Sports category, Page 1665
Big Ten alters attendance policy to reflect local guidelines, restrictions on coronavirus mitigation
The Big Ten announced Wednesday it will allow schools to host fans at games in accordance with local health guidelines and restrictions for the rest of the 2020-21 regular season. The policy is effective immediately, and it also covers spring football games. Previously, Big Ten competitions were closed to the...
Pirates option Cole Tucker in roster moves, turning shortstop job into 2-man race
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ shortstop competition became a two-man race when Cole Tucker was optioned Wednesday, leaving Erik Gonzalez and Kevin Newman left to fight for the starting job. Tucker, the Pirates’ 2014 first-round pick, had returned to the middle infield this spring after spending last season in the outfield for...
Penguins forward Brandon Tanev placed on injured reserve
Penguins forward Brandon Tanev was placed on injured reserve due to an undisclosed injury prior to Wednesday’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres. The designation is retroactive to March 18. That will allow Tanev to be eligible to be activated by Thursday. Tanev has missed the past two games due...
Steelers reportedly rework contract of tight end Eric Ebron to create cap savings
Tight end Eric Ebron appears to be the latest Pittsburgh Steelers player to have his contract restructured to create salary-cap space for the team. According to an ESPN.com report Wednesday, Ebron agreed to have the final year of his two-year contract with the Steelers reworked, which would clear $3.9 million...
Penn State’s Tariq Castro-Fields hoping to stay healthy, lead CBs
Tariq Castro-Fields isn’t supposed to be analyzing the benefits of one more spring practice this year. Fact is, there was never supposed to be a 2021 season for him in a Penn State uniform. In an ideal world, he’d have been long gone, pursuing his NFL dreams. After his junior...
Pirates starting rotation suffers as lefty Steven Brault shut down for a month
In a blow to the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation, left-handed pitcher Steven Brault is being shut down for a month from throwing because of a “moderate” lat strain. Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday morning that Brault could be out for at least 10 weeks before he...
Analysis: More madness likely in NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16
INDIANAPOLIS — Your bracket is shot. We know it. Ours is, too. A year after the NCAA Tournament was canceled, the madness returned with an opening weekend full of upsets. No. 1 seed Illinois, gone. So is Ohio State. High seeds Texas and Virginia also are out, replaced by upstarts...
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter receives new ban from FIFA
GENEVA — Sepp Blatter was banned for a second time by FIFA on Wednesday for financial wrongdoing, seven months before the 85-year-old former president’s first ban expires. Blatter has recently been in poor health and was put in an induced coma for one week after undergoing heart surgery in December,...
Drew Timme’s time is now as key to Gonzaga’s bid for perfection
INDIANAPOLIS — He was already enjoying a terrific season, and now Drew Timme is one of the stars of March after two games of the NCAA Tournament. His game? It’s pretty good, as evidenced by what he did in Gonzaga’s second-round victory over Oklahoma, helping keep the top-seeded Bulldogs unblemished...
Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, UConn’s Paige Bueckers dominating women’s tourney
SAN ANTONIO — Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark seem to be playing a personal game of horse on the national stage. After one delivers a highlight-filled performance, the other has a top-this moment. The captivating basketball exploits by the heralded freshmen have created a buzz around the women’s NCAA Tournament,...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ me-first culture a major turn-off
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ egocentric, me-first culture dates to Antonio Brown’s de facto takeover of the team and is carried on by the cast and crew of the “Corvette, Corvette” show. The cameraman on that project reportedly branched out into bar fighting. Does it affect results? I don’t know that it...
Steelers WR Chase Claypool reportedly caught on video in bar fight
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie of the year Chase Claypool reportedly was caught on video taking part in a bar fight, according to a story posted early Wednesday by TMZ. The video was taken March 13 in Costa Mesa, Calif., according to TMZ, and nobody was arrested or charged with a crime....
First Call: Steelers eyeing corner and tackle draft prospects; Flyers lose again
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives Steelers fans some college prospects to keep in mind before the draft. The Philadelphia Flyers continue to struggle. And the Duquesne football team is making the most out of the short spring season. Sounding the Horn South Carolina had its pro day for NFL teams Tuesday....
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s new contract: Was it a good decision? Or just a good deal?
At least one national outlet is spit-shining the Steelers’ retention of wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster during the NFL’s free-agency period. NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal called the decision “one of the best contracts given out so far.” “…the Steelers know better than any team the 24-year-old receiver is more than worthy...
Tim Benz: Biggest hurdle to overcome for Penguins — and every other East Division contender
The Penguins aren’t the only team in the NHL’s East Division with some major hurdles to overcome if they are to qualify for the playoffs. The other contenders in the division are flawed as well. Which four of the current top six will end up making the cut is a...
This date in sports history: March 24
1936 — Detroit’s Mud Bruneteau ends the longest game in NHL history with a goal after 116 minutes and 30 seconds (six overtimes) to edge the Montreal Maroons, 1-0, in the semifinals of the Stanley Cup playoffs. 1941 — Long Island University wins the NIT championship with a 56-42 victory...
Phillip Evans puts violent collision behind him, focuses on finding a role for Pirates
At the best time of his career came the worst moment, one Phillip Evans would rather not revisit. The Pittsburgh Pirates infielder can’t forget the collision that he didn’t see coming until it was too late. As Evans chased a pop fly into foul territory in shallow right field, he...
NHL referee caught on hot mic wanting to call penalty on Predators
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tim Peel’s career as an NHL referee is over after his voice was picked up by a TV microphone saying he wanted to call a penalty against the Nashville Predators. The league on Wednesday announced that Peel “no longer will be working NHL games now or in...
Shawnee State wins program’s first NAIA Tournament title
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — James Jones had 27 points and 10 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and Shawnee State (Ohio) claimed the program’s first NAIA Tournament championship with a 74-68 victory over Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) on Tuesday night. Shawnee State (31-2), a No. 5 seed, won its...
Jameis Winston eager for chance to succeed Drew Brees with Saints
NEW ORLEANS — Jameis Winston describes the prospect of taking over for retired, record-setting New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees as something that comes with a “tremendous amount of responsibility.” It’s also something Winston eager to do, albeit in his own way. “You be the best version of yourself,” Winston...
NHL makes draft lottery changes, spots up for grabs cut to 2Video
NEW YORK — The NHL is instituting changes to the draft lottery that make it more difficult for the last-place team to drop out of the top three in the selection order. Beginning with the 2021 draft, only the first two picks will be subject to the lottery instead of...
Eagles sign veteran quarterback Joe FlaccoVideo
The Philadelphia Eagles signed veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday. The Eagles only had Jalen Hurts under contract before the move. Flacco, the 2012 Super Bowl MVP, started four games for the Jets last season and eight games for the Broncos...
Georgia Tech rolls over West Virginia women in NCAAs
SAN ANTONIO — Lotta-Maj Lahtinen scored 22 points, Lorela Cubaj had 21 points and 12 rebounds and No. 5 seed Georgia Tech used a big third quarter to beat No. 4 West Virginia, 73-56, on Tuesday in the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Esmery Martinez scored 13 points...
Lawyer: Deshaun Watson assault suits followed blackmail attempt
HOUSTON — An attorney for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who’s accused of sexual assault and harassment in lawsuits filed by 16 women, on Tuesday questioned the allegations against the NFL player, claiming they were made following a failed attempt to blackmail his client for $30,000. The women, in lawsuits...
Jordan Spieth rounding into form for fickle week of Match Play
AUSTIN, Texas — As much golf as Jordan Spieth likes to play, it took as much discipline as he could muster to not play at all. When he left the Masters on Nov. 15, the only two rounds of golf he played were of the recreational variety. One was a...
