Forthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”CRA International, Inc. ( NASDAQ:CRAI – Get Free Report ) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 60,600 shares, a growth of 27.8% from the November 30th total of 47,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 37,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.6 days. Currently, 0.9% of the company’s stock are sold short. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms recently weighed in on CRAI. StockNews.com lowered shares of CRA International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 1st. Barrington Research increased their price objective on CRA International from $194.00 to $212.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CRA International Insider Buying and Selling at CRA International Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of CRA International during the 3rd quarter worth $164,000. Marshall Wace LLP purchased a new stake in CRA International during the second quarter worth about $221,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in CRA International by 2.9% in the third quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 3,095 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $543,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in CRA International in the third quarter valued at about $573,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of CRA International by 13.6% during the 2nd quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 3,280 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $549,000 after acquiring an additional 393 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.13% of the company’s stock. CRA International Price Performance CRAI opened at $186.84 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $191.86 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $177.93. The company has a market capitalization of $1.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.23, a P/E/G ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 1.13. CRA International has a 1 year low of $97.31 and a 1 year high of $210.70. CRA International ( NASDAQ:CRAI – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The business services provider reported $1.77 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.58 by $0.19. CRA International had a net margin of 6.41% and a return on equity of 24.46%. The business had revenue of $167.75 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $166.83 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.13 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that CRA International will post 7.15 EPS for the current year. CRA International Increases Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 13th. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 26th were given a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.05%. This is an increase from CRA International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, November 26th. CRA International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.72%. CRA International Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) CRA International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides economic, financial, and management consulting services worldwide. It advises clients on economic and financial matters pertaining to litigation and regulatory proceedings; and guides corporations through business strategy and performance-related issues. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for CRA International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CRA International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, who has missed the entire regular season with a sternoclavicular joint dislocation suffered during an Aug. 10 preseason matchup , could potentially return to practice soon. "According to multiple sources, the Chiefs are optimistic that Brown will rejoin his teammates on the practice fields in mid-December," Nate Taylor of The Athletic reported. Brown signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs this offseason. The 27-year-old caught 51 passes for 574 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games for the Arizona Cardinals last year. This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis. For more from Bleacher Report on this topic and from around the sports world, check out our B/R app , homepage and social feeds—including Twitter , Instagram , Facebook and TikTok .
Blue Ocean Team 1 vs Team Red: A Clash of Titans
Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollar
Full disclosure: We shopping editors view Black Friday with a little more excitement than most. Scouring the sales makes us as giddy as a toddler opening presents on Christmas morning. So we've been in our element the past few days, working from dusk til dawn finding the best deals and steals worth your money. One of our favorite places to shop: . You can find our top picks in a range of categories (home, tech, fashion and more), but we couldn't help snagging a few goodies for ourselves, too. C'mon, we're only human. Szrsth Electric Scrubber Topvision Soundbar Serta Cooling Gel Memory Foam Bed Pillow, Set of 2 Loritta Warm Wool Socks for Women, 5-Pair Beautiful 10-Inch Ceramic Frying Pan Renpho Eye Massager Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker Westintrends Folding Adirondack Chair Imusa 6-Quart Stock Pot Greenworks Portable Leaf Blower Crocs Unisex Baya Clog Sandals So, with an eye towards holiday gatherings and gift-giving, here are some of the marvelous markdowns from big brands (Beats, Crocs, Beautiful by Drew Barrymore) we made off with. But don't forget — these are only while supplies last, so now's the time to add to your cart. Another helpful tip: If you're not signed up for yet, now's the time to do it. Through December 2, you can — that's 50% off — and score early access to Walmart's upcoming Cyber Monday sale (plus tons of other perks). "I have white marble mosaic tile in my bathroom and kitchen — and while it looks effortlessly chic, it actually requires a ton of effort to keep it clean. I've been using a grout brush for the last year, but this cordless scrubber will get rid of any dirt, crumbs and grime without any elbow grease. I especially love that it has an adjustable handle, so I don't even have to bend over to get the job done." — "Trust me — as a self-proclaimed movie buff and streaming fanatic, a soundbar is the one product I recommend to everyone I know. It's really one of the best investments you can make for your home entertainment setup. To put it plainly, TV speakers are pretty underwhelming across the board. A soundbar helps you achieve that movie theater sound and clarity from your living room and this one will only set you back $30!" "I'm pretty sure you're supposed to replace your pillows every one to two years and I'm embarrassed to say how long I've had mine — maybe that's why my sleep routine has been suffering lately?! This deal from Serta is amazing. Just $17 a pop for cooling memory foam pillows. At this low price, I think I'll get an extra pack for when I have guests during the holidays." "As someone who has poor circulation and perennially cold feet, I plan to stock up on these cozy wool-blend socks while they're marked down to just over $2 a pop. They're made with wool, cotton and polyester which means they're soft and warm with enough moisture-wicking power to keep your feet dry. And I love that you get a variety of colors in each pack, so I can mix and match with the rest of my winter wardrobe." — "Do I technically need another nonstick pan? No. But is this one so pretty that it would be criminal not to buy it at this price? Absolutely, yes. I cook a lot, so I know this gorgeous black pan will get plenty of use in my kitchen. One shopper in the comments compared it to the popular Caraway pans that are way more expensive and, well, that convinced me to grab it." — "If you suffer from migraines, the Renpho eye massager is a game-changer. It massages your eyes and applies heat to help relieve pressure and pain. It always goes on sale during Black Friday, but $69 is an incredible early discount." — "This $89 deal on Beats is worth checking out if you've been thinking about upgrading your headphones. I have to admit — I'm usually more of an over-the-ear guy but my now-ancient pair of Beats on-ears are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned, and I've owned a fair few. Be sure to snag these quickly as I'm sure they will sell out." "I'm crazy about ice cream, but I'm also lactose intolerant. I dream about being able to whip up dairy-free ice cream that's delicious and decadent enough to be Oprah-approved." "We just spent an obscene amount of money building a new deck, so you better believe I'm eyeing all the Black Friday deals on patio furniture and accessories. I've always loved Adirondack chairs, but I'm over the maintenance required for anything made of real wood. So these high-density polyethylene chairs are just the ticket — they're practically maintenance-free, they're lighter, they're foldable, they're stackable ... what's not to love? The hardest part will be choosing a color." — "I love the classic blue-speckled look of this cooking vessel, and because it's made of metal, it'll quickly heat water, stock or anything else I want to boil in it. Plus, the enamel coating makes it easy to clean, and it's lightweight, so I'll be less likely to drop it when it's full!" — "It's that time of the year...when I sit down on an Adirondack chair and hear the crack, crack, crackle of dried leaves under my butt. Yes, I need a leaf blower! This brand is a Yahoo reader favorite and right now it's on sale for half off." — Nicole Sforza, Executive Editor "If I'm going to have a pair of backyard Crocs, they might as well be glam. I plan to make this glittery pair my throw-and-gos for feeling fancy while playing with the dog and pretending to be a movie star while gardening. (Or pretending to garden.)" — Want to save even more? Make sure you’re signed up for . It’s easy to . You’ll get free shipping and grocery delivery, savings on gas and prescriptions, exclusive access to major deals, and more. Plus, through December 2, you can — that's 50% off — and score early access to Walmart's upcoming Cyber Monday sale. (And by the way, those without Walmart+ still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)SAN ANTONIO — Anthony Davis had 19 points and 14 rebounds, LeBron James finished with 16 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the San Antonio Spurs 119-101 on Wednesday night. Rookie Dalton Knecht had 20 pointson 4-for-10 shooting from long distance as the Lakers snapped a three-game skid. Victor Wembanyama had 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Spurs had their four-game winning streak ended. Harrison Barnes added 19 points and Julian Champagnie scored 18. Los Angeles led by as many as 15 points in the first half before San Antonio cut the deficit to eight points. Los Angeles' Austin Reaves quelled the rally by hitting a 3-pointer over Wembanyama as time expired in the first half, giving the Lakers a 58-47 lead. San Antonio guard Devin Vassell had 14 points in his return from a five-game absence with a bruised left knee. Takeaways Lakers: James shot 2 for 9 and scored four points in the first half. He had 12 points in the second half, including eight in the fourth quarter while shooting 4 for 5. Spurs: Vassell is the first player in Spurs history to make 450 3-pointers in his first 250 career games. Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James, left, goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in San Antonio. Credit: AP/Darren Abate Key moment After the Spurs cut the deficit to four points, Knecht tossed in a floater in the lane, stole a pass from Wembanyama and fired the ball downcourt to Davis for an uncontested dunk that put the Lakers up 73-63. Key stat The Spurs had won 14 of 18 third quarters this season. The Lakers outscored San Antonio 34-30 in extending their lead to 92-77 entering the fourth. Up next The Lakers host Oklahoma City on Friday in the NBA Cup. The Spurs are at Sacramento on Sunday.
Max George shares major health update after his heart surgery as his ex fiancee Michelle Keegan reveals she is expecting her first child Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By RUTH FRANCIS FOR MAILONLINE Published: 21:15 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 21:15 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Max George has given fans an update on his recovery following major surgery for an undiagnosed heart condition. The singer, 36, was admitted to hospital earlier this month after experiencing heart issues, leading to a lengthy stay before his release on Christmas Day. Now back home, Max shared that he has taken his first steps outside since the ordeal, posting a photo of himself on a night time dog walk with his beloved pitbull Albert. He also uploaded an image of his Apple Watch, showing his heart rate at 85 bpm. Captioning the photos, he wrote: 'Back on the streets... Felt great to have my first few steps outside for a while.. especially with my beautiful boy'. Fans flooded his post with supportive messages and wishing him a speedy recovery writing: 'Pacemakers are game changers ❤️ I’m so glad you’re doing better. You’ll just keep getting stronger now. Happy New Year ❤️' Max George has given fans an update on his recovery following major surgery for an undiagnosed heart condition Now back home, Max shared that he has taken his first steps outside since the ordeal, posting a photo of himself on a walk wrapped up in a camouflage coat, hoodie and black jeans 'So glad to see your getting back on track and back to your usual self . Remember to take it easy and we are all here behind you ❤️' 'That’s amazing !!!soo glad ❤️❤️❤️ you got this max !! Can’t wait to see you back on stage again' 'What a joy to see this❤️' Max, who has been sober for over four years after previous liver issues, had a pacemaker fitted to stabilise his heart. Reflecting on his health journey, The Wanted singer explained that alcohol wasn’t a factor in his condition, saying he gave up drinking after doctors flagged concerns about his liver following years of heavy partying on tour. It comes after he revealed he had finally made it home to celebrate Christmas after going through emergency heart surgery. Earlier this month, Max revealed he was spending Christmas in hospital after being forced to seek medical help after having an undiagnosed heart condition. But on Wednesday he shared that he had finally reunited with his girlfriend Maisie Smith , 23, to spend Christmas with family and friends. Max, who has been sober for over four years after previous liver issues, had a pacemaker fitted to stabilise his heart so also uploaded an image of his Apple Watch, showing his heart rate Max was on a night time dog walk with his beloved pitbull Albert when he posted the update to his followers Upon seeing that he was up and about, fans flooded his post with supportive messages and wished him a speedy recovery The loved-up duo have been inseparable since going official in August 2022 and also living together. In an Instagram post, Max shared some adorable snaps of him and his partner cuddled up on the sofa. Max captioned the trio of photos simply with: 'It’s so good to be home'. Max previously revealed he had to stay in hospital due to ongoing cardiac issues and underwent a serious operation after his condition didn't improve. Sharing a video from his hospital bed on Tuesday, Max said: 'It's time to go home. The numbers are way better. I feel knackered, slept a lot today.' Earlier in the week Max revealed revealed he had finally made it home after going through emergency heart surgery earlier this month The Wanted singer previously admitted he was 'bruised and battered' after his operation and has now revealed he is glad to be home and was seen cuddled up with Maisie on the sofa But Max revealed he isn't completely out of the woods yet as doctors want to do more tests in the coming weeks after finding a problem with his lungs. 'Few more tests to do over the next couple of weeks, something to do with my lungs but that's the least of my worries right now. Read More Inside Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright's romance as they reveal they're expecting their first child 'All good, bit battered and bruised and knackered but,' he added and gave a thumbs up to the camera. Pointing to his chest, he said: 'So latest is that 100 per cent I'm going to have a little friend put in here at some point. 'Erm, I've got an issue with the bottom part of my heart, it's called a block. The tricky bit is what I have put in because until I have further tests we don't know what caused it.' The Glad You Came hitmaker noted it is all a 'mystery' what has happened to him, although doctors have been able to eliminate some possible causes. Max, who has battled alcoholism previously, said: 'We've cancelled out a few things, like alcohol for example I've not had a drink for four-and-a-half years so it's not that. 'It's a bit of a mystery really, but that's the hard bit. It's the waiting. My heart rate is really, really low. They're monitoring it 24/7, everyone has been amazing. Max's health update comes as his ex fiancee Michelle Keegan revealed big news on Sunday night, revealing she is expecting her first child with her husband of nine years Mark Wright 'But the waiting bit is tough. It's just one of them things unfortunately. Whatever I get, I've got to get on with it. We're hoping pacemaker, a pacemaker is good.' Max's health update comes as his ex fiancee Michelle Keegan revealed big news on Sunday night, revealing she is expecting her first child with her husband of nine years Mark Wright . Michelle and Max split in 2012 after a high profile romance, and just eight months later the actress embarked on a whirlwind romance with TOWIE star Mark. The actress and the TV presenter, both 37, confirmed their baby news on Instagram , sharing a sweet photograph alongside the caption: '2025 is going to be a special one for us...✨'. WHAT IS A PACEMAKER? A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device that prevents the heart from beating too slowly. Surgery is needed to install it and the operation is generally carried out under local anaesthetic Around 50,000 people are fitted with a pacemaker every year in the UK, according to the British Heart Foundation Michelle Keegan Apple Instagram Max George Share or comment on this article: Max George shares major health update after his heart surgery as his ex fiancee Michelle Keegan reveals she is expecting her first child e-mail Add commentLiverpool shines in Champions League, dumping Real Madrid down the table. Dortmund rises to 4th Liverpool stayed perfect in the Champions League. A 2-0 win at Anfield dumped title holder Real Madrid into an almost unbelievable 24th place in the 36-team standings. Liverpool's second half ghoals came from Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo, either side of Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappé having a penalty saved. Borussia Dortmund, is up to fourth place after beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0. Monaco missed a chance to go second losing 3-2 at home to Benfica. The best comeback was at PSV Eindhoven. Te home team trailed Shakhtar Donetsk by two goals in the 87th minute of a 3-2 win. Daniel Jones is signing with the Vikings after his release from the Giants, AP source says A person familiar with the decision says former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones is signing with the Minnesota Vikings. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement hasn’t been finalized. Jones will join Minnesota’s practice squad less than a week after the Giants released the former No. 6 overall draft pick. Sam Darnold has helped the Vikings start 9-2. Jones joins Nick Mullens and Brett Rypien in Minnesota’s quarterback room. Rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy had season-ending knee surgery in August and a second procedure on his knee earlier this month. LIV Golf will hire sports and entertainment leader Scott O'Neil to replace Greg Norman, report says Scott O'Neil is set to become the next CEO of Saudi-funded LIV Golf. The Athletic is reporting the move for the former head of the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils. O'Neil recently was CEO of Merlin Entertainments. The company that owns resorts like Legoland announced O'Neil was leaving for a new opportunity. O'Neil would replace Greg Norman at LIV Golf. Sports Business Journal reported last month that Norman would move to a different role that has not been announced. Norman has been CEO of the rival golf league since it launched in 2022. The PGA Tour and Saudi backers are still negotiating an investment deal. West Virginia knocks off No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in overtime in the Battle 4 Atlantis NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Javon Small scored five of his 31 points in overtime and Tucker DeVries added key free throws late in regulation and finished with 16 points as West Virginia beat No. 3 Gonzaga 86-78 in the Battle 4 Atlantis. Small’s layup with under 2 minutes left in OT gave West Virginia a 79-75 lead. After a Gonzaga miss, Sencire Harris hit two free throws to make it a six-point lead. With 27.1 seconds left, Harris made a steal and scored on a dunk for an eight-point lead, putting the game out of reach. Braden Huff scored 19 points and Khalif Battle 16 for Gonzaga (5-1). Two companies drop McGregor after civil jury ruled he must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her LONDON (AP) — Two companies have cut ties with Conor McGregor after a civil court jury in Ireland ruled last week that he must pay nearly 250,000 Euros ($257,000) to a woman who accused the mixed martial arts fighter of raping her. Proximo Spirits, the owner of Irish whiskey brand Proper No. 12, will no longer feature McGregor’s name or image. Video game developer IO Interactive ended its collaboration with McGregor, who had played a character in a game. Nikita Hand said the Dec. 9, 2018, assault after a night of partying left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor said she fabricated the allegations after the two had consensual sex. Staley counsels some South Carolina fans to keep calm after No. 4 Gamecocks 1st loss in two seasons COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina coach Dawn Staley is not in panic mode, even if some of famous “Fams” are following her team's first loss in two seasons. The Gamecocks had won 85 of their previous 86 games, including a program record 43 in a row before falling to UCLA 77-62 this past Sunday. South Carolina slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 in the rankings while the Bruins took over the top spot. Still, it caught Staley by surprise that some supporters were worried about the November loss. Staley said the defending national champions are still finding their way. Thanksgiving Weekend Sports Guide: Your roadmap to NFL matchups, with other games, times and odds The long sports-filled Thanksgiving weekend is a time when many Americans enjoy gathering with friends and family for good food, good company and hopefully not too much political conversation. Also on the menu — all the NFL and college sports you can handle. Here is a roadmap to one of the biggest sports weekends of the year, with a look at marquee games over the holiday and how to watch. Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley prepare for earliest matchup ever between 1,300-yard running backs Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry combined for 395 yards rushing on back-to-back nights at SoFi Stadium as the dynamic playmakers keep proving that investing in running backs can pay off in the right situation. Next, they will play on the same field at the same time when Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles take on Henry and the Baltimore Ravens in the first matchup ever between two 1,300-yard runners in Week 13 or earlier. Before this year, no player had rushed for at least 1,300 yards and 10 TDs in the first 12 weeks of the season since Shaun Alexander in 2005 as teams moved away from bell-cow backs and diminished the importance of the position. Raiders will start O'Connell at quarterback when they visit the Chiefs HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Aidan O’Connell will start at quarterback when the Las Vegas Raiders visit their AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce says O’Connell had progressed well after breaking his right thumb on Oct. 20 in a game against the Los Angeles Rams. Gardner Minshew broke his left collarbone on Sunday in a game against the Denver Broncos and is out for the season. The Raiders could have gone with Desmond Ridder to replace Minshew. Luis Suarez signs to stay with Messi and Inter Miami for 2025 season FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Luis Suarez is going to play alongside Lionel Messi for at least one more year. Suarez and Inter Miami have agreed on a one-year contract extension for the coming season, the team announced Wednesday. The financial terms weren’t disclosed. Suarez made $1.5 million this year in his first Inter Miami season, one in which the Uruguayan striker scored 20 goals — tied with Messi for the team lead — in Major League Soccer regular season play and a team-best 25 goals across all competitions.
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Bret Bielema caught a flight to Oakland, Calif., this past Sunday to get face-to-face time with offensive lineman J.C. Davis. The Illinois football coach needed to make another pitch just shy of a year after Bielema was in Davis’ living room to initially sell him on Champaign as his transfer destination following two seasons at New Mexico. It’s the season Davis spent at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif., that sent Bielema to the West Coast before Christmas. A year of eligibility he can now get back given the NCAA’s response to Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia receiving an injunction from a federal judge allowing him to pursue one more season on the field. The decision made by Judge William Campbell is not a final ruling, but it does prevent the NCAA from not allowing players who fall under this issue to play in 2025 until the case is resolved. The NCAA’s move to extend an extra year of eligibility to any athletes who competed at a non-NCAA school for one or more years and would have exhausted their eligibility in 2024-25 was essentially made to forestall further lawsuits like the one Pavia filed in November. Outlining that entire process to Davis became priority No. 1 for Bielema before Illinois left for Orlando, Fla., and the Citrus Bowl on Christmas. “I met with J.C. and his family and did a recruiting pitch for him and showed him what we think the value of him is and what he can do in our program,” Bielema told reporters Friday afternoon in Orlando. “I don’t know if anybody else in college football did that, but I think we wanted to let him know exactly what we thought of him and give him a lot of education. It changed literally overnight. “Here’s a guy that’s playing in the Senior Bowl (in February) and thought he was playing in his last college football game and now he has a chance for a whole other year.” Davis started all 12 games at left tackle during the regular season and earned All-Big Ten Third-Team honors in the process. It was the type of production Bielema and Co. were looking for when they made Davis a priority in the transfer portal this past January following an All-Mountain West First-Team caliber season with New Mexico in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive lineman was the highest-graded tackle in the nation that returned in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. “You always say this, if you’re never talking about your left tackle, it’s a good thing,” Bielema said. “He just literally does what he’s supposed to do. I thought the last half of the season, the way he played and the way he kind of engaged in the way we were doing things, it really took his play to another level.” Davis was one of two players on the Illinois roster affected by the NCAA’s blanket waiver for an additional year of eligibility. Fellow offensive lineman Zy Crisler spent the 2021 season at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Perkinston, Miss., before transferring to Illinois. Crisler entered the transfer portal on Thursday. While he started all 13 games at right guard in 2022 and made 11 total starts in 2023 — nine at right guard and two at right tackle — he wound up splitting time with Brandon Henderson at right guard this season and made six starts while playing all 12 games. “I had a good conversation with Zy,” Bielema said. “I kind of had a feeling this year with the split time and what was going on he would look for another opportunity. He’s playing in the bowl game and expect him to play a lot and play very, very well, and then we’ll help him find a home.” Bielema’s hope is Davis’ home in 2025 is once again Champaign, but there is no expected timetable for that decision. “I told him there’s no expiration date,” the Illinois coach said. “We’re not a milk carton in the fridge.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!Amazon Stocks Shaping the Future of Gaming! The Untapped Potential