Jets fire head coach Adam Gase
As the final seconds ticked off of the Gillette Stadium scoreboard on Sunday, it was not just counting down the end of a 28-14 Jets loss to the Patriots. It was also counting down the final seconds of Adam Gase’s time with the team and to the beginning of an offseason that could feature massive change for the organization.
Gase was fired Sunday night, the team announced, hours after the loss that left the Jets 2-14 this season, the worst record for the team since 1996. In Gase’s two years, the Jets went 9-23, featured the worst offense in football and looked noncompetitive for long stretches.
The Jets looked like they had a chance at ending Gase’s time with the them with a three-game winning streak, clinging to a 14-7 lead over the Patriots in the third quarter, but two Sam Darnold interceptions paved the way to a second-half surge from Cam Newton and Bill Belichick and the Jets were handed their 14th loss of the season.
“It just wasn’t good enough, obviously,” Gase said of the season.
Not even close.
“While my sincere intentions are to have stability in our organization – especially in our leadership positions – it is clear the best decision for the Jets is to move in a different direction,” CEO Christopher Johnson said in a statement.
The Jets had high hopes when they hired Gase two years ago to replace Todd Bowles. They believed he would be the offensive mind that would bring out Darnold’s potential and make the Jets contenders again. Instead, Darnold regressed this season and there are questions about whether the Jets should draft his replacement with the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft.
The Jets now own the longest active playoff drought in the NFL. It has been 10 years since they played in the postseason; the Browns ended a 17-year drought Sunday by qualifying for the playoffs.
Gase had little to say about his future after the game, saying he expected to meet with team CEO and chairman Christopher Johnson late Sunday night or early Monday.
“I’m not going to predict anything,” Gase said.
The writing has been on the wall for weeks.
After going 7-9 in his first year, the Jets opened this season with 13 straight losses, the longest losing streak in franchise history. It was a tailspin that Gase could not recover from. Gase gave up most of the play-calling, but nothing helped. The Jets ended up winning two games in December to save some face and cost themselves the No. 1 draft pick, infuriating their fan base. The Jets defense allowed a franchise-record 457 points. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was fired last month after a last-second loss to the Raiders.
Along the way, Gase and running back Le’Veon Bell could not get on the same page and Bell was released in October. Before the season started, safety Jamal Adams ripped Gase before the team traded Adams to the Seahawks.
The most damning development for Gase was Darnold’s play. The third-year quarterback played terribly for most of the year. Darnold ended the season with nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions and a dismal quarterback rating of 72.7.
The 23-year-old Darnold was asked about Gase’s future after the loss Sunday.
“That’s not my decision,” Darnold said. “I love Adam, love him as a coach, but it’s not my decision.”
Darnold did take blame for the way this season went.
“I definitely didn’t play well this year,” Darnold said. “I think there were really only the two games that we won. I think I can definitely play better in the future. I don’t think I played well enough this year. I wasn’t consistent enough. That’s really it.”
Gase also expressed disappointment in how things went with Darnold.
“It definitely wasn’t what he thought, what I thought,” Gase said. “I know we had some adversity to overcome. I’m sure when we look back at it there will be things we wished we would have done different. But this is where we’re at right now and it wasn’t good enough.”
Gase’s .281 winning percentage is the third worst in Jets history. Only Lou Holtz (.231) and Rich Kotite (.125) were worse among full-time Jets coaches.
The Jets will surely now begin a coaching search that is expected to be wide-ranging and led by general manager Joe Douglas. Top candidates — including Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell and Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll — are expected to get a look from the Jets.
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/03/jets-fire-head-coach-adam-gase-after-two-dismal-seasons/
Photo Credit: nypost.com/Bill Kostroun
Cori Bush sworn in, becomes first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress
ST. LOUIS – Cori Bush, a former community organizer, was sworn into the 177th Congress on Sunday, becoming the first Black woman to represent Missouri, as well as the state’s first registered nurse to serve in Congress.
Missouri’s newest congresswoman says her movement made this moment happen, and they will only continue making history.
Rep. Bush wants to make sure she’s spending all of her time creating and fighting for meaningful legislation in the House of Representatives.
Bush says her victory is not only a personal achievement but for St. Louis and for every member of the movement. She says she’s the first person from the movement fighting for Black lives to be elected to Congress.
“Right now, Congress is not made up of many ordinary people like me — but we are changing that,” she said. “I’m a nurse, pastor, single mom, and Ferguson-made activist who has lived the struggles of my community. I’m ready to put regular, everyday people first, with solutions that are long overdue.
“Today is day one, and I am already getting to work to stop America from being led by the small-mindedness of a powerful few. We are ushering in a moment led by the imagination of a mass movement that includes all of us. I am working for all people.
“Together, we will use this seat to fight for real investment into social safety nets and social, political, and economic systems that actually work for all of us. We will protect Black lives by enacting meaningful and impactful criminal-legal reform while eradicating targeted, hateful discrimination that has hurt communities across this county, including my own.
“Change does not come from the halls of Congress unless we bring it here ourselves — and we’re bringing change to the 117th Congress.
“Let’s make some good trouble,” said Bush, echoing the spirit of the late Congressman John Lewis of Georgia.
via: https://fox2now.com/news/cori-bush-sworn-in-becomes-first-black-woman-to-represent-missouri-in-congress/
Photo Credit: Deni Kamper
Inflatable costume could be behind Covid outbreak at California hospital
A hospital in California is facing a coronavirus outbreak among its staff that might be tied to an inflatable costume worn on Christmas to cheer up patients.
At least 43 staff members tested positive for the virus between Dec. 27 and New Year’s Day, according to a statement from Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center on Saturday. The hospital’s emergency department has been deep-cleaned, and all infected staff members are isolating.
The hospital is looking into whether the fan on an “air-powered costume” could have spread droplets after a staff member briefly wore it in the emergency department on Christmas Day.
“Any exposure, if it occurred, would have been completely innocent, and quite accidental, as the individual had no COVID symptoms and only sought to lift the spirits of those around them during what is a very stressful time,” the hospital said.
Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center will no longer allow such costumes in its facility, the statement said.
Emergency department employees at Kaiser Permanente San Jose Medical Center who were able to get a Covid-19 vaccine were only given their first inoculation days prior to Christmas Day and would not have reached immunity by the time of the incident.
None would have had their second booster shot by Christmas Day.
“During this period, even as vaccine is beginning to be provided in our communities, it is crucial that everyone continue to protect themselves and each other by continuing to use masks, hand washing, avoid gatherings, and practice social distancing,” the hospital said.
None of the staff members who tested positive will return to work, though the hospital said it has been engaging additional staff as part of its preparations.
California hospitals have been overwhelmed with casesin recent weeks amid a new surge of the virus, which brought record numbers of daily deaths and hospitalizations.
The state’s Bay Area has only 5.1 percent availability in its intensive care units. Southern California is beset with hospitalizations, with no available beds in many of its hospitals as staff create makeshift units in gift shops or pediatric wards.
California has recorded 2,345,909 confirmed coronavirus cases, with more than 26,000 deaths, according to numbers the state’s public health department released Saturday.
original story here https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/inflatable-costume-could-be-behind-covid-outbreak-california-hospital-n1252685
Pastor killed, two others injured in Texas church shooting
A pastor was killed and two others were injured in a shooting at a Texas church on Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement.
The shooting occurred Sunday morning at Starrville Methodist Church in Starrville, about 100 miles east of Dallas. The suspect, who is in custody, was allegedly fleeing from police after an incident Saturday night and had snuck into the church to hide, Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith said.
A pastor at Starrville Methodist Church found the man hiding in a bathroom around 9:21 a.m. when he, his wife and several others entered the church Sunday morning. The suspect fled but returned to the church amid an early morning manhunt by authorities.
“He starts coming toward the front door, then he turns around and lunges at the pastor and was able to disarm the pastor, it appears at this time,” Smith said. “He used … the pastor’s firearm is the one he used. The pastor is deceased at this time.”
Another person was being treated for a gunshot wound and their condition was unknown, Smith said. Someone was also being treated related to a fall during the incident.
The suspect was found after he allegedly stole the pastor’s vehicle to flee the scene and was apprehended in Harrison County, Smith said. He was injured with a gunshot wound to the hand, though was unclear when he was shot.
Abbott sent his condolences to the victims and their families Sunday in his statement, which did not identify the pastor or the suspect.
“The State of Texas is working closely with first responders and local officials to ensure that justice is served and that the Starrville community has the resources it needs during this time,” Abbott said.
Smith said the incident is being investigated as a capital murder case, but the shooting does not appear to have been motivated by anti-religious sentiment.
“This is a crime of opportunity for this man, suspect,” Smith said. “The church just happened to be here. It could have been one of these houses he went inside, but he knew people were there … I believe he probably just got there to seek shelter.”
The sheriff did not provide details as to why the suspect was being sought Saturday, but he said authorities were working on obtaining the arrest warrant for the suspect.
Smith did not release the name of the suspect or any other victims in the shooting.
Original Post here https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/one-dead-several-injured-texas-church-shooting-n1252693
CW Stargirl Season 1 now Streaming for free CW APP
Stargirl season 1 is now streaming on CW and HBOMAX Season 2 coming soon!
Adolfo ‘Shabba-Doo’ Quiñones, whose moves changed the face of dance, dies at 65
Hip-hop dancing pioneer Adolfo “Shabba-Doo” Quiñones once had a message for dance aficionados who felt that break-dancing was merely a trend, one less legitimate as an art form than classical dance.
“Ultimately people will realize it’s a valid art form, on the same level as jazz or ballet,” Quiñones told Newsweek in 1984 following the release of the low-budget hit “Breakin’,” which featured him as a street dancer. “And it’s a dance Americans should be proud of.”
Quiñones, one of the most influential dancers of the hip-hop era and one of the innovators of the robotic dance style known as “locking,” died Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home. He was 65.
Known as “Shabba-Doo,” Quinones had a colorful career as a dancer, choreographer and actor. In addition to his starring roles in the popular “Breakin’” and its sequel “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo,” Quiñones choreographed for and worked with many top singers, including Frank Sinatra, Madonna, Lionel Richie and Chaka Khan.
He was also a founding member of the Original Lockers street dancing group and one of the Soul Train Gang dancers on the landmark R&B music series.
Quiñones’ publicist Biff Warren told the Hollywood Reporter that the artist had undergone a COVID-19 test that had come out negative but “the next day he’s dead. It opens up all kinds of questions.”
The day before he died, the dancer posted on Instagram that he was “feeling sluggish from my cold” but was feeling better. A picture showed him in bed, flashing the peace sign and declaring he “was excited” and had “lots of catching up to do.”
Chorographer/singer Toni Basil, who co-founded the Original Lockers, expressed “extreme sadness” about Quiñones’ death on social media, while several other celebrities also paid tribute.
Ice-T tweeted: “I just lost ANOTHER close friend… SHABBA-DO, LA Dance Legend,” adding a montage of Quiñones dancing. Sheila E called him “A great Hiphop dancer. We toured together w/ Lionel Richie 1983. Gosh, Rest In Peace my brother.”
Dancing was a form of salvation for the dancer, who grew up in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green housing project. Raised by a single mother, he said in a 2010 interview that he was a “bit of a hoodlum,” hanging around with street gangs.
“The only thing I could do that was special was dancing,” he said.
When the Chicago-based dance program “Soul Train” moved to Los Angeles in 1970 to establish a base for syndication, Quiñones and his family followed. He and other dancers started appearing on the show and they became a breakout feature as the Original Lockers, known for their kinetic dancing style.
“The Original Lockers changed the face of dance,” he said in 2010. “‘Soul Train’ was that sort of fertile soil for us. We were able to like, work it all out on the show coming down the ‘Soul Train’ line.”
“Soul Train” host and creator Don Cornelius had a major influence on young Quiñones. In a 2012 CNN interview, he said, “His influence on me was looking at him, being the spiffy dresser that he was. I mean, the guy was the epitome of cool, you know? I used to look at him and think, ‘God, you know, I want to be like him. I want to be like that. I want to wear clothes like that.’ He was just so cool, and he had swagger then before people knew it was swagger, you know, and so it had an influence on me as an artist, later on as a professional dancer.”
He added, “If you’ve ever taken note of my career, you would see that I wore a lot of suits and things, and I tend to dress up. So there was a handful of people that I aspire to be when I grew up and that was — one was Cab Calloway. James Brown, we always want to be James Brown. And then Don Cornelius. You know, being a young Black kid, you know, you want to be like that. You want to be like the man. “
Leaving the Lockers for a solo career, Quiñones was summoned by Bette Midler and choreographer Kenny Ortega to appear in her Broadway show, “Divine Madness,” starting in 1979. He was later called to choreograph Cannon Films’ “Breakin’” — and wound up with one of the lead roles.
In the 1984 film, young ballet dancer Kelly (Lucinda Dickey) joins forces with street dancers Ozone (Quiñones) and Turbo (Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers) to form a dance troupe.
In a promotional interview, Quiñones revealed that he had filmed most of “Breakin’” with a fractured wrist, but continued against the advice of his doctors. “It took me 12 years to get that movie role,” he said. “I wasn’t going to pass it up for a fractured wrist — no way.”
In later years, Quiñones called himself “The Ghost of Break-Dance Past” as he worked on various projects, including directing videos, teaching dance to inner-city kids and opening a martial arts studio. In 1994, he confessed in Variety to visiting clubs in Orange County to check out the latest dances.
“It’s like I wear hip-hop clothes but flannel underwear,” he said with a chuckle.
Original article here https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-01-01/adolfo-shabba-doo-quinones-dies-at-65
4-month-old girl dies after family dog found resting on top of her
A 4-month-old baby girl may have been accidentally suffocated by the family puppy in Florida, authorities said.
Little Raelynn Larrison was found unconscious by her father, who’d noticed the puppy resting on top of her at around 7 p.m. in their Dayton home, WRGT reported.
The infant’s father frantically called 911 and told dispatchers, “The puppy was lying on her and I just now noticed it,” according to a recording of the call obtained by the outlet.
“She’s not breathing. My baby ain’t breathing,” the father continued, according to the Dayton Daily News.
Raelynn was taken to Dayton Children’s Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Police are investigating the tot’s cause of death.
Family members seeking funeral expenses on GoFundMe called the death an “unexpected tragedy.”
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/02/4-month-old-girl-dies-after-family-dog-was-found-on-top-of-her/
Photo Credit: nypost.com
Nancy Pelosi’s home vandalized with graffiti, pig head
The backlash to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s handling of the coronavirus stimulus bill could be hitting close to home — literally.
On Friday, photos surfaced on social media and TMZ showing graffiti on a San Francisco garage door purportedly at the home of the Democratic congressional leader. The apparently spray-painted message read “$2K” with a line through it.
“Cancel Rent?” “We want everything!” Another line appeared to read “UBI!” referring to the concept of universal basic income.
A spokesman for the San Francisco Police Department told Fox News that officers responded to the reported vandalism around 2 a.m. Friday. “Unidentified suspect(s) had painted graffiti on the garage door and left a pig’s head on the sidewalk,” they said.
They said the scene was in the 2600 block of Broadway, but did not confirm who owned the home or if anyone was there at the time.
According to KRON, the MyNetworkTV affiliated station in San Francisco, the messages have been covered up and fake blood on the ground was removed.
It’s unclear whether the police have any suspects, but the graffiti included two letter A’s with circles around them, the mark typically associated with anarchism.
The incident underscored ongoing tensions surrounding coronavirus relief.
Congress continued into the new year without compromise after months of stalled negotiations. While President Trump and Democrats have insisted on $2,000 stimulus checks, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., rejected those as “socialism for rich.”
via: https://nypost.com/2021/01/01/nancy-pelosis-home-vandalized-with-graffiti-pig-head-reports/
Photo Credit: Instagram