MELBOURNE, Australia (AP): Serena Williams put up both hands after sending a forehand long and high over the baseline in the first set. She wanted nothing to do with yet another unforced error in her Australian Open final against Angelique Kerber. For the second time in as many majors, Williams fell short of equalling Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles. No. 7-seeded Kerber had never played in a major final and had lost five of her six previous career meetings with Williams, but she responded with a stunning 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 upset win over the six-time Australian Open champion. Williams had won the title every previous time she’d reached the final at Melbourne Park, and was overwhelming favourite to continue that streak against Kerber, who joked she was “one leg in the plane to Germany” when she faced match point in her first-round win over Misaki Doi. “I mean, every time I walk in this room, everyone expects me to win every single match, every single day of my life,” Williams said in her post-match news conference. “As much as I would like to be a robot, I’m not.” The 28-year-old Kerber used acute angles to keep Williams guessing, tossed in two drop shots for a crucial break in the long sixth game of the third set, and continually tried to pass the 21-time major winner or forced errors at the net. And she had five service breaks — two in the first, and three in third set — against the top-ranked Williams, who hadn’t dropped a set in the previous six rounds. “My whole life I was working really hard and now I’m here and I can say I’m a Grand Slam champion,” said Kerber, who had only reached the semi-finals twice at the majors and hadn’t been beyond the quarterfinals since Wimbledon in 2012. “It sounds really crazy and unbelievable.” She is the first German woman to win the Australian title since Graf in 1994, and is projected to rise to No. 2 in the rankings next week. It took her 33 majors to win the title — sixth on the list for longest waits that is topped by 2015 U.S. Open champion Flavia Pennetta’s 49. Williams admitted previously she became nervous and was stalled for a while trying to get to 18 major titles, to equal Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova’s career marks in second spot in the Open era. For three majors, Williams didn’t reach the quarterfinals, but when she finally won her 18th, it triggered a roll of four straight major titles. Now she’s on 21.
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Gov’t to employ 6,000 displaced by Taal Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Indeed, the Pelicans came up with 12 steals — four by Solomon Hill — and the Clippers finished with 17 turnovers. New Orleans also blocked nine shots, with Hill swatting away two.Tobias Harris scored 26 points and Danilo Gallinari 24 for the Clippers, who were playing their first road game of the season after winning their previous two at home. Lou Williams added 17 points for Los Angeles, which narrowly outshot New Orleans but was done in by 17 turnovers.“We were rushing,” Clippers center Marcin Gortat said. “We were trying to come up with our own stuff. We didn’t really follow the scheme we are supposed to do and that’s what happened. That’s how you turn the ball over and that’s how you lose the game.”TIP-INSClippers: Shot 47.1 percent (41 of 87) but missed 15 of 20 3-point attempts. … Patrick Beverley and Montrezl Harrell each scored 12 points. … Los Angeles reserves combined for 45 points. … Los Angeles made 22 of 27 free throws.ADVERTISEMENT Tim Cone, Ginebra set their sights on elusive All-Filipino crown Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award View comments Allen Durham still determined to help Meralco win 1st PBA title Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil
Japeth Aguilar embraces role, gets rewarded with Finals MVP plum Rondo denies spitting at Paul, says Rockets guard a ‘horrible teammate’ MOST READ Lights inside SMX hall flicker as Duterte rants vs Ayala, Pangilinan anew Clippers: Visit Houston on Friday.Pelicans: Host Brooklyn on Friday.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next LATEST STORIES New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) high-fives guard Elfrid Payton (4) as he walks to the bench with forward Nikola Mirotic (3) during a timeout in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in New Orleans, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. The Pelicans won 116-109. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)NEW ORLEANS— Anthony Davis did exactly what New Orleans has come to expect and Pelicans newcomer Elfrid Payton showed his hometown more of what he has to offer when clutch play is in demand.Davis highlighted a 34-point, 13-rebound, five-block performance with a left-wing 3 with less than two minutes remaining, Payton added a back-breaking 3 in the final minute of his first 20-point performance for the Pelicans, and New Orleans remained unbeaten through three games with a 116-109 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night.ADVERTISEMENT Pelicans: New Orleans scored 27 points in the first quarter and 25 in the fourth, marking the first two times that they failed to score at least 30 in a quarter in their first three games. They scored 32 points in second and third quarters. … Holiday had eight points and nine rebounds. … The Pelicans committed eight turnovers. … New Orleans scored 30 points on the free-throw line but also missed 10 foul shots, with Davis going 10-of-15.TURNING POINTNew Orleans shot just 39.6 percent (19 of 48) in the first half, after which the Clippers led 62-59.But the Pelicans seized control with a 21-4, third-quarter run that began with E’Twaun Moore’s 3, which tied the game at 66. Moore, who had 14 points, added another 3 and Davis also hit from deep during the decisive surge. Mirotic, Payton and Jrue Holiday also chipped in with points during the run that gave the Pelicans a 13-point lead.The Clippers never trimmed their deficit below five points after that.“In the third quarter, we came out flat,” Rivers said. “Give them credit. They played with a lot of force and pace. I thought overall, defensively, we were pretty good. There was one quarter that I thought really hurt us — the third.”LETTING IT FLYPayton had not even attempted a 3 before he sank his only attempt from deep to make it a 113-104 game with 52 seconds left.“He shot with confidence,” Davis said. “He’s practicing every day, coming in early and working on his 3-ball, staying after practice, so why not shoot it. And it was a big one for us.”UP NEXT “This was our best win,” of the three to start the season, Payton said. “We fought adversity and found a way to win. It felt good just to close out the game.”After routing its first two opponents, New Orleans won for the first time when Nikola Mirotic struggled from 3-point range. He was 0-for-6 from deep, but still managed to score 18 points and grab 12 rebounds. Julius Randle added 18 points before fouling out with 2:17 to go.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGinebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup titleSPORTSJapeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for GinebraSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back Chriss“It was the first time we had to be in a dogfight in the fourth quarter,” Davis said. “The guys handled it well.“We know that it’s not going to fall as much as we like every night,” Davis added, referring to New Orleans making just six of 24 3-point shots. “But during the game where you have to go and rely on defense, we were able to do that.”
View comments Nadine Lustre’s phone stolen in Brazil Rogue cops marked as Gamboa’s targets in his appointment as PNP chief Wright couldn’t help but feel for how such a call nearly decided the outcome of the game.“It was ugly. I honestly felt we deserved to lose that game,” he said. “I didn’t see a foul when Sean Anthony hit the shot. I guess when they called a foul on me, that was a makeup call.“But I feel like it was a very strange game, very inconsistent but someone had to win and I’m just happy that we were luck enough to win this game even without Stanley (Pringle) playing,” he added.Both Wright and Anthony felt that their respective teams could’ve made more effort to carve out a convincing win.“Highly disappointing but put that aside,” We had chances to pull away,” Anthony closed.Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next PBA: Phoenix leans on defense anew to turn back North Port Tom Brady most dominant player in AFC championship history LATEST STORIES READ: PBA: Phoenix leans on defense anew to turn back NorthPort“Last one minute then you call offensive foul? And in the video, it’s so clear that there was none.”An offensive foul was called on Sen Anthony just as he was landing from his jump shot that would’ve put NorthPort ahead by three with 47 seconds left. Phoenix’s Justin Chua was apparently hit by Anthony’s hand.In the next sequence, FuelMasters gunslinger Matthew Wright was called for a charge for pulling Ryan Araña’s jersey on his way to the basket. The latter fouled Jason Perkins in the next possession which led to two made shots from the charity stripe enough for the Phoenix victory.“It’s a lose-lose situation so I’d rather not comment on it. I’m trusting the PBA office to look into it. I got to reserve my comment because nothing I can say can change anything and I don’t want to get in trouble,” Anthony told the press.ADVERTISEMENT Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Japeth Aguilar wins 1st PBA Finals MVP award for Ginebra Will you be the first P16 Billion Powerball jackpot winner from the Philippines? Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard PLAY LIST 02:14Carpio hits red carpet treatment for China Coast Guard02:56NCRPO pledges to donate P3.5 million to victims of Taal eruption00:56Heavy rain brings some relief in Australia02:37Calm moments allow Taal folks some respite03:23Negosyo sa Tagaytay City, bagsak sa pag-aalboroto ng Bulkang Taal01:13Christian Standhardinger wins PBA Best Player award MOST READ Sean Anthony was whistled for an offensive foul in this three-point shot that could give Northport the lead with 47.8 seconds remaining in the game. What do you think of this call? #PBAonESPN5 #PBALabanKungLaban pic.twitter.com/MYVEwxlwaY— ESPN5 (@Sports5PH) February 27, 2019Passionate during post-game chats, NorthPort coach Pido Jarencio painted a stark contrast of who he usually is on Wednesday night.FEATURED STORIESSPORTSGolden State Warriors sign Lee to multiyear contract, bring back ChrissSPORTSCoronation night?SPORTSThirdy Ravena gets offers from Asia, Australian ball clubsSpeaking to reporters on his way out of the Big Dome, the Batang Pier mentor unloaded a couple of terse lines after his team narrowly lost to the Phoenix Pulse, 96-98, in the resumption of the PBA Philippine Cup action.ADVERTISEMENT Gretchen Barretto’s daughter Dominique graduates magna cum laude from California college Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title “Referees don’t decide the game,” he said. “Let the players win the game and lose the game.” Ginebra beats Meralco again to capture PBA Governors’ Cup title Eugenie Bouchard’s bid for Australian Open spot ends in qualifying
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160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! WASHINGTON — A bill by Rep. Brad Sherman to ensure that a proposed San Fernando Valley facility for homeless veterans treats only former military personnel is drawing concern from local activists and developers. The bill would force the Department of Veterans Affairs to toss a pending contract with a Los Angeles nonprofit agency and open bidding for the housing and rehabilitation facility at the Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills. Sherman and neighborhood activists say the move is needed because they worry that the program under the New Directions nonprofit will allow nonveteran homeless people access to the center. But with VA Secretary Jim Nicholson set to sign a 75-year lease with New Directions as early as Monday, organizers said Sherman’s bill threatens to block help for more than 24,000 homeless and disabled former service members in Los Angeles. “We’ve really been broadsided,” said Toni Reinis, executive director of New Directions. “Why (Sherman) doesn’t want housing for the most disabled veterans who are in critical need of housing is beyond my imagination.” Sherman’s measure — the Homeless Veterans Housing at Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center Promotion Act — passed the House Veterans Affairs Committee unanimously by voice vote. It now could head to the House floor, but it remains unclear how much support it will get. Rep. Howard Berman, D-Van Nuys, whose district once included the center, remained noncommittal about the bill’s passage. He has not co-sponsored the measure and neither of California’s senators has introduced an identical measure, which Sherman would need to move the bill into law. At issue is the future of the 147-unit VA Sepulveda center and how it is used. Sherman, City Councilman Greig Smith and community activists contend that original plans promised that only veterans would be treated on the sober-living campus. They say New Directions switched gears, however, when it accepted federal housing authority funding that now prevents the group from barring nonvets and also from restricting alcohol. Sherman said he believes a new bidding process is the only answer. New Directions’ contract was not competitively bid. “If the VA opens this up to bidding,” he said, “they will get a much better project.” The VA did not return phone calls seeking comment. U.S. Vets, a Los Angeles group that has been cited as a possible alternative to run the VA home, also did not return a request for comment. Officials with New Directions said they have been horrified by the lawmaker’s depiction of their organization. Earlier this year, Sherman painted the possibility of “keggers on a Saturday afternoon” at the facility, and more recently alleged that New Directions “proposes to allow free use of alcohol.” Reinis and Dora Leong Gallo, director of the development group Community of Friends, which has partnered with New Directions to build the facility, said the groups are just following the laws that come with the use of federal funds. While fair housing laws don’t permit the group to restrict the facility to veterans, it will be “veterans preference.” With only 147 units and thousands of homeless veterans in the region, Reinis said she doesn’t understand concern that the program will be opened to the general public. “The line will be from Sepulveda over the hill to West L.A. waiting for housing,” she said. “We have been in business for 15 years and 100 percent of the people we serve are veterans.” Sherman and Smith said they have been most troubled bget those terms in writing. — Lisa Friedman, (202) 662-8731lisa.friedman@langnews.com
Kevin Cassidy has heaped praise on Jim McGuinness for producing a game-plan that stifled the Dubs.Former County player Kevin Cassidy whose inter-county career ended prematurely after falling out with Jim McGuinness, has heaped praise on his former manager.Cassidy was full of praise for Donegal and especially McGuinness for executing a game plan which derailed the Dublin juggernaut.Cassidy was axed by McGuinness for his contribution in the book ‘This Is Our Year’ by Declan Bogue. Cassidy had breached the disciplinary regulations within the squad and was subsequently dismissed from the panel.He then famously missed out on Donegal’s famous All-Ireland win over Mayo in 2012.Since then they’ve enjoyed an uneasy relationship, but in his column for Gaelic Life Cassidy was full of praise for McGuinness.Cassidy penned, “Last Sunday belonged to Donegal and massive credit must go to the players and especially the manager Jim McGuinness. “Credit to Jim and his players they headed back to the training field and hatched a plan to scupper the Dubs and by god didn’t it go to plan.“When breaking both teams down and going through possible match ups everything swung towards the Dubs.“When you look back now and take off the Dublin-tinted glasses that we were all wearing in the lead up to this game Jim McGuinness would have been planning to play a team that do exactly what he wants them to do.“It was a fantastic performance from all of the Donegal players, and it was a great day for all Donegal supporters. CASSIDY – “MCGUINNESS DESERVES GREAT CREDIT” was last modified: September 9th, 2014 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:columndonegalgaelic lifeJim McGuinnessKevin CassidynewsPraiseSport
Live on talksport Murder, match fixing and pregnant players at Argentina 1978 Argentina players pile onto golf buggy driven by Angel Di Maria The Argentina World Cup winning manager, former footballer and gynaecologist The team, finalists in 2014, begin their tournament against Iceland 7 Eduardo Salvio and Lucas Biglia watch as Di Maria and Paulo Dybala fight for the ball 7 They may not be talked about as potential winners in the same way Brazil, France and Germany are, but just look at the strength in this Argentina attack.The players prepared for their opening game against Iceland by hopping into a golf buggy and driven to training by Angel Di Maria.Getting a lift were Lionel Messi, Cristian Ansaldi, Eduardo Salvio, Gabriel Mercado, Javier Mascherano and Paulo Dybala. Diego Maradona: Hero, villain and inspirational captain Argentina reached the World Cup final in 2014, but were in danger of missing out until a Lionel Messi hat-trick ensured they came from behind to beat Ecuador 3-1 and avoid missing a World Cup finals for the first time since 1970.The began the day sixth in the group and needed a top-four place to qualify automatically.“Luckily the nationality of the best player in the world is Argentinian,” said coach Jorge Sampaoli at the time.Sampaoli has such a good attack at his disposal that he could leave Mauro Icardi, Inter’s goal machine, out of the squad. You can do that when you have Messi, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Dybala. Argentina v Iceland: Preview, team news, kick-off time and commentary Comparing Liverpool’s Salah with Ronaldo and Messi at 26 Messi is Argentina’s top scoring player 7
This team is so good Mauro Icardi couldn’t even get in Argentina World Cup team guide – fixtures, kits, key player, probable line-up WORLD CUP ARCHIVE 7 Group D 7 The smile on Messi’s face says how much fun they’re having WORLD CUP ICON 7 HAPPY BIRTHDAY Argentina at the World Cup Argentina reached the final in 2014, but were in danger of missing out on this one 7
A DRINK-driving teenager has apologised to a judge for leading Gardaí on a chase through the Donegal countryside and told him: “I haven’t touched a drink since.”Ryan Ivers, who is 19 and from Dunaff, Clonmany, admitted he was drunk when he got into his car on December 21 last year.Inspector David Murphy told Judge Paul Kelly that Gardai had to stop a pursuit of Ivers because he was driving so fast and so dangerously. “He was driving on the wrong side of the road and Gardai decided to end the pursuit fearing a serious road traffic collision,” he said.After a mile, Ivers crashed his car at Tir na League and Gardaí arrested him. He later had a recording of 66 for alcohol, more than twice the legal limit.Mr Ivers, from Dunaff, Clonmany, represented himself in court.He told Judge Paul Kelly: “I haven’t drunk alcohol since.”He was also charged with having no insurance and no driving licence.“You could have killed somebody including yourself,” Judge Kelly told him.“What where you doing driving like this?” asked the judge.Ivers replied: “I just panicked.”Judge Kelly told the teenager: “You’re lucky to be alive. You have very little insight into the consequences of driving like this. You are facing three serious charges, drink driving, driving dangerously and having no insurance. All three carry prison sentences.”Ivers said he was “very very sorry” for his actions.Judge Kelly adjourned sentence until January and ordered Ivers to attend the pro-social drivers course, where he will meet relatives of people killed in road traffic collisions.DRINK DRIVER TOLD HE WAS ‘LUCKY YOU DIDN’T KILL SOMEBODY’ DURING GARDA CHASE was last modified: October 26th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:clonmanydangerous drivingdrink drivingDunaff
INSPECTORS investigating social welfare fraud have raided a controversial beach resort in County Donegal.The development at Aghadachor beach in Carrigart has angered many local people amid allegations of council planning breaches.Campaigners are now asking Failte Ireland to withdraw funding to the development at Cuan Na Ri. And the developers – after several public denials – have now confirmed they are providing private access to the public beach there.“Obviously as this is public money and with the current economic climate in Ireland it is important that the public purse is only open to appropriate projects.” said campaigner Frances McCarry in a letter to the head of Failte Ireland today.She said there were six Enforcement Notices served against T&G Properties in connection with this development.“One is for an unauthorised Basement within the Beach Activity Centre and another is for the installation of a Geo-Tube (anti erosion device) for which there was no planning permission whatsoever, the others are in connection with unpaid Council fees, landscaping issues etc,” she said. “There is environmental damage within the SAC due to works which have been carried out.”As part of a cross-Border crackdown on dole fraud Department of Social Welfare Inspectors also raided the site in conjunction with authorities from the North.A number of alleged offences have been detected.Said Frances: “There still remains the issue of T&G Properties closing off the Aghadachor Road in an attempt to privatise our beach.She added in her letter: “They are advertising their development as having private access to the “inner beach and Tra Mor Beach”. The road in question does not solely belong to T&G Properties but ownership is shared with other land/property owners in the area. “Now I know you say the road issue is of no interest to Failte Ireland but when you are handing out public money to a development which is not in harmony with the local community then in deed I think this is an issue which should be of interest to you.”SOCIAL WELFARE INSPECTORS RAID CO DONEGAL BEACH RESORT SITE was last modified: February 6th, 2014 by John2Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:beachCarrigartdole inspectorsprivateresort
SANTA CLARA — Levine Toilolo, a Stanford product with ties to Kyle Shanahan, is joining the 49ers tight end competition.Toilolo signed with the 49ers on Wednesday morning. He played with the Atlanta Falcons when Shanahan was their offensive coordinator from 2016-17, and he started in their 2016 season’s Super Bowl loss.Stanford’s Levine Toilolo goes for a first down on a pass play in the third quarter at Stanford University in Stanford, California on Saturday, November 12, 2011. The Oregon …