Could trade deadline enliven NASCAR season? Plenty of moving parts work against driver swaps
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Imagine a scenario in the NASCAR world — say, around the Brickyard 400 in July — when the hot topic isn’t just which driver might kiss the bricks. Try, which driver could kiss his current ride goodbye. What if NASCAR took a cue from stick-and-ball sports...
12-time All-Star Chris Paul, the ‘Point God,’ retires after 21-season NBA run
Chris Paul, the “Point God” who was a 12-time All-Star selection and two-time Olympic gold medalist, announced his retirement Friday in the capper of a 21-season career that will surely merit induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Paul, 40, made the announcement on the first day of the NBA’s...
Chase Elliott says fuel-mileage strategy is here to stay at Daytona, and everyone has caught on
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Chase Elliott remembers when Hendrick Motorsports was one of the first NASCAR teams to approach superspeedway racing as fuel-mileage events. It wasn’t that long ago, really. Elliott said Friday that turning laps at Daytona International Speedway has changed dramatically since the “Next Gen” car’s debut in...
Brian Flores’ NFL discrimination suit headed to court, not arbitration
NEW YORK — The Brian Flores-led discrimination lawsuit against the NFL can proceed to open court and avoid the league’s arbitration process, a federal judge ruled Friday. Flores, who is joined in the lawsuit by Steve Wilks and Ray Horton, sued the league and three teams in February 2022 after...
NFL wins grievance against the players’ union, banning ‘team report cards’
An arbitrator determined the NFL Players Association violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL by distributing annual “team report cards” and ordered the union to stop making public any future reports. The NFL informed teams of the decision on Friday. “We are pleased with the decision from the arbitrator,...
Steelers enter pivotal part of offseason as Pittsburgh prepares to host NFL Draft
The offseason began with a new head coach and a revamped staff of assistants in place for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The front office brain trust, however, remains in place with general manager Omar Khan and assistant Andy Weidl, which means don’t expect many changes in the way the organization conducts...
‘Beyond the Bylines’ with Tim Benz and Joe Starkey — Feb. 13, 2026Video
Go “Beyond the Bylines” with Tim Benz and Joe Starkey as they cover the latest sports talk in Pittsburgh — digging deeper on the subjects — from Steelers to Penguins to Pirates, and beyond. Watch the Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, show:...
Mark Madden: Cam Heyward’s silence speaks loudest in Steelers’ podcast saga
As Pittsburgh Steelers past and present re-enact “Mean Girls” via podcast — I stole that from X — it’s easy to overlook the hidden schmuck in Porter vs. Roethlisberger. It’s the fearless leader, Cameron Heyward. Heyward sat there, a lump of silence, while Joey Porter excoriated Ben Roethlisberger, called him a...
Duquesne’s players will study scouting report harder before rematch against St. Bonaventure
Duquesne guard Jimmie Williams didn’t hesitate when asked a question about what his team needs to focus on to be better against St. Bonaventure this time around. “The scout,” Williams said instantly. No. Not the scouting report itself, put together by the coaching staff. Williams said that was spot on,...
Pirates promote Cibney Bello to assistant pitching coach after Thomas Whitsett resigns
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Don Kelly learned weeks before the start of spring training there would be a change to his coaching staff, which made for a difficult decision. The Pirates promoted Cibney Bello to the major-league staff as the assistant pitching coach to replace Thomas Whitsett, who resigned for personal...
Pirates catcher Henry Davis hopes deep dive into biomechanics data improves his hitting
BRADENTON, Fla. — Since selecting Henry Davis with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Pirates have raved about his obsessive work ethic and effort to improve at and behind the plate. Davis knows he’s a better hitter than his batting average suggests. Given that the...
Renowned Penguins killer and Team USA hockey legacy Brock Nelson off to a hot start at the OlympicsVideo
Pittsburgh Penguins fans have gotten used to gritting their teeth and muttering Brock Nelson’s name under their breath. The Colorado Avalanche forward has 40 points in 46 games against Pittsburgh, the most of any team he faced over his 13-year NHL career. He also has nine points (six goals) against...
Pitt transfer Holden Geriner embraces mentorship role with young quarterbacks
Holden Geriner isn’t blind to the situation he willingly walked into at Pitt. The Panthers have an established quarterback in Mason Heintschel and also brought in a pair of freshmen at the position: Corey Dailey and Angelo Renda. Geriner transferred to Pitt from Texas State, where he had one pass...
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins continue to thrive despite revolving roster of 47 playersVideo
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins haven’t won a game in nearly a week. And they have a good excuse. They haven’t played since Feb. 7. The American Hockey League is in the midst of its All-Star break, and that is the only thing that has put a halt — albeit a temporary...
First Call: Ex-Steeler supports Ben Roethlisberger; former Steelers coach up for Las Vegas OC gig
Friday’s “First Call” finds a former Pittsburgh Steeler willing to back up Ben Roethlisberger. An ex-Steelers coach is trying to find a new job with a promotion in Las Vegas. Pitt basketball is staring another significant challenge in the face. Robert Morris and Duquesne hoops are looking to continue their...
Judge grants Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss extra eligibility
PITTSBORO, Miss. — In saying “the NCAA ignored its own rules,” a Mississippi judge granted Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction Thursday against college athletics’ governing body, allowing him to receive an extra year of eligibility so he can play next season. The NCAA denied Chambliss’ waiver request...
Phillies release Nick Castellanos, who admits to bringing beer into dugout
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday after the team was unable to make a deal to trade him. Castellanos then revealed he was benched last season after bringing beer into the dugout during a game. The team wanted the situation resolved before its first...
Robert Morris men surge past Cleveland State for 3rd straight win, 6th in past 8 games
The defending champs suddenly are rolling. Surging Robert Morris has come to life in time for the stretch run of the college basketball season with March Madness just around the corner. Ryan Prather Jr. tied a career high with 25 points to lead the defending Horizon League champion Colonials to...
Penguins’ Sidney Crosby tallies a pair of assists as Canada beats Czechia
A look at how members of the Pittsburgh Penguins are performing in the Winter Olympics: Penguins forward Sidney Crosby recorded a pair of secondary assists for Canada in a 5-0 win against Czechia during a preliminary round contest at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan on Thursday. Crosby’s...
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Olympics because of banned helmet honoring war dead
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, a likely medal contender at the Milan Cortina Games, was barred from racing Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee to not use a helmet that honors more than 20 athletes and coaches killed since Russia invaded...
Minnesota lawyer, 54, becomes oldest U.S. Winter OlympianVideo
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — The stakes were low — and the time ripe — for a 54-year old personal injury lawyer and six-time winner of “Minnesota Attorney of the Year” to make Olympic history. It was the end of the U.S. men’s curling match against Switzerland on Thursday, and they...
Brock Nelson scores twice as US opens the Milan Cortina Olympics by rolling over Latvia 5-1
MILAN — The U.S. goal song — “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd — blared seven times during over arena speakers on Thursday night. Twice, the celebration was only short-lived. Bouncing back from having a pair of goals wiped out by coach’s challenges, the U.S. opened the Olympics by rolling past...
Pirates great Elroy Face, Baron of the Bullpen and pioneer of closer role, dies at age 97
Known as the “Baron of the Bullpen,” Elroy Face was a pioneer for modern-day closers in baseball who made the forkball famous and played a vital role for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1960 World Series champions. A three-time All-Star, Face owns Major League Baseball’s career record for most wins in relief,...
Winter Olympics recap: Canadian hockey team notches shutout vs. Czechia
MILAN — Macklin Celebrini scored Canada’s first goal in the return of the NHL to the Olympics, and Jordan Binnington stopped all 26 shots he faced in a 5-0 defeat of Czechia on Thursday that showed the tournament favorite is already a well-oiled machine. “Our intentions were really good with...
A-K Valley campus clips: Highlands grad part of Point Park wrestling’s inaugural season
Aiden Burford has helped the Point Park men’s wrestling team navigate its inaugural season, and the freshman 141-pounder from Highlands has enjoyed success in his first taste of collegiate competition. He went 4-2 and placed seventh in his debut at the Mt. Union Invitational followed by a 5-1 fifth-place finish...