Sports category, Page 638
MLB Pipeline ranks Paul Skenes the Pirates’ No. 1 prospect; 3B Jack Brannigan makes top 10
MLB Pipeline has Paul Skenes as the No. 1 prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates in its updated top 30 rankings and moved shortstop/third baseman Jack Brannigan into the top 10. Skenes, the right-hander who was the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft last July, is one of six...
Pitt’s ‘controlled freedom’ catches Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton’s eye
Jaland Lowe called it “controlled freedom.” Leonard Hamilton, whose Florida State team was crushed by Pitt’s wave of 3-point shots, was impressed with “the uniqueness” coach Jeff Capel put on display Tuesday night and for the past two months. How impressed? “This team is capable of beating anybody in our...
For the Penguins, being out of a playoff position isn’t strange, ‘it’s awful’
Jesse Puljujarvi had every reason to celebrate an individual accomplishment Tuesday. During the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 5-3 home win against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the winger opened the scoring at PPG Paints Arena with his first goal in more than a calendar year. It was an accomplishment worth noting considering Puljujarvi...
Mark Madden: Rempe-mania is grabbing headlines, but his showbiz act doesn’t belong in NHL
The NHL’s newest sensation is a 6-foot-7 slug who handles the puck like he’s trying to beat a snake to death with a tree branch. But he fights and plays in New York City. So welcome to stardom, Matt Rempe. It’s Rempe-mania. A stupid version of Lin-sanity. (Remember him? Nah,...
Recent spotlight on Bill Hillgrove, Chris Shovlin illustrates Pittsburgh’s basketball play-by-play legacies
Bill Hillgrove retired after 30 years as the voice of the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. However, he will remain as the play-by-play man of the Pitt football and men’s basketball teams. He has been a part of both of those broadcasts for more than 50 years. The news of Hillgrove’s...
Tim Benz: Very different pre-trade deadline atmosphere hangs over PPG Paints Arena during Penguins’ win
We’ve experienced that kind of Penguins game at this point on the calendar many times before at PPG Paints Arena. And prior to that, at Mellon Arena. That type of game a few days before the trade deadline, where the outcome of one contest felt significantly less important than what...
First Call: Vancouver reportedly building plan to land Jake Guentzel; Steelers may try to keep Allen Robinson II
Wednesday’s “First Call” looks to provide some clues as to what may happen with Penguins forward Jake Guentzel before Friday’s trade deadline. We also advance some discussion about the Steelers potentially holding onto a wide receiver and perhaps missing out on a free-agent tight end. There were some NFL franchise...
Liover Peguero wants to prove to Pirates that his glove can be as good as the power in his bat
Liover Peguero started last season at Double-A Altoona and finished it in the major leagues, a humbling experience for a middle infielder who was one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects. Peguero is being careful not to allow his opportunity to open this season as the starting second baseman to...
Pitt hits 20-win mark with victory over Florida State
There were four distinct storylines that explained Pitt’s 88-73 victory Tuesday night against Florida State, what the game meant to the program and what coach Jeff Capel and his players are trying to accomplish in the latter stages of the season. • First, Blake Hinson wrote his name into the...
Dae Dae Grant’s 26 points lead Duquesne over VCU
RICHMOND, Va. — Dae Dae Grant had 26 points in Duquesne’s 69-59 victory against VCU on Tuesday night. Grant shot 8 of 17 from the field, including 5 for 11 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 5 from the line for the Dukes (19-11, 9-8 Atlantic 10 Conference). Jake...
Robert Morris’ season ends in Horizon League Tournament 1st roundVideo
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Quinton Morton-Robertson had 17 points in Purdue Fort Wayne’s 78-63 win over Robert Morris on Tuesday night in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament. Morton-Robertson added five rebounds, five assists and three steals for the Mastodons (21-11). Jalen Jackson scored 16 points while shooting...
Penguins defeat Blue Jackets with roster uncertainty looming as trade deadline nears
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ fate as it pertains to the upcoming trade deadline – to say nothing of the approaching postseason – was probably determined well before Tuesday’s entanglement with the Columbus Blue Jackets. And even if they claimed a 5-3 home victory – their 14th consecutive win against the Blue...
QB Joe Flacco, Islanders forward Anders Lee among new investors in Irish soccer team
DUBLIN — Veteran NFL quarterback Joe Flacco’s new team is St Patrick’s Athletic — as an investor in the Irish soccer club. The Dublin team announced Tuesday that Flacco, New York Islanders forward Anders Lee and former NFL players Matt Birk and Chad Greenway are part of a group that...
Last year’s free-agent frenzy offers hope, caution for NFL teams
NFL teams are set to dole out billions in free-agent contracts in the coming weeks as teams around the league hope bold moves in March will pay off with wins on the field once the season starts. But in a league with a sharp aging curve and specific systems that...
Giants giving star running back Saquon Barkley chance to test free agencyVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Star running back Saquon Barkley moved another step closer to free agency Tuesday when the New York Giants elected not to put a franchise tag on the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. The Giants used the tag last season and eventually worked out...
Seahawks’ makeover begins with releases of safeties Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks’ remodel under new coach Mike Macdonald started Tuesday as the team released safeties Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs as well as tight end Will Dissly in moves that will give the team a boost of salary cap space ahead of the start of the...
Colts place non-exclusive franchise tag on WR Michael Pittman Jr.
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on starting receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on Tuesday. The move was announced less than an hour before the league’s deadline and less than a week after general manager Chris Ballard promised Pittman would be a Colt next fall. The two...
Bears place franchise tag on Pro Bowl CB Jaylon Johnson
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears placed the franchise tag on cornerback Jaylon Johnson on Tuesday after he made his first Pro Bowl in the final season of his rookie contract. Johnson would earn $19.8 million in 2024 if he doesn’t agree to a multiyear deal before the July 15 deadline....
Jaguars place franchise tag on standout pass rusher Josh Allen
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jaguars used their franchise tag on standout pass rusher Josh Allen on Tuesday, essentially guaranteeing he will play at least another year in Jacksonville. Allen, the seventh overall pick in the 2019 draft, set a single-season franchise record with 17½ sacks in the final year of...
A’s release renderings of new Las Vegas domed stadium that resembles famous opera house
LAS VEGAS — The Oakland Athletics and their design teams released renderings Tuesday of the club’s planned $1.5 billion stadium in Las Vegas that show five overlapping layers with a similar look to the famous Sydney Opera House. The A’s hope to move into that 33,000-seat domed stadium in 2028,...
Penguins recall forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
The Pittsburgh Penguins recalled rookie forward Joona Koppanen from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League on Tuesday afternoon. This transaction comes as incumbent fourth-line center Noel Acciari was ruled out for Tuesday’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets because of an undisclosed injury. Additionally, fourth-line left winger Jansen Harkins...
LIV Golf abandons its pursuit of getting world ranking pointsVideo
The Great White Shark is waving the white flag when it comes to LIV Golf being recognized by the Official World Golf Ranking. Greg Norman, the CEO and commissioner of the Saudi-funded league, told his players that LIV has withdrawn its application. LIV Golf first applied for world ranking points...
Column: Scottie Scheffler has been so good that it makes his putting look badVideo
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Scottie Scheffler figures the best way to block out the noise — and there is endless chatter about his putting — is to channel his focus onto other matters. Sports is always a good diversion. That hasn’t been working out very well of late, either....
Andrew McCutchen singles in return, Liover Peguero homers as Pirates beat Blue Jays
Andrew McCutchen made his Grapefruit League debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates, playing in a game for the first time since a season-ending partial tear of his left Achilles last September. And he didn’t miss a beat. The 37-year-old designated hitter produced a soft single to center field in his first...
Astros ace Justin Verlander to start season on injured list
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will open the season on the injured list after dealing with right shoulder inflammation during the offseason, which could jeopardize his conditional $35 million option for 2025. Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday the 41-year-old Verlander hasn’t suffered any setbacks...
