1789 – The United States Department of War first establishes a regular army with a strength of several hundred men.
1789 – The 1st United States Congress adjourns.
1829 – The Metropolitan Police of London, later also known as the Met, is founded.
1899 – László Bíró, Hungarian-Argentinian journalist and inventor, invented the ballpoint pen (d. 1985) is born.
1907 – The cornerstone is laid at Washington National Cathedral in the U.S. capital.
1913 – Rudolf Diesel, German engineer, invented the diesel engine (b. 1858) dies.
1915 – Vincent DeDomenico, American businessman, founded the Napa Valley Wine Train (d. 2007) is born.
1935 – Jerry Lee Lewis, American singer-songwriter and pianist is born.
1948 – Bryant Gumbel, American journalist and sportscaster is born.
1975 – Casey Stengel, American baseball player and manager (b. 1890) dies.
1975 – WGPR in Detroit, Michigan, becomes the world's first black-owned-and-operated television station.
1988 – Kevin Durant, American basketball player is born.
1988 – Space Shuttle: NASA launches STS-26, the return to flight mission, after the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
1990 – Construction of the Washington National Cathedral is completed.
2007 – Calder Hall, the world's first commercial nuclear power station, is demolished in a controlled explosion.
2008 – Following the bankruptcies of Lehman Brothers and Washington Mutual, The Dow Jones Industrial Average falls 777.68 points, the largest single-day point loss in its history.
The architect of the Chicago Cubs’ resurgence is going to stick around to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Team president Theo Epstein has agreed to a five-year deal to remain in the organization, the team announced Wednesday.
#Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts announces the team and President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein have agreed to a five-year extension. pic.twitter.com/fksXbyl4K5
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 28, 2016
Epstein joined the organization in 2011, and was tasked with turning around one of the worst franchises in the game. The rebuild may have taken a few seasons, but through shrewd trades and excellent drafts, Epstein has built the Cubs into baseball’s premier franchise. With Epstein’s initial contract set to expire following the 2016 season, it was no surprise the club wanted to keep him around.
Given Epstein’s track record, his price was not cheap.
The #Cubs have signed Theo Epstein to 5-year extension that’s expected to be worth in excess of $50 million.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 28, 2016
Of course, Epstein isn’t the only person in the organization responsible for the team’s recent success. General manger Jed Hoyer and senior vice president Jason McLeod have also played a huge role in turning the Cubs around. Both Hoyer and McLeod also have extensions that will keep them in Chicago for the foreseeable future, according to our own Jeff Passan.
Not only does Theo Epstein have a new five-year deal with the Cubs, but GM Jed Hoyer and personnel ace Jason McLeod have extensions as well.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 28, 2016
While the team has publicly confirmed Epstein’s extension, it has not announced extensions for Hoyer and McLeod at this time.
Keeping those three together long-term should be viewed as a significant accomplishment. When a team experiences as much success as the Cubs have in recent years, that usually provides opportunities for key members of the front office to leave for more lucrative opportunities. That’s not going to be the case here.
With the moves, the Cubs ensure the best front office in baseball will stay together for the foreseeable future. While it’s a development fans on the North Side ought to celebrate, fans of the other 29 teams should be downright terrified.
The baseball world continues to cope with the tragic death of 24-year-old Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. Fernandez’s funeral procession was held in Miami on Wednesday, giving fans one final opportunity to pay their respects to the superstar pitcher.
Given Fernandez’s standing in Miami, as well as his larger than life stature within the game, it was no surprise the local fans came out in droves to celebrate Fernandez’s life. At one point during the service, fans lining the streets could be heard chanting “Jose, Jose, Jose” as the procession passed them.
The crowd is chanting “Jose! Jose! Jose!”#FinalFarewell #JDF16 https://t.co/Yfny0HD330
— WSVN 7 News (@wsvn) September 28, 2016
As the service started at Marlins Park, Fernandez’s body was loaded into the hearse by family members wearing his No. 16 jerseys.
Casket carrying #JoseFernandez now on its way to @MarlinsPark. Family including his abuela seen getting into limo at funeral home. pic.twitter.com/xhb6LehjoY
— Carlos Suarez (@CarlosWPLG) September 28, 2016
Prior to the start of the funeral procession, Fernandez’s teammates gathered around the hearse to offer another goodbye to the pitcher.
Players, as well as Cuban baseball Hall of Famer Tony Perez, place hands on hearse. pic.twitter.com/H4l3VMB0Tw
— clarkspencer (@clarkspencer) September 28, 2016
Members of the team also walked with the hearse as it moved through the streets of Miami. Each member of the Marlins wore a white RIP t-shirt. The R and P were written out in big, block letters. The I was replaced by a picture of Fernandez standing on the pitcher’s mound. It was the same shirt second baseman Dee Gordon wore prior to Monday’s game.
Dee Gordon paying tribute to Jose Fernandez with custom T-shirt and “JDF16 4EVER” on his cap. (photo via AP) pic.twitter.com/mxPj2fzF9I
— Big League Stew (@bigleaguestew) September 26, 2016
As an homage to Fernandez’s uniform number, the procession began at Marlins Park at 2:16 p.m. ET. It will end at St. Brendan Catholic Church, where a public viewing will be held between 5-11 p.m.
New York Mets outfielder Tim Tebow’s baseball career has barely even begun and he’s already a legend. The former quarterback turned outfielder hit a home run on the first pitch he saw as a professional baseball player.
Yep, you can’t write a better script than that. The blast came during Tebow’s first game in the instructional league. Prior to Wednesday, Tebow had taken part in intrasquad games against his Mets’ teammates, but this was the first time he faced another club.
Now, critics might be quick to point out that this is the instructional league. It’s one thing to hit a home run off a pitcher during instructs, and something else entirely to replicate that result in the majors. Heck, the jump from instructs to Double-A is probably exceptionally steep.
With that said, it’s tough to really criticize, right? Sure, Tebow still remains raw as a player, and is a long way away from making any significant contributions in the majors. But this was the best possible way he could have started his professional baseball career.
Add Serena Williams to the growing list of athletes speaking up against racial tensions, and specifically police-related violence. Writing on her Facebook page, Williams told the story of the fear she felt at having her nephew drive with a police officer nearby.
“Why did I have to think about this in 2016? Have we not gone through enough, opened so many doors, impacted billions of lives?” Williams wrote. “We must stride on – for it’s not how far we have come but how much further still we have to go.”
Athletes have been taking stands in support of racial equality for decades, but the most recent flurry of public statements arose in the wake of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s decision not to stand for the national anthem. Williams took pains to note that she was not condemning an entire group of people or occupation, but noted that those who are “ignorant, afraid, uneducated, and insensitive” are the root of the problem.
Williams’ participation in the growing movement is significant; she’s one of the greatest, most accomplished athletes in American history. If recent history is any guide, she’ll be criticized and asked what she’s doing with her millions to help solve the problem. How she responds after making this initial statement, and weathering the criticism sure to follow, will help open the door for even more public figures to speak up.
Here’s Williams’ statement in full:
Today I asked my 18 year old nephew (to be clear he’s black) to drive me to my meetings so I can work on my phone #safteyfirst. In the distance I saw cop on the side of the road. I quickly checked to see if he was obliging by the speed limit. Than I remembered that horrible video of the woman in the car when a cop shot her boyfriend. All of this went through my mind in a matter of seconds. I even regretted not driving myself. I would never forgive myself if something happened to my nephew. He’s so innocent. So were all “the others” I am a total believer that not “everyone” is bad It is just the ones that are ignorant, afraid, uneducated, and insensitive that is affecting millions and millions of lives. Why did I have to think about this in 2016? Have we not gone through enough, opened so many doors, impacted billions of lives? But I realized we must stride on- for it’s not how far we have come but how much further still we have to go.
I than wondered than have I spoken up? I had to take a look at me. What about my nephews? What if I have a son and what about my daughters? As Dr. Martin Luther King said ” There comes a time when silence is betrayal”.
At least from Alabama’s side of it, the door’s not completely shut on Blake Barnett‘s future being in Tuscaloosa.
Earlier Wednesday, a report surfaced that Barnett had decided to leave the football program and transfer out. In meeting with the media a short time later, Nick Saban confirmed that Barnett had “expressed some concern about his future” at a meeting earlier in the day.
The head coach said he “didn’t know” when asked if Barnett, who lost the starting quarterback job to true freshman Jalen Hurts earlier this year, was still a part of the team, although he made it clear that the redshirt freshman was still welcome in the locker room if he changes his mind.
“Blake is a fine young man,” Saban said. “He’s done a great job with his program, and we’d love to see him be a part of the program in the future, but we also want him to do what’s best for him.”
Barnett, who started the opener against USC but held on to the job for just tw series, was a five-star 2015 recruit who 247Sports.com rated as the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the country. The California high school product originally committed to Notre Dame in November of 2013 before decommitting from the Irish in June of the following year.
LSU fired Les Miles after more than 11 seasons, two SEC titles, a national championship, and endless drama of the good and bad varieties.
This means one of the country's premier jobs is now open. The state of Louisiana produces some of the country's most elite talent, and LSU gets to sit in the middle of it as the state's only Power 5 program. It also has access to Houston and the rest of Texas, plus Florida and the rest of the Southeast. Its next head coach will be able to recruit with a 100,000-seat stadium, a rabid fanbase, and one of the country's best NFL lineages.
Knowing LSU, you can expect a fascinating coaching search, to say the least.
We'll update this tracker as reasonable info emerges. For now, here's the starting point of everything major to know after the first few days or so.
The widely reported favorites
Tom Herman, Houston
The country's most highly sought coaching candidate has denied contact.
Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
Fisher was reportedly the top target last year as well. Athletic Director Joe Alleva admitted to "inquiries" into potential hires, but denied reporting that LSU was already negotiating with the FSU coach despite having not yet fired Miles.
"I'm not talking about LSU," he said Monday.
Tomahawk Nation has the Fisher-specific FAQ.
A former LSU AD
Ed Orgeron, LSU interim
He'll get two months to prove himself, and even though a successful interim run at USC didn't land him that job (probably should've, huh?), his ties to Louisiana and LSU are as deep as they can be.
SB Nation's Steven Godfrey wrote: "According to one source close to LSU, making a coaching change on an interim Ed Orgeron would always be easier than making one on Miles" and "'He's learned from USC. [Orgeron] would have never agreed to this if he didn't think he couldn't have a shot,' a source close to LSU told SB Nation."
LSU oughta look into them, at least
Lane Kiffin, Alabama offensive coordinator
Bruce Feldman writes:
It's possible, especially if the Tide rolls to another national title. Kiffin has done an outstanding job helping Nick Saban win another national title and seems to get the offense going regardless of having to break in three new QBs the past three seasons. I know Kiffin has learned a lot from his time under Saban and would be a more organized head man than he was at his previous stops.
Several SEC teams have tried to beat Saban by hiring Saban assistants. Kiffin would be a similar approach, but without the same you-hired-a-bootleg-Saban vibe. One huge question would be exactly how much he's matured since his previous head coaching jobs.
A former LSU AD:
Would Bertman hire Lane Kiffin as head coach right now at #LSU: "No. I don't like him."
He's appeared on a couple internet lists. Great coach, and it's easy to think, "What could he do with a five-star roster for a change," but I'm not sure what about his preferred style over the years would make anyone think he's all that different from Miles.
Larry Fedora, North Carolina
Feldman again:
Fedora's a Texas native, who I think would love the chance to coach at LSU. He's done a good job at UNC and did very well not far from LSU while he was at Southern Miss.
Gary Patterson, TCU
The Horned Frogs' modern architect appears in these rumors annually, to no avail, and had this to say about LSU firing Miles:
"I think it's not fair to the university and the players and the program," Patterson said. "If they were going to do that, they should have done it a year ago. To do it in the middle of the season, I think it's not fair to anybody. It's not my place. I've got my own problems. So you go about your own business. But I think the guy is a good football coach. He's won a lot of games. I think he's been good for LSU. I wish him well. And I wish LSU well."
Bobby Petrino, Louisville
We've gone full circle. Any SEC West job opening must once again include the former Louisville and Arkansas coach, former Auburn candidate, and current Louisville coach's name. He said this about LSU:
"I'm not interested in going anywhere," Petrino said during a new conference to advance Saturday's huge game at Clemson. "I'm very fortunate to be the head coach here at the University of Louisville, very happy about that, very glad I have the support of our athletic director Tom Jurich. [...] This is the job I want. This is where I'm going to be."
Heard that before, for what it's worth.
Jeff Brohm, Western Kentucky
In case you want to hire a version of Petrino without all the baggage. CBSSports.com proposed him as a candidate.
Dan Mullen, Mississippi State
Also on a few internet lists.
LSU's a better job than any of the ones he's reportedly interviewed for over the last few years. Would need a huge finish to this season, though, since it'd be hard to get excited about hiring a coach who'd just gone 5-7 with a loss to South Alabama and a loss to the guy you just fired.
Willie Taggart, USF
He's a good coach who'll almost certainly have a Power 5 job soon. He's included here so that I can show you this evidence that he's a cultural fit (though he's also No. 4 on Bovada's betting odds, behind Herman, Fisher, and Fedora):
Uncanny.
Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State
He's thought about leaving his alma mater, where he's been the head coach since 2005, for the SEC before. This would also mean hiring two straight Oklahoma State head coaches. Not exactly a denial of potential interest:
"The best response to that would be what Mike Leach told me a long time ago. I was talking to him before a game and I think it was maybe his 10th year or something out at Texas Tech. He said. 'You know, if you stay at one place long enough, you're eventually going to get fired in coaching.' I said. 'What do you mean?' He said, "Well, you'll see. You just hang around a place long enough as a coach, they're eventually going to get tired of you and fire you.' I think that's probably the best example of what happened yesterday.'
Wait, what are these names doing here?
Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers
This sounds bonkers, but NOLA.com reports, "One of Kelly's former players and an assistant coach during his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles said Kelly remains enamored with the possibility of coaching a major SEC program."
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech
Bookmaker.eu listed him at No. 3 on its odds board, behind Fisher and Herman. LSU fans would like a coach who can produce passing yards, but you'd have a tough time talking them into a coach who's never fielded a good defense.
David Shaw, Stanford
He's long made it clear it's gonna be really hard to get him to leave (and he's similar to Miles in some ways, plus has said some stuff about academics that'd be tricky to explain in the Southeast), but it had to be asked.
"Are you serious? The answer is no," was the reply.
Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss
His on-field record makes him a candidate, and the chance to swipe from a rival is always nice. He's also still waiting on NCAA sanctions at the moment. If that clears, move him up into a group above this one.
Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans
The former Penn State head coach has appeared on a few candidate lists. He has an offensive background, which you have to think LSU will prize, but hasn't produced much memorable quarterbacking since leaving Tom Brady.
Urban Meyer, Ohio State Nick Saban, Alabama Bob Stoops, Oklahoma
Football Scoop reports these three are among the coaches whose interest LSU plans to gauge via "representatives." Meyer and Saban ain't happening, and Stoops would be viewed by most LSU fans as an extremely Miles-esque hire, in terms of meeting high annual expectations.
1935 – Jerry Lee Lewis, American singer-songwriter and pianist is born.
The architect of the Chicago Cubs’ resurgence is going to stick around to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Team president Theo Epstein has agreed to a five-year deal to remain in the organization, the team announced Wednesday.
The baseball world continues to cope with the tragic death of 24-year-old Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. Fernandez’s funeral procession was held in Miami on Wednesday, giving fans one final opportunity to pay their respects to the superstar pitcher.
Add Serena Williams to the growing list of athletes speaking up against racial tensions, and specifically police-related violence. Writing on her Facebook page, Williams told the story of the fear she felt at having her nephew drive with a police officer nearby.