Monthly Archives: August 2020

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. The past 48 hours have been a whirlwind for NBA players in the bubble.

Walkouts, conflict, frustration and, ultimately, resolutions characterized this unprecedented time in sports history. And thats all after the players have been sequestered in the Disney bubble, following strict health guidelines and focusing on competition for more than seven weeks.

This is how the NBA nearly lost its postseason but managed to find some common ground, come together and move on in a matter of two days.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Chris Paul, who is the president of the players union, had the tedious and thankless job of uniting the players.

Many were frustrated and emotionally drained after being caught off-guard by the Bucks refusal to take the court Wednesday for Game 5 of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic without informing anyone outside the team of their plans.

Players who were scheduled to compete in the ensuing games felt an obligation to sit out because the Bucks decision wasnt part of an organized plan of action, sources said.

The Bucks, who are up 3-1 in the series, intended to force a forfeit and were willing to take the loss and forgo the opportunity to close out the series, but the organization did not anticipate being the catalyst for temporarily shutting down the league, sources said.

The protest was in response to the shooting of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man who was shot in the back multiple times on Sunday by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as he tried to get into his vehicle. The incident was captured on video. His three sons ages 3, 5, and 8 were in the vehicle during the incident, his familys attorney said. Blake remains hospitalized.

A players meeting was arranged for 8 p.m. Wednesday to discuss the next move. Some wanted to leave the bubble to be with family, others wanted to leave to get on the frontlines and support change in the Black community, and others felt theres no bigger platform than the one afforded in the bubble to get their messages across, sources said.

Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem, whose veteran stature gives him cachet among his peers, was one of the more vocal voices in the meeting, sources said.

Some players took issue with Bucks guard George Hill, who was a central figure in persuading the Bucks not to play and who said on Monday that we shouldnt have even came to this damn place while lamenting the Blake shooting.

Haslem in a clear message to Hill stated that it was irresponsible and selfish for an established veteran to suggest that everyone should go home because younger players havent accumulated the wealth for such a drastic action, sources said.

LeBron James was one of the many players miffed with the Bucks handling of the situation as well, sources said. To him and so many others, it put them in a no-win situation.

His frustration with Hill and the Bucks was because the players didnt have a plan of action that would warrant players returning to play, sources said. James mindset, sources said, was if theyre refusing to play, then whats the end game and what demands must be met to continue?

Ever since the league suspended play on March 11 due to the coronavirus, James had been an advocate for resuming play if proper health and safety protocols allowed for it.

But in Wednesdays meeting, players began seeing a shift in his position when he agreed to go with whatever the majority decided, sources said.

With emotions all over the place, Haslem pressed James and asked the star what he planned to do, reminding him that hes the face of the league and it goes as he goes, sources said.

James then said, Were out, and walked out with almost all of his teammates following behind, sources said, with Dwight Howard being the only Laker who remained.

The Clippers walked out as well, joining the Lakers as the only two of the 13 teams still in the bubble to vote against completing the rest of the playoffs.

But that wasnt the only scene that got testy.

Michele Roberts, the executive director of the players union, asked to have the floor to speak about the financial ramifications of leaving Orlando.

While she was going over the numbers, Clippers guard Patrick Beverley abruptly interrupted her, saying he disagreed with her logic, sources said. Roberts kindly reiterated that these were potential losses the players would suffer, and Beverley interrupted again.

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Roberts asked politely if she could continue with her point, and Beverley responded, No, I pay your salary, sources said.

This caused an uproar with Paul, Haslem and others, who intervened and told Beverley that disrespect would not be tolerated, sources said.

After nearly three hours and with emotions running high, players agreed to meet again on 11 a.m. ET Thursday to make a final decision on the season.

A significant source of frustration in Wednesdays meeting stemmed from players not being on the same page and letting emotions get the best of some. The hope from the collective was after a good nights sleep, players would be in a better space to make a sound decision.

When it was time to gather on Thursday, the meeting couldnt get underway, sources said, because there was one team missing: the Lakers.

They arrived at the meeting 45 minutes late, sources said. Prior to the Lakers and Clippers entering the meeting area, members of the executive committee reached out to James and Clippers guard Lou Williams to see where their teams stood on resuming play, sources said.

James and Williams informed the committee that their teams were in. Now with the go-ahead from all 13 teams, Paul and Andre Iguodala the first VP of the players union announced to the players that they would continue with the playoffs.

Yet still, a few players objected, asking who voted on their behalf, sources said. Paul and Iguodala took on the leadership role and said they were intent on playing, and promised they wouldnt be moving forward without their best interests in mind.

Later that afternoon, there was a Zoom call between team owners and players.

On the call, James was stern in calling on owners to do more in aiding the Black community and to play more of a role in using their resources to combat systemic racism, sources said.

James had already told players he was in, but depending on how the meeting went with owners, he would have reversed course if things went sideways, sources said.

After the meeting, James felt comfortable with returning to the court, sources said. Owners promised that they would get to work on real action items that would benefit the Black community, sources said.

James always supported the Bucks; he just wanted unity and a specific call to action if they wanted to take a stand, sources said.

Even though James is just one player, it would have been impossible for the league to continue if he didnt change his position.

Thursday mornings players-only meeting lasted only 15 minutes, sources said. The walkout didnt occur organically. But Paul, Iguodala, James, Jared Dudley and other veterans worked around the clock over the past two days to find a resolution.

Thats how the NBA came back.

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Some health experts are worried that the race for a coronavirus vaccine could lead to a vaccine becoming publicly available before its proven to be safe.

Its just like Diana Ross and The Supremes, Dr. Michael Saag, an associate dean for global health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said on Yahoo Finances The Ticker (video above). You cant hurry love and you cant hurry vaccine development. The reason I say that is that we need the time to see if the vaccine actually works and we need to see if its safe.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), stressed that rushing a vaccine could do more harm than good.

The one thing that you would not want to see with a vaccine is getting an [emergency use authorization] before you have a signal of efficacy, he told Reuters. One of the potential dangers if you prematurely let a vaccine out is that it would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the other vaccines to enroll people in their trial.

President Trump, meanwhile, has tweeted that the FDA should focus on speed while telegraphing his desire that a coronavirus vaccine be ready by Election Day, November 3.

Experts have repeatedly refuted the idea that a safe, vetted vaccine could be ready as quickly as the president would like.

What we dont want to do is rush things along so fast for obviously political reasons, as far as I can tell, to get it out there and then discover wait, this vaccine doesnt work like we thought it was going to work or worse, there are safety issues, Saag said. So Fauci is exactly right. We need to do this the right way and keep a firewall between science and politics.

This isnt the first time that health officials warned about the Trump administrations influence on public health organizations.

Last weekend, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for convalescent plasma as a means for treating COVID-19 after Trump insinuated that the FDA was slow-walking clinical trials as part of a deep state plot to hinder his chances at re-election.

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In a lengthy Twitter thread, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said that the decision to issue an EUA was based solely on science. A few days later, the CDC created widespread alarm and confusion when the public health agency changed guidelines on coronavirus testing after pressure from administration officials.

We cant really have politics interfering with what science needs to do, Saag said. Its not going to work well. And its going to endanger all of us if we keep letting this bleeding happen from the political space into the science space. So lets let everyone do their job and try to keep politics out of it.

Adriana is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter@adrianambells.

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George Hill returned with his teammates to NBA action on Saturday.

He did not join them for the national anthem.

After the game he provided an unexpected explanation for his absence.

The Milwaukee Bucks guard who initiated Wednesdays walkout that resulted in a three-day player strike in the NBA bubble remained in the tunnel as the national anthem played prior to Saturdays game against the Orlando Magic.

Hill has been vocal since the start of bubble play, questioning whether NBA play should resume amid unresolved issues of racial injustice and police brutality.

We shouldnt have even come to this damn place, to be honest,Hill said on Monday. I think coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are.

Hill made that statement a day after video surfaced of police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooting Jacob Hill in the back several times, leaving the 29-year-old father of three paralyzed from the waist down, according to his family.

George Hill was a leader in the decisions that led to this week's NBA player strike. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Three days later, the Bucks refused to take the floor for Game 5 of their first-round playoff series against the Magic. Hill was reportedly instrumental in the decision and the leading voice of the team as it released a statement making demands of accountability for Blakes shooting, which occurred roughly 45 miles south of Milwaukee.

Hill read from a team statement alongside Bucks forward Sterling Brown as their teammates stood behind them in a news conference Thursday evening.

Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we have seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha and theadditional shooting of protestors. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there have been no actions, so our focus cannot be on basketball.

Hill scored 11 points in 23 minutes in Milwaukees 118-104 win. He also provided a candid explanation for missing the anthem while downplaying his absence after the game when asked by Yahoo Sports Seerat Sohi.

You want the honest truth? Hill asked. I take a s--- every time before the game. Ive been doing it for the last four years. If you go back and watch any footage of our previous games before we came down here to this bubble, thats what I do before every game.

It so happens that you guys were snoozing in the hallways and caught me coming back from my pregame ritual. And thats what I always do. Thats the honest truth.

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We spend a lot of time discussing average draft position as a whole. It's how we frame risers and fallers, good buys and bad buys, sleepers and busts, etc. ADP even frames which guys I allegedly like or dislike. What we don't often talk about is whose ADP we're discussing.

For a variety of reasons, ADP can vary wildly depending on which site you're drafting on. This can be influenced by the site's projections, the default rankings, the analysts rankings, and the default scoring system. And by the time we get to late August, ADP is even influenced by itself. Think about i:. If you're drafting on Yahoo and considering Ronald Jones in Round 5, isn't it going to give you pause that his ADP shows Round 8? On the other hand, you wouldn't think twice if you're drafting on NFC, where his ADP is 60th overall.

Jamey Eisenberg does a great job each week keeping you up to date on the latest movement in CBS Fantasy ADP, so I'm going to break down my favorite values on ESPN, Yahoo, and NFC below. I'm not saying you should wait until the 13th round to draft Jamison Crowder on Yahoo; I think he's a Round 8 value in that format. If it's a player you really want I wouldn't be shy about taking them two rounds before their site-specific ADP.

I had this exact discussion with Ben Gretch on Thursday's Fantasy Football Today podcast. Check it out here:

After my favorite values, I also have a few deep sleepers for each site. These players are all available after Round 12 on average.

Yahoo Deep Sleepers: Jamison Crowder, Tony Pollard, Christian Kirk, Preston Williams, Boston Scott

ESPN Deep Sleepers: Antonio Gibson, Chase Edmonds, Jonnu Smith, Allen Lazard

NFC Deep Sleepers: Gardner Minshew, Bryce Love, Laviska Shenault, Malcolm Brown

Which players are poised for breakouts, which sleepers do you need to jump on, and which busts should you avoid at all costs in your Fantasy football league? Visit SportsLine now to get early rankings, plus see which WR is going to come out of nowhere to crack the top 10, all from the model that out-performed experts big time last season.

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Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Finding the best ADP values at Yahoo, ESPN, and NFC - CBS Sports

Id make a lot of changes if I was King of the season-long fantasy football world. But my No. 1 priority would be eliminating the default rankings from the online draft applets. These default rankings remove a lot of the hard work and preparation that is otherwise necessary when building your own ranks.

If the defaults are solid, fantasy managers can just show up the day of the draft, use the sites rankings as their research, and emerge with a reasonable team. At a minimum, we know our opponents use the default rankings as a crutch. That means they may be afraid to choose X guy in the second round because hes listed as a fourth-rounder in the applet. Or maybe they take Y guy earlier than they should because his name is on top of the applet. Even auto-drafters can have success if the draft applet rankings are solid.

The good news for us is there are edges for us to exploit against opponents who are relying on the defaults too much. The best process for us is to draft off of our ownpersonal rankings, but also be aware of and adjust to whats going on in the applet.

Below is what you should be aware of heading into drafts on Yahoo.

*These rankings were found within Yahoo draft applet as of Friday, August 21.

23.James Conner

27.Adam Thielen

30.Chris Carson

40.Mark Ingram

49.DAndre Swift

56.Ronald Jones

70.Jordan Howard

75.Matt Breida

84.Matthew Stafford

96.Ben Roethlisberger

ADJUSTMENTS:No stealingAdam Thielenon Yahoo as hes listed WR9. It will be much easier to show a profit on the ADPs of WRs likeCalvin Ridley(42 overall) andDK Metcalf(53) Im hoping to be able to getJames ConnerorChris Carsonin Round 3 of a lot of drafts. Yahoo will make that difficult with these aggressive rankings Speaking of aggressive,Mark Ingramis a whopping 41 spots ahead ofJ.K. Dobbinsin the applet. I know Evan disagrees, but I actually prefer Dobbins straight up DAndre Swifts projected Kamara-esque pass-catching is exciting, but this is a steep tag given the WRs available in the 40-60 range Yahoo has somehow locked onto theRonald Joneshype machine. Its going to be really hard to get him without investing a high draft slot here Hopefully, someone else bites on these wildly high rankings forJordan HowardandMatt Breida Almost all the QBs on Yahoo are pushed up high. Still,Matthew Staffordahead ofCarson Wentz,Tom Brady, andAaron Rodgersisnt what I want to see. Expect the QB run to start early in Yahoo formats.Ben Roethlisbergerin the Top 100 speaks to that.

80.Will Fuller

89.Darren Waller

98.Evan Engram

129.Rob Gronkowski

141.T.J. Hockenson

144.Christian Kirk

159.Jalen Reagor

165.Golden Tate

170.Henry Ruggs

181.NKeal Harry

ADJUSTMENTS:Yahoo hasnt adjusted for theWill Fullerhype, meaning we could try to wait until Round 7 to grab him against applet-drafters There are a lot of edges in this Yahoo applet, but the TE rankings are a big one.Darren WallerandEvan Engramare somehow well behindTyler Higbee(62),Jared Cook(71), andHunter Henry(73). Dont be afraid to jump ahead a little here If waiting on tight end, theT.J. Hockensonranking means he should be available very late. Same withIan Thomas(see below) I definitely dont agree with some of these WR rankings, but perhaps the most egregious ranking is onChristian Kirk, who shouldnt last past the 10th round in any circumstance.

[Visit Establish The Run for more premium fantasy football analysis]

37.Terry McLaurin

67.Marquise Brown

85.Diontae Johnson

94.Antonio Gibson

109.Zack Moss

117.Damien Harris

138.Chris Herndon

151.Curtis Samuel

164.Mecole Hardman

167.Teddy Bridgewater

ADJUSTMENTS:I regret to inform you that a lot of the buzz guys are pushed up to an appropriate place. Were not stealingTerry McLaurin,Diontae Johnson, orAntonio Gibson There is room to getZack MossandDamien Harrisat a very reasonable draft investment, two guys with major up-arrows during camp. I wouldnt hesitate to take either in the 10th round if they are there Speaking of camp buzz,Chris Herndonis listed appropriately here but its tough to get too excited given the ranks ofEvan EngramandDarren Waller, discussed above You may not need Teddy Bridgewater if youre in a 12-team, 1-QB league. But if you do, he should be close to free against applet-drafters.

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192.Allen Lazard

198.DeAndre Washington

207.Parris Campbell

212.Sammy Watkins

226.Ian Thomas

233.Laviska Shenault

243.Brandon Aiyuk

246.DeSean Jackson

259.Irv Smith Jr.

ADJUSTMENTS:Evan Silva hasBrandon Aiyuk76th overall and hes 243rd here. Silva hasDeSean Jackson83rd overall and hes 246th overall here. Be aware that you dont have to take Aiyuk and Jackson where Silva has them listed given the applet rankings; we can likely get them in the 100s A lot of the tight ends are pushed up on Yahoo, but notIan ThomasorIrv Smith DeAndre Washingtonis a nice piece of a RB Anchor or Zero-RB team and can likely be had in Round 12 or 13 against common opponents.

Adam Levitan has been writing about Fantasy Football professionally since 2008 and is a two-time FSWA award winner. A podcast host since 2015, his podcasts have been downloaded over 5 million times.

Establish The Run is a premium football analysis website. Don't miss their freefantasy football podcast. ETR will be providing exclusive content for Yahoo Fantasy Sports players leading into the 2020 NFL season.

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How to use Yahoo's default fantasy football rankings to your advantage when you're in the draft room - Yahoo Sports

Warren Buffett turns 90 tomorrow.

The number itself isnt that remarkable (there are a couple million of 90-somethings in the U.S these days). Its what Buffett has accomplishedand what he may still do thats astonishing.

At 90 years of age Buffett has never been more of a force (more on that in a bit). And with all due apologies to his partner, Charlie Munger, nevermind Tony Bennett and Jimmy Carter, Buffett has to be the most impactful nonagenarian in America, if not the world.

Buffetts life and achievements have been singular, and as he never fails to point out, uniquely American. To be clear though, his is not an up-from-poverty story. Buffett came from privilege. His father was a Congressman from Nebraska (and as a die-hard conservative, close to a political opposite of his son.) Still the Buffetts werent rich and beyond that, while his background surely helped, it certainly didnt make him one of the successful people on the planet.

People always ask me what Warren Buffett is like. Well, for one thing hes purposeful and self-aware. Buffett has thought a great deal about longevity, for instance, but not in an obsessive, cryonics way. He told me this in a conversation I had with him last year:

If I gave you a car, and it'd be the only car you get the rest of your life, you'd take care of it like you can't believe. Any scratch, you'd fix that moment. You'd read the owner's manual, and you'd keep a garage, and do all these things. And you get exactly one mind and one body in this world. And you can't start taking care of it when you're 50. By that time, you'll rust it out, if you haven't done anything. So you should really make sure that you just remember that you've just got one mind and body to get through life with, and to do the most with it.

Before I get to his other salient attributes I want to add some disclaimers here because already I can see the Twitterati rolling their eyes, so here goes: Yes, Warren Buffett is a businessman. You may not like some of the companies he owns or in which he has invested. Yes, he makes money, lots of money. (You may not like that either.) Here is a guy who has become extraordinarily wealthy and did it in a fair way, says Robert Miles, longtime Berkshire Hathaway shareholder and author of "The Warren Buffett CEO. But Miles notes: Hes a shark. Obviously youre not going to be that successful and rich without being an ace negotiator.

Buffett has made mistakes too, many of them in fact, (which hes happyto discuss.) Also Buffett isnt posing as some sort of country hayseed like some suggest, trying to fool people. Hes actually one of the most sophisticated people youll ever meet. He just happens to be polite, friendly and live in Nebraska. (Do all rich people have to be rude, icy and live in Greenwich?)

His commercial achievements are stunning, which as of today are marked by a pair of sixes. Berkshire Hathaway, which hes run for 55 years, is now the 6th largest company in America, and Buffetts $82 billion fortune makes him the 6th richest citizen of planet Earth. Howd he do that? Its this notion of patience, the notion of focus, and the notion of looking at companies with a telescope is what I think is important to underscore what Buffett is doing, legendary investor Mario Gabelli told me this week. Take the cash up. Let other people run it. Reallocate the cash flow. That's his business skill set. At 90, you don't need hand-eye coordination. So he can do this for another 50 years. I just hope they come up with some medicine, some aphrodisiac or some dynamic that keeps him going.

Buffetts footprint is bigger than ever. He gets even more calls from CEOs, politicians and societal leaders. His market moves attract more attentionlike when he sold airlines stocks or bought gold this year. Internationally hes more well known than hes ever been. Since the financial crisis of 08-09, the luster of the U.S. financial model began to wane in China and all over the world, says Li Lu, founder and chairman of Himalaya Capital Management, a multi-billion dollar investment firm which has business ties to Berkshire Hathaway. The example of Buffett and Berkshire on the contrary have increased their influence precisely because they point to a different way of conducting yourself. Hes singled out as someone whos not typical of American ways. I dont think the current tense relationship between China and the U.S. has in any way dented his reputation.

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At 90 years old, thats impact.

But even more than that, Buffett has become a paradigm for living. Thats really why millions around the globe hang on his every word. Or why when you go to his annual meeting in Omaha, tens of thousands sit in stone silence for hours listening to him and Munger wax poetic. Ive always felt it was like a church in there, or a cult, which it kind of is. Except in this cult the members invest in Berkshire Hathaway stock and make moneyand they get to keep it!

Every person Ive ever spoken to about Buffett for any period of time, talks about his effect on them.

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett participates in a newspaper throwing contest prior to the Berkshire annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska May 2, 2015. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

Hes made remarkable changes in my life and me personally, says Sharon Osberg, a longtime friend who plays bridge with Buffett a couple times a week. Having the privilege of observing his behavior in difficult situations has taught me a lot about how to do that. And I learned how to be happy. (Osberg recalls that when she first met Buffett decades ago I got into his office, and started rolling dice on the floor. I was on hands and knees rolling dice with him.)

Li Lu says he walked into a lecture Buffett was giving years ago at Columbia University and ...was instantaneously taken by him. What he basically taught me in that course was that somebody with high moral principles and integrity can make a lot of money off the market by being wise and smart and moral, Lu says. For many years, he and Charlie were my role models. Normally I dont take a living person as a role model, knowing how fragile human beings are. But for 25, 30 years he and Charlie never disappointed me in how to conduct business and life.

Says author Miles: Hes transformed my life personally, more than anyone else in terms of modeling good behavior and having fun. Hes made me a better person, made me rethink my own philanthropy, in terms of helping those who through no fault of their own were born on the wrong side of track.

I showed up at the Berkshire meeting to learn how to become rich and make a lot of money and compound stocks at a high rate, says Wall Street hedge fund manager Whitney Tilson. And instead, what I got was a dose of what they call worldly wisdom, about developing good habits and the importance of integrity becoming a learning machine and how to be a good spouse and all these other things that have really helped shape me second only to my parents, I suppose.

Buffett often talks about the importance of giving to your family and friends, the people you love. And he walks this talk, like when he flew to New York in June of last year to attend a 90th birthday party of his long standing pal, Carol Loomis, retired editor at Fortune, and sing a goofy song in her honor. (Now thats how to stay young.)

And theres a zillion more.

I know thats a lot of gushing testimonials. But could anyone really say the same things about Buffetts fellow mega-billionaires Bezos, Zuckerberg, Koch or Bloomberg? True, you might admire them or learn from them, but what people around the globe have received from Buffett is in another league.

Of course everyone always asks what will happen to Berkshire once Buffett finally does retire or pass on. Buffett has heard this 90 million times, and for decades. And hes been working on succession, and for decades. As my colleague Sam Ro points out, its almost as if Buffett wants us to focus on his succession plan because it draws more attention to Berkshire, something Buffett has been unapologetically P.T. Barnumesque about.

And whos to say the torch cant be passed smoothly? Steve Jobs certainly did right by Apple when he picked Tim Cook, a point not lost on Buffett, particularly now that he owns $120 billion of Apple stock, worth almost 25% of Berkshires market value. Buffetts two trusted lieutenants, (Ajit) Jain and (Greg) Abelnot to be confused with Cain and Abel, or at least Berkshire shareholders hope notare increasingly hands on and poised to lead.

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc, pauses while playing bridge as part of the company annual meeting weekend in Omaha, Nebraska U.S. May 6, 2018. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

When you love your life, of course you want it to go on and on, says Laura Rittenhouse, consultant and author of Buffett's Bites: The Essential Investor's Guide to Warren Buffett's Shareholder Letters. But the fact that he put the succession plan into place says he has certainly confronted the inevitable.

For now and the foreseeable future (whatever that means when youre 90), Buffett is still running things, aware that hes being scrutinized in a way, well, that any 90-year-old CEO would. In fact, Osberg says she and Buffett were just talking about that.

We had that discussion a couple nights ago. He finds it interesting that so many people are interested in his mental faculties. He totally understands, she says. I literally told him this on Tuesday, I have not noticed a decline in him. Hes slower at some things, physically the body gets slower when youre older. He walks slower, knees hurt, or whatever. He would tell you certain things he feels hes slower at mentally, but nothing important. Like remembering names, something that none of us can do anymore. It really is amazing.

A recent interview in a nice piece by the Omaha World Herald this week, noted longevity is in Buffetts familys genes. His mother lived to be 92, and his sister Doris who died this month was also 92. Baby sister Bertie, whom Buffett said he will be visiting next month, is 86. My dad is going to outlive us all, and Im not kidding, said his daughter Susie Buffett in the article. Ill bet a lot of money he will get to 100. (If Buffett did, hed be bucking the odds of course.)

Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett bites into an ice cream during a trade show at the company's annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska May 3, 2014. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc on Friday said quarterly profit declined 4 percent, falling short of analyst forecasts, as earnings from insurance underwriting declined and bad weather disrupted shipping at its BNSF Railway unit. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

And famously Buffett eats like a first-grader, which he explained to me a couple of years ago: I actually eat exactly what I like to eat. If I liked it on my sixth birthdayon my sixth birthday party, when we had hot dogs, and hamburgers, and Coke, and ice cream with chocolateI still like it. And I don't care about anything, subsequently. I discovered it all by the time I was six. And if somebody offered me a deal when I was 20, and said, you're going to live one year longerinstead of living to 88, you'll live to 89, or whatever it may beif you eat nothing but broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, and onions, and all these things, take the last year off. It probably won't be that good anyway. So I eat what I like to eat. I'm not venturesome, in that area.

But shhhh, there may be some concessions to health and wellness afoot. Osberg tells Yahoo Finance that Buffett eats salmon once a week. And she reports he now exercises faithfully on his treadmill. The real trick though Osberg says is his attitude. Everybody talks about his attitude and how happy, cheerful he is. Thats the gospel truth. He loves every day. Every single day, he loves. Im not sure I've ever met a person who feels that way. But he does.

On May 2 of this year, three of us; my wife and I, along with Susie Buffett, sat on the empty floor of the CHI Health Center Omaha and watched Buffett and Greg Abel address Berkshire shareholders remotely for the companys annual meeting, (streamed by Yahoo Finance I might add.) As Buffett got up on the platform, he smiled and waved at us, looking spry enough. Little did we know. Buffett then began to speak and answer questions, unscripted for four hours and 28 minutes straight, no breaks, on almost every subject under the sun.

He was impassioned that afternoon, talking about America in the time of COVID-19:

Nothing can stop America when you come down to it, even with the scariest of scenarios. It may have been tested during the Great Depression, and it may be tested now to some degree. In the end the answer is never bet against America. That in my view is true today as it was in 1789 and even was true during the Civil War and depths of the depression, Buffett said.

It was a tour de force, as draining as it was impressive, and it may have been his best, most impactful talk ever.

Not bad for an 89-year-old. And now hes 90.

Here then are birthday wishes from Mario Gabelli, which sound about right:

Warren, holy cow, you're only 90? I want to be there for what the Italians used to say cent'anni, which meant 100. Now, it's centocinquanta, 150 years. That's the birthday party that I'm going to have to give you a birthday wish for. But 90 going to 100 is at least a start. Happy birthday, Warren.

Yes indeed, happy birthday Warren. Long may you run. Whatever youve been doing has worked so far, so please keep doing it.

This article was featured in a Saturday edition of the Morning Brief on August 29, 2020. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET.Subscribe

Andy Serwer is editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter:@serwer.

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Why Warren Buffett matters more than ever on his 90th birthday - Yahoo Finance

Brian Gu the vice chairman and president of Chinas newest publicly traded electric vehicle maker Xpeng (XPEV) is waiting with bated breath to see if Tesla (TSLA) changes the battery game at its upcoming Battery Day.

If Elon Musk & Co. do drop a bomb on the industry, it could have profound ramifications on the useful life of electric vehicles. Moreover, it could further solidify Teslas lead in the EV space globally and help it better rival gas-powered engines.

Were all waiting to see what Tesla is going to come out with in the battery, Gu told Yahoo Finances The First Trade as he awaited the initial trade of his companys stock, which debuted on the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday. Xpeng doesnt manufacturer its own batteries.

Gu adds, So for us, obviously we love to work with the best-in-class technology by the manufacturers. If there is a technology that provides safer, cost efficient and better cells, we would love to work with them. I think we would look forward to seeing the rapid development which will drive the growth of the overall industry.

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - NOVEMBER 22: A Xpeng G3 car is on display during the 17th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition at China Import and Export Fair Complex on November 22, 2019 in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province of China. The 17th Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition is held from November 22 to December 1. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Musk is widely expected to reveal a major advancement in battery technology at its Sept. 22 celebration. The anticipation is a small part of the reason Teslas stock has exploded 190% inside of six months.

In our opinion this battery technology will be very advanced, potentially last for decades, withstand all types of weather/terrain, and be another major milestone for the Tesla ecosystem.In theory this battery will support an electric vehicle for 1 million miles and be a major step forward when competing vs. traditional gasoline powered automotive competitors from both an ROI and environmental perspective, says Wedbush Securities analyst and Tesla bull Dan Ives.

While Xpeng doesnt make its own batteries instead partnering with outside industry leaders its no EV slouch in its own right. The upstart EV maker has two models in the surging China electric car market that have launched to critical acclaim for snazzy infotainment systems and autonomous technology. It has another model on the way in 2021 and more upgrades for its autonomous driving technology.

The company is not yet profitable, bur did manage to raise an impressive $1.5 billion in its IPO Thursday amid enthusiasm around the EV industry.

Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and co-anchor of The First Trade at Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn.

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We are watching to see if Tesla and Elon Musk will reveal a 'million-mile' battery: Xpeng vice chairman - Yahoo Finance

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez is the most prominent voice in college athletics in the state. On a day when two of the states most prominent professional teams the Bucks and Brewers decided to essentially strike for racial justice, Alvarez told Yahoo Sports he stands firmly behind them.

I do think we are [having a moment], Alvarez said in a phone interview Wednesday evening. I know how serious the people in this state take their sports and how proud they are of their sports teams. When you have athletes step up and make that kind of a statement. ... Im very proud of them.

Alvarez has been the athletic director at Wisconsin since 2004. He served as the head coach from 1990 through 2005. In that time, he emerged as one of the most familiar faces on the college sports scene in Wisconsin.

In the wake of the police shooting of Jacob Blake earlier this week, the outrage has rippled through the sports world. The Detroit Lions canceled practice on Tuesday and both the Bucks and Brewers announced Wednesday afternoon that they werent playing. The rest of the NBA teams playing playoff games on Wednesday followed Milwaukees lead.

I think theyre sending the right message, Alvarez said. Things have to be corrected. We cant continue with the social injustice. People have been trying to send a message for a long time. Some just dont get the message. Some just dont get it.

It sends a strong message that they are serious. Whats happened is wrong and has to be corrected. Its unacceptable.

With the Big Tens cancellation of fall sports, theres little chance of an organized statement on campus right now. Alvarez said teams wont be back on campus until after Labor Day.

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Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez 'proud' of Bucks, Brewers for racial justice stand 'Things have to be corrected' - Yahoo Sports

The socially distanced MTV Video Music Awards will look very different this year, with no red carpet. But truly, no fashion do or dont that Miley, Gaga, or any other attending superstar might have worn this year could top one of the most scandalous outfits in VMAs history: Rose McGowans see-through chainmail dress.

The author, activist, and former actress tells Yahoo Entertainment that she always hated the paparazzi-crazed red carpet experience. You have these big men, a hundred of them yelling at the top of their voice trying to get you to look at them, but your body doesn't understand why it's being screamed at and aggressed on. I'm like, I feel like I'm being shot with guns right now, she says. But when McGowan attended the 1998 VMAs with her boyfriend at the time, Marilyn Manson, she decided to make a bold red carpet statement anyway. However, most people had no idea about the real, serious statement she was making by showing all that skin.

Marilyn Manson & Rose McGowan (Photo by Barry King/WireImage)

It was my first big public appearance after being sexually assaulted, say McGowan, who has long alleged that Harvey Weinstein raped her in 1997. I just felt like, Oh Hollywood, would you want a body just that you can use and throw away? Then I've got one for you! It was like at the end of Gladiator when he comes out and he's like, Are you not entertained? And if you look at me, I did it with power. I didn't do it with my hand on my hip to be sexy. Most of the women that are dressed like that on the red carpet, it's a calculated, sexy move to turn people on. Mine was like, Im gonna f*** with your brain. I'm going to blow your brain up. And nobody had done it.

McGowan says that Manson himself was one of the many people who didnt understand the intention behind the mind-blowing garment. [The Weinstein assault] happened before I went out with him. I didn't tell him because what happened, she recalls. I did tell him later well, he found out because he would ask my friend, What's wrong with this girl? She wakes up screaming at night and soaking wet in the bed and the sheets are wet. She does it every night, like two or three times a night. I would have terrible nightmares, PTSD stuff. So, we had to talk about it then.

Manson and McGowan were together for about three years and engaged for two, and while McGowan says he was nasty, nasty, nasty to her after their relationship ended (That's just male ego bulls*** with access to a microphone; it was not cool), theyve since made amends. And she realizes that her time spent escaping into his rock n roll world was very instrumental in healing for me at that point, because I wanted to be young and free, and I felt so old. I had just been like working, it felt like, for so long and I've done like five movies in a row, and then the bad thing happened. And after that, I just wanted to run away with the circus and just feel free and have fun. And also because people are like sending him death threats all the time and all that it was more about me protecting him. I could focus on him, instead of dealing with my own stuff.

Marilyn Manson and Rose McGowan at the 1998 VMAs. (Photo: Barry King/WireImage)

Looking back, McGowan has mixed feelings about her shocking VMAs fashion moment, through she doesnt necessarily regret it. It was kind of hard. I hadn't really ever dealt with global media shaming. But it prepared me for later on it happening to me a whole bunch. It was also like, Sorry you're square and I'm not bummer, she chuckles.

I'm like, Why did I do that? I've had to look at that. You know, when you do stuff sometimes on instinct and in a mood, like when a mood overtakes you on, you analyze what it was that brought you to that mood or that choice. So, I've certainly had a lot of time to analyze and I'm looking at the timeline. But I completely understand why I did what I did.

Rose McGowan is making music herself these days, recently releasing the experimental, meditative debut album Planet 9. Below, check out her full Yahoo Entertainment interview about that album, her career, her retreat from Hollywood, and her activism. The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards will take place this Sunday, Aug. 30.

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Rose McGowan looks back at scandalous, see-through VMAs dress: I hadn't really ever dealt with global media shaming - Yahoo Entertainment