Geno Smith finally got to enjoy a day of being in the spotlight after signing the big contract that had eluded him most of his career. Smith's three-year contract with the Seahawks will keep him as the presumptive starting quarterback in Seattle following a breakout season. Plus more news from around the league on Thursday.
Retired slugger Albert Pujols believes he has a future in coaching but isn't in a hurry to get there. Pujols, who retired in October after 703 career home runs, says he's not going to put a timetable on a potential return to the game. Plus other MLB and WBC news from Thursday.
Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani is arguably the game's best player anywhere. But in Japan, he's more than just a baseball player. He's an antidote for many in his native country. Japanese culture and politics seem more tenuous than a few decades ago. The economy is stagnant. The birthrate is among the world’s lowest. The rivalry with China is never from from people's minds. In this environment, the return of Ohtani to play for Japan in the World Baseball Classic is playing huge. As one fan puts it, his achievements “have had a positive influence on all Japanese people.”
Flashy footwear is a feature of this year's World Baseball Classic. Stadium Custom Cleats has provided about 42 specially designed shoes for three dozen players. The company is owned by Alex Katz, a pitcher for Israel at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and at this year’s WBC.
Josh Pastner is facing an uncertain future at Georgia Tech after another losing season and few signs of progress in the Atlantic Coast Conference program. The Yellow Jackets capped a 15-19 campaign with an 89-81 loss to Pittsburgh in the second round of the ACC Tournament at Greensboro, North Carolina.
Today is Thursday, March 9, the 68th day of 2023. There are 297 days left in the year.
Actor Joyce Van Patten is 89. Actor Trish Van Devere is 82. Singer John Cale of The Velvet Underground is 81. Singer Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders is 81. TV anchor Charles Gibson is 80. Guitarist Robin Trower of Procol Harum is 78. Singer Jeffrey Osborne is 75. Guitarist Jimmie Fadden of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is 75. Actor Linda Fiorentino ("Men in Black") is 65. Actor Tom Amandes ("Eli Stone," "Parenthood") is 64. Guitarist Rusty Hendrix of Confederate Railroad is 63. Actor Juliette Binoche ("Chocolat," "The English Patient") is 59. Bassist Robert Sledge of Ben Folds Five is 55. Drummer Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars is 53. Rapper C-Murder (aka C-Miller) is 52. Actor Emmanuel Lewis ("Webster") is 52. Actor Jean Louisa Kelly ("Yes, Dear," "Mr. Holland's Opus") is 51. Actor Kerr Smith ("Life Unexpected," "Dawson's Creek") is 51. Actor Oscar Isaac ("Star Wars: The Force Awakens") is 44. Comedian Jordan Klepper ("The Daily Show") is 44. Rapper Chingy is 43. Actor Matthew Gray Gubler ("Criminal Minds") is 43. Guitarist Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory is 42. Keyboardist Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes is 40. Actor Brittany Snow ("American Dreams," "Hairspray") is 37. Rapper Bow Wow is 36. Rapper YG is 33. Actor Luis Armand Garcia ("George Lopez") is 31. Actor Cierra Ramirez ("The Fosters") is 28
Jalen Jackson scored 13 of his season-high 17 points in the second half, Owen Dease came off the bench to add a career-high 16 and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi defeated Northwestern State 75-71 to win its second straight Southern Conference Tournament championship on Wednesday.
Georgetown and coach Patrick Ewing were blown out in the first round of the Big East Tournament amid speculation that the former Hoya great's tenure as coach will soon come to an end. Ewing's Hoyas lost to Villanova 80-48 at Madison Square Garden, the site of his greatest achievements as an NBA player and Georgetown coach.
This honey matcha popcorn recipe from Go Dairy Free elevates a simple snack into something truly special. The sweet honey pairs perfectly with the earthy matcha.
Thirsty Nest's colorful recipe for sweet and sticky vanilla glazed popcorn looks like the perfect easy snack for your next party.
In need of a sweet and salty treat? You'll love these vegan popcorn bites. They're packed with flavor from caramel, chocolate, peanut butter and coconut, and they get a healthy boost from cookie dough protein powder.
Juan Soto ran sprints in the outfield and took some big swings in batting practice during an early workout at the San Diego Padres spring training complex. It was a test on his left calf that has kept him in Arizona instead of being with the Dominican Republic team in Miami preparing for the World Baseball Classic. Soto has been dealing with calf tightness. Padres manager Bob Melvin says Soto could play in a 'B' game against Cleveland on Thursday. Melvin is hopeful that Soto can get cleared after that, and is optimistic about him being able go to Miami.
Coming off an unprecedented performance at the world championships, 18-year-old Jordan Stolz is already facing inevitable comparisons to the greatest speedskater of them all. Eric Heiden. Stolz chuckles a bit at being mentioned in the same sentence with the winner of five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics. But the teenager who grew up skating on a frozen pond behind his Wisconsin home doesn't shy away from it, either. Stolz is speedskating's hottest new star after becoming the youngest world champion in the sport's history. He swept the 500, 1,000 and 1,500-meter titles last weekend in the Netherlands.
Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is retiring after 47 years of leading the university's basketball program, the team announced Wednesday after a loss knocked them out of the ACC Conference Tournament. The Hall of Fame coach who transformed Syracuse into a basketball power, won a national title in 2003 and kept a pained, irascible visage from the bench during almost a half century as coach at his alma mater will be replaced by longtime assistant Adrian Autry, the school said in a statement.
