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READ AND REACT: UNC frosh dunks on Zion hype

kevin kaduk
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Happy Monday, people. Welcome to the newsletter where the only Oscars we like are named Robertson, De La Hoya and Gamble.

Nassir Little wants a little something for the effort

Zion Williamson may be casting a large shadow over college basketball. But at least one of his contemporaries doesn’t think it’s fair that the Duke star is hogging so many of the headlines. … Speaking to the News & Observer over the weekend, North Carolina freshman Nassir Little said he was disappointed the eighth-ranked Tar Heels didn’t get any props for blowing out top-ranked Duke at Cameron last Wednesday. … “We win a game against the No. 1 team by 16 — I hate to see Zion go down — but that’s not the story now. The story is Zion gets hurt. Should he leave college? It’s like we get no credit,” Little said.

The good news is that …

… college basketball is ultimately a meritocracy. Popularity means nothing once March Madness tips off. And Little and Co. have at least one more regular season game against Duke (plus possible matchups in the conference and NCAA tourneys) to prove it.

“At the end of the day we’re beating people,” Little said to the N&O. “They can put all his highlights or whatever, but on the last Monday if we win, we win. They can talk about Duke and how they could have won. But if we win, we win.”

MLB

Report: Dodgers back in on Bryce Harper

When we went to bed on Sunday night, ESPN’s Buster Olney was reporting that Bryce Harper and the Phillies could come to terms on a deal as early as Tuesday. An ending! Finally! Eh, not so fast. There are several reports this morning that reps from the Dodgers — including manager Dave Roberts — visited Harper in Las Vegas over the weekend. Los Angeles still only seems willing to give Harper a short deal (while the Phillies will go long), so it looks like Harper has a big choice to make with labor armageddon looming. — Follow the latest news here

GOLF

Dustin Johnson wins 20th PGA tournament

Speaking of things that aren’t a shock, Dustin Johnson won another early season tournament, winning WGC Mexico by five strokes over Rory McIlroy. It was the 20th career win for the 34-year-old; only 37 other golfers have reached that mark. — Tiger finished 10th

NHL

Stars experience worst luck ever with traded player

For one period, it looked like like the trade for Mats Zuccarello would work out just fine for the Stars. The former Rangers forward scored one goal and assisted on another in an important playoff-push game against Chicago. But then Zuccarello was injured as he blocked a shot and he had to leave his first game with his new team early. Early diagnosis is a broken and that he’ll miss at least four weeks. Oof. — Injury details

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Tim BROWN: Takeaways from the first weekend of the pitch clock

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PETE THAMEL: Jim Boeheim opens up about fatal car accident

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JAY BUSBEE: Brad Keselowski gets sick, then wins race

A-Rod is now the best part of award shows