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Charlie Stanton: With Jason Benetti gone, the White Sox have lost their best fan

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

When the White Sox hired Tony La Russa, I told myself, “It can’t get worse.” After last year’s 81-win season of lethargy, I told myself, “It can’t get worse.” After last summer’s dysfunction, defined by a literal shooting in the ballpark, the hiring of Chris Getz as general manager and 101 losses, I told myself, “It can’t get worse.”Naive is the word that comes to mind. I yearn for those days.On Thursday, the Sox hit rock bottom. The Detroit Tigers announced they hired Jason Benetti, beloved White Sox TV play-by-play man. After eight wonderful years with the South Siders, Benetti, like many Sox fans, is moving on.The foundation to any sustainable partnership is an ability to recognize when you have a good thing going and then committing to it. For the past eight years, Benetti was the best thing the Sox had going, and he committed deeply to them. Despite the terrible product on the field for six of those years, Benett...

Bruins notebook: Matt Poitras getting an education in the faceoff circle

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

When you’re a 19-year-old kid playing in the National Hockey League like Matt Poitras is, you are going to take your lumps in various aspects of your performance. It is a humbling game.For Poitras, the most glaring part of his big league education has been in the faceoff circle, which is not unexpected. Against the Islanders on Thursday, he won just four of 12 draws and, through 13 games this season, he’s won 44 and dropped 66 for a 40% success. The rookie is the only regular Bruin center under 50%.Those hard knocks are almost a rite of passage for any young centerman, said coach Jim Montgomery.“It’s repetition and learning new tricks,” said Montgomery of Poitras’ path to more success. “When you’re younger, you win a lot of faceoffs on hand-eye coordination because you’re just a better athlete than most people. Then you’re coming in against guys who’ve won faceoffs for a long time and they’re tying up your stick, they’re kn...

Home Showcase: A four-season charmer in Osterville

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

There’s no reason that your Cape home has to be relegated to summer-only duties. Whether it’s snuggling by the family room fireplace or watching the waves crash on nearby Dowses Beach, 8 3rd Avenue in Osterville is ready to be your spring, fall, and winter retreat as well.A meticulously crafted shingle-style residence by Kendall & Welch built in 2002, the property is ensconced amidst expertly placed evergreens and flowering perennials for storybook-like curb appeal. We can only imagine it under a light dusting of snow.With four bedrooms and slightly less than 4,000 square feet, a half-acre lot, and a two-car garage, the home seamlessly combines convenience with luxury, situated near Wianno Golf Course, beaches, and the village’s plentiful dining and shopping.Inside, an open kitchen, family room, and breakfast area create a central hub for daily life. Atrium doors lead to an oversized deck overlooking a peaceful garden and waterfall — an idyllic setting for relaxation or en...

Mass General Brigham will have layoffs if not enough employees take buyouts

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

Mass General Brigham has warned employees that the health care giant will be forced to layoff workers if not enough staff members take buyouts this month.MGB is offering buyouts to the Digital team, which is the technology division of Mass General Brigham. The Digital employees were told about the “voluntary employee separation” program last week, and workers have until Nov. 15 to decide whether they want to take the buyout.Mass General Brigham will layoff employees if MGB falls short of their buyout goals.“In the event we do not reach our Voluntary Employee Separation targets, we will need to make the difficult decision to announce a reduction in force the week of December 4,” reads an internal MGB confidential document obtained by the Herald.The number of buyouts will be capped at 15% of MGB’s Digital employee headcount, and the buyouts are being offered to staff members with a minimum of six months of service with Mass General Brigham.MGB’s buy...

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh banned from final 3 regular-season games over sign-stealing allegations

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

By RALPH D. RUSSO (AP College Football Writer)STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — The Big Ten Conference banned Jim Harbaugh from coaching at Michigan’s three remaining regular-season games on Friday, defying a warning from the second-ranked Wolverines in an extraordinary confrontation over an alleged sign-stealing scheme that has rocked college football. Harbaugh was disciplined by the conference less than 24 hours before the Wolverines play at No. 9 Penn State in their toughest matchup of the season so far. His team (9-0) has a shot to win a third straight Big Ten title and the school’s first national championship since 1997.Michigan’s plane landed in Pennsylvania shortly before the announcement. It issued a statement ridiculing the decision.“Like all members of the Big Ten Conference, we are entitled to a fair, deliberate, and thoughtful process to determine the full set of facts before a judgment is rendered,” the school said. “Today’s actio...

Veterans Day: Honoring those who serve, by the numbers

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

Veterans Day is a time to honor those who fought in the Revolutionary War to the men and women who are serving in the military now.Here’s a look at some facts about Veterans Day:Show Caption of Expand  Famous veteransThere are many famous veterans, but how many were born on Veterans Day? Gen. George S. Patton was, on Nov. 11, 1885, in San Gabriel, California.General George S. Patton (Keystone/Getty Images)Patton’s family was wealthy from his mother’s side and his father was the first district attorney of Pasadena and mayor of San Marino. Patton graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1909.He married the daughter of a wealthy tycoon in 1910 and represented the U.S. in the Olympics in 1912. He competed in the modern pentathlon.Patton saw his first combat in pursuit of Pancho Villa in 1916. The following year, he joined Gen. John J. Pershing in World War I in the fight in France.He became the first officer fo...

A clarification of Nov. 8 and 9 stories about Taylor Swift concerts

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

VANCOUVER — The Canadian Press reported on Nov. 8 and 9 that it was estimated about 30 million people had registered to buy tickets for Taylor Swift’s six concerts next year in Toronto.The stories did not provide sourcing for the estimate, which was by independent music publicist Eric Alper.The Canadian Press

Puerto Rico dentist fatally shot a patient who alleged attacked him at the office, police say

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A surgical dentist in Puerto Rico fatally shot a patient who entered his office Friday and allegedly assaulted the dentist and his secretary, police said.The 41-year-old victim was reportedly upset about recent dental work he had done, a police statement saud.The incident occurred in the north coastal town of Manati, which is west of San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico.No further details were immediately available.Police said the case was under investigation and no charges had been filed.The Associated Press

Alleged impaired driver charged in Mississauga collision that killed pedestrian

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

A 24-year-old man is facing impaired driving charges stemming from a collision that killed a woman and critically injured a man in Mississauga this past summer.Peel Regional Police said on August 25, 2023, two pedestrians were crossing Central Parkway East at Hurontario Street when they were struck by the driver of a white pickup truck. The driver then swerved off the road and crashed into a tree.The two pedestrians, a man and a woman, were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. A 55-year-old woman was pronounced dead a short time later. Police said the man suffered life-altering injuries.The driver of the truck was also rushed to hospital with injuries deemed life-threatening but survived.Police said the driver is alleged to have had a blood alcohol content that was over twice the legal limit and that he was travelling nearly twice the posted speed limit. Images from the scene show a white pickup truck with a badly damaged front end. Police recovered a firearm from the t...

FBI seized phones, iPad from New York Mayor Eric Adams in escalation of fundraising investigation

Published Sun, 22 Dec 2024 21:48:09 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — FBI agents seized phones and an iPad from New York City Mayor Eric Adams this week as part of an investigation into his campaign fundraising, his attorney confirmed Friday.The seizures happened after the mayor attended a public event Monday night, according to a statement from the mayor’s attorney, Boyd Johnson.“On Monday night, the FBI approached the mayor after an event. The Mayor immediately complied with the FBI’s request and provided them with electronic devices,” the statement said. “The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing and continues to cooperate with the investigation.”The seizure of the devices, first reported by The New York Times, came days after federal agents searched the Brooklyn home of Adams’ top campaign fundraiser, Brianna Suggs. That search prompted the mayor to cancel a planned trip to meet with White House officials in Washington and instead return to New York.Adams, a Democrat, said nothing publicly about his phones being seized when ...