Sports category, Page 1032
All-Star weekend arrives, as NBA heads to Salt Lake City
SALT LAKE CITY — If so inclined, and if fellow captain LeBron James was to cooperate with his own selections, Giannis Antetokounmpo could pick Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid and Lauri Markkanen to play on his team Sunday night. Imagine that: an All-International All-Star starting lineup. It’s one of...
As spring training begins, MLB betting market heats up, including World Series odds
BY ZACH EWING | Home Field Sports The Super Bowl is over, and though it’s still winter in most parts of the country, we’ve heard the magical words that tell us springtime is on the way: “Pitchers and catchers report.” Indeed, spring training has started across Major League Baseball camps...
After shattering Statcast records as rookie, Pirates SS Oneil Cruz eyes exclusive clubs
BRADENTON, Fla. — Oneil Cruz showed as a rookie that one swing can do enough damage to shatter Statcast records, so the Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop shared some lofty goals for his first full year in the major leagues. After flashing his unique blend of power and speed by hitting 17...
Pa. Game Commission says 2022 bear harvest included 14 ‘tremendous’ bears over 600 pounds
While the number of black bears harvested in Pennsylvania in 2022 was down, some of those were “tremendous” animals that weighed more than 600 pounds. The Pennsylvania Game Commission said of the 3,170 bears harvested, three weighed more than 700 pounds and 11 weighed more than 600 pounds. It was...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fan still crusty; NFL referees absorb some shots; Pirates cynicism
Lingering bitterness from Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Agitation over NFL officiating. Cynicism about the Pirates. And disinterest in the Super Bowl. It sure seems like our readers weren’t hugged enough on Valentine’s Day. Or at all. Like, ever. I mean, going back to when they were kids. That’s why I put...
First Call: Another ex-Steeler critical of the offense; Brian Flores discusses time with Steelers; a Rex Ryan return to coaching?
Thursday’s “First Call” has more criticism of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense from another former employee. Damar Hamlin is wrapped up in an off-field controversy. Brian Flores speaks about his time in Pittsburgh while accepting his new job. And an old friend of the Steelers may be getting back into coaching....
In search to stay healthy, show more power, Pirates 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes packs on muscleVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — After being bothered by back and hip pain, Ke’Bryan Hayes used his brains to add brawn. The Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman invested in a team of trainers in the offseason to focus on core stability and stay healthy. Hayes looked buff on the opening day of spring...
Minor league report: Valtteri Puustinen, Penguins snap losing streakVideo
An overtime goal by forward Valtteri Puustinen gave the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins a 3-2 home win against the rival Hershey Bears at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Puustinen also recorded an assist while forwards Drake Caggiula and Filip Hallander each scored regulation goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (21-20-2-4) which snapped a...
Bowman, Larson give Hendrick sweep of front row at DaytonaVideo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Alex Bowman won his third career Daytona 500 pole and will be joined by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson on the front row for NASCAR’s season opener. The Hendrick dominance is no surprise. Bowman, who missed five races late last season because of a concussion, is...
Duquesne rolls over Saint Joseph’s for 18th victory, tripling last season’s total
After the first few minutes of Duquesne’s 76-62 victory against Saint Joseph’s on Wednesday night, the outcome never was in question. Duquesne played smothering defense at least through the first half when the Dukes forced 11 Saint Joseph’s turnovers and held the Hawks to 24 points. They made 50% of...
NASCAR 75: Car evolution includes stock, wings, safety. Could EV be next?Video
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR’s next 75 years almost certainly will include at least a partially electric vehicle turning laps at Daytona International Speedway. It’s unfathomable to some, unconscionable to others. It’s unlikely the sanctioning body would make the transition without at least trying to keep the heart-pounding sound of...
Tiger Woods had a tough time at Riviera even when healthyVideo
LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods made it through 16 holes of his pro-am Wednesday at the Genesis Invitational on a bitterly cold morning with occasional 25 mph gusts that made the temperature feel like the upper 30s. What mattered, at least for now, was how he finished. He didn’t play...
Saints hire Kiski Area graduate Joe Woods as defensive coordinatorVideo
METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints hired Kiski Area graduate Joe Woods as defensive coordinator Wednesday. Saints coach Dennis Allen also added defensive line coach Todd Grantham, secondary coach Marcus Robertson, tight ends coach Clancy Barone and assistant offensive line coach Kevin Carberry. Woods spent the past three seasons...
Damar Hamlin apologizes for jacket worn at Super Bowl
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said Wednesday he never intended to offend anyone for attending the Super Bowl wearing a jacket that critics deemed to feature an offensive depiction of Jesus. “After talking with my parents I understand how my coat could have offended some people,” Hamlin...
Pittsburgh men’s basketball producing for bettors during win streak
BY SHANE JACKSON | Home Field Sports Contributor The Pittsburgh Panthers are on a bit of a roll heading into the home stretch of the 2022-23 college basketball regular season. Pittsburgh has won six games in a row and hasn’t lost since Jan. 21. The Panthers, who are 19-7 overall...
Sweden emerges as sudden front-runner to host 2030 Olympics
GENEVA — Sweden emerging as the front-runner in a troubled search for a 2030 Olympics host is as much a surprise in Stockholm as elsewhere. The year started with Sweden not on the radar of a Winter Games race where longtime favorite Sapporo faded during a criminal investigation of alleged...
College basketball’s SEC showdown and Genesis Invitational pick
BY ZACH EWING | 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...
2023 Pirates spring training guide: Position breakdowns, prospects, analysis
The Pittsburgh Pirates are in Bradenton, Florida, this week as pitchers and catchers reported last week for the start of spring training. The whole team reported on Monday. TribLIVE sports writer Kevin Gorman will be covering the team throughout the spring. Previewing the Pirates: Starting pitchers Mitch Keller, JT Brubaker...
Federiko Federiko fills big void in Pitt’s lineup
Pitt’s itemized list of things you never would have predicted in preseason defines the Panthers’ run to first place in the ACC. • The proliferation — and success — of the transfers and freshmen, who comprise the top six players in terms of points, rebounds and minutes played. Four are...
Mark Madden: Back to being a distraction, JuJu Smith-Schuster shows who he really is — an immature punk
After wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster left Pittsburgh and signed with Kansas City during the 2022 offseason, he went relatively quietly. Smith-Schuster minimized his addiction to social media and self-promotion, chipping only occasionally. Did Smith-Schuster stop dancing on opposition logos, climbing milk crates, going to high school proms and starring on TikTok...
Steelers assistant head coach John Mitchell retires after 29 years with franchise
The Pittsburgh Steelers are losing the longest-tenured member of Mike Tomlin’s coaching staff. John Mitchell, the team’s assistant head coach and a member of the organization since 1994, has decided to retire. He is 71. Mitchell spent 29 years with the Steelers and has coached in some capacity for the...
Alex Ovechkin away from Capitals due to death of his father
Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin says his father, Mikhail, has died at age 71. Ovechkin delivered the news Wednesday on social media along with family photos and video. “Today my father passed away,” Ovechkin posted in Russian on his Instagram account. “I thank everyone for their support but ask that...
How much do the Penguins look at a tablet on the bench?
Sidney Crosby isn’t quite sure when he first started using a tablet to watch video on the bench. But the Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain knows which one of his teammates is to “blame” for starting the trend. “’Tanger’,” a smirking Crosby said of his longtime friend and teammate, defenseman Kris Letang....
Derek Carr sweepstakes: Our odds on where the free-agent quarterback will land
BY JIM DERRY | Home Field Sports It’s official: The most coveted free-agent quarterback on the NFL market this offseason (I stress the “free agent” part) is Derek Carr. (This is assuming the Baltimore Ravens don’t allow Lamar Jackson to hit free agency.) Sure, there are some others who will...
Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds opens up on his trade request: ‘I want a fair deal for both sides’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — On the opening day of spring training, Bryan Reynolds stood in front of his locker and firm in his stance said he wants to be traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates, unless they are willing to offer a long-term contract that represents a “fair deal for both sides.”...
