Sports category, Page 621
Mark Madden: Despite growing optimism for the Pirates, front office failings can’t be ignored
There is legit optimism concerning the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time in a long time. Paul Skenes is a phenom, Jared Jones isn’t far behind and Mitch Keller is a solid No. 3 starter. Their rotation could win a playoff series right now. The trick is getting there. That’s...
Penguins A to Z: Xavier Ouellet moves onVideo
With the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2023-24 season coming to an end without any postseason action, TribLive will offer Penguins A to Z, a player-by-player look at all 52 individuals signed to an NHL contract — including those whose deals do not begin until next season — with the organization, from fourth-line...
First Call: DB turned down more money from Steelers for Washington; ‘pessimistic’ forecast for Brandon Aiyuk’s 49ers extension
Friday’s “First Call” features a National Football League player who claims he was almost a Steeler in free agency, some wide receiver scuttlebutt, and a preview of this weekend’s series at PNC Park between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Minnesota Twins. Plus, Mitch Keller tries to keep his recent hot streak...
Nick Gonzales’ love of hitting yielding results for the Pirates
With muscles rippling on his back and a quiet determination in his eyes, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ second baseman has the look of a running back unafraid of contact, despite a 5-foot-9, 190-pound physique. But that’s not Nick Gonzales. He tried football at Cienga High School in Vail, Ariz., and held...
Level Green’s Brandon Svoboda enjoys a short summer after another USHL championshipVideo
Brandon Svoboda’s summer plans won’t offer an abundance of free time. The Level Green native is getting a head start on schoolwork at Boston University next month. And there was a little matter of winning the Clark Cup for the second consecutive season. After winning the United States Hockey League...
Oklahoma beats Texas to win record 4th straight NCAA softball title
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma slugged its way to a record fourth straight NCAA softball title, getting a go-ahead, bases-clearing double from Cydney Sanders and beating Texas, 8-4, on Thursday night for a two-game sweep of the Women’s College World Series championship. The Sooners won their eighth title overall, all under...
Brown has 22, Porzingis returns with 20 as Celtics open NBA Finals with 107-89 win over MavericksVideo
BOSTON — Jaylen Brown scored 22 points, Kristaps Porzingis added 20 in his first game in more than a month and the Boston Celtics powered past the Dallas Mavericks, 107-89, on Thursday night in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Derrick White finished with 15 points for Boston, which led...
Pirates farm report for June 6, 2024: Indianapolis pitchers touched up for 23 runs
INDIANAPOLIS (Triple-A, 25-33) gave up seven home runs and was clobbered by Columbus (Guardians), 23-5. RHP Domingo German (0-3, 7.97) started and went five innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits, including two homers. He walked three and struck out three. LHP Geronimo Franzua (6.75) was touched up for six...
Dodgers chase Bailey Falter early, pummel Pirates bullpen to avoid sweep
The Pittsburgh Pirates were eyeing a sweep of one of baseball’s best teams Thursday night at PNC Park, with Bailey Falter hoping to follow the solid performances of Jared Jones and Paul Skenes against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately for the Pirates, those hopes took a big dent early, as...
Class-action lawsuit against NFL by ‘Sunday Ticket’ subscribers gets underway
LOS ANGELES — A class-action lawsuit filed by “Sunday Ticket” subscribers claiming the NFL broke antitrust laws got underway in federal court Thursday with the league’s attorney telling jurors that fans have a choice when it comes to watching games and the “Sunday Ticket” package is a premium product. “The...
Oilers’ Connor McDavid, hockey’s biggest star, finally gets chance to win Stanley Cup
Sherry Bassin sees the intense look on Connor McDavid’s face during warmups and knows the best hockey player in the world is going to have one of those games. He noticed it before the clinching game that sent the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final, when McDavid scored less...
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says finalizing the new media rights deals is ‘complex’ processVideo
BOSTON — Getting the NBA’s next round of media rights deals completed is a complex proposition, commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday, especially because nobody can say with any certainty what the viewing landscape will look like in the future. Silver, speaking in his annual pre-NBA Finals news conference, did not...
Hadwin hoping to turn corner at Memorial as Scheffler and Schauffele start strong againVideo
DUBLIN, Ohio — Adam Hadwin had too many birdies to complain about ending his round at the Memorial on a sour note Thursday. His 6-under-par 66 was enough to lead Masters champion Scottie Scheffler by one shot and give the Canadian hope he is turning the corner at the right...
Battling George Pickens in practice, Steelers’ Joey Porter Jr. intends to be ‘shutdown corner’ in ‘24
As a rookie in 2023, Joey Porter Jr. quickly earned the trust of Pittsburgh Steelers coaches in duties as a so-called “shutdown corner.” By the end of the season, Porter was regularly tasked with lining up opposite the opponent’s most potent receiving threat each week. In Year 2, Porter intends...
Steelers notes: No extension talk for Jaylen Warren; Jeremiah Moon comes from rival Ravens
He’s the other heavily used Pittsburgh Steelers running back who is in the final season of his contract. And while Najee Harris’ feelings aren’t known because he has remained (publicly) silent, for Jaylen Warren, it’s more because he’s politely declined to speak on it. Warren spoke for several minutes after...
Lakers conduct a public coaching search, considering Redick and Hurley, in hopes of pleasing LeBronVideo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers’ coaching search has been very public, seemingly chaotic and dominated by famous names. Totally Hollywood, in other words. The Lakers’ reported plan to offer a massive contract to UConn coach Dan Hurley is the latest twist in the monthlong race to replace Darvin...
Belmont at Saratoga means shortening the 3rd Triple Crown race, but most are OK with thatVideo
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Belmont Stakes is the final test of the Triple Crown, the third resume booster to edge a horse into the history books. It’s not an easy feat. The third leg is the longest of the three races at 1 1/2 miles and requires a horse...
Pirates add Justin Bruihl to bolster left-handed depth in bullpen
Relief pitcher Justin Bruihl has been with four MLB teams in four seasons, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, who added him to the roster Thursday in a quest for left-handed bullpen depth. He joins Aroldis Chapman as the only left-handed relievers on the team. Bruihl knows stability is promised to few...
Matthew Tkachuk’s numbers are down from last year. The Panthers insist his value has gone upVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Matthew Tkachuk’s basic offensive numbers for the Florida Panthers are down this season. Goals, down. Assists, down. Points, down. Shooting percentage, down. On paper, that doesn’t look great. On ice, Florida sees things very differently. “You just have to look at some different numbers,” Panthers coach...
Cordarrelle Patterson ready to bring return skills, offensive versatility to Steelers
He entered the NFL as a wide receiver. Eight seasons later, he carried the label of a running back. As for his build, he dwarfs the 6-foot-2, 232-pound measurements listed on the roster, making him look like a tight end. No matter his position, Cordarrelle Patterson excels at one trait....
United States shocks heavyweight Pakistan at T20 World Cup after forcing super overVideo
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — The United States scored a major upset at the T20 World Cup by beating cricket heavyweight Pakistan in the super over on Thursday. The U.S. had routed Canada in its opening Group A game, but beating 2022 runner-up Pakistan counts as historic in a country that...
IUP baseball earns 3rd straight win at Division II College World Series
Turning away elimination for a third straight time in the NCAA Division II College World Series, surging IUP baseball pushed on and now sits one win away from the national championship game. Elijah Dunn, a Norwin product, went 2 for 4 with a home run, double, four RBIs and two...
Member of Super Bowl team suffers seizure, cardiac arrest during meeting
The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs canceled all team activities and media availability Thursday after a member of the squad suffered a seizure and subsequent cardiac arrest during a meeting, according to a report from NFL Network. The report said BJ Thompson, a defensive end a special teams player,...
Chiefs backup lineman taken to hospital after cardiac event during team meeting, AP source says
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Chiefs backup B.J. Thompson was taken to a hospital in stable condition Thursday after the defensive lineman experienced a cardiac event during a team meeting, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person, speaking to the AP on condition of...
Iga Swiatek eliminates Coco Gauff to reach the French Open final
PARIS — Iga Swiatek is as good as it gets in tennis at the moment, especially at the French Open. Been that way for quite some time. So her unyielding success against Coco Gauff just about everywhere — and certainly at Roland Garros — should come as no surprise by...
