Sports category, Page 310
‘He’s impressive’: Pirates 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin flashes tools in spring training debut
BRADENTON, Fla. — Konnor Griffin is quick to say how cool it is to be an 18-year-old in big league camp at spring training, especially when reminded that he’s less than a year removed from high school. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 first-round pick is even quicker to remind about something...
Mark Madden: Sidney Crosby shines, goaltending doesn’t in Penguins’ return from break
If the 4 Nations Face-Off was “best on best,” what was Sunday’s game between the Penguins and New York Rangers? Find the answer and much more in this edition of refreshing Penguins notes! • Sidney Crosby played hard and exceptionally at the 4 Nations Face-Off, then did the same in...
Madden Monday: NHL already seeing residue of ‘Faustian bargain’ with international play
Hockey’s 4 Nations Face Off was a big success. Now, what can the NHL do for an encore? In this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of TribLive and 105.9 The X says, so far, with its own product, things aren’t going great for the league. “Even the fast teams...
First Call: Plaxico Burress sells Super Bowl ring for big money; Penguins prospect loses fight badlyVideo
In Monday’s “First Call,” a former Pittsburgh Steeler had to sell his Super Bowl ring, but the price may have been worth it. Alex Ovechkin bounced back after a quiet game against the Penguins. An ex-Steelers defensive back is hanging up his cleats. And a Penguins farmhand may want to...
Minor league report: Penguins fall in overtime to BruinsVideo
Forward Boris Katchouk had a goal and an assist for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Providence Bruins at Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, R.I. on Sunday. Goaltender Filip Larsson made 27 saves on 32 shots as his record fell to 8-4-3. Forwards Emil Bemstrom and...
Justin Bieber among stars who skate in hockey benefit for L.A. fire relief fundVideo
LOS ANGELES — Justin Bieber and Steve Carell laced up their skates along with Hockey Hall of Famers Rob Blake, Mark Messier, Cammi Granato and Jeremy Roenick on Sunday afternoon to support relief funds from the Los Angeles fires. The Los Angeles Kings and NHL held “Skate for LA Strong”...
Brian Campbell cashes in, wins Mexico Open for 1st PGA Tour title
VALLARTA, Mexico — Brian Campbell cashed in on a huge break Sunday when his tee shot in a playoff bounced out of the trees and back into play, leading to a birdie on the second extra hole to win the Mexico Open over Aldrich Potgieter. Campbell, who closed with a...
Arizona State’s leading scorer BJ Freeman no longer with team after turbulent stretch
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Arizona State’s leading scorer BJ Freeman is no longer with the program because of conduct detrimental to the team, a team spokesman confirmed on Sunday. The dismissal follows a turbulent stretch for Freeman, who was ejected in games against Colorado and Arizona during conference play. He was...
Christopher Bell takes only lead in OT for thrilling NASCAR finish in Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. — Christopher Bell edged Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson in overtime Sunday in another close NASCAR Cup Series finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Bell led only the final lap in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and had a slight edge on the outside when the caution light came...
Penguins defenseman Matt Grzelcyk injured in loss to Rangers
It’s generous to say the Penguins made progress on Sunday. However, they did manage to avoid giving up a touchdown’s worth of goals for the first time this weekend. So, yes, their play in a 5-3 defeat to the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Sunday was a...
‘Don’t forget about Mitch’: Pirates count on Keller to rebound from second-half struggles
BRADENTON, Fla. — It never dawned on Mitch Keller that he took the mound for their Grapefruit League home opener a year to the day after he signed a five-year, $77 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Not having it on his mind was liberating. “Now I can just...
Hat trick puts Alex Ovechkin 13 away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s career goals recordVideo
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin fired a perfect wrist shot past Calvin Pickard for his first goal of the game, scored from his office on the power play for his second and sailed a shot into an empty net from his own zone to complete the hat trick. “I have pretty...
Flagg fun: Illinois coach suggests young Duke star should stay in school, ‘chase a girl’Video
NEW YORK — Cooper Flagg has certainly lived up to the hype. So it seems a foregone conclusion the freshman phenom from Duke will become the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft. Illinois coach Brad Underwood has a different idea. “I hope he stays in school. I mean, if...
Robert Morris men roll past Milwaukee for 12th victory in past 13 games
And just like that, Robert Morris is in first place in the Horizon League men’s basketball standings. For the first time. Ever. Don’t tell coach Andy Toole, though. He’s not biting. “We’ve just got to keep doing what we do,” Toole said Sunday after Robert Morris’ 72-59 victory over Milwaukee...
No. 13 N.C. State women end No. 1 Notre Dame’s 19-game streak with double-OT winVideo
RALEIGH, N.C. — Zoe Brooks had a career-high 33 points to help No. 13 N.C. State push past top-ranked Notre Dame, 104-95, in a double-overtime classic Sunday, ending the Fighting Irish’s 19-game winning streak while keeping alive their hopes to share the ACC regular-season title. Brooks also had 10 rebounds...
With a biopic planned, Mt. Lebanon native Kurt Angle opens up about his wrestling triumphs, personal journey
A movie is in the works that will profile Kurt Angle’s life story. The film will chronicle the Mt. Lebanon native’s journey from his youth and his start in amateur wrestling, his accomplishments in the sport in high school and college at Clarion to international success, including his Olympic gold-medal...
Pitt digs deep into transfer portal, high schools in hopes of rebuilding WR group
Kade Bell’s offense at Pitt calls for plenty of footballs in the air and enough speedy pass catchers with the skill to get open. Failing that, they need to have enough toughness to win 50-50 matchups with defenders. Those athletes who excel in both areas aren’t easy to find. So,...
Penguins rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist scheduled to start against Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist is scheduled to start Sunday’s game against the New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena. His status was announced via a statement from the team approximately two hours before the opening faceoff. In 12 games this season, Blomqvist has a 3-8-0 record, a 3.68...
Mikaela Shiffrin gets historic 100th World Cup race win and ties record for most podiums
SESTRIERE, Italy — Mikaela Shiffrin is 100% the best in skiing’s World Cup history book. Shiffrin’s record-extending 100th career World Cup race win Sunday fulfilled a quest put on hold by a serious crash in November. Back to racing in her favored slalom event, Shiffrin kept and added to her...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to Thunderbirds
Forward Ville Koivunen had a goal and two assists for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 5-3 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass. on Saturday. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (28-13-5-1) also got goals from forwards Boris Katchouk and Valtteri Puustinen while goaltender Tristan Jarry saw his record fall to...
Duquesne can’t overcome early deficit in loss to St. Bonaventure
They staged their 136th meeting in a men’s basketball series dating to 1920. St. Bonaventure is Duquesne’s most frequent all-time opponent. And get this: The average score in the first 135 games? Duquesne 71.6, St. Bonaventure 70.9, a difference of less than a point. The latest affair Saturday at Reilly...
NHL will hold its first decentralized draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 27-28Video
LOS ANGELES — When the NHL draft comes to Los Angeles this summer, expect a lot more Gary Bettman. The 2025 NHL Draft will take place June 27 and 28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theatre, the league announced Saturday, and Bettman — the NHL’s commissioner since 1993 — will be...
Aldrich Potgieter hangs on to 1-shot lead in Mexico OpenVideo
VALLARTA, Mexico — Aldrich Potgieter had the lead going into the final round of the Mexico Open — minus the cushion he enjoyed — after a sloppy finish Saturday that made him settle for a 4-under-par 67 and a one-shot advantage over Brian Campbell at Vidanta Vallarta. Potgieter, a 20-year-old...
Analysis: After loss to Notre Dame, Jeff Capel puts Pitt’s collapse into perspective
Jeff Capel made two statements after Pitt’s 76-72 loss at Notre Dame that puts the team’s almost total collapse into sharp focus. They are remarks from a veteran coach that explain how and why Pitt is likely headed toward its sixth postseason in Capel’s seven-year tenure without an NCAA Tournament...
Briscoe tries to move past devastating penalties and Blaney to start on pole in NASCAR Atlanta raceVideo
HAMPTON, Ga. — A massive fine left Chase Briscoe facing a huge points deficit heading into Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Even so, Briscoe insisted he feels no new pressure. He said he already felt an urgency to win this week because those are the expectations...
