Wide receiver Jaden Upshaw (Leesburg, GA/ Lee County High School), the four-star prosect has officially accepted his invitation to the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
Michigan State basketball to play at UConn in exhibition this year, part of two-year series
MSU's men's basketball team will play at UConn in a preseason game on Oct. 28, part of a series, with UConn playing an exhibition at MSU next season.
USC top recruit Alijjah Arenas needs surgery for knee injury, will be out 6 to 8 months
USC top recruit Alijjah Arenas needs surgery for knee injury and will be out 6 to 8 months
Missouri extends Eli Drinkwitz’s contract through 2029, adds money to assistant salary pool
Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz received a second contract extension in less than two years, this one keeping him with the Tigers through the 2029 season while adding additional money to his salary pool for assistants.
Two-Time Former Kraken Forward Signs With KHL Team
Former Seattle Kraken forward Daniel Sprong has signed a contract with KHL club CSKA Moscow.
Sprong's tenure with the Kraken was split into two, the first being a success where he set a career-high in goals (21) and points (46) in just 66 games. He leveraged his successful stint with the Kraken into a contract with the Detroit Red Wings, where he once again excelled. Upon conclusion of his one-year deal, he moved on, signing with the Vancouver Canucks, but he was unable to find the same success.
After just nine games with the Canucks, he was traded back to the Kraken, but failed to regain his form, scoring a goal and an assist in 10 games. He was placed on waivers and spent the next 19 games with the Coachella Valley Firebirds before he was dealt again at the deadline, this time to the New Jersey Devils.
The shortcomings continued, and he found himself in the press box during the playoffs for all but one game, signalling that it might be in his best interest to move away from the NHL.
The move to join CSKA Moscow is exactly that, signing his first European contract.
Sprong is joining a CSKA Moscow team that is looking to revamp its roster after what it considers a disappointing season. The historic Russian club finished fifth in the Western Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Looking to bolster their roster, CSKA Moscow has signed Sprong, Nikolai Kovalenko, Rhett Gardiner, Denis Zerov and goaltender Spencer Martin this month, with Egor Sokolov being signed and traded away in the process. Additionally, the team has ex-NHLers Denis Guryanov, Nikita Nesterov, Nikita Okhotyuk, and Vladislav Kamenev under contract for the 2025-26 season.
A once-promising young, skilled winger has watched his NHL career slip away from him in the last year, but a successful stint in the KHL could earn his way back into the NHL, like many have done before him.
Flashback Friday: Where Are They Now? Alexander WennbergDrafted in the first round (14th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Alexander Wennberg joined the Seattle Kraken as an unrestricted free agent on July 28th, 2021 after six seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets and a single season with the Florida Panthers.
Tyrese Haliburton not mad at Myles Turner for jumping to Bucks: 'At the end of the day it is a business'
With Tyrese Haliburton out for next season and the luxury tax staring them in the face, Pacers ownership and management reportedly low-balled free agent Myles Turner. The Milwaukee Bucks stunned everyone by waiving Damian Lillard to create enough cap space to swoop in and sign Turner to a four-year, $108.9 million contract much more in line with his comparable value around the league.
Haliburton's not mad at Turner for jumping ship, he said in an appearance on the Pat McAfee show, Haliburton's first public comments since his injury.
"Myles Turner did some great things here..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 22, 2025
The NBA is a business and he's gotta do what's best for him..
I wish him the best moving forward" @TyHaliburton22#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/7EtJez2Ukb
"Since I've gotten here and for the last 10 years Myles' name has been synonymous with our organization... At the end of the day it is a business, he's gotta do what's best for him. I wish him the best moving forward. My focus is on the guys here and getting better here, but I wish him the best moving forward."
Professional athletes understand they are in a business and that they have a relatively short window to make money. With that, they rarely criticize another player for grabbing the biggest bag they can — make your money, set up your family. Players' friendships and respect don't change because of those business decisions.
In other Haliburton-related news:
• In that same ESPN interview, Haliburton said it may be more bad luck than anything else that has led to the rise in Achilles injuries in the NBA.
"Everybody thinks we play too many games, we play too many minutes -- all those things could be true, but I don't think that is what's causing these injuries... So I don't think that anybody has necessarily the answer. I think injuries are just bad luck sometimes and that's just what happened. I think that's just what happens in sports sometimes."
• Pacers general manager Chad Buchanan said the team has applied for and been granted a disabled injury exception for Haliburton for next season. In this case, that gives the Pacers a $14.1 million exception to sign a player (but does not free up a roster spot). The Pacers currently have 13 players under guaranteed contracts for next season, and Buchanan said on the Setting The Pace podcast that point guard depth is something they are considering.
The Main Reason Why Thomas Hickey Thinks Islanders Should Keep Mathew Barzal On The Wing
The New York Islanders are separating their dynamic duo of Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat, per head coach Patrick Roy.
That's the plan, at least.
With Brock Nelson gone and Jean-Gabriel Pageau not being a true No. 2 center, moving Barzal back to his natural position seems more like a necessity. However, Barzal's game -- he likes to possess the puck and skate through the neutral zone -- fits the center mold.
However, former Islanders defenseman and MSG analyst Thomas Hickey thinks that Barzal should remain on the wing.
"Honestly, I like him as a winger more," Hickey said on Hockey Night in New York. "I think he likes playing center. I think he's a better player on the wing, I really do. Do I have a problem moving him to the middle like Patrick [Roy] is doing? No, and I understand why, right? Because now you can have two guys... I mean, Barzal was so dynamic, and Bo is just a really solid 1B center."
Sunday during “On the Line” brought to you by @tovihockeyy, @Thomas_Hickey14 gave his thoughts on the #Isles plan for Mat Barzal to move back to center.
— Hockey Night NY (@hockeynightny) July 24, 2025
Where do you think Barzal should play? Catch the full interview & show at https://t.co/EgKW82XlXJ#NHLpic.twitter.com/StP5avXUjI
The biggest takeaway is what Hickey said about Barzal's defensive game.
"I'm just wondering if that's going to translate if he's going back to center full time," Hickey said. "Are we going to see all those great plays that I saw of him stripping pucks and just being a smart forechecker and having a lot more detail in his own zone?"
As a center, Barzal was not the best away from the puck. However, when he was moved to Horvat's wing upon Bo's arrival in late January of 2023, Barzal seemed to learn a lot.
Over the last two seasons, Barzal hasn't just cleaned things up; he has admitted to us in the media that he's actually having fun doing the little things, like backchecking and stripping opponents.
In 2023-24, Barzal set a new career-high in takeaways, with 84. He recorded 70 back in 2019-20.
Now, one would think that Barzal has matured as a player, so there shouldn't be much deviation in his game. If anything, he may be a smarter center than ever before because of his time on the wing.
But for those that play center or just know the position, there's a lot more focus that Barzal has to have when it comes to all facets of the game. Yes, he'll be carrying the puck up a lot more rather than trying to get open.
His first one-touch pass in the defensive zone to initiate a breakout, or his first few strides to create time and space, have to be sharp. But, defensively, he also needs to get back to being deeper in the defensive zone, below the dots rather than hovering the blue line waiting for a breakout pass.
It's just a different game and a different mindst going from center to winger.
While Barzal has been so sound defensively the last season and a half -- obviously, he missed significant time last season -- he did have Horvat to bail him out when need be, given his strong two-way game.
As of now, we do not know who Barzal's linemates will be. In theory, if Calum Ritchie makes the team out of training camp as the third-line center, the Islanders could put Pageau on Barzal's wing.
The two can alternate face-offs, but also, Pageau can be that defensive mind that would allow Barzal to continue to have the offensive focus.
The one thing the Islanders don't want to see happen is, well, kinda what happened to Pageau when he came over from the Ottawa Senators at the 2020 NHL Trade Deadline.
Pageau had 24 goals in 60 games before the trade, a 32.8 goal pace over 82 games. However, when he joined the Islanders, then head coach Barry Trotz had Pageau playing a defensive-minded role, a role he played almost to perfection.
However, Pageau's offensive game was stifled as a result, only recently showcasing that he still has some offensive ability left.
Now, Barzal is a much more gifted offensive player than Pageau, and we didn't see his offensive game diminish as his defensive game grew. So, this shouldn't be a problem.
However, as Hickey said, it's worth considering, since the Islanders will need to play a responsible brand of hockey if they want to make the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
PHOTO: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
On This Date In Columbus Blue Jackets History: The Blue Jackets Swap Cam Atkinson For Jake Voráček
On July 24th, 2021, there was a trade that absolutely no one saw coming: Cam Atkinson was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers for Jake Voráček .
Cam Atkinson, the 6th-round pick out of Connecticut, was a fan favorite and a CBJ legend so far in his Columbus Career. After the 20-21 season, he had played 10 years and 627 games as a Blue Jacket. In those 10 seasons, he would go on to score 213 goals, which puts him second all-time behind Rick Nash. His 189 assists have him 4th on the all-time CBJ list, and he had 402 points, which is also second all-time. He scored 42 power-play goals and chipped in 16 short-handed goals. His 16 shorties sit him atop the CBJ record books.
Jake Voráček was originally drafted by the Blue Jackets in 2007, going 7th overall. After being drafted, Voráček would go back to Junior for one more season before making his NHL debut in 2008. In his first stint with Columbus, he played three full seasons, only missing 5 games over those three seasons. He scored 39 goals and had 134 points. And then June 23rd happened, a day that almost all Columbus fans will remember. GM Scott Howson, in an attempt to try to keep Rick Nash in Columbus, traded Jake Voráček and two draft picks to the Flyers for Jeff Carter. That was arguably the worst trade in team history. Carter didn’t want to come to Columbus, and Rick Nash would be traded about a year later. Jake Voráček would go on to play 727 games as a Flyer, scoring 177 goals and totaling 604 points.
When Voráček was traded back to Columbus, Atkinson fans were livid. How could they trade a franchise icon? People were left wondering why? Voráček made around $3 million more per year than Atkinson, too. Fans were puzzled. This was a pure hockey 1-for-1 trade. The Jackets needed a more versatile player who could be a playmaker, which is Voráček. And the Flyers got a pure scorer. Jake Voráček embraced the move, came to Columbus, and had a great year. He would play in 79 games, score 6 goals, and have 56 assists. His 56 assists were three off the single-season record of 59, set by Artemi Panarin in 2018-19. He would only play in 11 games in 2022-23 due to concussion issues. November 4th, 2022, would be the last game he would play in Union Blue. He would suffer a concussion against the Avalanche while playing at the NHL Global Series in Finland. On March 2nd of 2023. The Jackets traded Voráček and a pick to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for goalie Jon Gilles. The Jake Voráček era in Columbus had come to an end for the second time.
In April of 2024, Voráček would announce his retirement from professional hockey. He would score 806 points in 1058 career games.
Cam Atkinson, played last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played in 39 games and had 9 points. He currently does not have a contract in place, and it's unknown what his future plans are. Atkinson has 489 points in 809 career games. 402 of those points came as a Blue Jacket.
I do believe this trade worked out well for both teams.
This trade shook the fanbase when it happened, but they cooled off once they saw Voráček having a good year. It was a good hockey trade at the time.
Let us know what you think below.
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Aaron Boone says Yankees’ defense ‘just not good enough’ after 4 errors in loss to Blue Jays
TORONTO — Yankees manager Aaron Boone said his team’s defensive performance was “just not good enough” after New York made four errors in an 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
“We’ve got to, obviously, tighten it up,” Boone said. “Confident we will. We’ll continue to work at it. We have good defenders here, but tonight was obviously a rough night for us.”
Left-hander Max Fried and second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. made throwing errors, while first baseman Ben Rice and outfielder Jasson Domínguez made fielding errors.
The Yankees also made several miscues that didn’t count as errors, including Cody Bellinger losing a flyball in the twilight and no one covering the plate after Fried’s errant throw in the fifth inning.
“Today was a little shaky,” Bellinger said.
Davis Schneider scored from third base when Fried bounced his throw home on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s chopper.
“Tough angle and just not a good throw,” said Fried, a three-time Gold Glove winner with Atlanta.
George Springer scored from second base after the ball rolled away from catcher J.C. Escarra.
The Yankees made seven errors in the three-game series, including a pair of poor throws that led to runs for Toronto in the series opener, a 4-1 Blue Jays win.
“We haven’t been playing that well on defense,” slugger Aaron Judge said. “We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to clean up.”
New York also struggled defensively while getting swept in four games at Toronto from June 30 to July 3 as the Blue Jays leapfrogged the Yankees atop the AL East.
“Obviously, we’ve had two (crummy) series up here,” Boone said. “There’s no way around it. Maybe we’ll get a chance to come back here at some point and flip that script.”
New York has committed 52 errors in 102 games. The Yankees are 41-22 when they play error-free baseball but 15-24 when they make at least one miscue.
“It’s in our control so we’ll take care of it,” Judge said.
‘We stand on what I said’: Why FSU QB’s shots at Alabama are exactly what the Noles need right now
Tommy Castellanos says he is trying to return Florida State to the bully it once was.
Rays option Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham after poor start
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays optioned right-hander Taj Bradley to Triple-A Durham following his poor start in Wednesday night’s 11-9 loss to the Chicago White Sox.
Once a top pitching prospect, the 24-year-old Bradley was handed a 4-0 lead after the first inning against the last-place White Sox (37-66). But he couldn’t get through the second, allowing four runs, four hits and three walks.
White Sox rookie Colson Montgomery tied the score with a three-run homer off Bradley.
“Tough decision, certainly, but felt like it’s best for him to get down there right now,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s got to get to work. ... It’s probably a better environment for him to work rather than compete every single pitch. We know that Taj Bradley is massive to our success, and we need to get him back to the form that we know he’s capable of.”
The move, described by team officials as a strategic reset rather than a disciplinary action, comes as Bradley’s performance at the major league level has been inconsistent. Through 21 starts this season, he is 6–6 with a 4.61 ERA, raising concerns about his command and mental approach.
In the minors, Bradley will work to regain command of his secondary pitches such as his changeup and slider.
Meanwhile, the Rays plan to rely more heavily on pitchers such as Joe Boyle and Mason Englert to stabilize the rotation.
Warriors star Steph Curry explains loyalty to Drake amid Kendrick Lamar feud
Warriors star Steph Curry explains loyalty to Drake amid Kendrick Lamar feud originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
When Kendrick Lamar’s award-winning “They Not Like Us” song broke out after Team USA’s win over Serbia in the Olympic semifinals last summer, nearly the entire arena sang along to the catchy diss track.
But not Steph Curry.
The Warriors’ superstar was caught in a viral video unenthused by the song choice while his teammates, including NBA megastar LeBron James, said he “loved it” while others jammed out.
“Damn with this song,” Curry said in the video. “It’s not the only song in America.”
Some speculated it had something to do with Curry’s close relationship with hip-hop icon Drake, whom Lamar dissed during a heated music feud last year, or if it was simply just Curry being agitated by how often and overplayed the song had become.
Almost exactly one year later, Curry explained his viral reaction to the song in that moment during a recent interview with Complex’s Speedy Morman.
“It was both,” Curry admitted. “Everywhere we went, that’s all I heard. And the fact that they knew who I was with. You can’t do anything about what the DJ’s playing. But I got sick of it at a certain point.
“It was funny that the cameras caught me because that was from the soul.”
The loyalty goes both ways, too, as Drake has Curry’s No. 30 tattooed on his arm with a halo.
Curry and Drake go way back, supporting each other’s professional careers but also having a real family-type bond as the rapper and Curry’s wife, Ayesha, both are from Toronto.
Well, now the Warriors’ Chase Center in-arena crew knows which song not to play during home games.
Ukrainian-Born Ex-Leaf Heads Back To KHL
Ukrainian-born Swedish winger Dmytro Timashov, 28, has signed a two-year contract with Admiral Vladivostok, several Swedish media outlets have reported.
Timashov, who has a Ukrainian mother and Russian father, created quite a sensation in Sweden – where he was raised – last summer when he signed with KHL club HC Sochi. After recording four points in 22 games, he was released in December and then in January signed with Swiss club Genève-Servette, where he put up nine points over 22 games during the rest of the season.
Now he’s headed back to the KHL.
“I want to play in the KHL to get closer to my family who lives there,” he told Swedish website HockeySverige.se.
Depending on exactly where in Russia his family is located, Vladivostok is an interesting choice. The city lies in the far east of Russia on the Pacific coast – approximately 9,000 km from Moscow.
Timashov was born in Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine but left the country with his mother at age seven and grew up in suburban Stockholm, Sweden, which is where he started playing hockey. He played for Djurgården in Stockholm and then went overseas at age 17 to play junior hockey for the Quebec Remparts, where he won the QMJHL rookie-of-the-year award and he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Dmytro Timashov Leaves KHL, Signs In SwitzerlandUkrainian-born Swedish winger Dmytro Timashov, 28, has signed a short-term contract in Switzerland with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Friday. His contract runs until Feb. 2 with an option to extend it until the end of the season.
He played 45 NHL games with the Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and New York Islanders, scoring four goals and adding five assists, but spent most of his time between 2016 and 2021 in the AHL. Since then, Timashov has played two seasons in the SHL with Brynäs IF and then one season with HC Ajoie in Switzerland’s National League.
Internationally, Timashov represented Sweden at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Vladivostok finished eighth in the KHL’s Eastern Conference last season and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The team also has under contract for 2025-26 Slovak goaltender Adam Húska, Czech defenseman Lukáš Šulák and Slovak national team defenseman Mário Grman.
Photo © Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.
Slovak Ex-Rangers Goalie Returns To KHL
Slovak
goalie Adam Húska, 28, has signed a one-year contract with Admiral
Vladivostok, the
KHL club recently
announced on social media. When is Bill Belichick at ACC media days? Start time, TV channel for UNC news conference
Here's how to follow along with Bill Belichick's news conference at ACC media days, including the start time and TV channel
Hard work for Australian swimmers on road to LA 2028 begins in Singapore | Kieran Pender
Swim events at the World Aquatics Championships get under way this weekend as the Dolphins put the drawing board behind them
Barely an hour after the Australian swim team had completed a successful meet at the Paris Olympics, the Dolphins head coach, Rohan Taylor, was already looking to the future. “We’ll go back to the drawing board,” he said on the pool deck. “Performance by design” is one of his often-repeated mantras. So relentless is the pursuit of gold that the following morning, the Dolphins held a debriefing session to reflect on improvements ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
In the year that followed, Australia’s swim stars have enjoyed time away from the pool. Some retired – the nation’s most successful Olympian of all time, Emma McKeon, brought the curtain down on her glittering career, and had a local pool named in her honour. Some tried their hand at other activities – 50m and 100m freestyle star Shayna Jack featured on I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here!, while middle-distance titan Ariarne Titmus is still out of the water, recently on commentary duties at the Australian swimming trials.
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