Just in time for Game 3 of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros, a Washington, D.C., animal shelter is giving away dogs named after Washington players.
The Houston Astros are down two games to none in the World Series. Some fans are worried the losses spell the return of Houston’s “Choke City” nickname, but are hanging on and rooting for their team.
The Houston Astros have fired a top team official who taunted female reporters in the team’s locker-room during a celebration of the team’s pennant-clinching victory over the New York Yankees.
The Washington Nationals are playing in their first World Series. For the team’s youngest fans, it’s a really big deal.
Credit: Shuran Huang/NPR
For just about fifteen minutes, the members of Rio Mira created a living and very melodic connection to Africa. Set behind a large marimba — and drums that are unique to their corner of the world — the members of the band performed music that is the legacy of enslaved people who were in both Ecuador and Colombia. Rio Mira takes its name from a river that separates Ecuador and Colombia and empties into the Pacific Ocean.
Rio Mira’s three songs in this performance are dominated by the marimba and accompanied by drums from both Europe and Africa. “La Pepa de Tangaré” references the culinary joys of life and, like the rest of their set, celebrates life along the river: soft breezes, loving friends, the embrace of Africa and, of course, lots of festejando (partying)!
If you’re a little rusty on your college Spanish classes, the extended narration in “Román Román” tells the tale of a village man who has healing powers and challenges death.
For me, the principal attractions to this group are the instruments and the musical skills that were handed down for generations along the river, and how they eventually ended up here on this video for you to enjoy. I dare you to not move your hips along with these infectious grooves!
Esteban Copete: marimba; Karla Kanora: vocals; Benjamín Vanegas: vocals; Carlos Hurtado: vocals; Sergio Ramírez: bombo macho; Carlos Loboa: cununos; Tito Ponguillo: bombo hembra
Producers: Felix Contreras, Morgan Noelle Smith; Creative Director: Bob Boilen; Audio Engineers: Josh Rogosin, James Willetts; Videographers: Morgan Noelle Smith, Jeremiah Rhodes, Maia Stern, Beck Harlan; Associate Producer: Bobby Carter; Production Assistant: Paul Georgoulis; Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey; Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann; Photo: Shuran Huang/NPR
The Houston Astros fired assistant general manager Brandon Taubman for inappropriate comments directed at a group of female reporters.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
Tomorrow night, the Houston Astros take on the Washington Nationals in game three of the World Series. The Astros are down two games to none, but their problems do not end there. They’ve just fired their assistant general manager days after he delivered a profane defense of Astros pitcher Roberto Osuna to a group of female reporters. NPR’s David Folkenflik has been following this story. He joins us now.
Hey, David.
DAVID FOLKENFLIK, BYLINE: Hey, Ailsa.
CHANG: So help us understand why this assistant GM, Brandon Taubman, is being fired today?
FOLKENFLIK: Well, Taubman not only offered a profane rant at these three female reporters, but he did so prompted by nothing. He was essentially yelling, I’m so glad to have gotten Osuna. We’re glad to have – expletive deleted – gotten Osuna. And he was directing it at them. What was not initially clear was he’s really directing it at one of the three reporters, and she’s a woman who had tweeted a lot about domestic violence. She had a domestic violence awareness bracelet on her wrist, and she had tweeted about domestic violence after a couple of Osuna’s appearances last year. That was a sore spot for the Astros, who picked up Osuna in exchange last year from the Toronto Blue Jays after he had been arrested by Canadian authorities for beating the mother of his child. And he was suspended 75 games, so that was a very sore spot. He was screaming about that player to a woman who had been trying to raise awareness about domestic violence.
CHANG: Yeah. But what I don’t understand is this outburst happened days ago. Why are the Astros taking this step now? I mean, didn’t they initially deny Apstein’s entire account of the whole incident?
FOLKENFLIK: That’s right. Not only did they deny it, they said that she and Sports Illustrated had fabricated the count. I spoke to eyewitnesses. Others have vouch for the fact it was accurate. They’re just wrong, and they have not apologized for that very serious charge against a working journalist. They’re doing it now because the pressure is intense. Major League Baseball has said it’s investigating. And basically, all of sports journalism has rallied behind these reporters. There’s been a lot of criticism also for the Astros for being insensitive to domestic violence not only in the outburst but now the decision to trade for Osuna after that accusation of domestic violence had come to light as well.
CHANG: That’s NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik.
Thanks very much, David.
FOLKENFLIK: You bet.
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The Houston Astros said Thursday that the club had terminated assistant general manager Brandon Taubman, following comments he made to a group of female reporters.
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The Houston Astros have fired assistant general manager Brandon Taubman, following an uproar about comments he shouted at a group of female reporters on Saturday.
On Monday, Sports Illustrated published a story by reporter Stephanie Apstein in which she described the scene in the locker room after the Astros clinched the American League pennant: “[I]n the center of the room, assistant general manager Brandon Taubman turned to a group of three female reporters, including one wearing a purple domestic-violence awareness bracelet, and yelled, half a dozen times, “Thank God we got Osuna! I’m so f—— glad we got Osuna!”
Roberto Osuna is a pitcher who had been suspended by Major League Baseball for 75 games, following charges that he had assaulted the mother of his child while a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros subsequently hired him.
The Astros initially denied that Taubman’s outburst had happened in the way that Apstein described, calling the article “misleading” and saying that the magazine had attempted “to fabricate a story where one does not exist.” Others who were in the locker room at the time corroborated Apstein’s account.
In a statement Thursday announcing the firing, the Astros apologized:
“Our initial investigation led us to believe that Brandon Taubman’s inappropriate comments were not directed toward any reporter. We were wrong. We sincerely apologize to Stephanie Apstein, Sports Illustrated and to all individuals who witnessed this incident or were offended by the inappropriate conduct. The Astros in no way intended to minimize the issues related to domestic violence.
“Our initial belief was based on witness statements about the incident. Subsequent interviews have revealed that Taubman’s inappropriate comments were, in fact, directed toward one or more reporters. Accordingly we have terminated Brandon Taubman’s employment with the Houston Astros. His conduct does not reflect the values of our organization and we believe this is the most appropriate course of action.”
The furor over Taubman has happened as the Astros are playing in the World Series. Houston lost the opening two games of the series to the Washington Nationals. Game three is Friday in D.C.
The costs of the opioid epidemic are huge, not just in the toll of human lives but also the financial drain on families, and the local and state governments that provide treatment and support.
Vice President Mike Pence speaks about U.S.-China relations in Washington. Nicholas Kamm/AFP/via Getty Images
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Vice President Mike Pence scolded the NBA and Nike on Thursday for backing down from support for Hong Kong protesters after China complained.
“Some of the NBA’s biggest players and owners, who routinely exercise their freedom to criticize this country, lose their voices when it comes to the freedom and rights of the people of China,” Pence said in a speech about the Trump administration’s China policy in Washington.
The NBA has been embroiled in controversy after a Houston Rockets executive tweeted in support of protests in Hong Kong. The tweet was deleted, but China reacted swiftly, canceling player appearances in the country. The NBA’s media partner in China also said it would not air two preseason games played there.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was critical of the pro-Hong Kong protests tweet sent by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, saying that there were negative ramifications.
“In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of that authoritarian regime,” Pence said.
He also called out Nike for removing Houston Rockets merchandise from stores in China and said the move was un-American.
President Trump has faced some criticism, himself, for not speaking out forcefully to support Hong Kong protesters in the days after they began. Trump is hoping next month to sign what he calls “phase one” of a larger trade deal with China.
Pence said the U.S. stands with Hong Kong protesters and urged restraint on the part of China. He said “it would be much harder for us to make a trade deal if the authorities resort to the use of violence against protesters in Hong Kong.”
Outfielder Gerardo Parra and some teammates snagged free sunglasses at a sparkling water promotion in Detroit. They decided the shades might be lucky. They’re working — the Nats lead the series 2-0.
