The Royals announced Monday that they've requested unconditional release waivers on first baseman/designated hitter Lucas Duda . He'll be a free agent in 48 hours once he clears. Kansas City designated Duda, 33, for assignment over the weekend. He signed a minor league contract with the club in Spring Training after being cut loose from a similar pact he'd signed with the Twins. However, Duda mustered only a .171/.252/.324 batting line with four home runs in 119 trips to the plate in his second stint with the Royals. Given the magnitude of those struggles and the number of alternate options   Ryan O'Hearn , Cheslor Cuthbert and even Frank Schwindel , who was released over Duda early in the year   it's a bit surprising that Duda lasted on the roster as long as he did. Duda's track record against right-handed pitching could get him a minor league deal elsewhere once he reaches the open market. He's a lifetime .249/.351/.481 hitter when holding the platoon advantage at the Major League level, and he hit .264/.336/.477 in such situations just last year. But Duda is also strictly a first baseman, if not a pure designated hitter in the eyes of clubs around the league at this point in his career. If he's to find his way back onto a big league roster, he'll likely need to head to Triple-A and show some signs of life against minor league opposition in order to earn another look.


At least two suspects are currently in custody in connection with the shooting of retired Red Sox legend David Ortiz on Sunday night in his native Santo Domingo. Here's what we know about the alleged assailants. 1] Eddy Vladimir Féliz Garcia   The 23-year-old Garcia stands accused of driving the gunman to the night spot where Ortiz was shot in the back. The beloved former slugger is currently recovering at Mass. General. Garcia made an initial court appearance in Santo Domingo Tuesday night and remains in police custody. His lawyer and his mother insist he's innocent of any wrongdoing, asserting he's a motorcycle taxi driver who unwittingly picked up the gunman as a fare and drove him to the crime scene without knowing his intentions. In a statement Tuesday, Attorney General Jean Alain Rodríguez's office said prosecutors are requesting one year of preventative detention for Garcia, who also goes by El Nata or Vladi. Authorities described Garcia as an "accomplice to the assassination attempt" on Ortiz. Garcia appears to be an aspiring rapper who performs under the moniker El Nata, according to his Instagram page. Video by Sports Illustrated 2] The second suspect   On Tuesday night, an official briefed on the case said a second person had been taken into custody, but the suspect's name wasn't released. Police had been looking for a man who they believed had shot Ortiz Sunday night, though it wasn't immediately clear if the person apprehended Tuesday night is the suspected gunman. 3] Additional parties   In its statement on Garcia, Rodríguez's office suggested more people are being sought in connection with the shooting. The release said in Spanish that "other persons" who participated in the crime have been identified, and more details will be released in a "timely manner" once "the capture and interrogations" have been completed. The Dominican newspaper Listin Diario, citing law enforcement officials, has reported that Garcia and the gunman allegedly plotted the shooting with other people who were in two Hyundai vehicles one street away from the Dial Bar and Lounge, where Ortiz was at the time of the attack. The newspaper identified the suspected gunman as Oliver Mirabal, who was captured Tuesday night. 4] Motive unclear   Authorities have not said why they believe the gunman shot Ortiz but have ruled out robbery as a motive. Maria Cramer, Aimee Ortiz, Michael Levenson, Bob Hohler, and Pete Abraham of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com . Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe . Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


The Walker Cup is less than three months away, and as the summer amateur season gets underway, the race to be on the 10-man U.S. team for the Sept. 7-8 matches at Royal Liverpool is wide open. Here is a primer on what to expect: Who's out Several top American contenders have either already turned pro or plan to do so this month, including Matthew Wolff, Justin Suh, Collin Morikawa, Will Gordon, Bryson Nimmer and Zach Bauchou. Wolff, Gordon and Nimmer were among the 16 players who participated in the Walker Cup practice session last December. For guys like Wolff, lucrative endorsement deals and PGA Tour exemptions were too much to pass up. For others like Gordon and Nimmer, who have Mackenzie Tour status, they couldn't surrender guaranteed starts. "Walker Cup is a pretty big deal, but it's not a guarantee whether you're going to make it or not," Nimmer said. "What happened to Sam Burns two years ago (Burns put off turning pro but didn't make the team), that was in the back of my head when I made the decision. The safe option was just turning pro." Pro golf can wait While the crop of U.S. talent certainly took a hit this month, there are several college graduates remaining amateur for the chance to play for their country. "Three months ain't gonna kill me," said Texas A&M's Chandler Phillips, the third highest-ranked American in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Among the list of American candidates is Georgia Southern's Steven Fisk, who is currently the fourth highest-ranked eligible U.S. player. Nathaniel Crosby, the 2019 U.S. Walker Cup captain, made the trip to Blessings Golf Club for the NCAA Championship to scout his potential team members. He spent much of his time there following Fisk, who won six times this past season before finishing runner-up to Wolff for the NCAA individual title. Word was that Crosby was surprised by Fisk being left off the practice-session invite list. "It's nice that he wanted me there," Fisk said. "It was a list that I felt like I might've been left off of, but thankfully the practice squad is different from the competition squad." Fisk is used to being overlooked. He's never made a national team at any level. His swing and grip are unorthodox. He didn't play for a big program. "I feel like I've been passed over a time or two in the last couple of years," Fisk said. "It's not something I think about when I'm playing, but off the course it stings a little at first, but I've adjusted to it and learned to channel those emotions properly." Georgia Southern head coach Carter Collins believes the Walker Cup committee would be foolish not to select Fisk. "He's been overlooked by a few teams over the last couple of years and I still don't understand why, but he keeps proving everybody wrong," Collins said. "It's been great motivation for him, and if that's what makes him better, then they need to keep doing it. But deserving is the right word for Walker Cup. There's nobody else that I would start my team with. "He's had an incredible year, incredible career. His match-play record is phenomenal. Why wouldn't you want that kind of competitor on that team? I don't care who you put him up against in the whole world, he's going to be tough to beat." In addition to Phillips (No. 8 in WAGR) and Fisk (10), Stanford grads Brandon Wu (11) and Isaiah Salinda (12) are holding off on turning pro, as are Duke's Alex Smalley (23) and Wake Forest's Cameron Young (30). "There's only a select number of times that you can represent your country playing golf," Wu said. "At the amateur level, the highest one is the Walker Cup. … It seemed like an unattainable goal back when I was a freshman or sophomore, but as it became more and more realistic, I was like, 'Let's do it.'" Youth movement Eight years ago, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Rodgers competed on the U.S. Walker Cup team as rising college freshmen. Since then, no non-college player has made the American side. This year's team is likely to include the youngest U.S. competitor in Walker Cup history   17-year-old Akshay Bhatia, who will turn pro and forego college soon after the matches. "If I can be one of those guys to contribute to this team and win it for captain Crosby, it would mean the world to me," said Bhatia, who is ranked seventh in the world and took part in the practice session. He won the Jones Cup earlier this year and was named the AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year last November. Of course, Bhatia potentially may not be the only junior on the team. Incoming Florida freshman Ricky Castillo is ranked No. 32 in the WAGR, incoming Pepperdine freshman William Mouw is ranked No. 47 and reigning U.S. Junior champion Michael Thorbjornsen is No. 52. The rest Rising Texas sophomore Cole Hammer is arguably the closest lock for the U.S. team. Hammer, who was invited to the practice session, won the Azalea Amateur, U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (with Garrett Barber) and Western Amateur last summer before making the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach. He won the Phil Mickelson Award as the country's top freshman this past season and also helped the Longhorns to the NCAA final. His match-play rout of Wolff at Blessings may have sealed his place on the team. Mid-amateur Stewart Hagestad is another safe bet to make the team. He is set to play in a third straight U.S. Open this coming week after qualifying via sectionals for the second straight year. He also is ranked 15th in the WAGR and would be the only returning member of the victorious 2017 team. (As Maverick McNealy showed two years ago, experience helps.) Other leading candidates at the moment include practice-session invites John Augenstein (26), Trent Phillips (37), Brandon Mancheno (61) and Tyler Strafaci (70). Mid-amateurs Kevin O'Connell and Matt Parziale were also invited to the practice session, but it would be unlikely for the U.S. team to carry more than one mid-amateur. Florida State's John Pak (18) and Oklahoma State's Austin Eckroat (36) weren't invited to the practice session, but if the U.S. team was selected today, they'd likely be on it. Tournaments to watch While Mancheno notched the first amateur victory of the summer last week at the Dogwood Invitational, things really heat up this week with the Sunnehanna Amateur, Southwestern Amateur and Monroe Invitational, which all begin Wednesday. The Southeastern Amateur starts Tuesday. After that, here are the notable events that Captain Crosby will likely have his eyes on: Northeast Amateur, June 19-22 North and South Amateur, June 24-29 Sahalee Players, July 1-3 Trans-Miss Amateur, July 9-12 Players Amateur, July 11-14 Southern Amateur, July 17-20 Pac Coast Amateur, July 23-26 Palmetto Amateur, July 24-27 Porter Cup, July 24-27 Western Amateur, July 30-Aug. 3 U.S. Amateur, Aug. 12-18 Starts in professional events, including majors, are heavily weighed, as well. How and when is the team determined? The U.S. Walker Cup team will be announced in two waves. The first wave, determined after the U.S. Amateur, will include automatic selections: top three Americans in WAGR, 2019 McCormack Medal winner and the U.S. Amateur champion (if American). The second wave will be filled out by the USGA's International Team Selection Committee and include at least one mid-amateur.


HENDERSONVILLE   An Asheville mother whose 7-week-old baby was found crying in a steep, heavily forested ravine is expected to be transferred from county jail to a facility in Chapel Hill to undergo a specialized mental health evaluation. Krista Noelle Madden, 35, could stay at the the UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders for weeks, attorney Sean Devereux said. The facility is the first of its kind in the U.S., according to its website , opening in 2011 to offer a five-bed inpatient unit for women with moderate to severe postpartum depression and perinatal mood disorders. A consent order will need to be signed by a judge before she is transferred to the facility. Henderson County District Attorney Greg Newman said he has anticipated from the beginning of the case that Madden's legal team would request an evaluation. Newman said he agreed to her transfer because she will remain in custody under a secured bond. "I have no problem with that and I don't think a judge would, either," he said. Madden will be evaluated at UNC center Police say Madden, a Biltmore Park resident and mother of two, staged a kidnapping of herself and her newborn daughter, Shaylie. The baby later was found about 30 feet down a ravine between Edneyville and Chimney Rock. Madden is being held on a $750,000 bond on an attempted first-degree murder charge. Pending the outcome of the evaluation, Madden will not seek a reduction in the secured bond, according to a draft of the consent order. Devereux, one of two attorneys representing Madden, previously said he wanted his client to be evaluated by mental health professionals for postpartum depression or possibly postpartum psychosis. Madden will be transported by the Henderson sheriff's office to Chapel Hill. She'll be taken back to county jail once authorities are notified that her evaluation has been completed, the consent order said. The newborn, who was transported to Mission Hospital by an ambulance after she was located, now is with her father and Madden's husband, along with an older sibling. Transcripts of a 911 recording obtained by the Citizen Times show a relative who also lived in Biltmore Park reported May 9 that Krista Madden sent text messages claiming she and her baby had been abducted. When asked by the operator whether Madden had any known mental health issues, the caller said Madden recently had a baby and was "a little down." Warrant: Madden admitted leaving baby The report launched a search for the mother and baby , along with her grey Mazda SUV. Madden and the vehicle were separately located in eastern Henderson County. She told sheriff's deputies that she had been taken by gunpoint by a white male and white female in their 20s to 30s, according to a search warrant returned May 15. Police issued a description of two suspects wearing ski masks. About two hours later, property owners found the baby after hearing cries from the ravine near their driveway. Shaylie was wearing a pink onesie that said "I love my mommy," residents Scott and Cheryl Fowler told the Citizen Times. A car seat was nearby. The search warrant says that during an interview with detectives, Madden admitted to driving the car, "placing" the baby on the ground, tossing the car seat and leaving. Among the items authorities seized from the vehicle were a purse, fingerprints, DNA swabs, a car seat base, a dash camera and a white baby blanket, according to the warrant. Madden's next court appearance is a probable cause hearing set for May 28. She also is represented by Jason Blackwell of Hendersonville. 'This is not someone's fault' Dr. Samantha Meltzer-Brody, founder and director of the UNC Perinatal Psychiatry Program, said the inpatient unit provides state-of-the-art treatment that can include a combination of medication and psychotherapy. A patient's length of stay can vary, she said. Patients diagnosed with postpartum depression stay an average of two weeks. Those with postpartum psychosis can stay more than two weeks. Because postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency, most are treated with medication, Meltzer-Brody said. She called the illness "absolutely devastating," saying the symptoms come quickly and sometimes before others can realize their loved ones are suffering. Want to stay informed about news from around Asheville? Do that, plus support local journalists, by subscribing to the Asheville Citizen Times. Click here to sign up for a digital subscription. Postpartum screening also is inconsistent, Meltzer-Brody said. "You can't even imagine the shame and the horror that all women face when they recover from (postpartum psychosis)," she said. "This is not someone's fault. This is a biological illness that's certainly more rare, but it is well-documented. It is highly associated with infanticide or attempts, and it is a medical complication just like, unfortunately, any medical complication that is serious." This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Mom accused of trying to kill newborn will go to psychiatric facility


Barring a complete 180 before the Chinese Super League transfer window closes on Wednesday, Gareth Bale will not join Jiangsu Suning on a reported three year-deal worth almost $1.25 million a week. Real Madrid's board reportedly vetoed the transfer, and so this strange limbo period goes on. Bale is not wanted by Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane, not much liked by Real Madrid fans, and yet remains too costly for anyone else to be able to afford him. The question, it feels, is not so much what happens next, as much as it is how has it all come to this? How is it that a 30-year-old of his talent, a player who six years ago was the most expensive signing in history, came so close to leaving Europe? Nobody in football, as Brian Clough once mused, ever says thank you. It can be a cold and brutal business, one that uses sentimentality to bind and motivate, to inspire fan bases, but that can be ruthless once a player is deemed no longer to be useful for his club. But still, even in a world in which beloved stars become expendable overnight, the deterioration in the relationship between Bale and Madrid has been extraordinary. The perception now is that Bale is a misfit. Perhaps it is true that he has not quite done what was hoped when he joined Madrid from Tottenham for $106 million in 2013. He has not proven to be a long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. He has never threatened to win the Ballon d'Or. And yet to paint him as a flop is equally bizarre. His time at the Bernabeu has been hampered by injuries, it's true, but he's still started 133 league games in his six years in Spain. More than that, he's won four Champions League titles, twice scoring decisive goals in finals. One of them, his first of two goals against Liverpool in 2018, is one of the greatest goals ever scored in a game of that magnitude. His Real Madrid career may have been defined by moments rather than consistent excellence, but what moments. And yet Bale has never seemed entirely comfortable. It's not just that he still struggles with the language and spends the majority of his life playing golf rather than engaging with other aspects of Spanish life (as the case of Sergio Aguero shows, it's perfectly possible for a player to be a success at a club without embracing the local culture). While Ronaldo was still at Madrid, he fairly clearly scorned Bale, although whether that was because he was doubtful of his talent or his claims to supplant him is unclear. But after Ronaldo left, Bale was unable to fill the gap, in part because of injuries. He still feels like a player feeling his way at the club, not like a veteran of six years. Now the opposition comes from Zidane. He may have been the coach in October 2016 when Bale signed a six-year deal worth a reported $750,000 a week, but if he ever valued him, he clearly does not now and the reasons for that shift seem key. Part of it is Bale himself, of course: he's now 30 and there can be little expectation that he will ever become the best player in the world. In addition, there are suggestions that Zidane has been unhappy with Bale's attitude, specifically his willingness to adapt his game to the overall plan. But more critically, Zidane is in a very different position now. Back then he was a safe pair of hands, a politician who could get along with everybody, coaching his celebrity squad to Champions League success. But he left Madrid in 2018 for a reason: his awareness that the squad needed a major overhaul and that club president Florentino Perez would give him neither the resources nor the autonomy to enact that. Zidane's return toward the end of last season came with certain guarantees, and he clearly now feels emboldened to defy his president. Perez, it's been reported, demanded Zidane should find a place for Bale in his plans, to which Zidane responded by leaving him out of the squad for a friendly against Bayern Munich and then publicly calling for his departure after the game. Those comments seemed needlessly graceless, and Bale's camp responded with both understandable fury and an insistence he would not leave for a pay cut, which is both miserable and reasonable. It's a great shame that Bale's abilities are not being seen, but equally, why shouldn't he hold Madrid to the daft valuation the club made three years ago? After Bale did appear in subsequent friendlies vs. Arsenal and Atletico Madrid  even scoring vs. the Gunners  he has been left out of the club's trip to Munich for another set of preseason matches, with the player reportedly reeling from the collapse of his proposed transfer. All of this, perhaps, is the issue of modern football. Managers and players have always fallen out. Clubs have always sought to move players on. But the rise of the superclubs has led to the rise of superplayers on supercontracts, and the problem is that only superclubs can afford supercontracts. That means that when a rift comes, there are very few places for the superplayer to go: a handful of other superclubs and China. In that sense, the Bale situation highlights the crazy financial disparities that blight the modern game.


Manchester City won the Women's FA Cup on Saturday evening with a hard-fought 3-0 win over a depleted West Ham in front of 43,264 fans at Wembley. The crucial goal came early in the second half from Keira Walsh, who took aim from 25 yards with a speculative shot which wrong-footed Amy Moorhouse in the Hammers' goal. #SSEWomensFACup teamsheet. We're in the endgame now... pic.twitter.com/YT7CaVHCae   Chris Deeley (@ThatChris1209) May 4, 2019 City continued to pile on the pressure without ever looking secure, West Ham's Alisha Lehmann in particular causing Nick Cushing's side a number of problems with her pace and constant running, but the result was wrapped up with ten minutes to go when Georgia Stanway's shot squirmed in from a deflection of Brooke Hendrix. Lauren Hemp wrapped up the result two minutes from time when she dinked the ball over the onrushing Moorhouse from the left-hand side of the box. Man City Key Talking Point City regained the FA Cup despite a shaky first half in which they were lucky not to concede a penalty when Alisha Lehmann went down in the box   with replays appearing to show slight contact before she went down. The 2017 FA Cup winners weren't to be denied though, and thoughts now turn to next weekend's season finale against WSL champions elect Arsenal at Meadow Park.  @ManCityWomen take the lead through @keira_walsh !!! pic.twitter.com/wrfiKIGvE7   The SSE Women's FA Cup (@SSEWomensFACup) May 4, 2019 The Gunners wrapped up the title last weekend with a 4-0 win over Brighton, but City can regain a measure of pride to go with their cup win if they can avoid defeat   having not lost a domestic match all season. Player Ratings Starting XI: Bardsley (8), Stokes (6), Beattie (6), Houghton (7), McManus (6), Scott (7), Walsh (9*), Wullaert (6), Weir (6), Stanway (8), Parris (7). Subs: Hemp (7), Emslie (N/A). Star Player - Keira Walsh At the centre of all of City's best moves, Walsh picked apart a tired West Ham with precise passing and neat control on the ball   putting the icing on the cake with a long-range finish which completely wrong-footed Moorhouse. Only @keira_walsh third goal for Manchester City. A good time to get it is an understatement.   Rich Laverty (@RichJLaverty) May 4, 2019 An honourable mention too for Karen Bardsley, who kept City in the match in the first half with one particularly fine save from a Jane Ross header; springing to her right to palm the ball away. West Ham Key Talking Point The Hammers came into the match shorn of a number of players   to the point that manager Matt Beard could only name six substitutes for the biggest one-off match in the club's history. Despite that, there were only two changes from the starting lineup for the dramatic semi-final penalty shootout win over Reading   Adriana Leon and Ria Percival replacing Leanne Kiernan and Lucienne Reichardt, both of whom started on the bench. Suddenly we're up the other end! Amazing pace by @kiernan_leanne , who plays in @lehmann_alisha ! The shot is saved by Bardsley. #SSEWomensFACup 1-0 [70]   West Ham United Women (@westhamwomen) May 4, 2019 The underdogs started strong, looking solid throughout the first half, but looked to run out of legs a little as the match ran on. Rarely was that more in evidence than around the hour mark when, in a foot race with Steph Houghton, Jane Ross was outpaced by a solid couple of yards. She came off maybe 90 seconds later. Player Ratings Starting XI: Moorhouse (6), Percival (7), Simon (6), Hendrix (6), Flaherty (6), Lehmann (8*), Ross (6), Rafferty (6), Longhurst (6), Leon (6), So-Hyun (5). Subs: Visalli (6), Kiernan (7), Kmita (N/A). Star Player - Alisha Lehmann 3-0. Game's out of West Ham's grasp now, but Alisha Lehmann has been absolutely superb. Can't fault it.   Chris Deeley (@ThatChris1209) May 4, 2019 Desperately unlucky not to strike for the Hammers at some point in the match   constantly burning her opposite number with pace and trickery on the touchline before she found herself in acres of space on the counter-attack with about 25 minutes to go. The pass from substitute Leanne Kiernan let her down though, forcing her to shoot from 20 yards rather than get into range and truly test Bardsley. Related slideshow: Soccer stars to watch in 2019 (provided by Espresso)


A couple came to the rescue of an opossum struggling to swim in Whitehall, Michigan, footage posted to Facebook on July 6 shows. Char Morse said she captured the footage as she was traveling with her husband on the channel between White Lake and Lake Michigan. "We had been on a boat ride the night before and were coming home for coffee," Morse told Storyful. "We put our caffeine needs aside when my husband spotted this little guy struggling in the water. The animal is now safe on dry land somewhere near the Montague Boat Launch." Credit: Chef Char via Storyful


Jessica Andrade attempted to keep her "cool" during a recent incident in her native Brazil, where she was robbed at gunpoint. However, the UFC strawweight champion admits there were moments she feared for her life. Last week, Andrade (20-6 MMA, 11-4 UFC) and her wife, Fernanda Gomes, were driving when their car was stopped by a motorcyclist. The perpetrators forced the two women to hand over their cellphones, jewelry and other items before taking the vehicle . Andrade said she wasn't completely aware of the incoming robbery until she spotted the gun, and at that point she simply followed instructions and attempted to keep her wife calm. It was Gomes, however, who may have saved herself and the UFC champ from physical harm. "My car's hand brake is a button that was pressed," Andrade told ESPN.com about the incident. "He didn't know that and was having trouble to make the car go. I was like, 'Oh great. Now he's going to get out of the car and shoot us. We're screwed.' Until Fernanda told them about the hand brake. They managed to do it and went away." After the robbery occurred, Andrade said people inside a nearby business helped her call the police. They were able to go to the station to file a report, and days later the abandoned vehicle was recovered with some of the lost documents still present. As Andrade's manager told MMA Junkie shortly after the incident, these types of situations are common in Brazil. It has happened to other UFC fighters in the country, as well, and Andrade said she was equipped to handle it. The most crucial response to an armed robbery is self preservation, Andrade said, and for her it was important to act intelligently in order to survive. "If the guy tries to rob you unarmed, then you can use self-defense," Andrade said. "But when he has a gun, don't put your life at risk." For more on the upcoming UFC schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site. MORE: LeBron says Warriors part owner should be held accountable for shoving Kyle Lowry Cowboys News: Michael Gallup leg injury dampens final OTA session Warriors' Minority Owner Mark Stevens Banned From NBA Games For One Year Packers working on better vision from second-year LB Oren Burks Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict impressing coaches, young players at OTAs


Max Verstappen has questioned the logic of penalties being applied during a Formula 1 race and spoiling on-track battles, in the aftermath of Sebastian Vettel's controversial Canadian Grand Prix penalty. F1's rules have been in the spotlight since Vettel controversially lost victory at the previous race in Montreal because of a time penalty he received for rejoining unsafely and forcing Lewis Hamilton off the track. Verstappen, who believes it was wrong for the four-time world champion to be punished, fought for victory in the Monaco GP but then lost his second place finish because of his own five-second time penalty. "In general if you're going to award a penalty maybe don't do it in the race," said Verstappen. "It ruins the whole excitement of Lewis catching Seb and fighting for the win. "When you look back at it, the first mistake that happened was Seb went off the track but then he rejoined, he didn't do anything. He was not blocking Lewis on purpose. Why they gave him the penalty was wrong." Verstappen believes the strong chance of a penalty will influence a driver's actions in battle. He also reckons F1's rules should change so that the line is drawn if "you hit each other off the track", because "a bit of wheel-banging won't hurt". "He [Vettel] did everything he could to do it in a safe way," said Verstappen. "You go off in the lead, you know Lewis is behind by only a second and a half, so you stay on throttle and you're managing [the car]. "Lewis saw him go off. When he goes through the left he knows Seb is going to come back on and of course he's going to drift wide, and he had to back off. "If I had been Lewis I would have been on the radio as well saying he blocked me. You know it's in the rules and there's a possible penalty." Read Also: Ferrari summoned to hearing over Vettel penalty review Verstappen spent a day observing FIA officials during the Marrakesh Formula E race in January, as part of a punishment handed to him last year. He thinks stewards do not want to give certain penalties during Formula 1 races but are obliged to do so because of how the rulebook is worded. "I think they do realise what's happening but sometimes they can't give another penalty because it's written in the rulebook exactly like that, that they have to give this penalty,". "Sometimes they don't want to, but they have to. I read a few comments that some stewards they got bad language messages on Twitter and stuff which is not fair. "They are trying to do their job in the best possible way and it's not fair to say they did a bad job. I think it's good to look at the rulebook and what we can change/take out."


Gary Woodland led by two strokes playing the final hole of the 119th U.S. Open. After hitting the green in three on the par-5 18th, he needed three putts from 30 feet to win his first major title. He did it in one. WHAT A WAY TO FINISH! CONGRATS, GARY WOODLAND! #USOpen pic.twitter.com/aPyRmdPiCE   U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2019 That capped a final-round, 2-under 69 for Woodland. At 13 under for the championship, he finished three shots clear of two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka.


More than 300 car enthusiasts competed at the Hot Wheels Legends Tour in Chicago, making for a fierce competition of creative muscle cars, JDM cars, monster trucks, and more. But only one car can be crowned the winner at this stop, and that honor went to a particularly slick 1965 Pontiac GTO gasser. Steve Zettle began the project in 2002, and within two years, created this beauty. The lifted GTO will compete against 17 other cars from cities across the country at SEMA 2019 in Las Vegas, where one car will be named the final winner of the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. Not only that, but Mattel will turn it into a 1:64 die-cast and sell it around the world. There were plenty of other showstopping cars in Chicago, including a red 1957 Chevrolet Corvette with a red interior and a prominent 327 engine. An interesting DeLorean/K5 Blazer mashup also turned heads with its 12-inch lift kit. See the video here for all the action. Denver, Seattle, Phoenix, and San Diego are among the remaining stops on the Hot Wheels Legends Tour. Check out which cars have won in the following cities so far: Miami Houston Atlanta El Segundo Charlotte Philadelphia New York/New Jersey Detroit


With an estimated 70,000 Brits descending upon Madrid for Saturday's UEFA Champions League final in Madrid, fans of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are creating quite the atmosphere around the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, as one would imagine. [ MORE: Win or lose UCL final, not much changes for Spurs ] Fortunately for those of us back here in the United States, PST's Lead Editor and Writer Joe Prince-Wright is on the ground in the Spanish capital and is working hard to capture the scenes leading up to the 2018-19 campaign's finale. 👏 Just listen to those Liverpool fans. It seems like #LFC have over 100,000 fans of their own here in Madrid. 🔴🔴🔴 🎶 Allez, Allez, Allez 🎶 #LFC #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/rf0matffcz   Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 1, 2019 [ MORE: How will Spurs, Liverpool line up for Champions League final? ] Which fanbase is feeling more confident now that they're mere hours from kickoff, and who's just happy to be there? 🙌 Tottenham's fans have taken over the Plaza de Colon here in Madrid. I met Dave and his daughter Sam from Pittsburgh, PA who made a pact to travel to the final if #THFC were in it. 🇺🇸➡🇪🇸 They are here, and Spurs fans are living the dream. 🔥🔥🔥 #UCLFinal pic.twitter.com/VoDZNIg9RI   Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 1, 2019 😍 From the Liverpool fan zone in Madrid, where flares are on the go, music is blaring out and there's one HUGE party already brewing ahead of the #UCLFinal #LFC 🔴🔴🔴 pic.twitter.com/BNZnlpWcmL   Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) June 1, 2019 To catch more of JPW's coverage from Madrid, today would be a great day to hit the Follow button over on Twitter. Do it . Follow @AndyEdMLS


Visiting Bergen-Lafayette, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Jersey City neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a seafood spot to a distillery. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Bergen-Lafayette, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Hooked JC Topping the list is seafood and traditional American spot Hooked JC , which offers salads and more. Located at 467 Communipaw Ave., it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 451 reviews on Yelp. The restaurant serves crab cakes, lobster rolls, and po' boys and platters featuring the catch of the day. Try the Crack & Cheese, a combo of blackened crab cake and mac and cheese. This spot is BYOB, so don't forget the bottle. 2. Harry's Daughter Next up is gastropub, cocktail bar and Caribbean spot Harry's Daughter , situated at 339 Communipaw Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 163 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. The menu offers classic cocktails, like rum punch and Dark 'n' Stormys, as well as Caribbean-inspired gastropub fare. Stop in for jerk chicken, shrimp roti or the bao buns filled with jerk pork belly and topped with hoisin glaze. 3. Pinwheel Garden Dumpling & Noodle Bar Tea room and Asian fusion spot Pinwheel Garden Dumpling & Noodle Bar is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 318 Communipaw Ave., 4.5 stars out of 134 reviews. The restaurant serves homemade dumplings and noodle dishes with a twist, like the Mediterranean-style Spinach Pie Dumplings and the Beef Bolognese Udon, with ground beef and sofrito. 4. sam a.m Next up, sam a.m , a New American, Southern and traditional American spot, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 102 Yelp reviews. The eatery serves brunch and dinner most days of the week (it's closed on Monday and Tuesday). Its menu offers unique takes on comfort food, like chicken and waffles served with cranberry syrup and the hot chicken sandwich, served on a brioche bun. There are veggie options, too, like the "Meatless" Loaf, made with lentils and topped with mushroom gravy. Head over to 196 Pine St. to see for yourself. 5. Corgi Spirits And then there's Corgi Spirits , a local favorite with 4.5 stars out of 61 reviews. This distillery specializes in specialty and seasonal gin, like its Earl Grey gin, infused with bergamot citrus peel. Corgi produces whiskey and vodka, as well. Tours of the distillery are available, and cocktails made with Corgi-brand spirits are served in the lounge. Stop by 1 Distillery Drive to hit up the business the next time you're in the neighborhood. 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 Cubs, buoyed by a weekend sweep of the Pirates and a dramatic walk-off victory Tuesday, are likely to approach the trade deadline as a buyer. However, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein tells Patrick Mooney of The Athletic (subscription required) that "it would take a special deal to sacrifice the very top of the farm system." Epstein plainly states that while his goal is to win in 2019, the team is simultaneously trying to build its farm back up after years of aggressive, win-now deals. Epstein himself doesn't list specific untouchables, though one can presume that players like Miguel Amaya , Nico Hoerner , Adbert Alzolay and Aramis Ademan will be tough to pry away. The Cubs have recently been linked to left-handed bullpen upgrades, and manager Joe Maddon spoke recently about his desire to add a more consistent veteran bat to the lineup. More Cubs rumblings… Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times dispels some speculative theories following the Cubs' surprise acquisition of Martin Maldonado . Adding a third catcher to the mix doesn't indicate that Willson Contreras ' foot injury is worse than has been suggested. To the contrary, Contreras said he expects to be cleared for full baseball activity by the end of the week, calling his injury a "bruise" after a visit with a specialist. The Maldonado trade was not made with the intent of either shopping Victor Caratini or optioning him back to Triple-A, Wittenmyer further reports. The Cubs have a history of acquiring a third catcher in recent August waiver periods   Bobby Wilson in 2018, Rene Rivera in 2017   but there's no opportunity to do so now that August trade waivers have been eliminated. "You can never have enough good catching, especially catching that is playoff-experienced and respected by veteran pitchers and coaches alike," GM Jed Hoyer said following the Maldonado deal. An early August return could be in the cards for lefty Cole Hamels , Wittenmyer writes in a second piece . Hamels will have a mound session today after a previous pair of throwing sessions from flat ground. The southpaw conceded that while he "hates it," he'll need to make at least one minor league rehab start because it's the "smart thing to do." If Wednesday's session goes well, that could put him in line to reclaim his rotation spot on Aug. 3, tentatively putting his total absence at a period of about five weeks. Hamels, 35, had pitched to a terrific 2.98 ERA with 8.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.81 HR/9 and a 51.1 percent ground-ball rate in 99 2/3 innings when he landed on the IL late last month. He'd been doing his best work of the season prior to being shelved, making his absence all the more costly for the Cubs. In six June starts (37 innings), Hamels allowed five earned runs with a 37-to-9 K/BB ratio.


South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg addressed the fatal police shooting of a black man in the Indiana city in a campaign email Thursday night. The man, Eric Logan, was killed Sunday by Sgt. Ryan O'Neill, who confronted Logan while responding to reports of a man breaking into cars. O'Neill has said Logan approached him with a knife, but he did not have his body camera on at the time of the shooting. "While the case is still being investigated, we do know this: a South Bend family is enduring the crushing and inconsolable anguish that far too many Black and Latino families across the country have shared," Buttigieg wrote in the email. The 37-year-old mayor and presidential candidate went on to discuss the fraught dynamics of the case pertaining to relations between the police and black communities. "Our city, and our nation, demands answers about the dynamic between our police officers and the communities they are sworn to protect," the email reads. "All police work and all of American life takes place in the shadow of racism, which hurts everyone and everything it touches. Historic racism, present-day racism, and generational racism - they all secrete a kind of poison into the bloodstream of this country," he added. Logan's family said in a press conference Monday that he was on his way to his mother's house from a family gathering at the time of his death and had not been carrying a knife. In the email, Buttigieg pledged that regardless of the investigation's outcome, his office intended to seek feedback from community members to address such issues. "In new ways, we will elicit community input on the policies that decide how the police department does its work - policies on body cameras, the use of force, and the prevention of bias - and we will empower community members to help shape how these policies are put into practice," the email states. Buttigieg said Thursday he is open to calls for an independent prosecutor to investigate the shooting. The shooting is currently under investigation by the St. Joseph's prosecutor's office. An independent probe "would be a benefit because it would help verify or shed light on what's going on," South Bend Councilman Oliver Davis (D) said, adding that he thinks it would be worth the money even if the city had to pay for an investigation. "Justice does cost, but not having justice costs even more."


Toyota's Ott Tanak edged further ahead of reigning World Rally champion Sebastien Ogier on the Saturday morning loop of Rally Chile, while Thierry Neuville rolled out of the podium battle. Although Tanak only won one stage from three on Saturday morning, the loop-ending Pelun test, he gained more than 10 seconds over Ogier in all, extending his lead to 34.6s. Ogier was initially being closed down by current points leader Neuville, who had top the times on the opening Rio Lia test and gained 5.7s on the Citroen driver. But Neuville's chase came to an abrupt halt on SS8, when he ran wide over a crest, hit a bank and rolled his Hyundai i20 several times , badly damaging his car and forcing him to retire. That promoted Jari-Matti Latvala, who had initially dropped behind Neuville to fourth place, back to the final podium position. Ogier is 16.4s clear of Latvala, who was slightly delayed on SS7 by his Toyota teammate Kris Meeke, with the Northern Irishman cruising through the stage after rolling his Yaris. He lost 20.1s in all on Rio Lia in all but suggested some of that deficit would be recovered with an adjusted notional time, though for now his stage time remains the same. Hyundai's best-placed driver after Neuville's retirement is Sebastien Loeb, who has closed up to only 1.1s behind Latvala in fifth place. Loeb gained time on Latvala during all three runs on Saturday morning, including a stage win on Maria Las Cruces. Elfyn Evans is over 90s up on his M-Sport teammate Teemu Suninen, who occupy fifth and sixth places respectively. Esapekka Lappi (Citroen) moved up to seventh at the expense of Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai) on Maria Las Cruces, after Mikkelsen had already been demoted a place by Suninen one stage earlier. The Norwegian driver was the slowest driver bar gentleman driver Lorenzo Bertelli for most of the morning and is already 22.8s behind Lappi. Despite losing several minutes with his roll, Meeke is currently in ninth place, having completed the last two stages of the Saturday morning loop at full speed and without a front windscreen. Meeke however is expected to be demoted out of the top 10 after notional times are handed out for Maria Las Cruces, which was red-flagged for Neuville's accident. Kalle Rovanpera had looked set to concede the lead in WRC2 to Mads Ostberg on Rio Lia. But late on the morning's first test, brake fluid started to leak from the Citroen driver's rear brakes, which cost Ostberg over half a minute.


LOS ANGELES   Los Angeles police investigators are reviewing whether an off-duty officer who opened fire in a Costco store in Corona, killing a man described by his family as having an intellectual disability and wounding two of the man's relatives, violated any department policies in the shooting, officials said Monday. The LAPD officer, who has not been identified, was shopping at Costco with his family Friday night when Corona police said he was attacked while holding his young child. Authorities said the assault was unprovoked and led the officer to fire his weapon, killing 32-year-old Kenneth French and wounding two of French's family members, whom a relative identified as French's parents. The officer, assigned to the department's Southwest Division, suffered minor injuries in the confrontation and was taken to a hospital and later discharged. His gun was the only weapon involved in the incident and specifics about what led up to shooting have not been made public. RELATED: Costco shooting: Police say officer holding child was attacked and opened fire A Corona police spokesman said Monday that the department does not have any additional information to release. The officer's work status with the LAPD has not been made clear. However, a law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times that the patrol officer is with his family for support and has not been placed on leave. LAPD Chief Michel Moore is expected to be briefed on the incident in the coming days, and the officer likely will meet with a department psychologist to determine when he should return to work, according to the source. The administrative investigation is standard protocol whenever an officer fires his or her gun. The five-person Police Commission ultimately decides whether officers are justified in opening fire and whether they followed department rules before pulling the trigger. In 2018, the Police Commission determined that Officer Kevin Ferguson violated the department's rules when he fired his gun while off-duty during a clash with a group of teenagers in Anaheim a year earlier, a caught-on-camera dispute that went viral and triggered days of protests. In a Facebook post Sunday morning, French's cousin Rick Shureih shared a photo of the family at Universal Studios and questioned the necessity of the shooting. "Do they look intimidating to you? Did he really have to shoot them all?" Shureih wrote. "I'm posting this picture because the stories on social media have made them out to be the suspects, and the off duty cop the victim." Shureih said his cousin had an intellectual disability, was nonverbal and had the mental capacity of a teenager. The 32-year-old lived with his parents, whom Shureih identified as Russell and Paola French. Both were being treated in an intensive care unit as of Sunday night, Shureih said. Experts say it's not uncommon for officers to carry their firearms in public while off-duty. Off-duty police, like private citizens with firearm permits in California, are legally allowed to discharge their weapon in self-defense in the event of an imminent attack and if there is no ability to retreat from the situation, said Jody Armour, a law professor at the University of Southern California. "The real question will be whether a reasonable person in the situation of the shooter would have believed he was under attack, threatened with death or serious bodily injury," he said. "The shooter has to feel like they're about to be attacked and there was no less drastic alternative." (Times staff writer Cindy Chang contributed to this report.) laura.newberry@latimes.com | Twitter: @LauraMNewberry


News out of Pittsburgh Steelers organized team activities on Thursday all had to do with jersey numbers. According to Trib Live , rookie tight end Zach Gentry was asked by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to change this jersey number from No. 83. The reason Roethlisberger asked him to make the change was out of respect to former Steelers tight end Heath Miller. He wore the number for 11 seasons with the Steelers and is close friends with Roethlisberger. The question we are asking is simple. Was it Roethlisberger's place to ask Gentry to change jersey numbers? Take Our Poll The Steelers have only officially retired two jersey numbers in franchise history. They have several numbers that have never been given to a player out of deference to the players who wore them before. Miller has only been off the team since 2015 but is far and away the best to ever play the position in Pittsburgh. But keep in mind, the Steelers have given the number to other players since Miller retired, including wide receiver Cobi Hamilton. Cast your vote and let us know if you think Roethlisberger was right to ask for the change. MORE: NBA fans had so many memes for Steph Curry's exchange with Drake Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations Roundup: Spelling Bee Ends in 8-Way Tie; Kim Jong Un Executing People Again; Kids Go Nuts for 'Old Town Road' Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti shocked by C.J. Mosley's contract with Jets Report: Darren Sproles reconsidering retirement, eyeing Saints reunion


A manhunt is underway for three men accused of robbing a Morganton gas station at gunpoint Thursday morning. According to the Burke County Sheriff's Office, three men robbed the Speedway gas station on Sterling Street before running from the store. While deputies were searching for the suspects, police said two of the men stole a vehicle on Parker Road and led deputies on a chase. The suspects then crashed on Mineral Springs Mountain Road and ran into the woods, according to deputies. The sheriff's office said the third suspect stole a City of Morganton water truck on Beeker Way. Police said the truck has been found in North Myrtle Beach, but the suspect is still on the run. "We're cautioning all the residents in the area to make sure their doors are locked, their cars are locked, their keys are out of the car," Sheriff Steve Whisenant said All three suspects remain at large and are considered armed and dangerous. If you can identify them call Morganton Public Safety at (828) 437-1211 or call Morganton-Burke Crimestoppers (828) 437-3333. This is a developing story. For the latest breaking news, traffic and weather alerts, download the NBC Charlotte app . POPULAR ON WCNC.COM 'This can't be real' | Shelby woman says she's seen Sasquatch in the woods by her home Blood pressure medication recall expanded due to cancer risk 'I'm never going to feel safe' | 2 armed robberies at same apartment complex in 3 days 24-year-old killed in quadruple shooting at graduation party in uptown Bill would require NC law enforcement to cooperate with ICE


Charlotte Motor Speedway is set to host its two biggest races of the year … and they're going to do it with "Flair!" Eight-time WWE Women's Champion Charlotte Flair   a native of Charlotte, North Carolina   will assume honorary pace car driver duties for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26. The WWE royalty will lead a field of NASCAR stars including Kyle Busch, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and more before the green flag drops on the iconic event. Flair has won more women's titles than any superstar in WWE history and is the daughter of 16-time world champion Ric Flair. Flair also became the first female superstar in WWE history to main event a singles match on Raw, SmackDown LIVE and a pay-per-view. RELATED: Buy tickets! FOX will carry the Coca-Cola 600. Additionally, FOX will become the new broadcast home for WWE SmackDown LIVE starting Friday, Oct. 4. Fox Sports 1 will also be the new home of a Tuesday-night WWE studio show which will cover all the happenings in the WWE universe. Prior to the green flag, Coca-Cola 600 ticketholders can also enjoy a FREE pre-race concert featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Cheap Trick. ]]>


The Denver Police Department and mayor's office on Monday announced a new approach to bias-motivated crimes. The crimes target individuals based on their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, physical/mental disability, or sexual orientation. Last year, 62 cases were reported to the Denver police that had a bias -motivated component. DPD recognizes that these types may have a direct and negative impact on not only those who were targeted, but other individuals who identify with the victim or group, and the entire community. RELATED: Denver police investigating assault on transgender woman downtown They've developed a multipronged approach to address such crimes. It includes proactive outreach, a dedicated investigative team and follow up with community members after a bias -motivated incident is reported. Proactive DPD has a civilian outreach coordinator whose work is aimed at strengthening community relationships, increasing Denver residents' familiarity and confidence in DPD, and equipping law enforcement and residents alike with the knowledge and tools needed to address bias-motivated crimes. More than half of the coordinator's focus is spent on community engagement, working with community organizations to address their public safety needs, educate them on general public safety, and build connections with the police. Investigative Bias-motivated crimes will be handled by the newly created Bias -Motivated Investigative Unit. It's comprised of an investigative sergeant and two detectives. In the past, these crimes were investigated by detectives in DPD's Domestic Violence Unit, who had specialized training in bias-motivated crimes. Community Connections The Citywide Impact Team focuses on outreach and direct contact with neighbors and business owners where bias-motivated crimes occur. This approach yields face-to-face connections and fear reduction in impacted neighborhoods. The Citywide Impact Team is comprised of a sergeant, six police officers, a mental health clinician, and victim services specialists who can address immediate concerns and needs. The Denver Police Department has a hotline for bias -motivated crime reporting at 720-913-6458 or through email at bias crimesinfo@ denver gov.org which is checked within one business day. SUGGESTED VIDEOS | Local stories from 9NEWS


Zinedine Zidane has revealed that Gareth Bale's day-to-day attitude resulted in the winger being left on the bench for Real Madrid's final La Liga game of the season. Real Madrid finished their 2018/19 campaign in disappointing fashion, slipping to a 2-0 defeat against Real Betis. Bale - whose future in the Spanish capital is looking decidedly bleak - was not called on by Zidane and he left down the tunnel as soon as the final whistle was blown. Speaking after the game, Zidane insisted that Bale's attitude in training meant that he didn't deserve the chance to feature. "It is true, I did not [give Bale a chance to say goodbye]," the Real Madrid boss said, per ESPN . "But I have to look at the day-to-day, and make decisions. And when there is something I do not like, or does not fit for me, I must do what I think best. It might be difficult for the player. "We cannot forget all he has done here, but I must live in the present, think of the future. We will see [if Bale continues]. I don't know what will happen, truthfully." There has also been some confusion surrounding a specific quote from Zidane in the same press conference, where it has been reported that he claimed he still wouldn't have brought Bale on if he had a fourth substitute to play with. Zidane: "If I had brought on another player, the same thing would have happened" (By this I'm fairly sure he means that whoever is not subbed on would be asked about afterwards). But from that to what was reported is a massive stretch. Irresponsible.   Ben Hayward (@bghayward) May 19, 2019 Spanish football journalist Ben Hayward has insisted that the quote has been misinterpreted and that Zidane instead said: "If I had brought on another player, the same thing would have happened." - referring to the notion that questions would be asked regardless of who was left on the bench. Bale's contract at Real Madrid lasts until 2022 and, although it seems unlikely he will ever get a chance to feature while Zidane remains in charge, it is still unclear whether he will be leaving the club this summer.


Former Cowboys defensive lineman and current Cowboys scout Josh Brent no longer faces arrest. According to Jack Howland of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram , Dallas County court records show that an arrest warrant for probation violation has been withdrawn . Brent had been arrested on June 30 in a Wendy's parking lot on charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest. Calvin Watkins of TheAthletic.com has reported that Brent tested negative for alcohol and drugs , and that Brent simply had a mental breakdown, for which he currently is undergoing treatment. A 2012 car crash that killed Cowboys teammate Jerry Brown resulted in a conviction of intoxication manslaughter for Brent, along with a jail sentence of 180 days. He remains on probation, the terms of which require him to avoid alcohol and drugs.


Manchester City women forward Georgia Stanway has admitted she tried too hard to get herself a goal at Wembley against West Ham last weekend, but was delighted her side were able to emerge victorious. City looked frustrated for long spells as the Super League's second placed side were held in check by their opponents, but there was no looking back after Keira Walsh got the opener early in the second half. Having huffed and puffed in front of goal all evening, Stanway finally got her just reward with ten minutes remaining, netting her side's second as they regained the FA Cup with a 3-0 win. What a legend in the making!! 2019 hasn't been bad for @StanwayGeorgia  @SSEWomensFACup winnner  @SSEWomensFACup POTM  #SheBelievesCup  #ContiCup  Champagne spray specialist #SSEWomensFACup pic.twitter.com/O6WIBQupJw   90min (@90min_Football) May 4, 2019 "I think in the first half they gave us a good run," Stanway said, speaking to 90min after the match. "We didn't quite hit the gear that we wanted to. But we came out in the second half, we knew we had a job to complete, and we did so. I think it was a game of two halves. "When you're on a pitch like this and it's perfect, you obviously want to score at Wembley. Throughout the game I tried too hard to score, and then thankfully got one in the end. 朗 Georgia Stanway... - 2013: Queued for a picture with Steph Houghton in the FA Women's Cup final - 2019: Scores, wins Player of the match and wins the FA Women's Cup final, alongside Steph Houghton  @StanwayGeorgia #FAWomensCup pic.twitter.com/smZWMJcI51   The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) May 4, 2019 "It was unbelievable. To lift the trophy at the end was excellent, obviously with my friends and family all there." Lifting the cup will come as something of a relief to Stanway and City, especially since they have lost out in the Women's Super League title race to Arsenal. Despite going undefeated in domestic competition all season, the FA Cup was their last chance at silverware, thanks to Arsenal's 17 wins in 19 matches.


When Donald Trump and his advisors crossed over from South Korea into the heavily fortified demilitarized zone between North and South Korea over the weekend, the cameras were ready. Images of the president greeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un as "my friend" in a last-minute meet-up streamed across televisions worldwide. Trump wasn't alone. After a few snapshots, Ivanka Trump, along with her husband Jared Kushner, followed the president into what's known as the Freedom House a building on the South Korean side of the zone. That's when the cameras stopped. The media was reportedly blocked from entering and covering the historic event. It wasn't until later that reporters learned Ivanka and Kushner did more than accompany the president into the Freedom House. They were present at the closed-door 50-minute meeting between the two leaders who spoke about one of the most sensitive topics on the planet the North Korean's nuclear weapons program. And despite the meeting's significance and public reporting, U.S. officials back in Washington told The Daily Beast they were not informed that Ivanka and Kushner were present. One official said the team in South Korea had not yet briefed relevant advisors stateside. President Trump has long used his family, particularly his son-in-law, to run various foreign policy projects, leading to investigations on Capitol Hill over security clearances and the administration's circumvention of traditional foreign policy procedure. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said in recent congressional interview that he was often left in the dark about various high-stake foreign policy decisions because Kushner at times ran his own shadow State Department, meeting secretly with world leaders from countries such as Mexico and Saudi Arabia. The meeting in the DMZ seemed to spur a new sense of frustration in Washington Monday, this time directed in particular at the first daughter who was also present front and center at the G20 summit in Hamburg. She provided a video readout about the conversations Trump had with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and took photo ops with attendees. "Ivanka has participated in previous bilateral meetings, and on behalf of the White House past G20 summits," said Garrett Marquis, a spokesperson for the National Security Council. "Issues of women's empowerment are central to President's National Security and Women's Peace and Security Strategies." Photos and video footage from the conference emerged over the weekend, showing Ivanka mingling with some of the top world leaders, inserting herself into conversations with veterans of the foreign policy world. The internet erupted, and lawmakers took to social media. "It may be shocking to some, but being someone's daughter actually isn't a career qualification," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on Twitter. "It hurts our diplomatic standing when the President phones it in & the world moves on." One senior administration official told The Daily Beast that the Trump team often tries to find roles for Ivanka on travels overseas because she is a talented spokesperson. But it is unclear what Ivanka was doing in North Korea beyond the purely ceremonial. Two senior administration officials and one former one said that they do not consider the president's daughter a significant player on major foreign policy initiatives, including on the Koreas, though they all acknowledged that President Trump will at least solicit her advice for gut-checks on any manner of foreign policy and national security decision: striking other countries, climate agreements, and so on. "She matters because the president says she matters," the former official said. "Who in their right mind would cross her knowing that?" A current official noted that she is often in the room during important policy discussions and read-into those matters specifically, and at times exclusively, because her father demanded it. It's not only Trump's aides and advisers who have taken note of that; foreign leaders have factored it into their diplomacy and flattery of Trump, as well. Prime Minister Abe is known to go out of his way to ask the president how Ivanka is doing and ask about her interest in global women's empowerment projects, another one of the current senior Trump administration officials said. Still, Ivanka's protected status in the Trump orbit has frustrated several high-ranking aides over the years, including the president's one-time chief strategist Steve Bannon and former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, the latter of whom reportedly complained in private that she is merely "playing government," according to a CNN report early last year. That report came at a time when Ivanka's trip to South Korea, as leader of a U.S. delegation at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, perplexed, if not outright aggravated, several of her fellow senior colleagues, chief among them Kelly, a former White House official said. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have looked into how and why the administration's foreign policy has shifted at the hands of Trump's family. The House Foreign Affairs Committee, in particular, has scrutinized Kushner's relationship with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. Tillerson, in his interview with the committee in May, said the inclusion of Ivanka and Kushner in the national security process made his job more difficult. "One of the challenges I think that everyone had… to learn to deal with was the role, the unique situation with the president's son-in-law [Kushner] and daughter [Ivanka] being part of the White House advisory team," Tillerson said. "There was not a real clear understanding of the role, responsibilities, authorities… which made it challenging for everyone." Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here


New Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he wanted Jason Kidd because Kidd is a good coach . Steve Popper of Newsday : the person familiar with the Lakers process said something else: that Kidd was brought to Los Angeles to attract Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Lakers when he becomes a free agent in two years when the Bucks star could become an unrestricted free agent. Things I believe: 1. This plan probably wouldn't work. Not only does Antetokounmpo appear happy in Milwaukee , he has specifically said he could never see himself playing for Los Angeles . And though I believe Antetokounmpo respected Kidd while Kidd coached him, look at the Bucks now. They're so much better under Mike Budenholzer. You think Antetokounmpo is itching to play for Kidd again after seeing the other side? 2. The Lakers might just try this wild plan anyway. Remember when they were waiting to hire a coach in 2014 so free agent LeBron James could pick ? Aside from signing LeBron last year, who seemingly had his eye on Los Angeles for years and for reasons other than basketball , the Lakers have struck out on star free agents. The franchise is getting desperate. 3. People want to believe the Lakers would do something crazy like this, and that makes the rumor spread faster   whether or not it's true. The Lakers, because of their stature, tactics and general manager have made many enemies around the league. Plenty of folks are enjoying piling on. Related slideshow: Best of the 2019 NBA playoffs (Provided by imagn)


FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Stroke play has come and gone at the 2019 NCAA Division I Women's Championship. It's time for match play. Texas claimed the No. 1 seed after a three-round total of 7-over par, seven shots clear of No. 2 Duke (+14), who led the field after the first two rounds. Southern California finished third at 17-over, followed by Arkansas, Wake Forest, Arizona, Stanford and Auburn. LIVE BLOG: Latest news from the NCAA Championship LIVE SCORES: Team leaderboard PHOTOS: See the images from the championship Here are the pairings for the four quarterfinal matches (All Times Central): No. 2 Duke vs. No. 7 Stanford Virginia Elena Carta vs. Ziyi Wang (8:00 a.m.) Gina Kim vs. Albane Valenzuela (8:10 a.m.) Ana Belac vs. Mika Liu (8:20 a.m.) Jaravee Boonchant vs. Andrea Lee (8:30 a.m.) Miranda Wang vs. Aline Krauter (8:40 a.m.) No. 3 USC vs. No. 6 Arizona Malia Nam vs. Yu-Sang Hou (8:00 a.m.) Jennifer Chang vs. Bianca Pagdanganan (8:10 a.m.) Amelia Garvey vs. Ya Chun Chang (8:20 a.m.) Gabriela Ruffels vs. Haley Moore (8:30 a.m.) Alyaa Abdulghany vs. Sandra Nordaas (8:40 a.m.) No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Auburn Hailee Cooper vs. Kaleigh Telfer (8:50 a.m.) Kaitlyn Papp vs. Elena Hualde (9:00 a.m.) Emilee Hoffman vs. Brooke Sansom (9:10 a.m.) Agathe Laisne vs. Julie McCarthy (9:20 a.m.) Sara Kouskova vs. Mychael O'Berry (9:30 a.m.) No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 5 Wake Forest Brooke Matthews vs. Letizia Bagnoli (8:50 a.m.) Maria Fassi vs. Vanessa Knecht (9:00 a.m.) Dylan Kim vs. Siyun Liu (9:10 a.m.) Ximena Gonzalez vs. Emilia Migliaccio (9:20 a.m.) Kaylee Benton vs. Jennifer Kupcho (9:30 a.m.) After the final round of stroke play was suspended due to darkness on Monday night, play continued Tuesday morning at 6:45 a.m. CT. MORE: 7 reasons the Warriors are winning another title no matter who they play in the Finals Injury to Reuben Foster could help Chiefs, Redskins strike a deal Magic Johnson confirms rumor that Lakers want to sign Kyrie Irving Roundup: Great White Shark Tracked; James Holzhauer Wins Again; Donald Trump's Accounting Firm Browns players quickly start recruiting freshly cut DT Gerald McCoy


The Baltimore Ravens are browsing the bargain bin of free agency and liking what they see. After signing two outside linebackers in just two days, the Ravens are bolstering their wide receiver corps with more talent as well. According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley , Baltimore is set to sign free-agent wide receiver Michael Floyd, pending a physical Floyd has had an up-and-down career in the NFL. A former first-round selection in the 2012 NFL draft, Floyd never quite reached the production expected. Though he went over 1,000 receiving yards in 2013 with the Arizona Cardinals, he's yet to hit that level of production again. Floyd has been in some trouble both on and off the field. A DUI arrest in 2016 led to his release from the Cardinals. He'd also be suspended four games at the start of the 2017 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, Floyd has the physical tools necessary to be a truly great wide receiver. But he's rarely put it all together on the field. While the quarterback situations haven't helped him out much throughout his career, his time with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots was a disappointment as well. Floyd now joins a Ravens wide receiver corps that is suddenly teaming with young talent. Baltimore had taken two wide receivers in the 2018 NFL draft and backed that up with two more selected in the first-three rounds of the 2019 NFL draft. However, where Floyd can excel is as a sure-handed possession receiver the Ravens don't really have on the roster right now. MORE: Roundup: RIP Grumpy Cat; Ruby Rose as Batwoman; Mets to Have Seinfeld Night Jimmy Butler's vague Instagram post had Sixers fans freaking out Five potential Jimmy Butler landing spots in free agency Why rookie Devin Bush is the cure for what ails the Steelers defense Report: Browns rookie RB LJ Scott decides to quit NFL after just 2 days


The Wonderlic is an often-criticized test NFL teams use to evaluate draft prospects at the Combine. If a player scores too low, he can be criticized and, apparently, if he scores too high, he is too smart for the NFL. League reporter Matt Verderame shared a story about how Patriots offensive lineman Joe Thuney avoided answering Wonderlic questions so he did not come off as too smart. He was told to answer only 39 of the 50 questions   which he did   and he got all of them right. Fun story from Stacking The Box today. #Patriots guard Joe Thuney is one of the league's smartest. So smart, he was advised pre-draft to only answer 39 of 50 Wonderlic questions because he might score too high and scare teams off. He listened and scored... a 39.   Matt Verderame (@MattVerderame) July 29, 2019 MORE: John Urschel didn't tell Ravens he was a full-time Ph.D. student at MIT while in the NFL Thuney's intelligence wasn't exactly hidden, though. He was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy, which is often referred to as the "Academic Heisman" in college football and rewards the best combination of academics, community service and performance on the field. He graduated from N.C. State cum laude in just three years. A lot of publicity surrounds the Wonderlic, and a high score unfortunately can scare some teams. The fear is that the player cares too much about outside interests to remain truly committed to football. It was a problem in the NBA for Jaylen Brown; an anonymous league executive told The Undefeated Brown could be viewed as "too smart for the league." A few years ago, running back Rashard Mendenhall said NFL teams were concerned with his reading too many books. As for Thuney, we don't know how many more questions he could have answered had he actually finished the test. The Wonderlic is timed, so he might not have been able to answer all 50. He likely picked the 39 questions he felt most comfortable answering, leaving only a few more he could have gotten correct.


James Rodriguez is Atletico Madrid's main target for another attacking addition to their squad, ahead of Christian Eriksen, with Real Madrid keen to sell to their rivals. After losing a host of first-team names including Lucas Hernandez, Diego Godin, Rodri and Antoine Griezmann, Diego Simeone's side are on the rebuild this summer, already concluding big-money deals for the likes of Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Mario Hermoso. The club is still targeting another attacking midfield addition with James and Eriksen among those linked. According to Marca , Real Madrid want roughly £35m for the Colombian who spent the last two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, making him a much cheaper option than Eriksen. The report adds that this week is 'key' for the transfer of James, who he is set to return from his post-Copa America break to Real's training squad on 29 July. Zinedine Zidane is keen to avoid another transfer saga similar to the ongoing Gareth Bale story as it brings unwanted tension to the club's pre-season tour. Interest for James, who was named in the 2019 Copa America Team of the Tournament, is not only limited to Los Colchoneros, as Napoli have flirted with the idea of bringing the 28-year-old to the Serie A . As for Eriksen, a move away from north London to Madrid has been well documented. However, his substantial price tag for a player with just a year left on their contact seems to have derailed any possible deals. Although the Wanda Metropolitano may not be calling for the Dane, the possibility of a move to the Bernabeu is still alive. Eriksen may not be the first choice for Los Blancos, but the departure of the James could free up some space at the club. Tottenham's playmaker has looked set to depart for much of the summer, yet with no formal offers he could end up signing a new contract under Mauricio Pochettino at the end of the transfer window.


ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.   Charlie Morton is proving his worth to the Tampa Bay Rays. The 35-year-old right-hander, signed to a $30 million, two-year contract in free agency, remained unbeaten with his new team on Monday night, limiting the Oakland Athletics to two hits over seven shutout innings of a 6-2 victory. The win, Tampa Bay's sixth in seven games, nudged the Rays ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East. BOX SCORE: RAYS 6, ATHLETICS 2 Morton (8-0, 2.10 ERA) is one of the reasons the budget-minded team with one of baseball's lowest payrolls feels this could be a special season. "He's a huge pickup for this team," centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier said after making a leaping catch at the wall to rob Oakland's Jurickson Profar of an extra-base hit and then delivering a two-run homer for a 4-0 lead in the seventh inning. "The way Charlie Morton has been going for us all year, the spark and dominance he has brought to the table," Kiermaier added, "I wanted to make that play for him." Brandon Lowe homered for the third time in two days, snapping a scoreless tie in the sixth inning and helping the Rays take a half-game lead over Yankees, who were rained out at home where they were to play the Mets. Morton (8-0) extended his career-best winning streak to 11 games dating to Aug. 17, when he was with the Houston Astros. The stretch covers 21 starts -- 14 of them with Tampa Bay since signing as a free agent -- and is the longest active streak in the major leagues ahead of Milwaukee Davies, who's 7-0 over his past 14 starts. Morton allowed two hits -- singles to Marcus Semien in the first and third innings -- and retired the last 14 batters he faced. In addition to Kiermaier's highlight-reel catch, Morton benefited from Tommy Pham also making a leaping catch at the wall in left field. "I'm not surprised by it anymore. They are awesome," Morton said of the defensive gems. "You get so much confidence in the guys behind you. I feel like if a ball is hit really, really hard, you still have a chance with those guys out there." Stephen Piscotty ruined Tampa Bay's bid for a shutout, driving in Mark Canha with an RBI double and then scoring on Robbie Grossman's run-scoring single in the ninth. Lowe, who homered twice in Sunday's 6-1 win in Boston, hit a two-run shot off Tanner Anderson (0-1), who was promoted from Triple-A Las Vegas to make his debut with Oakland, which acquired him from Pittsburgh last November. Kiermaier also had a two-run homer for Tampa Bay, going deep against reliever Yusmeiro Petit in the seventh inning. Ji-Man Choi made it 6-0 with a two-run homer off Joakim Soria in the eighth. Anderson, who went to high school in nearby Tampa, made six relief appearances for the Pirates last season. He allowed two runs and three hits over 5 2/3 innings in his first big league start. "My first dream was to play at this level, and it was awesome when that happened last year," said Anderson, who had 40 family members and friends in the stands. "But my second dream is to pitch in Tropicana (Field), so it was awesome," Anderson added. "A dream come true. Had a lot of support here, which is really cool." CHEAP SEATS Attendance was announced as 16,091, a figure helped in part by the Rays putting 5,000 tickets on sale for $5 apiece last week. The discounted tickets, available on the internet for a limited time, were made available as part of a flash sale, including the first five dates of a seven-game homestand that began Monday. The allotment for two of the games -- against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday and Friday -- sold out before last week's deadline. The Rays entered Monday night averaging 13,802 -- 29th among 30 major league teams. HONEYWELL UPDATE Rays pitching prospect Brent Honeywell underwent successful surgery to repair the fracture in his right elbow. The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Florida. The team said ulnar collateral ligament was not damaged and that if Honeywell's recovery goes as hoped, the right-hander could resume throwing next January. Honeywell has been sidelined from the spring of 2018, recovering from Tommy John surgery. TRAVEL WOES The Athletics spent an extra 3 hours in the clubhouse after Sunday's game at Texas and didn't arrive in Florida until after 3 a.m. because their plane was damaged during a thunderstorm. That followed an early morning arrival Friday for a four-game series with the Rangers that included a day-night doubleheader Saturday and a rain delay Sunday. "Feels like we've had five straight nights of naps," manager Bob Melvin said. UP NEXT Athletics RHP Mike Fiers (5-3) will start the middle date of the three-game series Tuesday night. Opener Ryne Stanek (0-1) will take the ball first for the Rays. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Shark experts are once again gearing up to hit the waters off Cape Cod in the coming weeks to continue their research on the presence of great white sharks. But this season, researchers aren't merely focusing on the number of apex predators returning to the region   they're also trying to better understand the hunting and feeding habits of the marine animals, an intensive effort that comes the summer after one man was attacked , and another killed , while in the water near the coastline. "If we can understand the nature of how [feeding] happens, we can try to prevent people being confused for prey items," said Greg Skomal , senior fisheries scientist with the state Division of Marine Fisheries. For the last five years, Skomal and state officials have teamed up and worked closely with the nonprofit Atlantic White Shark Conservancy on a population study of the sharks locally. The aim of the study is to capture an "accurate picture of how many sharks take up seasonal residency in the waters off Cape Cod," according to the conservancy . The results of the study, the organization said earlier this month, are nearing completion, and are expected to be released soon. With that portion of their work wrapping up (they're in the "analytical phase"), Skomal and the conservancy are continuing their partnership on this "new wave of research to better understand shark behavior," officials said this month. "It is critical to get a better idea of hunting and feeding behavior," Cynthia Wigren, the conservancy's chief executive, said in a statement. "If sharks are feeding at certain times of the day or stages of the tide, for example, we can use that information to identify periods when the risk of interactions between sharks and recreational water users may be highest." To track this type of activity, researchers will use special tags, called "Acceleration Data Loggers," that will be attached to the dorsal fins of great whites, Skomal told the Globe in a telephone interview this week. The tags will automatically fall off after a few days, and ping researchers as to their whereabouts so they can be retrieved and their data downloaded. "We will be able to put these on for a couple of days and then examine the data and how many predatory attempts may have happened and when they happened   at dawn, dusk, at night, during the day," Skomal said. "We'll be looking for a pattern, or if it's random." They can correlate those events with other factors like water temperature and tide. Some of the devices will have cameras, providing "direct observations of the behavior" of the sharks, Skomal said. The devices will allow researchers to get a snapshot of the "fine-scale movements" of the sharks, the conservancy added. "Data will be used to estimate feeding frequency; identify environmental conditions that relate to feeding; and will be combined with population estimates," Megan Winton, a staff scientist with the conservancy, said in a recent statement. Other facets of the upcoming work could include examining how the topography of a specific area where a shark feeds influences behavior. Skomal hopes this "habitat mapping" will be done in partnership with the Provincetown-based Center of Coastal Studies or U.S. Geological Survey   or both. "If seals are close to shore and sharks are trying to get in close to shore, how do they use channels and sand bar systems? Are there areas that are more conducive to that than others?" Skomal said. "Last year, the incidents that happened were not far from the shoreline, so how did the sharks get there? Are they using underwater channels, is it tidally dependent? We are interested in that." Skomal said his work with the conservancy will also expand into Cape Cod Bay this year, following frequent reports last year of sharks snagging fish caught by passengers on charter boats. Experts in the past had been mostly focused on shark activity on the outer Cape. "We don't believe it's a separate population," Skomal said. "We just want to look at the connectivity between the Bay and the outer Cape." All of this, Skomal said, will be done with the goal of ensuring and enhancing public safety in mind. "We believe   and the scientific community believes   that the better we understand the relationship between sharks and seals, the better we can provide information to beach managers and public safety officials on trying to prevent incidents like those that occurred last year," he said. Steve Annear can be reached at steve.annear@globe.com . Follow him on Twitter @steveannear .


Florida just released America's longest snakes into the wild.


PEBBLE BEACH - The 18th hole strikes again, as Patrick Reed had a frustrating finishing hole on Friday. After a 280-yard drive off the right, his second went into the fairway bunker on the left. His third shot to the par 5 hole went over the green. He fourth shot coming back went back across the green and in the rough. His barely advanced his fifth shot at all, with his ball still in the rough. That's when he got all weekend hacker, as he took his wedge in both hands and snapped the shaft over his leg. He then tossed both pieces on the ground next to his bag and grabbed another club. Patrick Reed snaps his club over his leg on No. 18… pic.twitter.com/BnOWolZjTC - FOX Sports: Golf (@GolfonFOX) June 15, 2019 U.S. OPEN: TV info | Photos | Tee times | Scores | Tiger Tracker After finally chipping on with his sixth shot, Reed needed to make a 3-footer for double bogey to finish at 2-over, right on the cutline for the weekend. He then he made that putt for a 7, ending his round. Reed then took off his hat to shake hands with his playing partners before leaving the 18th green. Kessler Karain walks with a wedge broken by Patrick Reed on the 18th green during the second round of the 2019 U.S. Open. Photo: Michael Madrid/USA TODAY Sports If you were wondering about the rules regarding replacing broken clubs, the USGA's website explains it like this: New Rule: Under Rule 4.1 A player is allowed to keep using and/or to repair any club damaged during the round, no matter what the damage and even if the player damaged it in anger. A player is not allowed to replace a damaged club, except when it is damaged during the round by an outside influence or natural forces or by someone other than the player or his or her caddie. Seeing as how that was Reed's last hole of the day, nothing was really affected. If you missed it The 18th was also not much fun for Lucas Bjerregaard, who on Thursday posted an 11 on the 18th hole. It was the second highest score on the 18th hole in a U.S. Open. https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/pick-sundays-winner-from-the-top-5-after MORE: Copa America 2019: Venezuela vs Peru Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch Online, Kickoff Time Rapoport: Broncos have picked successor to become next owner This is how the Golden State Warriors head into the offseason What Tim Duncan told LeBron James after Spurs beat Cavs in 2007 NBA Finals Earl Thomas comments on Seahawks 'simple' defensive scheme