Sports category, Page 704
Bengals place franchise tag on receiver Tee Higgins
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals placed the franchise tag on receiver Tee Higgins, which likely will keep him with the team at least one more season, the team said Monday. If the Bengals can’t reach a long-term agreement with the 25-year-old Higgins before July 15, he’ll play the 2024 season...
Suarez takes aim on NASCAR Cup Series championship run following important win in Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. — Daniel Suarez knows he will return to Atlanta Motor Speedway as a playoff contender Sept. 8. Suarez also can count on retaining his spot on Trackhouse Racing’s team when the NASCAR Cup Series makes its 2025 stops in Atlanta. The popular driver from Monterrey, Mexico, ended speculation...
Houston men rise to No. 1 in AP Top 25 ahead of Purdue, UConn
Now it is Houston’s turn at the top of the Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll. The Cougars moved to No. 1 for the first time this season in Monday’s latest poll, climbing one spot to end the six-week stay of reigning national champion Connecticut. Houston (24-3) became...
5 potential storylines for Steelers as NFL Combine kicks off in Indianapolis
February began with college football’s top prospects descending on Mobile, Ala., to take part in the Senior Bowl. It will end with another congregation in a confined environment, this time the annual NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Prospects begin meeting with NFL coaches and executives as early as Tuesday, with on-field...
Roansy Contreras shows increased velocity but gives up 4 hits as Blue Jays beat Pirates
DUNEDIN, Fla. — Roansy Contreras pumped a 94.8 mph four-seam fastball to Bo Bichette on his first pitch and topped out at 96.2 on a first-pitch four-seamer to Toronto’s No. 3, hitter Danny Jansen. After a season that began in the starting rotation but was spent mostly in the minors...
Roberto Clemente game-worn 1960 Pirates jersey up for auction
A jersey worn by Roberto Clemente during the 1960 World Series season for the Pittsburgh Pirates is among items up for auction by online outlet Lelands. The iconic sleeveless jersey from what was Clemente’s first All-Star season received a grade of excellent from sports memorabilia authenticator SGC, the second-highest grade...
‘Jedi Keller,’ Andrew McCutchen, Dave Parker among Pirates’ bobblehead giveaways
Fresh off his $77 million contract, Mitch Keller has achieved full Jedi status. The Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher is among three current or former franchise players to be featured on bobbleheads to be given away during games this season, the team announced Monday. But Keller’s figurine won’t be of him...
‘Good to get back’: Oneil Cruz shows lateral movement in 1st game with Pirates since injury
BRADENTON, Fla. — If the Pittsburgh Pirates were worried about Oneil Cruz’s lateral movement after missing almost all of last season with a fractured left ankle, they didn’t have to wait long to find out. The first contact of his first spring training game provided an answer. It marked the...
On Sports: Dream for Steelers fan Damar Hamlin is to finish career with hometown team
This is not the first time that On Sports was call-ed upon to provide a wrap-up of the day’s sports news when “Breakfast With Benz” has had the day off. They do need a safety … Damar Hamlin is no stranger to playing high-level football in Pittsburgh. He’s won WPIAL...
Newfound confidence has Hempfield grad Isaiah Vance thinking about wrestling for national title at UPJ
Pat Pecora has coached many talented wrestlers in his legendary career at Pitt-Johnstown. All-Americans. National champions. But there’s only one Carlton Haselrig. Pecora calls him “the greatest heavyweight of all time,” and there’s not a lot of hyperbole in Pecora’s assertion. Haselrig won three NCAA Division II titles and three...
Valley grad Tyler Santucci takes on latest challenge as Georgia Tech’s defensive coordinator
Last fall, Valley grad Tyler Santucci directed one of the best defenses in the ACC. In his first season as Duke’s defensive coordinator, Santucci oversaw a unit that led the conference in points allowed (19.0 per game) and finished 10th nationally in red zone defense (.744). Those numbers helped Duke...
Penguins forward Jansen Harkins hits his stride on the 4th lineVideo
Jansen Harkins is still searching for his first goal of the season. But he found an effective way to reverse some — not all — of the criticism levied his way by Pittsburgh Penguins fans. He hit a Philadelphia Flyers player. Hard. During the Penguins’ wild 7-6 home win against...
Robert Morris seeks to build $28M hockey arena
Robert Morris University wants to build a $28 million arena on campus for its Division I men’s and women’s hockey programs and is seeking $10 million from the state for the project. If it comes to fruition, the state-of- the-art venue would hold 2,500 people through general spectator seats “with...
Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Oneil Cruz passes 1st test of spring training in Pirates’ home opener
BRADENTON, Fla. — Mitch Keller was in the middle of answering a question about working with catcher Yasmani Grandal on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher interrupted his own thought. “Sorry,” Keller said, as he stared at the clubhouse television. “Oneil just hit one off this building. That’s crazy.”...
Cam Newton involved in scuffle at youth football tournament
A video surfaced Sunday that appeared to show 2015 NFL Most Valuable Player Cam Newton being involved in a scuffle at a 7-on-7 youth football tournament in Atlanta. The video shows Newton, wearing one of his custom-made hats, being shoved by three people near the top of a set of...
Furor erupts over Ronaldo’s apparent obscene taunt in Saudi match
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Cristiano Ronaldo has come under heavy criticism after seemingly making an offensive gesture following Al Nassr’s 3-2 victory over Al Shabab in a Saudi Pro League match Sunday. The Portuguese star scored a first-half penalty, before Brazilian Talisca’s late brace, including a goal four minutes from...
Minor league report: Nailers clipped by WingsVideo
Defenseman Isaac Belliveau scored two goals for the Wheeling Nailers in a 5-3 home loss to the Kalamazoo Wings at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, W.Va. on Sunday. Forward Jordan Martel had a goal and an assist for Wheeling (30-19-1-1) while forward Evan Vierling contributed two assists. Goaltender Taylor Gauthier made...
Daniel Suarez edges pair in thrilling 3-wide finish for Cup Series winVideo
HAMPTON, Ga. — Daniel Suarez edged Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide finish to win a crashed-filled NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday. Busch, who won Saturday’s Trucks race, moved to the middle between Blaney, the 2023 Cup champion, and Suarez to set up...
Rookie Jake Knapp holds on to win Mexico Open, earn Masters spot
VALLARTA, Mexico — PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp lost a four-shot lead in seven holes and then held it together with a remarkable short game Sunday, closing with an even-par 71 to win the Mexico Open at Vidanta and earn a trip to the Masters. Knapp said he still sends...
Penguins hold on for wild win over Flyers, but Bryan Rust suffers injury
Bryan Rust long ago proved he can make a substantial impact on the Penguins’ postseason fortunes. A vital component of the franchise’s two most recent Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017, he helped achieve those triumphs with a handful of series-clinching goals. And in 2024, he is doing just...
Robert Morris men lose to Cleveland State on last-second basket
For the second time, Robert Morris fell one basket short against Cleveland State, bolstering the Vikings chances for a Horizon League Tournament bye. Drew Lowder’s off-balance layup at the shot-clock buzzer and with just 1 second left in the game lifted Cleveland State to a 73-71 victory Sunday at UPMC...
At Yasmani Grandal’s urging, Mitch Keller goes outside comfort zone to throw cutter
BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates put their $77 million starting pitcher on the mound for the Grapefruit League home opener, then their new catcher put Mitch Keller to a test. Two days after Keller signed a five-year contract — a franchise-record deal, in terms of average annual value —...
Cody Bellinger returning to Cubs on $80M, 3-year deal
Cody Bellinger is going back to the Chicago Cubs, agreeing to an $80 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press. The slugger can opt out of the deal after each of the first two seasons, according to the person who spoke to the AP...
Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry scheduled to face Flyers
The Pittsburgh Penguins are scheduled to start goaltender Tristan Jarry in Sunday’s home game against the rival Philadelphia Flyers at PPG Paints Arena. Coach Mike Sullivan announced Jarry’s status approximately two hours before the start of the contest. In 37 games this season, Jarry has a 15-17-4 record, a 2.46...
Pitt hopes Zack Austin can continue disruptive play in season’s final weeks
With the decisive 79-64 victory against Virginia Tech, Pitt knocked down the first of five or six (perhaps seven) obstacles standing between the team and a second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid. There is a lot of work to do, and the odds are against the Panthers. But the heaviest lifting...
