COLLEGE BASKETBALL MILITARY FACES No. 6 Dayton flying high Ex-soldier sentenced Adam Pally relishes with its best season in case involving wife’s role in new Fran in a half-century death, love triangle Drescher sitcom Back page Page 5 Page 14
Air Force issues new standards for beards, turbans and hijabs » Page 3
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Volume 78, No. 213 ©SS 2020 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 50¢/Free to Deployed Areas
Shrinking footprint Defense Department seeks lowest funding for Afghan War in a decade
BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN The Defense Department asked Con- [American] forces,” the request said. gress in a funding request Monday for Afghan and U.S. Army soldiers Stars and Stripes American officials, including Defense $14 billion to support its Afghan mis- prepare for extraction following Secretary Mark Esper, have suggested KABUL, Afghanistan — The U.S. sions during the next fiscal year. The a meeting with local Afghan the number of U.S. troops in Afghani- military is planning to spend less on the amount requested is $3 billion less than leaders last month. A draft stan could be reduced to 8,600 from the war in Afghanistan than at any other was allocated for the current fiscal year Defense Department budget current total of around 13,000, regard- time in over a decade, partly because and $100 billion less than the amount assumes a drawdown of less of the outcome of ongoing peace of an expected drawdown of American provided in 2011 when the war in Af- American forces in Afghanistan. talks with the Taliban. forces from the country, a draft Defense ghanistan was at its peak. NICHOLAS BROWN-BELL/U.S. Army Department budget shows. “The budget assumes a drawdown of SEE FOOTPRINT ON PAGE 8
DOD proposes stripping Stars and Stripes’ funding in 2021 budget request
BY COREY DICKSTEIN nior defense official said. troller. That review sought to find Monday at the Pentagon during AND NIKKI WENTLING The proposed cuts to the edito- funding that could be moved from a briefing to discuss the Defense Stars and Stripes rially independent news organiza- non-military applications into Department’s fiscal year 2021 tion, which is partially funded by warfighting coffers. budget proposal. WASHINGTON — The Penta- the Pentagon, were a product of “We have essentially decided Stars and Stripes’ ombuds- gon has proposed a cut to funding Breaking down the the recent defense-wide review coming into the modern age that man, Ernie Gates, on Twitter de- for Stars and Stripes as part of its ordered by Defense Secretary newspaper is probably not the fended the mission of the media budget by branch $705.4 billion budget request sub- Mark Esper, said Elaine McCusk- best way we communicate any mitted Monday to Congress, a se- er, the Pentagon’s acting comp- longer,” McCusker told reporters SEE FUNDING ON PAGE 8 Pages 6-8 PAGE 2 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 BUSINESS/WEATHER EXCHANGE RATES US revokes subsidy preference for some nations Military rates Switzerland (Franc) ...... 0.9775 Euro costs (Feb. 12) ...... $1.1199 Thailand (Baht) ...... 31.23 Dollar buys (Feb. 12) ...... €0.8929 Turkey (New Lira) ...... 6.0117 British pound (Feb. 12) ...... $1.33 (Military exchange rates are those Bloomberg industries with unfairly subsi- Ukraine; and Vietnam. Japanese yen (Feb. 12) ...... 107.00 available to customers at military banking dized exports, according to a U.S. The development marks a note- South Korean won (Feb. 12) ...... 1,153.00 facilities in the country of issuance The Trump administration Commercial rates for Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Trade Representative notice. worthy departure from two de- Bahrain (Dinar) ...... 0.3770 Netherlands and the United Kingdom. For is changing a key exemption to In doing so, the U.S. elimi- cades of American trade policy British pound ...... $1.2966 nonlocal currency exchange rates (i.e., America’s trade-remedy laws to Canada (Dollar) ...... 1.3285 purchasing British pounds in Germany), nated its special preferences for regarding developing nations that China (Yuan) ...... 6.9632 check with your local military banking make it easier to penalize about Denmark (Krone) ...... 6.8423 facility. Commercial rates are interbank a list of self-declared developing could result in more stringent rates provided for reference when buying two dozen so-called developing countries that includes: Albania; penalties for some of the world’s Egypt (Pound)...... 15.6937 currency. All figures are foreign currencies countries including China, India Euro ...... $1.0920/.9157 to one dollar, except for the British pound, Argentina; Armenia; Brazil; Bul- top exporters. Hong Kong (Dollar) ...... 7.7658 which is represented in dollars-to-pound, and South Africa. Hungary (Forint) ...... 309.69 and the euro, which is dollars-to-euro.) garia; China; Colombia; Costa The move also reflects Presi- Israel (Shekel) ...... 3.4092 The U.S. on Monday narrowed Rica; Georgia; Hong Kong; India; dent Donald Trump’s frustration Japan (Yen)...... 109.81 its internal list of developing and Indonesia; Kazakhstan; the Kyr- that large economies like China Kuwait (Dinar) ...... 0.3048 INTEREST RATES Norway (Krone) ...... 9.2451 least-developed countries in order gyz Republic; Malaysia; Moldova; and India are permitted to re- Philippines (Peso) ...... 50.52 Prime rate ...... 4.75 to reduce the threshold for trig- Montenegro; North Macedonia; ceive preferential trade benefits Poland (Zloty) ...... 3.89 Discount rate ...... 2.25 Saudi Arabia (Riyal) ...... 3.7508 Federal funds market rate ...... 1.58 gering a U.S. investigation into Romania; Singapore; South Af- as developing nations at the World Singapore (Dollar)...... 1.3862 3-month bill ...... 1.55 whether nations are harming U.S. rica; South Korea; Thailand; Trade Organization. South Korea (Won) ...... 1,181.96 30-year bond ...... 2.02 WEATHER OUTLOOK WEDNESDAY IN THE MIDDLE EAST WEDNESDAY IN EUROPE THURSDAY IN THE PACIFIC
Misawa 43/36 Kabul 39/34 Seoul 45/38 Baghdad 48/26 Kandahar 54/50 Osan Tokyo Mildenhall/ Drawsko 55/39 57/53 Lakenheath Pomorskie Busan 45/37 38/34 52/44 Iwakuni 56/52 Kuwait Bahrain Zagan Sasebo City 56/52 Brussels 40/35 Guam 49/36 46/37 Ramstein 57/53 81/77 Lajes, 39/35 Riyadh Doha Azores Stuttgart Pápa 55/34 56/50 63/59 39/35 46/34 Aviano/ Vicenza 47/32
Naples 58/51 Okinawa Morón 73/69 62/53 Sigonella Rota 65/46 The weather is provided by the Djibouti Souda Bay American Forces Network Weather Center, 80/76 60/44 62/55 2nd Weather Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.
T O D A Y IN STRIPES Classified ...... 13 Comics ...... 15 Crossword ...... 15 Faces ...... 14 Opinion ...... 16 Sports ...... 17-24 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 3 MILITARY Air Force issues new grooming standards
BY CHAD GARLAND similar accommodation was later Stars and Stripes extended to Norse pagan service members. Airmen will be allowed to wear A Muslim airman was first al- up to a 2-inch beard under a new lowed to wear a beard in 2018. Air Force guidance that outlines The following year, a Sikh and at grooming standards for religious least two Norse heathen airmen accommodations. were granted beard accommo- The updated grooming policy, dations, according to a review of published Friday, also allows media reports. members of the Sikh faith to wear The new guidance does not turbans and Muslim women to limit how long a religiously ac- wear hijabs. commodated beard can be but Airmen must have a religious states that it must be rolled or tied U.S. AIR FORCE or medical exemption to grow a so that it does not extend more The U.S. Air Force has published new guidance for religious accommodations that allow airmen to wear beard, the policy says. than two inches below the chin. beards, turbans and hijabs. The guidance for beards grown A connected mustache must not under a shaving waiver remains extend past the line of the upper may need to be made of fire-re- had to certify it was part of a doc- man is assigned to hazardous unchanged: such whiskers must lip, the guidance says. sistant material. Turbans may be trinal or traditional observance. duty or environments, such as not be trimmed to give a sculpted Turbans, under-turbans and hi- worn in place of traditional mili- Requests for beard, turban or where chemical weapons threats appearance and cannot exceed jabs must be made of a “subdued tary headgear. hijab waivers should be approved exist. a quarter-inch in length, the up- material in a color that closely Wing commanders or the unless they involve a “compelling Commands may also demand dated policy states. resembles the assigned uniform,” equivalent, colonel and above, government interest,” such as an immediate shave or removal The Air Force is following the it states. Designs other than a may grant waivers for the sacred safety, or would negatively affect of headgear to ensure a proper lead of the Army, which in 2017 camouflage pattern matching the scruff or holy headgear after a military readiness, unit cohesion, gas mask fit in the event of an at- became the first service to allow uniform are prohibited. The head chaplain has interviewed the standards or discipline, the regu- tack, say sample approval memos Muslim and Sikh soldiers to wear coverings must be worn in a neat applicant to ensure a request is lation states. head coverings and beards in and conservative manner and, based on sincerely held religious Accommodations may be sus- included with the new regulation. line with their religious beliefs. A when directed by a commander, convictions. In the past, chaplains pended or withdrawn if an air- [email protected] More troops suffered brain injuries in missile strike
BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY in Iraq. One was transported to jured troops has continued to Alyssa Farah, the Pentagon press of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Stars And Stripes Germany but also has returned grow in the weeks after the attack secretary, said in a prepared state- Guard Corps, was responsible for to duty in Iraq. due to the nature of traumatic ment. “We are grateful to the ef- the deaths of American service WASHINGTON — An addi- There have been 27 service brain injuries, where symptoms forts of our medical professionals members in Iraq and throughout tional 45 service members have members who have been trans- can manifest or worsen over who have worked diligently to en- the Middle East. been diagnosed with traumatic ported to Germany for evaluation days and weeks. The Pentagon’s sure the appropriate level of care Pentagon spokesman Jonathan brain injuries stemming from the Hoffman said Feb. 3 that the in- Iranian missile attack Jan. 8 on al and treatment, six more than the statement Monday said that the for our service members, which Asad Air Base in Iraq, the Penta- previous report. Of those troops, numbers can still change and the has enabled nearly 70% of those dividual military services de- gon announced. 21 service members were sent to announcement is just a “snapshot diagnosed to return to duty. We termine the criteria for whether As of Monday, 109 U.S. troops the United States and five are still in time. must continue to address physical to recommend an individual for have been diagnosed with mild in Germany being evaluated. “The Defense Department is and mental health together.” a Purple Heart medal, which is cases of TBI. Seven service members are en steadfast in its efforts to deliver Last month’s attack came after given to troops who are injured The Pentagon said that 76 ser- route from Iraq to Germany, ac- programs and services intended the U.S. assassination of Gen. Qas- by an enemy. vice members have returned to cording to the Pentagon. to lead to the best possible out- sem Soleimani on Jan. 3 in a drone [email protected] duty, 75 of whom were treated The reported number of in- comes for our service members,” strike. Soleimani, the commander Twitter: @caitlinmkenney Troops killed in Afghanistan recalled as patriots with calling to serve
BY PHILLIP WALTER WELLMAN in an apparent insider attack in radiated on those around him.” Stars and Stripes Nangarhar province Saturday. Like Gutierrez, Rodriguez en- The younger Gutierrez fol- listed in the Army after graduat- Two U.S. special operations lowed in the footsteps of his fa- ing from high school. After initial soldiers killed in combat in Af- ther, a Marine veteran of the Gulf training and selection, he was as- ghanistan last week were remem- War, and his great grandfather, signed to 3rd Ranger Battalion, bered by relatives and friends as an Army Air Forces bombardier 75th Ranger Regiment. In 2018, patriots with a calling to serve during World War II. Gutierrez he voluntarily reclassified as a the United States. enlisted in the Army immediately cryptologic Spanish linguist. Sgt. 1st Class Javier J. Gutier- after graduating from high school He deployed to Afghanistan rez came from a family of service in San Antonio, Texas. 10 times in support of Operation members and was “very, very “He just had that calling in Freedom’s Sentinel — eight times patriotic,” said his father, also him,” his father told the San An- with the 75th Ranger Regiment named Javier. tonio Express-News. “I guess like and twice with 3rd Battalion, 7th Sgt. 1st Class Antonio R. Rodri- that video game, Call of Duty, to Special Forces Group (Airborne). guez “always put his men before serve the country.” An Afghan soldier was also himself,” said Cody Hunn, who A Special Forces communica- killed, and six other American organized a fundraiser to support tions sergeant, the younger Guti- EVAN VUCCI/AP service members and three Af- the slain soldier’s family. errez deployed twice during his ghan soldiers were wounded Both 28, the two men had career, once to Iraq and once to President Donald Trump watches as an Army carry team moves when a man dressed in Afghan served in elite units — Gutierrez Afghanistan. a transfer case containing the remains of Sgt. 1st Class Antonio military attire opened fire on the in the Green Berets and Rodri- The Green Beret leaves behind Rodriguez on Monday at Dover Air Force Base, Del. U.S. and Afghan troops after a guez in the 75th Ranger Regiment a wife, Gabriela, and four chil- meeting with local leaders. and then a special operations sig- dren. A GoFundMe campaign set A GoFundMe campaign to sup- raising page states. President Donald Trump and nals intelligence team supporting up to support his family described port Rodriguez’s family has also “Rod took care of all of us, and Vice President Mike Pence at- Special Forces. Gutierrez as “a stand-up brother, surpassed its goal of $25,000. now it’s time to take care of those tended a transfer ceremony of the They were assigned to 3rd Bat- soldier, Green Beret, husband and The Las Cruces, N.M., native he loved in his absence,” Hunn, two soldiers’ remains at Dover talion, 7th Special Forces Group dad.” It took only one day for the is survived by his wife, Ronaleen the page’s organizer wrote. “Rod Air Force Base, Del., on Monday. (Airborne) out of Eglin Air Force GoFundMe campaign to collect Rodriguez, his parents and his was a familiar face, both in and [email protected] Base, Fla., when they were killed more than its goal of $50,000. brother Christopher, the fund- out of the U.S., whose personality Twitter: @pwwellman PAGE 4 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 PACIFIC Marines flex their amphibious muscles with Day of firsts Japanese troops during Okinawa beach raid
BY MATTHEW M. BURKE Stars and Stripes KIN, Okinawa — A new Japan Ground Self-Defense Force unit joined with the outfit it most re- sembles, the U.S. Marines, for a series of firsts during a recent exercise on Okinawa. The JGSDF Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade and a land- ing team from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit hit the beach Sunday to simulate battle with an enemy force. The units deployed together from the America Ex- peditionary Strike Group for the first time. The Marines notched another first by deploying an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Sys- tem, or HIMARS, to the beach using a landing craft air cushion and simulating a rocket launch. They are the first Marine expe- ditionary unit to have an attached HIMARS platoon. The exercise, which began Jan. 25 and ends Thursday, is designed to strengthen the allies’ amphibi- ous capabilities, especially small- boat operations, officials from both militaries said. Sunday’s drill featured about 150 Marines and 60 Japanese troops. “This is a great day,” 31st MEU PHOTOS BY MATT BURKE/Stars and Stripes commander Col. Robert Brodie said at the conclusion of the simu- U.S. Marines come ashore with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force’s new amphibious brigade in Kin, Okinawa, on Sunday. lated raid. The exercise also demonstrat- ed how the Navy, in this case Amphibious Squadron 11 under Capt. Richard Lebron from Sase- bo Naval Base, the Marine Corps and the JGSDF brigade could work together in a crisis response, Brodie said. Japan launched the amphibious brigade — modeled after the U.S. Marine Corps — in 2018 as a force to retake island territory should it fall to another power. China, for example, disputes Japan’s claim over the small, isolated Senkaku Islands. The brigade is based at Camp Ainoura, northwest of Sasebo in Nagasaki prefecture. A member of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit serves as security. The event began Sunday after- noon as 11 black specks on calm Bay and unloaded the HIMARS, between Japan and U.S. person- A U.S. Marine, left, and a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldier seas off Kin materialized into which simulated a rocket launch nel on the unit level,” a JGSDF guard an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. rubber combat-raid boats from as the Marines and Japanese statement said. It also stated the dock landing ship USS Ger- soldiers fanned out to set up a se- that the exercise would improve mantown. The boats carried Ma- curity perimeter. In no time, the Japanese helicopter pilot skills rines from Company C, Battalion units then receded back into the through deck landing practice. Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th sea. “This is the first time such am- Marines and Japanese soldiers of “We’ve been working together phibious training was conducted the amphibious brigade. for the past two weeks now build- on Okinawa,” a JGSDF spokes- They landed and linked up with ing up to this point, doing prac- man in Tokyo said Monday. Some Marines already hiding on the tices on the ship, on the shore, government officials in Japan beach. Some buried their flippers out on the water,” said Marine customarily speak on condition of and camouflaged themselves boat company commander Capt. anonymity. “This is not an annual with sand. Others, in ghillie suits Philip Hanf. “It all came together exercise.” typically worn by snipers, took today. Overall, it’s been a very The Okinawa exercise over- positions behind a seawall. beneficial and extremely good lapped with another in Southern The simulated enemy — U.S. experience.” California, Iron Fist, also for the Marines in lighter camouflage Platoon commander 1st Lt. first time involving the JGSDF — waited just inland from the Peter Barber agreed. rapid deployment brigade, at beach. “My guys have gained a lot Camp Pendleton. That 5-week ex- The assaulting Marines and from working with them,” he said ercise wraps Feb. 21 and includes their Japanese counterparts, of the JGSDF. “It’s been inter- a range of activities, from marks- covered in sand and saltwater, esting to see best practices and manship drills to assault training, charged inland, maneuvering how the Japanese operate and logistics and fire support, ac- through smoke, around obstacles some of the similarities and some cording to a Marine Corps news and firing blank rounds at their differences.” release. enemy. The exercise was intended to Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Meanwhile, the hovercraft “improve tactics and combat ca- Kusumoto contributed to this report. came ashore from the amphibi- pabilities” of personnel involved [email protected] A member of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is camouflaged ous transport dock USS Green and to “strengthen cooperation Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 with sand during the exercise. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 5 MILITARY Ex-Army medic sentenced in wife’s death SEAL team member Walker receives 35 years in convicted in prison in case involving porn, sexting case
sex charges and love triangle Associated Press BY JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER NORFOLK, Va. — A member of Associated Press the Navy’s elite SEAL Team 6 was convicted of indecent conduct in a HONOLULU — A former Army medic sta- case in which he was accused of tioned in Hawaii was sentenced Monday to impersonating someone and solic- 35 years in prison for the 2014 stabbing of his iting nude photos of women. wife in a case involving porn, sex charges and Petty Officer 1st Class Aaron a love triangle. Howard was sentenced Friday to proofed - but do Michael Walker, 40, pleaded guilty to sec- spend 30 days in a military prison, ond-degree murder in September, about a forfeit $500 of his pay for three week before his trial was scheduled to begin. months and take a reduction in He said he arranged for the woman with rank to petty officer second class, whom he was having an affair to kill his wife, according to a statement from Catherine Walker, while he was working in Navy Region Mid-Atlantic ob- not release the emergency room at Tripler Army Medical tained by The Virginian-Pilot. Center in Honolulu. Howard was originally charged Ailsa Jackson, who committed the killing, with receiving nude photographs, was sentenced to 30 years in prison Monday. Facebook but those charges were dismissed, In 2015, Jackson pleaded guilty to murder, the newspaper reported. describing how she stabbed Catherine Walker Catherine Walker was found stabbed to death in November 2014 in the military housing she Howard was accused of using and then waited a half-hour to make sure she shared with her husband, Pvt. Michael Walker, in Honolulu. a text messaging app to create was dead. a fake phone number and send Jackson, 29, avoided a mandatory life sen- that you were in control. That she did what she Michael Walker texted, “good,” that would messages to women, prosecutors tence by helping prosecutors win an indict- did because you wanted her to. And you knew mean use the window and “bad” would mean alleged during a court-martial at ment against Walker, including providing she had mental health problems.” the key. Naval Station Norfolk. In at least information about their coded messages After meeting through an online dating Walker texted “bad,” Brady said, and at one case, prosecutors added that to each other, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom site in September 2014, Michael Walker told about midnight, Jackson walked to the Walk- Howard pretended to be a female Brady said Monday. Jackson he was married and that his “deep- ers’ house at Aliamanu Military Reservation dietitian hired by Naval Special “Our goal from the very beginning was to est desire” was to have his wife gone, but he and found the key, Brady said. Warfare Development Group in hold everyone responsible for Catherine’s couldn’t divorce her, prosecutors have said. Jackson said in court previously she “went order to get women to send naked death accountable,” Brady said. Walker told Jackson he couldn’t simply di- inside and grabbed a knife and went upstairs pictures. Catherine Walker’s father, Douglas Plotz, vorce his wife because of financial concerns and stabbed her.” Howard’s attorney has said the said his family supports a lower sentence. and stood to receive $400,000 in life insur- Walker apologized to his wife’s family Mon- only thing linking his client to the “We wholeheartedly forgive her,” he said. “I ance, Brady said. day. “I love Cathy very much and I would do messages is that whoever sent want Ms. Jackson to know that.” They plotted the killing in emails, in person anything if it could bring her back,” he said. them said they were stationed in Under a deal with prosecutors, Michael and in text messages where they called each San Diego and liked to work out Walker faced 24 to 30 years in prison. But U.S. other “daddycakes” and “babygirl,” accord- In 2016, a military court found Walker guilty of child pornography charges that sur- with kettle bells. He said that could District Judge Susan Oki Mollway said she ing to Walker’s plea agreement. apply to any number of SEALs. sentenced Walker to a longer term because he On Nov. 14, 2014, they met in a military faced during the murder investigation. orchestrated the killing. Mollway, who agreed reservation’s gym parking lot, where Jack- In 2017, Walker was convicted of sexually to sentence Jackson to a range of 30 to 33 son said she would kill Catherine Walker that abusing a child, physically assaulting a child, years, said she wanted to make sure Walker’s night, Brady said. and wrongfully communicating a threat. He sentence was longer than Jackson’s. He described how the two came up with was reduced in rank from sergeant to pri- “Ms. Jackson wielded the knife that killed a text messaging code to let Jackson know vate, sentenced to 10 years confinement, and your wife,” Mollway said. “And that was a ter- whether she should enter the home through received a dishonorable discharge, the Army rible, terrible deed. But it does appear to me a window or use a key near the back door. If said. ‘Satanist’ soldier pleads guilty in bomb plot case
BY JOHN HANNA “Did you provide this informa- In his plea agreement, Smith running for the Democratic pres- Associated Press tion with the intent that the per- admitted that he had “dissemi- idential nomination. son would use it?” Crabtree asked nated guidance to others” through The affidavit said that Smith TOPEKA, Kan. — A 24-year- him. social media about how to build told another FBI agent before his old an Army infantry soldier Smith replied, “Yes.” improvised explosive devices and arrest that his goal was to create described by prosecutors as a Smith also had faced a third fel- that he spoke to others about his Satanist who hoped to overthrow “chaos.” ony charge of threatening to burn desire to travel to Ukraine to fight Mattivi said in September that the U.S. government pleaded down the house of a far-left-lean- with “a violent, far-right paramil- Smith told the agent he distrib- guilty Monday to distributing in- ing “antifa” member in Michigan, itary group.” formation through social media but that charge is to be dismissed Assistant U.S. Attorney An- uted explosives information “for about building a bomb and mak- under the plea agreement. thony Mattivi said during a court the glory of his Satanist religion,” ing napalm. The two other charges dealt hearing in September that Smith though he provided few other de- Pfc. Jarrett William Smith, with Smith’s actions while sta- planned to overthrow the govern- tails, other than saying that Smith stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., and tioned at Fort Riley starting in ment, with attacking a news orga- liked “black metal” music de- previously at Fort Bliss, Texas, July 2019. nization as a first step. signed to attract people to Satan. admitted during a court hearing Smith initially pleaded not An FBI affidavit said Smith Mattivi declined to provide fur- to providing information about guilty to all three charges in Sep- suggested to the undercover agent ther details Monday. explosives in September to an tember but notified Crabtree last targeting an unidentified major An FBI affidavit in September FBI undercover agent. month that he would change his news organization with a car alleged that Smith discussed a Smith signed a formal plea plea. bomb, and CNN reported that it plan to kill “antifa” activists and agreement with federal prosecu- The two charges to which he was the target, citing two sources described how to build a bomb tors and then entered his pleas pleaded guilty carries a maxi- familiar with the investigation. that could be triggered by calling verbally during a half-hour court mum penalty of 20 years in prison The affidavit said the FBI un- hearing before U.S. District and a $250,000 fine. Crabtree set dercover agent asked Smith if a cellphone. Judge Daniel Crabtree. He wore his sentencing for May 18. there was anyone in Texas to The affidavit identified the an orange prison jumpsuit and An attorney for Smith, federal target for “fire, destruction and Ukrainian paramilitary group black athletic shoes and alter- public defender Rich Federico, death,” and that Smith men- as Azov Battalion and said Smith nated between “Yes” and “Yes, did not immediately return a tele- tioned “Beto,” an apparent refer- was mentored by someone who sir” in answering questions from phone message seeking comment ence to former Texas Rep. Beto had fought with a similar group Crabtree. after Monday’s hearing. O’Rourke, who, at the time, was there, Right Sector. PAGE 6 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 MILITARY Army wants $178 billion for 2021
BY JOHN VANDIVER Most of the reductions in the The Army budget also calls The increase from 14 to 22 weeks Stars and Stripes 2021 request were the result of for the modernization of combat of training follows similar ex- cutbacks in overseas contingency vehicles including the Bradley tended infantry school training The U.S. Army wants $178 bil- funds, a result of scaling back in Fighting Vehicle, Abrams tank, that was implemented last year. lion for its fiscal 2021 budget as the Middle East, Army budget di- Stryker and Paladin. Nearly $35 In 2021, the Army also plans The Army budget the military moves forward with rector Maj. Gen. Paul Chamber- billion will be spent on research, to hold Defender Pacific, a major request prioritizes a multiyear effort to modern- lain told Pentagon reporters. development and acquisition, exercise that involves rotating ize weapons systems designed to “Army forces preserve peace while $21.7 billion will be dedi- large numbers of forces from the modernization, counter adversaries such as Rus- through strength,” the Army said cated to procurement for weap- U.S. to the region for drills. sia and China, the service said in a statement announcing its onry, Chamberlain said. The Army is conducting a combat readiness Monday. 2021 budget request. “They must The Army said it is undergoing similar exercise this year called and personnel. The budget plan also would be prepared to prevail in conflict its most comprehensive modern- Defender Europe — the service’s give a slight boost to regular in a complex security environ- ization effort since the late 1970s largest exercise on the Continent Army end strength, which would ment where strategic completion and early ‘80s, when major sys- in 25 years, involving 25,000 rise to 485,900 soldiers — 5,900 from revisionist powers is the tems such as the Abrams tank, soldiers. where soldiers regularly deploy more than 2020 levels, Army of- predominate threat to our nation- Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Black The budget adds $3.4 billion to on a mission to deter potential ficials said. al security interests.” Hawk helicopter and the Patriot fund training and readiness ini- Russian aggression. The budget plan would be a The budget zeroes in on a range missile defense system were tiatives. In all, the Army intends slight reduction from the previ- of weapons projects that have developed. to spend $30.9 billion on readi- The Army said its soldiers are ous fiscal year’s budget of $180 been in the works for several Another focus for the Army has ness efforts, budget documents responsible for meeting 60% of billion. Still, the Army says it has years, including improvements to been on boosting the readiness of stated. Pentagon’s combatant command realigned funds to ensure that its long-range precision fires, the de- the force. Nearly $25 billion of the Ar- requirements abroad. top priorities — modernization, velopment of land-based hyper- To that end, the budget expands my’s base budget will go toward combat readiness and personnel sonic missiles and future attack initial entry training for armor, supporting contingency opera- [email protected] needs — are met. reconnaissance aircraft. cavalry scout and engineer units. tions in Syria, Iraq and Europe, Twitter: @john_vandiver Navy request puts Marines see funding dip, reductions of personnel focus on research BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY Stars and Stripes and operations WASHINGTON — The Marine Fifteen ships will be Corps’ annual budget request will shrink in fiscal 2021, along with BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY billion will be spent on personnel delivered in 2021, its overall end strength, under a Stars and Stripes and $21.5 billion on research, de- including 3 nuclear proposal released Monday. velopment, test and evaluation. The Marines will use the 2021 WASHINGTON — The Navy’s Infrastructure gets $2.6 billion, attack submarines, budget to maneuver the service proposed fiscal 2021 budget de- or 1% of the total request. 5 littoral combat alongside the Navy in alignment The Marines are asking creases spending slightly from The Navy wants to grow its with the Pentagon’s National De- last year as the service looks to personnel number to close staff- ships, and 4 fense Strategy, which refocuses for 10 F-35C and buy fewer ships and direct more ing gaps on ships and meet the the service’s attention on com- 10 F-35B Lightning II funding toward operations and recruiting needs that come with destroyers. Six peting against adversaries like research. newer ships in their fleet. For ships will be retired, China and Russia. fighters and 5 KC-130J The Navy is requesting $207.1 active-duty personnel, the Navy The Marine Corps’ request is refuelers. billion, of which $194.1 billion is requested 7,300 sailors for an including 4 littoral incorporated in the overall Navy for its base operations and $13 end strength of 347,800, up from combat ships and a request for $207.1 billion. The billion for Overseas Contingency 340,500 in 2020. The Pentagon Marines’ budget would be $46 Operations. budget request includes a 3% pay dock landing ship. billion, a decrease from $47.4 bil- modernization efforts, according This is a $2.9 billion decrease raise for personnel. lion in 2020, if Congress approves to the budget proposal, which in- from 2020, with an 8.3% reduc- The Navy’s aim in each year’s the plan, according to the request clude policy reforms and business process improvements. tion in procurement to fund a budget is to move toward its total released Monday. The Marines’ The Navy’s aviation procure- 3.8% increase in operations and battle-force requirement of 355 in 2020. Fifteen ships will be de- Overseas Contingency Opera- ment request for 2021 — which maintenance, a 6.4% increase in ships by 2030. However, the 2021 livered in 2021, including three tions funding is $1.8 billion. includes Marine Corps aircraft personnel, and a 5.1% increase request has a 17% reduction in The Marines’ operation and nuclear attack submarines, five — is for 121 aircraft costing $17.2 in research and development, shipbuilding procurement, from littoral combat ships, and four de- maintenance funding is $7 bil- lion, the majority of which is for billion. The Marine Corps aims according to the Navy’s bud- $24 billion to $20 billion. The stroyers. Six ships will be retired get request document released expeditionary forces. to maintain its current aviation procurement funding is to be re- in 2021, including four littoral fleet. Monday. Overall, President Donald invested in areas of operations combat ships and a dock landing For fixed-wing aviation pro- The Navy’s total budget re- and maintenance, personnel, and Trump’s administration is re- ship. curement, the Marines are ask- quest includes the funding for the research and development, Rear questing $705.4 billion for 2021, The 2021 budget request also ing for 10 F-35C and 10 F-35B Marine Corps. The Navy-specific Adm. Randy B. Crites, the deputy a flat topline with no growth for inflation, Deputy Defense Secre- Lightning II fighters and five base operations budget is $161 bil- assistant secretary of the Navy restores nuclear reactor core re- tary David Norquist told report- KC-130J refuelers. For rotary lion and $11.2 billion for Overseas for budget, told reporters Monday fueling for the aircraft carrier ers Monday at the Pentagon. aircraft, the service is asking for Contingency Operations funding. at the Pentagon. USS Harry S. Truman. The service would eliminate seven CH-35K King Stallion he- The Navy’s realignment to- The Navy seeks to procure con- This issue caused congressio- 2,100 spots for a total end strength licopters, three MV-22B Ospreys, ward meeting the challenges of nal outrage last year as the Navy tracts for eight battle-force ships of 184,100 Marines, down from nine TH-73A training helicopters great-power competition laid in 2021, including a Columbia- proposed taking the ship’s refu- 186,200 in 2020. Of those, 21,670 and five new VH-92A helicopters, out in the 2018 National Defense class submarine, a Virginia-class eling money to reinvest in tech- would be officers and 162,430 which are used as the president’s Strategy has forced the service to submarine, two Arleigh Burke nology and other ship platforms, would be enlisted. The Pentagon Marine One. No unmanned air- rearrange $80 billion in its bud- class destroyers, and one of the which cut the lifecycle of the Tru- budget request includes a 3% pay craft are being requested. get and find $1.4 billion in savings new Navy frigates, the FFG (X). man in half. raise for personnel. The Marines’ procurement for 2021, according to its budget The funding for the Columbia The refueling for the ship will The reduction in Marines will budget for expeditionary equip- request. submarine was the highest pri- start in fiscal year 2025. be seen in areas such as head- ment is $2.9 billion. It plans to Operations and maintenance ority for the Navy in 2021, Crites The service is also looking to quarters with excess capacity in buy 752 Joint Light Tactical Ve- funding again make up the larg- said. The budget fully funds the hicles — the Combat Tactical have two large unmanned sur- nonoperational units, according est share of the Navy’s budget re- first Columbia submarine in the to Rear Adm. Randy B. Crites, Vehicle and the Combat Support face vessels, though they are not quest with $70.6 billion. program and its first deployment the deputy assistant secretary of Vehicle — with configuration kits, Procurement is $57.2 billion, is on schedule to be in 2031. calculated toward the battle-force the Navy for budget. 512 fewer than in 2020. They also with $19.9 billion for accruing The Navy’s budget proposal al- ship count. The reduction in personnel is want to purchase 72 Amphibious ships, a decrease of $4.1 billion lows for 306 deployable ships by [email protected] part of a larger effort by the ser- Combat Vehicles, 16 more than in from the 2020 budget. About $55.2 the end of 2021, up from 297 ships Twitter: @caitlinmkenney vice to allow for it to reinvest in 2020. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 7 MILITARY Air Force looks Space Force seeks $15.4B in its first to evolve with its budget request The $153.6 billion BY COREY DICKSTEIN proposed budget Stars and Stripes for the Air Force proposed funding WASHINGTON — The U.S. is down from last Space Force requested a $15.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2021 BY ROSE L. THAYER ing aircraft platforms to mitigate year because of the that would grow the size of the shortfalls in fighter and tanker Stars and Stripes military’s new, sixth branch and squadrons and to support the funds transferring to invest billions on research and Tough choices and a transfer bed-down of new aircraft. the Space Force. design aimed at improving the or resources dominated the pro- The Air Force now intends to defenses of key U.S. space assets. posed fiscal year 2021 budget for divest 16 KC-10s and 13 KC-135s, The request marked the first the Air Force released Monday. both tanker aircraft, in 2021 as Space Force Officials extracted the new Space full budget proposal for the Space officials continue to procure and Procurement remained stable Force — for the most part — from Force, which was established in officials expect to accept deliveries of the new KC- with last year’s proposal, Pletcher its sister service within the De- 46, Pletcher said. Additionally, 17 December. Like the Space Force have 38 troops by partment of the Air Force. said, with $22.9 billion requested itself, the budget was largely of the least capable B-1 bombers for new systems. That includes While keeping spending and will retire, but their maintainers carved out of existing assets that Oct. 1, and 6,434 personnel relatively flat — a $5.8 billion for 48 F-35A aircraft have moved out of the Air Force. will remain in the force to drive and $1.4 billion for 12 upgraded members in 2021. trend across the entire Defense up readiness of the remaining The budget would allow the Department — the Air Force F-15EX fighter jets. Space Force to grow from an ex- fleet until the B-21 replaces the Savings were also found in proposed retiring some legacy platform in the mid-2020s. pected 38 troops by Oct. 1, the aircraft earlier than planned to the infrastructure budget, which end of fiscal year 2020, to about Other areas of divestment in- took a dip, down to $4.9 billion and control system for space. make room for spending on new clude in the surveillance aircraft 6,434 in 2021, according to docu- The Space Force budget would aircraft and researching the next from $10 billion in 2020. Like se- ments detailing the Pentagon’s RQ-4 Global Hawk, a remotely lect legacy divestitures, Pletcher provide $2.4 billion for procure- phase of warfighting technol- piloted system that is under 705.4 billion budget request for said military construction was ment that was previously man- ogy, according to Maj. Gen. John modernization and sustainment next year. Those troops include another area where the service aged by the Air Force and would Pletcher, deputy assistant secre- efforts. most of the Air Force personnel fund acquisition of spacecraft, tary for budget in the Office of was “taking a risk” in 2021. High that are expected to transfer into These early retirements will launch services and products to the Assistant Secretary of the Air priority improvements such as the Space Force once systems are allow for maintenance funding ensure communications security. Force for Financial Management new mission infrastructure and established to ensure they can be to decrease from $15.9 billion in It would also fund three space and Comptroller. dorms at Lackland Air Force paid properly. Space operators 2020 to $15.3 billion in the pro- launches for national security Similar to the overall $705.4 Base in Texas remained within from the Army and Navy are not posed budget. programs and two upgraded GPS billion defense budget, the Air the purview of the proposal. expected to transfer into the ser- “We found that winning in the satellites. Force proposal looks inward for This proposal does not include vice until 2022, senior Air Force future will require investing in While the budget foresees cuts as the military pulls away more disaster relief funding, as officials said last week. Space the right new capabilities now,” thousands of service members from years of counterinsurgency Pletcher said. “We are trading the Air Force said Congress took Force only has one official mem- fighting and toward a future near- care of the money needed to re- ber now. moving next year into the Space some of the old in favor of the Force, it leaves some $800 million peer conflict with an aggressor new. Those difficult trades are pair Tyndall and Offutt Air Force The largest chunk of the Space such as China or Russia. bases, each of which experienced Force’s budget is a $10.3 billion in personnel costs within the Air the source for the funding of new Force budget until a new account- The $153.6 billion proposed technology and capability invest- natural disasters in the past two request for research, develop- ing system can be established for budget for the Air Force appears ments that are funded in this years, Pletcher said. ment, testing and evaluation the transferring troops. as a decrease from last year’s en- budget.” The budget also allows the Air focused on space. The funding The only official member of the acted fiscal year 2020 budget of Both the operations and flying Force to keep funding the 218 seeks to develop ways to “protect $168 billion, but only because of hours spending and research and positions added within military and defend current space assets, Space Force is Gen. Jay Raymond, the funds transferring to the first development dollars increased. family housing offices last year to build more resilient and defend- the chief of space operations. ever standalone budget of the The proposal asks for $10.7 bil- help mitigate ongoing issues. able architectures, and develop Some 16,000 Air Force troops and Space Force. lion in the former, and $26.9 bil- “The future of our department offensive capabilities to challenge civilians are assigned to work for It’s a similar story for Air lion for research and development comes down to this, our adver- adversary space capabilities,” ac- the Space Force, but remain em- Force active-duty personnel. The and test and evaluation. saries have designed their forces cording to the budget documents. ployed by the Air Force. service proposed an end strength Much of this research is pro- to exploit our vulnerabilities,” That funding includes money Service officials said last week of 333,800, which is down 6,600 jected to go toward an advanced Pletcher said. “Unless we evolve, for upgraded GPS systems, better that they expected nearly all Air from the previous year, because battle management system, they will someday face a force protected communications satel- Force space operators to move of the transfer of personnel to the which will allow the joint force they have readily trained and lites, and other “space warfight- into the Space Force, which is new branch. The Air and Space of Air and Space Force to better equipped themselves to defeat. ing enterprise,” according to the expected to grow to about 16,000 Force will continue to share a communicate. This funding also We cannot allow that to happen.” documents. It also funds research troops within five years. personnel budget under the pro- includes spending on the nuclear for new spacecraft technology and posal, as well as military con- [email protected] [email protected] triad modernization. Twitter: @Rose_Lori development of a new command Twitter: @CDicksteinDC struction funding. Growth in troops come within the Air Force Reserve, which has a projected end strength of 70,300, up 200 from last year, and Air National Guard up 108,100, an increase of 400 personnel. When combined with the increase of Space Force personnel, the over- all department is expected to grow by 1,500. “Beyond the transfer, remain- ing Air Force personnel are fund- ed to grow slightly in FY 2021 to meet global requirements,” ac- cording to the budget documents released Monday. “This increase will focus on producing critical skills and generating personnel to fill shortages in key readiness areas, such as aircraft mainte- nance, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, remote- ly piloted aircraft and cyber operations.” The Air Force also intends to repurpose manpower from retir- PAGE 8 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 MILITARY Footprint: Funds would support counterterrorism mission in Afghanistan
FROM FRONT PAGE swathes of Afghanistan and con- A key Taliban demand in the tinues to fight foreign forces in negotiations is that all foreign the country. troops leave the country. The in- Esper in December described surgent group has agreed to re- the conflict as being in “a state duce violence while negotiations of strategic stalemate” that can only be settled with a negotiated continue, but the U.S. and Afghan resolution between the insur- government have demanded a gents and central government in cease-fire. Kabul, which has been excluded U.S.-led forces invaded Af- from the peace talks so far. ghanistan in 2001 to destroy al- The funding requested Monday Qaida after the September 11 for U.S. operations in Afghanistan terrorist attacks of that year, and is part of the Pentagon’s $69 bil- topple the Taliban, who had ruled lion draft budget for all overseas NICHOLAS BROWN-BELL/U.S. Army the country since 1996 and were contingency operations during harboring the terrorist group the next fiscal year, which begins U.S. soldiers hike up a snow-covered hill to take part in a key leader engagement Jan. 16 in founded by Osama bin Laden. in October. The overall figure is Southeastern Afghanistan. A draft Defense Department budget shows the U.S. military is planning to Since the Taliban was ousted also down about $3 billion com- spend less on the war in Afghanistan. from power, and especially since pared to the current fiscal year. most U.S. combat forces were The requested funds would Qaida and Islamic State — and Funding requested for opera- million allocated for the current withdrawn in late 2014, the Tal- support the U.S. counterter- a U.S.-led NATO mission that tions in Iraq and Syria, where the fiscal year. iban have become a potent in- rorism mission in Afghanistan trains and advises Afghan secu- U.S.-led coalition is battling an [email protected] surgent force that controls large — which targets groups like al- rity forces. ISIS insurgency, matches the $7 Twitter: pwwellman Trump calls Funding: Previous attempts to cut for another increase in paper’s subsidy were opposed in Congress FROM FRONT PAGE evaluating options, including bers deployed overseas and in VA spending organization against McCusker’s ways to continue operations in war zones. comment. some form.” Previous attempts to cut the proposes a 9% increase for wom- BY NIKKI WENTLING “Stars and Stripes’ mission is Most of Stars and Stripes’ Stars and Stripes subsidy have en’s health care to expand access Stars and Stripes not to communicate the DOD or funding comes from sales, sub- been met with opposition in to gynecology, and it would give command message, but to be an scriptions and advertising, but it Congress. WASHINGTON — President an additional $2.6 billion to an on- depends on the Defense Depart- Pentagon officials weighed in in going project to overhaul the VA’s independent, First Amendment Donald Trump’s funding plan for publication that serves the troops ment subsidy to cover the expen- 2016 whether to continue provid- the Department of Veterans Af- electronic health record system. sive and sometimes dangerous ing funding to the publication. In The spending plan offers $137 — especially deployed troops,” fairs includes a 13% increase for task of overseas reporting and response, the House Armed Ser- million to implement the Blue Gates wrote. “So ‘we communi- medical services, making it one distribution. vices Committee added a measure Water Navy Vietnam Veterans cate’ misses the mission.” of the few agencies to receive an Lederer said the loss in fund- to its annual defense bill to protect Act of 2019. Blue Water Navy vet- It was not immediately clear overall boost in fiscal year 2021 ing would “definitely reduce” it. The measure was sponsored by erans served aboard aircraft car- Monday how much money the under his plan. Stars and Stripes’ news reporting riers, destroyers and other ships Pentagon proposed cutting from then-Rep. Martha McSally, R- If enacted by Congress, Trump’s abilities. in the territorial seas of Vietnam Stars and Stripes. McCusker did Ariz., a former A-10 Thunderbolt budget would make the VA the not provide those details, and “The men and women who sac- II pilot. McSally is now a sena- second-largest federal agency in and fought for years to prove they other Pentagon officials declined rifice every day for the safety of tor and a member of the Senate terms of discretionary budget and were exposed to the chemical her- to comment or did not return re- our nation deserve the objective Armed Services Committee. number of employees. While his bicide Agent Orange. Because of quests for comment. and balanced unique content pro- “I served six tours in the Mid- spending plan increases the VA the new law passed by Congress, Pentagon officials first informed duced by Stars and Stripes,” he dle East and Afghanistan and budget, it includes cuts to the De- they became eligible in January Stars and Stripes’ leadership of said. know first-hand the challenges partment of Health and Human for VA disability compensation. Some VA programs would see the proposed budget cuts to the Esper has said since his Sen- our troops face simply accessing Services, which currently has ate confirmation to become de- the second-largest discretionary cuts under Trump’s proposal. news organization Monday morn- news from back home,” McSally His administration is suggesting ing, after The Wall Street Journal fense secretary that he would said in 2016. “Congress appropri- budget behind the Department of review the Pentagon’s spending Defense. a cut they’ve tried before: round- published a story identifying the ated funds for Stars and Stripes on support agencies that aren’t The president proposed $109.5 ing down veterans’ cost-of-living planned funding reduction, citing specifically for the purpose of directly involved in warfighting, billion in discretionary funding adjustments to all veterans who draft budget documents. helping bridge this information including so-called Fourth Estate for the VA, including $90 billion receive disability compensation. Max Lederer, Stars and Stripes’ gap.” programs. for medical care. Additionally, The practice was standard until publisher, said Pentagon officials McSally did not immediately the VA has about $134 billion in 2013, but efforts to reinstate it told him Monday that the budget “We will reform the depart- return a request for comment mandatory funding to be spent on have been met with opposition by cut would “eliminate operating ment, beginning with the Fourth Monday, nor did several other veterans’ benefits. national veterans organizations. and maintenance funds for Stars Estate,” Esper said during his lawmakers. The proposed $90 billion for VA Reinstating the round-down poli- and Stripes,” which amounts to confirmation hearing in July Spokespeople for Rep. Mac medical services in fiscal 2021 in- cy in fiscal 2021 would save $41 about $7 million and about 35% of 2019. “No reform is too small.” Thornberry, R-Texas, and Sen. cludes an unspecified amount of million, according to estimates in Stripes’ annual expenses. Pentagon officials said the re- Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., said the money for the VA Mission Act, a Trump’s plan. “The preparation for the de- view resulted in some $5.3 billion lawmakers wanted to look more new program to connect veterans Another cost-saving proposal fense budget submission to the identified that could be moved closely at the proposed cut before with private-sector doctors. It’s would cap student veterans’ Post- president’s budget takes consider- from organizations — including providing comment. Thornberry been eight months since the pro- 9/11 GI Bill benefits for flight able time. However, I was not in- Stars and Stripes and dozens of is the ranking Republican on the gram launched, and to the chagrin training — a cut that Trump’s formed prior to this morning that other agencies — into warfighting House Armed Services Commit- of some lawmakers, the agency administration has been trying there was a change in Stars and functions. tee and Inhofe is chairman of doesn’t yet know how many ap- to impose for the last three years. Stripes funding being considered Stars and Stripes first appeared the Senate Committee on Armed pointments have been completed Another proposal, to “standardize or would be proposed,” Lederer during the Civil War, and has pub- Services. Both committees are through the Mission Act or how and enhance VA compensation wrote in an email to all Stripes’ lished a newspaper for American responsible for authorizing the much it’s costing taxpayers. and pension benefit programs,” is employees. “Consequently, I and troops continuously since World annual defense budget. Trump’s budget also includes estimated to save $752 million in the Stripes leadership have not War II. Congress has mandated an increase to mental health ser- fiscal 2021. had an opportunity to study and the organization provide objec- [email protected] Twitter: @CDicksteinDC vices and a 32% boost to veteran [email protected] plan for this change. We are now tive, free-press news coverage to [email protected] suicide prevention programs. It Twitter: @nikkiwentling beginning that discussion and troops, especially service mem- Twitter: @nikkiwentling Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 9 MIDEAST NATO troops to swap training roles in Iraq
BY LORNE COOK exact troop numbers. ed that the alliance should do more in the Officials are confident that Iraq will Associated Press “There are several areas where the region. soon let the military alliance resume its training is really overlapping,” U.S. However, there is little appetite among training mission, particularly after NATO BRUSSELS — NATO countries are pre- NATO envoy Kay Bailey Hutchison told European allies and Canada to deploy Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg held paring to move more than 200 trainers reporters. troops, even though the U.S. is by far the a series of talks with Iraqi and regional working with the international force fight- NATO agreed in 2018 to launch a train- biggest and most influential of the 29 leaders. ing Islamic State in Iraq to the military al- ing mission in Iraq involving around 500 NATO member countries. “We will only stay in Iraq based on an liance’s own mission there helping to build troops with the aim of building up the While she didn’t mention numbers in- invitation from Iraq,” Stoltenberg said up the Iraqi army in response to President country’s armed forces so they could bet- volved in the troop swap, Hutchison said Tuesday, but he underlined that “one of Donald Trump’s demand that U.S. allies do ter combat extremist groups. Only the that NATO’s plan is to expand its training the weapons we have in the fight against more in the Middle East, senior officials anti-ISIS coalition fights extremists. operation to more Iraqi bases. But officials terrorism is to train local forces, enabling said Tuesday. But the NATO operation was put on hold said that over “a couple of hundred” troops them to fight terrorism themselves. Pre- The move — essentially a “re-badging” last month after a U.S. missile strike at are likely to shift into the NATO training vention is better than intervention.” exercise as troops shift from the anti-ISIS Baghdad airport killed Iran’s top general, mission and operate out of bases in central Hutchison also said that NATO is set to coalition to NATO control — will be high and the Iraqi government and parliament Iraq. Overall, the number of troops from task military commanders with looking at on the agenda Wednesday when NATO de- demanded that foreign troops leave its ter- NATO countries working in Iraq would other ways for the alliance to boost its role fense ministers meet in Brussels to weigh ritory. As tensions mounted, Trump insist- stay the same. in the wider Middle East. Troops US watchdog report: in Iraq see Rebuilding Afghanistan rare snow has a high human cost
BY CHAD GARLAND Associated Press Afghanistan’s 18-year war has Stars and Stripes been deadly for civilians. The KABUL, Afghanistan — Re- United Nations calculates that building Afghanistan has cost U.S. and coalition troops in Iraq between 2009, when it first began hundreds of lives, according to a awoke to a rare sight Tuesday as documenting civilian casualties, new report released Tuesday by snow fell in parts of the country and October 2019, a total of 34,677 a U.S. government watchdog that where they are deployed to sup- Afghan civilians have been killed monitors the billions of dollars port anti-Islamic State operations in insurgent attacks and caught in Washington spends in the war- and train government forces. the crossfire in fighting between At Camp Taji, a training base ravaged country. The Special Inspector General militants and Afghan security north of Baghdad, a Spanish sol- forces and their U.S.-led coalition dier fashioned a small snowman for Afghan Reconstruction, John F. Sopko, says his report is the allies. with beady black eyes and sport- The report pointed out that the ing a military helmet, photos first to look at the human cost of rebuilding Afghanistan following focus on financial waste had until provided by Operation Inherent now left policymakers with “an Resolve show. the 2001 U.S.-led invasion that incomplete picture of the true And at Mosul Dam in the north toppled the Taliban. The casual- cost” of U.S. efforts in Afghani- of the country, photos posted on ties it chronicled were the result stan. It said this was the first U.S. Twitter showed Iraqi special op- of Taliban and other militant at- government probe to focus on erations troops training in a snow tacks on reconstruction projects the human toll of reconstruction flurry. since 2002. Such projects are programs. Mountainous northern Iraq often seen as easy targets. The The most dangerous job was tends to get snow each year — SIGAR report did not include ac- road construction, according to Kurdish peshmerga forces were cidental or other deaths associat- SIGAR, amid a range of projects pictured training shirtless in the ed with reconstruction projects. snow earlier this year — but the The findings come amid re- that included counter-narcotics, last time it fell on the capital was newed U.S.-led peace talks with governance and demining. Road in 2008. the Taliban aimed at opening the construction accounted “for 30% The dusting, which had largely way for withdrawing American of all casualties,” the agency melted by the afternoon, pro- troops. said. vided a brief moment of relief U.S. Congress created the office The report didn’t identify who from months of anti-government of SIGAR to ferret out waste and carried out the attacks. protests and a series of deadly at- corruption in the billions of dol- SIGAR also said 1,182 people tacks that put Iraq at the center of lars America spends in Afghani- were either abducted or disap- stan. The watchdog’s reports had peared while on reconstruction escalating tensions between the Davis Miranda U.S. and Iran. previously focused almost exclu- jobs. The report didn’t say how Cpl. Davis Miranda of the Spanish army poses with a snowman he sively on the financial costs of re- many among the kidnapped had [email protected] been recovered. Twitter: @chadgarland built at Camp Taji, Iraq, on Tuesday after snow fell on Baghdad. building the war-torn country. “For years, SIGAR has spent Of the Americans killed help- considerable effort to track the ing rebuild Afghanistan, 216 were financial costs of reconstruction U.S. service members. According and stabilization activities in Af- to the report, most of the casual- Suicide bomber kills at least 6 in Kabul ghanistan,” said Sopko in a pre- ties came the peak of reconstruc- amble to the report. “However, tion from 2008 to 2011. Associated Press the entrance to the Marshal Fahim Military Acad- little effort has been made up The United States has spent emy, located on the outskirts of a western Kabul to now to track the human costs nearly $1 trillion in Afghanistan, KABUL, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber tar- neighborhood, he said. Local TV channels showed — the number of people killed, the majority of which has been geting a military academy in the Afghan capital images of Afghan security forces blocking off the wounded, or kidnapped — to ac- spent on security and war-fight- on Tuesday killed at least six people, including two main road leading to the blast site from far away. complish these activities.” ing costs. About $136.97 billion civilians and four military personnel, the Interior The academy has been attacked in the past. Last The report found that 2,214 peo- has been spent on Afghan relief Ministry said. May, a suicide bomber killed six people there. The ple have been killed, most of them and reconstruction since 2002. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the school is sometimes called “Sandhurst in the Sand,” Afghans, in largely U.S.-led proj- Yet according to an earlier bombing in Kabul, but both the Taliban and mili- in reference to the famous British school. It’s named ects to rebuild the country. The SIGAR report last month, the tants from Islamic State regularly stage attacks in for Mohammed Fahim, the country’s late vice presi- deaths included 284 Americans, poverty rate in Afghanistan is the city, targeting Afghan forces. dent and a military commander of the Northern Al- both civilian and military. Anoth- climbing. In 2012, 37% of Afghans Along with the six killed, 12 other people, includ- liance that fought the Taliban. It was inaugurated er 2,291 people were wounded in were listed below the poverty ing five civilians, were wounded in the attack, said in 2013 and British troops in Afghanistan oversaw projects from road construction, rate, surviving on less than $1 a Nasrat Rahimi, the Interior Ministry spokesman. the establishing of the academy’s officer school and to building schools and health day. Today that figure has risen to The attack happened at a police checkpoint near training program. clinics around Afghanistan. 55% of Afghans. PAGE 10 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 MILITARY Air Force reveals drug use probe at nuke missile base BY ROBERT BURNS ‘ Associated Press The majority of our airmen … have made WASHINGTON — Security guards at an Air Force base re- significant gains in sponsible for protecting strategic ensuring excellence. ’ nuclear missiles in three states Gen. Tim Ray are under investigation for al- Air Force leged marijuana use, Air Force officials said Monday. They are part of the same security force whose members were caught operated undetected for months; DAWN M. WEBER/U.S. Air Force using the hallucinogen LSD four 14 airmen eventually were disci- years ago. plined, of which six were convict- U.S. airmen from the 52nd Fighter Wing search and recover wreckage from an F-16 Fighting Falcon that Officials declined to disclose crashed near Zemmer, Germany, on Oct. 8. ed of LSD use or distribution. the number under investigation The Air Force also operates or provide other details, but they Minuteman 3 missile bases in said that Gen. Tim Ray, the top Montana and North Dakota. general in charge of Air Force Those two bases, plus F.E. War- Air Force blames power loss, nuclear weapons, flew to F.E. ren in Wyoming, have been under Warren Air Force Base in Chey- scrutiny in recent years for nu- enne, Wyo., to hold a “no-notice” merous episodes of misconduct, weather in Germany crash meeting Monday to address the including a cheating scandal and reported misbehavior by mem- training failures. The Air Force bers of the 90th Security Forces has taken steps to address those BY JENNIFER H. SVAN instruments to maintain control pieces,” Gruenhaeuser said. “You Group. problems, including investing Stars and Stripes of the aircraft,” Air Force officials can still find a large number of Those under investigation have more in training and equipment, in Europe said in a statement. fragments from it in the trees. been removed from their duties and launching a campaign to pub- KAISERSLAUTERN, Ger- “The two factors combined dur- “For us, the forest is still a many — A partial power failure until the probe is completed, the licly emphasize the importance of ing a critical phase of flight, caus- battlefield. We have to clean ev- during bad weather caused an F- Air Force said. The 90th Security the work done by this relatively ing the pilot to eject for safety,” erything up and turn it into a real Forces Group is responsible for obscure nuclear force. 16 fighter jet from Spangdahlem officials said, summarizing the Air Base to crash last fall during forest again.” security at F.E. Warren, as well Marijuana may be consumed findings of an Air Force accident a routine training flight, the Air The F-16 Fighting Falcon as for the network of nuclear- legally in some states, but not in investigation board. Force said Tuesday. was assigned to the only U.S. armed Minuteman 3 interconti- any branch of the U.S. military. At the time of the crash, a The plane came down on Oct. Air Force fighter squadron per- nental ballistic missiles — a key In a statement Monday, the Air 8 in an isolated, wooded area spokeswoman for the 52nd Fight- manently based in Germany, segment of the U.S. nuclear force Force Global Strike Command near the German town of Zem- er Wing, Air Force Capt. Erin Spangdahlem’s 480th Fighter — in underground launch silos quoted Ray as saying “the major- mer-Rodt, a few miles south of Rencanzone, said that no one on Squadron. It was taking part in a in western Nebraska, southeast- ity of our airmen are exceptional the base and north of the city of the ground was injured and no base exercise testing the wing’s ern Wyoming and northeastern and have made significant gains Trier. The pilot was able to eject property was damaged when the ability to operate in a wartime en- Colorado. in ensuring excellence and ad- and sustained minor injuries, but plane came down. vironment when it crashed. This is the same F.E. Warren hering to exacting standards.” But the jet destroyed about the $25.5 million aircraft was The full report on the cause of security group in which investi- He added: “But we will not give 1,000 trees over five acres of for- destroyed. the accident was expected to be gators uncovered and cracked a up one inch of this hard-earned estland when it crashed, causing “The power loss led to the fail- released later Tuesday. drug ring in 2016. Records ob- ground. When any of us see those ure of the aircraft’s flight and at least $27,000 in damage to the tained by The Associated Press not living up to our high stan- navigation instruments during a environment, local forest war- Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this in 2018 showed that airmen had dards, we will hold them account- report. time when the weather conditions den Thomas Gruenhaeuser said [email protected] bought, distributed and used LSD able using all of the disciplinary impeded the pilot’s visibility, re- Tuesday. Twitter: @stripesktown and other mild-altering drugs, tools available under the military quiring the pilot to rely on those “The jet broke up into small [email protected] as well as marijuana. That ring justice system.” Amazon wants to question Trump over losing $10B contract bid
BY MATT O’BRIEN or JEDI, will store and process a review. Amazon’s court filing of Federal Claims unsealed Mon- ment Monday. Associated Press vast amounts of classified data, cites an alleged comment that day, Amazon said that Trump Amazon said in a statement allowing the U.S. military to im- surfaced in a book last year that has a “well-documented personal Monday that it’s important to dis- Amazon wants President Don- prove communications with sol- said Trump privately told then- animus toward” Amazon, its CEO cover what happened to preserve ald Trump to submit to ques- diers on the battlefield and use Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Jeff Bezos and The Washington public confidence in the procure- tioning over the tech company’s artificial intelligence to speed to “screw Amazon” out of the Post, which Bezos owns. Amazon ment process because Trump losing bid for a $10 billion mili- up its war planning and fighting contract. says that Trump is the only one has repeatedly demonstrated his tary contract. capabilities. George Washington University who can testify about the “totality willingness to interfere with gov- The Pentagon awarded the The Pentagon was preparing procurement law expert Steve of his conversations and the over- ernment processes to advance his cloud computing project to Mi- to announce its decision between Schooner said that a deposition all message he conveyed” about personal interests. crosoft in October. Amazon later finalists Amazon and Microsoft of Trump would be “clearly rel- the bidding process. “The question is whether the sued, arguing that Trump’s inter- when Trump publicly waded into evant to the primary allegations Trump has accused Amazon of President of the United States ference and bias against the com- the fray in July. Trump said then underlying their lawsuit,” but that not paying its fair share of taxes should be allowed to use the bud- pany harmed Amazon’s chances that other companies told him the doesn’t mean it will happen. and of putting brick-and-mortar get of the DoD to pursue his own of winning. contract “wasn’t competitively “I can’t imagine this president stores out of business. Trump personal and political ends,” the Amazon was considered an bid,” and he said the administra- sitting for that deposition,” Schoo- has also gone after Bezos person- company said. early front-runner for a project tion would “take a very long look.” ner said in an email Monday. ally and accused the Post of being A judge is expected to decide that Pentagon officials have de- Oracle had also protested after it Besides seeking Trump’s depo- Amazon’s “chief lobbyist.” as early as this week on whether scribed as critical to advancing and IBM were eliminated from sition, Amazon is also asking to The Justice Department said Microsoft can start working with the U.S. military’s technological an earlier round of bidding. depose Mattis, current Defense that it does not comment on ongo- the Pentagon on the cloud com- advantage over adversaries. The Amazon is looking for more in- Secretary Mark Esper and other ing litigation. The White House puting project. Amazon has asked project, known as Joint Enter- formation about what happened government officials. and the Pentagon didn’t imme- for work to be halted as its lawsuit prise Defense Infrastructure, before and after Trump ordered In a filing with the U.S. Court diately return requests for com- proceeds. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 11 NATION US speeds cases of some blocked by travel bans
BY GENE JOHNSON Associated Press ‘ (The refugee ban) SEATTLE — President Don- derailed efforts to ald Trump’s administration has get my last surviving agreed to speed up the cases of some former interpreters for the Iraqi translator, MARTIN MEJIA/AP U.S. military in Iraq and hundreds who served bravely Margarita Del Pilar Fitzpatrick, seen in Lima, Peru, on Feb. 6, applied for an Illinois driver’s license in of other refugees whose efforts to 2005. She accepted a clerk’s offer to register her to vote, a mistake that led to long legal battles and move to the United States have alongside U.S. eventually deportation. been in limbo since he announced his travel bans three years ago. military forces for The news was contained in a many years, to the settlement filed in federal court in Error in Illinois voter registration Seattle on Monday. It concerned United States. ’ more than 300 refugees who were Allen Vaught on the verge of being permitted war veteran from Dallas risks deportation for immigrants to come to America in 2017 when their applications were halted as BY SOPHIA TAREEN Bruce Rauner was among the first Republicans to part of Trump’s efforts to restrict Associated Press sign automatic voter registration into law. The multi- travel from several mostly Mus- By the time Robart agreed to faceted law focuses largely on the secretary of state’s lim nations. block the bans, hundreds of refu- CHICAGO — The day Margarita Del Pilar Fitzpat- office, which issues driver’s licenses. Some of those affected are gees had their cases upended, rick applied for an Illinois driver’s license upended A “programming error” wrongly sent data from close relatives of refugees who leaving them in administrative her life. When a clerk offered to register her to vote in more than 500 people to election officials, even are already in the U.S., while oth- limbo. For many, background 2005, the Peruvian citizen mistakenly accepted, lead- though when asked if they were U.S. citizens, they hit ers are from 11 countries, includ- checks, medical clearances or ing to long legal battles and eventually deportation. “no” on an electronic keypad. Ultimately, 545 people ing Egypt, Iran and Somalia, that other required documentation had A decade and a half later, she struggles to find work were registered. Trump singled out, citing security expired by the time the bans were at 52, is nearly homeless and hasn’t seen two of her It’s unclear whether some people were confused reasons. revoked. That meant they had to three American citizen daughters in years because and mistakenly hit “no.” About half of the voters ap- The restrictions on refugees begin the process over again. of a secretary of state’s office mishap. peared to be citizens. One was confirmed as a non- from the 11 countries and on rela- The plaintiffs included former “It has derailed our lives,” she said in a phone in- citizen with legal status to live in the U.S. Six others tives of those already in the U.S. interpreters for the U.S. military terview from Lima. “Immigrants should not be put remain in question. were companion measures to in Iraq, who sued under pseud- in this situation.” It can take years for a noncitizen’s illegal vote to Trump’s broader travel bans on onyms because they could face A handful of other immigrants could face a similar surface. Immigration authorities might not find out those seeking visas to enter the threats if their identities became fate, or criminal charges, after a mistake in Illinois’ until an immigrant applies to adjust their status, like U.S., which the Supreme Court public. Others were refugees automatic voter registration system allowed hun- a green card holder seeking citizenship with a form eventually allowed. who had petitioned to have their dreds of people who identified themselves as non- that asks if the applicant has ever voted. An affirma- U.S. District Judge James Ro- spouses and children join them U.S. citizens to register. Sixteen cast ballots. tive answer could disqualify the applicant and lead to bart in Seattle — the same judge in the U.S. from camps in Kenya, “It’s disappointing because the situation could have deportation. who blocked Trump’s initial, Uganda and elsewhere. been avoided,” said Lawrence Benito, head of the Il- Two of the highest-profile cases, heard in the 7th broader travel ban in early 2017 One plaintiff, Allen Vaught, a linois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights. Circuit Court of Appeals, also started with the Illinois — blocked the companion refu- war veteran from Dallas, said the “They voluntarily told people they were noncitizens. secretary of state’s office, which has since changed gee restrictions late that year in refugee ban “derailed efforts to It was not their fault.” how clerks discuss voter registration. consolidated lawsuits that were get my last surviving Iraqi trans- Voting by noncitizens is forbidden by state and Fitzpatrick presented her Peruvian passport and brought by the ACLU, Jewish lator, who served bravely along- federal laws and is statistically rare. But President U.S. green card when applying for a driver’s license Family Services, International side U.S. military forces for many Donald Trump has repeatedly made unsubstanti- in 2005. She was confused by a clerk who said it was Refugee Assistance Project and years, to the United States.” ated claims that millions voted illegally in 2016. His “up to you” if she wanted to register so she did. Then other organizations. They alleged Under the settlement, the comments gave a political charge to the issue and put she voted, saying she did not learn it was illegal until that the refugee bans were dis- refugees won’t automatically be voting modernization efforts such as automatic regis- applying for citizenship years later. The government criminatory and arbitrary and admitted to the U.S., but the gov- tration in the spotlight. moved to have her deported, which courts upheld. that they violated due process ernment agreed to move their Illinois made headlines in 2017 when then-Gov. She was removed in 2017. rights. cases to the front of the line for US: Chinese military stole Americans’ data in Equifax breach
BY ERIC TUCKER cial Security and driver’s license tity theft.” Chinese military that was blamed officials said. AND MICHAEL BALSAMO numbers and other data stored in The indictment arrives at a in 2014 for a series of intrusions None of the accused hackers is Associated Press the company’s databases. The in- delicate time in relations between into American corporations. in U.S. custody. But officials none- trusion damaged the company’s Washington and Beijing. Even as Prosecutors say they exploited theless hope criminal charges can WASHINGTON — Four mem- reputation and underscored Chi- President Donald Trump points a software vulnerability to gain be a deterrent to foreign hackers bers of the Chinese military na’s increasingly aggressive and to a preliminary trade pact with access to Equifax’s computers, and a warning to other countries have been charged with break- sophisticated intelligence-gath- China as evidence of his ability to obtaining log-in credentials that that American law enforcement ing into the computer networks ering methods. work with the Communist govern- they used to navigate databases has the capability to pinpoint in- of the Equifax credit reporting “The scale of the theft was ment, other members of his ad- and review records. They also dividual culprits. Even so, while agency and stealing the personal staggering,” Attorney General ministration have been warning took steps to cover their tracks, China and the U.S. committed information of tens of millions of William Barr said Monday in an- against cybersecurity and sur- the indictment says, wiping log in 2015 to halt acts of cyber es- Americans, the Justice Depart- nouncing the indictment. “This veillance risks posed by China, files on a daily basis and routing pionage against each other, the ment said Monday, blaming Bei- theft not only caused significant especially as the tech giant Hua- traffic through about three dozen Equifax intrusion and others like jing for one of the largest hacks in financial damage to Equifax, but wei seeks to become part of new, servers in nearly 20 countries. it make clear that Beijing has con- history to target consumer data. invaded the privacy of many mil- high-speed 5G wireless networks Besides stealing personal infor- tinued its operations. The hackers in the 2017 breach lions of Americans, and imposed across the globe. mation, the hackers also made off A spokesperson for the Chinese stole the personal information of substantial costs and burdens on The four accused hackers are with some of the company’s sen- Embassy in Washington did not roughly 145 million Americans, them as they have had to take suspected members of the People’s sitive trade secrets, including da- return an email seeking comment collecting names, addresses, So- measures to protect against iden- Liberation Army, an arm of the tabase designs, law enforcement Monday. PAGE 12 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 NATION Trump’s budget would cut federal employee retirement
BY ERIC YODER Trump’s proposals would Trump’s budget proposal would The Washington Post “align federal compensation with starve federal agencies to the the private sector,” a budget book point of paralysis, pick the pock- WASHINGTON — President JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AP says, referring to a 2017 Congres- ets of middle-class federal work- Donald Trump has again proposed sional Budget Office study that ers and their families, weaken Roger Stone, left, with his wife, Nydia Stone, leaves federal court in to reduce the value of federal re- found salary to be comparable our nation’s nonpartisan, merit- Washington in November. tirement benefits while requiring on average between the two sec- based civil service and deprive most federal employees to pay tors. But the study also found the Americans of the basic services more toward those benefits. federal benefits package to be and protections they expect from In some cases, the benefits superior, resulting in “total com- their government.” would be reduced only for future After president’s pensation” advantage of 17% for The budget plan, for the fiscal retirees, but in other cases, those federal workers. year starting Oct. 1, once again already retired would face a cut “The disparity — which varies calls for requiring employees cov- as well. significantly by education level ered by the Federal Employees tweet, ally may The proposals, outlined in — is overwhelmingly attribut- Retirement System to increase Trump’s budget released Monday, able to benefits,” the budget says. the amount they must pay toward would require changes in law. “CBO found that, in comparison their retirement benefits. They likely will face opposition to the private sector, the Federal face less jail time For most employees, that would from Democrats in Congress and Government continues to offer a mean an increase of about 6 per- federal employee organizations very generous package of retire- centage points; employees hired Bloomberg News a tweet Monday night “horrible” that have thwarted them in prior ment benefits, even when control- and “very unfair.” since 2012 already pay at some- WASHINGTON — The Justice years. ling for certain characteristics of “The idea of our president what higher rates, so the increase Department will reverse course The budget also proposes a 1% workers.” interfering with the criminal would not be as large for them. and propose a shorter prison sen- pay increase for federal employ- An annual comparison by a sal- That proposal would not affect tence for Roger Stone after he was justice system in such a way is ees while recommending 3% for ary advisory council that does not convicted of lying to Congress extraordinary and frightening,” military personnel. take benefits into account shows those under the Civil Service Re- and other crimes to protect Presi- said Sharon McCarthy, a former Trump had recommended pay that federal employees are un- tirement System, who were first dent Donald Trump, according to Manhattan federal prosecutor freezes in his prior two budgets, derpaid by 27% on average in the hired before 1984 and who now a Justice Department official. now in private practice. although he ultimately agreed to most recent report. account for less than a tenth of Just one day after recom- The government said in its an average 1.9% raise for 2019 The two reports use different federal workers. mending Stone, 67, face up to memorandum on Monday that and an average 3.1% for 2020, methods and different sets of data, The budget would also eliminate nine years in prison, the Justice Stone merited a tougher sentence with some variation by locality. In however. The CBO report further a supplemental payment that also Department’s senior leadership because after he was indicted 2017, he had recommended a 1.9% cautioned that comparisons of applies only in the FERS system now believes that the initial rec- he posted an image of the judge average raise for 2018, which benefits are difficult, especially for those who retire before age 62. ommendation was excessive and overseeing the case with cross- Congress accepted. regarding retirement. That payment is roughly equal to that it wasn’t proportional to his hairs next to her head. He also Legislation has already been Tony Reardon, president of the what they will receive in Social violated a court order by repeat- crimes, said the official, who introduced in the House and Sen- National Treasury Employees Security benefits and is paid until edly posting about the case on so- asked to remain anonymous be- ate by several Democrats for an Union, said in a statement: “For they reach age 62 and can start cial media. cause the announcement ha dn’t average 2021 raise of 3.5%. the fourth year in a row, President receiving those benefits. been officially made. Trump hinted that he might The new recommendation has pardon Stone or commute his not yet been finalized, the offi- sentence. cial said, but the reversal raises Stone, a longtime Republican questions about whether Justice operative, argues he’s already Department officials are under been punished by his public trial White House pressure to ease and loss of professional standing. off the president’s former asso- He is due to be sentenced Feb. ciate. Trump called the original 20 by U.S. District Judge Amy sentencing recommendation in Berman Jackson in Washington .
Officials: TSA agent tricked traveler into showing breasts
The Washington Post Now, about eight months after the alleged incident, a criminal To make sure a female passen- complaint has been filed against ger wasn’t hiding anything going Lomeli for tricking the female through airport security, a Trans- portation Security Administra- passenger into showing him her tion agent allegedly told her he breasts twice. The former TSA needed to look inside her bra and agent is charged with false im- down her pants. But even after prisonment for intentionally and she was told by another agent unlawfully detaining an indi- last June that she had cleared the vidual through fraud or deceit, security protocol, the screening according to a felony complaint process at Los Angeles Interna- recently filed in Los Angeles tional Airport did not stop there. County Superior Court. Standing inside an elevator, “Women deserve to be treated TSA agent Johnathon Lomeli, 22, with dignity and respect every- allegedly told the woman they where,” California Attorney could finish the screening there. General Xavier Becerra said To do so, he needed her “to show Thursday in a news release. me your full breasts,” according The complaint filed last week to an arrest affidavit obtained was made by six agencies, in- by the Associated Press. In fear cluding the FBI, Los Angeles of him “inappropriately touch- Police Department and the TSA. ing her,” the female traveler The FBI’s Los Angeles office an- complied, as well as adhering to nounced last week that agents another request for him to look and task force officers arrested down her pants. Lomeli on Thursday at his home. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 13 WORLD China still mostly closed down as virus deaths rise
BY JOE MCDONALD ineffective. Speculation that high- Associated Press er-level officials could be sacked has simmered, but doing so could BEIJING — China remained spark political infighting and be a mostly closed for business Tues- tacit admission that the Commu- day, as the daily death toll from nist Party dropped the ball. a new virus topped 100 for the The number of newly con- first time, pushing the total above firmed cases fell to 2,478 from 1,000. 3,062 the day before, bringing Despite the official end of the the total to 42,638 on the Chinese extended Lunar New Year holi- mainland. day, many remained at home The crossing of more grim Tuesday with around 60 million thresholds has dimmed opti- people under virtual quarantine. mism that the near-quarantine of Authorities in Hong Kong evac- some 60 million people and other uated people from an apartment disease-control measures are block where four were found to be working. infected, raising fears the virus The restart of business poses may be spreading through plumb- a risk of further spreading the ing, similar to what happened in virus, but the country has little 2003’s deadly SARS outbreak. recourse, said Cong Liang, sec- /AP With the death toll reaching retary general of the National CHINATOPIX 1,016 in mainland China and no Development and Reform Com- Security guards hold the curtain for a cyclist to past through a disinfectant spray in order to return home end in sight, heads are beginning mission, China’s main economic at a residential complex in northern China’s Tianjin Municipality on Tuesday. to roll. planning body. While no central government- “Without the reopening of busi- be reached,” Cong said at a news cautionary measure after a 62- The 34 households evacuated level officials have lost their jobs, nesses, in the short term, it will conference. year-old woman diagnosed with live vertically above or below state media reported Tuesday that affect the supply of medical ma- In Hong Kong, authorities the virus Tuesday was found liv- the woman and share the same the top health officials in Hubei terial and … in the long run, it evacuated some residents of an ing 10 floors below a man who was sewage system. A modified toi- province, home to the epicenter will affect the supply of all kinds apartment block after two cases earlier confirmed with the virus. let drainage pipe in her unit may of Wuhan, have been relieved of of production and life materials among those living there raised The woman’s son and daughter- have helped spread the virus, and their duties. and will make the control and suspicion that the virus may be in-law who live with her were officials are checking to see if any No specific reasons were given, prevention efforts on the front spreading through the building’s among seven new cases reported other units have made such alter- although the province’s initial line unsustainable. The target of plumbing. Thursday, raising the city’s total nations while they disinfect the response was deemed slow and defeating the epidemic will not Health officials called it a pre- tally to 49. building. PAGE 14 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 FACES A maniac no more Adam Pally happy to have ‘sane’ role in new Fran Drescher sitcom, ‘Indebted’
BY KATE FELDMAN enough to his own parents that they didn’t New York Daily News even change the childhood photos for the set background. dam Pally is sick of playing “I draw a lot from my wife too,” he maniacs. said, comparing her to his on-screen wife, The New York native made a played by Abby Elliott. Aname for himself as the walking “I go from getting yelled at at home to trainwreck Max Bloom in “Happy End- getting yelled at in the script to back to get- ings” and the sweet but immature Dr. ting yelled at at home.” Peter Prentice on “The Mindy Project.” Elliott, daughter of “Saturday Night Now, he’s ready to settle down. Live” alum Chris Elliott, is one of the few “The first decade of my career, which non-Jewish actors on “Indebted.” I’m so fortunate for, I played a lot of luna- “We call her our shiksa goddess,” Pally tics,” Pally joked joked. “But (she’s) to the Daily News. Hollywood royalty, “It’s nice to get to ‘ I miss having a show so that’s almost play a character being Jewish.” who is absolutely that makes me feel good. Drescher, the na- the sane one of the That’s what I wanted to do. sally New Yorker bunch.” ’ who starred as In “Indebted,” Adam Pally on his latest TV show, “Indebted” Fran Fine on “The which premiered Nanny,” is arguably Feb. 6 stateside on one of the most NBC, Pally plays recognizable Jew- Dave, a normal ish actors working today, and that comes guy with a wife and kids in the suburbs of through in the first three episodes. But Connecticut. He’s stable and comfortable. Pally said the family traditions are more Then his parents, played by the perfectly “flavor” than plot. Most of the story should cast Fran Drescher and Steven Weber, lose be recognizable to everyone. their money and move in, and what follows “The Jewishness of it, hopefully, is the is a funny, sweet, caring look at a very Jew- frame on a painting that everybody has in ish, very screwed-up family. But they’re their house,” he said. screwed up in a way that’s familiar. It’s “Indebted” is a simple show. There’s parents who didn’t save money and a sister not much plot and the characters, while who can’t get a date, not cancer-stricken heartwarming, probably aren’t going to dads who start making drugs and super- change the world. Drescher’s Linda, a neu- natural disappearances in 1980s Indiana. rotic, over-the-top mother, even has a catch For Pally, that looks more like reality. phrase. That’s all intentional. “I feel like my true self is closer to Dave,” “I remember watching ‘Friends’ as a the actor, 37, said. “At this age, you have child and just feeling, regardless of what’s a lot of responsibility. Children, sisters, going on, those people loved each other friends, parents, pets ... I identify with this and they were funny and warm and good,” NBC idea that you just have to get to tomorrow.” Pally told The News. Even his family looks the same, Pally “I miss having a show that makes me Adam Pally costars with Fran Drescher on “Indebted,” a new comedy on NBC. said: Drescher and Weber look similar feel good. That’s what I wanted to do.” Academy Awards telecast ratings drop 20%, hitting an all-time low
From wire services nominations and three wins, and while its star — Margot Robbie “Knives Out,” nominated for best tion 1814” album, which was re- musical performances from Lady — was nominated for an Acad- screenplay, added $2.4 million, leased in 1989. The ratings comeback for the Gaga and Queen. emy Award for her performance bringing its North American total The Black Diamond tour Oscars was short-lived as ABC’s TV viewing for the Oscars and in “Bombshell” and the previous to $158.9 million. Lionsgate re- launches in Miami on June 24 and telecast on Sunday was watched other awards shows have been DC film, the $1 billion-grossing cently confirmed a sequel to the will make stops including Tampa, by 23.6 million viewers, an all- under pressure in recent years as “Joker,” was up for a leading 11 acclaimed whodunit. Nashville, Boston, Chicago, Dal- time low. more viewers are watching video Oscars. Greta Gerwig’s Louisa May Al- las, Los Angeles and New York The 92nd Academy Awards online. During live awards cer- But despite those lead-ins, cott adaptation “Little Women,” City before closing in Tacoma, ceremony from the Dolby The- emonies, younger viewers tend to “Birds of Prey” came in for a which was up for six Oscars in- Wash., on Aug. 23. atre was down 20% from 2019. watch clips on social media sites rocky landing. It had been ex- cluding best picture, also ranked Last year, the telecast was up instead of sitting through an en- pected to open around $50 mil- in the top 10 with $2.3 million. Other news 12% coming off its previous all- tire three-hour plus telecast. lion. It fared similarly overseas, Its seven-week domestic total is time low of 26.5 million viewers “Parasite” was the big winner grossing an estimated $48 million $102.7 million. Robert Conrad, the rugged, in 2018. on Sunday, earning awards for di- from 78 international markets. Holdovers “Dolittle” ($6.7 mil- contentious actor who starred in The ceremony presented by rection, original screenplay and After three weeks atop the lion in its fourth weekend) and the hugely popular 1960s televi- the Motion Picture Academy of international film. box office, “Bad Boys for Life” “Jumaji: The Next Level” ($5.5 sion series “Hawaiian Eye” and Arts and Sciences was historic dropped to second with $12 mil- million) rounded out the top five. “The Wild Wild West,” died Feb. due to the surprising best picture ‘Birds of Prey’ flies low lion in its fourth weekend. The ac- 8 of heart failure. He was 84. win for “Parasite” — the first on Oscars weekend tion comedy, which reunites Will Janet Jackson Orson Bean, the witty actor non-English language film ever Smith and Martin Lawrence, has announces new tour and comedian who enlivened the to take the trophy. But box office “Birds of Prey,” the DC Com- grossed $336 million worldwide. game show “To Tell the Truth“ appeal is often an indicator for ics’ Harley Quinn spinoff, made Ahead of the Academy Awards, Janet Jackson is going out on and played a crotchety merchant Oscar ratings, and the film from a tepid debut in theaters over the several nominees padded their tour this summer in support of on “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” South Korean director Bong Joon weekend, opening in No. 1 but ticket-sales totals. “1917,” the her upcoming album, “Black Di- was hit and killed by a car Feb. 7 Ho has only made about $35 mil- below expectations with $33.3 Sam Mendes-directed World War amond,” set to be released later in Los Angeles, authorities said. lion in ticket sales in the U.S. and million domestically, according I film, took in another $9 million this year. He was 91. Canada. to studio estimates Sunday. in its seventh weekend, good for Along with new hits, the singer, Lyle Mays, a jazz keyboard- The audience level for last “Birds of Prey (and the Fantab- third place. The film has grossed who was inducted into the Rock ist whose work, chiefly with year’s program rose due to the ulous Emancipation of One Har- $132.5 million domestically and and Roll Hall of Fame last year, the Pat Metheny Group, won 11 presence of Disney’s mega-hit ley Quinn),” an R-rated Warner $287.4 million globally. will also be celebrating the 30th Grammy Awards, died Monday “Black Panther,” which had seven Bros. release, arrived in theaters Director Rian Johnson’s anniversary of her “Rhythm Na- in Los Angeles. He was 66. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 15 PAGE 16 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 OPINION Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher Lt. Col. Sean Klimek, Europe commander Lt. Col. Richard McClintic, Pacific commander Inspiring reunions actually hurt troops Caroline E. Miller, Europe Business Operations Joshua M. Lashbrook, Pacific Chief of Staff BY DAVID KIERAN Special to The Washington Post EDITORIAL he reality-TV-style reunion be- tween a recently returned soldier Editor Terry Leonard, and his family during the State [email protected] of the Union address Tuesday , Senior Managing Editor T Robert H. Reid has focused attention on the experiences [email protected] of military families, realities that The Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content Washington Post’s Alex Horton points out [email protected] are often obscured by feel-good media cov- erage and social media posts. Sean Moores, Managing Editor for Presentation In truth, the repeated cycle of deploy- [email protected] ments and returns that has marked the Joe Gromelski, Managing Editor for Digital United States’ wars in Iraq, Afghanistan [email protected] and elsewhere has been psychologically trying for military families, and the De- fense Department has struggled to pro- BUREAU STAFF vide them with the support they need. A Europe/Mideast service member returning home, Horton Erik Slavin, Europe & Mideast Bureau Chief writes, is accompanied by a “mosaic of [email protected] chaos, relief, confusion and anger.” More +49(0)631.3615.9350; DSN (314)583.9350 importantly, he points out that the home- J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP Pacific coming “is only the beginning of weeks or Aaron Kidd, Pacific Bureau Chief months of work, when the service member Amy Williams kisses husband Sgt. 1st Class Townsend Williams after he surprised her [email protected] decompresses and struggles to adjust to a by appearing at last week’s State of the Union address by President Donald Trump. +81.42.552.2511 ext. 88380; DSN (315)227.7380 new paradigm.” Our love of these made-for-social media In 2004, WRAIR psychologists Amy ample, returning troops were taught that Washington reunions has occluded these struggles, Adler and Col. Paul Bliese traveled to Pisa, while in a combat zone, a soldier needed to Joseph Cacchioli, Washington Bureau Chief but the U.S. Army itself has been aware of [email protected] Italy, to assess the mental health of mem- control their emotions. At home, however, them since early in the Iraq War. Research- (+1)(202)886-0033 bers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, a unit the inability to share how one was feeling ers’ 2005 recognition that soldiers who Brian Bowers, Assistant Managing Editor, News that had just finished a yearlong deploy- could cause strain in a relationship. [email protected] returned with seemingly few challenges Through this program, which the Army might subsequently encounter psychologi- ment to Iraq. Using a document called the validated in a scientific study, soldiers CIRCULATION cal issues set in motion in an ambitious ef- Post-Deployment Health Assessment, they learned that the need to readjust was in- fort to develop a program to help soldiers surveyed these soldiers for depression, Mideast evitable but almost always possible; just as readjust. The development of the Army’s post-traumatic stress, anxiety and other Robert Reismann, Mideast Circulation Manager they had successfully adapted to a combat Post-Deployment Health Reassessment conditions that might follow a deployment. [email protected] environment, most soldiers would in a short and the Battlemind psycho-education pro- Surprisingly, few of the soldiers reported [email protected] time readapt to life in the United States. DSN (314)583-9111 gram 2005 and 2006 marked a key moment any symptoms. At a time when increasing But the program also taught participants in the military’s growing awareness of the attention was being paid to the psychologi- Europe cal toll of the Iraq War, this unit, at least, that some veterans might need therapy or Karen Lewis, Community Engagement Manager psychological toll that these conflicts were medication to regain their previous level of taking on troops, and of the need to not seemed to have returned from a lengthy, [email protected] difficult deployment with few issues. mental health. [email protected] simply celebrate soldier homecomings but The program, the Army found, was a +49(0)631.3615.9090; DSN (314)583.9090 attend to service members’ needs in the A few months later, however, a competing study found something seemingly contra- rousing success. It helped soldiers under- Pacific months that follow. stand why they were feeling as they did, Studying soldier readjustment and its ef- dictory: A significantly higher percentage Mari Mori, [email protected] of the soldiers tested “met the screening that their symptoms would usually quickly +81-3 6385.3171; DSN (315)227.7333 fect on families was a significant step for- dissipate and to learn that sometimes seek- ward for the military. criteria for major depression, PTSD or al- cohol misuse ... after deployment than be- ing help is appropriate. Within a few years, CONTACT US Although there has been some research the Army had rolled out another version of on the impact of deployments on families fore deployment.” This finding compelled the researchers Battlemind, this one aimed at partners who Washington during the Second World War, it wasn’t might have struggled while their loved one tel: (+1)202.886.0003 to administer another survey to members until after Vietnam that the military saw was deployed or after they returned. 633 3rd St. NW, Suite 116, Washington, DC 20001-3050 this as a serious concern. Many Vietnam of the 173rd, who by this point had been home for about three months, the same The Army’s psychological research re- veterans recall their return as a sort of vealed that if reunions “in base gyms or Reader letters whiplash — leaving Southeast Asia on an amount of time as those observed in the [email protected] installation buildings” marked the end of airplane, arriving in the United States other study. Their findings stunned them: Soldier reports of some symptoms had tri- a deployment, they might also mark the Additional contacts to be discharged and returning home to beginning of that deployment’s effect on a stripes.com/contactus communities that hardly understood their pled; others had quintupled. This finding led to the conclusion that soldier and their family. That knowledge, experiences. Indeed, the climate of pub- in turn, generated a fast and vigorous ef- OMBUDSMAN licly celebrated returns stems from the soldiers who had just returned from a dif- ficult deployment, reuniting joyfully with fort to help soldiers understand those ef- widespread sentiment that Vietnam veter- fects, teach them how to manage them and Ernie Gates ans were never properly welcomed home. their families and having had no chance to readjust to non-deployment life were, encourage them to seek help. With the shift to the all-volunteer military, Yet this hasn’t changed our public nar- The Stars and Stripes ombudsman protects the free flow however, military leaders and researchers in fact, symptom-free — but it didn’t mean of news and information, reporting any attempts by the they were out of the woods. The real- rative about soldiers returning to their military or other authorities to undermine the newspaper’s became more interested in studying how families. If anything, social media has independence. The ombudsman also responds to concerns soldiers experienced deployments and, ity, Adler and Bliese concluded, was that and questions from readers, and monitors coverage for fair- symptoms often took time to manifest. intensified our sense that these are trium- ness, accuracy, timeliness and balance. The ombudsman because more soldiers had partners and phant, heartwarming moments that will After the initial euphoria of homecom- welcomes comments from readers, and can be contacted children, how those deployments affected leave families bathed in happiness. But by email at [email protected], or by phone at ing wore off and soldiers began to return families. Such research, the Army under- there is a real danger to this narrative: Sol- 202.886.0003. to the mundane activities of everyday life stood, was crucial to recruiting and retain- diers and families — and all of us — need and process their experiences, some began ing soldiers. to know that deployment-related challeng- to experience symptoms: They might have Stars and Stripes (USPS 0417900) is published week- The Navy, for example, studied how sail- es might creep up in the months after re- trouble relating to their children, fight with days (except Dec. 25 and Jan. 1) for 50 cents Monday ors and their families withstood separation turning home. through Thursday and for $1 on Friday by Pacific Stars and their partners over seemingly insignificant during cruises. As the Army deployed sol- Such challenges are to be expected, and Stripes, Unit 45002, APO AP 96301-5002. Periodicals issues, become anxious in crowded spaces, postage paid at San Francisco, CA, Postmaster: Send diers to the Balkans, Somalia and the Mid- most service members and families quick- address changes to Pacific Stars and Stripes, Unit 45002, dle East throughout the 1990s, researchers or find their sleep disturbed. By screen- ly readjust, while some might need help to APO AP 96301-5002. from the Walter Reed Army Institute of ing soldiers only when they returned, the do so. What all service members and fami- This newspaper is authorized by the Department of Army was potentially missing a lot of peo- Defense for members of the military services overseas. Research (WRAIR), the Army’s medical lies need, however, is continued support However, the contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, research unit, surveyed them to find out ple who might need help. after deployments. That’s what makes our and are not to be considered as the official views of, or what caused them stress. Unsurprisingly, This recognition quickly prompted ac- endorsed by, the U.S. government. As a DOD newspaper, fascination with the moment of reunion so Stars and Stripes may be distributed through official chan- being separated from their families was tion. Within days, the Defense Department pernicious. Having decided that soldiers nels and use appropriated funds for distribution to remote near the top of the list. had mandated that soldiers be screened are happily reunited with their loved ones locations where overseas DOD personnel are located. This awareness, and the research ca- again after 90 days, using a new docu- The appearance of advertising in this publication does and that the moment of danger has passed, not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense pacity that WRAIR developed, shaped re- ment called the Post-Deployment Health we, too, easily tune out, shielded from the or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. searchers’ approach to studying soldiers Reassessment, and provided help to find long-term effects of a nation’s embrace of Products or services advertised shall be made available for returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet the right care stream to ease their read- purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, perpetual war and disengaged from the religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical while they expected that these deployments justment. In the next year, WRAIR re- challenges it might produce for those who handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor would result in psychological challenges searchers also developed the Battlemind endure it. of the purchaser, user or patron. for many soldiers, exactly how — and when program, a training that helped soldiers — those issues manifested surprised them, understand that the behaviors required to David Kieran is assistant professor of history © Stars and Stripes 2020 at Washington & Jefferson College and author generating new ways of studying and car- successfully deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan of “Signature Wounds: The Untold Story of the stripes.com ing for returning troops. might prove unhealthy at home. For ex- Military’s Mental Health Crisis.” Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 17 SCOREBOARD/SPORTS BRIEFS Briefl y Sports College basketball Deals No. 2 Gonzaga at Pepperdine AP Men’s Top 25 No. 3 Kansas vs. Oklahoma Monday’s transactions Chargers QB Rivers will on AFN The top 25 teams in The Associated No. 5 Louisville at Clemson BASEBALL Press’ men’s college basketball poll, with No. 6 Dayton at UMass American League become a free agent first-place votes in parentheses, records No. 7 Duke vs. Notre Dame LOS ANGELES ANGELS — Claimed LHP through Feb. 9, total points based on No. 8 Florida State vs. Syracuse Jose Quijada off waivers from Miami. COSTA MESA, Calif. — Philip Go to the American Forces 25 points for a first-place vote through No. 9 Maryland at Michigan State MINNESOTA TWINS — Acquired RHP one point for a 25th-place vote and last No. 10 Seton Hall at Providence Kenta Maeda and C Jair Camargo and Rivers’ 16-year career with the Network website for the most week’s ranking: No. 11 Auburn at Missouri cash considerations from Los Angeles Chargers has come to an end. up-to-date TV schedules. Record Pts Pvs No. 12 Kentucky vs. Mississippi Dodgers for RHP Brusdar Graterol and OF 1. Baylor (48) 21-1 1,583 1 No. 13 Penn State vs. Northwestern Luke Raley and a Competitive Balance B The franchise announced Mon- myafn.net 2. Gonzaga (15) 25-1 1,546 2 No. 16 Colorado at Oregon State Pick in the 2020 First-Year Player Draft. 3. Kansas (1) 20-3 1,450 3 No. 19 Butler vs. Georgetown SEATTLE MARINERS — Assigned RHP day that Rivers will enter free 4. San Diego St. 24-0 1,422 4 No. 20 Houston at SMU Matt Festa outright to Tacoma (PCL). agency and won’t return to Los 5. Louisville 21-3 1,331 5 No. 22 Illinois at Rutgers Promoted Justin Hollander to vice presi- College hockey 6. Dayton 21-2 1,255 6 No. 23 Creighton vs. DePaul dent and assistant general manager, Angeles for the upcoming season. 7. Duke 20-3 1,211 7 No. 24 Texas Tech at Oklahoma State baseball operations. General manager Tom Telesco 8. Florida St. 20-3 1,170 8 No. 25 LSU at Alabama National League 9. Maryland 19-4 1,057 9 Sunday’s games ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS — Agreed said in a statement that as they NCAA Division I poll 10. Seton Hall 18-5 1,013 12 No. 4 San Diego State at Boise State to terms with SS Nick Ahmed on a four- No. 15 Villanova at Temple talked through various scenarios MINNEAPOLIS — The top 20 teams in 11. Auburn 21-2 998 11 year contract. 12. Kentucky 18-5 853 15 No. 17 Oregon vs. Utah LOS ANGELES DODGERS — Acquired with Rivers, it became apparent the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey No. 21 Iowa at Minnesota poll, compiled by U.S. College Hockey 13. Penn St. 18-5 787 22 OF Mookie Betts and LHP David Price it would be best for both “to turn Online, with first-place votes in paren- 14. West Virginia 18-5 721 13 and cash considerations from Boston for theses, records through Feb. 9 and previ- 15. Villanova 17-6 581 10 AP Women’s Top 25 OF Alex Verdugo, INF Jeter Downs and C the page on what has truly been a 16. Colorado 19-5 567 24 Connor Wong. Designated IF Tyler White ous ranking: The top 25 teams in The Associated remarkable run.” Record Pts Pvs 17. Oregon 18-6 497 14 and OF Kyle Garlick for assignment. 18. Marquette 17-6 425 — Press’ women’s college basketball poll, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS — Designated Rivers’ future in powder blue 1. North Dakota (48) 21-3-3 998 1 with first-place votes in parentheses, 2. Cornell (1) 17-2-4 927 2 19. Butler 18-6 414 19 RHP Burch Smith for assignment. Signed 20. Houston 19-5 402 25 records through Feb. 9, total points RHP Nick Vincent and OF Billy Hamilton was the main storyline late in the 3. Minnesota State (1) 26-4-2 920 3 based on 25 points for a first-place vote 4. Minnesota Duluth 17-9-2 794 6 21. Iowa 17-7 374 17 to minor league contracts. Claimed LHP season after the Chargers were 22. Illinois 16-7 235 20 through one point for a 25th-place vote Jarlin Garcia off waivers from Miami. 5. Clarkson 20-6-2 787 5 and last week’s ranking: eliminated from postseason con- 6. Denver 17-6-5 739 7 23. Creighton 18-6 213 21 BASKETBALL 24. Texas Tech 15-8 169 — Record Pts Pvs Women’s NBA 7. Boston College 16-8-1 704 4 1. South Carolina (27) 22-1 747 1 sideration. He said during the 8. Massachusetts 18-9-2 684 8 25. LSU 17-6 160 18 LOS ANGELES SPARKS — Traded C Ka- Others receiving votes: Michigan St. 2. Baylor (3) 21-1 716 2 lani Brown to Atlanta for G Brittney Sykes final weeks that he intended to 9. Penn State 18-9-3 596 9 3. Oregon 22-2 697 3 10. Arizona State 20-9-3 529 11 124, Rhode Island 57, N Iowa 44, BYU 43, and C Marie G play in 2020, even if that meant Arizona 34, Purdue 27, Ohio St. 14, Cin- 4. NC State 22-1 624 7 NEW YORK LIBERTY — Signed G Lay- 11. UMass Lowell 15-7-5 465 14 5. UConn 20-2 622 4 12. Northeastern 15-8-2 431 12 cinnati 6, Stephen F Austin 6, Michigan 3, shia Clarendon. going to another team. Rutgers 2, Virginia 2, ETSU 2, Wright St. 1, 6. Mississippi St. 22-3 605 8 FOOTBALL 13. Ohio State 16-10-4 367 13 7. UCLA 21-2 576 10 The 38-year old Rivers was se- 14. Providence 14-9-5 363 10 Winthrop 1. National Football League 8. Stanford 21-3 547 6 BALTIMORE RAVENS — Agreed to lected fourth overall by the New 15. Quinnipiac 17-9-2 294 16 9. Louisville 21-3 506 5 16. Bemidji State 16-8-4 180 18 terms with S Chuck Clark on a three-year USA Today Men’s Top 25 10. Maryland 20-4 450 13 contract extension. York Giants in the 2004 draft 17. Maine 15-9-4 159 — 11. Oregon St. 19-5 428 9 18. Harvard 11-7-4 150 17 The top 25 teams in the USA Today CINCINNATI BENGALS — Named Troy but was traded to the Chargers 19. Northern Michigan 16-10-4 146 15 men’s college basketball poll, with first- 12. Arizona 19-4 426 12 Walters assistant wide receivers coach in a draft day deal for Eli Man- 20. Sacred Heart 18-8-2 92 20 place votes in parentheses, records 13. DePaul 22-3 382 14 and Colt Anderson assistant special Michigan through Feb. 9, points based on 25 points 14. Florida St. 20-4 368 17 teams coach. ning, who announced his retire- Others receiving votes: 15. Gonzaga 23-2 324 11 State 67, Western Michigan 42, Minne- for a first-place vote through one point GREEN BAY PACKERS — Named Connor ment last month. Rivers went on sota 32, Notre Dame 10, AIC 8, Bowling for a 25th-place vote and last week’s 16. Texas A&M 18-5 251 16 Lewis offensive quality control coach. Green 7, New Hampshire 4, Boston Uni- ranking: 17. Iowa 20-4 243 20 LOS ANGELES RAMS — Named Bran- to set 30 franchise records with versity 3, Michigan 2. Record Pts Pvs 18. Kentucky 18-5 221 15 don Staley defensive coordinator, Kevin 1. Baylor (19) 21-1 786 1 19. Northwestern 19-3 191 21 O’Connell offensive coordinator and John the Chargers and was an eight- 2. Gonzaga (13) 25-1 776 2 20. Indiana 19-6 176 18 Bonamego special teams coordinator. time selection to the Pro Bowl. Monday’s scores 3. Kansas 20-3 715 3 21. South Dakota 22-2 146 22 MINNESOTA VIKINGS — Named Dom 22. Arizona St. 16-8 128 19 Capers senior defensive assistant. EAST 4. San Diego State 24-0 712 4 He also led the Chargers to the 5. Louisville 21-3 667 5 23. Arkansas 19-5 118 25 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS — Signed DL Boston College 7, Harvard 2 24. Missouri St. 20-3 106 24 playoffs six times but only twice Northeastern 4, Boston U. 4, 2OT 6. Dayton 21-2 640 6 Alex Barrett and OL Jake Brendel and 7. Duke 20-3 611 7 25. Tennessee 17-6 47 23 Jaryd Jones-Smith. since 2010. 8. Florida State 20-3 560 8 Others receiving votes: Princeton 46, WASHINGTON REDSKINS — Named 9. Maryland 19-4 548 9 TCU 31, Florida Gulf Coast 13, LSU 10, Jennifer King full-year coaching intern. His 224 consecutive regular- Tennis 10. Seton Hall 18-5 502 13 Stony Brook 3, Cent Michigan 1, Fresno HOCKEY season starts are second-most 11. Auburn 21-2 498 10 St. 1. National Hockey League 12. Kentucky 18-5 404 16 BUFFALO SABRES — Assigned G An- among quarterbacks in NFL his- 13. Penn State 18-5 392 20 drew Hammond to Rochester (AHL). tory and his 123 wins are ninth. New York Open 14. West Virginia 18-5 380 11 Monday’s women’s scores CALGARY FLAMES — Assigned F Bud- Monday 15. Colorado 19-5 277 24 EAST dy Robinson to Stockton (AHL). Recalled He is one of six quarterbacks to At NYBC Live 16. Villanova 17-6 265 12 Bryant 78, St. Francis Brooklyn 59 D Alexander Yelesin from Stockton. eclipse 50,000 career yards and New York 17. Iowa 17-7 218 17 Merrimack 84, Fairleigh Dickinson 66 NEW YORK RANGERS — Reassigned F Purse: $719,320 18. Oregon 18-6 210 15 Mount St. Mary’s 77, LIU 57 Jake Elmer from Maine (ECHL) to Hart- his 397 touchdowns are sixth. Surface: Hardcourt indoor 19. Houston 19-5 209 25 NJIT 60, North Florida 56 ford (AHL). Loaned D Jeff Taylor and F Men’s Singles 20. Butler 18-6 173 19 Robert Morris 77, Wagner 35 Lewis Zerter-Gossage from Hartford to Round of 32 21. Creighton 18-6 170 22 St. Francis (Pa.) 48, Sacred Heart 39 Maine. Pens get Zucker from Miomir Kecmanovic (6), Serbia, def. 22. Marquette 17-6 141 30 SOUTH PHILADELPHIA FLYERS — Reassigned G Tommy Paul, United States, 6-4, 6-2. 23. Illinois 16-7 115 21 Alabama A&M 75, MVSU 45 Kirill Ustimenko to Lehigh Valley (AHL). Wild for Galchenyuk Andreas Seppi, Italy, def. Damir Dzum- 24. Texas Tech 15-8 92 26 Bethune-Cookman 88, Howard 59 SOCCER hur, Bosnia-Herzegovina, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (6). 25. Michigan State 16-8 88 14 Coppin St. 66, Md.-Eastern Shore 63 U.S. SOCCER — Announced the resig- Steve Johnson, United States, def. Others receiving votes: LSU 81, Ari- Delaware St. 76, SC State 64 nation of beach soccer men’s national PITTSBURGH — The Pitts- Tennys Sandgren (5), United States, 6-7 zona 53, Northern Iowa 20, Ohio State Florida Gulf Coast 67, Stetson 54 team coach Eddie Soto. burgh Penguins have acquired (5), 6-3, 7-6 (3). 20, Rhode Island 18, BYU 17, Purdue 14, Grambling St. 70, Alcorn St. 59 Major League Soccer Marcos Giron, United States, def. Jack Rutgers 9, Saint Mary’s 7, Michigan 6, Jackson St. 60, Southern U. 57 ATLANTA UNITED — Signed G Brad Gu- veteran forward Jason Zucker Sock, United States, 6-3, 6-4. Cincinnati 2, ETSU 1, Oklahoma 1, Tulsa LSU 66, Missouri 58 zan to a multi-year contract extension 1, Yale 1. Liberty 65, Jacksonville 59 through the 2023 season. from Minnesota, giving the Pen- Morgan St. 86, NC Central 79 MONTREAL IMPACT — Montreal Im- guins’ top-six forward group a ABN AMRO World Tournament NC A&T 66, Florida A&M 49 pact and MF Ignacio Piatti have agreed Tuesday Monday’s men’s scores North Alabama 91, Lipscomb 58 to terminate his Major League Soccer jolt as they prepare for a postsea- At Ahoy Rotterdam EAST South Carolina 70, UConn 52 contract. son push. Rotterdam, Netherlands Baruch 82, York (NY) 71 MIDWEST National Women’s Soccer League Purse: Euro2,013,855 Centenary (NJ) 107, St. Elizabeth 96 Michigan 77, Minnesota 52 ORLANDO PRIDE — Acquired D Ali Riley Pittsburgh sent forward Alex Surface: Hardcourt indoor City Colllege (NY) 83, Medgar Evers 76 Northwestern 85, Michigan St. 55 by transfer from Bayern Munich (Frauen- Galchenyuk, defenseman pros- Men’s Singles Colgate 79, Boston U. 63 SOUTHWEST Bundesliga-Germany). Round of 32 Coppin St. 68, Md.-Eastern Shore 67, OT Alabama St. 68, Ark.-Pine Bluff 65 WASHINGTON SPIRIT — Signed Fs Ash- pect Calen Addison and a con- Felix Auger-Aliassime, Canada, def. Lehman 79, Hunter 73 FAR WEST ley Sanchez and Katie McClure, F/M/D ditional 2020 first-round draft Jan-Lennard Struff, Germany, 6-3, 1-6, 6- NC Central 58, Morgan St. 57 N. Colorado 78, Portland St. 51 Natalie Jacobs, M Averie Collins, D Kaiya 3. Staten Island 66, Brooklyn 61 McCullough and G Katie Lund. pick to the Wild in exchange for Karen Khachanov, Russia, def. Fabio SOUTH TENNIS Fognini (5), Italy, 6-3, 6-3. Bethune-Cookman 87, Howard 68 AP Women’s Top 25 schedule WORLD TEAMTENNIS — Announced it Zucker. Alexander Bublik, Kazakhstan, def. Clark Atlanta 70, Benedict 65 Wednesday’s game is addind an expansion franchise in Chi- The 28-year-old Zucker has Gregoire Barrere, France, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6- Duke 70, Florida St. 65 No. 2 Baylor vs. TCU cago named the Chicago Smash, to be- 14 goals and 15 assists this sea- 4. Florida A&M 79, NC A&T 60 Thursday’s games gin play this year. Andrey Rublev (7), Russia, def. Nikoloz Gardner-Webb 86, High Point 55 No. 1 South Carolina vs. Auburn son for Minnesota. His arrival Basilashvili, Georgia, 6-2, 6-3. Grambling St. 80, Alcorn St. 71 No. 4 N.C. State vs. No. 9 Louisville Aljaz Bedene, Slovenia, def. Benoit Hampton 80, UNC-Asheville 70 No. 10 Maryland vs. No. 17 Iowa in Pittsburgh gives the Penguins Paire, France, 6-2, 6-4. Jackson St. 67, Southern U. 51 No. 15 Gonzaga vs. San Francisco Pro football more scoring depth to add to one Longwood 57, Campbell 56 No. 16 Texas A&M vs. Vanderbilt MVSU 67, Alabama A&M 61 of their top two lines. Pittsburgh, St. Petersburg Open No. 19 Northwestern at Michigan Paine 74, Fort Valley St. 69 No. 20 Indiana at Illinois XFL currently four points behind first- Tuesday Radford 81, Winthrop 77 No. 21 South Dakota vs. Western Illinois At Sport Club Dinamo SC State 100, Delaware St. 86 East Division place Washington in the Metro- SC-Upstate 66, Charleston Southern 52 No. 25 Tennessee at LSU W L Pct PF PA St. Petersburg, Russia Friday’s games Purse: $782,900 Savannah St. 69, Albany St. (Ga.) 59 DC 1 0 1.000 31 19 politan Division, has spent the Spring Hill 78, Kentucky St. 61 No. 3 Oregon at No. 7 UCLA New York 1 0 1.000 23 3 Surface: Hardcourt indoor No. 8 Stanford at Utah last five weeks looking to replace )Women’s Singles Virginia St. 89, Bowie St. 66 St. Louis 1 0 1.000 15 9 Winston-Salem 76, Shaw 52 No. 11 Oregon State at Southern Cal Tampa Bay 0 1 .000 3 23 All-Star forward Jake Guentzel, Round of 32 No. 12 Arizona vs. Washington Oceane Dodin, France, def. Viktoria MIDWEST West Division who is out until late April after in- Kuzmova, Slovakia, 6-2, 6-2. Central St. (Ohio) 78, Tuskegee 68 No. 13 DePaul vs. Butler W L Pct PF PA Alison van Uytvanck, Belgium, def. SOUTHWEST No. 22 Arizona State vs. Washington Houston 1 0 1.000 37 17 juring his right shoulder on Dec. Kristina Mladenovic, France, 6-4, 6-1. Alabama St. 57, Ark.-Pine Bluff 49 State Dallas 0 1 .000 9 15 Ajla Tomljanovic, Australia, def. Mar- Baylor 52, Texas 45 Saturday’s games Los Angeles 0 1 .000 17 37 30. keta Vondrousova (5), Czech Republic, Texas Tech 88, TCU 42 No. 2 Baylor at Oklahoma State Seattle 0 1 .000 19 31 In other hockey news: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. FAR WEST No. 15 Gonzaga vs. Santa Clara Saturday’s games Veronika Kudermetova, Russia, def. Azusa Pacific 82, Hawaii Pacific 48 No. 21 South Dakota at Oral Roberts DC 31, Seattle 19 Edmonton captain Connor Yulia Putintseva, Kazakhstan, 7-6 (4), 1- Chaminade 80, Point Loma 70 No. 24 Missouri State vs. Southern Il- Houston 37, Los Angeles 17 McDavid will be out two to three 6, 7-5. Portland St. 83, N. Colorado 71 linois Sunday’s games Donna Vekic (7), Croatia, def. Kristie Sunday’s games New York 23, Tampa Bay 3 weeks with a quad injury. Ahn, United States, 6-4, 6-1. No. 3 Oregon at Southern Cal St. Louis 15, Dallas 9 The injury was initially said Svetlana Kuznetsova, Russia, def. Jen- AP Men’s Top 25 schedule No. 4 N.C. State vs. Georgia Tech Saturday, Feb. 15 nifer Brady, United States, 6-3, 6-1. Wednesday’s games No. 5 UConn at South Florida New York at DC to be a bruised knee from Satur- Fiona Ferro, France, vs. Caroline Gar- No. 3 Kansas at No. 14 West Virginia No. 6 Mississippi State at No. 18 Ken- Tampa Bay at Seattle cia, France, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. No. 5 Louisville at Georgia Tech tucky Sunday, Feb. 16 day’s game against the Nashville No. 10 Seton Hall vs. No. 23 Creighton No. 8 Stanford at Colorado Dallas at Los Angeles Predators. McDavid later called No. 11 Auburn vs. Alabama No. 9 Louisville vs. Notre Dame St. Louis at Houston No. 15 Villanova vs. No. 18 Marquette No. 10 Maryland at Penn State it a charley horse/quad injury. Pro baseball No. 19 Butler vs. Xavier No. 12 Arizona vs. Washington State The 23-year-old McDavid was No. 20 Houston at South Florida No. 13 DePaul vs. Xavier NFL calendar Thursday’s games No. 14 Florida State at Duke Feb. 24-March 2 — NFL scouting com- second in the league in points No. 16 Colorado at No. 17 Oregon No. 16 Texas A&M at No. 25 Tennessee bine, Indianapolis. with 81 going into Tuesday’s MLB calendar No. 21 Iowa at Indiana No. 17 Iowa vs. Wisconsin Feb. 25 — First day for clubs to desig- Feb. 4-21 — Salary arbitration hear- Friday’s games No. 19 Northwestern vs. Nebraska nate franchise or transition players. games. He has 30 goals and 51 ings, Phoenix. No games scheduled No. 20 Indiana vs. Ohio State March 10 — Deadline for clubs to des- Feb. 16 — Voluntary reporting date for Saturday’s games No. 22 Arizona State vs. Washington ignate franchise or transition players be- assists. other players. No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 14 West Virginia No. 23 Arkansas at Mississippi fore 4 p.m. EDT. — Associated Press PAGE 18 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 COLLEGE BASKETBALL Top 25 roundup No. 1 Baylor wins 21st straight
Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas — MaCio Teague scored 11 points, Devonte Bandoo added 10 and No. 1 Baylor defeated Texas 52-45 Monday night for its 21st straight victory — one short of the Big 12 record set by Kansas in 1997. The Bears (22-1, 11-0 Big 12) wrested control with a 13-0 push that put them ahead 42-27 with 9:28 remaining. Five players scored for Baylor during that TONY TRIBBLE/AP stretch. The Longhorns helped out with three turnovers and failed to score for a Dayton coach Anthony Grant was a period of 5:06. freshman on the 1984 Dayton team that Texas (14-10, 4-7) trailed by 16 with less lost to Georgetown in the Elite Eight. than seven minutes left. Then Coleman and Jones hit consecutive three-pointers, and Jones made a three-point play and Flyers suddenly the Longhorns found themselves High: down by seven. But Jared Butler responded by making an open three-pointer with 4:49 left after show patience the Bears navigated through Texas’ de- fensive press. Baylor led 22-16 after a first half of inept offense. FROM BACK PAGE Matt Coleman led the Longhorns with 11 falling behind Central Michigan and points, and Andrew Jones scored 10. Texas /AP Wright State (both 81.8) when they beat shot a season-low 30.5% from the field. ERIC GAY Saint Louis 71-65 on Saturday. No. 7 Duke 70, No. 8 Florida State 65: Texas guard Andrew Jones, left, is blocked by Baylor guard Mark Vital during the first They lead the nation in field-goal per- Tre Jones had 13 points to help the host half of Monday’s game in Austin, Texas. Top-ranked Baylor won 52-45. centage at 52.4% and are second in assists Blue Devils overcome a turnover-heavy per game at 18.4, trailing Belmont’s 18.7. performance to beat the Seminoles. — including three three-pointers — after Kyler Edwards also had four threes while “We love sharing the ball,” said forward Duke (21-3, 11-2 Atlantic Coast Con- coming in averaging 4.0 points. scoring 14 points. Obi Toppin, whose alley-oop dunks are ference) was coming off a wild and emo- Trent Forrest finished with 18 points, Kevin McCullar and TJ Holyfield each the punctuation mark to Dayton’s pass-it- tionally draining overtime win against nine rebounds and eight steals to lead Flor- had 10 points for the Red Raiders, who around style. “We know giving up a good rival North Carolina on Saturday. And the ida State (20-4, 10-3), which shot just 38%. moved back into the Top 25 earlier Mon- shot to get a better shot is always the right teams entered this game tied for second in No. 24 Texas Tech 88, TCU 42: Davide day following a two-week absence. They way to go.” the ACC, sitting one game back in the loss Moretti and Jahmi’us Ramsey each had 17 have won three in a row since three losses The 6-foot-8 Toppin has 160 dunks in column of No. 5 Louisville. points and the host Red Raiders made a in their previous four games, and this was less than two seasons at Dayton, which Big man Vernon Carey Jr. had a quiet of- season-high 13 three-pointers against the their largest margin of victory ever in a was one of the few teams that showed an fensive night (10 points and 10 rebounds), turnover-plagued Horned Frogs. Big 12 game. interest. Toppin — his full first name is but the Blue Devils got a boost with junior Moretti made a three on the first shot of Jaire Grayer had 10 points and was the Obadiah — was a late bloomer at Ossining guard Jordan Goldwire matching his ca- the game, after TCU’s first turnover, to put player in double figures for the Horned High School in New York, measuring only reer high with 13 points on 5-for-5 shooting Texas Tech (16-8, 7-4 Big 12) ahead to stay. Frogs (13-11, 4-7). Texas Tech scored 33 6-foot-2 as a junior. Toppin found Dayton, and the Flyers This week in the Top 25 have been finding him ever since. The Fly- ers’ ball movement gets defenses out of po- sition and Toppin to slip behind a defender to slam down a pass. Two top-3 teams loom for Mountaineers But it’s far from a one-man show. The Flyers have a little bit of everything on offense, which is why they’re so tough BY JOHN MARSHALL Huggins said he could see the letdown State (24-0, 13-0 Mountain West) remains to guard. Jalen Crutcher has a team-high Associated Press coming when the Moutaineers coasted late Division I’s lone undefeated team after 54 three-pointers while shooting 42% in their 76-61 win over Iowa State the game beating Air Force by 15 last week. from beyond the arc. Trey Landers shoots No. 14 West Virginia has some marquee before. To keep it that way after this week, the 61% from the field, including 40% on wins on its résumé, a big reason the Moun- “I just know that the guys we have Aztecs will have to get through New Mexi- three-pointers. taineers were among the top 16 teams in depended on all year are not the same co and Boise State. Sixth man Ibi Watson made one start this the NCAA’s preliminary rankings. dudes,” Huggins said. They are not the San Diego State won by 18 at New Mexico season because of injury, scored 30 points They have a huge chance to get two more same people.” in the teams’ first meeting on Jan. 29 and and went back to the bench. He shoots in what will be one of the toughest weeks The Mountaineers at least have experi- cruised over the Broncos by 18 at home on 43.2% from beyond the arc. any team will face this season. ence with tough weeks. Jan. 11. Landers, a senior guard, grew up in Day- It starts Wednesday with a home game According to Sportradar, West Virginia Get through those and the Aztecs’ bid to ton. He was part of the drop-off the last two against No. 3 Kansas, the No. 2 overall seed years, when the Flyers went from NCAA is the only team this season to play con- finish the regular season undefeated will in the NCAA’s rankings. Three days later, Tournament participants to spectators. secutive games against top-3 teams. The come down to games against UNLV, Colo- the Mountaineers head to Baylor, No. 1 in They finished 14-17 in 2017-18, Grant’s Mountaineers beat No. 2 Ohio State 67-59 rado State and Nevada. the AP Top 25 and NCAA rankings. first season. on Dec. 29 and lost to No. 3 Kansas 60-53 Big East battles: No. 10 Seton Hall leads That’s a tough slate for any team, par- “You’ve got to go through something to ticularly one that followed its No. 2 seeding on Jan. 4. the Big East by three games at 10-1. This become something,” Landers said. “I’m a by the NCAA with a disappointing loss to Pac-12 showdown: The Pac-12 still has week could be the last chance for any team big believer in that. We’re trying to keep Oklahoma. six teams within two games of the confer- to catch the Pirates. this team together because we know how “We’re good enough to beat anybody in ence lead with three weeks left in the regu- Seton Hall has a tough game on Wednes- special this team can be.” the country if we have the right frame of lar season. day, when it hosts No. 23 Creighton, one of Dayton lost to UCLA for the national title mind,” West Virginia coach Bob Huggins Thursday’s game between No. 16 Colo- three teams tied for second at 7-4. The Pi- in 1967. It has reached the Elite Eight two said after the 69-59 loss on Saturday. rado and No. 17 Oregon could muddle it rates also play at Providence on Saturday. other times, in 1984 and 2014. The Mountaineers (18-5, 6-4 Big 12) even more. The other two 7-4 teams face each other Grant was a freshman on the 1984 team have proven it at times this season. The Buffaloes lead the conference at 8- on Wednesday, when No. 15 Villanova that lost to Georgetown in the Elite Eight. West Virginia beat Wichita State in Mex- 3 after beating California and Utah last hosts No. 18 Creighton. The Wildcats also “There’s been a lot of great teams, a ico, knocked off then-No. 2 Ohio State in week. The Ducks are a half-game back at face Temple on Sunday and the Bluejays lot of great coaches who have been here,” Cleveland and No. 24 Texas Tech in Mor- 7-4 following a 10-point loss to rival Ore- host DePaul on Saturday. Grant said. “So there’s a lot of pride and a gantown. But the Mountaineers also have gon State last week. If Seton Hall wins both games, it will lot of responsibility that our guys have to a 16-point loss to Kansas State, a rematch Colorado plays Oregon State on Saturday likely be a lock for the Big East title. Lose continue to represent the university, the loss to Texas Tech and had Saturday’s and the Ducks face Utah on Sunday. even one, and the conference race could community and the guys that have come clunker against Oklahoma. Undefeated Aztecs: No. 4 San Diego get interesting down the stretch. before them.” Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 19 OLYMPICS/MLB US will have WNBA players League considering available for 3-on-3 qualifier expanding playoffs
BY DOUG FEINBERG BY RONALD BLUM The division winner with the second- Associated Press Associated Press best record would choose its opponent from among the three lowest-seeded wild- NEW YORK — USA Basketball will NEW YORK — Major League Baseball card teams. The division winner with the have a team of WNBA players available to is considering expanding the playoffs to third-best record would then get to pick qualify for 3-on-3 at the Olympics. nearly half the 30 teams and allowing from among the remaining two wild cards. Kelsey Plum, Allisha Gray, Katie Lou higher-seeded wild-card teams to choose The top wild card would face whichever Samuelson and Stefanie Dolson headline opponents. team is left over after the division winners the 11 players invited to a training camp The playoffs would grow from 10 clubs make their choices. this week in Chicago. From the pool, the se- to 14 under the plan, first reported Monday The selections would be made on a tele- lection committee will choose four women by the New York Post. There would be four vised show. to represent the U.S. at the qualifying tour- wild cards in each league, up from two. MLB long restricted its postseason to nament in India from March 18-22. Details were confirmed by a person just the pennant winners facing each other “I’m very excited to have the opportuni- familiar with the proposal who spoke to in the World Series. Postseason teams dou- ty,” said Plum, who helped the Americans The Associated Press on the condition of bled to four with the split of each league win gold in the 5-on-5 World Champion- anonymity because MLB did not authorize into two divisions in 1969, then to eight with WADE PAYNE/AP ship in 2018. “Anytime you put on a USA any public comments. Another person, the realignment to three divisions and the jersey it’s a great thing.” USA Basketball will have a team of WNBA also speaking on the condition of anonym- addition of a wild card in 1995, a year later The U.S. spent the last few months get- players available to qualify in 3-on-3 for ity, said MLB has been looking at several than planned due to a players’ strike. ting the professional players into tourna- the Olympics. USA Women’s National plans. The postseason reached its current 10 ments to move them up in the FIBA 3-on-3 Team guard Kelsey Plum, above, is one Any proposal would have to be negoti- teams with the addition of a second wild rankings. While the players have a lot of of 11 players invited to a training camp ated with the players’ association. The cur- card and a wild-card round in 2012. experience playing 5-on-5, they are still this week in Chicago . rent collective bargaining agreement runs A postseason of 14 teams would mean relatively new to 3-on-3. through the 2021 season. 47% of franchises reach the playoffs, “It’s definitely a quicker and more the Tokyo Games. If the Americans qual- “Expanding the playoffs in a sensible which could cause some clubs not to go fast-paced game,” Samuelson said. “You ify, their rosters could be a little different way is something worth discussing when into rebuilding mode. The players’ associa- need to quickly transition from offense to for the Olympics. As of now, two players part of a much more comprehensive con- tion has criticized teams for what it calls defense.” must be a country’s top 10 as of May 22. versation about the current state of our “tanking.” The 3-on-3 rules are made for up-tempo The other two players on the team must game,” union head Tony Clark said in a Twelve of the 32 NFL teams (38%) reach statement. the playoffs, along with 16 of 30 in the NBA competition. There’s one 10-minute period, have a minimum of 3,600 points. FIBA has Only the division winner with the best (53%) and 16 of 31 in the NHL (52%), which making 3-on-3 a lot quicker than its 5-on-5 changed who is eligible a few times over counterpart. A game can end even sooner regular-season record would advance expands to 32 franchises next season. the past year. if a team scores 21 points in less than 10 directly to the Division Series under the Expanded playoffs would create more minutes. If the game is tied after 10 min- The American women have dominated plan. The two other division winners and content for broadcasters. MLB’s contracts utes, it goes into overtime, where the first 5-on-5 at the Olympics, winning six con- wild-card teams would start in a best-of- with ESPN and Turner run through 2021 team scoring two points wins. There’s also secutive gold medals. They’ve struggled three round. and its deal with Fox goes through 2028. a 12-second shot clock. lately in 3-on-3. They finished fifth in 2018 Plum and Samuelson, who just finished after not qualifying in 2017. They didn’t a stint with the 5-on-5 U.S. national team, qualify for last year’s World Cup, either. Angels’ trade with Dodgers is off said they weren’t worried about the lack of While the women’s qualifying team will 3-on-3 experience. be made up of pros, the men’s team will BY GREG BEACHAM “There are a lot of components in deals “We have time to play together and have seasoned 3-on-3 players in the mix. Associated Press that need to be satisfied before you get to grow,” said Samuelson, who won a gold Robbie Hummel, Kareem Maddox and a point where you are calling players and medal for the U.S. at the Under-18 World Damon Huffman lead the way. That trio ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles informing them,” Eppler said. “We weren’t Cup in 2013. helped the U.S. men win their first 3-on-3 Angels’ proposed trade with the Los Ange- able to get to that point and, in fairness to Two of the four members of the qualify- world title last year as the Americans fin- les Dodgers is officially off. our players and players with other orga- ing team must be in America’s top 10 for Angels general manager Billy Eppler ished 7-0 in the tournament. nizations, we won’t comment further than total points. Plum is currently second, fol- confirmed Monday he won’t be making a “This is an extremely exciting time for that.” lowed by Gray, Samuelson, Kelly Faris and USA Basketball as we prepare for the first- widely reported trade, although he didn’t Layshia Clarendon. Dolson is 10th on the Boston ultimately reworked the deal ever 3x3 Olympic Qualification Tourna- specify the deal or the players involved. list. to send Betts and David Price to the ment. This training camp is the next step Multiple media outlets reported the An- The selection committee can choose gels nearly acquired Dodgers outfielder Dodgers . towards earning a berth into the Olympic anyone else from the pool for the other two Joc Pederson and right-hander Ross Strip- After parting ways with longtime right spots on the qualifying team. Oregon’s Sa- Games, so it is incredibly important,” said ling last week in a deal that would have fielder Kole Calhoun during the winter, brina Ionescu is No. 1 on the points list for USA Basketball CEO Jim Tooley. “Many sent infielder Luis Rengifo to the Dodgers. the Angels could have used Pederson in the U.S., but she won’t be available as her of our country’s top available 3x3 players The deal apparently fell apart as a side that position this season along with Brian college team will be in the middle of the will be participating, and USA Basketball effect of the Dodgers’ lengthy attempts to Goodwin while they wait for top prospect NCAA Tournament. will be looking to select the best USA 3x3 get outfielder Mookie Betts from Boston. Jo Adell to play his way into the majors. The top three teams from the qualifying teams possible for the Olympic Qualifying Eppler didn’t specify why the Angels’ deal Pederson had 36 home runs and 74 RBIs tournament in each gender will advance to Tournaments.” with the Dodgers won’t be happening. last season for the Dodgers. PAGE 20 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 MLB: SPRING TRAINING TEAM CAPSULES NL East NL Central NL West Atlanta Braves St. Louis Cardinals Los Angeles Dodgers Manager: Brian Snitker (fifth season). Manager: Mike Shildt (third season). Manager: Dave Roberts (fifth season). 2019: 97-65, first place, lost to Cardinals in Division Series. 2019: 91-71, first place, lost to Nationals in NLCS. 2019: 106-56, first place, lost to Nationals in Division Series. He’s Here: LF Marcell Ozuna, C Travis d’Arnaud, LHP Cole He’s Here: LHP Matthew Liberatore, C Matt Wieters, LHP He’s Here: OF Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, LHP Alex Hamels, LHP Will Smith, RHP Felix Hernandez. He’s Outta Kwang-Hyun Kim. He’s Outta Here: OF Marcell Ozuna, RF Wood, RHP Blake Treinen, RHP Jimmy Nelson, 2B Clayton Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, LHP Dallas Keuchel, RHP Julio Jose Martinez, LF Randy Arozarena, RHP Dominic Leone. Daniel. He’s Outta Here: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, RHP Kenta Teheran, C Brian McCann, OF Matt Joyce, RHP Anthony Going campin’: The Cardinals return largely intact after getting Maeda, LHP Rich Hill, OF Alex Verdugo, 1B David Freese, Swarzak, RHP Josh Tomlin, LHP Jerry Blevins, OF Billy swept in the NLCS by World Series champion Washington. RHP Yimi Garcia, 3B Jedd Gyorko, C Russell Martin, RHP JT Hamilton, C Francisco Cervelli. The biggest competition throughout the spring will be in the outfield, where Chargois, 2B Kristopher Negron. Going campin’: The Braves are coming off their second straight NL East only Dexter Fowler has a position locked up — mostly because of his Going campin’: The Dodgers engineered a blockbuster acquisition a week title, led by one of baseball’s brightest young stars. In his first full season contract. Center fielder Harrison Bader probably has another spot under before camp that landed them Betts, the 2018 AL MVP, and Price from in the big leagues, 22-year-old OF Ronald Acuna Jr. hit 41 homers, led the control, and that leaves Tyler O’Neill, Lane Thomas and top prospect Dylan Boston. Their biggest area of need is the bullpen, which was second in league with 127 runs and tallied 37 stolen bases to become the second- Carlson competing for the last job. In the rotation, Kim is the front-runner to the NL with 29 blown saves last season. Closer Kenley Jansen is coming youngest member of the 30-30 club behind Mike Trout. Acuna, 2B Ozzie join Jack Flaherty, Dakota Hudson, Miles Mikolas and Adam Wainwright. off an inconsistent 2019 . The Dodgers signed Treinen to a $10 million, Albies (24 HRs, 86 RBIs) and 1B Freddie Freeman (38 HRs, 121 RBIs) St. Louis won’t get reliever Jordan Hicks back from Tommy John surgery one-year deal, gambling that he can rebound from shoulder and back are a dynamic trio at the top of the order. The Braves took a big loss in free until midseason, so look for Carlos Martinez to handle the closing duties. problems that bothered him last season and return to the All-Star form agency when Donaldson departed for Minnesota, but Ozuna (29 HRs, 89 Milwaukee Brewers he showed in Oakland in 2018. The rotation is anchored by RHP Walker RBIs with St. Louis) may fill the void . Buehler and LHP Clayton Kershaw With Maeda on his way out and Ryu Manager: Craig Counsell (sixth season). off to Toronto, the other three spots are up for grabs. Wood returns to Washington Nationals 2019: 89-73, second place, lost to Nationals in wild-card game. Los Angeles, where he was a starter and an All-Star in 2017. Last year’s Manager: Dave Martinez (third season). He’s Here: LHP Brett Anderson, OF Avisail Garcia, 1B Justin starters led the majors with a 3.37 ERA. Offensively, the Dodgers boast 2019: 93-69, second place, wild card, World Series champions. Smoak, INF Eric Sogard, INF Jedd Gyorko, C Omar Narvaez, a powerful lineup led by Betts and NL MVP Cody Bellinger, who hit .379 He’s Here: RHP Will Harris, 1B Eric Thames, INF Starlin RHP Josh Lindblom, 1B Logan Morrison, INF Luis Urias, LHP through the first two months of the season before tailing off to .262 the Castro, RHP Kyle Finnegan, RHP Ryne Harper. He’s Outta Eric Lauer, RHP David Phelps, INF Ryon Healy. He’s Outta rest of the way. The rest of the offense that hit the most home runs (279) Here: 3B Anthony Rendon, 2B Brian Dozier, 1B Matt Adams, Here: C Yasmani Grandal, INF Mike Moustakas, LHP Gio in the NL is back, too . OF Gerardo Parra. Gonzalez, RHP Jordan Lyles, LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP Chase Anderson, Arizona Diamondbacks Going campin’: With the notable exception of Rendon, the 1B Eric Thames, RHP Zach Davies, RF Trent Grisham, RHP Jimmy Nationals are mostly the same group that finally came through in the Nelson, INF Travis Shaw. Manager: Torey Lovullo (fourth season). postseason,The starting staff is back intact, with Max Scherzer, Stephen Going campin’: The new-look Brewers might need some name tags for 2019: 85-77, second place. Strasburg and Patrick Corbin leading the way. Washington will go as far the first few days of spring training. Garcia signed a $20 million, two-year He’s Here: LHP Madison Bumgarner, OF Starling Marte, OF contract in December after he batted .282 with a career-high 20 homers Kole Calhoun, C Stephen Vogt, RHP Junior Guerra, RHP Hec- as that group takes it. The biggest question throughout 2019 will be one for Tampa Bay last season. His addition means Ryan Braun could see tor Rondon. He’s Outta Here: OF Adam Jones, C Alex Avila, of the two biggest story lines to watch this year: What is going to happen more time at first base. Narvaez takes over behind the plate after Grandal OF Jarrod Dyson, INF Wilmer Flores, C Caleb Joseph, RHP with the bullpen? The worst relief corps in the NL got help at the trade signed with the White Sox. Narvaez set career highs with 22 homers, 55 Matt Andriese, OF Steven Souza Jr., RHP Taijuan Walker, deadline, primarily from righty Daniel Hudson, and he is back again, along RBIs and a .278 batting average in his only season with Seattle. Ander- LHP T.J. McFarland, RHP Yoshihisa Hirano. with lefty Sean Doolittle, plus GM Mike Rizzo’s most important offseason son, Lindblom and Lauer are expected to help fill out the rotation behind Going campin’: Arizona has a promising core that includes Ketel Marte, addition, Harris. The other significant doubt for Washington: Who will fill Brandon Woodruff, who went 11-3 with a 3.62 ERA last year and made Eduardo Escobar and Nick Ahmed in the lineup, and Robbie Ray, Luke the gap left by Rendon at third base and the middle of the lineup? Sounds the All-Star team for the first time. While the departure of Moustakas, Weaver and Archie Bradley on the pitching staff. The D-backs were sur- as though rookie Carter Kieboom will get a shot, and Martinez can turn to who stayed in the NL Central when he signed with Cincinnati, leaves a big prisingly active in the free-agent market, adding Bumgarner on an $85 mil- Castro and Asdrubal Cabrera to play third. hole at third base, Christian Yelich is back after he missed the end of last lion, five-year deal. They also added Calhoun, Vogt and relievers Rondon New York Mets season with a fractured right kneecap. and Guerra. The D-backs should have depth and that could lead to some interesting battles for spots on the 26-man roster. Arizona would also like Manager: Luis Rojas (first season). Chicago Cubs to figure out a full-time spot for Marte, who split time between center field 2019: 86-76, third place. Manager: David Ross (first season). and second base last season . Bradley enters spring training as the closer He’s Here: RHP Rick Porcello, RHP Dellin Betances, RHP Mi- 2019: 84-78, third place. after a career-high 18 saves in 2019 but will face competition. chael Wacha, OF Jake Marisnick, LHP Stephen Gonsalves, 1B He’s Here: Manager David Ross, RHP Casey Sadler, RHP Matt Adams, INF Eduardo Nunez, RHP Erasmo Ramirez, LHP Ryan Tepera, RHP Dan Winkler, RHP Jharel Cotton, LHP San Francisco Giants Chasen Shreve, OF Jarrett Parker, OF Ryan Cordell, SS Max CD Pelham, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, OF Steven Souza Jr. He’s Manager: Gabe Kapler (first season). Moroff, RHP Rob Whalen. He’s Outta Here: Manager Mickey Outta Here: Manager Joe Maddon, 2B/SS Addison Russell, 2019: 77-85, third place. Callaway, Manager Carlos Beltran, RHP Zack Wheeler, 3B Todd Frazier, CF LHP Cole Hamels, INF/OF Ben Zobrist, RHP Pedro Strop, OF He’s Here: Manager Gabe Kapler, RHP Kevin Gausman, RHP Juan Lagares, LHP Luis Avila?n, 2B Joe Panik, OF Rajai Davis, RHP Chris Nicholas Castellanos, LHP Derek Holland, C Jonathan Lucroy, RHP Steve Tyson Ross, LHP Drew Smyly, 1B-OF Darin Ruf, SS Will Mazza, RHP Chris Flexen, RHP Drew Gagnon, INF Sam Haggerty. Cishek, LHP Xavier Cedeno, INF-OF Tony Kemp, RHP David Phelps, RHP Wilson, LHP Tyler Anderson, LHP Jerry Blevins, INF Kean Going campin’: Playoff optimism starts with Jacob deGrom, winner of Tony Barnette, RHP Kendall Graveman, LHP Danny Hultzen. Wong. He’s Outta Here: Manager Bruce Bochy, LHP Madison consecutive Cy Young Awards, and Pete Alonso, the reigning NL Rookie Going campin’: The Cubs missed the playoffs last season for the first time Bumgarner, LHP Will Smith, CF Kevin Pillar, C Stephen Vogt, of the Year after leading the majors with a rookie-record 53 homers last since 2014. The big question is how much longer Kris Bryant will remain LHP Fernando Abad, OF Mike Gerber. season. Four prominent pitchers on the staff grew up in the New York with the team. The 2016 NL MVP is a potential trade candidate because Going campin’: The Giants made few impact moves this offseason as they metropolitan area: Porcello, Betances, Marcus Stroman and Steven Matz. he’s due to hit the free-agent market in two years and the Cubs risk losing try to avoid matching a franchise worst with four straight losing seasons. Porcello, the 2016 AL Cy Young winner, replaces Wheeler in the rotation him for basically nothing in return. Bryant’s service-time grievance hovered The team has only done that twice in the modern era: 2005-08 and 1974- after he signed with the rival Phillies. If all the starters are healthy, Wacha over the Cubs’ quiet offseason and complicated any potential deals. But 77. San Francisco brought back fan favorite Pablo Sandoval on a minor or Matz could get bumped into a problematic bullpen that appears deeper they got some clarity last week when an arbitrator ruled in their favor. The league deal and is hoping for a healthy season from starter Johnny Cueto. this year. decision means Bryant will remain under club control for two more years He made four starts late last season following a 13-month recovery from Philadelphia Phillies rather than become a free agent after the 2020 season . Tommy John surgery. Perhaps the biggest focus this spring could be on Alyssa Nakken, who became the first female coach on a major league staff. Manager: Joe Girardi (first season). Cincinnati Reds 2019: 81-81, fourth place. Manager: David Bell (second season). Colorado Rockies He’s Here: Manager Joe Girardi, RHP Zack Wheeler, SS Didi 2019: 75-87, fourth place. Manager: Bud Black (fourth season). Gregorius, LHP Francisco Liriano, RHP Bud Norris, INF Josh He’s Here: 2B Mike Moustakas, OF Nick Castellanos, OF 2019: 71-91, fourth place. Harrison, INF Neil Walker, RHP Drew Storen, INF Ronald Tor- Shogo Akiyama, LHP Wade Miley, RHP Pedro Strop. He’s Here’s Here: RHP Tyler Kinley, RHP Ubaldo Jimenez, INF reyes, OF Matt Szczur, C Christian Bethancourt, OF Nick Mar- Outta Here: SS Jose Iglesias, 2B Jose Peraza, LHP Alex Chris Owings.He’s Outta Here: RHP Chad Bettis, LHP Tyler tini, INF Logan Forsythe, RHP Anthony Swarzak, RHP Trevor Wood, RHP Kevin Gausman. Anderson, RHP Seunghwan Oh, 1B-OF Yonder Alonso. Kelley. He’s Outta Here: Manager Gabe Kapler, 2B Cesar Hernandez, 3B Going campin’: The Reds spent more than $160 million on Going campin’: The team made no major moves in free Maikel Franco, OF Corey Dickerson, LHP Drew Smyly, LHP Jason Vargas, four high-profile free agents, giving out the two biggest free-agent contracts agency over the winter to improve after a dismal season. That RHP Blake Parker, RHP Pat Neshek, RHP Tommy Hunter, RHP Jerad in club history in an attempt to break their streak of six losing seasons. was a source of irritation for All-Star slugger and Gold Glove third baseman Eickhoff, RHP Mike Morin, RHP Jared Hughes, INF-OF Sean Rodriguez, Moustakas ($64 million, four years), Castellanos ($64 million, four years Nolan Arenado, who said he felt disrespected by the front office after his INF-OF Brad Miller, 1B Logan Morrison. with opt-outs) and Akiyama ($21 million, three years) will significantly name was floated in trade rumors. Arenado finished last season third in Going campin’: The additions of Wheeler and Gregorius in free agency upgrade an offense that was near the bottom of the NL in runs. Miley ($15 the NL in hits (185) and total bases (343), fifth in batting average (.315) help, but the Phillies still have several question marks in the bullpen and million, two years) provides a left-hander for an already solid rotation. The and tied for fifth in homers (41). The Rockies locked up shortstop Trevor the starting rotation. Left fielder Andrew McCutchen returns from a knee Reds think their lineup is balanced and deep enough to compete in the NL Story in January by signing him to a two-year, $27.5 million deal that injury that ended his season last June and coincided with the team’s Central . The Reds have a crowded outfield with center fielder Nick Senzel avoided arbitration. Story remains eligible to become a free agent following decline after the Phillies led the division for two months. J.T. Realmuto returning from shoulder surgery and Aristides Aquino, Jesse Winker and the 2021 World Series. The team also signed reliever Scott Oberg, who was an All-Star and Bryce Harper rebounded nicely after a slow first half. Phillip Ervin also back. was eligible for arbitration before reaching a $13 million, three-year deal. Wheeler teams with Aaron Nola to give the Phillies a solid 1-2 punch in Pittsburgh Pirates He could be the closer heading into the season if Wade Davis doesn’t the rotation. A declining Jake Arrieta will have a spot because he’s making rediscover his form. The Rockies are relying on turnaround seasons from Manager: Derek Shelton (first season). starter Kyle Freeland and relievers Bryan Shaw and Jake McGee . $20 million. Inconsistent righties Zach Eflin, Vince Velasquez and Nick 2019: 69-93, fifth place. Pivetta will compete for the final two spots . He’s Here: Manager Derek Shelton, C Luke Maile, 1B Will San Diego Padres Miami Marlins Craig, SS JT Riddle, LHP Derek Holland, LHP Robbie Erlin, C Manager: Jayce Tingler (first season). John Ryan Murphy, C Andrew Susac, OF Charles Tilson. He’s Manager: Don Mattingly (fifth season). 2019: 70-92, fifth place. Outta Here: Manager Clint Hurdle, CF Starling Marte, C Elias 2019: 57-105, fifth place. He’s Here: Manager Jayce Tingler, 2B Jurickson Profar, LF Diaz, OF Melky Cabrera, RHP Dario Agrazal. He’s Here: INF-OF Jonathan Villar, 1B Jesus Aguilar, LF Corey Tommy Pham, RF Trent Grisham, RHP Zach Davies, LHP Going campin’: New general manager Ben Cherington has stressed the Drew Pomeranz, RHP Pierce Johnson. He’s Outta Here: Dickerson, RHP Brandon Kintzler, OF Matt Joyce, C Francisco need to bring in more talent, though the Pirates were largely bystand- Cervelli. He’s Outta Here: 2B Starlin Castro, LF Curtis Grand- Manager Andy Green, INF Luis Urias, LHP Eric Lauer, OF ers during the offseason, their most notable move sending center fielder erson, INF Neil Walker, LF Austin Dean, C Bryan Holaday, Hunter Renfroe. Starling Marte to Arizona for two 19-year-old prospects. Marte’s departure Going campin’: The Padres traded with Tampa Bay for Pham, who is RHP Tayron Guerrero, RHP Tyler Kinley, LHP Wei-Yin Chen. leaves an outfield spot open as Pittsburgh figures out who will join Bryan Going campin’: Mattingly has been with the Marlins longer than any of his expected to give them more offense and intensity. They also bolstered Reynolds and Gregory Polanco. Reynolds, who finished fourth in NL the rotation and got a left-handed bat when they traded with Milwaukee players, and the roster turnover is dramatic again this year as they enter Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting .314, could play center or left. Year 3 of a rebuilding effort under executive Derek Jeter. Mattingly will for Davies and Grisham. In another major move, they signed Pomeranz, Polanco’s surgically repaired left shoulder appears to be ready to let him who turned two stellar months in Milwaukee’s bullpen into a $34 million, spend spring training sorting out prospects for a rotation that should be return to right field after a start/stop 2019. The catcher’s spot is wide four-year deal. The major battles in spring will be for rotation spots behind the team’s strength. He also must figure out who will play where, because open. Jacob Stallings has proven solid defensively and an astute game Chris Paddack, Garrett Richards and Dinelson Lamet, and in the bullpen. Villar, Brian Anderson, Garrett Cooper and Jon Berti can all play the infield caller, but his limited offensive production means Maile, Murphy and The team will also look to keep shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. healthy. or outfield. The Marlins are probably still a year or more away from their Susac should all get long looks. The starting rotation needs depth with ace first winning season since 2009. Jameson Taillon out while recovering from a second Tommy John surgery. — Capsules by Associated Press Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 21 MLB: SPRING TRAINING TEAM CAPSULES AL East AL Central AL West New York Yankees Minnesota Twins Houston Astros Manager: Aaron Boone (third season). Manager: Rocco Baldelli (second season). Manager: Dusty Baker (first season). 2019: 103-59, first place, lost to Houston in AL Championship Series. 2019: 101-61, first place, lost to Yankees in Division Series. 2019: 107-55, first place, lost to Nationals in World Series. He’s Here: RHP Gerrit Cole, C Erik Kratz, C Chris Iannetta, C He’s Here: 3B Josh Donaldson, RHP Kenta Maeda, RHP He’s Here: Manager Dusty Baker, RHP Austin Pruitt, C Dustin Josh Thole, RHP Nick Tropeano, LHP Luis Avilan. He’s Outta Homer Bailey, RHP Tyler Clippard, C Alex Avila, LHP Rich Garneau. He’s Outta Here: Manager AJ Hinch, RHP Gerrit Here: LHP CC Sabathia, SS Didi Gregorius, 1B Edwin Encar- Hill, RHP Matt Wisler, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, LHP Blaine Cole, RHP Will Harris, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Tony Kemp. nacion, C Austin Romine, RHP Dellin Betances, OF Cameron Hardy. He’s Outta Here: RHP Brusdar Graterol, RHP Kyle Going campin’: The Astros brought in Baker to steady the Maybin, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, 1B Greg Bird, RHP Chance Gibson, 1B C.J. Cron, 2B Jonathan Schoop, C Jason Castro, team, and it gives the 70-year-old another chance to chase Adams, LHP Stephen Tarpley, LHP Nestor Cortes Jr., RHP Cory Gearrin. LHP Martin Perez, RHP Ryne Harper, RHP Trevor Hildenberger, RHP Sam his first World Series title as a manager. Despite all the sign-stealing Going campin’: Left-hander James Paxton had back surgery Feb. 5 and Dyson. drama, the Astros have enough talent to reach the World Series again . is expected to be sidelined until May or June. Switch-hitting center fielder Going campin’: The high-priced addition of the big-swinging, slick-fielding Houston returns everyone from last year’s lineup, led by third baseman Aaron Hicks is not expected back until June or July following Tommy John Donaldson boosted an already deep lineup that produced a major league- Alex Bregman, who was the runner-up for AL MVP, and 2019 AL Rookie surgery on his right elbow Oct. 31, leaving outfielder Brett Gardner as record 307 home runs last season. Then came the trade with the Red Sox of the Year Yordan Alvarez at designated hitter. Things aren’t quite as set the only left-handed hitter among regulars. That could lead to increased and Dodgers to land Maeda for the middle of the rotation, with Graterol, on the pitching side after the rotation took a huge hit with the loss of Cole, plate appearances for first baseman Mike Ford, outfielder Mike Tauch- a 21-year-old flame-thrower, going out in a signal the front office is all in who signed with the Yankees. Young right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. man and utilityman Tyler Wade, all lefty bats. Gardner figures to play on 2020 on the heels of a breakthrough season. Spring training will be could fill Cole’s spot in the rotation, but he’ll have to prove he can return to center until Hicks returns, with Giancarlo Stanton switching between left an important time for starting pitching prospects Randy Dobnak, Devin form this spring after sitting out all last year following Tommy John surgery. and designated hitter. 1B Luke Voit expects to be ready following Oct. Smeltzer and Lewis Thorpe, all of whom made their major league debuts 30 surgery for bilateral core muscle injuries . Gleyber Torres shifts from last year . The position players are all but set, with Miguel Sano needing to Oakland Athletics second to shortstop, and DJ LeMahieu becomes the regular at second. get in a groove with the glove at first base after Donaldson’s arrival pushed Manager: Bob Melvin (10th season). 2018 AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Miguel Andujar, coming back from him off the opposite corner. The spotlight will also be on center fielder 2019: 97-65, second place, lost to Rays in wild-card game. right shoulder surgery on May 20, is working out at third base, first base Byron Buxton following shoulder surgery last September. He’s Here: INF-OF Tony Kemp, C Austin Allen, LHP T.J. and left field . Cole solidifies a rotation that includes righties Luis Severino McFarland, 2B Ryan Goins, RHP Zach Lee, C Carlos Perez. and Masahiro Tanaka and lefty J.A. Happ. Aroldis Chapman returns to a Cleveland Indians He’s Outta Here: 2B Jurickson Profar, RHP Blake Treinen, formidable bullpen that includes Zack Britton, Adam Ottavino, Chad Green Manager: Terry Francona (seventh season). LHP Ryan Buchter, RHP Homer Bailey, LHP Brett Anderson, and Tommy Kahnle . 2019: 93-69, second place in AL Central. RHP Tanner Roark. RHP Jharel Cotton. He’s Here: 2B Cesar Hernandez, OF Delino DeShields, RHP Going campin’: Oakland pitcher Mike Fiers helped expose the Astros’ Tampa Bay Rays Emmanuel Clase, C Sandy Leon. He’s Outta Here: RHP sign stealing to The Athletic in November and will get heavy attention this Manager: Kevin Cash (sixth season). Corey Kluber, 2B Jason Kipnis, OF Yasiel Puig, RHP Tyler season. Fiers might be part of a rotation that could be a major strength in 2019: 96-66, second place, lost to Houston in Division Series. Clippard, INF Mike Freeman, OF Leonys Martin, LHP Tyler Oakland with Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas and prospects Jesus Luzardo He’s Here: OF Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, OF Hunter Renfroe, Olson, RHP Dan Otero, C Kevin Plawecki, RHP Danny Sala- and A.J. Puk. There’s plenty of help on offense with SS Marcus Semien, 1B-OF Jose Martinez, 1B-OF Brian O’Grady, OF Randy Aro- zar, RHP Nick Goody. 3B Matt Chapman and 1B Matt Olson leading a group that set a franchise zarena. He’s Outta Here: C Travis d’Arnaud, INF Eric Sogard, Going campin’: The Indians missed the playoffs for the first time since record with 257 homers last season. The big questions are whether slug- OF Avisail Garcia, OF Tommy Pham, 1B Jesus Aguilar, INF 2015 last season as Minnesota dethroned Cleveland as division champion. ger Khris Davis can bounce back from a down year, Kemp can fill a hole at Matt Duffy, OF Guillermo Heredia, RHP Austin Pruitt. The team’s decision to trade Kluber, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, in second base and Liam Hendriks can thrive in a full season as closer. Going campin’: After winning 96 games and earning their first playoff December to Texas has signaled a major shift for the organization, which berth in six years, the Rays face even higher expectations in 2020. Tampa will count on young starters like All-Star Game MVP Shane Bieber and Mike Texas Rangers Bay has an overpowering trio atop the rotation in Charlie Morton, 2018 AL Clevinger to fill a huge void at the front of the rotation. Third baseman Jose Manager: Chris Woodward (second season). Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. Tsutsugo, Renfroe Ramirez’s prolonged slump hurt the offense for much of last season, and 2019: 78-84, third place. and Martinez may bring more thump to the lineup, and Tampa Bay could just when he found his groove, a wrist injury sabotaged his season along He’s Here: RHP Corey Kluber, RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Jordan use it after Garcia left in free agency and Pham was traded to San Diego with the Indians’ chances of catching the Twins. Hernandez takes over at Lyles, 3B Todd Frazier, C Robinson Chirinos, 1B Greg Bird, in the deal that brought in Renfroe. Cash, has decisions to make, including second, where Kipnis was a mainstay for nine seasons. The outfield remains RHP Nick Goody, INF Matt Duffy. He’s Outta Here: RF whether Emilio Pagan or perhaps Jose Alvarado or Nick Anderson will be unsettled, with Oscar Mercado, who batted .269 in 115 games as a rookie, Nomar Mazara, CF Delino DeShields, DH-OF Hunter Pence, the primary closer . the only one guaranteed a starting spot. Slugger Franmil Reyes is an option RHP Shawn Kelley, INF Logan Forsythe. in right, but he’s not exactly a Gold Glover. All-Star shortstop Francisco Going campin’: All-Star slugger Joey Gallo is healthy and changing Boston Red Sox Lindor’s future hangs over the team, and his situation will only become more positions again, and workhorse pitchers Mike Minor and Lance Lynn Manager: TBA. of a distraction as he moves closer to possible free agency after 2021 . (combined for 30 wins, more than 416 innings) have some help in the 2019: 84-78, third place. rotation. Texas signed veteran free agents Gibson and Lyles early in the He’s Here: OF Alex Verdugo, RHP Brusdar Graterol, C Kevin Chicago White Sox offseason before trading for two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Kluber. Plawecki, C Jett Bandy, RHP R.J. Alvarez, 2B Jose Peraza, Manager: Rick Renteria (fourth season). Six different players have started at third base since Adrian Beltre retired LHP Martin Perez, RHP Josh Osich, LHP Matt Hall, RHP 2019: 72-89, third place. after the 2018 season . Texas has to decide if Danny Santana fits better Austin Brice. He’s Outta Here: Manager Alex Cora, OF He’s Here: C Yasmani Grandal, LHP Dallas Keuchel, LHP Gio as the primary center fielder or staying in a utility role. He started at every Mookie Betts, LHP David Price, RHP Andrew Cashner, INF- Gonzalez, 1B-DH Edwin Encarnacion, RF Nomar Mazara, position except pitcher and catcher last season and was the team MVP OF Brock Holt, RHP Jhoulys Chacin, RHP Rick Porcello, 1B Steve Pearce, RHP Steve Cishek, LF Cheslor Cuthbert. He’s Outta Here: after going to spring training as a non-roster player. Gallo, the strong-armed INF-OF Chris Owings, OF Gorkys Hernandez, RHP Steven Wright, 1B Sam INF Yolmer Sanchez, C Welington Castillo, RHP Ivan Nova. former third baseman who became a primary left fielder, is moving to right Travis, C Sandy Leon. Going campin’: The White Sox are coming off seven consecu- after Mazara was traded to the White Sox. Going campin’: The Red Sox have made major changes after missing the tive losing seasons. They haven’t made the playoffs since they lost to playoffs for the first time since 2015, and they aren’t necessarily aimed at Tampa Bay in the 2008 AL Division Series . Free-agent deals for Grandal, Los Angeles Angels improving in 2020. The team this week agreed to send Betts and Price to Keuchel, Gonzalez, Encarnacion and Cishek strengthened the lineup, rota- Manager: Joe Maddon (first season) the Los Angeles Dodgers in a salary dump. The trade of Betts brings back tion and bullpen. Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Eloy Jimenez and Jose 2019: 72-90, fourth place. Verdugo, a talented 23-year-old tasked with replacing the well-rounded Abreu anchor a deep batting order, and slugging center fielder Luis Robert He’s Here: Manager Joe Maddon, 3B Anthony Rendon, RHP Betts in the outfield. New baseball boss Chaim Bloom appears to have ful- is one of the favorites for the AL Rookie of the Year award. If Chicago can Dylan Bundy, RHP Julio Teheran, C Jason Castro, RHP Matt filled ownership’s wish to get under the $208 million luxury tax threshold. sort out the back end of its rotation — Reynaldo Lopez is coming off an Andriese. He’s Outta Here: Manager Brad Ausmus, RF Kole Now the team just needs a manager after Cora was fired for his role in the inconsistent season, and touted prospects Michael Kopech and Dylan Calhoun, RHP Trevor Cahill, 1B Justin Bour, RHP Luis Garcia, Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Cease have their own question marks — it could contend . 3B Zack Cozart, C Kevan Smith, LHP Adalberto Mejia. Going campin’: Although Mike Trout won his third AL MVP award, the Toronto Blue Jays Kansas City Royals Angels posted their worst record in 20 years while pitcher Tyler Skaggs’ Manager: Charlie Montoyo (second season). Manager: Mike Matheny (first season). death cast a pall over the entire season. Owner Arte Moreno shook things 2019: 67-95, fourth place. 2019: 59-103, fourth place. up with the additions of Maddon and Rendon to a big-budget club embar- He’s Here: LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu, RHP Tanner Roark, RHP He’s Here: Manager Mike Matheny, RHP Trevor Rosenthal, rassed by a four-year streak of losing seasons. Maddon left the Cubs and Chase Anderson, RHP Shun Yamaguchi, RHP Anthony Bass, RHP Braden Shipley, RHP Greg Holland, 3B Maikel Franco. eagerly returned to the franchise that employed him for the first three INF Travis Shaw, INF Joe Panik, INF Ruben Tejada, C Caleb He’s Outta Here: Manager Ned Yost, INF Cheslor Cuthbert, decades of his career, while Rendon got a seven-year, $245 million deal Joseph, RHP Justin Miller, RHP A.J. Cole. He’s Outta Here: RHP Trevor Oaks, RF Jorge Bonifacio. to bring his potent bat from Washington to Angel Stadium. Yet the Halos 1B Justin Smoak, RHP Ryan Tepera, RHP Clay Buchholz, C Going campin’: Longtime owner David Glass, who died last didn’t make the expected major overhaul of a starting rotation that was Luke Maile, 2B Devon Travis, RHP Derek Law, RHP Justin Shafer, RHP month after a long illness, sold the franchise to a group led by Kansas City one of baseball’s worst last season. Bundy and Teheran are dependable, Jason Adam, LHP Buddy Boshers, INF Richard Urena. businessman John Sherman in a deal worth about $1 billion. It will be up durable veterans who represent immediate upgrades, but the free agent Going campin’: Free-agent arrival Ryu gives Toronto a boost in the rotation to Matheny to continue a massive rebuilding effort that began shortly after aces all eluded Moreno. Instead, the Angels’ ace might be Shohei Ohtani, as it tries to climb back toward competitiveness after their worst season in the club’s 2015 championship season. Young players such as SS Adal- who will be back in their rotation this year after serving only as a desig- four decades. Ryu was the NL Cy Young Award runner-up last year, and berto Mondesi, 2B Nicky Lopez, RF Hunter Dozier and OF Bubba Starling nated hitter in 2019 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Albert Toronto also signed Roark and Yamaguchi — a Japanese pitcher coming to have already arrived and gained valuable experience last season, and a Pujols, Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton and Tommy La Stella return to a MLB for the first time — and traded for Anderson . Pearson is expected to wave of pitching prospects could arrive late this year. Success in 2020 will lineup that could be impressive if the hitters all perform. open the season with Triple-A Buffalo, but a big league call-up could come be measured less by wins than by the progress those players make as they by midseason. Slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette position themselves to contend in 2021 and beyond. Seattle Mariners delivered impressive debuts in 2019, as did infielder Cavan Biggio . Manager: Scott Servais (fifth season). Detroit Tigers 2019: 68-94, fifth place. Baltimore Orioles Manager: Ron Gardenhire (third season). He’s Here: RHP Kendall Graveman, RHP Carl Edwards Jr., Manager: Brandon Hyde (second season). 2019: 47-114, fifth place. RHP Yoshihisa Hirano, INF Patrick Wisdom, LHP Nick Mar- 2019: 54-108, fifth place. He’s Here: 2B Jonathan Schoop, RHP Ivan Nova, 1B C.J. gevicius. He’s Outta Here: RHP Felix Hernandez, LHP Wade He’s Here: SS Jose Iglesias, INF Pat Valaika, INF Richard Cron, C Austin Romine, C Eric Haase, RHP Zack Godley. He’s LeBlanc, LHP Tommy Milone, C Omar Narvaez, OF Domingo Urena, RHP Brandon Bailey, RHP Kohl Stewart, RHP Travis Outta Here: SS Ronny Rodriguez, RHP Drew VerHagen, LHP Santana, INF Ryon Healy, RHP Chasen Bradford, OF Keon Lakins, RHP Michael Rucker, RHP Kohl Stewart, RHP Cole Blaine Hardy, RHP Edwin Jackson, RHP Tyson Ross, SS Gor- Broxton. Sulser. He’s Outta Here: INF Jonathan Villar, RHP Dylan don Beckham, LHP Matt Moore, C John Hicks, LHP Daniel Going campin’: First baseman Evan White, outfielder Kyle Lewis, second Bundy, RHP Aaron Brooks. Stumpf, RHP Victor Alcantara, RHP Zac Reininger, LHP Matt Hall. baseman Shed Long Jr., outfielder Jake Fraley, left-hander Justus Sheffield Going campin’: The Orioles launched their rebuild in 2019 under general Going campin’: Casey Mize — the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft — head- and right-hander Justin Dunn are just a handful of the youngsters Seattle manager Mike Elias , and he is is intent upon fortifying the farm system lines a highly regarded group of pitching prospects. Although the expecta- intends to give a chance at being steady contributors this season. Seattle and loading up the big league team with youthful, inexpensive talent, an tion is that Mize and fellow right-hander Matt Manning will start the still has a handful of key veterans including third baseman Kyle Seager and agenda that led to the trades of Villar and Bundy for prospects. Hyde’s goal season at Triple-A, they’ll both be at spring training as non-roster invitees left-hander Marco Gonzales. The Mariners continue to have high hopes in his second season as a big league manager is to strengthen the defense along with left-hander Tarik Skubal. So fans in Lakeland will get a preview that outfielder Mitch Haniger can rediscover his All-Star form from 2018, behind an uncertain rotation led by LHP John Means, who went 12-11 as of what they hope will be some significant rotation help down the road. In but the start to his season will be delayed by core muscle surgery. a rookie and made the All-Star team. Right-hander Alex Cobb returns from an effort to boost their anemic offense, the Tigers added Schoop and Cron, a hip injury that sidelined him for most of 2019. who could become mainstays on the right side of the infield. —Capsules by Associated Press PAGE 22 F3HIJKLM •STARS AND STRIPES• Wednesday, February 12, 2020 NHL NHL gives 2022 Winter Games a chilly reception
BY JOHN WAWROW ues to have “valid reservations” Associated Press over how Olympic participation disrupts its schedule by having to The NHL remains reluctant to shut down the regular season for reverse course and compete at the two weeks once every four years. 2022 Winter Games in Beijing de- Messages left with Fasel and spite new assurances from Olym- the IIHF were not immediately pic officials to lift various major returned. stumbling blocks, which also Fehr was encouraged following have the backing of the league’s the meeting. players. “The impression I had coming /AP NHL deputy commissioner Bill out of the meeting was that there NICK WASS Daly significantly tamped down ought to be a way to get this done New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle, far right, battles for the puck next to Washington Capitals hopes of the world’s best players to everybody’s satisfaction,” Fehr defenseman John Carlson, goaltender Braden Holtby, second from left, and right wing T.J. Oshie during returning to the Olympics for the said. the third period of the Islanders’ 5-3 win at Washington on Monday. first time since 2014 by referring Fehr doubted the Olympics to recent talks as being “very pre- issue would be raised during talks liminary” and leaving open many this week, by saying, “the NHL Roundup Scoreboard unanswered questions. needs some time to go through “We aren’t there yet. In fact, we and digest and think through aren’t even close to being there,” what happened at the last meet- Eastern Conference Daly said Monday. “At this point Beauvillier delivers ing, as we do.” Atlantic Division in time, we continue to believe Though there’s no firm dead- GP W L OT Pts GF GA Boston 57 34 11 12 80 188 143 that the negatives outweigh the line yet set on the NHL sending Tampa Bay 56 36 15 5 77 201 151 positives.” players in 2022, Fehr hoped an Islanders past Caps Toronto 56 29 19 8 66 200 187 Florida 55 29 20 6 64 193 185 Daly raised another concern by agreement is Montreal 58 27 24 7 61 179 176 suggesting the issue of Olympic reached well Buffalo 56 24 24 8 56 159 176 Ottawa 55 18 26 11 47 147 188 participation might be resolved before Fa- Associated Press Flyers 4, Panthers 1: James Detroit 57 14 39 4 32 118 213 easier if it were tied to ongoing sel’s term as van Riemsdyk had a goal and as- Metropolitan Division WASHINGTON — Anthony Washington 56 36 15 5 77 202 172 negotiations to extend the league’s IIHF chief sist, Carter Hart stopped 30 shots Pittsburgh 54 34 15 5 73 181 148 Beauvillier scored twice, Josh N.Y. Islanders 54 32 16 6 70 161 148 collective bargaining agreement expires in in his return from injury and host Bailey had three assists and the Columbus 57 30 17 10 70 148 139 with its players. The two sides are September. Philadelphia beat Florida. Philadelphia 56 31 18 7 69 181 165 scheduled to spend the next two New York Islanders kept Alex Carolina 55 32 20 3 67 180 153 Differ- Travis Sanheim, Ivan Provo- N.Y. Rangers 54 27 23 4 58 177 173 Ovechkin stuck at 698 career days in CBA talks in Toronto. ences over rov and Claude Giroux also had New Jersey 54 20 24 10 50 149 190 NHLPA executive director Don goals in beating the Washington Olympic goals for the Flyers, who are 6-1-1 Fehr responded by telling The AP Capitals 5-3 Monday night. Western Conference participation in their last eight. The Flyers im- he hoped the NHL wasn’t mov- The Islanders jumped out to Central Division have the po- proved to 19-5-4 at home. GP W L OT Pts GF GA ing the goal posts on the union in Daly a 5-1 lead and held on to hand St. Louis 56 32 15 9 73 178 160 Coyotes 3, Canadiens 2: regards to the issue of Olympic tential of de- the Capitals a second consecu- Colorado 54 32 16 6 70 197 154 railing talks Jakob Chychrun scored a tie- Dallas 55 31 19 5 67 147 141 participation, with the Beijing tive regulation loss at home. Winnipeg 57 29 23 5 63 173 172 breaking power-play goal with a Games taking place before the after both sides showed good Washington also lost center Evg- Nashville 55 26 22 7 59 178 183 minute left, lifting Arizona to a Minnesota 55 26 23 6 58 169 181 current CBA expires. faith in September, when they en- eny Kuznetsov to a scary-looking Chicago 55 25 22 8 58 163 173 win at Montreal. Pacific Division “I can’t figure out why anybody sured three more seasons of labor upper-body injury when he was Derek Stepan and Taylor Hall Vancouver 57 31 21 5 67 187 175 would not want to go and take peace by not using an opt-out crunched into the boards in the Edmonton 55 29 20 6 64 176 173 also scored for the Coyotes, who Vegas 57 28 21 8 64 182 174 advantage of this opportunity clause. Such a move would have second period. Calgary 57 29 22 6 64 161 173 because it doesn’t come around terminated the existing CBA this Leo Komarov, Devon Toews scored three goals after going Arizona 58 28 23 7 63 163 159 down 2-0 early. Antti Raanta Anaheim 56 23 26 7 53 146 173 every day,” Fehr told The AP by September. and Jordan Eberle also scored, San Jose 56 24 28 4 52 147 187 phone. Anaheim Ducks captain Ryan chasing Capitals rookie goal- made 26 saves. Los Angeles 57 19 33 5 43 137 183 Flames 6, Sharks 2: Milan Note: Two points for a win, one point “We think and have always Getzlaf wasn’t surprised when tender Ilya Samsonov after he for overtime loss. Top three teams in thought that a matter like this informed how the NHL might allowed five goals on 20 shots. Lucic and Tobias Rieder scored each division and two wild cards per in a span of 34 seconds early in conference advance to playoffs. should be addressed on its own attempt to fold Olympic partici- Braden Holtby, who got yanked Monday’s games the first period, Matthew Tka- Philadelphia 4, Florida 1 merits, and it seems to us that pation into labor talks given how after allowing seven goals on 25 N.Y. Islanders 5, Washington 3 the merits on this one are crystal a large majority of players favor shots behind a similarly weak chuk added a highlight-reel tally Arizona 3, Montreal 2 in the third, and Calgary won at Tampa Bay 2, Columbus 1, OT clear, pellucidly clear,” he added. representing their respective defensive performance Saturday Vancouver 6, Nashville 2 San Jose. The setback in discussions countries. against Philadelphia, stopped all Calgary 6, San Jose 2 Zac Rinaldo, Mark Jankowski Tuesday’s games comes a week after NHL and “Why do you think that is?” 12 shots he faced in relief. Arizona at Toronto and Mikael Backlund also scored Detroit at Buffalo NHLPA officials attended a meet- Getzlaf told The AP with a laugh. Thomas Greiss made 25 saves to give the Flames back-to-back Florida at New Jersey ing in New York where the Inter- “They’re a business. If they put to pick up his 16th victory of the Philadelphia at N.Y. Islanders national Ice Hockey Federation season for New York. Barry Trotz wins following a three-game los- Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh that into negotiations, that means ing streak. David Rittich made 34 N.Y. Rangers at Winnipeg provided mostly verbal — but few it’s a leverage chip for them that improved to 4-0 in Washington Vegas at Minnesota as Islanders coach since leading saves. Carolina at Dallas written — assurances addressing they’re going to try to use against Chicago at Edmonton many concerns that prompted the the Capitals to the Stanley Cup in Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns Ottawa at Colorado us.” St. Louis at Anaheim league to decline to participate at 2018. scored for the Sharks. New York Islanders NHLPA Wednesday’s games the Winter Games in South Korea. Lightning 2, Blue Jackets 1 Canucks 6, Predators 2: Jacob Montreal at Boston representative Anders Lee said Calgary at Los Angeles The NHL had participated in the (OT): Nikita Kucherov scored his Markstrom stopped 36 shots, and Chicago at Vancouver previous five Olympics. the chance to compete in Beijing second goal of the game 31 sec- Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller Thursday’s games should be as important to the Columbus at Buffalo Among the long-standing issues onds into overtime to give visiting each had a goal and an assist to Dallas at Toronto NHL as it is to the players. lead host Vancouver. Detroit at New Jersey IIHF chief Rene’ Fasel addressed Tampa Bay its seventh straight Edmonton at Tampa Bay included paying for players’ trav- “There’s a lot of things that go win. Zack MacEwen, Brandon Philadelphia at Florida into this, and there’s a reason why Arizona at Ottawa el and insurance costs. Another Columbus’ Zach Weresnki Sutter, Jordie Benn and Jake N.Y. Islanders at Nashville issue was providing the league China: It’s a draw,” Lee said. turned the puck over behind Virtanen also scored for the Ca- N.Y. Rangers at Minnesota Washington at Colorado and union access to video and still Fehr noted the two sides have his own net and Victor Hedman nucks, who ended a four-game Calgary at Anaheim images to allow both to market its enough issues that need to be fed it out to Kucherov, who beat losing streak. Quinn Hughes had St. Louis at Vegas Friday’s games players. settled in negotiations without Elvis Merzlikins for his 27th. The three assists to take over the lead Montreal at Pittsburgh having to introduce competing at N.Y. Rangers at Columbus Daly called the meeting “posi- Lightning are 19-2-1 in their last in the rookie scoring race with 44 San Jose at Winnipeg tive,” but said the league contin- Beijing into the mix. 22 games. points. New Jersey at Carolina Wednesday, February 12, 2020 •STARS AND STRIPES• F3HIJKLM PAGE 23 NBA Scoreboard
Eastern Conference Raptors roll to 15th straight win Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto 40 14 .741 — Boston 37 15 .712 2 Associated Press Philadelphia 33 21 .611 7 Brooklyn 24 28 .462 15 TORONTO — Toronto Rap- New York 17 37 .315 23 Southeast Division tors star Pascal Siakam keeps Miami 35 18 .660 — Orlando 23 31 .426 12½ telling teammate OG Anunoby to Washington 18 33 .353 16 improve his offensive output by Charlotte 17 36 .321 18 Atlanta 15 40 .273 21 thinking less on the court. Central Division Anunoby must not have thought Milwaukee 46 7 .868 — Indiana 31 23 .574 15½ much during Monday’s game Chicago 19 35 .352 27½ against Minnesota. Detroit 19 37 .339 28½ Cleveland 13 40 .245 33 Anunoby scored a career-high Western Conference 25 points and matched his ca- reer best with 12 rebounds, Kyle Southwest Division W L Pct GB Lowry had 27 points and 11 as- Houston 33 20 .623 — sists, and the Raptors extended Dallas 32 22 .593 1½ Memphis 27 26 .509 6 their franchise-record winning San Antonio 22 31 .415 11 streak to 15 by beating the Tim- New Orleans 22 31 .415 11 Northwest Division berwolves 137-126. Denver 38 16 .704 — Utah 35 18 .660 2½ “Most of the time you can kind Oklahoma City 32 21 .604 5½ of see that he’s thinking too much Portland 25 29 .463 13 Minnesota 16 36 .308 21 and he’s not just playing freely,” Pacific Division Siakam said of Anunoby. “Every L.A. Lakers 40 12 .769 — L.A. Clippers 37 16 .698 3½ time he just goes out and plays — Sacramento 21 32 .396 19½ Phoenix 21 33 .389 20 once you’re open shoot it, you’re Golden State 12 42 .222 29 not open drive it — he always has Sunday’s games Boston 112, Oklahoma City 111 a good game. Philadelphia 118, Chicago 111 “You’ve got to keep it simple, Memphis 106, Washington 99 Atlanta 140, New York 135 and he did tonight.” Utah 114, Houston 113 Anunoby connected on 10 of L.A. Clippers 133, Cleveland 92 Portland 115, Miami 109 13 attempts, going 3-for-4 from Monday’s games Orlando 135, Atlanta 126 three-point range, and picked Brooklyn 106, Indiana 105 up his fifth double-double of the Charlotte 87, Detroit 76 Toronto 137, Minnesota 126 season. Milwaukee 123, Sacramento 111 Toronto is 4-0 when Anunoby Utah 123, Dallas 119 Denver 127, San Antonio 120 scores 20 or more. Miami 113, Golden State 101 L.A. Lakers 125, Phoenix 100 “I thought his decisions were Tuesday’s games really, really good tonight,” Rap- FRANK GUNN, THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Chicago at Washington L.A. Clippers at Philadelphia tors coach Nick Nurse said. Portland at New Orleans Siakam scored 14 of his 34 Toronto Raptors forward OG Anunoby, right, goes to the basket past Minnesota Timberwolves forward San Antonio at Oklahoma City Juancho Hernangomez. Anunoby had a career-high 25 points in a 137-126 win Monday in Toronto. Boston at Houston points in the fourth quarter, Wednesday’s games Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had a Atlanta at Cleveland Detroit at Orlando season-high 21 and Fred VanV- D’Angelo Russell scored 22 contusion, said he had enjoyed Toronto. Milwaukee at Indiana points in his Timberwolves debut his first game playing alongside The Timberwolves had a sea- Toronto at Brooklyn leet added 16 as Toronto won its Washington at New York 16th straight home meeting with and Karl-Anthony Towns had his pal Towns and the rest of the son-worst 23 turnovers, leading Charlotte at Minnesota Portland at Memphis Minnesota. 23 points and 10 rebounds, but new-look Timberwolves. to 34 points for the Raptors. Sacramento at Dallas Lowry returned after missing Minnesota couldn’t build on Sat- “It was great,” Russell said. “Your turnovers are as good as Golden State at Phoenix Miami at Utah Saturday’s win over Brooklyn urday’s surprise victory over the “Super excited about this group.” twos and threes for them, the way L.A. Lakers at Denver Clippers that snapped a 13-game Jarrett Culver, Malik Beas- they push the ball and the way Thursday’s games because of whiplash, but center L.A. Clippers at Boston Serge Ibaka sat because of flu- losing streak. ley and Juancho Hernangomez they can score in the open court,” Oklahoma City at New Orleans like symptoms. Hollis-Jefferson Russell, who didn’t play Sat- scored 15 apiece for Minnesota, Timberwolves coach Ryan Saun- Leaders started for Ibaka. urday because of a right quad wich has lost five straight against ders said. Scoring G FG FT PTS AVG Harden, HOU 50 508 515 1758 35.2 Roundup Antetoknmpo, MIL 48 529 307 1438 30.0 Lillard, POR 52 494 356 1554 29.9 Young, ATL 49 451 383 1456 29.7 Beal, WAS 44 436 296 1280 29.1 Doncic, DAL 43 408 296 1238 28.8 Leonard, LAC 40 376 246 1083 27.1 Westbrook, HOU 44 460 224 1187 27.0 Short-handed Bucks blast past Kings Davis, LAL 45 416 314 1192 26.5 Booker, PHX 51 455 338 1347 26.4 LaVine, CHI 54 468 255 1351 25.0 Ingram, NOP 47 401 249 1169 24.9 Associated Press 15 or more in a period. The Nuggets scored 74 points in the second James, LAL 50 473 188 1242 24.8 Heat 113, Warriors 101: Jimmy Butler half, a season high, and outscored the Spurs Mitchell, UTA 52 468 201 1262 24.3 MILWAUKEE — Khris Middleton and Siakam, TOR 43 379 167 1017 23.7 had 21 points and 10 rebounds in his return to by 21 after halftime. Denver has won three in DeRozan, SAS 52 445 298 1196 23.0 Eric Bledsoe scored 28 points apiece Monday the lineup, and Miami won in Andre Iguoda- a row and six of its last seven. Embiid, PHI 38 282 254 867 22.8 to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 123-111 de- Wiggins, GSW 44 365 158 984 22.4 la’s first game back in the Bay Area. Nets 106, Pacers 105: Spencer Dinwid- Tatum, BOS 48 387 167 1067 22.2 feat of the Sacramento Kings. Walker, BOS 44 322 173 968 22.0 Jae Crowder added 21 points and eight re- die made a 21-foot jumper with 5 seconds left, Rebounds The Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, the bounds. Bam Adebayo had 13 points, 11 re- lifting Brooklyn to the win at Indiana. G OFF DEF TOT AVG reigning MVP, missed the game after he and Drummond, CLE 50 233 556 789 15.8 bounds and seven assists. Kelly Olynyk had Dinwiddie finished with 21 points. Gobert, UTA 51 189 550 739 14.5 his girlfriend welcomed their first child, a son 12 points and a career-high 11 assists. The lead changed hands three times in Whiteside, POR 49 197 496 693 14.1 whose birth he announced earlier Monday on Capela, HOU 39 168 369 537 13.8 Iguodala, a key member of Golden State’s the final 27 seconds and wasn’t decided until Antetokompo, MIL 48 118 528 646 13.5 his Twitter account. Sabonis, IND 51 158 482 640 12.5 three championship teams from 2015-18, had Malcolm Brogdon’s three-pointer at the buzz- Embiid, PHI 38 102 354 456 12.0 Milwaukee trailed 90-88 after three quar- two points and five rebounds in 17 minutes er came up short. The Nets have won two Vucevic, ORL 43 114 351 465 10.8 ters, but opened the final period with 13 con- Adebayo, MIA 53 138 413 551 10.4 against his former team. straight at Indianapolis for the first time since Valanciunas, MEM 50 139 381 520 10.4 secutive points. Jazz 123, Mavericks 119: Jordan Clark- 2012-13. Assists Harrison Barnes had 23 points and G AST AVG son scored 25 points before fouling out and Magic 135, Hawks 126: Aaron Gordon James, LAL 50 537 10.7 De’Aaron Fox added 17 for the Kings, who Rudy Gobert stayed perfect from the floor scored 26 points for host Orlando, and Niko- Young, ATL 49 447 9.1 had won four of their previous five. Doncic, DAL 43 373 8.7 against Dallas this season, leading visiting la Vucevic had 24 points, nine rebounds and Rubio, PHX 46 394 8.6 Lakers 125, Suns 100: Rajon Rondo Utah. nine assists. Simmons, PHI 52 431 8.3 Lillard, POR 52 413 7.9 scored a season-high 23 points, Anthony Davis Gobert was 7-for-7 shooting after making The Magic shot 52.6% from the field and Graham, CHA 53 412 7.8 added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and host Los all eight attempts in Utah’s home victory last made a season-high 18 three-pointers in Lowry, TOR 42 315 7.5 Westbrook, HOU 44 319 7.3 Angeles rolled over Phoenix. month. He finished with 17 points and 16 re- their highest-scoring game this season. Evan Harden, HOU 50 367 7.3 The Lakers had dropped three of their last bounds. The 7-foot-1 center has made 17 con- Fournier added 22 points. FG Percentage FG FGA PCT four at Staples Center but didn’t have any secutive shots against Dallas going back to Hornets 87, Pistons 76: Miles Bridges Gobert, UTA 303 438 .692 problems against the Suns. Los Angeles put last Feb. 23. scored 18 points, helping Charlotte win at De- Holmes, SAC 204 309 .660 Allen, BKN 226 351 .644 the game away in the second as Rondo scored Nuggets 127, Spurs 120: Jamal Murray troit to stop a five-game slide. Capela, HOU 244 388 .629 Clarke, MEM 231 376 .614 15 points in the quarter. It was only the fifth scored 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter The win was the Hornets’ 10th straight Whiteside, POR 318 522 .609 time in Rondo’s 13-year career he has scored to help host Denver rally from 23 down . against the Pistons . S TARS AND STRIPES Wednesday, February 12, 2020 F3HIJKLM 15 in a row Red-hot Raptors stretch SPORTS winning streak » NBA, Page 23
COLLEGE BASKETBALL Flyin’ high No. 6 Dayton having best season in a half-century BY JOE KAY By the numbers Associated Press DAYTON, Ohio CAA Tournament fans will be talk- ing about Dayton 81.7 a lot this year, and not only because of the First Four. Points per game NWith March around the corner, No. 6 Dayton is averaging the Flyers are No. 6 in the country with a re energized fan base that this season, which ranks hasn’t seen anything like them in sixth nationally. a long time. It’s been a half-cen- tury since they’ve reached such heights. Dayton’s main impact on the 52.4 tournament the last few years was hosting the First Four, the play-in games between the four Field-goal percentage lowest-ranked, at-large teams. for Dayton, which leads Now, the Flyers fans are ruminat- ing about the possibility of a run the nation. to the Final Four. “This is a basketball town,” said coach Anthony Grant, a former Flyers player who returned three 18.4 years ago to rebuild the program. “That’s probably an understate- ment, when you look at the his- Number of assists tory of the University of Dayton, per game for Dayton, what basketball is in this area. second only to the 18.7 “This is the beginning of March Belmont is averaging. Madness each year. That speaks for itself.” With one of the deepest and SOURCE: Associated Press most balanced lineups in the country, these Flyers could have ing since they were No. 6 in De- a lot to say about how the Mad- cember 1967. It’s the fourth time ness plays out. in their history that they’ve been Dayton (21-2, 10-0 Atlantic 10) a top-six program. They made put itself in the national spotlight it to No. 4 in the 1954-55 season with a spectacular run at Maui and up to a school-best No. 2 in in November, thumping Georgia 1955-56. and Virginia Tech before losing What’s most impressive about to Kansas in overtime. The only the Flyers has more to do with other loss was to Colorado in some other numbers. overtime at the Chicago Legends Their deep, versatile offense event. ranks sixth nationally in scor- Since then, the Flyers have ing at 81.7 points per game, won 12 straight and zoomed all the way up to their highest rank- SEE HIGH ON PAGE 18
Inside: Baylor wins 21st straight game, Page 18 JOHN MINCHILLO/AP Dayton’s Obi Toppin dunks during the second half of a game game against Virginia Commonwealth on West Virginia faces tough week, Page 18 Jan. 14 in Dayton, Ohio. The 6-foot-8 Toppin has 160 dunks in less than two seasons.
Olympic participation remains doubtful Baseball considering expanding playoffs NHL, Page 22 MLB, Page 19