newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Have we already seen the best of the Yankees’ Baby Bombers?

The village on fire that is the Yankees received a helicopter bucket Saturday in the form of their 2-1 victory over the Mets, courtesy of an old-school bottom of the ninth inning that featured a Clint Frazier walk, a Jordy Mercer hit-and-run single and Erik Kratz’s safety squeeze attempt that sure seemed to compel old pal Dellin Betances to unleash a walk-off wild pitch.
Frames like that put the “fun” in “fundamental,” but also in “funky.” If it can stop a seven-game losing streak, it probably can’t drive an extended winning streak, either.
No, what builds winning streaks, championships and dynasties is a core of high-end talent, preferably homegrown. It’s what the Yankees have missed most in this stretch, when their offense has turned limp and their bullpen homer-happy, and what they thought they had most in this era perhaps prematurely knighted as that of the Baby Bombers.
Have we already experienced the best that group has to collectively offer?
This win came with Aaron Judge on the injured list, again, and with Gleyber Torres joining him. With Gary Sanchez on the bench, not emerging to so much as pinch hit, as he’s immersed in a brutal start to this campaign. Luis Severino is rehabilitating from Tommy John surgery, and poor Greg Bird is out of baseball, the Rangers granting his request for a release earlier this month.
It hardly dooms the Yankees, who have exhibited both a knack for unearthing hidden gems and a willingness to spend big on imported talent they find worthy of their riches. Yet the wavering fates of the Baby Bombers makes the team’s title quest harder and, I would argue, less spiritually enriching — especially for the fans of this franchise who kvelled in seeing Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Bernie Williams grow up and ride parade floats together.
Torres, handed the shortstop job as a disappointed Didi Gregorius left for Philadelphia, began this season awful on both sides of the ball before straining his left hamstring and left quad, sidelining him for a while, and really, he’s the least of the concerns given how well he performed his first two years. Judge’s injuries and Sanchez’s performance have turned into multi-year sagas.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, speaking to reporters Saturday shortly before first pitch, said that he expected Judge, who sat for 14 days with a strained right calf, to miss double that time after re-aggravating the injury in his first game back. This marks Judge’s fourth visit to the IL in the past three seasons, and he would’ve begun this year inactive if not for the pandemic shutdown.
The 28-year-old’s talent and ceiling remain sky-high. You can’t qualify for Most Valuable Player awards, however, as Judge did in 2017 as a rookie, if you can’t stay on the field.
That year also marked a triumph for Sanchez, his first full year justifying the hype from his spectacular 2016 cameo if also generating headaches about his defense. Since then, though, Sanchez turned into a human roller coaster, registering an awful 2018 and good-first-half, bad-first-half 2019 under Aaron Boone before generating an unsightly .130/.256/.338 slash line this year. Boone didn’t use Sanchez to pinch hit Saturday despite some obvious opportunities — the manager said he might have called on him had a different situation arisen in the ninth.
“Without question, he’s struggling with the bat,” Cashman said of Sanchez. The general manager cited the bizarre schedule that has made it tough for players to get in a groove as well as possible confidence issues. Cashman concluded: “We are going with Gary Sanchez. He is by far our best option on both sides of the ball and we look forward to him finding his groove sooner than later obviously because we need it, but I still have confidence in [him].”
Gotta keep going with Sanchez for a little while longer, and hope to get Judge back in time for the playoffs. And hey, Frazier has contributed, and here comes Deivi Garcia on Sunday, ready for his major league debut.
That 2017 season felt special, though in a 1995 sort of way. And if ’95 established a standard impossible to match, right now it seems possible that the Baby Bombers era will fall short of enjoying even one parade.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--First college football game in coronavirus era has some fans

The Big Ten may end up playing football in the ...

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — With masks, social distancing and mostly empty stands, the college football season kicked off COVID-19 style.
Austin Peay and Central Arkansas, two teams fresh from FCS playoff appearances, took the stage at Cramton Bowl Saturday night in the Guardian Kickoff Classic. The Bears won 24-17 but college football was the star of the show.
“It’s the first game from the pandemic, and so it should mean that much more to everybody. Not just the players,” said Dave Dotson, whose family drove in from Texas to see son Simeon, a defensive back for Central Arkansas.
Only 2,000 tickets were distributed at the 22,000-seat stadium, and there appeared to be significantly fewer fans actually attending. A number of them were family members of players.
Masks were required coming into the gates, walking around the stadium and at the concession stands. Coaches and players also wore them on the sidelines.
Dave and Juliana Dotson decided to make the drive with teen sons Reuben and Ephraim — which turned into about 12 hours Friday because of Hurricane Laura-related detours — after seeing the precautions being taken at the game.
“It made us feel a little better about being here,” Juliana said. “It said there would be four seats in between each group and two rows, so there would be social distancing put in place.”
UAB professor of infectious diseases Michael Saag said the game would be “a good test case” for college football and other events. Both teams were tested Wednesday.
“Let’s pull back to the big picture: Everything we do in this epidemic is an experiment of sorts,” said Saag, who is also associate dean for global health. “Nobody really knows what’s going to happen at any event or with any type of exposure.
“We know the general principles and I think every human being on the planet can quote line and verse about mask-wearing distance. But each situation is different. I have been awed by the power of this virus and its ability to being transmitted from person to person.”
He cited the number of outbreaks already on campuses of colleges and universities.
Austin Peay didn’t disclose the number of players, coaches or staffers affected by COVID-19. But athletic director Gerald Harrison posted on Twitter that the team brought 70 players as usual.
The biggest name missing was wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson, a second-team AP FCS All-American last season.
“None of the individuals representing Austin Peay in Montgomery, Alabama, tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19,” Harrison wrote.
Central Arkansas didn’t have any key players fail to make the trip.
Central Arkansas coach Nathan Brown acknowledged leading up to the “Week Zero” game that there had been some uneasiness with going forward with a season. It was hard to avoid the news that leagues like the Pac-12 and Big Ten opted against playing this fall.
“This season was hanging on a thread and we knew that we had to do things right and we knew that our players had to truly buy into that,” Brown said. “As a human being, you’re naturally going to go through the emotions of what you see and what you feel.
“But what I encouraged our guys to do was not pay attention to social media, pay attention to what’s right in front of you in Conway, Arkansas, at the University of Central Arkansas and base your judgment on that. And I think we’ve handled things well.”
Fans and teams — and college football in general — are hoping for a positive outcome for both players and those who sat in the stands for Game 1 of the COVID-19 experiment.
The first glitch came when Austin Peay’s freshman CJ Evans scored on a 75-yard touchdown run to start the game. The referee’s mic was live when he cursed “God damn mask.”
The family of Austin Peay’s Geordon Pollard drove down from Birmingham to see the starting wide receiver and his team play. Father George Pollard is used to being around people for his job at a car manufacturing plant and said he had no reservations.
“Ready to get out of the house,” Pollard said. “Ready for college football to kick off.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Coronavirus hits University of Alabama hard — where 1,200 students now infected

A coronavirus tide is rolling at the University of Alabama — where 1,200 students have tested positive since the school @ @ @ @ @ alarming stat was reported on the university ’ s own online “ COVID-19 Dashboard.
” @ @ @ @ @ ago at the school — home of the Crimson Tide football team — where nearly @ @ @ @ @ President Stuart R. Bell had already termed the rise in cases “ unacceptable ” a @ @ @ @ @ 23 , in an online letter to faculty , staff and students .
At that @ @ @ @ @ students , faculty and staff had topped 500 .
The university president did not immediately @ @ @ @ @

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A coronavirus tide is rolling at the University of Alabama — where 1,200 students have tested positive since the school opened this month.
The alarming stat was reported on the university’s own online “COVID-19 Dashboard.”
Classes had resumed two weeks ago at the school — home of the Crimson Tide football team — where nearly 30,000 students attend.
University President Stuart R. Bell had already termed the rise in cases “unacceptable” a week prior, on Aug. 23, in an online letter to faculty, staff and students.
At that point, total infections among students, faculty and staff had topped 500.
The university president did not immediately address the new spike.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Islanders’ depth reemerges for first time in Flyers series

Derick Brassard .
Otherwise known as “ The Notorious BGB.
” It was ...

The Islanders pride themselves on being a four-line team and that rang true in their Game 3 victory over the Flyers, in which two of their three goals came from the bottom six.
Through the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Flyers, the Islanders have primarily gotten their scoring from the top two lines and defensemen. The only bottom-six skater to contribute had been Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the Islanders’ trade-deadline acquisition that was meant to add depth down the lineup at center.
Fourth-line winger Matt Martin notched his third goal of the postseason to pull even with the Flyers 1-1 at 7:12 of the second, standing all alone in front of Flyers’ goaltender Carter Hart and tapping in a feed from Mathew Barzal. Then, as the final seconds of the middle frame wound down, Leo Komarov got a stick on a pass from Derick Brassard and got it to trickle in past Hart for the Islanders’ first lead of the night.
“It was huge,” Islanders coach Barry Trotz said of the depth contributions on a Zoom call following Saturday’s 3-1 win. “I think that’s the way we’re built. We’re not probably blessed with a lot of those top-end guys, in terms of the heavy, high offensive guys. But we have a lot of very valuable pieces that can contribute in different ways. You saw that, you got a goal from Martin, you got a goal from Leo [Komarov] and the [Derick] Brassard and Pageau line was very good.”
Komarov’s late second-period goal was his first this postseason and the second playoff tally of his career. Trotz was unable to contain his smile when asked about Komarov during his postgame presser.
“Anybody who has Leo, he’s obviously a seasoned pro, but he brings people into the fight,” Trotz said. “He’s sometimes not the prettiest guy to watch, but he’s a guy who gets his nose dirty all the time. He’s a guy that can help you in a lot of defensive situations, he can play multiple positions and his experience. He’s one of the guys that you always can have fun with on a daily basis.
“Every team has characters, Leo is a character. Not only that, he’s a good player for us and he’s a good piece.”
Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov said the two unexpected days off between Games 2 and 3, along with practice Friday and a morning skate Saturday, helped him settle his game back down after getting pulled in Game 2.
“It was an important game for our team, for me especially after Game 2, I know I didn’t play well,” Varlamov said. “It happens, you know? Nothing goes perfect, especially in the playoffs, there’s a lot of games going on. You lose today, you win tomorrow. So I learned from my mistakes.”
Trotz opted to insert Brassard back into the lineup for the first time in three games, placing him back in his usual third-line role. Ross Johnston was scratched after taking Brassard’s place the last three games.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Man fatally shot near downtown Portland protest clashes

A man was fatally shot in Portland near where a pro-Trump caravan rolled through counter-protests , according to multiple local reports .
It ’ s not clear if the shooting was related to the demonstrations , the Oregonian reported .
The victim was killed in the city ’ s downtown at 8:45 p.m. local time — just before midnight on the East Coast — near Southwest Third Avenue and Alder Street , according to the paper .
Photos from the scene showed the victim being treated by medics — and indicated he may have been a pro-law enforcement demonstrator .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wounds , and on the ground around the victim were camouflage gear bearing patches reading “ Infidel ” and “ Thin Blue Line , ” according to the Oregonian .
The paper also reported that the victim was wearing a hat bearing the logo of Patriot Prayer , a far-right group that has organized pro-Trump rallies in liberal cities along the west coast .
“ Portland Police officers heard sounds of gunfire from the area of Southeast 3rd Avenue and Southwest Alder Street , ” the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded and located a victim with a gunshot wound to the chest .
Medical responded and determined that the victim was deceased.
” The outlet reported that there had been multiple scuffles and flashes of violence between the protesters throughout the evening .

A man was fatally shot in Portland near where a pro-Trump caravan rolled through counter-protests, according to multiple local reports.
It’s not clear if the shooting was related to the demonstrations, the Oregonian reported.
The victim was killed in the city’s downtown at 8:45 p.m. local time — just before midnight on the East Coast — near Southwest Third Avenue and Alder Street, according to the paper.
Photos from the scene showed the victim being treated by medics — and indicated he may have been a pro-law enforcement demonstrator.
Medics appeared to be tending to two wounds, and on the ground around the victim were camouflage gear bearing patches reading “Infidel” and “Thin Blue Line,” according to the Oregonian.
The paper also reported that the victim was wearing a hat bearing the logo of Patriot Prayer, a far-right group that has organized pro-Trump rallies in liberal cities along the west coast.
“Portland Police officers heard sounds of gunfire from the area of Southeast 3rd Avenue and Southwest Alder Street,” the Portland Police Bureau said in a statement to The Washington Post.
“They responded and located a victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. Medical responded and determined that the victim was deceased.”
The outlet reported that there had been multiple scuffles and flashes of violence between the protesters throughout the evening.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Yankees say training team’s overhaul partly to blame for injuries

Directors of player health and performance , Casey Stengel once said , ...

Brian Cashman views another injury-plagued Yankees season as unfortunate, not unexpected.
After setting a major league record by sending 30 players to the injured list last year, the Yankees have already placed 13 players on the injured list during this shortened season. Despite overhauling the team’s health and performance staff in the offseason, the Yankees have another roster with championship expectations relying on backups.
A pandemic and a pair of shortened spring trainings likely shoulders some blame, but the general manager believes the changes to the team’s training programs also bear some responsibility.
“One of the things we did learn in our efforts and our studies, there’s a high percentage when you do make changes that your injuries actually do go up [initially],” Cashman said before Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Mets. “I’m not saying that’s a byproduct of any of our changes, because I do think this is a unique sporting year with COVID and a lot of the shortened training programs … [but] the historical data does show that when teams make significant changes, even if they’re for the better, you get some exposure and some increased injuries that do hit.
“That was being shared by objective data and some engagement with other sport franchises that shared, ‘Hey, don’t be discouraged if the following happens in the transition. It’s a long haul and you’re shooting for higher ground over the course of time. Don’t try to judge something too quick and too early on.’ It was a cautionary tale that I got from a team in the NBA that I really highly respect.”
Cashman reasserted his confidence in the new training staff, headed by Eric Cressey, the director of player health and performance.
“We feel really good about the personnel we have in place,” Cashman said. “Everybody got put in place in January, and this first year especially, you start building relationships, start sharing your new programs to try to get players to buy in. … Prior to all these injuries, it was like, I feel like we’re 10 percent into where we are in terms of establishing our new programs, establishing the information feed. None of these are excuses. It’s just the fact.”
Again, Aaron Judge ranks among the Yankees’ greatest health concerns. Struggling with injuries for the third straight season, the former Rookie of the Year couldn’t make it through his first game back in two weeks before re-injuring his right calf on Wednesday, requiring a return to the injured list.
Cashman said the latest strain is less severe, but Judge could end up being on the shelf twice as long this time.
“The [soleus muscle] that he strained is a tricky one, that does have more susceptibility to reoccurrence,” Cashman said. “Usually when you have a failed rehab you do double the time. … I don’t have a prediction of a time frame, but that is a fair assessment to put out there and make sure people don’t have earlier hopes, including our player.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Jets’ push for social justice solutions bringing team together

The Jets returned to the practice field Saturday after two days of some emotional conversations about social justice .
Players and coach Adam Gase said the team came together in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha , Wis. , to share feelings and try to formulate a plan to bring about change .
The Jets decided not to practice on Thursday , instead meeting for close to five hours of discussion .
The players had a scheduled day off Friday when discussions continued .
“ It was awesome to see the team come together and really hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the situation , ” offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison said .
“ In a way , it has pulled us closer together and helped us realize as a group , let ’ s have each other ’ s backs .
We understand that the situation may affect guy A more than it affects guy B , but we ’ re all in this together and let ’ s all , as an organization , come together and work toward finding a way to help.
” Harrison said the players are not ready to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change .
They are still working through an action plan , but he summed up what the players are hoping for .
“ We would like to see positive change , ” Harrison said .
“ We ’ re sick of the different groups of people .
We ’ re sick of this opinion versus that opinion .
Clearly , we ’ re sick of what ’ s going on in society .
All we want is positive change .
We know that things won ’ t just happen overnight .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just one easy answer to all of this .
We know this is going to be a process .
As long as progress is being made and as long as we see that positive growth throughout society in some way , shape or form , then all of us , we ’ re completely happy.
” Harrison wanted to make sure it was understood the cancellation of Thursday ’ s practice was not a form of protest , but rather to give them a chance to discuss the issues .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting out of a regular-season game .
Quarterback Sam Darnold called the meetings “ eye-opening.
” Growing up white in San Clemente , Calif. , Darnold said he did not have to worry about police profiling him or being targeted .
He heard stories from teammates that resonated with him .
“ I took the time to understand it is different growing up black in America , ” Darnold said .
“ I understand that better.
” Darnold said the group not only shared stories , but also spoke about registering to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand for both nationally and locally .
Darnold said it is important for them to stay on the field .
“ We have to continue playing because , quite frankly , the reason we have a platform is because we play football and we are in the NFL , ” Darnold said .
“ That was a huge point to all the guys .
We have to continue playing .
We have to continue to push our message across and get our points across to everyone because if we stop playing , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Harrison said the players feel like they have the full support of the organization .
CEO Christopher Johnson , general manager Joe Douglas and Gase all took part in Thursday ’ s discussion .
Gase called it “ humbling ” to be in the room .
“ I think our players have done a phenomenal job of working as group , ” Gase said .
“ Those guys , it ’ s a tight group and it ’ s good to see all those guys trying to try to do the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve seen some guys really step up in leadership roles that aren ’ t guys that you normally hear that speak a lot and to see these guys step up it ’ s been impressive to watch how these guys are moving us forward.
” It has been a remarkable week in sports , with players in all of the major pro sports using their voices to push change .
Harrison said he believes they will get something done .
“ I ’ m very , very hopeful and very confident that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change will be made , ” Harrison said .
“ We have too powerful of a platform to not use it .
”

The Jets returned to the practice field Saturday after two days of some emotional conversations about social justice.
Players and coach Adam Gase said the team came together in the wake of the Jacob Blake shooting in Kenosha, Wis., to share feelings and try to formulate a plan to bring about change. The Jets decided not to practice on Thursday, instead meeting for close to five hours of discussion. The players had a scheduled day off Friday when discussions continued.
“It was awesome to see the team come together and really hear out everyone’s feelings and views on the situation,” offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison said. “In a way, it has pulled us closer together and helped us realize as a group, let’s have each other’s backs. We understand that the situation may affect guy A more than it affects guy B, but we’re all in this together and let’s all, as an organization, come together and work toward finding a way to help.”
Harrison said the players are not ready to say exactly what they are proposing for change. They are still working through an action plan, but he summed up what the players are hoping for.
“We would like to see positive change,” Harrison said. “We’re sick of the different groups of people. We’re sick of this opinion versus that opinion. Clearly, we’re sick of what’s going on in society. All we want is positive change. We know that things won’t just happen overnight. We’re fully aware that there’s not just one easy answer to all of this. We know this is going to be a process. As long as progress is being made and as long as we see that positive growth throughout society in some way, shape or form, then all of us, we’re completely happy.”
Harrison wanted to make sure it was understood the cancellation of Thursday’s practice was not a form of protest, but rather to give them a chance to discuss the issues. He also said the players have not talked about sitting out of a regular-season game.
Quarterback Sam Darnold called the meetings “eye-opening.” Growing up white in San Clemente, Calif., Darnold said he did not have to worry about police profiling him or being targeted. He heard stories from teammates that resonated with him.
“I took the time to understand it is different growing up black in America,” Darnold said. “I understand that better.”
Darnold said the group not only shared stories, but also spoke about registering to vote and educating themselves on what the candidates stand for both nationally and locally. Darnold said it is important for them to stay on the field.
“We have to continue playing because, quite frankly, the reason we have a platform is because we play football and we are in the NFL,” Darnold said. “That was a huge point to all the guys. We have to continue playing. We have to continue to push our message across and get our points across to everyone because if we stop playing, that platform can be taken away from us.”
Harrison said the players feel like they have the full support of the organization. CEO Christopher Johnson, general manager Joe Douglas and Gase all took part in Thursday’s discussion. Gase called it “humbling” to be in the room.
“I think our players have done a phenomenal job of working as group,” Gase said. “Those guys, it’s a tight group and it’s good to see all those guys trying to try to do the right things. And, I think I’ve seen some guys really step up in leadership roles that aren’t guys that you normally hear that speak a lot and to see these guys step up it’s been impressive to watch how these guys are moving us forward.”
It has been a remarkable week in sports, with players in all of the major pro sports using their voices to push change. Harrison said he believes they will get something done.
“I’m very, very hopeful and very confident that something will come of this, some change will be made,” Harrison said. “We have too powerful of a platform to not use it.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Congress set to vote on legalization of Marijuana in September

The House is preparing to vote on the legalization of marijuana next month — a bipartisan bill whose lead sponsor in the Senate is Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris .
Under the MORE act , cannabis would be removed from the 1970 federal Controlled Substances Act .
House members were alerted to the possibility of an upcoming vote via an email from from Majority Whip Jim Clyburn , writes Politico .
Cannabis is currently a Schedule 1 substance , just like heroin , ecstasy and LSD .
Removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act would decriminalize it at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stands for Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act , would also encourage the expunging of most cannabis convictions on the state level .
Still , states would have to pass their own laws to legalize the drug locally .
Marijuana is already legal in 11 states .
“ A floor vote on the bill would be the greatest federal cannabis reform accomplishment in over 50 years , ” Randal Meyer of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce said .
“ As people across the country protest racial injustices , there ’ s even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic opportunity and finally align our cannabis laws with what the majority of Americans support while ensuring restorative justice , ” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer , a long time advocate of legalizing marijuana .
However , odds of the bill passing in the Senate are very low , as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made it clear during last week ’ s Republican Convention that he believes Democrats have more important things to focus on .

The House is preparing to vote on the legalization of marijuana next month — a bipartisan bill whose lead sponsor in the Senate is Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Under the MORE act, cannabis would be removed from the 1970 federal Controlled Substances Act.
House members were alerted to the possibility of an upcoming vote via an email from Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC), writes Politico.
Cannabis is currently a Schedule 1 substance, just like heroin, ecstasy and LSD.
Removing marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act would decriminalize it at the federal level.
The act, which stands for Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, would also encourage the expunging of most cannabis convictions on the state level.
Still, states would have to pass their own laws to legalize the drug locally.
Marijuana is already legal in 11 states.
“A floor vote on the bill would be the greatest federal cannabis reform accomplishment in over 50 years,” Randal Meyer of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce said.
“As people across the country protest racial injustices, there’s even greater urgency for Congress to seize this historic opportunity and finally align our cannabis laws with what the majority of Americans support while ensuring restorative justice,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), a longtime advocate of legalizing marijuana.
However, odds of the bill passing in the Senate are very low, as Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made it clear during last week’s Republican Convention that he believes Democrats have more important things to focus on.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Netflix delays preview of Chadwick Boseman’s final movie, ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’

Fans of Chadwick Boseman will have to wait a little longer to see his last movie .
Netflix has canceled a virtual preview event of “ Ma Rainey ’ s Black Bottom , ” originally scheduled for Monday , in respect for the death of the talented actor , Deadline reported .
Boseman stars alongside Viola Davis and Colman Domingo in the film , which is based on August Wilson ’ s play .
A new date has not been set .
The “ Back Panther ” star died Friday at the age of 43 after a four-year , private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him in an out of surgeries and chemotherapy while filming some of his most iconic performances .
“ We are heartbroken over today ’ s news of the passing of Chadwick Boseman , a ‘ true fighter ’ as his family called him in their poignant tribute , ” Netflix said in a statement to Deadline .
“ This is an incredible loss .
We are canceling Monday ’ s preview event of Ma Rainey ’ s Black Bottom .
Please join us in sending your thoughts to his family and loved ones.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to include footage of the movie and commentary from Davis and the film ’ s director , George C. Wolfe .
“ Chadwick was a superhero on screen and in life , and it ’ s impossible to imagine working at the level he has while valiantly battling his illness , ” said Ted Sarandos , Netflix Co-CEO in a statement .
“ His legacy as a person and an artist will inspire millions .
Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.
” Boseman has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical icons including Jackie Robinson , James Brown and Thurgood Marshal .
His death has lead to an outpouring of love from across the country .
Heartwarming anecdotes have immerged after Boseman ’ s passing , including that he visited terminally ill children while fighting cancer and that he married his longtime love , singer Taylor Simone Ledward before he died .

Fans of Chadwick Boseman will have to wait a little longer to see his last movie.
Netflix has canceled a virtual preview event of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” originally scheduled for Monday, in respect for the death of the talented actor, Deadline reported.
Boseman stars alongside Viola Davis and Colman Domingo in the film, which is based on August Wilson’s play.
A new date has not been set.
The “Black Panther” star died Friday at the age of 43 after a four-year, private fight with colon cancer, which had him in an out of surgeries and chemotherapy while filming some of his most iconic performances.
“We are heartbroken over today’s news of the passing of Chadwick Boseman, a ‘true fighter’ as his family called him in their poignant tribute,” Netflix said in a statement to Deadline.
“This is an incredible loss. We are canceling Monday’s preview event of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Please join us in sending your thoughts to his family and loved ones.”
Monday’s feature was going to include footage of the movie and commentary from Davis and the film’s director, George C. Wolfe.
“Chadwick was a superhero on screen and in life, and it’s impossible to imagine working at the level he has while valiantly battling his illness,” said Ted Sarandos, Netflix Co-CEO in a statement.
“His legacy as a person and an artist will inspire millions. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time.”
Boseman has been praised for his commanding portrayals of black historical icons including Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshal. His death has lead to an outpouring of love from across the country.
Heartwarming anecdotes have immerged after Boseman’s passing, including that he visited terminally ill children while fighting cancer and that he married his longtime love, singer Taylor Simone Ledward before he died.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Trump confirms scaling-down of U.S. military presence in Iraq

President Trump late Saturday confirmed a report that the U.S. is reducing its military presence in Iraq .
Trump retweeted @ @ @ @ @ America News Network that stated the number of troops in Iraq will drop from the @ @ @ @ @ .
Iraqi forces are now more capable of continuing their own fight against ISIS , @ @ @ @ @ U.S .
planning to cut military presence in Iraq , ” Trump tweeted , along @ @ @ @ @ OAN story .
The president promised in Thursday night ’ s speech accepting the GOP @ @ @ @ @ keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars.
” The war in Iraq has @ @ @ @ @ 4,400 U.S. casualties , along with tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths , according @ @ @ @ @ Relations .

President Trump late Saturday confirmed a report that the U.S. is reducing its military presence in Iraq.
Trump retweeted a story from the One America News Network that stated the number of troops in Iraq will drop from the current 5,200 down to 3,500.
Iraqi forces are now more capable of continuing their own fight against ISIS, the outlet reported.
“U.S. planning to cut military presence in Iraq,” Trump tweeted, along with a link to the OAN story.
The president promised in Thursday night’s speech accepting the GOP nomination for reelection to “keep America out of endless and costly foreign wars.”
The war in Iraq has spanned seven years and caused 4,400 U.S. casualties, along with tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian deaths, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--NYCFC roll past Fire in Maxi Moralez’s return

Anton Tinnerholm had a goal and an assist and New York City FC beat the Chicago Fire 3-1 on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ Maxi Moralez played a low ball to Tinnerholm for a tap-in inside the far post @ @ @ @ @ ) a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute .
Moralez , who led MLS with @ @ @ @ @ was a halftime sub , making his first appearance since suffering a calf injury July @ @ @ @ @ in the 16th minute to give New York City a 1-0 lead , and Mauricio @ @ @ @ @ stoppage time .
Tinnerholm evaded two defenders and played a cross to Alex Ring for @ @ @ @ @ scoring in the 75th minute .
Chicago ( 2-5-1 ) has lost four of its @ @ @ @ @

Anton Tinnerholm had a goal and an assist and New York City FC beat the Chicago Fire 3-1 on Saturday night in Harrison, N.J.
Maxi Moralez played a low ball to Tinnerholm for a tap-in inside the far post that gave NYCFC (3-5-0) a 2-1 lead in the 53rd minute. Moralez, who led MLS with 20 assists last season, was a halftime sub, making his first appearance since suffering a calf injury July 20.
Keaton Parks scored in the 16th minute to give New York City a 1-0 lead, and Mauricio Pineda tied it in first-half stoppage time.
Tinnerholm evaded two defenders and played a cross to Alex Ring for a side-netter that capped the scoring in the 75th minute.
Chicago (2-5-1) has lost four of its last five regular-season games.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--New Yorkers celebrate reopening weekend for museums

Their temperatures were low and their spirits were high .
New Yorkers rejoiced over the reopening weekend at many city @ @ @ @ @ , pumping their fists triumphantly as they entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art Saturday for @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus closed its doors on March 13 .
Masked Met visitors had their temperatures checked @ @ @ @ @ mandatory facemasks .
The museum had been opened to members on Friday , but Saturday @ @ @ @ @ general public could enjoy the exhibits .
It was the first weekend after Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ ’ s cultural spaces could reopen at 25 percent capacity .
Dining in is still @ @ @ @ @ and most of the reopened cultural spaces require reservations for staggered entrance times .
Gyms @ @ @ @ @ allowed to reopen .

Their temperatures were low and their spirits were high.
New Yorkers rejoiced over the reopening weekend at many city museums and other cultural institutions, pumping their fists triumphantly as they entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art Saturday for the first time since the coronavirus closed its doors on March 13.
Masked Met visitors had their temperatures checked before browsing museum collections behind mandatory facemasks.
The museum had been opened to members on Friday, but Saturday was the first day the general public could enjoy the exhibits.
It was the first weekend after Gov. Andrew Cuomo decreed New York’s cultural spaces could reopen at 25 percent capacity.
Dining in is still prohibited in the city, and most of the reopened cultural spaces require reservations for staggered entrance times.
Gyms and bowling alleys are also allowed to reopen.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--NYC to pay $5.9M to family of transgender inmate who died at Rikers

The family of Layleen Polanco , a 27-year-old transgender inmate who died in solitary confinement on Rikers Island , has reportedly settled with the city for $ 5.9 million over the high-profile death .
The deal marks a record high for an inmate death at a city jail , Polanco ’ s family lawyer , David Shanies told THE CITY , who first reported the development .
“ This settlement will allow Layleen ’ s family to move forward without enduring years of protracted litigation and reliving their trauma , ” Shanies told the outlet .
Polanco suffered from epilepsy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for allegedly assaulting other prisoners on three separate occasions when she died on June 7 , 2019 .
She was jailed because she was unable to post $ 500 bail for an arrest about two months before her death .
In June , the Department of Corrections announced 17 jail staffers , including three guards and a captain , are facing disciplinary charges linked to Polanco ’ s death as a result of an internal DOC probe into the case .
The city Department of Investigation and Bronx District Attorney , who conducted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had declined to press criminal charges against the officers involved .

The family of Layleen Polanco, a 27-year-old transgender inmate who died in solitary confinement on Rikers Island, has reportedly settled with the city for $5.9 million over the high-profile death.
The deal marks a record-high amount for an inmate death at a Gotham jail, according to The City, which first reported the development.
“This settlement will allow Layleen’s family to move forward without enduring years of protracted litigation and reliving their trauma,” Polanco’s family lawyer, David Shanies, said in a statement.
“Achieving the largest settlement in the city’s history for a death in jail should serve as a powerful statement that trans lives matter,” Shanies said.
Polanco, who suffered from epilepsy, died on June 7, 2019.
She was in solitary confinement at Rikers’ Rose M. Singer Center at the time for allegedly assaulting other prisoners on three occasions.
Polanco was jailed in the first place because she was unable to post $500 bail for an arrest about two months before her death. She also had an open warrant.
In June, the Department of Corrections announced 17 jail staffers, including three guards and a captain, were facing disciplinary charges linked to Polanco’s death, following an internal agency probe.
The same month, the city Department of Investigation and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, which conducted a joint investigation of the case, declined to press criminal charges against the officers involved.
Investigators did, however, find that there was a 47-minute gap between guard tours of Polanco’s housing area.
Inmates in solitary confinement are required to be checked on at least once every 15 minutes at irregular intervals, officials said.
The DOI has said it referred the violation to the DOC for “appropriate administrative action.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Brodie Van Wagenen’s Mets job riding on Edwin Diaz solution

The Yankees were one out away from their eighth loss ...

You know Brodie Van Wagenen is having a particularly bad week when Edwin Diaz registers two more meltdowns and it’s not the news that most imperils his job security.
Here’s what all Mets fans should be shouting into a hot mic: If their general manager wants any chance at retaining his post under Steve Cohen or whoever winds up with this franchise, if the Mets hope to qualify for these watered-down playoffs this year, then they must adjust their usage of Diaz, the booby prize of Van Wagenen’s first trade as Mets general manager.
Because Diaz has displayed for the second straight season that there are adjustments one must make from Seattle to New York, from the eighth inning to the ninth (or from the sixth to the seventh, in 2020 doubleheader-speak) and from starting a frame clean to inheriting baserunners. And those growing pains continue to singe the Mets.
Luis Rojas clocked a brutal work shift Sunday, suffering a Subway Series sweep at the hands of the Yankees, 8-7 in eight innings and then 5-2 in eight innings. The snowball began with an epic seventh-inning collapse in Game 1 as the Mets blew a five-run lead, the last three crossing the plate with Diaz on the mound.
“His stuff is there,” Rojas said of Diaz following Game 1. “We’ll keep working hard with him. He’s a guy that can come into big situations and get big strikeouts and close games for us.
“We still trust him. We still love his stuff, and that’s when he’s going to get the ball, when there’s tight situations like that where he can come in and get the out.”
With his team up 7-2 in the seventh, Diaz acknowledged through an interpreter, “At that point in the game … I thought the game was going to be over pretty soon. But then a few of the missed plays happened,” both by third baseman Andres Gimenez. He threw only eight to 10 warm-up pitches, Diaz added, fewer than normal, as he hurried to get ready with two men on and the lead narrowed to 7-4; he immediately added that he didn’t want to use this as an excuse.
After a 2-and-2 slider evaded catcher Wilson Ramos, allowing Thairo Estrada to score and moving Luke Voit to second, Aaron Hicks sent the very next pitch, a fastball, just over the right field wall to knot the game at 7-7. Back out for the eighth, with Mike Tauchman placed on second base, Diaz allowed Gio Urshela’s walk-off single to right field.
“I thought the slider wasn’t there like it’s been in the outings that we’ve seen him be dominant, so he was almost relying on one pitch,” Rojas said. “… That’s when they went after the fastball.”
“It just wasn’t working the same way,” Diaz agreed of his slider.
With 28 strikeouts in 13 innings over 14 appearances, his ERA rising to a still-good 2.77, Diaz has exhibited some dominance in his second Mets campaign after last year’s 5.59 fiasco; he called the caliber of his stuff “excellent” compared to 2019. Most of that, though, occurred while he was setting up closer Seth Lugo. Since the Mets shifted Lugo to the starting rotation earlier this month, Diaz has made four appearances, all in save situations, and recorded just one save.
Asked if closing is more tense than setting up, Diaz said, “It’s the same pressure either way. I go out there to do my job. If tomorrow they call on me in the ninth inning to go close, that’s exactly what I’m going to do, because that’s what closers do.”
Should it still be Diaz’s job? The Mets’ closer options have dwindled between the ascension of Lugo (who clocked his second straight solid if short outing in Game 2) and the placement of Dellin Betances (right lat) on the injured list. Hence a compromise might be necessary: How about limiting Diaz to clean innings for a while and see if he can graduate back to the advanced level?
Not fun dilemmas for Van Wagenen and the Mets to contemplate, all the more so with the trade deadline arriving Monday. Yet it’s one of their own making, the resolution of which could impact the fate of many.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--VMAs 2020: Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande storm stage with ‘Rain on Me’

The Post is updating the winner 's list in real time .

The coronavirus couldn’t rain on Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s parade at the 2020 VMAs Sunday night.
Gaga grabbed the spotlight, as only she can, alongside her “Rain on Me” collaborator during a performance of their single from Gaga’s dance-centric “Chromatica,” which was one of the most anticipated albums of the summer.
The song went on to win VMAs for Song of the Year, Best Collaboration and Best Cinematography.
Sporting a high-tech face mask, lots of leather and a splash of purple, Artist of the Year Lady Gaga did a quick-hit of her song “911” before segueing into an energetic rendition of “Rain on Me” with Grande, who wore a matching purple ensemble. Gaga then implored viewers to “every night celebrate yourself . . . mask up . . . be kind, be brave” before launching into her single “Stupid Love.”
The dancing duo, who this year tied for the most nominations at nine each, joined an A-list virtual lineup of performers including The Weeknd, BTS, Doja Cat, wrecking-ball fan Miley Cyrus and Maluma. However, singers Roddy Ricch and J Balvin — who had been on tap to perform — pulled out of the show for unknown reasons on Aug. 21.
Grande, 27, has previously performed five times at the VMAs. Her most recent visit was in 2018, when she joined dozens of dancing women at a long table — an apparent homage to Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” — for a sultry version of “God Is a Woman,” from her album “Sweetener.” In 2016 she memorably joined up with Nicki Minaj for a neon-lit workout to their collaboration “Side to Side.” Far less theatrical was her first appearance, in 2013, when the understated newbie performed “Baby I” and “The Way” outdoors with a faux Brooklyn Bridge as her backdrop.
The 34-year-old Gaga is, of course, known for getting attention on the VMA stage. She last hit the show in 2013, when she opened with a string of wig- and costume-changes during a performance of “Applause,” the debut single from her third album, “Artpop.” And before that, in 2011, the “Born This Way” singer dressed as a slick-haired, sideburned and chain-smoking male alter-ego, Jo Calderone, to kick off the event. Before launching into the downtempo “You and I,” she gave a rambling monologue dissing herself — “She’s f–king crazy!” she yelled into the mic at one point — as stunned audience members including Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Katie Holmes looked on.
Then there was 2010, when Gaga didn’t actually perform but her multiple costume changes included the infamous meat dress that she wore to accept the video of the year award for “Bad Romance” from another famously outrageous dresser, Cher. (Gaga won eight Moon Person awards on 13 nominations that year.)
Perhaps that iconic appearance was foreshadowed by her wild VMAs debut in 2009, when she performed a mashup of “Poker Face” and “Paparazzi” — off of her first album “The Fame” — that ended with pretending to hang her bloodied self onstage, an allusion to being killed by fame.
She’s clearly alive and kicking — and still famous.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Miley Cyrus doubles up on sheer dresses at VMAs 2020

Rose McGowan on see-through VMAs dress : 'They slut-shamed me like crazy '

Miley Cyrus came into the 2020 VMAs like a wrecking ball.
The singer, 27, hit the virtual red carpet on Sunday night wearing a sheer black, bedazzled Mugler gown from the brand’s fall/winter 2020 collection. She accessorized with a bandeau bra and matching underwear as well as opera-length gloves, and finished her glam-rock look with her now-signature mullet and red lipstick.
Then, for a pre-recorded performance of her newest single “Midnight Sky,” Cyrus bared it all once more in a black sparkling sheer minidress — the skirt of which she unclipped to reveal a pair a sparkling panties before she climbed atop a disco ball to recreate her 2013 “Wrecking Ball” music video.
The full-circle moment is particularly poignant; not only do the song’s powerful lyrics nod to her divorce from Liam Hemsworth as well as her breakups with Kaitlynn Carter (with whom she attended last year’s VMAs) and Cody Simpson, but the performance also nodded to her 2014 Video of the Year win for “Wrecking Ball,” Cyrus’ only Moon Person to date.
This year, the star is nominated for Video Editing as well as Art Direction for her “Mother’s Daughter” music video.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--VMAs 2020: BTS’ performs ‘Dynamite’ for the first time ever

The Jets practiced at MetLife Stadium on Sunday , getting their ...

The “ARMY” got its BTS fill from afar Sunday at the 2020 VMAs on MTV.
The K-pop band, whose obsessive fans are known as the ARMY (a k a Adorable Representative MC for Youth), made their first-ever MTV Video Music Awards performance after taking home the best group and best K-pop trophies. Their socially distanced spectacle, which was pre-taped in South Korea, was also the TV debut of their new English-language single “Dynamite.”
New Yorkers didn’t find the background foreign: The band danced in front of the iconic view from under the Brooklyn Bridge in Dumbo, in the center of Times Square and along the river in front of the city skyline.
The Bangtan Boys were nominated for four 2020 VMAs for their single “ON,” including best pop, best group (which they won), best K-pop (which they won) and best choreography. They went up against hit-makers Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber, among others.
BTS, which includes members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook, first emerged in 2013 in South Korea and found mainstream success stateside in 2017 with songs including “Mic Drop.” They went on to accomplish Beatles-level hype with albums such as “Love Yourself: Answer” (2018), “Map of the Soul: Persona” (2019) and this year’s “Map of the Soul: 7,” each scoring a No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200.
“Map Of The Soul: 7,” which came out in February, was the biggest selling album in Korean chart history. The guys are expected to release another album, believed to be the third in a trilogy, later this year.
In the past, the group has scooped up eight awards or nominations at the annual show — including last year, when they won the first-ever award for best K-pop video for “Boy With Luv” and best group. However, they didn’t attend the New York-based event in previous years.
In 2020, to avoid flying during the coronavirus pandemic, BTS filmed their performance from their home country. Some fan sites reported that the performance would be pre-recorded.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Miley Cyrus reenacts iconic ‘Wrecking Ball’ video at 2020 VMAs

She came in like a wrecking ball .
.
.
again .
Miley Cyrus re-created her infamous “ Wrecking Ball ” video at the 2020 VMAs .
During what appeared to be a pre-recorded performance of her new single “ Midnight Sky , ” the 27-year-old thew it back to her 2013 hit , straddling a large disco ball and swinging from the ceiling .
In the music video for “ Wrecking Ball , ” off the former Disney star ’ s album “ Bangerz , ” Cyrus rode a construction ball in underwear and boots .
In tonight ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rocked a vintage mullet — not unlike the business in the front , party in the back hairdo her famous dad Billy Ray helped make popular .
“ Fire in my lungs , can ’ t bite the devil on my tongue , ” she sang atop the sparkler .
Some have speculated the new song ’ s lyrics are about Cyrus ’ year of heartbreak .
The “ Hannah Montana ” actress announced her separation from husband Liam Hemsworth last August .
She quickly moved on to date Kaitlynn Carter .
More @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though she announced their split earlier this month .

She came in like a wrecking ball . . . again.
Miley Cyrus re-created her infamous “Wrecking Ball” video at the 2020 VMAs.
During what appeared to be a pre-recorded performance of her new single “Midnight Sky,” the 27-year-old thew it back to her 2013 hit, straddling a large disco ball and swinging from the ceiling.
In the music video for “Wrecking Ball,” off the former Disney star’s album “Bangerz,” Cyrus rode a construction ball in underwear and boots.
In tonight’s ’80s inspired performance, Cyrus rocked a vintage mullet — not unlike the business in the front, party in the back hairdo her famous dad Billy Ray helped make popular.
“Fire in my lungs, can’t bite the devil on my tongue,” she sang atop the sparkler.
Some have speculated the new song’s lyrics are about Cyrus’ year of heartbreak.
The “Hannah Montana” actress announced her separation from husband Liam Hemsworth last August. She quickly moved on to date Kaitlynn Carter. More recently, she dated singer Cody Simpson, though she announced their split earlier this month.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Appliance shortages are playing havoc with Labor Day weekend sales

An appliance shortage is gripping the nation — and Labor Day sales are expected to be a major casualty .
Shoppers looking for big-ticket appliances like refrigerators , gas ranges and washer-dryer sets will see downsized , low-key discounting events on the holiday weekend that are likely to disappoint , industry executives say .
The traditional end-of-summer blowout sale will be deflated due to the coronavirus , which is crimping supply at the factory level and sparking a surge in demand from locked-down homeowners who are spending money revamping their houses instead of on restaurants and vacations .
Last year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 330 appliance models , noted John Carey , owner of Designer Appliances , an upscale outlet with showrooms in Montclair and Bedminster , NJ .
This year , the number was 25 , Carey said , adding that washers , dryers and dishwashers weren ’ t even on the list .
“ We are spending 50 percent less on advertising this time of year than we did last year , ” Carey told The Post .
“ If the manufacturers know they can ’ t fulfill the orders , there is less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dealers.
” Yale Appliance , a 97-year-old retailer in Boston , won ’ t stage a blowout Labor Day sale at all for the first time in decades .
“ I am not spending any money on marketing or on Labor Day promotions , ” said Chief Executive Steve Sheinkopf .
“ We are not going to over-promote the things we can ’ t get.
” Because of the pandemic , most appliance factories and warehouses in the United States and abroad are operating at 50 percent capacity .
Employees at LG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tenn. , have been working in staggered shifts since late March .
Production pauses hit the plant for two weeks in April , and it was closed several weekends for extra disinfecting , LG spokesman John Taylor said .
“ We are not over the hump yet , ” Taylor said .
“ The shortages and high demand is expected to continue for several more months.
” Manufacturers are making some headway working through back orders , according to data from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers .
Shipments of major appliances year-to-date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an improvement from 10 percent in May .
Nevertheless , shipments from major brands like Bosch , LG , Samsung , Whirlpool and GE remain spotty , with refrigerators , washers and dryers , air conditioners and dehumidifiers especially hard to get .
Refrigerator shipments were down 10 percent in June , while freezers were down 13.4 percent .
Electric stoves were down 7 percent over the same period , according to AHAM .
The shortages aren ’ t immediately obvious for shoppers browsing Web sites of retailers like Home Depot , Lowe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which appear to show in-stock appliances .
But that changes when they ’ re ready to check out and secure a delivery date .
“ When you look online it appears that there are all these items to choose from , but it ’ s absolutely not the case , ” said Boston resident Shoshanna Erlich , who was shopping for a new refrigerator in July after her old one broke down .
“ The moment of truth is when you ask for a delivery date.
” Erlich bought a new refrigerator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store she declined to identify , but it was delivered to the wrong address , and the store couldn ’ t deliver a replacement until Sept. 2 .
She canceled the order and scored a $ 1,600 KitchenAid from Yale Appliances , which had just three refrigerators in stock that met her specifications .
Discounts aren ’ t necessarily a sign of availability .
This past week , a 27-cubic-foot , stainless-steel Samsung refrigerator was being advertised as a “ best seller ” by Home Depot and offered at a 10 percent discount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was on back order until Oct. 31 , according to the retailer ’ s Web site .
“ It ’ s important for people to be on waiting lists and not to wait for back orders , ” said Sandy Tau , owner of AHC Appliances of Cedarhurst , NY .
“ Sales are generally motivated by excess inventory , but we don ’ t have that this year.
” Even the well-connected are having to stand in line .
Carey , of Designer Appliances , waited two months for his GE washer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new house last week .
And he still can ’ t hook up his stove because he ’ s waiting for an over-the-range microwave that serves as the ventilation system .
“ Every day , I check with the manufacturer and I have an ETA that keeps changing , ” he said .

An appliance shortage is gripping the nation — and Labor Day sales are expected to be a major casualty.
Shoppers looking for big-ticket appliances like refrigerators, gas ranges and washer-dryer sets will see downsized, low-key discounting events on the holiday weekend that are likely to disappoint, industry executives say.
The traditional end-of-summer blowout sale will be deflated due to the coronavirus, which is crimping supply at the factory level and sparking a surge in demand from locked-down homeowners who are spending money revamping their houses instead of on restaurants and vacations.
Last year, GE Appliances offered promotional pricing on some 330 appliance models, noted John Carey, owner of Designer Appliances, an upscale outlet with showrooms in Montclair and Bedminster, NJ.
This year, the number was 25, Carey said, adding that washers, dryers and dishwashers weren’t even on the list.
“We are spending 50 percent less on advertising this time of year than we did last year,” Carey told The Post. “If the manufacturers know they can’t fulfill the orders, there is less incentive to try to drive sales at the dealers.”
Yale Appliance, a 97-year-old retailer in Boston, won’t stage a blowout Labor Day sale at all for the first time in decades.
“I am not spending any money on marketing or on Labor Day promotions,” said Chief Executive Steve Sheinkopf. “We are not going to over-promote the things we can’t get.”
Because of the pandemic, most appliance factories and warehouses in the United States and abroad are operating at 50 percent capacity. Employees at LG’s washing-machine factory in Clarksville, Tenn., have been working in staggered shifts since late March. Production pauses hit the plant for two weeks in April, and it was closed several weekends for extra disinfecting, LG spokesman John Taylor said.
“We are not over the hump yet,” Taylor said. “The shortages and high demand is expected to continue for several more months.”
Manufacturers are making some headway working through back orders, according to data from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Shipments of major appliances year-to-date were down 7 percent in June — an improvement from 10 percent in May.
Nevertheless, shipments from major brands like Bosch, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool and GE Appliances remain spotty, with refrigerators, washers and dryers, air conditioners and dehumidifiers especially hard to get. Refrigerator shipments were down 10 percent in June, while freezers were down 13.4 percent. Electric stoves were down 7 percent over the same period, according to AHAM.
The shortages aren’t immediately obvious for shoppers browsing Web sites of retailers like Home Depot, Lowe’s and PC Richard & Son, which appear to show in-stock appliances. But that changes when they’re ready to check out and secure a delivery date.
“When you look online it appears that there are all these items to choose from, but it’s absolutely not the case,” said Boston resident Shoshanna Erlich, who was shopping for a new refrigerator in July after her old one broke down. “The moment of truth is when you ask for a delivery date.”
Erlich bought a new refrigerator in early July from a big box store she declined to identify, but it was delivered to the wrong address, and the store couldn’t deliver a replacement until Sept. 2. She canceled the order and scored a $1,600 KitchenAid from Yale Appliances, which had just three refrigerators in stock that met her specifications.
Discounts aren’t necessarily a sign of availability. This past week, a 27-cubic-foot, stainless-steel Samsung refrigerator was being advertised as a “best seller” by Home Depot and offered at a 10 percent discount, for $1,258. But it was on back order until Oct. 31, according to the retailer’s Web site.
Home Depot didn’t respond to requests for comment.
“It’s important for people to be on waiting lists and not to wait for back orders,” said Sandy Tau, owner of AHC Appliances of Cedarhurst, NY. “Sales are generally motivated by excess inventory, but we don’t have that this year.”
Even the well-connected are having to stand in line. Carey, of Designer Appliances, waited two months for his GE Appliances washer and dryer to be delivered to his new house last week. And he still can’t hook up his stove because he’s waiting for an over-the-range microwave that serves as the ventilation system.
“Every day, I check with the manufacturer and I have an ETA that keeps changing,” he said.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Brian Austin Green open to idea of reuniting with Megan Fox

Brian Austin Green isn ’ t ready to let Megan Fox go just yet .
During an Instagram Live on Saturday , the “ Beverly Hills 90210 ” alum revealed that although his estranged wife Fox is dating rapper Machine Gun Kelly , he still believes they could get back together .
“ I never say never , ” Green , 47 , confessed .
“ I kinda feel like people are on paths in life and sometimes your paths are together and you travel that path together and you see eye to eye and then sometimes paths do different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an amazing 15-year relationship .
We have three beautiful kids .
We shared a lot together and we really went through a lot together .
Right now the paths are different and she is on her path doing what she feels she needs to be doing to be happy and I ’ m on my path doing what I feel I need to do to be happy and it ’ s not for a lack of love for the kids or lack of being responsible.
” Green admitted that he has yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beau and that he ’ s heard some negative stories about him , “ but I ’ ve heard bad stories about myself as well and I know most of those aren ’ t true .
As of right now , I have no problem with him at all .
I really hope that he and Megan are happy.
” The couple met in 2004 , married in 2010 and are the parents of three boys , Noah Shannon , 7 , Bodhi Ransom , 6 , and Journey River , 3 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ crooner , 30 , went Instagram official with Fox , 34 , last month , when he posted a mirror selfie of the pair sticking out their tongues with their arms wrapped around each other , writing , “ waited for eternity to find you again… ” And the feeling is mutual .
The “ Transformers ” star lusted after her new beau in an Instagram pic of the two of them cuddling captioning it , “ Achingly Beautiful Boy… My heart is yours ♥ .
”

Brian Austin Green isn’t ready to let Megan Fox go just yet.
During an Instagram Live on Saturday, the “Beverly Hills 90210” alum revealed that although his estranged wife Fox is dating rapper Machine Gun Kelly, he still believes they could get back together.
“I never say never,” Green, 47, confessed. “I kinda feel like people are on paths in life and sometimes your paths are together and you travel that path together and you see eye to eye and then sometimes paths do different things.”
He continued: “We had an amazing 15-year relationship. We have three beautiful kids. We shared a lot together and we really went through a lot together. Right now the paths are different and she is on her path doing what she feels she needs to be doing to be happy and I’m on my path doing what I feel I need to do to be happy and it’s not for a lack of love for the kids or lack of being responsible.”
Green admitted that he has yet to meet his wife’s new beau and that he’s heard some negative stories about him, “but I’ve heard bad stories about myself as well and I know most of those aren’t true. As of right now, I have no problem with him at all. I really hope that he and Megan are happy.”
The couple met in 2004, married in 2010 and are the parents of three boys, Noah Shannon, 7, Bodhi Ransom, 6, and Journey River, 3.
Meanwhile, the “Bloody Valentine” crooner, 30, went Instagram official with Fox, 34, last month, when he posted a mirror selfie of the pair sticking out their tongues with their arms wrapped around each other, writing, “waited for eternity to find you again…”
And the feeling is mutual. The “Transformers” star lusted after her new beau in an Instagram pic of the two of them cuddling captioning it, “Achingly Beautiful Boy… My heart is yours ♥.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Deivi Garcia sensational in long-awaited Yankees debut

Yankees fans have been anticipating Deivi Garcia ’ s arrival in The Bronx since last summer .
The 21-year-old ’ s major league debut was worth the wait .
Garcia retired the first nine batters he faced and finished with six strong innings , allowing just one unearned run in an impressive start that got spoiled late before the Yankees came back to beat the Mets 5-2 Sunday in Game 2 of a doubleheader .
The 5-foot-9 Garcia , who has drawn comparisons to Pedro Martinez during his rise to the big leagues , looked at ease standing on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidently through the Mets lineup .
He struck out six and walked none , giving up just four singles while showing off a fastball that topped out at 94 mph and a nasty 12-6 curveball .
“ Excited , ” manager Aaron Boone said before the doubleheader .
“ He ’ s done well down in summer camp .
The reports we ’ ve been getting have been strong .
Excited to see him go out there and compete.
” The only blemish came in the sixth inning , when Jeff McNeil led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Luke Voit and came around to score on a single by Dom Smith that tied the game 1-1 .
But Garcia was undeterred , coming right back to get J.D .
Davis to ground into an inning-ending double play .
He needed only 75 pitches to get through the sixth inning , after completing six innings just nine times in 57 starts across his four seasons in the minor leagues .
Veteran backup Erik Kratz caught Garcia — 19 years his junior — and the repertoire he built with the right-hander while both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay dividends Sunday .
Garcia started last year at High-A Tampa and finished it at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre .
The Yankees then added him to the 40-man roster in November , four years after they signed him for $ 200,000 out of the Dominican Republic .
He entered 2020 as the No .
65 prospect in baseball , according to Baseball America , and had been working at the Yankees ’ alternate site before getting the call Sunday .
“ He ’ s got a really good presence about him , ” Boone said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of confidence in himself .
That ’ s apparent from what we were able to see and witness in spring and in summer camp .
I just want him to go out and be himself and do what he ’ s capable of doing .
He ’ s got a lot of ability and he ’ s got a lot of confidence in that ability .
”

Yankees fans have been anticipating Deivi Garcia’s arrival in The Bronx since last summer.
The 21-year-old’s major league debut was worth the wait.
Garcia retired the first nine batters he faced and finished with six strong innings, allowing just one unearned run in an impressive start that got spoiled late before the Yankees came back to beat the Mets 5-2 Sunday in Game 2 of a doubleheader.
“It was fun to watch him go through a really good lineup and have the weapons to do it,” manager Aaron Boone said.
The 5-foot-9 Garcia, who has drawn comparisons to Pedro Martinez and got a postgame congratulations from Martinez on Twitter, looked at ease standing on the Yankee Stadium mound. He worked quickly and confidently through the Mets lineup, striking out six and walking none. The right-hander gave up just four singles while showing off a fastball that topped out at 94 mph and a nasty 12-6 curveball.
The only blemish came in the sixth inning, when Jeff McNeil led off reaching on a two-base error by Luke Voit and came around to score on a single by Dom Smith that tied the game 1-1. But Garcia was undeterred, coming right back to get J.D. Davis to ground into an inning-ending double play.
“That’s one of the characteristics that I’ve always had — the ability to focus, the ability to really dial in, concentrate and not let anything bother me,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “I think it’s an advantage to keep your emotions in check and not show any weakness at all.”
Garcia needed only 75 pitches to get through the sixth inning, after completing six innings just nine times in 57 starts across his four seasons in the minor leagues. He became only the second Yankee since 1935 to throw at least six innings and not allow an earned run in his MLB debut.
Entering the year as the No. 65 prospect in baseball, per Baseball America, Garcia had stayed sharp at the Yankees’ alternate site, where he continued to develop his rapport with Erik Kratz, who had also caught him at Triple-A last year. They call each other “son” and “dad” — Kratz is 19 years Garcia’s senior, marking the largest age gap between Yankees batterymates since 1906 — and flourished together again Sunday.
“I just wanted to take the opportunities to practice as seriously as possible, tell myself I was pitching in The Bronx although I was far away,” said Garcia, who was returned to the alternate site after the game but could be back to pitch in Friday’s doubleheader. “I wanted to make it feel that I was in an actual game. I think it worked out very well for me.”


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Greek eatery Avra battles unusual challenge: fake news

As restaurateurs sweat out Mayor Bill de Blasio ’ s stubborn resistance to indoor service , owners of places with alfresco seats are coping with unaccustomed challenges — from pop-up thunderstorms to out-of-control vehicles crashing into dining areas .
And , in a highly competitive environment , they ’ re also coping with malicious rumors possibly spread by competitors .
The tale has been around for more than a month that popular Greek eatery Avra Estiatorio on East 60th Street was robbed by men who popped out of an idling sedan and relieved customers of jewelry and cash at gunpoint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the restaurant , which has one of Manhattan ’ s largest outdoor-eating areas — thanks to also having sidewalk and street seating rights in front of a next-door address where it recently signed a lease for a new pizza place .
“ We ’ re asked about it every day , ” exasperated general manager Glynna Schlesinger said of the supposed stickup .
The story is bogus .
No police reports were filed .
But it got so out of hand that Avra — which also has a place on East 48th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one on Sixth Avenue in Midtown — saw the need to post a denial on its Instagram account , @ AvraMadison .
“ There are false rumors going around that one of our locations — not identified — was robbed .
This is NOT TRUE .
Fake news travels fast , so we would like to inform all of our guests that these rumors are NOT TRUE , ” it read .
People who haven ’ t set foot in the city since March have called Realty Check to warn us of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve cleared the air .
We love trolling through the New York YIMBY site for its cheery updates on developments in progress — whether or not the projects seem to make any sense in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic ( or even made much sense before it ) .
New hotels give us particular pause at a time when travel is almost impossible and the Big Apple had a surplus of rooms even before the pandemic — so much so that owners have turned keys over to the city for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fee .
We learn from YIMBY that “ facade work is nearing completion of 305 W. 48th St. , ” a 303-foot-tall hotel developed by Bright Management and designed by prolific hotel architect Gene Kaufman .
The 27-story tower is to have 211 guest rooms .
The final touches are also being put on a dual-brand Marriott at 140 W. 28th St. from the McSam Hotel Group , also designed by Kaufman .
This one is 470 feet tall and will have 531 guest rooms branded as TownePlace Suites and Springhill Suites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s good news about the virus next year , when at least a dozen more new hotels hope to open their doors .

As restaurateurs sweat out Mayor Bill de Blasio’s stubborn resistance to indoor service, owners of places with alfresco seats are coping with unaccustomed challenges — from pop-up thunderstorms to out-of-control vehicles crashing into dining areas.
And, in a highly competitive environment, they’re also coping with malicious rumors possibly spread by competitors.
The tale has been around for more than a month that popular Greek eatery Avra Estiatorio on East 60th Street was robbed by men who popped out of an idling sedan and relieved customers of jewelry and cash at gunpoint.
Well-heeled Upper East Siders have flocked to the restaurant, which has one of Manhattan’s largest outdoor-eating areas — thanks to also having sidewalk and street seating rights in front of a next-door address where it recently signed a lease for a new pizza place.
“We’re asked about it every day,” exasperated general manager Glynna Schlesinger said of the supposed stickup.
The story is bogus. No police reports were filed. But it got so out of hand that Avra — which also has a place on East 48th Street and is building a large new one on Sixth Avenue in Midtown — saw the need to post a denial on its Instagram account, @AvraMadison.
“There are false rumors going around that one of our locations — not identified — was robbed. This is NOT TRUE. Fake news travels fast, so we would like to inform all of our guests that these rumors are NOT TRUE,” it read.
People who haven’t set foot in the city since March have called Realty Check to warn us of the supposed danger. Let’s hope we’ve cleared the air.
Optimism in the air
We love trolling through the New York YIMBY site for its cheery updates on developments in progress — whether or not the projects seem to make any sense in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic (or even made much sense before it).
New hotels give us particular pause at a time when travel is almost impossible and the Big Apple had a surplus of rooms even before the pandemic — so much so that owners have turned keys over to the city for use as homeless shelters in exchange for a fee.
We learn from YIMBY that “facade work is nearing completion of 305 W. 48th St.,” a 303-foot-tall hotel developed by Bright Management and designed by prolific hotel architect Gene Kaufman. The 27-story tower is to have 211 guest rooms.
The final touches are also being put on a dual-brand Marriott at 140 W. 28th St. from the McSam Hotel Group, also designed by Kaufman. This one is 470 feet tall and will have 531 guest rooms branded as TownePlace Suites and Springhill Suites.
Let’s hope there’s good news about the virus next year, when at least a dozen more new hotels hope to open their doors.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Richard Carranza wants to use COVID-19 as excuse to kill standardized testing

“ Never waste a good crisis , ” city Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said in April .
Now , with parents distracted by the chaos of his reopening plan , Carranza and his boss , Mayor Bill de Blasio , are attempting to remake our schools just the way they ’ ve always wanted to .
Carranza has spent his tenure calling everyone who questions him “ racist ” and vowing to destroy Gotham ’ s best schools , while studiously ignoring the failing ones .
His vision , shared by Hizzoner : Make the good schools worse , never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better way to achieve that than by obscuring the current state of student achievement ?
The 2020 state exams in math and English , normally held in April , were canceled when the pandemic hit .
It made sense at the time , as we were all scrambling to help our kids find their footing amid the “ new normal.
” But last week , during a Panel for Education Policy meeting , Carranza said he has already called for canceling state tests this academic year , with April a full eight months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York has already submitted for a waiver [ for the state tests ] , ” he said , “ because how can you possibly require children to perform at any level given the mixed instructional environment that we have , and , by the way , in some cases , a very substandard educational environment , because we know kids need a lot of different supports.
” Yeah , OK. Whose fault is the “ mixed ” instructional environment , the “ very substandard educational environment ” and lack of support for kids @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s ?
Anyway : Isn ’ t better to know , so schools and parents can better know what works and who needs the most help ?
It ’ s all very convenient for bad schools , which can now easily hide their failure with no standardized tests .
Carranza ’ s failing bureaucracy can likewise shirk responsibility for the educational outcomes yielded by its half-baked reopening plan .
For another thing , the tests are used for admissions into some middle and high schools .
Carranza and the mayor have both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though , of course , both sent their own children to selective institutions ) .
Last spring , the Big Apple ’ s public-school kids didn ’ t get grades , either .
It isn ’ t hard to envision Carranza pushing no grades for this year , too .
Thus , if you have a child entering fourth or seventh grade this year , and you hope to have her apply to a competitive middle or high school , the chancellor is purposefully setting her up for failure .
Carranza experienced serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the screening process at top schools — so instead he ’ s just getting rid of the screens themselves .
But even if you don ’ t have a kid in those grades , Carranza ’ s social engineering ( done on the pretext of coronavirus fears ) can affect your child , too .
If you have a kid going into kindergarten through second grade , your child is eligible to test for a gifted and talented program .
Does anyone imagine that Carranza won ’ t come for the G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not a local decision , ” Carranza said about canceling the state tests .
“ It ’ s not even a state decision .
It ’ s really a federal decision .
Because the federal Department of Education requires us to submit these state exam scores as part of their accountability system .
So , that being said , remember 69 days until the election .
I ’ ll say it one more time : 69 days until the election.
” Carranza is clearly counting on a President Joe Biden , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the accountability burden on his schools even further .
His department ’ s incompetence is why our schools are in such peril in the first place .
It ’ s why Carranza is afraid of objective metrics exposing him .
Parents should be outraged .
Carranza has run the department into the ground and now doesn ’ t want to be held accountable for it .
September is coming .
Parents need to fight , lest we all wake up from this coronavirus nightmare to find out our schools chancellor has used the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excellence in the system .

“Never waste a good crisis,” city Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said in April. Now, with parents distracted by the chaos of his reopening plan, Carranza and his boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, are attempting to remake our schools just the way they’ve always wanted to.
Carranza has spent his tenure calling everyone who questions him “racist” and vowing to destroy Gotham’s best schools, while studiously ignoring the failing ones. His vision, shared by Hizzoner: Make the good schools worse, never the bad schools better.
And what better way to achieve that than by obscuring the current state of student achievement?
The 2020 state exams in math and English, normally held in April, were canceled when the pandemic hit. It made sense at the time, as we were all scrambling to help our kids find their footing amid the “new normal.”
But last week, during a Community Education Council town hall, Carranza said he has already called for canceling state tests this academic year, with April a full eight months away.
“The state of New York has already submitted for a waiver [for the state tests],” he said, “because how can you possibly require children to perform at any level given the mixed instructional environment that we have, and, by the way, in some cases, a very substandard educational environment, because we know kids need a lot of different supports.”
Yeah, OK. Whose fault is the “mixed” instructional environment, the “very substandard educational environment” and lack of support for kids who need it — if not Carranza’s? Anyway: Isn’t better to know, so schools and parents can better know what works and who needs the most help?
It’s all very convenient for bad schools, which can now easily hide their failure with no standardized tests. Carranza’s failing bureaucracy can likewise shirk responsibility for the educational outcomes yielded by its half-baked reopening plan.
For another thing, the tests are used for admissions into some middle and high schools. Carranza and the mayor have both railed against “screened” admissions (though, of course, both sent their own children to selective institutions). Last spring, the Big Apple’s public-school kids didn’t get grades, either. It isn’t hard to envision Carranza pushing no grades for this year, too.
Thus, if you have a child entering fourth or seventh grade this year, and you hope to have her apply to a competitive middle or high school, the chancellor is purposefully setting her up for failure. Carranza experienced serious pushback when he tried to get rid of the screening process at top schools — so instead he’s just getting rid of the screens themselves.
But even if you don’t have a kid in those grades, Carranza’s social engineering (done on the pretext of coronavirus fears) can affect your child, too. If you have a kid going into kindergarten through second grade, your child is eligible to test for a gifted and talented program. Does anyone imagine that Carranza won’t come for the G&T test next?
“It’s not a local decision,” Carranza said about canceling the state tests. “It’s not even a state decision. It’s really a federal decision. Because the federal Department of Education requires us to submit these state exam scores as part of their accountability system. So, that being said, remember 69 days until the election. I’ll say it one more time: 69 days until the election.”
Carranza is clearly counting on a President Joe Biden, who, he hopes, will lighten the accountability burden on his schools even further. His department’s incompetence is why our schools are in such peril in the first place. It’s why Carranza is afraid of objective metrics exposing him.
Parents should be outraged. Carranza has run the department into the ground and now doesn’t want to be held accountable for it. September is coming. Parents need to fight, lest we all wake up from this coronavirus nightmare to find out our schools chancellor has used the crisis to destroy what little remains of excellence in the system.
Twitter: @Karol


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Gary Sanchez redemption seals Yankees’ Subway Series win over Mets

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader, the Yankees trailed the Mets by five runs and were an out away from losing for the eighth time in nine games.
By the end of the day, they had come away with a pair of dramatic extra-inning victories to sweep the twin bill from their crosstown rivals to set up their series with the Rays — while the Mets were left searching for answers a day before the trade deadline.
The Yankees followed up their 8-7, eight-inning win with a 5-2, eight-inning victory in the nightcap behind six dazzling innings from Deivi Garcia in his much-anticipated major league debut and a pinch-hit grand slam by the struggling Gary Sanchez in the top of the eighth off Drew Smith, with the Yankees serving as the road team in the second game, a makeup of last week’s postponement.
It was redemption for Sanchez, who has had a brutal season and looked especially bad in the first game.
“I’m excited for him,’’ Aaron Boone said. “He means so much to this team. I’m really happy for him to take the air out of one.”
The Mets rallied in the bottom of the eighth, scoring a run off Jonathan Holder to bring pinch-hitter Wilson Ramos to the plate with the bases loaded, but Luis Cessa struck him out to end it.
“Today was a tough day,” Luis Rojas said.
The 21-year-old Garcia retired the first nine batters he faced — five by strikeout — before Jeff McNeil opened the bottom of the fourth with a single. He allowed just an unearned run in his six-inning, 75-pitch outing.
Boone called Garcia “fun to watch.”
“I wasn’t nervous,’’ Garcia said through an interpreter. “I definitely understood the task in front of me.”
He took the mound not long after the Yankees stormed back in the opener.
Aaron Hicks’ two-run homer off Mets closer Edwin Diaz tied it in the seventh and Gio Urshela’s two-out single off Diaz in the eighth drove in Mike Tauchman — who started the inning on second — with the winning run after Chad Green’s scoreless top of the inning.
“Usually you don’t win many of those,’’ Boone said of the comeback.
Urshela started the game on the bench after sitting out since Wednesday with a bone spur in his elbow, but he entered in the top of the seventh.
He lined a shot to right and Michael Conforto made a strong throw home, but Tauchman dove in under Wilson Ramos’ tag attempt.
The Mets began to crumble with Jared Hughes pitching for a third consecutive day. An error by Andres Gimenez at third added to the Mets’ woes. Hughes issued a two-out walk to Tyler Wade and then hit Thairo Estrada, who replaced DJ LeMahieu in the top of the inning.
Luke Voit singled through the right side of the infield and Estrada should have been out at third on the play, but Gimenez dropped the ball and Estrada was safe.
“With the hit batter and Voit check-swinging it to the other side, the table was set for something strange to happen there,’’ Boone said.
Rojas went to Diaz to face the struggling Hicks. After Diaz’s wild pitch allowed Estrada to score, Hicks tied the game with a two-run shot to right.
Rojas said he continues to have faith in his closer.
“We still trust him,’’ Rojas said. “We still love his stuff. And that’s when he’s going to get the ball, when there’s tight situations.”
Beginning Monday, the Yankees host first-place Tampa Bay.
“We’ve struggled getting wins and completing games,” Hicks said. “It feels great to be able to get two, especially with the Rays coming in. They’re a team we need to beat. We need to get back into that winning spirit and expecting to win.”
After Sunday, so do the Mets.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--2020 VMAs confirms it: The red carpet is dead amid COVID-19

It remains something of a mystery why there is so ...

Call it the dead carpet.
Sunday night, the 2020 VMAS offered a canned red carpet — interviews were mostly taped, resulting in staid photos of the stars on-screen.
There was no real showcase of what MTV’s Video Music Awards are known for: The most irreverent, ridiculous and revealing fashion on the planet. Think Lady Gaga’s dress made out of glistening raw meat, Miley Cyrus’ designer boob duct tape and Lil’ Kim baring one boob covered only by a sparkly pastie.
Instead, the awards, which happened “live” here in NYC, but were mostly pre-recorded in the days leading up to the show, with many performers shot in-studio on a green screen, featuring seemingly pre-done looks.
And so there was Joey King wearing a Versace minidress, which was then superimposed onto a VMA-branded backdrop. Other star photos presented them as living dolls: Nicole Richie wore a neon green dress and a half-smile, and Bebe Rexha showed off a badass manicure and a straight-on stare.
Along with sweaty encounters at clubs, high fives and pants with buttons, the coronavirus lockdown has also killed the red carpet as we know it — but that might not be a bad thing.
The red carpet used to be a magical place us normies loved to ogle: for surprise pregnancy reveals, for A-listers to debut new romantic relationships, for up-and-comers in stunning gowns to make everyone wonder “who is she?”
But thanks to social media, the luster of movie stars has dulled. Many are revealing themselves to be less mysterious (read: disappointingly boring), or thirsty and frivolous.
Add to that several tiresome new realms of celebrities: peacocking Instagram influencers, oversharing YouTubers, quirky TikTokers, ridiculous reality stars. All of them creeped on to pre-pandemic guest lists, adding to the list of famous folks demanding designer looks.
The result: Real Housewives in plunging jewel-toned sheath dresses, every day of the week.
The first step to reviving red-carpet innovation and elegance? Cut back on the number of events to give designers and stylists time to do what they do best: create memorable fashion moments.
Experts agree with me that celebrity events have become “oversaturated” and “almost monotonous.”
“There are too many celebrities, there have been too many events,” fashion publicist Sophie Conti said. “People were fighting for things left and right.”
A celeb stylist adds: “There are not enough good clothes to go around.”
The beauty of the red carpet extends beyond the stars: makeup artists, hairstylists, seamstresses, tailors, the people who hand-dye the thousands of sequins that will live on one of Kendall Jenner’s gowns.
The look has to stand up to being photographed from every angle and it has to actually survive being worn out in the elements in front of other humans — something that can’t be said for an ensemble created in someone’s living room solely for an Instagram pic.
In other words, we want Emma Stone with an effortlessly tousled bob and a tulle, forest green Valentino gown, not a YouTuber posed with a snake around her waist.
The pandemic and social unrest in our country has given us a somber and much-needed break from self-congratulatory parties. No one is really ready to return to counting the carats on Charlize Theron’s diamond necklace, fawning over Lizzo’s gown or stomaching another sycophantic TV interview.
But when we are, let’s give ourselves something glamorous to look forward to — and appreciate what it takes to create it.


newyorkpost--2020-08-30--Whoopi Goldberg stars in latest for-TV version of Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’

Whoopie !
We ’ re getting more Whoopi .
Stephen King ’ s 1978 Doubleday novel “ The Stand ” is coming .
Limited series .
To CBS All Access .
Dec. 17 .
Starring Whoopi Goldberg , Alexander Skarsgård , James Marsden , Amber Heard .
This is his apocalyptic vision of a world ruined by a plague with people caught in the middle of the fight between good and evil .
Like maybe Trump and Cuomo .
And he wrote it 42 years ago .
But this is not the only stand TV has taken for “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fantasy horror series thing in 1994 .
King even played a role in it .
This time Whoopi , seen with white hair , wrapped her part just before the pandemic hit .
The mouth that can be heard inside a volcano now plays Mother Abagail , the Symbol of Good .
Donald ’ s inauguration .
I sat at Kellyanne Conway ’ s private table .
Her devoted litigation lawyer husband of 15 years , George Conway carried her fur wrap .
I offered to watch it , but he clutched the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great Kellyanne was .
And , as she was surrounded , he followed , enjoying the glory when America ’ s new president embraced her .
Other times we talked of her mother , background , children , family .
At lunch in my home , she spoke of offers , professional and financial , coming at her .
Handling a problem president , problem public , problem family , problem husband , problem children and problem career is no walk in the park .
Once DJT ’ s settled , Kellyanne will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shepherd ’ s pie , here ’ s what the British news has been feeding its readers : Sir Elton John ’ s ex-wife Renate claimed to the High Court she attempted suicide on their honeymoon in 1984 … Boris Johnson adviser Dominic Cummings ’ father-in-law , Humphry Wakefield , reportedly told a woman interviewed by the Times of London that Johnson may quit in six months .
The PM says not true … Also , the Queen ’ s Guard ’ s bearskin hats , used by the army since Napoleon ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not stick around post-Brexit .
Amazon restricted the reviews on its “ Finding Freedom ” biography of ex HRH Prince Harry and zero HRH Meghan .
And : She ’ s won the High Court right to keep friends ’ names private .
And : She says she ’ ll grace the next Met Gala — wheneverwhoknows that is , at which she will adopt an androgynous look .
Since she so favors the Brits , maybe she ’ ll borrow one of those bearskins .
Also : The former prince reportedly did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severed ties with British tabloid newspapers .
Please try to pay attention Questions : 1 ) Is it an essential qualification that Fox TV female anchors be blonde ?
And 2 ) Why ’ s Lori Loughlin jailed while killers , muggers , arsonists , robbers , drug peddlers are being freed ?
… Information : In a 2009 letter to nobody special , just answering a child who ’ d written him , our former Gov .
Mario Cuomo wrote : “ Keep your eyes on my son Andrew .
He can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He can go all the way.
” Nice man Biden ’ s had his time .
He can ’ t do it anymore — not that he did anything with it before .
Look : Orville and Wilbur Wright gave us the flying machine in Kitty Hawk , NC , but they couldn ’ t glue together today ’ s rocket to the moon .
So , let Jill just take care of her husband ’ s Botox and fill his prescriptions at whatever Duane Reade delivers to cellars , and leave us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such a candidate — only in America , kids , only in America .

Whoopie! We’re getting more Whoopi. Stephen King’s 1978 Doubleday novel “The Stand” is coming. Limited series. To CBS All Access. Dec. 17. Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Alexander Skarsgård, James Marsden, Amber Heard.
This is his apocalyptic vision of a world ruined by a plague with people caught in the middle of the fight between good and evil. Like maybe Trump and Cuomo. And he wrote it 42 years ago.
But this is not the only stand TV has taken for “The Stand.” It first was a dark fantasy horror series thing in 1994. King even played a role in it.
This time Whoopi, seen with white hair, wrapped her part just before the pandemic hit. The mouth that can be heard inside a volcano now plays Mother Abagail, the Symbol of Good.
Ways of the Conways
Donald’s inauguration. I sat at Kellyanne Conway’s private table. Her devoted litigation lawyer husband of 15 years, George Conway carried her fur wrap. I offered to watch it, but he clutched the thing. George repeatedly told me how great Kellyanne was. And, as she was surrounded, he followed, enjoying the glory when America’s new president embraced her.
Other times we talked of her mother, background, children, family. At lunch in my home, she spoke of offers, professional and financial, coming at her. Handling a problem president, problem public, problem family, problem husband, problem children and problem career is no walk in the park. Once DJT’s settled, Kellyanne will reveal her post-White House future.
Bits from Brits
Bypassing shepherd’s pie, here’s what the British news has been feeding its readers: Sir Elton John’s ex-wife Renate claimed to the High Court she attempted suicide on their honeymoon in 1984 … Boris Johnson adviser Dominic Cummings’ father-in-law, Humphry Wakefield, reportedly told a woman interviewed by the Times of London that Johnson may quit in six months. The PM says not true … Also, the Queen’s Guard’s bearskin hats, used by the army since Napoleon’s 1815 defeat, they maybe might not stick around post-Brexit.
Amazon restricted the reviews on its “Finding Freedom” biography of ex HRH Prince Harry and zero HRH Meghan. And: She’s won the High Court right to keep friends’ names private. And: She says she’ll grace the next Met Gala — wheneverwhoknows that is, at which she will adopt an androgynous look. Since she so favors the Brits, maybe she’ll borrow one of those bearskins.
Also: The former prince reportedly did not tell his father before the couple severed ties with British tabloid newspapers.
Please try to pay attention
Questions: 1) Is it an essential qualification that Fox TV female anchors be blonde? And 2) Why’s Lori Loughlin jailed while killers, muggers, arsonists, robbers, drug peddlers are being freed? … Information: In a 2009 letter to nobody special, just answering a child who’d written him, our former Gov. Mario Cuomo wrote: “Keep your eyes on my son Andrew. He can go all the way to Washington. He can go all the way.”
Just give it a rest
Nice man Biden’s had his time. He can’t do it anymore — not that he did anything with it before. Look: Orville and Wilbur Wright gave us the flying machine in Kitty Hawk, NC, but they couldn’t glue together today’s rocket to the moon. So, let Jill just take care of her husband’s Botox and fill his prescriptions at whatever Duane Reade delivers to cellars, and leave us alone.
Where else could there be such a candidate — only in America, kids, only in America.