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Columbus Crew, LAFC to meet in Leagues Cup final after dominant wins

The Leagues Cup final is set, and it’s a rematch of last season’s MLS Cup final.

The Columbus Crew and LAFC won their Leagues Cup semifinal matches Wednesday night and will meet in the tournament final Sunday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus advanced as Diego Rossi recorded his third brace in Leagues Cup play. Cucho Hernandez also scored a goal for the Crew in a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Union.

LAFC rolled to a 4-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids in the other semifinal behind goals by Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’) and Lewis O’Brien (75’). France’s all-time leading goal scorer, Olivier Giroud, played his third match for LAFC as a substitute.  

Philadelphia and Colorado will meet in the Leagues Cup third-place match on Sunday. The Union won the third-place match last year.

The Leagues Cup finalists and third-place winner also earn berths to the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament.

The Crew advanced to its third final in the last year, seeking its second trophy: It won the MLS Cup with a 2-1 win vs. LAFC in 2023, and fell to LIGA MX side Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final earlier this year.

It may be tough for Columbus to beat LAFC three straight times. The Crew traveled to then beat LAFC 5-1 in a July 13 matchup, adding to LAFC’s motivation for the Leagues Cup final.  

While the Leagues Cup concludes Sunday, the MLS regular season resumes with 12 games Saturday as the 2024 MLS playoff race heats up.

Check out Wednesday night’s Leagues Cup semifinal highlights from USA TODAY Sports:

Highlights: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Highlights: Columbus Crew 3, Philadelphia Union 1 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Final: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup semifinal

LAFC will meet the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final, after a 4-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids behind goals by Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’) and Lewis O’Brien (75’).

Lewis O’Brien goal: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Lewis O’Brien scored as his right boot shot trickled into the net in the 75th minute to make it 4-0 against Colorado.

Dénis Bouanga goal: LAFC 3, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC is on the verge of reaching the Leagues Cup final. Dénis Bouanga dribbled past Olivier Giroud and delivered a left strike to put LAFC up 3-0 in the 59th minute.

France’s all-time leading goal scorer Olivier Giroud enters for LAFC

Olivier Giroud has entered his third match for LAFC as a late-game substitute.

Kei Kamara goal: LAFC 2, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC has doubled its lead in a hurry. Kei Kamara scored a right strike in the 45th minute, and LAFC leads 2-0 against the Colorado Rapids as halftime approaches in their Leagues Cup semifinal.

If the result stands, LAFC will meet Columbus in the Leagues Cup final Sunday. Columbus beat LAFC in the MLS Cup final last season.

Mateusz Bogusz goal: LAFC 1, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz has scored in the 42nd minute for a 1-0 lead against the Colorado Rapids in their Leagues Cup semifinal.

Zack Steffen save: LAFC 0, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga and Kei Kamara knocked on the door early, but Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen defended both with two stellar saves in the third minute.

How to watch LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids in Leagues Cup

The semifinal match between LAFC and the Colorado Rapids at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles begins at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. locally) and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Final: Columbus Crew beats Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Diego Rossi scored two goals, and Cucho Hernandez added another to propel Columbus Crew to a 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night, and reach the Leagues Cup final.

The Crew advanced to its third final in the last year, and await the winner of Wednesday night’s LAFC-Colorado Rapids match in the final.

Columbus seeks its second trophy: It won MLS Cup in 2023, and fell in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year.

Cucho Hernandez goal: Columbus Crew up 3-1 vs. Philadelphia Union 

Crew star Cucho Hernandez has made his mark with a putback goal in the 53rd minute, and the Crew has a 3-1 lead against Philadelphia. Hernandez followed up his own header to score and extend the Columbus lead. 

Diego Rossi goal: Columbus Crew takes 2-1 lead vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi has a brace again, scoring his second goal in the 42nd minute to help the Crew take a 2-1 lead just before halftime. It’s the sixth goal in Leagues Cup for Rossi, and his third brace during the tournament. 

Dániel Gazdag goal: Philadelphia Union ties it up vs. Columbus Crew 1-1

The Union are on the board with Dániel Gazdag finishing toward the net in the 32nd minute, taking advantage of a major backfield mistake by the Crew. 

Diego Rossi goal: Columbus Crew takes 1-0 lead vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi was in the right place at the right time, using his head to score the opening goal for Columbus Crew in the 12th minute and an early 1-0 lead against the Philadelphia Union. Rossi’s header followed a shot from Cucho Hernandez.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union in Leagues Cup

The Leagues Cup semifinal match between the Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

When is the Leagues Cup final?

The Leagues Cup final and a third-place match will be played on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Leagues Cup betting odds

∎ Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union betting odds: Columbus (-225); Tie (+340); Philadelphia (+425) via BETMGM.

∎ LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids betting odds: LAFC (-225); Tie (+333); Colorado Rapids (+450) via BETMGM.

Leagues Cup final prediction: Columbus Crew vs. LAFC

It would be so fitting in Columbus Crew and LAFC met in the Leagues Cup final, after the Crew beat LAFC 2-1 for the MLS Cup title last season. It would be a high-stakes rematch, and set the tone for the MLS playoff race this season.

When does the 2024 MLS regular season resume?

Most of the 29 MLS teams will return to regular-season play on Saturday, Aug. 24, when there will be 12 matches played (streaming live on MLS Season Pass).

Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Charlotte FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
D.C. United vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET
Inter Miami CF vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
CF Montréal vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo FC vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Nashville SC vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:30 p.m. ET
LA Galaxy vs. Atlanta United, 10:30 p.m. ET
Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

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Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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More than 28% of Americans are searching for new jobs — the highest rate in a decade

A new labor market survey shows Americans have rarely felt more in need of new job opportunities — an indication of a more negative outlook about the economy despite other data that suggests a more stable picture.

The New York Federal Reserve’s latest poll of consumers found 28.4% of respondents were looking for a job — the highest reading since March 2014 and up from 19.4% a year ago. That includes both individuals already out of a job and ones currently employed but seeking new roles.

The readings, from the New York Fed’s thrice-annual Survey of Consumer Expectations Labor Market Survey, add to evidence that the U.S. economic outlook is worsening, even as some economists dial back their odds of a recession. While the unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.3%, it is up from its post-pandemic low of 3.5%.

After a period of booming post-pandemic growth — tempered by surging inflation — signs continue to mount that the U.S. economy is entering a significantly softer period.

‘The vibes have gotten worse,’ said Guy Berger, director of economic research at the Burning Glass Institute, a labor research group.

He said the survey likely reflects respondents’ hearing about or having someone in their social network who’s experienced difficulty finding work.

‘It’s not like people should be panicked — this is not like 2008, or Covid — but, given an ordinary person’s balance of risks, it probably is a little higher,’ Berger said.

Expectations of losing one’s job also hit a record, the new survey found: The average expected likelihood of becoming unemployed rose to 4.4%, up from 3.9% a year ago and the highest level ever recorded for the survey, which goes back to 2014.

Despite those increasingly worrisome datapoints, economic forecasters say a full-blown recession, commonly defined as two-consecutive quarters of negative growth, remains unlikely.

Berger noted that layoffs remain low, and that the percentage of the population aged 25 to 54 who is employed, at 80.9%, remains at all-time highs. Overall labor force participation, or the share of the adult population that is employed or unemployed, has been stable for the past year at just under 63%. And the rate of job openings to positions remains above pre-pandemic highs at 4.9%.

‘The U.S. economy is doing just fine with steady growth,’ Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management financial group, wrote in a note to clients Saturday, citing additional ‘steady’ data in restaurant and travel bookings, as well as credit card and bank lending.

But Berger said there is no question about the economy’s ongoing slowdown.

“It’s hard to find data moving in right direction,” Berger said. “The best you can say is that some data are in a good spot and not getting worse. But most datapoints are on average moving slowly in wrong direction.”

The New York Fed said the increase in job searchers was most pronounced among respondents older than 45, those without a college degree, and those with an annual household income less than $60,000.

Rick Goins, a 64-year-old Houston-area resident with decades of communications experience, is among those who’ve encountered difficulty finding new work.

In fact, he has not had a full-time role since 2016, managing only to move between contractor gigs. During the pandemic, he secured a contractor role that lasted nearly two years, but that ended in February.

‘I’m not old enough to retire, and not old enough for Medicare,’ Goins told NBC News. ‘I want to keep my skills up … I’ve got a lot left in tank.’

He said he’d lost count of the number of times he’s been ‘ghosted’ by employers who fail to follow up in the middle of an interview process, and said he is concerned ageism is playing a role in his lack of success.

‘They want someone who’s 25 years old with 25 years of experience and who’ll take a $25 (an hour) salary,’ he quipped.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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Columbus Crew, LAFC to meet in Leagues Cup final after dominant wins

The Leagues Cup final is set, and it’s a rematch of last season’s MLS Cup final.

The Columbus Crew and LAFC won their Leagues Cup semifinal matches Wednesday night and will meet in the tournament final Sunday at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus advanced as Diego Rossi recorded his third brace in Leagues Cup play. Cucho Hernandez also scored a goal for the Crew in a 3-1 win against the Philadelphia Union.

LAFC rolled to a 4-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids in the other semifinal behind goals by Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’) and Lewis O’Brien (75’). France’s all-time leading goal scorer, Olivier Giroud, played his third match for LAFC as a substitute.  

Philadelphia and Colorado will meet in the Leagues Cup third-place match on Sunday. The Union won the third-place match last year.

The Leagues Cup finalists and third-place winner also earn berths to the 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup tournament.

The Crew advanced to its third final in the last year, seeking its second trophy: It won the MLS Cup with a 2-1 win vs. LAFC in 2023, and fell to LIGA MX side Pachuca in the Concacaf Champions Cup final earlier this year.

It may be tough for Columbus to beat LAFC three straight times. The Crew traveled to then beat LAFC 5-1 in a July 13 matchup, adding to LAFC’s motivation for the Leagues Cup final.  

While the Leagues Cup concludes Sunday, the MLS regular season resumes with 12 games Saturday as the 2024 MLS playoff race heats up.

Check out Wednesday night’s Leagues Cup semifinal highlights from USA TODAY Sports:

Highlights: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Highlights: Columbus Crew 3, Philadelphia Union 1 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Final: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0 in Leagues Cup semifinal

LAFC will meet the Columbus Crew in the Leagues Cup final, after a 4-0 victory against the Colorado Rapids behind goals by Mateusz Bogusz (42’), Kei Kamara (45’), Dénis Bouanga (59’) and Lewis O’Brien (75’).

Lewis O’Brien goal: LAFC 4, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Lewis O’Brien scored as his right boot shot trickled into the net in the 75th minute to make it 4-0 against Colorado.

Dénis Bouanga goal: LAFC 3, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC is on the verge of reaching the Leagues Cup final. Dénis Bouanga dribbled past Olivier Giroud and delivered a left strike to put LAFC up 3-0 in the 59th minute.

France’s all-time leading goal scorer Olivier Giroud enters for LAFC

Olivier Giroud has entered his third match for LAFC as a late-game substitute.

Kei Kamara goal: LAFC 2, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC has doubled its lead in a hurry. Kei Kamara scored a right strike in the 45th minute, and LAFC leads 2-0 against the Colorado Rapids as halftime approaches in their Leagues Cup semifinal.

If the result stands, LAFC will meet Columbus in the Leagues Cup final Sunday. Columbus beat LAFC in the MLS Cup final last season.

Mateusz Bogusz goal: LAFC 1, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz has scored in the 42nd minute for a 1-0 lead against the Colorado Rapids in their Leagues Cup semifinal.

Zack Steffen save: LAFC 0, Colorado Rapids 0

LAFC’s Dénis Bouanga and Kei Kamara knocked on the door early, but Rapids goalkeeper Zack Steffen defended both with two stellar saves in the third minute.

How to watch LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids in Leagues Cup

The semifinal match between LAFC and the Colorado Rapids at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles begins at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. locally) and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Final: Columbus Crew beats Philadelphia Union 3-1 in Leagues Cup semifinal

Diego Rossi scored two goals, and Cucho Hernandez added another to propel Columbus Crew to a 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union on Wednesday night, and reach the Leagues Cup final.

The Crew advanced to its third final in the last year, and await the winner of Wednesday night’s LAFC-Colorado Rapids match in the final.

Columbus seeks its second trophy: It won MLS Cup in 2023, and fell in the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier this year.

Cucho Hernandez goal: Columbus Crew up 3-1 vs. Philadelphia Union 

Crew star Cucho Hernandez has made his mark with a putback goal in the 53rd minute, and the Crew has a 3-1 lead against Philadelphia. Hernandez followed up his own header to score and extend the Columbus lead. 

Diego Rossi goal: Columbus Crew takes 2-1 lead vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi has a brace again, scoring his second goal in the 42nd minute to help the Crew take a 2-1 lead just before halftime. It’s the sixth goal in Leagues Cup for Rossi, and his third brace during the tournament. 

Dániel Gazdag goal: Philadelphia Union ties it up vs. Columbus Crew 1-1

The Union are on the board with Dániel Gazdag finishing toward the net in the 32nd minute, taking advantage of a major backfield mistake by the Crew. 

Diego Rossi goal: Columbus Crew takes 1-0 lead vs. Philadelphia Union

Diego Rossi was in the right place at the right time, using his head to score the opening goal for Columbus Crew in the 12th minute and an early 1-0 lead against the Philadelphia Union. Rossi’s header followed a shot from Cucho Hernandez.

How to watch Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union in Leagues Cup

The Leagues Cup semifinal match between the Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio begins at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

When is the Leagues Cup final?

The Leagues Cup final and a third-place match will be played on Sunday, Aug. 25.

Leagues Cup betting odds

∎ Columbus Crew vs. Philadelphia Union betting odds: Columbus (-225); Tie (+340); Philadelphia (+425) via BETMGM.

∎ LAFC vs. Colorado Rapids betting odds: LAFC (-225); Tie (+333); Colorado Rapids (+450) via BETMGM.

Leagues Cup final prediction: Columbus Crew vs. LAFC

It would be so fitting in Columbus Crew and LAFC met in the Leagues Cup final, after the Crew beat LAFC 2-1 for the MLS Cup title last season. It would be a high-stakes rematch, and set the tone for the MLS playoff race this season.

When does the 2024 MLS regular season resume?

Most of the 29 MLS teams will return to regular-season play on Saturday, Aug. 24, when there will be 12 matches played (streaming live on MLS Season Pass).

Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders FC, 6:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Charlotte FC vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. ET
D.C. United vs. FC Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET
Inter Miami CF vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. ET
CF Montréal vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. ET
New York City FC vs. Chicago Fire FC, 7:30 p.m. ET
Houston Dynamo FC vs. Toronto FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Sporting Kansas City vs. Orlando City SC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Nashville SC vs. Austin FC, 8:30 p.m. ET
Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 9:30 p.m. ET
LA Galaxy vs. Atlanta United, 10:30 p.m. ET
Portland Timbers vs. St. Louis City SC, 10:30 p.m. ET

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.

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Warriors legend Al Attles dies at 87

Basketball Hall of Famer Al Attles, a physical point guard known as ‘The Destroyer’ who later became an NBA champion coach and general manager of the Golden State Warriors, died Tuesday at 87.

The team announced Wednesday that Attles died at his home in East Bay, California, surrounded by family.

‘Alvin leaves behind a profound legacy within the game of basketball and the Bay Area community, but especially as a family man and humanitarian,’ the Warriors said in a statement. ‘We mourn his loss alongside his wife, Wilhelmina, son Alvin, and all who knew and loved him.’

Attles began his NBA career as a fifth-round pick of the then-Philadelphia Warriors in 1960. On March 2, 1962, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, he had 17 points against the New York Knicks on a night where teammate Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points.

He moved with the franchise to San Francisco later in 1962 and remained a player through the 1970-71 season, finishing with career averages of 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 711 games.

All things Warriors: Latest Golden State Warriors news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Attles served as the Warriors’ player-coach during his final season and remained the head coach through 1983, leading them to the NBA championship in 1974-75. They swept the then-Washington Bullets in the NBA Finals, making Attles the second Black coach to win a title after Bill Russell.

Attles compiled a 557-518 record as the Warriors’ head coach. He later served as the team’s general manager for three seasons, returned as an assistant coach in 1994-95 and also worked in the front office as a vice president and consultant, ultimately spending more than six decades with the organization.

‘Alvin Attles had a huge, positive influence on me and my career, not just drafting me in 1985 and bringing me to the Bay Area but guiding me through my journey as a player and a young man, both in good and difficult times,’ former Warriors star Chris Mullin said. ‘He was a dear friend, mentor and role model and someone I admired tremendously and tried to emulate. He set the standard for all of us when it comes to integrity and humility and was truly a champion both on and off the court.

Attles was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. His jersey No. 16 was retired by the Warriors.

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Adam Sandler: Travis Kelce set to join cast of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’

Travis Kelce is everywhere lately, and he’s got another new job: Adam Sandler’s ‘Happy Gilmore’ co-star.

The ‘Billy Madison’ actor announced the Kansas City Chiefs tight end would join the cast of his upcoming movie sequel in a cameo role, during a Tuesday night appearance on ‘The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,’ telling the late-night host ‘Travis mentioned it, so we have a nice something for Travis.’

‘He’s gonna come by. He’s a very nice guy. You guys would love him in real life,’ he told his fellow ‘SNL’ alum. ‘What a big, handsome guy. Funny and cool as hell. He’s a stud, and he’s so funny.’

Sandler confirmed that he’s tried taking a swing at making the sequel for a long time, but his creative team hasn’t been on par to make the film a success until now.

‘People have been asking me for a long time, ‘Do ‘Happy Gilmore 2,’ and I was always like, ‘Nah, I’ll only let you down,” he continued. ‘But then me and my buddy, Tim Herlihy, we came up with this idea. We’re really excited about it,’ Sandler told Fallon, adding that ‘we’re continuing to try to make it a movie that you guys will like.’

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Netflix first announced in May that Sandler would reprise his role as Happy Gilmore, a hot-tempered hockey player-turned-golfer, from the eponymous 1996 film. The film is a favorite among Sandler’s fans and found a cult following in the golf community. It also features an iconic cameo from longtime ‘The Price Is Right’ host Bob Barker.

Kelce first teased his interest in the movie in May: ‘I’ll do anything in the movie,’ he said on his ‘New Heights’ podcast in May. ‘I’ll be a part of it any way I possibly can.’

Adam Sandler confirms ‘Happy Gilmore’ sequel in the works

In April, Sandler confirmed that a ‘Happy Gilmore’ sequel was in the works. Christopher McDonald revealed in March that Sandler, who starred in the original sports comedy as the titular character, is involved in the project.

McDonald played Happy’s nemesis Shooter McGavin in the 1996 film. He revealed the project during an interview on 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland. During an appearance on the ‘Dan Patrick Show’ in April, Sandler confirmed he told McDonald that ‘we’re working on some stuff’ for ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ but asked him not to tell anybody.

‘He texted me after the fact, ‘By the way, that thing you told me not to talk about, I talked about,” Sandler joked.

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The right wing is terrified of Steve Kerr. It should be.

Steve Kerr knew it was coming. He predicted it. Called it like a shot.

‘I can see the ‘shut up and whistle’ tweets being fired off as we speak,’ Kerr said. ‘But I also knew as soon as I was asked that it was too important as an American citizen not to speak up in an election of this magnitude.’

We won’t mention the people or groups attacking Kerr. You can go look online. It’s the usual goons and weirdos.

The attacks on Kerr are more aggressive than usual (which is saying something) because Kerr spoke at the convention and, as he always is, was extremely effective. But the reason for the increased attacks goes beyond what he said at the DNC.

It goes back to a truism about Kerr and the right that’s been a thing for years: the right wing is scared of Kerr.

Actually, they are terrified of him. They have been for a long time. The right hates all progressive sports figures. That is true. But they especially dislike Kerr. Why?

Kerr’s the worst nightmare of someone like Donald Trump and entities like Fox News because Kerr is an ally to Black and brown Americans. Trump’s entire game plan is to pit white people against people of color. Typical us-versus-them stuff. But that goal becomes more difficult when white allies like Kerr supports Americans the right views as enemies.

Kerr is kryptonite to this entire phenomenon. Because you can’t have us-versus-them when one of them looks like one of us.

Kerr is one of the great political activists of our time. But like Gregg Popovich he’s one of the great white activists. That makes Kerr far more difficult to demonize than, say, Colin Kaepernick. So Kerr draws an extreme amount of ire because he refuses to believe what they think he should believe. To them, Kerr is supposed to back Trump, not Communist/Marxist/Socialist/Not Really Black/Kamala Harris.

There’s another reason why Kerr terrifies the right. He’s an incredibly impactful speaker. Kerr is just really good at this.

He long has been. Kerr spoke out against Trump after the former president in 2017 used disgraceful language to describe NFL protestors and Kaepernick.

“This is another reason why all of us on our team have a tough time with the president, because instead of unifying and trying to calm the storm, he’s creating it, over and over again,” Kerr told CNN’s David Axelrod. “We see it with his tweets every day. He used the words ‘sons of b——‘ to talk about NFL players who have made it clear they’re protesting racial inequality and police brutality. Those are sons of b——?

‘Really? You’re the President of the United States and you’re going to call them sons of b——? And you’re going to call Kaepernick out for non-violent protests, a staple of American democracy? That’s really hard to deal with. And for me that was probably the hardest one to deal with. The personal slights that we’ve seen from Trump, you sort of get used to it after a while, you get numb to it, but that one really stung, because it was so divisive and it was so angry and it just didn’t make sense.”

Kerr has also been one of the biggest advocates for gun control. He was irate after the massacre at a school in Texas.

“Since we left shootaround, 14 children were killed 400 miles from here. And a teacher. And in the last 10 days we’ve had elderly Black people killed in a supermarket in Buffalo, we’ve had Asian churchgoers killed in Southern California, and now we have children murdered at school.”

“When are we going to do something?” Kerr added, pounding a table. “I’m tired, I’m so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there.’

This is Kerr. A brilliant, rational and introspective person who refuses to shut up and whistle.

And who terrifies the right wing.

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Most Americans reject push by Biden, Dems to change Supreme Court: poll

A new nationwide survey highlighted in a Wall Street Journal opinion editorial found that most Americans don’t support sweeping changes to the Supreme Court, despite President Joe Biden’s last-minute push for such a measure. 

The WSJ cited a Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy survey that found that ‘support for the separation of powers just as many of the speakers at this week’s Democratic National Convention seek to undermine it.’

President Biden, after abruptly leaving the presidential race a month ago, endorsed legislation that would impose term limits for justices, among other things, that would drastically alter the makeup of the high court. His plan is also of questionable constitutionality.

According to the Journal, the Mason-Dixon poll found that after asking likely voters if they ‘support or oppose amending the U.S. Constitution to change the structure of the U.S. Supreme Court,’ that 52% of them oppose the idea, while 41% of likely voters support the idea of amending the constitution to change the court’s structure.

Noting that for ‘over 150 years, the United States Supreme Court has had nine justices’ and that court-packing ‘is generally defined as increasing the number of Supreme Court seats, primarily to alter the ideological balance of the court,’ the poll asked respondents if they agree with ‘court-packing.’

Only 34% supported such a plan, while 59% opposed and 7% of likely voters were undecided.

The poll also found that an overwhelming number of voters supported this statement: ‘Plans to expand the membership of the U.S. Supreme Court are primarily motivated by political objectives.’

Additionally, a full 87% of likely voters — including 84% of Democrats — agree with the following statement: ‘An independent judiciary is a crucial safeguard of our civil liberties.’

Democrats in Congress, in conjunction with the White House, have pushed to make radical changes to the high court.

And Democrats at the Democratic National Convention this week have already leveled attacks against the high court. 

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow falsely claimed that the Supreme Court has made Trump ‘completely immune from prosecution’ in its presidential immunity decision.

‘Sadly, such poisonous attacks on the highest court are likely to be a staple of this week’s convention,’ the Wall Street Journal wrote about the comment. ‘Thank goodness most Americans still don’t endorse them, according to the new Mason-Dixon poll commissioned by the First Liberty Institute, which advocates for religious freedom.’

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Stocks

Top Ten Charts for August: Two Key Defensive Plays

In this edition of StockCharts TV‘s The Final Bar, Dave continues a five-part series covering ten charts to watch in August 2024, with a focus today on Utilities and Real Estate. Why do low-beta, high-income stocks do so well in bearish market phases, and do we still see signs for optimism in these defensive sectors?

This video originally premiered on August 21, 2024. Watch on our dedicated Final Bar page on StockCharts TV!

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How Lane Kiffin, other coaches got longer deals than state law allows

State law in Mississippi prevents public employees from signing contracts longer than four years, but documents show that coaches Lane Kiffin and Jeff Lebby – who lead the football programs at the state’s two public SEC universities, Mississippi and Mississippi State – have signed contracts for longer than that. In addition, Mississippi men’s basketball coach Chris Beard has a six-year contract.

These extended contracts for Kiffin, Beard and Lebby are made possible because of separate agreements with private athletic foundations at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, which permit coaches at both universities to circumvent the four-year limit on contracts for public employees within the state.

‘Historically, this process has ensured our competitiveness in the hiring market,’ a Mississippi State spokesperson said.

‘As an institution that competes at the highest level of college athletics, it’s imperative that our coaching contracts are competitive with market standards, and with the current model, we have been able to effectively navigate the contractual process in our industry,’ an Ole Miss spokesperson told the Clarion Ledger.

The Clarion Ledger obtained contracts between the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation, The Bulldog Club – as Mississippi State calls its athletic foundation – and coaches and administrators at both universities. In the past, the universities and the foundations had declined to release the documents, saying they were not subject to disclosure under the state’s open records law.

What is Lane Kiffin’s salary and buyout information?

Kiffin is under contract through Dec. 31, 2029, under the terms of a six-year extension signed in 2022. That agreement was automatically extended by one year on Dec. 8, 2023. From 2025 onward, Kiffin is due $9 million in base pay annually. In 2024, he’ll receive $8.85 million and a retention bonus of $150,000 if he remains in charge of the Rebels on Dec. 31, 2024.

The contract includes language to automatically trigger a one-year extension annually provided Ole Miss wins at least seven regular-season games that season. If the team doesn’t win seven games, the contract is automatically extended unless the foundation or Kiffin chooses to forego the extension.

The foundation would owe Kiffin 80% of his remaining total pay should Ole Miss fire him without cause. If Ole Miss were to fire Kiffin on Nov. 30 at the conclusion of the regular season, the foundation would owe him roughly $36,590,000. If Kiffin’s automatic contract extension is triggered, as of Dec. 8 of each year, that rises to nearly $44 million.

Should Kiffin leave before the end of the 2024 calendar year, he would owe the foundation a buyout of $4 million. That number drops to $3 million in 2025, $2 million in 2026 and stays at $1.5 million for the remainder of the contract starting in 2027.

Kiffin’s buyout states that he has no duty to mitigate, meaning that any of his future earnings will not offset the amount owed to him by the foundation.

Under Kiffin’s leadership, Ole Miss won 11 games for the first time in program history last season, concluding with a Peach Bowl triumph over Penn State. That marked Kiffin’s second double-digit win campaign since he took over the Rebels’ program for the 2020 season.

He has a 34-15 overall record with Ole Miss, and the Rebels are the nation’s sixth-ranked team as they prepare for the 2024 season.

What is Chris Beard’s salary and buyout?

New contracts signed by Beard in April include nearly a 50% pay increase as he enters his second season, documents show.

Under the terms of his first agreement with the Rebels, Beard had been set to make $3.35 million in 2024-25. Now, he is scheduled to earn $5 million, according to contracts with the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation obtained by the Clarion Ledger. Beard’s base compensation will increase by $100,000 annually over the life of the six years of the deal.

Ole Miss finished 20-12 with a 7-11 SEC mark last season, failing to reach the men’s tournament and declining to play in the NIT. An unbeaten non-conference slate paved the way for just the 18th 20-win season in program history before nine losses in 11 games to close the season ended the Rebels’ March Madness hopes.

Beard was reportedly a candidate to leave the Rebels during the offseason, with reports connecting him to the vacancy at Arkansas that was eventually filled by John Calipari. Ole Miss announced a contract extension for Beard on March 13, just before the Rebels played in the SEC tournament. Beard then signed his most recent Ole Miss Athletic Foundation contract on April 12, roughly a week after he declared his intent to stay with the Rebels on social media amid Arkansas interest. The financial terms of that deal were never publicly announced.

In 2024-25, $1 million of his athletic foundation pay comes from a ‘licensing and publicity rights agreement’ between the foundation and Baseline Asset Management Corporation, for which Beard is the president.

Beard’s new deal elevates his total pay to what he was making at Texas, where he signed a seven-year contract worth $5 million annually before he was fired for cause following a domestic violence charge that led to his arrest. Those charges were later dropped.

At present, Beard’s new total pay of $5 million ties him for fourth in the SEC last season behind Tennessee’s Rick Barnes, Auburn’s Bruce Pearl and Calipari. His pay matches that of Kentucky coach Mark Pope and Alabama coach Nate Oats.

Should the Rebels fire Beard without cause, the foundation would owe him 75% of the value of his remaining contracts. If fired on March 31, 2025, that would amount to $19,875,000. If Beard were to move on during the remainder of the first year of his contract, he would owe the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation $4,500,000. That amount drops to $3,500,000 in the second year and $2,500,000 in the third year before stabilizing at $1,000,000 for the final three years of Beard’s deal. If Athletic Director Keith Carter and University Chancellor Glenn Boyce are no longer employed in their respective positions, Beard’s buyout is cut in half.

What is Jeff Lebby salary and buyout information?

Lebby’s contract is a five-year deal, according to documents obtained by the Clarion Ledger. It does not include an automatic extension clause like Kiffin’s does.

Lebby, hired by the Bulldogs to replace the fired Zach Arnett following the conclusion of the 2023 season, is about to take charge of his first campaign as a head coach. A respected offensive mind, Lebby spend the last five seasons coordinating offenses at Central Florida, Ole Miss and, most recently, Oklahoma.

Of Lebby’s total pay, $800,000 comes annually from his state contract. His Bulldog Club agreement houses the other $3.45 million of his base pay, totaling $4.25 million in the first year of his agreement.

The Bulldog Club and the university each owe Lebby 75% of the remaining money on their deals should Mississippi State fire him without cause, making his buyout roughly $14.3 million if Mississippi State fired him on Nov. 30. Unlike Kiffin, Lebby has a duty to mitigate.

Should Lebby leave on Jan. 31, 2025, he would owe the Bulldog Club $5 million. He would also owe the university $1.2 million. His Bulldog Club buyout drops by $1 million for each remaining year of the contract. If he accepts employment at another SEC school, his Bulldog Club buyout increases by $1.5 million.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Ranking the 10 best college football quarterbacks

After a record-tying six quarterbacks were taken in the first round of this year’s NFL draft, another crop of elite quarterbacks are ready to take center stage in the Bowl Subdivision.

Most are already household names ‒ though a few will be wearing a different jersey in 2024. Among the top passers at new spots are Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel (Oklahoma) and Miami’s Cam Ward (Washington State). Now on his third stop, Gabriel has been pegged as the top quarterback in the Big Ten and maybe the clubhouse leader for this year’s Heisman Trophy.

He’ll have plenty of competition, including Quinn Ewers, Carson Beck and Shedeur Sanders. This group tops our preseason list of college football’s top quarterbacks for 2024.

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

After grabbing a multiple-year starter out of the portal in Bo Nix and finding huge success, Oregon and Dan Lanning will roll out another battle-tested veteran transfer in Gabriel. He was a top-tier quarterback beginning as a freshman at Central Florida, where he had 70 touchdowns in two-plus years of work, and continued to play at a high level in his two seasons at Oklahoma. Gabriel had 30 touchdowns against six interceptions a year ago as the Sooners rebounded to go 10-2 in the regular season, with both losses coming by a single possession. He’s one of several reasons why the Ducks could kick in the door of the Big Ten and win the conference in their first season as members of the league.

Quinn Ewers, Texas

Ewers blossomed last fall after easily dispatching Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy in the Longhorns’ soft quarterback competition. Following an up-and-down Texas debut in 2022, the junior threw for 3,479 yards and 22 scores despite missing two games, playing some of his best football in November and December as UT booked its first playoff berth. There are some new pieces at wide receiver, beginning with the big addition of Isaiah Bond from Alabama, but Ewers’ play should take another significant move forward in 2024.

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

He’s going to put up crooked totals and cook Big 12 defenses, much as Sanders did in his single season in the Big 12. Despite Colorado’s struggles in league play and missing most of two games with a back injury, Sanders threw for 3,230 yards and 27 touchdowns against three picks while hitting on 69.3% of his attempts, the eighth-best mark in the FBS. Whether Sanders can contend for postseason hardware hinges on whether or not the skill talent and offensive line have been developed to give him adequate support. If so, the Buffaloes should make a noticeable improvement in Deion Sanders’ second year.

Carson Beck, Georgia

Beck stepped in for a two-time national champion in Stetson Bennett and helped Georgia’s passing game not miss a beat, even slightly outperforming Bennett in yards per attempt (9.5 to 9.1) and yards per game (281.5 to 275.1) while finishing fourth nationally in completing 72.4% of his throws. What might have been most impressive was his consistency: Beck threw for at least 243 yards in every SEC game, never completed fewer than 65% of his passes and tossed just six interceptions in 417 attempts.

Jalen Milroe, Alabama

It’s exciting to think about how far Milroe can take his game under Kalen DeBoer, who has worked wonders at the quarterback position at each of his previous stops as an FBS head coach (Fresno State and Washington). He’s already one of the nation’s best: Milroe reclaimed the starting job late last September and willed Alabama into the playoff with his legs (531 yards and 12 scores) and one of the strongest arms in college football. The pieces are there for him to lift his game to another level with DeBoer’s help.

Cam Ward, Miami

A change of scenery will help Ward make a bigger splash on the national scene after spending most of the past two years under the radar at Washington State. The former Championship Subdivision standout at Incarnate Word will have a chance to bolster his already solid NFL draft stock by stepping in at a major position of need for Mario Cristobal and Miami. If he can lead the Hurricanes to nine or more wins and playoff contention, Ward could be a major factor in the Heisman race.

Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Dart answered any doubts about his ability to take charge in Lane Kiffin’s offensive system by throwing for 3,364 yards, running for 389 yards and scoring 31 total touchdowns as the Rebels made a push for the playoff in 2023. His performance was markedly better than in 2022, when Dart and Ole Miss struggled against elite competition. He was particularly good last season in wins against LSU (389 yards, four touchdowns) and in bowl play against Penn State (379 yards, three scores).

Noah Fifita, Arizona

After an outstanding freshman season, the big question around Fifita is whether he can continue to develop into one of the nation’s elite passers under new Arizona coach Brent Brennan. He certainly seems on pace for postseason accolades after throwing for at least 214 yards in all nine of his starts last season, including a 527-yard showing in the rivalry win against Arizona State. Overall, Fifita completed 72.4% of his throws with 25 touchdowns.

Kaidon Salter, Liberty

Like Liberty as a whole, Salter had a dominant 2023 regular season before getting thumped by Oregon in a Fiesta Bowl rout. Look for a similar scenario to unfold this fall against another flimsy schedule lacking a single Power Four opponent. Salter threw for 2,876 yards, ran for another 1,089 yards — he was one of three FBS quarterbacks to run for at least 1,000 — and had 44 combined touchdowns in his first year as the Flames’ full-time starter.

Jalon Daniels, Kansas

The centerpiece of the Jayhawks’ prolific offense has to stay on the field after playing in just three games due to injury a season ago. After a breakout 2022, Daniels completed 74.7% of his throws with five scores and one interception in those three appearances, two of which came against Power Four competition (Illinois and Brigham Young). He’s a Heisman dark horse should Kansas take another step forward and compete for the Big 12 championship.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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