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Tre’ Harris watched as Oronde Gadsden II burst by him, the 6-foot-5 tight end chugging over the turf at Golden West College’s football field.

Months before Harris and Gadsden suited up as Chargers rookies, the duo were catching passes from Jaxson Dart — now the starting quarterback for the New York Giants — during pre-NFL Scouting Combine training sessions at the Huntington Beach community college as the trio took advantage of sunny weather in Southern California.

“I saw his talents immediately,” Dart said of Gadsden. “Skill set-wise, I thought he was a very unique athlete, being, you know, the stature that he is. I thought his footwork was some of the best that I’ve seen.”

Over the past two weeks, the footwork that Harris said separates Gadsden from the rest of the NFL, has been on display.

Gadsden, 22, ranks fifth in NFL tight end receiving yards this season (385) despite not playing in the first two games. Two weeks ago, against the Colts, the son of former NFL wide receiver Oronde Gadsden emerged for 164 receiving yards and a touchdown. Against the Vikings last week, the former Syracuse standout, who set the program record for receptions in a season with 73 catches, recorded another 77 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Those accomplishments — which he credits to studying the likes of Chargers teammates Keenan Allen and Will Dissly — earned Gadsden earned NFL Rookie of the Week honors in Week 7, the first Charger to claim the award since Asante Samuel Jr. did it twice in 2021.

“It’s been good, getting in passes with Justin [Herbert], whether it’s a practice, and then following up in the game,” Gadsden said. “It feels good to see all the hard work that I’ve been doing, all the hard work that the whole team has been doing, come forward and translate into the game.”

Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II (86) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 23.

(Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Jim Harbaugh can’t help but smile when talking about Gadsden. Asked about the Chargers’ rookies — and the efforts they’ve put in to keep the team afloat amid a rash of injuries — the usually stoic Chargers coach remarked about how wide his grin was before slamming his hands down onto the podium in front of him.

“I mean, Oronde Gadsden,” he said, “of course, has been great.”

Herbert added: “It was only a matter of time until he put together two games like he has back-to-back, and he’s gonna make a ton of plays for us. He’s gonna have a super long career.”

Gadsden had his first opportunity to relax during the mini bye week in the 10-day gap between the Chargers’ win over the Vikings and their game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. He said it’s been non-stop football for him since the beginning of his senior year at Syracuse; from the college season to pre-draft training, rookie mini camp, and now the NFL season.

Chargers tight end Oronde Gadsden II tries to fight off Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks during a Chargers’ win on Oct.12.

(Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press)

For the first time since those training sessions at Golden West, Gadsden decided to visit Disneyland. It was a rare break for Gadsden since his daily pre-draft days working alongside trainer T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the former Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals.

What makes Gadsden a special player, Harris said, is his never-stop attitude. During minicamp, Gadsden would arrive at the facility at 5 a.m. — using his East Coast-wired clock to his advantage to get extra work in.

“I’m not gonna say I knew he was gonna do this,” Harris said of Gadsden’s recent success, before pausing. “There’s not a lot of tight ends that can move like he does. And, you know, I’ve seen it firsthand.”

I’ve visited 12 new countries this year, and even though each one has its own charm, I’d say there’s one that didn’t quite cut it

This year has been a rollercoaster of adventures for me. I’ve had the good fortune to discover new cities, sample local cuisines, and meet individuals whose tales have lingered with me long after my journey’s end. From savouring Italian dishes in Sardinia to exploring Poland, I’ve ticked off 12 new countries on my travel list in 2025.

Each nation has offered something unique, but not every destination leaves you yearning for more. Among all the places I’ve visited, there’s one country I wouldn’t be in a hurry to return to.

That’s not because it wasn’t stunning, but because sometimes travelling teaches you what you do and don’t want from a trip.

One of my stops this year was Mauritius, a small island nation in the Indian Ocean that many people describe as a true paradise, reports the Express.

It was exactly that, turquoise waters, palm tree-fringed beaches and sunsets that look like they’re straight out of a film. It’s the kind of place that many people dream of visiting, but for me, it just didn’t live up to the hype.

For starters, it’s a very, very long way from the UK. It’s around 12 hours of flying, not including the connections and airport hours that make the journey feel even longer.

By the time I finally landed, I was expecting something truly unforgettable, but I found myself wondering whether the distance was really worth it.

The island itself is undeniably beautiful, but after a few days, I felt like I had seen most of what there was to see. Aside from the beaches and a few nature spots, there isn’t a lot to do.

Now, I understand that Mauritius isn’t typically a destination for exploration, but more of a tranquil retreat. However, during my visit, I realised that I’m more of an adventurer when it comes to holidays.

Mauritius is undoubtedly appealing to newlyweds or those seeking a serene getaway. It’s calm, and the locals are friendly and hospitable.

Yet, for me, it lacked the magic that makes me fall head over heels for a location. It’s one of those places I’m pleased to have visited once, but I don’t feel compelled to return.

On the other hand, out of the other 11 countries I’ve travelled to this year, some have left me eager to go back. From the late-night street food in South Korea to the relaxed allure of Belgium, each place has made a lasting impression.

Even closer to home, Jersey took me by surprise with its blend of British familiarity and tranquil island life, while Croatia won me over with its historic towns.

Mauritius might not have been the ideal holiday spot for me, but even that experience played a part in my year of globetrotting.

A BARGAIN hunter mother has shared a stern warning to parents about a viral buy from The Range.

Last year, mums and dads were racing to stores desperate to get their hands on the must-have buy that was sure to make the festive season even more special.

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And earlier this month, parents were left overjoyed to see that the purse-friendly product was now available to buy again.

But one shopper has been left very disappointed with the Large Christmas Sleigh Hamper, which she claimed is “not worth the hype.” 

Eager to alert others about the “flimsy” purchase, Emma Smith took to social media to express her frustration with the £7.99 buy.

Posting on Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, a private Facebook group with 2.6 million members, the savvy shopper uploaded snaps of the huge sleigh, which was once sold-out and can hold dozens of gifts and decorations.

Alongside her post, she shared a messaged to “everybody thinking of getting The Range viral large Christmas Sleigh Hamper.”

She fumed: “I would not waste your money.”

Sharing pictures of the damaged sleigh, she snapped: “The cardboard is very flimsy.”

As well as this, she claimed: “The sleigh has collapsed to the side.”

Clearly very frustrated with her purchase, which has been described as a “fun way to display gifts” and is hailed as “the gift that keeps on giving,” Emma added: “Definitely not worth the hype!”

Emma’s post has clearly shocked many, as it was posted just 13 hours ago, but has already racked up almost 200 likes and 239 comments.

Big divide

But social media users were left totally divided – while some were thankful for her thoughts, others had “no issues” with their Christmas Sleigh Hamper, which is bound to turn your home into a magical festive scene in seconds.

One person said: “Not buying again. I was crazy to get it from The Range. When you put it away it won’t fold back up. It’s cute but not worth it and very small.” 

Looks like it’s been forced together tbh. For the price, it looks amazing, warts and all

Facebook user

Another added: “Thank you, I was going to get one. So glad I saw this post.” 

A third commented: “Same happened to mine! Filled it with sweets and it couldn’t take the weight and the legs buckled!” 

However, at the same time, one shopper wrote: “I got these two years ago and this will be the third year I’ve used them. Mine are great. No issues with them.” 

A second chimed in: “I got two the other day and put them up and all fine.” 

Someone else beamed: “I got the large one from The Range last year and I’ll be using it again as I found it ok and didn’t have any problems with it.” 

Whilst one user observed: “Looks like it’s been forced together tbh. For the price, it looks amazing, warts and all.”

Definitely not worth the hype!

Emma Smith

However, to this, Emma wrote back and claimed: “It wasn’t forced. The cardboard is hard regardless so you’ve got to make sure it’s put in the slots properly.” 

Meanwhile, others praised a similar sleigh hamper from B&M.

One shopper shared: “B&M ones are better and cheaper!”

Another agreed: “Got mine from B&M, £5. Sturdy and solid.”

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Over the past century, no asset class has rivaled the annualized return of stocks. But when the lens is narrowed to just the trailing decade, cryptocurrencies have absolutely crushed the benchmark S&P 500 in the annualized return column.

Though Bitcoin (BTC 0.46%) has led the way with its first-mover advantages, it’s XRP (XRP 0.56%) that’s been flying the highest of all the major digital assets of late. Over the trailing-12-month period, XRP has practically quintupled, up 396%, while Bitcoin has gained a more “modest” 84%, as of the late evening on Aug. 29.

Whereas stocks tend to ebb and flow because of tangible financial metrics, such as their operating results and prevailing economic data, emotions and hype are known to move digital currencies. There’s little question that anticipation and hype have helped lift XRP to a more than seven-year high. The question is: Will the old Wall Street adage “buy the rumor, sell the news” put an end to this monstrous rally in the world’s No. 3 digital asset?

Image source: Getty Images.

XRP entered 2025 in an ideal situation

Whereas Murphy’s Law states that “anything that can go wrong, will go wrong,” XRP has had virtually everything go its way since early November 2024.

In November, Donald Trump won the presidency, which was viewed as a positive for most cryptocurrencies. Aside from Trump’s tinkering with the idea of a Bitcoin strategic reserve during his campaign, he was viewed as the friendliest presidential candidate to the crypto industry.

Since Trump’s inauguration, he’s signed the Genius Act into law, which established stablecoin backing and redemption standards, audit requirements, and federal oversight for the largest stablecoin issuers. While this doesn’t directly affect XRP, it paints a picture of an administration that’s willing to remove tight restrictions that had previously been placed on digital assets.

Another hyped event for XRP has been the expected approval of a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF). A crypto spot ETF gives a buyer exposure to a specific digital asset without having to directly purchase it on a crypto exchange. In turn, buyers would pay a nominal fee (the net expense ratio) that covers the management and marketing costs for the fund.

When spot Bitcoin ETFs were first approved, massive cash inflows were observed for weeks. If spot XRP ETFs were to get the nod from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) come October, a similar multiweek period of cash inflows would be expected.

However, the most-hyped event of all was the expected end to five years of litigation and appeals between the SEC and Ripple regarding whether or not Ripple sold XRP as an unregistered security. Ripple is the largest holder of XRP coins and is the company utilizing XRP as its intermediary payment token on RippleNet.

Last month, the SEC and Ripple agreed to drop their respective appeals. The news investors had waited years for had finally arrived — and so has the selling pressure on XRP.

XRP’s faults may be difficult to mask without a carrot at the end of the stick

Since the SEC sued Ripple in 2020, ending this litigation had been viewed as the carrot at the end of the stick that kept the hype train rolling. But with the appeal process over, sweeping XRP’s tangible faults under the rug could be tougher than ever before.

On paper, the lure of XRP is that it can assist with the rapid settlement of cross-border payments. The XRP Ledger is capable of validating and settling transactions in roughly three to five seconds, with payments costing just a fraction of a penny. This is considerably more palatable than the decades-long standard for cross-border payments. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) can take days to settle international payments and is much costlier per transaction.

But there are some big-time caveats and catches to this seemingly slam-dunk thesis.

Image source: Getty Images.

For starters, banks aren’t required to use XRP as an intermediary on Ripple’s payment networks. If global financial institutions use Ripple’s payment network but not XRP, demand for XRP tokens will likely be insufficient to support its nearly 400% price appreciation over the trailing year.

The adoption rate for RippleNet isn’t all that impressive, either. Whereas more than 11,000 financial institutions are using SWIFT as their preferred cross-border payment solution, only an estimated 300 global financial institutions are relying on RippleNet in some capacity. While some investors might view this as a glass-half-full opportunity for RippleNet to gain share over time, it also speaks to the ironclad grip the SWIFT network has on international payments.

This is a good time to note that XRP lacks standalone value. Unlike Bitcoin, which can be used as a form of payment and is often viewed as an inflationary hedge amid a steadily increasing U.S. money supply, there is no standalone use case for XRP, save as an intermediary for some transactions on Ripple’s payment platform.

Lastly, XRP isn’t even guaranteed to be the preferred cross-border payment coin. Though there’s no denying it’s connections to larger financial institutions, Solana offers notably faster and inexpensive transaction settlement. In addition, peer-to-peer payment platform Stellar can settle payments just as quickly as XRP.

With XRP’s big event now firmly in the rearview mirror, profit-taking may be the new norm.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM 0.24%) is far from the flashiest artificial intelligence (AI) name out there. It doesn’t design chips like Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Broadcom, and, as such, it doesn’t tend to get the same hype.

However, all these chipmakers hand their designs to TSMC for large-scale manufacturing, turning them into real products. That’s why it’s not only one of the best, but one of the safest ways to invest in the AI infrastructure buildout. It wins no matter which chip designer takes the lead, and it’s generating a ton of cash doing it.

Even Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang went out of his way to praise the company. He called TSMC “one of the greatest companies in the history of humanity,” adding that “anybody who wants to buy TSMC stock is a very smart person.” That is not the kind of praise Huang throws around lightly.

Image source: Getty Images.

TSMC has a foundry nobody can catch

TSMC is the top foundry in the world, producing most of the world’s advanced chips. Rival Intel (INTC 2.20%) has been trying to build its own foundry business, but it is losing money and hasn’t been able to gain any ground. In fact, the U.S. government recently made a large investment in the struggling company, reportedly to help bolster it.

Samsung, meanwhile, has struggled with production yields. It also recently lost one of its advanced chip designs, as Alphabet switched to TSMC for its Tensor G5 chip used in its Pixel smartphones. Neither Intel nor Samsung has shown that they can match the scale or reliability of TSMC.

That’s why TSMC has locked in almost every large AI chipmaker as a customer. Chip designers are constantly looking to shrink node sizes, and TSMC is the only foundry that has shown it can consistently produce advanced nodes with strong yields. Nodes are a reference to the size of the transistors used on a chip, measured in nanometers. With smaller nodes, more transistors can be packed onto the chip, which improves performance and power efficiency.

Smaller nodes are becoming an increasingly larger part of TSMC’s mix. Chips built on 7-nanometer or smaller nodes are already nearly three-quarters of TSMC’s revenue, while its 3nm chips alone are almost one-quarter. Meanwhile, it is already preparing to move into 2nm.

TSMC is a cash flow machine

One of the most overlooked parts of TSMC’s story is its cash generation. In 2024, it produced more than $26.5 billion in free cash flow. That was after spending heavily on building new fabs. So far this year, it’s already generated over $15 billion in free cash flow despite continued heavy capex spending. It’s also paying a growing dividend off that mountain of cash.

Most people think of foundries as low gross margin businesses; however, TSMC is changing that narrative. Its leadership in advanced nodes has given it strong pricing power over the years. Nobody else can deliver chips at the same density and yield, so customers are willing to pay up. That’s why its margins have stayed strong and have been increasing.

TSMC is an under-the-radar stock

Investors don’t talk about TSMC with the same excitement they talk about Nvidia or AMD. That could be because it’s not a brand consumers recognize, or perhaps because the foundry business isn’t just quite as exciting. It’s also not a U.S.-based company, with its headquarters in Taiwan.

However, TSMC has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI buildout, and it should continue to be a big winner moving forward. Last quarter, its revenue climbed 44% to $30 billion, while its profits soared. Meanwhile, management expects AI chip demand to grow more than 40% annually through 2028. The company is working closely with its largest customers to increase capacity, so it should have good visibility into this growth.

Overall, TSMC is one of the most important companies in the AI supply chain. Without it, the current AI infrastructure buildout wouldn’t be possible. It’s growing rapidly, expanding margins, and generating a boatload of cash.

Despite that, the stock is one of the most attractively valued AI plays in the market, trading at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24.5 times based on analysts’ 2025 estimates and a price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG) of less than 0.65. Stocks with PEG ratios below 1 are generally considered undervalued.

Investors would be smart to heed Jensen Huang’s advice and be a buyer of TSMC.

Liverpool’s second youngest ever player Rio Ngumoha shone again in pre-season to get fans wondering if he could be part of the first team this year.

The England Under-17 forward, who turns 17 later this month, scored and assisted in their Anfield return against Athletic Bilbao.

The Reds were playing the Basque side in two pre-season friendlies – at 17:00 and 20:00 BST.

It was a mostly second string XI that started the first game, with Ngumoha on the left wing – and he caught the eye as he has done all summer.

He scored in just the second minute as he ran onto a loose ball in his own half before racing forward and curling a fine effort in from 20 yards out.

Just three minutes later he nodded a Ben Doak cross down for Darwin Nunez to convert from close range.

Liverpool fans were singing his name as Curtis Jones urged them to show their appreciation.

And he caused the La Liga side all kinds of problems with his dribbling and trickery in the 4-1 win.

Doak and Harvey Elliott scored the other goals.

The 16-year-old left to a standing ovation midway through the second half.

“He is such an excellent prospect,” said ex-Reds defender Gary Gillespie on LFC TV.

“The difficult is managing expectations but it’s hard to put a lid on it.”

Ngumoha’s performance came on the back of an assist against AC Milan and goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Asian friendlies.

He looks a fine talent, if raw, and will be hoping more first-team competitive games are on the way.

In January, Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a match, and the second youngest to play, for Liverpool – aged 16 years and 135 days old – in the 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup.

But that was his only first-team appearance and he never made the bench for a Premier League game.

That could well change this season, especially with so many changes in the Liverpool front line.

The sad death of centre forward Diogo Jota in a car crash has been the main focus of Liverpool’s pre-season. There were tributes to him before and during the game at Anfield.

Winger Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich and Nunez is a target for Saudi Pro League clubs.

An exit for Nunez would mean the Reds’ only really strong frontline options would be Mohamed Salah, new signing Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo – giving a chance for somebody like Ngumoha to break through.

That is unless they managed to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. An initial bid of £110m has been rejected.

“I’m not trying to rush because I’m still only young,” said Ngumoha last week.

“But at the same time, I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club.”

Ngumoha is not actually a Liverpool academy product, having only joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s youth set-up last summer.

At the time Blues legend John Terry wrote “this boy is and will be a top player”.

He’s not looking wrong.

Butlin’s Bognor Regis resort has received a major upgrade with a new £15million playground that’s open to the public – one writer went to see if it lived up to the hype

Given the ridiculously variable nature of the British weather, it is little wonder that UK holiday resorts are investing massively in their indoor facilities.

Butlin’s is no exception with its Bognor Regis site welcoming a new £15million activity centre, Playxperience, which is open for the first time to holidaymakers this year. Playxperience is home to nine different activities that can be enjoyed by all the family.

Whether it is trying to work your way out of one of the three escape rooms, becoming the next Luke Littler on Digi Darts, testing your reactions on the brilliant batting cage, this building boasts the very latest in interactive and immersive technology.

For teenagers, it is a gamers’ paradise. It can be expensive, as it is an ­additional cost to your holiday, but it will keep the children occupied for hours. And many memories can be made on the more family-oriented activities like Shuffleboard or TechPutt golf.

READ MORE: I’ve been to 30 countries and there are six cities in Europe I’d never revisit

If parents or guardians want to leave the kids to it, there is also a cafe on the ground floor, or for those fancying something stronger, a superb sports bar on the first floor, which is open until 11pm. As this was a family holiday, though, we were keen to book in for activities we could all enjoy – and there are so many options.

The archery was great fun, with our Butlin’s guide taking us through games that weren’t all about hitting the bullseye and top scoring, which ensured people of differing abilities could be a winner. However, a trip to Butlin’s would not feel right without watching some of the many shows they put on, which again cater for all ages.

With a 13- and 11-year-old in tow, I did wonder if they would be “too cool” for it all, but our first night proved I had nothing to worry about, kicking off watching the Cirque du Hilarious show.

It was slapstick comedy at its cheesy best, and while some led to groans of “cringe” from our boys, other aspects were “sick” or “bussin”, which I’m assured means they were loving it. We also enjoyed SBX Presents Extreme Playgrounds, where performers showcased their football, basketball, street dancing and beat boxing skills.

READ MORE: Holiday-makers face £5,000 for buying sandwiches at Duty Free on way home

Other shows included the superb Animals and Mythical Beasts and Iconic, which are new for 2025. There’s also a Snow White ­pantomime (oh yes there is) and Electric Wonderland, a dazzling dance display incorporating LED lights and costumes. The most popular was Gladiators, with stars from the show.

The place was packed to the rafters and divided into two teams: Red and Blue. We were on the Blue team and having won the brilliantly interactive ball race against the Reds, where the audience must roll a giant ball above their heads from one end of the studio to the other, and back to the stage, we were let down by our Gladiator, Phantom. He lost his two battles with rival Gladiator Dynamite, leading to the Reds winning overall. It may have been “just a game” to Phantom – but try telling that to two highly competitive boys.

Of course, the Bognor resort is right on the seafront, but while we were blessed with beautiful spring sunshine, the breeze meant it was a little too chilly to get out the deckchairs. Instead, the boys tested their skills on the High Ropes before we enjoyed a few hours at the excellent Splash, which boasts a huge pool, slides and a wave pool.

While Playxperience boasts the very latest in gaming technology, and Splash the ultimate wet and wild fun activity, the adage that the “old ones are still the best” rang true for our boys. Asked what his favourite thing about Butlin’s was, my son, Stanley, replied unequivocally: “Waltzers!”

As for the Butlin’s downtime, we stayed at the Wave Hotel which had bunk beds for the boys and a double bed for my partner and I. Tea and coffee was included – with plenty more on request at reception – and we also had the all-inclusive drinks package allowing us to drink virtually ­anywhere on site.

While the drinks package was confusing at the start, as you had to have a QR code emailed to you which you then had to scan when ordering drinks, it was worthwhile with a superb selection of soft and alcoholic beverages – and branded ones too. Costa hot drinks are also available for the coffee connoisseur.

Our food was also in the inclusive package, but limited to the Deck offering a wide range of different hot foods and desserts at dinner time and an extensive breakfast menu.

There were also themed nights, such as Italian on the Monday, Indian on Tuesday and Chinese on Wednesday, while our roast ­potato-loving boy Sam revelled in the different roast meat that was on offer every evening. For convenience and cost, the food and drink bundles are well worth investing in.

Butlin’s is not the cheap and cheesy British holiday it was once perceived to be, it’s had a mighty investment in state-of-the-art facilities, making it one of the UK’s leading family holiday destinations where endless memories are made.

Book the holiday

Butlin’s offers a three-night Summer Holiday break featuring Stephen Mulhern and Meet the stays of The Gladiators staying in a two-bedroom Wave Hotel room in Bognor Regis from £465, for arrival on August 8th. Based on a family of four sharing and includes live shows, activities, free flow access to the pool, unlimited fairground rides, playgrounds and the new Soft Play centre. Dining packages start at £24.95 per adult, per day, £14.95 per child (six-14), per day and £6.80 per child (two-five).

More info at butlins.com and experiencesussex.com.

The morning after the night before and it is an easy ‘take’ to say Henry Pollock should start for the British and Irish Lions in the first Test against Australia.

It was certainly an eye-catching performance from the 20-year-old Northampton Saints star in the 54-7 win over Western Force, one that captured the attention of the Australian media.

The state broadcaster, ABC News, said Pollock “showcased his star potential” and “produced a series of tackle-busting runs”.

The headline in the Australian read: ‘Lions wonder kid, playmaker put Wallabies on notice.’

Pollock, making his first Lions start, looked like a kid in the candy store.

With a smile on his face, he gorged on Western Force at times. His pace and lung-busting break set up a first-half try for Tomos Williams, the power matched by a sublime offload to the Welsh scrum-half.

In the second half came the audacious chip over the top, chase and gather before alertly leaving the ball when he went to ground. The move resulted in a try for Joe McCarthy.

“I thought he was brilliant today,” said Lions captain Dan Sheehan.

“He does his own thing. He has his own way of playing. He’s probably different to a lot of the forwards.

“I enjoy that rugby – off the cuff, see what’s in front of you and make it happen. And with his skillset and speed, he can certainly make it happen.

“It’s just about trying to make sure that he’s doing the right thing for the team all the time.

“He’ll be continuously developing. All these big games are massive for him and massive for all of us – the experience. He’ll just get better and better from here.”

Even his opponents heaped praise on Pollock.

“Henry Pollock lived up to the hype. He came into his own as they kept on the intensity and he’s a hell of a ball-carrier,” proclaimed Australia international Nic White.

SAN DIEGO — Rivalries in baseball can sometimes be difficult to define.

There are the obvious ones. Like the Yankees and Red Sox. The Cardinals and Cubs. And for the Dodgers, going back to their founding in New York, a generations-old hatred for the Giants.

“By definition, you can’t just decide to choose your rivalry because one team gets good,” veteran third baseman Max Muncy said. “And for the Dodgers, that’ll always be the Giants.”

But periodically, there are other emotionally charged, highly competitive, and simmering clashes; often taking root between simultaneous contenders, bad-blooded division foes or closely situated fan bases sharing a mutual dislike.

Over the last half-decade, that’s what has slowly been built between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

And in their first renewal of the season on Monday night at Petco Park, an 8-7 extra-innings win for the Dodgers, the two clubs lived up to the matchup’s ever-growing hype.

“Both teams are good. The fan bases are very adamant. Both environments have been hostile over the last several years,” Muncy said. “It brings everything that a rivalry should bring.”

A traditional rivalry, it’s still not quite. The Dodgers have as many World Series titles as the Padres do playoff appearances (eight each). Since the Padres last won the National League West in 2006, the Dodgers have done it 13 times.

But after three playoff meetings in the last five years, and a seemingly tight division race on tap this season, Dodgers-Padres is now a full-blown, certifiably legitimate rivalry — at least in the eyes of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

“I think it’s become a rivalry,” Roberts said, “because the stakes have been higher.”

That was certainly the case last October, when the Dodgers outlasted the Padres in a memorable five-game National League Division Series.

But even entering Monday, the importance of this week’s three-game series at Petco Park — plus a four-game rematch between the teams next week at Dodger Stadium — had been magnified, the Dodgers leading the Padres by just one game in the National League West standings in their pursuit to defend last year’s World Series title.

“It’s going to be an intense series,” Roberts said. “It probably will feel like a playoff game tonight.”

It certainly played out that way.

Will Smith is showered in sunflower seeds thrown by Teoscar Hernández after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against the Padres on Monday night.

(Orlando Ramirez / Associated Press)

Both teams scored twice in the first inning. The lead then changed hands three times between the second, when the Padres scored on a Will Smith throwing error; and the third, when Smith answered with a two-run homer to punctuate a three-run rally, only for the Padres to score three on a bases-loaded triple from Tyler Wade that got past a diving Teoscar Hernández in right center.

The Dodgers (40-27) got the game tied again in the fifth, with Hyeseong Kim doubling home Muncy in a rare opportunity against a left-handed pitcher (he is three-for-three in such situations this season).

The Padres (37-28) skirted even more trouble along the way. In the fourth, the Dodgers couldn’t take advantage of an infield pop-up that dropped between three Padres fielders. In the eighth, San Diego reliever Adrian Morejon misfired on the most routine of throws to first base with two outs, letting Shohei Ohtani reach second, but then struck out Freddie Freeman to escape unscathed.

But once the game reached the 10th, the Dodgers surged ahead. Andy Pages led off with a line-drive RBI double that outfielder Brandon Lockridge badly misread in left. Tommy Edman followed with an RBI single that ricocheted off the second base bag. And though closer Tanner Scott gave up an RBI double to Jackson Merrill — one at-bat after Manny Machado was rung up on a controversial called third strike — the former Padres left-hander limited the damage there.

Round 1 of Dodgers-Padres this year went to the defending champions. More heavyweight fights figure to follow.

Most people buy tokens during a presale and just wait, hoping the price will go up later. But what if you didn’t have to wait? What if your tokens could start working for you before the project even launches? Bitcoin Hyper (Hyper) is making this possible.

While the presale is still live, buyers are already staking over 18 million tokens, earning massive passive rewards of more than 2,500% APY at this current stage.

What Is Bitcoin Hyper and How Does It Work?

Bitcoin Hyper is a Layer 2 built on top of Bitcoin. Its mission is simple: fix Bitcoin’s biggest limitations. Bitcoin is known for being secure but slow, expensive. It is also hard to build on. It doesn’t support smart contracts natively, which means it has been left out of the DeFi, NFT, and gaming revolutions.

Bitcoin Hyper changes that. It runs its own high-speed network that handles transactions instantly and cheaply. Smart contracts are made possible through the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), which is plugged directly into the Bitcoin Hyper chain.

The Canonical Bridge allows users to deposit BTC and interact with wrapped BTC inside the Hyper ecosystem, without losing Bitcoin’s core security.

So you get the best of both worlds: Bitcoin’s security and trust, combined with the speed and flexibility of Solana.

How $HYPE Tokens Power the Ecosystem

Right now, the early staking APY is around 2,500%. The reward cannot be claimed until after the Token Generation Event (TGE), but the value accumulates daily, giving early participants a significant edge.

The earlier you stake, the higher your total rewards. Each stage of the presale comes with a slightly higher token price and potentially lower staking APY. That’s why many people are moving fast to lock in this early passive income before the next price hike.

Bitcoin Hyper Roadmap and Why It Matters