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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — De'Vondre Campbell's decision to quit on his team in the middle of a game overshadowed the bigger issues for the San Francisco 49ers. An offense that was one of the most dynamic in the NFL during a run to the Super Bowl last season has been just ordinary for most of 2024 and was downright bad in a 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night that just about ended San Francisco's playoff hopes. San Francisco (6-8) was held to its fewest yards (191) in a regular-season game in eight seasons under coach Kyle Shanahan and its fewest points since Shanahan's debut in 2017 on a rainy night that will be remembered mostly for Campbell walking off the field in the middle of the game with a towel draped over his head. The game also featured San Francisco going three-and-out on four drives as Brock Purdy struggled to connect with his receivers. Deebo Samuel dropped a potential touchdown pass after complaining earlier in the week about a lack of touches. Purdy then missed Ricky Pearsall on an underthrown deep shot in the fourth quarter before throwing an interception into the end zone that ended the Niners' comeback attempt. “I just feel like I had a lot of plays left out there that I could have made for our team,” Purdy said. “I thought the defense and special teams played so good. That’s what’s hurting me is I just feel like I failed the team. I could have been better for our offense and we could have put up more points.” Scoring has been an issue this season for the 49ers, who have been missing key playmakers like Christian McCaffrey and Brandon Aiyuk for much of the season. San Francisco is scoring 8.5 fewer points per game on offense than the Niners did through 14 games last season. Red-zone defense. After allowing touchdowns on 13 consecutive red-zone drives over the previous four games, the 49ers kept the Rams out of the end zone on all three drives that went inside the 20. Receivers. The 49ers failed to get much production from their wide receivers with Purdy going 6 for 20 for 63 yards with an INT and a 19.4 rating when targeting wideouts. Samuel had 16 yards on seven targets with the key drop. Jauan Jennings had two drops and was the target on the interception. Pearsall had one catch for 16 yards on four targets. LB Dre Greenlaw returned for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in last season's Super Bowl. Greenlaw had eight tackles in the first half as he brought needed intensity and physical play that had been missing for much of the season. Campbell. The 49ers are deciding whether to waive or suspend Campbell, who lost his starting job when Greenlaw returned and then refused to play when he was needed. “His actions from the game just is not something you can do to your team or your teammates and still expect to be a part of our team,” Shanahan said. “We’re working through exactly the semantics of it right now, but we’ll handle the situation appropriately.” Greenlaw came out of the game feeling OK after leaving with soreness in his knee and Achilles tendon. He is day to day. ... S Ji’Ayir Brown (groin) and LB Dee Winters (neck) are also day to day. ... LT Trent Williams (ankle) is still trying to get back to play after missing the last four games. Shanahan said Williams' recovery has been "a lot slower than anticipated.” 0 — The Niners didn't reach the red zone once all game, with their deepest penetration into Rams territory being when they reached the 27 on a third-quarter field goal drive. This marked the first time since Week 11 in 2010 that the 49ers didn't run a single play inside the opponent's 25. The 49ers visit Miami on Dec. 22. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The craze from Buffalo Bills rookie wideout Keon Coleman's first official photoshoot has come and gone, but the bracelets he wore remain. Plenty of people see the Bittners every week out at Highmark Stadium. "Something crazy. But so many people have them and they're all excited to show them," said Krystle Bittner, mother of young Bills Mafia member Logan, said of the viral bracelets. The attention continues to be fun, but the demand for the bracelets after a decision to start selling them for a good cause does too. "Initially, Logan's fundraising goal was $1,000 that got smashed in 24 hours," she added. "So kiddo committed to a couple nights a week making them for an hour and sort of being on his games or something else like that." The entire family now spends that hour together nightly, but it's not all board games and homework. What people may have seen is how big this effort got, but what people might not know is that for every bracelet sold, $5 has gone to a good cause and now more than $20,000 for places like Oishei Children's Hospital. "With an additional Echo Machine, they were able to save the life of another kid," Krystle said. "We're a piece of that." But, does her 10 year old understand how big of an impact he's made? "Now, obviously he was not the only person who contributed to those funds, but just knowing that, I've been pretty honest with him, but just in a 10 year old way, about what those impacts could look like." He seems to have that pride in the community aspect of the Mafia. "It feels very, very, very, very, very ultra super amazing," said Logan. There's a number of special designs for his favorite players, but every time they finish making a bracelet, it hits home. "My favorite part is helping those kids and making them stuff that makes them happier and definitely cheers them up," Logan added. "My money goes to them, and it helps them recover from whatever they have that makes them go to the hospital." The effort continues, and Logan will continue to see that impact online and in Orchard Park. "I've said this a thousand times: He is a nicer human being than I am, and was, at that age," said Krystle. "It gives me a lot of hope that he will continue to internalize that and grow up to be the kind of person that continues to give back when he's, you know, 20, 25, 30."Stocks slipped in afternoon trading Friday as Wall Street closes out a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 dropped by less than 0.1% and is on track for a loss for the week after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 25 points, or 0.1% to 43,884 as of 2:11 p.m. Eastern time. The Nasdaq rose less than 0.1% and is hovering around its record. Broadcom surged 22.1% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Even so, some big tech stocks were in the red Friday. Nvidia slid 2.4%, Meta Platforms dropped 2% and Netflix was down 1%. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 13.8% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.39% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.Global energy executive joins Prometheus Hyperscale to accelerate sustainable data center growth and provide strategic counsel on $10B flagship project in Evanston, Wyoming HOUSTON , Nov. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prometheus Hyperscale, a leading developer of sustainable hyperscale data centres, is delighted to announce the appointment of Bernard Looney as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Looney, former CEO of BP, brings to the role more than three decades of energy sector expertise – from the frontline to the boardroom. He will provide strategic guidance on the development of the company's growth plans, including its $10B flagship data center in Evanston, Wyoming , which will be among the largest facilities of its kind in the world when completed. The announcement of Mr. Looney's appointment comes as societies and large technology companies grapple with how to power the explosive growth in artificial intelligence (AI). The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2026 data centers globally will use over 1,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) annually, around the same as Japan uses today. Against this backdrop of soaring demand and squeezed supply, Prometheus is pioneering new standards in hyperscale data center operations. These approaches include harnessing a variety of energy sources to power its data centers, including renewables, natural gas and possibly nuclear at a later date through our strategic partnership with Oklo. Prometheus aims for its data centers to not impact grid customers. Another key challenge is the enormous amount of power and water used to cool data centers to prevent the servers from overheating. Prometheus Hyperscale uses a unique liquid cooling system that dramatically outperforms traditional air-cooling methods, reducing energy consumption by up to 50%. This system also utilises deep underground water reservoirs and captures the waste heat to reuse or sequester it. It's believed that Prometheus Hyperscale's flagship project will be the first hyperscale data center in the United States to combine liquid heat transfer and heat reuse technologies. Founded by Trenton Thornock , an experienced leader in energy, finance and infrastructure, Prometheus Hyperscale's flagship project in Evanston, Wyoming , promises to be the most advanced sustainable data center in the United States , and one of the largest in the world, when it becomes operational in 2025/26. The 1GW-capacity developed site will cover an area of 640-acres (one square mile), making it approximately three quarters the size of New York's Central Park. Four further sites are currently earmarked across Arizona and Colorado . As Chairman, Mr. Looney will ensure the successful execution of Evanston as well as Prometheus's broader business goals. His appointment comes following the recent announcement that Trevor Neilson , a renowned climate technology entrepreneur and philanthropist, will serve as the company's President. It's estimated that $1 trillion will be invested in the U.S. in data centers in the next five years – with an additional $1 trillion internationally. Trenton Thornock , Founder and CEO of Prometheus Hyperscale commented: "Having Bernard Looney join as Chairman is a tremendous step forward for Prometheus. Bernard's track record and transformative leadership in the energy sector aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of data centers. His insights, as well as his extensive operational and project delivery experience, will be invaluable as we bring our flagship project in Evanston, Wyoming to life and set new benchmarks for sustainable digital infrastructure." Trevor Neilson , President of Prometheus Hyperscale, commented: "Bernard is the perfect person to guide Prometheus as we form partnerships across the energy sector to access low-carbon electrons that will power the future of AI. His extensive industry experience and leadership will be instrumental as Prometheus establishes itself at the forefront of sustainable data center operations." Bernard Looney commented: "I am delighted to join Prometheus Hyperscale at this pivotal moment as the world grapples with the intersection of AI, Energy and Sustainability. Innovative power solutions are desperately needed to ensure that AI is unleashed to tackle some of the biggest global challenges including healthcare, economic growth, and the energy transition. We must work to find solutions that lead to Net Positive AI – where the benefits to our world outweigh any costs. The flagship Evanston project is one such solution and I look forward to lending a helping hand, working alongside Trenton, Trevor, and the entire Prometheus team to help bring this vision to life. I can't imagine a more exciting challenge." Factsheet: Prometheus Hyperscale's Flagship Project in Evanston, Wyoming Prometheus's site in Evanston, Wyoming , aims to redefine sustainable infrastructure in the data center industry, setting a new benchmark for operational excellence and environmental responsibility. Key aspects of the project include: Extensive Land and Power Capacity: The project encompasses a 12,000-acre ranch, including a dedicated 640-acre plot (about 1 square mile) for data center facilities. Prometheus has secured an initial 120 MW of grid power through Rocky Mountain Power, with plans for an additional 120 MW, ensuring robust power availability without curtailment risks. On-Site Renewable and Low-Carbon Power Generation: With an on-site generation goal of over 1 GW, which will make it one of the largest data centers in the world, Prometheus is incorporating a mix of wind, solar and gas power sources. Additionally, the company has a strategic partnership with Oklo focused on next-generation fission-based nuclear power, delivering reliable, sustainable baseload energy to the campus. High-Performance Fiber Connectivity: The Evanston site will connect directly to the Northern transcontinental fiber trunk, offering high-speed, low-latency connections between the East and West Coasts. With agreements for up to 400G of service and plans to scale up to 800G when commercially available, the project is poised to meet the rigorous connectivity needs of AI, cloud, and high-performance computing clients and to be one of the biggest data centers in the world. Cutting-Edge Liquid Cooling Technology: Prometheus's unique liquid cooling systems will be deployed to achieve unparalleled energy efficiency by capturing and reusing waste heat. This innovative solution is specifically engineered for high-performance computing environments and will play a critical role in reducing the carbon footprint of the facility. Strategic Location and Access to Skilled Labor: Located 80 miles from Salt Lake City, Utah , the Evanston site benefits from proximity to a large, skilled workforce, bolstered by a regional Journeyman Lineman program focused on data center operations. This strategic location supports the project's operational and expansion goals while reinforcing Prometheus's commitment to regional economic growth. For more information about Prometheus Hyperscale and its sustainability initiatives, please visit www.prometheushyperscale.com . About Prometheus Hyperscale Prometheus Hyperscale, founded by Trenton Thornock , is revolutionizing data center infrastructure by developing sustainable, energy-efficient hyperscale data centers. Leveraging unique, cutting-edge technology and working alongside strategic partners, Prometheus is building next-generation, liquid-cooled hyperscale data centers powered by cleaner energy. With a focus on innovation, scalability, and environmental stewardship, Prometheus Hyperscale is redefining the data center industry for a sustainable future. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bernard-looney-appointed-chairman-of-the-board-of-directors-at-prometheus-hyperscale-302314829.html SOURCE Prometheus HyperscaleDelray Beach, FL, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The agrochemicals market size is expected to grow steadily, reaching an estimated value of USD 282.2 billion by 2028, up from USD 235.2 billion in 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.7% during the forecast period. This growth is fueled by the rising global population, increased food demand, and agricultural intensification. Agrochemicals, encompassing fertilizers, pesticides, adjuvants, and plant regulators, play a pivotal role in safeguarding crops, enhancing yields, and maintaining food quality. Key Growth Drivers Rising Global Population According to the United Nations' World Population Prospects 2022, the global population has surpassed 8 billion, creating an urgent need for higher agricultural productivity. This surge in population exerts pressure on limited arable land, driving the demand for agrochemicals to bridge the gap between food production and consumption. Technological Advancements in Agriculture The integration of advanced tools like precision farming has transformed traditional agricultural practices. By employing technologies such as soil sensors, AI-driven analytics, multispectral imaging, and autonomous delivery systems, farmers can optimize fertilizer and water usage, improving soil productivity while minimizing environmental impact. The precision farming approach ensures targeted application, reducing the risk of overfertilization and enhancing overall efficiency. Opportunities in Precision Agriculture Precision agriculture incorporates tools such as the "4Rs" principle (right source, rate, time, and place), soil mapping, and decision-support software to monitor and address crop nutrient needs effectively. Innovative systems like auto-guidance and leaf color charts enable farmers to fine-tune agrochemical applications, thereby maximizing crop health and yield. Tailored Data Solutions to Meet Your Unique Business Needs Globalization and Emerging Needs The globalization of agriculture has facilitated the exchange of agricultural commodities, bringing with it new challenges in pest and disease management. This has increased the demand for novel active ingredients to protect crops . Asia, with its rapidly growing population and economic expansion, has emerged as a significant market for agrochemicals, particularly herbicides and pesticides. Regional Growth Spotlight: South America South America is projected to achieve a market size of USD 73.2 billion by 2028, driven by robust growth in countries like Brazil and Argentina, major global producers of soybeans and other oilseeds. These nations benefit from abundant arable land, a rural labor force, and favorable trade policies. Technological advancements and greater adoption of agrochemicals have further bolstered their agricultural productivity. Key Industry Developments and Innovations Major agrochemical companies , including Bayer AG (Germany), Syngenta (Switzerland), and BASF (Germany), continue to lead innovation in the sector. Recent developments include: Wilbur-Ellis Co.'s launch of DILIGENCE-EA in 2018, a deposition and drift reduction product powered by ACCUSTRIKE technology. Precision Laboratories' collaboration with Monsanto in 2019 to develop advanced drift reduction agents. Such advancements enhance agrochemical effectiveness, reduce environmental liabilities, and address the challenges of drift control. Outlook and Future Trends The agrochemicals market growth is driven by increasing research and development in innovative adjuvants and active ingredients. As the demand for sustainable and efficient farming practices rises, agrochemical companies are expected to focus on precision technologies and environmentally friendly solutions. With expanding markets in Asia and South America, the sector is well-positioned to meet the growing challenges of global food security. This dynamic market, characterized by technological advancements and evolving farming practices, underscores the crucial role of agrochemicals in shaping the future of agriculture . Make an Inquiry to Address your Specific Business Needs Adjacent Markets: A Gateway to New Business Opportunities Controlled-release Fertilizers Market Inoculants Market
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Rarely does a college basketball game provide such stark contrast between the sport's haves and have-nots as when Jackson State faces No. 9 Kentucky on Friday in Lexington, Ky. While Kentucky claims eight NCAA Tournament crowns and the most wins in college basketball history, Jackson State has never won an NCAA Tournament game and enters the matchup looking for its first win of the season. Impressive tradition and current record aside, Kentucky (4-0) returned no scholarship players from last season's team that was knocked off by Oakland in the NCAA Tournament. New coach Mark Pope and his essentially all-new Wildcats are off to a promising start. Through four games, Kentucky is averaging 94.3 points per game, and with 11.5 3-pointers made per game, the team is on pace to set a school record from long distance. The Wildcats boast six double-figure scorers with transfer guards Otega Oweh (from Oklahoma, 15.0 ppg) and Koby Brea (from Dayton, 14.5 ppg) leading the team. The Wildcats defeated Duke 77-72 on Nov. 12 but showed few signs of an emotional letdown in Tuesday's 97-68 win over a Lipscomb team picked to win the Atlantic Sun Conference in the preseason. Kentucky drained a dozen 3-pointers while outrebounding their visitors 43-28. Guard Jaxson Robinson, held to a single point by Duke, dropped 20 points to lead the Kentucky attack. Afterward, Pope praised his team's focus, saying, "The last game was over and it was kind of on to, ‘How do we get better?' That's the only thing we talk about." Lipscomb coach Lennie Acuff also delivered a ringing endorsement, calling Kentucky "the best offensive Power Four team we've played in my six years at Lipscomb." Jackson State (0-5) and third-year coach Mo Williams are looking for something positive to build upon. Not only are the Tigers winless, but they have lost each game by nine or more points. Sophomore guard Jayme Mitchell Jr. (13.8 ppg) is the leading scorer, but the team shoots just 35.8 percent while allowing opponents to shoot 52.3 percent. The Tigers played on Wednesday at Western Kentucky, where they lost 79-62. Reserve Tamarion Hoover had a breakout game with 18 points to lead Jackson State, but the host Hilltoppers canned 14 3-point shots and outrebounded the Tigers 42-35 to grab the win. Earlier, Williams, who played against Kentucky while a student at Alabama, admitted the difficulties of a challenging nonconference schedule for his team. "Our goal is not to win 13 nonconference games," Williams said. "We're already at a disadvantage in that regard. We use these games to get us ready for conference play and for March Madness." Jackson State has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2007. The Tigers had a perfect regular-season record (11-0) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 2020-21 but lost in the league tournament. Kentucky has never played Jackson State before, but the game is being billed as part of a Unity Series of matchups in which Kentucky hosts members of the SWAC to raise awareness of Historical Black Colleges and Universities and provide funds for those schools. Past Unity Series opponents have been Southern in December 2021 and Florida A&M in December 2022. --Field Level Media
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Two New Hampshire fathers who were barred from school district events for wearing pink wristbands marked “XX” to represent female chromosomes insisted at a federal court hearing Thursday that they didn't set out to harass or otherwise target a transgender soccer player at the game they attended. But a judge hearing the case suggested the message the parents sent may matter more than their intentions. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.David J. Neal | (TNS) Miami Herald Stanley — whose cups have become almost as popular as the National Hockey League’s Stanley Cup — recalled 2.6 million travel mugs because their burn count got too high. As explained in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice, “These mugs’ lid threads can shrink when exposed to heat and torque, causing the lid to detach during use, posing a burn hazard.” According to what Stanley told the CPSC, the lids on recalled travel mugs have detached 16 times in the United States and 91 times worldwide, causing two burn injuries in the United States and 38 worldwide. Of those 38, 11 “required medical attention.” Related Articles National News | American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says National News | Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds National News | How to protect your communications through encryption National News | Companies tighten security after a health care CEO’s killing leads to a surge of threats National News | Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge This involves the Switchback model, ID No. 20-01437 in the 12-ounce size and Nos. 20-01436 and 20-02211 in the 16-ounce size; and the Trigger Action model, ID Nos. 20-02033, 20-02779 and 20-02825 in the 12-ounce size; Nos. 20-02030, 20-02745 and 20-02957 in the 16-ounce size; and 20-02034 and 20-02746 in the 20-ounce size. Stanley wants customers to contact the company to receive a free replacement lid by either going to the website to enter your product identification number and place of purchase (if you remember) or calling (866) 792-5445, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time. ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.NoneJointly Building the “Belt and Road”, China and Iran Stride Forward Hand in Hand
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Salman Khan addressed the behaviour of some contestants on the Weekend Ka Vaar episode of Bigg Boss 18 . Using the example of superstar Mahesh Babu, Salman highlighted the difference between an actor's on-screen persona and their real-life character. While Mahesh Babu may project a certain attitude and style in his films, Salman emphasised that off-screen, the actor is quite humble and down-to-earth. The lesson underscored the importance of maintaining a respectful and genuine attitude, regardless of fame or public perception. ‘Bigg Boss 18’: Avinash Mishra Calls Out Rajat Dalal for Tactically Changing Groups Every Week, Says ‘Yeh Kehta Hai Yeh Iska Game Hai’ (Watch Promo) . Salman Khan Calls Mahesh Babu 'Family Man' During the episode, drawing a parallel to Mahesh Babu, Salman said, “Shilpa [Shirodkar], your brother-in-law Mahesh Babu, on screen he is like that. But in real life he is not like that. Woh ek screen ka jo ek posture hain, ek jo bhagne ka style hain, ek action ka hain, ek look hain! Woh ek attitude dikhta hain. But real life main toh hain nahi ! Simple sa aadmi hain , family man hain (He has a posture, a way of running, doing action... he has a look. He has an attitude. But not in real life, where he is a simple person, a family man).” ‘Bigg Boss 18’: Hina Khan Returns As Guest on Salman Khan’s Reality Show, Gets Emotional Sharing Her Cancer Battle (Watch Promo) . Mahesh babu.. On screen he is like that, He has that walking style, action, looks & attitude but in real life he is not like that.. He is very simple, family man - @BeingSalmanKhan about @urstrulyMahesh in #BigBoss18 !!! #SSMB29 pic.twitter.com/7N0Dn72ryG — Mahesh Babu News🦁 (@MaheshBabuNews) November 24, 2024 For those unversed, Shilpa Shirodkar, a contestant on Bigg Boss 18 , is the sister of Namrata Shirodkar, who is married to Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu. On the work front, Mahesh is reportedly set to begin shooting for his upcoming film SSMB 29 with SS Rajamouli in 2025. Meanwhile, in addition to Bigg Boss , Salman Khan is also busy filming his upcoming project, Sikandar . (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 24, 2024 11:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com ).None
The Bull Market Keeps Growing: 3 Reasons to Buy Amazon Stock Like There's No TomorrowAP Business SummaryBrief at 2:22 p.m. EST
Five years ago, the U.S. women's national team were being feted in Washington, D.C., one of several celebratory events to commemorate their fourth Women's World Cup title. The trophy offered a fresh reminder that they are one of most established teams in the broader sports landscape – they remained the gold standard in women's soccer, as well as one of the most dominant teams in American sports. In attendance that day was the equally impressive, if lesser-known, Cognosante founder and CEO Michele Kang. An immigrant from South Korea who moved to the U.S. as a student, she achieved one particular version of the varied American dream – joining the nation's billionaire class. In a nation that Forbes reports has a record 813 billionaires , one can get away with building a successful medtech company but otherwise keeping a low profile. One of the things that deep pockets can afford you, though, is the opportunity to change your professional interests in short order. "Other than [a] brief stint in the elementary school days, I was not really aware," she said at a press conference in New York on Tuesday. "I was not really a fan, but once I got exposed to women's soccer right after the 2019 World Cup, when the players came back and there was a celebration, I learned about the presence of the professional league and actually, the team in the D.C. area, and I was blown away. As I started getting involved, I just saw an incredible potential and where it was vs. where it could be and I was really very surprised that there was just so little investment appreciating the potential. So just like what I did in my other professional career, when I believe in something, I just jump in, so I did with my head first." Tom Daschle, the former Democratic senator from South Dakota who served as the senate minority leader from 2001 to 2003, introduced Kang to Steve Baldwin, a tech executive who was the Spirit's managing owner. Baldwin set up a dinner between Kang and Spirit players Andi Sullivan and Aubrey Kingsbury and by Dec. 2020, Kang had a 35% stake in the Spirit. It was one of the first meaningful investments in an NWSL team since the 2019 World Cup, which serves as the origin story of many of the league's owners, around two-thirds of whom have come on board in the last three years. That moment is also the start of Kang's origin story in sports, joining the ranks of visible billionaire owners, a legacy she can add to on Saturday as the Spirit chase their second NWSL Championship against the Orlando Pride (8 p.m. ET, CBS , Paramount+ ). Kang is doing so, though, as the first women's soccer mogul, boasting a multi-million dollar global portfolio that's emblematic of the rapid rise of women's sports as a whole. The battle for the Spirit Kang's initial investment in the Spirit marked her first venture in sports, but her stint as an unknown quantity was fairly short-lived. Eight months after she joined the Spirit's ownership group, The Washington Post published the first of several reports detailing abusive behavior from then-head coach Richie Burke that Baldwin turned a blind eye towards. As the NWSL underwent a reckoning on abusive behavior across the league , Kang launched a bid to take control of the Spirit. "I became aware of some of these issues starting in April of this year, as many staff and players approached me to confidentially share their own stories that reflected how toxic our workplace culture had become," she wrote in a statement that September . "Over the past five months, I have worked very hard to convince my co-owners that fundamental changes were needed to provide a safe and professional workplace for our players. Those efforts were met with denial, evasion, and outright hostility. ... It is time for the Spirit to turn the page on this sad chapter in its history and bring in new leadership to chart a new path." Kang then became locked in a months-long battle to control the Spirit with Baldwin, who agreed to sell the club as part of the NWSL's investigation into Burke, but was dragging his feet doing so. He resigned as the Spirit's managing partner and CEO within days of Kang's statement, but the players called upon him to sell the club to Kang just hours after his announcement. "The person we trust is Michele," the players said in a statement . "She continuously puts players' needs and interests first. She listens. She believes this can be a profitable business. ... Please sell to Michele at a reasonable price." The power struggle continued as the Spirit won their first NWSL Championship in 2021 and through the winter. Baldwin tried to sell to billionaire Todd Boehly (yes, THAT Todd Boehly ) and retail executive Jennifer Tepper Mackesy, who reportedly bid $25 million to acquire the club, forcing Kang to increase her offer to $35 million. She then led what Baldwin described as a "coup" and Sports Business Journal called the deal of the year , converting non-voting, non-equity investors into full shareholders that formed a new majority ownership group that supported her campaign. By Feb. 2022, Baldwin agreed to sell to Kang, who became the first woman of color to serve as the majority owner of an NWSL club. It marked an impressive first impression from someone who was once an unknown quantity in women's soccer, which had long been a sport where players advocated for themselves but had few allies in leadership positions. Kang's leadership is one reason why the experiences of the Spirit's up-and-coming stars vary greatly from the squad's veterans, staying true to her promise about putting the players first three years ago. "I was actually talking about this to Brit [Ratcliffe] and Aubrey [Kingsbury] today, about how different things were when they were rookies – like, completely different," rookie Hal Hershfelt said on Thursday. "They were still living with host families. ... I feel like being a part of this club that pushes the agenda of how important women's sports should be and how much we should be rewarded for the work that we put in is just something so special and it's so cool that that's honestly all I know as a rookie. It kind of puts things into perspective that our older players, our veteran players didn't always have. That's what makes me feel extra grateful when we have an owner like this now – it's the reason that me, Croix [Bethune] and Makenna [Morris], all of our rookies, that's all we know right now." Kang has spent the years since living up to the beliefs the Spirit players said she had, including a transformative one – that women's soccer could be a profitable business. Kang's women's soccer empire Kang's first acts as the Spirit's majority owner focused on obvious upgrades like moving into the training facilities and stadium owned by MLS' D.C. United on a full-time basis, but the team continued to make splashes. They landed a front-of-jersey sponsorship deal with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for the 2022 season, with Kang previously serving on the center's International Committee of the Arts. In May 2022, Trinity Rodman was rewarded for her rookie of the year campaign by becoming the first NWSL player to sign a contract worth $1 million. She took another bold step over the last year by landing UEFA Women's Champions League winner Jonatan Giraldez as the head coach, reportedly quintupling his Barcelona salary to get the deal done. "I first had to fly to Barcelona and I spent like, I don't know, six hours in Barcelona with, actually, my general manager [Mark Krikorian] and others," Kang told CBS Sports Golazo Network 's Morning Footy on Tuesday. "We started from the vision. We started from the day-to-day operations and we started on how we can do this together and why somebody like Jona, who's already so established and so successful, should come to the U.S. – very different, no family and all that. It was a very long process, but it took several months, it took visits and it took sharing and debating the vision and the future of women's sports and I'm just very grateful that he took the pledge. He had faith in us, not only just me but the club and the NWSL and the U.S. women's game." Kang's outlook on women's sports is unflinchingly ambitious, to the point where she's building a women's soccer empire at what feels like breakneck speed. Her big splashes over the last year and change include launching Kynisca Sports International, the first multi-team ownership group dedicated specifically to the women's game and includes France's Olympique Lyonnais and England's London City Lionesses. She launched an innovation hub in August that is dedicated to expanding sports science research on female athletes and has invested in the U.S.' Olympic bronze medal winning rugby team, women's athletic footwear brand IDA Sports and media company Just Women's Sports. Most recently, she made a $30 million donation to U.S. Soccer that is dedicated to fueling development for young female athletes, as well as resources for women in coaching, refereeing and technical staff roles. The billionaire's empire is a long list of first-of-its-kind investments but as much as Kang can be commended on her ingenuity, she is remarkably clear-eyed about how her plans just make plain business sense. "I think that at the end of the day, it's not any different from any other businesses, right?," Kang said at a press conference on Tuesday. "Any particular business or industry can't be successful just focusing on only one part of the value chain. There needs to be all the elements present, even though you may take up only part of the entire value chain. The other components of the value chain need to be there." A vision for the future Though Kang's empire is vast, it can be summarized quite simply. "What you see is what you get," U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone told CBS Sports on Tuesday. "This isn't a facade, this isn't a front. She truly cares and is so passionate about women's sports and specifically women's soccer." Kang has perfected the act of putting her money where her mouth is, as her commitment to the Spirit players in 2021 and her successful attempt to bring Girladez to the NWSL proves. The same is true for her recent gift to U.S. Soccer, which began with "what was supposed to be a short breakfast that turned into a very long breakfast" during the Paris Olympics, according to U.S. Soccer CEO JT Batson. "We started talking about the need to invest in the ecosystem to invest in all of the things that pay off, long term, and we outlined our plans at U.S. Soccer to do those things and shared that's not where people traditionally give money," Batson told CBS Sports. "She's like, 'But that's the important stuff,' so that's how this all came to be." By Kang's own admission, investing in the women's soccer pipeline does not just make business sense on its own – it also protects the initial investment she made in the Spirit nearly four years ago. "As an owner on a day-to-day basis, I experience what's needed for the team and the league and so forth," Kang said. "[NWSL owners] came in specifically to invest and grow this sport and we have been doing that. So the results, I have to say, [are] pretty spectacular in terms of viewership growing, the attendance growing, sponsorship and all the above so this is all great but this is not going to be permanent unless the pyramid structure and ecosystem is there. "I get the question: 'You're in England, you're in France. How do you compare those countries' soccer systems vs. the U.S.?,' and I have to say, one of the major differences is actually the youth system – youth academies, youth development. There [are] a lot more structured and well thought out programs, everything in Europe relative to the U.S. so I felt there was some need there. Also even in the NWSL, we're talking a lot about expansion and we want to give more opportunities but we don't want to lower the quality by just expanding and right now, one of the limiting factors is not even the players. It's really the number of coaches, the number of referees, preferably also but not exclusively female coaches and referees and I felt that it's about time that we paid attention to it otherwise collectively, we're not going to be able to maintain this momentum, let alone improving and creating even bigger momentum for all of us." Kang also described the donation as "deeply personal" for her, not only because she's become the type of die-hard soccer fan who wants to be left alone even as people try to network with her in a stadium suite, choosing instead to watch every moment of every game. Her growing women's soccer empire offers Kang a chance to pay it forward. "I'm an immigrant to this country and I feel very grateful that this country has given me an opportunity to pursue and achieve my dream," Kang said. "There are so many young girls and women whose passions are playing soccer and playing the game for their country, the teams and I want to make sure and I want to give back whatever I can to help those young girls and women in this country and around the world to have a shot at achieving their dreams. Soccer happens to be where my passion is right now and I want to do everything I can to provide that environment so that they can go for and pursue their dreams." Kang may still be a relative newcomer to women's soccer, but she has seemingly breezed through any learning curves that come with the territory. Along the way, she has earned the plaudits of mainstays like Parlow Cone, a youth international who went on to win a World Cup and Olympic gold as a player and an NWSL Championship as a coach before becoming the federation's president. "If you would've told me five years ago that being in this position would enable me to work with this team, to go and do what we're doing right now, I would've thought you were crazy," Parlow Cone said. "To have Michele doing what she's done today, impacting the lives of women and girls – it's really even hard to put into words and imagine that I live it every single day in the ecosystem but to really think about the impact, not only today but for years to come, long after my presidency is done, is honestly mind-blowing." Sandra Herrera contributed to this report.Kobe Sanders tied a season high with 27 points as Nevada claimed fifth place in the Charleston Classic with a 90-78 victory over Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in South Carolina. Sanders helped the Wolfpack (6-1) earn a second win following one-possession games against Vanderbilt and VCU. After hitting the decisive 3-pointer with five seconds left in Friday's 64-61 win over VCU, Sanders made 7 of 10 shots, hit three 3s and sank 10 of 13 free throws Sunday. Nick Davidson added 223 points as Nevada led by as many as 19 and shot 58.9 percent. Brandon Love contributed 11 on 5-of-5 shooting as the Wolfpack scored 46 points in the paint and scored at least 85 for the fourth time this season. Marchelus Avery led the Cowboys (4-2) with 15 points and Arturo Dean added 13. Robert Jennings and Abou Ousmane added 11 apiece but leading scorer Bryce Thompson was held to seven points on 1-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma State shot 42 percent and 73.2 percent (30-of-41) at the line. After Avery's 3 forged a 12-12 tie with 13:41 remaining, Nevada gradually gained separation. The Wolfpack took a 24-15 lead on Chuck Bailey's jumper in the paint with 8:28 left but the Cowboys inched back, getting within 33-31 on a dunk by Avery with 4:11 left. Another Bailey jumper staked Nevada to a 40-33 lead by halftime. Nevada began pulling away early in the second half as it scored eight in a row for a 52-40 lead on a basket by Love with 16:44 left. A 3 by Sanders opened a 62-43 lead with 14:06 remaining before Oklahoma State charged back. After Nevada made eight straight shots, the Cowboys countered with 11 straight points and trailed 62-54 with 11:19 left on a 3-pointer by Avery. Thompson made his first basket by sinking a jumper with 10:37 left to get Oklahoma State within 64-56 left, and Keller's triple cut the margin to 70-64 nearly three minutes later. The Cowboys were within 78-72 on a basket by Avery with 3:56 remaining, but he fouled out about a minute later and the Wolfpack outscored Oklahoma State 12-6 the rest of the way as Sanders sank five free throws. --Field Level Media
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