Scoopers Win Slugfest Over Spearfish in Season Finale
October 23, 2025
STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers played lockdown defense on the high-powered Spearfish offense and ran roughshod on the Spartan
STURGIS, SD – The Sturgis Scoopers played lockdown defense on the high-powered Spearfish offense and ran roughshod on the Spartan
Statues of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller will be unveiled Friday on the grounds of the Alabama Capitol. The monuments honoring the two famed native Alabamians will be the first statues of women placed on the state capitol grounds. Known as the mother of the modern civil rights movement, Parks helped ignite the Montgomery Bus Boycott for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus to a white passenger. Keller was left blind and deaf after an early childhood illness. She learned to communicate through sign language and Braille and became a famous author, lecturer and activist. Alabama lawmakers in 2019 approved legislation to place the monuments to Parks and Keller on the grounds of the state Capitol.
Doris Brown’s home in Northeast Houston becomes a refuge for neighbors during power outages thanks to her solar panel and battery system. Her house is part of a pilot program creating resilience “hub homes” as emergency safe havens. This grassroots initiative started after Winter Storm Uri in 2021, aiming to boost community resilience. The program was set to expand with EPA funding, but the Solar for All program was canceled, halting growth. Despite the setback, organizers plan to continue through community fundraising. They emphasize the importance of local connections and resilience in the face of increasing extreme weather events.
President Donald Trump says he agreed to halt a planned show of federal force in San Francisco after appeals from tech executives and the mayor. Trump had been threatening to send the National Guard into San Francisco to quell crime. San Francisco officials said such force wasn’t needed because crime is on the decline. Trump says the billionaire CEOs of Nvidia and Salesforce urged him to let San Francisco continue its own efforts to reduce crime. Trump also credited a conversation with Democratic Mayor Daniel Lurie. The first-term mayor has tried to avoid confrontation with Trump.
Authorities plan to give an update on the massive blast in Tennessee that killed 16 people earlier this month at an explosives plant. The discussion Friday will delve into the painstaking investigation of the Oct. 10 explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems. Authorities say the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined. The company’s complex straddles the Hickman and Humphreys county line in unincorporated Bucksnort, about 60 miles southwest of Nashville. Last week, a lawsuit was filed in state court on behalf of the 9-year-old daughter of Jeremy Moore, who was killed in the explosion. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has positively identified 14 of the 16 victims using “rapid DNA” technology.
The stunning indictment that led to the arrest of more than 30 people — including Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier and other NBA figures — has drawn new scrutiny of the booming business of sports betting in the U.S. The multibillion-dollar industry has made it easy for sports fans — and even some players — to wager on everything from the outcome of games to that of a single play with just a few taps of a cellphone. But regulating the rapidly-growing industry has proven to be a challenge. Professional sports leagues’ own role in promoting gambling has also raised eyebrows.
Friday’s inflation report is likely to show that consumer prices worsened in September for the second straight month as President Donald Trump’s tariffs have lifted the cost of some groceries and other goods. The report on the consumer price index is being issued more than a week late because of the government shutdown, now in its fourth week. The ongoing government shutdown means that this report is the first comprehensive economic data to be released in more than three weeks, and it will attract intense interest from Wall Street and officials at the Federal Reserve.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is set to make her first court appearance in a mortgage fraud case. She will be the third adversary of President Donald Trump to face a judge on federal charges in recent weeks. James was indicted earlier this month on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution in connection with a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia. James has denied any wrongdoing and decried the indictment as “nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.” The indictment stems from James’ purchase of a modest house in Norfolk, where she has family.
Justin Herbert threw for 227 yards and three touchdowns, and the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings 37-10. The Chargers snapped a skid of three losses in four games. They won for the first time since Week 6 at Miami. Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen joined Hall of Famer Antonio Gates as the only players in franchise history with 11,000 receiving yards. The Vikings lost consecutive games for the first time this season. Carson Wentz started on short rest in place of J.J. McCarthy, who missed his fifth straight game with an ankle injury.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored a career-high 55 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder won their second straight double-overtime game to begin the season, beating the Indiana Pacers 141-135 on Thursday night in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals teams. The reigning MVP reached 50 for the fifth time, tying Russell Westbrook for most by a Thunder player. Ajay Mitchell added a career-best 26 points for Oklahoma City, which outlasted Houston on Tuesday in its season opener.
A federal jury found a private corrections company running a Louisiana jail liable for the 2015 death of a man who died of head injuries he sustained while in custody and awarded the family more than $40 million in damages. The lawsuit verdict reached this week in the Western District of Louisiana is likely the largest ever against a private correctional company and among the highest payouts for an in-custody death in the U.S., attorneys representing Erie Moore, Sr.’s family say. Moore died from head injuries sustained while detained at Richwood Correctional Center, run by LaSalle Management Company, court records show. The jury found three guards liable for negligence, battery and excessive force against Moore and that the negligence of at least one guard caused his death.
The U.S. military has flown a pair of supersonic, heavy bombers up to the coast of Venezuela. Thursday’s flights come a little over a week after another group of American bombers made a similar journey as part of a training exercise to simulate an attack. The U.S. military has built up an unusually large force in the Caribbean Sea, raising speculation that President Donald Trump could try to topple Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. According to flight tracking data, a pair of B-1 Lancer bombers took off from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas on Thursday and flew up to the coast of Venezuela. A U.S. official confirmed that a training flight of B-1s took place in the Caribbean.
Audio recordings released by the Coast Guard capture the distress of a family who was rescued two days after their boat caught fire and sank, forcing them to swim to a private island. Tyler Sullivan made a mayday call Wednesday morning after his family’s marine radio washed ashore, telling the dispatcher, “Our ship burned while we were sleeping, and we barely escaped.” He and his parents had spent the weekend anchored off Naushon Island between southeastern Massachusetts and Martha’s Vineyard. They spent two nights in an empty farmhouse before being rescued and taken to the hospital for treatment for their burns.
President Donald Trump will be in Japan and South Korea next week and he’s expected to promote an epic windfall in investments for U.S. factories and projects. The two countries made combined pledges of about $900 billion to try to reduce tariff levels Trump had threatened to apply to their exports. But the investments have a lot of loose ends. Japan wants its $550 billion to benefit its own companies. And South Korea has some conditions on financing its $350 billion promise — conditions aimed at reducing the hit to its economy. The details of the investments are still to be determined.
Rapid City is bursting with energy this weekend — from family-friendly trunk-or-treats and art celebrations to tattoo benefits, live music,
Democrats in Virginia are joining the national redistricting battle over U.S. House seats. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott says the chamber will convene Monday in a special session, but didn’t state a reason. Four sources with direct knowledge of the plans told The Associated Press the purpose will include congressional redistricting aimed at gaining more Democratic-held seats. The sources spoke to AP on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the plans. Virginia would become the second state, after California, with a Democratic-led legislature to take up redistricting. Republican lawmakers in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina already have approved new congressional maps at the urging of President Donald Trump.
A man suing the District of Columbia claims police officers violated his free speech rights when they detained him for following an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from “Star Wars” on his phone. American Civil Liberties Union attorneys filed Sam O’Hara’s federal lawsuit Thursday. The lawsuit says “The Imperial March” is the soundtrack of O’Hara’s peaceful protests against President Donald Trump’s deployment of Guard members in Washington, D.C. O’Hara says he didn’t interfere with the Ohio troops during their Sept. 11 encounter. One of the troops summoned officers, who kept O’Hara handcuffed for several minutes before releasing him without charges.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a rally Sept. 8, 2023, at The Monument in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Photo
The NBA’s return to NBC with a doubleheader on Tuesday night averaged 5.61 million viewers, marking the most-watched October opening night in 15 years. According to Nielsen, this is an 87% increase over last year’s opener on TNT Sports. The first game, featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, averaged 5.85 million viewers. The audience peaked at 7.1 million during the second overtime. The second game between the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers averaged 5.11 million viewers. NBC has won the night in primetime among adults ages 18-49 across all networks.
Jared Bossly stands with his arms crossed as fellow landowners stand with him in solidarity in the Brown County Courthouse
SPEARFISH, SD — “America won the battle for web 1.0 and we won the battle for web 2.0. It meant
Intel posted profits in the latest quarter as the one-time America technology icon struggles to regain market share. The chipmaker reported net income of $4.1 billion, or 90 cents per share, in the three months through September, up from a loss of $17 billion, or $3.88 cents per share, a year earlier. Recently installed CEO Lip-Bu Tan has been cutting thousand of positions and mothballing projects to cut costs.
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services says it will temporarily bring all its furloughed employees back to work starting Monday to manage health insurance open enrollment. A spokesperson said Thursday the recall to duty amid the government shutdown was needed to “best serve the American people.” The employees’ return will be paid for by user fees gathered from sharing data with researchers. The decision shows how significantly shutting down the government and losing staffing has impacted federal government operations during a crucial season for health insurance. Millions of Americans are selecting their plans for next year during this fall’s open enrollment. CMS provides health coverage to more than 160 million people, according to its website.
WASHINGTON Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — These photos show archival images of the White House East Wing, which housed several
The New York Jets are keeping their starting quarterback decision under wraps for their game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Coach Aaron Glenn says he knows who will start but isn’t revealing it publicly. Tyrod Taylor, who played the second half of last week’s loss to Carolina, says he doesn’t know if he’ll start over Justin Fields. Fields was benched after poor performances and owner Woody Johnson criticized the quarterback play. Glenn insists the decision is his, not influenced by Johnson. Taylor is on the injury report with a knee issue but feels ready to play.
Tony Vitello’s move from college coach to pro manager is a rare journey in modern baseball. After leading Tennessee to its first College World Series title in 2024, Vitello has been hired by Buster Posey to manage the San Francisco Giants. While others like Casey Stengel and Pat Murphy have transitioned from college to the majors, Vitello is the first in modern history to do so without any pro experience. This path has been taken in other sports with mixed results, including Lou Holtz, Jimmy Johnson and Brad Stevens, each having varied success in their respective leagues.
NASCAR has returned to court after two failed days of mediation in an antitrust case filed by two race teams, including one owned by Michael Jordan. The case centers on NASCAR’s attempt to maintain its counterclaim against 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. The teams allege NASCAR is a monopoly. The dispute involves the charter system, which guarantees a car a spot in the field and revenue each season. The case is scheduled for a Dec. 1 court date. The teams argue the revenue sharing is unfair and demand a larger share.
An excavator works to clear rubble Oct. 23, 2025 after the East Wing of the White House was demolished. The
Tensions between the U.S. and China escalated in the weeks leading to a possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. In response to recent U.S. restrictions, China plans to expand permitting requirements on rare earth products. Trump has threatened a 100% tariff on Chinese goods. Experts say both countries are learning to weaponize their interdependence, as they seek an upper hand in trade negotiations.
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., talks to a reporter in the basement of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025.
Some public figures carry threats to their livelihood in the palms of their hands. In recent weeks, the Democratic candidate for Virginia attorney general, a group of aspiring Republican leaders and one of President Donald Trump’s nominees for an important job have all been knocked down by stories that showed them making crude and offensive comments in chat groups or text chains. Whether it’s sloppiness or arrogance, poor choice in texting is leading politicians to put their careers at risk. For journalists, it’s fertile territory to catch leaders revealing a private side to themselves, and a challenge to make sure they get their stories right.
Oil prices spiked Thursday after the U.S. announced massive new sanctions on Russia’s oil industry in an attempt to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and end Moscow’s brutal war on Ukraine. U.S. benchmark crude jumped 5.6% to $61.79 per barrel and analysts say if the situation remains static, consumers will soon be paying more at the pump. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy, said while it was difficult to predict with certainty because of the number of moving parts, consumers will likely see a bump in prices as early as next week, if not sooner.
Elon Musk literally left a government job with a black eye, has seen profits at his car company sink and must worry about federal regulators disrupting his plans to unleash a fleet of driverless taxis on America’s roads in the next few years. And he’s still paying the bill for his messy of takeover of Twitter three years ago. Still one could argue he’s doing alright. Tesla’s rising stock price has added to his wealth and he’s weeks away from shareholders signing off on a pay package that could reward him with up to a trillion dollars.
A trail of debts that persisted during Jim Justice’s time as West Virginia’s governor has followed him to the U.S. Senate. The Republican was elected last November to the seat vacated by Joe Manchin. This month the IRS filed liens totaling more than $8 million against Justice and his wife on unpaid personal taxes. Last month state tax officials filed liens against the Justice family’s historic hotel and a residential community at The Greenbrier resort over unpaid sales taxes. Recently a foreclosure auction on lots owned by the Justice family at another resort community were put on pause. Justice continues to insist that the collection efforts are politically motivated.
As federal agents ramp up an immigration crackdown in the Chicago area, an increasing number of elected officials in the Democratic stronghold are getting caught in the crosshairs. Members of Chicago’s City Council and their staff members, state legislators and congressional candidates have been threatened, handcuffed and detained in recent days. The Trump administration has said anyone who interferes or threatens federal officers will face consequences. But the elected leaders in Illinois say it is an alarming escalation of tactics in U.S. cities that’s meant to spark fear and intimidation.
New satellite images taken Thursday show the scale of the demolition of the White House East Wing as President Donald Trump moves forward with the construction of a new ballroom at the White House. See the change in images from Oct. 23 and Sept. 26, 2025 in images from Planet Labs PBC.
Weddings are meant to be celebrations of love. They also may require invited guests to make a financial commitment that brings them stress. Whether it’s paying for hotels and flights to attend a destination wedding or different outfits and gifts for multiple pre-wedding events, friends and extended family often feel pressure to spend a large amount of money before the couple gets married. A sense of obligation and budget constraints can create resentment, hurt feelings and misunderstandings among friends and family. Experts say there are ways engaged couples can reduce costs for their wedding guests and guests can participate without going into debt.
Members of Congress are divided largely along party lines on the demolition of the East Wing of the White House to make room for a 90,000-square-foot ballroom that President Donald Trump wants to build. The stunning images of the teardown this week have left Democratic lawmakers incensed. Republicans, meanwhile, are likening it to a long line of White House renovations over the years. House Speaker Mike Johnson says “the ballroom is going to be glorious.” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is calling it a vanity project. Trump says the White House needs a large entertaining space and the construction will be paid for with donations.
Researchers have unearthed a spooky pair of dinosaur mummies that seem to have been preserved in an unexpected way. Mummified dinosaurs are so old that their skin and soft tissues fossilize. Scientists found new remains at a Wyoming site, including a rare young duck-billed dinosaur mummy that was only several years old. The dinosaur mummies left impressions of their skin and scales on a thin layer of clay that formed with help from microbes. This style of mummification has preserved other organisms before, but scientists didn’t think it could happen on land. The study was published Thursday in the journal Science.
RAPID CITY, SD – South Dakota Wildland Fire (SDWF) and South Dakota Highway Patrol (SDHP) are joining forces with Vitalant for
The Senate on Thursday rejected dueling partisan bills to pay federal workers during the government shutdown, with both Republicans and Democrats deflecting blame as many employees are set to miss their first full paycheck at the end of this week. Republicans objected as Democrats proposed a voice vote on their legislation to pay all federal workers and prevent President Donald Trump’s administration from mass firings. Democrats then voted down a Republican bill to pay employees who are working and not furloughed. The back and forth on day 23 of the government shutdown comes as the two parties are at a protracted impasse.
The image of Mike Evans down on the turf, knocked out and motionless was jarring for teammates, coaches and fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His impressive streak of 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons is going to end because of the broken clavicle he suffered Monday night at Detroit. Evans also sustained a concussion on the same play, trying to make a leaping grab like the ones he’s made throughout a remarkable career. Rookie wideout Emeka Egbuka knelt over Evans in prayer. Others did the same on the field, on their couches at home, wherever they were watching the game.
Jodi Picoult faces bans on both her books and a musical based on her novel “Between the Lines.” The superintendent of Mississinewa High School in Indiana canceled the musical last week, citing concerns over “sexual innuendo” and alcohol references. Picoult, whose works often tackle difficult issues, says censorship is problematic when one parent decides what’s appropriate for others’ children. The same school has performed “Grease,” which contains similar themes. The musical, featuring a nonbinary character, had already been edited for conservative audiences. Picoult’s books have faced bans, with “Nineteen Minutes” banned 16 times this year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is quadrupling the tariff rate quota on Argentine beef to 80,000 metric tons in a bid
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is set to endorse former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the city’s mayoral race. A spokesperson for Adams on Thursday said the mayor will endorse Cuomo and intends to campaign alongside him. Adams also told reporters at an unrelated new conference that he “would be with Andrew later today,” Adams dropped his reelection bid last month amid crumbling support and growing calls to drop out from those who opposed the agenda of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee. It’s not immediately clear what impact the endorsement would have in the city’s November election.
Maine Democrat Graham Platner remains committed to his U.S. Senate campaign despite a growing list of controversies. Platner, an oyster farmer and first-time candidate, aims to unseat Republican Susan Collins. He must first win a competitive primary against Democratic Gov. Janet Mills. Platner has faced backlash over old Reddit posts and a tattoo linked to a Nazi symbol. He has since apologized and covered the tattoo. Supporters like Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna stand by him. Maine’s primary election is in June 2026.
As sports betting expands, polling suggests Americans have become increasingly critical of its role in U.S. society and sports — although they’re more tolerant of legal betting for professional sports. A recent Pew Research Center poll found about 43% of U.S. adults say the fact sports betting is now legal in much of the country is a “bad thing” for society and sports, up from about 34% in July 2022. Betting scandals have multiplied since the Supreme Court in 2018 struck down a federal law that barred sports betting in most states. Most recently, dozens of people including current and former NBA players were arrested in a federal investigation into sports betting and illegal gambling.
President Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who created the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao served prison time after failing to stop criminals from using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism. Zhao had asked Trump for a pardon previously. Zhao has deep ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture that the Republican president and his sons Eric and Donald Jr. launched in September.
An Associated Press analysis finds that the number of Black students enrolling at many elite colleges has dropped in the two years since the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in admissions. New enrollment figures from 20 selective colleges provide mounting evidence of a backslide in Black enrollment. Many campuses have also seen decreases in Hispanic enrollment, though they have been more scattered and less pronounced. At Princeton and some others, the number of new Black students has fallen by nearly half. Some colleges attribute it to natural fluctuations. Some students say the changes are too big to ignore.
President Donald Trump is suggesting he could call on Israel to release imprisoned Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, the most popular and potentially unifying Palestinian leader. Trump’s comment in a Time magazine interview comes as the United States aims to fill a leadership vacuum in postwar Gaza. The president’s acknowledgment of internal discussions on the issue underscores the difficult task ahead of finding credible political figures to oversee governance in Gaza. The U.S. and Israel say they’re committed to preventing Hamas from continuing to rule the territory. Barghouti was convicted in 2004 in connection with attacks in Israel that killed five people.
Taylor Swift, Kenny Loggins, LL Cool J, Pink, Sarah McLachlan and Talking Heads’ David Byrne are among the impressive list of nominees for the 2026 Songwriters Hall of Fame class. It is an eclectic mix of pop, hip-hop, folk and rock innovators. Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Jane M. Wiedlin of The Go-Go’s, Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of America are also nominated. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the glam rock band Kiss are also on the list of nominees. Eligible voting members have until midnight Eastern on Dec. 4 to turn in ballots.
Union Pacific delivered 7% growth in its third-quarter earnings Thursday as its CEO continues to make the case for the potential benefits of acquiring one of the railroad’s eastern rivals. The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said it earned $1.788 billion, or $3.01 per share in the quarter. Union Pacific wants to buy Norfolk Southern in a $85 billion deal that would create the first transcontinental railroad. Norfolk Southern will report its earnings Thursday afternoon. Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena wrote a letter to employees reiterating that he thinks the merger is great for America because it would enable the railroad to deliver goods more quickly and help the companies that rely on its deliveries of raw materials and finished products.
President Donald Trump’s attempts to impose a proof-of-citizenship requirement to vote in the U.S. have stalled in Congress and been blocked by the courts. Now Trump’s allies are trying through a little-known independent federal commission that’s typically worked with states to set election and voting machine standards. The independent Washington-based U.S. Election Assistance Commission received 380,000 public comments reacting to a petition to add the requirement to the federal voter registration form. The proof-of-citizenship effort is being pushed by America First Legal, a conservative group co-founded by the Republican president’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller. Voting rights groups say it’s unnecessary and a potential tool for voter disenfranchisement.
Demonstrators protest outside the immigration processing and detention facility this month in Broadview, Ill. President Donald Trump wants to deploy
The union representing Broadway’s musicians reached a tentative labor agreement with commercial producers, averting a potentially crippling strike that would have silenced nearly two dozen musicals. The American Federation of Musicians Local 802 had threatened to strike if they didn’t have a new contract by Thursday morning, after going into mediation Wednesday. The union represents 1,200 musicians. The 23 shows that could have gone silent ranged from megahits like “Hamilton” and “The Lion King” to newcomers like “Queen of Versailles” and “Chess.” It was the second Broadway labor deal in less than a week, after producers reached a deal with the 51,000-member Actors’ Equity Association.
The hundreds of National Guard troops still deployed to Washington, D.C., have unnerved some residents. But aspects of the Washington deployment have elicited a measure of approval among some in the city. The District of Columbia National Guard has been involved in community beautification projects since August, part of a federal law enforcement intervention initiated by President Donald Trump. The deployment has sparked mixed feelings, with some viewing it as presidential overreach. Local officials are trying to balance opposing the deployment with acknowledging the benefits of the Guard’s community work. The deployment continues to be a contentious issue, with a lawsuit challenging it set to be heard on Friday.
A new poll finds that as the United States rapidly builds massive data centers for the development of artificial intelligence, many Americans are concerned about the environmental impact. The AP-NORC/EPIC poll finds that worries about how AI will affect the environment surpass concerns about other industries that worsen climate change. The results suggest that as AI reshapes work, communication and culture, it’s also sparking anxieties about how the growing energy demands could further harm the environment. In many places, the electricity for data centers will come from burning fossil fuels, especially natural gas, which warms the planet.
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The government shutdown has reopened debate on the future of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Tax credits for people who get health insurance through the law expire at the end of the year. Democrats say they won’t vote to reopen the government until Republicans negotiate an extension of the subsidies. Republicans say they won’t negotiate that issue until the government reopens. As lawmakers debate, a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds about 6 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about their health costs going up in the next year.
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Trey Yesavage and Roki Sasaki are barely babes in the woods when it comes to Major League Baseball experience. Which only makes their postseason success more impressive. Both in the minors last month, Yesavage and Sasaki are suddenly two of the most important pitchers in the World Series as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers beginning Friday night. Neither rookie has turned 24 yet or appeared in more than 17 big league games. Yesavage, however, has two wins as the No. 2 starter in Toronto’s playoff rotation. And after missing 4 1/2 months with a shoulder injury, Sasaki shifted to the bullpen and began closing for the Dodgers.
Victor Wembanyama dunked on Cooper Flagg’s debut. And shot over it. And dribbled around it. And reminded everyone what was missing the last two months of the French star’s second season. Wembanyama wowed the Dallas crowd and had a noisy San Antonio contingent chanting “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in a season opener. He had 40 points and 15 rebounds in the Spurs’ 125-92 rout of the Dallas Mavericks. Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick, was the talk of the Dallas opener going in. Coming out, the talk was Wembanyama. He offered quite the reminder that he was the top overall choice just two years ago.