Sports category, Page 354
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...
‘We’ve got to play better’: Paul Skenes shifts blame for Pirates’ play from Nutting, Shelton
It should come as no surprise that the introductions that drew the loudest ovations from Pittsburgh Pirates fans at the home opener were reserved for generational talents Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen. Where McCutchen helped the Pirates end a two-decade losing streak, Skenes seeks to serve as the catalyst in...
Sidney Crosby is now Penguins’ all-time leading scorer against 17 franchises
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby scored the only goal in a 1-0 home overtime win against the Ottawa Senators on March 30. In addition to getting the victory, Crosby became the Penguins’ all-time leader in points against the Senators (58), breaking a tie with fellow franchise pillar Jaromir Jagr (57)....
3 Periods: Wheeling Nailers coach Derek Army becomes new franchise leader in career wins
Having a robust farm system is a major part of the foundation for any professional sports team. Given the successes of their two minor-league affiliates this season, Pittsburgh Penguins management has plenty of reasons to be happy, even if the NHL club stares down a third consecutive season of missing...
Bucs Q&A with Bryan Reynolds
Bryan Reynolds, RF/DH What do you think of the torpedo bat craze? I’ve got some coming to try it. Obviously, I’m curious. If you can change the bat substantially, why can’t pitchers use Spider-Tack? I’m interested because it could help but, shoot, Spider-Tack helps, too. Everybody’s hitting homers with it,...
Pirates prospect watch: Bubba Chandler allows 1 hit in season debut
Prospect Watch Bubba Chandler, 6-3, 218, RHP The 22-year-old Chandler, a 2021 third-round pick who bypassed a chance to play quarterback at Clemson to sign for a $3 million bonus, is the Pirates’ top prospect and is ranked in the top 100 by both Baseball America (No. 6) and MLB...
Pirates struggle at plate again, 6-run 5th powers Yankees to win
Frequent defensive mishaps and mental mistakes on the basepaths by the Pittsburgh Pirates have contributed to their poor start to the season. But those struggles are of a secondary nature when compared to an inability to score runs. Following Saturday’s 10-4 loss to the Yankees at PNC Park in front...
Sidney Crosby’s hat trick leads Penguins past Stars
Whatever the Pittsburgh Penguins will accomplish with what remains of the 2024-25 season, forward Sidney Crosby will likely be the driving force behind it. That was evident Saturday as he recorded a hat trick as well as an assist while buoying his team to a 5-3 win against one of...
Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and Sue Bird highlight Basketball Hall of Fame class
Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are going into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year, not once but twice. And LeBron James and Chris Paul are part of the group that’s headed to the Hall as well, even before their playing careers end. Anthony and Howard were announced Saturday...
After entering portal, Jaland Lowe leaves Pitt for Kentucky
Only hours after getting some good news from the transfer portal, Pitt coach Jeff Capel received the worst news Saturday morning when Jaland Lowe, the team’s point guard and best player, committed to Kentucky. A source confirmed the news, originally reported by ESPN, 247Sports.com and On3.com. NEWS: Pitt transfer Jaland...
Sarah Strong, Azzi Fudd help UConn blow out UCLA in Final Four as Paige Bueckers moves 1 win from elusive title
TAMPA, Fla. — Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn’t even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the women’s NCAA Tournament. Strong finished...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: The Pirates continue to fleece fans, city
Pirates owner Bob Nutting garnished the home opener at PNC Park this past Friday with a huge steaming helping of horse manure. Nutting said that winning is “the most important thing we’re focused on.” A bold-faced lie. Nutting also said, “I think I’ve done everything I can to provide the...
‘The book is guys like Judge’: Paul Skenes, Aaron Judge similar in ways beyond stature, skill
Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton doesn’t profess to know Aaron Judge beyond a cordial hello. What he has heard about the New York Yankees slugger, though, makes him think of the superstar in his own dugout who might be on a similar career arc. “I have many friends on the...
Pirates farm report for April 4, 2025: Konnor Griffin collects 2 hits, steals 2 bags in Bradenton debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 1-3) and Iowa (Cubs) were suspended with the game tied 3-3 in the 10th inning. The game will be resumed Saturday at 5 p.m. 1B Matt Gorski (.333) went 2 for 4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI. DH Malcom Nunez (.200) went 1 for...
