LOS ANGELES (AP) — Even 8-year-old Charlie Freeman is excited about a Dodgers-Yankees World Series. “He's at Universal (Studios) right now with a couple of his buddies, but he goes, `Daddy, I can’t wait for the World Series to start tomorrow,'" Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman said at the last workout before Friday's opener.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami's Lionel Messi played in only one Major League Soccer loss in 2024. It was in May, at home, against Atlanta United. Messi makes his MLS playoff debut Friday night — at home, against Atlanta United.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves hired Tim Hyers as hitting coach Thursday after a shake-up of manager Brian Snitker's staff. The 53-year-old Hyers joins the Braves after spending the last three seasons in the same capacity with the Texas Rangers, where he was part of the World Series victory in 2023.

ATLANTA (AP) — For Zaccharie Risacher, it was the perfect start to an NBA career of such promise. A wide-open look from outside the 3-point stripe. Nothing but net.

KENNESAW, Ga. (AP) — Davis Bryson threw for a touchdown, Michael Benefield and Qua Ashley each rushed for a score, and Kennesaw State beat previously unbeaten Liberty 27-24 on Wednesday night to secure the program's first FBS victory.

ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young had 30 points, Onyeka Okongwu added a career-high 28 and the Atlanta Hawks opened the season with a 120-116 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James gave his 20-year-old son a pep talk before they rose from the Lakers bench. Amid rising cheers, they walked together to the scorer's table — and then they stepped straight into basketball history.

MONTREAL (AP) — Atlanta United eliminated CF Montreal 5-4 in a penalty-kick shootout on Tuesday night in the opening game of the MLS Cup playoffs after the two clubs played to a 2-2 draw. Atlanta won its second road playoff game in club history and the first since Nov. 4, 2018, at New York City FC.

After taking over a Georgia team that finished 6-26 under former coach Tom Crean in 2021-22, coach Mike White earned a 10-win jump to 16-16 two years ago and then took the Bulldogs to the NIT and 20 wins last season. Georgia's goal is its first NCAA Tournament bid since 2015 and three returning starters, combined with a strong recruiting class led by 6-foot-11 freshman Asa Newell, make that a realistic expectation.

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said Tuesday injured quarterback Haynes King's status for Saturday's game at Virginia Tech has not been determined. King was held out of last Saturday's 31-13 loss to No. 12 Notre Dame with an apparent right shoulder injury

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Hawks and Jalen Johnson agreed to a rookie contract extension on Monday, rewarding the 6-foot-9 forward for his 2023-24 breakout season.

Oregon became the fourth team this season to hold the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press college football poll, moving into the top spot on Sunday for the first time in 12 years after Texas lost at home to Georgia.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks had something to prove on defense after three dismal performances. They sure stepped up against the Atlanta Falcons.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas and everyone else are finding that Georgia is still the top dog in the Southeastern Conference. Coach Kirby Smart's 100th victory in his nine seasons with the Bulldogs, a dominating defensive performance at No. 1 Texas, provided a stark reminder about his team that started the season at the top of the Associated Press college football poll.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Georgia coach Kirby Smart was initially careful with his words when asked about Texas fans littering the north end of the field with water bottles and other trash after an interception for the top-ranked Longhorns was briefly wiped out by a pass-interference penalty before officials changed their call.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Trevor Etienne ran for three touchdowns, the first two set up by cornerback Daylen Everette's takeaways, and fifth-ranked Georgia went on to beat Quinn Ewers and No. 1 Texas 30-15 on Saturday night.

ATLANTA (AP) — Riley Leonard bolstered No. 12 Notre Dame's playoff hopes by rushing for two touchdowns and the Fighting Irish defense was dominant after a slow start in a 31-13 win over Georgia Tech on Saturday.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Carson Beck passed for a career-high 459 yards and three touchdowns and No. 5 Georgia withstood Mississippi State's second-half comeback bid for a 41-31 win Saturday.

ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Braves are making changes to manager Brian Snitker's coaching staff following the team's quick exit from their NL Wild Card Series by informing hitting coach Kevin Seitzer and two other coaches they won't return.

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Kirby Smart doesn't believe he needs to use last week's shocking wave of upset losses by four highly ranked AP Top 25 teams as motivation for No. 5 Georgia in Saturday's visit from underdog Mississippi State.

ATLANTA (AP) — The regents who govern Georgia's 26 public universities and colleges voted on Tuesday to ask the NCAA and another college athletic federation to ban transgender women from participating in women's sports.

It was a week of upheaval in The Associated Press college football poll, with Texas returning to No. 1 on Sunday after a one-week absence following Vanderbilt's monumental upset of Alabama.

TALLADEGA (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. snapped a 65-race losing streak by winning in overtime at Talladega Superspeedway after a late crash collected more than half the field, including eight of the 12 championship contenders.

ROME, Ga. — Valdosta State University, ranked third in the nation among Div. II schools, dominated Shorter University on Saturday to go to 5-0 as the Blazers won 59-6. VSU scored two touchdowns in each quarter plus a late field goal, as Shorter, which lost for the first time this season, managed only a pair of field goals in the second quarter.

Vanderbilt's stunning upset of No. 1 Alabama that led to crazed fans marching the goal posts through the streets of Nashville was just the appetizer. Saturday proved to be one of the wildest days in The Associated Press college football poll in years.