The New York Mets have issued an apologetic statement over what happened in the clubhouse after Sunday's game. The Mets said they "sincerely regret" what happened between Mickey Callaway, Jason Vargas and reporter Tim Healey of Newsday. They added they have already apologized to Healey and will speak further with everyone involved. Statement from the Mets: "The Mets sincerely regret the incident that took place with one of our beat writers following today's game in the clubhouse. We do not condone this type of behavior from any employee. (continued)   Deesha Thosar (@DeeshaThosar) June 24, 2019 "The organization has reached out and apologized to this reporter and will have further discussions internally with all involved parties."   Deesha Thosar (@DeeshaThosar) June 24, 2019 In other words, the Mets don't appear to be assigning any blame to Healey for the fact that Callaway swore repeatedly at him and Vargas challenged him to a fight. The consequences for Callaway and Vargas   if there are any   remain unclear, but it seems likely that the incident will be further addressed on Monday.


Justin Rose admitted two-time reigning champion Brooks Koepka's name is looming large at the halfway stage of the U.S. Open. Rose posted a second-round 70 to maintain his position atop the leaderboard in California on Friday. Koepka (69)   seeking a third successive U.S. Open crown   ended the round three shots adrift of Rose, who is wary of the world No. 1 at Pebble Beach. "He seems to get very focused. He seems to let the mistakes roll off his back," Rose told reporters. "I've heard him saying that so I'm just regurgitating that. "I imagine it's a good start for him. He looked rusty in Canada, and come here, it's a great first couple of days. He's probably feeling like he can build into the week and put a good weekend together. "And no doubt, him on the leaderboard, with his recent form in majors, absolutely. He's a threat. He is the guy probably that his name is standing out more than anybody else's, for sure." Turning in style. @JustinRose99 has a three-shot lead at -8. pic.twitter.com/Nmf3lsBUm7   PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 14, 2019 After opening the tournament with a 65, 2013 champion Rose went one under on day two to be seven under through 36 holes. Rose birdied two holes on the back nine before the turn, which yielded a birdie in between a pair of bogeys. "Often the golf course gets tougher for the leaders in the afternoon so I've always felt like there's an opportunity and a mindset that just hanging around," Rose said. "Obviously wait for your run. And it's going to be the same for me in contention. "Even if I'm in the lead it's going to be about being very patient but still waiting for my run, still trying to hit positive golf shots, still looking for the momentum. And just working really hard and fighting really hard if you're out of position. Each save can mean a lot come Sunday."


DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM)   Two teenagers were shot and killed within a 24-hour span in Dallas as the homicide rate continues to cast a shadow over the city. Leroy Hawkins, 17, was fatally shot just after midnight on Tuesday in a parking lot near North Akard Street and Federal Street as he was sitting in the front passenger seat of a vehicle. Leroy Hawkins (credit: Jackson State University Division of Athletics) Hawkins was a recent graduate at DeSoto High School and was going to play football at Jackson State University on a full scholarship. "Leroy Hawkins was a very special young man. We will keep Leroy and his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers through this difficult time," JSU Head Football Coach John Hendrick said. Police arrested 18-year-old Kenaijae Keon Anderson and charged him with the murder of Hawkins. In the latest homicide, a 13-year-old boy, identified by the Dallas County Medical Examiner as Malik Tyler, was caught in the crossfire between people who were shooting at each other from two vehiclesnear Bruton Road and St. Augustine Drive in the Pleasant Grove area at around 7 p.m. Tuesday. Police said Tyler wasn't involved in any illegal activities and was an innocent bystander. Dallas ISD confirmed to CBS 11 that Tyler was a student at Young Men's Leadership Academy at Fred Florence Middle School. "We are very, very angry about the level of violence we are seeing in our city," Dallas Police Chief Renee Hall said. "We've lost one of our youth to violence that is not necessary in our city." In this case, police are looking for a silver Chrysler 300 as a suspect vehicle. These are the third and fourth homicides in Dallas in June, and this is coming after a violent month of May where the city reported 41 homicides.


THORNTON, Colo. -- No one likes getting bills in the mail, but imagine being blindsided with one for more than $10,000. It happened to a Thornton woman. "I honestly thought it was a cruel joke. I really did," Kylie Harris said. Harris received a bill totaling $10,557 for tolls and late fees accumulated on the Northwest Parkway. "$10,557. I would have to spend all day everyday on a toll just driving back and forth through the lights to rack up that kind of bill," she said. Harris tells the FOX31 Problem Solvers she drives the parkway almost daily, but in the past, those tolls were always included in her ExpressToll bill. "I was taking it to and from work everyday," she said. Harris didn't realize the Northwest Parkway segment of her commute was no longer being included until her first bill from the parkway arrived in the mail. "I received it Monday night when I got home from work," she said. The bill listed charges dating back to March 2018 and included around $1,500 in toll fees and around $9,000 in late charges and processing fees. The FOX31 Problem Solvers called Northwest Parkway. We're told Harris' ExpressToll account was disconnected per policy, because the Harrises were more than 45 days late making a payment. When that happens, ExpressToll accounts are converted into license plate accounts, which means Northwest Parkway and E-470 bill customers separately. However, what Harris still doesn't understand is why Northwest Parkway didn't bill her for more than a year. When they finally did, they charged more than $8,000 in late fees. "I think they should correct it. I might as well get this out there, so hopefully, it will be stopped and not continue for other people who may not have the time or patience to fight with them everyday," she said. The Problem Solvers asked Northwest Parkway about that delay. They tell us it took that long to get plates back from the Department of Motor Vehicles for Harris' vehicle. However, there some good news for Harris: Northwest Parkway is waiving all the late fees and processing fees, which means the Harrises now owe $1,500 instead of more than $10,000.     ©2019 KDVR-TV, Denver Visit KDVR-TV, Denver at www.kdvr.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


There are two shots of espresso in a grande Carmel Marvel, the sugary and best-selling drink for East Lansing-based coffee house chain Biggby Coffee. That isn't nearly enough caffeine for Biggby's co-CEO Mike McFall, who started as a barista at the business's first location in the mid-1990s, long before it grew to be a top regional competitor to coffee giants Starbucks, Dunkin' and Tim Hortons. "I probably drink eight to 14 shots of espresso a day," McFall, 47, revealed in a rare sit-down interview last week inside a Farmington Hills Biggby, sipping his second four-shot Americano of the morning. "Caffeine impacts people differently, and I think it actually centers and grounds me as opposed to freaks me out." McFall, who comes out next month with a new book about business lessons learned, generally takes his caffeine in the form of Americanos, which is hot water mixed with espresso and costs around $3.30 on a Biggby drink menu. He makes his first Americano at home with his own espresso machine, which helps him wake up each morning at 4:45. "I had four (shots) this morning before I left my house, and this is four more," he said. "I will easily do one (Americano) more, and maybe two more. Sometimes in the afternoon I will back off and do a two-shot Americano as opposed to a four-shot Americano, so that's how I get to 14." More: Royal Oak getting two-story, 6,000-square-foot coffeehouse with kids' playscape More: Alcohol and coffee can help you live past 90, study says He claims to not crash after downing all of that espresso, but does admit to taking 20- to 30-minute naps in the early afternoon. He said his doctor knows about his extreme caffeine routine. "Yeah, he tries to get me to back down," McFall said. "I haven't listened yet." McFall shares the CEO role with Bob Fish, who was an original founder in 1995 of the first Biggby in a converted Arby's restaurant in East Lansing. Back then, before a 2007 name change , the business was known as Beaners Coffee. The other founder of the first store, Mary Roszel, retired in 2012. In his new book "Grind: A No-Bull**** (there are no asterisks in the real cover) Approach to Take Your Business from Concept to Cash Flow," set to be released Aug. 6, McFall shares some of the lessons in business, sales, strategy and life that he learned while guiding Biggby's franchise growth from two locations in 1998 to its current 239 locations in nine states and internationally in Indonesia. One key to Biggby's growth was the founders' early decision to embrace the preferences of ordinary Michiganders and fill their menu board with non-traditional sugary coffee drinks such as the Carmel Marvel, Butter Bear and Sugar Bear lattes. "We believe the magic behind Biggby is that Biggby is for everybody," McFall said in the Free Press interview. "Many of the other coffee brands, the specialty coffee brands, they're fairly pretentious brands. And we work as well in Coldwater, Michigan and Alpena, Michigan as we do in Birmingham or Grosse Pointe." Melted cheese on lobster tail The book describes how serving such sweet drinks was a somewhat radical move for a coffee house in the mid-1990s, and drew smirks from "the high-end coffee enthusiasts and cafés that were just starting to grow in number." "They considered adding two ounces of caramel to a latte a violation of epicurean manners, as if we were pouring melted cheese on a lobster tail," he wrote. The book also explains why the coffee company ditched its early slogan "Hip sip in a zip." Essentially, Biggby's leaders didn't want their brand to be a poser. "We walked away from it because we didn't think it matched up with who we are," McFall wrote. "We aren't really hip, and we didn't think saying we were hip and then not delivering on that message was going to work." Yet perhaps the biggest factor in Biggby's growth and longevity was the decision to expand through franchising, rather than the company-owned locations approach of coffee giant Starbucks. In a franchising deal, outside entrepreneurs make the upfront capital investments needed to open new Biggby locations and then operate the coffee shops as their own businesses. These operators then pay advertising and royalty fees to Biggy's corporate office based on a percentage of their net revenues. Jeffrey Stoltman, a professor of marketing at Wayne State University's Mike Ilitch School of Business, said that franchising is a good way for companies to expand quickly without needing a lot of capital. It also ensures that the people in charge of new locations have strong incentives to work hard and achieve success. The trade-off is that companies have less control over operations at franchise locations than in corporate-owned ones. The desire for control is why some brands with "high-touch models," such as Starbucks, prefer to own their locations, Stoltman said. Lower entry price McFall and Fish made a significant decision during the recession to try to lower the cost of opening new Biggbys for franchisees. It had been costing operators $320,000 to $350,000 to start up, "which is a big hurdle when you are trying to make cash flow with a four-dollar cup of coffee," McFall wrote. By cutting back on requirements such as curved bakery display glass and stainless steel countertops, switching from tile to vinyl flooring in the bathrooms and dropping the initial franchise fee by $15,000, the cost of a Biggby franchise dropped to about $200,000, plus or minus 10%. The new entry price led to a surge in interest from potential franchisees. "We sold so many franchises that we actually stopped franchising for a year," he said. In the interview, McFall acknowledged that Biggby, like any restaurant or coffee chain, does see some locations close from time to time. These closures can happen when leases get too expensive or the overall dynamics of a location change. He gave the example of a Biggby that shut its doors after several big box stores relocated to the other side of a freeway over a five-year period, altering traffic patterns around the coffee shop. Locations can also close once new competitors pop up, such as occurred several years ago in Midtown Detroit after the Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co. opened a large location that was just a few blocks from a smaller Biggby on Woodward. "It is part of the business, for sure," McFall said. "And we're getting better, we're getting smarter, and my desire would be that we never close another store." Tough competition Retail analyst and consultant Ken Dalto said that Biggby has done a great job competing in a tough market against big competitors such as Starbucks, Dunkin', even Panera Bread. It also is competing against increasingly sophisticated home brewing coffee machines. Helping Biggby are the facts that some people find Starbucks' drip coffee too strong, and how Dunkin' locations are often grab-and-go setups that aren't designed for people to sit down and linger, he said. "They've done a lot of things right," said Dalto, who is based in Bingham Farms. "They have carved a niche right above Dunkin' Donuts in terms of decoré and ambiance, and they're very competitive on quality and price." Part-time barista The son of a college social work professor and the owner of a Tier 3 auto supplier business, McFall grew up in Highland and graduated from Milford High School in 1989. He went on to Kalamazoo College, receiving a degree in business and economics in 1994. His first job after college was as an independent sales representative in Texas, selling imports to retailers. "People will always ask me what advice I have for an entrepreneur. And I always say, 'get a straight commission sales job,' " McFall said. "Because you wake up in the morning, you sell product, you make a living, or you wake up in the morning, you don't sell product and you don't make a living. There's no better corollary to entrepreneurship than that." During the fall of 1996, McFall took as a job as a part-time barista at the first Biggby while also working as a research assistant at Michigan State University. Starbucks had yet to enter Michigan, and the prominent coffee house chains in the area were Espresso Royale and Cappuccino Café, he said. He was later tapped by Roszel, Biggby's now-retired co-founder, to be manager of the business' planned second location. He went on to help lead Biggby's franchising entity as the number of locations began doubling every two years. Biggby recently rolled out a new, compact drive-though and walk-up-only location concept, known as "B Cubed," which cost $150,000 to $180,000 to franchise, not including site work. Two B Cubeds have already opened in Saugatuck and Battle Creek, with a third set for Novi by late summer or early fall. Another nine or 10 could follow, McFall said. Even as the number of places selling high-end coffee in Michigan has surged since the 1990s, with coffee shops now proliferating in cities and even some rural areas, McFall said he doesn't believe the entire state is at coffee shop saturation. For the right concept at the right locations, there are still new markets to be served, he said. McFall now lives in Ann Arbor and is married with three children and a fourth on the way. Red Wings dreams As for his future, he says in the book that he is still working toward two lifetime goals: growing Biggby into a big nation brand, and owning the Detroit Red Wings. The goals are intertwined, he wrote, because "I don't have a shot at owning the Red Wings unless we have a nationally dominant brand of coffee shops." McFall, who played hockey and golf in high school, said he has seriously wanted to own the Red Wings for the past 20 years and thinks about it nearly every day, because for him, "the big goal is my beacon." "When I cursed my alarm at 4:30 a.m. every Saturday, when I couldn't afford to go on trips with my buddies, when some godforsaken customers missed the toilet. I always knew the price I was paying and for what end," he wrote. "If I hadn't had the Red Wings in my head, eventually I would've forgotten why I was working as a glorified barista for 60 hours a week." For his dream to come true, McFall would need to buy the NHL team from the family of Mike and Marian Ilitch, founders of another great Michigan-based franchise chain, Little Caesars Pizza. McFall said he has yet to approach the Ilitches about selling. "Not yet. Someday when it feels right. It's a little early on in the game," he said. Contact JC Reindl at 313-222-6631 or jcreindl@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @ jcreindl . Read more on business and sign up for our business newsletter . This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Biggby Coffee Co-CEO drinks 14 espressos a day


A collision involving two pickup trucks killed both drivers Wednesday morning on Route 28/66 in Armstrong County, the coroner said. The fatal crash was reported around 6 a.m. near Deanville Road in Mahoning Township. State police said Tyler J. Zeigler, 26, of Butler, was heading north when his truck crossed the centerline and hit a southbound vehicle driven by Mark Kirkpatrick, 59, of Summerville, Clarion County. Zeigler died at the scene, and Kirkpatrick was pronounced dead after being taken to ACMH Hospital. The coroner ruled the deaths accidental. READ MORE: 2 dead in collision on Route 28/66 in Armstrong County 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.


Everton are close to finalising a £22m deal for Barcelona midfielder Andre Gomes, who spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Goodison Park. Gomes joined Everton on loan last August and went on to become a huge hit, making 29 appearances in all competitions. The Spaniard appears to have no future at Barcelona after difficult settling at Camp Nou, indicating that a permanent move is on the cards this summer. Everton and West Ham have both been linked with a move for the Portuguese midfielder, but it now appears that the Toffees have all but won the race to snap him up. The Evening Standard report that a deal is set to be completed between Everton and Barcelona , which would see the 25-year-old make the permanent move over to Merseyside for £22m. The report goes on to add that Barcelona are looking to move on a host of players this summer to fund their 'project' for 2019/20, with Gomes being the first big name heading for the exit door. Gomes has previously outlined how happy was during his loan spell with Everton, telling the Liverpool Echo back in April: "It was very easy to adapt here. It was, for me, a little bit different. "Normally, the expectation when you go to a new club in Europe, with new team-mates, it can sometimes be difficult," he added. "You never know what to expect because you don't know the other people but it was really easy here and the lads make it easy."


A year ago, the New York Giants struggled to rush the passer, finishing the season with just 30 sacks, which tied them with the New England Patriots for second-to-last in the league. Only the Oakland Raiders (13) fared worse. In an effort to rectify the team's pass rushing woes, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman went out and signed Markus Golden and Olsen Pierre this offseason, while drafting the likes of Dexter Lawrence and Oshane Ximines to aid in sack production. Will it be enough? Not in the eyes of Pro Football Focus, who believe the Giants' pass rush will once again be among the league's worst . 30. NEW YORK GIANTS Getting rid of Olivier Vernon isn't going to do the Giants' pass-rush any favors. The rest of the edge group in New York last season outside of Vernon totaled all of 64 pressures. While Vernon did generate quite a bit of pressure for the Giants, he often failed to bring down the quarterback and had developed a propensity for injury, missing nine games over his final two seasons in blue. And even in the games he did play, his success came in bursts and lacked any sort of game-by-game consistency. With the likes of Golden and Lawrence, the Giants hope to create a more consistent level of pressure from both the inside and on the outside, with the former becoming increasingly important in today's quick-release NFL. MORE: Is Tacko Fall an NBA player? Here is the case for why... and why not Dan Le Batard delivers impassioned rebuke of racist 'send her back' chant despite ESPN rules Dan Le Batard Rips Trump and 'Send Her Back' Chants Ranking the Packers' position groups from weakest to strongest What made Bills hiring of Ken Dorsey a crucial hiring


Formula 1 CEO Chase Carey expects next year's calendar to remain stable at 21 races, but with two new events replacing existing venues. Carey also indicated that with ongoing demand the schedule will expand beyond 21 races after 2020. Vietnam has already been confirmed for next April, while a deal has been agreed but not signed with Zandvoort for a May date. Although he didn't name the venues, Carey also said that two deals have been agreed with circuits whose contracts finish this year, while confirming that F1 is still talking to the other tracks whose deals are up for renewal. Monza has already revealed that it is close to extending its contract, which leaves Silverstone, Hockenheim, Mexico and Barcelona, which is widely expected to be dropped. "We're in the process of finalising our 2020 race calendar," Carey said in a call with financial analysts. "We have agreements in principle on two renewals, and are actively engaged on three other renewals. "In addition we have already announced our race in Hanoi, and construction has begun on the track and facilities. "It will be a street course that is one of the most unique and challenging race tracks in the world, with 22 corners and a couple of long straightaways, the design of which we have been intimately involved with. I was in Hanoi a few weeks ago, and the excitement was palpable. "In addition to Hanoi, we also have an agreement in principle to add another new circuit to our calendar in 2020. We've not finalised the number of races in 2020, but we currently expect it to be 21, the same as 2019. "Obviously the math means that we will not be able to renew all our current races." Carey said that a lot of thought goes into shaping the calendar and thus deciding which races to include or leave out   and suggested that some "churn" or change was good for the sport. "We value our partnerships with our existing promoters, however we believe it is important for our fans and the growth of our sport and business that we both add exciting new locations, and manage a limited level of churn. "We're in the fortunate position of having more demand than supply, but recognise that we need to manage that dynamic in a thoughtful manner. "The factors we consider in deciding on a race include the quality of the track for great racing, and the location as one that captures the world's imagination; the level of fan and broader support and enthusiasm in the host city and country; the historic importance and future potential of the track and race; the global balance of our schedule; and a number of other factors. "We clearly have demand for more than 21 races in 2020, and do expect that number of races in a year will increased slightly after 2020. However we want to make sure that we're maximising the opportunities for the sport and fans, and not rush to decisions. "And we do believe that a limited expansion of the calendar, and churn, are important for creating a fresh and exciting dynamic for fans and for our ongoing growth."


The national Republican Party has accepted nearly $400,000 in donations from disgraced ex-casino mogul Steve Wynn   a move that comes just over a year after he was accused of sexually harassing or assaulting employees over a decade-long period. Wynn gave $248,500 to the Republican National Committee and $150,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee in April, according to two people familiar with the contributions. The donations are set to be disclosed publicly later this month. Wynn, a longtime Republican Party donor whose net worth has been pegged at nearly $3 billion, stepped down as chairman of Wynn Resorts in January 2018 following accusations that he engaged in an extensive pattern of sexual misconduct toward female employees at his Las Vegas casino. Wynn, 77, also resigned his post as RNC finance chairman. Wynn has consistently denied the allegations, saying that "the idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous." He has accused his ex-wife, Elaine, of instigating the claims. Yet the fallout has been substantial. In February, Wynn Resorts was fined $20 million by the Nevada Gaming Commission for ignoring employee complaints about Wynn's behavior. Last month, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission released a report detailing how company executives worked to conceal internal complaints made about Wynn, including one from an employee who told a supervisor that the mogul raped her in a message room. RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel defended the organization's decision to accept the funds, arguing that none of the investigations into Wynn established that the billionaire had broken the law. "While we must take any allegations like these seriously, everyone is entitled to the presumption of innocence and due process. Over the last year and a half, multiple investigations into the allegations against Steve Wynn have concluded. Throughout this entire process, Steve has repeatedly and unequivocally denied wrongdoing, and he has not been charged with or found guilty of any crimes," McDaniel said in a statement. "At this point, there is no reason for refusing his support." An NRSC spokesman declined to comment. An attorney for Wynn did not respond to a request for comment. The RNC has steadfastly refused calls to return nearly $375,000 in contributions that Wynn and his wife, Andrea Hissom, gave to the committee in 2017. After the Wall Street Journal first reported the allegations against Wynn in January 2018, McDaniel told Fox News that the casino executive "should be allowed due process, and if he is found of any wrongdoing, we will absolutely return 100 percent of that money. But we're going to let due process take place." Last month, Wynn greeted President Donald Trump on the tarmac when the president flew to Las Vegas for a rally.


There are 50 days until the Arizona Cardinals kick off their 2019 season against the Detroit Lions at home. We continue our look at stats in team history for each number of the countdown. Today, we find stats for the No. 50. Five players have finished a season with 50 receptions. David Johnson did last year. In 1945, Ed Rucinski averaged exactly 50 receiving yards per game. Three different players scored 50 points a season. The last was running back Rashard Mendenhall in 2013, who scored six touchdowns and had a two-point conversion. In 1963, fullback Joe Childress averaged 50 rushing yards a game (701 yards in 14 games.) Five different players completed 50 passes in a season. Sam Bradford had 50 completions last season. Lamat McHan threw 50 touchdown passes for the Cardinals. Ollie Matson scored 50 touchdowns in his Cardinals career. Since 1950, a quarterback has attempted 50 passes in a game five times. Carson Palmer was the last to do it in 2016 against the Buffalo Bills. Query Results Table Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Pass Player Date Opp Result Cmp Att Cmp% Yds TD Int Rate Neil Lomax 1987-11-01 PHI L 23-28 29 50 58.00 288 2 3 62.7 Neil Lomax 1988-12-10 PHI L 17-23 29 50 58.00 384 1 1 80.7 Steve Beuerlein 1993-10-24 @ SFO L 14-28 26 50 52.00 334 2 3 61.6 Kevin Kolb 2012-10-04 @ STL L 3-17 28 50 56.00 289 0 0 72.8 Carson Palmer 2016-09-25 @ BUF L 18-33 26 50 52.00 287 0 4 36.0 Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com : View Original Table Generated 7/20/2019. Since 1950, there have been 26 instances of a player rushing for 50 yards in a game. Query Results Table Rush Rush Rush Rush Player Date Opp Result Att Yds Y/A TD Charley Trippi * 1951-12-02 @ CLE L 28-49 4 50 12.50 0 Ollie Matson * 1958-10-26 CLE L 24-38 14 50 3.57 0 Frank Mestnik 1960-10-30 @ NYG W 20-13 16 50 3.13 0 Joe Childress 1963-10-27 @ WAS W 21-7 10 50 5.00 0 Bill Triplett 1965-11-28 PHI L 24-28 8 50 6.25 0 Bill Triplett 1965-12-19 CLE L 24-27 16 50 3.13 0 Prentice Gautt 1966-09-25 @ CLE W 34-28 6 50 8.33 1 Willis Crenshaw 1966-10-23 @ WAS L 20-26 12 50 4.17 0 Johnny Roland 1966-12-04 @ DAL L 17-31 12 50 4.17 1 Jim Otis 1974-11-11 MIN L 24-28 14 50 3.57 0 Jim Otis 1975-11-27 BUF L 14-32 13 50 3.85 0 Jim Otis 1978-12-10 @ NYG L 0-17 14 50 3.57 0 Rod Phillips 1979-11-04 MIN W 37-7 3 50 16.67 1 Stump Mitchell 1981-10-18 @ ATL L 20-41 3 50 16.67 0 Timm Rosenbach 1990-09-16 @ PHI W 23-21 5 50 10.00 0 Johnny Johnson 1990-12-23 NYG L 21-24 15 50 3.33 0 Ivory Lee Brown 1992-11-29 @ WAS L 3-41 16 50 3.13 0 Garrison Hearst 1995-11-05 @ DEN L 6-38 12 50 4.17 0 Jake Plummer 1998-11-08 WAS W 29-27 3 50 16.67 0 Thomas Jones 2000-10-22 @ DAL L 7-48 11 50 4.55 0 Player Date Opp Result Att Yds Y/A TD Michael Pittman 2000-11-12 @ MIN L 14-31 12 50 4.17 1 Michael Pittman 2001-10-14 @ CHI L 13-20 16 50 3.13 0 Emmitt Smith * 2003-09-21 GNB W 20-13 20 50 2.50 0 Tim Hightower 2009-12-06 MIN W 30-17 6 50 8.33 0 Beanie Wells 2010-10-31 TAM L 35-38 16 50 3.13 1 Andre Ellington 2013-11-24 IND W 40-11 10 50 5.00 0 Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com : View Original Table Generated 7/20/2019. There have been 24 such instances since 1950 where a player gained 50 receiving yards in a game. Query Results Table Rece Rece Rece Rece Player Date Opp Result Rec Yds Y/R TD Don Paul 1953-12-13 @ CHI W 24-17 3 50 16.67 0 Ollie Matson * 1957-10-20 @ WAS W 44-14 1 50 50.00 1 Sonny Randle 1963-10-20 GNB L 7-30 3 50 16.67 0 Joe Childress 1964-09-20 @ CLE T 33-33 3 50 16.67 0 Jackie Smith * 1964-12-06 CLE W 28-19 5 50 10.00 0 Sonny Randle 1965-10-31 @ NYG L 10-14 3 50 16.67 0 John Gilliam 1970-10-18 @ PHI W 35-20 2 50 25.00 0 Ahmad Rashad 1972-10-22 @ NYG L 21-27 4 50 12.50 0 Terry Metcalf 1974-11-11 MIN L 24-28 5 50 10.00 0 Terry Metcalf 1975-10-13 @ WAS L 17-27 7 50 7.14 0 Terry Metcalf 1976-10-31 SFO W 23-20 4 50 12.50 1 Ike Harris 1976-11-07 @ PHI W 17-14 2 50 25.00 0 Pat Tilley 1983-11-06 @ WAS L 7-45 2 50 25.00 0 Roy Green 1989-09-24 @ NYG L 7-35 4 50 12.50 0 Ernie Jones 1989-10-29 @ DAL W 19-10 3 50 16.67 0 Johnny Bailey 1992-10-18 NOR L 21-30 5 50 10.00 0 Ernie Jones 1992-11-29 @ WAS L 3-41 4 50 12.50 0 Johnny Bailey 1993-10-24 @ SFO L 14-28 4 50 12.50 0 Gary Clark 1994-11-06 @ PHI L 7-17 3 50 16.67 0 LeShon Johnson 1996-11-17 NYG W 31-23 2 50 25.00 0 Player Date Opp Result Rec Yds Y/R TD Frank Sanders 1998-11-08 WAS W 29-27 5 50 10.00 0 Frank Sanders 1999-09-12 @ PHI W 25-24 5 50 10.00 0 Adrian Murrell 1999-11-28 @ NYG W 34-24 5 50 10.00 0 David Boston 2000-10-22 @ DAL L 7-48 3 50 16.67 0 Marcel Shipp 2002-11-17 @ PHI L 14-38 5 50 10.00 0 Bryan Gilmore 2003-11-23 STL L 27-30 3 50 16.67 0 Anquan Boldin 2004-10-31 @ BUF L 14-38 4 50 12.50 0 Bryant Johnson 2005-10-02 SFO W 31-14 4 50 12.50 0 Jerheme Urban 2008-09-28 @ NYJ L 35-56 5 50 10.00 1 Early Doucet 2011-09-25 @ SEA L 10-13 5 50 10.00 0 Early Doucet 2011-11-20 @ SFO L 7-23 6 50 8.33 0 Michael Floyd 2015-10-18 @ PIT L 13-25 5 50 10.00 1 Ifeanyi Momah 2016-10-23 SEA T 6-6 2 50 25.00 0 Larry Fitzgerald 2018-11-11 @ KAN L 14-26 6 50 8.33 0 Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com : View Original Table Generated 7/20/2019. We will be back tomorrow with stats for the No. 49, as it will mark exactly seven weeks until the Cardinals play their season opener. Listen to the latest from Cards Wire's Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio . View embedded content MORE: Dwight Howard on being called 'soft' by Kobe Bryant: 'I hated him for that moment' Kenny Golladay praises teammates, Patricia on Good Morning Football Bobby Portis Q&A: 'I love being underrated' Broncos training camp: Live updates from Day 3 of practice Falcons WR Mohamed Sanu's Friday night tweet raises contract concerns


A person in Tarrant County has tested positive for the West Nile Virus, according to Tarrant County Health officials. Officials say this is the first confirmed human case of the virus in the county this season. Health officials say the patient is from northwest Tarrant County and has a fever form of the disease, also known as West Nile Fever. Tarrant County officials are reminding people to take precaution in protecting themselves from the virus. They said good habits to practice are dumping standing water on a regular basis, wearing insect repellent and dressing in long sleeves and pants. More on WFAA: 15 apps parents should look out for on their kids' phones Police officer donated liver, panhandled for sick 11-year-old she's never met Bulletproof backpacks hit Dallas school supply shelves Collin County family: El Paso shooter 'tried to recruit our son' Cyntoia Brown released from prison after clemency Walmart says it won't stop selling guns


It's 21 May 2008, approaching 2 A.M. local time in a cold and wet Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. After two gruelling hours of high intensity football in the first ever all-English UEFA Champions League final, Chelsea are one kick away from European glory. Everything had led to this moment for the Blues, Roman Abramovich had pumped millions into the club for one dream, one goal, one moment. This was that moment, and there was only one man for the job. Well, the reality was that there was probably more than one more for that job, but that man didn't care about that. This man had worked his whole career, no, his whole life, for this moment. That man was none other than their captain, their leader, their legend. Mr. John Terry. Chelsea's favourite son was about to give his side the achievement they craved the most, but that dream was about to turn to a dark, if not slightly hilarious, nightmare But how did we get to that point? Well, ahead of the second all Premier League final between Liverpool and Tottenham on 1 June in Madrid, we take a look back at one of the biggest games in the history of English football 11 years on. The Build-Up These two sides were not only becoming the two dominant forces in English football, winning all seven league titles available between 2005 and 2011. In the red corner, you had Sir Alex Ferguson's  Manchester United - an all conquering side who had just won their second consecutive Premier League title. They had already beaten their west London opponents on penalties in the Community Shield to open the season, and now they had the chance to come full circle and beat them to close out the season. A second leg Paul Scholes goal was enough to see the Red Devils through against Barcelona to the final where they would attempt to win their third European crown, and their first since that extraordinary 2-1 win against Bayern Munich in 1999. In the blue corner, to oppose the status quo you had Chelsea , who had a much more complicated route to Moscow. Following victory over United in the 2007 FA Cup final, they knew they could beat them, but having sacked club hero Jose Mourinho in September after the relationship between himself and the owner had soured, they appointed Avram Grant. No one really knew who this dour looking man was, but he'd managed to drag the players to the final following a dramatic extra time win over Liverpool in the last four, and had one of the most feared defences in Europe to combat the brutal United front three of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo. They were the underdogs, but underdogs who had a history of beating their opponents and had spent loads of money on really good players, so confidence was high that they could claim victory in their first ever major European final. The Match Starting Lineups Manchester United Chelsea 1. Edwin van der Sar 1. Petr Cech 6. Wes Brown 5. Michael Essien 5. Rio Ferdinand 6. Ricardo Carvalho 15. Nemanja Vidic 26. John Terry 3. Patrice Evra 3. Ashley Cole 4. Owen Hargreaves 4. Claude Makelele 18. Paul Scholes 13. Michael Ballack 16. Michael Carrick 8. Frank Lampard 7. Cristiano Ronaldo 10. Joe Cole 10. Wayne Rooney 11. Didier Drogba 32. Carlos Tevez 15. Florent Malouda Aside from the fact that those two teams would give any team in world football a run for their money, the needle and pettiness that had been evident between the two all season was very much on show in the Russian capital. You had Paul Scholes bleeding after a clash of heads with Makelele, Nemanja Vidic going in for crunching tackles on Didier Drogba, and Wayne Rooney pushing Ashley Cole because of...well, just because. But don't be fooled by all that, the football on show here was highly entertaining and of an outstanding quality. But it was United who took the lead in the 26th minute when Wes Brown's left footed cross found Cristiano Ronaldo who powered home a header to claim his 42nd goal of an incredible season. Ferguson's men looked more likely to double the lead - especially on the counter attack - and when Petr Cech brilliantly saved not only Carlos Tevez's close range header, but also Michael Carrick's thunderous follow-up, the Blues were on the ropes. That was until right on the stroke of half time, when Michael Essien's shot deflected nicely to Frank Lampard, who poked home a Chelsea equaliser. The West London side came closest to finding a winner in the second half, but Drogba's long range effort came crashing off the post. Extra time arrived, and Lampard was agonisingly near to bagging his second, but his turning effort clipped the crossbar, before John Terry magnificently headed Ryan Giggs' goal-bound effort over the bar. Eventually, tensions boiled over, and with the game heading to penalties, neither side could afford to lose one of their key spot kick takers. So of course, that's exactly what happened. Drogba decided to slap Vidic in the 118th minute, which seemed a very stupid thing to do for more than one reason. But off the Ivorian went, right before the most important kicks in the history of Chelsea football club. United went first in front of their own fans, Tevez scored, before Michael Ballack emphatically replied for Chelsea. Michael Carrick and Juliano Belletti both netted for either side, before a certain Portuguese superstar stepped up. Ronaldo stuttered. Cech didn't flinch. Ronaldo shot. Cech guessed right. Chelsea had the upper hand and were three kicks away. How different history could be now if it had been Ronaldo who cost his side Europe's biggest prize rather than Terry, a real sliding doors moment. Lampard, Owen Hargreaves, Ashley Cole and Nani all scored, meaning it was left to Terry to finish the job. And then, in a moment that probably haunts him to this day, and in a metaphor for lots of English players at the highest level, he slipped, and fired wide. There it went, the once in a lifetime chance to win the biggest trophy in club football for his beloved Chelsea. Gone. Anderson and Salomon Kalou scored after, but we all knew what was coming, and which way the tide had turned. Ryan Giggs, who broke Bobby Charlton's Man Utd appearance record on this night, scored, before Nicolas Anelka's tame effort was saved by man of the match Edwin van der Sar. #OnThisDay in 2008 - Manchester United became Champions of Europe for a third time, beating Chelsea 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow in an all English Champions League final. The best in England. The best in Europe. The best in the world. #MUFC pic.twitter.com/d0MUmgP3Z5   RedReveal (@RedReveal) May 21, 2019 United had done it in the most dramatic of circumstances yet again. The Aftermath United would go on to win the Premier League the following season, but lose to Barcelona in the Champions League final in Rome. That 2009 final would be Ronaldo's final United game before his world record transfer to Real Madrid , and he seemed to do alright for himself after that. They would again meet Barca in the final in 2011, but an awesome, Lionel Messi inspired performance meant that Ferguson would finish his United career with just the two European Cups. Following his 13th Premier League title, Ferguson retired in 2013, probably recognising that the new superpower in English football would be their 'noisy neighbours' before too long. Chelsea on the other hand, sacked Avram Grant within a week of the final, only to replace him with Brazil's 2002 World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari...which turned out to be a disaster. 'Big Phil' was also sacked, before Guus Hiddink took over to lead the Blues to an FA Cup in the same year. They would of course go on to finally become European champions in 2012 under Roberto Di Matteo, this time beating Bayern Munich , in Munich, on penalties (ironically). Terry didn't take a penalty that time, mainly because he was suspended for the final, but he still found the time to dress up in his full Chelsea kit when Drogba bagged the winning penalty - something he did a year later when they beat Benfica to win the Europa League. Never change John, never change. As for Moscow, FIFA were clearly so impressed with the way they hosted the final that they kindly decided to give them the 2018 World Cup two years later, which everyone seemed really happy about. Really happy.


DUBAI (Reuters) - A small plane crashed south of Dubai airport killing three Britons and one South African, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement on Thursday. The four-seat plane, a DA42 registered in the United Kingdom, was on a mission to calibrate terrestrial navigation systems at the airport, the statement said. An investigation is underway. Air traffic at the airport has returned to normal, it said. (Reporting By Ahmed Tolba, writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Janet Lawrence)


The #Falcons are releasing UDFA CB Rashard Causey, who was one of their highest paid undrafted players, I'm told. He had also battled a hamstring injury. - Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 2, 2019 According to a report by Ian Rapoport at NFL Network, the Atlanta Falcons are releasing undrafted rookie cornerback Rashard Causey, who has been battling a hamstring injury. Causey (six-foot, 195 pounds) played his college football at UCF, where he posted 64 tackles, two sacks and seven pass breakups in 23 games. The chances for Causey to make the roster were always long, given the depth Atlanta has at the position. While Causey's injury and play on the field probably didn't help, this move could in part be a reflection of the team's confidence in their two 2019 cornerback draft picks: Jordan Miller from Washington and Kendall Sheffield of Ohio State, both of whom played well enough in the first preseason game. Jayson Stanley also earned a high grade from Pro Football Focus for his performance, for what it's worth. Expect the Falcons to fill Causey's roster spot soon. One name to watch for is former 49ers linebacker/safety Dexter McCoil. Aaron Wilson at the Houston Chronicle reports that the team worked him out today. Former 49ers safety/linebacker Dexter McCoil worked out for the Falcons today, per an NFL source. #Falcons - Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 2, 2019 Update: So much for that idea. The Falcons have confirmed Causey's release and signed former Jets safety Ronald Martin to take his spot. MORE: How Kawhi Leonard broke the news to Raptors coach Nick Nurse that he was leaving Five potential Jeremy Lin landing spots in free agency Biggest winners from the first week of Packers training camp Steven Jackson gets random drug test from NFL after signing 1-day contract Tom Brady's Evolution Across 17 Years of Madden is Fascinating


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. The reaction of the Trump camp to the Senate Intelligence Committee's subpoena of Donald Trump Jr. nicely encapsulates several of the prime tenets of the Trump family playbook. The first tenet: Feign cooperation and practice intransigence. Trump Jr. is reported to be "exasperated" and the president "surprised," because ostensibly Junior already has cooperated extensively. More generally, the Republican talking point from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on down is, "The case is closed ." Subscribe to the Post Most newsletter: Today's most popular stories on The Washington Post But that's not accurate. Trump Jr. declined to be interviewed by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about the Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer   the only campaign official who did so. That fact is in the Mueller report , and it is immediately followed by a redaction for grand jury material. Based on my prosecutorial experience, I believe it's a reasonable surmise that the redacted material concerns Trump Jr.'s saying that he planned to invoke his Fifth Amendment right not to testify before a grand jury. Trump Jr.'s stance was of a piece with his father's: trumpet full cooperation with the probe even while doggedly, and successfully, eluding all efforts to have him testify or even speak cooperatively with the special counsel. Current reports are that Trump Jr. intends again to rebuff the committee by invoking the Fifth Amendment. That is of course his right, but only on the ground that his truthful answers would tend to incriminate him, not as a form of crass political resistance. Of course, if he truly believes the truth would incriminate him here, that puts his fine fury in a different light. The second tenet: Claim there is no legitimate law-enforcement or congressional oversight, only politically motivated harassment of the other party. Thus, the exasperation and surprise because it was the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee that issued the subpoena -- which prompted a fierce and nakedly political pushback from the Trump political machine. A senior adviser to the president's reelection campaign tweeted to the committee chair , Richard Burr (R-N.C.), who is retiring in 2022: "I'm sure that you and your non-retiring colleagues are going to put an end to this embarrassment now." And Trump allies in the Senate jumped all over Burr while threatening other Republicans with election challenges if they supported him. The third tenet: The normal rules of citizenship and public responsibility do not apply. The committee's position is that Trump Jr., who has previously been questioned only by committee staffers, always knew he was subject to being recalled for questioning by senators themselves. That's similar to what happened with Jared Kushner, who was interviewed in July, then appeared without fanfare for a closed-door session in March. And a recall became particularly exigent once a later witness -- Michael Cohen -- testified in conflict with the younger Trump. Yet Trump Jr. resisted cooperation over weeks of negotiation before the subpoena was issued. Like his father, Trump Jr. has zero regard for the public need for his testimony. The Intelligence Committee is not merely duplicating Mueller's work, which was fundamentally a criminal probe. The Senate's lookout is, as committee member Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) explained , "an intelligence investigation about the Russia threat and about the way our agencies performed." It is arrogant of Trump Jr. to treat that vital work as an irritant he can ignore. Furthermore, whether Trump Jr. lied in his prior testimony is an entirely legitimate and important topic for any congressional investigation. That brings us to the fourth tenet: Lies don't matter. Trump Jr.'s exasperation is particularly shameless if he previously gave a false account to Congress, as well as to the American people, in his accounts of the Trump Tower meeting. (Remember how they said it was all about the Magnitsky Act and adoptions from Russia, until inculpatory emails emerged?) That possibility is sufficiently concrete to merit further investigation. The fifth and final page from the Trump playbook: profess outrage, however brazenly, and attack the good faith of the investigators at every turn. As with the president's attacks on Mueller and the upper echelons of the FBI, party affiliation, reputation for integrity, and legitimacy of the inquiry are all of no moment: any effort even to question the probity of a Trump must be borne of deep-state corruption. With the acquiescence of Republicans in Congress, who know that it is not true, that toxic party line has worked surprisingly well. But it may not be enough to close the books on Trump Jr. Read more: Paul Waldman: Donald Trump Jr. is acting like a guilty man Harry Litman: Trump's legal case for executive privilege is strained at best Eugene Robinson: The war in Washington isn't between Trump and Democrats. It's between Trump and Congress.


New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is reportedly sharing with potential trade partners the rough parameters of what a successful deal for Anthony Davis might look like, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. This signals a potential acceleration in the honoring of Davis' trade request, an acceleration not likely to be appreciated by the Boston Celtics, who still need to contend with Kyrie Irving's looming free agency when factoring in exactly what they'd be willing to part with in any such deal . According to Wojnarowski, the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets have been actively seeking out a deal with the Pelicans. These teams have seemingly been emboldened by the success of teams in recent years making moves for high-powered stars on expiring deals, such as the Oklahoma City Thunder's move for Paul George last season, and especially Kawhi Leonard's success with the Toronto Raptors. Wojnarowski notes Griffin expects suitors to need multiple teams to satisfy his ideal framework for a Davis trade, and has been helping lay groundwork for such deals between teams with players and assets of interest to the organization. While no schedule has been proposed to have completed the trade by, New Orleans has made it clear it wants several days in hand in advance of the 2019 NBA Draft to analyze players in the range of any potential 2019 picks it could receive in such deal. As to what they'd like such a deal to look like, Wojnarowski related the following: "Griffin is pursuing a combination of assets that include an All-Star player, a young player with All-Star potential and two first-round picks, league sources said. Those wants are on a sliding scale. For example, the better the player, the softer the asks on the draft picks - and vice versa." It seems likely the new Pelicans executive is seeking to maximize his returns for the generational talent that is Davis, and rightly so, though it seems this ask is likely above any return the organization will likely reap from a player able to walk by this time next year. If nothing else, this is just the first volley of what will be a contracted battle over the young star's services this summer. Having failed to entice the Kentucky product to remain with the only NBA franchise he's ever played for despite landing the rights to draft coveted prospect Zion Williamson in the 2019 NBA Draft lottery and a potential 'supermax' contract worth $235 million over five years, we now move into the thick of the negotiations to end the Davis era in New Orleans. MORE: Women's World Cup: USWNT stuns Thailand with four goals in six minutes Kevin Durant Has a $31.5 Million Player Option; Will Warriors Offer Him Supermax Contract? Coach Matt LaFleur feels good about Packers' young, fast WR group How Kevin Durant's Achilles injury alters Kyrie Irving's free agency Watch as jury convicts former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. of raping homeless woman


Visiting Myers Park, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Charlotte neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a Mediterranean spot to a pasta shop. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Myers Park, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Yafo Kitchen Topping the list is Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spot YAFO Kitchen , which offers salads, hummus bowls and more. Located at 720 Gov Morrison St., Suite #120, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 453 reviews on Yelp. This spot has three locations in Charlotte, with the other two in Plaza Midwood and Dilworth. 2. Pasta & Provisions Next up is pasta shop and deli Pasta & Provisions , which offers pasta, sandwiches and fresh bread, and is situated at 1528 Providence Road. With 4.5 stars out of 109 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. Look for the Chicken Marsala among the entrees here. 3. Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Steakhouse and wine bar Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 3920 Sharon Road, four stars out of 191 reviews. You'll find the Jalapeno Deviled Eggs (pictured above) among the shareables on the dinner menu here. 4. Yama Asian Fusion Yama Asian Fusion , a sushi bar and Asian fusion spot, is another neighborhood go-to, with four stars out of 186 Yelp reviews. Head over to 720 Governor Morrison St., Suite #130, to see for yourself. You'll find four different types of Bento Boxes on the menu here. 5. Beads Check out Beads , which has earned five stars out of 22 reviews on Yelp. You can find the spot to score art supplies, jewelry and art classes at 339 Circle Ave. In addition to selling beads, this spot also offers instruction on how to make your own. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The first inkling Robert Porcher had that Barry Sanders was considering retirement came immediately after the Detroit Lions' season-ending loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 1998. Porcher had settled into his seat on the plane ride home from Baltimore when fellow Lions defensive lineman Tracy Scroggins came up to him in a mild panic. "He said, 'Man, you need to go back there and talk to Barry,' " Porcher recalled recently. "And I was like, 'Talk to Barry about what?' And he said, 'Man, he said he's going to retire.' And I was just like, I was like, 'Hell, everybody wants to retire after tonight.' " Porcher chalked Sanders' frustration up to the disappointment of a 5-11 season and a 41-yard rushing performance in the finale that left Sanders just 9 yards shy of a fifth straight 1,500-yard season. A few months later, after Sanders had no-showed every team function of the offseason, Porcher ran into Sanders while out to dinner at Kruse and Muer in downtown Rochester. Porcher was walking down the street heading into the restaurant, Sanders was either getting in or out of his car, and the two had a brief conversation before parting ways for what turned out to be for good. "He said, 'I know there's been some talks, man, people saying (I'm going retire).' He said, 'I don't know what I want to do,' " Porcher recalled. "I was like, 'Barry, look, man. You're my teammate. I understand. You don't have to explain anything to me. I'm behind you just like everybody else. All the other guys are behind you. Whatever you decide, we're behind you.' And that was the last we talked about him possibly retiring. And then when we came to camp, all hell broke loose." [ Albom: Barry Sanders retirement a bombshell we should have saw coming ] Hell hit the Lions in the summer of 1999 when Sanders abruptly retired on the eve of training camp by faxing a statement to his hometown newspaper, The Wichita Eagle , that read in part, "my desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it." Twenty years later, as the Lions get ready to open another training camp next week, Sanders and his retirement remain a point of fascination for a fan base that has enjoyed just four playoff appearances since the best player in franchise history walked away from the game. Why did he do it? Why like that? Was it really as much of a shocker as it seemed at the time? And how in the world did the Lions make the playoffs that season with Sanders at home on his couch? The Free Press talked to nearly 20 people in and around the organization at the time of Sanders' retirement to get their recollections of that crazy camp and season two decades ago. Sanders' agent declined an extended interview request on Sanders' behalf, but Sanders did talk briefly about his retirement at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club last month. Time, as always, adds perspective, and in some cases alters memories. But many teammates (and some front office members and coaches) insist Sanders' retirement wasn't much of a surprise, and some even said he confided in them about his decision. Sanders talked retirement 'more than anybody' Scroggins and Porcher weren't the only Lions who caught wind of Sanders' possible retirement months before it became official. Safety Ron Rice told the Free Press last year that Sanders told him he was finished playing while they shared a cab ride to dinner the night before the Ravens game. Ron Hughes, the Lions' vice president of player personnel in 1999, who died in February , said last year that running back Ron Rivers told him Sanders was going to retire weeks before he actually did, though he didn't believe Rivers at the time. Rivers, who was close with Sanders, said the Lions' all-time leading rusher "talked about retirement more than anybody I've ever known," which is why he didn't give Sanders' dalliance with retirement much thought immediately after the 1998 season. But as the two talked more that spring, it became clear Sanders was serious about leaving the game. "Him talking like that at the end of the year, that's what he normally does. It's nothing new," Rivers said. "But when you call him in the offseason and he's doing other things other than him working out, cause he works out a lot. He's doing other things, was like, 'OK, this might be it, huh, B?' And he got quiet and so I was just like, 'I have an idea, bro.' So it was good." Rivers said Sanders was dabbling in finance at the time   Sanders went on to become chairman and majority stockholder of American State Bank in Tulsa, one of the first black-owned banks in the state of Oklahoma, according to The Oklahoman   and often daydreamed about being somewhere other than on the football field. "Everything was always talking about, 'Hey, man, I could be doing something different.' And, 'Have you ever thought about doing this?' " Rivers said. "And I'm like, 'No, this is what I wanted to do. This is great, what are you talking about?' And he just had different dreams and different pictures and things he wants to do. It's just   it's kind of funny cause everyone talks about retirement, it just seemed like from all the stuff he talks about and was saying that you had an idea that this was it." At one point, after Sanders had made his intention to retire clear, Rivers said he asked Sanders to hold off on making the announcement official so the Lions would give him a legitimate chance at winning the starting job. "If you knew Barry, you had a feeling that the writing is on the wall, so to speak," wide receiver Herman Moore said. "And he was a man that deserved a lot more out of the stellar career and outstanding, obviously, Hall of Fame career that he had. I think that's what he was   that was what he was playing for. It wasn't for money, it wasn't for fame. And when he didn't see that, and we were in just such a big rebuilding stage, I mean how much can a person like that take? That's a hit to his legacy and I think that's a disservice to him." Lions' coach's reaction: 'So be it' Around the same time that Sanders faxed his retirement announcement to his friend Mark McCormick, who at the time worked at The Wichita Eagle   McCormick declined an interview request from the Free Press   then-Lions vice president Tom Lewand got a late-night phone call at his home from Sanders' agents, David Ware and Lamont Smith. Ware and Smith, who often conducted business with the Lions by conference call (they were in different cities), informed Lewand that Sanders was retiring. Lewand then broke the news to head coach Bobby Ross and executive vice president and chief operating officer Chuck Schmidt, who told owner William Clay Ford, and the group convened at the Pontiac Silverdome to start preparing for life without Barry. Sanders' retirement surprised some in the front office, but it wasn't totally unexpected. Ross said at the time he reached out to Sanders 13 times by phone call or letter after the 1998 season and never received a response   Ross says now he does not remember reaching out that often   and Sanders' late father, William, had been publicly critical of the coach and the organization. "My actual reaction was, 'Well, so be it,' " Ross said last month. "I mean because I was 50% expecting it, so it wasn't like I was surprised. I think Chuck probably felt surprised, but when you're that close to camp you got to go ahead and go. You can't mope about it and you can't get down on it. You got to stay up. And so that was my reaction." While the Lions' front office went about identifying potential trade targets to replace Sanders   they eventually traded for Greg Hill   and fighting with the league for extra salary-cap space, Ross said he addressed Sanders' retirement with his players only one time, in the first team meeting of training camp. "I said, 'Whatever side you're on, you don't need to take sides, No. 1, and No. 2, Barry was a great, great player. We all know what he was to this program and he will be greatly missed, but we've got to move on. And he's not here now. We've got to play this season and you're players, you're in the National Football League, you've got to step up.' … And that's kind of the way we approached it," Ross said. "Then from there on, I didn't address it. You get into watching film and meetings and all that type of stuff. And that's what camp becomes. You have some R&R, too, but we never brought it up again after that, at least I didn't." Rivers said the media crush was "crazy" at the start of camp and coaches meetings ran a little longer than normal. Porcher said Ross couldn't hide the stress he was under after losing a Hall of Fame running back. "He's one of those people where he doesn't have a poker face," he said. And most everyone praised Ross' handling of the situation as he got the Lions ready for the season. "It's almost like when a player has an injury and he's laying on the field and all that, then the coaches just say, 'Hey, let's move the drill down 10 yards,' " then-Lions vice president of football administration Larry Lee said. "It don't mean that you don't care for him being hurt or anything, but you got to continue. That's kind of how Bobby Ross handled it. He gave it the respect it deserved and talked about it, but he also talked about how the team has to continue forward." Lions had hands full replacing Sanders To say the Lions had their hands full replacing Sanders is an understatement. When Sanders retired, he was on the verge of breaking Walter Payton's career rushing record. His primary replacements in 1999, Rivers and Hill, finished with less than 4,000 yards rushing combined in their careers. "You had roster guys, I guess that's the best way to put it," then-Lions running backs coach Frank Falks said. "You had guys that were good enough to make your roster." Rivers spent the first five years of his career as Sanders' backup in Detroit, while Hill made a handful of starts with the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs. When the Lions acquired Hill days before the start of the regular season, it made for an interesting dynamic in the locker room. Hill, a first-round pick in 1994, broke his leg in the third game of the 1998 season and lost his job when the Rams traded for Marshall Faulk the following spring. Then-Rams coach Dick Vermeil was honest with Hill when he reported to training camp, telling the running back the team was looking for a better opportunity for him. A few weeks later, he was on the move to Detroit. Hill said he took the news of his trade with mixed emotions, and that things only got worse. "Let me tell you what, that Ron Rivers was not happy," Hill said. "I mean, it was complete hatred from Day 1. … He was cool with Barry so he would be talking to Barry about everything that's going on each and every week, and I had to tell him one time, I said, 'Hey man, you keep doing that popping off crap, I'm gonna stuff your ass in this (bleeping) locker, I promise you. Your ass is going to be on IR cause I'm gonna put you there. You better go on with this attitude stuff like this. I didn't make this trade, they traded for me. I didn't ask to come here. They traded for me.' " Hill said there was enough friction between the two that "it was probably one of them deals where if he saw me today or I saw him today, I couldn't tell you that he wouldn't get it." Sedrick Irvin, another running back on that team, recalls some animosity, though Rivers said there was a different root cause. "To be honest with you, I think the tension came because he came in acting like he was the guy and for us, around the league, we all thought he wasn't the guy," Rivers said. "We were like, 'OK, really, that's the guy you try to go get to replace us? Really, that's the one?' … It was more of that thing where, you know how when you have a great one there and then someone else comes in acting like they were just as good or better than the great one? And so that's where the whole tension came in from. It was like, 'What? You're what? Come on, man. Are you kidding me right now?' " Rivers and Hill co-existed in the backfield for most of the season, with Rivers opening the year as starter, missing time with a broken ankle, then regaining his starting job once he was healthy. Hill, who was much more brash than Sanders, led the Lions with 542 yards rushing, and Rivers added 295 yards. Looking back, Hill said then-offensive coordinator Sylvester Croom's unimaginative running game stymied the group's production. "I just thought the dude didn't like running the ball," Hill said. "We had three running plays. I'm not joking with you. Three running plays. Three. Like, three. And we got four later on in the year. Like one, two, three, four. That's it." Attempts to reach Croom over the last month were unsuccessful. Sanders' father, William, was critical of the offense at the time Sanders retired. Rivers, though, insists the Lions "actually had 10 running plays" and that Croom did his best to tailor the playbook to Hill's running style. "We used to joke in the meetings that he would just run with horse blinders on because he would just run straight." Rivers said. More: Barry Sanders at 50: Here are 20 tales about No. 20 you might not know Irvin, who now works as a high school coach in Florida , said he didn't realize how simple the playbook was until later in life and that looking back it's clear coaches "did not trust the situation." Hill went a step further and said he believes Croom is why Sanders retired, though he admittedly has never talked to Sanders about that. "You god damn right (I think he's one of the greatest running backs ever)," Hill said. "And now I actually think he greater cause that dude was under Sylvester Croom and he did all that. "The dude that helped run Barry out of Detroit was Sylvester Croom, the offensive coordinator. And he was pissed off because they went and got him instead of some guys that they could have gotten as offensive coordinator and that was a frustrating ordeal because that was like the third or fourth or fifth or sixth time that a move had been made with the Detroit Lions, not thinking about the benefits of Barry or not thinking about the benefits of your offense or whatever and he had just gotten to the point to where the dude was just like, 'Look, y'all can't get it right so you're not going to let me go so I need to just walk away.' And he never said that, (but) that was it." 'Bigger than a one-man team' Despite the relative lack of a running game   the Lions finished 28th out of 31 teams in rushing that season   the Lions still made the playoffs as a wild card. They finished 8-8 and lost in the first round to Washington, but opened the season with two straight wins and started a surprising 6-2 before enduring a late-season slide. Several players said Sanders' retirement was, in some ways, the impetus for the strong start. "We felt it was important to get off to that fast start and prove we're bigger than a one-man team," quarterback Charlie Batch recalled. "I remember guys were getting a little furious because they weren't being talked about on like ESPN Countdown or GameDay the day of the first game. We were up in Seattle and guys were frustrated because it was all about Mike Holmgren and him, new coach, all of this type of thing. So those type of things ate with us. That ate up inside and we're sitting back thinking, 'Man, we need to go out here and win this game.' " Rivers ran for 96 yards and the Lions had 167 yards rushing as a team in their opener, though the offense relied less and less on the run as the season went on. Germane Crowell and Johnnie Morton each topped 1,000 yards receiving for the season, David Sloan made the Pro Bowl, and backup quarterback Gus Frerotte led the Lions to a win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Rams after Batch broke his right thumb. "We wanted to prove that it was a two-part relationship," offensive lineman Tony Semple said. "Great things happened and Barry made great things happen for us. He did. But we also wanted to show that we had the ability, that you know what, we're a good offensive line as well. And I remember specifically going, 'All right, man. This is on us.' Anytime somebody puts something in your face that you have to prove, you're going to try to bring your best, you're going to try to strive and I think that was the accelerant for that performance, I really do." No one walked away from that season thinking the Lions had accomplished something special, but 20 years later, Ross said there's plenty to be proud of in that year. "I think you have to hold your head up," he said. "You don't have to be apologetic for the year because we did accomplish getting to the playoffs. And at that time there were only 12, I think, of (31) that would do it. And we made it. And we probably kind of backed into it. Not kind of, it was that way. But we still got there and I think that it was   I still, I'm not ashamed of it. I thought we did a good job. To lose your best one the day before, when you don't have the opportunity to plan, is a tough thing to deal with." The epilogue to Sanders' retirement Ross said he believes he reached out to Sanders at some point during the 1999 season, not to try and talk him into returning but to wish him luck and "to thank him for the tremendous contributions he had made to the program." The two didn't talk to each other until five years later, when Ross was coaching at Army and Sanders was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame . Ross approached Sanders at the ceremony and offered congratulations, but he said he never asked Sanders why he retired. "There was a lot of media people around there that wanted to talk to him and that sort of thing," Ross said. "We couldn't make it into a long conversation, but I wouldn't have brought that up anyway at that time." That hasn't stopped others from speculating. Some believe Ross was to blame. Some Croom. Others say it was the organization's fault. Many believe Sanders was just burned out on football and ready to be done with the sport. Days after Sanders' retirement, Kevin Colbert, then the Lions' director of pro scouting and now the Pittsburgh Steelers general manager, shared a cut-up of some of Sanders' runs from the 1998 season with other members of the front office. The film showed Sanders going out of bounds early or down with limited contact, compared with runs from earlier seasons when that wasn't the case. Lee, who played for the Lions before joining the front office, said he believes a combination of things led to Sanders' retirement, including the organization's direction under Ross and the fact that several of Sanders' Lions contemporaries, including Kevin Glover, were no longer with the team. "We kept all those guys in place the first several years of free agency, but then we started losing them one by one. This one's gone, that one's gone," Lee said. "I know Barry looked around and said, 'Wow, where are all my boys?' And it seemed like the weight of the Lions was on his shoulders. … He kind of felt like he was carrying the whole organization on his back and that was something he wasn't willing to do." Porcher said he has seen Sanders "tons of times" over the last 20 years and has never asked for an explanation   not that he needs one. "As a player, you get it," Porcher said. "You get it. Guys are released every day in the NFL, and without explanation, teams just say, 'Hey, we're going in another direction.' What Barry did was just leaving. Ideally, you want a big ceremony and maybe the Fords would have given him a car and he jumps in a convertible Mustang and drives off the field and everybody's crying. Maybe we would have loved to have seen something like that, but that's never really been his M.O." Semple pointed to Sanders' Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech, when Sanders said "football chose me" not the other way around, as a means to explain his retirement. Moore said that while some people may have felt Sanders left the team in a lurch, his teammates and people who knew him never shared that view. "If a person's told us exactly (why he retired), you kind of keep that. You can't betray the trust," Moore said. "I'm sure he might be the guy that's telling each person something different so he can find out who's really snitching, I don't know. So, for me it's whatever Barry said it is, and I can give you my opinion, right or wrong, but what he's told us is pretty consistent with what he's told the public. He was just ready to hang it up. So that's what I'm sticking with." Carlos Monarrez contributed to this report. Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 20 years ago, Barry Sanders retired and 'all hell broke loose'


Turning an around-the-horn triple play is tough. But as the Chicago White Sox showed during Wednesday's game with the Houston Astros, it's not impossible. Houston's Jake Marisnick hit a sharp grounder right to third base. Yoan Moncada fielded it, stepped on the bag and fired it to second baseman Yolmer Sanchez. Sanchez then threw to first baseman Jose Abreu to complete the play. Mercy! pic.twitter.com/hIgSokpeKy   Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 23, 2019 Any triple play is hard to turn. But this one is especially notable. Marisnick isn't exactly a lumbering catcher or first baseman. Quite the opposite. He's probably the fastest runner on the Astros and one of the fastest runners in the league. But in this case, he was not fast enough. Related slideshow: 2019 MLB season (Provided by imagn)


Patrick D. Beeman was sentenced Monday to three years of probation, including 150 days in jail, for a string of incidents where he clogged toilets. Patrick Beeman, right, covers his face as he exits Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Beeman was sentenced to some jail time and probation in his role in the toilet clogging crime in Sheboygan parks. Patrick Beeman, right, exits Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Beeman was sentenced to some jail time and probation in his role in the toilet clogging crime in Sheboygan parks. Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2 Judge Kent Hoffmann speaks during the sentencing of Patrick Beeman, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2 Judge Kent Hoffmann speaks during the sentencing of Patrick Beeman, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Defense attorney Jacob Birenbaum, right, talks on behalf of his client Patrick Beeman, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Beeman was sentenced in Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2 for his role in toilet clogging in City of Sheboygan park bathrooms. Defense attorney Jacob Birenbaum, right, talks on behalf of his client Patrick Beeman, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Beeman was sentenced in Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2 for his role in toilet clogging in City of Sheboygan park bathrooms. Patrick Beeman looks around in Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Patrick Beeman reacts while waiting for his sentencing hearing to begin in Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2, for his role in toilet clogging in City of Sheboygan Parks, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis. Patrick Beeman waits his turn in Sheboygan County Circuit Court Branch 2, for his role in toilet clogging in City of Sheboygan Parks, Monday, July 1, 2019, in Sheboygan, Wis.


Gulfton is friendly for those on foot, is bikeable and has good transit options, according to Walk Score's rating system . So what does the low-end rent on a rental in Gulfton look like these days   and what might you get for your money? We took a look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments in Gulfton via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide to find out what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Houston neighborhood. Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 5606 Bissonnet St. Listed at $645/month, this 720-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom space, located at 5606 Bissonnet St., is 38.2 less than the $1,044/month median rent for a one bedroom in Gulfton. When it comes to building amenities, expect a swimming pool and outdoor space. The unit also includes air conditioning, carpeted floors and a walk-in closet. Pets are not welcome. (See the complete listing here .) 5402 Renwick Drive Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom living space at 5402 Renwick Drive, which, at 615 square feet, is going for $650/month. When it comes to building amenities, expect on-site laundry and assigned parking. You can also expect a dishwasher and a walk-in closet in the unit. Both cats and dogs are permitted. (See the full listing here .) 6200 Gulfton St. Then there's this 710-square-foot residence with one bedroom and one bathroom at 6200 Gulfton St., listed at $749/month. In the unit, expect to find a walk-in closet, a dishwasher and a balcony. Good news for animal lovers: Both dogs and cats are allowed here. The building features on-site laundry. (See the listing here .) 5401 Chimney Rock Road This one-bedroom, one-bathroom rental, situated at 5401 Chimney Rock Road, is listed for $775/month for its 891 square feet. In the unit, anticipate a dishwasher, carpeted floors and a walk-in closet. Good news for animal lovers: Both dogs and cats are permitted here. Building amenities include a swimming pool. (See the listing here .) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide , then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


Your one-stop guide to becoming the ultimate Grill Master. Now that it's officially summer, it's time to put your grill to work . Along with summer staples like burgers and hot dogs, fire up the grill for these seasonal vegetable recipes . With a little heat, these grilled peppers, tomatoes, and other fresh veggies will caramelize, resulting in a subtle sweetness that'll instantly add flavor to your favorite dishes . For a well-rounded meal, follow these tips on how to grill chicken, burgers, and seafood the right way. But first: Make sure your grilling tools - tongs, brushes, and more - are up to par. Grilled Corn Shuck the corn and rub with olive oil. Grill on medium-high direct heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally, until corn is charred. Get the recipe for Mexican Grilled Corn » Grilled Cherry or Grape Tomatoes Thread 1 pint's worth of cherry tomatoes onto skewers. Brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill on medium-high turning occasionally, until just beginning to burst, 5 to 7 minutes. RELATED: 15 Fresh Tomato Salads You Have to Try This Summer Grilled Asparagus Brush with olive oil and grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 4 to 6 minutes, turning occasionally. Get the recipe for Grilled Asparagus and Shiitake Tacos » Grilled Romaine Halve romaine lengthwise and brush with a tiny bit of olive oil. Grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 2 to 3 minutes, turning occasionally, until charred and just beginning to wilt. Grilled Bell Peppers Quarter peppers lengthwise and discard seeds. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper; grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Grilled Green Beans Trim green beans and grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 3 to 5 minutes, turning occasionally. Get the recipe for Salt-and-Pepper Charred Green Beans » Grilled Mushrooms Trim and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Grill on medium high, gill-side up, 5 to 10 minutes. RELATED: 6 Surprising Mushroom Health Benefits Grilled Eggplant Slice small eggplants (about 8 to 12 ounces each) into rounds or lengths a bit more than a ¼-inch-thick. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Get the recipe for Cayenne Grilled Eggplant with Fresh Tomato Salad » Grilled Yellow Squash or Zucchini Halve small zucchini and yellow squash lengthwise. Grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 2 to 5 minutes per side. RELATED: 40 Healthy and Delicious Zucchini Recipes Grilled Onions Slice red or yellow onions into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill uncovered on medium-high direct heat for 5 to 6 minutes. For flavor, sprinkle with 3 tablespoons finely chopped roasted red pepper and 8 basil leaves, sliced. Grilled Tomatoes Cut 4 medium tomatoes in half and brush cut sides with out. Grill on medium-high, cut-side down until charred, 2 to 3 minutes. Serve sprinkled with salt and fresh herbs or pesto. Related: 29 Tomato Recipes to Try ASAP Grilled Leeks Cut off and discard dark green parts. Then halve the white and light green parts lengthwise. Brush cut-sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill on medium-high, cut-side down until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Get the recipe for Grilled Leek Potato Salad » Grilled Endive Halve endive lengthwise. Brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill on medium-high, cut-side down, about 2 minutes.


Avoid being the unwanted foreigner, and plan trips to destinations that welcome international visitors Visitors Welcome Say goodbye to the days of tourist-shaming! While visiting these travel-worthy locations , vacationers can expect surprising convenience, warm welcomes and an overall high-quality travel experience. Here are the countries that treat tourism as a priority and leave travelers feeling that their time, energy and money was put to good use. Japan With an affinity for American culture, a national no-tipping policy and consideration for travelers who speak English, Japan ranks high on our list. While transportation can seem overwhelming at first, foreign visitors receive exclusive perks like access to the Japan Rail Pass , which allows visitors to travel by train throughout the region (a privilege reserved mostly for non-native Japanese travelers). With cab-hailing apps like JapanTaxi, a 7-Eleven on almost every corner, and a high standard for safety, Japan is exceedingly efficient at keeping tourists happy. Bhutan With a national policy that measures the success of its tourism industry by happiness, Bhutan has mastered the art of sustainable tourism. International guests pay between $200-$300 per day for the luxury of staying in the country, but it's well worth the cost. Prepaid packages include meals, accommodation and even transportation (excluding air travel there and back home). These restrictions minimize the effects of negative tourism on the local community and environment, as well as ensure each tourist can fully enjoy all that Bhutanese culture has to offer. Thailand Ah, Thailand. Where you can get the best massage you've ever had, cuisine bursting with exciting combinations of flavor, and all for a few dollars (if that)! Thailand isn't just paradise for the budget-conscious globetrotter, it's also a country with a rich culture, known for warmly welcoming guests from all over. Appealing attractions, such as diving into turquoise waters and visiting ancient temples, beckon tourists, but the tricky part is convincing yourself to leave once you've sampled the way life could be. Canada Known for being hospitable, Canadians have made a name out of their famed friendliness. Although summers in Canada are breathtakingly beautiful on their own, bright smiles and sunny dispositions warm the country year-round. Vacationers traveling northward are greeted with a shocking amount of European culture in a French-speaking province like Quebec, but wanderers can expect American-like conveniences throughout most of the country, including English as the primary language and many franchise chain stores and restaurants. France According to the World Tourism Organization, France receives the most international arrivals out of any country in the world. Many sightseers head straight to Paris, but the entire country holds potential for any kind of traveler. Tourists adore the old chateaus, stunning countryside and central geographic location, allowing transient visitors to pass through on their way to Italy, Spain, Germany and even the U.K. Germany Visitors to Germany tend to feel more like guests. The locals are friendly and quick to help out-of-towners in distress. It's also fairly easy to find English speakers, making it a cinch to navigate a city like Berlin, with its humming energy and eye-opening art scene. Public transit, including the reputable S-Bahn, runs for most of the day and night, giving tourists the option to take full advantage of their time in town. New Zealand We all love Kiwis and they seem to love us, too. Residents of New Zealand embrace visitors as though they're family. Views of the island nation are just as generous, with mountain-filled land meeting the Pacific Ocean in every direction you look. International visitors are awestruck by the seemingly painted-on scenery. (Fans of the "Lord of the Rings" franchise can vouch for the epic backdrop, since this is the filming location of the famous series.) Add the clear, open roads and possible penguin sightings, and New Zealand seems like the perfect place for any tourist. Mexico If you want to talk convenience, it doesn't get any more accessible than driving into another country from your own. A trip to Mexico brings tourists memories full of robust culture, including food and music that don't seem to taste or sound the same way anywhere else on Earth. Locals are happy to have you, the U.S. dollar goes a long way, and the tequila actually tastes good! Beaches abound and the weather is perfect, making Mexico a top choice for tourists Uganda Ugandans will be as interested in you as you are in them. Once called the "Pearl of Africa" by Winston Churchill, Uganda is a country full of bright smiling faces, especially when there are foreign visitors. Safari seekers appreciate the rare wildlife native to the region, including the endangered mountain gorilla. Also home to more than 1,000 species of birds, this heavenly harbor serves as a paradise to many kinds of life. United Arab Emirates Not only is the UAE known for being safe, some hotels in Dubai even offer female-only floors. To add more emphasis to security, the metro system has a special section for women and children. (Kids under 5 years old ride free!) This thoughtfully designed, high-tech and luxurious destination hosts impressive attractions like the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and gives visitors the chance to experience a city of the future in the middle of the desert. Singapore Don't let the extravagance of Singapore in movies like "Crazy Rich Asians" intimidate you. Although the architecture will indeed leave you breathless, tourists love the down-to-earth kindness of local people (who happen to speak perfect English) and the seemingly spotless beauty of Singapore. With countless hawker centers   or open-air food courts   serving up deliciously cheap eats all over the island city-state, as well as free entry into museums, why wouldn't you travel here? United Kingdom Home of the English language, the United Kingdom is another tourist hotspot that's known for its ease of communication. In a huge city like London, lovers of travel nostalgia can see all the classic icons, including double-decker buses, red phone booths and silent guards. Once there, resourceful tourists can take advantage of free walking tours, sightseeing by subway and self-guided pub crawls. There's so much to see and do, it's a good thing the taxes are already included in the price. That way, vacationers can have less math and more fun. Denmark In the Danish culture, " hygge " is the art of coziness. Putting importance on comfort might be one of the reasons why Denmark is always ranked as one of the happiest places in the world. It certainly keeps visitors coming back - or maybe it's just the stellar beer. Whatever it is that keeps Danes smiling catches on with visitors.


At the end of my day of writing, I close my laptop and open the refrigerator. Time to make dinner! I know many moms dread this time of day, but it's one of my favorites. It gives me a little me time to unwind, to listen to one of my favorite podcasts or some bluegrass, and I love to get creative in the kitchen and come up with new, healthy recipes for my family to try. The only issue is that when I'm chopping and stirring at 5 p.m., I'm so hungry! I would end up eating the entire time I was cooking dinner. I not only reached for handfuls of food from the snack pantry, like premeasured containers of almonds , but I also taste-tested dinner along the way as it cooked. I ended up completely full by the time I sat down with my family to the amazing meal I'd prepared. And I ate it! Oh, the discomfort and bloating I felt from overeating! I was so stuffed, I just wanted to lie on the couch and didn't have the energy to do the dishes or play with my kids. I went to bed feeling so puffy, and sometimes I'd wake up still feeling that way, which would affect my ability to work out, and sometimes would make me skip it altogether. You'd think I'd learn my lesson, but this went on for months, until I heard a fellow mom talk about her hack for dealing with hungry kids who came home from school, looking to eat before dinner was ready. She said she'd meal prep a platter of cut-up veggies, so when the kids came off the bus starving, she'd place the veggies on the counter with two or three dips. It satisfied their hunger while also getting her kids to eat more veggies. I thought, this could work for me! So that Sunday, I prepped myself a week's worth of veggie snack packs. I cut up carrots, peppers, and cucumbers and stored them in mason jars. Each night while cooking dinner, I'd grab a jar and crunch while I cooked. The veggies satisfied my hunger, but they were light enough that I didn't feel stuffed when I sat down to enjoy the roasted sweet potato and Buddha bowls , savory maple cumin lentils over spaghetti squash , or whatever plant-based dinner I had made. This little Sunday mason jar snack hack, which takes under 10 minutes to throw together, has been the key to preventing overeating at dinnertime . I even started to make smaller versions for my kids! For some reason, a big plate of veggies isn't appealing, but if I give them their own personalized jar of veggies with hummus , they're super excited! We crunch together, and in addition to helping to satisfy predinner hunger and prevent overeating, I feel good knowing we're all getting some extra fiber. An unexpected reason why you might be struggling to lose weight (Provided by Buzz60)


Spain have made a positive start to life under coach Luis Enrique; they had an encouraging showing in the Nations League, which included wins against England and Croatia and they top their European Championship qualifying group with three wins out of three. Sweden, for their part, have built on from their impressive showing in last year's World Cup. They were promoted from their group in the Nations League and, like Spain, are so far unbeaten in their European Championship qualifying group, with two wins and a draw. With this in mind, Spain shouldn't underestimate their Scandinavian opponents and the Blågult will surely fancy their chances against a Spanish side who are still in the rebuilding stages following a forgettable World Cup. Check out 90min's preview for Monday's qualifier below. Where to Watch  When Is Kick Off? Monday 10 June What Time Is Kick Off? 19:45 (BST) Where Is it Played? Santiago Bernabéu TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports Football (UK) - UDN/UniMas (US) - fuboTV Referee? William Collum Team News  Both sides go into this fixture with no new injury concerns, but since they only played their last fixture three days ago, they may opt to rest some players.  Predicted Lineups  Spain Kepa; Navas, Ramos, Hermoso, Alba; Roberto, Rodri, Cazorla; Asensio, Morata, Isco.  Sweden Olsen, Lustig, Jansson, Helander, Augustinsson; Forsberg, Olsson, Ekdal, Claesson; Quaison, Berg. Head to Head Record  Spain have faced Sweden a total of twelve times throughout their history, winning five, drawing four and losing three. However, their last meeting was over a decade ago, when Spain faced them in the group stages of the 2008 European Championships. Le Furia Roja came out on top on that occasion, beating the Swedes 2-1 courtesy of goals by Fernando Torres and David Villa. Sweden haven't won against Spain since 2006, but won't be conscious of that going into this fixture. They know times have changed. Recent Form  Spain should be going into this fixture with a high degree of optimism, as they are unbeaten in 2019 and have won 4 of their last 5 games. Sweden, who could top the qualifying group with a win, have been a mixed bag in 2019, winning just two of their last five games. It's still early days in the qualifying stages and this game will prove to be the toughest test so far for both of these sides, although Spain could have some 80,000 fans cheering them on in Madrid. Here's how each team has performed over their last five fixtures.  Spain Sweden Faroe Islands 1-4 Spain (7/6/2019) Sweden 3-0 Malta (7/6/2019) Malta 0-2 Spain (26/3/2019) Norway 3-3 Sweden (26/3/2019) Spain 2-1 Norway (23/3/2019) Sweden 2-1 Romania (23/3/2019) Spain 1-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina (18/11/2018) Sweden 2-2 Iceland (11/1/2019) Croatia 3-2 Spain (15/11/2018) Sweden 0-1 Finland (8/1/2019 Prediction  It should prove to be a tough test for both sides, however, both on paper and form wise, Spain seems to edge it. A resounding win for Spain would surely solidify Luis Enrique's status as the right man to lead Spain into the European Championships. Prediction: Spain 2-1 Sweden


The Indianapolis Colts announced the contract extension of punter Rigoberto Sanchez on Tuesday, and some of the minor details have been reported. Though the amount of the extension has yet to be reported, the Colts are giving Sanchez a crisp four-year deal, which will run the third-year punter through the 2023 season, per Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star. Rigoberto Sanchez's extension is for four seasons, according to a source. So Sanchez is now signed through 2023. - Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) June 4, 2019 Sanchez has been a revelation on special teams filling in as the successor to Pat McAfee, who has been in full support since first seeing the former show off the boot during spring workouts in 2017. The Hawaii product played at a Pro Bowl level in 2018, and the Colts felt it necessary to reward him handsomely with the longest contract Chris Ballard has given out since his tenure began. The Colts have been intent on re-signing their own, and Sanchez becomes the latest to get an extension. MORE: WATCH: Did Nike just reveal Kevin Durant's free agency destination? Return of NASCAR: Packers planning ways to get 4 OLBs on the field together Did Nike accidentally reveal that Kevin Durant is staying with the Warriors? Report: Suns, Bulls offering lottery picks for Lonzo Ball Five candidates for ALL-USA Boys Soccer Player of the Year