Democrats don't seem ready to move past arguing about Joe Biden's lengthy political record, particularly on civil rights, after the first round of presidential debates showed the fragile nature of being perceived as an early front-runner in the 2020 race. The former vice president is facing criticism from the two black candidates in the contest   Sens. Kamala Harris of California and Cory Booker of New Jersey, who aired his public grievance Sunday at the same time the party's chairman came to Biden's defense. The Democratic nominee "really needs to be someone who can talk openly and honestly about race with vulnerability," Booker told NBC's "Meet the Press." That person must have the ability to "call this country to common ground, to reconciliation. I'm not sure if Vice President Biden is up to that task." Biden was pressed by Harris during Thursday night's debate over his stance on busing. The former Delaware senator defended his lengthy career and cited his commitment to civil rights. To Democratic leader Tom Perez, "Biden's overall record on civil rights is clear. And the Democratic Party's overall record on civil rights is clear." He said on "Fox News Sunday" that the White House candidates "want you to look at the totality of what they've done in their career. The totality of voting rights," holding police department accountable, fighting for equal pay for women and other issues. "On this score, Vice President Biden and other Democrats have been leading the charge," Perez said. For Booker, however, Biden has shown "an inability to talk candidly about the mistakes he made, about things he could've done better." Booker has criticized Biden's record of working with Democratic segregationist senators on non-race issues. "We have one destiny in this nation and right now the vice president to me is not doing a good job at bringing folks together," Booker said. "In fact, and I've heard this from people all around the country, he's causing a lot of frustration and even pain with his words." Perez said voters will look at "the totality of everybody's record," and that "the reality is every single Democrat running for president on the issue of civil rights is so far ahead of where this president is."


DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM)   A 65-year-old woman was shot and killed by random gunfire while in her car in Dallas early Thursday morning, police say. Carolyn Parrish and her son Kia McAfee (credit: McAfee Family) The woman was identified as Carolyn J. Parrish. Police say the shooting happened at around 12:20 a.m. in the 1300 block of Grinnell Street. Parrish's son, Kia McAfee says his mom was shot because she refused to leave her two dogs. Kia says his family moved in two weeks ago, and he didn't want his mom's two chihuahuas inside the house because they shed. He says his mom loved her dogs so much that she preferred to sleep in her car outside the home. Officials responded to the scene and pronounced her dead. Police say she was killed by random gunfire, and that they found shells further up the street. The family heard gunshots through the evening and went outside to check on Parrish. McAfee found her unresponsive in a locked car that was still running. The family heard gun shots for severals hours but never thought their mother was hurt. Officers have been checking neighbors' surveillance for any clues, but so far, nothing, and no arrests. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 214.671.4236 or Crime Stoppers at 214.373.8477.


Looking to mix things up this week? From a brunch event to a musical show, here are some solid options to help you get out and about in the days ahead. 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. Sundress and Big Hat Brunch From the event description: The Sundress and Big Hat Brunch is a celebration of friendships, fashion, fun and fundraising. When: Saturday, June 15, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Where: Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel, 303 S. Church St. Admission: $75 (General Admission); $85 (Reserved Seating) Click here for more details, and to get your tickets TrapxCanvas From the event description: Get up and get moving with your favorite trap classics and new music. Limited artistic ability? No problem. We've got you covered. Come out and join in a cultural experience, and don't worry about painting within the lines. When: Saturday, June 15, 6-8 p.m. Where: White House Night Club, 4809 Wilkinson Blvd. Admission: $35 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets AC Lee album release concert From the event description: Charlotte-based singer-songwriter, AC Lee is releasing her debut album, "I Had a Dream." About two years ago, AC released her first EP, "The Esther EP," and first music video for her song, "Known." When: Saturday, June 15, 7:30-10 p.m. Where: Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Ave. Admission: $12 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Broadway at The Ballroom's The Golden Ticket From the event description: This summer, Broadway at The Ballroom proudly presents "The Golden Ticket." Join us as we cha cha, tango and swing our way through the tale of young Charlie Bucket as he is joined by a few lucky children who have won the chance to tour the world's greatest chocolate factory and meet the eccentric candy maker, Mr. Willy Wonka. When: Sunday, June 16, 5-8 p.m. Where: The Ballroom at Quail Hollow, 8514 Park Road Admission: $30-$45 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


HONG KONG (Reuters) - Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam remained defiant on Tuesday, pledging to push ahead with a proposed extradition bill that would allow fugitives captured in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China despite massive protests. Lam spoke two days after the city was plunged into a fresh political crisis after hundreds of thousands took to the streets to thwart the proposed law, which has generated unusually broad opposition at home and abroad. Hong Kong is gearing up for business strikes and fresh protests on Wednesday, when the bill is due to be put for debate in the city's 70-seat Legislative Council that is now controlled by a pro-Beijing majority. (Reporting By Clare Jim and Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by Paul Tait)


WASHINGTON   Comedian and advocate Jon Stewart blasted Sen. Rand Paul Wednesday hours after the Kentucky Republican delayed a vote after the Senate attempted to reauthorize a fund that compensates victims of 9/11. "It's absolutely outrageous, and you'll pardon me if I'm not impressed in any way by Rand Paul's fiscal responsibility virtue signaling," Stewart, who has repeatedly advocated for the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund, said in an interview with Fox News . "Rand Paul presented tissue paper avoidance of the $1.5 trillion tax cut that added hundreds of billions of dollars to our deficit and now he stands up at the last minute, after 15 years of blood, sweat, and tears from the 9/11 community, to say that it's all over now and we're going to balance the budget on the backs of the 9/11 first responder community." Paul objected to the projected cost of the bill that would reauthorize the compensation fund, which was created after 9/11 to help pay for medical and economic losses as a result of the terrorist attacks. The estimated costs to pay the outstanding claims and future claims would be $10.2 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. "Any new spending...should be offset by cutting spending that is less valuable. We need to at the very least have this debate," Paul said on the Senate floor. "I will be offering an amendment if the bill should come to the floor but until then I will object." The House passed its version of the bill on July 12, with a 402-12 vote. House Republicans who voted against the bill at the time cited the legislation's lack of a funding mechanism. Stewart last month gave an impassioned speech during a hearing on Capitol Hill criticizing lawmakers for not passing the bill to reauthorize the fund sooner. Several 9/11 first responders also testified before congress at that time. "It would be one thing if their callous indifference and rank hypocrisy were benign," Stewart said in June before the House Judiciary Committee . "But it's not. Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time….the one thing they're running out of." Just weeks after that testimony, 9/11 first responder Luis Alvarez, who was at the hearing, died after years of battling cancer. He was 53 years old. Stewart on Fox News also criticized Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who placed a procedural hold on the legislation, according to the New York Post . "The people from the state of Kentucky and the people from the state of Utah deserve much better," Stewart said of Paul and Lee. "I think they lack humanity," he concluded. Contributing: Nicholas Wu Like what you're reading?: Download the USA TODAY app for more This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'It's absolutely outrageous': Jon Stewart slams Rand Paul for delaying 9/11 first responder bill


You can't choose where you lose fat first (like from your thighs or belly), but if you want to shed it quickly, "you must expend more calories than you ingest ," Charles Seltzer , MD, DABOM, CEP, a board-certified bariatric physician based in Philadelphia, PA, told POPSUGAR. "The more rapidly you would like to lose fat , the larger the calorie deficit must be." But if you read that as permission to radically cut calories, know this: overhauling your diet alone will only set you up for failure, as you're more likely to lose muscle that way than fat. Here's how to safely speed up fat loss with diet and exercise, without running the risk that you'll gain it back down the road. What to Eat to Lose Fat Quickly "The fastest way to lose fat is to remove sugar and reduce simple carbohydrates like bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice," Wendy Scinta , MD, MS, president of the Obesity Medicine Association and a board-certified bariatric physician based in Fayetteville, NY, told POPSUGAR. "If you want it to be really fast, try cutting your net carbohydrates down to 20 grams." Net carbs are calculated by subtracting fiber from total carbs. For context, 20 grams of net carbs falls in the range of the very low-carb keto diet. "If you choose this, you may need to cut your exercise back a bit until your body can become keto-adaptive (meaning it's used to running on ketone bodies instead of glucose)," Dr. Scinta explained. "Take in at least half your weight in grams of protein to preserve muscle mass." Just keep in mind that if you suddenly switch to a diet like keto when you're accustomed to eating junk food, you may struggle to implement such a drastic change. "From a lifestyle standpoint, the more you change at once, the less likely it is to stick over the long run," Dr. Seltzer said. If you want to clean up your diet, start slow by eating more plant-based foods, then shift over to a more low-carb diet if that's what you want to do. How to Exercise For Fat Loss While diet is most effective at speeding up fat loss, exercise is essential. Both doctors recommend incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to increase the rate of fat burning during and after your workout. "HIIT can also help protect your muscle mass while you are in a calorie deficit," Dr. Seltzer said. During any other workout, aim to reach 70 percent of your maximum heart rate, known as the fat-burning zone . "The formula for maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age," Dr. Scinta explained. "To find your fat-burning zone, you then multiply this by 0.7." A 22-year-old's maximum heart rate would be 198, which means she should aim to reach 139 during her workouts. To help maintain muscle mass after tough workouts and keep your metabolism stable - which is crucial for keeping the weight off - aim for at least 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, Dr. Scinta added. But of course, the best way to ensure long-term success is to listen to your body and lose weight at its pace. "Being patient and not taking drastic measures in the first place is the best play," Dr. Seltzer said. Related video: 10 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting or Stepping Foot in the Gym (Provided by Cooking Light)


The Tigers are nearing a minor deal with right-hander Trevor Rosenthal , according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman . Rosenthal was released by the Nationals earlier this week, though he now appears to be closing in on a new destination. There's no real risk to the move from Detroit's perspective, as the Tigers would only owe Rosenthal a minimum MLB salary if he reaches the major league roster, as the Nats are still on the hook for the rest of the approximately $3.7M owed to the righty for the remainder of the season. The Tigers are in need of help for their struggling bullpen anyway, and if the best-case scenario occurs and Rosenthal rediscovers his old form, he could potentially close games for the team if current ninth-inning man Shane Greene is dealt at the trade deadline. After missing all of 2018 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Rosenthal inked a one-year, $7M contract with Washington in the offseason. Rather than making a triumphant return to the mound, however, Rosenthal instead struggled mightily, posting a whopping 22.74 ERA over only 6 1/3 innings. Rosenthal's stint with the Nats was shortened by a five-week injured list absence due to a viral infection, yet both before and after his IL stint, the veteran reliever's control was non-existent   Rosenthal recorded an astounding 15 walks over his 6 1/3 frames. While Rosenthal had his share of (much less horrific) control problems even in his heyday with the Cardinals, he isn't far removed from being a dangerous bullpen weapon. The hard-throwing right-hander had a 3.13 ERA, 12.0 K/9 and 2.6 K/BB rate over 227 IP from 2014 to '17, including a 45-save season in 2014 and a 48-save performance in 2015.


Wondering where to find the best bakeries near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top bakeries in Cambridge, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs. 1. Royal Pastry Shop Topping the list is Royal Pastry Shop . Located at 738 Cambridge St. in Wellington-Harrington, the bakery is the highest-rated bakery in Cambridge, boasting 4.5 stars out of 67 reviews on Yelp. 2. Flour Bakery + Café Cambridgeport's Flour Bakery + Café , located at 190 Massachusetts Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the bakery and coffee spot, which offers sandwiches and more, four stars out of 883 reviews. 3. SOFRA Bakery & Cafe SOFRA Bakery & Cafe , a bakery and Middle Eastern breakfast and brunch spot in Strawberry Hill, is another go-to, with four stars out of 752 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1 Belmont St. to see for yourself. 4. Iggy's Bread Over in Cambridge Highlands, check out Iggy's Bread , which has earned 4.5 stars out of 202 reviews on Yelp. You can find the bakery at 130 Fawcett St. 5. Tatte Bakery & Cafe Finally, there's Tatte Bakery & Cafe , an East Cambridge favorite with four stars out of 517 reviews. Stop by 318 Third St. to hit up the bakery next time you're in the mood. 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.


As the leaves begin to fall, some fashion staples typically rise to the top. As summer comes to an end, one of the only things that brings solace is the arrival of fall fashion. But our ideas about what constitutes as style for the season have evolved over the decades. Take a look back at the trends that have stood the test of time plus the ones that made briefer appearances. 1950 In 1950, Audrey Hepburn was still three years away from winning an Oscar for her breakout role in Roman Holiday . But that didn't stop her from sporting this printed fall ensemble for a fashion spread. 1951 French designer Jacques Heim favored pleated coats and skirts for his autumn collection in 1951. 1951 Likewise, Christian Dior employed a fuller skirt silhouette in his fall 1951 collection. The early '50s often saw a fall ensemble completed with a coordinated hat or headpiece. 1952 Actress and singer Edie Adams opted for high-waisted, black denim with a checkered top during her October 1952 photo shoot alongside her pet Boston Terrier. 1953 Once again, Dior's fall collection favored boxy coats and distinguished headwear. 1954 Two junior league models showed some September skin by pairing their high neckline tops with skirts and shorts, as opposed to longer wool coats. 1955 Before you mistake this for another standard coat-and-hat ensemble, consider that Givenchy's fall and winter collection took a major risk. The drawstring design at the top and bottom of the velour coat made for an eye-catching aesthetic choice. 1956 This was the year that Grace Kelly became Princess of Monaco after she married Prince Rainier III. Here, she wears a burgundy velvet hat and slate gray suit for a November trip from the United States to France. 1957 Designer Nina Ricci's fall collection got creative in the details of this fall fashion staple. 1958 Towards the end of the decade, designer Guy Laroche reinterpreted the wool coat trend (somewhat) by raising the waistline and adding fringe detailing to the front of the dress. 1959 Actress Jane Russell sported a chic airport look as she departed from London, decked out in a fur coat, ornate hat, and several bracelets. Is this why it's called a runway? 1960 The '60s brought a major cultural shift away from the conventional. Brigitte Bardot brings that mentality to her fall fashion, including a long fur coat, patterned stockings, and modern bangs. 1961 October 1961 saw the release of Breakfast at Tiffany's , thus revolutionizing the little black dress for any season. Audrey Hepburn dons the iconic LBD for one of the film's promotional photos. 1962 Actress Sophia Loren accessorized her look with an ascot around the neck, adding a modern twist to a classic ensemble. 1963 Designer Norman Norell took traditional elements, including wool and plaid, and constructed a three-piece outfit. A cape and fuller pants, as opposed to peacoat and skirt, gave this look a modernized twist. 1964 Julie Andrews, poolside in November, wore capris and a casual high-collared blouse for a free-spirited ensemble. 1965 If loving Barbra Streisand's leopard print trench with a slit down the side is wrong, who would want to be right? 1966 Jane Fonda's newsboy cap, braids, and mod dress (with pockets!) give her fall look a playful vibe. 1967 In the late '60s, British supermodel Twiggy set the tone for much of the decade's street style. In this hooded dress, alongside Jenny Russell and Diane De La Roche, she brings the mod movement to the forefront. 1968 Emilio Pucci embraced the mod and hippie trends of the decade with his fall line. Goodbye plaid, hello prints. 1969 By the end of the '60s, coats were shorter and no longer exclusively wool or argyle. Hair was taller, belts abundant, and leather boots entering the fold. This progression is on full-display in Dominique Chombert's fall/winter collection. 1970 September 1970 saw the arrival of an iconic TV series and its ultra-stylish star. After The Mary Tyler Moore Show premiered, every "career woman" had a closet full of menswear-inspired trousers and were ready to toss a beret into the air at a moment's notice. 1971 Cardin's ready-to-wear collection showcased looks such as this oversized plaid skirt and matching cape, styled with a high-waisted belt. 1972 Olivia Newton-John's all-white leisure suit brought effortless fall flair as she walked around London. 1973 The linen power suit continued to gain traction in Saint Laurent's ready-to-wear collection. 1974 Givenchy gifted the world with this red snakeskin leather jacket, outfitted with a red fur trim, along with matching hat and gloves. This streetwear would certainly make...a statement. 1975 Just a year shy of this former couple's film collaboration A Star is Born , Barbra Streisand and Jon Peters are delivering peak '70s style with a beige-laden outing. 1976 Faye Dunaway's turn as a high-power news woman in Network earned her an Oscar and a place in the pantheon of of fall fashion inspo. 1977 Jerry Hall walked the Yves Saint Laurent show in a red velvet leisure suit and beret, as a printed ascot draped her right shoulder. 1978 Diane Keaton has always been known for raising the bar of menswear-inspired looks. Here, she channels boyfriend Warren Beatty in a corduroy suit. (Are they wearing the same belt?!) 1979 Meryl Streep hailing a cab outside the Public Theater, wearing a baseball cap and trench coat, feels like a forever mood. 1980 After the release of 9 to 5 , fans coveted the sheer blouses, high waisted skirts, and sleek pumps worn by Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton in the workplace comedy. 1981 Airing its first season in the fall of 1981, Dynasty star Joan Collins became an unintentional fashion icon. Her character, Alexis Carrington, helped inspire higher shoulder pads, bolder accessories, and more glamour in the average viewer's wardrobe. 1982 By 1982, designers such as Dior were employing bright colors, ruffles, and padding to add drama to a person's daily look. 1983 Cher mixed '80s glam with her own signature touches when she attended an August party at the Hard Rock Cafe alongside producer David Geffen. 1984 Givenchy's 1984-1985 fall/winter collection paid homage to some of the high-waisted suits seen in fall fashion decades before. 1985 Sarah Jessica Parker wore denim and a distressed leather jacket to an October 1985 ABC Television Affiliates Party, keeping it casual during the cooler months. 1986 Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell brought folksy fall vibes to the grand opening of a new FAO Schwarz location. The plaid, denim, tribal-printed long coat, and beige suit jacket could all totally be found in a hipster, vintage shop this autumn. 1987 Perhaps in a reaction to the more high-fashion fall looks at the decade's start, the late '80s saw a boho trend arise. Jennifer Grey layered up with a sweater, scarf, and long maxi skirt to the premiere of Burn This with Matthew Broderick. 1988 Susan Sarandon brought shoulder pad sophistication to her appearance at the Woman's Sports Foundation Awards in October 1988. 1989 Princess Diana paired a black-and-white striped, gold-buttoned sweater with a long pleated skirt to drop off Prince William at school alongside Prince Charles. 1990 Princess Di turned school drop-off into a fashion show once again in this printed maxi dress and belt. 1991 Glenn Close is the picture of laid-back linen at the Environmental Careers Organization's (ECO) Third Annual Entertainment Conference on Politics and Environment. 1992 If ever there was a way to make denim overalls look chic, Julia Roberts accomplished it here. 1993 Apparently, brown suede jackets and black berets were officially A Thing in the '80s and '90s. Sandra Bullock, on the heels of her Speed breakout, is a testament to the trend's prominence. 1994 Kate Moss modeled a high-fashion velvet ensemble at the Yves Saint Laurent autumn/winter fashion show. 1994 Cindy Crawford debuted a Todd Oldham re-imagining of fall favorites, including plaid and high-waisted denim. 1995 Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow were the picture of '90s fall fashion. If there's anything to be learned, earth tones will always "be there for you." 1996 Naomi Campbell pulled off an all-denim outfit with a sequin tube top layered underneath during Todd Oldham's fall fashion show. 1997 Gwyneth Paltrow exemplified stylish sweater weather while filming her movie, A Perfect Murder . 1998 A few months after the premiere of Sex and the City , SJP's style proved to be just as eccentric as her onscreen counterpart, Carrie Bradshaw's. 1999 Leave it to Giselle Bundchen to make us think that we too can work Marc Jacobs' western-meets-equestrian looks. 2000 Jennifer Lopez red carpet look at the Bamboozled premiere ticked off several early '00s fashion boxes. Low-rise jeans, a sparkly crop top, suede jacket, and light sunglasses make this a fall fave. 2001 There's nothing quite like an afternoon stroll with Starbucks to embody the autumn aesthetic. Jennifer Garner, naturally in a beige corduroy, and Scott Foley were clearly falling for one another. 2002 If you can't celebrate the fact that all three of Charlie's Angels wore nearly identical caps to a Rolling Stones after-party, then where can joy be found? 2002 Jake Gyllenhaal and Kirsten Dunst's two-year romance gifted pop culture with several moments. This autumn outing featuring Dunst's on-trend skinny scarf is 100 percent one of them. 2003 Sienna Miller's chunky leather boots, flashy belt, and light wash denim were completely on-point for a launch party in fall 2003. 2004 Here, it's as if Hilary Duff decided to try out every trend of the early '00s at once while attending the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. 2005 Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen were fixtures of the fashion world long before becoming designers themselves. Their neutral cocktail dresses bring the feel of summer to the next season. 2006 The Hills alum Lauren Conrad and Heidi Montag were consistent mid '00s trendsetters. At this particular book party, that meant fans were in search of Montag's v-neck sweater dress. 2007 It also meant that LC's leather boots and leggings worn as pants were entering the closets of her many followers at the time. 2007 When Sex and the City returned to the big screen, the world waited with bated breath for Ms. Bradshaw's updated wardrobe. This Ralph Lauren suit with the character's signature Manolo Blahniks didn't disappoint. 2008 Kate Hudson's luxurious fur jacket and brown leather boots for Dolce & Gabbana's pre-fall collection are reminiscent of something her mom, Goldie Hawn, would have sported in the '60s or '70s. 2009 Emma Watson opted for a golden mini dress at Burberry Prorsum's spring/summer show in London. 2010 Glee star Lea Michele made an appearance at a TV Guide Magazine party in a flowy, '70s-inspired dress. 2011 While filming on location in New York City for Gossip Girl , viewers often got a sneak peek of Blake Lively's trendsetting wardrobe on the show. 2012 This fall 2012 date between Taylor Swift and Harry Styles will never go, well, out of "Style." At least one can assume that this isn't the scarf Swift left at Maggie Gyllenhaal's house... 2013 Before she was the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle was spending November 2013 at The Hunger Games: Catching Fire premiere in London. Luckily, her red carpet style has remained inspired. 2014 Karlie Kloss walked the Michael Kors 2014 fall fashion show in a sheer dress, fur coat, and belt. 2015 Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone each chose denim, black coats, and high-neck blouses for a night out in New York. 2016 Gwyneth Paltrow sported a retro sweater over a mostly white ensemble for her October trek through LAX. 2017 Gigi and Bella Hadid prove they're stylish sisters wearing coats from Chanel's pre-fall 2017 collection. Both donned logo belts, Gigi opting for a gray tweed jacket, while Bella went with black lambskin. 2017 Emily Ratajkowski made quite the appearance at Nina Ricci's Womenswear spring/summer show. Her menswear-inspired plaid suit is juxtaposed with the delicate lace top underneath. 2018 The Hadid sisters continued to serve looks the following year. Bella went for a pink suit jacket and matching skirt, along with tennis shoes. Gigi stepped out in an all-white ensemble, accessorized with a tan handbag and pumps. 2019 Perhaps previewing her fall fashion to come, Millie Bobby Brown headed to KISS FM UK radio studios in a plaid jacket and skirt, completed with burgundy combat boots and a black cap. 2019 Another look destined for our fall fashion vision boards? Gigi Hadid's runway look at the Isabel Marant autumn/winter show.


Top 2020 draft prospect R.J. Hampton confirmed today that he'll pass on the opportunity to play college basketball, heading overseas instead to join the New Zealand Breakers in the NBL. While it's not the first time an elite prospect has bypassed college, just about every player who has done so in the past has had eligibility concerns   but Hampton doesn't. In a follow-up story on Hampton's decision, Jonathan Givony of ESPN.com (Insider link) explores the potential upsides and downsides of the youngster's new path, and examines whether there are other candidates to follow suit. Outside of perhaps LaMelo Ball, Givony doesn't expect any other one-and-done candidates to head to the NBL for the 2019/20 season, but he notes that potential fallout from ongoing NCAA corruption investigations could change that. If certain programs are hit by sanctions or head coaching firings, that may cause top prospects to rethink their plans for next season, and the NBL could look to recruit those players. Here's more from around the basketball world: Before he joined the Thunder in 2016, swingman Alex Abrines played for Barcelona for several seasons. Now, according to a report from Barcelona-based L'Esportiu Catalunya (via Sportando ), the Spanish club has interest in bringing him back. Abrines parted ways with Oklahoma City this season for personal reasons, so it's not clear if he'll be ready to return to action   whether in the NBA or EuroLeague   for the 2019-20 campaign. Amadou Gallo Fall, the NBA's vice president and managing director for Africa, has been named the president of the new Basketball Africa League, writes Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated . The new 12-team African league is on track to begin play in 2020. Besides featuring a new matchup for the first time since 2014, this year's NBA Finals will also have a significant ripple effect on the upcoming NBA offseason, writes Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press . As Reynolds observes, Kevin Durant , Klay Thompson , and Kawhi Leonard will all be free agents this summer, and it's not inconceivable that their decisions will be affected by what happens in the series.


LONDON (AP)   Brexit hardliner Boris Johnson won the contest to lead Britain's governing Conservative Party on Tuesday and will become the country's next prime minister, tasked with fulfilling his promise to lead the U.K. out of the European Union "come what may." He defeated his rival Jeremy Hunt overwhelmingly in a vote of Conservative Party members. He will be installed as prime minister in a formal handover from Theresa May on Wednesday. Video by Reuters The victory is a triumph for 55-year-old Johnson, an ambitious but erratic politician whose political career has veered between periods in high office and spells on the sidelines. Johnson has vowed that Britain will quit the European Union on the scheduled date of Oct. 31 even if it means leaving without a divorce deal But he faces a rocky ride from a Parliament determined to prevent him from taking the U.K. out of the 28-nation bloc without a withdrawal agreement. Several Conservative ministers have already announced they will resign to fight any push for a "no-deal" Brexit, an outcome economists warn would disrupt trade and plunge the U.K. into recession. Fears that Britain is inching closer to a "no-deal" Brexit weighed on the pound once again Tuesday. Before the announcement, the currency was down another 0.3 percent at $1.2441 and near two-year lows. May stepped down after Britain's Parliament repeatedly rejected the withdrawal agreement she struck with the 28-nation bloc. Johnson insists he can get the EU to renegotiate   something the bloc insists it will not do. If not, he says Britain must leave the EU on Halloween, "do or die."


Inter are closing in on the signing of Sassuolo midfielder Stefano Sensi on a season long loan, after the Italian was believed to be close to a move to local rivals Milan. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano , 18-year-old striker Edoardo Vergani will leave the Nerazzurri as part of a deal to tempt the club to part with Sensi, while the Italian giants will also have the option to sign him for a fee of around €22m next summer.  L'Inter al traguardo per Stefano Sensi: il centrocampista è in arrivo, nell'operazione ci sarà il giovane attaccante Vergani ✔ @SkySport #calciomercato   Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 21, 2019 Milan had been favourites to sign Sensi after holding an interest since January and having talks with Sassuolo this summer. They were willing to offer a two-year-loan with an obligation to buy for €15m at the end of the term. However, Inter made a significantly bigger bid for the central midfielder, which included a player and a larger financial package. Sensi's agent held talks with Inter on Friday, and said: "We talked to them, now we will see what happens in the next few hours. There are good feelings on my part." The 23-year-old has made 68 appearances for Sassuolo since signing for the club from Cesena, with last season being his breakout campaign - scoring two goals and making four assists in 30 games. He represented Italy at Under-17 and Under-20 level, and has two caps for the senior national team after making his debut in November 2018. He also scored his first goal in a 6-0 victory against Liechtenstein. Sensi was scouted by a number of Serie A teams last season, but Antonio Conte is now set to make him his first signing as manager of Inter. He will now shift his focus to completing the deals of Edin Dzeko and Nicolo Barella.


David Stearns thinks the Diamondbacks' lefty will look good in a Milwaukee uniform According to Jon Morosi, the Milwaukee Brewers are interested in pitcher Robbie Ray of the Diamondbacks. Other teams reported to be interested as well are Philadelphia, Houston, and the New York Yankees all of which have more to offer from a prospect standpoint than the Brewers. The question, however, is more about what the market will pay for him and can the Brewers match or surpass that? Source: #Brewers among teams showing interest in #DBacks LHP Robbie Ray. @MLBNetwork @MLB   Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 16, 2019 Robbie Ray is a left-handed strikeout artist that also has a penchant for walking hitters. He has one more year of control after this season, which is a selling point to opposing teams that may want him. The most innings he has pitched in a major league season is 174 1 ⁄ 3 in 2016. He pitched in only 123 2 ⁄ 3 last season because of an oblique strain. Those inning totals fail to get to 200 innings pitched, because he fails to go deep into games. He fails to go deep into games because he throws a lot of pitches striking out and walking batters at a high clip. As mentioned he strikes out a lot of hitters. While his K/9 is slightly down from previous seasons (11.76 this season as opposed to 12.01 and 12.11 in 2018 and 2017 respectively) he is still in the 88th percentile in all of baseball in K% and ranked 5th in MLB in K/9. He is one of the best starters in baseball in terms of striking guys out. Unfortunately, he is also one of the worst in baseball at walking opposing batters. Ray is ranked second to last among qualifying starters in BB/9 (4.54), and that is actually better than it was last season (5.09). He was better in 2016 and 2017, but he has always had problems in this department. When he gets that BB/9 below 4, he tends to be quite good however. Major league hitters have difficulty hitting Mr. Ray. Expected batting average against Ray is in the 77th percentile in MLB. Actual batting average against is even better. He ranks #12 in MLB with a BAA of .215. This guy has elite swing and miss in his game thus the low batting average against, however when opposing hitters do hit him, they hit him pretty hard (40.8 hard hit% with an exit velocity against in the 87th percentile). His HR/9 is 1.30, which is not great, but not awful either. A point of concern about Ray is that his fastball velocity has decreased year over year. In 2016, he sat 95.3 mph with his four seamer. In 2017 (his best season), 94.4 mph. The next year he sat at 94.1 mph, and this season he dropped more than 1 mph to 92.8 mph. How much of a concern might it be, especially since the extra year of control is one of the selling points for Ray? Arizona's record isn't that much worse than Milwaukee's. They are 47-47 and only 1 game out of the wild card. With that one year left of control, why is Mike Hazen (General Manager of the Diamondbacks) making him available? Obviously, he will get more return with the extra year of control attached. Hazen is a smart guy, and he sees the dip in velocity that I do. Any more of a dip in fastball velocity could and likely will mean a decrease in K/9. With the number of batters Ray walks, he needs his ability to strike hitters out to remove himself from self inflicted jams. Going from elite in the strike out department to just very good could have consequences, and Hazen maybe trying to sell as high as possible with that in mind. Buyer beware in this situation. Ray throws a four pitch mix. He throws his four seamer the most (44.3%), but utilizes his slider quite a bit too (33.9%). His curveball (14.9%) and two seam, sinking fastball (7.5%) show up as well. Robbie Ray pitch usage by pitch type What is interesting about Robbie Ray is that he barely threw a two seamer in 2017 or 2018. He probably utilized his curveball as his change of pace pitch in those seasons, throwing it about 20% of the time in the previous two seasons. In 2019, he brought back the fourth pitch at the expense of his curveball usage (down about 5% over previous seasons). Is he attempting to pitch up and down in the zone a little more with increased velocity of the two seamer to help him as he pitches down in the zone? Otherwise his breaking stuff was the only thing being pitch down in the zone in 2017 and 2018. With decreased velocity, there might be some concern about acquiring Robbie Ray at this stage of his career. The number of hitters he is striking out is still quite high. Unfortunately he is also not the type of pitcher that will go deep into games. Obviously Milwaukee won't even blink at that. With that in mind, he is not a top-of-the-rotation guy. While the general public may fail to realize that, MLB front offices will most definitely understand that. If Mike Hazen makes Ray available at the price tag of #2 at best or #3 rotation piece, he should get something pretty good back in return. Brice Turang may have to front a package deal for Ray. In fact Orlando Arcia might have to be the big piece in a three or four player package to get Ray. Nonetheless the Brewers are interested. With that interest, it should tell Brewer Nation that David Stearns and Company are not selling, at least not yet. Baseball statistics courtesy of Fangraphs and Baseball Savant


As the Detroit Lions head towards the 2019 regular season, their salary cap sits at a very comfortable $23 million plus in available spending capital. They have the freedom to make, or not make, roster moves at their leisure, but based on how general manager Bob Quinn has operated in the past, roster moves are enviable. During training camp, Quinn will likely not be content to stand pat. He is constantly watching the waiver wire, churning over the last few spots on the 90-man roster looking for undiscovered talent, and reaching agreements with core players in the final year of their contracts - like Graham Glasgow, whose contract extension I recently projected the structure for. The Lions have the potential to cut any player on their roster regardless of their contractual penalty but there are 12 contracts that - unless something drastic happens - should guarantee those players a spot on the 53-man roster. The reason these 12 contracts would be extreme cuts is that the guaranteed money left on their deals is greater than the current cap hit - meaning the Lions would actually have to pay more money to release the player rather than keep them on the roster. Let's take a closer at which players have these contracts and what it would cost the team to move on from them. No. 9 Matthew Stafford has the largest contract on the Lions roster accounting for $29,500,000 against the Lions 2019 salary cap, with a total of $55,000,000 in guaranteed money remaining on his deal (which extends through the 2022 season). The chart below from Over The Cap breaks down the details: View embedded content If the Lions cut Stafford they would be immediately responsible for the entire $55,000,000 instead of the $29,500,000 he is currently scheduled to make. That means the Lions would be paying an additional $25,500,000 above his 2019 contract to remove him from the roster. The remaining 11 player contracts have similar contract designs. Recent core player extensions Last training camp, Quandre Diggs was one of the core players Quinn targeted for an extension and the two sides worked out a deal extending through the 2021 season with $7,500,000 in fully guaranteed money. Because of the structure of the contract, Diggs still has $7,432,000 remaining in guaranteed money yet only has a current cap hit of $5,982,000, meaning the Lions would have to pay $1,450,000 above his current cap hit if they removed him from the roster. Recent free agent additions This same contractual logic applies to this year's top free agent targets who all have much more guaranteed money than what their current cap is. Trey Flowers would cost the Lions an additional $43,581,000 above his current cap hit, with Justin Coleman checking in at $13,116,000 and Jesse James at $8,216,000. Rookie contracts Top rookies also get deals that give them guarantees that allow them time to acclimate to the NFL. The current collective bargaining agreement lays out a contract structure where if a player is selected in the first-round, their guaranteed money exceeds their cap hit over the first three years, giving the team incentive to keep them on the roster. The Lions 2017 first-round pick Jarrad Davis still has enough guaranteed money that he would cost the Lions $3,490,270 above his current cap hit if they cut him. 2018 first-round pick Frank Ragnow would cost the Lions an additional $6,960,991 if they moved on, while 2019's T.J. Hockenson has $16,219,367 in guarantees above his cap number. A second-round pick's guaranteed money exceeds their cap hit over the first two years of their contract. That means 2017 second-round pick Teez Tabor has already received all of his guaranteed money and is vulnerable to be cut, while 2018's Kerryon Johnson still has $1,404,980 in guaranteed money above his cap hit and 2019's Jahlani Tavai has $3,083,709 in guarantees above his current cost. Third-round picks get enough guarantees to keep them on the roster for one season. That means, in theory, Kenny Golladay and Tracy Walker could be vulnerable, but 2019's third-round pick Will Harris should feel somewhat safe with $219,183 in guaranteed money above his cap hit. Occasionally a high fourth-round will have a contract that matches these contractual parameters, which is the case with Austin Bryant this year. His guaranteed money is $54,474 above his current cap hit, but that is such a small number that it would likely not influence the Lions from making a decision on his roster status. The Outlier Romeo Okwara is the only player on the Lions roster who has this style of contract and is not on a rookie deal or an established veteran in a starting role. View embedded content Okwara's $1,636,147 in guaranteed money above his cap hit speaks to how much the team values his play and eludes to the fact that he will have a significant role in 2019, despite (presumably) losing his starting position to Flowers. He's not getting a lot of hype right now, but don't sleep on Okwara this season as his skill set will allow coaches to move him all around the field. In training camp, look for Okwara to continue to rush the passer with his hand in the dirt like last season, but don't be surprised to see him rush the passer from a standing JACK linebacker-type position, which would also allow him to occasionally drop into coverage. When looking at the Lions roster construction, you can mark Okwara - and the other 11 mentioned - in pen on your 53-man roster predictions. MORE: Stephen A. Smith: 'Andre Iguodala is planning on joining the Lakers' Klay Thompson celebrates new deal with Warriors with hilarious 'Wolf of Wall Street' video Projected depth chart for the 76ers with Al Horford, Josh Richardson Do Cowboys have horses to absorb another Ezekiel Elliott suspension? Kawhi Leonard Rumors: No Decision Yet, Lakers Not Ahead of Clippers or Raptors


Usually when you lay down a bunt you probably don't think it's going to score two runs and the batter is going to end of up at third base. But that's exactly what happened for the Miami Marlins in the second inning of their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night, as Caleb Smith's bunt led to a wild couple of errors and a truly beautiful sequence of events, unless you're rooting for the Diamondbacks, of course. All this play needs to be even more perfect is to have the "Benny Hill" theme song playing over it because it was an absolute circus: THE CHAOS EMERAAAALLLLDDDDDD. pic.twitter.com/5ZacLOdGEc - Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 29, 2019 Fans loved it, and right so: This is fun. Very fun - 26 Days Til Hurricanes Season (@miamiguydylan) July 29, 2019 Someone get Caleb an inhaler! - Zack Raab (@ZackRaab) July 29, 2019 I saw that , the house went wild. Woke the dog and the cat. Not sure where he went. That was great ⚾ - Steven E. Rash (@rash_steven) July 29, 2019 I love this team. - Markhos Linden (Sad Padre fan) (@MarkhosLinden) July 29, 2019 The chaos we love - Sportsman (@CoachQszn) July 29, 2019 MORE: Marcus Stroman explained what his clubhouse 'commotion' was about after Mets trade MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: Latest on Noah Syndergaard, Trevor Bauer, and More Packers FB Danny 'The Muscle Man' Vitale could play key role in new offense Tom Brady disobeys Bill Belichick at practice, and suffers the consequences Ryan Pace says Chuck Pagano gives Bears advantage early in season Related slideshow: The 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Couldn't catch the latest high school baseball matchups in and around Dallas? Read on for boys varsity baseball outcomes from around the area from the past week, powered by data from premiere 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.) Rockwall snuffs out Dallas Jesuit Thursday saw the Rockwall Yellowjackets out-hustle the Dallas Jesuit Rangers by a score of 5-2 in a playoff game at home. The win brought Rockwall's record to 22-7-1, while Dallas Jesuit's record fell to 25-13. Dallas Jesuit unseats Rockwall On Friday, May 10, the Dallas Jesuit Rangers out-hustled the Rockwall Yellowjackets by a score of 6-2 in a playoff game at home. The win brought Dallas Jesuit's record to 25-13, while Rockwall's record fell to 22-7-1. Boyd unseats Wilson Saturday, the Wilson Wildcats hosted McKinney's Boyd Broncos for a varsity matchup. The Boyd Broncos wrangled a win from the Wilson Wildcats, 4-2. The loss brought Wilson's record to 6-10-1, while Boyd's record rose to 24-11. 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.


LOS ANGELES   The search for the proper place in baseball's consciousness for the cycle brought me to Evan Longoria 's locker. It was not a long journey. He was in town. Of the 327 cycles ever hit, his was No. 318. The date was Aug. 1, 2017, in Houston. A commotion between a wall and a right fielder abetted the triple and a replay review with two out in the ninth confirmed the double, the sort of circumstances that seem fairly common among cycles and have contributed to their reputations as half-chance, half-history. But, it had occurred to me that cycles are cool again. Or cooler than they've ever been. They must have been cool. Otherwise, when George Hall hit for the first one in 1876 nobody would have bothered to write it down, and then it wouldn't be disputed almost 150 years later, which, apparently, it is. Which is why there are 327 cycles and not 328. The reason being today's game, where singles are harder to come by, where home runs are the goal, sometimes the sole goal, and risk -- any risk -- is generally forbidden. So, a single, a double, a triple and a home run across four or five or six at-bats, over one game, suggests a certain retro quality of batter's box baseball. In no particular order, beat the shift, hit a gap, dare to take third and then, yeah, for today's sake, back-leg a ball into the bleachers, and that sounds more special anymore. When Jorge Polanco , Shohei Ohtani and Jake Bauers hit for cycles in the first three months of 2019, adding to the five in 2018, the seven in 2017, that is a spike in hitting for the cycle, leading to, I fear, a dip in appreciation for them. For, while there are more of them, I'd argue, unscientifically, they ought to be more difficult to attain. The cycle's image problem is in its comparison with no-hitters, of which there have been 300. No-hitters are remembered forever, in part because of how many things must go right in them, which is way more than four, and in part because they don't happen very often. Cycles, which occur at about the same rate, don't get near the same love, probably because three hours of pitching counts -- even with the assistance of eight other guys -- for more than four swings of the bat. That said, not a single Hall of Fame plaque carries a mention of a cycle or two (26 players have hit two, including Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Joe Cronin, Arky Vaughan, George Brett, Bobby Doerr, Mickey Cochrane and George Sisler, all Hall of Famers) or three (three players, of which Adrian Beltre presumably will be the first inducted.) The cycle is remembered until the next newspaper comes out, assuming nobody tweets something weird between now and then. Also, while the no-hitter builds from, say, the fifth inning, with every pitch drawing the game deeper into the story, the cycle often arrives like a 2 a.m. phone call, some guy observing, "You know, a triple here …", and then the ball is in the air with two outfielders closing a little too hard. Or something like that. Still, after years -- OK, decades -- of not being sure where to put a cycle -- way behind a perfect game, behind a no-hitter, behind a four-homer game, but how far behind? -- I am coming to appreciate them more. Not because the cycle has changed. The game has changed around it. Cycles represent a part of the game that is fading, maybe just for the moment, but fading nevertheless. Swings are changing. Offensive concepts are changing. As home runs and strikeouts soar, the art of the single, the lousy single, diminishes. Defenses leave less to chance. And then why test an outfield arm to reach third base when the next guy is paid to hit home runs? So, Evan Longoria. On that Tuesday night two Augusts ago, he homered in the first inning, tripled between Josh Reddick 's leg and the side wall in right field in the third, popped out in the fifth, singled in the seventh and, after doing some math in the hopes of getting one more at-bat, doubled to left in the ninth. "Well," Longoria said, "if somebody asks you for your best moments, you definitely don't think about it first. But, if somebody asks, 'You ever hit for the cycle?' It's a no for most guys." That's about right. Nobody ever put the date of his cycle on a pendant, probably. And, turns out, nobody ever put it on a Hall plaque, either. But, it's there, the memory of needing one more hit late in a game, and not just a hit but a fourth hit, and then a particular kind of fourth hit, and actually getting it. You may assume there's some luck involved, given the something like 15,000 wannabe cycles that have died at the triple, and given the capriciousness of the triple. (On that topic, of the eight active career triples leaders, none has hit for the cycle. Charlie Blackmon , tied for ninth, hit No. 323. Mike Trout , tied for 13th, hit No. 302.) "I mean," Longoria said, "I think it kinda gets put on the back burner. But it's definitely special. … Do I think it's as tough as a no-hitter? No. but, if you're a good enough hitter, you can have that day." Going on eight years ago, Pablo Sandoval hit for No. 297, in a season in which he hit three triples. If that sounds like a lightning strike, two players -- Bill Salkeld and Eric Valent, if you need to know -- each had two career triples and hit for a cycle. Salkeld was No. 130, two before Ted Williams. Valent was No. 265, four after Vladimir Guerrero. "I do remember!" Sandoval said. "I hit a ball in Colorado. CarGo [ Carlos Gonzalez ] collided with the wall. When I saw that, I just put my head down, try to run like crazy to get to third base." He viewed his cycle as a reason to smile at such a memory, his perspective trapped in the moment he turned second, committed, and chugged for third. "I don't know," he said. "It's how you take it. For me, it's a lucky thing, that day." Cody Bellinger is No. 317, 17 days before Longoria. That same season -- 2017 -- he was called up to the big leagues, got his first hit, his first home run, hit 38 more home runs, was an All-Star, was Rookie of the Year, played in the World Series, and pulled MVP votes. And, yeah, hit for the cycle one night in Miami -- single in the first, home run in the third, double in the fourth and, of course, triple in the seventh, when Giancarlo Stanton took a too shallow route and had the ball glance off his glove and roll to the fence. "I think it's nice to check it off the list, but that's not something I really remember," Bellinger said. "I mean, I do remember it. It was cool. I mean, it's hard enough to get four hits in a game." Consider this, then, in praise of the cycle. In a game that leaves less and less to chance, the cycle is worthy of our admiration, still a pretty good kick in the pants and maybe one day will be bronzed. That's a good place for it. More from Yahoo Sports: Woodland dethrones Koepka to win U.S. Open Could Lakers add Kyrie after Davis trade? Carli Lloyd is causing a good problem for the USWNT Toronto shows up and shows out for Raptors parade


Typically we're not that into appearance packages on modern cars. We would rather see that money be spent more on "go" than "show," but the MS-RT Transit Connect is an exception to that rule. What's an MS-RT Transit Connect? Well, to begin with, MS-RT is a Welsh company that modifies Ford vans to have a specific rally-inspired look and feel . The modifications performed by MS-RT are mostly cosmetic, with the bulk of the exterior changes coming from a custom-designed and manufactured body kit and OZ Racing wheels. Inside, things get fancier than you'd expect for a Transit, with upgraded materials like Nappa leather and suede as well as a few MS-RT-specific touches like a redesigned steering wheel made of carbon fiber. The MS-RT Transit Connect is powered by a 1.6-liter turbodiesel engine and is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or an automatic. It's not a high-strung exotic powertrain, but despite looking cool, these are still meant to be used as vans. The Launch Edition, of which MS-RT is making 40, sells for the equivalent of just over $32,000, which seems wildly cheap for something so awesome-looking. Unfortunately, it looks like the MS-RT vans are only available in the UK, and that means our dreams of blasting around town in a superaggressive little van with a manual gearbox are never going to be fulfilled. MS-RT also makes Valentino Rossi and Guy Martin versions of the Transit, both of which are also awesome. Live the van life with the 2019 Ford Transit Connect Wagon Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


Arsenal captain Laurent Koscielny will be forced to train with the club's youth teams for the foreseeable future as he looks to hold talks over his future in north London. The 33-year-old refused to travel as part of Arsenal's pre-season tour in the United States following a dispute over a new contract at Emirates Stadium, with offers on the table from clubs in Ligue 1. Koscielny is now expected to hold talks over what's next for him now that Arsenal have returned to England, but The Mirror reports that the former France international is still being forced to train with the club's youth players for the time being. "When [Koscielny] decided not to stay with us here in the tour, the solution now is only for the club and him because he decided to be out of the team in pre-season," manager Unai Emery said before returning to the UK. "Now it is one issue only for the club and for him. My idea is continuing with the players we are working with and the players that want to be here." Considering Rob Holding's recovery and Calum Chambers return from a loan spell at Fulham, it's unknown exactly how Emery viewed Koscielny's position at the club before his decision to boycott their pre-season tour in the United States. But with the club now closing in on a deal for William Saliba from Saint-Étienne, the club could soften their stance of allowing Koscielny to leave before the end of his contract. Arsenal are also close to confirming a loan deal for Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos, who was crowned as the Player of the Tournament at the recent Under-21 European Championships with Spain.


The Hacienda Beer Co. taproom will open Saturday at 2018 E. North Ave. The Door County-based brewery will open to the public at 11 a.m. with a diverse lineup of beers, from familiar juicy IPAs, mixed stouts and lagers to a new collection   a handful of funky and sour beers. Hacienda is on the first floor of the former G. Daddy's BBC. The location includes a 125-seat taproom and full kitchen. The beer will come from the 15-barrel brew house in Baileys Harbor where Hacienda is part of the Door County Brewing family. Chef Manny Torres is in charge of the food program, and the taproom will focus on fresh and seasonal ingredients for its rotating lunch and dinner menu. De la Buena takes the stage Saturday at 9 p.m. RELATED: Door County's Hacienda Beer Co. will open a taproom on Milwaukee's east side next spring ARCHIVE: Former G. Daddy's BBC, Hotel Foster on Milwaukee's east side to be redeveloped by new owner Contact Kathy at (414) 224-2974 or kathy.flanigan@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @katflanigan. Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Today's Best from Entertainment: 26 excellent Milwaukee sandwiches to eat outside this spring and summer 81 books for summer reading in 2019 Fiserv Forum Beer Garden to host free weekly concerts each Wednesday of summer FOLLOW JS ENTERTAINMENT: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Door County's Hacienda Beer opening taproom on Milwaukee's east side


They have redeeming qualities, either due to their nutritional content or our updated understanding of dietary fats and cholesterol. Remember when margarine was healthier than butter? That was before studies revealed how unhealthy synthetic trans fats can be. Nutrition science is constantly changing, and with it, the reputations of formerly vilified foods. 24/7 Tempo reviewed dozens of foods that are often considered unhealthy and found the ones with redeeming qualities, either due to their nutritional content or our updated understanding of dietary fats and cholesterol. The current medical consensus around the causes of heart disease is shifting, and certain fats and cholesterols are proving to be less of a factor than sugar and excessive carbohydrate intake. In addition, the idea that eating fat makes you fat is a myth. Eating in moderation and avoiding excessive sugar intake is a much better strategy than seeking out reduced-fat versions of snacks, which often have added sugars and carbohydrates to make up for the flavor loss. If you need a quick fix, these snacks have your back, and here are some "healthy" foods that are actually ruining your diet . Click through the gallery above to learn more. 1. Graham crackers Graham crackers contain less sugar than the average packaged cookie, and graham flour is a type of whole grain wheat flour, which has more fiber and vitamins than white flour. 2. Chocolate Dark chocolate and even certain milk chocolates that contain at least 50% cacao (which means less sugar and fat) are a great snack if you're feeling stressed, as they are high in magnesium, a mineral that is often depleted as a result of stress. 3. Cheese While everyone knows that cheese is a good source of calcium, it's less well known that increasing dairy consumption can help fight heart disease, according to some research. Cheeses made from grass-fed dairy are particularly high in vitamin K2, which is crucial for bone and artery health. 4. Ice cream One scoop of full-fat ice cream is a great source of calcium and protein. Stay away from low-fat versions, as they tend to contain more sugar and additives to replace the flavor lost by removing fat. ALSO READ: Foods and Drinks You Only Think Are Healthy 5. Beef jerky Beef jerky is a high-protein snack that won't spike insulin levels. Though it's true that some varieties are high in sodium and preservatives, there are all-natural, low-sodium, and grass-fed products available. 6. Popcorn Movie theater popcorn may be doused in salt and mysterious flavored vegetable oils, but it's much easier to control the sodium levels and types of fat used in home-made and air-popped popcorn. Popcorn is high in fiber and low in calories, so it's OK to eat it by the handful. ALSO READ: The Healthiest Option at Every Fast Food Restaurant 7. Salted Nuts An ounce of salted nuts can provide protein, vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and healthy unsaturated fats. Because the protein helps you feel full for longer than sugar, nuts make a great snack between meals. 8. Ketchup A relatively low-calorie condiment, ketchup is a good source of vitamins A and C, and the antioxidant lycopene. Organic ketchup has been shown to contain 60% more lycopene than conventional brands. ALSO READ: 'Healthy' Foods That Are Actually Ruining Your Diet 9. Bacon Compared to some cuts of beef, bacon contains much less saturated fat. It's actually a great source of monounsaturated fat -- which helps reduce cholesterol levels -- as well as protein and omega-3 fatty acids. 10. Burritos With plenty of beans, lettuce, meat, a whole wheat tortilla, and salsa, a burrito can be a well-balanced meal. Burritos often contain over 1,000 calories, however, so splitting one into two meals is a smart choice. 11. Butter Compared to margarine, which is high in trans fat, butter is a healthier option. The fat in butter aids in the absorption of vitamins. As with all cow products, grass-fed butter is the best option, as it's high in omega-3 fatty acids. 12. Pizza It's all about the toppings. A thin-crust slice of pizza with tomato sauce and vegetables is a healthier choice than pepperoni, as it contains more vitamins and the cheese provides protein and calcium. ALSO READ: The Best Foods for Your Gut Health 13. Pork Rinds Compared to a serving of potato chips, pork rinds have no carbohydrates, more protein, and less fat. The fat they do have is 43% unsaturated, most of that being oleic acid, which is the same fat contained in olive oil. 14. Meringue Cookies Made from egg whites and sugar, meringue cookies are naturally gluten free, and the egg whites provide protein and selenium. When compared to other decadent desserts, meringues are a smart option. ALSO READ: Healthy Versions of Old-School Junk-Food Snacks 15. Angel Food Cake Another dessert made with whipped egg whites, angel food cake contains no added fat and significantly less calories than any other type of cake. If you're going to eat cake, this is a healthier option. 16. Sweet Potato Fries Especially when baked, sweet potato fries are a healthy, nutrient-rich side dish. They provide more fiber than regular fries, and also contain vitamin A and potassium. But you should make that snack from scratch to avoid the preservatives that are usually in the store-bought versions. ALSO READ: The Unhealthiest Item in Every Fast-Food Chain in the US 17. Full-fat yogurt Because manufacturers tend to add more sugar and carbs to low-fat yogurt, full-fat is a better option. In addition, studies have shown that full-fat dairy products are not harmful to the cardiovascular system the way that fats from meat are. 18. Sour cream Sour cream is a low sodium condiment, and contains significantly fewer calories than mayonnaise. Though it's high in fat, some studies have linked high dairy fat intake to decreased risk of obesity and heart disease. 19. Crackers Crackers can be high in fiber, and those with nuts or seeds can even provide protein. Though cracker options are seemingly unlimited, whole grain crackers with low sodium and sugar content are a healthy choice. 20. Cheez Whiz Conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) are naturally occurring trans fats with cancer-fighting properties. Cheez Whiz happens to be higher in CLAs than any other cheese. ALSO READ: Foods and Drinks You Only Think Are Healthy 21. Egg yolks Rich in protein, carotenoids that promote healthy eyes, and choline, an essential nutrient in neurological and endocrine functioning, egg yolks have long been demonized due to the amount of cholesterol they contain. Current research, however, shows that most of the cholesterol in our bodies is made by our livers, stimulated by saturated and trans fat intake -- not from dietary cholesterol. 22. Tortilla chips Low sodium tortilla chips -- along with many new options on the shelves including bean chips, flax and quinoa chips, and grain-free tortilla chips -- contain more nutrients and are far healthier than fried potato chips. ALSO READ: The Healthiest Option at Every Fast Food Restaurant 23. Peanut Butter Although peanut butter is high in fat, 80% is healthy unsaturated fat that helps your body absorb nutrients. It's also packed with its own nutrients, including magnesium, folic acid, and vitamin E, and is a great source of protein and antioxidants. The goal is to buy peanut butter without added fat or sugar. 24. Bananas One serving of half a banana is a healthy source of fiber, vitamin A, potassium, and folic acid -- without the load of calories. Bananas are naturally low in sodium, and though they contain sugar, they're low on the glycemic index, which means they don't cause blood sugar to spike. 25. Beer Beer has long been a staple of the human diet. In moderation, meaning one to two beers per day, it can lower the risk of heart disease or stroke. It's also a source of calcium, iron, vitamin B, magnesium, selenium, and potassium.


The Falcons have had the top player just once so far in our 2019 NFC South positional rankings, which has included quarterback , running back , wide receiver and tight end . Today, we're going to take a different approach, giving you our ideal starting five offensive linemen made up exclusively of NFC South players. Starting with left tackle and moving our way over, here is our all-division offensive line for 2019. Left tackle: Terron Armstead - Saints Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports 2018 Stats: Started 10 games, Pro Football Focus grade: 87.4 In six seasons, Armstead has developed into one of the elite players at his position. He played just 10 games in 2018, however, he was one of the most effective pass-blocking offensive linemen in the league , while maintaining his dominance in the run game. Pro Football Focus graded him out as the league's No. 2 offensive tackle, with an overall grade of 87.4. Armstead's presence has been a big part of New Orlean's transition from a pass-heavy offense to a more balanced unit focused on running back Alvin Kamara. At just 27 years old, Armstead is entering his prime. Left guard: Ali Marpet - Buccaneers Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports 2018 Stats: Started 16 games, Pro Football Focus grade: 73.2 After playing a couple mediocre seasons at right guard and one at center, Marpet showed significant improvement at left guard for the Bucs. In particular, Marpet broke through as a run-blocker during his fourth NFL season. He's still not yet a finished product, but he's come a long way since being selected in the second round of the NFL draft back in 2015. Tampa's offensive line has a few holes. At least they have a good building block in place with Marpet at left guard, though. Center: Alex Mack - Falcons Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports 2018 Stats: Started 16 games, Pro Football Focus grade: 77.4 Mack has been a staple of Atlanta's front five since signing as a free agent in 2016. Entering his eleventh pro season, he's been the most reliable offensive lineman the Falcons can count on each year. Mack made his fifth Pro Bowl in 2018, but the team has struggled to find the same stability elsewhere, aside from Jake Matthews at left tackle. That should change after the Falcons both spent a ton of cap space and draft capital to improve the unit this offseason. Still, Mack is by far Atlanta's best lineman and the top center in the division. Right guard: Trai Turner - Panthers Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports 2018 Stats: Started 13 games, Pro Football Focus grade: 64.5 With four Pro Bowl trips in five NFL seasons, Turner was a no-brainer to fill our right guard spot. On a revamped Carolina offensive line, Turner now takes on the senior leadership void left by Ryan Kalil . While 2018 wasn't his bet year, he may have been slowed by injuries. When he's healthy, Turner is trouble as a run blocker and should continue to be for at least a few more seasons. Turner can still improve as a pass protector, but he's only 26 years old and has probably not even peaked yet. Right tackle: Ryan Ramczyk - Saints Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports 2018 Stats: Started 15 games, Pro Football Focus grade: 81.3 The Saints made the right call in the 2017 NFL draft when they took Ramczyk at No. 32 overall. He stepped right in and elevated the play of New Orleans' offensive line. Ramczyk was so good in 2018, he made Pro Football Focus' Top 50 players for 2019 . His presence has boosted the Saints' run game and he has also done an excellent job of keeping veteran quarterback Drew Brees upright. Whoever the second best right tackle in the division is, they're far behind Ramczyk. Follow @TheFalconsWire and @MattUrben on Twitter! MORE: Four potential Kawhi Leonard landing spots in free agency Dale Earnhardt Jr. weighs in on NASCAR Truck Series feud, penalty options Fierce, fiesty WR competition for Cowboys behind Top 3 roster locks Heading into training camp: Lions top-8 OL appear locked in 6 Patriots who should be worried about their roster spot


Almost eight months later, the scene remains jarring. A blur of touchdowns followed by a rain of confetti in orange and purple, as those supposedly invincible guys in the crimson jerseys watched, stunned   just like everyone else. If it felt like something changed with Clemson's emphatic win against Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game, the lingering residue is reflected in the preseason Amway Coaches Pol l. And it's not just that Clemson is ranked No. 1 ahead of Alabama, but the margin: The Tigers got 59 first-place votes, the Tide only six. But let's not get sidetracked here. More telling than who's No. 1 is this: College football's most exclusive tier is still occupied by only two programs. The same two programs. Quick quiz: You can take Clemson or Alabama to win the national championship, or you can choose any other team   who you got? Yeah. Same here. But if you went with the field, the list of viable contenders still seems pretty small, doesn't it? Keep scrolling the rankings beyond 'Bama, and the names are familiar, too. The order is different than a year ago. Georgia and Oklahoma have moved up a spot each, while Ohio State has dropped two. But the makeup of the top five in the preseason rankings is the same as it was in August 2018, and it's hard to quibble. LOOKING AHEAD: Outlooks for the Top 25 teams in the preseason poll GOING NATIONAL: The unique way Clemson has become a recruiting powerhouse MAJOR SNUBS: Six teams missing from preseason poll that should have be in Go ahead and cue the talk-show outrage about Clemson's schedule strength while ignoring what happened when Clemson and Alabama last met. Debate if you must whether Georgia should rank ahead of Oklahoma, or if Ohio State, in transition with Ryan Day replacing Urban Meyer, is really No. 5 (or Buckeyes fans might wonder, only No. 5)? We'll all argue, because college football. And they'll still go ahead and play the season, just in case. But this much seems clear: College football's upper tier is two. Just below there's a grouping of a few more. And then there's everybody else. In the Playoff era, the power is concentrated in a very few programs. And that doesn't seem likely to change much anytime soon. Nick Saban had a hip replaced last spring. He turns 68 on Halloween. And he shows no signs of slowing down or even considering the idea of retirement. Until he does, fans of other teams are left hoping what happened last January in Santa Clara was a portent. But here's the problem with that idea: If Alabama loses only to Clemson, how does that really change anything? Yes, we know: Georgia has been very close in each of the last two seasons. Maybe this is the season the Bulldogs finally finish off the Tide. Until then, though, Alabama remains the SEC's unparalleled power   and is paralleled in college football by only one other program. Mimicking in part Dabo Swinney's personality, Clemson's rise has been marked by quirky fun, complete with a slide in that spectacular football facility (and also the wiffle ball field, basketball courts and so on out back). But if college football's newest dynasty   two national championships in the last three seasons and four consecutive College Football Playoff appearances and we'll dub you a dynasty   remains at the top, the whole thing will eventually be a lot less charming for anyone who's not fond of that odd color combination. Sure, Alabama lost big last January, and then lost all of those assistant coaches (in some cases, they were told to get lost), and Saban suggested during the offseason that players might have lost focus last year on team goals, and so on. "The key to our success is, can we internally reestablish the standard of what we need to do to be the best team that we can be," Saban told everyone at SEC media days   and when he's talking like that, you can be sure the Tide will reemerge hungry, if not angry. Go back to what quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said after the loss to Clemson: "Five words," he said that night. "'Good is not good enough.'" The questions and concerns about 'Bama seem more than a little forced, and maybe terribly overblown. After ascending to the top spot, Clemson lost the entirety of a defensive line for the ages. But there are apparently very talented replacements in place, fruit of recruiting that just keeps getting better. And the Tigers bring back Trevor Lawrence and so many other offensive weapons, they'll probably just outscore any opponent, anyway. Let's take that next tier. Georgia and Oklahoma and Ohio State all have questions. But if one breaks through and topples Clemson or Alabama (or both), does that really change much for everyone else? Whatever the gap might be between the top two and the next few, the space between the top five or six programs and the rest of college football feels like a wide, deep chasm. Consider this year's preseason top five has made up 15 of the available 20 spots in the five years of the College Football Playoff system. And it's not that a surprise team can't wedge its way into the four-team field   it's that the list of realistic contenders to win the national championship appears very small. And it might only be Clemson and Alabama. "It's kind of business as usual for us, to be honest with you," Swinney said last month at ACC media days. "It's just what we do every year." He was referring to Clemson's dominance in the ACC, and how the Tigers handle being everyone's target. But the measurement might as well have been Clemson (and Alabama) against the rest of college football. Something might have shifted at the very top, but not much has really changed. Clemson and Alabama seem headed for another collision, with the winner claiming another national championship. Business as usual. Like they do every year. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Amway Coaches Poll shows dominance of five elite programs, led by Clemson and Alabama Related slideshow: Coaches preseason Top 25 poll


The Buffalo Bills have turned over their roster the past three seasons, tabbing important key free agents to fill spots on the roster. However, it's the homegrown players-players drafted by the club or undrafted free agents signed by management-that have dictated the ultimate success of teams in most cases. Around the NFL editor Gregg Rosenthal name his "key homegrown player" pick as Tremaine Edmunds for the Bills. Edmunds is the youngest player to start at middle linebacker during the Super Bowl era . It was quite a vote of faith in the player, made by head coach Sean McDermott. In Carolina, McDermott was the defensive coordinator with Luke Kuechly as his starting linebacker. The coach knew what he was looking for when the Bills traded up to select Edmunds with the No. 16 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Edmunds checked all the boxes. Rosenthal highlighted Edmunds' growth as a rookie. He wrote, "As a 20-year-old rookie defensive signal caller at a new position (middle linebacker), Edmunds understandably struggled early last season. By December, the first-round pick was the Defensive Rookie of the Month." Edmunds has also earned a vote of confidence from one of the best-loved players in recent memory for the franchise, Kyle Williams. "Buffalo treasure Kyle Williams, who retired this offseason, tapped Edmunds to run the players' weekly Thursday film session," Rosenthal said. As he acclimated to the pro game, Edmunds' productivity increased, along with the expectations of him taking on a role as a leader on the defense. Interestingly enough, Rosenthal parallels the Bills' developing young nucleus on defense with the Panthers' defensive unit. "As the game slowed down for Edmunds, his instincts, film study and pass coverage ability took over. If he builds on that progress to become the AFC's answer to Carolina's Luke Kuechly - with Matt Milano alongside as his version of what Thomas Davis was to Kuechly - the Bills' defense will be tough to beat to the outside," Rosenthal said. Add defensive tackle Ed Oliver and cornerbacks Tre'Davious White and Levi Wallace to the mix, and the Bills have a core group of players under the age of 25 who can develop and lead the next generation of Buffalo's defense. Edmunds ended his rookie season with 121 tackles, two sacks, and two interceptions. That could be a baseline, as his numbers will most likely improve with a full NFL season under his belt. There are several other candidates that Rosenthal could have picked, as players such as quarterback Josh Allen, wide receiver Zay Jones, cornerback Tre'Davious White, linebacker Matt Milano, wide receiver Robert Foster, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins, and cornerback Levi Wallace all fit the billing as homegrown players who could have a major impact on this season for the team. However, Edmunds' athleticism and intellect to take the lead as the central figure on the team's defense give him the nod at this point for Buffalo. MORE: 'Jeopardy' fans ripped James Holzhauer for how he said Dr. Dre's name but here's why he did it Former NFL great Mark Gastineau has a GoFundMe for the fight of his life Spurs' DeMar DeRozan 'possibly could be on the trade block' to Lakers How the Bulls can help the Lakers facilitate an Anthony Davis trade Moving Frank Ragnow to center will help elevate the Lions offense


Planning to travel to the west coast to get your fair share of Dallas Cowboys' football? Well log onto your favorite app or reach out to your travel agent, as the team has finally released the official dates for training camp. Once again, the Cowboys will travel to Oxnard, CA to train in advance of the regular season, spending about five weeks in the breezy conditions of the Pacific Coastline instead of the suffocating summer heat in the state of Texas. Dallas will arrive in Oxnard on Thursday, July 25, with the opening press conference the next day. The opening ceremony will by July 27 with the first official practice that afternoon (5:30 p.m. Central). The annual Blue-White Scrimmage will be Sunday August 4 with a break that weekend to travel to San Francisco for the club's first preseason game, Saturday August 10 at 6:00 p.m. Central. The team returns for a couple more practices before camp breaks Thursday August 15 so the club can fly to Honolulu, Hawaii for the second preseason game, this one against the Los Angeles Rams. Dallas flies home for three more weeks of practice sandwiched around the final two preseason games before the regular season and home opener, Sunday, September 8, 3:25 p.m. against the New York Giants at AT&T Stadium. Here's a look at the complete practice schedule, with the team going through morning walkthroughs before the official afternoon practices. If you want to attend a Dallas Cowboys training camp practice, here's this year's practice schedule in Oxnard, Calif. pic.twitter.com/GXTKJ99fLa - Jon Machota (@jonmachota) June 7, 2019 MORE: Warriors injury report: The latest on Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant Giants' Daniel Jones quickly destroying critical narratives Report: New Orleans likely to trade Anthony Davis to Celtics 5 Trade Options for Yankees After Missing on Dallas Keuchel These five upcoming NBA free agents hurt themselves in the playoffs


LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- The St. Edward's High School community gathered together Thursday night to say goodbye to a beloved student. Michael "Mikey" George passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was declared cancer free in December and returned to class in January. But this June he was back in the hospital for a bone marrow biopsy and the results weren't what the family hoped for. Mikey passed away Sunday surrounded by his parents. He was 16 years old. According to his obituary, he is survived by his parents, grandparents and multiple siblings, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. The family and community paid tribute to Mikey's life Thursday at the Holy Family Chapel Of St. Edwards High School from 3 to 8 p.m. His memorial mass will be held Friday, June 28, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Raphael Church in Bay Village, followed by a burial at Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Andre Scholars Program. You can send contributions to: St. Andre Scholars Program c/o St. Edward High School 13500 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, OH 44107 Those who knew Mikey say he was loved by everyone he met. In fact, after the St. Ed's football team won the state championship they brought their trophy and visited Mikey in the hospital. More on Mikey, here. ___ (c)2019 WJW-TV, Cleveland Visit WJW-TV, Cleveland at www.fox8.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


Andretti Autosport-Honda driver Alexander Rossi says narrowly losing out to a Team Penske-Chevrolet driver for the third time in four races is getting old. In the Indianapolis 500, the first Detroit race and at Texas Motor Speedway, the former F1 driver has been left staring at a Penske rear wing on the final lap, missing out by a combined total of 1.8487sec, or an average of 0.6162sec. Worst of all from Rossi's perspective is that the last two near-misses have been in the wake of Penske's Josef Newgarden, the driver standing between Rossi and the points lead. After nine of the 17 rounds in the 2019 NTT IndyCar Series, Rossi's deficit is 25 points to the 2017 champion. Speaking of his Texas defeat, Rossi, said: "I think we had a good car, could obviously get a good run on him off of [Turns] 3 and 4, but lane two [the outside line] was really never there for me. We could get halfway around the outside but we'd have to bail out. "I could have maybe took a bit more of a risk, but it was pretty low percentage. I didn't think a lot of guys were making it happen. Ultimately then it became about trying to beat him for the line. But we took out a lot of the tire life going in lane two there, so we just didn't have the rear tires there at the end to stay close to him." Newgarden's four-stop strategy enabled him to nail super-fast laps in clear air while the three-stoppers pitted for the final time and therefore resume in the lead. It also meant that Newgarden's tires were 11 laps newer, but Rossi wasn't convinced that would have altered the outcome of their duel over the closing laps. "I think where that difference came was kind of the last four laps," he replied. "I kind of fell off of him. So, yeah, I think that was really ultimately the biggest issue for me, was I couldn't keep the challenge on him. But I don't know that the end result would have been any different. I would have kept trying to go high in [Turns] 1 and 2. I mean, I tried it like six times and it never worked, so I doubt it would have worked if I tried another three or four times. "The fact of the separation, we weren't able to kind of challenge him to the [start/finish line] was a difference in tire life but probably didn't affect the end result." Seeing Newgarden appear up front for the final stint, having been running in the lower reaches of the Top 10 for most of the day, was a surprise, Rossi admitted, especially as he was confident that had he reached the front, he could have similarly held off the Penske driver. "It sucks. I mean, I didn't see him up front all day. All of a sudden he appears in P1, so... Obviously they're doing a good job. He had a fast car once he got in front. Ultimately I think Scott [Dixon], myself and Colton [Herta] in terms of fuel mileage and where we were going were looking pretty good there until the end… "It's all track position here unfortunately. It's a superspeedway but the current package we have   I mean, we saw it at Indy, we see it here   [means] it's really hard to stay in touch, being the car behind, to be able to carry the throttle that you need to. The dirty air has a really big impact on the car. It's really hard to get a good run on a car. "It's not hard to pass cars that are struggling, cars that are off sequence with different tire life, whatever. [But] when you have a Penske Chevrolet driven by someone as good as Josef, there's only so much you can do, right? "Yeah, it sucks. I mean, we're always there, but we're always playing the bridesmaid as of late."


Another week, another Lance Stephenson trade rumor. After the Nets recently pulled Brook Lopez off the table in three-way discussions to acquire Stephenson from the Hornets, the two teams are kicking around a potential deal that would involve Joe Johnson coming to Charlotte instead, according to Yahoo! Sports. MORE: Howard trolls LA Lakers | Jennings done for season with Achilles injury | Predicting West All-Stars The players would be a part of a larger package that would also include guard Gerald Henderson and forward Marvin Williams going to New Jersey, the report said. The prospects of acquiring Johnson reportedly intrigues Hornets owner Michael Jordan. And though he has been struggling while playing through tendinitis, Johnson, 33, is considered a roster upgrade for the Hornets, who look to take advantage of the Nets' fire sale. Johnson is owed $48 million on his current contract that runs through the 2015-16 season. He is averaging 15 points per game this season. The Hornets, Nets and Thunder engaged in trade talks earlier this month that would have sent Lopez to Oklahoma City and Stephenson to New Jersey. But the Nets pulled out, seeking a bigger package in return for Lopez. In addition to Johnson and Lopez, the Nets, losers of eight of their last 10 games, have also been trying to trade injured star Deron Williams. They are still interested in trading Lopez and have attracted the Nuggets' interest, Yahoo also reported.


Along with cutting 12,500 jobs, Nissan plans to trim at least 10 percent of its global lineup, the automaker announced last week. The product cuts will happen through March 2022 and will focus mainly on small vehicles, Automotive News reports. Nissan isn't the only one affected by the product cuts; its Infiniti luxury division and the Datsun brand in emerging markets are also included. In the U.S. market, Nissan could axe cars and focus more on crossovers. The new Versa, however, appears to be spared because of its appeal to price-sensitive buyers, according to AutoPacific analyst Ed Kim who spoke with Automotive News . On the other end of the spectrum, sports coupes may end up getting dropped because of low demand. Nissan's 370Z , which is more than a decade old, and the Infiniti Q60 have seen sales plummet 35.8 percent and 48.8 percent, respectively, year to date. SUVs and crossovers continue to be Nissan's breadwinners in the U.S. The Titan pickup , on the other hand, has declined in sales and could end up on the chopping block. Jeff Schuster, president of global forecasting at LMC Automotive, told Automotive News that "if Nissan decides it doesn't want to play in that segment because it can't be competitive, the Titan nameplate could go." Nissan's EV offensive outlines eight upcoming all-electric models and 1 million annual sales, but that could also lead to more models getting cut across all regions. In the U.S. market, the most likely candidate for discontinuation is the Maxima, which has declined in significance now that the Altima has grown into a midsize sedan. If it lives on, Automotive News predicts that the Maxima could turn into an electrified model. In a bid to cut unprofitable models, Nissan has discontinued the Versa Note after the 2019 model year while the polarizing Juke got axed after the 2017 model year. The Nissan Kicks effectively replaces both cars in Nissan's U.S. lineup and gives the brand an attainable, budget-friendly crossover. There's no word on whether the next generation Sentra, which was previewed by the Chinese market Sylphy , will come to North America. Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)


Iran has aimed fire at the deployment of US military forces in the Persian Gulf and threatened an attack on Israel if the aircraft carrier was ever used against them. Speaking to reporters on Sunday the Iranian Parliament's vice-speaker Ali Motahhari said the military forces based in the region had started a 'psychological' war in the region and warned the US against an attack on the Middle Eastern nation. The comments come after the Pentagon deployed the USS Lincoln, the fifth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in the United States Navy, to the Middle East in a move that officials said was to counter 'clear indications' of threats from Iran. In addition to the deployment of the aircraft carrier, the country has also sent over B-52 bombers to the area. The aircraft, which has at least 40 to 50 planes on it and was commissioned in 1989, will be replacing another carrier that was removed from the region in April. Mr Motahhari told FARS news agency: 'The US military forces' deployment in the Persian Gulf is more of the nature of psychological warfare. They are not ready for a war, specially when Israel is within our range.' His comments resonate with those of the head of the Revolutionary Guard's air force Amir Ali Hajizadeh who called the move a 'serious threat' and said that if the US decided to make a move, Iran would be forced to retaliate. Speaking to the Iranian Students' News Agency he said: 'An aircraft carrier that has at least 40 to 50 planes on it and 6,000 forces gathered within it was a serious threat for us in the past. 'But now it is a target and the threats have switched to opportunities. 'If [the Americans] make a move, we will hit them in the head.' In addition to having allies Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, Iran also has a number of explosive missiles aimed at Israel making the country a dangerous threat. Fearing that 'anything could happen' former finance Minister of Israel Yuval Steinitz told Ynet news: 'Things are heating up. I wouldn't rule anything out. Iran may fire rockets at Israel.' He added: 'The American sanctions are breaking the neck of the Iranian economy, and a new and stronger wave [of sanctions] is still to come.' On Sunday it was revealed that President Trump had increased economic pressure on Iran and was looking to cut off all its oil exports in a bid to get Tehran to curb its nuclear and missile programs. A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander warned on Sunday that the presence of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf used to be a serious threat, but now represents a target, according to the Iranian Students' News Agency. The U.S. has sent forces, including an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers, to the Middle East in a move that officials said was to counter 'clear indications' of threats from Iran to American forces in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln is replacing another carrier rotated out of the Gulf last month. President Donald Trump has increased economic pressure on Iran, moving to cut off all its oil exports in a bid to get Tehran to curb its nuclear and missile programs as well as end support for proxies in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. Speaking to CNBC in an interview to be broadcast on Monday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. deployments came in response to intelligence about potential Iranian attacks and aimed both to deter them and to be able to respond if necessary. 'We've seen this reporting,' Pompeo said. 'It's real. It appears to be something that is current, that is things we're worried about today.' 'In the event that Iran decided to come after an American interest - whether that be in Iraq or Afghanistan or Yemen or any place in the Middle East - we are prepared to respond in an appropriate way,' he said, adding that 'our aim is not war.' Iranian navy commander Rear Admiral Hossein Khanzadi said on Sunday that American forces must exit the Gulf, according to ISNA. 'The presence of the Americans in the Persian Gulf region has reached its end and they must leave the region,' Khanzadi said. Major General Hossein Salami, appointed head of the Guards last month, told parliament on Sunday the United States had started a psychological war in the region, the parliamentary spokesman said. 'Commander Salami, with attention to the situation in the region, presented an analysis that the Americans have started a psychological war because the comings and goings of their military is a normal matter,' spokesman Behrouz Nemati said, according to parliament's ICANA news site.


There's no doubt the strength of the Pittsburgh Steelers is in the trenches. Just like the offensive line is the best positional unit on one side of the football, the defensive line is the tops on the other. This group was the only saving grace of the Steelers' defense many weeks and only got better in the offseason. What does this group look like going into training camp? Starters Despite the volume of sub-package defense the Steelers play, this is still a base 3-4 defense. The starting core of the three-man line is Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt on the outside with Javon Hargrave manning the middle. This group is disruptive with Heyward and Hargrave leading the way. Heyward finished with eight sacks and Hargrave had 6.5. This group is stout and if they could just get a little help behind them, could be downright dominant. Backups As of now, the primary backup to the three starters is veteran Tyson Alualu. But Pittsburgh needs another player who can be part of the rotation. There are lots of names on the roster like Dan McCullers and Lavon Hooks on the roster but rookie Isaiah Buggs is the most interesting guy of the group. Pittsburgh landed Buggs in the sixth round and he has a real shot to make this team as the team's fifth defensive lineman. Outlook The defensive line is the one unit fans and coaches can depend on week after week. This group won't draw the attention or fanfare of the rest of the defense during training camp because of all the new faces at linebacker and in the secondary but this defense will go as far as the defensive line carries them. MORE: The Warriors are back in the NBA Finals because Steph Curry is absolutely ridiculous Magic Johnson confirms rumor that Lakers want to sign Kyrie Irving Injury to Reuben Foster could help Chiefs, Redskins strike a deal Browns players quickly start recruiting freshly cut DT Gerald McCoy NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players


The Arizona Cardinals selected defensive lineman Zach Allen with the first pick of the third round of the NFL draft last month. They had a first-round grade on him , ranking him their 25th-best player in the draft. What can Cardinals fans expect from Allen, who should be able to make an impact as a rookie? He said it better than anyone else could. As shown in the latest episode of Cardinals Flight Plan , when the team called him to let him know he was being drafted, he said, "I'm ready to (expletive) some people up." The Cardinals loved his mentality and production in college. He played multiple positions and managed to get 100 tackles as a defensive lineman in 2017. GM Steve Keim described him as "unbelievable." They had a double-A grade on him for character and football character. Because of the lack of depth on the defensive line, he should get playing time as a rookie. He plays with a high motor and should endear himself to fans quickly. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: Video confirms reports of Chris Paul's attempt to sabotage Steph Curry Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Daniel Jones has been accepted, embraced inside of Giants' locker room 4 quick takeaways from opening day of Cowboys 2019 rookie minicamp