LOS ANGELES — Back in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series at Chavez Ravine, Kirk Gibson hit one of the most dramatic homers in baseball history.

And on this Friday night in Los Angeles, Freddie Freeman hit a walk-off grand slam in the 10th inning to nearly the identical spot as Gibson, winning Game 1 of the 2024 World Series.

Los Angeles Dodgers 6, New York Yankees 3.

The sellout crowd of 52,394 went insane as Freeman rounded the bases, crossing home plate then greeting his father in the stands.

“I just screamed in his face,’ Freeman said. “It was my Dad’s moment too.’

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The Dodgers were down to their last out after Shohei Ohtani flied out to left, with outfielder Alex Verdugo falling into the stands after making a spectacular catch, enabling the runners to move up a base to second and third.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone went to the mound, and instructed left-hander Nestor Cortes to intentionally walk Mookie Betts, bringing up Freeman.

Freeman swung at Cortes’ 92-mph fastball and sent it 423 feet into the night, landing in the right field bleachers for a grand slam.

Bedlam.

The Dodgers still aren’t quite sure how they pulled this off, surviving yet another home run by Giancarlo Stanton, a fan interference call and being shut down by New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.

But, by the end of the night, there they were, dancing across the infield, mobbing Freeman.

They took full advantage of Yankee blunders to pull off the victory.

There was Yankees right fielder Juan Soto misplaying a line drive by Enrique Hernandez in the fifth inning, turning a double into a triple. The Yankees paid the price when Will Smith, whose wife gave birth to a daughter on Tuesday, hit a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

In the eighth, Yankees were clinging to that 2-1 lead when Shohei Ohtani hit a double off the right-center-field wall. The Yankees could have survived it, but when Soto threw the ball into the infield, it caromed off second baseman Gleyber Torres’ glove, trickling into the middle of the infield. No one was there to pick it up, and Ohtani alertly scampered to third base.

Once again, the Dodgers capitalized when Betts hit a sacrifice fly to center field, pumping his fist as the ball landed in center fielder Aaron Judge’s glove, tying the game at 2-apiece.

For the Yankees, it looked like Giancarlo Stanton would be the hero.

Stanton, who grew up in Southern California going to Dodgers games and hoped to one day for the club, looked to have broken his hometown team’s heart with a massive two-run homer in the sixth inning.

The Yankees were trailing 1-0 when Stanton stepped to the plate with Juan Soto on first base.

Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty, who had been cruising, immediately got ahead of Stanton with two quick strikes, with Stanton swinging and missing at a slider and a curveball. Flaherty came back with a fastball that Stanton didn’t chase.

Now, with a 1-and-2 count, Flaherty threw another 79-mph curvebal.

This time, Stanton didn’t miss.

He swung, connected at 116.6-mph, and sent it 412 feet deep into left.

The only question was whether it would stay fair, with the crowd holding its breath.

It was fair, landing in the Dodgers bullpen.

And there were those family and friends from Sherman Oaks, Calif., cheering, particularly his former classmates from Notre Dame High School.

“It means everything to be here,” Stanton said. “This is the most incredible time I’ve had, and it’s a special time to be here, for sure. It’s everything you dream for in a matchup and everything you would want.’

And, oh, did it ever bring back beautiful memories.

“My favorite moments here were probably the little things,’ Stanton said. “Going to batting practice, hearing the sound of the bat in the empty stadium. Going in the outfield to play catch is where I learned my big-league depth perception. And arguing with the scalpers, trying to get a ticket and buy peanuts.”

No wonder he looked so comfortable playing in his first World Series game. He’s hit 11 career home runs with 28 RBI at Dodger Stadium, including an 2015 epic shot that cleared the stadium.

But it was Freeman, who impersonated the mighty Kirk Gibson, who stole the night.

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Here’s how Friday’s game unfolded:

Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam wins it

With the Dodgers down to their final out in the 10th inning, Freddie Freeman crushed a walk-off grand slam off Nestor Cortes, giving the Dodgers a 6-3 victory in an absolutely wild Game 1.

Yankees take 10th-inning lead

LOS ANGELES — Jazz Chisholm scores for the Yankees in the top of the 10th to retake the lead against the Dodgers.

Chisholm had initially single and stealing both second and third before Anthony Volpe’s RBI groundout brought him home. Anthony Rizzo, who was intentionally walked, was out at second while the run scored.

Blake Treinen struck out Austin Wells to send the game to the bottom of the inning.

– James H. Williams

Dodgers’ intentional walk works out in ninth

LOS ANGELES — With a runner on second and two outs, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts chose to intentionally walk Juan Soto to bring Aaron Judge to the plate. Blake Treinen came into the game to replace Michael Kopech, and got Judge to popped out to the infield.

Gleyber Torres hit a double with two outs, which initially appeared to be a go-ahead home run, but umpires ruled that a fan reached over the left-center field fence to grab the ball.

Treinen has allowed just one run over his last 23 innings.

– James H. Williams

Dodgers tie it up in the eighth

We’ve got a 2-2 ballgame heading into the ninth inning after Mookie Betts’ sacrifice fly scored Shohei Ohtani in the bottom of the eighth.

Ohtani had reached third with one out, doubling off the wall and then took an extra base when the ball skipped away in the infield.

The Yankees had called on closer Luke Weaver for a five-out save after Ohtani reached base. The right-hander retired the only two batters he faced – but will be charged with the blown save.

Yankees work out of trouble in seventh

Gerrit Cole came out of the game after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh and was replaced by Clay Holmes, who promptly hit Max Muncy. Enrique Hernandez then dropped down a sacrifice bunt to get the runners to second and third. Holmes got Will Smith to pop up for the second out and gave way to Tommy Kahnle, who solicited an inning-ending ground ball from Gavin Lux.

Anthony Banda escapes bases-loaded jam

Anthony Banda managed to get the Dodgers out of the sixth inning after replacing Jack Flaherty.

Banda threw 15 pitches in the inning, including the last one that struck out Alex Verdugo while the Yankees had the bases loaded and threatened to pull away.

The Yankees lead the Dodgers 2-1 heading the bottom of the sixth inning.

Giancarlo Stanton home run gives Yankees 2-1 lead

LOS ANGELES — The Yankees answered the call in the top of the sixth inning.

Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run home run to give the Yankees the 2-1 lead against the Dodgers.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts quickly emerged from the dugout to remove pitcher Jack Flaherty from the game. Flaherty allowed five hits, two earned runs while striking out six in 5⅓ innings.

It’s the fourth consecutive game with a homer for Stanton, who was named ALCS MVP.

Dodgers take 1-0 lead on Will Smith sac fly

The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on Will Smith’s sacrifice fly to right. Enrique Hernandez slid past catcher Austin Wells, ruled safe by umpire Carlos Torres.

Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole has allowed two hits and one earned run while striking out four in five innings pitched.

Jack Flaherty cruising through five

LOS ANGELES — Jack Flaherty has allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out five through the first five innings of Game 1.

He struck out Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells to record the first two outs in the top of the fifth inning.

Flaherty is coming off a National League Championship Series that saw him experience extreme highs and lows. He allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out six in his last outing at home in Game 1 against the New York Mets.

In his last road game, he allowed eight hits and eight earned runs in three innings pitched against the Mets in Game 5, walking four without recording a strikeout.

Traded to the Dodgers at the deadline, Flaherty is no stranger to Southern California, returning to the venue where he led Harvard Westlake to a 2013 CIF-SS Championship at Dodger Stadium.

– James H. Williams

LA sellout: Dodger Stadium at capacity

The Dodgers announced their seventh sellout of the postseason with 52,394 in attendance tonight for Game 1 against the Yankees.

Actor Bryan Cranston and musicians Billie Eilish and Finneas were among the celebrities in the crowd. Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and his father Jack Harbaugh were also seen on the Fox broadcast.

Gerrit Cole works around Freddie Freeman triple

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani had the Dodger Stadium crowd excited in the bottom of the first, connecting on Gerrit Cole’s first pitch but it was caught in center field by Aaron Judge. Mookie Betts also had a fly out deep in left field that briefly brought the crowd to their feet thinking it was a home run.

Battling an ankle injury throughout the postseason, Freddie Freeman hit a triple with two outs – but Cole got Teoscar Hernandez to line out to end the inning.

Dodgers and Yankees remain scoreless at the end of the first inning.

– James H. Williams

World Series Game 1 underway in LA

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty threw 18 pitches in the first inning, walking Juan Soto and striking out Aaron Judge.

Giancarlo Stanton reached base on an error by Tommy Edman, which moved Soto to second.

Flaherty worked around the error by getting Jazz Chisholm to ground out to end the inning.

– James H. Williams

Moment of silence for Fernando Valenzuela, Dodgers’ No. 34

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers honored Fernando Valenzuela before Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the Yankees with a moment of silence.

Valenzuela, who spent the first 11 years of his 17-year MLB career with the Dodgers, died at age 63 on Tuesday.

He won the World Series, Rookie of the Year and the National League Cy Young Award in 1981.

He returned to the Dodgers as a Spanish-language broadcaster in 2003 and stepped away from his duties during the final weeks of the 2024 regular season to ‘focus on his health.’

Blue ribbons were also placed on Valenzuela’s two Silver Slugger Awards (1981 and 1983) located in a trophy case near the clubhouse at Dodger Stadium.

If the World Series extends to Game 6, it will be played in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, Valenzuela’s birthday.

– James H. Williams

Dodgers’ Will Smith welcomed new baby before World Series

Dodgers catcher Will Smith and his wife, Cara, welcomed a new addition to the family on Oct. 22.

Smith’s newborn daughter, Layton Elizabeth, was born just two days after the Dodgers won the National League Championship Series in Los Angeles. Cara and their first daughter were in attendance for the game.

Smith has spent his entire six-year MLB career with the Dodgers, including the 2020 World Series championship season.

– James H. Williams

World Series starting pitchers: Game 1

Yankees: Gerrit Cole (8-5, 3.41 ERA) – The 2023 AL Cy Young winner missed the early part of the season due to injury. He’s made three starts in the 2024 posteason, posting a 3.31 ERA.
Dodgers: Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.17 ERA) – Acquired from the Tigers at the trade deadline, the right-hander has a 7.04 ERA in three postseason starts this year. He pitched seven shutout innings in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Mets but was routed in his Game 5 start, giving up eight runs in three innings with no strikeouts.

Yankees lineup

Gleyber Torres (R) 2B
Juan Soto (L) RF
Aaron Judge (R) CF
Giancarlo Stanton (R) DH
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 3B
Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
Anthony Volpe (R) SS
Austin Wells (L) C
Alex Verdugo (L) LF

Dodgers lineup

Shohei Ohtani (L) DH
Mookie Betts (R) RF
Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
Teoscar Hernández (R) LF
Max Muncy (L) 3B
Enrique Hernández (R) CF
Will Smith (R) C
Gavin Lux (L) 2B
Tommy Edman (S) SS

2024 World Series predictions

Read USA TODAY Sports MLB experts’ full predictions here

Bob Nightengale: Dodgers in 7 
Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 6 
Steve Gardner: Dodgers in 7
Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 7
Scott Boeck: Dodgers in 6

World Series umpires – Game 1

Home plate: Carlos Torres
First base: Mark Carlson (crew chief)
Second base: Doug Eddings
Third base: Mark Ripperger
Left field: Chad Fairchild
Right field: Todd Tichenor
Reserve: Andy Fletcher

Full umpire lineups for Games 1-4 here

Fox World Series announcers 

Fox’s pre- and postgame shows feature Kevin Burkhardt, Alex Rodriguez, David Ortiz and Derek Jeter.

Who is throwing first pitch?

LOS ANGELES — Orel Hershiser and Steve Yeager will throw out the first pitch before Game 1 of the 2024 World Series between the Dodgers and the Yankees.

Hershiser spent the first 12 years (1983-1994) of his career with the Dodgers and won the World Series MVP in 1988 before playing for Cleveland, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. He returned to the Dodgers in 2000, pitching in six games.

Yeager spent the first 14 years of his MLB career with the Dodgers from 1972 to 1985. Yeager was one of the Dodgers’ three co-MVPs of the World Series against the Yankees in 1981. He played for the Seattle Mariners in 1986.

– James H. Williams

Dodgers World Series roster: LA loses key pitcher to injury

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen will be missing a crucial piece from its arsenal in the World Series. 

The team’s roster announced Friday did not include reliever Evan Phillips, whose outing in the clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was cut short over injury concerns. 

While Phillips was replaced on the roster by fellow right-hander Brusdar Graterol, who was out one month with a shoulder injury, the loss of Phillips deletes a crucial piece of the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen alignment. 

– Gabe Lacques

Juan Soto contract talk comes after World Series

LOS ANGELES – The vast riches beyond his wildest dreams await just weeks from now. His impact in just one season with the most storied franchise in baseball has placed him back on the game’s biggest stage.

Yet Juan Soto knows, deep down, that for as fantastic his 2024 season as a New York Yankee mercenary has been, as rich his bank account will be once he hits free agency, that the meaning of it all – the definition of success – is riding on the outcome of this World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“Not yet. Not yet. I have one more step to go – and that’s winning the World Series,” Soto said Thursday at Dodger Stadium, on the eve of the Yankees’ first World Series appearance since 2009.

– Gabe Lacques

Dodgers jersey patch honors Fernando Valenzuela

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers added a No. 34 patch to their uniforms for the World Series and Valenzuela will be remembered prior to Game 1 and throughout Dodger Stadium.

The stadium’s entrance has served as a memorial for the late pitcher with candles, flowers, pictures and – of course – the Mexican flag. 

“It’s just one person that we’re gonna keep talking about and keep on having his legacy live on,” said Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo, a former Dodger who played for Valenzuela on the Mexican national team.

He won’t be physically present when the Dodgers and Yankees play ball on Friday night, but there is belief Valenzuela will still keep an eye over his team.

“He’s a legend,” Yankees ace Gerrit Cole said. “It’s just sad he won’t be here for this series, but he’s probably got a great seat upstairs.”

– Jordan Mendoza

Simulated World Series: Freeman’s clutch blast leads Dodgers over Yankees in Game 1

How will this year’s World Series play out? Using theDynasty League Baseball online simulation, USA TODAY Sports’ Steve Gardner and DLB designer Mike Cieslinski will pre-play each game to provide some insight into the key matchups and strategy fans can expect to see in the Fall Classic.

BOX SCORE:  Dodgers 13, Yankees 9

The game featured a total of six home runs, three of them in the first inning, as the Yankees got out to an early lead on Giancarlo Stanton’s two-run blast off Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty.

But in the bottom of the frame, L.A. struck back with six runs before Yankees starter Gerrit Cole had even recorded an out. Mookie Betts plated a pair with a homer to left and Will Smith capped the scoring with a grand slam to left off a bewildered Cole to put the Dodgers up 6-2.

However, the Yankees kept the pressure on and managed to chip away at the lead. Aaron Judge went deep in the sixth to plate three runs and bring the Yankees to within one. Then with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Judge singled in two to put New York ahead 9-8.

The Dodgers staged their own rally in the bottom of the eighth against Yanks reliever Jake Cousins. Shohei Ohtani doubled to right with one out, stole third and came home to tie the game on Betts’ RBI single.

After Betts stole second, Freeman unloaded with a monster 447-foot blast to right field to put the Dodgers on top to stay.

FULL PLAY-BY-PLAY:  Dodgers take Game 1 with pair of late homers

– Steve Gardner

List of World Series winners

2023: Texas Rangers
2022: Houston Astros
2021: Atlanta Braves
2020: Los Angeles Dodgers
2019: Washington Nationals
2018: Boston Red Sox
2017: Houston Astros
2016: Chicago Cubs
2015: Kansas City Royals
2014: San Francisco Giants
2013: Boston Red Sox
2012: San Francisco Giants
2011: St. Louis Cardinals
2010: San Francisco Giants
2009: New York Yankees
2008: Philadelphia Phillies
2007: Boston Red Sox
2006: St. Louis Cardinals
2005: Chicago White Sox
2004: Boston Red Sox
2003: Florida Marlins
2002: Anaheim Angels
2001: Arizona Diamondbacks
2000: New York Yankees

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LOS ANGELES — There was a poignant ceremony before Game 1 of the World Series for late Dodgers pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela, with the flag at half-staff, the videoboard showing highlights of Valenzuela, a musical tribute, and a moment of silence.

Orel Hershiser and Steve Yeager, who played on the Dodgers’ World Series championship teams in 1988 and 1981, respectively, wore Valenzuela jerseys to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Yet, instead of throwing the pitch, they merely placed the ball on the pitcher’s mound while Valenzuela’s wife, Linda, and their four children softly wept.

“I think if there’s two people that probably impacted this organization most,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, “I think you would say Jackie Robinson and Fernando Valenzuela. No disrespect to anyone else, but if you’re talking about currently the fan base, there’s a lot of people that are here and support the Dodgers south of the border because of Fernando.

“That was obviously when I was younger, really young, but his legacy continues to live on. He was a friend of mine. And so to not see him up in the (broadcast) booth or to say hello, is sad for me and his family.

“But Fernando was a gentleman, a great Dodger, and what a humble man.’’

All things Dodgers: Latest Los Angeles Dodgers news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo, who also played for the Dodgers, said Valenzuela’s death hit hard for his Mexican-American family. They had gotten to know Valenzuela when Verdugo played for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic.

“He meant a lot to our family, obviously, with the Mexican heritage to it and the ties in that regard. Being with him with the Dodgers and Team Mexico, we got to spend a good amount of time with each other. We had several conversations, not to talk just about baseball, but talk about life. These are things where he’s impacted my family’s life, my mom, my dad and my life.

“We’re just saddened by it, but you know at the end of the day, we do want to celebrate him and bring up all of the positives that he brought out to the community.’

Tony Clark, executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said he will cherish his memories of Valenzuela as he grew up in San Diego admiring the Dodgers star.

“Fernando was always fantastic to me,’ Clark said. “Growing up in San Diego, obviously, I had an opportunity to watch him quite a bit, and having the opportunity while I was a player to meet him and talk to him as a former player. I’m grateful for it. It was hard to see his passing.’

The legendary shortstop spent his entire 20-year career with the New York Yankees and won five World Series titles, earned 14 All-Star nods, a World Series MVP, five Gold Glove awards and five Silver Slugger awards, among many other accolades. Jeter’s resume would make anyone green with envy, but there’s one thing ‘The Captain’ wishes he added to the list — a Fall Classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

‘There is nothing I would change about my career except being able to play in a Yankees-Dodgers World Series,’ Jeter said ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 Fall Classic between the Yankees and Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The 2024 World Series matchup marks the record 12th time the two juggernauts have faced off against each other for the Commissioner’s Trophy — but the first since 1981. That was way before Jeter’s time. He won five titles with the Yankees —  1996 vs. the Atlanta Braves, 1998 vs. the San Diego Padres, 1999 vs. the Braves, 2000 vs. the New York Mets and 2009 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. He was named the World Series MVP in 2000.

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The legendary shortstop spent his entire 20-year career with the New York Yankees and won five World Series titles, earned 14 All-Star nods, a World Series MVP, five Gold Glove awards and five Silver Slugger awards, among many other accolades. Jeter’s resume would make anyone green with envy, but there’s one thing ‘The Captain’ wishes he added to the list — a Fall Classic against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

‘There is nothing I would change about my career except being able to play in a Yankees-Dodgers World Series,’ Jeter said ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 Fall Classic between the Yankees and Dodgers in Los Angeles.

The 2024 World Series matchup marks the record 12th time the two juggernauts have faced off against each other for the Commissioner’s Trophy — but the first since 1981. That was way before Jeter’s time. He won five titles with the Yankees —  1996 vs. the Atlanta Braves, 1998 vs. the San Diego Padres, 1999 vs. the Braves, 2000 vs. the New York Mets and 2009 vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. He was named the World Series MVP in 2000.

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Tom Crean told Shareef Abdur-Rahim the story when they were both at Tampa General Hospital Thursday night, recounting the ways in which Abdur-Rahim’s brother inspired the people he encountered in life.

This particular anecdote was about Amir Abdur-Rahim’s first home game during his first season as the men’s basketball coach at Kennesaw State in 2019. Crean was there with his wife in a crowd he described as “sparse is being generous.” But the former Indiana and Marquette coach still remembered the three students in the stands with him, dressed in Kennesaw State gear and their faces painted, and how Abdur-Rahim made them feel “like they were part of the team.”

Crean marveled at his former University of Georgia assistant coach, at how he innately seemed to know that building a basketball program is about building belief as much as it is about basketball.   

“He would have been, without question in my mind,” Crean told USA TODAY Sports through tears Friday morning, “one of the absolute great coaches that was in the first sentence out of everybody’s mouth as he continued to grow into it.”

Amir Abdur-Rahim died Thursday following complications from a medical procedure less than two weeks before he was set to begin his second season as the South Florida men’s basketball coach. He was 43 years old. 

Abdur-Rahim led USF on a remarkable turnaround in his first campaign, taking over a program that had finished with a below .500 record in 10 of the previous 11 seasons and finishing the 2023-24 season with a record 25 wins, the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship and AAC coach of the year honors.

It came on the heels of Abdur-Rahim pushing Kennesaw State from one win in his first season to the program’s first winning season and first NCAA tournament appearance as a Division-I program in 2023. 

His sudden passing sent shockwaves through the college coaching community because Abdur-Rahim, as Kansas coach Bill Self noted in his condolence message on social media, was seen as “a rising star in our sport.” But it was the way Abdur-Rahim related to anyone he encountered along the way that resonated more than his results with the coaches, administrators and players who knew him best.

‘His primary goal was always to have the most connected team in college basketball — what he ended up doing is connecting an entire community,’ USF athletic director Mike Kelly posted on X Friday. Former USF player Kasean Pryor, who transferred to Louisville this offseason, remarked on Instagram that ‘in only a short year of being together, you helped to change my life forever.’

Abdur-Rahim, a Marietta, Georgia native, played three seasons at Southeastern Louisiana University (2001-04) after beginning his college career at Garden City Community College for two years, “and he was a leader from the day he came in,” said Billy Kennedy, who coached Abdur-Rahim at SE Louisiana and later hired him to be an assistant coach at Murray State and Texas A&M. 

Just like at Kennesaw State and USF, SE Louisiana did what had never been done there before Abdur-Rahim arrived, winning the Southland Conference. 

“People admire the fact that he did it the hard way and he was rewarded for it. That’s rare today in athletics or in life,” Kennedy told USA TODAY Sports. “And he did it with a spirit of gratitude. That was the biggest thing. He never thought he was above anybody.”

“The one flaw he had,” Kennedy added, “was he was stubborn.”

The staff at Murray State even took to calling Abdur-Rahim “Donkey” in reference to the character from the animated film, “Shrek.” But even that often manifested itself in ways that were in the best interest of players. 

“If it was somebody we were recruiting and he thought he was a good player and good enough, he fought for that guy,” Kennedy said. “He was everything that was good with college basketball.”

Crean credits Abdur-Rahim for helping Georgia land future NBA star Anthony Edwards as a recruit, even though Abdur-Rahim left the Bulldogs for Kennesaw State before ever actually coaching Edwards. Abdur-Rahim even told the ‘Coaching Origins’ podcast in 2022 that he told Edwards he would stay at Georgia – and not take the Kennesaw State job – to ensure Edwards remained committed to the Bulldogs. 

The two remained close after the recruiting process, so much so that Crean made it a point to call Edwards Thursday so that he would hear the news of Abdur-Rahim’s death from him rather than media reports. 

‘If you asked Anthony to name somebody that he absolutely relies on, believes in and he knows will tell him the truth no matter what, he’d put Amir in the first sentence,” Crean said. 

“He just had an unbelievable ability to connect with young people. … He made me believe in myself,” added Murray State coach Steve Prohm.  “It was really, really amazing watching him these last couple years, and what makes you sick is he’s got his wife and three little kids and he had the world by his hands.”

Prohm coached Abdur-Rahim as an assistant at SE Louisiana and the two later served as assistant coaches together at Murray State under Kennedy. Prohm credits Abdur-Rahim for connecting Prohm and his wife. Abdur-Rahim served as a groomsman in the wedding. 

So Prohm found himself working through his emotions Thursday night by scrolling through social media, where some of Abdur-Rahim’s press conferences and quotes were being rediscovered in the wake of his death.

“Just to hear him talk,” Prohm explained.

The moment Prohm lingered over was filmed in the locker room, after Kennesaw State nearly upset Xavier in the 2023 NCAA tournament. There was Abdur-Rahim standing in front of a whiteboard giving a short speech about the only two words written on it: “Love wins.”

It was then that Prohm knew the story he was going to tell his Murray State players at practice Friday.

“I’m going to talk to my team about ‘Love wins,’ ” Prohm said. “I think that summarized him in a nutshell. He was so entrenched and so loyal and he just got the best out of everybody he was around.”

Follow USA TODAY Network sports reporter Mark Giannotto on social media @mgiannotto and email him at mgiannotto@gannett.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Lionel Messi failed to score in the first MLS playoff game of his storied career, but the greatest player of all time still found a way to lead his club to victory.

Messi assisted on Jordi Alba’s go-ahead goal in the 60th minute, Luis Suarez scored in the second minute of the match, and Inter Miami beat Atlanta United 2-1 on Friday night to begin their best-of-three first round series in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Game 2 is Nov. 2 at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Game 3, if necessary, will return to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium on Nov. 9.

“We took an important step. It was the only team in our area that we had not been able to beat. That it arrives at this time is very good,” Inter Miami coach Tata Martino said of the win over Atlanta – one of four clubs to beat Miami this season.

At least 150,000 viewers at a time watched the ‘Messi cam,’ a live stream of Messi exclusively on the MLS and Inter Miami TikTok accounts. The highly anticipated match was also streamed worldwide for free on Apple TV.

Messi entered the match scoring two hat tricks in the last 10 days – three goals for Argentina in a World Cup qualifying match, and three goals in 11 minutes for Inter Miami to clinch the MLS points record. But he was unable to continue his goal-scoring magic from arguably the healthiest stretch of his career since joining Inter Miami in his MLS playoff opener.

Messi took nine shots in the match, including four on target, but he was unable to find the back of the net – partially due to his miscues and thanks to Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan’s stellar defense.

Messi kicked a shot into Guzan’s feet in the final minute of the match, had his first shot on target tipped by Guzan in the 26th minute, and saw a shot from point-blank range deflected by Guzan’s left knee in the 72nd minute.

Messi also missed a shot off the right post in the 29th minute, a free kick wide right in the 52nd minute, sailed a shot over the net in the 66th minute, and missed other late chances in the final 30 minutes.

“If it’s not for Brad, the game must have ended with a few more goals,” Martino said of the Atlanta goalie.

Messi relied on two of his former Barcelona running mates in Suarez and Alba to secure the first playoff win in Inter Miami’s four-year franchise history.

Suarez’s goal came off an assist by Diego Gomez, after being set up by Alba – a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year.

Alba’s goal, a laser following a pass from Messi, ended the tie after Atlanta’s Saba Lobzhanidze scored in the 39th minute. It was the lift Inter Miami, behind its two MVP finalists in Messi and Suarez, needed to secure the victory.

“The best left back in the world,” Suarez said of Alba. “Wherever he is, he will always be the best in his position.”

Inter Miami is in pursuit of its third title since Messi joined the club in July 2023. Messi is also vying for his 47th title for club and country.

Messi and Inter Miami won the Leagues Cup in 2023, and the MLS Supporters’ Shield title for the league’s best record this season. The club also set the MLS record with 74 points during the regular season.

“Well, I think we are one of the favorites (to win MLS Cup),” Messi said during an interview with Apple TV and 433 Football, a soccer content creator company, before the match.

“I think we are a team that has grown and learned to compete and that will compete with anyone. But I think there are also tough teams who will be very difficult rivals and who will not make it easy. But I think the other teams respect us like we respect them.”

The match did not come without disappointment for Inter Miami: Ian Fray, a 22-year-old defender who’s sustained three ACL injuries in his career, left the game in the 90th minute with an apparent right leg injury.  

“We leave with a feeling of not so much satisfaction – more because of Ian, because we are sad and aware of what injury he had,” Martino said of Fray without further disclosing the nature of his injury.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United highlights

Messi misses shot off Atlanta goalie’s knee in 72′: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1

Messi missed a shot from point-blank range, thanks to a ridiculous save by Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan. Messi’s shot was blocked my Guzan’s left knee in the sequence.

Messi misses shot in the 66th minute: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta 1

Lionel Messi is going after it, but not finding the back of the net just yet. After a back-and-forth with Luis Suarez, Messi took a shot in close range that sailed over the net.

Jordi Alba goal: Inter Miami 2, Atlanta United 1

Inter Miami’s MLS Defender of the Year candidate, Jordi Alba, delivered a strike with his left boot in the 60th minute, and Inter Miami is in the lead again up 2-1. Alba scored on an assist from Messi, and the two shared a hug in celebration after the score.

Lionel Messi misses free kick: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Lionel Messi’s free kick bent just wide outside the right side of the net in the 52nd minute. After two hat tricks in the last 10 days, Messi appears a bit rusty in this playoff match.

Saba Lobzhanidze goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 1

Atlanta got a pivotal score from its leading scorer, as Saba Lobzhanidze scored in the 39th minute with a left boot past Inter Miami goalie Drake Callender. We’re tied at Chase Stadium.

Lionel Messi off the post in 29′: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta 0

Almost. Messi sent a shot toward the net, but it ricocheted off the right post in a near-score that left him in disbelief.

Lionel Messi misses shot in 26′: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

Lionel Messi’s shot toward the net was an empathic left boot tipped by Atlanta goalie Brad Guzan in the 26th minute.

Luis Suarez goal: Inter Miami 1, Atlanta United 0

Inter Miami already has a lead thanks to a goal by Luis Suarez in the 2nd minute of the match. The goal came roughly after the first 1:40 of game time from the MLS MVP candidate. Suarez even did the Griddy dance to celebrate the goal, likely in the direction of his young son in the stands. Suarez had 20 goals for Inter Miami this season during MLS play, tying him with Messi for the team lead.

Messi interview with Apple TV

Check out part of this sit-down interview Messi did with Apple TV:

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United starting lineups

Here’s the starting lineups for both clubs: To no surprise, Messi is starting tonight.

Bad Bunny x Lionel Messi display at Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium

The adidas collaboration between Bad Bunny and Lionel Messi announced this week was on display with an activation outside Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium before tonight’s game.

How to watch Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United free live stream

The match is available for free on Apple TV, which said this could be the most-viewed match on MLS Season Pass history.

TikTok Messi cam: How to watch Messi on TikTok live stream

The @MLS and @InterMiamiCF TikTok accounts will feature a live stream of Messi during the playoff game. It’s the first time in TikTok’s history a single player will be followed during an entire soccer match.

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is expected to be in the starting lineup for Inter Miami’s playoff game against Atlanta.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United betting odds

Here are the BETMGM moneyline odds: Inter Miami (-250); Atlanta (+575); Draw after regulation (+400). The over/under is set at 3.5 goals.

The line moved significantly since Tuesday: Inter Miami moved from -210 to -250, while Atlanta dropped from +425 to +575.

Messi enters MLS Cup Playoffs at his strongest

Messi’s Copa America ankle injury is long behind him. He appears at full strength, and perhaps stronger than he’s ever been since joining Inter Miami, evident from two hat tricks in his last two matches played.

Messi was also named one of five finalists for MLS MVP on Thursday, and is considered a favorite to win the award.

The Messi marketing machine is also in full effect with the debut of Captain Messi, a superhero toy with Hard Rock International, among other ventures the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is pursing off the pitch.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta stats

What makes this MLS Cup Playoff matchup so enticing is Atlanta is one of four clubs to beat Inter Miami this season.

Messi scored a goal, but Atlanta beat Inter Miami 3-1 on May 29. For context, the match was three days after Inter Miami’s trip to Vancouver, the longest road trip in Major League Soccer.

Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United MLS Cup Playoff Series

Game 2 will be played Saturday, Nov. 2, in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium. And Game 3, if necessary, will be played on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Chase Stadium.

The winner advances to meet the winner between No. 4 Orlando City and No. 5 Charlotte.

MLS Cup Playoff format

The MLS Cup Playoffs is not a traditional, two-game, aggregate score format. Instead, every match in the MLS Cup Playoffs is a standalone opportunity to earn a victory. If a score is tied after regulation in the first round, both clubs will immediately compete in a penalty shootout.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen will be missing a crucial piece from its arsenal in the World Series. 

The team’s roster announced Friday did not include reliever Evan Phillips, whose outing in the clinching Game 6 of the National League Championship Series was cut short over injury concerns. 

While Phillips was replaced on the roster by fellow right-hander Brusdar Graterol, who was out one month with a shoulder injury, the loss of Phillips deletes a crucial piece of the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen alignment. 

He has been perfect in this postseason, giving up no runs in 6 ⅔ innings across five games, including a pair of wins in two Dodgers ‘bullpen games,’ manned entirely by relievers.

Phillips said Thursday he believed that his removal from Game 6 after an inning – the Dodgers planned to have him go two – was wise and likely preserved him for the World Series, and that he expected to be on the roster.

Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.

But Dodgers president Andrew Friedman explained before Game 1 that Phillips wasn’t progressing the way the team hoped.

‘Each day has gotten better … first and foremost, we’re not going to put him in harm’s way,’ Friedman said. ‘And the way the Major League Baseball injury rule is written, we wouldn’t be able to replace him in that it was something that was preexisting.’

The Dodgers also welcomed back lefty reliever Alex Vesia (oblique) and shortstop Miguel Rojas (adductor), who both missed the NLCS.

‘Obviously not having Evan available for this series certainly is disappointing,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Game 1. ‘But being able to add Brusdar and Alex to this roster is a huge addition. I think they match up well with this ballclub, and they’ve got experience. ‘

The Yankees added lefty Nestor Cortes to their roster, replacing infielder Jon Berti.

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