Juwan Howard landed his first five-star prospect at Michigan on Thursday night, as top-10 forward Isaiah Todd chose the Wolverines over Kansas.

Todd took official visits to both schools in recent weeks, and also took multiple unofficial visits to North Carolina over the past couple months.

"I like coach Juwan," Todd told ESPN last weekend. "I like the fact he used to play in the NBA, I like that he played in college, and I like the fact he played my position. I also like the school, obviously having a Michigan degree, that means something."

Todd, a 6-foot-10 power forward from Word of God Christian Academy in North Carolina, is the No. 1 power forward in the ESPN 100 for the class of 2020. He's ranked No. 7 overall.

Michigan was a late arrival to Todd's recruitment, joining soon after Howard's hire in May. He replaced John Beilein, who left for the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the Wolverines landed in Todd's top five in early August and made him a top priority in 2020.

"Me and coach Juwan clicked as soon as we met," Todd said. "Just because he used to play. And talking to him feels like talking to one of my friends."

Todd played for the Nightrydas Elite grassroots program on the Nike EYBL circuit last spring and summer, averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds over the course of 16 games. He posted five double-doubles.

"Todd is a highly skilled forward with soft hands and displays advanced offensive instincts," ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi said. "He is a legitimate threat from both inside the paint and on the perimeter beyond the arc. At 6-foot-10, he runs well, taking big, long strides with fluid body movement and mobility. He is a vertical athlete who finishes the break with effectiveness and natural ability. If Todd produces at the level he is capable of, then a one-and-done scenario is very likely."

The Richmond, North Carolina, native is Michigan's second commitment in the 2020 class, joining ESPN 100 shooting guard Zeb Jackson. Jackson committed last fall, when Beilein was still in charge. The Wolverines are also in pursuit of top-50 big men Mark Williams (No. 30) and Hunter Dickinson (No. 36). They are in the final five for five-star guards Josh Christopher (No. 12) and Nimari Burnett (No. 19) and the final three for five-star guard Jaden Springer (No. 16). Michigan is also heavily involved with Moses Moody (No. 29), who took an official visit in late September.

Todd has often been considered a candidate to go overseas and play professionally for a year before entering the NBA draft, but he told ESPN last weekend that he plans to go to college.

"It's a thought in the back of my head, but I really think the college route is the best route," he said.

New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia, who is retiring at the end of the season, left Game 4 of the American League Championship Series with a shoulder injury, marking what appears to be the end of his stellar career.

Sabathia left the game in the eighth inning to a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium, and the salutes poured in on social media as well.

If that's the last pitch we see you throw in a big league game @CC_Sabathia thank you for all the years and memories. From the dominance with the @Indians to the run with @Brewers to the leadership with the @Yankees...cheers to you. One of the best to ever do it.

— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) October 18, 2019

.@CC_Sabathia is a true warrior. Throwing until he couldn't and then trying again. Baseball is life and he showed it right there. #Hero #MyBrother #NothingButRespect

— Alex Rodriguez (@AROD) October 18, 2019

Best teammate I ever had. Gave everything for his first pitch to his last. Thank you CC

— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) October 18, 2019

CC Sabathia is baseball's active leader in: wins, losses, games started, complete games, innings, hits allowed, earned runs, homers allowed, walks, strikeouts, and batters faced, among other things. Hell of a career, if it just ended. pic.twitter.com/5KRyZc4L2X

— Ben Reiter (@BenReiter) October 18, 2019

Players with ✅250 Wins ✅3000 K ✅Cy Young ✅Postseason (LCS or WS) MVP:

CC Sabathia
Randy Johnson
Bob Gibson

— Katie Sharp (@ktsharp) October 18, 2019

CC was the first to call me when i won 20 games... nothing but love and respect for a Bay Area hero. I'll be there for your HOF SPEECH big bro. ? #ALCS #Yankees

— Dontrelle Willis (@DTrainMLB) October 18, 2019

Gerrit Cole is out of the Astros dugout giving CC Sabathia a standing ovation as he leaves the mound. Other Astros are on the top steps applauding

— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 18, 2019

"That's our leader, man. He gave it all that he had." - Aaron Judge, on CC Sabathia

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) October 18, 2019

The La Liga Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid originally scheduled for Oct. 26 is expected to be rescheduled to a date in December due to the growing social unrest in Catalonia, under a proposal by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

A demonstration has been scheduled for Oct. 26 in Barcelona following the imprisonment of nine separatist leaders for their roles in the failed 2017 push for independence, and the Spanish football federation, in consultation with government officials, said Thursday it wasn't safe to play on the same day of the rally.

A new date is expected to be set in the coming days, and if the teams and the league can't reach an agreement on the date, it will be up to the federation to make the final decision.

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The league has proposed moving the game to Dec. 7, a Saturday, which would mean the teams' matches that had already been scheduled for that weekend would have to be moved. There was also the possibility of playing the game Dec. 18, a Wednesday, but then Copa del Rey matches would have to be rescheduled.

In addition, the league doesn't want the game to be played midweek because it could hurt television rights holders. The Oct. 26 match was scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff local time, which favors the important Asia market.

On Thursday, La Liga requested that the Spanish football association switch the encounter from the Camp Nou to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium, with the second league Clasico of the season to be played at Barcelona's ground on March 1, 2020.

The competition committee of the RFEF turned down La Liga's proposal, however, instead ruling the postponement of the encounter "for circumstances beyond its control."

Both Real Madrid and Barca were reluctant to agree to La Liga's request of a change of venue, with the former believing it would affect the nature of the game, and Barca coach Ernesto Valverde saying he wanted the fixture to go ahead at the Camp Nou as initially planned.

"This game can perfectly take place -- it's a good opportunity to play it with normalcy," he said Thursday. "It's a good opportunity to do so against all those that are pessimistic.

"[Oct. 26] is the date it was set. ... This is my opinion, but I don't know what decision the [competition committee of the Spanish FA] will take.

"There are nine days left to play, and the normal thing would be to play in our stadium. If you told me the game was today or tomorrow, then fine. But we still have time. It's an important game for people to see. It should be played under normal circumstances.

"We would go into the game having one day less to rest than Real Madrid, so I guess if you look at it that way, it would be us [to suffer]. However, in these type of games that is not that important, as players are always ready to play these games."

Earlier this week, the anti-violence committee declared the match "high risk," although federation officials said that is a common designation for matches of the calibre of the Clasico, which is the biggest event on the La Liga calendar.

Spain's interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, appealed Thursday for calm after reporting that 97 people have been arrested since Monday and 194 officers have been hurt as a result of the escalating violence on the streets of Catalonia.

Barca have postponed all institutional events scheduled for this week, a club source told ESPN FC on Thursday.

Due to disturbances at El Prat airport, Barca were also forced to change their travel plans for Saturday's match at Eibar.

The nine separatists convicted of sedition for their role in an independence referendum that was staged two years ago were handed jail sentences of between nine and 13 years by Spain's highest court this week.

After the sentences were handed down, Barca released a statement that said "prison is not the solution" and called for dialogue between Spanish and Catalan politicians.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

MILWAUKEE -- Two things stood out to Giannis Antetokounmpo as he glanced at the stat sheet in front of media members Thursday night following the Milwaukee Bucks' first undefeated preseason since 1997: 3s and turnovers.

Despite the Bucks committing 21 turnovers while going 11-for-40 (27.5 percent) from 3 in a 118-96 win versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, Antetokounmpo called it "scary how good we can be" in the regular season when they're able to live up to their team's expectations.

"Just the habits that we built these five games, I think defensively the way we played, we were really active as a team covering for one another, but going 5-0 doesn't mean nothing," said Antetokounmpo, who finished with 26 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks. "It doesn't count.

"As we move forward, it gets harder and harder, and hopefully in these five games we built good habits that can carry over into the regular season."

Coach Mike Budenholzer wasn't always pleased with the team's defensive effort throughout the preseason, entering Thursday night's matchup, but he did like the way the Bucks turned up their intensity to hold Minnesota to 31.2 percent shooting. The Timberwolves finished the preseason 2-3.

"We weren't as good as we liked to be defensively through the preseason, but I think our guys have a lot of pride in being really great on that end," Budenholzer said. "We're still learning, trying to get better offensively and trying to figure out who's going to play, the rotations and just so much good depth."

The NBA's reigning MVP averaged 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game with 61.2 percent shooting throughout the preseason. Milwaukee is now set to open the regular season next Thursday in Houston, where Antetokounmpo anticipates stepping his game up to another level.

"As I move on into the regular season, usually I get better," Antetokounmpo said. "I learn how guys guard me, I learn how my teammates want the ball and it gets easier. Obviously, you get mentally and physically tired, but it gets way better. I feel real good."

University of Florida senior Sierra Brooks advanced to the LPGA’s Q-Series finale in a big way Thursday while juggling homework.

She closed with a 4-under 68 at Plantation Golf & Country Club in Venice, Fla., to share medalist honors with Germany’s Olivia Cowan (69) at the second stage of Q-School.

Brooks wasn’t going to take much time to celebrate. She has a history exam Friday.

“I actually brought notecards on the course to study,” Brooks said. “Since I was by myself a little bit out there, it was nice to at least try to study a little bit, when I could.

“It was definitely a fun week, and I’m happy with my golf game, the way everything turned out. The goal for every tournament is to go in with a mindset to win, but controlling what I can, and just playing my game. I’m happy with where that is, and I’m ready to ride that momentum into next week.”

Brooks was among seven amateurs advancing to the start of Q-Series next week, where they will be playing to win LPGA tour cards. Thirty-eight players will move on to Pinehurst, N.C., for the two-week finale. 

Stanford seniors Albane Valenzuela (T-8) and Andrea Lee (T-10), USC junior Jennifer Chang (T-19) and Florida State sophomore Frida Kinhult (T-24) also put themselves in positions where they may have some decisions to make before the spring collegiate season.

Bianca Pagdanganan, who helped Arizona win the NCAA championship in 2018, made the biggest move of the final round, putting up a 64 to vault into tie for eighth, jumping 35 spots on the final day. She finished up her senior year last spring but remains an amateur.

China’s Mohan Du finished third but won’t be advancing to Q-Series. Neither will Yae Eun Hong, an amateur from South Korea who finished fourth. They haven’t reached the 18-year-old age requirement to advance but are assured of Symetra Tour status next year.

Yealimi Noh (65) and Haley Moore (69) rallied to earn spots at Q-Series.

Noh turned pro as a 17-year-old earlier this year and made a couple runs at winning LPGA titles as a non-member, playing her way into events through Monday qualifying. She’s now 18. She tied for second at the Cambia Portland Classic and tied for sixth at the Thornberry Classic this summer.

Moore teamed with Pangdanganan to help Arizona win that NCAA title in ‘18, and turned pro in the summer.

Lucy Li, the 17-year-old from Redwood Shores, Calif., entered the final round tied for 11th but struggled to a 77 to finish tied for 72nd. She reached her goal, though. She won Symetra Tour status. 

England’s Meghan McLaren joined Cowan, Esther Henseleit, Celine Herbin and Joanna Klatten among LET pros who advanced.

The October international break, more than most, reminded us that football, however much it tries, is not an isolated, self-contained branch of the entertainment industry. It exists in the real world, interconnected and intertwined with an international political ecosystem. The fact that it draws eyeballs, stokes passions and offers a global megaphone only makes it even more prone to the outside world.

FIFA's own statutes explicitly say that football must be free from political interference and that political symbols or activism are barred from international matches. But it's like Sisyphus pushing that big rock up the mountain. It's futile. Politics comes back and pounds them on the head whenever it pleases.

Witness events over the past seven days.

On Monday in Paris, a number of Turkish players celebrated a late equaliser against reigning World Cup champions France with a military salute in apparent support of their country's invasion of Kurdish regions in northern Syria. They had done the same against Albania a few days earlier and celebrated the fact on social media, prompting an investigation by UEFA.

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That same night, several hundred miles away in Sofia, England's Tyrone Mings, Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling were racially abused by Bulgarian supporters during another qualifier. A group of those fans made Nazi salutes and displayed far-right imagery. The match was stopped twice in accordance with UEFA's three-step protocol (warning, suspension, abandonment) and the abuse quieted some (without stopping completely) only once the 200-strong group of mostly hooded, black-clad supporters made their way out of the ground at half-time. UEFA have since opened disciplinary proceedings against the Bulgarian FA and the FA president, Borislav Mihaylov, resigned on Tuesday following pressure from the prime minister.

A few hours later, South Korea and North Korea -- two countries that are technically still at war -- squared off in a World Cup qualifier in Pyongyang. There were no supporters in the stadium -- though selected guests, and ubiquitous FIFA president Gianni Infantino, were in attendance -- and no media in the stands. Because it wasn't shown on TV, North Korea promised to release a "DVD containing video footage" in due course. (Before the match, officials in South Korea even considered using fax machines to relay updates back to the fans at home.)

Away from international football, a friendly on Saturday between Serie A side Brescia and Serbia's Vojvodina played in a 1,500-seat stadium had to be abandoned after fighting erupted between traveling Serb fans and local Albanian residents who showed up waving flags.

Also on Monday, after the organisers of a failed bid for Catalan independence were sentenced to prison terms ranging from nine to 13 years for alleged misuse of funds, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (who is from Barcelona) issued a video news release accusing his country of being in an "authoritarian drift," adding that "this fight won't stop until repression stops."

All of this, in one form or another, is politics drilling its way into football and using the stage it provides to push a message. All of it is exactly what the sport's governing bodies do not want. All are issues they are ill-equipped to deal with, one way or another.

If diplomacy, courts and law enforcement can't figure it out and bring peace and consensus, how on earth are UEFA and FIFA supposed to do it? Isn't this well above their pay grade?

That's been their contention for a long time, and their solution has been, time and again, to try to ban politics in the name of sport. "Try" being the operative word here. Because they can't. Because politics is reality for those directly affected, and football -- especially international football, with its huge echo chamber and trappings of patriotism and nationalism -- is too convenient a vehicle for those looking to make a statement.

It's not all bad, of course. Last week, for the first time in 38 years, women were allowed into an Iranian stadium to watch a football match. More than 3,000 of them packed a ladies-only section of the Azadi stadium to cheer on their country against Cambodia, largely as a result of pressure brought to bear by FIFA and the international community. (Iran won 14-0.) That, too, some in Iran might have argued, is politics entering sport, but the key difference being that it was backed by international consensus.

Still, in a perfect world, no sporting body would want to be dealing with these issues. Even those where there is near unanimous consensus -- say, battling racism and supporting women's rights -- are tricky to sort out without government support and resources. When it comes to Pandora's boxes like the unresolved Korean War, Catalan independence, the Turkish incursion into Syria or the Serbia-Albania dispute, they have no shot.

This past week serves as a reminder of this and a reminder that there are few shared cultural experiences as global or all-encompassing as football, which is precisely what makes the game so vulnerable to politics. It's just too big.

Despite FIFA's best efforts, it's always at risk of mirroring reality. Including the ugly, painful stuff.