Sports category, Page 1910
Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin noncommittal on NFL forfeit question. That’s smart. For many reasons.
This 2020 NFL season has to be a special kind of torture for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Almost all coaches from pee-wee football to the NFL pound a message of “controlling the controllables.” In other words, focus only on your team. Your own job within that team. On that given...
Pirates middle infield is full of options for 2021. It’s also full of questions
As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for 2021, a vast amount of uncertainty exists. When will games start? Will fans be allowed? What will the length of the schedule be? What about payroll? Who knows? One thing I can pretty much guarantee, though, is that the Pirates will not be allowed...
Tyler Glasnow fans 10 to lead Rays past Yankees
SAN DIEGO — With their pitching staff providing a record 18 strikeouts, the Tampa Bay Rays showed some pop of their own against the New York Yankees. Randy Arozarena, Mike Zunino, Manuel Margot and Austin Meadows homered, and Tyler Glasnow struck out 10 to set a postseason record for the...
Lakers top Heat, take 3-1 lead in NBA Finals
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Anthony Davis punched his chest in celebration. LeBron James let out a huge scream. The Los Angeles Lakers are on the cusp of what they want most — the franchise’s first championship in 10 years. Davis’ 3-pointer with 39.5 seconds left was the backbreaker, James...
George Springer hits 2 HRs, Astros beat A’s for 2-0 ALDS lead
LOS ANGELES — Back-to-back home runs off back-to-back pitches. The Houston Astros can’t miss these days. George Springer hit two homers, and Houston kept making more noise in the playoffs, beating the Oakland Athletics, 5-2, on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series. Martin Maldonado also...
Breanna Stewart leads Seattle to 2nd WNBA title in 3 years
BRADENTON, Fla. — Breanna Stewart scored 26 points, and the Seattle Storm won their second WNBA championship in three seasons, sweeping the Las Vegas Aces with a 92-59 rout Tuesday night. It’s the fourth title in franchise history for the Storm, who also won in 2004, ’10 and ’18. Seattle...
NHL adjusts target date to open 2020-21 season to Jan. 1
The NHL and NHLPA announced on Tuesday a new target date of Jan. 1 to open the 2020-21 season. Previously, the NHL had identified Dec. 1. The NHL calendar has been impacted dramatically ever since the NHL halted play March 12 due to the coronavirus pandemic. After the remainder of...
‘Dead’ money on the salary cap is a way of life for the Penguins and other NHL teams
In August, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford let it be known he didn’t want to utilize any buyouts while crafting his roster in advance of the NHL’s 2020-21 season. They were a last resort. “That’s the fallback position, buyouts, if we have to get to that,” Rutherford said. “I don’t...
NY Rangers select Lafreniere with No. 1 pick in NHL DraftVideo
Alexis Lafreniere wanted to take the stage at Montreal’s Bell Centre near his home and hear his name announced at the NHL Draft. The playmaking forward had to settle for being selected first overall by the New York Rangers on Tuesday night. “Obviously, it’s different, and we didn’t expect that...
NHL targeting Jan. 1 to begin next seasonVideo
Commissioner Gary Bettman said Tuesday night the NHL is targeting a Jan. 1 start for next season. That declaration came after recent talks between the league and NHL Players’ Association. The new date is a month after the tentative Dec. 1 start. “It was just over a week ago that...
New attendance limits remove some stress for WPIAL schools
High school administrators across the PIAA were verifying the number of seats in their stadiums and gymnasiums Tuesday after Gov. Tom Wolf eased limits on gathering sizes. The governor’s new formula is based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity rather than the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions previously...
After transferring late, D.J. Turner ends up lifting Pitt’s passing game
As late as midway through training camp, D.J. Turner was just a name on somebody else’s roster. If he had walked through the doors of Pitt’s practice facility almost any day in August, he might have been asked to leave. Yet, here he is, shouldering much of the responsibility to...
Travis D’Arnaud, Braves rally in 7th, beat Marlins to open NLDS
HOUSTON — Ronald Acuna Jr. made history with his leadoff homer, Travis d’Arnaud hit a tiebreaking shot in Atlanta’s huge seventh inning and the Braves beat the Miami Marlins, 9-5, on Tuesday in Game 1 of the NL Division Series. D’Arnaud also doubled and singled in driving in four runs,...
On the Fringe: Surprise major champs no longer a surprise on LPGAVideo
Sophia Popov winning the Women’s British Open was a surprise in many ways. Except for one. First-time major champions — even those not among the top 50 in the world — are nothing new on the LPGA Tour. A month after Popov won at Royal Troon as the No. 304...
Schwartzman tops Thiem in 5 sets lasting 5 hours, 8 minutes at French OpenVideo
PARIS — Diego Schwartzman played through the wind and rain and into the dark of night against Dominic Thiem at the French Open, contesting a total of 376 points spread out across five sets and 5 hours, 8 minutes, knowing all the while he never had won a match of...
Penn State, Big Ten aim to open men’s hockey season by Nov. 13
The Big Ten announced it is aiming to open the 2020-21 men’s hockey season by Nov. 13. No schedule has been announced, but play will involve a 24-game regular season scheduled for all seven members of the conference. Penn State is a member of the conference as is Michigan, Michigan...
Alex Bowman promoted to the No. 48 to replace Jimmie JohnsonVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The most coveted seat in NASCAR belongs to Alex Bowman in a Hendrick Motorsports lineup shuffle to replace seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson in the iconic No. 48 Chevrolet. Bowman and crew chief Greg Ives, who won five championships with Johnson as his engineer, will move from the...
Good news for Pitt players’ parents: Heinz Field will welcome spectators
Imagine the disappointment Darryl Turner and Deidre Newkirk felt last week after receiving the bad news from their son, Pitt wide receiver D.J. Turner: No spectators allowed inside Heinz Field. Imagine how they feel now. Those virtual days of watching football may be over for the families of Pitt players...
Indians expect manager Terry Francona back for 2021 seasonVideo
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians expect manager Terry Francona to return for the 2021 season after he missed 48 games in 2020 because of health issues. President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Tuesday the 61-year-old Francona is back home in Arizona resting and recovering. Francona, a New Brighton native,...
Following 3-day bye, Tomlin got approval before putting Steelers through workout Monday
Before Mike Tomlin put the Pittsburgh Steelers through a practice Monday morning, he made sure the NFL and its players association were on board with his decision. The collective bargaining agreement states teams on a bye week must give players four days off. The Steelers had just three after their...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin noticing a decrease in penalties through NFL
A truism for the Pittsburgh Steelers the past two seasons was that if an offensive lineman was called for holding, chances are the guilty party was left tackle Alejandro Villanueva. Villanueva was called for holding eight times over the 2018-19 seasons, which easily was the most of any lineman on...
Steelers allowing 5,500 fans at Heinz Field for Sunday’s game
The Pittsburgh Steelers will allow fans at Heinz Field on Sunday for the first time this season. Shortly after Gov. Tom Wolf eased statewide restrictions on gathering limits, the Steelers on Tuesday announced plans to admit 5,500 spectators into the stadium for their game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The team...
WR Diontae Johnson to return for Steelers in Week 5 against EaglesVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be at full strength at wide receiver Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles with the return of Diontae Johnson from concussion protocol. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference that Johnson no longer is being treated for concussion symptoms. Johnson, the Steelers’ most targeted...
Gov. Wolf eases gathering restrictions with formula tied to capacity limits
Gov. Tom Wolf increased gathering-size limits for events statewide Tuesday, revealing a new formula that’s based on a percentage of a facility’s capacity rather than the 25-person indoor and 250-person outdoor restrictions previously imposed. Indoor events are limited to 10% to 20% of capacity, depending upon the venue’s size, and...
Carlos Correa, George Springer rally Astros past A’s in ALDS opener
LOS ANGELES — A home run derby broke out during a hot, dry day at Dodger Stadium, and suddenly the Houston Astros have their swing and swagger back. Carlos Correa homered twice and drove in four, Jose Altuve hit a go-ahead, two-run single during Houston’s four-run sixth inning and the...
