
20. Los Angeles Chargers, 6-9 (25)
21. New England Patriots, 6-9 (19)
22. Giants, 5-10 (20)
As poorly as they’ve played the past three weeks, the Giants miraculously have a chance to host a home playoff game as NFC East champions with a win over the Cowboys and a loss by Washington. Stranger things have happened, but not many. Next: Sunday vs. Dallas
23. San Francisco 49ers, 5-10 (22)
24. Detroit Lions, 5-10 (23)
25. Denver Broncs, 5-10 (24)
26. Carolina Panthers, 5-10 (29)
27. Philadelphia Eagles, 4-10-1 (26)
28. Cincinnati Bengals, 4-10-1 (30)
29. Atlanta Falcons, 4-11 (27)
30. Houston Texans, 4-11 (28)
31. Jets, 2-13 (31)
Win or lose this week, the Jets are locked in as the No. 2-overall pick in the 2021 draft. They may as well try to add to the misery of Belichick’s first losing season since his initial year with the Patriots (5-11 in 2000). Next: Sunday at New England
32. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1-14 (32)


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Sicko threatens 19-year-old woman with knife and rapes her in Brooklyn

A former special-education teacher from Oklahoma was charged with rape ...

A sicko raped a 19-year-old woman after threatening her with a knife on a Brooklyn street and dragging her into a nearby apartment building early Monday, police said.
The woman was walking near East New York and Ralph avenues in Brownsville around 12:15 a.m. when a stranger grabbed her from behind, according to the NYPD.
The creep held a kitchen knife to her throat and said he would kill her if she resisted, cops said.
He then led her a couple feet to 672 Ralph Ave., where he raped her before fleeing on foot.
The woman was taken to Kings County Hospital, where she was treated and released.
Police released surveillance footage of the unidentified man, wearing a greenish-yellow hoodie over a red one and jeans, walking on Ralph Avenue and on Sutter Avenue before the attack.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Special ed teacher charged with rape for allegedly sleeping with student

A former special-education teacher from Oklahoma was charged with rape after being accused of sleeping with a 16-year-old student .
Andee Lantz , 26 , was arrested on Dec. 18 and allegedly admitted to cops that she had sex with the teenage boy on two or three occasions , according to court documents obtained by local outlet KWTV-DT .
Authorities began asking questions after a student at Carnegie Public Schools began circulating a nude photo of Lantz , the local outlet reported .
When confronted by the schools superintendent over the photo , Lantz and the student involved initially denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court docs state .
Lantz later confessed , saying that their relationship began after a homecoming game when they were “ riding around.. and [ the student ] leaned in and kissed her , and it went from there , ” the filing alleges .
Investigators said at least one of the trysts took place at the teacher ’ s home in Carnegie .
The age of consent in Oklahoma is 16 , however , sexual relationships between students and teachers are illegal in the state , even if the student is of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15,000 bond on Dec. 23 on second-degree rape charges .
Her next court hearing is set for March 12 , records show .

A former special education teacher from Oklahoma was charged with rape after being accused of sleeping with a 16-year-old student.
Andee Lantz, 26, was arrested on Dec. 18 and allegedly admitted to cops that she had sex with the teenage boy on two or three occasions, according to court documents obtained by local outlet KWTV-DT.
Authorities began asking questions after a student at Carnegie Public Schools began circulating a nude photo of Lantz, the local outlet reported.
When confronted by the schools superintendent over the photo, Lantz and the student involved initially denied anything inappropriate was going on, the court docs state.
Lantz later confessed, saying that their relationship began after a homecoming game when they were “riding around.. and [the student] leaned in and kissed her, and it went from there,” the filing alleges.
Investigators said at least one of the trysts took place at the teacher’s home in Carnegie.
The age of consent in Oklahoma is 16, but sexual relationships between students and teachers are illegal in the state, even if the student is of age.
Lantz resigned in mid-November.
She was released on $15,000 bond on Dec. 23 on second-degree rape charges. Her next court hearing is set for March 12, records show.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving sitting for Nets wasn’t a package deal

The Nets ’ vaunted depth got put to the test , with ...

The Nets’ depth got put to the test Monday, with not only Spencer Dinwiddie out with a partially torn right ACL, but stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving sitting the second night of a back-to-back.
Durant went 18 months without playing after rupturing his Achilles in June 2019. Irving made just 20 appearances last season due to shoulder surgery. They have been stellar so far this season, but both logged 36:21 Sunday in Charlotte.
The Nets announced Durant was sitting, and two hours later said the same of Irving. But coach Steve Nash said the former didn’t impact the latter.
“I don’t think so. If I’m not mistaken with Kevin, we sort of had a consensus late by the time we landed,” Nash said before the Nets’ 116-11 overtime loss to the Grizzlies. “With Ky it was maybe more this morning. But I don’t think it was anything about sitting them both. I would’ve been more than happy and totally open for one of them to play tonight. It was just a matter of talking to them and making the safest long-term decision.”
Both Nash and Durant have said the eventual test is to get him to the point he can play back-to-backs, or three games in four nights.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant both sat out the Nets’ overtime loss to Memphis on Monday. Getty Images
“Yeah, I mean, we’re open,” Nash said. “Last night, he played a lot of minutes, and we were playing from behind. He had a pretty heavy load and demand, metrics, so we just wanted to be careful. That’s the biggest output he’s had in 18 months, so we just want to be careful and protect him and protect us from any negative consequences of him playing too much out of the gates.”
Long term, Nash also has to figure how the loss of Dinwiddie impacts his starting lineup, and trickles down to the rest of the rotation.
For Monday it included putting Caris LeVert (28 points, 11 assists) back in the starting lineup, along with Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (21 points) and Taurean Prince (nine points, five rebounds).
“Filling [Dinwiddie’s] spot in the rotation is … on the one hand it’s difficult because he has such a unique profile: A lot of athleticism and versatility,” Nash said. “On the other hand, we have depth. So we’ll see. I don’t have necessarily a formula for you yet. But we have depth and we have guys that we’re confident in that can fill those minutes.”
LeVert had been thriving in a sixth-man role, separated from high-usage rate players like Durant and Irving. But with Dinwiddie gone, he was tasked with running the point. Prince was the power forward last season with Durant out.
The other perimeter spot is intriguing, since Irving will be back. Landry Shamet was 0-for-9 Sunday, and 0-for-8 from deep with three turnovers. Luwawu-Cabarrot was rewarded for scoring 11 points and going 4 of 4 overall, 3 of 3 from 3.
Sunday’s Nets-Charlotte tilt was YES’ most-viewed regular season Nets telecast in six years, at 150,000 average Total Viewers. It also beat MSG’s 125,000 for its Knicks game the same night.
Through three games (on TNT, ABC & YES), the Nets averaged 340,667 viewers/game, while the first three Knicks tilts (all on MSG) averaged 146,667 viewers/game.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Lil Pump banned from flying JetBlue after refusing to wear mask

Lil Pump has been banned from flying on JetBlue after refusing to wear a mask on a flight and becoming “ verbally abusive ” with crew members , a report said on Thursday .
The “ Gucci Gang ” singer , whose real name is Gazzy Garcia , received the ban from the airline after causing a ruckus over the mask policy during a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles , according to USA Today .
Lil Pump “ became verbally abusive with crew members after being asked multiple times and refusing to comply with JetBlue ’ s face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the outlet .
“ His return reservation was cancelled and he is no longer welcome to fly on JetBlue , ” the rep added .
According to TMZ , law enforcement officers were waiting at the gate when Pump exited the plane .
It does not appear that the artist was taken into custody .
JetBlue was the first major US airline to require all customers to wear a face covering during their flights .
The policy went into effect on May 4 .
The 20-year-old rapper responded with an expletive-laden social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
He also pledged to never wear a mask in 2021 .

Lil Pump has been banned from flying on JetBlue after refusing to wear a mask on a flight and becoming “verbally abusive” with crew members, a report said on Thursday.
The “Gucci Gang” singer, whose real name is Gazzy Garcia, received the ban from the airline after causing a ruckus over the mask policy during a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Los Angeles, according to USA Today.
Lil Pump “became verbally abusive with crew members after being asked multiple times and refusing to comply with JetBlue’s face covering policy,” a JetBlue rep told the outlet.
“His return reservation was cancelled and he is no longer welcome to fly on JetBlue,” the rep added.
According to TMZ, law enforcement officers were waiting at the gate when Pump exited the plane. It does not appear that the artist was taken into custody.
JetBlue was the first major US airline to require all customers to wear a face covering during their flights. The policy went into effect on May 4.
The 20-year-old rapper responded with an expletive-laden social media rant against the airline on social media. He also pledged to never wear a mask in 2021.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Julius Randle’s triple-double propels Knicks to second straight win

The Knicks arrived in Cleveland with a pack of injured players .
But Julius Randle is healthy — boy , is he ever .
As he kept his rotation to eight men , Tom Thibodeau ’ s defensive-minded Knicks moved to 2-2 in shaking off 26 turnovers .
Randle chased down a loose ball in the left corner and drilled a clinching 3-pointer with 5:40 left , lifting the Knicks into a 10-point lead .
In his fourth straight powerful performance , Randle posted a 28-point triple-double .
He collected 12 rebounds with his Knicks-high 11 assists as the club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previously unbeaten Cavaliers , 95-86 , at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday night .
On the next possession , Randle picked up his triple-double when he fed point guard Elfrid Payton for a 3-pointer .
Payton put together his second straight solid outing .
He scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter .
Payton also had seven assists and eight rebounds after his stunning performance against Milwaukee on Sunday .
Reggie Bullock , who has started all season at shooting guard , banged in five 3-pointers and finished with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 3-1 , was led by Andre Drummond ’ s six blocks , 17 rebounds and 18 points .
The Knicks were missing one of their top scorers in Alec Burks — one of five injured players .
The game was played before 300 fans .
Randle now has seven career triple-doubles and this was his first as a Knick .
In fact , he was close to a quadruple-double as he committed seven turnovers in his 44 minutes .
Randle staged a ridiculous first quarter in leading the Knicks to a 29-15 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his shots , including two 3-pointers .
He wound up with 14 first-quarter points with six rebounds and five assists .
The Knicks were rolling and the Cavaliers struggling .
In getting off to a 3-0 start , the Cavaliers were the best 3-point shooting team in the league .
Somehow they missed their first 10 3-pointers Tuesday — many wide open .
The Cavaliers turned it around in the second quarter in forcing Knicks turnovers and got within seven , 53-46 , at the half .
The Knicks committed 15 turnovers after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wound up with 18 points , eight rebounds and eight assists by intermission but also got sloppy in the second period and wound up with six turnovers .
Bullock banged in four first-half 3-pointers , including one at the halftime buzzer .
The Knicks were 10 of 16 at the half from deep .

The Knicks arrived in Cleveland with a pack of injured players. But Julius Randle is healthy — boy, is he ever.
In his fourth straight powerful performance, Randle posted a 28-point triple-double. And afterward, he was even happy as a clam on Zoom.
The 6-foot-9 southpaw scored 28 points and collected 12 rebounds with his Knicks-high 11 assists as the club won its second straight in taking out the previously unbeaten Cavaliers, 95-86, at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Tuesday.
Randle, finally reflecting on this massive turnaround of a season, admitted he lost weight and returned with plenty to prove after an uneven first season as a Knick.
“They challenged me going into the offseason to come back a better player,’’ Randle said. “I’m going to put that pressure on myself as well to challenge myself and get better every year. Last year was a great learning experience for me. But this year I’m coming back a better player and came back in great shape. And that’s just part of the culture we’re building. We’re competing and not backing down from anybody.’’
Julius Randle, who had a triple double, drives to the basket during the Knicks’ 95-86 win over the Cavaliers. NBAE via Getty Images
As Tom Thibodeau kept his rotation to eight men, the head coach’s defensive-minded team moved to 2-2 in shaking off 26 turnovers before a limited, socially distanced crowd of 300 fans.
Randle never let up after a sensational first quarter. He chased down a loose ball in the left corner and drilled the clinching 3-pointer with 5:40 left to stifle the Cavaliers’ comeback attempt. The basket lifted the Knicks into a 10-point lead.
On the next possession, Randle picked up his triple-double when he fed point guard Elfrid Payton for a 3-pointer.
“I feel like he’s more focused now,’’ said Knicks starting center Mitchell Robinson, who posted nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. “When he’s coming in, he’s coming strong. Especially in the summertime, all the hours he done put in, it’s just paying off. He’s going out there and doing his thing.’’
Randle now has seven career triple-doubles, but this was his first as a Knick, failing to notch one in his inaugural year at the Garden. On the downside, Randle was close to a quadruple-double as he committed nine turnovers in his 44 minutes.
Randle has seemed grumpy and curt on previous Zoom interviews — mostly because he’s felt disrespected by the media who had labeled him a trade chip and a disappointing $60 million investment. Tuesday, he was more like the expansive Randle of last season.
“I just tried to take what the defense gave me, make the right plays,’’ Randle said. “My teammates did a good job of being in position when the defense collapsed. Made it easy for me to kick out. When they didn’t collapse I just tried to make sure to get to my spot to score. I got to cut down on my turnovers obviously.’’
Randle staged a ridiculous first quarter in leading the Knicks — down five players, including Alec Burks, Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley — to a 29-15 lead. He made all five of his shots, including two 3-pointers. He wound up with 14 first-quarter points, six rebounds and five assists. On the night, Randle made all four of his 3-pointers.
On one sequence, Randle snatched a rebound, sprinted up-court past the Cavaliers defense and fed Payton for a layup. He rarely showed that lightning speed last season. He’s lighter on his feet — and altogether lighter despite the club still listing him at 250 pounds.
“I ran pretty much every day,’’ Randle said. “That was just a challenge for me to get in extreme condition. I dropped a little bit of weight, but the biggest thing was just pushing myself just to run every day and just challenging myself in that way.”
Thibodeau saw Randle’s conditioning in the summer before OTAs began — and then in September when the team had those Delete 8 workouts.
It’s truly been an All-Star start.
“I think the first part is he came into camp in great shape,’’ Thibodeau said. “I saw what type of shape he was in, so I knew he was highly motivated. So I think that’s a big advantage for him. I also think he has a pretty good understanding of his teammates and what their strengths are. And he’s playing unselfishly.’’
Payton, meanwhile, put together his second straight solid outing. He scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter. Payton also had seven assists and eight rebounds after his stunning performance against Milwaukee on Sunday.
Reggie Bullock, who has started all season at shooting guard, banged in five 3-pointers — the Knicks made 14 of 25 attempts — and finished with 17 points. Cleveland, which fell to 3-1, was led by Andre Drummond’s six blocks, 17 rebounds and 18 points.
In getting off to a 3-0 start, the Cavaliers were the best 3-point shooting team in the league. Somehow they missed their first 10 3-pointers Tuesday and finished 7 of 32.
“I liked our energy,’’ Thibodeau said of the defense. “It’s still not where it needs to be. I thought they missed some wide-open ones, too. But even when we’re making mistakes, we’re flying around, we’re making the attempt to get out there and challenge shots and it makes a difference.’’


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Ohio State’s Shaun Wade seeks redemption after  playoff heartache

One by one , Trevor Lawrence approached each teammate with the ...

Shaun Wade did his best to focus on the present, mostly talking around questions about last year’s defeat to Clemson.
The Ohio State All-American cornerback and projected first-round pick had to watch the end of the first half and entirety of the second half from the locker room after his targeting penalty led to his ejection and flipped the momentum in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
“At the end of the day, it’s a team sport not a me sport,” he said Tuesday over Zoom.
But one of his coaches, defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs, knows better.
“In many ways, I think the way that game [played out was] a big part of the reason Shaun came back,” Coombs said. “This game obviously means a lot to him. … There’s no question coming off the field [when he did] was very, very hard for him.”
With Ohio State up 16-0 late in the second quarter, Wade sacked Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence on third-and-5 near midfield. But after a review, targeting was called, giving the Tigers a first down. They would eventually score a touchdown. Clemson went on to prevail 29-23.
Wade would ultimately return for his senior season, after initially declaring for the NFL draft amid the Big Ten’s uncertainty about playing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now he gets another crack at the Tigers in Friday night’s Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Wade said.
In a roundabout way, Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson owes his current job to Clemson. Had the Tigers not blanked Clemson 31-0 in the 2016 College Football Playoff semifinal, then-coach Urban Meyer may not have had to retool his offensive staff.
Wilson was coming off a six-year run as Indiana’s head coach and wound up joining the Buckeyes as the team’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach.
“I’m just very fortunate, very grateful,” Wilson said. “Not wishing bad, ill luck or ill will on anyone, but the opportunity was allowed [for me] to be here.”
Clemson will be looking to end some ugly postseason history in the state of Louisiana. It is 0-4 all-time, losing to LSU in last year’s national championship game and falling to Alabama in the 2018 Sugar Bowl and playoff semifinal. It also dropped the 1985 Independence bowl to Minnesota and the 1959 Sugar Bowl to LSU.
“I’m 0-2. At this point I’m kind of tired of talking about what I’m going to do,” said Clemson running back Travis Etienne, a Jennings, La. native. “I’m just ready to get to that point and make it right.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Nashville bomber Anthony Warner hunted aliens, believed in ‘lizard people’: report

Authorities are looking into evidence that Nashville RV bomber Anthony Quinn Warner spent time hunting for aliens and was interested in “ lizard people , ” ABC News reported .
Law enforcement sources told the outlet that investigators found some of Warner ’ s writings containing ramblings about various conspiracy theories .
Some of the notes were reportedly about the lizard or reptilian conspiracy — the idea that shape-shifting lizard creatures take on human form in an attempt at world domination .
Authorities believe the 63-year-old loner also spent time hunting for alien life forms in a nearby state park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s unclear if any of these beliefs or behaviors are connected in any way to the Christmas morning suicide blast .
Investigators are also reportedly probing whether Warner , a local IT expert , was motivated to target an AT & T building over fears of 5G cellular technology and his paranoid suspicions that it is killing people and being used to spy on Americans .
The blast significantly hampered cell service in Tennessee and across the South .
It was preceded by an audio recording from the RV urging locals to evacuate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his motive was destruction , but not death .
Warner also reportedly may have believed that the suicidal attack would lead him to be revered as a “ hero .
”

Authorities are looking into evidence that Nashville RV bomber Anthony Quinn Warner spent time hunting for aliens and was interested in “lizard people,” ABC News reported.
Law enforcement sources told the outlet that investigators found some of Warner’s writings containing ramblings about various conspiracy theories.
Some of the notes were reportedly about the lizard or reptilian conspiracy — the idea that shape-shifting lizard creatures take on human form in an attempt at world domination.
Authorities believe the 63-year-old loner also spent time hunting for alien life forms in a nearby state park, the outlet reported.
It’s unclear if any of these beliefs or behaviors are connected in any way to the Christmas morning suicide blast.
Investigators are also reportedly probing whether Warner, a local IT expert, was motivated to target an AT&T building over fears of 5G cellular technology and his paranoid suspicions that it is killing people and being used to spy on Americans.
The blast significantly hampered cell service in Tennessee and across the South.
It was preceded by an audio recording from the RV urging locals to evacuate the area, suggesting to investigators that his motive was destruction, but not death.
Warner also reportedly may have believed that the suicidal attack would lead him to be revered as a “hero.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Michael Cohen explains shout-out to prison pals ‘Tony Meatballs’ and ‘Big Minty’

President Trump ’ s former lawyer Michael Cohen raised eyebrows this week when he name-dropped some new pals he made in federal lockup .
In a now-viral clip from a Monday interview on MSNBC ’ s “ The Beat with Ari Melber , ” he said he filed a lawsuit seeking federal prison reform “ because I made a promise to guys back at Otisville , like my buddies Tony Meatballs and Big Minty , that I wasn ’ t going to stop once I got out , once I was put back on home confinement.
” Some online questioned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tony Meatballs ” Gifoli — a 72-year-old wise guy who starred in another viral story when he was named last month as part of a sweeping federal indictment targeting South Philly members of La Cosa Nostra .
But Cohen told The Post Tuesday that the prison pal he gave a shout-out to this week is not a made guy — just a jailhouse cook who makes “ amazing meatballs.
” “ Our ‘ Tony Meatballs ’ isn ’ t a gangster , ” Cohen said in a text , adding that the unnamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in upstate Otisville Correctional Facility , where Cohen served time .
“ We called him Tony Meatballs because he made the most amazing meatballs , ” Cohen said in a follow-up phone call .
“ You would think you were eating at Rao ’ s. ” Cohen wouldn ’ t identify his Tony Meatballs by name .
He said the prison reform lawsuit he filed would “ benefit all eligible federal inmates and require the Bureau of Prisons to calculate each and every one of their earned time credits , thus reducing their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement or statutory release.
” Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after pleading guilty to campaign finance fraud and tax evasion stemming from payments to women claimed to have had affairs with Trump .
The former legal fixer was released to home confinement in May over concerns of the coronavirus spreading behind bars .
In July , Cohen was spotted dining not at Rao ’ s , but at Le Bilboquet , a French restaurant near his Park Avenue apartment .
Last week , he filed a separate lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confinement before his sentence runs out in November 2021 .

President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen raised eyebrows this week when he name-dropped some new pals he made in federal lockup.
In a now-viral clip from a Monday interview on MSNBC’s “The Beat with Ari Melber,” he said he filed a lawsuit seeking federal prison reform “because I made a promise to guys back at Otisville, like my buddies Tony Meatballs and Big Minty, that I wasn’t going to stop once I got out, once I was put back on home confinement.”
Some online questioned whether he was referring to Anthony “Tony Meatballs” Gifoli — a 72-year-old wise guy who starred in another viral story when he was named last month as part of a sweeping federal indictment targeting South Philly members of La Cosa Nostra.
But Cohen told The Post Tuesday that the prison pal he gave a shout-out to this week is not a made guy — just a jailhouse cook who makes “amazing meatballs.”
“Our ‘Tony Meatballs’ isn’t a gangster,” Cohen said in a text, adding that the unnamed convict just “ran the kitchen” in upstate Otisville Correctional Facility, where Cohen served time.
“We called him Tony Meatballs because he made the most amazing meatballs,” Cohen said in a follow-up phone call. “You would think you were eating at Rao’s.”
Cohen wouldn’t identify his Tony Meatballs by name.
He said the prison reform lawsuit he filed would “benefit all eligible federal inmates and require the Bureau of Prisons to calculate each and every one of their earned time credits, thus reducing their sentence and remanding them to either home confinement or statutory release.”
Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after pleading guilty to campaign finance fraud and tax evasion stemming from payments to women claimed to have had affairs with Trump.
The former legal fixer was released to home confinement in May over concerns of the coronavirus spreading behind bars.
In July, Cohen was spotted dining not at Rao’s, but at Le Bilboquet, a French restaurant near his Park Avenue apartment.
Last week, he filed a separate lawsuit claiming he should be released from home confinement before his sentence runs out in November 2021.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--First FDNY firefighters get coronavirus vaccine, NYPD launch delayed

FDNY firefighters began receiving coronavirus vaccines on Tuesday — but a planned rollout of the shots for the NYPD was scrapped, with a union memo citing a delay on the state’s end.
“I got it because I want to protect the people I love, the people I work with, the people they love,” said firefighter Martha Brekke, one of the first to get the shot at FDNY headquarters in Downtown Brooklyn.
“I just think it’s important to take care of as many people as we can.”
Between three locations — department HQ plus the fire academy on Randall’s Island and the EMS academy at Fort Totten in Queens — the FDNY can now inoculate about 450 members per day.
That tally includes EMS workers, who began receiving the vaccine last week.
The rollout unfolded in the face of a survey conducted earlier this month by the Uniformed Firefighters Association that indicated that more than half of smoke-eaters would refuse the vaccine.
Union president Andy Ansbro — who said that reluctance was due in part to a “real education issue” about who needs the vaccine — was among those to receive the shot Tuesday.
“Hopefully this will go a long way to getting the city and the country back on track,” he said.
Ansbro praised recent efforts by the department and the union to dissuade firefighters’ fears through information, and was cautiously optimistic that they appear to be working.
“The union had a Q&A with a virologist and we’ve answered all the questions our members sent to us. About two dozens members actually reached out to me saying the work we’ve done has changed their minds,” he said.
“Right now it seems like several thousand members have signed up to get this and that’s very encouraging.”
The FDNY said Tuesday that more than 1,000 city EMS workers have now been vaccinated.
There are approximately 4,400 FDNY EMS workers, and 11,000 firefighters.
Previous 1 of 3 Next Advertisement FDNY personnel Martha Brekke getting the COVID-19 vaccine today. Gregory P. Mango Gregory P. Mango Advertisement
But while the Bravest lined up, the Finest were kept waiting.
A memo circulated Monday within the Detectives’ Endowment Association union said that a planned Tuesday launch for cops was on hold due to supply issues with the state.
“The State has not released the vaccine in the quantity needed for the NYPD,” the memo reads in part.
NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea confirmed the hold-up during a wide-ranging briefing Tuesday morning, noting that the department is “anxiously awaiting” their jabs.
Union heads blasted government bureaucracy over the delay.
“The lives of cops and the New Yorkers we serve are being put in grave danger with the delay of the available COVID-19 vaccine to the NYPD,” said DEA President Paul DiGiacomo in a statement.
“Detectives have thousands of close-contact interactions daily with the public as we continue to keep people safe, provide medical aide, and respond to calls for help,” he continued. “On the heels of the death of six Detectives and current rising virus numbers, DEA members need the vaccine before another family is tragically left behind — and they need it now.”
Forty-eight members of the NYPD have died of the coronavirus, according to the department.
Police Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch agreed with DiGiacomo.
“Once again, politicians in Albany and City Hall are wasting time with bureaucratic gymnastics instead of looking at the reality on the ground,” he said in a statement. “New York City police officers aren’t just on the front line. We cover every part of the front line: from hospitals and housing complexes to the corner store.
“We have more daily contact with New Yorkers than any other city agency,” continued Lynch. “We are continuing to press for vaccines to be made available to police officers as soon as possible.”
A spokesman for the state Department of Health said that vaccines are on the way for cops, but that groups prioritized ahead of them — including front-line health care workers and those in nursing homes — are still getting inoculated.
“NYPD as first responders are eligible in phase 1b, that has not changed, and any suggestion that we are holding back on providing vaccines is patently false,” said Gary Holmes. “We are still in the middle of phase 1a, which includes frontline health care workers, nursing homes and certain congregate care settings.
“Timing depends on when the vaccine supply is available and we look forward to working with NYPD and all first responders in operationalizing distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.”
Because they are trained and certified to both fight fires and administer emergency medical services, firefighters are qualified for the first phase.
Shea stated earlier this month that vaccines would not be mandated for NYPD personnel, but later opened the door for them to potentially become compulsory.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Trevor Lawrence wouldn’t be denied another shot at title

Ohio State didn ’ t need any extra motivation .
The Buckeyes already ...

One by one, Trevor Lawrence approached each teammate with the same message.
“We’ll be right back here next year,” Clemson’s superstar quarterback promised them.
This was after the first defeat of his college career, a humbling experience for a player only used to winning. But in the losing locker room following the one-sided national championship game loss to LSU, Lawrence was doing his best to lift the spirits of those around him.
“It would have been cool to have the opportunity to not lose a game in college, but I think some things are necessary for you to grow,” the long-haired, 6-foot-6 quarterback said Tuesday over Zoom, as preparation continued for Friday night’s College Football Playoff semifinal in the Sugar Bowl. “You’ve got to face a little bit of adversity and sometimes you’re a little bit blinded by success if you don’t have any hiccups along the way.
“I think for us [Clemson] and for me personally, it was good for us to not win that [championship] game in a lot of ways.”
Lawrence did more than just talk about getting back to the playoff. He spent the offseason working on his weaknesses, most notably improving his footwork with personal quarterback coach Ron Veal. When there was doubt whether the season would be played, he was one of the big voices in the #WeWantToPlay movement across the sport. And once the season hit, he was back to his same dominant self, producing 29 touchdowns and completing a career-best 69.2 percent of his passes, and going 9-0 as the Clemson starter. If not for missing two games due to a positive COVID-19 test, he likely would be in line to become Clemson’s first Heisman Trophy winner, though he still was announced as a finalist.
“I would say he’s arguably one of the great college football quarterbacks of all time based on his production and winning games,” Ohio State defensive coordinator Kerry Combs said.
His 34-1 record as a starter, three playoff berths and three ACC championships certainly support that statement.
Lawrence took the sport by storm in his first trip to the playoff, throwing for 674 yards and six touchdowns in a pair of blowout victories over Notre Dame and Alabama, capping a magical true-freshman season. Last year under immense pressure and expectations, he struggled somewhat with his consistency, and completed just 51.4 percent of his passes in the playoff. He did, however, lead Clemson back from a 16-0 deficit in the semifinals against Ohio State, running for a career-best 107 yards.
This will likely be his final go-round, barring a stunning decision to return to school for his senior year. He is expected to be the first pick in the draft in April as the consensus top quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck.
There will be instant pressure, a significant amount of hype attached to his right arm before he throws an NFL pass. Of course, the same could be said of Lawrence upon arriving at Clemson. He was the top-ranked prospect in the country and needed just three games until coach Dabo Swinney benched popular starter Kelly Bryant in favor of Lawrence.
“There’s not a moment too big for Trevor Lawrence,” Swinney said.
There have been a lot of comparisons between Lawrence and Texans Pro Bowl quarterback Deshaun Watson, who led Clemson to its first national championship in 35 years back in January 2017. Watson was so pivotal to Clemson getting over the hump, as the player who made the Tigers into a national powerhouse. Lawrence has taken the program to another level.
“There will be a lot of people,” Swinney said, “trying to live up to the standard that he set as a [college] quarterback for a long time in this game.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Rose Bowl foes Ian Book and Najee Harris were once teammates

Tua Tagovailoa knew where he was throwing from his first ...

Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book and Alabama running back Najee Harris will battle on New Year’s Day for a spot in the national championship game. Nevertheless, it wasn’t long ago that they teamed up to win titles.
As high school stars, the Northern California natives spent two years playing together on the TMP Elite 7-on-7 team.
“The plan was if we were ever down, you just throw it up and Najee would go catch it,” Book said ahead of the Rose Bowl, which will be played in Arlington, Texas. “That’s how we were able to win some games. He was by far the best player I played with at that time, and he is still one of them. He’s an unbelievable player and a really good person. I’m happy for him. He’ll be playing a lot of football in the future as well.”
Harris was the No. 1 recruit in the nation. Book was an overlooked, three-star quarterback who committed to Washington State before becoming the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history.
“Ian’s my guy. He’s been doing an amazing job,” Harris said. “The way he dissects defenses and how he throws the balls in tight pockets and stuff like that, he does a good job at it. Even now, he does an amazing job of getting the ball to his playmakers and really being a leader, a vocal point of his offense.
“Just back in seven-on-seven, when we played, it was fun to play with him. Really just an honor.”
Clark Lea has accepted one of the most difficult jobs in the country, taking over as head coach at Vanderbilt. First, the 38-year-old will face his greatest challenge as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator, going against an Alabama offense averaging nearly 50 points per game.
“My singular focus has been on preparation for this game. And I know that may be hard to believe, but this is too big. This is a culmination of four years of investment for me.” said Lea, who joined the Fighting Irish in 2017 as linebackers coach.
“And it’s not just about me, obviously. It’s four years of investment with these players. … [It has] not been an issue and won’t be an issue. Obviously, with an opponent like Alabama, every bit of mental and emotional energy has to got to be put into this game plan.”
Under Nick Saban, Alabama always compiles one of the best recruiting classes in the nation. Senior All-American Alex Leatherwood believes his 2017 class — including Harris, Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and Jedrick Wills — is unlike any college football has ever seen.
“I feel like we’re the greatest of all time, if you ask me,” the tackle said. “We had a lot of talent. But aside from us all being talented, things like that, we’re all hard workers. And we all had a common goal in mind and that was to win a national championship and be the best players that we could be and that’s why we came here.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--White teen pushed out of college after video of her saying N-word at 15 resurfaces

A high school cheerleader had her college “ dream ” shattered when a black classmate arbitrarily posted a years-old video of her saying the N-word , her lawyer said this week — as the University of Tennessee faced backlash for pushing the teen out .
Incoming freshman Mimi Groves , now 19 , was kicked off the school cheer team and forced to withdraw earlier this year amid complaints from outraged alumni and students when fellow teen Jimmy Galligan posted the clip .
The incident gained national attention when it was detailed in a New York Times story over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university of making a “ rush to judgement ” for something his client did as a kid .
“ Mimi was a kid when she did this , ” attorney Shan Wu told Fox News Monday .
“ She ’ s appalled , and having said that , she ’ s not trying to excuse [ her actions ] in any way.
” “ What she lost was her dream , ” the lawyer added .
“ Like many athletes , she had worked most of her young adult life for a shot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being on their team .
That was taken away from her in what can only be described as a rush to judgement.
” Galligan , of Leesburg Virginia , was in class at Heritage High School in Loudoun County last year when a friend texted him the video of Groves spitting out the racial slur .
“ I can drive , n—–s !
” Groves said in the clip while driving in traffic .
She had sent the three-second clip to a friend through Snapchat in 2016 .
Galligan , 18 , whose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said he complained to school faculty but they ignored the video of the then-high school cheerleading captain .
So he held onto the video until he found the right time to publish .
“ I wanted to get her where she would understand the severity of that word , ” he told the Times .
In June , Galligan posted the video on social media in the midst of protests across the nation after the death of George Floyd , a black man who was killed by police in Minnesota the month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Groves , who was an incoming freshman at the University of Tennessee , posted on her Instagram urging her followers to “ protest , donate , sign a petition , rally , do something ” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement , the Times reported .
“ You have the audacity to post this , after saying the N-word , ” a person who Groves didn ’ t know wrote in response to her public post .
“ At the time , I didn ’ t understand the severity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind it because I was so young , ” Groves told the Times .
“ It honestly disgusts me that those words would come out of my mouth , ” she continued .
“ How can you convince somebody that has never met you and the only thing they ’ ve ever seen of you is that three-second clip ?
” But her world came crashing down when her dream school pressured her to resign amid outrage from admissions officials , she told the Times .
“ They ’ re angry , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” an admissions official told to the Groves ’ family , according to an audio recording reviewed by the Times .
On Twitter at the time , the university didn ’ t publicly name Groves , but acknowledged an incoming student would no longer attend due to controversy over a racist video .
“ On Wednesday , following a racist video and photo surfacing on social media , Athletics made the decision not to allow a prospective student to join the Spirit Program .
She will not be attending the university this fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 .
Galligan says he has no regrets of sharing Groves ’ video publicly .
“ If I never posted that video , nothing would have ever happened , ” he told the Times .
“ And because the internet never forgets , the clip will always be available to watch .
“ I ’ m going to remind myself , you started something , ” Galligan added .
“ You taught someone a lesson .
”

A high school cheerleader had her college “dream” shattered when a black classmate arbitrarily posted a years-old video of her saying the N-word, her lawyer said this week — as the University of Tennessee faced backlash for pushing the teen out.
Incoming freshman Mimi Groves, now 19, was kicked off the school cheer team and forced to withdraw earlier this year amid complaints from outraged alumni and students when fellow teen Jimmy Galligan posted the clip.
The incident gained national attention when it was detailed in a New York Times story over the weekend.
Groves’ lawyer accused the university of making a “rush to judgement” for something his client did as a kid.
“Mimi was a kid when she did this,” attorney Shan Wu told Fox News Monday. “She’s appalled, and having said that, she’s not trying to excuse [her actions] in any way.”
“What she lost was her dream,” the lawyer added. “Like many athletes, she had worked most of her young adult life for a shot at going to a great school and being on their team. That was taken away from her in what can only be described as a rush to judgement.”
Galligan, of Leesburg, Virginia, was in class at Heritage High School in Loudoun County last year when a friend texted him the video of Groves spitting out the racial slur.
“I can drive, n—–s!” Groves said in the clip while driving in traffic. She had sent the three-second clip to a friend through Snapchat in 2016.
Galligan, 18, whose mother is black and father is white, said he complained to school faculty but they ignored the video of the then-high school cheerleading captain.
So he held onto the video until he found the right time to publish.
“I wanted to get her where she would understand the severity of that word,” he told the Times.
In June, Galligan posted the video on social media in the midst of protests across the nation after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by police in Minnesota the month before.
Around that same time, Groves, who was an incoming freshman at the University of Tennessee, posted on her Instagram urging her followers to “protest, donate, sign a petition, rally, do something” in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, the Times reported.
Mimi Groves (left) in the alleged Snapchat, and Jimmy Galligan on TikTok Snapchat; TikTok
“You have the audacity to post this, after saying the N-word,” a person whom Groves didn’t know wrote in response to her public post.
Groves admitted her actions were inexcusable.
“At the time, I didn’t understand the severity of the word, or the history and context behind it because I was so young,” Groves told the Times.
“It honestly disgusts me that those words would come out of my mouth,” she continued. “How can you convince somebody that has never met you and the only thing they’ve ever seen of you is that three-second clip?”
But her world came crashing down when her dream school pressured her to resign amid outrage from admissions officials, she told the Times.
“They’re angry, and they want to see some action,” an admissions official told the Groves family, according to an audio recording reviewed by the Times.
On Twitter at the time, the university didn’t publicly name Groves, but acknowledged that an incoming student would no longer attend due to controversy over a racist video.
“On Wednesday, following a racist video and photo surfacing on social media, Athletics made the decision not to allow a prospective student to join the Spirit Program. She will not be attending the university this fall,” the university posted on June 4.
Galligan says he has no regrets about sharing Groves’ video publicly.
“If I never posted that video, nothing would have ever happened,” he told the Times. “And because the internet never forgets, the clip will always be available to watch.
“I’m going to remind myself, you started something,” Galligan added. “You taught someone a lesson.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Boy and his dog abandoned in Ohio cemetery before Christmas

A three-year-old boy and his dog were left abandoned in a cold cemetery in Ohio two days before Christmas , @ @ @ @ @ to Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hinkley on Wednesday and found the little boy identified @ @ @ @ @ dog , Hinkley police said .
A witness reported seeing a blue car speeding out @ @ @ @ @ little boy and dog were chasing after the vehicle , cops said .
The child @ @ @ @ @ with child services , and is safe living with his foster family , according to @ @ @ @ @ ’ s father has been “ very cooperative.
” WJW-TV reported the boy had been @ @ @ @ @ custody at the time he was abandoned .
Cops later recovered the dog after it @ @ @ @ @ cemetery .

A 3-year-old boy and his dog were left abandoned in a cold cemetery in Ohio two days before Christmas, authorities said.
Officers responded to Hope Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Hinkley on Wednesday and found the little boy identified as Tony alone with his dog, Hinkley police said.
A witness reported seeing a blue car speeding out of the cemetery while a little boy and dog were chasing after the vehicle, cops said.
The child was taken into the custody of child services, and is safe living with a foster family, according to police.
Police say Tony’s father has been “very cooperative.”
WJW-TV reported the boy had been in his mother’s custody at the time he was abandoned. Cops later recovered the dog after it was running around in the cemetery.
An investigation is ongoing.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Chris Chiozza proving value once again in wake of Spencer Dinwiddie injury

The first test to Brooklyn ’ s vaunted depth is going to ...

The Nets lost a primary ball-handler when Spencer Dinwiddie partially tore his ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Hornets.
As a result, Chris Chiozza seemed to jump ahead of both Bruce Brown and Tyler Johnson in coach Steve Nash’s rotation. Considering he is a natural point guard, Chiozza is likely seen as more of a fit for the role than the others.
In his season debut against the Grizzlies on Monday, Chiozza went 5-for-14 from the floor with three 3-pointers to tie his career-high with 14 points. He helped anchor the Nets’ second unit, which was without Caris LeVert because he was promoted to starter with Kyrie Irving sitting out the second night of a back-to-back.
“Cheese gave us another ball-handler tonight,” Nash said after Monday’s loss. “Without Spencer and Ky, heavy [load] on Caris handling the ball. They were trying to take him away and deny it full court, so Cheese really helped, not only to handle the ball, but he made some plays and scored for us.”
Brown and Johnson haven’t logged any minutes in the past two games, but each saw some time in the wins over the Warriors and Celtics when Chiozza was inactive to start the season.
The 25-year-old Chiozza signed his first two-way deal with the Nets in January. In 18 games with them last season, Chiozza averaged 6.4 points in 15 ½ minutes per game. He also appeared in 10 games with the Wizards.
After re-signing with the Nets on Dec. 1, Chiozza was waived at the conclusion of training camp before signing another two-way contract on Dec. 22.
“It’s my job to always stay ready, I learned that last year when I got here,” Chiozza said. “I got thrown out there when I wasn’t expecting it, but they do a good job of having me working every day, getting extra work in when I’m not playing.
“You never want to see your teammate get hurt and praying for Spencer, we’re here for him, hopefully he makes a speedy return. He’s a big part of this team. While he’s out, we take it, everybody takes it, to do a little bit more than we’ve been doing, collectively.”


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Iona on second COVID-19 pause after positive test

Once again , the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc on Iona ’ s college basketball season .
An Iona strength coach tested positive for COVID-19 , meaning the program will be quarantined for 14 days , The Post ’ s Zach Braziller confirmed .
This is the second 14-day pause for the Gaels ( 5-3 , 3-1 MAAC ) .
The quarantine means five Iona games are being postponed , including Tuesday night ’ s contest against Towson , and it is yet to be determined when — or if — those games will be rescheduled .
The Gaels were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday and Saturday , followed by another back-to-back set against Quinnipiac on Jan. 8-9 .
If the Gaels pass coronavirus protocols , they could be able to return to action for their back-to-back set against Saint Peter ’ s on Jan. 15-16 .
“ This is our second covid shutdown , ” Iona coach Rick Pitino tweeted .
“ So many people have lost their loved ones .
Hoping this nightmare ends in 2021.
” Another member of the Iona program — not a player — had tested positive for the coronavirus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program ’ s first 14-day quarantine and the cancellation of the opener against Fordham on Nov. 25 .

Once again, the novel coronavirus has wreaked havoc on Iona’s college basketball season.
An Iona strength coach tested positive for COVID-19, meaning the program will be quarantined for 14 days, The Post’s Zach Braziller confirmed. This is the second 14-day pause for the Gaels (5-3, 3-1 MAAC).
The quarantine means five Iona games are being postponed, including Tuesday night’s contest against Towson, and it is yet to be determined when — or if — those games will be rescheduled. The Gaels were slated to play back-to-back games against Niagara on Friday and Saturday, followed by another back-to-back set against Quinnipiac on Jan. 8-9.
If the Gaels pass coronavirus protocols, they could be able to return to action for their back-to-back set against Saint Peter’s on Jan. 15-16.
“This is our second covid shutdown,” Iona coach Rick Pitino tweeted. “So many people have lost their loved ones. Hoping this nightmare ends in 2021.”
Another member of the Iona program — not a player — had tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-November, which led to the program’s first 14-day quarantine and the cancellation of the opener against Fordham on Nov. 25.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Clock ticking for Mets to strike deal with Tomoyuki Sugano

Unlike the vast window that remains open for most free agents to sign , one player drawing interest from the Mets is on the clock to strike a deal .
Tomoyuki Sugano , a Japanese right-hander who was posted by the Yomiuri Giants earlier this month , has until 5 p.m. on Jan. 7 to sign with an MLB team .
Since an actual signed contract is necessary by the deadline it ’ s likely Sugano will have to decide by this weekend , allowing time for a physical exam and contract language to be finalized .
The 31-year-old Sugano @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young .
The Mets have been on a fact-finding mission , given that much of their most recent scouting of Sugano , who went 14-2 with a 1.97 ERA for Yomiuri last season , dates to the 2017 World Baseball Classic , when he dominated for Japan against the US .
Yomiuri ’ s manager , Tatsunori Hara ( who is Sugano ’ s uncle ) , has told associates that Sugano in ability is probably somewhere between Masahiro Tanaka , before he tore an elbow ligament @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Sugano projecting as a middle-of-the-rotation arm .
“ At the National League level , against the top National League teams , I don ’ t think he ’ s a shut-them-down kind of pitcher , ” said a talent evaluator who has tracked Sugano ’ s career .
“ But I think he ’ s the kind of pitcher that will get you to your good arms in the bullpen .
He will find a way , because he ’ s not going to hurt himself with walks .
He can really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guys .
I wouldn ’ t mind him going out there .
“ The velocity isn ’ t max velocity , but on the four-seamer the spin rate is exceptional so he ’ s able to get it by hitters up in the zone , if it ’ s up out of the zone .
He has a forkball and he ’ s pitched in the craziest environment in which you can pitch.
” The fact Sugano plays for Japan ’ s most storied franchise , managed by his uncle , has prepared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw in his direction , according to the talent evaluator .
“ They scrutinize mercilessly the fact [ Hara ] drafted his nephew and then made him the No .
1 pitcher on the team , ” the talent evaluator said .
“ It ’ s a pressure cooker .
Some people would think it was a comfortable situation pitching for Hara — it wasn ’ t comfortable .
If [ Sugano ] wasn ’ t exceptional every time he pitched , there was scrutiny on the manager and scrutiny on the pitcher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty ruthless there.
” If Sugano departs to the US , the Yomiuri Giants will receive a release fee from his new team .
That payment is 20 percent of the first $ 25 million on the deal ; 17.5 percent of the next $ 25 million and 15 percent of anything beyond $ 50 million .
Hideki Matsui was the most notable Yomiuri Giants player to post for a MLB team ( he signed with the Yankees before the 2003 season ) .
Yomiuri doesn ’ t often post players , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underperform in MLB .
Sugano , if he signs with the Mets , would slot into a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom , Marcus Stroman and David Peterson , with Seth Lugo and Steven Matz as possibilities for starting duty .
Trevor Bauer is the top free-agent starting pitcher available , with Tanaka and Jake Odorizzi on the next tier of options .

Unlike the vast window that remains open for most free agents to sign, one player drawing interest from the Mets is on the clock to strike a deal.
Tomoyuki Sugano, a Japanese right-hander who was posted by the Yomiuri Giants earlier this month, has until 5 p.m. on Jan. 7 to sign with an MLB team. Since an actual signed contract is necessary by the deadline it’s likely Sugano will have to decide by this weekend, allowing time for a physical exam and contract language to be finalized.
The 31-year-old Sugano has twice won the Sawamura award, the Japanese equivalent of the Cy Young. The Mets have been on a fact-finding mission, given that much of their most recent scouting of Sugano, who went 14-2 with a 1.97 ERA for Yomiuri last season, dates to the 2017 World Baseball Classic, when he dominated for Japan against the US.
Yomiuri’s manager, Tatsunori Hara (who is Sugano’s uncle), has told associates that Sugano in ability is probably somewhere between Masahiro Tanaka, before he tore an elbow ligament, and Kenta Maeda. That translates into Sugano projecting as a middle-of-the-rotation arm.
Tomoyuki Sugano MLB via Getty Images
“At the National League level, against the top National League teams, I don’t think he’s a shut-them-down kind of pitcher,” said a talent evaluator who has tracked Sugano’s career. “But I think he’s the kind of pitcher that will get you to your good arms in the bullpen. He will find a way, because he’s not going to hurt himself with walks. He can really field his position, one of those guys. I wouldn’t mind him going out there.
“The velocity isn’t max velocity, but on the four-seamer the spin rate is exceptional so he’s able to get it by hitters up in the zone, if it’s up out of the zone. He has a forkball and he’s pitched in the craziest environment in which you can pitch.”
The fact Sugano plays for Japan’s most storied franchise, managed by his uncle, has prepared him for anything New York City could throw in his direction, according to the talent evaluator.
“They scrutinize mercilessly the fact [Hara] drafted his nephew and then made him the No. 1 pitcher on the team,” the talent evaluator said. “It’s a pressure cooker. Some people would think it was a comfortable situation pitching for Hara — it wasn’t comfortable. If [Sugano] wasn’t exceptional every time he pitched, there was scrutiny on the manager and scrutiny on the pitcher. [Fans and media] are pretty ruthless there.”
If Sugano departs to the US, the Yomiuri Giants will receive a release fee from his new team. That payment is 20 percent of the first $25 million on the deal; 17.5 percent of the next $25 million and 15 percent of anything beyond $50 million.
Hideki Matsui was the most notable Yomiuri Giants player to post for a MLB team (he signed with the Yankees before the 2003 season). Yomiuri doesn’t often post players, in part to avoid embarrassment should the player underperform in MLB.
Sugano, if he signs with the Mets, would slot into a rotation that includes Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman and David Peterson, with Seth Lugo and Steven Matz as possibilities for starting duty. Trevor Bauer is the top free-agent starting pitcher available, with Tanaka and Jake Odorizzi on the next tier of options.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Louisville PD moves to fire two more cops in Breonna Taylor shooting

The Louisville Police Department on Tuesday moved to fire two more officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor — a black woman whose death during a botched raid sparked a wave of nationwide protests .
Detective Joshua Jaynes , who sought the search warrant for Taylor ’ s home , and Detective Myles Cosgrove , who the FBI concluded fired the shot that killed her , were both served with pre-termination paperwork , the Courier Journal reported .
An internal investigation found that Jaynes violated department procedures in seeking the no-knock warrant that led seven cops to Taylor ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three of them opened fire .
In her letter , interim Police Chief Yvette Gentry said that Jaynes was found to have lied twice to a judge when obtaining the warrant , according to the report .
“ These are extreme violations of our policies , which endangered others , ” Gentry wrote .
“ Your actions have brought discredit upon yourself and the department .
Your conduct has severely damaged the image our department has established within our community.
” The detective will have a chance to defend himself at a hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning .
His lawyer , Thomas Clay , denied that Jaynes lied in getting the warrant and said that they would both be going to Thursday ’ s hearing to try to convince Gentry “ that this action is unwarranted.
” Cosgrove , one of the three cops who fired their weapons during the nighttime raid , was also sent a letter of termination , according to the Courier Journal and local station WAVE .
One of the two other cops , Detective Brett Hankison , was fired in June for “ blindly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s apartment .
He has been charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment .

The Louisville Police Department on Tuesday moved to fire two more officers involved in the killing of Breonna Taylor — a black woman whose death during a botched raid sparked a wave of nationwide protests.
Detective Joshua Jaynes, who sought the search warrant for Taylor’s home, and Detective Myles Cosgrove, who the FBI concluded fired the shot that killed her, were both served with pre-termination paperwork, the Courier Journal reported.
An internal investigation found that Jaynes violated department procedures in seeking the no-knock warrant that led seven cops to Taylor’s apartment on March 13, where three of them opened fire.
In her letter, interim Police Chief Yvette Gentry said that Jaynes was found to have lied twice to a judge when obtaining the warrant, according to the report.
“These are extreme violations of our policies, which endangered others,” Gentry wrote.
“Your actions have brought discredit upon yourself and the department. Your conduct has severely damaged the image our department has established within our community.”
The detective will have a chance to defend himself at a hearing with Gentry and her staff on Thursday morning.
His lawyer, Thomas Clay, denied that Jaynes lied in getting the warrant and said that they would both be going to Thursday’s hearing to try to convince Gentry “that this action is unwarranted.”
Cosgrove, one of the three cops who fired their weapons during the nighttime raid, was also sent a letter of termination, according to the Courier Journal and local station WAVE.
One of the two other cops, Detective Brett Hankison, was fired in June for “blindly” firing 10 rounds into Taylor’s apartment. He has been charged with three counts of first-degree wanton endangerment.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Yankees just became a big winner of the offseason

Blake Snell had the best pitching season in Rays history ...

There’s a long way to go before Opening Day — or even spring training, since no one knows when that will start — but as 2020 draws to a close, the Yankees find themselves in a better spot in the AL East than they were at the end of the season.
And that’s in large part due to the actions of the penny-pinching Rays, who won the division and the American League pennant before falling to the Dodgers in six games in the World Series — and then began dismantling their team.
As the Yankees wait on DJ LeMahieu to make his decision in free agency, they’ve seen Tampa Bay lose Charlie Morton because he was too expensive — he signed with Atlanta for one year and $15 million after expressing a desire to return to the Rays. And on Tuesday, the Rays officially traded their ace, Blake Snell, to San Diego in exchange for prospects.
While the Rays could add to their roster before the 2021 season, they’ve now lost Morton and Snell and gained only Michael Wacha.
A full season of Randy Arozarena will help boost the offense, but their rotation won’t be the same.
And although the Snell deal netted the Rays some excellent young arms — including Luis Patino — it won’t make them better next season.
The Yankees, if they bring LeMahieu back, seem set to go with a roster similar to the one they had last season, which wasn’t good enough to get past the Rays in the playoffs, but looks more formidable compared to how Tampa Bay is currently constructed.
Should LeMahieu sign elsewhere, the Yankees offense would take a hit and wouldn’t look as strong against the Rays.
And perhaps Toronto will make one of the significant moves they’ve been tied to — from stealing LeMahieu away from the Yankees to signing Trevor Bauer or George Springer. So far, though, the Blue Jays have been quiet.
And in this slow offseason — which has recently been single-handedly jump-started by the Padres trading for Snell and going after Yu Darvish from the Cubs — the Yankees haven’t gotten any better, but they also haven’t gotten any worse.
They have less than two months to determine how the rest of the offseason goes to see where they stand in the division, but as of Tuesday, the AL East doesn’t look as tough as it did a few months ago.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Charged with murder, stabbing? In NYC, you’re free to go

Just what exactly do criminals have to do to be ...

Criminal-justice “reform” in New York has turned our courts into a merry-go-round, with violent offenders free to jump off at will.
The latest outrage took place in The Bronx, where 16-year-old Jordon Benjamin allegedly stabbed Amya Hicks in mid-December. Arrested a few days later, he was charged with felony assault and assorted lesser charges. Amya Hicks needed surgery and spent several days in the hospital. Benjamin was less inconvenienced: He only spent a few hours in a holding cell before being released on his recognizance, without having to post bail.
It’s bad enough that an alleged knife-wielding thug who slashes neighborhood women got to gallivant out of jail. But the story becomes downright enraging when we learn that Benjamin was already facing manslaughter charges — and the same judge let him out twice.
On Christmas Eve 2019, young Benjamin and some of his mates allegedly took time out from their holiday festivities to assault Juan Fresnada, a 60-year-old Bronx man. They stomped on him and brained him with a garbage can. Fresnada died, and Benjamin and his crew got away with $1.
In his brief career, Benjamin is already the beneficiary of multiple aspects of New York state’s criminal-justice “reform” measures, which our progressive leaders and professional activist class have hailed as “monumental” steps to “create a fairer and more humane” system, in the words of Mayor de Blasio.
Benjamin was originally held in a youth correctional facility until he was released in March because of the pandemic. This was part of a massive drawdown in the city’s jail population, which dovetailed with the push to free as many inmates as possible in expectation of closing Rikers Island.
“The number of New Yorkers held in NYC jails has plummeted, shrinking by 27 percent in 10 weeks, a steeper population decline than in all of last year,” boasted the mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice in May. “The jail population is at a number not seen since 1946.”
This would be fantastic news — if the decline in the inmate population was a function of a lower crime rate. But when it’s artificially imposed, it’s hardly cause for celebration. And while it may make sense to let certain nonviolent, older prisoners out of jail for health concerns, there is no evidence that teenagers like Benjamin, being held at juvenile correction facilities, are especially vulnerable to COVID-19.
The extent to which the mass release of juvenile prisoners in March was a political decision, and not driven by “the science,” can be seen by the fact that as violence spiked throughout the spring, the city hesitated to release teenagers arrested for serious crimes. After balancing their low medical vulnerability against public-safety concerns, the number of detained youth rebounded to pre-pandemic levels by May.
This means that letting an alleged violent offender like Benjamin out in March was a big mistake, and one that the city quickly stopped making as shootings and stabbings spiked rapidly.
One would think that after allegedly committing another vicious assault this month, Benjamin would have at least been locked up. But Bronx County Supreme Court Acting Justice Denis Boyle decided to let him go, though he now faces separate charges of manslaughter and felony assault.
Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration, defended Boyle’s move, stating, “Judges follow the law, and the law clearly states that the least restrictive alternative should be the preeminent driver in bail consideration.”
The law Chalfen references is the infamous state bail “reform,” which eliminated cash bail for most non-violent offenses, which even de Blasio has cited as a contributing factor to the rise in violent crime. But the law doesn’t actually mandate “least-restrictive” alternatives for people accused of committing violent felonies, nor for individuals under probation or supervision or for “persistent offenders.”
But the current climate is permissive and encourages judges, cops and prosecutors to operate under the assumption that confinement is always the worst option. So they err in favor of criminals. Surely Jordon Benjamin is happier to be out of jail than in it while he awaits his trials for manslaughter and serious assault. Meanwhile, best of luck to the next person who has an unpleasant encounter with him.
Seth Barron is associate editor of City Journal. Twitter: @SethBarronNYC


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Gov. Andrew Cuomo eyes reactivating Javits Center hospital for COVID-19 surge

New York is preparing to reactivate the Javits Center as an emergency COVID-19 hospital should another surge of the pandemic overwhelm local medical facilities , Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ’ s office said .
Javits was converted into a makeshift hospital in the spring and President Trump sent the USNS Comfort medical ship to New York to help address the initial COVID outbreak that hammered New York .
But widespread criticism ensued that both facilities were underutilized .
For example , nursing home residents recovering from COVID were sent back to virus-ravaged nursing facilities instead of being routed to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide and the head of Northwell Health — which helped operate Javits — confirmed that plans to reuse the convention center are being put in place out of an abundance of caution , or a worst case scenario .
“ New York state for weeks has been undertaking preparations to have emergency hospital facilities to be ready for potential surge in cases , including sites such as the Javits where much of the infrastructure is still in place and could be mobilized quickly if the increase in hospitalizations is worse than expected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added , “ We urge New Yorkers to continue to be SMART so we can avoid a surge that overwhelms our hospital system and these facilities do not have to be activated.
” The governor and New York officials are “ laser focused ” on preserving or expanding hospital capacity as COVID-19 cases increase , Azzopardi said .
Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling said he doesn ’ t believe reactivating Javits will be necessary , but said a plan will be in place if needed .
“ There are no plans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we do need to , the pre-planning is done , ” Dowling said .
“ Right now I think the likelihood of reopening is minimal .
We want to be ready if something drastic occurs.
” The Army helped build and operate the Javits hospital with Northwell ’ s medical staff during the spring .

New York is preparing to reactivate the Javits Center as an emergency COVID-19 hospital should another surge of the pandemic overwhelm local medical facilities, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office said.
Javits was converted into a makeshift hospital in the spring and President Trump sent the USNS Comfort medical ship to New York to help address the initial COVID outbreak that hammered New York.
But widespread criticism ensued that both facilities were underutilized. For example, nursing home residents recovering from COVID were sent back to virus-ravaged nursing facilities instead of being routed to the Javits or the Comfort.
Javits treated slightly more than 1,000 patients; Comfort handled 182.
A Cuomo aide and the head of Northwell Health — which helped operate Javits — confirmed that plans to reuse the convention center are being put in place out of an abundance of caution, or a worst case scenario.
“New York state for weeks has been undertaking preparations to have emergency hospital facilities to be ready for potential surge in cases, including sites such as the Javits where much of the infrastructure is still in place and could be mobilized quickly if the increase in hospitalizations is worse than expected,” said Cuomo senior adviser Rich Azzopardi.
He added, “We urge New Yorkers to continue to be SMART so we can avoid a surge that overwhelms our hospital system and these facilities do not have to be activated.”
The governor and New York officials are “laser focused” on preserving or expanding hospital capacity as COVID-19 cases increase, Azzopardi said.
Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling said he doesn’t believe reactivating Javits will be necessary, but said a plan will be in place if needed.
“There are no plans to open Javits right now. But if we do need to, the pre-planning is done,” Dowling said.
“Right now I think the likelihood of reopening is minimal. We want to be ready if something drastic occurs.”
The Army helped build and operate the Javits hospital with Northwell’s medical staff during the spring.
As for criticism of Javits being underused during the spring, Azzopardi of the governor’s office blamed federal rules for initially restricting coronavirus patients from sent there.
“The facts are it was the federal government that prevented Javits from being used to treat COVID patients and only relaxed those rules after all elective surgeries were canceled, freeing up hospital beds and New Yorkers’ actions bent the curve, thankfully preventing the worst case scenario. This ‘criticism’ ignores reality,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-12-29--Jets fans can root for win over Patriots with clear conscience

Adam Gase will be looking for a job next week ...

There have been conflicting emotions for Jets fans watching their team this season.
Somewhere during this miserable year, many fans decided it would be better to root against the Jets, hope they go 0-16, hire a new coach, land the No. 1 pick in the draft and take Clemson star Trevor Lawrence. That plan got blown up by the Jets winning in the last two weeks.
So now the 2-13 Jets travel to Foxborough to close out the season against a Patriots team that looks nothing like those we’ve grown accustomed to seeing.
This is a game that should unite Jets fans. The ones who have been rooting for draft position and the ones who could not root against their team no matter what should come together Sunday and root like mad for the Jets to beat the Patriots.
Yes, a win changes nothing. No one will be celebrating 3-13. But who outside of New England didn’t enjoy watching Bill Belichick throw a phone in frustration as the Bills delivered a beatdown at Gillette Stadium on Monday night?
A Jets win over the Patriots on Sunday won’t be nearly as satisfying for their fans as the playoff-bound Bills’ win on Monday night was for the Bills Mafia, but it can give you a pleasant Sunday afternoon and make you dream of better days ahead. For those obsessed with draft position, the Jets are locked into the No. 2 spot.
Jets fans can happily root for a win over Bill Belichick’s Patriots since they’re already locked into the No. 2 draft spot. Paul J. Bereswill
I can already hear the biggest concern: what if a win and a three-game winning streak save Adam Gase’s job? It’s not happening. Gase will be fired by Monday morning whether the Jets win or lose on Sunday.
Jets fans can put their Gase hatred aside for a few hours, knowing it is the last game you’ll have to watch him coach, and root for him and the Jets to beat the Patriots.
If it feels like a decade since the Jets won at Gillette Stadium, that’s because it has been. The last Jets’ win there was the AFC Divisional Playoff game win on Jan. 16, 2011. Since then, the Jets have lost nine straight times in Foxborough. Since 2016, the average margin of defeat has been 24.8 points.
Overall, the Jets have lost nine in a row to the Patriots and 13 of their last 14 games.
With Tom Brady in Tampa, this is the Jets’ best chance at a win in Foxborough in ages. The Jets are 4 ½ point underdogs on Sunday. That is the lowest spread for the Jets in a road game against the Patriots since the 2010 regular-season meeting when the Patriots were favored by four points.
Gillette Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Jets in the last decade. Stephen Hill dropped a pass that cost them a game in overtime in 2012 and sent that season into a spiral. Rex Ryan punched a wall in frustration there in 2014 after a 27-25 loss in his final season as the Jets coach. Bryce Petty actually started games there in 2016 and 2017. Petty, a Texan, played for the first time while it was raining in 2016 and it showed. Todd Bowles coached his final game for the Jets there in 2018, a 38-13 loss. Last year, the Jets started Luke Falk at quarterback against Brady and Co. and were destroyed.
A win Sunday won’t change the last decade, but at least you could watch Belichick squirm. This is a coach who has made your quarterback see ghosts and you see red over the last 20 years since walking away instead of being the “HC of the NYJ.”
This may be Sam Darnold’s last start at quarterback for the Jets and a chance for him to finally beat the Patriots. Darnold has only played two games against New England, missing three others with injuries or illness. He has been awful against Belichick. He is 0-2 with four interceptions, a 29.4 quarterback rating, his lowest against any team, a completion percentage of 45, two fumbles lost and an average of 126.5 passing yards per game, again his lowest against any team. This will be Darnold’s first game against the Patriots since the “Ghosts” game, the worst outing of his career.
You may have gotten used to rooting against the Jets this year, but this is a game where it is safe to throw on your Joe Namath jersey, root like hell for the Jets and forget about the misery of this season for a few hours.