Sports category, Page 262
Final Four games average 15.3 million viewers, its biggest audience in 8 years
NEW YORK — Saturday night’s Final Four games averaged 15.3 million viewers on CBS according to fast national numbers from Nielsen, the most-watched national semifinals in eight years. The data also includes some out-of-home data. Numbers are expected to increase when the final numbers are released Tuesday morning. Some of...
Houston, Florida put different spin on ‘underdog’ in NCAA final
SAN ANTONIO — Whoever said there were no great underdog stories left in March Madness, or that the title would go to whichever team spends the most money — or amasses the gaudiest collection of big names from the transfer portal — probably never checked out Houston. And anyone who...
UConn dominates South Carolina for 12th NCAA women’s title
TAMPA, Fla. — UConn is back on top of women’s basketball, winning its 12th national championship by routing defending champion South Carolina, 82-59, on Sunday behind Azzi Fudd’s 24 points. Sarah Strong added 24 points and 15 rebounds, and Paige Bueckers had 17 points in her final game at UConn...
Andrew Heaney’s 10 strikeouts, Tommy Pham’s walk-off single in 11th lift Pirates past Yankees
The Pittsburgh Pirates found the perfect antidote for the hot-hitting New York Yankees in soft-tossing left-hander Andrew Heaney, who lulled their torpedo bats to sleep with a fastball that sat a tick below 90 mph and a mix of offspeed and breaking pitches. Heaney recorded 10 strikeouts in seven innings...
Quintet turns Mercyhurst baseball team into ‘Norwin North’
Welcome to “Norwin North,” where the weather gets cold and the bats get hot. The Mercyhurst baseball team has become an offshoot of the Norwin program, a pipeline from North Huntingdon to Erie producing hits and quality starts up and down the lineup. “We always kind of joke about this...
Penguins forward Philip Tomasino sidelined due to injury
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Philip Tomasino will miss Sunday’s road game against the Chicago Blackhawks due to an undisclosed injury. His status was revealed by the team via a release Sunday afternoon. In 59 games this season, Tomasino has 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) while averaging 13:04 of ice time...
Pirates president vows to put Roberto Clemente’s name back on wall
The Pittsburgh Pirates responded to their latest controversy by reversing their decision to remove a logo with Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente’s name and No. 21 below the right-field foul pole. Pirates president Travis Williams took responsibility for replacing the logo with a Surfside ad without first informing the Clemente...
How Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s NHL goals record
Alex Ovechkin became the greatest goal scorer in NHL history because of a never-before-seen combination of a wicked shot, consistency over two decades and remarkable durability that kept him on the ice long enough to break Wayne Gretzky’s record. Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal Sunday against the New York...
Pirates GM Ben Cherington calls demoting David Bednar a ‘difficult’ decision, conversation
Informing two-time All-Star closer David Bednar he was being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis was what Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington called “a very difficult decision, a very difficult conversation and not one he liked in the moment.” Cherington addressed the move to demote Bednar, a Mars alum who is...
Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record by scoring his 895thVideo
NEW YORK — Alex Ovechkin fired just about the perfect version of his signature one-timer that has defined his remarkable career. When the puck hit the net, it made him the top goal scorer in NHL history. Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal Sunday in the Washington Capitals’ 4-1 loss...
Steelers looking at building offense around WRs DK Metcalf, George Pickens
With the NFL Draft approaching in less than three weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers wouldn’t mind getting back the second-round pick they lost when they traded for DK Metcalf. Trouble is, to do so, they likely would weaken the position they bolstered when they acquired the two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver....
Pirates place righty reliever Colin Holderman on 15-day IL, recall Chase Shugart from Indy
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a bullpen move before Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees that will affect high-leverage situations, as they now need both a closer and a setup man. They placed right-handed reliever Colin Holderman on the 15-day injured list with a right knee sprain and recalled righty...
From shutdown to reopen, a timeline of how the sports world was impacted by covid-19
The covid-19 pandemic affected all corners of humanity in the United States, touching everything from myriad industries to patterns of social interaction to politics and methods for healthcare. Sports might not have the societal importance of many of the other areas, but it did serve as a significant public bellwether...
Covid’s legacy on sports world includes acceleration of NIL, paying college athletes
Justin King’s football journey took him from Gateway High School to Penn State, three NFL teams and into the XFL. It was a ride that included time as a player, major-college team staffer, league executive and, now, athlete advisory/development. King, 37, has seen it all. His experiences as a highly-recruited,...
Pirates intrigued by power-hitting potential of new addition Alexander Canario
Alexander Canario brought a reputation of power-hitting potential along with frequent swings and misses into his debut action with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. “From the people I’ve talked to in other places he’s been, when he impacts the ball, it’s pretty impressive,” manager Derek Shelton said. Canario, traded to...
5 years later, how covid has transformed sports and athletes’ lives
Sidney Crosby leaned back on the bench at his locker after a practice last month. The Pittsburgh Penguins superstar shook his head with a smile that expressed an almost-disbelieving nostalgia. Five years to the day from when the previously unfathomable happened, the longtime face of the NHL was marveling at...
Houston rallies to beat Duke in the Final Four, advances to face Florida for the NCAA title
SAN ANTONIO — Houston’s suffocating defense wiped away a 14-point deficit over the final eight minutes and erased Cooper Flagg and Duke’s title hopes Saturday in a 70-67 stunner over the Blue Devils at the Final Four. Duke made a grand total of one field goal over the last 10...
Wayne Gretzky has been helping Alex Ovechkin long before this record goal chaseVideo
WASHINGTON — A little more than three decades before Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record, the “Great One” had his own chase. Gretzky was in hot pursuit of Gordie Howe’s record in the spring of 1994. Howe was there when Gretzky tied and passed him. His...
Brian Harman survives wind, leads Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Brian Harman survived 30 mph wind by playing the final 13 holes without a bogey, giving him an even-par 72 and a three-shot lead in a Valero Texas Open so difficult that only six players managed to break par. Harman had his chance to join them until...
Minor league report: Penguins shut out by MonstersVideo
Goaltender Sergei Murashov made 21 saves on 24 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins who were shut out by the Cleveland Monsters, 3-0, at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on Saturday. The result dropped Murashov’s record to 11-2-0. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (37-21-7-1, 82 points) was shut out for the fifth time this season as...
Pirates farm report for April 5, 2025: Javier Rivas, Maikol Escotto lead Greensboro to 2-0 start
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 1-3) and Iowa (Cubs) had their game canceled because of inclement weather. Friday’s game that was suspended as well will resume in the top of the 10th inning at 12:15 p.m. Sunday. Sunday’s game will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion. Next: Sunday vs. Iowa (Cubs), 12:15 p.m....
Dawn Staley has South Carolina 1 win away from 3rd title in 4 years
TAMPA, Fla. — Dawn Staley and South Carolina are one win away from joining an elite group of programs in women’s basketball history with a third national championship in four seasons. Only two other schools have accomplished that feat: UConn and Tennessee. “It’s hard to break into what Pat Summitt...
Walter Clayton scores 34, Florida beats Auburn in Final Four
Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points, and Florida beat SEC rival Auburn, 79-73, in the Final Four on Saturday night, sending the Gators to the national championship game for the first time since their titles in 2006 and 2007. The All-America guard for the Gators (35-4) had a driving layup...
Denny Hamlin looks for 5th win at Darlington Raceway
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Denny Hamlin is continually questioning his confidence as he navigates his latest try for a NASCAR Cup Series title. Hamlin’s win last week at Martinsville has him in the field of 16 when the playoffs come around in about five months. And he’s prepping to run the...
Pirates respond to social media reaction, defend replacing Clemente Wall logo with ad
Pittsburgh Pirates fans have been voicing their complaints with the club, with the latest controversy coming because of the reaction by the son of the most beloved player in franchise history. Roberto Clemente Jr. wrote a one-word response to a social media post noting that the Clemente 21 logo on...
