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For Rockies, realizing major-league dreams is long, arduous journey: “If you are not mentally tough, the game will spit you out”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

Riley Pint was a baby-faced 18-year-old when he first met with Colorado media on June 15, 2016, at Coors Field.The Rockies’ right-hander, the fourth overall pick in the draft out of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Overland Park, Kan., entered pro baseball with a 102 mph fastball, a $4.8 million signing bonus in his pocket and massive expectations on his shoulders.“I feel like if I do the things I’m capable of doing, then I can make it to the big leagues pretty quick,” Pint said that day.Nearly seven years, several injuries, one retirement and one comeback later, Pint is still waiting.“It’s tougher than you think it’s going to be,” Pint said during spring training. “Coming in at a young age, I didn’t really know who I was as a person. I was still having my laundry done by my mom. Turning pro really was a wake-up call.”Pint’s story is not a cautionary tale. Rather, it’s a reminder of what an arduous journey it is to trave...

Mikko Rantanen’s quest for 50: Avalanche teammates marvel at many ways the Moose scores his goals

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

The right leg raised. All of Mikko Rantanen’s balance shifted to his left skate, the same side where the puck resided on his stick. He approached Winnipeg’s net in slow motion — painstakingly slow, like a cocky, yet cautious predator that knows its prey is cornered.J.T. Compher streaked into the offensive zone to Rantanen’s right, turning the attack into a 2-on-1. Rantanen had options. “He’s got such a good release that he beats goalies from all around the ice,” said teammate Bo Byram, who watched the play unfold from behind. “He’s got three or four different releases that he uses.”This type of release isn’t deceptive, though. When the right leg lifts itself off the ice, there’s no hiding Rantanen’s intent. His body is turned away from the open teammate, his weight and power surging entirely into one swift motion of the stick.Byram readied himself to watch his teammate pounce. So did Winnipeg goalie Connor...

Keeler: Kris Bryant’s challenge? Proving his $182 million contract isn’t the worst in Rockies history.

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

Kris Bryant owes Russell Wilson a steak dinner. Or seven.If DangeRuss hadn’t turned into PondeRuss, Bryant would be the most vilified sports figure along the Front Range this side of Kendrick Perkins. Imagine if Wilson had appeared in just five games for the Broncos because of injuries and didn’t throw so much as a single touchdown pass at home.That’s more or less what you got from Bryant, whose 2022 season line included 42 games, 160 at-bats and zero homers at Coors Field — all for an $18 million salary last year and, reportedly, a full no-trade clause.The Rockies were 20-22 when he played. They were The Bad News Bears when he didn’t.One year in, and Bryant’s $182 million contract’s already chasing down Mike Hampton’s $121 million deal in 2000, Ian Desmond’s $70 million in 2016 and Denny Neagle’s $51.5 million in 2000 for the worst big buys in Rockies history.There’s only one way out of this club, baby.And it’s not in the tub.As the less-than-inspiring 2023 narratives on Blake Stre...

CU offensive coordinator Sean Lewis is in hurry to make Buffs football nasty again. “You guys got a really good one.”

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

BOULDER — Sean Lewis likes a good gag. On gameday, though? Not so much.“I’m one of those guys where if you give me one cup of coffee, it’s like two. Give me two cups, it’s like four,” Syracuse football coach Dino Babers, one of the close friends and mentors of the new CU Buffs offensive coordinator, recalled to The =Post by phone late last week.“We had a game and there was no coffee and someone (on the ‘Cuse staff) gave me my first Red Bull. The first half … the interactions (over the headsets) were so electric, and Sean couldn’t understand why, all of a sudden, I’m saying all these extracurricular words and all this other stuff.“Someone told Sean after the game that they had given me some Red Bull. We’re having a staff meeting, and I find out later on that year that he had threatened the entire staff that if anybody gave me Red Bull again that they were going to have to deal with him.”Lewis is 6-foot-7 with a shaved head and a black beard that flows from University Hill to do...

Walters: Newsom shows penchant for shiny new things on tour

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

Newsom displays penchant for shiny new things on California tourBy Dan Walters / CalMattersAs a species, politicians love news conferences and other events that celebrate new programs or public works projects.The syndrome may explain why officials often ignore long-festering problems in existing programs, such as the Employment Development Department and the bullet train project. Simply making things work better doesn’t have the political appeal of something new and shiny.Gov. Gavin Newsom is particularly prone to the affliction, declaring early on his love for “big, hairy audacious goals” and later adding, “I’d rather be accused of (having) those audacious stretch goals than be accused of timidity.”That proclivity led him, as a candidate, to pledge that he would try to solve California’s housing crisis by building 3.5 million new houses and apartments by 2025 and make California the first state to embrace single-payer health care.Later, when both proved to be unattainable, he decla...

Federal aid coming to tornado-wrecked swath of Mississippi

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

President Joe Biden issued an emergency declaration for Mississippi early Sunday, making federal funding available to the areas hardest hit Friday night by a deadly tornado that ripped through the Mississippi Delta, one of the poorest regions of the U.S.At least 25 people were killed and dozens of others were injured in Mississippi as the massive storm ripped through several towns on its hour-long path. One man was killed after his trailer home flipped several times in Alabama.Search and recovery crews on Sunday resumed the daunting task of digging through the debris of flattened and battered homes, commercial buildings and municipal offices after hundreds of people were displaced, even as the National Weather Service warned of a risk of more severe weather Sunday — including high winds, large hail and possible tornadoes — in eastern Louisiana, south central Mississippi and south central Alabama.Following Biden’s declaration, federal funding can be used for recovery efforts in Missi...

Key Bayern players signal concerns as Tuchel takes charge

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Strange, a shock, a sign of how heartless soccer can be.Comments from two key Bayern Munich players hinted at unease in the squad even before new coach Thomas Tuchel takes his first training session. Midfielders Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka voiced concerns Saturday following the sudden firing of Julian Nagelsmann and his replacement with Tuchel, a Champions League winner with Chelsea.“Of course it’s strange,” said Kimmich of the coaching change after captaining Germany to a 2-0 friendly win over Peru, in comments reported by German agency dpa. “At the end of the day that’s how the business is, not much love, not much heart. We have to learn to cope with and live with the decision.” Kimmich later denied he was criticizing Bayern management and said he was describing soccer in general terms, dpa reported. Kimmich had praised Nagelsmann as an “outstanding” coach Friday, hours before his departure was confirmed. His verdict on Tuchel: “I don...

Tax the rich? Chicago mayoral hopefuls debate city budget

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

CHICAGO (AP) — Ken Kunz used to know everyone in the North Side Chicago neighborhood where he’s lived for more than 40 years. But crossing paths with old friends is rare these days because longtime residents have been pushed out by new development and soaring property taxes. When they do meet, the 64-year-old says, they exchange the same greeting: “I’m so glad you’re still here.” Chicago has grown unaffordable for many working- and middle-class people like Kunz who have been “run over by development,” as he put it. That’s why he voted both in the February mayoral election and the upcoming runoff for Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and union organizer who has called for $800 million in new taxes on “the ultrarich.” “It seems like he is at least willing to represent someone who makes as much money as I do,” said Kunz, who operates his own delivery business and manages the property where he lives, which helps make rent manageable. “I just wan...

Teenager Buck scores late to lift Revolution over DC United

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Teenager Noel Buck scored in the 88th minute to rally the New England Revolution to 2-1 victory over DC United on Saturday night.Buck, who is 11 days shy of his 18th birthday, scored unassisted on a deflected corner kick for his second career goal and first this season.DC United took a 1-0 lead into halftime after Christian Benteke took a pass from Ruan and scored in the 45th minute.New England (4-1-0) scored the equalizer when Carles Gil picked up an assist on a goal by Gustavo Bou in the 63rd minute. It was Bou’s 42nd goal in the regular season and playoffs since he debuted for the Revs in 2019 — 11 more than any other player under coach Bruce Arena.The Revolution had a 16-14 advantage in shots, but DC United had a 7-5 edge in shots on goal.Djordje Petrovic had five saves for New England. Tyler Miller finished with three saves for DC United (1-3-1).New England improves to 8-1-0 in its last nine matches against DC United.The Revs return home to play New York...

GOP states press voter photo ID rules, with unclear effects

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 17:58:42 GMT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — As Ohio’s primary approaches, a strict new photo ID requirement is stirring concerns for military veterans and out-of-state college students, in Amish communities and among older voters.Other Republican-led states are moving in the same direction as they respond to conservative voters unsettled by unfounded claims of widespread fraud and persistent conspiracy theories over the accuracy of U.S. elections. Critics characterize such requirements as an overreaction that could end up disenfranchising eligible voters.Ruth Kohake is among those caught up in the confusion over Ohio’s law, which is going into effect this year. The retired nurse from Cincinnati gave up her driver’s license and her car in 2019. Now 82, she thought she might never have to step foot in another state license agency.But Ohio now requires an unexpired photo ID in order for someone vote, and she’ll have to get that at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. ...