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Brandon Nimmo’s fantastic start is a huge factor in Mets’ early success

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO — Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. currently sits atop the fWAR leaderboard, tied with one other player: Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo.If the season ended today, there would be a fervent debate about the NL MVP Award. Would it go to Acuna, Nimmo or first baseman Pete Alonso? Alonso might not be up there with Nimmo on the WAR leaderboard, but the slugger has hit the second-most home runs in the NL (10) and has driven in 23, the third-most in the league entering Monday“I would give them co-MVPs to Pete and Nim,” Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor told the Daily News. “They’re doing really great. Nimmo has maybe done a little bit more on both sides of the ball, but Pete has been great.”Great might be an understatement.At the plate, Nimmo is having a fantastic start to the season, slashing .350/.455/.500 with a .955 OPS entering Monday. He drove in five runs in one game last week against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the second five RB...

Mass. Dems launch Supreme Court reform bus tour, push expanded court

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

Liberal lawmakers have embarked on a multi-state bus tour to push for a shake-up at the nation’s highest court.“I’ve worked in law all my life and the last thing I would want to do is mess with the United States Supreme Court,” U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said. “But the United States Supreme Court is messing with our democracy. They undercut the basic premise of law when they are captured by extremists who are more interested in advancing their own personal political views than following the rule of law, than following precedent.”Warren, alongside U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, was in Boston’s Copley Square Monday morning to advocate for the addition of more supreme court justices and to take up the call for judicial ethics rules.The lawmakers were joined by former Commissioner Caroline Fredrickson of President Biden’s Commission on the Supreme Court, gun safety advocate David Hogg, GLAD executive director Janson Wu, and reproductive rights advocate and former Pla...

Bucks’ Antetokounmpo returns for Game 4; Heat’s Butler cleared to play

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

The news was major for the Milwaukee Bucks and relatively minor for the Miami Heat on the injury front for the two teams ahead of Monday night’s Game 4 in their opening-round Eastern Conference playoff series at Kaseya Center.Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo returned to the court Monday morning for the Bucks’ shootaround, the latest step in his recovery from the lower-back contusion sustained in the Heat’s Game 1 victory a week ago Sunday in Milwaukee.The teams then split the two games in his absence, with the Heat taking a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series into Monday night.Antetokounmpo had been slowly working his way back from the injury, doing individual work at Kaseya Center with Bucks coaches Sunday prior to his team’s video session.Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed the return 90 minutes before Monday night’s opening tip.“I guess like most injuries, at some point you cross that line and you’re ready,” Budenhol...

Miami Dolphins say promoter of ‘fan cruise’ stiffed team out of hundreds of thousands of dollars

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

The Miami Dolphins were forced to cough up a quarter million dollars owed to MSC Cruises after the promoter of a Dolphins “fan cruise” failed to pay the cruise line as promised, the NFL team charged in a federal lawsuit filed Friday.Not only did defendants First Class Cruises LLC and its president Jeffrey Nahom fail to remit to MSC fares that passengers prepaid, the company also stiffed 35 former players recruited for the cruise out of hundreds of thousands of dollars of promised sponsorship benefits and appearance fees, the suit alleges.Meanwhile, Nahom treated himself and his family to the nicest cabins on the MSC Seascape when the seven-day fan cruise sailed from Miami early this month, the Dolphins are charging.The lawsuit states that Nahom and First Class Cruises entered into a sponsorship agreement in June 2022 to organize the “Miami Dolphins Fan Cruise.” The event’s website bills it as an opportunity for fans to “Interact, engage, and get t...

A Chicago Bears fan’s guide to forgetting Aaron Rodgers and finding once-in-a-generation peace — without ayahuasca

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

Finally the day has come!The New York Jets agreed to a deal to acquire Aaron Rodgers on Monday, officially ending the quarterback’s 18-year run with the Green Bay Packers.Exhale deeply, dear Bears fan. Rodgers’ maddening 25-5 reign while starting for the Packers against Chicago is over.All it took after years of waiting for this day was a wacky few more months of waiting — at its madcap peak when Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner took the cheesehead he got at Lambeau Field, tossed it into a backyard fire pit, declared it was turning into cheese sauce and filmed it all to recruit Rodgers.Assume it was the melted cheesehead that cemented Rodgers’ request to be traded to the Jets.Or the bumpy 2022 season in Green Bay that led to Rodgers seriously contemplating retirement. Or Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy saying at a high school girls basketball state tournament that Rodgers could return next season “if things don’t work out the way that we would ...

Dolphins host veteran free-agent tackle on visit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has said the team is not done adding depth on the offensive line, and the team’s actions seem to back up that notion.The Dolphins had veteran free-agent tackle Cameron Fleming over on a visit, according to ESPN.Fleming, who turns 31 in September, has 61 career starts, including 15 last season for the Denver Broncos, which had new Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry leading the unit in 2022. A former 2014 fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots, he also has spent time with the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys.Miami has not re-signed right tackle Brandon Shell, who was serviceable in backup duty last season, starting for an injured Austin Jackson. While Jackson was deemed the starting right tackle for 2023 by general manager Chris Grier last week, the Dolphins need competition and depth at tackle. Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead is also often battling an injury.“We have some ideas and thoughts of players that are still ...

Hurricanes standout Norchad Omier enters NBA draft — but he could be back next season

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

After the most successful season in program history, the Miami Hurricanes may lose another key player.Forward Norchad Omier entered the NBA draft, he announced on social media on Monday. He is the third Miami player to enter the draft, along with starting guards Isaiah Wong and Jordan Miller.“After dreaming of becoming a Miami Hurricane for years, the opportunity to be one has exceeded anything I could have possibly expected,” Omier wrote in an image he posted on social media. “I love not only being part of the Miami basketball team, but also being a student-athlete at the U.”Unlike Wong, however, Omier will retain his college eligibility, allowing him to rejoin the team for the 2023-24 season if he chooses. Miller does not have any years of eligibility remaining.Omier played one season with the Hurricanes, transferring from Arkansas State in the offseason. He averaged 13.1 points and 10 rebounds in his one season in Coral Gables.Omier suffered an ankle injur...

Quick Fix: Pappardelle with Artichoke Hearts and Mushrooms is a quick veggie dinner with taste of Italy

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

Linda Gassenheimer | Tribune News ServiceEnjoy a little taste of Italy with this quick vegetarian dinner. It’s made with pappardelle. These are large, very broad, flat pasta noodles, similar to wide fettuccine. They originated from the region of Tuscany. Marinated artichoke hearts, meaty mushrooms and fresh tomatoes create a rich sauce that is perfect with the wide pasta. It’s topped off with some freshly grated Parmesan cheese.Helpful Hints:— You can use large or wide fettucine noodles instead of pappardelle.— You can use any type of mushroom.— You can use 4 crushed garlic cloves instead of minced garlic.Countdown:— Prepare all ingredients.— Place water for pasta on to boil.— Saute sauce ingredients.— Finish pasta and add sauce.Shopping List:To buy: 1/4 pound pappardelle, 1 jar or can marinated artichoke hearts (12 ounces needed), 2 large tomatoes, 1 container minced garlic, 1 container sliced portobello mushrooms, 1 small package broken walnuts, 1 small piece Parmesan cheese, 1 ca...

Body found in rural East County was victim of hotel murder: police

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Two people are behind bars on suspicion of murdering a man who was found dead in East County Saturday, the Chula Vista Police Department announced.On April 18, CVPD was contacted by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department regarding a suspicious missing persons investigation for Jesse Valdez, a 40-year-old Imperial Beach man who was reported missing by his family on April 7.According to officials, Valdez had not returned home or contacted his family for several days, prompting them to reach out to the sheriff's department.During the course of their investigation, sheriff's officials learned that Valdez may have been murdered at a Chula Vista hotel, leading to his disappearance. I-805 closure: Man with knife shot by officer, CHP says The sheriff's department began working with CVPD, who learned that Valdez was murdered at the Red Roof Inn Hotel at 394 Broadway in Chula Vista, CVPD Sgt. Anthony Molina said in a news release. Police say the suspects moved Valde...

North Dakota governor signs law banning abortion at 6 weeks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:36:19 GMT

North Dakota on Monday adopted one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country as Republican Gov. Doug Burgum signed legislation banning the procedure at six weeks of pregnancy, even in cases of rape or incest.“This bill clarifies and refines existing state law … and reaffirms North Dakota as a pro-life state,” Burgum said in a statement.The law is designed to take effect immediately, but last month the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled a state abortion ban will remain blocked while a lawsuit over its constitutionality proceeds. Last week, lawmakers said they planned to pass the latest bill to send a message to the state’s high court signaling that the people of North Dakota want to restrict abortion.Supporters have said the measure signed Monday protects all human life, while opponents contend it will have dire consequences for women and girls.Republican Sen. Janne Myrdal, of Edinburg, had sponsored the bill.“North Dakota has always been pro-life and believed in v...