Cora-nation! Rookie manager leads Red Sox to championship
Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college No fan in New England would admit it now — still, chances are some had already started to wonder whether he was the right guy for the Red Sox.“It’s baseball,” Cora reassured that afternoon. “We know it’s going to happen. … I guess get it out of the way right away.”FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissYep, guess so.A calming presence in a boiling sports cauldron, Cora capped off one of the greatest runs by a first-year skipper in leading Boston to the World Series championship. “Alex was the manager that fit for us. He was really good in so many ways,” Red Sox President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski said before Game 5. “He knew Boston. I think he excels in dealing with the media, which in Boston is a bigger job than some other places. It can be cumbersome for a lot of people, and I’m not saying it’s not for him at times, but it’s part of the process and he handles it easily.”Cora was chosen over about a half-dozen candidates that included former managers Brad Ausmus and Ron Gardenhire.“It was a clear-cut choice that he was our guy,” Dombrowski said.After the opening loss, Boston won 17 of its next 18 games and was on its way.Cora steered the Red Sox to a team-record 108 wins in the regular season, then Boston topped the 100-win Yankees and Astros in the playoffs. Along the way, it seemed Cora could do no wrong.Brock Holt it for the first postseason cycle when Cora gave him his only start of the Division Series against New York. Cora masterfully managed a bullpen that many questioned before October, then avoided burning it out by leaning on hard-throwing starter Nathan Eovaldi in key spots. And Cora helped coax a breakout postseason from World Series Game 5 winner David Price.“A.C. told us from the first day in spring training we could do it,” AL MVP favorite Mookie Betts said. “We believed in ourselves, we believed in him and we went out and executed.”The clinching win at Houston came on the day Cora turned 43, and his players sang happy birthday to him in the clubhouse.“More than anything, he’s just brought consistency,” ace Chris Sale recently said. “He’s the same guy in the first inning as he is in the ninth inning of a 10-1 ballgame or 3-3 ballgame. I think that’s the overall thing as players that we take from him.“Ninth inning, bases loaded, one out of a one-run ballgame, and he’s sitting there eating seeds, doing the same thing as a 10-1 ballgame in the fourth inning. And I think that goes very well with us as players, when if he’s not panicking, why should we?” Sale said. Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Allen Durham still determined to help Meralco win 1st PBA title Gov’t to employ 6,000 displaced by Taal Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Cora grew up playing ball with his older brother, Joey, a former big league infielder. Alex spent 14 years in the majors, batting .243 as an infielder with six teams.He got to the plate one time in Boston’s sweep of the 2007 World Series, putting down a sacrifice bunt for a team led by David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Manny Ramirez.“Offensively, we did a lot of good things. And then the bench, it was amazing, they had the best utility guy in the bigs in 2007,” Cora said with a playful grin Sunday. “That guy was great.”With the season over, Cora can enjoy spending more time with his twin 15-month-old boys. Free from any criticism that comes with such a high-pressure job, too, although he doesn’t stress over it.“I really don’t care if they second-guess me. I prepare. We prepare as a group, and you make decisions,” he said after Game 1. “And honestly when I’m done here, I shower, I get in that car, I might get a text and say, “Go to the pharmacy and get some diapers for the kids.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Gobert wins duel vs Jordan as Jazz beat Mavs Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew View comments “Next thing I’m going to ask ownership is if we can take the trophy to my island,” he said. “That would be great.”Cora again turned Dodger Stadium into his personal party room. A year ago, he celebrated at the park as Houston’s bench coach after the Astros beat Los Angeles in Game 7. This time, he was front and center when Boston hoisted the shiny gold trophy.Cora became the fifth manager to win the crown in his first season, joining Bob Brenly (Arizona, 2001), Ralph Houk (Yankees, 1961), Eddie Dyer (Cardinals, 1946) and Bucky Harris (Washington Senators, 1924).Called A.C. by his players, Cora has an unassuming presence. He often wears a gray hoodie in the dugout and doesn’t raise his voice — except to yell at umpires.Shouting at his own team?“No, no, I don’t,” he said before Game 5. “I talk to them and I try to stay in tune with them. If I have something to tell them, I just sit with them. Very casual. Very casual.”“I try to do it that way. It feels right. It feels right,” he said. “I never had a manager that was like rah, rah, screaming at guys. They always had good conversations, and I learned from them and that’s what I’m trying to do.”His dugout demeanor is boosted by a combination of analytical aptitude and people approach.“Coralytics” is what it’s called by his agent, Scott Boras.Cora was hired after John Farrell, who led the Red Sox to the 2013 title, was fired following two straight early exits in the AL playoffs. His Cora-nation came Sunday night, when the Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 5.The victory set off celebrations all over.While throngs of Red Sox fans chanted “Cor-a! Cor-a!” from the seats and so many more reveled across the country, all of Puerto Rico certainly cheered its native son from Caguas.Cora became the first manager from the island to guide a team to a championship. It came more than a year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico — when Cora negotiated his contract last October, he asked the Red Sox to help his people with relief efforts, and the team eagerly pitched in.Moments after hoisting the championship trophy, Cora made one more request.ADVERTISEMENT Japeth Aguilar embraces role, gets rewarded with Finals MVP plum MOST READ Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora waits for the start of Game 5 of the World Series baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)LOS ANGELES — Hard to believe now, all these wins later, but the Alex Cora Era in Boston began with a loss. A brutal one, in fact.Opening day at Tropicana Field in late March, none of his late moves worked out as the bullpen blew a big lead in a 6-4 setback.ADVERTISEMENT Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil LATEST STORIES Tim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crown Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award
Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Nikola Jokic scores season-high 39, Nuggets beat Hornets For the complete collegiate sports coverage including scores, schedules and stories, visit Inquirer Varsity. Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next Reality hit the Panthers about halfway through the first half. Au’Diese Toney’s tip-in for Pitt trimmed North Carolina’s lead to 15-14 with 11:58 to go before the break, but the Panthers wouldn’t make another shot for more than 10 minutes. By the time McGowens ended the Panthers’ dry spell with a 3-pointer, North Carolina led by 21.“They hit us in the mouth and we never fought back, we never hit back (during that) stretch they took the lead,” Pitt’s Malik Ellison said. “We let missing shots affect our defense and we can’t let that happen.”BIG PICTURENorth Carolina: The Tar Heels can be hit or miss with their defensive intensity but overwhelmed the Panthers once the early adrenaline wore off. The Tar Heels will need to muster it more often against better opponents. “I liked our poise because the crowd really did get into it early,” coach Roy Williams said.Pitt: Even with large swaths of light blue in the arena, that the Panthers were able to fill The Pete offers tangible proof of the optimism Capel has brought to the table in his first few months on the job. Turning that optimism into ACC wins, however, is another matter. The Panthers played hard but their offensive weaknesses and lack of size were exploited at will by the bigger, deeper and more talented Tar Heels.UP NEXTNorth Carolina: Visits in-state rival North Carolina State on Tuesday.Pitt: Welcomes Louisville on Wednesday. Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles01:56Boris Johnson ‘humbled’ after majority win, says Parliament ‘must change’00:50Trending Articles02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award Philippine Army to acquire MANPADS, self-propelled howitzers In fight vs corruption, Duterte now points to Ayala, MVP companies as ‘big fish’ MOST READ View comments Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra Besides, the boos faded quickly. Johnson helped make sure of it, hitting his first three shots on his way to 15 points and nine rebounds as the 15th-ranked Tar Heels opened Atlantic Coast Conference play with a lopsided 85-60 victory.Johnson grew up in the Pittsburgh suburbs and spent three seasons at Pitt. He graduated in the spring of 2017 and asked for his release. The Panthers initially balked at Johnson transferring to a conference rival but gave in after Johnson went public with the request . Johnson is flourishing for the Tar Heels, where he’s evolved into more than a 6-foot-8 spot-up shooter.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissHe provided the proof in front of 25 friends and family, many of whom rose out of their seats behind the North Carolina bench each time he touched the ball. The signature play came at the end of the first half when teammate Leaky Black chased down a Pitt miss and found Johnson, who took two dribbles to midcourt and hit a streaking Coby White for a layup at the buzzer.“I just feel like I’m a little better overall physically, a little more fine-tuned,” Johnson said. “As I keep getting older, I keep getting a little better and more experienced, so I feel like that’s all added up for me.” Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history White led the Tar Heels with 22 points, Luke Maye added 17 points and 11 rebounds and North Carolina used a 16-0 run in the first half to subdue the first sellout crowd at the Petersen Events Center in nearly two years.“I just think we locked down on defense,” White said. “We got out in transition and we ran our sets and we just played harder and with a lot of effort.”Something that has been spotty at best during North Carolina’s uneven nonconference season. Yet the Tar Heels had little trouble against the young and undersized Panthers (10-4, 0-1), who are in the midst of a massive rebuild under first-year coach Jeff Capel.Trey McGowens scored 17 points and fellow freshman Xavier Johnson chipped in 14 for the Panthers, who lost their 23rd straight regular-season ACC game. The Panthers shot just 31 percent (19 of 62) from the field and struggled to get into any kind of rhythm. Pitt turned it over 15 times, made only 2 of 19 3-pointers and couldn’t keep up once the adrenaline wore off.“We have to work a lot harder to get better, that’s the thing,” Capel said. “What we did in the nonconference was good for the nonconference. We have to play good consistently, not just for a 12-minute period. Have to do it for an extended period for us to win in this league.”ADVERTISEMENT Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title North Carolina’s Cameron Johnson (13) drives to the hoop as Pittsburgh’s Terrell Brown (21) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in Pittsburgh. North Carolina won 85-60. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)PITTSBURGH — North Carolina forward Cameron Johnson knew the boos were coming. Expected them actually. It’s part of the deal when you leave one school for another. So when the Pittsburgh’s “Oakland Zoo” student section politely let the former Panther have it during pregame introductions on Saturday, he took it as a bit of a compliment.“No hard feelings on my end,” Johnson said with a shrug.ADVERTISEMENT LATEST STORIES Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college
Conservative – Bob Zimmer[asset|aid=3568|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=42d3cf00cbb4ff087706177a32e392f0-Bob Zimmer final message_1_Pub.mp3] For more information about Bob, visit http://bobzimmer.ca/The polls will open at 7a.m. and close at 7p.m. on Monday. To find your local polling place, visit www.elections.ca or call 1-800-463-6868 or locate the voter information card mailed out to all registered voters.Moose FM & Energeticcity.ca will have live election results from the Prince George Peace River Riding starting at 7p.m. On Monday.On Monday get out and vote.Advertisement With general voting day on Monday, we gave the candidates the opportunity to give you a final message about their campaigns.Below you’ll find a final message from each candidate running in the 41 general election in Prince George-Peace River.Liberal Candidate – Ben Levine- Advertisement -[asset|aid=3564|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=42d3cf00cbb4ff087706177a32e392f0-Ben Levine message_1_Pub.mp3] For more about Ben, visit http://benlevine.liberal.ca/ NDP Candidate – Lois Boone[asset|aid=3565|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=42d3cf00cbb4ff087706177a32e392f0-Lois Boone Message_1_Pub.mp3] For more on Lois, visit http://loisboone.ndp.ca/Advertisement Pirate Party – Jeremy Cote[asset|aid=3566|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=42d3cf00cbb4ff087706177a32e392f0-Jeremy Cote final message_1_Pub.mp3] For more information on Jeremy, visit https://www.pirateparty.ca/ Green Party – Hilary Crowley [asset|aid=3567|format=mp3player|formatter=asset_bonus|title=42d3cf00cbb4ff087706177a32e392f0-Hilary Crowley final message_1_Pub.mp3] For more information about Hilary, visit http://greenparty.ca/campaign/59022Advertisement
Playing with a 19-handicap in the 19-28 ‘C’ flight of his own Silica Sandport- sponsored tourney, Pandit’ Haresh Tiwari made history as he secured 2 chip-in birdies on the same Green for hole 4 and hole 13, to win his category; while club President Aleem Hussain captured spoils in the ‘A’.The 2nd year of the tournament at the Lusignan Golf Club on Saturday last sawHaresh, his wife and graduating son Kayshav at a recent school exerciseHussain now playing in the championship flight, and Parmanand ‘Max’ Persaud playing in the ‘B’ flight and dominating.Performances at this tournament send ominous warnings to all that there are several keen golfers vying for the coveted champion of the International Guyana Open 2018, just around the corner in early November.At end of the day’s play, the prizes were awarded as follows. In the ‘A’ or championship flight, handicap 0-9: 1st – Hussain 72/9; 2nd – Nazeem ‘Papo’ Haniff 73/7, (Mike Mangal 75/7 was close competitor in the flight). In the ‘B’ flight, handicap 10-18: 1st – Persaud 68/14; 2nd – Joaan Deo 70/16. (In this flight Aasrodeen Shaw 71/13; Brian Glasford 73/15: Hilbert Shields 73/16; Patrick Prashad 74/10 and Lekhnarine Shivraj 74/16 were a set of keen competitors).In the ‘C’ flight, Handicap 19-28: 1st Tewari 69/19; 2nd – Guillermo EscarragaThe winners and Club Vice President, Paton George, pose with Haresh Tiwari’s family members who assisted in the prize distribution ceremony at the end of the tournament. From left to right, Ms Tewari, Mrs Tewari, Guillermo Escarraga, Nazeem Haniff, Aleem Hussain, Parmanand Persaud, Joaan Deo, Paton George (in back row), Haresh Tewari and Kayshav Tewari80/20, (Philbert London 86/22 was the closest competitor in this flight.SSI produces white sand, screening and washing of silica in a state-of-the-art sand washing facility that obtains sand from part of an extensive silica sand vein that has verifiable reserves in excess of 500 million tons.CEO and founder, ‘Pandit’ Haresh, a veteran golfer, has served as Treasurer of the Lusignan Golf Club in previous years.
Today Nightlife: Valentine’s Day Fundraiser Dance Posted by: 40s & Up Singles Dance Club What: The 40s & Up Singles Dance Club will host a public fundraising dance for the Antelope Valley Hope Foundation. The theme for the dance is the “Valentine’s Day Massacre.” The wearing of period costumes from the early 1930s to late 1940s is optional. Live music will be provided by the Del Aires. There will be door prizes and a raffle. All proceeds from this dance will go to the Antelope Valley Hope Foundation. The foundation offers a food distribution program for the needy; professional training and support groups for women; youth HIV prevention and outreach programs; HIV testing; AIDS education and other related services. Advance tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by calling (661) 946-5156. Tickets at the door are $12 each. The 40s & Up Singles Dance Club, Inc. is not affiliated with the Elks Lodge or its parent organization. When: 6:30-10:30 p.m. Where: Elks Lodge, 240 E. Avenue K, Lancaster Monday Classes: Grant Writing Workshop Posted by: AV Champions What: The AV Champions and Grant Writing USA will present a workshop in Lancaster for beginning and experienced nonprofit and government grant writers seeking to increase fundraising and competitiveness. Our nationwide training programs dramatically enhance performance in all areas of grant research, planning and writing. Tuition is $495 and includes workbook and resource CD. Seating is limited. Reserve space online at www.grantwritingusa.comhttp://www.grantwritingusa.com or by calling Cathy Rittenhouse at (800) 814-8191. When: Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Where: 44514 20th St., West, Lancaster Tuesday Clubs: League Bowling Posted by: J&J Social and Travel Club What: J&J Social and Travel Club will hold its weekly league bowling. For information, call (661) 267-3586. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: Sands Bowl, 43323 Sierra Highway, Lancaster Wednesday Theater: Valentine’s Day Concert Posted by: Palmdale Playhouse What: The Palmdale Playhouse celebrates Valentine’s Day with a Mardi Gras-style musical concert featuring The Side Street Strutters. Disneyland’s house band since 1985, The Side Street Strutters take audiences on an energetic swing into Dixieland music, classic American jazz and musical whimsy. Valentine’s Day evening at the Playhouse will be complete with complimentary desserts served during intermission. One member of the audience will win a piece of diamond jewelry donated by William Jewelers. Tickets: $25. For information or to order tickets, contact the Palmdale Playhouse box office at (661) 267-5685 or visit www.ThePalmdalePlayhouse.com http://www.thepalmdaleplayhouse.com/. When: 8 p.m. Where: Palmdale Playhouse, 38334 10th Street East, Palmdale Thursday Classes: Free Fair Housing Workshop Posted by: Housing Rights Center/city of Lancaster What: The Housing Rights Center and the city of Lancaster will host a free Fair Housing Workshop for landlords and housing providers. HRC will present information and resources regarding the fair housing laws, protected classes, unlawful housing discrimination practices and landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities. The workshop will inform and educate landlords and housing providers in the Antelope Valley and surrounding communities about the fair housing laws, what is unlawful under fair housing laws, and how to prevent housing discrimination. Other topics may include rent increases, evictions and notices. For information, or to R.S.V.P., call Yvonne at (800) 477-5977, Ext. 19. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: Lancaster City Council Chambers, 44933 N. Fern Ave., Lancaster Friday Government: Peace Vigil Posted by: Roxie Patterson What: Join us for a candlelight peace vigil every Friday. Bring candles/flashlights/signs. We start with daylight and end without. For more information, contact ejramblin@gmail.com or poof1967@aol.com. When: 5-6 p.m. Where: Corner of 30th St West and Ave I, site of the future Vets Hospital Clubs: Games Snack Night Posted by: J&J Social and Travel Club What: J&J Social and Travel Club will have a Cards, Pokeno and other Games snack night Feb. 16. Bring food and a beverage to share. For information, call (661) 267-2586 or (661) 723-3237. When: 7 p.m. Where: 42941 15th St., West, Unit #5, Lancaster General: Free Lecture for Seniors Posted by: AARP Chapter 2195 What: Frank Sloan, a volunteer from the Lancaster sheriff’s station, will speak to seniors. Everyone is welcome. For information, call Mary B. Pryor at (661) 285-6330. When: 1-3 p.m. Where: Palmdale Senior Center, 1002 East Ave. Q-12, Palmdale. Music: LPAC presents San Jose Taiko Posted by: Lancaster Performing Arts Center What: For 30 years, San Jose Taiko has mesmerized audiences with the powerful sounds of Japanese taiko drums. All compositions are written or arranged by members of the group. Composing, choreographing, designing and producing costumes and the handcrafting of the drums are part of the holistic process in which all members participate. Tickets are $28; $12 for children. Call the LPAC box office at (661) 723-5950 or visit www.lpac.org http://www.lpac.org/. When: 8 p.m. Where: Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd., Lancaster. SaturdaySports: Sing for the JetHawks Posted by: Lancaster JetHawks What: You might not be a star on “American Idol,” but you can showcase your singing talents by performing the national anthem at a JetHawks game in 2007. The JetHawks will be holding open auditions Feb. 17. The JetHawks encourage all manner of performers to audition. Past renditions have been conducted by singers, musicians, duets, groups, quartets and even in sign language. While no experience is necessary, those with experience should bring a r sum listing their past performance history. Singers must be prepared to sing a cappella while musicians must bring their own instruments and means of amplification. Gates open at 1:30 p.m. For information, call John Adams or Melanie Hahn at (661) 726-5400. When: 2-6 p.m. Where: Clear Channel Stadium Art Events: Black History Month Program Posted by: Friends of Jackie Robinson Park What: The 25th annual Black History Month Program will feature poets, singers, dancers, artists in all medias, historical skits and dramatic readings. The evening will be completed with a Soul Food Reception. For information, call Al Ewing at (661) 944-2880. When: 6-8 p.m. Where: Jackie Robinson Park, 8773 East Ave., R, Sun Village 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. 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Newcastle’s “scared” players “need help” to build the mental toughness needed to avoid relegation, manager Rafa Benitez said.The Magpies capitulated 3-1 at Southampton on Saturday, their dreadful defensive showing gifting the hosts an easy victory.Centre back Steven Taylor, who was motionless as Shane Long opened the scoring, was withdrawn at half-time, though Benitez admits it was a result of a niggling injury.“Steven felt a bit of stiffness, so I think it was a big risk to keep a player with problems on the pitch, especially with the problems we have in defence,” said Benitez.“So we had to change him, and that’s it.FANS SLAM STEVEN TAYLOR: ‘I’D RATHER HAVE SUSAN BOYLE AT THE BACK!’Newcastle allowed Graziano Pelle to double the lead under little to no resistance and Victor Wanyama’s goal wrapped up Saints’ victory inside the hour, just leaving Andros Townsend to fire a good-looking but meaningless riposte for Newcastle.“Obviously we go into games a little bit scared and once we make the first mistake everybody loses the belief,” Benitez explained.“And it’s something that we have to change one way or another.“Some of them I think they are strong enough mentally, but some of them need help.“And we will try to help them one way or another. But we need to see which players we can count on and who can give what we are expecting.”Benitez admitted he was furious with his players at the break, but insisted there will be no recrimination or finger-pointing as Newcastle target four wins from four home matches as an unlikely route to safety.“At half-time, that could be the angriest I’ve been so far, yes. But it’s not a question of shouting but saying the right things.“You have to be upset, and I was really upset. I was telling them that the performance of the first half was not acceptable.“We had to change and start with the commitment, passion and character.“We had to change players, move some from one side to the other.“It was obvious that we couldn’t win with this mentality and playing in this way.“My concern was I couldn’t believe how we started the first half after the hard work that the players were doing during the week.“The games at home are crucial for us. So we have to approach them as one.“The confidence we must improve a lot, we have to get three points and that can change everything if we are capable of doing that.“It’s not the time to complain and blame each other, it’s time to realise we have to stick together.“We have four games at home and that is the key if we want to stay in the Premier League.”Newcastle host Swansea next and are six points from safety. 1 Rafa Benitez was angry with his Newcastle players during the Southampton game 
POMONA – Paul Thomas didn’t want his Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball team to forget the 42-point spanking that No. 9 Western Washington delivered it last month. But he certainly didn’t want his players to relive it. It was, of course, also the 25 percent field-goal percentage (13-for-52) that Cal Poly registered, a number that rivaled the 22 percent the Broncos shot in the earlier lopsided loss to Western Washington. Ally Smith scored 11 points Saturday, and Ashley Moody turned in nine before leaving the game late with a knee injury. But the Broncos got just seven points out of DeJa Blevins a night after she scored 23 in a 67-51 win over Cal State Los Angeles. Cal State Bakersfield registered 23 assists and hit on 7-of-9 shots from beyond the arc, with Apple Valley High graduate Katie McElree turning in a game-high 18 points and Gillian Lillich 15, while Rhonda Johnson and Jessie Loring added 14 and 10 respectively. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MORECoach Doc Rivers a “fan” from way back of Jazz’s Jordan Clarkson Thomas’ remarks, in a nutshell, sum up a roller-coaster start to the 2005-2006 campaign. Cal Poly (5-6, 2-2) jumped to a 2-0 start, stumbled mightily during a four-game losing streak and then looked to have regrouped during victories over No. 20 Minnesota-Duluth last week and Cal State Los Angeles on Friday. Both games, with the Broncos switching to a match-up zone defense, saw Cal Poly register season-lows in points allowed. But Cal State Bakersfield (10-1, 3-1) shot 54.7 percent from the field (35-64), milked 25 Cal Poly turnovers for all they were worth and turned a 38-24 halftime lead into its second largest margin of victory this season. “We had stupid turnovers and they got easy layups; that’s how that happens,” said Thomas, whose team next hosts No. 12 Chico State (9-2, 3-1). “I’m not a very good coach right now. … That’s my responsibility. The team shouldn’t shoulder the responsibility in a loss like that. That’s the coach’s.” 
Cal Poly Pomona abandoned all intensity on defense, gave away turnovers and layups and set a new low for the program during a 90-47 loss to No. 23 Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday at Kellogg Gym. “It’s another loss that they aren’t going to forget,” Thomas said of a 43-point defeat that one-upped the program’s previous largest loss, set on Dec. 21. “The thing I will say is this: It didn’t surprise me that Bakersfield did that. They are certainly capable of playing like that, and we are certainly capable of allowing them to do that to us.” 
Devils 4, Panthers 3: Alexander Mogilny had the game-winning goal and two assists as New Jersey snapped a two-game slide by beating Florida, which dropped its second game in a row. Canucks 6, Blackhawks 2: Daniel Sedin, Mattias Ohlund and Sami Salo scored in a four-minute span early in the second period to lead Vancouver beat Chicago for its third win in a row. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWalnut’s Malik Khouzam voted Southern California Boys Athlete of the Week The Oilers have already retired Gretzky’s jersey along with that of Jari Kurri, Grant Fuhr and Al Hamilton. Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, was on four Stanley Cup champion teams in Edmonton. Canadiens 4, Bruins 3: Alexander Perezhogin scored midway through the third period to cap Montreal’s rally over Boston, extending its record to 4-0 on the road. Mike Ribeiro scored his second goal of the season 2:02 into the third to tie it at 3 and Perezhogin gave Montreal its only lead of the game at 9:12 with the Canadiens’ third power-play goal. Jose Theodore of Montreal made 20 saves, including holding off Boston on a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:13 shortly after Perezhogin’s goal. Derek Morris scored one minute into overtime Tuesday night to give the Phoenix Coyotes a 4-3 victory over the Oilers in Wayne Gretzky’s first game in Edmonton as an NHL coach. Oleg Saprykin scored twice in the first period for the Coyotes and Shane Doan added a goal in the third. It was the second road win for Gretzky and the Coyotes, who won 2-0 at Calgary on Monday night. Mike Peca scored his first goal as an Oiler, while Igor Ulanov and Marty Reasoner also scored for Edmonton. 
Curtis Joseph made 26 saves to earn his 399th career victory for Phoenix, while Jussi Markkanen deflected 31 shots for Edmonton. Former Oilers star defenseman Paul Coffey had his No. 7 jersey raised to the rafters in a pre-game ceremony. 
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREWalnut’s Malik Khouzam voted Southern California Boys Athlete of the Week THURSDAY: Oakmont Country Club will host a 5:30 p.m. fundraiser for Orange County sheriff candidate Ralph Martin, 3100 Country Club Drive, Glendale. The donation to attend is $50. Volunteers are needed to help adults improve basic reading skills at the Los Angeles Library, Pacoima branch, 13605 Van Nuys Blvd. Tutor training sessions are held Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. North Hollywood Neighborhood Council will meet at 7 p.m. at the Park Plaza Apartments, 6755 Rhodes Ave., North Hollywood. Ladera Elementary School will honor veterans, including those back one week from Iraq, at 8:45 a.m. in the Campus Quad, 1211 Calle Almendro, Thousand Oaks. Mail Datebook entries – including time, date, location and a phone number – to Daily News City Desk, P.O. Box 4200, Woodland Hills, CA 91365; fax (818) 713-0058; e-mail dnmetro@dailynews.com. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! WEDNESDAY: The Northridge West Neighborhood Council will meet at 7 p.m. at Beckford Avenue Elementary School, 19130 Tulsa St. Veterans from past wars will be honored by a special tribute at 10 a.m. at Wilson Middle School, 1221 Monterey Road, Glendale. Wilson will pay homage to World War II and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans during the school’s Veterans Day Assembly festivities. Three Japanese-Americans who fought in WWII will be saluted and the event will feature a guest speaker. The Warner Center-Woodland Hills Neighborhood Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Parkman Middle School, 20800 Burbank Blvd., Woodland Hills. The musical performance “Peruvian Heritage” will be held at 6 p.m. at the Encino-Tarzana Library, 18231 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. 
What the Bible calls wickedness, evolutionary ‘science’ calls normal: good, even. Have some secular scientists become the new priests of Baal?Marriage Wreckers“Married LGBT older adults are healthier, happier than singles, study finds,” writes Kim Eckart (Medical Xpress). This is overtly anti-Biblical. God established marriage between a man and a woman, and Jesus Christ confirmed the Genesis standard. Why would a ‘science’ site even say such a thing? The happiness and health of sinners is not the issue. Undoubtedly, the participants at Baal worship festivals in the Old Testament had tons of fun! How far would Eckart go in justifying what the Bible forbids? Would she claim that polygamists are healthy and happy? How about members of free-love sex communes? Don’t you think the visitors to the temple prostitutes at the Temple of Diana at Ephesus had more fun than the apostle Paul, who suffered many things for his efforts to teach them about the true God? Don’t you think they were healthier and happier?Statements like Eckart’s are not morally neutral. She is not like a passive observer, recording data points off a machine. Her headline equating LGBT relationships to happiness has moral implications. It’s a backhanded endorsement of what the Bible calls sinful. She could argue that she’s just reporting results of a ‘study’ from the University of Washington. But she certainly has some control over what to report, and how to report it. By rationalizing homosexual marriage, she is an accomplice to the ‘study’ (whatever that means; we recall a ‘study’ that turned out to be fraudulent—see 12/12/14). Eckart’s whole report is filled with glowing praise for all the good that’s coming from gay marriage, something civilizations for millennia have considered perverted, or not even marriage at all.Language WreckersPsychologist Richard Stephens (Keele University) wrote his headline to get attention: “Swearing can help you boost your physical performance,” he writes on The Conversation. There was a time not long ago when swearing, though common, was frowned upon. The Bible certainly condemns blasphemy; Jesus, James and Solomon urged people to just let their yes be yes, and their no be no. Not Stephens. He sanctifies swearing as a means to live long and prosper, taking advice from a friend (evolution-based advice, of course) about how to endure difficult uphill bicycle routes:He told me that one strategy that evolved spontaneously during these difficult moments was swearing loudly. But could it really be that shouting profanities in any way helped him get up that hill? If so, why? As a psychologist interested in understanding swearing I decided to find out.My research has previously shown that swearing helps people to better tolerate pain, apparently because swearing triggers the body’s acute stress response. Indeed, this research demonstrate that repeating a swear word during an ice water challenge produces an increase in heart rate, consistent with an aroused autonomic nervous system as seen during moments of acute stress.There are at least two problems with this hypothesis. One is the omission of other, more righteous ways of tolerating pain, suggesting that swearing is the only way, or the best way. The other is that it is a just-so story. Stephens has no way to link swearing to a genetic mutation that was acted on by natural selection at some unknown time in prehistory.What our new studies do show, without explaining it, is that repeating a swear word enables higher degrees of physical exertion compared with repeating a non-swear word. So, at least for now, it seems that science was indeed on the side of my friend Mark during his difficult times in the Pyrenees.Based on that supposition, let’s add a third problem: such a silly notion that justifies shouting out names of God or Jesus, or mixing in any variety of four-letter words, does not deserve to be sanctified as ‘science.’Character WreckersIn “A matter of principle, not good deeds,” an article on Science Daily talks freely about morality and character. There’s no mention of evolution. This might lead one to suspect that the article is defending character as “a matter of principle.” Read further, and you find the undermining statement by Clayton Critcher, another evolutionary psychologist:It’s an adaptive optimism — one that encourages us to operate on enough faith that we can at least learn whether they are worthy of a social investment — until they prove us wrong.Those familiar with evolutionary game theory recognize the angle. Evolution taught us how to play games for our own survival. Evolution taught us who to trust. This has nothing to do with principle. It has nothing to do with truth, morality, and virtue, but only what one human mammal perceives to be trustworthy in another human mammal. To an evolutionary psychologist, morality is whatever works to pass on your genes.Cooperation WreckersIsn’t this paper in PNAS about improving cooperation? “Optimal incentives for collective intelligence” is the title of a paper by social scientists in England and Switzerland. Look how innocent their Significance statement reads:Diversity of information and expertise among group members has been identified as a crucial ingredient of collective intelligence. However, many factors tend to reduce the diversity of groups, such as herding, groupthink, and conformity. We show why the individual incentives in financial and prediction markets and the scientific community reduce diversity of information and how these incentives can be changed to improve the accuracy of collective forecasting. Our results, therefore, suggest ways to improve the poor performance of collective forecasting seen in recent political events and how to change career rewards to make scientific research more successful.Any righteous person would wish to accomplish these objectives. So what’s wrong? Once again, we see them tying strategic success to evolution. “Through an evolutionary game-theoretic model of collective prediction, we investigate the role that incentives may play in maintaining useful diversity,” they say in the opening paragraph. Later, they say, “Here, we analyze an evolutionary game-theoretic model of collective intelligence among unrelated agents motivated by individual rewards.”If it’s evolutionary, and if it’s just a game, it’s not really about cooperation. It’s about nudging. It’s about manipulation using incentives and rewards. An evil dictator could take such Pavlovian notions of psycho-politics to control his subjects. Perhaps that is better than torture, but it is still manipulation; it does nothing to encourage the human value of cooperation as a true moral good, a matter of personal ethical choice. If you cooperate because you have been psychologically nudged, you have not really cooperated.Once again, we take this occasion to promote Jerry Bergman’s book How Darwinism Corrodes Morality. Look at the track record of Darwin’s dangerous idea. Its poisonous effects permeated almost every area of culture. It’s like 1984, but real. Leaders and ‘intellectuals’ took Darwin’s amoral, mindless ‘law’ of survival as the highest good and ran with it. Millions died. The poison must be neutralized before even greater evils arise.(Visited 520 times, 1 visits today)FacebookTwitterPinterestSave分享0