This is how you do a homecoming. 

Alex Bregman returned to Houston on Monday for the first time since he left the Astros last offseason to join the Boston Red Sox as a free agent. Bregman received a warm welcome from an appreciative Houston crowd. He then proceeded to hit a home run in his first at-bat of the game. 

The blast gave Boston a 2-0 lead, but Houston rallied for a 7-6 win.

Warm reception for Bregman

Bregman was greeted with a tribute video on the big board featuring a montage of his Houston highlights. Fans in the stands welcomed him with a standing ovation, and he stepped out of the Boston dugout to tip his cap, showing no hard feelings over his decision to leave Houston for the Red Sox.

Then came time for baseball. 

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Bregman came to the plate in the top of the first inning with no outs and a runner on first base after Roman Anthony led the game off with a single off Astros starter Cristian Javier.

Bregman then got the best of his former World Series champion teammate, launching a 1-1 sweeper that hung over the plate into the left-field bleachers.

The home run gave the Astros an early 2-0 lead in Bregman’s first career at-bat while wearing something other than an Astros uniform in Houston. It also signaled a tough start on the mound for Javier, who was making his first MLB appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024.

But it wasn’t enough for a Red Sox win as the Astros countered with a pair of two-run home runs from Chas McCormick and Ramón Urías en route to a 7-2 lead through five innings. Boston answered with a four-run seventh inning capped by a two-run home run from Anthony. But Houston held on for the one-run win.

Bregman’s had a strong Red Sox debut

Bregman previously played nine seasons with the Astros and was one of the faces of a franchise, winning two World Series titles during his tenure. He was named to two All-Star teams, won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger, and received MVP votes in four seasons during his time with the Astros. 

Bregman joined the Red Sox on a three-year, $120 million contract in the offseason as Boston sought to raise its profile as a competitor in the AL playoff race. So far, he has delivered. Bregman entered Monday with the highest batting average of his career, slashing .298/.380/.531. His two-run blast off Javier put him at 15 home runs and 48 RBI for the season. He was named an All-Star in July for the third time in his career.

The Red Sox, meanwhile, left Monday’s game with a 2.5-game cushion for the second of three AL wild-card spots. A postseason matchup with the Astros — who left Monday’s game with a one-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West — is potentially in store. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder (and the Seattle Supersonics before them) have 51 jersey numbers worn by the players who have suited up for the franchise since its founding at the start of the 1967-68 season. To commemorate the players who wore those numbers, Thunder Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team.

And while those Supersonics jerseys may not remain part of the franchise history should a new team be established in Seattle as was the case with the return of the Charlotte Hornets, they are part of the Thunder’s history today.

For this article, we continue with the 37th jersey number in the series, jersey No. 37, with one player in total having donned the jersey in the history of the franchise.

The first and only of those players did so in the Oklahoma City Thunder era, guard alum Derek Fisher. After ending his college career at Arkansas – Little Rock, Fisher was picked up with the 24th overall selection of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Little Rock, Arkansas native also played for the Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, and Lakers again before his first stint with OKC in 2012, lasting just 20 games before he signed with the Dallas Mavericks. He’d return to Oklahoma City after being cut in 2013 for his final two seasons in the NBA.

During his time suiting up for the Thunder, Fisher wore only jersey Nos. 37 and 6 and put up 5.0 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Thunder jersey history No. 37 – Derek Fisher (2012)

The Brooklyn Nets have 52 jersey numbers worn by over 600 different players over the course of their history since the franchise was founded in 1967 as a charter member of the American Basketball Association (ABA), when the team was known as the “New Jersey Americans”.

Since then, that league has been absorbed by the NBA with the team that would later become the New York Nets and New Jersey Nets before settling on the name by which they are known today, bringing their rich player and jersey history with them to the league of today.

To commemorate the players who played for the Nets over the decades wearing those 52 different jersey numbers, Nets Wire is covering the entire history of the franchise’s jersey numbers and the players who sported them since the founding of the team. The 23rd of those 52 different numbers is jersey No. 22, which has has had a total of 31 players wear the number in the history of the team.

The fourth of those players wearing No. 22 played in the (then) New York (now, Brooklyn) Nets era, guard alum Maurice McHartley. After ending his college career at North Carolina A&T, McHartley was picked up with the 60th overall selection of the 1964 NBA Draft by the (then) St. Louis (now, Atlanta) Hawks.

The Detroit, Michigan native spent his first three seasons playing in a competing domestic league instead before signing with the ABA’s (defunct) Dallas Chaparrals in 1967. He was dealt to New York in 1968, and played for the team for 24 games before he would be dealt to the (defunct) Miami Floridians that same year.

During his time suiting up for the Nets, McHartley wore only jersey No. 22 and put up 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and as many assists per game.

All stats and data courtesy of Basketball Reference.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets jersey history No. 22 – Maurice McHartley (1968)

Support Pouring in for Injured Indiana Fever Player Who Was Seen on Crutches originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Despite suffering a season-ending injury, Sydney Colson made sure to join the Indiana Fever as they hosted the Chicago Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Saturday.

Colson sustained a left ACL tear following her awkward fall during Thursday’s game against the Phoenix Mercury. She has been ruled out for the rest of the season, along with guard Aari McDonald who broke a bone in her right foot in the same game.

The veteran guard, however, didn’t let her injury stop her from being present with her Fever teammates. Ahead of their game against the Sky, Colson was spotted joining the team in their entrance while on crutches.

GO FEVER 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/q1idvMNNyH

— WNBA (@WNBA) August 9, 2025

Fever Fans React to Colson’s Moment

Fans absolutely loved Colson’s appearance with her Fever teammates amid the pain she’s currently enduring. Many were quick to hype her up and show their support as the 36-year-old starts her recovery.

“omg we love you @SydJColson you are so important to this team and locker room. Get better and heal quickly,” a commenter wrote. Another one said, “This just made me smile. The heart & soul of our team ridin’ through & through. Yeah Syd!”

‘Get well soon,” a supporter added.

A fan remarked, “Syd [expletive]. Ur so strong . We love u and praying for quick recovery.”

“Maaaaan @SydJColson got me laughing again. Hope syd knows how much she means to the team and to the fans,” a fifth Indiana faithful stated.

A sixth follower shared, “syd still at the center of the tunnel huddle in crutches. the heart of our fever team.”

Fever Facing Decision With Colson, McDonald Injured

With Colson and McDonald both sidelined, the Fever now face a decision on how to address their depleted backcourt.

Clark (groin injury) remains absent for Indiana as well, so the team is down to three healthy guards: Kelsey Mitchell, Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham. To make matters worse, none of the three is a true point guard.

That being said, even with Clark expected to return at some point in the season, the Fever will have to add another player to make sure they have enough depth should they make the playoffs. They can sign another player through the emergency hardship waiver.

Related: Indiana Fever’s Updated Playoff Chances Amid Disastrous Run

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

Kenny Brooks took a play out of the John Calipari playbook by bringing a former star player of his to serve as a coach under him at a new school. Cal did it with Tyler Ulis at Arkansas, and now, Brooks is doing it with former Virginia Tech star Taylor Soule at Kentucky.

On Monday, it was announced by Brooks that the Kentucky women’s basketball program has hired Soule as a Program Assistant.

The former Hokie was a four-time All-ACC selection who would hear her name called with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Unfortunately, her pro career has been put on pause due to injury, but in the meantime, she’s helping out Brooks in Lexington.

“Hey BBN, it’s Taylor Soule,” she began with in the team’s social media release. “I’m super excited to be here. I’ve only been here a couple weeks, but I know y’all are gonna be really excited about the product the women’s team is producing right now. Go Cats.”

As reported late in July on KSR+, Soule has been in and out of the Joe Craft Center helping out as of late. Now, we know she has an official role within the program. She helped Virginia Tech get to its first-ever Final Four. Hopefully, she can do the same thing at Kentucky.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join KSR+

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. In the middle of a busy Kentucky offseason, now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club.

Kenny Brooks took a play out of the John Calipari playbook by bringing a former star player of his to serve as a coach under him at a new school. Cal did it with Tyler Ulis at Arkansas, and now, Brooks is doing it with former Virginia Tech star Taylor Soule at Kentucky.

On Monday, it was announced by Brooks that the Kentucky women’s basketball program has hired Soule as a Program Assistant.

The former Hokie was a four-time All-ACC selection who would hear her name called with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Unfortunately, her pro career has been put on pause due to injury, but in the meantime, she’s helping out Brooks in Lexington.

“Hey BBN, it’s Taylor Soule,” she began with in the team’s social media release. “I’m super excited to be here. I’ve only been here a couple weeks, but I know y’all are gonna be really excited about the product the women’s team is producing right now. Go Cats.”

As reported late in July on KSR+, Soule has been in and out of the Joe Craft Center helping out as of late. Now, we know she has an official role within the program. She helped Virginia Tech get to its first-ever Final Four. Hopefully, she can do the same thing at Kentucky.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join KSR+

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. In the middle of a busy Kentucky offseason, now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club.

Paul Finebaum Reveals If One SEC Coach Can Turn Around Struggling Program originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs had a challenging Year 1 under head coach Jeff Lebby, finishing with a record of 2-10 and going 0-8 in the SEC.

Lebby was the former offensive coordinator for both the Oklahoma Sooners, the Ole Miss Rebels and the UCF Knights. In 2023, he successfully led Oklahoma to achieve a top-five ranking in offense. However, his offense at Mississippi State struggled in 2024, finishing ranked No. 78 in total offense, No. 87 in rushing offense, No. 50 in passing offense and No. 86 in scoring offense.

The issues weren’t limited to the offense; the defense performed even worse. They finished ranked No. 125 in total defense, No. 129 in rushing defense, No. 104 in passing defense and No. 117 in scoring defense. On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” the SEC Network analyst raised questions about whether Lebby can turn things around in his second year.

“I think he can,” Finebaum said. “The question is, does he have enough support? I don’t mean fans. I mean, does he have enough money flowing in where he can elevate the program high enough?”

Paul Finebaum Believes Mississippi State Faces a Brutal Schedule

Finebaum discussed the schedule that the Bulldogs will face this upcoming season. He noted that there are few favorable matchups, emphasizing that the most crucial game of the year will be against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the second game of the season. The Sun Devils made it to the playoffs last year.

Athlon Sports’ Kyle Wood has ranked Mississippi State as having the toughest schedule in the SEC for the upcoming season. He noted that the Bulldogs had a winless record in SEC play in 2024, marking their worst season in over two decades. Wood believes that things may not improve significantly in the coach’s second year on the job.

He mentioned that the Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, Georgia Bulldogs, and Ole Miss Rebels will all be visiting Starkville—three of which were playoff teams and one that narrowly missed the cut. On the road, Mississippi State will face the Texas A&M Aggies, Florida Gators, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Missouri Tigers. Ten of the Bulldogs’ opponents had a winning record last season; six of them won more than ten games, and four made it to the College Football Playoff (CFP).

Is There Any Reason for Optimism For Bulldog Fans?

The optimism stems from the return of Mississippi State’s starting quarterback, Blake Shapen, who was injured early in the previous season. In just four games, Shapen threw for 974 yards, eight touchdowns and had only one interception, completing 68.5% of his passes. If he had continued at that pace, he would have been on track for nearly 3,000 yards and 24 touchdowns over a full season.

The Bulldogs feature a formidable duo at running back this season. They return Davon Booth, who rushed for 759 yards and five touchdowns, averaging five yards per carry last year. Additionally, they have added Fluff Bothwell, a transfer from South Alabama, who contributed 832 yards and 13 touchdowns on 7.5 yards per carry during his freshman season.

Last season, Mississippi State struggled with one of the worst offensive lines in the SEC. To address this issue, they hired Phil Loadholt as their offensive line coach. Loadholt previously turned around the Colorado Buffaloes’ offensive line in 2024. As a result, the team revamped its offensive line, making six new additions through the transfer portal.

The question now is whether the team will improve by 2025, as Lebby aims to turn the program around. The Bulldogs will kick off the season on the road against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at noon ET on August 30.

Related: Paul Finebaum Casts Doubt on One SEC Program’s Commitment to Winning

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared.

Kenny Brooks took a play out of the John Calipari playbook by bringing a former star player of his to serve as a coach under him at a new school. Cal did it with Tyler Ulis at Arkansas, and now, Brooks is doing it with former Virginia Tech star Taylor Soule at Kentucky.

On Monday, it was announced by Brooks that the Kentucky women’s basketball program has hired Soule as a Program Assistant.

The former Hokie was a four-time All-ACC selection who would hear her name called with the 28th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Unfortunately, her pro career has been put on pause due to injury, but in the meantime, she’s helping out Brooks in Lexington.

“Hey BBN, it’s Taylor Soule,” she began with in the team’s social media release. “I’m super excited to be here. I’ve only been here a couple weeks, but I know y’all are gonna be really excited about the product the women’s team is producing right now. Go Cats.”

As reported late in July on KSR+, Soule has been in and out of the Joe Craft Center helping out as of late. Now, we know she has an official role within the program. She helped Virginia Tech get to its first-ever Final Four. Hopefully, she can do the same thing at Kentucky.

Want more coverage of the Cats? Join KSR+

KSR has been delivering UK Sports news in the most ridiculous manner for almost two decades. Now, you can get even more coverage of the Cats with KSR+. In the middle of a busy Kentucky offseason, now is the perfect time to join our online community. Subscribe now for premium articles, in-depth scouting reports, inside intel, bonus recruiting coverage, and access to KSBoard, our message board featuring thousands of Kentucky fans around the globe. Come join the club.

In the “coldness” of the numbers, the first round of the Brasileirão 2025 ended on Monday (11), with Juventude’s victory over Corinthians by 2 x 1 at the Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, which marked the end of the 19th round.

52/2º | Juventude 2×1 Corinthians | #JUVxSCCP

VITÓRIA JACONERA NA CASA DA PAPADA 🇳🇬

Gabriel Taliari e Matheus Babi marcaram pro Verdão

Bem demais meu Ju. Seguir lutando sempre, até o fim!

📷Fernando Alves/ECJ pic.twitter.com/kqRmhEgfOw

— E.C. Juventude (@ECJuventude) August 12, 2025

However, due to the Club World Cup, which took place between June and July, and also due to the round of 16 playoffs of the Conmebol South American, MANY ASTERISKS are part of the “landscape” of the championship table.

Flamengo, for example, ended up “champion of the first round” with 40 points, but with only 18 games.

Palmeiras occupies the third position with 36 points, but having played 17 matches.

That is, depending on the pending results, Verdão can surpass the red-black team when everyone has the same number of games. 

The same happens in the fight against relegation. 

Vasco opens the Z-4 with 16 points. However, the Giant of the Hill has 17 games, that is, two less than Vitória (18 points), the first out of the “confusion zone”.

Mathematically, Cruz-Maltino can even surpass Corinthians, which occupies the 13th place with 22 points, but which has already completed the 19 matches of the 1st round.

Fortaleza, with 15 points and in the penultimate position, also has 18 games and, therefore, can still surpass Leão da Barra.

And even Juventude, which is in the penultimate position with 14 points, has only 17 games, which means that it can also leave the Z-4, with a combination of results in the delayed games of each one.

⚽ The game

The word of the first half was “efficiency”. After all, even with fewer shots (4 x 6), Juventude left the field with the advantage on the scoreboard.

The Gaucho Alviverde knew how to defend itself, since Corinthians dominated the ball possession, and opened the score with a strong header from Gabriel Taliari, after a cross from the left by Marcelo Hermes.

GOOOL DO JU!

Marcelo Hermes cruza na medida para Gabriel Taliari abrir o placar para o Juventude contra o Corinthians, pelo Brasileirão. pic.twitter.com/pO9RyxTzZG

— ge (@geglobo) August 11, 2025

Timão returned from the break even weaker, without creating great chances, and saw Juventude – which had the debut of coach Thiago Carpini – extend with Matheus Babi completing in the area the cross from Nenê.

BABI AMPLIA!

Nenê recebe pela esquerda, invade a área e toca para Matheus Babi fazer o segundo do Juventude contra o Corinthians. pic.twitter.com/NNlLf89mnI

— ge (@geglobo) August 12, 2025

In the final minutes, Matheuzinho took a quality free kick and discounted for Corinthians. 

With the result, Timão reached the fifth consecutive game without a victory in the Brasileirão, while Juventude returned to triumph after four matches.

GOL DO TIMÃO!

De falta, Matheuzinho diminui para o Corinthians contra o Juventude. pic.twitter.com/f9l7KUUy25

— ge (@geglobo) August 12, 2025

📆 20th round schedule

• Saturday (16) – Fluminense x Fortaleza
• Saturday (16) – Ceará x RB Bragantino
• Saturday (16) – Vitória x Juventude
• Saturday (16) – Sport x São Paulo
• Saturday (16) – Corinthians x Bahia
• Sunday (17) – Santos x Vasco
• Sunday (17) – Atlético-MG x Grêmio
• Sunday (17) – Internacional x Flamengo
• Sunday (17) – Botafogo x Palmeiras
• Monday (18) – Mirassol x Cruzeiro

📊 See the updated table of the Brasileirão

CLASSIFICAÇÃO – BRASILEIRÃO

1º Flamengo – 40 pts (-1J)
2º Cruzeiro – 37 pts
3º Palmeiras – 36 pts (-2J)
4º Bahia – 30 pts (-2J)
—
5º Botafogo – 29 pts (-2J)
6º Mirassol – 28 pts (-2J)
—
7º São Paulo – 28 pts
8º RB Bragantino – 27 pts
9º Fluminense – 24 pts (-2J)
10°… pic.twitter.com/viOoAbLtcv

— Diário de Torcedor (@DiarioGols) August 12, 2025

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 YASUYOSHI CHIBA