The Full Belmonte, 6/11/2023
Trump Indictment
Donald Trump made his first public appearance since he was indicted on federal charges.Jon Cherry for The New York Times
“Donald Trump described federal charges against him as ‘baseless’ and a ‘horrific abuse of power.’
The indictment has unleashed violent rhetoric from his supporters, disturbing experts.
A Trump-appointed judge will oversee the case, unless she recuses herself, a court official said.” [New York Times]
Ted Kaczynski, ‘Unabomber’ Who Attacked Modern Life, Dies at 81
Alone in a shack in the Montana wilderness, he fashioned homemade bombs and launched a violent one-man campaign to destroy industrial society.
“Theodore J. Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber, who attacked academics, businessmen and random civilians with homemade bombs from 1978 to 1995, killing three people and injuring 23 with the stated goal of fomenting the collapse of the modern social order — a violent spree that ended after what was often described as the longest and most costly manhunt in American history — died on Saturday in a federal prison medical center in Butner, N.C. He was 81….” Read more at New York Times
Golden Knights go up 3-1 on Panthers behind Chandler Stephenson's big night
Mike Brehm
USA TODAY
“The Vegas Golden Knights had to watch Chandler Stephenson and the Washington Capitals celebrate a series-clinching win at T-Mobile Arena in Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
The Golden Knights now will have a chance to celebrate the franchise's first NHL championship at their home arena in Game 5 after Stephenson's big game on Saturday night.
He scored twice, his first career goals in the championship round, to help defeat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in Game 4, sending Vegas home with a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
‘We wanted to push as best we could and take their fans out of it,’ Stephenson told reporters.
Game 5 will be Tuesday (8 p.m. ET, TNT) in Las Vegas. A closer look at Game 4….” Read more at USA Today
Trainer Jena Antonucci makes history as Arcangelo wins 155th Belmont Stakes
“ELMONT, N.Y. — It's only fitting that history was made a half-century after Secretariat’s record-setting Belmont Stakes performance secured the Triple Crown. Because mixed in with the roar of the Belmont Park crowd early Saturday evening was the sound of horse racing's glass ceiling shattering.
When Arcangelo slipped through on the rail and overtook pacesetting Preakness winner National Treasure to hit the wire first, trainer Jena Antonucci became the first female ever to win the Belmont Stakes, and the first to win a Triple Crown race.
She's only the 11th woman to saddle a Belmont runner in the 155-year history of the race.
Arcangelo, who won the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont Park last month to earn a spot in the field, finished 1½ lengths clear of Forte, the favorite, with Tapit Trice closing to get third….” Read more at USA Today
Brittney Griner faced 'excessive harassment' at Dallas airport. Mercury, WNBA respond.
USA TODAY
“Several WNBA athletes are calling for the league to do more for player safety while traveling after Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner was subjected to ‘excessive harassment’ at a Dallas airport on Saturday.
The Mercury were traveling to Indianapolis from Dallas Saturday morning following a 90-77 loss to the Dallas Wings on Friday when an ‘inappropriate and unfortunate’ confrontation occurred, the league said.
Phoenix forward Brianna Turner said people were following the Mercury with cameras while shouting ‘wild remarks’ at them. ‘Our team nervously huddled in a corner unsure how to move about,’ Turner recalled on Twitter.
The WNBA said the incident ‘was orchestrated by a social media figure and provocateur’ who singled out Griner, the six-time All-Star who was detained for nearly 10 months in Russia after being found guilty of carrying hash oil in her luggage while playing overseas.
Twitter user @alexstein99 shared a photo of himself ‘calling out Brittney Griner’ in the airport and posted a snippet of the encounter, where he yelled at her that she ‘hates America.’ He teased the release of the full video.
The Mercury said they're ‘reviewing the incident.’ In a statement, the team added: ‘We are committed to our support of BG and advocating for all American hostages abroad. We will continue our support of marginalized communities and fighting the kind of hate that targeted us today. No one, regardless of identity, should ever fear for their safety. We will be coordinating with the WNBA on next steps.’
The WNBA said ‘the safety of Brittney Griner and all WNBA players is our top priority.’
‘Prior to the season, the WNBA worked together with the Phoenix Mercury and BG’s team to ensure her safety during her travel, which included charter flights for WNBA games and assigned security personnel with her at all times,’ the statement said. ‘We remain steadfastly committed to the highest standards of security for players.’….” Read more at USA Today
Conor McGregor's punches send Miami Heat mascot to emergency room
USA TODAY
“MMA star Conor McGregor sent the person who plays the Miami Heat’s mascot “Burnie” to the emergency room Friday after decking him during a partnership announcement between McGregor and the Heat, a person familiar with the situation told USA TODAY Sports.
The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the incident.
The mascot's performer saw a doctor, received pain medication and was sent home.
At halfcourt during a timeout with 7:35 left in third quarter of Game 4 between the Heat and Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals, the Heat revealed their partnership with McGregor and his pain relief spray called TIDL Sport….” Read more at USA Today
THE WEEK IN CULTURE
After 75 years in and around the theater district in Midtown Manhattan, the Tony Awards will be presented uptown this year.Gioncarlo Valentine for The New York Times
“The Tony Awards, honoring the best of Broadway, are tonight at the “Wonder Theater” in Washington Heights. Here’s how to watch.
The Times’s Michael Paulson predicts the productions and actors that will take home a Tony this year, including “Kimberly Akimbo” and “Leopoldstadt.”
Apple announced a new mixed-reality headset. It could flop, but The Times’s Kevin Roose says he’s not betting against the company.
Apple’s headset could transform how we look and what we wear, The Times’s Vanessa Friedman writes.
Astrud Gilberto, whose performance of “The Girl From Ipanema” helped make bossa nova popular in the U.S., died at 83.” [New York Times]
”Lives lived: When Harald zur Hausen proposed in the 1970s that HPV caused cervical cancer, he was ridiculed. His discovery earned him the Nobel Prize, and led to the development of a vaccine. He died at 87.” [New York Times]