Tua surgery a success
Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa underwent surgery on his right hip.
Team surgeon Dr. Lyle Cain said Monday the procedure in Houston was successful. He described Tagovailoa’s prognosis as “excellent” and that Tagovailoa is expected to make a full recovery.
Cain said Tagovailoa will return to Tuscaloosa “in the next several days” to begin the rehab process.
A potential top pick in April’s NFL draft, Tagovailoa was injured while being dragged down by two defenders late in the first half of No. 5 Alabama’s 38-7 win over Mississippi State on Saturday.
“Our concern is about him getting healthy,” coach Nick Saban said of the 2018 Heisman Trophy runner-up. “This is going to be a long recovery for him.”
Auto racing: Retired NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been named honorary starter for the 62nd annual Daytona 500 in February.
Baseball: Former Yankees SS Derek Jeter is among 18 newcomers on the 2020 Hall of Fame ballot. A 14-time All-Star and five-time World Series champion, Jeter hit .310 with 3,465 hits in 20 seasons and was the 1996 AL Rookie of the Year. He has been CEO of the Marlins for the past two seasons. Other first-timers on the ballot include Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, Jason Giambi, Paul Konerko, Rafael Furcal, Bobby Abreu and Alfonso Soriano . ... Ben Cherington was named GM of the Pirates, replacing the fired Neal Huntington. Cherington won a World Series ring as GM of the Red Sox in 2013 . ... Twins prospect Ryan Costello was found dead in his New Zealand hotel room just days after joining his Australian Baseball League team. Costello, 23, died in his sleep, the Auckland Tuatara said.
College basketball: Duke is the new No. 1 in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll following Kentucky’s stunning loss to Evansville. The Blue Devils received 52 first-place votes. No. 2 Louisville received eight first-place votes and No. 3 Michigan State had four. Kansas and North Carolina rounded out the top five . ... Ashton Hagans scored a career-high 26 points, and No. 9 Kentucky survived another close game against what should have been a lesser opponent, beating Utah Valley 82-74 . ... Notre Dame’s 12-year run in The AP women’s college basketball poll is over. The Fighting Irish had been ranked for 234 consecutive weeks. Oregon remained at No. 1.
Golf: Brendon Todd got up-and-down for par on the final hole to close with a 3-under 68 and win the rain-delayed Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico City.
Soccer: Italy recorded its biggest win in more than 70 years when it crushed Armenia 9-1 in its last qualifier for the 2020 European Championship . ... Spain scored four first-half goals and finished its qualifying campaign for the 2020 Euros with a 5-0 rout of Romania.