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68 superph BILLINGS — Sam Petersen had a good feeling about this year’s Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo. The 21-year-old Helena cowboy knew he was in good position to put on a show for the fans. “I’m super excited,” Petersen said as he stood near the sandstone bluffs outside the back entry to First Interstate Arena at MetraPark as cowboys made their way into the facility late Saturday afternoon to prepare for the rodeo. “I got an awesome horse tonight, Lonesome Smile of Brookman Rodeo. This is my first rodeo of the 2025 season, and I couldn’t be more excited.” Sam Petersen of Helena is pictured before competing in bareback at the 2024 Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday. Petersen would end up starting his 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association season just the way he wanted. The likeable bareback bronc rider scored a ride of 88.5 points aboard Lonesome Smile to split the win at the Metra on Saturday night . Petersen and Bradlee Miller of Huntsville, Texas — who posted a score of 88.5 points aboard Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics’ Mustard — each claimed $8,825 for the bareback victory. Before the event Petersen told The Billings Gazette and 406 MT Sports that he was aiming to net a victory at the 29th annual rodeo, which serves as a fundraiser for the Chase Hawks Memorial Association’s community crisis fund . The Chase Hawks rodeo attracts 20 of the top cowboys in bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding for 60 entries total. “You go win Chase Hawks, there’s a big purse,” said Petersen. “You can get a jump start in the world standings and it’s only going to propel you throughout the year.” Helena's Sam Petersen split the bareback victory with a score of 88.5 points aboard Lonesome Smile on Saturday during the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark. Petersen explained that being a Montana cowboy, he’s always dreamt of winning Chase Hawks. “This will be my third year competing here. I got close once, but I’m ready to go win for sure.” “I’ve grown up here in Montana all of my life. I grew up going to Chase Hawks. It’s just an awesome rough stock event. You get to grow up watching your heroes compete, and now that I’m here and able to compete it’s awesome.” Petersen finished this past year 20th in the world standings with winnings of $97,405.46. The top 15 in the standings qualified for the recently-concluded Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. After the NFR was finished, Garrett Shadbolt of Merriman, Nebraska, finished the year 15th in the standings with $147,095.72. So, naturally, Petersen aims to take the next step in 2025 and qualify for the grand finale. This past year, Petersen — who has been a PRCA member since 2022 — just may have done that for the first time but he suffered a collarbone injury in April while competing at a college rodeo in Texas for Clarendon College (Texas). During his rookie season of 2023, Petersen was 19th in the final standings with $97,447.52. “Last year, I sustained a broken collarbone in April. It kept me — I think I was out for about 10 weeks — from going to my first NFR, but I'm excited for this year,” Petersen said. “It's everything I could dream of.” Petersen explained that he’s feeling good, and the injury has healed heading into the 2025 campaign. “I was out for 10 weeks and came back strong. ... But, you know, just 10 weeks is a long time, but, this year is going to be a totally different story,” Petersen said. “I've been working harder than I ever have. I’ve got the best mindset I ever have. I’ve got that world champ mindset, and I'm ready to go put it to use.” Chase Dougherty competes in Bull Riding at the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. Helena's Sam Petersen split the bareback victory with a score of 88.5 points aboard Lonesome Smile on Saturday during the Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark. Weston Timberman competes in bareback at the 2024 Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday. Scott Breding, left, stands beside his son, Parker Breding, shortly before Parker competed in Bull Riding at the 2024 Chase Hawks Rough Stock Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. A woman dressed as an angel carries the American flag into the arena at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. Orin Larsen competes in bareback at the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. A young child smiles and points at bull riders during the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. Leon Fountain competes in saddle bron at the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. Jake Lockwood takes off his helmet after competing in Bull Riding at the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. A young boy uses a lariat in the arena at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Chase Hawks Memorial Rodeo at First Interstate Arena at MetraPark on Saturday, Dec. 21. Email Gazette Sports Editor John Letasky at john.letasky@406mtsports.com or follow him on X/Twitter at @GazSportsJohnL Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Four days before the Jan. 10 national championship between Michigan and Washington, the country’s top recruit, Belleville five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, committed to LSU in a ceremony at his high school, located just 18 miles from Michigan Stadium. Underwood’s announcement marked the third straight recruiting cycle where a high-profile quarterback recruit in Michigan would be leaving the state to play college football, joining Detroit Martin Luther King’s Dante Moore in 2023 (signed with LSU but since transferred to Oregon), and Saline’s CJ Carr in 2024 (Notre Dame). At the time of Underwood’s verbal pledge to the Tigers, Michigan’s focus was on bookending a 15-0 national championship season, which it did with a 34-13 win over the Huskies. A mass exodus of players and staff followed, losing head coach Jim Harbaugh and 18 starters. Few expected Michigan to be national title contenders in 2024 with first-year head coach Sherrone Moore and mass turnover on the roster and staff. But the glow of a national championship quickly dimmed in Ann Arbor, with Michigan sputtering out of the gates and now fighting for bowl eligibility instead of postseason championships. The Wolverines have used an array of quarterbacks to try and replace J.J. McCarthy, but the results have been uninspiring. With Michigan ranking among the worst passing offenses in the country all season, it became clear the program needed an influx of talent on the offensive side of the ball, namely at quarterback. Brice Marich, a recruiting reporter for the Michigan Insider, said Moore reconnected with Underwood in the spring, but the communication ramped up this fall given the Wolverines’ struggles on offense. Moore and his newly-hired general manager, Sean Magee, began working more collaboratively with collectives to become more of a player in the name, image and likeness space – a significant shift in the university’s previous “transformational over transactional” approach. Michigan’s efforts paid of Thursday as Underwood announced he was flipping his commitment to the Wolverines in a bombshell decision. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound dual-threat signal-caller becomes just the second No. 1 overall recruit to commit to Michigan, joining Rashan Gary in 2016. “Looking at how the season has unfolded, it’s kind of been a blessing and a curse because if they went like 8-4, 9-3, I don’t know if you would see Michigan be as intense and aggressive in their approach,” Marich told MLive. “I think, because of how dire this program has looked and how empty the roster is going to be after this season, (Moore) understands he’s got to reload, and he’s got to reload fast. I think Michigan fans see that talent drop off, and the only way to get that talent back on the roster is to recruit talent from the high school ranks and in the portal, and you’re going to see both this offseason.” Underwood’s recruitment has featured several twists in recent weeks, but Michigan never curtailed its pursuit of a generational prospect right in its backyard. As reports started to surface regarding the Wolverines’ fierce interest in Underwood, MLive attended Belleville’s playoff opener against Ann Arbor Pioneer on Nov. 1. LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan was in attendance, standing at midfield during warmups and on the sideline for the whole game in a 68-0 rout. After the game, Underwood signed autographs for a slew of young fans. But he and those closets to him were keeping his recruitment tight to the vest. He, his father, and Belleville coaches all declined interviews after the game. Bryce Underwood, popular guy pic.twitter.com/rYfpjBsw4i A week later, Underwood took an official visit to LSU, and many recruiting insiders reported that the Tigers were in pole position to hold onto him heading into signing day Dec. 4. Even last week, he posted on his Instagram page a graphic of him in LSU gear that said he was “likely to decline” a Michigan NIL offer worth around $10 million. The post was deleted shortly after, but it appeared the Wolverines still had an uphill battle to flip him. They reached the summit Thursday by securing his commitment. Underwood made multiple “secret” visits to Ann Arbor this week and shadowed Moore as the team prepares for Saturday’s home finale against Northwestern. “I think this is honestly program- saving, game-changing type of land,” Marich said. “He’s a generational talent. He’s the hometown hero, so to speak. There’s a lot to like about him. He been playing since he was a freshman at Belleville. He’s won state titles. He’s a winner. He can run the ball, he can throw the ball. It’s a reason why so many schools were after him. For Michigan to keep chipping away, keep chipping away, and then finally knock over that wall and land a talent like him, that speaks volumes. I don’t say there was a lot of pressure, but from the outside’s perspective, I felt like this is one that Sherrone needed to have, and he got it.” Even though Michigan was one of seven finalists for Underwood when he committed to LSU in January, the Wolverines weren’t viewed as a top contender. They offered him early in his high school career, which ended last week with a playoff loss to Detroit Catholic Central, but Marich said Underwood didn’t feel like a priority to the previous coaching regime. Moore and his staff had work to do to try and repair a splintered relationship. A more unified message from coaches and collectives also was beneficial in landing Underwood. Multiple reports of Underwood’s multi-year NIL package being worth in the $5-10 million range are unconfirmed, but a source told MLive the value is substantial. “This has been a very sensitive and fragile recruitment,” Marich said. “One that is probably the most fragile recruitment I’ve ever covered. There was a lot of moving parts. There’s a lot of layers to this recruitment. There’s a lot of hands in this pot. But Sherrone Moore took charge in this recruitment. He was like, ‘This is my baby.’ I’m going to be all hands on deck, and we’re going to go down swinging. I want to be the guy to take that swing and hit this home run,’ and he knocked it out the park.” Underwood’s commitment can’t become official until Dec. 4, but he will be the centerpiece of the Wolverines’ 2025 class that should finish in the top 10. It now has 19 verbal pledges this cycle, including five top-100 prospects with potentially more on the way. It signed one top-100 recruit the previous two cycles combined.MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller," Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. "He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their fifth consecutive victory with the go-ahead touchdown pass against Arizona last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive to beat Chicago , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this NFL this season with his success in coach Kevin O'Connell's system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has gone through in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons . Last week in a loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won't be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he's bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. "He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that's already daunting for opponents. Minnesota's defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn't the only key figure from the Falcons who's well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn't lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,'” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?'” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that's aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it," Phillips said. Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a couple of clutch plays in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team's 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O'Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLBELVIDERE, N.J., Dec. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Edible Garden AG Incorporated (“Edible Garden” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: EDBL, EDBLW), a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), locally grown, organic, and sustainable produce and products, announced today that it has entered into an agreement with a single institutional investor that is an existing holder of its warrants wherein the investor agreed to exercise 8,330,000 outstanding Class B Warrants (the “Existing Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 8,330,000 shares of common stock for cash at the exercise price of $0.36 per share. These warrants were previously issued in a public offering which closed in September 2024. The net proceeds of the exercise of the Existing Warrants to the Company, after deducting estimated expenses and fees, are expected to be approximately $2.8 million. Maxim Group LLC acted as warrant inducement agent and financial advisor in connection with the transaction. In consideration for the immediate exercise of the Existing Warrants for cash, the exercising holder will receive new Class A Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 8,330,000 shares of common stock and new Class B Warrants to purchase up to an aggregate of 8,330,000 shares of common stock in a private placement pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The new Class A and B Warrants will be immediately exercisable for one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.36 per share. The new Class A Warrants will expire five years from the issuance date and the new Class B Warrants will expire eighteen months from the issuance date. The New Warrants described above were offered in a private placement pursuant to an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and, along with the shares of common stock issuable upon their exercise, have not been registered under the Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration with the SEC or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. The securities were offered only to accredited investors. The Company has agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC covering the resale of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the New Warrants. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Edible Garden® Edible Garden AG Incorporated is a leader in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), locally grown, organic and sustainable produce and products backed by Zero-Waste Inspired® next generation farming. Offered at over 5,000 stores in the US, Edible Garden is disrupting the CEA and sustainability technology movement with its safety-in-farming protocols, use of sustainable packaging, patented GreenThumb software and self-watering in-store displays. The Company currently operates its own state-of-the-art greenhouses and processing facilities in Belvidere, New Jersey and Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has a network of contract growers, all strategically located near major markets in the U.S. Its proprietary GreenThumb 2.0 patented (US Nos.: US 11,158,006 B1, US 11,410,249 B2 and US 11,830, 088 B2) software optimizes growing in vertical and traditional greenhouses while seeking to reduce pollution-generating food miles. Its proprietary patented (U.S. Patent No. D1,010,365) Self-watering display is designed to increase plant shelf life and provide an enhanced in-store plant display experience. Edible Garden is also a developer of ingredients and proteins, providing an accessible line of plant and whey protein powders under the Vitamin Way® and Vitamin Whey® brands. In addition, the Company offers a line of sustainable food flavoring products such as Pulp gourmet sauces and chili-based products. For more information on Edible Garden go to https://ediblegardenag.com/. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict including the timing of closing the offering. The words “expect,” “may,” “seeking,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including market and other conditions, the Company’s ability to achieve its growth objectives, and other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Act Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 and subsequent quarterly reports. Actual results might differ materially from those explicit or implicit in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements after the date hereof to conform to actual results or changes in expectations, except as required by law. Investor Relations Contact: Crescendo Communications, LLC 212-671-1020 EDBL@crescendo-ir.com

Donald Trump has threatened to seize the Panama Canal, revived calls to buy Greenland and joked about annexing Canada -- leaving the world guessing once again whether he is serious or not. By challenging the sovereignty of some of Washington's closest allies four weeks before he even returns to the Oval Office, the US-president elect has underscored his credentials as global disruptor-in-chief. His comments have renewed fears from his first term that Trump will end up being harsher on US friends than he is on adversaries like Russia and China. But there are also suspicions that billionaire tycoon Trump is looking for leverage as part of the "art of the deal" -- and that the former reality television star is grabbing headlines to look strong at home and abroad. "It's hard to tell how much of this he really wants, and how much is the latest soundbite that will be heard around the world," said Frank Sesno, a professor at George Washington University and former White House correspondent. "He puts other leaders in position of having to figure out what is literal and what is not," he told AFP. The idea of buying Greenland is not a new one for Trump. He also raised the prospect of purchasing the vast strategic island, a Danish territory, during his first term in office. He revived his push over the weekend when naming his ambassador to Copenhagen, saying the "ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity" for US national security. But he received the same answer this time as he did then, with Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede saying on Monday that the resource-rich island was "not for sale." Yet his most headline-grabbing remarks have been on Panama, as he slammed what he called unfair fees for US ships passing through and threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal be returned to Washington. Trump said on Sunday that if Panama did not agree "then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America -- in full, quickly and without question." He also hinted at China's growing influence around the canal, which was built by the United States in 1914 to link the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was returned to Panama under a 1977 deal. Panama's President Jose Raul Mulino dismissed Trump's threats, saying that "every square meter" of the canal would remain in Panamanian hands. Trump responded on TruthSocial: "We'll see about that!" Trump also teased neighboring Canada last week that it would be a "great idea" to become the 51st US state -- but against a dark backdrop of threatened tariffs. Sesno said it was hard for other countries to know how to deal with Trump's comments. "Well, it's clearly a joke. Or is it? said Sesno. "Imagine if you're the President of Panama, how do you react to something like that? You can't ignore it and your country will not let you. So the ripple effect of these comments is extraordinary." Trump's harsh treatment of US allies also stands in stark contrast to his repeated praise for the leaders of US foes -- including Russia's Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine in 2022 in a bid for a land-grab. But there is still likely to be method behind Trump's rhetoric. "Maybe the message is for China" when Trump talks about buying Greenland, said Stephanie Pezard, senior political scientist with the Rand Corporation. Just as Trump expressed concern about Beijing's influence in Panama, China's growing presence in the Arctic and its ties with Russia were "something that the US is really worried about," Pezard told AFP. But there could also be a signal to Denmark that 'If you're too friendly with China, you'll find us in your way" -- even though Denmark and Greenland had been "very good NATO allies." And perhaps Trump knows the reality. Any US plan to "buy" Greenland would be unfeasible "not just in international law but more broadly in the global order that the US has been trying to uphold," she said. dk/bgs

MICHAEL OWEN has named “the sad thing about Manchester United these days” while slamming “stupid” new signing Noussair Mazraoui. The Red Devils are on a dire run under new boss Ruben Amorim that has seen them lose four of the last six games. United have conceded 14 goals in that time too. And their latest loss came on Sunday as Bournemouth ran riot at Old Trafford in a 3-0 win. The Cherries took advantage of United’s typically slack defending to claim back-to-back victories at the Theatre of Dreams. Amorim’s men were once again caught lacking at set pieces as they conceded an easy opener. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL But it was a penalty for Bournemouth’s second which really frustrated pundit Owen. The former United man was left fuming when defender Mazraoui hacked down Justin Kluivert to give away a spot-kick. And afterwards, he branded the new signing’s decision to lunge as “stupid”, while also lamenting United’s inability to fight back when going a goal down. Owen told Premier League Productions: “A little rash? A little stupid, more like. What on earth are you doing? Most read in Football FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS “Two players are waiting for him, he’s not going to score from there and he dives in. “Just stay on your feet and usher him away. It’s just a poor, poor decision. The sad thing about Manchester United these days is they go 1-0 down and you never really think they’re going to come back. “They’re not a good team. Ruben Amorim needs to be watching that game and ensure these players that are not performing do not put on the shirt again. “He needs to be that brutal and that ruthless.” Mazraoui, 27, joined United in the summer from Bayern Munich for just over £12million. He has already played 25 times in all competitions for his new side. But it remains unclear where he fits in to Amorim’s system. Mazraoui, a right-back in a four-man defence by trade, has been utilised as both a wing-back and a centre-half in United’s 3-4-3 formation. Yet it was Erik ten Hag who really tried to prove Mazraoui’s versatility by using his former Ajax star as an attacking No10 playmaker in United’s 1-1 Europa League draw at Fenerbahce in October. RUBEN AMORIM suffered his worst defeat of his short reign as Man Utd boss with a shocking 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. And his flops were easily second best all over the park to Andoni Iraola's Cherries. SunSport's Ian Whittell has provided his ratings of the Man United squad... Andre Onana - 5 Shaky on ball and his nervousness in holding it too long was transmitted to United supporters. Bad conditions for a keeper but there were also some uncertain moments when he needed two attempts to grasp on to long shots. Noussair Mazraoui - 4 Complained bitterly about the penalty he gave away but it was hard to make a case in his defence. Caught out, then panicked and tripped Justin Kluivert from behind to cap what was already an uninspiring display. Harry Maguire - 4 All too often was second to the ball or simply failed to get hold of his man, with Evanilson too elusive for the United defender to shackle. Ruben Amorim believes Maguire is perfect for his three-at-the-back formation but the jury is still out on that one. Lisandro Martinez - 5 Stood watching as Semenyo swept in Bournemouth’s third goal, the latest in a long line of defensive embarrassments from United. Seems to be struggling, like most of his defensive team mates, with the new system and incapable of doing even the basics. Diogo Dalot - 6 Made a couple of good blocks and tried to become involved in attacking moments from wing-back, without having a huge impact. On a day when United’s defence was again found wanting, however, he was not the worst culprit. Manuel Ugarte Booked for a cynical foul on Kluivert and too often struggled to cope with Bournemouth runners. Too much of the game passed him by and did not last even the hour as United chased the game. Kobbie Mainoo 6 Like most of his team, guilty of some unforced errors but there was no faulting his work rate or drive. Created a great chance when he hounded Dean Huijsen off the ball and set up Bruno Fernandes but gave up the ball for Bournemouth’s third. Tyrell Malacia 3 Terrible touch early on drew groans from the home fans, the first of a number of sloppy moments from the fit-again full-back. Predictable that he should give away the free-kick from which the visitors opened the scoring and hooked at half-time. Amad Diallo 7 The big winner from the Rashford controversy and could have lit up Old Trafford early on but placed a good chance straight at the keeper. Not a performance on a par with his derby exploits but still looked United’s best hope of carving out a goal. Bruno Fernandes 8 Playing higher, and wider, up the field these days and maybe there is a debate over whether that is the best use of his undoubted talents. But in the last five minutes of the first half alone, he had three good chances which might have brought an equaliser. Joshua Zirkzee 5 Given the nod ahead of Rasmus Hojlund, a reward for some decent recent performances under his new manager but this was not one of them. Was the closest Red to Dean Huijsen as he headed Bournemouth in front though United’s defending was such a mess, it was not clear whether he was Zirkzee’s responsibility. Substitutes Leny Yoro (for Malacia, 46) 4 Came on as part of a much-needed half-time defensive reshuffle by Amorim but failed to add stability. Alejandro Garnacho (for Ugarte, 54) 5 Had a chance when clean through just after Bournemouth’s third but hit it straight at Kepa. Rasmus Hojlund (for Zirkzee, 54) 6 Looked like he might have a goal in him and at least forced Kepa into one good stop. Substitutes (not used): Altay Bayindir, Casemiro, Toby Collyer, Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Antony.

BING-JHEN HONG Introduction It’s been over 2 months since I initiated coverage on TSMC . As TSMC will report its Q4 and FY 2024 results next month, I think it is an appropriate time before Christmas to shed some light on Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TSM either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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Topline Bitcoin’s slump extended Monday, as the world’s largest cryptocurrency pulls back further from last week’s all-time high, though it’s still a banner year for bitcoin investors. Key Facts Big Number $500 billion. That’s roughly how much the aggregate market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies is down from last Monday’s record $3.9 trillion, according to CoinGecko. Bitcoin accounts for about 56% of the overall crypto market with a market cap of $1.9 trillion. Why Is Bitcoin Down? The recent selloff coincides with losses across risk-forward financial assets, including stocks, as the S&P 500 is down 2% over the last week. Catalyzing the declines was Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting , in which the U.S. central bank indicated more heightened concerns about lingering inflation and forecasted fewer 2025 interest rate cuts than previously projected. That’s bad news for riskier assets, like crypto, as investors tend to keep money in high-returning, low-risk government bonds when interest rates are higher. “Monetary easing has almost always favored the price of bitcoin, and the opposite has a negative impact on the price,” Yuya Hasegawa, crypto market analyst at Japanese crypto exchange bitbank, wrote in emailed comments Monday. Contra Eyebrow-raising corrections are also very common for bitcoin, which endured a more than 20% selloff this summer and a more than 70% one from 2021 to 2022 prior to its all-time high set this month. Bitcoin remains up massively in 2024, gaining 120% year-to-date, up 36% since the election, which returned newfound crypto bull Donald Trump to Washington. Other assets which surged have similarly taken a breather, including Tesla stock, which is down 12% from its record high set last week but trades more than 70% higher than it did prior to the election.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The plan for the Minnesota Vikings was to bring in Sam Darnold as the bridge between Kirk Cousins and J.J. McCarthy, confident his strong arm and starting experience would sufficiently run a high-caliber offense until the rookie was deemed ready to play. Darnold's performance to date has been much closer to superstar than mere stopgap. “He’s a baller," Vikings safety Harrison Smith said. "He can make stuff happen when he needs to. I know with the outside narrative on him and his path and everything, you might not think that, but ever since he got here, it felt like that was going to happen.” Having led the Vikings (10-2) to their fifth consecutive victory with the go-ahead touchdown pass against Arizona last week, one game after a stellar overtime drive to beat Chicago , Darnold has become one of the darlings of this NFL this season with his success in coach Kevin O'Connell's system after the third overall pick in the 2018 draft started his career in rather bleak fashion. His first year in Minnesota sure has been smoother than what Cousins has gone through in his debut with the Atlanta Falcons . Last week in a loss at home to the Los Angeles Chargers, Cousins matched his career high with four interceptions. “I don’t think anybody can put any more pressure on Kirk than he has for himself. He’s carried us through this season when we were figuring out a lot of things on defense,” Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’s just having a hard time right now. There’s nothing to say he can’t catch fire and light it up like he’s been doing.” The Falcons (6-6) take their three-game losing streak on the road to face the Vikings, with division races for both teams in full swing. The quarterback contrasts have made this matchup all the more intriguing, with Cousins coming back to the place where he spent the previous six seasons. Cousins has a $25 million salary cap hit this season, the 11th-highest among quarterbacks in the league. Even if the Falcons were to move on in 2026 and swallow the dead money for two more years with eighth overall pick Michael Penix Jr. waiting in the wings, Cousins will carry a $40 million charge in 2025. Darnold’s cap charge is $5 million this season, just 31st on the list. Though he will become a free agent in March, the Vikings structured his contract with void years to spread his cap hit into next season for another $5 million. McCarthy, the 10th overall pick, won't be ready until next year after having surgery to repair the meniscus he tore in his right knee in his first preseason game. Though Darnold has had a couple of clunkers this year, the Vikings still won those games and he's bounced back strong without letting interceptions linger into future decisions. "He’s kind of found a little balance, at least the last few weeks, of ‘When is it too risky?’ and ‘When can I take my shot at something?’” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. The Falcons have seen as much on tape. “I think he’s playing free,” Pro Bowl safety Jessie Bates said. “It’s not a lot of complicated throws or anything that he’s doing. I just think that he’s finally able to feel comfortable in himself.” Falcons coach Raheem Morris decided to address the significance of Cousins’ homecoming with the team, bracing for the type of crowd reaction that will only intensify the noise at U.S. Bank Stadium that's already daunting for opponents. Minnesota's defense has thrived this season at home, using the fans to enhance the effectiveness of a disguise-based, aggressive scheme that leads the league with 18 interceptions and has also been adept at rushing the passer and stuffing the run. “The environment they create up in Minnesota is absolutely outstanding,” Morris said. Cousins isn't the only key figure from the Falcons who's well-known to Vikings coaches. Morris was the defensive coordinator in 2021 with the Los Angeles Rams when O'Connell was the offensive coordinator and Phillips was the tight ends coach on that Super Bowl champion team. Vikings running back Aaron Jones has fumbled three times in the last two games, losing two of them, but he hasn't lost the confidence of coaches or teammates as evidenced by the pass called for his go-ahead touchdown catch against the Cardinals. Family is a strong support system for him, too, but sometimes that means tough love. His mother, Vurgess Jones, let him have it after the game when they talked about the turnovers. “I was like, ‘I’ve got to learn from it,'” Jones said. “She was like, ‘You didn’t learn last week?'” He has matched his career high in 2024 with five fumbles and three lost, a fact not lost on a Falcons defense that's aggressive with dislodging techniques despite only four recovered fumbles in 12 games. “You can see it all over the tape: Those guys are coaching it," Phillips said. Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, who was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Month after racking up eight tackles for loss in November, carried his pass-rushing mojo into December with a couple of clutch plays in the final minute to preserve the victory over Arizona. Greenard has 10 of the team's 39 sacks. “How many times this year has he affected the quarterback, drawn a penalty, sacked the quarterback, strip-sacked like last week in these critical moments where you need your best players to go make those plays?” O'Connell said. “He’s done it time and time again.” Falcons running back Bijan Robinson set a career high last week with 26 carries. He had 102 yards rushing and was again a significant part of the passing attack with six catches against the Chargers. “I just do whatever I can to help us as a team,” said Robinson, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,277 combined yards from scrimmage. “I just trust whatever they have in the plan.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLHOUSTON — Houston Texans receiver Tank Dell will miss the remainder of the season after dislocating a knee and tearing an ACL in a loss to Kansas City on Saturday. Coach DeMeco Ryans revealed the details of his injury Monday before announcing that Dell would have season-ending surgery for a second straight year. He fractured his fibula in Week 13 against the Broncos as a rookie last season and had surgery on it the following day. “He dislocated the knee, he tore the ACL, other things there he’ll have to get repaired," Ryans said. “So he’ll be out for the year.” Ryans didn't have a date for Dell's surgery for this injury, but said it would be soon. Dell was injured on a 30-yard touchdown catch in Houston’s 27-19 loss Saturday. He was coming across the back of the end zone and made the spectacular catch on a pass from C.J. Stroud before colliding with Houston teammate Jared Wayne on the way to the ground. Dell immediately grabbed at his knee and Wayne signaled for team trainers, who spent several minutes working on the wide receiver while teammates waited anxiously. People are also reading... Dell was eventually placed on a stretcher and driven in a covered medical cart off the field, and then he was taken to the hospital. He stayed in the hospital overnight before flying back to Houston on Sunday. Stroud, who is so close to Dell that he considers him a brother, cried the entire time the receiver was down on the field and for a while after he was taken away. “It was just not easy for me to sit there and be emotional,” Stroud said Monday. “But it’s something that we all go through in life and it’s easy to be a fake tough guy. It’s easy to go through life acting like everything doesn’t affect you, but deep down we all know we’re going through something.” Some criticized Stroud for crying. But he believes a display of emotion such as that was important to remind people of the human aspect of this game and the toll it can take on players. “It’s good for young men and women out there, kids who are brought up — and I was taught this too as a kid, not from my parents but just from the world, don’t let anybody see you emotional,” he said. “Don’t let anybody see you down and yeah there’s some truth to that in in certain aspects, but there’s also life and I think it was good for people to see me in that light and knowing that there is still a human factor to me and I’m a normal person.” Browns' Garrett not interested in rebuild CLEVELAND — Two days before recording another milestone, resume-building sack on Sunday at Cincinnati, Myles Garrett delivered a jarring hit — on the Browns. In this case, any roughness could be deemed necessary. Garrett piled on to what has been a painful and puzzling season in Cleveland by saying he doesn't have any interest in going through another rebuild and wants to know exactly what the organization's offseason plans are to fix things. If that wasn't enough, Garrett indicated for the first time that he would consider leaving the Browns if his vision doesn't mesh with the team's ambitions. “It’s a possibility,” he said of playing elsewhere. "But I want to be a Cleveland Brown. I want to play my career here.” It's unclear how Garrett's comments were received by owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam, who have plenty to consider as the Browns (3-12) head into the final two weeks of a season that began with playoff expectations and could be followed by upheaval. The Browns haven't been this bad since going 0-16 in 2017. Rodgers acknowledges Jets' run may end Aaron Rodgers is still contemplating his playing future. The star quarterback knows if he returns to the field, it might be out of hands whether it's with the New York Jets. The 41-year-old Rodgers said last week that he'll take some time after this season, his 20th in the NFL, to determine what he wants to do next. On Monday, he suggested a decision on whether he'll return with the Jets could be made for him the day after the team's regular-season finale. “I think there’s a world where they just say, ‘Hey, thank you, we’re going to go in another direction’ on Jan. 6,” Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “That’s a possibility,” he added. "I think there’s also a possibility we’re going to wait and see who the new staff is.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!