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TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Belarusian journalist Pavel Dabravolski was convicted Monday of treason and sentenced to nine years in a maximum-security prison, activists said, the fifth media worker to be jailed in two weeks in a relentless government crackdown on freedom of the press.

Belarus Crackdown

Dabravolski, who has reported for international and domestic news outlets and won numerous prizes for his work, was found guilty during a closed-door trial at Minsk City Court, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The 36-year-old most recently worked for BelaPAN, which the Belarusian authorities have designated as extremist.

President Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for over three decades, has stayed in power through a relentless crackdown on dissent.

Massive protests broke out following the 2020 elections, which were widely denounced as fraudulent. More than 65,000 people were arrested and thousands were beaten. In the wake of the protests, hundreds of independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were shut down and outlawed.

Exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said Dabravolski was being targeted by "trumped-up charges."

"Dabravolski's only 'crime' was doing his job and covering the 2020 protests after the stolen elections," she said. "We see that the conveyor belt of repression inside Belarus continues unabated."

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Activists have reported a sharp increase in government pressure on Belarus' media workers.

"Repression is escalating and Dabravolski's sentence shows that the authorities are increasing pressure on journalists in a country that already has the worst freedom of speech in Europe," Andrei Bastunets, the head of the journalists' association, told The Associated Press.

The group says that 28 journalists are imprisoned in Belarus.

"It contradicts the idea that the human rights situation in Belarus has allegedly improved due to the release of prominent political prisoners," Bastunets said.

Under Lukashenko, Belarus has faced years of Western isolation and sanctions for repression and for allowing Moscow to use its territory during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He has recently sought to improve relations with the West by releasing hundreds of political prisoners.

Many more remain behind bars, however, with human rights organization Viasna estimating that there are 1,140 political prisoners.

The Miami Dolphins' reset has evolved into a full-blown rebuild. The teamannounced Mondaythat it will release veteran quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year.

Tagovailoa also might not be on the market for long: The Atlanta Falcons are making a push to sign him after he is officially released on Wednesday, and a deal could come together quickly, NFL Network reported.

In Atlanta, Tagovailoa would compete with fellow lefty Michael Penix Jr., the team's incumbent starter,who is recovering from a partially torn ACL that required season-ending surgery last year. The Falcons transitioned this offseason toa new leadership structure that includes Kevin Stefanski as head coach.

By cutting Tagovailoa, Miami will absorb an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money,according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is," first-year Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said in a statement. "On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.

"As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work toward building a sustained winner."

The Dolphins are reportedly releasing Tagovailoa with a post-June 1 designation, meaning the the team can divvy up that record dead cap hit: $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027,per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

Miami still owes Tagovailoa $54 million in guaranteed money this coming season, opening the door to him playing for another team on a minimum deal.

For Tagovailoa, the release offers him a fresh start as his career in Miami had been filled with adversity due to a series of concussions.

Itwas once again in question during the 2024 seasonwhen he suffered a fourth concussion in five seasons. During the 2025 season, his eventual split with the Miami Dolphins became inevitable when Mike McDaniel — who committed to Tagovailoa as the Dolphins' quarterback of the future throughout most of his four-season head-coaching stay —benched the 2020 No. 5 overall pick.

That decision foreshadowed an offseason of change, which picked up speed with McDaniel's firing and continued with the hiring of Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as his replacement.

The Dolphins have a new leadership structure in place, which pairs Hafley with Sullivan, a former Packers executive, and they've cleaned house.

In addition to fostering a mostly new staff, they've expunged the roster of some of its biggest names. Miamicut two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubband, even more notably, eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiverTyreek Hill, who is recovering from a dislocated knee and torn ACL.

The Dolphins also let go of guard James Daniels, whom they had signed to a three-year, $24 million deal less than a year earlier.

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Now the organization has officially said goodbye to Tagovailoa, too. That separation, however, is the least bit surprising, considering it's practically been written on the wallsince his mid-December benching.

Tagovailoa, 28, scattered 15 picks across 14 starts this past season. When he lost his job to seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers, he was leading the NFL in interceptions. Tagovailoa went four straight outings from Weeks 10-13 without registering more than 173 passing yards in a game.

In Weeks 6 and 7, he tossed three interceptions in back-to-back games.

After the first of those two performances, Tagovailoacalled outteammates for showing up late and not showing up at all to players-only meetings during their 1-5 start to the season.While he soon apologized for his postgame comments, they were a stain on an increasingly head-scratching 2025 résumé that warranted skepticism about his viability as a long-term starting quarterback in the league.

Tagovailoa's concussion history is concerning as well.

Following a concussion that the one-time Alabama national champion sustainedduring a "Thursday Night Football" defeat to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 of the 2024 season, he consulted neurologists about the risks of continuing his football career.

He ultimately decided to carry on, just as he did in the wake of a 2022 campaign that saw him land in the league's concussion protocol twice. Back then, he was also knocked out with a scary head injury on "Thursday Night Football," that time against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tagovailoa has played a full slate of regular-season games just once in his six-season career. That was in 2023 when he threw for a league-high 4,624 yards and made his lone Pro Bowl.

The season prior, he led the NFL in passer rating (105.5) and touchdown percentage (6.3%), albeit in only 13 games because of the aforementioned injuries.

And then in 2024, he was first among all qualifying quarterbacks with a 72.9% completion percentage, yet he played in just 11 games that season.

When he's healthy and on the field, Tagovailoa is capable of putting up impressive numbers. Plus, he's fueled two playoff trips. But McDaniel's quarterback-friendly system and a receiving corps laced with speed undoubtedly gave Tagovailoa a boost. His arm strength deficiencies are well-documented, after all.

Timing and rhythm are his friends. A similar offensive scheme and improved decision-making could help him rediscover the success he's enjoyed in the NFL.

A woman has been arrested after several shots were fired atRihannaandA$AP Rocky's home inBeverly Hills, California.

TheLos AngelesPolice Department (LAPD) confirmed they responded to a report of gunfire at 1.21pm, according to CNN.

Police said a woman in her thirties fired around five to seven shots from her vehicle using an AR-15 rifle at the house, but hit the gate instead. However, theLos AngelesTimesreported that one round penetrated a wall of the mansion.

Police found her vehicle located approximately eight miles away from the "Diamonds" singer's home, at the Sherman Oaks Galleria shopping centre, reported CBS. She was taken into custody at the shopping centre and has not been publicly identified.

Rihanna was home when the gunfire took place, and it is unclear if anyone else was present at the time. No injuries have been reported, said the police.

LAPD captain Mike Bland did not provide a motive for the shooting. He confirmed that the weapon used had been recovered by the police. The department's elite Robbery-Homicide Division is investigating the crime.

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Police also recovered seven "assault rifle casings" from the home.

The Independenthas reached out to representatives of Rihanna for a comment.

Rihanna shares theBeverly Hillsproperty with her partner, rapperA$AP Rocky. The couple havethree children together.

This news comes as A$AP Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, wascleared in a high-profile criminal caselast year.

InFebruary 2025, a jury found himnot guilty of two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearmstemming from a 2021 confrontation in Hollywood in which a former friend alleged Rocky fired a gun at him.

The Grammy-nominated rapper had been charged with two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and faced up to 24 years in prison if convicted on all charges.

Themusician's Los Angeles homes have been targeted before. In May 2018, a 27-year-old man was arrested after allegedly breaking into her Hollywood Hills house and spending the night there while waiting for Rihanna to return.

Jack Osbourne remembers the exact moment he knew his father was "done."

TheBlack Sabbath frontmandied on July 22 at 76-years-old, with his wifeSharonand their children by his side. In the months before his passing, Ozzy had been openly struggling with health problems, yet remained determined to take the stage with the heavy metal band once last time.

His final wishes were granted just days before his death, as Black Sabbath reassembled for a finale concert at Villa Park in England. Ozzy's youngest child, Jack, recalled the singer declaring his retirement the night after his performance.

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While appearing on the March 5 episode of the HATE TO BREAK IT TO YA podcast, Jack remembered the singer making the shocking admission while he was putting him to bed. Ozzy also shared another thought that sparked alarm for his son.

"Right before I left, I was putting him to bed and he was like brushing his teeth or whatever," Jack remembered. "He was looking at himself in the mirror and he goes, 'I think I'm going to cut my hair off.'"

His son asked him why, prompting Ozzy to say, "I've retired. I'm not a rock star anymore."

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The media personality found his father's statement strange considering he only cut his hair short once and shaved his head "once to p--s my mom off" in the 80s.

"So I think about that and I'm like yeah, he was done. He was okay with his journey," he concluded.

DespiteJackalready having a feeling his father's life was coming to an end, his death still came as a shock for the family.

"Obviously everyone knew he was sick… but we weren't expecting it to be as quick as it was. He was up, he was doing his thing, had some breakfast, and that was it," he mentioned.

Ozzy died from complications related to his long battle with Parkinson's disease. Air ambulance paramedics worked for two hours attempting to resuscitate the singer after being called to his residence.

On a previous episode ofPiers MorganUncensored, Ozzy's wife recalled the day of his passing.

"I ran downstairs, and there he was, and they were trying to resuscitate him, and I'm like, 'Don't — just leave him. Leave him. You can't. He's gone,'" Sharon said. "And they tried and tried, and then they took him by helicopter to the hospital and they tried, and it's like, 'He's gone. Just leave him.'"

The singer's death certificate showed that the Prince of Darkness experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction (joint causes).

His occupation was listed as "rock legend, songwriter, and performer."

"Watches films" is the line now definingEx-Prince Andrew'sdays after the arrest. The former royal is said to be keeping to Wood Farm and living quietly in Sandringham. The update came during a March 6 radio interview as questions kept circling around how he now spends his time. Instead of public outings or riding, the picture painted was smaller, slower, and far more isolated after Ex-Prince Andrew's arrest.

Ex-Prince Andrew 'watches films' while living a 'quiet life,' per royal expert

As per"The Jeremy Kyle Breakfast Show"dated March 6, royal author Andrew Lownie gave the clearest account. Lownie, who wrote "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York," said the former prince is doing "what he did before really." He added that this means he will "basically mooch around all morning in his dressing gown and watch films." That answer came after host Jeremy Kyle asked directly, "What does he do all day?" The exchange turned a broad palace question into a very specific daily image.

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Meanwhile, Lownie also said some routines have now narrowed further. He explained, "He used to go out riding. He can't now play golf." Then he added, "He watches videos. He's always been a bit of a couch potato." In turn, the expert suggested there has been less change in habit than in freedom. The former prince is still at Wood Farm in Sandringham. However, the activities described now sound mostly indoor and limited. That matters because the whole discussion was framed around how confined life looks afterEx-Prince Andrew's arrest.

However, Lownie also tied that quiet routine to legal and social isolation. He said, "He's talking to his lawyers." The royal author also added thatthe former dukeis "still hopeful that he can do business activities." Even so, the larger summary was blunt. Lownie said he "leads a very quiet life." He also added, "I think most of his friends have now abandoned him." As a result, the daily picture is not just inactivity. It is a quieter, narrower world built around films, lawyers, and very little outside contact.

The postHow 'Couch Potato' Ex-Prince Andrew Is Spending Time After Arrest — Expertappeared first onReality Tea.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran named the hard-line AyatollahMojtaba Khameneito succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signaling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel.Oil prices surgedas Iran attacked regional energy infrastructure and the U.S. and Israel bombed targets across Iran.

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The secretive 56-year-old cleric — - only the third supreme leader in the history of the Islamic Republic — has close ties to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which has been firing missiles and drones at Israel and Gulf Arab states sinceAyatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled since 1989, was killed during the war's opening salvo.

The appointment marked a new sign of defiance by Iran's embattled leadership after more than a week of heavy U.S. and Israeli bombardment, suggesting Tehran is not close to giving up on what it considers a fight for the Islamic theocracy's survival.

World markets plummetedand Brent crude oil, the international standard,surged to nearly $120 a barrelMonday, about 65% higher than when the war started, before retreating. The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 600 points, or over 1.3%, shortly after opening — marking a drop of more than 6-1/2% from its all-time high close in mid-February.

Trump dismisses oil price concerns

Iran's attacks in theStrait of Hormuzhave all but stopped tankers from using the key shipping lane through which a fifth of the world's oil is carried. Fire broke out at an oil facility that Iran attacked in the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain's only oil refinery was apparently also hit and Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted several drones attacking its Shaybah oil field.

"There is not an oil shortage," U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social overnight. "Prices will drop again soon," he added, suggesting shipments from Venezuela to the U.S. could help offset the price spike.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is "well on our way" to achieving its objective, which he said was to eliminate Iran's ballistic missile stockpile, and its ability to produce and launch them. The administration has offeredshifting rationalesand timelines since the start of the conflict.

Elsewhere in the region, sirens blared multiple times across Israel on Monday amid unrelenting Iranian drones and missiles. A man was killed in central Israel in a missile strike, the first such death in Israel in a week, and a woman was wounded.

Israel said it was carrying out "a wide-scale wave of strikes" on the Iranian city of Isfahan, as well as the capital, Tehran and in southern Iran.

Turkey meanwhile said NATO defenses had intercepted a ballistic missile that entered the country's airspace for the second time since the war started.

New Iranian leader seen as more hard-line than his father

The younger Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the war started, was long considered a potential successor — even before the killing of his 86-year-old father. His wife, Zahra Haddad Adel, was killed in the same strike.

An Iranian state TV report suggested the younger Khamenei may have been wounded in that strike, though a state TV analyst later appeared to amend the report, saying he had been wounded in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war in which he served.

Political figures within Iran have criticized handing over the supreme leader's title based on heredity, comparing it to the monarchy overthrown in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. But the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body that chooses Iran's top leader, apparently voted for continuity.

Khamenei, who is seen as even more hard-line than his late father, will now be in charge of Iran's armed forces and any decision about Tehran's nuclear program.

Though Iran's key nuclear sites are in tatters after the U.S. bombed them during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June, it still has highly enriched uranium that's a technical step away from weapons-grade levels. Khamenei could choose to do what his father never did — build a nuclear bomb.

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Israel has already described him as a potential target, while Trump has called him "unacceptable" and dismissed him as a "lightweight."

Top Iranian security official Ali Larijani, speaking to Iranian state television, praised the Assembly of Experts for "courageously" convening even as airstrikes pounded Tehran. He said the younger Khamenei had been trained by his father and "can handle this situation."

Regional anger grows as energy infrastructure is hit

Saudi Arabia lashed out at Iran following the drone attack on its massive Shaybah oil field, saying Tehran would be the "biggest loser" if it continues to attack Arab states.

In the United Arab Emirates, home to futuristic city of Dubai, authorities said two people were wounded by shrapnel from the interception of Iranian missiles over the capital, Abu Dhabi. By mid-afternoon, the Emirati Defense Ministry said 15 ballistic missiles and 18 drones were fired on the country on Monday.

A total of 253 missiles and 1,440 drones have been launched at the UAE since the war began. Four foreign nationals have been killed in the UAE and 117 wounded, authorities said.

Iran also attacked Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain, where it hit a residential area, wounding 32 people, including several children, according to authorities. Another attack appeared to have started a fire at Bahrain's only oil refinery, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.

Bahrain has also accused Iran of damaging one of its desalination plants, though its electricity and water authority said supplies remained online.Desalination plantssupply water to millions of residents in the region, raising new fears of catastrophic risks in parched desert nations.

In Iraq, air defenses downed a drone as it attacked a U.S. military compound inside the Baghdad International Airport, a security official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press. No injuries or damage were reported. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, but Iran-backed militias have previously targeted the base.

Elsewhere, the U.S. military said a service member died of injuries from an Iranian attack on troops in Saudi Arabia on March 1. Seven U.S. soldiers have now been killed.

The U.S. State Department early Monday ordered nonessential personnel and families of all staff to leave Saudi Arabia following the escalation in attacks.

Several other U.S. diplomatic missions have ordered all but key staff to leave, including Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE and the consulates in Karachi, Pakistan, and Adana, Turkey.

Israel launches new strikes on Lebanon

Smoke billowed over Beirut after Israel carried out airstrikes on its southern suburbs Monday.

Ahead of the strikes, the Israeli army said it would operate against targets associated with the Hezbollah-linked financial institution al-Qard Al-Hasan — which Israel said finances the militant group — and repeated its warning to residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to flee.

The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, at least 397 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials. Another person died in Israel of an asthma attack on her way to a shelter. Israel reported its first soldier deaths on Sunday, saying two were killed in southern Lebanon, where it is fighting Hezbollah.

Rising reported from Bangkok and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press journalists Sam Metz in Ramallah, West Bank; Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut; Aamer Madhani in Doral, Florida, Matthew Lee in Washington and Qassem Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad contributed reporting.

HOUSTON — They stomped their feet, danced in the aisles, screamed, sang, partied, and proudly waved their green, white and red Mexican flags Sunday night in every single section of Daikin Park.

When the crowd of 36,380 finished singing a rendition of "El Rey'' at the end of the game, they headed to the parking lots, climbed into their cars, and horns could be heard blaring for more than an hour after the game.

And this was for a simple ho-hum game against an outmatched Brazilian team, winding up in a 16-0 rout, called after six innings with the mercy rule being implemented after Julian Ornelas' two-run home run, the third-largest blowout in World Baseball Classic history.

So imagine what the raucous atmosphere will be like Monday night (8 p.m. ET on FOX])when Mexico takes on powerful Team USAin their critical World Baseball Classic matchup at Daikin Park in Houston, with a little trash-talking already being exchanged between the two rivals.

"It's going to be insanely loud,'' Mexico first baseman Rowdy Tellez says. "It's going to be sold out, standing room only, and everyone going crazy. The Mexican fans and the US fans are high energy, and they've both been anticipating this game. It's going to be awesome.

"Really, this is what everyone's been waiting for since the last time we played them.''

See energy and national pride overflow at World Baseball Classic

The teams last met back in 2023, when Mexico stomped USA,11-5, en route to reaching the semifinals, and were three outs away from eliminating Japanin the semifinals. They were the team that would have faced the USA in the championship game, withthe Shoehi Ohtani-Mike Trout matchupnever existing.

And, as everyone in Mexico will tell you, they were convinced that if they had gotten past Japan, they would have beaten the USA in the championship game, just as they have the last three times they've played.

Now, they've got their chance again, knowing that a victory will put them in the driver's seat for a spot in the quarterfinals, with the opportunity to become the first sports team from Mexico to win an international championship.

"If that happens, you're going to see a party in Mexico like you've never seen,'' says Vinny Castilla, Mexico bench coach and former All-Star third baseman, born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. "It would be the greatest sports moment in the history of Mexico. It would be unbelievable. I don't even have the words to even imagine what it would be like.''

'BOYS ARE PUMPED':USA vs Mexico showdown should be WBC's Houston jewel

Well, Mexico manager Benji Gil certainly can, and already is envisioning the country-wide celebration.

"That's going to be awesome to be the first team to win the championship in Mexico,'' Gil tells USA TODAY Sports. "I can see myself at the ballpark hoisting the trophy, and just watching all of our players and coaches and staff celebrating with their families, and red and green confetti coming down.

"Yeah, it's going to be special.''

Teams Mexico knows the road to the title goes through the United States, at least in this Pool B, and with a victory Monday it could virtually write its ticket to the quarterfinals, leaving Mexico three victories away from winning the WBC championship.

"It's going to be unbelievable,'' Castilla said. "I don't know the words to describe how happy we would be to win it all, man. I mean, especially with all of the names the other teams have like USA, Dominican and Venezuela.

"We have a great team, we know we can do this.''

While Team Mexico certainly respects Team USA, there is absolutely no fear. When Gil announced that 37-year-old Manny Barreda, who pitched last season for the Wei Chuan Dragons of Taiwan, would be their starter against Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, Gil was immediately reminded about USA manager Mark DeRosa's comments a day earlier.

"Honestly, I think we have the best 30 players in the world in that clubhouse,'' DeRosa said Saturday night, "and they're coming together as a team. I don't really think it's going to matter who [Mexico] starts.''

Gil's reaction?

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"Do you want me to get into a pickle here?" Gil said. "But, yeah, he's right. It doesn't matter who is the opener for us. And I can say the same thing about them. It doesn't matter. It's an American pitcher against a Mexican pitcher. One is going to play against the other.

"Does he have the 30 best players in the world. I think the Dominican Republic has something to say about that. I think Japan has something to say about that, too. I don't know if they have the best 30 players out there, but the Dominican Republic should have the right. Japan should have the right to say something. Venezuela should have the right to say something as well.

"I don't know if they're the best in the world. We just want to be the best players of that day.''

Gil took a breath, and kept going.

"They are a super team,'' he said. "They have a roster full of stars. They got All-Stars, MVP candidates, Cy Youngs, Golden Gloves, Silver [Sluggers]. But it's not about rewards, it's about a game. And we're going to go out there and give it our best.''

Mexico knows they will have the home-field advantage, even though they technically are the visiting team. Houston has the third-largest Hispanic population in the country, with more than 600,000 residents born in Mexico, and nearly 12 million Hispanics and Latinos residing in Texas.

The place will be jammed, it will be loud, and the Mexico fans will definitely be ready to celebrate long into the night with a victory over their bitter rivals.

"It's a big ticket,'' Gil said. "It's not just a baseball game, it's one of the most anticipated baseball events of the year. ... We have such fans, countrymen who saved money, probably two or three weeks worth of salary, to travel and come here. I appreciate all of them.''

It wouldn't be this way, of course, if Team Mexico was a pushover, but they're for real, and they're a serious threat to USA's title hopes.

"Credit to the ugly duckling, which is Mexico,'' Gil said, "that maybe never should have been their rival, but we've done it by doing our job on the field.''

Indeed, Mexico-USA has blossomed into a rivalry since Mexico has given the Americans fits. Mexico hasn't lost to the United States in the WBC since 2006, losing the first game 2-0, and winning the three games since, outscoring USA, 18-8.

"We love representing Mexico,'' Tellez. "We're Mexican. We're proud of where we're from, so for us to come here and be able to wear Mexico in the front means everything for us. And with every win, we just bring more and more pride to the country. We know that soccer is the No. 1 sport, but we want to be neck-and-neck.

"But if we win this WBC, we'll go down as the greatest Mexican sports team in the history of the country."

While this is easily the most talented team that USA has fielded, it's also Mexico's best team, too, even with only one major league starting pitcher in Taijuan Walker, who pitched 3 1/3 hitless innings Sunday. Their newcomers include Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran, catcher Alejandro Kirk, shortstop Joey Ortiz and infielder Nick Gonzales. They also have perhaps the most talented bullpen at the back end with All-Star closer Andres Munoz, Robert Garcia, Javier Assad and Robert Garcia.

"We still think about how close we were last time, and it motivates us, because we proved what we can do,'' Team Mexico GM Rodrigo Lopez, who spent 11 years as a big-league reliever. "Now, it's taking the next step. We have the opportunity to make history in our country.

"We can be the first sports team in Mexico to win a championship.''

And Mexico can take that massive first step with a victory against USA, showing the world they can beat anyone, and everyone.

"We're excited to play another great team,'' Gil said, "and we know they're great. But we're just going to try to be just a tiny bit better.

"Even if we win by half a run, we'll take it.''

Follow Bob Nightengale onBlueskyand X@Bnightengale.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Mexico vs USA World Baseball Classic rivalry heats up in Houston