




One is a fifth-year senior who began his career at a mid-major, the other a first-year wunderkind recruited by everyone. The first is a now leading a program on the rise, while the other is the unmistakable star for a traditional power.
Johni Broome of Auburn and Cooper Flagg of Duke do have something in common, though: The forwards were unanimous first-team picks for The Associated Press men’s college basketball All-America teams released Tuesday.
They were joined on the first team by Alabama star Mark Sears, Purdue’s Braden Smith and Walter Clayton Jr. of Florida.
Only Broome, a third-team pick a year ago, and Flagg were among the first five on the ballots of all 61 national media members who vote for the weekly AP Top 25. Broome becomes the Tigers’ fourth All-American and first to make the first team, while Flagg is the 19th different Blue Devils player to earn first-team recognition.
Tennis
Players’ group files an antitrust suit >> Calling the groups in charge of professional tennis “a cartel,” the players’ association co-founded by Novak Djokovic filed an antitrust lawsuit against the women’s and men’s tours, the International Tennis Federation and the sport’s integrity agency in federal court in New York.
The suit by the Professional Tennis Players’ Association says the organizations that run the sport hold “complete control over the players’ pay and working conditions” and their setup constitutes “textbook violations of state and federal law” that “immunize professional tennis from ordinary market forces and deny professional tennis players and other industry participants their right to fair competition.”
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and wants players to gain access to more earnings, arguing that the governing bodies that oversee the four Grand Slam tournaments — Wimbledon, the U.S. Open, the French Open and the Australian Open — and other professional events “cap the prize money tournaments award and limit players’ ability to earn money off the court.”
MLB
Dodgers beat Cubs in season opener >> Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw five strong innings, Shohei Ohtani had two hits and scored twice, and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Tuesday in Major League Baseball’s season opener at the Tokyo Dome.
Playing in front of their home country, Yamamoto and Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga both pitched well in the first all-Japanese starting pitching matchup on opening day in MLB history. Imanaga threw four scoreless innings, allowing no hits but walking four.
The Dodgers jumped on Cubs reliever Ben Brown (0-1) in the fifth, scoring three runs, partly because of a throwing error by second baseman Jon Berti. Tommy Edman and Will Smith had RBI singles.
Brewers settle their shortstop situation >> Milwaukee infielder Joey Ortiz will move over from third base to shortstop as the Brewers alter their infield following Willy Adames’ departure.
One of the Brewers’ main concerns this spring was how to handle the shortstop position as they adapt to life without Adames, who signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with the San Francisco Giants in the offseason. The Brewers were pondering whether to give the job to Ortiz or have Brice Turang move over from second base.
NFL
2-time Super Bowl champ Graham retires >> Brandon Graham retired following a 15-year career in Philadelphia that was highlighted by his role in the defensive play that helped deliver the Eagles their first Super Bowl title.
Graham turns 37 in April and had indicated that last season would be his final one in the NFL. He made that decision official on Tuesday.
The former first-round draft pick out of Michigan in 2010 ends his career as the all-time leader in games played for the Eagles with 206, ranks third with 76 1/2 sacks and has the most postseason sacks with 5 1/2.
Graham is also one of four players who participated in both of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl wins: following the 2017 season against New England and last month against Kansas City.
Ravens sign QB Rush to back up Jackson >> The Baltimore Ravens signed quarterback Cooper Rush to back up two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
Rush started eight games for the Dallas Cowboys last season while Dak Prescott was injured. The 31-year-old Central Michigan product finished the season with a passer rating of 83.8. He has appeared in 38 games in his career since making his debut in 2017 with the Cowboys.
Soccer
FIFA report highlights inequities in women’s game >> Despite the growing attention on women’s soccer globally, the vast majority of players and teams still struggle for resources and investment.
FIFA released its annual report on the women’s game, highlighting the inequities across the sport.
Soccer’s world governing body expanded the fourth edition’s scope from 34 leagues to 86 leagues and some 669 teams, providing a more accurate picture of the state of the game. It analyzed data in six areas: sporting, governance, financial landscape, fan engagement, data and digital, and player-related matters.
The report found that the average gross salary across all tiers was $10,900, but that number was skewed by 16 clubs in the top tier that paid players an average of more than $50,000. The average salary for top-tier teams was $24,030 globally — less than a living wage in many places.
Men’s basketball
Indianda hires DeVries as head coach >> The Indiana Hoosiers hired Darian DeVries as their new head coach, school officials announced Tuesday.
DeVries spent this past season as West Virginia’s head coach. He spent the previous four at Drake.
DeVries replaces former Indiana star Mike Woodson, who announced last month he would be stepping down for the Hoosiers.