Sports category, Page 153
Mark Madden: T.J. Watt got what he wanted, but this contract raises the stakes
A new concept: Refreshing sports notes about one athlete! It’s an honor to chronicle all the skinny about T.J. Watt in the aftermath of his contract extension! Far superior to Myles Garrett notes! • Watt got what he wanted. Maybe less term than he’d prefer. But Watt got a higher...
First Call: Ex-Steeler WR Mike Williams retires; Rowdy Tellez back in MLB
Friday’s “First Call” has developments surrounding two former Pittsburgh Steelers who joined the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason. Former Pirate Rowdy Tellez is back in the big leagues. And a one-time Pitt Panther is trying to settle his off-the-field court case. Sudden decision After having to start the 2025 season...
As bad as it has been for the Pirates, the Chicago White Sox are forsaken
It’s bad being the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s worse being the Chicago White Sox. Yes, Yinzers, there are baseball fan bases that are dealing with tougher times than you. Well, a few anyway. The Colorado Rockies are 22-74. By comparison, the Pirates (39-58) have 17 more wins than the Rockies. Did...
Lloyd Howell steps down as executive director of NFL Players Association
Lloyd Howell has resigned as executive director of the NFL Players Association, citing distractions his leadership has caused in recent weeks. “Two years ago, I accepted the role of Executive Director of the NFLPA because I believe deeply in the mission of this union and the power of collective action...
One of Australia’s top young basketball players headed to Pitt
One of Australia’s finest young basketball players is headed to Pitt. Roman Siulepa, a 6-foot-7 forward who just turned 19, has committed to the Panthers, according to a report by ESPN and a statement from his pro team in Australia, confirming a piece of long-rumored news. Siulepa, a physical forward...
Golf notebook: Penn-Trafford grad Nick Turowski qualifies for US Amateur; Neal Shipley leads again
West Virginia sophomore and 2024 Penn-Trafford graduate Nick Turowski qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in San Francisco by placing third in the final local qualifying at The Club at P.B. Dye in Ijamsville, Md., on Thursday. The U.S. Amateur will be played Aug. 11-17 at the Olympic Club. Turowski...
Tim Benz: We’ve seen T.J. Watt win contract negotiations. Now let’s see him win a playoff game
T.J. Watt won in his contract negotiation with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also won in his battle to surpass at least some of Myles Garrett’s financial terms in Cleveland. Great. Now go win a playoff game. Yeah, yeah. I know. Playoff records are team results, not individual stats assigned to...
Damian Lillard returns to the Trail Blazers on a 3-year deal worth $42 million
PORTLAND, Ore. — Damian Lillard is back where he started. Lillard signed a three-year deal worth $42 million to return to the Portland Trail Blazers, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because...
Veteran 1B Rowdy Tellez works out with Texas Rangers in anticipation of joining their roster
ARLINGTON, Texas — Veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez took part in a workout with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, with the anticipation that he will be added to their roster before the first game after the All-Star break. Tellez signed a minor-league deal with the Rangers on July 5, a...
McIlroy makes amends in Portrush homecoming with first-round 70 at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Rory McIlroy was experiencing that sinking feeling again on the first hole at Royal Portrush. OK, the returning hometown hero hadn’t hit his drive out-of-bounds this time. No spectator’s phone had been smashed. He hadn’t made a quadruple bogey, either. So, for sure, this wasn’t as...
T.J. Watt, Steelers agree to contract extension, making him highest paid non-QB in NFL
There will be no hold out. No “hold in,” either, for T.J. Watt. The Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday agreed to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. According to a league source, the Steelers are signing Watt, their 30-year-old outside linebacker, to a four-year, $144.05 million contract that runs...
British Open brings rain, sun, wind and Scottie Scheffler in range of the lead
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — The British Open had a little bit of everything Thursday, from sunshine to rain, a breeze to strong gusts. And no surprise, it had Scottie Scheffler right in the mix. Former U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick handled the notorious “Calamity Corner” par-3 16th by chipping in...
Former Steelers wide receiver Mike Williams decides to retire from NFL at age 30
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.— Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams has decided to retire from the NFL at age 30. His agent, Tory Dandy, told general manager Joe Ortiz on Wednesday night, hours before the first full day of training camp. Williams signed a $6 million, one-year deal in mid-March...
Myles Garrett voted the NFL’s No. 1 edge rusher by the AP
Myles Garrett is a four-time All-Pro, the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the only player to register 14 sacks in four straight seasons. His dominant stretch earned him the No. 1 edge rusher spot Thursday in a preseason survey by The Associated Press. A panel of eight...
Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice sentenced to 30 days in jail over Dallas high-speed crash
DALLAS — Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice was sentenced to 30 days in jail on Thursday after authorities said he and another speeding driver caused a chain-reaction crash that left multiple people injured on a Dallas highway last year. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office said Rice pleaded...
Caitlin Clark pulls out of All-Star weekend because of groin injury
Caitlin Clark is out of All-Star weekend. The Indiana Fever guard injured her right groin on Tuesday night in the final minute of the team’s win over the Connecticut Sun. She said Thursday in a message posted on X that she had to rest her body. “I am incredibly sad...
Tim Benz: With the Pirates, we’ll see Adam Frazier again — or at least someone that looks just like him
What do you think the Pittsburgh Pirates will get for Adam Frazier when they trade him a third time? We all know he’s coming back again after being dealt to Kansas City on Wednesday, right? I mean, he’s got the potential to be the Pirates version of what Mark Recchi...
Steelers A to Z: Opportunities await in secondary for Juan Thornhill after Minkah Fitzpatrick trade
Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between...
Phil Mickelson, Lee Westwood lead surprising days of the ‘older gentlemen’ at British Open
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland — Phil Mickelson delivered more magic Thursday in the British Open, leaving one shot in a bunker and holing the next one from 75 feet away for an unlikely par. He tipped his cap. He gave a thumbs-up to the crowd. It looked like the Mickelson of...
Mark Madden: Increased popularity shows changes are working for MLB
After the first-ever “swing-off” brought pizzazz to the finish of Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game, it seems inevitable the concept will be used for regular-season games. It shouldn’t be. It has a fatal flaw. The “swing-off” uses non-major-leaguers to help determine the result of MLB games, namely the batting-practice pitchers. Teams...
Former Penguins defenseman Ty Smith signs with KHL’s Dinamo Minsk
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Ty Smith has signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Minsk, a team based in Belarus that competes in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). That team announced the transaction via Telegram, a popular social media platform in Europe. A native of Lloydminster, Alberta, the 25-year-old Smith spent...
Former Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue signs with KHL’s Sibir Novosibirsk
Former Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Louis Domingue has signed a one-year contract with Sibir Novosibirsk of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). That team announced the transaction with a release on Thursday. A native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, the 33-year-old Domingue has spent the past three seasons with the New York Rangers organization,...
First Call: Surprising Steeler makes NFL Top 100 list; update on Najee Harris fireworks injury
Thursday’s “First Call” has a surprising entry from the Pittsburgh Steelers on the NFL Top 100 list. Cam Heyward comments on T.J. Watt’s contractual situation. We have an update on Najee Harris’ injured eye. And there are long odds facing the U.S. Open champion from Oakmont at this week’s Open...
U mad, bro?: Midsummer cynicism from Pirates fans, preseason sass from Steelers fans
This is the slowest week in sports. The NFL hasn’t started training camps yet. It’s All-Star break time for Major League Baseball. The NHL and NBA are in an offseason lull. You’d think that would lead to a lull in angst from Pittsburgh sports fans too. You’d be wrong. Here’s...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Why the Pirates should ‘stay open-minded’ leading up to trade deadline
Ben Cherington wasted no time to address the Pittsburgh Pirates after a failure of a first half in which they fired the manager, tied a dubious major-league record and endured the pendulum swing of successive sweeps that involved back-to-back series with shutout wins and losses. On what is generally considered...
