Sports category, Page 1324
Coordinator changes spice up spring practices at Big Ten schoolsVideo
MADISON, Wis. — During an offseason in which more than one out of every five Football Bowl Subdivision programs changed head coaches, the Big Ten was the lone conference that didn’t see a single move. But that doesn’t mean the league stood pat. While all 14 Big Ten members returned...
Duke’s Paolo Banchero declares for NBA DraftVideo
Duke’s Paolo Banchero is leaping to the NBA after one season as a candidate to be the No. 1 overall draft pick. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound freshman announced his decision in a social media video Wednesday, with the school saying he planned to hire an agent. “It has always been a...
Report: 49ers All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel requests trade
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — All-Pro receiver Deebo Samuel told ESPN on Wednesday that he has requested a trade from the San Francisco 49ers as the two sides have been unable to negotiate a long-term deal for one of the league’s top playmakers. Samuel is entering the final year of the...
Masters champ Scheffler returns to work, partners with Palmer in New OrleansVideo
AVONDALE, La. — One of the perks from winning the Masters is recognition that comes from outside the world of golf. For Scottie Scheffler, that included a letter from fellow Dallas resident and former President George W. Bush. One problem. “His handwriting is really hard to read,” Scheffler said Wednesday....
Watson embraced by teammates in Browns’ offseason programVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson made a strong impression on his new teammates long ago, scrambling for first downs and rifling touchdown passes while becoming an elite quarterback playing in Houston. Now in Cleveland, the impression he makes off the field might matter more. Acquired from the Texans in a...
Hobbled Pitt drags WVU through 11 innings at PNC Park before losing
Mike Bell was unhappy when the 2021 NCAA Tournament field was revealed, and his Pitt baseball team was not among the chosen 64. Who could blame him? Pitt won 17 games against the top 50 of the RPI and was 18-12 against teams in the NCAA field. The Panthers were...
Penguins mindful of — but not fixated on — Eastern Conference standings
The Eastern Conference playoff field is set. How it all shakes out, though, is yet to be determined. Barring a miracle, the Pittsburgh Penguins are locked into one of three postseason seeding spots: third place in the Metropolitan Division, the first wild card or the second (final) wild card. The...
Mitch Keller makes impressive start but Brewers get series sweep
Mitch Keller had the mentality that he wanted to get ahead on counts so he could lean heavily on his fastball, so it was a good sign when the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander threw 18 of 20 first pitches for strikes. As efficient as Keller was, Milwaukee Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff...
Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe to return for senior seasonVideo
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky forward Oscar Tshiebwe will return for his senior year with the Wildcats after a breakout season in which he swept national player of the year awards. The 6-foot-9 Tshiebwe announced his decision Wednesday on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “I’ll be here next year for Kentucky,” he said. The...
Norwin grad JJ Matijevic gets call up to major leagues with AstrosVideo
JJ Matijevic’s ascent through the minor leagues hit the ceiling Wednesday when he was called up to join the Houston Astros. For the first time, he is a major leaguer — at least for now. The Astros brought him up to replace infielder Jose Altuve, who is on the 10-day...
Steelers could take advantage of deep tackle class with early pick in NFL Draft
Kevin Colbert’s “regret” last offseason was not fortifying an offensive line that resulted in the Pittsburgh Steelers starting rookies at left tackle and center. “An affordable veteran that maybe could have eased the growth time for that group,” Colbert said in February, “but we knew it was going to be...
Sports will remain intact when 6 PSAC universities merge into 2 this summer
When Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference universities Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, Mansfield, California, Clarion and Edinboro merge into two schools July 1, athletic programs on each campus will remain intact. The NCAA Division II Membership Committee gave its approval Wednesday for those schools to continue to offer a full complement of programs...
Penguins defenseman Nathan Beaulieu offers a different element on the bluelineVideo
Nathan Beaulieu had a white Christmas. In April. As a spring snow squall covered windshields in the parking lot of the Penguins’ facility in Cranberry on Tuesday, Beaulieu was on the ice skating with his new team for the first time. “It kind of felt like Christmas for me today...
Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry’s right foot in boot
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry remains out, and his status remains termed as “week to week” with “a lower-body injury” by coach Mike Sullivan. The annual team photo Wednesday perhaps provided some hints to further provide clarity on Jarry’s ailment. Jarry’s right foot was in what appeared to be a...
Most teams welcomed combine’s comeback but some snubbed it
INDIANAPOLIS — Comparison shopping and face-to-face contact with college prospects returned to the NFL this year after the 2021 scouting combine was scuttled by the pandemic. Talent evaluators welcomed back college pro days and private workouts even as the covid-19 broadside entered its third year. The core of the league’s...
Liberty quarterback Malik Willis visits with Steelers to wrap up top 30 process
The final top quarterback prospect from this year’s draft class visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Malik Willis, who could be the first quarterback selected in the draft when it begins April 28, conducted a top-30 visit at the UMPC Rooney Sports Complex. Wednesday is the final day that...
911 calls reveal Dwayne Haskins was walking to get gas when struck, killed by dump truck
Dwayne Haskins was walking to get gas for his disabled car when he was struck and killed by a dump truck April 9 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to a pair of 911 calls. The calls were obtained by a Miami television station and released Wednesday. Haskins, 24, was pronounced...
Penguins add Phil Kessel’s sister, Amanda Kessel to front office
Just in time for the playoffs, the Pittsburgh Penguins added Kessel. Probably not the one you’re thinking, though. The organization announced Wednesday that Olympic gold medalist Amanda Kessel will be the inaugural participant in what the Penguins are calling their new executive management program. A three-time Olympic medalist for Team...
Steelers announce return to Saint Vincent College for training camp after 2-year absence
Shoulder pads will be popping, footballs will be flinging and fans will be packing the hillside at Saint Vincent College again this summer. After a two-year absence because of the pandemic, the Pittsburgh Steelers will return to the Unity campus to conduct training camp this year, the team announced Wednesday....
Wimbledon bans players from Russia, Belarus over Ukraine war
LONDON — Tennis players from Russia and Belarus will not be allowed to play at Wimbledon this year because of the war in Ukraine, the All England Club announced Wednesday. Among the prominent men’s players affected by the ban are reigning U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev, who recently reached No....
‘We have a lot to prove’: How Penn State football plans to fix its run game next season
Penn State football coach James Franklin was visibly frustrated following his team’s 30-27 loss to Michigan State in late November 2021. When asked about the importance of running, he was succinct. “It’s important,” he said. “I want to be able to run the ball.” While Penn State wasn’t able to...
Pirates lean on Ben Gamel’s glove, veteran mindset
Lucky for Ben Gamel, the right field grass at PNC Park was wet. It made his landing a little softer. Of course, it could have been a rock-strewn outfield, instead of the well-manicured carpet at PNC Park, and Gamel still might have left his feet to track down those two...
With expansion on hold, College Football Playoff settles in
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — As college football tries to navigate unprecedented upheaval, the status quo holds with the College Football Playoff that crowns its national champion. The playoff is likely to stick with the current four-team format through the end of its contract. It has no plans to engage players on...
Mark Madden: Steelers must choose between sizzle, steak at NFL Draft
The NFL Draft is a week away. The Pittsburgh Steelers have two options: Do a showbiz draft. Do a draft that 100% benefits the team. The showbiz draft consists of taking a quarterback with the 20th pick overall, then a wide receiver in the second round. Perhaps some tenuous connection...
Pirates farm report for April 19, 2022: Sam Howard, Anthony Alford rehabbing with Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 6-6) was doubled up by Columbus (Guardians), 4-2. LHP Sam Howard (0-1, 5.40), rehabbing a back injury, started and gave up a run on one hit and one walk in 1.2 innings. RHP Chase De Jong (2.08) allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in two...
