Latest news with #McConnell
Indianapolis Star
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Indianapolis Star
T.J. McConnell on Tyrese Haliburton not recognizing him, Indiana Pacers run to NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton didn't recognize T.J. McConnell when he joined the Indiana Pacers, but he had a good reason. McConnell wrote a story for The Players' Tribune recalling the Pacers' season, which ended with a Game 7 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Finals. He cleared the air about a post-Game 7 moment as he headed back to the locker room ("Not my mom") and wrote about the team's approach to rallying from late deficits. He also had an anecdote about Haliburton's arrival in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in February 2022. COVID-19 protocols were still in place around the Pacers' practice facility. Get IndyStar's book celebrating the Pacers' playoff run "Alright … so I'm a 6'1" white guy in his mid-30s. In other words, I'm not exactly stopping traffic as this NBA player people recognize. And that's just me on a normal day. You can imagine, on a day when I'm wearing a hat? I'm almost definitely not getting recognized. And during COVID, when you added a mask to the mix — nah, forget it. I was pretty much fully anonymous. "And all that is to say: It's not Tyrese's fault. But on his first day in Indy after he got traded, as he was walking through the facility, he and I crossed paths. And I've got my hat on, my mask up … I'm chilling. I'm not even thinking about that, though. So of course I just go right up to him, real excited, and I'm like, 'Tyrese!!! What's up brother. How are you??? Bro, welcome to Indy. "Yeah, Tyrese did not know who I was. He was very friendly, but 1000% thought I was some guy who works on the business side. Then a few awkward seconds passed, until eventually I realized what was going on. I took my hat off, pulled my mask down, and we started laughing so hard." McConnell knows a lot of NBA fans think the Pacers are out of title contention for the 2025-26, considering Haliburton's injury and Myles Turner's departure to Milwaukee. McConnell believes everyone should have learned from the season that just ended. "Replacing Myles will be tough. Playing without Tyrese will be … whatever is tougher than tough. But you know that feeling we all started to have as the playoffs went on — how there's just something about this team? Man, I promise you: That feeling was real. "And we're going to work like hell to feel it again soon." Please read the full article here: It Was Awful, It Meant Everything by T.J. McConnell | The Players' Tribune
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
"It's a tough place to be, mentally" - T.J. McConnell on why Kyrie Irving is the toughest guy to guard in the NBA
"It's a tough place to be, mentally" - T.J. McConnell on why Kyrie Irving is the toughest guy to guard in the NBA originally appeared on Basketball Network. T.J. McConnell is one of the peskiest defenders in the NBA today. The 6'1" guard, who has a habit of picking up opponents full court and harassing them from end to end, proved his worth in the 2025 NBA playoffs, especially during the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, when it comes to guarding Dallas Mavericks superstar guard Kyrie Irving, McConnell himself admits there's almost nothing he can do. "You're on an island," the Indiana Pacers point guard said. "And you just don't know what he's gonna do. You can force him one way, but he still ends up getting the way you don't want him to go. Like he just… his handle is impeccable. He's got the greatest handle I've seen. And he can really shoot it, like he's fast. It's just, it's a tough place to be mentally, guarding Kyrie." Kyrie has ridiculous handles Many consider Irving the most offensively skilled player in the game today. He is incredibly shifty and has great ball control, which enables him to get to his spots on the court. Once he gets to where he wants to be, the Mavericks point guard is impossible to contain — he is a great penetrator and finisher, but also has a very effective jump shot from all areas on the floor. Still, the most jaw-dropping aspect of his game is his handling. Irving is a magician with the basketball, and many pick him as the greatest ball handler in NBA history. McConnell feels the same way. "I don't want to talk about the whole era thing. But like, the best handle I've ever played against? Easily him, yeah," he praise for Irving as a ball handler McConnell was also offered an alternative: to pick Allen Iverson as someone who had better handles than Irving. But the Pacers guard didn't do it. In fact, neither did Iverson himself. The Philadelphia 76ers legend once admitted that Irving is a better ball-handler than he was. And like McConnell, he also singled out his jumper as the thing that makes him unstoppable. "Hell yeah, he has the best. He's the best. And Steph's handle is crazy, but Steph... And Kyrie's jumper is wet, too. But Steph, his jumper gets him over a lot. 'Cause he hit you with the handles, and he crosses halfcourt, he can let it go," A.I. said. "I heard Rod Strickland on 'All the Smoke,'" the legendary guard added. "And I love Rod Strickland, too. And he said basically, he just goes, 'Kyrie will have you beat and then bring it back and play with it.' Like he's toying with people. You know what I mean? Like, he can still just go. But if he feels like playing with you…" Irving may not be considered the greatest player ever, but when it comes to the best handles of all time, most players, current and former, mention his name at the top of the mountain. That's a testament to his on-court greatness, without even mentioning the accolades. But basketball, for players at least, has never been about that. It's always been about the experience; about what happens on the court. And McConnell is just one of many who said that it doesn't really get tougher than facing a guy wearing a No. 11 Mavericks story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
McConnell, KY has too much to lose if Medicaid is cut. We won't 'get over it.'
No, Sen. McConnell, people who need health care aren't going to 'get over it.' The stakes are far too high for such a dismissive response about proposed cuts to Medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimates these changes could leave nearly 11 million Americans uninsured by 2034. These aren't abstract budget decisions. This legislation will have dire consequences for families, communities, and the providers that serve them. Kentucky has more hospitals at risk of closure than any other state, according to the Sheps Center for Health Service Research at the University of North Carolina. With proposed Medicaid reductions threatening up to $1.3 billion in lost federal funding, as many as 35 hospitals could close, many of them in regions that are already underserved. That kind of loss isn't just a health-care crisis; it's an economic one. According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, these cuts could result in 12,100 fewer jobs and $98 million less in state tax revenue, with ripple effects on education, infrastructure and public safety. Medicaid expansion has been one of the most impactful health policy decisions in our state's history, with Kentucky's uninsured rate falling from 14.5% in 2013 to 5.6% in 2023. This coverage has meant improved access to cancer treatment, preventive care, lifesaving medications, and mental health and addiction recovery services. It's helped stabilize rural hospitals, improve health outcomes, decrease racial disparities in coverage, and reduce medical debt. Now, all of that is at risk. And for what? Opinion: McConnell wants KY coal miners to 'get over' Medicaid cuts closing their hospitals Medicaid cuts in Kentucky will hit kids, elderly and people with disabilities Proponents claim these cuts target waste, fraud and abuse. However, the legislation does nothing to rein in drug prices, stop corporate price gouging or address the administrative inefficiencies that drive up costs. Instead, it strips care away from people with the least resources while giving tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans and the largest corporations. Medicaid is vital in Kentucky. It covers roughly a third of the state's population, including: 68% of nursing home residents 46% of Kentucky children 51% of working-age adult Kentuckians living with disabilities Medicaid also plays a critical role in our fight against addiction. Kentucky has one of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country, and Medicaid is the largest payer of substance use disorder treatment. Cutting Medicaid would mean fewer detox beds, less access to counseling and longer waits for recovery services at a time when families can't afford to wait. Beyond Medicaid, other provisions in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' threaten to destabilize the ACA Marketplace, where 24 million Americans, many of them self-employed or small business owners, purchase coverage. Failing to extend enhanced subsidies could cause an additional 4 million Americans to become uninsured, leading to higher premiums and reduced benefits for those who remain. Letters: McConnell got caught telling a truth he didn't want us to know about Cutting Medicaid services for Planned Parenthood, other providers is alarming As an OBGYN who spent her clinical career promoting gynecologic health, I am dismayed by the bill's intent to prohibit Medicaid funding for nonprofit essential community providers, such as Planned Parenthood clinics, for 10 years. I am further alarmed by the Supreme Court's ruling that will allow states to withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood. This money pays for contraception and screening services, such as pap smears, for primarily low-income patients. It almost never funds abortion; it simply helps those who do not desire or cannot afford to have children avoid unplanned pregnancies, keeps people from getting cancer, and helps people to be healthy so that they can be productive members of society. Bills such as this 'save' money by denying care. Going without medication, heart surgery or cancer treatment costs payers less. Is that the answer? I say NO. Health care is not a luxury. It is a human right. Legislation that makes health care more expensive or difficult to access is morally and ethically wrong. It says that those in power determine who gets care and who doesn't, who lives and who dies. Kentuckians don't need to 'get over it.' We need to demand a system that protects every one of us, before more hospitals close and more lives are lost. Agree or disagree? Submit a letter to the editor. Susan G. Bornstein, MD, MPH, is an OBGYN by training. She became so frustrated with the challenges that many of her patients faced with cost and access to care that she returned to school for a master's degree in public health. In 2021, she founded The Asclepius Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: McConnell's Medicaid dismissal will save money, not Kentucky | Opinion Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
McConnell, keep the federal government out of KY hemp. We will protect our kids.
As a Kentucky hemp retailer who took the risk and responsibility to sell hemp products in accordance with our state and federal laws, I want to thank Sen. Mitch McConnell for his foundational work in reviving the American hemp industry. His leadership in the 2014 and 2018 farm bills gave retailers like us hope and opportunity in a time of uncertainty. But McConnell's recent op-ed in the Courier Journal calling for the re-criminalizing of popular hemp products undermines that very promise, and more importantly, undermines Kentucky's right to govern its own affairs. In 2023, the Kentucky General Assembly passed one of the most comprehensive state laws in the country to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoid products. This wasn't done in haste or in a vacuum. It was built through collaborative engagement with law enforcement, health officials, regulators and the very retailers and processors McConnell's federal legislation aims to 'protect.' The result is a strong, enforceable system with clear rules on restricting sales to adults 21 years and older along with increased requirements for independent lab tests, child-resistant packaging and retail licensing and inspections. This wasn't a loophole. This was Kentucky leadership in action — government closest to the people, doing what Washington, D.C., too often fails to do: solve the problem pragmatically. Kentucky hemp retailers are protecting children Kentucky retailers are not ignoring the safety of our children. We are addressing it through state authority and oversight tailored to our communities. For Washington, D.C., to now override that effort with overbearing federal prohibitions sends a troubling message that states can't be trusted to manage their own markets, protect their own children or regulate their own industries. If the goal is to close gaps in consumer safety, let Kentucky's model be the blueprint, not collateral damage. Opinion: How Johnny Boone went from convicted drug trafficker to cultural icon | Gerth Let's be very clear, no retailer in Kentucky is defending selling adult products to children. We are defending the ability of law-abiding retailers to operate under a clear, regulated and state-defined market driven by adult demand. We don't need a federal ban on any hemp product McConnell's proposed federal restrictions would do more to eliminate legitimate livelihoods like ours than protect children. As history has proven, driving this regulated market underground only makes it harder to control. That's why we believe in regulation, not federal prohibition and why Kentucky's approach deserves support, not preemption. Opinion: We lead UofL Health. Medicaid cuts threaten lives, jobs and Kentucky's future Sen. McConnell, Kentucky has already done what Washington is only now trying to figure out. We acted. We legislated. We enforced it. We did it the right way. For the sake of our retailers, farmers, processors, our rural economies and our children, we ask you to respect our state's right to govern this issue. There is no need to ban any hemp product, especially ones that are actually helping so many people. Whether it's veterans with PTSD or people with cancer or epilepsy, these products help and should remain available. Agree or disagree? Submit a letter to the editor. Dee Dee Taylor is president of the Kentucky Hemp Association and owner of 502 Hemp Wellness Center. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: McConnell is wrong. Kentucky can keep kids safe from hemp | Opinion Solve the daily Crossword
Irish Independent
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Tributes paid to late Waterford health instructor Mark McConnell – ‘a gem of a man'
Mr McConnell, of Tubird, Cappoquin, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 18. He was the dad of Érin, Fionn, Fiadh and Caragh, son of Ray and Sylvia (nee Mason), brother of Kate Ahearne, Sally and Jane McConnell, and Mark's partner was Mary O'Neill. Mr McConnell will lie in repose at Aidan Walsh and Sons Funeral Home, Cappoquin, on Monday evening, July 21, from 5pm to 7pm. Funeral mass will take place on Tuesday, July 22, at 12 noon in St. Mary's Church Cappoquin, followed by burial in St Declan's Cemetery, Cappoquin. BUDO self-defence and kickboxing has announced that, due to the untimely passing of Mr McConnell, they will be closing the gym on Monday and Tuesday as a mark of respect for Mark and his family. They will be reopening again on Wednesday, July 23. 'Mark has transformed hundreds of lives within Dungarvan, as well as the whole of county Waterford, both mentally and physically,' said a spokesperson. 'He has been a loud voice for men's mental health and wellbeing and has always had people's interest at heart. You will be terribly missed. Rest in peace my friend.' Portlaw Camogie Club said everyone in the club 'are deeply saddened to have learned of the sudden and unexpected passing of Mark McConnell. 'Mark was a valued member of our Intermediate Camogie Team, working with the team this season as their strength and conditioning coach. Mark has made a huge impact on the team and will be deeply missed by all the girls and management. "Portlaw Camogie Club would like to offer their deepest sympathy and condolences to Mark's Family and Friends at this extremely difficult time.' Dungarvan Cycling Club said it would like to extend its condolences to the McConnell's family on the passing of their son Mark. 'Mark was a friend of the club and a sponsor for a number of years and his gym logo still adorns our club kit. Condolences to his family, friends and the many more that knew him through his work.' A spokesperson for Lismore Camogie Senior team said they were very lucky to have Mark as part of their backroom team for a couple of years where he took the girls for strength and conditioning in Tourin and his Dungarvan premises. 'He was involved when they won the County Senior title in 2017 and went on to win the Munster title the same year. He loved wearing the black and amber on match day. Mark had a great knowledge of his profession and the girls enjoyed these tough sessions. There was plenty of laughs, hard work, eye rolling - from Mark - was all guaranteed,' said a spokesperson. Roanmore GAA and Camogie Club expressed their 'sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends' of Mark McConnell. 'Mark began his involvement with our adult teams five years ago as our strength and conditioning coach and brought with him a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to our club. 'Mark and his work will always be part of our clubs history and we will strive to continue on the path of physical preparation Mark instilled in our teams. Rest easy Mark from your friends in Roanmore and thanks for your efforts to continuously improve Roanmore GAA and Camogie Club.' Freelance professional photographer, Noel Browne, said on Sunday: 'I woke up this morning to hear the terrible news about the death of this gem of a man, Mark McConnell from Cappoquin. 'On this All-Ireland Sunday where we are all looking forward to this great sporting occasion. I however will be thinking more about this man. Some deaths really hit home and this is just one of them, what a loss. 'He was a man that met life head on, he tried to deal with difficult situations in his life by working on himself, helping others and being a great father. He gave so much time in helping others cope with life through sport, health and fitness. 'He was the strength and conditioning coach at a lots of different clubs and anyone involved with those clubs will remember him as a dedicated and great addition to their backroom teams,' added Mr Browne. He will be mourned by his children, father, mother, grandmother Joan and grandson of the late Dick Mason, James and Grace McConnell, brother-in-law Shane Ahearne, Sally's partner Gordon and Jane's partner Alex, nieces Lily-Mae and Zoey, nephews Darragh and Callan, the mother of Mark's children Jemma O'Donnell, aunts, uncles, relatives, neighbours and many friends.
