Sports category, Page 1319
Joe Rutter: If Jordan Davis falls, Steelers will be ready to take him in 1st round of NFL Draft
In the season after Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, it would be easy and predictable to target the Pittsburgh Steelers taking a quarterback in the first round. It really makes too much sense. Scouts and general manager Kevin Colbert heavily scouted the position in the fall. Colbert and coach Mike Tomlin met...
Little League World Series announces return to full participant field, fan capacity for 2022
For the first time since 2019, the Little League World Series will enjoy a return to normalcy. After two years of covid-based restrictions on the size of the field and fan capacity, the Little League World Series announced on Wednesday that the 2022 tournament will be a standard competitor field...
Where will former Nittany Lions go in the 2022 NFL Draft? Here’s a final look at projections
The draft is set to begin this week and final mock drafts are getting published. There are three Nittany Lions who seem set to go in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft, and potentially all three could go in the first two rounds. Let’s take a final...
Mark Madden: Penguins can’t be fixed before playoffs, but here are some ideas anyway
If the Pittsburgh Penguins continue performing as they have for the past month, they’re going to get swept in the first round of the NHL playoffs. Not just eliminated, but swept. The Penguins have lost 11 of 17 and appear to be slowing down with every game. They nearly ground...
Tim Benz: For Penguins, water is finding its level as playoffs approach
Following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ latest defeat — a 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night — winger Kasperi Kapanen provided this assessment. “We know we are a good team,” Kapanen said. “Good teams have bad games, and today was one of those. … We know we are a...
From Gateway water boy to Penn State star, Jaquan Brisker ready for the NFL
Sometimes, Jaquan Brisker inserted himself into practice drills at Gateway High School, inching as close to the varsity football team — and his brothers — as a 12-year-old boy could get. Other times, he was quick to provide relief, producing a cold drink of water for the tired and thirsty...
Tim Benz, Matt Williamson’s draft preview: Jordan Davis is a dream too good to be true for Steelers defensive line
In a perfect world — well, my perfect world — the Steelers would draft Jordan Davis with the 20th overall selection in the first round of Thursday night’s NFL Draft. But in that perfect world, I’d also be writing this column beachside in Maui and getting paid $1 million per...
First Call: Cowboys owner swats former Steeler; Alex Ovechkin gives injury update; former RMU president up for NCAA gig?
In Thursday’s “First Call,” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones jabs an ex-player who also was a Pittsburgh Steeler. The Penguins’ playoff picture is crystalizing. Alexander Ovechkin provides a health update. And a surprising new job could be in the works for former Robert Morris University president Chris Howard. I’m sure...
A dizzying day of Pirates debuts for OFs Jack Suwinski, Tucupita Marcano, RHP Beau Sulser
When the Altoona Curve team bus pulled into Akron on Tuesday morning, players were instructed not to go to their rooms but instead to an impromptu meeting. That’s where manager Kieran Mattison called Tucupita Marcano and Jack Suwinski to the front of hotel lobby. “It’s crazy how you’re two, three...
With steal against Pirates, Brewers DH Andrew McCutchen joins exclusive 200 HR/200 SB club
Andrew McCutchen always envisioned he would gain membership into one of baseball’s most exclusive clubs, and as soon as he saw the schedule he knew where he wanted to complete the feat. The Milwaukee Brewers’ designated hitter — a five-time All-Star and the 2013 NL MVP with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
Pirates farm report for April 26, 2022: Indianapolis loses no-hitter in 9th
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 10-8) took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a 4-0 win over Iowa (Cubs). RHP Yerry De Los Santos (1.29), Indy’s fourth pitcher, gave up a single to C PJ Higgins with one out in the bottom of the ninth. RHP Osvaldo Bido (3.00) started and went...
Willy Adames hits 2 homers, accounts for 7 RBIs as Brewers beat Pirates
Willy Adames had something extra for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and it led to a career game for the Milwaukee Brewers shortstop. Adames went 4 for 5 with his first career multi-home run game and a career-high seven RBIs to lead the Brewers to a 12-8 win Tuesday night before an...
Sputtering Penguins suffer rare home loss to Oilers, lose Jason Zucker to injury
The Penguins’ 5-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers at PPG Paints Arena on Tuesday was rare. As in, “Sidney Crosby’s rookie season” rare. That’s how long it has been since the Oilers claimed a regulation win in Pittsburgh. On Jan. 10, 2006, they triumphed, 3-1, against an 18-year-old Crosby and...
Penguins forward Kasperi Kapanen returns to lineup
Forward Kasperi Kapanen returned to the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for Tuesday’s home game against the Edmonton Oilers at PPG Paints Arena. He was a healthy scratch during Sunday’s 4-1 road loss to the rival Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center. By any measure, Kapanen’s season has been underwhelming. Before...
NCAA President Mark Emmert stepping down no later than 2023Video
INDIANAPOLIS — NCAA President Mark Emmert is stepping down after 12 tumultuous years of leading an association that has become marginalized while college sports has undergone massive changes and been besieged by political and legal attacks. NCAA Board of Governors Chairman John DeGioia announced the move Tuesday and said it...
Pirates notebook: Roster moves affect starting lineup, as OF Jack Suwinski makes MLB debut
Hours before the start of a six-game homestand, the Pittsburgh Pirates required a roster shakeup that affected their starting lineup. The Pirates placed All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds and infielder/outfielder Cole Tucker on the covid-19 injured list while awaiting test results and recalled infielder/outfielder Tucupita Marcano and outfielder Jack Suwinski...
Butler’s Devin Carney, FIU transfer point guard Tevin Brewer choose Duquesne
Duquesne added two more bricks to its roster reconstruction Tuesday when Butler High School’s Devin Carney and point guard Tevin Brewer, a transfer from FIU, signed letters of intent and joined the Dukes’ eight-man recruiting class. Carney averaged 26 points at Butler, shot 55% from the field and 90% from...
Looking back at the best, worst of Kevin Colbert’s 22 years overseeing Steelers’ draft
Asking Kevin Colbert to pick his favorite draft class is like having him pick his favorite child. And Colbert has 22 drafts on his resume compared to three kids that he and wife Janis have raised. Colbert was asked to reminisce Monday at his final pre-draft news conference, and he...
Pirates place Bryan Reynolds, Cole Tucker on covid-19 injured list while awaiting test results
The Pittsburgh Pirates will be without All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds and infielder/outfielder Cole Tucker to start their six-game homestand, as both players were placed on the covid-19 injured list while awaiting test results. The Pirates also placed left-handed reliever Anthony Banda on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April...
Former South Fayette softball player Lauren Bernett dies
The James Madison softball program Tuesday was mourning the death of sophomore catcher Lauren Bernett, a South Fayette graduate who helped the Dukes reach the College World Series a year ago. “Our hearts are aching, hearing the news of the loss of one of our student-athletes,” university president Jonathan Alger...
Gaudreau? Matthews? Shesterkin? NHL MVP race at least 7 deep
Auston Matthews leads the NHL in goals, Connor McDavid has the most points and Igor Shesterkin has been the best goaltender in the league. It’s entirely possible none of them wins the Hart Trophy as MVP. Matthews, McDavid and Shesterkin are among the front-runners, but the pool of candidates goes...
1st NIL draft class could have long-lasting impact on NFL
INDIANAPOLIS — Desmond Ridder spent the days leading up to last year’s NFL draft preparing for his final college season and awaiting the birth of his first child. The veteran quarterback returned to campus hoping to improve his draft stock, increase his potential future earnings and lead Cincinnati to the...
Wimbledon defends ‘agonizing decision’ to ban Russians
Two All England Club officials defended during a news conference Tuesday the “intensely tough and agonizing decision” to bar players from Russia and Belarus from Wimbledon this year because of the invasion of Ukraine. Citing the club’s “responsibility to play our part in limiting the possibility of Wimbledon being used...
AP source: Penn State finalizing deal to make BC’s Kraft AD
Penn State is working to finalize a deal with Boston College athletic director Patrick Kraft to replace the retiring Sandy Barbour and become the school’s next AD. A person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that the school and Kraft were closing in on an agreement. The...
Coach retirements, NIL create new college basketball world
It wasn’t hard to spot Roy Williams during his first year of retirement. He visited arenas across the country for games, including every step of North Carolina’s wild ride to the NCAA championship game against Kansas, a matchup of two programs he once coached. But he was cheering from ticketed...
