Sports category, Page 526
Chartiers Valley’s T.J. McConnell signs 4-year, $45 million extension with Pacers
The Indiana Pacers agreed to terms with guard T.J. McConnell on a four-year extension worth $45 million. Agents Mark Bartelstein and Andy Shiffman confirmed the deal in an email to the Associated Press on Friday. McConnell, a Chartiers Valley product who is signed for $9.3 million for the upcoming NBA...
Jacob deGrom, Rangers set date for fourth rehab start
ARLINGTON, Texas — Jacob deGrom might not rejoin the Texas Rangers’ rotation on this homestand after all. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Friday that deGrom will make two more minor league rehab starts in the next eight days: On Sunday, with Triple-A Round Rock, and another next Saturday, most likely...
Scottie Scheffler leads by 4 at East Lake as Morikawa and Schauffele try to keep it closeVideo
ATLANTA — Scottie Scheffler put on another clinic from tee-to-green at East Lake on Friday for a 5-under-par 66 and a four-shot lead at the Tour Championship that didn’t seem as big as it looked. Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele had something to do with that. In a second round...
Pirates remove struggling David Bednar from closer’s role, will have closer by committee
Amid a season of struggles highlighted by a disastrous appearance Aug. 28 against the Chicago Cubs, right-handed reliever David Bednar was removed from the closer’s role, Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton announced Friday. Per Shelton, the Pirates will operate by committee when it comes to who takes the hill in...
Game week begins for the Ravens as they prepare for the NFL’s season opener at Kansas CityVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Game week has arrived for John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens returned to practice Friday after three days off, and the focus turns to Thursday’s season opener at Kansas City. The Chiefs earned the right to play in that game as the defending Super...
UNC loses QB Johnson for season after surgery for broken right leg suffered in Minnesota winVideo
North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson will miss the rest of the season after having surgery for a broken right leg, coming after he was carted off in the season-opening win at Minnesota and taken to the hospital. The school announced Johnson’s status Friday, saying he had surgery in Minneapolis and...
Coco Gauff keeps her US Open title defense alive by coming back to beat Elina SvitolinaVideo
NEW YORK — Coco Gauff turned things around after being a set down and beat Elina Svitolina, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, in the U.S. Open’s third round Friday, extending the 20-year-old American’s defense of her first Grand Slam title. The third-seeded Gauff made mistake after mistake in the first set at...
No solution for PGA Tour and LIV Golf remains ‘frustrating’Video
ATLANTA — For as much as Rory McIlroy lamented his loss to Bryon DeChambeau in the U.S. Open at Pinehurst in June, there was something good about it. The tournament was one of the few — really just four majors a year — that now bring together the world’s best...
Pitt senior running back Rodney Hammond ineligible for 2024 season
Pitt’s depth at running back suffered a significant blow Friday — the day before the opener against Kent State — when senior Rodney Hammond Jr., who’s been a valuable member of the offensive unit since 2021, was declared ineligible for the entire season. Pitt officials did not give a reason....
Steelers move forward at wide receiver after Brandon Aiyuk agrees to extension with 49ers
When the Pittsburgh Steelers carried five receivers on the initial 53-man roster — one fewer than they had a year ago and two fewer than they kept in 2022 — it led to speculation they were holding a spot in case a trade for Brandon Aiyuk materialized. Aiyuk’s decision Thursday...
Pirates reinstate Andrew McCutchen from injured list
The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated designated hitter Andrew McCutchen from the 10-day injured list (left knee inflammation) ahead of Friday’s series opener in Cleveland vs. the Guardians. McCutchen last played Aug. 16 and has appeared in 101 games on the year. The 37-year-old is hitting .235 with 16 home runs and...
Steelers add 8 to practice squad, including 3 wide receivers
Three days after cutting down to the regular-season roster limit of 53, two days after hundreds of players cleared waivers and one day after their quest to acquire star receiver Brandon Aiyuk officially fell short, the Pittsburgh Steelers filled all of their available slots on the practice squad. Included among...
Wave of condolences, tributes pour out after tragic passing of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matthew
The tragic deaths of NHL winger Johnny Gaudreau, 31, along with his younger brother, 29-year-old Matthew, are sure to leave indescribable voids in the lives of their family, friends. New Jersey State police confirmed that both brothers were struck by a suspected drunk driver Thursday night while riding bicycles in...
AFC South preview: Young QBs aim to challenge powerful TexansVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Looking at the recent history of the AFC South makes it easy to envision the Tennessee Titans winning the division, if only because they have Brian Callahan as their new coach. Doug Pederson capped his first season coaching Jacksonville watching his Jaguars grab the AFC South title...
Mark Madden: Of all the Pirates’ problems, league’s 2nd-lowest payroll is by far the biggest
The Pittsburgh Pirates not only have collapsed, but they also have lost games in grand fashion. On Wednesday, the Pirates led Chicago, 10-3, at PNC Park but got beat 14-10. That was an award winner, exploding sewer pipe division. It had so many great elements: • Hottie gymnast Livvy Dunne...
AFC West preview: Teams make major changes in bid to knock off ChiefsVideo
The Kansas City Chiefs have ruled the AFC West since two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes was still slinging it at Texas Tech. They’ve won the division every year since 2016. What the back-to-back Super Bowl champs are really out to accomplish this season, though, is something that’s never been done before:...
Columbus Blue Jackets forward Johnny Gaudreau, brother Matthew die in New Jersey biking accident
NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed on the eve of their sister’s wedding when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey, police said Friday. New Jersey State Police said the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on...
On Sports: Penguins still national TV draw; prediction of big year for Najee Harris; Rich Hill still chugging along
Friday’s “On Sports” highlights the Pittsburgh Penguins national reach and broadcast schedule, Stephen Curry adds another year with the Warriors, pitcher Rich Hill has been dealing for 20 years, and a big year for Najee Harris? National treasure They haven’t been a playoff team since 2021-22, and they are mostly...
AFC East preview: Jets, Dolphins, Patriots looking to end Bills’ 4-year reignVideo
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have sat atop the AFC East for four straight years. Their drive for five could prove to be the toughest task of all. A ton of roster turnover has provided plenty of questions — and doubts. Especially with Aaron Rodgers back with the New...
AFC North preview: Bengals, Browns hope for better QB health as teams chase RavensVideo
Football’s top division wasn’t even at full strength in 2023. With better luck at the quarterback position, it could be quite a race for the AFC North title this season. Lamar Jackson stayed healthy last year and won his second MVP, helping Baltimore to the best regular-season record in the...
‘That’s 100% who I am’: Pirates lefty Bailey Falter uses elite extension to fool hitters
Bailey Falter realized in high school in Chino Hills, Calif., that something was different about his fastball. The left-handed pitcher found it weird that his velocity was only registering in the mid- to high-80s but he was “just absolutely blowing it by those guys.” When Falter was in the minor...
Pitt Take 5: Playing clean game just as important for Panthers as scoring lots of points
At the end of Pitt’s opener Saturday against Kent State at Acrisure Stadium, the statistic that will matter most will be points scored. But unless the Panthers beat the 551⁄2 over/under by themselves — 50 is offensive coordinator Kade Bell’s goal, anyway — it might be more instructive to check...
Tim Benz: An all-Pirates setlist request for Green Day’s concert at PNC Park
From a Pirates perspective, the best thing you can say about the month of August is that it’s almost over. At least it is at PNC Park. The beleaguered Buccos don’t return home until Sept. 5 against the Washington Nationals. Between now and then, though, there is one event worth...
A leaner Drew Allar looks to get No. 8 Penn State off to a good start at West VirginiaVideo
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Quarterback Drew Allar was great in his Penn State starting debut a year ago against West Virginia. The rest of the season was a bit disappointing. The junior with the big arm expects the Nittany Lions to become more consistent behind a new offensive coordinator. “I think...
5 things to watch in Week 1: Aliquippa’s new coach debuts in battle of state champions
Some coaching jobs come with more pressure than others. Consider that Aliquippa’s Vashawn Patrick is the new head coach of a team coming off a state championship season, and his first game is against another defending state champion. There is no easing into his job. Aliquippa hosts Belle Vernon at...
