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HOUSTON — So, what did you do during your spring break in high school?

Joseph Contreras, the 17-year-old son of former All-Star pitcher Jose Contreras, just spent Friday night dazzling the baseball world forTeam Brazil against USA, pitching so well that he can brag about it to his buddies at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Georgia.

Contreras, stepping on the same mound where his father won the 2005 World Series championship with theChicago White Soxin Houston, faced the greatest hitters in the world and excelled.

He came into the game in the second inning, and retired Byron Buxton on a fly ball to right field, and then ran into trouble by giving up a double off the left-field wall to Brice Turang, and then issued back-to-back walks to Bobby Witt Jr and Bryce Harper to load the bases.

Next up, Aaron Judge, who just clobbered a home run in the first inning.

Contreras threw a 97-mph fastball past Judge for strike one. He missed with a 80-mph changeup. And came back with a 94.4-mph sinker that Judge hit to third baseman Leonardo Reginatto, who started an inning-ending double play.

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Contreras danced to the dugout, his teammates all stood to congratulate him, and the professional scouts in the stands scribbled frantically.

If this kid was projected to be a second-round draft pick before the WBC, his stock just soared.

He may be committed to Vanderbilt, but after this night, well, they better come up with a whole lot more NIL money to make sure they get him.

"Can you imagine how much his stock will rise if he pitches well?'' said FOX announcer A.J. Pierznyski, who introduced himself to Contreras, telling him that he used to catch his father.

The youngster struggled a bit in his second inning by giving up a single to Kyle Schwarber, who eventually scored on Contreras' second wild pitch of the frame, and issued a walk to Cal Raleigh, knocking him out of the game. But the impression was made.

The kid just had a memory he'll cherish forever.

And, oh, how his high school teammates can't wait to hear all about that magical evening deep in the heart of Texas.

All the electric moments from USA-Brazil World Baseball Classic game

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Joseph Contreras, high school pitcher, gets Aaron Judge out in WBC

Geno Smith may have made his most accurate throw of the year after reports circulated on Friday that the Las Vegas Raiders are expected torelease the quarterbackwhen the new NFL year begins next week.

The social media account of fast-food chain Wendy's responded to the news by tagging Smith on X and offering him future employment.

"In case things don't work out in free agency we're looking for a Chief Tasting Officer,"the post said.

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Smith responded with a rather sharp quip, perhaps implying that he didn't think Wendy's teasing was very funny. Or maybe he appreciated the dig and just came back stronger than anyone might have anticipated.

"Get ya cheese up 1st," Smith replied, telling Wendy's to make more money. But the post was accompanied by a screenshot of a February Restaurant Business article with the headline "Wendy's sales plunged last quarter."

The fast-food chain's sales dropped 11% last year,according to Restaurant Business. As a result, Wendy's will likely close approximately 300 to 350 of its locations (5-6% of its total restaurants) across the United States. The company is also looking for a new CEO.

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If Smith wasn't a professional football player, he might not scoff at the Wendy's offer, which comes with a $100,000 salary,according to USA Today. But the 12-year NFL veteran stands to make much, much more on the free-agent market. (The Raiders are reportedly exploring possible trades, but other teams likely won't want to pay Smiththe $26.5 million salaryon his current contract.)

Among the teams reported to be interested are the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets. Even if he signs a minimum contract, he'll likely make at least $1.3 million.

Smith didn't leave it at that reply, either. He followed up with two more posts taking shots at Wendy's.

"Out here selling poison trying to get jokes off on twitter," he said inthe first one. "Society in shambles."

Responding to a fan saying there was "beef" between Smith and Wendy's,the QB responded, "This beef is about as real as the beef in those patties they're selling."

Is it safe to say that Wendy's missed while Smith hit his target several times? He's a career 65.2% percent passer, after all, and is two seasons removed from completing 70.4% of his throws for the Seattle Seahawks.

So Wendy's will probably have to look elsewhere for its Chief Tasting Officer. Although if he was willing to sample products on camera, Smith surely couldn't do worse than McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski, whowent viral this weekfor appearing less than enthused while tasting the chain's new "Big Arch" burger.

That prompted CEOs from competing fast-food chains,including Wendy's, to respond. Perhaps that had the Wendy's social media account feeling emboldened enough to tag Smith and get smacked online in return.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Victor Wembanyama had 27 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks as the San Antonio Spurs rallied from a 25-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers 117-112 on Friday night.

Clippers Spurs Basketball

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points and nine rebounds for Los Angeles, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

San Antonio (46-17) has won 14 of 15 and is second in the Western Conference.

After defending a missed 3-pointer by Leonard, Wembanyamabroke free for an uncontested dunkthat gave the Spurs a 113-112 lead with 16 seconds left. Clippers forward Nicolas Batum turned the ball over on the ensuing possession when his foot crossed the boundary while inbounding the ball. Stephon Castle closed out the win by rebounding his own missed free throw and converting a layup with 1 second remaining.

After trailing 75-50 in the third quarter, the Spurs opened the fourth with an 18-5 run to take their first lead since the opening minutes.

Wembanyama blocked Kris Dunn's reverse layup, creating a fast break that ended with an alley-oop dunk by Carter Bryant. Devin Vassell followed with a 3-pointer for a 99-97 lead.

Julian Champagnie finished with 20 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, and De'Aaron Fox had 19 points and nine rebounds.

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Brook Lopez had 26 points for the Clippers.

Lopez had nine points in the first quarter on a series of floaters, fadeaways and step-back jumpers.

The Clippers took a 56-39 lead with 4 1/2 minutes left in the first half. The lead stretched to 22 points over the next four minutes.

San Antonio shot 38% from the field and 30% on 3-pointers in the first half to trail 66-46 at the break, its biggest halftime deficit of the season. The Spurs have led at the half in 42 of their 63 games.

Up next

Clippers: At Memphis on Saturday.

Spurs: Host Houston on Sunday.

AP NBA:https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a recall for infant sleepwear

NEED TO KNOW

• Certain HALO Magic Sleepsuits pose a choking hazard for babies

• Consumers are urged not to throw the product away until they have received a reimbursement code online

A recall has been issued for infant sleepwear as the garment has the potential to pose a choking hazard for babies.

Approximately 45,000 HALO Magic Sleepsuits have been recalled that were manufactured with a zipper head which can detach from certain sleepsuits. The potential detachment poses a choking hazard to infants, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced in analerton Thursday, March 5.

PEOPLE reached out to HALO Dream, Inc. for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

The affected products have batch codes PO30592, PO30641 and PO30685.

Additionally, they can be identified by the shell and lining, which are made from 100% cotton with the inner material made from 100% polyester.

The garments come in a variety of colors and sizes, but "HALO Magic Sleepsuit" is printed on the front of all, and there are double zippers running down each side.

"Made in India" also appears printed on the sewn-in label inside of the sleepsuit and the hang tag affixed to the outside of it.

As of Thursday, there have been 15 reports of the zipper head detaching from the garment, but no injuries have been reported.

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The recalled clothing items have been sold atHalosleep.com,Amazon.com,Walmart.comandTarget.comfrom September 2025 through February 2026 for about $50.

A description onthe brand's websitesays the HALO Magic Sleepsuit "Helps ease transition from swaddle to wearable blanket."

Anyone who has purchased the HALO Magic Sleepsuit is urged to stop using it immediately and go to the firm's website athttp://www.sleepsuitrecall.comto participate in the recall.

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Once registered, a coupon code will be issued that can be applied towards a replacement sleepsuit or a $50 store credit to purchase another item on the company's website.

It is important that you do not discard the recalled garment until you have received the coupon code.

Customers can contact HALO Dream toll-free at 833-791-0420 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, by e-mail atcustomerservice@sleepsuitrecall.com, or online atwww.sleepsuitrecall.com, or go towww.halosleep.comand click on "Recalls" at the bottom of the page for more information.

Read the original article onPeople

The cast of Bridesmaids are in talks to reunite at the 2026 Oscars ceremony

NEED TO KNOW

• Rose Byrne, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph and Melissa McCarthy would all potentially appear

• Presenters at this year's award ceremony also include Will Arnett, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Hathaway and more

Bridesmaidsfans could be in for a surprise at this year's Oscars ceremony.

PEOPLE has learned that aBridesmaidsreunion is in the works for the 2026Oscarsceremony — and first-time nomineeRose Byrne,Kristen Wiig,Maya RudolphandMelissa McCarthyare in talks to appear.Varietywas first to report on the reunion.

2026 marks 15 years since the hit comedy was released. Directed by Paul Feig,Bridesmaidswas written by Wiig and Annie Mumolo, who were nominated for Best Original Screenplay when the film was released in 2011. McCarthy also earned her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Byrne is nominated this year's Oscars in the Best Actress category for her performance inIf I Had Legs I'd Kick You.

Earlier this week, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced new presenters for the 98th Academy Awards:Will Arnett,Priyanka Chopra Jonas,Robert Downey Jr.,Anne Hathaway,Paul MescalandGwyneth Paltrow.

Previously announced presenters include last year's four acting winners, Adrien Brody, Mikey Madison, Kieran Culkin and Zoe Saldaña, plus Javier Bardem, Chris Evans, Chase Infiniti, Demi Moore, Kumail Nanjiani and Maya Rudolph. Additional guests are yet to be announced.

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The broadcast will also feature live performances of two of the Best Original Song nominees: "Golden" fromKPop Demon Huntersand "I Lied to You" fromSinners —the most-nominated movieof the year.

Acting nominees for this year include Byrne, Jessie Buckley, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve, Emma Stone, Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan, Wagner Moura, Benicio del Toro, Jacob Elordi, Delroy Lindo, Sean Penn, Stellan Skarsgård, Elle Fanning, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, Amy Madigan, Wunmi Mosaku and Teyana Taylor.

Varietyalso reported thatWhen Harry Met Sallyco-starsBilly CrystalandMeg Ryanin talks to lead a tribute to Rob Reiner, along with other actors from his films, following the deaths of thelate director and his wife Michele in December 2025.

Conan O'Brienis returning to host this year's ceremony,which will air live on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 15, at 7 p.m. ET.

Read the original article onPeople

Ben Stilleris speaking out against the White House for using a clip from the actor and director's 2009 war comedyTropic Thunderin a social media post.

AThursday postfrom the official White House X account featured a bevy of scenes from films and television series, includingTop Gun,Braveheart,Iron Man,Breaking Badas well asTropic Thunder,along with the caption "JUSTICE THE AMERICAN WAY. 🇺🇸🔥." The specific clip fromTropic Thunderused in the video is ofTom Cruise's character Les Grossman dancing.

On Friday, Stillerretweetedthe White House post and made clear he did not approve ofTropic Thunder, which he directed and starred in, being used.

"Hey White House, please remove the Tropic Thunder clip. We never gave you permission and have no interest in being a part of your propaganda machine. War is not a movie," Stiller wrote.

This recent White House video, which includes several clips of warfare with the text "Unclassified" above, comes less than a week after the United States and Israel coordinated strikes on Iran.Reps for Stiller, Cruise, and the White House did not immediately respond when contacted byEntertainment Weeklyfor comment.

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The Trump administration's social media presence has been called out before by celebrities for using their likeness or content without permission.Sabrina Carpenterblasted the administration for using her song "Juno" in a montage of clips showing ICE raids, to whichan official representative responded, "Here's a Short n' Sweet message for Carpenter: we won't apologize for deporting dangerous criminal illegal murderers, rapists, and pedophiles from our country."

Kenny Logginsrecently demanded the removal of the unauthorized use of his song "Danger Zone" in President Donald Trump's AI-generated video dumping what appears to be poop on protestors. The official response back toEntertainment Weeklywas aTop Gunmeme.

Kesha also joined the list of musicians speaking out against the Trump administration for using their music, specifically her song "Blow" being used in aTikTok postin February. On March 2, the singer wrote on Instagram, "It's come to my attention that The White House has used one of my songs on TikTok to incite violence and threaten war."

The singer added, "Trying to make light of war is disgusting and inhumane." Her song has since been removed from the White House's TikTok post.

Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

DORAL, Fla. (AP) —President Donald Trumpis set to gather with Latin American leaders on Saturday at his Miami-area golf club as his administration looks to demonstrate it's still committed tosharpening U.S. foreign policy focus on the Western Hemisphereeven as it deals with five-alarm crises around the globe.

Trump

The gathering, dubbed the"Shield of the Americas"summit, comes just two months after Trump ordered an audacious U.S. military operation to captureVenezuelan President Nicolás Maduroand whisk him and his wife to the U.S. to face drug conspiracy charges.

Looming even larger is Trump's decision to join with Israel tolaunch a war on Iranone week ago, a conflict that's already left hundreds dead,convulsed global marketsandunsettled the broader Middle East.

Trump's time with the Latin American leaders will be limited: He is also set to fly to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, to be on hand for the dignified transfer ofthe six U.S. troops killedin adrone strikeon a command center in Kuwait, one day after the U.S. and Israel launched theirmilitary campaign against Iran.

But with the summit, Trump will look to turn attention to the Western Hemisphere, at least for a moment. He's vowed to reassert U.S. dominance in the region and push back on what he sees as years ofChinese economic encroachment in America's backyard.

"Under previous leaders, we grew obsessed with every other theater and every other border in the world except our own," Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethtold regional leaders and defense ministerswho gathered in Florida this week for talks on countering drug cartels. "These elites reduced our power and presence in this hemisphere, opting for a benign neglect that was anything but benign."

Who will be attending

The leaders of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago have confirmed they'll take part in the gathering at the president's Trump National Doral Miami, a golf resort where he's also set to host the Group of 20 summit later this year.

The idea for a summit of like-minded conservatives from across the hemisphere emerged from the ashes of what was to be the 10th edition of the Summit of the Americas, which was scrapped during the U.S. military buildup off the coast of Venezuela last year.

Host Dominican Republic, pressured by the White House, had barred Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela from attending the regional gathering. But after leftist leaders in Colombia and Mexico threatened to pull out in protest — and with no commitment from Trump to attend — the Dominican Republic's President Luis Abinader decided at the last minute to postpone the event, citing "deep differences" in the region.

The Shield of the Americas moniker is meant to speak to Trump's vision for a "America First" foreign policy toward the region that leverages U.S. military and intelligence assets unseen in the region since the end of the Cold War.

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But notably missing will be the region's two dominant powers — Brazil and Mexico — as well as Colombia, long the linchpin of U.S. anti-narcotics strategy in the region.

Richard Feinberg, who helped plan the first Summit of Americas in 1994 while working at the National Security Council in the Clinton White House, said the contrast couldn't be starker.

"The first Summit of the Americas, with 34 nations and a carefully negotiated comprehensive agenda for regional competitiveness, projected inclusion, consensus and optimism," said Feinberg, now professor emeritus at the University of California-San Diego. "The hastily convened Shield of the Americas mini-summit conjures a crouched defensiveness, with only a dozen or so attendees huddled around a single dominant figure."

The challenge from China

Since returning to the White House, Trump has made countering Chinese influence in the hemisphere a top priority. Hisnational security strategytouts what it dubs the "Trump Corollary" to the 19th century Monroe Doctrine — which had sought to ban European incursions in the Americas — by targeting Chinese infrastructure projects, military cooperation and investment in the region's resource industries.

The first demonstration of the more muscular approach was Trump's strong-arming of Panama to withdraw from China's Belt and Road Initiative and review long-term port contracts held by a Hong Kong-based firm amid U.S. threats to retake the Panama Canal.

More recently, the U.S. capture of Maduro and Trump's pledge to "run" Venezuela threatens to disrupt oil shipments to China — the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude before the raid — and bring into Washington's orbit one of Beijing's closest allies in the region. Trump is scheduled to travel to Beijing later this month to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

But even leaders closely aligned with Trump have been reluctant to sever ties with China, said Evan Ellis, an expert on Chinese engagement in the region at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

For many countries, China's trade-focused diplomacy fills a critical financial void in a region with major development challenges ranging from poverty reduction to infrastructure bottlenecks. In contrast, Trump has been slashing foreign assistance to the region while rewarding countries lined up behind his crackdown on immigration — a policy that's widely unpopular across the hemisphere.

"The U.S. is offering the region tariffs, deportations and militarization whereas China is offering trade and investment," said Kevin Gallagher, director of Boston University's Global Development Policy Center, who has written extensively about China's economic diplomacy in the Americas. "Leaders in the region would do well to remain neutral and hedge, such that they can leverage increased U.S.-China rivalry to their own benefit."

Ahead of the summit, Trump announced that he was naming Kristi Noem, whom he just removed as Department of Homeland Security secretary, as his special envoy for the Shield of the Americas.

Noem said Trump will announce "a big agreement" at the summit centered on "how we're going to go after cartels and drug trafficking in the entire Western Hemisphere."