1 hr. ago
MANILA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro rejected on Saturday China's accusation that he has "consistently attacked and smeared" Beijing, branding the remarks as a "classic squid tactic" aimed at avoiding the issues at hand.
Teodoro was responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who on Friday said Teodoro had previously led efforts by Philippine authorities to apprehend Chinese citizens who, Beijing said, were legally working in the Philippines.
"This individual has consistently attacked and smeared China," Guo told reporters, referring to Teodoro. "What he is damaging is not only China-Philippines bilateral relations, but also the interests of the Philippine state and its people."
Teodoro, in a statement, defended the May law-enforcement operation at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental that resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals, saying it was lawful and supported by evidence gathered through court-issued search warrants.
He cited what he said were violations involving the production of substandard, radioactively tainted steel, the dumping of polluted water, and the release of toxic emissions.
#beijing #consistently
Teodoro was responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun, who on Friday said Teodoro had previously led efforts by Philippine authorities to apprehend Chinese citizens who, Beijing said, were legally working in the Philippines.
"This individual has consistently attacked and smeared China," Guo told reporters, referring to Teodoro. "What he is damaging is not only China-Philippines bilateral relations, but also the interests of the Philippine state and its people."
Teodoro, in a statement, defended the May law-enforcement operation at a steel facility in Misamis Oriental that resulted in the arrest of Chinese nationals, saying it was lawful and supported by evidence gathered through court-issued search warrants.
He cited what he said were violations involving the production of substandard, radioactively tainted steel, the dumping of polluted water, and the release of toxic emissions.
#beijing #consistently
4 hours ago
The Yankees salvaged their three-game series Sunday at the Blue Jays when they escaped Toronto with a 4-3 win in which left-handed starting pitcher Ryan Weathers continued his dominant run.
Weathers (6-7, 3.56 ERA) has been outstanding for New York since July 25, making five starts of five innings pitched or more and consistently giving the offensively struggling Yankees a chance to win. Weathers' 7.1 IP matched his season-best start April 19 against the Kansas City Royals when he scattered five hits in a scoreless outing that saw him strike out eight and walk one. He allowed one run on six hits while fanning four and walking one over 95 pitches with 59 strikes. Especially as the Yankees' offensive struggles continue, Sunday was arguably Weathers' best yet during a stretch in which he has earned his stripes.
Luis Garcia Jr.'s 11th games with New York was a quiet 0-for-2 finish, but the second-batting designated hitter's third-inning sacrifice fly to left field got the Yankees on the board in an otherwise painful performance by the offense, which totaled three hits. Garcia, a top acquisition for New York at the MLB trade deadline, is slashing .220/.267/.366 with one home run and three RBI since joining the Yankees Aug. 3.
Infielder José Caballero, who scored on Garcia's one-out fly ball in the third inning, started the frame with a leadoff walk and subsequently stole third base to reach scoring position. Caballero's two-out RBI single in the seventh inning put the Yankees over the top, scoring shortstop George Lombard Jr. Through 103 games, Caballero is slashing .242/.300/.390 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He is up to 30 stolen bases this season.
First baseman Ben Rice made up for his costly fielding error to lead off the ninth inning and put the eventual game-tying run on base when he put the Yankees back on top with a two-run home run. Rice's 33rd home run of the season was his first hit of a 1-for-5 game. He is slashing .251/.344/.533 with 78 RBI through 119 games this season, a year in which the Yankees need all the offense that they can get without injured sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
#york #home #five
Weathers (6-7, 3.56 ERA) has been outstanding for New York since July 25, making five starts of five innings pitched or more and consistently giving the offensively struggling Yankees a chance to win. Weathers' 7.1 IP matched his season-best start April 19 against the Kansas City Royals when he scattered five hits in a scoreless outing that saw him strike out eight and walk one. He allowed one run on six hits while fanning four and walking one over 95 pitches with 59 strikes. Especially as the Yankees' offensive struggles continue, Sunday was arguably Weathers' best yet during a stretch in which he has earned his stripes.
Luis Garcia Jr.'s 11th games with New York was a quiet 0-for-2 finish, but the second-batting designated hitter's third-inning sacrifice fly to left field got the Yankees on the board in an otherwise painful performance by the offense, which totaled three hits. Garcia, a top acquisition for New York at the MLB trade deadline, is slashing .220/.267/.366 with one home run and three RBI since joining the Yankees Aug. 3.
Infielder José Caballero, who scored on Garcia's one-out fly ball in the third inning, started the frame with a leadoff walk and subsequently stole third base to reach scoring position. Caballero's two-out RBI single in the seventh inning put the Yankees over the top, scoring shortstop George Lombard Jr. Through 103 games, Caballero is slashing .242/.300/.390 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. He is up to 30 stolen bases this season.
First baseman Ben Rice made up for his costly fielding error to lead off the ninth inning and put the eventual game-tying run on base when he put the Yankees back on top with a two-run home run. Rice's 33rd home run of the season was his first hit of a 1-for-5 game. He is slashing .251/.344/.533 with 78 RBI through 119 games this season, a year in which the Yankees need all the offense that they can get without injured sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
#york #home #five
5 hours ago
The Chicago Bears kicked off the preseason with a 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns, which saw some impressive performances from players looking to earn a spot on the roster.
After trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, the Bears scored 34 unanswered points en route to a dominating victory that featured impressive showings in all three phases of action. With most of the starters resting, the stage was set for under-the-radar players to showcase their talents and make it difficult on general manager Ryan Poles when it comes to making roster decisions.
Following Saturday's preseason opener, here are the roster bubble players who made a strong case for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Defensive end Jamree Kromah had a monster day on defense, where he showcased his impressive power off the edge and pressuring the quarterback against the Browns. Kromah had two of Chicago's three sacks on the day, and he could have had more, while adding six tackles, including three tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. One of those sacks was a strip sack of starting quarterback Deshaun Watson on fourth-and-2. Kromah was consistently generating pressure and getting in the backfield.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis had been a standout in training camp, and it translated to the field in Chicago's preseason opener. Davis showcased his playmaking ability and led the Bears with four receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown in first-half action with quarterback Tyson Bagent. Davis continues to make a strong statement for a roster spot in a loaded receivers room.
#roster #kromah #quarterback
After trailing 10-0 in the first quarter, the Bears scored 34 unanswered points en route to a dominating victory that featured impressive showings in all three phases of action. With most of the starters resting, the stage was set for under-the-radar players to showcase their talents and make it difficult on general manager Ryan Poles when it comes to making roster decisions.
Following Saturday's preseason opener, here are the roster bubble players who made a strong case for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Defensive end Jamree Kromah had a monster day on defense, where he showcased his impressive power off the edge and pressuring the quarterback against the Browns. Kromah had two of Chicago's three sacks on the day, and he could have had more, while adding six tackles, including three tackles for loss and two quarterback hits. One of those sacks was a strip sack of starting quarterback Deshaun Watson on fourth-and-2. Kromah was consistently generating pressure and getting in the backfield.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis had been a standout in training camp, and it translated to the field in Chicago's preseason opener. Davis showcased his playmaking ability and led the Bears with four receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown in first-half action with quarterback Tyson Bagent. Davis continues to make a strong statement for a roster spot in a loaded receivers room.
#roster #kromah #quarterback
5 hours ago
India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel revealed that the visitors had a clear plan to score quickly but sensibly on the rain-affected second day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. India eventually ended the day at 460/9, with Kuldeep Yadav unbeaten on 12 and Prasidh Krishna on 1.
Jurel walked in after India had already lost KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but played an attacking knock to keep the momentum going. The right-hander struck 51 off 68 deliveries, including four fours and a six. He added a crucial 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar, helping India cross the 400-run mark.
"There was a plan to score runs briskly, but sensibly. We weren't looking to go bonkers from ball one, but there was a plan," Jurel said during the post-match press conference.
The India batter also revealed that his previous experience of playing in Sri Lanka with India A helped him understand the conditions and approach the innings with confidence.
"I know conditions here, having played for India A here. I was under no pressure, it's a privilege to play for India," Jurel added.
Jurel was given a reprieve on 29 when Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at first slip. However, the captain later made amends by taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Jurel off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The standout performer for India was Devdutt Padikkal, who continued his sensational form from Day 1 to score a magnificent 167 off 230 ******* . Padikkal's innings included 15 fours and a six, and he became only the third Indian batter to score 150 or more against Sri Lanka from the No. 3 position, joining Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jurel was full of praise for his teammate and pointed out that Padikkal has consistently delivered whenever opportunities have come his way.
"Devdutt scores whenever he gets a chance," Dhruv Jurel said.
Padikkal's dismissal eventually triggered another phase of Sri Lankan pressure, with Prabath Jayasuriya finishing with 4/109 and Keshara Nuwantha taking 3/175.
Despite India's imposing total, Jurel knows the job is far from finished. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that India's bowlers will need to maintain discipline and be prepared for long spells when Sri Lanka begin their first innings.
"We need to bowl long spells here and be consistent with lengths. We need to take 20 wickets," he said.
The second day was heavily disrupted by rain, with the morning session completely washed out before play finally resumed at 2:35 PM local time. India began the day at 288/2 and lost seven wickets for 172 runs, but still managed to build a formidable first-innings total. KL Rahul scored 82 after returning to the crease following cramps on Day 1, while Rishabh Pant made 39 and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 13.
#jurel #first #rahul
Jurel walked in after India had already lost KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but played an attacking knock to keep the momentum going. The right-hander struck 51 off 68 deliveries, including four fours and a six. He added a crucial 55-run partnership with Manav Suthar, helping India cross the 400-run mark.
"There was a plan to score runs briskly, but sensibly. We weren't looking to go bonkers from ball one, but there was a plan," Jurel said during the post-match press conference.
The India batter also revealed that his previous experience of playing in Sri Lanka with India A helped him understand the conditions and approach the innings with confidence.
"I know conditions here, having played for India A here. I was under no pressure, it's a privilege to play for India," Jurel added.
Jurel was given a reprieve on 29 when Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva dropped a difficult chance at first slip. However, the captain later made amends by taking a spectacular catch to dismiss Jurel off Prabath Jayasuriya.
The standout performer for India was Devdutt Padikkal, who continued his sensational form from Day 1 to score a magnificent 167 off 230 ******* . Padikkal's innings included 15 fours and a six, and he became only the third Indian batter to score 150 or more against Sri Lanka from the No. 3 position, joining Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Jurel was full of praise for his teammate and pointed out that Padikkal has consistently delivered whenever opportunities have come his way.
"Devdutt scores whenever he gets a chance," Dhruv Jurel said.
Padikkal's dismissal eventually triggered another phase of Sri Lankan pressure, with Prabath Jayasuriya finishing with 4/109 and Keshara Nuwantha taking 3/175.
Despite India's imposing total, Jurel knows the job is far from finished. The wicketkeeper-batter stressed that India's bowlers will need to maintain discipline and be prepared for long spells when Sri Lanka begin their first innings.
"We need to bowl long spells here and be consistent with lengths. We need to take 20 wickets," he said.
The second day was heavily disrupted by rain, with the morning session completely washed out before play finally resumed at 2:35 PM local time. India began the day at 288/2 and lost seven wickets for 172 runs, but still managed to build a formidable first-innings total. KL Rahul scored 82 after returning to the crease following cramps on Day 1, while Rishabh Pant made 39 and Ravindra Jadeja contributed 13.
#jurel #first #rahul
5 hours ago
MINFORD — Over the last 10 years, the Minford Falcons' girls soccer program has turned into a program that has consistently reloaded year-in and year-out — instead of rebuilt.
If Saturday afternoon's effort was any indication, Shane Tieman's club is in good shape once again.
Down 2-0 after two goals by Lily Ferguson through 29 minutes of play, Minford rallied from that deficit by getting equalizing top-shelf goals from Marley Rhodes and Makenna Enz and playing lockdown defense the rest of the distance en route to drawing Lynchburg-Clay in a 2-2 tie.
The contest, which officially kicked off the 2026-27 soccer season for Scioto County programs, was moved to Minford late Friday evening after originally being scheduled at Lynchburg. The nonconference matchup was moved due to standing water on Lynchburg-Clay's playing surface.
Tieman was impressed with how his roster of 24 played, particularly considering that Minford wasn't even able to see the pitch last week as a team.
#lynchburg #moved
If Saturday afternoon's effort was any indication, Shane Tieman's club is in good shape once again.
Down 2-0 after two goals by Lily Ferguson through 29 minutes of play, Minford rallied from that deficit by getting equalizing top-shelf goals from Marley Rhodes and Makenna Enz and playing lockdown defense the rest of the distance en route to drawing Lynchburg-Clay in a 2-2 tie.
The contest, which officially kicked off the 2026-27 soccer season for Scioto County programs, was moved to Minford late Friday evening after originally being scheduled at Lynchburg. The nonconference matchup was moved due to standing water on Lynchburg-Clay's playing surface.
Tieman was impressed with how his roster of 24 played, particularly considering that Minford wasn't even able to see the pitch last week as a team.
#lynchburg #moved
6 hours ago
The temptation after one preseason game is to treat every depth-chart movement as a major development. The New York Jets would probably caution against that.
The Jets opened their preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and one of the many things that stood out immediately was that Isaiah Williams took the field with Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell as the starting wide receiver trio.
The alignment suggested Williams currently sits ahead of first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. in the wide receiver rotation, a notable development considering where each player entered training camp. ESPN noted after the game that Williams had leapfrogged Cooper on the depth chart. That doesn't necessarily mean the battle is over. In fact, Friday may have illustrated why the Jets can afford to remain patient with Cooper's development.
Williams has earned his opportunities. The veteran has drawn praise throughout training camp and has consistently appeared in conversations about standout performers. His ability to contribute as both a receiver and return specialist gives him value beyond the offensive depth chart, and his preseason start reflected the trust he has built with the coaching staff.
Cooper, meanwhile, hardly looked overwhelmed. The rookie finished with two receptions on three targets for 31 yards, including a 26-yard gain that showcased the playmaking ability that convinced the Jets to select him in the first round. While his camp has been described as somewhat uneven, there have also been reminders of the talent that made him one of the organization's most intriguing additions this offseason.
#cooper #depth #receiver #camp
The Jets opened their preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and one of the many things that stood out immediately was that Isaiah Williams took the field with Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell as the starting wide receiver trio.
The alignment suggested Williams currently sits ahead of first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. in the wide receiver rotation, a notable development considering where each player entered training camp. ESPN noted after the game that Williams had leapfrogged Cooper on the depth chart. That doesn't necessarily mean the battle is over. In fact, Friday may have illustrated why the Jets can afford to remain patient with Cooper's development.
Williams has earned his opportunities. The veteran has drawn praise throughout training camp and has consistently appeared in conversations about standout performers. His ability to contribute as both a receiver and return specialist gives him value beyond the offensive depth chart, and his preseason start reflected the trust he has built with the coaching staff.
Cooper, meanwhile, hardly looked overwhelmed. The rookie finished with two receptions on three targets for 31 yards, including a 26-yard gain that showcased the playmaking ability that convinced the Jets to select him in the first round. While his camp has been described as somewhat uneven, there have also been reminders of the talent that made him one of the organization's most intriguing additions this offseason.
#cooper #depth #receiver #camp
7 hours ago
The Arizona Cardinals aren't expected to be very good in 2026. However, after the start of the preseason, perhaps they won't be quite as bad as people have believed.
While they are projected to have the lowest win total in the NFL, in new preseason power rankings from NFL.com, they aren't at the bottom of the league.
Surprisingly, they are ranked 26th.
Once you're done sipping the Carson Beck Kool-Aid (I know, it really is refreshing), come take a seat with me and consider where the Cardinals are right now. They're entering 2026 with a veteran bridge quarterback, another respected backup behind him and a rookie who turned heads in the Hall of Fame Game. While it carries a lower ceiling, that scenario suddenly doesn't sound too bad, especially when considering the weaponry Arizona has ***** embled: newly minted Madden NFL 99 Club member Trey McBride, No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love, former No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. and 1,000-yard receiver Michael Wilson. Not bad! Much of the Cards' success will depend on whether they can protect Jacoby Brissett and if they can consistently get stops defensively. But despite this No. 26 ranking, I'm shifting toward a sunnier outlook with this team.
Now, ranking 26th isn't exactly good. However, when the perception has been that they will be the worst team in the league and now they are ahead of six, it is a start.
#however #good #start #overall
While they are projected to have the lowest win total in the NFL, in new preseason power rankings from NFL.com, they aren't at the bottom of the league.
Surprisingly, they are ranked 26th.
Once you're done sipping the Carson Beck Kool-Aid (I know, it really is refreshing), come take a seat with me and consider where the Cardinals are right now. They're entering 2026 with a veteran bridge quarterback, another respected backup behind him and a rookie who turned heads in the Hall of Fame Game. While it carries a lower ceiling, that scenario suddenly doesn't sound too bad, especially when considering the weaponry Arizona has ***** embled: newly minted Madden NFL 99 Club member Trey McBride, No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love, former No. 4 overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. and 1,000-yard receiver Michael Wilson. Not bad! Much of the Cards' success will depend on whether they can protect Jacoby Brissett and if they can consistently get stops defensively. But despite this No. 26 ranking, I'm shifting toward a sunnier outlook with this team.
Now, ranking 26th isn't exactly good. However, when the perception has been that they will be the worst team in the league and now they are ahead of six, it is a start.
#however #good #start #overall
10 hours ago
The Baltimore Ravens entered training camp with zero mystery surrounding the top of their quarterback depth chart. Lamar Jackson remains one of the NFL's elite quarterbacks, and Tyler Huntley has proven he can capably step into the lineup when called upon.
The questions don't begin until we ask who's third on the depth chart. After Saturday night's preseason opening win against the Philadelphia Eagles, that competition may be much closer to a conclusion than it was a week ago.
Joe ****** nano received the longest look of any Ravens quarterback, taking over for Huntley in the second quarter and remaining in the game until Baltimore's second drive of the fourth quarter. The extended workload felt significant, and ****** nano made the most of it. By the end of the evening, the undrafted rookie had completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Fagnano looked comfortable running the offense and consistently delivered the football where it needed to go. His physical tools have never been the primary selling point of his game. No one is going to confuse him with Jackson when it comes to arm strength or athletic ability. What the rookie does possess, however, is accuracy, and that was on display throughout Saturday's contest.
Time and again, ****** nano delivered catchable footballs to his receivers, allowing them to make plays after the catch. Whether he was targeting Elijah Sarratt, Matthew Hibner or Ja'Kobi Lane, the ball frequently arrived on time and on target.
#jackson #huntley #time #depth
The questions don't begin until we ask who's third on the depth chart. After Saturday night's preseason opening win against the Philadelphia Eagles, that competition may be much closer to a conclusion than it was a week ago.
Joe ****** nano received the longest look of any Ravens quarterback, taking over for Huntley in the second quarter and remaining in the game until Baltimore's second drive of the fourth quarter. The extended workload felt significant, and ****** nano made the most of it. By the end of the evening, the undrafted rookie had completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Fagnano looked comfortable running the offense and consistently delivered the football where it needed to go. His physical tools have never been the primary selling point of his game. No one is going to confuse him with Jackson when it comes to arm strength or athletic ability. What the rookie does possess, however, is accuracy, and that was on display throughout Saturday's contest.
Time and again, ****** nano delivered catchable footballs to his receivers, allowing them to make plays after the catch. Whether he was targeting Elijah Sarratt, Matthew Hibner or Ja'Kobi Lane, the ball frequently arrived on time and on target.
#jackson #huntley #time #depth
10 hours ago
VfB Stuttgart have extended Laurin Ulrich's contract through 2028 and sent the highly rated midfielder on a season-long loan to Bundesliga newcomers SC Paderborn. The 21-year-old becomes the latest addition to an extensive Paderborn Bundesliga rebuild. According to Transfermarkt, a €600,000 loan fee is attached to the deal. Ulrich made his senior top-flight debut against Bayer Leverkusen in 2022, but that remains his only Bundesliga appearance to date.
Ulrich had previously been contracted to Stuttgart through 2027. The one-year extension prior to his departure makes clear that VfB continue to view their academy product as a player with a potential future at the club. The move will provide Ulrich with something Stuttgart have not yet been able to offer him consistently: Bundesliga football.
Paderborn will represent Ulrich's third loan ******* ignment in the ******* e of two years. The first, at SSV Ulm in 2024/25, proved unsuccessful. Ulrich made only five appearances and one start before returning to Stuttgart early. His subsequent spell with 1. FC Magdeburg proved considerably more productive. Ulrich established himself as a central figure in midfield during a difficult 2025/26 campaign, starting 32 of his 33 league appearances and registering three goals and three ******* ists. Across all competitions, he featured 36 times.
Ulrich joined Stuttgart's academy in 2016 and progressed through the club's youth ranks before playing an important role for VfB II. His development there included helping the reserves secure promotion to the 3. Liga before his successive second-tier loans. Stuttgart sporting executive Fabian Wohlgemuth consequently continues to regard Ulrich as a product of the club's long-term development system.
For Paderborn, Ulrich provides another technically gifted attacking-midfield option following the departure of Mika Baur to Celtic. Baur's exit generated at least €5.25m and represented a club-record sale. Paderborn have subsequently reinvested heavily following promotion.
#paderborn #bundesliga #only
Ulrich had previously been contracted to Stuttgart through 2027. The one-year extension prior to his departure makes clear that VfB continue to view their academy product as a player with a potential future at the club. The move will provide Ulrich with something Stuttgart have not yet been able to offer him consistently: Bundesliga football.
Paderborn will represent Ulrich's third loan ******* ignment in the ******* e of two years. The first, at SSV Ulm in 2024/25, proved unsuccessful. Ulrich made only five appearances and one start before returning to Stuttgart early. His subsequent spell with 1. FC Magdeburg proved considerably more productive. Ulrich established himself as a central figure in midfield during a difficult 2025/26 campaign, starting 32 of his 33 league appearances and registering three goals and three ******* ists. Across all competitions, he featured 36 times.
Ulrich joined Stuttgart's academy in 2016 and progressed through the club's youth ranks before playing an important role for VfB II. His development there included helping the reserves secure promotion to the 3. Liga before his successive second-tier loans. Stuttgart sporting executive Fabian Wohlgemuth consequently continues to regard Ulrich as a product of the club's long-term development system.
For Paderborn, Ulrich provides another technically gifted attacking-midfield option following the departure of Mika Baur to Celtic. Baur's exit generated at least €5.25m and represented a club-record sale. Paderborn have subsequently reinvested heavily following promotion.
#paderborn #bundesliga #only
12 hours ago
On August 5, 2026, AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ:APP) announced its second-quarter results, highlighting revenue that grew by 53% to $1.92 billion. The adjusted EBITDA rose 58% to $1.61 billion at an 84% margin, while the net income reached $1.27 billion. AppLovin also confirmed that the SEC had ended its inquiry, which was initiated in October 2025, with no action. But the stock fell anyway. APP is now down about 53% year-to-date and approximately 31% in the past month. Bank of America, on August 11, cut its rating on the stock from Buy to Neutral. Beyond the federal probe clearance and the 53% growth in revenue, something has happened; something that upsets the market.
Though the revenue was positive, it came in below consensus by under 1%. This is the first guidance-midpoint miss since AppLovin's 2021 IPO – a rounding error erased almost $40 billion in market value after CEO Adam Foroughi explained it. He noted that model improvements were lighter than normal during the quarter, with the next step-up landing right after it ended. The stock's downgrade to a Neutral rating at BofA, a week past the quarterly results, came with a related angle. The firm began by noting that the risks surrounding the company's 30% year-over-year long-term revenue growth forecast have increased. BofA's ***** yst further argued that engineer-led tuning of gaming models now appears to be the main driver of quarterly growth and remains unsure whether the company can continue producing another 3–5% improvement every quarter purely by self-learning. So, the question arises – is AXON, the company's AI-driven advertising engine, really a compounding flywheel?
The answer is much of the valuation. A self-improving engine earns a premium multiple because growth arrives on its own and compounds. When such sequential growth stops, it affects the stock's premium narrative. Foroughi's explanation raises questions about how consistently AppLovin can deliver sequential growth when some gains depend on the timing of engineer-led model upgrades. It shows how heavily a quarter relies on when a discrete upgrade lands — the sensitivity of the tiny less-than-1% miss. Repricing is based on the durability of the growth, rather than on the quarter's performance.
AppLovin has grown 53% at an 84% margin and bought back $551 million of stock in the quarter. The company has also guided third-quarter revenue to $2.06–$2.09 billion and is pushing AXON into e-commerce. After the collapse it trades near 22 to 26 times forward earnings. Compared to its former multiple, this is only a fraction. Short interest remains moderately low at 4.13%. The number of hedge funds holding the stock has declined from 108 in Q4 2025 to 91 in Q1 2026, according to the Insider Monkey database. Despite the fall, the number indicates a significant institutional interest in the stock.
#year
Though the revenue was positive, it came in below consensus by under 1%. This is the first guidance-midpoint miss since AppLovin's 2021 IPO – a rounding error erased almost $40 billion in market value after CEO Adam Foroughi explained it. He noted that model improvements were lighter than normal during the quarter, with the next step-up landing right after it ended. The stock's downgrade to a Neutral rating at BofA, a week past the quarterly results, came with a related angle. The firm began by noting that the risks surrounding the company's 30% year-over-year long-term revenue growth forecast have increased. BofA's ***** yst further argued that engineer-led tuning of gaming models now appears to be the main driver of quarterly growth and remains unsure whether the company can continue producing another 3–5% improvement every quarter purely by self-learning. So, the question arises – is AXON, the company's AI-driven advertising engine, really a compounding flywheel?
The answer is much of the valuation. A self-improving engine earns a premium multiple because growth arrives on its own and compounds. When such sequential growth stops, it affects the stock's premium narrative. Foroughi's explanation raises questions about how consistently AppLovin can deliver sequential growth when some gains depend on the timing of engineer-led model upgrades. It shows how heavily a quarter relies on when a discrete upgrade lands — the sensitivity of the tiny less-than-1% miss. Repricing is based on the durability of the growth, rather than on the quarter's performance.
AppLovin has grown 53% at an 84% margin and bought back $551 million of stock in the quarter. The company has also guided third-quarter revenue to $2.06–$2.09 billion and is pushing AXON into e-commerce. After the collapse it trades near 22 to 26 times forward earnings. Compared to its former multiple, this is only a fraction. Short interest remains moderately low at 4.13%. The number of hedge funds holding the stock has declined from 108 in Q4 2025 to 91 in Q1 2026, according to the Insider Monkey database. Despite the fall, the number indicates a significant institutional interest in the stock.
#year
13 hours ago
Joey Logano leapfrogged into the top-10 standings after winning Saturday's Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. The result marks his second win in just four races.
Logano had a podium start in the season-opening Daytona 500, but struggled to make headway ever since. At his lowest, the former champion was out of the Chase cutoff in 20th, while Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney consistently finished top-10.
With his latest win, Logano has tied Blaney for two wins this season. The No.22 driver addressed the resurgence in his victory lane interview, saying,
"Don't let the boys get hot, we're pretty strong right now. It's awesome to see the speed in the No. 22 again….we've had a great car here the last five races. We haven't been able to capitalize with a win, we've been so close but sweet redemption today."
"We got a strong team, no doubt, and Paul made some great calls there. The 19 was better than us in that last run so I was trying to just manage the tires and yeah, kind of a fun back and forth….it's getting the points that we need. This is important, we need to get ourselves back in the top-10 and I ***** ume this gets us pretty close," he added via NASCAR's official website.
#season #great
Logano had a podium start in the season-opening Daytona 500, but struggled to make headway ever since. At his lowest, the former champion was out of the Chase cutoff in 20th, while Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney consistently finished top-10.
With his latest win, Logano has tied Blaney for two wins this season. The No.22 driver addressed the resurgence in his victory lane interview, saying,
"Don't let the boys get hot, we're pretty strong right now. It's awesome to see the speed in the No. 22 again….we've had a great car here the last five races. We haven't been able to capitalize with a win, we've been so close but sweet redemption today."
"We got a strong team, no doubt, and Paul made some great calls there. The 19 was better than us in that last run so I was trying to just manage the tires and yeah, kind of a fun back and forth….it's getting the points that we need. This is important, we need to get ourselves back in the top-10 and I ***** ume this gets us pretty close," he added via NASCAR's official website.
#season #great
14 hours ago
The Tennessean is embarking on a season-long journey with Pearl-Cohn High School to document its 2026 TSSAA football season.
The plan is to give readers a window into the life of a public school program that for decades has been consistently among the best in Metro Nashville, with feature stories, documentary-style video, game highlights and plenty of photo galleries.
As we count down to the Firebirds' season opener against Montgomery Bell Academy on Aug. 21, here are some quick facts about Pearl-Cohn athletics.
Nickname: Firebirds
TSSAA enrollment (as of 2024): 524 students
#pearl #firebirds #school
The plan is to give readers a window into the life of a public school program that for decades has been consistently among the best in Metro Nashville, with feature stories, documentary-style video, game highlights and plenty of photo galleries.
As we count down to the Firebirds' season opener against Montgomery Bell Academy on Aug. 21, here are some quick facts about Pearl-Cohn athletics.
Nickname: Firebirds
TSSAA enrollment (as of 2024): 524 students
#pearl #firebirds #school
15 hours ago
The Oklahoma City Thunder have developed their team over the decades via the usual ways most teams in the NBA have, finding special success through the NBA draft since their founding as the Seattle SuperSonics. Many of the franchise's top players have joined the team either through direct selections in the annual draft or via trades executed on that day.
On top of this, the Thunder have selected not only several star players through the draft but also a number of notable alumni each offseason. A few colleges have been more prominently represented than others in sourcing those prospects, though OKC has always cast a wide net as well. Both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have consistently contributed high-caliber talent to the Thunder's roster over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Thunder out of Central Washington University.
Draft year and position: 8th round (3rd pick, 102nd overall), 1969 NBA Draft
Seasons at Central Washington University: unknown
#washington
On top of this, the Thunder have selected not only several star players through the draft but also a number of notable alumni each offseason. A few colleges have been more prominently represented than others in sourcing those prospects, though OKC has always cast a wide net as well. Both prestigious programs and smaller institutions have consistently contributed high-caliber talent to the Thunder's roster over the years.
So without further ado, let's take a look at every player who has been drafted by the Thunder out of Central Washington University.
Draft year and position: 8th round (3rd pick, 102nd overall), 1969 NBA Draft
Seasons at Central Washington University: unknown
#washington
15 hours ago
As season-openers go, this is one that will be remembered, but not fondly. Despite Jack Marriott's sublime first-half hat-trick, the game was soured by some horrific defending that can't be defended.
The perpetrator in chief was Jeriel Dorsett, the defender that doesn't enjoy defending. It's fine to consider him a bit of a utility defender, as he can play at centre-back, where he's passable, at best. But at left-back, it seems he hasn't learned one iota about positional sense, engagement or what the best thing to do is at any given moment.
It's akin to him waking up every morning finding out he's got to play in a position he's never played in before, and making a hash of it every single time.
Further to this are the knock-on effects of his consistently inconsistent play. Everyone else around him becomes nervous as to what he's going to do, or, more to the point, not going to do. It causes disruption, because he can't be trusted.
"While this unit is in its infancy, we most certainly need a big, big upgrade at left-back"
#back
The perpetrator in chief was Jeriel Dorsett, the defender that doesn't enjoy defending. It's fine to consider him a bit of a utility defender, as he can play at centre-back, where he's passable, at best. But at left-back, it seems he hasn't learned one iota about positional sense, engagement or what the best thing to do is at any given moment.
It's akin to him waking up every morning finding out he's got to play in a position he's never played in before, and making a hash of it every single time.
Further to this are the knock-on effects of his consistently inconsistent play. Everyone else around him becomes nervous as to what he's going to do, or, more to the point, not going to do. It causes disruption, because he can't be trusted.
"While this unit is in its infancy, we most certainly need a big, big upgrade at left-back"
#back
20 hours ago
The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Dallas Cowboys 17-7 on Saturday night, but the true takeaways reside in the lessons we learned. There might be no more relevant week to prioritize takeaways than preseason. You didn't need to win. You did need to come away with as many ways to improve your team as possible. Here were the five most obvious lessons.
First, the running back rotation ended up being fairly varied like I predicted, but George Holani received 12 carries. Velus Jones Jr. took 7, TJ Harden took 2, and Justin Jones took 1. None of Emanuel Wilson, Zach Charbonnet, and Jadarian Price played, with both of the latter two likely to supplant Holani at some point this season when they return from injury. Until then, though, last year's third-stringer Holani will start. Price will likely be back in the near future and regular season, might also need to show pass-blocking prowess to earn the every-down workhorse role some might envision.
While the rather excellent episode two of Hard Knocks has been the talk of the town the past week, the tape will reflect the team's focus on managing and controlling violence. Derick Hall was coaching up Jalan Gaines, who was relentlessly attacking Dallas' quarterbacks, and Mason Richman and Beau Stephens were taking the competition to the Dallas' defensive line, both getting great downhill push in the run game. The young offensive lineman are a product of the culture Mike Macdonald and company have created and prioritized.
Jalen Milroe is a good quarterback prospect who the Seahawks can just keep waiting in the wings until they might need him, and he showed enough improvement tonight compared to last preseason to justify the draft capital they spent on him. They won the Super Bowl, but they might end up with an extremely interesting ***** et here the longer he's allowed to wait. He's 23, has 1st-round level athleticism, and is hitting the middle of the field consistently. Watch out.
I know, you could say any DB is a perfect fit here and be right, but Arnold's first-round athletic profile seems like an anti-Puka Nacua device. Having both him and Devon Witherspoon would be such a ridiculous blend of aggression and athleticism with Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love, and although Josh Jobe has played great too, the team clearly needs more experienced depth behind them outside.
#might #need #took
First, the running back rotation ended up being fairly varied like I predicted, but George Holani received 12 carries. Velus Jones Jr. took 7, TJ Harden took 2, and Justin Jones took 1. None of Emanuel Wilson, Zach Charbonnet, and Jadarian Price played, with both of the latter two likely to supplant Holani at some point this season when they return from injury. Until then, though, last year's third-stringer Holani will start. Price will likely be back in the near future and regular season, might also need to show pass-blocking prowess to earn the every-down workhorse role some might envision.
While the rather excellent episode two of Hard Knocks has been the talk of the town the past week, the tape will reflect the team's focus on managing and controlling violence. Derick Hall was coaching up Jalan Gaines, who was relentlessly attacking Dallas' quarterbacks, and Mason Richman and Beau Stephens were taking the competition to the Dallas' defensive line, both getting great downhill push in the run game. The young offensive lineman are a product of the culture Mike Macdonald and company have created and prioritized.
Jalen Milroe is a good quarterback prospect who the Seahawks can just keep waiting in the wings until they might need him, and he showed enough improvement tonight compared to last preseason to justify the draft capital they spent on him. They won the Super Bowl, but they might end up with an extremely interesting ***** et here the longer he's allowed to wait. He's 23, has 1st-round level athleticism, and is hitting the middle of the field consistently. Watch out.
I know, you could say any DB is a perfect fit here and be right, but Arnold's first-round athletic profile seems like an anti-Puka Nacua device. Having both him and Devon Witherspoon would be such a ridiculous blend of aggression and athleticism with Nick Emmanwori and Julian Love, and although Josh Jobe has played great too, the team clearly needs more experienced depth behind them outside.
#might #need #took
23 hours ago
Sandwiched between Big Ten media days and the start of the college football season are not only preseason camp at Ohio State, but also most of the preseason watch lists for all the awards are released.
We've heard from quite a few of the organizations that release these sorts of things, and almost always, there will be a little scarlet and gray flair to them, and that's exactly what we are seeing. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is handed out by the Football Writers ****** ociation of America to the best defensive player in college football annually, and two Ohio State players were among the names appearing on its preseason watch list.
Defensive back Jaylen McClain and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. were the two Buckeyes who made the cut, and for good reason. McClain has a tremendous upside and is getting a lot of preseason buzz for what he might mean for the back end of the OSU defense this year. He wasn't one of the main stars of the defense last year but has experienced playing time and should be one of the main playmakers in 2026.
It was welcome news when Jackson decided to come back for one more season rather than enter the NFL draft. He'll be counted on to come off the edge as a pass rusher and run stopper and was a handful toward the tail end of the season. He only tallied 16 tackles, including 6.5 sacks officially, but he was consistently getting into the backfield last year.
Only two Ohio State players have won the Bronko Nagurski. James Laurinaitis (2006) and Chase Young (2019) took it home despite the Trophy being around since 1993. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced during an awards banquet on December 7.
#trophy #only #defensive
We've heard from quite a few of the organizations that release these sorts of things, and almost always, there will be a little scarlet and gray flair to them, and that's exactly what we are seeing. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy is handed out by the Football Writers ****** ociation of America to the best defensive player in college football annually, and two Ohio State players were among the names appearing on its preseason watch list.
Defensive back Jaylen McClain and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. were the two Buckeyes who made the cut, and for good reason. McClain has a tremendous upside and is getting a lot of preseason buzz for what he might mean for the back end of the OSU defense this year. He wasn't one of the main stars of the defense last year but has experienced playing time and should be one of the main playmakers in 2026.
It was welcome news when Jackson decided to come back for one more season rather than enter the NFL draft. He'll be counted on to come off the edge as a pass rusher and run stopper and was a handful toward the tail end of the season. He only tallied 16 tackles, including 6.5 sacks officially, but he was consistently getting into the backfield last year.
Only two Ohio State players have won the Bronko Nagurski. James Laurinaitis (2006) and Chase Young (2019) took it home despite the Trophy being around since 1993. The Bronko Nagurski Trophy will be announced during an awards banquet on December 7.
#trophy #only #defensive
1 day ago
Ja'Kobi Lane's impressive NFL debut just keeps getting better.
The Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver caught his first NFL touchdown Saturday night, connecting with fellow rookie Joe ******* nano on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. The score put Baltimore ahead 6-0 and gave Lane another major highlight in a preseason debut that has quickly lived up to the hype surrounding him throughout training camp.
Lane entered Saturday's game as one of the most anticipated Ravens rookies to watch after consistently making difficult catches during practices. That attention carried over immediately once he got into game action. Lane recorded his first NFL reception earlier in the game, a 19-yard catch across the middle, before adding the touchdown.
Through the first half of his debut, Lane had three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown, giving Baltimore another encouraging sign from its rookie wide receiver. His performance comes after a training camp in which he emerged as one of the team's most talked-about young players. ESPN identified Lane as the star of Ravens training camp, while his contested catches became a regular feature of Baltimore's practices.
The touchdown was particularly notable because it came from ******* nano, an undrafted rookie quarterback who is also getting his first NFL game experience. The two rookies connected for a play that could become one of the early highlights of Baltimore's preseason.
#touchdown #training #camp
The Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver caught his first NFL touchdown Saturday night, connecting with fellow rookie Joe ******* nano on a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles. The score put Baltimore ahead 6-0 and gave Lane another major highlight in a preseason debut that has quickly lived up to the hype surrounding him throughout training camp.
Lane entered Saturday's game as one of the most anticipated Ravens rookies to watch after consistently making difficult catches during practices. That attention carried over immediately once he got into game action. Lane recorded his first NFL reception earlier in the game, a 19-yard catch across the middle, before adding the touchdown.
Through the first half of his debut, Lane had three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown, giving Baltimore another encouraging sign from its rookie wide receiver. His performance comes after a training camp in which he emerged as one of the team's most talked-about young players. ESPN identified Lane as the star of Ravens training camp, while his contested catches became a regular feature of Baltimore's practices.
The touchdown was particularly notable because it came from ******* nano, an undrafted rookie quarterback who is also getting his first NFL game experience. The two rookies connected for a play that could become one of the early highlights of Baltimore's preseason.
#touchdown #training #camp
1 day ago
Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
You know that saying, "never be the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home and never, never be both."
We don't think OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has ever heard that.
Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser, who has been with OpenAI for only eight months, this week announced on LinkedIn that she was leaving the company to "pursue other opportunities."
Just a few months ago, in April, Dresser told CNBC regarding OpenAI's enterprise customers,:"I just have never seen this level of conviction spread so quickly and consistently within the industries."
#dresser #tell #chief #revenue
You know that saying, "never be the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home and never, never be both."
We don't think OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has ever heard that.
Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser, who has been with OpenAI for only eight months, this week announced on LinkedIn that she was leaving the company to "pursue other opportunities."
Just a few months ago, in April, Dresser told CNBC regarding OpenAI's enterprise customers,:"I just have never seen this level of conviction spread so quickly and consistently within the industries."
#dresser #tell #chief #revenue
1 day ago
Jaxson Dart questions NFL's blue medical tent process: 'Every time that I get hit, I find my way in there' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Health was not on Jaxson Dart's side during his 2025 rookie season.
The New York Giants quarterback flashed plenty of dual-threat talent, but consistently, he was taking big hits; on five different occasions, Dart was checked for a concussion during his first NFL season.
Now, after being sent to the blue medical tent in Saturday's preseason game against the Vikings — then returning and throwing a touchdown pass — Dart has shared some gripes he has with the NFL's medical-tent process.
Here's what Dart said Saturday about his common trips to the medical tent.
#medical #tent #preferred
Health was not on Jaxson Dart's side during his 2025 rookie season.
The New York Giants quarterback flashed plenty of dual-threat talent, but consistently, he was taking big hits; on five different occasions, Dart was checked for a concussion during his first NFL season.
Now, after being sent to the blue medical tent in Saturday's preseason game against the Vikings — then returning and throwing a touchdown pass — Dart has shared some gripes he has with the NFL's medical-tent process.
Here's what Dart said Saturday about his common trips to the medical tent.
#medical #tent #preferred
1 day ago
The New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts tied 13-apiece in their Week 1 preseason matchup on Thursday.
There were highlights and lowlights on the offensive side of the ball for the Patriots. Keep in mind that none of the starters played in the game. As a result, the offensive unit was led at different points by backup quarterbacks Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton.
The unit itself accumulated 275 total yards on 69 plays, including 192 passing yards. The ground game wasn't as much of a factor as the Patriots probably would have hoped.
Wideout Kyle Williams scored the only touchdown for New England by hauling in a reception on a 12-yard pass from DeVito. Beyond that, the Patriots were only able to scrape by with a couple of field goals off the foot of Andy Borregales, who also had three misses on the night.
The Patriots led the time of possession well with a 32:07-27:53 advantage over the Colts. Yet, despite extra time and more possessions, the Patriots were not able to get anything going consistently on offense. That led to a stalemate with the visiting Colts at Gillette Stadium.
#Patriots #england #unit
There were highlights and lowlights on the offensive side of the ball for the Patriots. Keep in mind that none of the starters played in the game. As a result, the offensive unit was led at different points by backup quarterbacks Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton.
The unit itself accumulated 275 total yards on 69 plays, including 192 passing yards. The ground game wasn't as much of a factor as the Patriots probably would have hoped.
Wideout Kyle Williams scored the only touchdown for New England by hauling in a reception on a 12-yard pass from DeVito. Beyond that, the Patriots were only able to scrape by with a couple of field goals off the foot of Andy Borregales, who also had three misses on the night.
The Patriots led the time of possession well with a 32:07-27:53 advantage over the Colts. Yet, despite extra time and more possessions, the Patriots were not able to get anything going consistently on offense. That led to a stalemate with the visiting Colts at Gillette Stadium.
#Patriots #england #unit
1 day ago
The Baltimore Ravens have spent much of training camp evaluating young talent, and as the preseason begins, Jesse Minter appears ready to take the next step. The first-year head coach made that much clear when discussing first-round pick Olaivavega Ioane, who is expected to see action in Baltimore's preseason opener.
Speaking after Thursday's practice, Minter indicated he has no issue allowing the rookie to gain valuable game experience despite his projected role as the Ravens' starting right guard. "I'd be comfortable getting him just a little bit of game action and getting his feet wet." The comment may have centered on Ioane, but it also offered insight into how Minter plans to approach Baltimore's rookie class as a whole.
This isn't a 2026 draft class lacking intrigue. Ioane enters the season expected to play a major role along the offensive line. Third-round receiver Ja'Kobi Lane has become one of training camp's biggest stories. Fourth-round receiver Elijah Sarratt continues stacking productive practices. Several young defensive backs have also taken advantage of increased opportunities throughout camp.
The Ravens know practice reps only reveal so much. At some point, players have to perform under game conditions. That's especially true for a coaching staff still learning which young players can be trusted when the games begin to count. Preseason football provides those answers. Baltimore's rookies have earned a closer look, and the Saturday night preseason opener vs. the Eagles will allow them some opportunities.
One of the themes of training camp has been Minter's willingness to reward performance. The Ravens have consistently emphasized competition, and several rookies have responded by forcing their way into conversations about future roles. Now comes the next phase of the evaluation process.
#minter #ioane #camp
Speaking after Thursday's practice, Minter indicated he has no issue allowing the rookie to gain valuable game experience despite his projected role as the Ravens' starting right guard. "I'd be comfortable getting him just a little bit of game action and getting his feet wet." The comment may have centered on Ioane, but it also offered insight into how Minter plans to approach Baltimore's rookie class as a whole.
This isn't a 2026 draft class lacking intrigue. Ioane enters the season expected to play a major role along the offensive line. Third-round receiver Ja'Kobi Lane has become one of training camp's biggest stories. Fourth-round receiver Elijah Sarratt continues stacking productive practices. Several young defensive backs have also taken advantage of increased opportunities throughout camp.
The Ravens know practice reps only reveal so much. At some point, players have to perform under game conditions. That's especially true for a coaching staff still learning which young players can be trusted when the games begin to count. Preseason football provides those answers. Baltimore's rookies have earned a closer look, and the Saturday night preseason opener vs. the Eagles will allow them some opportunities.
One of the themes of training camp has been Minter's willingness to reward performance. The Ravens have consistently emphasized competition, and several rookies have responded by forcing their way into conversations about future roles. Now comes the next phase of the evaluation process.
#minter #ioane #camp
1 day ago
The UCLA Bruins brought in Bob Chesney to elevate the football program to a point where the team is competing at the highest level. A great way to move towards that is to become the best team in the city that you're in.
UCLA football certainly hasn't been better than USC since the turn of the century, and it's been even worse for the Bruins since the turn of the century. USC will be good again this year but Lincoln Riley has been even better off of the field, landing several top-of-the-line recruiting classes.
So when might Chesney and the Bruins be able to compete consistently against USC? Maybe pretty soon. Trojans Wire writer Matt Zemek voiced his belief that things can change quickly in the world of college football.
"When UCLA kicked USC up and down the field in 2023, we all saw why that happened. D'Anton Lynn's UCLA defense swarmed USC's tissue-soft offensive line and blew up the Trojans' backfield again and again. UCLA was the far more physical team that day. The Bruins were physical with USC last season and were therefore able to push the Trojans even though they had far less talent," Zemek said. "UCLA under Bob Chesney should be able to play with the physicality needed to beat USC. Given that Chesney has recruited well and shows promise as someone who can develop his players, that's all UCLA really needs to match and then exceed USC. It all goes back to Chesney being half as good for UCLA as Curt Cignetti has been for Indiana. If Chesney is even remotely close to the Cignetti standard, UCLA will run LA barring a Lincoln Riley renaissance in which his offenses start putting up 55 points a game the way he did at Oklahoma."
Cignetti may be the best coach in the sport but Chesney even earning comparisons to the reigning national champion head coach is a good sign in Westwood.
#Trojans
UCLA football certainly hasn't been better than USC since the turn of the century, and it's been even worse for the Bruins since the turn of the century. USC will be good again this year but Lincoln Riley has been even better off of the field, landing several top-of-the-line recruiting classes.
So when might Chesney and the Bruins be able to compete consistently against USC? Maybe pretty soon. Trojans Wire writer Matt Zemek voiced his belief that things can change quickly in the world of college football.
"When UCLA kicked USC up and down the field in 2023, we all saw why that happened. D'Anton Lynn's UCLA defense swarmed USC's tissue-soft offensive line and blew up the Trojans' backfield again and again. UCLA was the far more physical team that day. The Bruins were physical with USC last season and were therefore able to push the Trojans even though they had far less talent," Zemek said. "UCLA under Bob Chesney should be able to play with the physicality needed to beat USC. Given that Chesney has recruited well and shows promise as someone who can develop his players, that's all UCLA really needs to match and then exceed USC. It all goes back to Chesney being half as good for UCLA as Curt Cignetti has been for Indiana. If Chesney is even remotely close to the Cignetti standard, UCLA will run LA barring a Lincoln Riley renaissance in which his offenses start putting up 55 points a game the way he did at Oklahoma."
Cignetti may be the best coach in the sport but Chesney even earning comparisons to the reigning national champion head coach is a good sign in Westwood.
#Trojans
2 days ago
Jim Cramer has consistently recommended buying cybersecurity stocks for more than a year. Two firms that regularly cross his radar are Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD). While the pair operates in the same industry, in today's AI-driven software era, they have taken opposite approaches to their products and business models. The two firms' shares are up by 120% and 98% year-to-date, respectively. On August 6th, Cramer revealed that he had trimmed some of the positions in the firms that the CNBC Investing Club holds in the Charitable Trust:
"We did trim some, we trimmed, some of both, for the Charitable Trust, cause I said, we're up too much, and I just can't do it, I can't live with myself. Up too much, got to take some off the table."
The fact that Cramer trimmed the positions isn't surprising, given the share price performance of the two companies, as the shares of both are up by more than 100% over the past year. Yet, while the CNBC TV host is a fan of both, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) have completely different approaches to software. Palo Alto is aiming to sell its legacy software as part of a bundle that also includes its AI offerings. This bundle includes the firm's Prisma software and sells it with its Cortex AI platform. On the other hand, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) has gone 'all-in' into AI. As opposed to PANW, the firm is focused on its Falcon Platform, a single agent offering that spans identity management, cloud tracking, and other operations.
Therein lies the split between the bulls and the bears for the two firms. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD)'s bulls argue that its singular focus on AI means that the firm will be able to avoid the pitfalls of fragmentation and will allow users to streamline their data in a single pipeline. However, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD)'s critics argue that the firm is yet to achieve profitabilty and its valuation, as evidenced by a forward P/E multiple of 181, leaves little room for disappointment.
On the other hand, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s proponents believe that the bundling strategy enables the firm to deliver multiple services under a single roof and grow its moat in the industry. However, the detractors counter by arguing that the discounts offered as part of the bundles can stress Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s margins. They also outline that the firm still depends on legacy firewall platforms which can lead to a loss of market share due to customers choosing lighter options. These worries appear to be reflected in the multiple as well, since Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) trades at a forward P/E ratio of 93.46.
#alto #holdings #firm
"We did trim some, we trimmed, some of both, for the Charitable Trust, cause I said, we're up too much, and I just can't do it, I can't live with myself. Up too much, got to take some off the table."
The fact that Cramer trimmed the positions isn't surprising, given the share price performance of the two companies, as the shares of both are up by more than 100% over the past year. Yet, while the CNBC TV host is a fan of both, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) and CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) have completely different approaches to software. Palo Alto is aiming to sell its legacy software as part of a bundle that also includes its AI offerings. This bundle includes the firm's Prisma software and sells it with its Cortex AI platform. On the other hand, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD) has gone 'all-in' into AI. As opposed to PANW, the firm is focused on its Falcon Platform, a single agent offering that spans identity management, cloud tracking, and other operations.
Therein lies the split between the bulls and the bears for the two firms. CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD)'s bulls argue that its singular focus on AI means that the firm will be able to avoid the pitfalls of fragmentation and will allow users to streamline their data in a single pipeline. However, CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWD)'s critics argue that the firm is yet to achieve profitabilty and its valuation, as evidenced by a forward P/E multiple of 181, leaves little room for disappointment.
On the other hand, Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s proponents believe that the bundling strategy enables the firm to deliver multiple services under a single roof and grow its moat in the industry. However, the detractors counter by arguing that the discounts offered as part of the bundles can stress Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW)'s margins. They also outline that the firm still depends on legacy firewall platforms which can lead to a loss of market share due to customers choosing lighter options. These worries appear to be reflected in the multiple as well, since Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:PANW) trades at a forward P/E ratio of 93.46.
#alto #holdings #firm
2 days ago
Our picks for the best brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions in California include Chase Bank, Patelco Credit Union and Golden 1 Credit Union.
If you're comfortable banking fully online, check out the consistently excellent rates at Ally Bank.
Check out bank reviews, read the fine print and compare annual percentage yields to choose the best bank for you.
California is a large state, and so is your list of banking options in the Golden State. Truth is, there's no one "best" bank — the best option is the one that fits your specific needs. But we've done the research to give you some strong options. Whether you're looking for easy access to a branch, highly-rated customer service or the best yields, here's our list for the best banks and credit unions in California.
Best bank for customer satisfaction
#california
If you're comfortable banking fully online, check out the consistently excellent rates at Ally Bank.
Check out bank reviews, read the fine print and compare annual percentage yields to choose the best bank for you.
California is a large state, and so is your list of banking options in the Golden State. Truth is, there's no one "best" bank — the best option is the one that fits your specific needs. But we've done the research to give you some strong options. Whether you're looking for easy access to a branch, highly-rated customer service or the best yields, here's our list for the best banks and credit unions in California.
Best bank for customer satisfaction
#california
2 days ago
Most of the New Orleans Saints' starters are expected to sit out Saturday's preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That will give the team's reserves and roster-bubble candidates an extended opportunity to make their cases. Some players have more riding on the game than others. Here are seven Saints under the most pressure to perform in the preseason opener.
Spencer Rattler has strengthened his hold on the backup quarterback job throughout training camp. Wilson needs to operate the offense efficiently and avoid costly mistakes to begin closing the gap. The Saints brought in a fourth training camp quarterback, Hunter Dekkers, who is expected to play at some point on Saturday.
Provided his back injury doesn't keep him out of this game, Miller needs to prove he still belongs in the Saints' crowded backfield. The former third-round pick is returning from a torn ACL and entering the final year of his rookie contract. If he cannot perform, Miller could be a cut candidate.
Means has made plays in camp — and he made a big one in the joint practice with the Jaguars — but rookies Barion Brown and Bryce Lance have generated more momentum thus far. He needs to produce offensively while also demonstrating that he can contribute consistently on special teams.
Smyth made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts after taking over the starting job last season. Still, the Saints brought in competition. Every preseason kick will matter as he attempts to hold off UFL standout Tanner Brown.
#brown
Spencer Rattler has strengthened his hold on the backup quarterback job throughout training camp. Wilson needs to operate the offense efficiently and avoid costly mistakes to begin closing the gap. The Saints brought in a fourth training camp quarterback, Hunter Dekkers, who is expected to play at some point on Saturday.
Provided his back injury doesn't keep him out of this game, Miller needs to prove he still belongs in the Saints' crowded backfield. The former third-round pick is returning from a torn ACL and entering the final year of his rookie contract. If he cannot perform, Miller could be a cut candidate.
Means has made plays in camp — and he made a big one in the joint practice with the Jaguars — but rookies Barion Brown and Bryce Lance have generated more momentum thus far. He needs to produce offensively while also demonstrating that he can contribute consistently on special teams.
Smyth made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts after taking over the starting job last season. Still, the Saints brought in competition. Every preseason kick will matter as he attempts to hold off UFL standout Tanner Brown.
#brown
2 days ago
Preseason game number one for the New Orleans Saints is finally here. After a scrimmage with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday, the Saints will host the Jaguars in the Superdome on Saturday afternoon. It will be the first 2026 preseason outing for either team.
Most starters for both teams will sit out the game. However, there is still much to keep an eye on for both teams. The Saints look like a much-improved roster from the 2026 version, but now have to show it on the field. This preseason test will be against a Jaguars squad coming off a 13-4 season and an AFC South championship. Here are a few things to watch closest during Saturday's Saints-Jaguars clash.
Don't expect any of the New Orleans starting five to see the field. However, this unit must show that they have some quality depth. Losing veteran Dillon Radunz for the year hurts. Radunz was able to fill in at multiple spots and had starting experience. The spotlight will be on second-year players Torricelli Simpkins, Easton Kilty, and rookie Jeremiah Wright on the inside. At tackle, Asim Richards along with undrafted rookies Alan Herron and Alex Wollschlaeger will have their opportunities.New Orleans has yet to sign a veteran offensive lineman after the injury to Radunz. Their philosophy is clearly to see what they have in their younger players. Saturday's performance of this unit against Jacksonville will help determine whether the Saints need to bring in veteran additions to the position before the end of training camp.
We won't see Chris Olave or Jordyn Tyson. But there is still a lot to be determined within the receiving corps. Rookies Barion Brown and Bryce Lance have made some jaw-dropping plays consistently in practice. Now, they'll get a chance to do it in a game against a different defense. Brown and Lance seem nearly certain for roster spots, as does veteran Devaughn Vele. That leaves perhaps one job up for grabs within the unit.
Can returning veterans Ronnie Bell, Kevin Austin Jr., or Mason Tipton make their claim? Will Trey Palmer provide another threat for the offense? Can Bub Means revert back to his promising 2024 rookie form? Will any of them close the apparent gap between themselves and Brown or Lance? These are just a few of the questions to watch play out on the field. The biggest is this: Will the New Orleans receiving corps provide both a legitimate threat against defenses and quality depth for the team's offense?
#jaguars #brown #lance #preseason
Most starters for both teams will sit out the game. However, there is still much to keep an eye on for both teams. The Saints look like a much-improved roster from the 2026 version, but now have to show it on the field. This preseason test will be against a Jaguars squad coming off a 13-4 season and an AFC South championship. Here are a few things to watch closest during Saturday's Saints-Jaguars clash.
Don't expect any of the New Orleans starting five to see the field. However, this unit must show that they have some quality depth. Losing veteran Dillon Radunz for the year hurts. Radunz was able to fill in at multiple spots and had starting experience. The spotlight will be on second-year players Torricelli Simpkins, Easton Kilty, and rookie Jeremiah Wright on the inside. At tackle, Asim Richards along with undrafted rookies Alan Herron and Alex Wollschlaeger will have their opportunities.New Orleans has yet to sign a veteran offensive lineman after the injury to Radunz. Their philosophy is clearly to see what they have in their younger players. Saturday's performance of this unit against Jacksonville will help determine whether the Saints need to bring in veteran additions to the position before the end of training camp.
We won't see Chris Olave or Jordyn Tyson. But there is still a lot to be determined within the receiving corps. Rookies Barion Brown and Bryce Lance have made some jaw-dropping plays consistently in practice. Now, they'll get a chance to do it in a game against a different defense. Brown and Lance seem nearly certain for roster spots, as does veteran Devaughn Vele. That leaves perhaps one job up for grabs within the unit.
Can returning veterans Ronnie Bell, Kevin Austin Jr., or Mason Tipton make their claim? Will Trey Palmer provide another threat for the offense? Can Bub Means revert back to his promising 2024 rookie form? Will any of them close the apparent gap between themselves and Brown or Lance? These are just a few of the questions to watch play out on the field. The biggest is this: Will the New Orleans receiving corps provide both a legitimate threat against defenses and quality depth for the team's offense?
#jaguars #brown #lance #preseason
2 days ago
Injury or Holdout: Why Wasn't Christian Gonzalez on Patriots Preseason Sideline originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Despite being one of the most gifted cornerbacks in the NFL, Christian Gonzalez has had a tough time consistently staying on the gridiron due to injury. New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that the cornerback was "physically unable" to attend practice this week, but his complete absence from Thursday's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts could be telling.
Gonzalez, heading into his fourth NFL season, is on the final year of his rookie deal. One NFL expert believes that this could be the cornerback's way of subtly demanding a new and improved contract.
Here's why Gonzalez's status of "physically unavailable" to attend practice this week and a no-show in preseason may be deeper than people realize.
While Coach Vrabel has come out saying Gonzalez was "physically unavailable" for practice this week, along with Thursday night's preseason opener against the Colts, fans have begun the debate over whether or not it's injury-related or regarding his contract. The cornerback was part of the long list of Patriots starters who were held out of the contest.
#gonzalez #preseason #Patriots
Despite being one of the most gifted cornerbacks in the NFL, Christian Gonzalez has had a tough time consistently staying on the gridiron due to injury. New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel told reporters that the cornerback was "physically unable" to attend practice this week, but his complete absence from Thursday's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts could be telling.
Gonzalez, heading into his fourth NFL season, is on the final year of his rookie deal. One NFL expert believes that this could be the cornerback's way of subtly demanding a new and improved contract.
Here's why Gonzalez's status of "physically unavailable" to attend practice this week and a no-show in preseason may be deeper than people realize.
While Coach Vrabel has come out saying Gonzalez was "physically unavailable" for practice this week, along with Thursday night's preseason opener against the Colts, fans have begun the debate over whether or not it's injury-related or regarding his contract. The cornerback was part of the long list of Patriots starters who were held out of the contest.
#gonzalez #preseason #Patriots
2 days ago
Lucid Group (NASDAQ: LCID) has always been an intriguing investment opportunity, but it has consistently disappointed investors in several ways.
The electric vehicle (EV) maker designs and produces some of the most advanced EVs globally but has a growing number of recalls and supplier issues and has struggled to lower costs and build scale to improve vehicle unit economics and gross profitability.
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 »
Now, another speed **** p: The EV maker just announced that its upcoming Cosmos SUV is significantly delayed -- does this represent a red flag or a smart move?
Lucid originally planned to launch its midsize Cosmos SUV EV late this year, although it admitted that production volume would be low until production accelerates next year. To be fair, many investors and **** ysts were skeptical of this timeline, given that its Gravity SUV is still dealing with recalls, supply chain bottlenecks, and production shifts to align with consumer demand.
#cosmos
The electric vehicle (EV) maker designs and produces some of the most advanced EVs globally but has a growing number of recalls and supplier issues and has struggled to lower costs and build scale to improve vehicle unit economics and gross profitability.
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 »
Now, another speed **** p: The EV maker just announced that its upcoming Cosmos SUV is significantly delayed -- does this represent a red flag or a smart move?
Lucid originally planned to launch its midsize Cosmos SUV EV late this year, although it admitted that production volume would be low until production accelerates next year. To be fair, many investors and **** ysts were skeptical of this timeline, given that its Gravity SUV is still dealing with recalls, supply chain bottlenecks, and production shifts to align with consumer demand.
#cosmos
4 days ago
By Parisa Hafezi
DUBAI, Aug 12 (Reuters) - There have been no talks on extending a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. under an interim deal, with Iran saying that Washington must return to the pact and define a timeframe to implement its commitments, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday.
The source's comments came after Turkey's Anadolu news agency, citing Pakistani government sources, reported that Tehran and Washington had agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire under their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
"One of the issues that is being discussed via mediators is the U.S. returning to the interim agreement and defining a timeframe for implementing its commitments. There has been absolutely no progress on this issue," the source said.
The interim deal signed in June between Tehran and Washington declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unravelled, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying on July 7 that the pact was "over". Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of consistently violating its commitments.
#interim #Iran #ceasefire #deal
DUBAI, Aug 12 (Reuters) - There have been no talks on extending a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. under an interim deal, with Iran saying that Washington must return to the pact and define a timeframe to implement its commitments, a senior Iranian source told Reuters on Wednesday.
The source's comments came after Turkey's Anadolu news agency, citing Pakistani government sources, reported that Tehran and Washington had agreed to extend a 60-day ceasefire under their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
"One of the issues that is being discussed via mediators is the U.S. returning to the interim agreement and defining a timeframe for implementing its commitments. There has been absolutely no progress on this issue," the source said.
The interim deal signed in June between Tehran and Washington declared an "immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts", but quickly unravelled, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying on July 7 that the pact was "over". Tehran has repeatedly accused Washington of consistently violating its commitments.
#interim #Iran #ceasefire #deal
4 days ago
Despite all their talent on both sides of the ball, the Atlanta Falcons have been getting consistently disrespected in power rankings and projections from the national media this offseason. Fully healthy and with a decent starting quarterback, Atlanta should be able to take the NFC South division this year.
However, it seems few around the league are buying what Kevin Stefanski and Co. are selling. In fact, some ***** ysts are predicting a last-place finish for the Falcons in the league's worst division.
That includes Moe Moton at Bleacher Report, who has Atlanta ending the year at 5-12, good for fourth place.
"Atlanta won't be able to slow down opponents without a respectable pass rush. According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Falcons edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting an officer with violence... Pearce has not been convicted of any offense. Last week, fellow edge-rusher Jalon Walker tore his ACL. If Tua Tagovailoa wins the starting quarterback job over Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from knee surgery, he will need another 4,600-plus-yard passing season to keep the Falcons out of the NFC South basement."
The twin blows of losing Jalon Walker for the year to an ACL tear and the coming suspension of Pearce (likely for at least half the season) have several ***** ysts down on Atlanta going into the preseason, understandably.
#quarterback
However, it seems few around the league are buying what Kevin Stefanski and Co. are selling. In fact, some ***** ysts are predicting a last-place finish for the Falcons in the league's worst division.
That includes Moe Moton at Bleacher Report, who has Atlanta ending the year at 5-12, good for fourth place.
"Atlanta won't be able to slow down opponents without a respectable pass rush. According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Falcons edge-rusher James Pearce Jr. has been charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, fleeing police and resisting an officer with violence... Pearce has not been convicted of any offense. Last week, fellow edge-rusher Jalon Walker tore his ACL. If Tua Tagovailoa wins the starting quarterback job over Michael Penix Jr., who is still recovering from knee surgery, he will need another 4,600-plus-yard passing season to keep the Falcons out of the NFC South basement."
The twin blows of losing Jalon Walker for the year to an ACL tear and the coming suspension of Pearce (likely for at least half the season) have several ***** ysts down on Atlanta going into the preseason, understandably.
#quarterback
