Call it a contrarian move. It has been a riveting 12 hours or so in the markets as investors slice and dice the midterm election outcomes.
Initially, stocks got hammered as the results trickled in. The thinking was that Democrats are less pro-business than Republicans, and since they will control the House and the Senate, there goes the corporate profit miracle that has driven the markets over the past two years.
But something very interesting has emerged after that initial knee-jerk reaction. Stocks are rallying on Wednesday — big-time!
Here are three reasons I think we're seeing this play out.
First, the midterm election results threaten to significantly disrupt AI data center expansion as voter backlash over soaring utility bills, grid instability, and water usage drive a sharp political pivot toward tighter regulatory oversight. That is being viewed as a positive for hyperscalers such as Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) and Amazon (AMZN) in that they will be forced to pull back on spending, which would boost free cash flow.

#initially

New York governor Kathy Hochul will today (Monday) launch an 88-person exploratory committee to report on the feasibility and challenges of a formal bid to host the Winter Olympic Games, according to people with knowledge of the announcement who spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to do so publicly.
The potential bid would see New York City and Lake Placid partner to host the 2042 edition.
Earlier this year, Gov. Hochul told The Athletic that "significant" meetings had taken place as she seeks to return the Winter Olympics to New York state for the first time since 1980, which is best remembered for the Miracle on Ice when the U.S. hockey team defeated the Soviet Union. Gov. Hochul, while announcing the committee today, will also announce a $2.5 million funding commitment to create a monument in Lake Placid in honor of the Miracle on Ice team.
The Lake Placid-New York City Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games Exploratory Committee will have an eight-strong leadership group, which will include Ashley Walden, the president and CEO of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, as well as representation from the offices of Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand (both Democrats), sources said. It will also include Julie Su, appointed deputy mayor for economic justice of New York City by mayor Zohran Mamdani, as well as Hope Knight, the president of Empire State Development, the New York state economic development arm.
There is a 16-member sub-committee on finance, which includes John Collins, co-owner and operating partner of the New York Islanders, and Josh Cohen, the son of New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who works as the team's vice president of business development. Randy Levine, the owner of the New York Yankees, is one of 12 members of a legal sub-committee, which also includes Robert Landau, the executive vice-president of NBC Universal, the long-time broadcaster of the Olympics in the United States.

#city

Blake Shelton is making sure Gwen Stefani knows just how loved she is on her birthday.
The country star celebrated his wife's 57th birthday over the weekend, taking to Instagram on Saturday with a collection of photos chronicling some of their sweetest times together.
More from Billboard
Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton Go Glam For Their Fifth Wedding Anniversary Date Night
Gwen Stefani Talks Rediscovering Christian Faith, How Son Kingston's Prayers For a Sibling Turned Into a 'Miracle'

#stefani #birthday #Instagram #saturday

SAN MARCOS - Texas State football coach GJ Kinne said Saturday's 31-26 loss to UTSA was one of the weirdest games he's ever experienced.
The Bobcats (0-2) outgained the Roadrunners (2-0) offense by 83 yards. The Texas State running backs averaged 7.15 yards per carry on 35 attempts. UTSA was 3-of-15 on third down; Texas State was 9-of-17. UTSA quarterback Owen McCown faced pressure from Texas State's defensive line all afternoon.
MORE: Texas State recap from loss to UTSA
And yet, the Bobcats were the team desperately tossing laterals across the field when the clock hit zero, hoping for a miracle play. UTSA stormed the field afterward, whooping and hollering in celebration. For the first time in the rivalry, Texas State was the program defending its status. UTSA clearly had a chip on its shoulder that its San Marcos neighbours used to have. After the game, Kinne treated the loss like any other.
"We can't let this one define us," Kinne said. "It's not the end-all, be-all."

#utsa #loss #marcos #roadrunners

Both the Steelers and the Falcons have new coaching staffs heading into Week 1. It's safe to say both franchises will be looking to start their new era off on the right foot with a victory. I spoke with Kevin Knight of The Falcoholic to learn a bit about what's new with the Atlanta Falcons.
Kevin Knight: Well, now even Tua Tagovailoa is out of the lineup thanks to an oblique injury suffered during individual drills on Thursday. That means Cooper Rush at the helm (who, in truth, may not be any worse than Tua based on the aforementioned preseason). What you're going to see is a lot of quick game, and as much Bijan Robinson as the team can muster. If Atlanta can run the ball well and get Bijan going, they can score points. So that'll be the plan, with the passing game largely taking a complementary role until Michael Penix Jr. returns.
Kevin Knight: This is a good defense that will have to find ways to manufacture pass rush. Thankfully, Jeff Ulbrich is an evil genius with his blitz packages, and he's got a lot of interesting looks planned. Expect to see a lot of linebacker and slot blitzes to supplement their weaker edge rusher room, along with a lot of emphasis on interior pass rush. Atlanta has a really nice interior duo with Brandon Dorlus (who was leading all interior defensive linemen in the NFC with 8.5 sacks last season before injury) and trade acquisition Gervon Dexter Sr. They're hoping the interior can offset some of their weaknesses outside.
Kevin Knight: I like Kevin Stefanski and think it pretty much takes a miracle worker to extract any amount of success from the Cleveland Browns organization. It does seem like there's a coherent, forward-thinking plan in place for this Falcons team for the first time in years. I don't necessarily expect a lot of success in 2026 based on the moves made to this point and the way the team is structured, but I do expect Atlanta to be one of the most aggressive teams in free agency and the draft in 2027.
Kevin Knight: As I mentioned before, Brandon Dorlus is a borderline-elite interior pass rusher who may also get some run on the edge. Linebacker Divine Deablo was the biggest surprise in last year's free agent class and completely transformed the defense when he was on the field. Second-year safety Xavier Watts was a DROY candidate in 2025 and forms a dynamic duo with veteran Jessie Bates III. Atlanta will be starting two rookies on defense: Avieon Terrell (brother of A.J. Terrell) in the slot, and Kendal Daniels at linebacker. Both impressed in training camp, with Daniels being a particularly pleasant surprise given his Day 3 selection.

#expect

Natalie Portman has given birth to her third child, her first with French electronic music producer Tanguy Destable, according to People.
The child was born in Paris last month after Portman, 45, announced the pregnancy in an April interview with Harper's Bazaar. The baby's name and gender have not been shared publicly.
"Tanguy and I are very excited. I'm just very grateful. I know it's such a privilege and a miracle," Portman told Harper's Bazaar during her pregnancy reveal. "And knowing it's probably the last time, I cherish every moment."
She also touched on a sense of clarity that came with this chapter.
COMPLEX SHOP: Shop the brands you love, anytime and anywhere. Uncover what's next. Buy. Collect. Obsess.

#bazaar #shop

Sept 9 (Reuters) - The photos tell a story of lives, interrupted.
The schoolroom, gaily decorated with paintings and letters. The paint shop, where the shelves still contain rows of once colourful cans. The bathroom, the closet that held neatly piled clothing, the ‌yards. All are now covered with a thick layer of river mud that descended without warning on bustling communities.
As the waters ‌recede, the survivors remain stunned, grieving and praying.
A string of miracle rescues in recent days has kept hopes alive that more people might still be saved from the catastrophe of August 26 when a glacier collapsed, sending a mass of mud and rock crashing into a river along the border between Nepal and China's Tibet. The resulting floods washed away villages, snapped highways like twigs, and buried homes in the mud.
At least 1,380 bodies have so far been pulled from the wreckage, some far downstream from the site of the disaster. A wall outside a Kathmandu hospital plastered with photos and desperate appeals hints at the unfinished ‌story of an estimated 5,500 people who remain ⁠missing.

#nepal

Week 0 and Week 1 gave us plenty of drama! UMass gave us one of the biggest upsets in modern day College Football when they knocked off Rutgers, while Michigan needed a diabolical miracle to beat Western Michigan at the buzzer on a Hail Mary. Oregon also a close call at home to Boise State, so the Big Ten was off to a rough start, but they have a chance to make a statement in Week 2. Texas hosts Ohio State in Week 2 as the headline
Well, here are my Top 25 rankings entering Week 2 of the 2026 season, along with quick overviews and predictions for each team. Every Sunday moving forward you can find my Top 25 here on NBC! Make sure to join the chat on social and chime in with your rankings or where I went wrong! Let's get to it.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2026 Record: 1-0 (0-0)
Last Game: 56-3 win vs Ball State
Next Game: At #5 Texas — Saturday at 7:30 PM ET
Three different Buckeyes threw for five touchdowns against Ball State and three different rushers had a touchdown as well. Ohio State even scored in the final two minutes against Ball State in a 56-3 win. The Buckeyes were shaking off all the rust and getting all their guys confidence up ahead of the top five showdown with Texas. Ohio State won last year's meeting versus Texas in Columbus, 14-7. We'll see what happens this year! I say Ohio State 21, Texas 20. Jeremiah Smith snaps his two-game touchdown drought against Texas and the Longhorns move to 0-6 against Ohio State and Georgia since 2024.
2. Georgia Bulldogs
2026 Record: 1-0 (0-0)
Last Game: 63-3 win vs Tennessee State
Next Game: Vs Western Kentucky — Saturday at 12:45 PM ET

#state #texas

I'll never forget the first time I encountered Grindr. In 2009, I was enjoying happy hour at Cobalt, a since-shuttered gay bar in D.C.'s Dupont Circle. My friend, spying the mustard skull on an iPhone (first released in 2007!) from across the room, nudged me. "That's the gay hookup app," he whispered scandalously.
When I got over the stigma of downloading Grindr, I was astounded how easy it was to flirt with nearby queer men — and to network. During RuPaul's Drag Race season 3, I changed my username to "Team Jujubee," a nod to a frontrunner, which helped me find a viewing-party friend in my neighborhood. When I lived in New York, I would sometimes engage in friendly chats with the app's gay founder, Joel Simkhai, who'd pop up on my grid from time to time.
For good and ill, tech and our relationship with it has changed a lot since the aughts. Gay apps are no longer a battery-draining novelty; for many, they're as quotidian as texting, a digital town square where a Madonna takeover and catfishing are commonplace. Many, like Grindr, are also now owned by straight people. And no need to comb the upper reaches of Cablevision's channels to find Drag Race anymore — there's an app for that too (several, in fact, depending on the region and season).
This is Out's Tech Issue, and we could think of no better cover stars that encapsulate this queer new media landscape than Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova. These queens went through the TV crucible of the House of Ru to emerge as stars of social media and the podcast world. (Their popular podcast, The Bald and the Beautiful, just signed a three-year deal with SiriusXM.) In their cover story on page 36, the media mavens discuss their dizzying rise through the digital spheres — and how their real-life friendship has kept them grounded.
Elsewhere in cyberspace, the advent of artificial intelligence has brought many miracles but also new terrors in how our data can be exploited. Learn how to protect yourself in the online dating world via Last Call (page 58). Technology does have its benefits; find ways it can improve your looks in our Beauty guide (page 26). But it's also important to find ways to unplug. In Out Picks, our editors highlight products that help them blissfully disconnect (page 8).

#time #drag #first

The second AP Top 25 Football Poll will be released on Sept. 8. The lone remaining team to play is SMU, which faces Florida State in a Labor Day special.
Most of the top teams in the country enjoyed romps. Notre Dame pulled away from Wisconsin with a strong second half performance on Sunday.
Top 10 teams that had a major struggle were Oregon, which managed to outlast Boise State in a tussle on Saturday between a Big 10 and Pac-12 school, and Ole Miss, which survived a slobberknocker against Louisville on a last-second field goal.
Michigan falls out of these predictions after its lackluster performance that needed a miracle to defeat MAC foe Western Michigan. The Wolverines get a chance to find a spot back in the rankings this week because they play host to Oklahoma at the Big House on Saturday.
Record: 1-0

#second #play #performance

Kimi Antonelli's stunning victory in the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid will go down in Formula 1 folklore - and, remarkably, his team boss Toto Wolff said that he had seen it coming on Saturday.
After Sunday's race, Wolff said that beforehand he thought that one of his two drivers was going to be standing on the top of the podium.
It was an eye-opening statement given they started the race 17 places apart on the grid, George Russell on the front row alongside shock pole winner Pierre Gasly's Alpine; Antonelli on the penultimate row.
"I thought one of the two is going to win," Wolff said. "Either George, because he was on the front row, or Kimi because he's going to walk over water, here at Monza. And I felt that yesterday also."
Wolff was asked to explain why he felt a performance he was comparing to a miracle was on the cards.

#kimi #george #grid

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

Michigan's fans are facing criticism for their reaction to a controversial win against Western Michigan on Saturday.
The Wolverines pulled off a miracle win on the final play, with Bryce Underwood heaving a Hail Mary pass one play after the game clock appeared to expire. Michigan won 13-12 against the MAC opponent, prompting fans to rush the field — an action that drew resounding criticism.
Michigan had struggled throughout the game, scoring just 7 points before their final drive ended in a controversial touchdown. The game initially appeared over when Underwood threw a Hail Mary attempt through the back on the end zone, but referees put 1 second back on the clock after ruling that it touched a Western Michigan defender who was out of bounds.
Underwood scrambled before heaving to the end zone, where JJ Buchanan came down with the ball.
Michigan's fans stormed onto the field after the win, which the ESPN broadcast called out and many fans online criticized. The Wolverines came into the game as 27.5-point favorites and trailed for much of the game before winning on the game's final play.

#underwood #final #hail

The play after the controversy in the Western Michigan-Michigan game on Saturday gave the Wolverines a miracle victory in the Big House.
Bryce Underwood threw a long pass that Utah transfer JJ Buchanan somehow corraled as time expired to give the Wolverines a 13-12 victory.
A look at Buchanan's catch for the 47-yard TD.
This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Sequence of JJ Buchanan's Michigan Miracle touchdown catch

#miracle #catch #House #underwood

The college football world is stunned at what unfolded in Ann Arbor.
Michigan struggled mightily against Western Michigan and the Broncos were on the verge of a major upset Saturday night, and it looked like it happened when the clock struck zero and the Broncos secured a 12-7 victory. However, the officials ruled there was still time on the clock, granting the Wolverines one last chance.
It did so, with Bryce Underwood connecting with JJ Buchanan on a 41-yard Hail Mary touchdown in a miracle finish for the Wolverines.
More: How much did Michigan pay WMU to scare living daylights out of it?
While there was plenty of jubilation for Michigan and no doubt the touchdown counted, many people questioned if the play should have happened in the first place, given it seemed like Michigan ran out of time when it tried a Hail Mary the first time.

#like #happened #touchdown

What was looking like a tragedy in Ann Arbor quickly devolved into mania and euphoria, with No. 16 Michigan football earning a miracle win vs. Western Michigan.
After the game appeared over, with a Bryce Underwood desperation heave sailing out of the end zone and the clocks showing zeroes, it seemed as though Lance Taylor's Broncos had earned an incomprehensible 12-7 win. However, officials after review put one second back on the clock, allowing Underwood to connect with JJ Buchanan for a touchdown on the last play of the game, giving Michigan a 13-12 win over WMU.
More: How much did Michigan pay Western Michigan to scare living daylights out of it?
That later led to a rarely seen sight in Michigan Stadium, as Wolverines fans rushed the field to celebrate the victory:
This story will be updated.

#western #lance

Natalie Portman is now a mom of three!
The Oscar-winning actress welcomed her third baby, her first with partner Tanguy Destable, People reports. The 45-year-old welcomed the new addition to the family in Paris last month, the outlet shared.
People confirmed their romance in March 2025, after Portman and Destable were linked by French outlet Voici. The Black Swan star also shares a 14-year-old son named Aleph and a 9-year-old daughter named Amalia with her ex-husband Benjamin Millepied.
The Closer star shared with Harper's Bazaar in April that she was expecting her third child. "Tanguy and I are very excited," she told the publication. "I'm just very grateful. I know it's such a privilege and a miracle."
She added that she is very aware of the challenges that can come with pregnancy, especially as her mother is a fertility doctor. "I have so many people I love who've had such a hard time with it that I want to be respectful around that as well. It's such a beautiful, joyous thing, and it's also not an easy thing. I know how lucky it is. I'm very aware, and I'm very grateful. I have deep appreciation and gratitude."

#destable #welcomed #outlet #star

When the New York Mets signed Juan Soto on the heels of a trip to the National League Championship Series, many fans thought they would be contending year in and year out.
However, they missed the postseason last year and entered play on Friday trailing by 10 1/2 games in the wild card race. Their chances of making the postseason are practically zero, but Soto still wants to finish out the season strong, holding on to hope of a miracle.
"Finish strong, that's what we got to do," Soto said on Thursday. "We're not finished yet, we're not done yet. Who knows what can happen. Finish strong and carry that into October or the next season."
October would be more than a miracle for the Mets at this point. They have played slightly better baseball as of late, posting a 16-13 record since the start of August. However, their turnaround has come too late.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand-new baseball lifestyle brand!

#Baseball

Red Sox Rally Comes Too Late After Rookie Starter's Nightmare Outing originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox nearly found another miracle against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. This time, the hole was simply too deep. Boston scored four runs in the ninth inning and brought the tying run to the plate, but its comeback attempt ended with a 9-6 loss at Fenway Park.
The Red Sox collected 11 hits and received home runs from Mickey Gasper and Jahmai Jones. However, rookie starter Jedixson Paez allowed eight runs over 3 2/3 innings, leaving Boston to spend nearly the entire night chasing Seattle.
The loss dropped the Red Sox to 75-64 and evened the three-game series at one victory apiece.
Dominic Canzone opened the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning. Gasper immediately answered with a 404-foot solo shot in the bottom half, continuing his impressive production since returning from Triple-A Worcester.

#Seattle #gasper

Listen and subscribe to Power Players with Brian Sozzi on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
With roots dating back to 1868, Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) faces a future that hinges on getting a nonchalant Gen Z crowd to pay to fertilize their lawns, just like their proud green-lawn-owning parents.
New CEO Nate Baxter realizes the hill to climb is steep and chock-full of roadblocks, such as more people buying Astroturf for lawns or putting stones where grass once lived — and needing water to do so.
"So our core consumer that has been with us for decades. They're homeowners or renters who care about their lawn. They are dedicated. And they care about weeds — they don't want them. They want the perfect lawn story," Baxter said in a new episode of the Power Players with Brian Sozzi podcast (watch above; listen in below). "What we are seeing with the next generation of consumer is a real interest in going natural. They don't mind an occasional dandelion in their lawn."
Baxter said Scotts has released new fertilizer in recyclable paper bags and all-natural lawn food to cater to this finicky crowd. He promises a push into products that could help people connect with the health of their lawn's soil.

#players #scotts #listen #crowd

Justin Rose turned a difficult stretch into a highlight reel moment during the final round of the Tour Championship. At East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, the veteran golfer conquered the par-3 ninth hole. He launched a tee shot from 208 yards that found the cup for an ace. This was the fourth hole-in-one of his Tour career. The shot happened on Sunday, August 30, 2026, during the final round. It was a massive relief for Rose, who had started the day with two early bogeys. The ace brought him back to even par for the round. According to ESPN Golf, the hole has been the second-most difficult one played at East Lake this week. The feat was so rare that it hadn't been seen on this specific hole since Xander Schauffele did it in 2019.
The statistics surrounding the ninth hole show just how hard it is to score well there. Per ESPN Golf reporting, the hole produced a scoring average of 0.077 above par for the week. That figure trailed only the opening hole in terms of difficulty. Before Rose's moment, there were only three birdies recorded on the hole all week. The rest of the field managed 88 pars, 11 bogeys, and one double-bogey. Rose, who is 46 years old, celebrated the shot by throwing both arms in the air and mimicking a basketball slam dunk. He then high-fived his playing partner, Si Woo Kim, and Kim's caddie, Manny Villegas. This shot was crucial for his standing. An intimidating uphill tee shot over a lake characterizes the hole, accounting for the severe struggles players face.
The difficulty of East Lake creates a unique challenge for the leaders and chasers alike. While Rose found a miracle, Scottie Scheffler has expressed concerns about how the course setup affects the leaderboard. The Rome News-Tribune reported that Scheffler noted the congestion on the board due to the course design. This tight grouping makes it hard to separate the field. Scheffler mentioned that the old course used to spread the field out more before it was redone.

#hole #shot #golf #week

The Washington Nationals are calling up infield prospect Yohandy Morales as part of the September roster expansion, according to reports. MLB insider Yordano Carmona was the first to break the news. Morales will be activated for tomorrow's game against the Atlanta Braves, which would be his MLB debut if he plays. He joins the list of National League prospects looking to make an impact down the stretch.
Jun 17, 2019; Bradenton, FL, USA; Team Jones infielder Yohandy Morales (12) bats during practice at IMG Academy. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The 24-year-old Morales was a second-round draft pick by the Nationals in 2023 out of the University of Miami (FL). He has made his way up through the system since, and last season he was promoted from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Rochester, where he has remained through this season. In 2026, Morales' power has gone up precipitously. In 104 games this year, he has a slash line of .286/.363/.519 with 25 home runs, 76 RBI, 19 doubles, and 82 runs scored. Despite these strong numbers, Morales remains outside the Nationals' top 30 prospects on MLB Pipeline's rankings.
Defensively, Morales has seen time at first base and third base, but has primarily played first this season. If he gets extended reps with the Nats in September, odds are it will be at first base. The Nats have used a platoon there since trading Luis García Jr. to the New York Yankees. Former top prospect Brady House has third base covered in Washington for the time being.
Barring some kind of miracle in September, the Nationals will not be making the postseason. They now sit eight games out of the last NL Wild Card spot. While that's not an impossible deficit, the team will likely be more focused on giving their prospects some reps and seeing what they might have on hand next season. The future appears bright in DC, as the Nats have built up a strong farm system during their rebuild since winning the 2019 World Series. Many of those prospects have already become major leaguers, and while the youth movement hasn't gotten them to October yet, it shouldn't be too far off.

#prospects #base #nats #washington

Jordan Staal was 3 days old when Jaromir Jágr made his pro hockey debut.
Since then, Staal has grown up; made the NHL; won the Stanley Cup twice and the Conn Smythe Trophy once; played more than 1,500 games between the regular season and playoffs; and, as he's less than two weeks away from his 38th birthday, is likely entering the final stage of his career.
And Jágr is still playing.
Jágr, 54, ranks second all-time in NHL points behind only Wayne Gretzky. Since leaving the NHL in 2018, he has played parts of nine seasons for his hometown Kladno Knights in Czechia — a team that he once owned outright, and now holds a 20% stake.
"The fans won't see me anymore. A miracle would have to happen. God would have to come into me and make me 15 years younger."

#since #jordan

Listen and subscribe to Power Players with Brian Sozzi on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
With roots dating back to 1868, Scotts Miracle-Gro (SMG) faces a future that hinges on getting a nonchalant Gen Z crowd to pay to fertilize their lawns, just like their proud green-lawn-owning parents.
New CEO Nate Baxter realizes the hill to climb is steep and chock-full of roadblocks, such as more people buying Astroturf for lawns or putting stones where grass once lived — and needing water to do so.
"So our core consumer that has been with us for decades. They're homeowners or renters who care about their lawn. They are dedicated. And they care about weeds — they don't want them. They want the perfect lawn story," Baxter said in a new episode of the Power Players with Brian Sozzi podcast (watch above; listen in below). "What we are seeing with the next generation of consumer is a real interest in going natural. They don't mind an occasional dandelion in their lawn."
Baxter said Scotts has released new fertilizer in recyclable paper bags and all-natural lawn food to cater to this finicky crowd. He promises a push into products that could help people connect with the health of their lawn's soil.

#crowd

By Dylan Butler
Carles Gil put on a clinic to lead the New England Revolution to a 3-1 win over Columbus Crew at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field.
And in the process, the former Landon Donovan MLS MVP placed himself in some rarefied air on Sunday.
With his 1g/2a, the Revs captain increased his career total to 152 goal contributions (57g/95a), making him the 20th player in MLS history to reach 150-plus goal contributions.
Gil picked up an **** ist on Matt Polster's 32nd-minute equalizer that canceled out Brais Méndez's opening goal for Columbus.

#contributions #england #revolution

The good feelings lasted about 53 minutes. In that far-too-brief period of time, we got to see a glimpse of what the 2026-27 Borussia Dortmund squad could do, even without Joey Veerman or Nico Schlotterbeck. But with Konstantinos Karetsas and Giannis Konstantelias, the two signings designed more than anything to reinvigorate the club as a whole, out on the pitch showing what they were made of, we were flying.
Hamburg couldn't get out of their own half, much less touch the Dortmund goal. The Greek kids looked every bit the talented studs that were promised. Karetsas played a perfect combo with Guirassy to set up the Dortmund striker for his and the club's first goal of the season. Then, just before the half, Giannis opened his own account when Maxi Beier played him into the box. He dribbled, found a bit of **** e, and took a shot that took a very fortunate deflection off Sebastiaan Bornauw and into the net. The deflection was so lucky I thought it might be ruled an own goal, but the Bundesliga's website still gives it to Giannis as of writing this.
Aaaaaaaaand that was it for the good feelings. BVB came out into the second half and it took eight minutes for the season to end. Giannis challenged for a ball, tweaked his knee without contact, and had to be subbed off. Niko Kovac subbed on Marcel Sabitzer, but Giannis's absence was noticed immediately. Hamburg controlled the play much better in the second half, and to add to the sour mood, Samuele Inacio received a straight red card towards the end of the match with a late slide-tackle that connected with Albert Grønbæk's shin. Inacio walked off in tears.
So Dortmund held out for the 2-0 win and clean-sheet, but the mood was irrevocably destroyed. We can never have nice things, and when we do they only get briefly teased before they get ripped away. The night is dark and full of terrors.
I'll just say it because we're all already thinking it: I'm very nervous that Giannis tore his ACL. Depending on the severity he could potentially miss the entire season, but even a partial tear would put him out of action for multiple (read: at bare minimum three months). Bottom line, unless it's a miracle and it's only a Grade 1 or something less severe like a meniscus tear (which would still require many weeks' recovery), we're not seeing him back on the pitch any time soon. If I'm Ole Book, I'm trying to find a last second cheap winger on the transfer market.

#dortmund #half #season #took

There's a ghost following Cooper Hoffman. Luckily for me, he brings it up first.
We're only around 20 minutes into breakfast at the West Village staple Morandi the first time Hoffman mentions his late father, the beloved actor Philip Seymour Hoffman. The restaurant has long been one of his family's favorite haunts, and the booth three spots over is where Hoffman recently celebrated his younger sister's high school graduation and acceptance to either Michigan State or the University of Michigan (Hoffman, laughing and shamefaced, keeps forgetting which). When the conversation turns to the New York Knicks' unbelievable playoff run, a decades-in-the-making miracle that Hoffman had to watch "drunk in bed" while in London attending a wedding, he invokes the memory of a man he lost just a month before his 11th birthday.
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#hoffman #time #we 're #village

The UEFA Champions League league-phase draw day is here, and there is palpable excitement to learn who Real Madrid will face.
For all of Madrid's reinforcements and the expectations placed on them to displace Barcelona domestically, Los Blancos are always judged by what they do in the Champions League.
The 15-time champions are, hands down, the most fearsome team to face in the tournament and have a track record of pulling off miracles to win it.
Even before the draw takes place, Madrid already know that their route through the league phase will include at least two heavyweight opponents.
Los Blancos are guaranteed to face two teams from a group containing PSG, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Manchester City and ******* nal.

#face

AnnaLynne McCord has married Danny Cipriani after the couple publicly asked fans to help fund their wedding. The 90210 alum shared the news in an Instagram Reel on Sunday. McCord said she married "the love of my life" the day before. She also called the wedding a blessing.
McCord and Cipriani launched a Honeyfund page last month to raise money for their wedding. The couple asked fans to give any amount toward their dream wedding and honeymoon. They quoted $100 for the marriage license, $1,000 for the rehearsal dinner and $1,200 for the flowers. The registry also allowed donations from $10 to $5,000.
The couple had raised $14,200 by Friday, according to The U.S. Sun. McCord told the outlet that she received "death threats" after launching the page. Some people called her "despicable," and she said others accused her of trying to get money from wedding guests. She also said some people donated $10 just to leave negative messages.
McCord confirmed her marriage in her Instagram video and called it "incredibly timeless." She praised every part of the event, from the rituals to the moments she shared with Cipriani. "Happy first day being AnnaLynne Cipriani to me," she said. The couple reportedly plans to hold two more wedding ceremonies in London and Cambodia.
After a long and on-and-off dating relationship, Cipriani proposed to McCord on Christmas Day 2025. The couple met on Raya, the celebrity dating app, and dated for years until 2020 when they parted ways. They reunited in 2024, and Cipriani shared their romance on Instagram in April. He called McCord his "Miracle" and wrote, "Loving you is the easiest thing in the world."

#wedding #Instagram

Former Steelers wide receiver Barry Pearson died Aug. 16, Chris Ward of steelersnow.com reports. Pearson was 76.
Pearson signed with the Steelers as a free agent in 1972 after starring at Northwestern. He played two seasons with the Steelers and three with the Chiefs.
He was on the field for the Immaculate Reception in the Steelers' miracle win over the Raiders in the 1972 playoffs. It was his first career play.
Pearson brought in the play to quarterback Terry Bradshaw.
He caught the 46-yard game-winning touchdown on Monday Night Football against Washington in 1973.

#steelers #pearson #chiefs #immaculate