10 days ago
The Cowboys spent their mini-bye week promising changes aplenty, and several were obvious as Sunday's Week 6 contest got underway: Mike Pettine as a senior defensive ***** istant, Malachi Lawrence announced pregame as a starter over Donovan Ezeiruaku, Brevyn Spann-Ford getting at least the ceremonial intro-yourself-on-TV first-snap nod over Jake Ferguson.
But literally starting with the opening kick, it was just more of the same for the free-falling Cowboys... only worse. The Cowboys dropped the game by a 23-13 score that was never really that close and saw their season record sink to 2-4, a mark that on paper gives them far more respectability than they deserve.
With Christian Parker still on the sidelines but Pettine observing from the coaches' booth (on his sixth day on the job), the unit seemed to show a bit more hustle and fire, but the Cowboys' defensive results nevertheless looked awfully similar to their first five games.
In a dominant first half that was enough to decide the night, Green Bay handily won the time of possession battle, racked up 15 first downs, converted nine of their 10 third-down plays, didn't punt at all, and amassed 225 yards of offense, at a clip of almost six yards per snap.
The Packers held onto the ball for 6:30 on their opening possession, a 14-play drive that actually covered 105 yards and landed in the end zone. A 15-play drive going for 83 yards and eating up 8:17 would soon follow, further continuing a trend of the Dallas defense being unable to get themselves off the field. Along the way, they allowed Green Bay to convert to a pair of 3rd-and-13s, a pair of 3rd-and-8s, and a pair of 3rd-and-6s.
#pettine #green
But literally starting with the opening kick, it was just more of the same for the free-falling Cowboys... only worse. The Cowboys dropped the game by a 23-13 score that was never really that close and saw their season record sink to 2-4, a mark that on paper gives them far more respectability than they deserve.
With Christian Parker still on the sidelines but Pettine observing from the coaches' booth (on his sixth day on the job), the unit seemed to show a bit more hustle and fire, but the Cowboys' defensive results nevertheless looked awfully similar to their first five games.
In a dominant first half that was enough to decide the night, Green Bay handily won the time of possession battle, racked up 15 first downs, converted nine of their 10 third-down plays, didn't punt at all, and amassed 225 yards of offense, at a clip of almost six yards per snap.
The Packers held onto the ball for 6:30 on their opening possession, a 14-play drive that actually covered 105 yards and landed in the end zone. A 15-play drive going for 83 yards and eating up 8:17 would soon follow, further continuing a trend of the Dallas defense being unable to get themselves off the field. Along the way, they allowed Green Bay to convert to a pair of 3rd-and-13s, a pair of 3rd-and-8s, and a pair of 3rd-and-6s.
#pettine #green
10 days ago
The overall performance certainly wasn't perfect, but the Green Bay Packers still rolled to a two-score win over the visiting Dallas Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football" from Lambeau Field in Week 6. Brian Schottenheimer's team was well-rested after playing on Thursday night in Week 5 and not lacking motivation after a humbling home defeat in primetime, but the Packers still raced out to a 17-0 lead and ended up leading the game by two scores for most of the night. Matt LaFleur's team has won three straight games and is 4-2 overall, an acceptable record given the ups and downs of the early season.
Three big things from the Packers' win over the Cowboys:
Facing Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens without Micah Parsons, Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Hargrave provided a big test for Jonathan Gannon's defense, and the group passed it with flying colors. The Cowboys managed only 13 points, of which seven came in garbage time, and Gannon continually had Prescott under pressure and making rushed and confused decisions against the blitz or the pre-snap appearance of a blitz. Prescott averaged only 4.8 yards per attempt, and the Packers got a pair of interceptions inside their own 30-yard line and a pair of fourth down stops on pass attempts in the fourth quarter. More and more, the home opener disaster against the Atlanta Falcons is looking like a blip on the radar. The Packers have allowed fewer than 14 points in three straight games since.
The Packers offensive line took several steps forward in games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears, largely due to the settling of performances at both guard spots. But Sunday night represented a step in the wrong direction and provided evidence that the problems along the offensive line aren't solved quite yet. Jordan Love was under pressure on 45.5 percent of his pass attempts, his highest percentage since Week 1. And the run game accomplished next to nothing, averaging only 2.2 yards per attempt overall and 1.8 yards on runs by Pierre Strong Jr., MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson. The Packers got by because Love was excellent under pressure early, and the defense made enough stops so that the struggles moving the ball in the second half didn't matter. The inconsistency of the offensive line, drops in big spots and untimely penalties still look like the Packers' biggest hurdles.
Rookie kicker Trey Smack calmed fears of any prolonged struggles by making all five of his kicks, including all three field goals. Even on a breezy night inside Lambeau Field, Smack enjoyed a bounce-back performance -- even if only one of his five kicks was from over 40 yards (a 44-yard field goal). More importantly, Smack didn't let last week's issues bleed into a new opportunity. Against the Bears, his three misses cost the Packers seven points. On Sunday night, Smack's five converted kicks created 11 points in a 10-point win.
#field
Three big things from the Packers' win over the Cowboys:
Facing Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens without Micah Parsons, Edgerrin Cooper and Javon Hargrave provided a big test for Jonathan Gannon's defense, and the group passed it with flying colors. The Cowboys managed only 13 points, of which seven came in garbage time, and Gannon continually had Prescott under pressure and making rushed and confused decisions against the blitz or the pre-snap appearance of a blitz. Prescott averaged only 4.8 yards per attempt, and the Packers got a pair of interceptions inside their own 30-yard line and a pair of fourth down stops on pass attempts in the fourth quarter. More and more, the home opener disaster against the Atlanta Falcons is looking like a blip on the radar. The Packers have allowed fewer than 14 points in three straight games since.
The Packers offensive line took several steps forward in games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears, largely due to the settling of performances at both guard spots. But Sunday night represented a step in the wrong direction and provided evidence that the problems along the offensive line aren't solved quite yet. Jordan Love was under pressure on 45.5 percent of his pass attempts, his highest percentage since Week 1. And the run game accomplished next to nothing, averaging only 2.2 yards per attempt overall and 1.8 yards on runs by Pierre Strong Jr., MarShawn Lloyd and Kaleb Johnson. The Packers got by because Love was excellent under pressure early, and the defense made enough stops so that the struggles moving the ball in the second half didn't matter. The inconsistency of the offensive line, drops in big spots and untimely penalties still look like the Packers' biggest hurdles.
Rookie kicker Trey Smack calmed fears of any prolonged struggles by making all five of his kicks, including all three field goals. Even on a breezy night inside Lambeau Field, Smack enjoyed a bounce-back performance -- even if only one of his five kicks was from over 40 yards (a 44-yard field goal). More importantly, Smack didn't let last week's issues bleed into a new opportunity. Against the Bears, his three misses cost the Packers seven points. On Sunday night, Smack's five converted kicks created 11 points in a 10-point win.
#field
10 days ago
The Cowboys are on the board.
Needing a stop and a score, Dallas got exactly that and now trails Green Bay 17-7.
The Packers received the second-half kickoff, but their drive was quickly derailed by an offensive holding penalty on the first play of the possession.
After the three-and-out, Dallas used a seven-play, 46-yard drive to get in the end zone with Javonte Williams' 1-yard touchdown.
Dallas converted fourth-and-2 with a pass to CeeDee Lamb to keep the chains moving.
#dallas #cowboys #green #williams
Needing a stop and a score, Dallas got exactly that and now trails Green Bay 17-7.
The Packers received the second-half kickoff, but their drive was quickly derailed by an offensive holding penalty on the first play of the possession.
After the three-and-out, Dallas used a seven-play, 46-yard drive to get in the end zone with Javonte Williams' 1-yard touchdown.
Dallas converted fourth-and-2 with a pass to CeeDee Lamb to keep the chains moving.
#dallas #cowboys #green #williams
21 days ago
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's plans for a more private Ohio retreat have run into some very public objections. Neighbors of the $5.35 million Lake Erie estate are challenging proposed landscaping and fencing, raising concerns about a shared sewer line, wildlife, and how the changes could affect their longtime homes.
A six-foot fence has already received approval, but parts of the landscaping remain unresolved. The property's representatives, meanwhile, say they have adjusted the plans, paid for sewer repairs and added gates to accommodate residents.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
According to the Daily Mail, the dispute centers on an estate in Bratenahl, a village outside Cleveland. Property records cited by the outlet show that an LLC linked to Kelce purchased the mansion in March. The 21,000-square-foot property features eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a two-bedroom guest cottage. Built in 1895, it also has a former ballroom converted into a game room and home theater.
But proposed changes to the grounds have become a sticking point with nearby residents. Katherine Bolton, who has lived next door for 35 years, described news of the new owners as a "tremendous blow" to "the peace and quiet in Bratenahl."
#estate
A six-foot fence has already received approval, but parts of the landscaping remain unresolved. The property's representatives, meanwhile, say they have adjusted the plans, paid for sewer repairs and added gates to accommodate residents.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
According to the Daily Mail, the dispute centers on an estate in Bratenahl, a village outside Cleveland. Property records cited by the outlet show that an LLC linked to Kelce purchased the mansion in March. The 21,000-square-foot property features eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a two-bedroom guest cottage. Built in 1895, it also has a former ballroom converted into a game room and home theater.
But proposed changes to the grounds have become a sticking point with nearby residents. Katherine Bolton, who has lived next door for 35 years, described news of the new owners as a "tremendous blow" to "the peace and quiet in Bratenahl."
#estate
23 days ago
In late September 2026, Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding division secured a US$5.10 billion contract to conduct the refueling and complex overhaul of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), while also advancing carrier programs and expanding unmanned production capacity across its U.S. facilities.
Together with the Navy order for 10 ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels and the Pocasset unmanned systems campus expansion, these developments highlight how HII is tying long-duration carrier work to growing autonomous maritime capabilities within its Mission Technologies division.
We'll now examine how the Truman overhaul award, alongside new ROMULUS unmanned vessel production, could influence Huntington Ingalls Industries' investment narrative.
Rare earth metals are an input to most high-tech devices, military and defence systems and electric vehicles. The global race is on to secure supply of these critical minerals. Beat the pack to uncover the 33 best rare earth metal stocks of the very few that mine this essential strategic resource.
To own Huntington Ingalls Industries, you need to believe that its multi decade carrier, submarine and unmanned systems backlog can be converted into steadier margins and free cash flow despite current back end loaded cash expectations. The Truman refueling and complex overhaul award reinforces that backlog, but does not remove the near term risk that 2026 free cash flow could miss if contract advances or tax benefits arrive later or smaller than management hopes.
#unmanned #truman #romulus
Together with the Navy order for 10 ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels and the Pocasset unmanned systems campus expansion, these developments highlight how HII is tying long-duration carrier work to growing autonomous maritime capabilities within its Mission Technologies division.
We'll now examine how the Truman overhaul award, alongside new ROMULUS unmanned vessel production, could influence Huntington Ingalls Industries' investment narrative.
Rare earth metals are an input to most high-tech devices, military and defence systems and electric vehicles. The global race is on to secure supply of these critical minerals. Beat the pack to uncover the 33 best rare earth metal stocks of the very few that mine this essential strategic resource.
To own Huntington Ingalls Industries, you need to believe that its multi decade carrier, submarine and unmanned systems backlog can be converted into steadier margins and free cash flow despite current back end loaded cash expectations. The Truman refueling and complex overhaul award reinforces that backlog, but does not remove the near term risk that 2026 free cash flow could miss if contract advances or tax benefits arrive later or smaller than management hopes.
#unmanned #truman #romulus
23 days ago
A $700,000 inherited IRA forces the daughter to withdraw annually for 10 years, stacking on her salary and generating $182,580 in federal taxes.
If the father had converted at 22%, his $154,000 tax bill would have been $28,580 less than his daughter pays at her higher rate.
Converting only wins when the parent's rate is lower than the heir's, making a conversation about the child's income the essential first step.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
His plan was simple: leave the IRA invested, take only the required distributions, and let the rest pass to his daughter. When he died at 82, the account still held $700,000. His daughter inherited the money, but she also inherited the tax bill, with withdrawals taxed at her rate during her peak earning years.
#rate #income
If the father had converted at 22%, his $154,000 tax bill would have been $28,580 less than his daughter pays at her higher rate.
Converting only wins when the parent's rate is lower than the heir's, making a conversation about the child's income the essential first step.
Read More: Learn 7 ways to generate income with a $1,000,000+ portfolio (sponsor)
His plan was simple: leave the IRA invested, take only the required distributions, and let the rest pass to his daughter. When he died at 82, the account still held $700,000. His daughter inherited the money, but she also inherited the tax bill, with withdrawals taxed at her rate during her peak earning years.
#rate #income
23 days ago
Dolly Parton's estate says yellow caution tape and barbed wire crisscrossed the steps to her nephew Bryan Seaver's front door as a process server was making repeated attempts to serve him with a lawsuit accusing him of using a "campaign of threats" to "extract money" from the late music icon's business interests.
Lawyers for the estate filed a photo of the alleged barricade as they urged a judge to deny Seaver's request for additional time to find a lawyer in the messy legal dispute. They also argued that Seaver's security company missed a deadline last week to challenge an emergency restraining order granted in the case, so the order should therefore be converted into a permanent injunction covering both the company and Seaver himself, as its chief. A hearing on the matter is set for Friday, Oct. 9, unless the court grants Seaver's request for more time to hire an attorney.
More from Rolling Stone
CMA's Dolly Parton Tribute Will Star Ella Langley, Reba McEntire, and Brad Paisley
Ken Paxton Makes Excuses for Floundering Campaign in New Leaked Audio
#campaign #company
Lawyers for the estate filed a photo of the alleged barricade as they urged a judge to deny Seaver's request for additional time to find a lawyer in the messy legal dispute. They also argued that Seaver's security company missed a deadline last week to challenge an emergency restraining order granted in the case, so the order should therefore be converted into a permanent injunction covering both the company and Seaver himself, as its chief. A hearing on the matter is set for Friday, Oct. 9, unless the court grants Seaver's request for more time to hire an attorney.
More from Rolling Stone
CMA's Dolly Parton Tribute Will Star Ella Langley, Reba McEntire, and Brad Paisley
Ken Paxton Makes Excuses for Floundering Campaign in New Leaked Audio
#campaign #company
1 month ago
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) garnered significant investor attention after it unveiled a new 800V DC-native fuel-cell power architecture on September 16, designed to supply continuous direct current to the next generation of AI data centers.
These solid-oxide fuel cells can generate continuous 800V DC power natively, rather than producing AC power that then has to be converted into DC that AI computing equipment ultimately consumes. This potentially removes several conversion stages, such as transformers and switchgear, thus lowering capital cost and energy losses.
Bloom claims that its technology can cut non-compute capital expenditures for a 1 GW data center by $3.6 billion, or 27%, and lower five-year total cost of ownership by $5.5 billion, or 9%, compared to traditional AC-based infrastructure.
With this technology, Bloom Energy is targeting one of the biggest bottlenecks in the ongoing AI boom – securing large amounts of reliable power quickly and economically. If 800V DC becomes widely adopted across AI data centers, the company will benefit not only from the soaring power demand, but also from a broader shift in how that power is generated and delivered.
Bloom Energy pointed to Nvidia's planned adoption of 800V DC architecture beginning with Rubin Ultra and Kyber systems as an indication of where data center power infrastructure is heading. In its 2026 Mid-Year Data Center Power Report, Bloom claimed that data center leaders expect DC-based architectures to account for 58% of new deployments by 2030, potentially creating a significant market for technologies designed around direct-current power delivery.
#energy #architecture
These solid-oxide fuel cells can generate continuous 800V DC power natively, rather than producing AC power that then has to be converted into DC that AI computing equipment ultimately consumes. This potentially removes several conversion stages, such as transformers and switchgear, thus lowering capital cost and energy losses.
Bloom claims that its technology can cut non-compute capital expenditures for a 1 GW data center by $3.6 billion, or 27%, and lower five-year total cost of ownership by $5.5 billion, or 9%, compared to traditional AC-based infrastructure.
With this technology, Bloom Energy is targeting one of the biggest bottlenecks in the ongoing AI boom – securing large amounts of reliable power quickly and economically. If 800V DC becomes widely adopted across AI data centers, the company will benefit not only from the soaring power demand, but also from a broader shift in how that power is generated and delivered.
Bloom Energy pointed to Nvidia's planned adoption of 800V DC architecture beginning with Rubin Ultra and Kyber systems as an indication of where data center power infrastructure is heading. In its 2026 Mid-Year Data Center Power Report, Bloom claimed that data center leaders expect DC-based architectures to account for 58% of new deployments by 2030, potentially creating a significant market for technologies designed around direct-current power delivery.
#energy #architecture
1 month ago
CoreWeave (NASDAQ: CRWV) stock was rocked on Thursday. The artificial intelligence (AI) cloud company's shares closed down more than 5% on news of two fundraising measures it announced that morning.
CoreWeave announced an at-the-market (ATM) issue of its publicly traded Class A common stock. Up to 35 million shares are to be sold in a public offering by a large syndicate of sales agents.
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 »
The company said it will use its share of the proceeds "to provide ongoing financing flexibility and to support CoreWeave's objective of migrating its enterprise credit profile toward investment grade."
The company also announced an issue of convertible senior notes. It will float $3 billion worth of the securities, which mature in 2033 if not converted, in a private offering. The company intends to offer the initial purchasers of the note up to a total of $500 million in additional aggregate principal amount of notes.
#shares
CoreWeave announced an at-the-market (ATM) issue of its publicly traded Class A common stock. Up to 35 million shares are to be sold in a public offering by a large syndicate of sales agents.
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 »
The company said it will use its share of the proceeds "to provide ongoing financing flexibility and to support CoreWeave's objective of migrating its enterprise credit profile toward investment grade."
The company also announced an issue of convertible senior notes. It will float $3 billion worth of the securities, which mature in 2033 if not converted, in a private offering. The company intends to offer the initial purchasers of the note up to a total of $500 million in additional aggregate principal amount of notes.
#shares
1 month ago
Exodus Movement, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:EXOD) reported on September 11 that August payment-processing gross transaction volume reached $356.8 million, up from $338.0 million in July. Monthly active cards declined to 757,900 from 783,600.
Separately, Web3 exchange-provider processed volume increased to $376.8 million from $314.8 million, while reported monthly active users remained at 1.4 million. The figures show stronger transaction activity alongside fewer active cards and a stable reported user count.
The question is whether that activity produces enough revenue to improve profitability while Exodus Movement, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:EXOD) integrates Monavate and reduces costs.
Payment growth persists after adjusting for currency translation. Exodus Movement, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:EXOD) converted sterling payment volumes into dollars using average rates of $1.35 per pound for August and $1.34 for July. Reversing those conversions implies approximately 4.8% growth in underlying sterling volume, compared with 5.6% in reported dollars. Both calculations use rounded disclosed figures.
Web3 exchange-provider volume increased approximately 19.7%. XO Swap partners contributed 23% of volume in both months. The unchanged reported share suggests both the partner channel and the remaining business contributed to growth.
#reported #exodus #nyseamerican
Separately, Web3 exchange-provider processed volume increased to $376.8 million from $314.8 million, while reported monthly active users remained at 1.4 million. The figures show stronger transaction activity alongside fewer active cards and a stable reported user count.
The question is whether that activity produces enough revenue to improve profitability while Exodus Movement, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:EXOD) integrates Monavate and reduces costs.
Payment growth persists after adjusting for currency translation. Exodus Movement, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:EXOD) converted sterling payment volumes into dollars using average rates of $1.35 per pound for August and $1.34 for July. Reversing those conversions implies approximately 4.8% growth in underlying sterling volume, compared with 5.6% in reported dollars. Both calculations use rounded disclosed figures.
Web3 exchange-provider volume increased approximately 19.7%. XO Swap partners contributed 23% of volume in both months. The unchanged reported share suggests both the partner channel and the remaining business contributed to growth.
#reported #exodus #nyseamerican
1 month ago
Axon Enterprise (NASDAQ:AXON) shares fell 5% on Tuesday after the public safety technology company announced plans to offer $1 billion of 0% convertible senior notes due 2031.
The notes will be offered through a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. Axon also expects to grant the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $150 million of notes to cover over-allotments.
The securities will mature on September 15, 2031, unless they are converted, redeemed or repurchased earlier. They will be senior unsecured obligations and will not carry regular interest.
Upon conversion, Axon may settle the notes in cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of the two, at the company's election.
Axon said it plans to use part of the net proceeds to fund capped call transactions ******* ociated with the offering.
#senior #enterprise
The notes will be offered through a public offering registered under the Securities Act of 1933. Axon also expects to grant the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $150 million of notes to cover over-allotments.
The securities will mature on September 15, 2031, unless they are converted, redeemed or repurchased earlier. They will be senior unsecured obligations and will not carry regular interest.
Upon conversion, Axon may settle the notes in cash, shares of its common stock or a combination of the two, at the company's election.
Axon said it plans to use part of the net proceeds to fund capped call transactions ******* ociated with the offering.
#senior #enterprise
1 month ago
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
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
1 month ago
What did Pro Football Focus make of the New Orleans Saints' season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions? PFF's unique grading system leaves a lot to be desired as far as valuable ****** ysis, but it's a good starting point for highlighting which players pulled their weight and which performances deserve more scrutiny. With the Saints having fought their into overtime after stumbling out of the gates, let's check in on the best and worst player grades on offense and defense after Week 1.
WR Chris Olave: 82.6. Olave wasn't as effective blocking on run plays as he'd like to be, but that's nearly the only negative about his game (he did also drop a pass deep downfield early on). He caught 10 of 13 targets for a career-high 182 receiving yards, went 2-of-4 on contested catches, and converted seven first downs. His 30 yards gained after the catch were also impressive.
TE Noah Fant: 79.6. Fant had some miscues -- Shough overthrew and underthrew him a few times as the pair worked to get in sync -- but you can see why the ball continued to go his way. Fant picked up almost half of his yardage after the catch and looked comfortable while drawing targets in traffic.
QB Tyler Shough: 75.0. How impressive is it that Shough clawed his way back up the list after starting so poorly? PFF had him with six "big time throws" this week, as many as the next two quarterbacks combined, which they define as "a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window." He just needs to cut down on the turnover-worthy plays, sacks, and penalties. That's easier said than done but should come with experience.
TE Juwan Johnson: 73.4. Johnson was the team's highest-rated run blocker (75.1), and while he didn't see many targets until late in the game, he made them count by going 3-of-6 for 54 yards and a critical touchdown. He also forced the Lions defense into committing a costly coverage penalty early on.
#shough
WR Chris Olave: 82.6. Olave wasn't as effective blocking on run plays as he'd like to be, but that's nearly the only negative about his game (he did also drop a pass deep downfield early on). He caught 10 of 13 targets for a career-high 182 receiving yards, went 2-of-4 on contested catches, and converted seven first downs. His 30 yards gained after the catch were also impressive.
TE Noah Fant: 79.6. Fant had some miscues -- Shough overthrew and underthrew him a few times as the pair worked to get in sync -- but you can see why the ball continued to go his way. Fant picked up almost half of his yardage after the catch and looked comfortable while drawing targets in traffic.
QB Tyler Shough: 75.0. How impressive is it that Shough clawed his way back up the list after starting so poorly? PFF had him with six "big time throws" this week, as many as the next two quarterbacks combined, which they define as "a pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window." He just needs to cut down on the turnover-worthy plays, sacks, and penalties. That's easier said than done but should come with experience.
TE Juwan Johnson: 73.4. Johnson was the team's highest-rated run blocker (75.1), and while he didn't see many targets until late in the game, he made them count by going 3-of-6 for 54 yards and a critical touchdown. He also forced the Lions defense into committing a costly coverage penalty early on.
#shough
1 month ago
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed enough in their 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals to feel like they could have won. Instead, four lost fumbles, shaky pass protection, and defensive issues underneath turned a competitive performance into a 0-1 start.
Tampa Bay finished with 282 total yards, converted five of 10 third downs, and never punted. The Bucs also fought back from a 21-3 deficit and had the game within six points late, but the turnovers kept Cincinnati in control.
Here are the Buccaneers' Week 1 grades by position.
Baker Mayfield's game was almost a perfect reflection of Tampa Bay's afternoon. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards without an interception, added 30 rushing yards, and scored on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The number one problem for Mayfield was ball security. Mayfield fumbled three times and lost all three of them. One was returned 27 yards for a touchdown, another went through the end zone for a touchback near the goal line, and the third came on a fourth-quarter strip-sack while Tampa Bay was trying to complete its comeback.There is some living and dying by the sword with Mayfield. Part of what makes him unique is his willingness to fight through contact, extend plays, and create something when a play looks dead. When it works, everyone loves it. When it ends with the football on the ground, it looks reckless. Against Cincinnati, he pushed that line much too far.
#yards #lost #game
Tampa Bay finished with 282 total yards, converted five of 10 third downs, and never punted. The Bucs also fought back from a 21-3 deficit and had the game within six points late, but the turnovers kept Cincinnati in control.
Here are the Buccaneers' Week 1 grades by position.
Baker Mayfield's game was almost a perfect reflection of Tampa Bay's afternoon. He completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards without an interception, added 30 rushing yards, and scored on a nine-yard run in the fourth quarter.
The number one problem for Mayfield was ball security. Mayfield fumbled three times and lost all three of them. One was returned 27 yards for a touchdown, another went through the end zone for a touchback near the goal line, and the third came on a fourth-quarter strip-sack while Tampa Bay was trying to complete its comeback.There is some living and dying by the sword with Mayfield. Part of what makes him unique is his willingness to fight through contact, extend plays, and create something when a play looks dead. When it works, everyone loves it. When it ends with the football on the ground, it looks reckless. Against Cincinnati, he pushed that line much too far.
#yards #lost #game
2 months ago
UCLA football looks to build on a strong showing from their Week 1 rout of Cal in their home opener when they host San Diego State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 12.
The Bob Chesney era in Westwood couldn't have started on a better note as the Bruins rode dominant performances from their run game and defense -- their two biggest weaknesses last season -- to pull away late from what had been a shootout with the Golden Bears through the first three quarters.
Senior running back Anthony Woods led the way on the ground with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while JMU transfer Wayne Knight added three more scores on 71 yards. That opened up some opportunities for Nico Iamaleava to take shots downfield, which the quarterback converted for some big plays late in the first half.
The Aztecs -- now a member of the new-look Pac-12 -- are coming off a strong season debut of their own, a 53-20 blowout over Portland State.
Follow along for live coverage from USA TODAY Sports on UCLA vs. San Diego State:
#state #diego
The Bob Chesney era in Westwood couldn't have started on a better note as the Bruins rode dominant performances from their run game and defense -- their two biggest weaknesses last season -- to pull away late from what had been a shootout with the Golden Bears through the first three quarters.
Senior running back Anthony Woods led the way on the ground with 118 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while JMU transfer Wayne Knight added three more scores on 71 yards. That opened up some opportunities for Nico Iamaleava to take shots downfield, which the quarterback converted for some big plays late in the first half.
The Aztecs -- now a member of the new-look Pac-12 -- are coming off a strong season debut of their own, a 53-20 blowout over Portland State.
Follow along for live coverage from USA TODAY Sports on UCLA vs. San Diego State:
#state #diego
2 months ago
Arsenal made it four wins from four in the Premier League with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats played a gritty, physical game, but the Gunners gave as good as they got, and battled to the win. With a massive ***** ist from David Raya saving a, uh, generously awarded penalty that would have made it 1-0 for the bad guys. Minutes later, Bruno Guimaraes put one top bins. Raya made another brilliant save later in the half. Deep in added time, Bruno put Bukayo Saka in on goal, earning a penalty and second yellow to Reinildo. Penalty converted. Game over.
The Sunderland crowd greeted Bruno with a chorus of boos when he replaced Myles Lewis-Skelly at halftime. They take their rivalry with Newcastle seriously. Unfortunately, it was very much a "keep booing, it only makes me stronger" moment. You could see from the little smile on Bruno's face that he was loving it and using it to fuel him. His "I can't hear you" celebration to the crowd after he'd put one on postage stamp was absolute perfection.
Great call from Mikel Arteta to pull Myles Lewis-Skelly at the break. Everything was off from him — poor touches, cheap fouls — it simply wasn't his night. The manager also had to swap Jurrien Timber for Ben White, who appeared to have tweaked his groin. Because when ***** nal get one right back healthy, the other gets injured. That's how it works. Timber was excellent, by the way.
The ***** nal subs that came on later in the second half, Eze, Merino, and Zubimendi, were mediocre to poor. The depth is tremendous but Mikel Arteta has his work cut out for him to keep everyone sharp so that when they are called into action they don't, say, give the ball away the only two times they get on it like Merino did today.
The Gunners could have and should have been ahead at halftime, but once again, they were profligate with scoring chances. Bukayo Saka was caught in two minds on a leaping volley and only managed glancing contact. Kai Havertz shot over the bar from in close. The German striker also forced a smart save with a brilliant control, turn, and volley move. Saka also flubbed two chances in the second half — he picked the wrong pass on a 4-on-2 break and he shot too close to the keeper. The side could do with a bit better finishing, but if you believe (as I generally do) that finishing ebbs and flows, as long as they keep generated the volume of chances, someone is in for a real hiding.
#second
The Sunderland crowd greeted Bruno with a chorus of boos when he replaced Myles Lewis-Skelly at halftime. They take their rivalry with Newcastle seriously. Unfortunately, it was very much a "keep booing, it only makes me stronger" moment. You could see from the little smile on Bruno's face that he was loving it and using it to fuel him. His "I can't hear you" celebration to the crowd after he'd put one on postage stamp was absolute perfection.
Great call from Mikel Arteta to pull Myles Lewis-Skelly at the break. Everything was off from him — poor touches, cheap fouls — it simply wasn't his night. The manager also had to swap Jurrien Timber for Ben White, who appeared to have tweaked his groin. Because when ***** nal get one right back healthy, the other gets injured. That's how it works. Timber was excellent, by the way.
The ***** nal subs that came on later in the second half, Eze, Merino, and Zubimendi, were mediocre to poor. The depth is tremendous but Mikel Arteta has his work cut out for him to keep everyone sharp so that when they are called into action they don't, say, give the ball away the only two times they get on it like Merino did today.
The Gunners could have and should have been ahead at halftime, but once again, they were profligate with scoring chances. Bukayo Saka was caught in two minds on a leaping volley and only managed glancing contact. Kai Havertz shot over the bar from in close. The German striker also forced a smart save with a brilliant control, turn, and volley move. Saka also flubbed two chances in the second half — he picked the wrong pass on a 4-on-2 break and he shot too close to the keeper. The side could do with a bit better finishing, but if you believe (as I generally do) that finishing ebbs and flows, as long as they keep generated the volume of chances, someone is in for a real hiding.
#second
2 months ago
Bayer Leverkusen took a deserved lead into the latter stages of the first half against Bundesliga leaders Augsburg, with Christian Kofane rewarding an increasingly threatening display from the visitors.
Augsburg actually created the first opening inside the opening minute, as Robin Fellhauer's low delivery found Hennes Behrens at the far post, only for Facundo Medina to make an important block.
Leverkusen quickly began to grow into the contest, however, with Moussa Diaby causing problems down the right and Kofane heading an Aleix Garcia corner narrowly wide.
Ibrahim Maza was next to threaten, driving into the penalty area before seeing a left-footed effort blocked, while Finn Dahmen was called upon to deny a further Leverkusen opening after Medina picked out a run in behind.
The visitors eventually made their pressure count in the 18th minute, when Kofane converted following an **** ist from Edmond Tapsoba to put Carles Martinez's side in front.
#kofane #augsburg
Augsburg actually created the first opening inside the opening minute, as Robin Fellhauer's low delivery found Hennes Behrens at the far post, only for Facundo Medina to make an important block.
Leverkusen quickly began to grow into the contest, however, with Moussa Diaby causing problems down the right and Kofane heading an Aleix Garcia corner narrowly wide.
Ibrahim Maza was next to threaten, driving into the penalty area before seeing a left-footed effort blocked, while Finn Dahmen was called upon to deny a further Leverkusen opening after Medina picked out a run in behind.
The visitors eventually made their pressure count in the 18th minute, when Kofane converted following an **** ist from Edmond Tapsoba to put Carles Martinez's side in front.
#kofane #augsburg
2 months ago
The U-20 team secured qualification for the 2nd round of the Copa do Brasil on Thursday afternoon (10) by defeating Cuiabá 4-3 in a penalty shootout in a single-leg match held at CT Rei Pelé! In regular time, the game ended 1-1, with a goal by Contreras!
Rodrigo Cézar, Diego Matos, Guilherme Cruz, and Pepê Fermino converted Santos' penalties, while goalkeeper João Pedro came up with a huge save!
Santos opened the scoring just 4 minutes in after a corner kick taken by Vinícius Fabri. Contreras' first header was saved by the goalkeeper, but he got on the rebound and headed it home to put his team in front.
Still in the first half, the Santos side had more chances to extend the lead, but failed to turn them into goals. In the second half, despite Santos still controlling the match, Cuiabá managed to equalize right at the end, taking the fight for qualification to penalties.
In the next round, Santos FC will face Palmeiras in October, with the date still to be confirmed.
#santos #cuiab #contreras #goalkeeper
Rodrigo Cézar, Diego Matos, Guilherme Cruz, and Pepê Fermino converted Santos' penalties, while goalkeeper João Pedro came up with a huge save!
Santos opened the scoring just 4 minutes in after a corner kick taken by Vinícius Fabri. Contreras' first header was saved by the goalkeeper, but he got on the rebound and headed it home to put his team in front.
Still in the first half, the Santos side had more chances to extend the lead, but failed to turn them into goals. In the second half, despite Santos still controlling the match, Cuiabá managed to equalize right at the end, taking the fight for qualification to penalties.
In the next round, Santos FC will face Palmeiras in October, with the date still to be confirmed.
#santos #cuiab #contreras #goalkeeper
2 months ago
A cryptocurrency ETF is an exchange-traded fund that gives investors exposure to cryptocurrency through a regular brokerage account with no crypto wallet, exchange, or private keys required. The most important type is the spot ETF, which holds the actual cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ether, etc.) in secure custody, so the fund's price tracks the real-time price of the coin. When you buy a share, you're getting direct exposure to the underlying **** et, wrapped in the familiar, regulated ETF structure. One technical note: U.S. spot crypto funds are structured as exchange-traded products — grantor trusts registered under the Securities Act of 1933 — rather than as 1940 Act ETFs, so they trade just like ETFs but do not carry all of the same investor protections.
This is a big deal because it removes the biggest barriers to crypto investing: custody risk, exchange hacks, and technical complexity. It also brings crypto into tax-advantaged accounts and lets investors hold it alongside their stocks and bonds in one place.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in the U.S. in January 2024 and have become the fastest-growing ETF category ever. In 2026 they dominate the crypto ETF landscape.
IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust) was one of the first to market and is the runaway leader, with roughly $71 billion in **** ets — well over half of the entire spot Bitcoin ETF market. BlackRock's fund has become the default vehicle for institutional and retail Bitcoin exposure alike, prized for its deep liquidity and low cost. FBTC (Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund) is second with about $18 billion, and GBTC (Grayscale Bitcoin Trust), the converted legacy fund, holds around $15 billion despite its higher fee. For most investors seeking Bitcoin exposure, IBIT and FBTC are the go-to, low-cost choices.
Spot Ethereum ETFs followed in July 2024 and form the second pillar of the crypto ETF world. ETHA (iShares Ethereum Trust) leads with roughly $11 billion in **** ets, followed by FETH (Fidelity Ethereum Fund) at about $2.3 billion. Ethereum offers a different investment thesis than Bitcoin as it's the backbone of decentralized applications, smart contracts, and much of the tokenization trend. This means ether ETFs give investors exposure to a distinct part of the digital-asset ecosystem.
#Bitcoin
This is a big deal because it removes the biggest barriers to crypto investing: custody risk, exchange hacks, and technical complexity. It also brings crypto into tax-advantaged accounts and lets investors hold it alongside their stocks and bonds in one place.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in the U.S. in January 2024 and have become the fastest-growing ETF category ever. In 2026 they dominate the crypto ETF landscape.
IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust) was one of the first to market and is the runaway leader, with roughly $71 billion in **** ets — well over half of the entire spot Bitcoin ETF market. BlackRock's fund has become the default vehicle for institutional and retail Bitcoin exposure alike, prized for its deep liquidity and low cost. FBTC (Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund) is second with about $18 billion, and GBTC (Grayscale Bitcoin Trust), the converted legacy fund, holds around $15 billion despite its higher fee. For most investors seeking Bitcoin exposure, IBIT and FBTC are the go-to, low-cost choices.
Spot Ethereum ETFs followed in July 2024 and form the second pillar of the crypto ETF world. ETHA (iShares Ethereum Trust) leads with roughly $11 billion in **** ets, followed by FETH (Fidelity Ethereum Fund) at about $2.3 billion. Ethereum offers a different investment thesis than Bitcoin as it's the backbone of decentralized applications, smart contracts, and much of the tokenization trend. This means ether ETFs give investors exposure to a distinct part of the digital-asset ecosystem.
#Bitcoin
2 months ago
GLASTONBURY - Eli Showerda kept the ball on an option from 1 yard out with 20 seconds remaining to lift the Maloney football team to a 35-28 season-opening victory over Glastonbury on Thursday night.
The senior quarterback did damage through the air, too, throwing two first-half touchdown passes before delivering the game-winning score on the ground.
His first touchdown pass, a 15-yarder to senior running back Devan Bacote, tied the game 14-14 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Showerda connected with Jayden Soto over the middle for an 83-yard touchdown that gave the Spartans a 21-14 lead.
The game, however, was far from over.
Leading by eight with 4:41 remaining, Maloney watched Glastonbury put together a game-tying drive after Shane Santora returned the kickoff past midfield to give the Guardians excellent field position. Quarterback Matthew Cartwright capped the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run before Glastonbury converted the 2-point conversion to tie the game 28-28 with 3:31 left.
#yard #showerda
The senior quarterback did damage through the air, too, throwing two first-half touchdown passes before delivering the game-winning score on the ground.
His first touchdown pass, a 15-yarder to senior running back Devan Bacote, tied the game 14-14 in the first quarter. In the second quarter, Showerda connected with Jayden Soto over the middle for an 83-yard touchdown that gave the Spartans a 21-14 lead.
The game, however, was far from over.
Leading by eight with 4:41 remaining, Maloney watched Glastonbury put together a game-tying drive after Shane Santora returned the kickoff past midfield to give the Guardians excellent field position. Quarterback Matthew Cartwright capped the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run before Glastonbury converted the 2-point conversion to tie the game 28-28 with 3:31 left.
#yard #showerda
2 months ago
US Open news: Elena Rybakina sets up final clash vs. Aryna Sabalenka with comeback win over Coco Gauff appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Elena Rybakina has reached her first US Open final after overcoming Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a three-set semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday. The 27-year-old Kazakh rallied from a set down to book a championship meeting with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Gauff took control early, using strong play from the back of the court to force errors from Rybakina. The American secured the only break of the opening set in the sixth game and converted the advantage into a 6-3 lead.
Rybakina responded in the second set by breaking early to move ahead 4-1. Gauff fought back to level the set at 4-4, but Rybakina regained the advantage with another break in the 10th game. She closed out the set 6-4 to force a deciding set.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
#elena #final
Elena Rybakina has reached her first US Open final after overcoming Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a three-set semifinal at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday. The 27-year-old Kazakh rallied from a set down to book a championship meeting with defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.
Gauff took control early, using strong play from the back of the court to force errors from Rybakina. The American secured the only break of the opening set in the sixth game and converted the advantage into a 6-3 lead.
Rybakina responded in the second set by breaking early to move ahead 4-1. Gauff fought back to level the set at 4-4, but Rybakina regained the advantage with another break in the 10th game. She closed out the set 6-4 to force a deciding set.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)
#elena #final
2 months ago
MELBOURNE, Australia - The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Los Angeles Rams in convincing fashion in their season-opener Friday afternoon (Thursday night in the United States), 27-7, at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After arriving in Australia a week before kickoff, the 49ers looked far more energized than the Super Bowl-favorite Rams, who touched down just more than 24 hours before the game and appeared visibly exhausted. Last year's NFL MVP, Matthew Stafford, looked helpless against a disruptive 49ers defense, while Brock Purdy diced up the opposition that was littered with big-time offseason acquisitions.
Here are immediate takeaways from the 49ers' commanding first win, in front of an announced crowd of 100,021.
Against a Rams defense that added defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Trent McDuffie, the 49ers had little trouble. They converted seven of 12 third downs and totaled 379 yards of offense. The ground game in particular was impressive, where San Francisco averaged 5.9 yards per attempt.
Rookie running back Kaelon Black added some zip to San Francisco's offense - and, as an added bonus, took much of the load off of 30-year-old Christian McCaffrey - rushing for 65 yards on 14 attempts. McCaffrey still featured in the offense, touching the ball 15 times, but his services weren't as needed once San Francisco went up 17 points in the third quarter.
#mccaffrey
After arriving in Australia a week before kickoff, the 49ers looked far more energized than the Super Bowl-favorite Rams, who touched down just more than 24 hours before the game and appeared visibly exhausted. Last year's NFL MVP, Matthew Stafford, looked helpless against a disruptive 49ers defense, while Brock Purdy diced up the opposition that was littered with big-time offseason acquisitions.
Here are immediate takeaways from the 49ers' commanding first win, in front of an announced crowd of 100,021.
Against a Rams defense that added defensive end Myles Garrett and cornerback Trent McDuffie, the 49ers had little trouble. They converted seven of 12 third downs and totaled 379 yards of offense. The ground game in particular was impressive, where San Francisco averaged 5.9 yards per attempt.
Rookie running back Kaelon Black added some zip to San Francisco's offense - and, as an added bonus, took much of the load off of 30-year-old Christian McCaffrey - rushing for 65 yards on 14 attempts. McCaffrey still featured in the offense, touching the ball 15 times, but his services weren't as needed once San Francisco went up 17 points in the third quarter.
#mccaffrey
2 months ago
I want to do a Roth conversion from my traditional IRA in the amount of $250,000. It's my understanding that I have to pay the income tax on the $250,000. Can that tax be paid from the funds in the IRA or do I have to pay the tax outside of the IRA?
– Kevin
This one is straightforward. The IRS doesn't care where the money comes from. As long as you cut them a check they'll be happy!
All kidding aside – yes, the $250,000 is included in your gross income. You can pay the tax bill using either the converted funds or money from other sources, but the difference is potentially substantial. You may want to consider using non-IRA funds to pay the tax bill if it's an option for you.
A financial advisor can help you make important retirement planning decisions, like when to do a Roth conversion and in what amount. Connect with a financial advisor.
#funds #want #conversion #bill
– Kevin
This one is straightforward. The IRS doesn't care where the money comes from. As long as you cut them a check they'll be happy!
All kidding aside – yes, the $250,000 is included in your gross income. You can pay the tax bill using either the converted funds or money from other sources, but the difference is potentially substantial. You may want to consider using non-IRA funds to pay the tax bill if it's an option for you.
A financial advisor can help you make important retirement planning decisions, like when to do a Roth conversion and in what amount. Connect with a financial advisor.
#funds #want #conversion #bill
2 months ago
It's always fun to joke about air yards.
I do it all the time with my Rotoworld Football Show cohosts in desperately trying to make a case that a player is due for (positive or negative) regression based on his air yards accumulation from the prior week or the past few outings. And it always sounds like one long comedy bit: This player saw so many air yards that could have been converted into actual, real-life receiving yards bro, I swear bro, trust me on this.
Air yards, whether we like it or not — and most fantasy folks definitely do not like it — are a good measure of a pass catcher's opportunity and the type of passing volume in a given offense. That air yards don't always translate into real, edible receiving yards is just part of our frustrating little game. We make small bets here and there and hope things break right from week to week and prove our process correct more often than not. It's not any more complicated than that, even if we desperately want it to be.
Over the past few seasons I have used this ****** e to talk mostly about guys with exceptionally high or low touchdown rates. Air yards has mostly been a side issue in the Regression Files. That will change in 2026: I want Regression Files to be your weekly go-to for (freely available) air yards data and what it means for your various fantasy football teams.
GET YOUR FREE ROTOWORLD FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT KIT HERE!
#rotoworld
I do it all the time with my Rotoworld Football Show cohosts in desperately trying to make a case that a player is due for (positive or negative) regression based on his air yards accumulation from the prior week or the past few outings. And it always sounds like one long comedy bit: This player saw so many air yards that could have been converted into actual, real-life receiving yards bro, I swear bro, trust me on this.
Air yards, whether we like it or not — and most fantasy folks definitely do not like it — are a good measure of a pass catcher's opportunity and the type of passing volume in a given offense. That air yards don't always translate into real, edible receiving yards is just part of our frustrating little game. We make small bets here and there and hope things break right from week to week and prove our process correct more often than not. It's not any more complicated than that, even if we desperately want it to be.
Over the past few seasons I have used this ****** e to talk mostly about guys with exceptionally high or low touchdown rates. Air yards has mostly been a side issue in the Regression Files. That will change in 2026: I want Regression Files to be your weekly go-to for (freely available) air yards data and what it means for your various fantasy football teams.
GET YOUR FREE ROTOWORLD FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT KIT HERE!
#rotoworld
2 months ago
Ashley Sanchez set a record for most goals in an NWSL season by an American player, then she did herself two better.
Sanchez scored a scrappy goal in the 11th minute of the North Carolina Courage's contest with the Chicago Stars on Sunday, Sept. 6 for her 16th goal of the campaign.
That made her the top all-time American scorer in a single season, surpassing Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan, each of whom had scored 15. Dunn reached the mark in 20 matches in 2015, while Morgan did so in 17 games in 2022.
Sanchez wasn't done.
In the 69th minute, she stepped to the penalty spot and converted with a hard shot that looked to hit the crossbar and go in. That made the score 5-0, and Sanchez finished off her hat trick with a header at the back post for her 18th goal of the season.
#american
Sanchez scored a scrappy goal in the 11th minute of the North Carolina Courage's contest with the Chicago Stars on Sunday, Sept. 6 for her 16th goal of the campaign.
That made her the top all-time American scorer in a single season, surpassing Crystal Dunn and Alex Morgan, each of whom had scored 15. Dunn reached the mark in 20 matches in 2015, while Morgan did so in 17 games in 2022.
Sanchez wasn't done.
In the 69th minute, she stepped to the penalty spot and converted with a hard shot that looked to hit the crossbar and go in. That made the score 5-0, and Sanchez finished off her hat trick with a header at the back post for her 18th goal of the season.
#american
2 months ago
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Embarrassing. An embarrassment. And more embarrassing beyond that.
The Kyle Whittingham era was supposed to embody toughness, discipline, playing smart, and doing things the right way. After saying all of the right things and appearing to be confident in what Michigan football would bring to the table in his debut in Ann Arbor, Whittingham's team was not only the opposite of everything he espouses, it was a debacle in every way. The Wolverines were a miracle away from, at best, the second-worst loss in program history, and given what the head coach's teams had been for two-plus decades in Salt Lake City, it's a head-scratcher.
The opening offensive drive was as impressive as the rest of the game was bad. Despite mistakes, quarterback Bryce Underwood sliced through the Western Michigan defense like a hot knife through ***** er, making what ended up being fall camp bluster look prescient. But that was it. 75 yards on the opening drive, and a 47-yard Hail Mary aside, it accounted for all but 154 yards accumulated all game. The offense, against a supposedly overmatched foe, made the Sherrone Moore-era offense look like the air raid by comparison. The defense got off the field, surrendering little in terms of points, sure, but it also allowed the Broncos to hold the ball for over 40 minutes, including a 13-minute, 40-second drive spanning from the third to fourth quarters. When the offense got the ball back, it quickly relinquished possession after three plays, managing seven yards on first down before deciding that moving the ball forward was anathema to its goals.
And then there were the other mistakes: missed ***** ignments, an ***** ortment of penalties, and all-around bad play. It wasn't just the opposite of what was expected; it was the opposite of how Whittingham's teams in Utah played for 21 years.
"I'm going to reserve judgment on that until I dissect the film," Whittingham said after the game. "But we talked about how we improved dramatically through fall camp. That's a fact. I mean, there's no one that attended practice that wouldn't tell you anything different. We had former players there, and everybody had the same ***** ysis. And so, and we're not -- I'm not saying that Bryce played a bad game. This isn't on Bryce Underwood. This is, like I said, it's on me, and I've got to figure out a way to have these guys better prepared and be able to get into a rhythm offensively. It's like we never got into a rhythm after that first drive. We always found a way to screw it up. We were like 0-for-5 or 0-for-6 before we converted on third down. And you just can't win football games like that. We were very fortunate to win, obviously."
#drive #whittingham
The Kyle Whittingham era was supposed to embody toughness, discipline, playing smart, and doing things the right way. After saying all of the right things and appearing to be confident in what Michigan football would bring to the table in his debut in Ann Arbor, Whittingham's team was not only the opposite of everything he espouses, it was a debacle in every way. The Wolverines were a miracle away from, at best, the second-worst loss in program history, and given what the head coach's teams had been for two-plus decades in Salt Lake City, it's a head-scratcher.
The opening offensive drive was as impressive as the rest of the game was bad. Despite mistakes, quarterback Bryce Underwood sliced through the Western Michigan defense like a hot knife through ***** er, making what ended up being fall camp bluster look prescient. But that was it. 75 yards on the opening drive, and a 47-yard Hail Mary aside, it accounted for all but 154 yards accumulated all game. The offense, against a supposedly overmatched foe, made the Sherrone Moore-era offense look like the air raid by comparison. The defense got off the field, surrendering little in terms of points, sure, but it also allowed the Broncos to hold the ball for over 40 minutes, including a 13-minute, 40-second drive spanning from the third to fourth quarters. When the offense got the ball back, it quickly relinquished possession after three plays, managing seven yards on first down before deciding that moving the ball forward was anathema to its goals.
And then there were the other mistakes: missed ***** ignments, an ***** ortment of penalties, and all-around bad play. It wasn't just the opposite of what was expected; it was the opposite of how Whittingham's teams in Utah played for 21 years.
"I'm going to reserve judgment on that until I dissect the film," Whittingham said after the game. "But we talked about how we improved dramatically through fall camp. That's a fact. I mean, there's no one that attended practice that wouldn't tell you anything different. We had former players there, and everybody had the same ***** ysis. And so, and we're not -- I'm not saying that Bryce played a bad game. This isn't on Bryce Underwood. This is, like I said, it's on me, and I've got to figure out a way to have these guys better prepared and be able to get into a rhythm offensively. It's like we never got into a rhythm after that first drive. We always found a way to screw it up. We were like 0-for-5 or 0-for-6 before we converted on third down. And you just can't win football games like that. We were very fortunate to win, obviously."
#drive #whittingham
2 months ago
Florida scored 66 points in Jon Sumrall's first game as head coach on Saturday night and gave up 396 yards and 25 first downs in the same game. Florida Atlantic ran 90 plays inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, converted half of its third downs and four of seven on fourth down, and still lost by 45.
Jul 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
"Our defense was atrocious at times, quite honestly," Sumrall said afterward. "So we had a hard time keeping pace with them. It was that way, in my opinion. Like, I watch that play, I'm a little bit frustrated about how we played defensively at times. I don't think we're as good as we think we are. I think we got some guys who feel like, you know, we've arrived in some spots and that will be addressed. We have got a lot of room to grow on defense. If it doesn't happen real fast we're going to get embarrassed and exposed handily in some spots, because that wasn't a great performance by us."
Aaron Philo completed 16 of 21 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns with an interception in his first start since transferring from Georgia Tech, and added a rushing score. Jadan Baugh carried 14 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns and was out of the game early in the third quarter with Florida up 45-14. The Gators scored on their first six possessions, went six of six in the red zone and piled up 624 yards. The 66 points were their most in a season opener since 1994.
The team that heard the "arrived" line went 4-8 last season, watched Billy Napier get fired in Oct and has three preseason All-SEC selections on the roster. Sumrall came from Tulane on a defensive resume, having played linebacker at Kentucky and coached the position there and at Ole Miss, so the side of the ball he singled out is the side he is measured on.
#gators
Jul 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall speaks to the press during SEC Football Kickoff Media Day at the Tampa Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
"Our defense was atrocious at times, quite honestly," Sumrall said afterward. "So we had a hard time keeping pace with them. It was that way, in my opinion. Like, I watch that play, I'm a little bit frustrated about how we played defensively at times. I don't think we're as good as we think we are. I think we got some guys who feel like, you know, we've arrived in some spots and that will be addressed. We have got a lot of room to grow on defense. If it doesn't happen real fast we're going to get embarrassed and exposed handily in some spots, because that wasn't a great performance by us."
Aaron Philo completed 16 of 21 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns with an interception in his first start since transferring from Georgia Tech, and added a rushing score. Jadan Baugh carried 14 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns and was out of the game early in the third quarter with Florida up 45-14. The Gators scored on their first six possessions, went six of six in the red zone and piled up 624 yards. The 66 points were their most in a season opener since 1994.
The team that heard the "arrived" line went 4-8 last season, watched Billy Napier get fired in Oct and has three preseason All-SEC selections on the roster. Sumrall came from Tulane on a defensive resume, having played linebacker at Kentucky and coached the position there and at Ole Miss, so the side of the ball he singled out is the side he is measured on.
#gators
2 months ago
Duke won its fifth consecutive season opener with a 17-3 win over the Tulane Green Wave. Running back Nate Sheppard was the star with 35 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three receptions for 19 yards. Quarterback Walker Eget never seemed to get into a groove as he completed 13 of 26 pass attempts for 131 yards.
Play Number One: With five minutes and seven seconds remaining in the 1st quarter, on the game's opening drive, Nate Sheppard rushed nine yards for a touchdown to complete a 17 play, 75-yard drive to give Duke a 7-0 lead. The opening drive set the tone for the game as Duke leaned on its running game to control the game.
Play Number Two: With six minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter, defensive lineman David Anderson deflected pass attempts on back-to-back plays to prevent Tulane from making a 1st down and forcing a field goal attempt. The attempt was no good.
Play Number Three: On the opening drive of the 2nd half, on 2nd down and five, Tulane completed a pass but Duke linebacker Luke Mergott forced a fumble which was recovered by linebacker Nick Morris at the Duke 17-yard line to stop the drive.
Play Number Four: With 13 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the game, on 3rd down and seven yards to go on the Duke 19-yard line, Duke cornerback Kyon Loud broke up a pass intended for Anthony Brown-Stephens to force a field goal. Tulane converted the field goal to cut Duke's lead to 10-3.
#game #minutes
Play Number One: With five minutes and seven seconds remaining in the 1st quarter, on the game's opening drive, Nate Sheppard rushed nine yards for a touchdown to complete a 17 play, 75-yard drive to give Duke a 7-0 lead. The opening drive set the tone for the game as Duke leaned on its running game to control the game.
Play Number Two: With six minutes and 56 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter, defensive lineman David Anderson deflected pass attempts on back-to-back plays to prevent Tulane from making a 1st down and forcing a field goal attempt. The attempt was no good.
Play Number Three: On the opening drive of the 2nd half, on 2nd down and five, Tulane completed a pass but Duke linebacker Luke Mergott forced a fumble which was recovered by linebacker Nick Morris at the Duke 17-yard line to stop the drive.
Play Number Four: With 13 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the game, on 3rd down and seven yards to go on the Duke 19-yard line, Duke cornerback Kyon Loud broke up a pass intended for Anthony Brown-Stephens to force a field goal. Tulane converted the field goal to cut Duke's lead to 10-3.
#game #minutes
2 months ago
On August 5, Magnolia Oil & Gas (NYSE:MGY) reported second-quarter results that more than doubled profits and cash generation from a year earlier, all while the company was in the middle of financing its biggest acquisition to date. Net income came in at $181.8 million, up 124% from $81 million, and diluted earnings per share climbed to $0.97 from $0.41. The jump traces back to a straightforward combination: stronger oil and NGL prices layered on top of steady production growth out of Giddings.
Adjusted EBITDAX reached $370.3 million for the quarter, and Magnolia spent just $125 million on drilling and completions, roughly 34% of that total. Keeping the reinvestment rate that low let free cash flow more than double year over year to $234.6 million, while the business converted revenue into operating income at a 50% pretax margin. Net cash from operations came in at $384 million, giving the company room to fund its plans without leaning hard on outside capital.
Production backed up the numbers. Total output rose 8% year over year to 106.1 Mboe/d, and oil volumes grew 5% to 41.9 Mbbls/d, both ahead of the company's own guidance. Giddings, the field doing most of the heavy lifting, grew production 10%, with oil volumes up 7%, strong enough that management raised full-year 2026 production growth guidance to 6% from 5%.
Shareholders also got a direct share of the improvement. Magnolia repurchased 1.7 million shares for $49.3 million during the quarter and raised its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.18 per share, which was payable to those who held shares as of an August 10 record date, representing an annualized $0.72. In total, the company returned $80.1 million, 34% of free cash flow, to shareholders. On July 20, Magnolia also agreed to acquire WildFire Energy. This deal will more than double its Giddings acreage and combine two complementary **** et bases into more than 1.25 million combined net acres, with drilling upside still ahead across multiple benches, among them the Woodbine, Eagle Ford, and Austin Chalk.
Paying for that acquisition isn't free. Magnolia is funding roughly half of the WildFire deal with debt and half with equity, issuing 53.3 million new shares that brought net proceeds of about $1.23 billion and adding $500 million of new debt through senior notes priced at 6.625% and maturing in 2034. Both transactions closed in the days after the quarter ended, on July 22 and August 5, meaning more shares outstanding and a new layer of fixed interest expense for a company that had just spent the quarter shrinking its own share count by 4%.
#cash #company
Adjusted EBITDAX reached $370.3 million for the quarter, and Magnolia spent just $125 million on drilling and completions, roughly 34% of that total. Keeping the reinvestment rate that low let free cash flow more than double year over year to $234.6 million, while the business converted revenue into operating income at a 50% pretax margin. Net cash from operations came in at $384 million, giving the company room to fund its plans without leaning hard on outside capital.
Production backed up the numbers. Total output rose 8% year over year to 106.1 Mboe/d, and oil volumes grew 5% to 41.9 Mbbls/d, both ahead of the company's own guidance. Giddings, the field doing most of the heavy lifting, grew production 10%, with oil volumes up 7%, strong enough that management raised full-year 2026 production growth guidance to 6% from 5%.
Shareholders also got a direct share of the improvement. Magnolia repurchased 1.7 million shares for $49.3 million during the quarter and raised its quarterly dividend 9% to $0.18 per share, which was payable to those who held shares as of an August 10 record date, representing an annualized $0.72. In total, the company returned $80.1 million, 34% of free cash flow, to shareholders. On July 20, Magnolia also agreed to acquire WildFire Energy. This deal will more than double its Giddings acreage and combine two complementary **** et bases into more than 1.25 million combined net acres, with drilling upside still ahead across multiple benches, among them the Woodbine, Eagle Ford, and Austin Chalk.
Paying for that acquisition isn't free. Magnolia is funding roughly half of the WildFire deal with debt and half with equity, issuing 53.3 million new shares that brought net proceeds of about $1.23 billion and adding $500 million of new debt through senior notes priced at 6.625% and maturing in 2034. Both transactions closed in the days after the quarter ended, on July 22 and August 5, meaning more shares outstanding and a new layer of fixed interest expense for a company that had just spent the quarter shrinking its own share count by 4%.
#cash #company
2 months ago
Well after one half, how are we feeling?
Alabama entered this game determined to show they could run the football after an entire off-season of questions about it, and the trio of Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and Trae'Shawn Brown all looked to have a bit of juice that ****** ody showed a year ago with Hill rushing for for two TDs and Crowell picking up a 3rd. The rebuilt OL was opening a whole lot of holes right up the middle, though they struggled on some stretch runs.
At QB, Keelon Russell has been as advertised, constantly moving the chains with both his arm and his legs. He had a couple of first-year guy mistakes, but overall handled all kinds of pressure very well, and converted multiple 4th downs with some impressive throws.
Ryan Coleman-Williams and Kaleb Edwards both had a couple of drops each, but RCW did get things rolling near the end of the half with three good catches. Derek Meadows also has a really nice catch.
Defensively, the Tide defense wasn't on the field a whole lot. They had one coverage bust at the start and gave up a long touchdown, but otherwise the ECU offense has gone backwards as often as they're gone forward. Yhonzae Pierre even got a pick six.
#well #whole #couple #gone
Alabama entered this game determined to show they could run the football after an entire off-season of questions about it, and the trio of Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and Trae'Shawn Brown all looked to have a bit of juice that ****** ody showed a year ago with Hill rushing for for two TDs and Crowell picking up a 3rd. The rebuilt OL was opening a whole lot of holes right up the middle, though they struggled on some stretch runs.
At QB, Keelon Russell has been as advertised, constantly moving the chains with both his arm and his legs. He had a couple of first-year guy mistakes, but overall handled all kinds of pressure very well, and converted multiple 4th downs with some impressive throws.
Ryan Coleman-Williams and Kaleb Edwards both had a couple of drops each, but RCW did get things rolling near the end of the half with three good catches. Derek Meadows also has a really nice catch.
Defensively, the Tide defense wasn't on the field a whole lot. They had one coverage bust at the start and gave up a long touchdown, but otherwise the ECU offense has gone backwards as often as they're gone forward. Yhonzae Pierre even got a pick six.
#well #whole #couple #gone
