Sports category, Page 490
30th anniversary Freeport International Baseball Invitational put smiles on faces
Chuck Sarver woke up Sunday morning, the day after this year’s Freeport International Baseball Invitational had concluded with the annual all-star game and fireworks celebration, and couldn’t help but smile. The FIBI president was grateful the 30th anniversary week of activities, which included more than 50 youth baseball games at...
Tampa Bay’s Wirfs agrees to $140.63 million extension, becoming highest-paid OL in NFL historyVideo
Tampa Bay’s Tristan Wirfs became the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history after agreeing Thursday to a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension. The deal, which runs through 2029, surpasses extensions signed this year by Minnesota’s Christian Darrisaw (four years, $113 million) and Detroit’s Penei Sewell (four years, $112 million). ESPN...
Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Dmitri Samorukov signs in Russia
Former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defenseman Dmitri Samorukov has signed a three-year contract with HC CSKA Moscow of Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). That team announced the transaction via a release on Thursday. Samorukov initially joined Wilkes-Barre/Scranton by signing a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract on July 31, 2023. Following the...
Family of Steelers’ Dwayne Haskins Jr. sues his widow in federal court
An ugly dispute between the widow of the late Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., who was fatally struck by a dump truck in Florida in 2022, and his parents and sister, is now playing out in federal court in Pittsburgh. Haskins’ family on Wednesday sued the Steeler’s widow, accusing...
Steelers bring back veteran OLB Markus Golden
Veteran outside linebacker Markus Golden signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, returning to the team with which he spent his ninth NFL season in 2023. Golden, 33, served as the top backup to the T.J. Watt-Alex Highsmith edge rusher duo last season. The Steelers entered this camp with second-year...
Decision to reclassify for 2024 Draft paid dividends for Pirates’ 1st-round pick Konnor Griffin
From his vantage point at PNC Park Friday, soaking in the moment after being signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Konnor Griffin could say with certainty that one decision made a few years ago paid off, literally. Griffin, the Pirates’ first-round (No. 9 overall) pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, received...
Gordon Hayward retires after 14 NBA seasons with Utah, Boston, Charlotte and Oklahoma City
BROWNSBURG, Ind. — Gordon Hayward, who nearly gave Butler a national title over Duke with a half-court shot that just missed on the final play of the 2010 NCAA men’s basketball championship game, retired from the NBA after 14 seasons on Thursday. Hayward played for Utah, Boston, Charlotte and Oklahoma...
Mark Madden: Training camp has Steelers full of hope … and something else
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is a wonderful occasion. Full of hope. Full of excrement, too. That’s why I get nowhere near it. Dino’s and Sharkey’s are the closest I come. On Tuesday, the first day of practice in pads, the offense used six running plays during the “seven shots” segment. That’s...
Tim Benz: Nick Herbig gets tips from James Harrison; Jeremiah Moon opens eyes as Steelers hope to boost OLB depth
Outside linebacker Nick Herbig already spent much of his first year as a Pittsburgh Steeler trying to absorb whatever tactics he could from All-Pro starter T.J. Watt. This year at training camp, he’s also getting tips from another former Steelers Pro Bowler: James Harrison. The 2008 Defensive Player of the...
Pittsburgher Michael Grady, Team USA net Olympic gold in men’s rowing
A Central Catholic alum won Olympic gold Thursday morning and made history for Team USA. Michael Grady, a graduate of the Pittsburgh-based private high school, and the U.S. rowing team took first place in the men’s four final event at the Paris Olympics. It’s the first time Americans have taken...
First Call: Arthur Maulet jabs back at Patrick Queen; Steelers Hall of Fame projections for the next decade
Thursday’s “First Call” features a former Pittsburgh Steeler in Baltimore firing back at a current Steeler who used to be a Raven. We also get some speculation on Steelers Hall of Fame candidates and some national reaction to the Pirates’ trade deadline tactics. Plus, a former Penguins fan favorite has...
U mad, bro?: I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin, too soft on Ben Cherington, too excited about Pirates
After a week off from “U mad, bro,” my emails and social media messages were overflowing. Here is what I learned after sifting through them. I’m too hard on Mike Tomlin. I’m not hard enough on Ben Cherington, but I’m too optimistic about the Pirates. I’m too nice to Kenny...
‘Love for the game’ keeps Pitt players, coaches hungry to reverse misfortune from a year ago
Every day, Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates gets down on the ground and does pushups and situps in front of his players. He started with 12 on the first day of practice Wednesday. He promises to reach a daily number of “30 or 40” by the end of the season....
Jake Woodford, Bryan De La Cruz, Jalen Beeks make Pirates debuts, with varying resultsVideo
Before Wednesday night, Jake Woodford’s last taste of MLB action came with the Chicago White Sox in early June. After getting shellacked in back-to-back starts, he was jettisoned, electing free agency after being designated for assignment. Less than 48 hours ago, Bryan De La Cruz and reliever Jalen Beeks were...
Judge says jury did not follow instructions on damages in NFL ‘Sunday Ticket’ caseVideo
LOS ANGELES — The judge who presided over the class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers against the NFL said the jury did not follow his instructions in determining damages. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez made the remark as he heard the NFL’s post-trial motion asking that Gutierrez rule for...
Pirates farm report for July 31, 2024: Nick Yorke knocks in run in Indy debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 47-52) took down Toledo (Tigers), 7-5, for its eighth straight win. 2B Nick Yorke (.311), who was acquired from the Red Sox via a trade on Monday, was 1 for 3 with an RBI while batting cleanup in his debut. SS Liover Peguero (.251), LF Edward Olivares (.237)...
2 Penn State football players placed on interim suspension
Weeks before the start of the new season, two Penn State football players were placed on interim suspension, a program spokesperson said Wednesday. Defensive end Jameial Lyons and linebacker Kaveion Keys are on interim suspension to “deal with a personal matter,” spokesperson Greg Kincaid said. The program will have no...
Dwight Freeney defied odds and scouts by spinning into Hall of Fame
INDIANAPOLIS — The conventional wisdom heading into the 2002 NFL Draft was Dwight Freeney was too small to play defensive end or hold up against the run. Critics also contended his trademark spin move would hit a wall against the league’s bigger, stronger offensive linemen. Former Colts general manager Bill...
Errors sink Pirates in narrow loss to Houston, spoiling sweep opportunity
After two innings Wednesday night in Houston, the Pittsburgh Pirates led by four and were in prime position to sweep the Astros at Minute Maid Park for their fourth straight win. But three errors charged to Oneil Cruz allowed three runs to score and sank them in a 5-4 loss....
U.S. men fall to 0-2 in 3×3 basketball pool play at Olympics with loss to PolandVideo
PARIS — The U.S. men’s 3x3 basketball team dropped to 0-2 in pool play in the Paris Olympics with a 19-17 loss to Poland on Wednesday night. Jimmer Fredette cut the lead to 1 with about 90 seconds left before Michal Sokolowski made a free throw a few seconds later...
Andre Johnson dedicating Hall of Fame honor to Houston
HOUSTON — Andre Johnson knows his induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn’t simply about him. As the first Houston Texan to become a member of the esteemed group, the receiver is representing so much more. “This was for the whole city of Houston. It’s for the whole...
Penn State receives commitments from 2 defensive line prospects
Make it two more commitments for Penn State and a huge hot streak for the Nittany Lions on the trail. Daniel Jennings, a four-star defensive end in the Class of 2026 from Princeton, W.Va., committed to Penn State over hometown West Virginia on Wednesday. He followed the afternoon commitment of...
Pitt offensive coordinator Kade Bell isn’t shy about his desire to reach for lofty goals
Kade Bell knows enough about offense, play-calling and the challenges inherent in college football to understand that a goal of averaging 50 points might be unrealistic. But you have to know that Bell, Pitt’s 31-year-old, first-year offensive coordinator, doesn’t allow facts to get in his way of getting a job...
Pirates sign 2 more 2024 draft picks: LHP Jacob Bimbi, OF Andrew Patrick
Two more members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 draft class were signed Wednesday: left-handed pitcher Jacob Bimbi and center fielder Andrew Patrick. Bimbi, chosen in the 11th round out of Western Kentucky, went 4-2 over 15 outings (14 starts), leading the Hilltoppers with 71 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings last...
Pirates activate newly acquired OF Bryan De La Cruz, place OF Joshua Palacios on IL
Bryan De La Cruz was arguably the crown jewel of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2024 trade deadline haul. A day after acquiring the 27-year-old outfielder from the Miami Marlins, he joined the Pirates in Houston ahead of their Wednesday night series finale against the Astros. De La Cruz, wearing No. 41,...
