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Timberwolves firmly believe in Nickeil Alexander-Walker. He does, too

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly was asked back on media day which player he felt was primed to make a “leap” this season for his franchise.Anthony Edwards, he noted, was an obvious response. The young superstar guard is seemingly ascending to new heights every season.But that wasn’t Connelly’s answer.“You know who had a great summer and isn’t getting talked about enough is Nickeil,” Connelly said.Which is fitting, because Nickeil Alexander-Walker wasn’t discussed much when he arrived in Minnesota. He was an afterthought for many in the trade that brought Mike Conley to the Timberwolves to replace D’Angelo Russell as the team’s floor general.Alexander-Walker didn’t really enter the Wolves’ conscience on a grand scale until he was pushed into starter duty in Minnesota’s second play-in game against Oklahoma City last season, when he was tasked with guarding his cousin — star Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — as Minnesota was without Jaden McDani...

Vikings star T.J. Hockenson is a product of Tight End U. How did the Iowa Hawkeyes develop that reputation?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

T.J. Hockenson was always going to wait for that scholarship offer from Iowa. Even after rival Iowa State made the first move.After growing up watching Dallas Clark star at tight end for the Hawkeyes in the early 2000s, Hockenson went on to play the same position a couple of hours away at Chariton High School.That made his college decision fairly simple.“I knew at a young age that was where I wanted to go,” Hockenson said. “Even though I wasn’t a big recruit, I think if I was, I still would’ve gone to Iowa.”Why wouldn’t he? There isn’t a better place for a tight end with hopes of making it to the NFL. The legacy started with Clark, who went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts, then continued with the likes of Scott Chandler, Brandon Myers and Tony Moeaki, all of whom were drafted after playing for the Hawkeyes.It has reached the pinnacle over the past decade or so with Iowa churning out a top prospect at tight end seemingly every yea...

Scotia man charged following fatal crash in Schenectady

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- A Scotia man was arrested following a fatal car crash that occurred in Schenectady on October 21. Gregory Mitchell, 31, is facing multiple charges. Get the latest news, weather, sports and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! On Saturday at 8:52 p.m., police responded to the area of Eastern Avenue's 800 block following reports of a serious motor vehicle crash. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle on fire that had crashed into an unoccupied parked car.The driver of the vehicle, identified as Mitchell, was found nearby the crash, while a passenger was trapped inside the vehicle. The Schenectady Fire Department responded to put out the fire and provide medical treatment, however it was quickly determined that the passenger, identified as Jacqueline McCole, 47, of Scotia, was already deceased. Schenectady Police investigating State Street homicide Mitchell was then arrested and transported to Albany Medical Center to be treated for injuries...

Men’s basketball: Forward Sebastian Rancik commits to CU Buffs’ 2024 class

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

The Colorado men’s basketball team is shaping up to feature a young and formidable front court next year.On Saturday, another piece to CU’s recruiting puzzle fell into place as forward Sebastian Rancik announced his commitment to the Buffaloes as part of the 2024 recruiting class.Rancik is the third recruit to announce his pledge to CU ahead of the November national signing day, joining Texas big man Doryan Onwuchekwa and ThunderRidge standout guard Andrew Crawford.Rancik, who visited CU last month, is a 6-foot-9 native of Slovakia who moved to America in order to play prep basketball at JSerra Catholic High School in Southern California — a route similar to the one traveled by former CU forward Lucas Siewert, a native of Brazil.247Sports lists Rancik as a three-star recruit ranked 134th in his class nationally and 16th in the state of California. That site’s composite rankings sets Rancik as a four-star recruit ranked 113th nationally.As it stands, the Buffs are set to lose a...

Broncos 9, Packers 0: Wil Lutz’s three field goals give Denver halftime lead

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

Can the Broncos snap their cold streak to win their second game of the season? Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver takes on the Packers at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.Live updatesHalftime analysis — Broncos 9, Packers 0Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos swinging slightly harder in a good old fashioned pillow fight.If the Broncos run 35 plays in the second half, about 28 of them should involve Jaleel McLaughlin, Javonte Williams and Samaje Perine.Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Denver’s defense has been flying around. But man, Green Bay’s offense isn’t great. I’m not a coach but if I was, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin will be getting a ton of touches in the second half.Sean Keeler, sports columnist:  Can we relegate the Packers?It’s the Broncos’ first first-half shutout at home since Sept. 26, 2021 against the Jets. Denver led that one 17-0, beat up on then-rookie Zach Wilson, and cruised to a 26-0 win. (Wilson is, um...

‘Leading candidate’ emerges in SF Giants managerial search: report

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

A frontrunner has reportedly emerged in the San Francisco Giants’ search for their next manager.Bob Melvin, who just finished his second season leading the Padres, will interview for the job, The Athletic reported, citing anonymous sources who also said the longtime A’s skipper and Bay Area native “instantly becomes the … leading candidate” to replace Gabe Kapler, whom the Giants fired last month.Melvin, 61, was granted permission by the Padres to interview with an NL West rival, potentially setting him to follow in the footsteps of another manager who fled north from San Diego, Bruce Bochy, whose three World Series rings give some credence to the idea.Born in Palo Alto, a graduate of UC Berkeley and an experienced, highly respected manager, Melvin initially emerged as one of the top potential candidates to succeed Kapler. That speculation was only fueled by reports of a growing rift between Melvin and Padres general manager A.J. Preller.But at the conc...

Meet the Republicans running for Speaker

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

WASHINGTON — Nine Republicans have announced that they will run for speaker, after the party cast aside Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio as its latest nominee for the leadership post.A flood of lawmakers began campaigning just hours after Republicans voted in a closed-door meeting to restart the nomination process after Jordan, his support ebbing, failed on a third floor vote to win the speakership. The vote essentially ensured that the office of the speaker would remain empty for a third week.The lawmakers vying for the job include veterans of the House, committee chairs, a top member of Republican leadership and a sophomore. Virtually none have the kind of commanding national profile normally required of the speaker, who is not only second in line to the presidency but a key fundraiser for their party’s efforts to protect and expand its majority.They will have to navigate the same treacherous dynamics of a bitterly divided conference that the three men before them could not, leaving some R...

Israel orders more evacuations amid fears of conflict widening

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

As Israeli forces massed along the border with the Gaza Strip on Sunday before an expected ground invasion of the enclave, escalating clashes on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon along with strikes in Syria and in the Israeli-occupied West Bank intensified fears of a widening regional conflict.Israeli authorities said they were expanding a state-funded evacuation plan to move residents from an additional 14 Israeli villages near the border with Lebanon to safer areas. The move came as Israel’s military said Sunday it was contending with increasing attacks from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia that controls southern Lebanon, that have resulted in civilian and military casualties.Amid concerns the conflict could spill over, the Pentagon said late Saturday that it was sending an anti-missile battery and battalions of the Patriot ground-based air defense system to the Middle East following “recent escalations by Iran and its proxy forces.”U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken ...

Inmate found dead in his cell at Redwood City jail — the second death in two days

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

Redwood City — A 34-year-old inmate of the Maguire Correctional Facility was found dead after a suspected suicide on Saturday night, though investigations into the cause of death are still underway.It was the second death to occur at the Redwood City jail within two days, after a 64-year-old was found dead in his cell on Friday afternoon.The 34-year-old was housed in the facility’s behavioral health unit, which provides support and services for those suffering from mental illness issues.At approximately 9:18 p.m. Saturday, correctional officers found the individual unresponsive in his cell during a regular hourly check-in, according to a statement from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. The man was immediately given life-saving support, the statement said, until medical staff arrived. Soon after, he was pronounced dead by the Redwood City Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.San Mateo County’s sheriff’s office, District Attorney’s Office a...

Kareem Hunt’s late TD helps Browns rally past Colts 38-33 in topsy-turvy game

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 10:30:44 GMT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Kareem Hunt scored on a 1-yard touchdown plunge with 15 seconds left Sunday, capping an 80-yard touchdown drive that gave the Cleveland Browns a 39-38 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.P.J. Walker used all but 15 seconds of the final 2:35 to rally the Browns for the second consecutive week, this time taking advantage of debatable back-to-back defensive penalties against the Colts, an illegal contact and a defensive pass interference call on cornerback Darrell Baker Jr.The first call nullified a fumble recovery by the Colts. The second put the ball at the 1-yard line, setting up Hunt’s fourth-down score. He had 10 carries for 31 yards and two TDs.It’s the second straight week Walker has rallied Cleveland (4-2). This time it was in relief of Deshaun Watson, who started his first game since Sept. 24 but left in the first quarter after taking a big hit that left him sprawled on the turf for several minutes.Watson was cleared after being evaluated for a ...