Saturday, December 22, 2012

#4 Duke Women Topple Host USC Trojans 75 - 60

Day 2 of The Women Troy Basketball Classic featured University of Southern California vs. #4 Duke
Photo : Joe Nathan
Kate Oliver (#10) and Cassie Harberts (#11) battle Duke's Elizabeth Williams (#1) and Tricia Liston (#32) for a loose ball during Duke's 75 - 60 win over the USC Trojans. Photo: Joe Nathan


                                                  Elizabeth Williams (#1) and Kate Oliver (#10) Photo: Joe Nathan


LOS ANGELES - The University of Southern California played host to the Duke Women's basketball team, in the marquee matchup of The Women Of Troy Basketball Classic. USC Head Coach had his team ready to play against the mighty Duke team. Cassie Harberts, Kate Oliver, and Alexyz Vaioletama led their team with gritty, physical play in the game vs. Duke. Harberts scored on a lay-up with 3:52 left in the first-half to bring her team within two. Duke then went on a scoring spree, ignited by a 3-pointer from Chelsea Gray, to take a 39-30 halftime lead.



To their credit, USC never gave up even when Duke opened up a 20-point lead, on a Tricia Liston 3-point basket with 2:53 left in the game. The Trojans Kiki Alofaituli, scored on a layup as time expired, to make the final score Duke 75 - USC 60.  Duke simply overpowered the Trojans. Tricia Liston, Haley Peters, Elizabeth Williams, Alexis Jones and Chelsea Gray all scored in double figures for Duke.  In addition, Chloe Wells provided a much-needed energy boost and spark to the Duke lineup when inserted with about seven minutes left in the first half. Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McCallie took note of  Well's "leadership" and "energy" in her post-game comments.







Up next for Duke:  December 30, Monmouth visits Cameron Indoor at 2p.m. (EST)






Duke 97 - CSU Bakersfield 63

Duke Head Coach Joanne P. McAllie, Allison Vernerey, Elizabeth Williams, Tricia Liston, Chelsea Gray, Assistant Coach Candice Jackson, Assistant Coach Joy Cheek, Sarah Smoak and Hernando Planells watch intently during Duke's 97-63 win over CSU Bakersfield. Photo: Joe Nathan


LOS ANGELES -  The #4 Duke Women's basketball team has descended on Southern California to participate in the Women Of Troy Basketball Classic.  Their first opponent, CSU Bakersfield, was overmatched by the talented and deep Duke team 97 - 63.

Elizabeth Williams led all scorers with 21 points and 8 rebounds.  5 other Duke players also scored double figures  - Haley Peters (16 points.), Tricia Liston (14 points), Chelsea Gray (11 points), Chloe Wells (10 points) and Sierra Moore (10 points).

Duke's Tricia Liston and Allison Vernerey wrestle for control of the ball with CSU Bakersfield's Marilyn Naderhofffor.  Photo: Joe Nathan

CSU Bakersfield actually had an early lead and with 13:41 left in the 1st half the score was tied 15-15. After a timeout, Duke gathered itself and began to perform like the #4 team in the country.

Up next: Duke will face host USC at 3p.m. (EST) in Day 2 of the Women Of Troy Basketball Classic.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Walmart Discounts iPhone 5 and iPad Till End of 2012!


Walmart has announced starting December 17th, the 16G iPhone 5 will be sold for $127.00, with a two-year commitment. In addition, the 16G 4th generation iPad, will be available for purchase at $399.00. The iPad purchase also comes with a $30.00 iTunes gift card.

These deals are available in-store only. Seems like Walmart is pushing hard to grow its foot traffic and sales by year-end. This price cut by Walmart may be the biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone.



Thursday, December 13, 2012

Duke Basketball: Best in The NCAA?


                                                                                                     


Cameron Indoor Stadium, Coach P,  Coach K,  Cameron Crazies are all hallmarks of Duke University Basketball. Is the Duke Basketball program the best in the NCAA? 





The 2012-13 Duke Women and Men's Basketball program is once again riding high. The Women with an 8-0 record, are ranked #4. The  9-0 record for the Men, marks the 15th time Coach K has started the season with 9 wins and no losses. With wins over  Kentucky, Louisville and Ohio State, the men's squad has arguably played the toughest schedule in the NCAA. 

Sure the season is young, but one would be hard pressed to find a program flying higher than Duke University Basketball. Haley Peters, Tricia Liston, Chelsea Gray, Elizabeth Williams, Mason Plumlee, Seth Curry, Quinn Cook are but a few of the players in Duke's program, that exemplify what being a student-athlete is all about. Speaking of being student-athletes, both teams players have time off for finals. The Duke men will host Cornell, at Cameron Indoor on December 19th.  The Women will travel to Southern California for a weekend of basketball starting December 21st. 


So the question remains:

Is Duke Basketball the Best in the NCAA? Stay Tuned........




















Thursday, December 6, 2012

It's Official - Apple is Coming to T-Mobile in 2013!



Is the wait finally over? According to a press release from Deutsche Telekom, YES! Apple is coming, Apple is coming to T-Mobile USA in 2013! T-Mobile's 34 million customers will finally be able to enter the Apple ecosystem without purchasing (as over 1 million T-Mobile customers have) an unlocked iPhone.



Will there be a new iPhone launched on T-Mobile's network next year? Details are vague, so the best we can do is say....

Stay Tuned.

The announcement was very low-key, almost hidden in the press release from Deutsche Telekom.  Here's the press release:


Deutsche Telekom steps up investment in growth in 2014 and adjusts dividend planning to 50 euro cents
Dec 06, 2012
Ad hoc notification from Deutsche Telekom in accordance with § 15 of the Securities Trading Act (WpHG)
The Board of Management of Deutsche Telekom today approved the financial planning for the Group for the years 2013 through 2015. The relevant committees of the Supervisory Board, the General and Finance Committees, then addressed the plans and formulated a recommendation for the Supervisory Board to approve them at its next meeting.
The plans are for the Group to increase its capital expenditure considerably over the next three years (including expenditure following the closing of the business combination of MetroPCS with T-Mobile USA, which is expected in the first half of 2013). Capital expenditure (excluding spectrum investment) of EUR 9.8 billion is scheduled for 2013 compared with an expected total of EUR 8.3 billion in the current year. The increased level of capital expenditure is intended to generate year-on-year growth both in revenue and adjusted EBITDA as soon as 2014. To create a basis for comparison, MetroPCS is assumed to be included for the full 2013 financial year based on a pro forma calculation.
The dividend for the 2013 and 2014 financial years is to be adjusted to these plans, with a payment of 50 euro cents per dividend-bearing share planned for both years. The plans for dividend payments are subject to approval by the relevant bodies and the fulfillment of other legal requirements.
The higher investment volume is to be used to roll out the broadband infrastructure in Germany and the United States in particular. In the mobile communications network, this will be done using the state-of-the-art technology LTE. Around EUR 6 billion is earmarked for rolling out the broadband infrastructure in the German fixed network with optical fiber and vectoring between 2013 and 2020. In addition, T-Mobile USA has entered into an agreement with Apple to bring products to market together in 2013.
Expected development of revenue in the operating segments and the Group.
Deutsche Telekom expects its revenues in the Germany segment to stabilize in 2014. The Europe segment is expected to record organic growth again in 2014, i.e., without the impact of regulatory decisions, exchange rate effects and exceptional state measures such as the imposition of additional taxes. The U.S. business is to return to growth in the planning period. The activities of the Digital Business Unit are expected to generate double-digit growth rates until 2015. Deutsche Telekom expects T-Systems to generate profitable revenue growth in its business with customers outside the Deutsche Telekom Group.
Deutsche Telekom therefore expects the Group to generate additional revenue in 2014 compared with the prior year (including MetroPCS on a comparable basis).
Expected development of adjusted EBITDA in the Group for 2013 and 2014.
The forecast for the Group in its current structure is for adjusted EBITDA of around EUR 17.4 billion in 2013 (forecast for 2012: around EUR 18 billion). Based on a pro forma calculation that assumes inclusion of MetroPCS for the entire financial year 2013, adjusted EBITDA would amount to around EUR 18.4 billion. Deutsche Telekom is planning a year-on-year increase in adjusted EBITDA in 2014 (including MetroPCS on a comparable basis).
Expected development of free cash flow in the Group for 2013 through 2015.
The Group's free cash flow is expected to decrease to around EUR 5 billion in 2013 (scheduled figure for 2012: around EUR 6 billion), primarily as a result of the increased capital expenditure and the systematic implementation of the Challenger strategy in the U.S. market, including the agreement with Apple. The Group's free cash flow is expected to be around EUR 6 billion in 2015 (including MetroPCS).
Dividend planning for 2013 and 2014.
Subject to approval by the relevant bodies and the fulfillment of other legal requirements, a dividend of 50 euro cents per dividend-bearing share is to be paid for each of the financial years 2013 and 2014. The Company also plans to offer shareholders the option of receiving payment in the form of shares (dividend in kind). Both forms of payment are tax-free for domestic shareholders.
Planning for key financial indicators.
The ratio of net debt to adjusted EBITDA from 2013 through 2015 is to remain within the range of 2.0 to 2.5 as in the previous three years. The equity ratio is also scheduled to remain in the same range as for the previous period of 25 to 35 percent.
Deutsche Telekom continues to manage its liquidity reserve such that at least capital market maturities for the forthcoming 24 months are covered at any given time. Closely linked to this is the approach of a balanced maturities profile.