Greg Holcomb still remembers the moment he realized J.J. McCarthy was special. Holcomb is the founder of Next Level Athletix Quarterback Training in Illinois. There's a drill he uses, which he copied from watching Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, that applies pressure from the backside and forces the quarterback to roll out. Then there's more pressure, which means the quarterback has to run parallel without generating any downhill momentum. Over a year ago, Holcomb ran this drill with McCarthy   a freshman at the time   in a group setting with juniors and seniors. McCarthy promptly ripped an 18-yard pass on a comeback route   the type of throw no one else in attendance could make. "I remember just going, 'Wow,' " Holcomb told the Free Press on Saturday. "It's one of those 'a-ha' moments where you go, 'That's not normal for a ninth-grader.' I remember watching that and being like, 'We're watching something that's just different.' " McCarthy verbally committed to Michigan on Saturday night, capping off a prodigious rise. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect is widely considered one of the best quarterbacks in the 2021 class; 247Sports, the only recruiting site to have rankings for McCarthy's class so far, rated him as the No. 19 overall recruit in the nation and the No. 2 quarterback. If McCarthy's ranking holds, he would be the top-rated quarterback signed by Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and the highest-ranked quarterback to come from the Midwest based on the 247Sports Composite rankings, which stretch back to 2000. "He's just an incredibly special, talented kid," Holcomb said. "We've never had anybody like him in the state of Illinois before. He's going to go down probably as the most prolific high school quarterback in the state of Illinois. I don't think he's even tapped the surface of what he really can be, too, which is scary because he just turned 16." Holcomb started working with McCarthy around three years ago, shortly after McCarthy's seventh-grade football season ended. Even then, Holcomb could sense his pupil's talent. "He was always a natural thrower," Holcomb said. "And he was pretty accurate. He's got an uncanny ability to put balls into small windows even when he's not in the ideal situation. I think that's just a natural trait that he is, I think it's just one of those things that puts him in a position to be so highly ranked." Still, it wasn't a given that McCarthy would become a sought-after prospect. When McCarthy was in eighth grade, he was still undersized, according to Holcomb   around 5-foot-10, and "really skinny." A growth spurt during McCarthy's freshman year that saw him add four inches and 15 or 20 pounds boosted his confidence. And as a sophomore, he led Nazareth Academy to a state title while completing 77 percent of his passes for 3,448 yards with 39 touchdowns and four interceptions. That led to a flurry of scholarship offers, including one from Michigan on Nov. 29. (At the time of his commitment, McCarthy had 33 reported offers .) What sets him apart and engenders such lofty praise? Well, according to Holcomb, just about everything. Holcomb believes McCarthy is especially talented while throwing under pressure and on the run. That's a skill the two have focused on in their time working together, and also something McCarthy developed from his time playing hockey. "He wasn't a very big kid playing hockey, and I think probably one of the things that has benefited him playing quarterback is being able to skate away from guys who are probably coming to just clean him up," Holcomb said. "He's got very good instincts to move in the pocket and almost anticipate when things are breaking down. He also has good patience to stay in there and let things develop even when there's a lot of chaos around him." And then there's the natural arm talent, accuracy and mobility, which is why Holcomb sees the comparisons between McCarthy and Michigan's starting quarterback, Shea Patterson. "(Shea's) a thrower that just has the ability to move well, buy himself time, he moves great in the pocket, and J.J. is kinda the same way," Holcomb said. "McCarthy reminds me of a guy that throws like (Drew) Brees but moves around like Baker (Mayfield)." Shortly after McCarthy returned from his first unofficial visit to Michigan on April 6, he told Holcomb there was 'no doubt' in his mind that he would pick the Wolverines. His second visit to Ann Arbor in just over a month resulted in his public commitment to Michigan on Twitter . It's a decision that Holcomb is enthusiastic about, as he believes McCarthy will fit well in Michigan's new-look offense. C O M M I T T E D to... The University of Michigan!!!〽 Go Blue!!〽〽〽 pic.twitter.com/ToEQJQPbX3   J.J. McCarthy (@jjmccarthy09) May 11, 2019 "I really feel like he's in a great situation to take advantage of his talent," Holcomb said. "I think he's walking into a scenario where he's going to be able to showcase the things that he does really well within their system. I think it's a plug-and-play kind of thing. "You could put him right in the offense that they're running right now, and he'll be comfortable, and I think he's going to have a lot of success." Contact Orion Sang at osang@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @orion_sang . Read more on the Michigan Wolverines and sign up for our Wolverines newsletter . This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan QB commit J.J. McCarthy 'throws like (Drew) Brees'


Alexander Rossi's Andretti Autosport-Honda delivered an ultra-strong lap on his alternate-compound tires to beat Team Penske-Chevrolet's Will Power and Josef Newgarden to top spot by around 0.3sec. Rossi was the first driver to crack the 140mph barrier with a guts 'n' glory run that took in a few curbs, a lot of grass and several violent steering inputs. The result was a tour of the 4.014-mile track that took just 1min43.1206sec, an average speed of 140.131mph. That was 0.2883sec clear of Power's best time that eclipsed Newgarden by just 0.0669sec; the pair were the other way around on the primary compound, 0.006sec apart. Colton Herta was fourth fastest for Harding Steinbrenner Racing, just 0.0049 ahead of fellow rookie Felix Rosenqvist in the faster of the two Chip Ganassi Racing-Hondas, while Graham Rahal was the fastest Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing entry. Patricio O'Ward again starred with P9 for Carlin Racing-Chevy, as Marco Andretti made the top 10, albeit 0.95sec off Rossi's top time. Simon Pagenaud was only 15 th in the third Penske, just ahead of the two AJ Foyt Racing-Chevrolets. ClaDriverTeamLapsTimeGapIntervalMph 1 Alexander Rossi Andretti Autosport 11 1'43.1206 140.131 2 Will Power Team Penske 12 1'43.4089 0.2883 0.2883 139.740 3 Josef Newgarden Team Penske 15 1'43.4758 0.3552 0.0669 139.650 4 Colton Herta Harding Racing 11 1'43.7415 0.6209 0.2657 139.292 5 Felix Rosenqvist Chip Ganassi Racing 16 1'43.7464 0.6258 0.0049 139.286 6 Graham Rahal Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 12 1'43.9772 0.8566 0.2308 138.977 7 Ryan Hunter-Reay Andretti Autosport 8 1'44.0136 0.8930 0.0364 138.928 8 James Hinchcliffe Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 14 1'44.0423 0.9217 0.0287 138.890 9 Patricio O'Ward Carlin 12 1'44.0578 0.9372 0.0155 138.869 10 Marco Andretti Andretti Autosport 10 1'44.0731 0.9525 0.0153 138.849 11 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 14 1'44.1659 1.0453 0.0928 138.725 12 Zach Veach Andretti Autosport 12 1'44.2018 1.0812 0.0359 138.677 13 Spencer Pigot Ed Carpenter Racing 12 1'44.2095 1.0889 0.0077 138.667 14 Sébastien Bourdais Dale Coyne Racing 10 1'44.2436 1.1230 0.0341 138.621 15 Simon Pagenaud Team Penske 12 1'44.4942 1.3736 0.2506 138.289 16 Matheus Leist A.J. Foyt Enterprises 12 1'44.5861 1.4655 0.0919 138.168 17 Tony Kanaan A.J. Foyt Enterprises 13 1'44.6051 1.4845 0.0190 138.142 18 Takuma Sato Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing 11 1'44.6141 1.4935 0.0090 138.131 19 Ed Jones Ed Carpenter Racing 8 1'44.6600 1.5394 0.0459 138.070 20 Santino Ferrucci Dale Coyne Racing 12 1'44.6992 1.5786 0.0392 138.018 21 Max Chilton Carlin 14 1'44.9824 1.8618 0.2832 137.646 22 Marcus Ericsson Schmidt Peterson Motorsports 12 1'45.0633 1.9427 0.0809 137.540 23 Jack Harvey Meyer Shank Racing with Arrow SPM 14 1'45.2417 2.1211 0.1784 137.307 View full results


On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, President Donald Trump delivered his " Salute to America " speech that side-stepped politics and focused on the military, American history and cultural moments that ranged from the Revolutionary War to the birth of rock 'n' roll. "Hello America, hello," Trump said at the start of what he promised to be the "show of a lifetime" that in the end, was a more subdued, rain-soaked and patriotic tribute to the Fourth of July. "Today, we come together as one nation with this very special Salute to America," Trump said. "We celebrate our history, our people, and the heroes who proudly defend our flag   the brave men and women of the United States military." "On this day, 243 years ago, our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor, to declare Independence and defend our god-given rights," the president said. "That same American spirit that emboldened our founders has kept us strong throughout our history. ... It is the spirit, daring, and defiance, excellence and adventure, courage and confidence, loyalty and love, that built this country into the most exceptional nation in the history of the world, and our nation is stronger today than it ever was before. It is its strongest now." Despite concerns about the president politicizing the speech, the president stuck to the script for the unprecedented presidential spectacle, with Air Force One flying overhead as the first lady and president walked out. (MORE: Trump defends cost of July 4th 'Salute to America' event despite extra millions expected) Throughout the president's speech, figures from American history in the audience like Apollo Mission Flight Director Gene Krantz and Clarence Henderson, one of the African American students who participated in the Woolworth lunch counter sit-ins, were recognized with applause. After recognizing Krantz, the president proclaimed that the U.S. would soon put an American flag on Mars. After his main remarks, the president invited acting Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford to stand at his side while he gave short speeches about each branch of military. After short remarks, the branch's service song was played before a dramatic flyover. "What a great country," the president said, after a B-2 stealth bomber and F22 raptors soared overhead. "Salute to America" ended with Navy Blue Angels soaring over the crowds. While the event didn't face a rain delay, rain was still front in center. The president stood in front of a protective glass barrier that was dripping in raindrops and prevented a crystal clear view of the president. The president was joined on the stage by Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence, as well as cabinet members like Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, wearing a rain poncho, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Labor Secretary Alex Acosta. Earlier on Thursday, the nation's capital held its traditional National Independence Day Parade down Constitution Avenue and "A Capitol Fourth Concert" at the U.S. Capitol. There was a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence outside the National Archives and inside, Pence spoke before 44 people were sworn in during a naturalization ceremony. But this year, Trump decided to put his own spin on festivities in Washington that some believed would politicize a national holiday . (MORE: A viewer's guide to July 4th in the nation's capital) Called a "Salute to America," the events paid tribute to each of the nation's five service branches with flyovers from military planes and a display of two 60-ton M1 Abrams tanks and two Bradley Fighting Vehicles. The celebration will conclude with a 35-minute fireworks display, the biggest the nation's capital has ever seen. (MORE: Politics and patriotism mix at Trump's 4th of July event) After tweeting a message wishing everyone a happy Fourth of July on Thursday morning, Trump also wrote about the "Salute to America." But the new events prompted controversy and accusations that the president is turning a holiday into a "Make America Great Again" rally. Protests were planned against the president and a permit was granted for protesters to inflate a giant "Baby Trump" balloon . The now infamous inflatable grabbed headlines when Trump visited London in June. It was also grabbing attention on the National Mall as it was inflated Thursday afternoon. Several hours later, the balloon had to be deflated because of wind and rain. A spokesperson for Code Pink told ABC News that it would be re-inflated if the weather improved. Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of Code Pink -- the group that arranged for the "Baby Trump" balloon to be at the Independence Day events -- said she is here because she is "disgusted" that Trump has politicized the national celebration. "Trump is making today all about him, when it is supposed to be all about us," Benjamin said Thursday afternoon after helping to set up the inflatable. "He's charging the taxpayers millions of dollars for what is a campaign rally for him and it is just wrong." (MORE: Tanks, fighters readied for Trump's July 4th celebration but taxpayer cost not being disclosed) Despite the White House's insistence that Trump's remarks would not be political, tickets were distributed to allies of the president, including the Republican National Committee, the Trump administration and cabinet officials the week before the event. The Democratic National Committee was not given tickets. In a statement, the RNC defended their allotment of tickets to what was supposed to be a non-partisan event. "It's standard practice for the RNC to receive a small number of tickets to events just as the DNC did under Democrat Presidents," according to the statement. "This is routine for events like the White House Christmas Open Houses, Garden Tours in spring and fall, etc." (MORE: Trump touts tanks to be on display July 4th on National Mall) Concerns were also raised about the costs associated with this year's celebration. Event organizers at the Pentagon and Department of Interior haven't revealed exactly how much money was spent this Fourth of July on everything from the programming to security. The Washington Post reported that the National Park Service is using nearly $2.5 million in park entrance fees to cover costs, funds that would have been used to do repairs on the nation's parks. William Ramos drove down from New York on Thursday morning specifically to hear Trump's remarks later in the evening. He said that he doesn't view the cost of including the military in the holiday events as a waste and was interested in seeing the hardware. "I like to be proud of our country and our military," he said. "I don't look at it in a negative way. I think if it was (President Barack) Obama doing this we would be happy to see the military included." On Wednesday, the president said those costs would be "worth it" and tried to downplay the additional expense because "we own the planes, we have the pilots, the airport is right next door (Andrews), all we need is the fuel. We own the tanks and all." " Fireworks are donated by two of the greats," Trump added. In the end, the weather may put a damper on the Washington events -- forecasts call for thunderstorms on Independence Day. Still, a spokeswoman for the Department of Interior said that events will take place "rain or shine." "Visitor safety is always a top priority and we are working with our interagency and law enforcement colleagues to ensure the safety of all who attend, including in the event of inclement weather during the day," Molly Block said in a statement. ABC News' Stephanie Ebbs, Luis Martinez and Christine Szabo contributed to this report.


30 years ago, Larry dropped 60 on the Atlanta Hawks. Boston.com has put together this exquisite oral history of the game. On March 12, 1985, Larry Bird set a Celtics franchise record by scoring 60 points in a single game. It turns out that amazing bit of basketball wasn't the only thing going on on the court. An oral history recently put together by Boston.com spotlights some of the amazing bits of trash talk the game contained . ROBERT PARISH, Celtics center, 1980-94: He told us at halftime that nobody could stop him so just give him the ball and get out of the way. Then he went out and started taunting the Atlanta players on the floor, the ones on the bench, their coaches, even the referees. He was talking so much trash he was buried in it. It was one of those nights when he could have drop-kicked the ball in. I loved it. GLENN "DOC" RIVERS, Hawks guard, 1983-1991: He saw Dominique [Wilkins] as this up-and-coming player and he just tortured him, mentally. He tortured all of us. He was calling shots 'off the glass, who's next, where you want this one from' and he just made one after another. When he got to about the 55th point you knew it was something special. RIVERS: He said 'in the trainer's lap' coming down the court, which meant it was going to be a three and it was going to from deep. Then he said, 'who wants it?' Then I think Rickey Brown, I'm not sure who it was, ran out after him, he shot this high rainbow, it goes in, Rickey bumps into him -- and accidentally knocks him on our trainer's lap. So it was exactly what he said, it was an accident but it was almost fate. They show a shot of our bench, Cliff Levingston and Eddie Johnson are standing up giving each other high fives. It was pretty awesome. And of course, Larry Bird himself thought the game sucked: BIRD: If you watch the tape, the game really sucked. That wasn't the kind of game I like to play in. Nobody was guarding anybody, the ball wasn't moving good. The whole thing is definitely worth your time. Head over to Boston.com to continue this vital bit of reading .


The Chicago Bears are one of a handful of NFC teams consistently mentioned when predicting which squad will represent the conference in the Super Bowl, but it appears confidence in this roster may be waning as training camp approaches. At least it looks that way in the latest NFL power rankings from USA TODAY. Chicago barely rates inside the top 10. 9. Chicago Bears (13): Defense as good as anyone's, but there will be plenty of scrutiny on coordinator Chuck Pagano as he takes baton from Vic Fangio. Lots of eyeballs on QB Mitch Trubisky and whomever winds up kicking, too. The good news is the Bears are moving in the right direction, according to USA TODAY. They ranked 13th shortly after the 2019 NFL Draft. Still, there seems to be a lot of doubt in whether Pagano can fill the void left behind by Fangio, which feels like a major reach to me. Sure, Fangio is a schooled defensive coordinator with a history of success in the NFL, but so is Pagano. In fact, I'd argue Pagano's more aggressive style of play suits the Bears better. The silver lining in rankings like this one is it will assist Matt Nagy in his effort to make sure Chicago doesn't become complacent after one successful season. Power rankings mean very little once the games get underway, but a low ranking like this will absolutely light a fire in the Bears' locker room. MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe New York Mets' New 'Foul Poles' Are an Abomination The 21 dumbest ideas in NFL history What might Kostas Antetokounmpo bring to the Lakers on offense? WATCH: Jalen Ramsey shows up to training camp in an armored money truck


Craving seafood? You're in luck: a new business has opened its doors in the neighborhood. The new addition to Back Bay, called Eddie V's Prime Seafood , is located at 122 Belvidere St. This new business offers an upscale dining experience where steak and seafood are the centerpieces of the menu. The menu now features an oyster bar, caviar and hand-cut steaks like filet mignon and New York-style strip steak. Eddie V's Prime Seafood has made a good impression thus far, with a 3.5-star rating out of five reviews on Yelp. Jeffrey N., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on May 18, wrote, "My table had the crab cakes, rib-eye steak and filet with peppercorn sauce. The rib-eye was well seasoned, so it was perfect for me." Yelper Becky F. added , "This spot has tasty food and a great atmosphere. I loved the lobster roll." Interested? Stop by to welcome the new business to the neighborhood. Eddie V's Prime Seafood is open from 11:30 a.m. 10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. 9 p.m. on Sunday. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Mueller isn't saying Trump obstructed justice. But he's not not saying it, either. In his first public statement since the special counsel report was released, Robert Mueller reiterated his key point: He's not saying President Donald Trump obstructed justice. But he's also not not saying that. That was the most important line in his first public remarks since closing the Department of Justice investigation into the 2016 election, weeks after Trump-appointed Attorney General William Barr released a summary of the report and testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Mueller's findings. "If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so," Mueller said Wednesday. "We did not, however, make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime." It's a striking statement   and a reiteration of what he wrote in the report the Justice Department released nearly in full last month. For weeks, Republican lawmakers and Barr have repeatedly said the report showed no collusion and no obstruction. Mueller is making a point to say that's not necessarily the case and that he can't make the call   because of Department of Justice policy. Here's Mueller in his own words: It explains that under long-standing department policy a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office. That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view, that too is prohibited. The special counsel's office is part of the Department of Justice and by regulation it was bound by that department policy. Charging the president with a crime was, therefore, not an option we could consider. […] It would be unfair to potentially accuse somebody of a crime when there can be no court resolution of the actual charge. So that was Justice Department policy. Those were the principles under which we operated and from them we concluded that we would not reach a determination one way or the other about whether the president committed a crime. The special counsel's report, a redacted version of which was made public last month, outlines 10 instances investigated by the special counsel in which Trump may have attempted to interfere with the investigation, as well as numerous connections the Trump campaign had with foreign actors. But Mueller and his team did not actually come to a conclusion on obstruction of justice. Only one elected Republican, Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, has called for Trump's impeachment since reading Mueller's report, claiming that Barr intentionally misled the American public about its contents. But Republican leaders have been in lockstep against Amash, rallying around the president . That said, the report did leave further investigation up to Congress, where Democrats now control the House. Committee leaders have called on Mueller to testify, but he made clear any testimony would not go past what he said in his exhaustive report. His work is done, Mueller said.


Winning a major championship in golf is an enormous milestone for any professional golfer. But winning in historic fashion puts those golfers on an even higher pedestal that places them on the rarest of lists. Biggest blowout wins in golf major history Winning one of the four major championships in golf places players on an elite list shared by a precious few at the top of the game. Winning multiple majors shrinks that elite list even further. But the most rarified air belongs to the legendary golfers who not only won a major but did so in dominating fashion. Since 1950, there have been around two dozen epic major golf victories where the top place finisher simply decimated the field. With some minor exceptions, the list is a veritable who's who of golf royalty that includes Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, and Arnold Palmer. To learn which players had the most dominant victories in majors history, Stacker scoured data from the PGA Tour from 1950 to the 2019 PGA Championship. The list is ranked by the highest stroke difference between the winner and the runner-up, and ties were broken by the most recent tournament. The end result is a list of the greatest golfers in the world who destroyed their competition in ways no others have ever done. This is a collection of the biggest blowouts by the very best, how they did it, where they won, and the legacies they left behind. You may also like: Biggest comeback wins in golf major history #25. 1953 Masters - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Ben Hogan (274) - Runner-up: Ed Oliver (279) Ben Hogan wanted revenge. Not against any one player in particular, but against Augusta National Golf Course. Hogan previously won the Masters in 1951 and was well on his way to repeating in '52 when he collapsed by shooting a 79 in the final round. Heading into the '53 Masters, Hogan wasn't about to let the previous year's letdown get to him. As a result, Hogan shot 14-under for the tournament, beating the then-tournament record by five strokes and beating his nearest competitor, Ed Oliver, by five strokes, as well. Hogan was so good in 1953, that he also won the U.S. Open and The Open Championship. #24. 1964 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Tony Lema (279) - Runner-up: Jack Nicklaus (284) Tony Lema's Open Championship win in 1964 was truly remarkable. The tournament was played at St. Andrews, affectionately known as the Old Course, and considered to be the oldest course in the world. Lema's win was out of left field because he'd never stepped foot on the course before. He also borrowed Arnold Palmer's caddy for the event. And he wound up beating Jack Nicklaus by five strokes to secure the title. Unfortunately for Lema, it was the only major win of his career; he lost his life in a plane crash in 1966. #23. 1986 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Greg Norman (280) - Runner-up: Gordon Brand (285) Located in Scotland, 50 miles south of Glasgow, Trump Turnberry (as it's now owned by Donald Trump) has hosted The Open Championship four times in 1977, 1986, 1994, and 2009. Heading into the '86 Championship, Australian golfer Greg Norman was on a mission. He had held the 54-hole lead at the Masters and the U.S. Open, only to lose both in the last round of 1986 (he also held the 54-hole lead at the PGA Championship that year and lost as well). But The Open Championship was Norman's official coming out party as he not only won his first major, he won it by five strokes over Gordon Brand and was the only player in the entire tournament to not shoot over par. #22. 1990 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Nick Faldo (270) - Runners-up: Mark McNulty, Payne Stewart (275) The Open Championship has been played at St. Andrews in Scotland 29 times, with the first outing in 1873. By the time the championship rolled around in 1990, the tournament record was 13-under, shot by Tom Watson in 1977. English golfer Nick Faldo was on a roll entering the tournament in 1990, having already won the Masters and finishing third at the U.S. Open. And his great play continued at the Old Course, as Faldo finished at 18-under par, shattering the tournament record and beating Mark McNulty and Payne Stewart by a whopping five strokes. #21. 1996 Masters - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Nick Faldo (276) - Runner-up: Greg Norman (281) The 1996 Masters Championship is known for both the biggest comeback in tournament history in addition to the biggest collapse. Heading into the final round, Greg Norman was 13-under and leading the tournament by six strokes over Nick Faldo. The two golfers played together in the final group as Norman withered, shooting 78, and Faldo thrived, shooting 67 for his third green jacket . The result was a lopsided five-stroke victory for Faldo and the seventh runner-up finish for Norman in major championships. #20. 1997 PGA Championship - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Davis Love III (269) - Runner-up: Justin Leonard (274) By almost any measure, Davis Love III has had a stellar golf career, with one exception: his record in major championships. The 1997 PGA Championship was played at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, a course known for hosting numerous U.S. Opens. Love came into the tournament as one of the best players in the world to have never won a major, but that changed quickly. He darted out to a lead after the first round, and the momentum carried throughout as he closed the weekend with back-to-back 66's and beat Justin Leonard by five strokes for his first and only major victory. #19. 2005 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Tiger Woods (274) - Runner-up: Colin Montgomerie (279) Tiger Woods was already familiar with the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, as he won The Open Championship there when it was held in 2000. Woods was a heavy favorite going into the tournament in 2005 for another reason he had already won the Masters that year, in addition to two other tournaments before the start of the Open Championship. Woods made quick work of the course, shooting 14-under and fending off second-place finisher and local favorite Colin Montgomerie by five shots. #18. 2006 PGA Championship - Margin of victory: 5 - Winner: Tiger Woods (270) - Runner-up: Shaun Micheel (275) Like so many other tournaments, Tiger Woods has a history of winning on the same golf course over and over. That trend held at the 2006 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club in Illinois where Woods had won the previous PGA Championship held there in 1999. In 2006, Woods shot all four rounds in the 60s, finished at 18-under tying the course record and netting his then-12th major victory. #17. 1953 U.S. Open - Margin of victory: 6 - Winner: Ben Hogan (283) - Runner-up: Sam Snead (289) Ben Hogan's PGA season in 1953 was one of the greatest of all time. Hogan won the Masters, the U.S. Open, and The Open Championship, and the only reason he didn't have a chance to win the PGA Championship was because it was happening at the same time as the British Open. The '53 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in Western Pennsylvania was one of Hogan's finest achievements. He led the tournament wire-to-wire and bested his biggest rival, Sam Snead, by six strokes. Hogan was the only golfer in the world to ever win three majors in a year until Tiger Woods accomplished the same feat in 2000. #16. 1962 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 6 - Winner: Arnold Palmer (276) - Runner-up: Kel Nagle (282) Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland has hosted The Open Championship nine times and the 1962 event was one of its finest. Going into the tournament, Arnold Palmer was already on a roll. The year 1962 was enormous for the legend as he won eight tournaments, including the Masters, and was the defending champion at The Open Championship. He didn't lead wire to wire, but after the first round, Palmer torched the rest of the field to win the event by six strokes, shooting 12-under and cementing the tournament scoring record at the time. #15. 1964 Masters - Margin of victory: 6 - Winner: Arnold Palmer (276) - Runners-up: Dave Marr, Jack Nicklaus (282) There was just something about every other year at the Masters for Arnold Palmer. Winner in 1958, 1960, and 1962, Palmer entered the 1964 tournament looking to become the first four-time winner of the event and continue his even-year streak. The event, played at Augusta National Golf Course in Augusta, Ga., was more of a formality for Palmer. He not only earned his fourth green jacket, he led every round of the tournament, and nearly set the Masters scoring record along the way. #14. 1976 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 6 - Winner: Johnny Miller (279) - Runners-up: Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus (285) Johnny Miller was a virtuoso. But his meteoric rise to the top of golf in the 1970s was short-lived and ended with his last victory of the decade at The Open Championship in 1976. The event took place at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in England, a legendary venue that has hosted The Open 10 times. Trailing by two strokes to 19-year-old Seve Ballesteros going into the fourth round, Miller shot a 66 a course record at the time to Ballesteros's 74, leapfrogging the young man and winning the event by six strokes. #13. 1994 PGA Championship - Margin of victory: 6 - Winner: Nick Price (269) - Runner-up: Corey Pavin (275) The 76th PGA Championship was played at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla., in 1994. Before the start of the tournament, Nick Price was dominating the PGA Tour. He was PGA Player of the Year in 1993 and 1994, and he was coming off a win at The Open Championship just a few weeks before the PGA. Price's golfing brilliance continued, leading the event wire-to-wire, shooting an 11-under 269 and setting the tournament record (it was broken a year later). After the win, Price was ranked #1 in the world, a position he held for 44 weeks. #12. 1955 Masters - Margin of victory: 7 - Winner: Cary Middlecoff (279) - Runner-up: Ben Hogan (286) The Masters is often considered the crown jewel of golf, and the tournament has been played at the same course, Augusta National, since its inception in 1934. In 1955, World Golf Hall of Famer Cary Middlecoff dominated the tournament, ending a four-year run during which the green jacket was simply handed back and forth between Ben Hogan and Sam Snead. Middlecoff didn't just win, however, he destroyed the field beating runner-up Hogan by seven strokes and third-place finisher Snead by eight. #11. 1970 U.S. Open - Margin of victory: 7 - Winner: Tony Jacklin (281) - Runner-up: Dave Hill (288) Before the 1970 U.S. Open, a U.S.-born golfer had won 38 of the previous 39 championships with the only blip coming from South African Gary Player in 1965. Not only that, the most recent British winner was in 1925. English player Tony Jacklin wanted that trend to end, and end it he did, in dramatic fashion. The tournament was played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., considered one of the hardest in the United States. But it didn't seem to bother Jacklin, as he was the only player to finish under par, winning wire-to-wire and finishing ahead of Dave Hill by seven strokes. #10. 1980 PGA Championship - Margin of victory: 7 - Winner: Jack Nicklaus (274) - Runner-up: Andy Bean (281) By 1980, most experts believed that Jack Nicklaus was past his prime. His most recent major championship wins were in 1975 and 1978, and he hadn't won a regular season event since 1978, either. The year 1980 looked to be more of the same until he pulled off an improbable win at the U.S. Open. The PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y., was only a couple months later and Nicklaus did it again. This win was special though; he crushed the field by seven strokes, was the only player to finish under par, and officially silenced his critics from writing his golfing epitaph. #9. 2010 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 7 - Winner: Louis Oosthuizen (272) - Runner-up: Lee Westwood (279) The 2010 Open Championship was back at St. Andrews in Scotland and this time the course played easier than usual. A total of 73 players finished under par and Rory McIlroy tied the course record with a 63 in the first round. But in the end, it was South African Louis Oosthuizen who took home the claret jug, shooting 16-under par and beating Lee Westwood by seven. The win was made even more special because it coincided with South African leader Nelson Mandela's 92nd birthday. #8. 1976 Masters - Margin of victory: 8 - Winner: Raymond Floyd (271) - Runner-up: Ben Crenshaw (279) Even with legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus nipping at his heels, nothing was going to slow down Raymond Floyd at the 1976 Masters. From the start, Floyd jumped out to a lead, shooting 65 and 66 (then the 36-hole course record). His last two rounds were more of a formality as he finished at a 17-under 271, tying the then-tournament record with Jack Nicklaus and winning his only green jacket by a whopping eight strokes. #7. 2000 Open Championship - Margin of victory: 8 - Winner: Tiger Woods (269) - Runners-up: Thomas Bjørn, Ernie Els (277) Tiger Woods owns many golfing records and by winning the 2000 Open Championship, he added more notches to his belt. The tournament was held at St. Andrews in Scotland on The Old Course and Woods simply blitzkrieged the field. Winning the tournament by eight strokes, Woods shot 19-under par, which was then a record for all major championships. He also became the youngest player ever to win all four golf majors, and joined an elite class of players to achieve the career slam that only includes Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and Gene Sarazen. #6. 2011 U.S. Open - Margin of victory: 8 - Winner: Rory McIlroy (268) - Runner-up: Jason Day (276) Rory McIlroy won his first golf major in style, announcing to the world that he was the guy to beat. Playing at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., McIlroy was just coming off an epic collapse in the fourth round of the Masters. History would not repeat itself, though. By winning the 2011 U.S. Open by eight strokes, McIlroy set a number of records. He set the U.S. Open record by shooting 16-under. He was the youngest winner of the event since 1923. And he was only the fourth golfer in the Open's history of the to shoot all four rounds in the 60s. #5. 2012 PGA Championship - Margin of victory: 8 - Winner: Rory McIlroy (275) - Runner-up: David Lynn (283) Making sure his 2011 win at the U.S. Open wasn't a fluke, Rory McIlroy won the 2012 PGA Championship in epic style as well. The 94th PGA was played at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina and had a stacked field with favorites like Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, and Vijay Singh stalking the leaderboard. None of that mattered, though, as McIlroy shot 13-under for an eight-stroke win, which set a record for largest margin of victory at the PGA. McIlroy also became the second-youngest player ever to win two majors. #4. 2014 U.S. Open - Margin of victory: 8 - Winner: Martin Kaymer (271) - Runners-up: Erik Compton, Rickie Fowler (279) The U.S. Open is supposed to play tougher than any other tournament in golf. The rough is thicker, the fairways narrower, and the bunkers deeper. None of that seemed to matter to Martin Kaymer in 2014. The '14 Open was played at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina and in typical fashion, the field of pros struggled to break par. The German-born Kaymer not only broke par, he was one of only three players to accomplish that, won by eight strokes, led wire-to-wire, and set the 36-hole record at the Open. #3. 1965 Masters - Margin of victory: 9 - Winner: Jack Nicklaus (271) - Runners-up: Arnold Palmer, Gary Player (280) Jack Nicklaus is the king of the Masters. He's won the tournament six times and owns countless records. But nothing matched what he did in 1965. Not only did the Golden Bear win, he won by a then-record of nine strokes, set a then-record of 17-under, and recorded the tournament record by shooting a 64 in the third round, which also has since been surpassed. #2. 1997 Masters - Margin of victory: 12 - Winner: Tiger Woods (270) - Runner-up: Tom Kite (282) The 1997 Masters was Tiger Woods' announcement to the world: everyone had better watch out. Woods won his first major at Augusta National and is the reason why all of Jack Nicklaus's records no longer stand. Woods won the '97 Masters by 12 strokes, setting the record for largest margin of victory in any major (at the time) and at the Masters, which still stands. In addition to the scoring records, Woods also became the youngest person ever to win the tournament and the first nonwhite player to win the coveted green jacket. #1. 2000 U.S. Open - Margin of victory: 15 - Winner: Tiger Woods (272) - Runners-up: Ernie Els, Miguel Angel Jiménez (287) If the 1997 Masters was Tiger Woods' pièce de résistance, then his 2000 U.S. Open was his magnum opus. Playing at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, Woods won his first U.S. Open by decimating the rest of the field by 15 strokes. Woods finished at 12-under and his closest competitors were three-over causing many to wonder if they were playing in two different tournaments. The margin of victory is a record that holds to this day and is considered the most dominant performance in major championship history. In the year 2000, Woods also won the Masters and The Open Championship, along with six additional PGA events.


Another day, another wild story about the Lakers. Ever since Los Angeles signed LeBron James in free agency last summer, the franchise has been a constant source of drama. Curious roster moves, ugly trade rumors, information leaks, a chaotic front office, clueless ownership   it's easy to get lost down LA's rabbit hole of despair. MORE: Why did Rob Pelinka lie about Kobe Bryant meeting Heath Ledger? ESPN's Baxter Holmes managed to put all of the pieces together in a terrific feature documenting the Lakers' tumultuous 2018-19 season. While former president of basketball operations Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka played central roles in the dysfunction   with Johnson being accused of using "intimidation and bullying as a way of showing authority" by one front office staffer   there was another person outside of the organization who reportedly did plenty of damage to team chemistry. Video by CBS Sports James' agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, didn't hide his frustrations with now-former Lakers coach Luke Walton, going so far as to address his concerns with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Per Holmes: In November, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Maverick Carter, LeBron's longtime business partner, met for lunch. James' agent, Rich Paul, was seated at a nearby table, and at one point, approached Silver to complain about Walton, multiple sources familiar with the interaction told ESPN. Paul said he didn't believe Walton was the right coach for the Lakers. Silver shrugged off the remark and asked whom Paul thought would be the right coach. Paul suggested Tyronn Lue. Paul's presence at the team's facility during the 2017-18 season   he also represents Lakers guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has played in Los Angeles the past two years   "created an uneasy feeling among some coaching staffers," according to Holmes . With it being widely known the Lakers would be targeting James in free agency, Paul was viewed as someone essentially evaluating if Walton was the right man for the job. But the Paul effect went beyond coaching complaints. He reportedly rode on the Lakers' charter plane multiple times during the 2018-19 season, an unusual occurrence that one agent described as "destructive." And so the perception existed among the Lakers' coaching staff that Paul sought to oust Walton. And some players also believed, according to coaching staff members and those players' agents, that Klutch Sports was working to trade them away for a superstar. Given those perceptions, one former Lakers player described Paul's presence on the team charter as a "culture killer." "Coaches know Rich is trying to get them fired, and players know Rich is trying to get them traded," said one agent with ties to the Lakers, who called Paul's presence on the plane "destructive." NBA TRADE RUMORS: Do Celtics, Knicks or Lakers have best Anthony Davis trade package? In response to these allegations, Paul admitted he had taken the Lakers' charter plane but denied every other claim. He told ESPN he "can't worry about what somebody thinks, the perception. All I can do is work hard and continue down the path that I'm on." Alarm bells about the impact of Klutch Sports should have went off as early as last September, when Pelicans star Anthony Davis signed with Paul . That opened the door for all kinds of Davis-to-the-Lakers speculation, and when Davis went public with a trade demand in late January , it was Paul who made the official statement to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski . Lakers owner Jeanie Buss also suspected Paul of leaking information about a potential Davis trade , according to Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher . Rumors spread about the Lakers being willing to trade any player except James in order to acquire Davis, and Buss believed Paul was the source. Buss and Paul reportedly worked through their issues and appear to be on better terms now, but it's not hard to see why Lakers coaches and players would want Paul to be less involved. He knows how to wield power for the benefit of his clients, but there was a ton of collateral damage. It's possible the Lakers land Davis in a trade, forming a legitimate dynamic duo with James and pushing Los Angeles back into the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Then the front office can remove itself from one of the most disappointing seasons in Lakers history and work toward a brighter future. It doesn't look like that's going to happen, though. Buss, Johnson and Pelinka all deserve blame for the state of the franchise. They enabled Paul, and he only helped make the mess even bigger. Now it's on Buss and Pelinka to clean it up. Related slideshow: Best of 2019 NBA playoffs (Provided by imagn)


LEXINGTON   Shortly after arriving at Kentucky as a 17-year-old still adjusting to a new country, former Wildcats basketball player Isaac Humphries started dreaming of his name in lights. Yes, he wanted to be known as a basketball great, but with his musical talent earning him quick affection from Kentucky's rabid fan base, the idea of one day putting on his own concert began to solidify as well. But the demands of being a Kentucky basketball player temporarily pushed the idea to the back burner. Humphries faced intense competition for minutes at Kentucky and could ill afford to focus on anything other than basketball. Now more than two years removed from his last Kentucky game   a period Humphries credits as being key for learning more about himself on and off the court   the dream has returned. After launching a successful anti-bullying campaign in his native Australia , Humphries wanted to find more ways to give back. The old concert idea would work, and his former Lexington home was the perfect platform for the project. On Sunday, Humphries will headline a 15-song concert at the Lexington Opera House with all proceeds going to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass. "I just couldn't think of a better place and a better community to put something like this on," Humphries told the Courier Journal this week as he practiced for the show. "Obviously, Big Blue Nation is the best fan base I've ever been a part of. I've played now all around the world and haven't come across a fan base anything like them. I just kind of knew this was the place where I could do it and people would actually take notice and help people. "My name is on the billboard or whatever you call it and it's my show, (but) I am doing this for other people. ... I needed to find an environment where people wanted to be generous and wanted to give back to other people. I know that BBN and Kentucky do that." Tickets to the 6 p.m. show are available at Ticketmaster.com with prices ranging from $35 to a $100 VIP package that includes a meet and greet with Humphries following the show. "The funds raised from this concert will have a huge impact on our ability to continue to keep families close to their sick children being treated locally, and the awareness it will bring to RMHC is invaluable," Nate Graham, executive director of the RHMC of the Bluegrass, said in a news release. "We are endlessly thankful to Isaac." Humphries wants to keep some mystery about the specific set list but promised the 15 songs he has chosen each reflect a specific moment in his life. He plans to share those stories during the performance. Expect some of those stories to reflect on his time at Kentucky and subsequent path through Australia and the G League to the NBA, where he played for the Atlanta Hawks last season and will play for the Los Angeles Clippers summer league team next month, but there is more to Humphries than sports. "I think we are known as basketball players   and obviously I'm known in Lexington and in Kentucky as a basketball player   and I want to let people in to a side of my life that people don't know about me yet in the media," he said. "That's kind of why I wanted to make it really personal and vulnerable." In preparation for the show, Humphries performed two songs for the Courier Journal this week. You can watch recordings of his rendition of "Shallow," the Oscar-winning song from "A Star is Born" performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and the Demi Lovato song "Skyscraper" below. And if you're around Lexington Sunday, consider buying a ticket to see the full show, hear Humphries' stories and support a worthy cause. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Listen to this NBA player cover Lady Gaga and Demi Lovato for charity


Teams can now sign free agents without it affecting their compensatory draft picks. So which NFL veteran is next? The first wave of NFL free agency is over. So is the 2019 NFL Draft . Now come the bargain shoppers. May 7 marks the first day teams can sign available players without having it count against the compensatory draft pick formula. As a result, clubs looking to capitalize on recent losses   like the Eagles , Ravens , and, as is tradition , Patriots   will have more on their plate than just rookie minicamps this month. That means a handful of potent veterans still looking for homes will either sign with the teams they'd visited earlier in the offseason or sift through a new round of offers. Several of our top 100(ish) free agents are still available for interested teams , including Ziggy Ansah , Ndamukong Suh , Tre Boston , and Jay Ajayi . Most will have new homes by Memorial Day. Video by NFL.com Why does the NFL see a renewed push for free agents after May 7? The league's guidelines have a built-in equalizer to aid teams that lose more talent than they take in during free agency: compensatory picks . These bonus draft picks, awarded by the NFL, are aimed at restoring a measure of competitive balance when impactful players leave a franchise. Teams are awarded picks at the tail end of the third through seventh rounds of the following year's draft based on a secret formula that weighs the value of the players who left a team's roster in free agency vs. the players it signed. But there's a time limit on that formula, and in 2019 it expires on May 7. Any free agent who departs or is signed on that date or later doesn't count toward the compensatory formula. So if a team had its eye on, say, Ndamukong Suh but didn't want to put a potential 2020 third-round compensatory pick in jeopardy for signing him, it could roll the dice and hope to sign him in mid-May instead, leaving any compensatory selections intact. This doesn't apply to players who were released by their teams, however. The Patriots won't get any points on the compensatory scale because the Dolphins signed tight end Dwayne Allen after they cut him. They also won't lose points for signing Demaryius Thomas since the Texans released him (and his eight-figure cap hit) earlier in the offseason. Other notable veterans who are still on the market but weren't affected by the deadline include Eric Berry , Michael Crabtree , and Jamie Collins. Who could be the biggest names to sign this May? There are plenty of veteran free agents still available in 2019, though all have their share of questions to answer before signing with a new team. This year's crop includes players who've had star-making turns the past two seasons, but have languished in free agency due to concerns about their age, injuries, or other factors. Still, many of these players could go on to play major roles for contenders this fall. Here are the five biggest names who will dot team's wish lists now that they can be signed without giving up a potential third-round compensatory pick in exchange. DT Ndamukong Suh 2018 team : Los Angeles Rams Suh came one game away from winning his first NFL championship, and the veteran disruptor could be in the ring-chasing phase of his career after earning more than $138 million in his nine-year career to date (at least $660,000 of which has been paid back to the league through various fines and suspensions). While the 32-year-old is no longer the All-Pro threat he was earlier in his career, he's still an above-average interior lineman who can shrink pockets from the inside out (4.5 sacks in each of his last two seasons). Suh will likely remain an expensive purchase after playing on a one-year, $14 million deal in Los Angeles in 2018. Fortunately for him, there are a few win-now teams that have the space to hand him an eight-figure salary for a short-term deal. The Colts , Texans, Browns , and Titans could all fit the bill, though Suh's laid-back approach to free agency suggests he won't sign until he's good and ready. After doing a low-key barnstorming tour as a free agent last year, he's been notably quiet in 2019. Reported suitors : Without any reported visits on his radar, we can only speculate that it'll be another recent contender who lands Suh's services. He likely won't be back with the Rams, but he does want to stay on the West Coast . DE Ezekiel Ansah 2018 team : Detroit Lions The Lions were reticent to commit to Ansah last year despite his double-digit sack potential, and that caution paid off. Detroit franchise-tagged Ansah in 2018, only to watch him miss nine games due to a shoulder injury that limited him to his least effective season to date. That led to a tepid market for a player who's had two seasons with 12+ sacks in the past four years, and two with four or fewer. Ansah has been deliberate in his free agent negotiations, likely working toward a make-good deal that could see one team add an impact pass rusher at a bargain price while the Ghanian works to restore his value on the field. The former Lion won't be back to full strength until August , so there's no rush on signing him   though a couple of teams have been kicking the tires already. Reported suitors : Seattle Seahawks , Buffalo Bills S Tre Boston 2018 team : Arizona Cardinals Boston has languished in free agency even as other safeties have signed massive contracts   Eric Reid and Tyrann Mathieu foremost among them. The former fourth-round pick has been a bit of a transient recently despite a solid track record at free safety; he's broken up 17 passes and has eight interceptions over the past two seasons. Somehow that hasn't been enough to land him the long-term stability he's sought. It's a development that's left Boston confused , but relief could be on its way. The Steelers , Texans, Chiefs , and Seahawks could all use safety help, though the presence of other veteran free agents like Berry and Glover Quin could damper his value as he attempts to move on to the fourth team of his five-plus year career. Reported suitors : Cleveland Browns OT Jared Veldheer 2018 team : Denver Broncos Veldheer is a valuable tackle who can man either side of the offensive line, but his age and recent injury history have reduced him to a likely May signing. The 31-year-old has only played 33 games over the past three seasons and is coming off a knee injury that limited his performance for a disappointing Denver unit last fall. When healthy, he's an above-average edge protector whose size (6'8, 321 pounds) and veteran savvy help mitigate the risk of his eroding athleticism. His ideal landing spot would be with a club that needs a third tackle and not necessarily a starter   a lineup where he can bring his experience and talent to a backup role with the potential to play major snaps when needed. Reported suitors : New England Patriots , Denver Broncos RB Jay Ajayi 2018 team : Philadelphia Eagles Ajayi's lack of free agent interest reflects a handful of factors: his recovery from a torn ACL that cost him a dozen games in 2018. the boom-or-bust tendencies make him best suited for a platoon role rather than a starring spot. and the continually soft market for NFL tailbacks. But when he's on, Ajayi brings a game-breaking extra gear to the backfield, even if the salad days of his 200+ rushing yard performances are two years in his rear view. His 2017 performance with the Eagles, in which he ran for 5.8 yards per touch in a reserve role for a Super Bowl team, showcased what he can do for a needy club. While it seems unlikely he'll sign for the kind of big-money deal that would have cost an acquiring team its third- or fourth-round compensatory pick, the veteran back should still be able to find a welcoming home in the next phase of free agency, assuming all goes well with his recovery. Reported suitors : Philadelphia Eagles , Indianapolis Colts Related slideshow: 2019 NFL draft: The top picks (Provided by imagn)


The revs are at the limiter before you can blink, but this isn't your typical drag race. This is Honda's Mean Mower V2, and it's the fastest lawnmower in the world. You may not have been aware, but the battle for the speediest landscaping machine has been ongoing, and fraught with controversy. Honda just set a Guinness World Record for quick acceleration on a lawn tractor-from zero to 100 mph in just 6.29 seconds, and an unofficial 150 mph in testing. Although Honda offers riding mowers in Europe and both push and robotic mowers in the states, it does not plan to offer a $100,000, 150mph version in your local home improvement store. So when the offer came in to make some high speed passes of our own in the one-off record-setter at the Honda Proving Center in Cantil, California, before it goes back across the pond, well, only a sensible person with a strong sense of self-preservation would turn that down. Honda had the record previously in 2014 with its original Mean Mower, a less aggressively modified riding tractor that put down a 116 mph average top speed at a test track in Spain, obliterating the previous lawn mower record of 87.8. Then the cheating started. A Norwegian team backed by Viking-Stihl set a new record in Oslo, a 134 mph run with a lawnmowerish vehicle powered by a 408hp LS engine out of a Corvette. It shouldn't have counted, feels Team Dynamics manager James Rodgers, whose team built and tested both versions of the Mean Mower for Honda U.K. "It was basically a fully-caged dragster with a mower deck bolted on," Rodgers told Popular Mechanics . After that, Guinness changed the rules to require any lawnmower records be set by something that can cut grass and but looks like it can cut grass. Rodgers then convinced the bosses at Honda to reclaim the title-it was all about bragging rights. At first glance, the "Mean Mower V2" doesn't look too different from the Honda HF2622 riding mower on which it is based. Both are stoplight red, with a silver grass catcher, a slotted metal bumper, and a slim, circular cutting deck. But after a closer inspection, you see that these cutting blades are reinforced with carbon-fiber, and the grass bag hides an aluminum radiator. The ground-scalping stance is due to a one-off tubular chassis made of TiG-welded T45 steel, an alloy specifically chosen for its combination of strength and flex because the frame acts as both skeleton and suspension. The low crouch is accentuated by gold-anodized, 10-inch wheels wrapped in Hoosier slick tires. Then there's the powerplant. Forget turtle-to-rabbit speed controls, this monster goes rabbit-to-rocket, propelled by a CBR1000 4-cylinder out of Honda's top sportbike, making close to 200 hp and backed by a wet-clutch six-speed driving a solid rear axle. Who wouldn't want to go 150 mph on that? Oh wait a second, there doesn't seem to be a rollbar. Nor seatbelts, for that matter. Just a narrow carbon fiber seat so close to a Sparco steering wheel that you don't sit down behind it so much as undulate around it into a driving position best described as "hippie birthing squat-recline." That's it. It's just you and a foot or two of plastic tractor bodywork against the wind. "I don't want to scare you guys," said Rodgers, "But this is not like a car. If it goes, you will not catch it. It will dig a hole, put you in that grave, and cover you over before you know it." With that pep talk, and a stern reminder that we were to start in 2nd gear only, and shift only once to 3rd, and under no circumstances go past our coned off quarter-mile or attempt to brake hard at speed because, "it will lock up all four tires and pack you into the footwell," we trooped outside and wiggled into motorcycle leathers. "Have you ever driven this?" I asked Rodgers. All the demo drives were being done by Team Dynamics engineer Craig Smith. "I'm never going in it," Rodgers answered, handing me a helmet. "Ready?" I folded myself into the seat like an egg into batter. Rodgers and Smith hovered around, checking tire pressures and resetting the data recorder. Rodgers gave me the thumbs up and I eased out the clutch, rolled to the start cone and floored it. The revs go up like bottle rockets. I miss the shift. I'm at the finish. There's a lot of sand in my eyes. I clutch to a slow roll and turn around for the return pass. This time it's perfect. Every gearchange punches me gently in the stomach. My shaking foot stays on the accelerator. 90, 99, 105, 112, out of room. I want to go again, but it would be a dumb way to die, riding a landspeed lawnmower. But it's a heck of a way to live.


Dani Alves has decided to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after spending two seasons with Les Parisiens. The right back joined the French giants in 2017 after a year with Juventus and racked up 73 appearances for PSG, scoring eight goals and picking up the Ligue 1 title in both his seasons in France. Though now 36 years old, Alves still has a lot to offer in terms of quality, experience and marketability for those willing to pay his wages for a short-term solution. Check out some of the likely contenders to secure Alves' signature ahead of the 2019/20 campaign. Al Sadd Al Sadd finished top of the league in the Qatar Stars League and have promoted their captain - Barcelona legend Xavi - to be the manager of the team next season. With the addition of former Atlético Madrid midfielder Gabi, Al Sadd are looking strong to retain their title. It would be an interesting proposition for Dani Alves to join his former teammate Xavi in the Middle East and add to the collection of 40 trophies that he has won during his career. Having played more than 15 years at the top level of football, it would be a potentially more relaxing way for Alves to end his glittering career while still picking up a huge pay cheque. Likelihood Rating: 3/10 New York Red Bulls Eastern Conference MLS team New York Red Bulls have always had a touch of glamour, touting world-class players such as Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill in their rosters over the years. Alves has recently stated that he always has an eye for the States and has been impressed with how MLS is run in terms of its organisation and structure. Los Angeles is another popular destination for ageing world stars and it would not be out of the realm to see Alves retire in America like so many other legends have. The competitive factor is the only issue as the Red Bulls are just in contention for the playoffs rather than being favourites to lift the MLS Cup. Likelihood Rating: 4/10 Sevilla Sevilla are said to be interested in bringing their former defender back to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán and Alves is also open to the idea of returning back to Spain and to the club where he broke through in Europe. The Brazilian made 248 appearances for Sevilla, scoring 16 goals and setting up 62 more. In addition, he won two UEFA Cups, one Copa del Rey, a European Super Cup and a Spanish Super Cup. A return to Los Hispalenses could be a perfect way to round off his career. However, the fact that club captain Jesus Navas is playing right-back means that the Brazillian veteran would probably have to settle for a bench role, or adapt his position. Whether Sevilla would have the cash to splash on a player they don't really need is another big consideration. Likelihood Rating: 4/10 Manchester City Alves has always said that he has wanted to play in the Premier League and since he is edging closer to retirement, this could be the last chance he gets to play in the English top flight. With Alves' former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola at the helm of the Citizens, it could be an ideal destination for the 36-year-old. Man City registered their interest in Alves before he signed for PSG and Guardiola is obviously a fan. However, with City heavily linked with João Cancelo from Juventus as they seek competition for Kyle Walker and the Juve man looks like a more solid long-term investment. Although the domestic treble winners do have the money to complete a deal. If their interest in Cancelo goes cold, picking up Alves on a free could be a no-brainer. Likelihood Rating: 6/10 Barcelona A return to Alves' former club Barcelona is also on the cards, with the Brazil star previously stating that could not say no to a possible return . With Sergi Roberto more interested in playing in central midfield and Nelson Semedo competition at right back, there is theoretically a place for Alves to return and help add Champions League-winning experience to the current Barcelona squad. His partnership with Lionel Messi is well documented as he has handed him more assists than anyone else, and he could be interested in reviving that relationship once again. The only reason for doubt is that with Barça spending big elsewhere this summer, splashing extra cash on a 36-year-old's wages might seem a tad extravagant with the focus now on looking to the future. Likelihood Rating: 7/10


Nearly 74,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2019, according to the American Cancer Society, earning this cancer a spot in the top 10 most common cancers in men and women. Here's how to spot the early signs of kidney cancer. What is kidney cancer? You have two kidneys they're bean-shaped organs located below your rib cage on each side of your spine. Your kidneys contain tubules that filter out waste from your blood and convert it to urine the primary role of your kidneys. It's in these tubules that things can go wrong and trigger the signs of kidney cancer: 'The most common type is renal cell cancer, which originates in the tubules,' says Jason Abel, MD, urologic surgeon and member of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. What causes kidney cancer? Sometimes kidney cancer can be hereditary. More frequently, the cause is smoking, says Dr. Abel. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society , your risk is proportionate to how much you smoked, and quitting is the only way to begin to lower these odds. That time is now. Other risk factors include being overweight, having high blood pressure, and long-term misuse of pain meds. Hidden sign: A bulge in your abdomen, side, or lower back Not to alarm you, but you'd probably have no idea if the beginnings of cancer were brewing in your kidneys. 'Because the kidneys are located very deep in your body, patients feel very few or no symptoms in the early stages of cancer,' says Dr. Abel. Rarely, a patient will feel a tumor as one of the signs of kidney cancer; if this happens, the tumor may be in an advanced stage. Hidden sign: Something shows up on a test That doesn't mean the cancer is always caught late. 'People can get imaging scans like MRIs or ultrasounds for completely unrelated reasons [that reveal a tumor], so at least two-thirds of these patients are diagnosed when the cancer is very small,' says Dr. Abel. That's a good thing; cancer caught early is more effectively treated. Learn about the 7 silent signs your kidneys are in trouble. Hidden sign: Subtle side pain Occasionally, a patient may be dealing with flank pain as one of the signs of kidney cancer, says Dr. Abel. Persistent side pain that lingers and doesn't go away should be checked out by your doctor. Don't jump to conclusions and assume the worst: Here are some other conditions that can cause side abdominal pain. Hidden sign: Blood in your urine OK, it's not exactly one of the subtle signs of kidney cancer seeing blood in your urine is alarming. But you may not realize how serious it is or chalk it up to other, more common problems, like a urinary tract infection. (Or it may not be blood at all you could have simply eaten too many beets.) However, if the blood in your urine is from kidney cancer, the cancer is most likely more advanced, according to the Mayo Clinic. Either way, get checked out by your doctor. Hidden sign: Fatigue, weight loss Fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss are three additional symptoms in later stages of kidney cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic . However, these are especially sneaky. Consider the other factors that may leave you tired and trigger weight loss even something like stress could be responsible. However, if you're struggling with fatigue despite sleeping well or have lost weight without trying (or wanting to), it's always a good idea to see your doctor. Hidden sign: Rising blood pressure If your blood pressure is typically fine or at least stable and you notice it's starting to climb at a routine doctor visit, it could be a sign of kidney cancer, according to the Cleveland Clinic . Your kidneys help manage the fluid balance in your body and your blood pressure by releasing a hormone called renin; cancer can interfere with this process. Talk to your doctor about other symptoms that could help narrow down the reason for the rise. Hidden sign: Anemia Part of the reason for your fatigue could be a low red blood cell count, according to experts at the Cleveland Clinic . Another hormone released by the kidneys erythropoeitin encourages your bone marrow to produce red blood cells. You depend on red blood cells for oxygen delivery to the rest of your body; when they decline, so does your energy. Hidden sign: Fever without a cold, flu, or other infection Any time your body temperature rises, it's an indication that your immune system is doing battle with some type of intruder. That could be a virus, bacteria, or potentially a tumor. If you're getting night sweats or feeling flushed, start monitoring your temperature. In the absence of obvious symptoms of another infection like coughing, sneezing, or muscle aches (signs of colds and flu) running a fever is a symptom to bring up with your doctor. Fever happens to be one of the 50 health symptoms you should never ignore . Hidden sign: For men, swollen veins around the right testicle While the problem can turn up in either testicle, a varicocele a cluster of swollen veins most often targets the right testicle and it can indicate that you have a large kidney tumor, according to cancer.net . While you'll no doubt already be motivated, you should see your doctor immediately. How do you treat kidney cancer? Treatment has made exciting advancements over the last decade, says Dr. Abel. The newest is immunotherapy: 'It helps increase your immune system's ability to detect and control tumors,' he explains. Recently, two medications nivolumab and ipilimumab have been approved and are used for those patients with advanced disease and have a poor prognosis, notes the National Cancer Institute. Is surgery an option? Since the average age at diagnosis is 64 , half of kidney cancer patients are over age 65, which can make surgery a riskier proposition. Those who may be good candidates to remove a tumor are those whose cancer was caught early, says Dr. Abel. On the other hand, if a patient has co-existing heart or lung disease (common in this age group), having surgery may be too dangerous. Your doctor will help weigh the risks versus benefits of surgery depending on the characteristics of the tumor (such as how fast it is growing) and personal health history. A single kidney happens to be one of the 9 organs you can live without . Can you cure kidney cancer? Like other cancers, this depends on when it's discovered: 'If you find kidney cancer in stage 1, within 10 years, 90 to 95 percent will be cured with primary treatment,' says Dr. Abel. However, if the cancer is advanced and metastatic (it has spread), he says, only about 10 to 20 percent of those patients will still be alive after five to 10 years. 'This is a very aggressive disease when it becomes metastatic,' he says. Check out the 15 things cancer doctors do to avoid cancer .


Yesterday, I gave a list of three Tampa Bay Buccaneers players who I feel deserve to have their jersey number retired, among them, former fullback Mike Alstott, who spent his entire 12-year career with the Bucs. Alstott was a second round pick out of Purdue in the 1996 NFL Draft. Despite being a fullback, the Bucs utilized him in the run game, and the A-Train finished his career with 5,088 rushing yards and 58 rushing touchdowns. He was a six-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl champion, and named First-team All-Pro on three separate occasions. Take a look back now at some of the highlights from Alstott's memorable career with the Buccaneers. After watching this, it's hard not to think about his No. 40 getting retired. Maybe one day in the near future, we'll see that happen. MORE: Drake's reaction to Kevin Durant's injury is now an NBA Twitter meme David Bakhtiari excited to see more from Packers rookie Rashan Gary NBA trade rumor rankings: Rockets on the move? Why the Patriots trading Nick Caserio isn't out of the question Michael Roberts trade completes Lions' much-needed overhaul at TE


CHICAGO   Visitation and funeral arrangements have been set for Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, the 19-year-old Chicago woman lured to a home and murdered. Her son was cut from her womb. He is now on life support in grave condition with no brain activity. Public visitation is set for 3 to 9 p.m. May 23 and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 24 at Mount Auburn Funeral Home at 4101 S. Oak Park Ave. in Stickney, Ill. Ochoa-Lopez's funeral will be held at 9 a.m. May 25 at the same funeral home, followed by an 11 a.m. chapel service. On Friday, dozens of people gathered for a memorial outside the home where Ochoa-Lopez was killed in the 4100 block of West 77th Place in Chicago's Scottsdale neighborhood. Three people are charged in her murder. Clarisa Figueroa, 46, is said to be the mastermind behind the attack, soliciting the help of her boyfriend, 40-year-old Piotr Bobak, and her 24-year-old daughter Desiree Figueroa. Prosecutors said seven months ago, Clarisa Figueroa started talking about being pregnant on social media, despite her neighbors saying she had her tubes tied. Investigators said Clarisa Figueroa and Ochoa-Lopez met in a Facebook group for moms. Clarisa Figueroa is accused of luring the pregnant mother to her home with the promise of exchanging baby items. Prosecutors said once Ochoa-Lopez got there, Clarisa Figueroa strangled her with a cable and had her daughter help. Investigators said the mother and daughter then cut a baby boy from Ochoa-Lopez's womb with a butcher knife. The women didn't call 911 until too late, prosecutors said. Ochoa-Lopez's son, Yadiel Yovany Lopez, remains hospitalized on life support and is in grave condition with no brain activity. Clarisa and Desiree Figueroa are both charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery of a child causing permanent disability. Bobak is charged with helping to conceal the death. Investigators said he was cleaning a rug with bleach when authorities arrived. Desiree Figueroa is four months pregnant. ___ (c)2019 WGN-TV, Chicago Visit WGN-TV, Chicago at www.wgntv.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Video by CBS News American consumers could pay close to $800 more a year for clothing, toys, furniture, and other products after President Trump's tariffs took effect on Friday. The US raised tariffs from 10% to 25% on $200 billion of Chinese imports this week.. Trump has also threatened to slap a 25% duty on a further $325 billion of Chinese goods, expanding US tariffs to effectively all imports from the world's second-largest economy. American consumers could get caught in the crossfire, as companies paying more for imports are likely to pass those costs on to shoppers in the form of higher prices. "Tariffs...will impact thousands of products Americans buy every day, from phone chargers and cling wrap to toilet paper, toothbrushes and dog leashes," said Hun Quach, vice president of international trade at the Retail Industry Leaders association, in an interview with The Washington Post . The average American family of four could see its annual costs rise by $767 if China retaliates in kind to the tariff increase, according to a report by the Trade Partnership . That figure could increase to almost $2,300 if the tariffs are extended to all Chinese imports, the international-trade and economic-consultancy firm estimated. There are doubters. Goldman Sachs puts the odds of the additional tariffs at one in 4 given the months-long regulatory process required and the potential impact on prices of consumer goods. American shoppers are already paying more American shoppers are already paying more for Chinese products due to the Trump administration's policies. "The impact of the 2018 tariffs has been passed on to US consumers in the form of higher prices," tweeted Chad Brown , senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for international Economics. Last year's tariffs caused "substantial increases" in prices and reduced the variety of imports available, according to research by economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Princeton and Columbia universities. Their study found the full impact of the tariffs "has fallen on domestic consumers so far" and "the tariff revenue...is insufficient to compensate the losses being borne by the consumers of imports." Similarly, a study by the World Bank's chief economist and a range of university academics found US companies raised prices to offset the costs of tariffs. Trump is hitting his base hardest Trump's core base of supporters were the hardest hit. "Workers in very Republican counties bore the brunt of the costs of the trade war, in part because retaliations disproportionately targeted agricultural sectors," the researchers wrote. There are several examples of last year's tariffs raising costs for consumers. Prices of washing machines and clothes dryers leapt 12%, meaning shoppers paid about $90 more per unit, according to a trio of economists who studied the topic . Moreover, prices of sewing machines jumped 10% in the year to March, their biggest rise in more than two decades, Reuters reported . The inflation rate for pet supplies also rose to 4% in March, while inflation of bicycles and related sporting equipment climbed to 3%, Reuters said. Produce prices could also sprout under Trump's trade policies. The White House is preparing a 17.5% tariff on tomatoes imported from Mexico, which supplies around half of all tomatoes consumed in the US. Americans can expect to pay between 38% and 80% more for tomatoes, according to Mexico's economic ministry and an Arizona State University study .


It was around 2 a.m. on Saturday when the Airbnb host kicked Kenneth Simpson and his friends out of her New York townhouse. "Get your things and get the f--- out of my house," Simpson recalled her saying to the five black men. As the friends started to pack their things, the owner, listed on Airbnb under the name Kate, called them "criminals," saying she felt threatened by their presence, Simpson told The Washington Post. That's when Simpson told his friends to start recording the exchange . Then, she uttered a racial epithet long used toward black people. "Which monkey is gonna stay on the couch?" the host asked the group. Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post The moment, captured in two viral videos shared by Simpson over the weekend, is the latest in a line of racist encounters on platforms like Airbnb, again calling into question the safeguards in place to protect customers from hateful actions. On Sunday, Airbnb announced it had banned the host, calling the language she used "unacceptable." Simpson, a 28-year-old from Alexandria who works in health IT, said he was still upset about how the group was belittled, calling it "another real-life situation where we had to experience the feeling of hopelessness as a black American." "I felt very dehumanized," Simpson told The Post. "I thought, is this where we are today? We made a point that we're educated, working professionals. And it doesn't even matter if you're an educated person, because no one deserves to be called a monkey and be dehumanized for no reason." For the weekend getaway to New York, Simpson and another friend drove in from the Washington area. Two others flew in from Chicago and Houston, while the fifth friend lives in New York. Simpson said the group had all met while traveling, and had arranged trips for years from the East and West Coasts to South America and Europe. But things didn't seem right when they arrived at the Upper East Side home late Friday. Although the listing was advertised as an entire-unit rental, they discovered it was a shared home, Simpson said. He added that the group was given the okay to bring a dog in a crate, but the hosts reportedly balked at the animal when they arrived. Then, the host's boyfriend asked them to lower their music and keep their voices down. The friends felt uncomfortable, Simpson said, but vowed to make it through the night before finding a different place to stay in the morning. Then, Kate told them they had to go, giving them a few minutes to leave, he said. At that point, the friends called the police and started filming. The videos, posted to Twitter on Saturday, have combined for more than 420,000 views as of early Monday. "Our hope is that someone else doesn't have encounter a racist Airbnb hosts like Kate," he tweeted . Simpson said he was especially disheartened that an Asian woman had used a racist term. One of his friends, Meshawn Cisero, told the Root that the insult from another person of color stung even deeper. "I felt like she should've related to us to a degree, but that feeling was quickly removed," Cisero said. Airbnb responded by saying that in addition to removing the host, it worked with Simpson and his friends to find a new place to stay. "The language is unacceptable and has no place in the Airbnb community," the company tweeted . "We're thankful to them for bringing this to our attention so we could take action." The incident in New York is the latest challenge for a company that has grappled with racist actions from hosts, inspiring the Twitter hashtag #AirbnbWhileBlack . Last year, the granddaughter of Bob Marley and her friends were stopped by police after neighbors thought they were thieves when they didn't wave back at them. NPR has reported that many black guests who faced difficulty booking places due to their race have altered their names or not used real profile photos. Airbnb has said it takes racism seriously. In 2016, Airbnb introduced its "Open Doors" policy , promising guests who feel they are discriminated against that the company would find them a similar place to stay or an alternative accommodation elsewhere. But Simpson also criticized the company's response. The friends weren't able to find a hotel until around 5 or 6 a.m. on Saturday, with an 11 a.m. check-out time. Airbnb had connected them to another unit, but Simpson said they were provided a listing that ended up getting canceled at the last minute, calling the weekend of bookings "a lose-lose situation." "I'm not going to say Airbnb is responsible for this entirely, but I do feel like they need to vet their hosts," Simpson told The Post. "This isn't the first racist situation that's gone public and viral, so they need to figure out and make sure no one else gets treated like we did this weekend." After Simpson's videos went viral, a man who identified himself as the host's boyfriend took to Reddit to explain their side of the story. In the post, which has since been deleted, the boyfriend said the group was "belligerent and refused to leave," adding that the group also called the host names before she "unfortunately calls them monkeys." "They got that on video which is obviously a bad thing for her to say but a news article from their point of view claims we were harassing them all night which is simply not true," the boyfriend wrote in the post , which Simpson captured in a screen shot. "I tried to help but they took advantage. Now Airbnb has deleted our account. Any advice?" Simpson was angered by the response and the man's use of "unfortunately" when mentioning the racist line. He just wished the boyfriend didn't cover up his girlfriend's feelings. "What's unfortunate about it?" he said. "She meant exactly what she said." More from Morning Mix: 'I wasn't involved in that': Kushner is mum on Trump's birther conspiracy theory A couple was brutally killed on a hiking trail. Decades later, a sealed envelope led to an arrest. Visitors threw food into a wildlife habitat. Now, a beloved otter is dead.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. On Thursday, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel   a watchdog agency with no connection to Robert S. Mueller III   recommended that Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway be fired for multiple violations of the Hatch Act. That's the federal law that limits political activities by government employees. The White House rejected the report's "overbroad" interpretation of the law, so it doesn't look as if Conway will be spending more time with her family (including her husband, George Conway, a caustic critic of the president. In his letter to President Donald Trump, Special Counsel Henry J. Kerner observed that Conway had "repeatedly violated the Hatch Act" during media appearances and on Twitter. Kerner cited interviews in which Conway made "statements directed at the success of your reelection campaign or at the failure of candidates for the Democratic Party's nomination for president." To which a lot of viewers of cable news (not to mention "Saturday Night Live") will reply: "Isn't that her job?" After all, Conway is probably Trump's principal apologist   more prominent than Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, whose departure from the White House was announced on Thursday. The special counsel's letter cites "a pattern of partisan attacks on several Democratic Party candidates shortly after they announced their candidacy for president, including Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former Congressman Robert Francis 'Beto' O'Rourke, and former Vice President Joe Biden." Among the highlights (or lowlights): Conway called Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders "two old white straight men career politicians," and she retweeted a description of Biden as "Creepy Uncle Joe." Kerner may be right that Conway's statements about Democrats violate the Hatch Act's proscriptions   a conclusion the White House obviously disputes   but it's surreal to fault a political player for making political statements. When the Trump transition team announced Conway's appointment after the 2016 election, it said that she would "continue her role as a close advisor to the president and will work with senior leadership to effectively message and execute the administration's legislative priorities and actions." That job description admittedly doesn't include partisan advocacy, but the president Conway serves is a politician, albeit an unconventional one. And she is by trade a political operative. Presumably she wasn't hired to advise Trump on the intricacies of healthcare policy or Middle East peacemaking. Again, I'm not disputing Kerner's legal conclusion or the constitutionality of the Hatch Act. (The law was upheld by the Supreme Court against a 1st Amendment challenge in 1973). And Conway's paycheck comes from the taxpayers, not Trump's campaign war chest. But for someone in Conway's position, the line between policy and partisanship seems pretty artificial. Perhaps the Hatch Act should be amended to recognize explicitly that a president is entitled to one or two people on his official payroll who can openly engage in an activity they are probably pursuing covertly: working for the president's reelection. Then there wouldn't be a problem with rank-and-file employees thinking that they could violate the law. Another benefit: The special counsel wouldn't need to say that he's shocked, shocked that a political player is engaging in politics.     ©2019 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


If you love to eat and drink, this week offers a great chance to explore the world of Orlando food and beverage. From a veggie burger showdown to a cooking class, there's plenty to explore and enjoy if you're hungry for something new. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Proper & Wild vs. The Sanctum Veggie Burger Brawl From the event description: Don't miss the Veggie Burger Brawl at The Sanctum Cafe. Watch as chef Eddie Matta of Proper & Wild competes against Sanctum's own chef Kelsey Moreau to make the "best damn burger." Only one will take home the coveted Golden Spatula. When: Saturday, Aug. 10, 6-10 p.m. Where: The Sanctum Cafe, 715 N. Fern Creek Ave. Price: $30 $40 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Downtown Vibez From the event description: Leave the kids at home this Saturday. Head to Downtown Vibez and get your groove on to beats by DJs Intel, Gryo and Consistency. Open to adults 21 and over. When: Saturday, Aug. 10, 10:30 p.m.- Sunday, Aug. 11, 2:30 a.m. Where: 369 N. Orange Ave. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets April Fresh's Comedy Brunch From the event description: Enjoy unlimited mimosas at this Comedy Brunch Buffet on Sunday at Parliament House. April Fresh will take on the silver screen, belting out songs from your favorite movie hits. This 18-and-over show also features Dixie Surewood, Anita Waistline and Jennica McCleary. When: Sunday, Aug. 11, noon-2:30 p.m. Where: Parliament House Orlando, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail Price: $19.99 $29.99 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Up to 54% off Chef Nite Orlando From the Chef Nite Orlando deal description: Grab a friend or bring a date to this BYOB cooking class. Get the inside scoop on what gives French food that extra pizzazz. Without a sauce, French food is like Frankenstein's monster missing that bolt of lightning to give it life. Learn how to make your own culinary creation using the five mother sauces   béchamel, velouté, espagnole, tomate and hollandaise. Where: Chef Nite Orlando, 3477 Parkway Center Court Price: $32 (54 percent discount off regular price). More options available. Click here for more details, and to get this deal This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Women's World Cup moved into its fourth day of fixtures on Monday, with sides in Groups D and E vying to get their tournament off to the best possible start. Argentina stunned the world by picking up an incredible point against Japan, before Canada went on to grind out a hard-fought victory over Cameroon. Argentina 0-0 Japan Coming into Monday, spirits around the Argentinian camp were low. They had lost all six of their previous World Cup matches in their history, and were tasked with the challenge of withstanding Japan, who won the tournament in 2011 and were beaten finalists last time around. Possession-wise, this went exactly as you would expect. Japan completely dominated the ball, while Argentina sat back and defended for their lives. They didn't exactly park the bus, but they didn't really have any other choice.  It was a credit to Argentina's work rate that there wasn't a single shot on target in the first half and, though Japan came closer to opening the scoring after the break, they simply could not find a way through. Japan's Yui Hasegawa and Yuika Sugasawa spurned two great chances to score, but Argentina held firm as they clung on for their first point in World Cup history. The tournament has already been a success for Argentina, while Japan must respond if they are to avoid falling into crisis. Reaching a third consecutive World Cup final was their goal coming into the summer, but they now have real work to do to keep that dream alive. Canada 1-0 Cameroon FT! Canada earn 3 points against Group E opponents Cameroon. 45' Kadeisha Buchanan #CAN 1:0 #CMR #CANWNT #TogetherWeRise #DareToShine #CANCMR  pic.twitter.com/mo8EJ920zV   Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) June 10, 2019 Like Argentina, Cameroon were faced with their own unenviable challenge. Opponents Canada were one of the pre-tournament favourites, so Cameroon were made to work hard to try keep them at bay. Clear-cut chances were certainly at a premium, but Canada's persistence eventually paid off on the stroke of half-time, as Lyon's Kadeisha Buchanan rose highest to head home from a corner to take her side to the top of Group E, ahead of the Netherlands' meeting with New Zealand on Tuesday. Claudine Meffometou came close to equalising with a header of her own, but Cameroon rarely looked like posing a threat to Canada's goal. At the other end, all eyes were on veteran striker Christine Sinclair, who needs just three goals to match Abby Wambach's international record of 184 strikes. The 35-year-old headed wide early on, before her deflected effort was cleared off the line by Meffometou in the dying embers of the game, so her search for those all-important goals goes on. While Canada manager Kenneth Heiner-Moller will be concerned by his side's lack of goal threat, the important thing was the result. Three points is three points, and they avoided any real blows to their hopes of qualification.


So far, California Sen. Kamala Harris is the choice of top Hollywood power players who have made donations to the large field of Democrats running for the 2020 presidential nomination. Some 48 percent of the 2020 donations made by members of The Hollywood Reporter's THR 100 list   an annual ranking of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry   have gone to Harris' campaign, amounting to $73,580, according to Federal Election Commission data disclosures. Joe Biden's presidential bid is in second place, bringing in $22,400, or 15 percent of the total 2020 donation pool. The campaigns of Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker have received a similar share of the contributions, amounting to just over $10,000 each. Not a single member of the THR 100 list donated so far to the campaigns of two of the Democratic front-runners, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, both of whom have targeted small-dollar contributions, FEC disclosures show. At this point in the 2020 federal election cycle, Discovery C.E.O. David Zaslav has been the most generous donor, though none of the $200,000 he has contributed has gone to any of the presidential candidates   Zaslav has given $100,000 to House speaker Nancy Pelosi's political action committee and $89,400 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The next most generous donor has been Walt Disney Studios co-chairman Alan Horn, who has given more than $191,000, including maxed-out donations to Harris, Biden, Booker and Gillibrand, along with contributions to Democratic campaign organizations and Democratic Sens. Mark Warner and Gary Peters. Director J.J. Abrams has contributed $159,600, including a donation for Harris and large donations for the DCCC and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Some Hollywood power-players have opted to spread their wealth among the 2020 contenders, including Chris Meledandri of Illumination Entertainment, who has maxed-out to Harris, Biden, Gillibrand, Sen. Michael Bennet, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former cabinet secretary Julian Castro. Chris Silbermann, managing director of ICM Partners, has taken a similar approach, donating so far to Harris, Biden, Booker, Gillibrand and Bennet, along with Pelosi's PAC. Disney C.E.O. Bob Iger has so far made six campaign donations totaling $49,500, including $35,500 to the DSCC. Ahead of the midterm elections, 99.7 percent of 2018 campaign donations made by members of the THR entertainment power list went to Democratic campaigns and committees, with only Lorne Michaels, John Stankey and Bob Bakish giving to Republicans. At this point in the cycle, not a single 2020 election campaign contribution from the pool of donors listed in the THR 100 has gone to a Republican candidate or organization.