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NBA Playoffs: The conference finals might be finished in record time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

The NBA conference finals might be finished faster than anyone expected.Faster than ever, too.There has never been a pair of 4-0 sweeps in the third round of the NBA playoffs, but the Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat are in position to change that. The Nuggets lead the Los Angeles Lakers 3-0 in the Western Conference finals; the Heat lead the Boston Celtics 3-0 in the Eastern Conference finals.Denver can wrap up its series on Monday night in Los Angeles. Miami will aim to finish off a sweep on Tuesday, at home.Since the NBA started calling this round the “conference finals” in 1971, the fewest games needed to decide the champions of the East and West was nine.That happened on four occasions — 1974 (Boston beat New York 4-1 in the East, Milwaukee beat Chicago 4-0 in the West), 1986 (Boston beat Milwaukee 4-0 in the East, Houston beat the Lakers 4-1 in the West), 2015 (Cleveland beat Atlanta 4-0 in the East, Golden State beat Houston 4-1 in the West) and 2017 (Cleveland beat Boston 4-1 i...

World Cup final referee Marciniak picked for Champions League final duty

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — After refereeing the World Cup final in December, Szymon Marciniak of Poland was picked Monday to officiate the Champions League final between Manchester City and Inter Milan.UEFA selected Marciniak to complete a rare feat on June 10 in Istanbul of refereeing the biggest finals in national team and European club soccer in the same season.The 42-year-old Pole won praise for his handling of Argentina’s World Cup win over France in a penalty shootout in Doha, Qatar.The first World Cup-Champions League final double was done by English referee Howard Webb in 2010.Marciniak handled games with both Champions League finalists in the knockout rounds — Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the semifinals and Inter Milan’s 0-0 draw at Porto in the round of 16.UEFA also picked referees for its three other finals.Anthony Taylor of England will referee the Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma on May 31 in Budapest, Hungary.At age 47, Carlos del Cerro Grand...

FIFA extends rule to let players, coaches suspend contracts with Ukrainian, Russian clubs

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

ZURICH (AP) — FIFA extended a rule Monday that lets players and coaches continue to suspend their contracts with clubs in Ukraine and Russia for another season, even while it faces a legal challenge from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.FIFA first passed the temporary measure less than two weeks after Russia’s war in Ukraine started in February 2022, saying it was “to protect foreign players and coaches who have left the territory of Ukraine or Russia due to the conflict and who do not wish to currently return in view of the circumstances.”It was renewed one year ago and will now be extended through June 2024, though not for players and coaches who joined clubs in those countries or extended their existing contracts after the first FIFA decision in March last year. The FIFA rule is unpopular with Ukrainian and Russian clubs who said letting their players leave on loan left them with no protection and cost millions of dollars in lost transfer fees.Separate legal challenges were ...

Iglesia y dos edificios se incendian al noroeste de DC

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

Fue una noche ocupada para los bomberos en el noroeste de DC, luego de que una iglesia y dos edificios adyacentes se incendiaran el domingo.El fuego comenzó poco antes de las 7 p.m. en la cuadra 5200 de Georgia Avenue NW.Más de 100 bomberos respondieron al incendio mientras el humo salía de la parte superior de los edificios.“Nuestro mayor desafío fue evitar una mayor propagación del fuego”, afirmó Vito Maggiolo, portavoz del Departamento de Bomberos y Emergencias de DC.Nadie dentro de los edificios resultó herido, pero un bombero sufrió lesiones que no pusieron en peligro su vida.Karen Serpas, una trabajadora dentro del Restaurante y Bar Mariachi, grabó un video de las llamas.“Estaba lleno de humo y todos salimos corriendo”, expresó.Ambzam Misgina, propietario de un negocio que está a punto de abrir un restaurante unas puertas más abajo, dijo que se sorprendió cuando escuchó la noticia, pero agradeció que no fuera peor.“Vaya, estaba tan nervioso. Pensé que todo el edificio estaba e...

Turkey’s third-placed candidate endorses Erdogan in upcoming runoff presidential vote

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s third-placed candidate endorses Erdogan in upcoming runoff presidential vote.Source

Colorado River basin states reach agreement on water cutbacks

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

After a year of heated disputes over Colorado River water usage cutbacks, the seven states that depend on it for survival have agreed to a consensus-based plan submitted by the three Lower Basin states.The proposal, drafted by California, Arizona and Nevada, would commit those three states to collective conservation of at least 3 million acre-feet of system water by the end of 2026, when the Colorado River’s current operating guidelines are set to expire.Of that total, 1.5 million acre-feet at minimum would be conserved by the end of next year, the states declared in a proposal sent to Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton.The Colorado River, which serves about 40 million people throughout the West, is divided into a Lower and Upper basin, which respectively include California, Arizona and Nevada, and Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico.Each basin is allocated 7.5 million acre-feet of water, for a total of 15 million acre-feet. A typical U.S. suburban househ...

72-year-old man becomes first of his 7 siblings to graduate college, cheered on by his “proud” 99-year-old mom

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

(TMX) – A 72-year-old man became the first of his seven siblings to earn an undergraduate degree when he graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Ga., earlier this month.A video and photos shared by the college show Sam Kaplan walking across the stage on May 11 to receive his degree in Cinema and Media Arts as the crowd cheers. In the crowd was his “proud” 99-year-old mother.According to a news release from the college, Kaplan was 68 when he heard a radio advertisement for Georgia Gwinnett College, offering a degree program that involved script writing.“Five minutes later, I was registering for the fall semester,” Kaplan said. After graduating high school in 1969, Kaplan never considered college. The father of five held a variety of jobs over the years, including running a cleaning service, then a telemarketing company, and even driving a taxi.Being an older student came with challenges, but Kaplan resolved to connect with his younger classmates, and form...

Virginia officers help ducklings cross busy highway

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WSVN) — Virginia police officers went out of their way to help a family of ducklings on a busy highway.The Fairfax County Police Department said on their Facebook account that local authorities helped stop traffic and directed approximately 10 ducklings across Interstate 66 on May 15. Bodycam footage from one of the officers showed his waddled stance as he tried to move the little creatures to safety.According to officials, no ducks were injured in this incident.

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen speaks publicly since his attack outside Fort Lauderdale hotel in March

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen says he was blindsided during an attack on him outside a South Florida hotel following a concert earlier this year.“I heard a couple of steps and then I just saw this (flash) and the next thing I knew was I was on the ground,” Allen, 59, told ABC’s “ Good Morning America ” in an interview broadcast Monday. “I landed on my backside — hit my head on the pavement.”Def Leppard was in Fort Lauderdale to perform at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino when he was attacked March 13 while taking a smoke break outside a hotel.Police arrested Max Hartley, a 19-year-old from Avon, Ohio, who has pleaded not guilty to two counts of battery and four counts of criminal mischief, according to court records. Police said they haven’t determined a motive.“I don’t think he knew who I was, but he must have seen that I wasn’t a threat because, you know, I’ve only got one arm,” said Allen, who lost his left arm in a car accident in...

Pilot dies in result of Martin County plane crash

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:15:27 GMT

PALM CITY, Fla. (WSVN) – After having some trouble following takeoff, a small plane plunged from the sky and crashed, engulfing in flames and claiming the life of the pilot onboard. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the plane crashed while departing from the Naked Lady Ranch Airport, where people nearby risked their lives as they tried to save him.Some of the sounds were heard by neighbors just seconds before the plane touched down.“Out of nowhere we just started hearing some pops. It sounded like a plane coming down,” said Eduardo Casillas, who burned his arm in an attempt to save the pilot. Michael Terranova was inside his home. “‘Put put put,’ like that. So he was having problems with his engine,” he said. “Everything’s basically gone.”Terranova was one of six good Samaritans who sprang into action with fire extinguishers to put out the fire and try and get the trapped pilot out of the burning plane. Eduardo...