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Coach Eddie Jones backed by union amid Australia’s worst Rugby World Cup campaign

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — Rugby Australia has doubled down on backing coach Eddie Jones while the Wallabies are on the brink of missing the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.CEO Phil Waugh also criticized Jones for partly excusing their results as preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which Australia will stage.“We’re committed to Eddie in the commitment we made to him earlier in the year,” Waugh said after Australia completed the pool stage by beating Portugal 34-14 on Sunday.“I’ve been pretty forthright around the fact we are committed to Eddie and he probably looks at the campaign and is bitterly disappointed about his performance and the Wallabies’ performance. It’s a pretty challenging world being a coach and I can understand that.”Jones was contracted to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.He was criticized before coming to France after picking a young squad — 25 of the 33-man squad were going to their first Rugby World Cup — and c...

Mom of Nathaniel and Josh Lowe battling cancer, won’t attend Rangers-Rays playoff series

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The mother of Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe and Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe will not make the trip to Tropicana Field for this week’s AL wild-card playoff series featuring her sons because she is battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.Younger brother Josh said he called his mother, Wendy, on Monday to ask if she would mind him discussing her situation publicly in advance of the start of the best-of-three matchup that begins Tuesday.“She’s actually battling cancer, so she’s going through chemo right now. She won’t be able to make it, but I asked her if it was OK if I said something, and she said yes because the more people that know, the more prayers that could be had for her,” the 25-year-old outfielder said.The Lowe brothers, who both began their pro careers in the Tampa Bay minor league system, first shared a major league field together when the Rays and Rangers met at Tropicana Field in June. The Rangers acquired Nathaniel, 28...

Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum ready to confront championship expectations for new-look roster

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — After the summer the Boston Celtics have had, Jayson Tatum isn’t surprised they’re entering this season with a spotlight fixed on them.“People expect us to get to the championship and win,” Tatum said Monday. “And if we don’t, we didn’t necessarily meet expectations.”That’s because during an offseason full of movement around the NBA, the Celtics were among the league’s busiest teams.In June, they parted ways with defensive stalwart and emotional leader Marcus Smart in a three-team deal that netted them big man Kristaps Porzingis.The following month, All-Star Jaylen Brown received the richest contract in NBA history when he signed a five-year supermax extension. Then, Sunday on the eve of training camp Boston made another blockbuster move. This time trading reigning Sixth Man of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and rim protector Robert Williams III to Portland in exchange for five-time all-defensive selection Jrue Holiday.It’s shaken up the core for a team that came up a game s...

How a Fairfax Co. custodian motivates students to attend class

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

On Custodian Appreciation Day, Little Run Elementary honors Frank Sarfo for his work every day at the Fairfax County school. (Courtesy Fairfax County Public Schools)In the cafeteria at Little Run Elementary School in Fairfax, Virginia, on Monday, students stopped focusing on their food and turned their attention to custodian Frank Sarfo.Because Monday is Custodian Appreciation Day, Principal Christie Yarn said, students started chanting “Mr. Frank! Mr. Frank” to celebrate the beloved school employee.The school also put up a banner honoring some of its employees, Yarn said, and planned a staff appreciation lunch.During the day, Sarfo is responsible for opening the building and checking the exterior. He also makes sure teachers have copy paper, cuts the grass and helps keep the property clean so kids don’t get sick, he said.But Sarfo also works to help motivate students to come to class, at a time when many D.C.-area schools are reporting increases in chronic absente...

MATCHDAY: United plays Galatasaray as Champions League back at Old Trafford. Napoli hosts Madrid

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Tuesday:CHAMPIONS LEAGUEManchester United vs. Galatasaray (Group A)The Champions League is back at Old Trafford after a one-year absence. But after the optimism of manager Erik ten Hag’s first season at Manchester United, it’s a different story this time round. Saturday’s loss against Crystal Palace was met with boos from fans inside the stadium as the club’s chances of challenging for the Premier League title already look unlikely. The Champions League visit of Galatasaray offers Ten Hag the chance to focus his attention elsewhere and he will hope a win can lift spirits. United lost its first game in the group 4-3 against Bayern Munich. A second defeat would spark fears of an early exit. Copenhagen vs. Bayern Munich (Group A)Bayern Munich is still looking for consistency ahead of its visit to Copenhagen. The Bavarian powerhouse was somewhat fortunate to draw at Leipzig 2-2 in the Bundesliga on Saturday. It als...

Kevin Durant is in. Steph Curry wants to play. NBA stars have the Paris Olympics already in mind

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

Kevin Durant just got done with his summer vacation. He’s planning to go to France for work next summer, and plenty of other big NBA names hope to join him.Stephen Curry is among them.Durant — along with many other top players, including Curry, the all-time 3-point king — said Monday at media days being held around the league that he plans to play for his country at next summer’s Paris Olympics, when the Americans will try for a fifth consecutive gold medal. If he plays and the U.S. wins, Durant would be the first men’s player with four basketball golds.“I will play in the Olympics next year,” Durant adamantly said at Phoenix’s media day.Curry essentially said the same, because if he wants to play, it’s certain that USA Basketball will find him a spot.“Definitely want to be there,” Curry said at Golden State’s media day. “Definitely want to be on the team.”Others expressed the same sentiment: Bam Adebayo has said he’s committed to the team, while DeMar DeRoza...

2023 MLB Pitch Clock-Shift Violations

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Violations of Major League Baseball’s pitch timer and defensive shift rules in 2023, by pitcher, catcher, batter, batter tmeout, disengagement and defensive shift, with totals:PitCatBatBTODisShiTotalN.Y. Mets3621602157Tampa Bay3601330052Pittsburgh4101000051San Diego3011312148Miami2901611047N.Y. Yankees370401042L.A. Angels340800042San Francisco301802041Cleveland300901040Philadelphia2501311040Houston2601220040Milwaukee2801010039Washington1811701037Arizona2101303037Atlanta2411010036Minnesota2221100035St. Louis300211034Cincinnati220813034Boston2011200033Toronto232701033Colorado230712033Chicago Cubs240800032Oakland2201000032Kansas City191901030Texas190901029Chicago White Sox211301127Detroit161811027L.A. Dodgers1301101126Baltimire220300025Seattle61620015Totals74715286162641,094Source: MLBSource

Broncos aren’t basking in victory and know they can’t stay sloppy with tough schedule ahead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Winning does not cure all ills in the view of Sean Payton, who isn’t about to let the Denver Broncos feel too good about themselves after his first win as their coach.Beating the sad-sack Chicago Bears 31-28 on Sunday sure beats giving up 10 touchdowns in a 50-point loss at Miami a week earlier, but the celebration was muted when the Broncos watched the video Monday and found that the blunders exceeded the highlights.Denver only allowed one sack, but guard Ben Powers was the only O-lineman who didn’t get flagged as the Broncos committed five false starts.Russell Wilson had his best passer rating as a Bronco, but the offense went into sleep mode for much of the game between an opening-drive touchdown and Denver rattling off 24 unanswered points to edge a team that hasn’t won since last October.Denver’s much-maligned defense allowed both a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver for the second straight week and allowed Justin Fields to record ...

Police arrest customer accused of swatting coffee out of worker’s hands causing burn marks

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

A heated exchange at a Miami Springs drive-thru ended with an arrest.The incident happened back in August when a man was arguing with a fast food employee.The exchange, which was caught on camera, showed the man shouting at the worker in the drive-thru lane.The man then swatted a hot cup of coffee out of the worker’s hands before driving off.The worker suffered multiple burn marks from the coffee.Miami Springs police located the man and arrested him for felony battery.

Ribbon cutting ceremony held for first-time homeowner in Homestead

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:23:50 GMT

Years of determination and resilience led to an inspiring ribbon cutting ceremony in Homestead.A South Florida widow and mother of two teenagers is getting back on her own two feet and is now a proud homeowner for the first time. Markevya Johnson lost her husband in 2019 and has worked hard to be the sole provider for her family, while also diligently saving for a home.After years of hardship, she said she finally did it.“I came in, walked through the house, and in that moment, I said, ‘This is gonna be my house,” Johnson said. Long story short, I prayed about it, things didn’t work out with the other company. Things worked out this way because this was the plan God had for me.”The home is hers thanks to her own tenacity and some financial assistance from Miami-Dade County.