Sports category, Page 1586
Indianapolis locks up Darius Leonard with richest LB contract
INDIANAPOLIS — Darius Leonard always believed he was the best linebacker in football. The Indianapolis Colts made sure he gets paid like it. The two-time All-Pro agreed Sunday to a five-year contract extension worth $99.25 million that includes $52 million in guaranteed money, according to a person with knowledge of...
All-Pro CB Xavien Howard agrees to reworked contract with Dolphins
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard agreed to a restructured contract with the Miami Dolphins 12 days after he had requested a trade. The agreement allows Howard to earn up to $3.5 million in new incentives this year, with more guaranteed money in 2022. The sixth-year pro said...
Lionel Messi breaks down, says tearful goodbye BarcelonaVideo
MADRID — Lionel Messi began crying before he even started speaking. The “most difficult” moment of his career had arrived and he wasn’t ready for it. It was time to say goodbye to Barcelona after more than two decades with the Catalan club. “I don’t know if I’ll be able...
Kyle Larson wins at Watkins Glen, eyes regular-season title
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.— Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, building a big lead in the final stage and keeping Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott at bay over the final laps. Elliott was seeking his third straight victory at The Glen but was...
Inside the ropes: Dwayne Haskins, Joshua Dobbs put to test in 2-minute offense
If all things are equal when a roster spot is at stake, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin likes to see how his players react in pressure situations as a determining factor. Tomlin put quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs to the test at the end of practice Sunday. Each quarterback...
Kevin Dotson returns to practice for Steelers, but works with second-team offensive line
Kevin Dotson, the projected starter at left guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, took his first reps in team drills during practice Sunday at Heinz Field. Dotson, though, got his work in 11-on-11 periods with the second team instead of the first. Rashaad Coward, a free agent signed in the offseason,...
Tyler Mahle strikes out 10, outduels Bryse Wilson as Reds sweep Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds conducted the last thing expected from the NL Central Division rivals, given their lopsided outcomes this season. Bryse Wilson and Tyler Mahle engaged in a pitcher’s duel, combining for 17 strikeouts and only one walk. Mahle won that battle, despite giving up the game’s...
Phillies retire Halladay’s No. 34 in tribute to late ace
On the same diamond where Roy Halladay pitched himself into baseball history and the hearts of Philadelphia fans, the Phillies retired the late Hall of Famer’s No. 34 jersey in a touching tribute Sunday. Former teammates Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Raúl Ibañez as well as pitching coach Rich Dubee...
Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates knows how to push players’ buttonsVideo
The difference in stature between the two men was stunning, although it shouldn’t have been. Pitt defensive end Habukkuk Baldonado stands 6-foot-5, weighs 260 pounds and uses his strength to bring other tough guys to the ground. Randy Bates, Baldonado’s boss and Pitt’s defensive coordinator, is four decades older —...
Facts and figures for the 121st U.S. Amateur Championship
The United States Golf Association’a 121st U.S. Amateur Championship will be hosted by Oakmont Country Club and Longue Vue Club this week. Here are some facts and figures for the event: Stroke play (both courses): Monday and Tuesday Match play (Oakmont Country Club): Wednesday through Sunday Field: 312 cut to...
Signature holes, views make Oakmont, Longue Vue perfect venues for U.S. Amateur
There is no better golfer in Southwestern Pennsylvania than Sean Knapp to talk about what players will face at the 121st United States Golf Association’s Amateur Championship this week. The second oldest player in the field at 59, the Oakmont resident knows how to attack Oakmont Country Club, which is...
Tickets available for U.S. Amateur match play rounds
Fans can purchase tickets for the match play rounds of the USGA’s 121st U.S. Amateur Championship, being held this week at Oakmont Country Club. Spectators can buy weekly tickets for all five days of match play Wednesday-Sunday. Daily tickets, priced at $25, also are available. Round of 64 matches will...
Legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden dies at 91
Bobby Bowden, the folksy Hall of Fame coach who won more than 350 games and built Florida State into one of college football’s great dynasties with two national championships, has died. He was 91. Bobby’s son, Terry, confirmed to The Associated Press that his father died at home surrounded by...
Alle-Kiski Valley swimmers hope to make splash at USA Eastern Zones meets
Numerous age-group swimmers, including those from the Alle-Kiski Valley, hope to make a splash for Allegheny Mountain Swimming this weekend at the USA Swimming Eastern Zones long course championship meets in Buffalo, N.Y., (ages 15 and up) and Richmond, Va. (14 and under). Many of them posted qualifying times for...
U.S. women win 1st Olympic volleyball gold
TOKYO — The decades-long quest for the first Olympic gold medal for the U.S. women’s volleyball team ended Sunday when the Americans finally broke through with a 25-21, 25-20, 25-14 victory over Brazil. The United States, which had won three silver medals and two bronze since first getting on the...
U.S. women’s basketball team beats Japan to give Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi 5th golds
SAITAMA, Japan — Sue Bird capped off her unblemished 17-year Olympics run with a record fifth gold medal. All she and longtime U.S. teammate Diana Taurasi have done on the international stage is win and now stand alone with five gold medals — the first basketball players ever to accomplish...
Monroeville promoter plans amateur, pro boxing cards at Murrysville SportZone
Monroeville boxing promoter Derek Gionta had just put on a successful evening of fights in March 2020, and planned to continue cards in larger Pittsburgh-area venues. Then the covid-19 pandemic hit. Sports in general went by the wayside, to make no mention of a full-contact sport like boxing. “I stepped...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 7, 2021: Bethel Park grad Justin Meis closes out Bradenton win in debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 40-42) manhandled Iowa (Cubs), 13-1. SS Cole Tucker (.241) went 2 for 6 with a pair of home runs, running his season total to five. 1B Michael Chavis (.288) went 3 for 4, hit his eighth home run and scored four times. 2B Tucupita Marcano (.237) went 1...
Jesse Winker’s 6-RBI night leads Reds to another lopsided win over Pirates
Jesse Winker already had done damage against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with an RBI double to start a three-run rally in the third inning and a two-run single in the sixth. The Cincinnati Reds All-Star outfielder crushed a three-run homer with an exit velocity in triple digits to put the score...
Troy Polamalu leads Super Steelers contingent at Pro Football Hall of Fame induction
CANTON, Ohio — Troy Polamalu kept his long flowing hair tied up Saturday night, but not for long. When he ultimately let it down, he took the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony along with it. With thousands of Pittsburgh Steelers fans cheering loudly while hanging on his every...
Jimmie Johnson has sights set on bigger, better finishes in IndyCarVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Jimmie Johnson dodged tractors and skirted around workers putting the finishing touches on the city-street track on his first laps riding a golf cart through the downtown course. Heavy machinery and employees failed to make it on the race simulator when Johnson took a seat as he...
Chasing history: Elliott goes for 3-peat at Watkins GlenVideo
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Three-peat at Watkins Glen? Not on Chase Elliott’s radar. OK, maybe a little bit. “I’m just excited to be going back. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Elliott, the reigning NASCAR Cup champion, said this week on a Zoom call. “Every time you go to the...
Lamar Jackson back at practice for Ravens after covid-19 absenceVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson is back at practice, and Baltimore coach John Harbaugh expects the star quarterback to catch up pretty easily to where the rest of the team is in its preparation. “He’s going to merge right in,” Harbaugh said, using cars on a highway as a...
‘Dream come true’ as Ty Gibbs wins Xfinity race at Watkins GlenVideo
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — Ty Gibbs passed road race ace AJ Allmendinger after a restart with four laps to go and won the Xfinity race at Watkins Glen International on Saturday. It was the third win in 10 Xfinity races this season for the 18-year-old grandson of team owner Joe...
Bryson DeChambeau lets clubs do talking at TOC Southwind
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Bryson DeChambeau let his clubs do most of the talking Saturday at TPC Southwind. DeChambeau shot a 7-under-par 63 to pull within two strokes of leader Harris English in the FedEx St. Jude Invitational, then declined to comment to most of the media following the round. DeChambeau...
