Sports category, Page 1342
First Call: Ravens lose out on free-agent target; ex-Pitt star may grab St. Peter’s job; RMU coach tired of ‘Coach K’ coverage
In Friday’s “First Call,” the Baltimore Ravens miss out on a star free agent signing. A Pitt basketball legend may be getting his first head coaching gig. Robert Morris’ head coach is no fan of the hype surrounding Mike Krzyzewski’s last trip to the Final Four. And we recap another...
Mike Eruzione on his friendship with Mario Lemieux; legacy of the ‘Miracle on Ice;’ Pittsburgh’s special ties to 1980 team
Mike Eruzione’s friendship with Penguins legend Mario Lemieux started decades ago. Back to when he got to know the Hall of Famer through golf tournaments Lemieux set up with one of Eruzione’s Massachusetts hockey pals, former Penguins goalie Tom Barrasso. It’s no surprise the two men remained close over the...
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin’s embrace of quarterback hype has many purposes
It’s not in the nature of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to feed media hype. Generally, the more spin a story is getting, the more Tomlin tends to downplay it. Not when it comes to the team’s ongoing study of this year’s draft-eligible quarterbacks, though. During NFL owners meetings interviews, Tomlin...
Ranking Reynolds: Pirates CF Bryan Reynolds earns MLB top 10 ranking, tops trade wish lists
BRADENTON, Fla. — When MLB Network ranked the top 10 center fielders in baseball, Bryan Reynolds was thrilled to see he was at No. 4 after playing the position for only one season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Reynolds was ranked behind Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, George Springer...
Xavier rallies past Texas A&M to win NIT as tournament leaves Madison Square Garden
NEW YORK — If this was the last NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden, it certainly was a thriller. Especially for Xavier. Jack Nunge made the go-ahead basket with 3.1 seconds left and the Musketeers won their first NIT crown in 64 years Thursday night, rallying for a 73-72...
Xavier rallies past Texas A&M for 1st NIT title since 1958Video
NEW YORK — If this was the last NIT championship game at Madison Square Garden, it certainly was a thriller. Especially for Xavier. Jack Nunge made the go-ahead basket with 3.1 seconds left and the Musketeers won their first NIT crown in 64 years Thursday night, rallying for a 73-72...
Penguins win in overtime but lose forward Jason Zucker once again
The Penguins were eager to get Jason Zucker back in their lineup. And sure enough, the forward who had missed 37 of the previous 38 games due to a core muscle injury contributed almost immediately during their 4-3 overtime road win against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center in...
Knox uses 4-birdie run for a 1-stroke lead at Texas OpenVideo
SAN ANTONIO — Russell Knox recorded four straight birdies on the back nine and fired a 7-under-par 65 on Thursday for a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Valero Texas Open. Knox closed his round with a 7-foot putt to save par at the par-5 18th at TPC...
Pirates trade with Arizona for infielder Josh VanMeter; designate outfielder Jared Oliva
The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired infielder Josh VanMeter from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a minor league pitcher Thursday in a move that required the shuffling of their 40-man roster. VanMeter, 27, slashed .212/.297/.354 with 17 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 36 RBIs last season for Arizona. He spent two...
Jason Zucker returns to Penguins’ lineup (and Minnesota) but leaves game early
Jason Zucker was back in a familiar place Thursday. The lineup. Having missed 37 of the past 38 games because of a core muscle injury, the Pittsburgh Penguins forward returned to the ice in a game of consequence with roughly a month left in the regular season. However, any ambitions...
North Carolina’s Hubert Davis uses experience Final Four coaching giants lackVideo
NEW ORLEANS — North Carolina’s Hubert Davis doesn’t have the long history of sideline success as the rest of the coaches at this week’s Final Four. He’s not worried about being the new coach on the block, either. That’s because the former UNC player has something Hall of Famers Mike...
Seton Hill’s Osikowicz up for national softball award
Jenna Osikowicz came back for a fifth season at Seton Hill. It might earn her a national award. The standout softball player from Hempfield was added to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II National Player of the Year Award watch list, one of 50 NCAA Division II players nominated....
Todd Bowles calls replacing Bruce Arians as Bucs coach ‘bittersweet’Video
TAMPA, Fla. — Todd Bowles earned his way in the NFL on the defensive side of the ball. He is not afraid to talk offense. The new head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won’t be shy about sharing his ideas with offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich and quarterback Tom Brady....
Wet, cold forecast pushes opening night at Lernerville back a week
Thanks to a forecast that calls for rain and cold, opening night at Lernerville Speedway will have to wait a week. Track officials announced Thursday that the season’s first night of racing action has been pushed back to Friday, April 8. The opening night schedule includes Peoples Natural Gas Sprint...
Veteran coaches tasked with assembling Pitt’s offensive ‘smorgasbord’
To steal tight ends coach Tim Salem’s word describing Pitt’s offense, spring football has offered a “smorgasbord” of experiences for players and staff on that side of the ball. What else would you expect from a unit that includes four veteran assistants who total 146 years of blowing a whistle,...
Lots of optimism around Sean Clifford, young Penn State QBs
STATE COLLEGE — Sean Clifford might be returning to Penn State for his sixth college season, but it marks just the second time in his career that he’ll be working with the same offensive coordinator for the second year in a row. In Clifford’s first three years as a starter,...
Steelers bring back former WVU safety, 1st-round pick Karl Joseph
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Thursday that they were bringing back one of their safeties. Not their former starter, though, who remains a free agent. Former West Virginia safety and NFL first-round pick Karl Joseph was brought back on a one-year deal. Joseph, 28, appeared in two games for the Steelers...
Purdue All-American Jaden Ivey announces he’s entering NBA DraftVideo
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue’s Jaden Ivey has entered his name in the NBA Draft, forfeiting his final two seasons of college eligibility. “This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I am beyond excited for this journey,” Ivey posted on his social media accounts Thursday. Ivey averaged 17.3...
Wisconsin All-American Johnny Davis entering NBA Draft, hiring agentVideo
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis is ready to turn pro after delivering a superb sophomore season. Davis announced Thursday he is entering the NBA Draft and hiring an agent. The 6-foot-5 guard is regarded as a likely lottery selection and could be Wisconsin’s first top-10 overall pick since the...
Final Four gets experience boost from transfer portal, covid-19Video
NEW ORLEANS — A bunch of one-and-done phenoms brought together by Kentucky coach John Calipari stepped onto the floor into the spotlight of the cavernous Superdome 10 years ago, oozing with the kind of NBA potential that made it clear their college basketball careers were about to end at the...
Amid reports of trade speculation, Bryan Reynolds homers as Pirates rally to tie Orioles
On a day that started with Bryan Reynolds being the subject of trade speculation, he provided a no-doubter. Reynolds drilled a Tyler Wells fastball 349 feet over the right-center field fence for his second home run of spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who tied the Baltimore Orioles, 4-4, on...
Relieved more than joyful, U.S. turns attention to Qatar in World CupVideo
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams had relief on their faces as they headed straight from the stadium for a charter jet to Europe and weekend club games. “This is whatever I’ve always wanted to be, and right now emotions are a bit crazy,” Pulisic said,...
LB Bobby Wagner agrees to 5-year deal with RamsVideo
LOS ANGELES — Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams. The Super Bowl champions announced the deal Thursday for Wagner, who became one of the NFL’s top linebackers during a decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner’s deal is worth $50...
Domination of IM flag football inspired Steelers CB Levi Wallace to walk on at Alabama
The University of Alabama is known for having what is considered the best college football program in the country. And as a true freshman, new Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace dominated while playing on that campus. “It freaking felt like I was Lamar Jackson before Lamar Jackson,” Wallace said during...
West Virginia hires South Dakota coach Dawn Plitzuweit to lead women’s basketball
Dawn Plitzuweit, who led South Dakota to within one game of the NCAA Tournament Elite 8, has been named women’s basketball coach at West Virginia. Athletic director Shane Lyons said Plitzuweit received a five-year, $3 million contract, with a starting salary of $550,000, plus incentives. Plitzuweit replaces Mike Carey, who...
