Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC in final week of season as Trojans try to snap losing skid, make NCAA tournament push

Chad Baker-Mazara's time with USC is over.

The Trojans announced Sunday afternoon that Baker-Mazara was no longer with the program, marking a stunning development for the team as it enters the final stretch of the regular season and the Big Ten tournament.

According toThe Los Angeles Times' Ryan Kartje, there wasn't one specific incident but "an accumulation of issues" that led to his dismissal. Further specifics on his departure are not yet known.

Baker-Mazara, 26, transferred into USC this season. The former Auburn star has averaged 18.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season with the Trojans, all of which have been career highs. He's USC's leading scorer and was the Maui Invitational MVP in November.

Baker-Mazara played just 19 minutes in the team's 82-67 loss to No. 12 Nebraska on Saturday. He went down with an apparent leg injury early in the second half after blocking a shot and did not return.

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Can USC make the NCAA tournament without Baker-Mazara?

Baker-Mazara's departure is coming at an awful time for the Trojans and head coach Eric Musselman.

USC has just two games left in the regular season, first at Washington on Wednesday and then at home against UCLA on Saturday. Both of those are games the Trojans will have to win if they want any shot at making it into the NCAA tournament.

Saturday's loss to Nebraska marked the Trojans' fifth straight. They've not beaten a ranked opponent all season and sit at just 18-11. They have significant work to do in order to make it to the tournament, a place the program hasn't been since 2023.

But it isn't out of the question. If the Trojans can end the regular season on a two-game win streak and then make a decent run in the Big Ten tournament in Chicago, an at-large bid certainly isn't out of the question.

But now, without Baker-Mazara around, pulling off that feat is going to be much more difficult for the Trojans.

byAlpha World

in

March 01, 2026

Chad Baker-Mazara out at USC in final week of season as Trojans try to snap losing skid, make NCAA tournament push

Chad Baker-Mazara's time with USC is over. The Trojans announced Sunday afternoon that Baker-Mazara was ...

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Michael J. Fox Says Meeting Wife Tracy Pollan on “Family Ties” Was His 'Greatest Gift' at Actor Awards 2026

Michael J. Fox made a special presentation at the 2026 Actor Awards when he stepped out for the show's opening moments on Sunday, March

NEED TO KNOW

• The legendary actor spoke to his experience meeting wife Tracy Pollan, on the set of his breakout television role on Family Ties during the show's "I Am an Actor" segment

• Fox is currently performing in a guest role on the third season of Apple TV's Shrinking

Michael J. Foxstepped out for the 2026Actor Awards.

Fox, 64, spoke to the audience assembled in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 1, as the Actor Awards kicked off with the show's annual "I Am an Actor" segment.

"When I left school,I moved from Canada to LA to try to make it as an actor," Fox said, after receiving significant applause from the audience when he appeared on camera. "A teacher of mine told me, 'Fox, you're not going to be cute forever.' I didn't know what to say to that, so I said, 'Maybe just long enough, sir.' "

"After three years of dumpster diving in LA, I ended up onFamily Ties, where I received the greatest gift of my career. I met my wife, the actorTracy Pollan, who played Ellen, my girlfriend, and she gave me four gifts:our kidsSchuyler, Aquinnah, Esmé and Sam. Sometimes I like to remind them, if it weren't for acting, they wouldn't be here."

"By the way, he's not an actor, he's just my date," Fox said, gesturing to son Sam, 36, seated at his side, which drew more laughter from the audience. "I'm Michael J. Fox. I'm a dad, and I'm an actor."

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Fox appeared at the awards show in recognition of his recent appearances on the Apple TV seriesShrinking; he is making aguest appearancein the show's currently-airing third season whileHarrison Ford's therapist character, Dr. Paul Rhoades, continues his journey with Parkinson's, the neurodegenerative disease Fox was diagnosed with in 1991. (Ford, 83, is receiving the Actor Awards' Life Achievement Award statue on March 1.)

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Back in 2020, Fox wrote in his bookNo Time Like the Futurethat he intended to stop working on screen amid health struggles related to Parkinson's, but he toldShrinkingcreator andSpin Citycolleague Bill Lawrence he wanted to appear on the show after learning it centered Parkinson's.

See PEOPLE's full coverageof the 32nd annual Actor Awards Sunday, March 1 as they air live on Netflix.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

March 01, 2026

Michael J. Fox Says Meeting Wife Tracy Pollan on “Family Ties” Was His 'Greatest Gift' at Actor Awards 2026

Michael J. Fox made a special presentation at the 2026 Actor Awards when he stepped out for the show's opening momen...

Read More

Lions' David Montgomery addresses trade rumors in social media post

Detroit Lionsrunning backDavid Montgomerytook to social media on March 1 to address trade rumors surrounding him.

Earlier in the day,ESPN's Jeremy Fowlerreported that Montgomery "wants out" from Detroit and that the veteran running back could fetch a Day 3 pick on the trade market.

Montgomery implied he hadn't expressed such a desire – at least not to Fowler – in a post to X.

"Damn, Dmo told you that?" Montgomery wrote, referencing himself by one of his nicknames.

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

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Best images of the 2025 NFL season

Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18)makes a catch for a touchdownagainst the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa's effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.

Montgomery has spent the last three seasons with the Lions after playing his first four seasons with theChicago Bears. He has worked in combination withJahmyr Gibbsthroughout his time in Detroit – serving as the bruising back inthe "Sonic and Knuckles" backfield– but has slowly seen his carry share dip as Gibbs' star has risen.

Last season, Montgomery handled a career-low 158 carries and failed to make a start for the first time in his NFL career. He was still effective despite his decreased workload, generating 716 rushing yards, eight touchdowns and a more-than-respectable 4.5 yards per carry.

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With that in mind, teams around the NFL could be interested in pursuing the soon-to-be 29-year-old as a potential backfield leader – especially since he is only set to make a reasonable $6 million in 2026.

But given Montgomery's comments, it's unclear whether he would be open to such a change of scenery, even if it comes with an increased role.

David Montgomery contract details

Montgomery signed a two-year extension with the Lions in 2024, tying him to the team through the 2026 NFL season. Below is a look at the terms of that agreement, perSpotrac.com.

• Term: 2 years

• Total value: $18.25 million

• Average annual value (AAV): $9.125 million

• Guaranteed money: $10.49 million

Montgomery's AAV ranks 12th-highest among running backs while the total value of his deal ranks 19th at the position.

While Montgomery's deal is worth $18.25 million, he is only due $15 million in cash over the next two seasons. The remaining $3.25 million was given to him up front as part of his signing bonus.

As such, any team considering acquiring the veteran would only owe him an average of $7.5 million over the remaining two seasons on his contract.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Lions RB David Montgomery addresses trade rumors

byAlpha World

in

March 01, 2026

Lions' David Montgomery addresses trade rumors in social media post

Detroit Lionsrunning backDavid Montgomerytook to social media on March 1 to address trade rumors surrounding him. ...

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King Charles Had No Interaction with His Brother, Ex-Prince Andrew, During Sandringham Visit

King Charles and his brother, the former Prince Andrew, did not meet during the King's recent visit to Sandringham Estate

NEED TO KNOW

• PEOPLE understands that the King did not see Andrew, nor did he have any plans to

• King Charles' visit to the estate comes after Andrew was arrested at the home where he is currently staying at Sandringham on Feb. 19

King CharlesvisitedSandringham Estateover the weekend, but he did not see his brother, the formerPrince Andrew.

PEOPLE understands that the monarch, 77, was at the royal residence in Norfolk — where his younger brother Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, 66, is currently living — on Saturday, Feb. 28, and Sunday, March 1, but the pair did not cross paths.

The King did not see the former Duke of York, nor did he have any plans to, PEOPLE understands.

While at Sandringham on Sunday, King Charles was photographed stepping out to attend a service at St. Mary Magdalene Church.

The King's appearance at the royal residence comes less than two weeks after Andrew wasarrestedon the Norfolk property.

The monarch's younger brother wasarrested on Feb. 19— his 66th birthday — on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was arrested at the home where he is currently staying on the Sandringham Estate.

Authorities are investigating the former Prince Andrew in connection with an allegation that he shared confidential information with the late billionaire and convicted sex offenderJeffrey Epsteinwhile acting as a trade envoy for the United Kingdom.

Police arrested Andrew days after theBBCreported that authorities wereinvestigating a claim that Andrew shared confidential documents with Epsteinwhen he was in the position, which he assumed after retiring from the Royal Navy, from 2001 to 2011. The arrest is not in any way related to allegations of sexual misconduct, and Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.

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On the day of his brother's arrest, the Kingreleased a statement vowing that the palace would cooperate with policein the investigation.

PEOPLE understands thatBuckingham Palace was not informedof the arrest before it happened.

Andrew's relationship with Epsteinset his step back from public life in motion in November 2019, but has returned to the spotlight lately with the release of the Epstein files — in which he and his ex-wifeSarah Fergusonappearmultiple times.

The former Duke of York has also faced scrutiny over his alleged ties toVirginia Giuffre, an outspoken Epstein victim who alleged that she was made to have sex with Andrew when she was just 17 years old. Andrew has consistently denied Giuffre's allegations. Giuffredied by suicideat age 41 in 2025.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

After Giuffre's posthumous bookNobody's Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justicewas released last year, scrutiny of Andrew intensified. Amid the renewed interest in his alleged connections to Epstein, hegave up the use of his royal titles, as well as other titles and honors.

Andrew was then stripped ofhis royal titles days laterby King Charles.

Epstein died by suicide in 2019 at age 66 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlpha World

in

March 01, 2026

King Charles Had No Interaction with His Brother, Ex-Prince Andrew, During Sandringham Visit

King Charles and his brother, the former Prince Andrew, did not meet during the King's recent visit to Sandringham E...

Read More