Sports category, Page 1415
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans voice opinions on Super Bowl aspirations, Kenny Pickett, JuJu and the Pats, even T.J. Watt’s allergy
The Pittsburgh Steelers offseason doesn’t mean that the team is off the radar. At least not with Steelers fans who read “Breakfast With Benz.” As usual, this week my inbox and Twitter interactions are flooded with Steelers fans giving their opinions on all sorts of topics. You know, like JuJu...
First Call: New job for ex-Steelers assistant; Brian Flores absolves, praises Bill Belichick; a Steeler who may be better elsewhere
A current Pittsburgh Steeler may be destined for a new address. Brian Flores doesn’t want to call out Bill Belichick. A former Steelers assistant coach has a new gig in college. And the Penguins have a great chance to gobble up two points Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. All...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to Phantoms in shootoutVideo
Goaltender Alex D’Orio made 36 saves on 38 shots in regulation and overtime for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-2 home shootout loss to the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms at WesBanco Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. Defenseman P.O Joseph recorded two assists for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (21-21-2-4) while forwards Jonathan Gruden and...
Brockington brings Iowa State back, tops West Virginia, 84-81Video
AMES, Iowa — Izaiah Brockington stole an inbounds pass underneath the Iowa State basket and scored with 22.6 seconds left to give the Cyclones the lead en route to an 84-81 comeback victory over West Virginia on Wednesday night. Iowa State trailed by 12 points with more than 14 minutes...
Davidson stretches Duquesne’s losing streak to 13 games in a row
The night after former Duquesne point guard Sincere Carry scored 42 points for Kent State, the current Dukes lost their 13th game in a row Wednesday, 74-50, to Davidson. “You don’t think having him would have helped us?” coach Keith Dambrot said. Carry isn’t alone. Duquesne lost 11 players off...
Packers GM says team will know ‘shortly’ on Aaron Rodgers’ decisionVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said he’s not giving Aaron Rodgers any deadlines on when to decide on a possible return, and he believes the four-time MVP will reach a resolution soon. Rodgers has said he hasn’t made up his mind regarding his plans...
Cavaliers promote former WVU standout Mike Gansey from assistant to GMVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers promoted assistant general manager Mike Gansey to GM on Wednesday, one of several front-office moves made by the improved team. Gansey has been with the Cavs since 2011. He will have an increased role in draft preparations while working with Koby Altman, who was recently...
PIAA football, soccer championships moving from Hershey to Cumberland Valley
Say goodbye to flying Hershey’s Kisses and giant chocolate bars. Pennsylvania high school athletes will have to find a new way to celebrate trips to the state championships. The PIAA board voted Wednesday to move the football and soccer championships to Cumberland Valley’s Chapman Field for at least the next...
New Jersey Devils get 3 players back in return from break
NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils are returning from an eight-day break refreshed and as healthy as they have been in a while. When Lindy Ruff’s struggling young team faces the Penguins on Thursday night in Pittsburgh, $63 million defenseman Dougie Hamilton is going to be back in the...
Plum trio set to represent Boyce Gym in Golden Gloves bouts
Salvatore “Dom” Sheffo started sparring with his uncle a little over a year ago. “We would hit pads for fun,” said Sheffo, 17, a senior at Plum High School. The former Mustangs wrestler took the relaxed sparring sessions and turned it up a notch in August as he began training...
Central Catholic’s Tre Tarpley hopes to plant roots after being drafted by USFL’s Maulers
Arnold “Tre” Tarpley III considers it more of a declaration than a promise, but it’s one he intended to keep. So he spoke his plan of playing professional football into existence, making a series of YouTube video diaries called “Trust the Seed.” Tarpley, a Jefferson Hills native and former Central...
Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric earns his keep inside longtime Team Penske homeVideo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Austin Cindric only knows one culture — the crisp, clean, “Penske Perfect” way of doing things — and it fits him rather well. He has grown up inside Team Penske, where his father was hired as president when Cindric was just a baby. Cindric was toddling...
Former Mariners, White Sox 2B Julio Cruz dies at age 67Video
SEATTLE — Julio Cruz, an original Seattle Mariners player from their inaugural season who later became a Spanish-language broadcaster for the franchise, has died, the team announced Wednesday. He was 67. Cruz died Tuesday at his home, according to a statement from his family. Cruz played for Seattle and the...
PGA commissioner: Players tempted by Saudi tour need to make up mindsVideo
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said he has “zero complacency” when it comes to the threat of a Saudi-funded rival league, and he has a clear message for any player still tempted to leave. “I told the players we’re moving on, and anyone on the fence needs to make a...
MLB lockout could cost Scherzer $232K daily, Cole $193K
JUPITER, Fla. — Sometime soon, lockout costs become real: Max Scherzer would forfeit $232,975 for each regular-season day lost, and Gerrit Cole $193,548. Based on last year’s base salaries that totaled just over $3.8 billion, major league players would combine to lose $20.5 million for each day wiped off the...
Penguins encouraged by new 2nd line’s play so far
A few inches in either direction and the Pittsburgh Penguins might have had the first lead in what ended up being a 4-3 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday. But even if forward Evgeni Malkin’s backhander was snuffed out by goaltender Antti Raanta 5 minutes, 25 seconds into...
Penguins forward Teddy Blueger remains on track in recovery from broken jawVideo
Teddy Blueger was the last one off the ice following the Pittsburgh Penguins’ practice in Cranberry on Wednesday. That’s nothing out of the ordinary. The defensive center is obsessed with refining the imperfect aspects of his game and has been that way since his days at Minnesota State Mankato. So...
MLB says season will be shortened if no labor agreement is reached by the end of Monday
JUPITER, Fla. — MLB said Wednesday that the 2022 season will be shortened if no labor agreement has been reached by the end of Monday. Management had maintained that was the deadline for a deal that would allow the season to start as scheduled on March 31. Players have not...
Central Catholic grad Arnold Tarpley, Aliquippa alum Dravon Askew-Henry picked in USFL Draft
A pair of former WPIAL stars were selected in the second day of the USFL Draft on Wednesday, when the Pittsburgh Maulers picked safety Arnold “Tre” Tarpley III of Central Catholic and Vanderbilt in the 18th round Wednesday and the New Jersey Generals took safety Dravon Askew-Henry of Aliquippa and...
Penn State mock draft roundup: Where former Nittany Lions are projected to go in 2022 NFL Draft
STATE COLLEGE — The 2022 NFL Combine is less than a week away, and over a couple days of testing and interviews in Indianapolis, the fates of a number of professional prospects could be altered for the 2022 NFL Draft. Penn State will be represented at the combine by eight...
AP sources: Zach Johnson hired as U.S. Ryder Cup captain
Two-time major champion Zach Johnson is taking over as Ryder Cup captain, leading an American side trying to end 30 years without a victory on European soil. Three people with knowledge of the decision confirmed the move to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the PGA of America...
Mark Madden: Mythology of ‘great defense’ keeps Steelers’ problems from being solved
The Pittsburgh Steelers rank last in the AFC North when it comes to quarterbacks. But they might rank No. 1 in sports when it comes to mythology. (All the religions have them beat.) On ESPN’s “Get Up” show Tuesday morning, the talking heads bleated about the Steelers having a “great...
Penguins recall forward Kasper Bjorkqvist from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Penguins recalled forward Kasper Bjorkqvist from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Wednesday. A rookie, Bjorkqvist has appeared in six NHL games this season and has one goal. Additionally, he has played in 33 AHL contests and has scored six points (four goals, two assists). Signed to...
Time to channel a little extra motivation if Duquesne is going to upset Davidson
Since Tuesday marked the 42nd anniversary of the 1980 Team USA hockey win over the Russians, maybe Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot caught a rerun of the movie “Miracle” on television. Perhaps he can gin up a Herb Brooks-esque pregame speech. I mean the Dukes do wear red, white and...
First Call: Predicted landing spot for JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency; Antonio Brown flips on Tom Brady again
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a possible free agent landing spot for JuJu Smith-Schuster. Ray-Ray McCloud is angling for a new contract to stay in Pittsburgh. Antonio Brown is back to sniping at Tom Brady. Jarvis Landry is getting itchy in Cleveland. And a local college hockey team is preparing for...
