First Call: Cam Heyward addresses ‘closing the book’ post; ex-Steeler says Neil O’Donnell ‘threw’ Super Bowl XXX
Thursday’s “First Call” clears the air about Cam Heyward’s cryptic social media post. A former Pittsburgh Steeler is accusing Neil O’Donnell of “throwing” Super Bowl XXX. Michael Vick is still living down one aspect of his days in Pittsburgh and New York. Plus, an ex-Steeler receiver has decided to retire....
Lindsey Vonn says she had a ‘successful’ 3rd surgery on broken leg following crash at the Olympics
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Lindsey Vonn had a “successful” third surgery on her broken left leg following her downhill crash at the Olympics, the American skier said Wednesday Vonn posted an update on Instagram that included photos of her giving a thumbs up sign in her hospital bed with a...
Joe Starkey: Ben Roethlisberger led where his team needed him most — on the field
What did Ben Roethlisberger actually say about Mike Tomlin that has Joey Porter and so many other ex-Steelers all hot and bothered? Not much, as it turns out. Back in December, Roethlisberger stated on his podcast what all but the most delusional Tomlin apologists were saying: “Maybe it’s a clean-house...
Tim Benz: Ben Roethlisberger was the QB. But it’s Joey Porter who is throwing stones from a glass house
When it comes to any off-the-field or personality-related debates, it would take a lot for me to side with Ben Roethlisberger over Joey Porter Sr. Unfortunately, Porter just said a lot. As he so often did. On the field, or off of it. I really enjoyed covering Porter. Roethlisberger was...
Matt Campbell on D’Anton Lynn’s fit as Penn State’s defensive coordinator: ‘I think we see the game very similarly’
Former Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock’s decision to retire after more than 40 seasons in college created an opportunity for D’Anton Lynn to head east and join his alma mater. A skilled defensive back who spent four years with Penn State (2008-11), Lynn retooled the UCLA and USC defenses...
Pitt transfer RB La’Vell Wright looks to carve out role in backfield
The 2026 campaign is far into the distance, but Pitt already has a good idea who will begin the year atop the depth chart at running back. That would be Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner, who, along with Mason Heintschel, emerged as one of the Panthers’ top performers last fall during an...
U mad, bro?: Prickly Pittsburgh fans snipe about Aaron Rodgers reports and Pirates’ spending history
It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air. Need proof? Take a look at my social media mentions. It’s pretty obvious. Steelers and Pirates fans are flat-out gushing over everything I have to say about their teams. Enjoy our heartfelt love letters to one another in this week’s “U...
Penguins defenseman Ryan Shea finds his spotVideo
Ryan Shea has nothing personal against the Chicago Blackhawks. Honest. He swears. But, it’s scary — at least to Blackhawks goaltenders — to think what he could do if he did harbor any umbrage against the team that drafted him but never signed him to an NHL contract. This season,...
Penn State men pick up road win at Washington
SEATTLE — Freddie Dilione V scored 16 points, Josh Reed added 14, and Penn State beat Washington, 63-60, on Wednesday night. Kayden Mingo had 13 points and Eli Rice scored 13 for Penn State. The Nittany Lions (11-14, 2-12 Big Ten) had lost back-to-back games and 10 of their last...
Kyle Busch grabs Daytona 500 pole, chasing a win that has eluded him for 20 starts
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Kyle Busch won the pole for NASCAR’s season-opening Daytona 500 to give the driver with the longest active losing streak in “The Great American Race” a shot at the victory that has escaped him his entire career. Busch is 0 for 20 in the Daytona 500...
Scheffler, Gotterup and how much has changed in a year at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Scottie Scheffler had a fresh scar on his right hand and plenty of rust the last time he was at Pebble Beach, courtesy of a freak accident while making ravioli that set him back at the start of the year. Chris Gotterup wasn’t even at the...
Minor league report: Connor Lockhart scores twice in Nailers’ win
A pair of goals by forward Connor Lockhart led the Wheeling Nailers to a 2-1 win against the Indy Fuel at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana, on Wednesday. Defenseman Brent Johnson recorded two assists for Wheeling (29-12-2-2). Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 21 saves on 22 shots, improving his...
Penguins’ Erik Karlsson, Rickard Rakell get assists in Sweden’s win over Italy
A look at how members of the Pittsburgh Penguins are performing in the Winter Olympics: Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell each recorded secondary assists for Sweden, which opened the preliminary round with a 5-2 win against Italy at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan on Wednesday....
Seahawks enjoy morning beers, praise ‘best team in the world’ while celebrating Super Bowl title
SEATTLE — Ernest Jones IV dropped a few choice words while praising his defensive teammates, his offensive line, his quarterback and the city of Seattle ahead of the Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory parade Wednesday. Like the rest of the Seahawks, the leader of Seattle’s vaunted “Dark Side” defense had an...
Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna won’t face school suspension after assault charges
Penn State men’s hockey star Gavin McKenna will not face a university suspension and is in line to play this weekend at No. 2 Michigan, coach Guy Gadowsky confirmed Wednesday. McKenna is charged with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct after he allegedly punched a 21-year-old male, resulting in a...
Olympics roundup: Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen wins 3rd gold; men’s hockey begins
MILAN — Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland looks like a breakout star of the Milan Cortina Olympics after winning his third gold medal. And Chloe Kim and a bunch of NHL stars are just getting started. Von Allmen won the super-G in Bormio on Wednesday to become the third man...
Reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson signs a 5-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two-time and defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has signed a five-year extension with Hendrick Motorsports, putting the 33-year-old driver under contract through 2031. Hendrick also announced Wednesday a five-year extension with primary sponsor HendrickCars.com and a multi-year deal with Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels....
Grieving Denny Hamlin vows to dig deep, chase 1st NASCAR Cup title
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Denny Hamlin read all the social media comments and absorbed the warm words from NASCAR fans. The ones who offered support — first after his defeat in a championship race, then through a wearying offseason that encompassed a federal trial against NASCAR and the death of...
Olympic hockey notebook: Sidney Crosby organizes Team Canada’s tour of Milan
MILAN — Even though Bo Horvat occasionally takes the train into New York City from his home on Long Island, it’s not usually surrounded by two dozen of his teammates. That changed at the Olympics when he and Canada’s NHL players spent their day off from practicing riding the metro...
French duo beats U.S. stars Madison Chock and Evan Bates for Olympic ice dance gold
MILAN — The new French ice dance team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron upset the dominant team of the past four years, American stars Madison Chock and Evan Bates, and claimed Olympic gold at the Milan Cortina Games on Wednesday night. Beaudry and Cizeron had to follow a...
U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz wins 1,000-meter gold in Olympic-record timeVideo
MILAN — Jordan Stolz pictured this moment most of his life, ever since he was 5 and learning to skate on a frozen pond in his Wisconsin backyard after falling in love with speedskating while watching the 2010 Winter Olympics on TV — and hoping to one day step atop...
Baseball won’t sleep on Paul Skenes, even if Pirates ace has ‘no more made-up pitches’Video
BRADENTON, Fla. — Whether Paul Skenes was straight-faced serious or acting intentionally ignorant to protect a new pitch before its unveiling in a game, only the Pittsburgh Pirates ace knows. But Skenes swore that he’s never heard of the “sleeper” despite a revelation late last month on MLB Network that...
Pitt freshmen QBs Angelo Renda, Corey Dailey adjust to college life
This winter, with a storm dumping more than a foot of snow in late January, coupled with sub-freezing daily temperatures for two weeks straight, has tested even the most mentally tough Pittsburghers. Of course, Steel City natives are better equipped to deal with such conditions, even if Pittsburgh navigates what...
Pitt, Penn State players invited to 2026 NFL combine
Nine football players from Penn State and two from Pitt received invitations to participate in the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine. They will be among 319 prospects in attendance Feb. 23-March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, the NFL announced Wednesday. Players will perform medical exams, interviews and on-field drills...
‘Not a good teammate’: Former Steelers linebacker Joey Porter has harsh words for Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger was not a good teammate or a good person, said former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who criticized the quarterback during a podcast appearance published Wednesday. Porter, appearing on “Not Just Football with Cam Heyward,” called out Roethlisberger and former teammate James Harrison for speaking negatively about “Steeler...
