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A fight broke out at midfield between the rivals Saturday after Michigan upset Ohio State at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. (FOX Sports) Vice President-elect JD Vance commended his Ohio State Buckeyes after their shocking loss to rival Michigan Saturday. The internet was not so kind in response. Vance posted on X, saying the Buckeyes played like "champions" and that he's "proud of them." "To the OSU seniors on that team: I know it sucks to lose four to Michigan, but for your entire college career you guys have conducted yourselves like champions. I speak for nearly all of us fans when I say: we’re proud of you!" Vance wrote. The Buckeyes blew the game as 21-point favorites, losing to their top rival for the fourth straight time. Michigan's 2024 team is the worst the program has fielded in years, entering the game with a 6-5 record. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Davis Warren (16) of the Michigan Wolverines carries the ball against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the fourth quarter at Ohio Stadium Nov. 30, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images) Entering the game, Ohio State was ranked No. 2 with a record of 10-2 and was vying for a spot in the Big 10 championship game and a College Football Playoff berth. Now both of those goals are in question for coach Ryan Day and his team. The Buckeyes were also involved in a brawl with Michigan players after the game. OHIO STATE LOSES TO MICHIGAN FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR IN HUGE UPSET; PLAYOFF STATUS NOW UP IN THE AIR Vance was the recipient of plenty of shots for his pledged loyalty to the team in response. "Ohio State sucks and so do you!" one user wrote. Another user said Vance's post prompted him to rethink his approval of Vance as Trump's VP pick. "First time I’ve disagreed with JD in a [minute], maybe Trump should have went a different route for the VP role!" the user wrote. Players scrum at midfield after Saturday’s game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines. (Imagn) Another user questioned Vance praising players who would start a postgame brawl. "'Conducted yourselves like champions' didn’t they just get into a brawl that resulted in Michigan players being pepper sprayed because they were sore losers?" the user wrote. Several law enforcement officers were also involved in breaking up the fight. Videos shared on social media appeared to show players being pepper sprayed, and both Michigan and Ohio State players appeared to be in pain from it. In the immediate aftermath of the fight, Michigan running back Kalel Mullings told FOX Sports in an on-field interview the incident was "bad for the sport." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "It was such a great game. You hate to see stuff like that happen after the game. Bad for the sport, bad for college football. But, at the end of the game, they gotta learn how to lose, man. You can't be fighting and stuff just because you lost a game." Vance previously revealed he had told Trump his loyalty to the Buckeyes could affect Trump's chances of winning the key battleground state of Michigan. "When he first asked me to be a VP, I was like, 'Well, you know, hopefully we don't lose Michigan by like 900 votes, because you're going to regret it. 'Cause it's probably just a thousand p---ed-off Wolverine fans who wouldn't vote for a Buckeye," Vance said during an appearance on OutKick's "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show." "But I think that most Michiganders are going to be able to put sports rivalries aside and put the country first, which is what, of course, all of us believe is the most important thing." The Democratic National Committee attempted to exploit Vance's connection to Ohio State with a campaign strategy in Michigan in early September. The DNC flew a plane over a Michigan football game Sept. 7 with a banner that said, "J.D. Vance [loves] Ohio State [plus] Project 2025." Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, the Republican vice presidential nominee, introduces Former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, during a rally at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center July 27, 2024, in St Cloud, Minn. (Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) The Trump-Vance ticket ended up easily carrying Michigan. Vance also suggested in that interview that Trump and Vance would attend Saturday's game if they won the election. "Well, let's go to the Ohio State-Michigan game, assuming we win, because I bet I can get some pretty sweet tickets as the VP-elect, and we'll be in a celebratory mood," Vance said on OutKick. "And, look, it's, it's going to be a big game this year. I think it's going to determine ultimate seeding in the College Football Playoff. "I mean, now both teams might actually make the playoff. I know Michigan's, you know, sort of people aren't putting them as high this year, but you never know, because it's always a good program. So, we'll see, guys. I'm feeling very good about the Buckeyes. I'm feeling very good about the Bengals." Neither Trump nor Vance attended Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter . Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.
It can be said that one of the pleasant surprises this year in the NHL is Mathieu Olivier of the Columbus Blue Jackets. As reported by the site HABSolumentFan , the forward has already scored seven goals and registered 10 points in 25 games since the start of the season and has shown great skills as an enforcer, as demonstrated against players like Ryan Lomberg, Matt Rempe, and Arber Xhekaj. Moreover, Mathieu Olivier will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, and some experts have already linked his name to the Montreal Canadiens, most notably, a former NHL enforcer. Mathieu Olivier to Montreal and departures for Michael Pezzetta and Arber Xhekaj? An intriguing statement by Georges Laraque On BPM Sports, host Georges Laraque mentioned that he would love to see Kent Hughes sign Olivier as a free agent next summer, and he even suggested the names of two players the team could consider trading. You can cash in Xhekaj for something good. With Mathieu Olivier, you're good!" - Georges Laraque In fact, the arrival of Mathieu Olivier to the Canadiens' lineup would almost render the presence of Arber Xhekaj or Michael Pezzetta unnecessary. Even though some might not entirely agree with this argument, it is worth mentioning that Xhekaj has good trade value on the market, and the Canadiens' general manager has been receiving calls about the sheriff's services. However, this scenario is still far from reality, and it remains uncertain how much a player of Mathieu Olivier's caliber could cost on the free-agent market. This article first appeared on Habs Fanatics and was syndicated with permission.Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine US dollarEuropean markets head for mixed open with all eyes on French confidence voteWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden faces a stark choice as he contemplates broad preemptive pardons to protect aides and allies from potential retribution by Donald Trump: Does he hew to the institutional norms he’s spent decades defending or flex the powers of the presidency in untested ways? The deliberations so far are largely at the level of White House lawyers. But the president has discussed the topic with senior aides, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive subject. No decisions have been made, the people said, and it is possible Biden opts to do nothing at all. Biden is taking the idea seriously and has been thinking about it for as much as six months — before the presidential election — but has been concerned about the precedent it would set, according to another person familiar with the president’s discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Pardons are historically afforded to those accused of specific crimes –- and usually to those who have already been convicted of an offense — but Biden’s team is considering issuing them for some who have not even been investigated, let alone charged. The president could, if he chooses, issue blanket pardons to specific people whom Trump and his allies have threatened to punish. Or he could pardon a broad class of people — not unlike pardons issued to those convicted of federal marijuana offenses or those ensnared in the “don't ask, don't tell” military policies. Either way, he'd be using the powers of the presidency in a new way. Some worry that Trump and his allies, who have talked of enemies lists and exacting “retribution,” could launch investigations that would be reputationally and financially costly for targeted people even if they don’t result in prosecutions. The door has already been opened, given that Biden has extended a broad pardon to his son, Hunter , who was convicted and pleaded guilty in tax and gun cases. Biden explained that decision by saying he believed the prosecution of his son had been poisoned by politics. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Friday that Biden plans additional pardons before leaving office though she would not elaborate on the process. She repeatedly referenced “changing factors” that motivated the president to pardon his son despite promising he wouldn’t. She said Republicans have continued to try to see Hunter Biden investigated for an array of alleged offenses, a rationale that could support additional pardons for Biden aides and allies. It was two weeks ago that one of the president’s closest allies in Congress, Rep, Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, encouraged Biden to pardon his son Hunter. The morning after that conversation, Clyburn told Biden’s staff that he believed the president should also pardon those being targeted by Trump. “I was very forceful in my discussions with him about what I thought he ought to do regarding his son,” Clyburn said Friday. “But I also told them that I thought he ought to go even further, because all the noise about Jack Smith and Liz Cheney and Doctor Fauci and all of that.” Special Counsel Jack Smith has been investigating Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and for accusations he hoarded classified documents at his home. Liz Cheney, a conservative Republican , was the vice chairwoman of the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection and campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris. Fauci, an infectious disease expert, was instrumental in the government's response to the coronavirus. All have raised the ire of Trump. Clyburn said he told Biden’s team, only half jokingly, that because the Supreme Court has already said that the president has certain immunities, “let’s give that same immunity to Jack Smith for carrying out his duties and to, Doctor Fauci, Liz Cheney, they were carrying out their duties.” Among those mentioned publicly for possible presidential pardons, there are different sentiments on whether pardons would even be wanted. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi supported the president’s move to pardon his son, but has been silent on the speculation that Biden is considering additional pardons for her or others. A top Pelosi ally, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic congressman who led Trump’s first impeachment, has panned the idea of pardoning Biden's allies. He says “the courts are strong enough to withstand” the worst of Trump’s threats. “I don’t think a preemptive pardon makes sense,” the incoming senator told NPR recently. “I would urge the president not to do that. I think it would seem defensive and unnecessary,” Schiff said. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who was the lead manager on Trump’s second impeachment, on the charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, said members of Congress already are protected by the speech and debate clause in the Constitution, which protects them prosecution for participating in their legislative duties. Raskin said figures like Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and John Kelly , Trump's former White House chief of staff, would similarly be protected by the First Amendment. But Raskin said the question is, “Should they go through the criminal investigation and prosecution for not doing anything wrong? I think that’s why this whole issue has erupted.” Raksin added that with Trump promising to pardon hundreds of people who assaulted police officers on Jan. 6th, “I can hardly fault President Biden for exploring the use of the pardon to protect people from a fraudulent and unjust prosecution.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he’s had no conversations with the White House regarding any preemptive pardons for current or former members of Congress. Associated Press Writers Kevin Freking and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.
Looking Into Cigna's Recent Short InterestLAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. (AP) — CJ Luster II's 20 points helped Stony Brook defeat Rider 72-55 on Saturday. Luster shot 7 for 11, including 6 for 9 from beyond the arc for the Seawolves (3-7). Joseph Octave scored 14 points, shooting 5 for 12 (1 for 4 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line. Ben Wight shot 5 of 7 from the field to finish with 12 points. The Seawolves snapped a five-game losing streak. Jay Alvarez led the Broncs (4-7) in scoring, finishing with 13 points and two steals. Rider also got 13 points, four assists and two steals from Aasim Burton. Tariq Ingraham also had seven points. Stony Brook took the lead with 4:48 left in the first half and did not relinquish it. Luster led their team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 34-24 at the break. Stony Brook extended its lead to 50-33 during the second half, fueled by a 12-0 scoring run. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
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CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Jestin Porter had 26 points in Middle Tennessee's 95-88 win over South Florida on Friday. Porter shot 9 for 12 (4 for 6 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line for the Blue Raiders (5-1). Essam Mostafa scored 20 points and added 10 rebounds. Kamari Lands shot 6 for 12, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc to finish with 17 points. The Bulls (3-3) were led in scoring by Jayden Reid, who finished with 18 points, four assists and three steals. Jamille Reynolds added 17 points and nine rebounds for South Florida. Kasen Jennings finished with 13 points. Middle Tennessee led 51-33 at halftime, with Porter racking up 14 points. Mostafa led the way with a team-high 14 second-half points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .THERE was an awkward moment on I'm A Celebrity tonight when Oti Mabuse told off host Declan Donnelly. It came as she took on the latest Bushtucker Trial, Sinister Sarcophagus: Mummy Returns. The trial saw her put inside a Egyptian coffin as it filled with sand and millions of critters. As she stepped into the mummy tomb, cheeky Dec could been seen grinning away, as the Strictly Come Dancing star contemplated her fate. Asked how she was feeling, Oti said: "Very nervous... but Dec is smiling right now!" As he smiled away, co-host Ant McPartlin mocked hitting him and said: "Stop smiling man!" Read more on I'm A Celeb To which cheeky Dec replied: "It's my comforting smile!" Then Oti got on with the gruesome trial, that saw basically buried alive. Given this was the Bushtucker Trial Dean McCullough failed to complete in Week one , Ant and Dec asked if she’d fare better than him, to which she replied: “Listen, I will never say I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, that is my goal.” Ant and Dec explained she would be trapped in the sarcophagus, while having to answer a series of Egypt-related questions. Most read in I’m A Celebrity 2024 For every one she answered correctly, a star would then be lowered down and she would have to release it using only her mouth within 30 seconds. As the klaxon sounded, the tomb began to fill with sand around her body, and critters entered the air bubble around her head. Oti smashed the trial and a good amount of time, and answered all but one question correctly. This meant she won a whopping eight stars out of nine for camp. Exiting the sarcophagus she told Ant and Dec it was a “Nightmare!” But with a big smile on her face, a happy Oti returned to camp to let her fellow celebrities know the good news . The dancer did a lot better than Dean McCullough , when he had a go on the trial during the first week. The Radio 1 star shouted "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here" after just two questions. This annoyed host Ant, who even revealed in Dean's exit interview that he had found this frustrating. READ MORE SUN STORIES Oti has proved a team player throughout her time in the jungle, and thanks to her efforts, the campmates ate well tonight. Catch the next episode of I'm a Celebrity tomorrow night at 9pm on ITV . i'm A Celebrity is back for its 24th series, with a batch of famous faces living in the Aussie jungle. The Sun's Jake Penkethman takes a look at the stars on the show this year.. Coleen Rooney - Arguably the most famous name in the camp, the leading WAG, known for her marriage to Wayne Rooney , has made a grand return to TV as she looks to put the Wagatha Christie scandal behind her. The Sun revealed the mum-of-four had bagged an eye-watering deal worth over £1.5million to be on the show this year making her the highest-paid contestant ever. Tulisa - The popstar and former X Factor judge has made her triumphant TV comeback by signing up to this year's I'm A Celeb after shunning TV shows for many years. Known for being a member of the trio, N-Dubz , Tulisa became a household name back in 2011 when she signed on to replace Cheryl on ITV show The X Factor in a multi-million pound deal. Alan Halsall - The actor, known for playing the long-running role of Tyrone Dobbs on ITV soap opera Coronation Street , was originally signed up to head Down Under last year but an operation threw his scheduled appearance off-course. Now he has become the latest Corrie star to win over both the viewers and his fellow celebrities. Melvin Odoom - The Radio DJ has become a regular face on TV screens after rising to fame with presenting roles on Kiss FM, BBC Radio 1 and 4Music. Melvin has already been for a spin on the Strictly dancefloor and co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Rochelle Humes in 2015 but now he is facing up to his biggest challenge yet - the Aussie jungle . GK Barry - The UK's biggest social media personality, GK, whose real name is Grace Keeling, has transformed her TikTok stardom into a lucrative career. Aside from her popular social media channels, she hosts the weekly podcast, Saving Grace, and regularly appears on ITV talk show, Loose Women . She has even gone on to endorse popular brands such as PrettyLittleThing, KFC and Ann Summers. Dean McCullough - A rising star amongst this year's bunch of celebs , Dean first achieved notability through his radio appearances on Gaydio and BBC Radio 1. He was chosen to join the BBC station permanently in 2021 and has featured prominently ever since. He has enjoyed a crossover to ITV over the past year thanks to his guest slots on Big Brother spin-off show, Late & Live. Oti Mabuse - The pro dancer has signed up to her latest TV show after making her way through the biggest programmes on the box. She originally found fame on Strictly Come Dancing but has since branched out into the world of TV judging with appearances on former BBC show The Greatest Dancer as well as her current role on ITV's Dancing On Ice . Danny Jones - The McFly star was drafted into the programme last minute as a replacement for Tommy Fury. Danny is the second member of McFly to enter the jungle , after Dougie Poynter won the show in 2011. He is also considered a rising star on ITV as he's now one of the mentors on their Saturday night talent show, The Voice , along with bandmate Tom Fletcher . Jane Moore - The Loose Women star and The Sun columnist is braving the creepy crawlies this year. The star is ready for a new challenge - having recently split from her husband . It will be Jane's first foray into reality TV with the telly favourite having always said no to reality shows in the past. Barry McGuigan - Former pro boxer Barry is the latest fighting champ to head Down Under following in the footsteps of Tony Bellew and Amir Khan . It comes after a tough few years for Irish star Barry, who lost his daughter Danika to bowel cancer . He told The Late Late Show in 2021: "She was such an intrinsic part of the family that every day we ache." Maura Higgins - The Irish TV beauty first found fame on Love Island where she found a brief connection with dancer Curtis Pritchard . Since then, she has competed on Dancing On Ice as well as hosting the Irish version of the beauty contest, Glow Up. Since last year, she has been working on building up her career in the US by being the social media correspondent and host of Aftersun to accompany Love Island USA. She even guest hosted an episode of the spin-off, Love Island Games, in place of Maya Jama last year. Rev. Richard Coles - Former BBC radio host the Rev Richard Coles is a late arrival on I’m A Celebrity , and he's ready to spill the beans on his former employer. The former Communards and Strictly star , said the BBC did not know its a**e from its elbow last year. An insider said: "Rev Coles will have a variety of tales to tell from his wild days as a pop star in the Eighties, through to performing on Strictly and his later life as a man of the cloth."
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BONITA SPRINGS, Fla., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB: IVFH) (“IVFH” or the “Company”), a national seller of gourmet specialty foods to professional chefs, today announced significant corporate updates, including a planned name change to Harvest Group Holdings, Inc., the stockholder approval of a reverse stock split, and the successful execution of securities purchase agreements (the “SPA”) for a private placement (the “Private Placement”) to raise $3.25 million in new equity capital. Strategic Updates in preparation for Nasdaq uplisting Name Change: Over the last year and a half, CEO Bill Bennett and his team have dramatically changed the focus and business model of the Company. These actions have included divesting, inactivating, or shutting down eight previously operating entities within the corporate structure, while simultaneously launching a new large retail business and new customers within its drop ship business. Accordingly, the Company will rebrand as Harvest Group Holdings, Inc. to reflect its growth strategy and new focus. The new name underscores IVFH’s commitment to its vision of delivering fresh and artisanal products from as close to the source as possible, while still being a broad enough brand to encompass the many growth opportunities ahead. The Company website, logo, and other Company branding will be updated over the coming weeks after the finalization of the name change. Reverse Stock Split: The Board and the holders of a majority of the Company’s issued and outstanding stock have authorized a reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock at a ratio between one-for-three and one-for-seven, which may enable the Company’s share price to meet the stock price element of the initial listing requirements of The Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”). Private Placement Financing: Under the SPA, the Company will issue 2,031,250 shares of common stock at $1.60 per share, raising gross proceeds of $3.25 million. The capital raised will be used to enhance working capital and fund general corporate purposes. This modest raise, largely from Company insiders, is intended to help the Company continue to lean into its growth opportunities, and meet the minimum shareholder equity requirements of Nasdaq. Nasdaq Uplisting: With the above actions, the Company management believes the Company is in a strong position to navigate the uplisting process, which it is kicking off in earnest. Pending all necessary approvals, the Company hopes to complete the uplisting process in the first half of 2025. CEO Statement Bill Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of IVFH, commented, “These milestones represent a transformative chapter for our Company as we continue to build a strong foundation for future success. The name change to Harvest Group Holdings reflects our vision for future growth and broader market opportunities. Combined with the reverse stock split and new equity capital, these initiatives will drive shareholder value, prepare us for a Nasdaq uplisting, and enhance our ability to serve the evolving needs of our customers and partners.” About Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. At IVFH, we help make meals special. We provide access to foods that are hard to find, have a compelling story, or are on the forefront of food trends. Our gourmet foods marketplace connects the world’s best artisan food makers with top professional chefs nationwide. We curate the assortment, experience, and tech enabled tools that help our professional chefs create unforgettable experiences for their guests. Additional information is available at www.ivfh.com . Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward-looking statements and information relating to the Company that are based on the current beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain assumptions, including those described in this release. Should one or more of these underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as “should,” “could,” “will,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “might,” “potentially” “targeting” or “expect.” Additional factors that could also cause actual results to differ materially relate to international crises, environmental and economic issues and other risk factors described in the Company’s public filings. The Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements. The content of the websites referenced above are not incorporated herein. Investor and Media contact: Gary Schubert Chief Financial Officer Innovative Food Holdings, Inc. investorrelations@ivfh.comAfter-hours movers: HPE, lululemon, Ulta Beauty, Docusign and more
One Punch - The BEST Music Boxing Machines Brand In The World Launches One Punch V2CARSON, Calif. — The LA Galaxy and the New York Red Bulls have been Major League Soccer mainstays since the league's inaugural season in 1996, signing glamorous players and regularly competing for championships through years of success and setbacks in a league that's perpetually improving and expanding. Yet just a year ago, both of these clubs appeared to be a very long way from the stage they'll share Saturday in the MLS Cup Final. The Galaxy were one of MLS' worst teams after a season of internal turmoil and public fan dissent, while the Red Bulls were merely a steady mediocrity seeking yet another coach to chart a new direction. A year later, these MLS founders are meeting in the league's first Cup final between teams from North America's two biggest markets. "Two original clubs being able to put themselves in this situation, I think it's great," Galaxy coach Greg Vanney said. "To see two clubs that have been at it as long as this league has been around be here, I think it's a special moment. Couldn't be two more different and contrasting styles as well, which could make for an interesting game, and I would imagine a high-intensity game." Everything changed in 2024 after a dismal decade for the Galaxy, who are favored to cap their transformation by winning their team's record sixth MLS championship with a roster that's dramatically different from its past few groups — albeit with one massive injury absence in the final. The transformation of the Red Bulls happened only in the postseason, when a team that hadn't won a playoff game since 2017 suddenly turned into world-beaters under rookie coach Sandro Schwarz. New York struggled through the final three months of league play with only two wins before posting road playoff victories over defending champ Columbus, archrival New York City FC and conference finalist Orlando to storm into the Cup final. "We know about the history (of our club), and we know tomorrow will define what that could mean," Schwarz said Friday. "To feel the pressure for tomorrow, it's necessary, because it's a final, and without pressure it's not possible to bring the best quality on the field." The Red Bulls have never won an MLS Cup, only reaching the championship match once before. What's more, they've somehow never won a Cup in any tournament, although they've collected three Supporters' Shields for MLS' best regular-season record. The Galaxy's trophy case is large and loaded, and those five MLS Cups are on the top shelf. But not much of that team success happened in the past decade for the club that famously brought David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and many other international stars to Hollywood. In fact, this season has ended a grim era for the Galaxy, who haven't lost all year at their frequently renamed home stadium — which was the site of protests and boycotts just a year ago. The club's fans were tired of LA's steady underachievement and ineptitude in the front office run by team president Chris Klein, who was fired in May 2023. One year ago Thursday, the Galaxy hired Will Kuntz, a longtime Los Angeles FC executive who engineered his new club's roster transformation, most dramatically by landing new designated players Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil — two international talents that LAFC also had in its sights. "I give Will and the group up there a ton of credit," Vanney said. "It's one thing to have players you like, and it's a whole other thing to get them here and get them to connect with your group." Pec and Paintsil combined for 32 goals and 27 assists while boosting the incumbent talents of striker Dejan Joveljic and Riqui Puig, the gifted Barcelona product who runs the offense from the midfield. The Galaxy clicked in the postseason, scoring a jaw-dropping 16 goals in four matches. Puig has been the Galaxy's most important player all season, but he won't be in the MLS Cup Final after tearing a knee ligament late in last week's conference final victory over Seattle. The loss of Puig — who somehow kept playing on his injured knee, and even delivered the game-winning pass to Joveljic — makes the Galaxy even more difficult to anticipate. "He played a lot in the regular season, so it was not so easy to analyze all these games now without him," Schwarz said. "But the main focus is to analyze what we need to do, because it's not clear now how they're playing without him." The Galaxy could give some of Puig's responsibilities to Marco Reus, the longtime Dortmund standout who joined LA in August. Reus is nursing a hamstring injury, but Vanney expects him to play. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
XPO Provides North American LTL Operating Data for November 2024
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Unisys Appoints Michael M. Thomson as Chief Executive Officer
Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing