After months of speculation, months of questions, months of wondering about where one of the NBA's biggest stars is headed, Kevin Durant has made his decision. He's headed to the Brooklyn Nets, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski has announced. Durant is expected to officially announce his decision on Instagram at 6 p.m. Sunday night, the official start of NBA free agency. If Durant does indeed announce he's signing with the Nets, it will mark one of the biggest days in their history. Durant will likely miss all of next season recovering from a torn Achilles, but one of the best players in the game has his new home. Barclays Center. And he's expected to be joined by Kyrie Irving, according to the ESPN report. Durant averaged 26 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season for the Warriors while shooting 52.1 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from three-point range. The saga of Durant's free agency has hung over the NBA all season long, even creating a contentious relationship between Durant and the media that covered the Warriors on a day-to-day basis. Durant had grown frustrated by the constant questions about his future, and he made it known that he didn't want to answer those queries anymore. But that didn't quell the speculation. Far from it. The Knicks had been rumored as his most likely destination. Many Pundits and prognosticators had projected Durant's decision as a virtual done deal, that the only thing left was to sign the contract. The presumption was that Durant would head to Madison Square Garden with Irving, a close friend. The fact that Durant's agent and business partner, Rich Kleiman, was a Knicks fan only fueled the speculation. But all along there was going to be competition for the Knicks, particularly from the Nets, Clippers and Durant's own Warriors, who had the capability to offer him more money than any other team. Durant's future was still unclear. Then it became even more uncertain in the playoffs. Durant injured his calf in the Western Conference semifinals, returned in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and promptly ruptured his Achilles . Golden State went on to lose to the Toronto Raptors as Durant headed into an uncertain future. The speculation hadn't calmed down in recent weeks. Durant was in New York recovering from surgery, and reports were constantly circulating about which teams he'd meet with and when he'd make his decision. Teams, meanwhile, had to decide whether signing Durant was a risk worth taking. He's almost certainly going to miss all of next season. When he plays again, he'll be 32 years old with a lot of mileage on his legs. He'll likely be on a very stringent minutes restriction when he comes back, at least at the start. At that point, the window on his prime will be closing. And no one knows exactly how Durant will come back from an Achilles tear, a notoriously difficult injury to recover from. Still, Durant was one of the best players in the NBA, if not the best, when he suffered the injury. Even if he's slightly diminished when he gets healthy, he still likely would be a formidable player. But that's no guarantee. Regardless, Durant's future is no longer uncertain. He knows where he'll be going forward. The speculation is finally over. Email: iseman@northjersey.com This article originally appeared on North Jersey Record: Kevin Durant signing with Brooklyn Nets over Knicks in NBA Free Agency


Ahead of this weekend's Bastille Day celebration on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the creation of a space command that would be part of the country's Air Force, according to Reuters . President Macron made the remarks to military personnel, saying that the space command would be responsible for defending the country's satellites, and that it would officially be created in September. The Air Force, he says, will eventually be renamed as Space and Air Force. It appears as though this new command will replace France's existing Joint Space Command, which is already responsible for France's existing space assets, and coordinating with the militaries of other European nations. While it has the third-oldest space agency, France has begun to focus more on space in recent years. According to Breaking Defense , the country plans to spend 3.6 billion euros between now and 2025, and in December 2018, it launched a new military reconnaissance satellite, the CS0-1, with more to follow in the coming years. In recent years, a number of countries have begun to recognize space as a distinct "domain" of warfare   a distinct location or concept where warfare can take place, such as on land, sea, air, or space, or within digital systems. This command appears to be France's answer to addressing the the problems that space-borne military infrastructure potentially brings. France's new command looks as though it would be analogous to the United States Space Command, a part of the US military originally founded in 1985 to oversee and coordinate the country's orbital assets, like satellites. That command was disbanded and merged into the US Strategic Command after the September 11th attacks. Last year, President Donald Trump ordered the Department of Defense to create a new Space Command, a precursor to a new, full-fledged branch of the military, Space Force.


NEW DELHI, July 11 (Reuters) - Walmart told the U.S. government privately in January that India's new investment rules for e-commerce were regressive and had the potential to hurt trade ties, a company document seen by Reuters showed. The lobbying effort yielded no result at the time - India implemented the new rules from Feb. 1 - but the document underlines the level of concern at Walmart about the rules. Differences over e-commerce regulations have become one of the biggest issues in frayed trade ties between New Delhi and Washington. "It came as a total surprise ... this is a major change and a regressive policy shift," Walmart's Senior Director for Global Government Affairs Sarah Thorn told the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) in an an e-mail on Jan. 7. Just months earlier, Walmart had invested $16 billion in Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, its biggest ever acquisition globally. In a statement to Reuters on Thursday, Walmart said it regularly offers input to the U.S. and Indian governments on policy issues and this was a "past issue and Walmart and Flipkart are looking ahead." "Walmart has had good consultations with the government of India," a company spokeswoman added. The USTR did not respond to a request for comment. In the January letter to the USTR, Walmart said it wanted a six-month delay in the implementation of the rules, but that did not happen. Washington did raise concerns about the policy with New Delhi, but India gave a non-committal response, an Indian trade ministry official told Reuters at the time. Walmart's problems in India highlight the regulatory complications it faces as it restructures its international business to boost growth and online sales. Mexico's competition regulator recently blocked its acquisition of delivery app Cornershop, while in Britain it was stopped from merging its British arm Asda with rival Sainsbury's. These issues, however, have failed to unnerve Walmart investors. Walmart shares have risen 21 percent, compared with a 19 percent increase for the S&P 500 since the start of the year. NEW INDIA RULES A USTR delegation led by Christopher Wilson, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, was to meet Indian officials in New Delhi on Friday to resume discussions on trade ties and the e-commerce issue was likely to be high on the agenda. In its January representation, Walmart told the USTR that India's new policy wasn't good for global businesses, highlighting that its foreign direct investment would help Flipkart grow and result in "significant" tax revenues for New Delhi. "Changing rules to hinder international business following major investments ... will have important implications for India FDI goals and add unnecessary pressure to trade discussions," Walmart said in its note. The new rules barred companies from selling products via firms in which they have an equity interest and also from making deals with sellers to sell exclusively on their platforms. Amazon.com Inc removed thousands of products from its India website briefly in February as it initially struggled to comply with the new policy. Flipkart was forced to rework some of its vendor relationships, sources told Reuters at the time. The policy, implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi months before his re-election in May, was seen aimed at winning the support of small Indian traders, who had long complained they were losing business due to the steep discounts offered by foreign e-commerce giants. "The action appears in every respect ... intended to placate Indian companies and local traders," Walmart told the USTR. SMALL TRADERS VS BIG RETAILERS Reuters obtained the two-page representation Walmart sent to the USTR through a Freedom of Information Act request first filed in January. The USTR in February provided a heavily-redacted version of the document, citing confidentiality reasons. In consultation with Walmart, it withdrew most of those redactions this week following an appeal from Reuters. Although Reuters asked for both Amazon and Walmart's communications, the USTR responded saying it found only one e-mail with Walmart's representation between Dec. 22 and Jan. 28, the period for which the records were searched. Since the policy has been announced, Indian oil-to-telecoms conglomerate Reliance Industries has repeatedly talked about its plans to diversify into e-commerce. Walmart's document released to Reuters did not name Reliance, but the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company argued the policy discriminated against foreign firms, and not just in favor of small domestic players. "The purported rationale of such regulations is to protect small retail players who are seen to be threatened," Walmart said, but added: "This argument does not account for why there should be differentiated treatment between large foreign eCommerce companies, and large domestic companies." In the past six months, several Walmart executives have also weighed in publicly on India's new e-commerce policy, including Chief Executive Doug McMillon, who said in February the company was disappointed by the Indian government's decision. "We hope for a collaborative regulatory process going forward, which results in a level playing field," he said. DEFENDING E-COMMERCE India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said the government was committed to protecting small traders, but open to ironing out policy-related issues. Goyal said on Twitter on Wednesday he had met Walmart International's CEO, Judith McKenna, and discussed ways of boosting sales of Indian-made products. In a closed-door meeting last month, however, Goyal warned both Flipkart and Amazon to comply with the new rules in letter and spirit, and questioned them on their discounting policies, Reuters has reported. The Walmart spokeswoman on Thursday said that, in line with the company's commitment to India, it looked forward to contributing to the country's retail ecosystem. Amazon was not aware of Walmart's January representation to the USTR, according to a person with direct knowledge. The company in a statement said it continued to engage with New Delhi to enhance infrastructure and create jobs. Walmart told the USTR in January that its unit Flipkart, as well as Amazon, had opened many new distribution centers over the past three years in India, creating thousands of jobs and greatly benefiting to consumers. It warned of "serious consequences" if the new policy was implemented hastily. "The lack of policy stability makes it very difficult for companies to continue planned investments, both in the eCommerce sector and beyond," Walmart wrote. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Martin Howell, Alex Richardson and Raju Gopalakrishnan)


Ever the optimistic underdog, former Boston Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas isn't looking at the coming season as a do-or-die moment for his NBA career. If anything, he's looking at his current situation as an opportunity to show he still belongs in the league, even after being the odd man out for the Denver Nuggets last season. His meteoric rise to the upper echelon of the NBA was met with an equally precipitous collapse as the diminutive floor general injured his hip while playing for the Celtics in the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Unfortunately, his subsequent trades to the Cleveland Cavaliers ( the trade which netted Boston the talented Kyrie Irving ) and Los Angeles Lakers ( the Cavs gave up a first-round pick to trade him ) never gave him time to truly heal. "Nobody knew what to expect with me coming off hip surgery last year, and two summers of rehab," Thomas said to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski . "Now I can go back to being a gym rat this summer, work on my game again and build my body back up - my muscle mass, my leg strength - all like I had going into the 2017 season." You might forgive IT if he were upset about the stretch of bad luck and for Denver for signing him to a roster so deep at the guard position, they removed him from the rotation entirely weeks before his sole season in the Mile-High City ended. Thomas, however, has nothing but respect for the organization: "Denver allowed me to take really as much time as I needed, to get back to 100 percent health … Obviously I wanted to play and I thought I could've contributed in the regular season and playoffs, but I understood [head coach Michael Malone's] decision and I think I contributed in other ways as a leader, as someone who was there to answer the questions of the younger guys. I stayed ready and prepared to play. When I look at it from the outside, I understood it … I missed 50 games, the team was having a hell of a season, and it wasn't easy to just squeeze me in there when so many guys were playing so well. They didn't want to mess up what they had going. I understood it." Even relegated to the bench, Thomas couldn't simply sit around and wait, instead channeling his energy into helping coach the team's younger players. Said Nuggets president Tim Connolly of Thomas' time in Denver: "Isaiah was fantastic this season … His voice in the locker room was invaluable. I'm sure it was frustrating for him not playing as much as he hoped, but he never allowed that frustration to negatively impact his approach. We wouldn't have had the success we had this year without him." While most would write off a point guard on the wrong side of 30 and the six-foot mark, history suggests it'd be a mistake to do so when it comes to Thomas. While this might be the fourth quarter of Thomas' career, we also know that's exactly his time to thrive on a smaller time scale - and with a full offseason to work on conditioning, the former Celtics fan favorite likes his chances: "I'm going to get back to a level that I was playing at … I'm excited to show what I can do again." While he might not get another crack at playing for Boston after their guard-heavy draft, it's hard to imagine someone not trying their luck with the King of the Fourth. For a team trying to reset their culture after trading - of all people - Thomas away, an end-of-the-bench, "locker room presence" deal wouldn't be the worst plan for the team so long as everyone knew their role. More likely than not, Thomas will be suiting up elsewhere this fall. In the eyes of Boston fans though, he'll always be a Celtic. MORE: NBA trade rumor rankings: The latest on Bradley Beal Roundup: Donald Trump Subreddit Quarantined, Kevin Love Gets Expensive Steve Austin Pendant, Tristan Thompson Buys New Mansion Patriots veteran Julian Edelman does a hilarious Bill Belichick impression Report: Former Celtics player criticizes Brad Stevens' coaching style Jets new regime will keep an eye on Chuma Edoga, Jachai Polite


Just in time for the long July Fourth holiday weekend, U.S. gasoline prices are once again on the rise. By Independence Day, industry analysts at GasBuddy expect the national average price for a gallon of regular gas to be $2.75, 10 cents a gallon more than a week ago. Gasoline prices had declined for seven straight weeks, but a confluence of events last week put an end to all that. GasBuddy's head of petroleum analysis, Patrick DeHaan, noted, "The stage was set for a nearly perfect holiday -- gas prices hit their seventh straight weekly decline, oil prices had dropped as low as $51, every state had seen notable declines at the pump, it really couldn't get a whole lot better as we approach July Fourth." The low-price regime began to unravel about two weeks with the attack on two crude oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The attack, which the United States has blamed on Iran, got the ball rolling, driving crude from its low of $51 a barrel on June 13, the day the ships were attacked, to more than $59 at last Friday's close. An explosion and fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery a week later has taken 335,000 barrels a day of crude oil processing out of circulation and, according to an announcement last week, will close the venerable refinery for good. The final straw may have been Saturday's announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that OPEC+ will maintain its 1.2 million barrel per day cut in production at least through the end of the year and, perhaps, longer. The following chart from GasBuddy shows the national average price for a gallon of regular gas over the past 10 years along with its estimate for this year.


Gunnar experiences a problem that has plagued dogs for years!


The number of calories burned can ultimately influence a variety of choices when it comes to health, diet, and physical activity. People choose their workouts for any number of reasons. Fitness regimens target different muscle groups, utilize diverse kinds of equipment (or none at all), help individuals reach specific and varied goals, and can be modified for indoor or outdoor activity according to the season, skill level, or personal preference. No matter one's motivations or the necessary factors considered, one result is always the same: Exercise burns calories. The actual amount can vary greatly, though, depending on the rigor of the activity, the length of time involved, and the size and form of the athlete. Since the number of calories burned can ultimately influence a variety of choices when it comes to health, diet, and physical activity, Stacker set out to discover which common exercises burn the most calories per hour. To do so, we consulted Washburn University's adaptation of the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities , which compares and calculates calories burned for hundreds of activities and exercises. Washburn worked with the complex research data of the Compendium of Physical Activities and translated the results into layperson's terms by calculating calories burned for each physical activity represented based on  exercise, intensity level, and individual characteristics such as weight.  The slides in the gallery above are ranked by calories burned per hour, which were calculated for 160-, 200-, and 240-pound subjects. Read on to see just how fast one needs to run to burn more 1,000 calories in 60 minutes, which of the highest-burning exercises can actually be done from a seated position, and which require little to no equipment. Readers may want to fill a water bottle and get their sneakers ready since this list gives plenty of options. Just be sure to consult with your physician before pursuing a new exercise routine and take all proper safety precautions before, during, and after a workout. You may also like: Top health conditions affecting Americans #18. Walking 2 mph - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 204 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 255 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 305 A relaxed stroll can serve as a starting point for those who want to introduce light exercise into their routine. Walking, even at a slow pace, uses muscles in the legs, hips, and lower back and side, and offers a number of benefits that include a boost to immune function and easing of joint pain. #17. Canoeing - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 256 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 319 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 382 Canoeing, which involves rowing from a seated position, requires upper body and core strength. Aspiring paddlers should keep in mind that trekking to a suitable body of water with a canoe can take extra time and energy and burn additional calories. #16. Leisure bicycling - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 292 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 364 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 436 Cycling does more than just work muscles like glutes, quads, calves, hamstrings and hip flexors. Riders may be interested to know that studies have found that cyclists live longer than those who never hop on a bike. Cycling to work, or to run occasional errands, can be an effective way to introduce the activity into a regular routine. #15. Walking 3.5 mph - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 314 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 391 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 469 The faster we walk, the more calories burned. Walking at a moderate pace, just higher than the average walking pace of 2 2.9 mph, provides a number of benefits, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine's National Center for Biotechnology Information. A recent study found that those who walk at a regular or above-average pace also have a lower mortality risk by approximately 20%. #12. Low-impact aerobics (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 365 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 455 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 545 Aerobic exercise, or cardio, stimulates the heart and lungs and can be performed in a variety of ways including classes, with gym equipment, and through solo efforts. Experts advise participants to keep an eye on their pulse to ensure that they are making the best of their workout and not overdoing it. #12. Resistance (weight) training (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 365 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 455 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 545 Resistance training builds desired muscles and muscle groups, by requiring the body to work against weight or force. Equipment and machines can be used, but exercisers may also utilize their own body weight for desired results. Experts recommend resistance training at least twice a week. #12. Softball or baseball (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 365 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 455 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 545 Despite the stigma of being a slow sport, baseball and its cousin, softball, still give players plenty of opportunities to burn calories. Different muscle groups are used at different parts of the game, with the entire body needed to throw overhand, shoulders and core used for batting, and legs for running bases and making catches. #11. Water aerobics - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 402 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 501 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 600 Water aerobics, typically available in class settings, is easy on the joints. It's a popular choice for elderly exercisers and pregnant women, and it's a great option for beginners. Movements may vary depending on the class, but participants can expect to target core, arms, legs, glutes, and back muscles. #10. Swimming laps - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 423 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 528 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 632 Depending on which stroke is used, swimming laps can provide a thorough workout for a variety of muscle groups. Like water aerobics, it's also easy on the joints thanks to the water's buoyancy. #8. Hiking (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 438 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 546 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 654 Hiking is much more than a long walk in the woods. When there's varied terrain, inclines, and even gear to carry, the benefits for one's body start to add up. A recent study by the University of Innsbruck at Austria even noted that participants reported simply feeling better after hiking outside, compared to those who performed similar exercise indoors. #8. Stationary rowing (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 438 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 546 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 654 Stationary rowing swaps paddles for machinery, giving users the chance to fine-tune their movements. Though the position for a stationary rowing machine is seated, there are benefits for the entire body. Experts advise that strokes should be a ratio of 60% legs, 30% back, and 10% arms. #7. Racquetball - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 511 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 637 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 763 Racquetball is one of the few exercises to make the list that can be played as a doubles or singles game. It's also a cardiovascular workout that works both the upper and lower body and requires lateral movement and strategy, providing mental benefits, too. #6. High-impact aerobics - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 533 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 664 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 796 High-impact aerobics, like skiing or gymnastics, are often higher in intensity and pace but harder on the joints than low-impact aerobics. Since the risk for injury is higher, participants will want to be extra certain that their form is correct. #5. Basketball game - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 584 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 728 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 872 Basketball can require players to run, jump, sidestep, and turn in quick succession, all while keeping an eye on the ball. Athletes will want to take proper precautions to avoid injury, as the game can put pressure on legs and angles, as well as shoulders, #4. Running 5 mph - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 606 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 755 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 905 A 12-minute mile, or a moderate pace, can be a great workout for the legs, lungs, and heart. It can be hard on the joints, though, and cause other curiosities in the body including shaky legs, increased GI activity, and even the occasional black toenail. Still, runners stand by results, including the runner's high. #3. Stair treadmill - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 657 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 819 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 981 If burning calories is the goal, the stair treadmill should be one's machine of choice at the gym. With an emphasis on calves, glutes, quads, and hamstrings, the workout provides a cyclical set of stairs so that climbing can continue for as long as the user wants. According to experts, climbers will want to watch their form to help keep the core engaged and prevent bad posture habits. #1. Rope jumping (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 861 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 1,074 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 1,286 The rope jumping that burns 800+ calories an hour is not the rope jumping seen on playgrounds at recess; this piece of exercise equipment can give users a lower- and upper-body workout as well as intense cardiovascular training. Experts note that it requires coordination and practice, but that it can pay off with increased body awareness. #1. Running 8 mph (tie) - Calories burned (160 lbs.): 861 - Calories burned (200 lbs.): 1,074 - Calories burned (240 lbs.): 1,286 Running fast not only burns the most calories, but it also provides a host of other benefits. Runners who maintain a speedy pace will likely see, among other things, more muscle, stronger bones, and a lower risk of injury.


We learned yesterday that the Cowboys and Dak Prescott are still far apart in their extension talks , and the relationship between player and team could become strained if this situation drags out into the regular season. Prescott's base pay jumps from $630K in 2018 to just over $2M in 2019, which is a tidy raise, but still far below market value for a three-year starter, two-time Pro Bowler, and former Rookie of the Year who has quarterbacked his team to two playoff berths. But while the resume that Prescott has put together during his brief time in the league is quite impressive, there is still plenty of skepticism as to whether he will continue on an upward trajectory or if he will settle in as a decidedly above-average quarterback that needs a strong supporting cast to succeed. It is telling that both of Prescott's Pro Bowl nods (2016, 2018) came when star running back Ezekiel Elliott led the league in rushing, and even with a productive Zeke, Prescott wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire in 2018 before the arrival of Amari Cooper helped to spark the offense. At the same time, it's unfair to expect any quarterback to thrive without surrounding him with talent at the skill positions and on the offensive line. The adage that suggests a good QB should make his teammates better is often overused and only true to a certain extent. You can't after all, get blood out of a stone, and asking your signal-caller to consistently elevate a collection of mediocre players is not a workable strategy. Prescott is undoubtedly eyeing the massive extension that Carson Wentz just landed from the division rival Eagles and wondering why Dallas can't offer him that kind of cash. Prescott may never be the type of player to throw for over 30 TDs a season, but he has been nothing but durable during his first three years in the league, which Wentz certainly cannot say. For what it's worth, Spotrac pegs Prescott's market value at $29.4M per year, not too far south of Wentz' new pact, which carries an AAV of $32M. Yesterday's report indicated that negotiations could last until at least training camp, and obviously both sides are motivated to get something done. Unlike Wentz, Prescott's earnings potential would likely take a major hit if he were to sustain some sort of significant injury, and the Cowboys have several other contracts to address (including those of Cooper and Elliott). There is a lot of work to do, especially for a team that has knows all too well the constraints of a roster that offers little salary cap flexibility. It would still come as a shock if Prescott plays for anyone other than the Cowboys for the foreseeable future, but until a new deal is signed, there will be room for doubt.


Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has revealed that if his job was dependant on the outcome of next week's Europa League final against Arsenal, then he would quit 'immediately'. This dramatic revelation comes just days after it was announced that Max Allegri would be departing Juventus after five years in charge, with Allegri subsequently linked with the job at Stamford Bridge and Sarri then linked with a move to Turin. Despite guiding Chelsea back into the Champions League, as well as reaching two cup finals, Sarri's future in west London has been consistently speculated on, with fans even resorting to disparaging chants of 'f*** Sarri-ball' on occasion. And, speaking to the press ahead of the final in Baku next Wednesday, Sarri vehemently rejected the notion that he could get the sack if the result did not go his way. As quoted by the Sun , the Italian declared: "If the situation is like this then I want to go immediately. "After 10 months of work then I have to play for everything in 90 minutes. It is not the right way. You are either happy with my work or not." Despite the doubts of some Chelsea fans this season, there is no doubt in Sarri's mind that the season has been a success, with or without a trophy, though the addition of one would undoubtedly improve it. He explained: "This season is a good season, of course, if we win the Europa League it will become a wonderful season. Wrote about Super Frankie Lampard & why he's not ready for the Chels just yet. 刺 #CFC For @90min_Football ⬇ https://t.co/rrfOj63YfI   Wilfred Laurence (@WilfredLaurence) May 17, 2019 "I think this group deserves to continue to try to improve more." Alongside Juventus , Sarri has been linked with both the Roma and Milan jobs, while Derby manager Frank Lampard has been repeatedly mooted as a potential replacement in the Blues dugout this summer.


The Guerschon Yabusele era has reportedly come to an end. Yabu, as he is often called by his fans - of whom there are many despite his lack of aptitude in the NBA - will reportedly be waived by the Boston Celtics according to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes. The French big man, who has struggled to stick in the Association since being drafted in 2016 as the 16th overall pick, somehow managed to remain a fan favorite despite his travails with the team. Boston Celtics forward Guerschon Yabusele - the team's No. 16 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft - will be waived, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. - Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 10, 2019 After multiple seasons training with and playing for Boston, Yabusele continued to look like a deer in headlights even in this year's Summer League, unable to reproduce the relatively healthy outings at lower levels of play. Ultimately, the Dreux, France native may simply have come into the league before he was truly ready, taken where he was by Boston as a "draft-and-stash" player because of the Celtics' cap concerns in 2016. After a season playing in the Chinese Basketball Association, Yabusele came over to the NBA despite the team preferring he remain abroad honing his craft for another year. If I'm the Celtics, I'm considering Tacko Fall as a possible replacement for Yabusele's roster spot. I'm not saying Fall will be an everyday contributor, but Grant Williams can do everything Yabu does and more. I value 5-10 sporadic minutes of Fall more than Yabu off the bench. - Chris Grenham (@chrisgrenham) July 9, 2019 While his NBA career may be over for now, a stint overseas for the young big man may be enough to rejuvenate his prospects in the way it has Celtics bigs Daniel Theis and Vincent Poirier have done. For Boston, who might have considered retaining Yabusele for the ballast his $3.1 million-dollar deal could provide, may be rethinking their future with Tacko Fall taking Las Vegas Summer League by storm, even if as much for his stature as his talent. Don't count out the Dancing Bear - as he is affectionately known by Boston fans - just yet; but for now, he's going to have to learn a few more ways to shake it on the court. MORE: Poker player wins 723K chips in 'bloodbath' hand at WSOP Main Event Former Steeler DeAngelo Williams throws shade at WR Ryan Switzer PM Roundup: Alison Brie; Shaun Livingston Waived by Warriors; Megan Rapinoe Accepts Invitation From Congress Competition will be fierce for playing time along Packers defensive line What are Bird Rights in the NBA?


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP)   A federal judge blocked three new abortion restrictions in Arkansas minutes before they were set to take effect Wednesday, including a measure that opponents say would likely force the state's only surgical abortion clinic to close. U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker granted a 14-day temporary restraining order shortly before midnight Tuesday. The 159-page ruling blocks the state from enforcing the new laws, including a measure prohibiting the procedure 18 weeks into pregnancy. The blocked laws also included a requirement that doctors performing abortions be board-certified or board-eligible in obstetrics and gynecology. An official with a Little Rock clinic that performs surgical abortions says it has one physician who meets that requirement, but he only works there a few days every other month. Baker found that if that surgical clinic closed, about 1,800 women a year   or 66% of those seeking to terminate a pregnancy in Arkansas   would be denied an abortion, based on evidence introduced into the court record. She also wrote that the restriction "provides no discernable medical benefit" to women and questioned lawmakers' intent in passing the law, known as Act 700. "This, coupled with the record evidence that Arkansas has enacted more than 25 laws regulating abortion access in the state, including 12 enacted in 2019 alone, gives the court pause with respect to the purpose of Act 700," she wrote. The Arkansas bans are among a number of sweeping abortion restrictions enacted in Southern and Midwestern states . Republican lawmakers in those states are emboldened by the prospect of the U.S. Supreme Court revisiting its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The restrictions include an Alabama law that would make performing an abortion a felony in most cases. That law doesn't take effect until November and is being challenged by abortion providers. Baker also blocked a law prohibiting doctors from performing an abortion if it's being sought because the fetus has Down syndrome. For that law and the 18-week abortion ban, Baker found that both would unconstitutionally restrict abortion before the point of viability, or the likelihood that a fetus could survive outside the womb. She wrote that the Down syndrome abortion restriction "is an absolute prohibition on certain abortions prior to viability which the Supreme Court has clearly held cannot be imposed by the state." The laws are being challenged by Planned Parenthood and Little Rock Family Planning Services, the state's only surgical abortion clinic. Planned Parenthood only offers medication-induced abortions in Arkansas and earlier this month stopped providing abortions at its Fayetteville facility while it looks for a new location. It continues to provide the procedure at its Little Rock center. The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas and Planned Parenthood challenged the laws. The group's interim executive director, Holly Dickson, said early Wednesday that ACLU attorneys are reviewing the order. "We are so relieved that these bans and restrictions have been temporarily blocked from taking effect. And we are determined to see them blocked for good," Dickson said. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, who has appealed Baker's rulings in the past, said Wednesday that the legal challenge is "frustrating, but not unforeseen." "The action was only the initial step and I anticipate further action in the near future in our defense of these laws that protect the life of mothers and their unborn children," Rutledge said. Under current law, a physician licensed to practice medicine in Arkansas can perform abortions. The additional qualification for doctors performing abortions to be board-certified or eligible is similar to a Mississippi law that a federal judge upheld last year . Opponents say the requirement would prevent a large number of physicians from performing the procedure. The state says it would protect patients, but Baker rejected that argument. "Record evidence supports that legal abortion is significantly safer for a woman than carrying a pregnancy to term and giving birth," she wrote. Attorneys defending the law "have come forward with no reliable, generally accepted medical or scientific record evidence to refute this," Baker said. Little Rock Family Planning has said it has only one physician who meets that requirement, but he lives in California and only works at the clinic three to four days every other month. An official with the facility said Monday it could close within a month if the requirement was enforced. Arkansas is one of two states with an 18-week ban. Utah enacted a similar restriction this year , but has agreed to not enforce it while it's being challenged in federal court. Several states have laws banning abortion for genetic anomalies including Down syndrome, but North Dakota's is the only one in effect. The others are tied up in legal challenges. It was the second time in recent years that Baker has blocked Arkansas abortion restrictions moments before they were to take effect. In 2017, she blocked the state from enforcing four laws including a ban on a second trimester decision. A federal appeals court is considering the state's bid to allow those laws to be enforced. Arkansas faced the prospect of losing its only surgical provider while neighboring Missouri's only abortion clinic is fighting to continue providing the service . If that facility closes, Missouri would be the first state without an abortion clinic since the year after the Roe v. Wade decision. The laws are among several new restrictions approved by the majority-Republican Legislature in Arkansas this year. Another law not challenged that took effect Wednesday increases the waiting period before a woman can get an abortion from 48 hours to 72 hours. Lawmakers also approved a measure that would ban abortion in the state if Roe v. Wade was overturned. ___ Follow Andrew DeMillo on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ademillo ___ This story has been corrected to show that Holly Dickson's title is interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas, not spokeswoman.


(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) The Los Angeles Rams have Pro Bowlers all over their roster, from Jared Goff to Marcus Peters. They're certainly not lacking talent when it comes to the most important positions, which is why they should be Super Bowl contenders in 2019. However, a few players are still waiting to make their first Pro Bowl. Making the NFL's all-star game is no small feat, but these four players could put together a strong campaign in 2019 and earn a selection. Here are four Rams players poised to make their first Pro Bowl next season. FS John Johnson (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) Johnson stuffed the stat sheet like few other players did last season, finishing the year with 119 tackles, 11 passes defensed, four interceptions and three tackles for loss. Only one other player had at least 110 tackles and four interceptions last season, and it was Shawn Williams of the Bengals. Obviously, there's more to being a great safety than high tackle totals and interceptions, but Johnson is undoubtedly one of the best players at his position regardless. He was Pro Football Focus' seventh-highest graded safety in 2018 and he should only get better in his third NFL season. RT Rob Havenstein Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Havenstein had his best season in 2018 after signing a contract extension with the Rams. He made Los Angeles look smart for locking him up early by performing as one of the NFL's best right tackles. Like Johnson, he was also the No. 7 overall player at his position on PFF's grading scale, which is especially impressive considering it accounts for all tackles. Making the Pro Bowl as an offensive lineman is difficult because it's not easy to quantify their value or level of play. Havenstein has to limit the number of sacks he allows and pave the way for big rushing seasons by Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson. WR Brandin Cooks Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports This spot could've gone to any of the Rams' top three receivers, but Cooks gets the nod. He's recorded four straight years with at least 65 catches and 1,000 yards with five-plus touchdowns in each season. He's done that with three different teams and three different quarterbacks, yet he's never made the Pro Bowl. That should change in 2019. Cooks has some consistency with Jared Goff as his quarterback and although Cooper Kupp's return could limit his targets, Cooks will continue his streak of 1,000-yard seasons. To make the Pro Bowl, a wideout has to put up big numbers. As good as Kupp is, he probably won't be a receiver who eclipses 1,400 yards. Robert Woods is on the same tier as Cooks, but he may have hit his ceiling last season with 1,200 yards. Cooks is a player with the potential to catch 90 passes for 1,400 yards, which should be good enough to get him into the Pro Bowl (finally). CB Nickell Robey-Coleman (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) He might not necessarily be "poised" to make the Pro Bowl, but Robey-Coleman can certainly make a case for himself with a strong 2019 season. Slot defenders have seen their value increase lately due to the heavy reliance on nickel packages, and Robey-Coleman is one of the best inside corners in the NFL. The NFL should actually add nickel cornerbacks as a position on Pro Bowl ballots, which would help get players like Robey-Coleman the recognition they deserve. If he stands out in the secondary and continues to improve as he has the last two years, don't be surprised if he makes a case for the Pro Bowl. MORE: How Kevin Durant's Achilles injury alters Kyrie Irving's free agency Kevin Durant breaks silence on his Game 5 Achilles injury: 'I'm hurting deep in the soul' Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman News: Do Cowboys have best group of QBs across the entire league? Kevin Durant Has a $31.5 Million Player Option; Will Warriors Offer Him Supermax Contract?


An NYPD housing officer was killed Tuesday night, shot in the head by a trigger-happy perp during a chase and gunfight on a pedestrian overpass above the FDR Drive in East Harlem, police said. Officer Randolph Holder, 33, was shot in the forehead by the callous gunman, who had stolen a bike and was being pursued by cops along the promenade hugging the East River around 8:30 p.m., Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said. The brave officer died at 10:22 p.m. at Harlem Hospital. A suspect, shot in the legs, was arrested. Holder, who emigrated from Guyana, was a third-generation police officer, following in his father and grandfather's footsteps in the line of duty, Bratton said during a somber press conference at the hospital. The unmarried immigrant joined the NYPD in July 2010 and worked in Police Service Area 5, wearing Shield No. 13340 as he patrolled the public housing projects of East Harlem. "I think all of us will tell you this is the hardest thing that we do," Bratton said. "That we mourn one of our own. I've been doing this for 45 years. It doesn't get easier. It never gets easier and it should never get easier." Holder was the fourth NYPD officer killed in the line of duty in the past 11 months. Police responded to reports of gunshots around 8:30 p.m. near First Ave. and 102nd St. Witnesses told cops several men fled over the pedestrian walkway that crosses the FDR Drive and then continued onto the footpath that runs alongside the highway. "There was an argument between two or three people. All of a sudden there were shots, you could hear the shells kick back as they hit the cement. I had my whole family on the floor," said witness Doris Ayala, 62, who lives at the Urban American River Crossing apartment complex at 102nd St. and FDR Drive. "I thought they were going to shoot outside of my window. There was a gun on the sidewalk outside my building," said the shocked woman, who reported hearing about 10 shots. One of the men stole a bicycle and fled north along the footpath. Holder and another cop encountered the fleeing suspect on another pedestrian overpass, near 120th St., and exchanged gunfire. "There were six or seven shots, they were exchanging fire," said John Lucero, 19, who could see the shooting from his apartment window. "There were three of them, one police officer and two other men. Cops were pointing at a body. It was a police officer. He was just lying there." The mortally wounded Holder crumpled to the ground as the ruthless suspect ditched the bike and ran north along the promenade. The fiend was finally apprehended at 124th St. He suffered gunshot wounds to his legs and was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. Rescuers rushed the critically injured cop to Harlem Hospital. Three other suspects were taken into custody around 111th St. and were being questioned early Wednesday. At least two guns were recovered, police said. Mayor de Blasio was seen rushing out of a dinner for the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, an invitation-only fund-raiser to celebrate the grand reopening of the mayoral residence after recent repairs. "We're all in mourning tonight. This whole city is in mourning," Mayor de Blasio said. "We're mourning a man that gave his life as a guardian for all of us. "We are humbled by Officer Randolph Holder's example of service and courage and sacrifice. Our hearts are heavy. We offer our thoughts and our prayers to his family who are experiencing unimaginable pain as we saw earlier when we gathered with them," the mayor said. Traffic on the FDR Drive was at a standstill for hours as police investigated the shooting. Dozens of people were seen exiting taxis and walking toward First and Second Aves. in search of other means of transportation. Witnesses watched as emergency crews cut the guardrail separating the northbound and southbound lanes near 116th St. to allow cars to turn around and exit the clogged roadway around 11:30 p.m. At Harlem Hospital, hundreds of police officers held vigil, hoping for the best before they received the grim news of their fallen colleague. "New York City police officers everyday go out and carry themselves on the street like superheroes on the street," Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said. "But the reality is, when we're attacked, we bleed. When we bleed, we die. And when we die, we cry." The slain office's father was on hand at the hospital. In his moment of grief, he offered his son's fellow officers comfort. "When in his time of grief, he sought to comfort the officers of PSA 5. He was strong enough and brave enough to go in and address them as they tried to comfort him. He in fact was comforting them," a teary-eyed Bratton said. "I can understand his son and the bravery his son exhibited tonight, rushing toward danger and giving his life for the citizens of New York City." At least 100 NYPD officers were seen leaving the hospital around 11:30 p.m. Three other NYPD officers have been shot and killed while on the job in the last 11 months. On Dec. 20, officers Wenjian Liu, 32, and Rafael Ramos, 40, were ambushed and assassinated by a gun-toting madman in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Officer Brian Moore, 25, was working with an anti-crime unit and patrolling in an unmarked police car with his partner Erik Jansen on May 9 near 212th St. and 104th Ave. in Queens when he was gunned down and killed. With Andy Mai, Linda Stasi


LOS ANGELES (AP)   Those big, bad Los Angeles Dodgers, who had been off to a historic pace in the first half, no longer seem all that intimidating to the San Diego Padres. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice and had four RBIs, Manuel Margot also homered and the Padres rolled into the All-Star break on a three-game winning streak after a 5-3 victory Sunday. Joey Lucchesi held the Dodgers in check into the seventh inning while Margot hit a home run for the second consecutive day as the Padres handed Los Angeles its first three-game losing streak at home this season. The Dodgers dropped their first home series since May 12-14 against the Milwaukee Brewers. "It was an impressive series for us all the way around," Padres manager Andy Green said. "We got big swings from Tatis and (Hunter) Renfroe and Margot and great pitching from our starters and bullpen. It will boost our confidence going forward. People can see that we are on the right path and going in the right direction." BOX SCORE: PADRES 5, DODGERS 3 Max Muncy and Justin Turner homered for the Dodgers, who still closed out the first half with the most victories in the major leagues. They became the 15th team in major league history to win 60 games before the break when they defeated the Padres on Thursday, but lost the last three games of the series. As good as the Dodgers have been, they went just 6-7 over their final 13 games in the first half. "I'm excited for our guys that are going to represent us in the All-Star Game. They'll get a little less of a break than some of us," Turner said. "It's just a time to go regroup, regather and get re-energized." Tatis did not wait long to give the Padres the lead, lifting his home run over the left-field wall against Dodgers starter Ross Stripling five pitches into the game. It was his second leadoff home run of the season and third for the Padres. Margot, who gave the Padres insurance runs with a two-run homer in the eighth inning Saturday, added his fifth of the season in the second inning. His drive to center field bounced off the top of the wall, just eluding the glove of the Dodgers' Alex Verdugo. Muncy, headed to Tuesday's All-Star Game at Cleveland, hit his 22nd home run of the season in the second inning to bring the Dodgers within a run at 2-1. The Padres pulled away in the fifth inning, aided by a popup that was lost in the sun. With Margot on first base, Austin Hedges hit a bloop toward Muncy at first base. Muncy moved into position, but lost track of the ball as it came down and hit him in the back of the head. Hedges ended up with a double on the play, putting runners on first and third with nobody out. Stripling struck out Lucchesi before Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called for Pedro Baez out of the bullpen. Tatis greeted the right-hander with a home run on his fifth pitch. It was the first multi-homer game for Tatis, who has 14 on the season. "I thought (Stripling) pitched well today, unfortunately we lost a ball in the sun and that happens," Roberts said. "That inning kind of spun a little bit out of control. Nine times out of 10 (Baez) is going to limit the damage and he just left a pitch out over (the plate). Tatis is obviously a very talented player." Turner's home run, his 10th of the season, came in the sixth inning to make it 5-2. Lucchesi (7-4) gave up three runs and six hits over 6 1/3 innings with no walks and four strikeouts. He earned his first career victory over the Dodgers in five tries. Kirby Yates pitched the ninth inning for his 30th save in 31 tries this season. Yates earned the save in all three victories over the Dodgers in the series. "It feels like I got over a hurdle by beating them, but I don't operate that way," Lucchesi said. "I try and attack each team the same way. All of my pitches were working well today." Stripling (3-3) gave up four runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. YOUTH IS SERVED Tatis not only delivered the first multi-homer game of his career, at 20 years, 186 days old, he became the youngest player to hit multiple home runs in a game at Dodger Stadium. His 14 home runs are fourth most among NL rookies and he now has 21 multi-hit games on the season. "Tatis, he gave a show of how good he is and what competing against him the next six years is going to look like," Stripling said. Perhaps most impressive is that Tatis injured his right elbow on a play at second base Friday night and was hit in the left elbow by a Kenta Maeda pitch Saturday. "I didn't sleep too well last night and I didn't find out I was playing until about 12:20 today," Tatis said of his bruised left elbow. "I feel very blessed and I feel good that I had an impact on the game." TRAINER'S ROOM Dodgers: C Will Smith (right oblique strain) was activated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. UP NEXT Padres: San Diego will be at home Friday to open a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves before heading back on the road for a three-city trip that starts July 16 at Miami. Dodgers: Los Angeles will be at Boston on Friday to open a World Series rematch against the Red Sox that starts a seven-game road trip, which also includes a stop at Philadelphia. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports


Safety Nat Berhe, who is hoping to re-sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of training camp, is one of many former members of the New York Giants currently floating around the league. However, unlike so many of the other ex-Giants who repeatedly find ways to rip the team, Berhe has no ill-will. In fact, the 2014 fifth-round pick admits he's got nothing but love for New York and his former teammates. "Its pretty stressful but I wanted a change of scenery," Berhe told 247 Sports about entering free agency in 2018 . "I knew whatever was going to happen it was going to work out in my best interest. I just prayed about it all. "I love those guys in NY," he said. "Its unfortunate we couldn't win more games but that wasn't for a lack of 'want to' by anyone in the organization." There was substantial turnover during Berhe's time and injuries prevented him from becoming the player he could have been, but his talent was still obvious for anyone to see. In 38 career games with the Giants, Berhe recorded 47 tackles (35 solo), one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one sack. MORE: The NBA should be embarrassed about all the wrong hats being worn at the draft Roundup: Toy Story 4 Worth the Wait; Slack is Back, Lil Nas X Here to Stay The 2019 NBA draft pick by pick Luke Bowanko: what the Lions are getting with their new OL Odell Beckham blames politics for fallout with Giants


In Greek mythology, the phoenix was a bird that, after death, rose from its own ashes, ready to fly again. Elleston Trevor referenced this in his 1964 novel, which was later brought to the film, "The Flight of the Phoenix". It's the story of an air crew that, after crash-landing in the Sahara Desert, manages to repair their aircraft and fly to safety. The "Flight of the Phoenix" may have been fiction, but in the real world, aircraft have, on rare occasions, managed to make unlikely, almost miraculous, comebacks. The extreme climatic conditions of some of the world's most inhospitable places may have actually helped preserve the air frames in such a way that they could be salvaged and made airworthy again, sometimes even decades after they crash-landed. These are the real phoenixes of modern aviation, reborn not from smoldering ashes but from frigid ice. Juliet Delta 321 The rough and versatile C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft (or to be more exact, its ski-fitted version, the Lockheed LC-130) is used by the US Antarctic Program to ferry supplies to its string of bases across Antarctica, an unforgiving continent permanently buried by a sheet of ice averaging at least one mile thick. On December 4, 1971 one such airplane, call sign Juliet Delta 321, left on what was to be an unexpectedly long sortie. On that fateful day, after resupplying a scientific expedition at an isolated spot in East Antarctica, Juliet Delta 321 experienced a malfunction in the rockets used to assist in takeoff and was forced to crash-land on the ice, which caused the collapse of the main landing gear. No injuries were reported, but a salvage operation was deemed too complex and costly and the aircraft was abandoned at the spot (not before it was stripped of all flight instruments, engine gauges, radios and navigational equipment). In the late 1970s, however, two other US LC-130 planes were recovered after going through similar incidents in Antarctica. With these precedents on the table, the recovery of Juliet Delta 321 didn't seem like such a crazy option. It wasn't until 1986, though, 15 years after the accident, that plans were drawn for the salvage of the aircraft. The recovery work was to be conducted over the Austral summer seasons of 1986/87 and 1987/88. The first stage of the recovery operation involved a six-man team from the US Antarctic Program's logistics support contractor traveling to a location named D59, near the French station Dumont D'Urville and about 140 miles from the crash site. At that spot, they prepared heavy equipment and other supplies flown from McMurdo Station -- the US Antarctic research center -- and then traveled overland with a French traverse party to 321's location. After assessing the state of the aircraft, they spent five weeks digging it out from under 20 feet of hard, compacted snow. The engines were also removed and airlifted to the US for repair. The next season, a much larger group, including personnel from defense contractors, came back with equipment to perform all the necessary repairs on site. Sadly, another LC-130 was lost during the operation, along with two of its passengers. However, the team persevered. Finally, on January 10, 1988, 16 years and 37 days after it crash landed, Juliet Delta 321 was back in the air. Its first journey was the five-hour leg to McMurdo Station, and from there onwards to New Zealand and the United States. Lidia Recovery Antarctica was also the setting for another remarkable aircraft salvage case. In 2012, Lidia, a Basler BT-67 (a modified version of the classic DC-3 aircraft) carrying tourists hit a snow drift while taking off from Holtanna Glacier and was forced to crash land. There were no casualties among the 15 passengers and crew, but the badly damaged aircraft had to be left right where it was. Its nose had been all but obliterated and the engines, wings and undercarriage were also severely damaged. A recovery operation was mounted during the next Southern Hemisphere summer season, with a team working nonstop over the course of a month to get Lidia out of the glacier on its own power. Parts and spares were flown in, including new engines and an entirely new cockpit, since the old one had to be cut off the airframe. After snow was cleared from the aircraft's sides, inflatable bags were placed under its wings to lift it from the frozen ground and install new landing gear. Lidia was finally back up in the air in January 2014 and was flown all the way back to Calgary, Canada. Glacier Girl During World War II, remote Greenland became a busy transit point for all sorts of aircraft deploying from North America to the battlefields of Europe. As most of these aircraft lacked the range for a nonstop transatlantic crossing, the typical itinerary included a number of hops over the Northern Atlantic, from the Labrador Peninsula in Canada to Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. But this was far from an easy enterprise: This is a region where challenging weather conditions are the norm most of the year. Add the rather primitive navigation equipment of the time to the mix and it's easy to understand why quite a few aircraft were lost en route. One of these was the so called "lost squadron:" a group of eight American aircraft, six P-38 Lightning fighters and two B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, which in July 1942 encountered severe weather and was forced to make an emergency landing on a remote glacier in Greenland. The crews could be rescued, but their aircraft were left to be buried by a mass of snow and ice that over the next few decades would reach around 80 meters in height. One of the aircraft left stranded in Greenland was "Glacier Girl", a twin-engine Lightning P-38 fighter. After years of arduous work involving seven different expeditions, it was found by a team led by Atlanta-based entrepreneurs Pat Epps and Richard Taylor. Glacier Girl was finally brought back to the surface in 1992. It was necessary to dig the ice to a depth of 82 meters (270 feet), where the aircraft was located. A hot water cannon was then used to free the aircraft from the ice, creating a sort of cavern under the ice sheet. The P-38 was then cut in sections and lifted back to the surface, after which it was flown back to the US to be reassembled. Amazingly, for an aircraft that had spent 50 years under the snow, Glacier Girl could be restored to flying condition. Ten years after being salvaged from Greenland's ice, it was back in the air. It even made an attempt in 2007 to recreate its wartime itinerary to England, but this time it was technical issues that prevent the journey's completion. Plans are currently underway to salvage another member of the "lost squadron," a P-38 Lightning by the name Echo. After lengthy research, its exact location was established in 2018, although it's yet to be excavated. If the aircraft is successfully recovered it's unlikely to be made airworthy again, though. Chances are it will end up in a museum. Related video: New video showcases world's biggest underwater park project


The Falcons feel like they're deeper at running back than they've been for some time and the man on top of that depth chart feels like he's a stronger player than in the past. Injuries limited Devonta Freeman to just two games last season, but Freeman said in the spring that he's back to having fun on the field. On Monday, he spent some time discussing how he was able to turn the negative into a positive ahead of his return to action in 2019. "I got stronger from that," Freeman said, via the team's website. "I got closer to God. I learned how to be patient more. I [learned] better people skills. All around the stuff that I couldn't do, I took advantage of the stuff I could do. I have a greater appreciation for life." Finding a way to grow during adverse times is a helpful life skill, although Freeman would likely prefer to limit his obstacles to opposing defenses this time around.


The summer makeover at Bayern Munich has already begun. Although it's unknown whether manager Niko Kovač will be in the dugout next season, the Bundesliga champions are set to give their squad a major facelift before the new campaign. The club have already got most of their spending out of the way, but big names across Europe are still being linked with a switch to the Allianz Arena this summer. Here's a look at how Bayern Munich could (but probably won't) lineup on matchday one next season after their busy summer spending spree. Manuel Neuer It's not been an easy ride for Manuel Neuer this campaign, with many Bundesliga fans questioning if the Germany international is truly back to his best after last year's season-long injury. But in Bayern Munich's biggest game of the season - their DFB-Pokal final against RB Leipzig - the 33-year-old put in a man of the match display to ensure his side returned the domestic cup to Bavaria for the first time in three years. There aren't any significant upgrade available in the market either, although don't be surprised if Bayern Munich do invest in another 'one for the future' in between the sticks. Benjamin Pavard Ever since Benjamin Pavard made his 2. Bundesliga debut for Stuttgart against Greuther Fürth in 2016, it seemed destined that the France international would one day be representing Bayern Munich in the big time. After confirming Pavard's €35m arrival some time ago, fans have been left to wonder if the World Cup winner will play at right-back where he does for Les Bleus, or centrally where he's most prominently featured for Stuttgart. Either way, Bayern Munich have snapped up an outstanding young defender whose versatility will be invaluable for the club next season. Niklas Süle If there was any doubt that Niklas Süle had the quality to succeed Mats Hummels and Jérôme Boateng heading into this season, the 23-year-old's campaign has dispelled any concerns. His raw pace and power make him a unique centre-back not just for Bayern Munich, but further afield across Europe. Although at least one of Bayern Munich's veteran defenders will be staying put this summer, Süle has firmly cemented his place in Niko Kovač's first-team. Lucas Hernandez Not many fans crave for their club-record signing to be a defender, but Lucas Hernandez's arrival from Atlético Madrid this summer will be a welcome addition to the French contingent at the Allianz Arena. His arrival for €80m ahead of the new season will see Bayern Munich smash their previous record - set by Corentin Tolisso - twofold, with the Frenchman's ability to either play through the middle or as a left-back key in the club's decision to sign him. David Alaba Even though Lucas Hernandez could be coming to pick up Bayern Munich's left-back spot, it's unlikely that David Alaba will lose his place in the club's first-team just yet. It was his goal that ultimately clinched the Bundesliga title for the Bavarians on the final day of the season, and the 26-year-old is still a world class player for the club. Thiago Alcântara Thiago Alcântara has shown time and time again over the years why he's widely considered as one of the best players on the planet, but his new role as a deep-lying midfielder has truly established the 28-year-old as the best in his position. Thiago's role in recycling the ball, getting back to defend and setting up his teammates in attacking areas is one of Bayern Munich's most underrated assets, and the Spaniard is one of the few irreplaceable players out of the current crop. Rodri Despite the best efforts of president Uli Hoeness to play down Bayern Munich's interest in Rodri, the club appear to be very interested in luring Lucas Hernadez's teammate to Germany this summer. The 22-year-old midfielder has been heavily scouted by Manchester City and he's at the top of Pep Guardiola's wishlist to replace Fernandinho, having missed out on the chance to sign Jorginho last summer. But Bayern Munich look set to go toe to toe with the Premier League champions for his signature, even though with €118m already committed to signing new players this summer, they'll want to avoid sparking a bidding war. Joshua Kimmich One thing that Benjamin Pavard's arrival should do is free up space for Joshua Kimmich to be played in midfield, something that at times both Niko Kovač and Germany manager Joachim Löw have tried to force this season. The 24-year-old has firmly established himself as European football's best right-back (sorry Liverpool fans, but Trent's not there just yet) and he's always a threat for Bayern Munich going forward, picking up 19 assists across all competitions this season. But it appears to be increasingly likely that Kimmich will be used further up in midfield next year, while Rafinha's departure means that he can always fill in at right-back when Bayern Munich need him to. Serge Gnabry Former Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry hasn't had an easy journey so far in his career, but the Germany international is now proving week in week out why he deserves his place in the starting lineup at Bayern Munich. He's been directly involved in 22 goals during his first season at the Allianz Arena, reaching double figures for goals scored in the Bundesliga for the third season in a row, having previously enjoyed spells at Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen. Robert Lewandowski Bayern Munich might be close to thinking about signing a new first-team striker, but the 30-year-old is coming off the back of a season where he was involved in more goals than any other campaign in his career. With 40 goals and 13 assists to his name - matching his combined tally of 53 from the 2016/17 campaign - Lewandowski has walked away from this season with another Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal title to add to the collection, as well as a fourth top scorer award in Germany. Leroy Sané Since Bayern Munich missed out on Leroy Sané in 2016 there's always been a feeling in Bavaria that the Germany international winger was the one that got away - even more so than former Wolfsburg midfielder Kevin De Bruyne . But with game time coming sporadically at Manchester City, the hottest rumour this summer is surrounding a proposed move which would see Bayern Munich break their transfer record once again to lure Sané to Bavaria. Although Sané and manager Pep Guardiola don't always see eye to eye, it will still prove to be a very tough deal to get over the line for Uli Hoeness and Co. Manager & Bench Niko Kovač (Manager) - There's not much more that Bayern Munich's manager could have done this season. Winning both the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal should earn the Croatian a second term. Alexander Nübel (GK) - Although Neuer should remain as the club's number one in between the sticks next season, Schalke's wonderkid could very well work as the Germany international's understudy before taking over the reins in the not too distant future. Mats Hummels (CB) - Even though new additions are coming in, Hummels' experience will be vital for Bayern Munich in all competitions next season. Leon Goretzka (CM) - It's a toss-up between Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso for this position on Bayern Munich's bench. Thomas Müller (CAM) - Mr Bavaria himself, the Germany international will still be a big part of the first-team next year and he'll be looking to kick on after being directly involved in 25 goals this season. Kingsley Coman (LW) - It's harsh to leave Coman out of the starting lineup after his performance in the DFB-Pokal final, but the Frenchman's injury problems will leave him as a squad player if Sané comes in. Timo Werner (ST) - If a new contract can't be agreed at RB Leipzig then Germany international Werner will be sold this summer, and the 23-year-old has already talked up a move to the Allianz Arena. Jan-Fiette Arp (ST) - Although there wasn't any confirmation if Arp's move to Bayern Munich would be completed this summer or next, the teenager has all but confirmed the deal by posting a goodbye message to Hamburg.