Sports category, Page 590
Breakfast with Benz NFL Draft preview: Despite Steelers’ need at center, ‘anomaly’ of elite tackles may be too much to pass up
As we discussed in our NFL Draft preview podcast series with former pro and college scout Matt Williamson, the Pittsburgh Steelers have significant needs at defensive back and wide receiver. But in both cases, the truly top-notch players at those positions are likely to be gone by the time they...
Offensive tackle Olu Fashanu could be 1st of several Penn State players drafted
Olu Fashanu jumped ahead of everyone else when he entered kindergarten at the age of 4 in Queen of the Apostle Elementary School in Waldorf, Md. So it won’t surprise anyone if — after he grew into a 6-foot-6, 312-pound man — he will be the first of his talented...
Pirates put Andrew McCutchen at leadoff for a spark to end skid
With the Pittsburgh Pirates struggling offensively amid a six-game losing streak, manager Derek Shelton turned to a trusted veteran bat in search of a spark at the leadoff spot in the lineup. Andrew McCutchen understood the assignment. “I get it. It’s something that I’m familiar with,” McCutchen said. “When you...
Minor league report: Nailers beat Fuel in overtime to take Game 3Video
A goal by former Robert Morris forward Justin Addamo 30 seconds into overtime gave the Wheeling Nailers a 3-2 home win against the Indy Fuel in Game 3 of a Central Division semifinal series at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va. on Monday. The Nailers lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1. Addamo...
Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson to join Sweden for IIHF World Championship
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson will join Sweden for the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation’s World Championship tournament. The Swedish Ice Hockey Federation announced Karlsson’s addition to the roster, along with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and forward Victor Olofsson, via a release Monday. Slated for next month, the IIHF...
Matthews scores as Maple Leafs beat Bruins 3-2 to tie series
BOSTON — Auston Matthews scored on a breakaway to snap a third-period tie with eight minutes left, and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Boston Bruins 3-2 on Monday night to knot their first-round playoff series at one game apiece. Ilya Samsonov stopped 27 shots for Toronto, which snapped an...
Jared Jones sizzles again as Pirates beat Brewers to snap 6-game losing streak
Their losing streak was wearing on the Pittsburgh Pirates to the point that it showed in their body language, so Jared Jones provided the perfect antidote by turning the tables on the Milwaukee Brewers. The 22-year-old rookie right-hander strutted out to the mound with swagger, then unleashed eight fastballs that...
49ers GM hopes to get Brandon Aiyuk contract extension done sooner rather than later
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brandon Aiyuk is staying away from the San Francisco 49ers facility at the start of the offseason program as he seeks a lucrative long-term contract. That doesn’t mean the 49ers don’t believe he will be part of the team when the season starts. General manager John...
Judge orders Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference to mediation in latest legal round
TALLAHASSEE — A Tallahassee judge has ordered Florida State and the Atlantic Coast Conference to enter mediation in hopes of settling a high-profile lawsuit that could dramatically impact the future of the league. Judge John C. Cooper technically approved the ACC’s motion to dismiss Monday but gave FSU seven days...
Steelers notes: ‘Top 30’ visits to facility just 1 part of Mike Tomlin’s draft evaluation process
After a fourth question about official pre-draft “top 30” visits the Pittsburgh Steelers host, coach Mike Tomlin had heard enough. “I think you guys,” Tomlin said, referring to the roughly two dozen media members at Monday’s news conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, “are probably making a little bit more...
NCAA ratifies immediate eligibility for athletes no matter how many times they switch schools
INDIANAPOLIS — NCAA athletes are now eligible to play immediately no matter how many times they transfer — as long as they meet academic requirements — after the association fast-tracked legislation to fall in line with a recent court order. The Division I Board of Directors formally ratified the change...
No ‘magic pill’ when it comes to hitting on QB in NFL Draft
The Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback in this draft. That much is easy to see. The hard part is picking the right one — and determining what it’s worth to get him. With this top-flight class — featuring Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and J.J. McCarthy — the Vikings...
Caitlin Clark’s early play in WNBA to determine status for U.S. Olympic women’s team
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Caitlin Clark’s early play in WNBA will serve as her tryout for a spot on the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team. The women’s roster for the Paris Games won’t be determined before June 1. Unable to attend the U.S. training camp this month, Clark will have the...
Sabres bring back Lindy Ruff as coach in hopes of ending playoff drought
Lindy Ruff is returning to Buffalo for a second stint as coach of the Sabres. General manager Kevyn Adams announced the hiring Monday. Adams had strongly hinted at bringing Ruff back into the fold when talking about hiring a coach with significant NHL experience. Ruff coached the Sabres from 1997-2013...
Matt Ryan calls it a career. The quarterback officially announces his retirementVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — On the first pass of his first NFL minicamp, Matt Ryan delivered a wobbly throw that left his new Atlanta Falcons teammates shaking their heads. They couldn’t help but wonder if the team made a huge mistake drafting this skinny kid out of Boston College with...
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis injured during Pirates batting practice at PNC Park
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jakob Junis was hit in the back of the neck by a line drive during Pittsburgh Pirates batting practice Monday afternoon before the teams’ game at PNC Park. Trainers from both teams tended to Junis near the warning track in right field for 15 minutes before an...
Scottie Scheffler finishes off another win at Hilton Head to extend dominant runVideo
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — A Masters green jacket wasn’t enough for Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler was running on emotional fumes fresh off his four-shot victory at Augusta National but full of purpose that more than made up for his lack of preparation for the RBC Heritage. The result not only...
NASCAR revels in an M.J. moment. His Airness gives a big boost to his posthoops passionVideo
TALLADEGA, Ala. — Suddenly, Michael Jordan’s new life seems just as satisfying as his old one. This felt a whole lot like M.J. knocking down a buzzer beater, winning the big game, celebrating like a champion. Of course, his title-hoarding days in the NBA are long behind him. But Jordan’s...
Westmoreland County campus clippings: UPG’s Melanie Mienke sets program strikeout record
Junior softball pitcher Melanie Mienke (Plum) etched her name into the Pitt-Greensburg record book. The veteran righthander became the Bobcats’ all-time leader in strikeouts when she fanned 11 in a 6-3 victory over Wells Express. Her total climbed to 241. The previous record was held by Marley Lafferty, who pitched...
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton adds 4 Penguins prospects for playoff roster
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have added four Pittsburgh Penguins prospects to their roster for the upcoming Calder Cup playoffs. Defenseman Owen Pickering was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after completing his season at the junior level with the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Swift Current Broncos. Meanwhile, forwards Cooper Foster and Ville Koivunen as...
Yankees manager Aaron Boone is ejected 5 pitches into game vs. AthleticsVideo
NEW YORK — Aaron Boone didn’t tie the record for fastest ejection. The New York Yankees manager did think it was among the most unjust dismissal. Boone was thrown out of Monday’s 2-0 loss to Oakland five pitches in by Hunter Wendelstedt over a remark the Yankees maintained was yelled...
Jets trade quarterback Zach Wilson to Broncos, AP source says
The New York Jets traded quarterback Zach Wilson to the Denver Broncos on Monday, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. The Jets are sending Wilson and a seventh-round pick in this week’s NFL draft to the Broncos for a sixth-rounder, the person said. The person spoke...
Steelers not ‘overly thirsty’ entering draft despite glaring hole at center
The work done in the offseason, via signings and trades, has saturated the Pittsburgh Steelers roster and kept coach Mike Tomlin hydrated as the NFL Draft approaches. “We’ve addressed a lot of needs, and you don’t feel overly thirsty in any particular area,” Tomlin said Monday at a pre-draft news...
Former Pitt linebacker Solomon DeShields commits to Texas A&M
Another power conference school has acted swiftly to gobble up a Pitt transfer — the second in two days — with linebacker Solomon DeShields committing Monday to Texas A&M, according to Hayes Fawcett, national recruiting reporter for On3Sports. BREAKING: Former Pitt LB Solomon DeShields has Committed to Texas A&M, he...
Tim Benz: Pirates should give Jared Jones more pitches if he earns them
Russell Wilson’s first throwing attempt in Pittsburgh was a success. The new Steelers quarterback tossed out the first pitch at PNC Park on Friday night. The former minor league baseball player got a warm ovation as he delivered a strike from the top of the mound. Russell Wilson with a...
