Free Republic

Few currently disagree with the notion that Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald should be suspended for his behavior at Thursday’s joint practice with the Bengals. Players who swing helmets should always face significant punishment, regardless of whether the incident results in a serious injury. Otherwise, guys will keep swinging helmets until someone suffers a serious injury — and then the NFL will act surprised that someone was seriously injured after getting hit by a helmet.

ATLANTA -- Mike Foltynewicz stood as the great unknown, who occasionally displayed limitless potential, as the Braves spent the past three seasons going through a massive rebuild. But everything changed this year for him and this team that confidently enters the postseason with what appears to be a possible ace. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker did not surprise anyone when he announced Foltynewicz will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers on Thursday. Los Angeles will counter with Hyun-Jin Ryu.

New Jersey 101.5 has taken its mid-day hosts, Dennis Malloy and Judi Franco, off the air until further notice in light of comments about state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal made during Wednesday's show. "We are aware of the offensive comments made by Dennis and Judi during today’s broadcast," the station said Wednesday night. "We have taken immediate action and have taken them off the air until further notice. We are investigating the matter and will have further comment shortly."

Gov. Phil Murphy accused a pair of New Jersey radio hosts of spreading hate speech and issued sharp condemnation of their remarks Wednesday after the two repeatedly referred to New Jersey's Sikh attorney general as "turban man." The governor accused the hosts of 101.5 FM's "The Dennis & Judi Show" of "making "abhorrent and xenophobic" remarks toward Gurbir Grewal. Grewal, the nation's first Sikh attorney general, was referred to as "turban man" and "the guy with the turban" as the hosts discussed his recent move to tell municipal prosecutors not to pursue charges for marijuana arrests.

With the Yankees reportedly having "increased interest" in trading for Orioles All-Star Manny Machado as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline nears, the Red Sox have also been in contact with Baltimore about the slugging shortstop, according to the Baltimore Sun. Machado, a free agent this offseason, is in the midst of his best season in the Majors, entering Tuesday hitting .309/.379/.555 before belting two home runs against the Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Per the Baltimore Sun report, a Red Sox scout was in attendance.

There seems to be no stopping the rumors linking the New York Yankees to Manny Machado. The Yanks have made a "strong offer" to the Baltimore Orioles for the star infielder, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, who suggests that while the Bronx Bombers may not be the favorite, they clearly are a player in this sweepstakes.

When the New York Mets held their first LGBTQ Pride Night in August 2016, fans waved rainbow flags in the stadium, the Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps Marching Band performed, Citi Field’s giant Coca-Cola sign was lit up in rainbow colors and the Kiss Cam caught several same-sex smooches throughout the game. In keeping with tradition, the team honored a veteran at the game, and for that first Pride Night, the Mets honored a gay Army vet. Nearly two years later, however, the Mets’ hometown rivals — the New York Yankees — have yet to host a Pride Night...

It’s not just the Mets who entered the NL East with high hopes and have fallen flat. It’s July 5, and Washington has a losing record. The 42-43 Nationals are scrambling to collect themselves. After getting swept for the third time since the start of June and dropping their season-high fifth straight game Wednesday, the Nationals held a players-only meeting after a 3-0 loss to the Red Sox. According to the Washington Post’s account, Max Scherzer was the leader of the meeting, which wasn’t officially called by one person, as veterans made sure the younger players stuck around.

Tony Parker, who spent his entire 17-year career with the San Antonio Spurs, has decided to sign a contract with the Charlotte Hornets, according to Yahoo! Sports Shams Charania (via Twitter). Tony Parker has agreed to sign with Charlotte, league sources tell Yahoo. The 35-year-old point guard, who won four NBA titles with the Spurs, is expected to backup Kemba Walker, who is entering his final year of his contract. Parker, the 2007 NBA Finals MVP, is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Hornets and informed the Spurs of his decision, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter).

The woman who scaled the Statue of Liberty on Wednesday has been identified. Cops say Therese Patricia Okoumou — a 44-year-old immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo — was the person responsible for the Fourth of July protest. She lives in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island and is currently in federal custody, according to police sources. Officers from the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit transported her to a federal detention center on Wednesday night following her three-hour standoff with authorities. Her case is being handled by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.

Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King, a leading voice on the left, declared on Twitter Wednesday: “The 4th of July was [sic] always been a sham. Always.” King, who received BET’s “humanitarian hero” award last weekend, was commenting on a quote from abolitionist — and, later, Republican — Frederick Douglass. In 1852, Douglass delivered a speech about the Fourth of July. King referenced a single passage in which Douglass said: What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, ending his second run as the face of his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers. James, born in Akron and drafted No. 1 by the Cavs in 2003, is leaving the Cavs for the second time in eight seasons. But this time, it's two-years removed from bringing the organization its first title. James' agreement with the Lakers was announced through a simple press release sent by his agent, Rich Paul, which says James, a 14-time All-Star, three-time Finals MVP, and two-time Olympic...

You can’t eat David Garcia. The curious saying stems from when the Democratic gubernatorial candidate served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army. Garcia and his Army cohorts were told by a commanding officer that their military handbook included the phrase, “you cannot eat another soldier.” Your fellow soldiers could get you killed, leave you in a foreign land or get you blown up, but they couldn’t cannibalize you, Garcia said at a June 7 fundraiser. Garcia, who ran for state superintendent of public instruction in 2014 and lost by about 16,000 votes, is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor...

In 1976, future CIA director John Brennan was a college student disgusted by Watergate and the “system” that produced it. As the young Brennan surveyed the political landscape, only one candidate seemed to be speaking the truth about the need for real change (and/or the dictatorship of the proletariat) — Communist Party nominee Gus Hall. But by 1980, Brennan grown out of Marxist-Leninism, realized American-style capitalism was the one true way, and decided to devote his life to Uncle Sam’s intelligence apparatus. Or so that former pinko now claims.

Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, the first and to date only MLB player to kneel during the national anthem, was combative and foul-mouthed during his arrest for aggravated assault last October, video shows. TMZ Sports obtained video of Maxwell’s arrest after he allegedly brandished a gun at a Postmates driver. When police arrived, they found Maxwell shirtless and smelling of alcohol, and he began berating police, telling them “half of America is afraid of y’all” and “that’s the reason why I took a knee.” He also becomes emotional as he describes how he and his family received death threats for...

While Republican candidates across the country are proclaiming their fealty to President Donald Trump, New Jersey's Bob Hugin is going against the grain. Hugin, who is taking on Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, is proclaiming himself "a different kind of Republican," in a new television ad, where he identifies himself as supporting abortion rights, same-sex marriage and equal pay for equal work. He also backs federal funding for the Gateway Tunnel project and calls for changes to the Republican tax law that singled out New Jersey by capping the federal deduction for state and local taxes, taking positions at odds...

FRISCO, Texas – At one point this week, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott sat back at his locker and pulled a large box to his lap, flipping the top open and pulling out a crisp Stetson cowboy hat. Without removing the plastic wrapping, he pulled the brim down over his forehead and smiled. A perfect fit. One of the few for the Cowboys in this week’s minicamp, which may have been summed up most accurately by head coach Jason Garrett when he said the team (and the offense in particular) is nowhere near a finished product. “We’re so far away,”...

Disney is selling the longtime headquarters of ABC News, which occupies a prestigious piece of New York City real estate. ... The sale is raising new questions about the future of Disney’s troubled news operation. Once-vaunted ABC News has struggled for identity in recent years, as the TV news spotlight has shifted to cable and the internet. And ABC News' notable shift away from hard news coverage, perhaps in search of viewers, has reduced its relevance in the news ecosystem ... as Disney executives voice increasing frustration with the high costs and low returns of the news operation. ... ABC...

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper won’t be a free-agent until October, but the anonymous backlash has already begun. One National League executive didn’t hold back, calling Harper a “losing player,” according to Robert Murray of FRS. What happened? A “top National League executive” sent Murray three texts with some harsh thoughts on Harper. Text one: “He’s simply overrated. The good ain’t worth the bad. He’s a losing player. Cares about himself more than the team. If I was in charge and had money, my team would not pursue him. We would use that money to sign 2-3 winning players.” Text...

Warriors complete sweep of Cavaliers with 108-85 win to claim second straight NBA championship and third in four seasons Led by Stephen Curry’s 37 points, Golden State finished off Cleveland, its Finals opponent four years running. LeBron James, a potential free agent next month, scored 23 points for the Cavaliers in the last game of his eighth consecutive Finals appearance.