Sports category, Page 250
Browns GM compares Travis Hunter to Shohei Ohtani
BEREA, Ohio — Andrew Berry has often referred to Travis Hunter as a unicorn. On Thursday, the Browns general manager went one step further and compared the Heisman Trophy winner to reigning National League MVP and baseball two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. Many are expecting Tennessee to take Miami QB Cam...
Rockies hire former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle as hitting coachVideo
DENVER — The Colorado Rockies fired hitting coach Hensley Meulens and replaced him with former manager Clint Hurdle — who also managed the Pirates — on Thursday. The Rockies, who had the day off before starting a series against the Nationals, are 3-15. They are hitting .220, tied for 27th...
Penguins finish season with win in another showcase for Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin
Sidney Crosby’s 20th campaign in the NHL ended just like his first. And the previous two. Out of the playoffs. And while the Penguins were eliminated from contention for this upcoming postseason well before their regular season finale on Thursday — a 5-2 win against the rival Washington Capitals at...
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred meets with President Donald Trump at White House
NEW YORK — Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred met this week at the White House with President Donald Trump. “President Trump is a longtime fan of baseball,” MLB said in a statement Thursday. “As he has done in the past, Commissioner Manfred was pleased to visit the White House again to...
Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Luka Doncic has been with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2 1/2 months now, and he’s feeling fairly comfortable in his new home. He is building chemistry with his new teammates, who are getting used to his brilliant passes, prolific scoring outbursts and fiery competitiveness. But...
Deion Sanders, Buffs face scrutiny over retiring jersey numbers of Shedeur Sanders, Travis HunterVideo
BOULDER, Colo. — Deion Sanders offered a way to soothe any hard feelings over the recent announcement that Colorado’s dynamic tandem Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders skipped the line to have their jersey numbers retired this weekend. Hugs and handshakes for all. “Can we start off with me just shaking...
Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbour TownVideo
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Justin Thomas had a round to match the immaculate weather Thursday at Harbour Town with 11 birdies that allowed him to tie the course record with a 10-under-par 61 to lead the RBC Heritage. The best shot he hit all day was an 8-iron that...
CB Tre’Davious White rejoining Bills on 1-year, $6.8 million dealVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Cornerback Tre’Davious White is rejoining the Buffalo Bills after agreeing to a one-year contract worth up to $6.8 million, the player’s agent told the Associated Press on Thursday. Agent Kevin Conner confirmed the agreement, which was first reported by ESPN. The 30-year-old White returns to Buffalo...
Panthers’ Puljujarvi suspended 2 games for illegal check to head of Lightning’s ChaffeeVideo
SUNRISE, Fla. — Florida Panthers forward Jesse Puljujarvi, formerly of the Pittsburgh Penguins, was suspended two games for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Mitchell Chaffee, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Thursday. Puljujarvi received a match penalty after running his right shoulder into...
Bengals expected to focus on defense in NFL Draft with offensive stars signed to extensionsVideo
The Cincinnati Bengals might have the most predictable strategy of any team going into the NFL Draft. With quarterback Joe Burrow and his top two playmakers — wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — under long-term contracts and taking up a huge portion of the salary cap, director of...
With few major holes on roster, Ravens might not have exciting NFL DraftVideo
BALTIMORE — It’s no accident that so many NFL executives declare they’ll take the best player available in the draft. That type of comment avoids telegraphing to other teams what positions a GM might actually be focusing on. It’s also an expression of confidence — a suggestion the roster is...
NBA playoffs might be wide-open race to title again
There was Toronto in 2019, the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, Milwaukee in 2021, Golden State in 2022, Denver in 2023 and Boston in 2024. Six seasons, six champions. A run of parity like none other in NBA history. And now the Celtics get their turn at bucking that trend....
NFL Draft intrigue likely to begin when Browns go on clock
Some years, the true intrigue about how the rest of the NFL Draft’s first round could develop doesn’t happen until at least the third or fourth pick. This year though, it will begin with the Cleveland Browns, who have the second overall selection. It marks the first time since 2021...
Transfer portal roundup: Penn Hills grad Daemar Kelly headed to Northern Illinois
Daemar Kelly has found success at his first two collegiate stops and now will take on a new challenge in the Mid-American Conference. Kelly, a Penn Hills grad, announced his commitment to play basketball for Northern Illinois on Thursday. #Committed ❤️???? @phbasketball pic.twitter.com/FpRmSltZUV— Daemar Kelly (@kellydaemar) April 17, 2025 Kelly...
College football players chasing dollars with portal open and House settlement approval delayed
The opening of the college football transfer portal has created a dash for cash. The delay in approving the House vs. NCAA antitrust settlement means the rules around compensation are not yet in place, blowing up the market for the amount of money players can receive from their schools’ name,...
Aaron Rodgers dealing with personal issues, not holding Steelers or ‘anyone hostage’ as he decides future
Citing personal matters that are commanding his attention, Aaron Rodgers isn’t ready to announce whether he will play for the Pittsburgh Steelers — or any other NFL team — in the 2025 season. Appearing Thursday on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” the 41-year-old quarterback did not give an indication when...
Andrew Heaney celebrates 10 years of MLB service with gem as Pirates shut out Nationals
The Pittsburgh Pirates surprised Andrew Heaney by bringing his family to the home clubhouse for a pregame celebration for reaching 10 years of major-league service Thursday morning. For someone who dislikes being the center of attention, Heaney squirmed through a video tribute and giving a speech. A table with carved...
Riverhounds to host MLS’ New York City FC in U.S. Open Cup
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC will welcome another MLS opponent to Highmark Stadium next month. The Hounds will host New York City FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 on May 6 or 7. This will be the first matchup between the teams. The Riverhounds, who were Open...
MLB suspends Nationals reliever Jorge Lopez 3 games, manager Dave Martinez 1 game
Washington Nationals reliever Jorge Lopez was suspended three games and Nationals manager Dave Martinez one game by MLB for intentionally throwing a pitch at Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen on Wednesday night. After Lopez hit Bryan Reynolds with a pitch in the seventh inning, he threw a 92-mph fastball at...
Where does Penn State go at linebacker after departure of Brashear grad Ta’Mere Robinson?
Penn State’s linebacker play was at times detrimental in 2024, both against the pass and the run. But NFL-bound Kobe King’s talent and experience often covered for any deficiencies over the course of the game. In 2025, the Nittany Lions are shaping up to have even more questions at the...
In season of broken records, Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin bring respect for one another into 73rd career meeting
For two decades, energy and intensity have been the defining characteristics when two of the NHL’s most iconic stars, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, have collided on the ice. Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena marked the 73rd installment of that battle, with the Washington Capitals visiting the Pittsburgh Penguins...
Lee Corso to retire from ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ after 4-decade run
Lee Corso’s nearly four-decade run on ESPN’s “College GameDay” is coming to an end. Corso, the longtime ESPN broadcaster and folksy former coach widely known for his endearing expressions and elaborate headgear picks, is set to retire after a career with the show that began in 1987, ESPN announced Thursday....
Penguins recall forward Sam Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Sam Poulin from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) Thursday morning in advance of their regular season finale, a home contest against the Washington Capitals. No announcement has been made by the team but the transaction was reflected on the NHL’s media website as...
Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic scheduled to start against Capitals
Pittsburgh Penguins Alex Nedeljkovic is scheduled to start his team’s regular season finale, a home contest against the rival Washington Capitals at PPG Paints Arena on Thursday. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Nedeljkovic’s status during an optional morning skate in Cranberry. In 37 games this season, Nedeljkovic has a 13-15-5 record,...
NFL Draft preview: Steelers to look elsewhere after taking tackles past 2 years in 1st round
Until the first year of the Omar Khan-Andy Weidl regime atop the front office, the Pittsburgh Steelers hadn’t selected an offensive tackle in the first round of an NFL Draft since 1996. Not content with merely breaking that streak in 2023 when they traded up to get Georgia’s Broderick Jones,...
