BIRMINGHAM, Ala.   That 4:30 a.m. wakeup call didn't slow down Steve Stricker. Stricker completed a 4-under 68 in the delayed first round and shot a season-best 64 in the second round Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the Regions Tradition, the first of five PGA Tour Champions majors. Stricker, a three-time winner on the 50-and-over tour after winning 12 times on the PGA Tour, had five holes left Thursday when play was suspended because of storms. David Toms was second after his second bogey-free 67 on Greystone's Founders Course. Most players had to finish the first round in the morning after bad weather halted play at midday Thursday, leading to the early start. ''It's a little uncomfortable because we're usually not doing that on the Champions Tour,'' said Stricker, who had five birdies on his first nine holes. ''It's usually those 11 (a.m.) to 1 (p.m.) tee times, somewhere in there. So those early mornings are not fun sometimes.'' This one might have been an exception, for Stricker at least. He has only competed in four other senior events this year while splitting time on the PGA Tour. He tied for second at Tradition last year and it's the only senior major championship he has played in. His best finish in a PGA Tour major was second to Vijay Singh in the 1998 PGA Championship. Your browser does not support iframes. Full-field scores from the Regions Tradition Toms birdied five of his last nine holes. He and Stricker both started on No. 10 and Toms was even par at the turn after a bogey and birdie. The 2018 U.S. Senior Open winner got plenty of chances to observe Stricker's putting. ''I was watching. We played slow enough that I saw at least every putt that he made,'' Toms said. ''We didn't see too many shots into the greens, so I knew he was playing well. I figured they were out there if he was doing it, so I just tried to stay close. I rallied my last nine holes, made five birdies and got within striking distance anyway.'' First-round leader Glen Day followed his opening 64 with an even-par 72 to drop four strokes back. Billy Andrade was three strokes behind Stricker and two-time champion Bernhard Langer matched Day at four back. Andrade and Day both shot second-round 67s. An eagle on No. 15 highlighted Scott Parel's 66 that moved him within five shots from the lead. Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez was six shots back after a 70. They'll have an early two-tee start again Saturday with the leaders teeing off at 9 a.m. Andrade was among those who was off the course before Thursday's round was stopped. ''I thought it was amazing how dry it was (Friday),'' he said. ''I thought that for sure it was going to have a lot more casual water, kind of like last week in Houston where you're dropping, trying to find dry land. This place has drained unbelievably. I couldn't believe it.''


WASHINGTON   More than two years ago, Pavel Fuks, a wealthy Ukrainian-Russian developer looking for ways to attract more investment from the United States to his hometown, Kharkiv, Ukraine, enlisted an especially well-connected American to help him: Rudolph W. Giuliani. Mr. Fuks, who years earlier had discussed a Moscow tower project with Donald J. Trump, hired Mr. Giuliani, who in 2018 would become the president's personal lawyer, under a one-year deal to help improve Kharkiv's emergency services and bolster its image as a destination for investment. "I would call him the lobbyist for Kharkiv and Ukraine   this is stated in the contract," Mr. Fuks said in an interview in March for an episode of The New York Times's television show, "The Weekly." Mr. Fuks added: "It is very important for me that such person as Giuliani tells people that we are a good country, that people can do business with us. That's what we would like to bring to America's leaders." Sign Up For the Morning Briefing Newsletter Mr. Fuks's description of Mr. Giuliani as a lobbyist further highlighted a controversy over what some Democrats say is a pattern by Mr. Giuliani of providing influence with the Trump administration. Some Democrats have asked whether Mr. Giuliani's role working in a number of foreign countries fits the legal definition of lobbying and requires him to register as a foreign agent, something Mr. Giuliani has not done. Mr. Giuliani rejected the use of the word lobbyist to describe his work for Mr. Fuks. "That makes it sounds like I lobbied the U.S. government, which I never did," he said. Mr. Giuliani acknowledged that he did lobby Petro O. Poroshenko, who was then the president of Ukraine. But he said that was to pitch a plan developed by his consulting firm, Giuliani Security and Safety, and funded by Mr. Fuks, to put into place emergency management improvements, including a 911-like platform in Kharkiv, where the mayor, Gennady A. Kernes, is a close ally of Mr. Fuks. Mr. Giuliani traveled to Ukraine for the project, touring the site of a Holocaust memorial in the capital, Kiev, spearheaded by Mr. Fuks as well as appearing at an event in Kharkiv to highlight the plan. "After I finished in Kharkiv, I spent an hour with Poroshenko, which turned into two hours," he said. "I presented him with the plan." Mr. Giuliani said the contract did not call for him to seek American investment, and he did not do so. The Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, requires Americans to detail payments they receive from foreign governments, politicians or parties for lobbying or public relations work in the United States, but not for legal representation or work done solely overseas. Mr. Giuliani's overseas work in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and South America has drawn criticism from Democrats, who contend it is difficult to separate that work from his close relationship with the president. That criticism escalated when The Times revealed in May that he was planning to travel to Kiev to urge Volodymyr Zelensky, then the nation's president-elect, to pursue inquiries into matters that could help Mr. Trump. Senator Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut, in a letter asking the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to investigate, accused Mr. Giuliani of "operating a shadow foreign policy apparatus aimed at influencing upcoming U.S. elections." Mr. Giuliani quickly canceled the trip , though he argued that the efforts to influence Ukrainian investigations were related only to his representation of the president and not to his foreign consulting or Mr. Fuks. Mr. Fuks earned an estimated $270 million in the post-Soviet real estate boom in Moscow, and negotiated with Mr. Trump around 2006 or 2007 over a possible licensing agreement for a Trump Tower in Moscow. After months of negotiations, the deal fell through when Mr. Fuks refused to agree to Mr. Trump's asking price. Since then, Mr. Fuks has fallen out of favor in Russia and been included on a sanctions list by the Kremlin. He has aligned himself more closely with Ukraine, while trying to court influential connections in Washington. He says in the episode of "The Weekly" that he paid $200,000 for V.I.P. access to Mr. Trump's inauguration, but never received the promised tickets. Since then, he has been barred from traveling to the United States, and has sued the lobbyist who brokered his inauguration trip.


Looking to uncover all that Strip District has to offer? Get to know this Pittsburgh neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from an Argentinian steak spot to a Caribbean restaurant and bar. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Strip District, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Gaucho Parrilla Argentina Topping the list is Argentine spot Gaucho Parrilla Argentina . Located at 1601 Penn Ave., it's the most popular business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 1,797 reviews on Yelp. This Argentinian steak house was named a "must-try in Pittsburgh's Strip District" in 2018. On the menu, expect to find rosemary braised beef sandwiches, New York strip steak and seared tilapia. 2. Eleven Next up is New American spot Eleven , situated at 1150 Smallman St. With four stars out of 684 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. This spot is located inside a rehabilitated warehouse alongside old Pennsylvania rail lines, according to its website . On the menu, expect to find small plates like oysters and sea scallops. For a main dish, look for wild Alaskan halibut and linguini topped with jumbo crab. 3. Kaya Bar and Caribbean spot Kaya is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 2000 Smallman St., four stars out of 674 reviews. Kaya boasts culinary influences from the Caribbean islands, South America, the Pacific and more, according to its website . On the menu, look for Jamaican jerk wings, Cuban sandwiches and its fried chicken tuna poke bowl. 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.


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. If you want to understand American election law, you need only start with one underlying principle that explains seemingly contradictory interpretations over the last year: The purpose of election law is to punish Donald Trump's allies for 2016 and prevent his victory in 2020. Don't believe me? Consider this public statement: "Let me make something 100% clear to the American public and anyone running for public office: It is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election….This is not a novel concept," partisan Democrat and Perkins Coie law firm alumnus Ellen L. Weintraub , who sits on the Federal Election Commission, wrote in a statement. Was she writing about the October 25, 2017 complaint filed against the Democratic National Committee and Hillary for America that pointed to Clinton using Perkins Coie to use foreigners to help the Clinton campaign defeat Trump? Of course not! You see, when Clinton uses foreigners to meddle in elections, all the really smart people argue it's perfectly legal . When Trump hypothetically entertains the same idea in a recent ABC News interview, he's an " enemy of the state ." Weintraub recently joined the dogpile after the president was asked whether he would accept opposition research from a foreigner during the next election campaign cycle. As Politico noted , "Trump's comments garnered fierce backlash from Republicans, Democrats and former law enforcement officials…. Trump made the comments while responding to attention over his son Donald Trump Jr., who met in Trump Tower with Russian nationals offering dirt on then-Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in the lead-up to the 2016 election." As I have repeatedly noted , both of the Russians with whom Donald Trump Jr. met at Trump Tower had a longstanding history with opposition research group Fusion GPS, and Fusion GPS provided the handouts the Russians brought to the meeting. After Perkins Coie hired Fusion GPS on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign, Fusion GPS appears to have enlisted the help of these two additional foreigners to frame the Trump campaign. But again, it's only a violation of election law, in Weintraub's view, if it's done to help Trump. Writing for the Washington Post, lawyer Eugene Volokh challenged Weintraub's logic that merely providing information amounts to a "campaign contribution," and that accepting information from a foreign national is therefore a crime. Volokh wrote: It would raise obvious First Amendment problems…Americans have the right to receive information even from speakers who are entirely abroad. See Lamont v. Postmaster General, 381 U.S. 301 (1965). Can Americans   whether political candidates or anyone else   really be barred from asking questions of foreigners, just because the answers might be especially important to voters? The Supreme Court did affirm (without opinion) a federal court decision in Bluman v. FEC, 800 F. Supp. 2d 281 (D.D.C. 2011), that upheld a ban on contributions and independent expenditures by non-citizen non-permanent-residents, on the theory that the government can use such a ban to limit foreign influence on American elections. But the panel decision expressly stressed that it was limited to the restriction on spending money. And it seems to me that restrictions on providing information to the campaigns   or on campaigns seeking such information   can't be constitutional. The complaint against Clinton involving Perkins Coie (which Weintraub's FEC continues to ignore) alleges "the DNC and Hillary for America reported dozens of payments totally millions of dollars to the law firm Perkins Coie with the purpose described as 'Legal Services' or 'Legal and Compliance Consulting,' when in reality, at least some of those payments were earmarked for the firm Fusion GPS, with the purpose of conducting opposition research on Donald Trump. By failing to file accurate reports, the DNC and Hillary for America undermined the vital public information role that reporting is intended to serve." The Perkins Coie-related complaint will likely only be investigated if there is a unanimous vote by the FEC membership. The current Democratic appointee to the FEC, the same Ellen L. Weintraub , was "Of Counsel to the Political Law Group of Perkins Coie LLP" prior to coming to work for the FEC (in 2002). Remember, that same Perkins Coie hired Fusion GPS to produce the Trump-Russia dossier for Clinton's campaign. While at the FEC, Weintraub helped push the narrative with published a position statement lamenting "Russia's interference in the 2016 election." No word on whether Weintraub has recused herself from the Perkins Coie-related complaint. In December 2017, a separate complaint against the Clinton campaign was filed. It alleged a scheme to launder $84 million in campaign funds through state parties back to the Clinton campaign in order to circumvent donor limits. Although the allegations clearly originate with a partisan political group, the allegations rely upon the DNC's own public filings and former DNC chairwoman Donna Brazile's public admissions on how the DNC co-mingled money with the Clinton campaign. The Washington Post's review of the allegations conceded that the essential allegations are corroborated by public information. Weintraub is also ignoring this complaint. Contrast the treatment of the complaints against Clinton with the lightning-fast prosecution of a very dubious campaign finance complaint against the president's former attorney, Michael Cohen, whose alleged violations closely resembled those of Clinton supporter Lisa Bloom. Bloom appears to have arranged for unreported payments to women in exchange for making public accusations against Trump. Cohen's payments to Daniels were reported, and he was prosecuted. The payments to Trump's accusers were not. As I previously wrote, "Aren't these laws supposed to be written-down so one can know in advance whether one might be subject to criminal prosecution for violations of rules that we agree-upon in advance? Shouldn't these rules apply equally regardless of whether your name is 'Trump' or 'Clinton?' With Cohen and Bloom appearing to do the exact mirror image of the same thing in the same election with such dramatically different legal outcomes, one cannot help but wonder whether [the DOJ] is indeed applying laws 'equally to everyone, without regard to rank or status.'" International standards of election fairness command that a nation must have a "sound legal framework and an impartial and effective election administration," and that both parties have the opportunity to compete without arbitrary restrictions and discrimination. But that was under the old pre-Trump system. There's only one law now: Get Trump!


Watching film is a necessity for football players on many different levels. It allows them to scout their opponent's tendencies in players they are going to match up against, analyze the schemes of their opponents to seek advantages for game day, and allows them to study themselves to figure out if they're making any errors that need correction as well. Most film watched by players though doesn't contain an audio track of that player explaining why he's doing the things he's doing. So when a chance to learn from one of the best players at his position over the last decade in just such a situation was presented, Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson didn't waste the opportunity. In a video posted on Twitter by former offensive lineman and NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger, Johnson said he copied the technique of former Cleveland Browns left tackle Joe Thomas after seeing him discuss his technique to combat power rushes with Baldinger. " One thing I remember watching from the Joe Thomas film ," Johnson explained, "was whenever he talked about power and one thing that he did whenever he talked about the bull rush was they're trying to generate their power through you and whenever you get your ankles, knees and hands in alignment and it kind of forces that power up." Instead of trying to stop a defenders full force by acting like a brick wall, by rerouting the defender's force from an angled attack to standing him upright by lifting his shoulder pads up it significantly slowed down the oncoming opponent. "I want to take his movement and his energy and lift it up," Thomas had explained in his sit down. "Take the center of gravity up, right, so you're going to hit his shoulder pads and you're actually going to try to lift it up." Johnson has now taken ownership of the technique for himself. "And that's what I try to do with pass protection," he said. "I'm not trying to be too violent, sometimes I'll throw one arm in there but really I'm trying to go under for the most part. "There's nobody better than Joe Thomas."


Sports Illustrated's annual "Where Are They Now?" issue catches up with the stars and prominent figures from yesteryear past features have included Sammy Sosa, Brett Favre, Dennis Rodman, Tony Hawk and Don King. The 2019 issue features an inside look into the new life of Alex Rodriguez, Yao Ming's mission for Chinese basketball and more. For more great storytelling and in-depth analysis, subscribe to the magazine and get up to 94% off the cover price. Click here for more . To watch the full Mo'ne Davis feature above, sign up for a free seven-day trial of SI TV today. On an unseasonably cool afternoon in mid-June, Mo'ne Davis strode into the student center on the harborside campus of Hampton University in south-east Virginia , nearly 300 miles from her home in Philadelphia. It had been a little less than five years since those weeks in August 2014 when Davis's well-developed right arm grabbed the sporting world's attention. Pitching for the Taney Dragons in the Little League World Series, 13-year-old Mo'ne, only the fourth American girl to ever play in the tournament, threw two shutouts, paving the Dragons' way to the semifinals. Her precocious, composed demeanor and dazzling performance landed her on the cover of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED , on Jimmy Fallon's couch, onstage at the ESPY Awards all before she had started ninth grade. Now, with all of high school complete and her first day of college less than three months away, she headed for the second floor of the student center, where a coach and two future teammates awaited to present the new spikes and uniforms Davis will be wearing for the next four years, at her new home, playing her new sport: softball. The road that brought Davis to the Pirates' incoming class was a winding one. Back in 2014 she said basketball was her best sport, and she wanted to play at UConn. But a junior-year ankle injury had back-burnered that plan. She played varsity baseball as a freshman at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, the private school she attended in the Philly suburbs, but then gave it up for softball because she "was just wasting [her] time on the bench not doing anything." As for college, she simply thought softball would be more fun. "I wanted to do something for the next four years ... to have fun, and softball was it," Davis says. "Nowadays sports are a little too serious.... I just try to have as much fun as possible." As for what brought her to Hampton, a historically black university, Davis wanted to attend a school where she was in the majority, not the minority, after attending a largely white school since the second grade. Though she is in some ways like any teenager she stays up all night and can sleep all day on the family couch (her bed is covered in laundry); she just got her driver's license; she snacks questionably (Doritos dipped in cream cheese is a favorite) she has been a role model long enough to understand that her choices carry weight. "I think more people are going to start coming to HBCUs," she says. Davis visited Hampton's campus over homecoming weekend last October. She met with softball coach Angela Nicholson and journalism school dean B. DàVida Plummer Davis's postcollege dream is to host her own show, interviewing athletes around the world and just after she left campus she told her Snapchat followers that she would be attending the school the following fall. (She hadn't yet told her mom.) Now, with college nearly upon her, Davis roamed the campus grounds, from the softball stadium to the famous Emancipation Oak, a 70-foot-tall tree that doubled as the site of the first Southern reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the first classroom for newly freed men and women in 1863. "I just wanted," she says, "a place that felt like home."


After more than a decade, Eric Sorto can finally sit back, relax, and have a cold one by using mind control. A bullet wound severed 32-year-old Sorto's spinal cord 12 years ago, and he has been paralyzed from the neck down ever since. Recently, scientists at the California Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, and the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, California fitted Sorto with a robotic arm. Sorto successfully controlled that arm with his mind, picking up a beer bottle with it and drinking from a straw at his own pace no caregiver required. In 2013, a USC surgical team implanted penny-sized grids of electrodes in Sorto's brain to record the signals from his posterior parietal cortex, a part of the brain that helps plan actions. Researchers mapped the electric signals that fired when Sorto watched a robotic arm moving and imagined he was controlling it, allowing them to create an algorithm that would be able to decipher his intentions. For two years, Sorto worked at controlling the robotic arm with his mind, spending multiple hours a day at the Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. The research is described in this week's issue of the journal Science . The process isn't perfect. "Some days we ended up with neurons that were better at enabling him to control things, and other days we would end up with neurons that were less good," Tyson Aflalo, one of the lead engineers on the project, told the Los Angeles Times . But Sorto can now use his mind to point the arm in different directions, use it to make art, pick up beer bottles and other items, and make smoothies. And what is science for if not to enable us to drink delicious beverages at will? [h/t: Los Angeles Times ]


Milwaukee will see a return of last week's mild temperatures this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will make way for milder weather from Monday to Thursday, with a high of 63 degrees on Wednesday. Also expect rain coming in a few days. Wednesday's forecast shows the greatest likelihood of rain at 73 percent, with predicted rainfall of 0.09 inches. Skies will be cloudy today and tomorrow, and partly cloudy Monday and Tuesday. Winds will continue to be light over the course of the week, with the highest speeds today at just 10 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Police were called to the scene of a body found in Pittsburgh's East Hills neighborhood Monday. The body was discovered around 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Lee Way and Sunrise Avenue. Investigators on scene said the victim appeared to be a young man in his teens or early 20's who had suffered at least one gunshot wound to the head. The identity of the person found dead has not been released. Authorities had a dark grey Nissan towed away from the scene. Investigators said no bullet holes were in the car. Homicide detectives are investigating. READ MORE: Body found in Pittsburgh's East Hills neighborhood CHECK OUT WTAE: Stay in the know with the latest Pittsburgh news, weather and sports. Catch all of the day's top stories and more from the team at WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4.


Much of the lead-up to the last eight NBA Finals focused on what each potential championship meant for the legacy of LeBron James, but now that he is not in the playoff picture, we turn our attention to what this series means for so many others. It is remarkable that this year's Finals feature three deserving heirs to LeBron's throne, all attempting to lay claim to the title of Best Basketball Player Alive. Much is riding on this series for Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard from a historical standpoint, but they aren't the only ones whose careers will be viewed differently depending on the outcome of the first LeBron-less finals since 2010. Let's run through the eight players putting their legacies on the line when the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors tip off the 2019 Finals on Thursday. Kevin Durant Durant's frustration with legacy narratives is understandable when you consider that he has won the last two Finals MVP awards in decisive victories against LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers, and yet there are still so many unanswered questions about his place in the league entering this year's Finals. Such is the plight of a legendary player who joined a historically great team to chase championships. What if Durant doesn't return from his calf strain, and the Warriors beat the Raptors without him? What if he does come back, only to be outplayed in a loss to Kawhi Leonard? Or what if he returns to lay waste to Leonard and the Raptors, delivering a third straight title and capturing a third straight Finals MVP in dominating fashion? How this series unfolds will go a long way in telling the tale of Durant's tenure in Golden State, especially if he leaves in free agency at season's end, and his injury leads to so many fascinating plot lines. Fair or unfair, the Warriors winning without him would lessen the shine on his hardware. A hobbled loss to the Raptors leaves more to the imagination. Maybe it would show how much this dynasty really needed him, or maybe it would serve as a reminder of how little they were tested in years past. However you slice it, Durant has more riding on the next couple weeks than anyone else. A third straight handshake with Bill Russell at series end would give him as many rings as Larry Bird and as many Finals MVPs as LeBron at 30 years old, which further complicates any conversation about the greatest small forward ever. For the record, Durant has been ruled out for Game 1 , but is traveling to Toronto . Stephen Curry Curry won a title with the Warriors before Durant joined them in July 2016, and his legacy would undoubtedly be bolstered by winning another in KD's injury absence this year. Still, in order to start climbing the highest rungs of the NBA legends ladder, Curry needs the Finals MVP trophy that eluded him when Andre Iguodala's defense swiped it in 2015 and Durant's dominance demanded it the past two years. This Finals MVP will be the first in almost a decade decided on one's own merit and not by LeBron or how well someone performed opposite him. That will shape how we consider the Greatest Player Alive argument for the next decade and beyond. If Curry rises to take this one, it will erase the false narrative that he had not met the moment earlier and render questions about his claim to previous awards irrelevant. Here is the list of players with at least one regular-season MVP, a Finals MVP and four rings to his name: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant. Finals MVP wasn't an award until 1969, but since the award is named after Russell, we can probably safely add him to the ledger, too. Curry would be the eighth name on that list. This is rarefied air. I'm not sure Curry climbs into the top 10 all-time with a Finals MVP performance, but he will be damn close at age 31, and it will be hard to argue against him ranking as the second-best point guard in NBA history behind only Magic at that point. Kawhi Leonard Leonard was close himself to Greatest Living Player status when last we saw him face these Warriors in the playoffs and Zaza Pachulia stepped under his ankle 28 minutes into Game 1 of the 2017 Western Conference finals. That injury may have altered the course of the league forever, but here we are again, with Leonard getting another shot at Golden State and Best Basketball Player on the Planet status. Here's to second chances. If Leonard takes down Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Warriors in back-to-back series   after ousting the Philadelphia 76ers on one of the greatest shots in NBA history   he will have a better-than-ever claim to the title Michael Jordan bestowed upon him two summers ago: " the best two-way player in the game right now ." It's hard to imagine the Raptors winning without Leonard warranting Finals MVP honors, and if that's the case, it would be his second on as many teams in five years. He will also have a pair of championship rings, Defensive Player of the Year awards and top-three regular-season MVP finishes in that span. He is 27 years old. Leonard's statistical legacy won't be what it could have been had he not played in San Antonio's egalitarian system or missed almost a full season due to injury, but he also might not be in this position if not for both of those experiences. Regardless, he would vault into the conversation of the greatest 25 players ever with another title, and his peak would be closer to top-10 level, right around Hakeem Olajuwon, currently the only player in league history with two DPOY and Finals MVP awards. Draymond Green and Klay Thompson Both elite two-way players, they are two wildly different. Green is the ultimate small-ball big, both as a versatile defensive weapon and playmaker, and Thompson is the perfect backcourt complement, both as a lights-out shooter and lockdown perimeter defender. They are not quite at the all-time great level reserved for MVPs, but at some point the ever-mounting hardware is too hard to ignore. When all is said and done, Green will go down as one of the greatest defenders in history (2017 Defensive Player of the Year and runner-up in both 2015 and 2016), and Thompson will be on the short list of greatest shooters to ever live (16th in regular-season career 3-pointers and fourth in the playoffs before his 30th birthday). They have three and five All-Star appearances to their names already, and yet we don't know how to properly rate them on a Warriors roster so loaded with talent. Add four rings to those résumés, though, and they cement what may be true now: They belong on the short list of best supporting actors in dynastic casts that includes the likes of Sam Jones, Kevin McHale, Scottie Pippen and James Worthy. They are Hall of Famers and top-50 players all, as Green and Thompson may be with a few more monstrous performances in high-stakes, series-swinging games. Kyle Lowry We saw what a Finals appearance meant for Lowry in the embraces he shared with his children on the sidelines of Toronto's Game 6 victory against Milwaukee, but a championship might mean even more to the legacy he leaves behind to basketball. It was almost impossible to imagine this for him when he was jettisoned as part of rebuilding efforts in both Houston and Memphis, but put a ring on Lowry and he is closer to being considered a Hall of Fame-caliber player than ever before. His closest statistical comparison, according to Basketball Reference, is Tim Hardaway, whose ringless fingers have awaited the Hall call every year without a payoff yet. Lowry is a five-time All-Star who may well finish in the top 50 ever for 3-pointers, assists and steals. Advanced statistics look favorably on his career, and a title   depending on how instrumental he is in winning it   could nudge him closer. Andre Iguodala His Hall of Fame candidacy is just as complicated. He has as many All-Star nods as he does Finals MVPs, which is to say one, and he is somewhere between the fourth- and fifth-most important player on a team chasing title No. 4 in five years. There are 37 players with four championship rings. Twenty-two of them were All-Stars at one point in their careers, and fellow one-timer Horace Grant is the lone Hall-eligible player among them not in Springfield right now. Grant was never a Finals MVP. In fact, Cedric Maxwell   a two-time champion and no-time All-Star   is the only Finals MVP who is eligible for the Hall of Fame to never be enshrined. Iguodala's career numbers are not Hall-worthy, but statistics have never been what makes him so valuable to arguably the greatest team in NBA history. His ability to play just about every position on both sides of the ball is the lethal injection in the death lineup. However you evaluate his numbers, Iguodala's trophy room would make him an aberration if he were to win another ring and get left out of Springfield. DeMarcus Cousins A six-time All-Star, Cousins has been labeled a career loser after his Sacramento Kings missed the playoffs for the first seven years of his career, and then his New Orleans Pelicans made last year's push to the postseason after his Achilles injury. That label may continue to follow him now that he missed most of the regular season with that same injury and all but 25 minutes of the playoffs with a torn quad, but he could lord his ring over all doubters with a decent Finals effort (assuming he returns), despite his concession that joining the Warriors was a means to this end. There will be plenty of questions about his viability in free agency again this summer, but he is a 28-year-old not far removed from being the best true center in the game. If Cousins ever gets there again, we can start to have a conversation about his Hall worthiness. Wherever his career takes him from here, though, he could always point to his ring, and that may be all that matters to him in the end. *** Those eight players have the most riding on this series from an individual legacy standpoint at this point in their careers, but there are a handful of players for whom a weight will be lifted or a door unlocked by a championship. They are, quickly: • Kevon Looney , Golden State's best big off the bench, whose purse as a 23-year-old in unrestricted free agency this summer can only get fatter with a solid Finals. • Marc Gasol , Toronto's 34-year-old center, whose legacy is pretty well cemented as a former Defensive Player of the Year who only joined these Raptors at the trade deadline. Yet, there are few players for whom a title would mean more, given a career spent gritting and grinding for some under-appreciated Memphis teams. • Pascal Siakam , the rising Raptors star who can take a massive step forward with a championship effort this early in a career with so much legacy yet to be written. • Danny Green , who came to Toronto in the deal with San Antonio and set a Finals record for made 3-pointers when the Spurs won in 2014. Another epic performance in a title series would put him on a list of clutch role players worth remembering. • Serge Ibaka , whose up-and-down career has taken him from Oklahoma City to Toronto via Orlando. Along with Durant, he helped push the Warriors to the brink in the 2016 Western Conference finals, and a title for him would add one more "What if?" question to the ever-growing list of them for a Thunder team torn apart too soon.               Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach More from Yahoo Sports: Raiders sign controversial OL Richie Incognito to 1-year deal Bruins beat Blues in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final Manny Machado mercilessly booed in return to the Bronx Brown: Baseball is going to miss underappreciated Bill Buckner


As the calendar flips to August, it can only mean one thing: college football is here. Fall camps are opening or getting ready to open all across the country, and the first game of the season the big Florida vs. Miami showdown in Orlando is less than four weeks away. But there's plenty of work to be done before the first snaps that count are taken. This week, we'll be previewing August practice for each major conference, plus the Group of Five. Up first, it's the SEC: Top August Story The SEC was somewhat embarrassed last season in the postseason, and that's unusual. The league went 5 5 in non-College Football Playoff bowls and its two best teams, Alabama and Georgia, were rolled in their final games. Clemson bashed the Clemson Tide by 28 points in the national championship game, and Texas, up 28 7 at one point, beat Georgia 28 21 in the Sugar Bowl. All eyes are on the Bulldogs and the Crimson Tide as the conference's two best chances at postseason redemption for 2018 . Positional Battle to Watch Dak Prescott, Nick Fitzgerald and… who's next? The hot topic in Starkville is a camp competition that will determine the next quarterback in a recent impressive lineage. Prescott and Fitzgerald combined for 51 school records and delivered the Bulldogs 44 wins over six seasons. Many pegged junior Keytaon Thompson as the favorite, but that's before coach Joe Moorhead brought in Penn State graduate transfer Tommy Stevens , who operated under Moorhead's system while the coach served as offensive coordinator for the Nittany Lions in 2016 17. Positional Group Under Pressure Florida enters the season as a top-10 ranked team, with a veteran quarterback and a salty defense, but there is an unproven bunch in Gainesville that could wreck it all: the offensive line, which returns a single starter. The Gators lost four starters last season who took the first snap in a combined 138 games. That's a lot of replacing to do and precious little time to do it. The Gators open the season in Orlando against Miami, and might be doing it with at least two players who have never started a college game and a third with two starts. New Coach Spotlight For the first time since 2006, no SEC school has a new head coach. No school fired its coach. No coach left its school. No coach was involved in a motorcycle accident with his mistress. No coach resigned because of alleged health problems. Everyone is back, all of them; Auburn's Gus Malzahn, Vanderbilt's Derek Mason, LSU's Ed Orgeron. What's that mean for this coming offseason? Maybe lots of change . Those in the crosshairs include Matt Luke (Ole Miss), Malzahn (Auburn), Will Muschamp (South Carolina) and Mason (Vanderbilt). Week 1 Game to Circle You should circle two. Miami and Florida kick off the season with a Week 0 matchup in Orlando. They're renewing an in-state rivalry series that dates back to 1938. The Hurricanes have won seven of the last eight. The next week, Auburn and Oregon tangle in Arlington, a second consecutive season that the Tigers represent the league in a big-time neutral site game against the Pac-12. Auburn beat Washington last season. Without a returning starting quarterback and some other holes, the Tigers might have a tougher time this go-around. The Ducks are for real.


PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. You'll have to forgive the amateurs who'll be competing at Pebble Beach if they're feeling a little déjà vu this week. While only two have played in a U.S. Open previously (mid-amateurs Stewart Hagestad and Matt Parziale), all but one of the 15 who'll tee it up with a little "a" next to their name on Thursday have played the historic links on the Monterey Peninsula under championship conditions. And they did it only 10 months ago. Pebble Beach is the rare course that is hosting a U.S. Open the summer immediately after holding the U.S. Amateur (the last time that happened was in 1999-2000, coincidentally also at Pebble Beach). Except for recent Wake Forest grad Cameron Young, every amateur in this week's U.S. Open field will enjoy the benefit of that oddity, having played here just last August. How big a deal is that really? Well, while the rough is thicker and pinched in more than at the Amateur, the firm fairways are much like what they encountered then and the greens might actually be a little softer, at least so far early this week. In other words, those who played last August have a pretty good idea for what lies ahead. "Obviously the atmosphere and the tournament is different," said Viktor Hovland, who was the last man standing at the U.S. Amateur, defeating Devon Bling, 6 and 5. "But it's still the same course and you still have somewhat of the same lines off of the tees. The greens still break the same ways." RELATED: 9 sneaky U.S. Open picks That's good news for much of this group when you consider six of the 14 from the U.S. Amateur advanced to match play. That suggests that many of the field found at least some success on Pebble's idyllic but sometimes confounding course, a confidence booster for sure. This is the seventh straight year at least 10 amateurs are competing in the U.S. Open and the 12th time in 13 years. Meanwhile, an amateur has made the cut in the Open every year since 2007. Given the caliber of this year's group, there's no reason to believe that streak comes to an end this week. The real question is how many will be playing all four rounds. Here is our breakdown of the players and their chances of making it to the weekend and vying for low-amateur honors. To manage the large group, we've got them in categories of confidence, 5 being my best bets to make the cut, down to 1 being the least likely (players ranked in order of even more confidence inside the confidence categories.) Confidence Level 5 Viktor Hovland, 21, Norway Stewart Hagestad, 28, Newport Beach, Calif. Jovan Rebula, 21, South Africa Hovland obviously has good memories from Pebble after winning the Havemeyer Trophy last August. He turns pro next week, making his debut at the Travelers Championship. That transition can be tricky at times, and might mean he's not fully concentrating on his game given potential outside distractions. But Hovland, who finished T-32 at Augusta in April, has the chance to become the first player to win low-amateur honors in both the Masters and U.S. Open in a single year since Matt Kuchar in 1998. It's an extra bit of incentive that might be the difference maker. "I'm thinking about the U.S. Open right now," Hovland insists, "and when I get to Connecticut next week, I'll be, OK, am I even in the U.S., and then we'll figure that stuff out." … Hagestad has incentive, too. This is his third straight Open appearance, the first amateur to get in three years in a row since the 1980s . But he has yet to make a cut in his two previous attempts after famously ending a nearly 30-year streak of U.S. Mid-Amateur champs missing the cut at the Masters in 2017. … Rebula, the reigning British Amateur champion, also has major-championship experience, having played in last summer's Open Championship at Carnoustie and the Masters in April, but missing the cut in both. Even so, Ernie Els' nephew, who also won the SEC individual champion at Auburn in April, has the game get to the weekend. RELATED: How Pebble Beach became the USGA's crown jewel Confidence Level 4 Cameron Young, 22, Scarsborough, N.Y Matt Parziale, 32, Brockton, Mass. Chun-An (Kevin) Yu, 20, Taiwan The most well-known name of this bunch is Parziale, who won the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur and took a leave of absence as a firefighter in Massachusetts to enjoy the spoils of victory. He played in the 2018 Masters and then shared low-amateur honors at the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. After his dream summer ended which including getting married before playing the U.S. Amateur at Pebble so did his days as a firefighter as Parizale returned home to start a new career in the insurance business. It would appear the new job has given him time to sneak in a little more golf he reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in May before advancing through U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying. … Those who live in the New York Metropolitan area have likely heard of Young, who won the New York State Open as an amateur in 2017, while also claiming three college titles as a senior this past season at Wake. Young's father, David, is the head professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club . … The most talented of this threesome, however, might be Yu, who just earned first-team All-American honors at Arizona State after finishing third at the NCAA Championship. Confidence Level 3 Devon Bling, 19, Ridgecrest, Calif. Austin Eckroat, 20, Edmond, Okla. Daniel Hillier, 20, New Zealand Kevin O'Connell, 30, Jacksonville, Fla. Bling, a rising junior at UCLA, made the cut in the Masters, finishing 55th. That and memories of his run to the finals at the U.S. Amateur at Pebble last August have to make him optimistic about his chances this week. … Eckroat, who just finished his sophomore year at Oklahoma State, is playing in his first pro tournament. He might not get the headlines that teammate Hovland or NCAA player of the year Matthew Wolff, but he did have a win and six top-10 finishes in college this past season. … If you're looking for a sneaky pick among the amateurs, Hillier might be your man. He birdied four of his final six holes during sectional qualifying in England to earn his way to Pebble. And at the U.S. Amateur last year, shared medalist honors. … O'Connell is the reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion who has a chance at playing on the U.S. Walker Cup team this September with a good showing this week. Confidence Level 2 Chandler Eaton, 21, Alpharetta, Ga. Michael Thorbjornsen, 17, Wellesley, Mass. Brandon Wu, 22, Danville, Calif. Eaton will be a senior at Duke in the fall and was an All-ACC selection this past season after having six top-10 finishes along with a T-15 at NCAAs. Both of his parents played college golf. Our only reservation here is that this is his first start in a pro event, so nerves might come into play. … Same for Thorbjornsen, won the U.S. Junior title at Baltusrol last summer when he defeated good friend and junior phenom Akshay Bhatia in the final. He'll be a senior in high school this fall and has made a verbal commitment to play at Stanford in college. … Given this, he might want to connect with Wu, who just wrapped up his college career with the Cardinal last month by helping the team claim the NCAA title. RELATED: The 7 most spectacular but daunting shots at Pebble Beach Confidence Level 1 Noah Norton, 20, Chico, Calif. Spencer Tibbits, 20, Vancouver, Wash. Norton has been a starter at Georgia Tech for all but one event during his first two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, and had a 70.73 stroke average in 2018-'19. He lives a few hundred miles away from Pebble, and says that he and his family came to watch the U.S. Open when it was played here in 2010. Not long after he made it a goal to try to qualify for the Open the next time it came to Pebble. … Tibbits also is two years into his college career, having been an honorable mention All-Pac 12 selection at Oregon State this past season. Check out Golf Digest Schools for the best in video golf instruction WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS See the video. Every Hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links


You could visit Disneyland on your birthday, or you could help the theme park celebrate its own birthday. The chance comes each year on July 17, which is also a great time to explore Anaheim. The day marks the dedication of Disneyland back in 1955, when Walt Disney himself hosted special guests on a tour before the park's official opening the next day. While it's not an officially recognized event, the park often passes out special souvenirs to early arrivers, the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet sings "Happy Birthday" and many attendees dress in their 1950s finest. The surrounding city of Anaheim, meanwhile, offers plenty to see and do, with museums, food and drink, sports and nature all within easy reach. Thankfully, there are plenty of regular, relatively inexpensive flights between Detroit and Anaheim. We pulled from travel site Skyscanner to provide you with a short list of flights and hotels handpicked for the occasion. (Prices and availability are current as of publication and subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in the articles may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Flight deals to Anaheim Currently, the cheapest flights between Detroit and Anaheim are if you leave on July 15 and return from California on July 18. Frontier Airlines currently has roundtrip tickets for $508. Frontier Airlines also has tickets at that price point later in July. If you fly out of Detroit on July 16 and return from Anaheim on July 18, Frontier Airlines can get you there and back for $508 roundtrip. Top Anaheim hotels To plan your accommodations, here are some of Anaheim's top-rated hotels, that we selected from Skyscanner's listings based on price and customer satisfaction. The Disneyland Hotel (1150 W. Magic Way) If you're looking to treat yourself, consider The Disneyland Hotel . The hotel has a 4.6-star rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are currently available for $198. Close to Disneyland and Downtown Disney, this Anaheim hotel features an outdoor pool, a children's pool, a spa tub and a fitness facility. The Ayres Hotel Anaheim (2550 E. Katella Ave.) If you're looking for an inexpensive place to stay, try The Ayres Hotel Anaheim , which has rooms for $109/night. It has 4.5 stars. This hotel is close to the Honda Center, the Grove of Anaheim and Angel Stadium. Disney's Grand Californian Hotel (1600 S. Disneyland Drive) For a high-end option, try Disney's Grand Californian Hotel . With a 4.6-star rating on Skyscanner, the hotel is one of the most luxurious in the city. Rooms are currently listed for $266/night. "The rooms are beautiful, the views are stunning, the service is exceptional and the restaurants will definitely satisfy your palate," wrote visitor Cindy. "Also, hotel guests have their own private entrance into Disney's California Adventure Park." Top picks for dining and drinking If you're looking for a popular spot to grab a bite, Anaheim has plenty of excellent eateries to choose from. Here are a few from Skyscanner's listings to help you get started. Brodard Restaurant (9892 Westminster Ave.) One of Anaheim's most popular restaurants is the Brodard Restaurant , which has an average of 4.5 stars out of 62 reviews on Skyscanner. "This is my all-time favorite place to get spring rolls. No other restaurant makes it the way they do. Each spring roll is freshly made to order and you can see the assembly line making process along the side of the restaurant," wrote reviewer Mick. Cortina's Italian Market (2175 W. Orange Ave.) Another popular dining destination is Cortina's Italian Market , with five stars from five reviews. "There's something on the menu for everyone and the attached Italian market is phenomenal for finding items from Italy," wrote reviewer Chambray. Cream Pan (602 El Camino Real) Also worth considering is the Cream Pan , with 4.7 stars from 36 reviews. "Known for its strawberry cream croissants, Cream Pan has a long list of delectable desserts, bread and doughnuts along with curry and sushi," wrote Briana. Top Anaheim attractions Anaheim is also full of sites to visit and explore. Here are two top attractions to round out your trip, again from Skyscanner's listings. Disneyland (1313 Disneyland Drive) First up is Disneyland , with 4.8 stars from 948 reviews. There are rides galore. Get your adrenaline flowing on Disneyland's roller coasters like Space Mountain and see the whole park on the giant Ferris wheel. Beyond rides, visitors can stroll down Main Street, check out fireworks and parades, and dine in one of many restaurants and cafes. "I never get bored of Disneyland even after all these years. The food inside is one of a kind, but get ready to wait a while for rides because Disneyland attracts visitors from all over the world," wrote visitor Pamela. Disney's California Adventure Park (1313 Disneyland Drive) Then, there's Disney's California Adventure Park . It has 4.8 stars from 400 reviews on Skyscanner. Located right across the street from its older brother, Disney's California Adventure is a whirlpool of color, music and familiar Disney characters. "California Adventure is kind of the cooler, hipper younger sister to Disneyland," wrote Becky. "The magic, nostalgia and classic warm fuzzies can be found within the gates of Disneyland, but the adventure, the adult whimsy and the thrill can be found across the terrace at California Adventure." This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


After years of relatively steady increases, the growth rate in American health care spending is accelerating again. Medical spending grew at a rate twice that of the economy in the second quarter of 2015, an advance estimate published Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis at the U.S. Commerce Department showed. Those findings came on the heels of a separate report predicting that healthcare spending will rise significantly in the coming decade. Compared with the same quarter in 2014, health care spending rose by 4.9 percent, while the economy grew by 2.3 percent, the Commerce Department's analysis showed. That specific increase is one part of a broader trend showing that health care spending is picking up and is unlikely to slow down anytime soon. Multiple factors are fueling this trend. The Affordable Care Act, the 2010 law that overhauled the U.S. health care landscape and helped nearly 17 million people gain health insurance, is one. New, expensive drugs for complex diseases like hepatitis C, cancer and multiple sclerosis, as well as rising prices for medical care more broadly, are also expected to boost spending, said a report published in the July issue of Health Affairs and written by officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Another driver of ever higher spending is America's aging population. Toward the end of the coming decade, nearly 40 cents of every dollar spent on health care will go to beneficiaries of Medicare and Medicaid -- large, primarily government-funded insurance programs. The costs for patients in these programs tend to be higher than average, the Health Affairs article explained. The growth in health care spending had hovered at about 4 percent, a historic low, in the years since the 2008 recession. The first year to break that trend was 2014, when health care spending increased by 5.5 percent. From 2014 to 2024, growth in health care spending is expected to average 5.8 percent per year, so that within 10 years, 19.6 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, or more than $5 trillion annually, will consist of spending on health care, the Health Affairs article said. Some suggest that another reason health care spending is rising is that the economy is gradually improving and employment is more robust. As a result, people are spending more on health care, Thomas Getzen, a health economist, told Modern Healthcare. The Commerce Department's estimate, released Thursday, was based on "source data that are incomplete or subject to further revision by the source agency," it cautioned, and the bureau said that an estimate based on more complete data would be released Aug. 27.


When the Oakland Raiders traded for All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown, many were skeptical of the move for multiple reasons. Brown forced his way out of Pittsburgh and has had several minor off-the-field incidents that were somewhat concerning. However, what people don't know about Brown is his infectious work ethic that is impressing all of his teammates. Yesterday, former NFL quarterback David Carr discussed Brown's work habits on NFL Total Access and his incredible will to be great. Take a listen to what the brother of the Raiders' starting quarterback had to say about their new star receiver: "When your best players are your hardest workers, you're gonna have a great football team." The @NFLTotalAccess crew on @AB84 . pic.twitter.com/vzRxxZH63N - Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) July 18, 2019 Brown is still one of the best receivers in football, and his work ethic is clearly starting to rub off on his teammates. It's going to be fascinating to see how Brown impacts this team in Year 1. MORE: Roundup: Hustlers Trailer, El Chapo Getting Supermax Prison, Dan Patrick on Ben Simmons Big Baller Brand's demise looks imminent with sad clearance sale at a local gym Baker Mayfield believed the Patriots would trade up to draft him Drew Rosenhaus will meet with Lions this week to discuss Slay, Harrison contracts The top 100 players in the NFL today


The OTAs are done. Now it's time for the Cleveland Browns minicamp, the first mandatory activity this offseason for the 90-man roster. Minicamp kicks off on Tuesday, June 4th and lasts three days. It's the last time the team is together in any official capacity until training camp, which is slated for late July (dates will be announced shortly). Here are five specific things to pay attention to during the minicamp in Berea. Does everyone show up? Odell Beckham Jr.'s absence during the voluntary OTAs dominated national headlines, but he wasn't the only Browns player who skipped the recent sessions. Veteran running back Duke Johnson has also been staying away from the team. Beckham has indicated he will be in attendance and participating this week. It will be our first look at the All-Pro wide receiver with his new teammates. Will Johnson join them? One of the team's longest-tenured players, Johnson has requested a trade after seeing his role dramatically reduced under Freddie Kitchens in the second half of last season. GM John Dorsey has made it clear he expects Johnson to show up and remain a vital contributor, but we'll see if the versatile RB sees it that way. It would be surprising and major news if any other players opted to skip the mandatory practices. Reps at right guard One of the bigger developments from the early offseason has been the emergence of Kyle Kalis as the first-team right guard. Kalis was not the projected choice to replace Kevin Zeitler, who was dealt to the Giants as part of the Beckham trade. Kalis has taken the vast majority of starter reps in the OTA sessions open to the media. That comes at the expense of Austin Corbett, the presumptive Zeitler successor. The second-year lineman has spent more time backing up J.C. Tretter at center, another positional change for the collegiate left tackle. Then there's sixth-round rookie Drew Forbes. A project from Southeast Missouri State, Forbes has impressive size and didn't look like he was in over his head in early action. It would be stunning to see him ascend to the starting lineup, but remember this is the same team that started undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison at left tackle over Corbett and others a year ago. WR pecking order Even when Beckham participates, the Browns are expected to remain shorthanded at wide receiver. Jarvis Landry has missed the OTA sessions with an injury deemed minor, but still enough to keep him idle as a precautionary measure. He is not expected to play this week, either. That leaves the door open for more reps for the guys fighting for depth spots. Rashard Higgins is already established, and he's turned heads for his easy chemistry with QB Baker Mayfield already. Beyond Higgins and the OBJ/Landry duo, there is some flexibility and some questions, too. Does Antonio Callaway take over the slot? Damion Ratley or Jaelen Strong, or does Dorian Baker trump them both? How much do Blake Jackson and Derrick Willies offer in make-or-break offseasons? Can Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi fit into the mix at WR or is he just a return specialist? Those questions won't get answered until later this summer, but the process of answering them begins in earnest this week. Rookie impact Barring some unforeseen performances, only three rookies figure to have much of an impact on the Browns on-field product in 2019. One of those is kicker Austin Seibert, provided he can win the ongoing kicking competition with holdover Greg Joseph. The other two are the team's top two picks, CB Greedy Williams and LB Sione Takitaki. Williams has an opportunity to earn a starting job opposite Denzel Ward, but the second-rounder from LSU will have to earn it over the likes of returning veterans Terrance Mitchell and T.J. Carrie. Takitaki has the inside track to take over Jamie Collins' old role at strongside backer, but that role likely doesn't have nearly as much emphasis in new coordinator Steve Wilks' defense. A later-round rookie, Mack Wilson, could also factor there too. QB depth behind Baker Mayfield Because the Browns must always have some lack of contentment at quarterback… Don't worry, this one is not a critical one. But the Browns have themselves a battle for the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the depth chart behind Mayfield…if they decide to keep three QBs. Veteran Drew Stanton is an invaluable sounding board and mentor for Mayfield. The franchise QB trusts and respects him, leaning on Stanton's experience and guidance. He might never attempt another NFL pass but he's worth every penny the Browns are paying him if he helps Mayfield become the best Baker he can be. But will he be the No. 2 or No. 3? Newcomer Garrett Gilbert looked fantastic in the short-lived AAF. His pinpoint accuracy and anticipatory throwing skills give him a chance to operate the passing portion of the Browns offense in the way Mayfield does, minus the derring-do and scrambling. He's going to get a chance to prove he can stick in the NFL this time around. Then there's undrafted rookie David Blough. He earned a lot of positive praise for his work in the OTA sessions, and Blough's got a similar style of game to Mayfield. It appears he is capable of greater things than he accomplished at Purdue. I think back to two years ago when entering minicamp the Browns toted Brock Osweiler, Cody Kessler, Kevin Hogan and DeShone Kizer. My how far they've come! MORE: Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? Why James Holzhauer's small Final Jeopardy! bet made total sense Gerald McCoy explains why he picked the Panthers over Browns, Ravens Should Bills fans worry about Roger Goodell's comments? Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball


Things are heating up in local high school baseball. Here's a peek at some notable boys varsity baseball matchups on the calendar from in and around Pittsburgh, selected using data from high school sports site MaxPreps . (Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Details like game dates/times 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.) Bishop Canevin vs. Aliquippa On Wednesday, May 8, the Bishop Canevin varsity Crusaders (5-7) have a home conference game against the Aliquippa Quips (0-10). The action kicks off at 2700 Morange Road, starting at 4 p.m. While Bishop Canevin has a 3-5 conference record, Aliquippa has yet to win a conference game this season. Carrick vs. Chartiers Valley On Thursday, May 9, the Carrick Raiders (4-9) face off against the Chartiers Valley Colts (3-12) in a home conference game. The first pitch is set for 3:30 p.m. at 125 Parkfield St. Carrick has a 1-8 conference record, while the visiting Chartiers Valley boys are 3-7 in conference play this season. Brashear vs. Taylor Allderdice On Thursday, May 9, the Brashear Bulls (0-12) have a home nonconference game against the Taylor Allderdice Dragons (3-6). The game is set for 3:30 p.m. at 590 Crane Ave. Our Lady of the Sacred Heart vs. Bishop Canevin Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers (13-2) are slated to play a nonconference game against the Bishop Canevin Crusaders (5-7) at home on Thursday, May 9. The skirmish is set for 7 p.m. at 1504 Woodcrest Ave. in Coraopolis. Carrick vs. Brashear On Friday, May 10, the Carrick Raiders (4-9) have a home nonconference game against the Brashear Bulls (0-12). The action kicks off at 125 Parkfield St., starting at 3:30 p.m. 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.


The Jets have signed five-time Pro Bowler Ryan Kalil , according to a team announcement. Kalil retired after the 2018 season, but the Jets have convinced the center to suit up at least one more time. It's a one-year, $8.4M deal for the Jets and Kalil, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter ). The agreement is still pending a physical, which may be more than a formality   Kalil was limited to just six regular-season games in 2017 by a neck injury. The former USC standout played in just 14 games between 2016 and 2017. Prior to that, he suited up for at least 15 contests six times in a seven-year span   with five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro distinctions having occurred during that time. And, in 2018, he started in all 16 of Carolina's contests. A second-round pick in 2012, Kalil has been one of the best players in team history. He served as the pivotman during the Panthers' Super Bowl 50 run and played every game of the Panthers' 2008, '13 and '14 playoff seasons. With the Jets, Kalil will supplant Jonotthan Harrison as the team's man in the middle.


When Katie Sowers was eight years old, she was obsessed with football. "It was seriously one of the most natural loves," she says. But there was just one problem with her dream job: Girls couldn't play . Football, she thought as she watched the pros, was only for boys. As Sowers got older, her dream job shifted she now wanted to be a professional coach but the lack of female representation in pro sports didn't. "I remember taking notes throughout high school and college the things I liked about coaches, things I didn't like about coaches because I knew that career path was always going to be for me," Sowers says. "But for awhile I thought it was going to be [the WNBA] because I never saw a woman coach football. If you don't see it, you don't ever think about it happening." More specifically, she'd never seen a woman coach any professional male team. None of the dozens of teams across the four major pro leagues in the U.S. the NFL, the NHL, the NBA, or the MLB had ever employed a full-time female coach. View the Instagram photo. Then came Becky Hammon, a former WNBA player who joined the coaching staff for the San Antonio Spurs in 2014. Suddenly the glass ceiling in coaching had been cracked. "That was when it really clicked that, Oh my God, I could coach football," Sowers says. She was coaching and even playing football (there is a women's pro league ) at the time, but the idea that a coaching job with the NFL could be within reach hadn't registered yet. Hammon's hire changed everything, Sowers says. "I posted something on Instagram saying, 'NFL, I'm coming for you.'" The Only Woman in the Room Since Hammon started as a coach for the Sparks, the number of women breaking into big league coaching jobs has grown slightly. In 2015 the Arizona Cardinals hired Jen Welter as a coaching intern. In 2016 the Arizona Coyotes hired Dawn Braid, the NHL's first female coach. Also that year Kathryn Smith joined the coaching staff of the Buffalo Bills, making her the NFL's first full-time female coach . Sowers wasn't far behind. In 2017 the job she'd been dreaming about since she was a kid the one she thought girls couldn't have was hers. She became the second full-time female coach in the NFL, joining the organization as an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers. "It's still somewhat unreal to me," Sowers says. "I'm not doing anything to be 'the first' or even 'the second' or to be any type of headline; I'm doing it because this is my passion. I have a true passion for teaching everyone else that they can also follow their passion regardless of their gender, regardless of their race, regardless of who they are." This season the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added two full-time female coaches to its staff  a league record. The pattern looks promising, but the reality is the presence of female coaches in football is still shaky. Of the five women to ever coach in the NFL, Sowers, who is also the league's first and only openly LGBTQ coach, is the only one to have lasted more than a single season. "In my opinion it's a societal issue; it's not just an NFL issue," Sowers says. "It's this crazy power dynamic that we have with this society: We think that women are submissive to men. We fear the idea of femininity. We say, 'Oh, you hit like a girl.' I think the time is coming when we're going to see more and more people feeling that they can be authentic and be themselves." She's looking forward to the day when she's no longer asked how the guys on the team treat her as a woman leading men. Implication: Male pro athletes will not seriously respect a coach who's a girl. "The truth is, women have been teaching men for years," she says. "That's what coaching is it's leading people." The Future Is…Free of Gender Stereotypes Sowers may just be one coach in the league, but seeing her on the sidelines is proof for the little girls out there: Football is for girls too. "I actually had to explain to my niece when she was three years old that boys also play football," Sowers says with a laugh. "She thought that girls only played football because that's all she saw." Finding real equality in sports isn't just about girls being able to try out for the football team. It's also about boys being able to go to school wearing Megan Rapinoe jerseys without it being a thing, Sowers says. "It's about knowing boys can look up to women. Men are not superior it's not about striving to be like a man. It's about striving to be like whoever it is you want to be like regardless of their gender." View the Instagram photo. When the next generation of future coaches is looking for a role model, girls and boys will want to be just like Coach Sowers. Macaela MacKenzie is a senior editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram at @ MacaelaMac and Twitter at @ MacaelaMack . This year has made one thing clear: Women are showing up, stepping up, and taking what they deserve. From politics to pop culture, women aren't just leveling the playing field they're owning it. As we ramp up to our annual Women of the Year summit, we will be highlighting women across industries who do the work every day. Whether it's the CEO of a multinational retail corporation, a James Beard Award winning chef, or the World Cup champions, here are the women you need to know right now. First up: 10 profiles of women who are making their mark on the world of sports, where female athletes and businesswomen are fighting it out for championships, equal pay, and culture-shifting change. Spoiler alert: They're winning. See all of the Glamour Women of the Year All Year: Sports .


(UPDATE: Barbashev has been suspended one game .) The St. Louis Blues have an opportunity to win the Stanley Cup on home ice in Game 6 on Sunday, but they may have to do that without forward Ivan Barbashev . The NHL's Department of Player Safety announced that Barbashev will have a hearing for his illegal check to the head of Bruins forward Marcus Johansson . The incident occurred early in the first period deep in the Blues zone. Barbashev didn't get called for a penalty on the play, but the Bruins went to the power play moments later when Vince Dunn flipped the puck over the glass. Here's the play in question: Marcus Johansson has returned to the ice after taking this hit from Ivan Barbashev #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/zr1dSj5k0D   NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) June 7, 2019 "Those are the hits they want to get out of the game, correct? That's what I hear a lot about," Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said after Game 5. "Clearly, they missed a couple tonight. It's a fast game. I sat here two days ago or whatever it was and said I believe these officials are at this level because they've earned the right to be here. You should be getting the best. But, I mean, the narrative changed after Game 3. There's a complaint or whatever put forth by the opposition. It just seems to have changed everything." This could be the second player the Blues lose to suspension in this series, as Oskar Sundqvist sat for a game because of a check on Matt Grzelcyk . Barbashev has picked up three goals and three assists in 24 games this postseason. He's also averaging just over 12 minutes of ice time during the playoffs, but he's been an important part of their effective fourth line. Losing him wouldn't be crushing, but it would hurt their overall depth. Of course, this wasn't the only controversial non-call from Game 5 , as a Tyler Bozak trip went uncalled moments before David Perron scored a goal that put the Blues ahead 2-0 at the time. That Perron tally ended up being the game-winner. Game 6 is set for Sunday night.   Joey Alfieri is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @joeyalfieri .


Detroit will see a return of last week's hot temperatures this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will rise even more Thursday and Friday, with a high of 91 degrees on Friday. The immediate forecast also includes light rainfall. Today's forecast shows the highest chance of rain at 99 percent, with predicted rainfall of 0.18 inches. Skies will partly clear up on Saturday and Sunday. Winds will stay somewhat calm through the week, with the highest speeds on Saturday at just 12 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The 2019 U.S. Open combines with the picturesque views of Pebble Beach in golf's third major on the 2019 calendar. California's iconic course is the perfect backdrop for the 119th installment of the tournament, which follows the PGA Championship for the first time. It boasts an impressive field, of course, led by two-time defending champion Brooks Koepka, now the world's No. 1 golfer, and Dustin Johnson, who's eager to reclaim that perch. But all eyes will be on Tiger Woods , whose 2019 season so far has been a tale of two majors. MORE: Watch the U.S. Open live with fuboTV (7-day free trial) Woods, ranked fifth in the world, recaptivated the sports world's imagination by winning the Masters in April only to miss the cut at the PGA Championship weeks later. He corrected course with a top-10 finish at the Memorial Tournament but will need to remain in contention all weekend at Pebble Beach to prove Bethpage Black was a fluke. Woods has plenty of competition in the 156-player field. A red-hot Koepka, looking to become the second golfer ever to win the U.S. Open three consectuive years, is the betting favorite on the heels of a runaway PGA Championship title. The field also features each of the last 10 U.S. Open winners, including Johnson, Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy, Follow Tiger's score and the rest of the field below with our live U.S. Open leaderboard. You can also check out our " Tiger Tracker " for highlights from Woods' first round. TIGER TRACKER: Follow Tiger Woods' Round 4 at the U.S. Open U.S. Open leaderboard: Live scores from Round 4 Click here or refresh if you can't view the leaderboard .


I can think of no better way of celebrating Fourth of July weekend than behind the wheel of a big, ol' American car. Behold, the behemoth 2019 Lincoln Navigator . What do you want to know about it? Folks (and you're going to hear this a lot from me about this car): The thing is big . Massive. Colossal. Enormous. Vast. Immense. Gigantic. You'd exhaust the thesaurus by finding more words to describe how huge it is. Driving it on the highway, I'd pass other drivers who'd glance over idly and then found themselves looking up at the passing whale in the left lane. People get out of the way fast when you come up behind them in one of these. And it can haul serious ass. Powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V6, the Navigator makes 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque to the four wheels, according to a company spec sheet . All that's mated to a 10-speed automatic. The car Lincoln loaned me is painted in a very pretty shade of Chroma Crystal Blue and the inside is dressed up in the "Yacht Club" theme. I am assuming that means the cool blue leather interior with white accents. A blue car, within and without. I can roll with it. This is also the Black Label version, which means that it comes standard with a whole suite of luxury options and staggering, 22-inch, 21-spoke wheels. Base price on the Navigator Black Label is $96,395, but mine has options like the special paint ($1,750). After destination and delivery is said and done, the final price comes to... $100,110. Ask away! Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


After announcing his return to the NBA and the Miami Heat for his 17th season, Udonis Haslem remains one of the league's elder statesmen and will be a veteran presence for the Heat once again. But Haslem also retains an interesting title by staying in the league for another season as the player who has played with the most star power of any active player still in the league. According to research from our own Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype that ranked star teammates according to All-Star appearances, All-NBA appearances and MVP's, no player has had more stars on his teams than Haslem. Between LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Shaquille O'Neal's run of three All-Star games in Miami, Haslem was able to outpace the rest of the players on the list. Serge Ibaka, who played with Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, finished second in the HoopsHype study. MORE: NBA fans shouldn't be furious Kobe Bryant was named third team All-Decade Quick hits, observations from Packers' second joint practice with Texans 5 takeaways from the Raiders' first depth chart of 2019 season WATCH: Packers rookie OLB Rashan Gary whips Texans LT Matt Kalil Jared Cook sends the Saints defense reeling in play of the day


FARMINGDALE, New York-Warning, the warning sign is big here. Prepared to be bored with the incorporation of Bethpage Black's infamous first tee warning reminding golfers of the course's difficulty, the various suppliers of 2019 PGA Championship gear worked creative wonders in using the sign cleverly. Here are just some of the best items from the merchandise shop at Bethpage. Artist Lee Wybranski's $28 print captures both this week's PGA and the 2024 Ryder Cup in one swell lithography. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) This $32 "Courtney Clean Up" with arched embroidery comes from '47 and refines the caddy boy logo with classy script. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) The $36 "Bravado" bucket cap does take some bravery to wear. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) It may be priced higher than RLX's other polo shirts at the PGA at $110, but this faded camouflage on a specially engineered Jacquard has to be touched to be believed. Super light, super soft but shockingly durable it will not only last but look great on any golfer. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) Longtime golf hat makers Imperial have shed the stuffy image with these retro "Tour" visors, $30. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) Peter Millar's "Gale Force" soft-shell vest is made of an incredible material that stretches, breathes and fits your body well enough to swing a club. With a bold color scheme and handy pockets. It's $165, free-flowing golf swing not included. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) Signs by the Sea has not tried to reinvent their very successful wheel of weathered wood products, but the $78 cut out of Long Island is the real man cave keeper from this PGA. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) This young girl's "pinhole tee" is $30 from Under Armour and brings a little attitude without being obnoxious. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) MoxySocks is offering one of the better values: $10 black socks sporting the requisite Warning and Caddy Boy, but the killer touch here is the full Black Course warning message on the sole. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) Tiger's Masters-final round red mock is $60 and has a 2019 PGA logo on the chest. Not included from Nike: the physique to pull this off. The women's athleisure movement is just one of many strong items from Under Armour this year, including a $58 pair of Jacquard Capris ideal for working out, Bethpage logo discreetly placed on the upper hip. (Geoff Shackelford/Golfweek) For $30, New York Yankees and Mets fans can have a weathered '47 brand cap with their team logo on the side and the 2019 PGA logo on the front. MORE: Why Packers' redefined defense could give Aaron Rodgers a Super Bowl opportunity NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Cowboys News: Prescott's circle of trust questioned, Kris Richard RKGs Dale Earnhardt Jr. thought his wife, Amy, might break up with him over this drunken go-kart incident Jarrell Owens: What the Browns are getting in their new DE


In the wake of two deadly mass shootings in a span of just 24 hours, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is imploring his Republican colleague, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, to bring lawmakers back to Washington for an emergency session on gun control. Both the House and Senate are currently on their August recess and don't plan to be back in session until after Labor Day. In a statement released on Sunday, Schumer urged McConnell to call back the Senate and consider a House-passed universal background check law as a first step to addressing the epidemic of mass shootings. "When President Trump spends more time and energy denouncing Rep. Elijah Cummings and Baltimore than he does denouncing right-wing extremists who often traffic in hate and white nationalism, it shows his priorities are un-American and way off balance," Schumer added, noting Mr. Trump's penchant for attacking Democrats. McConnell tweeted his own condemnation of the weekend's mass shootings. "Sickening to learn this morning of another mass murder in Dayton, Ohio overnight," he wrote Sunday. "Two horrifying acts of violence in less than 24 hours. We stand with law enforcement as they continue working to keep Americans safe and bring justice." But there were no signs from the majority leader that he would bring the Senate back to act on gun control. McConnell has not yet brought up two House measures passed earlier this yea r to expand background checks. And he also broke his shoulder in an accident over the weekend. In February, the Democratic-controlled House approved a bill requiring background checks be performed on all gun sales, including at gun shows following a string of mass shootings. A companion bill, also passed by the House, would allow for more time for sellers to receive background checks on potential customers. "Leader McConnell, do the right thing," Schumer aid during a Sunday press conference. "Call an emergency session. Wherever the senators are. Put the House bill on the floor, and it will pass. And the president, my guess is, will have no choice but to sign it. And maybe we can do something to begin dealing with gun laws in a rational way. And not just quaking when the [National Rife Association] and other extreme groups tell Congress to sit on its hands." A ban on assault weapons was introduced back in January but has not been voted on in either the House or the Senate. A prior ban, which was enacted in 1994, expired in 2004. While Mr. Trump has expressed support for providing some variety of gun reform in the wake of a string of mass shootings   including his support of the background check bill as well as a more controversial proposal to arm teachers   the president this weekend also placed blame on "mental illness" being the root cause of the two violent attacks. In El Paso, a gunman killed at least 20 people and injured more than two dozen others inside a Walmart. The massacre carried out by the 21-year-old suspect, who was apprehended by authorities, is being treated as an act of domestic terrorism and a potential hate crime by federal law enforcement. Investigators are probing a racist, anti-immigrant document allegedly authored by the suspect. The shooting in Dayton, in western Ohio, left nine dead in addition to the gunman, identified by authorities as a 24-year-old white man. Nearly 30 people were also injured in the shooting rampage.


Video by NBC News The Gilroy Garlic Festival was about to end its run around 5:30 p.m. Sunday when the gunfire broke out. Visitors to the famed food festival in a town that calls itself America's garlic capital dove for cover and ran for their lives. Witnesses reported several people hit, but authorities have not yet provided any numbers. Taylor Pellegrini, 25, said she was sitting on a bench near the food court with her boyfriend and two friends when she heard what sounded like firecrackers. When the pops continued and people started running, she realized they were in danger. "People were yelling 'active shooter, active shooter,' and some people tripped and stayed on the ground so bullets didn't hit them," she said. "People were under tables and dropping their phones and whatever they had in their hands." Slideshow by photo services Pellegrini, who lives in Hollister, was able to get out quickly because she and her friends were close to the exit. As they walked to the nearby home of a friend, where they'd parked, they saw police officers racing through the streets. Some witnesses said they saw a man dressed in camouflage and armed with a rifle open fire. More than a dozen people were injured, but the number of fatalities was still unclear. Vivian Zhang, 24, was walking toward the exit with two friends when she heard pops and crackles, and then saw abrupt flashes of light. A truck they were standing next to was struck four times; bullets ricocheted off the ground. That's when they started running as fast as they could. "They started putting all of us on the parking shuttles," said Zhang, an Oakland resident. "To their credit, the volunteers running it were very responsive, they weren't panicking." Everyone seemed disoriented, Zhang said. Parents grabbed their children as police ran into the crowd. "It's a whole entire group feeling of sheer terror," said Emily Gifford, Zhang's 23-year-old friend. As Zhang was running, she said, she remembered thinking, "I am surviving a mass shooting right now, but I'm not even sure if that will be true in a moment." One of Zhang's friends was at the 2017 Las Vegas music festival where a gunman killed 58 people. She remembers seeing Snapchat posts from the scene. Still, she never thought this could be her reality, especially at a community event in rural California. "It was getting closer and closer to home," she said. "And now it happened to us." Vielka Garrido, 48, was sitting with her friend and 19-year-old daughter, enjoying the band as it played its last song at the Gilroy Garlic Festival. She was filming a live video on Facebook showing everyone how much fun they were having. They were eating seafood and spaghetti, and dancing. "And then we hear boom, boom, boom," Garrido said. "We thought it was fireworks, and then when we see the people running   oh, my God, it was terrible." The shots felt close to where they were sitting at the front of the stage. Her group started running too, finding refuge in a shipping container where many other festival-goers were hiding. As she was running, she said, she saw someone performing CPR on a small child and many other people injured.


On pee, and the animal instincts that unite all cultures. The World Cup opener at Parc des Princes too cold to take in a sensory impression of the stadium. All one really cared about was huddling up against the gusting wind while watching France get a 4-0 win against South Korea . But nine days and a dozen degrees Fahrenheit later, as the United States kept Chile almost entirely contained in its own half for 90 minutes, the unmistakable aroma of old pee drifted up into and around the press area. It reminded me of an incident a few days earlier at the Centre sportif Emile Anthoine, close to the Eiffel Tower. I was headed to a press event and, to my misfortune, clear as day saw a man relieving himself in the bushes just outside the center. There were plenty of people passing by on the nearby sidewalk because, as you'll recall, this was by the Eiffel Tower . He did not care. He simply peed. As it turns out, humans act like animals everywhere. Americans have a complex relationship with the French. We envy Parisians for their perceived sophistication, their cosmopolitan attitudes, their seemingly unending flow of wine and gourmet cheeses. Yet we lampoon them for these things as well, tutting at the image of the roué fellow about town, the libertine philosopher smoking a cigarette and poo-pooing boorish Americans. The cigarette thing, from what I've seen, is pretty accurate, making some parts of Paris smell like Las Vegas. But the rest is your standard cultural cartoon Frankenstein'd from generic historical attitudes, pop culture images, and imagination filling in the Atlantic-sized gap between us. Meanwhile, I have seen approximately several hundred New York-related apparel items in Paris and Reims, either relating to the city itself, or to the Yankees. A Parisian in an NYC snapback is a New Yorker in a Paris je t'aime shirt, a way of enjoying the existence of an outside world beyond your familiar boundaries. The cross-global pollution happening between two of the most famous   or infamous   cities in the world is an undeniable link between our essential humanities, just like our dude peeing in the bushes. He could have been behind any bar on the Lower East Side. He just happened to be in broad daylight by a giant athletic center in a major tourist area. Parisians probably have their images of Americans too. I met a Franco-American in a bakery, someone who had spent most of her life in France but gotten her university education in America. She told me it took her a while to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all picture of Americans, who differ from one another across county lines, let alone across states or geographical regions. France, is, after all, less than the size of Texas. An American northeasterner and southerner might have less in common between them than they would with a Parisian. But whether it's the pizza-rat subways of New York City, the open container back alleys of New Orleans, or the bushes by the Eiffel Tower, we really are just human beings with bad judgment who need to pee.