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Kurtenbach: The 49ers’ big second-half question — where’s the juice?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

So much has gone wrong for the 49ers’ defense over the last few weeks, it’s difficult to know where to start making corrections.They need to rev up the pass rush — the acquisition of Chase Young is aimed at doing that. They need to stop calling such plain and predictable plays, which could be helped by film study over the bye.But perhaps this defense’s biggest issue heading into the second half of the season is that it has lost its swagger.And I don’t think defensive coordinator Steve Wilks moving from the coaches’ booth to the sideline is going to help with this.A little film study of my own shows a defense that is devoid of juice.The Niners’ defensive personnel is arguably better than last season. And yet they look to be a shell of that former team.Like a balloon without air, this Niners’ defense looks limp.Someone needs to pump them up.The NFL is a billion-dollar business with innovative coaches, but it’s still a simple game i...

San Jose Sharks acquire defenseman from Minnesota Wild

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks acquired defenseman Calen Addison from the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday for AHL winger Adam Raska and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick.Addison, 23, had five assists in 12 games for the Wild this season and has five goals and 38 points in 92 career NHL games, all with Minnesota. A second-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018, Addison was averaging just under 17 minutes of ice time per game this season.Addison would give the Sharks more of a true quarterback on the man advantage as he had been, up until recently, on Minnesota’s top power-play unit. He was third on the Wild this season in overall power play time on ice, averaging 4:12 per game.The Sharks went 1-for-5 on the power play in their 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, with William Eklund’s second-period goal on a 4-on-3 man advantage proving to be the winner.The victory was the Sharks’ first of the season after 11 straight defeats. San Jose entered W...

The end of the actors’ strike seemed within reach. Why is a SAG-AFTRA deal taking so long?

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

Christi Carras, Wendy Lee and Meg James | (TNS) Los Angeles TimesAbout this time last week, the major Hollywood studios were optimistic and the performers union SAG-AFTRA was cautiously optimistic that a tentative deal to end the actors’ strike was within reach.One hundred and seventeen days into the walkout that has ground the entertainment industry to a near-halt, such a settlement remains to be seen. On Monday afternoon, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said in a statement that there still were “several essential items” the sides had yet to agree on.This came after the union formally responded to what the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers described as its “last, best and final offer,” the contents of which are starting to emerge through anonymous sources. The parties have been going back and forth for about two weeks of frequent meetings in an effort to resolve their labor dispute.Despite signs of progress, a deal betwe...

Dorsey's Block, formerly Square, to slash 1,000 jobs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- Block, the financial services tech company run by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey, plans to cut around 1,000 jobs in the latest round of layoffs to roil the Bay Area tech industry. In a third-quarter shareholder letter published last Thursday, Dorsey, announced the company would be capping its employee head count at 12,000.Block currently employs just over 13,000 people, according to the transcript of last week's earnings call, posted on Seeking Alpha. The proposed job cuts would amount to roughly 1,000 workers losing their jobs. Nextdoor to lay off 25% of its staff as part of cost reduction plan The job cuts are expected to be implemented over several months with the company targeting the end of 2024 to reach its goal, according to the earnings call transcript."As we continue to view the business through the lens of our investment framework, we continue to find opportunities for constraints we believe will lead to greater growth," said Dorsey in the sharehold...

FRP Holdings: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — FRP Holdings Inc. (FRPH) on Wednesday reported net income of $1.3 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Jacksonville, Florida-based company said it had profit of 13 cents.The real estate company posted revenue of $10.6 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on FRPH at https://www.zacks.com/ap/FRPHSource

King Charles proposes bill that takes aim at European Super League

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Over two fraught days in April 2021, a newly formed “Super League” threatened to change the face of European soccer by creating an elite tournament that would protect 15 top clubs from relegation.It quickly collapsed, but a U.K. government bill announced by King Charles on Tuesday proposes powers to block English teams from attempting to join a breakaway league in the future.In a document explaining the new Football Governance Bill, the government said the European Super League was “fundamentally uncompetitive” and “threatened to undermine the footballing pyramid against the wishes of fans.”“Fans will no longer face the prospect of seeing their clubs sign up to ill-thought out proposals such as the European Super League,” the document said.Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham were among 12 rebel clubs from England, Spain and Italy that planned to be part of the breakaway league. Real Madrid, Barcelona, A...

College Football Picks: No. 2 Michigan visits No. 9 Penn State in its first test of the season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

Finally, No. 2 Michigan gets a test.The Wolverines (9-0) have stomped through the season, crushing opponents by an average of 34 points per game, the best margin in the country.None of those opponents has been ranked in the AP Top 25, creating some questions about just how good Michigan is.A trip to Happy Valley to face No. 9 Penn State on Saturday will provide an answer. A cloud of controversy will arrive with Michigan, which could race possible discipline from the Big Ten for a scouting/sign-stealing scheme.Michigan-Penn State is one of two top-10 matchups in the most intriguing games of Week 11.No. 2 Michigan (minus 5 1/2) at No. 9 Penn StateThe Nittany Lions managed just one late touchdown in its loss at Ohio State with an offense that has struggled to pop big plays all year. Now here come the Wolverines, who humiliated Penn State last year by running for 418 yards in a 41-17 victory.It’s also another potential narrative-changer for Nittany Lions coach James Franklin, who ...

No. 23 Arizona is taking huge strides in its third season under Jedd Fisch

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Jedd Fisch had the toughest sales job in college football, trying to convince recruits and assistant coaches to join what was at the time one of the nation’s worst programs.Amid what would become the longest losing streak in Arizona history, Fisch had to paint a picture of promise and lay out a plan for a better future.The former NFL coach sealed the deal more often than not, setting the foundation for a massive turnaround in a short timeframe.“It’s been a crazy process of knowing that it was going be long and hard, and really proud that our guys are where they are right now,” Fisch said.Arizona went from a one-win first season under Fisch to five last year. The upward trend has continued this year.The Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Pac-12) had one of the most difficult stretches in college football this season, playing five straight AP Top 25 teams — and handled it well.With Saturday’s 27-10 win over then-No. 20 UCLA, Arizona has beaten ranked opponents in three cons...

Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker, Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb among best bets to score in Week 10 of NFL season

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

There are a handful of byes this week, but there are still plenty of quality scoring fantasy options at our disposal. These are my best bets to find the end zone in Week 10 of the NFL season.___Running BackKENNETH WALKER, SEAHAWKSWalker has had a tough couple of weeks, but he was dealing with an injury while going up against two of the best defenses in the league in the Browns and the Ravens. Prior to that, Walker had either scored or surpassed 100 yards in every game. Altogether he has a 35.89% TD dependency. This week he faces a Washington team that is our 10th-best matchup for opposing running backs going into Week 10, a matchup that Vegas gives him -125 odds to score, the second-best odds for a running back this week.JOSH JACOBS, RAIDERSJacobs has shown improvement in the past two weeks, despite the turmoil and upheaval his organization was going through. Just last week, under an interim head coach, he had his best rushing day of the season (26 carries for 98 yards and two touch...

PLDT: Q3 Earnings Snapshot

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 12:12:38 GMT

MAKATI, Philippines (AP) — MAKATI, Philippines (AP) — Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PHI) on Tuesday reported earnings of $168.8 million in its third quarter.On a per-share basis, the Makati, Philippines-based company said it had net income of 78 cents. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains and to account for discontinued operations, were 66 cents per share.The telecommunications company posted revenue of $936.5 million in the period._____This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on PHI at https://www.zacks.com/ap/PHISource