BOSTON (AP) Lourdes Gurriel Jr. came strolling out of Toronto's clubhouse to an interview area wearing a wrestling-belt lookalike with a big smile on his face. The Blue Jays give one to their position player of the game and another to their pitcher to wear. It's easy to figure out who had the other one when they made their way out of town. Marcus Stroman pitched six shutout innings, Gurriel Jr. had three hits and threw out a runner at the plate, and the Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-1 Sunday. ''We do one for a pitcher and another for a hitter,'' said Stroman, wearing his while chatting with Blue Jays fans before he walked to the team bus. Stroman showed his own joy earlier when he fanned Eduardo Nunez, the final batter he faced. ''To limit that team to no runs over six is huge,'' Stroman said. ''It's hard to do. I was really locked in all game. That's just me showing emotion, passion for the game.'' Danny Jansen hit a two-run single and Eric Sogard a solo homer for the Blue Jays, who won the final two games of the three-game series. Rowdy Tellez added two hits and scored twice. The Red Sox had won eight of nine after taking the series opener Friday on Christian Vazquez's two-run, walk-off homer. Stroman (5-9) held the Red Sox to five singles - three coming consecutively in the second inning when Gurriel made his throw from left field - and struck out six while walking one. It's the fifth time in his last eight starts that he's held an opponent to no more than one earned run. ''That was the best part definitely of the day over the hitting,'' Gurriel said through a translator. ''It was really emotional. I was so happy to get that guy at home plate.'' Rick Porcello (5-7) gave up five runs on eight hits over six innings. The Blue Jays scored single runs in the second and third before adding three more in the sixth for a 5-0 lead. ''Put ourselves in a tough hole especially when Stroman was throwing the ball so well and runs and hits were hard to come by,'' Porcello said of the sixth. Unlike the first two games of the series when each team blew a big lead late, Stroman and three relievers made this one stand. On Friday, the Red Sox trailed 5-1 in the seventh. Toronto fell behind 6-0 and trailed 6-1 in the seventh Saturday before coming back against Boston's beleaguered bullpen. ''We stole one on Friday, we had a lead on Saturday, and they stole the game, and today we didn't show up,'' Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ''It's disappointing.'' With Toronto leading 2-0, Porcello balked home a run before Jansen lined his bases-loaded single to left-center. Gurriel cut down Brock Holt trying to score from second easily on Jackie Bradley Jr.'s single with two on and one out. Brandon Drury's broken bat RBI single made it 1-0, and Cavan Biggio had a run-scoring double. FLYING BROKEN BAT A young boy seated about 15 rows behind Toronto's on-deck circle was grazed by a piece of Drury's bat that broke on his RBI single, sending the barrel flying over the protect netting. The boy was immediately visited by an EMT, and the Red Sox said he received medical attention and stayed. LIKES SEEING THEM Tellez went 2 for 3 with a double, single and intentional walk. In seven games against the Red Sox this season, he's batting .423 (11 for 26) with five homers and nine RBIs. ''He's been killing us,'' Cora said before the game. BACK SOON Barring Boston's game being postponed Monday, knuckleballer Steven Wright is eligible to return Tuesday after serving his 80-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. TRAINER'S ROOM Red Sox: INF Holt came out with left hamstring tightness. He had been the club's hottest hitter since coming off the injured list May 27, batting .357 entering Sunday. ''I'm hoping this won't more than a day or so,'' he said. . Cora said he expects to have 3B Rafael Devers (right hamstring tightness) back in the lineup on Monday. He hasn't started in three straight games, pinch-hitting twice. .. 1B Steve Pearce (lower back strain) was slated to have another rehab game with Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday, and Cora said they'd decide in the next few days when he'd return. UP NEXT Blue Jays: RHP Aaron Sanchez (3-9, 5.49 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series Monday at Yankee Stadium against LHP CC Sabathia (4-4, 4.14). Red Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (8-4, 4.71) is in line to start against White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (10-2, 2.74) in the opener of a three-game set Monday at Fenway Park. --- More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


The Nashville Predators have traded defenseman P.K. Subban to the New Jersey Devils. The Predators will receive two prospects in defensemen Steven Santini and Jeremy Davies plus the Devils' second-round pick in 2019 and a second-round pick in 2020, according to reports. Nashville will not retain any of Subban's contract, which still has three years remaining at a $9M cap hit. The Predators had been rumored to be looking for a way to clear cap space in order to go after some key free agents and sign Roman Josi to a long-term extension, and Subban was the prime target thanks to his hefty price tag. With Dante Fabbro ready to take on a bigger role in the NHL and the presence of Mattias Ekholm and Ryan Ellis still on the roster, the Predators likely felt they could lose Subban off the blue line. Still, this isn't the package many expected if the Predators did find a taker for his contract. Just a few years ago Subban was traded straight up for another Norris-caliber defenseman in Shea Weber , and has now been flipped for relatively underwhelming future assets. Santini, 24, was picked in the second round in 2013 but has yet to establish himself as a full-time NHL player, suiting up for 114 games over parts of four seasons. Last year he recorded four points in 39 games for the Devils, and is signed for two more seasons at a $1.42M cap hit. It will be interesting to see where he fits into the plan in Nashville, or if he's flipped to create some additional room. Davies, 22, just finished his third season at Northeastern University and signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Devils in April. Though he fell to the seventh round in the 2016 draft, the former USHL standout fit in well at the college level and recorded big point totals in each of his three years. The 5-foot-11 defenseman will likely head to the minor leagues to prove he can bring that kind of offensive production at the NHL, and could be the key to the return for the Predators moving forward. Nashville will select 34th overall in this year's draft, but the biggest return in this deal will be the cap space. Matt Duchene will once again be linked to the team in free agency as GM David Poile has pursued him for years and now has a chance to land him. Still, with some uncertainty to where the salary cap ceiling will eventually land, it may take more work for Nashville to be in a position to land one of the top names while keeping enough room for a Josi raise.


After a lifetime of dedication and commitment, Gil Brandt has finally received the recognition he deserved. After spending almost three full decades working in tandem with Tex Schramm and Tom Landry to build the Dallas Cowboys to great heights, Brandt turned his innovative mind to helping to continue to build the shield that represents the NFL. Now, he will be commemorated for all of eternity as the newest member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Brandt received the requisite 80 percent of the votes necessary for induction, and was part of a group of eight men who had their busts presented to the hallowed halls of Canton. He is the 25th person associated with the Cowboys to have himself enshrined, and the 17th who spent the major parts of his career with the organization. pic.twitter.com/9HPvh0bOgV - Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) August 3, 2019 . @dallascowboys @Gil_Brandt is the first member of the #PFHOF19 Class to officially be Enshrined into the HOF! pic.twitter.com/dH1kvSXyBp - Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) August 3, 2019 Brandt was selected as a contributor to the game, along with Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. The senior committee named Johnny Robinson, while Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae and Ed Reed were all modern-era elections. Brandt was also inducted into the Cowboys' famed Ring of Honor in November 2018. Brandt served as Dallas' vice president of player personnel for the first 29 years of the franchise, serving side by side with general manager Tex Schramm and head coach Tom Landry. A legendary scout who revolutionized the front office position, Brandt is recognized for introducing metrics analysis and a computerized system as a method of player evaluation. Since he left the organization, he's done tireless work for NFL Media, both online and on the radio. On Friday he received his gold jacket from the man who gave him his introduction, current owner Jerry Jones. That's Gold, Jerry! Gold!! #PFHOF19 pic.twitter.com/bGu8zz0Lkz - Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) August 3, 2019 It's fitting Brandt used a Seinfeld reference, as his career was all about genius masked in simplicity. His specialty was the draft, where Brandt oversaw some of the most iconic selection in team history, from Roger Staubach all the way to Michael Irvin. He was the first scout to start regularly plucking athletes from other sports such as track and basketball and turn them into football immortals such as Cornell Green and Bob Hayes. Brandt was the original UDFA miner, snaring prospects such as Drew Pearson, Cliff Harris and Everson Walls. MORE: Alex Cora, Chris Sale flipped out at umpire and got ejected in Yankees game WATCH: David Montgomery trucks Bears defenders at training camp Tracy Sprinkle: What the Browns are getting in the new DT 15 Cowboys with extremely strong Hall of Fame resumes, chances Five potential Jeremy Lin landing spots in free agency


Houston-based therapeutics and alternative medicine company InGeneron has secured $23 million in Series D funding, according to company database Crunchbase , topping the city's recent funding headlines. The cash infusion was announced June 11 and financed by Sanford Health. According to its Crunchbase profile, "InGeneron is a clinical stage cell therapy company. We believe that evidence-based regenerative therapy will redefine the health care experience. Our system is designed to enable doctors to heal patients safely and quickly by unlocking and using the healing potential of their own regenerative cells." The 13-year-old company has raised two previous funding rounds, including a $20 million Series D round in 2017. The round brings total funding raised by Houston companies in science and engineering over the past month to $56 million. The local science and engineering industry has seen 17 funding rounds over the past year, raking in a total of $147 million in venture funding. In other local funding news, cloud security company Liongard announced a $4.5 million Series A funding round on May 31, led by TDF Ventures. According to Crunchbase, "Liongard's platform Roar is a purpose-built platform for MSPs, that unifies visibility and management to secure all client environments. Roar automates the retrieval of configuration state data from cloud, network and on-premise systems to automate system documentation, detect critical changes and assess security continuously. The platform has system integrations that include AWS, Microsoft Office 365, Active Directory, SQL, public internet domains, DNS Recon, SSL Expiration, Cisco Meraki and more." The company also raised a $1.2 million seed round in 2018. This story was created automatically using local investment data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Patriots have six championships since 2002 and they have visited the White House every time they've won a title. This year may be different. As postulated by ESPN's Mike Reiss, the Patriots' offseason schedule may not make it possible for the team to visit President Trump this year. Here's what Reiss had to say in his most recent piece: "After the Patriots won their first five Super Bowls, they visited the White House on the following dates: April 2, 2002 May 10, 2004 April 13, 2005 April 23, 2015 April 19, 2017 The club hasn't visited this year, and now that April and May have passed, it makes a sixth visit more of a logistical challenge, in part because players and coaches are taking final vacations before the start of training camp." This could be a good thing. Some of the Patriots players already met with president Trump two years ago. There's no need for them to go back. They've already experienced the entire pomp and circumstance, and if you remember, the pictures and reaction it wasn't great: UPDATE: Patriots say # of players was smaller this year than 2015 (34 vs. 50) but total delegation was roughly the same. pic.twitter.com/Ij77Def8z5 - NYT Sports (@NYTSports) April 20, 2017 Failing @nytimes , which has been calling me wrong for two years, just got caught in a big lie concerning New England Patriots visit to W.H. - Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2017 This isn't a political statement. It's not because the president doesn't want the Patriots to come or the team decided to take some stand. It's mostly like just how the calendar worked out. It also allows the NFL and the Patriots to stay out of the political fray. They won't get any backlash because they simply can't make it due to scheduling reasons. After the president's battles with the NFL in the past over players kneeling during the national anthem, it's probably better that way. MORE: NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players NBA free agency roundup: The latest updates around the league Giants' Darius Slayton already considered a Draft-day steal? Report: Celtics will renounce rights to Terry Rozier, Suns interested Gil Brandt believes Xavier Woods is ready for breakout year Related slideshow: Best of Super Bowl LIII (provided by imagn)


Like many other Instagram influencers, Charlotte Rollin is no stranger to advertising requests from brands. But when she received multiple messages from a diet shake company called The Choco Diet, requesting a collaboration, she decided to respond. Rollin, a 20-year-old student, felt compelled to reply after the company's third attempt to get in touch because she has suffered from an eating disorder, and found their product (and marketing) to be damaging. On Sunday, Rollin tweeted screenshots of the message she received from The Choco Diet, as well as her subsequent response. "I had hoped the absence of my response would prevent you from contacting me again, however seeing as you have now emailed me three times regarding this 'collaboration,' I feel a need to reply and hopefully prevent further correspondence," her message read. "It is quite apparent to me that you have not taken the time to look at my previous social media posts or even have an idea of the type of the content I create, as if you had, you would most likely be aware that I in fact have suffered with anorexia for the past 5 years." an Instagram diet shake company literally wouldn't stop emailing me about a potential ''collaboration'' and so after at first ignoring them, I decided to tell them what I actually thought 🖕🏻 pic.twitter.com/OKEKLirAEU   char (@_charl0ttesweb) November 19, 2017 Rollin wrote that products like these affect people's physical and mental health, and she wanted no part in promoting them. "I therefore would, under no circumstances, even consider promoting a diet or detox drink on my social channels, which many follow as they also suffer from mental health issues and use as a reassurance that they are not alone in these struggles," her message continued. "I find the nature of your product to be damaging, and I know for a fact that these shakes are not a healthy way to lose weight, even for those that have a genuine, non-disordered desire to do so." While Rollin is addressing one brand that contacted her, The Choco Diet isn't the only diet shake company out there   but as she said, no one shake can help you lose weight in a healthy way . Rollin tells Refinery29 that other diet shake companies have contacted her in the past, but she hasn't always felt compelled to respond. But after multiple messages from a Choco Diet representative that she said became "more aggressive and rude in tone," she decided to reply. "As someone with anorexia, companies that promote these sort of products are hugely triggering and I felt that they should be aware of the impact they have before contacting bloggers," she says. Though she says she's in a much better place now in terms of her eating disorder, "I wanted to tell this company just how wrong their approach was, as I would hate for a similar email to reach someone else who was in a more difficult headspace and for it to trigger a relapse or further disordered behavior." If you are struggling with an eating disorder and are in need of support, please call the National Eating Disorders Association Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. For a 24-hour crisis line, text "NEDA" to 741741.


It seems like forever since we last saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play a game, which might actually be a good thing considering they finished last year 5-11. But after an offseason of turnover with both the roster and coaching staff, there's a new wave of excitement around this team as they head into their first preseason game Friday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Here is all the information you need to watch the game. Game information: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Pittsburgh Steelers Kickoff: Friday, August 9, at 7:30 p.m. E.T Venue: Heinz Field Broadcast: Television: NFL Network Local: WFLA (Tampa) Online: NFL Game Pass and FutboTV (try it for free) . And, for all your Bucs fans out there, here are three things to watch for in Friday night's game. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Where did Jakobi Meyers come from? 6 quick takeaways from Packers' joint practices with Texans Eagles land at No. 32 in ranking of best talent under age 25 in NFL Roundup: Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Appear to Split Again, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class


A 35-year-old father of four and his 24-year-old brother have gone missing after traveling from their homes in Wisconsin to Missouri on business. Justin and Nick Diemel, 24 and 35, respectively, who own Diemel Livestock in northeast Wisconsin, were supposed to come home Sunday but didn't make their scheduled flight, officials said. Their rental truck was found in a commuter parking lot in Holt, about 30 miles northeast of the Kansas International Airport, on Monday with no sign of the two men, authorities said. Nick Diemel's wife said she spoke to her husband on the phone Sunday morning before they were supposed to visit a client. "Nick is a father of four kids. He's my high school sweetheart," Lisa Diemel told WMTV, am NBC affiliate in Madison, Wisconsin . "Him not contacting us... we didn't go for long when he was on trips to check on me or talk to our children." The Clinton County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that searches "have been conducted and are underway in Clinton and Caldwell counties" and that "multiple agencies are involved in the investigation, and multiple leads continue to be researched." Family members in Wisconsin expressed shock about the brothers' disappearance. "I have no clue what's going on," Nicholas' and Justin's mother, Pam, told WGBA, an NBC affiliate in Green Bay, Wisconsin . "I can't even believe that something like this can happen. You go on a business trip and you're coming back with the person you met with. They didn't make their flight. They found the abandoned truck on the side of the road with their carry-ons and that was it."


The bulk of the NFL offseason is behind us, and rosters are pretty much set for the 2019 season. That means there's a much clearer picture than the last time we did this of what the year ahead could look like for teams, even with training camps, preseason games, injuries and roster cuts on the horizon in August. So, as usual, we had our NFL betting experts Steven Ruiz and Charles Curtis look over the updated win totals for every team and make their picks to help you figure out which squads to bet on. (All win totals courtesy of PointsBet) Patriots: 11.0 Wins Steven: Over The Patriots losing Gronk gives me some pause, but this is Bill Belichick and Tom Brady we're talking about. As long as those two are here, I'm taking the Patriots over every time. Charles: Over The Pats won 11 games last year, but that was the first time they were under 12 victories since 2009. So, yeah, I'm taking the over with confidence. Saints: 10.5 Wins Steven: Over I can envision a scenario in which Drew Brees starts to decline and injuries cripple the Saints defense enough to keep this team out of the playoffs. But there's too much talent on the roster for New Orleans to finish below 11 wins. Charles: Over The Saints are built to win the NFC and arguably have the most balanced roster in the conference on both sides of the ball. Another 13-win season isn't out of the question. Chiefs: 10.5 Wins Steven: Under I'm going to bet that the Chiefs end up losing Tyreek Hill for an extended period of time, which will have a dramatic effect on Kansas City's offense. The defense might be worse off than it was a year ago. Andy Reid will have his team in the playoffs, but it will have to take the Wild Card route this time. Charles: Under There's too much to be concerned about here - a regression to the mean to an extent for Patrick Mahomes, and what Steven said about Hill's possible suspension. Plus, the Chargers won 12 games last year and look about the same. Rams: 10.5 Wins Steven: Over Todd Gurley's knee is a mess, but that's not enough to scare me off the Rams. I liked their draft and they haven't lost too much talent following their Super Bowl loss. This team is going to score a lot of points - no matter who's starting at running back - and Wade Phillips will have the defense playing at a high level. Charles: Over I don't think they win 13 games again, but what's changed since the Super Bowl loss? Not a ton except for Ndamukong Suh leaving and Clay Matthews and Eric Weddle signing. That will be good enough to win the NFC West again. Eagles: 10.0 Wins Steven: Over The Eagles are stacked on both sides of the ball, and they are due for some better injury luck after these last two seasons. Carson Wentz stays healthy, and Philly wins the NFC East with 11 wins. Charles: Over I agree with Steven thus far (don't worry, that'll change) and especially here - with Wentz back, Philly will best the Cowboys and win the East. Bears: 9.5 Wins Steven: Under There are just so many reasons to fade the Bears: The defense is due for regression, Vic Fangio is gone and the Bears were tremendously lucky in the injury department a year ago which isn't likely to happen again. Chicago will be this year's Jacksonville. Charles: Over I'll say they eek out 10 wins with Mitchell Trubisky taking another step forward and Khalil Mack having another great season. But I'll say I'm nervous about the Packers and Vikings rebounding. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Packers: 9.5 Wins Steven: Over This really comes down to Aaron Rodgers' ability to stay healthy. If he plays 16 games, Green Bay is my favorite to take the NFC North. I'll bet he does and take the over. Charles: Under It's not Rodgers I'm worried about. It's that defense, even with the Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith additions in free agency. So maybe this is a nine-win team that will be in the hunt for a Wild Card spot, but I'm not betting on the over here. Chargers: 9.5 Wins Steven: Over If the Chiefs take a step back, another team in the AFC West has to take one forward. That will be the Chargers. There isn't really a glaring weakness on this team. Philip Rivers will have an MVP-type year for a 12-win Chargers team. Charles: Over As I said, Los Angeles will be right there with the Chiefs in 2019 as they were last season. And the biggest offseason addition will be … Hunter Henry! Having the tight end back as another Rivers red zone option will be huge. Colts: 9.5 Wins Steven: Over The Colts front office just gets it. Without spending too much money this offseason, the Colts got a lot better while maintaining a playoff roster. The Justin Houston signing could push the defense into the top-10, and I fully expect Andrew Luck to be even better than he was in 2018. Charles: Over This seems low to me. The Colts won 10 games last year and their defense - which was good last year - just got a massive upgrade. I would think this would be more like 10.5, so I'll take advantage and bet the over. Vikings: 9.0 Wins Steven: Over The Vikings have fixed their offensive line and the defense should be healthier (and better) in 2019. Minnesota will have to settle for second in the NFC North but they'll make the playoffs comfortably. Charles: Over This is so close for me - on paper, they should win 10 games. But the division is so tight. I'll say talent wins out here. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) Browns: 9.0 Wins Steven: Under The Browns are loaded with star power at the right positions, but the offensive line is a red flag. Austin Corbett doesn't appear ready to replace Kevin Zeitler and Cleveland curiously did nothing to improve at the tackle position. Baker Mayfield could be under siege in 2019. Throw in an inexperienced coaching staff and I'll take the under. Charles: Over Look, sometimes betting is about rooting for something you wouldn't normally have interest in. Can't we all just root for the Browns to make their first postseason since 2002 (!) by betting on them? Are they better than the Ravens and Steelers? Probably not, but weirder things have happened! Cowboys: 9.0 Wins Steven: Under The Cowboys won't be any worse than they were a season ago, but the rest of the NFC East has closed some ground this offseason. Well, not the Giants, but still. That will be enough to bring the Cowboys under 9 wins. Charles: Push My first push of the post! They're totally a nine-win team, but maybe the defense takes a step back and they're at .500 by season's end. Seahawks: 9.0 Wins Steven: Under While I do believe the Seahawks have the talent to compete for a division title, I just don't trust Brian Schottenheimer to get the most out of the offense. The defense was overly reliant on turnovers last season, which is an unsustainable model. Charles: Over This is totally based on Russell Wilson continuing to do Russell Wilson things in spite of Schottenheimer. Falcons: 9.0 Wins Steven: Over After investing in the offensive line during the offseason, Atlanta has shored up the one problem spot on the offense and the defense has to be better than it was a season ago, right? Charles: Under I'm a little worried about two first-rounders on the offensive line, concerned about the backfield, fearful about what we saw out of the defense last season … you get the picture? Under. Steelers: 9.0 Wins Steven: Under The Steelers should be able to overcome the loss of Le'Veon Bell but Antonio Brown's departure will have a domino effect on the receiver corps, which has made Ben Roethlisberger's job easier over the last few seasons. That won't happen in 2019. Charles: Under They're probably a nine-win team, but I think some of the turmoil from last season will carry over, and like Steven said, the WRs beyond JuJu Smith-Schuster are a concern. Texans: 8.5 Wins Steven: Under The rest of the division should be better and there are injury concerns all over the Texans roster. Houston falls back down to seven wins, which costs Bill O'Brien his job. Charles: Over They may not win the AFC South again, but I don't think this team goes from 11 wins to 8. Ravens: 8.5 Wins Steven: Over Even after the Ravens lost a lot of veteran talent, this roster is still good enough to make a run at the playoffs. Especially if Lamar Jackson takes the step I expect him to take this season. Charles: Under The Ravens always seem to find a way to win games, but here's my problem: Is the defense really good enough? Who is Jackson throwing to? That's enough for me to worry. Titans: 8.0 Wins Steven: Under I just don't have enough confidence in the either Marcus Mariota or Ryan Tannehill to pick the Titans to win nine games. The rest of the roster is solid but there's not enough here to make up for the quarterback situation. Charles: Under It's so frustrating that the Titans haven't truly broken through with Mariota, and I don't see it happening in 2019 either, especially in this division. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) 49ers: 8.0 Wins Steven: Under I don't think the 49ers' offseason moves will be enough to fix the defense. The offense should be a lot better with a healthy Jimmy G but the NFC West will be brutal in 2019. A 7-9 season sounds about right. Charles: Under Having Jimmy Garoppolo back is great. But is it five wins great? I'll wait another year before anointing the Niners a playoff team, especially with the Rams, Seahawks and Kyler Murray's Cardinals in the division. Jaguars: 8.0 Wins Steven: Under Nick Foles is not the answer to the Jaguars' problems. Even if the defense is back playing at its 2017 form - which wasn't that much better than its 2018 form - Jacksonville is going to have a hard time keeping up in the AFC South. Charles: Under There is NO WAY I'm betting on nine wins from Foles. NOPE. Panthers: 7.5 Wins Steven: Over Cam Newton looks healthy. The defensive front has been rebuilt. The offensive line might not be a disaster. As long as Carolina stays healthy, it will be in the NFC South race all season. Charles: Over I'm uneasy about this pick, but after shoulder surgery, Newton seems good to go. I think they're good enough to be second in the division, so eight wins Bills: 7.0 Wins Steven: Push This is a cowardly pick, but Buffalo is too well coached to finish at 6-10 and there's still not enough offensive talent for this team get to .500. Charles: Under I think they're back to six wins despite a really talented defense. Playing in a division with the Patriots doesn't help and this team needs a franchise receiver desperately. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Jets: 7.0 Wins Steven: Under Sam Darnold looks like a legit franchise QB in the making, but the Jets are spending too much money in positions that don't have much of an impact on the game. I'm fading the Jets. Charles: Under Le'Veon Bell will help and Darnold will take another step forward. But I just can't get past the fact that there are glaring holes on defense and the fact that they're the Jets. So I'll say they end up with six wins. Broncos: 7.0 Wins Steven: Over No, Joe Flacco isn't a long term answer, but he could be a good fit for the Broncos' new offense (relatively speaking, that is), and Vic Fangio has the pieces to produce a top-five defense. Denver won't challenge for a playoff spot, but this looks like a .500 team. Charles: Under The defense is still spectacular, but is Flacco worth two wins to push them to the over? I think they'll fall just short. Redskins: 6.5 Wins Steven: Over The Redskins were cruising toward a playoff berth before injuries took out the entire offensive and then Alex Smith. With some more injury luck, Washington will be a competitive team. A 7-9 finish might even be seen as a letdown by season's end. Charles: Under Am I really going to bet on seven wins from Case Keenum, Colt McCoy and Dwayne Haskins? That makes me way too nervous even though there's a lot of talent up and down the Redskins' roster. Buccaneers: 6.5 Wins Steven: Over Bruce Arians will have no problem turning the Bucs' impressive collection of skill players into a .500 team. I'm expecting big things from Jameis Winston in this offense. As long as the defense isn't a complete disaster, seven wins is doable. Charles: Over This is all about Arians. The offense looks like it can finally get on the same page (fantasy owners: I'm all in on Chris Godwin) and I think the defense can bend but not break. But it's Arians who is the X-factor to get them over the hump and win at least seven. Lions: 6.5 Wins Steven: Under I actually like the Lions a lot, but the NFC North is going to be really good. One of these teams has to lose a bunch of games. Detroit is the best bet. Charles: Under The defense is too much of a concern to give them more than six wins. Bengals: 6.0 Wins Steven: Over I know a lot of people are way down on the Bengals, but there's a decent amount of talent on this roster, and I don't think the AFC North will be as tough as everyone expects it to be. Cincy can win six games. Charles: Under This is the year it starts to all fall apart for the Bengals. Plus, if I'm taking the over on the Browns, I have to declare this is the team who finishes last again in the division. Giants: 6.0 Wins Steven: Under Dave Gettleman isn't doing a very good job of building this team. That will show in 2019, which will be his last year in charge of the front office if the Giants are as awful as many pundits expect them to be. Charles: Under Ughhhh this team is so bad. Why isn't this over/under lower? This might be the easiest bet of them all! Raiders: 6.0 Wins Steven: Push The Raiders won't be good, but they'll score enough points to hover around .500 early before tailing off late in the season. Charles: Under The final season in Oakland is a bad one as locker room drama - starting in training camp as Hard Knocks cameras capture it - overtakes the Raiders and leaves them with just four wins. Cardinals: 5.0 Wins Steven: Over I'm really high on Kliff Kingsbury's offensive approach . The Cardinals are going to score enough points to hover around .500, and the defense should be solid after a quietly good offseason. Charles: Push I like this team a lot on paper - their defense actually features a lot of top-end talent. I just don't know if Murray and Kingsbury can win more than five games, especially in the NFC West. Dolphins: 4.5 Wins Steven: Under I don't even think the Dolphins are trying to win games in 2019. Josh Rosen will make Miami worth watching, but this team is still a season away from being competitive. Charles: Under Here's your nominee for next year's first overall pick. MORE: Four potential Kawhi Leonard landing spots in free agency Suspended NASCAR driver still found a way to race this weekend Rams trading Tyler Higbee to Patriots would make sense for both teams Heading into training camp: Lions top-8 OL appear locked in Fierce, fiesty WR competition for Cowboys behind Top 3 roster locks


Trevor May is among the most engaging professional athletes on Twitter. In addition to baseball, he's up for talking about video gaming, music and (among other things) the weighted blanket he bought on Amazon. But on Wednesday afternoon, after giving up his second home run in four days on an 0-and-2 count that blew a lead for the Twins, May told his followers he was taking a break. Absolutely nobody should be surprised that May's on-the-field failure led to some harsh analysis directed toward him. And there were others who rose to his defense, likely the result of him being as willing to engage through social media. (May continued to build his following during his recovery from Tommy John surgery by sharing his video gaming exploits on the web.) So the big question about May's break was: How long will this last? It's hardly a surprise that a veteran of 24,300 tweets who has more than 75,000 followers couldn't stay away for long. Social media can tear you down and build you up at the same time -- whether it's about sports, politics or your pizza preferences. My favorite game, as someone who plays here both professionally and casually, is wondering how many people who tweet the venom would also bring the heat face to face. The over/under on that one is about zero. ___ (c)2019 the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Visit the Star Tribune (Minneapolis) at www.startribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


A riot at a prison in Tajikistan has left 32 people dead, including 24 members of the Islamic State militant group and three guards, authorities said Monday. Five of the inmates and the three guards were killed by IS prisoners during the riot that erupted on Sunday evening, the justice ministry said in a statement. The prison in Vakhdat, 17 kilometres (11 miles) east of the capital Dushanbe, holds 1,500 inmates. It said the prisoners first stabbed to death three guards, and then five other inmates "in order to intimidate" the others. They then took other prisoners hostage before opening fire on the jail's medical facilities. "Following a reprisal operation, 24 members of this group were killed and 25 others arrested. The hostages were freed" and calm restored to the prison, the statement said. Among the leaders of the riot, the Tajik authorities identified the 20-year-old son of the former head of Tajik special forces who became a member of the IS leadership in Syria, where he was killed in September 2017. In November 2018, another riot claimed by IS left 26 people dead in Khujand, a city of 700,000 people in the northeast of the country. The riot had been initiated by a former IS member seeking to spark a mass escape. Tajikistan, a country of 8.5 million people bordering Afghanistan, has suffered severe conflict since it gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the country during a five-year civil war in the 1990s when rebel groups including Islamists rose up against the government. Authorities in the majority-Muslim country have said that more than 1,000 Tajiks, including a high-ranking police officer who defected in 2015, joined IS in Syria and Iraq in recent years.


Curious where San Antonio's in-the-know crowd is eating and drinking? It's easy to spot lines out the door, but some underlying trends are harder to see. We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to discover which local businesses have been most discussed this month. To find out who made the list, we looked at San Antonio businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance. Read on to see which spots are worth exploring this summer. Ruben's Backyard Open since January, this Tex-Mex spot, which offers burgers, sandwiches and more, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Tex-Mex" on Yelp. Citywide, Tex-Mex spots saw a median 2.1% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Ruben's Backyard saw a 25% increase, with a slight upward trend from a three-star rating a month ago to 3.5 stars today. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis, Ruben's Backyard's review count increased by more than 160%. Located at 13838 Jones Maltsberger Road, Ruben's Backyard serves appetizers, tacos, soups, salads and more. Bowl & Barrel Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Forest Crest's Bowl & Barrel , the New American bar and bowling spot is a hot topic, according to Yelp review data. While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp saw a median 2.4% increase in new reviews over the past month, Bowl & Barrel bagged a 6.9% increase in new reviews within that time frame, maintaining a mixed 3.5-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 3.3 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance. Open at 17619 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 102, since 2015, Bowl & Barrel offers pizza, meatloaf, buffalo chicken, cotton candy, funnel cakes and appetizers like pretzels, Cornish hand pies and stuffed mushrooms. Mr. C's Fried Chicken & Waffles Mr C's Fried Chicken & Waffles is also making waves. Open since last November, at 7907 W. Loop 1604 N, Suite 102, the traditional Southern American spot has seen a 7.3% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.8% for all businesses tagged "Breakfast & Brunch" on Yelp. Mr. C's Fried Chicken & Waffles offers home-style Southern food for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. On the menu , you'll see classic breakfast platters, fried chicken and waffles specials and Southern sides such as collard greens, black eyed peas and sweet corn. Over the past month, it's maintained a mixed 3.5-star rating among Yelpers. 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.


Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is solely focused on securing the club their first Champions League trophy rather than emulating Bayern Munich and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer. Spurs take on Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano in what is only the second all-English final in the competitions history, following Manchester United's triumph over Chelsea in Moscow in 2008. Lloris himself is no stranger to major finals, having lifted the World Cup as France's captain in 2018, and he could become the first player since Beckenbauer in 1974 to lift the World Cup, followed by the Champions League the next campaign. Despite this however, Lloris insists his drive to win the competition stems from a want for Tottenham to be successful, rather than any personal accomplishments. As quoted by The Mirror , he said: "It is a privilege to win a World Cup with my country. An achievement that would not have been possible without my teammates, just like here. The countdown is over. It's time for the @ChampionsLeague final! #UCLfinal ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/V0fANtIw97   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 1, 2019 "Without the Tottenham team I would not have been able to be here. I feel privileged but the most difficult is in the final. We must do everything to win it and leave a mark in the Champions League." Tottenham 's route to the final in Madrid has by no means an easy one. Their place in the knockout stages was only secured with an 85th minute equaliser from Lucas Moura in a 1-1 draw against Barcelona in their final group game. They've then enjoyed dramatic late wins over Manchester City and Ajax in the quarter and semi-finals, with the 32-year-old putting them down to the unity built up in the team. This is our journey, this is what it means.  The story of a magical #MarchToMadrid , told by the men who made the moments.  #UCLfinal ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/cc8kmv1j11   Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 1, 2019 Lloris added: "I think that the team feeling that was seen a lot in the Amsterdam semi-final against Ajax, between all players and coaches and managers and fans, was a special moment of our careers. "We want the final to be a special moment. It's a team sport we spend a lot of time together and working on that communion is very important and that's what allows us to get to this point, because we play as a team."


Uruguay will be disappointed to have drawn Japan 2-2 in Copa America Group B play in a wild game on Thursday night, but it could have been so much worse had VAR done its job correctly. It was a shame VAR overshadowed much of the action on the field, because the game itself was an exciting, end-to-end affair. A pair of very poor decisions both tilted in Uruguay's favor in a game that Japan will feel they should have won. In the first half, a ridiculous penalty was given to Uruguay after VAR somehow advised a review and the referee was convinced by a flailing Edinson Cavani. The second came soon after halftime as Japan should have earned an obvious penalty of their own, but the referee didn't point to the spot and VAR didn't even suggest a review. Japan opened the scoring in the 25th minute with an absolutely vicious counter led by Koji Miyoshi who took a cross-field ball down the right by Gaku Shibasaki and burst down the right one-on-one with Diego Laxalt. The Yokohama attacker took it himself, cutting towards the end line with his right and roofing the shot past Laxalt and beating Fernando Muslera at his near post. Edinson Cavani went down in the penalty area minutes later, rolling around in pain, and on a check of VAR the referee awarded a penalty as he harshly determined Naomichi Ueda committed a foul with a high boot which Cavani struck on the follow-through of a volley attempt. Luis Suarez stepped up to the spot and buried his penalty, sending goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima the wrong way to equalize. #CA2019Telemundo ¡Penal para @Uruguay ! falta sobre @ECavaniOfficial de Ueda. pic.twitter.com/1sbKbaRaoV   Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 20, 2019 With the score level, Uruguay began assert itself. Cavani came inches from a wonder goal, firing with his left from well outside the box and striking the corner of the post from miles away. He came close to another with an audacious chip minutes later, but missed just high and over the bar. Japan held the majority of possession before halftime but couldn't find a good opening. After the break, a blatant penalty to Japan was not given by the referee or reviewed by the video assistants as Uruguay substitue Giovanni Gonzalez   on for Laxalt   clearly left a leg in the path of Shoya Nakajima who went to ground. The chances went back and forth as both teams survived breakaways, with Cavani kept out by Kawashima down one end before Myoshi took too long to settle and get a shot off, allowing the Uruguay defense to recover and block the effort. They would eventually grab the lead as Japan broke down the left and a cross from Shoya Nakajima was palmed away by a diving Muslera, but the rebound fell right into the path of Miyoshi who bagged his second with a leap. #CA2019Telemundo ¡Partidazo en Arena do Grêmio! doblete del japonés Koji Miyoshi Uruguay 1   2 Japón pic.twitter.com/YpETSXxohu   Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 21, 2019 The lead would not last long, however, as Jose Gimenez was on hand to head home a Uruguay corner just eight minutes later and bring Uruguay back level. The Atletico Madrid defender delivered a pinpoint header that found the side netting at the far post, leaving Kawashima no chance. Uruguay began to seize control of the game, but Kawashima came up huge to keep the game level as he came off his line in traffic to stonewall a Uruguay attack after Cavani again went to ground. They struck the crossbar again as Luis Suarez got his head to a Martin Caceres cross but only found the woodwork. The pressure increased as time wound down into the final 10 minutes, and Suarez again missed as he fired a turnaround volley wide left in stoppage time. The South American side couldn't find a winner as the final whistle was blown, and Japan deservedly had something to show for its efforts. Uruguay moves to the top of Group C with four points with Chile's chance to jump them tomorrow, while Japan grabs its first point of the competition but has an uphill battle with a matchup against defending champions Chile in the final group match. Follow @the_bonnfire


A new massage therapist, physical therapist and massage spot has opened for business in the neighborhood. Called Edge Muscular Therapy , the new addition is located at 6011 Broadway St. Edge Muscular Therapy offers services focusing on neurological stimulation, from Dynamic Tape to KinStreth to Japanese-based Kaatsu exercise. According to the business' Facebook page , "Edge Muscular Therapy specializes in fascial stretch therapy, functional range release and the fascial distortion model." With a five-star rating out of one review on Yelp so far, Edge Muscular Therapy seems to be a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Yelper Denise S. said , "Not only did the massage therapy help me complete 26.2 miles while carrying 20 pounds without my hips and knees locking up, but it also helped with my recovery." Head on over to check it out: Edge Muscular Therapy is open from 11 a.m. 1 p.m. and 4:15 7:15 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. 1 p.m. and 2:30 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, and 11 a.m. 1 p.m. on Friday. (It's closed on weekends.) 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.


May 21--GREENSBORO, N.C.   Greensboro's city manager is proposing raising the property tax rate for the first time in more than a decade. Tuesday night's city council meeting lasted more than five hours and wrapped up shortly before 10 p.m. The current budget proposal on the table would affect small businesses, transportation, recycling and even the minimum wage. The city manager recommended a budget of $566 million for the 2019-2020 fiscal year. As part of that budget, it was recommended to increase the property tax rate by three cents per $100 property value. The last property tax increase was 11 years ago. Included in this proposed budget is a raise for general roster employees from $12.50 to $13.50. They want to make that $15 by fiscal year 2020 -21. The council will vote to adopt the budget at its meeting on June 18th. ___ (c)2019 WGHP-TV, Greensboro Visit WGHP-TV, Greensboro at www.myfox8.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


"Saturday Night Live" poked fun at Republican lawmakers' support of President Donald Trump while also not forgetting how special mothers are.


Lexi Thompson has had a tough few days leading into the AIG Women's British Open. When they became a tough few days for her fellow competitors, she did her best to apologize on Wednesday. While at the airport leaving from the Evian Championship in France, Thompson realized she had left her passport in her golf bag, Golf Channel reported . Unfortunately, her bag was in a van with dozens of other LPGA players' bags, being driven by caddie Ian Wright to Woburn Golf Club in England, site of the British Open. Thompson's team contacted Wright, who pulled over and waited for roughly three hours for Thompson's caddie to retrieve the passport, Wright told Randall Mell of Golf Channel. Because of the wait, Wright missed a ferry he was scheduled to take across the English Channel from France to England. Then he ended up in traffic en route to the course, which is about 50 minutes northwest of London. All told, he arrived at Woburn at about 5 p.m. on Monday. All of those players whose clubs were in the van had missed the opportunity to play a practice round, because by 5 p.m. the course was closed for maintenance. RELATED: Thompson's passport issue causes 40 players to miss Women's British Open practice round, according to Golf Channel report In a press conference on Wednesday, Thompson spoke about the situation and its aftermath. "I was freaking out, honestly, that I was going to be stranded here," Thompson said of realizing her passport was in her bag. "I didn't realize I was going to cause so much delay with the bags for all the players, and I'm very sorry about that." Thompson went on to say that if she was on the reverse end of the situation, she'd be pretty upset, too. Though she knows other players are upset with her, there have not been any direct conversations about it. "I haven't talked to many players about it. They haven't come up to me. I can kind of feel it," Thompson said. "But I didn't mean anything by it, and I think everybody that knows me as a person … I didn't know that was going to happen. I didn't mean anything by it. But it happened, and I'm very sorry." See the video.


The Cubs have activated left-hander Cole Hamels from the injured list and righty reliever Brad Brach has been designated for assignment, according to the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan ( via Twitter ) and others. Hamels, 35, will make the start today against Gio Gonzalez and the Brewers in a matchup of recently activated veteran lefties. Hamels' last start came at Great American Ballpark against the Reds a little more than a month ago, when he suffered an oblique strain. Gonzalez makes his third start since being activated from the disabled list   his second straight outing against the Cubs. After an uncharacteristically mediocre first half with the Orioles in 2018, Brach appeared to right the ship in posting a 1.52 ERA with Atlanta down the stretch. The Cubs certainly hoped so when they guaranteed Brach $4.35M during the offseason. But with a 6.13 ERA through 42 games and newcomers David Phelps and Derek Holland taking roster spots, the Cubs no longer had space for the 33-year-old Brach. He could have remained under contract for a lesser salary in 2020 due to a dual option, but Brach's future is now up in the air. His track record should make him appealing to a contender. With more than five years of service time, Brach will have the right to refuse a minor-league assignment and elect free agency, at which point he would be available on the cheap while the Cubs continue to foot the bill for most of his remaining 2019 money. An outright claim, therefore, is less likely. Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Red Bull-backed Patricio O'Ward is set to contest this weekend's Formula 2 races in Austria, replacing banned MP Motorsport driver Mahaveer Raghunathan. Raghunathan reached 12 penalty points on his license for virtual safety car infringements in last weekend's Paul Ricard F2 round, meaning the team needed a new driver to slot in alongside its regular driver . Reigning Indy Lights champion has appeared on the entry list for the event to make his series debut, and tweeted his delight at the deal... SURPRISE!! Im going across the pond this weekend and joining @mpmotorsport_ in the #17 machine for the 6th round of the @FIA_F2 #AustrianGP • ¡¡SORPRESITA!! Me toca cruzar el lago este fin para correr en @FIA_F2 con @mpmotorsport_ en Austria!! en la máquina #17 pic.twitter.com/pSWHLuGDgk   Patricio O'Ward (@PatricioOWard) June 25, 2019 He currently competes for in IndyCar and was made a Red Bull junior driver in May this season. He was set to compete in two oval events later this season but those outings have been cancelled. It won't be the first time the Mexican has competed on the European single-seater scene, as he tested in the GP3 Series in 2016 with , and had raced in lower formulae on the continent in the years before that. O'Ward is the second new driver on the grid at this event, as has taken over Dorian Boccolacci's Campos Racing for the next two rounds, at the Red Bull Ring and at Silverstone. Meanwhile, F4 racer . Read Also: Red Bull's O'Ward targeting IndyCar-to-F1 move


An "underground terror tunnel dug from Gaza into Israel " was discovered in the southern part of the Gaza strip, Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday. "IDF troops just revealed an underground terror tunnel dug from Gaza into Israel," The Israel Defense Forces tweeted on Monday. "How'd we find it? While building an underground security barrier. Why are we building an underground barrier? To stop Gaza terrorists from digging tunnels into Israel. Guess it's working." They made the discovery during construction of an underground barrier around the coastal enclave five years after the start of an operation geared toward finding and destroying such tunnels, The Times of Israel reported, citing the IDF. IDF troops just revealed an underground terror tunnel dug from Gaza into Israel. How'd we find it? While building an underground security barrier. Why are we building an underground barrier? To stop Gaza terrorists from digging tunnels into Israel. Guess it's working 🤷🏻♂   Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 8, 2019 It was not clear how long ago the tunnel had been built. "At this time, IDF soldiers are conducting an investigation of the passage. More information will be provided shortly," the army said Monday. The tunnel did not represent a threat and was "being taken care of by the IDF," The Times of Israel reported, citing the Eshkol Regional Council, covering the area where the tunnel was found. The council added that the tunnel was detected because of "groundbreaking technological defenses that are used along the Gaza border to protect our communities." This cross-border tunnel reportedly was the 18th discovered since the end of the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, also known as Operation Protective Edge. Israel's military has been investing extensive resources to find these tunnels and have destroyed 16, including one that stretched into both Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, The Jerusalem Post reported.


Odell Beckham Jr. has plenty of critics, which include some people who are in high places in NFL circles . Some of the criticism he's received has been earned, while arguably, some has not. Regardless, the Cleveland Browns star has a plan for shutting up all his haters. Speaking with 92.3 The Fan on Tuesday, Beckham broke down how he plans on doing just that: "I'm gonna ignore them and shut them up with my play," Beckham said. "There's no point [paying them attention]. I don't understand this world. This place should be full of love, and there's so much hate that goes around. They're just going to have to deal with it." It's debatable that Beckham has it in him to "ignore them." He has yet to ignore them to this point in his career. Undoubtedly, he'd be better off if he could. One of the most talented individuals in the NFL today, Beckham has the potential to finish his career with a bust in Canton if he can simply focus on football and avoid big injuries.


You forget that Giannis Antetokounmpo is only 24 years old. The Milwaukee Bucks forward became the 10th-youngest Most Valuable Player in NBA history when results were revealed at the third annual NBA Awards Show on Monday in Santa Monica, California. Antetokounmpo ended Houston Rockets guard James Harden's reign to win what many now believe will be his first of multiple MVP honors in his career. Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George were the other finalists. A panel of 100 media members comprise 50 percent of the vote for NBA awards. Players and fans split the remaining 50 percent. Results will be made available. The Bucks star is the youngest recipient since Derrick Rose became the youngest winner ever at the age of 22 in 2011. The rest of the list of 10 youngest MVPs in history, based on age at the end of the regular season, is a Hall of Fame ledger: Derrick Rose (2011): 22 years, 191 days Wes Unseld (1969): 23 years, 9 days Bob Pettit (1956): 23 years, 92 days Bob McAdoo (1975): 23 years, 193 days Wilt Chamberlain (1960): 23 years, 201 days Lew Alcindor (1971): 24 years, 14 days Moses Malone (1979): 24 years, 16 days Bill Russell (1958): 24 years, 28 days LeBron James (2009): 24 years, 104 days Giannis Antetokounmpo (2019): 24 years, 125 days Everyone else on that list but Rose went on to win a championship, six of them won multiple MVP honors in their careers and five of them won more than one title. This is the company Antetokounmpo now keeps, where the odds are in his favor to win this award again and pair it with at least two championship rings, barring injury. Antetokounmpo finished the regular season just 21 days older than when LeBron James won his first of four MVP honors. Within three years, James was a three-time winner and a first-time champion. That is now the standard for Antetokounmpo. This season ended in disappointment after his Bucks won an NBA-best 60 regular-season games. They led the Toronto Raptors 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals and 105-103 in the second overtime of Game 3, but Kawhi Leonard neutralized Antetokounmpo in winning four straight games en route to a title and Finals MVP. The Raptors exposed Antetokounmpo's one true weakness in the playoffs, building a wall of defenders to ensure he would have to beat them from the perimeter. He didn't, and he vowed afterward to The Athletic's Eric Nehm that he would come back a more efficient perimeter playmaker in what will be his seventh NBA season. "And it's something from Year 5 to Year 6, I was like, 'Yeah. OK, I put on seven pounds of muscle. Bro, I'm the most dominant guy in the f---ing league. I'm just going to go and f---ing dunk it,'" he told Nehm in the aftermath of the loss to the Raptors. "You can get away with it to a point. It's good if you're able to do it, but I gotta be more skilled. I gotta get back to my old self. Think like a guard, not as a big." In the regular season, when Antetokounmpo faced fewer dominant defenses designed to stop him, he was the game's most dominant two-way player   a freakishly athletic 6-foot-11 specimen playing any and all positions on both ends of the court. His 27.7 points on 17.3 field-goal attempts (64.4 true shooting percentage) and 5.9 assists against 3.7 turnovers per game made him a more efficient offensive player than Harden (36.1 points on 24.5 shots per game for a 61.6 true shooting percentage and an average of 7.5 assists against five turnovers), who used almost 10 percent more of his team's offensive possessions this season. Throw in Antetokounmpo's 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 combined blocks and steals per game, along with his unrivaled ability to defend from the rim to the perimeter with what seems like a single step, and he was the anchor of the NBA's best defensive team in the regular season. It is no wonder he was also a Defensive Player of the Year finalist, threatening to join Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon as the only players to win league MVP honors and the top defensive award in the same season. Jordan was 25 years old when he accomplished that feat. Olajuwon was 31. You should be starting to get the sense that Antetokounmpo is joining some rarefied NBA air, and he's not even old enough to rent a car without incurring a youth tax. This is all reassuring financial news for Antetokounmpo, who was already in line for the largest contract in NBA history in 2020   a projected five-year, $247 million supermax extension from the Bucks. According to ESPN's Malika Andrews , a trip to the Finals next season could be the deciding factor in his decision to commit to Milwaukee for the long term. And as we all know, speculation about a player's free agency two years before he hits the market is the true mark of a modern superstar.               Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach More from Yahoo Sports: Sources: Kawhi to become free agent; Raptors favorite Paul denies trade request: 'Happy' to stay in Houston After profane tirade, Mets have to fire manager Callaway France beats Brazil, keeps possibility of dream QF alive Related slideshow: The Best Photos of the 2019 NBA Awards (provided by imagn)


The Milwaukee Bucks attempted to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Raptors in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals in Toronto Tuesday evening. It did not go according to plan. Even with Raptors star Kawhi Leonard struggling with both fatigue and injury, Toronto came out on top by the score of 120-102. This win evens the series at two heading into Game 5 Thursday evening in Milwaukee. Here's what we learned from Toronto's series-tying win. Kawhi Leonard is nowhere near 100% After being seen hobbling throughout Game 3, Leonard proclaimed himself to be completely healthy. Most sensible people figured that was nothing more than the All-Star underplaying the injury. As Game 4 got going, it became clear Leonard wasn't near full health. He didn't have the same bounce off the dribble, a clear indication that the forward's leg was indeed bothering him. In the end, Leonard went for 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including this dunk on Giannis Antetokounmpo . He played well. But he's not 100%. Bucks point guards struggle big time Despite losing Game 3 Sunday night, the combination of Malcolm Brogdon and Eric Bledsoe went for 31 points, nine rebounds and six assists. With Bledsoe struggling to shoot (3-of-16 Sunday), most figured Brogdon would continue to step up. That didn't happen. The former NBA Rookie of the Year hit on his first field goal late in the third quarter after missing his first seven shots. Overall, Brogdon scored four points on 2-of-11 shooting. Meanwhile, Bledsoe's shooting slump continued. He connected on just 2-of-7 shots. Big game from Toronto's bench It was at this exact moment that Norman Powell secured himself a spot in a Drake verse this summer. pic.twitter.com/7sZbphSRNz   Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) May 22, 2019 Head coach Nick Nurse decided to go with a smallish eight-man rotation in Game 4, something we've seen throughout the playoffs. But unlike what we've seen recently, this unit stepped up big time. Norman Powell totaled 18 points on 4-of-13 shooting from distance. Toronto was plus-29 in the 32 minutes he played. This came after Powell contributed big time in the Raptors' Game 3 win. Meanwhile, a struggling Serge Ibaka scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Fred VanVleet also added 13 points and was plus-25 in as many minutes. It's the first time all series that Toronto's bench outplayed the Bucks' second unit. Brook Lopez couldn't duplicate the magic This former All-Star entered Tuesday's action averaging 17 points and seven rebounds over the past three games. He was one of the major reasons the Bucks came out on top in Game 1 of the series. Unfortunately, the center just didn't have it in Game 4. He scored just eight points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from distance. Lopez's performance is one of the primary reasons Toronto tied the series up at two. Giannis Antetokounmpo must be more aggressive Giannis airballed for the 2nd time this series and the Toronto crowd loved it pic.twitter.com/T4Ul7rnhOw   Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 22, 2019 It's hard to criticize the Greek Freak's game after how he started out Tuesday evening . Even then, Giannis simply needs to be more aggressive on offense. In no world should the MVP candidate take just two more shots than Khris Middleton. In the end, Antetokounmpo connected on 11-of-15 shots for 25 points while adding 10 boards and five assists. That's not a bad stat line. Instead, it's the fact that seven of Giannis' 15 shots came from beyond the three-point line. He needs to be more aggressive in the series' remaining games. A win for the Warriors The five-time defending Western Conference champs are going to have nine days off between them eliminating the Portland Trail Blazers Monday night and Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30. That's etched in stone after the NBA released its schedule for the championship round. Even then, the Warriors would benefit big time from this series going the distance. By winning Game 4, Toronto guaranteed a Game 6 on May 25. If the series were to go the full seven, the winner would have only two days off before Game 1 of the Finals. That's a win for the Warriors. Related Slideshow: Best of the 2019 NBA Playoffs (provided by imagn)


Shortly after Alabama Public Television announced it would not air an episode of PBS' animated children's program "Arthur" because it featured a same-sex wedding, a Methodist church in the state announced it would host a screening of the shunned show. Birmingham's First United Methodist Church   in collaboration with local initiatives Sidewalk Film Festival and SHOUT LGBTQ Festival   will hold the screening of the "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone" episode June 15. Sparkling apple juice and wedding cake will be served to celebrate the animated wedding. "First Church's mission is to be an open place for all and for many years we have been advocates for the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons not only in the life of the Church, but in all of society," the church's senior pastor, Rev. Stephanie Arnold, told NBC News via email. "We have seen the good that can come from sharing our space with our partners who seek to elevate conversations about justice in our community." "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone" aired nationally May 13, and though it received overwhelmingly glowing reviews , not everyone approved of the episode. "The vast majority of parents will not have heard about the content, whether they agree with it or not," Mike McKenzie, director of programming at Alabama Public Television, told NBC News in an earlier statement. "Because of this, we felt it would be a violation of trust to broadcast the episode." This is not the first time the "Arthur" series has featured a gay character, nor is it the first time Alabama Public Television has avoided airing a show due to its LGBTQ content. In a 2005 episode of the "Arthur" spinoff program, "Postcards From Buster," Arthur's best friend visits Vermont to learn about maple sugar. On his trip, he meets several children with lesbian mothers and comments, "Boy, that's a lot of moms!" The Alabama broadcaster pulled this episode from its distribution. Rachel Morgan, creative director of both the Sidewalk Film Festival and the SHOUT LGBTQ festival, told NBC News she was "shocked" by Alabama Public Television's decision not to air "Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone." "I was questioning whether it was real," Morgan said. "It was crazy to me   even in Alabama   that we weren't going to play a cartoon." NBC%20OUT Upon hearing the news, she decided to organize a screening of the episode. First Church immediately seemed the most natural place for the event to take place since she had partnered with the church for screenings before. "I'm used to thinking through the whole process in terms of figuring out where the best place to put a film may be," Monroe said. "Marriages happen in churches all the time, so the venue made complete sense." More than 100 people have RSVP'd to the church's screening, with more than 550 others expressing interest in the event, as of Tuesday morning. Monroe said she's been surprised by the attention the screening has received. "We thought we were just going to show a cartoon, have a small store-bought wedding cake, but there's been so many wonderful folks that have offered to help out," she said. "Which is great, because now we need a bigger cake." FOLLOW NBC OUT ON TWITTER , FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM


Pirelli says it is open to widening the working window of its Formula 1 tyres for 2020 if it helps make life easier for teams. A number of outfits are struggling this year to get tyres up to the right operating temperature, with Pirelli's 0.4mm thinner tread having moved the ideal temperature range higher. Ferrari believes that its failure to challenge Mercedes this season is down to the new tyre situation, which is why it is working on fresh ideas to help boost its performance in this area. Pirelli's F1 racing manager Mario Isola is aware that teams have faced some headaches hitting the sweet spot with regards tyre temperatures this year, which is why he says thoughts will be given to making things easier for 2020. Read Also: Pirelli puzzled by complaints over new F1 tyres' working range "What we are trying to do for next year is to focus on the working range, to make it wider," explained Isola. "In 2021 we will have 18-inch tyres, but without blankets, so we need to design compounds that are working without them. You need something that generates grip from 20 degrees to 120 degrees. "This is giving us the opportunity to develop new compounds for 2021, so if we find something good in this research phase, then we can introduce in 2020, why not? "If we find a new family of compounds with a new philosophy, that is making the working range much wider, then we can introduce this new family also in 2020 with 13-inch [tyres] and with blankets. "It's not that blankets will create an issue. They just start from a higher temperature." Isola believes that the increased focus this year on tyre working ranges is the result of the competitiveness of F1, where tyre performance can now make a big difference to positions. "If you consider the midfield, we have five or six teams that are within 0.2 seconds of each other," he said. "It has become very, very important to find any thousandths of a second. It can create a difference in qualifying position or in the race pace or whatever. "That's why they [the teams] are so focused on the tyres, because probably if you are able to use the tyre in the best possible way you find performance. To find such performance with the powerunit, or downforce is a bit more difficult." How the working ranges have changed Pirelli's thinner tread tyres, introduced to prevent blistering and overheating, have shifted the working ranges slightly higher. Here is a run down of how the operating windows compare this year to last season (2018 equivalent temperatures are in brackets). C1   110-140C (Hard 105-135C) C2   110-135C (Medium 110-140C) C3   105-135C (Soft 105-135C) C4   90-120C (Ultrasoft 90-110C) C5   85-115C (Hypersoft 85-105C) Read Also: Canada could provide key answer over "confusing" F1 tyres


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Brandon McKay had a rough debut as a hitter for Tampa Bay going hitless in the Rays' win over Baltimore. McKay went 0-for-4 in Tampa Bay's 6-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night. BOX SCORE: RAYS 6, ORIOLES 3 "I thought I had some good at-bats. It's not the results you want, but making solid contact is putting you in the right direction," said McKay, who will pitch again Friday night against the New York Yankees. "It's been great to get everything out if the way quickly and get your feet wet on both sides, pitching and hitting." McKay, who gave up one hit in six scoreless innings Saturday night in his major league pitching debut against the Texas Rangers, grounded out four times and was picked off second base on a throw from catcher Pedro Severino. Kevin Kiermaier hit a three-run homer off Branden Kline in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference. It was his 10th home run of the season and came after a walk and single by Avisail Garcia. Adam Kolarek (3-2) got the win and Jose Alvarado pitched the ninth for his first save since May 26. Alvarado is 7 for 9 in save opportunities. The Rays' third straight win brought them to 6 1/2 games behind the Yankees, who did not play Monday. Thomas Eshelman gave up two runs on six hits in five innings without recording a strikeout, and left the game with the Orioles leading 3-2. "I was impressed. He can locate the baseball, and you can pitch in this league if you can locate the baseball," said Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde. "We have some guys in our bullpen that have premier stuff that have a tough time locating the baseball. So hence, you see the six-to-eight ERAs not because of stuff but because of command. . . . This guy, Eshelman, did a great job of pitching and we just have a long way to go with a lot of our guys." The 25-year-old right-hander avoided a disastrous first inning by getting McKay to ground out with the bases loaded after RBI singles by Ji-Man Choi and Garcia. "I think it was just a lot of nerves, a lot of excitement, anxious to get out there," Eshelman said. After giving up four hits and a walk in that inning, Eshelman sailed through the next four innings, retiring 12 of 14 batters. His 3-2 lead was erased quickly by Kiermaier's three-run homer off Kline (1-4). The Orioles optioned Kline to Norfolk immediately after the game. Renato Nunez had two hits for Baltimore, and Rio Ruiz put the Orioles ahead 3-2 with a pinch-hit single in the sixth. The crowd of 20,441 included about 10,000 fans who purchased $2 tickets, a policy that will be in effect for the entire three-game series. MEANS' ALL-STAR NOD SHUFFLES ORIOLES After LHP John Means was named to the All-Star team, the Orioles reshuffled their pitching rotation, scratching RHP Dylan Bundy from Tuesday night's start. Bundy will pitch Friday at Toronto, then pitch Baltimore's first game after the All-Star break on July 12. Means' first start after the break will be determined partly by the extent of his All-Star activity. "I know what that four days feels like," said manager Brandon Hyde, "and I don't want to pitch him the game after. It's just too much." TRAINER'S ROOM Orioles: RHP Nate Karnes (right forearm strain) pitched a scoreless inning and OF D.J. Stewart hit a home run while rehabbing in a Gulf Coast League game. Rays: RHP Diego Castillo (right shoulder inflammation) is likely to come off the injured list July 12, for the first game after the All-Star break. UP NEXT RHP Asher Wojciechowski, acquired from Cleveland in a trade on Tuesday, will probably start Tuesday night's game for the Orioles against RHP Charlie Morton (8-2, 2.43). It will be Wojciechowski's 12th major league start and his first since 2017. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


CHAPEL HILL, N.C.   One day after North Carolina's bullpen imploded, Austin Bergner and Austin Love combined for a clutch pitching performance in a six-hit, 2-0 shutout of Auburn on Sunday as the Tar Heels forced a deciding Game 3 in the Chapel Hill Super Regional. Love, who had surrendered two hits and two runs in one inning in Game 1, tied his season high with six strikeouts in 4 ? innings of relief in Game 2 to improve his record to 8-4. North Carolina had given up nine runs in the final two innings as Auburn rallied to win Game 1 11-7. "Yesterday I was falling behind in the count a lot," Love said. "Today I was trying to make sure every first pitch was a strike." North Carolina (46-18) got off to a good start in the first inning against Auburn starter Bailey Horn (4-1) as Ike Freeman delivered a two-run single with one out. But the Tigers (37-26) made timely pitches the rest of the way to stay within striking distance as the Tar Heels tied a season high with 14 runners left on base. Game 3 is Monday. Bergner, who gave up four hits in 4 ? innings, worked out of a jam in the first inning by striking out Rankin Woley with the bases loaded. Auburn also had a chance to score after chasing Bergner with consecutive hits in the fifth. Love replaced Bergner and got Will Holland to fly out to right field before Edouard Julien hit a blast to center field that was tracked down by Dylan Harris and caught just short of the wall. "I don't think Julien could have hit the ball any harder to the deepest part of this ballpark," said Auburn coach Butch Thompson. "I thought both teams competed like crazy today. I thought it was an unbelievable game." Love said his teammates stayed positive with the pitchers after the bullpen's struggles in Game 1. Love rewarded them by throwing 41 strikes in 50 pitches. "We were fortunate to get a couple runs early, and then our pitching was just sensational," North Carolina coach Mike Fox said. "And (Love) out of the bullpen was just a phenomenal performance. We played good defense behind them and got us a win."


Conquering Western Europe's highest peak is an ambition shared by many climbers, but one Mont Blanc summit attempt cut some serious corners en route to the top. Rather than scaling the 4,810 meters (15,781 feet) under their own steam, a pair of would-be climbers landed a small plane on the face of the mountain on Tuesday. Officers from the specialist mountain unit of France's National Gendarmerie, the PHGM, apprehended the pair, who were equipped with climbing equipment including ropes and crampons, a spokesman told CNN via telephone. Local authorities from the nearby ski resort of Chamonix criticized the illegal landing in a statement posted on Facebook. "It constitutes an intolerable attack on the high mountain environment and on all existing protective measures," Eric Fournier, mayor of Chamonix-Mont Blanc, said in the statement. Fournier praised the police response and said he hoped their actions would dissuade anyone else from engaging in a similar "provocation." Lieutenant-Colonel Stéphane Bozon of the PHGM said officers were investigating what offense the pair may have committed, the AFP news agency reports. The climbers, both of whom are from Switzerland, landed the plane less than 400 meters (1,312 feet) from the top of the mountain, according to AFP. Local authorities are struggling to deal with huge numbers of visitors to the mountain and recently introduced new rules designed to limit overcrowding. Climbers scaling Mont Blanc without having booked a room in one of its shelters could now face two years in prison and a €300,000 ($336,000) fine. Authorities said "huge visitor numbers" on the mountain had led to concerns over "sanitary risks" like water availability and waste disposal problems. The ban came into effect on June 1 and will remain in place throughout the busy summer climbing season, according to a decree signed by France's Haute-Savoie prefecture.


Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Tuesday praised Tom Steyer after the billionaire philanthropist entered the 2020 presidential race, but criticized the notion of a billionaire running for the White House. "I like Tom personally, but I do have to say as somebody who in this campaign has received 2 million contributions, averaging $19 a person, I'm a bit tired of seeing billionaires trying to buy political power," Sanders told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell in an interview. Steyer announced Tuesday that he would pursue the Democratic presidential nomination, reversing course after saying months ago that he would not mount a campaign. The former hedge fund manager has funded political projects and Democratic campaigns for years. He has been especially involved with an effort to impeach President Trump. Sanders has eschewed high-dollar fundraisers and took in $18 million in the second quarter of 2019 from over 1 million contributions, 99 percent of which were $100 or less, according to this campaign. The Vermont lawmaker has framed much of his campaign rhetoric and policy positions in opposition to extreme accumulation of wealth by a few Americans when others struggle with basic necessities. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who has also rejected big-money fundraisers and managed to bring in significant donations, also seemed to criticized Steyer's entry to the race, although she did not call him out by name. "The Democratic primary should not be decided by billionaires, whether they're funding Super PACs or funding themselves," the Massachusetts lawmaker tweeted. "The strongest Democratic nominee in the general will have a coalition that's powered by a grassroots movement." The Democratic primary should not be decided by billionaires, whether they're funding Super PACs or funding themselves. The strongest Democratic nominee in the general will have a coalition that's powered by a grassroots movement. - Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 9, 2019 Steyer is worth an estimated $1.6 billion, according to Forbes. In 2010 he and his wife, Kat Taylor, signed "The Giving Pledge" , vowing to donate "the bulk of our assets to philanthropic activities carried out over the course of our lifetimes."


Since the news broke Sunday night that Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz had been shot at a bar in his native Dominican Republic, well wishes have been pouring in from every corner of the planet. But this one particular "get well soon" message may mean a little more than some of the others. Former president Barack Obama tweeted his message of support and love to Big Papi on Monday morning, using a photo of the two of them together from when the Red Sox visited the White House following the team's 2013 World Series championship. Six years ago, David Ortiz's spirit and resolve helped us all begin to heal from the Boston Marathon bombing. Today, I want to join many others in wishing him a speedy recovery of his own. Get well soon, Papi. pic.twitter.com/9orpBgnVI5   Barack Obama (@BarackObama) June 10, 2019 "Six years ago, David Ortiz's spirit and resolve helped us all begin to heal from the Boston Marathon bombing. Today, I want to join many others in wishing him a speedy recovery of his own. Get well soon, Papi." Obama is specifically recalling the rousing speech that Ortiz gave at Fenway Park following the Boston Marathon bombing that took place in April 2013. It's now lovingly known as the "This Is Our F ing City" speech. Ortiz underwent six hours of surgery overnight to repair organ damage. But according to his father Leo Ortiz, he's out of danger. Thankfully, doctors expect the 43-year-old to make a full and quick recovery. More from Yahoo Sports: Kevin Durant perfectly set up for hero moment in Game 5 David Ortiz reportedly in stable condition following shooting How USWNT legend Abby Wambach found her voice again Engaged Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris trying to win World Cup Related slideshow: David Ortiz: Life in pictures (provided by photo services)


As soon as Le'Veon Bell signed with the Jets in March, former Pittsburgh teammate and now fellow New York teammate Steve McLendon reached out to Bell to let try and convince him to attend anyway. "I talked to him and I told him, 'You understand this place is different than Pittsburgh,'" McLendon said, according to northjersey.com . "I said, 'You need to get back so you can understand the quarterback and the situation.' … I told him, 'The media is gonna get you if you don't come back.' That's the truth. I did tell him that." McLendon spent seven years in Pittsburgh and the past three in New York, so he understands the difference in media. In the end, he was right. Almost immediately after Bell decided not to report to voluntary workouts in early May, fans and media criticized the running back for missing a couple of offseason programs. Bell explained his decision to continue to work out on his own in Florida, something he's done before in Pittsburgh. Bell also hasn't completely isolated himself from the team like he did during the 2018 offseason before he sat out an entire season. He attended mandatory programs earlier this offseason and has been studying the playbook since joining the Jets. Bell, Adam Gase and Sam Darnold have also reportedly been in contact throughout the offseason, so McLendon is not too concerned about Bell failing to heed his advice. "I know there's been a lot of people saying, 'Why is he not here? Because he was paid!'" McLendon said. "Sometimes people prepare differently. Would we love him here? Yes. But when he comes here and he's rocking and rolling and helping us get to where we want to go this season, ain't nobody going to be thinking about it. And I know I'm not." Bell and McLendon played together for three seasons in Pittsburgh from 2013-2015. During his five-year career in Pittsburgh, Bell tallied almost 8,000 combined yards and 42 touchdowns. Say what you want about his offseason workout regimens, but Bell has produced all the same. "One thing that I can say about Le'Veon, he's going to be in extremely good shape," McLendon continued. "He's going to be in some good shape. He always has been and I don't see that changing. His physical condition [exceeds] anything else. And I know that. He trains hard." The one drawback to working out alone is obviously being unable to practice and mesh with new teammates. Bell has never changed teams before and has known no other coach other than Mike Tomlin. Working with a quarterback not named Ben Roethlisberger will also be a huge change. In New York, he'll be learning a whole new system with a new coach and a completely new roster of teammates. Bell will likely return to the Jets for the team's mandatory minicamp practices from June 4-6, where we will finally get the opportunity to see him work with Gase, Darnold and the rest of the offense. Until then, McLendon and the rest of the team will wait for Bell's arrival and watch his workouts on social media like everybody else. "I have no doubt when he comes back he's going to be ready to go," McLendon said. "He's a hell of a player." MORE: Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations A hard foul ball struck a small child in Houston. If players had their way, it wouldn't have happened. Roundup: NFL Owners Want 18-Game Season Again, Alex Trebek Cancer Near Remission, Israel Redoing Election Report: The Celtics are no longer the favorites to sign Kyrie Irving ESPN graders not big fans of the Browns offseason moves


We tend to think of parsley as a garnish, and don't give it much thought, but this herb does much more than make your plate look pretty. These 10 unexpected parsley benefits will do wonders for your health. Breast cancer protection Apparently adding parsley to your diet is another one of the ways you can prevent breast cancer . Parsley benefits may include specifically protecting you from breast cancer. 'It contains a chemical compound called apigenin that is known to help inhibit breast cancer cell growth,' says Amanda Capriglione RD, CDN . 'Some scientists believe that apigenin can be a possible non-toxic treatment in the future.' Add a handful of flat leaf parsley to salads, smoothies, and soups for maximum benefits. Fights inflammation Eating parsley benefits you in many ways, and this one is absolutely key. It's one of the more troubling general symptoms  inflammation can actually be deadly . Parsley helps because it's high in antioxidants like vitamin C, A, and E, which can help soothe inflammation. 'This can help reduce the risk of arthritis, an inflammation of the joints,' says Brunilda Nazario, MD . 'It is also an excellent source of flavonoids, antioxidants that help reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease.' Makes grilling safer 'Consume parsley with your char-grilled chicken, fish, and steak to help minimize the cancer-causing effects of heterocyclic amines,' says Capriglione. 'Heterocyclic amines are made when proteins are cooked at high temperatures.' She suggests making a chimichurri sauce by blending parsley, fresh garlic, salt, pepper, some apple cider or red wine vinegar and olive oil together and adding to cooked meats. Strengthens bones 'Ten sprigs of parsley is enough to reach your daily dose of vitamin K,' says Capriglione. Getting an adequate amount of vitamin K in your diet may help protect against bone fractures, as it helps make the protein for bones and blood clotting. Here are 30 simple things you can do to build your bones . Prevents lines and wrinkles Eating parsley benefits your complexion. The herb is high in vitamin C, and vitamin C makes collagen, which gives skin its structure and strength. 'Collagen helps to iron out fine lines and wrinkles,' says Capriglione. 'Make a vitamin C-packed salad with some greens (including parsley), orange pieces, and finish with a lemony vinaigrette.' Helps with digestion Settle your stomach with the help of this soothing herb. 'It can help aid in digestion and help reduce bloating,' says Capriglione. 'It contains compounds that enable the expulsion of gas from the body.' Add some flat leaf parsley into your dinner before a big night out. In other words, parsley couldn't be more different than these foods that are bad for digestive health . Freshens breath Although it may not be able to kill all those sulfur compounds that cause bad breath, eating some of the herb can help freshen the breath and mask any bad odors. 'Parsley acts as a natural breath freshener, especially after consuming garlic or onion,' says Capriglione. Here's what your bad breath is trying to tell you . Helps with bladder infections Suffer from UTIs? Consider adding some parsley into your diet. 'Homeopathic practitioners use this to treat urinary tract infections and kidney and bladder stones,' says Nazario. 'It contains chemicals that cause muscle contraction in the intestine, bladder, and uterus. Hence, indigestion, UTIs, and menstrual cramps were often treated with concoctions of this herb.' If you're not a fan of parsley, try out one of these 10 home remedies you can use to treat UTIs . Protects your eyes Parsely benefits include a lot of various nutrients, specifically Vitamin A. 'Parsley is a source of plant-based vitamin A,' says Guizar. 'Adequate vitamin A intake ensures the optimal health of our eyes, preventing dryness, night blindness, and cataracts.' Fights off heart disease 'Folate is involved in maintaining normal levels of the amino acid homocysteine, which is important given that elevated levels are associated with cardiovascular diseases,' says Carolina Guizar, MS, RDN, CDN . 'Like vitamin C, folate is heat sensitive and is best retained when consumed in fresh parsley.' Raw parsley contains folate, an important B vitamin, making it a candidate for preventing heart troubles, like these 15 other heart-saving tips .


These out-of-the-box ideas require big lifestyle changes, but they pay off with major savings. 7 Extreme Ways to Save Money Here at Money Talks News, we spend a lot of time telling you how to save money. We ve explained how to save $1,000 by summer and how to save on every online purchase. But what happens once you ve cut the lattes and canceled the gym membership, but you re still burning a hole in your checking account each month? At that point, it may be time to pull out the big guns   time to get extreme. Here are seven out-of-the-box ways to save big. These go beyond the frugal tips that save you pennies. Instead, they are things that may require big lifestyle changes, but that will pay off in the form of serious savings. Click through the slideshow to see them. It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter. 1. Move to a tiny house Imagine your whole family squeezed into a home the size of your living room. It may sound crazy, but the tiny house movement can be the ticket to big savings. Tiny houses typically run from 250 to 600 square feet, and they may be permanent or mobile. It may seem unrealistic to pack several people into such a small space, but some families do it   and quite happily too. Small houses mean small bills. Plus, with minimal storage space, you may find you are forced to stop spending money on stuff you don t need. Less extreme options : If a tiny house isn t for you, cut your bills by moving to a smaller home. It costs a lot less to heat 1,000 square feet than it does to keep 2,500 square feet warm and toasty. Or, move to an apartment. Sure, you re not building equity, but you re also eliminating all of your maintenance costs and possibly some utility bills. 2. Park the car permanently You can save some serious money by selling your vehicle and relying on your feet, bicycle or public transportation instead. If you need a car for a longer trip, rent one through Zipcar , Getaround or Hertz 24/7 . When you're downsizing from your McMansion, look for a home in an affordable metro area with plenty of public transportation options. Less extreme options: If you can't bear to be without a vehicle, at least drive it less. Carpool whenever possible, and combine errands. You can also go in with a neighbor or friend and buy a car to share. Related: The Shortest Path to an Amazing Retirement 3. Go veggie Beef takes a bite out of many grocery budgets. Extreme savers might want to eliminate meat altogether from their diet. Of course, vegetarian diets can be expensive if you're buying out of season or loading up on specialty products. Less extreme options : Maybe you aren't ready to give up meat completely. You can always have one or two meatless days a week or buy cheaper cuts of meat to keep costs down. We have a whole article dedicated to reducing meat costs . 4. Find your own heating fuel The cheapest way to replace costly heating oil and propane may be to install a wood-burning stove. If you have trees on your property, you can cut your own wood for free heating. If not, you might need to buy wood, which shouldn't be too costly. However, please be sure any stove is installed by a professional and inspected each year before use. Install carbon monoxide detectors, too. Dying from an improperly vented stove may be one extreme way to save money, but we would prefer that our Money Talks News readers stick around to enjoy more great articles for years to come. Less extreme options: While a little more expensive than a wood-burning stove, a pellet stove is another inexpensive heating option. Also, if you have a little money stored up in savings, you might want to see about converting to natural gas. That might cost a bit upfront but will save money in the long run. If you already have natural gas or none of these options will work, you can try the conventional advice of installing a programmable thermostat and lowering the temperature at night and when the house is empty during the day. 5. Unplug and live like it's 1949 We love our electronic toys, but using them costs us a pretty penny. Cutting cable TV seems to be fairly standard money-saving advice. A more extreme way to save might be to not only cut cable, but also to eliminate internet and mobile phones altogether. Unless you have a legitimate need to have the internet or a smartphone for work, you can probably get by with checking your email once or twice a week at the library. As for your cellphone, you probably don't need to be accessible 24/7, right? Try carrying a prepaid phone for emergencies. Less extreme options: If you don't want to completely unplug at home, at least lower your bills. Read articles on paying less for television , cellphones and internet service . 6. Embrace your neighbors with communal living Cut down living expenses by living in a commune   or an intentional community, as they are now often called. These living arrangements vary significantly from community to community, but most involve shared work and shared expenses. In addition, many of these communities are based upon values such as conservation or voluntary simplicity. The Foundation for Intentional Community maintains a searchable directory. Less extreme options : Rather than moving to a commune, embrace communal living in your own home by renting out a room. A step above that might be buying a duplex or similar property to share with a friend's family. 7. Hold your breath and dumpster-dive Some folks curb-surf for useful items, while others actually climb into garbage bins to retrieve overstock food from restaurants and stores. I have a hard time recommending this extreme way to score free stuff. The law can be a bit hazy about the legality of dumpster diving, particularly when the trash is located on private property and not on the curbside. Less extreme options : Instead of dumpster diving, you could try Freecycle to find freebies in your area. Also, send out the word to family and friends that you are on the hunt for reclaimed items, and you might be the first person they call before sending unwanted goods to the curb. What other extreme money-saving strategies have you heard about? Share your tips in the comments below or on our Facebook page . It's not the usual blah, blah, blah. Click here to sign up for our free newsletter.