Sports category, Page 530
Ukrainian wrestler and member of parliament has a goal for Paris: ‘Show that Ukraine is still alive’
PARIS — Zhan Beleniuk’s focus wavered at times as he trained in hopes of winning a second Olympic gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling. The Ukrainian doesn’t just represent his country in international competition. He’s also a member of parliament. And since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, well, it’s been easy...
NCAA hands former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh a 4-year show cause order for recruiting violations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The NCAA announced a four-year show-cause order for former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday for impermissible contact with recruits and players while access was restricted during the covid-19 pandemic, effectively banning him from college athletics until August 2028. The NCAA said Harbaugh, who left his...
U.S. women’s pursuit team wins Olympic gold after 12 years of silver and bronze medals
MONTIGNY-LE-BRETONNEUX, France — The U.S. women’s pursuit team of road race Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner, Chloe Dygert, Jennifer Valente and Lilly Williams held on through a ragged finish to beat New Zealand in the race for gold at the Paris Games on Wednesday night. The Americans led by more than...
U.S. Open player compensation rises to a record $65 million, with singles champs getting $3.6 million
Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic and other players at the U.S. Open will be playing for a record total of $75 million in compensation at the year’s last Grand Slam tennis tournament, a rise of about 15% from a year ago. The women’s and men’s singles champions will each receive $3.6...
As Paris Olympics wind down, Los Angeles swings into planning for 2028
PARIS — From the City of Love to the City of Angels, planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is well underway and organizers are paying close attention to what’s worked, and what hasn’t, so far in Paris. It will be LA’s third time hosting the Olympics — the last...
Tim Benz: Make the Brandon Aiyuk decision about Brandon Aiyuk, not Van Jefferson
Here’s a friendly exchange I overheard between a fan and a media member during Tuesday’s Steelers training camp practice. I didn’t want to jump into someone else’s conversation. But I will in my own column. Fan: “When are the Steelers going to get Brandon Aiyuk?” Reporter: “I don’t know. But...
Steelers sign rookie ILB Easton Gibbs
Two days before their preseason opener, the Pittsburgh Steelers swapped inside linebackers in signing rookie Easton Gibbs on Wednesday. Gibbs (6-foot, 230 pounds) went undrafted out of Wyoming but was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. The Seahawks, though, placed him on the on the non-football...
Cause of death revealed for ex-Ravens Super Bowl star Jacoby Jones who played for Steelers
Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl star Jacoby Jones died of hypertensive cardiovascular disease caused by high blood pressure, according to a New Orleans medical examiner. Jones was just 40 years old when he died on July 14. The listed cause of death was natural. Jones helped power the Baltimore Ravens to...
Justin Fields to start at QB, play ‘couple of series’ in Steelers’ preseason opener
The NFL’s reduction from four to three preseason games in 2021 naturally led to reduced playing time for veteran players. For Russell Wilson, that meant getting zero snaps in the 2021-22 preseasons, his last year with the Seattle Seahawks and first with the Denver Broncos. The script changed last season...
Tim Benz: Few debatable points from the Steelers’ initial 2024 depth chart
The Pittsburgh Steelers released their first depth chart of 2024 on Tuesday. Very few spots were surprising. But there is still plenty to discuss. Quarterback Much to the dismay of many national media outlets who are trying to invent a quarterback controversy in Pittsburgh for the sake of content, Russell...
First Call: Christian McCaffrey’s ‘former teammate’ slip about Brandon Aiyuk; former Steeler DL has new AFC homeVideo
Pittsburgh Steelers fans may want to take note of something Christian McCaffrey said about 49ers teammate Brandon Aiyuk. Fantasy football players may want to take note of some injury news for McCaffrey. Plus, there is some clarity about the passing of former Steeler Jacoby Jones. And Ex-Steeler Jonathan Marshall has...
Freshman defensive tackle Francis Brewu unafraid to tackle heavy load at Pitt
Weightlifting is more than just a way for Pitt defensive tackle Francis Brewu to get stronger, win playing time earlier and impress his teammates in the locker room. “It’s like therapy to me,” said Brewu, a freshman from Worthington, Ohio. “Physical therapy. Nothing feels better than when you hit a...
‘An ocean in the warning track’: How Pirates-Padres came to play after lengthy rain delay
The only things that came down faster than the rainstorm that interrupted the game at PNC Park on Tuesday night were the hyperbolic reactions from the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. When a flash flood clogged the drainage system with dirt and flooded the outfield, players and coaches likened...
Pirates farm report for Aug. 6, 2024: Omar Alfonzo goes 4 for 4 with homer in Greensboro debut
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 49-56) lost 8-4 to Nashville (Brewers). RHP Aaron Shortridge (1-1, 5.06) started and was touched up for seven runs on eight hits and two walks in four innings. LHP Michael Plassmeyer (8.21) pitched two scoreless innings. 1B Malcom Nunez (.267) went 1 for 3 with his 11th homer....
Pirates blanked by Padres following rain delay of nearly 3 hours
The Pittsburgh Pirates were slated to take on MLB’s stikeouts leader, Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night, but that showdown did not materialize as anticipated thanks to a rain delay that paused play in the middle of the second inning at PNC Park for 2 hours,...
Amit Elor, 20, becomes youngest U.S. wrestler to win Olympic goldVideo
PARIS — As she processed winning an Olympic gold medal, American wrestler Amit Elor still felt like that little girl just starting out in the sport. Perhaps it’s because she’s not so far removed from that point. Elor, just 20 years old, defeated Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova, 3-0, on Tuesday in...
U.S. women’s volleyball team advances to semifinal with straight-set win vs. PolandVideo
PARIS — The reigning Olympic champion U.S. women’s volleyball team posted a straight-set victory against Poland on Tuesday night at the Paris Olympics. The Americans led throughout while taking the first two sets, 25-22 and 25-14. They fell behind 5-0 and 7-1 in the third set before rallying to close...
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey will miss about 2 weeks with calf injuryVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey will miss about two weeks of practice after straining his calf. McCaffrey hurt his calf late last week, adding that he didn’t pull a muscle, coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday. McCaffrey wouldn’t play in the preseason but should...
Rams WR Puka Nacua out with knee injury but should be ready for season openerVideo
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is week-to-week after suffering a knee injury in a joint practice against the Chargers on Sunday, but coach Sean McVay expects him to be available in time to play in the season opener at Detroit on Sept. 8. “Really...
Things looking up for Presidents’ Athletic Conference; Grove City picked to repeat
Things are changing for the good in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The conference will grow to 12 teams beginning in 2025-26 when Hiram returns as a full-time member. Conference President Joe Onderko discussed Tuesday at the PAC Media Day at Saint Vincent College the conference’s plan next year to divide...
After lengthy rain delay, Pirates to reward fans for their patience with 2 complimentary tickets
After a rainstorm flooded the warning track Tuesday night at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates are issuing two complimentary tickets to fans who endured the two-hour, 40-minute delay. “We appreciate the patience of our fans,” Pirates senior vice president of communications Brian Warecki said in a statement. “We will be...
Mark Madden: Brandon Aiyuk fills a desperate need for Steelers. Go get him.
After months of speculation, San Francisco has put want-away wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on the market. The Steelers are among the teams kicking the tires. If the Steelers don’t get Aiyuk, it’s a failure by management. If Cleveland gets Aiyuk, the Steelers will finish last in the AFC North. (The...
Browns’ Deshaun Watson to sit out preseason opener as he continues recovery from surgeryVideo
CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson might be ready to play. The Browns aren’t ready to let him. Watson will sit out Cleveland’s exhibition opener Saturday against the Green Bay Packers as the team continues to take a cautious approach after the quarterback underwent right shoulder surgery in November. Coach Kevin Stefanski...
Billy Bean, 2nd openly gay ex-MLB player who later worked for commissioner, dies at 60Video
NEW YORK — Billy Bean, who became the second former MLB player to come out as gay in 1999 before becoming the sport’s senior vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, has died. He was 60. MLB released a statement confirming his death. Bean died at home on Tuesday after...
NASCAR drivers use break to watch Olympics, support American athletes in Paris Games
Turns out NASCAR’s best are just like many of us. They like watching the Olympics, too. From Kyle Busch pulling for U.S. gold medal-winning sprinter Noah Lyles, Chase Elliott eager to watch Olympic golf and Joey Logano shouting out Sha’Carri Richardson, several Cup Series contenders have their eyes on Paris....
