Sports category, Page 747
NHL announces plans to send players back to the Olympics in 2026 and 2030 for 1st time since 2014
TORONTO — NHL players are returning to the Olympics for the first time in more than a decade. The world’s top hockey league will allow its players to participate in the Games in 2026 in Milan and in 2030 under an agreement announced Friday by the NHL, the NHL Players’...
Theo Epstein to return to Red Sox as advisor and part-owner of parent company, Fenway Sports Group
BOSTON — Theo Epstein, who as Red Sox general manager was the architect of two World Series championships, is returning to the organization as a minority owner and part-time senior adviser to its parent company, Fenway Sports Group. Epstein, who also helped the Chicago Cubs win the 2016 title —...
Improving power play a major order of business for Penguins post-All-Star break
With Marcus Pettersson’s overtime winning goal lifting his club over the visiting Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 27, the postgame mood at PPG Paints Arena heading into the All-Star break was undoubtedly positive for the Pittsburgh Penguins. The night before, the Penguins (22-17-7) lost in a shootout to the Florida Panthers...
Mark Madden: If the Steelers won’t change Arthur Smith’s staff, maybe they’ll upgrade personnel?
This is a magical time of year for Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Optimism runs rampant. Mock drafts pile up. We imagine that new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will revolutionize, not be a different take on the same outdated offensive philosophy. (The vision is Mike Tomlin’s, not the coordinator’s.) We’re told Smith...
Baker Mayfield helps NFC to early lead over AFC in revamped Pro Bowl Games
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield beat Houston’s C.J. Stroud in the Precision Passing skills challenge, helping the NFC build a 12-6 lead over the AFC on the opening night of the 2024 Pro Bowl Games. The made-for-TV Pro Bowl Skills Show, aired Thursday night from a fieldhouse on...
Senior Bowl features well-traveled QBs, other top prospects
MOBILE, Ala. — The Senior Bowl quarterbacks are a well-traveled group, most of whom have moved from one Power Five program to another. Led by Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix, all seven have spent this week leading up to Saturday’s Senior Bowl working on their next landing...
Tim Benz: Duquesne’s Keith Dambrot redefining ‘garbage time’ in college basketball
In any sport, the phrase “garbage time” usually refers to the last few minutes of a blowout game. It’s a chance for an empty-net goal, a few extra baskets, or some inconsequential passing yards en route to a two-touchdown loss. However, Duquesne basketball coach Keith Dambrot is starting to have...
Football Footnotes: Why Arthur Smith’s offense worked in Tennessee and how it may work again with the Steelers
It’s been three days since word broke that the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to hire Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator. By now, you’ve probably read a lot about what went wrong for him as Atlanta’s head coach from 2021-23. Those teams never made the playoffs, going 7-10 every year. The last...
First Call: 2 NFL coaching moves have Steelers ties; bar set for Jake Guentzel’s trade return?
Friday’s “First Call” spotlights a pair of NFL coaching moves that tie into the Pittsburgh Steelers. We reflect on a very important Steelers Super Bowl anniversary. The market for a Jake Guentzel trade may have just been set for the Penguins. Also, both Robert Morris hockey teams have important conference...
Chris Shula, grandson of Don Shula, to be Rams’ defensive coordinator
LOS ANGELES — Chris Shula, the grandson of Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, will be the Los Angeles Rams’ new defensive coordinator, according to a person with knowledge of the decision. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the team had not yet...
Big night from Markeese Hastings not enough for Robert Morris men
Robert Morris played a catch-up game for the entire night Thursday at Oakland and dropped its second straight Horizon League men’s basketball decision. Blake Lampman scored 20 of his game-high 26 points in the first half, and the Golden Grizzlies went on to an 87-72 victory over the Colonials in...
Patrick Cantlay takes off PGA Tour board hat, shoots 64. He trails Thomas Detry by 1 at Pebble BeachVideo
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Patrick Cantlay has spent about as much time on the phone as the golf course this week as a PGA Tour board member trying to nail down a deal for a $3 billion investment. It didn’t seem to affect his day job at the AT&T Pebble...
All-Star notes: Elias Lindholm found out mid-flight he was traded from Calgary to Vancouver
TORONTO — Elias Lindholm was on his way back to Calgary from a trip to Mexico when he learned he had been traded to NHL-leading Vancouver. When he arrived at All-Star Weekend on Thursday, a new Canucks jersey with his name and No. 23 on the back was waiting for...
Browns give Titans permission to interview Bill Callahan, who’s expected to join son, AP source saysVideo
CLEVELAND — There are now two Callahans with the Titans. Offensive line coach Bill Callahan is leaving the Cleveland Browns to join his son Brian’s staff with the Tennessee Titans, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Thursday night. Callahan has informed the Browns that he’s...
Seahawks hope they’ve found ‘disruptor’ with new coach Mike Macdonald
RENTON, Wash. — There wasn’t anything personal with John Schneider’s heavy rooting interest for the AFC championship game last weekend and wanting to see Kansas City, and not Baltimore, in the Super Bowl. The Seattle Seahawks general manager was simply thinking about the future of his organization and the desire...
Clippers, Timberwolves, Knicks each have 2 players selected as All-Star Game reserves
NEW YORK — Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers were chosen as All-Star reserves Thursday, and the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks also had two players selected. Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns of the Western Conference-leading Timberwolves will be going to the Feb. 18 game...
Caitlin Clark, Iowa drawing sold-out crowds, big ratings even on road
Caitlin Clark has been a must-see attraction all season, with sold-out arenas where some tickets have gone for thousands of dollars on the secondary market. The prices are only expected to go higher as the Iowa star approaches the NCAA all-time scoring record over the next few weeks. While teams...
NHL All-Star Weekend has new look thanks to Connor McDavid
TORONTO — In the aftermath of last year’s NHL All-Star skills competition that was confusing, disjointed and went off poorly in the arena and on television, Gary Bettman asked Connor McDavid for his thoughts. The long-serving commissioner wanted to know what the reigning MVP, face of the league, Edmonton captain...
Patriots hire former Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, promote DeMarcus Covington to DCVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fired Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has been hired for the same job with the New England Patriots, giving first-time head coach Jerod Mayo an experienced voice on offense. The team also confirmed the widely reported promotion of defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to defensive...
Ravens hire Zach Orr as defensive coordinator after Mike Macdonald’s departure to Seattle
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens hired Zach Orr as their defensive coordinator after Mike Macdonald left to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks earlier this week. The Ravens announced the 31-year-old Orr’s promotion Thursday. He was Baltimore’s inside linebackers coach the past two seasons and also...
Packers hire Jeff Hafley away from Boston College to become their defensive coordinator
Jeff Hafley is leaving his job as Boston College’s head coach to become the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator. The Packers announced Wednesday night that Hafley will take over for Joe Barry, who was fired last week after three seasons as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator. Hafley went 22-26 at Boston...
Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are chasing greatness and the greatest in Tom Brady and Joe Montana
Patrick Mahomes is chasing Tom Brady. Brock Purdy is playing in the shadow of Joe Montana. Winning the Super Bowl would be another major step for either quarterback. Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs seek to become the first team in 19 years to win back-to-back Super Bowls when they...
NCAA places 15-year show cause against ex-Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon in gambling case
The NCAA handed down a five-year suspension as part of a 15-year show cause order against former Alabama baseball coach Brad Bohannon on Thursday, effectively banning him from college coaching, after he provided information to a gambler who used it to make illegal wagers against the Crimson Tide. The NCAA...
Roberto Clemente exhibit honoring the late Pirates player makes stop at Caribbean Series in Miami
MIAMI — Some of Roberto Clemente’s most impactful career and life moments are on display at the Miami Marlins’ loanDepot Park. A traveling exhibit titled “3,000” — a nod to the day on Sept. 30, 1972, that the late Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder became the first Latin American-born major league player...
Pitt’s Jeff Capel believes his 7-man rotation is sustainable ‘if it needs to be’
For the second time this season, Pitt freshman guard Bub Carrington walked off the floor Wednesday night only at halftime and during timeouts. The seat offered to him during those moments felt good. Yet Carrington wasn’t asking for one while the outcome of Pitt’s 77-72 victory against Wake Forest was...
