FIRST WORD

THERE’S A REASON WHY HE SAID THE EARTH IS FLAT. HE EITHER REALLY BELIEVES IT, OR HE WANTED TO START A CONTROVERSY AND MAKE A JOKE ABOUT IT. I DON’T KNOW WHICH ONE IT IS — I’LL HAVE TO ASK HIM WHEN I SEE HIM.” Trail Blazers star C. J. McCollum, who majored in journalism, to USA TODAY Sports’ For The Win on Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving’s assertion that the Earth is flat.