Steelers’ Mike McCarthy finalizes coaching staff, adds North Allegheny grad Robert Kugler
Mike McCarthy’s first coaching staff is officially complete. The Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday announced a 26-person staff with 20 assistant coaches, four strength and conditioning personnel and a chief of staff. Many of the hires were previously announced by the team, but one late addition was tight ends coach Robert...
Konnor Griffin eyes starting shortstop job for Pirates, shows ‘no fear’ in facing Paul Skenes
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin swears he set the same expectations for spring training as last year, when he was less than a year removed from high school and wanted to be a sponge who soaked up every ounce of information he could in big league camp. Griffin knows that...
U mad, bro?: Prickly Pittsburgh fans snipe about Aaron Rodgers reports and Pirates’ spending history
It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Need proof? Take a look at my social media mentions. It’s pretty obvious. Steelers and Pirates fans are flat-out gushing over everything I have to say about their teams. Enjoy our heartfelt love letters to one another in this week’s “U...
First Call: Cam Heyward addresses ‘closing the book’ post; ex-Steeler says Neil O’Donnell ‘threw’ Super Bowl XXX
Thursday’s “First Call” clears the air about Cam Heyward’s cryptic social media post. A former Pittsburgh Steeler is accusing Neil O’Donnell of “throwing” Super Bowl XXX. Michael Vick is still living down one aspect of his days in Pittsburgh and New York. Plus, an ex-Steeler receiver has decided to retire....
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger was the QB. But it’s Joey Porter who is throwing stones from a glass house
When it comes to any off-the-field or personality-related debates, it would take a lot for me to side with Ben Roethlisberger over Joey Porter Sr. Unfortunately, Porter just said a lot. As he so often did. On the field, or off of it. I really enjoyed covering Porter. Roethlisberger was...
Joe Starkey: Ben Roethlisberger led where his team needed him most — on the field
What did Ben Roethlisberger actually say about Mike Tomlin that has Joey Porter and so many other ex-Steelers all hot and bothered? Not much, as it turns out. Back in December, Roethlisberger stated on his podcast what all but the most delusional Tomlin apologists were saying: “Maybe it’s a clean-house...
Baseball won’t sleep on Paul Skenes, even if Pirates ace has ‘no more made-up pitches’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Whether Paul Skenes was straight-faced serious or acting intentionally ignorant to protect a new pitch before its unveiling in a game, only the Pittsburgh Pirates ace knows. But Skenes swore that he’s never heard of the “sleeper” despite a revelation late last month on MLB Network that...
Lindsey Vonn says she had a ‘successful’ 3rd surgery on broken leg following crash at the Olympics
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn had a “successful” third surgery on her broken left leg following her downhill crash at the Olympics, the American skier said Wednesday Vonn posted an update on Instagram that included photos of her giving a thumbs up sign in her hospital bed with a...
‘Not a good teammate’: Former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter has harsh words for Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger was not a good teammate or a good person, said former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who criticized the quarterback during a podcast appearance published Wednesday. Porter, appearing on “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” called out Roethlisberger and former teammate James Harrison for speaking negatively about “Steeler...
Mark Madden: Remember when Pittsburgh was a basketball town?
Pittsburgh used to be a basketball town, kind of. Hard to believe. I know. I was there. Even harder to believe. Amazon Prime is premiering a new documentary called, “Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association.” The iconic “Dr. J,” Julius Erving, appeared on satellite radio to mark...
First Call: Steelers reportedly interested in Malik Willis; odds for Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown to make Hall of Fame
Malik Willis’ name is coming up with the Pittsburgh Steelers again. Odds are out on Ben Roethlisberger’s chances to make the Hall of Fame next year. We know where Tiger Woods’ son will be golfing in college. The American women’s hockey team at the Olympics stays red hot. And the...
Robert Morris women’s basketball enjoying turnaround under 2nd-year coach
Before Chandler McCabe took over as Robert Morris’ women’s basketball coach in March of 2024, the Colonials were spiraling. The team entered last season on an 18-game losing streak and with a 22-56 record in Horizon League play. This was McCabe’s first head coaching job, but she brought winning experience...
Pitt, Penn State players invited to 2026 NFL combine
Nine football players from Penn State and two from Pitt received invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They will be among 319 prospects in attendance Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Wednesday. Players will perform medical exams, interviews and on-field drills...
Olympics roundup: Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen wins 3rd gold; men’s hockey begins
MILAN — Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland looks like a breakout star of the Milan Cortina Olympics after winning his third gold medal. And Chloe Kim and a bunch of NHL stars are just getting started. Von Allmen won the super-G in Bormio on Wednesday to become the third man...
Tim Benz: Pirates’ offseason spending should be embraced, even if cynical explanations are accurate
With spring training getting underway, a lot of Pittsburgh Pirates fans are eagerly debating how much the club’s offseason moves will improve 2026 results from a year ago. Did you catch those words I just tied together in that sentence? “Fans.” “Eagerly.” “Improve.” “Pirates.” Yeah. Uncharted waters around these parts...
Penn State men pick up road win at Washington
SEATTLE — Freddie Dilione V scored 16 points, Josh Reed added 14, and Penn State beat Washington, 63-60, on Wednesday night. Kayden Mingo had 13 points and Eli Rice scored 13 for Penn State. The Nittany Lions (11-14, 2-12 Big Ten) had lost back-to-back games and 10 of their last...
Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea finds his spotVideo
Ryan Shea has nothing personal against the Chicago Blackhawks. Honest. He swears. But, it’s scary — at least to Blackhawks goaltenders — to think what he could do if he did harbor any umbrage against the team that drafted him but never signed him to an NHL contract. This season,...
Pitt freshmen QBs Angelo Renda, Corey Dailey adjust to college life
This winter, with a storm dumping more than a foot of snow in late January, coupled with sub-freezing daily temperatures for two weeks straight, has tested even the most mentally tough Pittsburghers. Of course, Steel City natives are better equipped to deal with such conditions, even if Pittsburgh navigates what...
Tkachuk and Hughes brothers make U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team a family affair
MILAN — Charlie McAvoy doesn’t have any brothers. In his family, there were only sisters, so he can’t truly understand what it would be like to play on a global stage with a brother as a teammate. He does know this much: He’s a little envious right now of U.S....
Matt Campbell on D’Anton Lynn’s fit as Penn State’s defensive coordinator: ‘I think we see the game very similarly’
Former Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s decision to retire after more than 40 seasons in college created an opportunity for D’Anton Lynn to head east and join his alma mater. A skilled defensive back who spent four years with Penn State (2008-11), Lynn retooled the UCLA and USC defenses...
Pitt transfer RB La’Vell Wright looks to carve out role in backfield
The 2026 campaign is far into the distance, but Pitt already has a good idea as to who will begin the year atop the depth chart at running back. That would be Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner, who, along with Mason Heintschel, emerged as one of the Panthers’ top performers last fall...
Kyle Busch grabs Daytona 500 pole, chasing a win that has eluded him for 20 starts
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Busch won the pole for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500 to give the driver with the longest active losing streak in “The Great American Race” a shot at the victory that has escaped him his entire career. Busch is 0 for 20 in the Daytona 500...
Scheffler, Gotterup and how much has changed in a year at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler had a fresh scar on his right hand and plenty of rust the last time he was at Pebble Beach, courtesy of a freak accident while making ravioli that set him back at the start of the year. Chris Gotterup wasn’t even at the...
Minor league report: Connor Lockhart scores twice in Nailers’ win
A pair of goals by forward Connor Lockhart led the Wheeling Nailers to a 2-1 win against the Indy Fuel at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana, on Wednesday. Defenseman Brent Johnson recorded two assists for Wheeling (29-12-2-2). Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 21 saves on 22 shots, improving his...
Penguins’ Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell get assists in Sweden’s win over Italy
A look at how members of the Pittsburgh Penguins are performing in the Winter Olympics: Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell each recorded secondary assists for Sweden, which opened the preliminary round with a 5-2 win against Italy at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan on Wednesday....
