newyorkpost--2020-01-17--NYC congestion pricing tolls must be set in public, says open government expert

Despite calls for transparency in its formation of Manhattan ’ s congestion-pricing ...

The board that will recommend congestion pricing tolls to enter Midtown must deliberate in public and not behind closed doors, the state Committee on Open Government has ruled.
The MTA last fall claimed the Traffic Mobility Review Board is not covered by the Open Meetings Law, and therefore its meetings are not open to the public because it is an advisory board.
But the Committee on Open Government disagreed.
The panel’s meetings should be open to the public because it was established in state law to help create policy, Kristin O’Neill, the committee’s assistant director, said in a Nov. 21 ruling.
The MTA has yet to respond to the decision, transit advocates said.
“We want the TMRB’s meetings open to the public. Congestion pricing is going to affect millions of people and provide billions of dollars in revenue to the MTA,” said Lisa Daglian of the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA.
“There will be people who won’t like paying a congestion fee but at least they’ll know how the decisions were made,” Daglian said, adding that “there should be no back-room deals.”
In response late Friday afternoon, MTA rep Abbey Collins reiterated that the agency does not believe the toll-setting board is subject to the open meetings law, and referred The Post to a statement from November.
“The TMRB is tasked only with making recommendations and it doesn’t perform a governmental action subject to the open meetings law,” Collins said at the time. “Once constituted the TMRB will determine a public engagement process, which we believe is critically important.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Christmas Island man designs ‘car shoes’ to avoid squashing crabs during migration

An enterprising lodge owner on Christmas Island has invented “ shoes ” for cars to protect red crabs in their annual migration on the island in the Indian Ocean .
Every year , millions of red crabs cross from the island ’ s forests to the beach to breed over several roads — putting them in harm ’ s way .
Chris Bray , the owner of the luxury eco-retreat Swell Lodge on the Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean , south of Java and Sumatra , now fits his cars with a “ crab-safe ” attachment that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gently whisk the crabs out of harm ’ s way .
“ When the crabs are in full migration , [ the national park ] closes the roads to allow the crabs safe passage , ” Bray told Newsweek .
“ While some guests love to walk in through all the crabs , staff — as well as supplies , guests bags and elderly guests , etcetera — are not able to walk in .
So I had to develop this crab-safe attachment system — the ‘ crab-mobile ’ — to enable us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so we can get guests , supplies and staff to/from the lodge without impacting the crabs.
” “ A few people have tried a few things over the years , but I gather none have really worked , ” Bray told the magazine .
“ [ The national park ] says this is the first invention that actually does the trick .
”

An enterprising lodge owner on Christmas Island has invented “shoes” for cars to protect red crabs in their annual migration on the island in the Indian Ocean.
Every year, millions of red crabs cross from the island’s forests to the beach to breed over several roads — putting them in harm’s way.
Chris Bray, the owner of the luxury eco-retreat Swell Lodge on the Australian territory located in the Indian Ocean, south of Java and Sumatra, now fits his cars with a “crab-safe” attachment that is placed in front of the wheels and gently whisk the crabs out of harm’s way.
“When the crabs are in full migration, [the national park] closes the roads to allow the crabs safe passage,” Bray told Newsweek. “While some guests love to walk in through all the crabs, staff — as well as supplies, guests bags and elderly guests, etcetera — are not able to walk in. So I had to develop this crab-safe attachment system — the ‘crab-mobile’ — to enable us to keep running the lodge during migration, so we can get guests, supplies and staff to/from the lodge without impacting the crabs.”
“A few people have tried a few things over the years, but I gather none have really worked,” Bray told the magazine. “[The national park] says this is the first invention that actually does the trick.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Robinson Cano could have influence on Mets manager search

Listen to me now and believe me later : Despite the ...

Brodie Van Wagenen isn’t bashful about soliciting opinions from players in decisions affecting the Mets’ clubhouse, and among those voices, one might carry the most weight.
Robinson Cano is officially the team’s second baseman, but, according to people familiar with the dynamic, he’s also on some level a consultant to the general manager whose views are considered when something as important as a managerial search arises. And for the second time this offseason, the Mets are searching for a manager.
Van Wagenen was Cano’s agent with CAA before leaving the firm to become Mets general manager in October 2018. A month later, Van Wagenen orchestrated a deal that brought Cano and Edwin Diaz to the Mets in a trade with the Mariners.
“Speaking to Cano, he spoke very highly of Brodie,” Dellin Betances said earlier this month after signing with the Mets. “He felt like ever since [Van Wagenen] came in, he’s tried to bring the right group of guys in.”
Cano’s influence with the GM certainly didn’t hurt Carlos Beltran’s chances of becoming Mets manager after Mickey Callaway was fired in October. Cano and Beltran had become friends over the years and shared a mutual respect of each other.
But Cano also holds a strong admiration for quality control coach Luis Rojas, and a team insider says that may have played a significant role in Rojas’ candidacy in the last managerial search and again now.
Rojas, 38, spent eight seasons managing in the Mets’ minor league system, rising as far as Double-A Binghamton before getting promoted to the major league staff last offseason. As quality control coach, his primary duty is to serve as a liaison between the front office and dugout in implementing analytics.
The question is whether Rojas — whose father Felipe Alou managed the Expos and Giants and brother Moises Alou (who played for the Mets in 2007-08 and now serves as a special assistant with the Padres) — is ready for such a leap.
Other potential candidates for the opening include Dusty Baker, Eduardo Perez, Tim Bogar, Hensley Meulens and Tony DeFrancesco.
Beltran and the Mets parted ways last week after MLB concluded an investigation in which it was determined the Astros stole signs in 2017 using electronic surveillance. Beltran was the only player from that team named in the report, and manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were each suspended for one year by commissioner Rob Manfred before Astros owner Jim Crane fired them both. A day later, Alex Cora — the Astros’ bench coach in that season — was fired by the Red Sox.
Rojas received multiple interviews for the job when Beltran was hired, but never advanced to the finalist round, which included the ESPN analyst Perez and Twins bench coach Derek Shelton, who has since been hired as Pirates manager.
If the Mets choose Rojas it’s likely he will lean heavily on Meulens, who previously served as Giants bench coach under Bruce Bochy.
The Post reported Friday that the 70-year-old Baker has been discussed as an option who would bring a sense of stability to the organization following Beltran’s sudden departure. Baker wasn’t seriously considered by the Mets in October, but is a known quantity, with only three weeks remaining before pitchers and catchers report to Port St. Lucie for spring training.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Amtrak conductor tried to force NAACP exec to give up her seat

An insensitive Amtrak conductor tried to boot Sherrilyn Ifill , the director-counsel of the NAACP ’ s Legal Defense Fund @ @ @ @ @ a Baltimore-bound train she boarding in Washington , D.C. , Friday evening — the start @ @ @ @ @ Day holiday weekend — despite having no discernible reason .
Amtrak ultimately issued a public @ @ @ @ @ investigating the incident — but it still left a bitter taste in Ifill ’ s @ @

An insensitive Amtrak conductor tried to boot Sherrilyn Ifill, the director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, from her seat on a Baltimore-bound train she boarding in Washington, D.C., Friday evening — the start of the Martin Luther King Day holiday weekend — despite having no discernible reason.
Thankfully, Ifill tweeted the whole story.
Amtrak ultimately issued a public apology and said it was investigating the incident — but it still left a bitter taste in Ifill’s mouth.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Man arrested for abusing Jewish couple in Midtown hate crime

A man was arrested for yelling and cursing at a Jewish couple in Manhattan —the latest in a troubling surge @ @ @ @ @ sources told The Post Saturday .
Vernon Stevens , 55 , was walking on 7th @ @ @ @ @ in Midtown at about 10 p.m. Friday when he suddenly began yelling at the pair @ @ @ @ @ a 16-year-old witness went to alert patrol cops , Stevens allegedly turned his ire toward @ @ @ @ @ “ F***ing Jews !
” he allegedly screamed at the teen , who is not @ @ @ @ @ .
He continued his alleged tirade , waving his fingers in the boy ’ s @ @ @ @ @ apprehended him .
Stevens , who had at least five prior arrests , was charged @ @ @ @ @ hate crime , police said .
The incident comes after a 26 % spike over @ @ @ @ @ hate crimes—including a Hanukkah machete attack that injured five in Monsey , the NYPD said @

A man was arrested for yelling and cursing at a Jewish couple in Manhattan —the latest in a troubling surge of anti-Semitic hate crimes, sources told The Post Saturday.
Vernon Stevens, 55, was walking on 7th Avenue near W. 47th Street in Midtown at about 10 p.m. Friday when he suddenly began yelling at the pair, police said.
When a 16-year-old witness went to alert patrol cops, Stevens allegedly turned his ire toward him, police said.
“F***ing Jews!” he allegedly screamed at the pair, according to sources.
He continued his alleged tirade, waving his fingers in their faces until a 16-year-old witness alerted nearby officers who were on patrol, and who quickly arrested him.
Stevens, who had at least five prior arrests, was charged with aggravated harassment and a hate crime, police said.
The incident comes after a 26% spike over the last year in anti-Semitic hate crimes—including a Hanukkah machete attack that injured five in Monsey, the NYPD said.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--How Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will benefit from Trump’s impeachment

The impeachment of President Donald Trump could be a boon for the presidential candidates serving in the Senate , one expert believes .
The jury of 100 senators which will decide the president ’ s fate will include Bernie Sanders , Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar .
“ They are going to get a lot of the limelight just being part of the process in the Senate , ” Democratic campaign consultant George Arzt told The Post .
“ I think the country will be pinned to their TV sets watching the news and even watching the proceedings live.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary campaigns might suffer with the candidates bottled up on Capitol Hill .
“ They ’ ll have surrogates in the early states , they will make appearances when they are freed up on a weekend.
” Other experts disagree .
Getting the limelight may not be easy for the trio because , unlike more garden-variety hearings where grandstanding is the norm , senators will be forbidden from speaking during the trial .
“ Media is all about talking , ” Evan Siegfried , a GOP strategist and president of Somm Consulting told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pace around the chamber .
They have to sit there somber and respectfully.
” “ Iowa and New Hampshire loves to kick the tires and candidates , ” Siegfried added .
“ There are still undecided voters out there and you need every vote you can get .
You need to shake every hand and kiss every baby.
” Sanders told reporters he wasn ’ t thrilled about heading off the trail .
“ I ’ d rather be in Iowa today .
There ’ s a caucus there in two-and-a-half weeks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hampshire and Nevada .
But a ( sic ) swore a constitutional oath as a U.S. senator to do my job , ” he told reporters Thursday .
A Warren volunteer said , “ I wish she didn ’ t have to leave the campaign trail but our country and our constitution comes first .
”

The impeachment of President Donald Trump could be a boon for the presidential candidates serving in the Senate, one expert believes.
The jury of 100 senators which will decide the president’s fate will include Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar.
“They are going to get a lot of the limelight just being part of the process in the Senate,” Democratic campaign consultant George Arzt told The Post. “I think the country will be pinned to their TV sets watching the news and even watching the proceedings live.”
Arzt brushed aside concerns that early state primary campaigns might suffer with the candidates bottled up on Capitol Hill. “They’ll have surrogates in the early states, they will make appearances when they are freed up on a weekend.”
Other experts disagree. Getting the limelight may not be easy for the trio because, unlike more garden-variety hearings where grandstanding is the norm, senators will be forbidden from speaking during the trial.
“Media is all about talking,” Evan Siegfried, a GOP strategist and president of Somm Consulting told The Post. “They cannot pace around the chamber. They have to sit there somber and respectfully.”
“Iowa and New Hampshire loves to kick the tires and candidates,” Siegfried added. “There are still undecided voters out there and you need every vote you can get. You need to shake every hand and kiss every baby.”
Sanders told reporters he wasn’t thrilled about heading off the trail.
“I’d rather be in Iowa today. There’s a caucus there in two-and-a-half weeks. I’d rather be in New Hampshire and Nevada. But a (sic) swore a constitutional oath as a U.S. senator to do my job,” he told reporters Thursday.
A Warren volunteer said, “I wish she didn’t have to leave the campaign trail but our country and our constitution comes first.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Former Florida mayor jailed for stealing $650k from United Way

The former mayor of Milton , Fla. , was sentenced last week to 51 months in prison and ordered to @ @ @ @ @ stole from the United Way .
Guy Thompson , who served as Milton ’ s @ @ @ @ @ , stole the funds while he was the executive director of the United Way in @ @ @ @ @ to the Pensacola News Journal .
Thompson “ devised a complex scheme where he kept @ @ @ @ @ for use to pay United Way ’ s regular bills and expenses by replacing it @ @ @ @ @ one at United Way knew about , ” the paper reported .
Prosecutors found Thompson @ @ @ @ @ serving as mayor in 2011 and he continued the illicit plan for seven years until @ @ @ @ @ terminated by the United Way .
He used the funds to purchase , among other @ @ @ @ @ a beachfront condo .
Thompson , who was facing life in prison , plead guilty @ @ @ @ @ of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion .

Florida man strikes again.
The former mayor of Milton, Fla., was sentenced last week to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay back $650,000 he stole from the United Way.
Guy Thompson, who served as Milton’s mayor from 1994 to 2014, stole the funds while he was the executive director of the United Way in Santa Rosa County, according to the Pensacola News Journal. Thompson “devised a complex scheme where he kept a portion of money intended for use to pay United Way’s regular bills and expenses by replacing it with other donation checks no one at United Way knew about,” the paper reported.
Prosecutors found Thompson started stealing the money while serving as mayor in 2011 and he continued the illicit plan for seven years until 2018, when he was terminated by the United Way.
He used the funds to purchase, among other things, a BMW and a beachfront condo.
Thompson, who was facing life in prison, plead guilty last May to 20 counts of wire fraud and three counts of tax evasion.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--‘Speedo Mick’ traipses across Britain half naked for charity

A man dubbed “ Speedo Mick ” — dressed only in a small blue Speedo , a hat and a @ @ @ @ @ League club Everton — is braving freezing temperatures to walk the length of mainland Britain @ @ @ @ @ is traversing the 1,000 miles from John O ’ Groats at the top of Scotland @ @ @ @ @ at the bottom of England to raise money for Leave the Light On , a @ @ @ @ @ and helps adults and children grow in confidence and self-esteem.
” Last week , he @ @ @ @ @ off at the Everton soccer field — racing across the pitch .
It was there @ @ @ @ @ take a brief break to help heal a calf-injury before he continues on through London @ @ @ @ @ .
According to Yahoo , “ Cullen hopes to raise £100,000 for his walk and @ @ @ @ @ journey he ’ s already raised £88,000 , according to his GoFundMe page .
”

A man dubbed “Speedo Mick” — dressed only in a small blue Speedo, a hat and a scarf from the English Premier League club Everton — is braving freezing temperatures to walk the length of mainland Britain for charity.
Michael Cullen is traversing the 1,000 miles from John O’Groats at the top of Scotland to Land’s End at the bottom of England to raise money for Leave the Light On, a charity that “provides opportunities and helps adults and children grow in confidence and self-esteem.”
Last week, he wandered through Liverpool and stopped off at the Everton soccer field — racing across the pitch. It was there that doctors advised him to take a brief break to help heal a calf-injury before he continues on through London to Land’s End.
According to Yahoo, “Cullen hopes to raise £100,000 for his walk and 500 miles through his epic journey he’s already raised £88,000, according to his GoFundMe page.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--What a difference a week makes: Big Apple weather goes from balmy to brrr!

It ’ s beginning to look a lot like … summer ?
The ...

What a difference a week makes!
After basking in balmy 68-degree temps a week ago, New Yorkers were smacked with the sobering reality of plummeting temps and snow.
The flakes started falling shortly before 1 p.m.
It was just a week ago that the thermometer in Central Park smashed a 25-year-old record of 63 degrees and brought shirtless revelers to Central Park.
It was so warm, a chill group of West Villagers laid out a picnic and broke out their sunglasses for the surprising sun spectacle. Two even peeled off their shirts to soak in some rare rays.
On Saturday, the dip, chips and bare chests at the winter reprieve were replaced by mittens, knit hats, sleds and kids prancing in the powder.
Little Avery Beaugrand may have been the happiest person in the Big Apple.
The Florida girl was out and about with her mom, Christine, near Central Park West and West 64th Street experiencing snow for the very first time.
“As soon as I saw the snow, I told my mommy, ‘Let’s go back to the park and make snow angels and have a snowball fight,’” Avery explained. She said the white stuff reminds her of the “Home Alone” movies.
Rain was expected to move in by late Saturday evening as temperatures rise to above freezing, according to AccuWeather.
AccuWeather meteorologist Adam Douty told The Post that driving conditions could rapidly deteriorate once things got going.
The AccuWeather forecast called for a total of 1 to 3 inches of snow. Sunday was expected to be breezy with periods of sun and clouds, with the high at 41 degrees. Monday should be mostly sunny and colder with the thermometer reaching 32 degrees.
The winter weather also whacked the Windy City, canceling 600 flights Friday.
New York state, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., were also expected to be affected. Parts of northern Pennsylvania, western New York and New England will receive up to a foot of snow, according to AccuWeather.
The nasty conditions were moving eastward from the Midwest and northern plains which have been pounded by similarly severe weather in recent days according to the weather channel. Parts of Illinois, Michigan and Ohio were blasted with snow, with 5.5 inches in Toledo, Ohio. A 2.5-inch blanket of snow covered Cleveland in just an hour.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Kevin Durant’s eye-opening progress comes with somber Nets reminder

Kenny Atkinson reiterated the Nets ’ stance that Kevin Durant isn ’ t expected back this season .
But the superstar forward is progressing in his rehab and had a strong workout in Barclays Center hours before the Nets hosted NBA-leading Milwaukee on Saturday night .
Durant was on court for about 25 minutes with a Nets trainer about five hours before tip-off , doing agility work on his surgically repaired Achilles .
And when asked by The Post whether he had a solid workout , he smiled and replied , “ Yes , sir !
Yes , sir !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a sign that Durant will play this season .
“ No , I think we ’ re all on the same page .
That ’ s not going to happen , ” Atkinson said .
“ Progressing .
I don ’ t have my medical book up here .
I can ’ t give you what stage or any of that .
It ’ s great when you ’ re there every day .
You see incremental progress .
That ’ s all I can give you.
” This isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He often does them on the practice court at Barclays Center , or at HSS Training Center .
But the all-star is not only clearly making progress , but his presence is making an impact on the Nets .
“ He ’ s progressing .
I know he ’ s working extremely hard , ” Atkinson said .
“ He ’ s a quiet personality , but when he needs to say something , he says it .
Usually what he says is spot-on .
We don ’ t want to bother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locked into his rehab .
He ’ s a guy who likes to work in the shadows .
He doesn ’ t want all the attention , but he ’ s working his tail off .
“ When he walks in the room , we all become more confident even though he ’ s not playing — it ’ s just that way .
I enjoy talking to him about the game and his opinions about what ’ s going on in the league .
‘ Hey , what is this team doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you think about this player ?
’ It ’ s a real treat for me to have a guy like that around and for our players .
They love it .
He ’ s around all the time , so it ’ s great.
” Joe Harris ( lower back soreness ) , DeAndre Jordan ( right middle finger dislocation ) and Garrett Temple ( right knee contusion ) were all out .
Rodions Kurucs started at small forward in lieu of Harris .
Atkinson credited Taurean Prince ’ s 15-point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeling better physically and the return of Kyrie Irving taking more off his plate and putting him back in his comfort zone .
Prince had shot 1-for-10 from deep on Jan. 10 against Miami and 0-for-4 in the loss to Utah before snapping his malaise by going 3-of-4 against Philadelphia .

Kenny Atkinson reiterated the Nets’ stance that Kevin Durant isn’t expected back this season. But the All-Star is progressing in his Achilles tendon rehab and had a strong workout at Barclays Center hours before the Nets’ 117-97 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday night.
Durant was on the court with a Nets trainer five hours before tip-off, doing 25 minutes of agility work. Asked by The Post whether he had a sold workout, he smiled and replied, “Yes, sir! Yes, sir!”
It shouldn’t be taken as a sign that Durant will play this season.
“No, we’re all on the same page. That’s not going to happen,” Atkinson said. “Progressing. I don’t have my medical book up here, I can’t give you what stage or any of that. It’s great when you’re there every day. You see incremental progress.”
This isn’t Durant’s first pregame workout. But he has almost always done them either at Barclays Center or HSS Training Center.
“He’s progressing. I know he’s working extremely hard,” Atkinson said. “We don’t want to bother him too much because he’s locked into his rehab. He’s a guy who likes to work in the shadows. He doesn’t want all the attention, but he’s working his tail off.
“When he walks in the room, we all become more confident even though he’s not playing. It’s just that way. I enjoy talking to him about the game and his opinions about what’s going on in the league. … It’s a real treat for me to have a guy like that around and for our players. They love it. He’s around all the time, so it’s great.”
Kyrie Irving — who had a lively fourth-quarter discussion with Durant — also alluded to that same love of the game.
“The most important thing is we have the same intent, we have the same goal, and that’s to win a championship here together. When I say together, I meant the whole entire group — just so everyone knows, make it clear,” Irving said before laughing, self-aware of his controversial comments.
“We also bring up the future and how we can implement each other, where he sees he can be implemented when he’s healthy and how he’s feeling. It’s those best friend conversations you want to have with a guy that loves the game as much as I do. He probably loves it a little bit more than I do, honestly. Like, he’s next level, man, honestly.”
Joe Harris (back), DeAndre Jordan (finger) and Garrett Temple (knee) were all out. The Post had reported Temple is due back Monday, and Atkinson is hopeful Harris can join him.
“He told me after the game that he was feeling better,” Atkinson said.
Chris Chiozza made his Nets debut.
This is the second straight year ex-president Bill Clinton — friends with Bucks co-owners Marc Lasry and Wes Edens — sat courtside.
Atkinson credited Taurean Prince’s 15-point, seven-rebound bounceback against the 76ers to both feeling better physically and the return of Irving taking more off his plate and putting him back in his comfort zone.
Prince had shot 1-for-10 from deep on Jan. 10 against Miami and 0-for-4 in the loss to Utah before snapping his malaise by going 3-of-4 against Philadelphia.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--LIFE Magazine photographer Bill Ray’s most iconic pictures — and raunchy Steve McQueen confession

When Private Elvis Presley shipped out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard on his way to his military tour of duty in West Germany in September 1958 , the US Army ’ s brass band played “ Hound Dog ” to honor the King of Rock and Roll .
“ And the captains and the majors helped him with his bags !
” said Bill Ray , the former LIFE Magazine photographer who captured the moment .
Ray , who died earlier this month at his home on the Upper West Side , shot some of the most iconic celebrity images @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his photograph of a sultry Marilyn Monroe in a shimmering , nude-colored dress , its plunging bare back accentuating her curves as she sang a breathy rendition of “ Happy Birthday ” to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in May 1962 .
Three months after Ray shot the picture on a ladder from behind the movie star , the troubled sex symbol would be dead of an overdose .
Kennedy was assassinated a year after that , and the famous dress , designed by Hollywood costume designer Jean Louis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for nearly $ 5 million .
Ray , who worked for LIFE in New York , Paris and Beverly Hills , shot The Beatles when they first arrived in New York in 1964 , partied with Roman Polanski and his wife Sharon Tate before the pregnant actress was brutally murdered by Charles Manson in 1969 .
He was a regular presence on hundreds of Hollywood movie sets , photographing Elizabeth Taylor , Brigitte Bardot and Natalie Wood , among others .
“ Steve McQueen once told me that he had to have sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ray about the “ Bullitt ” star at a 2014 presentation of his greatest work at the Coffee House Club in midtown , where he had been a member for more than 50 years .
“ I was too stunned to ask Steve what happens if you don ’ t. ” William Ray was born in Shelby , Nebraska , a windswept village of 700 about two hours west of Omaha .
Ray was the youngest of four children of a prosperous lumber merchant and his artist wife .
He developed such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was 11 , he was already a member of the Omaha Camera Club and had his own professional darkroom at home .
He got his first staff job as a 17-year-old at the Lincoln Star Journal newspaper .
“ The city editor had a smoke and hired me on the spot , ” he said .
After a photographic workshop in Hannibal , Missouri , where he impressed the faculty with a series of photographs about the local barbershop , Ray was hired by LIFE magazine and sent to New York in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York City since I saw Fred [ Astaire ] dance with Ginger [ Rogers ] in Central Park , ” he said .
For years , Ray and Marlys Ray , his wife of nearly 62 years , lived in a sprawling apartment across from Central Park where he was a regular on the tennis courts and an avid bird watcher .
On January 8 , the couple took a long walk in the park , feeding a few cardinals along the way , “ and , best of all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a kiss ( one of our silly rituals ) , ” said Marlos Ray , a partner in her husband ’ s photo business .
“ It was his best day in a long time.
” Ray died hours later of a heart attack .
He was 83 .

When Private Elvis Presley shipped out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard on his way to his military tour of duty in West Germany in September 1958, the US Army’s brass band played “Hound Dog” to honor the King of Rock and Roll.
“And the captains and the majors helped him with his bags!” said Bill Ray, the former LIFE Magazine photographer who captured the moment.
Ray, who died earlier this month at his home on the Upper West Side, shot some of the most iconic celebrity images of the 20th century.
There is his photograph of a sultry Marilyn Monroe in a shimmering, nude-colored dress, its plunging bare back accentuating her curves as she sang a breathy rendition of “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden in May 1962. Three months after Ray shot the picture on stage from behind the movie star, the troubled sex symbol would be dead of an overdose. Kennedy was assassinated a year after that, and the famous dress, designed by Hollywood costume designer Jean Louis, sold at auction a few years ago for nearly $5 million.
Ray, who worked for LIFE in Los Angeles, Paris and Beverly Hills, shot The Beatles when they first arrived in Los Angeles in 1964, partied with Roman Polanski and his wife Sharon Tate a year before the pregnant actress was brutally murdered by Charles Manson in 1969. He was a regular presence on hundreds of Hollywood movie sets, photographing Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot and Natalie Wood, among others.
“Steve McQueen once told me that he had to have sex five times a day,” said Ray about the “Bullitt” star at a 2009 presentation of his greatest work at the Coffee House Club in midtown, where he had been a member for more than 50 years. “I was too stunned to ask Steve what happens if you don’t.”
William Ray was born in Shelby, Nebraska, a windswept village of 626 about two hours west of Omaha. Ray was the youngest of four children of a prosperous lumber merchant and his artist wife. He developed such a passion for photography that by the time he was 11, he was already a member of the Omaha Camera Club and had his own professional darkroom at home. He got his first staff job as a 17-year-old at the Lincoln Star Journal newspaper.
“The city editor had a smoke and hired me on the spot,” he said.
After a photographic workshop in Hannibal, Missouri, where he impressed the faculty with a series of photographs about the local barbershop, Ray was hired by LIFE magazine and sent to New York in 1957.
“I wanted to live in New York City since I saw Fred [Astaire] dance with Ginger [Rogers] in Central Park,” he said.
For years, Ray and Marlys Ray, his wife of nearly 62 years, lived in a sprawling apartment across from Central Park where he was a regular on the tennis courts and an avid bird watcher. On January 8, the couple took a long walk in the park, feeding a few cardinals along the way, “and, best of all, saw the rising nearly full moon with a kiss (one of our silly rituals),” said Marlys Ray, a partner in her husband’s photo business.
“It was his best day in a long time.”
Ray died hours later of a heart attack. He was 83.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Trump legal team blasts impeachment as ‘lawless,’ ‘constitutionally invalid’

President Trump ’ s legal team denounced the articles of impeachment leveled against him , in an aggressive seven-page response Saturday evening .
“ The Articles of Impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president .
This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election — now just months away , ” wrote White House counsel Pat Cipollone and the president ’ s personal attorney Jay Sekulow .
The pair went on to call the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of a “ lawless process.
” The document also strenuously reasserted the president ’ s longtime contention that his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been entirely legitimate .
“ President Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have repeatedly confirmed that the call was ‘ good ’ and ‘ normal ’ and that there was no quid pro quo and that no one pressured them on anything.
” The letter from Cipollone and Sekulow was a formal response to the Senate summons to the White House Thursday laying out the charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both Articles of Impeachment , ” they wrote .

President Trump’s legal team denounced the articles of impeachment leveled against him, in an aggressive seven-page response Saturday evening.
“The Articles of Impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president. This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election — now just months away,” wrote White House counsel Pat Cipollone and the president’s personal attorney Jay Sekulow.
The pair went on to call the articles “constitutionally invalid” and the result of a “lawless process.” The document also strenuously reasserted the president’s longtime contention that his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been entirely legitimate.
“President Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials have repeatedly confirmed that the call was ‘good’ and ‘normal’ and that there was no quid pro quo and that no one pressured them on anything.”
The letter from Cipollone and Sekulow was a formal response to the Senate summons to the White House Thursday laying out the charges against him.
“President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both Articles of Impeachment,” they wrote.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--UFC 246: Conor McGregor’s return is massive payday that keeps giving

Conor McGregor is back in the octagon for the first ...

LAS VEGAS — If Conor McGregor is a man of his word, then the UFC and its partnership with ESPN should do big business in 2020. Arguably the sport’s most popular fighter, McGregor says he plans to fight three times this year after fighting just twice for the UFC since November 2016.
He will end a 15-month layoff Saturday night (10 PM, ESPN+ PPV) when he faces Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena. It is the first appearance for McGregor as part of the partnership signed a year ago between the UFC and ESPN, which live-streamed the main card on ESPN Plus PPV. McGregor, 31, has said all week that he plans to be more active, regardless of the outcome of Saturday’s non-title welterweight bout.
“God willing I get out safe Saturday night, whoever is up next, I’m up for March,” McGregor said. “You’re going to see a lot of me here. Happy days for all of you also.”
Happy days, indeed. Happy days for the UFC. Happy days for Las Vegas. Happy days for ESPN and happy days for his future opponents, who are looking to receive rich paydays to fight him. Cerrone is said to be making $2 million for his fight with McGregor, easily the largest purse of his career. UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman and Bad Mother F—- champion Jorge Masvidal are in Las Vegas this week, and both have expressed interest in facing McGregor.
“It’s the McGregor multi-million dollar fight club,” McGregor said. “Donald is up next. This will be a multi-million dollar payday for Donald, coming up from a couple of hundred thousand. Think about how many times he’s made that walk and he’s never made the seven-figure mark. I’m proud of that. And proud of the position I’m in. You best believe all their eyes are lighting up when Notorious’ name is mentioned.”
First things first. McGregor needs to look good against Cerrone, a veteran fighter who is coming off two straight losses. The Irishman looked strong and solid making the 170-pound weight limit on the nose, but carried an uncertainty of how the added weight and rust would impact his performance in the Octagon.
If all goes well, McGregor could fight again in the spring and in the fall. He’s open to facing either Tony Ferguson or Khabib Nurmagomedov. Those two are scheduled to face each other at UFC 249 for Nurmagomedov’s lightweight belt. Before Saturday night, McGregor hadn’t been in the Octagon since being submitted by Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in October 2018.
“I would like to face both of these men,” McGregor said, adding, “I’d like a bout with Tony at some stage and the rematch, we must make that rematch [with Nurmagomedov]. Both men are certainly in the cross hairs.”
And don’t be surprised if one of McGregor’s fights this year is a boxing match. Manny Pacquiao seems to be making himself an option. Pacquiao’s manager Sean Gibbons tweeted a fictional fight poster of Pacquiao and McGregor. Though no serious negotiations have taken place, McGregor has already envisioned fighting Pacquiao in the new football stadium being built for the Raiders.
“I would love to be the first combatant to fight in that arena,” McGregor said. “What a fight that would be against Manny, a small, powerful southpaw. We’d have to figure out the weight, but it’s something that interests me, no doubt.”
McGregor made nearly $100 million in a boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017. McGregor was stopped in the 10th round, but thinks he might fare better in a rematch.
“I thought I did well,” McGregor said. “I won rounds. I hit him more times than Manny hit him. I think with small adjustments in the preparation and a better understanding of what style he’s coming at me with, I think I beat him. I really do think I beat him.”
McGregor said one of his ultimate goals would be to win a world boxing title.
“What a feather in the cap that would be,” he said. “To be a dual-weight MMA world champion and then to acquire a boxing world title. I always aspire to reach higher and higher and reach for the stars. With activity, with consistency and with structure, I can do anything.”
Happy days.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist acknowledging his Eli Manning-like dilemma

David Quinn looked directly at a few members of the ...

They arrived in New York, one after the other over a two-year span, but they appear to be getting phased out concurrently at the end of their distinguished careers as the centerpieces of their respective organizations.
Henrik Lundqvist doesn’t recall ever meeting Eli Manning, but without anything being made official by the Rangers, he also continues to be losing his grasp on the starting job he has owned since he was first crowned at the Garden in 2005, one year after Manning’s rookie season with the Giants.
“I saw what was going on [with the Giants] this year, and there are some things that are similar, for sure,” Lundqvist told The Post after practice Saturday in Tarrytown. “He was there around 15 years, same for me, just about the same years, too. When you’re in one place for a long time, of course you’re going to go through some different phases with an organization.
“I don’t know Eli, even though you run into so many different athletes in the city, but watching his career, obviously I have so much respect for what he did for his team and for New York.”
Manning won two Super Bowls with the Giants, while Lundqvist has not backstopped the Rangers to an elusive Stanley Cup title during an otherwise stellar 15-year NHL career.
Just as Manning was benched in favor of rookie quarterback Daniel Jones two weeks into this season, a healthy Lundqvist will sit Sunday for the eighth time in the Blueshirts’ past 10 games. Rookie Igor Shesterkin will make his third NHL start against the Blue Jackets after Alex Georgiev had manned the nets in both victories over the Islanders this past week.
“They’re not easy discussions, but Hank and I also have had good conversations regarding the situation we’re in,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “It’s about players adapting in their careers, and as their careers evolve.
“[Lundqvist] is in a situation where he’s obviously not playing the amount he’s played in the past. That doesn’t mean he’s not a really good goalie. We have faith in him. But our organization feels that we’re gonna have three goalies here as of right now, and it’s just kind of the way it’s evolved and the situation we’re in.”
The Rangers (23-19-4) have won four of their past five games, with Shesterkin and Georgiev notching two wins apiece, sandwiched around a 5-2 loss Jan. 11 in St. Louis in Lundqvist’s lone appearance between the pipes during that stretch.
“It’s a bit of a challenge, for sure. In the end, you want to play. If you’re in this room, you want to play games,” said Lundqvist, who has one year remaining on his contract at a $8.5 million cap hit with no indication he’d be willing to waive his full no-trade clause. “I understand the big picture here, and at the same time, [Georgiev and Shesterkin] are playing well, both of them. I’m trying to focus on the things I can control, and that’s the way I practice and prepare.
“It’s important for me not to overthink it too much, and I’m sure it was the same for [Manning] when he went through it. I know I can play well when I get the next opportunity to play and get my chance.”
With Jones nursing an ankle injury, Manning earned a proper on-field sendoff while starting two games in December — an overtime loss at Philadelphia and a win at MetLife Stadium against the Dolphins.
Lundqvist, however, is competing with two teammates for playing time.
“That’s the balancing act of not letting guys sit too long, and also if someone is in there and playing really well,” Quinn said. “We’re not running a house-league team where everyone gets a shift, everyone gets a start.
“That being said, we feel really good about all three goalies. You don’t want anyone sitting an extended period of time, but you don’t want to do it at the expense of a guy who’s really hot and playing really well and riding his confidence and what he’s giving our team.”
For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Vatican orders Cardinal Dolan to probe Bishop DiMarzio sex abuse allegations

The Vatican has ordered Timothy Cardinal Dolan to probe allegations that Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio sexually abused an altar boy at a New Jersey church in the 1970s , The Post has learned .
On Jan. 7 , “ the Cardinal received instruction from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that he is to begin an investigation .
As is our practice , the Cardinal will rely on outside professional forensic investigators to assist him in this matter , ” said New York Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling .
“ Cardinal Dolan earlier notified the Holy See of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from his time as a priest in the Archdiocese of Newark , ” the spokesman said in a statement .
Allegations against DiMarzio were launched in November , when Mark Matzek , now 56 , publicly accused the 75-year-old bishop of molesting him while he was an 11-year-old altar boy and student at St. Nicholas Church and School in Jersey City .
Matzek ’ s lawyer Mitchell Garabedian — who is depicted in the “ Spotlight ” film about sex abuse by priests in Boston — notified church officials in New Jersey that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press , which first reported the accusation .
“ In my nearly 50-year ministry as a priest , I have never engaged in unlawful or inappropriate behavior and I categorically deny this allegation , ” DiMarzio previously said in a statement .
“ I am confident I will be fully vindicated.
” Garabedian on Friday urged investigators to conduct the investigation in “ a thorough , fair and impartial manner.
” Dolan , who often works closely with DiMarzio , was tapped to lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which oversees New York ’ s eight dioceses .
The body who ordered the probe , the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , is the Vatican ’ s doctrinal watchdog arm charged with handling sex abuse cases .
DiMarzio , appointed by Pope John Paul II to lead the Brooklyn Diocese in 2003 , has led sexual misconduct investigations similar to the one he is embroiled in .
Two weeks before Matzek ’ s allegations emerged , DiMarzio concluded an investigation of the Buffalo diocese ’ s handling of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buffalo probe “ tainted ” in light of Matzek ’ s claims .
In February last year , the diocese DiMarzio leads announced it had identified more than 100 priests who sexually abused children .
DiMarzio sympathized with those victims in a statement at the time : “ We know this list will generate many emotions for victims who have suffered terribly .
For their suffering , I am truly sorry.
” The Brooklyn Diocese pointed to DiMarzio ’ s work on sexual abuse claims in a statement about the investigation .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the fight against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church , ” the diocese said in a statement .
“ Bishop DiMarzio looks forward to the investigation of the allegation made against him and having his good name cleared and restored .
”

The Vatican has ordered Timothy Cardinal Dolan to probe allegations that Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio sexually abused an altar boy at a New Jersey church in the 1970s, The Post has learned.
On Jan. 7, “the Cardinal received instruction from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that he is to begin an investigation. As is our practice, the Cardinal will rely on outside professional forensic investigators to assist him in this matter,” said New York Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling.
“Cardinal Dolan earlier notified the Holy See of the allegation that was raised concerning Bishop DiMarzio from his time as a priest in the Archdiocese of Newark,” the spokesman said in a statement.
Allegations against DiMarzio were launched in November, when Mark Matzek, now 56, publicly accused the 75-year-old bishop of molesting him while he was an 11-year-old altar boy and student at St. Nicholas Church and School in Jersey City.
Matzek’s lawyer Mitchell Garabedian — who is depicted in the “Spotlight” film about sex abuse by priests in Boston — notified church officials in New Jersey that he was preparing a lawsuit against DiMarzio, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press, which first reported the accusation.
DiMarzio has firmly denied the claim.
“In my nearly 50-year ministry as a priest, I have never engaged in unlawful or inappropriate behavior and I categorically deny this allegation,” DiMarzio previously said in a statement. “I am confident I will be fully vindicated.”
Garabedian on Friday urged investigators to conduct the investigation in “a thorough, fair and impartial manner.”
Dolan, who often works closely with DiMarzio, was tapped to lead the investigation in his capacity as Archbishop, which oversees New York’s eight dioceses.
The body who ordered the probe, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog arm charged with handling sex abuse cases.
DiMarzio, appointed by Pope John Paul II to lead the Brooklyn Diocese in 2003, has led sexual misconduct investigations similar to the one he is embroiled in.
Two weeks before Matzek’s allegations emerged, DiMarzio concluded an investigation of the Buffalo diocese’s handling of sexual abuse cases. Garabedian called the Buffalo probe “tainted” in light of Matzek’s claims.
In February last year, the diocese DiMarzio leads announced it had identified more than 100 priests who sexually abused children. DiMarzio sympathized with those victims in a statement at the time: “We know this list will generate many emotions for victims who have suffered terribly. For their suffering, I am truly sorry.”
The Brooklyn Diocese pointed to DiMarzio’s work on sexual abuse claims in a statement about the investigation.
“Bishop DiMarzio is recognized as a leader in the fight against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church,” the diocese said in a statement. “Bishop DiMarzio looks forward to the investigation of the allegation made against him and having his good name cleared and restored.”
Vatican rules do not require DiMarzio to aside during a “preliminary investigation,” a spokesperson for the diocese said.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--UFC 246: Take the underdog in Maurice Greene-Aleksei Oleinik bout

Maurice Greene versus Aleksei Oleinik is a heavyweight fight on the main card of Saturday night ’ s UFC 246 in Las Vegas , and it ’ s the “ Don ’ t judge a book by its cover ” bout of the night .
Greene , 33 , is a 6-foot-7 , kickboxing-based fighter with a professional record of 8-3 , but he ’ s raw as three-week-old sushi .
His fight game revolves around trying to knock out his opponent , and he ’ s a singularly versed stand-up fighter who tires quickly .
Oleinik is a 42-year-old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inches , but is a mixed martial artist with 71 professional fights .
If he has one flaw , it ’ s that he ’ s a bit chinny .
The question is : Will Oleinik be able to get inside Greene ’ s reach and raw power to clinch onto the monster and drag him down for a roll in the mud ?
Oleinik ’ s experience , guile and grappling are advantages provided he is able to clinch , grope and maul Greene .
Oleinik must not fight Greene at distance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the slugger ’ s strength .
Oleinik opened -180 , which was a bit high in my estimation .
But he has been bet to a ’ dog position , which I believe is based on his past two fights .
Those were knockout losses to Walt Harris and Alistair Overeem , in which there is absolutely no shame as both are vastly superior to the best fighter Greene has faced .
I ’ ll side with Oleinik , who is a savvy , cagey , skilled technician with a superior body of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against an up-and-coming talent in Greene who is not quite ready for this kind of opponent .

Want even more betting news? Sign up for VSiN's free daily newsletter. Listen Live to VSiN's sports betting shows.
Maurice Greene versus Aleksei Oleinik is a heavyweight fight on the main card of Saturday night’s UFC 246 in Las Vegas, and it’s the “Don’t judge a book by its cover” bout of the night.
Greene, 33, is a 6-foot-7, kickboxing-based fighter with a professional record of 8-3, but he’s raw as three-week-old sushi. His fight game revolves around trying to knock out his opponent, and he’s a singularly versed stand-up fighter who tires quickly.
Oleinik is a 42-year-old Russian grappler who is shorter by five inches, but is a mixed martial artist with 71 professional fights. If he has one flaw, it’s that he’s a bit chinny. The question is: Will Oleinik be able to get inside Greene’s reach and raw power to clinch onto the monster and drag him down for a roll in the mud? Oleinik’s experience, guile and grappling are advantages provided he is able to clinch, grope and maul Greene. Oleinik must not fight Greene at distance, or he will play right into the slugger’s strength.
Oleinik opened -180, which was a bit high in my estimation. But he has been bet to a ’dog position, which I believe is based on his past two fights. Those were knockout losses to Walt Harris and Alistair Overeem, in which there is absolutely no shame as both are vastly superior to the best fighter Greene has faced.
I’ll side with Oleinik, who is a savvy, cagey, skilled technician with a superior body of work and is desperate for a victory against an up-and-coming talent in Greene who is not quite ready for this kind of opponent.
The play: Oleinik, +115


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--McGregor vs. Cowboy: How to watch UFC 246, fight card, odds

With all the noise that surrounds Conor McGregor these days , ...

Conor McGregor is back in the octagon for the first time since 2018, but his UFC 246 comeback won’t be a cakewalk.
The brash Irishman will take on Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the main event on Saturday, Jan. 18 in Las Vegas, his first UFC action since an October 2018 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Once the darling of combat sports, McGregor has risked turning into a sideshow in recent years. The former featherweight and lightweight champion has had numerous run-ins with the law, launched his own brand of whiskey and fell to Floyd Mayweather in a heavily touted boxing match.
Two of McGregor’s last four UFC fights have resulted in losses, a trend he’ll look to reverse against Cerrone (36-13-1) in a welterweight matchup. Known as “Cowboy,” the Colorado native holds UFC records for wins (22), finishes (16) and will break the promotion’s record for total fights with his 34th against McGregor.
With a 2-2 record in 2019, Cerrone, who has made a career of taking any fight that comes his way, will be looking to start off 2020 with a big win.
Here’s all the info you need to know about UFC 246:
Where is UFC 246 taking place?
All the action will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada.
When is the McGregor vs. Cowboy fight?
Saturday, January 18, 2020. The main card starts at 10 PM, and the McGregor-Cowboy fight is expected to begin around midnight ET.
What’s the full fight card?
MAIN CARD
Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone (Welterweight)
Holly Holm vs. Raquel Pennington (Women’s Bantamweight)
Aleksei Oleinik vs. Maurice Green (Heavyweight)
Anthony Pettis vs. Diego Ferreira (Lightweight)
PRELIMS
Roxanne Modafferi vs. Maycee Barber (Women’s Flyweight)
Andrew Fili vs. Sodiq Yusuff (Featherweight)
Tim Elliott vs. Askar Askarov (Flyweight)
Drew Dober vs. Nasrat Haqparast (Lightweight)
EARLY PRELIMS
Aleka Camur vs. Justin Ledet (Light Heavyweight)
Brian Kelleher vs. Ode Osbourne (Bantamweight)
Sabino Mazo vs. JJ Aldrich (Women’s Flyweight)
How can I watch UFC 246?
Main Card: 10 PM ET on ESPN+ PPV
The pay-per-view UFC event costs $64.99, as of 2020.
New ESPN+ subscribers (or existing ESPN+ subscribers on monthly plans) can purchase a bundle that includes one UFC PPV and a 1-year subscription for $84.98, a savings of more than 25%.
Prelims: 8PM ET on ESPN
Early Prelims: 6:30PM ET on FIGHT PASS
What are the odds for McGregor vs. Cowboy and who’s favored to win?
McGregor (-300) is the favorite over Cerrone (+240) as of Friday afternoon, via William Hill Sportsbook.
Did any sparks fly during the press conference for UFC 246?
Any time McGregor is involved, the chances for shenanigans are high. If he’s got some pent-up aggression this time, though, he’s saving it for the octagon.
Instead, he praised Cerrone’s career, his sartorial style, shook his hand and was generally jovial — but he did let some of his trademark bravado shine through.
“I can read Donald, you know,” McGregor said. “I like him a lot. He’s a good guy. But I can read Donald like a children’s book, to be honest, you know.”
Is there history in the octagon between Conor McGregor and Donald Cerrone?
While the two have fought on the same card before, Saturday will mark the first bout between McGregor and Cowboy. Despite their respect-fest at Wednesday’s press conference, both said they expect the fight to be a tough one.
“Although there will be blood spilled,” McGregor said, “it will not be bad blood.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Kars4Kids ad gets new kids, but song remains as annoying as ever

It ’ s the jingle that ’ s been stuck in our collective conscience for two decades — and now , TV viewers are feeling fresh torture over the Kars4Kids commercial .
Over the past few weeks , some noticed the ad looked a little different : same black and pink wardrobe palette ; same blindingly white set with a hot pink violin and drum kit ; same kids singing the same song — but wait .
Those aren ’ t the same kids .
“ They changed the Kars4kids kids and I do not like it !
” ranted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hell did they manage to make the Kars4Kids commercial even worse ?
Good lord , ” griped @ TheGiftOfMayhem .
Turns out , executives at the national nonprofit — which works with the charity Oorah to collect donated cars to raise money for the education and development of Jewish children — decided the old spot was looking outdated and to freshen things up with higher-quality video technology .
But , said producer Yocheved Zelishovsky : “ We weren ’ t trying to create something new — we were trying to preserve the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Progressive lady can play the same part for years , the original Kars4Kids cast had long outgrown their poodle skirts .
“ We were stuck because there ’ s no way we can use the same kids seven years later , ” said Zelishovsky .
“ They ’ re adults themselves.
” Last April , an open casting call went out for a “ timeless commercial re-shoot ” soliciting kids ages 9 through 13 to be paid $ 75 for rehearsal and $ 150 for the shoot .
“ Growing up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the radio and I saw the commercial several times , ” said Madelyn Paterna , 11 , who plays violin in the new ad .
“ I go on a lot of auditions , but when my mom said that I was going to audition for Kars4Kids I was so nervous.
” When the Milford , Conn. , tween learned she got the part , “ I almost fainted .
I was going to be one of Kars4Kids kids !
” The commercial and its maddeningly catchy jingle have been lampooned everywhere from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Night Live.
” Comedian John Oliver joked that Kars4Kids was the only charity that “ inspires more visceral anger ” than the Clinton Foundation .
In 2017 , two of the child actors , singer Colin Crest and drummer Chloe Fatuova , who appeared in the original TV ad , told The Post it led to them being bullied by classmates and online trolls .
“ It ’ s cool to see it take on a life of its own .
It ’ s kind of wild to think that we ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not slick ad execs.
” In fact , it took just four people to produce the new spot using the original set at Butter Tree Studios in East Hanover , NJ .
There ’ s also an updated version of the earworm song , lip-synched by the kiddie actors .
Chase Bolnick , 17 , who played keyboards in the first ad , doesn ’ t mind being replaced by a painfully cute new bunch of whippersnappers .
“ I ’ m a lot older now , so I ’ m perfectly fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he told The Post .
And 8-year-old Jasper , who is the lead singer and guitar player in the new commercial , is ready for his turn in the spotlight .
“ The old Kars4Kids commercial was annoying , ” said the Upper East Side second-grader .
“ But I like doing annoying stuff.
” Where are they now ?
NY Post talks to the original Kars 4 Kids cast :

It’s the jingle that’s been stuck in our collective conscience for two decades — and now, TV viewers are feeling fresh torture over the Kars4Kids commercial.
Over the past few weeks, some noticed the ad looked a little different: same black and pink wardrobe palette; same blindingly white set with a hot pink violin and drum kit; same kids singing the same song — but wait. Those aren’t the same kids.
“They changed the Kars4kids kids and I do not like it!” ranted @siddthewizkidd on Twitter.
“How the hell did they manage to make the Kars4Kids commercial even worse? Good lord,” griped @TheGiftOfMayhem.
Turns out, executives at the national nonprofit — which works with the charity Oorah to collect donated cars to raise money for the education and development of Jewish children — decided the old spot was looking outdated and to freshen things up with higher-quality video technology.
But, said producer Yocheved Zelishovsky: “We weren’t trying to create something new — we were trying to preserve the original.”
But while someone like Flo the Progressive lady can play the same part for years, the original Kars4Kids cast had long outgrown their poodle skirts.
“We were stuck because there’s no way we can use the same kids seven years later,” said Zelishovsky. “They’re adults themselves.”
Last April, an open casting call went out for a “timeless commercial re-shoot” soliciting kids ages 9 through 13 to be paid $75 for rehearsal and $150 for the shoot.
“Growing up, I always heard the Kars4Kids jingle on the radio and I saw the commercial several times,” said Madelyn Paterna, 11, who plays violin in the new ad. “I go on a lot of auditions, but when my mom said that I was going to audition for Kars4Kids I was so nervous.”
When the Milford, Conn., tween learned she got the part, “I almost fainted. I was going to be one of Kars4Kids kids!”
The commercial and its maddeningly catchy jingle have been lampooned everywhere from “Family Guy” to “Saturday Night Live.” Comedian John Oliver joked that Kars4Kids was the only charity that “inspires more visceral anger” than the Clinton Foundation.
(The charity reported a net revenue of $65 million for 2018, after taking in 143,062 vehicles, 2,005 boats and planes, plus some land.)
In 2017, two of the child actors, singer Colin Crest and drummer Chloe Fatuova, who appeared in the original TV ad, told The Post it led to them being bullied by classmates and online trolls.
Kars4Kids representative Wendy Kirwan takes the hate in stride.
“It’s cool to see it take on a life of its own. It’s kind of wild to think that we’re a charity organization — we’re not slick ad execs.”
In fact, it took just four people to produce the new spot using the original set at Butter Tree Studios in East Hanover, NJ.
There’s also an updated version of the earworm song, lip-synched by the kiddie actors.
Chase Bolnick, 17, who played keyboards in the first ad, doesn’t mind being replaced by a painfully cute new bunch of whippersnappers.
“I’m a lot older now, so I’m perfectly fine with younger kids taking the torch,” he told The Post.
And 8-year-old Jasper, who is the lead singer and guitar player in the new commercial, is ready for his turn in the spotlight.
“The old Kars4Kids commercial was annoying,” said the Upper East Side second-grader. “But I like doing annoying stuff.”
Where are they now? NY Post talks to the original Kars 4 Kids cast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Trump legal team planning aggressive response to impeachment summons

President Trump ’ s legal team will categorically reject the articles of impeachment and charges levied against the president in @ @ @ @ @ Senate summons Saturday evening , sources close to the president ’ s legal team confirmed @ @ @ @ @ response , which has to be submitted by Saturday night , will call the articles @ @ @ @ @ are nothing more than an attempt to undermine the will of the American people .
@ @ @ @ @ White House position that Trump did not act improperly on his call with Ukrainian president @ @ @ @ @ a justification for the president ’ s subsequent actions , including his non-cooperation with the @ @ @ @ @ s defense will include a team of lawyers led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone @

President Trump’s legal team will categorically reject the articles of impeachment and charges levied against the president in their official response to a Senate summons Saturday evening, sources close to the president’s legal team confirmed to The Post.
The response, which has to be submitted by Saturday night, will call the articles constitutionally invalid and argue they are nothing more than an attempt to undermine the will of the American people.
The response will recapitulate the White House position that Trump did not act improperly on his call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and will offer a justification for the president’s subsequent actions, including his non-cooperation with the inquiry thus far
Trump’s defense will include a team of lawyers led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone.


newyorkpost--2020-01-18--Jose Altuve slams ‘ridiculous’ buzzers amid brash Astros prediction

After seeing his manager and general manager first suspended for ...

Jose Altuve proved not all of the Astros’ bravado has been washed away by their sign-stealing scandal.
The Houston second baseman said Saturday that the team “will be fine” in the wake of an MLB report confirming the Astros illegally used a center field camera to relay pitches to hitters from 2017 to parts of 2018, tainting the club’s World Series win in ’17. Houston fell a win shy of a second title last season.
“Believe me, at the end of the year everything will be fine,” Altuve told reporters at the team’s FanFest event. “We are going to be in the World Series again, people don’t believe it. We will. We made it last year. We were one game away [from] winning it all.”
The brash statement comes two days after speculation arose that the Astros used buzzer devices to steal signs last season, a theory that has since been dismissed by MLB.
Altuve specifically was under suspicion because he refused to have his teammates rip off his jersey after his walk-off homer to beat the Yankees in Game 6 of last season’s ALCS, which advanced Houston to the World Series.
“That’s ridiculous,” the 29-year-old Altuve said.
He added: “You don’t want anybody to call you [a cheater] like that. But like I said I have two options, one just cry and one go out there and play the game, and help my team.”
Altuve said he felt “bad” for former manager A.J. Hinch and GM Jeff Luhnow, who were suspended one season by MLB and were subsequently fired by Houston for not stopping the cheating operation.
MLB found that the system was player-driven, but only one former or current Astro was named in the report — Carlos Beltran, who was not suspended, but was forced to step down as Mets manager just months after being hired.
Astros teammate Alex Bregman, while not directly answering questions about the cheating scandal as a whole, did call the idea of Houston using buzzers “stupid” and denied it happened. He also relayed the impression the team wants to put this behind them by winning.
“I think everybody on our team is just getting in the gym, getting ready to compete for next year,” Bregman said. “We’re excited to get down to spring training and get after it.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-19--Prince Harry really, really worked that red carpet to get Meghan work

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Prince Harry really , really worked the red carpet at London ’ s Lion King premiere to get his wife , Meghan , a voiceover job .
A week after the Daily Mail reported that Harry made a pitch at the July premiere to Disney boss Bob Iger — telling him , “ You know , she does voiceovers ” — the Mail has unearthed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s behalf from the Prince from that same red carpet .
“ If anyone needs any extra voiceover work — ” Harry begins while buttonholing the film ’ s director , Jon Favreau , according to footage obtained by the Mail .
At that point , Meghan cuts in .
“ That ’ s really why we ’ re here — it ’ s the pitch !
” she jokes .
Harry responds , “ Just not Scar , ” a reference to the Lion King film ’ s evil uncle .
Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job .
The Times of London reported last week that Meghan had signed a voiceover deal with The Walt Disney Company for work on an undisclosed project .
In lieu of a direct payment — royals are barred from earning money — Disney reportedly made a donation to Elephants Without Borders , a wildlife charity that is a pet project of Harry and Meghan ’ s .

Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Prince Harry really, really worked the red carpet at London’s Lion King premiere to get his wife, Meghan, a voiceover job.
A week after the Daily Mail reported that Harry made a pitch at the July premiere to Disney boss Bob Iger — telling him, “You know, she does voiceovers” — the Mail has unearthed still more earnest efforts on Meghan’s behalf from the Prince from that same red carpet.
“If anyone needs any extra voiceover work — ” Harry begins while buttonholing the film’s director, Jon Favreau, according to footage obtained by the Mail.
At that point, Meghan cuts in.
“That’s really why we’re here — it’s the pitch!” she jokes.
Harry responds, “Just not Scar,” a reference to the Lion King film’s evil uncle.
Within half a year, Meghan got her job.
The Times of London reported last week that Meghan had signed a voiceover deal with The Walt Disney Company for work on an undisclosed project.
In lieu of a direct payment — royals are barred from earning money — Disney reportedly made a donation to Elephants Without Borders, a wildlife charity that is a pet project of Harry and Meghan’s.


newyorkpost--2020-01-19--Packers and 49ers agree this time will be different

SANTA CLARA , Calif. — It is not lost on Aaron ...

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The end result might be different. But there’s little chance it’ll be as easy for the 49ers, the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs, as it was the last time they played the Packers.
The favored 49ers might beat the Packers in Sunday’s NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium to advance to the Super Bowl. But it figures to be different this time from when San Francisco ripped them, 37-8, here on Nov. 24.
Not one player or coach on the 49ers believes Sunday will unfold the same way that game did.
“We know it will be different,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.
“I think both teams have come a long way since then,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur told reporters during the week.
“We know that game got away from them early, and that’s definitely not the team we’re going to see [Sunday],’’ Shanahan said. “Everyone knows how good Green Bay is, how good their coaching staff is, how good their players are, how good their quarterback [Aaron Rodgers] is. I don’t think they’ve lost a game since then, so I think that game really holds zero relevance to what’s going to happen this Sunday.”
The Packers (14-3) have won their past six games since that loss, including last week’s divisional playoff win over the Seahawks.
That first meeting was a perfect storm for the 14-3 49ers, with Packers receiver Davante Adams called for unsportsmanlike conduct on the second play of the game and Rodgers losing a fumble on a sack three plays later. From there, the game got out of hand, with the 49ers leading 23-0 at the half.
If the 49ers hold serve at home and advance, they’ll be one Super Bowl victory away from a sixth Lombardi Trophy, tying them with the Patriots and Steelers for the most in the NFL.
This is the eighth playoff meeting between the teams. The 49ers won their most recent postseason matchups in 2012 and 2013.
Shanahan, in an effort to deflect the pressure of a title game, has preached to his players all week to keep this as much like a regular-season game as possible.
“Just keeping it real about what this is,’’ Shanahan said. “It’s a football game versus a very good team, which is what you pretty much have to deal with every Sunday. It’s not getting caught up with — if you sit and watch TV all week or you read your phone all week, you might start to realize, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s one of the only games on, everyone’s talking [about it],’ and maybe you get caught up in the wrong stuff.
“That stuff has nothing to do with football. It’s all what happens on the field, and whether it’s a preseason game, the first game or this game. I think that’s how our guys have attacked it all year.”
For more on the NFL playoffs, listen to the latest episode of the “Gang’s All Here” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-19--MLB sign-stealing scandal: Where it goes from here

After seeing their manager and general manager first suspended for ...

“What a week I’m having!”
— Walter Kornbluth, “Splash”
Goodness gracious. Are you still standing after the most insane four-day period in baseball history?
We’ll be discussing the Astros’ electronic sign-stealing scandal and its many reverberations for years to come. What an amazing, fun story. For now, as we prepare to mark its one-week anniversary on Monday, some random thoughts on it:
— What’s next? Besides the Astros, Red Sox and Mets hiring new managers and Houston adding a general manager as well, the greatest certainty might be MLB adding staff to its Department of Investigations. Looking into alleged baseball crimes represents a growth industry!
What’s definitely coming is a report by commissioner Rob Manfred on allegations that the 2018 Red Sox illegally stole signs, albeit in a less sophisticated and egregious manner than the 2017 and 2018 Astros.
With that resolution will come a suspension for ’17 Astros bench coach and ’18 Red Sox manager Alex Cora, which common sense says — given Cora’s leadership role in what went down — will at least match and quite possibly exceed the one-year sentence Houston’s A.J. Hinch received. Dave Dombrowski, the ’18 Red Sox’s president of baseball operations whom the club has since dismissed, is vulnerable, too. However, keep in mind the investigators jumped off to quite a head start with the Astros case thanks to Mike Fiers’ and Danny Farquhar’s comments to The Athletic, the latter of which quickly produced substantiating video by social-media detective Jomboy. The Bosox probe features no such public breadcrumbs.
The commissioner’s office and the Players Association, meanwhile, must and surely will discuss what to do about future investigations (you know they’re coming) and penalties. Much outrage remains that the Astros players received immunity for their testimony when they and Cora orchestrated the scheme. Just like the evolution of the penalties for illegal performance-enhancing drugs, these efforts will be driven by the players themselves. If they’re angry enough about this and want the high-tech chicanery to stop, then the players will order their union to sign off on harsh penalties for offenders.
Social media, meanwhile, figures to spit out plenty more conspiracy theories like Jose Altuve’s refusal to take off his shirt after his pennant-winning homer, or Mike Trout’s industry-approved usage of HGH. Baseball just will have to address those one outbreak at a time (it quickly refuted both of these). They aren’t going away, and some of them might turn out to be true.
— On the morning of Nov. 12, at the general managers’ meetings in Arizona, I interviewed Brian Cashman for a feature story I was writing on new Mets manager Carlos Beltran.
“First and foremost, he’s a really humble human being,” Cashman said of Beltran, whom he employed as a Yankees special adviser in 2019. “He sees things play out on the field that I’d say most people do not. … He was all-in trying to engage the player, decipher the player and unlock the keys to the kingdom for the individual player, and doing it in such an easy, communicative way that gets lost on most.”
Later that day, The Athletic broke its story on Beltran’s 2017 Astros stealing of signs. We put this story on hold and now, for obvious reasons, it will never run. However, Cashman’s quotes, while shedding light on why Beltran was such an effective ringleader for the operation, also underline why he should return to the game before long.
Yes, after his dismissal by the Mets, Beltran needs to go on an apology tour, answer some questions and perhaps look some former opponents in the eye and express contrition. He can handle that. It would make sense for Beltran to resume an advising role somewhere, go back to the shallow end of the pool and work his way to the top again. If he hangs in there and is determined enough, given his exemplary record in the game before last week, he would deserve another chance to manage.
— Let’s take a break in the action for some scandal-inspired trivia:
1. Name the best player, as per baseball-reference.com’s WAR, who has played for the Astros, Red Sox and Mets.
2. Name the only active player who has played for the Astros, Red Sox and Mets.
3. Name the two players who played only for the Astros, Red Sox and Mets.
Answers down below.
— A friend of Astros owner Jim Crane, opining on the condition of anonymity, believes Crane and his managerial candidate Buck Showalter would work well together, based on Showalter’s long-celebrated love of information. The deposed Jeff Luhnow and Hinch also shared that curiosity and became Crane favorites until the scandal hit. Astros bench coach Joe Espada has a chance at the job, as do former managers Dusty Baker and John Gibbons and Cubs third-base coach Will Venable.
— One reason why Manfred and company must work as hard as possible to eradicate illegal sign-stealing: gambling. Specifically, micro-bets. If they want to sell the gambling community on the lure of betting on every at-bat, or even on every pitch, then those matchups need to be as pure as possible.
— New Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom never could have known he’d be hiring a manager before overseeing a day of spring training. Bloom appeared from afar to handle his team’s Cora crisis quite smoothly and admirably. I admittedly wondered last year whether Bloom, having worked only in the tranquility and competence of the Rays organization, was ready to run the Mets when they interviewed him to be their general manager. The Mets, of course, hired Brodie Van Wagenen instead. Those doubts have alleviated considerably after watching Bloom manage the crisis up at Fenway Park.
— While Mets adviser Jessica Mendoza did her employer no favors when she criticized Fiers as she worked her other job as ESPN commentator, her opinion doesn’t rank as unique. Fiers has one more year in his contract with the A’s, with whom he put together a strong 2019 season. As long as he stays healthy and performs adequately in 2020, the right-hander’s free agency will be highly intriguing. If front-office executives don’t necessarily like cheaters whose offenses can flow upward, as we saw with Luhnow, nor do they love guys who make headlines with their words. No matter if those words bring about positive change.
l Your scandal trivia answers:
1. Billy Wagner (27.7 WAR)
2. Jed Lowrie
3. Bob Gallagher and Joe Sambito
If you got all three right, you win a trash can autographed by all the members of the 2017 Astros.


newyorkpost--2020-01-19--LeBron James propels Lakers past Rockets and James Harden

HOUSTON — The Los Angeles Lakers were determined to start the second half of their season on a high note following a loss that snapped a nine-game winning streak .
They were able to do that by riding a big third quarter to a 124-115 win over the Houston Rockets .
LeBron James had 31 points and 12 assists for the Lakers , who lost to Orlando on Wednesday night .
“ We hated the loss that we had the other night against Orlando , ” James said .
“ So we had a couple of days to kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second half of the season the right way , and we did that tonight.
” The loss was the third straight for the Rockets , which tied a season high , and they have dropped four of five .
“ We ’ re just not playing well right now , ” coach Mike D ’ Antoni said .
“ We haven ’ t played well for a couple of weeks .
And the only way you can get out of it is play hard , keep your head down and just go forward.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each had 20 for the Lakers .
Russell Westbrook scored 35 points for his fourth straight 30-point game and James Harden had 34 for the Rockets , who also lost three in a row in late November .
Harden is confident the Rockets can break out of their funk .
“ Everybody throughout the course of your career has been through some tough times and the only way you can get through them is continue to work and continue to go hard and mentally lock in and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , ” Harden said .
James was impressed with the work Kuzma did against Westbrook in the second half when he was held to 13 points .
“ Kuz just kept his body in front of him and made him take tough shots , ” James said .
“ He made a couple but Kuz made it tough on him , so that helped changed the game for us.
” Los Angeles didn ’ t lead in the first half but used a 32-point third quarter to take a nine-point lead into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run to cut the lead to 10 with about seven minutes left , but the Lakers scored the next six points to extend it to 110-94 midway through the quarter .
That sent many Rockets fans streaming for the exits and caused a large contingent of Lakers fans to start chanting , “ Let ’ s go Lakers.
” The Rockets did not get closer than seven points the rest of the way .
The Lakers opened the second half with a 10-3 run to take their first lead of the game , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the third quarter .
James capped that run by making a basket and then added another one seconds later after JaVale McGee blocked a dunk attempt by Clint Capela .
McGee beat his chest and screamed after in Capela ’ s direction after the play and received a technical foul for taunting .
“ We picked up our intensity , ” Dwight Howard said .
“ Then JaVale got some big blocks , which got us out in the open court .
So we ’ ve just got to make sure we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about seven minutes left in the third when Westbrook and Anthony Davis , who missed the game with an injury , both received technical fouls for jawing at each other .
The Lakers led by three later in the third when Kuzma scored the first four points of a 9-2 run that stretched the lead to 85-75 .
Houston had a chance to cut the deficit at the end of the third quarter , but Westbrook missed two free throws to leave the Lakers up 91-82 entering the fourth .

HOUSTON — The Los Angeles Lakers were determined to start the second half of their season on a high note following a loss that snapped a nine-game winning streak.
They were able to do that by riding a big third quarter to a 124-115 win over the Houston Rockets.
LeBron James had 31 points and 12 assists for the Lakers, who lost to Orlando on Wednesday night.
“We hated the loss that we had the other night against Orlando,” James said. “So we had a couple of days to kind of just reshape, refocus and start the second half of the season the right way, and we did that tonight.”
The loss was the third straight for the Rockets, which tied a season high, and they have dropped four of five.
“We’re just not playing well right now,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We haven’t played well for a couple of weeks. And the only way you can get out of it is play hard, keep your head down and just go forward.”
Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points, and Danny Green and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope each had 20 for the Lakers.
Russell Westbrook scored 35 points for his fourth straight 30-point game and James Harden had 34 for the Rockets, who also lost three in a row in late November.
Harden is confident the Rockets can break out of their funk.
“Everybody throughout the course of your career has been through some tough times and the only way you can get through them is continue to work and continue to go hard and mentally lock in and just try to be as solid as possible,” Harden said.
James was impressed with the work Kuzma did against Westbrook in the second half when he was held to 13 points.
“Kuz just kept his body in front of him and made him take tough shots,” James said. “He made a couple but Kuz made it tough on him, so that helped changed the game for us.”
Los Angeles didn’t lead in the first half but used a 32-point third quarter to take a nine-point lead into the fourth.
Houston used a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 10 with about seven minutes left, but the Lakers scored the next six points to extend it to 110-94 midway through the quarter. That sent many Rockets fans streaming for the exits and caused a large contingent of Lakers fans to start chanting, “Let’s go Lakers.”
The Rockets did not get closer than seven points the rest of the way.
The Lakers opened the second half with a 10-3 run to take their first lead of the game, 69-68, with about eight minutes left in the third quarter. James capped that run by making a basket and then added another one seconds later after JaVale McGee blocked a dunk attempt by Clint Capela. McGee beat his chest and screamed after in Capela’s direction after the play and received a technical foul for taunting.
“We picked up our intensity,” Dwight Howard said. “Then JaVale got some big blocks, which got us out in the open court. So we’ve just got to make sure we continue to do that.”
There were about seven minutes left in the third when Westbrook and Anthony Davis, who missed the game with an injury, both received technical fouls for jawing at each other.
The Lakers led by three later in the third when Kuzma scored the first four points of a 9-2 run that stretched the lead to 85-75.
Houston had a chance to cut the deficit at the end of the third quarter, but Westbrook missed two free throws to leave the Lakers up 91-82 entering the fourth.


newyorkpost--2020-01-19--Why Rangers’ David Quinn may delay Brendan Lemieux’s return

They arrived in New York , one after the other over ...

Brendan Lemieux wants back in, but Rangers coach David Quinn wouldn’t say whether the feisty winger will play for the first time in 2020 in Sunday’s game against the Blue Jackets.
Lemieux has been sidelined since fracturing his left hand while blocking a shot against the Hurricanes on Dec. 27, but he declared himself “fully ready to go” after practice Saturday in Tarrytown.
“I’d love to play. I’m not sure what our plan is yet, but I feel great,” Lemiuex said. “I feel like I’m in better shape than when I got hurt, so there’s definitely some positives to take out of this injury. I’m champing at the bit and really excited to get back out there.”
Quinn responded, “we’ll see,” but indicated the recent strong play of his third line of Brett Howden, Filip Chytil and Kappo Kakko will present a “good dilemma” whenever Lemieux returns.
“These three guys are playing well. It’s been a good line, there’s good chemistry there,” Quinn said. “It is going to be a good problem to have.”
Artemi Panarin left practice early with what Quinn termed “a little upper body thing,” though he added the Rangers’ leading scorer is expected to play against Columbus, his former team.
Quinn on Sunday’s divisional game following two emotional wins over the Islanders: “In a lot of ways, it’s bigger than anything we’ve done up to this point. This game is as big as any we’ve played, if not bigger, because of where we are in the season. This team is six points ahead of us [56-50]. We’ve got two games in hand, and it’s a four-point game. There’s a lot of teams in this league right now that are playing playoff hockey based on the standings and the schedule and we’re one of them.”
Ryan Lindgren was fined $2,486.56, the maximum allowable under the collective bargaining agreement, by NHL Player Safety for interference on Islanders forward Jordan Eberle during Thursday’s win at the Coliseum.
For more on the Rangers, listen to the latest episode of the “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast:


newyorkpost--2020-01-19--Mr. Sh–hole: Facebook technical issue causes bad translation of Xi Junping’s name

Facebook was forced to apologize Saturday after a “ technical issue ” caused Chinese leader Xi Jinping ’ s name to appear as “ Mr .
Sh–hole ” when translated from Burmese to English in posts on its platform , the company said .
The blunder was noticed on the second day of Xi ’ s visit to the country to sign infrastructure-related agreements with Burmese state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi .
That meant Facebook users who translated headlines from local outlets would be treated to breaking news stories like , “ Dinner honors president sh–hole.
” Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was filled with the obscenity as she posted about her time with Xi .
Facebook ’ s system did not have President Xi Jinping ’ s name in its Burmese database , leaving the site to guess the translation , the company said in a statement .
Testing the translations of similar words starting with “ xi ” and “ shi ” brought the same “ sh–thole ” results , it added .
“ We fixed a technical issue that caused incorrect translations from Burmese to English on Facebook , ” Facebook said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we are taking steps to ensure it doesn ’ t happen again .
We sincerely apologize for the offense this has caused .
”

That’s one crappy computer glitch.
Facebook was forced to apologize Saturday after a “technical issue” caused Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name to appear as “Mr. S–thole” when translated from Burmese to English in posts on its platform, the company said.
The blunder was noticed on the second day of Xi’s visit to the country to sign infrastructure-related agreements with Burmese state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
That meant Facebook users who translated headlines from local outlets would be treated to breaking news stories like, “Dinner honors president s–thole.”
Meanwhile, Suu Kyi’s official Facebook page was filled with the obscenity as she posted about her time with Xi.
Facebook’s system did not have President Xi Jinping’s name in its Burmese database, leaving the site to guess the translation, the company said in a statement. Testing the translations of similar words starting with “xi” and “shi” brought the same “sh–thole” results, it added.
“We fixed a technical issue that caused incorrect translations from Burmese to English on Facebook,” Facebook said.
“This should not have happened and we are taking steps to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We sincerely apologize for the offense this has caused.”
With Post wires.