Sports category, Page 521
Ugandan Olympic athlete dies after being severely burned by her partner
NAIROBI, Kenya — Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei has died at a Kenyan hospital where she was being treated after 80% of her body was burned in an attack by her partner. She was 33. Kenya’s sports minister said authorities must do more to combat gender-based violence. A spokesperson at...
Tim Benz: No room for Steelers to overcome a typical sluggish start in 2024
This is the annual column about the Pittsburgh Steelers that everyone wishes didn’t have to be so annual. The column I feel like I write every year about how the Steelers need to get off to a better start than they have in recent seasons. At least last year, the...
Federal judge asked to give preliminary OK to $2.78 billion settlement of NCAA antitrust claims
A judge in California on Thursday was scheduled to weigh preliminary approval of a $2.78 billion settlement of three antitrust lawsuits against the NCAA and major conferences, the first step of a lengthy process that could lead to college athletes getting a cut of the billions in television revenue that...
Former Penguins Kevin Stevens, Matt Cullen elected to U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Kevin Stevens and Matt Cullen, who won a combined four Stanley Cup championships with the club, were elected into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Thursday. Stevens, 59, spent part of 10 seasons with the Penguins (1987-95, 2001-02) in a 15-year NHL career, helping Pittsburgh...
U mad, bro?: Even with the Steelers’ regular season about to begin, Pittsburgh fans need to unload on the Pirates
How do we know that things are going badly for the Pittsburgh Pirates? Well, the Steelers are about to start the 2024 regular season after going 0-3 in the preseason. The team failed to improve the wide receiver position, and the offensive line is a mess. Yet, I’m still being...
Pirates fans can relate to disappointment of Cubs’ Shota Imanaga being pulled from no-hitterVideo
Supporters of the Chicago Cubs who were frustrated at Shota Imanaga being yanked despite throwing seven hitless innings Wednesday at Wrigley Field have common ground with Pittsburgh Pirates fans who can relate to the feeling. Imanaga no-hit the Pirates, striking out seven in an eventual 12-0 win, but was removed...
First Call: Kyle Pitts vows to play vs. Steelers; Falcons coach ‘won’t let’ T.J. Watt ‘wreck the game’ (but he may anyway)
Thursday’s “First Call” has some quotable lines from Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris in advance of his team’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts insists he’ll be ready for the Black and Gold in the season opener. Kirk Cousins is actually looking forward to...
Pirates farm report for Sept. 4, 2024: Joshua Palacios belts 4 doubles in Indianapolis win
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 67-64) won 9-6 over Toledo (Tigers). RF Matt Gorski (.262) was 3 for 5 with a solo home run, his 21st, and a pair of singles. 2B Nick Yorke (.332) was 3 for 6 with three doubles and scored two runs. DH Joshua Palacios (.248) was 4 for...
ACC schools have new path to revenue: Win in postseason
RALEIGH, N.C. — The ACC has spent years working to find more money to reduce the gaps with the Big Ten and SEC. The league is hoping a new wrinkle to how it divvies up payments to its member schools can help and provide some stability about its long-term future....
Cubs’ Shota Imanaga, Nate Pearson, Porter Hodge toss combined no-hitter vs. Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates showed up Wednesday at Wrigley Field in search of a sweep. Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga and relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge had other ideas as they combined to no-hit the Pirates in a 12-0 rout. Imanaga tossed seven hitless innings, striking out seven. The only...
Jessica Pegula upsets No. 1 Iga Swiatek at U.S. Open to reach 1st Grand Slam semifinal
NEW YORK — Jessica Pegula pulled off a major upset of Iga Swiatek at the U.S. Open, beating the No. 1-ranked woman 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday night to win a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time on her seventh try. Swiatek served poorly in the first set and her...
Blue Jackets players, GM try to make sense of Gaudreau deathsVideo
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just three weeks before the opening of training camp, the Columbus Blue Jackets are seeking to make sense of a senseless tragedy after All-Star winger Johnny Gaudreau and younger brother Matthew died when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home...
Trib 10: On a stormy Friday, just 1 team in power rankings took an L last week
A band of storms that hit parts of the district last Friday resurfaced the term “no contest” on the tongues of many in Week 1 of the high school football season. Several games had already started when the storms hit, forcing stoppages and then cancellations, including the much-anticipated battle of...
Braves’ Whit Merrifield rants about out-of-control pitchers after getting plunked in the headVideo
ATLANTA — Whit Merrifield got lucky. He wasn’t seriously injured when a 95-mph fastball struck him on the head. Still, the Atlanta Braves second baseman is livid about the state of pitching in the big leagues, saying it’s only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or even...
Cameron Heyward joins rare company by securing 4th contract with Steelers
As any mother is apt to do, Charlotte Heyward reminded her eldest son this week that he is special. Only this time she wasn’t just feeding him words of encouragement. She had statistical evidence to support it. Cameron Heyward was driving to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday to sign...
Jaylen Warren, Roman Wilson, Cory Trice Jr. limited participants at Steelers practice
A trio of non-starters who are expected to play not-insignificant roles on offense and defense for the Pittsburgh Steelers were limited participants in what was the first official practice of the 2024 regular season. Running back Jaylen Warren, receiver Roman Wilson and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. each had previously-known injuries....
Ravens visit Chiefs for AFC title game rematch in Thursday night NFL openerVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs will spend a few minutes before their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night celebrating their latest Super Bowl triumph. Former players will return to Arrowhead Stadium, and team owner Clark Hunt will help raise their latest championship banner high...
Bills safety Damar Hamlin will start season opener against CardinalsVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A year after making the cut to successfully resume his football career following a near-death experience, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin reached a new plateau in his comeback in being selected a season-opening starter on Wednesday. Coach Sean McDermott announced the news by saying Hamlin will...
Reports: Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II gets new deal worth $24M per year
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II on Wednesday agreed to a four-year contract extension worth $96 million with $77.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The $24 million-per-year average vaults Surtain past Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. ($21.025 million) and Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire...
Troy Fautanu prefers right tackle, ‘felt good’ as limited participant at Steelers practice
Rookie offensive tackle Troy Fautanu said he “felt good” in taking part in Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday as he continues to ramp up after suffering a knee injury during the preseason opener 3½ weeks ago. “I feel like I am progressing on time with what we had talked about when...
YAC, plus Russell Wilson’s ball, should lead to even more ‘splash’ from Steelers’ George Pickens
How did George Pickens go from the NFL pass catcher with the lowest average yards-after-catch as a rookie to the wide receiver with the seventh-best “YAC” in his second season? “Hard work,” Pickens said after Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday. “It’s all I put into it. If you work hard, you...
Robert Morris men’s basketball will open Horizon schedule Dec. 4 against Youngstown State
Robert Morris men’s basketball will begin its fifth season in the Horizon League with a home game Dec. 4 against Youngstown State at the UPMC Events Center. Overall, the Colonials will play 20 conference games, meeting each of their 10 opponents once at home and on the road, according to...
5 bobblehead nights part of Penguins’ 2024-25 promotional schedule
The Pittsburgh Penguins announced their 2024-25 home promotional schedule Wednesday, which notably includes five opportunities for fans to take home commemorative bobbleheads. The club’s Championship Bobblehead Series celebrates moments from its five Stanley Cup victories (1991, 1992, 2009, 2016, 2017). On Oct. 18, the first bobblehead featuring Mario Lemieux will...
Robert Morris hockey looks to move from back on the ice to back in contention
Robert Morris hockey players took the ice last week to begin practices for the second season of the rebooted program. The sense of being a newly constructed team has faded a bit after 2023-24’s return to the ice. And that’s exactly how the players want it. “Expectations will be a...
Mark Madden: Cam Heyward’s contract another case of do the Steelers know what they are doing?
Let’s be blunt: It’s time to wonder whether the Steelers know what they’re doing. The Steelers drafted Broderick Jones to be their franchise left tackle, or so we thought. Traded up to pick him. But, over a year later, Jones still isn’t at left tackle. Coach Mike Tomlin said he...
