The Phillies are in first place in the NL East. So far, so good. But the club is looking ahead at some rather significant road blocks. Most notably, the Philadelphia outfield mix just took a big hit. Andrew McCutchen is done for the year . The less-hyped and less-expensive of the team's two major free agent splashes, Cutch had also outperformed Bryce Harper to this point. Let's not forget: the Phillies aren't just replacing McCutchen. They may also be in need of a player to step in for Odubel Herrera , whose future with the organization is in doubt after his recent arrest for alleged domestic violence. Aaron Altherr was already sent out after a rough start. Nick Williams has struggled mightily. Roman Quinn is again injured, while Dylan Cozens is sidelined for the season. Scott Kingery is showing well, but he's an infielder by trade and is needed there with Maikel Franco struggling. Recently, Kingery taken over the majority of the workload at third base. The Phillies, as one would expect from a first-place club in a tightly contested division, have acted quickly since losing Herrera and McCutchen. Jay Bruce was brought in and now figures to line in left field on a regular basis. Bruce just ripped his third home run in as many games since landing in Philadelphia, so he's off to a good start. But he'll also likely be pressed into a much more substantial role than had been envisioned. Philadelphia also promoted prospect Adam Haseley , the eighth overall pick in 2017, and he'll step into center field for the time being. Haseley had only been in Triple-A for a week when he was summoned to the Majors, though, and he's not regarded as a premium prospect despite that draft pedigree. He's a a logical first option, and perhaps he'll surprise to the extent that the Phils don't need to make a splashy trade, but there's still a definite chance that the sudden outfield deficiency will be addressed by acquiring someone from outside the organization. What the Phillies could really use in place of McCutchen is a true center fielder. McCutchen hasn't been that in several years but was playing there in place of Herrera   who turned in shaky defensive ratings in center himself in 2018-19. Unfortunately, that'll be considerably more difficult to come by for GM Matt Klentak. The most readily available players are of dubious quality, unsurprisingly. Kevin Pillar could surely be had from the Giants, but a player sporting a .249 OBP on the season isn't going to be viewed as an upgrade. It's a similar story with Billy Hamilton in Kansas City and Juan Lagares in New York. The Padres have a well-known glut of outfielders, most of who are limited to corner duties as well. Perhaps the Phillies could try to buy low on one-time top prospect Manuel Margot , but he's sporting a .262 OBP and has lost playing time to makeshift center fielder Wil Myers . Myers himself would figure to be eminently available, but he's still owed $61M beyond the 2019 campaign and wouldn't be a quality defensive option. Buy-low options abound throughout the league. Beyond the aforementioned Pillar, the Phillies could acquire Leonys Martin on the cheap in hope of a return to form. The Orioles only just acquired Keon Broxton themselves, but the Phils could try to take a shot on him. The best of this class of player may be Jarrod Dyson . Perhaps the D-Backs will be willing to ship him elsewhere later this summer. He's a career-long platoon bat with minimal power but would at least give the Phils dynamic glovework and competitive at-bats against right-handed pitching. But the team would still arguably be down a righty outfield bat. Adding a higher-end piece in center would surely be costly, though it's worth exploring since it's a long-term need for the organization. The Phils could try to pry Ketel Marte away from Arizona, but the asking price would be substantial. The versatile switch-hitter has taken well to center field and is also capable of playing all over the infield; he's also controllable all the way through 2024 for a total of about $35M. Starling Marte isn't off to his finest start, but the cross-state rival Pirates likely won't reduce their asking price. Perhaps there's some room for a deal   the Pittsburgh org may soon have a bit of a logjam in the outfield and may not hang in the divisional race, while Marte is getting more expensive   but it's a low-likelihood scenario. It is intriguing to think of potential matches with the Mariners. Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto rarely rests long between brokering deals and obviously has a connection with Klentak. (Not long before the Bruce swap, they pulled off a much more significant deal .) The Mariners resisted the temptation to move building-block Mitch Haniger in the offseason. He's mostly a corner piece and hasn't graded well in limited MLB action up the middle, but did spend a lot of time there in the minors and might be expected to perform well enough in that role for a season or two. Mallex Smith would be a true center field option, but he's still trying to bounce back from a rough start. The Mariners acquired him as a hopeful long-term piece in an offseason swap and won't be particularly keen to sell low. One potentially interesting possibility would involve Whit Merrifield of the Royals. He's known mostly as a second baseman, of course, but has been utilized more and more on the grass and has graded well in his limited time in center. If the Royals really are willing to listen , the Phillies ought to in the ear of K.C. GM Dayton Moore. Merrifield could plug into the center field opening now and be utilized in any number of different ways in the future. He's an exceptional value, which will be reflected in the asking price. The options could still expand in the coming months, though it's honestly tough to foresee other viable center field targets. What are the other possibilities? A major corner outfield acquisition just may not make a ton of sense for the Phils, who have Bruce and Harper in that role now and will welcome back McCutchen next season. Skipper Gabe Kapler already said he doesn't plan to use Harper in center. While the right acquisition could perhaps change that line of thinking, that's probably not the preferred route for GM Matt Klentak and the remainder of the front office. That said, perhaps the Phillies can instead add one of the Dyson-type platoon pieces and also pursue a corner-oriented bat to boost their offensive productivity. The team could hold its nose at times on defense   as it was doing already with Cutch in center   and plan on deploying different personnel based upon the situation. There ought to be quite a few corner pieces on the market. In addition to some of the names already covered, some of the aforementioned teams have other conceivable trade assets. Left-handed hitters Corey Dickerson , Gregory Polanco and Melky Cabrera may not fit on the same roster. (Polanco could also be utilized in center, as he frequently was in the minors, though he has rarely been tasked with that role in Pittsburgh.) Domingo Santana of the M's has slowed after a hot start but could be of some interest. Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes are among the many options in San Diego. Loads of other players will also come up. Perhaps the Orioles' Trey Mancini isn't a sensible target since he'll come with a high asking price and is limited to a corner spot. But there are other, more plausible candidates. Nicholas Castellanos is sure to be discussed quite a bit this summer by the Tigers. The Angels may end up dealing Kole Calhoun in his walk year if they can't hang in contention; likewise, the Reds could end up dangling Yasiel Puig and/or Derek Dietrich . Veteran corner outfielder Alex Gordon could be of interest, though it's far from clear whether he'll be available given his no-trade rights and special relationship with the Royals. Shin-Soo Choo of the Rangers would be just the bat the Phils would like, though he's a poor defender and would be tough to carry alongside Bruce. There is also one other general route that the Phillies could explore. If they're willing to trust Kingery with extended action up the middle, perhaps by pairing him with a part-timer of Dyson's ilk, then the Phils could free the youngster for that role by adding an infielder. Whether or not they fully give up on Franco, the club might seek to add offense at the hot corner. Kingery's importance to the Philadelphia organization was already apparent before McCutchen's injury. His flexibility and potentially emerging bat now expand the universe of possibilities as the front office approaches an increasingly interesting summer trade period.


This slammed truck isn't your grandpa's junk hauler. Some custom builds are so wild, people just can't help but be amazed by them. That's certainly the case with this 1993 Chevrolet 1500 Custom , which has plenty of unique elements. It boasts some pretty serious performance, starting with a lowered ride height and a blown engine. To start off, you can see this Chevy truck has been lowered. The bed is tubbed to accommodate that lowered stance, something which isn't exactly cheap, so you don't have to take on the expense. While there are custom dually fenders in the rear, there aren't four wheels on the axle. Instead, you get two huge 23x18.50 Mickey Thompson Sportsman tires wrapped around 15-inch Weld Racing wheels. Those fat tires are completely necessary to handle the big power this truck makes. Underneath the fiber glass cowl induction hood is a supercharged 5.7-liter V8. A twin-screw Auto Rotor supercharger and cold air intake feed plenty of oxygen to the cylinders, making for a bigger burn and more power. Front power disc brakes have been added, balancing out that power boost. There are plenty of other cool details added to this truck. The sinister black paint is offset by silver accents on the lower panels. A billet grille up front adds some durability and a more customized appearance. Corvette taillights and a shaved rear bumper make a strong statement as you dust cars with all that power. The front tires are fitted on 16-inch Weld Racing wheels. A customized Chevy Lightning bowtie is a nice detail. You also enjoy a nice interior with a leather bench seat. A GT Grant steering wheel and Rockford Fosgate radio with Bluetooth, plus a Bazooka subwoofer under the rear bench seat increase the comfort level further. While quite a few 1993 Chevy trucks have survived, none look like this one. Adrenalin Motors is offering this completely unique pickup truck. More Cars Custom 2001 Chevrolet Silverado Is A Total Show-Off Civil Rights VW, Astronaut's Corvette Added To NHVR


Off to the side of a sun-drenched Citi Field on Friday afternoon, four puppies from the North Shore Animal League played together in a small playpen. Jeff McNeil walked by and gushed at one particular ball of fluff. McNeil picked up the beige and brown puppy and cradled her in his arms. The MLB leader in batting average could not stop smiling at the thought of bringing her home. How close was McNeil to adopting the puppy? "My wife just has to approve," he said. Jeff McNeil is on the verge of adopting this adorable puppy. How close is he to going through with it? "My wife just has to approve," he said. pic.twitter.com/xCSuFHqfXd   Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) July 26, 2019 McNeil took a break from batting practice to FaceTime his wife while holding the puppy in front of the camera. The happy duo stared into an iPhone as McNeil presented his case to his wife. After all, a Major League baseball player is on the road and away from home for parts of seven months   a good chunk of the calendar year. "She's really smart and easy to train!" McNeil pleaded to his wife over FaceTime just as Mets manager Mickey Callaway ambled over and assessed the situation. "A real man wouldn't need to ask his wife for approval," Callaway said and flashed a large grin to the group of people huddled by the puppies. After Callaway had sort of ruined the moment, the manager picked up a puppy and played with him in his arms. McNeil was still on the phone with his wife and attempting to figure out the logistics. A persuasive FaceTime later, the McNeil's decided to wait and put the tan and fluffy puppy on hold until Saturday. McNeil said his chances were "really good." It's a good thing he asked his wife, the person that will be taking care of the puppy for the majority of the time, before pulling the trigger. "Do I get to hold it?" Pete Alonso asks of his gigantic $1 million check for winning the Home Run Derby. Alonso explains why he volunteered to donate 5% of the winning to the Wounded Warrior Project and another 5% to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation: pic.twitter.com/yjVZmTz9hU   Deesha (@DeeshaThosar) July 26, 2019


Departing Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has admitted he hoped to stay in charge at St James' Park, but could not continue under Mike Ashley's ownership. The Spaniard forged a strong relationship with Toon supporters during his three-year stint on Tyneside, leading the side to promotion in his first full season before securing top-flight safety on a limited budget in the following two campaigns. However, Benitez was unable to agree a new deal with the club as his contract ran out, leading to a frustrating exit for both himself and fans. Newcastle confirmed on 24 June that they would be parting company with their hugely popular coach, with many condemning the influence of Ashley on that outcome, regardless of which team they follow. Benitez had not commented on the situation until now, the ex- Reds manager posting an open letter to Magpies supporters on his website which read: "Thank you for three fantastic, exciting and, at times, challenging years. "What we have had here   your support, your affection and your passion   has been unbelievable for me. I wanted to stay but I didn't just want to sign an extended contract, I wanted to be part of a project. "Unfortunately, it became increasingly clear to me that those at the top of the club did not share the same vision," Benitez explained. "I'm very sad about that, but I do not regret for one moment my decision to come to Tyneside and I'm very proud about what we achieved together. I will always have you in my heart." To Newcastle United fans https://t.co/5gu4eopVjf #NUFC #Newcastle #Toons #ThankYou pic.twitter.com/vLnmVSBGs2   Rafa Benitez Web (@rafabenitezweb) July 1, 2019 The revelation will only increase feelings of resentment towards their unwanted owner from Newcastle fans, though the anger will do nothing to bring Benitez back. The Magpies board have already begun their search for his replacement and are reportedly in for Porto coach Sergio Conceicao, but may have to pay as much as £18m to bring the Portuguese manager to the club.


The Eagles signed a pair of veteran free agents on Monday and that meant the end of the line for a couple of players on the roster. Running back Nico Evans and quarterback Luis Perez were placed on waivers to make room for the arrivals of offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski and quarterback Cody Kessler . Perez came to the Eagles after starting seven games for the Birmingham Iron during the brief life of the Alliance of American Football. He also spent time with the Rams last summer and had a short stint on their practice squad before being cut last September. Evans signed with the team last week after going undrafted out of Wyoming.


MEMPHIS - Phil Mickelson showed up at TPC Southwind on Tuesday to begin preparing for the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational just days after striking an indecisive tone about his status for the event. The fan favorite and Memphis regular missed the cut at last week's British Open and sounded uncertain whether he would play this week. "I love Memphis. I love the course. I love everything about the event," Mickelson told reporters last week after missing his third cut in a row . "I'm just not playing well right now, so I don't know if I should take a few weeks off." FEDEX ST. JUDE : Tee Times/TV After winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February , Mickelson appeared on track for an encouraging season, but he has missed the cut seven times since then and has failed to post a top-10. His highest finish since February was 18th at the Masters in April. "I thought after winning Pebble I was going to have a phenomenal year, and the last four months have been surprisingly difficult," Mickelson said after the second round of the British Open. "You go through highs and lows throughout a career, and certainly I'm at a low. I'm not overly concerned that I'll get out of it. I'm pretty resilient." Mickelson, 49, spent time on the TPC Southwind driving range before working on his short game. He also signed autographs for fans, a sign that his popularity in Memphis has not waned. Contributing: Steve DiMeglio, Golfweek MORE: Mike Trout's perfect 98.6 MPH throw to home plate had everyone in awe Jalen Rose: Don't Be Surprised if Anthony Davis Winds Up With the Bulls Ranking the NBA's Top 10 Big Threes Packers GM explains reasoning for releasing DL Mike Daniels Release of Mason Foster leaves Redskins with $11.5 million in salary cap space


It's no secret that the summer heat in San Antonio can be brutal. If you're looking for a way to stay cool, especially while the kids are out of school, here is a list of several splash pads and waterparks around the city you can visit. Scroll through the following slideshow to see where you can splash this summer. RELATED: Watch free screenings of 'Trolls,' 'Selena,' and more at the Main Plaza this summer Priscilla Aguirre is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, mySA.com , and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre


The Gen2 ABB FIA Formula E car is set to feature a front end designed to 'self-punish' drivers when it gets a "facelift" at the end of the 2019/20 season. . As part of that plan, the car is set to be given an updated bodykit   in a similar move to FE adding a new nose shape and front wing design to the Gen1 machinery for its third season in 2016/17. FIA circuit championships director Frederic Bertrand has now revealed that the plan to change the look of the new car includes an intention to make the front end cause issues for drivers if they hit the rear of another car, but without increasing safety concerns. as a result of the car being "very robust". Porsche driver Andre Lotterer   who raced with DS Techeetah last season   called for the car to be made more fragile to encourage clean racing   citing the example of kart racing banning strengthened bumpers. "We will launch a design   a facelift of the car   in season seven [2020/21] and this will also be thought [out] in a way that the front part will be a little bit weaker so that if the guys are touching there will be a self-punishment," Bertrand told Motorsport.com. "[But] you don't want to go too much backwards, so we need to find something balanced where we find a possibility that the car is a little bit weak in front, but not becoming too weak otherwise we will spend our time putting [out] yellow flags, or full course yellows, to recover the front noses, which would be a problem. "This is exactly where we are right now   trying to redefine what could be a facelift, which would [cover] the second part of the life of the car. "I don't know if weak is the right word   it's more that when you race in most single seater [series], if you push the guy in front you lose your nose and then you have to go back to the pits. "If you maybe kill the race of the guy in front but you're also self-punished [is the intention]. "The difficulty we have right now is that guy in front is spoiled but the one behind is not and this is a big issue. "But we'll do a car that is a little bit more self-punishing. Because fragile or weak is not the case because it will still be very strong." Motorsport.com understands that the cosmetic change to the look of the Gen2 car is set to be a drastically different 'Gen2.5' design. The changes are set to be significantly bigger than the additional front wing elements made to the Gen1 car after its first two seasons. It is also understood that the potential change to the front end to make it 'self-punish' the drivers remains among a number of design options that are currently being evaluated by FE, the FIA and the teams. It is stressed that the 'self-punish' move would not make the car less safe, but that damage would occur in such a way that drivers would be forced to pit for repairs, with the time loss acting as the punishment rather than poorer car performance, as is the case with damaged front wings in Formula 1 and other single seater categories. An FE spokesperson told Motorsport.com that work on the upgraded look of the Gen2 car is "still in the early stages". Jose Maria Lopez, Dragon Racing, Penske EV-3 with damage Robin Frijns, Envision Virgin Racing, Audi e-tron FE05 Photo by: Sam Bagnall / LAT Images


Seemingly every day, the buzz around rookie receiver Hunter Renfrow gets louder and louder. The former Clemson receiver just finds a way to make plays every day. During the team's Thursday practice with the Los Angeles Rams, Renfrow made a spectacular catch in the back of the end zone against Nickell Robey- Coleman. You can watch the full play below via the Oakland Raiders official Twitter account: This @renfrowhunter catch is a work of art. pic.twitter.com/QXATUMIhMl - Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) August 8, 2019 After just a few weeks, Renfrow has established himself as one of the best receivers on the roster and appears to have won the slot receiver job. Look for the former National Champion to play a ton on Saturday night against the Rams. MORE: 6 takeaways from Packers' preseason victory over Texans Duke Johnson trade: what they're saying around the NFL A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Winners and losers from Patriots' preseason blowout win over Lions Rookie standouts: Ty Johnson, others show potential in first preseason game


Pittsburgh is due to see light rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Tomorrow's forecast shows the highest likelihood of rain at 91 percent, with rain likely through Thursday. The coming days will also see warm temperatures, forecast to last through Monday. Temperatures will reach a high of 82 degrees on Saturday. Skies will be partly cloudy today, Friday and Saturday and mostly cloudy on Sunday. Winds will stay somewhat calm through the week, with the highest speeds tomorrow at only 9 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Formula 1 race director Michael Masi says he would likely reconsider the layout of the Hockenheim 'drag strip' if the German Grand Prix returns to the calendar. The surface on the outside of the final sequence of corners at Hockenheim caused controversy at this year's race when a host of drivers   including Charles Leclerc, Nico Hulkenberg and Lewis Hamilton   all lost control in the wet and hit the wall. Read Also: Leclerc says low-grip Hockenheim run-off "unacceptable" FIA sees no issue with Hockenheim's drag strip run-off Why Formula 1 wouldn't miss Hockenheim Leclerc said immediately afterwards that having such a low grip surface was 'unacceptable' while Hulkenberg took up his frustrations in a private chat with Masi ahead of the Hungarian GP. And while Masi said after the Hockenheim race that he did not see such a big problem with the drag strip area, he says that after speaking to Hulkenberg he thinks it would only be right to look at alternative solutions in the future. "Having spoken to Nico, and I will keep the contents of that discussion between the two of us, but it is something that we would consider at the time if we were to go back to Hockenheim," explained Masi. "We would have a look and see if there are other things we can do. "That is probably the simplest form at that point. It is one of those that is like a kerb. To a degree in some areas, you stay off it, but when it is wet as well I understand. "Nico and I had a discussion and it was a very productive discussion. But it was a one on one chat for a reason." Masi understands that there is a fine dividing line between off-track elements punishing mistakes and drivers being put in dangerous situations by relatively small errors. Hulkenberg was especially upset because he felt the punishment of his crash was out of kilter for the small mistake he had made in running wide. Masi added: "It is an ongoing balancing act and will be an ongoing balancing act for forever and a day to be honest. "It has gone through its waves and will continue to go through its waves, and is part of the sport that we all love. I don't think there is a one size fits all. It is where we are at the moment and we will continue to evolve as best as we can."


The US Capitol in Washington DC was in lockdown for nearly two hours after a gunman shot himself outside the building on Saturday afternoon. Police took the security measure after shots were heard near the seat of the US Congress. Police also investigated a suspicious package, thought to be the gunman's suitcase, on the lower west terrace of the Capitol building. Congress is not in session so there were few lawmakers about. However, the annual Cherry Blossom festival and sunshine attracted tourists. Those inside the building were reportedly told to stay there and visitors outside to take cover. "Confirmed: self-inflicted gunshot by neutralized subject," Capital Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said in a statement. There appears to have been no sign of terrorist intent, according to police. Nearby streets were cordoned off as an investigation continued. It was the latest in a series of security incidents in Washington DC in recent years. In 2013, a woman tried to drive her car past a security gate at the White House. She was shot dead in the subsequent car chase.


A hiker was stabbed Wednesday night near a popular trailhead in Altadena. About 8 p.m., the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department received a call about a man near Altadena Drive and Midwick Avenue, near the Henninger Flats trailhead, who was attacked by another man. Lt. David Holwager, a watch commander at the department's Altadena station, said when deputies arrived, they found the man believed to be the attacker in a nearby yard. The victim suffered several stab wounds and was taken to Huntington Hospital. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, Holwager said. No information was available about the identity of the attacker. Deputies discovered he had injuries that needed to be treated and took him to a nearby hospital. Once he is released, he will be booked on suspicion of the stabbing, Holwager said. Holwager said these types of attacks are not common for the popular hiking spot. The Henninger Flats trail is a 5.1-mile, heavily trafficked out-and-back trail, according to AllTrails , an outdoors hiking trails maps site. Eaton Canyon Natural Area and Nature Center, a 198-acre natural preserve located at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, is nearby.


Joe Schobert did not have his best season in 2018. The Browns linebacker will be the first to tell you that. But Schobert was still good enough to merit inclusion in Touchdown Wire's list of the Top 11 linebackers in the NFL. After listing off his analytical statistics for 2018 - which were still pretty good despite falling back from his Pro Bowl 2017, thanks in no small part due to playing through injuries - analyst Doug Farrar lays out why Schobert is in the top tier of LBs in the NFL right now, A technically proficient and efficiently violent tackler, Schobert also excels when defending the pass because he's very aware of spacing and coverage concepts, and he has the closing speed to careen in on receivers to limit big plays. The shot-caller on Cleveland's defense, Schobert's value is absolute. Schobert is healthy again and poised to get back to his Pro Bowl form and being arguably the best coverage LB in the league. MORE: Players on both teams were upset with Raptors fans for cheering Kevin Durant's injury Kevin Durant Leaves Game 5 After Aggravating Calf Injury Amendola and Stafford building strong chemistry this offseason The players with the best winning percentages in NBA history Bears believe Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is a better player than Adrian Amos


This isn't how Tampa Bay Rays rookie Colin Poche envisioned his first day in the major leagues. The 25-year-old left-hander was summoned from Triple-A Durham to provide some depth for the Rays bullpen during Saturday's day-night doubleheader against the Red Sox. But that's pretty much where the good news ends. First, he was frustrated and worn down by Boston's traffic. Hours later, he was defeated by the Red Sox bats in his MLB debut. As the story goes, Poche was taking an Uber from the team hotel to Fenway Park near the end of Game 1 when they ended up getting stuck in traffic. Rather than wait out the situation and risk being late to his own MLB debut, Poche grabbed his bag, got out on foot and walked the final mile. Poche was trying to get from team hotel to Fenway toward end of 1st game, was in Uber stuck in traffic so he got out and walked about a mile carrying his #Rays bag. Got a few odd looks but no one said anything. "Couldn't be late on first day," he said.   Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 8, 2019 We've all been there. Well, not under these circumstances specifically. But we've all had places to be when traffic gets backed up and causes us to lose our minds. Fortunately, Poche made it to the ballpark in plenty of time to celebrate the Rays' 9-2 victory in Game 1 and have his call-up made official before the nightcap. No deception, @colinpoche is a big leaguer. #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/FqsnunXbbz   Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 8, 2019 Unfortunately, his debut was just as frustrating as his travel. Poche entered the game in the second inning after opener Ryne Stanek recorded the first four outs. Poche recorded four outs of his own before being relieved by Austin Pruitt. He then watched on helplessly as the two runners he left on base were knocked in on Michael Chavis' double. Those two runs would be all Boston needed in their 5-1 victory, meaning Poche was handed a tough-luck loss. On the bright side, the feeling is Poche will have a role in the Rays bullpen beyond Saturday. He was untouchable last season, posting a 0.82 ERA over 66 innings at Double-A and Triple-A. And though he has struggled this season, posting an underwhelming 6.26 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 27.1 innings at Durham, he's also managed to strike out a remarkable 48 batters. The Rays definitely believe in Poche's ability and his makeup. His deceptive delivery figures to make him a difficult matchup for left-handerd hitters and a welcome addition for manager Kevin Cash. He'll also have a unique story to tell about his first day in MLB. Everyone's debut is a little different. But few are like Poche's. More from Yahoo Sports: Golden State staring death of dynasty directly in the face Game 4 takeaways: Durant is only hope for Warriors France hammers South Korea in Women's World Cup opener Texans fire general manager, admit 'timing may be unusual'


Dallas Keuchel 's market, like that of fellow free agent Craig Kimbrel , figures to accelerate in the coming days now that he's no longer tied to draft-pick compensation . MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweets that the Yankees, Cardinals and Braves are among the favorites to land Keuchel   although as of yesterday, Keuchel and the Yankees were still a ways apart in terms of asking price. Earlier this morning, the Twins were also reported to have had recent talks with Keuchel's agent, Scott Boras. The rationale behind the Yankees' interest in Keuchel isn't difficult to see. Luis Severino has yet to pitch in 2019, primarily due to a lat strain that will likely sideline him into next month. Both James Paxton and CC Sabathia have spent time on the injured list, and Domingo German figures to be on some type of innings limit after throwing only 94 innings in 2018 between the majors and minors (and 123 1/3 frames the year before). Signing Keuchel would come with notable luxury ramifications for the Yankees, who'd pay a 32 percent tax on any dollar spent on him (per Jason Martinez's luxury projections at Roster Resource). The Cardinals, too, have seen some rotation issues pop up. Carlos Martinez has been moved to the bullpen after spending the beginning of the season on the injured list, while free-agent-to-be Michael Wacha has also been moved to a relief following an awful start to the year. Rookie Genesis Cabrera is getting his first look at the MLB level, but the Cards are three games back in the tightly contested National League Central   a division where the difference between first place and fifth place is a mere 6.5 games at the moment. Keuchel's shedding of draft-pick compensation matters less to the Astros than to others, since they were never in line to forfeit one of their picks to retain him and have known for a while that they wouldn't end up scoring a compensatory pick. But ESPN's Buster Olney suggests (subscription required) that there may yet be a gap between what Houston is willing to offer and what Keuchel is seeking. The Astros offered Keuchel a one-year deal worth about $15 million early in spring training when he was still seeking a multi-year deal, according to Olney. Even though Keuchel's asking price has come down since that point, he's still reported to be seeking a one-year deal worth the $17.9 million value of the qualifying offer he rejected last November. Any such sum would be prorated over the course of the remainder of the season.


Oakland Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Oakland. BART recovers from major delays due to automatic switching issues in Oakland BART is reporting major delays in all directions as a track routing issue is stopping trains in downtown Oakland early Thursday morning. Read the full story on ABC Bay Area, KGO . ATF investigator testifies no cause found for Ghost Ship fire in Oakland Just how did the Ghost Ship fire start? It's a question that remains unanswered to this day more than two and half years later and one that the defense wants to use to their clients' advantage. Read the full story on ABC Bay Area, KGO . Two wounded in West Oakland shooting Two men were wounded in a West Oakland shooting Thursday afternoon Read the full story on East Bay Times . Oakland is closer to becoming 2nd US city to decriminalize hallucinogenic mushrooms Oakland is one step closer to becoming the second city in the United States to decriminalize entheogenic plants, including hallucinogenic "magic" mushrooms. The resolution, presented by City Council member Noel Gallo, would allow for plant-based hallucinogenic practices in Oakland. Read the full story on KTLA 5 News . This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Banks in Russia, Japan, the US, and Europe have fallen victim to a massive, sophisticated malware hack, allowing the perpetrators to steal hundreds of millions of dollars since 2013. According to a Kaspersky Labs report provided to the New York Times , more than 100 banks in 30 nations have been affected by the breach, with upwards of $300 million stolen in the process. One of the largest bank heists ever While no banks have come forward to acknowledge the theft, experts are calling the attack potentially one of the largest bank heists ever. "This is likely the most sophisticated attack the world has seen to date in terms of the tactics and methods that cybercriminals have used to remain covert," Chris Doggett, manager of Kaspersky's North American office in Boston, told the Times . Pulling off an attack of this scale took time, and Kaspersky says the hackers were patient in its execution. In order to steal as much as $10 million from some victims, the criminals had infect bank computers and remotely install surveillance software to observe everyday behavior. Then, by mimicking employee actions, the hackers could make large transactions look like business as usual. To cash out, the money would be siphoned off into dummy accounts made in advance. One Kaspersky client reportedly lost $7.3 million from ATM transactions. The Times reports that the majority of the affected banks are in Russia, but the hack is widespread and apparently ongoing. Banks have been silent on the issue to date, though the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center states that the industry has been alerted to the breach. Customers, however, have not been alerted about the breach.


The 2018-19 Premier League season is in the books, so now it is time to reveal our grade book. [ VIDEO: Premier League highlights ] Based on the expectations before, during and after the season, here's how we feel each team fared across the gruelling, but exhilarating, nine-month season. I'm sure you will all agree 100 percent with these grades… Arsenal : B+ The run to the Europa League final has saved their season, and boosts their grade. Unai Emery has changed around the culture of this Arsenal team, but there's only so much you can do in one season. They should have finished in the top four but collapsed late in the season, and their Champions League hopes now hinge on beating Chelsea in the Europa League final. The future of Mezut Ozil is uncertain, and although Arsenal have improved they are still shaky in defense. Bournemouth : B A really strong start saw Bournemouth pushing for European qualification but they took a nosedive in the second half of the season. Eddie Howe 's men had a lot of injuries to deal with and that played its part, but Bournemouth have to stop slumping late in the season. David Brooks , Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser were unstoppable at times. Brighton : D- They just survived, but it wasn't pretty. Like Bournemouth, they started well but tallied off quickly and they failed to win any of their last 11 games. Chris Hughton 's side need to score more goals and they can't rely on veteran Glenn Murray to deliver. A step backward. Burnley : D Sean Dyche 's side were impacted by Europa League qualifiers and they didn't reach the group stage. That hit them hard for most of this season as they were embroiled in a relegation scrap, but when Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood got going in the second half of the season, plus Tom Heaton excelling back in goal, they looked like the old Burnley. Dwight McNeil is a talent but Burnley will be battling against the drop again next season. Cardiff City : C+ Simply put, they had no right to be in with a shout of survival heading into the final two weeks of the season. Neil Warnock 's side were the favorites to go down due to their lack of spending and having a squad that wasn't even supposed to get out of the Championship. The tragedy surrounding Emiliano Sala 's death dealt a huge blow to Cardiff in January, but they almost stayed up. They got the most out of their ability. Chelsea : B+ All in all, not a bad season. Third place in Maurizio Sarri 's first season in England sounds like a great campaign on paper, but we all know it was far from that. Chelsea were so inconsistent and the future of Eden Hazard still hangs in the balance. The Blues are back in the Champions League, which was the main aim, but a FIFA transfer ban looms large and Sarri will have to work miracles to kick this squad on in the summer. Reaching the Europa League final is a bonus, while they only lost in the League Cup final on penalty kicks. Crystal Palace : B- A decent season for Palace, as they finished strongly and were very good away from home. Winning at Man City was their highlight and Roy Hodgson 's experience saw him steer the Eagles to 12th place, as they were never really in a relegation battle this season. Keeping Wilfried Zaha will be tough this summer, but there is a nucleus of a very good squad of players at Selhurst Park as they bought wisely last summer. Everton : B The Toffees will not want this season to end under Marco Silva , as the Portuguese coach finally found his feet in the final months of the campaign. An eighth place finish papers over the cracks, but Lucas Digne , Kurt Zouma , Richarlison and Andre Gomes all proved to be great additions, and Everton can now seriously challenge for the top six next season if new investment arrives. They don't have an out-and-out goalscorer, but Sigurdsson chipped in to help out with goals. Fulham : F A truly disastrous season for the Cottagers who were relegated in March and have had three different managers. They got rid of Slavisa Jokanovic in October, then Claudio Ranieri arrived and failed to reignite an expensively assembled squad full of individual talent. Scott Parker galvanized the players in the final weeks of the season, but it will be tough to see this Fulham team coming up next season. Huddersfield Town : F The same can be said for Huddersfield, as David Wagner left midseason and Jan Siewert 's side showed some promising signs but only secured one victory under the young German coach. It was a miracle to see Huddersfield in the PL in the first place, and now Siewert has a really tough job on his hands. One of the worst seasons in PL history with just 16 points and three wins gained. Leicester City : C Promising signs for the Foxes who finished in ninth. Claude Puel was fired in slightly harsh fashion, but his brand of soccer didn't suit this group of players. Brendan Rodgers is a perfect fit, as a young exciting side is led by James Maddison and wily veteran Jamie Vardy in attack, with Chilwell, Tielemans (only on loan) and Ndidi key. It will be exciting to see what Rodgers can achieve with this young group next season. Liverpool : A+ Well, they didn't win the title, but along with Man City they deserved to. Liverpool set a record for their highest points tally with 97, which is the third-highest in PL history. Jurgen Klopp 's men were imperious and lost just once in the PL (at Man City) and have reached the UCL final for the second-straight season, so their long wait for trophy could be over if they beat Tottenham. Yes, Liverpool came so close to ending their 29-year wait for a league title, but draws against West Ham and Leicester around the turn of the year cost them dear. Manchester City : A+ Back-to-back champions, Manchester City won their last 14 games of the season to secure the title. It was incredible to see Pep Guardiola 's men rip the PL apart for the second-straight season and rally from being seven points behind Liverpool in January. They are nailed on to be the first team in English history to win a domestic treble, and lost narrowly to Spurs in the UCL quarters to miss out on a chance to win the quadruple. This is a historic City team that will be talked about for decades to come. From Aguero to Sterling to Bernardo Silva to Aymeric Laporte , there were so many heroes for City. Guardiola has created a monstrous winning machine. Manchester United : D Awful season for United. They finished in sixth and their final day defeat at home to already-relegated Cardiff City summed things up. Jose Mourinho left after his early season meltdown and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived on a caretaker basis. A long unbeaten run for Ole papered over the cracks, but after he was given the job on a permanent basis the players regressed to their previous form and they were awful in the final weeks of the campaign. Paul Pogba and others have a lot to answer for. United are a long, long way from being title contenders, and finishing in the top four next season would be a huge success. Solskjaer has to be ruthless and lead a huge rebuild of this playing squad, but it is easier said than done. Newcastle United : B- The future of Rafael Benitez remains up in the air, but the Magpies finished 13th and had an amazing finish to the season. Newcastle now have a squad of players good enough to survive in the PL and the likes of Rondon, Almiron and Perez up front has finally solved their problem with a lack of goals. Newcastle need investment to kick on to the next level, but unless Mike Ashley sells the club, nothing will change. Southampton : D An absolutely shocking start to the season under Mark Hughes saw him sacked in December and Ralph Hasenhuttl appointed. That turned out to be an inspired hire, as the Austrian led Saints to safety with a few weeks of the season to go. Still, a lot of work for them to do as Nathan Redmond can't do it all on his own. Saints need to cut plenty of deadwood this summer and integrate talented youngsters with a couple of top quality players throughout the spin of their side. Will their new Chinese majority owners, and new bosses behind the scenes, back Hasenhuttl? Tottenham Hotspur : B+ After everything that has happened to Spurs this season, Mauricio Pochettino has proved once again he is a brilliant manager. From staying at Wembley eight months longer than expected to reaching the Champions League final without Harry Kane and several injured players, this has been an amazing season. With the new stadium up and running and Spurs in the top four once again, they have keep up with their rivals despite all of the odds. Watford : A- Javi Gracia 's side have reached the FA Cup final and finished 11th after flirting with European qualification for most of the season. After they reached the FA Cup final, they have lost their focus but this is still a fine season for the Hornets. Gerard Deulofeu has led the way and they have a squad full of powerful, reliable players. More to come from Watford next season. West Ham United : C+ A strong finish to the season saw the Hammers finish in 10th, which is about what we expected. Manuel Pellegrini 's side had a lot of injuries and a poor start to deal with, but his expensive signings added quality with Fabianski, Diop and Anderson key arrivals, plus Rice emerged as a genuine superstar. Exciting future for West Ham, who should push for Europe next season. Wolverhampton Wanderers : A What a season for Wolves. They reached the FA Cup semifinal and finished in seventh with 57 points, which is the third-best season for a newly promoted team in PL history. Nuno Espirito Santo has some great players to work with thanks to the Jorge Mendes link, but he's made the most of it and kept the philosophy of this squad together. Jota and Jimenez have been superb up top, with Doherty and Moutinho crucial. If Man City win the FA Cup, Wolves will be in Europe. Amazing. Follow @JPW_NBCSports


Joe Biden is making Donald Trump feel young again   and he's already riling up the president. The 72-year-old president stopped short of saying Biden, 76, is too old to run. But on Friday, only a day after the former vice president jumped into the race, Trump suggested Biden's candidacy was rejuvenating to him and his reelection bid. "I just feel like a young man. I'm so young. I can't believe it," the president told reporters. "I'm the youngest person   I am a young, vibrant man. I look at Joe. I don't know about him. I don't know." The comments, coming after Trump sent snarky tweets about Biden a day earlier, represented more sustained fire than Trump has typically trained on Democrats entering the race. The president has for months been more occupied with bemoaning special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of the 2016 campaign. But it appears that Biden   who believes he can appeal to Trump voters in the Rust Belt and said Americans can decide for themselves if he has the energy to be president   is getting under Trump's skin. Most polls show Biden and Bernie Sanders   who, at 77, is the only candidate older than Biden   atop the 20-person Democratic primary, a diverse field that includes a 37-year-old openly gay mayor; two African-American senators; a 44-year-old Latino ex-Cabinet secretary; and a half-dozen women. Biden's campaign said Friday it raised $6.3 million since he announced, the biggest 24-hour haul by a Democrat this cycle. Biden's three-and-a-half-minute launch video Thursday went directly at Trump, invoking the 2017 clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, involving white supremacist protesters. Trump, at the time, said "there were very fine people on both sides." "I believe history will look back on four years of this president and all he embraces as an abhorrent moment in time," Biden said in the video. "But if we give Donald Trump eight years in the White House, he will forever and fundamentally alter the character of this nation, who we are, and I cannot stand by and watch that happen." After Biden's video was released, reporters peppered Trump with queries about his 2017 comments, prompting him to insist that he answered questions about Charlottesville "perfectly" at the time. A Republican who speaks to the president often told POLITICO that bringing up the Charlottesville controversy "irks" Trump because "he knows it was the low point" of his presidency. Trump's re-election campaign said the president wasn't singling the Delaware Democrat out for special treatment, just returning fire. "Biden," said Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for Trump's campaign, "came out of the gate shooting at him, so naturally the president is going to hit back." "The president, as everyone knows, is not shy about sharing his view issues on his potential opponents. Joe Biden is not the first, nor is he likely to be the last," Murtaugh said. "He will take on people by name when it strikes him. He sees targets of opportunity and takes them." Another Trump campaign official, however, said the president thinks Biden is vulnerable. "Biden is an easy target, and [Trump] knows the Dem party is fractured and the energy of the party lies with its activists," the official said. "So hitting Biden from one side, while the Dem activists pinch him from the other side, will effectively kill his campaign." Biden's campaign declined to comment on their sparring. But a campaign source said the pair are polar opposites. "He is change Americans are looking for," this person said of Biden. "Voters know that, and clearly Donald Trump does too." Trump welcomed "Sleepy Joe" into the fold with a tweet Thursday that not only questioned his intelligence but predicted a "nasty" Democratic primary. "But if you make it, I will see you at the Starting Gate!" Trump added. By Friday, Trump was already thinking about the finish line. "I think we beat him easily," he said of Biden in a general election. In a fundraising email Friday morning, Biden's campaign said Trump's tweets "are a reminder of why we cannot afford four more years of this president." "The only person who would be making this campaign 'nasty' is Donald Trump himself," Biden's campaign wrote. As for the nickname, Biden said on ABC's "The View" Friday that no one else has referred to him as "sleepy." "It's usually the other end: Hyper Joe," he said. Marc Caputo and Gabby Orr contributed to this report.


Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has said the club won't exceed the €80m paid for Lucas Hernandez on a single transfer this summer. Bayern chiefs have previously been critical of other clubs' spending, yet broke their transfer record to bring World Cup winner Hernandez in from Atletico Madrid following a mixed season. Niko Kovac's side claimed a seventh straight Bundesliga title this campaign, but exited the Champions League in the round of 16 following a passive showing against Liverpool and failed to convince at times. 🗣 Niko Kovac: "Thank you to my team and our fans - we've achieved great things. We were nine points behind in autumn, so an extra big congratulations to my lads. I'm really happy." 🥇 Check out the #MEIS7ER -album here! 👇 https://t.co/NKbrVujh1v #MiaSanMia #FCBayern pic.twitter.com/UXSAzJFtOt   #MEIS7ER (@FCBayernEN) May 19, 2019 As reported by Goal , Hoeness told reporters after the final day victory over Eintracht Frankfurt: "We are not playing Monopoly here, but a football club. "We have reached a limit of 80 million and I do not think it will be exceeded on further transfers." While Bayern may not exceed the outlay on a single player, the Bavarians will still look to bring in further recruits this summer. Legends Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery both played their last game for Bayern against Eintracht, meaning reinforcements are needed in the wide areas. The club are also not expected to make James Rodriguez's loan move permanent. Hoeness added: "There will be a major change, which will be further promoted. We have already brought two or three players and will certainly not stop changing the team, and we will be back in action after the match. "If Hasan [Salihamidzic] and Karl-Heinz [Rummenigge] have good suggestions, we will not oppose it in the supervisory board." The club have already brought in Hernandez's France teammate Benjamin Pavard from Stuttgart after a €35m transfer was agreed in January. Bayern have also been linked with a number of targets further up the pitch as they seek to reinvigorate an ageing squad. Niko Kovac's side are thought to be keen on Lille forward Nicolas Pepe , while links to Manchester City winger Leroy Sane have also emerged in recent weeks following the German's struggle to get into Pep Guardiola's starting XI. The Bundesliga champions also hold a long-standing interest in RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, who is entering the final year of his contract. However, agreeing on a fee with Leipzig has proven difficult and Bayern may wait to sign him on a free next summer. Liverpool are also reportedly interested in a move for the German international.


Cops are taking a close look at an assistant who delivered a $40,000 cash ransom to a Washington, D.C., mansion during a hostage situation that ended in four gruesome murders and a fire to cover it up. Jordan Wallace, 28, an amateur race car driver, worked for a few months driving and doing odd-jobs for Savvas Savopoulos, the CEO of American Iron Works in Maryland. But last month, he was pressed into a life or death scenario: get cash and deliver it to his bosses' swanky $4.5 million dollar home, just a half mile from the U.S. Naval Observatory grounds, where Vice President Joe Biden lives. Wallace gave two different accounts of how he became involved in the high-stakes handoff, according to court documents obtained by the Washington Post. In one, he heard from the 46-year-old Savopoulos May 13 and was told to get the cash from CEO's accountant and put it inside a red car sitting in a garage at the mansion. He told cops he did that the morning of May 14. But Wallace originally told cops his boss called him May 14 and that Wallace accompanied the accountant to a Maryland bank and saw the accountant withdraw the cash before putting it in the red car. Text records give a different story altogether. Wallace texted Savopoulos around 8:30 p.m. on May 13, saying, "Got your message, I'll call you once I get the package." The next morning, Wallace made several phone calls and sent several text messages, including one to a woman around 9 a.m. that included a picture of the red bag and cash. "Daaaamn," the woman wrote back, according to the Washington Post. "I wonder how much it is?" "40," Wallace responded, which wowed the woman, who wrote back, "Jesus." The woman was his girlfriend, WTTG-TV reported. By about 10:30 a.m., Wallace texted his boss, "Package delivered." Sometime between then and about 1:15 p.m. that day, Savopoulos, his 47-year-old wife Amy, their 10-year-old son Philip and the family housekeeper, 57-year-old Veralicia Figueroa, were murdered and a fire was set, allegedly by 34-year-old Daron Dylon Wint, who fled the scene and wasn't arrested until nearly a week later. By the time of the blaze, Wallace was in Chantilly, Va., where he was helping Savopoulos start a martial arts studio. An employee of the iron works business told Wallace the home was engulfed in flames and he sped off to check on his employers. Police say the 34-year-old may not have acted alone in the horrific killings and that their investigation is ongoing. ngolgowski@nydailynews.com


Golf's version of the Griswold's "Family Vacation" made a detour to U.S. Open sectional qualifying in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday   and ended up with a spot in the field next week at Pebble Beach. "We're just doing it Saunders style," Sam Saunders said on Tuesday morning from behind the wheel of his SUV somewhere near Niagara Falls. Saunders earned the third qualifying spot in Columbus when he fired 64 at Brookside, a shot off the course record, and 69 at Scioto, which was playing to a par of 70. Pebble Beach holds a special significance for the 31-year-old grandson of Arnold Palmer. Palmer just so happened to be one of the the course's founders. "It was a special place for him, in golf and in business, as well," Saunders said. "It's a very meaningful spot." Pebble is also where Saunders earned his first PGA Tour check, at the 2010 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It's an event he's played every year since. "I just love Pebble," Saunders said, back behind the wheel after a pit stop at a Residence Inn east of Cleveland. "It's nice to play a U.S. Open where I've played so much." First comes a stop at the Canadian Open in Hamilton, Ontario, where Saunders, currently 185th in FedExCup points, hopes to play his way into the top 125. In the back seat on the ride to Canada were sons Cohen, 10, and Ace, 5. Arnold had nicknamed Sam as "Ace," and so the name was passed down. Saunders' wife, Kelly, was in the passenger seat up front. Four bicycles were strapped to the back of the Navigator as was a cargo box was on the roof of the vehicle. The Saunders don't just hang in hotel rooms. "They're watching 'Night at the Museum,'" Sam said of his boys, before adding, "It's better than flying private." The Saunders started their trip in Florida on May 26, stopped by their alma mater, Clemson, in South Carolina, took the kids to the amusement park in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, spent Memorial Day weekend in the mountains of North Carolina, and were planning to make to Hamilton for nine holes on Tuesday afternoon and the pro-am on Wednesday morning. They''ll be flying to Pebble and then back across the country to Hartford, Connecticut, for the Travelers Championship, as Saunders continues the quest to lock up his 2019-2020 Tour card before the end of the season. "I'm going to keep [playing]," he said, "until I don't need to play any more." Saunders, 31, is the same age his grandfather was when he drove the first green at Cherry Hills on his way to his only U.S. Open triumph in 1960. As for Sam, he's played in two U.S. Opens, with a best finish of T-50 in 2015.


This time last year, Rams fans and NFL analysts were talking about whether Todd Gurley could win MVP after finishing second to Tom Brady in 2017. Instead of discussing his high ceiling this year, the hot topic surrounding Gurley is the health of his knee. After he missed two regular-season games and was limited during the Rams' postseason run, it's easy to see why his knee is getting the most attention. Gurley didn't do any on-field work at OTAs and wasn't out there for minicamp Tuesday, but after working out, he met with the media and ensured everyone his knee is fine. "I'm fine, I'm training, I'm doing what I'm doing in the offseason - what I've always done up to this point, so it's just part of getting ready for training camp and the season," Gurley said. He even put to rest any notion that he's changed his offseason training regimen. "No, just same workouts, whatever my trainer tells me to do." Gurley has nothing left to prove after winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 and being an All-Pro the last two seasons. Getting on the field for OTAs likely wouldn't have done him (or anyone) much good, aside from maybe quieting rumors about his knee. "I don't feel like I need to do OTAs. I know what I've done, I know what I can do," he said. Earlier, Sean McVay confirmed Gurley will do on-field work in training camp when the Rams report to UC Irvine on July 27. The goal is for Gurley to be as fresh and healthy as possible for Week 1, so it's unclear whether he'll be limited at all in camp. One thing's for sure, though: Gurley will be ready to go when practices get back underway next month. "I'm ready for camp. It'll be here, slowly but surely. And we'll all be back together," he said. Gurley understandably didn't reveal much about his knee, as he never does, but he was asked how it compared to his recovery from a torn ACL in college. It's no comparison to the All-Pro running back, who downplayed the impact of this current situation. "I had bigger problems to worry about coming out of college. This is small," said Gurley. No one besides Gurley truly knows how he's feeling or whether his knee will be an issue this season, but based on his comments, he doesn't seem overly worried. MORE: See all 13 (!!) goals from USA's destruction of Thailand in their opening game of World Cup Kevin Durant Has a $31.5 Million Player Option; Will Warriors Offer Him Supermax Contract? Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman How Kevin Durant's Achilles injury alters Kyrie Irving's free agency News: Do Cowboys have best group of QBs across the entire league?


Ferrari has begun "evaluating new concepts" for its Formula 1 car after determining the extent of "different mechanical and aerodynamic settings" required to work Pirelli's 2019 tyres better. In the wake of fluctuating car performance and its rival Mercedes sweeping to five consecutive one-two finishes, Ferrari has undertaken detailed analysis of its problems getting the most out of its SF90. Team principal Mattia Binotto conceded after the Spanish Grand Prix that Ferrari needed to establish if its 2019 car concept was wrong. Its 2019 car design prioritised managing outwash and improving aerodynamic efficiency while Mercedes opted for a higher-downforce solution. Ferrari will have some car updates in Monaco but is "already working on evaluating new concepts" at Maranello for the future. Binotto said that work conducted during last week's post-Spanish GP test, when Ferrari worked through a range of set-up changes, made it clear that the thinner-gauge Pirelli tyres being used in 2019 are proving a major factor. "Last week's testing in Barcelona and analyses carried out in Maranello confirmed just how much this year's tyres, which are very different to those we had in 2018, require different mechanical and aerodynamic settings to work properly," said Binotto. "We are already working in Maranello on evaluating new concepts, as well as bringing some initial further updates here." Read Also: Tech verdict: The winners and losers from F1's latest updates Ferrari made major changes to its car during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend but it made little difference to its performance, qualifying and finishing well drift of Mercedes. The team's simulator drivers from 2018, Antonio Giovinazzi and Daniil Kvyat, have been replaced for this season because they have secured race drives at Alfa Romeo and Toro Rosso respectively. Ferrari's switch to using Antonio Fuoco, Pascal Wehrlein and Brendon Hartley as development drivers has coincided with the team struggling to make the sort of gains after Friday practice that it made last year. It will be vital for Ferrari to make a better step from Thursday practice to Saturday qualifying this weekend given the importance of grid position in Monaco. "It's a very different sort of race, where the track characteristics that can shake up the order could be jumbled up still further this weekend," said Binotto. "As usual, qualifying will be very important because it's almost impossible to overtake." Ferrari trails Mercedes by 96 points in the constructors' championship and its best-placed driver, Sebastian Vettel, is 48 points adrift of Lewis Hamilton in the drivers' standings. A meeting took place at Ferrari's Italian headquarters last week, attended by company chairman John Elkann. As well as backing Binotto, who assumed the team principal role for 2019, it has been suggested that one outcome was a decision for more budget to be committed to the 2019 car. This is said to be to avoid resource being taken away from the early development of Ferrari's 2020 contender.


Lenovo has released a tool to help users remove Superfish, according to a statement released today by the company. Superfish is an adware program that was pre-installed on Lenovo's consumer PCs and made users vulnerable to attack. The Superfish bug quickly went from bad to worse yesterday when researchers found and published a password that would allow anyone to unlock the certificate authority and bypass the computer's web encryption. With the password and the right software, a person on the same Wi-Fi network as a bugged Lenovo user could potentially spy on that user, or insert malware into the data stream. Users need to uninstall Superfish and remove the certificate The tool allows users to automatically uninstall the Superfish application and remove the certificate from web browsers, which previously could only be done manually. In the statement, Lenovo said, "We are working with McAfee and Microsoft to have the Superfish software and certificate quarantined or removed using their industry-leading tools and technologies. This action has already started and will automatically fix the vulnerability even for users who are not currently aware of the problem." Users with infected computers will need to uninstall Superfish and remove the certificate in order to completely fix the issue. Researcher Filippo Valsorda created this test to show if your computer is infected. Superfish is present on Lenovo laptops sold between September 2014 and January 2015.


Craving burgers? You're in luck: a new business has opened its doors in the neighborhood. The newcomer to Northwest Anaheim, called YoYo Burgers and Chicken , is located at 510 N. Brookhurst St., Unit 103. YoYo Burgers and Chicken offers a variety of burger and chicken meals. On the menu, look for sliders; the smoked barbecue spicy burger with smoked beef bacon, spicy smoked barbecue sauce, mozzarella and Asian hoisin mayonnaise; and the grilled Cajun chicken sandwich. YoYo Burgers and Chicken has already attracted fans thus far, with a five-star rating out of 32 reviews on Yelp. Mohammad N., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on June 24, wrote, "The food is very good, the prices are great and the food portions are generous. They don't charge extra for ranch, and the jalapeño ranch is a must try for anyone that likes a little kick." Yelper Lucy S. added , "The chicken tenders are so good, very crispy but also very tender and juicy. The cheese curds were great. The onion rings have an interesting breading but still very good. Their ranch and honey mustard sauces are both excellent." Head on over to check it out: YoYo Burgers and Chicken is open from 11 a.m. midnight daily. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in Anaheim? Here's what else opened recently near you . 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.


The preseason Amway Coaches Poll was released on Thursday, giving us the top 25 teams college football for the first time ahead of the 2019 campaign. Teams like Clemson , Alabama , and Georgia solidified their deserved spots on the rankings; however, there were teams that, quite frankly, didn't belong in the top 25 at all. Let's name the three that jump out the most. 3. No. 25 Northwestern This isn't a testament to the coaching ability of Pat Fitzgerald. Rather, it's the fact that the Northwestern Wildcats are in a tough Big Ten West division. The Nebraska Cornhuskers are unofficially ranked as the No. 26 team in the nation, not to mention that the division includes the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Purdue Boilermakers, who are known to pull off some sneaky upsets. Northwestern made it onto the Top 25, but by a slim nine points. Don't be surprised if they tumble out in due time. 2. No. 17 UCF Central Florida has built the reputation of the team with a chip on its shoulder, evidenced by the university's campaigns against the NCAA in pursuit of being declared national champs. The Knights enter the season ranked 16th in the nation, but have been decimated at the quarterback position. McKenzie Milton and Darriel Mack Jr. are both sidelined due to injuries, so UCF will have to resort to using third-string quarterback Brandon Wimbush. The transfer from Notre Dame isn't the most refined passer, and is more used to the wildcat than a traditional dropback offense. An undefeated season isn't exactly a given in Orlando this year. 1. No. 22 Syracuse The Syracuse Orange enter the season as the No. 22-ranked team in the nation, but they have question marks at the quarterback position. The team will be without dual-threat quarterback Eric Dungey, who entered the NFL, both through the air and on the ground. Head coach Dino Babers will likely use Tommy Devito as the team's starter, but he's more of a pocket passer. Cuse has to prove itself before being worthy of ranked status. Related slideshow: Coaches preseason Top 25 poll (provided by USA Today Sports)


The recent effort by NFL senior V.P. of officiating Al Riveron to explain the new pass interference replay review to members of NFL Media continues to generate new reasons to be concerned that the league's effort to avoid another Rams-Saints debacle will lead to more, not less, controversy. Last week, Mike Giardi of NFL Media disclosed that Riveron (who usually conducts these sessions with networks on an off-the-record basis) explained that a Week 15 defensive pass interference call against Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller would have become offsetting interference fouls on replay review , given that Chargers receiver Mike Williams used his arm to get separation. This sparked several PFT articles regarding the potential impact of this approach on replay review of pass interference, with the overriding question being whether 17 replay officials will consistently apply the same standard when determining whether to activate a full-blown replay review based on whether offensive or defensive pass interference did or didn't happen. Expanding on the information disclosed by Giardi, Rich Eisen of NFL Media explains in a guest appearance at Football Morning in America that Riveron also pointed to a controversial non-call from Super Bowl LIII, which resulted in Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore not being flagged for pass interference on Rams receiver Brandin Cooks . Eisen writes that Riveron explained to the NFL Media employees that the new procedure would have resulted in a flag being thrown on Gilmore for defensive pass interference. Because it happened with more than two minutes left in the game, Rams coach Sean McVay would have been required to throw a red challenge flag to initiate replay review. Implicit in Riveron's belief that replay review would have triggered a penalty flag on Gilmore is the reality that, if Riveron believes that clear and obvious evidence of an error existed to justify overturning the ruling on the field, clear and obvious evidence would have existed to initiate an automatic review under the heightened standard for replay-review gatekeeping when pass interference is at issue. Watch the play . Is it clear and obvious that Gilmore significantly hindered Cooks? Gilmore definitely makes contact with Cooks, but Cooks still is able to nearly catch the ball. Yes, Gilmore hooks Cooks' left arm, but Cooks still pulls his arm up and puts it in position for the reception, with only a legal blow delivered by Patriots safety Duron Harmon (and/or the impending blow from Harmon) causing Cooks to lose control of the ball. So is it clear and obvious that Gilmore significantly hindered Cooks? I don't think it is. Flip it around. If pass interference had been called, would if have been clear and obvious that Gilmore didn't significantly hinder Cooks? No. Which means that, regardless of the call, the ruling on the field arguably should stand. Riveron obviously thinks otherwise. Unless the NFL plans to replace Riveron before the start of the season, he'll be the ultimate internal authority on matters of this nature for 2019. Based on his mishandling of multiple catch/no-catch rulings in 2017, concern lingers in league circles regarding Riveron's ability to apply relevant standards consistently and accurately in real time. The explanations provided by Riveron in connection with the Super Bowl LIII and Chargers-Chiefs plays potentially amplifies the concern that the effort to prevent another Rams-Saints outcome will result in other situations involving far less clear and/or obvious interference calls and non-calls being overturned, when they just shouldn't be. So, yes, this will continue to be a major potential problem as the NFL's 100th season approaches. And if the procedure is applied the way that Riveron seems to believe it should be applied, the league's first three-digit campaign could be remembered for the regular torrent of four-letter words that it provokes.


Curious just how far your dollar goes in Newark? We've rounded up the latest rental listings via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide , to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to hunting down an apartment in Newark if you've got a budget of $1,800/month. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 452 Washington St. Listed at $1,800/month, this one-bedroom, one-bathroom unit is located at 452 Washington St. Inside, you'll find hardwood floors and a dishwasher. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: this spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Look out for a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. According to Walk Score's assessment, the surrounding area has excellent walkability, has some bike infrastructure and boasts excellent transit options. (Take a look at the complete listing here .) 124 Adams St., #210 Next, check out this 891-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's located at 124 Adams St., #210. It's listed for $1,750/month. In the unit, you'll get hardwood floors, a dishwasher and in-unit laundry. Building amenities include an elevator and garage parking. If you've got a pet, you'll be happy to learn that cats and dogs are allowed. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area has excellent walkability, is very bikeable and boasts excellent transit options. (See the complete listing here .) 50-60 Columbia St. Finally, located at 50-60 Columbia St., here's an 891-square-foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that's listed for $1,702/month. In the unit, you can anticipate hardwood floors, in-unit laundry and a dishwasher. The building offers secured entry and a fitness center. Neither cats nor dogs are welcome. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is extremely walkable, is bikeable and has excellent transit. (Take a gander at the complete listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


If you're interested in new Washington bars, consider dropping into one of these new spots. Here are the newest places to check out the next time you're in search of a new bar near you. Dos Mamis 819 Upshur St. NW, Petworth First, check out cocktail and wine bar Dos Mamis . The spot features soft-serve sherry, as well as a variety of daiquiris. Try the white rum daiquiri with grapefruit and lime. Also on offer is beer and wine. With a four-star Yelp rating out 19 reviews, Dos Mamis has been getting positive attention. Yelper Rehob G., who reviewed the spot on July 28, wrote, "The 'gin ne sais quoi' is my fave. Love the patio and cocktails the size of softballs." Dos Mamis is open from 5 11 p.m. on Tuesday-Sunday. (It's closed on Monday.) Lucy's Bar 3907 14th St. NW, Petworth Lucy's Bar , a cocktail bar and event space, is on the rooftop of Little Coco's Italian restaurant. The menu offers cocktails and craft beers, in addition to sandwiches, classic cheeseburgers and a fried green tomato sandwich. The space is also available for hosting private parties of up to 35 people. Lucy's Bar's current Yelp rating of four stars out of three reviews indicates the newcomer is receiving solid reviews from customers. Yelper Matt S., who reviewed Lucy's Bar on June 14, wrote, "The menu is small, but it's also nice to have a place in D.C. where you can grab dinner for two and have a drink and not break the bank." And Alex S. wrote , "This is a cool little pop-up ... It's bright and airy and the service was fast and friendly. But the food was just not great for the price." Lucy's Bar is open from 5 p.m. 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 p.m. midnight on Friday and Saturday. Hanumanh 1604 Seventh St. NW, Shaw Last but not least is bar and Laotian restaurant Hanumanh . Hanumanh offers tiki cocktails served in cups shaped like exotic animals. The food menu includes fried milk bread with Maggi-seasoned egg yolk, curry dishes and more. With a 3.5-star Yelp rating out of 29reviews on Yelp, Hanumanh is still finding its way, but it's early days. Billy F. who reviewed the spot on July 26, wrote, "The drinks and service are good (though overpriced and way too sweet). The food isn't. It was alright because southeast Asian food basics   ginger, garlic, curry, lemongrass, coconut milk   make anything good. But [it was] nothing special." Hanumanh is open from 5 p.m. midnight on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5 p.m. 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed on Tuesday.) 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.


Josh McCown retired a couple of days ago and was immediately hired by EPSN . On his first day, during his first "SportsCenter" appearance, he immediately stirred up controversy. McCown was asked to rank his top-five NFL receivers. That's a tough list to navigate, all on its own given the level of talent at this position around the league. And it's easy to see why he chose his first three selections: Julio Jones Michael Thomas Odell Beckham Jr. Now, here's where he went off the rails. For his fourth and fifth selections, he chose: Julian Edelman Mike Evans Social media users everywhere couldn't believe what they saw, as McCown chose Edelman over the likes of DeAndre Hopkins and Antonio Brown. Josh McCown just got hired at #ESPN and he's already trying to get fired. Has Edelman in his top 5 WRs and not Hopkins or AB pic.twitter.com/bL12OXjelw   Jordan (@JordanDahms) June 19, 2019 Nah, Josh McCown just got on ESPN with a straight face and said AB and Nuk aren't top 5 WRs in the NFL. Yet he stuck Julian Edelman at #4 lmao   Danny Rinehart (@daskins_21) June 19, 2019 Josh McCown's first SportsCenter hit and he puts Julian Edelman at #4 among WRs because … "championships" He then left DeAndre Hopkins and Antonio Brown out of the top 5 pic.twitter.com/I7VmWXtx4Q   Trenton Jocz (@TrentonJocz) June 19, 2019 This guy McCown has Antonio Brown and DeAndre Hopkins in the top 5 was but has Edelman in his top 5….ESPN use to be so nice to watch. What happened??? This is getting unreal.   Big Gene (@GeneWilly) June 19, 2019 Josh McCown just said on live TV that Julian Edelman was a top 5 receiver and DHop and AB weren't. Send that man to Shutter Island.   Caleb Colossus (@CalebColossus) June 19, 2019 Fire McCown already. Dude said Edelman is the 4th best receiver in the league….   Stephen Barnette (@Coach_Steve29) June 19, 2019 Got start for Josh McCown on ESPN giving his top 5 NFL WR and leaving AB and Deandre Hopkins of the list. Oh by the way he included Julian Edelman and Mike Evans.   Brian Lombardo (@Brian_Lombardo) June 19, 2019 This man josh mccown just made a top 5 WR list and AB and Hopkins weren't on it he had Edelman and mike Evans over them get this man off tv please   Rob (@daksteel) June 19, 2019 Josh McCown begins his tenure at ESPN by ranking Julian Edelman as the 4th best receiver in league because he's "a winner"   Lawrence 2021 (@GatorBait_Ethan) June 19, 2019 McCown said he wants to see how AB adjusts to a new system like Edelman hasn't been catching slants and meshes from Tom Brady his entire career...I'm lost! Hop and AB below Edelman and Mike Evans He is entitled to his opinion but sheeesh for his contract I can do better!   Stephen Barnette (@Coach_Steve29) June 19, 2019 Josh McCown just said Mike Evans and Julian Edelman are both better the Deandre Hopkins man somebody get this dweeb off of Sports Center immediately.   nobody (@MarvPharaoh) June 19, 2019 Let's be honest about this: Given the way ESPN has been trending these days , McCown's list should not come as a surprise.


While Jimmy Butler is the Rockets' "dream addition," the team has its eye on a number of other potential targets in free agency, writes Sam Amick of The Athletic . A source with knowledge of the Rockets' plans tells Amick that Danny Green , Jeremy Lamb , Al-Farouq Aminu , DeAndre Jordan , Brook Lopez and Kevon Looney are among the veteran free agents that have piqued the club's interest. General manager Daryl Morey has indicated that the Rockets would like to add a third star to complement James Harden and Chris Paul , whose supposedly " unsalvageable " relationship was referred to as "fake news" by P.J. Tucker within Amick's story. Multiple reports have identified Butler as the team's most likely target. However, there are a number of roadblocks standing in the way of acquiring Butler   the Sixers would have to agree to a sign-and-trade, a third team would likely have to be involved due to Base Year Compensation rules, and Houston's ability to fill out a roster around Harden, Paul and Butler would be extremely limited due to a hard cap. And, of course, Butler would have to want to go to Houston badly enough to try to make it all work. If the Rockets strike out on Butler, they're more likely to simply operate as an over-the-cap team and make use of the mid-level exception to add another rotation player to their core. Depending on the club's proximity to the tax apron, that mid-level could either be worth about $9.25M (full) or $5.71M (taxpayer). That's where the free agents listed above would come in to play, though even some of those guys   including Green, Lamb, and Lopez   may be out of reach with the mid-level (especially the taxpayer MLE) unless they're willing to take a bit of a discount. All the players named by Amick will be unrestricted free agents this summer.


MALIBU (CBSLA)   Authorities were searching Monday for a 30-year-old Colorado woman who suffers from depression and went missing in Malibu last week. An undated photo of Jennifer Michelle Lorber. (L.A. County Sheriff's Department) Jennifer Michelle Lorber was last spoken to on Thursday, May 23, at 11 p.m. after she flew from Colorado to Los Angeles, according to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. She rented a car and drove to a motel in the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway. Lorber's rental car, a white 2018 Toyota Rav4, was found at 11:15 p.m. Saturday parked on Pacific Coast Highway at Paradise Cove Road, Deputy Tracy Koerner said. Deputies searched through the night and Sunday and were expected to continue the search after daylight Monday, he said. Lorber suffers from depression and her family is concerned for her. She is described as white, 5-foot-1, weighing about 100 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts should call LASD detectives at 323-890-5500. (© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. City News Service contributed to this report.)


The Buffalo Bills tried to improve their offense this offseason. The team splashed with numerous free agent signings and kept the ball rolling during the NFL draft. ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently released power rankings for NFL offenses at the world-wide leader. There's good news and bad news. The Bills' stock improved, but not by much. Buffalo landed in the No. 25 spot. Here's how Barnwell explains the decision: Some teams try to target one big weapon for their young quarterback. The Bills, on the other hand, went to Costco and bought in bulk this offseason. In addition to bringing in four new starters along their offensive line (who aren't considered here), the Bills signed two starting wideouts, brought in three tight ends and added three running backs to compete with LeSean McCoy, who had his worst season as a pro in 2018. The Bills are unquestionably deep and likely better at the skill positions than they were a year ago, but there might not be a needle-mover in the bunch unless Devin Singletary or Dawson Knox breaks out as a rookie. John Brown was promising in the first half of 2018 with the Ravens, and Cole Beasley and Tyler Kroft are upgrades on what was previously replacement-level talent, but the most important wideout on this team likely is undrafted free agent Robert Foster, who seemed to find a rapport with Josh Allen in December. If Foster's back-to-back 100-yard games turn out to be a flash in the pan, the Bills will likely be back in the market for a No. 1 wideout this time next year. For all the additions, this group probably still needs impressive years from McCoy and Foster to take a step forward. Costco is certainly one way to describe the work done by Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane this offseason. The team added more offensive lineman than there are starting spots on the field, and the additions at the playmaker spots saw plenty of increases in numbers, too. Despite all that, it's tough for ESPN or any observer of the Bills to see significant improvement without Buffalo proving it on the field. Not only did the Bills not add what ESPN describes as a "needle-mover," but all of these pieces have to mesh. Wideouts and rushers have to get on the same page as Allen, while Mitch Morse will lead the way for a new-look offense line. Training camp in 2019 will be extremely important for the team in 2019. At the end of last season, Buffalo ranked No. 29, seeing a slight improvement. ESPN highlights that the Bills were at No. 27 in 2017 when Tyrod Taylor was Buffalo's starting QB, though. In the rankings, Buffalo only is ranked higher than the Miami Dolphins in terms of the AFC East. The New York Jets clock in at No. 20, with the New England Patriots landing at nine. The Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs took your top-two spots, respectively. MORE: Poker player loses brutal 31 million chip hand with pocket aces at 2019 WSOP Main Event Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul News: Major trade target at safety, levels to Cowboys WRs, NFL's best back NBA Depth Charts The Ringer believes Raiders could trade SS Karl Joseph to Cowboys


By Steve DelVecchio Earlier this week, former Chicago Bulls forward Horace Grant shared a story about the time Michael Jordan punched one of his teammates in the face during practice and left him with a black eye. The story checks out. While hosting the Bulls pregame show on CSN Chicago Wednesday, Will Perdue provided some more details. He claims Grant left the part out about MJ being frustrated because the second unit was whooping the first unit. "First of all, the second unit was kicking the first unit's butt, and Michael wasn't too happy about it," Perdue explained, as transcribed by Dan Feldman of Pro Basketball Talk . "And we used to do that actually quite often in practice." Perdue then explained how assistant coach Johnny Bach had instructed him to keep setting hard screens on Jordan, as Phil Jackson and the Bulls coaches wanted to see if MJ was willing to fight through them for four quarters. "So, we kept running this play, and sometimes my screens were illegal. Sometimes they were not," Perdue said. "But my job was to make sure I hit him. Well one time he said, 'If you do that again I'm going to make you pay for it.' Well Johnny Bach just stood there and goes, 'Run it again.' "So we ran it again, and this time I figured if I'm going to get my money's worth. I nailed him, knocked him to the ground, kind of stood over him a little bit. He stood up, popped me and before I could get him they got us and that was the end of it." Jordan later apologized to Perdue, and Perdue admitted he was rocking a shiner for a few days. The story sounds awfully similar to the one that Steve Kerr told a couple of years back about Chicago's glory days. As mentioned previously, these types of stories would be massive if the incidents took place during the social media era. Kobe Bryant can't even yell at his teammates during practice without making headlines. Imagine how much Twitter buzz Jordan's antics would have created?


Ice Cube's fledging 3-on-3 league has the talent and the branding, but does it have a coherent style of play? The BIG3 basketball league knows what it wants to be. As rapper and BIG3 founder Ice Cube said during a weekly conference call with reporters, the league is meant to complement the NBA, filling the time during a summer with no men's basketball. But in talking to players and coaches, that identity is not as obvious as the league thinks it should be in its third season. The BIG3 is made up of former NBA players who are no longer in the league "for whatever reason," explained Cube, who was quick to note that doesn't mean the quality of basketball is worse than the NBA's. The league targets players the NBA thinks are done and whose careers might otherwise be over. The league age minimum is 27, with Perry Jones III, a former Baylor standout and current member of the Enemies, just over that mark as the youngest player in the league. While player opinions differ on whether the league should be used as an avenue for players to return to the NBA or as a post-NBA career or even both, Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler   who was named the league's commissioner in March 2018   emphasized that these are just athletes continuing to to play at a high level. He acknowledged different players use the league for different reasons. "This is not just old guys playing basketball," Drexler said. "These are great athletes playing a game suited particularly to their skills." "This is not just old guys playing basketball. These are great athletes playing a game suited particularly to their skills." -Clyde Drexler As that mix of players returned to Brooklyn, the city in which the league played its first games three years ago, it did so with a game and atmosphere that was still in development. What may seem like any other basketball game featuring otherwise-retired NBA players and former college stars performing in front of 13,000 people is actually a form of basketball most fans aren't used to watching. For starters, BIG3 basketball is only played on a half court. If the defensive team gets a rebound, it must go back behind the three-point line, similar to your typical pickup game rules. Each game is played to 50 points, with a win-by-two rule   again, just like a pickup game. But that's where the similarities to open gym come to an end. The longer you watch, the more differences you find. Players are allowed to knock down four-pointers if they are standing on three different spots on the court, each 30 feet from the hoop. When a player is fouled, he gets one free throw, worth the number of points that was attempted. Also, there are referees calling fouls like an organized 5-on-5 game. At times, the BIG3's brand of basketball appears more like street ball than professional ball. At times, it feels the opposite. That leads to an adjustment period for fans and players alike, even though the league is halfway through its third season. "We have to learn how to play this style of basketball," said Bivouac's C.J. Leslie , a former North Carolina State star and son of WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. "We've got guys who are decades in the pros and played in the finals and tough games, but that doesn't necessarily follow up with this style of the BIG3." Bivouac's coach, two-time NBA All-Star Reggie Theus, said while people think there isn't a learning curve for new BIG3 players since it's still basketball, they couldn't be more wrong. Bivouac   which is one of four expansion teams this season   lost two games because, in his words, they didn't yet understand "how to win." "Coach lets us know, 'Hey, do this even though that's not technically the NBA style,'" Leslie admitted. The league's unique rules lead to a unique style of play. BIG3 basketball is more physical than the NBA, so referees have to walk a fine line with what they let slide and what calls they make. The "no blood, no foul" mantra of street-ball sometimes reveals itself in BIG3 games, but sometimes they have to blow the whistle. Those rules were clearly on display in the Barclays Center. As Bivouac and 3 Headed Monsters both neared 50 points in the final game of the day, former Georgia Tech star Will Bynum was fouled while taking a three-pointer. At 47 points, Bynum just needed to drain his four-point free throw to seal the game for Bivouac, which is exactly what he did. Despite a run by @MChalmers15 and @ReggieEvans30 , the 3 Headed Monsters were no match for Will Bynum ( @12Thrill ), Josh Smith, C.J. Leslie and Bivouac! pic.twitter.com/CN4ZkkrlOL   BIG3 on CBS (@thebig3) July 14, 2019 But while BIG3 basketball may often feel like your average game of pickup hoops at the park, the biggest difference comes the pace of play. In a half-court setting with only six players, there's less defensive help and more on-ball defense. The game is quick on both sides of the ball, and the transition from offense to defense is fast. As Drexler said, the basketball IQ and experience the players glean from the pros never go away. "The NBA tells guys at a certain age that you can't play anymore because you're too slow, you can't jump as high, you can't run as fast as you once could," said Kenyon Martin, a former NBA All-Star who played in the BIG3 and now coaches Trilogy. "But you don't forget how to play basketball. Guys are proving that in this league. Guys are playing at a high level." In a way, the different rules, players, and style underscores Ice Cube's emphasis that the BIG3 is meant to complement the NBA, not compete with it. He still believes there is a place for three-on-three basketball at a high level and an appetite for it from players and fans alike. "We want people to respect the sport and respect the athletes that we have because they are the best three-on-three players in the world," he said. "We're a little cocky with it, but we've got Joe Johnson , Stephen Jackson , some of the best players that ever laced up. Champions. We feel like this sport can grow. It should, it's needed. So why not us?" But just being a complement to the NBA isn't enough to maintain a brand identity. The next step for the BIG3 to actually grow the sport and create a larger following for three-on-three basketball, then, is to figure out exactly what kind of sport it's growing. Related slideshow: 10 best moves of the 2019 NBA offseason (Provided by Yardbarker)


Couldn't catch the latest high school baseball games in and around Boston? Read on for local boys varsity baseball outcomes from the past week, powered by data from high school sports source MaxPreps . (Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Details like game dates, times, scores and team records are based on data provided by MaxPreps and may be subject to change; the latest up-to-date information is available at the links below.) Dedham triumphs over Snowden International Quincy Upper The Snowden International Quincy Upper team traveled to Dedham this week to face off against the Dedham Marauders on Sunday. The Marauders out-smarted the Cougars 7-3, to walk away with the win . The win brought Dedham's record to 17-3, while Snowden International Quincy Upper's record fell to 14-3. Dover-Sherborn scores 12 runs, cruises past Saint Joseph Prep On Monday, May 27, the Dover Dover-Sherborn Raiders toppled the Brighton Saint Joseph Prep Phoenix by a score of 12-1. The win brought Dover-Sherborn's record to 6-14, while Saint Joseph Prep's record fell to 6-12. Matignon hangs on against Brighton The Cambridge Matignon Warriors toppled the Brighton Bengals 1-0 on Monday. Saint Joseph Prep snuffs out Cathedral On Thursday, May 30, the Brighton Saint Joseph Prep Phoenix traveled to Boston to face off against Cathedral Panthers . They drove home satisfied: The Phoenix clinched a 7-4 victory . This story was created automatically using local sports data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.