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Mike Lupica: How good are Tom Thibodeau’s Knicks? We’re about to find out vs. rival Heat

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

The back story with the Knicks and Heat is tremendous, without question, and not just because of the shadow of Pat Riley over the whole thing. But the bigger story, at least around here, is this, and in the form of a question:Just how good are the Knicks?Of course, all of the stuff from the time machine is big fun, about big memories. You know how easy it is for the Knicks fans around a quarter-century ago to remember the ending of Game 5 of Knicks vs. Heat at the Miami Arena, and not just Allan Houston making his shot to put the Knicks ahead, but then Jeff Van Gundy chasing ref Ed T. Rush even after the game was over, because Rush had allowed Miami’s Terry Porter to catch and take a dribble and shot — all with just .8 left in Miami.“We’re celebrating in the locker room,” Dave Checketts said. “And we can’t find our coach, because he’s still coaching.”And that’s just one piece, you know it is, if you remember what a time we ...

Dave Hyde: Panthers in Game 7 in Boston, Heat in Game 1 in New York — buckle up for a Sunday like no other

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

Forget that “Sunday Fun-day” fantasy. This is the real thing, the kind of double-decked drama that puts a pep in your step and pit in your stomach all Sunday.The Miami Heat play Game 1 in New York at 1 p.m.The Florida Panthers play Game 7 in Boston at 6:30 p.m.It’s a sporting alpha and omega for South Florida, the birth of a new playoff series and finish of a dramatic one, the start of anything for the Heat against the once-hated New York Knicks and the end of everything for the Panthers’ series with the mighty Boston Bruins.If the undermanned Heat just pulled off the greatest upset in NBA playoff history against heavyweight Milwaukee — and they did — the Panthers are one game from doing the same in the NHL. It’s “Miracle on Ice” stuff without the Olympics or the Disney movie.Think of it: The biggest regular-season point spread in an NHL playoff upset is the 29 points between eighth-seeded Edmonton in beating top seed Detroit in ...

Ira Winderman: Heat could use a Herro, but there still is a formula vs. Knicks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

No sooner did Tyler Herro take a dive for a loose ball that was both fearless and reckless in the first half of the first game of the first-round series against the Milwaukee Bucks, then the pain of the moment resonated in a seemingly crushing reality for the Miami Heat.The next day, Herro’s right hand was in a cumbersome wrap. By week’s end, he had undergone surgery on his shooting hand, lost for the balance of the Eastern Conference playoffs.And yet, even with the former Milwaukee-area prep standout sidelined, the Heat found a way against Herro’s hometown team.The way effectively was Jimmy Butler scoring his own points as well as Herro’s.That’s not to say that Herro wasn’t missed. And it well could have been that those double-digit fourth-quarter deficits overcome against the Bucks might not have been double-digit fourth-quarter deficits.Because for all the Heat accomplished in producing the NBA’s top offensive numbers in the first round, ...

One dead, two in hospital after two-vehicle crash in Brampton

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

One female is dead while two others are in hospital after a fatal crash in the Sandalwood Parkway and Hurontario Street area in Brampton on Saturday morning.COLLISION:-Sandalwood Pky / Hurontario St in #Brampton -Intersection closure -Unknown extent of injuries at this time -Please avoid the area and use alternate routes -More info will be provided as we have it.— Peel Regional Police (@PeelPolice) April 29, 2023Police were called to the scene at approximately 7:20 a.m. after reports of a two-vehicle crash.Three adults were taken to hospital, one in critical condition while the other two suffered but non-life threatening injuries.An adult woman succumbed to her injuries in hospital while an adult male and adult female remain in hospital.Roadways in the area will remain closed for several hours.

A breakthrough stroke treatment is saving lives – if you can get it in time

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

Endovascular thrombectomy—or EVT—was developed over a decade ago, and has now evolved to be something of a miracle for people unlucky enough to suffer a stroke. If performed in time it can turn a potentially deadly or life-altering stroke to something that can be rehabbed in a couple of weeks. Eva Holland wrote in The New York Times Magazine about the complex procedure. She says not every hospital has the experts necessary to perform the procedure, and that so-called ‘hub and spoke’ model should be employed to ensure widespread access.  “That’s part of the challenge of getting access to this treatment… is making sure that people can access the hubs when they need them, that the hubs are ready to receive people and people can get there,” she said.   So how does a complicated medical intervention go from a lifesaving specialty to globally available? And how many lives could be saved if it does?https://the-big-story-bb309f15.simplecast.com/episodes/a-breakthrough-stroke-treatment-is-sa...

Russian court fines war critic who asked for prison instead

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A court in Russia convicted a woman from a Siberian city over social media posts condemning the war in Ukraine and punished her Friday with a steep fine even though both she and the prosecution asked for a prison sentence. Marina Novikova, a 65-year-old lawyer, was found guilty of “spreading false information” about the Russian army, which was made a criminal offense after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine more than 14 months ago. Novikova’s posts on the messaging app Telegram decried the invasion and criticized the Russian government. The court in Seversk, Novikova’s hometown, imposed a fine of 1 million rubles (over $12,400), the Russian human rights and legal aid group OVD-Info quoted her husband, Alexandr Gavrik, as saying.Prosecutors had requested a three-year prison sentence. Novikova herself pleaded with the court to send her to prison rather than the alternative: a fine of at least 700,000 rubles ($8,700) that the law allow...

Man arrested after attacking three people in Runnymede Road and Anette Street area

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

One man has been arrested after attacking three people at random in the Runnymede Road and Annette Street area on Saturday morning.STABBING:Runnymede Rd + Annette St area12:30 a.m.– Man attacked 3 random people – Two went to hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries caused by an edged weapon– Officers located and arrested a 30-year-old man– Anyone w/info contact @TPS11Div #GO947992^lb— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) April 29, 2023Toronto police were called to the scene at approximately 12:30 a.m. after three people were attacked with a sharp edged object.Two victims were transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Officers located and arrested a 30-year-old man on scene.

Dust to dust? New Mexicans fight to save old adobe churches

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

CORDOVA, New Mexico (AP) — Ever since missionaries started building churches out of mud 400 years ago in what was the isolated frontier of the Spanish empire, tiny mountain communities like Cordova relied on their own resources to keep the faith going.Thousands of miles from religious and lay seats of power, everything from priests to sculptors to paint pigments was hard to come by. Villagers instituted lay church caretakers called “mayordomos,” and filled chapels with elaborate altarpieces made of local wood.Today, threatened by depopulation, dwindling congregations and fading traditions, some of their descendants are fighting to save these historic adobe structures from literally crumbling back to the earth they were built with.“Our ancestors put blood and sweat in this place for us to have Jesus present,” said Angelo Sandoval on a spring day inside the 1830s church of St. Anthony, where he serves as mayordomo. “We’re not just a church, we’re not just a religion – we have roots.” ...

‘Blatant conflict’: Judge recuses from Catholic bankruptcy

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

A federal judge overseeing the New Orleans Roman Catholic bankruptcy recused himself in a late-night reversal that came a week after an Associated Press report showed he donated tens of thousands of dollars to the archdiocese and consistently ruled in favor of the church in the case involving nearly 500 clergy sex abuse victims. U.S. District Judge Greg Guidry initially announced hours after the AP report that he would stay on the case, citing the opinion of fellow federal judges that that no “reasonable person” could question his impartiality. But amid mounting pressure and persistent questions, he changed course late Friday in a terse, one-page filing.“I have decided to recuse myself from this matter in order to avoid any possible appearance of personal bias or prejudice,” Guidry wrote. The 62-year-old jurist has overseen the three-year old bankruptcy in an appellate role, and his recusal is likely to throw the case into disarray and trigger new hearings and appeals of every conse...

Police officer, wife found dead in their North Carolina home

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 13:11:05 GMT

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A police officer and his wife were found shot to death in their North Carolina home after the officer failed to show up for work Friday night, authorities said.State agents are investigating the deaths as a double homicide, Fayetteville Police Chief Kemberle Braden said at a late Friday news conference.Officer Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez was supposed to start work at 6 p.m. Friday after several days off. When he didn’t show up for his shift or answer his phone, supervisors went to his house and found the bodies, Braden said.The chief said Tavarez-Rodriguez and his wife, Yenitza Arroyo Torres, were both shot, but he did not say if their home appeared to be broken into or give any other details about their deaths.Domingo Tavarez-Rodriguez was retired from the military and had been a Fayetteville officer for almost two years, Braden said.Since Tavarez-Rodriguez was a police officer, the State Bureau of Investigation has taken over the investigation, Braden...