newyorkpost--2020-01-24--‘Miss Americana’ review: Taylor Swift’s dull doc is a wasted opportunity

PARK CITY , Utah — If you think the moon landing was staged , just wait till you see “ Miss Americana , ” the new documentary about pop star Taylor Swift .
Most of the film , which premiered Thursday night at the Sundance Film Festival and hits Netflix on Jan. 31 , is more wooden than Pinnochio , offering little insight into a deeply enigmatic figure and mostly reiterating what we already know about one of the world ’ s most famous women .
Swift works very hard .
Duh , she ’ s released seven albums in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage during her VMAs win was upsetting .
Um , yeah !
She had her first taste of a burrito two years ago .
Alright , I didn ’ t know that .
Here ’ s the thing — Swift , 30 , cherishes her privacy .
If you hadn ’ t yet surmised that from her more than a decade of press shyness , you will from the gazillion times she says so in “ Miss Americana.
” She is the rare celebrity who can stay intensely relevant while keeping mostly mum @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with that… unless you are participating in a documentary about your own life .
Truth be told , her song “ Fifteen ” is far more revealing than anything in this purported behind-the-scenes glimpse .
“ Miss Americana ” begins with Swift sitting at the piano of her Tennessee home as her kitten walks all over the keys .
It looks like a TV ad .
Then , against the windowsill of what appears to be her childhood bedroom — everything here is vague as a D-student ’ s book report — she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : she always wanted to be a “ good girl ” ; “ those pats on the head were all I lived for ” ; ” I became the person everybody wanted me to be.
” That sets up the rest of the movie to be Swift trying to break free of her constant aim to please , as she did creatively with the album “ Reputation.
” The biggest section is devoted to her coming out of the political closet as a supporter of the Democratic nominee for senate in Tennessee .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mantra “ don ’ t force your politics on people , ” but that went out the window in 2018 .
We watch the moment she tweets out her endorsement of Phil Bredesen , flanked by her mom , publicist and a bottle of white wine .
Sorry , but staring at a person as they tweet isn ’ t exciting , even when that person is Taylor Swift .
Politics is one of the only subjects Swift seems comfortable discussing with director Lana Wilson at length .
For instance , she never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we see them walk out of a concert venue just once .
Bringing up her quest for love , she laments the loneliness of fame , saying “ Shouldn ’ t I have someone that I could call right now ?
” She then adds that she found someone and “ decided together that we wanted our relationship to be private.
” And that ’ s what happens — even in the film about her life .
We never see him again .
There is an upside here , though .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who will watch “ Miss Americana ” countless times , and she brings up a few personal troubles that will be good for them to hear about .
The singer talks about her struggle with body image , and how she ’ s come to realize that “ it ’ s better to think you look fat than look sick.
” That ’ s a strong message in the Instagram age .
So is what she says about the toxicity of social media .
When we learn her mom Andrea is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it gave her perspective on her online bullies .
“ Do you really care that the internet doesn ’ t like you if your mom is sick from her chemo ?
, ” she asks .
Regardless , “ Miss Americana ” is far too coy a documentary to fully satisfy anybody .
Wilson said in a speech before the premiere begin that she was sworn to secrecy during filming , and was not even allowed to tell her parents what she was up to for an entire year .
That KGB-like control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When making a documentary , you just got ta shake it off .

PARK CITY, Utah — If you think the moon landing was staged, just wait ’til you see “Miss Americana,” the new documentary about pop star Taylor Swift.
Most of the film, which premiered Thursday night at the Sundance Film Festival and hits Netflix on Jan. 31, is more wooden than Pinocchio, offering little insight into a deeply enigmatic figure and mostly reiterating what we already know about one of the world’s most famous women.
Swift works very hard. Duh, she’s released seven albums in 13 years. Kanye West storming the stage during her VMAs win was upsetting. Um, yeah! She had her first taste of a burrito two years ago. All right, I didn’t know that.
Here’s the thing: Swift, 30, cherishes her privacy. If you hadn’t yet surmised that from her more than a decade of press shyness, you will from the gazillion times she says so in “Miss Americana.” She is the rare celebrity who can stay intensely relevant while keeping mostly mum. And there’s nothing wrong with that … unless you are participating in a documentary about your own life.
Truth be told, her song “Fifteen” is far more revealing than anything in this purported behind-the-scenes glimpse.
“Miss Americana” begins with Swift sitting at the piano in her Tennessee home as her kitten walks all over the keys. It looks like a TV ad. Then, against the windowsill of what appears to be her childhood bedroom — everything here is as vague as a D student’s book report — she runs down the themes of the doc: She always wanted to be a “good girl”; “those pats on the head were all I lived for”; ”I became the person everybody wanted me to be.”
That sets up the rest of the movie to be Swift trying to break free of her constant aim to please, as she did creatively with the album “Reputation.” The biggest section is devoted to her coming out of the political closet as a supporter of the Democratic nominee for Senate in Tennessee. Previously, she held close to the mantra “Don’t force your politics on people,” but that went out the window in 2018.
We watch the moment she tweets out her endorsement of Phil Bredesen, flanked by her mom, publicist and a bottle of white wine. Sorry, but staring at a person as they tweet isn’t exciting, even when that person is Taylor Swift.
Politics is one of the only subjects Swift seems comfortable discussing with director Lana Wilson at length. For instance, she never mentions British beau Joe Alwyn by name, and we see them walk out of a concert venue just once. Bringing up her quest for love, she laments the loneliness of fame, saying, “Shouldn’t I have someone that I could call right now?” She then adds that she found someone and “decided together that we wanted our relationship to be private.” And that’s what happens — even in the film about her life. We never see him again.
There is an upside here, though. Swift boasts so many impressionable young fans, who will watch “Miss Americana” countless times, and she brings up a few personal troubles that will be good for them to hear about. The singer talks about her struggle with an “unhealthy” relationship with food, and how she’s come to realize that “it’s better to think you look fat than look sick.” That’s a strong message in the Instagram age. So is what she says about the toxicity of social media. When we learn her mom, Andrea, is in a battle with cancer, Swift says it gave her perspective on her online bullies. “Do you really care that the internet doesn’t like you if your mom is sick from her chemo?,” she asks.
Regardless, “Miss Americana” is far too coy a documentary to fully satisfy anybody. Wilson said in a speech before the premiere began that she was sworn to secrecy during filming, and was not even allowed to tell her parents what she was up to for an entire year. That KGB-like control unfortunately bled into the final product.
When making a documentary, you just gotta shake it off.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Shanghai Disneyland closed during Lunar New Year due to coronavirus

Shanghai Disneyland said Friday that the park would be closed during the busy Lunar New Year holiday due to the @ @ @ @ @ park , home to Mickey Mouse , had prepared a special “ Year of the @ @ @ @ @ .
But the park and resort said on its website it would temporarily close starting @ @ @ @ @ the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health @ @ @ @ @ guests and staff .
“ We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and be @ @ @ @ @ local government , and we will announce the reopening date upon confirmation , ” a @ @ @ @ @ purchased tickets or booked a resort hotel would be reimbursed .
Disney opened its $ @ @ @ @ @ Shanghai in June 2016 , its sixth amusement park and third in Asia .
The @ @ @ @ @ of people in China .
The flu-like illness has now killed 25 and infected more @ @ @ @

Shanghai Disneyland said Friday that the park would be closed during the busy Lunar New Year holiday due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
The park, home to Mickey Mouse, had prepared a special “Year of the Mouse” celebrations for park-goers.
But the park and resort said on its website it would temporarily close starting Saturday “in response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety” of its guests and staff.
“We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and be in close contact with the local government, and we will announce the reopening date upon confirmation,” a statement read.
Guests who purchased tickets or booked a resort hotel would be reimbursed.
Disney opened its $5.5 billion theme park in Shanghai in June 2016, its sixth amusement park and third in Asia.
The deadly virus outbreak infected hundreds of people in China. The flu-like illness has now killed 25 and infected more than 830 worldwide.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina is struggling with his shooting again

Frank Ntilikina enjoyed a five-game stretch this month in which he connected on 50 percent of his 32 field-goal attempts , highlighted by a 16-point performance in Utah on Jan. 8 .
But the Knicks ’ 2017 lottery pick has lost that shooting touch again since suffering a groin injury against New Orleans one game later .
Counting that loss and his four appearances since returning from a two-game injury absence , Ntilikina is shooting just 20 percent ( 7-for-35 ) from the floor , including an 0-for-8 scoreless night in Wednesday ’ s loss to the Lakers .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty good looks .
And I think when we look at the shots , I think for the most part he ’ s getting to his spots , ” interim Knicks coach Mike Miller said .
“ That ’ s what point guards do .
They run the team .
They have a lot of responsibilities , but their scoring is basically getting the ball to spots.
” Ntilikina ’ s defensive ability is considered the strongest part of his game , but the Knicks still are seeking more offensive consistency from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get so caught up in just the numbers of it , ” Miller said .
“ We see the other things that they bring to the table .
The shooting will be a variable .
Some nights it ’ s not going to be there , but what do you offer when you ’ re not doing it ?
” Damyean Dotson has averaged nearly 25 minutes over the Knicks ’ past three games , beginning the night rookie shooting guard RJ Barrett suffered a sprained right ankle against Phoenix .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ points against the Lakers .
“ He ’ s played really well the last couple of games , ” Miller said .
“ He ’ s had good games as we go through the year .
Again , we have different guys that can play that spot .
Right now we feel like he has been the best fit for that second group that ’ s playing together right now and he ’ s being productive with it .
”

Frank Ntilikina enjoyed a five-game stretch this month in which he connected on 50 percent of his 32 field-goal attempts, highlighted by a 16-point performance in Utah on Jan. 8.
But the Knicks’ 2017 lottery pick has lost that shooting touch again since suffering a groin injury against New Orleans one game later.
Counting that loss and his four appearances since returning from a two-game injury absence, Ntilikina is shooting just 20 percent (7-for-35) from the floor, including an 0-for-8 scoreless night in Wednesday’s loss to the Lakers.
“I think he’s had some pretty good looks. And I think when we look at the shots, I think for the most part he’s getting to his spots,” interim Knicks coach Mike Miller said. “That’s what point guards do. They run the team. They have a lot of responsibilities, but their scoring is basically getting the ball to spots.”
Ntilikina’s defensive ability is considered the strongest part of his game, but the Knicks still are seeking more offensive consistency from the third-year point guard.
“We can’t get so caught up in just the numbers of it,” Miller said. “We see the other things that they bring to the table. The shooting will be a variable. Some nights it’s not going to be there, but what do you offer when you’re not doing it?”
Damyean Dotson has averaged nearly 25 minutes over the Knicks’ past three games, beginning the night rookie shooting guard RJ Barrett suffered a sprained right ankle against Phoenix. Dotson nailed five 3-pointers and scored 17 points against the Lakers.
“He’s played really well the last couple of games,” Miller said. “He’s had good games as we go through the year. Again, we have different guys that can play that spot. Right now we feel like he has been the best fit for that second group that’s playing together right now and he’s being productive with it.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Elizabeth Warren confronted by angry dad over student loan forgiveness plan

Presidential contender Liz Warren ’ s strategy is to win the Democratic ...

An angry father confronted Sen. Elizabeth Warren, saying those who responsibly saved to pay for student loans themselves would get “screwed” under her student debt cancellation plan.
“I just wanted to ask one question. My daughter is getting out of school. I’ve saved all my money. She doesn’t have any student loans. Am I going to get my money back?” the father asked Warren in a photo line after a presidential campaign town hall in Grimes, Iowa, on Monday.
“Of course not,” Warren answered, without hesitation.
“So you’re going to pay for people who didn’t save any money and those of us who did the right thing get screwed?” the father pressed.
Warren as a campaign platform has introduced not only universal free public college but a cancellation of federal student loan debt for up to $50,000 for those making under $100,000 per year. She even said she’d do so on her first day in the White House, and bypass Congress if necessary.
She claimed this policy would “cancel debt for more than 95 percent of the nearly 45 million Americans with student loan debt.” She also said it would mitigate the racial wealth gap.
“My buddy had fun, bought a car, and went on all the vacations, I saved my money. He makes more than I did. I worked a double shift,” the father continued.
“You’re laughing at me,” the man said, which Warren denied. “Yeah, that’s exactly what you’re doing. We did the right thing and we get screwed,” he can be heard telling Warren.
“I appreciate your time,” Warren responded.
Warren has said she would pay for the plan, estimated to cost $640 billion, with a 2 percent “wealth tax” on individuals earning greater than $50 million. She’s said the wealth tax would raise enough to fund not only student loan debt cancellation and free public college but also universal pre-K.
The senator earlier introduced a student loan debt bill in Congress with fellow Democrat Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina. But Warren, writing on the website Medium, said she would act without waiting for Congress because the Department of Education can “use its discretion to wipe away loans even when they do not meet the eligibility criteria for more specific cancellation programs.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Fans shocked that James Corden doesn’t drive on ‘Carpool Karaoke’

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Twitter ( Opens in new window ) Click to share on Facebook ( Opens in new window ) How does James Corden hit those high notes on “ Carpool Karaoke ?
” By not driving .
Fans of the popular show were outraged after a Twitter user uploaded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filming a segment for Carpool Karaoke in Los Angeles on Wednesday .
Corden was behind the wheel in his black Range Rover — which was being towed by a truck .
“ Saw James corden and Justin Bieber filming carpool karaoke and this is why I have trust issues — he isn ’ t even driving !
” Twitter user Zoli Honig wrote .
The short clip has been viewed over 11 million times as of Thursday night .
Some fans on social media were disappointed that Corden deceived his viewers .
Others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety of his crew first .
“ Who thought James drove that car the entire time he is talking and singing ?
” one fan tweeted .
“ I have seen James eyes on the road 30 % of the times that he is driving .
I wondered how he didn ’ t crash .
I actually feel better now.
” Another Twitter user joked : “ All along I used to respect James Corden for being able to concentrate on driving and singing at the same time .
“ But now I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mariah Carey , Michelle Obama and the rest was just a lie.
” The Late Late Show responded to the internet frenzy later Thursday .
“ James always drives during Carpool Karaoke , ” the show said in a statement .
“ However , on the rare occasion when there is a stunt component and the producers feel it is unsafe to drive , we will use a rig .
”

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How does James Corden hit those high notes on “Carpool Karaoke?” By not driving.
Fans of the popular show were outraged after a Twitter user uploaded a video of Corden alongside Justin Bieber filming a segment for Carpool Karaoke in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Corden was behind the wheel in his black Range Rover — which was being towed by a truck.
“Saw James corden and Justin Bieber filming carpool karaoke and this is why I have trust issues — he isn’t even driving!” Twitter user Zoli Honig wrote.
The short clip has been viewed over 11 million times as of Thursday night.
Some fans on social media were disappointed that Corden deceived his viewers. Others were happy the late-night host put the safety of his crew first.
“Who thought James drove that car the entire time he is talking and singing?” one fan tweeted.
“I have seen James eyes on the road 30% of the times that he is driving. I wondered how he didn’t crash. I actually feel better now.”
Another Twitter user joked: “All along I used to respect James Corden for being able to concentrate on driving and singing at the same time.
“But now I feel betrayed. So even the Amigos, Mariah Carey, Michelle Obama and the rest was just a lie.”
The Late Late Show responded to the internet frenzy later Thursday.
“James always drives during Carpool Karaoke,” the show said in a statement.
“However, on the rare occasion when there is a stunt component and the producers feel it is unsafe to drive, we will use a rig.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Jordan Belfort sues production company for $300M

The ‘ Wolf of Wall Street ” is back — and this time he claims he got scammed .
Jordan Belfort , the legendary scammer who served as the inspiration for the Leonardo DiCaprio film , filed a suit against the movie ’ s production company , a report said .
The fraudster claims they intentionally hid where they got their funding for the movie .
Belfort sold his life story to Red Granite Pictures , whose CEO is currently facing corruption charges in Malaysia for allegedly embezzling more than $ 200 million , Variety reported .
In his lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ embezzled funds were used to finance the movie , and he would have never sold the rights to his story if he knew that was that case .
“ Belfort was completely blindsided to learn , after the fact , of the source of funding for Red Granite and the film based on his book/story , as Defendants concealed these criminal acts and funding sources from him , ” Belfort ’ s suit stats , according to Variety .
“ Had he known he certainly never would have sold the rights , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company for $ 300 million , claiming fraud and negligent misrepresentation .
Belfort served nearly two years in prison for scamming investors out of millions of dollars in the early 1990s .

The ‘Wolf of Wall Street” is back — and this time he claims he got scammed.
Jordan Belfort, the legendary scammer who served as the inspiration for the Leonardo DiCaprio film, filed a suit against the movie’s production company, a report said.
The fraudster claims they intentionally hid where they got their funding for the movie.
Belfort sold his life story to Red Granite Pictures, whose CEO is currently facing corruption charges in Malaysia for allegedly embezzling more than $200 million, Variety reported.
In his lawsuit filed in California, Belfort contends the embezzled funds were used to finance the movie, and he would have never sold the rights to his story if he knew that was that case.
“Belfort was completely blindsided to learn, after the fact, of the source of funding for Red Granite and the film based on his book/story, as Defendants concealed these criminal acts and funding sources from him,” Belfort’s suit stats, according to Variety.
“Had he known he certainly never would have sold the rights,” it adds.
He’s suing the company for $300 million, claiming fraud and negligent misrepresentation.
Belfort served nearly two years in prison for scamming investors out of millions of dollars in the early 1990s.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Proof that Eli Manning was Giants’ king of the comeback

My initial reaction : They could have done without him .
Stick ...

Eli Manning often saved his best for last.
With 27 career regular-season fourth-quarter comebacks, Manning is tied for No. 13 among quarterbacks since 1960, according to Pro Football Reference. That’s one more than Joe Montana and more than twice as many as “Captain Comeback” Roger Staubach.
Manning won’t be adding any more to the résumé now that he is retiring.
Here is a closer breakdown of all the times Manning was money in a big spot:
1. Giants 28, Cowboys 24 (Jan. 2, 2005): The Giants trailed by nine at the start of the fourth, but Manning earned his first career win by throwing touchdowns to David Tyree and Tiki Barber, and leading the winning 66-yard drive capped by a Barber touchdown run with 11 seconds to go.
2. Giants 24, Broncos 23 (Oct. 23, 2005): Trailing by as many as 13 points, the Giants stole a win when Manning connected with Amani Toomer from the 2-yard line on third down with 10 seconds to go.
3. Giants 30, Eagles 24 (Sept. 17, 2006): Maybe Manning’s best regular-season moment. He rallied the Giants from a 24-7 deficit over the final 13:40 and finished off the comeback with a 31-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress in overtime.
4. Giants 14, Texans 10 (Nov. 6, 2006): A mostly quiet game for Manning battling against his future backup David Carr. Manning threw the winning touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey.
5. Giants 24, Redskins 17 (Sept. 23, 2007): This game is remembered for the Giants’ goal-line stand at the end, but the Giants scored the final 21 points, including Manning’s tiebreaking 33-yard toss to Burress with 5:32 to go.
6. Giants 35, Jets 24 (Oct. 7, 2007): The Giants scored the final 21 points, beginning with a Manning-to-Shockey score in the final minute of the third quarter. The decisive points were Manning-to-Burress.
7. Giants 21, Bears 16 (Dec. 2, 2007): Held to seven points for most of the game, the Giants scored two touchdowns in the final seven minutes. Manning led drives covering 75 and 77 yards.
8. Giants 26, Bengals 23 (Sept. 21, 2008): Five lead changes in this back-and-forth game, including when Manning gave the Giants a 23-20 lead on a pass to Kevin Boss and then hit two deep passes covering 28 and 31 yards to set up the overtime field goal.
9. Giants 21, Steelers 14 (Oct. 26, 2008): Four field goals and a safety accounted for the Giants’ first 14 points and had the score tied until Manning-to-Boss with 3:07 remaining.
10. Giants 34, Panthers 28 (Dec. 21, 2008): A 12-1 start to the season was spiraling out of control, but Manning temporarily restored order leading touchdown drives in the fourth quarter (including a two-point conversion pass to Domenik Hixon) and overtime.
11. Giants 33, Cowboys 31 (Sept. 20, 2009): Manning stole a win from the Cowboys in the first game at AT&T Stadium. He positioned the Giants for Lawrence Tynes’ 37-yard field goal as time expired.
12. Giants 24, Jaguars 20 (Nov. 28, 2010): It took a 15-point fourth-quarter to steal this win. Manning connected with Mario Manningham and Boss for scores covering 26 and 32 yards, respectively.
13. Giants 29, Eagles 16 (Sept. 25, 2011): The introduction to how dangerous Victor Cruz could be. Manning’s second touchdown to Cruz put the Giants ahead for good with 8:07 to go.
14. Giants 31, Cardinals 27 (Oct. 2, 2011): Manning magic at its best: He threw two touchdowns in a 58-second span (to Jake Ballard and Hakeem Nicks) just before the two-minute warning, to rally from down 27-17.
15. Giants 20, Dolphins 17 (Oct. 30, 2011): Manning’s third fourth-quarter rally of the month included a 10-0 fourth-quarter scoring advantage, highlighted by Cruz’s 25-yard touchdown catch.
16. Giants 24, Patriots 20 (Nov. 6, 2011): A taste of what was in 2007 and what was to come in the next Super Bowl — Manning beating the Patriots. He threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the winner to Ballard with 15 seconds to go.
17. Giants 37, Cowboys 34 (Dec. 11, 2011): Trailing 34-22 with less than four minutes to go, Manning led two touchdown drives and put the Giants on top with 46 seconds left. Jason Pierre-Paul blocked a last-play field-goal attempt to preserve the win.
18. Giants 41, Buccaneers 34 (Sept. 16, 2012): A 25-point fourth-quarter explosion wiped out a 27-16 deficit and included an 80-yard touchdown pass to Cruz and a 33-yarder to Martellus Bennett.
19. Giants 27, Redskins 23 (Oct. 21, 2012): Nineteen seconds after the Redskins took the lead, Manning found a streaking Cruz for a 77-yard winning touchdown with 1:13 to go.
20. Giants 29, Cowboys 24 (Oct. 28, 2012): Manning led a pair of field-goal drives as the Giants erased a one-point deficit after three quarters.
21. Giants 24, Redskins 17 (Dec. 1, 2013): The Giants scored the only 10 points of the fourth quarter, with Andre Brown’s 1-yard rush providing the decisive points.
22. Giants 30, Falcons 20 (Oct. 5, 2014): A 15-yard toss from Manning to Odell Beckham Jr. put the Giants in front, 24-20, early in the fourth, and they tacked on two field goals in the final five minutes.
23. Giants 30, 49ers 27 (Oct. 11, 2015): The 49ers took the lead with 1:45 to go, but Manning responded with an eight-play, 82-yard drive (all through the air), capped by a 12-yard score to Larry Donnell.
24. Giants 20, Cowboys 19 (Sept. 11, 2016): The Cowboys scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter to take a 19-13 lead, but Manning-to-Cruz was the game-winner and a reward for Cruz’s long way back from two major injuries.
25. Giants 27, Ravens 23 (Oct. 16, 2016): The Ravens took the lead just before the two-minute warning. No worries. Manning threw a quick slant to Beckham, who was off to the races on a 66-yard touchdown.
26. Giants 21, Bengals 20 (Nov. 14, 2016): The score went unchanged for the final 14 minutes, but it counts because the final points were on Manning’s go-ahead 3-yard touchdown pass to Sterling Shepard.
27. Giants 30, 49ers 27 (Nov. 12, 2018): It felt like it might be the last one when it happened. The 49ers broke a tie with 2:46 remaining but left too much time and Manning capped a 75-yard drive with a 3-yard strike to Shepard.
Playoff fourth-quarter comebacks (4)
1. Giants 21, Cowboys 17 (Jan. 13, 2008): Manning avenged two regular-season losses and took down the NFC’s No. 1 seed. Brandon Jacobs’ 1-yard touchdown accounted for the only fourth-quarter points.
2. Giants 17, Patriots 14 (Feb. 3, 2008): The “Helmet Catch” set it up, but Manning’s perfectly thrown 13-yard fade pass to Burress finished off the comeback with 35 seconds to go in Super Bowl XLII.
3. Giants 20, 49ers 17 (Jan. 22, 2012): Manning took a beating in this NFC Championship, but he hung tough in the pocket, including on the 17-yard go-ahead touchdown to Manningham midway through the fourth. The Giants won after forcing a turnover in overtime.
4. Giants 21, Patriots 17 (Feb. 5, 2012): The Giants didn’t do anything with their first fourth-quarter possession but went 88 yards for the winning touchdown on their second. Ahmad Bradshaw scored with 57 seconds to go, but Manning’s 38-yard sideline throw to Manningham was the biggest play.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Pennsylvania woman stabbed in face in fight over bag of shrimp

A Pennsylvania woman was stabbed in the face by a knife-wielding assailant when the two got into a fight over @ @ @ @ @ reports said .
The melee kicked off when Nandine Bell , 46 , was buying @ @ @ @ @ Pamela Freshley , 55 , in the North Side of the city at about 12:30 @ @ @ @ @ the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported .
The pair started arguing , according to the report , @ @ @ @ @ of shrimp and began walking away .
Bell tried to grab the bag from her @ @ @ @ @ whipped out a pair of scissors .
Bell then allegedly grabbed a stick and started @ @ @ @ @ the newspaper reported .
Freshley responded by stabbing her in the face with the scissors @ @ @ @ @ with aggravated assault and held on bail .

A Pennsylvania woman was stabbed in the face by a knife-wielding assailant when the two got into a fight over a bag of shrimp, reports said.
The melee kicked off when Nandine Bell, 46, was buying a bag of shrimp from Pamela Freshley, 55, in the North Side of the city at about 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 15, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported.
The pair started arguing, according to the report, and Freshley took the bag of shrimp and began walking away.
Bell tried to grab the bag from her, but Freshley resisted and whipped out a pair of scissors.
Bell then allegedly grabbed a stick and started beating Freshley with it, the newspaper reported. Freshley responded by stabbing her in the face with the scissors.
Both women were charged with aggravated assault and held on bail.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Connecticut college student found dead in campus parking garage

The body of a student at Eastern Connecticut State University was discovered inside his car at a school parking garage @ @ @ @ @ Lee Barrett , from Hamden , Conn. , was found unresponsive inside a vehicle in @ @ @ @ @ the campus at around noon on Wednesday , according to a statement released by the @ @ @ @ @ “ Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lee ’ s family and friends during @ @ @ @ @ ” the president , Elsa Núñez , said .
“ This is a tragic loss @ @ @ @ @ campus community.
” The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death .
School @ @ @ @ @ that there was no indication of foul play .

The body of a student at Eastern Connecticut State University was discovered inside his car at a school parking garage, officials said Thursday.
Lee Barrett, from Hamden, Conn., was found unresponsive inside a vehicle in the Shakespeare parking garage on the campus at around noon on Wednesday, according to a statement released by the school’s president.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lee’s family and friends during their time of grief,” the president, Elsa Núñez, said.
“This is a tragic loss for them and our entire campus community.”
The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death. School officials, however, said that there was no indication of foul play.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Nets didn’t waste any time playing Kyrie Irving heavy minutes

Kyrie Irving returned from his hamstring injury in time for Thursday ’ s national TV game against the Lakers and former teammate LeBron James .
And Irving went right back to carrying the load , for better or worse , leading the Nets with 20 points in a team-high 33:13 .
Irving ’ s minus-26 was the worst of any player on the floor , but Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said he thought the point guard looked fine .
He did admit managing his strong-willed star ’ s minutes will be an ongoing challenge .
“ He was good .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried to take the ball out of his hands .
Smart strategy by them .
Kyrie , to his credit , for the most part he makes the right play out of the blitz , ” Atkinson said after the Nets ’ 128-113 loss .
“ Listen , it ’ s going to be a constant discussion between me and him .
“ I really have to think about our schedule , and his long-term health , what that looks like down the road .
Kyrie wants to play 48 minutes a game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an understanding .
He ’ s such a competitor .
But I thought physically he looked good , physically he looked quick , explosive .
I didn ’ t see any problems there.
” Irving said he felt “ OK , ” but added he ’ s not going to butt heads with Atkinson over playing time .
Asked what the dialogue will be like , he replied , “ Open .
He ’ s my head coach .
I ’ m not going to come at him or anything like that .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ medical staff says and just go from there and make a sound decision collectively .
“ But obviously , in a situation like this , you do want to play 48 minutes .
It ’ s just that competitive fire inside of you .
You want to go out there and compete .
But you ’ ve got to give other guys these opportunities in order to sustain the lead or be out there and be competitive .
It goes hand-in-hand.
” DeAndre Jordan told The Post he got the stitches out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be evaluated with the Nets having a back-to-back .
Despite piling up the fan vote , Irving won ’ t start in the All-Star Game because of the media and player vote that pushed Kemba Walker past him .
Asked if he was disappointed , Irving said he wasn ’ t .
“ Not really , ” he said .
“ It would have been a great honor like every other All-Star Game , but I ’ m pretty sure the starters that got voted in deserve it , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a show there .
Former player Caron Butler stated on the “ Scals and Pals ” podcast that there are a handful of players that plan to join the Nets next season .
It should be noted that Butler broke the news of Spencer Dinwiddie ’ s thumb injury last season .

Kyrie Irving returned from his hamstring injury in time for Thursday’s national TV game against the Lakers and former teammate LeBron James. And Irving went right back to carrying the load, for better or worse, leading the Nets with 20 points in a team-high 33:13.
Irving’s minus-26 was the worst of any player on the floor, but Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said he thought the point guard looked fine. He did admit managing his strong-willed star’s minutes will be an ongoing challenge.
“He was good. He made the right plays. They tried to take the ball out of his hands. Smart strategy by them. Kyrie, to his credit, for the most part he makes the right play out of the blitz,” Atkinson said after the Nets’ 128-113 loss. “Listen, it’s going to be a constant discussion between me and him.
“I really have to think about our schedule, and his long-term health, what that looks like down the road. Kyrie wants to play 48 minutes a game. So we’ll get to an understanding. He’s such a competitor. But I thought physically he looked good, physically he looked quick, explosive. I didn’t see any problems there.”
Irving said he felt “OK,” but added he’s not going to butt heads with Atkinson over playing time.
Asked what the dialogue will be like, he replied, “Open. He’s my head coach. I’m not going to come at him or anything like that. We just have to do what the medical staff says and just go from there and make a sound decision collectively.
“But obviously, in a situation like this, you do want to play 48 minutes. It’s just that competitive fire inside of you. You want to go out there and compete. But you’ve got to give other guys these opportunities in order to sustain the lead or be out there and be competitive. It goes hand-in-hand.”
DeAndre Jordan told The Post he got the stitches out of his finger Thursday. He still has to be evaluated with the Nets having a back-to-back.
Despite piling up the fan vote, Irving won’t start in the All-Star Game because of the media and player vote that pushed Kemba Walker past him. Asked if he was disappointed, Irving said he wasn’t.
“Not really,” he said. “It would have been a great honor like every other All-Star Game, but I’m pretty sure the starters that got voted in deserve it, and I’m pretty sure they’ll put on a show there.
Former player Caron Butler stated on the “Scals and Pals” podcast that there are a handful of players that plan to join the Nets next season. It should be noted that Butler broke the news of Spencer Dinwiddie’s thumb injury last season.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Man leaps to death off Royal Caribbean cruise ship

Ryan Strome , the Ontario native and fifth-overall pick in the ...

A Florida man jumped to his death from a cruise ship billed as the “World’s Largest Gay Cruise” that was docked off the coast of Puerto Rico, a report said Thursday.
The man, a 46-year-old from Naples, jumped off the Royal Caribbean cruise ship at about 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, NBC News reported.
Crew members from the Oasis of the Seas reviewed video footage of the man’s fatal plunge and determined he’d purposefully jumped from the ship.
Rescue divers from Puerto Rico police agencies recovered his body several hours later.
The cruise was chartered by Atlantis Events, which was running a trip billed as the “World’s Largest Gay Cruise.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Ex-Met Wally Backman cleared at trial of harassing ex

Former Mets second-baseman Wally Backman was hauled into court Tuesday for ...

Former New York Mets second baseman Wally Backman was cleared Friday on charges that he shoved his one-time girlfriend and took her phone to stop her from calling the cops, officials confirmed.
The 60-year-old, 1986 World Series champion — who currently manages minor-league team the Long Island Ducks — was found not guilty at a bench trial by Riverhead town Justice Lori Hulse on charges of criminal mischief and harassment, a spokesperson from the Suffolk County DA’s office said.
Suffolk County prosecutors argued at the trial — which kicked off Tuesday — that Backman pushed his then-gal pal Amanda Byrnes, 39, against a wall and twisted her hand while she tried to call 911 during a fight at her Riverhead home Aug. 30, according to a Newsday report.
Byrnes — who took the witness stand during the one-week trial — claimed that Backman had been drinking that night and that he was angry because he thought she was sleeping with a player from the Ducks, the report said.
But Backman’s lawyers said that Byrnes had a history of making bogus claims against prior boyfriends and has called the police 70 times since 2011. And, Backman’s lawyers said, she has her own extensive criminal record, according to Newsday.
During questioning by Backman’s lawyer, Byrnes admitted that she had nine of her exes arrested when she broke up with them. She also acknowledged that she copped a guilty plea for aggravated harassment relating to an incident that arose after one of her relationships went south, the news organization reported.
At trial Wednesday, a Riverhead cop testified that he requested a sergeant come with him to Byrnes’ house the day of the incident because of her history of arrests and misdemeanor convictions.
Prosecutor Kyle Grasser countered, “There has been no inconsistencies in her story … She did not contradict herself at any point during this trial. She did not waver,” the outlet reported.
“These charges could cost him a job in the big leagues,” Backman’s lawyer, Stephen Civardi, said during closing arguments, according to the outlet. “They have tremendous ramifications for him and his family.”
“I said from Day One on August 30 that I never touched her, never laid a hand on her,” Backman said after trial, according to Newsday. “Justice was served.”
Byrnes brought a lawsuit against Backman in September over the incident.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Gabrielle Union takes to Twitter after Terry Crews defends ‘America’s Got Talent’

Click to email this to a friend ( Opens in new window ) Gabrielle Union appears to be calling out Terry Crews one day after he said “ America ’ s Got Talent ” is “ the most diverse place ” he ’ s ever worked .
While thanking a fan for their support — following her exit from the NBC show and subsequent reports that it was a “ toxic culture ” behind the scenes — Union wrote , “ Truth telling , wanting change & having MULTIPLE witnesses who bravely came forward to let EVERYONE know I didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exposes those who enthusiastically will throw you under the bus , forgetting quickly who stepped up 4 THEIR truth.
” The comment seems to be referencing her own support for Crews when he accused WME agent Adam Venit of sexually assaulting him in 2016 .
In another tweet on Friday , Union , 47 , wrote , “ Why anyone would gleefully get up on TV and tell lies that NO ONE disputed … But we already know.
” Although she doesn ’ t name Crews , the tweets came one day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still going through an investigation .
“ First of all , I can ’ t speak for sexism because I ’ m not a woman , but I can speak on behalf of any racism comments .
That was never my experience on ‘ America ’ s Got Talent , ' ” Crews said on the third hour of “ Today ” on Thursday .
He also praised the diversity of its contestants .
Union continued her tweets on Friday : “ Can someone please ask abt what happens to all that diversity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Like , legit… where the hell is all that diversity in the production though homie ?
In the decision making ranks who control the fate of the diversity in front of the camera ?
” “ Maaaaaan… We all agreed to let the investigation be completed before speaking but if we doing this… ohhhhh baby let ’ s gooooooooooo !
” another tweet read .
Her final tweet read : “ Let ’ s also talk about where the diversity is in the hair & makeup dept for contestants that DOES NOT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage .
Let ’ s Google the exec ’ s that run the show & ask follow up ?
?
about THAT egregious lack of diversity .
Let ’ s discuss the facts ” In November , NBC announced that Union and fellow judge Julianne Hough were leaving the show .
Soon after , Variety reported news of the alleged “ toxic ” environment on set , which included accusations that Union was told multiple times that her hairstyle was “ too black .
”

Gabrielle Union appears to be calling out Terry Crews one day after he said “America’s Got Talent” is “the most diverse place” he’s ever worked.
While thanking a fan for their support — following her exit from the NBC show and subsequent reports that it was a “toxic culture” behind the scenes — Union wrote, “Truth telling, wanting change & having MULTIPLE witnesses who bravely came forward to let EVERYONE know I didn’t lie or exaggerate, really exposes those who enthusiastically will throw you under the bus, forgetting quickly who stepped up 4 THEIR truth.”
The comment seems to be referencing her own support for Crews when he accused WME agent Adam Venit of sexually assaulting him in 2016.
In another tweet on Friday, Union, 47, wrote, “Why anyone would gleefully get up on TV and tell lies that NO ONE disputed … But we already know.”
Although she doesn’t name Crews, the tweets came one day after he defended the show, which is still going through an investigation.
“First of all, I can’t speak for sexism because I’m not a woman, but I can speak on behalf of any racism comments. That was never my experience on ‘America’s Got Talent,'” Crews said on the third hour of “Today” on Thursday. He also praised the diversity of its contestants.
Union continued her tweets on Friday: “Can someone please ask abt what happens to all that diversity folks are talking about BEHIND THE SCENES. Like, legit… where the hell is all that diversity in the production though homie? In the decision making ranks who control the fate of the diversity in front of the camera?”
“Maaaaaan… We all agreed to let the investigation be completed before speaking but if we doing this… ohhhhh baby let’s gooooooooooo!” another tweet read.
Her final tweet read: “Let’s also talk about where the diversity is in the hair & makeup dept for contestants that DOES NOT reflect all that diversity that hits the stage. Let’s Google the exec’s that run the show & ask follow up ?? about THAT egregious lack of diversity. Let’s discuss the facts”
In November, NBC announced that Union and fellow judge Julianne Hough were leaving the show. Soon after, Variety reported news of the alleged “toxic” environment on set, which included accusations that Union was told multiple times that her hairstyle was “too black.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Trump impeachment: Half-empty spectator gallery puzzles senators

WASHINGTON — The lengthy defense of the Biden family by ...

The Senate spectator gallery was at least half-empty throughout the first week of President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial and senators serving as the jury in the marathon sessions are taking notice — some stunned that there aren’t more people watching history unfold, while others understand the public avoiding the repetitive proceedings.
“I’m really surprised at that because this is kind of historic and I would think this would be an opportunity for people to get in there regardless of whose side you are on,” Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) told The Post Friday.
Journalists aren’t allowed to bring cellphones or cameras into the gallery, so the noticeably small audience is known directly only to people able to access the chamber.
The spectator gallery offers a view over the shoulders of senators in a surprisingly compact chamber as debate unfolds over whether Trump should be removed from office. An acquittal is all but assured, with two-thirds of votes — or at least 20 Republican defections — needed for conviction.
Some Republicans said the monotonous Democratic opening arguments are to blame.
“You know, 28 hours of hearing the same thing over and over again isn’t all that exciting,” said Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has passed the hours with crossword puzzles.
Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), who underwent back surgery in August, joked: “Well, if I had a choice I’d probably be home watching Chicago PD.” He added: “No, don’t put that in there or that would make me sound terrible.”
Meanwhile, some Democrats argued the lack of attendees is not necessarily a reflection of public disinterest.
“Because it’s on television, it’s a convenient alternative to coming in,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.).
“I don’t think the average person thinks that it would be easy to come and watch,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.)
Indeed, rules for ticket distribution are unwritten. Most are distributed through individual Senate offices. People then queue in the congressional visitor center for up to three hours. The line is shorter than those at Disney World, but moves slowly due to half-hour seating blocks.
Senate offices get three to five tickets each. Tickets allow entry to the gallery and some can be used by multiple people who take shifts, including staff and constituents. Some offices say they have had robust interest and offer turns of one hour each. But there’s no consistent marketing among offices.
“My tickets have all been used,” said Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
The Senate Sergeant at Arms establishes rules for the chamber and did not respond to repeated requests for comment on how gallery seating is managed. Some seats, such as in both corners along the east of the chamber, have had very few guests this week. One Senate aide said that a section of about 100 seats, known as the family gallery, generally is reserved for relatives of senators and that it’s possible offices have inconsistent policies for those tickets.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said a ban on note-taking outside a press section discouraged attendance by Senate staff. “They can do more work in the office where they have an ability to take notes,” he said.
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), meanwhile, speculated that Senate Republican leaders were to blame for tightening rules for the trial, noting restrictions on reporter access outside the Senate chamber. “I’ve gotta think, a lot of student groups are here, a lot of individuals are here, tourists are here. People would love to be part of this,” he said.
A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Coons, the Delaware Democrat, said he understands that the sergeant at arms and Capitol Police “have a job to keep us safe,” but that “the gallery should be accessible.”
“I have four tickets and we’re happy to rotate them out,” Coons said. “I’ve had a whole bunch of Delawareans come down and watch in the gallery. And that’s encouraging because it is a different experience watching it in the chamber than watching it on TV.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Steve Spagnuolo a difference-maker for Super Bowl-bound Chiefs

After the first time , Tyrann Mathieu knew he wasn ’ t being summoned for a pat on the back .
Mathieu and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo arrived in the offseason to fix the weakness holding back the Chiefs .
They didn ’ t share in the team ’ s heartbreak of letting the Patriots score the walk-off touchdown on the first possession of overtime in last year ’ s AFC Championship game , but there was joint determination to build a worthy complement for an explosive offense .
“ I can remember a couple of instances this year where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he called me into his office and had this list of things that I could do better , ” said Mathieu , the safety who notched four interceptions after signing a free-agent contract .
“ That ’ s the kind of thing that you want from a football coach .
You want them to challenge you.
” Spagnuolo is headed back to the Super Bowl , 12 years after he masterminded the Giants defense that harassed Tom Brady and ruined the Patriots ’ undefeated season in Super Bowl XLII .
One year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate grabbed by the St. Louis Rams , on the opposite end of the Midwest state where he has re-risen .
That three-year head-coach stint didn ’ t work , and Spagnuolo ultimately returned to the Giants in 2015 .
Three more seasons as defensive coordinator ended with four games as interim head coach and an interview for the full-time position replacing Ben McAdoo .
The job instead went to Pat Shurmur — already fired and on to the Broncos — while Spagnuolo is a difference-maker again .
“ You can probably see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spags calls , ” Mathieu said , “ he just expects me to make a play .
I think any time you ’ re around people that believe in you , it ’ s always going to have a positive effect on you.
” Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was coach Andy Reid ’ s play-caller for Reid ’ s first six seasons in Kansas City .
But Sutton was sacrificed after the Chiefs fell “ 4 inches short ” — Reid ’ s reference to an offside penalty that negated a game-sealing interception @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game .
Reid called upon the former linebackers coach on his Eagles staff — who was out of coaching in 2018 for the first time since 1980 — to overhaul the NFL ’ s 31st-ranked defense “ The defense has done a great job for Spags , ” Reid said Sunday after a 35-24 win over the Titans .
“ The players believe in what he ’ s doing.
” The Chiefs allowed 28 points or more and 420 yards or more in five of the first 10 games — similar but more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once experienced under Spagnuolo — but settled in after a Week 12 bye .
Players actually say the turning point was Week 7 against the Broncos .
The defense improved from No .
27 in yards allowed , No .
19 in points allowed and No .
30 against the run after six weeks to No .
17 , No .
7 and No .
26 , respectively , by season ’ s end .
Opponents averaged 10 points per game over the final five regular-season games and the defense didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playoff victories .
“ It ’ s a mindset thing , ” safety Daniel Sorensen said .
“ He creates a lot of confidence in us .
We have a lot of confidence in him , that he ’ s going to put us in the right positions.
” There ’ s no better example of the turnaround than the last : Holding the NFL ’ s leading rusher Derrick Henry — the first running back in NFL history with back-to-back games of at least 180 yards on the ground — to 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Titans to 109 total yards and seven points in the second half .
“ We ’ re the baddest MFers on the planet , ” said pass-rusher Frank Clark , another offseason addition brought in to replace Dee Ford , who committed the devastating offsides penalty and will be on the opposite side with the 49ers in the Super Bowl .
“ This group has the most heart .
We didn ’ t break at the beginning of the season , the first six games.
” It ’ s a familiar tune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a familiar celebratory ending ?

After the first time, Tyrann Mathieu knew he wasn’t being summoned for a pat on the back.
Mathieu and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo arrived in the offseason to fix the weakness holding back the Chiefs. They didn’t share in the team’s heartbreak of letting the Patriots score the walk-off touchdown on the first possession of overtime in last year’s AFC Championship game, but there was joint determination to build a worthy complement for an explosive offense.
“I can remember a couple of instances this year where I came off of a big game and he called me into his office and had this list of things that I could do better,” said Mathieu, the safety who notched four interceptions after signing a free-agent contract. “That’s the kind of thing that you want from a football coach. You want them to challenge you.”
Spagnuolo is headed back to the Super Bowl, 12 years after he masterminded the Giants defense that harassed Tom Brady and ruined the Patriots’ undefeated season in Super Bowl XLII. One year later, he was the hotheaded coaching candidate grabbed by the St. Louis Rams, on the opposite end of the Midwest state where he has re-risen.
That three-year head-coach stint didn’t work, and Spagnuolo ultimately returned to the Giants in 2015.
Three more seasons as defensive coordinator ended with four games as interim head coach and an interview for the full-time position replacing Ben McAdoo. The job instead went to Pat Shurmur — already fired and on to the Broncos — while Spagnuolo is a difference-maker again.
“You can probably see that from the type of plays that Spags calls,” Mathieu said, “he just expects me to make a play. I think any time you’re around people that believe in you, it’s always going to have a positive effect on you.”
Defensive coordinator Bob Sutton was coach Andy Reid’s play-caller for Reid’s first six seasons in Kansas City.
But Sutton was sacrificed after the Chiefs fell “4 inches short” — Reid’s reference to an offside penalty that negated a game-sealing interception of Brady — in the AFC Championship game. Reid called upon the former linebackers coach on his Eagles staff — who was out of coaching in 2018 for the first time since 1980 — to overhaul the NFL’s 31st-ranked defense
“The defense has done a great job for Spags,” Reid said Sunday after a 35-24 win over the Titans. “The players believe in what he’s doing.”
The Chiefs allowed 28 points or more and 420 yards or more in five of the first 10 games — similar but more prolonged growing pains to what the Giants once experienced under Spagnuolo — but settled in after a Week 12 bye. Players actually say the turning point was Week 7 against the Broncos.
The defense improved from No. 27 in yards allowed, No. 19 in points allowed and No. 30 against the run after six weeks to No. 17, No. 7 and No. 26, respectively, by season’s end. Opponents averaged 10 points per game over the final five regular-season games and the defense didn’t cave after poor starts to the two playoff victories.
“It’s a mindset thing,” safety Daniel Sorensen said. “He creates a lot of confidence in us. We have a lot of confidence in him, that he’s going to put us in the right positions.”
There’s no better example of the turnaround than the last: Holding the NFL’s leading rusher Derrick Henry — the first running back in NFL history with back-to-back games of at least 180 yards on the ground — to 16 carries for 69 yards, and limiting the Titans to 109 total yards and seven points in the second half.
“We’re the baddest MFers on the planet,” said pass-rusher Frank Clark, another offseason addition brought in to replace Dee Ford, who committed the devastating offsides penalty and will be on the opposite side with the 49ers in the Super Bowl. “This group has the most heart. We didn’t break at the beginning of the season, the first six games.”
It’s a familiar tune to Giants fan. Will it have a familiar celebratory ending?


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Meet the face of top-rated cable dramedy ‘68 Whiskey’

Paramount Network ’ s new military dramedy , “ 68 Whiskey , ” posits itself as ...

Cristina Rodlo hit the TV trifecta over the past year: starring roles in “Too Old to Die Young” (Amazon), “The Terror: Infamy” (AMC) and now on breakout hit “68 Whiskey,” Paramount Network’s “M*A*S*H”-type ensemble war dramedy that premiered to 2 million viewers.
Rodlo, who grew up in Mexico (Terreon) and studied acting in New York at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, plays Sgt. Rosa Alvarez, a tough Army medic stationed at a multicultural NATO Coalition Base in the Laghman Province of Afghanistan. Facing deportation back to Mexico (like her father), Alvarez and her medic pal, base troublemaker Cooper Roback (Sam Keeley), decide to get hitched so Alvarez can remain in the Army.
“She’s Mexican but she’s also an American — she’s a dreamer, basically, and her family is being deported while she’s in Afghanistan fighting for her country,” says Rodlo, 29. “We need people to see stories like hers and connect to them. People like Rosa come to this country to have a better life, not only for them and their families but also to make this country better.”
Over the course of the first three episodes Alvarez refuses to let her guard down, though there are indications that won’t last for too much longer. “She definitely wants to keep everything to herself and she’s afraid of being deported by the country she’s fighting for,” Rodlo says. “She doesn’t want to show too much … and have it taken away from her. She needs to have a mask, to show everyone she’s OK and is going to be fine and get this solved.
“I think she tries to be positive even though everything is falling apart.”
Rodlo says that her familiarity with “68 Whiskey” director Michael Lehmann, who directed her on “The Terror: Infamy,” helped her snare the role, though she was kept waiting for quite a while after auditioning. “I was the first one to test for the role and they said, ‘We need to see more people. We’re not going to go with our first option,'” she says. “They kept seeing people for three months and finally got back to me and said, ‘You’re the one.'”
As the season progresses — shooting is scheduled to wrap this week in and around Santa Clarita and Chatsworth, Calif. — Alvarez will definitely evolve as she and Roback go forward with their marriage plans.
“She’s going to have a hard time and there are going to be a few things with Roback that you don’t expect,” she says. “They do get married and … a marriage is not easy, and when you’re pretending to be married it’s definitely harder. There are going to be a few funny moments; she’s going to grow up a lot during the season and will have a relationship you don’t see coming.”
Rodlo says she thinks the show — co-starring Gage Golightly,Beth Riesgraf, Derek Theler, Jeremy Tardy and Nicholas Coombe — is striking a chord with viewers because of its diverse array of characters. “These characters are so different from each other and people are able to connect with all of them,” she says. “People are like, ‘That’s what I would do in that situation.’
“Even though they’re in Afghanistan, which is so far away, the show is about love and how these people relate to one another.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--NYPD cop Michael Valva allegedly taunted son Thomas Valva for being cold before died

The NYPD cop and his fiancée accused of killing his 8-year-old son taunted the boy for being cold after keeping him overnight in a freezing garage in their Suffolk County home , prosecutors alleged at his arraignment Friday .
Mike Valva , 40 , was caught on his extensive home-security system the day his son Thomas died sarcastically telling his fiancee Angela Pollina that the son Thomas couldn ’ t walk because he was cold .
“ Do you know why he ’ s falling ?
” Pollina asked Valva about Thomas , who was face-planting on the floor because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died , prosecutors said .
Nearly every room in their Center Moriches home was equipped with surveillance cameras , which captured footage of Thomas and another one of Valva ’ s sons sleeping on the concrete floor of the garage two nights before he died .
“ They are on cold concrete , there are no pillows , no blankets , no mattress , ” Assistant District Attorney Laura Newcombe said .
“ On 16th and 17th of January it was 19 degrees out , ” she added .
Valva and Pollina called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed the child had run into a door jam and passed out .
The boy died of hypothermia about an hour after medics rescued him from the home , prosecutors said .
Valva and Pollina were both hit with second-degree murder charges and ordered held without bail .
They face life imprisonment if convicted .
Defense attorneys for them said neither of them had been in trouble with the law in the past and noted Valva has served as an NYPD officer for several years .

A heartless NYPD cop and his wicked fiancée starved and tortured his autistic 8-year-old son, even mocking the child as he collapsed from the hypothermia that would claim his young life, officials said Friday as the Long Island couple was charged in the boy’s murder.
Michael Valva, 40, a 15-year officer assigned to the transit bureau, and fiancée Angela Pollina, 42, tried to make it look like they were as idyllic as the Brady Bunch, living with Valva’s three sons and Pollina’s three girls — each from previous relationships — at the couple’s home in Center Moriches, but their sitcom veneer hid a sinister secret, a former nanny said.
“It’s sad. They wanted to give the impression they were the ‘Brady Bunch’ family when it was more like a home crashing,” Amanda Wildman, who babysat the family from 2017 to 2018, told The Post.
“There was always screaming. The boys were constantly being yelled at. There never was a day where somebody wasn’t screaming and the boys would just sit there quietly and take it.”
On Friday, Valva and Pollina were arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the Jan. 17 death of Valva’s son Thomas, who died of hypothermia after being exiled to a “freezing” unfinished garage at the couple’s home on Bittersweet Lane the night before — when temperatures outside plummeted to a bone-chilling 19 degrees, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart told reporters.
“We believe certainly that Thomas was kept in the garage overnight preceding his death,” the commissioner said.
Prosecutors revealed at Valva’s arraignment that he and Pollina even taunted Thomas for being cold on the morning he died — after keeping him in the freezing garage all night.
Thomas was “face-planting” on the floor because he was hypothermic, Assistant District Attorney Laura Newcombe said, citing audio recordings taken from an extensive home-security system in the house.
In the recording, a child can be heard asking why Thomas cannot walk.
“Because he’s hypothermic,” Pollina replied, according to Newcombe. “When you wash with cold water and it’s freezing out you become hypothermic.”
Later, Pollina put the same question to Valva.
“Do you know why he’s falling?” Pollina asked Valva about Thomas, Newcombe said, citing recordings.
“Because he’s cold. Boo f–king hoo,” Valva callously responded, according to the prosecutor.
When Pollina apparently walked into the garage and asked Valva what he was doing, Valva said: “I’m f–king suffocating him that’s what I’m doing,” prompting Pollina to say, “Take your hands off his mouth. There are people everywhere,” according to Newcombe.
Authorities responded to the home at 9:40 a.m. that day, after Valva reported that his son fell in the driveway while waiting for the school bus an hour earlier.
Valva, who was immediately suspended without pay and stripped of his guns, told cops his son lost consciousness after the fall, according to Hart.
“When officers arrived, Michael Valva was performing CPR on his son in the basement,” she said.
Medics rushed the boy to Long Island Community Hospital and when he arrived there, his body temperature was just 76 degrees, according to Hart. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Valva allegedly put the boy’s body in a warm bath in order to raise his body temperature before calling cops, a police source told The Post.
An investigation “revealed inconsistencies in timing and nature of the child’s injuries as reported by the father,” said Hart, who noted that police determined that the boy was never in the driveway that morning.
Thomas suffered head and facial injuries “that were not consistent with” Valva’s account, and the medical examiner ruled the boy’s death a homicide “with a major contributing factor of hypothermia,” Hart said.
The Suffolk County source told The Post that Valva got angry with Thomas and beat the boy the day before his death.
As punishment, Thomas was ordered to stay in the garage, the source said.
Hart noted that the investigators reviewed audio and video surveillance of Valva and Pollina from outside and inside the home and the recordings “show the pair was closely monitoring the activities and conversations of their six children.”
Prosecutors said that nearly every room in the home was equipped with surveillance cameras that were labeled according to the child’s name and room.
The camera located in the garage was eerily labeled “kids room.”
Investigators believe Thomas, as well as his 10-year-old brother, Anthony, were subjected to punishment, including “food deprivation and exposure to extremely frigid temperatures,” Hart said, adding, “We are still investigating the extent of the abuse and if it extended to all of the children.”
Home surveillance footage captured Thomas and Anthony sleeping on the concrete floor of the garage and “shivering” two nights before Thomas died, prosecutors said.
“They are on cold concrete. There are no pillows, no blankets, no mattress,” Newcombe said.
Hart noted that authorities did a welfare check at the residence in May 2019, but the family was not home at the time.
“This case has hit our department hard, even our most seasoned detectives,” the commissioner said.
Thomas and his 6- and 10-year-old brothers lived at the home along with Pollina’s three daughters — 11-year-old twins and an 8-year-old girl, authorities said.
Child Protective Services removed all five surviving children from the home after the parents were arrested, Hart said.
Thomas’ brothers were with their biological mother, Justyna Zubko-Valva, 36, on Friday.
Zubko-Valva, who says she “unlawfully” lost custody of her three children in 2017, claimed that her kids were abused at the hands of their dad for years and ignored by those with the authority to help.
“There are so many people responsible for this tragedy,” Zubko-Valva, who is divorced from Valva, told The Post.
“The institutions that are supposed to protect the children protect the abusers,” said Zubko-Valva who claimed that she reported to law enforcement and child protective agencies and judges about the alleged abuse of her three young boys.
Thomas had autism and his 10-year-old brother, Anthony, has a learning disability, the mom said.
Zubko-Valva said she warned judges over the years during various court proceedings that, “My children are gonna die from the sadistic and abusive care of Michael Valva and Angela Pollina.”
The helpless mother even detailed the alleged abuse on a Twitter account she created in January 2018 under the name “StandAgainstChildAbuse.”
In one tweet, she posted what appears to be a 2018 report from the East Moriches School District detailing how Thomas and Anthony, were being neglected by Valva and Pollina.
“Biggest concern is that Mr. Valva and his fiancée Angela do not understand the depth of Anthony and Thomas’s disabilities,” reads the letter, written by a school psychologist.
The letter went on to say that “both Anthony and Thomas come into school hungry and frequently say they did not eat breakfast because they did not ask for breakfast or got in trouble.”
Another apparent school letter posted to the account states: “Anthony and Thomas have stated that they were not allowed to eat breakfast because they did not use their manners, say ‘good morning’ to Angela or were doing nothing. They have come in crying because of this.”
The school district refused to comment on the documents.
Valva and Pollina pleaded not guilty at their arraignments and were held without bail.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Channing Tatum and Jessie J spotted horsing around after reconciliation reports

They ’ re back in the saddle again .
One day after reports of their reconciliation , Channing Tatum and Jessie J were photographed together at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Griffith Park , looking a lot like a couple .
The pair were snapped on Friday , genially palling around with each other — and a horse — while accompanied by a horse trainer .
Tatum , 39 , opted to power-clash in a neon green top — which bafflingly and perhaps alarmingly , simply reads “ Nationalism ” on the back — and camouflage pants , accessorizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Jessie , 31 , went with the classic horse-farm date outfit of all-black athleisure .
Purportedly , two girls asked for a photo with Jessie while completely failing to recognize Tatum , even asking him to act as photographer for the shot .
The two , who split in December 2019 after a year of dating , seemed every inch the couple , with Tatum massaging Jessie ’ s shoulders in one shot , and laughing at a face she ’ s making in another .
They swap big-spoon-little-spoon roles at one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , perhaps contemplating the purchase of a horse .
Tatum also appears to have been caught speaking to the animal , perhaps preparing for the inevitable reboot of “ The Horse Whisperer .
”

They’re back in the saddle again.
One day after reports of their reconciliation, Channing Tatum and Jessie J were photographed together at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Griffith Park, looking a lot like a couple.
The pair were snapped on Friday, genially palling around with each other — and a horse — while accompanied by a horse trainer. Tatum, 39, opted to power-clash in a neon green top — which bafflingly and perhaps alarmingly, simply reads “Nationalism” on the back — and camouflage pants, accessorizing with the classic Supreme water bottle, while Jessie, 31, went with the classic horse-farm date outfit of all-black athleisure.
Purportedly, two girls asked for a photo with Jessie while completely failing to recognize Tatum, even asking him to act as photographer for the shot.
The two, who split in December 2019 after a year of dating, seemed every inch the couple, with Tatum massaging Jessie’s shoulders in one shot, and laughing at a face she’s making in another.
They swap big-spoon-little-spoon roles at one point while staring wistfully into middle distance, perhaps contemplating the purchase of a horse. Tatum also appears to have been caught speaking to the animal, perhaps preparing for the inevitable reboot of “The Horse Whisperer.”
Mazel.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Trump’s legal team says it will target Biden family in impeach defense

A number of Senate Democrats reportedly are privately discussing the ...

WASHINGTON — The lengthy defense of the Biden family by House Democrats during President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial opened the door to probing whether Joe and Hunter Biden were involved in corruption in Ukraine, the defense team says.
A source on Trump’s legal team told reporters Friday that “it became quite apparent yesterday from the House managers that they’ve made it very relevant to the case, that they spent a lot of time bringing the Bidens into this case and have established that there is something relevant that’s there.”
The source said “we’ll have to be addressing that since they opened that up.”
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow told reporters late Friday that “for whatever reason, the House managers decided to not just open the door, but kick the door down on the Burisma-Biden matter. For the life of me, I’m trying to figure out what their strategy is.”
Democrats blasted Trump on Thursday as not truly concerned about corruption when he stalled nearly $400 million in foreign aid. They argued Trump wanted Ukraine to launch a probe of debunked claims against the Bidens rather than look at genuine corruption.
Trump’s defenders said the assertion requires a rebuttal when Trump’s defense arguments begin Saturday.
“I think they should tear apart the narrative presented by the House managers — this has been debunked,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he believes Joe Biden’s presidential candidacy may have been incidental to Trump’s request that Ukraine investigate his son’s $50,000-a-month gig on the board of Ukraine energy firm Burisma, despite having no relevant experience, while his father was vice president and the Obama administration’s point person on Ukraine policy.
“Was he asking for an investigation of a political rival? Or was he asking for an investigation of possible corruption by someone who happens to be a political rival? There’s a big difference,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy added: “What did Hunter Biden do for the money?”
Members of Trump’s ceremonial defense team of House Republicans asserted Friday that the Bidens’ conduct is significant. “The fact that they would want to plant that red debunked stamp over it is insane,” said Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.).
Hunter Biden was paid “$50,000 a month solely because he was Vice President Joe Biden’s son,” Zeldin said. “If it’s not illegal, it should be. So the president has a duty, whether it’s President Trump or any other president in his place, to be concerned about corruption.”
Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), said, “I’m sure Hunter Biden’s name will come up as the defense team addresses corruption more broadly.”
Countering the Democratic narrative, White House officials circulated material Thursday about Hunter Biden’s work for Burisma.
“A number of witnesses [in House impeachment hearings] raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest with Hunter Biden’s position with Burisma,” a White House official said in an email to reporters.
The official pointed to former White House Russia adviser Fiona Hill’s testimony that there was a “perception of a conflict of interest” around his role, to State Department official George Kent’s similar testimony about a “perception of a conflict of interest,” and to White House Ukraine policy adviser Alexander Vindman’s testimony that Hunter Biden did not seem qualified to serve on the company’s board.
“Burisma Used Hunter Biden to Gain Access,” a White House official said in a different Thursday blast to reporters, highlighting a report that a consulting firm was using the younger Biden’s employment “to help repair Burisma’s tarnished image.”
In a July 25 phone call that sparked his impeachment, Trump asked Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden forcing the ouster of a prosecutor who had investigated Burisma, using as leverage $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees. He also asked for a review of the whereabouts of a Democratic computer server allegedly hacked by Russia.
Democrats presenting the impeachment case against Trump counter that he wasn’t truly interested in corruption.
Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) asserted that neither of the Bidens did anything wrong and that “there is simply no evidence, nothing, nada in the record to support this baseless allegation.”
Fellow impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said, “The evidence is consistent. It establishes clearly that President Trump did not care about corruption, to the contrary he was pursuing a corrupt aim.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who wants to call Hunter Biden as a witness, said “House Democrats argued over and over that President Trump could not possibly be interested in corruption in Ukraine … What’s the evidence for that? Because Hunter Biden wasn’t involved in any corruption in Ukraine.”
“House Democrats have really hinged a key part of their case on that, and they are asking us to give no evidence, just to accept that of course there was no corruption,” Hawley said.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--How this ‘Undercover Boss’ shocked his employees

Just as most Americans are preparing for some holiday time ...

When Clean Harbors CEO Alan McKim went on CBS’ “Undercover Boss,” he discovered some of his employees weren’t such big fans.
“One of the drivers was quite verbal about corporate headquarters and the CEO of the company,” says McKim, 64. “[He was] talking about the glass palace, which is corporate, and the CEO, and sort of saying, ‘The CEO doesn’t really care.’ So he was quite surprised to find that [my undercover alter ego] ‘Bill Anderson’ was actually the CEO.”
In Monday’s episode of the Emmy-winning reality series — which follows high-level executives going undercover as entry-level employees in their own companies — McKim exchanges his suit for a hard hat and goes out into the field to mix with his employees.
McKim started Clean Harbors, the largest hazardous waste disposal company in North America, in 1980 with four employees, a number that’s ballooned to over 15,000. The company provides services including waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning, and recycling services.
“My disguise was part of a search for a second career — I was Bill Anderson and I was disguised with long hair and a beard and mustache,” says McKim. “It was really quite amazing to go out in the field and participate in some of the cleanup activities and travel with some of the people out there. It was a really rewarding experience.”
It was even rewarding to talk to that driver who had unknowingly bad-mouthed him to his face, he says.
“That was tough to hear. But it really gave me an opportunity to probe a bit more and get his perspective, because we have over 4,000 drivers. And so when you hear something like that, you want to hear more. You want to understand, ‘Does the workforce feel like the CEO doesn’t care?’ ”
In the episode, McKim visits four different locations: Boston, Chicago, Texas and New Jersey, working at a refinery that recycles oil, cleanup from a hurricane and chemical distribution. While at the New Jersey branch, he worked on a mock-cleanup of a chemical spill in downtown Manhattan, near One World Trade Center (Eden’s Alley).
In a moving scene, the episode shows McKim talking to an employee who’s at the site for the first time since Sept. 11, 2001 — when the company worked on cleanup at Ground Zero.
“We were very much involved both in the 9/11 incident and the [2001 anthrax attacks] cleanup. That brought back some memories, talking with our employees involved,” McKim says. “The fact that he hadn’t been back to the site was amazing. I didn’t know we’d end up there [filming ‘Undercover Boss’] so it was very moving to hear his feelings about that. We were [at Ground Zero post-9/11] for a long time. We had about 350 people working there. All the trucks of debris that would leave the site — we’d decontaminate those at different wash stations.”
Even with the hard work and unexpected insults, McKim says his “Undercover Boss” experience was a positive one.
“I felt like I did get some unfiltered feedback,” he says. “I certainly was pleased to see that everywhere I was brought in as a prospective new hire [that] everyone really cared about safety. We try to make safety our number one priority, but with a large workforce sometimes you worry that you don’t get that message down to the workforce.
“I’m more appreciative of just how hard the work is to be working inside a tank or in the field when it’s hot and you need to wear protective clothing,” he says. “What came out of [the experience] is us having more corporate people go out and travel and do ride-alongs with people in the field, and to get more of them in the field to come to corporate and understand the serious business they’re doing.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Ex-Astro Dallas Keuchel apologizes for cheating scandal that rocked MLB

Mike Fiers blew the whistle , and now another former Astros pitcher has apologized for the team ’ s scheme to steal opposing signs via electronic equipment in 2017 .
Dallas Keuchel , the former Cy Young award winner who signed this winter with the Chicago White Sox , told reporters at his new team ’ s Fan Fest on Friday that he ’ s sorry about the scandal that cost Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch their jobs earlier this month following an MLB investigation .
“ It ’ s just what the state of baseball was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it against the rules ?
Yes it was , ” Keuchel said , according to the Chicago Sun-Times .
“ And I personally am sorry for what ’ s come about the whole situation.
” Boston manager Alex Cora and Mets manager Carlos Beltran also found themselves unemployed over their involvement in the operation while with the Astros in 2017 , but Keuchel also told reporters it was “ not like every game we had it going on , ” according to the Chicago Tribune .
Keuchel ’ s apology comes after former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alex Bregman publicly sidestepped questions about the scandal .
Houston owner Jim Crane , who still is looking to fill his GM and managerial openings , said earlier this week that the organization plans to issue a public apology at the start of spring training .
“ We ’ ll all get them together and they ’ ll come out with a strong statement as a team and I think , you know , apologize for what happened and move forward , ” Crane told the Houston Chronicle .
“ Everyone is split @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re going to sit in a room and talk about it , then we ’ ll come out and address the press .
All of them will address the press , either as a group or individually .
“ Quite frankly , we ’ ll apologize for what happened , ask for forgiveness and move forward.
” Fiers , who pitched for the Astros from 2015-17 , first revealed the cheating process to The Athletic in November .
Keuchel seemed to side with Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teammate ” earlier this week for going public with the Astros ’ sign-stealing ways .
“ It sucks to the extent of the clubhouse rule was broken and that ’ s where I ’ ll go with that , ” Keuchel said .
“ I don ’ t really have much else to say about Mike .
”

Mike Fiers blew the whistle, and now another former Astros pitcher has apologized for the team’s scheme to steal opposing signs via electronic equipment in 2017.
Dallas Keuchel, the former Cy Young award winner who signed this winter with the Chicago White Sox, told reporters at his new team’s Fan Fest on Friday that he’s sorry about the scandal that cost Astros GM Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch their jobs earlier this month following an MLB investigation.
“It’s just what the state of baseball was at that point in time. Was it against the rules? Yes it was,” Keuchel said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. “And I personally am sorry for what’s come about the whole situation.”
Boston manager Alex Cora and Mets manager Carlos Beltran also found themselves unemployed over their involvement in the operation while with the Astros in 2017, but Keuchel also told reporters it was “not like every game we had it going on,” according to the Chicago Tribune.
Keuchel’s apology comes after former Astros teammates such as Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman publicly sidestepped questions about the scandal.
Houston owner Jim Crane, who still is looking to fill his GM and managerial openings, said earlier this week that the organization plans to issue a public apology at the start of spring training.
“We’ll all get them together and they’ll come out with a strong statement as a team and I think, you know, apologize for what happened and move forward,” Crane told the Houston Chronicle. “Everyone is split up. It’s a team. We’re going to sit in a room and talk about it, then we’ll come out and address the press. All of them will address the press, either as a group or individually.
“Quite frankly, we’ll apologize for what happened, ask for forgiveness and move forward.”
Fiers, who pitched for the Astros from 2015-17, first revealed the cheating process to The Athletic in November. Keuchel seemed to side with Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, who criticized Fiers as “a bad teammate” earlier this week for going public with the Astros’ sign-stealing ways.
“It sucks to the extent of the clubhouse rule was broken and that’s where I’ll go with that,” Keuchel said. “I don’t really have much else to say about Mike.”


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Trump’s new Space Force logo bears strong resemblance to Star Trek emblem

The US military is boldly going where no one has gone before .
President Trump unveiled the official emblem of the newly minted Space Force Friday , and observers quickly noted a strong resemblance to the symbol of an even more famous interstellar unit — Star Trek ’ s Star Fleet .
“ After consultation with our Great Military Leaders , designers , and others , I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force , the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military !
, ” Trump said in a tweet .
The image smashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critics immediately noted that the new logo ’ s center arrow and other features were a dead ringer for the one from Star Fleet .
Trump critic George Takei , who played Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek , suggested that he might be entitled to compensation in light of the similarities .
“ Ahem .
We are expecting some royalties from this , ” he tweeted .
“ I suggest a fitting motto for the Space Force to go with the new logo : “ To Boldly Go !
” posted Virginia congressman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxpayers get to pay for lawyers when you ’ re sued by Paramount and the Roddenberry estate , ” zinged Microsoft developer Ned Pyle .
The Space Force officially joined the Air Force , Army , Navy , Marines , and Coast Guard as a branch of the U.S. military Friday .
“ Space is the world ’ s newest warfighting domain , ” Trump said at a signing ceremony .
“ Amid grave threats to our national security , American superiority in space is absolutely vital .
We ’ re leading , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough , and very shortly , we ’ ll be leading by a lot.
” Last week , online wags also criticized the Space Force ’ s new uniform .

The US military is boldly going where no one has gone before.
President Trump unveiled the official emblem of the newly minted Space Force Friday, and observers quickly noted a strong resemblance to the symbol of an even more famous interstellar unit — Star Trek’s Star Fleet.
“After consultation with our Great Military Leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!,” Trump said in a tweet.
The image smashed into Twitter like an asteroid, as critics immediately noted that the new logo’s center arrow and other features were a dead ringer for the one from Star Fleet.
Trump critic George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu on Star Trek, suggested that he might be entitled to compensation in light of the similarities.
“Ahem. We are expecting some royalties from this,” he tweeted.
“I suggest a fitting motto for the Space Force to go with the new logo: “To Boldly Go!” posted Virginia congressman Don Beyer.
“Swell, now taxpayers get to pay for lawyers when you’re sued by Paramount and the Roddenberry estate,” zinged Microsoft developer Ned Pyle.
The Space Force officially joined the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard as a branch of the U.S. military Friday.
“Space is the world’s newest warfighting domain,” Trump said at a signing ceremony. “Amid grave threats to our national security, American superiority in space is absolutely vital. We’re leading, but we’re not leading by enough, and very shortly, we’ll be leading by a lot.”
Last week, online wags also criticized the Space Force’s new uniform.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--Subway signals expert handpicked by Andy Byford also resigns from MTA

The man Andy Byford handpicked to oversee the MTA ’ s multi-billion dollar signal overhaul resigned Friday , just a day after his boss called it quits .
Byford brought in Pete Tomlin — his signaling expert from the London Underground — in December 2018 to oversee the $ 7 billion effort to replace and computerize the Depression-era systems that control New York ’ s subways .
“ The departure was expected as Pete was hired by Andy a little over a year ago .
We thank Pete for his service and wish him well in the future , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
The departure of the two Brits marks the end of the MTA ’ s pushback against Gov .
Andrew Cuomo , who feuded with Byford over his signaling proposals , the L train shutdown overhaul and the governor ’ s frequent mockery of the MTA ’ s workforce .
Signaling proved the longest-running fight , as Cuomo pushed Byford to use largely untested radio technology to link the trains together that would avoid some of the pain and cost that comes with track rewiring required for traditional Computer Based Train Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ towel after it became clear that the MTA ’ s Cuomo-engineered reorganization stripped the proud Byford of much of his say over major subway projects , transit sources said .
“ Byford wasn ’ t going to be given the deference of a president or someone who has spent 30-plus years as a transit professional , ” one source close to Byford told The Post .
“ He was just going to be someone who gives commentary and advice that gets put into notes.
” Byford ’ s resignation letter released by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signals , but he described his “ reduced role ” as “ solely focused on the day-to-day running of service.
” On Tuesday , Byford was sidelined during a board committee meeting on signals , while Tomlin read a prepared statement touting the prospects of Cuomo ’ s radio solution — known as ultra-wideband .
Neither man took questions .
The developments struck longtime MTA staffers and observers as odd .
“ They literally put Andy Byford on the sidelines during the signals presentation , ” said one transit insider .
“ Andy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gallery.
” Cuomo began laying the groundwork for the MTA overhaul that would push Byford out as early as February 2019 , after the Transit president ’ s profile was bolstered by a profile in The New Yorker and a “ 60 Minutes ” interview .
Cuomo ’ s “ 10-point plan to transform and fund the MTA ” published in February explicitly called for stripping Byford and the MTA ’ s other agency heads of key functions and consolidated them into a centralized bureaucracy .
It proposed to move capital improvements — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cornerstone of his $ 40 billion Fast Forward plan — out of New York City Transit and into MTA HQ ’ s capital construction division .
In July , consultant AlixPartners produced a report that mimicked the Cuomo plan — sparking outrage from transit activists and good-government watchdogs .
“ Cuomo ’ s [ board ] appointees made it very clear what they wanted the outcome to be , ” a source familiar with the reorganization study said .
Seeking to tamp down the criticism , the consultants denied Byford would lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping signals didn ’ t stop the diminishment of his other authorities , sources said .
“ Every week , or every two weeks , another little piece of news would pop — ‘ OK , now this is moving somewhere else , ’ ‘ OK , now that ’ s moving , ’ ” said the source close to Byford .
“ There were very candid conversations … where it became clear it wasn ’ t going to be collaborative ” with the new executives installed by Cuomo ’ s reorganization , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tomlin ’ s resignations were first reported by Politico .

The man Andy Byford handpicked to oversee the MTA’s multi-billion dollar signal overhaul resigned Friday, just a day after his boss called it quits.
Byford brought in Pete Tomlin — his signaling expert from the London Underground — in December 2018 to oversee the $7 billion effort to replace and computerize the Depression-era systems that control New York’s subways.
“The departure was expected as Pete was hired by Andy a little over a year ago. We thank Pete for his service and wish him well in the future,” MTA rep Abbey Collins said in a statement.
The departure of the two Brits marks the end of the MTA’s pushback against Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who feuded with Byford over his signaling proposals, the L train shutdown overhaul and the governor’s frequent mockery of the MTA’s workforce.
Signaling proved the longest-running fight, as Cuomo pushed Byford to use largely untested radio technology to link the trains together that would avoid some of the pain and cost that comes with track rewiring required for traditional Computer Based Train Control.
The Brits finally threw in the towel after it became clear that the MTA’s Cuomo-engineered reorganization stripped the proud Byford of much of his say over major subway projects, transit sources said.
“Byford wasn’t going to be given the deference of a president or someone who has spent 30-plus years as a transit professional,” one source close to Byford told The Post. “He was just going to be someone who gives commentary and advice that gets put into notes.”
Byford’s resignation letter released by the MTA on Thursday made no mention of signals, but he described his “reduced role” as “solely focused on the day-to-day running of service.”
On Tuesday, Byford was sidelined during a board committee meeting on signals, while Tomlin read a prepared statement touting the prospects of Cuomo’s radio solution — known as ultra-wideband. Neither man took questions.
The developments struck longtime MTA staffers and observers as odd.
“They literally put Andy Byford on the sidelines during the signals presentation,” said one transit insider. “Andy was sitting behind him in the peanut gallery.”
Cuomo began laying the groundwork for the MTA overhaul that would push Byford out as early as February 2019, after the Transit president’s profile was bolstered by a profile in The New Yorker and a “60 Minutes” interview.
Cuomo’s “10-point plan to transform and fund the MTA” published in February explicitly called for stripping Byford and the MTA’s other agency heads of key functions and consolidated them into a centralized bureaucracy.
It proposed to move capital improvements — including the signal tech upgrades Byford made a cornerstone of his $40 billion Fast Forward plan — out of New York City Transit and into MTA HQ’s capital construction division.
In July, consultant AlixPartners produced a report that mimicked the Cuomo plan — sparking outrage from transit activists and good-government watchdogs.
“Cuomo’s [board] appointees made it very clear what they wanted the outcome to be,” a source familiar with the reorganization study said.
Seeking to tamp down the criticism, the consultants denied Byford would lose control of the computerization project. But keeping signals didn’t stop the diminishment of his other authorities, sources said.
“Every week, or every two weeks, another little piece of news would pop — ‘OK, now this is moving somewhere else,’ ‘OK, now that’s moving,’” said the source close to Byford.
“There were very candid conversations … where it became clear it wasn’t going to be collaborative” with the new executives installed by Cuomo’s reorganization, the source said.
Both Byford and Tomlin’s resignations were first reported by Politico.


newyorkpost--2020-01-24--NYPD officer struck by drunk driver released from hospital

An NYPD officer struck by an alleged drunk driver got a hero ’ s welcome as he was wheeled out of the hospital on Friday .
Officer Juan Collado was conducting a car search during a traffic stop on East Houston and Avenue D on Tuesday evening when motorist Franklin Liz allegedly smacked into him and sped off .
Liz was caught by police down the street near Delancey and Columbia streets –– allegedly with an open bottle of Tito ’ s vodka in his car .
Dozens of cops cheered for Collado who was wheel-chair bound as he left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a fractured leg .
“ I was there while he was on the ground .
He was in excruciating pain , ” Officer Dennis Gray , Collado ’ s partner who was at the scene during the crash , told The Post .
“ He had been pinned between the vehicle .
It was a lot .
It was an emotional scene , just seeing the vehicles and the damage and everything.
” Collado will undergo physical therapy for several months before he is back on the job , Gray added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene of an accident , vehicular assault , reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated , police said .

An NYPD officer struck by an alleged drunk driver got a hero’s welcome as he was wheeled out of the hospital on Friday.
Officer Juan Collado was conducting a car search during a traffic stop on East Houston and Avenue D on Tuesday evening when motorist Franklin Liz allegedly smacked into him and sped off.
Liz was caught by police down the street near Delancey and Columbia streets –– allegedly with an open bottle of Tito’s vodka in his car.
Dozens of cops cheered for Collado who was wheel-chair bound as he left Bellevue Hospital on Friday after receiving treatment for a fractured leg.
“I was there while he was on the ground. He was in excruciating pain,” Officer Dennis Gray, Collado’s captain who was at the scene during the crash, told The Post. “He had been pinned between the vehicle. It was a lot. It was an emotional scene, just seeing the vehicles and the damage and everything.”
Collado will undergo physical therapy for several months before he is back on the job, Gray added.
Liz faces one count each of leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment and driving while intoxicated, police said.