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Review: Metallica’s James Hetfield says he ‘couldn’t have dreamt this’

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

James Hetfield stood before 70,000-plus fans, who surrounded the Metallica vocalist-guitarist on all sides as he stood on the in-the-round stage in SoFi Stadium, and he seemed a bit in awe of the situation.“I couldn’t have dreamt this,” he remarked.Friday’s triumphant show was indeed the stuff of dreams, both for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame act and the legions of fans who filled the mammoth Los Angeles to capacity for the first of two sold-out shows. The group returns to SoFi on Sunday to complete the SoCal stand of Metallica’s M72 World Tour, which supports the group’s 11th studio outing, this year’s “72 Seasons.”The concert was a homecoming show of sorts for the band, which formed back in 1981 in Los Angeles. Of course, Metallica is mostly — and correctly — thought of as being a Bay Area act, since it has spent most of its career living and working in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge.Unfortunately, Metallica ...

Santa Clara County: Spraying, bait planned after fruit fly, West Nile discoveries

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

SANTA CLARA COUNTY — Officials planned two new rounds of pest-control efforgts after finding more West Nile virus-infected mosquitoes in San Jose and the discovery of fruit flies that carry a dire threat to local agriculture in Santa Clara.The California Department of Food and Agriculture said it was taking “emergency action” to prevent the spread of the oriental fruit fly after two flies were found in the areas surrounding Cupertino, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale within the past month.“It would be disastrous for the oriental fruit fly to get established in Santa Clara County and California,”  County of Santa Clara Agricultural Commissioner Joe Deviney said in a statement.The flies, which are native to Asia but have spread to multiple islands in the Pacific Ocean, burrow into fruits and vegetables, making them inedible. In total, the fly threatens more than 200 types of foods grown in California, almost $20 billion worth of crops, according to the state agency.Authorities als...

Popular game show host Bob Barker dies at 99

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

By Frazier Moore | Associated PressA publicist says popular game show host Bob Barker, a household name for a half-century as host of “Truth or Consequences” and “The Price Is Right,” has died at his home in Los Angeles. Barker was 99.Barker — also a longtime animal rights activist — died Saturday morning, according to publicist Roger Neal.“I am so proud of the trailblazing work Barker and I did together to expose the cruelty to animals in the entertainment industry and including working to improve the plight of abused and exploited animals in the United States and internationally,” said Nancy Burnet, his longtime friend and caretaker, in a statement.Barker retired in June 2007, telling his studio audience: “I thank you, thank you, thank you for inviting me into your home for more than 50 years.”Barker was working in radio in 1956 when producer Ralph Edwards invited him to audition as the new host of “Truth or Consequences,”...

Publicist says popular ‘Price is Right’ game show host Bob Barker has died at his Los Angeles home

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Publicist says popular ‘Price is Right’ game show host Bob Barker has died at his Los Angeles home.

Bianca Andreescu pulls out of the US Open with an injury. She won the tournament in 2019

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, pulled out of the year’s last Grand Slam tournament on Saturday because of an injury.The U.S. Tennis Association announced Andreescu’s withdrawal but did not specify the nature of the injury. She will be replaced in the women’s singles bracket by a player who qualified for the field or lost in qualifying.Andreescu was supposed to face Lesia Tsurenko in the first round.Play begins Monday at Flushing Meadows.Andreescu is a 23-year-old from Canada who has been ranked as high as No. 4 and is currently No. 51.She won the U.S. Open as a teenager by beating Serena Williams in the final four years ago. That made Andreescu the first player to win the women’s title in New York in her tournament debut.___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennisSource

Back from Women’s World Cup, Marissa Sheva is ready to help Washington Spirit’s late-season push

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

Marissa Sheva recalled standing in midfield front of over 75,000 fans in the Sydney’s Stadium Australia in awe. The midfielder was preparing to play for the Republic of Ireland in the opening match of the 2023 Women’s World Cup against host Australia in front of a record crowd.Before the game began, all Sheva could hear was Irish fans singing. Pockets of Irish chants continued throughout the game, reminding the 26-year-old and her teammates to own their underdog status against the host nation and enjoy the moment.“Running out onto the field in front of 80,000 people in Sydney was one of the most incredible experiences of my life and of my career so far,” she said. “It’s gonna take a while to top that one.”Over a month later, Sheva is back in D.C., preparing the latter half of the National Women’s Soccer League season with the Washington Spirit. Filled with a renewed spirit after playing for Ireland, the midfielder said she is excited t...

Josh Jacobs agrees to one-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Raiders, AP source says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Josh Jacobs took to social media Saturday to say, “I’m back,” after agreeing to a one-year deal to play for the Las Vegas Raiders this season.The contract is worth up to $12 million, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the terms have not been announced.Jacobs would have received $10.1 million this season if he had signed the franchise tag tender. His deal appears similar to the one fellow running back Saquon Barkley agreed to late last month to stay with the New York Giants.Jacobs, who last season led the NFL in rushing with 1,653 yards, had been expected to sign with the Raiders rather than sit out the season and forfeit his salary, but his prolonged absence began to raise questions that finally were answered Saturday.He made clear early on he would be unhappy playing on a franchise tag, saying at the Pro Bowl that he would be a “hero turned villain.” Now that the tw...

Union wins despite Aaronson sending off in Bundesliga. Dortmund draws Bochum again

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Midfielder Brenden Aaronson was sent off. That didn’t stop Union Berlin. Ten-man Union earned a 4-1 win in Darmstadt after Robin Gosens scored twice in his first Bundesliga start on Saturday.“Today you saw what makes us special,” said Gosens, who spent his career in the Netherlands and Italy before joining Union in the offseason. “It always sounds so simple, but we’re a team, a family, everyone knows exactly what the other can do and what they have to do themselves, that we can overcome obstacles and always fight back, no matter what happens. Only a few teams can say that about themselves.”Gosens celebrated his first professional start in Germany by eluding one Darmstadt defender and shooting between the legs of another to open the scoring in the fourth minute.Aaronson was sent off in the 21st for his second yellow card and Union paid the price three minutes later when Marvin Mehlem equalized.But Gosens scored again in the 34th with a header to a free...

Verstappen eyes ninth straight F1 win after another Dutch GP pole. Norris second fastest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Red Bull driver Max Verstappen produced a typically strong final lap to take pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix on Saturday for the third straight year.The runaway Formula One leader beat McLaren driver Lando Norris’ leading time in qualifying on his way to clocking a 28th career pole. The two-time defending world champion will aim for a ninth straight win on Sunday — to equal former Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel’s record from 2013 — and 11th overall of a crushingly dominant season.“After five wins in a row, Seb texted me (and said) ‘Well done (for) what you’re doing at the moment, keep it up and you’re going to do it,’” Verstappen said. “Nine wins in a row is something very impressive, and I never thought I would be already on eight. If it’s possible tomorrow, of course I go for it but it’s not something I have in the back of my head.”Verstappen has won the Dutch GP from pole in the past two years, and this time he will start ahead of...

Las Vegas takes on Washington, looks for 4th straight road win

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:34:12 GMT

Las Vegas Aces (30-4, 15-2 Western Conference) at Washington Mystics (15-18, 8-10 Eastern Conference)Washington; Saturday, 7 p.m. EDTFANDUEL SPORTSBOOK WNBA LINE: Aces -10.5; over/under is 169.5BOTTOM LINE: Las Vegas hits the road against Washington trying to prolong its three-game road winning streak.The Mystics are 10-7 on their home court. Washington is seventh in the WNBA with 25.4 defensive rebounds per game led by Shakira Austin averaging 5.7.The Aces are 14-3 in road games. Las Vegas ranks fifth in the WNBA with 34.7 rebounds per game. A’ja Wilson leads the Aces with 9.5.The two teams match up for the second time this season. The Aces defeated the Mystics 113-89 in their last meeting on Aug. 12. Wilson led the Aces with 40 points, and Natasha Cloud led the Mystics with 21 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Brittney Sykes is averaging 15.3 points, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals for the Mystics. Cloud is averaging 13.0 points over the last 10 games for Washington.Wilson is averaging 22.2...