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The Houston Dynamo has been making some impressive strides in the season break after making a promising splash in the market at this point, bringing in Exon Arzu with a promising contract that will see him through the 2026 season, which also includes team options starting in 2027 all the way through 2029. Arzu brings in a promising boost on the offensive end with his attacking talent, which should help the Dynamo come up with impressive runs.

Sitting sixth overall in the Western Conference, Houston Dynamo is just three wins behind the fourth spot held by the Colorado Rapids as of the time of writing. The team has struggled to keep a winning record as their 10-7-7 tally before the second half of the season began. Adding Arzu gives them a different blend in the competition with the hopes of reigniting their offensive end.

Arzu is expected to take on the coming games for the Dynamo in the next set of games this August. One should say that Arzu is going to play a huge role on the offensive end thanks to his impressive dribbling and ability to take on a central role in the squad.

A Worthy Signing

Arzu was transferred to the team before the MLS Secondary Transfer Window closed last week. It is worth noting that the Honduran youth international is not occupying an international roster slot for the team thanks to his green card. He does, however, occupy the U22 Initiative spot as a Season-Ending Injury Replacement Player in the team.

In his time with Real Espana, Arzu scored only one goal in 23 appearances, but he did represent Honduras in the previous 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Arzu joined the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Dynamo 2 on loan before the 2024 season began, scoring three goals in all nine appearances – which he started. The forward has been on the injury list since last May and has not played a game ever since.

"Exon is another positive example of our club providing professional opportunities for some of the most talented young players in Central and South America," general manager Pat Onstad said in a release.

Having Arzu on their squad without losing the international spot means a lot for Houston, and one can say that they will have a chance to sign another player who can fill in the gaps in the squad so far.

A Fitting Player in the Field

Arzu’s market value has been impressive so far, and that was in 2023 when he was already set at €125k. The Honduras youngster is known well for playing efficiently at the center-forward position but also shuffles to the right midfield position so far. It is expected that Arzu will have a bigger role on the offensive end for the Dynamo, where he has been praised by Onstad for his impressive fit with the team so far.

"He is an explosive and tenacious winger with the ability to change games with his pace and aggressiveness to goal,” Onstad said of Arzu’s fit with the team so far. “While he is still recovering from an injury suffered earlier this season, we wanted to utilize our Season-Ending Injury roster spot before the close of the transfer window to commit to his continued development in Houston."

Arzu has no timetable for his return just yet, but fans hope to see him back on the field as soon as possible and hopefully bring a promising burst for the team soon.

Juan Soto and Aaron Judge are showing off with some of the incredible performances in the season, and it cannot be denied that they are lifting the New York Yankees when it matters most as they continue to hammer opposing clubs with one big hit after another. The Yankees are staying on par with the Baltimore Orioles to keep hold of the top spot in AL East.

If the critics are watching right now, they would definitely be speechless now more than ever. It has been a show of dominance for the Yankees, led by Soto and Judge. Sure, they have split their recent series against the White Sox and the Tigers, and now even against the Guardians, it does seem that they can still stay in the race.

Thanks to a promising break from Soto and Judge, it does seem that the Yankees have a chance to secure their best finish in the season. To do that, however, they will need to go toe-to-toe against the Orioles while ensuring that they stay on par with their record heading to the end of the season.

Grinding in the Final Months of the Season

As of the time of writing, the New York Yankees stand with a 73-53 record in the season, which is just half a game behind the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot in the AL East. The team has seen some tough struggles throughout the season, but they have also seen some majestic performances from their star duo of Soto and Judge, who have been drilling massive hits in their games so far.

As the struggles continue to topple on top of one another for the Yankees, it does seem that the team is in dire need of putting up their best game if they are going to end up with a clear chance at the playoff stage once more. So far, the best thing that the Yankees have done in the past few years has been a wild card berth in the 2021 season, and the rest of the campaigns have ended in disappointment so far.

The last time the Yankees won the World Series was back in 2009, which is also the same year that they have last earned an AL Pennant so far. That just says a lot about how the team is expected to make the most of their chance this year with a winning record and deliver a strong finish now more than ever.

A Fearsome Pair of Bats

We have seen the duo of Albert Pujols and Jim Edmonds (2004) back then and recently the duo of Mookie Betts and JD Martinez (2018) take over the recent years as batter combos with at least 165 or better OPS+. There hasn’t been any better duo of hitters in the game right now aside from Soto and Judge, and that does seem to be the bankable hope that the team is holding on to right now.

As the Yankees try to take on the Guardians – one of the best teams in the league right now – it is expected that Soto and Judge will have to carry the scoring load for the team if they are going to come up with a massive victory that will see their stake at the AL East’s top spot, but it remains to be seen how far they can go at this point in the campaign.

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith believes that the 2024 NFL preseason should not cause panic or disorder among fans of the team despite the tough losses that the team has suffered in the first two games of the run. But should fans really take his word and trust in their team right now?

Smith is not overreacting to the poor performances that the Steelers have done in the first two games of the preseason. That 9-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills was a show of poor executions and lack of decisiveness on the coaching staff. A lot of it can be blamed on the players, but Smith also takes the heat of those poor performances as well. It just seems that things aren’t improving well under the new offensive coordinator to begin the 2024 run – at least in the preseason.

The preseason is a way to gauge a team’s progress in development. Sure, they are not playing against the full might of respective teams in the league, but it is a chance to prove that they have what it takes to battle against the best teams in the league. So far, Smith is using it to see which players will work best on his offensive unit in the Steelers squad.

Lessons to Learn

That 9-3 loss to the Bills was a tough pill to swallow. Pittsburgh only had 219 total yards gained on the offensive end and even punted on their first four possessions – and that has definitely caused some fans from Steel City to have a frown on their faces and grinning in disappointment as the final whistle blew in a loss.

"We need to evaluate (players), and so sometimes it can get distorted, good or bad," Smith said of the team’s loss to the Bills. "Preseason could distort reality, good or bad. We've all seen it.”

This preseason has set high expectations for the Steelers. They have seen a lot of changes with various trades and signings, which has set up an on-paper competition that hasn’t been seen in the summer so far. Still, Smith is right not to overreact to the losses so far, and the unpredictable environment of the preseason can be just another testing ground for them.

Asking for Patience

Smith has his calendar ready and knows that the regular season is coming in fast. The Steelers doesn’t really look ready right now, but he’s right to say that “it’s still just the preseason”, so fans can chill out and watch as the rest of the games unfold with a promise of development for the team now more than ever.

"You know that's not their standard, and that's not acceptable, but at the same time, you'd rather go through that now than have that happen Week 1," said Smith, whose offense has produced just 15 total points in the preseason. "There's a lot going on there. We've had a really good camp, but the reality is, when we've got in there in the lights, we found a way to — and this is taking nothing away from the other defense — but we got to get out of our own way.”

It is worth noting that not all teams that have succeeded well in the preseason have gone to win the Super Bowl by the end of the season. For instance, the 2017 Cleveland Browns went 4-0 in the preseason, only to become the second NFL team to finish with an 0-16 record. It is early to come up with predictions in a developing year for the Steelers, but Smith hopes to work it out before the season truly begins.

Warner Bros. has committed $8.5 billion to the building of a film and TV studio in the heart of Nevada, but it will greatly depend on a pending film tax credit bill being passed by the Nevada Legislature.

Warner Bros. Discovery made a statement on Tuesday of its intention to invest a staggering $8.5 billion in a partnership with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), to lease and run a state-of-the-art movie and television studio in Nevada. However, the ambitious project, which is being developed by Birtcher Development, hinges on the approval of a crucial film tax credit bill by the Nevada Legislature.

The Nevada Film Studio Infrastructure Act, introduced by Senator Roberta Lange during last year's legislative session, is the legislative linchpin for WBD's commitment. Despite its initial failure to pass on the 6th of June, 2023, the bill is anticipated to be reintroduced early next year, in February of 2025, with hopes of securing the necessary legislative support.

In a recent press release, Senator Lange emphasized the importance of diversifying Southern Nevada's economy and investing in workforce development. "When talking with citizens, we hear repeatedly that we need to further diversify our Southern Nevada economy and at the same time commit the resources to develop our workforce," Lange stated. "These are top priorities for us all, and I can proudly say my legislation accomplishes both."

A bold proposal with far-reaching implications

Senate Bill 496, also known as the Nevada Film Studio Infrastructure Act, sets forth a proposal to provide as much as $190 million in yearly tax credits for television and film production over the span of two decades. This amount far exceeds Nevada's previous use of tax credits and represents a significant financial commitment from the state. Although these credits could cost Nevada an estimated $2 billion, supporters of the bill argue that the potential return on investment could be as high as $55 billion over the next two decades.

The bill's proponents believe that this substantial financial incentive will attract major film and television productions to Nevada, transforming the state into a key player in the entertainment industry. The creation of a thriving film and television production hub in Nevada could stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and further diversify the state's economy.

Warner Bros. Studios Nevada: a new era for Las Vegas

If the Nevada Film Studio Infrastructure Act passes, Warner Bros. Studios Nevada is set to become a reality. The proposed facility would be located at the University of Nevada's Harry Reid Research & Technology Park in Las Vegas and would feature full television and film studios as well as other facilities designed to capitalize on emerging technologies related to Warner Bros. Discovery's content creation.

In addition to the studio facilities, WBD plans to establish the Nevada Media and Technology Lab, a cutting-edge research and development hub for the film department of the university. This collaboration between WBD and UNLV is expected to provide students and faculty with immense opportunities to work with industry-leading professionals and access state-of-the-art technology.

Senator Lange expressed her zeal for the partnership, stating, "It's safe to say that having a lead partner with the depth of Warner Bros. and its ability to keep the studios full starting from Day One is a key difference maker and enables us to successfully meet these two priorities."

Rivalry in the desert: Sony Pictures vs. Warner Bros.

The prospect of Warner Bros. Studios Nevada brings a new dimension to Hollywood's rivalry, this time playing out in the Nevada desert. Initially, it was WBD's rival, Sony Pictures Entertainment, that expressed interest in partnering with Birtcher Development and UNLV for a similar project. However, Sony ultimately chose to collaborate with the Howard Hughes Corporation for a $1.8 billion motion picture studio in Summerlin, a suburb of Las Vegas.

The Sony-backed project, which has already received unanimous support from the Clark County Zoning Commission, is slated to occupy 30 acres of prime real estate in Summerlin. This development sets the stage for an intense competition between two of Hollywood's biggest studios, both vying to establish a dominant presence in Nevada's growing film and television production landscape.

Jannik Sinner has regained his composure after coming back from an illness that kept him from playing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the Cincinnati Open and earning impressive points after beating Frances Tiafoe in straight sets to extend his reign at the top spot of the ATP Rankings.

Now his eyes are on the next challenge ahead: the US Open.

At the age of 24, Sinner overcame Tiafoe in the final in just one hour and 37 minutes, moving up to a 15-4 record in tour-level finals. The Italian star now leads the ATP Tour with five trophies this season, sealing impressive victories in Melbourne, Rotterdam, Miami, and Halle. He is also the only player this season to come up with at least two ATP Masters 1000 crowns so far.

Sinner has been mostly hampered by his hip, often limping and even favoring it between points. Still, the Italian star proved to the world why he is the deserving world no. 1 player in the ATP Tour right now. Now the focus shifts to another tournament at hand – the last major of the year, the US Open.

A Tough Run Ending in Beauty

Sinner was not at 100% when he entered the competition so far, often showing his hip injury hampered him from time to time. However, he managed to stave off Tiafoe when it mattered most, working on his baseline play to come up with advantageous plays in closing sets to cap off a promising victory.

“It was a very difficult week, tough week. I'm very happy about about today's match,” Sinner said of his campaign in the Cincinnati Open. “It was very tough mentally. Had such an amazing run here, and I tried to do my best today. We both were quite tired from yesterday. We both felt a lot of tension, but I'm very glad about the level I played today, especially in the important moments.”

Sinner is now the youngest winner in the Cincinnati Open since Andy Murray, who won in 2008 at the age of 21. Sinner went on to save all three break points against Tiafoe to claim the big win that saw him emerge as the winner in the Final at 7-6(4), 6-2. The win also extends the Italian star’s lead at the ATP Rankings with 1,440 points to extend his lead over Spanish star and world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz.

A Boatload of Confidence Heading to the US Open

Sinner has been pondering about his form in the game heading into the US Open. But with this win secured at the Cincinnati Open, it seems that the Italian star is more confident than ever heading into the hard-court major after he capped off a Masters 1000 title.

”Now, for sure, it's important to recover, to be to be ready for New York. This is our main goal here for this U.S. swing,” Sinner said of his pace heading into the US Open this weekend. “I’m very happy to be in a position where I am and just trying to keep going mentally, having this hunger to keep playing, and hopefully I can show some good tennis also New York.”

For now, Sinner takes his time to rest and practice at the same time in preparation of the US Open, which will be considered as the closing run of all majors in the 2024 ATP Tour and possibly one of the hyped and intense battles to look out for in the season.

Steve Kerr was asked to speak at the Democratic National Convention as he proposed to rally supporters for Kamala Harris, who was gunning for the presidential election this year after current president Joe Biden opted to withdraw his candidacy in the coming elections. But it seems that the highlight of the day was Steve Kerr’s decision to pay homage to his star player Stephen Curry.

During his speech at the convention, Kerr went on to diss presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump, saying that they can tell him to “night night”, in homage to Warriors star Stephen Curry. This was the celebration that the star guard has done on multiple occasions in the game, most notably in the recent 2024 Paris Olympics when he drilled a three in front of two defenders to ice the gold medal game against France.

A Historic Speaking Night

Kerr was invited to speak alongside the likes of former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Kerr went on to speak right after presidential candidate and current vice president Harris herself, who was not even slate to speak until the final night of the convention.

A former Chicago Bulls player and NBA champion, Kerr relished the fact that he was back to his basketball roots, addressing the Bulls fans in the building as the system even went on to flash his game-winning jumper in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals, which secured the fifth title of the Jordan Bulls dynasty.

"It is so fun to be back here in the United Center," Kerr said. "As you guys know, a lot of good stuff happened in this building — especially in the '90s. You young people, Google 'Michael Jordan,' and you can read all about it."

Kerr believed that it was essential for him to speak that night, claiming that it was his duty as a leader to rally voters for the Harris-Walz ticket in the coming elections. The Warriors coach also stressed the fact that it was his duty as an American citizen to rally them to the right cause.

"I believe that leaders must care for a love the people that they are leading. I believe that leaders must possess the knowledge and expertise but with the full awareness that none of us has all the answers. And in fact, some of the best answers often come from members of the team,” said Kerr. "And if you look for those qualities in your friends or your boss or an employee or your child's teacher or your mayor, then shouldn't you want those same qualities in your president?"

Kerr’s Coaching Future

While he remains the head coach of the Golden State Warriors for the years to come, Kerr has already stepped down as the head coach of Team USA after helping them secure a gold medal finish in Paris. It is expected that either assistants Erik Spoelstra or Tyronn Lue would take over the reins in the next campaign.

Kerr served as an assistant to Gregg Popovich in 2016 before he was named as the successor when the latter stepped down after Team USA won in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Kerr’s decorated history of championships with the Bulls and the Warriors dynasty has made him a promising coach to lead Team USA, which ultimately helped them win a gold medal.

After requesting a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Patrik Laine finally fulfilled his wishes, and he and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft was sent to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Jordan Harris. It seems that both teams will have a win-win situation as Laine gets a fresh start in Montreal while Columbus gets promising assets to begin the 2024-25 season.

Patrik Laine had an impressive run before suffering a broken clavicle in December 2023 and did not play for the remainder of the season. He was later brought under the care of the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program in January and was later cleared from the program by July 26th. Laine would go on to speak with the team’s management and later requested a trade from the team, which was granted as soon as the team came up with an equitable deal.

Laine initially had nine points coming off six goals and three assists in 18 games last season. He also had two seasons left in his four-year, $34-million contract with the Blue Jackets that he signed last July 2022. Now he gets a chance to prove his worth once more and come back stronger after having some tough struggles in his games prior.

A Fresh Start in Montreal

Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes had already spoken to Laine before the trade was completed. He said that Laine was ready to commit and promised a strong performance in the coming season with the hopes of getting a lot of minutes in the rotation and proving his worth on the big stage.

“We’re very young, and he may be young at 26, but that still makes him an older statesman on the Montreal Canadiens. And we’re hoping that as such he’ll do his part to help and teach our young players,” said Hughes about his discussion with Laine before the trade. “And we talked to him about that, about you look back at your time when you came to Winnipeg as a young 18-year-old hockey player and you think about the people and things that helped you be successful, and you think about the things that occurred that maybe made it more difficult to be successful, and carry that forward to the Montreal Canadiens and help those players succeed.”

Selected in the 2016 NHL Draft, Laine has a total of 388 points off 204 goals and 184 assists in 480 games with the Blue Jackets and the Jets. He has also played in a total of 24 Stanley Cup Playoff games, amassing 16 points coming from eight goals and eight assists in the postseason stage.

A New Dawn for the Blue Jackets

At the age of 26, Laine departs from a team that has built on his impressive success in his career.However, this opens up a new opportunity for the Blue Jackets as they now enter the coming season with Jordan Harris instead. Columbus GM Don Waddell claims that it was a good trade to bring in a new defenseman into the squad while also ensuring that Laine will have a bright future in his new team.

"We want players that want to be Blue Jackets and Patrik made it clear that he thought a change of scenery was best for him," Waddell said. "We were able to acquire a good young player in Jordan Harris while maintaining financial flexibility in this deal which was very important to us. We wish Patrik all the best."

Now this season begins a new dawn for the Blue Jackets, and perhaps they can finally build upon a bigger chance at the playoffs in the season.

More obstructions: as MGM Resorts International prepares to start construction of the MGM in Osaka, it could experience some delays as well as more expensive construction costs, and it's attributed to the opening of the World Fair or Expo 2025.

MGM Resorts International, one of the global leaders in the casino and hospitality industry, is grappling with two significant challenges that could derail its plans for a casino hotel in Osaka, Japan's third-largest city. The company could be facing both a delayed launching date and increased construction expenses for its highly anticipated integrated resort on Yumeshima Island.

The impact of Expo 2025 on MGM's Osaka project

The crux of the issue lies in Yumeshima Island, the man-made site in Osaka Bay where MGM is building Japan's very first regulated casino and hotel. But the island is also slated to host Expo 2025, a World Fair event expected to draw millions of visitors from around the globe. This dual-purpose use of the island is proving to be a double-edged sword for MGM.

According to recent reports in Japanese media, the BIE, or the Bureau International des Expositions, the organization overseeing Expo 2025, has requested that construction on the MGM Osaka casino resort be stopped for six months. The BIE’s concerns are primarily aesthetic, fearing that ongoing construction could detract from the visual appeal of the Expo. This request poses a serious threat to the timeline of the project, which already has an estimated overall cost of $9.1 billion.

A dream deferred: MGM's journey in Japan

MGM's pursuit of a gaming license in Japan has been a long and arduous journey, marked by hopes and setbacks. Initially, there was optimism that the Osaka casino resort could be completed in time to capitalize on the influx of visitors to Expo 2025. This would have provided MGM with a significant opportunity to showcase its new venue to an international audience. However, bureaucratic complications and delays within Japan's regulatory framework shattered that dream.

MGM's Chief Executive Officer, Bill Hornbuckle, highlighted the progress of the Osaka project during the company's earnings call. "I just recently returned from Japan, and it's moving along nicely," Hornbuckle stated. He also mentioned that the company aims to start installing pylons by May or June of the following year, with a target opening date still set for mid-2030.

However, the timing of the BIE's request for a construction pause casts doubt on this timeline. If MGM Osaka is forced to halt construction for six months, the opening of the casino could be pushed back to 2031. This delay could have significant financial implications for MGM, as construction costs are likely to rise during the pause.

Potential consequences: delays and rising costs

The potential six-month halt in construction not only threatens to delay the opening of MGM Osaka but could also lead to substantial cost overruns. The exact financial impact of such a delay remains uncertain, but given the already hefty price tag of $9.1 billion, any increase in costs would be a significant burden for the company.

Moreover, a delayed opening could diminish MGM's ability to capitalize on the Expo 2025 event. The original vision of opening the resort ahead of the Expo would have allowed MGM to benefit from the event's high foot traffic and global attention. A delay to 2031 would mean missing out on this once-in-a-lifetime marketing opportunity.

A silver lining for Thailand?

While MGM struggles with potential setbacks in its Osaka project, the delay could inadvertently profit Thailand, a country rapidly advancing its own casino gaming aspirations. Thailand is working on developing its gaming regulations with the goal of having a minimum of one integrated resort operational before MGM Osaka opens its doors. If the Osaka project is delayed until 2031, Thailand's plans could gain a significant advantage, potentially diverting international attention and investment away from Japan.

Interestingly, MGM has expressed interest in participating in the bidding process for Thailand's casino projects through its MGM China unit. This move could help MGM hedge against the risks posed by the Osaka delays. If MGM can establish a presence in Thailand before its Osaka project is completed, it could potentially mitigate some of the financial and competitive impacts of the delay.