Extra points

MLB: Reliever Liam Hendriks and outfielder Cody Bellinger have been selected Major League Baseball's Comeback Players of the Year. Both are free agents and were chosen in voting by MLB.com beat writers. A 34-year-old right-hander, Hendriks made his season debut on May 29 following treatment for nonHodgkin lymphoma. He went 2-0 with one save and a 5.40 ERA in five appearances for the Chicago White Sox and had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 2. The 28-year-old Bellinger hit a careerhigh .307 with 26 homers and 97 RBIs for the Chicago Cubs.

NBA: Russell Westbrook got into an extended verbal exchange with a fan late in the Los Angeles Clippers' loss to the Denver Nuggets. Referee Lauren Holtkamp came over and stood between Westbrook and the seats in the final 30 seconds of the game. Two security personnel came on court while former Clipper DeAndre Jordan appeared to encourage an agitated Westbrook to move away from the situation. The male fan was in the row behind the courtside seats at Crypto.com Arena. Westbrook told reporters after the game that he wouldn't repeat what the fan yelled at him “because it's not appropriate.” Westbrook says he won't stand for verbal abuse toward him or his family from spectators.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Michigan State had enough competition from Power Five college football teams also hoping to hire Jonathan Smith that it added a seventh year to his contract, helping a shaken program land the former Oregon State coach. Athletic director Alan Haller says Smith will make $7.25 million in his first season. The Spartans had a lot at stake to get it right. They're coming off a 4-8 season stunted by a scandal that led to Mel Tucker being fired and entering a year with the Big Ten expanding to add four teams.