Rams’ Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford lament missed opportunities as they fall short of Super Bowl
SEATTLE — Sean McVay had zero interest in discussing whether Matthew Stafford, his soon-to-be 38-year-old quarterback, will be back for the Los Angeles Rams next year. McVay had a bit more to say about how his team came up short against the Seattle Seahawks yet again on Sunday, losing 31-27...
Penguins goaltenders turn to Kittanning native Scott Williams to paint their masks
It was an outrageous display. On Dec. 14, four days after being acquired in a trade, goaltender Stuart Skinner made his debut for the Pittsburgh Penguins against his former team, the Edmonton Oilers. And he wore a blue-and-orange Oilers mask with his black-and-yellow Penguins jersey. And at the other end...
Madden Monday: Some quiet, underlying reasons why Mike McCarthy got hired
On the topic of the Pittsburgh Steelers hiring Mike McCarthy to be their new head coach, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X shared an opinion similar to one that I advanced on Sunday. The gripe is more about the process than the person. “I don’t get why they...
First Call: Mike McCarthy ‘very intrigued’ by Will Howard; predictions for Steelers’ coaching staff hires
Monday’s “First Call” has Bill Cowher’s endorsement of Mike McCarthy being hired as the Pittsburgh Steelers new head coach. Will Howard appears to be an early favorite of McCarthy on the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart. There are rumblings about who might round out McCarthy’s coaching staff. And the Cleveland Browns...
Building a consensus: Pirates abuzz about Konnor Griffin being baseball’s No. 1 prospect
Some of the biggest buzz for the Pittsburgh Pirates surrounded a shortstop who was neither in attendance at PiratesFest nor has played a game yet in the major leagues but is being billed as a future superstar. Konnor Griffin became baseball’s consensus No. 1 prospect entering the 2026 season when...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: The Pirates owe Andrew McCutchen this much: Tell him they’re moving on
CUP OF JOE: Starkey on sports in 350 words or less. Breakups are hurtful, in life and pro sports. Feelings are injured. Resentments are formed. It wasn’t pretty when the Pittsburgh Steelers moved on from Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger, who wanted to keep playing. Feelings were injured....
Super Bowl 60 is set and it’s a rematch from 11 years ago: Patriots vs. Seahawks
Drake Maye vs. Sam Darnold. Two stingy defenses. A second-year head coach vs. a veteran coach in his second act. Super Bowl 60 is set, and it’s a rematch: The New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots will seek their NFL-record seventh Super Bowl victory when they face...
Scottie Scheffler starts a new season looking like nothing has changed. He wins his PGA Tour opener
LA QUINTA, Calif. — New year, same Scottie Scheffler. The world’s No. 1 player loves coming to the California desert early in the season to take stock of his game and get into tournament shape. There’s wasn’t much wrong Sunday in The American Express. Scheffler made birdie on half of...
Defending champion Madison Keys knocked out of Australian Open by fellow American Jessica Pegula
MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys was knocked out of the Australian Open by fellow American, and podcast pal, Jessica Pegula. Pegula, seeded sixth, defeated the ninth-seeded Keys 6-3, 6-4, on Sunday night (Monday morning in Australia) at Rod Laver Arena to reach the quarterfinals. Pegula, who has never...
Sam Darnold, Seahawks advance to Super Bowl with thrilling win over Rams in NFC title game
SEATTLE — Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams, 31-27, in an electrifying NFC Championship game Sunday. Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold — an...
Penguins beat Canucks to sweep western road trip
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ four-game road trip through the western reaches of the continent over the past week wasn’t necessarily any more important than any other quartet of contests this season. But wins are good to get, regardless of the circumstances. And four in a row are always great. With their...
Minor league report: Nailers game postponed due to weather
The Wheeling Nailers’ home game against the Fort Wayne Komets on Sunday was postponed indefinitely due to the winter weather that has largely impaired much of the continent. Fans who have purchased tickets may use them for the rescheduled date (which has yet to be determined), exchange them for another...
Patriots punch ticket to 12th Super Bowl with gritty 10-7 win over Broncos in snowy Denver
DENVER — Drake Maye handled the sloppy, snowy conditions better than the home team and he scored New England’s only touchdown on a 6-yard keeper, propelling the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game Sunday. Maye threw for...
‘They’re going to love Coach Mike’: Art Rooney II believes Steelers fans will come around on McCarthy
For a likely future Hall of Fame coach who has won a Super Bowl and has never been shy about showing his pride for being from Pittsburgh, Mike McCarthy has not exactly enthused Pittsburgh Steelers fans in the wake of his hiring by the team. Steelers president Art Rooney II,...
Art Rooney II: Track record, QB-development skills led Steelers to hire Mike McCarthy
As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ search for a worthy successor to Ben Roethlisberger approaches its second half-decade, Art Rooney II acknowledged that the team’s choice of its next head coach was highly influenced by the ability of that man to develop the Steelers’ next franchise quarterback. Speaking to the team’s official...
Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers share complex relationship starting with NFL Draft snub
Fifteen years after Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy won a Super Bowl together, the quarterback and coach could reunite in Pittsburgh. Their reunion became an option once the Steelers decided Saturday to hire McCarthy as head coach, drawing speculation that the 42-year-old Rodgers might return for another season. But Steelers...
‘Expect to get booed’: Pitt’s Jeff Capel addresses fan frustration, heckling
With about a minute to play Saturday at Petersen Events Center, things were looking bleak for Pitt. A third straight ACC loss — the Panthers’ sixth in seven tries in league play — was about to become official, and the modest crowd of 5,572 wasn’t pleased. As the remaining time...
NBA postpones Grizzlies-Nuggets, Mavs-Bucks games because of winter storm
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The NBA postponed two games on Sunday in Memphis and Milwaukee because of the massive winter storm that has made for dangerous travel conditions across much of the U.S. The Dallas Mavericks tried twice to fly to Milwaukee for their game against the Bucks on Sunday night,...
Tim Benz: Hiring Mike McCarthy a tone-deaf, uninspired move by Steelers
The Steelers’ decision to hire Mike McCarthy as the franchise’s new head coach is every bit as uninspired as it is tone-deaf. Those are two of the nicest phrases I can use to describe it. Owner Art Rooney II and general manager Omar Khan couldn’t have waited until after Sunday’s...
At 21, Coco Gauff has enjoyed hanging out with emerging teens at Australian Open
MELBOURNE, Australia — Coco Gauff wants those people posing questions to her about the teenagers breaking through at the Australian Open to remember one thing: She’s 21. The 18-year-old Iva Jovic will be playing No. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park. That’s after Sabalenka, a two-time champion...
2-sport star at Baldwin, Duquesne to join 2 halls of fame in a week
Robert Healy III, like every young athlete, aspired to be recognized as one of the best in his sport. At the end of January, that dream will become a reality — twice. The former standout football and track and field athlete will be joining Duquesne University and Baldwin High School’s...
Joe Starkey’s Cup of Joe: Mike McCarthy has some interesting pieces — is Will Howard one?
I’ll say this: Mike McCarthy as de facto offensive coordinator is an upgrade on Arthur Smith. Artie’s off to Ohio State. Maybe Jonnu Smith has eligibility and could help invigorate the Buckeyes’ tight-end run game. Mike Tomlin never got the offense right in his later years. He went from his...
With choice of Mike McCarthy, 62, Steelers eschew longtime approach of young coaches
The new Pittsburgh Steelers coach isn’t all that young. His background isn’t in defense. And he already had been a head coach — for a long time, for two other franchises — before. That, on face value, goes against everything we know about the Steelers’ tendencies when it comes to...
‘Rip the jersey off of me’: Free agent franchise icon Andrew McCutchen lashes out at Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates icon Andrew McCutchen publicly lashed out at his treatment from the franchise Saturday in a late-night social media post in response to comments by general manager Ben Cherington at PiratesFest regarding the free-agent designated hitter’s future. “There’s more work to do and I’m not done, no matter what...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to CheckersVideo
Goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 35 saves on 39 shots for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-2 loss to the Charlotte Checkers at Mohegan Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. The result dropped Blomqvist’s record to 6-4-3. Forwards Gabe Klassen and Aidan McDonough scored goals for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (27-12-2-2). Highlights: The Penguins’ next...
