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New Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka reflects on ‘poor decision’ that led to Boston Celtics departure

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

(CNN) — Ime Udoka addressed the “poor decision” that led to his departure from the Boston Celtics as he was announced as the Houston Rockets’ new head coach Wednesday.In September, Boston suspended Udoka for the entire 2022/23 season for violating team policies, following an investigation into his conduct by an independent law firm. According to ESPN, The Athletic and the Boston Globe, Udoka had a consensual relationship with a female member of the team’s staff.Udoka was let go by Boston in February after the Celtics removed the interim tag off current Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.“I released a statement months ago when everything happened and apologized to a lot of people for the tough position I put them in,” Udoka told reporters. “I stand by that, and I feel much more remorse even now.”The 45-year-old said he spent time working on himself by going to counseling with his son and taking sensitivity trainin...

Hyde Park resident frees skunk stuck in peanut butter jar

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

A woman in Hyde Park came to the rescue of a skunk with a jar stuck on its head Tuesday. Stephanie Cariello said after a quick glance, she realized it was a peanut butter jar on the animal’s head. The skunk was not hurt. A neighbor called animal control, but Cariello acted before they arrived. “I hate seeing animals in distress so I just try to act quick,” Cariello said. “It was kind of weaving in and out of this fence and I was a little worried that it was going to go into the street and get hit by a car.” Cariello said she saw the skunk in trouble while walking her son to school Tuesday.“It weaved into the fence and so I kneeled down and just put my hand through the fence and I grabbed the jar, pulled it off and I back away really quickly so it was highly likely that I was gonna get sprayed,” Cariello said. “I ran one way and the skunk ran the other way back into the wooded area. “Cariello said seeing wildlife like turkeys and coyotes n...

Ravens agree to 5-year deal with QB Lamar Jackson, ending difficult standoff with their franchise player

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

After more than a year of complicated negotiations and a trade request, Lamar Jackson will be the Ravens’ quarterback for the long term after he agreed to a five-year contract extension, the team announced Thursday.Terms of the deal were not immediately announced.“You know, for the last few months, there’s been a lot of he-said, she-said, a lot of nail biting, a lot of head scratching going on,” Jackson said in a video posted by the team. “But for the next five years, there’s a lot of ‘Flock’ going on. Let’s go baby. Can’t wait to get there. Can’t wait to be there. Can’t wait to light up M&T Bank [Stadium] for the next five years. Let’s get it.”Though general manager Eric DeCosta had said an extension was his all-consuming goal, there had been little hint of progress in negotiations, which stalled for more than a year as Jackson, who represents himself, sought a deal that would make him one of th...

Saquon Barkley situation worth monitoring as Giants enter 2023 NFL Draft

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

Saquon Barkley’s contract standoff with the Giants could get more complicated during or after this weekend’s NFL Draft if GM Joe Schoen adds a dynamic rookie running back.A disgruntled player like Barkley can become a trade candidate at these pressure points if the conflict escalates and the team has the chance to land draft capital in return.Co-owner John Mara and Schoen have indicated trading Barkley isn’t in their plans.“I don’t want to trade him,” Mara said of Barkley at the NFL owners meetings in late March. “We’re not looking to trade him. We’re not shopping him. And I’d be very surprised if we made that decision.”Mara didn’t rule it out as impossible, though.And don’t forget: although a lot has happened in the last year, Schoen started his tenure as Giants GM by declaring in March 2022 that he was “open for business” and “open to everything,” including entertaining trade offe...

Wendell Smith covered sports, history and civil rights and traveled with Jackie Robinson. A new book remembers his work

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

Rick Kogan | Chicago TribuneWendell Smith was 58 when he died and he was famous then.It was 1972 and the words of praise in the wake of his death came from such big shots as Mayor Richard J. Daley, who said, “We have lost a very great citizen, who was interested in the city and most of all the city’s children.”Smith’s funeral was attended by such admirers as Bears owner George Halas, Gale Sayers, Johnny Morris, Billy Williams, other sports figures, politicians and many from the media world. Columnist Irv Kupcinet would write in the Sun-Times, “His death had a numbing effect. He was an able newsman, but more, a respected gentleman in his profession and a dear friend.”There were quick posthumous honors, a scholarship in his name, various awards. But fame faded and Smith’s name and accomplishments became buried in history dust.Coming to the rescue, so to speak, was “42,” the 2013 movie about Jackie Robinson, the ballplayer played by the late Chadwick Boseman. Actor André Holland portra...

NFL Draft 2023 Live Updates | Who will be the first pick?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

By The Associated PressKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The NFL draft begins tonight! The Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the No. 1 pick and likely will choose between quarterbacks Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud. The events at Kansas City’s Union Station start at 1 p.m. Eastern and will include a red carpet and musical acts highlighted by Fall Out Boy. The draft will begin at 8 p.m. EST and can be viewed on NFL Network, ABC, ESPN and ESPN Deportes. Follow for live updates from Associated Press reporters across the country (all times EST).What to know:— When, where and how to watch the NFL draft.— Mock Draft! See if your predictions are better than ours. ___4:50 p.m.C.J. Stroud has gone from being considered the likely No. 1 overall pick to potentially dropping out of the top 10 after reports the Ohio State quarterback scored poorly in the S2 Cognition test.“First, second, third, 20th, 105th, whatever it looks like, I’m just blessed to be able to have ...

Dave Hyde: How did the Heat pull the NBA’s biggest playoff upset in history?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

There’s only one question about the Miami Heat today, and it’s not how they match up against the New York Knicks, or who will be healthy, or even whether that old Heat-Knicks rivalry has any embers today (it doesn’t).That’s for tomorrow.Todays’ question: How did the Heat just pull off the biggest upset in NBA history?Only six times has an eighth-seeded team beaten a top seed to advance. So this was rare ground the Heat walked in. Throw in the idea Milwaukee was healthy for the last two games while the Heat were without their second-best offensive player in Tyler Herro and rotational player in Victor Oladipo and there’s no debate.So, again, how did they do it?1. Jimmy Butler. This was his series. Fifty-six points in Game 4? Forty-two in the closing Game 5? Playoff Jimmy now has nine postseason games of more than 40 points in his four Heat years — one more than Dwyane Wade had in his 15 Heat seasons. No one in the league does more in the playo...

Bruins notebook: Better communication needed against the Panthers in Game 6

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

BEDFORD – “Miscommunication.”Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery repeatedly emphasized that word during a press conference on Thursday afternoon prior to the team’s departure for Florida from Hanscom Air Force Base.The Bruins had a chance to eliminate the Florida Panthers in Game 5 of their opening round Stanley Cup playoff series on Wednesday night at the TD Garden but were thwarted 4-3 in overtime. Adding insult to injury, the game winner was scored by despised villain Mathew Tkachuk at 6:05 of the extra frame.Montgomery said the setback in Game 5 was caused by miscommunications in the Bruins’ end that created turnovers at critical moments. The Bruins made a host of similar miscommunication errors in their 6-3 loss at home in Game 2.Montgomery said that problem has been clarified headed into Friday night’s Game 6 encounter with the Panthers at FLA Live Arena. The Bruins swept Games 3 and 4 in Florida to lead the series 3-2.“Communication on goals against needs to be higher, tha...

Montana trans lawmaker fights on during 1st day of exile

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

By AMY BETH HANSON, BRITTANY PETERSON and SAM METZ (Associated Press)HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr spent her first day in legislative exile Thursday relegated to a bench in a noisy hallway across from a snack bar outside the state House chambers where she is no longer allowed.Zephyr defiantly stayed put even after the Republican House speaker said she couldn’t be there and a House security officer threatened to move the bench where she had set up her laptop. She listened to debate and voted remotely from there, with a gold sticky note on the wall above her head with “Seat 31” written on it, her seat assignment in the house. The note was placed there by transgender and nonbinary Rep. SJ Howell. Republicans had wanted Zephyr to participate from behind the doors of the House Minority’s offices a day after they voted to ban her from the House floor for the rest of the session, which ends early next week.Her refusal to do so ...

Willie Nelson’s 90th birthday concerts feature ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ lineup of stars

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:16 GMT

Dozens of artists and thousands of fans will come together at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on April 29-30 to wish country music icon Willie Nelson a very happy birthday.The “On the Road Again” singer-songwriter, musician and political activist turns 90 on Saturday, April 29 and several of his famous friends and longtime collaborators will be performing alongside him during a special concert to mark the occasion.“He certainly seems to be having a moment this year,” said Bill Silva, promoter of Live Nation Hewitt Silva, during a recent phone interview. “If you just look at this year, he won two Grammy awards and has a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination. It really feels like the year of Willie and it just happens to coincide with this 90th.”RELATED: George Strait, Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Stills added to Willie Nelson’s 90th at Hollywood Bowl“(This) is one of the best lineups we have ever put together for one show,” Silva’s booking partner Andrew Hewitt added.Willie Nelson (...