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Tom Thibodeau’s signature defense on the decline as Knicks head home after ugly Florida trip

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

What has happened to Tom Thibodeau’s vaunted defense?Yes, the Knicks’ offense has been humming at high levels for this franchise, but the coach’s specialty is lagging this season — especially lately.The Knicks were 17th in defensive efficiency heading into Friday’s NBA schedule, a ranking even worse than during last season’s plunge to the draft lottery.They’ve been mostly roasted on 3-pointers, allowing the third-most treys in the NBA before Friday. It’s a product of Thibodeau’s system — which is built to protect the paint while leaving the Knicks susceptible to kick-out passes to the 3-point line — but lately the scheme is backfiring.“Their general disposition is to stop the ball with off-ball defenders being in and forcing kickouts,” an NBA coach said. “That is why they’re giving up a high number of 3s.”Some of it is as simple as teams are finally burying their open 3-pointers. But ther...

Red Sox announce MLB will withdraw ‘Boston’ trademark application

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

The push to trademark “Boston” for the Red Sox is no more, principal owner John Henry announced.Henry, in a statement sent to the Herald, brushed back at the league’s patent play.He stated: “On March 17, Major League Baseball initiated, oversaw, and directed a trademark application on behalf of three of its clubs, including the Boston Red Sox. Major League Baseball — not the Boston Red Sox — initiated this filing. Today, at our request, MLB has agreed to withdraw the application. MLB’s intent was to protect these clubs’ use of their city name in connection with professional baseball services and apparel, not an attempt to own the city name or prevent others from using the city name.”It has been a perplexing situation from the start.Various experts on trademarking and patent law told the Herald that this was a fruitless, “absurd” move with a “very low chance” of success.The application drew criticism from fans on social media, who...

Photos: Muslims celebrate Ramadan around the world

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

Joanna Tavares | New York Daily NewsMuslims around the world began their month-long observance of Ramadan at sundown on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The holy month is done with prayer and fasting from dawn to dusk to honor Allah. Practitioners pray, fast, reflect and abstain from smoking and sex to bring them closer to God until the final night on April 22. The dates usually vary by a few days depending on the moon and a country’s location.Peshawar, PakistanMuslim devotees pray before breaking their fast on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan in Peshawar on March 23, 2023. (Photo by Abdul MAJEED / AFP) (Photo by ABDUL MAJEED/AFP via Getty Images)Srinagar, IndiaMuslim devotees pray inside the Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani shrine on the first day of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in Srinagar on March 23, 2023. (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA / AFP) (Photo by TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images)Manila, PhilippinesWomen pray during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan at a mosque in T...

Bruins’ A.J. Greer given one-game suspension

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

A.J. Greer was given a one-game suspension by the NHL’s Department of PlayerSafety for his crosscheck to the face of Montreal Canadiens’ forward Mike Hoffman in the Bruins’ 4-2 win over the Habs on Thursday at the Garden.It is the first time Greer has been suspended or fined in his 99 games in the National Hockey League.Late in the first period, Greer and Hoffman were jousting with their sticks before a faceoff. They eventually turned to face each other and, after Hoffman put his stick into Greer’s chest in what the league deemed a defensive posture, Greer crosschecked him in the face.“It is important to note that this is not a case of a stick directed towards the body that rides up the opponent,” according to the league’s video explanation. “This crosscheck is delivered cleanly to the head of Hoffman. And while we understand Greer’s assertion that he does not intend to strike Hoffman in this manner, players are responsible for t...

Bruins notebook: This weekend could be a tone setter for B’s

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

The Bruins’ back-to-back games this weekend had appeared to be a pivotal two-game set for months. They will play the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday (1 p.m.) at the Garden and then travel to Carolina to play the Hurricanes on Sunday (5 p.m.).But the importance of these two games has changed. Standings-wise, Saturday’s game does not matter much. The B’s have all but sewn up the Atlantic Division (a win on Saturday or a regulation loss by Toronto will clinch the Atlantic). Meanwhile, the Bolts won’t be caught from behind by Florida and their hopes of catching Toronto for second-place are dimming.Psychologically, however, a game against a potential second-round opponent at this point in the season is not a throwaway.Neither team wants to lay an egg in this situation and, to be honest, both clubs could stand to manufacture a good performance. The B’s are riding a five-game win streak but have needed superb goaltending performances from Linus Ullmark and Jer...

ACLU: Lawsuit likely if Nebraska bill on trans health passes

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Now that a Nebraska bill to ban gender-affirming treatments for minors has cleared its first and toughest hurdle, parents and children likely to be affected by the measure are preparing for a legal fight, the American Civil Liberties Union said Friday.“It’s discriminatory on the basis of sex,” said Jane Seu, policy counsel with the Nebraska ACLU. “It also violates the free speech rights of doctors.”The bill — which has led opposing lawmakers to stage an effort to filibuster every bill before the Legislature this session — would outlaw gender-affirming therapies such as hormone treatments, puberty blockers and gender reassignment surgery for those 18 and younger. It would also ban Nebraska doctors from referring minors to other providers — even those in another state — for such treatment.Republican lawmakers on Thursday advanced the bill from the first of three rounds of debate on a largely party-line vote. But even if enacted this year, opponents say the f...

US, Canada end loophole that let asylum-seekers cross border

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

ST. JOHNSBURY, Vermont (AP) — The immigration deal announced Friday by U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aims to shut down a process that has enabled tens of thousands of immigrants from across the world to move between the two countries along a back road between New York state and Quebec.Since early 2017, so many migrants entered Canada via Roxham Road outside Champlain, New York that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police staffed a reception center to process them, less than five miles (8 kilometers) from the official border crossing where they’d be returned to the United States. Mounties warned they’d be arrested, but once on Canadian soil, they were allowed to stay and pursue asylum cases that can take years to resolve.The new policy says that any asylum seekers who lack U.S. or Canadian citizenship and are caught within 14 days of crossing will be sent back across the border. It was set to take effect a minute after midnight Saturday, a ...

Reese Witherspoon, Jim Toth announce plans to divorce

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Reese Witherspoon and her husband say they are divorcing after nearly 12 years of marriage.The actor-producer and her husband, Hollywood agent Jim Toth, announced their breakup Friday in a joint statement on Instagram. Their wedding anniversary is Sunday.“It is with a great deal of care and consideration that we have made the difficult decision to divorce,” the post said. “We have enjoyed so many wonderful years together and are moving forward with deep love, kindness and mutual respect for everything we have created together.”Witherspoon and Toth have one son together and they said he remains their biggest priority, asking for privacy.The statement’s authenticity was confirmed by a Witherspoon representative. No records of a divorce filing could be found in Los Angeles Superior Court.Witherspoon was previously married to actor Ryan Phillippe, with whom she has two children.The Associated Press

Former ‘Family Feud’ contestant charged in wife’s slaying

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

QUINCY, Ill. (AP) — A former contestant on the long-running television game show “Family Feud” has been charged with first-degree murder and home invasion in the slaying of his estranged wife in western Illinois.Timothy Bliefnick, 39, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon at his arraignment in Adams County Circuit Court in Quincy, according to court records.Bliefnick was indicted Thursday by a county grand jury, KHQA-TV reported.The body of Rebecca Bliefnick, 41, was found by a family member inside her Quincy home after she failed to pick up her children from school. She had been shot multiple times. Timothy Bliefnick was arrested March 13. His Quincy home was searched March 1.The couple was separated and going through divorce proceedings, the television station reported from court records.A restraining order had been filed against Timothy Bliefnick, who also filed one against his estranged wife.In 2020, Timothy Bliefnick and some of his family members appeared on ABC’s “Family ...

Human rights groups criticize Cuba’s new criminal code

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:44 GMT

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba enacted a new penal code this week that activists and human rights organizations warned Friday could further limit free expression and snuff out protests at a time of deepening discontent on the island.The code, a modified version of the country’s 1987 regulations approved by the Cuban government in May, will ripple to journalists, human rights activists, protesters, social media users and opposition figures. The changes come amid deepening discontent in Cuba produced by compounding crises and as the government continues to dole out punishments to participants — including 16- to 18-year-olds — in the island’s historic 2021 protests. Some older protesters have been sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.Among some of the changes are increases in the minimum penalties and prison sentences on things like “public disorder,” “resistance” and “insulting national symbols.”The new code also establishes criminal categories for digital offenses, saying that people diss...