Obama picks N.C. to win NCAA tourneyWASHINGTON — Former President Barack Obama is picking North Carolina to win the men’s NCAA Tournament over Duke.Last year, Obama had Kansas winning it all in his bracket. The Jayhawks lost to eventual champion Villanova in the Elite Eight. Obama also has Arizona and Kansas in his Final Four.Obama also picked UConn to win the women’s NCAA title over Notre Dame, with South Carolina and Washington in the Final Four.

Gonzalez critical of WBC organizersGLENDALE, Ariz. — Adrian Gonzalez had some harsh words for organizers of the World Baseball Classic.“They’re trying to become the World Cup, but they’re not even close to being the Little League World Series,” the Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman said.Gonzalez’s Mexican team beat Venezuela 11-9 Sunday in Guadalajara, leaving both teams tied with Italy for second in Group D behind Puerto (3-0). The World Baseball Classic Twitter account initially announced Monday’s tiebreaker game would be between Mexico and Italy. But the WBC technical committee determined the tiebreaker — runs allowed per defensive inning — meant Italy (1.05) and Venezuela (1.11) advanced and not Mexico (1.12).The Mexican Baseball Federation objected that the ninth inning of Sunday’s game should count as a partial inning, even though Italy scored five runs without Mexico getting any outs.

Federer tops Nadal at Paribas OpenINDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-3 at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday in a fourth-round match that saw the longtime rivals meeting much earlier in a tournament than usual.Federer broke Nadal four times in advancing to the quarterfinals in 68 minutes.

Charges dropped against CB RevisPITTSBURGH — A judge dismissed robbery, assault and all other charges against former New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis stemming from a fight last month in Pittsburgh, after a childhood friend testified that he knocked out two men who confronted Revis during a dispute over a cellphone.The friend, Rashawn Bolton, 31, of Aliquippa, has not been charged in connection with the incident about 2:30 a.m. Feb. 12 on the city’s South Side, a neighbor well-known for its bars, restaurants and night life.Bolton testified he knocked out Dallas Cousins, 22, and Zacheriah Jarvis, 21, with one punch each after Revis phoned him to say he was being jumped. Bolton ran from a few blocks away and testified he saw one man with his arms about Revis’ waist and the other hanging on Revis’ neck, pulled both off, then punched them in self-defense.

Hightower sticking with New EnglandBOSTON — The Patriots re-signed Pro Bowl linebacker Dont’a Hightower.Hightower’s agency, SportsTrust Advisors, tweeted the agreement and his agent Pat Dye, Jr confirmed it. The new pact is for four years and $43.5 million.