SCHUYLER DIXON Sports Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

Dallas Mavericks' Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, speaks during an NBA basketball press conference at the team's practice facility, Friday, June 27, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Cooper Flagg looks comfortable in new home as No. 1 pick gets introduced in Dallas

June 27, 2025

Cooper Flagg looked right at home in his new home as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft was introduced in Dallas. Flagg offered a “hello” before general manager Nico Harrison could even start his opening remarks. The 18-year-old former Duke star only grew more comfortable from there. Flagg is joining a team with three NBA champions in Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Klay Thompson. Expectations will be to win, and Flagg has no problem with that. He’s also just fine carrying on the All-Star lineage of European stars Dirk Nowitzki and Luka Doncic.

FILE - Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving advances the ball up court during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Dallas, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez,File)

Kyrie Irving and Mavs agree on $119M, 3-year deal that aligns with Anthony Davis, AP source says

June 24, 2025

A person with knowledge of the deal says the Dallas Mavericks and Kyrie Irving have agreed on a $119 million, three-year contract with the All-Star guard still recovering from a torn ACL that will sideline him into the 2025-26 season. Irving is declining the $43 million player option in the final year of his current three-year contract. The new contract will align Irving with co-star Anthony Davis, who joined the Mavericks in the seismic trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.

FILE - Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts, left, and team Governor Patrick Dumont, center, watch the team play against the Toronto Raptors in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Dallas, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero, file)

‘Craziest’ reversal of fortune puts Mavs on path to Flagg after all the Doncic drama

June 23, 2025

Dallas Mavericks CEO Rick Welts marvels at the “craziest” reversal of fortune for the club that landed the rights to draft Cooper Flagg just months after the seismic trade of Luka Doncic. Dallas had just a 1.8% chance to win the draft lottery when Welts was telling his staff it was about to embark on the most important offseason in franchise history. He was thinking about the lingering fallout of the widely reviled Doncic trade. Suddenly the Mavs have a chance to grow with another young player who has superstar potential in Flagg, the teenager from Duke.

Competition should stiffen for unproven Americans in CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals

June 22, 2025

The competition is about to stiffen for the U.S. in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Americans finished their seventh 3-0 run through group play in the Gold Cup with a 2-1 victory over Haiti. Next up is Costa Rica or Mexico. Both countries are ranked higher than all three group play opponents. The unproven U.S. squad has seen uneven performances so far. Goalkeeper Matt Freese’s gaffe cost the U.S. the lead against Haiti before Patrick Agyemang’s tiebreaking goal. The attack was more dangerous against Haiti, but the U.S. missed on plenty of scoring chances.

United States forward Patrick Agyemang (24), center right, is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match against Haiti, Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Tillman and Agyemang goals overcome Freese gaffe, US beats Haiti 2-1 to win CONCACAF Gold Cup group

June 22, 2025

Patrick Agyemang scored a tiebreaking goal in the 75th minute, and the United States overcame Matt Freese’s goalkeeping gaffe to beat Haiti 2-1 and win its CONCACAF Gold Cup group with a 3-0 record. Malik Tillman put the U.S. ahead in the 10th minute with his third goal of the tournament but Freese botched a clearing attempt that led to Louicius Don Deedson’s 19th-minute goal. Using largely a B team in the tournament, the Americans already had clinched a spot in the quarterfinals against Mexico or Costa Rica next weekend.

Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone celebrates in the dugout after hitting his first career home run during a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Thursday, June 19, 2025, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)

Royals top prospect Jac Caglianone goes deep twice at Texas for his 1st big league homers

June 19, 2025

Jac Caglianone has gone deep twice for his first two home runs in the big leagues. The top prospect of the Kansas City Royals hit both homers in lefty-lefty matchups in a 4-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Caglianone won lefty-left matchups both times a day after sitting for the first time in the majors in part because of a left-handed starter for Texas. The 22-year-old hit a pair of solo homers. The first led off the second inning, and the second opened the ninth.

Texas Rangers first base Jake Burger (21) hands the baseball game ball to starting pitcher Kumar Rocker during the fifth inning against the Chicago White Sox, Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas rookie Kumar Rocker keeps scoreless start intact with help from pickle juice

June 15, 2025

Texas Rangers rookie Kumar Rocker kept a scoreless start intact by working through an eventful fifth inning that included downing three small bottles of pickle juice, the last of which resulted in a mound visit charged to a ball boy. The 25-year-old right-hander apparently cramped up after striking out White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor for the first out of the fifth. First baseman Jake Burger brought two small bottles of pickle juice from the dugout as Rocker chatted with the trainer. Play resumed, and the ball boy soon brought out a third bottle. Umpires charged Texas with a mound visit for that. Rocker eventually got out of the inning and didn’t allow a run over his five frames.

Ben Griffin celebrates after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Ben Griffin hangs on at Colonial through tough final round, beats Matti Schmid by 1

May 25, 2025

Ben Griffin has his first individual PGA Tour victory a month after winning a team event. He hung on to beat Matti Schmid at Colonial after breaking a tie with his co-leader for good on the first hole. Griffin shot a 1-over 71 to finish at 12-under 268 in the Charles Schwab Challenge. He beat Schmid by one stroke as both struggled through the final round on a warm day with wind gusts around 30 mph at Hogan’s Alley. Scottie Scheffler couldn’t match the third-round run he made when the world No. 1 was trailing by 10. Scheffler was six back entering the final round and shot 69.

Ben Griffin hits off the ninth tee on the during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Ben Griffin, Matti Schmid share Colonial lead with Fowler stalking, Scheffler 10 shots back

May 23, 2025

Ben Griffin shot a 7-under 63 in the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial to share the second-round lead with Matti Schmid at 11 under. First-round leader John Pak is two shots back after a 68. Rickie Fowler trails by five after making the turn in 29 and settling for a 64. Scottie Scheffler is coming off his third major win at last week’s PGA Championship last weekend and is 10 shots back after shooting 71. The world No. 1 is trying to become the first player to win three consecutive starts since Dustin Johnson in 2017.

Scottie Scheffler hits out of a bunker on the 18th hole during the first round of the Charles Schwab Challenge golf tournament at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Scottie Scheffler opens Colonial with an eagle and trails tour rookie John Pak by 5 shots

May 22, 2025

Scottie Scheffler and John Pak enjoyed the same start to the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial with eagles on their respective first holes. The world No. 1 couldn’t keep up with the PGA Tour rookie from there. A week after winning his third major at the PGA Championship, Scheffler opened his attempt at three consecutive victories with a 2-under 68. Pak shot 63 for a three-shot lead over nine players, J.J. Spaun the highest-ranked among them at 27th. Tommy Fleetwood and 2023 British Open champion Brian Harman were among nine players four back of Pak. Another nine players, headlined by Scheffler, are five strokes back.

Scottie Scheffler, wife Meredith pose with their son Bennett after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow Club, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Scottie Scheffler goes for 3 in a row by jumping right back in at Colonial after PGA win

May 21, 2025

Scottie Scheffler is skipping some of his usual prep work for the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial after winning the PGA Championship last weekend. The world No. 1 doesn’t want an emphasis on rest and recovery to be misunderstood. Scheffler says he didn’t show up at Colonial “to just walk around and celebrate last week.” Scheffler’s third major also set him up to be the first player since Dustin Johnson in 2017 to win three consecutive PGA Tour starts. The streak started with a win in his hometown CJ Cup Byron Nelson north of Dallas. Davis Riley is the defending Colonial champion.

SCHUYLER DIXON Sports Writer.