WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is stripping tens of millions of dollars in U.S. military ******* istance from countries in Europe and the Middle East to support conservative-leaning governments in Central and South America.
The State Department on Tuesday notified Congress that it will reprogram $52 million in foreign military financing from Slovakia, North Macedonia, Tunisia and Iraq to Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Colombia, Ecuador and Peru last week and pledged to them additional support as the Trump administration has prioritized the Western Hemisphere in its foreign policy with an emphasis on combating drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
It is just the latest in a series of moves that have reduced either money or troop deployments to Europe in response to President Donald Trump's complaints about NATO allies not spending enough on their defense budgets and other matters. Both North Macedonia and Slovakia are NATO members.
But it also comes as the administration has put particular attention on the Western Hemisphere, aligning deeply with right-wing governments as Trump celebrates a renewal of the 19th century Monroe Doctrine establishing Washington's dominance in the Americas.

#Trump #Europe #slovakia

By Akash Sriram
Sept 16 (Reuters) - Impulse ***** e has raised $308 million in an extension of the Series D funding round, the startup building ***** ecraft ‌to move satellites and other payloads said on Wednesday, as it ‌looks to serve a backlog from commercial and government customers.
The extension valued the company at $5.6 billion, according to a source close to the company. ***** eX's $86 billion IPO in June has bolstered investor enthusiasm for the ***** e sector, helping improve the fundraising environment for companies such as Impulse.
The extension brings Impulse's Series D financing to $808 million, following a $500 million ‌round announced in June that ⁠valued the company at $4.26 billion.
The company also hired Vizio executive Adam Townsend as chief financial officer, as it scales production and ⁠works to turn a growing backlog of government and commercial contracts into revenue.

#company

Claire Danes attended the 2026 Emmy Awards as a nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for her performance in The Beast in Me.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
I had an overwhelming feeling that her platinum-silver silk-satin Armani Privé one-shoulder gown, with micro-crystal embroidery along the lining, was inspired by the archives. The silhouette and futuristic feel immediately took me back to Mr Armani's Spring 2011 collection, but the design is actually based on a Silvana Armani gown from the Fall 2026 collection.
Should Claire have worn the stunning burgundy runway version?
As much as I adore that rich hue and the velvet fabric, I think Claire made the right choice. The silver feels better suited to both the occasion and her red carpet style, while still retaining everything that made the original design so striking.

#silver #made #awards

Ayo Edebiri attended the 2026 Emmy Awards as a nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The Bear.
Randy Shropshire/NBC via Getty Images
Fresh from the Toronto International Film Festival, where she was promoting her new film, Clarissa, the Chanel ambassador completely switched gears from that outing, wearing a custom blue dress accented with a bold red bow.
I love how Matthieu Blazy created a dress for Ayo that feels specific to her, because you can't tell me you saw this dress and immediately thought Chanel. It's an Ayo dress, and that is what a custom look should do: reflect the person wearing it.
Alberto Rodriguez/Deadline via Getty Images

#dress #getty #chanel #wearing

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Credit: Getty Images
Maybe it's a me thing, but I've been craving the thrill and suspense of an award show. Luckily, tonight is the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards, where NBC's Law & Order star Mariska Hargitay is hosting live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. As a self-proclaimed binge-watcher, I'm all caught up on tonight's nominees, led by The Pitt with 25 nominations and Hacks at 24, breaking the record for a comedy series to date. But it's not just the potential winners getting buzz; it's the red carpet arrivals, too.
We're tuning in to see which designers tonight's attendees are wearing and get a glimpse of which trends will define 2027—or, in this case, which controversial trends. Shailene Woodley, who won her first Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Hulu's Paradise last week, arrived on tonight's red carpet in a look from Pierpaolo Piccioli's Balenciaga F/W 26 haute couture collection.
The trend in question? Sequin-embroidered trousers. Woodley wore the divisive pants with their runway pairing, a plunging periwinkle tank, but traded the oversize coat for a pair of burgundy opera gloves. Woodley's stylist, Karla Welch, introduced more color with a beautiful collared necklace crafted from Venetian glass by HOWL. The flooded hem hides Woodley's, I ***** ume, very tall heels.

#emmy #woodley #trends

Emilia Clarke returned to the Emmy Awards this evening, where she reunited with Emma D'Arcy for a Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon crossover moment as they presented Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images
Lilac is the unexpected colour of the night, with Florence Pugh and Sarah Pidgeon wearing the same hue, but sadly, the colour is where my enthusiasm ends with this Prada gown.
And the issues remain the same. I feel like I'm just repeating myself at this point.
Have a signature by all means with this silhouette, which in this case comes with a cape-style back featuring symmetrical bows, but when the tailoring and fabric – this time silk faille – consistently become the main talking points for the wrong reasons, it's just disappointing for such a big brand.

#game

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive playoff berth with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night behind Tarik Skubal's seven shutout innings and home runs by Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández.
Los Angeles tied the record set by Atlanta from 1991 through 2005.
The two-time defending World Series champions cut their magic number to three for a fifth straight NL West ****** le and 13th in 14 seasons. The Dodgers became the third team ****** ured of a playoff spot after Milwaukee and Tampa Bay.
Skubal (10-7) allowed three hits, struck out nine and walked one as he gained his second win against Cincinnati in seven days. Skubal allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings in a 3-2 victory on Sept. 8.
He is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in eight starts since the Dodgers (91-59) acquired him from Detroit Tigers on Aug. 2.

#Dodgers #playoff #seven

As we have seen the past two years, a 12-team playoff is forgiving when it comes to early season losses. An early stumble does not have to result in panic as the expanded field allows for a mulligan or two – or three.
The above serves as ample reason as to why fans in Columbus and Eugene should turn the page and look ahead at what's next. While we are at it, what to make of a couple of other Big Ten teams after two weeks?
While Arch Manning rallied the Longhorns from a 23-3 deficit after three quarters to stun Ohio State and replace the Buckeyes atop the polls, Ryan Day's team is not about to disappear from the playoff conversation. There is much sting for sure in blowing a 20-point lead, but the larger picture is one that must be in focus because everything remains on the table.
Besides, fans in Columbus, perhaps more than any fan base in the country, know what it is like to have their team rebound following a most disappointing setback. See the 2024 loss against "The Team Up North" and what happened after that.
Those same fans likely desired to see their team keep its foot on the Longhorns' throat instead of letting up. Facing a fourth-and-four from the UT 39-yard line on the first series of the second half and with a 20-3 lead, Day elected to punt instead of attempting to keep the drive alive. The decision was made despite the outstanding first halves enjoyed by QB Julian Sayin (12-for-16, 192 yards) and receiver Jeremiah Smith (6-110). It is easy to Monday morning quarterback, though it is also easy to see the Buckeyes managed less 100 yards on only 22 plays the remainder of the game.

#fans #playoff #early

NEW YORK — This time, Gunnar Henderson came through in the clutch.
The Baltimore Orioles' star shortstop hasn't often been the source of big hits in key spots this season, a down year in several regards. Henderson, who still has yet to collect a walk-off hit in his career, entered Monday's game with a .674 OPS in close-and-late situations
That moment will have to wait, but Henderson enjoyed the next best thing Monday with a go-ahead home run in the eighth to help Baltimore beat the New York Mets, 2-1. With the score tied and the Orioles looking for a big hit all night, Henderson took right-hander Dedniel Núñez deep for his 23rd home run of the season and his first since Aug. 30.
Baltimore (73-78) won the series opener to give Pete Alonso a happy homecoming in his first game back at Citi Field since the Orioles signed him away from the Mets in free agency. The home team treated Alonso, who spent seven seasons in Queens, to a scoreboard tribute video and multiple standing ovations. Entering the game sitting on 299 career home runs, he went 0 for 3 with a walk.
With the win, the Orioles pulled back to within three games of the third American League wild-card spot. Their playoff odds have dwindled to the single digits, but Baltimore is not yet eliminated with 11 games left to go.

#baltimore #home #game #walk

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers marked their record-tying 14th consecutive trip to MLB's postseason with a toast of bubbly after Monday night's 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The bigger celebrations will come later.
"It's hard to say it ever feels routine, but it is the expectation here," third baseman Max Muncy said. "I always laugh whenever we clinch a postseason spot, we just do a nice little toast. The guys that haven't been here, they kind of see that and they expect a little bit more. That happens when you clinch the division."
The two-time defending World Series champions, who joined Milwaukee and Tampa Bay as teams who have secured playoff spots, cut their magic number to three for a fifth straight NL West ****** le and 13th in 14 seasons.
Los Angeles tied the Atlanta Braves' postseason run from 1991 through 2005. The Braves made five World Series trips during that span, but won only in 1995.

#postseason #cincinnati #World #here

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tristan Peters fouled off 12 pitches in an 18-pitch at-bat that keyed Chicago's six-run outburst in the sixth inning and the White Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 on Monday night to stay atop the AL Central.
Kyle Teel hit a two-run double and Miguel Vargas connected for a two-run homer following Peters' lengthy plate appearance — the longest in MLB this season, and tied for the third longest since 2000.
The White Sox, who lost 102 games and finished last in 2025, won the opener of the showdown series to push their lead over the Guardians to 1 1/2 games. Chicago has led the division since July 4.
Sean Burke (9-7) didn't allow an earned run in five innings and Chicago's bullpen kept the Guardians in check as the White Sox improved to 7-4 against Cleveland to clinch the season series and tiebreaker.
The Guardians altered their rotation so Gavin Williams (13-8) could start the opener, and the right-hander gave them five solid innings. They needed six.

#cleveland #opener

The Jacksonville Jaguars are hosting a month-long celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month throughout September, launching community outreach programs and student-athlete recognition under the banner "Somos DUUUVAL."
The initiative addresses the growth of the Hispanic and Latino community in Northeast Florida through youth sports, literacy outreach, and leadership initiatives.
Adriel Rocha, the Jaguars vice president of community impact and youth development, emphasized the initiative's focus on community service and culture. "Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder of the rich culture, contributions and leadership of the Hispanic community and through Somos DUUUVAL, the Jaguars strive to celebrate and strengthen that spirit in Jacksonville," Rocha said. "Through a month-long series of initiatives for the Hispanic community, we are harnessing the power of service to strengthen connections and make a lasting difference in this community."
As part of the initiative, Jaguars PREP, the foundation's youth programming branch, partnered with Ticketmaster and Farah & Farah to host two youth football camps focused on athletics and leadership skills.
Nearly 350 students in third through fifth grades at BridgePrep Academy and Englewood Elementary School are participating.

#hispanic #month #heritage #somos

The Los Angeles Dodgers, seeking a third straight World Series crown, booked their playoff berth Monday with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
With a 91-59 record and 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Dodgers are now ****** ured of at least a wild card series place, as they pursue a historic three-peat as MLB champions.
The Dodgers are currently in position for one of the National League's top-two seeds -- who receive first-round byes and hosting rights in the division series -- along with the Milwaukee Brewers, who are also ****** ured of post-season action.
Over in the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays have already qualified.
The free-spending Dodgers beat the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series and triumphed over the Toronto Blue Jays last year.

#series #World

For a quick reminder of what makes a team with the oldest lineup in the majors the continued favorite to win a third straight World Series – even with one unicorn tied behind its back – take a long, close look at this week's series at Great American Ball Park.
Or for mercy's sake, if you're a Cincinnati Reds fan, just read about it here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers send as many Cy Young Awards to the mound for starts against the Reds this week as there are games in the series. And that doesn't even count who's listed for Thursday's series finale (somebody they call TBA).
Two of the four CYAs belong to left-hander Tarik Skubal, the former Detroit Tigers ace the Dodgers acquired at the trade deadline, who started this week's opener.
For the second time in a week Skubal rolled the Reds, this time pitching seven scoreless innings in a 4-1 win that clinched the Dodgers' 14th consecutive playoff berth.

#week #World

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chiefs cornerback Mansoor Delane was questionable to return to Kansas City's season opener against the Broncos Monday night after the sixth overall pick in the NFL draft hurt his shoulder in the first quarter Monday night.
Delane intercepted Broncos quarterback Bo Nix the first time he was thrown at on the opening series of the game. He stumbled after making the catch and went to the ground untouched, and Delane was not on the field for the Broncos' ensuing series.
Delane missed the majority of the offseason and the first preseason game because of an injured shoulder.
Chiefs linebacker Cooper McDonald also left in the first quarter with a knee injury. His return was questionable.
___

#chiefs #questionable

Sept 13 (Reuters) - The head of Russia's state nuclear energy corporation accused Ukraine on Sunday of attacking diesel fuel trucks, killing ‌two Russian servicemen and deliberately jeopardising safety at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia ‌nuclear power plant in Ukraine.
Alexei Likhachev said the attack took place on Friday and also resulted in injuries to other Russian soldiers.
The Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, was seized by Russian forces in the early weeks of the Ukraine war that broke out in February 2022. Each side has regularly ‌accused the other of actions ⁠that endanger safety at the plant and increase the risk of a nuclear accident.
Likhachev issued a statement saying Ukrainian ⁠forces had launched "a series of combined strikes" on Friday on fuel trucks which deliver diesel to the station.
"The strikes hit very close to the perimeter of the station's site," he said.

#russian #nuclear #Friday

Inter Milan produced another rousing comeback to beat Udinese 5-3 at San Siro and continue their perfect start to the new Serie A campaign.
Udinese had taken a shock 2-0 lead through James Abankwah's early header and then a close-range strike from Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.
The Nerazzurri - who had come from 2-0 down to beat Napoli late on in their last Serie A game - fought back as Carlos Augusto drilled in a long-range effort and Nicolo Barella equalized before half-time.
Marcus Thuram's sweeping finish completed the turnaround in the 57th minute, before England defender John Stones - making a first start since his free transfer move from Manchester City - limped off having pulled up after chasing an Udinese breakaway.
Pio Esposito and substitute Ange-Yoan Bonny then wrapped things up, with Idrissa Gueye scoring a late consolation for the visitors, as Cristian Chivu's men kept pace with leaders Roma on a 100% record from four league games.

#Milan

The 2026 home campaign for the Salt Lake Bees (24-44/63-79) came to a close this week as they welcomed the Round Rock Express (Triple-A, Texas Rangers). Known as the "E-Train," the Lone Star side steamrolled their way to a dominant series victory, winning five of six. Outside of a 11-1 thrashing on Thursday, the Bees never held a lead in the other five contests. The Express (38-31/69-75) collected their first road series win in Salt Lake since 2021, when they swept the Bees in a six-game set.
Despite a quality start from Bees starter Ryan Costeiu, Round Rock earned a 5-1 series opening victory on Tuesday. The visitors scored in four different frames, while Niko Kavadas helped Salt Lake avoid a shutout with a fifth-inning solo blast. Wednesday was more of the same, as the Express tallied a 6-1 victory. MLB rehabber Josh Jung punctuated the win with a solo blast in the eighth, as the Bees were held to just a trio of hits for the second straight game.
As mentioned above, the Salt Lake bats came alive on Thursday with an 11-1 rout. The team tied their season-high with four homers, spotlighted by Kavadas' second multi-homer night of the campaign. The infielder's surge was part of a four-hit night, his first at any level since 2022. On the mound, Joel Hurtado turned in 6.2 innings of one-run ball, finally collecting his first Triple-A win in his eighth try. After falling behind 5-0 on Friday, the Bees nearly completed a comeback, coming up just short in a 5-4 defeat. Salt Lake got the winning run on base in the ninth, but ultimately fell short.
The final Saturday and Sunday at home in 2026 were near carbon copies of each other. Big first innings for Round Rock put them in the driver's seat, leading 6-0 and 4-0, respectively. Saturday's output was more than enough for the visitors as they added seven more runs over the course of the game to shutout the Bees 13-0. On Sunday's home finale, Salt Lake battled and answered every time the Express scored. They closed the gap to 6-4 before Round Rock gained some length with Aaron Zavala's two-run blast in the sixth, the only longball of the evening. The Bees did not go down without a fight, bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth. A flyball was tracked down for the 27th and final out of the finale, completing the Express' 9-6 victory.
The 74th and final home game saw 7,853 fans come through the turnstiles of The Ballpark at America First Square — the largest crowd in ballpark history. Salt Lake finished 35-39 at home this season, winning or splitting nine of their 13 total home series. The Bees were victorious in at least one game against every opponent who came to South Jordan, avoiding a sweep for the second straight season as the hosts.

#lake #express

Across our area, local children are hopping on bikes to develop a lifelong passion.
The goal of Independence Youth Cycling is to uplift members of their various teams.
When they set out on the trail with their peers, they're always in for a great ride.
"Our nonprofit supports teams that operate in different leagues and series across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 65 or more coaches that support our organization...Our teams would not be here if it wasn't for the amazing green ***** es and trail systems that we have in Philadelphia and Montgomery County," said President and Founder of Independence Youth Cycling, John Raisch.
"It's been an amazing ride and we just want to see it continue into the future and be a strong, impactful organization," he continued.

#ride #pennsylvania

While Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard received the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honor on Monday, Indiana State quarterback Elijah Owens was listed among others for honorable mention.
Brungard, a fifth-year senior, accounted for a touchdown in all eight of the Penguins' series possessions, with him at QB, in YSU's 70-13 rout of Duquesne on Saturday. He completed 20 of 23 passes for 290 yards and six TDs, while also running for two touchdowns.
Five other players received honorable mention for the weekly award, including Owens, former Sycamore running back Plez Lawrence (now at North Carolina Central), Montana running back Eli Gillman, Stonehill quarterback Jack O'Connell, and Alcorn State quarterback Jaylon Tolbert.
Owens delivered his best performance as a Sycamore in Indiana State's 42-35 win at Eastern Illinois on Saturday night. The redshirt junior quarterback threw for 284 yards, ran for 98 yards, and scored five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing). Overall, Owens was 21-of-33 through the air for 284 yards and three passing touchdowns, while adding 18 carries for 98 yards and two additional scores.
Meanwhile, Lawrence — who played at ISU from 2023-25 and rushed for 1,164 total yards in 270 carries — ran for 210 yards and three touchdowns in North Carolina Central's 30-22 win against North Carolina A&T on Saturday in Durham. Lawrence also had a 200-plus-yard game as a Sycamore, gaining 203 yards in 29 carries at Murray State on Sept. 30, 2023.

#state #owens #sycamore #carolina

The San Francisco Giants have endured the bad, the worse and the ugly throughout a 2026 campaign that started with high hopes and landed with bleak realities.
The Giants have been among the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball this season. There was optimism in San Francisco when the team brought in first-year manager Tony Vitello from the college ranks with no previous MLB experience. Many experts predicted that the Giants would win 82 games and maybe even sneak into a wild-card berth. It would have been the most success the team has seen in nearly a half decade.
Then the season began and things shifted immediately. San Francisco isn't anywhere near discussions of making a postseason appearance. Instead, the Giants have the second-worst record in the National League (only the division-rival Colorado Rockies have a worse record).
The Giants haven't had the play they were expecting on the diamond. The Giants lacked depth in the bullpen, dealt with a series of injuries which contorted lineups, and key players just looked like a shell of themselves through large parts of the season. Vitello has been ejected from multiple games this season. Frustration has settled in San Francisco like fog covering the Golden Gate Bridge.
It's since seemed like a salvageable season after seeing younger prospects such as Bryce Eldridge see the field more. After a sluggish start, Rafael Devers found his bat as of late and is nearing a 40-homer season. There are few positive takeaways from the Giants this year, which leaves a little excitement for the next season.

#team

One of the 26 fighters competing Saturday at UFC 331 will walk away with an extra $50,000 in their pocket.
UFC CEO Dana White announced on Monday there will be a special bonus in play during the event in Los Angeles. In honor of hit Paramont+ series "MobLand", there will be an extra bonus. That will be on top of the regular four $100,000 Fight Night bonuses – Fight of the Night (which is earned by two fighters in the most exciting bout), and two individual Performance of the Night awards.
White didn't reveal the exact criteria for the bonus or what exactly he'll be looking for, but he did name it the "proper chaos bonus" and said it'll be up to him to determine the winner.
"Long before I did a deal with Paramount, I've been telling you guys I'm a huge fan of 'Mobland,'" White said Monday in an Instagram video. "It is one of the best shows on television. Season two premieres this Friday on Paramount+, the night before UFC 331 in LA. So for one night only, we're bringing a little proper chaos into the octagon. At UFC 331, we are unlocking the proper chaos bonus. $50,000 awarded to the fighter who I think deserves it most. UFC 331, Van vs. Pantoja is live September 19th on Paramount+, and do not forget season two, premieres this Friday. Mobland, one of the best shows on television. Knockout season one, just in time for season two."

#season #fight

It was difficult for Alex Bowman to hold back his emotions after Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The driver of the No. 48 turned in his best performance of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, placing runner-up to Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson.
The strong run at Gateway meant a little more to Bowman. Just prior to Sunday's race, Bowman revealed that his dog, Finn, who he called his best friend, sadly passed away. As the Arizona native reflected on his top-five performance at Gateway, he fought back tears in what has been an emotional weekend.
One day prior to Sunday's Enjoy Illinois 300 at WWT Raceway, Bowman took to social media to announce the heartbreaking passing of his dog.
"I don't know how to say this out loud, but last night I lost my best friend. You only get a dog like Finn once in a lifetime. He was just the best," he wrote.
As Bowman spoke to USA Network's Dave Burns, he tried to keep himself together as he expressed appreciation for his No. 48 HMS team for helping him through the devastating loss.

#illinois #back #performance

The Coloradoan is again proud to present our weekly Athlete of the Week series, partnering with Blue Federal Credit Union to honor the best Fort Collins-area boys high school athletes during the 2026-27 school year.
There are five nominees each week, and fans can vote every Monday through Thursday at coloradoan.com/sports.
This is the fourth week of the voting as the fall sports season continues to heat up.
You can find the nominees and the ballot below. Voting is open this week until noon on Sept. 17, with the winner announced after the poll closes.
Return to this page to see the official winner and a video of this week's Fort Collins-area Athletes of the Week. You can see last week's winners in the video atop this page.

#coloradoan

The Arizona Diamondbacks are trying to clinch a postseason spot in the final two weeks of the regular season and are adding some help.
The Diamondbacks claimed outfielder Jesús Sánchez off waivers after he was designated for **** ignment by the Toronto Blue Jays. Sánchez is not having the worst season, but the Blue Jays designated him for **** ignment to call up Rudy Martin Jr.
Sánchez has a .734 OPS this season, but has hit much better against righties. The Diamondbacks will likely use him in a platoon role, hoping he can help them out the rest of the way. They are picking up the remainder of his salary for this season, and he is under club control for next season.
The Diamondbacks are 2 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres for a wild card spot, so they have some ground to cover the rest of the way. They finish the season with a three-game series against the Padres, which could decide who makes the postseason.
Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand-new baseball lifestyle brand!

#season #diamondbacks #spot #Help

Sue Bird took center stage in Apple TV's recently-released three-part docuseries on the history of UConn women's basketball, which focused its second episode on the program's bitter, longstanding rivalry with Pat Summit's Tennessee.
Bird starred for Geno Auriemma from 1998 to 2002, a stretch that included two Final Four matchups with the Volunteers and served as the apex of tensions between the two programs. The Hall of Famer praised the Apple TV production for a nostalgic look back at her legendary run with the program and for spotlighting the themes that have defined Auriemma's four decades leading UConn.
"I finally got a chance to check out 'The Dynasty: UConn Huskies,' the doc that was on Apple TV," Bird said on her "Bird's Eye View" podcast Monday. "And listen, I loved it. I think we can all agree, right from the jump, that it is so well done. It is a wonderful documentary."
"There were certain players or certain eras touched on more, but I think what has always united us as players, whether you played together or not, was that we all had very similar experiences. The journey might have been different, but the arc was really, really similar. So, you definitely got a sense of what it was like to play at the University of Connecticut."
As one of the most recognizable stars from UConn's turn-of-the-century teams, Sue Bird was closely involved with the production in the documentary. The star point guard provided perspective on UConn's rivalry with Tennessee, ranging from humbling regular-season losses as an underclassman to a memorable 23-point drubbing in the 2002 Final Four, while also reflecting on getting busted at a bar with her Huskies teammates and an Auriemma mental breakdown that led him to hide under the Gampel Pavilion bleachers.

#bird #Apple #final

On September 10, MasterCraft Boat Holdings (NASDAQ:MCFT) reported a fiscal fourth quarter that looked nothing like the one a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA more than doubled, margins expanded across the legacy business, and the company closed out a year defined by its May 15 acquisition of Marine Products Corporation. But buried inside those same results was a $10.1 million writedown that tells a very different story about one corner of the business.
MasterCraft's core boat business is the reason the quarter worked at all. Legacy net sales, meaning the business before the acquisition, climbed 21.5% year over year to $96.6 million in the fourth quarter, powered by the next generation X Series lineup and less discounting at the dealer level. That combination of volume and pricing pushed legacy adjusted EBITDA margin up 730 basis points to 19.3%, up from 12% a year earlier. Once the newly acquired Chaparral and Robalo brands are added in, which contributed for only six weeks after the deal closed on May 15, consolidated fourth quarter net sales reached $129.9 million, up 63.4%, and adjusted EBITDA hit $20.5 million, up 114.9%.
The company also cleaned up its channel. Dealer field inventory for the legacy business fell 30% year over year, with turnover now running ahead of pre-pandemic levels, a sign dealers are selling boats rather than sitting on them. Full-year adjusted net income reached $30.2 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, up from $15.1 million, or $0.92 per share, in fiscal 2025. The company generated $22.3 million in free cash flow for the year and, as of June 30, held $43.9 million in cash, zero debt, and a fully available $75 million credit line. MasterCraft's own retail sales grew low single digits for the year even as the broader powerboat industry fell mid to high single digits, and the newer Robalo brand posted high single-digit retail growth in the fishing boat category.
The picture gets murkier once you look past the flagship brand. The Leisure segment, home to the Crest and Balise pontoon boats, saw fourth-quarter sales fall 11.2% year over year to $12.1 million, and the company booked a $10.1 million non-cash impairment against Crest brand ******* ets tied to what management called current category conditions. On a GAAP basis, that charge combined with acquisition costs and purchase accounting adjustments turned the quarter into a net loss of $7 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to net income of $5.5 million a year earlier. Operating expenses rose $23.1 million in the quarter, including $5.9 million in transaction costs tied to the acquisition.

#million #legacy

For the second Serie A game in a row, Inter came back from 2-0 down to win, this time crushing Udinese 5-3 in a chaotic encounter at San Siro.
The Nerazzurri had a perfect start in Serie A thanks to a comeback from 2-0 down to beat Napoli 3-2, but lost their Champions League opener 2-1 to Real Madrid this week following some costly individual errors.
Cristian Chivu rotated, giving John Stones his first start, but resting Lautaro Martinez, Yann Bisseck and Hakan Calhanoglu, along with not fully fit Federico Dimarco and injured Djed Spence. The Friulani had an injury crisis, missing Oumar Solet, Nicolò Zaniolo, Juan Arizala, Matteo Palma and Jakub Piotrowski, the Poland international undergoing surgery today to correct a benign cardiac arrhythmia.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: James Abankwah of Udinese Calcio celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 14, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

#serie #udinese #italy #start

Since his debut in 2018, Ronald Acuña Jr. has been one of baseball's most exciting players. His power-speed combo has made him one of the sport's best players. In 2019, Acuña fell just short of the elusive 40/40 club. In 156 games, he tallied 41 home runs and 37 stolen bases, which led the National League.
He was on an MVP trajectory in 2021. In 82 games that season, Acuña had a .990 OPS with 24 home runs and 17 stolen bases. Unfortunately, everything changed on July 10 when he tore his ACL attempting to make a leaping catch at the wall down in Miami. During his first three and a half seasons, Acuña was on the fast track to the Hall of Fame. His injury not only slowed that down, but it also raised questions about whether he'd ever be the same again.
The Braves eventually won the World Series, but Acuña was sidelined and could only celebrate from the dugout. Still, though, he received a World Series ring on Opening Day in 2022. He would return to action on April 28 against the Chicago Cubs. However, it was clear that Acuña wasn't the same player. In 119 games, he only hit 15 home runs, and his OPS dropped to .764—the worst mark of his career. It seemed he would never be the same again, but Acuña quieted the doubters with one of the greatest individual seasons in MLB history.
Acuña didn't just make history; the Braves did, too. In 2023, Atlanta finished with the best record in MLB (104-58). That year, they tied the MLB record for home runs in a season (307). Three players, including Acuña (41), hit at least 40 home runs that season. In 2023, MLB also made a slew of rule changes, including making the bases 18 inches. The extra three inches, along with the new pickoff rule, were meant to influence more action on the base paths.
Acuña took full advantage by stealing 73 bases that season. In the process, he became the first, and only, player to hit at least 40 home runs and steal at least 70 bases. Along the way, he also became the first and only player to hit at least 30 home runs and steal at least 60 bases.

#home #least

As Florida State prepares to visit Alabama football Saturday to complete the back end of a home-and-home series, its football coach, Mike Norvell, is firmly planted on the hottest seat in the ACC. As it turns out, however, athletics director Michael Alford's seat was even hotter.
The school fired Alford Monday after just four years on the job − he got less time than the most high-profile football coaches and less than Norvell himself. Alford's predecessor, David Coburn, had a four-year run of his own. Prior to that, Stan Wilcox lasted just five years in the role. One departure was a resignation, another a retirement, and the third a firing, but collectively, they represent a lot of administrative upheaval.
MOVING ON: Florida State AD Michael Alford fired after four years
BACK FOR MORE: Does Alabama football want 'revenge' heading into Florida State week?
Alabama has been there. And it doesn't want to go back.

#four #years #michael