Sports category, Page 654
Pitt aims to continue push toward NCAA Tournament berth vs. last-place Louisville
Don’t let the wintry forecast fool you, Pitt basketball buffs. Sunny days are here again. Winners of six games in their past seven outings, including victories over No. 9 Duke and No. 21 Virginia, the Panthers (16-8, 7-6 ACC) are back Saturday in search of more good times in a...
Wife’s decision not to testify ends domestic violence case against Bruins’ Milan Lucic
BOSTON — Prosecutors dropped a domestic violence charge against Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic on Friday, saying the decision by his wife to invoke marital privilege made it impossible for them to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The Bruins said he will not return from his leave of...
NFL suspends Raiders backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo for violating PEDs policyVideo
HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was suspended by the NFL on Friday for the first two games of next season for violating the performance-enhancing drugs policy of the league and NFL Players Association. ESPN also reported the Raiders are expected to release Garoppolo next month...
Rangers’ Blake Wheeler is out for the rest of the regular season because of injury, AP source saysVideo
Blake Wheeler’s regular season is over after injuring his right leg falling to the ice, and it might take the New York Rangers going on a lengthy playoff run to open the door for a possible return this spring. Wheeler was placed on injured reserve Friday and is out for...
Steelers beat the clock, submit bid to host NFL Draft in 2026 or 2027
The Pittsburgh Steelers made it official Friday when they submitted their formal application to host the NFL Draft in the 2026 or 2027 season. Bids had to be submitted by Friday, and the Steelers made their announcement on social media with a brief video. Tagged in the post on X,...
Penguins claim forward Matthew Phillips off waivers from CapitalsVideo
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a minor transaction Friday to address their injury issues up front by claiming forward Matthew Phillips off waivers from the Washington Capitals. A right-handed shot, Phillips has appeared in 27 games this season and has five points (one goal, four assists) while averaging 10 minutes, 16...
Holy cowhide! Paul Skenes’ throw breaks web in Quinn Priester’s glove while playing catchVideo
BRADENTON, Fla. — That Paul Skenes throws heavy is hardly a secret, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander regularly touches triple digits on the radar gun. But the 2023 No. 1 overall pick did something this week at Pirate City that you don’t often see in a friendly game of catch...
‘The Holdovers’: RMU hockey senior night takes on special meaning for players who stuck around to reboot the program
For three Robert Morris hockey players, this weekend, they will be getting the senior night send-off they never thought they’d receive. Saturday against Canisius (5 p.m.) marks the final regular-season home game for the Colonials in their return campaign after a two-year absence for the program. In May 2021, the...
Jaromir Jagr’s return to Penguins sparks flood of memories from teammates
Jiri Hrdina remains a passing acquaintance of Jaromir Jagr in their home country, now called Czechia. As a scout with the Dallas Stars, Hrdina occasionally crosses paths with Jagr, still an active player in Czechia’s top hockey league, the Extraliga ledního hokeje (ELH or Czech Extraliga for those of the...
First Call: Patrick Peterson discusses future in Pittsburgh; new Washington coaching staff features former Steelers
Friday’s “First Call” has some coaching news involving former Pittsburgh Steelers. We discuss Patrick Peterson’s future with the team. And we look at the Penguins’ next opponent. Heading west Former Steelers wide receivers coach Frisman Jackson has a new job. It’s with the Seattle Seahawks. The Hawks are hiring Jackson...
Jaromir Jagr’s Penguins teammates recall when they realized they were playing with a legend-to-be
You didn’t have to know much about hockey — or frankly sports in general — to be able to tell that Jaromir Jagr was different. That he was dynamically gifted at his craft. That he wasn’t just going to be great, but that he was an all-timer. The locker room...
Despite signing Aroldis Chapman, Pirates say David Bednar has ‘cemented’ role as closer
BRADENTON, Fla. — David Bednar admits he was “surprised but pumped” when the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Aroldis Chapman, a seven-time All-Star who ranks third among active closers with 321 saves, to a one-year, $10.5 million contract in late January. That meant the 6-foot-4, 235-pound left-handed Chapman was going to be...
Mark Madden: From Kladno to Bayside, Jaromir Jagr put smiles on hockey fans’ faces
Only in a city that’s had a hockey timeline like Pittsburgh’s since 1984 could a player the caliber of Jaromir Jagr get somewhat lost in the shuffle. But that’s what happened. Out of sight, out of mind. Obscured by the permanent shadow of Mario Lemieux and by the commotion and...
Championship parades likely to change after shooting at Chiefs Super Bowl celebration
BOSTON — With back-to-back Super Bowl victories for the hometown Chiefs, Kansas City football fans gathered for another championship parade and a second celebratory pep rally in a row. Don’t expect there to be a third. Not because the Chiefs, with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes still just 28 years old,...
Sidney Crosby leads Penguins to vital win against Blackhawks
The Pittsburgh Penguins know what’s needed to reach the playoffs. Even if they might not have what is needed. At the moment, they have a deficit of healthy forwards, and they lost one of their best after the team announced Thursday that first-liner Jake Guentzel would be sidelined for “up...
Victor Wembanyama’s 1st All-Star weekend awaits
INDIANAPOLIS — Victor Wembanyama’s first NBA All-Star experience will be hectic, just like everything else has seemed so far in his rookie season with the San Antonio Spurs. He’s going to the Tech Summit, the league’s thinktank that kicks off the All-Star festivities Friday morning. He’ll have a slate of...
LSU running back charged with attempted 2nd-degree murder
BATON ROUGE, La. — An LSU football player was arrested Thursday and charged with attempted second-degree murder after a shooting last week that injured two people. Treyvion Antwan Holly, a freshman running back, faces three charges — attempted second-degree murder, aggravated criminal damage to property and illegal use of a...
Jimmie Johnson uses desperate late push to qualify for his 21st Daytona 500Video
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Jimmie Johnson raced his way into the Daytona 500 with a three-wide move through the final turn in the first qualifying race Thursday night. Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing won the 150-mile race that is part of how the field is set for Sunday’s season-opening “Great...
Cantlay leads at Riviera with a 64. Tiger Woods ends his return to golf with a shankVideo
LOS ANGELES — Thousands of fans watching Tiger Woods in his 2024 debut missed out on the best golf Thursday at the Genesis Invitational. In the group ahead of Woods was Patrick Cantlay, looking as though he wants to be the next Southern California native to win at Riviera. Cantlay...
Pitt’s freshman backcourt duo of Lowe, Carrington growing up quickly
They have begun writing their own special story, an intriguing script any coach would peruse with utter delight. Pitt’s ascending freshman backcourt tandem is growing up fast. With the Panthers’ improving season getting even better with Tuesday night’s 74-63 victory at No. 21 Virginia that ended the Cavaliers’ Division I-leading...
Caitlin Clark of Iowa breaks NCAA women’s career scoring recordVideo
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA women’s career scoring record, making a 3-pointer from about 35 feet in the first quarter for No. 4 Iowa against Michigan on Thursday night. Clark went into the game needing eight points to pass Kelsey Plum’s total of 3,527. She wasted...
Tiger Woods hits a shank in his return to golf and opens with 72 at RivieraVideo
LOS ANGELES — Any chance of Tiger Woods breaking par in his first official PGA Tour event in 10 months ended with one swing Thursday and a five-letter word he wasn’t afraid to say. Shank. Woods said his back began to spasm over the final few holes in the Genesis...
Gerrit Cole leads Yankees’ rotation looking to rebound from terrible season
TAMPA, Fla. — Gerrit Cole was leaving the Yankees’ minor-league complex when fans on the sidewalk by the parking lot asked for autographs. When the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner reached over a bush-lined fence to grab a baseball and pen, a fan asked whether he could capture the...
NASCAR star Denny Hamlin vows to be more selfish at Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Don’t expect Denny Hamlin to stay in line during the closing laps of the Daytona 500. He’s not settling for second. He’s not sacrificing his finish to help a teammate. He’s not counting on anyone else, either. It’s exactly how he wants it, maybe how he...
Penguins face major challenge with Jake Guentzel on long-term injured reserved
The March of the Pittsburgh Penguins will get off to a difficult start. That’s assuming they survive what will be a challenging finish to February. On Thursday, the team placed All-Star forward Jake Guentzel on long-term injured reserve because of an undisclosed injury he suffered during a 5-2 home loss...
