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ATLANTA Friday afternoon, on a FaceTime call with his former Milwaukee Brewers teammate Christian Yelich, designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach explained the complicated stakes of the weekend series the New York Mets were about to embark upon in Atlanta.

Entering the penultimate series of the regular season, one game separated the top two teams in the only division still up for grabs, the National League East. This year, in a new expanded postseason format, four teams the top two in each league will receive a bye for the first round. Three have already been determined. The Mets and Braves are fighting for the last one. The victor will get a chance to rest and reset its pitching staff while the other must survive the new three-game, wild-card round for the opportunity to face the 110-win (and counting) Los Angeles Dodgers.

Its been a decade, at least, since two teams fighting for first have played each other so late in the season. A Mets sweep would be decisive, a Braves sweep would turn the tides decidedly. Anything in between and the race would go down to the wire, with each team playing three more games against other opponents.

Yeli used to tell Vogelbach, who spent a little more than a season in Milwaukee, that postseason baseball is addicting: You go once and you lose and it's like, I want more, I want to keep going, hed say. And Vogelbach, who spent the first part of his career in Seattle, didnt think much of that until the Brewers won their division last year, only to be booted in the NLDS.

When we lost, it was like, man, I want to do that again right now, he said.

But heres the thing about baseballs thrilling postseason: To get from one to the next, you have to go through the 162-game regular season. And while the oft-cited adage you just have to get inspeaks to the excitement created by a newly leveled playing field and the unpredictability of short series, it also implies a corollary: a teams real merit is measured in the regular season. Both these teams will play in October; it could be that neither wins the World Series. But first well find out which one is better.

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I'm actually glad I'm in the race, said Max Scherzer before the series got underway, unsurprisingly amped to not be in a position to coast. I enjoy being in these races. I'm so lucky to be on a team where you get to come to the park and it's a must-win game.

In a way I see it as a plus, Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson said. For us, just continuing to play meaningful baseball, to not give yourself a chance to let up, is really important because I feel like we've been in that position where you win it with a week and a half left, and the next thing you know, you kind of lose a little bit of, like, that edge. Your body kind of shuts off a little bit, your mind shuts off a little bit, but right now it's no rest for the weary. You just keep going. Keep grinding away.

Braves closer Kenley Jansen who once again finds himself on a team that seemingly cannot lose, like last years Los Angeles Dodgers chasing the San Francisco Giants, and yet also cannot overtake the unstoppable team ahead of it said of these stressful final stretches, I love it. This is what were built for.

Before this weekend, the Mets had spent only two days this season without at least a partial possession of first place. But that belies the formidable showdown brewing as the reigning champions tore through the second half at a 107-win pace to pull within a single game heading into the final weekend.

And then the Braves won two more against the Mets themselves to switch spots in the standings, now up one. The New York Yankees lead baseball in team home runs it helps to have one guy rack up 61 of them but the Braves are No. 2 in the sport. Against elite pitching, their ability to turn any mistakes into instant runs proved to be the difference. The Mets started their co-aces in the first two games of the series, playing their strongest card by lining up Jacob deGrom and Scherzer. The Braves homered five times combined against the two of them.

If I don't execute my pitches, they're going to beat me, Scherzer said. Very thin room for error.

And so it goes that with one game left against each other, the room for error is as thin as could be. The season series, which will function as a tiebreaker, is currently knotted at nine apiece. Another Braves win would put them up two and give them the edge in the event of a tie come seasons end. A Mets win would have them tied with Atlanta in the standings, but with a chance to control their destiny with the tiebreaker on their side.

The last good race in baseball this year is a doozy. And, if fans are lucky, a preview of many more like it to come.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) is tagged out by New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido (3) during a game on Saturday, Oct. 1st, 2022 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Mets-Braves rivalry hasnt been truly bitter since before some of these rookies were born. The two teams that used to make the insults personal and turn their personal lives into living, breathing taunts havent finished first and second in the division since 2000. Although that was merely just past the midpoint of the Braves 14 straight years of NL East titles.

They had a nice run, Mets owner Steve Cohen said before the first game of the series, looking a little pained at the thought of the rivalrys heyday. Maybe its our turn.

Although theyll duke it out between the white lines, Cohen himself can put a heavy hand on that scale. Money does that. And while his many billions creates endless opportunity at least for speculation the Braves precise distribution of their own funds internally could tip things back in their favor. The future of these two teams is a study in how, if the details are done right, both certainty and uncertainty can be equally exciting.

Less than a half hour before the first pitch of Fridays game, the Braves announced that starting pitcher Charlie Morton would be returning in 2023, on a $20 million contract, with a club option for 2024. It was just the latest, and perhaps least splashy, in a spate of extensions that have come to characterize the current regime in Atlanta. The Braves front office likes home-grown guys and cost certainty, and bolstered the team that won a World Series with just a couple of high-profile replacements. Reprehensibly below-market early-career deals with Ronald Acua Jr. and Ozzie Albies have begotten fairer extensions. This year alone the Braves signed 28-year-old Matt Olson to an eight-year deal immediately after trading for him; 25-year-old Austin Riley to a 10-year deal; and 21-year-old rookie sensation Michael Harris II to an eight-year deal.

Where the Braves spend to keep guys, the Mets under Cohen spend to get guys. This past offseason featured a shopping spree that brought in Mark Canha, Eduardo Escobar, Starling Marte, and was headlined by baseballs most expensive contract on a per-year basis to get a second ace in Scherzer. If they bring back deGrom, itll likely be on a new contract signed after he opts out. They have one $300 million man in Francisco Lindor (styles of team building are not mutually exclusive; Lindor, like Olson, was a trade acquisition that was quickly extended) and Mets fans have enjoyed window shopping across town for another.

Both teams figure to contend for a while: because of the Braves commitment to what is working, and the Mets seeming determination to do whatever it takes.

I dont know if its a rivalry, Vogelbach said, its two really, really good teams.

Of course, that is the recipe for a rivalry.

Jansen said that after Yankees-Red Sox, nothing is as intense as the California rivalry he came from with the Giants and Dodgers I see so many fights in the pavilion in Dodger Stadium but rivalries respond to recency bias. And for a more up-to-date temperature check, you have to wade into the instant thermometer that is the internet.

Just from my Twitter comments, Jesus, people are tense. I go on there and I see stuff and Im like, Oh my God, people are at each others throats on here, Canha said. Its heated.

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'Its two really, really good teams': Braves, Mets take baseball's most thrilling race down to the wire - Yahoo Sports

President Biden talks a lot about inflation. He typically takes two tacks. One, he acknowledges its a serious problem for ordinary families. Two, he explains what hes trying to do about it.

Biden almost never talks about the stock marketbut maybe he should start acknowledging the pain it is causing, too. The S&P 500 index is down 24% from its peak early this year. The tech-heavy NASDAQ is down by a punishing 33% from its peak last November. Stocks rise and fall as a matter of course and dont ordinarily warrant presidential attention. But this bear market, which worsened in September, may be casting a new layer of gloom over already dour Americans.

The driving force behind the 2022 market rout is inflation, and the Federal Reserves late yet urgent effort to jack up interest rates and bring inflation down. Rate hikes make borrowing more expensive, which tends to cut into spending and slow growth. Higher borrowing costs also trim corporate profits, which is one factor pushing stocks lower. Investors are also grappling with how much collateral damage the Fed may cause as it hikes rates, and the possibility of a recession that hits profits even harder.

A bear market in stocks doesnt hit consumer confidence as hard as inflation itself, especially the soaring gas prices that shocked drivers during the summer. Confidence bottomed out as gas prices peaked, then began to recover as gas prices fell. But confidence turned downward again in mid-September, according to Morning Consults daily tracking survey. That coincided with an ugly market selloff that has pushed the S&P to its lowest level in nearly two years. Bidens approval rating had improved from 38% in July to 43% in early September, but its now dipping again, along with stocks.

The stock market was a tailwind for Biden during his first year in office. At the end of last year, the stock markets performance under Biden was the second best of any president going back to Jimmy Carter in the 1970s. The market did better under Barack Obama, but only because the massive selloff caused by the 2008 financial crash ended two months into Obamas first term, with an epic rally kicking off. The market under Biden has now fallen from second best to sixth, as this chart shows:

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When asked about stocks, Biden typically says the stock market isnt the real economy, then reels off a few better-sounding stats about job growth or legislation hes signed. Hes right and wrong. Its true that the direction of stocks doesnt directly affect most peoples paychecks. People with investing or retirement accounts dont lose money just because the value of stocks goes down. They only lose money if they sell low and lock in declines. Many prudent investors can simply wait out a bear market, since stocks are normally a longer-term investment.

But the stock market does reflect whats going on in the real economy, and a bear market often presages a recession. When stocks drop substantially, investors are usually betting on a decline in future corporate profits and cash flows. Some economists think the US economy is due for a recession within the next year or so, and the bear market in stocks could be one sign its coming.

[Follow Rick Newman on Twitter, sign up for his newsletter or sound off.]

When stocks fall enough, theres also a negative wealth effect that makes people who do have an investing or retirement portfolio feel poorer, and sometimes rein in spending. That may be happening now, given that consumer spending is cooling. That affects the economy too, since consumer spending accounts for around two-thirds of all economic output.

Did Biden cause the 2022 bear market? Generally, no. He did champion and sign the Democrats 2021 stimulus bill, which probably contributed a bit to inflation, currently running at 8.3%. But the bigger causes of inflation have been goods shortages created by the COVID pandemic and a super-tight job market thats making labor more expensive. Russias barbaric war in Ukraine is another factor, since its pushing global energy costs higher.

One can argue that the Federal Reserve should have seen all this coming and starting hiking rates earlier. But Biden doesnt control the Fedand he has pointedly promised not to hector the central bank to do this or that, the way his predecessor Donald Trump did.

Trump also tried to talk up the stock market, when it was plummeting at the onset of the COVID pandemic in February of 2020. That didnt work. Stocks recovered in April of that year when the Fed rolled out an extraordinary set of liquidity programs and rate cuts meant to help financial markets recover. Those measures worked. Maybe too well. The Fed has now reversed that easy-money policy and to some extent is reclaiming gains in risk assets that may have gone too far.

Biden and his fellow Democrats have had solid momentum since mid-summer, thanks to plunging gasoline prices and a raft of legislative victories for Biden. For a fleeting moment, it looked as if they might be able to defy the customary political snapback effect that costs the presidents party seats in the midterm election, and maintain control of Congress. For that to happen though, Bidens approval rating probably needs to be close to 50%, and its simply not going to get there with financial markets issuing regular warnings that the Fed might be fomenting a recession. Maybe markets will settle down by the next set of elections, in 2024.

Rick Newman is a senior columnist for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @rickjnewman

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This week in Bidenomics: The bear-market president - Yahoo Finance

Coming into the 2022 season, everyone knew two things to be true: The AL East was going to be tough sledding, and MLBs expanded playoff format was likely to allow multiple strong teams from the division to compete. Four teams from the powerhouse division playing meaningful September baseball seemed imminently reasonable. Its just that no one thought the one team left out of that group would be the Boston Red Sox.

Maybe we should expect it by now. The last 11 seasons have been a difficult-to-believe roller coaster in Boston. There have been five postseason appearances, including two World Series titles, and now there will be five last-place finishes alongside. There have also been three top baseball executives and four different managers.

Current chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom took over when owner John Henry fired Dave Dombrowski near the end of the 2019 season. The error that cost Dombrowski his job was paying the luxury tax for a team that finished third. This year, the Red Sox will pay the luxury tax again for a space in the cellar. Now, Henry can afford it, its only a $900,000 bill, but his emphasis on getting under the tax at the time raise questions about how he will respond when his team needs reinforcements, not belt tightening. He walked back some of those comments but still acknowledged an incentive to be under the tax threshold which carries escalating penalties for repeat spenders to the Boston Globe, I think every team probably wants to reset at least once every three years.

Henry also didnt really need to say anything for the priority to be apparent. After all, Blooms first major act at the helm was to trade away Mookie Betts.

If theyre going to defy the gravity of losing once again, there are major questions to be answered. And they start with the money.

The two best players on the Red Sox reside on the left side of the infield. Xander Bogaerts, the shortstop who is turning 30 on Saturday, will likely opt out of his contract after the season. Rafael Devers, the baby-faced 25-year-old third baseman, is under team control through 2023.

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Whatever comes next for this team starts with these negotiations. Team president Sam Kennedy dismissed the narrative that the Red Sox arent willing to spend this week, so perhaps that portends an effort to get these deals settled.

Bogaerts, who makes $20 million per year under his current deal, will certainly be able to beat that on the open market. Take whatever scope you want three seasons, five seasons and he compares favorably to Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, all of whom signed for at least $25 million per year last offseason.

Devers, who could reach free agency right around his 27th birthday, presents Bloom and company with a less elite, but still crucial, version of the Betts situation. With one year left under team control, Devers has proven himself to be one of the 15 to 20 best pure hitters in baseball. His defense was subpar in previous seasons, but the numbers point toward improvement in 2022. Whether teams believe that will stick for at least a few years will have some sway over his earning power. Even if he is viewed as a future first baseman, the deal to secure him will likely need to come in north of the $21 million per year the Braves gave to Austin Riley and Matt Olson.

The 2023 Red Sox starting rotation looks murky to say the least. Chris Sales return from Tommy John surgery was delayed by a rib cage injury. Then, he suffered a fractured finger on his pitching hand in his second start back in the majors. While recovering from that, he broke his other wrist in a bike crash and required season-ending surgery. Should he be good to go for 2023? Sure.

Nathan Eovaldi is set to become a free agent, along with Michael Wacha and Rich Hill. James Paxton who signed a one-year, $10 million deal with several options never pitched in 2022. The Red Sox presumably wont pick up his $13 million team option, but he could exercise a $4 million player option.

Internally, 23-year-old Brayan Bello looks like a keeper after 12 games in the bigs (10 of them starts), but high walk totals lend at least some doubt about how reliable he will be in his first full season. Nick Pivetta can provide innings, but his best major league season involved an ERA merely 1% better than league average.

External options also exist, of course.

The turnover on the pitching staff could even be a good thing if Bloom has better luck on the market. Thats just far from a guarantee. Last winters attempts at efficiency included trading away solid outfielder Hunter Renfroe as his arbitration salary doubled. He continued with a nearly identical 2-WAR season, while the Red Sox flailed at finding even a serviceable hitter to replace him. Real upgrades usually cost real money.

Its hard not to think about Betts eventual deal with the Dodgers, which he has said he would have signed if it were offered by the Red Sox. Its a long deal, 12 years, but it carries an average annual value that now looks very reasonable for a perennial MVP candidate at $30.4 million. For at least the next two seasons theyll be paying upward of $47 million for a mid-30s pitcher (Sale) and a shortstop with two straight worrisome seasons of mediocrity under his belt (Trevor Story).

So the question is: Will the misadventures in cost-cutting change their ways? The free agent class this winter is loaded. There are real impact players available from Aaron Judge to Jacob deGrom to Trea Turner, if Bogaerts moves on or someone is willing to move positions. There are also potentially impactful, if riskier, options like Carlos Rodon who figure to be available in that Story range.

Bloom has also legitimately improved the standing of Bostons minor league system. There is a good deal of talent in the pipeline, much of it in the coveted middle infield category. First baseman Triston Casas has already hit the ground running and figures to provide pop for the foreseeable future. Within two years, more high-level players should emerge as big-league help at the usual rookie bargain rates.

This isnt a team or a city that usually waits a few years, though. Its the Red Sox. They can afford the talent to rebound quickly, even in a daunting division. And until they secure it and achieve that rebound theyre going to be answering questions about the ill-fated cost-slashing assignment that ownership gave Bloom and the current regime in 2019.

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Can the Red Sox really turn around this last-place finish? Big questions loom over the post-Mookie Betts era - Yahoo Sports

With a price-to-earnings (or "P/E") ratio of 47.4x Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) may be sending very bearish signals at the moment, given that almost half of all companies in the United States have P/E ratios under 13x and even P/E's lower than 8x are not unusual. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the highly elevated P/E.

While the market has experienced earnings growth lately, Intuitive Surgical's earnings have gone into reverse gear, which is not great. It might be that many expect the dour earnings performance to recover substantially, which has kept the P/E from collapsing. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.

View our latest analysis for Intuitive Surgical

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If you'd like to see what analysts are forecasting going forward, you should check out our free report on Intuitive Surgical.

Intuitive Surgical's P/E ratio would be typical for a company that's expected to deliver very strong growth, and importantly, perform much better than the market.

If we review the last year of earnings, dishearteningly the company's profits fell to the tune of 13%. Regardless, EPS has managed to lift by a handy 14% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the earlier period of growth. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the earnings growth recently has been mostly respectable for the company.

Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 18% each year during the coming three years according to the analysts following the company. With the market only predicted to deliver 9.6% per annum, the company is positioned for a stronger earnings result.

In light of this, it's understandable that Intuitive Surgical's P/E sits above the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are expecting this strong future growth and are willing to pay more for the stock.

While the price-to-earnings ratio shouldn't be the defining factor in whether you buy a stock or not, it's quite a capable barometer of earnings expectations.

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As we suspected, our examination of Intuitive Surgical's analyst forecasts revealed that its superior earnings outlook is contributing to its high P/E. Right now shareholders are comfortable with the P/E as they are quite confident future earnings aren't under threat. It's hard to see the share price falling strongly in the near future under these circumstances.

The company's balance sheet is another key area for risk analysis. Our free balance sheet analysis for Intuitive Surgical with six simple checks will allow you to discover any risks that could be an issue.

If P/E ratios interest you, you may wish to see this free collection of other companies that have grown earnings strongly and trade on P/E's below 20x.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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Earnings Tell The Story For Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (NASDAQ:ISRG) - Yahoo Finance

The NFL isn't just about which team is better in any particular game. There are plenty of situations to factor in, and all of them can be important.

If you are into situational analysis, you know this week isn't a good spot for the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night. A casual fan might wonder why a 3-0 Dolphins team is a 3.5-point underdog at BetMGM against the 1-2 Bengals.

The most obvious answer is the health of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Whatever happened with his head injury/not head injury/it's actually a back injury is still lingering, according to Miami. The Dolphins have spoken this week like Tagovailoa isn't a sure thing to play.

If Tagovailoa plays, there are still reasons the Dolphins are underdogs and the line keeps moving the Bengals' way.

Miami is coming off an emotional, challenging win over the Buffalo Bills. They played in 89-degree heat with 63 percent humidity on Sunday. The defense was on the field for an astonishing 90 plays. Even on a full week, coming off those conditions could affect them in the next game. On a short week, it will be tough to rebound.

Also, the Dolphins had their week disrupted. They had to leave Miami early Wednesday to beat Hurricane Ian. When you have just three days to prepare, a change like that can be significant.

So the Dolphins are coming off an emotional win, have heard all week how great they are, they're still recovering from playing in sweltering heat and they had their travel plans changed at the last minute. Oh, and their quarterback is banged up. Other than that, it's an easy week.

They're also facing a Bengals team that is very good but got off to a bad start and has plenty of urgency. They don't want to start 1-3. This is a big turning point game for Cincinnati.

None of it looks good for the Dolphins. They're much improved this season and look like a playoff team. But it will be really impressive if they win at Cincinnati on Thursday. There are a lot of odds against them.

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Linebacker Melvin Ingram (6), cornerback Nik Needham (40) and the Miami Dolphins are coming off a huge win in Week 3. (Peter Joneleit via AP)

Here's a first look at the sports betting slate for Thursday:

If a Bengals pick is predicated on the Dolphins defense being worn out from Sunday, then we need to look at Bengals passing game props. I like Joe Burrow over 272.5 passing yards. I don't figure it will be a blowout; Burrow should be passing for all four quarters. I also prefer Tee Higgins over 64.5 yards to Ja'Marr Chase over 71.5 yards, though I don't mind the over on Chase either. The longer the game remains competitive, the more the Dolphins could wear down. That might open up some opportunities for either receiver, or even Tyler Boyd (41.5 yards) late in the game.

It's hard to look at much else without knowing exactly where Tagovailoa's health stands.

There's one college game on the BetMGM board for Thursday. Utah State plays at BYU and the Cougars are 24.5-point favorites. Hey, we didn't say it was a good college game. But if you don't like the NFL, at least there's other football to bet on.

There are 10 games on the MLB slate, including four in the afternoon. Those who like some midday action will miss those games when they're gone.

The bad part is they're not exactly great games. The one that has playoff implications is the Philadelphia Phillies, still in the final NL wild-card spot, at the Chicago Cubs. The Phillies are -200 favorites. The Baltimore Orioles are still technically alive in the AL wild-card race, and they play at the Boston Red Sox. Baltimore is a +125 underdog.

There aren't a lot of meaningful games at night either, but you'll be watching football anyway.

I liked the Bengals a lot more earlier in the week when they were -3. But -3.5 doesn't scare me off. I think the Dolphins are a good team in a bad situational spot. Unfortunately, oddsmakers and many bettors recognized that early in the week as well. The line did creep back from -4, which is where it sat Wednesday.

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Daily Sweat: Dolphins are good, but may be in some trouble vs. Bengals - Yahoo Sports

Former bantamweight and featherweight champion Eder Jofre, being honored by the WBC at its 2019 convention in Cancun, Mexico, died Sunday at 86 in Brazil. (Photo courtesy of WBC)

Eder Jofre, arguably the greatest Brazilian boxer whose skills and punching power helped land him in the International Boxing Hall of Fame, died Sunday in Brazil after a lengthy illness. He was 86.

Jofre, who competed in the 1956 Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland, is regarded as among the greatest bantamweight champions ever and in 2003 was ranked by The Ring as 85th among the 100 greatest punchers of all time.

He was 72-2-4 with 50 KOs. In one of his draws, on Nov. 5, 1965, against Manny Elias, he won on all three scorecards but since a rule in Brazil mandated that a fighter needed to be leading by at least four points on at least two cards, the bout was ruled a draw.

His only losses were to Fighting Harada in bouts for the WBA and WBC bantamweight titles. Harada won a split decision on May 18, 1965, in Nagoya, Japan. Harada won a unanimous decision by scores of 69-68, 71-68 and 71-69, in the rematch in Tokyo, on May 31, 1966.

The WBC held an amateur tournament Saturday in Brazil named in Jofre's honor. The event featured fighters from Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador and Mexico. He died several hours following its completion.

"He was a warrior," WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Yahoo Sports. "He was a great fighter who competed at a time when the bantamweight division was very important and had so many great fighters. Fighting Harada, Jose Medel. He had so many great fights and he is considered the greatest bantamweight of all time. That era, boxing was so different. They fought 15 rounds and the fighters were so much more active. He was really a great and amazing fighter.

"He was a classic boxer but he had power. His technique was very good and he was aggressive, so he was always fun to watch. He could take a punch, too, and was just tremendous. He was a great boxer and a great guy. This is a big loss."

Jofre retired at 30 years old after the second loss to Harada. He was 47-2-4 at the time. After three years retired, he came back as a featherweight. He reeled off 14 consecutive wins to earn a shot at the WBC featherweight title against Jose Legra in Brasilia, Brazil, on May 5, 1973. Jofre won by majority decision to become the lineal as well as the WBC featherweight champion.

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He wasn't himself as a featherweight and was stripped of the title a year later. He never lost another bout before retiring for good in 1976.

He was an alderman for 16 years in Brazil after he retired and made many public appearances. The WBC honored him at its convention in Cancun, Mexico, in 2019.

"He had been battling [illness] hard for many years, but he was always strong and positive and smiling," said Sulaiman,

Jofre was "extremely close" with Sulaiman's father, Jose Sulaiman. Jose Sulaiman was president of the WBC for many years before his son, Mauricio, succeeded him following his death.

"When he was out in the public, he would start sparring people in a funny kind of way and was always happy and loved to be around boxing people and boxing fans," Mauricio Sulaiman said.

Eder Jofre (R), shown in a 1962 bantamweight title fight in San Francisco, California, with Herman Marquez, died Sunday in Brazil at 86 years old. He is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. (AP Photo)

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Hall of Famer Eder Jofre, legendary bantamweight and featherweight champion, dies at 86 - Yahoo Sports

Warren Buffett is one of the worlds richest people, and widely considered to be among the best investors of all time. So, its no wonder that eager investors closely watch his every trading move.

Those who are paying attention are bound to notice that Buffetts company, Berkshire Hathaway, has been buying up a lot of one stock in particular lately Occidental Petroleum (NYSE: OXY).

Buffett made news earlier this year because Berkshire owned around 20% of Occidental Petroleum. Berkshire has recently gotten permission to own up to 50% of Occidental, and even added to his position earlier this week.

While we cant claim to be inside the head of a billionaire, we can offer a few educated guesses as to whats attracting Buffett to this particular stock. And perhaps these insights will help you think about what you should do with your own money.

6 Unusual Ways Lazy People Are Boosting Their Bank Account

Taking a chance on an energy company is not out of character for Buffett.

Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has been investing in fossil fuel companies for years and it doesnt seem like hes changing his tune anytime soon. For example, Berkshire Hathaway owns a lot of shares in fossil-fuel giant Chevron (NYSE: CVX).

As climate change continues and much of the discourse focuses on renewable energy, its clear that Buffett still believes fossil fuels have us firmly in their grasp.

Incidentally, Occidental says it plans to reach net-zero emissions on its operational and energy use by 2040, or possibly earlier.

One of the ways that Buffett makes successful investment decisions is by going after stocks with prices that are lower than they should be. When looking for a company to invest in, he not only looks at current profitability, but also looks at historical profitability.

Occidental Petroleum has been a very profitable company. In the first quarter of 2022 alone, the company made a profit of $4.7 billion.

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Buffett is well-known for investing in some of the most profitable companies in the world, like Apple and Coca-Cola.

Pro tip: Its hard to build wealth if you are sinking in debt. So, find ways to crush your debts, and use the money you save to invest in your future.

Inflation causes consumers to rein in spending, and that can hurt some stocks. When consumer power is weaker, many companies become less profitable.

Instead of shying away from investments, seasoned professional investors like Buffett look to inflation-friendly stocks they can invest in to help protect and even grow their portfolios.

Buffett is not alone in seeing energy stocks as one of the safest investments during times of high inflation. Energy is a commodity sector that can do well no matter how tight money is, because consumers have to pay for gas to drive their cars and heat to warm their homes.

Buffetts faith in Occidental Petroleum is not just a result of his belief in the continued relevance of fossil fuels. It was also spurred by the performance of Vicki Hollub, Occidentals CEO.

Hollub, who is a mineral engineer by trade, famously impressed Buffett with her management style. After reading a transcript of an earnings recap from the company, Buffett remarked on how impressed he was by Hollubs work, saying that what she was doing as CEO was exactly what Id be doing.

You dont need to be a billionaire to channel Buffetts investment energy. To follow in his footsteps, choose stocks wisely and try not to get pulled into market trends.

We might not all understand why Buffett is investing so much in one company like Occidental Petroleum but he sure does, and thats what matters.

Fully understanding the rationale behind your own investment decisions can improve your odds of moving beyond living paycheck to paycheck as you build lasting wealth.

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There was no way NBA executives couldve predicted the Chicago Bulls-focused docuseries The Last Dance would become so popular, but they approached Steve Kerr about following the 2019 Golden State Warriors as they went for a three-peat.

Kerr, perhaps sensing drama was on the horizon with Kevin Durant approaching free agency, declined to have cameras all around his team for an entire season.

But he wasnt as reluctant on allowing some access for last seasons Warriors, who wound up reclaiming their spot atop the NBA throne. Gold Blooded followed the Warriors journey last season, dating back to training camp.

It debuted on the redesigned and constantly updated NBA app, which was unveiled this week.

It was much less invasive, Kerr told Yahoo Sports as the Warriors headed to Tokyo for two preseason games against the Washington Wizards. It felt fine, the way it all worked out. Its 2022, times are changing and the business sort of demands more access. Fans love it.

Kerr had final say in when and where cameras were allowed, so he had a measure of control in the process. Andre Iguodala, the 2015 Finals MVP, narrates the episodes the first, focusing on how the Warriors were built and the doubts entering the season after the fall from their dynastic days.

There was no way Kerr couldve known the season wouldve played so perfectly, so getting inside even a morsel of the teams psyche would be gold to fans, even making note of how media friendly the Warriors have traditionally been well before their title days.

Its pretty amazing to look behind, Kerr said. Behind-the-scenes stuff, it was really special for fans because they watch all the games and they feel like they get to know the players and coaches, [but] until you really see the behind-the-scenes stuff, you dont have a great idea of whats happening.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr greets fans during the championship parade on June 20, 2022, in San Francisco. (Michael Urakami/Getty Images)

The league has followed suit with other franchises in training camp so far, with the Philadelphia 76ers allowing access and catching head coach Doc Rivers and James Harden in a moment recently Rivers referencing Hardens changing role compared to his days in Houston with the two discussing Hardens read on his teammates.

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We gotta get you in what you want, Rivers told Harden. You cant just say youre a facilitator. Youre a scorer and facilitator. Its gonna take time to figure that out but when it clicks, James, were gonna be unbeatable.

Those intimate moments seem to be the norm with the NBAs look into camps, with Real Training Camp at the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, following head coach Jason Kidd and Luka Doncic.

Its all part of the NBAs refocus into the app, which will include options on betting, simulcasting of radio shows and original content such as these training camps. CrunchTime, which is similar to the NFLs popular RedZone, will zoom in and out of games at critical junctures throughout the evening so fans can get a taste of everything all at once.

And more pointedly to a large segment of fans, the league is opening its vault of archived games, which to date has 500 classic contests. Every Finals game since 2000 is available right now and more will be released as the year goes on.

Before, YouTube was a home for a lot of NBA content fans often uploaded through the years. Now, it seems the league is finally taking an active role in promoting its history.

Kerr, with nine championship rings as a player and coach, is already a huge part of that history and will have to motivate his team in a different way this season.

Its a different approach. Last year, we didnt know we could do it given all the changes our team had been through, injuries and stuff, Kerr told Yahoo Sports. But then we did it. And so now we have the confidence that we can do it again. The motivation is trying to get back-to-back [championships], which is something that is extremely rare. We did it once here, 17 and 18. But we got guys who are highly motivated. Love to win, hate to lose. And theyre excited for the season.

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How the Warriors' 2022 championship journey is a part of something new - Yahoo Sports

As you likely heard, a court in Baltimore recently set Adnan Syed free. For many of us who listened to the first season of the podcast Serial way back in 2014 and learned of the tale of Adnans odd murder conviction, it seemed like justice was finally served.

Serial was fascinating for another reason as well: The show launched podcasting into the stratosphere.

Certainly the lone advertiser at the beginning of that season, MailChimp, never expected to be part of a cultural phenomenon, but undoubtedly it washappy it was. To date, the first two seasons of Serial have been downloaded wait for it 340 million times.

And that just got things started. To say podcasts are hot now would be an understatement. Consider these stats from Edison Research:

Each week, more Americans listen to podcasts than have Netflix accounts: In 2021, 80 million Americans [were] weekly podcast listeners. There are now 10 million more weekly podcast listeners than the 69 Netflix account owners in the U.S.

Podcast listeners have grown almost 30% in the past 3 Years

Podcast listeners tune in an average of 8 shows per week

Apple releases AirPods Pro '2.': Our review: New earbuds are a perfect fit for iPhone users.

Were people eating NyQuil chicken?: Viral challenge was the latest internet lore

Bottom line: Podcasting works, is popularand is only getting more so. It gets your name, business and brand out thereand it does so in a way that is unique and memorable, which is very difficult to do in this media-saturated world.

For the small business, this is great news because podcasting is a powerful andaffordable way to attract new clients and customers. Specifically, there are two ways to use podcasts to grow your business.

Lets look at both.

There areplenty of good reasons to do so:

It builds the brand. With so many people listening to podcasts today, hosting a show can help establish you as a thought leader and thus is a great way to get you and/or your business in front of a whole new audience.

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image: Ap Maryland Serial Podcast A Usa Md

Adnan Syed, center, leaves the Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Baltimore. A judge has ordered the release of Syed after overturning his conviction for a 1999 murder that was chronicled in the hit podcast Serial.

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It is an excellent way to network.That same Edison Research survey states that podcast listeners listen to an entire show 85% of the time. Where else do you get someones uninterrupted online attention 85% of the time? Right, nowhere. Moreover, ifyour show is one where you would interview industry expertsthen that is a powerful way to, well, meet industry experts.

Its easy and affordable.There are two ways to launch and run a podcast.You can either do it yourself, or hire someone to help you. Both are pretty easy and affordable.

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Adnan Syed, center, leaves the Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Baltimore. A judge has ordered the release of Syed after overturning his conviction for a 1999 murder that was chronicled in the hit podcast Serial.

Lets start with the latter first. This is how I did my old podcast. I had a great podcast producer who booked guests and did all the tech stuff. We record the show and interviews in his studio, he edited itand then uploaded it to iTunes, my site, Stitcherand so on.

The other way to go is DIY. Here, you need to choose the right app that works for you, invest in some basic sound equipment (like a great mic)and start recording. Your options are:

Anchor.fm

Garage Band (on a Mac)

Adobe Audition

Audacity

I love this option too, in fact, almost more, because it is just so potent. If the good news of podcasting is that it is so popular, the bad news is that it isso popular. Launching your own show and getting noticed is doable, yes, but it takes time and effort.

In the alternative, you can simply find a show that caters to your audience and advertise there. That show has already done all the heavy lifting, and yet, because it is such a niche audience, the fees should be very reasonable.

So no, you will likely not become the next MailChimp on the next Serial, but who cares? Podcasting is the future.

Steve Strauss is a popular speaker, attorney, and the bestselling author of 18 books, including his latest, "Your Small Business Boom." Recently named by SCORE as the top small-business champion in the country, you can learn more about Steve and theStrauss Group atMrAllBiz.com, get more tips atPlanet Small Businessand connect with himon Twitter at@SteveStraussand onFacebook atPlanetSmallBusiness.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why podcasts could be the next big thing for your small business

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Why podcast marketing could be the next big thing for your small business - Yahoo Finance

Conventional clothing norms say you shouldn't wear white after Labor Day. Fashion icon Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals don't care about your conventions. When they face off against the Miami Dolphins on "Thursday Night Football," they'll be doing it in style, debuting their "White Bengal" uniforms. I'm a sucker for slick threads, but hope to be sharp tonight with these three player props I'm digging on BetMGM:

One thing the Dolphins defense has in common with actual dolphins is that neither of them have legs. Miami's D played 90 snaps against the Bills in hot, humid weather just four days ago, running around the field for two-thirds of the game as Buffalo amassed 497 total yards of offense. When the Thursday night lights come on, expect a lot of clear eyes, dead legs, can't move from a Dolphins unit giving up the second-most passing yards per game (310) and ranked 28th in QB rating allowed.

Joe Brrr has hit this prop in eight of his last nine home games, including each of his last five.

With Miami cornerback Xavien Howard likely to shadow Ja'Marr Chase, we'll turn to Cincinnati's other dominant receiver. Higgins was concussed in the second quarter of the Bengals' season opener, but has bounced back with 17 targets over his last two games, cashing this prop in each of them. The third-year wideout has recorded at least 71 receiving yards in eight of his last 12 contests.

Defenses haven't had to chase Edmonds much, as he hasn't been on the field. After playing 63% of offensive snaps and handling 12 carries for a pedestrian 25 yards in Week 1, Edmonds has been ceding work to backfield colleague Raheem Mostert. Edmonds played on 51% of offensive snaps in Week 2 and 44% in Week 3, totaling 11 carries to Mostert's 19 totes. Miami has only run the ball on 34.7% of offensive plays this season, while Cincinnati's defense ranks seventh in yards per carry allowed (3.7) and fifth in success rate versus the run.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has passed for at least 275 yards in eight of his last nine home games. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)

Stats provided by Pro Football Reference, teamrankings.com, CBS Sports, and rbsdm.com.

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NFL player props: Joe Burrow is primed to cool off the Dolphins - Yahoo Sports