lol646 slot login Uwill Founder & CEO Michael London Named Innovator in HealthcareLOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is keeping elite company. The Japanese superstar caps 2024 by winning The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time, tying him with basketball great Michael Jordan. He trails only four-time winners Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James. “I’m very honored,” Ohtani said through translator Matt Hidaka in an exclusive interview with the AP. ”Obviously all the hard work has paid off. Maybe next year, I’ll get the award again.” In balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members, Ohtani received 48 votes. He previously won the award in 2023 and 2021 , when he was with the Angels. “Growing up in Japan, I did follow Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods,” he said. “I would see their accolades and how they were successful in the United States.” The AP honor has been given out since 1931. Golfer Babe Didrikson won six times, the most by a man or woman. Swimmer Léon Marchand of France, who won four gold medals at the Paris Olympics, was second with 10 votes in balloting announced Monday. Golfer Scottie Scheffler, whose victories this year included the Masters and an Olympic gold medal, was third with nine. The AP Female Athlete of the Year will be announced Tuesday. Moving from the beleaguered Los Angeles Angels to the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers, Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player award and first in the National League, led his new team to its eighth World Series championship and created Major League Baseball’s 50/50 club by hitting 54 home runs and stealing 59 bases. Ohtani signed a then-record $700 million, 10-year contract with the Dodgers in December 2023. Already a two-way superstar, he embellished his reputation even further despite not pitching all season while he rehabilitated from a second major right elbow surgery he had in September 2023. Ohtani went wild on offense, making every at-bat a must-see moment. The 6-foot-4 designated hitter batted a career-high .310 while easily surpassing his previous career highs in home runs and stolen bases. In September, he reached the previously unheard of 50/50 mark in a performance for the ages . Against the Miami Marlins in Florida, Ohtani went 6 for 6 with three homers, 10 RBIs, two stolen bases and 17 total bases. "It wouldn’t shock me if he went 60/60 and 20 wins a year from now,” Brad Ausmus, who managed the Angels in 2019 during Ohtani’s second season in Anaheim, said recently. “This guy is the greatest athlete to ever play the sport of baseball and there’s not a close second.” Ohtani said he knew the Dodgers' franchise record for most homers in a season was 49. His previous best was 46, set in 2021. "I kind of wanted to get over that bar,” he said. “I was pleasantly surprised I was able to pass that record.” Ohtani carried the Dodgers offensively during the regular season, and he stayed healthy until Game 2 of the World Series. He injured his left shoulder trying to steal second base against the New York Yankees and finished the Series playing hurt. He underwent surgery a few days after the Dodgers celebrated their championship in early November. "I don’t have full range of motion yet, but it feels a lot better,” he told the AP. “There’s no pain. There’s obviously still a little bit of tightness, but slowly but surely it’s getting better.” Ohtani recently received an updated rehab schedule, and he’s focused on the near-term. “It’s the small steps that I think are very important to get me to the ultimate goal, which is to just get back healthy,” he said. Ohtani is also throwing in the 70 mph range, which is typical for pitchers early in the offseason. "I’m going to continue to ramp up slowly,” he said. The Dodgers’ rotation for next season is in flux, and Ohtani is waiting to see how it shakes out. "We may go with a five-man rotation with a bullpen (game), which is what we did a lot during this season or we may have a six-man rotation,” he said. “But it’s all about balancing out when we can get rest and recuperate. We’ll see where that takes us along the playoff chase. I’ve got to obviously pace myself, but again that situation will guide us to how we get there.” The Dodgers open the 2025 season in Japan, where Ohtani is even more closely watched . "My personal goal is to be fully healthy by the time the opening games do start,” he said. “To be able to pitch and hit would be great, but the situation will kind of guide itself.” Each time Ohtani comes to the plate or steps on the mound, there’s great pressure and expectation for him to perform spectacular feats. "I just go out there and try to stay within myself,” he said. “I can only control what I can control and that’s where you trust your teammates. The guys behind me, you trust they’re going to make the plays for you. I don’t really try to overthink it.” Ohtani generated big bucks for the Dodgers off the field, too. Fans traveled from Japan in droves to see him play around the U.S. At Dodger Stadium, they paid extra for tours of baseball’s third-oldest venue narrated by Japanese-speaking guides and to be on the field during pre-game batting practice. A majority of the fans bought Ohtani-branded merchandise, especially his No. 17 jersey. Ohtani’s presence also helped the Dodgers land a bevy of new Japanese sponsors. Because Ohtani prefers to speak Japanese and use an interpreter with the media, he is shrouded in a bit of mystique. Asked before his first postgame series if he was nervous, he dropped a one-word answer in English: “Nope,” which drew laughter. Japanese-born Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed Ohtani’s behind-the-scenes interactions with his teammates, coaches and staff, and came away impressed. "I really do believe that as good of a ballplayer as he is, he’s a much better person. He’s very kind, considerate, he cares,” Roberts told the AP. “I’m just proud of any fame or glory or award that he receives because he just does it in such a respectful and humble way.” Ohtani relishes his privacy and rarely shares details about himself off the field. That’s why his February announcement via Instagram that he had wed Mamiko Tanaka , a former basketball player, stunned his new teammates and the rest of the world. The following month, after the Dodgers arrived in South Korea to open the season, he was enveloped in scandal when his longtime interpreter and friend , Ippei Mizuhara, was fired by the Dodgers after being accused of using millions of dollars of Ohtani’s money to place bets with an illegal bookmaker. His new teammates rallied around Ohtani, who was found to have no part in the wrongdoing, and publicly it didn’t seem to affect him even if he was privately distressed by it. By June, the uproar had subsided. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to federal bank and tax fraud charges and admitted to stealing nearly $17 million from Ohtani. The public got a glimpse of Ohtani’s softer side in August, when his dog Decoy delivered a first pitch to his owner on their shared bobblehead night. The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje exchanged an endearing high-five with Ohtani at the plate. As a result, Decoy became a celebrity in his own right, with his breed (pronounced COY-ker-HUND-che) making the list of the most mispronounced words of 2024. He and Ohtani were mentioned during the telecast of last month’s National Dog Show, where the small Spaniel-type breed was among the competitors. "The number of the breed has kind of dwindled, so by him gaining a little bit of popularity hopefully that brings up the number of his breed,” Ohtani said. “I do feel like we were able to, in a small way, contribute to the popularity of the dog and I’m sure Decoy himself would be happy about that.” Ohtani will be looking to top himself next year while eyeing a repeat World Series title. "It’s almost like right now you can lock in the Most Valuable Player in the National League award because no one has that ability or talent,” Roberts said. "I’m just excited to see what ’25 has for Shohei Ohtani.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

European stocks bounced around Monday while US equities shook off early weakness to push higher as investors waited to see if a so-called Santa Claus rally sweeps over the market. Global stock markets had a tumultuous time last week, spiraling lower after the US Federal Reserve signaled fewer interest rate cuts than had been expected for 2025. But it ended on a positive note as traders welcomed below-forecast US inflation data that raised hopes about the health of the world's biggest economy. That helped Asian markets move higher on Monday, but the positive trend faltered in Europe and stumbled initially in the United States. "Another up leg in US yields not only put pressure on stock indices but also drove the greenback higher," said IG analyst Axel Rudolph. But after a sluggish start, US stocks rose progressively in a quiet session with analysts pointing to low pre-holiday trading volumes. "Stocks didn't really have any direction in the morning, then we got this tech rally that just sort of drifted higher all day," said Steve Sosnick of Interactive Brokers. Analysts view elevated Treasury bond yields as a threat to year-end gains in an historically strong period of the calendar. Known as a Santa Claus rally, there are various explanations for the phenomenon including seasonal optimism and end-of-year tax considerations. But there remains some trepidation among investors as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, pledging to cut taxes, slash regulations and impose tariffs on imports, which some economists warn could reignite inflation. "The initial response to the US election was positive as investors focused on the obvious tailwinds to profitability: lower corporate tax rates and less regulation," said Ronald Temple, chief market strategist at Lazard. "However, I expect much more dispersion within the equity market when the reality of a much-less-friendly trade environment sets in." In Europe, the FTSE 100 moved higher as the pound slid following data that showed that the UK economy stagnated in the third quarter, revised down from initial estimates of 0.1 percent growth. Official data out of Spain on Monday showed that the Spanish economy grew 0.8 percent in the third quarter as domestic consumption and exports increased, comfortably outstripping the European Union average. In company news, shares in crisis-hit German auto giant Volkswagen lost more than three percent on the back of news Friday that it plans to axe 35,000 jobs by 2030 in a drastic cost-cutting plan. Shares in Japanese auto giant Honda rose over three percent after it announced Monday an agreement to launch merger talks with struggling compatriot Nissan that could create the world's third largest automaker. New York - Dow: UP 0.2 percent at 42,906.95 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.7 percent at 5,974.89 (close) New York - Nasdaq Composite: UP 1.0 percent at 19,764.89 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 percent at 8,102.72 (close) Paris - CAC 40: FLAT at 7,272.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: DOWN 0.2 percent at 19,848.77 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.2 percent at 39,161.34 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 0.8 percent at 19,883.13 (close) Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.5 percent at 3,351.26 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0408 from $1.0430 on Friday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2531 from $1.2570 Dollar/yen: UP at 157.14 yen from 156.31 yen Euro/pound: UP at 83.03 pence from 82.97 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 0.3 percent at $69.24 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 0.4 percent at $72.63 per barrel burs-jmb/jgc

A developer is cutting down trees again in the privately owned Lemay Forest in St. Norbert, which residents have long fought to save. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * A developer is cutting down trees again in the privately owned Lemay Forest in St. Norbert, which residents have long fought to save. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? A developer is cutting down trees again in the privately owned Lemay Forest in St. Norbert, which residents have long fought to save. Crews began clearing the area around 8 a.m. Monday. The planner for a potential housing project at the site said the owner received a permit to remove the trees in October. MAGGIE MACINTOSH / FREE PRESS FILES Crews began clearing the privately owned Lemay Forest in St. Norbert on Monday morning. “The landowner... (has) no intention of owning a wood lot. He doesn’t want to own a wood lot. It is private property and he’s removing the trees,” said John Wintrup. City council rejected a development plan for the site in September after municipal planners deemed it too big for the property. Tochal Development Group still wants to build its proposed 5,000-bed, 2,500-unit assisted-living facility on the property and has filed an appeal. The Manitoba Municipal Board will hear that appeal soon, said Wintrup. “It’s going to become Lemay Meadows. The landowner has no interest in owning a wood lot to provide an amenity for the surrounding neighbourhood. That’s not why people buy and own land,” he said. Initially, the developer asked government officials to determine if they were interested in buying the land to preserve the trees before concluding any offers fell far short of market value. The developer began chopping down trees in the forest in September, but stopped after the city issued a cease-and-desist order. At the time, city officials said a bylaw prohibited the removal of soil or vegetation from the land without a permit. Wintrup said the city granted the permit a few weeks later. He argues a desperate need for housing trumps demands to preserve the trees. “My client and I are housing advocates... And if it means removing trees to provide housing, it means removing trees,” he said. In an email, a city spokesman confirmed a permit to allow tree removal was issued on Oct. 18. “The city had previously issued a cease-and-desist order as that work was proceeding without a permit. As a result of the permit being issued, the cease-and-desist order was cancelled at that time,” said spokesman Adam Campbell. The city also expects the municipal board appeal will be heard in early 2025, he noted. Coun. Janice Lukes said the city doesn’t have a bylaw that protects trees on private land but council expects to vote on one next year. “This new tree protection bylaw can’t come soon enough... I’m fully supportive of more housing. We have to do more housing but we (also) have to find that balance between old trees and development,” said Lukes (Waverley West). The councillor noted she had urged the city to buy and preserve Lemay Forest in 2016 but the city didn’t budget money to do so. “We really need something in place to deal with this. (This developer’s) got every right to take those trees down,” said Lukes. Many residents had lobbied the three levels of government to step in to save the trees. Cat Macaulay Gauthier, a spokeswoman for the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest, said residents were surprised to see workers with chainsaws chop down more trees on Monday. “If you go outside, you can hear the large crack of massive trees coming down. It was all a surprise to everyone... This is just completely vindictive. It makes no sense,” said Macaulay Gauthier. She believes city planners were correct to find the proposal far too large for the site and had hoped trees would remain in place at least for now, since no development has been approved. “Our world, now more than ever, needs biodiverse green space for climate (mitigation)... for a growing city and all the benefits that a mature forest gives,” said Macaulay Gauthier. The city councillor whose ward includes Lemay Forest said it was disappointing to see tree-clearing resume now. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “I’m concerned there’s no plan in place for development yet trees are being decimated,” said Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River). Chambers declined further comment, noting he’s been accused of bias related to the project. Wintrup said crews will continue to remove trees over the next two to four weeks, weather permitting, with the exception of some holiday breaks. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the before joining the in early 2020. . Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementEditorial: Still waters run deepWhile the term "tourist tax" has been used to describe everything from the flat-out entry fees charged at the airport to taxes tacked onto hotel bills in a given city, the tax has become commonplace. Most recently, the Italian canal city of Venice decided to bring back its day visitor fee for the upcoming 2025 season. The fee, paid by visitors coming to Venice for the day on certain peak spring and summer dates, will also double from five to 10 euros, or roughly $10.60 USD, as of current exchange rates. 🚨 Don’t Miss this amazing Black Friday Move! Get 60% off TheStreet Pro. Act now before it’s gone 😲 A tourist tax but make it linguistic: here's the proposal The more common way to implement a tourist tax is to tack it onto the bill for hotel or holiday rental property accommodations; such taxes exist in most European like Amsterdam and Valencia, as well as U.S. capitals like New York and Los Angeles (although it may be called by slightly different names, including "transient occupancy"). The more common way to implement a tourist tax is to tack it onto the bill for hotel or holiday rental property accommodations; such taxes exist in most European cities popular with tourists like Amsterdam and Valencia as well as U.S. capitals like New York and Los Angeles (although it may be called by slightly different names, including "transient occupancy"). Over in the United Kingdom, hotels do not have any additional taxes beyond what is levied on goods and services — something that Wales, a Celtic country to the southwest of England, is looking to change with a new tax of £1.25 ($1.58 USD) for each night visitors spend in a hotel or £0.75 ($0.95 USD) for hostels and campsites. But while such taxes typically go toward preserving local historic sites and mitigating the impact of mass tourism, what has currently been proposed to Welsh lawmakers would, among other things, be used for the preservation of the Welsh language. While not officially listed as endangered (with over 880,000 residents able to speak it fluently, it is the most commonly spoken out of all Celtic languages), the number of speakers has seen a steep decline with younger generations. Shutterstock Mass tourism can erode the sustainability of communities and language "Tourism in its current form is an extractive, uncertain and seasonal industry, which can erode the sustainability of our communities and our language," Jeff Smith who chairs the Cymdeithas yr Iaith Communities Group representing the rights of the Welsh people and language, said in a statement. "These communities — often some of the poorest in Europe — face serious challenges from unsustainable tourism, such as housing unaffordability, lack of access to public services and short-term, low-paid employment." More on travel: Many questions around the bill remain before it will be put to a vote; there is also significant criticism from local hotel and tourist associations that believe it will discourage visitors to a part of the United Kingdom that already sees significantly lower tourist numbers than England and Scotland. The tax would also not be mandated across the country but be left to individual municipalities to choose whether or not to introduce. One option that has been heard by the Welsh Parliament would have it in destinations that see more tourism, such as Cardiff and the seaside resort town of Tenby, but not in more remote and rural areas. If passed, the bill would start coming into effect in 2027. Related: Veteran fund manager sees world of pain coming for stocksNokia Corporation: Repurchase of own shares on 27.11.2024

Tweet Facebook Mail The consumer watchdog is urging Australians to shop around for better deals for their power, after it found electricity price falls weren't being passed on to households. More than 80 per cent of households in the National Electricity Network could move to a cheaper plan if they shopped around or even just contacted their provider, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's latest electricity inquiry report found. Despite retail electricity prices falling from August 2023 to August 2024, many households remain on plans above the government safety net price - the price consumers are charged if they have never shopped around for another price. LIVE UPDATES: Aussies bowled out as India set record chase for victory  People are being urged to shop around to reduce their electricity prices. (iStock) "If you haven't changed electricity plans in the past 12 months, chances are you are paying more for your electricity than you need to," ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said. The report found that households with offers which are more than a year old are paying $238 more per year than households on newer offers. "We are urging Australians to take some time this holiday period to have a look on the Energy Made Easy or Victoria Energy Compare websites to see if there is a better plan," Brakey said. "Alternatively, people could simply call their retailers to see if they have a better offer available. "We know that customers that haven't done this in a while are probably paying too much." READ MORE: Experts weigh in as questions remain over South Korea plane crash  People should also read their electricity bills when they arrive. "Every three to four months, electricity companies are required to tell you on your bill if a cheaper plan is available," Brakey said. "If you get this message, you are paying more than you need to." Pricing in the retail electricity market is becoming more complex as more customers are on time of use or demand tariffs. There are also more customers on offers with multiple complex pricing elements, who may find it challenging to respond to these complicated price signals. The report found that customers on time-of-use offers have lower calculated annual prices on average than flat rate offers. READ MORE: Teen dies after falling from rope swing on Gold Coast  Surprising state where households fork out most for electricity View Gallery However, customers on demand offers had higher calculated annual prices, with 51 per cent of these customers on offers priced at or above the government safety net price. Customers on demand offers are not subject to the protections of the Default Market Offer. "The increasing complexity in pricing as the smart meter rollout continues, presents a real challenge to consumers who are trying to reduce their electricity bills," Brakey said. "While we are pleased that compared annual prices have decreased from 2023 to 2024 and more consumers are on offers below the government safety net price, a substantial proportion of households remain on prices above these levels." DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP : Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play .

Article content It turns out that Danielle Smith’s Sovereignty Within A United Canada Act doesn’t just have teeth, it’s got fangs. Smith announced Tuesday that Alberta plans to build a wall of steel around its oil and gas industry, bringing in measures designed to stop dead Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s proposed cap on industrial carbon emissions. Of course, whether all the premier’s proposed measures would stand up to scrutiny in future court battles is open to debate. The federal government will go into full attack mode over the legality of Alberta’s stand. The Canadian oil and gas sector — which has often been meek and plodding in its opposition to Trudeau — might also fail to be as steadfast as Smith’s government. But I can’t recall a firmer Alberta government response to Ottawa’s meddling in Alberta’s constitutionally protected exclusive jurisdiction over its oil and gas resources. First, as expected, if the federal emissions cap becomes law, Alberta would launch an immediate constitutional challenge in court. But the government would also consider other unprecedented moves, such as ensuring that no Alberta entity participates in enforcing the federal cap, all Alberta oil and gas facilities and infrastructure be legally defined and protected as “essential infrastructure,” prohibiting entry to any federal official or contractor to these facilities, declaring all information related to greenhouse gas emissions to be the government’s proprietary information and selling Alberta’s conventional oil through a royalty-in-kind program. It’s a long “to-do” list that meddles with complex systems. It’s rife with potential problems. For example, when it comes to controlling all emissions information, will the private sector go along with that? In the push to cut emissions, government and industry must be transparent. How will that imperative be met? Things will be messy. But, of course, things already are a FUBAR level of messy, with the grabby overreach of Trudeau’s government into Alberta’s oil and gas industry now in its ninth year. So long as Trudeau can’t keep his blundering and plundering paws off what does not belong to him, Alberta’s pushback is essential. The world stomps on those with no spine. In an interview, Smith told me she’s working out of Peter Lougheed’s playbook. “Normally, you would like to have a collaborative partnership with a co-operative federalism where the federal government respects our jurisdiction,” Smith said. “We don’t have that right now, and so we’re going to have to borrow some of the same tactics that were used in the past.” An emissions cap is a no-go in Alberta, added Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz. “That’s what this motion is about, that this absolutely, unequivocally, will not be implemented here in the province of Alberta,” Schulz said. “It is bad for families. It’s bad for businesses, bad for the Alberta economy, as well as Canada’s economy. And of course, it’s not constitutional.” As for Alberta’s response, Schulz said, “I think this is probably the strongest set of measures that we’ve seen thus far.” Alberta no longer trusts the federal government with its oilfield data, Schulz added. “The federal government has a tendency to misinterpret and misuse data and information and twist it for their own ideological purposes.” Schultz and Smith both asserted Trudeau has lost the trust of the public, with the premier raising his recent interview where Trudeau suggested that Canadians need to prioritize climate change concerns over their desire for affordable groceries. “People are hurting now, and we basically got a prime minister who says, ‘I don’t care,'” Smith said. Schultz added on Trudeau’s climate change-over-groceries comment. “I’d say that’s pretty rich coming from a trust fund kid who never had to make a hard choice about paying their bills or whether or not they could put food on their table.” Trudeau is pitting parts of the country against one another, Smith said, and his emissions reduction plans won’t work. She put forward her own alternative plan to lower global emissions by exporting low-emission Canadian gas and oilfield technology to countries using coal to make electricity. “His targeting of Alberta is absolutely dangerous to national unity, but it also doesn’t allow him to achieve what he says are his goals of emissions reduction,” Smith said. “There’s a better way to do this.” Donald Trump now threatens a 25 per cent tariff on Canada if we can’t keep out illegal fentanyl and illegal migrants from the U.S. Would it not be wise to focus on this imperative, not get bogged down in a senseless fight that a more respectful federal government would never have started? I’ll suggest there’s a 20 per cent chance Trudeau will take that prudent course. Alberta should be preparing for the worst, and with this new plan — warts, uncertainties and all — it appears to be doing just that. dstaples@postmedia.com Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.Ignore the hysteria: Trump’s deportations will be an outbreak of lawfulness

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Well, this may be just for you: USA Football is holding talent identification camps all over the country to find that next flag football star. It's "America's Got Talent" meets "American Idol," with the stage being the field and the grand prize a chance to compete for a spot on a national team. Because it's never too early to start planning for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where flag football will make its Summer Games debut. Know this, though — it's not an easy team to make. The men's and women's national team rosters are at "Dream Team" status given the men's side has captured six of the last seven world championships and the women three in a row. To remain on top, the sport's national governing body is scouring every football field, park, track, basketball court and gym to find hidden talent to cultivate. USA Football has organized camps and tryouts from coast to coast for anyone ages 11 to 23. There are more than a dozen sites set up so far, ranging from Dallas (Sunday) to Chicago (Dec. 14) to Tampa (March 29) to Los Angeles (TBD) and the Boston area (April 27), where it will be held at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. The organization has already partnered with the NFL on flag football initiatives and programs. The numbers have been through the roof, with engagement on social media platforms increasing by 86% since flag football was announced as an Olympic invitational sport in October 2023. The participation of boys and girls ages 6 to 17 in flag football last year peaked at more than 1.6 million, according to USA Football research. "We pride ourselves on elevating the gold standard across the sport," said Eric Mayes, the managing director of the high performance and national teams for USA Football. "We want to be the best in the world — and stay the best in the world." Flag football was one of five new sports added to the LA28 program. The already soaring profile of American football only figures to be enhanced by an Olympic appearance. Imagine, say, a few familiar faces take the field, too. Perhaps even NFL stars such as Tyreek Hill or Patrick Mahomes, maybe even past pro football greats donning a flag belt for a country to which they may have ties. Soon after flag football's inclusion, there was chatter of NFL players possibly joining in on the fun. Of course, there are logistical issues to tackle before their inclusion at the LA Olympics, which open July 14, 2028. Among them, training camp, because the Olympics will be right in the middle of it. The big question is this: Will owners permit high-priced players to duck out for a gold-medal pursuit? No decisions have yet been made on the status of NFL players for the Olympics. For now, it's simply about growing the game. There are currently 13 states that sanction girls flag football as a high school varsity sport. Just recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles helped pave the way to get it adopted in Pennsylvania. Around the world, it's catching on, too. The women's team from Japan took third at the recent word championships, while one of the best players on the planet is Mexico quarterback Diana Flores. "Could flag football globally become the new soccer? That's something to aspire to," said Stephanie Kwok, the NFL's vice president of flag football. This type of flag football though, isn't your Thanksgiving Day game with family and friends. There's a learning curve. And given the small roster sizes, versatility is essential. Most national team members need to be a version of Colorado's two-way standout and Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter. Forget bump-and-run coverage, too, because there's no contact. None. That took some adjusting for Mike Daniels, a defensive back out of West Virginia who earned a rookie minicamp invitation with the Cleveland Browns in 2017. "If a receiver is running around, I'm thinking, 'OK, I can kind of bump him here and there and nudge him,'" Daniels explained. "They're like, 'No, you can't.' I'm just like, 'So I'm supposed to let this guy just run?!' I really rebelled at the idea at first. But you learn." The competition for an Olympic roster spot is going to be fierce because only 10 players are expected to make a squad. The best 10 will earn it, too, as credentials such as college All-American or NFL All-Pro take a backseat. "I would actually love" seeing NFL players try out, said Daniels, who's also a personal trainer in Miami. "I'm not going to let you just waltz in here, thinking, 'I played NFL football for five years. I'm popular. I have a huge name.' I'm still better than you and I'm going to prove it — until you prove otherwise." Around the house, Bruce Mapp constantly swivels his hips when turning a hallway corner or if his daughter tries to reach for a hug. It's his way of working on avoiding a "defender" trying to snare the flag. That approach has earned the receiver out of Coastal Carolina four gold medals with USA Football. The 31-year-old fully plans on going for more gold in Los Angeles. "You grow up watching Usain Bolt (win gold) and the 'Redeem Team' led by Kobe Bryant win a gold medal, you're always thinking, 'That's insane.' Obviously, you couldn't do it in your sport, because I played football," said Mapp, who owns a food truck in the Dallas area. "With the Olympics approaching, that (gold medal) is what my mind is set on." It's a common thought, which is why everything — including talent camps — starts now. "Everybody thinks, 'Yeah, the U.S. just wins,'" Daniels said. "But we work hard all the time. We don't just walk in. We don't just get off the bus thinking, 'We're going to beat people.'"CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Carolina volleyball (21-7, 13-6 ACC) took down Virginia (21-9, 11-8 ACC) 3-1 in four sets on Wednesday afternoon in Carmichael Arena. The Tar Heels high-powered offense posted 66 kills and had a hitting percentage of .458 to lift them past the Cavaliers in four (25-19, 25-5, 20-25, 25-16). In her final home game, Mabrey Shaffmaster led the way with 16 kills, followed by Jackie Taylor with 13 kills. Maddy May and Taylor Eisert led the defense with 15 digs a piece. The Heels defense also posted 12 blocks. Carolina established their offense quickly in the first set, racking up 17 kills and only four attack errors. The Tar Heels defense complimented their offense by registering 15 digs and two blocks. The second set would be a historic one for the Tar Heels. UNC raced out to a 14-0 lead, with Safi Hampton on serve. Carolina's offense tallied 13 kills and .500 hitting percentage for the set. After Virginia responded with two of the next three, Carolina rattled off the next five behind kills from Emani' Foster , Chelsea Thrope, and Shaffmaster. They went on to take the set 25-5. It was the largest margin of victory in a set since Oct. 14, 2005, when UNC won 30-10 in a set against Georgia Tech. It was also the largest margin of victory in the 25-point set era (2008). The historic set was the least amount of points allowed in a set since Nov. 17, 2000 when UNC defeated Maryland 15-5 in a set. After dropping the third set 20-25, Carolina took an early 11-5 lead in the fourth off of a Hampton kill to force a Cavalier timeout. Taylor went on a run in the fourth set racking up eight kills and an assist in the set. The Tar Heels offense lifted them to claim the set 25-16. NOTABLES Jackie Taylor set a career-high in kills with 13, hitting .571 Alex Englebrecht hit a stellar .800 with 12 kills on 15 swings, she also led the team with four blocks Four Tar Heels (Shaffmaster, Taylor, Englebrecht, Hampton) finished with double-digit kills Zoe Behrendt and Taylor Eisert finished 20+ assists on the day with 22 and 29 respectively Carolina finished the season 12-2 at home. The Heels will finish out the regular season away against Clemson on Friday at 7 p.m.

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Datadog . Looking at options history for Datadog DDOG we detected 11 trades. If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 36% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 54% with bearish. From the overall spotted trades, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $900,889 and 6, calls, for a total amount of $822,240. What's The Price Target? Based on the trading activity, it appears that the significant investors are aiming for a price territory stretching from $115.0 to $195.0 for Datadog over the recent three months. Insights into Volume & Open Interest Looking at the volume and open interest is a powerful move while trading options. This data can help you track the liquidity and interest for Datadog's options for a given strike price. Below, we can observe the evolution of the volume and open interest of calls and puts, respectively, for all of Datadog's whale trades within a strike price range from $115.0 to $195.0 in the last 30 days. Datadog Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume DDOG PUT SWEEP BULLISH 02/21/25 $4.55 $4.25 $4.33 $135.00 $519.6K 1.1K 1.2K DDOG CALL TRADE BULLISH 12/20/24 $2.58 $2.24 $2.48 $160.00 $434.0K 2.9K 1.9K DDOG CALL SWEEP BEARISH 02/21/25 $7.0 $6.9 $6.9 $165.00 $207.0K 463 303 DDOG PUT TRADE BEARISH 04/17/25 $14.8 $14.65 $14.8 $155.00 $148.0K 81 100 DDOG PUT SWEEP BULLISH 03/21/25 $14.0 $13.7 $13.7 $155.00 $116.4K 152 0 About Datadog Datadog is a cloud-native company that focuses on analyzing machine data. The firm's product portfolio, delivered via software as a service, allows a client to monitor and analyze its entire IT infrastructure. Datadog's platform can ingest and analyze large amounts of machine-generated data in real time, allowing clients to utilize it for a variety of applications throughout their businesses. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Datadog, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Where Is Datadog Standing Right Now? Trading volume stands at 2,784,292, with DDOG's price down by -0.24%, positioned at $154.02. RSI indicators show the stock to be may be approaching overbought. Earnings announcement expected in 76 days. What Analysts Are Saying About Datadog A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $153.6. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* An analyst from Citigroup has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Datadog, which currently sits at a price target of $157. * An analyst from Scotiabank persists with their Sector Outperform rating on Datadog, maintaining a target price of $133. * An analyst from TD Cowen downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $165. * An analyst from TD Cowen has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Datadog, which currently sits at a price target of $165. * An analyst from Rosenblatt persists with their Buy rating on Datadog, maintaining a target price of $148. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Datadog, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Who Owns the World’s Biggest Gold Mines?

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