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Rams aim to get tougher in trenches with Day 2 picks

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

TARZANA, Calif. (AP) — When Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead asked Aaron Donald what traits the 2023 draft class should have, the historically great defensive lineman had one reply.“‘Just make sure they care,’” Snead said.The Rams took that to heart in drafting TCU guard Steve Avila in the second round and two defensive players in the third round of the NFL draft on Friday night to address glaring needs on both lines of scrimmage. “There was definitely an intent that we could definitely take offensive line, interior D-line, outside linebacker type help. But we let the board kind of dictate when we took, when we traded back, things like that,” Snead said.No position group had more to do with the Rams’ dismal defense of their Super Bowl title than an offensive line decimated by injuries last season, using 13 different starting combinations with only right tackle Rob Havenstein playing in every game. Avila, who was taken with the 36th overall pick, played...

Marte homers in D-Backs’ 9-1 win, Rockies fall to 8-19

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Ketel Marte hit an early homer, Josh Rojas drove in three runs and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Colorado 9-1 on Friday night, sending the Rockies to their sixth straight home loss.Christian Walker hit a go-ahead double in a three-run seventh inning, and NL West-leading Arizona broke open the game with a five-run ninth.Colorado is a National League-worst 8-19, the Rockies worst start since they began 6-21 in 2005. Colorado dropped to 3-8 at Coors Field.Merrill Kelly (2-3) allowed one run and six hits in six innings with five strikeouts. He walked one after issuing 17 in his first five starts.“I felt like I missed more spots than I hit,” Kelly said. “I’m happy I was able to throw some strikes today.”Kyle Freeland (2-3) gave up three runs and five hits in six-plus innings. He is 0-3 in four starts since beating San Diego in his season opener and defeating Washington on April 6.Marte drove a 1-2 slider into the left-field seats in the third inning, but C.J. Cron...

Tkachuk, Panthers beat Bruins 7-5 to force Game 7

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Matthew Tkachuk scored twice, Eetu Luostarinen put Florida ahead to stay with 5:38 left in what was a crazed third period, and the Panthers forced a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference first-round series by beating the Boston Bruins 7-5 on Friday night.Aleksander Barkov, Brandon Montour, Zac Dalpe and Sam Reinhart also scored for the Panthers, who got 30 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky. Reinhart closed it out with an empty-netter with 28 seconds left — the seventh and final goal of the third period, four of those scores by Florida.Tyler Bertuzzi and David Pastrnak each scored twice for Boston, which got four assists from Brad Marchand and 26 saves from Linus Ullmark. Jake DeBrusk also scored for the Bruins.The team with the best regular-season record in NHL history took one-goal leads on two separate occasions in the third period — and couldn’t hold either one of them. Now, they face a Game 7 on Sunday just to get into the second round against a Florida team that has...

Stars bounce Wild in 6 with 4-1 win behind Hintz, Oettinger

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Roope Hintz got Dallas going early, Jake Oettinger stonewalled his home-state team again and the Stars eliminated the Minnesota Wild with a 4-1 win in Game 6 of their first-round NHL playoff series on Friday night.Wyatt Johnston and Mason Marchment scored in the second period when a burst by the Stars — smelling the Western Conference semifinals and swooping in for the finish — outshot the Wild 18-5. Max Domi closed it out with an empty-netter in the final minute.Oettinger made 22 saves for the Stars, who advanced to face the Colorado-Seattle winner. The Kraken took a 3-2 series lead on the Avalanche into their Game 6 on Friday.Oettinger was bidding for his second shutout of the series before Freddy Gaudreau scored for the Wild with 7:07 left.Filip Gustavsson, starting a fourth consecutive game for the first time in his first season with Minnesota, stopped 23 shots in two periods. Marc-Andre Fleury, who was in net for a 7-3 loss at Dallas in Game 2, took over ...

Broncos focus on position versatility on Day 2 of NFL draft

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — With only a handful of picks in this year’s NFL draft, the Denver Broncos prioritized versatility in their trio of Day 2 selections.The Broncos added a deep threat for Russell Wilson in Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr., who lined up as much on the outside as he did on the inside for the Sooners.In All-American Drew Sanders, they get a tall linebacker with a terrific wingspan who can also shift seamlessly between playing inside and outside, clogging the middle of the field or getting after the passer.In Iowa’s Riley Moss, they have a defensive back who can play both cornerback and safety, although coach Sean Payton said he envisions Moss starting out at cornerback.The Broncos entered Friday night with back-to-back selections at Nos. 67 and 68 early in the third round after parting with several premium picks to acquire Wilson from the Seahawks last year and Payton from the Saints this year.Despite their dearth of draft capital, the Broncos eng...

Clear Creek EMS uses new training to save man's life

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) -- A Colorado man nearly died on the job after suffering a severe allergic reaction. Clear Creek EMS performed an advanced medical procedure on the spot and saved his life, which led to a very emotional reunion.That magical moment happened on Thursday when Dave Itrich was able to look the men and women who saved his life in the eyes and say thank you. Through joyous tears and warm embraces, Itrich is giving all the praise to the emergency medical services team, calling them heroes."It's not every day you get a second chance," Itrich said.On the job, then anaphylactic shockFor Itrich, a second chance at life is his reality after surviving a near-death experience on April 14. He works at the Kum & Go in Idaho Springs, and it was a typical day, but things took a terrible turn."I had shook somebody's hand and scratched my mouth, and they had to have shellfish on their hands because that's the only thing I'm that allergic to," Itrich said. Over 700 ...

Ravens select Clemson LB Trenton Simpson with 86th overall pick in third round of NFL draft: ‘Well worth the wait’

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

Trenton Simpson grew up idolizing former Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith. Now he’s looking forward to working alongside the All-Pro in Baltimore.The Ravens used the No. 86 overall pick in the NFL draft on the former Clemson standout Friday night, using their second selection on a position most did not project as an area of need. Whatever Simpson was lacking in the eyes of the other 31 teams that caused him to fall to the middle of the third round, he certainly makes up for in confidence.“I can fit in any scheme,” Simpson said. “I’m the most versatile linebacker in this draft. Y’all are not going to regret this pick. I’m going to go down as one of the greats for the Baltimore Ravens.”That’s a bold statement considering the team’s history at the position — Hall of Famer Ray Lewis, 2011 Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Pro Terrell Suggs and 1997 Defensive Rookie of the Year and four-time Pro Bowl selection P...

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles addresses his defense on Day 2 of the NFL draft, adding a pair of DTs and CB Tyrique Stevenson

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

An exhausted Ryan Poles planned to go home from Halas Hall on Friday night and put his phone on “do not disturb” so he could get some rest before a busy Day 3 of the NFL draft.But the Chicago Bears general manager imagines it might be hard to relax after he helped his defense take a step forward with three additions from the second and third rounds.“I’ll go sit down at home and be wired,” Poles said. “And I’ll have to watch TV and eventually fall asleep.”One night after addressing the offense by taking Tennessee offensive tackle Darnell Wright, Poles focused on filling key holes on the defense, selecting Florida defensive tackle Gervon Dexter at No. 53, Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson at No. 56 and South Carolina defensive tackle Zacch Pickens at No. 64.Poles traded up with the Jacksonville Jaguars to get Stevenson, giving them the No. 136 pick to move up five spots.On Thursday night, Poles left open the possibility that he would tr...

Padres, Giants to play two-game series in Mexico City

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres are set to take on the San Francisco Giants in Mexico City at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium this weekend.The two games will be the first time the Friars play in Mexico since 2019, when they faced off against the Diablos Rojos del México in an exhibition game at the Mexico City stadium.In 2020, the first Major League Baseball regular season game was supposed to happen in Mexico City between the Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 10 of the best rooftop bars in San Diego Built in March 2019, the $150 million AHH Stadium can fit 20,000 people, featuring six outdoor terraces and food courts alongside a trident spear-shaped roof made of steel.Baseball has recently gained popularity in Mexico after the national team's deep run at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, making it to the semifinals before losing to Japan.Saturday's game is set for 3:05 p.m. while first pitch for Sunday's game is at 1:05 p.m. Both gam...

Stroll through ArtWalk in Little Italy for visual experience

Published Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:39:27 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Little Italy is already a wonderful area to wander through, but adding beautiful pieces of art makes the neighborhood that much more appealing.This weekend, the 39th annual Mission Fed ArtWalk is set to take place next to the Piazza della Famiglia in Little Italy for attendees to view and purchase artwork, enjoy live music performances and participate in interactive art experiences."We believe art has the power to connect communities, cultivate new artistic talent and create a better quality of life for all through cultural enrichment," the organization said on its website. This popular spring German festival is within driving distance of San Diego More than 250 fine artists will showcase their work during the two-day festival, which opens from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.All ArtWalk San Diego events benefit the organization's arts education nonprofit partner ArtReach, which provides art lessons into schools that have no other resourc...