5 THINGS TO KNOW

1. Hank Jr. ready for Monday nights

Hank Williams Jr. is bringing his rowdy friends back to “Monday Night Football” six years after ESPN dropped the country singer for his comments about then President Barack Obama. ESPN says a new version of Williams’ longtime “MNF” theme and its “Are you ready for some football?” catchphrase will debut before the first regularseason Monday night game. ESPN dropped Williams in 2011 after he compared Obama golfing with then House Speaker John Boehner to Adolf Hitler golfing with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

2. Long ball back for Braves

After a six-game homerless drought from May 24-May 29, the Braves entered Monday having gone deep in five straight games and have hit nine home runs in that stretch.

3. Baseball marathon

An epic NCAA regional game between Arkansas and Missouri State lasted from Sunday into Monday, ending at 3:10 a.m. after six hours that included a 11/2-hour rain delay. More than 1,000 of the original paid crowd of 9,038 fans at Baum Stadium in Fayetteville, Ark., were still on hand when Arkansas pitcher Evan Lee struck out Missouri State’s Justin Paulsen in the rain to complete the Razorbacks’ 11-10 win.

4. Matta resigns at Ohio State

Thad Matta is out as Ohio State’s basketball coach, with the Buckeyes having missed the last two NCAA Tournaments amid an exodus of players. Matta, 49, also cited chronic back problems at a news conference Monday. Matta had coached the Buckeyes since 2005 and took them to two Final Fours.

5. Regular guys at Roland Garros

For all of the tumult in the French Open women’s draw and the unfamiliar names filling the quarterfinal slots, the men’s tournament has been much more about the usual suspects: Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and, of course, Rafael Nadal.