Long before he became an NBA Hall of Famer, Paul Pierce was a senior at Inglewood High School thrilled to be chosen to play in the 1995 McDonald’s All-American Game, a nationally televised showcase that has brought together 24 of the best prep players in the country every year since 1978.

The McDonald’s all-time scoring record of 30 points had been set in 1981 by (who else?) Michael Jordan a month after his 18th birthday. Fourteen years later, Pierce scored at a blistering pace, yet because someone had stolen his jersey, he played a portion of the game with the name “McCoy” on the back.

Broadcasters credited “McCoy” with several baskets and apparently the scorekeeper couldn’t keep track either. In the box score, Pierce was credited with 28 points. In his mind, he was certain he had more than 30.

He painstakingly watched the game tape and, sure enough, he had scored 31 points. Yet the official McDonald’s record book didn’t recognize it, and Jordan continued to hold the record until Jonathan Bender put up 31 in 1999.

That is just one of the delightful, insightful stories included in the feature-length documentary “Meal Ticket,” an exhaustively researched labor of love by co-directors Corey Colvin and Carlton Gerard Sabbs of production company Stony & Yates. The film will premiere Thursday on Prime Video.

Meanwhile, Jordan had his own beef with McDonald’s — or at least his mother did. He was not given the John R. Wooden Award as Most Valuable Player in that 1981 game even though he set the scoring record and made shots during the East team’s last five possessions, including the winning basket in a 96-95 victory.

Deloris Jordan was not happy. On the elevator leaving the arena, she told broadcaster Billy Packer, “Poor Michael. My poor son Michael. He never gets any recognition. He never gets any respect.”

Soon, of course, her son would get his due, first for leading North Carolina to the NCAA title as a freshman — again sinking the winning shot — then for leading the Chicago Bulls to a record six NBA titles in eight years while winning 10 scoring titles. Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time.

Produced by Roc Nation, Known Originals and Creative Control, “Meal Ticket” chronicles the 49-year history of the McDonald’s All-American Games. Nearly 50 Naismith Hall of Famers were participants, and many reminisce for the documentary.

For most, the showcase was their first time on national television. At 17 or 18 years old, they were fresh-faced, eager and ultra-competitive. Colvin, 41, and Sabbs, 39, dug deep into archives of games and surrounding activities provided by McDonald’s and ESPN, and the result is a balanced blend of action footage and fond memories.

“We tried to illustrate the parallel between the McDonald’s game and the growth of the sport,” Colvin said. “I honestly feel it’s a power hidden within the McDonald’s game that people haven’t paid attention to. If you want to know where basketball is going, watch the McDonald’s game.”

Among the key developments was founder Bob Geoghan expanding the event to include girls’ basketball, launching a doubleheader format with the boys beginning in 2002 that proved immensely popular.

Two years later, Candace Parker won the annual Slam Dunk Contest, defeating, among others, JR Smith and Josh Smith, both of whom would be NBA first-round picks within months. Parker’s achievement was so unlikely that her own brother hung up on her when she called to tell the family, according to the documentary. Just another nugget unearthed by Colvin and Sabbs.

The creative careers of the Chicago South Side products began with directing branded content, and their mentors, directors Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, helped them make a pitch to McDonald’s in 2022 for an independent documentary.

Early fears that the fast-food colossus would be overly brand conscious and dictate content were allayed. Mickey D’s not only gave the directors the rights to tell the story, but also provided game footage while steering clear of editorial meddling.

Bronny James of the West team talks to his dad, LeBron James of the Lakers, at the 2003 McDonald’s All-American Game in Houston, Texas.

(Alex Bierens de Haan / Getty Images)

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“You’d think with McDonald’s, they’d be very hands-on to position and push the brand,” Sabbs said. “But they were good partners. We were even concerned about the name, ‘Meal Ticket,’ because it’s kind of edgy, a quadruple entendre. Would McDonald’s approve it? They stood by us. Nobody micromanaged us. And when they were around, we knew we’d be getting some french fries.”

The closest Sabbs and Colvin came to deviating from McDonald’s sanitized version of events came when the directors recognized the role Geoghan played in launching the Games. Amateur basketball luminaries Wooden — the legendary former UCLA coach with 10 national championships — Sonny Vaccaro and Sonny Hill were drawn into promoting the Games largely because Geoghan earmarked profits for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

The documentary team immersed itself in the 2022 McDonald’s All-American Games, shadowing two boys and two girls throughout the weekend. Part of that story was the outpouring of emotion for Geoghan, who died at 87 in February 2022 and was honored at the Games a month later.

“When we were filming in 2022 we saw how deeply everyone respected Bob,” Sabbs said. “They did a tribute on the Jumbotron before the game and put a Bob Geoghan jersey and a dozen roses on the seat where he watched games.

“Bob never wanted to get rich off the McDonald’s Games. He was a humble guy who some said died penniless. I hope this film helps him and his family get some recognition for what he contributed to basketball. He really ought to be in the Naismith Hall of Fame and I hope that happens.”

All indications point to Geoghan redirecting attention to the court and the sheer number of precocious youngsters who went on from the showcase to legendary professional careers. California has produced the most McDonald’s players on both the boys’ and the girls’ teams. And simply considering those who eventually made their marks with the Lakers is staggering.

Magic Johnson starred in the first McDonald’s game in 1978. James Worthy played alongside Isiah Thomas, Dominique Wilkins and Ralph Sampson the next year. Shaquille O’Neal was MVP in 1989. Kobe Bryant made highlight reel plays in 1996. JJ Redick was 2002 MVP and won the three-point shootout. LeBron James was MVP in 2003.

Bryant and James, of course, were among the elite players to jump straight from the showcase to the NBA, skipping college. Another player who did so, Amar’e Stoudemire, was physically dominant even when sharing the court with other future greats.

“I was a different kind of beast, man,” Stoudemire says in the documentary. “I’m not doing a finger roll off the glass move. I’m attacking the basket and I’m shaking the whole backboard. I think from that point on, everyone knew, ‘Stoud, he’s going to the NBA. He ain’t going to college.’ By the time we left, I’m sure there were a few screws and hinges that had left the rim.”

JR Smith also realized he was going to skip college for the NBA after dominating the McDonald’s Game in 2004, scoring 25 points on an assortment of dunks and long-range jumpers. He was committed to North Carolina but had made no secret that he didn’t want to go there.

Upon returning to the hotel after the game, Smith began running through the halls, yelling, “I’m going to the league!”

This year’s Games will take place March 31 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Ariz. The West boys’ roster will include Southern California products Brandon McCoy Jr. and Maximo Adams from Sierra Canyon, Christian Collins from St. John Bosco and Jason Crowe Jr. from Inglewood. Jerzy Robinson from Sierra Canyon and Cydnee Bryant from Corona Centennial will play in the girls’ game.

Even with NIL money seeping into players’ bank accounts, Sabbs and Colvin haven’t noticed a change in how the best of the best approach the McDonald’s All-American Games.

“All you hear are these stories from all-star games that the players don’t care anymore because there’s too much easy money,” Colvin said. “But these guys are competing, playing defense, diving on the floor. The McDonald’s Games are still a precursor for where the game is going, from elevating the girls to NIL, and we hope that comes across in the film.”

Team USA has its opponent for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final on Tuesday night. 

Venezuela ended Italy’s magical WBC run on Monday night, coming from behind to defeat them, 4-2 at loanDepot park, earning a spot in the final against the United States. 

Italy was the surprise team of the tournament, taking down the U.S. in pool play before defeating Mexico to finish a perfect 4-0 in Pool B.

But that win over Mexico also kept Team USA alive in the tournament, allowing them to advance to the quarterfinals, where they defeated Canada before earning a thrilling 2-1 semifinal victory over the Dominican Republic on Sunday night to punch their ticket back to the final.

While it felt only right for the U.S. and Italy to meet once more to determine who would win it all before the start of the 2026 MLB season, Venezuela had other things in mind during the bottom of the seventh inning.

Down 2-1 in the contest, Venezuela found themselves threatening with a potential two-out rally after Jackson Chourio, the Milwaukee Brewers’ rising star, singled to center field, allowing Andres Gimenez to advance to third base.

That’s when Ronald Acuña Jr., the face of Venezuelan baseball, reached first on an infield single that allowed Gimenez to score, tying the game at two apiece. But the rally wasn’t over just yet.

The Venezuelans caught fire after Acuña’s single, as Maikel Garcia singled to left field, scoring Chourio, and Luis Arraez brought home Acuña. With two outs, Venezuela seized all the momentum with a three-run seventh inning that made it 4-2.

Italy had been clinging to the lead since the bottom of the second inning, when they made the most of a bases-loaded situation. J.J. D’Orazio walked home a run, while Dante Nori grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored another to give Italy a 2-0 lead.

Slugger Eugenio Suarez got Venezuela on the board in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left-center field, cutting the deficit to one. But they weren’t able to string together additional offense until that seventh inning.

From there, Italy could never get a rally started, as Daniel Palencia eventually shut the door in the ninth inning, striking out the final two Italian hitters.

As Venezuela celebrated, Italy hung their heads, but their story this month has been nothing short of incredible. Their espresso machine in the dugout — which captain Vinnie Pasquantino of the Kansas City Royals helped turn into a home run celebration — went viral as they continued to have success. The roster featured established MLB stars, top prospects and players with Italian heritage, earning praise from big leaguers throughout the past two weeks.

But it’s Venezuela, ripe with top MLB talent, ready to take on Team USA and starter Nolan McLean, who Italy touched up in their pool play game, on Tuesday night to determine who holds the rights to call themselves the best baseball team in the world for at least the next three years. 

Team USA and Venezuela will face each other at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. 

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Monday’s Results

BASEBALL

CITY SECTION

Alliance Ouchi 13, Rise Kohyang 5

Carson 5, Narbonne 3

Fremont 8, Marquez 4

Garfield 9, LA Roosevelt 4

Huntington Park 15, Maywood Academy 4

San Fernando 6, Granada Hills Kennedy 4

Sotomayor 3, Rancho Dominguez 1

Sun Valley Poly 1, North Hollywood 0

Sylmar 6, Verdugo Hills 2

Torres 8, Gardena 4

Vaughn 8, Eagle Rock 7

SOUTHERN SECTION

Ambassador 9, Whitney 7

Aquinas 10, Arrowhead Christian 1

Baldwin Park 23, Pioneer 5

Beaumont 12, Jurupa Hills 9

Beckman 4, Woodbridge 1

Bloomington Christian 12, Joshua Springs Christian 7

Calvary Baptist 25. Packinghouse Christian 0

Calvin Christian 14, California Lutheran 3

Capistrano Valley 12, Northwood 1

Chino Hills 5, Colony 3

Corona 3, Riverside King 0

Corona Santiago 11, Eastvale Roosevelt 3

Crean Lutheran 7, Sunny Hills 5

de Toledo 8, Hoover 7

Desert Christian 15, Valley Torah 0

El Toro 4, Esperanza 3

Granite Hills 8, Eastside 0

Great Oak 4, La Palma Kennedy 1

La Quinta 13, Palm Springs 5

La Serna 4, Monrovia 4

Loma Linda Academy 16, Desert Chapel 4

Meadows School 8, Bellflower 7

Milken 9, Malibu 6

Mission Viejo 8, Irvine University 0

Norco 8, Corona Centennial 4

North Torrance 12, St. Monica 1

Oak Park 7, Windward 4

Palm Desert 18, Rancho Mirage 0

Paramount 6, Cerritos 5

Redlands East Valley 16, Indio 3

Riverside Prep 4, Sonora 1

Rolling Hills Prep 6, HMSA 4

San Clemente 3, Sonora 0

San Juan Hills 7, El Dorado 2

San Marino 6, California 5

Serrano 10, Adelanto 7

Shadow Hills 12, Xavier Prep 1

South Hills 10, Los Altos 1

St. Bernard 8, La Salle 3

Twentynine Palms 21, CIMSA 3

Valley Christian 13, Bishop Montgomery 0

Whittier 11, Gabrielino 1

Woodcrest Christian 6, Chaparral 5

Yucca Valley 4, Desert Hot Springs 3

YULA 5, Shalhevet 3

INTERSECTIONAL

Berkeley Prep 4, Gahr 1

Calabasas 12, Taft 1

Compton 5, King/Drew 1

Garden Grove Pacifica 6, Parker (CO) Legend 2

Lakeview Charter 14, Community Charter 4

Redlands Adventist Academy 16, Public Safety Academy

Santa Margarita 13, Mountain Vista (CO) 2

SOFTBALL

CITY SECTION

Animo Venice 25, Animo Robinson 5

Bell 18, Huntington Park 4

Bernstein 23, Belmont 2

Contreras 24, Roybal 14

Discovery 20, Locke 6

Fremont 21, Dymally 0

Garfield 10, LA Roosevelt 0

Harbor Teacher 11, Narbonne 8

Hollywood 15, RFK Community 1

LA Marshall 18, USC-MAE 1

Middle College 29, LAAAE 8

Northridge Academy 17, Grant 0

Rancho Dominguez 8, Orthopaedic 6

South Gate 5, South East 1

VAAS 21, Panorama 5

SOUTHERN SECTION

AAE 14, ACE 3

Aquinas 10, Riverside Notre Dame 3

Arlington 15, Vista del Lago 2

Arrowhead Christian 4, Hesperia Christian 1

Chino 7, Diamond Bar 6

Corona 15, Walnut 1

Covina 17, Muir 13

Crean Lutheran 11, Tustin 1

Elsinore 10, Irvine University 4

Garey 8, Sierra Vista 5

Grace 12, Del Sol 0

Godinez 14, Estancia 3

Lakewood 12, Valley Christian 5

Los Osos 6, Canyon Springs 1

Maranatha 11, Heritage Christian 1

Newport Harbor 13, Portola 11

Northwood 3, Trabuco Hills 1

Oaks Christian 11, Crescenta Valley 6

Orange 2, Santa Ana 0

Oxford Academy 15, Loara 14

Palm Desert 13, Rancho Mirage 12

Palos Verdes 12, South Torrance 7

Pasadena Marshall 21, Bassett 8

Redlands 9, Fontana 7

RSCSM 21, Mesa Grande Academy 7

St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 23, Glendale 4

Twentynine Palms 13, Moreno Valley 10

Yucca Valley 1, Desert Hot Springs 0

INTERSECTIONAL

Animo Watts 22, Stella 13

Burbank Providence 14, Van Nuys 0

Dorsey 1, Inglewood 1

El Segundo 7, Wilmington Banning 4

Port of LA 9, Peninsula 8

Redondo Union 10, LA Hamilton 0

Sierra Canyon 16, El Camino Real 0