sports + biz + culture + life Get REDEF delivered to your inbox rantnrave:// Brooks Koepka towered over the field at the U.S. Open after a final-round 67. Two majors this year, two first-time major winners, two completely different stories. Koepka gets his second tour win, while Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and other stars linger way behind. Is it better for golf to have its stars pile up the majors or to spread them out? Nine different golfers have won the last nine majors. It's easy to say the PGA rode the Tiger Woods era to a new level of popularity, but Woods was a unique phenomena. Where does golf go next? ... The Dodgers still aren't on TV in millions of homes. Will L.A. viewers get to see Clayton Kershaw pitch before he retires?... Finally got to try VR, thanks to the awesome MLB.com At Bat app. Made me think how far we've come in 15 years. Remember when HD was a big deal? Thinking about getting my own headset now. Or should I wait until the tech gets better? VR makes for a weird communal experience, though. What's the fix for a group of friends watching a game … Continue reading →

The Anatomy Board of Maryland held a ceremony to honor those who have donated their bodies to support medical knowledge Monday afternoon at Springfield Hospital Center. Friends and family members of the deceased were invited for a memorial ceremony at the hospital center in Sykesville, which features a dedicated gravesite to those who had their bodies donated to the anatomy board. Ronn Wade, director of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene State Anatomy Board, said they've held the event for more than 40 years, as both a way to commemorate the sacrifice of those who gave their bodies after death as well as a way to give a chance for a final farewell from their friends and families. According to Wade, bodies belonging to the Anatomy Board are used in training medical students at schools, trauma training, surgeon training and military medical programs throughout the state. While many of the bodies come from donors who willingly submit their bodies to the process prior to their deaths, others belong to people who have not been claimed by family members following their deaths. DYLAN SLAGLE/STAFF PHOTO / Carroll County Times From left, Joe, Jean and Melina Buttice of Riverdale look on … Continue reading →

Welcome to the Anatomy of a Goal, where each week we dissect one goal (or near goal) from Columbus Crew SCs previous match. For match 17 of the 2017 MLS Season, we take a look at Federico Higuains 26th minute equalizer as part of the 3-1 loss to Atlanta United on Saturday. Heres a look at the finish from Columbus No.1 10. Crew SC gave up the first goal in this match on a turnover created by the Atlanta high press. While its tempting to review that goal, we have covered the Black & Golds struggles with pressure in their defensive third multiple times this season. Columbus lone goal of the game is another example of just how good the Gregg Berhalter system can be when it works like it should. This goal is the result of nine passes, eight of which were simple and one that required a bit of individual skill. Only the final pass was defended and the goal-scoring shot came from right about the United penalty marker. Higuains equalizer begins with Jukka Raitala receiving the ball on the left. Raitala immediately has Justin Meram and Wil Trapp open, and must quickly get rid of the ball … Continue reading →

Richard Heathcote Brooks Koepka poses with the winner's trophy after his victory at the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) Golf Channels Brandel Chamblee doesnt just shoot from the lip, as many of his detractors no doubt think he does. Whatever his analysis (or whether you agree or not), thought and research have gone into it. So, that said, here is his take from the Live From the U.S. Open show on Sunday night on how Brooks Koepka dismantled Erin Hills and the field: You sit around sometimes at the 19th hole and you play that game, the composite player. What if somebody drove it like Nicklaus, hit their irons like Johnny Miller, had a short game like Seve, putted like Tiger Woods? More contemporary analysis would be, what if you hit as straight as Jim Furyk and putted like Brandt Snedeker? Well, [Koepka] hit as many fairways this week as Jim Furyk. He putted as well as Brandt Snedeker. In between, he was a man of his own. RELATED: Brooks Koepka muscles his way into history You start to look at what he did and you wonder, why hasnt this guy done this all … Continue reading →