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Major League Soccer playoffs kick off with a new format, a best-of-3 first-round series

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

(AP) — Major League Soccer’s playoffs have a new twist this season: the opening round will be a best-of-three series.As a result, there’s the possibility of 24 first-round playoff games.There were mixed feelings about the new format among the players.“I think it’s an interesting new model that they’ve come up with, I don’t know what the reasoning is behind it. It’s similar to a lot of the other sports in American culture, baseball, basketball, hockey, where they have these games series,” Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White said. “Hopefully it brings more eyes to the league, more attention. Looking forward to this new experience.”LAFC’s Carlos Vela, who has been in the league for six seasons, was not necessarily a fan.“I don’t understand what is the point of three games in the first round,’ Vela said. “And after that, three more games to win the championships. I don’t know exactly what they are thinking.”The ...

Taco Bell brings back ‘Steal a Base, Steal a Taco’ campaign for World Series

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

Taco Bell has brought back its “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” campaign for the World Series.Fans can snag a free taco when a player steals a base, but customers have to register for a Rewards account on the fast food chain’s website and download the app in order to be notified and claim their free item.Game 2 of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers kicks off Saturday night. Fox Sports coverage starts at 7 p.m., right here on 7.

Police: Mercedes driver arrested after running red light, hitting car near Miami intersection; 3 hospitalized

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

Police have arrested a man in connection to a violent car crash in Miami that sent three people to the hospital.City of Miami Police units responded to the scene of the incident in the area of Northwest 47th Avenue and Seventh Street, early Saturday morning.According to investigators the driver of a blue Chevrolet Spark was traveling southbound on Northwest 47th Avenue when the driver of blue 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE350, traveling westbound on Seventh Avenue, ran a red light and collided into the Spark.Polcie saod the driver of the Mercedes, identified as Osman Edgardo Flores Gonzalez, was speeding and did not have a driver’s license. He was taken into custody and later placed under arrest.Officers temporarily shut down the intersection while they investigated.On the scene were two badly damaged vehicles and a massive hole in a storefront.7News cameras also captured Flores Gonzalez as he was handcuffed and taken away.Rescue crews transported the injured victims to Jackson Memori...

Pence ends White House campaign after struggling to gain traction. ‘This is not my time,’ he says

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, ending his campaign for the White House after struggling to raise money and gain traction in the polls.“It’s become clear to me: This is not my time,” Pence said at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual gathering in Las Vegas. “So after much prayer and deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign for president effective today.”“We always knew this would be an uphill battle, but I have no regrets,” Pence went on to tell the friendly audience, which reacted with audible surprise to the announcement and gave him multiple standing ovations.Pence is the first major candidate to leave a race that has been dominated by his former boss-turned-rival, Donald Trump, and his struggles underscore just how much Trump has transformed the party. A former vice president would typically be seen as a formidable challenger in any primary,...

Howie Carr: Trick or treat, taxpayers! Ex-pols cleaning up in the hackerama

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

Forgotten, but not gone.That’s how ex-pols are often described at the State House after they leave elective office. But after checking out the latest Beacon Hill lobbying reports, that old saw needs to be updated.Forgotten, but not gone – and filthy rich!It is astonishing to see how much some of these ancient shiftless hacks are grabbing, especially when you consider how long it’s been since any of them ever won an election.Let’s start with 79-year-old ex-Lt. Gov. Tommy O’Neill – “Thomas P. O’Neill da Turd” as the sergeant-at-arms used to describe him when he entered the House chambers for the annual State of the State address.Da Turd is the son of ex-House speaker Tip O’Neill, and he was dragged into office twice on the bottom of the Democrat gubernatorial ticket. But on his own Tipleet won just a single election – as a state rep in Cambridge, in 1972.No problem, though. For the first six months of the year, his firm, O’Neill and Associates, collected $1.89 million from 59 clients....

BSC cross-country: Needham’s Greta Hammer avenges loss to Werner

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

WRENTHAM — With decisive victories at the Frank Kelley and Twilight Invitationals, Brookline’s Lucia Werner went to the starting line of Saturday’s Bay State Conference Championships as the heavy favorite in unseasonably warm conditions at the Wrentham Developmental Center layout.It was Needham’s Greta Hammer, though, who shook free of Werner and Weymouth’s Gracie Richard after the 2-mile mark and extended her lead. Hammer was well clear of the field as she crossed the finish line of the 5k course in 18 minutes, 16.6 seconds. The always-consistent Richard powered home for the silver medal and 18:39.8 ahead of an exhausted Werner, who took third in 18:55.4Hammer exacted a little revenge over Werner, who defeated the Needham harrier on her home course in a dual meet on Sep. 20, winning by six seconds over 3.1 miles, 18:40 to 18:46.A pack of six passed the first mile in 5:50 and that was whittled down to Hammer, Werner and Richard at 2-miles. Hammer put in a big...

Brookline boys claim BSC cross country championship

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

WRENTHAM — Newton North’s Gabriel Grove considers himself very lucky to be running in the Bay State Conference.“It’s a privilege to run in this conference,” said the senior. “There are a lot of great runners and Brookline is the best team in the state and one of the best in the country.”Most of Grove’s competitors probably wished he took Saturday’s BSC Championships off.Grove, a 4:26 miler and 9:21 2-miler, was brilliant.Racing on the rolling Wrentham Developmental Center layout under bright skies in warm temperatures, the Tiger senior passed the mile in 4:49 with Wellesley’s Stephen Goehringer and Eli Merritt in tow. Grove made a strong move halfway through and put daylight between himself and the two harriers. He extended his lead and leaped across the finish line in a quick time of 15 minutes, 47.8 seconds for the win. Goehringer was also under 16 minutes with a second-place finish in 15:58.Altamo Aschkenasy led Brookline̵...

Big Little: Belmont Hill QB has big day

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

BELMONT — Sophomore quarterback Reis Little turned in one of his best performances of the season, finishing with 249 total yards and six touchdowns, as Belmont Hill won its fifth straight game with a 42-28 statement victory over BB&N.“As a team, we obviously work hard for this,” said Little. “We practiced all week for this. We knew what they had, we knew their defense, and all it came down to was making the right reads, making the right plays, knowing what to do when we’re in that situation. I just think we really executed today.”Little completed 14-of-20 passes for 186 yards, while adding 63 yards rushing, and Belmont Hill (5-1) needed just about every one of his plays in this one. He provided his group a 7-0 edge with 6:37 to play in the opening quarter, as he lobbed a 49-yard touchdown pass down the sideline to Charlie Walsh. Belmont Hill extended its lead to 14-7 in the second quarter, as Little connected with Nick Andersen for a 6-yard touchdown strike.BB&N’s Henr...

St. John’s Prep stays perfect

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

The defending Div. 1 champions will enter the postseason as the team to beat.Jimmy Nardone had two touchdowns as part of a rushing attack that totaled 232 yards as St. John’s Prep finished off an undefeated regular season with a 34-6 win over BC High on Saturday afternoon at Murphy Family Stadium.The win gives St. John’s Prep a share of the Catholic Conference title and all but guarantees it the top overall seed in the Div. 1 State Tournament.“We are focused on bigger things so we are going to try and carry some momentum into the playoffs,” Nardone said. “We’re going to try to play our best now that the playoffs are here.”St. John’s Prep’s dominance throughout the game was impressive. It was coming off a statement win over rival Catholic Memorial but showed no signs of a letdown. Starting running back Dylan Aliberti was out with a lower body injury. Senior lineman Wells Gillet was also sidelined.Defensively, the visitors were rel...

Latin Academy doubles up on Boston City League soccer championships

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:51:45 GMT

BOSTON – With overtime looming, Latin Academy dug down and capitalized on a late corner to win their second straight Boston City League boys’ soccer title.Junior Yussef Oulalite headed the ball in off a deflection to boost the Dragons over Boston International 3-2 at Madison Park High Saturday morning.“We worked on set pieces for like an hour yesterday,” said Dragons coach Patrick Mudie about the late tally. Defending, we gave up the first one of the game, but a lot of repetitions and we have a lot of quality guys.”“It’s crazy,” Oulalite said about winning his second straight BCL title. “We’ve gone through a lot of hard times this season and a lot of ups and downs. We lost to (Boston International) two times and it feels amazing to beat them today.”The tally came in stoppage time and was the second goal of the second half as senior Santiago Vanegas also connected on a header in the 57th minute.The first half was dominated by Boston International (16-2) as they delivered seven shots ...