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Jace Frederick: Best on best is a rarity in today’s NBA

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

This was supposed to be the meatgrinder portion of the Timberwolves’ schedule. Ahead of last week’s contest in New Orleans, Minnesota’s next 16 games were all against teams with records above .500.These would be the tests that would show exactly where Minnesota — which sports the top record in the Western Conference — stacks up against the rest of the NBA’s top-tier teams. And it came at a perfect time. Anthony Edwards would only miss the New Orleans game. After that, the Wolves would be back to a full deck.Best on best for the next month. Here we go. Let’s have some fun.If only it worked that way in the NBA, or pro sports in general.New Orleans had a healthy roster, but its win over Minnesota felt like it should come with an asterisk with Edwards out — much like how Minnesota’s two previous wins over the Pelicans came with Zion Williamson sidelined.Then came Thursday in Dallas, where the Mavericks were down four rotational playe...

Wild rolling on the Gus Bus

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

The Gus Bus is rolling.Filip Gustavsson stopped 36 goals in regulation and overtime, then three goals in the shootout in the Wild’s 2-1 victory over Vancouver on Saturday, another storyline in the team’s renaissance under new head coach John Hynes.In nine games under Hynes, the Wild are surrendering an average of 1.56 goals a game, and Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury have a combined save percentage of .947.That’s mostly been Gustavsson, who has started seven of those games and gone 6-1-0 with a 1.26 GAA and a .954 save percentage. According to the Wild, that’s tops over that span among NHL goaltenders who have made at least four starts.The past two have been nail-biters, including a 3-2 shootout victory on Thursday. In those games, Gustavsson stopped a combined 73 shots in regulation and overtime, and 6 of 7 in the shootouts.Asked if he was stressed out by those situations, Gustavsson, 25, said, “No.”“How we are playing now, it feels more comfortable,” he said. “Earlier in the year...

Five free agents who could eventually join the Cardinals bullpen

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Cardinals completed several deals to retool their starting rotation in the early weeks of the offseason, but they haven't made any major moves yet for the bullpen as the new year draws closer.Sure, the Cardinals acquired a few potential pieces during the Winter Meetings and through the recent Tyler O'Neill trade. However, those new arms are ones without much MLB experience. It's not optimal to bank on them to turn around a bullpen among the league's in ERA (4.47) and blown saves (28) last season. Craig Berube reflects on Blues coaching change, memories in St. Louis There's a growing sense the Cardinals will need to add at least one experienced bullpen piece, or perhaps multiple MLB-ready relievers, if they intend to bounce back from a rare losing season. The Athletic's Cardinals beat writer Katie Woo confirmed this superstition, reporting Saturday that the Cardinals met with at least two pitchers this week, including one rising star out of Japan. Who migh...

Girls Inc. of St. Louis empowers members at annual holiday event

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Girls Inc. of St. Louis has been around for more than four decades. Their goal is to empower girls and provide them with valuable experiences.The organization's 11th annual "Holiday Happenings" event took place Saturday at their facility on Nelson Drive."I've been at Girls Inc. since I was five or six, so basically forever," said high school senior, Ashlee Holloway.Gena Hill and Jordan Long will tell you the same thing."You have to take charge and really show your character in life, and that's really what Girls Inc. has shown me," Long explained. "Just to be bold, strong, courageous, confident, smart, all of those things, and it's teaching me a lot of things just to go into the world and just be active and be ready." Craig Berube reflects on Blues coaching change, memories in St. Louis Hill added, "I'd say the most rewarding thing is, from an early age, I got to learn about different types of things. Like, I remember when I was a kid we would have acting classes, and I...

Broncos vs. Lions: Live updates and highlights from the NFL Week 15 game

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

Winners of six of their last seven, the Broncos are looking to continue their momentum in Week 15. Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit.Live updatesPre-game updatesGood evening from Ford Field (4:56 p.m.): It’s quiet now, but this place is going to be loud in a little more than an hour. Broncos didn’t get much help in the first of three games today when Minnesota blew a two-score lead against Cincinnati, allowing the Bengals to come back and win in overtime and get to 8-6 on the season in the process.Recipe for the Broncos is simple: Win out and you’re in the playoffs, maybe competing for the division. Lose tonight at Detroit, and you’ve got to go 3-0 against the AFC opponents the rest of the wayP.J. Locke is active for the Broncos tonight. He was limited in practice on Thursday after getting hit in the throat during the game last week, but he’s good to go and will start opposite Justin Simmons. ...

J’Vonne Hadley the “heart and soul” of surging CU Buffs men’s basketball

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

J’Vonne Hadley has developed into a dependable 10-and-six guy, consistently delivering double-figure points alongside sturdy work on the glass.At 6-foot-6, Hadley often operates at a size disadvantage inside. But that frame also makes him a versatile defender, a trait that has been on display for a Colorado men’s basketball team that improved to 8-2 with a thorough 90-68 nonconference win on Friday night against Northern Colorado.Hadley turned in yet another efficient outing, going 6-for-9 with 15 points, five rebounds and a career-high six assists. Hadley also recorded a pair of steals and, during the week, lobbied head coach Tad Boyle for the defensive assignment against UNC’s leading scorer, 6-foot-7 forward Saint Thomas.“That’s just who he is,” Boyle said. “What I love about J’Vonne is he basically, after the scouting report (Thursday), he came up to me and said, ‘Coach, I want Saint Thomas.’ We could’ve put Tristan (da Silva) on him. We could’ve put size on him. It could’ve bee...

Calabasas movie theater to be demolished for major shopping center expansion

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

The popular Commons at Calabasas shopping center is about to get an extreme makeover, including the demolition of its popular movie theater.On Dec. 6, the Calabasas City Council gave final approval to developer and former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Rick Caruso's ambitious plan for the center. It involves the demolition of the Regency Calabasas multiplex to help make way for 24,000 square feet of mixed-use development, including 119 apartments, new buildings, new stores and restaurants.According to the local newspaper, The Acorn, some residents who attended the Dec. 6 council meeting expressed concerns about the size and density of the project. A rendering of proposed changes to The Commons at Calabasas. (Caruso)One of the new buildings will reach as high as 85 feet and others to be constructed in The Commons parking lot will be as tall as 46 feet - far taller than any current structures.The Commons, which opened in 1998, already features several large and established an...

Palo Alto High grad loses Senate staffer job after allegedly filming sex tape in Senate hearing room

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

CNN — A Senate staffer is out of a job after the publication of a video appearing to show two men having sex in a Senate hearing room.Police are “looking into” the video, which was obtained and published by the Daily Caller.CNN has not independently obtained the video nor confirmed the identity of those purportedly involved.The Daily Caller reported the staffer worked for Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin’s office. CNN reached out to Cardin’s office and was directed to a statement posted by Aidan Maese-Czeropski on LinkedIn. Maese-Czeropski is a Palo Alto High and UC Berkeley graduate.In the statement, Maese-Czeropski said, in part, “This has been a difficult time for me, as I have been attacked for who I love to pursue a political agenda. While some of my actions in the past have shown poor judgement, I love my job and would never disrespect my workplace.“I will be exploring what legal options are available to me in these matters,” Maese-Czeropski wrote.Cardin’s office later released a st...

High-speed chase spanned multiple cities, 2 suspects apprehended

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

(KRON) – Two vehicle theft suspects were apprehended after a high-speed pursuit spanned multiple jurisdictions.American Canyon officers witnessed two individuals casing vehicles in the parking lot of Fairfield Inn and Suites around 2:30 a.m. on Friday.  Oakland robbers chase, ram victim’s car at Lake Merritt According to police, it was evident that the suspects were associated with a stolen Chevy truck traced back to the City of Alameda.Officers pursued the suspects in the city of American Canyon. The pursuit escalated to Highway 80. The suspects attempted to evade law enforcement by throwing numerous construction tools from the windows of the truck to deter pursuing officers, according to the police.   The California Highway Patrol assisted in the pursuit by attempting to deploy spike strips to disable the stolen truck.The car pursuit ended in Oakland, where suspects barricaded in the backyard of a residence. Suspects were apprehended by the Oakland Police Dep...

In a Major Snub to Obama, Biden Is Sticking With Trump When It Comes to Cuba Policy

Published Sun, 29 Dec 2024 09:42:58 GMT

This article was originally published as a newsletter from Ryan Grim. Sign up to get the next one in your inbox.If there was any issue that dominated more air time during the Trump administration than immigration, I don’t remember what it was. From The Wall, to the Muslim ban, to the kids in cages, there was universal recognition within the Democratic coalition that Trump’s nativist approach, fueled by the maniacal advisor Stephen Miller, was beyond the pale. Trump also fueled a migration crisis, sanctioning Venezuela after a failed coup, relisting Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terror after Obama had moved toward normalization, and otherwise destabilizing countries in the Western Hemisphere – destabilization that then drove people northward. He would then weaponize that migration in the service of tighter crackdowns. What little difference a new president makes. Though rhetoric toward migrants is more humane coming from President Biden, the White House is now signaling it is on bo...