Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Don Mattingly (8) watches from the dugout steps during the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies on April 5 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, file)

Phillies turn

to Mattingly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Alex Cora was offered a managerial position by the Philadelphia Phillies after being fired by the Boston Red Sox. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski reached out to Cora, but he declined for family reasons. The Phillies then appointed Don Mattingly as interim manager after firing Rob Thomson on Tuesday.

Thomson had led the team to multiple playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, but the team struggled this season. Mattingly, a former Yankees great, will now work alongside his son, the Phillies’ general manager. The Phillies hope Mattingly can turn the season around and aim for a wild-card spot.

Jones to

plead guilty

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has become the first person to plead guilty in a gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures. During back-to-back hearings in Brooklyn federal court on Tuesday, Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

He was charged in separate cases with profiting from rigged poker games and providing sports bettors with nonpublic information about injuries to stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis, according to court filings. The 49-year-old previously pleaded not guilty in both cases. He’s due to be sentenced Jan. 6.

He and his lawyer declined to comment after the hearings.

Ducks’ OT

goal stands

NEW YORK (AP) — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman offered his unequivocal support for the ruling that upheld the Anaheim Ducks’ overtime goal against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series. In speaking to Associated Press Sports Editors at the NHL headquarters, Bettman said Ryan Poehling’s wasn’t controversial and NHL officials made the right call.

Poehling’s goal to seal a 4-3 win on Sunday was upheld after an extensive video review in giving the Ducks a 3-1 series lead. Though it appeared the puck crossed the goal line, there was no visible evidence because the top half of the puck was covered by the blade of goalie Tristan Jarry’s skate.

March Madness

may expand

(AP) — The NCAA is still deliberating expanding March Madness on both the men’s and women’s sides to 76 teams for next season. The much-expected development has been in the works for years. The NCAA released a brief statement Tuesday in the wake of an ESPN report that cited unnamed sources saying a decision to add eight teams to the bracket is a mere formality that’s expected in May.

The statement says “no final recommendations or decisions have been made.” The tournaments have been at 68 teams since 2011, when four play-in games were added to the beginning of the first week of play. The new format would add eight more play-in games.