AUSTIN   Looking as disheveled as you might expect of someone arrested without warning, Michael Center strode from the entryway of Austin's federal courthouse hounded by reporters firing off questions. That morning, March 12, the longtime Texas men's tennis coach was implicated in a bombshell college admissions scandal that touched some of the nation's most prestigious universities. Center was one of 50 indicted that included celebrities Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman. But the coach, placed on administrative leave that afternoon and fired the next day, had no desire to shed any insight into his role in the story. He jut wanted the press to go check out the Longhorns, set to play Rice that night and No. 1 Ohio State two days later. "They're a lot more fun to watch than I am," he said. Center had no idea just how accurate his cheeky statement was. The program he had led since July 2000 defeated the Owls hours after he posted bond. It stunned No. 1 Ohio State 4-1. And it just keep rolling right along, seemingly unburdened by the swirling turmoil, as Center prepared to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud for accepting a $100,000 bribe to help a student gain acceptance Texas via a spot on the tennis team. Center's moral failure laid the groundwork for one of the most remarkable runs in recent memory. Texas captured its first national title with a 4-1 win over defending champion No. 3 Wake Forest on Sunday at the USTA National Campus in Orlando. "I was really proud of the team, and I'm sure any Longhorn fan would be proud of the way this team represented the state of Texas, not only today, but all year long," interim head coach Bruce Berque said Sunday. "I'm super happy they get to have this memory and bond with each other for the rest of their lives. "They showed true Texas fight today being able to come back after not winning the doubles point and facing some deficits on a few of the singles court. I couldn't be in greater admiration of the way they competed, and they truly earned it." Wake Forest took the doubles point and seized an initial 1-0 lead, leaving Texas in a hole. Undeterred, it won all four singles matches to claim the championship. Fittingly, it was junior Yuya Ito who got the close out this stunning season. Matched up with defending NCAA singles champion Petros Chrysochos, Ito fell behind after dropping the opening set, 6-3. Ito battled back to win the final two sets 6-3 and 6-4 to take the match   and the national championship   6-4. A blissful dog pile ensued. Ito was named most outstanding player and was selected to the all-tournament team and both No. 2 Singles and No. 3 Doubles along with doubles partner freshman Chih Chi Huang. Senior Rodrigo Banzer was chosen to the team at No. 6 Singles. "I don't even know how I did it," Ito said. "But all year long, we talked about staying together and not letting go of the rope, not giving up. I just tried to get as many gains as I could, it turned out I did come back and win. All I was thinking was just to compete and stay out there as long as I could." Other Texas winners included Banzer (7-5, 6-4 over Siddhant Banthia), senior Colin Markes (6-4, 7-5 over Melios Efstathiou) and Christian Sigsgaard (6-3, 6-4 over Borna Gojo). Harrison Scott didn't get a chance to finish his match, but the senior was key in keeping this team on track throughout a season that easily could have flown off the rails. "It's about leaving that kind of stuff off court," Scott said. "We knew we had a job to do and we all came and played for each other. So, we knew when we got to practice every day, we know we had to practice hard and not let things affect us. "A lot of teams thought they could get us down or use that against us, that we wouldn't be there mentally, but I think we really proved a lot of people wrong. I'm proud of the team sticking to the game plan and not letting it derail us." For now, Berque's interim tag still remains. But that could soon change for the former Michigan head coach (2004-14), who had been the Longhorns' associate head coach since 2015 before Center's firing. "When you get to this moment and you're part of a national championship team and you know you have that with you forever and that you'll share this bond with the team forever, that satisfaction and that pride overwhelms everything else," Berque said. "I didn't come from outside the program either. I was there, we were working together for four years. I'm not sure whether I stepped in or slid in." nmoyle@express-news.net Twitter: @NRMoyle


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers shocked many when they used their second pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to take Central Michigan cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting in the second round. The Bucs are expecting big things from Murphy-Bunting, who was named First-team All-MAC last season. He finished his collegiate career with 104 total tackles and nine interceptions in three seasons. Today, the rookie is celebrating his 22nd birthday (hopefully, not too hard). RT to wish @MrSeanyB1 a happy birthday! We hope it's a great one! pic.twitter.com/EjMuZT9NSR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) June 19, 2019 22 never felt so good https://t.co/nnxVPoGspo - Sean Murphy-Bunting (@MrSeanyB1) June 19, 2019 To celebrate his special day, here are some collegiate highlights of Murphy-Bunting in action. Hopefully, he'll look the same on the field next year for the Buccaneers. Enjoy! And here he is mic'd up during the team's recent minicamp. MORE: Rob Pelinka May Not Have Known the Cap Rules for Anthony Davis Trade Four potential Kawhi Leonard landing spots in free agency Report: ESPN plans to stop featuring LaVar Ball after his inappropriate remark to Molly Qerim Free agent DT Domata Peko met with Lions Mike Conley's trade to Utah could have a silver lining, for Boston


President Trump bared his brass knuckles again in a trade spat with China, threatening to raise tariffs on billions of dollars in imports because talks to resolve the dispute are going "too slowly." For months the White House has suggested a deal was near, but several new tweets by the president showed his frustration with the pace of negotiations. The president said he would lift tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports to 25% from 10% starting on Friday. He also threatened to apply a 25% tariff to another $325 billion in imports that have been left alone so far. The tough talk rattled Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) and S&P 500 (SPX) fell almost 1% in Monday trades, though both indexes remain near record highs. Read: Market calm shattered: Trump tariff threat 'raises odds of further tariff escalation' The U.S. imported a record $539.5 billion in goods from China in 2018, including TVs, computers, cell phones, clothes and chemicals. The U.S. is a net importer from China in most market segments except for agriculture. The U.S. shipped $120.3 billion in goods to China last year, down from almost $130 billion in 2017, Census trade figures showed. The big dropoff came in farm crops, with the Chinese boycotting Midwestern soy to protest U.S. tariffs. Agricultural exports fell to $5.9 billion last year from $15.9 billion in 2017. The U.S. in 2018 ran a $40.5 billion surplus with China in services, largely reflecting spending by Chinese tourists and exchange students. Related video: Global stocks rattled by Trump trade threat (provided by Reuters) Trump promised during his presidential campaign and after he entered the White House that he would seek to reduce massive U.S. trade deficits with China. The U.S. has run large deficits with China for years and in some cases no longer produces certain goods such as consumer electronics that are popular with Americans. It won't be easy , and it might even be impossible, to reduce the gap much any time soon. The trade dispute has hurt the Chinese economy far more than the U.S., but a long-lasting standoff between the two largest economies in the world could result in lasting damage to the global economy if it metastasizes. Related: With Trump threatening to tighten the trade screws, here's a look at what tariffs have done so far


BANDON, Ore. - A visit to most great 19th holes indicates a close to the day, the end of a round culminating in a comfortable setting that wraps up the day's golf. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort's Pacific Grill proved to be just the opposite for this writer. Sometimes the 19th hole leads to the first tee. The resort has plenty of dining options and famed watering holes. McKee's Pub is often cited as one of the best dinner-and-drinks spots for the golf afflicted in the United States, and the Bunker Bar is a cool spot to quench a late-night thirst with buddies. But something is missing from those bars: more golf. Which is kind of the whole point of Bandon Dunes. I'll take extra holes over extra taps any day. I already had made plenty of swings on a recent trip in April. The tally included 49 holes the day before, sending off the sun on a twilight sprint around Bandon Trails with the resort's director of golf, Grant Rogers - when you get a chance to learn from a coach and player such as Rogers, you don't let a little darkness get in the way. On my last afternoon before driving to catch a flight in Eugene, Ore., I didn't have any golf left on the agenda. With a chilled wind and rain spitting from hard, gray skies, I took a seat at Pacific Grill overlooking the Punchbowl putting green to just enjoy the view across acreage that holds one of Golfweek 's highest-ranked courses in the world, Pacific Dunes. I had a burger and a pilsner on the table in front of me, and I was perfectly content to just sit, to rest feet made sore from the miles of the previous day and watch the weather. The Pacific Grill at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort offers a spectacular view. (Bandon Dunes) Then the rain let up. C'mon, you can't do that to me. An open tee box and a splash of sun? Forget the burger and beer … more golf! This was no emergency nine. This was a sun-strobed beacon for 18 more under picturesque clouds on cliffs above a heaving ocean. Shovel in the food, forget the beer. The call was made, and I was halfway down the first fairway before I even realized that I practically had the place to myself. It was the perfect example of what makes Pacific Grill such a perfect fit for Bandon Dunes. Windows onto more golf, the putting green, the first tee, the 18th green - it's all there. It's irresistible. Gwk ( Note : This story appeared in the May 2019 issue of Golfweek .) https://compass.pressekompass.net/compasses/golfweek/did-tiger-woods-take-off-too-much-time-a MORE: Drake tried to talk trash to Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had the perfect reaction Patriots will prove Super Bowl LIII shutdown defense was no fluke NCSA: Five common recruiting myths Game Of Thrones: Best Twitter Reactions And Memes From The Series Finale NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players


Jared Kushner downplayed the significance of Russian interference in the 2016 election , dismissing it as a "couple of Facebook ads" in an interview with TIME and arguing that Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation was more damaging to democracy than the influence operation itself. "You look at what Russia did, buying some Facebook ads to try to sow dissent and do it, and it's a terrible thing," Kushner said at the TIME 100 Summit in New York City. "But I think the investigations and all of the speculation that's happened for the last two years has had a much harsher impact on our democracy than a couple of Facebook ads." "If you look at the magnitude of what they did, the ensuing investigations have been way more harmful," he added. The Mueller report described a wide-ranging Russian operation that included hacking Hillary Clinton, Sens. Marco Rubio and Lindsey Graham, the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; attempting to hack the Republican National Committee; releasing stolen emails online; probing state voter databases for weaknesses and stealing hundreds of thousands of voters' personal information; spreading propaganda aimed at sowing division and depressing the vote through fake accounts on social media; staging a handful of rallies in Florida, Pennsylvania and New York; and setting up multiple meetings with members of the Trump campaign, although the probe did not find that members of the Trump campaign actively coordinated or cooperated with Russia. But Kushner said that according to the Trump 2016 campaign's data operation, what Russia was doing at the time "didn't register with us as being impactful." Kushner also spoke about his relationships with other foreign actors and questions over his security clearance. When questioned about his foreign business entanglements and his work in the White House, the President's son-in-law and senior adviser said "there's been no actions I've taken that I have benefited from financially." He also said he doesn't disagree with the U.S. intelligence community's assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman   with whom Kushner has developed a close working relationship   ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "I'm not going to dispute American intelligence services' recommendations," Kushner said. Kushner also said he advised the Saudi Crown Prince about how to handle the fallout from the murder. "The advice I gave was be as transparent as possible and that obviously we have to make sure there is accountability for what happened," Kushner said. Kushner has been working on a Middle East peace plan. He said it will be unveiled sometime after Ramadan, which is in early June. Before that, Kushner said he'll be presenting a comprehensive immigration reform plan to the President by early next week. "If I can get Stephen Miller and Kevin Hassett to agree on an immigration plan," Kushner joked, "then Middle East peace will be easy by comparison." See TIME's full list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2019.


Thousands of Chicago motorists may be able to get their cars and trucks out of city impound lots immediately after filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy following a federal appeals court ruling that the city could no longer hold onto the vehicles. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the city's aggressive strategy, aimed at discouraging motorists whose vehicles had been impounded over unpaid tickets from filing under Chapter 13, violated the basic protections of bankruptcy, and the city was doing so mostly to generate revenue. "This allows Chapter 13 to accomplish its intended purpose, which is to put the property that a debtor needs to go on with the debtor's life in the hands of the debtor," said Eugene Wedoff, a retired chief bankruptcy judge for the Northern District of Illinois who argued the appeal on behalf of the debtors. The opinion , which upholds orders issued by judges in four cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago, draws on reporting by ProPublica Illinois last year that showed how debt from unpaid parking and automated traffic camera tickets has led thousands of mostly black and low-income drivers to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. This kind of bankruptcy allows for ticket debt forgiveness and what's known as an "automatic stay," a protection that gives debtors the opportunity to regain their financial footing and repay their creditors. For years, what that meant for indebted motorists in Chicago was the ability to quickly reinstate drivers' licenses suspended over unpaid tickets and retrieve impounded vehicles without having to first pay fines or fees. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is also cheaper, at the onset, than enrolling in a city ticket payment plan. Many law firms will file cases without a retainer, spreading legal fees over the life of the bankruptcy. A city payment plan can require a down payment of up to $1,000. Filing for bankruptcy is rarely a long-term solution, however; impoverished debtors frequently fail to make required monthly payments, leaving their bankruptcies to collapse without debt relief, ProPublica has reported . When that happens with cases involving ticket debt, the city recovers little if any money. Hoping to stem the flood of bankruptcies and bring in more revenue, city officials in 2017 began claiming that the city had liens on impounded vehicles and that it didn't have to return them immediately after motorists filed for bankruptcy. Instead, the city held onto the cars until motorists agreed to prioritize paying off ticket debt in their bankruptcy payment plan, a process that often took months and left many people unable to get to work. This assured the city it would get paid back more of what it was owed; typically, debtors pay just pennies on the dollar for unpaid tickets in bankruptcy payment plans, which can last up to five years. The proposal is intended to discourage drivers from filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but it does nothing to change onerous payment plans for motorists who don't file at all. Judges are demanding that lawyers tell their clients that their other debts might not get paid, but their lawyers will. A cash-strapped city employs punitive measures to collect from cash-strapped black residents   and lawyers benefit. Officials would not say how many vehicles the city refused to return after launching its lien policy. But in 2016, the city returned close to 3,800 impounded vehicles to debtors who had filed for bankruptcy. The federal appeals court said the city's claim that it had liens on the impounded vehicles was valid, but that it still needed to return the vehicles to their owners immediately after they filed for bankruptcy. "At bottom, the City wants to maintain possession of the vehicles not because it wants the vehicles but to put pressure on the debtors to pay their tickets," a three-judge panel wrote in its opinion last month. "That is precisely what the [automatic] stay is intended to prevent." A spokesman for the city's Law Department declined to comment on the ruling. The court's ruling means the city must go to court on a case-by-case basis if, for example, it believes the bankruptcy was filed in bad faith or wants assurances it will get paid more of what it's owed. "The City's argument that it will be overburdened with responding to Chapter 13 petitions is ultimately unavailing; any burden is a consequence of the Bankruptcy Code's focus on protecting debtors and on preserving property of the estate for the benefit of all creditors," the judges wrote. "It perhaps also reflects the importance of vehicles to residents' everyday lives, particularly where residents need their vehicles to commute to work and earn an income in order to eventually pay off their fines and other debts." The court also rejected the city's argument that it needed to hold onto impounded vehicles to keep bad drivers off the road. The judges wrote that the kind of violations that typically lead to impoundments are "for parking tickets, failure to display a City tax sticker, and minor moving violations. Even tickets for a suspended license, a seemingly more serious offense, are often the result of unpaid parking tickets and are thus not related to public safety." ProPublica Illinois has reported on how violations for not having vehicle city sticker   which can grow to $488 with late penalties and collections fees   are the biggest source of ticket debt in Chicago. It's unclear whether Mayor Lori Lightfoot's administration will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case and fight to continue a legal strategy crafted during Rahm Emanuel's tenure as mayor. Lightfoot's office did not respond to requests for comment. During her mayoral campaign, Lightfoot said she would look for more progressive revenue alternatives to tickets, saying "our regressive, extractive ticketing system has forced thousands of motorists of color into bankruptcy, which imposes its own costs on our city budget." Even before Lightfoot's election, city officials were looking for other ways to steer motorists away from Chapter 13, the only kind of bankruptcy in which ticket debt can be wiped out. In November, the city approved a proposal from the Law Department to forgive old ticket debt for motorists who file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7, which almost always end with debt relief. The city's "Fresh Start" program wipes away unpaid tickets, fines and fees issued more than three years before debtors file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, as long as they complete a city payment plan for more recent ticket debt. Late penalties and collection fees are also forgiven. The Law Department said 605 people have signed up for the program since it went into effect in January. If they successfully complete the program, the city could waive almost $4 million in ticket debt, or about $6,500 per person. ProPublica Illinois is an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism with moral force. Sign up for our newsletter to get weekly updates written by our journalists.


Irish golf fans have been hoping for an Irishman to play his way into form in the build up to the British Open at Royal Portrush. They just weren't expecting it to be Padraig Harrington. The 2020 European Ryder Cup captain looked like the guy who won three majors in a 13-month spell between 2007-2008 in returning a 7-under-par 63 to lead the $7 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at Lahinch. The 47 year old takes a two shot lead into the second round over South Africa's Zander Lombard. "I had neutral expectations," Harrington admitted. "I've been playing all year trying to find my game. I've been struggling coming back after my wrist injury. You know, this week, I just decided I'd go and play and try and get stock on my game. That's kind of been the feedback I've been getting from my team around me. Let's go out and play and see where we're at. LEADERBOARD: Irish Open "I didn't expect 63 out of it. I was expecting a few weeks to get my head in the game, and we could then get our bearings, but you know, it just goes to show, when your head is in the right place, especially on a links golf course because you can work your way around the links. I did a really good job of it today. "Out there today, I was in a good place, my head was in a good place and good things were happening. I hit lots of nice shots. I know I don't have to play as well as that for the next three days. It would be nice if I did, but we'll just go out there and try and do more of the same." Harrington is looking for his 16th European Tour victory, and his first since the 2016 Portugal Masters. He's hoping to land his second Irish Open following victory in 2007. He used that win as a launch pad to win that year's Open Championship at Carnoustie. The Dubliner successfully defended his Open Championship title at Royal Birkdale in 2008. He added the PGA Championship the following month and many predicted he would go on to challenge Harry Vardon and Nick Faldo for most majors won by a European. Both players won six, but Harrington is stuck on three. The closest he's been to major glory is T-4 in the 2012 U.S. Open. He couldn't win this year's Open Championship could he? "Whenever I step on a links golf course, I am going to be good value, and going forward, only a fool would discount me on a links course." That spells bad news for the rest of the field at Lahinch, and offers high hopes for his chances in two week's time. He couldn't, could he? MORE: NBA fans had fun taking shots at Drake after hearing Kawhi Leonard will join the Clippers Russell Westbrook Chased Away Another Star Teammate NBA Free Agency 2019: The top players NBA knew about 'discontent' between Russell Westbrook, Paul George Kawhi Leonard spurs Lakers for Clippers, brings Paul George with him


This gives anyone with a beloved project vehicle nightmares about waking up to find their ride gone. A total of five classic cars have been boosted from hotel parking lots in Charlotte, North Carolina. The cars were discovered missing on the morning of Sunday, June 9. They were part of the 25th Hot Rod Power Tour which had made a stop in Charlotte last weekend. Now police are investigating and owners are spreading the word through social media. One of the stolen cars was a 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS that had just gone through a thorough restomod . The owner, Garrett Alexander Reed, had installed a detachable steering wheel, yet the thieves were still able to successfully take the car. According to Reed, it's worth over $50,000. Another of the boosted cars was a bright yellow 1983 Chevy Malibu Wagon A 1994 Chevrolet Silverado was also targeted in the seemingly coordinated thefts. The owner, Roger Bentley, told reporters the thieves "… took away a part of me that I can't get back." Some have theorized the criminals attended one or more shows, staking out which cars they were interested in stealing, then following the owners back to their hotels before finalizing plans to boost each one in the night. That The 25th Hot Rod Power Tour held an event at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia on Sunday and then Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee on Monday. The five stolen classic cars were obviously not in attendance for those or subsequent stops. For seven days, owners travel from one city to another for shows, drawing huge crowds. Organizers were anticipating the show this year would draw about 6,000 collector cars owners were interested in showing off. The thefts don't seem to have stopped car owners from attending the other stops in the tour. Some have posted on social media about taking extra precautions at night, like parking near their hotel's entrance. Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter


FARMINGDALE, N.Y.   Jack Miller was beaming like a new proud papa in front of the Bethpage clubhouse, and judging by the endless back-pats and handshakes and attaboys, you'd be forgiven for thinking that was the case. You could even make the argument he was, as his 50-year dream had just come into existence. "I mean, good gracious, can you believe this?" Miller says, his face lit like the Fourth of July sky. "How good is this? How good!" Tiger Woods entered the 2019 PGA Championship as its star; Brooks Koepka has proved its conqueror. Its folk hero, however, has not hit a shot. That would be Miller, the only Bethpage caddie in the tournament field, on duty this week for Jazz Janewattananond . In itself, the local ties are enough to galvanize the crowds, and they have. Miller has 30 family and friends following him this week, and word quickly spread that one of Long Island's own was inside the ropes. "He's brought so many fans around," Janewattananond said. "Maybe that's part of the reason why New York loves me. Must be the caddie." "Somebody must have told somebody, 'cuz I sure don't know that many people," Miller said. But those local ties don't come close to encapsulating Miller's story. The 63-year-old carried his first bag around the Black course in 1969. "That's what everyone did around here back then, it's what we were supposed to do," Miller says. He loved it: the job, the game, his customers, his comrades. The job planted aspirations to one day caddie in the big leagues. "Oh man, did I think that would be the coolest," he says about being a tour jock. That didn't happen. Life got in the way, as it tends to do. Caddieing went from fantasy profession to part-time position, but it never ceased being his passion. A family to provide for, Miller took a job at a frozen-foods store in nearby Massapequa, and has been in the supermarket business since high school. He's now the store manager at King Kullen, unloading truck deliveries at 4 a.m. and opening the store daily at 5:30. That includes during the tournament. "I'm gonna get something to eat, have a couple brews, then get some sleep," Miller said on Saturday evening. "Have to be up early." RELATED: Who is Jazz Janewattananond and what's he doing on the PGA Championship leader board? Not that he's complaining. This week wasn't supposed to happen, at least not like this. He was scheduled to work the driving range, helping pick and sort balls. But his boss, Dave Casper, who was supposed to caddie for Janewattananond, hurt his hand a month ago, and the injury didn't heal. So on Sunday, as they were driving into the state park, Casper told Miller he was on deck. "It all happened so fast," Miller said. "Suddenly I'm getting my picture taken and getting passes and access to amazing food spreads. I mean, I get a better parking spot this week than I usually do!" While it was easy to get star struck, Miller knew he was there to do a job. He quickly tried to strike up a rapport with Janewattananond, who had just fired his regular caddie at the Volvo China Open. Miller's fears of a language barrier were quickly alleviated, as Janewattananond spoke clear English. Not that the communication was smooth sailing at first. "He talks softly, and he was having trouble hearing me. I think my New Yorker accent threw him a bit," Miller says. A bigger disconnect turned out to be age. Janewattananond told Miller he wanted to play his practice rounds with fellow Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat. Jazz said Aphibarnrat had been like a father-figure to him. "Father figure? He's 29! What does that make me, great grandpa?" Miller said. Despite the generational gap, the two began to bond, and what was disjointed conversation earlier in the week has been filled with stories and jokes. "You better believe we're cooking now," Miller said. It's showed on the scoreboard. The 23-year-old Janewattananond, making just his second career major start, is in a tie for second heading into Sunday thanks to a third-round 67, the low score of the day. Miller knocks down any notion his local knowledge has had anything to do with the score. "I'm just trying to make sure the kid is comfortable," Miller says. "He has all the shots. Maybe not as long as Koepka, your Dustin Johnsons, but he's long enough. All I'm trying to do is make sure he's having fun." RELATED: Exclusive images from Bethpage Black Like all good caddies, Miller is humble to a fault. He even admitted embarrassment at all the crowd love he was getting, at one point on Saturday pulling Jazz aside after the first hole to ask if he was OK with it. "He looked at me and said, 'Are you kidding? This is great!'" Miller relayed. They emerged in step from Round Swamp Road tunnel, and Jazz, who had erred on the side of introversion most of the week, began returning the fist-bumps fired in his direction from the crowd. "He's really getting a kick out of it," Miller says of Jazz. "The crowds have just been great to him." A seven-shot deficit to Koepka will likely be too much to overcome in 18 holes, but there's a lot at stake for Janewattananond on Sunday. A runner-up finish gets him into next year's Masters, would likely bring enough OWGR points for a Pebble Beach invite, and perhaps most importantly, a $1.1 million paycheck. Given the cash up for grabs along with golf's caddie-payment controversy a reporter asked Miller if he and Jazz had discussed their arrangement. After all, a usual round at the Black confers an $80 to $100 tip. "No, no, no, I'm not getting into that," Miller said. "Especially since my wife might be reading this." Besides, Miller says, you can't put a price on this experience. It's a moment he's dreamed about his entire life, and it's lived up to the billing. He's doing his best to cherish Janewattananond's play and the crowd's adoration. As he was lining Jazz up on the 18th hole, a fan yelled, "Show him the way, Jack!" Miller and Janewattananond obliged, and both raised their hands in celebration. Unfortunately, it's about to come to an end. There is one more round left, and then Jazz and Miller will part ways. Janewattananond back to splitting time between the Asian and European circuits, Miller to shelving cabbage. Miller thinks he'd work well with Janewattananond on a regular basis, but Long Island to Shanghai is a hell of a commute. "It's gone by fast," Miller says. "I wish time would just stop." Miller plans on staying at the grocery store until 11 a.m. or so on Sunday. He says most of his fellow employees don't understand the gravitas of his undertaking. "They're not golfers; they think this is just a normal week for me at the course," he says. But at least one person knows what this means to Jack. That would be his daughter, who works in the Bethpage restaurant. If anyone had a smile as big as Jack, it was her. "I'm just so proud," she said. "They played so great today, even though Jazz had two bogeys, which I'm blaming on the caddie [laughter]. I'm so so happy." Father and daughter posed together for a local television crew. His arm around his daughter, Jack tells the camera, "Hey, how good is this, huh?" After a short pause, Miller answers his own question. "Let me tell you, pretty dang good." Introducing Golf Digest All Access, a new way to improve See the video.


If there's one thing to be learned about Josh Gordon - it's that you can't rely on him to be on the field. While on the field, he's one of the NFL's most gifted wide receivers. But, his extensive background with substance abuse issues has led to a significant amount of suspension time. After joining the New England Patriots in 2018, it seemed as if he was working through his issues and was going to stay on the field for the remainder of the season. He played 11 games for the Patriots before getting suspended indefinitely and announcing that he was going to step away from football to work on his mental health. In those 11 games, he was able to reel in 40 receptions for 720 yards and three touchdowns. There's no doubt that he can make the Patriots offense better. There's just a huge question mark on whether or not he'll see the field in 2019. Gordon is still waiting to hear if he'll be reinstated - and so are the Patriots. Although they aren't counting on him to return in 2019, they certainly would welcome him back. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport joined the WEEI's " Dale & Keefe Show " recently and elaborated on the situation. "Josh Gordon, I don't know," Rapoport said. "I know that for the Patriots, it's not something that they're talking about every day. It's not a guy who's in their plans right now. I think that they would certainly welcome him back if he showed that he's going to be a better version - as a person, I'm talking about - a better version of the one they got last year. I just don't know that he's actually going to get reinstated, prove to the Patriots that he has turned the corner, that he's a different person, show that he's in the right frame of mind. "As always with Josh Gordon, the talent is incredible. We've seen probably one-tenth of it, honestly. But there's always so much that goes into it. I think the Patriots know better than to say this is a guy we're counting on for next season." Tom Brady has built an excellent relationship with Gordon, so the chance of seeing him in a Patriots uniform next season will depend on whether or not he's reinstated. MORE: Is Tacko Fall an NBA player? Here is the case for why... and why not Dan Le Batard delivers impassioned rebuke of racist 'send her back' chant despite ESPN rules Dan Le Batard Rips Trump and 'Send Her Back' Chants What made Bills hiring of Ken Dorsey a crucial hiring Can Rashaan Melvin be the Lions' new Rashean Mathis?


The New England Patriots will play their first official game of the 2019 season on Thursday night when they face the Detroit Lions on the road in their preseason opener. Week 1 of the preseason will be our first opportunity to evaluate some of the new and young talent on New England's roster, which will allow us to see their ability in real-game scenarios. With Tom Brady reportedly sitting out the contest, along with what will likely be some other veterans, it gives players who are deeper on the depth chart their first opportunity to fight for their roster spot in a game. There are certain position battles that have created much competition in training camp thus far, which will now get to play out in a real game. Here are three position battles to look out for during the Patriots' preseason opener. 1. Wide Receiver For what was supposed to be a thin position group heading into training camp, the wide receivers have been everything but that in training camp so far. Outside of Julian Edelman (PUP) and N'Keal Harry, two players who are locks to make the final 53-man roster, there has been a fierce battle between three or four wideouts on New England's roster. Veteran wideouts Phillip Dorsett and Maurice Harris, second-year receiver Braxton Berrios and undrafted free agent Jakobi Myers all have had their fair share of excellent moments in camp, with Berrios trailing the other two because of his inability to consistently get separation from defensive backs. The three of them will now get to extend their lead or fall behind a position that will have Demaryius Thomas coming back this season from a torn Achilles, and potentially Josh Gordon, who recently filed for reinstatement from his indefinite suspension. New England signed Cameron Meredith on Monday, so he will play a factor as well when he fully recovers from his knee injury. Not to mention Dontrelle Inman, newly-converted receiver Danny Etling, Gunner Olszewski, Ryan Davis, and Damoun Patterson, all who could very well impress throughout the next three weeks of camp and find themselves on the regular-season roster. Keep an eye on the wideouts, no matter who is playing quarterback throughout the game for the Patriots on Thursday night. 2. Defensive end (opposite of Michael Bennett) It seems that there is an open competition for the starting defensive end spot opposite of veteran defensive lineman, Michael Bennett. Deatrich Wise was the assumed starter heading into this year after the Patriots not only lost Trey Flowers (Lions) to free agency but also Adrian Clayborn (Falcons), a player who was in New England's defensive line rotation during the 2018 regular and postseason. However, Chase Winovich, a third-round pick for New England in 2019. has come on strong early on in training camp, which has him impressing media member as well as making a case for first-team reps. Derek Rivers has also had a strong camp, which could possibly turn this starting job into a three-headed race. Winovich will have to stand out Thursday night vs. Detroit if he wants to earn reps with the starting unit going forward. If he can do that, and neither Wise nor Rivers provide any examples of why they should be a starter, then we could see Winovich becoming a regular part of the 1st-team defense much earlier than we anticipated. Let's see if the former Wolverine can grab one or two sacks against the Lions. 3. Backup Quarterback Brian Hoyer was Tom Brady's backup from 2009 to 2011 and then continued that role from 2017 until now. But he may be in jeopardy of losing his role as the backup quarterback this season because of New England's fourth-round pick this year, quarterback Jarrett Stidham. The former Auburn standout has quickly grasped concepts in camp thus far, which has resulted in a few strong showings for him in practices and has made him one of the quietest rising stars on the team . Hoyer could be in jeopardy of losing his entire roster spot if Etling can prove to be a dual-threat at receiver and quarterback. This makes the backup quarterback competition actually worth watching in New England for the first time since Jimmy Garoppolo was a rookie. If Stidham wants to hold off Hoyer, he will need to have a strong preseason on top of his already-strong training camp. Get ready for them to duke it out against Matt Patricia's defense first. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde 'He's a circus catch guy': Rookie WR Jakobi Meyers is a converted QB standing out at Patriots camp Roundup: Bella Hadid and The Weeknd Appear to Split Again, Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame Class Packers rookie Darrius Shepherd standing out to Matt LaFleur, Aaron Rodgers Deadline passes as Elliott loses accrued season, fines reach $500K


Read it like a book! @Amazin5Grace pic.twitter.com/laHBtPTyzb - Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 9, 2019 The NFL preseason is all about making the most out of your opportunities, just the way Falcons linebacker Jermaine Grace did here. In this clip, Grace perfectly reads a badly thrown ball by Dolphins quarterback Josh Rosen, picks him off and almost runs it back for a pick-six. It's a throw Rosen would like to have back, but credit Grace for making a great read and play on the ball. The Falcons lead 19-13 at halftime. MORE: A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Packers vs. Texans: Time, TV schedule, streaming, how to watch Ravens vs. Jaguars Week 1: Time, TV schedule and how to stream online How to watch Patriots vs. Lions Deadline passes as Elliott loses accrued season, fines reach $500K


JERSEY CITY, N.J.   It's becoming a familiar routine for Tiger Woods in recent events, struggle on Day 1 and force yourself to perform some sort of magic during the second round just to make the cut. On Thursday at The Northern Trust it was a 4-over 75 that left Woods tied for 102nd out of 104 players who were on the course at that moment. It was a similar performance to last month's Open Championship, where he started his week with a 78, and the PGA Championship, when he opened with a 72. He missed the cut at both events. The Northern Trust: Full-field scores | Full coverage | FedExCup standings "I'm going to have to figure out a way to get this thing under par and hopefully move on and have a chance on the weekend to keep progressing and keep going lower," Woods reasoned after his round. "I've got to get into the red at the end of the day tomorrow, for sure." TT Postscript: More sloppy play for Woods (75) at Northern Trust But for Woods, this is much more than another poor first round. Given his precarious position on the FedExCup point list (28th), he will need to have decent starts in the first two playoff events to assure a return trip to the Tour Championship, where he would be the defending champion. Following his round on Thursday at Liberty National, Woods was projected to drop to 32nd on the point list.


The Dutch airline KLM launched an environmental campaign titled "Fly Responsibly." The campaign, which encourages travelers to consider packing lighter, buying carbon offsets, or even flying less, is likely a response to the growing "flight shaming" movement in Northern Europe. While commercial aviation only contributes 2% to 3% of total global emissions, that number is likely to increase without intervention. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories . The Dutch airline KLM has launched a new campaign to confront the environmental impact of air travel. The airline's new "Fly Responsibly" campaign kicked off with a webpage hosted on a dedicated subdomain, and a video published on YouTube . The campaign comes as the topic of " flight shaming " has been gaining traction this past spring and summer. A concept that originated among a group of Northern European environmental activists - particularly in Scandinavia - flight-shaming, or the anti-flying movement, has gained enough mainstream traction that airlines are starting to take notice. Airlines such as Thomas Cook and SAS have recognized that anti-flying sentiment has increased in recent years, according to Skift, as emission-conscious passengers choose slower, but more efficient modes of travel when possible, particularly trains. Although commercial flying accounts for just 2% to 3% of total global carbon emissions today, that number is likely to increase, particularly as passenger numbers are expected to double to 8.2 billion by 2037, according to the International Air Transport Association. As emissions rise and passengers become more conscious of the impact of each flight they take, airlines find themselves in the difficult position of needing to continue to grow their businesses while acknowledging legitimate environmental concerns. KLM's video seemingly encourages viewers to fly less - "Do you always have to meet face-to-face? Could you take the train instead?" - but it's likely simply a tactic to draw attention to the larger "Fly Responsibly" campaign. The campaign's website highlights various sustainability initiatives KLM currently has in place, like the development of a sustainable fuel plant, offering carbon offsets, and more. Some items, like packing lighter, which would reduce overall weight and fuel consumption, have obvious economic benefits for the airline. However, promoting awareness of its environmental initiatives - including those already in place, those in development, and those that passengers can contribute to - suggests that KLM is taking the threat of flight-shaming seriously, and hopes that awareness is one way to combat the potential economic threat. RELATED VIDEO: Qantas Is Hiding Cheap First Class Seats on Airbnb (via Buzz60)


The NBA had their yearly draft lottery on Tuesday and the New Orleans Pelicans took the headlines by landing the first-overall pick and probably Zion Williamson. Buffalo Bills fans might be more familiar with the lottery that the NHL runs because of the Sabres, which is done in similar fashion. But in honor of the NBA's lottery last night, NFL Research conducted their own "lottery" by creating a formula that slotted NFL teams in correlation to an NBA team in a similar draft pick they would've shared. So should the NFL conduct a lottery of their own? Bills fans wouldn't have minded. Per the findings, the Bills would have actually drafted second overall at the 2019 draft this year instead of ninth. The Jacksonville Jaguars jumped from seven to the first-overall pick as well. Here's how NFL Research lays it all out: Here's how we did it: Slot NBA lottery teams from #1 to #14 (using NFL Draft tiebreaking procedures when necessary), then match them up with the corresponding NFL team. pic.twitter.com/JvV5laoRGL - NFL Research (@NFLResearch) May 15, 2019 Buffalo is currently happy with defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who the Bills actually did draft under current NFL draft rules. But had this lottery played out, the top-two picks likely would not have changed. The Jags would have certainly taken quarterback Kyler Murray after their failed Blake Bortles experiment, assuming the fake lottery took place before free agency as the Jaguars landed Nick Foles then. Therefore at second overall, Nick Bosa could've been the newest member of the Bills, who was the No. 2 pick to the San Francisco 49ers in reality. Oh what could have been, but Bills Mafia is fine with Oliver for now. MORE: Report: Browns rookie RB L.J. Scott decides to quit NFL after just 2 days Zion Williamson still has options if he doesn't want to play for the Pelicans Where does Darron Lee fit among the Chiefs' linebackers? Roundup: Britney Spears Manager Clarifies Comments, Daryl Johnston XFL Job, Rick and Morty Season 4 Details Cowboys News: Prescott's circle of trust questioned, Kris Richard RKGs


Red Bull will debut a new Formula 1 motorhome in the Spanish Grand Prix, introducing a new sustainable structure after 14 seasons using its Energy Station. The Energy Station was first used in the 2005 San Marino Grand Prix and has been one of the most recognisable buildings in the paddock during the European season. With the first European race of 2019 taking place in Barcelona this weekend, the energy drinks giant will be debuting its new headquarters: the F1 Holzhaus (Wood House). The new structure, which can be erected in less than two days and taken down in one by a crew of 25, offers 27% more floor space than its predecessor, with an area of 1221 square meters. The Red Bull-backed KTM MotoGP team had initially used a version of the new motorhome over the past two years and Red Bull Racing had taken it to last year's Austrian GP. Red Bull said the building, made with "sustainably sourced Austrian timber", is intended to do away with the need for air conditioning. "Over the last 14 seasons, the Energy Station has undergone several transformations, moving with the times, first to accommodate two F1 teams after the arrival of Toro Rosso, and then with a series of upgrades to better meet our changing requirements," said Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. "This week, we're changing the game again with the unveiling of the new Energy Station, better known in Austria as the Holzhaus. "It's a sustainable structure that brings a touch of the Styrian Alps to the F1 paddock, having been designed to meet the current and future needs of ourselves and Toro Rosso. If it sees half as much drama as the old Energy Station, it will be doing well!" Gallery: The new Red Bull motorhome Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality under construction Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality under construction Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull Racing hospitality under construction Red Bull Content Pool


When Sam Darnold was first brought to 1 Jets Drive, he was learning a new offense under first-year offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates while preparing to play for a head coach on the hot seat in Todd Bowles. Now, as Darnold enters his sophomore season, both coaches are gone. Adam Gase and a brand new offense are in. That means more learning and studying for a sophomore quarterback who made great strides toward the end of last season in a different scheme. No worries, though. Even with the prospects of a new offense and new team around him, Darnold feels comfortable in the beginning stages of offseason activities. "It's been really fun to be able to learn a new offense and kind of understand what Coach Gase wants to do, how aggressive he wants to be," Darnold told the Jets' site . "But we're making sure we take a step back and realize it's not going to be perfect day one or day two or day three. This week it was definitely a process. That's the word I would use to describe it and it's going to be throughout OTAs and this little minicamp. But we understand that as an offense. We've just got to be able to stack good days on top of good days and see what happens." While Darnold showed signs of great promise his rookie season, his stats weren't anything to write home about. Which, is perfectly OK for a rookie getting his feet wet with a roster lacking talent. Darnold completed 57.7 percent of his passes for 2,865 yards and 17 touchdowns while also throwing 15 interceptions. Now, his statistics are expected to improve as he takes the next step as a second-year quarterback in the NFL. There is no question that Darnold is an exceptional talent, but the early expectations for immediate success should be sidelined. There will be growing pains and even with OTAs, training camp and the preseason, it will still take time for everyone learning a new offense. Gase has had success with quarterbacks everywhere he's gone, from Peyton Manning to Matt Moore. Even with that, Darnold's mantra of "it's a process," should be taken seriously. He and the Jets will get there, but how soon is yet to be determined. MORE: Kevin Na gives caddie awesome present right after PGA Tour win: 'That's your car!' Ahead of Finals, Stephen Curry defends Kevin Durant against critics NFL world responds to passing of Packers legend Bart Starr LeBron James and LeBron James, Jr. lose it after massive poster dunk Roundup: Best Movies on Netflix, Why Gov't Denied El Chapo Requests, Top Recruiting Classes Ever


Looking to add a new companion to the family? There are dozens of charming rabbits up for adoption at animal shelters in and around Philadelphia, so you won't have to look far to find the perfect new pal. Hoodline used data from Petfinder to power this roundup of rabbits available for adoption near you. Read on to meet some friendly locals. (Details like pet availability, training, vaccinations and other features are based on data provided by Petfinder and may be subject to change; contact the shelter for the latest information.) Bugs Batorsky, American rabbit Bugs Batorsky is a male American rabbit staying at Luv-N-Bunns . He's already been neutered. Here's more about him: Bugs Batorsky is an energetic one-year-old bunny, who has been learning his potty-training habits. He is full of love and shoves his head into your hands to pet his face. Read more about how to adopt Bugs Batorsky on Petfinder . Daisy, English spot rabbit Daisy is a female English spot rabbit being cared for at Luv-N-Bunns . She's already been spayed. Here's more about her: Daisy is an extremely loving bunny, who lunges forward to give kisses. She is also very active and a bit mischievous. She would do well in a home without young children. Read more about how to adopt Daisy on Petfinder . Bugs, dwarf rabbit and silver marten rabbit mix Bugs is a male dwarf rabbit and silver marten rabbit mix being kept at Luv-N-Bunns . He's already been neutered. Read more about how to adopt Bugs on Petfinder . Daria, English spot rabbit Daria is a female English spot rabbit currently housed at Luv-N-Bunns . She's already been spayed. Apply to adopt Daria today at Petfinder . This story was created automatically using local animal shelter data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


On a tour that's as saturated with talent as the LPGA is now, it's hard for one player to stand out and be dominant. However, after her win at the Meijer LPGA Classic, Brooke Henderson looks to be making a bid to do just that. Henderson shot a record-tying 21-under at Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Mich. to win by one over four players -- one of whom was the previous week's champion, Lexi Thompson. With nine tour wins, Henderson, who grew up in Ontario, became the winningest Canadian tour pro -- male or female -- in golf. Her win earlier this year at the LOTTE Championship tied her with Sandra Post, Mike Weir and George Knudson with eights. At only 21-years-old, if the past is an indication of the future, Henderson will surely build on that number. This is the fourth season in a row where Henderson has won more than once on the LPGA. Starting the final round in Michigan, Henderson had a two-shot lead over Annie Park. The leaderboard was packed throughout the day, and it only got tighter when Henderson bogeyed the 16th hole. On the 18th tee, she needed a par or better to win the tournament. A bogey would have resulted in a five-way playoff. Henderson hit the short par 5 in two, and three-putted for par and the win. "When I was walking up here I thought maybe I would have to birdie or eagle this hole to get the job done, but when I looked at the scoreboard I was sort of shocked that all I needed to do was three-putt and par," said Henderson. "So I'm really grateful about that because I don't know, I was shaking pretty bad on those last couple putts." As to the keys to her win, there are a few. First, she loves the golf course. She won this event in 2017, and said the course reminds her of courses she grew up playing in Canada, so there's a level of comfort at Blythefield C.C.. Then there is her ball striking. In the first round, when Henderson shot an 8-under 64, she hit every green in regulation. Her pace slowed a bit over the next two rounds, hitting 12 greens in each. On the final day, she hit 14 of 18 greens. That many looks at birdie, it explains her 72-hole score of 21-under. Finally, the Toronto Raptors' unlikely win over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals on Thursday inspired her -- kind of. "You know, it was so fun, my family and I, we really got behind the Raptors during the playoffs and we watched every game, which is really cool and it was just really exciting," said Henderson. "You know, I think it really boosted the whole country when they won and I was just trying to do something similar this week." The week was also a success for Lexi Thompson, even though she wasn't the player holding the trophy on Sunday evening. Thompson won the week before at the Shoprite LPGA Classic . The week before that, she finished in a three-way tie for second at the U.S. Women's Open. At both the Shoprite and this week's event, Thompson finished the tournament by eagling the final hole. Her game is getting sharp at the right time, as the next major on the LPGA calendar, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, will be played the week after the Meijer LPGA Classic at Hazeltine. See the video.


Philadelphia will see a return of last week's moderate rainfall this coming week, according to drone-powered weather forecasting service Saildrone . Rain is forecast for today, with the highest chance of rain expected Tuesday. The most rainfall will likely fall on Sunday at 2.87 inches. The immediate forecast also has cool temperatures in store for today, with a high of 61 degrees. Temperatures will turn warmer on Thursday, with a high of 87 degrees on Thursday. Winds will remain fairly calm through the week, with the highest speeds on Wednesday at only 12 miles per hour. 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.


Cardinals closer Jordan Hicks and oft-injured prospect Alex Reyes are undergoing tests today to determine the severity of their potential injuries, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Hicks is having an MRI after experiencing triceps tightness in recent days and could potentially land on the injured list. Reyes, meanwhile, exited Sunday's Triple-A outing due to right pectoral discomfort and is being reevaluated today. Were Hicks to require a stint on the injured list, the Cardinals could turn to either Andrew Miller or John Gant for ninth-inning work. Miller struggled through his first 13 games this season but has rebounded with a 2.70 ERA and, more importantly, a 25-to-4 K/BB ratio over his past 16 2/3 innings. That sterling ratio comes after the lefty issued eight walks and hit three batters in his first 9 1/3 innings as a Cardinal. Gant, meanwhile, boasts a 2.40 ERA with 8.1 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 0.65 HR/9 and a 47.1 percent grounder rate in 41 1/3 innings of relief. That's not to say the loss of Hicks wouldn't sting. The 22-year-old Hicks has improved in every meaningful category in 2019. He has a 3.14 ERA with 9.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a superlative 67.2 percent ground-ball rate. He has upped his swinging-strike rate and opponents' chase rates from 9.4 percent and 26.1 percent to 11.9 percent and 29.5 percent, respectively. Even Hicks' otherworldly heater has taken a step forward in 2019. After averaging a blazing 100.5 mph on the pitch in 2018, he's upped his average fastball velocity to 101.2 mph this year. The news on Reyes, 24, is more concerning, not necessarily because of the specific nature of his injury but because the vaunted right-hander has a lengthy injury history that has led to concerns about his ability to remain on the field. Reyes has thrown just 64 1/3 innings from 2017-19 and has never reached 120 innings in a single season. He has previously undergone Tommy John surgery as well as surgery to repair a tendon in his lat muscle last season. The Cardinals' pitching staff has received a boost in recent weeks. Carlos Martinez returned to bolster the bullpen and has turned in 15 innings of 3.00 ERA ball. Michael Wacha tossed two quality starts (albeit against one clunker) upon rejoining the rotation following a bullpen sojourn. Miller's resurgence, too, has been a vital development. The club looks better equipped to handle absences for Hicks or Reyes with that trio looking mostly sharp, but a significant absence for either pitcher could impact the manner in which the Cards operate in the weeks leading up to next month's trade deadline. St. Louis (40-37) currently looks like a buyer as the Cards are in the thick of the NL Central race. That stance isn't likely to change, but their area of focus and level of urgency to make a deal will undoubtedly be impacted by health throughout the roster.


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced today that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is awarding $478 million in airport infrastructure grants, and four Michigan airports will be receiving parts of the grant. The grants to Michigan airports include: $527,250 to Alpena County Regional Airport to acquire snow removal equipment $21.14 million to Detroit Metropolitan Airport for runway reconstruction $11.06 million to Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids for apron rehabilitation $1.54 million to Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport to conduct an environmental study "This significant investment in airport improvements in Michigan will fund construction and rehabilitation projects that will help maintain high levels of safety in U.S. aviation," Chao said. The FAA grants will be awarded to 232 airports in 43 states, including American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico. ►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now . Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com , visit our Facebook page or Twitter .


Interested in finding out about the newest restaurant and retail additions to Atlanta? From a pizza shop to a tapas restaurant, read on for the newest businesses to open near you. Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria New to 1016 Howell Mill Road in Home Park is Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria . A self-proclaimed "casual, artisan pizza shop with a love for hip hop and R&B culture," the restaurant makes pizzas using locally sourced ingredients and serves local craft beer. The Iberian Pig Stroll past 3150 Roswell Road NW, Suite A3, in Buckhead and you'll find The Iberian Pig , a new Spanish restaurant and tapas bar. In the words of the business' Facebook page , "The restaurant's menu is rooted in traditional Spanish flavors and is home to one of the most expansive selections of imported Spanish cheeses and cured meats in the country." You'll also find queso appetizers, chicken, steak, duck, seafood and vegetarian tapas and a large selection of Spanish wines on the menu . Fellaship Wander over to 110 Centennial Olympic Park Drive in Castleberry Hill and you'll find Fellaship , a restaurant, lounge and cigar bar. Owned by Atlanta native and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton , the upscale, intimate restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.


The Detroit Lions appear set with their top four options at wide receiver - Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola and Jermaine Kearse - but the battle for the fifth (and maybe sixth) spot(s) could come down to Andy Jones vs. Travis Fulgham. When Jones entered the league with the Cowboys, he got an opportunity because of an injury ahead of him but was passed by a rookie on the depth chart. Next, he landed with the Texans where again, an injury opened a door for him, and yet again he was passed by a rookie. Now Jones faces this identical situation with the Lions, where an injury to Marvin Jones has afforded him an opportunity to see all the first-team reps during organized training activities (OTAs) and minicamp. But directly behind him on the depth chart is sixth-round rookie Fulgham. Can Jones change his fate and hold off the rookie this time or is history destined to repeat itself? Let's take a close look at what these two receivers need to do in order to make the 53-man roster. The traits the Lions will most likely be looking for in fifth or sixth wide receiver include developmental upside, reliable hands, blocking skills, and heavy special teams contributions. Developmental upside Jones has been a familiar name to Lions fans over the past two seasons and his on-field experience is likely what led to his insertion into the starting lineup this spring. But Jones is still young - he's a week away from his 25th birthday - and is still developing the nuances of being an NFL wide receiver. In camp this offseason, he had days where he made mistakes and others where he showed a lot of promise and the ability to contribute on a weekly basis. Overall, there have been more positives than negatives this spring. Fulgham has been less consistent than Jones but he has stood out in his ability to make the big play. His most notable improvement is that he was making catches at the end of spring camp that he wasn't making at the beginning. "A prospect deserving of the 'ascending player' label," Dane Brugler of the Athletic said , "Fulgham steadily improved in the past four seasons at Old Dominion and has yet to play his best football. With his 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame with near-34-inch arms, Fulgham has the talent to find the field on money downs as a rookie, using his size and adjustment skills to be productive." Edge : Fulgham Reliable hands This is an area both players can improve on and it will come with experience and opportunity. In 2018, Jones was targeted 24 times, catching 11 passes (45.8 percent) for 80 yards and a touchdown. By the time Jones was inserted into the Lions lineup, the offense was a shell of its former self and it was hard to expect him to make an impactful difference, but those stats definitely need to be improved on. As a rookie, there's a lot of unknown about Fulgham's ability to catch balls at an NFL level but as noted in the section above, he was making plays late in camp that he didn't early, illustrating improvement. Edge : Even Blocking skills If they both end up making the 53-man roster, it will likely be because they excel as blockers. Jones only saw 139 snaps last season, but if he had enough to qualify, he would've graded out as Pro Football Focus' (PFF) No. 2 blocking receiver in the NFL. This may be Jones' best attribute and for a team that is shifting to more run first concepts, it's an extremely valuable skill. This is also an area in which Fulgham thrives. "Potentially the best stalk blocker among wide receivers in the entire NFL Draft class," Brad Kelly of the Draft Network said . "Collapses the space on defensive backs, engages contact and drives his feet with low hips. Lateral agility keeps his frame in-between defensive backs and ball carriers. Works his hands inside and will replace them at a solid pace. Drives and finishes defensive backs as they struggle to disengage. Has shown dominating traits for his stalk blocking and maximum effort even in the waning moments of clear losses." Edge : Even Special teams contributions Special teams is another area where Jones thrives and is something Lions coaches/front office put a premium on. Despite only playing in eight games, Jones still saw nearly 20-percent of the Lions special teams snaps for the season and ended the season with a special teams grade of 85.6 from PFF, the highest on the team. With no pads on in OTAs and minicamp, it's difficult to truly gauge Fulgham's success on special teams, but he was included in all special teams drills and showed great speed as a gunner. Right now, with the limited media access, there's no way to definitively tell his progress. Edge : Jones Conclusion Jones has a balanced package of skills teams look for in a fifth or sixth receiver but he lacks the upside of Fulgham. With both excelling as blockers, this competition could come down to two things: consistency and special teams contributions. Jones should enter training camp with an edge overall but if Fulgham continues to improve, he could find himself rising up the depth chart. We also shouldn't rule out both finding their way onto the 53-man roster. MORE: The NBA should be embarrassed about all the wrong hats being worn at the draft Roundup: Toy Story 4 Worth the Wait; Slack is Back, Lil Nas X Here to Stay The 2019 NBA draft pick by pick Luke Bowanko: what the Lions are getting with their new OL Odell Beckham blames politics for fallout with Giants


Editor's note: The opinions in this article are the author's, as published by our content partner, and do not necessarily represent the views of MSN or Microsoft. With all due apologies, I know I've weighed in on the debate about impeaching Donald Trump in previous columns. The reason I take it up again is because so many Democrats still can't decide how to proceed. Democrats are split into two camps. Those who say it's a mistake to start impeachment hearings because they're bound to fail. Trump will still be in the White House because Senate Trumpers will never vote to convict him. And those who insist that -- even if they're sure to fail -- Democrats must begin impeachment hearings anyway, because not doing so would in effect endorse Trump's unacceptable presidential behavior. More than any other factor, how that issue is resolved, I believe, could determine what happens in 2020. First, let's be clear. Why should Donald Trump be impeached? As Elizabeth Barrett Browning famously wrote, "Let me count the ways." He's debased the office of the presidency. He's told thousands of lies. He played footsie with a foreign adversary to win an election. He obstructed justice, many times. He intimidated witnesses. He ordered top aides to commit crimes. He defied congressional subpoenas. There's no doubt, as Republican Congressman Justin Amash concluded after reading the Mueller report, Trump has "engaged in impeachable conduct." Whether he actually committed crimes does not matter, Amash points out, because impeachment "simply requires a finding that an official has engaged in careless, abusive, corrupt, or otherwise dishonorable conduct" -- all spelled out in Mueller's report. Still, no matter how strong the case, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's advised Democrats in Congress not to rush into impeachment. They're better off, she told them, focusing instead on three priorities: their legislative agenda, especially health care; oversight hearings and beating Donald Trump in 2020. And, for a while, most Democrats agreed to hold back. Until this week, when Trump did everything he could to force impeachment hearings. For many Democrats, what made the difference was Trump's stopping former White House Counsel Don McGahn from testifying before the House Judiciary Committee. Democrats wanted to hear from McGahn because, in his report, after revealing that Trump twice ordered McGahn to fire him as special counsel and then lie to the New York Times about it, Mueller says it's up to Congress to investigate further in order to determine whether Trump is guilty of criminal obstruction of justice. By blocking McGahn's testimony, Trump's also blocking Congress from doing its job. On top of that came Baby Donnie's White House temper tantrum. In a political stunt clearly orchestrated ahead of time, Trump stormed out of an infrastructure meeting with Speaker Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, supposedly upset because Pelosi had earlier accused him of engaging in a cover-up (which he has!), and went directly to the Rose Garden, where reporters were already assembled in front of a campaign-style podium with the sign "No Collusion. No Obstruction." "I don't do cover-ups," Trump fumed. No, and Nixon wasn't a crook, either. With that, the anti-impeachment dam so carefully built by Nancy Pelosi began to crumble. A week ago, there were only a handful of Democrats wanting to start impeachment hearings right away. Today, there are 30 to 40, including at least one member of the House leadership, Rhode Island's David Cicilline. It's reached the point where House Budget Chairman John Yarmouth told me, impeachment hearings are now "inevitable." Still, Pelosi urges restraint, based on five arguments. One, doing impeachment would suck up all the oxygen and make it practically impossible to pass legislation on any issue. Two, impeachment has little public and zero, aside from Justin Amash, bipartisan support. Three, Democrats can achieve almost the same results by proceeding first with oversight hearings now underway in the judiciary, intelligence, financial services, ways and means and oversight committees. Four, as noted above, impeachment would hit a dead end in the Senate. Five, impeachment might actually help Donald Trump, by allowing him to run for re-election as a victim. For now, I believe, Speaker Pelosi makes a strong case. Democrats are smart to hold off, while letting the case build against Trump for 2020. But that could still change, depending on how he responds to court rulings against him. That's the key. After refusing to comply with congressional subpoenas, if Trump also rejects court orders to comply, he'd be declaring war on not one, but two co-equal branches of government. At that point, Democrats would have no choice but to launch impeachment hearings. And it's a safe bet that's what's going to happen. Bill Press is host of a nationally-syndicated radio show, CNN political analyst and the author of the new book, "Trump Must Go: The 100 Top Reasons to Dump Trump (And One to Keep Him)," which is available in bookstores now. You can hear "The Bill Press Show" at his website: billpressshow.com . His email address is: bill@billpress.com . Readers may also follow him on Twitter at @bpshow.


In 15 days, the Raiders host the Packers in Winnipeg. The fans won't have to worry about lines at the bathrooms. Via Carter Brooks of Game On Magazine in Winnipeg, only 8,944 tickets have been sold to the preseason game. That's 27 percent of the 33,000-seat capacity at IG Field. One of the problems could be the price point. Via Brooks, the cheapest ticket costs $191.50 Canadian. This equates to $143.70 in American dollars, under the current conversion rate. And that's a lot of money for a glorified scrimmage in full pads. Even if it's the supposedly critical third preseason game.


We continue our training camp previews looking at the Indianapolis Colts linebacker corps and one of the late-round picks from April's draft. Name: E.J. Speed Position: LB Height: 6-foot-4 Weight: 230 Age: 24 Year Drafted: 2019 (fifth round) Background A surprise selection in the 2019 draft for the Colts, Speed was picked to add even more depth to a linebacker corps that is undergoing some immense changes. Coming out of the Division II school at Tarleton State in Texas, Speed showed out during his pro day-posting numbers that immediately caught the Colts' eyes. In 12 games during the 2018 season, Speed recorded 106 tackles (55 solo), 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks with five passes defended. 2019 Outlook As a fifth-round pick, Speed isn't guaranteed anything. He will be competing with the rest of the linebacker room working mostly at the WILL position behind Darius Leonard. Because Speed is such a tremendous athlete, he will have a bit of an advantage to make the team. However, he still has to show he belongs on an NFL roster and that he can make the transition from Division II to the league, which isn't always an easy one. Competing for a depth role, Speed will be going against the likes of Zaire Franklin, Skai Moore, Tre Thomas and Ahmad Thomas. Bottom Line There is enough upside to warrant a roster spot for Speed, especially since he would be working behind the aforementioned Leonard. He won't have a guaranteed spot but if he can translate his athleticism into production during the preseason, he has a strong chance to grab one of the final spots. MORE: Poker player loses brutal 31 million chip hand with pocket aces at 2019 WSOP Main Event Three Potential Landing Spots for Chris Paul News: Indefinite suspensions rule day for Cowboys, 18-game seasons The perfect storm: Andre Iguodala a possible return to the Warriors WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes throws football nearly out of Arrowhead Stadium


After debating it last season, defensive end Chris Long has finally decided to call it a career. The veteran pass-rusher posted a tweet announcing his retirement from the NFL. "Cheers. Been a hell of a journey. Eleven years and I can honestly say I put my soul into every minute of it. Highs and lows. I've seen them both and I appreciate the perspective. Gratitude and love to those who lifted me up," he wrote. Long is the second significant retirement today, after offensive lineman Travis Swanson decided to hang up his cleats earlier Saturday . The second overall pick back in 2008, Long had a very solid career. His contributions off the field might end up surpassing anything he accomplished on it, as Long won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award this past season, and donated his entire 2017 salary to educational charities. A two-time Super Bowl winner, Long won back to back championships with the Patriots in 2016 and Eagles in 2017. Long spent the first eight years of his career with the Rams, before signing with New England as a free agent. He never did make a Pro Bowl, but he had several Pro Bowl-caliber seasons. In 2011 he had 13 sacks, and he followed it up with 11.5 the next year. In 13 games for the Eagles this past season, all starts, he had 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and brother of Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long, he'll finish his career with 70 sacks and 14 forced fumbles. The Virginia product has been flirting with retirement for a while now, and at the beginning of this month the Eagles agreed to push back a roster bonus date so he could have more time to decide. All of us at PFR wish Long and his family the best as he transitions into a new chapter.


WASHINGTON (AP)   Congress on Wednesday sent President Barack Obama a sweeping $612 billion defense policy bill that he has threatened to veto over an ongoing battle between Democrats and Republicans over government spending. The Senate voted to approve the measure 70 to 27. If Obama vetoes the defense bill, it would be only the fifth time that has happened in the past half-century. The bipartisan measure is a rarity in Washington; it has become law every year for more than 50 years. The House passed the bill last week, 269 to 151, with enough Democratic votes to sustain a presidential veto. Obama says he'll veto it because while it contains all the money he requested, he doesn't like the way Congress did it. The bill increases defense spending by padding a separate war-fighting account with an extra $38 billion. Congress didn't increase money for domestic agencies too as the president wants. If the veto is sustained, Congress would be forced to revise the bill or try to settle the larger budget dispute. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the president's desire to veto the bill is "outrageous" in the light of national security threats. "I wish I could say it surprised me that President Obama might   for the sake of unrelated partisan games   actually contemplate vetoing a bipartisan defense bill that contains the level of funding authorization he asked for," McConnell said on the Senate floor. "I'm calling on him not to, especially in times like these." Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said it was a good bill. He cited 60 provisions aimed at helping streamline defense acquisitions. He said other parts of the bill would help the Defense Department keep pace with changing technology, combat cyberattacks and provides key funding for the war in Afghanistan, the fight against Islamic State militants and Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels. But he said he could not support it because it increases the war-fighting account, raising defense spending by doing an end-run around the spending caps. Adding funds to the account, Overseas Contingency Operations   complicates defense spending, he said. It does not provide funds for many of the domestic agencies, such as the FBI, Coast Guard, Justice Department, because they remain subject to the spending caps. "Defense budgeting needs to be based on our long-term military strategy," he said. "A one year plus-up" to the special account does not provide the Pentagon "with the certainty and stability it needs when building its five-year budget." White House spokesman Josh Earnest has repeatedly said that the president will veto it because it's an "irresponsible way" to fund national defense. Obama also is upset about provisions in the bill that would make it harder for him to transfer suspected terror detainees out of the military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as part of his plan to close it before he leaves office. Among other things, this year's bill provides:  a 1.3 percent pay increase to service members and a new retirement option for troops;  authorizes lethal assistance to Ukraine forces fighting Russian-backed rebels;  extends the ban on torture to the CIA;  authorizes the president's request of $715 million to help Iraqi forces fight Islamic State militants;  authorizes $600 million for the beleaguered U.S.-led program to train and equip moderate elements of the Syrian opposition force, but requires the defense secretary to get congressional approval each time he wants to use money for the program;  maintains restrictions on transferring terror suspects out of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba., hampering Obama's effort to close the facility; and  directs the defense secretary to issue a policy to empower individual post commanders to decide whether members of the armed forces can carry government-issued or personal fire arms at military installations, reserve centers and recruiting centers. This provision follows shootings in Little Rock, Arkansas; Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Fort Hood, Texas.


It's the first Candlestick Chronicles of training camp! Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee and Kyle Madson take a dive into the first three days of 49ers training camp. They talk about Jimmy Garoppolo's progress, the new-look defensive line, Richard Sherman looking healthy, and the much-improved group of wide receivers. The guys will continue providing updates throughout camp, including who's stock is up, who's stock is down, news and any other noteworthy tidbits from Santa Clara. View embedded content MORE: Jayson Tatum and others defend LeBron James for celebrating at Bronny's AAU game The Dallas Cowboys Should Trade Ezekiel Elliott Dee Ford, Dre Greenlaw leave 49ers practice early with injuries Observations from Lions training camp, Day 5: Jahlani Tavai makes play of the day Josh Jones puts offseason in the past, committed to helping Packers


Outer Sunset A new cake boutique has opened up shop in the neighborhood. Located at 1788 32nd Ave. in the Outer Sunset, the new arrival is called DayDream Cake Shop . DayDream Cake Shop specializes in cakes and pastries made from organic ingredients. On the menu, expect to see items like macarons, cakes (whole or single serve), signature drinks like the Sweet Dream (strawberry slush, raspberry, yogurt) and an afternoon tea service for two featuring sandwiches, sweets and tea. Check out the full menu here . The fresh addition has already attracted fans thus far, with a 4.5-star rating out of 37 reviews on Yelp. Johnny C., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on July 6, wrote, "Lovely cake shop with pink and white theme ... They serve their delicious cakes in fashionable tableware, giving you a romantic sensory experience. You can tell they really pay attention to the ambiance and every detail." Yelper Crystal Z. added , "Delicious cakes, excellent service, beautiful decor! Tried almost every item and all are good. Cakes are not too sweet and can be an everyday dessert choice." Intrigued? Stop in to try it for yourself. DayDream Cake Shop is open from 1 10 p.m. Monday Thursday and Sunday and 1 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Want to keep your finger on the pulse of new businesses in San Francisco? Here's what else opened recently near you . 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.


DOUGLAS COUNTY, KS (KCTV)   A 22-year-old from Topeka has been sentenced to life in prison for fatally shooting three people in downtown Lawrence in 2017. On June 25, 2019 a jury found Anthony L. Roberts Jr. guilty of the second-degree murder of Colwin Henderson III, first-degree felony murder of Leah Brown, first-degree felony murder of Tre'Mel Dean, and attempted second-degree murder of Tahzay Rayton. Judge Sally D. Pokorny sentenced Roberts to just over 68 years to life in prison. He was sentenced to 165 months for second-degree murder, 61 months for attempted second-degree murder, and 25 years to life for each of the first-degree murder counts. The sentences are set to run consecutively. If Roberts becomes eligible for release from custody, he will be subject to lifetime post-release supervision and he will be required to register as a violent offender for 15 years. The case began in the early morning hours of October 1, 2017. Roberts and his codefendants, Ahmed Rayton and Dominque McMillon, arrived in Lawrence from Topeka to confront a rival group of males who were suspected of battering one of Roberts' friends. Roberts was armed with a gun with an extended magazine and 37 rounds of ammunition. Roberts and his codefendants confronted the other group near the intersection of 11th Street and Massachusetts Street. The group began to fight and Roberts was several feet away from it when he shot and killed Henderson, who was fighting with Roberts' codefendants. Evidence at the scene shows that Roberts fired 15 rounds, striking and killing Brown and Dean. Rayton was wounded. After the shooting Roberts and his codefendants fled the scene but were later stopped by an officer for traffic violations. Roberts was found with a handgun. Officers released him because they did not have sufficient information to link him to the shooting at the time. Detectives with the Lawrence Police Department used police in-car cameras, traffic cameras, and surveillance cameras to track the movement of and discover the identity of Roberts and his codefendants. Roberts was eventually apprehended on an arrest warrant at a relative's house in Kansas City.


The Houston Rockets ended the 2018-19 NBA season in rather disappointing fashion. After tying the Golden State Warriors with two wins each in the second round of the NBA Playoffs, the team fell apart in Game 5 after Warriors forward Kevin Durant went down with an injury and couldn't capitalize in Game 6 at home, losing yet another series to the Warriors. Instead of trying to run things back, the Rockets have made it clear that they're putting mostly everyone on their roster onto the trading block aside from reigning MVP and MVP candidate James Harden. Among players listed on the trading block is Chris Paul, whose huge contract could make him hard to move. Despite that, the Miami Heat will, at the very least, look into making a move for available Rockets players this summer, wrote Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald on Saturday: "The Heat is expected to check in with Houston on available players (Chris Paul, P.J. Tucker, Eric Gordon) but not sure there's an ideal match there." But like the Rockets, the Heat are pretty restricted by their salary cap. If Hassan Whiteside ($27 million) and Goran Dragic ($19.2 million) opt into their deals for 2019-20, the Heat will have no cap space . Paul is guaranteed nearly $80 million during the next two years with a player option worth $44.2 million in 2021-22. That's $125 million over the next three years of his contract. But, Paul could be off the table for Miami regardless of if the money is sorted out, as Rockets general manager recently Daryl Morey shut down those talks on social media . There could be a chance that the trade would involve Tucker and Gordon. According to Marc Stein of The New York Times , the Rockets are actively looking to trade Tucker and Gordon, as well as Clint Capela: The Rockets are indeed shopping everyone on the roster not named Harden. The complexities involved in moving Chris Paul, who at age 34 has three years and nearly $125 million left on his contract, have Houston officials actively exploring the trade market for Clint Capela, Eric Gordon and P.J. Tucker. As one source with knowledge of the team's thinking said, they are operating under the belief that at least one of those three mainstays will not be a Rocket next season. The Western Conference will remain tough next year with the Lakers, Clippers, Spurs and Timberwolves all looking to make big moves this summer to improve on their respective teams. Even if the Rockets don't make a big move this summer, they'll still have a deep roster that knows how to play together. What trade between the Rockets and the Heat make the most sense to you? MORE: Most bizarre and incredible catches by fishermen in past decade Sleeping on Patriots WR Demaryius Thomas would be a huge mistake What does Kevin Durant want in free agency? WATCH: Lonzo Ball pulls up to watch LaMelo make Drew League debut BOS engaged in potential trade for Clint Capela, deal for Terry Rozier


They're the three greatest words in the English language - football is back. The Buffalo Bills will kick off their 2019 preseason Thursday night when they host the Indianapolis Colts. Though the game will ultimately have little impact on the team's 2019 campaign, players currently on the roster bubble could better their fortunes with strong outings in the contest. Here are four Bills to watch in the team's preseason opener against Indianapolis. QB Tyree Jackson (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) Given his brash and audacious style of play, the preseason could go one of two ways for quarterback Tyree Jackson. He could surprise fans with his incredibly strong arm and solid athleticism, making a few flashy plays and establishing himself as a player too valuable to keep off the 53-man roster. Or, he could take a few unnecessary risks that result in incompletions or turnovers, leaving him as a candidate for the practice squad rather than the Week 1 roster. Coming out of the University at Buffalo, Jackson was looked at as a project, a talented but raw quarterback who has yet to piece his entire game together. Though his arm strength may even rival that of starting signal-caller Josh Allen, he's an inaccurate passer who some argue should not see an NFL field for at least another year. Jackson did not necessarily silence his critics at training camp, either, largely struggling with the third-team offense. Jackson will need to have a strong preseason in order to convince the Bills to carry three quarterbacks on their roster. With Allen and Matt Barkley entrenched as the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks on Buffalo's depth chart, he'll likely see his fair share of reps throughout the four-game stretch. Jackson faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster. He'll look to begin his ascent in the Bills' preseason opener. WR Duke Williams (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes) Though expectations for Duke Williams weren't necessarily high entering training camp, his lack of production has disappointed some. The 26-year-old wideout inked a reserve/future contract with the Bills in January after reeling in 88 passes for 1,579 yards and 11 touchdowns in one season with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos. Given his dominance with the 14-time Grey Cup champions, some fans expected Williams to seamlessly adjust to the NFL game, adding some much-needed physicality to Buffalo's receiving corps. The adjustment has not been effortless for Williams, however, as he was largely a non-factor at training camp. AP contributor Mark Ludwiczak noted that the former Auburn Tiger does not look " like an NFL receiver. " Though Williams' lack of production has been disheartening, it's not necessarily surprising. His game, which is centered around his physicality and large catch radius, does not lend itself to training camp and half-speed football. The preseason should allow Williams to showcase his physical play-style against third-and-fourth string defensive backs. Don't be surprised if he constructs a few big outings. DE Darryl Johnson (AP Photo/AJ Mast) Though he didn't capture any media attention at training camp, Darryl Johnson is a player that all fans should have their eyes on in the preseason. The 6-foot-6 defensive end, whom the Bills selected in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft, tallied 10.5 sacks in his junior season at North Carolina A&T, earning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. Though his game lacks polish, Johnson is an incredibly talented pass rusher, something he showed glimpses of throughout camp. Buffalo likely won't want him on the field in the early weeks of the regular season, but Johnson is a prime candidate to string together a few solid performances in the preseason. The talent gap between third-string defensive linemen and third-string offensive linemen is massive. Expect the uber-talented Johnson to prove this sentiment in the Bills' preseason opener. LB Vosean Joseph Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports Though Vosean Joseph's spot on the 53-man roster is essentially locked in, he could earn a larger defensive role with a strong preseason. Joseph, who established himself as a solid tackler throughout his three years at Florida, is set to be a special teamer in his debut season in Buffalo. Though he does not figure to a significant role on defense, that could change with a solid preseason. Joseph is an athletic linebacker who is capable in coverage and has some pass-rushing upside, earning a 79.5 pass-rushing grade from PFF last season . He tallied a career-high four sacks in his junior campaign. The Bills like to utilize their flanking linebackers on blitzes, with Matt Milano and Lorenzo Alexander emerging as two of the team's more prolific pass rushers. If Joseph is able to generate pressure on the quarterback in the preseason, Buffalo could use him as a situational pass rusher when games start to matter. MORE: Breaking down everything the Duke Johnson trade means for the Browns A furious Chris Davis had to be held back from Orioles manager Brandon Hyde Deadline passes as Elliott loses accrued season, fines reach $500K 6 quick takeaways from Packers' joint practices with Texans Bears Training Camp: Matt Nagy and Cordarrelle Patterson are a perfect match


Visiting Dominion, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this San Antonio neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a New American restaurant to a cocktail lounge. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Dominion, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Fralo's Topping the list is Fralo's , a wine/beer bar that serves hand-tossed pizzas for dine-in, pick-up, "take-and-bake" and delivery. Located at 23651 W. Interstate 10, it's the highest-rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 323 reviews on Yelp. Aside from pizzas, which are made with house-made sauces and fresh toppings, the bar also serves appetizers, pastas and desserts. 2. The Grill At Leon Springs Next up is New American restaurant and wine bar The Grill at Leon Springs , serving tapas and more, situated at 24116 Ih 10 W. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner daily, as well as tapas and brunch on Sunday. With four stars out of 289 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. 3. Bar 301 Check out Bar 301 , which has earned four stars out of 40 reviews on Yelp. The full-service bar serves tapas, lunch, dinner, wine and specialty cocktails. You can find the lounge and cocktail bar at 23567 W. Interstate 10. 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.


SPARTA, Ky.   NASCAR ejected crew chief Brian Wilson on Thursday and suspended him for the rest of the weekend for an L1 penalty for body modification to Austin Cindric 's Xfinity Series car. Wilson also was fined $10,000. Cindric was docked 10 points. Team Penske was docked 10 car owner points. Cindric remains fourth in the points after the penalty. He has 589 points. He's now 16 points ahead of fifth-place Justin Allgaier heading into Friday's race at Kentucky Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN).


Jack Del Rio recently shared an alarming anecdote from his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, one that points to how the organization suffered from a dysfunctional power structure during his tenure. Del Rio, who served as Jags head coach from 2003-11, revealed that he had no clue the team was set to select Blaine Gabbert with the 10th overall pick during the 2011 NFL Draft. Del Rio also mentioned that he was grabbing a bite when the pick was made. "I had no idea we were going to draft Blaine Gabbert. No idea," Del Rio said Tuesday, via ESPN Jacksonville 690 . "In fact, I left to go get something to eat because our pick wasn't for much longer in the draft. I'm sitting there filling my plate thinking, 'Oh great, we've got a couple more hours until we pick.' Then, I look up and see 'The Jaguars are on the clock.' I'm like 'What the blank is going on?'" As Del Rio mentions, the Jaguars weren't expected to make their first-round pick for awhile, but then-general manager Gene Smith made a trade with the Washington Redskins to move up six spots without keeping Del Rio in the loop. Hindsight obviously demonstrates taking Gabbert at No. 10 was a mistake. Del Rio noted according to his scouting and research, the Missouri product "wasn't a first-rounder," nor was the quarterback "a guy to trade and go up to get him." "So that was not part of coaching, that was not part of me," Del Rio said of the Gabbert pick. "That was my first indication that my time there was running short." In the end, Del Rio was spot on in his assessment of the situation as the palatable disconnect between the front office and head coach was a harbinger of things to come, as Del Rio was fired during the season after posting a 3-8 record and Smith was cut loose a year later. Gabbert, meanwhile, is now serving as Jameis Winston's backup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and continues to carve out a career in the NFL. The same cannot be said for either Del Rio and Smith.