Tim Benz stories, Page 89

Monday’s “First Call” relays some unfortunate news about Le’Veon Bell’s boxing match. Two former Pittsburgh Steelers are getting jobs in the coaching world. The Pirates are getting the Chicago Cubs while they are hot. And Daniel Vogelbach makes his first start as a New York Met against another former Pirate....

As the Pittsburgh Steelers head to training camp at Saint Vincent College, this is the time of year when many Pittsburgh media types (and fans) make a lot predictions about the upcoming season. Except the predictions usually aren’t too bold. They usually are couched with a bunch of “ifs” and...

You can understand why Penguins general manager Ron Hextall responded to the question the way he did Wednesday afternoon. A wry half-smile, a quick toss of the hand and a slight shake of the head. As of Wednesday, NHL teams were allowed to start signing players to contract extensions if...

Friday’s “First Call” has a hot take from Steelers captain Cameron Heyward on the new name for Heinz Field. A former Penn State star is running out of time to avoid the franchise tag. The Pirates will miss facing a former teammate at Coors Field. And Jaromir Jagr wants NHL...

A day after saying he’d be staying away from football this year to concentrate on boxing, former Steeler Le’Veon Bell now sounds like a player who is on the cusp of retirement. He also sounds like a man with a lot of regrets. In a long Instagram post Wednesday, Bell...

Thursday’s “First Call” takes a look at how some other teams in the Penguins’ division were impacted by NHL free agency. Local star Vince Trocheck has a new home. Some Penguins-killers are on the move. Pat Freiermuth may be on the verge of making some money for Steelers fans. And...

The Steelers announced that they are giving the naming rights for Heinz Field to some company you’ve never heard of, from a city that isn’t Pittsburgh. The Penguins are bringing back a team that won’t change at all from the team that has failed to win its last five playoff...

Speaking at what used to be known as Heinz Field, Greg Williams didn’t seem like he deserved to be the most hated man in Pittsburgh. The truth is, that’s because he probably isn’t. I’m not sure if anyone in Pittsburgh really dislikes Williams. Or could recognize him on the street....

Wednesday’s “First Call” has a career update for former Pittsburgh Steeler Le’Veon Bell. Najee Harris is turning NFL heads already. Penguins draft choice Owen Pickering discloses his musical talent. And a rare Clay Holmes blowup hurts the Yankees and Gerrit Cole. Boxing for Bell Former Steeler Le’Veon Bell is taking...

Did you ever break up with someone after a long relationship, then start dating somebody else you barely know right away in an attempt to get back at that other person? Did that new relationship immediately start off with a $30 million prenup? That sort of feels like what happened...

Tuesday’s “First Call” has some bold goals from Pittsburgh Steelers star Cameron Heyward. A spot is now open along the team’s defensive line. Former Penguin Matt Murray is on the move. And we look at the Major League Baseball Draft needs for the Pirates. Hole to fill The Steelers now...

Social media disapproval poured in from all areas in the wake of Monday’s decision by the Pittsburgh Steelers to change the name of Heinz Field to Acrisure Stadium. The most prominent person to tweet a figurative thumbs down was former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger — the most accomplished player to...

If you were under the impression that Evgeni Malkin’s contract negotiations with the Pittsburgh Penguins were going to end as swimmingly as Kris Letang’s did, sorry to disappoint. Apparently, this keeping the band together idea isn’t going to happen without getting out of tune. Malkin has been playing hardball with...

Monday’s “First Call’ features a potential name change for Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Pirates are catching a break as they head to Miami. Pirates closer David Bednar got a special gift for making the All-Star team. And ex-Penguin Matt Murray may be getting a new home. Hold the ketchup Is...

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ first-round draft choice Owen Pickering had to be exaggerating. Right? After being selected as the 21st pick in the first round of last week’s NHL Draft, the 6-foot-4, 180-pound defenseman claimed that he was only 5-foot-6, 130 pounds three years ago. That had to be hyperbole. That...

I have a two-pronged view of Kris Letang’s new contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. For months, I’ve argued that the Penguins should use this offseason’s cap space to reconfigure the roster around Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust through trades and free agency. If that meant letting Evgeni Malkin...

While you are reading this post, keep in mind it is being written by someone who has been a Marc-Andre Fleury believer, defender and even occasional apologist. That being said, I’m very happy Fleury re-signed with the Minnesota Wild on Thursday. Because the latest iteration of rumors conjuring up a...

Friday’s “First Call” features a pass-rushing option that is now off the table for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baker Mayfield’s trade to the Carolina Panthers clears a major hurdle. We recap Gerrit Cole’s latest start for the New York Yankees. And we have some NHL draft stuff, too. Not gonna happen...

In this week’s “U mad, bro?” Pittsburgh Steelers fans are already ginning up angst over Kenny Pickett. Pirates fans are already over Oneil Cruz. And Penguins fans are done with Brian Dumoulin. Then there’s one guy who thinks I’m the angriest one of the bunch. Based on some of those...

In Thursday’s “First Call,” Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward is feeling a bit slighted by an ESPN poll. We’ve got a follow-up on a potential free agent acquisition for the Steelers. One Pirate is getting attention on the Major League Baseball trade market. And we check on the adjusted...

As he came up through the Pittsburgh Pirates system, Clay Holmes had been told how electric PNC Park could be when it was sold out for a big game. He just needed to come back as a New York Yankee on Tuesday night to finally experience it in person. “When...

The Pittsburgh Pirates did a lot right in their 5-2 win against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. • They got out to an early lead against former Pirate Jameson Taillon with a second-inning home run by Daniel Vogelbach. Then they added on with three more in the fourth...

I’ve long had a theory about how the shifting landscape of college sports conferences would end. Pretty close to how it started. I consider the constant conference expansion and contraction to be college football nihilism. The existence of conferences as we know them today is unfounded, senseless and useless. Objective...

Wednesday’s “First Call” returns from an extended holiday weekend by looking at a pair of rumors surrounding some former Pittsburgh Penguins goalies. T.J. Watt is deemed to be the best in the business at his position. And Kordell Stewart wants in on a debate regarding his place in Steelers history....

In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X and TribLIVE wants to distinguish between the prospect of what Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz can be and his current production. In other words, let’s appreciate the difference between saying, “This Cruz kid is going to be really good...