Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. off to hot start in summer league play

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. off to hot start in summer league play Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is putting in the work and looks poised to make a leap as he heads into his second NBA season.The No. 3 pick in the 2022 draft capped his first summer league performance this season with a game-winning 3-pointer in a 100-99 victory over Portland on Friday, scoring 29 of his 33 points in the second half. He followed that by posting 38 points, seven rebounds and six assists on Sunday in a 113-101 win over Detroit. Smith is showing variety at a high level, from hitting 3-pointers to rebounding to handling the ball at 6-foot-11.“I think it shows that he’s growing as a player, he’s blossoming as a player.” Rockets summer league coach Ben Sullivan said after the win over Detroit. “He has a lot of stuff that he’s really good at, and he’s putting it all together.”The Rockets were thrilled when Smith, expected by many to go No. 1 overall in last year’s draft, slipped to No. 3. He had a solid first season with ...

US to send Tour de France-tested team to road cycling world championships

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

US to send Tour de France-tested team to road cycling world championships The U.S. will send a strong contingent of Tour de France-tested riders to the road cycling world championships next month.The seven-man squad announced Monday includes Neilson Powless, who currently wears the Tour’s polka dot jersey as the king of the mountains, and Matteo Jorgenson, who a day earlier nearly won the stage to the summit finish at Puy de Dome.The Tour had a rest day Monday before resuming Tuesday with a hilly stage from Vulcania to Issoire.Powless and Jorgenson will be joined by fellow Tour riders Lawson Craddock and U.S. road race champion Quinn Simmons, who recently withdrew from the race after a crash on Stage 5 left him with lingering injuries. The other riders on the American team are Magnus Sheffield, Sean Quinn and Brandon McNulty, the reigning U.S. time trial champion.Sheffield will contest the road race and time trial and McNulty only the time trial, while the rest will compete in the road race.The road world championships have been combined with the ch...

Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen to start MLB All-Star Game

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

Yankees’ Gerrit Cole and Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen to start MLB All-Star Game SEATTLE (AP) — The New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole will start Tuesday night’s All-Star Game for the American League and Arizona’s Zac Gallen will open on the mound for the NL.AL manager Dusty Baker of Houston and NL manager Rob Thomson of Philadelphia announced their starting lineups on Monday before the annual Home Run Derby.Cole will start for the first time in his sixth All-Star nod. He is 9-2 with a 2.85 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 117 innings. The 32-year-old right-hander joins Lefty Gomez (five times), Red Ruffing (twice), Hank Borowy, Spud Chandler, Roger Clemens, Whitey Ford, Jimmy Key, Vic Raschi, Met Stottlemyre, Bob Turley and David Wells as Yankees All-Star starters.“It’s always something I wanted to do,” Cole said. Gallen, a 27-year-old right-hander, is 11-3 with a 3.04 ERA, tied for the major league lead in wins. The first-time All-Star has 125 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings and becomes the third Diamondbacks pitcher to start an All-Star Game after R...

British Open Guide: How to watch, where it’s played, who’s the favorite

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

British Open Guide: How to watch, where it’s played, who’s the favorite Golf’s major championship season comes to a close at the British Open, the last chance of the year for Rory McIlroy to end his nine-year drought in the majors.At least the territory will be familiar. Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, is the site of the 151st edition of golf’s oldest championship. McIlroy won the last time at Royal Liverpool.The defending British Open champion is Cameron Smith, who defected to LIV Golf about a month later.The golf world is more chaotic and confusing than ever with the recent announcement of a partnership among the PGA Tour, European tour and the Saudi Arabia backers of LIV Golf. There is hope it could end the divide between rival circuits, and yet friction remains over the idea that defectors to LIV Golf might be able to return.As for Americans with LIV Golf, the British Open is their last chance to earn Ryder Cup points to qualify for the team or at least show themselves worthy as a captain’s pick.WHAT’S THE BRITISH OPEN SCHEDUL...

RMC student to bike from Canada to Mexico for injured vets and CAF members

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

RMC student to bike from Canada to Mexico for injured vets and CAF members A third year student at Kingston’s Royal Military College (RMC) is planning to bike the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in an effort to raise money for the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) program Soldier On.Brooke Baker will be taking on the 4200 kilometre trail that spans from Canada all the way into Mexico, with 200,000 total feet of vertical climbing along the route. She aims to make the trip in 3 weeks, which will mean riding about 200 kilometres per day to meet that goal. The journey is a goal that Baker says she’s had for some time and had sort of been looking for the inspiration to kick start it.She said that hearing about the work of Soldier On and partnering with them seemed like a good reason to go.“I thought it would just be the perfect combination to raise money for a good cause,” Baker said.Soldier On is a CAF program that focuses on aiding the recovery of ill and injured veterans and CAF members through sport, recreational, and creative acti...

Colorado man illegally lands helicopter in Grand Teton for a lakeside picnic

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

Colorado man illegally lands helicopter in Grand Teton for a lakeside picnic DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado man landed his helicopter in Grand Teton National Park for a lakeside picnic, and now he's accused of federal crimes.Helicopter pilot Peter Smith, of Gunnison, faces two misdemeanors in the incident, according to the National Park Service."The unauthorized landing of helicopters is prohibited on the lands and waters within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park in order to protect wildlife and other natural resources and to preserve the visitor experience," the NPS said in a release.Smith is accused of illegally landing his helicopter at Moran Bay, on the west shore of Jackson Lake, on the afternoon of Saturday, June 24. When park rangers responded, they found him with a companion having a picnic by the lake, the NPS said. Denver renter priced out of his 20-year home amid rising rent Smith is set to go before a federal judge next month in Jackson, Wyoming. He faces two federal counts: "operating or using aircraft on lands or waters other than at loc...

Extreme heat this week: Temperatures to rise above 90 degrees

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

Extreme heat this week: Temperatures to rise above 90 degrees DENVER (KDVR) — Denver is heating up this week, with temperatures expected to rise into the 90s for the next several days.Temperatures in Denver were below average for the month of June, according to National Weather Service data. The average high temperature for June is about 83 degrees. But last month's highs averaged around 76 degrees, bringing this year's first and only 90-degree day so far. See a dog locked in a hot car? Here’s what to do That's changing this week — temperatures are expected to surpass 90 degrees Monday-Thursday. The highest temperature is expected on Tuesday, with the Pinpoint Weather team forecasting a high of 94 degrees.Denver's normal high temperature for these dates in July is 90 degrees, with record highs reaching 100-102 degrees.Heat safety tips for people and petsPeople are encouraged to be mindful of the heat, as it can cause illness as the body's core temperature rises. The Denver Department of Public Health and Environment issued an extreme heat al...

Taylor Swift in Denver: 5 things you need to know before the Eras Tour

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

Taylor Swift in Denver: 5 things you need to know before the Eras Tour DENVER (KDVR) -- Taylor Swift is finally returning to Denver this week to perform her Eras Tour at Empower Field at Mile High on July 14 and 15. If you were lucky enough to snag a ticket to see the pop icon perform, you might be wondering if there's anything you need to know ahead of time. Colorado radio station to rebrand as Taylor FM, raffle Eras Tour tickets FOX31 has you covered with the 5 things you need to know before you head to Empower Field.1. Who is performing?Obviously, Taylor Swift will be performing at her own concert. However, she isn't alone.Before the main event comes on stage, Muna and Gracie Abrams will perform.Muna is an indie pop band based in Los Angeles that got its start in 2013. Gracie Abrams is a singer-songwriter, and her debut album was released earlier this year in February.If this stop follows the same format as all the other stops, there might also be a special guest or two that fans can look forward to.2. What you can/can't bring into the stadiumEmpo...

Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar stabbed by another inmate at federal prison

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar stabbed by another inmate at federal prison WASHINGTON (AP) — Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar, who was convicted of sexually abusing Olympic and college female gymnasts, was stabbed multiple times by another inmate at a federal prison in Florida that is experiencing staffing shortages.The attack happened Sunday at United States Penitentiary Coleman, and Nassar was in stable condition on Monday, two people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. Colorado radio station to rebrand as Taylor FM, raffle Eras Tour tickets One of the people said Nassar had been stabbed in the back and in the chest. The two officers guarding the unit where Nassar was held were working mandated overtime shifts because of staffing shortages, one of the people said.The people were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the attack or the ongoing investigation and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity.Nassar is serving decades in prison for convictions in state and federal courts. He admitted sexually assau...

32-year-old arrested in Miami for attempted child abduction and abuse; 6-year-old victim speaks out

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 19:55:14 GMT

32-year-old arrested in Miami for attempted child abduction and abuse; 6-year-old victim speaks out Leonardo Venegas, 32, of North Miami has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and child abuse following an attempted abduction reported on July 6. Detectives responded to the scene, located at 6530 N.E. 2nd Avenue, after receiving notification of the incident.The victim, a 6-year-old child, provided a harrowing account of the incident. The child stated that while playing with siblings in the apartment complex courtyard, they noticed a white, newer model SUV park near their residence. As the other children went inside to get a drink of water, the victim remained on the rear stairway of their apartment. According to the victim, a white male, later identified as the defendant Leonardo Venegas, suddenly grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the rear of the stairs. The child fought back and managed to break free from Venegas’s grip. However, Venegas then lifted the victim and attempted to carry her away. In a desperate act of self-defense, the child bit Venegas’s arm, c...