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Mage wins star-crossed Kentucky Derby amid 7th death

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

By BETH HARRIS (AP Racing Writer)LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Two more horses died in the hours before 15-1 shot Mage won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, capping a rocky stretch in which seven in all died and casting a shadow over the 149th edition of the world’s most famous race.Mage had only one victory in three previous races before holding off 9-1 shot Two Phil’s in the stretch. The colt, who didn’t race as a 2-year-old, ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:01.57 under Javier Castellano. The 45-year-old Hall of Fame jockey, who hasn’t been as in-demand lately, snapped an 0-for-15 skid in the Derby. He and trainer Gustavo Delgado are from Venezuela.“I never give up,” Castellano said. “I always try hard to do the right thing. It took me a little while to get there. I finally got it.”Mage joined Canonero II as Derby winners with Venezuelan ties. Canonero II won the Derby and Preakness in 1971.“Turning for home, he had a lot of heart,” Cas...

Celtics Jaylen Brown continues to lead charge to shut down 76ers’ James Harden: ‘Just doing my job’

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

PHILADELPHIA — Late in the third quarter of Game 3, all of James Harden’s struggles came into focus.As the shot clock was winding down, the 76ers guard tried to find space to take a shot, but Jaylen Brown closed down all of his potential avenues. Harden ultimately took a tough fadeaway jumper that Brown contested well. When it missed, Brown leaked out for an outlet pass and took it all the way to the basket and drew a foul on Harden as he completed a three-point play.Harden crashed to the floor on his back as the Celtics took an eight-point lead. The sequence exemplified how everything has gone wrong for Harden and the Sixers. After he scored 45 points to will Philadelphia in its Game 1 victory, Harden has become a complete non-factor over the last two games with Joel Embiid back, and the biggest reason why the SIxers have faltered.Harden scored 12 points on 2-for-14 shooting – including 0-for-6 from deep – in Game 2 and followed that up with a 3-for-14 effort with five turnovers in...

Chicago Bears OC Luke Getsy says Justin Fields is ‘light-years’ ahead of last offseason as the QB dives into work with new teammates

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said he still has a a lot to learn about what the reshaped offense can do better in 2023.Coaches are in the teaching phase with veteran players ahead of organized team activities later this month, and they only just got the rookies on the field Friday and Saturday to evaluate their movement, skills and learning ability at a two-day minicamp in Lake Forest.But Getsy already can see how the competition at each position will improve with general manager Ryan Poles’ offseason additions — including wide receivers DJ Moore and Tyler Scott, running backs D’Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson, offensive linemen Nate Davis and Darnell Wright and tight end Robert Tonyan.And most important, Getsy believes quarterback Justin Fields is majorly improved as their second year working together picks up steam.“Where he was at this time last year to where he is now, I think he’s just light-years ahead of where he was,” Get...

Harrison Bader’s immediate impact fuels Yankees’ win over Rays

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

ST. PETERSBURG – Saturday started as an off day for Harrison Bader, but the Yankees’ center fielder ultimately played hero in a 3-2 win over the Rays.Shortly after DJ LeMahieu put the Yankees on the board with an RBI double in the eighth inning, Bader added two more runs with a single. The two-out bloop helped the last place Yankees avoid their second straight loss to the division-leading Rays at Tropicana Field.Saturday marked Bader’s fourth game of the season after he suffered an oblique injury early on in spring training. But he’s already made his presence felt a handful of times thanks to his elite defense in center and a few timely hits.Bader also crushed a three-run homer against the Rays on Friday, though the Yankees dropped that game, 5-4. Bader began Saturday on the bench because the Yankees are still ramping him up in his return from injury, but he’s expected to play again Sunday.It looked as if Saturday was going to go down as another loss fo...

Mets’ bats can’t make up for Tylor Megill’s shaky outing in loss to Rockies

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

With the Mets trailing the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in the sixth inning, Stephen Nogosek issued a leadoff walk to Colorado Rockies second baseman Harold Castro. As Ezequiel Tovar stepped up to the plate, radio play-by-play announcer Howie Rose mentioned that the Mets had issued more walks than any other team in baseball this season and had given up more home runs.As if on cue, Tovar took Nogosek deep for a two-run homer that put the Rockies up 5-2. The Colorado bullpen made it stand up and the Mets lost their 10th game in their last 13 tries Saturday afternoon at Citi Field.The Mets (17-17) are in the midst of a tough stretch. The starting pitchers aren’t going deep into games and the bullpen is shouldering the load. The offense has been ice-cold. The Mets remain confident that they will get out of this slump, but a fanbase that often expects disaster is getting restless.Tylor Megill (3-2) had an inefficient outing, taking the loss after giving up three earned runs on six hits, wa...

Photos: Boston hosts the majors, of the South End Little League

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

It was a ball lover’s dream Saturday in the South End.The Red Sox, Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves — and even the New York Yankees! — were all there, but significantly shorter than one would imagine.That’s because these players were part of the little league versions of the teams — specifically, members of the South End Baseball League, which celebrated its opening day with a parade.The players started out in uniform at around 10 a.m. at Villa Plaza on West Dedham Street before making their way over to Peters Park for a ceremony from 11 a.m. to noon before the season truly took off with a game between the A’s and the Yankees at 12:30 p.m., with Mayor Michelle Wu and City Council President Ed Flynn on hand to serve up some opening pitches.In all, five games were scheduled between Peters Park and Jim Rice Field.Stuart Cahill/Boston HeraldMembers of Rookie Ball do a cheer as South End Baseball celebrates Opening Day Saturday in Boston. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)S...

Multiple people shot at in Dallas-area outlet mall

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

ALLEN, Texas (AP) — Multiple people were shot at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, on Saturday, sending hundreds of shoppers fleeing in panic in the latest gun violence to strike the country.Calls about shots being fired came in about 3:40 p.m. from the Allen Premium Outlets. A dispatcher with Allen police confirmed the department was investigating a shooting but couldn’t say more.WFAA-TV reported that police on the scene said there were multiple victims, including children. Their conditions were not immediately known, but WFAA reported that the Collin County Sheriff said the shooter is dead.A crowd of hundreds of people who had been shopping stood outside, across the street from the mall, Saturday evening. Officers circulated among them asking if anyone had seen what happened.Fontayne Payton, 35, was at H&M when he heard the sound of gunshots through the headphones he was wearing.“It was so loud, it sounded like it was right outside,” Payton said.People...

Alberta declares state of emergency due to fires, more than 24,000 out of homes

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province has declared a state of emergency due to the threat of wildfires.Smith says the safety of Albertans is a priority.She says the state of emergency gives the government greater power to access emergency funds and mobilize additional support.Several communities and rural areas have been evacuated in recent days and the number of evacuees has grown to more than 24,000.Officials say there are currently 392 wildfires burning in the province and 36 are considered out of control.Some buildings have been destroyed, including 20 homes, a police station and a store in Fox Lake in northern Alberta.This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 6, 2023.The Canadian Press

Metal ductwork collapses, injures 6 at Colorado resort pool

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

AURORA, Colo. (AP) — Six people were hurt — two critically — when part of a heating and ventilation system collapsed at a resort pool in Colorado on Saturday, fire officials said.There were 50 to 100 guests in the pool when the collapse occurred about 9:50 a.m. at the Gaylord Rockies resort near Denver International Airport, Aurora Fire Rescue said. Large metal ductwork and mechanical parts that were mounted on the ceiling crashed down upon the pool deck and into the water, covering nearly the entire area of the pool, agency spokeswoman Sherri-Jo Stowell said.The victims suffered injuries that ranged from penetrating wounds and cuts to “injuries consistent with being crushed,” she said. She declined to release ages of the victims, citing department policy.Fire Chief Alec Oughton said crews were already at the resort, running up and down its stairs for physical training, when the collapse happened.An operator who answered the phone at the resort hung up on a reporter who called seeki...

Parts of Grand Forks, B.C. under evacuation order as floodwaters rise across Interior

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 20:19:00 GMT

GRAND FORKS, B.C. — The threat of flooding throughout British Columbia’s Interior continued to spread Saturday as a combination of warm weather and rain drove higher flow in rivers and streams, putting several communities and their residents in harm’s way.According to the province’s River Forecast Centre, about half of B.C. is under flood watches, warnings or advisories. Three regions — Boundary, Cache Creek and Whiteman Creek in the Okanagans — are under active flood warnings.The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary was the busiest region in terms of flood activity Saturday, with the City of Grand Forks declaring a state of local emergency and issuing mandatory evacuation orders for 40 properties in and around the community.Grand Forks, located about 530 kilometres east of Vancouver, has also added 10 properties on the city’s waterfront to its evacuation alert list, as the Granby and Kettle rivers are seeing “fast-moving waters represent a significant hazard....