inevitable

From Jack Harris: From the outside, the Dodgers know the easy narrative to their season.

About how, after beginning the campaign with the highest expectations imaginable, they spent much of the year failing to live up to the hype.

How, during what was already a dismal second-half slump, they seemed to reach rock bottom when they squandered a no-hitter and three-run lead in a stunning ninth-inning loss in Baltimore last month.

How, in the six weeks since, they’ve looked like a rejuvenated and refocused club, following that nightmarish defeat with a 15-5 finish to the regular season and torrid march through October — going 9-1 en route to a National League pennant and return trip to the World Series, which will begin with Game 1 on Friday night.

In hindsight, however, the Dodgers also insist the story isn’t that simple.

The peaks and valleys of this season, they felt, were never as extreme as they appeared.

Continue reading here

Nine concerns the Dodgers should have about facing the Blue Jays in the World Series

How Dodgers are navigating their World Series bye week: ‘Keep sharpening your skills’

Here’s how to see the Dodgers in the World Series in person without a ticket

Blue Jays defeat Mariners in ALCS, setting up World Series showdown with Dodgers

MLB POSTSEASON SCHEDULE, RESULTS

All times Pacific

ALCS
Seattle vs. Toronto
Seattle 3, at Toronto 1 (box score)
Seattle 10, at Toronto 3 (box score)
Toronto 13, at Seattle 4 (box score)
Toronto 8, at Seattle 2 (box score)
at Seattle 6, Toronto 2 (box score)
at Toronto 6, Seattle 2 (box score)
at Toronto 4, Seattle 3 (box score)

World Series

Dodgers vs. Toronto
Friday at Toronto, 5 p.m., Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

Saturday at Toronto, 5 p.m., Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

Monday at Dodgers, 5 p.m., Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Dodgers, Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

*Wed., Oct. 29 at Dodgers, Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

*Friday, Oct. 31 at Toronto, Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

*Saturday, Nov. 1 at Toronto, Fox, AM 570, KTNQ 1020, ESPN Radio

*-if necessary

LAKERS

From Thuc Nhi Nguyen: Screens in the practice facility display the Lakers’ three mantras. JJ Redick repeats them on a loop. Players have started to parrot them as well.

“Championship habits. Championship communication. Championship shape.”

From the team’s three points of focus to the black “obsession” T-shirts designed by general manager Rob Pelinka, winning the Lakers’ 18th title is task No. 1 in Redick’s second season in charge.

Here are five story lines after training camp as the team opens the regular season Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors:

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With LeBron James out, Lakers lean on Luka Doncic to open season

Luka Doncic expecting tough test vs. Stephen Curry and Warriors without LeBron

The new NBA TV deal begins Tuesday. Where are my games?

LeBron James is off the hook for $865.66 as fan calls off ‘Second Decision’ lawsuit

CLIPPERS

The Clippers made an offseason push with a win-now perspective, adding a pair of former All-Stars in the backcourt and a pair of veterans up front, plus a promising 6-foot-11 rookie center.

The two areas of concern for the Clippers as they again take aim for the playoffs — and the hopes of advancing past the first round for the first time since their trip to the Western Conference finals in 2021 — are age and chemistry. When they open the season Wednesday against the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City, the Clippers likely will have the oldest team in the league with an average age of 33.2 years. By contrast, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the title last season at an average age of 24.7 years.

Can coach Tyronn Lue fit all the pieces of the puzzle together?

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RAMS

From Gary Klein: As the Rams begin their off week feeling good about themselves, opposing defensive coordinators have to be experiencing a slight sense of dread.

The Rams’ on Sunday defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and improved to 5-2 without injured star receiver Puka Nacua, using the opportunity to fully showcase their developing weapons.

None more so than rookie receiver Konata Mumpfield and rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson.

Mumpfield caught the first of Matthew Stafford’s five touchdown passes, a five-yard play that put the Rams in the lead.

Mumpfield, a seventh-round draft pick from Pittsburgh, said he “prayed in college and high school to learn from” a player such as teammate Davante Adams, the three-time All-Pro who caught three touchdown passes.

“It’s kind of, like, amazing,” Mumpfield said. “Every time you step out there, you’re like, dang, you’re out there with a Hall of Famer and a guy that you watched. And just how he approaches the game and how cerebral he is with his technique and everything.”

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THIS DAY IN SPORTS HISTORY

1950 — Tom Powers of Duke scores six touchdowns — three rushing, three receiving — in a 41-0 victory over Richmond.

1956 — Billy Howton of the Green Bay Packers catches seven passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-17 victory over the Rams.

1961 — Eddie Arcaro wins the Jockey Club Gold Cup for a record 10th time. His mount, Kelso, wins his second straight Gold Cup.

1967 — The expansion Seattle SuperSonics win their first NBA game, a 117-110 overtime victory over San Diego.

1973 — Fred Dryer of the Rams becomes the first NFL player to record two safeties in a 24-7 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

1979 — Chicago Bulls guard Sam Smith scores the first 4-point play in NBA history during a 113-111 loss to the Bucks at Milwaukee.

2006 — Michigan State rallies from a 35-point, third-quarter deficit to beat Northwestern 41-38 in the biggest comeback in NCAA Division I-A history. Brett Swenson kicks the winning 28-yard field goal with 13 seconds left following an interception by Travis Key.

2007 — Rob Bironas kicks an NFL-record eight field goals, the last a 29-yarder with no time left to give Tennessee a 38-36 win over Houston. Bironas adds two extra points to set the NFL record for most points by a kicker, with 26. The Texans, trailing 32-7, survive backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels’ four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter. Rosenfels’ fourth touchdown pass, a 53-yarder to Andre’ Davis to put Houston up 36-35 with 57 seconds to play, ties an NFL record.

2007 — New England’s Tom Brady passes for 354 yards and a team-record six touchdowns in a 49-28 victory over Miami.

2012 — Tamika Catchings scores 25 points to help the Indiana Fever win their first WNBA title with an 87-78 victory over the Minnesota Lynx.

2017 — Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov extend their season-opening points streaks to nine games, sending the Tampa Bay Lightning past the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-1.

Compiled by the Associated Press

THIS DAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

1975 — Carlton Fisk breaks up a thrilling contest with a homer in the 12th inning to give the Boston Red Sox a 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and force a seventh game in the World Series.

1980 — The Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series for the first time in their 98-year history, defeating the Kansas City Royals 4-1 in six games.

1998 — The New York Yankees win 3-0 at San Diego, sweeping the Padres for their record 24th World Series championship.

2006 — Two rookie pitchers start the World Series for the first time. Anthony Reyes pitches into the ninth inning to help St. Louis cruise past Detroit and Justin Verlander 7-2 in Game 1.

2015 — Daniel Murphy and the New York Mets finish a playoff sweep of the Chicago Cubs with an 8-3 victory to reach the World Series. Murphy homers for a record sixth consecutive postseason game.

Until next time…

That concludes today’s newsletter. If you have any feedback, ideas for improvement or things you’d like to see, email me at [email protected]. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

THE Chancellor has been dealt another setback after borrowing hit the highest level in five years, making Budget tax rises “inevitable”.

The Government borrowed more money than expected last month, at £18billion, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This was £3.5billion more than in August 2024.

1

The interest on Government debt soared by £1.9billion to £8.4billion, which added to higher spending on benefits and public services.

This offset any boost from the National Insurance Contributions hike, the ONS said.

It marked the highest August borrowing since 2020, significantly overshooting the £12.8billion expected by economists.

The level of government borrowing was £5.5billion higher than the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast in March.

Meanwhile, borrowing for the first five months of the financial year hit £83.8billion.

This was £16.2billion higher than the same period last year and well ahead of the OBR’s £72.4billion prediction.

Martin Beck, chief economist at WPI Strategy, said: “The £10billion buffer the Chancellor pencilled in against her key fiscal rule in March has almost certainly gone.

“That means tax rises in November look inevitable.”

James Murray, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, insisted the Government “has a plan to bring down borrowing because taxpayer money should be spent on the country’s priorities, not on debt interest”.

He added: “Our focus is on economic stability, fiscal responsibility, ripping up needless red tape, tearing out waste from our public services, driving forward reforms and putting more money in working people’s pockets.”

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Nvidia (NVDA -2.78%) is the most valuable company in the world, with a market cap of around $4.1 trillion. Every time it faces adversity, the stock finds a way to go higher.

Early this year, investors were rattled by news of a budget-friendly AI model, DeepSeek R1, developed in China. This raised doubts about the necessity of large investments in Nvidia’s next-generation chips, ultimately causing a drop in the company’s stock price. Then there were the concerns around tariffs in early April, which resulted in the stock hitting its lowest levels this year, falling to below $100.

However, time and time again, Nvidia’s stock has proven to be resilient, and it has continued to rise higher. It would need to rise by another 22% to hit yet another milestone: $5 trillion in market cap. Are there any factors that could hinder Nvidia’s progress, or is it just a matter of time before it reaches that value?

Image source: Getty Images.

Nvidia’s growth rate expected to remain above 50%

Last week, Nvidia posted its latest earnings numbers, and demand remained strong for its cutting-edge AI chips. Its revenue rose by 56% year over year, totaling $46.7 billion for the period ending July 27. That was slightly better than analyst expectations of just over $46 billion. And adjusted per-share profits of $1.05 were also higher than estimates of $1.01.

But what’s most encouraging for investors is that the guidance also looks good, as Nvidia still expects to see its growth rate to be above 50% for the current quarter. Although its growth rate is slowing down, that’s still incredibly impressive for a business of Nvidia’s size.

NVDA Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts.

Has Nvidia’s valuation finally gotten too high?

Year to date, Nvidia’s stock has risen by about 25% (as of Sept. 2). It’s trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of around 50, which isn’t cheap, but it still may not be all that expensive given the company’s incredibly fast growth rate. And based on analyst estimates, it’s trading at a forward P/E multiple of 38.

Nvidia’s stock price has effectively become a gauge of how much growth potential investors see for AI in general. News of the DeepSeek AI model hurt its valuation temporarily, as did tariff-related news back in April, which affected the stock market as a whole. Given the robust demand anticipated for AI chips, I believe Nvidia, even at its current price, could still climb higher and be a worthwhile investment.

However, if there are any concerns or rumblings that tech companies are cutting back on AI investments, investors who are sitting on big gains may be eager to cash out, which could lead to a decline in Nvidia’s value, at least in the short term.

When might Nvidia hit $5 trillion?

I believe it’s only a matter of time before Nvidia hits a $5 trillion market cap, considering the enormous potential of AI and its likely dominance in the AI chip market for the foreseeable future. But I wouldn’t expect it to reach $5 trillion this year or even within the next 12 months. It could take multiple years, as the stock’s high valuation, combined with uncertainty in the markets due to tariffs and trade wars, may limit its near-term returns.

That’s clear from the stock’s latest earnings beat. Even though Nvidia did well and its guidance was strong, the stock hasn’t been taking off. Investors are clearly thinking about the longer-term picture, including its slowing growth, and what lies ahead. Nvidia still looks to be a solid buy for the long term, but there could be some challenges ahead for it in the short term.

We are midway through summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and we are witnessing another severe wildfire season. In May, wildfires were burning throughout Russia’s Far East. Last month, wildfires broke out throughout Turkiye, Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria. Fires continue in Portugal, France and Spain. In Canada, the blazes have not stopped since April.

Satellite data show that fires burn on average about 4 million square kilometres (1.5 million square miles) of the planet’s surface each year, including forests. And the number of wildfires is expected to increase by 50 percent by the end of the century.

There are two main reasons for the rise in wildfires.

First, the changing climate is driving protracted and frequent heatwaves and droughts that dry out forests, providing an immediate source of tinder and fuel. In a self-perpetuating cycle, wildfires themselves then billow carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing further to the climate crisis. Fires emitted an estimated 6,199 megatonnes of carbon dioxide globally in 2024.

Second, the way we live and use land today means we are increasingly encroaching on forests and elevating the risk of wildfires. Many of these fires are started by humans for different reasons – such as carelessness and clearing land for agriculture and settlements. And urban infrastructure is edging closer to nature, increasing the danger that fire poses to human lives.

There is no doubt that the costs of wildfires for people and the planet are immense. Wildfires destroy property, crops, businesses and livelihoods and can be especially devastating for developing countries.

But not all fires are bad.

Fires have been part of the Earth’s ecosystem for hundreds of millions of years, occurring naturally on every continent except Antarctica. They can help generate and stimulate the replenishment of ecosystems. They can clear away the layers of litter on the forest floor and add nutrients to the soil, allowing new shoots to grow that provide food for birds and animals. For some plant species, seeds even depend on fires to germinate.

Conducting controlled fires – often during cooler months – is a vital way for people to prevent destructive wildfires before they begin.

For many Indigenous peoples, prescribed burning has been an integral part of land management for millennia, helping to curb dangerous wildfires, encouraging ecological diversity and procuring food by promoting new growth and attracting grazing game animals.

A recent study into the return of Indigenous fire burning in Australia’s Kimberley region showed that the annual massive wildfires in the region had reduced to once-in-a-decade events since the practice was reintroduced by the traditional owners of the land.

The use of fire for sustainable resource management is also one of the recommendations that the organisation I work for, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is recommending as part of its integrated fire management approach.

Other preventive measures against wildfires are also needed, and community engagement is a key strategy. The practical experience and knowledge held in communities must shape integrated fire management strategies and policies from the ground up. This is essential. Actively engaging communities in decision-making, leveraging local knowledge and practices, and building capacity for fire prevention, preparedness and control can reduce wildfire risks and build long-term resilience.

Another layer of defence is fire early-warning systems. By incorporating drought indices, local traditional knowledge of weather and climatic influences, such systems predict fire-danger conditions and help with planning well before the wildfire season.

Some fires are simply inevitable, however, and having better monitoring mechanisms to detect fires and an appropriate fire extinguishing capacity at the ready is necessary if we are to contain wildfires before they become dangerous. In this way, suppression action can happen before fires grow beyond the possibility of containment. Certain countries already do an excellent job of fire monitoring, but the practice is yet to become standard in others.

Maintaining biodiversity and diverse landscapes – rather than monotonous, fire-prone, human-created landscapes – can also reduce the risk of fire spreading and causing damage and loss.

People must learn to live harmoniously with nature, not simply bend it to their will. That means inappropriate development in fire-prone ecosystems must be discouraged, given that the building of new infrastructure adjacent to wild spaces may play a central role in causing wildfires.

These strategies may sound onerous, but they take up far fewer resources, not to mention fewer lives, than battling uncontrollable wildfires.

With the right measures, humans can coexist with fire.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.