SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Jared Porter hung up the phone. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. He was in an utter state of shock.

It was all over.

His dream job. His 20-year baseball career. His entire reputation.

Porter, hired by the New York Mets to be owner Steve Cohen’s first general manager was fired just 38 days later on Jan. 19, 2021.

A foreign female reporter revealed to ESPN that Porter had harassed her, sending dozens of inappropriate text messages and a lewd photo in 2016 while he was scouting director of the Chicago Cubs.

Porter had informed Mets president Sandy Alderson a day earlier that an article would be coming out, and was personally optimistic the fallout wouldn’t be too severe. But when Alderson and Cohen read the published article hours later, they immediately came to the same conclusion:

They had no choice but to fire Porter, terminating his four-year contract.

Porter, who had never met Cohen in person, or even stepped inside his new Mets’ office with COVID restrictions at the time, knew his life would never again be the same.

“I was devastated,’ Porter told USA TODAY Sports. “I don’t blame them. They didn’t have a choice. But I knew I had a choice. One was to let myself sink into the ground and do nothing. Two, I could get angry and take on the world. Or three, I could dive into my mental health.

“I wanted to immediately get to work and get my life back on track.’

Porter, who made the anguishing calls to inform his wife, family and close friends, couldn’t bear to even leave his Phoenix home for two days. The Arizona Diamondbacks, where he had worked as a senior vice president and assistant general manager for four years, immediately reached out and put him in contact with their employee assistance program. He was directed to a local mental health facility for treatment of addiction and emotional trauma.

Porter was admitted 72 hours later to The Meadows, an inpatient behavioral healthcare facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he remained for a week.

“It was pretty crazy,’ Porter said. “Here I am, trading for Francisco Lindor, and two weeks later I’m in a mental health facility where they wouldn’t let me have shoelaces for 48 hours because I was a suicide risk.’

Porter, 45, was transferred to an intensive outpatient center where he spent the next three months. Today, he still undergoes weekly therapy sessions, attends mental wellness retreat centers with his wife, and writes down his daily thoughts in journals before bed.

“As crazy as it might sound, I’m grateful for everything that happened to me,’ says Porter, who lives in Naples, Fla., and is a co-founder of Blend, a mental health coaching company. “I’m a different person now. I’m much more balanced with my feelings, my emotions, and I’m really focused now on helping as many people as I can.’

Porter paused, slowly exhales, and says, “If that article never came out, I never would have gone down this path. It made me wake up.’

Porter, part of four World Series championship teams with the Boston Red Sox and the Cubs, has spent plenty of time reflecting on his past. He believes he was too committed to making everyone around him happy without caring about himself. He doesn’t blame his upbringing in Wayzata, Minn or cite his 48-year-old mother’s death in a car accident when he was 21 years old as a reason for his behavior. Simply, he says, it was a culmination of everything.

“The trauma of things just add up when you don’t have vulnerability,’ Porter said. “You start hiding things. Really, you hide everything. You’re so emotionally balled up and you don’t have the ability to express your emotions. So, you start acting out, whether it’s alcohol, drugs or texting.’

Porter still remembers the 2013 World Series when he was the Red Sox pro scouting director, and responsible for nearly all of their new signings from Ryan Dempster to Jonny Gomes to David Ross to Mike Napoli. When they defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, he stood in back of the Fenway Park clubhouse, but instead of celebrating, simply watched without feeling emotion.

“It was the best group of guys I’ve ever been around coming off the Boston Marathon bombing and everything else,’ Porter said. “Everyone was going crazy in the celebration, but I remember just standing there. I wasn’t sad, but I wasn’t happy, either. I just cared that they were happy. I just never allowed myself to feel the highs and lows.

“I was always seeking validation from other people because my greatest fear was not being liked, not being appreciated. That was my greatest nightmare. Then, of course, when that wound up happening to me, I figured nobody liked me. Nobody approved of me. No one validated me.’

Porter knew in all of his years as a baseball scout and working in the player development side that plenty of others were dealing with mental health issues. He also knew that most teams were unequipped to help, and those teams that did have resources, players were not ready to fully trust or embrace their therapists.

When Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran revealed on a Netflix documentary this month that he attempted suicide in 2022, pulling a gun to his head and pulling the trigger, Porter applauded his courage for publicly telling his story to help others.

When Detroit Tigers assistant GM Ben Menzin resigned weeks into the season after the club discovered he sent unsolicited lewd photos to several Tigers employees and other women, Porter understood the humiliation and despair.

Porter is now hoping to help steer others from the same path that led him to a downward spiral. Blend is currently working with about 20 MLB players along with NHL players, NCAA men’s and women’s athletes, high school and youth athletes, and private clients, with the counseling fully confidential.

“The last four years have been very valuable for me on a personal level,’ Porter said, “and I’ve really dove and continue to dive deeply into my own mental health, past traumas, and personal addictions. I wasn’t able to process what I was going through. I believe an incredibly high percentage of people have similar issues.’

Sean Walsh, former CEO of Meadows Behavioral Healthcare, believes it’s vital that young athletes receive mental health guidance before the problems exacerbate as they get older.

“Unfortunately, there’s still that stigma,’ said Walsh, a Blend board member and partner. “People overlook the benefit and need for student-athletes. Too often in mental health, there’s only the focus on those struggling and perceived to be struggling. It’s also needed for the kids who are doing well, playing sports at every waking moment, because sometimes when they turn 16, they are done. The parents are upset, but they just don’t want to do it anymore because they never had a real childhood. …

“I’ve worked with a lot of professional athletes who were struggling, and sometimes at that age, it can become pretty severe and haunt them if not treated earlier. If you can bring attention to mental health at a younger age, you can avoid the trappings that come later in life. Mental health care should be treated just like health care. We all have times that we need it. No one is immune.’

It should be identified and treated as early as possible, no matter the age, as Porter can attest before it’s too much too late.

“In my opinion, a person’s ability to find their pause before they hurt themselves physically or emotionally is the key,’ Porter said. “You see how people respond in crisis. Some gamble. Some do drugs. Some drink excessively. Some send texts to women.’

Porter’s voice drops off.

“You can’t have growth unless you have awareness,’ Porter said. “I didn’t have any. It took me a full year to have awareness. I know it sounds crazy, but I didn’t think anything was wrong with me.

“I just want to help people have that emotional freedom, a truth balance in their life. I know you can be judged in the darkest moments, but if I can just make a small impact, it will be well worth it.’

Porter would love one day to get back into the game, but he refuses to let his success as a young baseball executive define him.

“I loved baseball, I still love the sport, I watch it all of the time,’ Porter says. “But what I’m doing now, this is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.’

Around the basepaths

– It’s remains unknown how firm MLB’s stance will be seeking a salary cap in the next collective bargaining agreement, but one owner believes they have 75% of the votes needed to call for a lockout if the current system isn’t changed after the 2026 season.

While the players union insists it would never approve a salary cap, several club executives believe a potential viable alternative would be to strip teams of valuable draft picks instead of simply penalizing teams monetarily.

“Something has to change,’ one executive said, “but we also need to have a payroll floor, too, to keep owners from just skimming their revenue sharing money and not putting it back in the team.’’

– While the Athletics have signed outfielders Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker to long-term contracts, they have yet to reach out to All-Star closer Mason Miller, who’s open to contract extension talks. He is earning just $765,000 this season, but will become eligible for salary arbitration.

– While Colorado Rockies hitting coach Hensley Meulens was the fall guy for their franchise-worst 3-15 start, fired and replaced by Clint Hurdle, manager Bud Black’s run could also be coming to an end after the season. Black has yet to decide whether he even wants to keep managing after this year, but if this indeed is his final year, his replacement is expected to be third-base coach Warren Schaeffer.

Hurdle, who last was in the dugout in 2019 as the Pittsburgh Pirates manager, nearly came back two years ago to become Angels manager Ron Washington’s bench coach, but declined the offer when the Angels declined to increase his salary.

– When Washington Nationals infielder Paul DeJong got hit in the face by Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller, suffering a fractured nose and broken orbital bones, he wasn’t even supposed to be playing that day.

DeJong had been sick and was prescribed a Z-pack, but he told his mother he still wanted to play Tuesday because it was Jackie Robinson Day and he wanted to put on No. 42.

DeJong is expected to undergo multiple surgeries and will be out much longer than the 10-day IL.

– Is there anyone more underpaid in the game than Aaron Judge, who is making less than half of Juan Soto?

In Judge’s last 162 games, he’s slashing /.343/.473/.739 with 63 home runs, 137 runs and 159 homers.

The only other player in MLB history to accomplish the feat, per Codify Baseball? Babe Ruth.

– The Milwaukee Brewers, who have been surviving on a patchwork rotation, are expected to get veteran starter Brandon Woodruff back as early as the beginning of May. Woodruff, who underwent shoulder surgery, hasn’t pitched in a major-league game since Sept. 23, 2023.

– The Miami Marlins know they have the game’s biggest trade commodity in ace Sandy Alcantara, but are planning to hang onto him until the final days before the July 31 trade deadline.

Alcantara, who’s coming off Tommy John surgery, isn’t just a rent-a-player. He’s still under team control through 2027 with a $17.3 million salary in 2026 and a $21 million team option in 2027.

Alcantara led the National League in innings (858 ⅓) and shutouts (four) with twice as many complete games (12) as any other starter from 2019-2023, winning National League Cy Young award in 2022.

Alcantara would prefer to stay, even though he knows it’s unrealistic.

“I want to play here and win here,” Alcantara told Miami reporters this week. “This team gave me an opportunity to be a starting pitcher and be a superstar. I signed here to stay here.’’

– Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins would love to stay in Baltimore, but said the Orioles have not engaged in any contract talks despite being eligible for free agency.

The Orioles are the only MLB team since 2019 that has not signed a player to a contract of at least four years.

– Leave it to Phillies All-Star Bryce Harper and his family to come up with the idea that teammate Trea Turner would be the one revealing the gender secret of Harper and his wife’s fourth child.

Harper ordered a blue bat and a pink bat for the game, and asked Turner to give him the one signalling whether it’s a boy or girl by handing him the correct bat.

Turner swung a pink bat in the dugout but then handed over a blue bat, letting Harper and his family know they will now have two girls and two boys in the family.

– Remember when Boston Red Sox starter Tanner Houck was an All-Star last season?

Houck made franchise history last week by allowing 12 runs (11 earned) in just 2 1/3 innings. It was the most earned runs given up by a Red Sox starter in 2 1/3 innings or less since 1901.

He has been one of the worst starters in the game dating back to last year’s All-Star break, going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA in 15 starts, with the Red Sox going 4-11 in those starts.

– Kris Bryant’s seven-year, $182 million signing looks more miserable by the day with Bryant now going on the IL with lumbar degenerative disc disease. He has played 170 games in four seasons with the Rockies, hitting just 17 homers to go along with a negative 1.6 WAR.

Bryant, who’s making $27 million this year, still has three years and $81 million left on his contract.

– The Minnesota Twins certainly aren’t helping enhance their sales’ price for the franchise with their worst start to a season and drawing the fewest fans at a game last week (10,240) in Target Field history without COVID restrictions. They are averaging just 17,995 fans a game, sixth-lowest in baseball.

– The Athletics of Sacramento have yet to sell out a home game since their March 31 opener, even with outfield seats discounted to $25.

– San Diego Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada didn’t hide his disgust towards the Chicago Cubs front office when he stormed off the mound, looked up toward the suite where Jed Hoyer, Cubs president of baseball operations sat, and stared him down after his 1-2-3 inning last week.

Estrada, who underwent Tommy John surgery and battled COVID, was released by the Cubs after the 2023 season.

“It kind of feels like an ex-girfriend that messed up and made a wrong decision,’ Estrada, whose work ethic was questioned by the Cubs, told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

– Harper, who played against All-Star catcher Buster Posey, now faced him again this past week as president of baseball operations with the San Francisco Giants.

“He’s got my dream job,” Harper told the San Jose Mercury News. “Being able to be president of an organization, really cool opportunity for him. Obviously, one of the best to ever do it behind the plate. Three World Series titles, MVP, countless awards and accolades. Just an all-around good person. I think he’s going to do a lot of really cool things over there and kind of let everybody do their jobs as well. I think that’s a big thing. Super excited for him.”

And just maybe, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner says, the Giants’ hot start is hardly coincidental with Posey in charge.

“You can’t measure chemistry and people and whatnot,’ Turner told the Mercury-News. “Everything’s a number nowadays. I think there’s a real advantage for the old-school right now just because everyone’s so analytical. There’s always a balance needed in both of those. You definitely need to have the technology and the information, but you also need to be able to play the game. I think he’s kind of a prime example for that.”

– Pardon the Los Angeles Dodgers for rolling out the red carpet for the Rockies when they’re in town.

The Dodgers have beaten the Rockies 33 times in the last 43 games.

– The San Francisco Giants have not had a player hit 30 home runs since Barry Bonds.

Well, if they look up to their north, they may get a little jealous seeing A’s first baseman Tyler Soderstrom with his major-league leading nine home runs, equalling his entire total of last season.

– The Arizona Diamondbacks’ five-year, $18 million contract extension with reliever Justin Martinez looks brilliant the way he has dominated the opposition this season. He has struck out 10 batters and walked only one in six innings this season.

“As far as arms go,’ D-backs veteran starter Merrill Kelly says, “he’s one of the more freakish velocity and movement that I’ve ever come across in my career.”

– The most stunning revelation of the week is that Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer, 79, said during the Orioles’ broadcast that he has never eaten a chicken wing in his life, but will do it the next time he witnesses an Oriole hit a grand slam.

– It was a bit strange for the Yankees to go back to their luxurious spring-training home in Tampa, Fla., to play the Tampa Bay Rays only to find themselves in the small, cramped visiting clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone left a bottle of tequila and a good luck note to Rays manager Kevin Cash, “My housewarming gift, like, hey, take care of the place.’

– While the Dodgers get bashed for their payroll, the cold reality is that they scout and develop better than any team in baseball, too.

Take a look at Dodgers 26-year-old rookie reliever Jack Dreyer, who’s 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA. He was undrafted out of high school in Iowa, signed by the Dodgers in 2021, and here he is as a mainstay in their bullpen earning the major-league minimum salary.

– The San Diego Padres chase pitches outside the strike zone with two strikes (46%) more than any MLB team, but their 24 strikeouts looking are the fewest in MLB. They also strike out less frequently than any team (once every 5.7 plate appearances).

“It’s playing the game the right way,’ Padres infielder Jose Iglesias told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “We as a team don’t chase analytics. We chase wins. In order to do that, you need to put the ball in play. Good things happen. We have good hitters; not analytic hitters.’’

– Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 0.93 ERA) is making his $325 million signing look like a steal. He pitched seven shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in his last start against the Rangers, and is yielding a .178 batting average with 38 strikeouts in 29 innings.

“I do think that right now,’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters, “he’s the best pitcher in the National League.’’

– The last time the Tigers opened the season winning seven of their first eight home games was back when Sparky Anderson was manager in 1993.

– Coolest moment of the week: Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, celebrating his 70th birthday, being stunned to find out that his 6-year-old grandson, Braxton, was throwing out the first pitch to him.

“It was a little emotional for me to have him throw it,’ Bochy said afterwards. “It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. And I think he will, too.”

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale

Missouri State announced Saturday morning that football player Todric McGee died early Saturday at a local hospital from injuries he sustained on Friday at his local residence.

He was 21.

A Springfield Police spokesperson said officers responded to a check well-being call on Friday morning, where McGee was located with a ‘possible accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound.’ He was then transported to the hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

McGee, a native of Wichita, Kansas, had been one of the best players on Missouri State’s roster over the last three seasons.

His 2024 season was cut short after sustaining a season-ending injury five games into the year. He still finished eighth on the team in total tackles and earned one MVFC Player of the Week nod. McGee was entering his senior year with the Bears and was expected to have a major role as the program heads into its first season in Conference USA.

Todric McGee career stats

McGee played in 27 games across four years for the Bears. His best season came in 2023 when he was a second-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference performer. He finished the year with 102 tackles, 59 solo stops, two interceptions, and a pair of fumble recoveries.

His first extended action came in 2022 when he made 28 total tackles while playing as a rotational safety.

In his five games this past season, he made 42 total tackles with one interception and five pass deflections.

Todric McGee is a Wichita native

McGee graduated from Wichita (Kansas) Northwest High School, where he was an all-state defensive back in 2020 and led his team to a state runner-up finish. The team captain made 64 tackles and grabbed three interceptions as a senior.

McGee held offers from Army, Air Force and Southeast Missouri. He also played basketball and track.

Northwest football’s X account posted Friday afternoon, asking for thoughts and prayers for its former player, while he was in critical condition in the hospital.

Todric McGee death reaction

Missouri State athletic director Patrick Ransdell in a release: ‘On behalf of the university and our entire department, we want to express our condolences to Todric’s family, friends and teammates. This tragedy has shaken our football program to the core, and we want them to know we are here to support them in every way possible at this extremely difficult time.’

Missouri State football coach Ryan Beard in a release: ‘Our football family is in shock and in mourning at the loss of Todric. We ask everyone to please respect the privacy of his family and our MoState football team at this time as we begin the healing process. Join us in praying for Todric and the people who loved him.’

Former UConn women’s basketball player Paige Bueckers has had quite the last few weeks.

First, the All-American guard won a national championship with the Huskies in her final collegiate game, then went No. 1 in the WNBA draft to the Dallas Wings.

Her accomplishments were enough to get her hometown named after her, literally.

Hopkins, Minnesota, where Bueckers grew up and played high school basketball, announced it’s naming the town after her on May 16, the date of her first WNBA game. The date will also be ‘Paige Bueckers Day’ in Hopkins.

‘The City of Hopkins would like to honor her accomplishments and wish her the best of luck at the professional level by proclaiming May 16th as Paige Bueckers Day and renaming the city to Paige Bueckers, Minnesota for the day,’ the announcement stated. ‘We invite the community to celebrate the kickoff of the WNBA season with Think Hopkins and our local businesses on WNBA watch day, where businesses will have themed specials, air the game and celebrate the season opener – because everybody watches women’s sports.’

Bueckers averaged 19.9 points with 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game this season, leading UConn to a 37-3 record and 82-59 win over reigning champion South Carolina in the national title game. She’s viewed as an organization-altering player for the Wings, which finished with a 9-31 record last season.

Bueckers missed the end of her sophomore season and most of her junior season after suffering a knee injury but fought back to be an All-American again in 2024 and 2025 after winning national player of the year as a freshman.

The former No. 1-ranked high school recruit has met every expectation since being a high-end prospect out of Hopkins, and now her hometown is honoring her for her accomplishments.

Philadelphia Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith won his first Super Bowl in February at the Superdome in New Orleans, only one hour away from his hometown of Amite City, Louisiana.

“I always carry Amite with me,’ Smith said during Super Bowl 59 opening night. ‘Everything I do is a reflection of my family and a reflection of Amite, where I come from.”

Smith was the second receiver off the board at No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, preceded by another Louisiana native Ja’Marr Chase, who went No. 5 overall. Although Texas, California and Florida get all the hype and all the credit for being football powerhouses, Louisiana has emerged as a force in its own right and is producing elite NFL talent at an unbelievable rate.

2025 NFL DRAFT: Full list of all 257 picks for all 32 NFL teams

Smith, Chase, Malik Nabers, Justin Jefferson, Brian Thomas Jr. and CeeDee Lamb were all born within 250 miles of each other in Louisiana. Not only is Louisiana producing first-round draftees, players from the state are thriving and making a huge impact in the league. Chase won the receiving triple crown last season, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Meanwhile, Jefferson, Thomas, Nabers and Lamb were all Top 10 in the league in receiving yards. There must be something in the water in Louisiana.

“New Orleans is a prep football town,” Jay Roth, Chase’s former high school coach, told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft. “Before you had the (New Orleans) Saints in the 60s, prep football was king. They play football on Sundays here in front of huge crowds. High school football always got the front page of the paper, always led the news and it really hasn’t changed. You play football in New Orleans and make a name for yourself in prep, people in the city are going to know you for the rest of your life.”

Is Louisiana the new Texas of draft talent?

Texas (190), Florida (176) and California (168) — the three largest states in the country by population — have historically produced the most NFL players. Last season, 534 of 1,726 players on the 2024 Week 1 rosters hailed from one of those three states, accounting for 30% of the league, the NFL announced.

Louisiana (58) ranked eighth overall on the list, but if we take a closer look, the Bayou State had the second-highest NFL players per capita last season with one NFL player for every 80,306 residents. (Louisiana has a population of 4.598 million, much less in comparison to Texas (31.29 million) and California (39.43 million), according to last year’s Census.)

“In New Orleans the high schools are very tight, meaning within four or five miles, you have another high school. It’s not like the country where the next school is 15 to 20 minutes away,” said Roth, former head coach of Archbishop Rummel High School in in Metairie, Louisiana. “These kids are going to grammar school with each other, play football with each other and they choose to go to different high schools. So don’t doubt when Ja’Marr (Chase) went to Rummel, he would go against (Chiefs’) Kristian Fulton at practice…That was one of our quotes here, ‘Iron sharpens iron,’ which means your good goes against your good.”

Roth said there is a grittiness and competitiveness of Louisiana that breeds successful football players, in addition to wide accessibility and programs that develop talent and skills at a young age. 

“Kids grow up playing football on the street. It was nothing for them to play touch football on the street and tackle on the grass, I know that’s how I grew up,” Roth said. “You just play football…There are so many parks and recreational departments that have tackle football, so there is a lot of access to people and now the big thing is flag. Football has taken off.”

Louisiana talent fled state over Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina devastated the New Orleans area in August 2005, resulting in the death of more than one thousand people and displacing one million more, many who never came back. CeeDee Lamb, a native of Opelousas, Louisiana, is among those forced to relocate westward. 

“I was seven years old and it was rough,” Lamb recalled in 2020. “My roof was missing…Vandals going all over the place. Branches flying all over the place. It was a very scary moment. I honestly can remember not wanting to be a part of it anymore. Just wanting to get out and wishing everything was fine.”

Lamb’s family evacuated Louisiana and settled in Houston, Texas, where he went on to make a name for himself at John and Randolph Foster High School in Richmond, Texas and then Oklahoma University. In his bio at Oklahoma, his hometown is listed as Richmond, Texas, highlighting the mass exodus of talent from Louisiana that is later attributed to other states. 

“Can you imagine the talent that left the state of Louisiana, no matter at what age,’ Roth said. ‘Whether it was a seven-year-old or a sophomore in high school that went to Texas or went somewhere else and never came back. I don’t think people realize.”

In other instances, hometown products stayed in Louisiana, primarily Louisiana State University. Chase, Nabers, Jefferson and Thomas each stayed close to home and suited up in the purple and gold before turning pro. Roth said the ‘aura’ of LSU and Tiger Stadium is what attracts local talent.

“I would’ve given a couple of my toes to play at Tiger Stadium,” Roth joked. “Lord knows if you go on to college at LSU or Tulane and make the NFL like Jamar you become a household name for every kid, not only in New Orleans, but in the state of Louisiana.”

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The Boston Marathon, held annually on the third Monday in April, is one of the six major marathons in the world, attracting both professional and recreational runners. The Marathon also includes para-athletic divisions and a wheelchair division, where athletes compete using racing wheelchairs.

The course begins at Hopkinton State Park and meanders its way into downtown Boston, covering a total distance of 26.2 miles to the iconic finish line on Boylston Street.

One of the deepest fields in history should make for an exciting race. Sisay Lemma of Ethiopia is the defending men’s champion, while Hellen Obiri of Kenya is the two-time defending women’s champion. Who are the top contenders for this year’s title? Let’s take a look.

Evans Chebet, Kenya

Looking to pull off an extremely rare three-peat, the 2022 and 2023 champion battled a lingering Achilles injury last year on his way to a third-place finish. Chebet, 36, is one of the most consistent marathoners of all time, never placing lower than fourth in any of the 16 marathons he’s completed.

Sisay Lemma, Ethiopia

Anyone who’s already won in Boston has to be considered among the favorites to win it again. Lemma, 34, forged a sizable early lead in last year’s race and was able to hold off all challengers at the finish. If he tries to implement the same strategy, don’t expect the rest of the field to let him go unchallenged this time.

John Korir, Kenya

In his third Boston Marathon after coming in fourth last year, Korir, 28, won the Chicago Marathon last fall. Fun fact: His older brother, Wesley Korir, was the 2012 Boston Marathon champion.

Conner Mantz, United States

A relative newcomer on the elite marathon scene, Mantz, 28, made his debut in Boston in 2023 by finishing 11th. He won the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials last year and finished eighth at the Summer Olympics in Paris. His longtime training partner, Clayton Young, will likely be in the mix as well.

Hellen Obiri, Kenya

The champion in 2023 and 2024 is looking to continue her domination in Boston. Before even becoming a marathoner, Obiri, 35, held the distinction of being the only woman in history to win individual world titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. After defending her title in Boston last year, an injury limited her training for the Olympic Marathon in Paris. However, she still managed to win the bronze medal.

Sharon Lokedi, Kenya

The runner-up to Obiri last year in Boston, Lokedi, 31, has become a formidable challenger in any race she enters. The former 10,000 meter NCAA champion at Kansas, Lokedi won the New York City Marathon in 2022 and finished fourth at the Paris Olympics. She’s coming off a convincing victory last month in the NYC Half Marathon.

Edna Kiplagat, Kenya

A two-time champion in Boston, Kiplagat finished third last year at age 44. She’s back again and will most likely follow her usual strategy of staying back in the pack in the early stages of the race before kicking it into gear over the final few miles.

Des Linden, United States

The most experienced Boston Marathon runner in history, Linden, 41, will be competing for the 12th time this year. The 2018 champion knows the course better than anyone so if the leaders happen to falter, she’ll be poised to take advantage.

How to watch the 2025 Boston Marathon

WCVB Channel 5 will provide local coverage for the 2025 Boston Marathon starting at 4 a.m. ET. The marathon will be televised nationally on ESPN2, with coverage beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Date: Monday, April 21
Time: 9 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN2, WCVB
Stream: WCVB.com, WCVB app
Location: Boston, Massachusetts

LAS VEGAS — After a thrilling end to the first night, WrestleMania 41 night two takes place Sunday with the potential for another big showing for WWE’s grand event.

Night two of WrestleMania features seven matches, with the top one being the main event of the entire weekend in Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Two of the biggest names in wrestling will face off in what has become a heated rivalry, and Cena goes for history in his final WrestleMania match. Three other championships will also be on the line, including the star-studded affair for the Women’s World Championship between Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley.

Plenty of surprises could be in store during the WrestleMania finale. Follow USA TODAY Sports for all of  the results, highlights and analysis from night two of WrestleMania 41: 

Watch: WrestleMania 41 preshow

WrestleMania 41 night two start time

WrestleMania 41 night two kicks off at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT).

How to watch WrestleMania 41 night two

The entire event will be streamed on Peacock, but you must have their premium or premium-plus subscription to watch. Internationally, it will be available on Netflix in most markets.

Watch Wrestlemania 41 on Peacock

Where is WrestleMania 41?

WrestleMania 41 is taking place at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders.

WrestleMania 41 night two match card

Matches not in order

Randy Orton vs. TBD
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul
Sin City street fight: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre
Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and TBD.
Fatal four-way match for Intercontinental Championship: Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio
Triple threat match for Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley
Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena

When is WrestleMania 41 preshow?

The WrestleMania 41 preshow begins at 4 p.m. ET.

How to watch WrestleMania 41 preshow

The preshow will be available to stream for free on YouTube and WWE’s social media channels. It will also be available to stream on Peacock.

WrestleMania 41 Night 2 predictions

Here are the predictions for Night 2. See the full WrestleMania 41 predictions here.

Randy Orton vs. TBD Rusev returns, Winner: Orton.
AJ Styles vs. Logan Paul Winner: Logan Paul.
Sin City street fight: Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre Winner: Drew McIntyre.
Women’s Tag Team Championship match: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (c) vs. Lyra Valkyria and TBD. Becky Lynch returns, Winner: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Fatal four-way match for Intercontinental Championship:Bron Breakker (c) vs. Penta vs. Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio Winner: Penta.
Triple threat match for Women’s World Championship: Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Rhea Ripley Winner: Iyo Sky.
Undisputed WWE Championship match: Cody Rhodes (c) vs. John Cena Winner: John Cena.

WrestleMania 41 winners list

One night of action has already been completed. Here’s the list of stars that won on WrestleMania 41 Saturday:

Jey Uso wins World Heavyweight Championship.
The New Day win World Tag Team Championship.
Jade Cargill.
Jacob Fatu wins United States Championship.
El Grande Americano.
Tiffany Stratton retains WWE Women’s Championship.
Seth Rollins.

Who will Randy Orton face at WrestleMania 41?

“The Viper” is seeking an opponent for WrestleMania 41.

The decorated WWE star was scheduled to end a months long feud with Kevin Owens at WrestleMania, but plans went sideways when Owens announced he had a severe neck injury and needed surgery, resulting in the match being canceled.

Not only did the unfortunate news call off a much anticipated match, it was a big blow for Orton’s WrestleMania plans. Now, Orton plans on being at WrestleMania to face an open challenger. 

The opponent could be anyone from Solo Sikoa and Nick Aldis, to a new addition to the WWE roster like Rusev.

LAS VEGAS — Ahead of WrestleMania 41, Paul Heyman was asked by USA TODAY Sports who needed to win the triple threat match between Roman Reigns, CM Punk and Seth Rollins in the main event of night one. 

The WWE Hall of Famer said he could go in front of the Supreme Court and spend hours advocating why each star should win. It was easy – and it makes sense – for him to make a case for the two stars he’s represented in his career. He said it would be unfathomable for Reigns not to win, and he could say with 100% certainty Punk needed to be victorious.

And then there was Rollins. Even though he hadn’t been his advocate, Heyman said Rollins would need a victory ‘or everything falls apart.’

What is everything? We found out on WrestleMania 41 night one.

WrestleMania 41: Five takeaways from shocking Night 1 for WWE

It was as shocking as a WrestleMania moment can get Saturday night inside Allegiant Stadium; Heyman – advocating for Punk over Reigns – not only turned on Punk, but turned on the ‘Tribal Chief’ in the process. Rollins didn’t even need to look at what unfolded to know the plan had been executed: he put his hand out and Heyman gave him the steel chair en route to the main event victory. 

Stunning for sure, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to see Rollins become the big star at WrestleMania.

In 2015, Rollins created the most memorable moments in WWE history at WrestleMania 31 when he pulled off the ‘Heist of the Century,’ cashing in his Money in the Bank contract to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

Flash forward 10 years later, and Rollins is still doing the same on WWE’s grandest stage. 

‘Seth did become a highlight, right?’ said WWE chief content officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. ‘That’s long deep into his career, to still have that fire to go that next level, to get there and have that connection with people, that’s impressive to me.’

What transpired is really a punishment for fans seemingly dismissing Rollins in the triple threat match. Yes, it was a bout with plenty of history, but it was expected either Reigns or Punk was going to leave victorious given their stature. Rollins was just seen as someone that could tie all of it together.

It felt somewhat reminiscent of WrestleMania 40. Going into the tag team match with Cody Rhodes against Reigns and The Rock last year, he was just seen as someone who could connect the rivalry. Nothing more, nothing less. 

Instead, Rollins played a critical role in the event, essentially costing Reigns his title to allow Rhodes to become the new champion. Even more, he did it with a critical knee injury. The performance was so outstanding, The Rock declared Rollins the true MVP of WrestleMania, even when he went 0-2 and took a chair shot to the back.

People needed a reminder of how magnificent the Rollins character is. He’s always going to give a great performance in the ring, but it’s his ability to draw such dramatic reactions that elevates him to a different level.

Rollins is a man of many names and looks. His flashy outfits and ability to get in people’s heads with his eccentric personality is what makes him such a popular star.

But underneath all of the flamboyant costumes and orchestrating the crowd to sing his music, people cannot forget he’s a visionary. He’s always looking forward, trying to do, in his eyes, what’s right for business. Sometimes it looks good, sometimes it looks bad.

Regardless of right and wrong, Rollins has the ability to change the entire course of WWE in an instant. At WrestleMania 41, he had a vision of what could happen if he emerged victorious in Saturday night’s main event. And as he and Heyman smiled on the stage while Reigns and Punk looked in disbelief, Rollins knew he not only altered the careers of three prominent stars, but turned the rest of WWE on its head.

Heyman summed up the perception of Rollins perfectly prior to WrestleMania: ‘he has been the straw that stirs the drink in this entire scenario.’ It’s something he’s always done and excelled at.

At WrestleMania 41, he didn’t just stir the drink. He smashed the cup it was in, and best believe he’ll continue to do it.

LOS ANGELES — Short of denying the Minnesota Timberwolves entry to Crypto.com Arena Tuesday night, how can the Los Angeles Lakers rebound from a Game 1 playoff beatdown?

The sixth-seeded Timberwolves throttled the third-seeded Lakers, 117-95, Saturday in the opening game of the best-of-7 first-round playoff series.

Group prayer couldn’t hurt before Game 2 on Tuesday at Crypto.com Arena. After all, Luka Doncic had 37 points in Game 1 and the Lakers had the services of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron James, and they still were no match for the Timberwolves.

So now what?

“It’s not to say our guys weren’t ready to, like, withstand a playoff-level basketball game,’’ Lakers coach JJ Redick told the media during his postgame remarks. “We were mentally ready, I thought our spirit was right.’’

Of course, there’s a “but” here. But?

“I’m not sure physically we were ready, if that makes sense,’’ Redick said. “And really, when they started playing with a lot of thrust and physicality, like, we just didn’t respond.’’

Statistical evidence: Minnesota had 44 points in the paint, 12 more than Los Angeles. Minnesota had 23 second-chance points. Minnesota also outrebounded Los Angeles, 33-25. 

Essentially, the Lakers looked ready for bumper cars and the Timberwolves were ready for a demolition derby.

“I think we got to be the aggressor,’’ Lakers defensive specialist Jarred Vanderbilt said. “… We’ve just got to match that physicality.’’

And not toughness for toughness sake. That physicality will have to help the Lakers in several areas.

Such as limiting Minnesota’s 3-point assault. (The Timberwolves were 21-of-42 within 3-point range.) And cutting down on fastbreak points. (The Timberwolves had 25 compared to just six for the Lakers.)

So, now the Lakers know what they must do. But do they know if they can do it?

Who keeps JJ Redick up at night?

It’s possible Redick was less surprised than disappointed by the outcome of Game 1 based on his pregame comments.

“I’ve said all week, they’re a formidable opponent,’’ Redick said during pregame remarks to the media.  “They’re one of the best teams in basketball. They have a number of players besides Anthony Edwards who keep you up at night.’’

Now we know who those players include – reserve forward Naz Reid, who had 21 points, and starting forward Jaden McDaniels had 25 points.

They were especially clutch in the first half when Edwards managed to score only eight points. By contrast, Reid had 17 off the bench and McDaniels had 14.

For the game, they shot a combined 19-for-25 from the floor and 9-for-12 from 3-point range.

Fast start fizzled for Lakers

Doncic fueled the Lakers early, scoring 10 of their first 12 points, as they opened up an early eight-point lead. They basically sustained it, too, leading 28-21 at the end of the quarter.

But things turned quickly.

“They blitzed us,’’ James said.

The Timberwolves outscored the Lakers 38-20 in the second quarter, led 59-48 at the half and the lead ballooned to 27 points in the third quarter.

Redick cited Minnesota’s success in transition. The Timberwolves also started asserting their physicality.

The crowd did its part.

With Will Ferrell and Jack Black mugging for the video board, Lakers fans got fired up when the Lakers cut their deficit to 17 in the third quarter. The crowd erupted when Doncic hit a 41-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the quarter to cut the deficit to 16. But the Lakers could get no closer than 12 before the Timberwolves pulled away.

Bronny’s moment

Bronny James made his NBA playoff debut while his father watched. It’s unlikely they will reminisce about it years from now.

With 3:02 left to play and the Lakers down 113-90, Redick put Bronny James and other seldom-used reserves in the game.

Bronny shot two 3-pointers. He missed them both.

Next up

The Lakers and the Timberwolves will play Game 2 on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena.

This story was updated to fix a typo.

NEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns was lost, in that good way.

He had just clasped his fourth rebound in a four-and-a-half minute stretch and, with both hands on the ball, swung his elbows to ensure no prying hands would knock the ball loose. He nodded and jawed at the player he had just outworked for the board. He pushed the ball ahead to point guard Jalen Brunson who then lulled the defense with three dribbles before finding forward Josh Hart sweeping in for an easy layup.

That was the play that capped a 21-0 New York Knicks run in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s first-round playoffs opener against the Detroit Pistons — a run that ignited New York’s 123-112 victory and prevented it from falling in an early hole in the series.

It began as avalanches do — slowly at first, then suddenly and then all-consuming. It began with just more than nine minutes to play in the game, with the Knicks trailing by eight, and it would leave Detroit stunned, searching for answers.

“To be honest with you, when you’re in those moments, you don’t realize you’re in those moments,” Towns told USA TODAY Sports after the game. “To be told after the game that it was a 21-0 run, I couldn’t tell you that it was. You just get so locked in on the game, so locked in the moment. You just play the game out and execute at the highest level you possibly can and deal with the results later.

“It’s one of those moments where you just get lost in the game. I’m glad that we got lost in the game for the right reasons.”

It was a collective effort. Brunson and backup Cameron Payne combined to score the first 17 points of the stretch, while  Hart closed it out with the final two lay-ins.

Towns was also instrumental, altering shots on defense, pulling down the four rebounds and stealing a pair of passes that he tossed to Knicks players leaking out in transition. Forward OG Anunoby locked down Pistons All-Star Cade Cunningham and the entire team rotated in help defense, crashed the glass and swarmed the ball.

The run was also microcosmic of the largest discrepancy in this series: New York is replete with veterans whose ample playoff experience . The Pistons entered the season as the NBA’s fourth-youngest team and three of their starters — Cunningham, center Jalen Duren and forward Ausar Thompson — each made their postseason debuts Saturday night.

That experience was palpable as Brunson drew contact on his drives, getting to the line for three-point plays. It was there when Towns read passing lanes to intercept passes. And it was there when New York compounded Detroit’s indecision and lack of comfort in these moments with fast breaks.

“It’s instinctual,” Brunson said. “I don’t want to say we were in that timeout saying: ‘We have more experience.’ We just go out there and do whatever it takes to win, regardless of what the situation is. We have each other’s back. Just keep chipping away. It’s not like it’s an eight-point possession, it’s just chipping away, chipping away.”

Brunson finished with a game-high 34 points, 12 of which came in the final period. After missing 15 games down the stretch in the regular season with a sprained right ankle, Brunson again appeared to tweak the same ankle, momentarily favoring the injury.

Brunson would leave the game in the fourth to change his shoes. The time he checked back in, 9:06 left to play in the game, coincided with the start of the 21-0 run.

“I think he went and grabbed his cape,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau joked.

Towns added 23 points and was the only player on the floor to reach double figures in rebounds (11).

This all sets up an interesting showdown in Game 2 on Monday night.

Detroit did outplay New York for three quarters, and its 3-point shooting was essential in doing so. The Pistons converted 15-of-32 shots (46.9%) from beyond the arc, and veterans Tobias Harris (25 points), Malik Beasley (20) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (19) hit shots when the Knicks doubled Cunningham.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game that the loss would be an opportunity for “learning lessons,” adding that it was “execution that let us down.” He stressed that, with game film, the Pistons would be ready next time.

Cunningham was even more concise, saying: “We’ve just got to close out the game.”

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