Thursday's Report: Jones County's Richter/Toledo, Bacon walkoff; World Cup/Atlanta, Hawks, Falcons, UGA hoops; World Cup, college football/ACC, British Open, MLB, WNBA, tennis, NFL, NBA, NHL, Olympics
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⚾ ⚾ ⚾ Baseball ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
⚾ ⚾ ⚾ Coastal Plain ⚾ ⚾ ⚾
📰C📰O📰V📰E📰R📰A📰G📰E📰
Alumni Update
Jones County’s Richter enters season as Toledo’s starter
It’s the season of “finally” for John Alan Richter.
He redshirted as a freshman, played in one game as a sophomore, did well in limited duty in 2024 and in 2025.
Now, Richter will probably pass his career stats by the middle of September.
The Jones County grad will be under center on Sept. 4 when Toledo opens the season on a big stage, at Michigan State.
The 6-3, 225-pound junior was named as the Rockets’ starter this summer, new head coach Mike Jacobs being more interested in re-recruiting Richter to stay than looking for a quarterback.
“One of the questions we got was why we didn't go out and get a big-name quarterback in the transfer portal,” Jacobs said in a post-spring Q&A on the team’s website. “It's because we felt pretty good about John Alan's talent.
“He can make every throw in the offense. He's proven to be a tremendous leader. He's been really great for our program.”
Richter is 63 of 96 for 699 yards, with seven touchdowns and one interception in nine games covering three seasons.
The Rockets have a sizable connection to Central Georgia, starting at the top. Jacobs is in his first year at Toledo, after two seasons at Mercer.
Most of the staff came from Mercer, as did more than a dozen players.
Around/About Georgia
Rumbunctious pro-Argentina crowd makes defending World Cup champions feel at home in Atlanta
Hawks forward Gueye has surgery for fractured left foot and could miss start of 2026-27 season
Pitts ranked among NFL's top tight ends for 2026 season
Georgia MBKB banking on returning starters to set the tone
A Worthy Read
Soccer/World Cup
Defending champion Argentina reaches World Cup final by beating England
England’s Tuchel: ‘Easy to say that it was wrong’ to play defensively with lead vs. Argentina
USMNT's Balogun: Meddling in Cup ban overturn affected teammates
Cup's biggest spenders show up late as semifinals drive host city travel boom
Spain and goalkeeper Simón post another shutout
Yamal didn’t score, but a sneaky play helped Spain beat France
Mbappé critical of tactics in loss by 'sloppy' France
Column-Mbappé went missing. Spain is the prime suspect
College Football/ACC Media Days
SMU launches a Heisman push for Jennings and is putting QB’s name on a new recovery center
Miami hopes Duke QB transfer Mensah can keep ‘Canes playing college football’s highest level
Mensah's mom pushes back against criticism for transfer to Miami: 'There was money either way'
Seminoles 'feel the urgency,' says WR Robinson
ACC revamps tiebreakers for conference title game after 5-loss Duke team got in over No. 10 Miami
Around the Nation/ESPYs
ESPYs 2026 award winners, highlights and top moments
Hernández roasts Bill Belichick, Tiger Woods, Shane Gillis in monologue
Collins honored by twin brother in emotional 2026 in emotional speech 2 months after his death
Abbott honored at ESPYs with Jimmy V Award for Perseverance
Golf
This British Open amateur is a qualified mechanic with cystic fibrosis. He’s proving an inspiration
Rahm approves of player conduct policy for British Open. He also wants attention on slow play
Distance debate at this British Open is how far the golf ball goes on the ground
Marcus Plunkett finds golf again in the Army. The West Point alum is now in the British Open
From major champ to major questions: What now for Bryson?
Tennis
‘Just makes you stronger’ – Gauff brushes off ‘hate comments’ awaiting her after Wimbledon exit
MLB/All-Star Break
From Savannah Bananas to MLB All-Star: Tristan Peters details 'highlight of my career'
Walker may have won Home Run Derby, but his parents stole the show
All in the family: Bellinger wins All-Star MVP as his dad, former big leaguer Clay, looks on
Baseball/MLB
Expanded playoffs make it hard to predict whether Skubal, Chapman, Gray get dealt
Brewers bolster rotation by getting Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon in a deal with the Astros
We won't see a pitcher like Justin Verlander again
WNBA/Women’s Basketball
Wilson is drafted No. 1 as Cooper and Weatherspoon pick WNBA All-Star teams
Valkyries beat the Fever for 8th straight victory
Lynx beat the Sparks behind McBride’s 5th straight 20-point game
Tennis
Drama-filled women’s final at Wimbledon earns record viewership on ESPN
Soccer
Man United signs Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa as transfer spree grows
College Football/Southeast
Swinney: New eligibility rules will 'clean up' players sitting out to preserve redshirt
NFL/USFL/UFL/Football
Cook: 'New energy' with Joe Brady at helm
Study finds Ex-NFL players die from ALS before age 50 at alarming rate
Seahawks sale: Get to know family buying team
Texans co-founder Janice McNair dies at 89
Investigation into viral Geno Smith confrontation videos closed by police
NBA/Basketball
Wolves believe LaMelo Ball’s pure point guard play and joyful style will ‘elevate’ their entire team
NHL/Hockey
Yzerman out as Red Wings GM: 'We are not where we expect to be'
Olympic Sports
Two years out: Projecting the U.S. men's basketball roster
Scoreboards