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In a season where freshmen have been making a huge impact in high school basketball, let’s not forget about the sophomores from the class of 2028.
Brady Sullivan, a sophomore at Oaks Christian, scored 28 points to lift the Lions (20-4, 5-1) past Calabasas 69-65 on Tuesday night in a battle for first place in the Marmonte League.
Tristan Cardoso scored 21 points for Calabasas (15-8, 3-3).
Mira Costa 53, Da Vinci 40: Paxx Bell finished with 16 points for Mira Costa (20-4, 4-1).
Redondo Union 90, Peninsula 24: Chace Holley and Devin Wright each scored 16 points for Redondo Union.
Brentwood 70, Viewpoint 51: Ethan Hill finished with 23 points and 17 rebounds and AJ Okoh had 20 points in the Gold Coast League victory.
Arcadia 76, Glendale 44: Noa Eteuati Edwards had 17 points to keep Arcadia unbeaten in the Pacific League.
Oak Park HS sophomore point guard Grant Shaw with the lob pass to 6’5 junior Beau Prophete for the dunk in last night’s OPHS league win over Simi Valley HS. pic.twitter.com/uftqQwXffn
The gesture has been praised by the official supporters’ club (OSC) as there were limited calls from fans to be refunded.
Kevin Parker, representative of Manchester City’s OSC, said: “City fans will travel to the ends of the earth to support our team, and last night was no different in the arctic circle.
“Bodo is not an easy place to get to, and the sub zero temperatures made it a challenging evening on a number of levels for our fans.
“The City support has an incredible connection with the players on a matchday, and this gesture is yet another reminder of that relationship – it means a lot to us.
“We know that the players are disappointed with the defeat to Bodo, but with our next game at home on Saturday there’s a chance to get back to winning ways and our fans will be in full voice.”
City suffered one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history in being stunned by Glimt and now require victory in their final group-phase game against Galatasaray to ensure a top-eight finish.
Haaland called the result “embarrassing” and apologised to the travelling fans by telling TNT Sports: “Bodo played some incredible football and it was deserved.
“I don’t know what to say. What I can say is sorry.”
France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has told Crystal Palace he wants to leave amid interest from other Premier League and European clubs.
Mateta has 18 months remaining on his current deal at Selhurst Park and as things stand he will not be signing an extension.
Italian giants Juventus have tried to sign the striker this month but have so far failed to reach Palace’s valuation, which is believed to be around £40m.
Aston Villa, who have been keen on Mateta for some time, have also shown interest in a move this month.
Speaking last week, Palace manager Oliver Glasner admitted the club are listening to offers for Mateta.
“There will be a price that Crystal Palace [accept], with 18 months left on his contract. We’d do the deal, if JP wants. If nobody pays that price, then he will stay,” said the Austrian.
Palace, who won the FA Cup in May, sold star midfielder Eberechi Eze to Arsenal in the summer and have lost captain Marc Guehi this January, after he joined Manchester City in a £20m deal.
Glasner, who announced last week that he will leave the club at the end of the season, launched a scathing attack on the Palace hierarchy following Saturday’s loss to Sunderland – claiming the team had been ‘abandoned’ by the club’s recruitment strategy.
Palace were knocked out of the FA Cup at non-league Macclesfield in one of the tournament’s greatest shocks earlier this month.
At 6 feet 3 and 250 pounds, with arms thicker than a Shohei Ohtani wooden bat, Abraham Datte is someone on the campus of Monroe Highthat you want to stay close to.
He’s been the heavyweight wrestling champion in the City Section for two years. He’s the deputy chief in the school’s Fire Academy Magnet and is studying to be a paramedic, which means one day he could be saving your life.
“He’s a physical specimen,” wrestling coach Jean-Antoine Ramirez said. “When you see him, that’s the guy I want pulling me out of a car, my house or at the top of a tree.”
Need someone to crash through a door, Datte will do it. Need someone to carry one of those heavy engine company water hoses, Datte can do that. Challenge him to produce a good time in an obstacle course, no problem.
It was freshman year he discovered wrestling was his sport. He entered Monroe as a 13-year-old and went out for football but couldn’t play varsity until he turned 14. He played in one game. Then the coach informed players, “If you want to get better, you have to join wrestling or start lifting.”
“I tried out for wrestling and loved it,” Datte said. “Coaches were great, the weight classes were two and three deep. There were a lot of motivational figures around me.”
By sophomore year, he was a City champion. He remembers the crowd being loud and clapping after he pinned his opponent.
“I was feeling more relief than excited. It was, ‘I finally did it,’” he said.
He walks 15 minutes from his home in Northridge, then takes a 20-minute bus ride to Monroe in North Hills. He’s been doing it since freshman year. The Fire Academy was his motivation.
“As an eighth grader, I was eavesdropping when my mom was talking to a friend and I heard something about medical insurance and how expensive it is,” he said.
He asked his mother, a P.E. teacher at Chatsworth, “Will it be expensive for me?”
“Yes, find a job that gives you good benefits,” she replied.
Datte: “Being a kid, I came across firefighting. How fast can I get into this?”
He looked up schools on the web that offered classes and came across Monroe.
After 3 1/2 years, he has risen to No. 2 in command for his class in charge of physical workouts and equipment. Students get hands-on training and learn about the body and how to use firefighting equipment.
As far as wrestling, Datte’s goal is to win a state title. He’s ranked No. 7 in the state.
“I love the competitive aspect of it,” he said. “I love if I wrestle and lose, there was no one to blame but myself. I prioritize performance over victory. If I perform my best, that was still a positive performance.”
As for lessons learned from wrestling, Datte said, “Always put yourself in a coachable position. When I was young, I thought I knew everything, which I didn’t.”
So far he hasn’t had to use his firefighting knowledge, like CPR.
“Expert, no. Knowledgable, yes.”
He’ll be ready in the ring and at the door ready to make an impact.
Kevin Fiala had a goal and an assist and Anton Forsberg made 28 saves after taking over for the injured Darcy Kuemper in the Kings’ 4-3 victory over the slumping New York Rangers on Tuesday night.
Adrian Kempe, Taylor Ward and Andrei Kuzmenko also scored for the Kings, who ended a four-game skid with only their second regulation victory in January.
Kuemper gave up two goals on eight shots before abruptly leaving with 38 seconds left in the first period following a collision in the crease with a charging Jonny Brodzinski.
Forsberg played superbly after taking over for Kuemper, a member of Canada’s Olympic roster. Kuemper also missed 2 1/2 weeks last month after taking a hit to the head during a loss at Dallas.
J.T. Miller scored two goals for the Rangers, who are last in the Eastern Conference after losing seven of eight.
Jonathan Quick made 23 saves in his third start and fourth appearance against the Kings, who drafted him in 2005. Quick, who turns 40 years old Wednesday, won 370 games — 199 more than any other Kings goalie — while backstopping the club to two Stanley Cup championships during his 16 seasons in L.A.
Kempe scored 18 seconds after the opening faceoff.
Only 42 seconds after Will Cuylle’s goal for New York, Fiala scored his 18th goal by intercepting an unwise pass by former Kings teammate Vladislav Gavrikov.
Miller evened it again late in the first off Mika Zibanejad’s pass.
Ward put the Kings back ahead early in the second, banking in a skittering shot off the far post for his first goal of the season. After the Kings killed a five-on-three disadvantage for 96 seconds, Kuzmenko backhanded home a rebound of Fiala’s shot.
Miller scored his 13th goal in the final seconds with Quick pulled for an extra attacker.
TUESDAY’S RESULTS BOYS CITY SECTION AHSA 43, Simon Tech 40 Animo Robinson 66, Neuwirth Leadership 22 Animo Watts 57, Animo Venice 53 CALS Early College 58, Alliance Bloomfield 41 East College Prep 73, Alliance Levine 29 Triumph Charter 91, Community Charter 12 USC Hybrid 53, Gertz-Ressler 34
SOUTHERN SECTION Adelanto 71, Barstow 52 Alta Loma 65, Los Altos 50 Anaheim 50, Savanna 45 (OT) Animo Leadership 75, Hawthorne 28 Arcadia 76, Glendale 44 Big Bear 70, Hesperia Christian 52 Bloomington 51, Kaiser 47 Buena Park 51, Garden Grove 48 CAMS 60, HMSA 49 Chino 72, Montclair 58 CIMSA 68, AAE 60 Colton 74, San Gorgonio 28 Compton Early College 43, Environmental Charter 40 Crean Lutheran 57, Cypress 41 Damien 76, Los Osos 22 Desert Christian Academy 57, Santa Rosa Academy 50 de Toledo 68, Trinity Classical Academy 58 Diamond Ranch 72, Don Lugo 71 EF Academy 62, New Covenant Academy 43 Elsinore 81, Tahquitz 56 Etiwanda 58, Upland 32 Fillmore 88, Hueneme 16 Fontana 76, Riverside Notre Dame 73 Glendale Adventist 45, Ojai Valley 39 Godinez 73, Costa mesa 43 Grace 60, Villanova Prep 40 Great Oak 72, Vista Murrieta 51 Hart 63, Valencia 53 (OT) Indian Springs 61, San Jacinto 40 La Habra 62, Santa Ana Foothill 42 La Palma Kennedy 46, Tustin 36 Los Amigos 73, Garden Grove Santiago 36 Keppel 61, Alhambra 38 Milken 60, International School of LA 46 Mira Costa 53, Wiseburn-Da Vinci 40 Muir 81, Hoover 59 Norte Vista 93, Eastvale Roosevelt 91 Oak Park 63, Simi Valley 51 Oaks Christian 69, Calabasas 65 Oakwood 71, AGBU 52 Ontario 71, Chaffey 53 Palm Desert 81, Rancho Mirage 77 Palm Springs 38, La Quinta 28 Pasadena 89, Burbank 53 Pilibos 68, Buckley 58 Pilgrim 61, Highland Hall 59 Public Safety Academy 51, Temecula River Springs 31 Rancho Alamitos 53, Estancia 50 Rancho Cucamonga 99, Chino Hills 88 Redlands East Valley 80, Beaumont 65 Redondo Union 90, Peninsula 22 Rialto 80, Grand Terrace 29 Rim of the World 43, Arroyo Valley 36 Saddleback 56, Orange 51 Samueli Academy 55, First Baptist 44 San Gabriel 68, Montebello 61 San Jacinto Valley Academy 64, Nuview Bridge 32 Santa Ana 69, Westminster 53 Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 63, Fullerton 47 Santa Paula 80, Nordhoff 46 Saugus 78, Canyon Country Canyon 59 Segerstrom 43, Katella 35 Shadow Hills 68, Xavier Prep 20 Sherman Indian 60, California Lutheran 56 Silverado 82, Granite Hills 12 Silver Valley 64, University Prep 42 South Torrance 58, West Torrance 55 Summit 75, Jurupa Hills 53 Summit Leadership Academy 72, ACE 64 Tarbut V’ Torah 76, Western Christian 62 Temecula Valley 69, Chaparral 65 Temescal Canyon 74, West Valley 47 Torrance 48, El Segundo 44 Troy 54, Garden Grove Pacifica 37 Vasquez 94, Desert Christian 37 Villa Park 61, Sonora 53 Vistamar 78, Lennox Academy 15 Webb 74, Newport Christian 62 Westlake 66, Newbury Park 56 Yucaipa 67, Redlands 44
GIRLS CITY SECTION Animo Watts 70, Animo Venice 14 Gertz-Ressler 38, USC Hybrid 22 University Prep Value 30, New Designs University Park 13
SOUTHERN SECTION Alemany 63, Notre Dame Academy 35 Aquinas 48, Western Christian 44 Arcadia 64, Glendale 46 Barstow 44, Adelanto 42 Beckman 82, Dana Hills 10 Brentwood 62, Viewpoint 22 Burbank 64, Pasadena 52 Cajon 41, Citrus Valley 40 Calvary Baptist 82, Grove School 4 Cantwell-Sacred Heart 40, Ramona Convent 28 Carter 49, Arroyo Valley 22 Chaminade 56, Louisville 47 Chino 64, Montclair 26 Colton 49, San Gorgonio 33 Crescenta Valley 74, Burbank Burroughs 51 Crossroads 56, Campbell Hall 54 Cypress 68, Garden Grove Pacifica 16 Desert Christian Academy 60, Santa Rosa Academy 15 Diamond Ranch 58, Don Lugo 36 El Modena 56, Indian Springs 31 El Toro 58, Capistrano Valley 34 Esperanza 55, El Dorado 47 Estancia 39, Rancho Alamitos 38 Etiwanda 73, Upland 11 Excelsior Charter 52, PAL Academy 12 Faith Baptist 48, Santa Clarita Christian 35 Flintridge Prep 75, Mayfield 11 Foothill Tech 72, Santa Clara 29 Fountain Valley 47, Corona del Mar 42 Glendale Adventist 58, Ojai Valley 28 Hesperia Christian 56, Big Bear 20 Holy Martyrs Armenian 62, Buckley 19 Huntington Beach 59, Newport Harbor 31 Kaiser 42, Bloomington 25 Keppel 71, Alhambra 7 Knight 55, Highland 44 La Palma Kennedy 55, Fullerton 35 La Quinta 37, Palm Springs 36 La Salle 66, St. Anthony 46 Lucerne Valley 49, Victor Valley Christian 31 Maranatha 67, Whittier Christian 54 Marina 42, Edison 39 Marlborough 60, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 54 Marymount 66, St. Mary’s Academy 43 Milken 62, International School of LA 26 Mira Costa 61, West Torrance 56 Moorpark 58, Royal 41 NOVA Academy 54, Downey Calvary Chapel 20 Oak Park 97, Simi Valley 7 Oaks Christian 75, Calabasas 32 Oakwood 60, Santa Monica Pacifica Christian 29 Orange 40, Bolsa Grande 36 Orange County Pacifica Christian 55, Irvine University 16 Orange Lutheran 65, JSerra 58 Oxnard 67, Buena 23 Oxnard Pacifica 41, Buena 30 Palm Desert 59, Rancho Mirage 9 Palos Verdes 56, Los Alamitos 51 Paraclete 46, St. Bernard 32 Pasadena Poly 82, EF Academy 20 Public Safety Academy 17, Temecula River Springs 12 Quartz Hill 49, Palmdale 23 Rancho Cucamonga 50, Chino Hills 40 Redondo Union 85, Peninsula 15 Rosary Academy 79, Laguna Beach 38 Rubidoux 26, Bethel Christian 21 Sacred Heart of Jesus 74, San Gabriel Mission 17 Saddleback 45, Garden Grove Santiago 12 Samueli Academy 42, Liberty Christian 11 San Dimas 67, Colony 40 San Gabriel 35, Montebello 30 San Marcos 48, Rio Mesa 36 San Jacinto Leadership 48, California Military Institute 26 San Jacinto Valley Academy 51, Nuview Bridge 9 Santa Ana Foothill 40, La Habra 36 Santa Ana Valley 44, Century 35 Saugus 62, Canyon Country Canyon 54 Savanna 56, Anaheim 47 Schurr 49, Bell Gardens 9 Shadow Hills 69, Xavier Prep 37 Sherman Indian 66, California Lutheran 27 Sierra Canyon 75, Harvard-Westlake 25 Silverado 76, Granite Hills 28 Silver Valley 60, University Prep 21 Southlands Christian 40, Legacy College Prep 7 St. Bonaventure 54, Bishop Diego 34 St. Paul 53, Mary Star of the Sea 29 Summit 53, Fontana 34 Sunny Hills 46, Brea Olinda 30 Tahquitz 38, Elsinore 35 Temecula Valley 40, Chaparral 37 Temescal Canyon 57, West Valley 0 Thousand Oaks 83, Agoura 31 Torrance 48, El Segundo 29 Troy 66, Sonora 42 Valencia 63, Hart 24 Villa Park 61, Crean Lutheran 36 Vistamar 34, Lennox Academy 15 Vista Murrieta 64, Great Oak 30 Westlake 40, Newbury Park 37 West Ranch 52, Castaic 25 Whitney 60, Mayfair 39 Wiseburn-Da Vinci 54, South Torrance 44 Yucaipa 65, Redlands 9
British number one Emma Raducanu is knocked out of the Australian Open in straight sets 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 by Austria’s Anastasia Potapova in the second round.
Not only was Carrick’s success a long shot, but they did it the hard way.
Their journey to the trophy started with a win over Bangor – promoted from the Championship but impressive as they found their feet in the top flight.
That was followed by a win on penalties over Glentoran and a derby win over Irish Premiership leaders Larne, again in a shootout, followed.
Baxter’s side had defeated Cliftonville 4-1 in the league on Saturday but they trailed with 10 minutes at Seaview to go thanks to Ryan Curran’s early goal.
But Adam Lecky, who had helped Baxter to so much success in their trophy-laden spell at Crusaders, popped up with a crucial equaliser.
Curran and Liam McStravick both missed in the shootout, which allowed Aidan Steele to kickstart the party.
“There’s no such thing as a bad medal and it’s a great night for them,” former Glentoran and Crusaders defender Paul Leeman said on BBC Sport NI.
“They beat Glentoran, Larne and Cliftonville. It’s thoroughly deserved.”
After a first trophy in 33 years, the challenge now for Carrick is to refocus and consolidate their position in the top flight.
They sit in 11th, just one point off automatic safety, but the pack above is tight and a run of results either way could see a team climb up, or fall down, the table.
“They have a trophy in the cabinet, now can they move on to bigger and better things by moving up the league table and getting themselves out of trouble?” added Leeman.
Brook is in Colombo leading England in their white-ball series against Sri Lanka, which begins with the first one-day international on Thursday.
Speaking for the first time since the New Zealand incident was made public, the Yorkshire batter said:
he was not with any other England players when he was “clocked” by the nightclub bouncer
he reported the incident to England management during the third one-day international
he thought there was a possibility he would be sacked, but did not consider resigning
he has apologised to his team-mates and acknowledged he has “work to do” to regain their trust
there is now a midnight curfew in place for England players and staff, but rejected allegations of a drinking culture
Test captain Ben Stokes “wasn’t best pleased” when he was told
Brook was placed in charge of England’s white-ball teams last summer – the tour of New Zealand was his first overseas as captain.
Though he said he did not want to “go into any details” of the Wellington incident, he said it began with some players “going out for food”.
“There was no intention of going out, no intention of putting ourselves in a tricky situation,” he said.
“I took it upon myself to go out for a few more and I was on my own there. I shouldn’t have been there.
“I was trying to get into a club and the bouncer just clocked me, unfortunately. I wouldn’t say I was absolutely leathered. I’d had one too many drinks.”
Brook did not confirm what time he returned to the England hotel, but said it was “late enough”. The following day he was out for six as England slumped to 44-5 in a game they eventually lost by two wickets.
Midway through the game in Wellington, he reported the incident to England management. He was subsequently fined around £30,000 and given the final warning, with the disciplinary proceedings concluded before the Ashes tour.
Askes if he expected to be sacked, Brook said: “It was definitely playing through my mind.”
On resigning, he added: “No, it never came into my mind. I left that decision to the hierarchy. If they’d have sacked me from being captain, then I’d have been perfectly fine with it as long as I was still playing cricket for England.”
Justin Gaethje is confident he can “teach” Paddy Pimblett “some lessons” when the pair meet in the octagon on Saturday at UFC 324.
The lightweights will contest the interim title in Las Vegas, with the experienced 37-year-old Gaethje admitting he is the underdog.
Pimblett, 31, said he expects to finish Gaethje within three rounds and described the American as a “boxer with leg kicks”.
“I hope he’s overconfident in himself, just like I was when I was 30 years old, so I can teach him some lessons,” Gaethje told BBC Sport.
“This is 25 minutes in time. Nothing from the past, nothing from the future can determine it. It’s about being perfect. Who’s more perfect? Who makes mistakes? Who doesn’t make mistakes, who’s more prepared?
“I want to take Paddy into the fourth, fifth round. Really hurt him, and I’m looking forward to it.”
While she improved to beat 197th-ranked Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the Melbourne first round, she looked undercooked against Potapova.
Russian-born Potapova also made a huge amount of errors in a poor-quality first set which started with five breaks of serve before Raducanu pulled away.
Raducanu served for the first set at 5-4 but was broken back by Potapova, who promptly pulled away with the tie-break.
After Potapova took a lengthy break at the end of the set, she made a fast start to the second and broke twice for a 3-0 lead.
The pair exchanged breaks before Potapova asserted her authority and cruised to victory, with a subdued Raducanu making a hasty exit.
Eyes had inevitably drawn towards the potential meeting with Sabalenka – but this loss was a sharp reminder of where Raducanu’s level remains.
Meanwhile, British qualifier Arthur Fery was also knocked out after a 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 6-3 loss to Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the men’s second round.
Jude Bellingham has dismissed reports about his lifestyle off the pitch as “outside noise”, adding his celebration after scoring in Real Madrid’s Champions League win over Monaco was intended as “a bit of a joke back to the fans”.
Bellingham scored Real Madrid’s final goal – and his first of 2026 – in a comfortable 6-1 Champions League victory and marked the occasion by performing a drinking gesture.
The moment quickly drew attention online.
The celebration came after well-known Spanish YouTuber AuronPlay, who has over 29 million subscribers, made viral comments about Bellingham before Real Madrid faced Levante at the weekend.
He claimed Belliingham “loves alcohol too much” and has visited “every nightclub in Spain”, suggesting this is affecting the midfielder’s form.
Bellingham was subsequently among the players singled out for boos and whistles from the stands during the 2-0 win against Levante.
“It feels like anyone now can get a camera, say what they want and the whole world just believes them with no evidence,” Bellingham told TNT Sports after Tuesday’s Champions League fixture.
The order to indefinitely pause the processing of immigrant visa applications from those 75 countries will take effect on Wednesday, 21 January.
Prior to this move, Trump expanded a travel ban that came into force on 1 January, which bars nationals of countries on that list from entering the US.
Haiti and Iran, who have both qualified for the 2026 World Cup, are on the list of countries with full restrictions.
Ivory Coast and Senegal, who have also qualified, are on the list of countries with partial restrictions.
The State Department said a Fifa Pass appointment does not allow people “who are otherwise not eligible” to be issued a visa, meaning fans from those four countries appear unlikely to be able to travel to the US for this summer’s tournament.
Guidance from the State Department specified there are exceptions for “any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, persons performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives” to the travel ban for the World Cup.
However, it added “the exception does not apply to fans or spectators”. They can still submit visa applications but “they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States”.
The US will host 78 of the 104 total matches at the World Cup, across 11 cities, including the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
It was clear many fans had turned on Frank during the defeat by the Hammers, with large numbers singing “you’re getting sacked in the morning” at him.
That feeling remained evident before Tuesday’s match.
“I really do think 99% of this stadium are Frank out,” said Spurs supporter Sarah Sturgeon-Scraggs, who has been attending home games with her dad Ronnie since she was nine.
“I have enjoyed coming to the matches because of the people we sit with and I get to spend time with my dad, but we get so little joy.”
Ronnie added: “Barring some sort of miracle on player support, style and results instantly the fans have abandoned him and I feel personally that he must go.”
This win and the much-improved first-half performance was still not enough to change their view, with a return to a more conservative and unadventurous display in the second half a cause for frustration.
“The first half was really enjoyable,” said Sarah. “There was a lot more movement, a lot more forward passing and a press. However, the second-half performance shows why Frank is not the right person to be managing this team. We went to five at the back, the game ground to a halt. It sucked the joy out of it yet again.
“I am still Frank out.”
Fellow Spurs supporter Ali Speechly held a similar view before kick-off.
“If we could see signs of what he is trying to achieve we might have more patience,” she said.
“It looks like a bunch of players doing what they want.”
Any change of heart after the game?
“Much better first half, where has that been? But second half we were dead again,” she said. “They either play a good first half or second half. It feels Thomas Frank can’t string the two together.”
Some, however, did see enough to believe Frank can build on this.
Alfie said before the match that Tottenham were playing “like a Championship team”, but after he said: “The first half was brilliant. The second half wasn’t great but we didn’t concede.
“But I am really happy with the result and I think Frank might have a lot more up his sleeve than we think.”
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones, center fielders who excelled at the plate and with their gloves, were elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
Beltrán, making his fourth appearance of the ballot, received 358 of 425 votes for 84.2% from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, 39 above the 319 needed for the 75% threshold.
Jones, in the ninth of 10 possible appearances, was picked on 333 ballots for 78.4%
Beltrán moved up steadily from 46.5% in 2023 to 57.1% the following year and 70.3% in 2025, when he fell 19 votes short as Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected.
Beltrán was hired as the New York Mets’ manager on Nov. 1, 2019, then fired on Jan. 16, 2020, without having managed a game, three days after he was the only Astros player mentioned by name in a report by Major League Baseball regarding the team’s illicit use of electronics to steal signs during Houston’s run to the 2017 World Series championship — his final season.
He was hired by the Mets as a special assistant before the 2023 season.
“When I retired from baseball, I thought everything that I built in baseball, like relationships … I thought that was going to be lost,” he said in 2023. “Being back in baseball, I still receive love from the people, I still receive love from the players. The teammates that I had inside the clubhouse, they know the type of person that I am. But at the same time I understand that that’s also a story that I have to deal with.”
Jones received just 7.3% in his first appearance in 2018 and didn’t get half the total until receiving 58.1% in 2023. He increased to 61.6% and 66.2%, falling 35 votes short last year.
They will be inducted at Cooperstown, New York, on July 26 along with second baseman Jeff Kent, voted in last month by the contemporary era committee.
BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years in the organization were eligible to vote.
Chase Utley (59.1%) was the only other candidate to get at least half the vote, improving from 39.8% last year. He was followed by Andy Pettitte at 48.5%, an increase from 27.9% last year, and Félix Hernández at 46.1%, up from 20.6%.
Cole Hamels topped first-time candidates at 23.8%. The other first-time players were all under 5% and will be dropped from future votes.
Steroids-tainted players again were kept from the hall. Alex Rodriguez received 40% in his fifth appearance, up from 7.1%, and Manny Ramirez 38.8% in his 10th and final appearance.
David Wright increased to 14.8% from 8.1%.
There were 11 blank ballots.
A nine-time All-Star, the switch-hitting Beltrán batted .279 with 435 homers and 1,587 RBIs over 20 seasons with Kansas City (1999-2004), Houston (2004, ’17), the Mets (2005-11), San Francisco (2011), St. Louis (2012-13), the New York Yankees (20014-16) and Texas (2016). He had 311 homers hitting left-handed and 124 batting right,
Beltrán was the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year and won three Gold Gloves, also hitting .307 in the postseason with 16 homers and 42 RBIs in 65 games.
Jones batted .254 with 434 homers, 1,289 RBIs and 152 stolen bases in 17 seasons with Atlanta (1996-2007), the Dodgers (2008), Texas (2009), the Chicago White Sox (2010) and the Yankees (2011-12). He finished his career with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan’s Pacific League from 2013-14.
His batting average is the second-lowest for a position player voted to the Hall of Fame, just above the .253 of Ray Schalk, a superior defensive catcher, and just below the .256 of Harmon Killebrew, who hit 573 homers.
Carlos Beltran with the Mets in 2011.
(Bill Kostroun / Associated Press)
A five-time All-Star, Jones earned 10 Gold Gloves. He joins Braves teammates Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz and Chipper Jones in the hall along with manager Bobby Cox.
In the 1996 World Series opener at Yankee Stadium, Jones at 19 years, 5 months became the youngest player to homer in a Series game, beating Mickey Mantle’s old mark by 18 months. Going deep against Pettitte in the second inning and Brian Boehringer in the third of a 12-1 rout, Jones became the second player to homer in his first two Series at-bats after Gene Tenace in 1972.
Baseball Hall of Fame voting results
425 votes cast, 319 needed.
Carlos Beltrán 358 (84.2%), Andruw Jones 333 (78.4), Chase Utley 251 (59.1), Andy Pettitte 206 (48.5), Félix Hernández 196 (46.1), Álex Rodríguez 170 (40.0), Manny Ramírez 165 (38.8), Bobby Abreu 131 (30.8), Jimmy Rollins 108 (25.4), Cole Hamels 101 (23.8), Dustin Pedroia 88 (20.7), Mark Buehrle 85 (20.0), Omar Vizquel 78 (18.4), David Wright 63 (14.8), Francisco Rodríguez 50 (11.8), Torii Hunter 37 (8.7)
Received fewer than 20 votes (less than 5%, dropped from future ballots): Ryan Braun 15 (3.5), Edwin Encarnación 6 (1.4), Shin-Soo Choo 3 (0.7), Matt Kemp 2 (0.5), Hunter Pence 2 (0.5), Rick Porcello 2 (0.5), Alex Gordon 1 (0.2), Nick Markakis 1 (0.2), Gio González 0, Howie Kendrick 0, Daniel Murphy 0.
Reese Donatelli has been a football prognosticator since before she could talk, selecting the NFL teams she thinks will win on her dad’s social media, often with unexpected accuracy.
For years, football fans have loved her sass and the excitement she exudes as she shouts out her picks, grabbing the anointed team’s helmet and sometimes tossing the opponent’s.
But when the 4-year-old’s predictions weren’t panning out during the first weekend of playoff games this month, the situation took a nasty turn. Followers began to think the teams she picked as winners were actually cursed to be losers.
Reese’s family started receiving death threats. Her dad, Anthony Donatelli, received messages from people saying they were owed thousands of dollars because her predictions were wrong.
“It’s nuts,” Donatelli, of Riverside, said. “She’s obviously not an NFL analyst. She’s picking teams based on the color of her dress, or she’ll pick the Packers because she likes cheese. She just relates these silly little things as reasons why she picks certain teams.”
Even rapper Cardi B joked about Reese’s picks becoming curses after the girl picked the New England Patriots to win over the Houston Texans this weekend. The rapper’s partner, Stefon Diggs, is a wide receiver on the team. During an Instagram live, Cardi B said that “little white girl said we’re going to win. F— that, b—!” before immediately apologizing and saying, “I didn’t mean to say that.”
In the end, Reese’s prediction that the Patriots would win was right. New England beat Houston 28-16 on Sunday, advancing to the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos.
Donatelli said that although Cardi B’s comment was “unfortunate,” he isn’t looking to feud with the Grammy winner.
“I’m not here to fight fire with fire. I’m not angry,” he said. “We don’t want anybody or anything to ruin what Reese and I have created and how we bond.”
The Donatellis’ Instagram series, now called “Trust the Toddler,” started nearly four years ago on a whim when Donatelli was looking to share the joy of football with his infant daughter.
Donatelli purchased NFL mini helmets on Amazon as a way to help Reese learn colors and geography and introduce her to the game he grew up watching with his father. When Donatelli, a lifelong Steelers fan, first placed helmets in front of her, she picked one up and chucked it across the room.
“I said, you know what, we might have something here,” he recalled, laughing. “It just clicked. I would put the match-ups of who was going to play that week in front of her, and for the past four years she’s been calling football games. And she’s been pretty dang good at it.”
But even the best guessers have their off days.
There were six games in the first week of the playoffs, and Reese guessed the wrong team would win each time. The next week, she was 1 for 9 after predicting that the Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers and Chicago Bears would win their respective games.
Amid the hoopla, Donatelli kept it lighthearted, posting on Instagram that “the curse has been reversed” alongside a photo of Reese, her fist pumped into the air in victory after she (rightly) predicted that the Patriots would beat the Texans.
Some still weren’t happy, but others kept up with the joke. One Instagram user deadpanned that they’d put “$10 million on Houston because of her,” adding that they’re in “more debt than the U.S. government now.”
Another follower offered a reality check for the haters: “If [you’re] letting a kid pick your parlays you shouldn’t be betting.”
Donatelli and Reese aren’t planning to stop their tradition anytime soon. For them, time spent watching Sunday football only strengthens their daddy-daughter bond, even if Reese’s team picks don’t always make it to the end zone.
Aston Villa explore Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tammy Abraham moves, Manchester United decline Ajax’s Manuel Ugarte approach and Bournemouth fight to keep Marcos Senesi.
Villa are also stepping up their efforts to sign Roma striker Tammy Abraham, who is currently on loan at Besiktas, with the club officials watching the 28-year-old England international play in Istanbul on Monday. (Sky Sports), external
Borussia Dortmund boss Niko Kovac has emerged as a new name onManchester United‘s shortlist ro be their next manager but England head coach Thomas Tuchel and Marseille’s Roberto de Zerbi remain their top two targets. (Mirror), external
Inter Milan are exploring a move for Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 33, but the Argentina international would have to accept a wage cut to sign next summer. (Sky Sports), external
Bournemouthplan to resist any bids for Marcos Senesi, 28, this month with Chelsea, Juventus and Barcelona among clubs who have shortlisted the Argentina centre-back as a possible target.(Talksport), external
Fulhamare battling Wolfsburg and Real Betis in the race to sign Republic of Ireland forward Troy Parrott, 23, from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. (Independent), external
Coventry City boss Frank Lampard is likely to be a strong contender to replace Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace manager with the club also interested in Getafe’s Jose Bordalas and Rayo Vallecano’s Inigo Perez. (Talksport), external
Sunderland have no intention of selling DR Congo midfielder Noah Sadiki, 21, to Manchester United but are willing to listen to offers for fringe players such as English goalkeeper Anthony Patterson, 25, and former England Under-20 midfielder Dan Neil, 24. (Sun), external
Evertonhave enquired about the availability of Sunderland‘s 25-year-old French striker Wilson Isidor as they look to strengthen their attack. (Mirror), external
Sheffield Wednesday’s 17-year-old English defender Yisa Alao is edging closer to a January transfer to Premier League giants Chelsea. (Sheffield Star), external
A trespassing charge against Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison has been dismissed a little more than a week after the former USC star was arrested for allegedly refusing to leave a Tampa, Fla., restaurant after being asked multiple times to do so.
Susan S. Lopez, the state attorney for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, filed a notice of termination of prosecution Tuesday in Hillsborough County Court, indicating that the case against Addison has been closed after a review of the criminal report affidavit.
Addison had been charged with misdemeanor trespass in an occupied structure or conveyance.
According to the criminal report affidavit, the alleged incident happened at approximately 3:42 a.m. on Jan. 12 at a noodle bar inside the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Addison was asked to leave several times by casino security but refused, the affidavit states, and had to be redirected several times toward the exit while being escorted out. He was taken into custody for trespass after warning, the report says.
No other details have been released about the alleged incident.
“All I can tell you is he did nothing wrong,” Addison’s attorney Brian Pakett told The Times on Tuesday.
In a Jan. 13 post on X, Addison’s agent Tim Younger suggested that the charge against his client might not hold up.
“On Jordan’s behalf, his legal team has already initiated the investigation, identified witnesses, and we are reviewing the viability of a claim for false arrest,” Younger wrote. “He looks forward to the legal process and upon full investigation, we are confident Mr. Addison will be exonerated.”
Addison played two years at Pittsburgh, winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award for best receiver in the country in 2021, and one season at USC. He was selected by Minnesota at No. 23 overall in the 2023 draft and has 175 catches for 2,396 yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons with the Vikings.
In July 2024, Addison was arrested when a California Highway Patrol officer found him sleeping behind the wheel of a Rolls-Royce that was blocking traffic near Los Angeles International Airport. He pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor drunk-driving charges in December 2024.
Those charges were dismissed in July after Addison entered a no-contest plea to the lesser charge of “wet reckless driving upon a highway.” He was suspended by the NFL for the first three games of 2025 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
In July 2023, Addison was caught driving 140 mph in a 55-mph zone in St. Paul, Minn. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge, paid a fine and lost his license for six months.
On Tuesday morning, the younger Mendoza took to his Instagram Story and reposted an ESPN College GameDay graphic that paid tribute to the title-winning brothers and included the caption “Been there every step of the way.”
Alberto Mendoza reposted something else on his Instagram Story at roughly the same time — a media report that he plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
A spokesperson for Indiana confirmed to The Athletic that the former three-star recruit has entered the portal.
While the transfer portal closed for most players last Friday, players from Indiana and Miami are allowed to enter through Saturday because of their participation in the national title game.
Fernando Mendoza was the Hoosiers breakout star during their undefeated run to their first-ever national title in football. After transferring to Indiana following two seasons at California, the former two-star recruit completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns and six interceptions.
During the Hoosiers’ CFP quarterfinal victory against Alabama and semifinal win against Oregon, the Associated Press college football player of the year combined for more touchdown passes (8) than incompletions (5). He also rushed for seven touchdowns this season, including a spectacular 12-yard scramble on fourth and four with 9:18 left in regulation to help lift Indiana to a 27-21 victory in the championship game.
Fernando Mendoza is widely expected to enter the NFL draft and could very well be selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall pick. Indiana already appears to have his successor in place — but it’s not his little brother.
Former Texas Christian quarterback Josh Hoover committed to Coach Curt Cignetti’s program earlier this month. Hoover went 19-12 as the Horned Frogs starter, completing 65.2% of his passes for 9,629 yards with 71 touchdowns and 33 interceptions. He also rushed for eight touchdowns.
The addition of Hoover appears to have prompted Alberto Mendoza to look for opportunities elsewhere.
The younger Mendoza has three years of eligibility remaining after redshirting his first season at Indiana in 2024. He didn’t see the field much this year but made the most of his playing time when he got it, completing 18 of 24 passes for 286 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 190 yards in 13 attempts with one touchdown.
Although Audi ran its new car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya last week, the car unveiled at the event was a show car not representative of the actual Audi design.
Audi will join the rest of the teams at the first pre-season test, which is to be held in private at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week.
Audi unveiled a slogan for their new project: “To start something, stop at nothing.”
Binotto said this described “our approach to the journey – we aware there may be bumpy periods and failures, but to never stop, to have the passion to grow, it is the mindset to never stop pushing forward.”
He added: “We spent a long time discussing what our targets should be for 2026, whether it be championship positions or points. It is to become competitive. We need to stay humble. There is much to learn. It is more about the attitude, being here learning. And becoming competitive means average is not an option anymore.”
Wheatley added: “It is about a commitment, if we are going to start something, we are going to finish it. We are serious, and we are going to do whatever is necessary to make this a success.”
Racing Bulls gave their 2026 car a brief shakedown at a private test at a wet Imola on Tuesday.
Their rookie British driver Arvid Lindblad spun at the Villeneuve chicane and the car had to be recovered on a truck. His team-mate Liam Lawson also briefly drove the car at a test that was limited to 15km by F1 rules.
Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler will miss the rest of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Butler, 36, sustained the injury in the third quarter of the Warriors’ 135-112 win over the Miami Heat on Monday.
His agent Bernie Lee confirmed the news in a statement to ESPN,, external calling it a “gut punch” to Butler and the Warriors team.
After a mixed start to the season, the Warriors have won 12 of their past 16 games and are eighth in the Western Conference, with a record of 25 win and 19 losses.
The top six teams in each conference qualify directly for the play-offs, with the teams ranked seventh to 10th competing in the play-in tournament.
Butler’s injury leaves the Warriors facing a decision on how to approach the rest of their season and the market before the trade deadline on 5 February.
Under coach Steve Kerr and with star point guard Stephen Curry, the Warriors have won four NBA titles since 2015 but have been a fading force since their last championship win in 2022.
The Warriors acquired Butler from the Heat in February 2025 to give Curry, 37, a star team-mate to support another championship bid, but must now consider whether to seek further reinforcements or rebuild for the future.
However, Lee is confident six-time All-Star Butler, who is contracted with the Warriors to the end of the 2026-27 season, will bounce back from this injury blow to win his first NBA title.
“I’ve known for over 10 years now that Jimmy is going to win a championship before he is done,” said Lee. “My belief in that is unwavering.”
Welcome back to The Times’ Lakers newsletter, where we’re officially at the halfway point of the season.
The Lakers are 25-16 and barely clear of play-in territory at sixth in the West. They’ve lost five of seven games and are slogging through the midseason dog days. Licking the wounds from a three-game losing streak last week, coach JJ Redick had a simple message for the team as it prepared for a game against Atlanta.
“His statement was pretty much play team basketball, play together and have fun with it,” Jake LaRavia said.
As we head into the second half of the season, let’s try to keep the fun going.
All things Lakers, all the time.
All fun and games
Lakers players huddle before a game against the Milwaukee Bucks at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 9.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Phil Jackson once told Redick that he could tell the identity of his team by Thanksgiving every season. When Redick shared this memory on Dec. 30, the current Lakers coach was still struggling to find the identity of his team. At the midway point, Redick is only outlining a hope.
“When we’re at our best, we have high effort,” Redick said. “We have high connectivity and that’s reflected on both sides of the ball. And there’s a joy that we play with where we root for each other’s success.”
Redick’s description of his team at its best echoes what he often says about Luka Doncic. When “Luka Magic” is at his most enchanting, the 26-year-old is joyfully galloping up the court, joking with teammates and trash-talking fans. People talk about the way a coach’s personality spreads to the team. It’s evident that a superstar’s personality should do the same.
Doncic has established himself as the Lakers’ leader. Even LeBron James called him “our … franchise.” The first half of this season has been as much a test of Doncic’s leadership as it has been about his production.
“The stuff that we coach him on, whether that’s his interactions with referees, defensive engagement, all of that stuff, that’s all forms of leadership,” Redick said. “I can tell you, he’s so much improved from where he was last year.”
Lakers star Luka Doncic drives toward the basket as teammate Jarred Vanderbilt sets a screen on Charlotte guard Sion James during a Lakers loss at Crypto.com Arena on Jan. 15.
(Ronaldo Bolanos / Los Angeles Times)
Doncic was named an NBA All-Star for the sixth time Monday and earned the most votes from fans. He leads the league in scoring. But the best way he sets the tone for the Lakers is through his passing.
When the Lakers have 24 or more assists, they are 21-4. They are 4-12 with 23 or fewer. One of the clearest signs of how much fun the Lakers are having is how well the ball is moving.
“I know there were times in my career that whether I was playing good, whether we were winning, whether we were losing, playing poorly, it didn’t matter. When you don’t feel connected, it’s not as fun,” Redick said. “… We’ve done it throughout the season, just we got to do it more consistently.”
Consistency has been a struggle for the Lakers. They have used 19 different starting lineups. They’re eighth in offensive rating and 26th in defensive rating. Their standing in the West hinges on late-game brilliance and a 13-1 record in clutch games. But of the team’s 16 losses, only one has been by single digits and they have a negative point differential on the season.
As the trade deadline approaches on Feb. 5, the Lakers might shop for a defensive wing who could extract potential from an otherwise stagnant roster. But that archetype is something every contending team is looking for. It doesn’t grow on trees in this league.
But this time last season, the Lakers pulled off the unthinkable by adding Doncic. We never know what the basketball gods have in store.
Timme Time
Lakers forward Drew Timme warms up before facing the Portland Trail Blazers on Jan. 17.
(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Doncic gave his teammate a high five as they exchanged seats at the postgame news conference Sunday night. Then the star guard’s eyes glanced at Drew Timme’s T-shirt.
Timme’s yellow shirt had a drawing of a Tyrannosaurus Rex holding a minigun with the words “Sexual Tyrannosaurus” scrawled across the top.
The confused side-eye from Doncic was priceless.
Since his starring days at Gonzaga, Timme has earned bewildered double takes. He rocked a silly-looking handlebar mustache and headband. He went to the Final Four twice. He graduated as Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer.
Yet the consensus first-team All-American still went undrafted in 2023. Scouts often looked at his age — 23 when training camp began — and thought his ceiling wasn’t very high. He wasn’t overly athletic. He wasn’t a very strong rebounder.
The Lakers forward wants to remind everyone what he can do.
“In college and since I’ve left, it’s ‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that. You’re not good enough for this and that,’” Timme said. “All these things that I can’t do. And I see it and it is fuel, and at the end of the day, I’m a good player. I believe in myself and my abilities, and I believe that I can impact the game at any level, anywhere.”
Lakers forward Drew Timme drives to the basket in front of Portland Trail Blazers center Duop Reath on Jan. 17.
(Amanda Loman / Associated Press)
Timme has worked with four G League teams, going from the Wisconsin Herd — the G League affiliate for the Milwaukee Bucks — to the Stockton Kings to the Long Island Nets before making his NBA debut last season with the Brooklyn Nets.
With the South Bay Lakers, Timme was challenged to improve his playmaking and decision making on the perimeter. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 25.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and four assists in his first G League games this season before signing on a two-way deal with the Lakers in November.
His moments have been fleeting, but Timme was ready when the Lakers were without top two centers Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes against Portland on Saturday. He scored a career-high 21 points with four assists and two steals off the bench. He stayed in the rotation against the Toronto Raptors on Sunday and scored three points with three rebounds and two assists while helping execute an effective zone defense in the win.
Playing on a two-way contract, Timme understands it’s unlikely he’ll become a regular contributor. But his ability to step up at a moment’s notice signals the overall strength of the Lakers organization.
“Dangerous,” Ayton said. “It’s the next-man mentality. We’ve been showing glimpses of it at the start of the season when we didn’t have everybody and guys like Nick Smith having big games; Jake [LaRavia] stepped up to where he’s a starter now and it’s just been like that throughout the season where guys are working on their game and their conditioning and they’re ready to play. That’s just coach’s [Redick’s] leadership, to be honest.”
On tap
Tuesday at Nuggets (29-14), 7 p.m.
The Nuggets have been racked by injuries, none bigger than star center Nikola Jokic, who sustained a knee injury three weeks ago. They’re also been without starters Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon and Cameron Johnson at points this season, and backup center Jonas Valanciunas is still out with a calf injury. But they’re tied for second in the West and have won seven of 11 since Jokic’s injury.
Thursday at Clippers (19-23), 7 p.m.
The Lakers may have inadvertently turned the Clippers’ season around. Starting with the blowout win over their crosstown rival on Dec. 20, the Clippers have won 12 of 14 games to work back into the play-in conversation. Kawhi Leonard sustained a knee contusion Jan. 17 and is day-to-day.
Saturday at Mavericks (18-26), 5:30 p.m.
Luka Doncic’s annual homecoming to Dallas almost always will be another painful reminder to Mavericks fans of the trade that rocked the league. Anthony Davis (hand) will be sidelined (again) and former general manager Nico Harrison is out of a job while Doncic returns as the NBA’s leading scorer.
Monday at Bulls (20-22), 5 p.m.
The Bulls were one of the league’s biggest surprises at the start of the season with six wins in their first seven games, but have now slipped to ninth in the East. Josh Giddey leads the team with 19.2 points and nine assists, and will soon return from a hamstring injury he suffered in late December.
Status report
Austin Reaves: left calf strain
Four weeks after leaving the Christmas Day game early, Reaves could be reevaluated this week. If he is able to progress back to the court, he still likely will work back slowly, especially as this injury was initially thought to be “mild” when it first popped up in mid-December.
Adou Thiero: right MCL sprain
Thiero is about halfway through the four-week time table for his injury, which was announced on Dec. 31.
Favorite thing I ate this week
(Thuc Nhi Nguyen / Los Angeles Times)
It was a rare all-home week for me as my favorite colleague Brad Turner took both of the Lakers’ trips to Sacramento and Portland, which left me to fend for myself in my kitchen. I made salmon with Thai coconut curry risotto. Stirring risotto for 40 minutes is a special kind of meditation that was much-needed at this midpoint of the season. And I had a quinoa and cabbage salad with peanut dressing on the side. Don’t worry, Mom, I am getting my veggies in.
* The actual favorite thing I ate this week was the six-roll set at Kazunori in Marina del Rey, but unfortunately I didn’t take a picture of that delicious meal. I usually like the blue crab roll the most, but the yellowtail was hitting that day. So much so that I ordered an extra one as an exclamation point.
