Sports category, Page 351
Like the Steelers, Ravens own similar recent history of playoff underachievement
The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t the only team with a recent history of underwhelming postseason success. In fact, they might not even be the team enduring the most pressure and scrutiny that takes to field Saturday night at M&T Bank Stadium. Whereas the Steelers will be out to end an eight-year...
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi adds 11 transfers, 14 freshmen to spring roster
The spring semester started Monday at Pitt, and coach Pat Narduzzi welcomed 11 transfers and 14 early-enrolling freshmen to the football program. The transfers include four from power conferences, with Narduzzi hopeful to get immediate help on both sides of the ball. Sophomore defensive end Jaeden Moore (6-foot-4, 245 pounds)...
A plot twist from what college football has become: A player who stayedVideo
DANIA BEACH, Fla. — When Penn State moved a different linebacker into what had been Tyler Elsdon’s starting spot, Elsdon made a choice that doesn’t really fit into the storyline college football has been selling these days. He stayed right where he was. In an era in which NIL money,...
After big loss to Duke, Pitt prepares for another high hurdle with Louisville
If you’re a Pitt fan looking for encouragement after the Panthers’ second loss of a painful proportion this season, know this: No. 4 Duke (13-2, 5-0 ACC) has won nine in a row, its past six by an average of more than 26 points. Almost in line with what happened...
Big kicks, big misses and big returns: special teams creating game-changing moments in the CFP
AUSTIN, Texas — Missed kicks and makes. Big returns. Shaky nerves. Special teams have produced some nerve-wracking, game-changing and game-clinching moments so far in the College Football Playoff. The potential for more blink-of-an-eye touchdowns and knee-knocking pressure on late game field goals gets even bigger heading into the semifinals with...
West Virginia’s Javon Small leads the Big 12 in scoring to fuel West Virginia’s return to the Top 25
Javon Small was the best player on mediocre teams during his first three college seasons. Now he’s the Big 12’s leading scorer and a major reason why short-handed West Virginia is relevant again. No. 21 West Virginia was picked to finish 13th in the 16-team Big 12 under first-year coach...
Former Baltimore Orioles left-hander Brian Matusz dies at 37
BALTIMORE — Brian Matusz, the left-handed pitcher who spent eight seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the Baltimore Orioles as they returned to prominence a decade ago, has died. He was 37. The Orioles and the University of San Diego announced Matusz’s death Tuesday night, with USD saying it...
Mark Madden: Minkah Fitzpatrick not giving Steelers enough bang for the buck
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in their current mess for a number of reasons. But two stand out. Selecting Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft was badly damaging. Pickett very quickly revealed himself to not be of starting caliber. The Steelers have patchworked at quarterback since Pickett...
Tim Benz: Try as he might, Mike Tomlin can’t ‘tote those bags’ of playoff frustration for all of his players
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t want his players carrying the burden of the franchise’s seven-year playoff-win drought. “What you mentioned is my story, it’s not this collective’s story,” Tomlin said Monday. “Many of these guys involved do not tote those bags. I happily tote those bags. It’s not something...
Tim Benz: Pens play ‘points game’ poorly to open crucial 5-game homestand
Pittsburgh Penguins winger Bryan Rust doesn’t care that 40 of 82 games remain on the schedule. The extra point they gave away to a division rival Tuesday night is worthy of some angst. “It’s never too early to play the points game,” Rust said with some agitation. “There’s (nine) points...
First Call: Justin Fields on his chances for snaps vs. Baltimore; Broderick Jones wanted Ravens rematch
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Justin Fields’ assessment of his chances of getting on the field in some form this week against the Baltimore Ravens. A Steelers offensive lineman says this is the playoff rematch that he wanted going into Week 18. A former Steeler is under consideration for the New...
‘It’s a mindset’: On Sidney Crosby becoming the NHL’s all-time leader in faceoff winsVideo
Everyone is in place but Sidney Crosby. It’s a game night at PPG Paints Arena and all defensemen are in position, as are the wingers at the top and bottom of the neutral zone faceoff circle. As the referee and opposing center await his arrival for the opening faceoff, Crosby...
Penguins’ Cody Glass deputizes as 2nd-line center on short notice with Evgeni Malkin out
Cody Glass doesn’t stress out when, abruptly, the Pittsburgh Penguins task him with switching positions. Changes to deployment and skating with different wingers is part of everyday life in the NHL, which Glass accepts and has already navigated through during his first campaign in a Penguins sweater. That said, Tuesday’s...
Penn State grad Al Golden back in Miami, trying to bring Notre Dame a CFP title shotVideo
DANIA BEACH, Fla. — Choose your Al Golden storyline for Thursday’s Orange Bowl. He’ll be coaching against Penn State, his alma mater and the school where he was a captain. He’ll be coaching again at Hard Rock Stadium, where Miami fans booed him off the field in his final game...
Evgeni Malkin sits with injury as Penguins squander lead, lose to Blue Jackets in shootout
Entering 2024-25, Pittsburgh Penguins superstar forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin had been in the lineup for each of the team’s 164 games over the previous two seasons. And both campaigns ended with the Penguins failing to qualify for the postseason. That led Malkin to offer a solution during training...
No more unbeatens: No. 8 Florida topples top-ranked Tennessee
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Alijah Martin scored 18 points, Denzel Aberdeen added 16 and No. 8 Florida thumped top-ranked Tennessee, 73-43, on Tuesday night to knock off the last unbeaten team in Division I basketball. Alex Condon chipped in 12 points and 12 rebounds for his second double-double this season as...
No. 21 West Virginia men lose big to Arizona
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — KJ Lewis scored a career-high 21 points, and Arizona beat No. 21 West Virginia, 75-56, on Tuesday night for its fifth straight win. Jaden Bradley added 15 points, and Anthony Dell’Orso scored 10 for the Wildcats (9-5, 3-0 Big 12). Javon Small led West Virginia (11-3, 2-1)...
Cooper Flagg fills highlight reel, No. 4 Duke ends Pitt’s 5-game winning streakVideo
Early in the second half of Pitt’s 76-47 loss to Duke on Tuesday night, Blue Devils freshman Cooper Flagg — burdened by three fouls — intercepted a pass from Jaland Lowe. Going coast to coast and approaching the basket from the left side of the lane, Flagg was met at...
Justin Verlander agrees to $15 million, 1-year deal with Giants
SAN FRANCISCO — Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants agreed to a $15 million, one-year contract, according to a person with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the deal was pending a physical. It’s the latest big...
Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin scratched due to injury
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin has been scratched for Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets at PPG Paints Arena due to an undisclosed injury. Per one of the team’s social media accounts, Malkin is considered day to day. During a morning skate in Cranberry, Malkin was a full participant,...
Former Pirates All-Star pitcher Bob Veale, part of 1971 World Series champions, dies at 89
The famous story about Bob Veale, one Steve Blass loves to share when talking about his halcyon days with the Pittsburgh Pirates, involves the two-time All-Star left-handed pitcher’s glasses. At 6-foot-6, 212 pounds and armed with a ferocious fastball — the great Pirates announcer Bob Prince once said he could...
Adam Scott has full plate in Saudi negotiations over LIV Golf
HONOLULU — Adam Scott made it back to Kapalua and returned to the top 20 in the world ranking, and it’s a wonder how he managed with so much on his plate. This coincided with his first full year on the PGA Tour board, and it was a lot. The...
Peters Township native Christian Humphreys leaves Michigan to play in OHL
Forward Christian Humphreys, a native of Peters Township, has joined the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers. That team announced it signed Humphreys to an OHL scholarship and development agreement Tuesday. Humphreys, 18, began the season at the NCAA level with Michigan. Appearing in 10 of a possible 19 games with...
Jets interview Rex Ryan, who led franchise to its last playoff appearance, for head coaching job
Rex Ryan has returned to the New York Jets — for an interview, at least. The former Jets coach and current ESPN analyst, who led the franchise to its last playoff appearance to cap the 2010 season, met with the team Tuesday about its head coaching vacancy. Ryan went 50-52,...
James Franklin, Marcus Freeman look to become 1st Black coaches to win national titleVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In college basketball, the scene of a Black coach cutting down the nets on their way to a national title is not new, even if it is still a relative rarity. John Thompson led Georgetown to the championship in 1984, the first of four Black coaches...
