MANCHESTER, England -- Among the songs at the end of Manchester United's UEFA Europa League match with Rangers, the home fans started to sing Ruben Amorim's name.

The Portuguese head coach says he doesn't like it because he doesn't yet think he deserves the honour. But on this occasion, he will have been quite glad to hear the tune of "Ruben Amorim's Red and White Army."

With his United team minutes away from another damaging result, having inexplicably allowed Rangers to score a late equaliser completely against the run of play, Bruno Fernandes popped up with a stoppage-time winner as the match ended 2-1.

It caused Amorim to turn to his bench and clench his fists in celebration. It was a goal he badly needed. Amorim has said this season is going to be a roller coaster, and against Rangers, he seemed to cram all the ups and downs into one game.

"We didn't deserve that draw at the moment, and it was fair for us to win the game, a game we knew would be tough," Amorim said.

"In this moment, we started well, the pace of the game helped us because it's different, and you could feel it. We tried to do things, we were better with the ball, sometimes we controlled well in the beginning and then we lost control for seven minutes because of some bad passes, some transitions, but then I think we created the best chance to win the game, and we deserved to win."

This has been an ugly week for United, even by their standards.

A fourth home defeat in five games against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday prompted Amorim to speculate afterwards that this might be the worst team in the club's history. He backtracked slightly in a news conference Wednesday, but clarified that he meant only that he had perhaps chosen his words poorly. If anything, he doubled down on the sentiment that this is a significant low point.

There can be little doubt that Amorim has to deal with extensive problems in his new job. But at least for a few days, he might be able to enjoy a bit of respite from the doom and gloom. What lies in wait at Fulham on Sunday is anyone's guess.

Victory over Rangers leaves United fourth in the Europa League table with one foot in the round of 16, but there can be no talk about corners being turned. United were fortunate.

This was a makeshift Rangers team forced into another defensive reshuffle at half-time that saw left-back Rıdvan Yılmaz moved to right-back and right-back James Tavernier forced to centre-back. United took the lead in the second half only when their former loan goalkeeper Jack Butland punched Christian Eriksen's corner into his own net.

"Jack saved us a few times also in the second half," Rangers boss Philippe Clement said.

"That is the life of a goalkeeper. I am not going to be focused solely on that."

After Butland's blunder, United had chance after chance to put the game to bed. They almost paid the price when substitute Cyriel Dessers took advantage of Harry Maguire's mistake to smash in an equaliser with two minutes to go.

It would have been enough to condemn Amorim's team to another embarrassing night, only for Fernandes to latch on to Lisandro Martínez's perfect cross in the second minute of injury time.

"We are not playing our best, but we regrouped from the last game," Amorim said.

"I know the opponent is different. It wasn't as fast. You can see the connections. I think we need to be more clinical in the right moments because that can help us a lot."

For a change, Amorim walked down the tunnel after the final whistle wearing a smile, but it was another night when the size of his task was made brutally clear.

It has been 13 games in a row without a clean sheet, which is a major problem when the team isn't scoring goals. Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo, Manuel Ugarte and Maguire all had good chances. United had 16 shots in total with only an own goal and Fernandes' late strike to show for it.

Garnacho looked like the most dangerous attacking threat, but there is no guarantee he will be at the club next month. The 20-year-old Argentina international is the subject of interest from Napoli and Chelsea, and United might have to seriously consider a good offer because of their precarious financial position.

Amorim wants to keep him, and the club, ideally, does not want to have to auction off its best young players. This, though, is the situation it finds itself in.

"He's a player for Manchester United," Amorim said when asked about the winger's future.

"He was really important for us today, and let's see in the next days."

Amorim can only hope that Garnacho is still part of his squad this time next week. For now, the coach can enjoy the relative serenity that comes in the aftermath of a win.

The storm hasn't passed, but the clouds have parted ever so slightly.

NWSL commissioner Jessica Berman said Thursday that expansion efforts are "not done" with the league set to name its newest franchise next week.

ESPN sources have confirmed reports that Denver will be awarded the 16th franchise when that announcement is made next week.

"Obviously, there's been a lot of rumors circulating, but we will have an announcement next week, so more to come in the not too distant future," Berman said. "We know that our expansion is not done. We're in active conversations with our board to determine the next sequence of expansion, and as I've shared before, we have so many interested bidders who were not given a team in this round.

"Part of the effort in the next three to six months is really developing our next expansion strategy. We want to be aggressive with expansion, but we also want to be strategic and smart about how we do that."

Currently sitting at 14 teams, the league will grow to 16 by 2026, with the 15th team BOS Nation FC already announced and Denver expected to be revealed next week.

Regarding how the league will choose future markets, Berman outlined three guidelines that will determine where the league moves beyond 2026.

"The first is ownership and knowing that we have the right owner with the right -- both financial wherewithal as well as vision to invest," Berman said. "The second being infrastructure, making sure that we have a bid with a professional and appropriate stadium and training facility that meets the standards, not just of today, but of where we think the league is heading.

"The third being the market, the reason the market is third is really only because we're in this vast country where we know there's opportunity for growth in so many different cities. So it doesn't have to be the driver for our decisions.

"I could sit here and think of 10 to 12 markets where we could have a team be successful."

Heading into the 2025 season, the league will also be charting new waters without a college draft and free agency. Those decisions, among others, will be an adjustment after the NWSL and the NWSL Players Association agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement last year.

"It's a learning process for the whole ecosystem," Berman said. "On the technical staff side, they've never experienced anything like this. There actually is nothing to point to as a case study of how to make this transition, because there is no league that has gone from a world of a draft and having years of service, to being able to earn free agency and just having that melt away overnight."

"But I think it's also been an adjustment for the players. I've seen some reports of the number of players who are out of contract, who are still looking for a job, and I think being able to find places for all of them, either within our ecosystem or beyond, is also going to be an adjustment for everyone."

On Wednesday, the league announced the full schedule for the 2025 season that will include a Rivalry Weekend and the return of Decision Day. Berman said the location of the 2025 championship will come in "the next few months."

Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen met with the Jaguars in Jacksonville, Florida, on Thursday, one day after agreeing to stay in Tampa on a deal that would have made him the NFL's highest-paid coordinator, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The two sides are discussing a deal that would make Coen the next head coach of the Jaguars, the sources said.

The Buccaneers have had no contact Thursday with Coen or his representation, sources told Schefter. The team has made multiple efforts to reach him. Coen, however, did reach out to Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles on Thursday evening to inform him that he was interviewing with Jacksonville, sources told ESPN.

A source, meanwhile, told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that given the latest turn in Jacksonville's head coaching hunt, Coen figured he owed it to himself to speak with the team about the job.

The development comes a day after Coen, 39, had pulled himself out of the running for the Jaguars' job. Hours later, the Jaguars and general manager Trent Baalke parted ways.

Jaguars owner Shad Khan retained Baalke when he fired coach Doug Pederson on Jan. 6, saying that afternoon in a news conference that a complete organizational overhaul would be "suicide." He also said that if any coaching candidate expressed reservations about the organizational structure or working with Baalke, he would be willing to address the topic.

The Buccaneers had the third-ranked total offense in the NFL and finished fourth in points scored this season in Coen's first year as the team's offensive coordinator.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield enjoyed his best career season under Coen, with career highs in passing yards (4,500), touchdown passes (41) and completion percentage (71.4).

The Jaguars are seeking a new head coach after firing Pederson following a 4-13 season.

ESPN's Michael DiRocco contributed to this report.

PARIS -- The first enormous roar from the crowd came before the game even started. All Victor Wembanyama needed to do to get the fans in Paris into a full-blown frenzy was, it turned out, say hello into a microphone.

The cheering just from that lasted about 30 seconds.

Welcome home, Wemby. For the first time as an NBA player, Wembanyama played in his homeland Thursday -- the star attraction in this two-game set between San Antonio and Indiana, a series that concludes Saturday night.

"Tonight was definitely different," Wembanyama said. "It's a different kind of support that the crowd brings. We try to use the circumstances to our advantage every time, and tonight was an easy night to use that."

The sellout crowd wasn't disappointed. Neither was Wembanyama. He had an incredible game -- 30 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 blocked shots -- and the Spurs rolled to a 140-110 win, San Antonio's second-largest victory margin of the season and Indiana's second-largest defeat margin.

Countless fans showed up in Wembanyama jerseys. All of his jerseys, that is. Spurs jerseys in at least three different colors. French national team jerseys. The jerseys he wore when he played in the French league. NBA games are a big deal wherever they go in the world, but this was different. This was a homecoming and a celebration.

"I would just say it's a pleasure to be part of a league with Victor Wembanyama," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said before the game.

Wembanyama got -- by far -- the loudest ovation when the starters were introduced. When his face was shown on the scoreboard video screens during the playing of France's national anthem, the building simply roared. He won the opening tap to start the game; another roar. He missed the game's first shot, drawing an audible groan. There weren't many of those the rest of the way.

"It's not easy to stop him," Indiana guard Bennedict Mathurin said. "We do what we can. But he's really good."

This wasn't Spurs-Pacers. This was Wemby and a lot of other guys. And if there was pressure, Wembanyama -- the league's reigning Rookie of the Year and a likely All-Star this season -- didn't seem fazed.

"The ovation for him obviously was very, very moving just in terms of a reflection of how this city and country and these people feel about him and he feels about them," acting Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. "There's certain games you know you don't need to get the guys up for, as you say. This was one of them."

The Spurs knew before the game that Wembanyama was ready. Harrison Barnes revealed that Wembanyama took over the team's locker room musical selections. He picked French artists.

"He was excited for today," Barnes said.

Poor Boomer. He's the Pacers mascot. He's a blue, furry thing. His in-game tasks include wearing oversized mitts on his hands and encouraging fans to clap for some defense. This ordinarily works wonders at Pacers home games, which this matchup technically was, at least on paper.

Boomer was foiled repeatedly Thursday. Cheering with him, you see, meant fans would have been cheering against Wembanyama's Spurs. Not going to happen. Not in Paris.

Technically, it might have happened once. Wembanyama had a spectacular block late in the third quarter, and had it counted it would have been his fourth in as many possessions. The crowd evidently didn't see referee Zach Zarba gesturing for goaltending, so the basket counted -- and that was the only Pacers basket that the French crowd cheered.

"I thought it was a great environment," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I don't know what Victor said before the game, but whatever he said worked. They played a great game. Victor's a great player. The country of France should be very, very proud. He's a one of a kind. He's a once every I-don't-know-how-many-generations a player like that comes along. Just breathtaking, the things that he does."

Carlisle is right, of course. Everyone is often impressed by Wembanyama. Except Wembanyama. He doesn't get caught up in highlights or hyperbole. He insists that he wants only to win.

"Tonight, I'm proud of my team," Wembanyama said. "It was perfect. It was a perfect evening. We had the win, and we won the right way."

LeBron James extended his record to 21 All-Star selections Thursday night when he was again named a starter for this year's midseason showcase of the NBA's biggest names.

James, who turned 40 last month, extended his record after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 19 selections last season. He will be joined in the Western Conference starting lineup by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, the NBA's reigning Most Valuable Player; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant, who is tied for the fourth-most selections with 15; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander; and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.

Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, led all players in fan voting for a second straight season and was joined by Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell and New York Knicks teammates Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns in the Eastern Conference starting five.

James, who was set to face off against Tatum and the Celtics later Thursday in Los Angeles, is averaging 23.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 9 assists for the Lakers, who remain in sixth place in the Western Conference standings, an unprecedented level of production for a player his age. Durant, meanwhile, joins Hall of Famers Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett and Shaquille O'Neal with 15 All-Star selections, trailing only James, Abdul-Jabbar and the late Kobe Bryant (18).

Jokic, earning his seventh All-Star selection, is having another stellar season for the Nuggets, averaging 30.1 points, 13.2 rebounds and 9.9 assists while shooting 56% overall from the field and 47% from 3-point range. Curry returns to the starting lineup after being a reserve last year as the game will be played at his home arena in San Francisco. He will make his 11th appearance overall, edging past injured Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic in recent weeks to do so, in the only close vote among the West selections.

There certainly wasn't any drama about Gilgeous-Alexander returning to the starting lineup for the second straight season. Fresh off his first 50-point game Wednesday night against the Utah Jazz, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 32 points, 5.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists for the West-leading Thunder.

In the East, Antetokounmpo, now an All-Star for the ninth time, led the way. It was the sixth appearance for both Tatum and Mitchell, who were widely expected to be starters alongside Antetokounmpo, as was Towns, who will be starting the All-Star Game for the first time in his career in his first season in New York after making it four times as a reserve in his first nine seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The starting lineups are chosen from a hybrid voting system, with 50% of the vote coming from fan ballots, and 25% from both the media and current players.

The lone starting spot that felt truly up for grabs entering Thursday's unveiling was the second East starter alongside Mitchell in the backcourt. In the mix were Brunson, Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball -- who finished with the most fan votes among East guards -- and Bucks guard Damian Lillard.

In the end, it was Brunson who got the spot.

The seven reserves from each conference will be unveiled next Thursday on TNT, based on voting by each conference's coaches.

The coaches for this year's All-Star Game will be Mark Daignault from the Thunder and Kenny Atkinson from the Cavaliers. Because of the change in format this season -- which has the 24 All-Stars broken up into three teams, plus the winning team from the Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night -- assistant coaches from both the Thunder and Cavaliers will coach two of the teams.

The 2025 NBA All-Star starters are set!

The league's superstars are ready to lead their squads during All-Star Weekend (Feb. 14-Feb. 16) in a new format which includes four teams battling it out in a mini-tournament.

The All-Star reserves will be announced on Jan. 30, and the draft will take place on Feb. 6, with TNT analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal and Kenny Smith selecting the three eight-man teams from among the 24 players. The fourth team will be the winning team from the Rising Stars championship game.

LeBron James, in his 21st All-Star appearance, reunites with Olympic teammates Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant as West starters. In the East, New York Knicks duo Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns will join nine-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Who is the biggest snub from the starters? Which All-Star is primed to take the weekend's coveted MVP award? Our NBA insiders react to the biggest questions about this year's NBA All-Star starters.

Agree with the 2025 #NBAAllStar Starters?

Who would be in your starting five for both conferences? pic.twitter.com/Res6i3UJv3

NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) January 24, 2025

Which starter selection was the biggest surprise?

Baxter Holmes: This might be the last time we'll see three starters in one conference who are all over the age of 35, which is a true testament to Curry, James and Durant. Regardless of age, they're redefining what's possible late in a player's career. And while Victor Wembanyama will likely become an All-Star for many years to come, his numbers this season -- 24.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, a league-high 4 blocks and 3.8 assists -- are certainly good enough for a starting nod. One could make a case that either Curry or James received their spots in part because of their Hall of Fame legacy, and that they're being graded on a curve because of their teams' uneven performances this season (with the Golden State Warriors plummeting of late). The same could be said of Durant, whose Phoenix Suns sit at 22-21. Wembanyama's time will come, but he was certainly deserving this year, too.

Kevin Pelton: I'm surprised Durant made it despite slipping to third in fan voting. I expected the media and player vote to favor Wembanyama and allow him to claim the third starting spot in the West. Durant has certainly played at an All-Star level this season, but the passing of the torch in the West frontcourt will apparently take another year.

Michael C. Wright: After Durant missed 10 games earlier this season, everything appeared to be trending toward Wembanyama cracking the starting group in his first All-Star appearance. Nobody questions Durant's talent, and his numbers compare favorably to his Western Conference counterparts in the frontcourt. But as for Durant's team, Phoenix currently sits 10th in the West even after winning seven of their last 10. Of the starters in the frontcourt, Durant has also played the fewest games (33).

Jamal Collier: Neither Brunson nor Towns were necessarily undeserving, but it still is surprising to see New York with multiple All-Stars for the second consecutive season -- and the only team with two starters this year -- (Towns replacing Julius Randle this time), especially over other teams that have been more dominant this season.

Who got snubbed?

Wright: Brunson and Donovan Mitchell deserve to be starters on the East team, but it's somewhat shocking that LaMelo Ball took first in the fan vote (and third among players) ahead of Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, who deserved consideration for one of the starting spots. Leading a Pistons squad in the thick of the postseason hunt, Cunningham's scoring average (24.6) is lower than Brunson's but he has more assists (9.4) and rebounds (6.5). Ball has better numbers than Cunningham and Brunson, but hasn't been nearly as impactful on winning.

Pelton: Wembanyama is the best player who won't be starting. He got one of my votes in the West frontcourt, and frankly that wasn't a difficult decision. Wembanyama is the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and an emerging force at the other end of the court, as he showed earlier Thursday with 30 points and six assists in a blowout win of the Indiana Pacers in his native France.

Collier: Could Wembanyama have been tabbed a starter? I'm not sure the answer is 100% yes and his day will come, but his first half has been so electric that it's worth considering whether he should have filled out the frontcourt over the two veterans in the forward spot. Still, Wembanyama likely having a spot as a reserve and watching how the rest of his peers react to him on the court makes the game worth checking out alone.

Holmes: Ball ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring (29 points per game) and averages more rebounds (5.4) and assists (7.5) than both Eastern Conference All-Star starting guards Mitchell and Brunson. He received the most fan votes among guards in the Eastern Conference and earned the third most among players, but finished seventh in the media vote -- a disconnect that's likely attributable to his team's poor record (11-29). Still, the numbers scream "snub" for Ball. I'm not sure what the solution is, though. Both Mitchell and Brunson have been fantastic -- with numbers that back up their play -- for teams that figure to make deep playoff runs in the East. It just goes to show how much team success can factor into the equation.

What reserve battle are you watching closest for next week?

Wright: Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins should be putting in some calls to his coaching buddies to campaign for his players with the team sitting at No. 3 in the West. Ja Morant hasn't played enough to warrant serious consideration, but Jaren Jackson Jr. has been Memphis' most available star this season, playing in 42 games while averaging a career-high 22.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks. We've become accustomed to Jackson's contributions as a defender. But he's become one of the Grizzlies' most reliable scorers, and one of the most improved among frontcourt players in the league.

Holmes: I'm watching how the surging Sacramento Kings are represented. Center Domantas Sabonis, who was arguably snubbed the previous two seasons, is again leading the league in rebounds (a career-best 14.3 per game). Guard De'Aaron Fox is 12th in the league in scoring at 25.7 points. The West is deep, as always, but the Kings are 9-1 in their last 10 games. I'm curious if that hot streak is rewarded.

Pelton: Whether the coaches pick Ball. For the most part, who starts the All-Star Game is academic. In Ball's case, it represented his easiest path toward a second appearance. Coaches tend to overemphasize team performance, making a player on the 13th-place team in the East a tough sell. I'm curious whether Ball's gaudy individual stats will overcome that anchor.

Collier: It's a crowded field among East reserve guards who are deserving of All-Star consideration. Behind Mitchell and Brunson, the field now includes: Ball, Cunningham, Damian Lillard, Darius Garland, Trae Young, Tyrese Haliburton, Tyrese Maxey and Tyler Herro. It'll be interesting to see who makes the cut.

Which superstar pairing would be the most exciting to watch?

Holmes: Nikola Jokic and James. These two are among the highest-IQ players to ever play the game. Their ability to scan the court, know where everyone is and exactly what to do next is remarkable. And in a fun setting like this, with so much talent on the floor, they can really have fun with no-look passes and setting up teammates for eye-catching plays.

Pelton: Knicks fans surely aren't spending much time on "what-if" scenarios with how well Brunson and Towns are playing, but either player with Mitchell represents a path not taken when he was traded to Cleveland instead of New York back in 2022.

Wright: Normally, you'd take a couple of NBA veterans. But they've been there and done that for too many All-Star Games. So, let's look at some of the younger players that will take this game more seriously. Wembanyama will likely form one half of a dynamic duo alongside three-time league MVP Jokic, who possesses the creativity and passing ability to set up the Spurs big man nicely.

Collier: LeBron and Steph. We got a taste during the Olympics with this generational duo playing on the same team and it was glorious. I would 100% watch that again. James leads the NBA in most All-Star appearances (21) and is now the first player at age 40 or older to start an All-Star Game. Curry, now claiming his 11th All-Star appearance, will look to reclaim his MVP status from the 2022 weekend.

Way-too-early pick for ASG MVP?

Collier: Anthony Edwards, assuming he is selected as a reserve. He didn't make it as a starter and his team has been middling toward the play-in tournament in the West, so this could be his chance to ball out this season in front of a national stage. Edwards is shooting more frequently and is averaging a career-high 42.6% from 3, which could set him up nicely for success in an All-Star setting.

Holmes: Curry. The game is in his backyard, and who knows how many more opportunities he'll have to put on a show in such a setting. I'm expecting a big game out of him especially because it seems likely that his Warriors aren't going anywhere this season.

Pelton: Wembanyama might make the All-Star Game his first signature NBA moment. After impressing in last year's Rising Stars game, Wembanyama, in Year Two, looks primed to make a big splash in his first full All-Star Weekend. Teaming up with tenured All-Stars like James, Curry and Jokic might be the catalyst to a very fruitful future as an All-Star staple.

Wright: As mentioned earlier, Wembanyama will take this game more seriously than many of his counterparts. You could see last year during the Skills Challenge that Wembanyama was there to compete and wasn't happy with Edwards shooting left-handed during portions of that competition. "They wanted to have fun," Wembanyama said afterward. "Fun is winning."

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Ichiro Suzuki wants to raise a glass with the voter who chose not to check off his name on the Hall of Fame ballot.

"There's one writer that I wasn't able to get a vote from," he said through an interpreter Thursday, two days after receiving 393 of 394 votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. "I would like to invite him over to my house, and we'll have a drink together, and we'll have a good chat."

Suzuki had been to the Hall seven times before attending a news conference Thursday with fellow electees CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner. The trio will be inducted July 27 along with Dave Parker and Dick Allen, voted in last month by the classic era committee.

Suzuki struggled to process being the first player from Japan elected to the Hall.

"Maybe five, 10 years from now I could look back and maybe we'll be able to say this is what it meant," he said.

BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O'Connell recalled Suzuki was at the Hall in 2001 when he called to inform the Seattle star he had been voted American League Rookie of the Year. Suzuki received 27 of 28 first-place votes -- all but the one from an Ohio writer who selected Sabathia.

"He stole my Rookie of the Year," Sabathia said playfully.

Sabathia remembered a game at Safeco Field on July 30, 2005. He had worked with Cleveland pitching coach Carl Willis in a bullpen session on a pitch he could throw to retire Suzuki, which turned out to be a slider.

"I get two strikes on Ichi, and he hits it off the window," Sabathia said of the 428-foot drive off the second-deck restaurant in right field, at the time the longest home run of Suzuki's big league career. "Come back around his next at-bat, throw it to him again, first pitch he hits it out again."

Suzuki's second home run broke a sixth-inning tie in the Mariners' 3-2 win.

As the trio discussed their favorite memorabilia, Suzuki mentioned a mock-up Hall of Fame plaque the Hall had created -- not a design for the real one -- that included his dog, Ikkyu.

"Our dog and then Bob Feller's cat are the only animals to have the Hall of Fame plaque. That is something that I cherish," Suzuki said, referring to a mock-up with the pitcher's cat, Felix.

Sabathia helped the New York Yankees win the World Series in 2009 after agreeing to a $161 million, seven-year contract as a free agent. Sabathia started his big league career in Cleveland, finished the 2008 season in Milwaukee and was apprehensive about signing with the Yankees before he was persuaded by general manager Brian Cashman.

"Going into the offseason, I just heard all of the stuff that was going on, the turmoil in the Yankees clubhouse," Sabathia said. "Pretty quick, like two or three days into spring training, me and Andy [Pettitte] are running in the outfield, I get a chance to meet [Derek] Jeter, we're hanging out, and the pitching staff, we're going to dinners, we're going to basketball games together. So it didn't take long at all before I felt like this was the right decision."

Sabathia was on 342 ballots and Wagner on 325 (82.5%), which was 29 votes more than the 296 needed for the required 75%. While Suzuki and Sabathia were elected in their first ballot appearance, Wagner was voted in on his 10th and final try with the writers.

Even two days after learning of his election, Wagner had tears streaming down his cheeks when he thought back to the call. His face turned red.

"It's humbling," he said, his voice quavering before he paused. "I don't know if it's deserving, but to sit out 10 years and have your career scrutinized and stuff, it's tough."

Wagner, who is 5-foot-10, became the first left-hander elected to the Hall who was primarily a reliever. He thought of the words of 5-foot-11 right-hander Pedro Martínez, voted to Cooperstown in 2015.

"I hope kids around see that there is a chance that you can get here, and it is possible, that size and where you're from doesn't matter," Wagner said. "I think Pedro said it first, but if I can get here, anyone can get here."

Outfielder Jurickson Profar and the Atlanta Braves agreed on a three-year, $42 million contract Thursday, uniting the veteran coming off a career year with a team that has struggled in recent years to find a suitable left fielder.

Profar, 31, was a revelation for the San Diego Padres last year, hitting .280/.380/.459 with a career-high 24 home runs and 85 RBIs. Once the top prospect in all of baseball, Profar made his first All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger -- all on a one-year, $1 million deal.

He cashed in with the Braves, who outbid a number of teams interested in Profar's on-base skills as well as his energy that invigorated Padres supporters and infuriated rival fan bases.

Profar will join center fielder Michael Harris II and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., the 2023 National League MVP coming off a torn left ACL just three years after tearing the ligament in his right knee. Without Acuña for most of last season, the Braves' offense suffered a deep regression from 2023, when they set a single-season team record with a .501 slugging percentage.

The switch-hitting Profar can slot almost anywhere in the lineup, though he figures to begin the season toward the top as Acuña continues to rehab his knee. Beyond Harris and Acuña, Atlanta's lineup includes All-Star third baseman Austin Riley, second baseman Ozzie Albies and first baseman Matt Olson. Profar will receive $12 million this year and $15 million in 2026 and 2027.

Atlanta is typically one of the most aggressive teams in baseball, striking early in free agency and with trades. After trading slugger Jorge Soler in late October, the Braves dabbled in minor league deals and watched as starter Max Fried went to the New York Yankees, starter Charlie Morton went to the Baltimore Orioles and reliever A.J. Minter went to the New York Mets.

Profar is Atlanta's first real addition this winter after sneaking into the postseason at 89-73 and promptly getting swept by San Diego. He has spent all 11 years of his major league career in the West divisions, debuting at 19 with the Texas Rangers. Profar never fulfilled his potential there and went to Oakland in 2019 before settling with the Padres, where he became a full-time outfielder. Over 1,119 games in his career, Profar has hit .245/.331/.395 with 111 home runs and 444 RBIs in 4,291 plate appearances.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- In his first public comments since his critical drop in Sunday's 27-25 playoff loss in Buffalo, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews posted on Instagram that he's "absolutely gutted by what happened."

Andrews has drawn heated criticism on social media since he had a pass on a 2-point conversion slip through his grasp as he fell backward in the end zone. It would have tied the game with 1:33 remaining.

"Even though the shock and disappointment are unlike anything I've felt before, I refuse to let the situation define me," Andrews wrote on Instagram on Thursday. "I promise that this adversity will only make me stronger and fuel us as we move forward."

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Andrews did not speak to reporters after the divisional round loss Sunday, and he was not present during media availability for locker room cleanout Monday.

It was an uncharacteristically mistake-filled game for Andrews, who hadn't had a drop in his previous 12 games. Andrews also lost a fumble midway through the fourth quarter, marking the three-time Pro Bowler's first turnover since 2019.

"I'm devastated for my teammates, my coaches and Ravens fans," Andrews wrote. "I pour every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible, because I love my team and the game of football like nothing else. That is why it's taken me until now to collect my thoughts and address this publicly."

In an effort to support Andrews, Bills fans started a charitable drive that has led to over $100,000 in donations to Breakthrough T1D, an organization that works toward curing and improving the lives of those, like Andrews, who are dealing with Type 1 diabetes.

"I thank everyone who has shown me and our team genuine support these past several days," Andrews wrote. "Despite the negativity, I've seen heartfelt love and encouragement, including from those who have generously donated to the Breakthrough T1D organization."

This was a tough way to end a season for someone like Andrews who has made a career by thriving around the goal line. Earlier this season, Andrews became the Ravens' career leader in touchdowns with 51.

Teammates, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, have voiced their support of Andrews, who is considered one of the hardest workers on the team. On Wednesday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Andrews "is a huge part of our future, and we love him and we're there for him."

Andrews wrapped up his Instagram post by writing: "Even when the moment seems darkest, perspective can reveal that there's still a lot of light in this world. I am now going to do my part to bounce back and contribute to it."

PARIS -- Speaking on European soil Thursday in the midst of a weeklong celebration around a new European star in Victor Wembanyama, NBA commissioner Adam Silver made clear he has serious interest in an American-led invasion of the continent's basketball business.

For the past year, the NBA league office has been investigating the concept of starting a new standalone European league separate from the NBA. In his most expansive commentary on the matter, Silver made it clear he believes the current top league, the 18-team Euroleague, is leaving money and growth on the table, and the NBA sees an opportunity to move in.

"While Europe continues to develop some of the very best players in the world -- many of our most recent MVPs, of course, are European -- we think that the commercial opportunity has not kept pace with the growth of the game," Silver said before the San Antonio Spurs played the Indiana Pacers in the first of two games at Paris' Accor Arena.

"And what we do at the NBA is we run leagues. We, of course, run the WNBA, we have the [Basketball Africa League], we have the G League, we have a 2K video league. So we operate five different leagues and we think it's an expertise we have. And so we are looking very closely to see if there's an opportunity to professionalize the game to another level here to create a larger commercial opportunity."

This is an explosive story in Europe, a threat to the legacy league that was founded in 1958, just a decade after the NBA. But for the NBA's main business at home, this is a signal that Silver and his top lieutenants are focused much more on conquering new territory than expanding their current league in America to places such as Las Vegas and Seattle as had also been a recent consideration.

Silver still has to convince his bosses, the 30 team owners, to green-light this venture. Multiple ownership sources told ESPN there are still many questions and uncertainties about the plan that have to be answered before it can be ratified. Silver implied Thursday a decision about moving forward could come after a planned March owners meeting.

An issue for owners, sources said, is these other leagues the NBA operates have not been routinely profitable. In addition to generating revenue via media rights, a new league could generate substantial money via expansion fees, sources familiar with the concept said.

Most of the league's top executives have been in Paris this week for meetings with potential teams, media partners and sponsors as the league is putting on a full-court press on the matter.

"Our plan all along was to spend time here [last] summer when we were here for the Olympics to have a series of meetings, and we were on the ground here for roughly two weeks to watch basketball ourselves," Silver said. "[Then] go back, do some additional work, always knowing that we would be here for this week in January to set a set of meetings here and take advantage of that opportunity. We have an NBA board meeting in late March, we'll be giving an update to our bosses, in essence."

Last fall, the secretary general of international governing body FIBA, made a presentation to owners in New York about partnering with the NBA on a European expansion. In November, sources told ESPN, NBA managing director of Europe and the Middle East George Aivazoglou made a presentation to a committee of owners that included in-depth plans about what cities the league would seek to place teams and other projections.

Over the past year, the NBA has reached out to potential investors and team owners gauging interest, sources told ESPN. Additionally, the league has reached out to some major soccer clubs in Europe to discuss the possibility of them creating basketball teams for the league, sources said.

"The tenor of the meetings have been very positive. It's not anti-anybody or anti any other organization," Silver said of meetings with possible partners. "When we look at that opportunity and these potential partners, what they're telling us is they believe that from a commercial standpoint, in terms of the networks they represent or are part of, or those consumer companies that they represent, that they think there's a desire to connect with consumers, particularly young consumers, which is generally the fan base of the NBA, that they think that the market is ready to do more in this sport."

As part of this effort, the NBA seems ready to plan NBA games in different areas of Europe. After playing regular-season games in Paris over the past three years and London prior to the pandemic, the league has held conversations about playing regular-season games in new locales such as Manchester, England, and Berlin in the near future, where possible expansion teams for a European league could be located.