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Best Kobe Bryant quotes, highlights: Remembering the Lakers legend

Sunday marks the fifth anniversary of the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Kobe Bryant and eight other people, including his daughter.

The Los Angeles Lakers organization and the basketball world have continued to honor Bryant’s legacy — for what he did for the game and the city of Los Angeles.

“I respected him as a person and he was an amazing basketball player,” Lakers rookie Bronny James said. “It’s going to be a special day for everyone in the Lakers community and all around the world.”

The murals around the city, the Nos. 8 and 24 jerseys hanging up in the rafters, the two statues sitting out front of Crypto.com Arena — they all help serve as reminders of his impact.

Kobe Bryant’s best quotes

Bryant was known for his work ethic and commitment to his craft throughout his career. He often began training sessions early in the morning, already completing the first in a series of workouts throughout the day before his teammates and opponents were just waking up.

All things Lakers: Latest Los Angeles Lakers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

“I knew that I was not going to be stopped,” he said in his documentary ‘Kobe Bryant’s Muse.’ ‘At the age of 18, this was my life, so you can’t possibly become better than me, because you’re not spending the time on it that I do. Even if you want to spend the time on it, you can’t, because you have other things. You have other responsibilities taking you away from it. So, I already won.”

Throughout his 20 years with the Lakers, Bryant experienced several highs and lows while in the public eye. Bryant and the Lakers finished .500 or better in 15 different seasons but went just 17-65 (.207) during his final season. The Hall of Famer won five NBA championships and was recognized on the NBA’s 75th anniversary team.

“Doubt is such a strange thing, there’ll be times where you succeed and there are times that you fail, so wasting your time doubting whether you’re gonna be successful or not is pointless,” Bryant said while talking about insecurities and self-doubt as a guest at the Milken Institute. “You just put one foot in front of the other and you control what you can control and then you see what the outcome is. If you win, great, you’re going to have to wake up the next day and do the journey over again. If you lose, it sucks, but you’re gonna have to wake up the next day and do the journey all over again anyway.”

Bryant’s impact was felt earlier this month in the debut of Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 women’s basketball league. Aaliyah Edwards of the Mist wore purple and yellow braids in honor of Bryant. Her teammate, Jewell Loyd, is referred to as the Gold Mamba, a nickname Bryant gave her.

Bryant also continues to have an impact on the current generation of NBA players, with the likes of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum calling Bryant his all-time favorite player.

Following his retirement, Bryant found ways to give to the next generation of athletes in as many ways as possible and helped oversee the Mamba Academy.

Several athletes have referenced the “Mamba mentality” in interviews, referring to the phrase Bryant coined about his mindset and approach.

“Mamba mentality is all about focusing on the process and trusting in the hard work when it matters most,” Bryant said in an interview with Amazon Book Review. “It’s the ultimate mantra for the competitive spirit. It started just as a hashtag that came to me one day, and it’s grown into something athletes — and even non-athletes — embrace as a mindset. Hard work outweighs talent — every time. 

“Mamba mentality is about 4 a.m. workouts, doing more than the next guy and then trusting in the work you’ve put in when it’s time to perform. Without studying, preparation and practice, you’re leaving the outcome to fate. I don’t do fate.”

His most famous quote might be his simplest: ‘Job’s not finished.’

Kobe Bryant highlights

Bryant has no shortage of highlights — owing to his brilliance and the number of big games he played in.

Bryant’s most notable single-game performance was his 81-point game in a 122-104 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 22, 2006.

‘It was an honor to be a bug on the windshield as he had his all-time scoring affair,” Jalen Rose said on ESPN’s ‘Get Up’ said around the 15th anniversary of that game. “The second-highest scoring game in the history of the NBA. … It hits different because I used to be able to text him about this.”

Bryant made 28 of his 46 shot attempts and went 7-for-13 from the 3-point line. He also made 18 of his 20 free throw attempts.

It was the second-highest scoring performance in a single game, behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point performance in 1962.

Bryant also scored 65 points in a single game against the Portland Trail Blazers in 2007 and 62 points in three quarters of play against the Dallas Mavericks in 2005, but his 61-point effort against the New York Knicks in 2009 might be his other most notable scoring game; he set a Madison Square Garden record for most points in a single game in that contest, a record eventually surpassed by Knicks star Carmelo Anthony (by one point).

Bryant battled through injuries while on the court, including tearing his Achilles while driving to the basket against the Golden State Warriors in 2013. He was able to get up and walk over to make a pair of free throws before leaving the game.

‘I’ve never seen anyone to this day tear their Achilles and walk off the basketball court,’ Lakers legend Bryon Scott said on his ‘Fast Break’ podcast. ‘I’ve seen a whole lot of them tear and get carried off the court.’

Scott was Bryant’s head coach in 2015 when the former MVP tore his rotator cuff in his right shoulder during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite the injury, Bryant told Scott that he was still going to play and spent several more minutes in the game before the coach decided to pull the 2007-08 MVP as he began using his left hand to try and finish out the game.

Bryant stepped off the court in a Lakers jersey for the final time the following year. He scored 60 points in his finale and finished his career with 33,643 points. He ranks fourth all-time in scoring, behind LeBron James (41,396), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Bracketology: SEC dominates men’s tournament projection

The SEC was conspicuously absent from Monday night’s College Football Playoff national championship game. But the conference is all over the first USA TODAY Sports edition of bracketology for the 2024-25 college basketball season, with a tournament-best 13 teams in the field and multiple earning a No. 1 seed.

Auburn is the top overall seed thanks to 10 Quad 1 wins. After beating Mississippi State on Tuesday night, Tennessee joins the Tigers as the second SEC team on the No. 1 line. The Tigers host the Volunteers on Saturday night.

Rounding out the No. 1 seeds are Duke and Iowa State. The Blue Devils have won 12 in a row and handed Auburn its only loss the season. The Cyclones are 16-2 with a narrow loss to Auburn and another defeat in Big 12 play to West Virginia.

The Crimson Tide are the strongest No. 2 seed and are narrowly behind Tennessee with the possibility of a flip by next week. Florida, which beat Tennessee by 30 points earlier this month, is also a No. 2.

The other SEC teams in this early projection are No. 3 Kentucky, No. 4 Mississippi State, No. 4 Texas A&M, No. 5 Mississippi, No. 7 Missouri, No. 10 Oklahoma, No. 10 Vanderbilt and No. 11 Texas. The Longhorns are projected to meet San Diego State in a play-in game.

Two big-name teams are absent from our bracketology.

One is North Carolina, which slipped to 12-8 overall after Tuesday night’s loss at Wake Forest. The Tar Heels are a pitiful 1-7 in Quad 1 games. The second is Arkansas, which has faceplanted out of the gate under new coach John Calipari. Despite getting some preseason love as a potential Final Four team, the Razorbacks are 12-7 overall, 1-5 in the SEC and 2-7 against Quad 1 competition, dumping them down to No. 54 in the NET rankings.

On the mid-major level, the Mountain West has only two teams in our bracket, No. 8 Utah State and the No. 11 San Diego State after putting six teams in the tournament last season.

An important note to keep in mind: This is an early glimpse at the potential tournament field, and a lot can and will change as teams continue to grind through conference play.

Last four in

Central Florida, Texas, San Diego State, Virginia Commonwealth.

Last four out

Wake Forest, Cincinnati, North Carolina, SMU.

NCAA Tournament bids conference breakdown

Multi-bid leagues: SEC (13), Big Ten (9), Big 12 (8), Big East (4), ACC (4), Atlantic 10 (2), Mountain West (2), West Coast (2).

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Bill Belichick formally signs contract with North Carolina football

A little more than a month after he was formally unveiled as North Carolina’s new football coach at a news conference, Bill Belichick has put pen to paper and formally signed his contract with the university.

Belichick signed the deal Wednesday and the school released it Thursday.

The longtime NFL coach, who led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories over his 24-year tenure, stunned much of the football world in December when he was linked to and ultimately accepted the job with the Tar Heels. The 72-year-old has never previously coached at the college level.

That unlikely marriage gave birth to chatter about how committed he was to North Carolina and whether he might leave quickly if an opportunity to return to the NFL arose. That speculation only intensified when it was reported that he had not yet signed his contract, though Belichick had signed a term sheet with the school.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Now that he’s contractually tethered to his new employer, what’s in the deal?

Here’s a closer look at Belichick’s contract with North Carolina:

Bill Belichick contract details

Belichick signed a five-year contract with North Carolina, though only the first three years of the contract are guaranteed.

He’s set to earn $10 million per year in base salary, though, like many coaching contracts, it is filled with incentive-related bonuses that could significantly increase his pay if his teams excel the way North Carolina leadership hopes.

Belichick’s contract includes:

Bonuses for specific win totals, ranging from $150,000 for winning eight regular-season games to $350,000 for 12 regular-season wins.
A $200,000 bonus for reaching the conference championship game, which goes up to $300,000 if the Tar Heels win it.
A $750,000 bonus for making the College Football Playoff field, which jumps to $1.75 million if North Carolina wins the national championship.
A $250,000 bonus for being in the top 25 of the final College Football Playoff rankings. That total doubles to $500,000 if the Tar Heels land in the top five.
A $150,000 bonus for making a bowl game, which shoots up to $350,000 for appearing specifically in a ‘non-CFP Tier 1/elite bowl game,’ defined as the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl or Mayo Bowl.
A $100,000 bonus for winning ACC coach of the year and a $250,000 bonus for winning national coach of the year.
An annual $100,000 expense allowance.

North Carolina has won 10 or more games only once since 1998. It has appeared in two ACC championship games, both of which it lost to Clemson, and has been in the top 25 of the final College Football Playoff selection committee twice, in 2015 and 2020.

Bill Belichick buyout

Belichick would owe North Carolina $10 million if he terminates the agreement before June 1, 2025. That buyout drops to $1 million on or after that date.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY
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Kristi Noem beats Senate confirmation hurdle, advancing to final vote for DHS role

The nomination of Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., to be the next Homeland Security secretary defeated a key hurdle in the confirmation process on Friday night, advancing to a final vote later this weekend. 

Her confirmation vote is expected to take place early Sunday morning. 

If confirmed, Noem will become the fourth of President Donald Trump’s picks to be advanced out of the Senate, behind Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe and incoming Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. 

Votes that are expected soon after Noem’s are those for Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Bessent, followed by Transportation Secretary pick Sean Duffy. 

The South Dakota governor is expected to receive bipartisan support for her confirmation to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Her nomination advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) by a vote of 13-2. Only two Democrats voted against her. 

‘I was the first Governor to send National Guard troops to Texas when they were being overwhelmed by an unprecedented border crisis,’ Noem told the committee during her confirmation hearing last week. 

‘If confirmed as Secretary, I will ensure that our exceptional, extraordinary border patrol agents have all the tools and resources and support they need to carry out their mission effectively.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Pete Hegseth confirmed to lead Pentagon after VP Vance casts tie-breaking vote

The Senate voted to confirm President Donald Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth, as defense secretary on Friday night after a high-tempered battle to sway lawmakers in his favor that was almost derailed by accusations about his behavior. 

The final vote came down to the wire: three Republicans opposed, making for a 50 to 50 vote. Vice President JD Vance was needed to break the tie in the upper chamber, putting the final tally at 51-50.

‘Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social after Hegseth’s confirmation.

The Senate’s two moderate Republican women: Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted no. As did Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the former GOP leader. 

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis’ support was not a given, and he did not reveal his stance until the vote was already underway. He ultimately said he would back Trump’s pick, giving him enough support to be confirmed with Vance’s tie-breaking vote. 

In her reasoning, Murkowski cited infidelity, ‘allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking’ and Hegseth’s previous comments on women serving in the military. 

The behaviors he has admitted to alone, she said, show ‘a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces.’

Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), the nonprofit advocacy group at the center of many of the accusations brought up during Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, praised his confirmation in a statement. 

‘The confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense presents a real opportunity to prioritize the security and prosperity of our citizens, champion prudence and effectiveness in our defense strategy, and focus our Department of Defense on America’s most vital interests,’ the statement read. 

The New Yorker reported in December that Hegseth was forced out of CVA, the group he once ran, over allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety and personal misconduct. 

All Democrats opposed the confirmation, a far cry from an earlier vote this week, when Secretary of State Marco Rubio was confirmed unanimously, 99-0.

Hegseth will now lead the government’s largest agency, having long promised to root out Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) measures across each branch. 

The Pentagon under Trump, however, has not waited for a confirmed secretary. 

This week, the commander of the Air Force‘s 613th Air Operations Center in Hawaii, who had advocated for more women in roles like her own, was removed from her position. Gen. Kevin Schneider, commander of Pacific Air Forces, relieved Col. Julie Sposito-Salceies from the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, ‘due to loss of confidence in her ability to command the organization.’

Shortly after Trump took office, Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan, the first uniformed woman to lead any military branch, was removed from her position. 

Trump this week also nominated former Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier and former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller to top Defense Department posts – both men who were deeply critical of the Biden administration’s policies at the Pentagon. 

Lohmeier, who had been nominated to serve as undersecretary of the Air Force, was fired as commander of the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Buckley Air Force base, after he wrote a book and appeared on podcasts claiming Marxism had infiltrated the armed forces and criticizing diversity policies.

Scheller made headlines for posting videos in uniform criticizing senior military leaders over the Afghanistan withdrawal. Scheller, the new senior advisor to the Department of Defense Under Secretary for personnel and readiness, was sent to the brig and court-martialed over the clips. 

Hegseth’s nomination was dealt a last-minute hurdle earlier this week when reports emerged that his ex-sister-in-law alleged he had abused his second wife. 

On Tuesday, Fox News obtained an affidavit from Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle Hegseth, which alleged he had an alcohol abuse problem and at times made his ex-wife, Samantha, fear for her safety. Danielle Hegseth was previously married to Pete Hegseth’s brother and has no relation to Samantha.

But Danielle Hegseth added that she never witnessed any abuse herself, physical or sexual, by Pete against Samantha. 

Samantha Hegseth has also denied any physical abuse in a statement to NBC News.

Senate Armed Services Chair Roger Wicker said in a statement Wednesday night that reports ‘regarding a confidential briefing on the FBI background investigation of Pete Hegseth that I received last week are starkly and factually inaccurate,’ and that he stands by Hegseth’s nomination.

Earlier Thursday, Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged Republicans to join him in opposing the former Fox News host and Army national guardsman. 

‘Hegseth is so utterly unqualified, he ranks up there [as] … one of the very worst nominees that could be put forward,’ Schumer said.

Hegseth, who has been married three times, has admitted he was a ‘serial cheater’ before he became a Christian and married his current wife, Jenny. 

The 44-year-old Army National Guard veteran, who did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is relatively young and inexperienced, compared to defense secretaries in the past, retiring as a major. But Republicans say they don’t want someone who made it to the top brass who’s become entrenched in the Pentagon establishment. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Marco Rubio to Chinese foreign minister: Trump will put ‘American people first’ in US-China relations

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Chinese Foreign Minister and Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi that the Trump administration will put the ‘American people first’ and advance U.S. interests in its relationship with China, according to a readout of the call from spokesperson Tammy Bruce. 

The meeting was the first between Rubio and Wang since the former Florida senator was unanimously approved by the Senate this week to become President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet official following Monday’s inauguration. 

‘The Secretary also stressed the United States’ commitment to our allies in the region and serious concern over China’s coercive actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea,’ Bruce said. ‘The Secretary also discussed other issues of bilateral, regional, and global importance with his Chinese counterpart.’ 

Wang told Rubio during the call that he hoped he would ‘conduct’ himself well and ‘play a constructive role in the future of the Chinese and American people and in world peace and stability.’ 

He added that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had already set the tone for U.S.-Chinese relations. 

‘The teams of both sides should implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, maintain communication, manage differences, expand cooperation, promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, and find the right way for China and the United States to get along in the new era,’ Wang said.

Trump has threatened China with 10% tariffs on imports over its role in fentanyl trafficking, starting as early as Feb. 1, and Rubio called the country the gravest threat to the U.S. during his confirmation hearing. 

Trump n Thursday told the World Economic Forum virtually that he and Xi have ‘always had a great relationship,’ and all his administration wants is ‘fairness. We just want a level playing field.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
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Stocks

BEWARE! META, TSLA, AMZN, MSFT & AAPL Report Earnings Next Week!

In this video, Mary Ellen reviews the new uptrend in the S&P 500, and highlights what’s driving it higher. She then shares new pockets of strength that are poised to take off, and what to be on the lookout for ahead of next week’s M7 earnings reports.

This video originally premiered January 24, 2025. You can watch it on our dedicated page for Mary Ellen’s videos.

New videos from Mary Ellen premiere weekly on Fridays. You can view all previously recorded episodes at this link.

If you’re looking for stocks to invest in, be sure to check out the MEM Edge Report! This report gives you detailed information on the top sectors, industries and stocks so you can make informed investment decisions.

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Semiconductors Have More to Prove Before Breakout is Believed

Despite the strength in some key growth stocks in January, semiconductors have been decidedly rangebound for most of the last six months.  While this week’s breakout of the range appears to be a significant bullish signal, the bearish candle pattern on Friday indicates investors may be best served by being patient for upside confirmation.

Big Base Breakouts Are Bullish

After reaching a swing low around $200 in early August, the VanEck Vectors Semiconductor ETF (SMH) made a series of higher highs to reach a new peak in mid-October around $260.  The SMH ended up retesting this resistance area two more times through early January, with a number of pullbacks finding support at the 200-day moving average

The failed breakout in the first week of 2025 was noteworthy in that it was punctuated by a bearish engulfing pattern, representing short-term distribution according to candlestick chart aficionados.  Tuesday of this week, we saw another breakout above the $260 level, and an upside follow-through day suggested that this breakout may finally have staying power.

What is the first market-related thing you look at every morning?  If the answer is “financial television” or “my brokerage account” then we have some work to do!  In his upcoming FREE webcast on Wednesday, January 29th, Dave will share the actual morning coffee routine that he uses every morning to clearly define market trends, identify shifts in investor sentiment, and check in on market action.  

You’ll leave this session with plenty of ideas on how to upgrade your own daily market analysis routine to improve your market awareness.  Sign up for this free event HERE and learn how better routines lead to better decisions!

Semis Have Finally Closed the Gap

While this week’s breakout did confirm a breakout above the recent consolidation pattern, a closer look reveals that SMH may have just simply closed the price gap from July 2025.

I often get asked about how I use price gaps in my analysis, and my general answer is that I treat them as support and resistance zones.  I’ve found that the market has memory, and investors tend to gravitate toward price gaps as meaningful levels of interest, considered a “pivot point” for future potential reversals.

So while the move above $260 appears to be a good breakout, the fact that we’re still in the price gap from last summer suggests that perhaps there is still more to prove before we can sound an “all clear” for semiconductors.

Bearish Engulfing Pattern Suggests Another Peak

Candle charts can be so helpful in understanding the short-term sentiment shifts within the context of the longer-term market trends.  And Thursday and Friday brought us the dreaded bearish engulfing pattern, a two-candle reversal pattern that suggests a bearish shift in short-term sentiment.

What’s so fascinating about SMH is that we had another bearish engulfing pattern on the previous test of $260 from earlier in January, resulting in a pullback to the 200-day moving average.  If you look closely at the first chart we shared in this article, you may notice bearish engulfing patterns at a number of price peaks over the last 12 months!

While the bearish engulfing pattern doesn’t necessarily negate the recent “big base breakout”, it does suggest that semis have lost some upside momentum.  I look for breakouts with improving momentum, improving volume, and improving price action.  Unfortunately for semiconductors, it looks like investors may have to watch for more confirmation before believing in this latest attempt to find a new high!

RR#6,

Dave

PS- Ready to upgrade your investment process?  Check out my free behavioral investing course!

David Keller, CMT

President and Chief Strategist

Sierra Alpha Research LLC

Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.  The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your own personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.  

The author does not have a position in mentioned securities at the time of publication.    Any opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person or entity.

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The Best Five Sectors, #4

No changes in the top-5

At the end of this week, there were no changes in the ranking of the top-5 sectors.

(1) XLY – Consumer Discretionary(2) XLF – Financials(3) XLC – Communication Services(4) XLI – Industrials(5) XLE – Energy(6) XLK – Technology(7) XLU – Utilities(11) XLB – Materials(8) XLRE – Real Estate(9) XLP – Consumer Staples(10) XLV – Health Care

In the bottom of the ranking, a few changes are showing up.

Materials rose from #11 to #8. XLRE dropped from #8 to #9. And XLP and XLV both dropped one position to #10 and #11.

As a refresher, this ranking is done based on a combination of RRG metrics on both the daily and the weekly RRGs.

Based on the positions of XLE and XLK on the weekly RRG, it may seem strange that XLE is above XLK. However, looking at the daily RRG, it can be seen that XLE made a huge move into and through leading with a very high RS-ratio and RS-momentum reading, which dragged the sector above XLK.

Consumer Discretionary

XLY has put a new higher low into place which underscores the current strength of this sector. The newly formed low at 218 is now the first support level to watch for XLY.

The first target to the upside is the level of the previous peak around 240. The uptrends in both price and relative strength are still intact.

Financials

The Financials sector now also has a new higher low in place at 47, which should also be seen as the first support level for XLF.

51.6 is the first target and resistance level on the upside. An upward break will unlock more upside for financial stocks.

Communication Services

Out of the top-5 sector charts, XLC is probably the strongest.

This week’s upward break out of the flag-like consolidation pattern must be seen as very strong and the signal for a further rally. Taking out the previous high at 102.40 will be the confirmation.

Industrials

XLI continues its bounce of support and is underway to the upper boundary of its rising channel. Intermediate resistance is expected around 144.

Relative strength remains under pressure but is still stronger than the other sectors and therefore keeping XLI inside the top 5.

Energy

Energy dropped back a bit after its rally in the last few weeks but remains solidly in the middle of its range. Here also relative strength remains under pressure.

Performance

As of the close on 1/24 the top-5 portfolio gained 3.89%, keeping up with SPY which gained 3.99% over the same period.

#StayAlert, and have a great weekend. — Julius

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Business

Elon Musk and Sam Altman spar over Trump’s Stargate AI investment announcement

A war of words between Elon Musk and Sam Altman escalated on social media Thursday, as two of the most powerful men in tech sparred over their rival artificial intelligence initiatives. 

The latest exchange began after OpenAI, where Altman is CEO, was revealed as a key player in Stargate, the AI infrastructure project President Donald Trump announced this week that is coming with a massive investment push.

“They don’t actually have the money,” Musk wrote in a long post on his social platform, X, about the new venture. It was not immediately clear whom Musk was initially referring to, but he soon followed up, naming SoftBank, Stargate’s main financial backer.

“SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority,” he said, without elaborating. Neither Musk nor his electronic car company Tesla have publicized any formal links.   

Altman responded praising Musk — “I genuinely respect your accomplishments and think you are the most inspiring entrepreneur of our time,” he wrote on X — but he called his SoftBank claim wrong. 

“I realize what is great for the country isn’t always what’s optimal for your companies, but in your new role i hope you’ll mostly put [America] first,” he added, using an American flag emoji.

In remarks to reporters Thursday, Trump weighed in on the dispute but gave no indication that Altman’s or OpenAI’s status on the project were threatened.

Without mentioning Altman by name, Trump mentioned Musk while referring to ‘one of the people he happens to hate.’

‘But I have certain hatreds of people, too,’ he said.

The spat has its roots in a pending lawsuit filed by Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, over control of the company; it was rekindled after Trump’s announcement this week that OpenAI would be part of the $500 billion Stargate initiative designed to make the United States a world leader in AI.

Late Wednesday and into Thursday, Musk continued to hammer Altman, repeatedly citing posts during Trump’s 2016 presidential run in which Altman appeared to denounce Trump. 

By 8:30 p.m., Altman posted that he’d recently had a change of heart about the president: “watching @potus more carefully recently has really changed my perspective on him (i wish i had done more of my own thinking” he said in part. “i’m not going to agree with him on everything, but i think he will be incredible for the country in many ways!”

On Thursday morning, Altman posted, responding to Musk: “just one more mean tweet and then maybe you’ll love yourself…”

The tit-for-tat between Musk and Altman is a sign of both the struggle within the tech community to curry favor with Trump and how the AI race is driving the push for tech dominance. If putting out new, consumer-friendly devices was once the way for a tech company to gain power, the struggle to create the most advanced form of AI has almost completely taken over.   

The situation also points to the tension of Musk’s role as both a top Trump adviser and one of the world’s most powerful — and combative — business moguls. Musk has his own interest in AI through the X, which debuted Grok, its rival to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in November.

The simmering Altman-Musk feud goes back years, well before Musk’s emergence in the U.S. political scene and even before the recent explosion of artificial intelligence technology. Companies have rushed to invest in AI infrastructure and development, so much so that it has accounted for a significant part of recent U.S. economic growth. A Goldman Sachs paper published in June, well before the announcement of the Stargate project, projected that AI capital expenditure could top $1 trillion.

OpenAI had generally been considered the leader in AI development, though it faces major competition from other startups, as well as most major tech giants that are believed to have closed the gap. That competition has made securing investments and partnerships all the more important in large part because of the sizable hardware and energy needs required to hone the models at the core of advanced AI.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS
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