There are certain teams that have offenses so strong that fantasy football managers wind up gravitating towards, hoping to find a sleeper that carves out a role in a high-volume unit. The Indianapolis Colts are certainly one of those teams that will be heavily targeted in re-draft leagues given how efficient the offense is. This becomes truer when looking late in drafts and on the waiver wire searching for the next big asset to emerge. Skipping past the big guns that most fantasy managers know about (e.g. Andrew Luck), here are four Colts that have sleeper potential in fantasy football for the 2019 season: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports WR Devin Funchess One of the few outside acquisitions the Colts brought in from free agency, Funchess has a chance to carve out a role in the offense working on the boundary as the WR2 opposite T.Y. Hilton. Now, that role didn't hold much value in typical fantasy leagues in 2018, but that could be more attributed to the dearth of talent in the room. Funchess is getting a clean slate in an offense that can maximize his talents without making him the top target for opposing defenses. Funchess, of course, must first secure that starting role in the wide receiver room. If he does, though, there is a chance he becomes an intriguing fantasy asset with plenty of touchdown upside. (AP Photo/AJ Mast RB Nyheim Hines There is no denying who is leading the backfield. As it stands during OTAs, that job belongs to Marlon Mack, who shouldn't be considered a sleeper considering where he's going in mock drafts. However, there is a name to keep an eye on in the backfield in the form of Hines. Holding the valuable role as the pass catcher out of the backfield, Hines really only holds sleeper value in PPR formats, barring an injury to the aforementioned Mack. Hines caught 63 passes during his rookie campaign and while the addition of weapons this offseason might result in a decrease in target share, the Colts love his ability to be a mismatch when split out wide lining up across from linebackers. Hines' work in the passing game last year helped him finish as the RB21 in full-PPR scoring, though he was the RB36 from Week 10 on. Regardless, Hines has the chance to carve out a solid role in the offense as a pass catcher and should anything happen to Mack, that role would become even bigger. AP Photo/Michael Conroy WR Parris Campbell The wide receiver room should be a fun one to watch both for Colts fans and fantasy football managers. One player getting plenty of hype throughout the spring since being selected in the second round of the draft is the rookie Campbell. How quickly the Ohio State product can carve out a starting role remains to be seen, but many are already pegging him as the WR3 in the room. Given how the Colts need a slot receiver that can create offense after the catch, Campbell has the opportunity to be a solid stash. He's certainly a better target in dynasty leagues, but there is a chance Campbell finds a way to have some sleeper impact when considering how well he can work both as a vertical and horizontal weapon in the Colts offense. AP Photo/Michael Conroy WR Deon Cain The Colts are waiting patiently for the return of Cain, who suffered a torn ACL during the preseason opener in 2018. The Clemson product appeared to be on the fast track to be the WR2 in the offense, but now he faces a much tougher group to compete with. The Colts raved about Cain's athleticism working on the outside, and he showed plenty of that as a vertical threat during training camp last year. He's expected to be ready for training camp in a few months where he's likely to be one of the top candidates to compete for a starting role on the outside, along with the aforementioned Funchess. Cain is already running routes, sprinting and cutting as he works his way back from surgery to repair the torn ACL, and if he winds up grabbing that starting spot on the outside, it is likely to be accompanied by sleeper value. MORE: Five potential Chris Paul trade destinations This 'Jeopardy' contestant failing to beat James Holzhauer to buzzer sums up his epic run Metta World Peace says Warriors earned his respect the hard way Belichick felt fortunate Harry fell to Pats in draft Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti shocked by C.J. Mosley's contract with Jets


Interested in discovering the newest restaurant and retail additions to Santa Ana? From a barbecue spot to a food truck, read on to see the newest hot spots to land recently. Off The Hoof Off The Hoof is a food court option, offering sandwiches, barbecue and more, that recently opened at 201 E. Fourth St., Suite #136. The barbecue chopped pork sandwich heads the list of sandwiches here; you'll also find the Cubano and patty melt among the offerings. Each sandwich comes with mixed greens and a Dijon vinaigrette dressing. (Take a peek at the full menu here .) With 4.5 stars from five reviews on Yelp, the newcomer is receiving positive attention from patrons. Yelper Alex F. wrote , "We ordered the dirty fries and sausage patty sandwich. The fries were cooked perfectly with a satisfying bite to them. The toppings, which included pulled pork and baked beans, rounded out the dish and made it a satisfying meal that was wonderfully smoky." Munchies Vegan Diner Wander over to 515 N. Main St. and you'll find Munchies Vegan Diner , a new traditional American and breakfast and brunch spot. This spot serves breakfast, lunch and dinner on a daily basis. Expect unique options such as the vegan pizzafries, which are served with melted provolone cheese, marinara sauce and a dusting of parmesan cheese; and pair them with the patty melt. With 4.5 stars from 13 reviews on Yelp, the fresh arrival is off to a strong start. Yelper Christopher C. wrote , "My favorite dish here is 'The Jimmy,' a sliced piece of sausage that tastes incredible in its own right. It's covered with vegan provolone that's honestly the star of the dish." Bulgogi Truck The Bulgogi Truck is a new food truck that's located at 2520 S. Birch St. This spot specializes in Korean barbecue. You'll also find quesadillas, rice bowls and a Korean-style grilled cheese. The new arrival is still trying to find its footing on Yelp. Yelper Shantel R. wrote , "Not bad in terms of decent flavor and portion size. But $14 is too much for a small bowl, so I wouldn't come back." 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.


Last season, the 2018 Chicago Bears had one of the NFL's best offenses and defenses, but ultimately came up short of winning a Super Bowl. Now, heading into 2019 Bears not only want to top the performance of last year's team, but the performance of one of the best teams in franchise and league history, the 1985 Bears. Speaking to SiriusXM , safety Eddie Jackson made clear what the team's goals are heading into its 100th season. "Our goal right now for defense is to be No. 1 across the board," Jackson said. "Like I told them earlier, shout out to the '85 Bears, but we want to top everything they've done." Led by head coach Mike Ditka, the 1985 Chicago Bears led the league in numerous defensive categories en route to a 15-1 season and the franchise's lone Super Bowl victory. Defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan helped coach Mike Singletary, Richard Dent and Otis Wilson to some of their best seasons of their career that year. 'We have everything to prove' Despite the 12-4 record last season with a NFC North title to match, there is still a lot to prove. After winning the final four games of the season, the Bears lost 16-15 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening round of the NFC playoffs. "We have everything to prove. We went far last year, but came up short in that first-round playoff game," Jackson said. "Like I tell everyone, that's the fuel to our fire right now. That's what keeps us going. Everyone's seen and felt how great this team was last year. Now, everyone sees that it's even better this year with the new faces added, the new coaches and just to see that everyone's on board." In 2019, the team's defense will no longer be headed by Vic Fangio, who departed to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos. Instead, Chuck Pagano will serve as the defensive coordinator. In the offseason, the team inked cornerback Buster Skrine and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to deals, and used two of its five draft picks to shore up the backfield. "I'm really excited for this year. It's going to be something special," Jackson added. "I stand behind what I said earlier in the season, we plan on taking this whole thing. We plan on winning the Super Bowl." The Bears open Week 1 at home against the Green Bay Packers. More from Yahoo Sports: What kept Rapinoe on the bench in USWNT's win Twitter celebrates Morgan's epic troll of England Tracing the timeline of KD and Kyrie's plan to join Nets Root for the USWNT in style with our favorite apparel


For the final 30 days leading up to the start of Seattle Seahawks training camp, we will be counting down the 30 most important players on the roster heading into the 2019 season. Drafted as a blocking tight end in the 2018 NFL draft, Will Dissly demonstrated soft hands and clean route-running during training camp, which prompted the coaching staff to hand him the role as the team's No. 1 tight end and to deploy him as a route-runner right away. It was a move that paid off, as the former UW product had three receptions for 105 yards in his first NFL game. His promising start came to an abrupt end in Week 4 however, after he suffered a torn patella tendon. The good news is that coach Pete Carroll expects him to be fully healthy for the 2019 season . That's a great sign for the Seahawks, who saw Dissly rack up eight receptions for 156 yards and two touchdowns in basically just three games of work last year. Now, Dissly will look to pick up where he left off this season. He'll be competing with Nick Vannett and Ed Dickson, along with former Patriots tight end Jacob Hollister, who has impressed so far during minicamp . The job is Dissly's to lose, however, and so long as he stays healthy and demonstrates the all-around skill that made him such a big part of Seattle's offense at the beginning of last season, he'll have a huge role for the Seahawks again in 2019. MORE: Poker player argues over dealer chip counting error during crucial all-in hand at WSOP Main Event Roundup: Monica Lewinsky Fire Tweet, Richard Seymour in the Money at World Series of Poker, Robert Kraft New Girlfriend Trysten Hill may be crowning point on Cowboys star-studded defense Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling on training with Randy Moss: 'Couldn't ask for a better mentor' 4 possible trade destinations for Browns RB Duke Johnson


We're not even into the thick of summer yet but we just might have an early leader in the clubhouse for the Fulmer Cup . The school in question would be UTEP, which received the unfortunate news this weekend that quarterback Kai Locksley was arrested in El Paso on numerous charges that will cause you to do a double-take. As per records obtained by ESPN600, the signal-caller was picked up Friday night and was charged with "unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession of marijuana, terroristic threat and driving while intoxicated." So… yeah. That's one wild night. The school so far hasn't responded to the news nor issued any sort of statement on Locksley's status with the team. The senior, who is indeed the son of Maryland head football coach Mike Locksley , was widely expected to be the starter under center in 2019 for the Miners. The younger Locksley played in nine games last season (starting eight) and threw for 937 yards and three touchdowns, rushing for six more scores on the ground. He originally joined the team after spending 2017 at Iowa Western Community College following his departure from Texas . UTEP opens the season against Houston Baptist at the Sun Bowl on Aug. 31.


Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead has had his share of misses in the NFL draft, but he's also hit quite a few home runs. He should be recognized more for nailing the picks of Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, John Johnson and Todd Gurley than his whiffs on players such as Greg Robinson and Tavon Austin. In back-to-back years, Snead came away with arguably the best player in the entire class. He wasn't recognized for that at the time, but in hindsight, Donald and Gurley look like the top players from 2014 and '15. NFL.com's Adam Schein recently picked the best player to come from each of the last nine draft classes and the Rams came away with two selections: Donald and Gurley. Picking the best player from the 2014 class is especially difficult. It was a loaded draft that saw Khalil Mack, Odell Beckham Jr., Jadeveon Clowney, Zack Martin and Mike Evans selected in the first round. Of the top 17 picks, only four haven't made a Pro Bowl. Donald certainly stands above the rest, having won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and breaking the DT sack record with 20.5 last season. But a case could also be made for Mack and Beckham being the top picks from that class. In 2015, the quality dropped off a cliff. There are underwhelming quarterbacks at the top in Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, busts such as Kevin White and Ereck Flowers and disappointing players like DeVante Parker, Kevin White and Dante Fowler Jr. A few studs also came out of that class - Amari Cooper, Leonard Williams, Brandon Scherff, Byron Jones, Landon Collins - but Gurley is the cream of the crop. Here's what Schein wrote about Gurley and the 2015 class. This class is tricky - and relatively weak. We are still waiting for quarterbacks Jameis Winston (taken first overall by the Buccaneers) and Marcus Mariota (picked second overall by the Titans) to truly arrive as starters in the NFL. You can make the case that running back David Johnson (taken in Round 3 by the Cardinals) will get back in this conversation; two years removed from a 2,118-scrimmage yard campaign in 2016, Johnson missed all but one game in 2017 with a wrist injury and struggled to make an impact in 2018, but now he's healthy and working with a new coach in Kliff Kingsbury. You could also argue that receiver Amari Cooper (picked fourth overall by the Raiders) will shine moving forward in Dallas, considering the numbers he put up (725 yards and six scores in nine games) after being traded to the Cowboys last October. And I love Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (Round 1, No. 15 overall). But no player, not even Johnson, has been able to stay at the highest point reached by Gurley. A knee issue seemed to limit him last season, but when Gurley is healthy, he plays like an MVP. In the four seasons since he entered the NFL, no one has more rushing yards (4,547), scrimmage yards (6,430), total touchdowns (56) or touches (1,229) than Gurley. Gurley is of course dealing with an arthritic condition in his knee, but there's no denying the impact he's had the last two years for the Rams. As long as he can stay healthy and effective, he's still going to look like one of the best picks from 2015. The core of Donald and Gurley - without even mentioning Jared Goff and several others - have the Rams set up for success again in 2019 and beyond. MORE: Four potential DeMarcus Cousins landing spots in free agency Mystery of fish caught with wedding ring attached solved Report: Nets likely to sign Kyrie Irving to 4-year, $141 million deal Roundup: Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana; Trump Threatens Iran; San Francisco Bans E-Cigarettes 3 adjustments the Raiders should make on offense in 2019


Cargo shorts may no longer be in fashion in 2019, but don't tell that to Mike Leach. The unconventional college football coach remains a huge fan of cargo shorts. He was asked at the end of Washington State Cougars practice on Saturday about some of his clothing items, such as his fitted hat and cargo shorts. He told the Spokesman-Review's Theo Lawson that he wears the cargo shorts because he loves the pockets. Also, he doesn't like how free his "stuff" is in nylon shorts. Mike Leach wears cargos as religiously as Jim Harbaugh wears khakis & you'll never see the #WSU coach in nylon shorts. "I don't understand those. You jog around & your stuff flaps all over the place. I've never liked those." Interpret "your stuff flaps around" how you'd like. pic.twitter.com/r4TqZFAwtG   Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) August 4, 2019 Amen Mike, amen. Can't argue with him on that point. Whether he's talking about his shorts preference or how he avoids halftime interviews , Leach never fails to deliver a good quote.


Sometimes I wish all of the parents of the world would get together and agree to stop pushing kids to succeed from the moment they can walk and talk. I'm not sure when the race to Harvard became a thing, but it seems to have reached toxic levels. I have had more than one parent sit on my couch and tell me stories of how their kids could read when they were practically toddlers and completed fourth-grade math in second grade. So why, oh why, were those super smart, quick-to-excel children falling apart? They didn't see themselves as the kind of parents that piled on the pressure. No, they were certain that they were simply inspiring their kids to achieve more. They were helping. High parental aspiration leads to better academic achievement, right? As it turns out, yes and no. Recent research published by the American Psychological Association shows that while high parental aspiration can help students achieve some academic success, unrealistic parental aspiration can have the opposite effect. According to this study , when parental aspiration exceeds realistic expectations, children 's achievement actually decreases . It can undermine their learning potential. Funny enough, when I speak to groups of parents about the toxic effects of childhood stress, they all nod their heads in agreement. They want their kids to experience a happy childhood. They want to step back from the culture of overachievement that seems to go hand-in-hand with the current climate of busy that exists in this country. The problem, they tell me, is that they don't know how to stop what they've already begun. To step away from all of the things and reduce the pressure their kids endure is to let other kids have an "advantage" over their kids. If they don't push them academically, athletically and otherwise , their kids won't get into the colleges of their choice (when that day arrives). I hear this exact worry over and over again. No one can do everything without hitting a wall at some point, and yet we enroll kids in every little thing and expect perfect grades simply because we can. Parents feel the pressure to raise highly successful children, and that pressure trickles down to the kids who are low on sleep and high on stress. It's a difficult cycle to break. What can parents do reduce the pressure-cooker nature of modern day childhood? 1, Talk about emotional health The fact is that many kids are under increased stress today. And I'm not just talking about teens looking to the future. We are over-scheduling kids of all ages and buying into things like "specializing" in sports and increased after school enrichment to raise well-rounded kids. We are in the thick of it, parents, and we need to start by acknowledging that this isn't healthy. Parents have a tendency to gloss over the hard stuff and look to the the good stuff to focus on things like gratitude and happiness. The truth is, teaching kids (of all ages) to work through the hard stuff is key to empowering them to live grateful and happy lives. Talk about emotional health. Label and discuss feelings of anxiety, sadness, stress and depression. Be the helper that you want your kids to seek out when the going gets tough. 2. Empower your kids to make hard choices No one can do everything without hitting a wall at some point, and yet we enroll kids in every little thing and expect perfect grades simply because we can. Then we rely on phrases like, "He wants to do it all" as an excuse for over-scheduling and lack of sleep . Teach your kids to make hard choices to improve their overall mental health. Sure, maybe you have a go-getter on your hands who wants to play two sports and piano while learning to bake. It's up to you to teach your child to understand the importance of balance. Drilling your kids in their free time won't actually help them excel. In fact, it will most likely increase their stress levels and leave them feeling resentful. Put your monthly calendar on a giant piece of paper and tape it to the wall. Step back and look at it as a family. Talk about ways to decrease the stress load. One sport per season is healthy. Packing in an extra sport can have negative consequences for the teams involved (Your child can't be at two games at the same time) and leave your child feeling stretched thin. Make a hard choice and try that other sport during a different season. 3. Set realistic expectations Some kids love math . Others excel in writing or science. All children deserve the gift of time to hone their skills and learn at a pace that works for them. Drilling your kids in their free time won't actually help them excel. In fact, it will most likely increase their stress levels and leave them feeling resentful. Offer guidance when your children seek your help, but don't try to force unrealistic learning goals on them. They will work through their weaknesses and continue to build upon their strengths. That's all part of the learning process. But they will only achieve this if they feel supported. Pile on the pressure and you just might find that stress and anxiety hinder their learning. Step back, worried parents, your children will learn and grow. All you have to do is let them. Share on Facebook


The first black student to ever enroll at and attend the University of Alabama, received an honorary doctoral degree from the institution on Friday. "I love The University of Alabama, and it is an honor to be recognized in this way,"Autherine Lucy Foster said in a statement. "I am thankful for opportunities such as this, which allow us to talk about the past while looking to the future," she continued. Foster, 89, enrolled into the university in 1956. She originally applied to be a student at the school in 1952, shortly after earning an English degree from another college earlier that year, but was denied because of her race, the university said in a release . It wasn't until a court intervened and ordered the school to reverse its decision that Foster could enroll at the institution in 1956. She had taken up classes at the school for three days before she was expelled after her enrollment prompted a wave of racist protests and death threats targeting her. A legendary moment. Thank you to civil rights pioneer + #UA legend Autherine Lucy Foster for her tenacious spirit in the face of adversity. We are honored to be part of this moment #TodayAtUA #BamaGrad #WhereLegendsAreMade pic.twitter.com/WhHRxtj47n - The Univ. of Alabama (@UofAlabama) May 3, 2019 Thirty-five years later, Foster would eventually be able to graduate from the school in 1991, earning a master's degree in education. "It's truly a privilege to award Mrs. Foster with an honorary degree from The University of Alabama," the university's president, Stuart R. Bell, said in a statement. "Her tenacious spirit, gracious heart for helping others and unfailing belief in the value of education and human rights positions Mrs. Foster as a meaningful example of what one can achieve in the face of adversity," he added.


Chaser, the border collie known as "the world's smartest dog," died last week at the age of fifteen.


Amid rumors of discord between his two star players, Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni said that tension between guards Chris Paul and James Harden is nothing to worry about. D'Antoni said that it's "normal" for the teammates to go back-and-forth about the correct style and added that the whole thing isn't much of a story. Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni also addressed the @TheAthletic report about tense talks between himself, Chris Paul and James Harden regarding style of play. https://t.co/T6IHQneHbZ pic.twitter.com/kPJF0H66ND   Sam Amick (@sam_amick) May 25, 2019 This comes on the heels of a report that Harden and Paul had a tense disagreement after being eliminated from the playoffs by the Golden State Warriors. D'Antoni is doing what he should be doing here, which is trying to turn a negative report into nothing. All is not perfect in Houston, but it was not as if the Rockets performed badly this season, so it seems manageable for now. Related slideshow: 2019 NBA Playoffs (Provided by imagn)


In the glow of victory, fighters often thank a host of people who got them ready to compete. Often, they run through far more names than most people want to hear. Not often, though, does one of those fighters thank his mother-in-law. But if Junior Dos Santos gets past the powerful Francis Ngannou on Saturday at UFC Minneapolis (9 p.m. ET, ESPN), he may set a new standard for thank yous. Because Dos Santos, a former UFC heavyweight champion, said he couldn't have taken the bout had his mother-in-law not come to the U.S. from Brazil to help his wife after the May birth of their son, Bento. Dos Santos is generally a yes man   When the UFC offers a fight, he'll usually say yes first and ask who later   but he had to work things out when the fight with Ngannou was offered. "We figured it all out before I accepted the fight, all the back-and-forth and everything we'd have to do," he said. "I got lucky. This is an important fight, of course, and everything worked out perfectly. I'm thankful to my mother-in-law, who came in from Brazil and made it possible for me to accept this fight. I couldn't have accepted it without her being there to help my wife." It's a massive bout for Dos Santos, who lost the heavyweight title to Cain Velasquez in 2012 after one successful defense and has gone 0-3 in championship bouts since. "Cigano" hasn't been promised anything, but Stipe Miocic is ranked No. 1 and he'll fight champion Daniel Cormier for the belt in a rematch at UFC 241 in August. Ngannou is ranked No. 2 and Dos Santos is third. It figures the winner would get the next title crack. "I want my next one to be for the title and that's what I am expecting, but until you sign the papers, you don't know for sure," he said. "I just want to keep fighting and keep winning and if I do, I know good things will happen." Dos Santos is in the frame of mind to perform at his best. He's now the father of a son as well as a daughter, Maria, and said having the responsibilities fatherhood brings has made him a different man. He's at peace and eager to show he's the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. "I thought I knew what happiness was before, but I realize now that I've had my kids, I didn't," he said. "I'm so blessed. I'm so happy, I can't even tell you. Having a family brings a lot more responsibility, but it's something I think I've needed. "I am determined to be the best I can be. I always have felt like if I could put things together, I can be the champion again and stay there for a long time. I can beat all those guys. But becoming a father and understanding what all of that means, it's pushed me more than I could say." He's about a 2-1 underdog to Ngannou, who is coming off a first-round KO of Velasquez . One of Dos Santos' issues in the past is that he's gotten hit far too often, especially by guys whose boxing isn't nearly as technical as his. Getting hit a lot by Ngannou means an almost-certain loss, and that hasn't escaped Dos Santos' attention. "I was impressed by what he did [in the win over Velasquez]," Dos Santos said. "We all knew this guy has crazy power, crazy KO power. My God, he can hit. He's probably the most dangerous guy in the UFC with all that power and he's awkward and coming at you with these crazy punches from angles you're not expecting. "But the point of boxing is to hit and not get hit, and I consider myself a boxer. I have all these other skills, but my talent is really my ability to box. I can move better and I can create better angles and I can do more than he can. I really believe that."


Stockton will see warm temperatures through Wednesday, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Temperatures will heat up more from Thursday to Sunday, with a high of 97 degrees on Saturday. The immediate forecast also has clear skies in store for today. Some clouds will appear on Tuesday, remaining partly cloudy through Wednesday. Winds will remain light throughout the week, with the highest speeds today at only 11 mph. This story was created automatically using Saildrone's local weather forecast data, then reviewed by an editor. We also incorporate historic weather data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


(Bloomberg) -- YouTube is considering more changes to how content for kids shows up on the world's largest video site as criticism mounts that it's unsafe for children. YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc.'s Google, is debating changes involving kids' content, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The Wall Street Journal earlier reported that the company was mulling moving all videos for children to its separate YouTube Kids app. Such a drastic change is unlikely, according to the person, who asked not to be identified discussing in-house company deliberations. The Google unit has long positioned itself as a neutral platform that lets anyone upload and watch whatever videos they want. But now the site is struggling to convince parents and advertisers that it can protect children from violent, upsetting and harmful content. On Monday, Bloomberg reported that children who use YouTube's main site far outnumber those who stick to the safer, vetted YouTube Kids app. YouTube has already made tweaks to the platform as it tries to create a safer site for children. The company banned comments on thousands of videos featuring kids after predators were found to be using the comment section to flag parts of the videos showing activities that could be twisted to be construed as sexual. "We consider lots of ideas for improving YouTube and some remain just that -- ideas," a YouTube spokeswoman said in an email. "Others, we develop and launch, like our restrictions to minors live streaming or updated hate speech policy." YouTube only recently made "responsible growth" its core metric , after years of focusing on engagement, even after employees flagged harmful and misleading videos to executives, Bloomberg reported earlier this year. Major advertisers have frozen YouTube spending at various times out of fear their ads will be shown next to harmful videos. Still, the video site remains, with Facebook Inc. and Instagram, among the most popular places to advertise online. To contact the reporters on this story: Gerrit De Vynck in New York at gdevynck@bloomberg.net;Lucas Shaw in Los Angeles at lshaw31@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Robin Ajello For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com ©2019 Bloomberg L.P.


In the first 98 races of his career, Chase Elliott didn't win a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race. Then he won at Watkins Glen International, and that victory last August provided a sweet storyline amid talk that centered around whether the proverbial floodgates would open as far as wins. But, frankly, Chevrolet drivers were struggling, and Elliott had led just 56 total laps prior to this initial victory. When the playoffs started, Elliott, with his popularity soaring as the son of 16-time most popular driver Bill Elliott, showed he could rattle off wins. He advanced to the third round after winning two of three second-round races at Dover International Speedway and Kansas Speedway . That surge at the end of 2018 was short-lived, however, and he started the 2019 season without leading a lap in any of the first five races. But Elliott very well could have jump-started his year with his win last Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway , the 10th race of the NASCAR season. Look at what's coming up the next two weeks: Dover this weekend, followed by Kansas. "Those were certainly great wins last year," Elliott said after his Talladega victory. "I felt like any time you can win and win often is a big deal. I felt like we won pretty often in that span of a couple months last year, which was great. "I still don't think we're winning often enough. I feel like we need to be contending more. I see some of our competitors being in contention more than we have been throughout the season." Elliott's early-season slump provided a best finish of ninth in the first five races of 2019. Then it appeared he found another gear. He led 49 laps and finished second at Martinsville. He followed that race by starting third and leading 35 laps at Texas and then starting on the pole and leading 38 laps at Bristol   but couldn't parlay those fast cars into top-10 finishes. He entered Talladega coming off an awful Richmond race where he scrambled for a 15th-place finish after starting 32nd. "To have a win this early in the year I think is nice," Elliott said. "And just because we won at Dover and Kansas last year doesn't mean we're going to go run good there, too. "It's going to be hit‑or‑miss. We're going to go there and see what we have. We didn't run good at Richmond, which was unfortunate. We had a good day (at Talladega). We need to ride that as best we can." NASCAR: Abandons group qualifying after ridicule OPINION: NASCAR's qualifying solution isn't flashiest, but it's the right one OPINION: Larson rolled but Talladega race rocked for NASCAR WHITE HOUSE VISIT: Trump praises NASCAR fans while honoring Logano While history doesn't guarantee results, Elliott now has a win at a superspeedway (Talladega), a 1.5-mile track (Kansas), a 1-mile track (Dover) and a road course (Watkins Glen). That is a sign of his versatility and ability to adapt. "To win the championship and to get to Homestead, you have to be able to win races," Elliott crew chief Alan Gustafson said. "That was the hurdle we hadn't been able to get over. We won the Glen; it was fantastic. But you have to win in the playoffs. You have to win when everybody is on their best game. Video: Elliott tames Talladega (Provided by NASCAR) "At both those (Dover and Kansas) tracks, we did a really good job, were able to win in crunchtime, had really fast cars." Gustafson loves Dover, and that win stood out to him because it is such a tough, fast track where the driver is on edge all day. The win at Kansas last year ranked as special because Elliott's best finish at a 1.5-mile track previously had been 10th several months earlier at Atlanta. "Kansas, to be honest with you, as much as we struggled on the mile-and-a-half tracks last year, I didn't feel like there was any way we were going to win a mile-and-a-half track," Gustafson said. "We worked really hard at this mile-and-a-half program and had a test (last year) at Kansas that went fantastic. We were really solid all week, really were in position all day long." Gustafson admits he feels "about like I did last year" on his team's performance on 1.5-mile tracks. But as Elliott has shown, don't count him out. In his last 25 races, he has four wins and eight top-5 finishes. The downside: He also has 11 finishes outside the top 10, including five outside the top 15. "I'm just trying to ride the roller coaster," Elliott said. "You try not to be too up on the ups, too down on the downs. There's so many things out of my control, out of my hands. "You just have to kind of roll with it some days. That's not fun sometimes. Sometimes it is. … Everything kind of runs its course for a reason." Bob Pockrass is a FOX Sports reporter. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass . This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Opinion: With Talladega win in his pocket, Chase Elliott enters his sweet spot on NASCAR schedule


The Wraparound is your daily look at the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. We'll break down each day's matchups with the all-important television and live streaming information included. With a few exceptions, namely Tuukka Rask , Sean Kuraly and Charlie Coyle , the Boston Bruins could use a lot more from some of their biggest names heading into a pivot Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday ( 8 p.m. ET; NBC; live stream ). Rask has seen a pile of shots again. Coyle has scored in three straight games and is now tied for the team lead in goals with Patrice Bergeron at nine. And Kuraly? Well, he's a welcomed addition to a fourth line, if we're being fair, that's been as solid as they come in the playoffs. [ NBC 2019 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF HUB ] As hockey is a team game and it's often the sum of the parts that get the job done, the Bruins need better from some of their best. We'll start on the second line with Jake DeBrusk , David Krejci and David Backes . The line has been a bit of a ghost so far in this series with no goals thus far. DeBrusk has two points in the series   his only points in the last 6 games   while Krejci (four games) and Backes (six games) are both on point droughts. "We got to sit down with them, obviously," Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said. "They got to change the way they're playing. It hasn't worked so far to generate offense… We're going to have to revisit it, sell some different ideas of how they can generate offense." The top line Bergeron, Brad Marchand and David Pastrnak , meanwhile, need another dominant game, the type where they're unstoppable and the Bruins are, thus, unbeatable. We saw some of that in Game 3, where they combined for five points. It'd be better to see it 5-on-5, however. Game 3 sort of skews all the numbers given the lethality of their power play in that one. A game where they produce in the seven to 10 point range as a line would be a welcomed sight for Boston fans. The good news for Boston is they get to play Game 5 (and 7, if it's needed) at TD Garden, where they've won seven of 11 in these playoffs. NHL PR has a couple of stats regarding the Bruins and playing at home. "The Perfection Line" of Bergeron (4-2 6), Marchand (3-6 9) and Pastrnak (3-4 7) have accounted for more than one-quarter of Boston's tallies through 11 home games this postseason (10 of 37; 27.0%). Four Boston players are averaging at least one point per game following a loss this postseason: Marchand (4-6 10 in 6 GP), Pastrnak (4-4 8 in 6 GP), Bergeron (4-4 8 in 6 GP) and Torey Krug (2-6 8 in 6 GP). Another good omen is Tuukka Rask's ability to bounce back in these playoffs. Like Jordan Binnington 200 feet the other way, Rask ups the ante following a loss. He's 5-1 with a 2.01 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage in the game after a loss. A couple of adjustments might just prevent one team from winning two straight for the first time in this series. MORE BLUES-BRUINS: Blues vs. Bruins: Three keys to Game 5 of Stanley Cup Final Chara's status for Game 5 unclear; Grzelcyk skates Pastrnak's tape job makes for incredibly unique stick Blues beating Bruins in battle of attrition in Cup Final Blues fans' baby was in Stanley Cup 20 minutes after birth Laila Anderson bobblehead created to benefit St. Louis Hospital Scott Billeck is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports . Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @scottbilleck W


452 AD: Attila the Hun invades Italy Attila the Hun, one of the most feared enemies of the Roman Empire invaded ravaged Italy on this day. 632 AD: Prophet Muhammad dies Muhammad Prophet, founder of Islam religion dies in Medina. He was a prophet and God's messenger, sent to present and confirm the monotheistic teachings preached previously by Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets. 1862: Battle of Cross Keys The Battle of Cross Keys begins and is fought as part of Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign through the Shenandoah Valley during the American Civil War. 1929: Margaret Bondfield becomes first female cabinet minister of UK After being appointed as the Minister of Labour, Margaret Bondfield becomes the first female cabinet minister and the first woman to be a privy counsellor in United Kingdom's Labour government of 1929-31. Bondfield is also the first woman to chair the General Council of the Trades Union Congress. 1953: U.S. Supreme Court orders the desegregation of restaurants US Supreme Court rules restaurants located in Washington, D.C., are not allowed to refuse serving black diners any further. 1967: Israeli airplanes attack USS Liberty, killing 34 crewmen Israeli planes and one or more torpedo boats, mistakenly attack the US Navy research ship, the USS Liberty, in the Mediterranean Sea near the Sinai Peninsula. 1968: Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassin is arrested James Earl Ray is arrested in London for the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Two days later on his 41st birthday he confessed to the crime. He pleaded guilty to avoid a death sentence and was sentenced to 99 years of imprisonment instead. 1968: Robert F. Kennedy is laid to rest The assassinated U.S. Senator, Robert F. Kennedy, is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. The Senator was assassinated while running for presidency campaign. 1991: National Victory Celebration A victory parade is held in Washington DC to celebrate the conclusion of the Gulf War. It was the largest military parade since the 2nd World War as 8000 desert storm troops participated along with a group of Vietnam Veterans. 1995: US Air Force Captain Scott O'Grady is rescued U.S. Marines rescue Capt. Scott O'Grady, whose F-16C fighter jet had been shot down by Bosnian Serbs on June 2. 2016: Maria Sharapova is suspended for two years Maria Sharapova is suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation for testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open. The ban, which was backdated to Jan. 26, 2016, was later reduced to 15 months.


There were plenty of low scores to kick off the FedExCup playoffs, but the reigning Masters champ wasn't among them. Here's how things look after the opening round of The Northern Trust in New Jersey, where Troy Merritt leads and Tiger Woods finds himself near the bottom of the standings: Leaderboard: Troy Merritt (-9), Dustin Johnson (-8), Kevin Kisner (-7), Jon Rahm (-7), Rory McIlroy (-6), Justin Rose (-6) What it means: Merritt got off to a fast start in the early-morning hours when fans were not yet allowed on the course, and he kept it going once they arrived to grab an early lead. But as expected, it's a star-studded leaderboard behind him that includes a former tournament winner in Johnson and two former FedExCup champs not far off the pace. Round of the day: Merritt won his lone Tour title back in 2015, but he was a runner-up last month in Reno and entered this week on the top-70 bubble for next week's BMW Championship. He's on the right side of the numbers after turning in a bogey-free 62, splitting his scorecard between birdies and pars including four birdies in a row on Nos. 11-14. Best of the rest: Johnson won this event two years ago when it was played at Glen Oaks, and he's again in the mix after an 8-under 63 left him ahead of everyone but Merritt. Johnson has a WGC win and two major runner-up finishes to his credit this year, and he's again in the mix after a round highlighted by four straight birdies on Nos. 5-8. The Northern Trust: Full-field scores | Full coverage | FedExCup standings Biggest disappointment: It seems like it's going to be a quick stop in the Garden State for Woods, who still hasn't shown much spark since slipping into a green jacket four months ago. His latest setback was a lackluster, 4-over 75 that left him ahead of only one player among the 120-man field. Woods had five bogeys to go along with a double on No. 14, and he's now in need of something in the mid-60s simply to make the final cut of the season. Main storyline heading into Friday: Johnson is likely to remain a factor, but keep an eye on McIlroy who opened with a 65 to go along with a slow start from points leader Brooks Koepka (70). McIlroy is second in the standings to start the postseason and could move into the top spot heading to Chicago with a strong finish this week. Shot of the day: Sepp Straka holed a 137-yard approach for eagle on No. 4, only to follow with an eagle hole-out from the greenside bunker on No. 5. Unfortunately for the Austrian, there were few other highlights in a round of 2-over 73. Quote of the day: "I've got to get into the red by the end of the day tomorrow, for sure." - Woods, who started the week 28th in points but is now projected to fall to 33rd, with only the top 30 after next week advancing to the season-ending Tour Championship which he won a year ago.


HOUSTON, TX   It's the hurricane season and while many in the Houston area and other areas of the gulf coast may have the supplies to survive when they need to hunker down in the storm, it's important to remember the family pet. Items such as non-perishable food, water, candles, batteries for the radio and flashlights, and blankets are necessities for the humans in your home, but you'll need a stash for your pet too. The American Veterinary Medical Association provides a number of tips to pet owners lovers a pet evacuation kit before any natural or man-made disaster hits. Assemble the kit well in advance of any emergency and store in an easy-to-carry, waterproof container close to an exit. Food and Medicine 3-7 days' worth of dry and canned (pop-top) food* Two-week supply of medicine* At least 7 days' supply of water Feeding dish and water bowl Liquid dish soap *These items must be rotated and replaced to ensure they don't expire First Aid Kit Anti-diarrheal liquid or tablets Antibiotic ointment Bandage tape and scissors Cotton bandage rolls Flea and tick prevention (if needed in your area) Isopropyl alcohol/alcohol prep pads Latex gloves Saline solution Towel and washcloth Tweezers Sanitation Litter, litter pan, and scoop (shirt box with plastic bag works well for pan) Newspaper, paper towels, and trash bags Household chlorine beach or disinfectant Important Documents Identification papers including proof of ownership Medical records and medication instructions Emergency contact list, including veterinarian and pharmacy Photo of your pet (preferably with you) Travel Supplies Crate or pet carrier labeled with your contact information Extra collar/harness with ID tags and leash Flashlight, extra batteries Muzzle Comfort Items Favorite toys and treats Extra blanket or familiar bedding To learn more about pet disaster resources or creating your own kit, click here . Send your news tips and story ideas to bryan.kirk@patch.com


Lions cornerback Darius Slay appears set to extend his absence from Lions practices into this week's mandatory minicamp. Slay posted a live video on Instagram on Monday that included a conversation with another man about whether he was in Detroit in order to attend camp this week. "I don't know. I ain't going … Hey, man, I'm chilling, man," Slay said, via the Detroit Free Press . Slay has not attended the voluntary portions of the offseason program and failed to collect a $250,000 workout bonus as a result. He would be subject to a fined $88,650 if he missed all three days of the camp. Slay is under contract to the Lions through the 2020 season. He's set to make a base salary of $12.55 million this year and $10 million next year. Defensive tackle Damon Harrison has also been absent from OTAs this offseason, but there's been no word about his plans for this week's practices.


The Trail Blazers and Hawks have agreed to a trade, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports ( via Twitter ) that the teams are swapping veterans Evan Turner and Kent Bazemore . Turner and Bazemore signed nearly identical four-year, $70 million contracts during the summer of 2016, so both players will be on expiring deals during the 2019-20 season. Since Bazemore's contract was a little more backloaded, he'll be slightly more expensive next season, earning a salary of $19.27 million compared to Turner's $18.61 million. For Portland, Bazemore will be a three-and-D piece who could help space the floor around the Trail Blazers' play-making guards. The veteran swingman struggled in 2018-19, battling some health issues and finishing with just 11.6 PPG on .402/.320/.726 shooting in 67 games (24.5 MPG). However, he has been a more reliable rotation player in the past, having made 36.5% of his three-pointers in his first four years in Atlanta, including 39.4% in 2017-18. Bazemore should be a good fit on a Trail Blazers roster that could use another three-point marksman on the wing. In the postseason, Damian Lillard , CJ McCollum and Meyers Leonard were fairly reliable from outside, but the only wings making threes for Portland were Seth Curry and Rodney Hood   both players are free agents this summer. Turner, on the other hand, has never been much of an outside threat, but can be a secondary play-maker, having taken on a good deal of ball-handling responsibilities on the Trail Blazers' second unit last season. He averaged 6.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG and 3.9 APG on .460/.212/.708 shooting in 73 games (22.0 MPG). Presumably, with sharpshooter Allen Crabbe arriving in a trade with Brooklyn, Atlanta views Turner's skill set as more of a fit than Bazemore's on this season's roster. The Blazers and Hawks won't have to wait until the new league year begins to consummate this deal, since Turner's and Bazemore's cap charges are so similar.


OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Matt Olson and Mark Canha hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning, and the Oakland Athletics beat the slumping Seattle Mariners 6-2 on Friday night for their seventh straight win. Stephen Piscotty also homered and singled twice to extend his on-base streak to 22 games, the longest active streak in the majors. Ramon Laureano added two hits. Lou Trivino, the fourth of five pitchers used by the A's, retired four batters to win after starter Daniel Mengden matched his career high with five walks. Oakland, which had a game Sunday in Detroit suspended in the seventh inning due to weather, beat the Mariners for the first time this season after losing twice in Tokyo and twice in Seattle. The A's combined to issue seven walks but only one of the free passes was costly. The Mariners left the bases loaded three times and stranded 15 runners overall. Domingo Santana had three hits and an RBI for Seattle, which has lost four straight and seven of eight. Olson hit his fifth home run with two outs in the fourth, a three-run drive to right-center field. Canha followed with his eighth homer two pitches later. Canha has homered in three straight games for the first time in his career. Both home runs came against Wade LeBlanc (2-2), who allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. The left-hander has a 13.51 ERA and has given up six home runs in two starts since coming off the injured list May 18. The A's scored an unearned run in the seventh on Seattle catcher Omar Narvaez's throwing error. Piscotty homered off Connor Sadzeck in the eighth. Mengden allowed one run and five hits. He threw 99 pitches in four innings. ROSTER MOVE The A's recalled outfielder Skye Bolt from Triple-A Las Vegas. TRAINER'S ROOM Mariners: Sadzeck was removed for unknown reasons after getting checked on by the team trainer in the eighth. . 3B Kyle Seager is set to come off the 60-day disabled list and is expected to start on Saturday. Seager underwent surgery to repair a tendon in his left hand he injured while diving for a ball in spring training. Athletics: DH Khris Davis was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hip/oblique contusion. Davis as injured May 5 chasing a foul ball in Pittsburgh when he ran into the railing near left field at PNC Park and has been in and out of the lineup since. UP NEXT Mariners LHP Yusei Kikuchi (3-1, 3.43 ERA) faces Oakland for the third time in a third different stadium this season. Kikuchi previously pitched against the A's in Tokyo and Seattle, taking a no-decision each time. RHP Mike Fiers (3-3, 5.05) pitches for Oakland and has two wins in 10 career starts against the Mariners. --- More AP MLB:�https://apnews.com/MLB�and�https://twitter.com/AP-Sports


The Brewers announced today that they have signed southpaw Drew Smyly to a minor-league deal. He had previously been designated for assignment and then released by the Rangers. Smyly is due $7 million in total this year, but that salary will all be paid by the Texas organization except for any pro-rated portion of the league minimum that Smyly might command if he's called up. It's essentially a zero-risk roll of the dice for the Milwaukee outfit. The once-strong starter is still only 30 years old   he just celebrated his birthday, in fact   but hasn't turned in a healthy and effective campaign in quite some time. He was good in limited action in 2015, struggled through 30 starts in 2016, and then missed all of the ensuing two seasons. Smyly was able to take the mound this year after a lengthy rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery. And he had his fastball back at his typical ~91mph level. But Smyly was having no success fooling big league hitters, who banged 19 home runs in his 51 1/3 innings. He carries an 8.42 ERA with a 52:34 K/BB ratio on the season.


The grad transfer market is still in full swing, but for the most part, we know what the meaningful parts for the majority of the teams around the country will be. That means that it is time to start talking about what is coming instead of what was. With that in mind, let's take a look at key personnel changes, the impact of the coaching carousel and the most important storylines heading into the 2019-20 season for each of college basketball's top seven conferences. Today, we are talking Atlantic 10 KEY OFFSEASON STORYLINES THE LEAGUE WILL BE MUCH, MUCH BETTER THIS SEASON : The Atlantic 10 got lucky last season. There was one team in the league worthy of an at-large bid   VCU   and that team lost in the conference tournament. That's the only reason they ended up as a two-bid league instead of a one-bid league. This year should be different. VCU and Davidson are both sitting in the NBC Sports Preseason Top 25. Dayton isn't all that far behind them. Rhode Island and Richmond both bring back essentially all of the pieces that mattered last season. The top of the league is as strong as it has been in a while, and I think there's a real chance that we're talking about the conference getting three or four bids to the NCAA tournament this season. That, of course, all depends on what happens during non-conference play. Last year it was hideous for the league, and that left them in a position where the computer numbers were ugly and there was no way to add quality wins for the teams that needed quality wins. The bottom of the conference should be just as bad this season, but with three teams at the top worthy of top 25 consideration combined with a much stronger middle, there's reason to be hopeful. VCU AND DAVIDSON FIGHTING FOR FIRST PLACE : I think you can go either way when it comes to who is the favorite to win the league, but I don't think you can pick anyone other than VCU or Davidson. They finished 1-2 in the Atlantic 10 last season and, combined, they lost three players from their rotations. VCU graduated a third-string center and lost a guy who lost his spot in the rotation to a freshman while, hopefully, getting Marcus Evans back to the peak of his powers; more on him later. Davidson brings back their top six, including one of the best backcourts in all of college basketball in Kellan Grady and Jon-Axel Gudmundsson. It will be a fun race between the two programs that couldn't play more contrasting styles. WILL DAYTON'S TALENT COME TOGETHER? : On paper, Dayton is right there with Davidson and VCU. They lose Josh Cunningham, but with the rest of their rotation   including a bonafide pro in Obi Toppin   returning and four sit-out transfers entering the fold, there is more than enough talent, depth and experience on the roster. The reason I have them a notch below the favorites is because I want to see how all the pieces come together. They can certainly win the league, but managing minutes and egos is going to be the toughest part of Anthony Grant's job this season. THE BATTLE FOR FOURTH : Best I can tell, there are going to be at least three   if not more   teams fighting for that spot. Rhode Island seems to make the most sense, given just how much they bring back, while Richmond is the sleeper that all the coaches in the conference are talking about. I also think it is worth noting that St. Bonaventure will be better than some believe given that they managed to find a way to keep Mark Schmidt in Olean for another season. But I also think that it's possible that a team like La Salle, or George Mason, or Saint Louis can pop up and surprise some people. There's depth in the conference that wasn't necessarily there a year ago. CAN CHRIS MOONEY GO FROM ALMOST-FIRED TO NCAA TOURNAMENT? : Richmond is going to be the most interesting team in the league. There are big-money boosters that have spent the last year or two trying to get Chris Mooney fired. Someone even put up a # FireMooney billboard on I-95 in the city. The irony here is that Mooney may have his best team since the 2011 team that reached the Sweet 16. Grant Golden is arguably the best big man in the league while Jacob Gilyard was a second-team all-Atlantic 10 player last year. Nathan Cayo is back and, perhaps most importantly, Richmond's best wing scorer Nick Sherod should be healthy again. Throw in Wagner transfer Blake Francis, and there are a lot of pieces on this roster. We'll see if Mooney can make it all fit together, but this team is certainly good enough, on paper, to win 12 conference games. WHO'S GONE PHIL MARTELLI, St. Joseph's : An Atlantic 10 and Philadelphia institution is gone. After 34 years at the school and 24 seasons as the head coach of the Hawks, Phil Martelli was fired this spring. He landed on his feet   as an assistant coach on Juwan Howard's staff at Michigan   but St. Joe's is going to have to completely rebuild. As of right now, there are seven scholarship players on the roster. JAVON BESS, Saint Louis : Bess was the best defender in the Atlantic 10 last season, the anchor for what was the best defense in the league. He also doubled as the best scorer and shooter on the roster of a Billiken team that struggled to score. This is a big, big loss for a team coming off an NCAA tournament trip. JOSH CUNNINGHAM, Dayton : The Flyers will have more than enough talent to replace Cunningham, but losing an all-league senior that was capable of going for 20-10 on any given night is never ideal. COURTNEY STOCKARD, St. Bonaventure : Stockard took a step forward as a senior, helping the Bonnies to remain top four in the league despite losing Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley. He was a deserving first-team all-league player last season. OTIS LIVINGSTON, George Mason : The Patriots are going to have to change the way they play this season with Livingston gone. He was one of the best lead guards in the league for the last four years and the guy that allowed Dave Paulsen to run offense without worrying about what happens at the end of a shot clock. ERIC WILLIAMS, Duquesne : The Dukes bring everyone else back, and Keith Dambrot has the respect of every coach in the league, but Williams was their best player. Losing him is a hard way to make up ground in a league where the top five teams all bring everyone back. WHO'S BACK EVERYONE, VCU : Well, that's technically not true. Michael Gilmore, a backup center, graduated and Sean Mobley, who started to lose minutes by the end of the year, transferred. So there are some changes. But all of the truly important pieces   star guard Marcus Evans, De'Riante Jenkins, Marcus Santos-Silva, Issac Vann, Vince Williams, etc.   are back, and they're joined by a really good recruiting class. They're old, they're experienced, they're deep, they're talented and they were a No. 8 seed last season. This is a preseason top 25 team. EVERYONE, Davidson : Last season, Kellan Grady was the guy we all thought would be the best player in the Atlantic 10 after a sterling freshman season got him on the radar of the NBA. Despite being banged up, Grady averaged 17.3 points as a sophomore … and his teammate, Jon-Axel Gudmundsson, won Atlantic 10 Player of the Year. Both of them are back, along with the rest of Bob McKillop's top six from a team that went 24-10 last season. EVERYONE, Rhode Island : The Rams bring back their top four scorers, including Fatts Russell, Cyril Langevine and Jeff Dowtin, and the only player they lose from their rotation averaged just 5.7 points. There is a lot of reason to like this group. OBI TOPPIN, Dayton : One coach told me that Toppin is not only clearly the most talented player in the league, he is the only guy in the conference that is a surefire pro. A late-bloomer, he hasn't stopped improving throughout his career and should be in line for a major breakout season. NICK SHEROD, Richmond : Grant Golden, Jacob Gilyard and Nathan Cayo are the bigger names and they all return, but Sherod is the guy that coaches in the league believe is the difference-maker. He's a big-time shooter and scorer on the wing that they were missing after he went down with a knee injury. KYLE LOFTON and OSUN OSUNNIYI, St. Bonaventure : Losing Stockard is going to hurt, but sophomores Lofton and Osunniyi are going to be very, very good for a long time in this league. One coach told me he thought Lofton was "the best freshman I've seen in the Atlantic 1 in a while, you would never have guessed he was a freshman" based on the way he played and his poised. JORDAN GOODWIN and HASAHN FRENCH, Saint Louis : Goodwin is a do-it-all wing and French might be the best, and certainly is the most powerful, big man in the conference. WHO'S COMING DAYTON'S TRANSFERS : The Flyers had four players sitting out as transfers last season   Ibi Watson (Michigan), Jordy Tshimanga (Nebraska), Rodney Chatman (Chattanooga) and Chase Johnson (Florida). With Jalen Crutcher and Toppin both returning, the Flyers have as much talent on paper as anyone. SCOTT SPENCER, La Salle : A transfer from Clemson, Spencer should fit perfectly in Ashley Howard's system and give the Explorers a bit of a scoring pop to help offset the loss of Pookie Powell. BLAKE FRANCIS, Richmond : The transfer from Wagner averaged 17 points before sitting out this past season. WAY-TOO-EARLY ALL-ATLANTIC 10 TEAM MARCUS EVANS, VCU (Preseason Player of the Year) KELLAN GRADY, Davidson JON-AXEL GUDMUNDSSON, Davidson OBI TOPPIN, Dayton GRANT GOLDEN, Richmond WAY-TOO-EARLY POWER RANKINGS 1. VCU : We've talked plenty about the Rams at this point, but I think their ceiling is still going to be determined by what they get out of Marcus Evans. Their star point guard has suffered an injury to each of his achilles since transferring to VCU from Rice. He rehabbed his entire sit-out season, and then spent last summer rehabbing the second injury. Somehow, he hasn't lost any of his explosiveness and still managed to average 13.6 points and 3.2 assists last year. I spoke with him back in February, and Evans told me he was excited about this offseason because it was the first time he would have a chance to spend the summer getting better instead of getting healthy. He's my pick to be the 2020 Player of the Year in the Atlantic 10. 2. DAVIDSON : This Davidson team has a chance to be the best group Bob McKillop has coached since the Stephen Curry days. A healthy Kellan Grady combined with Jon Axel Gudmundsson will give the Wildcats one of the best backcourts in the country. They're going to be experienced, and Luka Brajkovic and Luke Frampton should both take a significant step forward as sophomores. Brajkovic was one of the best bigs in the league as a freshman. As always, their ceiling will be determined by just how good their defense will be, but on paper this group looks like a tournament team. 3. DAYTON : It's easier to bet on VCU and Davidson as league champs because we know what they are, but keep in mind that the Flyers return the majority of their rotation from a team that went 21-12 overall and 13-5 in the league last season, and that among the players they return is future draft pick Obi Toppin. Oh, and they also add four sit-out transfers, three of whom came from high-major schools. It's going to be a fun three-team race. 4. RHODE ISLAND : The Rams certainly have the talent to be relevant in the Atlantic 10 race, but with essentially the same team, they went .500 in the league last season and finished four games behind third-place Dayton. How are they making up all that ground when the teams above them return everyone? 5. RICHMOND : Every coach I've spoken to believes that the Spiders are the x-factor in the league race this year. For starters, bringing back Grant Golden and Jacob Gilyard gives them one of the best 1-2 combinations in the league. Bringing back Nick Sherod's size and scoring on the wing will be important, and Nathan Cayo was underrated league-wide. Throw in Wagner transfer Blake Francis, and this should be the most improved team in the conference. 6. ST. BONAVENTURE : Mark Schmidt lost Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley before last season and still managed to churn out an 18-win season and a fourth-place finish in the A-10, so we shouldn't be all that worried about them after losing four of their top six, including Courtney Stockard. They have one of the best homecourt advantages in the league, Schmidt will find a way to get the best out of his roster and sophomores Kyle Lofton and Osun Osunniyi are ready for bigger roles. 7. LA SALLE : I love this La Salle group. They should have more talent and depth this year, and you know they are always going to play hard. They've had a year under Ashley Howard, and what we saw as the season progressed was that this team played together much better than La Salle did under John Giannini. Keep an eye on sophomore Jack Clark. 8. GEORGE MASON : They're going to have to play differently without Otis Livingston running the show, but Justin Kier is a going to have a chance to become a star in the league. Throw in sophomore Jordan Miller and a healthy Goanar Mar, and there are some pieces for Dave Paulsen here. 9. SAINT LOUIS : The Billikens were built on their defense last season and couldn't score. They lost their best defender and best scorer in Javon Bess. I like Jordan Goodwin, I love Hasahn French and I think Fred Thatch is in line for a big sophomore season, but I need to see it from this group. 10. DUQUESNE : Coaches in the league have faith that Keith Dambrot will be able to find a way to make it work this year, and there are some pieces returning   notably Sincere Carey   but losing Eric Williams is big. He was their best player. 11. UMASS : The Minutemen have some talent and they bring in a good recruiting class, but I am going to need to see Matt McCall win there before I buy in. Keep an eye on freshman Tre Mitchell. 12. GEORGE WASHINGTON : Jamion Christian should be able to get the most out of this roster, and they'll play a fun style that will see them bombing away from three, but it will take him a few years to get the kind of talent in the program he needs to make a run at the top of the league. 13. FORDHAM : Fordham won three Atlantic 10 games last season and lose their best player, Nick Honor. 14. ST. JOSEPH'S : Best I can tell, St. Joe's currently has seven scholarship players on the roster, one of whom is a former walk-on. The post-Martelli era is going to have a rough start.


BROOKLYN, Mich.   According to Daniel Suarez, if you want to win races, a drastic change in behavior among competitors leaves no room for kindness on the race track. During the Stewart-Haas Racing driver's media availability Friday at Michigan International Speedway, Suarez dove into detail regarding how much driver etiquette has changed since he first came onto the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series scene, a conversation he and Ryan Blaney and Corey LaJoie actually had at dinner with fellow Ford Performance drivers Thursday night. "In today's racing, nobody gives respect," Suarez said. "It's way different than two years ago. When I came to the Cup Series in 2017, everyone was very polite. In the first half of the race, if someone was faster than me, I would let the guy go. But right now, … Lap 2 … we're driving it with everything. RELATED: Suarez fast early at Michigan | Full schedule for Michigan, Texas "That's how it is," Suarez continued. "There's just no more respect or polite drivers out there. If you're polite, you won't last." With track position at a premium based on how competitive the Cup Series field has become, Suarez noted restarts have become more aggressive, with drivers jockeying to gain every position possible. "Everyone has to make positions," Suarez said. "If you don't make positions, you're going to lose positions. You have to have that mentality. "I've had a lot of good race cars in the past where I'm good on the long run, but on the restarts I'm not great," he added. "It takes me seven laps to finally get going. In today's racing, you can't have that. It's one of those things where you have to be at least decent on restarts to have a good trade off." Although Suarez acknowledged being nice doesn't get you very far in today's day and age, he's also not complaining about it. He actually enjoys it. "Nobody gives anyone a break," Suarez said. "It's very hard, but it's fun. I like it, driving hard; I don't have a problem with that. It's just a different style of racing now. "The lead cars   the guys out running the top 15, top 10   I think it's how it's supposed to be. I don't mind driving hard. That's what we get paid for, right?" RELATED: SHR cars lead 10-lap averages in Michigan practice Despite the lack of give-and-take on the race track, Suarez believes firmly in drawing a line in the sand to separate what happens on the race track from relationships in the motor coach lots. "Personally, I try to be good with everyone, but on the race track it's a whole different deal," Suarez said. "There's a lot of drivers like that. Joey Logano … he's a great friend of mine and we get along extremely well off the race track. But when we're on the race track, we're always banging and hitting and talking trash on the radio. That's how it is and that's how I like it to be. "It has to be that way. He (Logano) does a good job on that. He's an extremely aggressive driver. I will say, I'm the same way. Maybe some people will say sometimes it's too much, I prefer to be on the too much side and not too little." If there's any doubt that Suarez gets a thrill out of ultra-aggressive racing and standing up to his competition, he's quick to remind of his scuffle with Michael McDowell at ISM Raceway in March. "Do you see when I was fighting in Phoenix, I was smiling, too," Suarez said with a grin. "I don't have a problem with that. I've been in tougher situations, believe me." ]]>


The Transportation Department under Secretary Elaine Chao designated a special liaison to help with grant applications and other priorities from her husband Mitch McConnell's state of Kentucky, paving the way for grants totaling at least $78 million for favored projects as McConnell prepared to campaign for reelection. Chao's aide Todd Inman, who stated in an email to McConnell's Senate office that Chao had personally asked him to serve as an intermediary, helped advise the senator and local Kentucky officials on grants with special significance for McConnell   including a highway-improvement project in a McConnell political stronghold that had been twice rejected for previous grant applications. Beginning in April 2017, Inman and Chao met annually with a delegation from Owensboro, Ky., a river port with long connections to McConnell, including a plaza named in his honor. At the meetings, according to participants, the secretary and the local officials discussed two projects of special importance to the river city of 59,809 people   a plan to upgrade road connections to a commercial riverport and a proposal to expedite reclassifying a local parkway as an Interstate spur, a move that could persuade private businesses to locate in Owensboro. Inman, himself a longtime Owensboro resident and onetime mayoral candidate who is now Chao's chief of staff, followed up the 2017 meeting by emailing the riverport authority on how to improve its application. He also discussed the project by phone with Al Mattingly, the chief executive of Daviess County, which includes Owensboro, who suggested Inman was instrumental in the process. "Todd probably smoothed the way, I mean, you know, used his influence," Mattingly said in a POLITICO interview. "Everybody says that projects stand on their own merit, right? So if I've got 10 projects, and they're all equal, where do you go to break the tie?" "Well, let's put it this way: I only have her ear an hour when I go to visit her once a year," he added of Chao and Inman, a longtime Bluegrass State operative who had worked as McConnell's advance man. "With a local guy, he has her ear 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You tell me." The circumstances surrounding the Owensboro grant and another, more lucrative grant to Boone County, highlight the ethical conflicts in having a powerful Cabinet secretary married to the Senate's leader and in a position to help him politically. McConnell has long touted his ability to bring federal resources to his state, which his wife is now in a position to assist . Chao's designation of Inman as a special intermediary for Kentucky   a privilege other states did not enjoy   gave a special advantage to projects favored by her husband, which could in turn benefit his political interests. In such situations, ethicists say, each member of a couple benefits personally from the success of the other. "Where a Cabinet secretary is doing things that are going to help her husband get reelected, that starts to rise to the level of feeling more like corruption to the average American. … I do think there are people who will see that as sort of 'swamp behavior,'" said John Hudak, a Brookings Institution scholar who has studied political influence in federal grant-making. In fact, days after launching his 2020 reelection campaign McConnell asked Owensboro's mayor to set up a luncheon with business and political leaders at which the senator claimed credit for delivering the grant. "How about that $11 million BUILD grant?" McConnell asked the crowd rhetorically, according to the Owensboro Times. He then recalled his role in securing earlier grants to the city, adding, "It's done a lot to transform Owensboro, and I was really happy to have played a role in that." McConnell's role   along with Chao's and Inman's   was also celebrated by local officials when the $11.5 million grant was approved   to much local fanfare in December 2018. "Firstly, we are thankful that we had such good associations built with Sen. McConnell and the U.S. Department of Transportation because without them it wouldn't have happened," declared Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson, standing alongside three other local officials at a news conference celebrating the grant award. "We're just really grateful and thankful to Sen. McConnell and Secretary Chao and our own Todd Inman," added Mattingly. Owensboro wasn't the only beneficiary of Inman's assistance. He also communicated with McConnell's office about multiple requests from county executives to meet with Chao to speak about potential projects in Kentucky, according to emails which, like the others, were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by the watchdog group American Oversight. One of those executives, Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore, met with Chao in December 2017. Moore's request, a $67 million discretionary grant to upgrade roads in rural Boone County, another McConnell stronghold northeast of Louisville, was ultimately approved in June 2018. Chao declined to comment for this story, and neither she nor Inman addressed questions about his role as intermediary between the department and Kentucky. Related video: Ethics question raised over transportation secretary's ties to family business and China (CBS News) Inman said in a statement, "I'm proud to work for the Secretary and it's an honor to work at the Department of Transportation, especially as this Administration is prioritizing infrastructure investments and meeting with people from all 50 states to discuss their needs. Our team of dedicated career staff does an outstanding job evaluating hundreds of applications for these highly competitive grant programs, a thorough process developed well before this Administration." The Transportation Department, through a spokesperson, said that "No state receives special treatment from DOT," noting that Kentucky is 26th in population and 25th in DOT money in the Trump years. Of 169 grants awarded during Chao's tenure, the spokesperson said, Kentucky received five. "The evaluation process, which is well known, originates with dedicated career staff thoroughly reviewing applications before senior review teams are involved," the spokesperson said. "This evaluation takes thousands of hours across our discretionary grant programs. Similarly, a team of career staff handles cost-benefit and project readiness review. Discretionary grant programs are competitive and based on merit and how well the projects align with selection criteria." Nonetheless, one former career official who was involved in the grant review process under multiple administrations, said that once the findings of the professional staff are presented to the secretary's office, politics often plays a role in who gets the money. Putting a thumb on the scale for a favored project, the official said, "is really, very common, I would say across parties." "It's always going to be political," the former official, who spoke without attribution for fear of reprisals, added. "We have a merit-based process that we essentially ignore, [and] it's really detrimental to meeting national transportation needs and having people feel like the process is worth engaging in." Virginia Canter, a former White House associate counsel under Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and current ethics counsel for the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said showing political favoritism in awarding grants violates ethical standards. And when a potential beneficiary is a spouse, there's an extra level of concern. "There's a standard for government employees; they're expected to be impartial," said Canter. "When you have a spouse who's the head of an agency and the other spouse is a leading member of Congress   and their office is referring matters to the department, and they're flagging things from donors, from people with particular political affiliations, who are quote-unquote 'friends'   it raises the question of whether the office, instead of being used purely for official purposes, is being used for political purposes. "The fact that they're both in these very important positions gives them the opportunity to be watching out for each other's political and professional interests," Canter said. "Anytime a member of Congress can bring home funding to his or her community it could make a difference. It shows the member is being responsive." McConnell, for his part, did not address questions about potential conflicts of interest in dealing with his wife's department, instead touting his own clout. "Every single day, Kentuckians from across the Commonwealth contact me with their concerns," he told POLITICO in an emailed statement. "As Senate Majority Leader and a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, I am able to ensure that these issues   both large and small   are part of the national discussion. Kentucky continues to punch above its weight in Washington, and I am proud to be a strong voice for my constituents in the Senate." * * * In his political career, McConnell has often touted specific grants as proof of his understanding of community needs. McConnell has long had a special relationship with Owensboro, whose location on a bend of the Ohio River had once made it an ideal hub for manufacturing and agriculture. At the beginning of McConnell's Senate career in the late 1980s, the decline of the tobacco industry and the rise of shopping malls far from the city center left Owensboro's downtown dotted with boarded-up storefronts and empty streets that had once bustled decades earlier. As McConnell rose to power in the national Republican Party in the 1990s and 2000s, he secured funds for Owensboro, earning him goodwill that helped him survive a close election in the 2008 Democratic wave. But after congressional Republicans banned earmarks in 2011, McConnell was forced to find other ways to bring federal resources back home. Today, Owensboro's growing downtown stands as a symbol of his success. City landmarks, street signs and plaques tout the senator's role in helping revitalize downtown, especially along the city's impressive new riverfront esplanade. McConnell's involvement with Owensboro began in earnest after 2003, when then-Owensboro Mayor Waymond Morris and future mayor, Ron Payne, visited McConnell at his Washington office and showed him a photograph of the eroding riverbank. The next year, the city rededicated a portion of the riverfront as "McConnell Plaza" and used more than $1 million in city funds to build a riverside park with ample green space, winding brick paths and outdoor seating for events like the town's annual barbecue festival. The city's courting paid off in July 2005, when McConnell phoned new mayor, Tom Watson, and explained that he had secured $40 million in federal funds to overhaul the riverbank. "Finally, at the end I said, 'Can I ask you one question? Did you say $40 million?'" Watson told POLITICO. "And he laughed and hung up. I was stunned." Owensboro used the federal windfall as seed money for an ambitious overhaul of the entire riverfront, borrowing tens of millions of additional dollars to bring it to fruition over the next several years. A riverwalk with pavilions and cascading fountains was installed, anchored on one end by a massive and elaborately designed playground named the best in the world by Landscape Architects Network   complete with oversized artificial tree sculptures, climbing walls, a concession stand, free Wi-Fi and rubber turf. A nearby plaque marking the playground's rededication gives "special thanks to Senator Mitch McConnell." At the other end, a sparkling 184,000-square-foot convention center was erected at a cost of more than $50 million dollars   roughly twice the town's initial budget for the project   in a bid to bring large conventions and other business to the downtown area. In stark contrast, a rusting one-story auto repair shop sits across the street, a reminder of the earlier decay. McConnell's support for Owensboro did not end at the riverfront. Mayor Watson recalled taking McConnell on a tour of the town's aging H.L. Neblett Community Center, when suddenly water leaked through the roof, hitting McConnell's ear and trickling down his shirt. Watson turned to the senator and suggested that the center needed a new roof. McConnell replied that it needed a new building   and then secured $3 million for renovations when he returned to Washington. City officials also credit McConnell for serving Owensboro's interests on national issues, including federal subsidies that kept airlines flying to Owensboro's regional airport, as well as more recent efforts to legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity   a potential replacement for the city's dying tobacco trade. After stepping down for several years to focus on his prosthetics business, Watson was reelected as mayor in 2016. By then, the city's riverfront investments were beginning to pay off. The downtown revitalization project mitigated the effects of the Great Recession in Owensboro and helped the city outpace Kentucky and United States overall in employment growth. The city was still eyeing more projects to build on the earlier investments, but Owensboro's remaining debt and scarce state resources limited the available funding options. Once again, the town turned to the federal government for support. "The only money that's still being circulated comes from Washington," Watson explained. In particular, the city wanted to widen and improve a section of Kentucky Highway 331 that connected the port's river and rail shipping facilities to the federal highway system. Local homeowners and drivers complained that the highway's two narrow lanes and limited sightlines throttled capacity and put local residents at risk. In the post-earmark era, officials saw the federal Department of Transportation's grant programs as their best bet to secure more funds, and believed their project had the merit to win in a competitive evaluation process. But success eluded them. The city submitted its first grant application during the final months of the Obama administration, under a freight and highway improvement program called FASTLANE. But after a technical review by career DOT staff, the city's application was passed over in favor of other projects. According to Mattingly, local officials were undeterred and saw Chao's appointment as Transportation secretary   and Owensboro local Todd Inman's new role as director of operations in her office   as a valuable connection moving forward. Back in Washington, Inman encouraged that perception. In a February 2017 email to McConnell's chief of staff, he wrote, "The Secretary has indicated if you have a Ky-specific issue that we should flag for her attention to please continue to go through your normal channels but feel free to contact me directly as well so we can monitor or follow up as necessary." Owensboro submitted a second grant application in the first year of the Trump administration under the department's INFRA grant program   the new administration's successor to FASTLANE   which was likewise unsuccessful. Weeks before that application was due, McConnell's office emailed members of Chao's staff with the Owensboro Riverport Authority CEO's contact information, requesting technical assistance for the riverport's grant application. Derek Kan, Chao's undersecretary for policy, forwarded the request to his deputy, who confirmed that they were following up. Finally, in 2018, the riverport resubmitted a third time under the department's BUILD program, a competitive infrastructure grant program that began under the Obama administration's economic stimulus law. This time, the application was successful. City officials held a December news conference in front of a Christmas tree in City Hall announcing the $11.5 million federal award. Four months later, as McConnell prepared to launch his reelection campaign, he called Mayor Watson and asked him to pull together a group of political and business leaders at the riverport to tout his role in getting Owensboro the grant award, Watson said. On April 22, within days of officially launching his 2020 campaign, the Senate majority leader stood inside a riverport building and celebrated his achievements. "I can't tell you how exciting it is for me to see what the riverfront has spawned," McConnell told the assembled crowd. "Not only the project itself, but all around it." * * * Inman, who is 48, grew up in Marshall County, Ky., about a two-hour drive from Owensboro. Soon after graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1993, he moved to Owensboro, where he ran a small insurance business from 1994 to 2017, according to his LinkedIn page. He also became involved in Republican politics, running unsuccessfully for mayor of Owensboro in 2004 and doing advance work and event planning for statewide GOP candidates. He worked on McConnell's campaigns in 2008 and 2014 and then became the deputy state director for Donald Trump's 2016 campaign in Kentucky. Two days after Trump's inauguration, Inman excitedly announced his new job in the administration in a Facebook post picked up by local media. "It's with great honor but also sadness that on Friday I accepted a Presidential appointment to work for the Honorable Elaine L. Chao as a Director in the cabinet of the United States Department of Transportation," Inman wrote, according to the local radio station WBKR. "While this means I must leave my family friends and business in Owensboro it is humbling to know I can be of service to our country ... I look forward to the coming years of helping to support the secretary in her leadership of the Department of Transportation … " His first posting was as director of operations, from which he helped steer requests for grant assistance from McConnell's office   at Chao's direction, according to the emails. "Cabinet members are known to be preferential to their own home state," said Hudak, the Brookings scholar who has studied political influence in federal grant-making, adding that they tend to prioritize the home states of congressional leaders as well, "so you can have a sort of doubling effect." "There's nothing illegal about her steering those funds to her husband's home state, and her home state, as long as things are aboveboard," Hudak said. "The question though is, how do you deal with conflicts of interests? And this is a clear conflict. ... Even if it's not legally so, these are political offices, so the optics of this are important. In a business setting, you would put firewalls up to prevent those types of bad optics." McConnell, however, is making no effort to hide his influence as he ramps up his reelection effort. Though the Bluegrass State is heavily Republican, he, like senators of both parties who take on national leadership positions, knows he is both a prime target for out-of-state donors and vulnerable to charges that he has lost touch with his constituents. New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, has personally urged Marine veteran and former fighter pilot Amy McGrath to run against McConnell, saying the GOP leader "is more vulnerable now than ever before." At the grassroots level, Kentucky radio host Matt Jones has indicated he might be prepared to run as a populist Democrat against McConnell, a target of frequent barbs on his hugely popular sports show. "What has Mitch McConnell done to help Kentucky?" Jones asked in a POLITICO interview. "Mitch McConnell has been a master   a master at helping wealthy business interests get wealthier. If there is a rich guy Hall of Fame, he should be in it." McConnell's answer to these criticisms is clear: He's used his influence to deliver on Kentucky's priorities. "All 100 senators may have one vote," McConnell told the Lexington Herald-Leader last year, "but they're not all equal. Kentucky benefits from having one of its own setting the agenda for the country." Kathryn A. Wolfe contributed to this report.


One of the most dominant narratives over the past few years, fueled by the departure of Kyrie Irving from the Cleveland Cavaliers, is that top players don't want to play with LeBron James. But that perception or narrative is far from the Lakers biggest problem, which is causing problems for LeBron on his new team. According to The Athletic's Sam Amick , Amick said that people close to LeBron are very concerned that the Lakers disfunction will cost them free agency even before Magic Johnson's scorched earth appearance during Monday's First Take on ESPN. Even before Magic's latest move, sources close to LeBron James expressed concern that the combination of Magic's messy exit and all the negative Lakers headlines threatened to sabotage their summer. There is no doubt that part of the calculus in LeBron's move, in addition to being close to his various off-court businesses and a rich youth basketball culture in Los Angeles, that he could lure top players to join him with the Lakers. LeBron, as he said multiple times, saw the Lakers like the New York Yankees or Manchester United. But the business of winning basketball has many more factors than good branding and LeBron has now seen behind the brand name. After seeing how the sausage is made with the Lakers, LeBron is obviously less optimistic about adding a top free agent and he's likely in for another year of patiently building with a younger team in hopes of ending a six-year postseason drought for the franchise. MORE: Jim and Pam from 'The Office' square off in the Stanley Cup Final Packers rookie Darnell Savage impresses with intelligence early at OTAs NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players Steelers rookie WR Diontae Johnson takes 1st-team reps at OTAs Jon Gruden 'excited' to see Raiders DT Eddie Vanderdoes this offseason