Bengaluru: Rahul Dravid, once a hockey midfielder, famously put away the stick and stuck to weaving magic with the willow. Almost four decades later, with a stick in hand, he can still trap a ball with precision and position a pass well too. The former India captain and coach, who played in the same school team St. Josephs Boys High School as former international hockey players Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh, counts hockey as one of his favourite sports. Speaking at the opening of the inter-college hockey tournament commemorating the platinum jubilee of his alma mater, St Josephs College of Commerce (SJCC), here on Friday, Dravid reminisced about his days on the hockey field.I played a lot of hockey in school. I was fortunate to play with people like Anil Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh for two reasons. Firstly, we were a strong team and won tournaments like Centenary Shield and the Father Eric Vaz inter-school tournaments because of these two guys. Also, it was a good lesson for me because when I watched them play or played with them, I realised that I was better off playing cricket, Dravid joked.Incidentally, Dravid and Somesh both played as midfielders, while 1996 Atlanta Olympian Aldrin was a defender. The 53-year-old Dravid said hockey had played an important role in his formative years. I loved playing hockey. It was a great team sport. India has such an incredible history, legacy and tradition in hockey, he said.Dravid also praised the resurgence of Indian hockey after the mens team secured back-to-back Olympic bronze medals in Paris and Tokyo. We havent been able to reach the heights and standards that we had in the past, but Im glad we have been quite successful in recent times. There is a revival of hockey, he observed.The two-day five-a-side inter-college hockey tournament, which has attracted 17 teams, has been organised by SJCCs Old Students Association (OSA) and Yes For Hockey. The competition is timely for the revival of collegiate hockey, which has declined over the years.Lauding the efforts of OSA, Dravid said, They've been very passionate about trying to revive hockey and get more youngsters to play it, which is really important because it's such a phenomenal sport to be a part of. I think it's only going to keep getting better."

Scotland agonisingly missed out on a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in the artistic gymnastics men's team final, falling short of third-place Australia by 1.350 points.The Scots, inspired by 21-year-old Reuben Ward, threw everything they had at their final discipline of the six involved - the horizontal bar - but were left gutted in front of a raucous home crowd at The Arena in Glasgow."We didn't get on the podium but there was something truly special about that last rotation," a tearful Hamish Carter told BBC Scotland following his third - and potentially final - Games appearance."Whether it was a gold, fourth, or last, to share that with these guys was probably the highlight of my career, something that I'll likely never experience again."The standings were overshadowed by a sickening injury to England's Gabriel Langton in the final rotation, which delayed proceedings.Though the team event ended without a medal for Scotland, there were multiple qualifications for individual apparatus finals.Carter and Cameron Lynn qualified for the all-round individual final on Sunday, alongside Ward who also topped the qualifying standings for Monday's pommel horse showpiece - posting a sensational score of 14.550 and beating Olympic champion Rhys McClenaghan from Northern Ireland.He also reached Tuesday's parallel bar final, while Lynn made the horizontal bar final on the same day.

LeBron James will join his fourth different NBA team after agreeing a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers (Harry How)LeBron James announced on Friday he will play for the Philadelphia 76ers next season, with the 41-year-old NBA superstar hoping to transform another franchise into a championship team.James, the NBA all-time scoring leader and a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, has won four titles in a 23-year career, most recently with the Los Angeles Lakers.But "King James" announced on June 30 that he would depart the Lakers as a free agent, sparking a frenzy of speculation as to his next team."I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time," James posted on X.James sparked the Miami Heat to NBA crowns in 2013 and 2014, brought his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers a title in 2016 and delivered a championship for the Lakers in 2020.He's looking to become the first player to win a title with four different clubs by making the same magic happen in what Rich Paul, James's agent, tells ESPN will be a two-year deal worth $8 million.The NBA legend was considering several clubs but will join a 76ers team that traded for forward Jaylen Brown from Boston and boasts a lineup that will also include star center Joel Embiid and guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe."#throwtheballup" Brown posted on X in reaction to the news while Maxey, who called fellow Paul client James to entice him to Philly, was screaming with joy on social media over his "recruiting" skills.James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 assists, 6.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals a game for the Lakers last season and said he was considering retirement when the campaign concluded."Ithought I was done when the season ended. I wasn't ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game," James posted on X."I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game."James rekindled his desire to play while pondering his future."I still truly love this game, and I have more to give," he posted. "The last few weeks have really been special. I've never been able to have no clue what to do and take real time to just think. I've had an incredible few months with all the people I love trying to figure it all out."Paul played up the potential clubs James could join during more than three weeks of mystery about where he might sign.Would James return home to Cleveland, return to Miami, join pals Stephen Curry and Draymond Green at Golden State or find another contender?"This is my last decision," James, who had made three prior heavily scrutinized free agent moves in his career, posted. "I'm not going for money. I'm not going for family."What am I really playing for at this point? I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship."James did send his regrets to some of his other suitors, posting: "Thank you LA. Miami I'll forever love and Northeast Ohio will always be home!"The indecision had become a strain for the business side of the NBA, commissioner Adam Silver saying he could not commit to a schedule for the upcoming season until he knew where James landed, telecasters hoping to fill their lineups with LeBron and his new teammates.- No title since 1983 -The Sixers have reached the playoffs in eight of the past nine years but never advanced beyond the second round, where they were swept out this past season by eventual champion New York.The 76ers last reached the NBA Finals in 2001, losing to the Lakers, and last won the title in 1983 -- when Julius Erving sparked a Finals sweep of the Lakers.James and Embiid were teammates on the US squad that captured gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Sixers coach Nick Nurse, who celebrated his 59th birthday on Friday, guided the Toronto Raptors to the 2019 NBA title.Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro declared it LeBron James Day in the state, saying, "Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love KingJames."NFL running back Saquon Barkley, who sparked the Philadelphia Eagles to the 2025 Super Bowl title, offered area golf advice, posting on X: "Welcome to the city! Let me know when you tryna tee it up."js/amz

Ohio State will likely always be the king of sports in Columbus, but good on the local professional and semi-professional franchises for embracing that. The Columbus Clippers recently announced an Ohio State-themed game and custom jerseys, and the Columbus Blue Jackets paid homage to OSU when they played an outdoor game in the 'Shoe against the Detroit Red Wings.Sometimes, the sports even cross, like the news we received on Thursday when the Ohio State women's hockey team announced the hiring of former Blue Jacket Jack Johnson. The former NHL defenseman played for Columbus from 2012-18 and then again for his final season in 2024-25. He carved out a niche for hitting and blocking shots while he wore the blue sweater, and now he'll be taking his knowledge to Nadine Muzeralls program.We're really excited to have a new member join our family here at Ohio State, Muzerall said in a release. To bring in Jack Johnson is going to continue to make our program better, both on the ice and really contribute to recruiting. When we talk about Ohio State, we talk about family and how we're all united. I think it's very important that he exemplifies that. He's going to bring that to our program and I think our recruits are going to see that and I know our girls are going to feel that.Excited to announce the addition of Jack Johnson to our coaching staff! #GoBucks | https://t.co/5oFdT25DlSpic.twitter.com/8roxzA4WDC Ohio State Women's Hockey (@OhioStateWHKY) July 23, 2026Johnson does bring a winning pedigree to Ohio State. He was a part of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup-winning team in 2022. He played his college hockey -- believe it or not -- at Michigan, so coming to the Buckeyes has to be a little bit awkward. Something tells me he'll fit in just fine.It's such a privilege and honor to be involved with the best women's college hockey program in the country, Johnson said. I can't wait for the season to start and to continue Ohio State's pursuit of national championships.Contact/Follow us@BuckeyesWireon X (formerly Twitter) and like our page onFacebookto follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. FollowPhil Harrison on X.This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Columbus Blue Jacket joins Ohio State women's coaching staff

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not gotten a start from Tyler Glasnow in months, but that is slowly changing. Glasnow went down on the injured list with back spasms, something that was triggered back in May after one inning of work against the Houston Astros.Since then, he was shut down for a bit, resumed throwing, and then he was shut down once again. He has experienced a lot of stop-and-start, but over the last two weeks he has finally been cleared to resume throwing and has gotten work in. Apr 29, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) throws pitch against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn ImagesOn Friday, before the Dodgers started their series against the Mets, Glasnow faced hitters in a live setting, his first time since being on the shelf. Glas[now] is throwing a live, hes throwing to hitters today, I think its today. So hes trending, Roberts said. Tyler Glasnow is scheduled to throw to hitters today, per Dave Roberts. He last pitched May 6 before being removed early with back spasms. pic.twitter.com/PPgiaUmAON Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) July 24, 2026While he is still a lengthy rehabilitation assignment away from coming back, all signs point to Glasnow returning at some point in the regular season, as long as his back responds well. September looks more likely than October, as the Dodgers will be careful with their tall righty, but this is good news ahead of the trade deadline, when LA was facing some added pressure to trade for a pitcher due to Snell and Glasnow missing months of action.Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow (31) reacts after giving up a three-run home run to the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesHow Tyler Glasnows injury recovery has gone thus farInitially, Roberts and the Dodgers expected Glasnows back issue to be minor, but it has not responded well whenever he has tried to really push himself.The Dodgers will be very cautious to avoid another shutdown, as it could risk his ability to pitch again this season. I think theres been times where hes played catch, thrown pens and then feels good until he doesnt, Roberts said two weeks ago when Glasnow started his recent throwing sessions. The back is a little tricky. Hopefully, he comes in feeling good today, and then when he keeps throwing his pens, we keep moving the needle. But were trying to get a good base so we dont have a setback, because, obviously, now in the middle of the season, setbacks are going to be hard to overcome.This next week of work for Glasnow will be pivotal and could change the direction that the franchise takes at the deadline.

Patriots coach Mike Vrabel was a player. He knows the difference between playing on real grass and playing on fake grass. His team plays its home games on fake grass, even though the stadium had real grass for the World Cup.Vrabel was asked about the issue of real grass vs. fake grass during his first press conference of 2026 training camp. He avoided addressing the question."My take is we would play anywhere we possibly have to," Vrabel said. "Thats my take. It's the kind of football team that I want to create one that doesn't make excuses, that doesn't care what the environment is. Were going to go open the season in a great environment in Seattle, and we're going to play on grass, we're going to play on turf, and it's going to rain, it's going to snow. There's a lot of things that are going to come up, and my job is to make sure that we're prepared for whatever does happen."That's fine, but what does he think about the fact that 92 percent of the players prefer real grass? Does he prefer real grass? Does he always practice on real grass, even when the Patriots are preparing to play a game on fake grass?It's a tough spot for any coach of any team whose owners have decided to play home games on the surface that the players don't prefer. The fact that Vrabel didn't answer the question says plenty about what he personally thinks about the issue.

MIDLAND Get ready to test your skills on the course during the Hot Hot Hot Clays Registered Shoot at the Midland Shooters Association Shotgun Range, 7400 W. County Road 170. This competitive clay shooting event will bring together registered shooters for a day of challenging targets, friendly competition, and the opportunity to compete for top scores.The event will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Midland Shooters Association Shotgun Range, a full-service shooting facility serving the Permian Basin community with a variety of clay target shooting opportunities, including sporting clays, trap, skeet, and registered shooting events.Shooters will have multiple options when registering for the event, including the Green and Red course option for $80 or the True Pair Challenge 50-target option for $50. Participants will also have the opportunity to place bets during registration for those looking to add an extra level of competition to their experience, a news release said.Whether you are a seasoned competitor or looking to challenge yourself in a registered event, Hot Hot Hot Clays offers an opportunity to enjoy the sport of clay shooting while competing alongside fellow shooters.Registration is now open. To sign up for the Hot Hot Hot Clays Registered Shoot, visit: tinyurl.com/yeh6m488For more information about Midland Shooters Association and upcoming shooting events, visit Midland Shooters Association online.The post Midland Shooters Association hosts Hot Hot Hot Clays Registered Shoot appeared first on Odessa American.

Ecuador squeaked out of Group E, advancing to the round of 32 as the third-place team with four points. Many believed Ecuador's defense, led by Moiss Caicedo and Pervis Estupin, could carry it on a deep run. However, that didn't prove to be true as Mexico dismantled Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca. Their attack didn't help much either, as starting forward Enner Valencia couldn't find the back of the net throughout all four matches. So what's next for Ecuador's key players after the 2026 World Cup? Caicedo was an anchor of Ecuador's defensive fortress, playing every minute of all four matches. He returns to English Premier League club Chelsea for his fourth season. He's started 70 matches over the last two seasons and is a consistent mainstay in Chelsea's lineup. After injuring his ankle in the FIFA World Cup, Estupin will try to recover ahead of his second season with Italian Serie A side, AC Milan. Valencia, who wears the Capitan's band for Ecuador, failed to score in four matches at the 2026 World Cup. However, he remains the nation's leading goalscorer. The 35-year-old striker will return for his second season in Mexico's Liga MX with Pachuca. Pacho is part of the formidable backline for French side Paris Saint-Germain, helping it to two consecutive Champions League titles. He'll return for his third season with PSG. Hincapi faced off against Pacho in that Champions League final, representing Arsenal. In his first season with the England-based Giants, he helped Arsenal win its first Premier League title since 1993, while finishing second in the Champions League. He'll return for a second season with the Gunners.

SportsLine's Kyle Marley reveals his picks for the UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Guskov card on Saturday on Paramount+

Sha'Carri Richardson is once again a national champion.Richardson won the womens 100 at the 2026 USA Track and Field Championships on Friday, July 24.Richardson crossed the finish line with a time of 10.77 to win. Her time equaled a season best. Kayla White ran a 10.90 to place second and Tamari Davis posted an 11.00 to take third.Running out of lane five, Richardson got a decent start. She pulled even with the field around 40 meters, surged passed the other sprinters and crossed the finish line with a comfortable victory.It feels phenomenal to be back in a better place. Healthy, physically, mentally and emotionally, Richardson told NBC Sports after the race. It shows that hard work pays off.Richardson came in with the top time in the U.S. this year (10.77). She had the fastest time (10.78) during the semifinal round but it was wind-aided.Richardson was the heavy favorite to win the womens 100 after her training partner and main U.S. rival Melissa Jefferson-Wooden decided to focus just on the womens 200 at this years U.S. championships. Jefferson-Wooden edged Richardson in the 100 at the Prefontaine Classic earlier this month.Richardson is the second woman to win three U.S. 100-meter titles since 2000. The 26-year-old sprinter also won a world championship title in the event in 2023. She was second in the 100 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.SHA'CARRI'S GOT SPEED. Sha'Carri Richardson earns her THIRD NATIONAL TITLE in the women's outdoor 100m! USATF National Championships on Peacock & NBCSN pic.twitter.com/08YpBRy4fa NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 24, 2026Richardsons personal-best of 10.65 is tied for the seventh fastest ever in the history of the event.Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X@TheTylerDragon.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Sha'Carri Richardson wins 100 at USA Track and Field Championships