Latest news with #St.John'sUniversity
New York Post
30-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
FDNY promotes 84 at EMS ceremony, including hero dad awarded for cop rescue
The FDNY held a promotion ceremony for 84 EMS at St. John's University Monday — including a decorated veteran known for two heroic rescues. Lt. Jonathan Rivera — a father of three who recently graduated from college after dropping out of high school at 16 — was one of three promoted to captain during the promotion ceremony. Lieutenant Jonathan Rivera was promoted to Captain during an FDNY promotion ceremony at St. John's University. James Messerschmidt Rivera, 40, won two medals for heroism as a rescue medic working with Special Operations Command in 2019. In one instance, he rigged a bridge system to rescue NYPD Officer Gary Williams, who had sunk chest-deep into the mud after stepping on a rock while fishing in Rodman's Neck in 2018. 'On his lunch break, he decided to go fishing with a new rod that he had. Didn't realize that it rained the night before he started sinking in the marsh,' Rivera told the Post. A total of 84 EMS members were promoted at the ceremony. James Messerschmidt 'So between my partner and I, we built a kind of bridge system with long boards and some ropes and everything,' Rivera said. 'We were able to get him out before he completely submerged. He was in past his chest when we got there, but was able to access his cellphone.' In another heroic act in 2019, Rivera rescued a man hit by a freight train in Hunts Point 'He received multiple tourniquets and IVs, and fluids, and he actually lost his leg,' Rivera said. 'To get to him, the firefighters had to cut the fences, and then we had to use harnesses and everything to climb over the train that was already docked there to get to the patient.' After his career as a rescue medic, Rivera went on to become an instructor with the Special Operations Command and now heads the EMS competition team that competes against other rescue units around the world. The other promotions included one new deputy chief, three lieutenants promoted to captain, 17 paramedics promoted to lieutenant, and 63 EMTs who graduated from the Paramedic Basic Program.
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Keegan Bradley said Travelers win 'opens the door to play' in 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage
DETROIT – Mark Bradley still remembers when he was head professional in Wyoming at Jackson Hole Golf & Tennis Club and his son, Keegan, would come out for the summer. The first one he made him work in the shop at the golf shop to make ends meet but the next year he told his son that as long as he worked on his game, he'd cover his expenses. 'But I never had to give him a nickel. He found some money games with my members. He would practice and play all day and float the river at night. He loved his fly fishing for Cutthroat Trout,' Mark recalls. Mark only had to open his wallet for his son, who won the Travelers Championship on Sunday and a paycheck for $3.6 million, one more time. When Keegan rolled out of Wyoming to try his hand in professional golf in 2008, Mark bought him an electric-blue Ford Focus nicknamed Be Bop with 190,000 miles on it for $3,000 and backed him with a couple grand in cash. 'He sure as hell didn't come from a lot of money,' Mark said. 'But I had to get him a car. The mechanic told me his Honda Civic wouldn't make it out of Wyoming.' Keegan spent that summer listening to Howard Stern as he be-bopped around the country in Be Bop. 'If you went too fast,' Keegan recalled, 'the mirror on the side would fly off so I had to tape it to my door and then sooner or later I think one of the maintenance guys in the golf course just deadbolted it on the side of my car.' Keegan, 38, made it to the PGA Tour in 2011 and won twice as a rookie, including the PGA Championship. His victory at the 2025 Travelers Championship marked his eighth career Tour title and fourth straight year in the winner's circle, quite a feat for the U.S. Ryder Cup captain this fall at Bethpage, where he could be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963. While Keegan was lighting up TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, on Saturday to the tune of 63 to earn his way into the final group at three strokes behind 54-leader Tommy Fleetwood, his dad drove to Long Island, New York, and Bethpage Black, not far from Keegan's alma mater, St. John's University. Mark wanted to see the Ryder Cup venue up close before it was all built out for the biennial competition against a 12-man squad from Europe. 'It's already underway, but it was fun to go back to a place that Keegan spent a lot of his college days at and used to sneak on,' Mark said. 'I sent Keegan a picture of the maintenance shed where the team used to park their white van. That was the night before. I think it fired him up.' Keegan sank a 64-foot birdie putt at the ninth and holed a nervy 5-foot birdie putt at 18 on a windy final day to claim the title. Mark was there to witness his son's heroics, the second straight victory by Keegan – the other being the BMW Championship in August – that he was able to witness. 'When I saw him win in Colorado, I saw in his swing, I said, 'Man, it's so precise right now and he's got really great control of his golf ball.' Knock on wood, you know, I don't want to jinx him, but he's got that same swing going,' Mark said. That repeatability is a key part of his success, Keegan said. 'I've owned my swing. I know what to do, I know the mistakes that I make when things are bad,' he said. 'I think over the years I've really learned to accept how my swing looks. I've got a weird setup, like my hands are really low, everyone thinks my clubs are super short. I've done a good job of owning that and that's the best way to have me play well.' The win on Sunday lifted Keegan to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking, a career best, and he jumped to No. 9 in the U.S. Ryder Cup rankings. (The top six automatically qualify for the team and the captain has six picks to round out the 12-man team.) 'This changes the story a little bit,' Bradley said Sunday. 'I never would have thought about playing if I hadn't won. This definitely opens the door to play. I don't know if I'm going to do it or not, but I certainly have to take a pretty hard look at what's best for the team and we'll see.' Collin Morikawa, who has been a member of the last two U.S. Ryder Cup teams and currently ranks seventh in the Ryder Cup standings, said that Bradley needs to be in the mix. 'Right now he's playing as one of the best Americans and one of the best golfers in the world winning a signature event, the consistency I think he's brought this year. Yeah, I'm sure there's already contingencies to be put in place because it's not like it wasn't a possibility that that could happen,' Morikawa said. 'He cares so much about representing the United States that it like bleeds out of him and it bleeds into us, and that just motivates me more.' Keegan's dad isn't sure how things are going to play out in terms of being a playing captain in late September, but he knows there has been one positive out of being U.S. Ryder Cup captain. 'It's inspired him,' he said.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Keegan Bradley Net Worth: How much does the American golfer earn?
Keegan Bradley, the Ryder Cup captain, clinched the Travelers Championship with a dramatic birdie on the 18th hole on June 22, finishing 15-under par and outpacing Tommy Fleetwood by a single stroke. This marked his second Travelers win in three years and boosted him to a career-high world ranking of No. 7 Although balancing roles as both a competitive PGA Tour player and the strategic leader of the US Ryder Cup team has been a challenge, Bradley has been juggling standings, team selections, logistics, media duties, and competition — and delivering strong performances on both fronts. Let's take a look at the American professional golfer who has shot to the limelight. Who is Keegan Bradley? Born in Woodstock, Vermont, Keegan Hansen Bradley is a standout American professional golfer. After honing his skills at St. John's University, he turned pro in 2008 and burst onto the scene in 2011, earning PGA Tour Rookie of the Year honors and clinching a major title at the PGA Championship – his first major appearance. That win made him one of only six golfers in history to triumph in their major debut. Over the years, he's secured seven PGA Tour victories, bolstering his reputation as a fierce competitor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologist: Just Add 1 Drop Of This Household Item To Any Dark Spot And Wait 3 Minutes Undo Bradley's Ryder Cup resume is equally notable. He played pivotal roles in the 2012 and 2014 US teams, compiling a commendable 4–3–0 record. Known for leaving his luggage unpacked for over a decade – a symbolic gesture tied to his unfinished Ryder Cup ambitions – he exemplifies his unwavering commitment to the event. In a surprise move announced on July 8, 2024, Bradley was named captain of the US Ryder Cup team for the 2025 matches at Bethpage Black, after Tiger Woods declined. Although Bradley openly admitted the role 'came out of the blue,' he embraced the challenge despite lacking previous vice-captain experience. Unlike most captains, Bradley continues to compete on the PGA Tour while preparing for captaincy. Net worth: As of 2025, Keegan Bradley's net worth is estimated at around $25 million, thanks to a career that has balanced elite performance with steady off-course earnings. His tournament winnings exceed $49 million, highlighted by standout performances like the 2023 Travelers Championship and strong showings in major events. Meanwhile, Spotrac reports official PGA earnings alone topping $51 million through mid‑2025, making a strong case for his consistency at the highest level. Off-course earnings and brand deals Bradley's impressive net worth isn't built on prize money alone. He's partnered with major brands such as Nike (Jordan Brand), Srixon, Titleist, TravisMathew, Tommy Hilfiger, Flag & Anthem, Rolex, and Service Credit Union, among others. These endorsement deals likely inject several million dollars annually into his financial portfolio. Smart investments and real estate savvy Diversification has helped Bradley solidify his wealth. In 2012, he bought a $2 million mansion in Florida and sold it in 2015 for a profit, demonstrating sharp real estate instincts. Additionally, he acquired a residence in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in 2023, expanding his assets beyond the green. Annual earnings and lifestyle In 2024 alone, Bradley earned approximately $6.36 million from official PGA events, plus an additional $660K from the Tour Championship and $225K from other events. With career-long annual averages around $5 million and major bonuses from victories, his income remains robust. Do you know how much Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani earns annually? Her net worth will blow your mind
Time Magazine
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Time Magazine
‘I'm Betting on Myself.' Why RJ Luis Gave Up Millions to Enter the NBA Draft
After RJ Luis Jr., the second-team All-American college basketball player from St. John's University, put his name in the transfer portal in late March, the offers came pouring in. Luis, a 6-ft. 7-in. junior, was the top player in the transfer market, and according to his camp, he received starting offers in the $3 million to $4 million range to play for Kansas, Arkansas, North Carolina, Indiana, and other top programs. Before the NCAA began allowing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) four years ago, staying in college was considered a financial risk for basketball prospects. Any injuries suffered in school could imperil future professional earnings. Now, however, athletes can earn seven figures a season through sponsorship deals with third parties and pooled booster funds from a school's alumni and fan base, known as collectives. And on June 6, a federal judge approved a court settlement that cleared the way for schools to directly compensate athletes themselves, rubber-stamping the end of amateurism in big-time college sports. For many players these days, it makes more sense to return to campus for a guaranteed payday. Especially for a player like Luis, who unlike, say, the consensus No. 1 pick Duke freshman Cooper Flagg, is by no means a top NBA prospect guaranteed to make more than $3 million in his rookie season. Luis' final college game—a 3 for 17 shooting nightmare in a second-round NCAA tournament loss to Arkansas that, in a controversial decision by St. John's coach Rick Pitino, ended with Luis on the bench —did his draft stock no favors. In fact, some mock boards don't have Luis being drafted at all. And yet on May 28 Luis' agent revealed that he would be going against the 2025 athletic grain and staying in the NBA draft, which he had entered in March as well. To many, this decision came as a surprise. He turned down the transfer-portal offers, giving up those riches–Indiana and North Carolina declined to comment; Kansas and Arkansas did not reply by press time–and if he doesn't get drafted, he can't go back to college. But Luis insists it's the right move. 'I don't think it's necessarily a risk,' says Luis, 22, on June 11 from Charlotte, before conducting a workout with the Hornets, who currently have the fourth, 33rd, and 34th picks in the draft (the first round will take place on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, while the second round unfolds the next day). 'If I do what I have to do in the NBA, then I can make even way more money than that. So it's not even about the money. Because if it was, I would have gone back to college. But it's just trying to set myself up for the future, to be honest. I think I had an amazing year. What better time would it be to go to the next level and pursue my dreams of playing in the NBA?' In other words, Luis is taking a gamble on himself. 'That's what I've been doing my whole life,' says Luis. 'I've had countless people telling me what my limitations are. But I end up passing their expectations. So yeah, I'd say I'm betting on myself. I'll always take me, 100%.' 'You've gotta set up your plan, man, and stick with your plan,' says Reggie Charles Luis, RJ's dad, who played professionally overseas in 10 different countries, including the Dominican Republic, Spain, Argentina, North Macedonia, and Germany. 'And that's what we're doing.' Luis grew up in Miami, where his mother Verito Luis, who worked at a community center, insisted he sample a variety of sports: soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, karate. A self-described late bloomer, RJ Luis says he didn't start taking basketball all that seriously until the summer after 10th grade, when he earned a spot on the Dominican Republic's under-17 national team for a tournament in Puerto Rico, featuring teams from Central America and the Caribbean. Coming out of high school, he had offers from only a couple of lower-level Division 1 schools. He did a post-grad year at a prep school and earned a scholarship to UMass, a mid-major whose coach, Frank Martin, is known for his intensity. 'I learned how to play some defense,' Luis says. After a productive freshman season for the Minutemen in 2022-2023, Luis leaped at the chance to transfer to St. John's, located in the New York City borough of Queens, to play for Pitino, the Hall of Famer who had just taken over the program. 'I've heard a lot of coaches say they work out their guys all the time,' says Luis. 'To actually see Coach Pitino keep his word and actually do it, I was very intrigued.' Injuries slowed him his sophomore season. Luis fractured his hand in preseason, and shin splints in both legs limited his practice time. 'I was just very out of rhythm,' says Luis. Soon after the season—St. John's failed to make the NCAA tournament—he underwent shin surgery and spent some three to four months in recovery. 'The first month and a half, I couldn't walk,' says Luis. 'My dad actually had to carry me everywhere. I was in a wheelchair. It was pretty bad.' Once he could move about, Luis spent time in the summer working with his father trying to remove a hitch in his shot. The practice paid off. His junior season was spectacular. Luis improved his three-point shooting and led St. John's to its first Big East regular-season title in 40 years and its first conference tournament championship since 2000. He was named Big East Player of the Year. Even more important than the individual accolades, Luis, Pitino—the national coach of the year—and the Red Storm revived a former national power that had been stagnating, in the media capital of the world no less, for decades. St. John's packed Madison Square Garden throughout February and March. The Tonight Show featured the team. So the early NCAA tournament exit was devastating, especially for the Red Storm's long-suffering fans. St. John's was seeded No. 2, in the West region: Arkansas, the 10-seed, upset the Red Storm 75-66, on March 22, in the second round. Luis had struggled throughout the game, but with 4:56 left, he made a pair of free throws to cut Arkansas' lead to two, 64-62. Sometimes, seeing the ball go through the basket, even on foul shots, can help a shooter's confidence. 'That's what my mind-set was,' says Luis. 'Knocked these two free throws down. Cut it to a one-possession game, try to slow down myself. And, you know, anything can happen in five minutes. This is college basketball.' Instead, Pitino subbed out Luis after the second shot. And incredibly, he never put his All-American back in. The decision was especially baffling because it's not like anyone else on St. John's was making shots in Luis' stead: the team finished the game shooting 2 for 22 from three-point range. 'I was just shocked and just confused,' says Luis. 'I was just trying to stay as calm as possible and not do anything or make it worse.' Luis had expected Pitino to give him a pep talk and put him right back in the game. After all, coaching players up is his job. 'He's done it before,' says Luis. 'There have been other games where he's spoken to me. Obviously I couldn't make a shot. But the whole team, we were just off. Nobody could make a basket. So I don't know.' But as the minutes ticked away, it became apparent that Luis' incredible season was going to end with him as a bench spectator. Pitino has defended his choice. "It was the right move because of where he was mentally," Pitino said on the VICE TV docuseries Pitino: Red Storm Rising, adding, "He was forcing shots, and it was affecting the rest of his game … 100% the right decision, not playing RJ Luis in that game, 100%.' Luis says he hasn't spoken to Pitino since early April, around the time Luis informed him he was putting his hat in the NBA draft ring, while entering the transfer portal as a backup plan in case he changed his mind. While Luis, naturally, disagrees with Pitino's decision to bench him, he declines to knock his former coach. 'Just trying to take the high road and just end it on good terms,' says Luis, who tells TIME that if he had decided to stay in college, he would have returned to St. John's. By putting his name in the portal, he was just keeping all options open. Meanwhile, Pitino has publicly touted Luis' potential. 'He's going to be a great pro,' Pitino said before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Yankees game in the Bronx in early June. When asked if the benching hurt his draft prospects, Luis pauses for seven seconds to consider his answer. 'I mean, it probably just brought up those 'what ifs,'' says Luis. 'Not necessarily hurt, just trying to figure out, like, what did he do to get put in that position?' Luis, who hopes to be the first Ecuadorian-American to play in the NBA—his mom was born in Ecuador, his dad in the Dominican Republic—has worked out for about a dozen teams over the past month or so: he says he's performed best in front of the Golden State Warriors, the Phoenix Suns, the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Detroit Pistons, and the Orlando Magic. He's blocking out the mock draft boards that have all NBA teams passing on him. 'All that stuff is speculation,' he says. 'In the past, we've seen a bunch of guys, where they have them at a certain number, and they end up not even close to where they're supposed to be. So I'm really just controlling what I can control.' He says teams tell him he's likely to be a late first-round or early second-round selection. He believes he's worthy of a first-round status. 'One hundred percent,' says Luis. 'My game is more applicable to the NBA. Just the spacing and the speed of the game. I'm still working on my three-point shot, but I'm not worried about that. I know I'm going to get that down.' His message to NBA GMs who pass on drafting him: 'They're missing out,' he says. 'And they're going to have to face me one day.' And for all the hoops fans who think he's making the wrong decision by going pro now and not cashing in on one more year of college? 'Thank you for all the support,' he says. 'Do not worry about me.'
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Chartbreaker: Mariah the Scientist on Her Biggest Hit's ‘Casual' Start & Using Her Platform to ‘Help People Feel Included'
True to her name, Mariah the Scientist's songs are often the result of several months, and sometimes years, spent combining different elements of choruses and verses until finding the right mixture. But when it came time for the 27-year-old to unveil her latest single, the sultry 'Burning Blue,' the R&B singer-songwriter was at a crossroads. So, she experimented with her promotional strategy, too — and achieved the desired momentum. 'Mariah felt she was in a space between treating [music] like a hobby and this being her career,' recalls Morgan Buckles, the artist's sister and manager. And so, they crafted a curated, monthlong rollout — filled with snippets, TikTok posts encouraging fan interaction and various live performances — that helped the song go viral even before its early May arrival. Upon its release, Mariah the Scientist scored her first solo Billboard Hot 100 entry and breakthrough hit. More from Billboard Young Thug Recalls Getting 'Stood Up' By Mariah The Scientist on Their First Date Chappell Roan Did the Viral 'Apple' Dance During Charli xcx's Primavera Sound Set: 'Love You B-ch!' 50 Years Ago, Elton John Became First Artist to Enter Billboard 200 at No. 1 - Just How 'Fantastic' Was the Feat? Mariah Amani Buckles grew up in Atlanta, singing from an early age. She attended St. John's University in New York and studied biology, but ultimately dropped out to pursue music. Her self-released debut EP, To Die For, arrived in 2018, after which she signed to RCA Records and Tory Lanez's One Umbrella label. She stayed in those deals until 2022 — releasing albums Master and Ry Ry World in 2019 and 2021, respectively — before leaving to continue as an independent artist. 'Over time, you start realizing [people] want you to change things,' Mariah says of her start in the industry. 'Everybody wants to control your art. I don't want to argue with you about what I want, because if we don't want the same things, I'll just go find somebody who does.' In 2023, after six months as an independent artist, Mariah signed a joint venture deal with Epic Records and released her third album, To Be Eaten Alive, which became her first to reach the Billboard 200. She then made two Hot 100 appearances as a featured artist in early 2024, on 'IDGAF' with Tee Grizzley and Chris Brown and 'Dark Days' with 21 Savage. 'Burning Blue' marks Mariah's first release of 2025 — and first new music since boyfriend Young Thug's release from jail following his bombshell YSL RICO trial. The song takes inspiration from Purple Rain-era Prince balladry with booming drums and warbling bass — and Mariah admits that the Jetski Purp-produced beat on YouTube (originally titled 'Blue Flame') likely influenced some lyrics, too. She initially recorded part of the track over an unofficial MP3 rip, but after Purp caught wind of it and learned his girlfriend was a fan, he gave Mariah the beat. Mariah then looped in Nineteen85 (Drake, Nicki Minaj, Khalid) to flesh out the production. 'I [recorded the first part of 'Burning Blue'] in the first room I recorded in when I first started making music in Atlanta,' Mariah says. 'I don't want to say it was a throwaway, but it was casual. I wrote some of it, and then I put it to the side.' Once Epic A&R executive Jennifer Raymond heard the in-progress track, she insisted on its completion enough that Mariah and her collaborators convened in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in February to finish the song. By that point, they sensed something special. Mariah shared a low-quality snippet on Instagram, but Morgan — who joined as a tour manager in 2022 — knew a more polished presentation was needed to reach its full potential. Morgan eyed Billboard's Women in Music event in late March as the launchpad for the 'Burning Blue' campaign. Though Mariah wasn't performing or presenting at the event, Morgan wanted to take advantage of her already being in glam to shoot a flashier teaser than Mariah's initial IG story, which didn't even show her face. The two decided on a behind-the-scenes, pre-red carpet clip soundtracked by a studio-quality snippet of 'Burning Blue.' Posted on April 1, that clip showcased its downtempo chorus and Mariah's silky vocal and has since amassed more than two million views, with designer Jean Paul Gaultier's official TikTok account sharing the video to its feed. Ten days later, Morgan advised Mariah to share another TikTok, this time with an explicit call to action encouraging fans to use the song in their own posts and teasing that she 'might have a surprise' for fans with enough interaction. Mariah then debuted the song live on April 19 during a set at Howard University — a smart exclusive for her core audience — as anticipation for the song continued to build. Two weeks later, 'Burning Blue' hit digital service providers on May 2, further fueled by a Claire Bishara-helmed video on May 8 that has over 7 million YouTube views. 'We're at the point where opportunity meets preparation,' Morgan reflects of the concerted but not overbearing promotional approach. '[To Be Eaten Alive] happened so fast, I didn't even know what 'working' a project meant. This time, I studied other artists' rollouts to figure out how to make this campaign personal to her.' 'Burning Blue' debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 dated May 17, marking Mariah's first time in the top 40. Following its TikTok-fueled debut, the song has shown legs at radio too, entering Rhythmic Airplay, R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay — to which Morgan credits Epic's radio team, spearheaded by Traci Adams and Dontay Thompson. '[The song] ended up going to radio a week earlier [than scheduled] because Dontay was like, 'If y'all like this song so much, then play it!,' and they did,' Morgan jokes. With 'Burning Blue' proving to be a robust start to an exciting new chapter, Mariah has a bona fide hit to start the summer as she prepares to unleash her new project, due before the fall. She recently performed the track on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and will have the opportunity to fan the song's flames in front of festival audiences including Governors Ball in June and Lollapalooza in August. But as her following continues to heat up, Mariah's mindset is as cool as ever. 'I'll take what I can get,' Mariah says. 'As long as I can use my platform to help people feel included or understood, I'm good.' A version of this story appears in the June 7, 2025, issue of Billboard. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
