Sports category, Page 2095
Basketball Hall of Fame set to announce 2020 classVideo
A unique Hall of Fame class will be announced Saturday in a unique way. Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett are expected to be announced officially as part of the 2020 class of enshrinees by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which typically reveals its annual selections at...
Hempfield athletic director Greg Meisner to step down
For the first time in 15 years, Hempfield will have a new athletic director this summer. Greg Meisner will step down from his athletic director position for personal reasons effective June 30, superintendent Tammy Wolicki confirmed in an email Friday. Rich Bowen, Hempfield’s football coach and athletic operations manager, will...
Dayton dunkmaster Obi Toppin wins Naismith TrophyVideo
ATLANTA — Dayton forward Obi Toppin was awarded the Naismith Trophy as college basketball’s most outstanding player. Toppin was named the Naismith Trophy winner Friday, adding to an award collection that includes national player of the year by the Associated Press. Toppin had a breakout sophomore season for the third-ranked...
High school, college players feel effect of MLB Draft change
If things were normal, Serra Catholic catcher Mark Black would be about two weeks into his senior season, wowing scouts, fans and teammates with his daily power displays as he tried to boost his stock for the MLB Draft. If things were normal, Pitt outfielder Nico Popa would be in...
Bears declare open competition between Mitchell Trubisky, Nick FolesVideo
The Chicago Bears declared the quarterback competition between Mitchell Trubisky and newcomer Nick Foles an open one Friday. General manager Ryan Pace made that clear during a conference call, saying both players are “embracing” the battle that will play out whenever offseason workouts begin. Coach Matt Nagy stressed Trubisky will...
Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu wins women’s Naismith Player of the YearVideo
ATLANTA — Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu has added another award to her collection Already named the Associated Press women’s player of the year, Ionescu was awarded the Naismith Trophy for the most outstanding women’s basketball player Friday. Ionescu, who won AP All-American honors three times, shattered the NCAA career triple-double mark...
WNBA postpones start of season this month because of virusVideo
NEW YORK — The WNBA postponed the start of its season because of the coronavirus pandemic, with no indication when play would begin. The league was scheduled to open training camps April 26, and the regular season was set to begin May 15. The WNBA will still hold a “virtual”...
Mike Tirico to host daily afternoon show on NBCSN starting MondayVideo
NBC’s Mike Tirico is returning to hosting a daily talk show, which will focus on the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on the sports world. The hour-long “Lunch Talk Live” will air weekdays beginning at noon on NBCSN. Tirico will host the show remotely from his home in Michigan. This is the...
Giants’ Dion Lewis becomes backup to star RB again, this time with Saquon BarkleyVideo
Pitt product Dion Lewis is in a familiar role being Saquon Barkley’s backup with the New York Giants. It’s a position Lewis had the past two seasons in Tennessee, spelling NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry. Lewis knows the requirements: be a good team player and be ready when needed to...
Steelers on to Plan D or E in long quest to find tight end to succeed Heath Miller
The familiar calls of “HEEEEEEEATH” from the Heinz Field crowd have faded in the four years since Heath Miller announced his retirement. There probably still are some fans, even with Miller at 37, who are still making those elongated cries in an effort to bring him back to Pittsburgh. Since...
Penguins’ Bryan Rust, Zach Aston-Reese, Marcus Pettersson buy 500 pizzas for needy
In another example of goodwill by athletes from local pro sports teams during the coronavirus pandemic, Pittsburgh Penguins players Bryan Rust, Zach Aston-Reese and Marcus Pettersson purchased 500 personal pizzas for local community distribution centers. The Fox’s Pizza Den personal-sized pizzas were delivered early Friday to the locales in the...
Lernerville Speedway cancels opening night races
Dirt-track racing season will have to wait, as the coronavirus outbreak has halted another part of the local sports world. Lernerville Speedway in Sarver canceled its opening-night festivities, which were scheduled for April 24. Test and tune sessions scheduled for April 10 and 17 also were canceled. “With respect to...
One day at a time, NFL to re-air every Sunday of 2019 season
Questions persist about whether the 2020 NFL season will be played. And in lieu of a “virtual” season, how about re-living the most recent regular season, in real time? The NFL, through its popular RedZone channel, is giving sports-starved fans that opportunity, over a 17-day span beginning Monday. Starting then,...
Pitt women’s basketball gains player, loses another via transfer portal
One of the top women’s basketball players in the Mountain West Conference could be in a Pitt uniform next season. Jayla Everett, the 2019 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, decided to transfer from New Mexico to Pitt. She posted her intention on Twitter on Thursday. ??? pic.twitter.com/jraBEeI7x1— JAY (@jayla_dianne4)...
Tim Benz: Are 7-inning doubleheaders the way to go for a revamped MLB schedule?
One idea to help Major League Baseball get as many games as possible onto the schedule in 2020 is to play a lot of scheduled doubleheaders. According to Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins, via ESPN one of the ideas being floated around is playing those doubleheaders as seven-inning...
First Call: ESPN spruces up Myles Garrett again; Stephen A. Smith rips Antonio Brown; 100-game MLB season?
Friday’s “First Call” illustrates ESPN’s unending desire to shine up Myles Garrett. Stephen A. Smith lowers the boom on Mr. Business is Boomin’. Check out Tom Brady’s new place in Tampa. We may have a 100-game Major League Baseball season. And O.J. Simpson gives us his review of “Tiger King.”...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans love — and hate — Jameis Winston, plus other balanced reactions
This week’s “U mad, bro?” is pretty intense. Especially about the idea of Jameis Winston coming to Pittsburgh. I mean, for something that is probably never going to happen, boy, are people fired up about it! Also, Steelers fans spit fire about the NFL Draft, Minkah Fitzpatrick and the crazy...
NFLPA accused of stonewalling ex-players on disability fundsVideo
The attorney representing retired NFL players alleged the players’ union stonewalled his clients when confronted with questions whether their Social Security disability payments would be affected before the labor agreement with the league was narrowly ratified last month. Ben Meiselas told the Associated Press on Friday that email exchanges between...
Southmoreland’s Gracie Spadaro wins Tribune-Review Westmoreland Girls Basketball Player of the Year honors
Tribune-Review Girls Basketball Player of the Year Gracie Spadaro Southmoreland, 5-11, So., Forward It was a good year to be a Southmoreland Scottie. In the fall, the football team made the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 1979. In the winter, the girls basketball team had the best season...
Bills valued Stefon Diggs’ experience over adding receiver in draftVideo
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Stefon Diggs landing in Buffalo was a direct result of the new coronavirus pandemic potentially disrupting the NFL’s offseason practice schedule. Bills general manager Brandon Beane altered his approach in filling the Bills’ most pressing need at receiver. By acquiring Diggs in a trade with Minnesota last...
Report: U.S. Open could be played at Torrey Pines later this yearVideo
SAN DIEGO — Torrey Pines Golf Course has become a potential candidate to host the 2020 U.S. Open men’s tournament if the event is postponed because of fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a report Thursday by Golfweek. The website said golf’s governing bodies will soon release a revised...
Chiefs’ Andy Reid plotting defense of Super Bowl from his basementVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Andy Reid is like most people these days. The Kansas City Chiefs coach is hunkered down in his basement, trying to avoid going out in public as he works from a makeshift office consisting of a computer, an iPad and an old side table. The difference,...
Stuck in Minnesota, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski adjusts to ‘strange times’Video
CLEVELAND — Kevin Stefanski’s title has changed. His address remains the same. Stuck in Minnesota with his family, the Cleveland Browns’ first-year coach has been holed up and riding out the coronavirus pandemic, which has created challenges as he prepares for the NFL draft and a season that remains in...
Tim Dahlberg: Nothing smart about staging UFC fights or NFL draftVideo
Dana White must be a smart guy. He did, after all, build UFC from almost nothing into the entertainment and sports juggernaut it is today. Roger Goodell is pretty smart himself. He’s been able to keep 32 owners happy while filling their pockets with even more billions from NFL fans....
Ivy League denies graduate eligibility for spring-sport athletesVideo
NEW YORK — The Ivy League decided not to allow its spring-sport athletes who had their seasons shortened by the coronavirus pandemic to have an additional year of eligibility as graduates, despite the NCAA granting that option earlier this week. The move, which was announced Thursday, was consistent for the...
