Sports category, Page 359
Pirates’ Paul Skenes embraces expectations to improve efficiency for encore to rookie season
BRADENTON, Fla. — Where Paul Skenes came to spring training last year looking to live up to his billing as the No. 1 overall draft pick and make his major-league debut, the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander arrived at Pirate City last week as — in his words — “definitely a different...
Late 3 lifts Washington over Penn State in 1st-ever meeting
UNIVERSITY PARK — Mekhi Mason hit 6 of his 11 3-point attempts and scored 20 points, and DJ Davis knocked down a 3 with just under a minute left and Washington held off Penn State to earn a 75-73 win Saturday in the first meeting between the programs. The Huskies...
Mikael Granlund scores in OT as Finland beats Sweden in 4 Nations Face-OffVideo
MONTREAL — Mikael Granlund skated toward the net on a 2-on-1 rush, cradled the puck on his stick twice and fired it past Linus Ullmark. With that snipe of a goal in overtime Saturday, he put Finland right back in the mix at the 4 Nations Face-Off by beating Sweden,...
‘It feels like home’: Adam Frazier brings playoff experience in return to roots with Pirates
BRADENTON, Fla. – When Adam Frazier returned to the practice fields at Pirate City, he was greeted with handshakes and hugs by Pittsburgh Pirates teammates old and new. Frazier, 33, signed a one-year, $1.525 million contract late last month to return to the team that drafted and developed him and...
Robert Morris basketball stays hot, defeats Purdue Fort Wayne
The ball worked its way inside the paint and back to the arc as the shot clock ticked into single digits. Back inside and out to Kam Woods in the right corner. Woods’ 3-point shot went up and bounded off the back of the iron before kissing the backboard and...
Pitt ends 4-game losing streak with victory against Miami
Jeff Capel was pleased with Pitt’s 74-65 victory Saturday against Miami, but he also recognizes the reality of his team’s situation. He was happy to see the four-game losing streak end in front of a Petersen Events Center crowd of 8,578. But he also told reporters after the game, “We...
Mark Madden Hot Take: What if the Steelers acquired Patrick Mahomes? It could happen, right?
Breaking news: The Pittsburgh Steelers asked Kansas City about acquiring quarterback Patrick Mahomes. (Except they didn’t.) The Chiefs said Mahomes wasn’t available. (Or would have if they had been asked.) A source close to the Chiefs said, “You must be stupid. Never happened.” A source inside the Steelers organization said,...
Dynamic kickoff rule results in more returns in NFL, but data brings mixed reviews for Steelers
The Super Bowl capped the first year of the NFL’s dynamic kickoff rule. Based on that final-game sample size, the concept hardly lived up to its name but still was viewed as a success. Then again, the bar was set at ground level in the previous Super Bowl, and the...
Penguins prospect Cruz Lucius rebounds from injury in his first season with Arizona StateVideo
The goal didn’t mean a lot within the context of the game. Arizona State was up by three scores already and was only trying to keep the puck out of the defensive zone. But it meant quite a bit to the person who scored it. It was the first goal...
3 Periods: With 2 months to go, are the Penguins’ playoff hopes dead or alive?
The Pittsburgh Penguins find themselves in a familiar spot compared to the last two seasons: on the outside looking in at the Eastern Conference playoffs. Fans need no reminder that the Penguins ride a two-year skid of missing the postseason. Now, as the club entered the 4 Nations Face-Off break...
Minor league report: Penguins fall to Phantoms in shootoutVideo
Goaltender Joel Blomqvist made 25 saves on 27 shots in regulation for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 3-2 shootout loss to the rival Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre on Friday. In the shootout, Blomqvist stopped two of three shots as his record slipped to 6-5-3. Forwards...
Davis Thompson leads by 1 over Scottie Scheffler with Rory McIlroy lurking at Torrey PinesVideo
SAN DIEGO — Davis Thompson capped a roller coaster of a back nine at Torrey Pines with a birdie to take the lead Friday in the Genesis Invitational. Scottie Scheffler had an unusually wild day off the tee and was right on his heels. It set up for a compelling...
With tenacious coach Andy Toole leading the way, Robert Morris surges in Horizon League
When Andy Toole took the men’s basketball reins at Robert Morris in 2010, he was going by his given name, Andrew. As time passed, it, naturally, morphed into Andy. A decade later, the Colonials, for years among the top contenders in the lightly regarded Northeast Conference, made their way to...
3-year-old Eagles fan celebrates birthday with Saquon Barkley
PHILADELPHIA — Lucy Bannon was planning to celebrate her third birthday on Friday with some cake but ended up receiving something much better. The Bannon family was standing in between Tasker and Morris on Broad Street for the Eagles Super Bowl parade when they saw Saquon Barkley walking their way....
Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Sue Bird, Micky Arison, ‘Redeem Team’ among Hall of Fame finalists
SAN FRANCISCO — Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard are one step closer to going into the Basketball Hall of Fame. If all goes well, they might get in twice. Anthony and Howard were among the finalists announced Friday by the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame for enshrinement as part of...
Steelers part ways with veteran pass-rusher Preston Smith
The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran edge defender Preston Smith on Friday in a move that was expected because of Smith’s impending $13.4 million salary cap hit for 2025. Acquired in a trade-deadline deal from the Green Bay Packers in early November, Smith teamed with Nick Herbig to serve as backups...
NASCAR draws stars to Daytona 500 with Trump, Captain America expected at ‘Great American Race’Video
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — It’s NASCAR’s turn to throw its version of the Super Bowl, and the Daytona 500 is trying hard to match the hype. “The Great American Race” has Captain America coming, maybe even President Donald Trump. “I think having a sitting president come and be a part...
US vs. Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off has must-see potential on and off the iceVideo
MONTREAL — Playing for the Boston Bruins, Charlie McAvoy is accustomed to being a visitor at Bell Centre as a chief rival of the host Canadiens. “It’s nothing that won’t be familiar to me,” McAvoy said. “You’re not welcome here.” Now ratchet that up a bunch as he and the...
Penn State hires former Temple coach Stan Drayton as running backs coach
STATE COLLEGE — Former Temple coach Stan Drayton has found a new job coaching Penn State’s running backs. Penn State coach James Franklin announced the hire Friday. Drayton went 9-25 in three years at Temple before getting fired last November with two games left in the season. Drayton spent 2017-21...
Marcus Stroman returns to Yankees, insists ‘I’m a starter’ and ‘won’t pitch in the bullpen’
TAMPA, Fla. — Marcus Stroman returned to Yankees camp on Friday. The righty reported on time for a mandatory physical Tuesday but did not participate in official, on-field workouts at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Wednesday and Thursday. While the collective bargaining agreement states players don’t have to participate in...
GM Ben Cherington: Pirates ‘not on the doorstep’ of making a major move at first base
BRADENTON, Fla. – The Pittsburgh Pirates have a glaring hole at first base, but if they are about to make a big move to bolster their roster, it’s news to general manager Ben Cherington. Cherington said the Pirates are still talking to free agents and open to potential trades, but...
Former Steelers trainer John Horwig to receive Hall of Fame’s ‘Award of Excellence’
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a continued presence at the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer. Former head athletic trainer John Norwig will be honored as a member of the “Awards of Excellence” fourth class, the Hall of Fame announced Friday. He joins Ed Block and Pepper Burruss, bringing...
Dolphins release veteran running back Raheem Mostert
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins are moving on from veteran running back Raheem Mostert, his agent Brett Tessler said Friday. “Looks like my client Raheem Mostert will be playing elsewhere next season,” Tessler posted on social media. “Very thankful for his time with the Miami Dolphins, and this...
12 WPIAL all-stars chosen for 2025 Big 33 Football Classic
Five offensive or defensive linemen were among a dozen WPIAL players chosen Friday to represent Pennsylvania in the Big 33 Football Classic this spring. The 68th playing of the annual all-star game is May 25 at Cumberland Valley. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. The Pennsylvania roster includes South Park’s Parker Cunningham,...
Pat White, record-setting quarterback for West Virginia, returns to Mountaineers as an assistant
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Former West Virginia quarterback Pat White will return to the Mountaineers as assistant quarterbacks coach and assistant to the head coach. Coach Rich Rodriguez announced White’s hiring this week. The Mountaineers were 35-8 with four bowl wins with White as their starting quarterback from 2005-08. He set...
