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Rockies Journal: Rangers’ Jon Gray gets World Series ring, slays his demons

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

Todd Helton, Jeff Francis, Troy Tulowitzki, Kyle Freeland, Brendan Rodgers. First-round draft choices all. None of them have a World Series ring.But Jon Gray does.The Rockies’ top pick in 2013, selected No. 3 overall, just behind Kris Bryant, just won his with Texas.And the “Gray Wolf” wasn’t just a sideshow in the Rangers’ five-game victory over the Diamondbacks. In Game 3 on Monday night, Gray dominated the D-backs after entering in the fourth inning in emergency relief of injured starter Max Scherzer. Gray delivered three shutout innings, surrendering just one hit as the Rangers maintained a 3-0 lead en route to a 3-1 win at Chase Field.Of Gray’s 30 pitches thrown, 25 were strikes. Gray’s dominant fastball/slider combination induced five swing-and-misses and only three of the 10 batters he faced saw more than four pitches.But when Gray took the mound I have to admit I was holding my breath.He is one of the nicest, most likable, most genui...

Switched onto Luka Doncic, Michael Porter Jr. sustains defensive trend: “Teams aren’t going to be able to isolate him”

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

The old cliché about defending champions evolving from hunters to the hunted has meaning that’s two-fold in the case of Michael Porter Jr.As opponents attempt to identify any potential weak spots they can exploit on Denver’s championship roster, Porter’s checkered history as a defender might stand out. The Nuggets generally switch one through four in their starting unit, so it’s easy enough for teams to hunt a one-on-one matchup against Porter for their top scorer. Then play iso-ball.The problem is, Porter isn’t playing like someone who should be hunted at the defensive end.One of the smoothest 3-point shooters in the NBA is shooting 18 for 68 at his speciality since the start of the NBA Finals in June — that’s 26.5% over an 11-game stretch — but the story of his 2023-24 season so far is the same as his Finals arc.“He bought into playing defense, to trying, and realizing that if he doesn’t, he’s not going to be in there at the end of t...

Oakland: Two men wounded in separate shootings, one shot in the face

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

OAKLAND — A man was in grave condition Saturday morning after being shot in the face in the Diamond District, authorities said.Police said another man was shot twice in the leg Friday night — less than two hours earlier — inside an East Oakland neighborhood market, but was in stable condition.In the Diamond District shooting, police are still trying to identify the man who was found outside around 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the 2600 block of Champion Street. He was located after police responded to reports of gunfire in the area.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Police release video of fatal September shooting at Toyota service center in Albany Crime and Public Safety | East Palo Alto: Three teenagers arrested after suspected shooting; five guns seized Crime and Public Safety | One dead following Halloween shooting in East Bay Crime and Public Safety | Customer shot coming out of East Oakland liquor store ...

Animal Rights Activist Convicted of Felony for Rescuing Sick Chickens

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

Lawyer, animal rights activist, and Direct Action Everywhere founder Wayne Hsiung speaks with an officer from the Sonoma County, California, Sheriff’s Office during an action at Reichardt Duck Farm in June 2019.Photo: Courtesy Direct Action EverywhereAnimal rights activist and lawyer Wayne Hsiung was found guilty of felony conspiracy and two misdemeanor charges on Thursday for rescuing ailing animals from factory farms in Sonoma County, California.Hsiung and fellow activists with the animal liberation group he founded, Direct Action Everywhere, or DxE, have for years engaged in the public removal of sick and injured animals from farming facilities — a tactic known as “open rescue,” since they are publicized. The rescues regularly lead to criminal charges, which for the most part have been dropped or led to acquittals in court. Hsiung’s conviction marks the first time an open rescue case has ended with an activist’s incarceration: He faces up to three years in prison.“I could be goi...

McLaren’s Norris to start sprint race on pole position at Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

SAO PAULO (AP) — McLaren’s Lando Norris will start from the pole position at the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix of Formula One on Saturday.Norris clocked 1 minute, 10.622 seconds in a sunny morning at the historic track in Sao Paulo. Friday’s qualifying and practice sessions came in a cold, rainy and windy Friday afternoon that cut short the time drivers spent racing.Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who has already secured this season’s title, will start from second place after finishing 0.061 seconds behind Norris.Sergio Perez apparently recovered from his frustrating qualifying, which will make him start in ninth place at Sunday’s race, and finished the sprint race qualifying in third position. Mercedes’ George Russel and Lewis Hamilton come next, and AlphaTauri’s Yuki Tsunoda completes the third row for the sprint race.The sprint race awards more points, but under new rules no longer counts as qualifying for the grand prix.Norris sound...

Iranians mark the anniversary of the 1979 US Embassy takeover while calling for a cease-fire in Gaza

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Thousands of Iranians gathered on the streets Saturday to mark the anniversary of the 1979 takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” They condemned Washington’s support of Israel as it strikes the Gaza Strip in its war against Hamas.The rally — which was called for by the state — came as the Israel-Hamas war entered its fourth week. About 1,400 people in Israel were killed and over 240 taken hostage after Hamas’ surprise attack on Oct.7. The Israeli retaliatory operation has killed over 9,000 people in the Gaza Strip. People assembled outside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran, with some burning American and Israeli flags.Protesters stomped on images of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Joe Biden. Others carried banners calling the U.S., “Great Satan.” The banner on the main podium read: “We trample America under our feet.” Parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, addressed the c...

Zaman ton leads Pakistan home at Cricket World Cup. Australia sets England target of 287 to win

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Fakhar Zaman bludgeoned a 63-ball century as Pakistan handed New Zealand its fourth successive loss after a rain-hit Cricket World Cup game on Saturday decided by the DLS method.Zaman’s unbeaten 126 off 71 balls motored Pakistan to 200-1 in 25.3 overs, 21 runs ahead on DLS, after there had been two rain interruptions in a high-scoring match.New Zealand’s star of the tournament, Rachin Ravindra (108), had earlier smashed his third century in the competition, while Kane Williamson (95) missed out on a hundred on his return as his side amassed 401-6 after being put in to bat.“This is one of my best (centuries),” said Zaman after smashing Pakistan’s fastest-ever ton in a World Cup. “We know that every game is do-or-die for us. In team meetings, our management decided that we will play aggressively so we are playing with that in mind and everybody was trying to score more runs.”The win lifted Pakistan level on eight points with New Zealand, which occupies fo...

Fiji rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa charged with sexual assault ahead of Barbarians game in Cardiff

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Fiji international rugby player Api Ratuniyarawa appeared in court Saturday charged with sexual assault, hours before he was due to play for the Barbarians against Wales in Cardiff.The 37-year-old Ratuniyarawa was released on bail to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Dec. 4, Britain’s Press Association reported.“As soon as we were contacted by South Wales Police, we co-operated fully, assisting them with their enquiries,” the Barbarians, an invitational team containing players from many countries, said in a statement. “On their advice, we can’t comment any further as the investigation is ongoing.”Ratuniyarawa, who was in the Fiji squad at the recently finished Rugby World Cup, had been selected on the bench for the Barbarians for the match at the Principality Stadium. Wales international Aaron Shingler was called up to replace him.Ratuniyarawa played for English club London Irish last season after signing from Northampton Saints.___AP rugby: https://...

Dovbyk leads Girona to 4-2 victory at Osasuna. Spain’s surprise side retakes lead with 10th win

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk scored one goal and set up two more to lead Girona to a 4-2 victory at Osasuna and reclaim the lead in the Spanish league on Saturday.Girona continued to surpass expectations with its convincing win in Pamplona after roaring ahead in a game in which it trailed 2-1 in the second half. Michel Sánchez’s side has 10 wins in 12 rounds, and its only loss was against Real Madrid.Madrid is three points behind Girona before hosting Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.Girona went ahead in the 16th minute through Iván Martín after Dovbyk set him free to cap a counterattack.Osasuna striker Ante Budimir pulled the hosts level in the 25th before adding a second goal with a header in the 55th.Dovbyk then took charge, heading in to make it 2-2 in the 71st after finishing off a long team buildup. It was his sixth goal since joining Girona this season.Artem set up fellow countryman Viktor Tsygankov to help put Girona ahead in the 80th. Aleix García volleyed i...

Zelenskyy hosts EU official von der Leyen as Russian attacks wound at least 14 people in Ukraine

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:58:00 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian attacks in Ukraine wounded at least 14 civilians over the past day, officials said Saturday, as the president of the European Union’s executive arm returned to the Ukrainian capital to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yurii Malashko, said that nine people were wounded in a Russian rocket strike on the village of Zarichne. Overall, 26 cities and settlements in the region came under attack over the past day, he said.In the Kherson region, five people were wounded, said Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin. He said that attacks in the region came from artillery, mortars, drones, warplanes and tanks. Nikopol, a city of the opposite bank of the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, came under fire, but no injuries were immediately reported, according to Dnipropetrovsk regional Gov. Serhii Lysak.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Saturday mor...