WORDS
Grit & Iron Will: The Passion Play of Football's Invisible
Freelance
Cahill felt no resentment as she watched the men’s major leagues return to play. But when she heard male athletes bemoaning the eerie silence that descended on arenas nationwide, stripping the glamor from these once-packed cathedrals of American sport, she dared to ask:
“Do you still love the game as much as you thought you did?”
How the ‘living room of West Roxbury’ deals with the COVID-19 pandemic
The Boston Globe
Hector Morales pushed the handle of the red Diedrich IR-12 roaster, sending green coffee beans rattling into the machine. The clickety-clack of turning beans created a steady tempo accompanying Recreo Coffee and Roasterie’s opening routine on a recent morning. Around 7 a.m. West Roxbury residents would start visiting the neighborhood’s “living room,” a term coined by a customer. Often, those sitting at the dark granite bar behind the roaster would quiz Hector about the process as they enjoyed their cup of coffee.
“It’s part of the whole experience,” the tall, 56-year-old man with a kind face said. Black tables and brown chairs lining the counter now sat unused, as safety measurements to prevent the spread of the coronavirus had limited indoor dining. State-wide restrictions imperiled the existence of many small businesses. But Recreo, devoted to its mission, stayed open…
NBA COVERAGE
NBA Finals, Game 1 Preview: Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The moment has come. After the arguably worst decade in franchise history, the Los Angeles Lakers are back in the NBA Finals to conclude one of the most unprecedented seasons the game has ever witnessed. And that seems only fitting; L.A. faced adversity even before the season started with a tumultuous trip to China. Then there was Kobe Bryant’s tragic death and the turmoil caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and racial injustice… Read more on Lakers Nation
Selflessness Could Make Jared Dudley Unsung Hero For Lakers In NBA Bubble
Jared Dudley knows his self-worth. “There’s no one that does my role better than me in the NBA,” the Los Angeles Lakers veteran forward said in an exclusive interview after the league was forced to suspend its season due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Dudley’s statement, uttered with a discernible conviction in his voice, could strike as a sign of arrogance at first glance. But this feeling quickly becomes an afterthought upon a closer look at his career… Read more on Lakers Nation
Kobe Bryant’s Storytelling Ended Prematurely, But His Stories Can Still Be Told
To this day it seems so eerie to even think about. It’s December, the world is only weeks away from entering the havoc otherwise known as the year 2020, and I’m tasked with providing an original piece of reporting on Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. In retrospect, the fact I was essentially writing my farewell piece to the five-time NBA champion still blows my mind. Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other individuals would die in a helicopter crash a few weeks after, shocking the world of sports… Read more on Lakers Nation
U.S. ELECTION 2020
Democrats Hold Hope For Pennsylvania As Trump Campaign Announces Legal Action
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s hopes of claiming victory in Pennsylvania are still alive as he has cut President Donald Trump’s lead in the key swing state to under 300,000 after a significant portion of the remaining absentee ballots were counted Wednesday… Read more on Patch.com
Philadelphia voters show up big, major boost to Biden’s battle for key election battleground Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Pennsylvania has long been touted as one of the main battleground states of the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and Philadelphia fully embraced that mantle Tuesday. Ballots in the more blue-leaning parts of the city came in big numbers, providing Democratic candidate Joe Biden with a major boost in the fight for the state’s 20 electoral votes that could decide the race for the White House… Read more in BU News Service
Supporters Relieved As Joe Biden Vows To Unite And Heal America Following Victory
WILMINGTON, De. – Fireworks brightened the sky and a red-and-blue constellation of drones formed Joe Biden’s name as the president-elect vowed to heal and unite America in a speech following his victory in the 2020 presidential election. “The people of this nation have spoken,” he said to thousands of people gathered outside of the Chase Center in Wilmington, just five miles away from his Greenville home… Read more on Patch.com
SPORTS COVERAGE
Centre-back wonderkid Krystian Bielik wants to quit skint Arsenal this summer in fresh blow to Emery
CASH-STRAPPED Arsenal are set to lose their wonderkid Krystian Bielik, who wants to leave the Emirates this summer.A host of clubs from across Europe are queuing up for the talented defender, who starred for Poland at the U21 European Championship in Italy. Bielik, 21, shined while on loan at Charlton last season, scoring a crucial goal in the League One play-offs against Doncaster… Read more in The Sun
Adam Peaty defends newly-created professional swimmers’ union ahead of World Championships in Hungary
Team GB Olympic gold medallist Adam Peaty has claimed that a newly-created professional swimmers’ union is designed to improve relations with the sport’s authorities, not damage them. The Global Association of Professional Swimmers (GAPS) was created earlier this month in response to changes to the Swimming World Cup by Fina, the sport’s governing body, which limited the number of events athletes can swim in at the tournament… Read more in The Independent
Antonio Conte sees it as his task to exploit Eden Hazard’s ‘God-given talent’
Antonio Conte is intent upon coaxing “decisive moments” from Eden Hazard in every appearance as the Belgium forward seeks to establish himself as one of the best players in the world by excelling in the Champions League as well as the Premier League… Read more in The Guardian
Massachusetts politics
Baker’s plan to hike Uber, Lyft fees worries some in Berkshires
Berkshire County lawmakers are concerned that Gov. Charlie Baker’s proposed fee increase for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft might unfairly bill Western Massachusetts residents for the state’s attempts to find new revenue streams for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority… Read more in The Berkshire Eagle
Berkshire teachers fret about ability to assess students via remote learning
K-12 educators in Berkshire County are worried about the impact of remote learning on their ability to assess students, but they remain confident that the children will be ready for the next grade… Read more in The Berkshire Eagle