Sports category, Page 266
GQ shows off baseball’s power couple: Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne
The same day a GQ magazine profile is published, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes led his team to its second win of the season. Coincidence? If Skenes has any say in it, he will propel the team to the post-season, he told GQ. Then, he will get to once again...
First Call: Paul Skenes reacts to his GQ photo spread with Livvy Dunne; Steelers pulled back on Kirk Cousins inquiryVideo
Thursday’s “First Call” has pictures of Paul Skenes’ GQ photo shoot with Livvy Dunne. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a daunting task in St. Louis. The Steelers apparently pulled back from a quarterback inquiry. Plus, Alex Ovechkin scored again. But now his Washington Capitals are suddenly struggling. Smile pretty for the...
U mad, bro?: Perpetual position problems, Tony Award-level QB drama fatigues fans in PittsburghVideo
It’s Final Four week. But we’ve got many more entries than that for this week’s “U mad, bro?” None of them reference college basketball, though. With so much going on surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers’ QB hunt, Penguins goaltending uncertainty and early Pirates woes, our blind rage over Duke making another...
Shaking off frustration of ill-timed injury, Penguins’ Ryan Shea eyes strong finish
From late February through the first week of March, Ryan Shea felt as if he was playing some of the best hockey of his career. Pittsburgh Penguins management was certainly impressed, as on March 7, president of hockey operations/general manager Kyle Dubas extended Shea through 2025-26 at an average annual...
NHL and Rogers announce a 12-year Canadian media rights deal through the 2037-38 season
TORONTO — The NHL and Rogers Communications announced a new 12-year national media rights deal Wednesday to air games on multiple platforms in Canada. The agreement, which was first reported Monday, is valued at $11 billion Canadian dollars, or roughly $7.7 billion. The new deal runs through the 2037-38 season....
Paul Skenes serves as stopper as Pirates snap 4-game losing streak with win over Rays
Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed Paul Skenes to stand tall and serve as the stopper. The 6-foot-6 right-hander didn’t shrink. Skenes delivered a quality start that was more efficient than dominant, recording six strikeouts without a walk in seven innings and rallying from 3-0...
Robert Morris’ Andy Toole agrees to contract extension after leading Colonials to NCAA Tournament
Now that he, apparently, has decided to stay put, Andy Toole’s next order of business appears to be a reconstruction of the Robert Morris men’s basketball roster, decimated by the loss of seven players into the NCAA transfer portal, including the entire starting lineup. If anyone, particularly at the mid-major...
‘Unsung hero’ Noel Acciari remains valued by his Penguins teammates
Noel Acciari is usually one of the first players off the ice after most practices for the Pittsburgh Penguins. That habit doesn’t necessarily come from a place of entitlement or hubris. Acciari would need a centrifugal air compressor and several 24-ounce cans of Fix-a-Flat to have anything resembling an inflated...
Marc Fogel to throw out 1st pitch at Pirates home opener
To open its 25th season, PNC Park will welcome former Oakmont teacher Marc Fogel to throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Pirates host the New York Yankees on Friday. Game time is 4:12 p.m. Fogel was arrested Aug. 14, 2021, in Moscow for bringing medical marijuana into Russia...
Jackson Merrill, Padres agree to $135 million, 9-year contract for 2026-34
SAN DIEGO — All-Star outfielder Jackson Merrill and the San Diego Padres agreed Wednesday to a $135 million, nine-year contract covering 2026-34. Merrill gets a $10 million signing bonus, $1 million payable within 30 days of the contract’s approval by Major League Baseball and $3 million on Jan. 15 in...
Injured Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin to travel for upcoming road trip
Injured Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin is expected to travel with his team for an upcoming three-game road trip according to coach Mike Sullivan. If that means Malkin will play in any of those games, that is a matter of speculation at this juncture. Malkin has missed the past three...
Penn State WR coach offers honest remarks: ‘We could always use help’
Penn State’s wide receivers will be under heavy scrutiny as the Nittany Lions push to win a national championship in 2025. James Franklin knows that. Athletic director Pat Kraft knows that. Receivers coach Marques Hagans knows that better than anyone. The last time reporters spoke with Hagans was after the...
MLB’s average salary tops $5 million for first time, AP study shows
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s average salary broke the $5 million barrier on opening day for the first time, according to a study by The Associated Press. The New York Mets, with Juan Soto’s record $61.9 million pay, led MLB for the third straight opening day with a $322.6...
Penguins recall forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL) under emergency roster conditions. It is not yet publicly known what those conditions are. This marks the second time this season Koppanen has been summoned to the NHL roster. Previously, Koppanen was recalled March 18...
As Steelers ponder beefing up defensive line, GM Omar Khan likes ‘the group we have’
PALM BEACH, Fla. — After striking out on acquiring a big-name defensive lineman in free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to address that deficiency early in the NFL Draft. Or are they? General manager Omar Khan’s choice of words during his media availability this week at the league’s annual...
Predictable offensive woes already showing for Pirates
The Pirates have opened their 2025 season at 1-5 in Miami and Tampa Bay. Some preseason warnings have manifested as reasons for the slow start. Through the first six games, we’ve seen the predicted fielding concerns, bullpen issues, and back end of the rotation worries. However, the red flags many...
First Call: Ben Roethlisberger has some QB advice for the Steelers; watch Alex Ovechkin score yet again
Wednesday’s “First Call” has advice for the Steelers from former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He also questions the franchise’s full faith in Mason Rudolph. DK Metcalf apparently wanted to leave Seattle long before he was traded to Pittsburgh. And you can watch Alex Ovechkin’s latest step toward breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL...
Mark Madden: Penguins’ Kyle Dubas makes right call with rookies Ville Koivunen, Rutger McGroarty
To my mind, there was debate about when to start the influx of prospects from the Penguins’ system to Pittsburgh. I might have finished this season plugging gaps with scrubs, then promoted a chunk of legit kids at the beginning of next season — readiness permitting, of course. Let energy...
Tim Benz: There’s 1 clear benefit to Aaron Rodgers’ prolonged decision process
Steelers owner Art Rooney II provided an update on how long his franchise will wait for quarterback Aaron Rodgers to decide if he wants to join the 2025 roster in Pittsburgh. “Not forever, but a little while longer,” Rooney told reporters in Florida Tuesday afternoon. Gee, Art, I’m sure that’ll...
Pirates farm report for April 1, 2025: Mike Burrows puts up zeroes in Indianapolis loss
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 0-2) lost 2-1 in a pitchers’ duel with Iowa (Cubs). RHP Mike Burrows (0.00) started and went 3⅔ innings, allowing three hits and no walks with four strikeouts. RHP Chase Shugart (0.00) worked two scoreless innings and RHP Kyle Nicolas (13.50) and RHP Hunter Stratton (0.00) each threw...
Thomas Harrington roughed up in MLB debut, as Pirates are blanked by Rays for 4th straight loss
When Paul Skenes made his MLB debut last May, the Pittsburgh Pirates knew that coming up behind him was another wave of promising pitching prospects inching closer to the big leagues in Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington. Less than a week into the regular season, Harrington became the...
Paul Brown rises, Ravens drop by NFL including AAFC stats
Paul Brown just moved up a few spots on the NFL career coaching wins list. The NFL owners approved a proposal by Competition Committee on Tuesday to incorporate player, coach and team statistics from the All-America Football Conference into the official NFL records. The AAFC existed from 1946-49 with Paul...
Pirates’ No. 3 prospect Thomas Harrington lasts 4 innings in MLB debut, allows 6 runs to RaysVideo
Pittsburgh Pirates No. 3 overall prospect Thomas Harrington made his MLB debut Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays and struggled, allowing six earned runs in four innings. Manager Derek Shelton pulled him after four innings with Tampa Bay leading 6-0. The 23-year-old righty threw 54 of his 90 pitches...
Pitt notebook: Panthers look good in scrimmage, but Pat Narduzzi always will ask for more
The offense committed only one turnover among about 130 plays. Backup quarterback Julian Dugger ran 69 yards for a touchdown. Wide receivers Deuce Spann and Zion Fowler-El made big plays in the passing game. The running game was “solid,” according to Pat Narduzzi. The coach’s overall assessment of Pitt’s closed...
Alex Ovechkin scores No. 891, needs 3 to tie Wayne Gretzky
BOSTON — Alex Ovechkin moved four goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record after scoring the 891st of his career in the Washington Capitals’ game against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. Ovechkin gave Washington a 2-0 lead with about four minutes left in the first period, when the...
