North Carolina could almost taste it.

For much of the season, the Tar Heels couldn’t get the job done against top-tier opponents. They’d come close, only to fall short and miss out on getting a signature victory.

Needing that mark on their resume, North Carolina hosted heated rival and national championship contender Duke in the regular-season finale. A golden opportunity to prove it belongs in the NCAA Tournament.

Early in the second half, it looked like North Carolina would finally get it done. It had limited Cooper Flagg’s impact on the game and with a seven-point lead, the Dean Dome crowd was in a frenzy. A win − and a spot in March Madness − was in sight.

But as has been the case so many times this season, it all fell apart. The sleeping giant in the Blue Devils woke up and decided to dash dreams. Duke closed the final 13 minutes on a 29-10 run and sucked any life out of those in Carolina Blue en route to an 82-69 victory.

Don’t let the 20-12 record fool you. Thirteen wins came against Quad 3 and 4 opponents, and only one − against UCLA in December − was against a likely March Madness squad. In Quad 1 games, North Carolina entered the night a horrid 1-10. Even with the name on the front of the jersey, North Carolina needed to prove it could beat a quality opponent after failing to do so time and time again.

One of the first four teams out in the latest version of USA TODAY Sports’ Bracketology, a win could’ve catapulted North Carolina into the projected field and fix what’s been a frustrating campaign for Hubert Davis. Instead, the chance was wasted yet again. There’s nothing impressive about its 20-win season.

Barring a perfect run through the ACC tournament, it will be two missed NCAA Tournaments in three seasons for North Carolina, far from the standard expectations in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels fell short when they couldn’t afford it. They lead the bubble winners and losers on the final weekend of the regular season.

Winners

Indiana

What an incredible send-off for Mike Woodson. Coaching in his final home game at Assembly Hall, Indiana overcame a sluggish start against Ohio State with an emphatic finish. A 15-3 run midway through the second half got Indiana back in the game, and a 12-0 run in the final minutes helped cap off the come-from-behind victory to get the season sweep over Ohio State in one of the most pivotal bubble games played Saturday.

The late surge toward a spot in the NCAA Tournament is very much alive for Indiana, shaking off the collapse at Oregon on Tuesday to get its fourth victory in the last five games. The Quad 2 victory pushed the Hoosiers to 5-0 in such games, and it’s notable because even though they have 12 losses, they all came against Quad 1 opponents − they don’t have any bad losses. Plus, they made a case to take Ohio State’s spot in the field. The win gave Indiana the No. 9 seed in the Big Ten tournament to avoid the first round and set up a second-round matchup against the Ducks. The Hoosiers fell just short in their meeting earlier in the week; if they can change their fortune, the Big Dance could be in the cards.

Oklahoma

What a week it was in Norman as Oklahoma snatched two Quad 1 victories to end the regular season. The cherry on top is the last one, which came on rival Texas’ home court. It was a back-and-forth contest that showed how desperate each team was for a win, but Brycen Goodine’s 3-pointer with just over two minutes to go extended the lead to six points and the Sooners were able to hold off the Longhorns the rest of the way for the statement victory.

Things looked grim for Oklahoma heading into the week with six losses in its last seven games, resulting in it being pushed out of the projected bracket. But now, mix Saturday’s win with the one over Missouri on Wednesday and the Sooners are now 6-10 in Quad 1 games. Their chances are much higher.

There’s still plenty of work needed, and it won’t be easy with Georgia in the first round of the SEC tournament and Kentucky awaiting the winner. But Oklahoma was the first team out and Texas was the last team in the field. A flip-flop could be happening; the Sooners could start the final week before Selection Sunday with a First Four projection.

Arkansas

As RJ Melendez’s potential game-winning shot for Mississippi State bounced off the rim, Arkansas felt itself inching closer to dancing. The Razorbacks survived a chaotic ending with a one-point victory over the Bulldogs. A strong start to the second half looked like it would lead to a convincing Arkansas win, but a late 12-0 run from the Bulldogs flipped the script and had the Hogs sweating. Luckily, some clutch shots and a free throw from Jonas Aidoo with 11 seconds left were enough to avoid a disastrous end of the regular season.

Arkansas recovered from the disastrous loss to South Carolina a week ago with two quality wins against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. The loss to the Gamecocks pushed the Razorbacks back to the bubble. They needed a perfect week to avoid having a shaky fate. One Quad 1 and 2 win each does wonders for John Calipari’s team, and gave them great positioning in the SEC tournament. It will get a crack to avenge the defeat to South Carolina in the opening round. A win in that game may just be enough to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Losers

Ohio State

The win was right in Ohio State’s hands, but it let it slip away when it couldn’t afford to. Entering a hostile environment at Indiana, the Buckeyes settled the crowd down early and Indiana could only muster up nine points in the first 12 minutes. They stayed ahead for much of afternoon and led by 10 points in the second half. Then mistakes happened, Indiana got back in the game and Ohio State could only watch pandemonium unfold inside Assembly Hall. The Buckeyes didn’t hit a field goal in the last five minutes in the six-point loss.

Ohio State couldn’t build off the double-overtime win over Nebraska earlier in the week and missed out on a golden chance to secure its seventh Quad 1 win of the season. Now, the Buckeyes are 6-12 in the category. Their 14 total losses are the most among at-large candidates. As a First Four candidate, Ohio State could see itself fall out of the field and will need an impressive outing in the Big Ten tournament to stay alive. Playing against the No. 15 seed in the first round, that means getting two wins, and possibly a third.

Texas

The Longhorns are going to be haunted by what transpired at home. They uncharacteristically turned the ball over too much, which resulted in 21 Oklahoma points, including the final one that came on a failed last-second shot. It was a night Tre Johnson would love to forget. The Longhorns star has become a potential NBA talent this season, but he was completely off as he 0-for-14 from the field, with all seven of his points coming from the free throw line. An unusual night at the worst time for Texas.

Texas was the last team slated to make the NCAA Tournament, but that spot is likely gone thanks to Saturday’s loss. It was a chance to even its Quad 2 record, but instead it’s now at 3-5. A win could’ve given Texas some cushion on the bubble, but instead it’s now in a must-win situation heading into the SEC tournament. It doesn’t get an easy first matchup with Vanderbilt scheduled on Wednesday, a team it already lost to earlier this season. If the Longhorns want a shot at the NCAA Tournament, it will have to fix their mistakes immediately.

Boise State

Boise State dropped a critical home contest against Colorado State on Friday night. It was back-and-forth for much of the first half and the Broncos had a nine-point lead with 11 minutes to go, but the Rams closed the contest on an impressive 32-13 run for a 10-point victory.

It was a crushing defeat for a Boise State team that entered the night with five straight wins and was gaining momentum toward an NCAA Tournament spot. One of the last four teams in the field, the Quad 2 loss pushes its combined Quad 1 and 2 record to 6-7 and it’s now No. 49 in the NET rankings. While Colorado State is a good team that will be the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, it isn’t projected to be an at-large tournament squad and those are teams Boise State has to beat. Now, with its March Madness hopes hanging in the balance, the Broncos must have a successful Mountain West tournament. It won’t be easy with San Diego State awaiting them in the quarterfinals.

Selection Sunday is just a week away, laying down the foundation for the 2025 March Madness tournament, a single-elimination college basketball tournament that is set to start on March 18. A couple of days prior, the 68-team bracket for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament will be revealed.

The tournament will kick off with four games in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday, shortly after Selection Sunday. The first and second rounds will then be held in six cities across the country. Teams from all over the nation will compete in this intense competition, each aiming for a high seed or a prestigious spot that will be revealed on Selection Sunday.

Here’s how to watch Selection Sunday, ensuring you don’t miss any of the action.

How to watch Selection Sunday

The Selection Sunday coverage begins on March 16 at 6 p.m. ET on CBS.

Men’s bracket reveal

Date: Sunday, March 16
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV: CBS
Stream: Paramount+, Fubo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream 

Watch Selection Sunday with Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users

Women’s bracket reveal

Date:
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo, Sling TV, DirecTV Stream 

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Jon Moxley will defend his AEW championship Sunday evening against Cope in the main event of AEW Revolution.

Moxley has been wrestling professionally since 2004 and is in his fourth reign as champion, the most of any wrestler in the organization’s six-year history.

Cope brings over 30 years of experience to the match. He missed nine years because of a neck injury before returning to action in 2020 as a surprise entrant in the WWE’s Royal Rumble event. He joined AEW in October.

What time is AEW Revolution?

The AEW Revolution main card starts at 8 p.m. ET. The Zero Hour preshow for the event begins at 6:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch AEW Revolution

AEW Revolution 2025 is available on pay-per-view via Amazon Prime Video PPV, TrillerTV PPV, PPV.com, and YouTube PPV.

AEW Revolution match card

AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Cope
AEW International Championship: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Kenny Omega
AEW Women’s World Championship: ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (c) vs. Mariah May
Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet
TBS Championship: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Momo Watanabe
AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum)
MJF vs. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page
AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada (C) vs. Brody King
Steel cage match: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher

What do we know ahead of AEW Revolution?

Mariah May and Toni Storm were in attendance for the ‘Queen of the Ring’ premiere in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Storm, who is featured in the movie, was in the middle of an interview on the red carpet when she was attacked by May from behind.

INDIANAPOLIS — The Battle for L.A. has moved to the Midwest.

Eight days after USC beat UCLA, completing a sweep of the regular-season series and clinching its first Big Ten title, the crosstown rivals will face off again with far more than city bragging rights at stake. The conference tournament championship and the automatic NCAA bid that goes with it, for starters. A No. 1 seed, too.

Maybe even the overall No. 1, given the chaos occurring in other conference tournaments.  

“Right after (last weekend’s) game I said, ‘Absolutely. I’d love another opportunity,’ ‘ UCLA coach Cori Close said Saturday night, after her team made it a certainty with a 75-46 rout of Ohio State in the semifinals.

“At this time of year, you want to have the best kind of dress rehearsal for March Madness and the NCAA Tournament as you can,” Close said. “Obviously they’re our only two losses. Obviously they’re our crosstown rival. Obviously this is for a conference tournament championship. There’s just so many levels to it.

“But if you’re a real competitor, you want to be tested against the very best and you want to have opportunities to conquer your previous adversities. And that’s exactly what we’re getting.”

USC has been careful all week not to say anything that could end up on a whiteboard in UCLA’s locker room. But c’mon. Los Angeles is the city of stars, and few are bigger than the Trojans these days. Why would they want to relinquish that spotlight?

“We have three goals: winning the regular season, winning the conference tournament and winning the NCAA Tournament,” Kiki Iriafen said after her big third quarter powered USC to an 82-70 semifinal win over Michigan that was tighter than the score indicated.

“I’m just happy we’re in the title game.”

Fine. Let USC play it straight. The rest of us will do the happy dance that we’re getting round three of this rivalry.

Apologies to the Buckeyes and Michigan, but USC and UCLA have been in a class by themselves all season. Any chance to watch them play each other is a treat.

UCLA spent most of the season at No. 1, not losing until mid-February, and has one of the best defensive players in the country in Lauren Betts. USC is playing as well as anyone down the stretch, and JuJu Watkins is the most exciting player in college basketball. Men’s or women’s.

Watkins is sublime every game — despite having an “off” night, she finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three assists against Michigan on Saturday — but saves her signature performances for UCLA. In the Feb. 13 game, which was UCLA’s first loss, Watkins had 38 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks. Eight!

Monstrous as that performance was, USC’s win last weekend was even more dispiriting for the Bruins. They held Watkins to just 30 points, three blocks and three boards, yet still lost by double figures in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicated.

It was the kind of result that could have sent UCLA into a spiral. Instead, Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez called a players-only film session Monday morning, a clear-the-air session the Bruins said was both necessary and effective.

They won their first two games at the Big Ten tournament by double figures, and played with more energy and grit.

But Sunday will be the real test.

“We obviously felt really badly about how we played them the last time and how we showed up, and we don’t ever want to feel that again,” Betts said.

No matter who wins Sunday, both teams will make the NCAA Tournament. Both teams will host first- and second-round games, and neither is likely to be lower than a 2-seed.

There is a difference, however, between riding a wave of momentum into the tournament and going in licking your wounds. Nothing elates more than a win over your biggest rival. Nothing stings more than a loss to them.

The Battle for L.A. continues. Buckle up.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

By now you may have heard that Kansas City wide receiver Xavier Worthy was arrested in Texas and booked on assault charges. We always need to be careful in moments like this. What’s true, what’s accurate, what’s false isn’t always immediately known. Just because the police say something doesn’t make it so.

Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick told the Statesman that after speaking with multiple witnesses, his office is not accepting the case at this time.

“After further investigation by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and further discussion with a third-party witness, Mr. Worthy and his attorneys, this case is being declined at this time pending completion of the investigation by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office,’ reads an email from Dick’s office. ‘Mr. Worthy and his lawyers are fully cooperating with this investigation. 

‘We will continue to evaluate the case. As is our practice with all declines, should you develop additional information indicative of probable cause in this case, our office will consider that information and may present the case at that time to a Williamson County Grand Jury.”

No, we don’t know what happened. But this is what we do know for a fact. There’s some sort of problem in Kansas City with players and arrests in the offseason. This isn’t to say the organization is the only NFL franchise with problems (hello: Cleveland and Baltimore). There’s just something that seems off in Kansas City. Something weird. Something disturbing.

The team has a reputation for being a classy organization and there’s justification for that. In most ways, it is. Yet a message isn’t getting through to players about how to stay out of trouble once the season ends. There’s some type of massive disconnect happening and coach Andy Reid and that front office needs to figure out how to fix it.

Because while some of these arrests are minor, others are immensely disturbing stuff. Like, horrible stuff. The team also seems incapable of putting a stop to it.

Wide receiver Rashee Rice last April was arrested for his involvement in a multi-car crash while racing a Lamborghini in Dallas. He was also suspected of assaulting a photographer at a Dallas nightclub in May. The alleged victim did not press charges.

‘A year of hard labor’ sounds like something from ‘The Longest Yard.’ It’s not. It’s just another Kansas City offseason.

Now, there’s Worthy.

Again, we don’t know what happened. What we do know is there’s another Kansas City player arrest. Worthy won’t be charged, it seems, but we’ve seen this arrest story before in Kansas City.

Rinse. Wash. Repeat.

There needs to be both an internal and public reckoning of what is happening here. This isn’t holding Kansas City to a different standard.

This is holding them to the most minimum of ones.

This story has been updated with new information.

Art Schallock, a World War II veteran who collected three World Series rings pitching with the New York Yankees in the 1950s, has died at 100.

Schallock had been MLB’s oldest-living player since 2022.

‘We are saddened to learn of the passing of Art Schallock, who we celebrated last year on his 100th birthday,’ the league announced in a social media post on Saturday. Schallock would have turned 101 next month.

Schallock pitched for the Yankees (1951-55) and Baltimore Orioles (1955) during his MLB career. The left-hander won three World Series rings with the Yankees in 1951, 1952 and 1953, although he only appeared in one World Series game, in 1953. Schallock appeared in 58 career games (14 starts), allowing 199 hits, 76 earned runs and 11 home runs, while recording 77 strikeouts in 170.1 total innings pitched.

‘I had a great career; I can’t complain. I played with some of the best that ever played and I have three World Series rings,’ Schallock said during a 2019 interview with ‘This Great Game’ (TGG). ‘Sure, playing in the majors was stressful at times, but overall I loved every minute of it and I always look back fondly.”

Born on April 25, 1924 in Mill Valley, California, Schallock played baseball, golf and tennis at Tamalpais High School. After graduating, Schallock was drafted in 1943 and served in the U.S. Navy as a radio operator aboard the USS Coral Sea. 

‘I was two weeks out of high school when they drafted me. I went in the Navy and I didn’t see a baseball for three years,’ Schallock told TGG.

Schallock attended Marin Junior College after he was discharged from the Navy and went on to get signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. He pitched for various minor league teams before the Dodgers traded him to the Yankees on July 12, 1951. Schallock made his major league debut for the Yankees four days later on July 16, 1951. To do so, the Yankees optioned Mickey Mantle to the minors to free up a roster spot.

“To get on the Yankees’ roster, they had to send someone down and it turned out to be Mickey Mantle,’ Schallock said in 2019. ‘He came back quickly, but for many years Mickey and I would joke about it. … Later, when I was pitching for the Orioles, he hit a monster home run against me and smiled all around the bases.”

Schallock became MLB’s oldest-living player in July 2022 following the death of George Elder. Pitcher Bill Greason (DOB: 9/3/1924) is now the oldest-living former player at 100.

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TEMPE, Ariz. − He is one of only four players in history to hit 700 home runs, along with Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds.

Now, Albert Pujols is daring to go where no 700 HR Club member has gone before.

Pujols, 45, wants to become the first to be a major-league manager.

“For me, I’ve always been serious about everything that I do in this game,’ Pujols told USA TODAY Sports, “and now I’m serious about managing. This game has done so much for me, and now, I want to give back.

“I’m ready.’

Life after retirement

Pujols, the 11-time All-Star, three-time MVP, two-time World Series champion who hit 703 homers and drove in 2,218 runs, retired after the 2022 season. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do next, but knew he wanted to stay in the game. He became a special assistant to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. He worked as an analyst for the MLB Network. And he showed up every spring as a guest instructor for the Los Angeles Angels as part of his 10-year, $10 million personal services contract.

Then, last February when Jose Miguel Bonetti, one of the owners of Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League, telephoned Pujols once again trying to persuade him to manage. It was a short winter-ball season. He could be home in the Dominican Republic where his wife, Nicole Fernandez, the daughter of former Dominican president Leonel Fernandez, was born and raised.

Why not?

The next thing Pujols knew, he’s leading Leones del Escogido to the playoffs, then the Dominican League championship, then the Caribbean Series championship. Now, the Dominican Republic national team, under GM Nelson Cruz, is hiring Pujols to manage its star-studded group for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Pujols can’t wait, but there could be one little snag to those plans.

He might be tied up managing a major-league team next spring.

“He’s ready,’ said Hall of Fame manager Tony La Russa, who managed Pujols 11 years in St. Louis. “And he’s going to be great.

“You talk about integrity. You talk about his IQ. You talk about his discipline. I call him APP, Albert Perfect Pujols. When a guy has that much to offer and has so much love for the game, the game benefits when he wants to stay active and share.’’

Says Angels GM Perry Minasian: “I remember the old-school managers back in the day whether it was Tom Kelly or Sparky Anderson or Tommy Lasorda or Whitey Herzog, there was a presence when they walked into the room. The volume in the room would go a little lower. The shoulders of the players would go back a little more. And Albert has that presence wherever he goes.

“He’s just a winning guy, he’ll be great whatever he wants to do.’

Mentors convinced Pujols will be successful

There’s a long list of All-Star and Hall of Fame players who have struggled as managers. Many of the managerial greats actually had short or mediocre playing careers. But it’s a lazy narrative to suggest bench players make the best managers. There are plenty of cases where All-Stars became Hall of Fame-caliber managers. Joe Torre was a nine-time All-Star and batting champion, leading the Yankees to four World Series enroute to the Hall of Fame. Dusty Baker was a two-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove winner, leading five different teams to the postseason winning three pennants and a World Series title. Lou Piniella was an All-Star and two-time World Series champion, and led three different teams to the playoffs and a World Series championship.

“The key is not whether you’re a great player or not, but whether you have that love for the game,’ La Russa said. “Torre, Dusty, they love the game. And Albert loves the game. He always had the mental side commitment, and was inquisitive, always talking about the game.

“I don’t want to be critical, but there are guys who were great players in our game, gave it all they got, and then needed to back off. So, if you have somebody with the kind of greatness like Albert, and is still motivated to stay close to the game, it’s a win-win for all of us.’’

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt, who has known Pujols since 2005 in their days together in St. Louis, is convinced that Pujols will be an overwhelming success.

“I truly believe he’s doing to be a tremendous asset to any organization,’’ Shildt said. “A lot about managing is caring about people, and Albert does that. He has such attention to detail. He’s very clear in his messaging, a very principled guy with a great reputation. Really, he’s almost out of central casting for a manager.

“You always observed his talent, but you appreciated the work and how this guy competed. Some guys are naturally gifted, but Albert used his brain and talent to become one of the best right-handed hitters in the history of the game. I never saw this guy give away anything in work or competition. I remember one spring it’s 7 in the morning and he’s fielding grounders from [coach] Dave McKay. He says, ‘Albert, you may want to ease into this.’ Albert says, ‘What do you mean? It’s time to go. It’s time to work.’ There was another time when it was the first spring-training game of the year, I look around, and there’s Albert sitting there, grinding a towel over his head with that grimace, stalking the pitcher like he was stalking his prey.

“So, when he told me last year that he was going to manage in winter ball, I knew it wasn’t some gimmick. He was going to take it seriously. It was clear he had a tremendous experience, and now he’s ready to take the next steps. He has such love and passion for the game that it’s important for the game to recognize and support a guy like Albert with his legacy.’

Pujols wants to give back to the game

The way Pujols sees it, it’s a way to give back. He certainly doesn’t need the money, earning about $350 million in his playing career. He will cruise into the Hall of Fame when he’s eligible for induction in 2028. And he has plenty going on in his life with four kids and new wife without putting in 12-hour days at the ballpark.

“But at the end of the day, man, you want to give back,’ Pujols said. “This opportunity came really quick for me because I wasn’t looking for it.’’

When Bonetti approached him for the third time to manage, Pujols still wasn’t sure he was ready. He was out of the game only for a year. He was newly married. And he knew there would be a whole lot of pressure to succeed.

Bonetti persisted, calling and calling. He finally convinced Pujols to go to lunch for a serious conversation. By the time Pujols put down his knife and fork, he agreed.

“I wasn’t curious about how much I’d like it,’’ Pujols said, “because when you’re in the game as long as I’ve been, this is all you know. So, I knew I’d like it. And I’m the kind of person if I’m going to try something, I’m going to take it seriously. I wasn’t going to waste my time.

“For me, it was the competition that I really loved. And doing it in your country, the team that you grew up rooting for as a little boy, it was pretty sweet. It meant so much for me and everyone in the Dominican.’

And, yes, that familiar feeling of being in the middle of a championship celebration sure felt good, even if there was no bottle of champagne to be found.

“Down there, they don’t use champagne,’’ Pujols said. “It’s just beer and water. They don’t use champagne. It’s too expensive.’

Anyone who has been around Pujols wasn’t surprised in the least that he delivered a championship. Angels owner Arte Moreno fired off a congratulatory text message to him after the game. It simply re-affirmed Minasian’s belief that Pujols could be a great manager.

“I always felt his baseball acumen is second-to-none,’ Minasian said. “His desire to win is second-to-none. And his ability to connect with all different kind of players, and make players believe in themselves is a hell of an attribute.

“Just the person, take the baseball part of it out, is impressive. The honesty. The belief. Everything. I think he can do whatever he wants in this game.’’

Next stop: 2026 World Baseball Classic

Next stop: The World Baseball Classic. It could feature a Who’s Who lineup of Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez, Jose Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis, Rafael Devers and Ketel Marte.

“That,’ Pujols said, “is going to be awesome. A lot of responsibility because you’re representing not just one team, but an entire country. I’m pretty pumped up.’’

Just hearing Pujols’ introductory speech to this array of talent could be worthy of a documentary. The Angels players still are raving about Pujols’ 45-minute meeting with their hitters on Monday, with La Russa stopping in and had pitchers even sneaking into the meeting.

“It was so good,’ Angels three-time MVP Mike Trout said. “He talked about approach, preparation, routine, and how important it was to carry that routine out. For a guy with all of that knowledge, and being in the trenches for that long, and being on teams that won, it was great to hear his message.

“I think he’s going to be a great, great manager.’

Pujols called his speech a collection of knowledge from his early years with the Cardinals, listening to stories from Lou Brock, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Red Schoendienst, Joe Buck and Mike Shannon. They took the time to talk to him, and now he’s paying it forward.

“Now I have the responsibility to help these young players,’ Pujols said. “That’s my job. I need to share that same knowledge. I love to talk about the game and talk about the blessings that the Lord has given me in my career.

“I told them, ‘You see how much passion comes out of me talking to you guys, and it’s because I was taught by so many other great players before me. They opened that path and helped me to get to where I am today.’’

Pujols will now wait to see if anyone calls this summer or in the off-season with any managerial vacancies. If someone is interested, they’ll know where to find him.

“I’m open, you know,’’ Pujols said. “Right now, I have the responsibility with the World Baseball Classic, but if any opportunity opens up and somebody call me and wants to interview me, I will evaluate it for sure.

“I’d love the opportunity to give back to the game of baseball. I know I don’t have the experience as a manager, but 23 years in this game, you go through a lot. I’m talking about experience from baseball, being on the field and in the locker room. It’s not going from a university to try to be a manager and not having any baseball experience. Old-school mentality can help young mentality. I’ve learned from some of the best managers in the game. I believe with my experience, and the way I can communicate with players, I can have success.

“I just need someone to take a chance on me. I don’t know how long it’s going to take, but I’ll be in the corner waiting. If they give me the opportunity, I can promise you that I’m going to do my best to prepare the team to win a World Series. Is that a guarantee? No. But I can guarantee that I will prepare the guys to play the game just like I did with that mentality and toughness.’

It’s not all that different from three-time World Series champion Buster Posey becoming the San Francisco Giants’ president of the baseball operations. Or All-Star pitcher Chris Young to becoming GM of the Texas Rangers and leading them to the 2023 World Series title. Or for Hall of Famer Derek Jeter to become CEO of the Miami Marlins for four years.

“I love it,’ said Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who managed Pujols in 2021. “It’s just really rare that a guy who accomplished so much on the field wants to continue to grind in coaching and managing.

“But I think the game needs him. I think he needs the game as well, clearly.’

Certainly, for what Pujols has given to the game, it’s time for the game to give back to him, too.

“People that have given so much to the game,’ Minasian said, “and still have a lot to give even after playing, is going to have a positive effect on any organization.

“The game is better with Albert Pujols in it.’

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy was arrested on Friday and booked on assault charges.

However, authorities in Williamson County, Texas, have declined to press charges ‘at this time,’ according to the Austin American-Statesman.

County jail records show that Worthy was arrested and charged with assault against a family or household member by impeding their breathing or circulation.

‘We are aware and gathering information,” the Chiefs said in a statement Saturday morning.

That charge is a third-degree felony in Texas and is defined as ‘intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood of the person by applying pressure to the person’s throat or neck or by blocking the person’s nose or mouth.’ It is punishable with a sentence of two to 10 years in jail and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000.

Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick on Saturday evening told the Statesman that, after speaking with multiple witnesses, his office is not accepting the case at this time.

“After further investigation by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and further discussion with a third-party witness, Mr. Worthy and his attorneys, this case is being declined at this time pending completion of the investigation by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office,’ reads an email from Dick’s office. ‘Mr. Worthy and his lawyers are fully cooperating with this investigation. 

‘We will continue to evaluate the case.  As is our practice with all declines, should you develop additional information indicative of probable cause in this case, our office will consider that information and may present the case at that time to a Williamson County Grand Jury.”

Worthy’s lawyers said in a statement that the allegations against their client were ‘baseless’ and that Worthy and a woman were in a dispute and she was asked to leave Worthy’s house, adding that the woman caused property damage and scratched Worthy’s face. The attorneys said Worthy did not want to press charges.

‘We will continue to cooperate with Williamson County authorities as we have full faith their thorough investigation will support Mr. Worthy’s innocence,’ the attorneys, Chip Lewis and Sam Bennett, said in a statement.

The 21-year-old Worthy, who played college football at the University of Texas, was selected with the No. 28 pick in the 2024 NFL draft by the Chiefs after breaking the 40-yard dash record at the NFL Scouting Combine with a time of 4.21 seconds.

‘We are aware of the matter and have been in contact with the club,’ the NFL said in a statement Saturday.

Worthy caught 59 passes for 638 yards and six touchdowns and rushed for three touchdowns in his rookie season, adding three more touchdown catches in the playoffs.

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

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Ronnie Stanley is signing a deal to remain with the Baltimore Ravens for the 2025 NFL season and beyond, per multiple reports.

The contract extension is for three years and $60 million with $44 million guaranteed, per The Athletic’s Diana Russini.

Stanley spent the first nine years of his career in Baltimore after being a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL draft. He developed into one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles and was named an All-Pro first teamer in 2019.

Stanley struggled with injuries after his All-Pro nod. He played in just seven games combined between the 2020 and 2021 NFL seasons and slowly worked his way back into top form the following two seasons.

Stanley started every game for the Ravens in 2024, marking the first time in his career he had achieved that feat. His 1,089 snaps played ranked ninth league-wide among offensive tackles, and he finished the season as Pro Football Focus’ 37th-ranked tackle among 81 qualifiers.

That said, Stanley graded as the 16th-best pass-blocking tackle in the NFL last season with a mark of 80.9. He allowed only two sacks and 35 pressures on 575 pass blocking snaps and played a big part in keeping Lamar Jackson clean during his best statistical season.

Stanley was whistled for 13 penalties in 2024. He will look to cut down on those as he prepares for his age-31 season in 2025.

Magomed Ankalaev became the 18th undisputed light heavyweight champion following his victory over Alex Pereira in the UFC 313 main event.

Ankalaev produced a successful outing after controlling the pace and distances throughout the fight.

He entered the fight as the No. 1 contender after winning his last two fights. The Russian improves his record to 21-1-1 (1 NC).

The main card also featured fights between Justin Gaethje and Rafael Fiziev in a lightweight bout and Amanda Lemos taking on Iasmin Lucindo in a women’s strawweight division bout.

USA TODAY Sports has live coverage of Saturday’s action. Follow along for news, updates and highlights.

Pereira vs. Ankalaev highlights: Magomed Ankalaev wins

Ankalaev became the third fighter from Dagestan to become UFC champion.

UFC light heavyweight title fight: Magomed Ankalaev def. Alex Pereira

Round 1: The two fighters start off slow and manage to remain on their feet through the early minutes.

Round 2: Magomed Ankalaev was building his confidence as he landed several strikes, including one that rattled the champion right as time expired.

Round 3: Following a round that was too tough to call, both corners continue to tell their respective fighters to keep attempting strikes.

Round 4: Ankalaev maintained control of Pereira throughout the round but did not have the same level of explosiveness throughout the fight. The fight will go to the final round.

Round 5: Pereira lands a jab on Ankalaev during the final two minutes but is unable to capitalize. Ankalaev holds the champion against the side of the cage and throws knee strikes at the side of Pereira’s legs. Ankalaev managed to keep Pereira on the defensive and won the light heavyweight championship by unanimous decision.

Lightweight: Justin Gaethje def. Rafael Fiziev

Round 1: The opening minutes of the round featured a little bit of everything with several submission attempts and strikes being made before both decided to slow things down.

Round 2: Gaethje got the crowd excited in the final minute of the round after a right-handed uppercut rattled Fiziev and took him to the ground. He was able to deliver several more strikes before Fiziev worked his way back up on his feet.

Round 3: Fiziev showed signs of fatigue at the end of round three as both fighters gave it everything they had to finish out the fight. Gaethje earned a unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 29-28. Gaethje said during the postfight interview that his hand might be broken.

Lightweight: Ignacio Bahamondes def. Jalin Turner

Round 1: Bahamondes earned a submission victory against Turner just 2:29 into the first round. Turner was in the process of landing strikes on Bahamondes but the Chilean fighter managed to get his legs around his opponent to secure the triangle choke.

Women’s strawweight: Amanda Lemos def. Iasmin Lucindo

Round 1: Lemos and Lucindo spent part of the opening round feeling each other out before the two ended up on the ground for the second half of the period. Lemos controlled the action on the ground for over two minutes after Lucindo developed a cut under her right eye from Lemos’ elbow.

Round 2: Lemos managed to get back on top of Lucindo to take control and throw occasional elbow strikes to the face of Lucindo. A series of boos were heard from the crowd because of the lack of action through the first two rounds.

Round 3: Lucindo’s corner was asking for her to wake up and come out more aggressive in the final period. Lucindo delivered with an aggressive approach that included taking down Lemos and controlling the early part of the round on top of her opponent. Lemos manages to use her feet against the cage to help her get free of Lucindo’s control. Lemos quickly got on top of her opponent to ride out the closing moments of the fight and earn the unanimous decision.

Robbie Lawler named to UFC Hall of Fame

Robbie Lawler will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer. Lawler finished with a 30-16 (1NC) record during his career. He had his first UFC fight in May 2002 and won his final fight with a TKO victory over Niko Price at UFC 290 in July 2023.

Lightweight: Mauricio Ruffy def. King Green

Round 1: Ruffy stunned Green with a right-handed shot before landing a spin-kick to Green’s temple that sent him bouncing back against the cage and buckling down to the mat with 2:54 remaining in the first round.

Flyweight: Joshua Van def. Rei Tsuruya

Joshua Van has won six of his last seven UFC fights following the unanimous decision victory over Tsuruya.

Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira def. Armen Petrosyan

The referee had to call for an official’s timeout twice during the fight after Petrosyan’s leg strikes landed in Ferreira’s groin area. The referee did deduct a point from Petrosyan after the second stoppage. The referee proved to be overly cautious throughout the fight, putting a brief stop to the action again in the second round.

It was Ferreira’s strike to Petrosyan’s hip that led to the stoppage but it was clear on the replay that it wasn’t a dirty strike.

Ferreira brought Petrosyan down to the ground shortly after and performed an armbar in the second round (4:27) to force Petrosyan to submit. Ferreira improves to 13-2 in his career. He’s knocked out nine and submitted four.

Welterweight: Carlos Leal def. Alex Morono

The fighters exchanged heavy strikes with Leal landing over 70% of his attempts against Morono. Leal managed to back his opponent against the cage as they exchanged strikes before the referee stepped in to call the match early.

Featherweight: Mairon Santos def. Francis Marshall

Santos managed to be the more efficient fighter throughout the three-round fight and earned the split-decision victory. Santos improved his win streak to four and felt he managed to win the final two rounds to secure the victory. The crowd expressed their displeasure after the decision was announced.

UFC 313 Early Prelims results:

Ozzy Diaz def. Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos

UFC 313: Time, PPV, streaming for Pereira vs. Ankalaev

The highly anticipated matchup between Alex Pereira and Magomed Ankalaev will take place on Saturday, March 8, and can be purchased on ESPN+ PPV.

Date: Saturday, March 8
Early prelims start time: 6:30 p.m. ET
Stream: ESPN+, Disney+
Main Card Stream: ESPN+ PPV
Main Card start time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, Nevada)

Catch UFC action with an ESPN+ subscription

UFC 313 prelim and main card start times

Early prelim has been updated with a new time of 7 p.m. ET.

Early Prelims: 7 p.m. ET/ 4 p.m. PT (ESPN+/Disney+)
Prelims: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (ESPN News/ESPN+/Disney+)
Main card: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (PPV on ESPN+)

UFC 313: Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev card

Main Card:

UFC light heavyweight title: Alex Pereira vs Magomed Ankalaev
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs Rafael Fiziev
Lightweight: Jalin Turner vs Ignacio Bahamondes
Women’s strawweight: Amanda Lemos vs Iasmin Lucindo
Lightweight: King Green vs Mauricio Ruffy

Prelims:

Heavyweight: Curtis Blaydes vs Rizvan Kuniev
Flyweight: Joshua Van vs Rei Tsuruya
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira vs Armen Petrosyan
Welterweight: Alex Morono vs Carlos Leal
Featherweight: Mairon Santos vs Francis Marshall

Early Prelims:

Middleweight: Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos vs Osman Diaz
Featherweight: Chris Gutierrez vs John Castaneda

UFC 313 odds

All odds are for moneyline bets (as of Thursday), according to BetMGM.

Main Card:

UFC light heavyweight title: Alex Pereira (-120) vs Magomed Ankalaev (-100)
Lightweight: Justin Gaethje (+130) vs Rafael Fiziev (-155)
Lightweight: Jalin Turner (+110) vs Ignacio Bahamondes (-135)
Women’s strawweight: Amanda Lemos (+120) vs Iasmin Lucindo (-145)
Lightweight: King Green (+390) vs Mauricio Ruffy (-525)

Prelims:

Flyweight: Joshua Van (-165) vs Rei Tsuruya (+135)
Middleweight: Brunno Ferreira (+115) vs Armen Petrosyan (-140)
Welterweight: Alex Morono (+550) vs Carlos Leal (-800)

Early Prelims:

Featherweight: Mairon Santos (-275) vs Francis Marshall (+210)
Middleweight: Djorden Ribeiro dos Santos (-210) vs Osman Diaz (+170)

UFC 313 predictions:

MMA Junkie: Jamahal Hill picks Ankalaev

Staff writes regarding Jamahal Hill’s pick: “’I’m going to go with Magomed. I feel he has more tools to win,’ Hill said. ‘Obviously Alex has that one hit wonder. If he catches you, he can put you away, but I believe Magomed also has that. He has the speed, the patience to counter. He’s been in this position before. He already let the title slip out of his hands once before, and I believe he’ll be a lot more focused, locked in for this, and ultimately has more ways to win.’”

ESPN: Pereira to win by knockout

Staff writes: ‘He must use his range and educated striking to find the damaging shots, like he did against Rountree. The key will be leg kicks. Jan Blachowicz damaged Ankalaev’s legs on both sides, and Blachowicz is not nearly as slick setting up those kicks as Pereira is. Despite being a skilled wrestler, Ankalaev has often failed to commit to wrestling, opting to stand and trade, which will put him right in line for Pereira’s leg kicks. If that happens, Ankalaev will be compromised by Round 3, if the fight lasts that long.’

Sportskeeda: Alex Pereira via KO

Puneeta Sharma writes regarding Alexander Volkanovski’s pick: ‘Alex Pereira very dangerous because he puts the pressure on and he can flick stuff out untelegraphed and set things up offensively and then on the counter, very, very, very good on the counter. Hard, hard fight for Ankalaev to stay on the feet. [Ankalaev’s] gonna wanna take it down, he will try and take it down, he might get takedowns… I don’t see him being able to submit Pereira unless Pereira gives something up in his process to building up… I’m gonna go with a favorite on this one, Alex Pereira, KO. I’m gonna go with KO/TKO. I think with him, it’s always a pretty safe bet… I don’t think it’s gonna be early rounds. I’m thinking maybe second or third round TKO.’

UFC 313 live stream

The early prelims will be available to stream via ESPN+ and Disney+. The prelims follow with coverage on ESPN News as well as streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+. The main event is available on ESPN+ PPV.

UFC 313 price

UFC events are available to ESPN+ subscribers for $119.99 for the entire year. You can also purchase a monthly subscription of ESPN+ for $11.99. The PPV is available for an additional $79.99.

UFC 313 location

Alex Pereira defends his light heavyweight title against Magomed Ankalaev. The event will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Alex Pereira vs. Magomed Ankalaev: Tale of the tape

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