That’s More Like it, Team USA
A day after getting spanked by the Puerto Rican National Team, Team USA kept its championship hopes alive in the World Baseball Classic, defeating the Netherlands 9-3 Sunday night. On Saturday, Puerto Rico pummeled the Americans 11-1, an embarrassing thrashing in front of the entire world. In the more respectable campaign, Philadelphia Philly Jimmy Rollins drove in four runs with a homer, triple and sacrifice fly; and Team USA newcomer Brian Roberts went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs. Roy Oswalt pitched four scoreless innings, before six relievers completed the 12-hitter. Now, only one thin loss from being eliminated, the United States returns to the mound Tuesday night to face the loser of Monday night’s game between Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Left-hander Ted Lilly will pitch for the Americans. The winner advances to the semifinals next weekend in Los Angeles.

NFL Players Union Picks New Chief
The NFL players union, following the death of its longtime leader Gene Upshaw last summer, has elected a relative unknown in football circles as its new executive director. Union members chose D.C.-based attorney DeMaurice F. Smith on the first ballot Sunday night at the annual meeting of the NFL Players Association in Maui, Sports Illustrated reported. It had been widely speculated that either Trace Armstrong or Troy Vincent (former union president), both former NFL defensive standouts, would be elevated to the union’s top spot following a long and contentious battle for the position. Upshaw had also been a revered player in the league. But both Vincent and Armstrong were informed of Smith’s election about 11:15 p.m. ET Sunday night, according to the magazine. Smith is a partner at the prestigious law firm Patton Boggs in Washington and has no significant previous NFL ties.

Earthquake shakes up Puerto Rico. A small earthquake in the Atlantic Ocean has shaken up the northern coast of Puerto Rico, The Associated Press is reporting. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 magnitude was centered 56 miles northwest of the island’s capital, San Juan, the U.S. Geological Survey says. It struck at 3:42 p.m. EDT, and caused tall apartment buildings to sway, AP reports, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.