Sports category, Page 1343
Masters ’22: Anticipations of roars, and plenty of mystery
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The anticipation is greater than ever for the return of the roars to Augusta National. Even greater is the mystery surrounding the Masters, on so many levels. It’s not just about trying to get a sense of who might be best suited for a green jacket on...
MLB, players keep automatic runners in extras for 2022
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball finalized the rules change Thursday to bring back automatic runners in extra innings for a third straight season. Despite an easing of pandemic restrictions, MLB and the players’ association agreed to keep the controversial rule that starts each team with a runner on second...
Is using Penguins forward Bryan Rust as a penalty killer worth the risk?
Once upon a time, Bryan Rust wasn’t a top-six winger or a vital member of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top power-play unit. Heck, he wasn’t even a 20-goal threat. He was simply a bottom-six winger who could flip to either side of his line. And he killed penalties. Willing to pester...
Guggenheimer: Return to World Cup means everything for U.S. men’s soccer
OK, so it was a foregone conclusion that the U.S. men’s national soccer team would advance to the FIFA World Cup Finals Wednesday. They were playing Costa Rica at the National Stadium in San Jose and as long as the Americans didn’t lose by six goals, they would be one...
Tim Benz: Penguins getting Wild at their hottest
Tuesday night’s loss against the New York Rangers began a seven-game stretch for the Penguins exclusively against opponents that are currently in playoff slots. The next such challenge comes against the Minnesota Wild Thursday. And they are the hottest team of the bunch. Under the eye of former Penguin Bill...
First Call: Tyrann Mathieu says he got a call from Mike Tomlin; multiple theories on Bruce Arians’ latest ‘retirement’
A big-name free agent reveals that he has been in touch with the Steelers. We debate the reasons behind Bruce Arians’ latest retirement. Lamar Jackson is getting testy in Baltimore. Alex Goligoski just keeps on playing. And the New York Rangers just keep winning. All that in Thursday’s “First Call.”...
U mad, bro?: Football fans attack overtime changes, ‘MNF’ booth; defend Steelers QB strategy; Kenny Pickett’s hands
We have quite the cornucopia of Pittsburgh sports fan complaints this week in “U mad, bro?” Folks are angry about NFL overtime and the new “Monday Night Football” booth. Pitt fans are getting defensive about Kenny Pickett. Steelers fans want to defend the wall when it comes to second guessing...
By building a bond with pitching coaches, Anthony Banda found home in Pirates’ bullpen
BRADENTON, Fla. — The warm welcome by the Pittsburgh Pirates took Anthony Banda by surprise. He was no stranger to transactions, having been traded three times and purchased before being claimed off waivers, so he wasn’t sure what type of reception to expect. When Pirates players invited Banda to dinner,...
U.S. returns to World Cup despite loss at Costa Rica in final qualifying matchVideo
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The United States men are returning to the World Cup after the trauma of missing the 2018 tournament, clinching a berth for this year’s championship in Qatar on Wednesday despite a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on the final night of qualifying. Juan Pablo Vargas...
Minor league report: Michael Chaput, Sam Poulin lead Penguins past Wolf PackVideo
Forwards Michael Chaput and Sam Poulin each had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-1 home win against the Hartford Wolf Pack at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Goaltender Louis Domingue made 24 saves on 25 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (29-26-4-4) which has won...
Bruce Arians steps aside so Todd Bowles can become Buccaneers head coachVideo
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Bruce Arians, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory, is retiring from coaching effective immediately with the intent of being replaced by defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. Arians, 69, informed his coaching staff and players of the news Wednesday evening and discussed the...
Nationals allow 29 runs in spring game vs CardinalsVideo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Washington Nationals fans have reasons to doubt 2022 will be their year. They got 29 more of them Wednesday. Pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Cade Cavalli allowed 10 runs each while the Nationals were shellacked 29-8 by the St. Louis Cardinals in a spring training game...
Brazil, Argentina look like World Cup contenders againVideo
SAO PAULO — Brazil is about to overtake top spot in the FIFA rankings, and Argentina hasn’t lost a match in 1,000 days. It’s clear the two South American soccer powers have more than just Neymar and Lionel Messi going for them as they head to the World Cup in...
3-time Pro Bowl safety, activist Malcolm Jenkins retiresVideo
Malcolm Jenkins is retiring after a 13-year NFL career in which he established himself as one of the league’s best all-around safeties, most durable players and leading voices for social justice. Jenkins helped both the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles win their only Super Bowl and made a major...
Even in switching wing sides, Rickard Rakell fitting in well in Pittsburgh, with Penguins
Maybe Rickard Rakell was destined to play in Pittsburgh. How about the name of the 1-year-old dog the Penguins’ newest wing adopted while in California? Heinz. As in, yes, dubbed so in honor of the home of the Steelers. “His name was already ‘Heinz,’ ” Rakell explained Wednesday, “so I...
Saint Peter’s Shaheen Halloway hired by Seton Hall after magic run
Shaheen Holloway is leaving Cinderella Saint Peter’s for Seton Hall just days after helping the little Jesuit school make history by becoming the first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall athletic director Bryan Felt announced the hiring of the 45-year-old early Wednesday...
Diego Castillo homers twice for MLB-leading Pirates but Bryon Buxton’s slam lifts Twins
Spring training statistics are relatively meaningless, so the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t about to celebrate that they lead all major-league teams with 27 home runs through 12 Grapefruit League games. If that sounds improbable, consider Diego Castillo leads the Pirates in homers after hitting two in a 9-4 loss to the...
Tackle prospect Evan Neal takes center stage at Alabama’s pro dayVideo
Evan Neal was the big man at Alabama’s pro day, and not just because of his towering physical presence. The Crimson Tide’s 6-foot-7, 337-pound left tackle was easily the highest-rated prospect going through pro day Wednesday before representatives of all 32 NFL teams. It didn’t matter that he was just...
Penguins notes: LW Jason Zucker practices fully, on track to return to lineup vs. Wild
Jason Zucker was a full participant and taking rushes on the second line during Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Penguins practice, an indication the left wing is set to return to the lineup after missing 37 of the past 38 games because of a core muscle injury. Zucker, who underwent surgery Jan. 25,...
Facts and figures on the teams in the NCAA Final FourVideo
There’s no room for a surprise team at this Final Four. Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Villanova have combined for 17 national championships. Each of the schools has won at least three titles, making this the first Final Four in which each of the teams already had won multiple championships....
Highlands Little League cancels season due to lack of players
Highlands Little League officials announced Wednesday that the 2022 spring season has been canceled because of a lack of players registered at any of the age levels. A statement on the league’s Facebook page also informed those families who had players register that their fees would be refunded Saturday from...
Flowers for ‘Flower?’ Wild fans serenading ex-Penguins G Marc-Andre Fleury with bouquets
Minnesota’s welcome for Flower has been, well, flower-y. Longtime popular Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury — known by the nickname “Flower” — joined the Minnesota Wild early last week via a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks. So far, it’s been two starts, two wins for the 37-year-old, three-time Stanley Cup...
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson says he ‘loves’ team, lashes out at ‘false narrative’ about future
BALTIMORE — Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on Wednesday pushed back on the notion that he’s unhappy in Baltimore, tweeting that he “loves” the team and lashing out at a “false narrative” around his future. Jackson’s comments came a day after Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti reiterated that the team was committed...
FIFA, Qatar prepare for unprecedented World Cup finals draw
DOHA, Qatar — A World Cup like no other in its 92-year history will take shape this week at an unprecedented tournament draw. When FIFA and host nation Qatar stage the draw ceremony show Friday, three of the 32 entries will be placeholders because the three-year qualifying program was delayed...
Mark Madden: Changes are needed for Penguins to beat the Rangers
There were disturbing takeaways from the Penguins’ 3-2 home loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday. • The Penguins are built on speed, but the Rangers are clearly faster. That was evident Tuesday and in each of the Penguins’ three games vs. the Rangers. The Rangers’ forecheck overwhelmed. The...
