Sports category, Page 1337
The Masters at a glance
AUGUSTA, Ga. — A brief look at the 86th Masters, which starts Thursday: Site: Augusta National Golf Club. Length: 7,510 yards. Par: 36-36—72. Purse: To be determined ($11.5 million in 2021). Field: 91 players (six amateurs). Cut: Top 50 and ties. Defending champion: Hideki Matsuyama. Tiger tales: Five-time champion Tiger...
The Masters course evolves with the times, yet maintains traditionsVideo
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Not even 24 hours had passed after last year’s Masters ended, and the preparations for this year’s tournament were underway. It started with heavy equipment — brought onto Augusta National to remove a massive tree from its former home near the 15th tee. While some traditions at...
All eyes on Tiger Woods despite intrigue-filled MastersVideo
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Five players can go to No. 1 in the world by winning the Masters. Another can complete the career Grand Slam with a green jacket. Such is the depth of talent these days in golf on the eve of the first major of the year. And such...
Predicting the World Series champ, award winners for 2022 MLB season
NL MVP Juan Soto, Nationals Soto has the best eye in baseball, drawing an MLB-best 145 walks against 93 strikeouts last season. He didn’t put up eye-popping power numbers, slashing .313/.465/.534 with 29 home runs and 95 RBIs, and finished second in MVP voting. Soto could see more strikes with...
Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson finds benefit but frustration in healthy scratches
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Marcus Pettersson returned to the lineup during Tuesday’s 6-4 home loss to the Colorado Avalanche. His presence came after he had been a healthy scratch in his team’s previous two games. In all, he has been a healthy scratch for four of the past 12 games. Pettersson...
Large bobbleheads give Pirates pause before unveiling at PNC Park
Pittsburgh Pirates management is mulling a lineup change to a set of large bobbleheads that are expected to be featured in PNC Park’s expanded kids area after officials said two of the life-size figurines did not meet their expectations. “We ordered a total of five life-sized, fun, vintage replica-style bobbleheads...
Stakes set for Pitt spring game: Steak for the winners, ‘dirty-water’ hot dogs for the losers
If you think there’s nothing at stake Saturday at Heinz Field in Pitt’s intra-squad Blue-Gold Game, let defensive line coach Charlie Partridge set you straight. “Steaks or hot dogs,” said Partridge, who will coach the Gold team against offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti’s Blue squad. “Winner goes to one part of...
Lacrosse officials demand pay increase in disruptive dispute with WPIAL schools
A number of Western Pennsylvania boys lacrosse officials are taking a timeout from working varsity games unless WPIAL schools give them a pay raise. The Allegheny Lacrosse Officials Association this winter requested a $90 rate for working varsity games, but the WPIAL athletic directors association instead approved a $2 raise...
Penguins forward Jason Zucker is close to a potential return (again)Video
Penguins forward Jeff Carter was demoted Wednesday. And he was happy about it. That’s because second-line winger Jason Zucker was back on the ice in practice. The oft-injured Zucker participated in full-contact fashion during Wednesday’s session at the team’s facility in Cranberry, primarily skating on the left wing of a...
Pirates to serve up Pittsburgh food and drink this season at PNC Park
The Pirates and PNC Park teamed with restaurants and chefs to bring a taste of Pittsburgh into the stadium this baseball season. New menu items include Fat Head’s beer from the South Side, a burger from Station in Bloomfield, and a Reuben hot dog topped with house-made corned beef from...
Steel City Ice Renegades, Selects hockey teams capture national championships
The Steel City Ice Renegades boys Tier II 16U 3A and Steel City Selects girls Tier II 19U A hockey teams were not to be denied Monday as they finished title runs at their respective USA Hockey national championship tournaments. Both teams played six games. The Ice Renegades finished 5-1,...
Attorneys General warn NFL to improve treatment of women
NEW YORK — The attorneys general of six states have written to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , expressing concern over the league’s treatment of female employees and admonishing him for a lack of improvement to the league’s workplace culture. Without improvement, the attorneys general warned of potential legal action. The...
Locked in: MLB set for delayed openers after a long winter
It’ll end up being 157 days between the moment Freddie Freeman and the Atlanta Braves won last year’s World Series and the start of the 2022 baseball season. Everything in between? Tough to sum that up quickly. A record spending spree on free agents. A bitter work stoppage that delayed...
Bills’ Stefon Diggs agrees to 4-year contract extension
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs will never have to feel undervalued again. The fifth-round draft pick who blossomed into one of the NFL’s top playmakers after being traded by Minnesota to Buffalo two years ago agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million, a person...
AP source: Ramírez, Guardians agree on 5-year, $124M deal
CLEVELAND — José Ramírez forced the Guardians to go deep into their pockets. The All-Star third baseman agreed to a $124 million, five-year contract on the eve of opening day with Cleveland, a franchise that hasn’t been able to swing with baseball’s big spenders over the years. Ramírez’s deal runs...
Good friends, Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas have same Masters goal
Augusta, Ga. — Jordan Spieth is a little frustrated he has just one green jacket. Justin Thomas is just as frustrated he has only won one major championship — and it didn’t come with a green jacket. If their motivations this week at the Masters are similar it shouldn’t come...
Mark Madden: With playoff series looming, Penguins-Rangers matchup has extra importance
Thursday’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Penguins and host New York Rangers isn’t a playoff game. But it’s got implications beyond a mere regular-season contest. The Penguins and Rangers are a good bet to play in the first round of the playoffs. The Rangers have beaten the Penguins two straight times,...
Duquesne football player Roman Macek gets offer to pursue pro wrestling dream at WWE performance center
For Duquesne football player Roman Macek, he figured it was worth a try. What’s the worst that could happen? They laugh him out of Texas? He’d only be gone for a few days. His coaches and teammates were behind him. The flight would land early enough Saturday that he could...
Q&A with Pirates manager Derek Shelton: ‘I trust that we’re going to win in Pittsburgh’
On the opening day of his third spring training as Pittsburgh Pirates manager, Derek Shelton discussed how nothing about his two-year tenure has been normal — and why it’s made him a better leader. Serving as the steady hand steering a sinking ship, Shelton has endured a roster reconstruction as...
Pirates lefty reliever Aaron Fletcher finds funky delivery suits his style, gives bullpen a new look
Aaron Fletcher will be the first to tell you he’s funky. The left-handed reliever has a low-quarters delivery and relies more on movement than overpowering pitches. Fletcher didn’t share that he throws sidearm when he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in spring training after being claimed off waivers from the Seattle...
Court: Browns QB Deshaun Watson must address history with therapists
HOUSTON — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson must say whether he had sex with 18 massage therapists who supported him last year following criminal complaints, a judge in Texas ruled Tuesday. USA Today reported that Watson has 30 days to comply. He previously would not address his past with the...
Pirates farm report for April 5, 2022: Indy opens with loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-1) dropped its season opener to Omaha (Royals), 4-1. RF Cal Mitchell produced Indianapolis’ only run on a solo homer in the sixth. SS Oneil Cruz went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk. 1B Mason Martin and LF Canaan Smith-Njigba each went 2 for 4....
Toby Sims nets pair of goals in 1st experience at midfield, leads Riverhounds to win
Toby Sims saw his name penciled in as a midfielder on the lineup board after Monday’s practice and did a double take. “I was like … I’ve never played that position before,” he said. Sims is a defender by trade, but Riverhounds coach Bob Lilley gave him an opportunity to...
Penguins can’t keep up with powerful AvalancheVideo
The Penguins aren’t the best team in the NHL. Far from it. A quick glance at the standings would confirm that notion. That observation would also display that the Colorado Avalanche stand as the league’s top outfit this season based on points. The Penguins got a first-hand account of what...
Kansas’ victory most-viewed men’s title game on cable TV
NEW YORK — Kansas’ comeback victory over North Carolina to win the NCAA basketball championship was the most-viewed men’s title game on cable television. The Jayhawks’ 72-69 win averaged 18.1 million viewers on TBS, TNT and truTV. It is also a 4% increase over last year’s title game between Baylor...
