Sports category, Page 1028
Pat Narduzzi’s day packed tight, even in the spring
Clocks on the South Side barely crossed midday Thursday when Pat Narduzzi walked off the practice field, muttering, “Long day.” Pitt had just completed its 12th of 15 spring practice sessions, and now it was time for Pitt’s ninth-year head coach to speak to several inquiring media members. (No injury...
Garcia chastises Masters media to stop talking about LIV-PGAVideo
Sergio Garcia is tired of talking about the LIV-PGA Tour feud. After opening the Masters with a 2-over-par 74, Garcia shot back at reporters who asked Thursday if this felt like a normal event with all that’s going on away from the course. “Totally normal,” Garcia said. “You guys need...
Fading a couple dogs in NBA crunch time and an MLB parlay: Best Bets for April 6
BY JIM DERRY | Home Field Sports Each day, one of our experts will offer up a best bet (or two or three) that mobile sportsbooks are offering. It might be a traditional spread bet, a player prop or one of the various odds boosts that books offer. Here are...
What the betting odds say about Steelers’ chances in 2023
BY SHANE JACKSON | Home Field Sports Contributor Mike Tomlin doesn’t have losing seasons. That’s not an opinion; the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach has yet to finish below .500 since taking over the team in 2007. Even when expectations are low, Tomlin manages to get the most out of his...
Penguins assign forward Alex Nylander to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after quick recall
The Pittsburgh Penguins assigned forward Alex Nylander to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Thursday, hours after they recalled him under emergency conditions in advance of their home contest against the Minnesota Wild. There was no word on which of their incumbent forwards were potentially unavailable for Thursday...
Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman fined for embellishmentVideo
Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman was fined $2,000 for embellishment by the NHL on Thursday. Per a release from the league, Friedman violated NHL Rule 64 which is “designed to bring attention to and more seriously penalize players (and teams) who repeatedly dive and embellish in an attempt to draw penalties.”...
‘A great memory’: Rich Hill to start Pirates home opener 6 years after near no-hitterVideo
When Rich Hill takes the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener Friday against the Chicago White Sox, it will bring back memories of a night where he flirted with perfection and took a no-hitter into the 10th inning at PNC Park. That game is a good memory for the...
First round-caliber CB Christian Gonzalez among 4 hosted by Steelers in pre-draft visits
Prospects at positions of need continue to parade through UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, with highly regarded cornerback Christian Gonzalez headlining four prospects hosted by the Pittsburgh Steelers for official pre-draft visits Thursday. TCU guard Steve Avila, South Carolina cornerback Darius Rush and Georgia Tech defensive lineman Keion White also were...
2024 women’s basketball national title odds: See where LSU stands in quest to repeat
By ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports The odds to win the 2024 women’s college basketball national title are out, and the favorites to win the NCAA championship next year are familiar. That includes reigning champion LSU, which is the second-favorite at +700, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Tigers likely...
2024 men’s college basketball NCAA tournament odds: Another national title for UConn?
By ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports If you still don’t consider the UConn men’s basketball team to be a “blue blood” after its dominant run in this year’s NCAA tournament, next year may give you another data point in that direction. The Huskies are favored to win the national...
Former Minnesota running back Trey Potts commits to Penn State
Ahead of last year’s Penn State-Minnesota game, there were a noticeable number of Golden Gophers fans outside Beaver Stadium wearing customized “POTTS” jerseys. Those friends and family members will have to get new gear this year. Trey Potts, a Williamsport native and Minnesota running back, is transferring to Penn State...
Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta expected to return against Wild
Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta has been labeled as a “game-time decision” for Thursday’s home game against the Minnesota Wild at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan announced the right-hander’s status following an optional morning skate. Such a designation is typically a strong indicator that a player will be in the...
‘This is where I needed to be’: Andrew McCutchen revels in PNC Park return as a Pirate
Andrew McCutchen leaned back into his chair and imagined hearing “No. 22” and his name announced while wearing black and gold again before his first at-bat with the Pittsburgh Pirates back at PNC Park. McCutchen allowed his mind to wander with anticipation about the emotions and energy the ovations will...
On Sports: ‘Blackout’ momentum grows for Pirates’ home opener; Fleury could play spoiler vs. Penguins
Hey, if Andrew McCutchen and A.J. Burnett are back at PNC Park, why not just go all the way in making it feel like 2013 all over again? A movement is afoot for a “blackout” for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener Friday. The most prominent baseball game played in the...
Draft prep 101: Deep group of tight ends, shallow pool of wide receivers may influence Steelers’ strategy
Each day this week, “Breakfast With Benz” will get you ready for this month’s NFL Draft by posting daily “Draft 101” podcasts. Former NFL and college scout and current Steelers Nation Radio host, Matt Williamson, joins Tim Benz for daily podcasts breaking down draft-eligible players in different position groups. Thursday’s...
Minor league report: Penguins eliminated from playoff contentionVideo
Goaltender Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves on 32 shots for the Wilkes_Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-0 home loss to the Chrlotte Checkers at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. The defeat extended a losing streak to six games and with the Hartford Wolf Pack claiming a 2-1 home overtime...
Report: Duquesne gets commitments from La Salle twin forwards Hassan, Fousseyni Drame
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot has returned to the NCAA transfer portal to restock his team for the 2023-2024 season. The Dukes have received verbal commitments from twin 6-foot-7 forwards Hassan and Fousseyni Drame, The Athletic reported. The twins helped lead Saint Peter’s to the 2022 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight before...
FanDuel Sportsbook promo gives up to $1,000 back in Bonus Bets for The Masters
BY GABE HENDERSON | Home Field Sports It’s almost time for The 2023 Masters Tournament to tee off at Augusta National. Golf gives bettors a whole other opportunity to make money daily with the biggest tournament of the year being played over the next few days in Georgia. Whether you’re...
LIV golfers add betting dynamic to Masters
LAS VEGAS — The addition of LIV golfers to this week’s Masters field has created betting options for those wanting to wager on golf’s first major of the year. Westgate SuperBook golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said his company’s properties have taken quite a bit of money on whether one of...
Plum grad McGough works way back to MLB after finding his footing in Japan
What’s longer: 6,585 miles, or 2,749 days? For Plum’s Scott McGough, it took (repeatedly) traveling the former to take a meandering route in figuratively navigating the latter. A four-year trip to Japan ultimately led McGough back to the major leagues, a level he hadn’t pitched at since Sept. 20, 2015....
Penguins No. 1 pick Pickering getting first pro experience in AHL
Owen Pickering didn’t want to be in Wilkes-Barre by April. To be certain, he doesn’t have any kind of objection to Northeast Pennsylvania in the spring. He just wanted to be back in southwest Saskatchewan playing games that mean a bit more with his junior team, the Swift Current Broncos...
Penguins sign goaltending prospect Joel Blomqvist to entry-level contract
Goaltender Joel Blomqvist, one of the top prospects in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ organization, has signed a three-year entry-level contract. Cap Friendly was the first to report the transaction. The contract is slated to begin next season and carries a salary cap hit of $886,667. For the 2023-24 season, the contract...
Masters Tournament Tee Times
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tee times for Thursday’s first round of the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club 8 a.m. — Kevin Na, Mike Weir 8:12 a.m. — Matthew McClean, Vijay Singh, Scott Stallings 8:24 a.m. — Talor Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Sandy Lyle 8:36 a.m. — Fred Couples, Russell...
With Pat Narduzzi pushing him, Pitt LB Bangally Kamara seeks perfection
If Bangally Kamara has discovered anything about spring football — and playing for Pat Narduzzi — it’s that he can always do better than what he shows in practice. With time and patience, Kamara might finally reach a point by the start of the 2023 season that satisfies him and...
Behind Carlos Santana’s homer, Mitch Keller’s strong start, Pirates beat Red Sox for sweep
Carlos Santana was making solid contact, so the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman believed he was close to making an offensive impact. Santana, who hit .105 (2 for 19) in his first five games, went 2 for 4 with his first home run as a Pirate and an RBI double to...
