bmy88 games free LAS VEGAS — Players Era Festival organizers have done what so many other have tried — bet their fortunes in this city that a big payoff is coming. Such bet are usually bad ones, which is why so many massive casino-resorts have been built on Las Vegas Boulevard. But it doesn't mean the organizers are wrong. They're counting on the minimum of $1 million in guaranteed name, image and likeness money that will go to each of the eight teams competing in the neutral-site tournament that begins Tuesday will create a precedent for other such events. EverWonder Studios CEO Ian Orefice, who co-founded Players with former AND1 CEO Seth Berger, compared this event to last year's inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament that played its semifinals and final in Las Vegas by saying it "did really well to reinvigorate the fan base at the beginning of the year." "We're excited that we're able to really change the paradigm in college basketball on the economics," Orefice said. "But for us, it's about the long term. How do we use the momentum that is launching with the 2024 Players Era Festival and be the catalyst not to change one event, but to change college basketball for the future." Orefice and Berger didn't disclose financial details, but said the event will come close to breaking even this year and that revenue is in eight figures. Orefice said the bulk of the revenue will come from relationships with MGM, TNT Sports and Publicis Sport & Entertainment as well as sponsors that will be announced later. Both organizers said they are so bullish on the tournament's prospects that they already are planning ahead. Money made from this year's event, Orefice said, goes right back into the company. "We're really in this for the long haul," Orefice said. "So we're not looking at it on a one-year basis." Rick Giles is president of the Gazelle Group, which also operates several similar events, including the College Basketball Invitational. He was skeptical the financial numbers would work. Giles said in addition to more than $8 million going to the players, there were other expenses such as the guarantees to the teams. He said he didn't know if the tournament would make up the difference with ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorship money. The top bowl of the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be curtained off. "The math is highly challenging," Giles said. "Attendance and ticket revenues are not going to come anywhere close to covering that. They haven't announced any sponsors that I'm aware of. So it all sort of rests with their media deal with Turner and how much capital they want to commit to it to get these players paid." David Carter, a University of Southern California adjunct professor who also runs the Sports Business Group consultancy, said even if the Players isn't a financial success this year, the question is whether there will be enough interest to move forward. "If there is bandwidth for another tournament and if the TV or the streaming ratings are going to be there and people are going to want to attend and companies are going to want to sponsor, then, yeah, it's probably going to work," Carter said. "But it may take them time to gain that traction." Both founders said they initially were met with skepticism about putting together such an event, especially from teams they were interested in inviting. Houston was the first school to commit, first offering an oral pledge early in the year and then signing a contract in April. That created momentum for others to join, and including the No. 6 Cougars, half the field is ranked. "We have the relationships to operate a great event," Berger said. "We had to get coaches over those hurdles, and once they knew that we were real, schools got on board really quickly." The founders worked with the NCAA to make sure the tournament abided by that organization's rules, so players must appear at ancillary events in order to receive NIL money. Strict pay for play is not allowed, though there are incentives for performance. The champion, for example, will receive $1.5 million in NIL money. Now the pressure is on to pull off the event and not create the kind of headlines that can dog it for years to come. "I think everybody in the marketplace is watching what's going to happen (this) week and, more importantly, what happens afterwards," Giles said. "Do the players get paid on a timely basis? And if they do, that means that Turner or somebody has paid way more than the market dictates? And the question will be: Can that continue?" CREIGHTON: P oint guard Steven Ashworth likely won’t play in the No. 21 Bluejays’ game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday and coach Greg McDermott said afterward he didn’t know how long he would be out. Get local news delivered to your inbox!Two-Nation theory and its significance for Pakistan today It was Jinnah alone who possessed vision, determination, and ability to achieve what others deemed impossible Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a leader destined for greatness, steadfastly adhering to his principles and beliefs. This unwavering commitment earned him admiration as a resolute visionary among his supporters and criticism as a rigid figure among his detractors. Pakistan was the product of his imagination and determination-a creation that seemed inconceivable not only to the British, the Indian National Congress (INC), and other Hindu leaders but also to many Muslims and members of the All-India Muslim League. Yet, it was Jinnah alone who possessed the vision, determination, and ability to achieve what others deemed impossible. Pakistan was not established on traditional grounds such as geography, ethnicity, language, or race. Instead, it was founded on the principles of religious identity and minority rights. Jinnah’s lifelong advocacy for minorities, particularly Muslims, culminated in his success in carving out a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent. This vision was clearly articulated in his landmark speech on August 11, 1947, where he declared: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, mosques, or any place of worship. We are all citizens and equal citizens of this state.” Jinnah’s dedication to minority rights, especially Muslim rights, guided South Asia towards the creation of a separate Muslim state, Pakistan. His pivotal role in the Lucknow Pact of 1916 demonstrated his ability to unite opposing factions and secure crucial concessions for Muslims in South Asia. This agreement not only brought the Muslim League into the political mainstream but also established Jinnah as a leader of extraordinary political acumen. Another significant aspect of Jinnah’s leadership was his expertise in constitution-making, a skill recognised even by his opponents. The Indian National Congress acknowledged this by inviting him to contribute to drafting India’s future constitution. Jinnah further demonstrated his proficiency through the historic Fourteen Points. Many of these points were not only accepted by the British and incorporated into the Government of India Act of 1935 but also influenced the constitutions of both India and Pakistan. The Fourteen Points clearly articulated the demands and aspirations of Muslims of the subcontinent while addressing the concerns of other minorities in British India. Jinnah’s vision included key proposals such as Sindh’s separation as a province-a pivotal step in Pakistan’s eventual establishment-and political reforms in NWFP and Balochistan, which empowered the long-neglected populations of these regions. Additionally, he emphasised the principle that any constitutional change should require the approval of three-fourths of the affected group. Each point underscored Jinnah’s political foresight and deep understanding of the needs of the subcontinent’s diverse communities. Jinnah assumed leadership of the All-India Muslim League at a critical juncture in history. The Indian National Congress (INC) had secured a majority in the 1937 elections, while the League struggled to win even in Muslim-majority areas. Despite these challenges, Jinnah guided the League through one of its darkest periods, using every available means to establish its prominence. He addressed large gatherings, wrote extensively in newspapers, and met with influential figures and common citizens alike, transforming the League into the final hope for the Muslims of the subcontinent. Jinnah’s tireless efforts culminated in a revolutionary shift in South Asian politics, epitomised by the adoption of the Pakistan Resolution in 1940. While other politicians, such as Raja Gopal Achari, had proposed ideas for independence from British rule, the Pakistan Resolution marked a decisive direction for the League and the Muslim community under Jinnah’s leadership. Critics sought to discredit Jinnah as a traitor, accusing him of demanding a “Country within a country.” However, his call for Pakistan was not rooted merely in political strategy but in the natural and urgent need for a peaceful and prosperous future for the Muslims of the subcontinent. The 1940s, an era of the ongoing war, made it evident to the British that their rule in India was nearing its end. So they started devising a plan to maintain influence and hegemony in India even after formally relinquishing its control. Proposals like the Cripps Mission of 1942 aimed at to retain a semblance of British authority, but Jinnah consistently demanded complete sovereignty, refusing any arrangement that would perpetuate subservience to white supremacy. Jinnah was also deeply conscious of the future leadership of Muslims. He vehemently opposed any arrangement that allowed the Congress to represent Muslims, not even through its Muslim members. He believed that identities such as national or ethnic-promoted by Congress or regional factions like Bengal-were insufficient to safeguard Muslims’ rights. For this reason, he rejected the Congress’ proposal at the Simla Conference to share Muslim seats, suggesting four representatives from the League and one from Congress. History testifies that no one in the League could match Jinnah’s steadfast adherence to the ideology of the Two-Nation Theory, which posited Muslims and Hindus as distinct nations. Jinnah resisted any dilution of the Muslim identity, even when it antagonised the British, who were reluctant to accept the creation of a state rooted in religion, specifically Islam. Jinnah’s unparalleled leadership was the cornerstone of the Pakistan Movement. Without him, the creation of Pakistan might have been possible, but when, where, and how it would have materialised remains unimaginable.

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As the year draws to a close, Wall Street is embracing the holiday spirit with a stock market Santa rally that has seen substantial gains across major indexes. The S&P 500 increased by 1.1%, the Nasdaq Composite by 1.4% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average by 0.9%. These absolute gains are the beginning of the traditional stock market Santa rally, a five-day period of trading taking place around the end of December and the first two days of January. Investors are hopeful, encouraged even, by the exuberance of the tech world, particularly, by the top performer, Nvidia. With markets winding down for the Christmas break, the holiday rally has provided a welcome boost to portfolios, bringing stocks back on course toward record highs after a dip earlier this month. As New Year’s Eve draws near, the stock market Santa rally could set the stage for a very active 2025. Table of Contents What is Stock Market Santa Rally? Tech Stocks Lead the Charge Wall Street Reflects on the Fed’s Next Move Market Outlook for 2025 What is Stock Market Santa Rally? In the discussed context, “Stock Market Santa Rally” refers to the historical tendency of stock market gains occurring during the last days of December, between Christmas and New Year’s, that often spill over into the first few days of January. This period is often characterized by higher market optimism, which is influenced by factors such as increased investor confidence, year-end portfolio adjustments, and holiday-season spending. Much of the rally is usually facilitated by performing sectors such as technology; investors always bet on reaping last-minute gains that would propel this year before the calendar hits the New Year. Into 2024, that rally came with considerable leaps in leading major stock market indices driven by stocks including Nvidia-technology which added a fillip to investors’ morale going into the new year. Tech Stocks Lead the Charge The driving force behind the ongoing stock market rally has been tech, specifically, Nvidia platters. One of the industry’s most admired companies for its market position in AI chips, Nvidia has been a keystone in pushing this recent wave. The company’s stock gained by 3.5% in a day as a result of its exceptional 2024. Nvidia in particular has achieved strong year-to-date (180% growth, prompting many to question if this momentum can be maintained going into 2025. Among the other large tech companies, Tesla, Arm Holdings, and Broadcom have also been among the biggest gainers in the stock market rallying with significant gains. As these companies continue to perform well, they provide the foundation for broader market optimism. The Santa rally is a period where investors traditionally realign capital, often in directions related to sectors in growth orientation. Wall Street Reflects on the Fed’s Next Move Even with this momentum, there are shadows looming on the horizon. On Wall Street, the Federal Reserve’s next move on interest rates is anticipated wondering. Because inflation is still higher than the Fed’s 2% target, investors are “looking forward” to the Fed’s action in the economy in 2025. A lot of analysts are putting their money on steadiness at the first two meetings of the year, with cuts possible in May, if inflation trends continue in that direction. These issues do not, however, beget weakness in the stock market Santa rally, but instead set the stage for an investor’s expectation going into the new year. There is potential for additional savings in rate (if not action) in order to be a driver of further market increase, but inflation is a factor. If inflation is not easy to tame, the Fed’s actions between now and the coming months will have an important bearing on the timescale of the rally. Market Outlook for 2025 Moving forward, the Santa rally is also a reason to think it will still be a stellar year for equities in 2025. However, challenges remain. We also observed, not too long ago this year, that the pressure exerted by inflation and decisions of the Fed on interest rates could have a significant impact on stock market performance. Investors in particular will be highly sensitive to policy shifts and economic indicators leading up to the new year. Yet, some early potency of the rally, especially in technology, suggests that 2025 will also be on a fashionably late 2024 uptrend. Leading the way, industry giants Nvidia and Tesla are only just the tip of an incredible year’s market in fact. The stock market Santa rally has again become strong as a gift for investors during the Christmas season. With the technology sector continuing to be one of the pillars of the market rally and the market’s reawakening after a period of weakness, the landscape is open to a solid end to 2024. In the meantime, as Wall Street is revisiting 2025 inflation and interest rate assumptions, the continuation of the rally remains a major source of worry for investors. Under what conditions there shall be a multiple meltdown of Santa rally for New Year rally effect is dependent on responses of the market to macro-economic phenomena and Federal Reserve policy in the next few quarters. Also, see: IPO Allotment Status: Investors Await Five Big Allotments Today

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