Sports category, Page 223
Report squarely blames Bucco Brick fiasco on Pittsburgh Pirates
A report commissioned by Pittsburgh’s Sports and Exhibition Authority places blame solely on the Pittsburgh Pirates for a controversial decision to scrap personalized, fan-purchased bricks at PNC Park without telling anyone. “It was the Pirates, not the SEA or any of its contractors, that made the decision to dispose of...
NFL schedule makers ‘tried to play it down the middle’ when weighing Steelers, Aaron Rodgers saga
It remains to be seen whether Aaron Rodgers will be the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback when they face his former team, the Green Bay Packers, on Oct. 26. The NFL schedule makers didn’t hesitate to give that matchup the prime-time treatment even while the 41-year-old quarterback remains unsigned amid weighing the...
Steelers 2025 schedule breakdown, (non-outcome) predictions
With the fanfare befitting the modern NFL’s marketing behemoth, the 2025 schedule is out. The scheduled dates and times for 17 Pittsburgh Steelers games — eight at home, eight on the road and one at a neutral site — have been released. Predictions for winners in each can be found...
Neil Walker on becoming Don Kelly’s bench coach with Pirates: ‘Not right now’
There has been some speculation that new Pirates manager Don Kelly may ask his brother-in-law, former Pirate Neil Walker, to be his bench coach. Walker joined me on the “Breakfast with Benz” podcast Wednesday. He acknowledges that the topic has been discussed, but it’s unlikely to happen. “If my brother-in-law...
Penguins A to Z: Jimmy Huntington’s season was over before it truly beganVideo
With the Pittsburgh Penguins entering the offseason for a third consecutive year without a playoff appearance, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 56 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until future seasons — with the organization....
First Call: Art Rooney II’s lone schedule complaint; NFL scheduling exec denies knowledge about Aaron RodgersVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has a complaint about the Steelers’ schedule from owner Art Rooney II. The NFL wants to add some clarity to the Aaron Rodgers angle. I’ve got an interesting quirk to the schedule that may impact your predictions. We also examine the struggles of Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds....
Pirates’ Chase Shugart bounces back with longest relief outing of year, blanking Mets
For about a month leading into early May, Chase Shugart was among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most lights-out bullpen options, posting a 1.23 ERA through his first 12 appearances of the season. While that clip of outings was briefly interrupted by a short stint at Triple-A Indianapolis, Shugart returned to Pittsburgh...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans angry about George Pickens coverage, lack of Will Howard support
This happens every May. We are about four months removed from the conclusion of the previous Steelers season. That’s long enough to forget how badly it ended. We are four months removed from the start of the next Steelers season. That’s well in advance of the panic that usually precedes...
Pirates farm report for May 14, 2025: Billy Cook delivers walk-off hit for Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 22-17) walked off Louisville (Reds), 9-8. LF Billy Cook (.205) slapped a walk-off base hit to second base to score pinch-runner Matt Frazier (.143) in the bottom of the ninth. Cook finished his night with four singles and two RBIs. CF Jack Suwinski (.264) smashed a two-run home...
Pirates score 4 runs or less for 20th straight game but it’s enough to top Mets, avoid sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been receiving largely solid starting pitching of late, with a club ERA of 2.28 in their last eight games dating to May 5. Their record over that span? 2-6. That, primarily, has been the result of a persistently underperforming offense, which sank the Pirates in their...
Ravens reach 2-year, $30 million extension with running back Derrick Henry, AP source saysVideo
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens agreed Wednesday to a two-year contract extension with star running back Derrick Henry. The deal is worth $30 million — $25 million guaranteed — according to a person with knowledge of the contract, speaking on condition of anonymity to the Associated Press because the terms...
Steelers to open season on road against Jets, Justin Fields, will close it at home vs. Ravens
For the 10th time in the past 11 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers will open the regular season on the road. For the first time in 23 years, they will close it with a home game against the Baltimore Ravens. The NFL unveiled the 2025 schedule Wednesday night, and for the...
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips feels good about the league’s newfound stability after chaosVideo
AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. — The ACC is entering a period of stability. How long it lasts is anyone’s guess. Not even commissioner Jim Phillips knows for sure. “I still live one day at a time,” Phillips quipped. The ACC wrapped up its spring meetings Wednesday at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia...
The Twins turned their season around. The Orioles are showing few signs of doing thatVideo
BALTIMORE — The Minnesota Twins lost a couple mainstays in their lineup and even their manager, too. They had to use every reliever they had over the course of a doubleheader. The Baltimore Orioles still couldn’t beat them. Minnesota rallied from a three-run deficit in the opener and a two-run...
Donovan Mitchell, Cavaliers go into offseason disappointed
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers won 64 games during the regular season, captured the top seed in the Eastern Conference and had two winning streaks of at least 15 games. Mitchell, though, goes into the offseason feeling one thing. Embarrassed. That’s because, despite all the good...
Preakness notes: Jockey who broke 24 bones, spent 5 weeks in coma to ride
BALTIMORE — Raul Mena was a young jockey in a race in his native Chile in 2011 when the horse he was riding jumped the rail, throwing him to the ground with severe injuries. “It was a scary accident,” Mena recalled Wednesday. “I broke 24 bones in all my body,...
The PGA Championship’s identity might be that it has no identity at allVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The PGA Championship for years has been the major that lacked an identity compared with the other three. The Masters is at Augusta National, the only major held at the same course every year. The British Open has links golf. The U.S. Open loves its reputation as...
U.S. backup Jake Oettinger outplaying starter Connor Hellebuyck in NHL playoffs
DALLAS — Winnipeg Jets fans have showered Jake Oettinger with chants referring to his role as the USA Hockey backup goalie to Connor Hellebuyck during the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year. Well, that “U.S. backup” has Dallas on the verge of its third consecutive trip to the Western Conference...
Riveters women’s pro soccer team ready for 1st game ever
Women’s Professional Soccer makes its debut Friday at Highmark Stadium as the Pittsburgh Riveters take on the Cleveland Force, with a kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. This will be the inaugural USL W League match for both teams. The ramp up to this has been a calculated one by the...
Philadelphia Flyers hire Rick Tocchet as coach, turning to alum to end playoff drought
The Philadelphia Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their coach Wednesday, hoping his return to the franchise will push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet spent 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023-24 for...
Baldwin High School dedicates softball field in honor of late coach
A full house at a school board meeting often doesn’t bode well for the folks up front. But to the relief of Baldwin-Whitehall board member Pete Giglione and his colleagues, the residents who packed the place in December 2023 came bearing positives. “When I reviewed the phone-book-sized packet of letters...
Pirates claim INF/OF Michael Helman off waivers from St. Louis
The Pittsburgh Pirates claimed 28-year-old infielder/outfielder Michael Helman off waivers from the Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon. Helman, who bats right-handed, appeared in 18 games for the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds this season, slashing .185/.260/.292 with a homer, four doubles and six RBIs. An 11th-round (No. 334 overall) draft pick in 2019...
Livvy Dunne becomes Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model
Livvy Dunne, a Pittsburgh Pirates fan favorite, has become a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model. The recently retired NCAA gymnast is the girlfriend of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes. She’s made numerous appearances to watch him play in Pittsburgh. The former LSU Tiger was chosen to be one of four covers...
Aaron Donald, Sam Young headline 2025 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class
Aaron Donald’s final game ended with confetti falling all around him as he celebrated a Super Bowl championship as a member of the Los Angeles Rams in 2024. Soon after, he announced his retirement following 10 seasons in the NFL, where he was one of the most dominant defensive players...
Mark Madden: What if Paul Skenes doesn’t pitch better?
Paul Skenes isn’t falling apart. But he’s not a phenom so far this season. He isn’t dominating. Look at Monday vs. the New York Mets, Skenes’ most recent start. He allowed six hits and one run in six innings. He walked three and struck out six. He had to pitch...
