Oil futures have been rising, but recently hit a peak. ConocoPhillips (COP) reported strong Q2 earnings on Aug. 6, and COP stock may be fairly valued. However, shorting COP puts and vertical put credit spreads are attractive alternatives for value investors.
COP closed at $137.35 on Friday, Sept. 11, a recent three-, six-, and 12-month peak. That followed WTI Oct. futures contract (CLV26) spiking above $104 late Thursday, Sept. 10.
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The market clearly believes that Conoco's Q3 earnings and cash flow will be strong, given how high oil and gas prices have been this quarter. Barchart's CLV26 chart below shows the recent peak in oil futures.
Oil has been rising due to ongoing tensions and kinetic action between the U.S. and Iran, as well as in other areas in the Middle East where oil is transported.

#sept

On September 10, Shoe Station Group (NASDAQ:SHOE) held its first earnings call under its new name, and the numbers told a story of a company still finding its footing. Second quarter net sales fell 7.2% to $284.3 million from $306.4 million a year earlier, with comparable sales down 7.1%. But buried in the report was a sharper signal: August comparable sales improved to a 2.7% decline, a real jump from the second quarter's pace, and management is pointing to store-by-store product changes as the reason why.
Shoe Station's turnaround argument rests on giving up the idea that every store should look the same. Interim CEO Clifton Sifford said the company had been running nearly identical ***** ortments across its stores even though its two banners serve very different customers, and that approach stopped working. The shift already shows up in the numbers. Once the company localized its athletic ***** ortments ahead of back-to-school, adult athletic sales moved from a low single-digit decline in the second quarter to a low single-digit increase in August.
Running shoes comped positive in both men's and women's categories, and men's work boots, a replenishment category with loyal repeat buyers, grew 2%. Management believes this fall's boot lineup is the best it has fielded in years, heading into what Sifford expects to be a bigger nonathletic fashion cycle. E-commerce sales grew 18.8% even as store traffic fell, and in-store conversion actually improved, evidence that customers who show up are buying; they just are not showing up in the same numbers yet. The company also ended the quarter debt-free with $131.6 million in cash, up $39.7 million from a year ago, giving it room to fund the localized rollout without straining the balance sheet.
The flip side is that the entire second quarter was ugly across the board. Shoe Carnival branded stores, still 63% of revenue, saw sales fall 6.5%, while the newly converted Shoe Station banner dropped 8.4%. Gross profit margin fell 690 basis points to 31.9%, a mix of a promotional footwear market and management's decision to accelerate liquidation of aged inventory, trading margin for cash. That combination cut net income to $6.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, down from $19.2 million and $0.70 a year earlier.
Management is not projecting relief anytime soon. Sifford said plainly, "We are not ***** uming the environment improves," and CFO Kerry Jackson noted that gross margins in fiscal August were still running below last year's levels at a pace comparable to the second quarter. Full-year gross margin guidance of 32.5% to 32.7% implies 390 to 410 basis points of compression for the year. Store impairment charges reached $6.7 million on 11 stores year to date, and management has already conceded that the core problem is not price, since conversion rates rose while total customer visits kept falling. That points to a marketing and trust problem rather than a demand problem, and fixing it will take more tha

California Gov. Gavin Newsom does not like being on Donald Trump's side on any issue.
But when it comes to transgender girls and women in sports, particularly at the school level, the Democrat said he largely agrees with the Republican president. Newsom, one of his party's leading White House prospects, believes it's "deeply unfair" for people who are ***** igned male at birth to compete against girls.
"I don't want to be on that side of it, but I'm being honest — I'd be lying to you if I said differently," Newsom told The ***** ociated Press as he was campaigning recently in South Carolina. "I haven't been able to figure out how to make it fair from my perspective."
Newsom is not alone.
While most Democratic officials remain steadfast supporters of the transgender community, an increasing number in red and blue states are distancing themselves from their party's unflinching support for the transgender community's policy priorities, such as allowing athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The shift follows years of conservative attacks against Democrats on the divisive issue, which affects a relatively small number of transgender people and their families, but has emerged as one of Republicans' most potent political weapons in the Trump era.

#number

Cubs will 'always have a chance' to win the World Series if they avoid one mistake originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Cubs are fighting with the Philadelphia Phillies for the No. 4 seed in the National League, which is the top spot in the NL Wild Card and home-field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Amid this fierce competition, which is heading towards the final few weeks of play, one American League executive shared a very strong belief in the Cubs.
ESPN's Jesse Rogers shared that one AL executive believes the Cubs "will always have a chance" to win a World Series, so long as they avoid one simple mistake: giving up home runs.
"I'll take the Cubs," an AL executive said. "First in offense, first in defense, and a No. 1-type starter in Clay Holmes. I know they just had bullpen problems, but as long as they keep the ball in the park, the Cubs will always have a chance."

#Cubs #first #executive #sporting

Tech stocks fell on Monday, as AI industry leaders raised concerns about the future of the technology and its potential to harm humans. The Nasdaq fell roughly 0.8% in early trading. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index fell more than 4%.
The episode began last week when an Anthropic researcher announced he was leaving the company via a post on X, saying he didn't feel it was doing enough to keep AI in check.
Anthropic Alignment Science Lead, Evan Hubinger, responded the post saying the former Anthropic worker is correct and that he believes there is a greater-than-10 % chance that the technology could "kill all humans."
On Saturday, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei posted an essay responding to the posts, calling on AI companies to slow the pace of frontier AI development. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman agreed.
And on Monday, Reuters reported that Microsoft is developing its own code of conduct for its AI models.

#anthropic #Monday #Tech

Greg Abel took over as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA)(NYSE: BRKB) at the start of 2026. Former CEO Warren Buffett left Abel a huge gift: nearly $400 billion in cash on the company's balance sheet. Abel has put some of that cash to work buying Taylor Morrison Home, and some has been spent on publicly traded stock investments. However, Abel has also decided to buy back Berkshire Hathaway stock. That could be a positive sign. Here's why.
Under Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway didn't make a habit of buying back stock. The world-famous investor preferred to put cash to work by buying shares in other companies or buying companies outright. When he did buy back Berkshire Hathaway stock, it was because he believed the shares were undervalued.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
This dynamic is clearly explained in the company's 2025 10k, where the company states: "Berkshire's common stock repurchase program currently permits Berkshire to repurchase shares any time that Berkshire's Chief Executive Officer, after consultation with the Chairman of the Board, believes that the repurchase price is below Berkshire's intrinsic value, conservatively determined." The only limit on repurchase activity is that it can't reduce the company's cash and short-term investment balance below $30 billion.
Some market watchers had hypothesized that Berkshire Hathaway bought as much as $11 billion of its own stock in the second quarter, but the real number turned out to be roughly $4.5 billion. That said, the number was still quite large and, even then, given the huge cash balance the company has, it didn't put the company anywhere near the $30 billion cash limitation.

#Stock

HBCU coach has $1 million hot take on money games appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tennessee State head coach Reggie Barlow stood in solidarity with Edward Waters' president, Dr. A. Zachary Faison, after his comments about money games. Faison's comments came after Edward Waters played Jackson State, and he believes that the team did not get a fair shake in the deal he made years ago.
"Going forward, Edward Waters University will not schedule Division I opposition in football except on terms this institution sets and that materially and substantially advance our program goals," he said in the post. "I want you and our supporters to understand exactly why. The economics do not work. We were paid a $65,000 guarantee, which covered none of our costs. Travel and related expenses ran roughly $30,000 to $35,000, so we cleared about $30,000. That does not begin to justify what such a game asks of a team, a coaching staff, and a program."
Barlow, whose team recently played the University of Georgia in Week 1, expressed solidarity with Faison on Monday's OVC-Big South coaches call. He started by acknowledging that guarantee games between HBCUs (and FCS schools generally) and Power Conference opponents are common practice.
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#games #team #clutchpoints #state

Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton faced off in the U.S. Open semifinals aiming to end a long drought for American men in Grand Slam tournaments, with Shelton winning in four sets. Andy Roddick was the last U.S. man to win a major — in 2003. Since then European players have dominated. Juan Martín del Potro, the last non-European champion, believes American tennis has the potential to break this pattern. Del Potro is now an ******* yst for ESPN Latin America and has shared insights on his career and offered advice to Carlos Alcaraz on managing injuries. Del Potro retired in 2022 after multiple surgeries.
Ninety Grand Slam tournaments have passed since Andy Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero in the 2003 final at Flushing Meadows. Since then, no other U.S. male player has managed to win the U.S. Open on home soil or any of the other three majors.
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Apart from Argentina's Juan Martín del Potro at the 2009 U.S. Open and his compatriot Gastón Gaudio at the 2004 French Open, every champion across the world's four major tournaments has been European.
On Friday night, Ben Shelton won in four sets the all-American U.S. Open semifinal with Frances Tiafoe and now will attempt to end the long wait for another men's Grand Slam champion from the United States. Shelton will play Alexander Zverev in the final.

#grand

Atlético Tucumán head coach Julio César Falcioni made harsh accusations against the refereeing after the defeat to River Plate. The experienced manager expressed his outrage over decisions he believes harmed the Tucumán side.
"If Atlético is a problem, they should let us know," Falcioni fired back to the media. The coach claimed there was a foul on Canelo that should have led to a red card for a River player, openly criticizing the lack of judgment from both the main referee and the officials in the VAR booth.
With his trademark blunt tone, the coach ended his remarks without holding back: "It surprises me that some things are judged one way and others differently. Looks like River's band is working again. I can tell right away when I'm getting screwed."
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

#coach #falcioni #julio #canelo

Heat Central: Norman Powell believes the Heat got WAY BETTER with the Giannis trade: "Anytime you get a generational talent like that it automatically puts you into contention. He's a generational player… They got some dawgs. Shoutout my man D Mitch. Off night and Bam. They gonna be good. I'm excited to see how it all comes together. They signed Klay. That's a good pickup for them. They made some good moves"
This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "Anytime you get a generational talent like that it …

#generational #heat #powell

R&B singer Bilal is facing allegations from Jamila Raegan, the mother of his adult son Bashir, who claims the artist has left her to handle their son's care alone. In an emotional Instagram post, Raegan also accused Bilal, whose full name is Bilal Oliver, of abuse and said she had protected him for more than half her life. "I'm not okay because I've spent over half of my life protecting an abuser," she wrote before identifying the singer by name.
Raegan said Bashir has multiple disabilities, including autism and bipolar disorder, and claimed Bilal has shown "complete disregard" while she manages their son's needs. "I am caring for him alone while his father continues to live his life," she wrote.
Raegan did not detail what **** istance she believes Bilal has withheld or provide specific information about her abuse allegation in the post.
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Bashir is a frequent presence on Raegan's Instagram page, where she has shared photos, videos, and personal updates about their life together over the years. In her latest message, she credited relatives, friends, and members of her community with helping support her.

#bilal #Instagram #shop

Mavericks predicted to cut ties with $54M high-motor veteran rim runner, not Kyrie Irving originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Mavericks are at an interesting crossroads with their organization right now as they try to figure out the best moves for their future. They have a Rookie of the Year in Cooper Flagg, but the biggest question is about what they are building around him.
Kyrie Irving is set to be the point guard, but his time in Dallas may come to an end as early as this season.
"The Mavericks, as we've been writing since mid-June, have consistently swatted away trade interest this offseason in nine-times-an-All-Star guard Kyrie Irving. Rival teams, however, continue to wonder aloud about how firmly Dallas will stick to that stance once the season begins and the next in-season trade deadline on Feb. 11 gradually approaches. The primary factor fueling that curiosity, of course, is that fact that Irving is 34 and Mavericks star forward Cooper Flagg is 19. Not your average age gap between the team's two best players," The Stein Line's Marc Stein wrote.
While Irving could be on the trade block soon, PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford have also been mentioned. Heavy.com's Sean Deveney believes it will be Gafford that gets traded.

#irving

LeBron James has spent more than two decades setting records that once looked out of reach. Yet former NBA center Olden Polynice believes one of the game's rare statistical feats should have belonged to James long before Russell Westbrook made it his own.
Polynice is not questioning James' greatness. His argument is almost the opposite. He believes James had so much size and all-around ability that failing to post a full-season triple-double stands out as a strange omission from an otherwise historic career.
Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Polynice said James should have reached the milestone before Westbrook ever did. He pointed to James' unusual combination of strength, skill and playmaking as the reason.
Jan 31, 2023; New York, New York, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) and guard Russell Westbrook (0) react during overtime against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
"I love LeBron. I really do. I think he's one of the greatest ever. Ever," Polynice said. "What he's doing right now we've never seen before. And I won't even get into the off the court. He's by himself over there."

#james #lebron

Freiburg have made an impressive start to the new campaign with two wins from two, while Saturday's opponents Borussia Mönchengladbach are still searching for their first points.
However, boss Julian Schuster believes his side's experiences last season warn that difficult periods can quickly become sources of motivation.
"It was quite simple," he told DAZN before the match, when asked how he ensures full effort against out-of-form opposition.
"We just had to remind ourselves of the difficult periods we had last year.
"In football and sport, just as in private life, these situations are always an opportunity to grow and for something new to emerge.

#difficult #periods

Gabriel insists ******* nal are not satisfied with winning the Premier League last season, and they have their sights set on several more trophies as a team, with many people tipping them to dominate both domestic and European football.
The Gunners finished second in three consecutive seasons before finally winning the league, and in the same season, they reached the final of the Carabao Cup and the Champions League. It was one of the best periods in the club's history, as they continued to perform consistently well under their manager.
Arteta is keen to ensure ******* nal perform at a high level during this campaign as well. The manager recognises the importance of maintaining certain standards, but his players understand this too, and they have returned for the new season as hungry as possible.
Their start to this season has been impressive, and many expect them to add more ******* les to their cabinet when the campaign ends next summer. Gabriel will be an important part of that challenge, and the defender has made it clear that the players are determined to achieve more after winning the Premier League.
Arsenal's ambition is not limited to one competition, with the squad aiming to challenge for the major trophies available to them. Gabriel believes the desire to win must remain strong, particularly because the players themselves welcome the pressure that comes with representing the club.

#players #arsenal #premier #trophies

Pakistan great Wasim Akram has expressed frustration over the country's continued struggles in Test cricket, arguing that the lack of quality batting talent emerging through the system has become a major concern.

Speaking to the media in Lahore on Friday, the former fast bowler said Pakistan's home-and-away Test series defeat to Bangladesh should have prompted the authorities to take immediate corrective measures. Instead, he felt little changed after what should have been a warning sign.

Akram pointed towards the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which has been running for a decade, and questioned whether the tournament had produced any significant batting talent for the national team.

"It has been 10 years since the PSL started, but has a single batter been produced by the PSL? Yes we have produced a few bowlers but tell me have we produced any noteworthy batting talent," he questioned.
Akram also highlighted the emergence of a 15-year-old batting talent in neighbouring India, an apparent reference to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, as an example of the kind of player Pakistan needs to produce.

"I think when we produce a batting talent like the 14-year old then we will see improvement coming through," Akram said.

While he felt Pakistan remained competitive in white-ball cricket, the former pacer was far less optimistic about the team's position in the longer format, describing the state of Test cricket as "bad".

Akram also played down the importance of who takes charge as Pakistan's coach, saying that whether the PCB appoints him or Gary Kirsten, the fundamental challenge would remain because the coach would still be working with the same pool of players.

Rather than repeatedly changing personnel, Akram called for the PCB's domestic structure to be given time to produce results. He believes the system should be allowed to operate for three to four years, with patience and long-term planning essential to any improvement.

Akram admitted that he was just as disappointed as any other Pakistani by the team's recent performances.

"Club cricket needs to be revived if we want improvement in red ball cricket. The PCB should spend 100 million rupees each in Karachi and Lahore, as talent comes from club cricket."

He also called for greater consistency in the national side, pointing out that Pakistan have continued to rotate players without addressing the underlying problems.

He said there should be consistency in the team, but the players remain the same -- they just keep coming and going.
Pakistan's ongoing Test series in England also came under scrutiny, with Akram criticising the team's approach against the home bowlers.

"In England in the ongoing series they didn't move their front foot forward, playing bowlers like Ollie Robinson while standing rooted in the crease. You need to play with courage, but for that, talent is essential."

Akram also offered his ******* sment of Pakistan's fast-bowling resources, arguing that raw pa

India's next Test **** ignment will take them to New Zealand for a two-match series beginning November 19, and former Kiwi fast bowler Trent Boult believes KL Rahul will be one of the Indian batters worth watching closely.

The two Tests will form part of India's marathon New Zealand tour, which begins on October 22 and features 12 matches across the three formats. With India needing a strong result to remain in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, the spotlight is expected to fall on several key players, including captain Shubman Gill and pace spearhead Jasprit **** rah.

Boult, however, has picked Rahul and his opening partner Yashasvi Jaiswal as the two Indian batters he is particularly looking forward to seeing in action.

"I'm always a big fan of KL Rahul and his style of batsmanship. So he's a big player at the top of the order for the Indian side. And yeah, I believe Jaiswal is there as well. Two classy batters to see bat. So yeah, be interesting to see," Boult said in an interview to PTI.
The timing of the series could make conditions particularly interesting. Unlike India's previous Test tours of New Zealand, which have often taken place in the February-March window, this series will be played in late October and November.

Boult feels the timing could bring colder weather into play, while he is hoping the New Zealand pitches retain some grass and offer **** istance to the home attack.

"It's always an exciting chance when the Indian team comes down to play Test cricket in New Zealand," Boult said.

"The only thing I can see happening is it's going to be late October. I believe, just coming out of winter. So it's going to be quite cold. Hopefully, there's a bit of greenness in the wickets for some of our bowlers. It's going to be a good series, I'm sure," the star former Kiwi pacer added.
Boult also backed the current New Zealand bowling unit to make an impact against India, pointing to the variety available to the team.

Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith and Will O'Rourke bring different qualities to the attack, and Boult believes that gives New Zealand enough options to develop its own identity.

"I think the bowling is very well balanced. It's got bases covered in terms of a good pace, obviously, with Will O'Rourke. Obviously, a bit of swing and a bit of bounce from Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry with his accuracy.

"So yeah, I think the way me, Tim (Southee) and Wags (Neil Wagner) did it over the years was a unique way in itself. But there's other strengths and other game plans that our younger bowlers can follow," Boult further said.
134121390

#test

Vitor Matos believes 39-year-old Jamie Vardy is still capable of making a mark in the Championship as the former England striker eyes a Burnley debut at Swansea City.
Vardy is set to be named in the Clarets squad to visit the Swansea.com Stadium, having joined Burnley this week after departing Italian club Cremonese.
And Swansea head coach Matos believes the former Leicester City frontman, who scored 200 goals in 500 Foxes appearances, still has the tools to thrive in the second tier.
"He is someone who understands how to score goals," said Matos, who is 14 months younger than Vardy.
"He moves really well - he always did that. He has a lot of talent - his finishing skills are there.

#matos #still

David Moyes has made it clear, Jack Grealish is in line to start for Everton against Tottenham this weekend. After a short outing from the bench in the recent defeat to Manchester United, the Everton manager believes the 31-year-old is now ready for a bigger role.
That matters, because Everton need quality and they need it quickly. Their transfer window closed with more frustration than progress. Grealish returned on loan for a second straight season, but the late collapse of a move for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun left Moyes with a squad short on numbers and light on attacking options.
Moyes did not overcomplicate the issue. "I think Jack is special – I think he is ready to play, yes," said Moyes. "I think Jack is probably a boy who needs the football [matches] more than he needs the training sometimes."
That sums up Grealish well enough. He is a rhythm player. He needs minutes, contact, pressure, and repetition. Training helps, but matches sharpen him. Moyes sees that clearly and added: "I think game time helps Jack. In ways, that's him still building up to his best but, I've got to say, he's had a good week of training and he's beginning to look ready to start."
Photo IMAGO

#everton #training #short

NFL pundit Skip Bayless believes the Baltimore Ravens' biggest concern may not be Lamar Jackson's talent, but whether the quarterback will fully buy into a dramatically younger coaching staff.
Baltimore opens 2026 with Jesse Minter in his first season as an NFL head coach and Declan Doyle taking over the offense. Doyle is the league's youngest offensive coordinator and will call plays for the first time after serving as Chicago's coordinator under Ben Johnson last season.
During a segment on the "Gridiron" podcast with Aqib Talib on Friday, Bayless said Jackson needs a significant season for the sake of his résumé, but the ****** yst quickly turned his concern toward the coaching staff around the Ravens quarterback.
"If Jesse Minter were the new defensive coordinator in Baltimore, I'd be with you," Bayless said. "But he's the new head coach. So you have a baby head coach trying to figure out how to run the whole show as well as the defense."
Bayless's stronger warning, however, involved Doyle.

#bayless #season

India's search for consistency in T20I cricket will continue with a three-match series against Afghanistan, but the team's batting combination could once again come under scrutiny, particularly with vice-captain Tilak Varma's role yet to appear fully settled.

India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.

The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.

"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.

Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.

Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.

His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.

The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.

For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.

He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.

"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as

'His time will come': Ajinkya Rahane wants India to drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play Sanju Samson in Afghanistan T20Is originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ajinkya Rahane wants India to reinstate the T20 World Cup top three of Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the Afghanistan series.
Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi should play his natural game without overthinking, given how early this stage of his international career is.
Samson won the T20 World Cup Player of the Tournament but has struggled for consistency in the UK series since that triumph.
Ajinkya Rahane has thrown his weight firmly behind Sanju Samson, and urged the Indian team management to reinstate the wicketkeeper-batter in the top three for the Afghanistan T20I series ahead of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

#rahane #samson #ajinkya

Tigers news: AJ Hinch can't imagine a rookie as good as Kevin McGonigle appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
With only 15 games left for the Detroit Tigers in the 2026 MLB regular season, it's only a matter of time before they get mathematically eliminated from the postseason hunt. With a record of 68-79 even after taking a 6-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on the road on Friday, they are 6.5 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot with six teams ahead of them in the standings.
Nonetheless, even with the Tigers poised to miss the postseason, it's difficult not to feel excited over their prospects of being a contending team in the near future. After all, they have quite the impressive position player core — with rookie Kevin McGonigle turning plenty of heads already despite being in just his first season in the big leagues.
McGonigle did go 0-4 on the night in the Tigers' win over the Rockies. But as a whole, he has been brilliant this season for the Tigers. He ended the night with an OPS of .788 to go along with 16 home runs and 62 runs batted in — being a consistent table-setter for Detroit. And manager AJ Hinch believes that he should be the runaway favorite to win the Rookie of the Year award.
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#hinch #detroit #Rockies #first

Former Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden picked Cincinnati to beat Tampa Bay in Week 1, prompting brother Jon Gruden to accuse him of bias.
During a segment posted by Jon Gruden on X, the brothers went back and forth over Sunday's matchup.
Jon highlighted several of Tampa Bay's young defenders, including Josiah Trotter, Keionte Scott and Rueben Bain Jr., before Jay identified a weakness he believes Cincinnati can exploit.
"You got no corners. I'm taking the Bengals," Jay said.
It's Week 1 and we already have a little bias from my brother... give me Tampa to beat the Bengals!!

Presented by chevytrucks #Ad #Chevy #Silverado pic.twitter.com/MVsRsspHC3

#bengals #gruden #tampa

Falcons news: Which legendary RB did Bijan Robinson study to improve? appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons will be without projected starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, which could mean a bigger dose of star running back Bijan Robinson in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees' attack.
Robinson is hoping for a stellar season under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, who added an exciting new wrinkle to the Falcons' offense that Robinson believes plays to his strengths. Back-to-back 1,400-plus yard seasons have inspired confidence in Robinson, but the Falcons running back has bigger goals.
He spoke on Friday about the player he patterned his game after, name dropping one of the NFL's all-time greats on ESPN's This is Football show.
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#bijan

Coinbase Global (NASDAQ: $COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong said that he believes Bitcoin (CRYPTO: $BTC) has officially bottomed and expects it to move higher over the next two years.
"I personally think we've seen the bottom of the Bitcoin price in this cycle," said Armstrong in a media interview.
Armstrong, who runs the Coinbase crypto exchange, added that he doesn't anticipate another downturn in Bitcoin's price until the next halving event that's expected in about two years.
More From Cryptoprowl:
MEXC Launches Earn Plus With Limited-Time Event Offering Up to 800% APR Booster

#Bitcoin #Event #next #price

The Tennessee **** ans made the first somewhat surprising pick of the 2026 NFL Draft when they selected former Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate with the number four overall pick. With his first NFL game on the horizon, CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson believes he was worth the fourth overall pick for the **** ans.
Tate was drafted with the expectation that he can become a foundational piece of the offense and a long-term number one target for second-year quarterback Cam Ward. That might be a lot to ask from a rookie, but everything about the situation suggests the **** ans had a plan.
The biggest question surrounding the **** ans' selection was whether Tate's talent will eventually justify taking him fourth overall. Including Tate, only five wide receivers (six if you include Travis Hunter) have been selected in the top five of the NFL Draft since 2015.
Excluding Jacksonville Jaguars WR/CB Travis Hunter, former **** ans WR Corey Davis had the worst rookie season of those top five selections with 375 yards and 0 touchdowns. So, it made sense why **** ans fans, specifically, may have had concerns about the Tate selection.
However, a strong training camp has many anticipating his NFL regular-season debut. Tate doesn't need to immediately become one of the best receivers in the NFL for the pick to be successful, but Tennessee needs to see enough flashes to believe they have found a long-term offensive cornerstone.

#tate #draft

Sophie Cunningham has become one of the most talked-about figures in women's basketball. Whether on or off the court, Cunningham's outspoken personality has built a large following for herself and has recently added a new platform to that reach.
The Indiana Fever guard launched a podcast called "No Hesitation" alongside trainer Drew Hanlen. Her debut episode was released on Thursday. During that episode, she addresses the storytelling path she believes the WNBA media should tread. Also, she highlights things she could do differently if she held certain governmental powers over the game.
Jul 15, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) before the game against the Golden State Valkyries at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
So far in the season, Cunningham has averaged 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 ***** ists per game, demonstrating her central role to her team's success all-year-long. During the show, Cunningham touched on players' remuneration, the WNBA media coverage, and even the outgoing commissioner's office. An NFL-themed X page, Franco Vision, shares snippets from the conversation.
"We're always as players going to want more money, and as owners they're always not going to want to give it to you…"When it comes to media coverage, I think that we have good coverage now. Yes, it can always be better. Yes, it can be bigger."

#fever

Scotiabank believes CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRWD) is emerging as a "vendor of choice" for agentic AI security needs. After conversing with more than 15 customers at the Fal.Con 2026 event and meeting with the company management, the Wall Street firm came away confident in the company's sustained momentum.
On September 4, Scotiabank ***** yst Patrick Colville raised the price target on the stock to $265 from $250 while maintaining a Sector Outperform rating. Firm checks showed how customers are experiencing an "accelerating" desire to consolidate security stacks onto CrowdStrike's platform.
The key question now is whether CrowdStrike can sustain this interest and translate it into meaningful growth, all while defending its position as a key AI cyber security platform.
An engineer typing on a computer, developing the latest cybersecurity application.
On September 1, CrowdStrike introduced SafeMind, a suite of cyber security threat detection models within its Falcon platform. The launch was made at the Fal.Con 2026 event, aimed to run as one system designed to deliver AI safety.

#platform #september #customers #holdings

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane believes Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's time will come, but feels India should currently stick with the top-three combination that delivered the 2026 T20 World Cup ******* le, backing Sanju Samson to reclaim his place alongside Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.

Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament during India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, was dropped after a string of low scores on the tour of England. Sooryavanshi was subsequently handed his international debut in Manchester and also opened during the T20Is against Zimbabwe.

With Samson now recalled for the three-match home series against Afghanistan, beginning at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, Rahane believes the experienced batter should return to the top order.

"I feel the top three should be the same that played in the World Cup. Samson has done well, but he got dropped after two or three bad innings. I want him to get another chance. Abhishek and Ishan also did well for us," Rahane said in a video on his YouTube channel on Friday.

"Vaibhav will get his opportunities, and his time will come. But for now, I feel the top three should be Samson, Abhishek, and Ishan, who were our contributors in the World Cup," he added.
Rahane welcomed Samson's return while pointing to the batter's impact during India's World Cup-winning campaign.

"I am happy to see Sanju Samson back in the team. He was the 'Man of the Series' in the World Cup. It has been up and down, and things were happening to him that were not in his control. But he is a match-winner, and his return strengthens the team," Rahane said.

For Sooryavanshi, Rahane's message was one of patience and freedom. The 15-year-old has made a rapid rise through domestic and franchise cricket, but the former India batter believes the teenager should not overthink his early international career.

"I think he should just play his game right now. He should back the game that led him to come into the Indian team. It is a very early stage for him in his career and in international cricket," Rahane said.

"As of now, there is no need for him to think a lot, and he should be set free. His game will eventually change after two or three years, as much as he keeps playing. It will be important for him to maintain balance. Apart from cricket skills, it is important to stay balanced off the field. That will be a challenge for him."
Sooryavanshi has already provided plenty of evidence of his ability. During the Duleep Trophy, he became the youngest player to score a half-century in the competition, reaching the landmark at 15 years and 175 days.

He made 92 off 81 ******* for East Zone, reaching his fifty from just 42 deliveries and breaking a 57-year-old record previously held by Laxman Singh, who was 16 years and 23 days old when he scored his Duleep Trophy fifty in 1969.

Rahane believes the teenager's next challenge is not