Javon Leake is staying put. Read this article for free: Already have an account? As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed. Now, more than ever, we need your support. Starting at $14.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website. or call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527. Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community! Javon Leake is staying put. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Javon Leake is staying put. A CFL source said Friday the veteran running back-returner has agreed to terms on a two-year extension with the Edmonton Elks. Leake was slated to become a free agent in February. Edmonton Elks' Javon Leake (22) escapes a tackle by Calgary Stampeders' Ben Labrosse (29) during first half CFL football action in Calgary, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh The source added the deal — which was negotiated by Kenny Kim of Summit Athletes — was worth more than $270,000 in hard money. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the Elks hadn’t formally announced the move. The six-foot, 205-pound Leake ran for a career-high 661 yards on 102 carries (6.5-yard average) with six TDs in 15 games this past season, his first with Edmonton. Leake also had two 100-yard rushing contests in 2024 while adding 34 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown. Leake also had 23 punt returns for 214 yards and 25 kickoff returns for 539 yards. Leake joined the Elks as a free agent after spending two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, winning a Grey Cup with the club in 2022. Leake was used predominantly as a returner with Toronto and was the CFL’s top special-teams player in 2023 after registering 81 punt returns for 1,216 yards and four TDs. He had 38 kickoff returns for 793 yards. Leake had 15 carries for 52 yards over his two seasons with the Argos. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. AdvertisementThe stock market has been hitting new highs this year as excitement continues to build with respect to artificial intelligence (AI) and the opportunities that may open up for many businesses. But while retail investors have been eagerly buying up stocks, Warren Buffett has been fairly quiet and doing more selling than buying. The Oracle of Omaha has cautioned investors in the past "to be fearful when others are greedy," which reflects his overall cautious approach to investing. Minimizing losses are a priority for him, and AI likely wouldn't fall into his circle of competence, which is what he focuses on when deciding which stocks to buy. Should investors take Buffett's conservatism in the markets this year as a red flag? Valuations are high based on historical levels In the third quarter, Buffett continued selling stocks, and Berkshire Hathaway 's cash balance reached more than $325 billion, which is higher than the nearly $277 billion it reported a quarter earlier. He has been selling shares of Apple and Bank of America for multiple periods, two top holdings in the Berkshire portfolio, and hasn't been making big moves with that money, resulting in a growing cash balance. But given how expensive the stock market has become these days, it's perhaps little wonder that he's taking a cautious position. One metric investors should pay close attention to is the S&P 500 Shiller price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, which averages inflation-adjusted earnings over the past decade. Today, the ratio is well above what it has averaged since 2000. The previous times it has been this high, there have been significant declines in the market the following year. S&P 500 Shiller CAPE Ratio data by YCharts. The Shiller P/E ratio was higher in 2021. The following year, in 2022, the S&P 500 would crash by more than 19%. In the early 2000s, the market underwent a significant dot-com crash due to the tech bubble. Many value-oriented investors may be concerned that the same could be happening with AI stocks today; many of them are trading at egregious multiples. Shareholders of Palantir Technologies , for example, don't seem to be balking at its massive earnings multiple of more than 300. A value-focused option for investors to consider Even if you're worried about valuations or the possibility of a crash in the markets, it may not necessarily mean that you should sell all of your stocks and pull all of your money out. If a correction takes place, some stocks will inevitably be hit much harder than others. Stocks trading at more reasonable valuations could weather the storm better than stocks which are at obscene multiples. Meanwhile, trying to time the market and waiting for ideal investing conditions is not an optimal strategy as it could result in you missing out on gains along the way. An alternative for investors is to consider an exchange-traded fund (ETF) which prioritizes value investments. A good example of that is the Vanguard Value Index Fund ETF Shares ( VTV 0.73% ) . The fund has a low expense ratio of 0.04% and tracks the U.S. Large Cap Value index. With the average holding in the ETF averaging an earnings multiple of just over 20, investors are getting exposure to more attractively priced stocks than the overall S&P 500 index, which is averaging a multiple of nearly 26. The top holding in the Vanguard fund is Buffett's own Berkshire Hathaway, but at just 3% of the fund's weight, it doesn't represent a huge chunk of the overall portfolio. Investors will also get access to many other blue chip stocks with the ETF, including UnitedHealth Group and Home Depot . Historically, the fund has underperformed the S&P 500, but in a possible downturn, it could be the better buy, especially given how expensive many growth stocks are right now. ^SPX data by YCharts. Investors should prepare for a possible correction Timing the market is risky, but what can be even riskier is holding stocks which trade at extremely high premiums because they can be vulnerable to a sell-off at a moment's notice. When stocks are highly valued, expectations will also be high, and any sign that a company could face difficulty could prompt investors to hit the sell button. It doesn't have to be a bad earnings report, as corrections could happen at any time investors start to smell trouble ahead. That's why it's important to consider valuations and potentially move money into cheaper stocks which may not only provide more protection during a downturn but may possess more upside in the long run. And if you aren't sure which stocks to buy or sell, a good option is to consider the Vanguard Value ETF or similar types of investments which prioritize value stocks .
FCT wins PHC leadership challenge award
MORGANTOWN — Rich Rodriguez believes he’ll be a better coach now for West Virginia University than he was during his first tour of duty – and that is a pretty high bar to clear. Yet he feels that his 17-year journey around college football following his tumultuous exit from Morgantown has put him in the position to make good on his belief. Thousands of WVU fans filled half the WVU Coliseum on Friday afternoon to help welcome back Rodriguez as the Mountaineer football coach, nearly two decades after his first go-round produced some of the best seasons in program history. The event was part-press conference, part-reunion, part-party. Pat McAfee – the former WVU All-America punter turned nationally renowned sports personality – broadcast his show live from the Coliseum floor and gave part of that broadcast to Rodriguez’s introduction. McAfee’s show included former Alabama coach and native West Virginian Nick Saban offering his well-wishes. Rodriguez entered the area passing through fire-spouting columns and past the WVU pep band playing the university fight song. Several times during his speech to those thousands of cheering fans, he had to step away from the microphone to corral his emotions. It wasn’t just about the opportunity to return to power-conference college football, he said. What really mattered to the Grant Town native was that he did it at his alma mater, a place where he enjoyed so many great times. “There’s only one school in the country that I could coach at where I can say I know the town, I know what it’s like to be a student there, I know what it’s like to be an athlete there and I know what it’s like to live there,” he said. “And that’s West Virginia University.” Rodriguez’s new contract details have yet to be released, but he mentioned he has signed a five-year deal to coach at WVU. WVU athletic director Wren Baker said he vetted dozens of candidates to search for the man to replace Neal Brown and interviewed more than 15. It was a popular job, he said, because of the program’s history and tradition, its resources and its passionate fan base. Baker said there were a number of qualities that were necessary in the next football coach. He needed to embrace West Virginia values of work ethic, grit and passion, as well as be committed to building champions on the field and leaders off the field. “Finally, we wanted someone who would entrench themselves in West Virginia,” he said. “This is an awesome place to live and work. It’s a privilege to represent Mountaineer Nation and we felt it would be important for our next head coach to understand that.” Rodriguez said work ethic, grit and passion would be hallmarks of his football program, just as they were when he first was head coach at WVU from 2001-07. In that time, the Mountaineers went 60-26, reached six bowl games and made a pair of New Year’s SIx bowls, winning both. He said that all the players who wore the WVU uniform under his watch were passionate about their teammates, passionate about football and passionate about West Virginia University. “Our players will play harder than anyone in the country,” he said. “One thing I say to my players all the time is that there are a lot of people in the stands who may not know all the Xs and Os. They may not know all the schemes we’re doing. But they can sit in those stands, especially at West Virginia and tell if you’re playing hard. “I don’t make a lot of promises,” he added, “but one thing I promise you, if you watch West Virginia players play ... they’ll play hard.” Hiring a defensive coordinator will be Rodriguez’s first task. He said he has talked to a few candidates, and couldn’t say what type of defense WVU would run until he made a decision. He did say West Virginia’s offense would look very familiar, the type of high-tempo, explosive game that players like Rasheed Marshall, Pat White, Steve Slaton and Noel Devine made famous. Rodriguez also acknowledged that not all WVU fans were happy with his return. Some were still bitter over how he left WVU for the head coaching job at Michigan, where he served three years before being fired. Rodriguez admitted it was a mistake to leave WVU, and to leave WVU the way he did. “I promise not just to the folks that are upset, but to everybody here and everybody that’s been supportive, I want to earn your support. We want to earn your support and trust back. I’m committed to that.” He’ll do that by learning from his mistakes, he said. Those just aren’t the mistakes from 17 years ago, but also the mistakes from seven years and even seven days ago. All of those, he said, will help him become the best version of himself in the present. Rodriguez understands the privilege he now enjoys in returning to West Virginia University. He said he’ll do everything he can to earn that privilege. “I have thought about this moment,” Rodriguez said. “I get to coach at the greatest university in this country. I get to live in the greatest state in the Union. And more importantly, I get to bge around the greatest people that you can be around.” —Job scams in Southeast Asia: Travel alert issued for five countries
NFL issues warning to players after burglary spateMiami enters the week still stunned after losing its fourth straight game. Next up, the Hurricanes will play host to Arkansas on Tuesday night in Coral Gables, Fla., as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Miami (3-4) lost on Saturday afternoon to Charleston Southern, a team that entered with a 1-7 record. Arkansas (5-2) is coming off a Thanksgiving loss to Illinois on a neutral floor in Kansas City, Mo. "We've got a lot to learn," said John Calipari, in his first season coaching Arkansas. "We really haven't scrimmaged because we haven't had 10 guys (due to injuries). "But this team is going to be fine." The same thing cannot confidently be said about the Hurricanes. Their first three defeats of the current skid were tough for Miami to take, losing to Drake, Oklahoma State and VCU on a neutral court as part of the Charleston Classic. But the loss to Charleston Southern -- which was a 25-point underdog -- has to be considered among the worst in Miami history. Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga was without point guard Nijel Pack, who missed the contest due to a lower-body injury. Pack leads Miami in scoring (15.2) and assists (4.7). There are no reports on how long he will be out. With Pack unavailable, five-star freshman Jalil Bethea made his first college start. However, the 6-foot-5 shooting guard has not yet played up to his ranking. Bethea is averaging 6.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.7 assists. He is also shooting 30.0 percent on 3-pointers. Miami ranks 284th in the nation in rebounds and 259th in blocked shots. "We haven't been able to put together a solid defensive effort," Larranaga said following the loss to Charleston Southern. "Some of it has to do with fundamentals. Some of it has to do with athletic ability. Some of it has to do with size." Tuesday's game will match two veteran coaches: Larranaga, 75, and Calipari, 65. Calipari brought in seven transfers and five freshmen for his first season in Fayetteville. Two of those transfers -- 6-foot-8 wing Adou Thiero and 7-foot-2 center Zvonimir Ivisic -- were signed after leaving Kentucky, Calipari's previous stop. Thiero leads Arkansas in scoring (19.1), rebounds (5.9) and steals (2.9). Ivisic leads Arkansas in blocks (2.7) while ranking third in points (12.1). Freshman Boogie Fland, a McDonald's All-American, has made a quick transition to college ball. The 6-foot-2 point guard is second on the team in scoring (15.9) and steals (1.9) and first in assists (4.9). Among Arkansas' bench pieces are 6-foot-11 Tennessee transfer Jonas Aidoo and 6-foot-10 Arkansas holdover Trevon Brazile. Their combined 92 college starts illustrate Arkansas' depth. "The ceiling is there," Calipari said. "But we need to be the aggressors." --Field Level Media
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