Sports category, Page 1803
Chiefs’ Reid, Bills’ McDermott to match wits for AFC titleVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Ten years after firing Sean McDermott as his defensive coordinator, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid will stare across the field inside Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday and see his protege trying to spoil his hopes of a Super Bowl repeat. Funny thing: Even after firing him,...
Norwin basketball standout Ty Bilinsky back on court after recovering from stroke
Ty Bilinsky took a brief nap Dec. 27 at the home of his mother, Michelle. It was a comfy Sunday. He wore a blue Duke T-shirt and black gym shorts as he crashed on the couch in the living room. Then he woke up to watch some football. Steelers-Colts. “I...
Pitt sophomore Justin Champagnie’s high school coach declares, `He wants to be great’
At home Tuesday night in Manhattan, Ed Gonzalez clicked on his TV to watch Pitt play Duke. Flashing across Gonzalez’s TV screen was former Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School basketball star Justin Champagnie, warming up inside Petersen Events Center. The game mattered to Gonzalez because he’s been the coach at...
Penguins rookie Pierre-Olivier Joseph ready for NHL debut
Pierre-Olivier Joseph tried to talk in theoreticals about making his NHL debut, but the Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman couldn’t suppress the smile that served as a dead giveaway that it’s coming soon. With the Penguins defense corps decimated by injury, necessity could dictate that the 21-year-old Joseph is in the lineup...
AP sources: Eagles plan to hire Colts OC Nick Sirianni
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Eagles are nearing a deal to hire Nick Sirianni to be their head coach, according to two people familiar with the decision. Sirianni was the offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts the past three seasons. He worked under coach Frank Reich, who was offensive coordinator in...
Steelers reportedly interview former Browns coach Hue Jackson for offensive coordinator
The Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to announce their next offensive coordinator. A familiar name with AFC North ties reportedly is among the candidates. Former Cleveland Browns coach and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson interviewed this week with the Steelers, according to an ESPN report. Jackson compiled a 3-36-1 record...
Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson, Juuso Riikola sidelined several weeks
Penguins defensemen Marcus Pettersson and Juuso Riikola will each be sidelined several weeks with undisclosed injuries according to coach Mike Sullivan. Sullivan labeled Pettersson’s ailment as “week to week” while Riikola is “longer term.” Each player was injured during Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime win at home against the Washington Capitals. Defenseman...
Steelers sign former Washington QB Dwayne Haskins
In an intriguing twist to their offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers added a quarterback with pedigree. The team Thursday announced the signing 2019 No. 15 overall draft pick Dwayne Haskins. Haskins, who was a Heisman Trophy finalist for Ohio State in 2018, met with some of the organization’s coaches Thursday. #HereWeGo...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Pirates trading not to save on salaries but stockpile their system
Ben Cherington made headlines with his assertion that, despite trading Josh Bell and Joe Musgrove, the Pittsburgh Pirates “haven’t made a single move this offseason for any financial consideration.” For the Pirates general manager, the deals weren’t so much about saving $10.75 million — both players avoided arbitration, with Musgrove...
Former Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove pens goodbye note to Pittsburgh
Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove posted a “To Pittsburgh, with Love” message to fans on Twitter. The pitcher shared a photo of a handwritten farewell note on Wednesday night. “To my Pittsburgh famalee,” the note starts. “I feel so honored to have been part of such a historic organization....
This Date in Sports History: Jan. 21
1921 — Kenesaw Mountain Landis takes office as baseball’s commissioner. 1947 — Carl Hubbell, Frank Frisch, Mickey Cochrane and Lefty Grove are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 1953 — Dizzy Dean and Al Simmons are elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The baseball writers pass over Joe...
U mad, bro?: Rage. Denial. Acceptance. Defiance. Steelers fans cope with playoff grief.
This edition of “U mad, bro?” serves a specific purpose for Steelers fans. It’s a coping mechanism. In the wake of the Steelers playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns, many Pittsburgh sports fans are surfing their way through various emotions and responses. Pain. Grief. Sadness. Rage. Denial. Deflection. Acceptance. We...
Duquesne grad James played his NBA career always feeling like he had to prove himselfVideo
Mike James didn’t have a Plan B. While growing up in Amityville, N.Y. — yes, that Amityville, site of the “Horror” — James said he learned mostly by trial and error. And the one place he made few errors was on the basketball court near his home. So as far...
Duquesne grad Mike James looks back on role in Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game
Jan. 22, 2006, should have been one of the best nights of Mike James’ basketball life. Against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Duquesne product led the Toronto Raptors with 26 points — on 10-of-15 shooting — 10 assists and two steals. But that game 15 years ago is remembered for...
Packers realize how much Aaron Rodgers has at stake
Aaron Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers teammates understand what this NFC championship game means to the All-Pro quarterback’s legacy. Rodgers has delivered the kind of season that puts him in contention for a third MVP honor, which would match the total won by Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. The Super...
Bills among defenses peaking at perfect timeVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Leslie Frazier’s faith in his Bills defense never wavered even at the lowest point of Buffalo’s season. It was mid-November, and the Bills were entering their bye week on the heels of a 32-30 defeat at Arizona. Immediately dubbed “The Hail Murray,” the Cardinals won on...
Alexander Ovechkin on covid list; Capitals fined $100K
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin and three other Washington Capitals players were added to the NHL’s covid-19 list Wednesday, and the team was fined $100,000 by the league for violating coronavirus protocols. In addition to three-time MVP Ovechkin — one of just eight players in NHL history with more than 700...
Robert Kennedy, former Jeannette football star, leaving East Carolina
Robert Kennedy is on the move again. The former Jeannette football standout is leaving East Carolina and will transfer to Old Dominion in Norfok, Va. Kennedy, a 5-foot-10, 183-pound safety, played in five games last season as a junior, recording 13 tackles and three pass breakups for East Carolina. He...
Duquesne rallies from 17-point deficit, defeats Rhode Island
Keith Dambrot said he didn’t want to scream at his players. “At 62, that’s dangerous,” Duquesne’s coach said. “It’s not good for my health.” But he walked into the locker room at halftime Wednesday night with a message for his team when the Dukes looked to be on their way...
Tom Brady, talented Buccaneers playmakers developing chemistry
TAMPA, Fla. — When Tom Brady drops back in the pocket he has a bunch of options to attack opposing defenses, including a talented collection of receivers that’s possibly the best he’s played with in more than a decade — maybe even his entire career. For starters, Mike Evans is...
Ravens offseason priorities begin with improving pass attackVideo
The Baltimore Ravens have got the running game down pat, as evidenced by their back-to-back seasons with more than 3,000 yards rushing. Nothing wrong there. The defense is sound, too. Baltimore allowed fewer than 19 points per game and limited the prolific Buffalo offense to a touchdown and a field...
Penguins’ defensive depth about to get tested … again
Having spent nearly four decades managing hockey teams, Jim Rutherford has a pretty firm grasp on the basic tenets of his vocation. So, he probably doesn’t need many refreshers. But the Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager certainly received one last season when all sorts of maladies forced his team to dress...
AP source: Springer agrees to $150M, 6-year deal with JaysVideo
TORONTO — All-Star outfielder George Springer became the most prominent among baseball’s free agents to reach an agreement this offseason, a $150 million, six-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday night because...
Jeff Capel says Pitt on right road to ‘becoming good’
Pitt fans are already sending out text messages to friends that say things such as, “Great win. Might get to the tournament.” It’s fine to be encouraged by the Panthers’ three-game winning streak that includes victories against ACC blue bloods Duke and Syracuse (twice). Just don’t get coach Jeff Capel...
Florida Panthers 1 of 3 NHL teams allowing fans into arenasVideo
SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida coach Joel Quenneville already has a raspier-than-usual voice after the Panthers’ first two games of the season. Screaming over crowd noise isn’t easy. Florida is one only three NHL teams that is permitting fans back into arenas for the start of this season. The Panthers averaged...
