JOSH DUBOW Sports Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini scores an empty net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames in San Jose, Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Celebrini’s spin-o-rama goal helps him become fastest Sharks player to 50 points

December 17, 2025

Macklin Celebrini has become the fastest San Jose player to reach 50 points in a season. He achieved the milestone with a spectacular spin-o-rama goal during a four-point night as the Sharks defeated the Calgary Flames 6-3 on Tuesday. Celebrini, just 19 and in his second NHL season, has 18 goals and 33 assists in 34 games. Only Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby reached 50 points faster as teenagers. Celebrini’s performance is a key factor in San Jose’s current playoff position after the team struggled mightily in previous seasons. His exceptional play is gaining him respect across the league.

FILE -Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, right, calls out instructions on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Jan. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Cal hires Tosh Lupoi as head coach, bringing former player back to lead the Bears

December 4, 2025

California has hired Tosh Lupoi as the new head coach, bringing back the former Golden Bears player and assistant. Lupoi replaces Justin Wilcox, who was fired last month. General manager Ron Rivera expressed excitement about Lupoi’s return, highlighting his strong character and coaching skills. Lupoi, a Bay Area native, played and coached at Cal before moving to Washington, Alabama, and Oregon. He has been Oregon’s defensive coordinator for the past four seasons. Rivera’s first major hiring aims to restore Cal’s national prominence. Lupoi’s immediate task is retaining star freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.

San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) stops a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Ovechkin scores twice as Capitals crush Sharks 7-1 for sixth straight win

December 4, 2025

Alex Ovechkin scores twice, reaching 911 career goals, as the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 7-1. This victory marks their sixth straight win. On Wednesday night, Ovechkin started a four-goal barrage in the first period and added a power-play goal in the second. Riley Leonard had four points, including two goals and two assists. Dylan Strome also scored for Washington. Charlie Lindgren made 23 saves and added his second career assist. Pavol Regenda scored for San Jose, denying Lindgren a shutout. The Sharks had won seven of their last eight home games but struggled against the Capitals.

FILE - Washington Commanders quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard watches his players before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Dec. 17, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)

Andrew Luck hires Tavita Pritchard as Stanford’s head football coach

November 28, 2025

Former Stanford quarterback Tavita Pritchard has returned to Stanford as head football coach. General manager Andrew Luck announced the move on Friday. Pritchard takes over from interim coach Frank Reich, who led Stanford to a 4-7 record this season. Pritchard, who played with Luck at Stanford, will start the job on Monday. He previously served as an assistant at Stanford from 2010 to 2022 before joining the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Pritchard expressed gratitude for returning to Stanford and aims to build a championship program. Washington coach Dan Quinn praised Pritchard as a fantastic head coach.

San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) shoots during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Macklin Celebrini joins Gretzky, Crosby with hat trick in Sharks’ overtime win

November 19, 2025

Macklin Celebrini has been making waves with the San Jose Sharks this season. The 19-year-old delivered a standout performance on Tuesday, scoring a hat trick, including the overtime winner, against the Utah Mammoth. This achievement puts him in elite company, joining Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby as the only teenagers in NHL history to reach 30 points in their team’s first 20 games. Celebrini, drafted first overall in 2024, has been a key player for the Sharks, who have struggled in recent years. His chemistry with linemate Will Smith is a promising sign for the team’s future.

Virginia running back J'Mari Taylor (3), right, celebrates with wide receiver Eli Wood, center, after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against California, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

No. 15 Virginia beats California 31-21 for 7th straight win

November 1, 2025

J’Mari Taylor rushed for two touchdowns and No. 15 Virginia extended its winning streak to seven straight games for the first time since 2007 by beating California 31-21. Taylor scored on two of the first three drives of the game for the 8-1 Cavaliers in their first meeting with the Golden Bears. Virginia held on from there, getting a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kam Robinson with 34 seconds left to seal its first win as a top-15 team since 2004. Kendrick Raphael scored three TDs for the Bears, who have lost 14 straight games against ranked opponents.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry reacts after scoring during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Stephen Curry’s heroics overshadow Aaron Gordon’s 50-point night in Warriors’ OT win

October 24, 2025

Stephen Curry has once again stolen the spotlight in a thrilling game against the Denver Nuggets. On Thursday night, Curry hit a tying 3-pointer late in regulation and scored 16 straight points for the Golden State Warriors. He helped them overcome Aaron Gordon’s impressive 50-point night to win 137-131. Gordon made history with the seventh 50-point season opener in NBA history, tying a record with 10 3-pointers. Despite this, Curry’s performance down the stretch secured the win for the Warriors. The game went into overtime, where Curry led the way with seven points, improving Golden State to improve to 2-0.

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 1993 file photo, Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson, right, and owner Jerry Jones, hold up the Vince Lombardi Trophy as they celebrate their 52-17 win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

The college-to-pro move for coaches has a mixed history, from Jerry Tarkanian to Jimmy Johnson

October 23, 2025

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.

North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick walks off the field after losing to Clemson in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

Belichick’s North Carolina tenure hit by heartbreaking loss to Cal after late fumble

October 18, 2025

Bill Belichick’s tenure at North Carolina has been challenging, with the team still seeking its first victory against a power opponent. The Tar Heels suffered a heartbreaking 21-18 loss to California on Friday night. Nathan Leacock’s fumble at the goal line late in the fourth quarter turned a potential go-ahead touchdown into a defining moment. Despite improvements, turnovers have been costly for the team. Belichick, in his first year with a lucrative contract, faces scrutiny both on and off the field. The team’s only wins have come against lower-level opponents, adding pressure to the NFL-style approach.

Mexico forward Raúl Jiménez (9) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal soccer match Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

Raúl Jiménez’s goal sends Mexico to 12th CONCACAF Gold Cup final with 1-0 win over Honduras

July 2, 2025

Raúl Jiménez scored in the 50th minute off an assist from 16-year-old Gilberto Mora and Mexico advanced to its 12th CONCACAF Gold Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Honduras. El Tri advanced to play the United States in the final on Sunday night in Houston for the eighth meeting in the title game between the two countries with Mexico owning a 5-2 edge. Mexico has won nine Gold Cups, the U.S. seven and Canada one.

San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers, middle right, circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello, left, during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Saturday, June 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Rafael Devers hits first home run for Giants against former team Red Sox

June 21, 2025

Rafael Devers hit his first home run for the Giants, connecting against his former Boston Red Sox team just six days after being traded to San Francisco. Devers began his first series against the Red Sox by going 0 for 5 on Friday and grounding out in his first at-bat Saturday. He then delivered just want his new team had been expecting when he hit an opposite-field drive off Brayan Bello over the left-field fence for a two-run homer in the third inning. Devers got loud cheers from the big crowd in San Francisco as he rounded the bases for his 216th career home run.

San Francisco Giants' Rafael Devers (16) reacts after striking out against the Boston Red Sox during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Rafael Devers explains why he is willing to play first base for the Giants but not the Red Sox

June 21, 2025

Rafael Devers had a consistent mantra when he addressed the Boston media for the first time since his surprising trade from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants five days ago. He kept repeating that the “past is in the past” when asked about his time with the Red Sox and why the relationship deteriorated so much this season that the team traded him less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. Devers did say he would have been willing to move to first base in Boston if the Red Sox had asked him in spring training. He went 0 for 5 as the Giants lost to the Red Sox 7-5 on Friday night.

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the sixth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Rafaela hits a tiebreaking homer and Red Sox keep Devers hitless in a 7-5 win over the Giants

June 20, 2025

Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits and a tiebreaking homer, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over their former star slugger Rafael Devers and the San Francisco Giants. Rafaela connected with a one-out drive over the wall in center against Sean Hjelle to give Boston a 6-5 lead in the sixth inning. Rafaela also doubled and scored in the third and hit an RBI single in the fourth to help Boston win for the eighth time in nine games. Devers faced his former team five days after the shocking trade that sent him to San Francisco, going 0 for 5.

A ball thrown from the stands causes moment of confusion in Braves-Giants game

June 6, 2025

An overexuberant fan had people seeing double during the game between the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants. A ball was thrown on the field from the stands on a sacrifice fly by the Braves in the fourth inning, leading to a brief moment of confusion with two balls on the field at once. The umpires briefly met to discuss the play but no change was made as the extra ball didn’t impact the play. The Giants won the game 5-4 in 10 innings.

Atlanta Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel crouches on the mound between pitches during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Friday, June 6, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Braves call up franchise saves leader Craig Kimbrel a day after blowing a big lead

June 6, 2025

The Atlanta Braves called up franchise career saves leader Craig Kimbrel from the minors a day after having their worst blown ninth-inning lead in more than a half-century. The Braves selected Kimbrel from Triple-A Gwinnett and recalled left-hander Dylan Dodd before opening a road series against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. Atlanta placed right-hander Daysbel Hernández on the 15-day injured list with right forearm inflammation and traded right-hander Scott Blewett to Baltimore for cash considerations to make room on the roster. The moves come a day after the Braves blew a 10-4 lead in the ninth inning at Arizona and lost 11-10.

JOSH DUBOW Sports Writer.