The Orioles have acquired right-hander Tom Eshelman from the Phillies in exchange for international bonus allocations, per announcements from both clubs. Eshelman has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk for the time being. Eshelman, 24, was a second-round pick by the Astros back in 2015 (when Baltimore GM Mike Elias was with Houston) and landed with the Phillies by way of the Ken Giles trade in the 2016-17 offseason. Eshelman opened the season in Double-A Reading and struggled to a 6.28 ERA in 28 2/3 innings, but he did so with strong K/BB numbers that led metrics like FIP (3.79) and xFIP (2.98) to forecast better days on the horizon. The Phillies bumped him up to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and Eshelman responded well. In four starts there (26 innings), he's notched a 2.77 ERA with a 23-to-5 K/BB ratio and a 48.6 percent ground-ball rate. While Eshelman is Norfolk-bound for the time being, it's not difficult to see him emerging as an option at the Major League level in the near future. Between the 2017-19 seasons, he's made a total of 48 starts at the Triple-A level, so he has plenty of upper-minors experience. And the Orioles' rotation has performed dreadfully as a collective unit, posting a 5.42 ERA that ranks 26th in the Majors as well as an MLB-worst 5.87 FIP. Manager Brandon Hyde said about three weeks ago that the front office had been exploring various avenues to add some rotation depth to the organization, and acquiring Eshelman certainly fits that mold. He wasn't considered to be among the top prospects in the Phillies' system but gives the Orioles the type of fairly advanced arm that they're lacking in the upper levels of a farm system that's still being rebuilt (and will be for the next few years). Currently, the Orioles are deploying Andrew Cashner , Dylan Bundy , John Means , David Hess and Gabriel Ynoa , but the latter two of that quintet have struggled in particular. Veteran righty Alex Cobb remains sidelined by a back injury, while Nate Karns is on the shelf indefinitely due to a flexor strain. The alternatives in Triple-A are collectively underperforming, as each of Josh Rogers , Luis Ortiz and Chandler Shepherd has an ERA over 7.00. As for the Phillies, they'll add a bit of money   no amount was specified   to add a few more international players to their minor league ranks in the coming days. The 2018-19 international signing period comes to a close on June 15, but this swap should give them more funds to add a bit more talent to the lower levels of the system. International signing slots need to be traded in $250K increments, so the Phils picked up at least that much in this deal   and quite possibly more, given Eshelman's proximity to the Majors.


The Chiefs continue to look for options on offense. Even if it means moving guys from defense. According to B.J. Kissel of the team's official website, the Chiefs are moving cornerback Tremon Smith to running back. He certainly has the speed, as he ran a 4.32-second 40 at his pro day when he was coming out of Central Arkansas. He handled kick returns last year for the Chiefs, averaging 26.8 per return, including a 97-yarder and three of 40 yards or longer. The sixth-round pick from last year only played 74 snaps on defense, so he's not sacrificing a major role. The Chiefs have Damien Williams and Carlos Hyde atop the depth chart at running back, but it's an interesting experiment for a team that has found uses for guys with great speed.


Tony Stewart, a three-time champion in what is now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, leads the five-member NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2020. Stewart, who is currently co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing and continues to compete on dirt tracks across the country, won 49 races in the Cup series, including two wins in the prestigious Brickyard 400. Stewart, 48, won the Cup title three times (2002, 2005 and 2011) and also collected 11 wins in what is now the Xfinity Series and a pair in Trucks. His versatility as a driver was on displayed throughout his career as he won on every style of track. "Honestly, it's surreal to me. I'm not retired; I still race. I guess I didn't really think about it a lot," Stewart said. "It's such an honor. It's really cool to be inducted with Bobby (Labonte) and Joe (Gibbs). "Bobby is the reason I got to Joe Gibbs Racing. If it wasn't for 'Coach,' none of this would have happened." In 2009, Stewart   a former IndyCar Series champion   became a team owner, partner with Gene Haas. SHR has won two Cup titles   one with Stewart in 2011 and a second with Kevin Harvick in 2015. This was his first year he was eligible to be nominated. Also elected to the Class of 2020: - Joe Gibbs, a three-time Super Bowl-winning football coach, started Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992 and has led the organization to four Cup Series championships and five in what is now called the Xfinity Series. Gibbs' 148 Cup wins rank third all-time and include two Daytona 500s victories and five Brickyard 400 wins. His four Cup title have come with three different drivers   Bobby Labonte, Stewart (twice) and Kyle Busch. Referred to in NASCAR circles has simply "Coach," Gibbs was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1996. A dual threat as an engine builder and crew chief, Waddell Wilson powered and guided cars to some of the biggest victories in NASCAR history. As an engine builder, he supplied the power that helped David Pearson (1968, '69) and Benny Parsons (1973) to Cup Series titles. Overall, Wilson's engines helped some of the greatest drivers to ever wheel a car   including NASCAR Hall of Famers Pearson, Fireball Roberts, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough and Darrell Waltrip   to 109 wins and 123 poles. He originally gained acclaim for building the engine Roberts used to win the 1963 Southern 500. Wilson guided three cars to Victory Lane in the Daytona 500 as a crew chief, winning the race with Buddy Baker (1980) and Cale Yarborough (1983-84). - At 6-foot-6, Baker was often called the "Gentle Giant," a nod to her personable nature during a 33-year career. In 1980, the Charlotte, N.C., won the Daytona 500 with an average race speed of 177.602 mph   a track record that still stands. That same year, Baker became the first driver to eclipse the 200-mph mark on a closed course while testing at Talladega Superspeedway. He won 19 races in the Cup series, including a victory in the 1970 Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway where he lapped the rest of the field. He also won back-to-back Coca-Cola 600s at Charlotte in 1972-73. After retiring in 1992, Baker made a successful transition to the television booth as a commentator for The Nashville Network and CBS, and later as a radio co-host on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. - Bobby Labonte raced any car he could get behind the wheel of before he got his first break as a full-time Cup Series driver at 28 years old in 1993. His persistence paid off with a career highlighted by 21 trips to Victory Lane and the 2000 Cup Series title. A success in all three of NASCAR's national series, Labonte was the first of four drivers to win both a Cup and Xfinity Series championship. He is also one of 32 drivers to win a race in all three national series. Voting was as follows: Stewart (88 percent), Gibbs (72 percent), Wilson (72 percent), Baker (70 percent) and Labonte (67 percent). In all, 57 votes were cast, with two additional panel members recused from voting as they were potential nominees for induction (Ricky Rudd and Wilson). The next top vote-getters were Mike Stefanik, Ray Fox and Hershel McGriff. Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote, in alphabetical order, were Baker, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, Labonte and Stewart. In addition, Edsel Ford II, a member of the Ford Motor Co. board of directors since 1998 and longtime supporter of NASCAR, was named winner of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contribution to NASCAR. During his tenure at Ford he has served as president and chief operating officer and has also served as a director of International Speedway Corp. The 2019 Class will be officially inducted on Jan. 31, 2020. Utter's vote Jim Utter, NASCAR Editor of Motorsport.com, is among the members of the voting panel which selects inductees to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. This was his original five-member ballot: StewartGibbsBakerRay FoxLarry Phillips. Utter also voted for Mike Helton for the Landmark Award.


Mats Hummels is to rejoin Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich, both clubs confirmed on Wednesday. Hummels played for Dortmund between 2008 and 2016, before initially agreeing a move to the reigning German champions. The central defender has spent three years with Bayern, making 188 appearances in all competitions and winning three consecutive Bundesliga titles. Mats  pic.twitter.com/L90XFy3Ry7   Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) June 19, 2019 Now 30, Hummels has agreed a reported three-year deal with BVB. Neither club has confirmed the agreed fee, though it's believed Dortmund will pay an initial €25m, rising to €33m in add ons. Bayern confirmed on their website : "Mats Hummels is facing a return to Borussia Dortmund. Einigung erzielt: Hummels vor Wechsel zu Borussia Dortmund. https://t.co/ImNUM0GN9J   FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) 19 June 2019 "On Wednesday FC Bayern and BVB reached a fundamental agreement on a change of the central defender, who played for Dortmund from 2008 to 2016. "Both parties have agreed to keep the transfer modalities confidential. To complete the transfer, Hummels now has to complete the medical check in Dortmund." Dortmund have identified central defence as a key area which needed strengthening after their struggles in the Bundesliga title race last season, which saw them top of the tree by six points at Christmas before finishing second - to Bayern.


A controversial holding facility for unaccompanied migrant children previously used as a private dormitory "man camp" for oil field workers will likely close by the end of the week, CBS News has confirmed. The closure of the site in Carrizo Springs, Texas, which was first reported by Vice News, comes amid an annual summertime decrease in the number of unaccompanied migrant children who end up in U.S. government custody after crossing the southern border. The facility was opened July 1, and within 24 hours some 200 children children were placed there. The children were labeled "unaccompanied" either because they crossed the border alone, or because they were separated from non-parental relatives by U.S. authorities. The nonprofit that operates the facility, BCFS, was given a 60-day, $50 million contract, with options to extend it through January 2020 for up to $300 million. The site has a capacity of 1,300 children but never came close to approaching that number of residents. Krista Piferrer, a spokesperson for BCFS, said in a text message to CBS News that all children currently residing at the facility are expected to be placed with sponsors   parents, relatives or family friends   within a week. "Our leadership anticipates all children to be reunified this weekend," Piferrer said. The facility in Carrizo Springs was opened as a "temporary influx shelter," meant to absorb what had been a spike in the number of unaccompanied migrant children apprehended this spring. The sudden closure comes amid a sharp drop in the overall population of unaccompanied migrant children in U.S. custody. In early June, there were more than 13,000, according to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the agency tasked with caring for the group. That figure has dropped to just over 10,000, according to the agency. The nation's only other "temporary influx shelter," in Homestead, Florida, has also seen a dramatic decrease in its population. In the last month its residents have dropped from more than 2,300 kids to 990, according to an ORR spokesperson.


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP)   Alabama Republican Roy Moore announced Thursday that he is running for U.S. Senate again in 2020 after failing to win the seat two years ago amid sexual misconduct accusations. With his return to the political stage, Moore faces a crowded GOP primary field as he aims for an eventual rematch against Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who bested him in the 2017 special election to fill the seat previously held by Jeff Sessions. "I believe in America. I believe we've got to have politicians that go to Washington and do what they say," Moore said during his announcement. Some state and national Republicans, worried that Moore's too polarizing and could jeopardize what should otherwise be a reliable GOP seat, have discouraged him from entering the race. Republicans see retaking the Alabama seat as a top priority in 2020. "Alabama can do better than Roy Moore," the state's senior senator, Republican Richard Shelby, told reporters shortly before Moore's announcement. He declined to say what he would do to try blocking Moore but said he believed "a lot" of Republican groups would oppose him. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell concurred in a brief interview with The Associated Press before the announcement. "He can do what he wants to, but we're certainly going to oppose him in every way," the Kentucky Republican said. President Donald Trump tweeted last month that Moore "cannot win" and said Republicans need to retake the seat in the once reliably red state. "Republicans cannot allow themselves to again lose the Senate seat in the Great State of Alabama," Trump wrote in a tweet. Moore brushed aside that criticism Thursday, saying the people of Alabama are angry and want Washington to stay out of their elections "Can I win? Yes I can win," he said. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Stewart Boss said national Republicans who supported Moore's 2017 campaign "have nobody to blame but themselves for the chaotic primary that's escalating in Alabama." Jones said in a statement that Moore's candidacy "will make a divisive Republican primary even more extreme." During the 2017 race, six women accused Moore of pursuing romantic or sexual relationships with them when they were teenagers as young as 14 and he was an assistant district attorney in his 30s. Two accused him of assault or molestation. Moore denied the accusations and has said he considered his 2017 defeat, when he lost to Jones by 22,000 votes out of 1.3 million cast, "a fraud." A crowded GOP primary field is competing to challenge Jones. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville and legislator Arnold Mooney have already announced bids. Moore retains a strong following among some evangelical voters in the state. He was twice elected as the state's chief justice but was twice stripped of those duties after a judicial ethics panel said he defied, or urged defiance of, federal court orders regarding same-sex marriage and the public display of the Ten Commandments. ___ AP writer Alan Fram in Washington contributed to this report.


Blazers center Enes Kanter aggravated his injured left shoulder during Portland's Game 3 victory over Denver on Friday night (well, some could argue Saturday morning), telling reporters he believes he separated the shoulder even more. Kanter logged 56 minutes in the first quadruple overtime NBA playoff game since 1953, finishing with 18 points, 15 rebounds and three steals. He was listed as questionable entering the series due to the injury, also sustaining a hand contusion in the first half of Game 2. "First overtime, I think I separated my shoulder more," Kanter said, according to ESPN's Kevin Pelton. "I had to tuck my arm into my jersey because I couldn't carry my arm. I'm glad we got a win, man. Whatever it takes. You've got to sacrifice everything. I'm proud of my teammates." Kanter will receive treatment between now and Sunday's Game 4, and plans to play through the injury, though his official status has yet to be announced. Kanter first sustained the shoulder injury in Portland's series-clinching Game 5 vcitory against the Thunder in the last round. "Sometimes you've got to make some sacrifices to get a win," Kanter said. "I'll get some painkillers for the next game. I hope I can play. But I'll be fine." Kanter was a major free-agent acquisition for the Blazers this season, filling in for the injured Jusuf Nurkic as starting center throughout the playoffs. He has averaged 15.6 points, 10.3 rebounds and one steal in eight postseason games and will become a free agent on July 1. Portland must win Game 4 in order to protect home-court advantage in the series, with the prospect looming of heading back to Denver tied 2-2 should the Blazers lose on Sunday.


Outdoor yoga is the perfect way to unwind, meet new people and get outside. If you're looking for places to practice yoga, or begin your journey, here are just a couple that can be found in the Lower Hudson Valley. Sunset in the Park The Westchester Parks Foundation, along with Tovami Yoga, is sponsoring the fourth annual Sunset in the Park series. Join yogis of all skill levels in front of the Kensico Dam or on Playland Beach at five events held throughout the summer. Better yet, these gatherings are free to attend. They're taught by professional yoga instructors from Tovami Yoga. All you need is a towel or a mat and to register online . Dates for Kensico Dam are June 19 from 5:45 to 7 p.m. and Sept. 14 from 4 to 5:14 p.m. Dates for Playland Beach are July 6:45 to 8 p.m. and Aug. 14 from 6:45 to 8 p.m. For more info, head to thewpf.org . At the gazebo Every Monday in June, at the gazebo in Suffern, join other locals for relaxation. Taught by certified yoga instructor Nancy Christopher, the classes are for beginners, but all skill levels are welcome. Class begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 845-357-7943. YOGA AT A NEW SPA: YO1 is on the grounds of the former Kutscher's Resort. WORLD'S OLDEST YOGI: Meet Tao Porchon Lynch Before a concert There will be free yoga in New Rochelle's Hudson Park before the New Rochelle Council on the Arts summer concerts, June 26-Aug. 28. The Emil Paolucci Summer Sounds Concert Series offers an eclectic lineup of musicians performing everything from mellow jazz to classical opera to Latin, Motown, reggae and even a little "yacht rock." Before the concerts, instructor Geoff Eddy will offer a free yoga class suitable for people of all abilities from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Hudson Park is located at 1 Hudson Park Road in New Rochelle For more information visit the NRCA website at www.newrochellearts.org or telephone the Department of Parks and Recreation at 914-654-2087. BUCKET LIST: 23 things to do this summer CRAFTY CANINES: Bring your dog to these craft breweries This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Namaste! Where to do outdoor yoga in Rockland, Westchester


FWIW: Josh Norman has 2 years, $24M & $6M of dead cap remaining on his contract w/ the #Redskins . A Pre 6/1 trade or release clears $8.5M of cap space, while a Post 6/1 move clears $11.5M for Washington. https://t.co/e7ttuqLzMz pic.twitter.com/gerhli0ovF - Spotrac (@spotrac) May 17, 2019 Would the Washington Redskins cut Josh Norman? The only answer is "perhaps" at this point, though some salary details sure don't hurt. As Spotrac points out above, a post-June 1 move would save the team a larger sum of cash, which might explain why the team hasn't made a move earlier, if it intends to. And at least one former Redskins player thinks Washington would be better off cutting Norman . Whether the Redskins are this desperate for cash is tough to say, though they did just break the bank for Landon Collins. The depth chart doesn't have much in the way of proven talent after him, but any team cutting a corner who is 31 years old to save droves of cap space wouldn't be too surprising. On paper, the Redskins might view Norman as a key piece to contention. On the other hand, they might feel the front seven is good enough to prop up whoever lines up at corner. The reality is if a Norman move is in the cards, it was probably never going to happen before June 1. MORE: This photo of Kyler Murray led to more speculation about his height Patriots will prove Super Bowl LIII shutdown defense was no fluke NCSA: Five common recruiting myths NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Phil Simms: Daniel Jones 'fits what Pat Shurmur wants'


The gear Chez Reavie used to win the PGA Tour's 2019 Travelers Championship: DRIVER: TaylorMade M2 2017 (9.5 degrees), with Aldila Rogue Silver 60 TX shaft FAIRWAY WOODS: TaylorMade M5 (15, 19 degrees), with Aldila Rogue White 130 shafts HYBRID: TaylorMade M3 Rescue (19 degrees), with Mitsubishi Diamana prototype Hybrid shaft* IRONS: TaylorMade P790 (4), P750 (5-PW), with KBS C-Taper 120 shafts WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (54, 58 degrees), with KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 125 shafts PUTTER: Odyssey Works No. 7 BALL: Titleist Pro V1 GRIPS: Golf Pride Z Grip Cord * Reavie added the TaylorMade hybrid Sunday and removed a 50-degree Titleist Vokey Design SM7 gap wedge. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Mets pitcher Jason Vargas had to be held back after telling a reporter he would knock him out NCSA: A list of college football camps you can still attend this summer Report: Celtics interested in signing French center Vincent Poirier Cameroon's Augustine Ejangue Spits on England's Toni Duggan in Women's World Cup


Twenty-five years ago on Wednesday, someone killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. A criminal jury concluded that it wasn't Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson. A civil jury later concluded that it was. Regardless, Simpson won't be talking about the incident as the anniversary approaches. "We don't need to go back and relive the worst day of our lives," O.J. Simpson told the Associated Press . "The subject of the moment is the subject I will never revisit again . My family and I have moved on to what we call the 'no negative zone.' We focus on the positives." Three years ago, a multi-part ESPN documentary focused on the case, and the top takeaway for me was that Simpson definitely committed the murders. The $33.5 million wrongful death verdict against Simpson contributed to his eventual nine-year incarceration, thanks to a bungled effort to retrieve memorabilia that he believed someone had stolen from him. Since Simpson's release from prison, he has chosen to stay in Las Vegas. He apparently won't be choosing to talk about the murders. Once upon a time, he vowed to find the real killer. Many would say Simpson finds the real killer every day, when shaving or brushing his teeth.


If you go by Baseball-Reference's Postseason odds , the Astros have a 98.6% chance to win the AL West this year. This figure is actually a lowball assumption, compared to the methods used by 538 (>99%), Baseball Prospectus (99.7%), Fangraphs (99.9%), and MLB.com (100%); those are just the types of odds you get when you have a ten game lead on your division in the last third of the year. So let's set our sights a little higher: for instance, what are the chances the Astros finish with the best record in the Majors and secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs? And how likely is it that they'll improve upon last year's franchise-best 103-59 record? As it stands right now, the Astros' 75-40 record (a .652 winning percentage) is still third in the majors, half a game behind the Yankees' 75-39 and a full game behind the Dodgers' 77-40 (both work out to a .658 mark). The Twins are the only other team in the majors with 70 wins or a .600 winning percentage, at 70-44 and .614. Those are really the Astros' competition at the moment, although the Twins are a pretty big stretch given that they're fairly far behind and they'd have to leapfrog three different teams to get the title. There are a few different ways to break this down. If you want to look at how luck has played into the season to get at more of a "true talent" angle, the Astros are actually a step above the Twins and Yankees just by expected won-loss; the Yankees and Twins are at just 70 and 69 wins, respectively, which is more or less in-line with what Minnesota has actually done but a noticeable drop for New York. The Astros have actually been a little lucky themselves by this metric, dropping to "just" 73 wins, while the Dodgers only lose one win and have a clear lead at 76. Of course, those totals are just based on runs scored and allowed, ignoring things like injuries. Which is something that considerably benefits the Astros and Yankees, given the extensive injuries both have had to contend with. Of course, most of the Astros' most devastating injuries (Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa) are back and seem to be operating at pre-injury levels, which is not really something you can say about New York (at the time of this writing, their team page on Baseball-Reference has a remarkable 18 injuries of note). And of course, it doesn't take into account the trade deadline acquisitions, which by far tilt matters into the Astros' favor. Really, the Yankees and Dodgers were so quiet that Houston could have won this category without the Zack Greinke trade (or with only the Zack Greinke trade, for that matter), with the Twins additions of Sam Dyson and Sergio Romo being the biggest competition. In a race that will very likely come down to just a win or two, the team that added Zack Greinke, Joe Biagini, and a possibly-fixed Aaron Sanchez seems like it has an edge over the teams that added Terrence Gore or Adam Kolarek. Of course, looking at opposing strength of schedule is another fun way to break this down, since there actually are pretty notable differences here between the teams. Let's start with the Dodgers, since they have the most radically different remaining schedule: Dodgers: 45 games remaining, 18 against teams with winning records The biggest threats here are a three game set in NL East-leading Atlanta (a .586 record), and series in LA against the Yankees and Rays (.569). They also head to Citi Field to face the Mets, who have been on a roll as of late and were the biggest challenger to the Astros' claim to the title of "most improved at the deadline". They also have two remaining series each against all of their NL West rivals. The Giants have been hot lately, but still have a losing record overall. The biggest threat there is the Diamondbacks, who only just have a winning record (.504), but have underperformed their expected record by seven games. At the opposite end of the spectrum, they have one series each against the profoundly-bad Orioles (.333), Marlins (.372), and Blue Jays (.402). Yankees: 48 games remaining, 25 against teams with winning records The Yankees basically spend the rest of the year alternating between pretty strong teams and the dregs of the majors right now. They have one series against each of the Indians (.596), A's (.565), Dodgers, Red Sox (.517), and Rays. But they also still have one series against the Orioles, Tigers (.297), and Mariners (.414), and ten full games against the Blue Jays. The Rangers (.509) have two remaining series against the Yankees as well, and could make things surprisingly rough for the Yankees if they're still fielding a 25-man roster with only 24 healthy ligaments. Twins: 48 games remaining, 22 against teams with winning records There are series against the Nationals (.535) and Brewers (.517), both of whom are in Wild Card position in the NL, and the Red Sox, who have a better run differential than their record implies. There's a series in Dallas mixed in there as well, but the real thing of note is that they still have ten games against the Indians. There's a real chance that costs them the division if they don't take care of business (they're only 2 games up at the moment), and far more worrisome than any other set of games listed here. Balancing things out is that the rest of the AL Central is still awful, and the Twins have a lot of games against those teams as well. They still have three full series against the White Sox (.451), and none of those are even in the bottom third of weakest opponents remaining thanks to seven games against the Royals (.357) and ten against the Tigers. If they can handle the Indians decisively, these 26 games against bad teams will give them a lot of opportunities to make up ground on the Yankees, Dodgers, and Astros. Astros: 47 games remaining, 15 against teams remaining Two of those fifteen are a homestand versus the Rangers, three are the Rays visiting town, and another two are a road trip to Milwaukee. The remaining eight are all against the A's. That's not necessarily a cakewalk, but it seems difficult to argue that one series against Tampa and two against Oakland is a stronger set to square off than any other team's three hardest remaining series (probably Rays/Yankees/Braves for the Dodgers, Dodgers/Rays/Indians for the Yankees, and Indians/Indians/Indians for the Twins). And on top of that, while they don't have a ton of games left to beat up on a specific bad team, like the Yankees and Toronto, or the Twins and the rest of the Central, they make up for that with the widest selection of bad teams. Right now, Houston is en route on a road trip that will match them against the Orioles and White Sox, and they'll face off against the Tigers and Blue Jays before the month is over. Next month brings two different sets against the Mariners and another against the Royals. And their most common opponent from here on out is the below-average Angels, at ten games. If you want to break that all down by average record of opponents the rest of the way, the Astros narrowly lose out to the Twins, and both have a decent lead on the Yankees and Dodgers: The spread isn't that big in the grand scheme of things (the difference between a .452 winning percentage and a .482 one over 162 games is just a hair under 5 wins), but again, this is a chase that could well come down to just a single game. It's encouraging that the team closest to them in remaining strength of schedule is the one they already have a sizable lead on, and between this and the improvement they made at the deadline, it feels incredibly fair to call the Astros the favorites to finish with the best record in the majors right now. And of course, how does all of this compare to the 2018 version of the team? By coincidence, the 103-win 2018 team also had just played their 115 th game of the season on August 7 th last year, and stood two games behind their current pace. That's a good place for the current team to be! Despite being ahead of the 2018 team's pace, though, this version of the team is actually facing a noticeably easier schedule over their final 47 games. The biggest part of that was ten games against a Mariners team that was 65-49 at this point, but there was also a series in Boston against the juggernaut 2018 Red Sox, and the Rockies and Diamondbacks also had records in the .530-.550 range. And most commonalities between this year and last were also better in 2018, from the playoff-bound A's (.588) to the middling Angels (.496) to the bottom-feeding Blue Jays (.455) and Tigers (.412). That all added up to an average opponent record of .515 the rest of the way at this point in 2018, which is a much bigger gap than I expected to find. Houston would of course go 30-17, meaning that to break that record yet again, the 2019 'Stros can do one game worse overall even while facing the equivalent of a 74-win team rather than an 83.5-win team. Finishing this year with the best record in the Majors feels like it'll be a close race, and even with the Astros as the favorite, I'm not sure that I'd take them over the field, but finishing ahead of the 2018 Astros feels like an easy prediction to make.


Rodney Harrison is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The two-time All-Pro safety and two-time Super Bowl champion seems to think he should be. He didn't say it directly, but he blasted Hall of Fame voters on Wednesday for the dearth of former New England Patriots elected to football's highest individual honor. Rodney Harrison: 'They're such haters' Speaking with The Boston Globe's Karen Guregian, Harrison chastised Patriots "haters" for not giving the players who were part of the Patriots early run of three Super Bowls their due. "It's just unfortunate," Harrison said. "It's almost a form of discrimination. People don't want to elevate us, or recognize or acknowledge how great we are because they're such haters. Everywhere I go, people hate on the Patriots. So we don't get credit. All I hear is Tom [Brady] and Bill [Belichick]. But that's such a lazy analysis." Ty Law the first Patriot of his era elected to Hall Harrison's comments arrive as Ty Law is slated to be inducted into the Hall of Fame next week. Law will be the first player from the Patriots teams that won three Super Bowls from 2001 to 2005 to receive a gold jacket. Tom Brady will obviously join him one day. But he's still busy chasing a seventh ring 18 years after that first Super Bowl victory. For now, Law alone will represent the Patriots dynasty in Canton. Law, a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and two-time All Pro who played on all three of the early Patriots Super Bowl winners, was elected in his fifth year of eligibility. Harrison's nominees for Hall consideration Harrison believes several other Patriots players from that generation should join Law in the Hall of Fame. "I'm like, Ty Law was the greatest defensive back I've ever played with," Harrison said. "He's one of the best I've ever seen. "Richard Seymour, Willie McGinest, Troy Brown, Kevin Faulk, these dudes were bad, bad dudes. They weren't just system guys. It's unfair when people say, 'As long as you had Tom and Bill.' Well, 'dude, Tom and Bill can't get it done by themselves.' It takes a lot of really smart, great players." Does Harrison have a point? While it comes off as whining, Harrison is right that Patriots players fall victim to the "system" trope. Even Brady runs into the argument that he's a system quarterback when compared to other all-time great quarterbacks. It's fair to wonder if Aaron Rodgers would have six rings if he took Brady's place in the Patriots dynasty, but it's absurd to call Brady a system quarterback. Not really At the same time, Faulk and Brown have a combined tally of one Pro Bowl between them and don't have the career numbers to be a part of any reasonable Hall of Fame conversation. Bruschi, McGinest and Harrison have been nominated, but didn't have the résumés to make the semifinalist cut for this year's class. Seymour, a seven-time Pro Bowler who made the list of finalists in his second year of eligibility, appears on his way to Canton and is the most likely Patriots candidate to join Law in the Hall of Fame. But after Seymour, the Patriots will likely have to wait for players from the Rob Gronkowski era for additional gold jackets from their remarkable run of dominance. More from Yahoo Sports: One year from 2020 Olympics: Who will replace Bolt, Phelps? Chargers preview: L.A. can win a Super Bowl if things go right Dadashev's death reminds us of boxing's harsh reality Amazing Yankees-Twins game ends with epic grab


PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland   You're playing for the claret jug and the chance to be called the "Champion Golfer of the Year." Those are pretty handsome rewards on their own. But after the Open Championship comes to an (expectedly soggy) end on Sunday night at Royal Portrush, the 73 golfers who made the cut also will be taking home a tidy little financial reward. Last month, the R&A announced that it was making a modest increase to the overall prize money purse for this year's Open, raising it to $10.75 million (the governing body started paying out its prize money in dollars in 2016). In turn, this year's winner will also receive a record amount for an Open champion, taking home $1.935 million. By way of comparison, Gary Woodland made $2.25 million from a $12.5 million purse for his U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach; Brooks Koepka earned $1.98 million from an $11 million pool at the PGA Championship; and Tiger Woods took home $2.07 million from a total of $11.5 million at the Masters. RELATED: The prize money at this year's British Open includes a record winning payout That said, if you're feeling like the R&A's largesse isn't largesse enough, consider what the British Open prize money payout and winner's share was the last time the Open came to Royal Portrush in 1951. England's Max Faulkner received £300 for his two-stroke win over Antonio Cerda, from a TOTAL prize money payout of £1,700 (or roughly $2,125). The last-place finisher this Sunday will receive $23,375 and any pro who teed off on Thursday at Royal Portrush, even if he didn't make the cut, receives $5,000 for competing from the R&A. OK, here's what everybody who will play 72 holes this week gets to take home. We'll update this with players' names at the end of Sunday's final round. Win: $1,935,000 2: $1,120,000 3: $718,000 4: $558,000 5: $449,000 6: $389,000 7: $334,000 8: $282,000 9: $247,000 10: $223,000 11: $203,000 12: $180,000 13: $169,000 14: $159,000 15: $147,500 16: $135,500 17: $129,000 18: $123,000 19: $117,750 20: $112,000 21: $107,000 22: $101,500 23: $96,250 24: $91,000 25: $88,000 26: $84,000 27: $81,000 28: $78,000 29: $74,750 30: $71,250 RELATED: What it's like to watch Open with the locals at Portrush's Harbour Bar 31: $68,500 32: $65,000 33: $63,000 34: $61,000 35: $59,000 36: $65,500 37: $53,750 38: $51,520 39: $49,250 40: $47,750 41: $45,750 42: $43,500 43: $41,500 44: $39,500 45: $37,000 46: $35,000 47: $33,500 48: $32,250 49: $31,000 50: $30,250 51: $29,500 52: $29,000 53: $28,500 54: $28,100 55: $27,600 56: $27,200 57: $26,800 58: $26,700 59: $26,600 60: $26,400 RELATED: The lowliest but greatest job at Portrush 61: $26,200 62: $26,100 63: $26,000 64: $25,900 65: $25,700 66: $25,600 67: $25,400 68: $25,200 69: $25,000 70: $24,750 71: $23,625 72: $23,500 73: $23,375 Check out Golf Digest Schools for the best in video golf instruction WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video. Forgotten Courses That Have Hosted a Major


The moment of truth for perhaps the most important phase of the Sixers' long-term championship build, or at least its partial reveal, will arrive at 6 p.m. Sunday. when NBA free agency officially opens. The unofficial negotiating portion has been going on for quite a while, but Sunday is when the cards will be turned face up. What hand have the Sixers chosen to play in their high-stakes dilemma concerning what exactly to do with leading free agents Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris and, to a lesser extent, JJ Redick? The path has been murky all along   although the organization has steadfastly proclaimed its intent to bring back both Butler and Harris   and it got murkier when ESPN reported that the Houston Rockets are trying to finagle a sign-and-trade for Butler. Houston general manager Daryl Morey likes to take big swings, and this might be no more than that. The Rockets pursued LeBron James last summer even when LeBron's ultimate destination seemed a foregone conclusion. That was a sign-and-trade effort also, with a scenario in which James would not opt out of his contract with Cleveland, thus luring the Cavs to grab at something in return rather than have him walk for nothing the following year. It was all a bit convoluted, but Morey pushed it as far as he could. The Sixers, meanwhile, in their typically delicate fashion, have been dropping a bread-crumb trail of hints that the team might not be sold on bringing back Butler at all. If true, that's understandable, even if Butler was their best overall player in the recent postseason. The long-term fit between Butler and Ben Simmons is problematic, given Butler's usefulness with the ball in his hands, and Simmons' unbending assertion that he is, despite evidence to the contrary, an NBA point guard. The fit between Butler and Harris, who becomes a stand-in-the-corner option with Butler operating as a free bird or in a pick-and-roll environment, is also less than efficient, particularly if Harris is going to get a max contract. Then there is the whole Jimmy-is-an-odd-dude factor. Even on what was considered his best behavior last season, with the coming extension in mind, Butler had his moments. There are NBA people in Chicago and Minneapolis who will tell you those do not decrease in number over time. So, yes, there is reason to walk away from Butler, even though that would make his time in Philadelphia a very expensive rental, given the assets required to trade for him. It would look bad for an organization that is way too worried about looking bad, but it is also a basketball decision. Compounding a poor one with another to justify the first is what dumb teams do. The way this smells is that the Sixers tried to cut the apple in half and offer Butler less than the maximum allowed. Whether it was four years or a discounted five years is less important than how that was received by the Butler camp. If the offer in conversations was less than the five-year, $190 million max, that would open the door for Butler's agent to be the driving force in looking around for a sign-and-trade deal to secure every dollar possible, which is his job. The wild card is Butler. At his post-playoff interview session, he said he didn't think the difference between four years and five years was all that crucial. Either would bring a lot of money, and he has already earned enough for several lifetimes. He was going to seek out the destination he desired, and would accept suggestions from his entire coterie of employees, including his trainer, his driver, and his chef. It could be Jimmy will leave because the driver hates the Schuylkill Expressway. Who can tell with him? Butler is all about respect, though. He didn't get it coming out of high school, or after a stint at a junior college, or in the NBA draft after finishing his college career at Marquette. In his mind, he didn't get the proper support in Chicago, was relegated to second fiddle in Minnesota, and now finds himself in a situation in which Simmons and Joel Embiid are the unquestioned organizational kings. Add to that the possibility the Sixers are trying to lowball him to whatever extent, it is more likely that Butler has already made up his mind to go elsewhere. In that world, it would also make sense for the Sixers to want it to appear   because appearances matter!   that the divorce was really their idea. Losing Butler would sting (as would overpaying to keep Harris), but at least the Sixers would have some flexibility to improve the overall playing rotation, and they wouldn't be shackled to a contract that has a chance to look very bad in its last couple of years. The team's ability to go forward and take the next steps toward a championship would then depend on the savvy of the front office to figure out the path. In the immediate wake of an underwhelming draft performance, that's far from a given. Not that this is a crucial time or anything. Getting from the middle of the playoffs to the championship round is every bit as difficult as getting from the lottery to the middle of the playoffs. It requires second-level thinking and a lot of luck. Having the former often leads to the latter. Turn up the cards, and let's see how the hand goes. The Sixers aren't where they were a few years ago, always trying to fill an inside straight, but they need to play this very carefully. The entire house, like the game, is also made of cards. ?     ©2019 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Related slideshow: Top 50 NBA free agents (Provided by Yardbarker)


Who are the best quarterbacks coming into the 2019 college football season? Here are the 2019 CFN All-America quarterbacks and 30 top players. - Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak - CFN Preview 2019: All 130 Team Previews 2019 CFN Preseason All-America Quarterbacks Who are the best quarterbacks coming into the 2019 college football season? There could easily be another 20+ on this list, and the final All-America team will likely be far different - we see you Washington State starter and, maybe, Justin Fields - but only 30 make the initial cut. Based on projections for this year - and not necessarily based on pro talent and potential …. Honorable Mention All-Americans 30. Zac Thomas, Jr. Appalachian State He might not be a big bomber, but he's a steady and efficient passer who's perfect for what the Mountaineers need. He completed 63% of his passes with 21 touchdowns and just six picks, and he ran for 504 yards and ten scores. 29. Cole McDonald, Jr. Hawaii This is all about the stats, and please change this in a hurry to Chevan Cordeiro depending on who grabs the starting gig. The Hawaii quarterback will flirt with 4,000 yards, with McDonald coming off a 3,875-yard, 36 touchdown season. Consistency is the key, and that's going to be an issue against a brutal schedule. 28. Nathan Rourke, Sr. Ohio If you're one of those college fantasy types, here's your guy. Rourke is the star of what should be the MAC's best team, rushing for 860 yards and 15 scores after running for 21 touchdowns the year before. He's not quite accurate enough, but he won't make a ton of mistakes. 27. Jacob Eason, Jr. Washington It's all there for the former Georgia starter to come up with something fantastic. He's got the tools, he's got the time in the system, and he's got the team around him to grow into the pro prospect he was expected to become as a Bulldog. 26. Jake Bentley, Sr. South Carolina Underappreciated, the four-year starter is a big, steady passer who's been through it all. He won't run a lot, and he throws way too many interceptions, but he's a key veteran in what should be a trying schedule - the schedule isn't fair. 25. Josh Jackson, Jr. Maryland Sort of forgotten about in the transfer mix, he first needs to get healthy, then stay healthy, and then build off what he was able to do as a freshman at Virginia Tech a few years ago. He's the type of do-it-all quarterback who might finally settle an always-shaky situation for the Terps. 24. Alan Bowman, Soph. Texas Tech He was well on his way to a massive season before getting knocked out in early November. When he was on, he was amazing, hitting 69% of his throws for 2,637 yards with 17 touchdowns and seven picks as a freshman. Under new head coach Matt Wells, the gigantic passing games will keep on rolling. 23. Austin Kendall, Jr. West Virginia It's been done to death that he was neck-and-neck with Kyler Murray for the Oklahoma starting job, but … he was neck-and-neck with Kyler Murray for the Oklahoma starting job. He might not be Will Grier, but he's about to have a massive season under first year head man Neal Brown. 22. Feleipe Franks, Jr. Florida Call this a bit of a projection and an assumption that he'll take his game to another level in his third year with the Gators. He's got the dream size and tools, and he doesn't throw picks. Now he has to build off his big end to last season and be more of a playmaker. 21. Charlie Brewer, Jr. Baylor Lost a bit in the shuffle of Big 12 quarterbacks, the 6-1, 202-pound Brewer was able to bomb away with the best of them on the way to a 3,019-yard, 19-touchdown season. He can run a little, too - scoring seven times - and now in his third year, he's in for a fantastic overall campaign. 20. Brady White, Sr. Memphis The Tiger running game made the big splash, but White turned in a fantastic season. Now the offense will be more on the former Arizona State Sun Devil's shoulders after throwing for close to 3,300 yards with 26 scores and nine picks. 19. Mason Fine, Sr. North Texas Back for what seems like his gajillionth season at the helm, the four-year starter is on pace to finish among the greatest passers - at least in terms of bulk yards - of all-time. He's not big, and he's not much of a runner, but he puts up massive numbers. 18. Brock Purdy, Soph. Iowa State The Iowa State was going nowhere, and then Purdy rose up in his freshman season and turned the 2018 season around. A baller, he'll do whatever is needed to make something happen, but he has to cut own on his picks - throwing seven - and he has to continue to be 66% accurate. 17. Jordan Love, Jr. Utah State How will his game and the Aggie offense change with head coach Matt Wells off to Texas Tech and Gary Andersen taking over? Not much, but the Aggies lot most of their top receivers. Fortunately, the 6-4, 225-pound Love is sharp enough and accurate enough - throwing for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns and six picks with seven touchdown runs - to make everyone around him better. 16. Ian Book, Sr. Notre Dame The Irish offense isn't going away from the high-powered ground game, but with a deadly-accurate veteran passer in Book - completing 68% of his passes - will be the main man for the attack. He'll start pushing the ball down the field a bit more. 15. Kellen Mond, Jr. Texas A&M Still just a junior - it seems like he's been around since the RC Slocum era - Mond is still growing into his skills. With a great receiving corps around him in the Jimbo Fisher attack, he's coming off a 3,107-yard, 24 touchdown, nine-pick season with seven rushing scores. Expect a whole lot more.15. Steven Montez, Sr. Colorado 14. KJ Costello, Sr. Stanford The NFL types are going to fall in love with him more and more through the process. Costello is 6-5 and 215 pounds with a deep arm, averaging 8.6 yards per pass with 3,540 yards and 29 scores. He threw 11 picks, but he'll push the ball and make big things happen. 13. Khalil Tate, Sr. Arizona One of the most dynamic playmakers in college football stopped running last year under new head man Kevin Sumlin. He wasn't accurate enough - completing 56% of his throws - but he made a whole lot of big plays and threw 26 touchdown passes. If he gets turned loose, though, it might be Johnny Manziel time. 12. Shea Patterson, Sr. Michigan The former Ole Miss star had a decent first season at Michigan - completing 65% of his passes for 2,600 yards and 22 scores with seven picks - and now he knows what he's doing. With a switch to a higher-octane passing game, and with a loaded group of receivers to work with, look out. 11. Nate Stanley, Sr. Iowa If would be nice if he could be more accurate and consistent - he completed just 59% of his throws with ten picks - and he isn't going to run, but the 6-4, 242-pounder has NFL upside and big bombing skills. There's nothing flashy about his game, but he might just be the Big Ten's best quarterback. NEXT: 2019 Preseason Top Ten Quarterbacks 10. Adrian Martinez, Soph. Nebraska Scott Frost's main man made a whole slew of rookie mistakes, and took too many big shots - that's not going to stop - but he also showed the flash and upside to become something special. He ran for 629 yards and eight scores and hit 65% of his throws for 2,617 yards and 17 scores, and he's just getting started. Get ready for the Husker attack to soon go nuclear. 9. Bryce Perkins, Sr., Virginia The do-it-all star who's the perfect fit for the Bronco Mendenhall offense, the 6-3, 210-pound Perkins came in from Arizona State and hit 65% of his passes for 2,680 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine picks, and he ran for 923 yards and nine touchdowns. Virginia will be one of the it teams of 2019, and Perkins will be a big reason why. 8. D'Eriq King, Sr. Houston He's coming off a knee injury - that's the only reason why he's not even higher. He's only 5-11 and 195 pounds, but he's a bomber who averaged close to nine yards per throw with 36 touchdowns - and 14 rushing scores - before getting hurt, D'Eriq, meet the Dana Holgorsen era. The stats are going to be jaw-dropping if he can stay in one piece. 7. Kelly Bryant, Sr. Missouri He's a better pro passer than you think. His No. 1 negative is that he isn't Trevor Lawrence, and now he should rise up and thrive in the Missouri offense where he'll get to take his skills up a notch. He connected on 66% of his passes at Clemson, ran for 11 scores two years ago, and was a terrific leader - he's exactly what Mizzou needed after losing Drew Lock. 6. Justin Herbert, Sr. Oregon The pressure is on to be a special talent on a potentially special Oregon team. Had he left early for the NFL, he's have likely been a New York Giant instead of Daniel Jones, but he'll do just fine for himself in the 2020 NFL Draft. This year, he has to prove he can be more accurate and win more big games, but as is he's great, and he can get even better. 5. Jalen Hurts, Sr. Oklahoma Don't be so certain he can't be another Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray. Nah, he's not the same sort of passer, but he hit 63% of his throws at Alabama with 48 touchdowns and just 12 picks, and he finished his Crimson Tide career with close to 2,000 rushing yards and 23 scores. Throw in his leadership and experience, and he's an amazing get for the Sooners. 4. Sam Ehlinger, Jr. Texas It's not fair or quite right to call him Texas Tebow, but that's his style. He's got the attitude, he's a lightning rod, and he doesn't shy away from anything. The face of the franchise threw for close to 3,300 yards with 25 touchdowns and five picks, and he barreled his way for 482 yards and 16 scores. Love him or hate him, he's going to be a whole lot of fun. CFN Third Team All-America Quarterback Jake Fromm, Jr. Georgia Shhhhhhhhh, but don't be shocked if No. 11 makes it more of a battle to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft than you might think. The 6-2, 220-pounder isn't going to run, but he's deadly accurate, has all the tools, and he's got the franchise quarterback's mentality. Jacob Eason and Justin Fields were top overall recruiting prospects, and now they're somewhere else - there's a reason for that. The problem? Fromm doesn't have the receivers - at least, he doesn't have the veteran targets. The stats might dip a bit, but he'll continue to be ultra-efficient. - 2019 Georgia Preview CFN Second Team All-America Quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Soph., Clemson There's no argument here if you want to put him at No. 1 - he'd be an Arizona Cardinal right now if he could've turned pro after his freshman season. 65% passing for 3,280 yards and 30 touchdowns with four picks, a rushing touchdown, an ACC title, and a national championship. As true freshman seasons go, that's not bad. Expect more of the same with another loaded offense full of next-level skill guys to work with. - 2019 Clemson Preview CFN Preseason All-America Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Jr. Alabama The narrative changed late in the season after he got banged up, but that's part of the puzzle. Between a wrist problem last offseason, to his knee and ankle issues late in the year, he's having a hard time staying healthy. When he's right, he's an all-timer of a gunslinging talent. With 3,966 yards, 43 touchdown passes and six picks with five rushing scores, he put up one of the most efficient and effective seasons in the history of college football. With the nation's best receiving corps returning, expect another year of over 11 yards per pass and another amazing run. - 2019 Alabama Preview - CFN Preview 2019: All 130 Team Previews MORE: Four potential DeMarcus Cousins landing spots in free agency This perfect Shaq impersonation at the NBA Awards show had fans in tears Report: Nets likely to sign Kyrie Irving to 4-year, $141 million deal PFF admits it missed on Vikings DE Danielle Hunter Everything to know about Tyreek Hill's meeting with NFL investigators Related slideshow: Early Top 25 college football teams for 2019 (Provided by USA Today Sports)


Nearly 105 years after it opened, the Dallas Municipal Building is set to reopen in August with brand new life. Yet it will always bare some old scars. After two years of renovation and construction in the mostly abandoned building, the University of North Texas at Dallas is ready to welcome students to their new law school in a most historic location when the new semester begins next month. "It has been amazing to see it come together bit-by-bit," said Dean and Law Professor Felecia Epps. A $56 million interior renovation left a few things untouched. "There were efforts that had to be made to preserve the historical significance of the building." That includes a single cell block from the old Dallas County Jail with three cells on the fifth floor. The center cell was where Lee Harvey Oswald spent the two days between the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and his own death at the hands of Jack Ruby in the building's underground sally port. One floor below, a light-colored façade sits behind a pane of protective glass. It is the wall where Oswald stood to take his mugshot picture. Down on the third floor, "Fritz's Office" where the interrogation took place sits tucked down the hallway which was crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the media hoping to broadcast images and video of Oswald to the country in November of 1963. RELATED: Oswald killed Kennedy, but that's not what official marker says RELATED: Oswald leaves behind a Fort Worth legacy, too: brawls, bitterness and a hidden gravestone Each of the preserved sites now has a placard explaining the historical significance. However, even though they are expecting tourists and interest from across the world, Epps said the building is now, first and foremost, a law school. "Although we want the public to have access, we have to preserve the education of the students," Epps said. "There will be a plan developed where the public, at very limited times, will have access to that." Plans for a museum in the building's basement level are in the works. 2,500 square feet have been set aside for the exhibits called "November,1963: The Aftermath" detailing the days of November 22-24 and the role the Dallas Municipal Building played in the Kennedy Assassination and subsequent murder of Oswald. The museum is scheduled to open in 2020. In addition to preserving the old sites involved in the assassination, other parts of the building are also historically significant. The restoration included a classroom in the same space as the old city council chambers, now once again adorned with the wooden wall panels of the period. The first and second levels were completed with the marble floors and light green-colored walls as it did in its previous life as the Municipal Building.


Contrary to many forecasts, earnings growth now looks like it could be positive for the first quarter, now that more than a third of the S&P 500 companies have reported. Refinitiv data shows that based on the actual results of 178 S&P 500 companies and estimates for the balance, first quarter earnings are basically looking to be flat, or unchanged. That is a big jump from Tuesday, when consensus forecasts for earnings growth were still looking negative, with an expected decline of 1.1% from last year's first quarter. As of Tuesday, just 129 companies, or 26% of the S&P had reported. As of April 1, the expected decline was 2% from last year's level. While it's still early, some analysts say earnings revisions went too far, and the quarter should turn out to have positive growth. "It would appear, given both the early trend in 1Q'19 reporting and the notable increase in outlook for profit growth over the next twelve months, that forecasts of an "earnings recession" were premature," wrote Strategas Research's Nicholas Bohnsack. J.P. Morgan strategists noted the outlook for earnings was too pessimistic, and they expected the anticipated decline in first-quarter profits to turn around by the end of the reporting period, with S&P 500 companies delivering a 4% to 5% earnings surprise and profit growth of 2%-3%. There have been high-profile winners and losers. On Thursday morning, 3M missed on the top and bottom lines, and had a disappointing forecast. Facebook and Microsoft, on the other hand, beat their forecasts Wednesday afternoon. Facebook shares were up nearly 7% Thursday morning while 3M was down 10%. On average, Refinitiv data shows earnings have come in 5.9% above estimates, a higher than typical earnings surprise factor, which has been 5.4% over the past four quarters. So far, 78% of companies have reported better than expected earnings results, well above the long-term average of 65%. Revenue growth has averaged 4.1%, but the blended version, which includes those who have not yet reported, would be a 5% increase if companies meet forecasts. So far, 56% of companies have beaten revenue expectations, slightly below the long-term average of 60%. RBC chief U.S. equities strategist Lori Calvasina is one of those who did not expect a negative earnings season. "2019 forecasts have stabilized recently, and so far, quarterly estimates imply an earnings recession will be avoided," she wrote earlier this week.


NBC Sports' Dan Feldman is grading every team's offseason based on where the team stands now relative to its position entering the offseason. A 'C' means a team is in similar standing, with notches up or down from there. Jimmy Butler is unapologetically Jimmy Butler. Tough. Determined. Headstrong. Dwyane Wade , self-proclaimed Heat Lifer, was on furlough in Miami and playing with Butler on the Bulls in 2016. Butler has chafed many of his teammates. Not Wade. "He's as advertised," Wade said as a compliment . Several years later, endorsements like that led to a surprising union between Butler and the Heat. In Wade's long-term franchise, Butler might have finally found a team that appreciates everything he brings. Before that, Butler had to run through tenures with the Bulls, Timberwolves and 76ers. Miami had to undertake an ambitious plan to pursue a max player despite having minimal cap flexibility. But now Butler and the Heat are now committed to each other. This is a chance for Miami to move out of deadlock and Butler to find a home. Butler is now on his fourth team in four years. Chicago lost interest in Butler's hard-charging ways. Butler ran out of patience in Minnesota, where their top young players resisted his message. Butler had tension in Philadelphia, too. He has also had plenty of success in each of those stops. In the previous three years, he has produced 30.6 win shares (11th in the NBA). Only three players in NBA history have had more win shares while playing for four teams in four years. And that counts absolutely no production for Butler with the Heat next season, which obviously hasn't yet begun! Here are the players with the most win shares while playing for at least four teams in four years: One more time because it's so incredible: This counts nothing yet from Butler next season! He has a good chance of climbing this list and passing Gary Payton, Ed Sadowski and maybe Adrian Dantley. Getting such an impact player cost the Heat plenty. They lost Josh Richardson and a first-round pick and downgraded from Hassan Whiteside to Myles Leonard in the sign-and-trade with the 76ers. Hard-capped due to acquiring Butler in a sign-and-trade, Miami also waived and stretched Ryan Anderson , locking in a $5,214,583 cap hit each of the next three seasons. And the Heat owe Butler $140,790,600 over the next four seasons. That's a lot for someone who'll turn 30 before the season and has heavy mileage. But Butler is a true star who could break Miami from its capped-out mediocrity. Other offseason additions like No. 13 pick Tyler Herro and No. 32 pick KZ Okpala probably aren't going to do that. The Heat might even impress enough with Butler to land another star in 2021 free agency. There's a limit on how much Butler will help. He probably doesn't lift Miami into the East's elite. His contract could age poorly. But for a stuck team, a willingness to embrace the hard-charging Butler is a clear advancement. Offseason grade: C+


Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Q. Are the deals on used rental cars from rental-car companies as good as they seem? A. As you might expect, used rental cars have lived a harsher life than other used cars. Miles are piled on at a much faster rate, and renters may not have been the most considerate drivers. So it makes sense that rental-car companies looking to unload their vehicles seek to sweeten the deal for used-car shoppers with lower prices and promotions. For example, Enterprise Holdings, the largest rental-car company in the U.S., gives shoppers seven days to decide whether they are happy with a purchased car. We strongly suggests using that time to have the used rental car inspected by a certified mechanic (about $100). Enterprise and Hertz also offer "no-haggle pricing" and a limited powertrain warranty (covering the engine and transmission) that lasts 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. But shoppers can and should get even more protection, says Mel Yu, CR's automotive analyst. "Consider used models from automakers with the longest bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties , such as those from Hyundai and Kia," he says. Buyers of a used Hyundai or Kia get the remaining balance of both warranties, capped at five years or 60,000 miles. When buying any used car, remember that your best choices should have solid CR reliability scores , a clean history report, and the safety features you want. Editors Note: This article also appeared in the July 2018 issue of Consumer Reports magazine. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2018, Consumer Reports, Inc.


The best part of any road trip isn't the place you're going to, it's the journey to get there. The most memorable moments are the quirky pit stops, the roadside dining and the ever-changing landscapes out the car window. So load up the car and queue up the music because summer is the season of road trips. There's a long distance between point A and point B, but on these road trips there's plenty to do and see along the way. Pacific Coast Highway The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as Highway 1, stretches along a large portion of California's coast offering up stunning views of shoreline, parks and cities. Explore the outdoors with stops at Muir Woods, where you'll find a forest of redwood trees, and witness marine wildlife at Big Sur. Road trippers can also experience luxury in Santa Barbara or embrace the skater and surfer lifestyle of Venice Beach. You'll learn a lot about California's history with pit stops at Point Loma, home of one of the oldest lighthouses on the West Coast, and the Hearst Castle, an elaborate mansion built in 1919. It's a long stretch of highway that offers a little bit of everything for everyone. Turquoise Trail Formally known as New Mexico State Road 14, the Turquoise Trail is the perfect road trip for those who want to immerse themselves in Southwestern culture. Driving south from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, the route follows the trail where the precious turquoise stone was first mined. Designated a National Scenic Byway in 2000, the Turquoise Trail not only offers beautiful views of New Mexico, but gives travelers plenty of interesting stops including art galleries, shops selling western goods like leather and cowboy boots, and plenty of photo ops. Historic Route 66 There is no other highway in the world as infamous as this one. You can practically feel the wind from the car window whip through your hair when you hear the name "Route 66". The historic portion of the road stretches between Los Angeles and Chicago , so there's a lot of exploring to be had along this legendary passage. The Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest and the Meramec Caverns are all incredible stops along Historic Route 66. Great River Road Along the Mississippi River, one of the longest rivers in the world, is the 3,000-mile Great River Road. It's about 36 hours worth of driving and takes travelers through 10 different states, so there's plenty to see and experience on this road trip. From natural wonders like Nelson Dewey State Park and Trail of Tears State Park, to historic treasures like the Delta Blues Museum and the Historic New Orleans Collection, this road trip tells the tale of life along the Mississippi River. Colorado's Million Dollar Highway Colorado's Million Dollar Highway might only be 25 miles long, but it's a stunning route filled with plenty of things to do and sights to see. This mountainous highway offers plenty of outdoor recreation for adventure seekers. You can explore the San Juan National Forest or make a stop at Molas Lake. You can also get a taste of the gold rush with a gold mine tour in Silverton and explore a ghost town in Animas Forks. And when you're looking for a relaxing break, you can take a dip into a natural hot spring in Durango. It's a short stretch of road, but it'll take you a long time to explore everything it has to offer. Florida's A1A Running along the eastern coast of Florida, you'll get plenty of beach views on Florida's A1A. Starting in Miami and heading north almost all the way to the Georgia state line, this road trip is perfect for beach lovers. Travelers taking the A1A can experience sea turtles at Fort Lauderdale's Sea Turtle Oversight Protection Headquarters, explore fine art at J.M Stringer Gallery of Fine Art in Vero Beach, and spend time in the historic city of St. Augustine. High Road to Taos The 56-mile stretch of highway between Sante Fe and Taos is an official scenic byway that gives travelers an intimate look at this region's history, architecture and culture of Old Spain. Travelers driving along the High Road to Taos will find plenty of art galleries, small towns, Pueblo villages and scenic views of mountains and desert. A few highlights include a hike to waterfalls at the Pueblo of Nambe, Cordova's traditional woodcarving, and the San Francisco de Asis Mission Church. Portland to Seattle Two of the Pacific Northwest's most vibrant cities, Portland and Seattle , have plenty of exciting stops in between. It's only a 3-hour drive, but if you want to make it into an exciting road trip, there are plenty of museums, parks and natural vistas to enjoy along the way. Silver Lake is a beautiful spot to go for a hike or have a picnic while taking in views of Mount St. Helens. Lewis and Clark State Park offers more pristine nature where visitors can explore its many trails by hiking or by horseback. For aviation fans, the Olympic Flight Museum in Olympia, Wash. explores the history of flight with a collection of planes and helicopters. Colorado to Vegas A rite of passage for many who live in Colorado is the road trip from Fort Collins to Las Vegas . The voyage begins in the Colorado mountains and continues into the desert, which is a stunning change of topography. Glenwood Hot Springs Resort is the perfect rest stop offering visitors a rejuvenating soak in the world's largest mineral hot springs pool. The Fremont Indian State Park and Museum gives travelers the chance to see ancient pottery and petroglyphs. And if you're looking to take a break from driving and spend a night camping in the desert, the Virgin River Canyon Campground in Northern Arizona is a great place to be in the wild. Highway 191 from Moab to Lake Powell It's around 186 miles from Moab to Lake Powell   a long highway packed with an endless amount of outdoor adventure and recreation. This road trip gives you access to Arches National Park, the Valley of the Gods, Goosenecks State Park and Monument Valley. Those looking for Ancestral Puebloan ruins can search for petroglyphs around Bluff, Utah, and catch a glimpse of the Tsegi villages. To get a taste of the region, wine lovers can spend some time experiencing local wines at the Spanish Valley Vineyard and Winery. 10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network, providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world, in addition to travel and lifestyle advice . WATCH: These Are the Best U.S. Cities to Visit This Summer (Provided by Buzz 60)


Turn dessert on its head with these retro recipes for upside-down cake, pie, cupcakes and more. The post 29 Ooey-Gooey Upside-Down Desserts appeared first on Taste of Home. Cranberry Pecan Upside-Down Cake At our house, cranberries are a favorite. I made this dessert for the first time in the 1990s. It started out as a pineapple upside-down cake I just changed a few things around! It keeps and travels well, so it's perfect for taking to church dinners. And we love to share it with our son and grandchildren.  Doris Heath, Franklin, North Carolina Get Recipe Banana Skillet Upside-Down Cake My grandmother gave me my first cast iron skillet, and I've been cooking and baking with it ever since. Sometimes I add drained maraschino cherries to this banana skillet dessert and serve it with a ice cream.  Terri Merritts, Nashville, Tennessee Get Recipe Skillet Pineapple Upside-Down Cake For a change of pace, you can substitute fresh or frozen peach slices for the pineapple in this old-fashioned recipe.  Bernardine Melton, Paola, Kansas Get Recipe Rhubarb Berry Upside-Down Cake I had leftover rhubarb and wanted to create something fresh. With blueberries, strawberries and dried cranberries on hand, I discovered I had a berry upside-down cake.  June Paul, Portage, Wisconsin Get Recipe Upside-Down Apple Pie This pie has won eight ribbons at area fairs. People say it looks and tastes like a giant apple-cinnamon bun. I take time off from work around the holidays to fill pie requests from family and friends. The recipe has become everyone's favorite.  Susan Frisch, Germansville, Pennsylvania Get Recipe Pineapple Upside-Down Cupcakes I have baked cupcakes for years. These easy to make treats make an attractive dessert for special occasions.  Barbara Hahn, Park Hills, Missouri Get Recipe Rhubarb Upside-Down Cake I've baked this cake every spring for many years, and my family loves it! At potlucks it gets eaten up quickly, even by folks who don't normally go for rhubarb. Use your own fresh rhubarb, hit up a farmers market or find a neighbor who will trade stalks for the recipe!  Helen Breman, Mattydale, New York Get Recipe Gingered Apple Upside-Down Cake I like that this gingerbread delight is so deeply flavored and delicious. Served warm from the oven, a nice scoop of vanilla bean ice cream is definitely the icing on this cake.  Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario Get Recipe Apricot Upside-Down Cake My Aunt Anne, who is a great cook, gave me a taste of this golden upside-down cake and I couldn't believe how delicious it was. Apricots give it an elegant twist from traditional pineapple versions.  Ruth Ann Stelfox, Raymond, Alberta Get Recipe Cranberry Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Both kids and grown-ups like this gorgeous dessert. It'll keep a few days and is actually better the second day, so you can make it a day ahead.  Sherry Conley, Noel Hants County, Nova Scotia Get Recipe Blueberry-Lemon Upside-Down Cake I was young when I married, so I watched my mother-in-law to learn baking. This cake with fresh blueberries is one of her beauties.  Bonnie Roberts, Newaygo, Michigan Get Recipe Apple-Pumpkin Upside-Down Cake We love the combination of classic fall fruits in this cake. I bake the apples on the bottom to keep them plump and moist, then flip the cake so they're on top. This is best served warm with vanilla ice cream, but we enjoy digging in any time of day.  Christina Yahraes, San Francisco, California Get Recipe Ginger-Pear Upside-Down Pie I think pears deserve to have a starring role in pies more often. To showcase that mellow fruit, I came up with a spiced filling and gooey nut streusel that becomes the topping.  Marcy Kamery, Blasdell, New York Get Recipe Makeover Peach Upside-Down Cake This peachy delight has charmed folks for years. Our lightened version is even better with less fat and calories than other similar recipes. Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Get Recipe Blueberry Upside-Down Skillet Cake Living in Maine, I am lucky to have an endless amount of wild blueberries. This recipe's similar to a pineapple upside-down cake. It's easy, light and also great with cranberries.  Nettie Moore, Belfast, Maine Get Recipe Plum Upside-Down Cake Since my husband liked pineapple upside-down cake, I decided to give this recipe a try one night when we were expecting guests for dinner. Everyone pronounced this cake "Delicious!" and asked for seconds. Bobbie Talbott, Veneta, Oregon Get Recipe Breakfast Apple Cake Baked in a pretty tube pan and drizzled with icing, this breakfast cake will be a highlight of your holiday menu. I adapted the recipe from one of my grandmother's.  Shaunda Wenger, Nibley, Utah Get Recipe Upside-Down Apple Cake with Butterscotch Topping This cake is a favorite of mine. I love the smell of the apples and butterscotch as it is baking. It fills the house with a perfect autumn aroma.  Sabrina Haught, Spencer, West Virginia Get Recipe Upside-Down Banana Monkey Bread Everyone digs in to monkey bread thanks to its pull-apart shape. We add banana slices and pecans to top this already scrumptious showpiece for a brunch or family gathering.  Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts Get Recipe Pineapple Upside-Down Cheesecake My mom often made pineapple upside-down cake, but I prefer something creamier. This recipe looks just like her cake, but gets even tastier as pineapple upside-down cheesecake.  Marilyn McGinnis, Citrus Heights, California Get Recipe Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake This dump cake recipe is wonderful topped with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. It works well with gluten-free and sugar-free cake mixes too.  Karin Gatewood, Dallas, Texas Get Recipe Chocolate Upside-Down Cake "This dessert is out of this world," promises Iola Egle, McCook, Nebraska. Coconut, chocolate chips, marshmallows and pecans turn a boxed cake mix into a delectable treat. "All of your guests will agree that it's the best ever," she assures. "Enjoy it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream." Get Recipe Peach Praline Upside-Down Cake This cake is filled with fresh peaches, roasted Saigon cinnamon, roasted ground ginger and toasted pecans   and that makes it different.   Jeanette Nelson, Sophia, West Virginia Get Recipe Mini Pineapple Upside-Down Cakes These individual pineapple upside-down cakes are an eye-catching addition to my holiday dessert table. A boxed cake mix makes them easy to bake anytime.  Cindy Colley, Othello, Washington Get Recipe Upside-Down Berry Cake This cake is good warm or cold and served with whipped topping or ice cream. It's very moist with loads of flavor and can be whipped up in just minutes. Enjoy!  Candy Scholl, West Sunbury, Pennsylvania Get Recipe Upside-Down Pear Gingerbread Cake The aroma of baking gingerbread stirs up such warm memories. This one looks festive and is even on the lighter side.  Nancy Beckman, Helena, Montana Get Recipe Cherry Pecan Upside-Down Cake Cherries are a terrific take on traditional pineapple upside-down cake. The crowning touch on each piece is the creamy, cheesy topping. Eleanor Froehlich, Rochester, Michigan Get Recipe Blueberry Upside-Down Cake "This cake is a family favorite when blueberries are in season," writes Charlotte Harrison of North Providence, Rhode Island. "It's also delicious served with vanilla ice cream." Get Recipe Spiced Pear Upside-Down Cake The flavors of fresh, sweet pears and gingerbread blend beautifully in this intriguing variation on pineapple upside-down cake. Leftovers if there are any taste great with coffee or tea the next day.  Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas Get Recipe


FRISCO, Texas   Michael Irvin caught 750 passes for 11,904 receiving yards and 65 touchdowns in 12 years of regular-season play with the Dallas Cowboys. Irvin compiled another 87 catches for 1,315 yards and eight touchdowns in the playoffs, helping the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in the 1990s. And the Hall of Famer continues to interact with the league's best receivers in more than a decade as an analyst for NFL Network. Still, Irvin said Wednesday, he'd never heard from a receiver what Amari Cooper told him. "One of the things we talked about is he said, 'I don't need 15-16 targets,'" Irvin said. "I've never heard a receiver say that. 'I don't need 15-16 targets a game, just give me my 8 or 9 and I'll catch 7 or 8 passes.' "It tells you he's efficient. He's efficient, and that's a great thing." "I've never heard a receiver say that before." Michael Irvin on this Amari Cooper sound bite: pic.twitter.com/gzkB3kYv7k   Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 12, 2019 Cooper's focus on efficiency over volume aligns with an offensive philosophy that favors the run game. The Cowboys invest heavily in Pro Bowl-caliber offensive linemen, and defending rushing titleholder Ezekiel Elliott's 381 touches represented more than 35 percent of the team's total offensive plays in 2018. Cowboys coaches express interest in continuing that run-first mindset under first-year coordinator Kellen Moore. But the team acquired Cooper in October and in the offseason signed Randall Cobb in free agency. Joining them is Michael Gallup, who capped his rookie season with 18 yards and a touchdown in the wild-card win against Seattle and posted six catches for 119 yards in the divisional-round loss to the Rams . Irvin sees potential. "I think they have a shot at being one of the top receiving corps in the NFL," Irvin told the trio, and then reporters, after attending Cowboys practice Wednesday. "Michael Gallup came up great last year. If he can take another step? Randall Cobb stepping in and doing what he's doing, and Amari Cooper just keep on stepping like he was stepping last year, this could be probably the best group of three guys in the NFL." Michael Irvin: Cowboys WRs Amari Cooper, Randall Cobb and Michael Gallup could be best group of 3 receivers in league pic.twitter.com/Ques5jCRoA   Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 12, 2019 One major difference Irvin identified between his days with Troy Aikman and the current receivers' outlook with quarterback Dak Prescott: their understanding of scheme. Irvin was impressed by Cobb and Cooper's discussion of passing and route concepts. "Since I was just a pure receiver … I'm talking how can you get me the ball," Irvin said. "No concepts. 'You see this route over here? Throw it.'" Irvin: Why questions of Dak's deal 'shouldn't even be a discussion' The Cowboys and Prescott's representatives have exchanged initial offers for a contract extension. Prescott, whom Dallas drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, has one year remaining on his rookie deal and hasn't made more than $630,000 in base salary in a season prior to this year. He has started every game behind center the last three years, winning two NFC East titles. In 2019, Prescott's base salary jumps to $2.025 million. The Cowboys could place the franchise tag on him for 2020 if no extension is reached by next Febrary. But as the two sides negotiate, Irvin balks at some of the chatter. "There's no doubt in my mind Dak is the right guy," Irvin said. "Look at these teams: I mean, people stop it. Look at these damn teams. Dolphins, Jaguars: They've been looking for a quarterback for almost 15-20 years. This ain't easy to find. It's not easy to find and you don't let one walk out the door if you got one." "There's no doubt in my mind Dak is the right guy," Irvin added. "Let's be real here. It shouldn't even be a discussion."   Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) June 12, 2019 Market value, Irvin said, has been set for quarterbacks. Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, drafted No. 2 overall in 2016, signed a four-year extension last week worth $128 million . The Seahawks extended Russell Wilson, who claims six Pro Bowl berths and a Super Bowl title, this spring to a four-year, $140 million extension . The money, like the salary cap, continues to grow. Irvin says that's justified. "When you have the heart and soul and leader of your team at the quarterback position, I don't know why we're talking about his money," Irvin said. "That's worth $15-20 million, by itself, a year. Now you got to pay him to play football also. "I mean, let's be real here. It shouldn't even be a discussion when we talk about it, and the amount of wins this man has had, and the way he's won football games. It shouldn't even be a discussion. It really shouldn't." Follow Jori Epstein on Twitter @JoriEpstein . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michael Irvin: 'I've never heard a receiver say' what Cowboys' Amari Cooper told me Related slideshow: 2019 minicamp highlights (Provided by imagn)


FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami)   A mans' trip to a bank ATM in Tamarac turned into a terrifying experience after he was robbed at gunpoint. It happened May 3rd, around 12:30 a.m., at the Bank of America branch at 5900 Rock Island Road. The 57-year-old man was at the ATM when he was confronted by two males who demanded that he give them everything he had. One of the robbers flashed a gun and then stood behind the man until he completed his transaction. Taken in the armed robbery was the man's cash, older model LG cellphone and wallet. BSO Tamarac deputies set up a perimeter and conducted a search by foot and air to no avail. The bank's surveillance cameras captured clear images of the armed individual's face. The sheriff's office has released that video in hopes that someone recognizes him and gives them a call at (954) 321-4738 or contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS (8477) or http://www.browardcrimestoppers.org .


Fear is beginning to set in. The Women's World Cup, Copa America and the Africa Cup of Nations are all edging nearer to the finish line which means we'll be bereft of football until the respective domestic seasons kick off again. However, worry not! As just like clockwork, we've got all the lovely transfer rumblings from across the board to temporarily alleviate any repercussions from a lack of the beautiful game. So without further ado, here is today's gossip in all its speculative glory. Denis Suarez Set for La Liga Switch Fresh from doing absolutely nothing in London for six months, Denis Suarez is now braced for a move across Spain as he moves one step closer to a permanent move from Barcelona . Journalist Gerard Romero is claiming that a €15m move to Celta Vigo is set to be completed on Sunday, with the club from the north west awaiting the 25-year-old as he bids farewell to his second stint at the Camp Nou. From the top to the bottom, Suarez will leave the La Liga champions and ply his trade for the side who narrowly avoided relegation from the top-flight, finishing four points clear of Girona in 17th. Oh how the mighty have fallen.. Wolves Eyeing Argentinian 'Viking' Continuity was one of Wolves ' strengths last season, with centre back trio Ryan Bennett, Willy Boly and Conor Coady rarely missing a match throughout their wonderful return to Premier League football. Nevertheless, the Daily Mail claim Nuno Espirito Santo is eyeing reinforcements in defence, as they 'expressed an interest' in Gremio's Walter Kannemann, aptly named 'The Viking'. The Argentine international is valued at £10.2m and is supposedly keen on a move to Europe, having previously been of interest to Arsenal and Atletico Madrid. The 28-year-old has played his whole career in South America, but more importantly, he's not Portuguese??? Bournemouth Keen on Huddersfield's Danish Enforcer Nothing good ever really comes as a result of relegation. Some argue it can give a club time to rebuild appropriately, or you could very well have your best players pinched and subsequently fade off the footballing map. Huddersfield will certainly be hoping it's the former, although they may have to contend with losing a couple of their stars along the way. One such player possibly on the move is midfielder Philip Billing who, according to the Mirror (via Football League World ), has caught the eye of Eddie Howe at Bournemouth . The 23-year-old has been with the Terriers since 2014, and featured 27 times in the league last season as Huddersfield finished rock bottom of the Premier League . Leeds United Close to Two Premier League Wingers Jack Harrison was one of a whole host of exciting young talent on display at Elland Road last season, with the only issue being, he isn't actually their player. Well, Leeds fans can pretend for another season as the Manchester City winger has undergone a medical at the club ahead of another season-long loan move, as per the Yorkshire Evening Post . As if one Premier League star wasn't enough though, Helder Costa of Wolves also looks on course to happen, with the YEP claiming a 'deal is moving closer' to completion, although work is still to be done on what will be another season-long loan deal. Plenty of reasons to be optimistic as a Leeds fan, it must be said. Jeff Reine-Adelaide Sparking European Frenzy Couldn't get a game at Arsenal but now has no less than six European clubs in the hunt for his signature. To say that's something of a turnaround would be an understatement and a half. During three years in north London, Reine-Adelaide failed to make a Premier League outing, prompting a move to Ligue 1 outfit Angers to materialise in 2018. There he's been absolutely tearing it up (one would assume), catching the attention of Milan , Borussia Dortmund , Bayer Leverkusen, Lyon, Lille and Porto. Angers are prepared to sell, says journalist Matt Spiro , but not for less than €20m, while the Gunners would get just 10% of the resale. He was able to strut his stuff in Italy recently, starting for the France Under-21's in the European Championships in all but one of their matches. If he earns himself a big move, Arsenal will be staring down the barrel of Serge Gnabry 2.0.


SEOUL, South Korea   North Korea on Tuesday launched two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, days before the United States and South Korea were scheduled to begin a joint military exercise. The launch marked the fourth test of projectiles in 13 days by North Korea. The two missiles were fired from a province in the southwest of North Korea and flew 280 miles before splashing into waters off the North's east coast, the South Korean military said in a statement. The missiles looked like the short-range ballistic missiles that North Korea had fired on July 25 , South Korean defense officials said, after analyzing their trajectory and other flight data. In that test, North Korea launched two missiles that were similar to Russia's Iskander short-range ballistic missile . North Korea said at the time that it had launched guided missiles that would be harder to intercept because they could be maneuvered during their flights. Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter Solid-fuel and road-mobile missiles like the Iskander would present a potent challenge to the missile defense system being built by the United States and South Korea. Such missiles are easier to transport and hide and take less time to prepare to launch. South Korean officials have said that in all four of the tests that began on July 25, North Korea had launched short-range ballistic missiles . Under a series of United Nations resolutions, North Korea is banned from developing or testing ballistic missiles. But North Korea has said its recent tests are of new types of tactical guided missiles and large-caliber multiple rocket launchers . North Korea has cited various reasons for its recent resumption of weapons tests, including the modernization of its military. With the tests, North Korea could also be signaling its opposition to the joint military drill scheduled to begin this week. Last month, it warned that if the United States and South Korea did not cancel the drill, it might scuttle efforts to resume dialogue with Washington and even resume nuclear and long-range missile tests. North Korea routinely condemns joint military drills by the South and the United States, calling them rehearsals for invasion, and has often countered them with its own missile and other weapons tests. "The U.S. and South Korean authorities know too well that the joint military exercise will cause a backlash from us," a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. "We are compelled to develop, test and deploy the powerful physical means essential for national defense." The spokesman added that North Korea remained "unchanged in our stand to resolve the issues through dialogue" but that the impending joint military exercise was a hindrance to further talks. "The prevailing situation is dramatically dampening down our desire for implementing the D.P.R.K.-U.S. agreements and the inter-Korean agreements, which also affects the prospect of future dialogue," the spokesman said. "There is no need to have a fruitless and exhausting dialogue with those who do not have a sense of communication." The D.P.R.K. stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The American secretary of defense, Mark T. Esper, said on Tuesday that the Pentagon was not going to "overreact" to the latest North Korean test. "The key is to keep the door open for diplomacy," Mr. Esper told reporters during a flight to Tokyo. He pointed to President Trump's meeting in June with Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, as a positive development. Mr. Esper added that the United States had no plans to scale back future military exercises with South Korea in response to the North Korean tests. Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim held their first summit meeting in Singapore in June last year, producing a vaguely worded agreement in which North Korea committed to "work toward complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" in return for "new" relations with Washington. Separately, Mr. Kim met with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea three times last year, producing agreements to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas. After the Singapore meeting, Mr. Trump vowed to halt major joint military drills with South Korea. But the South Korean and American militaries have continued to hold smaller and reconfigured joint drills that they say are necessary to maintain their defensive postures. When Mr. Kim and Mr. Trump met for a second time in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February, they failed to agree on how to start dismantling the North's nuclear program. The two leaders met again, briefly, on the border between the two Koreas on June 30 and agreed to resume staff-level talks to narrow their differences. But such talks have yet to begin. Mr. Trump has played down the significance of the North's recent tests, calling them "smaller ones" that did not involve a nuclear weapon or intercontinental ballistic missile. He said he was still getting along "very well" with Mr. Kim. Thomas Gibbons-Neff contributed reporting from Tokyo.


It can be tricky to measure the spin of a black hole, particularly when it's hard to see them, but astronomers have pulled off just such a feat. They've gauged the spins of five supermassive black holes through a combination of data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory and gravitational lensing, or the use of gravity from celestial bodies to magnify very distant objects. The team used an in-between galaxy to get clear images of quasars consisting of the black holes, with Chandra offering a sharp-enough image to separate the multiple images that resulted from the lensing effect. From there, microlensing (in this case, magnification using individual stars from the galaxy) helped detect the spin in question. The smaller the region emitting X-rays, the more likely it is that a black hole is turning rapidly. Slideshow: Space discoveries that will blow your mind (Stacker) And in some cases, the holes are spinning at an extremely rapid pace. The hole in one quasar, Einstein Cross, was spinning about as fast as theoretically possible -- 70 percent the speed of light. The others were spinning at about half that rate. You probably won't see many observations like this. Gravitational lensing by its nature requires an ideal alignment, and this particular observation was studying exceptionally distant quasars up to 10.9 billion light-years away. Still, these could provide significant insights into objects that are elusive by their very nature. Slideshow: These world-changing products were discovered by accident (lovemoney) MSN are empowering Women In Sport this summer. Find out more about our campaign and the charity fighting to promote the transformational and lifelong rewards of exercise for women and girls in the UK here .


Ross Chastain beat Todd Gilliland in a seven-lap shootout to win Saturday night's Gander Outdoors Truck Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway. The win comes a week after a post-race inspection failure resulted in Chastain's win at Iowa Speedway being given to Brett Moffitt . The top five in Saturday's race was completed by Stewart Friesen , Chandler Smith and Moffitt. Chastain led 21 laps. He took the lead during green flag pit stops when his Niece Motorsports team elected to take fuel only. "These guys went home and we were mad," Chastain told FS1. "Felt like we had one taken from us. Holy cow. … They believed in me. I didn't want to take tires. Then it was up to me to freaking hold them off, I don't know how." Chastain, who switched his points declaration from Xfinity to Trucks after eight races in the Truck season, must be in the top 20 in points to qualify for the playoffs. If Chastain's No. 45 Chevrolet passes post-race inspection, he will also be the winner of the final "Triple Truck Challenge" $50,000 bonus. "Oh, I'm going to take that money home and they're not going to take it from us," Chastain said. The final restart was setup by a wreck involving Harrison Burton and Sheldon Creed . Chastain restarted ahead of Christian Eckes , who had 57 laps. Eckes spun from contact on the last lap while racing Gilliland and Friesen. He finished 14th. STAGE 1 WINNER: Grant Enfinger STAGE 2 WINNER : Grant Enfinger WHAT'S NEXT: Camping World 225 at Chicagoland Speedway at 9 p.m. ET on June 28 on FS1 Check back for more