World Baseball Classic: When was the first tournament?

TheWorld Baseball Classicis back for the sixth time, with teams coming together from around the globe to compete.

The action will begin with opening-round games taking place in Miami (loanDepot Park), Houston (Daikin), San Juan, Puerto Rico (Hiram Bithorn Stadium), and Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Dome). The championship rounds will take place in Miami.

The WBC began in 2006, featuring Major League Baseball players on their respective national team rosters. Games took place in and around Tokyo, Japan and in America.

The American host cities included Anaheim (California), San Diego, Phoenix, Scottsdale (Arizona), Lake Buena Vista (Florida) and San Juan (Puerto Rico).

Who won the first World Baseball Classic?

Japan won the 2006 World Baseball Classic following a 10-6 victory over Cuba in the final.

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Pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of Japan was named MVP.

Cuba qualified for the championship round with a victory over the Dominican Republic. Japan qualified after a win over South Korea.

Who played for Team USA in 2006 World Baseball Classic?

Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones and Ken Griffey Jr. were among the position players on the American roster.

Roger Clemens, Jake Peavy and Huston Street were among the pitchers for Team USA.

How did Team USA perform in 2006 World Baseball Classic?

The United States finished with a 2-1 record to reach the second round. The run would not last much longer, as it was eliminated after finishing the second round with a 1-2 record.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:When was the first World Baseball Classic and who won it?

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World Baseball Classic: When was the first tournament?

TheWorld Baseball Classicis back for the sixth time, with teams coming together from around the globe to compete. ...

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Rams mock draft roundup: L.A. picks Matthew Stafford's heir at QB

The NFL offseason is starting to gain steam.

Free agency is just a week away, and teams are starting to make decisions on their rosters — as evidenced by theArizona Cardinals moving on from Kyler MurrayandTrey Hendrickson bidding farewellto Cincinnati on social media after it was announced theBengalswould not be franchise tagging the 31-year-old edge rusher.

TheNFL scouting combine finished upover the weekend. We saw players such as Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq andArkansas QB Taylen Greenboost their draft stock with record-breaking performances, and we saw others — such as Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.'s arm length measurements — come up a bit short.

And with all that also comes a fresh batch of mock drafts from across the football media landscape. TheLos Angeles Ramsare in prime position to swing big with multiple first round picks for the first time since they were in St. Louis, but will they?

MORE:The LA Rams 10 years after return continue to build something special

Here's what the experts think:

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2026Ramsmock draft roundup

No. 13 (fromAtlanta)

USA TODAY Sports: WR Denzel Boston, Washington

ESPN: TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

NFL.com: WR Makai Lemon, USC

Bleacher Report: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

CBS Sports: CB Colton Hood, Tennessee

USA TODAY Sports:"LA had the league's No. 1 passing game in 2025 – in large part due to Puka Nacua's heroics. But Davante Adams, 33, was the only other productive wideout and battled injuries late in the season and is only under contract for one more year. Boston (6-4, 212) is the kind of supersized red-zone target (20 TD catches since 2024) and boundary receiver who could provide an easy transition from Adams while perfectly complementing Nacua."— Nate Davis

CBS Sports:"The Rams need to bolster their secondary, and Hood is a physical, ultra-competitive press-man specialist with elite perimeter run-support skills."—Ryan Wilson

2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Spencer Fano, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. Minnesota Vikings – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NFL mock draft: First-round projection following the scouting combine

No. 29

USA TODAY Sports: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

ESPN: CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

NFL.com: CB Avieon Terrell, Clemson

Bleacher Report: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

CBS Sports: QB Ty Simpson, Alabama

USA TODAY Sports:"An organization that hasn't had multiple first-round picks since 2014 is in the enviable position of bolstering the roster around QB Matthew Stafford in a bid to make up just a bit of ground on the Super Bowl champion Seahawks … or maybe use some of that capital on a successor for Stafford. Simpson might be that guy even though injuries and inconsistency – including an atypically weaker Crimson Tide roster – caused him to tail off after a strong start in 2025.

"With only 15 college starts, landing in a spot where he could sit and watch for a year or two – or three – while absorbing first-class tutelage would be hugely beneficial."—Nate Davis

ESPN:"If we're going strictly by talent, McCoy is a top-10 prospect in this class. But he hasn't played a game since 2024, missing all of last season after suffering an ACL tear in January 2025. We're still not sure where he's at in his recovery, as he did not participate in testing or drills at the combine.

"This gives the Rams -- who haven't drafted a corner in the first round since 2006 or before Day 3 since 2019 -- the potential to get a steal here. McCoy is an easy mover who has squeaky-clean technique. All eyes will be on Tennessee's pro day on March 31, when McCoy is expected to participate in a full workout."—Jordan Reid

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Rams mock draft roundup: What experts are predicting with 2026 picks

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Rams mock draft roundup: L.A. picks Matthew Stafford's heir at QB

The NFL offseason is starting to gain steam. Free agency is just a week away, and teams are starting to make d...

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Factbox-Number of Iranian missiles and drones fired at Gulf countries

March 4 (Reuters) - Here are statistics released by Gulf defence ‌ministries on drones and ‌missiles that Iran has fired at ​their territories since the start of the U.S.-Israeli air war against Iran:

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES:

Ballistic missiles:

* 189 ‌ballistic missiles ⁠detected * 175 intercepted * 13 fell into the sea * 1 ⁠landed on UAE territory

* 941 drones detected * 876 intercepted * 65 fell within UAE ​territory

Cruise missiles:

8 ​detected and ​destroyed

Ballistic missiles:

* 101 ‌ballisistic missles detected * 98 intercepted

* 39 drones detected * 24 drones intercepted

Cruise missiles:

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* 3 cruise missles detected and intercepted

* 2 Sukhoi SU-24 ‌aircraft detected and ​intercepted

* 73 missiles ​destroyed

* ​91 drones destroyed

Ballistic missiles:

* ‌178 ballistic missiles monitored ​and ​intercepted

* 384 drones monitored and intercepted

No data was available for Saudi ​Arabia ‌and Oman.

(Reporting by Andrew Mills; ​Editing by Gareth Jones ​and Nivedita Bhattacharjee)

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Factbox-Number of Iranian missiles and drones fired at Gulf countries

March 4 (Reuters) - Here are statistics released by Gulf defence ‌ministries on drones and ‌missiles that Iran has fired ...

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A Severe Weather Outbreak Is Possible Friday With Strong Tornadoes In Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri

A severe weather outbreak, including the potential for strong tornadoes, is possible Friday from Texas to Missouri, part of a multi-day siege of thunderstorms also with hail, damaging winds and flooding rain in the Plains and Midwest.

Almost on cue as March arrived, we're setting up a stuck weather pattern that will bring multiple days in a row of at least some severe thunderstorms in the nation's midsection through the middle of next week.

(MORE:Beware Of March For Tornadoes, Especially Recently)

Severe Threat Timing

Severe thunderstorms are most possible in the afternoon and evening from parts of northern Texas into the mid-Mississippi and lower Ohio valleys. Large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes are possible.

Cities:Dallas; Ft. Smith, Arkansas; and Springfield, Missouri

Severe thunderstorms are most possible in the afternoon and evening along a feature known as adrylinein parts of western Texas into western Oklahoma and southwestern Kansas. Hail larger than golf balls, damaging thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes are possible.

More isolated strong to severe storms are possible as far north as the Missouri Valley of Nebraska, Iowa and southeastern South Dakota.

Cities:Lubbock, Amarillo, Wichita Falls, Oklahoma City, Omaha

Friday may be a more widespread outbreak of severe thunderstorms from Texas to the upper Midwest.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center issued a level 3 severe weather forecast in their day 3 outlook,the second-highest level they issue in a day 3 outlook, with the potential for numeroussupercellthunderstorms capable of strong tornadoes, defined as those of at leastEF2 intensityfrom parts of northern Texas into western Missouri in the afternoon and evening.

Large hail, possibly over golf ball size, and destructive thunderstorm winds are also possible.

At least some severe thunderstorms with hail are possible as far north as southern Minnesota into the southern Great Lakes, including Chicagoland, Friday.

Cities:Austin, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, Omaha, Des Moines, Chicago

(MORE:SPC Is Issuing New Intensity Forecasts|Classic Ingredients For An Outbreak)

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This Weekend And Beyond

The story doesn't end there. Some strong to severe storms are possible Saturday from the Ohio Valley and Appalachians to eastern and central Texas.

A few strong to severe storms are possible in parts of the South Sunday along and near a sagging and stalling frontal boundary.

Additional strong to severe storms are expected early to mid-next week when a strong cold front slices into the central U.S. as a strong upper-level low-pressure system over northern Mexico finally gets kicked into the Plains.

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has already highlighted another threat of severe storms Tuesday, including some of the same areas that will be hit later this week in the Plains.

(MAPS:7-Day US Forecast)

Check back with us at weather.com and The Weather Channel app for updates to this forecast.

In the meantime, make sure you areprepared before severe weather threatensyour area.

Have multiple ways of receiving official National Weather Service watches and warnings, including ways to wake you up at night. Know where the safest place is to take shelter where you live and do so immediately when receiving a warning.

How Much Rain?

Rainfall is expected to be heavy at times with these storms.

Some areas from the Southern Plains into the Mississippi and Ohio valleys. may pick up over 3 inches of rain, where multiple rounds of thunderstorms occur into next week.

That could lead to flash flooding, particularly in the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains of eastern Oklahoma, western Arkansas and southwest Missouri.

Soaking A Drought

These parts of the country are very much in need of rainfall. Drought persists across much of the South, and the reason is actually fairly straightforward.

We have been under a La Niña this winter, which causes some significant impacts to our weather.

(MORE:La Niña Is Fading)

A La Niña occurs when trade winds moving from east to west across the equator over the Pacific Ocean ramp up, pushing warm water to the Western Pacific. This forces cooler water to rise to the surface across the eastern region of the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

This simple change has a drastic impact on the weather around the world and is amplified in the winter.

In a typical La Niña winter, the jet stream is typically forced farther north, leaving the South warmer and drier. That pattern sends most of the precipitation and cooler temperatures to the north.

Rob Shackelfordis a meteorologist and climate scientist at weather.com. He received his undergraduate and master's degrees from the University of Georgia studying meteorology and experimenting with alternative hurricane forecasting tools.

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A Severe Weather Outbreak Is Possible Friday With Strong Tornadoes In Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri

A severe weather outbreak, including the potential for strong tornadoes, is possible Friday from Texas to Missouri, part ...

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